I know...this was a quick update...but i sorta wanted to leave you guys with a cliffhanger before i left on my Death Valley trip (leaving today! SWEET!!!!). So don't expect any updates for about a week. The next chapter will be very interesting to say the least...you are gonna love and/or hate me for it.
It has come to my attention that some of you are unfamiliar with "The Diamond Star Chronicles". That story, by an incredible author named Amase, is what THIS story is based on. I have prior permission to use the story. "The Diamond Star Chronicles" is the sequel to "The White Water Chronicles", which corresponds with "The Pride of Man". In my absence this week, perhaps you might go and check them out! They're INCREDIBLE stories, and i am forever indebted to Amase for allowing me to use them to make my own stories.
Enough babble! Enjoy!
Chapter 9 – Darkness on the Horizon
A couple of days passed since I had made my decision to leave. I began to collect food and supplies for my journey and store them under a tree in my secluded spot. As far as I could tell, nobody had the slightest clue that I would soon be gone.
It became clear that I was not hiding my sadness for leaving very well. Sarabi grew worried and she easily figured out that I was not fully content. Though, I'm sure she would have never guessed the reason why. She had asked me if I was feeling some heartache over my lost family. I told her yes, and one could argue that there was some truth in that. I would soon be losing my family, and I was heartbroken over that.
Sarabi and I spent a lot of time together over those couple of days, taking strolls through the grasslands, sitting under acacia trees, and talking. Occasionally, she would take me to a secluded spot that she discovered for herself years ago. It was a small rocky area where the rocks were high enough on each side to resemble a gorge. At sunset, it was a beautiful sight to behold.
Kamau quickly became the center of attention, as I once had when I first arrived. He was bombarded with questions about his and Yetunde's travels, and he answered every one enthusiastically.
About three days after I began preparing for my departure, I found myself walking with Kamau through the Pride Lands. He was always interested in a history lesson, and I was more than glad to oblige. It was wonderful to spend time with him. It was wonderful that Sarabi's secret pregnancy, as initially horrible as it was, had turned out to be a great thing. Kamau was, without a doubt, the wisest lion I knew next to Mufasa.
"So to shorten the history lesson, we're the only pride around, aside from the Outsiders. At least to my knowledge," I relayed to him. "I'm unsure if the River Pride is still around. The last time I ever heard about them was when Mufasa was around."
"Is there any way to find out?" Kamau asked curiously.
"I suppose Simba might know." I said. "He's made several journeys on his own since we ascended the throne. He may have found them, but I'll make a point to ask him anyway."
I glanced around as a sudden urge came over me.
"Will you excuse me?" I asked.
Kamau smiled and rolled his eyes. "Of course."
I turned and walked a good fifty feet away so I could relieve myself.
Once I finished, I turned and started walking back to Kamau, who had sat down and was staring out in the opposite direction.
A bush to my right rustled, and as I turned to look at it, instinct suddenly told me to duck. Just in the nick of time, I did so as a dark brown blur pounced out of the bush and just over my head
I quickly stood up again, unsheathing my knife from my pocket, brandishing it towards the rogue lion. He turned on the spot and crouched low, baring his teeth and growling. I raised my knife, poised to strike.
Suddenly, Kamau bounded into the scene and landed right between the two of us.
"No! Don't!" He cried. "I know him!"
Both the rogue lion and I stood up and stared at Kamau. Then I looked over at the rogue. His eyes flashed menacingly in my direction and my mouth fell open.
"Kovu?" I asked incredulously.
The rogue lion's face changed instantly. He stared at me, turning his head to one side.
"Do I know you?" he asked.
"Do you know me?" I repeated, "Who's the only human you've ever come in contact with?"
His eyes widened as he stared at me.
"No way…" He said disbelievingly.
Kovu had certainly grown since the last time I had seen him. Now about the same size as Simba had been when I first met him as an adult, Kovu greatly resembled his father, Sekou. A chocolate pelt with a creamy underbelly, and an even darker mane, he was a handsome young lion. His eyes were a striking green, reflecting Kala's kindness, yet they had a strange look to them. It seemed as though they reflected all the pain in his life.
He grew up with Zira. What else would you expect?
"What, you forgot what I looked like?" I asked, dumbfounded that he had forgotten me.
"You look different now." He said, "You're slightly taller for one thing, and you've got fur on your face now."
I chuckled to myself at the last comment. I had been wearing my knife down when I sharpened it to shave, so I decided to stop and just let my facial hair grow several weeks previously to preserve what little of my knife I had left.
"Is that why you attacked me?" I asked seriously, remembering Kovu's hostile attack.
"Err…no. I was looking for food, and you were the first thing I came across." He replied sheepishly.
"And you just happened to stumble several miles north of your territory into the Pride Lands during your hunt?" I asked, remembering my duty as King.
"I…uh…"
I motioned for Kamau to step aside so I could speak to Kovu properly. Kamau nodded and moved to sit at my side. Kovu stood warily in front of me. He was not scared, but he was cautious. Clearly, Zira had informed him that there was much more to me than met the eye.
"Do you mind telling me what you are doing in our lands when you know you are an Outsider?" I said sternly.
Kovu composed himself, stood tall, and looked me straight in the eyes.
"I've renounced my pride. Zira is a power hungry tyrant and I want nothing more to do with her." His eyes shifted slightly. "I was hoping I could join with yours. In hopes that you would accept me, I've also come to bring you and King Simba a warning."
"And the warning would be?" I asked.
He hesitated, as if unsure he should say what he needed to. Then he spoke.
"That Zira and the Outsiders are gearing up to attack. It is planned for when the moon is high in the sky in three days time."
Had I not been listening intently, I would have thought Kovu had said something else.
"Zira…is going to attack?" I repeated shakily. The words were hard for me to form.
"Yes, in three nights." Kovu said again.
"Um…" Kamau said cautiously, to nobody in particular. "Is this the same Zira you told me about? The one that you and Simba banished three years ago?"
"The same," Kovu answered for me, noticing that I was having trouble speaking.
Words finally found their way back to me, and anger was slowly rising. I directed my attention to Kovu..
"And you are turning your back on your pride to tell me this why? What incentive would you have to join us, the ones who banished you and by doing so, made your life hell?" I asked warily. Kovu was an outsider who I was sure that Zira had fed hateful lies to in order to turn him against us. For the moment, I had no legitimate reason to trust him.
"I have my reasons." He replied quietly. "Let's just say that I'm concerned for somebody."
A balloon of anger was slowly growing inside of my chest. I wanted to direct my anger at Kovu for telling me this news. But he was not the cause of my anger, and I didn't want to make a bad impression on him. I needed to control the anger before I did something I would regret.
I turned around and walked to a nearby tree. I put my back to the tree, raised my head up, and slid down until I was sitting. I put my head in my hands and sighed.
Well isn't this wonderful! You can't abandon them now! Not when they're about to be attacked!
"Ayden?" Kamau said. He turned his to Kovu and said, "Excuse me for a moment." Then he started walking over to me. "Are you alright?"
I pulled my face out of my hands and looked at him.
"No. I'm not alright Kamau." I said harshly. "Who knows what will happen now? Zira's going to attack the Pride. She was one of the best huntresses in the Pride when she lived with us. I just….it…ugh!"
I buried my face in my hands again, frustration overcoming me.
Are you so eager to leave? Do you really want to leave your home so bad that anything that makes you stay will upset you?
No, but its something that I have to do. Staying here isn't good for anybody.
But you want to stay here. And besides, this gives you a good excuse to do so.
A good excuse? You call your family possibly being killed a good excuse to stay for your own selfish reasons?
I decided to stop arguing with myself before I went completely insane. I sighed and got back on my feet.
"Sorry…" I said to Kamau. "Just…a lot on my mind. That's all."
Kamau smiled and nodded, but his eyes gave him away. He was concerned for me, though he said nothing to voice his concern.
I walked back over to Kovu and smiled at him.
"I apologize for that Kovu. I don't know what came over me."
He smiled back at me, and replied. "It's cool."
"I cannot thank you enough for telling me this, and I honestly don't know if it will ever be enough," I said. "I suppose I could start by granting your request."
Kovu's ears perked up and a huge grin spread across his face.
"Really? Thank you your Majesty!" he said enthusiastically.
"Ayden," I corrected, smiling. "Just Ayden. And just so we can be clear, I'm taking a huge risk trusting you. If you break that trust, then you will be banished again without any second thought. Is that clear?"
"Crystal!" Kovu said, jubilation radiating off him like steam. For some reason, Kovu was genuinely happy to join with our Pride; some other reason aside from the fact that he never had to live with Zira again.
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"And you are sure that he is trustworthy?" Simba asked me.
Kovu, Kamau, and I had returned to Pride Rock right afterward to deliver the news to Simba and the rest of the Pride. The sun had started to set, placing the Pride Lands into a neon orange light.
Upon our arrival, I had gone inside the cave with Simba right after he had seen Kovu. He had not recognized him, and I pulled him aside before he could have a chance to. I feared his reaction if he knew that an Outsider was in our midst.
"Nobody can say for sure if he is lying or not, but his eyes showed no lie." I said quietly. "Besides, I wouldn't put it past Zira to plot her revenge after all these years."
"True." Simba said with a sigh. "So Kovu is part of our Pride now?"
"For the moment, yes," I replied. "But I told him that I was taking a huge risk trusting him, and if he broke that trust-"
"We wouldn't think twice before banishing him again." Simba finished for me, smiling. "Our father's law word-for-word."
I returned the smile. Together, we turned and left the cave.
Kovu stood just around the corner, surrounded by the Pride. Kamau stood at his side, attempting to calm the Pride, all of whom were clamoring and shouting. At our appearance, they all turned to us, and started shouting at me.
"What on earth are you thinking Ayden?"
"He's an Outsider!"
"What's he mean you're letting him stay?"
"It's called trust, and I have the free will to give it to whoever I choose." I replied loudly over the clamor. "When have I ever given you reason to not trust my judgment?"
"Well…" Lesedi spoke up. "You failed to kill Scar on several occasions while he was in power, even though you had the perfect chance to."
I felt my face grow hot as it grew red. "I was young and inexperienced. And I was not your King then."
"Enough!" Simba called out. "I too trust Ayden's judgment. And if that's not good enough for anybody, then speak up now."
Nobody said a word.
"Kovu is a part of our Pride now." I said aloud. "He is to be treated with the same respect that you would expect from anybody else. Is that understood?"
Slowly, the pride nodded their heads. Afterwards, they began to disperse and go back to their daily activities. Kiara and Tanabi were the last two to leave our sights, and I couldn't help but notice Kiara's eyes were not moving from Kovu's face.
Simba stepped forward and addressed Kovu. "Well now, a new member, huh?"
Kovu smiled weakly and shrugged. "Yeah."
"Allow me to introduce myself, though I'm sure you remember me from your younger days. I am King Simba. But just call me Simba. None of that "Your Majesty" or "Your Highness" stuff."
"Sure thing," said Kovu.
Simba continued. "Everything within our lands is free for you to take, except for hunting. We do that at sunset as an entire Pride. If you wish to hunt on your own, then go beyond the Pride Lands. Here we have a peace and order that we like to keep. Understood?"
Kovu nodded. "Thank you Simba. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to have been accepted into the Pride." Then he sighed and turned to me. "Do you mind if I take a walk? I need to clear my head. It's been a busy day."
"Go right ahead Kovu," I said smiling.
He returned the smile and descended down the slope and out into the Pride Lands.
"Well he seems nice enough." Simba commented. "Are you positive though?"
"You didn't know his parents. I can see both of them in him." I said, staring at Kovu's shrinking figure. I turned back to Kamau who too stared out at Kovu.
"You said that you knew him Kamau. How do you know him?"
Kamau smiled and replied, "I met him out on the border during my travels."
"Did he seem trustworthy when you met him then?" Simba asked. Clearly, Simba was having a difficult time believing that Kovu truly was trustworthy.
"Yes." Kamau said solemnly. "He has a heavy and troubled soul, but he is good. I know it in my heart."
Simba shrugged and yawned. "All right then, I'm gonna go take a nap. Care to join me?"
"I think I'll wander around the Pride Lands for a bit." Kamau said.
"Nah, it's cool." I replied. "I think I'll take a walk as well."
Simba chuckled. "Exercise seems popular today."
He turned and entered the cave. I turned to Kamau, eyeing him suspiciously.
"I don't suppose its coincidence that we want to 'take a walk' at the same time, is it?" I asked smugly.
"Well," he replied with a smirk, "If your definition of 'taking a walk' means to follow Kovu, then the answer is no. It's not a coincidence."
"He was heading into the south last time I saw." I said, looking out in the direction.
"Then south is our destination." Kamau responded.
Kamau lowered himself so I could climb on his back, and together we took off down the slope, and out to the southern border.
I tried to hold on to every moment of this experience I could. Riding on the back of a lion is not something that one ever wants to forget, or even give up. And once I left, I would never be able to do it again.
The sky had turned a deep shade of lavender and stars began to dot the sky like little beacons. Off in the east, a shimmering half-moon began to rise over the horizon.
The landscape around us slowly began to change. Green plants slowly diminished and became brown and withered. The grass around us was gone, and only dry cracked dirt could be seen. The trees were crooked, barren, and dry.
We had entered the Outlands.
"I don't like this Kamau…" I said warily.
Maybe I had misplaced my trust in Kovu. Why on earth would he return to the Outlands directly after joining with our Pride?
There was a cluster of trees several yards in front of us. From beyond them, I heard voices.
Kamau stopped and let me slip off his back. We slowly and silently made our way to the cluster. I reached a tree and hid behind it. Slowly, I moved to peek around to see the source of the voices.
Kovu was getting to his paws as a lioness was moving away. Apparently she had just pinned him to the ground. There was something familiar about her. The way her fur grew in a tuft on her head so that it hung like a pair of bangs in her eyes, which were a deep blue color…
Just like Sekou's…
And then it hit me.
This was Vitani.
I stared in awe at this young and powerful lioness. The last time I had seen her, I could've held her in my arms. Now she was twice my size. The years of growing up in the Outlands had not been kind to her. Though she was powerful and well set, she was unnaturally thin and held a stance that signified constant aggression.
"Damn. This is going to take longer," she said with a growl. My interest spiked and I strained my ears, listening for more.
Suddenly, Kamau moved around me and out into the open.
"Kamau…no!" I whispered through gritted teeth, reaching out to stop him. But it was too late. I went back and hid behind the tree again.
"What's going to take longer?" He said aloud.
I heard a loud roar, followed by Vitani shouting, "You let him FOLLOW YOU!?"
"What's going on here?" Kamau shouted as well. I chanced a peek around the corner to see what was going on. Kamau was staring at Vitani. She had the very distinct look of an Outlander, and Kamau noticed it. "You're scheming! You've been plotting against Simba and Ayden the whole time!"
Suddenly, a chilling and eerie laugh echoed through the trees; a laugh that sent shivers down my spine.
It had been years since I heard that laugh, but I would never forget it in my entire life. I reached up and ran my hand across the scar that stretched down my face.
Zira.
Kamau slowly backed up as Zira's laughing grew louder. She was in the clearing now.
"Very good, Kamau! You've figured it out! But why do you fear? Do you know who I am?"
Her voice awakened a dark hate in me that I had not felt in the longest time. Zira had committed unspeakable acts of horror and evil in the past, and I absolutely despised her for them.
Kamau stopped backing up and got into a defensive position.
"I make a case of avoiding acquaintances with Outsiders." He said with a growl.
Zira snorted at that. "My name is Zira, former Queen of the Pride Lands, and the mate of your father, King Scar."
Kamau growled at this.
"Don't' be so hostile my dear!" Zira chuckled. "I am the leader of a pride of lions loyal to your father and his legacy. Since his death we have trained and stretched our efforts, our single goal being the retaking of Pride Rock in the name of Scar!"
I chanced another glance around the corner, and saw that Zira was now circling Kamau. A small, spiteful bit of gladness sprang in me when I saw her right ear. It was missing a patch of skin.
I remembered the day I had attacked Scar and Zira, and how it was I who had done that to her. I grinned maliciously.
Zira spoke kindly, as if Kamau was her own son.
"You, Kamau, are Scar's single surviving heir. Did you know that?"
Kovu growled at her. "Mother! What about Nuka? Is he not Scar's son too?"
Nuka…
I remembered Nuka and how deeply I had felt badly for him. Nuka had always had a kind heart, despite his parentage. Being forced to live with Zira out in the Outlands…It made my heart hurt to know that we had practically done nothing to make sure that Nuka, Kovu, and Vitani were not put in Zira's care. How different things would have been if we had kept them from her…
Zira roared angrily at Kovu's remark, and I heard a smacking sound as she struck him.
"How DARE you talk back to me!? Nuka is a ring of filth and does not deserve the title of Scar's son!"
Kamau's stance faltered for a second, and I knew why. He had just realized that Nuka was yet another half-brother of his. He regained his composure in time for Zira to start circling him again.
"Kamau, you remain a member of Scar's noble blood line. You alone hold rights to the throne aside from your foolish brother Simba. Join me, Kamau. Join the Outlanders, and rule the Pride Lands with Kovu at your side! Two Kings to rule the Pride Lands in the name of the late King Scar!"
Kamau growled at Zira, stood tall, and spoke. "The Pride Lands already have two kings. Two kings who rule in the name of the late King Mufasa. There are only two kings to bring the Pride together. Two kings to sit alongside the Great Kings of the Past."
I held my breath, waiting for Kamau's answer.
"Those kings are Simba and Ayden."
Pride began welling up in me as Kamau defended his kings.
A vicious snarl tore from Zira's throat and she roared, "HOW DARE YOU DENY THE NAME OF YOUR FATHER!? TO DENY HIS LEGACY FOR THAT OF SIMBA!?"
Kamau replied calmly, "Because my father was a tyrant, not a King."
Zira's hatred and rage still lingered in her face, but when she spoke, it was in a sinister yet calm voice.
"Very well. If you will not join us, then you will die like the filth you are."
I couldn't idly stand by any longer. I flew from around the tree, pulling my knife from my pocket, raising it high.
"I wouldn't count on that!" I called out.
Every face turned towards me. Kamau's was relieved, yet concerned. Kovu seemed to be unsure of himself. Vitani stared at me bewilderedly, but I only had eyes for one face.
Zira's was, at first, contorted with confusion and rage. Then an evil smile broke over it.
"Well, well, well…its been a very long time, Ayden." She said in a cold whisper.
"Not long enough." I growled through gritted teeth.
Vitani, Kovu, and Kamau all stood by and watched as the two of us began to encircle one another.
"I have been dreaming of this moment for years." She chuckled to herself.
"It's just you and me Zira." I said savagely. My hate was overcoming me. My vision grew clouded. Everything else seemed to dissolve into thin air. The only thing that I saw was Zira.
Zira snickered again. "What was the first thing that you said to me all those years ago? 'Maybe if you would pay attention to your surroundings once in a while, you would notice that things are not always what they seem.'"
And suddenly, I found myself pushed forward, down to the ground. My knife flew from my hand, five feet away. I was pinned down, with Vitani towering over me.
"NO!" Kamau cried, as he ran towards me. Zira growled and struck him hard across the face, sending him flying down to the ground. She cried, "Kovu! Hold him!" to which Kovu obliged. Then she turned back to me.
"Excellent work Vitani. Keep him there!" Then she added with a snicker, "I've got some plans for him."
She turned back to Kamau and stared down at him. "Now where were we?"
She stopped in mock-thought for a second, while Kamau began to make choking sounds as Kovu began to push on his throat.
"Well Kamau this is a shame," Zira said simply as she trotted up. She sat down next to the suffocating lion and bent down level with him. "You being the son of my beloved, and refusing the offer that I have given you. I'm usually a very merciful and permitting lioness but seeing your refusal, I know that you will go and tell Simba of our plans. So I'm afraid I can't let you go back."
My eyes flashed to Kovu when Zira mentioned Kamau telling Simba. I was utterly confused now. WHY had he told us if he was just going to kill us?
"You have one more chance Kamau," Zira said with a smile. "Take my offer. Join me in the fight for Pride Rock and your life will be spared. You will become King and rule the Pride Lands with Kovu! What a life you could have!"
Kamau was gasping for breath, but he managed to say, "I will never stand against my brother. I will never do what my father did. Simba is the one true King."
Zira stared at Kamau, rage briefly flashing in her eyes. However it subsided, and she merely stared at Kamau with a look of cold stone on her face. She turned to Kovu.
"Kill him."
My heart beat like a soldier's drum in my chest as I stared over at Kovu, who was staring down at Kamau with a mingled look of determination and pity. Slowly, he raised his paw to deliver the killing blow.
Seconds passed as his paw hovered in midair, poised to strike.
His paw trembled.
"What are you waiting for Kovu?" Zira hissed impatiently. "Do it!"
Kovu stared into Kamau's eyes, and then closed his own. His jaw trembled slightly.
What is he doing?
"DO IT NOW!" Zira roared.
A tear slid down Kovu's muzzle, and unbelievably, he lowered his paw, sheathing his claws once again. Slowly, he released Kamau and turned to Zira.
"No."
Zira let out a roar of fury and charged at the two lions, her eyes shooting daggers into Kovu.
"IF YOU WON'T DO IT, THEN I WILL!" She shrieked.
Kovu took a defensive stance and unsheathed his claws again, bearing his teeth. Above me, Vitani shifted, and I seized the opportunity. In her moment of hesitation, I jerked around and she slipped off from on top of me. I rolled away from her and got to my feet, wheezing as I caught my breath. My attention was abruptly brought back to the impending fray.
"I said NO!" Kovu cried out.
Just before Zira collided with Kovu, an orange blur shot between them, causing Zira to stop in her tracks. It was Kamau.
"STOP!" he cried from between them. "Kovu let it go. Let it be. Let them be."
Kovu glared at Zira, the desire to rip her throat out, but he sheathed his claws and turned his back on Zira. I quickly rushed to their sides, scooping up my knife as I went. Behind us, Zira growled.
"You filth." she hissed in menacing, demonic rage. Kovu stopped and turned to look at her, hate in his eyes.
Zira spat on the ground. "You ungrateful little wretch! I could have let you DIE after Scar was killed! I could have left you to rot! But no, I took you in and raised you, taught you all of which you were born to be, and you betray me! You disgusting little bastard. That's all you are! The illegitimate son of a slut of a lioness and a rogue!"
Kovu stood there, unmoved by her words. He began to turn around back to us.
Zira growled. "Stay with them, you belong with them. Though you won't be there long. Await the day, young ones. Await the day that the pride of the Outlanders will rain forth upon the Pride Lands, burying an old legacy into the ground, and reviving the glorious era that was Scar's. Wait for it..."
I glared at Zira maliciously. I was sure that she would prolong her attack, now that she knew that Kovu would tell us about it.
…Which meant that I needed to stay in the Pride Lands longer.
I sighed and watched quietly as Zira grunted at Vitani, who shot a dirty look at the three of us. Then together, they slunk back into the Outlands, tails twitching in agitation.
Kovu sighed. "We should get out of here now."
"I agree." I said.
Together, the three of us set off back into the green, lush Pride Lands. For a while, nobody spoke a word. Every now and then, I would glance at Kovu, who looked as if he had been denied a large piece of meat he had just been promised.
Kamau noticed this too. "Hey," he said to Kovu. "I think that was…very noble what you did. Very brave."
"I agree." I said truthfully.
Kovu chuckled sarcastically. "Brave, huh? What's your definition of brave? Betraying your only home and family and putting yourself on their hit list?"
"No," Kamau smiled. "Doing what you believe is right, regardless of what others may tell you or expect of you. Standing up for truth and righteousness, and facing death with ease and calmness. That's bravery."
Kovu chuckled again. "That's what you think of me?
"Yes, in fact," Kamau replied. "You saved my life, Kovu. That's a debt I will be obliged to repay someday."
Kovu looked up at Kamau seriously, and replied, "No, Kamau, it was me who was repaying a debt."
I stared at Kovu, utterly perplexed. "What the…?" was all I could manage to say.
Kovu looked over at me, then back at Kamau, who too looked totally confused.
"About a year ago, Kamau found me on the border, broken and alone. I had bottled up my emotions for so long that I felt like I was going to explode. Hate, sadness, rage, torment…all of it had just built up inside of me."
He looked at Kamau right in the eyes. "Right before you found me, I made the decision that I was gonna go to the old gorge. I decided that I didn't want my life anymore. One step over that cliff would end my suffering and give me peace. You found me, and you told me things that made my eyes clear again. You inspired me to keep going, and that I can do anything I choose to do, I'm not obligated to Zira's will."
Kamau smiled at him, and suddenly, I had a newfound respect for Kovu. His parent's kind nature was shining through him brightly now, throwing off the shroud of darkness that Zira had covered him with.
"I'm sorry. To both of you," he said, turning to me as well. "I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me? Please?"
I looked into his green eyes and saw that remorse reflected in them. I smiled and said, "Absolutely Kovu."
Kamau spoke up. "You acted on pride alone, Kovu. You did what you thought was expected of you. But you have redeemed yourself. You discovered that you are under your own jurisdiction, not under the demand of others. For that, even the Great Kings have forgiven you."
Kovu smiled. "Salvation by the Kings..." he whispered under his breath.
We took our time returning to Pride Rock. By the time we arrived, the moon was almost at the western edge of the sky, while the eastern edge was glowing with the pink rays of the soon-to-be rising sun.
Kovu and Kamau went inside the cave, and I bade them good night-or good morning in this case. I remained outside, watching the sun rise slowly over the mountains.
Simba would be up soon, and I would have to tell him what had happened that night. Hopefully, he would take it well and not look down on Kovu.
Now we had a greater problem than a human living unnaturally with a wild pride of lions. Now, a rogue lion was going to attack us all with every ounce of force that she had, and I knew that she would take no prisoners.
I knew that I could not leave the Pride now. At least not until this threat was eliminated. I would not abandon my family in a time of need.
Though the sun shone brightly in the morning sky, I knew that this was the beginning of a dark time for us all.
