Before she knew what was going on, Vitani was fleeing. She, Nala and Simba were running full pelt, Simba having grabbed the cub by the scruff of the neck. All four made no noise - there was no time for screaming.
The wildebeest came thundering toward them, sounding like a booming orchestra of drums. Although the lionesses could easily outrun the panicking creatures, Simba was larger and unused to running for long distances - and his eyes clearly showed that the darkly coincidental situation was having a psychological effect.
After a painfully long chase, Nala and Vitani managed to climb to an elevated platform on the gorge wall, and they helped a struggling Simba and his young cargo up just as the first wildebeest stormed below.
The four stood there, panting, watching the stampede silently. The cub flopped onto the ground and nervously nodded his thanks to Simba, who felt yet another twinge of remembrance.
Tearing her eyes away from the bizarre parade below, Vitani looked up and saw three shadows appear on the wall above her - two large ones and a smaller airborne one. The party above were having a strained conversation, and despite the distance and noise Vitani tried to hear what they were saying.
"- -t -ee h-, y-r -j-st-!"
"N-… -a-, ar- y- -re h- - do- the-?"
"-omp-t-l-! H- -as -ght th-, - -at ro-k!"
Vitani prodded the king and queen, motioning for them to listen in as well.
"I- f-y -ow-! Do- -rry, s-r-!"
At this, the airborne shadow disappeared downward.
"He- s- -ng… - cou-d- b-r l-sin- -m…"
"Br-he -sy, -fas-. -m su-, wha-ver ha-s, yo- w- - reun- -oo- e-gh."
Vitani jumped and began to climb towards the source of the voices. Pulling herself up, she could see two lions standing on the platform above them, a golden giant with a large red mane and a smaller, darker one next to him. Both were looking down at the stampede, but the larger one looked far more concerned than his companion. In fact, the other lion's green eyes wandered away from the rampage below; and met Vitani's.
The lion gave a startled cry, causing his concentrating brother to start as well. Vitani was also surprised - for the second time in what felt like ten minutes, she released the vertical surface she was holding on to and landed on Simba.
"I really have to stop trying to climb things…" she thought, picking herself up.
The two males rushed to the side of the cliff and looked down at the four. The golden one regarded the three adults suspiciously, but when he saw the cub his face lit up.
"Simba!" he cried.
"Dad!" replied the cub joyfully.
"Simba?" spluttered Simba.
"Dad…?" murmured Vitani.
If the cub was indeed Simba, impossible though it seemed, then the large lion now smiling happily down at him was Mufasa; and this in turn meant that the other lion, who was staring incredulously at the unexpected arrivals, was Scar. Scar was notable for many reasons, but two stood out at that moment. Firstly, he was Vitani's father, who she had only met once before his death; and secondly, the three had just interrupted his attempt to kill Mufasa.
The mind-bending implications of what had just transpired set in gradually. Simba had seen Mufasa die; he had touched his father's body mere moments after he had passed away. His younger self had been right there, and indeed, his younger self was right there, trying and failing to climb up the wall, a grin on his face. Mufasa remained very much alive.
Scar was also shocked, as was Zazu, who squawked in surprise when he caught sight of the visitors upon returning. Mufasa was mostly relieved that his son was still safe, but he also gave the three mysterious lions furtive looks.
By this time, the stampede had ceased, leaving all assembled free to speak normally, once they found the words to do so. It was Mufasa, after jumping down to the lower platform to hug his son, who broke the exceedingly awkward silence.
"Who are you?" the king rumbled. It took all of Simba's self-restraint to prevent himself from bursting into tears of confused joy.
The three lions simply stared in awe at Mufasa as their response. Scar, recovering quickly, seized an opportunity.
"Whoever they are, they are trespassing!" he snapped. "I've never seen them before in my life, so they must be outsiders intentionally encroaching on our territory! In fact," he continued, adding a sudden idea to his speech without skipping a beat, "they are probably the ones who caused the stampede!"
Mufasa looked from his trusted brother to the unknowns, and his face hardened. He was about to say something when a voice from his foot interjected.
"But Uncle Scar, they were being chased by the wilderbeest! In fact, they're the ones who saved me!"
"Is this true?" asked Mufasa.
Simba wanted to respond, but words failed him. However, Nala managed to say "Y-yes, it is true we saved him, your highness…"
Mufasa smiled warmly. "Then you have all earned my eternal gratitude. We have avoided tragedy by the narrowest of margins, thanks to your sudden arrival. It's odd for a stampede to start so suddenly, and I shall look into it tomorrow, but for now I'd prefer to get my son home. By all means, follow me; you are the pride's honoured guests as of now. Come, it's easiest to climb back up a little bit down this way."
Mufasa slid to the gorge floor and began walking away, his son at his heels. Simba, Nala and Vitani shared looks, and then silently agreed they may as well join him.
"B-but… Mufasa-!" choked Scar from above.
"How absent-minded of me!" Mufasa chided himself. He turned his grinning face up to his brother. "I owe you just as much thanks for alerting me of the stampede. Believe me, I'm touched that despite our differences you still instinctively act to protect Simba. Without you, things would have been very different today."
Still smiling, Mufasa turned and led the others, including a worried-looking Zazu, towards his preferred ascension point.
Scar watched them go, his eye twitching slightly.
