Ch3

The next morning it was raining hard as Rafiki had predicted, too hard for anything good to happen, rivers started to flood, lions and lionesses kept to high grounds, most cubs where told to stay inside. The lightning ripped through the sky, the rain was so hard it had blocked out everything in the distance. Jake woke early in the morning to the sound of thunder and hard rain above his home, his mom was slightly awake cradling his scared little brother in her arms.

He trotted around the cave, several of the kids where playing but he really wasn't in the mood, and he was hungry. There was a stored food corner but it had been mostly picked clean, he decided to pick what was left, and for entertainment chew on some of the bones. He had a feeling today would be the most boring day of his life, if he didn't get out.

But Jake escaped the caves, because he had to go. He noticed first when he was chewing on a rib bone, the pressure started to build, at first he was going to tell his mother but then he remembered last time, she made him go in the cave and it smelled all day, he wouldn't do that again. This time instead he got several of his friends to take the bones he was chewing on and cause a distraction, even the guard for the day came to see what was all the noise, and the kids plaid the usual came of push with the bones instead of rocks. While the cave entrance was empty he walked out into the harsh rain was instantly soaked.

At first he just tried to go off the edge of the cave, but the wind and rain was too hard, instead he went out a little, into the mud and grass, to go. That saved his life, lightning struck the highest point of the cave they lived in with a roaring flash and deafening blast, and sent rocks to block the way out, the last thing he saw inside was the guard scattering back, out of the way. Forgetting his former problem he ran back to the cave. "Mom!"

The day was dark because of the clouds, even though it was sunrise time for the morning. He couldn't see in the cave through the cracks of the rubble, it was just too dark, but his mom's voice came through loud and clear. "Honey, get back, more might come down," at that the cave shifted and a bit of its top caved inwards, he could hear some of lions screaming inside.

"Mom!" he said putting his front paws against one of the large pieces of rubble, trying to look for a way in.

"Get back!" she snapped, and he got down.

Another voice came through, a male "No, he could get help!"

"No!" his mom came back, "no he's too little, Jake, just hide in a tree somewhere…Jake?"

But it was too late; Jake rushed for the only landmass he knew, unaware if he was heading in the right direction.

The lions of pride rock gasped when the cub entered chased buy one of the guards he had slipped buy, the boy was obviously exhausted and soaked with the rain, and he collapsed breathing heavy onto the floor.

Aside from the guard Simba was the first at his side, he dragged him away from the wind and rain of the cave entrance and set him down, and then gaped at his eyes, "The kid's eyes, there…kind of dark, but how could that be, this kid couldn't rise up to overthrow me, ill be dead buy the time he's old enough." He got closer and sniffed, through the smell of rain and dirt he could tell it was the same lion the prophecy had foretold, he wondered what he'd have to do.

The pitter-patter of small feet took his attention away from the boy, "Jake!? Grandpa what happened?" Sara came skidding around her grandfather's side looking at the other young cub, water was pooling underneath his soaked body.

"You know him?" then Simba smiled softly, "I understand now. Oh! The boy, I dunno, he just barged in."

Jake opened his eyes, and eyed Sara standing next to the king, "Sara, My cave, my family and a dozen or so others, there all trapped, the cave collapsed." He tried to stand but his legs ached deeply.

Sara looked towards the rain concerned, and started for the entrance; "Sara!" Simba's deep commanding voice stopped her, "Where do you think your going?"

"His families in trouble, after what he did for me it's the least I could do!"

Simba shook his head, "If we go out in that we only risk loosing more lions, the sky's can't stay like this all day, I'd say buy noon it should lighten, buy then we will converge a team to go rescue his family, until then take care of him." He nodded to the young cub who had fallen asleep again, picking him up.

That day Simba sat Jake at his family's personal area where he slept off his weariness. The space was also occupied buy his wife Nala, his daughter Kiara and her husband Kovu, as well as Sara whom never left Jakes side and eventually fell asleep next to him. When Jake woke though a couple of hours later it was past noon, and the rain was only falling harder, he rushed to the cave entrance but one of the four guards stopped him.

"My mom!" He growled, ready to fight, baring his teeth, which got an amused look out of the guards, he felt a mighty paw stay his tail and he turned ready to fight someone else. It was King Simba, and Jake immediately backed off, "I… I'm sorry sir, but, my mom, she's trapped."

Simba smiled warmly and nodded, "And she might be fine for all you know, all I know is if we go out in this weather where likely to get swept away, and your mom would kill me if we do something as reckless as that."

Jake looked, concerned but convinced, away from the door, Simba nodded and let go of his tail, his ears lowering the kid trotted back to the area where he slept, he nodded to Nala and Sara's parents and settled down next to a wet window into the world. There wasn't much of a world to look at, he couldn't see anything past the cave walls and the only thing he knew he could count on is that it never flooded buy his cave, at least not usually.

Sara came up with something in her mouth, she dropped it and pushed it towards him, it was a very shiny rock, "Wanna play?" He smiled tiredly, and pushed it back.

Meanwhile back at his home, in the cave the stronger men and women tried to push the rocks out of the way, all they did was make the cave shutter some more. The eldest of the cave, Rinki, going on his sixties, studied the walls. "The cave is no longer sturdy; I doubt we would make it out all alive, pushing those rocks out of the way will cause this cave to collapse, I just don't know how fast." He looked around the room, "There are several groups and this will be how it happens, should we find a way to open a way out, there will be waves to groups to go out, first line will be any mothers and young children. Behind them any of the fathers of the children, and behind them any of the young women followed next buy the young men. Then the older lions and lionesses will amble out if there's still time."

A lion that was considerably aged though not as old as the one talking scoffed, "Yeah just you wanna go down with the cave doesn't mean the rest of us do."

The graying lion gave him a stern look. "Its ordained buy importance of lions, first the mothers protecting our future, than the fertile lions, and then the lions whose age determines the only thing for them is a future death." He growled, "If you have a problem with that you can take it up with me personally right here and I can guarantee there will be one less lion making it out tonight!"

Some of the younger lions and lionesses where taking care of two injured, a couple, to yellow lions. They had been under the area where the roof had caved in and taken some of the larger chunks of rubble, the man had a large head wound that was bleeding profusely and most likely wouldn't make it, the woman had two broken hind legs but was otherwise uninjured, to make matters worse though, she was pregnant and nearing birth. The elder walked over to them "We will leave the lion, he is going to die anyway, we can't rescue him…"

"NO!" the lioness screamed and then grimaced as she had twisted one of her broken front legs to the side, "No! I won't leave him!"

Ignoring her, the elder went on, "I will drag him out as the last out, but this lady must go with the first wave," He pointed to five young lions, one barely growing his mane in his teens, "You five will drag this lady out buy any means necessary and get her out of danger, and keep her safe!"

The lions nodded, some of them only feeling good they'd be assured a ride out before the cave went. The elder turned back to the blocked entrance, "Now, I must come up with a plan on how to get out."

Finally with the sun a quarter set the lions of pride rock came out to a view of a wet almost new world, at least to the younger ones it seemed that way. There where new streams where streams had once never existed, Simba's first note was the fire to the south, he then looked at the concerned cub and to the north, he couldn't discern the cave he was looking for this far but he knew where it was.

"I need a group of males to combine into a rescue team for this young master's home, and the lions trapped inside, we need to rescue and take note of the situation, if needed the survivors may need help to relocate."

Jake's head grew low, as his ears sunk around his face, "Survivors?" He wined quietly.

But Kovu nosed him, "Just official big guy disaster talk, I'm sure everyone's okay." He stood up, "Ill take that job sir, if you don't mind."

Simba rose an eyebrow, "Royalty usually doesn't go on as many missions as you do, fine, but your daughter is not going this time."

Kovu bowed to the king, "Of course." He turned back to Jake, "You should stay to, it might be a bit dangerous."

Jake drew back and then pushed forward, half shocked and half angered buy Kovu, "No way! It's my family where about to rescue!"

So they went off, a group of ten male lions, mostly in there adult ages, and one cub, all heading for Jake's home. But the trip was harder than usual, there where at least twelve new streams between pride rock and his home, and there where still spots where it was raining. But the last stream was the largest and most violent, almost a river.

Several of the lions barely made it across; some swam, most climbed a tree and took a branch across. Kovu mouthed Jake and picked him up, and started for the tree.

"Hey!" Jake protested as Kovu climbed.

Kovu waited as another lion slowly steadily climbed the bouncing branch across the river. "You may think you're a big boy Jake, but ill be damned if I'm going to let you get hurt, not with a fierce mom like yours, and not when my little girls taken a liking to you."

Jake just blushed at this as Kovu slowly crossed the wobbly branch, at several times it seemed they'd go over to Jake, plunge to the muddy depths of the rushing river and never reappear. Finally Kovu jumped and hit the ground, setting Jake down. They where now in a plain area he recognized, and in the distance was his home, he ran for it, the roof from afar looked worse than it did up close, and he gasped and skid to a stop as once again it shuttered.

Kovu looked around, there was nothing but a few animals around, "What to do, what to do." Then he eyed some elephants, "What would Simba do?" He grinned.

The group inside stepped back, "This isn't working," a guy called back to the elder.

The elder grunted, "I can see that." He had no idea how any of them would get out, unless the young cub, unlikely, made it for help, they'd all die of starvation, or at least at the end of his life one of the lions would be forced to resort to cannibalism.

He looked over to Mattie who was bathing her son, the only thing she could do at a time like this, and back at the injured couple, the lioness was holding tightly onto her belly. "I hope, Mattie, your son knows his way."

At that two sets of giant tusks burst through the caves entrance holding both sides of it up, and with a mighty trumpet another elephant started pulling bigger rocks from the cave's entrance as the lions worked on the smaller ones.

Soon what was left of day broke through, and the elder yelled, "The plan! Now!"

Mattie picked up her son, as the caves walls began to crack and disintegrate and started for the entrance, on her way out several males rushed past her back in.

Jake saw his mom come out and rushed for her, but she made a motion for him to get away and he followed her out into a small grassy area with some trees, the place he had almost went this dreaded morning. As they watched all the women come out, along with the pregnant lioness, they also watched lots of large and small cracks crawl up the cave wall, soon the other lionesses and fathers where out, and then the young males, and followed buy the older lions and lionesses, finally the elder began to drag the injured male out.

Some of the males that had come from pride rock rushed towards the cave entrance but something loud cracked a piece of the roof fell inwards. "Get back, all of you!" The elder yelled, finally an elephant gave way and dropped his side, and the other elephant backed off in reprehension of what was going to happen. The whole cave, caved in on itself, there was one last mighty roar from the elder that sounded much younger than he was, before he was cut short. The pregnant lioness yelled for her lost husband and everyone bowed their heads for the loss of the elder lion.

Then the lioness screamed again, but this time it was different. She dug her claws into the nearest male who at first almost snapped at her but then decided to let her when he saw what was happening, she was giving birth. Jake had seen it once before when his brother had been born, but it always looked so painful. When she was done there sat at her legs a brand new baby lion cub, a boy, but usually at the end of birth the father cleaned it, he now had no father. Instead another male from their home came to her and cleaned the cub, then carried it to her resting place where she could see it.

She smiled, "I'll name you Gyro, after you're father." She said, and then she nuzzled the male that had helped her, "Thanks."

That night Simba's workers found homes for most the lions, the recent widow and the lion that had helped her went off together. But when Kovu came to ask them if they needed one Mattie shook her head. "Most my family lives in the southern pride lands, we'll move back there and house with my father."

Jake gasped, shook his head, "Mom, but!"

"Shh… it's probably not permanent, just for now."

Jake knew she didn't understand, he looked at Kovu but he just shrugged, the prince was not all powerful when it came to his mom. The south several dozen miles away, far away from pride rock, so far you really couldn't see it; he'd most likely never see Sara again.

But he stopped running around in a panic and accepted his fate; it had been a hard enough day. "Okay."

On the way down they took the long way around some of the streams and passed up pride rock buy the time the moon had risen one quarter the way into the sky. Kovu invited them to stay the night and they agreed, that night he met with Sara and told her the bad news.

"You can't, when can we see each other again?" She whispered, her ears where back and her eyes where wide with worry.

"I dunno, my ma says its temporary but once she's settled in a place she'll never move," a tear formed in his eye, "I may never get to see you again," he sobbed.

But Sara just rubbed her head against his tears, "Don't cry, I'm sure ill see you again soon. And I'll never forget you." She looked around, "I know, stay here!" She bounded off deeper into the cave.

She brought back the shiny rock they had plaid with the other day, and sat it down in front of him, "This is my favorite rock in all the lands, take it, and remember me." Tears began to form in her eyes. "And when you come back, bring it back so I'll know it's you, for no matter how you change, I will never forget." She smiled, and he smiled back, and nodded, taking the rock he kept it under his form, protecting it.

Then they lied down for the night, each on the other side of that rock, and stared at each other till finally Sara quietly fell asleep, and still Jake watched her.

When Jake woke he was swinging in the morning, at first he panicked and his mom dropped him. "Sorry there Jake."

"Mom!" he looked around, "But, where are we?" he couldn't see pride rock anywhere; they had already gone far from it.

"You've been asleep for hours, I though I'd carry you for a while and your brother was a good walker, but it's his turn to ride."

She picked up his brother who dropped the rock he carried, it was Sara's special rock, and started to walk again, Jake just stood looking the way he came, he hadn't even got to say goodbye. "Come on Jake, most the orange lions down here are a little seedy." His mother called to him, he sighed, picked up the rock, and started after her.

Other than his depression the trip was uneventful, they stopped a quarter the way and his mom caught lunch, but he barely picked at the meal. They finally reached a thick gathering of caves, there where two side of a ravine and two levels of the ravine, and large caves surrounding it. The day had grown to noon and it was hot, a few lions plaid in the sun, teens causing trouble, and they eyed the group warily. When they entered a cave at near the end of a top row on the right side, they where nodded to buy the cave guard, "Miss Mattie, what brings you to your old home." He said giving her a friendly hug.

"Hello Richard," Richard was an old friend and lived here his whole life, she drew back out of the hug and eyed him, "Our home is gone and I was hoping I could talk the group into letting us stay here… at least for a while."

Richard laughed, "I'm sure everyone will enjoy that, everyone here you know, only a few new comers, mostly kids."

As they entered she sat Brae down who immediately ran for his grandparents, Mattie followed him and Jake dragged his tail in the back of the line.

In the end the whole group accepted them warmly, so warmly that they staid there, for quite a while. Jake hid his rock in a special place near where he slept, and began to grow year after year, when he hit fourteen he finally began to grow some of his mane though it was only a thick sprout of hair, yet every year he went back to that rock, and almost every week he thought of Sara.