[•]


When you get older, plainer, saner,
Will you remember all the danger we came from?
Burning like embers, falling, tender,
Longing for the days of no surrender, years ago.
Wishing I could see the machinations,
Understand the toil of expectations in your mind.
—LP, "Lost On You"

"...it means my fear does not stop me," Kopa recited. "It does not control me."

A gentle wind ruffled his mane, carrying with it the familiar scent of giant groundsels. Kopa recognized very little of the landscape as he left the Mirihi Forest further behind. The first traces of dawn had begun to seep into the night sky, but the towering stretch of the mountain range concealed the path and surrounding lowlands in a shadowy veil.

Being brave does not mean being fearless. Kopa pondered the words as he pressed on, trying to remember if Tumaini had taught him that one—or if they were something he heard in his previous life. He couldn't connect it to a memory, but that didn't provide the answers he needed. Besides, it didn't add up to what Tumaini told him about his family. Kopa believed his friend had meant every word he said, but there was still the nagging possibility in his mind that there was more to the truth. And if Janga's going after every pride in the Serengeti, then I need to find them before she does...

The path ahead continued winding between the boulders and mountains, disappearing and reappearing from sight on an endless stretch. From what Kopa could pick up of Tumaini's trail, his friend must be leading Siri deep into the mountain range rather than following the Zuberi River, or finding some other way into the Back Lands. Tumaini had never told him precisely where the Hollow was, but he decided to worry about that later. I just hope we make it in time.

Kopa heard an irregular rustling from just off the path, and he paused.

"Is someone there?" gasped a voice, tight with pain. The inflection was definitely that of a lion's. Kopa spotted him lying between the nearby patches of grassy tussocks; his ash-grey fur made him almost invisible in the darkness. "Sajin, is—is that you?"

Kopa approached slowly. This lion was very close to his own age. "I'm afraid not," he said apologetically. The young male's breathing sounded ragged. As Kopa crouched down next to him, he noticed the way the injured lion was clutching his side. "Let me see it."

The lion stiffened, and Kopa could see a hint of fear in his pained expression. As Kopa gently peeled the paw away he gave the young lion a reassuring smile, then turned to examine the wound. The smile immediately vanished.

Four deep gashes, unmistakably claw marks, and judging from the slight discolouring in the blood, the wounds had become infected. But that wasn't the worst of it; the telltale way the lion was gasping for breath meant that his lung was collapsed. This is complicated. But I should know how to do this...in theory.

Kopa placed one ear close to the injured lion's chest. "What's your name?"

"Kiza," panted the young male. "I can't...I can't breathe..."

As Kiza spoke, Kopa listened closely to the hiss in his breathing. "I know, Kiza," he assured him. "Lie still and don't talk. Take slow, deep breaths."

A nearby rustling sound prompted Kopa to look up. Appearing from a cluster of tall groundsels were two lions, a sandy female and a russet-furred male. Kopa wondered how they had approached so silently, when the stern middle-aged male addressed him. "Identify yourself."

Kopa calmly stepped back from Kiza. "My name is Kopa. I'm a friend."

"You're not one of them?" the long-necked lioness asked warily.

He shook his head. He had a good idea whom she was referring to. "I don't know what's going on, or why you're here," he told them. "But I do know these mountains, and I can help him." When the other lions didn't say anything, he continued, "There are plants on the mountains, ones that only grow in the freezing cold. If I can find them, I can release the pressure in Kiza's chest and his lung will re-inflate itself." I hope.

The lioness glanced at her leader. "Sajin?"

"Stay with him, Taya," Sajin ordered. To Kopa, he said, "You and me, we're going to find these plants."

"He's going to need those cuts disinfected first," Kopa added to Taya. "Collect as much yellow moss as you can. They grow all over the rocks around here." Promptly, he led Sajin off the path and toward the rocky slopes, scanning the mountainside for patches where the grass grew more sparsely amidst the brisk climate above.

"So what happened here?" Kopa asked as they climbed. Sajin was silent, observing the younger lion warily.

"They found us," he said quietly. "I don't think they meant to. Didn't matter, all I knew was that there were nine of them and five of us. One of them panicked and a fight broke out. But it didn't look like they wanted to fight either, because when I called a retreat, they just let us go. Kiza was hurt, and I decided we were going to stay put until we figured out how to patch him up."

Except you don't know where to look. Something was bothering Kopa, some crucial piece of information he was missing. "You said there were five of you," he affirmed. "Where are the other two?"

Sajin grimaced. "I told them to keep watch on Kiza while Taya and I searched. I wandered the mountains for the entire night and didn't find anything I could use... Then Taya told me the others had deserted." He scoffed, sounding more disbelieving than angry. "That's a first I suppose, but then again we've had no luck completing our mission since we entered this mountain range. Still, they'll report back to Janga if they know what's good for them."

Kopa stopped with his paw on the rocky slope, which was more than three times taller than he was. As he waited to catch his breath, he wondered for a moment if he had misheard entirely. No, he used the word "mission". Siri said they weren't like a pride, but...

"Taya wants to leave these mountains too, I can tell," said Sajin, who had caught up and was eyeing the steep climb before them. "So do I. But my first priority is to save Kiza." And with the agility of a younger lion, he leaped onto the side of the rock face and hauled himself up. "He's a kid who was just following orders...my orders. That makes him my responsibility." He crouched down in front of Kopa, who still hadn't moved, and reached out a paw.

Slowly, Kopa took Sajin's paw. He let the older lion help him up and felt a chilly breeze tickling his nose. It's only going to get colder from here. "That was...very enlightening," he said, disguising the tightness in his voice with a slight shiver. "Thanks, I wasn't sure I could climb that."

"Think nothing of it," Sajin replied amicably. "I can tell you're exhausted, and our presence in these mountains must be an unwelcome one for you. Yet your first impulse was to help Kiza when you found him. It's me who should be thanking you." He nodded for Kopa to lead the way, and the younger lion wordlessly complied, trying to keep his expression impartial. His mind was running rampant with unanswered questions about Janga and who she really was. Am I still doing the right thing? How can I know what that is when I don't even know who's right or wrong?

I wish Tumaini was here. But Kopa was on his own, and if he intended to see his friend again, then this time he would have to make the call himself. He just wished it didn't have to be so hard.

What have I gotten myself into?

•••


3 DAYS AGO


Fujo padded through the corridors of Mount Tempest, his steady pawsteps almost indiscernible amidst the bustle around him. The mountain's interior, more than spacious enough for the twenty-eight lions living inside, was filled with activity as evening approached. The hunting parties were returning one by one, and for the rest of the Tempest Pride, it was time to take inventory of their resources.

Fujo ascended the stronghold level by level, his limber but strapping frame weaving easily around passing lions. He made sure to inspect the storage dens on each floor. The pride was presently stocking the chambers with stones, firewood, herbs, and reserves of clean water, which were a lifeline with the frequent storms that gave Mount Tempest its namesake. When it comes to Malka, it's always better to be certain.

Everything is about to change. Tonight.

Which was why things had to appear normal until then. Fujo's slowed his pace as he neared the top floors of Mount Tempest; he could navigate its network of tunnels in his sleep—and compared to Malka he was still in excellent shape—but he also knew they were both a bit past their prime. As Fujo leaned against the wall to catch his breath, his eyes were drawn to a weave of orange-gold light spilling into the corridor from an opening in the wall.

This was the highest of Mount Tempest's lookout posts, and had remained unused for some time. The room, once a den belonging to some ancestral king or other, was exposed to the open air and the view of the grassland below. The sun was sitting against the horizon; soon it would be difficult to see into the darkness of the fields. Fujo's gaze lingered on the stone walls, watching the light shift against the uneven surface.

Fujo turned away and proceeded to the next floor. Situated near the peak of Mount Tempest, the royal quarters contained only four dens, and sat one level below the enormous water basins that their ancestors carved out of the mountaintop. After attempting and failing to coax Malka out of his self-imposed seclusion, the pride had taken to managing their own responsibilities. Fujo was confident that most of them would survive what was about to unfold.

He passed the first chamber to the left—his quarters—and made for the one on the opposite end of the corridor, but he stopped short. Laying in the adjacent den was Malka, the king of Mount Tempest. Fujo sighed at the familiar sight of his older brother, who looked nothing like a king as he stirred from his restless slumber; a pair of bleary maroon eyes peered at Fujo from beneath an unkempt black mane. There had been a time when Malka at least pretended to know what he was doing, but that act had fallen apart long ago.

Fujo entered the den. "What are you doing in Af—in here?"

"I miss him, brother," Malka murmured tiredly. "I miss them both, so much."

Fujo felt the flicker of an old, familiar anger. Then how come I was the one digging through the rockslide, and not you? Why was I searching the Serengeti for them day and night, while you sat here feeling sorry for yourself? The contemptuous thought ripped at his conscience, but his expression remained outwardly unchanged. So he gave the only truthful response he could. "So do I, Malka."

"Will you stay with me for a while?" the king asked coaxingly.

Fujo did not move from where he stood.

"Please, brother." Malka laid his head against his paws. "I haven't been sleeping these days. The nights are worse."

"Maybe you should stop hiding from the pride," Fujo said reproachfully. "Take charge of things again."

"They don't need me." Malka's brow was heavy with resignation. "They're better off now than they ever were with me. And they have you."

Fujo gave a skeptical scoff. "Me? They learned to take care of themselves in my absence. They've adapted beyond kings and the old traditions we relied on for generations, and maybe that's for the best."

"Maybe," Malka conceded. "You were gone for so long, Fujo. For a while I wondered if you were ever coming back."

"I wasn't sure if I would," Fujo told him plainly. "When I was out there, when I couldn't find them...but I thought...if there was any chance that they were still alive…" He fought to steady his voice. "I would want to be here, if they ever returned."

"I'm glad you're here. Even if it's not for me." Malka smiled sadly. "Even if you never call me brother again."

Fujo said nothing. The time for awkward denials was long past. What was left were the realities they had to face, and he had no more intentions to feed into Malka's self-pity.

"You've changed too," the king said reflectively. "You never found them, but you did find something. I can see it, Fujo—what is it?"

Fujo thought of Janga. How she could bring about the end of everything they knew. How he would turn her plans into an opportunity. I've conspired in unspeakable things, laid out the lives of this pride like prey to be hunted. In doing so I risk everything—not just for myself, but for every kingdom in the Serengeti—for one opportunity. "Purpose," he said simply.

Malka opened his mouth but stopped at the sound of urgent pawsteps outside the den. In the entryway appeared Chumvi, a stout red-brown lion who was not much older than Fujo. "Water...in the tunnels," he gasped between breaths, "they've backed up...the mountain is flooding..."

Malka bolted to his paws with a surprising briskness. "Kings above, this is terrible!" he exclaimed. His eyes widened. "Siri! Where—is she alright—?"

"She's fine, she's still out with her hunting party," Fujo said impatiently. He was glad his brother was giving the situation his full attention for once, but his tendency to panic usually led to complications. "Focus, Malka. We have the rest of the pride to worry about."

"Some of them are already spreading the word," Chumvi chipped in. His tone suggested that he hadn't counted on coming to them first. "Is there any way to stop the water from rising?"

"Not unless we can find the source of the blockage," Fujo said immediately. "If we send someone into the water tunnels—"

"It's too risky," Malka interjected, with a hint of the old authority in his voice. He turned to Chumvi. "Give the order to evacuate. Tell the pride to await further instructions on the plateau."

"They won't be happy with you," Fujo warned as Chumvi dashed off. The two of them promptly left the royal quarters as well, making for the lower levels as quickly as they could. "Are you sure forcing everyone out is the first order you want to give after this long?"

"I'm not sure of anything, Fujo," the king confessed. "And I don't take those chances anymore. I just want everyone to get to safety. That's one thing I know I can still do."

As they passed by the now dimly-lit lookout post, Fujo glanced through the opening again; the evening was almost upon them. Janga's forces were likely outside by now, unless he had somehow misjudged her competence. He dismissed the idea; if she made it this far then she had to be more than prepared to see her plans through, no matter what.

Malka nudged his brother suddenly, startling him. "Do you remember the drill?" the king asked.

Fujo almost smiled. It seemed there was more of his brother left in there than he had thought. Though it was nowhere near enough to stop what was coming. "Of course," he responded coolly. "I'll see to the exits, make sure they're all sealed once everyone is safely evacuated."

The plan was in motion. Now all he had to do was see it through.

•••


PRESENT


Janga sat upon the quiet plateau, watching the sun rise over the grassland. It was beautiful, the way the light appeared on the horizon and saturated the mountains on either side. But it's not home, she thought, looking over her shoulder to behold the pass that split the mountain range in two. The colossal opening, vibrant and shimmering in the early morning rays, looked as if it was inviting her onward to what lay beyond. Janga turned away from the pass. That's the easy way out, and I didn't come all this way to do what's easy.

They had occupied the plateau for three days now, trying without success to find a way into Mount Tempest. The rocks around the main entrance were almost cleared away, although it had been a thoroughly exhausting effort with half their forces sent in the mountain range. As if that hadn't slowed them down enough, the smaller tunnels had remained stubbornly shut despite their best efforts to pull the barricades out of their pits. Fujo had to know how to move the remaining boulders aside, but Janga doubted he would be forthcoming with that information.

This plan cannot possibly end well for both of us, she thought, thinking of the distasteful situation she was in. It might not even end well for either of us.

Pessimism was a trait that many leaders avoided, even feared. But Janga had learned long ago to prepare for failure, and her precaution had steered her clear of it many times. Fujo would renounce their precarious alliance once they were no longer useful to each other, that much was obvious to her. He had to die, although that was something she had made up her mind on the moment she heard his proposal. Kill your brother, take his place, make sure no one knows you're involved. Where have I heard that before? Janga scowled, resolving to kill Fujo personally when their dealings were done. That was a life she would gladly snuff out.

Still, none of her lions complained about the dubious nature of their "ally", or the situation he had placed them in. Janga was pleased with their unquestioning loyalty, but even following their successful attack on Mount Tempest, she wondered if her deal with Fujo was the right call. What infuriated her was that she would have readily turned him down and had him dealt with on her own terms—if he hadn't been right about one thing.

"You can't take on the Tempest Pride, not unless you can siege the mountain and win," he had told her. "And from what I see, you don't have the numbers to hold a siege and attack the Pride Lands."

"I'll find another way through the mountains," was her cold response.

"I suppose you could try." Fujo sounded amused at the thought. "But time is not a luxury you have, not to mention it would be impossible for you to navigate your...friends through the mountain range, in hopes of finding a path wide enough that, I should add, you don't know exists."

"And if I help you, you'll just let us through the pass?" Janga narrowed her eyes.

Fujo scoffed at her suspicion. "I won't have a choice in the matter," he assured her. "Not if your lions pull your weight."

She scowled. "I pull my own weight."

"I guess that makes two of us," Fujo replied with a shrewd smile. His maroon eyes were burning with an icy fire but gave away nothing.

So here she was, waiting on their carefully orchestrated plan to play itself out. Of course, she didn't believe for a moment that Fujo would leave himself at her mercy, not without a backup plan. Does he think I'm just going to play his game? Janga snorted disdainfully. It hadn't escaped her attention that he had been tenaciously focused on closing the main entrance, more so than was necessary to maintain his ruse. So after securing the main entrance had become futile, she made the implicit decision to "allow" Malka a chance to escape into the mountain range; the rest of the pride had scattered shortly after that, leaving Fujo with no choice but to flee as well.

Janga allowed herself a satisfied smile. I don't need Malka dead yet, she thought, her gaze still lingering on the pass. Fujo could worry about him, if it meant he would be too preoccupied to cause problems for her. In the meantime, she was free to proceed with the next part of her mission. Kivuli would track Malka down in no time, and Fujo would be sure to accept the help. Maybe he won't be so keen to beat around the bush this time.

A tired-looking lioness was hurrying over from the far side of the plateau. Janga recognized her as one of the sentries assigned to the night shift. She waited for the lioness to reach her before addressing her. "Something to report, Kupinga?"

"Wivu and Masao have returned," Kupinga informed her. Hesitantly, she added, "No sign of Sajin or the rest of his team."

Janga pondered this for a moment. "Send them to the main entrance," she said. "Kupinga."

"Yes, Janga?" Kupinga stopped as she was about to leave.

"Rest while you can. We have a lot of work to do and I need everyone in optimal condition."

"Of course."

We're stretched too thin, Janga thought as she made her way toward Mount Tempest's main entrance. There was still no word from Jeraha about the escaped lioness, which was unusual considering her friend's "skills" when it came to dealing with such problems, but Janga wasn't worried. That lioness won't find any help on this side of the mountain range, and my lions will keep her far from wherever the rest of her pride is going. The Tempest Pride had a fallback plan, Janga was sure of it. But that was another secret Fujo was determined to keep from her.

And from the looks of it, Janga thought, spotting the two lions sitting by the mostly excavated main entrance, I'm not about to hear any good news. They made to stand as she approached. "That won't be necessary," Janga said shortly, noting how tired they looked. "Is there anything I should know before we begin?"

"The mountains are a nightmare, Janga," exclaimed Wivu, a scraggly female. "You could search for the way out for days and find nothing—nothing but mountains, and this pride knows the territory better than we ever could. It would be impossible to get all of us through, never mind the—"

"Which is why we secured the pass," Janga reminded, cutting off Wivu's rambling. She addressed the other lion without turning to look at him. "Masao. Where's the rest of the team?"

Masao looked abashed. "We got lost in the mountains," he mumbled.

"Speak up," Janga snapped, "and look me in the eye when you're talking to me."

"Yes, Janga," Masao stammered, hastening to obey. "We—we ran into some lions from the Tempest Pride. We were outnumbered nearly two to one, but we stood and fought anyway. Kiza took a hit, and we retreated, they let us go so we let them run." When Janga remained silent with her eyes on him, he continued, "Kiza couldn't be moved, and we didn't know what to do, and Sajin just wanted to search for healing plants that don't grow in the mountains—"

Janga held up a paw, and he fell silent immediately. "So you disobeyed Sajin's orders, deserted your team, and left a fellow lion wounded in the mountains."

"We came back to find help," Wivu tried weakly. "But yes."

She and Masao sat rigidly as Janga walked past them. The leader scrutinized the large rocks blocking the main entrance, facing away from the two of them. "I'm disappointed," she said. "Given how well the two of you performed your duties at Viridian Falls, I was sure I made the right choice. But a few days into our mission here and all you have to show me is that my trust was misplaced." Wivu flinched as Janga's austere glare turned onto her. "Do you like killing lions, Wivu?"

Wivu shook her head, swallowing nervously.

"How about you, Masao? Does it feel good, what we're doing here?"

"No," Masao responded faintly.

Janga turned back to the half-opened tunnel before them. "You know how important this is to me," she continued. "I know what I'm asking of you—all of you—in following me. But we won't succeed, not unless it's just as important for each and every one of you. We cannot falter in our resolve, or doubt one another—or leave our own behind."

"We understand, Janga," Wivu murmured.

"Good," said Janga. "Get over here."

The two of them slowly padded over to the stones, trembling as they knew what was coming.

"Start dismantling the barricade," she ordered.

"What?" Masao blurted in disbelief. Janga shot him a glare and he looked appalled.

"Take down these rocks," she tried again, with forced patience. "You can stop when you've cleared a safe opening to walk through."

"That's it?" Wivu said incredulously.

Janga frowned. "It's extremely draining work, as you'll both find out very quickly. The progress we've made took three days between eight lions."

"You're not going to kill us for deserting?" Masao blurted, wondering if he was pushing his luck a bit too much. "But the Code of the K—"

"Enough," his leader snarled. "You answer to me, first and foremost, and I don't deal in Laws and Codes. You're still useful to me, and the punishment I've assigned you will move our mission forward as well. And I thought I already made myself clear on killing lions."

Both lions were visibly relieved. "Thank you, Janga," Masao croaked. He didn't get much further as Janga's paw grabbed him firmly by the chin and pulled his face in front of hers. Janga could see her own furious expression reflected in his terrified eyes.

"But in case you think about taking my lenience for granted," she growled, "understand that you will have no protection from me if you jeopardize the mission again. If you two had tried to run, you'd be dead by now." She released Masao by shoving him into the rocks. "Get to work."

Janga turned and stalked out of the alcove, past a recoiling Wivu who immediately scrambled for the barricade. She made her way around the stronghold, scrutinizing her lions for those most suitable for the next phase of the plan. I'll lead a team to pull everyone out of the mountains, she thought. It was time to redirect their efforts anyway. The way to the Pride Lands was wide open, and once they completed their task, holding Mount Tempest would be inconsequential. Janga roared, and one by one her lions appeared before her. She was satisfied to see that there were more than enough to guard Mount Tempest; she would only need two or three with her, as their numbers would grow with each team they gathered.

I'm coming for you, Simba. You were better off when everyone thought you were dead.


[Author's Note]
For the flashback in this chapter (and all future flashbacks), I decided to forego the extended use of italics because it's just plain awful on the eyes. I think the time marquees are pretty self-explanatory, and I'll try not to make them complicated. Anyway, more coming your way soon. And please review, I must have spent nearly two months on reworking this chapter with my incredibly patient beta reader, SomethingPhilosophical. It wouldn't be nearly as good without her ^_^