A/N: Now just what was up with Kulaani at the end of chapter 1? Well, things aren't going to get any better... That's all I'm saying. Enjoy the chapter.
snheetah: Oh, something's definately going on inside him, but what is it? The sure thing is... It can only mean bad news. Thanks for reviewing.!
anonymous13: This... thing will be revealed, but not right away. Other things will be happening before that. Okay, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 2: The Temple
Kulaani was lost in his own thoughts as he led his friends towards the jungle and to the Ndoto Temple. He knew what he was to do once they were inside... He didn't want to, but he didn't have a choice in the matter.
"Kulaani!" Simba yelled. He had been trying to get his attention for awhile.
"Huh? What?" Kulaani said, snapping out of his thoughts.
"What's wrong?" Simba asked. "You looked like you were nervous about something."
"I'm fine." Kulaani told him. "I'm fine." He turned away from them and continued towards the jungle.
"Something's up with him." Nala whispered as they kept back a little from Kulaani.
"Yeah, he seems... off." Tora said.
"Well, we are going to a dangerous temple." Kora added. "Doesn't that seem like something to be scared about?"
"Yes," Simba said, "but it's not like he's scared. It's more like he's nervous. Besides, he was perfectly fine about coming here earlier."
"I don't know." Nala said. "I'm sure he's fine."
"Yeah." Mheetu said. "I'm sure he'll be fine once we get to the temple."
After about an hour, the cubs got to the jungle and Kulaani led them into it. As he led them farther into the jungle, the voice suddenly made itself known again.
"I'm back." the voice in Kulaani's head suddenly chimed in. "You know what to do."
"Yeah, yeah." Kulaani answered. "Just leave me alone."
"I'll leave you alone once we're done." the voice said. "Lighten up and have fun with it... It won't be that bad, you may even enjoy it... Bye."
The voice left once again, leaving Kulaani to think about what he had to do. It made him sick. "I somehow doubt that..." he thought to himself.
"How much farther?" Simba asked.
"Not much." Kulaani answered. "It should be right through these trees." He led them through some very thick foliage before they emerged into a clearing. "Here we are.
They all noticed something immediately. The clearing was a perfect circle and there was no sign of life anywhere in the clearing. No grass, no weeds, not even any bugs crawling on the ground, and right in the center there was stone steps that led underground.
"Um... Where are the plants?" Kora asked.
"There isn't any." Kulaani answered. "For some reason, nothing grows in this area, and nobody knows why." He walked over to the steps. "Well, let's go."
They all followed him as they slowly walked down the stairs. The light from the surface was slowly fading away as they got deeper and deeper under the ground.
"I can't see!" Kora said. "Who's next to me." He put a paw out beside him.
"Hey! Watch your paw!"
"Oops... Sorry, Nala." Kora said.
"I think we're at the bottom of the stairs now." Simba said. "Now, if only we could-" Suddenly, the whole room suddenly lit up. Torches on the wall ignited themselves.
"That's better." Mheetu said. "Hey, look." He pointed a claw in front of him.
They all looked where he was pointing and saw that there was six tunnels.
"Which one should we take?" Nala asked.
"I vote for none." Kora said.
"Don't be such a wimp." Simba told him. "Look, there's six tunnels, so we'll each take one." He began walking down the one to the far left.
"I got this one!" Tora said running down the next tunnel.
Nala and Mheetu then each picked a tunnel to go down.
"Oh... I don't want to do this..." Kora moaned as he started walking down the fifth tunnel.
Kulaani was the last one; he stood there for a moment, before hearing that familiar voice in his head.
"Ready to start?" the voice asked.
"No..." Kulaani groaned.
"Heheheh..." the voice laughed. "Oh, well."
Kulaani's eyes suddenly began glowing bright red. He knew what to do. "Hehehehe... Time to have some fun." he laughed as he ran down the last tunnel. Simba and the other cubs had no idea what was about to happen to them.
A/N: So, how do you like that little cliffhanger there? Sorry if this chapter was a bit dull, but things are going to start picking up, so don't worry. What is this thing that's doing this to Kulaani? What is he going to do to them? Well... It's bad. Remember that warning from the first chapter? That could come into play very soon. It could get messy... I hope you liked this chapter! What will happen next? Find out in chapter 3! :)
