Here's the next chapter. Thank you for all those who reivwed the last chapter. :) It means the wold to me. I hope you enjoy. I own nothing, but Kimaira and the plot twists.
Mtukufu = Highness
Shangazi = Aunt
Moonlight peeks through the clouds as Zazu and I return to Pride Rock. Neither of us say anything as we walk, lost in our own thoughts. My nose still itches from the lingering scent of smoke causing my stomach to twist into knots. In the dark, I can't see or sense any traces of the fire near Pride rock and I sigh in relief. An eerie silence stretches over the Pride lands and I shiver. The silver pendant around my neck has cooled, but I still feel the intense heat of the flames. Fire….fire, all my nightmares have held the same element with animals crying for help, but it doesn't make any sense.
I help the pride when and how ever I can. The last time I had dreams…nightmares was they were connected to Taka and memories of him as a cub. I shake my head. No point in dwelling on the past. As though sensing my distress, Zazu slows down and flies next to me, his right wing brushing against my shoulder. He opens his mouth, but I shake my head, narrowing my eyes. Climbing up the rock steps, I feel myself sway and fall against the right angled rock Once more, I feel Zazu staring at me, but I push myself back up, forcing myself to continue.
At the top, I collapse onto the ground, exhaustion filling my whole body. Loud snores echo off the cave walls and a tiny smile forms on my lips. Beside me, Zazu bids me a good night and flies off. I feel my eyes follow his retreating figure until I can't see him anymore. Closing my eyes, I send a silent prayer to the Great Kings of the Past to allow me and Zazu to get past this fight. A 'fight' that's gone on for two or three years, yeah-
My thoughts stop as my head snaps around to the left. Something shifts over near a large bolder on the opposite side of the rock. Despite my exhaustion, I jump up and bare my teeth and raise my head high.
"Show yourself!" I command quietly.
The lump moves, stretches, and blinks, its green eyes seeming to glow in the dark. My head begins to spin as I remember the dream of Scar in the fire. Closing my eyes, I shake my head, pushing the thought away. There is a trespasser here. I open my eyes again and gulp as the lion stands only inches away from me. Inwardly, I curse lions for having the ability to be so quiet and I take a step back.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" I ask, my voice surprisingly calm.
The green eyes stare at me, steadying me for a moment. I open my mouth again, but a flicker of realization dawns in his eyes and he bows his head an inch. My eyebrows shoot up, but the lion begins to speak. "I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, Mtukufu."
Still, I don't let my guard down. Narrowing my eyes, I say, "Who are you?"
"I'm a rouge who left the outsiders"
I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"My name is Kovu," He lowers himself into a full bow. "I didn't mean to startle you, but I have left the outsiders."
"I-"
"Kimaria, oh thank god you're all right. And what are you doing?" Nala asks quietly as she leaves the cave. She looks between the lion and me and smiles at me. "Relax, Kovu is our guest for the time being."
"What, why?" I ask.
"Kovu saved Kiara from the fire," Nala says, smiling at him.
I blink and look back over at Kovu and back at Nala. "Is that true?"
Nala nods.
Taking a deep breath, I say, "Thank you, Kovu for saving my niece."
Again, Kovu nods. "Not a problem. I was happy to do it, Mtukufu."
I sigh and nod. Gently, Nala bids us both a good night and 'herds' me into the cave. None of the other lionesses stir as Nala and I climb over them toward the back of the cave. With each step, I feel my legs growing heavier and heavier until I collapse beside Nala. Her blue eyes glow in the dark as she stares at me, concern etched onto her face. I shake my head and lie down, curling my arms under my head. A few snores from the lionesses bounce off the walls and for a moment, I glance over toward the entrance. Those green eyes still haunt me even though they are dull compared to Scar's. Scar…could Kovu be related him? My head snaps around, the question parched on my tongue, but Nala has gone to sleep. I smile at her and lie back down, my mind too busy to sleep, yet, I feel my eyes close and soon I fall off into my dreams.
Darkness stretches across the cave as I blink and rub my eyes. I move my hand along the ground, but I only feel the cool rock ground against my palm. My body bolts up as my eyes scan the empty cave around me. Empty…no it can't be empty. Quickly, I scramble to my feet and rush outside. The sun peeks over the horizon in the east toward the Outlands and I shiver, still imagining the fire from yesterday. I glance over, but the stranger…Kovu from last night is gone. Where has he gone? Again, I try to remember if told me if this morning was going to be different. Most mornings, Simba left before dawn and the lionesses slept in until he returned before going on the morning hunt. Had I slept through it?
Shaking my head, I start to climb down the stone steps. My feet hit the ground hard and I stagger back, my hand pressing my hand on the wall to steady myself. I take a deep breath my conversation with Zazu from last night circling in my mind. Kovu and Scar…no Taka look so much alike it's amazing. A shiver crawls down my spine as I continue walking. After five minutes, I pause and look around, my breath catching in my throat. I'm standing under the area where Simba and I had fought Scar to take back the throne. Once more, the image of those emerald eyes flash through my mind. I press my hand against the cool rock and bow my head, recalling my conversation with Zazu.
"Is it possible that someone survived when they were thought to be died?" I had asked him.
He hadn't said anything. Closing my eyes, I remember the night of the great battle for freedom. The bright flames of the fire and Simba and I confronting Scar. Simba had told me he defeated him and the hyena took care of the rest, but we had never found any of his remains. After a moment, I push myself away from the rock and begin to walk around the area.
The massive rock formation casts a large shadow across the ground, shielding me from the sun's rays as I move around to the back of Pride Rock. My fingers run along the rough rock as I circle it for the tenth time. Sighing in frustration, I collapse onto the ground and lean back against the rock. I still don't know what I had suspected to find, but the image of those eyes and my old nickname haunt me.
"Shangazi Kimaria is something wrong?" a voice calls out from behind me.
My head snaps around and I see Kiara walking up to me. Raising my hand, I say, "Good morning, Kiara. How are you doing this morning?"
Kiara shrugs. "I'm okay. Have you seen Kovu?"
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. What can she want with Kovu at this hour of the morning? Taking a deep breath, I say, "No, I haven't seen him, but I'll help you find him."
Kiara smiles and together she and I head off onto the open savanna. The eerie silence from last night has lessened, but the effects of the fire still linger in the air. Only a few animals are up for the first morning grazing. Yet, the usual calls of 'good morning' are absent from the few brave souls each sticking to themselves. Unconsciously, my eyes drift over to the east. There is no sign of where the fire began, but I still shiver. Despite the fact that Kovu saved her, he is still one of them. Why did he even save her in the first place? How can Simba let one of them into the pride after he had banished them himself? It doesn't make any sense. Am I any better than them? I ask myself. Humans are just if not more dangerous than other lions. Beside me, I hear Kiara talking.
"What?" I ask, bringing my attention back to her.
"I just can't believe that Daddy sent Timon and Pumba to babysit me," she says, shaking her head.
"Well it's a good thing he did cause they were able to warn your father," I say.
"Kovu saved me," Kiara says. "And he gonna teach me how to hunt. Come on, we're already late." Without another word, she pounds off and starts heading toward the watering hole.
I watch her go and follow her silently. The sun has risen higher in the sky and I feel its heat. The green grass feels rough against my feet as I run to catch up with my niece. My mouth waters as I see the sun sparkling upon the watering hole. It's cool water beckoning me forward as though it can feel the flames that circle in my mind. Off to the right, I hear Kiara happily talking to Kovu about the hunt training. I roll my eyes and shake my head. The pride had the best hunters and being alone with an outlander scares me.
"Shangazi Kimaria, we're gonna go and practice some hunting," Kiara says.
I glance over at them, nod, and walks over. "All right, I'm-"
Kiara shook her head, her eyes growing large with a plea. I sigh and shake my head. Simba is gonna kill me for this, but she need to learn how to do it on her own. Taking a deep breath, I say, "I'm gonna go and check on the other animals. Your father and I have a very busy day. So I'll see you later."
Kiara smiles and runs off with Kovu following behind her. My breath catches in my throat as I watch them leave. Kovu reminds me so much of Taka. Is that way I trust me a little more? I shake my head and start to walk out west. No more animals greet me, but for a moment I'm glad. I need to be alone with my thoughts right now. At the bank of the river, I collapse onto the ground. The mountains loam above me, casting a long stretch of shade around me. What am I going to do? The nightmares will not leave me in peace. Once more, I wish I can talk to Zazu, but he won't hear me out and neither will Sumba. A shiver crawls down my spine as I hear something rustle in the bushes on the opposite side of the river.
"Hello," I call out, standing up.
No one answers, except for more rustling.
"Kiara, is that you?"
More rusting. Slowly, I step into the river, the ice water freezing my body. My clothes cling to my body the further I walk into the water. I call out again, but still no one answers me. Part of my brain yells at me to go back, but another more powerful part urges me forward. The warmth from the sun's rays seem to disappear as I walk further into the shadow of the mountain. At the other side, my fingers dig into the ground and host myself up onto the bank. More shivers crawl through my body as I shake my head to dry myself. Silence stretches across the bank and I call out again.
Off to the right, I hear more rustling as someone steps out. Old red wounds cover the body and patches of faur have been eaten away. Fresh blood runs down his hind leg, but he ignores it. His body seems more fragile with a leaner body than most male lions. The lion shakes his dark mane and looks at me; his emerald eyes locking with mine. A tiny smile forms on his lips as he says, "I was wondering when you would come to see your pet."
I stare. So many questions race through my mind as I stare at the figure from the fire….my savior, Taka.
Dun Dun Dun: so know you know. I hope you liked it. What did you think of Kim and Kovu for the first time. What about the reveal of Scar (Taka)? Was it to much in terms of him being to messed up like the wounds? Please let me know and I hope you enjoyed thie chapter.
