Hi. Little rusty. Nonetheless, enjoy.
:)
Another day had passed in the peaceful kingdom known as the Pridelands. Simba forced his eyes to open; squinting out to look into the outside. The moderate brightness of the sun loomed high over Priderock. Bluebirds appearing small from a distance flapped their wings speedily, maintaining optimal height, yet moving at a steady pace as they flew across the sun. That's where he finally gained the energy to open his eyes, to bathe in the beautiful view, and he was not disappointed. Then he maneuvered both of his down below his chest where his red mane laid and pushed himself up to sit up, feeling his muscles begin to stretch out more; which indeed did succeed in helping the king feel a bit younger, considering that his birthday was tomorrow.
Oh, yeah... my birthday.
His gaze then surfed around his den. Several lioness bodies covered the entire room, but after he completed his scan of the pride, he looked down at his mate and son. Kopa rested at his left, while Nala was sleeping soundlessly on his right.
Time sure did pass quickly. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a great life here. It's all amazing. Thank you...
He looked back up into the sky outside.
Father.
It had years since his father exchanged his own life for his son's. It was the most honorable thing a father could ever do for a son. No matter how much it hurt the son to see his own father dead. There was a good and a bad to his father's death. Like, two sides of a rock that had a softer side and a harder side. Mufasa gave Simba a chance to be something more. Something more significant.
However, being a King was the worst thing he's ever dealt with. The constant complaints about the lack of water, or food. The trade of anger inducing insults. The pain that he, the king, struggled to sleep off. Barely managing to muster up the confidence the next day. It was all mentally painful to an extent that he considered giving up one day.
How dare I even consider something like that? After what my father did for me. After what Nala did for me. I can't back down. I owe both of them.
He looked back at the sleeping lionesses.
I owe all of them, a good king.
Simba looked at the exterior of the den again and decided that he needed a long walk from his own thoughts. However, he doubted that trying to escape his own thoughts would do much at all. He knew that from experience. Simba stepped over one single lioness body and made his way down the usual rocky slope. Then soon feeling his paws press down on the grass softly sticking against them and his tail fell into a low crouch that allowed the grass to reach up and touch it, which he did feel as well. Lying ahead was a clear path, where his left shoulder pointed to. His right shoulder faced a clear path that had only a dozen trees precisely separated from each other. Each tree full of caramel colored leaves that stood still because of the lack of fresh, wind amongst the land. Like before, he took his time to push his gaze all around the area, taking in the beautiful scenery that the Pridelands were always known for.
Then he remembered, there was supposed to be a momentary agreement talk with the Hippos today. Thank the Kings he didn't forget about that. Only Simba knows how angsty they can get when one of the lionesses strolls on their land accidentally. This talk would confront those issues and both Simba and the Hippo king will agree that there won't be any problems regarding that ever again, but if it does happen again...
Let's just hope that doesn't happen again.
He let out a laugh at his own thoughts, then that laugh quickly evaporated and Simba walked down the land. Continuing to think and think with his head pointing down to the point where his nose stared down at the grass and where his eyes laid on the ground as well. Dawning moments passed before he took aware of a small, hill that he easily treaded down steadily and then resumed his walk on the flat, grassy surface. Then, his eyes laid upon the outskirts of the Pridelands. He had almost forgotten had beautiful it was before everything went... royal.
Simba had no idea what he meant by that, but everything just wasn't the same as it used to be. There wasn't much fun in anything, not much joy. When he was younger, he used to love the fresh breeze that flew by. It was relaxing. Something that he always enjoyed. Everything was just so dull now.
"Not enjoying the king life are you?"
His eyes widen at the faint, whisper of a voice. Simba took a glance at the area around him, peering into anything that looked suspiciously out of place, or any dark figure that lurked in the tall grass. But there was nothing there to necessarily force him to take action. However... the grass beneath him had strangely turned cold, a certain numbness that blew through his body and an inexplicable chill that shone down his spine.
Maybe I'm just hearing things...
He tried to shake the urge to cower out of patrolling for the day and just return him for a daybreak. But he knew that would soon break into a habit. Which was unacceptable and unfair to his pride.
Simba sighed.
The red maned king cautiously walked on, treading upon the idea that the abrupt chill was nothing to shed worry for. And he was right about that. His walk had remained peaceful, nothing had really happened thankfully and his patrol had gone smooth. Without any rogues camping any territory of his. Everything was fine it seemed.
The heaping mounds of dark, green, grim leaves had danced to the short whisper of another wind as he felt some of the long paving grass along the ground shiver under his stomach. Trees had stood across from each other, glaring each other down, while Simba stood in between the large, oddly placed trees, skimming around him, discreetly sniffing around for a scent swelling up in the air. It almost seemed too ominous he concluded. Simba usually saw herds of gazelles, or elephants lurking around here.
Besides the trees... it's strangely too quiet. If only father gave me some advice on how now to be creeped out by large trees then maybe I could get through this no problem...
A few months ago from a small, furry source, he heard that this place was known as The Valley of TailHalf. Simba had no idea why it was called such a name, or why it was even given a name in the first place, but it wasn't anything to really be concerned about. It was about as innocent as a cub he soon presumed.
He froze.
He paused his train of thought for a moment to take one final look around him and same as before, there was nothing but the trees and grass, the sun and more grass from afar and with that, he walked on.
Yeah... there's nothing over here worth acknowledgment. Maybe I should see what's up with the Deterita kingdom. Hopefully, that won't be much of a waste of my time, or at all actually.
Simba reached the end of the spread of trees. He glanced left and right, hoping to find some sort of life and to serve his disappointment more, he did not. He let out a deep sigh. Then, he let out a brief chuckle before moving again.
It's almost like I'm hoping for someone to show up to try and kill me, it's just been a little boring without anyone doing something stupid or maybe, I'm just... I don't know. What am I even saying?
Then, pausing on those thoughts, he pursued towards his destination, this time taking a right. Moving away from the hill he had trailed down previously. Soon enough as his walk continued on and on for at least until it was no longer morning. He was surprised to even think he had the lung capacity to even walk that far away from home. He noted that he still felt fine. Maybe it was his lucky day.
Then he stopped, taking in the fairly damp smell in the atmosphere as he arrived in a place where two lanky rivers had been separated from each other. He felt the wet grass beneath his paws and he guessed it had come from the rain the Pridelands hadn't received yet. The Deterita Kingdom wasn't necessarily the best place in the world, nor was it the worst place in the world. It certainly wasn't better than the Pridelands Simba knew. However, Simba knew the Deterita had nice lions living there. When the King had came to Simba to let him know that he wanted to claim that sort of territory, Simba hadn't found any hint of hostility in his tone, nothing threatening at all. It sounded more like, 'if you let me and my pride live here, we won't ever bother you.' which they didn't.
Except for when the king had wanted Simba's entire pride to come and meet his pride. Simba reluctantly took his offer and it all went well. Simba could tell the lionesses were enjoying the Deterita Kingdom's company.
Think I remember Kopa meeting some cub, but enough of the past...
Simba sunk in a deep breath and let out a loud, stunning roar that echoed throughout the woods.
"State your reason for passing these lands, rogue."
Simba counted one minute in his head until he heard those words. He tried to look as innocent as the king of this place when he had visited Simba, whipping his tail back and forth calmly and dropping his shoulders into a nonchalant posture. "I'm here to visit Zenor. I only came to see if anything has been going on for the past few weeks." Simba tried his best to not make eye contact and continued looking forward.
"Zenor isn't supposed to be seeing anyone today. If so he would let us know."
"I'm here on friendly terms. If I were to betray you, I would bring my entire pri- family here. I'm harmless."
"Last guy that said that, ended up being killed because he wasn't so harmless."
"Let me guess... rogue?"
The silence was the answer he needed.
Simba smiled sincerely, "Honestly, guys, I'm here on friendly terms. Promise."
The voice hadn't replied as quickly as before and suddenly, he heard the river on both sides of him start to make loud noises. That's when he saw two lionesses athletically crawl from the water and start to make their way on their feet. Their stern expressions were not hard to see.
"Seriously, how do you guys stay under water for that long?"
"We don't. Not for that long at least," The lioness speaking had a fur coat of Nala's color, though not as nearly as lighter and in contrast, her eyes were black as the night, however, they were soft and kind. Not as hostile as her voice now. "We have connections," Simba followed her eyes up to a tree that had been nearby which had some unrecognizable figure that had quickly dashed away within a second of Simba's gaze. He looked back down at the smiling lionesses with surprise.
"What was that?"
"A friend."
"No I mean, what IS that?"
"Oh," The lionesses looked at each other, then back at Simba, she laughed, "We actually have no idea what he is. We don't even know if he's just an agile rat with small monkey legs that can fly," She chuckled, "But we'll save his story for another time. It's a pleasure to meet you King Simba. My name is Aenta,"
"Calling me a rogue was a bit too far wasn't it?" Simba asked curiously.
Aenta laughed, white teeth showing, "Boss says we gotta always keep it like that. Gotta keep the procedure consistent."
Simba chuckled lightly, "I guess I understand."
"HI THERE! I mean- uh, hi, it's an honor meeting you. Sir. Not that it wouldn't be, it's just that you have a huge reputation after what you did to Scar- not that what happened to him was specifically your fault or anything, it's just how you stood up for yourself against your own blood... it was really heroic of you- NOT like you weren't-"
"Simba, allow me to take you away before you make my friend here have a nervous breakdown, yes?"
Simba quickly nodded at this, and looked back at the other lioness, "Uh, you have a good one," He finished off with a grin.
"HAHAHAHAHAH! YOU TOO!"
Have never met a lioness like this in my life. Wonder if she's as crazy as Zira. Probably would need someone from her pride to give me an answer to that. But that's rude for me to assume.
And the awkward silence continued.
"I'm... I'm gonna go back underwater now."
He smiled nervously. "You have fun with that."
"I definitely will."
"C'mon Simba!" He heard Aenta call from afar and he soon dashed off after her.
The rough surface of the Outlands hadn't helped Kovu proceed to accelerate through the small, half dead grass, he felt sharp rocks start to ripple into his paws. Through his heavy breaths, his lungs continued to ache, hurting him. His mind yelled at him so he could continue on, but he felt as if he was on the verge of collapse. There were no trees for him to hide behind and he felt the lionesses approaching him from behind. Then, for some reason, he felt anger start to boil inside of him.
"I guess I was a fool to not suspect this from you. Maybe it was my foolish ideas about you that led to this, but, I'm really disappointed in you."
Those words echoed in his mind ever since...
Then he slid to a stop, dirt rushing off the ground and soon dispersing into sky. Kovu continued to breathe heavily, his muscles completely worn out. He looked down at his paws. His mane hung in front of his face. Dark ears hidden within his dark mane perked up when he heard pawsteps.
"Kovu! Training isn't over!"
"You'll never be Scar. You're too soft. You don't have the heart."
"Kovu!"
"Which is why you'll never be anything in life."
He felt a paw grasp hard onto his right shoulder. Kovu had acknowledged the touch with a glance, slightly turning his head backward to see that it was his stern-faced sister, Vitani.
"What's the matter? You know we weren't done yet."
"I..." he struggled to find an excuse and telling Vitani about his inner experience just now wouldn't win her over either. "I stepped on a rock. Slowed me down." He tore away from her hard, suspicious blue eyes, turning his head down to look at his paws again. "Won't happen again."
"You told me that last time, Kovu. Honestly, if you can't get it together then-"
"Yeah, I know. Death."
"Everyone is depending on you and. I hope you realize that.
Kovu felt a twinge of frustration at that, "Are they ready for me to let them all down?"
Vitani adopted a small frown, shaking her head. "Not what I meant. Ever since Zira disappeared you've been acting... strange. You aren't your self anymore and that's not good for us... you understand that right?"
He didn't break his silence; the dark-furred lion teen whirled around and gave her a brief moment of eye contact before walking past Vitani and past two other lanky lionesses accompanying her.
But his sisters voice shot through his voice from a distance, "I hope you know what type of responsibility you have! If you go down, we all do, Kovu! Just remember that!" and the words repeated in his mind. Torturing him. He knew the words would somehow wiggle into his mind and make their presence known for a while. It was something he couldn't find a cure for.
Minimal faces of green paved the ground, however, a majority of the grass was dead. Coated in brown and were drooping down. He never knew how much grass or any plant for that matter contributed to the whole mood of this place. Kovu doesn't have one memory of seeing grass that didn't look... nearly dead.
Kovu grunted he felt something hard bump right into his forehead; shocked from this, he took a step back and shook his head to clear away the pain. He reopened his eyes to find a skinny, brown-furred lioness with shining light brown eyes performing the same act as him and they soon made eye contact; where Kovu took a moment to read over her face. She had a long scar that shot down from her cheekbone down to her jawline, her nose black.
Her eyes slowly got bigger as she slowly realized,"Oh... oh, I'm so sorry."
You better be.
Kovu soon let the angry thought drown into his mind and kept his face hard.
"I didn't see you coming and I was thinking about some things and I was just..."
"Don't worry about it." Kovu soon rushed past her, not allowing the lioness to form a reply after he had begun walking away. Kovu cringed when he was further away from the lioness, knowing why she was so shocked to even spare him a glance.
This all is too much for me to handle. Why can't anybody else do it? Why me?
Kovu looked up in the sky.
Why did I have to be your apprentice, Scar? What made you even choose me?
