Chapter 3
Words from the King
Kion glanced out from the cave on priderock. His eyelids drooped heavily over his eyes, he could barely lift his head. Zuri walked towards him, a zebra leg was hanging from her jaws. Nala had just gotten back from her hunt, and the other lionesses were basking in the sun near the base of priderock with her, as they all enjoyed their kill. She laid it at his paws.
"Saved the best part just for you Kion" she said with a smile.
Kion didn't even look up at her. He simply placed his head on the other side of his paws and sighed to himself.
"Come on Kion, please?" Zuri asked. "You haven't had so much as a morsel since…"
"It's okay" he cut her off briskly. "I'm not hungry."
"Oh… okay" Zuri said softly as her eyes lowered. "I guess I'll leave you alone then." She turned and left the cave only for Kiara to come bounding in seconds later.
"Kion, please, you've got to eat" Kiara prompted.
"I said I wasn't hungry" Kion replied with an edge in his voice. "Figures Zuri would go running to you about me."
"She's just worried about you Kion" Kiara said as she rolled her eyes. "You should appreciate what she's been doing. She always fights for the best of the meat to bring to you, it's no easy to wrestle it away from Tifu."
Kiara smiled a little at her joke, but nothing passed Kion's golden eyes. He didn't smile, he didn't chuckle dryly like he used to. He was beginning to worry them all.
Kiara sighed and laid down beside Kion so that her fur brushed his. It wasn't an easy thing to deal with — death— especially for cubs as young as they were. Kion didn't move as she laid beside him. He didn't acknowledge her at all, but he had to admit, he was grateful for her warmth. They laid in silence for a while until Kiara felt the gentle rise and fall of his body as he slept. She glanced over at him and licked the tuft of fur on his head lovingly. "Sleep well brother" she whispered. "The Kings in the Stars watch over you, as do I. And I always will."
Another week came and went, and Kion was so thin he didn't even look like the same cub anymore. Nala spoke to her son, voicing her concerns about his dawning health but he didn't seem to hear her. Simba was alerted as well by his son's condition and he came and sat before him one morning.
"Kion, you know, the guard could really use it's leader" Simba explained.
"What guard?" Kion grumbled. "Fuli's gone, and Ono's buried at the base of pride rock."
Simba nudged his son but Kion didn't move. He refused to leave the cave. "Bunga and Beshte still need you" he said, his deep voice rumbling as he spoke. "The pridelands have been suffering without you son."
Kion stood angrily to his paws. "It's better off without me!" His fur was bristling and his teeth were bared. He felt such anger towards his father's comment that he could hardly see straight.
"Kion!" Simba scolded. "Don't even think that for a second! The circle of life needs you to defend it."
"You're the king!" Kion spat. "Protecting the circle of life is your job!"
"Kion that is enough!" Simba growled.
This time his tone was enough to silence the young cub and he flattened his ears against his skull in fear. Simba sighed and laid down beside him, placing his paw over his bony back and pulling him to him.
"Listen son, I know your upset about Ono, we all are" Simba started. "But he died defending these animals, he died a hero. As a member of the guard should."
Kion looked up at his father, he fought back tears, his voice trembled as he spoke. "Why him?" he questioned. "Why not me? I'm the leader, I'm supposed to protect them."
Simba pushed his head against his son's head and tears fell down Kion's cheeks. His whole body was shaking.
"Kion" Simba said affectionately. "That was not your fault, accidents happen. Sometimes it doesn't make sense, but that's the circle of life. The Great Kings will take of him. And they depend on you son, you to lead the lion guard. It's your responsibility, and you have to honor it."
Kion nodded, "I can't lose anyone else father" he admitted.
"You won't" Simba assured him. "Just lead wisely, and make sure all of you protect each other."
