Note: To the first guest reviews,
What are you talking about? I found myself laughing at those comments because I had no idea what you two were going on about! Truly, I know I probably shouldn't be laughing, but I couldn't help myself.
To Fer444,
Though I had to translate your review, I'm happy to know you like the story so thus far, and I can understand where you're coming from with Zola's name. It does hold a bit of tone to Zuri and Zira's names.
To the third guest reviews,
Yeah, I had no idea Zola was a name in Kingdom of Hearts. I chose Zola's name because it meant "Earth" or "Ball of Earth" and when I was searching for a name for our little princess, it was the one that stuck with me, so I went with Zola.
To Qoheleth,
In case you haven't checked your PM, no. Uh, I didn't name Zola after that author, 'kay? I didn't even know about that author to be honest...
It was mayhem what had happened.
Zola grew into a playful young cub like her mother had been so long ago, always playing with Azizi, ignoring the ways other cubs would look at her.
After her uncle had came by one day to give out a report to her parents, she got to experience him having a terrible memory when her father said something out of paw without thinking. The way her uncle had been shaking and mumbling things under his breath, one look at her and he jumped and slowly backed up towards the edge of Pride Rock, thankfully her grandfather had managed to get to his son in time and whisper to him nothing was wrong and he was apparently safe.
Her aunt Tiifu had rushed towards her mate and nuzzle him without question and how he calmed down before hiding his face in her shoulder.
Her mother had held her breath when her brother had moved towards the edge, allowing it out when their father had managed to stop him. Her ears had flattened and she rushed towards the red mane lion and cried softly as he nuzzled her for comfort, Zola's grandmother whispered to her friends how it looked like when they were still cubs and now Kion would have bad dreams and Kiara would be comforting him.
Zola let herself into wonder, and Azizi sat herself besides her, watching. For the first time, Zola felt confusion mixed with guilt wash over her as she watched her uncle cry softly. She had always known him as brave, friendly, and playful. He taught her how to play some of his cubhood games, how to hunt a little bit, but he'd always start backing away, saying he needed to go.
Azizi would be by her side in a second flat.
"Uncle..."
The lion looked over the shoulder at the call of his name, Kion looked troubled and Zola couldn't imagine why. She had no idea what her uncle was going through, everyone else did though, minus Azizi and two other cubs of the pride. Her uncle shook his head, "This doesn't...just...go and play Zola. Play with your friends. Stay away from us for now."
There was silence after that.
She couldn't move. She wanted to make sure her uncle was okay, but her father gazed at her and mouthed to go off and play like her uncle had told her. Both Azizi and Zola had moved down from Pride Rock and into the Pride Lands, but Zola's mind was on her uncle and if he was going to be okay. She loved her uncle deeply and adored him so much, too much to be leaving him alone. Azizi had noticed Zola's actions and started to feel bad.
Azizi knew how much Kion meant to Zola. He was the one who taught them how to stalk prey, how to hunt, and play some games. However, both of them didn't know what he was suffering from, and no one would tell them because they were too young.
She pulled Zola out of her thoughts by nudging her. Her blue eyes shining brightly with worry and Zola gazed down at her paws, clawing at the dirt as if she was hunting silently like Kion had taught them to do so.
"I'm worried about uncle," Zola said first as she gazed down. Her voice held nothing but worry and Azizi gulped down her sentence about Kion might be going insane. It hurt to know her best friend was worried about the Guard's leader and even more so to know something be going on and it was a huge deal.
"They all are too."
It came from Azizi's heart. She knew everyone was worried for Kion and they would all whisper about him whenever he had a breakdown like that. Kiara would always pace around like she was wondering what to do with her baby brother's illness. Tiifu was more worried than anyone for her mate and would always mumbled to him in his sleep when he would start stirring around.
"But they won't tell me!" Zola complained, laying down now. "I want to know what's going on with uncle, and I can't. I want to know, Azizi! He's my uncle! I should be able to know, shouldn't I?"
Azizi shifted on her paws. "We're too young to find out now, maybe when we're older..."
"No!" Zola suddenly shouted, moving to stand in front of Azizi. Her eyes threatening with tears by this point and Azizi's heart broke further. "I want to know what's going on!"
The sounds of paws coming towards them broke the girls' attention and they turned towards Kovu, slowly coming towards them. His expression was nothing but the one Zola had came to know as his worried face, and she bite his lip. Did he hear her? Was he coming to tell her she couldn't know about anything right now? If so, that wasn't fair! She wanted to know! Need to even!
"We're sorry," Kovu whispered to his daughter, nuzzling her. "But we couldn't let you see that go down. It's not fair to you and we know it, but you just can't."
Zola frowned, much like her father's frown. "Why not?" she whined.
"Because it'd be life changing," replied Kovu, his voice low and sorrowful. "When we're sure you can handle it, we'll tell you. But Kion just wants to keep you safe. Like the rest of the pride when he breaks down."
"But why does he break down?"
Kovu bite his lip softly before shaking his head. "Memories." he stated. "He gets memories and breaks down, Zola. It's all I can say until you're ready to know the truth."
"But is uncle okay now?" Zola asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course he is," Kovu nodded. "Tiifu has calmed him down."
Zola and Azizi shared a look before nodding slowly at the King's words. Kovu, then, took the two home and Zola found herself gazing at how her uncle was sleeping peacefully at his mate's side. Tiifu was licking Kion's head comfortingly while Kiara watched her brother from the side. Simba and Nala whispered to each other about their son's current state and Nala held a worried look for her baby boy.
"Grandpa? Grandma?" Zola said, padding up to the old rulers. "Is uncle okay?"
Simba smiled softly at his granddaughter. "Oh, darling, of course he's okay. He's just having a rough moment. That's all. When he wakes up, uncle will be okay, and he'll play with you like he was planning on doing so."
"Yes, that's right," Nala agreed. "He's okay."
Zola frowned. "But from what happened, it didn't look okay."
"He is," Simba pressed. "Zola, just have faith, okay? Uncle is fine, he's alright, and that's all we need. Kion is a strong lion, darling, he'll pull through those moments, like he always does."
"But with auntie's help?"
"Yes, until he manage on his own, to control those memories," Simba nodded. "Trust us, everything will be okay in the end."
"O..okay," Zola bite her lip as she said that.
Turning around, Zola gazed at her uncle as he slept. Her heart turned at the thought of having one of the memories they spoke of. What exactly where those memories about anyways? She was so confused about what was going on with Kion that she didn't know what to do.
When Kion's eyes opened to gaze at his niece, she smiled happily at him, only for that happiness to vanish when he closed his eyes once more before sighing peacefully at Tiifu's side. Zola frowned but kept her cool.
Something was truly up with her uncle...
...But what?
