Tavi finished cleaning out the wounds on Jina's back and Jina was currently talking to Taj. Tavi didn't engage in the conversation all he could think about was Baya. Her scent, her smile, her loving licks, and best of all her orange eyes. Why did she kiss that lion? What can he give her that I can't? It's probably my fault; I should've been a better boyfriend… Tavi thought to himself.
"Are you okay?" Jina asked. Tavi looked up and noticed Taj was sleeping and Jina was looking at him with big dark blue eyes.
"I'm just thinking." Tavi answered.
"About what?" Jina asked.
"My ex-girlfriend." Tavi replied with sigh.
"What happened?" Jina asked.
"She cheated on me and I told her it was over." Tavi explained, "I feel like I wasn't good enough and it was all my fault."
Jina put a grey paw on Tavi's arm.
"Sometimes people don't know how to commit to having one special person. But someday your ex is gonna realize that she made huge mistake but it'll be too late because Tavi I hope you know to never go back to someone because that's like making the same mistake twice." Jina comforted.
"Thank you Jina, you're very smart." Tavi smiled.
Kione attacked Daren with strong blows to the head, chest, and stomach. Daren tried to flip Kione over on his back but Kione wriggled out of his grip. Kione raked his claws into Daren's stomach. Daren screamed helplessly and scratched at Kione's chest. He ignored the stinging pain and kept scratching. Kione wanted to end it quick for the lion so he bit as hard as he could into Daren's neck. Kione heard Daren's breathing become short, he was struggling for air, Daren thrashed and fought but Kione held him down until his body went limp. Kione didn't let go until he was sure that Daren was dead. Kione let go and put his ear to Daren's chest, there was no heartbeat, and he was dead, gone forever. Kione lifted his head and saw everyone around him with their battles on hold, just staring at him.
"Your leader is dead, leave now." Kione commanded.
"You really think Daren was the true leader?" Dumaka scoffed, "He was just the muscles but I was the brains, the one who planned everything, we needed a large idiot to get everyone to do as we said. So now your fight is with me."
"Is that so? Well you made it pretty clear that your brother here is strong and a better fighter than you so shouldn't you be scared of me?" Kione questioned.
"I never said that. What I lacked in brute strength I make up for in speed." Dumaka growled.
Kione stepped forward and began to circle Dumaka.
"Go ahead circle me, but I'll be prepared for your weak attempts to kill me." Dumaka said smugly.
Kione growled and faced Dumaka with hate in his green eyes. How dare you try to take my pride, my home, my throne, and my happiness away?! Kione thought in anger. Dumaka smiled an evil smile.
"Common kitty cat, hit me, bite me, and scratch me." Dumaka taunted.
Kione snarled and attacked with his best moves. But Dumaka was very fast; he fainted to the side and hit Kione in the ribs, hard. Kione struggled to get the breath that was knocked out of him back. Dumaka took that time to pounce on Kione and bite into his thick young adult mane. Kione tried to flip Dumaka on his stomach but Dumaka as too heavy. This is it, I'm going to die. Kione felt the weight lift off of him and looked up to see Chika with Dumaka on her shoulders. Chika threw Dumaka about three feet and roared.
"Well we know who paid attention in training!" Kione exclaimed. Chika smiled and winked at Kione.
Kione got to his paws and stood beside Chika. The brother sister pair growled at Dumaka, daring him to move closer. Dumaka roared at Chika and pounced at her chest. Chika blocked Dumaka with a hard blow to the face. Dumaka, after ramming into Chika's paw, fell flat onto his back. Kione jumped onto Dumaka trying to strangle him. But Dumaka was quick and kept wriggling out of Kione's grip.
"I'll take it that you don't need my help anymore." Chika called as she walked away from the fighting males.
Chika sure had made an impression on the River pride lions. None of them wanted to fight the strong young lioness. Chika ran at three lionesses looking for an opponent. The lionesses saw Chika effortlessly throw Dumaka, they didn't want to mess with her. Chika ran the lionesses about a mile away from the pride lands and retreated. As she was going back Chika saw the lifeless looking body of Kovu.
"Kovu!" Chika shouted. Chika sat by Kovu trying to get him to open his eyes. Chika licked his cheek, hoping he would wake up. Kovu's eyes fluttered open.
"Kovu!" Chika shouted again.
"Chika, I'm not going to make it, tell Kiara I love her so much and I'm terribly sorry I won't be there to see the birth of our cub." Kovu whispered with weak breathing Chika nodded, "I love you like you're my real daughter, and don't forget that."
A tear rolled down Chika face as she whispered, "I love you too… daddy."
Kovu closed his eyes with a smile, for Chika hadn't called him "Daddy" since she found out he wasn't her real father. Chika watched as the life faded from Kovu's body. She carried his body to the side of the battlefield so he wouldn't be stepped on.
"You done having your little cry fest?" A lioness taunted. Chika whipped her head around and growled at the strange lioness.
"I'm gonna take those words and shove them so far down your throat, they'll come out your ass." Chika threatened.
"Oh yeah, I'm real scared." The lioness said sarcastically.
Chika growled and walked over to the lioness.
"I'll give you one chance, either run away and I'll never have to see your ugly face again or stay and have me kill you within three minutes." Chika snarled.
"You don't stand a chance against me." The lioness scoffed.
"Try me." Chika growled softly.
Chika and the lioness were locked in battle. Chika pinned the lioness down effortlessly and grabbed her throat with both paws. Chika decided to end it quick for the lioness so she grabbed the lioness's throat with her teeth. Chika pressed down hard until the lioness stop breathing and moving.
"Well that was easier than I expected." Chika smirked.
Kione slashed Dumaka's forehead as hard as he could. The older lion howled in pain and gave Kione a blow to the head that knocked him of his feet. Kione got up in a daze and jumped at Dumaka before he could jump at him. Kione pounded Dumaka's chest, throat, and head with unsheathed claws. When Kione finished pounding the lion he used all his strength to pick up Dumaka and throw him into a large rock. Dumaka flew into the rock head first and didn't rise. Kione, feeling woozy from all the blood he lost in the battle, collapsed on the floor. Chika rushed to her brother, trying to get him to wake up. Chika saw the blood oozing out of different areas of Kione's head and panicked. Chika put an ear to her brother's chest, checking for a heartbeat. Chika heard a heartbeat but it was faint and quick. Buru stood up and got the fighting lion's attention.
"River pride lions and lionesses! Your leader is dead, you need to pick up your beaten bodies and leave the pride lands!" Buru roared to the leftover river pride lions and lionesses. The leftover lions and lionesses looked around in confusion, checking to see if their leader really was dead. When the lions and lionesses saw their dead leaders they ran as fast as they could away from the pride lands. The pride landers cheered in their victory.
"Uh you guys, let's not celebrate too soon." Chika advised loudly, "Kione's hurt real bad."
The pride gathered around Kione and Chika picked Solo, Buru, and Akida to carry Kione to the den.
"Also I want our lionesses or lions who can handle dead bodies to stay behind." Chika ordered. Most of the lions and lionesses of the pride walked back to pride rock with Buru, Solo, and Akida. But about 3 lionesses stayed behind to help out. One of them was named Jika; she had a yellow pelt with green eyes, the other lioness was Shani; she had grey eyes and the lightest pelt Chika had ever seen, the last lioness was Shani's sister Shanti; she looked just like Shani only Shanti was a bit taller.
"Alright you three look for pride landers, we don't need to waste our time having respect for those nasty River pride lions and lionesses." Chika ordered. After a few minutes of searching the battlefield the lionesses found only King Kovu's body. Chika surveyed the battle field and checked all the dead River pride lions and lionesses to make sure they were all dead. Chika got to checking Dau and felt a pulse. Chika licked Dau, trying to get him to open his eyes. Dau's eyes flickered open with a groan.
"Am I going to die?" Dau asked quietly.
"I don't think so; your pulse is very strong. But if I decide to leave you out here for the hyenas then yes you will die." Chika answered.
"Please Chika, forgive me. I'm not entirely like my brothers I promise. I'm sorry for following them though please just help me get better and I promise I'll leave the pride lands without another word." Dau begged.
"Uggh fine but if you step out of line once you're dead got it?" Chika threatened.
"Oh thank you Chika! I'm forever in your dept." Dau thanked.
"Can you walk on your own?" Chika asked.
"I think so, I'll try." Dau mumbled. Dau got to his paws slowly and tried to take a step.
"Ow!" Dau shouted as he fell to the ground.
"Don't move just hold on." Chika ordered.
"Jika, come over here I need you!" Chika yelled.
"But Chika I have to help carry Kovu." Jika called.
"Shani and Shanti can carry him with their combined strength; I need you to help me carry Dau." Chika barked.
"Alright." Jika agreed, "Wait are you sure we can trust him?"
"I'm taking care of this one myself, so I'll keep a close watch on him." Chika explained.
"Ok if you say so." Jika shrugged. It took a while but Jika and Chika managed to balance Dau on their backs. The 4 lionesses and one lion walked to pride rock in silence. The three lionesses, Shani, Shanti, and Jika cried a little about their king's death but Chika held it all in; she didn't want anyone to see her cry. When they got to pride rock Chika decided to tend to Dau right away so she went to the den Hani used to stay in.
"Thank you Jika. Can you tell Buru to come to the den with some herbs?" Chika asked.
"Sure glad to help Chika." Jika smiled.
When the lionesses got back to pride rock with the former king the whole pride gathered around his body. Kiara, having arrived with all the other pregnant lionesses a while ago, fell onto Kovu's lifeless body weeping heavily. Hani made his way to the queen, softly stroking her back for comfort. Shanti spoke up.
"Kiara, Chika said Kovu told her something before he died. Do you want to see Chika so she can give you the message?"
Kiara nodded.
"Chika told me to meet her at Hani's old den with some herbs, I can walk you there." Buru offered with a large piece of bark covered with herbs in his mouth.
"Thank you Buru, let's go." Kiara sniffled, "As for everyone else, I need a few people to dig a hole behind pride rock so we can have it ready later for a burial."
A few lionesses decided to help you and dig the hole.
"And Safi, since you and Kione will become king and queen later tonight I need you to do a queenly task. You know everyone in the pride right?" Kiara asked. She was trying so hard not to cry for the loss of her husband, she could cry later when things didn't have to be figured out.
"Yes, do you need me to make sure no one's missing?" Safi asked.
Kiara nodded and sent Safi off to do the task at hand. Buru and Kiara walked in an awkward silence until they got to the den. In the den Chika was cleaning out Dau's wounds with gentle licks.
"You're pretty good at this, are you a medicine lioness?" Dau asked.
"Nope, I just have a lot of experience because Dima used to play rough and get hurt a lot so I would have to be gentle." Chika explained.
"I see, Ow!" Dau exclaimed as he felt a stinging pain in his lower stomach.
"Sorry, there's a nasty gash right here and I'm trying to be as gentle as possible." Chika apologized.
"That's ok, I've felt worse pain." Dau shrugged.
"Buru should be here soon with some herbs." Chika said between licks.
"What exactly do herbs look like?" Dau asked.
"Well Rafiki mixes them in some goopy mush and it's a bluish purple color." Chika replied.
"Is it gonna sting?" Dau asked.
"I don't know I've never had it put on me before." Chika replied.
"Uh that feels weird." Dau commented as Chika got to the lowest part of the wound.
"Hold on I'm almost done with it." Chika snapped.
"Sorry." Dau said quietly.
"We're here." Buru called as he entered the den, "Ew Chika what are you doing!?"
"Cleaning out a wound on his lower stomach, jeez!" Chika laughed.
"Oh… well we got the medicine and Kiara wants to know what Kovu told you to tell her." Buru explained.
"Oh, mom I'm sorry about Dad- er Kovu but he told me to tell you that he loves you very much and he's terribly sorry he won't be able to see the birth of your cub." Chika said. Kiara wept heavily as Chika told her the message. It pained Chika to see her mother cry, it was probably the worst thing you could see next to seeing your father die. Chika hugged her mother tight; she thought that would help her stop crying but Kiara cried even more from the gesture. Eventually Kiara broke them embrace and dried her tears.
"I should get to pride rock and help with the burial, you two can stay here and help this lion, and you'll be able to see the grave later." Kiara suggested.
"Alright mom, I love you. And just so you know, Kovu died with a smile because he knew that he made a difference in this world. He was a father, a husband, a brother, and grandpa, a friend to all, and a great king." Chika comforted. Kiara smiled for it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard Chika say. Kiara said her goodbyes and left.
"Alright let's fix Dau up." Chika said to Buru.
"Okie dokie. So do we just take a pawful and spread it on the wounds?" Buru asked.
"Yeah, pretty much." Chika answered. Buru nodded an "okay" and the two spread the herbs on the large lion's body. Everything seemed like it would soon get better.
A/N Hey y'all! Sorry this is kinda late hope you enjoyed! :D
