AN: Yay managed to get this story done today. Today is my 23rd birthday. Don't mind writing for you all. It's this Saturday that I got birthday plans. Hope you enjoy this chapter.


Chapter 7


"Please I need your help or he'll die!"

Nuru felt like time had stopped. Her wide sandy-golden eyes stared up at the old female gorilla in front of her who was watching her with soft warm eyes. The serval had a feeling if anyone would help her with Kopa it was this female right in front of her. "Please…he's only a year old cub…he already lost his parents who gave their lives for him…I don't want him to die next!"

It was the silverback that growled to turn Nuru's attention back to him. "No. We do not help strangers. Leave my territory. If your friend dies than it was his time too. Now leave!" The silverback was suddenly shoved aside by the older female who gave him a stern disappointed look that only a mother could muster up to give to her young.

"Tuma!" The old female spoke with a voice full of disappointment. "Shame of you." She jabbed the silverback in the shoulder hard enough to Nuru's amusement the silverback didn't fight back but rather rubbed the spot the female jabbed. "I raised you better than that. For shame, you sound like your Father." Shaking her head the old female looked down at Nuru with a gentle smile. "Forgive my son; he gets his temper from his Father sadly. My name is Chika; this here is my son Tuma. He has just recently taken over our troop with his Fathers death."

Holding herself straight, Nuru introduced herself. "My name is Nuru…my companions name is Kopa. Please I really need some help with him. Like I said he just lost his parents I don't want him to die as well." She pleaded staring up at Chika who turned her head to converse with the other females who were all whispering amongst themselves but Nuru managed to catch a few words here and there but the rest was too low for her to hear.

Turning back to Nuru, Chika smiled and nodded. "We'll be happy to help you my dear."

"But Mother…"

Chika rounded on her son making him step back from her. Nuru had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from snickering. This young silverback Tuma appeared tough and intimidating as a way to protect his family troop and territory but it seemed the young gorilla was still no match against the female who had raised him.

"We have already made our decision Tuma. We do not let innocent young ones die. Your Father may have been the stubborn one but we will help this young cub." Chika told her son. Not waiting for a response from him, Chika turned her attention back to Nuru. "Take us to him and we shall see what we can do for your friend."

Nuru felt a wave of relief wash through her. But she could not help but still worry. She didn't know just how infected Kopa's wounded were and how they were affecting the cub. But she had managed to find help so that she did not have to do it alone for that she was grateful. Jumping to her paws, Nuru turned her body motioning for Chika to follow on after her as she darted on back the way she came. Following the scent she had left before on her way to find help to lead her back to where she had left Kopa.

Her nose searching for any scent that hadn't been in the area when she left. Fearing something may have chosen Kopa as an easy meal. With him unconscious any predator would have thought he was worth a shot at because he wouldn't have been able to fight back. But much to her luck, she didn't smell anything new in the area.

Behind her she could hear the sounds of Chika following on after her with Tuma. She figured it was the silverback by his grumbling she heard.

Pushing her way through the bushes to where she had left Kopa. Nuru was glad to see that the cub was alone and safe. Well as safe as he could be. His breathing still appeared to be heavy and when Nuru approached his side to check how his heart was she found that it was beating much too quickly. Putting her face close to his face she whispered. "Kopa?" But no response came from the cub.

She turned when she heard that Chika and Tuma had caught up with her.

Tuma bared his teeth when he saw that the cub that Nuru hadn't mentioned before was actually a lion cub. Chika though still did not seem to care what species the cub was, as she approached slowly staring down at the cub. At first her heart went out for the small cub. She took in where he was missing an ear and when she lifted his face she could see the cuts that ran from his face to his neck on the other side of his face.

Who could do such a thing to someone so young?

Beneath the cubs fur she could feel the fever he had. By bending close to him, Chika could smell the infection of his wounds. For the fact that he was alive was a surprising matter.

Looking the cub over, Chika felt like she knew this cub from somewhere. It was like she seen someone who looked like him. He resembled those cubs she remembered them finding who belonged to the Rasheda's a few years back. But this cub didn't smell like any of them, well he did and he didn't. So that confused her.

But nonetheless she reached out to pick the cub up.

"Mother what do you think you are doing?" Tuma asked moving to his mother's side.

Chika gave her son a look, "He needs to get his wounds looked at and cleaned. We'll take him back to our lagoon and there we'll treat him. Oh, don't give me that look Tuma." The old female looked back at Nuru while she looked up the cub and held him carefully in the crook of her arm. After raising a son she knew how to walk with only using her one front arm to move. "Follow us; we have a lagoon now far from here. It's tiny but it will serve well to bring this ones temperature down and you look like you could use a drink as well." When Nuru nodded to confirm that yes she could use a drink, Chika began walking asking for Nuru to follow after her.

From behind them, Tuma huffed and grunted then followed after the two of them taking up the rear.

Nuru could not believe their luck. She had managed to find help for Kopa and they were also offering them a drink from their personal water source. Once she knew Kopa was well enough, she would go off to hunt for the two of them so she could get some food into the cubs system. She was silent as she walked after Chika, her mind just filled with worry for the cub.

Pushing back a low hanging branch, Chika stepped into the deeper part of their territory that belonged to their family for three generations. There the rest of the family who had stayed behind were all resting, many turned when they saw that Chika and Tuma had returned with Nuru and the cub she spoke of being in trouble.

From behind Chika, Nuru poked her head out and her eyes lit up at the sight of the water. Hurrying around the old female she went to the waters edge, sticking her head first in the water then she started to drink. The water felt cool and refreshing from the amount of days they had been in the sun. She jumped when she felt something touch her and whipped around to see a few gorilla young of all ages and sizes eyeing her. "Uh…hello." Nuru greeted them.

They watched her carefully and Nuru knew they really weren't sure what to make of her. She raised her paw to wave but spooked some who went running down to their mothers. "Oops…" she grinned sheepishly.

"Pay no mind to them." Chika commented making her way to the waters edge.

Tuma moved from behind his mother and went to a small formation of rocks and climbed up to sit upon them. The top of there gave him a perfect view of his home and allowed him to keep watch over his family. He grunted watching his mother, still not completely satisfied with his mother's decision to help the strangers. It was something his Father always warned him about. Strangers that could be a danger to his family. His rational mind told him that something the size of Nuru and the cub could really do no harm to him or anyone in his family.

But that didn't mean he shouldn't be cautious.

Nuru stood to the side while she watched Chika approach the water. She wanted to help but at the moment she would leave the old gorilla to figure something out. The serval laid herself down on the waters edge taking this moment to relax her sore muscles. She watched as Chika climbed into the water with Kopa and started to lower the cub into the water. Jumping to her paws she leaned over the edge. "What are you doing?" she asked hurriedly suddenly afraid that Chika was lying about helping them and was about to drown the cub.

Looking up at the serval, Chika seemed to catch onto what the cub was saying. She shook her head in amusement and smiled. "I am not going to hurt him. I gave you my word and I always keep my word. I am a mother myself; I would never let another young thing like this one die. This is one of the only ways we are going to bring his fever down. Like this…" To prove her point, she lowered Kopa's body into the water so only his head managed to stay above the water. But with her own hand, Chika scooped some water up and sprinkled it over Kopa's head.

She continued to do this until there seemed to be movement coming from the cub. Nuru when she caught this sat up straight and leaned over. But the cub didn't waken just twitched in his sleep like he was dreaming. Laying her hand on the cubs head, Chika felt for his fever and nodded her head when she felt that it was indeed going down.

With the fever going down, Chika decided it was time to get the wounds cleaned. She turned her head to the side. "Mau bring those herbs over here please."

A young female gorilla moved from the side coming forward carrying what looked like an array of different plants that Nuru didn't know. Lifting her head from where she been resting them on her paws she eyed the planets which Mau placed on the side of the water. Chika moved closer to the bank grabbing the herbs she began crushing them into her hand until they made a fine paste then she rubbed it into Kopa's wounds causing the Kopa to squirm at the feeling of the herbs that seeped into his wounds.

"What are those suppose to do?" the serval asked watching while Chika finally climbed her way out of the water and set Kopa on the ground. Leaving him wet so the water would keep his temperature from spiking. Grabbing more of the herbs, Chika began grinding more of them this time with both her hands. "These herbs will help bring down his fever even more and relieve him of his infection. These ones here will also help seal up his wounds by they'll scar over that's for sure." Chika shook her head with shame. Shame that one so young would have to live with wounds like this for the rest of his life. A cruel reminder of what had happened to him. Taking the new paste she made, she spread it carefully into the cub's wounds. When that was done, she took a couple of small leaves and laid them on the shoulders the paste making them stick to him but that would only last for so long then the leaves would fall off once the paste did its work.

Once she was done with that, she crushed some more of the herbs up, and carefully opened Kopa's mouth and put them in there then closed his mouth again. She rubbed his throat carefully to make sure he swallowed it. Once she was sure he had, Chika nodded her head, contently. "That should do for now. But we will have to watch over him for the time being. The herbs I used should be enough but we will have to make completely sure." Explained Chika. Gathering the cub in her arm she took him over to where a bunch of leaves and grass were bundled together on the ground. It was her bed but she would allow the cub to lay and rest there for the time being.

Laying him down, she covered him with a large leaf. Turning her head Chika watched calmly while Nuru approached and sat herself down along side her young companion.

Staring down at Kopa, Nuru looked the cub over. She half expected him to wake during his treatment or least she had hoped that he would have. It worried her to see him laying there. She could smell that the herbs were doing their best in keeping him alive by fighting the infection. And if it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest telling her that he was breathing she would be worried that he was dead or dying. But the dying part still worried her to an extent.

While he was unconscious she couldn't really tell how well he was doing. If he was awake he would be able to tell them how he was feeling and if the herbs were really doing anything for him. The only sign of movement that caused her to have any relief was the faint twitching he showed here and there.

"Is this normal?" she asked looking toward Chika.

The old gorilla chuckled and nodded her head. "Normal for one who sleeps. He is simply sleeping now. Surely you know others tend to twitch in their sleep?"

Ducking her head sheepishly, Nuru scoffed a nearby blade of grass with her paw. "Yes…" she mumbled lifting her eyes only to look at Kopa. But she also knew that animals only twitched when they were dreaming. She seen Kopa only dream a few times over the nights she spent by his side and could only wonder what he was dream about. At times she would hear him speak in his sleep by it was barely a whisper. At times he would hear him say 'Mom' or 'Dad' or even speak names like 'Kiara'; 'Eshe' and 'Musa.'

From what the cub had told her before of his family, she placed the names to be those of his three young siblings her had lost the same time as he lost his Mother and Father.

"I must check on the rest of my family. I'll leave him to you Nuru. Call me if you need anything for him." Chika made sure to give Kopa one last check over then stood and made her way over to where her family all was gathering for their afternoon meals. The young staring over at Kopa and Nuru before their Mothers who issue them off to eat.

Nuru could still see Tuma still sitting on his outcrop of rocks, the silverback staring at her and Kopa with contempt. But she knew if Tuma really wanted them gone, they would be gone. But the head male just continued to sit there and watch them with his attention on occasion switching back to his family. Nuru had a feeling that a bunch of the new young in this troop belonged to him so she knew better then to make anything suspicious that would lead him to believe she or Kopa would cause any harm to his young. He may have stepped aside to allow his Mother to do what she wished in caring for the sick cub. But that didn't mean he wouldn't do anything if she and Kopa overstepped their boundaries.

Taking her eyes off the gorillas, Nuru focused her attention back on the cub in front of her. With her paw she touched his head and saw that Chika was right, his fever was still there but was certainly going down. Taking her paw away from him, Nuru set herself down along side the cub and watched him while he slept.

"You better get well soon Pussy-cat. We still need to find your mother's pride." Nuru whispered resting her head down along side Kopa's she figured she could go another while without food. She would much rather be there to watch over the cub. As such as these gorilla's had agreed to help them, they were still strangers and if Kopa were to wake while she was away hunting she didn't want the cub to think she had ran off leaving him with someone he didn't know.

Settling herself closer to the cub, she draped her one arm over him. A thing she was growing use to doing in the desert when they slept at night. It allowed them both to keep warm during the cool nights. "Wake soon Kopa." She whispered watching the cub's face scrunch up and wondered what he was dreaming about this time.

Let's hope it's a good one.


This was unlike any place he'd ever been before.

All around him was nothing but a blanket of velvety darkness that stretched on for eternity.

But what made this place all the more interesting was what lingered in the darkness.

Tiny flickering lights, like those of fireflies were everywhere he looked. But there was so many, more than he'd ever seen in his entire life in one place. Thousands upon thousands of twinkling fireflies.

However the closer he looked upon them, Kopa noticed that they didn't move like fireflies did. Instead they lingered in one place.

That made him doubt that they were fireflies. But if they weren't that, then what were they exactly?

What was this place? He wondered.

"You are where the stars shine constantly be it day or night."

The voice that came from behind him was a voice he hadn't heard in days and wished he didn't have to hear again.

Whipping around, Kopa stopped and stared at the two legged furless monkey that stood not far from him. Jelani's dark brown eyes bearing into him.

"What are you doing here…why am I here?" Kopa demanded. Where was the place where the stars shined constantly in either day or night? He thought. He only knew the stars to shine during the night time why would they shine during the day?

His mind then wondered to the stories his Father told him about the dead Kings of the past would go to the stars. Did that mean he was dead? Did that mean he could see his Mother and Father again? His eyes looked around trying to find any source of his parents and siblings or grandparents but he didn't see anyone other than Jelani standing there.

Leaning on his staff, Jelani watched the young prince look around. He had a hint as to whom he was searching for. Taking a step toward the cub he stopped when Kopa took a step back from him. "Still not pleased to see me are you?"

Kopa narrowed his eyes. "Why would I ever be pleased to see you?" he questioned one eyebrow raised. "You took my family from me!"

Jelani sighed and shook his head. Kneeling down he gazed at Kopa who continued to eye him like he was the enemy. "Calm yourself Prince Kopa."

"I am no longer a Prince." Kopa growled his teeth bared at the Guardian.

The Small Guardian shook his head. "You were born a Prince, and it does not matter where you are or what happens. You will forever be a Prince."

"Why have you brought me here?" Kopa asked eyeing Jelani closely. The Guardians words echoing in his mind. He did not want to be a Prince anymore. What was the point of being a Prince when his parents were dead and the lands he was meant to rule over were now taken by the lioness that had killed his family?

"Because this seems to be the only way to speak with you Prince Kopa. For you seem to avoid me whenever I approach you in person." Gripping his staff, Jelani spoke matter-of-factly. "It is rude to ignore those who give are here to give you guidance and to speak to them in such a manner. I believe your mother had raised you differently. I should know I have watched over you since the time of your birth."

Growling, the fur stood up on his back. "Don't speak of what you know of my mother! You took her from me! You took them ALL from me!"

The exiled Prince watched while Jelani shook his head but did not comment on his family's deaths. The only thing the furless monkey said was. "Things always happen for a reason Prince Kopa."

"Stop saying stuff like that!" shouted the exiled Prince. His claws unsheathed and sheathed again in his rising anger. "First you say my mother was meant to die…then you speak about some destiny for me…now everything happens for a reason…" tears found their way into his eyes. "And now you even visit me in my dreams…I just can't get rid of you…why can't you see that I want absolutely nothing to do with you? You took EVERYTHING for me! I don't want this destiny…and if it weren't for you sending Nuru my way I would still be out in the desert far away from the Rasheda's! You used her to trick me into going!" The cub fell silent when Jelani's deep throated chuckle reached his ear.

"It was not I who sent her, Prince Kopa."

"Then who or did she just magically appear?" Kopa demanded. Over the course of the days he spent with Nuru, she had told him all about how she hadn't even planned to come upon where she had found him. But that she suddenly had this feeling that she was needed and that if she didn't she would regret it. That had made Kopa suspicious thinking it could only be Jelani. Who else would send Nuru his way? He figured if he had something to trick him all along into going to the Rasheda's. A way for Jelani to control him from the decision he had made to stay away from his destiny. It made him hate the Guardian even more than he already did.

He didn't mind Nuru, that part was the only thing that didn't anger him, Nuru was a good companion. He figured he may have already died if it weren't for Nuru. Nuru knew how to hunt in the desert while he didn't. Sure he knew how to hunt but Nuru had lived in the desert long before he did. That and he figured he needed his family like the Rasheda's. They were the only family he had left.

But that didn't mean he wasn't angry about it.

That Jelani had tricked him into going somewhere he said he would avoid.

And now here that furless monkey was telling him that it wasn't he that had sent Nuru his way after all.

"I am not the only one looking over you Prince Kopa. You have many ancestors that wish to see you live. They saw you needed companionship and so they sent Nuru to you. It was you who made the wrong decision of lying to her and being tricked into going to the Rasheda's. I had nothing to do with it this time." Leaning on his staff Jelani eyed Kopa with smugness to his face that irritated the young cub.

So his family had sent Nuru? Kopa thought.

Did they really want him to have companionship or did they want him to head to the Rasheda's?

Kopa figured that his parents would probably want him to go to the Rasheda's so that he would be safe with family to look after him. Nuru was looking after him but she could only do so much. If they came across a larger predator like they almost did by nearly running into that leopard she wouldn't have been able to defend him like a grown lion would be able too.

He had already decided days ago that having family wasn't a bad thing.

He could still go there and defy his destiny.

But would that truly be so?

He stared at Jelani who hadn't stopped watching him. Would he truly be able to defy whatever 'Destiny' this furless monkey said awaited him or was he just delaying the inevitable?

Standing there staring at the smaller of the two Guardians he'd met before he tried to figure how long he had till he woke again. He figured by now he couldn't truly be dead. Jelani wouldn't be speaking to him the way he was if he truly was dead, he figured.

His brow furrowed. He wondered if it would be so bad to really ask Jelani why he was so keen he had a destiny that awaited him. Kopa sat there in silence for several minutes when it seemed like he wouldn't wake he asked. "Alright…now, don't you think I want

anything to do with this destiny. Because I don't!" he gave the Guardian a pointed look. "But what makes you so certain that I have some 'special destiny'?"

Jelani eyed Kopa, his eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment. He straightened his body and walked around the cub and waved his hand. "You see all these stars?"

"Yeah…what of them?"

"Do you remember what your Father taught you about them?" asked Jelani.

"That they are the Souls of the Great Kings and that if we looked to them for guidance we will often receive it. And that the brightest star in the sky belongs to my great-great grandfather Mohatu." Kopa stated remembering his Father's teachings.

"Good. But that is not all. For these are not only Kings but Queens and other souls as well. However not many souls get a star in the sky for themselves. Only those who deserve those stars may have one given to them. For example, your great uncle Scar though repented in the afterlife for all his sins, did not receive one for he did nothing for others but for himself and his greed. BUT that does not mean those who don't have stars do not look out for those below and give them guidance when it is needed. But those who do great deeds…well then, they are offered stars and often those who shine the brightest are those who had a shine upon them at birth. For you see young Kopa…there are certain individuals who have a special…shine to them.

"This shine means that they are meant for better things than many others. However sometimes those who are born with the shine do not fulfill what was planned for them and they dull and they will never receive that shine in the afterlife. Those whoever are guided to fulfill their…destinies properly they can shine brighter then many others." Stopping in front of the prince again.

"You see Prince Kopa. You are one of said individuals who are born with that shine. You had it since the moment you were conceived. You shined bright inside your mother and even more so when you were born. At times shines like yours come from a line where a shine was already presented before."

Kopa raised his eyebrow as this was explained to him. Some of it didn't make any sense to him. He looked down at his body, he didn't see any shine. What shine was Jelani talking about? He wondered. When the Guardian spoke that there had been a shine like his in his family before his attention snapped back to Jelani. "What…who?" he demanded. Though in the back of his mind he had a nagging feeling he already knew the answer but still wanted to hear it from Jelani him self.

Jelani looked from the cub then turned to stare off into the open vastness of darkness and stars. He motioned to a bright star in the distance. "There…the star of your ancestor Mohatu. He too had a shine to him. A shine that when guided made him shine brighter then many of his ancestors before him. He was a true King who loved his Kingdom and subjects equally. When the great drought came he did everything to ensure the survival of his people even going to great lengths to see that he could find water for them all to live. He was a wise King. And for the things he did in life and fulfilling that of what was expected of him when the shine was bestowed upon him he was granted the biggest and brightest stat than all his ancestors before him. That star brought peace to the animals of the Pridelands. For it made them believe that the spirit of their king was watching over them. And he was and still does."

The Guardian turned back to Kopa. "You are much like him you just do not know it yet. But you will. If you let yourself be free to follow the path laid out for you to be as great as he was. And then one day you may receive perhaps a star as bright as his." He watched the cub closely to see his reaction to this news. As he expected he watched the emotions flash across the cubs face.

Kopa really wasn't sure what to make of what Jelani had just explained to him. He knew all about the story of Mohatu, it was a story he heard often. It was one of the favourites of all the Pridelander lionesses. Though they hadn't been born when Mohatu reigned, even all those who had been the oldest of the pride had only been born during the time of Ahadi and Uru's reign, they had grown up on the story of the Great King Mohatu.

Had his Great-great Grandfather really been born with this 'shine' that Jelani was speaking about?

He stared confusingly at Jelani remembering that the Guardian had spoken that Mohatu had been guided like all those who had the shine before. "You guided Mohatu…didn't you?"

Jelani chuckled and nodded his head. "Yes Prince Kopa. I guided him. Although he unlike you was not as stubborn to accept that he had a destiny. More so when it was explained to him that his guidance would one day help him save his people."

"But I have no people to save! My family is gone! My pride is gone! What am I to go gallivanting back into the Pridelands to save the day like my Father did?" Kopa snapped stepping toward the Guardian who only stood watching the cub passively. "Why should I do that…there's nothing back there for me!"

"Whoever said your destiny was to take the Pridelands back?' Jelani questioned eyeing the exiled Prince. "I believe the night you ran away was the night we told you that your destiny laid away from the Pridelands?" He grinned watching the deadpanned face come over the cub when he realized that Jelani had been right and that he had forgotten what the Guardian had told him that night. "No Prince Kopa. You…you have much more ahead of you then simply ruling…you are to be a King yes…but that is a long time from now. A very long time. You are meant for something else. You are meant to become a great warrior."

"A warrior?" Kopa stared at the Guardian strangely. "Why a warrior and for what?"

"That cannot be explained right now. For the time will come when you will know exactly what I meant right here and now. That is if your shine does not go out. For if it does than you will fail in what is expected of you. And perhaps it will end the lives of many if that were to happen…"

"And so I'm responsible for lives now? Is that how you're going to guilt trip me into agreeing with all this!?" demanded the exiled Prince anger evident on his face.

Jelani shook his head. "No. I cannot do that. For this to work, you must be in agreement of your own heart and mind. You cannot be forced or my guidance for you shall fail and so shall you. There are many paths for you. And only you must pick the one you deem right. You do not need to make this decision now. You still have time. But I have explained and answered your questions. Now it is your turn to think and decide what will be the best for you. For I cannot make that for you." Gripping his staff, Jelani turned and stared off into the vastness again.

"It would appear our time is over for now."

"What do you mean?" Kopa asked staring at the Guardian. He was trying to process what Jelani had just explained to him. He said he couldn't force Kopa to choose but Kopa felt like he was being forced to do something he didn't want to do. But another part of him felt like the Guardian was speaking nothing but the truth to him.

The Guardian turned back to him. "You are being called back to the light. I will be watching over you as will many others. I will know when you made your decision and when that day comes I will show myself to you again."

Kopa suddenly felt like he was staring into the light of the sun. For out of nowhere light came flooding into his face and he got the sensation that he was finally waking up. As he felt himself bring drawn back into the world he heard a faint voice whispering. A voice that wasn't Jelani's but a voice he thought he never hear again.

"Make me proud my son…I love you and always here for you even when you can't see me."

"…Mom…" he breathed but he saw nothing as the light grew brighter and brighter till it completely flooded his senses.


Nuru stayed by Kopa's side well into the rest of the day, the night and following morning. Resting only for a few minutes now and again, but wanting to be awake for the cub, though the times she did rest she kept her ears alert for any noise. But as time went on she came to accept that the gorilla's would do nothing to them. Even Tuma appeared to have accepted that they were there but kept his distance and instead just interacted with his family and the young.

During this time, Nuru was surprised when she had waked one time to find a couple of moles lying beside her. Courtesy of a few females who had caught them. Chika had explained when asked; "We could not let you starve. And the cub will need to eat when he wakes up."

Nuru had been grateful so did not complain. She had eaten three of the moles while leaving the rest for Kopa when he woke up.

Whenever that would be, she thought.

Tiredly she opened her eyes and stared at the face of her companion. During the night it seemed that his fever had thankfully gone down, more so when Chika had used a gourd to carry water to the cub and sprinkle it on him before using more herbs on his wounds and carefully force feeding him them so he would get better.

It wasn't just his fever that had gone down. By the smell of it, Nuru was quite certain the herbs were doing their job to get rid of the infection his wounds had gotten. She was hopeful that he would wake up soon but she wasn't sure when that would be but like she said she hoped it would be soon. The sound of movement made her rise and turn to see Chika making her way over to her and Kopa.

"Good morning." Chika greeted while Nuru stretched out her body to help her sore and tired body. Yawning, Nuru sat up straight nodding her head to the old gorilla. "Good morning Chika."

Moving around the two, Chika went to work checking on the cub like she had done just before retiring for the night. Nodding her head when she saw the cubs fever was all but gone. A good sign she thought. A good sign indeed. Perhaps the cub had a fighting spirit and wanted to live. That could only explain how fast the cub was healing but she knew he would still be sick for a few more days given the infection. There was only so much she alone could do, the rest was up to the herbs she used and the cub him self in whether he wanted to live and by the signs he did.

Sitting down, Chika grabbed a fruit nearby and took a bite out of it. Rubbing some of the juice rolling down her chin away with the back of her hand. She offered some to Nuru who politely shook her head and refused. The old female watched the serval as she checked on her young companion. She was determined not to move far from the cub's side until he was awake. It was why she had risked finding those moles for Nuru and Kopa knowing they needed to eat.

Her son was still against the whole thing. But she knew he wasn't cold-hearted and wouldn't leave an innocent youngling to die even though he acted like he would. He had young of his own and that meant he had a caring heart.

Taking another bite of the fruit in her hand, she decided to ask wanting to know something's about the two companions. "Tell me Nuru…did you know Kopa's parents? You said that he lost both of them…how did that happen?"

Nuru had pretty much guessed that Chika would ask such questions sooner or later. It was only reasonable that she would ask. They were strangers and at times knowing things about someone often made it easier to help them because you became associated with them. Sitting back she thought about what to say.

In the end she shook her head. "No." She started. "No, I didn't know his parents. I met him days ago. Found him lying beside what remains of a puddle. Told me his parents had been rogues who had once lived in a Pride but left when they had mated. He says that they were attacked by other rogues. A group I suspect. They killed both his parents and the newborn cubs that Kopa said his mother had just had a week prior to the events. That's where he said he had gotten his wounds from. He said they had just been traveling back this way to visit their old pride. Said their mother had family there. So when he escaped he decided to head there. Good thing I came along or else he'd be wandering still or probably dead. So I decided to take him here where he said the pride was." Nuru explained eyeing the cub then focused her attention on Chika who was rubbing her chin in thought.

Chika thought the explanation was reasonable. Watching the serval closely when Nuru explained things about Kopa that the cub had told her, she could see the spotted cat scrunch up her face here and there like she almost didn't believe what the cub told her. Lowering her hand she leaned in closer. "You believe him?"

Snorting, Nuru shook her head. "I have my suspicions that there is more to the story then he wants me to know. But I figured I'd humour him for the time being. Didn't want to overstep my boundaries and trust he may put in me by asking too many questions, if you get what I mean by that?" she continued when she saw the old gorilla nod her head to indicate that yes she did understand. "Well I figured I'd find out the truth when I got the cub to his family. He's been through something terrible that's for sure."

Leaning back, Chika let her hands lay in her lap thinking over what Nuru had told her. She looked back at the cub in question and looked him over one last time. There was just something about him that seemed oddly familiar to her but she still could not place her finger on exactly what it was about the cub. The cubs colouring and the brown tuft on his head reminded her of a certain King when he was once a cub. But that colouring any lion could have. She thought back to what Nuru said that the pride Kopa had mentioned lived in the jungle. That made her a bit suspicious.

Looking at Nuru again she asked. "Did he ever tell you the name of the Pride that he is looking for? Perhaps I know this pride and can direct you in the right direction."

Turning to face the old gorilla, Nuru eyed her before a smile cracked across her muzzle. "Will you…oh thank you." Nuru laughed rubbing the back of her head with a paw. "I figured I could get him to the Jungle but searching for a pride in one was another matter entirely that I hadn't figured out how to do yet exactly."

"Well just tell me their name dear and I'll know for sure." Chika pressed.

"Oh right…their name…what did Kopa call them…" Nuru clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth trying to remember exactly what Kopa had called the pride when she had asked him further questions over the course of their travels. The cub it seemed was more then happy to talk because least talking made up for the time they spent talking rather then travelling in silence. "Was it the Rad…no it wasn't that…Rah…no…oh!" Nuru jumped to her paws. "The Rasheda's. That's what he called them! Said he had an Uncle named Jaali there that would take care of him!"

The old gorilla fell silent and deep into thought. So this cub did have relations to the Rasheda's and the King there. He could not be the King's son for he mentioned it was his Uncle but last she knew of the Rasheda's the King's two younger sisters had yet to even have cubs of their own much less leave the pride. Rubbing her chin in thought she looked at the cub. So who were his parents exactly. That was when she remembered two other cubs she had helped in the past other than the Rasheda Prince. She knew those two were no longer in the Rasheda's. Was it possible? She pondered.

"Well you are in luck my dear. For I do know the Rasheda's and I may know the parents that he speaks of and this Uncle. For you see the King of the Rasheda's I hear had a cousin who left the Pride not that long ago with another young male or so rumour would have it. If this cub is who he says he is then I can help you and bring you to them."

Nuru's eyes widened when Chika mentioned that she indeed knew who exactly the Rasheda's were and that Kopa's Uncle was a King and that Chika may know Kopa's parents. "Oh…wow…thank you!" Nuru expressed with a smile. "This will help us immensely. Do you know where in the Jungles they are located?"

Chika nodded her head. "Yes. However the place they had once been located in they had vacated months ago. You see, animals became scarce and so they had asked my son if they could leave their territory to hunt in ours. It was granted as long as they did not hunt the family which King Jaali agreed upon. Our troop and the Rasheda's have been at peace for generations. More so with King Jaali for we had saved him when he was young and two other cubs that were with him some years ago." She explained looking at the cub. "Which this cub reminds me of more now that I know who he is." She looked back at Nuru.

"But when the Rasheda's returned to their territory they saw that the danger that the animals spoke of for their reason of leaving had come closer and would soon be a danger to them. King Jaali had made the decision that for their survival that they would have to leave the place their pride had called home for generations." Seeing the shock look come over Nuru's face Chika smiled. "Do not fret. They did not leave the Jungles they only travelled in deeper. It is a two days journey from here to the place they had settled down in. We can easily take you there for we have been decided with the approaching danger we should leave ourselves. We will take you two with us."

Smiling in relief. Nuru felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. Nodding her head she said "Thank you. I'm sure Kopa would be glad to know his family is still alive and we can travel there." She turned her attention back to Kopa moving to sit beside him staring down at the cub. Wow, she thought. This cub was in relation to a King. No wonder he didn't want to tell her the truth for perhaps he was afraid of what her reaction would be to it. Although something told Nuru, deep down, that being in relation to the King of the Rasheda's was not what Kopa was keeping secret from her. But she figured like this she would find out the rest when the time came.

Grinning, Chika dipped her head. "Young should be with their family. And if this cub is who he says he is. Then he should be returned to the only family he has left. I believe they will be overjoyed to have him return to them."

Nuru thought otherwise. She knew how Kopa was worrying about how he was going to tell the Rasheda's when they found them, about his parent's deaths. If Kopa really was related to this King Jaali then perhaps the news would be dreadful to hear. No one really wants to hear that their family was dead, no matter how long it had been between seeing each other. Lions were close knit groups of families. She seen prides and rogues mourn the losses of both family and companions. So she could only guess how the Rasheda's would take the news of the death of Kopa's family.

The spotted cat sat there in silence for what seemed like hours but was only minutes. Just lost in her thoughts on the things Chika had just explained to her which would have to explain to Kopa when he awoke. She wasn't sure how excited the cub would be to get to his family which was only a two day journey but she did knew one thing, the cub would need a few extra days alone just to make sure he was healed properly.

She was brought from her thoughts when her ears picked up the sound of groaning. Eyes snapping to the lion cub in front of her she jumped when she saw that he was starting to move more then he had when it appeared that he was dreaming. "Kopa?" she asked leaning her face close to the cubs. Within moments she watched his face scrunch up as his nose must have been detecting the scent of the herbs that Chika placed on his wounds and when his smacked his lips she chuckled knowing he must be tasting whatever Chika had made him eat with the herbs now that he was awake.

Seconds later she was looking into a pair of amber eyes who stared back at her groggily. Moments after that, the cub spoke in a cracked voice from a semi-dry throat. "N…Nuru?"

Grinning, Nuru nuzzled the cub, licking the top of his head. "'Bout time you woke up there pussy-cat. Was about ready to try and shake you awake myself but that would be mean to you since you're technically sick. Would be cruel." She gave the cub again lick laughing as he lazily batted at her to try and get her to stop.

"Not…sick…." Kopa mumbled yawning. He felt sore all over. But surprisingly he no longer felt dizzy or too warm. His vision also seemed to be just fine now. The only thing that bothered him was the sticky stuff he felt on his head and for a moment he worried that Nuru had slathered him in sap again. But before he could ask her, his nose was met by other scents. Scents of animals he had never smelt before.

He froze when he soon saw himself looking up into the face of an ape he had never met before. A large ape at that. His eyes widened when she leaned in close to him and tried to drag himself away on the ground when she reached to touch him. Nuru smacked him on the arm. "Relax Kopa, this is Chika. Her and her family decided to help you when you fell unconscious and sick due to your wounds become infectious." She stated watching the cub who was watching Chika with wide eyes.

"Relax young cub. I just need to see how you are feeling. It seems you are a fighter for you seem to be doing just well for one night but you will still need to relax and rest for the herbs I gave you to really take effect. Don't want you getting sick again now do we?" Chika chuckled not the least bit offended by the cub's fright of her. She could tell by the way the cub looked at her that Kopa had never seen a gorilla before. It was only natural for young to feel frightened by those they never seen before so she took no offence.

"What…What are you?" stammered Kopa. He wasn't sure what this type of ape was. He never had seen them in the Pridelands.

"I am a gorilla young cub. You are in my family troop's territory. My son Tuma is the leader of us all and has agreed to allow you and your friend to stay while you are in need of healing. It's a good thing Nuru found us or else you might have gotten worst and died. You poor thing to have so many wounds for one so young. I can only heal the infections but they will scar over and I am sad to say nothing could ever replace your missing ear." Chika clicked her tongue.

Such a terrible thing to happen to one so young but least he was alive that's all that really mattered.

One could live with a few scratches and a missing ear. It was nothing.

Nuru grinned down at the cub. "She also knows the Rasheda's and promised to take us there!"

Kopa blinked his eyes. Everything that was going on was just too much to process. First he had that weird dream with Jelani that he had to figure out and everything the Guardian had told him. Now here he was facing a gorilla that had treated him and now Nuru was telling him that this Chika knew where his Mother's pride was. And on top of that was willingly to take them there herself.

He wasn't sure how to think about all this in such a short time. He glanced at Chika who had leaned away from him once she was satisfied that he was feeling well enough and the wounds seemed to be healing nicely. "Uh…thanks."

Chika only smiled and patted the cubs arm. "No need young cub. If you are who you say you are. I believe I knew who your parents were…well I knew who they were as cubs. And I have a large family; I know how important it is. And one as young as yourself should be with your family. But before I take you there. You must rest. It's a two day journey to reach the Rasheda's in their new home. And you will need to be well rested and healed."

With that Nuru had left his side for a moment to collect the remaining moles she had set aside for the cub. Setting them down before him, she motioned for him to eat. She would make sure he ate even if she had to force feed him her self. But judging by the rumbling in Kopa's stomach at the sight of the food she figured he would eat just fine on his own.

Kopa could not stop himself before he started digging into the first meal he had in days. He was simply starving. But half way through eating it clicked what Chika had said and he looked at her. "Wait…" he started chewing some meat then swallowing it before continuing. "New Home? You mean the Rasheda's no longer live in the waterfall grove my parents always talked about?" He wasn't sure how he would take this. He always wanted to see the exact home his parents grew up in but it seemed the Rasheda's no longer lived there. That confused him…why would they leave?

"I'm afraid so young cub." Chika shook her head. "The Rasheda's moved months ago when a danger started coming to their side of the jungle that was causing many animals to leave the area. Soon enough it will cause my family to leave this area too. But we will bring you to your family. King Jaali will be pleased that you are safe and alive."

Kopa's one remaining ear flattened against his head. He didn't think he would have to travel further for them. He also worried about this danger the Rasheda's had left because of. Was he coming to his last remaining family only to have something happen to them like they happened to his family in the Pridelands?

Was this what Jelani had meant? He gave that some thought. But in the end shook his head. Now was not the time to think about that.

"Th…thank you…" Kopa mumbled taking another bite of the mole he had dug into.

Smiling, Chika shook her head. "No need dear. Now I will be back to check on you later, I must go find my family who went to forage for dinner." Standing, Chika smiled down at the cub in a way that reminded him of the motherly smiles his mother and grandmother would often give him and the cub couldn't help but find himself smiling back at the old gorilla. Turning, Chika moved off into the jungle to find her family where they had gone off to forage and she would tell them that the young cub was now awake and tell them what she had found out about who he was.

Nuru and Kopa fell into silence the moment Chika left. Nuru sitting back just letting Kopa finish his meal. She smiled at him. "Why didn't you tell me your Uncle was a King?"

The exiled Prince looked up. He snorted, he was more then the second-cousin of a King he thought. He was also the son of one. But he wasn't quite ready for Nuru or anyone to know about that just yet. He figured the truth would come out sooner or later but right now he didn't want to talk about it. "Didn't want you to treat me any differently." Was his answer.

The serval rolled her eyes. "Oh Kopa, I wouldn't do that." She said smacking the cub in the arm playfully. She was true to her word. She wouldn't. To Nuru he was a cub who needed help which she was willing to offer. That and she figured she could end up being friends with this cub, she may be older then him but she had a feeling the cub needed a friend. No matter whom that friend was. "Well seems like we're going to see your family soon."

"We?" Kopa asked looking at Nuru. "You're still coming?"

Raising her eyebrow, Nuru answered. "Yes I am. What did you think I would abandon you as soon as we found them?" She rolled her eyes again when the cub nodded his head to indicate that yes that's exactly what he thought. "Kopa, you are my friend now. I'm going to stay with you as long as you want me."

The exiled prince stared at his companion. Not really sure what to think. She had just called him her friend. Did that mean she was his friend as well? He wasn't sure. The last time he had friends they betrayed him but yet here she was willing to stay by him and had actually gotten help for him rather then abandon him like he thought she would. He felt something tug at his heart when he thought of this.

Could she really be his friend?

A grin cracked his face.

"Well…then I guess you stay." Was his answer watching as Nuru returned his grin with one of her goofy smiles? Oh what did he just say? She was going to drive him crazy, he thought with a laugh. Something told him that she was going to be a true friend to him when the times came and he would take that as a sure thing and welcome it.

Only a fool would cast aside a real friend when it was presented to them.

The exiled Prince fell back into silence when he finished his meal. He was still hungry but he figured he had enough for now. He let his eyes look over the home of the gorillas. He remembered a tale his mother told him about them. He smiled sadly for a moment remembering his mother's stories. Sad that he would never be able to see the grove she had grown up in. Maybe one day when he was old enough he would venture there just to see it once.

Lifting his eyes to the leaf covered tree tops above he eyed the small patches of sunlight that managed to peak through the tops of the trees.

Eyeing those patches of sunlight he wondered where the Rasheda's had gone. What danger was there? Well maybe he would get his answer when he saw them.

Watching the leaves dance in the light breeze and the patches of sunlight the exiled Prince was left alone with his thoughts.

'Where are you Aunt Leta…Uncle Jaali…I hope you welcome me…I need family right now…' the exiled prince silently thought himself settling down on the ground with Nuru by his side. The serval soon enough sprouting on about all that had happened while he had slept filling him in on the gorilla's and what Chika had told him about the Rasheda's while they both waited for the troop to return.


Deep within the jungle, a brownish-gold figure moved through the trees taking a path that he had mapped out over the months. It surrounded his new territory and he took the effort of marking it every day to strengthen his claim on this new patch of land he had found for his pride. It had been the toughest decision of his life to leave the home of his ancestors but the King knew he had no choice in the matter. If they didn't move they would all die.

This new territory however was much larger then the last. Larger to including the animals that came into it would be there's to hunt upon. But unlike their old territory, the King had to make the sacrifice of agreeing to share it with other predators and the herd of forest elephants that lingered. And soon enough the gorilla troop that would move in.

This was for all their survivals and so the King and the other leaders of these troops and herd had agreed that as long as they did not harm each other they could live in harmony. The King could not complain. He had a home for his pride once more and enough food to last them that they didn't need to hunt the elephants that lingered in these deep parts of the jungle or the gorilla's.

The pride did not seem to mind this either much to his relief.

Stepping out of the trees and into a large patch of thicket that now served as his pride's home. Jaali squinted his eyes when he was met by the sunlight.

It took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the sunlight before taking in the sight of the thicket. It was good shelter. It held a small cave that was hidden by an amount of vines that would protect them and hid them well should there be any danger and keep them out of the rain that fell. But unlike the grove there was no large water source that was solely theirs. They shared it with others now from the large river that flowed through the jungle to the east of them but it did not matter to them. They had food and water and shelter.

His eyes went to the lionesses that were lounging about enjoying the sun off to the side was the remains of an Okapi that the hunting party had caught earlier that day.

Stepping over toward it, he dug into what was left. He would take the rest out into the Jungle for the leopards that lived in the area to feed upon should they choose too.

It was strange getting accustomed to their new home. But the safety of the pride was worthy sharing it with others. He could only imagine this was what it felt like for Zuri and Simba in the Pridelands where he heard the Pridelands were shared with many animals including other predators. If the Pridelanders could do it, then so could the Rasheda's.

"Jaali."

The young King raised his head watching while a creamy coloured lioness made her way over to him. Her eyes a warm brown. Her underbelly was tan with colourless paws. A trait she had picked up from their late Father. Tufa unlike Yamile didn't have tufts of hair on her head but rather a stripe of black that stood against her creamy coloured pelt. The stripe ran from the top of her head down to the tip of her nose and partway down the back of her neck.

The King grinned at his sister who returned it with a smile of her own. "Was the patrol successful?" she asked standing in front of her older brother.

Jaali knew what she meant right away and nodded his head. "The prides scent is all over the territory now. There should be no worries. The herd and soon the troop will be good of their bargain on this land. It seems well enough that the danger from the far side of the Jungle will not reach us least for some time…if not at all, I hope." He saw the look of worry come over the younger lioness's face. Tufa and Yamile had been downhearted when they had left the grove like many of the Rasheda's had been but it was for their safety that it had to be done and so Jaali had made the call for it.

Sighing, Tufa shook her head. She didn't quite like the move but she knew her big brother had done it so that they could survive. But she often feared the danger would still come their way. She would hear the word from the animals and birds that came their way about it and it worried her immensely but she tried to relax and just enjoy the safety they had. Yamile thought she was too much of a worrywart then anything else. Tufa wasn't one for adventure like her littermate was. She was more of a settling down lioness or so that's what her Mother and the other lionesses called her.

They may have been born the same day but Tufa and Yamile were complete opposites in everyway. The only things the two had in common was the love they had for their mother; brother and their Pride.

Glancing around at their new home, Tufa felt a little homesick but it would vanish in time she knew. Looking back at her brother she smiled. "Yamile seems to like the new places to explore. She's gone off right now looking for someplace new she hasn't yet seen in this new territory." She chuckled at the groan that came from her brother.

The young King ran his paw down his face with an annoyed grunt and groan. He felt like Yamile would one day be the death of him. The moment they had settled on their new home, she had gone off every chance she got in order to explore the new areas of their much larger territory. He was happy that Yamile seemed to be settling in just fine but he still found it annoying that she would just run off without a care in the world what happened to her as long as she explored.

Their mother would laugh and say he was just like that as a cub. Something Jaali could not deny but now he knew his mother and father felt whenever he; Simba and Zuri went off to explore. But unlike them at the time of being cubs his sister was an adult who could handle herself.

Didn't make him worry any less however.

"Relax big brother. She will be fine. She'll be back before sunset she promised mother." Tufa smiled laying her paw on Jaali's. The two siblings shared a smile before the older lion nuzzled his sister drawing her in close to him. Jaali took pride in his little sisters. They may have annoyed him when they were young, Yamile might still annoy him at times to this day, but they were his little sisters and he loved them. And would always be there for them. That was what he had promised his father the day he died. To look out for the family and the pride.

The two pulled away when they caught movement near the cave as a pale golden lioness emerged from behind the vines. Jaali nuzzled his sister once more before making his way over to the lioness who was watching him calmly.

Leta was getting on in age. Her pale golden fur was stained with grey. Her face lined with wrinkles and soft patches of grey that left her distinguished. Though her strength was not was it use to be, Leta still had enough spunk in her that it allowed her to keep living. She would be there for her family until it was simply her time to go. But right now she felt like it wasn't and so she was still there for her pride and cubs.

A gentle smile came over her face at the sight of her firstborn. She still held the title of Queen regent. She helped settle things and guide her son to what he needed to do.

But so far he was a better King than he son gave himself credit for.

She knew her mate would be prouder of him then he was in life. She always knew Mansa was proud of their son he just always had a hard way of showing it. More so after his only remaining close friend died.

The old Queen signed at the thought of her mate. She missed Mansa daily and looked forward to the day she would see him in the afterlife once more. But for now she was content with being there for her family.

"Is everything alright?" she asked her son when he was close to her.

The King grinned and nodded his head. Hooking his neck around his mothers he nuzzled her letting her rest her head on his shoulder and mane. It saddened him to see his mother aging but proud that she still held that edge she always did when he was growing up. The only thing his mother didn't do for the pride anymore was help the hunting party but she was still there for anything else anyone in the pride may need. "Everything is just fine mother. The patrol went well. Our prides scents are well settled onto this land and it is now ours. Well half ours. The herd is settled into our presence and we just have to worry about Tuma and his troop but then everything will be finally settled."

Leta pulled away from her son with a smile. "Good. How are you coping with being King of so many?"

Jaali chuckled ducking his head. "Well. Just hoping I do as well a job as Simba and Zuri."

Leta's smile turned sad at the thought of Simba and Zuri. She missed her young niece everyday as well as the red mane young lion she had found in the desert that one day. She wondered everyday how they were. How was their young son, Kopa? She remembered when she heard that Zuri had named her first born son after her late Father. She thought it had been a touching thing.

She hated that they hadn't heard word. But sadly with the loss of Jamine they hadn't been able to send word. But she also wondered why they hadn't heard from the Pridelands in so long. She secretly hoped that everything was alright there.

"Speaking of which." Leta gave her son a look. "Have you found a new majordomo yet?"

"No."

"Jaali, you will need one. I know you say you can handle all this on your own. But with a large territory now it is best you find one!" Leta lectured her son.

The King sighed slouching his body. He heard this lecture so many times he was surprised he couldn't recite it already. Shaking his head he commented. "Yes, I know Mother. I will find one I assure you."

Eyeing her son, Leta sighed and licked his cheek. "I know you will." Sitting back Leta raised her eyes to the sky above. The two fell into silence before Jaali noticed a thoughtful look come over his mothers face. "What is it Mom?"

Furrowing her brow, Leta answered. "I'm not quite sure. But I have this…feeling that something is coming."

"But the danger is…"

"Far from us I know. That's not it. It's something else. Just this strong feeling in my gut that something is out there. Something that's coming here, something of importance I just can't think of what." Leta took her eyes off the sky and looked at her son who was watching her closely with confusion written across his face.

"Mother are you sure you're feeling alright…ow!" Jaali held his both with both front paws staring at his mother with wide eyes from where she smacked him on the snout like he was some insolent cub.

"Don't you question me Jaali. I am feeling just fine…this is just something I cannot explain…but I feel like this will help us…but also bring pain…I cannot be exactly sure why I feel this…I just do." Lifting her eyes to the sky, Leta ignored the looks her son was giving her as she stared up at the vast blue that was the sky above.

She could not shake this feeling. That something was coming their way. But she knew it was no danger. Closing her eyes she felt the wind ruffle her fur. Well whatever it was, it warmed her heart for she had a feeling that this something was rather someone that would bring light to her pride and a future for them.

Question was…who were they?


Thank you for reading and please remember to review.

And many thanks to Gypsycrest19 on deviant art for the birthday gift of a drawing of my OC Bora from my very first fanfic I ever written. Thank you I loved it!