Author's Note: Hello everybody. I know it's been a LONG time since I've uploaded here (more than 4 years) but I had a very strong compulsion recently to pick up the Chronicles and continue them.... So after a long hiatus, I'm back to write some more! Mind you, I am a college student now and very busy, so my uploads might not be as frequent as they were in recent years. But I promise I won't leave you by the wayside, and I will continue to work on this as often as I can. Please read, and review to tell me what you think. Enjoy!
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The Plague
Kovu sat silently at the edge of Pride Rock, his piercing green eyes soaring with a fierce longing over the open plains. His face was sullen; a once proud and majestic muzzle now hung limply below his gaunt cheeks. Bloodshot, he did not tear his gaze from the plains. The sun had begun its descent, and it quietly and solemnly continued its crawl below the western mountainside. The former Outsider and heir of Taka was entranced and consumed with anguish.
A season had passed since the plague came. In such a short span of time, almost half the pride had succumbed to its merciless onslaught. Nobody could quite place it. Rafiki had spent countless weeks in his baobab tree, beseeching the gods for answers. But no gentle rustle of the blades of grass, no whisper through the branches met the old mandrill's ears. He had begun to despair. Even Mufasa, the Good King, the only personal connection Rafiki had to the realm of the gods and the Great Kings, would not come to him. For the first time in the shaman's ministerial service to the royal pride, he knew not what to do.
It was Tanabi who mustered the courage to approach Kovu, who had not moved from his spot for several hours. He swallowed hard. In the last season, Kovu had become a different lion. He no longer cared for the company of his fellow pride members, nor did he enjoy the nights of star gazing that the males had become accustomed to since the Great Union, as it had come to be called. Kovu often snapped at the other lions—and found himself completely at a lack for company, due to his drastic changes in attitude. Kamau had advised that everyone give Kovu time, but Tanabi had difficulty taking his Uncle's advice. It was hard to ignore someone that he cared so much about.
Kovu instantly sensed the presence of the future King.
"Leave me alone, Tanabi," Kovu grunted, with a hint of hostility in his voice.
"Kovu please," Tanabi pleaded. "You've been sitting out here for hours. Come back to the cave. Kiara will want to see you and—"
"It doesn't matter," Kovu snapped back, not turning his gaze from the plains. "She won't make it through the night."
Tanabi clenched his jaw, and the warmth in his green eyes dissipated for but a moment as they glossed over with tears. A breeze ruffled his dark auburn mane, now fully grown, as he took a deep breath to suppress his sob.
"Which is why she needs to see you," Tanabi whispered, his voice starting to crack.
Kovu finally tore his gaze from the plains and down at his deep chocolate mane, also fully grown.
"Tanabi," Kovu started.
The son of King Simba looked up, briskly running a paw across his eyes to brush away the tears.
"I don't feel for others the way you do…I can't. Just let me handle this on my own."
"Kovu don't be ridiculous—"
"Ridiculous!?" Kovu whirled his head around and stalked towards the other male. "You forget the way we grew up, your highness! I was raised and trained never to love! Never to show mercy! I was trained to kill you! That doesn't change overnight! You've come here asking me to do something I can't do!"
"Don't try and play that card with me, Kovu," Tanabi snarled, bringing his massive head millimeters from Kovu's. "You failed at your so-called 'life's task' for the same thing you are denying. You can love, you have, and you continue to. If anything you told me were true, you and my sister would not be together…." He paused and looked away. "Nor would you have your son."
Kovu bristled. "Do not speak to me about my son."
"Malik needs a father," Tanabi continued, easing slightly. "And Kiara needs her mate. You have an obligation to fulfill your duties for them."
Kovu narrowed his eyes into slits and growled. He turned from Tanabi and began to pace in a blind fury.
"This is your first test, Kovu," Tanabi persisted. "You have to understand your responsibilities. If anything should happen to me…"
"Don't!" Kovu barked, shutting his eyes and gritting his teeth. "Don't give me another burden I can't handle."
"The line of kingship puts you next in line for the throne," Tanabi replied, voice stern.
"Kamau should be next in line."
"He can't be," Tanabi countered with a raised voice. "You are the mate of the princess and her birthright is passed to her mate should anything happen to her. She would be next in line if she had the chance…."
For a moment there was silence. Kovu remained stone, and Tanabi was incredulous. Shaking his head in disbelief, he turned his back on the dark-maned lion.
"What a fool am I," Tanabi murmured as he walked away. "To believe you could become more than anyone thought you could be."
Kovu said nothing. He sat himself once again at the edge, and resumed his vigilant stare over the Pride Lands.
****
When it became clear that the disease was spreading amongst the Pride Landers, measures were taken to ensure the safety of those who were of good health. Any lions who came down with the disease were immediately quarantined within the den. The healthy pride members were moved to a secured cave a short distance from Pride Rock, ensuring that they would not become ill themselves. All the cubs, their mothers, expectant lionesses, as well as the elderly, were among those relocated. Kamau volunteered to stay with the group in order to protect them, while Simba, Tanabi, and Kovu remained to ensure Pride Rock's safety. Also still present at Pride Rock were Nala, Vitani, and a few other lionesses who volunteered to remain and tend to the sick.
Tanabi returned to the cave to find Kiara lying on her side, her breathing still labored. Her eyes were glazed over and her body shook with the exhaustion as it began to take its toll. The Sickness left its victim with an extremely high fever as well as lesions along their flanks and underbellies. The lesions would occasionally split open and the infection oozed, sending the victim into horrible fits of agony. Sporadic fits of delirium were also common traits of the Sickness, and it was difficult to tell when they would come and how long they would last. Usually the Sickness toyed with its victims for but a few days before sending them up to the gods. Not one victim had yet survived.
It had been three moons since Kiara had fallen ill. She was the first member of the royal family to become sick. She was also the one who was lasting the longest.
"Maybe she'll recover," offered Vitani, licking the princess' forehead.
Timon, the aging meerkat and longtime friend of the King, placed his hands on Kiara's forehead and sighed.
"Her fever is still really high," he reported. "I think it's climbing."
"That can't possibly be!" retorted Pumbaa, the loyal warthog, and Timon's companion. "She already feels like she's literally burning!"
Timon walked over to Pumbaa and shook his head as the great warthog lowered his nose so Timon could get on. "I don't think we should get our hopes up, buddy."
Simba was in a state of shock. The King paced frantically about the den, growling quietly to himself as his long, shaggy mane rippled with each step he took. He had begun to show signs of age. Long locks of his mane still drifted over a pair of deep ruby eyes, but the once vibrant auburn had dulled slightly, and hints of gray became present. His eyes were weary, their fire slowly starting to dim as years of war, dissention, death, and tragedy took their toll. His muzzle had begun to fray, and the fur of his noble jaw began to elongate, giving him an almost beard-like appearance. Still, Simba was not to be underestimated. In his heart he was still youthful, and his strength and wit had not shown the slightest hint of wear. Even now, the King showed resilience. This was just another task that he had to pawn over, another event that he had to manipulate to ensure the continued prosperity of his kingdom.
But when it came to his children, Simba was the haggard old lion he looked like.
"Where is Rafiki?" Simba asked, for the third time.
"Zazu has fetched him," Nala replied a third time with continued patience. "He will be here soon."
"It's been almost an hour," he growled, still pacing.
"He's trying to work on some sort of treatment, Father," Tanabi replied. "Just give him some time."
The King growled again in disapproval.
Suddenly Kiara began to moan. Steadily the moans grew louder, and before anybody could react, she'd exploded into a full on roar. Some of the lionesses, including Vitani, jumped to their feet and proceeded to hold the princess down as she began to claw and thrash about violently.
"Where's Malik!? Where is my son!? I need to see him!"
"Kiara, relax!" Nala cried, approaching her daughter. "You need to rest!"
"Not until I see Malik! The jackals must have gotten to him!"
"He's at the safety cave, Kiara," Nala said gently. "Remember? We sent him there when you started to get sick…"
"Those jackals," Kiara hissed, snarling and continuing to try and throw off her suppressors. "They've had it in for us for years! They've just waited for me to lose sight of him! I swear by the gods if I catch them…."
Tanabi bit clenched his jaw as fresh tears began to stream down his muzzle. He turned away as Vitani threw Kiara down with her brute strength, causing the lioness to cry out in pain. It had been the only way.
"Daddy!" Kiara cried, looking pleadingly up at Simba, still at his corner of the den.
Simba looked up with eager anticipation and hope.
"Daddy! You promised to show me the kingdom today! Remember? Hurry! The sun is rising! We have to go to the top of Pride Rock before the sun rises! Daddy! Daddy?"
Simba choked and let a sob escape. As tears sprang from his eyes, he approached his daughter. "I'm right here, Kiara."
"Daddy? Is that you, Daddy?"
"Yes… I'm right here my daughter...." The King began to nuzzle Kiara, and her unsteady and unfocused pupils began to right themselves. She sighed deeply and put her head down, letting her body relax.
"By the gods," Tanabi whispered, looking away. He turned to face the entrance of the den, and was stunned to see Kovu standing at the mouth, the moonlight radiating about his body.
"Kovu…" he stuttered.
Kovu's gait was shaky as he slowly began to approach his mate. Simba stepped aside as the young lion came within inches of Kiara's face, looking into her eyes and hoping for even the slightest sparkle. Kiara looked up, her vision clear, and smiled wide.
"Kovu!" she rasped. She lifted her head despite the searing pain of the lesions which had reopened from her fit just moments before.
"I'm right here," he purred, nuzzling her forehead.
She purred in contentment, and looked up at him once again, as a cub looks at their parent. She was again a cub, a cub who had seen no hardship, no death or suffering. She was a cub who had never suffered the death of a loved one, the sting of tragedy, or the pains of childbirth. She was a cub who had never known what it was like to die.
"Kovu," she started, lowering her head to the ground. Her breathing began to grow shaky, and with each breath came a curdle in her throat, so loud that Kovu thought his eardrums were going to burst. She tried to speak again, but could not get the words out. Her eyes crossed as she fought for just one more breath. She steadied herself, looked at Kovu, and took a deep, curdle-laden breath.
"I knew you…."
As she exhaled, her body quivered for but a moment and her stare became vacant as her spirit ascended to the gods and the Great Kings.
Kovu was frozen. His stare remained fixed on his beloved mate, and he said nothing. When he regained himself, his mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to find words. He slowly raised his head, and turned his gaze to face Simba and Nala. Nala was already buried in her mate's mane, sobbing without control. Simba's face was wet and streaked as he tried to console his Queen. He looked up at Kovu.
"Kovu…I…"
Before the King could finish, Rafiki entered the den. He dropped his staff as he took in the sight before him.
"Oh gods…" he stuttered as his voice cracked. "Oh by the gods no…."
Zazu flew in from behind, and upon seeing what had happened, he instantly landed and put his wings to his beak. Shaking his head, the majordomo wept. Vitani, in an unusual state of grief, felt compassion for the bird and wrapped a paw around him as he began to quietly sob into her fur. Tanabi approached his parents, and Nala pulled her son into an embrace as the royal family grieved their daughter and princess. Timon had since begun to cry as well, and Pumbaa, silent but greatly consumed by his grief, let his tears slip down his cheeks and onto the stone ground.
The Princess of Pride Rock was dead.
Kovu visibly shook from his disbelief, and as he saw the widespread despair around him, he felt sick. He could hardly think clearly. His mate's last words to him were nothing but delirious gibberish. The lion fled the den and down to the foot of Pride Rock, where he vomited into a bush and began to convulse. He remained there for what seemed like an eternity, until he felt a familiar presence overshadow him.
"Please leave me," Kovu stuttered as he started to wretch again.
Simba said nothing. He placed a paw on Kovu's back and turned him around to face him. Kovu stared into the King's eyes, laden with sorrow and exhausted of tears. Simba's face was stained with his grief, the story of his daughter's life etched into his cheeks.
"Kovu," he whispered, as his eyes miraculously glossed over once again. "Being brave doesn't always mean never showing your pain…."
Kovu's jaw began to quiver. Remaining as steady as he could, he gritted his teeth. But it could not be done. As the wind beats against the acacia tree during the storm, so the pain beat against the former Outlander as he fell into the mane of his King and sobbed like a cub. Simba lowered himself to the ground and cradled Kovu as he wept. And there the two of them lay, the King laying his head atop Kovu's as his grief carried him deep into the night.
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Sorry for the abruptness in deaths you guys! Please don't be angry, I'm going someplace with this I promise! Like I said, it might be a while til my next upload, but I will be back with more! Until next time :]
