A/N: I'm like a story machine right now. Here's the next installment, The Curious Cub! Enjoy your two chapters!
Chapter One: The Cub
Chumvi wasn't wanted. It was as simple as that. He had been kicked out of his pride for being different, different in a way that wasn't his fault. He didn't ask for the magical power he possessed... But his pride had always been that way. Anyone who was out of the ordinary was shunned by everyone, and his parents were some of the one's that took that tradition seriously. He didn't care. He didn't want to be anywhere he wasn't wanted.
He had been walking for days now. He had managed to find a little water, but he hadn't eaten at all. It was beginning to take it's toll on him. He was weak from hunger and was now forcing himself to walk. He knew that if he stopped, he wouldn't want to get back up. He now found himself in a very dry, barren area. There seemed to be no life anywhere in it.
I need to keep moving. He thought to himself. I have to be getting close to a pride by now. I don't know how much longer I can survive out here... He noticed that the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. He knew it wouldn't be long before it got hot out. Another day of blazing heat wasn't something he could endure, not in his current state.
Chumvi continued walking for hours. The sun was soon high above him, making it difficult for him to carry on. This had to be the hottest place on the face of the planet. He was beginning to slow down, getting weaker and weaker. That's when he saw it ahead of him. Grassland. He just needed to push himself a little further and he's be there.
"I... Have to... Make it..." Chumvi said to himself. Just as he reached the border, he collapsed. He couldn't go any farther. His eyes shut and he fell unconscious.
A few days had passed since Simba and his friends had encountered Wildfire, the psychotic cub who had the ability to burn anything he touched. They had broken all his legs and left him to die in the jungle. Wildfire had started a blaze in the Pridelands, but thanks to a herd of elephants, it was put out. Simba had been burned in a few places, but the burns were only a little sore now.
Simba and his friends had decided to rest in the den today, as it was too hot out for them.
"Where did Haiba go?" Kora asked as he looked around the den.
"He said something about going for a walk." Simba said, "Not sure why he'd want to in this heat."
"Hey, guys!" Haiba said as he ran into the den.
Simba and the other cubs all looked over to him. They noticed that he was carrying a cub with brown fur on his back.
"Who's that?" Kulaani asked as they all walked over to Haiba, who had set the cub down.
"I found him passed out on the border." Haiba told them. "He looks like he hasn't eaten in days."
"We need to wake him up." Nala said, "Let's get him down to the water hole and splash some water on his face."
"Forget that!" Angani exclaimed as she pushed by Nala, "Allow me." She pulled the cub up with one paw and then smacked him across the face with the other, "Hey! Wake up!" She slapped him once more.
The cub's eyes fickered open and Angani dropped him.
"W-where am I...?" He asked in a raspy voice.
"The Pridelands." Simba said, "We need to get you down to the water hole. Haiba, you carry him. Mheetu, you go get some of the lfet over antelope."
Haiba nodded and picked him up and Mheetu left to go get the food. They all left the coolness of the den and into the blazing heat of the outdoors.
Once Simba and his friends got the cub down to the water hole, they got him to drink some water. This gave the cub some strength, but he was still pretty weak.
"So," Simba said, "Who are you?"
"Chumvi..." the cub said weakly.
Mheetu then ran over with a mouth full of antelope. They had to get some food into Chumvi before he passed out again. Mheetu put the food down in front of Chumvi, who quickly ate it. It seemed to make him a bit stronger.
"What were you doing in the Outlands?" Simba asked, "That's the worst place you can be."
"Hold on." Haiba said, "Don't I get a kiss from him for saving his life?"
"Uh..." Chumvi just gave Haiba an unsure look.
"Just ignore him." Tora told Chumvi, "So, what were you doing out there?"
"I was kicked out of my pride..." Chumvi told them, "They didn't want me."
"Why not?" Simba asked.
Chumvi was afraid they were going to ask. He couldn't tell them the truth. What if they shunned him just like his pride had and chased him away... Then he wouldn't have anywhere to live.
"Uh..." Chumvi said, "I... was just seen as worthless to them. I'm not the first."
"That's not right." Nala said, "What kind of pride does that?"
"Mine." Chumvi said. He justed wanted to end the conversation before they asked any more questions, "Is it okay if I go back up to the den to take a nap? I'm still exhausted."
"Sure." Simba said, "It's too hot to be outside today anyway."
Chumvi got up to walk, but found himself too weak to move still.
"I got ya." Haiba said as he moved underneathe Chumvi and put him on his back.
Chumvi was happy that he had finally found a pride, but they could never know about his magic. He was going to make sure that was kept a secret. He wasn't going to lose another home because of it.
