[•]


How can I try to explain?
When I do, he turns away again

It's always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk, I was ordered to listen
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go...
—Cat Stevens, "Father and Son"

As the darkening sky heralded evening's approach, Malka took stock of his surroundings, casting a passing glance at Fuata and Kaidi as he did so. The three of them had been navigating a maze of connected canyons all day, but despite the fading light the behemothic shape of Mount Kilimanjaro could still be seen in the distance, rising high above the rest of the mountain range. We've almost reached the badlands, Malka reflected. We'll make it there before night's end.

As they filed through the canyon, the king could hear the others muttering about him. Their disapproving looks told him everything, and the truth was Malka couldn't fault them at all. He had let everyone down, and right now he couldn't ignore the guilt forming into a cold pit in his stomach, but now was not the time for apologies. In the three days since they had gone on the run, Malka had been running over the sequence of events in his head; something about this didn't add up, he was certain of it. Who are these lions? How did they take Mount Tempest so easily?

You should have done more.

Malka bit his lip, glancing furtively at the other two lions. He had run off on his own during the attack on Mount Tempest, and he hadn't gotten far into the mountain range before Fuata and Kaidi had found him. They weren't happy to see him, and if his son hadn't been their cubhood friend Malka wondered if they would have gone with him at all. I'll make this right, somehow. I'm going to protect my pride as a king should.

And what kind of king abandons his pride at the first sign of trouble? Malka had retained little confidence in himself as a leader for as long as he could remember, but the last few years alone had taken a toll on him. His heart was heavy with thoughts of his bygone queen, and what she would think if she were with him. I'm sorry I wasn't good for you, Kumi. You deserved better—but so does the rest of my pride. I can't let them down like I did to you. I...won't.

I just...wish it had been me instead. Maybe then our sons would still be here. Malka cleared his throat, and the uncharacteristic decisiveness it held prompted the others to turn and look at him. "I know you aren't happy with me," he said tiredly. "I shouldn't have run, not while everyone else was in danger. Our lost pride members...I have to answer for their lives just the same as...whoever did this."

"That's great to hear," scoffed Kaidi, an auburn-furred female with a temper to match. "But it's a little late for remorse to be useful now."

Malka nodded in agreement. "You're right. It will take some time to rally the pride, but in the meantime we must prepare. In the meantime, I'm going to find out who these lions are, and I'm going to get our home back."

"How?" questioned Fuata, the robust chestnut male. "They were ready for us. And we haven't seen anyone else who got away since we entered the mountains. Maybe we'd have a plan if Fujo were here—"

"Except you left him to die too," Kaidi recalled scornfully. "But I guess he should have seen that one coming. Like father, like son, right?"

Malka's expression twisted in anger as he stopped and stared her in the face. "You are way out of line, Kaidi."

"No, I knew who my best friend was," she growled, undeterred. "More than you did. And if you want the respect owed a king, Malka, then you should start acting like one. So before you think about fighting back, tell me how you're going to get the rest of the pride safely to the Hollow."

Malka gazed up along the walls of the small canyon with a distant look in his eyes. "King Simba may be able to help us," he explained. "I haven't seen him since before his father's death, but he'll remember me. I'll send word to the Pride Lands as soon as—" He suddenly broke off as they rounded the bend.

The exit was completely blocked by rubble, piled too high for lions to safely climb. Kaidi stared at the barricade in disbelief. "What is this? It couldn't have been the earthquake..."

Fuata frowned. "It's still dusty," he noted. "This came down recently. Something doesn't feel right. We should find another way out, Malka...Malka?"

Malka was frozen at the sight of the rubble. His eyes followed the drifting dust particles in the air, and he whispered a single word. "Afua..."

"There will be no warning for the Pride Lands," drawled a smooth female voice behind them. "They had their chance."

Malka and his lions turned, spotting the sleek grey lioness only after she moved upon a rocky ledge in the canyon wall. She hopped down, joined quickly by the rest of her team. He recognized her as they emerged from the darkness. "Y-you were part of the attack," the king stammered, involuntarily taking a step back. "What do you want with us?"

"We only need you," the lioness corrected. "The rest of your pride will be allowed to live, if they cooperate." Those cold silver eyes gleamed as Fuata and Kaidi unsheathed their claws, teeth bared at the lions that had trapped them. "Come now, you're going to die protecting a king who cares only for his own well-being?"

"At least he hasn't tried to kill us," Fuata growled.

The lioness scoffed. "Is that the only reason you still stand beside him? You're all worse off than I thought. Like I said, the rest of your pride are free to go once we deal with him."

"And then what?" Kaidi challenged. "We all have to do as your leader says?"

"Janga is more lenient than you think," the lioness replied. "If you march into the Pride Lands with us, then you get to live. Or, and I don't bluff on this, the rest of you can join your king—starting with his brother."

Malka stepped forward, trembling as his paws were. "How dare you," he snarled, surprised at the strength with which he spoke. "You invade my kingdom, threaten and murder my lions, and now you try and force them to stand against Simba and his pride?"

"There are worse fates," the lioness replied coolly, nodding at her team to get ready. "This is your only chance to save your pride." She smirked. "It's the one thing you'll get to do right as their king."

A roar arose in Malka's throat. He leaped at the enemy leader, followed swiftly by Fuata and Kaidi. The grey-furred lioness bared her teeth in a grin as her team advanced to meet them.

Malka was halfway in the air when a deafening roar rent through the mountains with a thunder-like boom. All sound was drowned out as a furious wind carried both groups of lions into the air and hurled them away from one another. The king squeezed his eyes and ears shut as the roar's echo surged through the canyon; he hit the wall hard, and amidst the howling wind he could hear the rumbling, deep-rooted sound of rock breaking.

The heaving ground began to settle as the echo roar faded. Malka, coughing from the dust thrown into the air, peered through the mist at the silhouette perched high on an outcropping above. It was difficult to make out properly in the dim moonlight, but he thought the figure resembled a lion. And it could be his swimming vision, but Malka could have sworn that the clouds shrouding the moon looked like the faces of lions just a moment ago. What in the name of the Great Kings is happening?

Further down the canyon, the enemy lions scrambled to their paws and beat a hasty retreat. The grey-furred lioness locked eyes with Malka before turning and dashing off as well. He sat up, nearly sobbing in relief when he saw the gaping rift that separated them from their would-be killers; it was wide as twenty lions and gouged itself deep into the far canyon wall.

Fuata and Kaidi were getting to their paws, shaking their heads in disorientation. Malka stood up, padding over to them gingerly. "Are you two alright?"

"Still in one piece, though I came close to missing a head," Fuata grumbled, shaking the dust from his thin mane. "I would say I can't believe we survived, but nothing surprises me at this point. What happened?"

Malka looked back up the ridge, but the silhouette was gone. "I think...but that's impossible. How could—"

"Whatever it was, it knew what it was doing," Kaidi interjected. "So let's leave, before it decides to come back and bury us." Without waiting for a response, she turned away from the chasm and made for the exit with Fuata in tow; the blast had blown the barricade apart and scattered it out onto the open badlands, leaving the exit open.

Malka wasn't certain if the mysterious figure, whoever it was, had come to their aid. It didn't look like it was trying to kill us, he thought. Still, I don't want to stay here any longer than we already have. I think everyone's had enough for one night. He took the lead once again, wondering how many more times he could escape death in the coming days.

•••

Up on a hidden ledge, Kion watched as the two groups of lions headed off in opposite directions. He observed the adversaries and pieced together what he knew with what the Lion Guard had told him. It's still very confusing, he thought frustratedly. But the way they deliberately trapped those lions—like they were prey—I've never seen anything like it.

Beshte was gazing down at the mess of cracked and broken rock before them, careful not to shift his enormous body too much on the ledge. "Good job, Kion," he said, ever the optimist. "You're getting really good with aiming that Roar. But...why are we just letting them go? Shouldn't we talk to them?"

Kion's expression was troubled. He ran everything over in his head, trying to make sense of it before giving up with an aggravated groan. Face it, I have no idea what we've stumbled onto here. But we need to get answers before we jump into this. "No," he said finally, turning to face the rest of the Guard, all present save for Bunga; his friends, who had proven time and time again that they were just as good as—if not better than—any Lion Guard of lions. "It's time for us to act. But we are going to need backup, and we'd better keep track of both sides in the meantime. Beshte, you find Bunga. Fuli, Ono, get back to following your marks. Report in if you hear anything important."

"Affirmative, Kion," Ono replied, ruffling his feathers in preparation. "And if we're compromised?"

A hint of a grin appeared on Kion's face. "Pretend you don't know who they are. They might let you go."

The egret gulped. "That's not very reassuring."

Fuli raised one spotted paw. "Question, where are we going to rendezvous?"

Kion turned away from the pass, fixing his eyes on the horizon between the mountains as if he could see straight through the dark of the night. "Something big is happening, bigger than anything we've dealt with before," he said, speaking almost to himself. I don't know who King Malka is, and I don't know if I should have saved his life, but...I know who does. "I need to tell my father about this. It'll only be a matter of time before what's happening here reaches his borders."

"You mean..." began Beshte.

"It's time to go home, Lion Guard," Kion told them. "I'll see you all back at Pride Rock."

•••

Fujo had devoted much time to his plans, considering every conceivable outcome and preparing contingencies in case things got out of his control. Backups upon backups, including one notion he had been right to consider. So, Kivuli thinks Janga can draft my pride into fighting her war? Fujo thought with amusement. As if I would allow it.

He was sitting by the edge of the escarpment overlooking the canyon, where he was watching everything unfold; Kivuli's team had set up the barricade and positioned themselves on the canyon's ledges, and Malka's group walked past right beneath them, straight into the trap. Fujo overheard Kivuli's proposal, which was fiercely rebuffed though Malka was likely saving his own skin. Then, when it looked like she had Malka cornered, the Lion Guard arrived, and it turned out Fujo hadn't accounted for everything after all. So, my cowardly brother lives another day, he thought with some exasperation.

Even though the Lion Guard had intervened at the worst time possible, the plan was not beyond salvaging. The Lion Guard did not take a side...how interesting. And the Roar of the Elders—that was not something I ever thought I would witness. I almost didn't believe it was real.

Fujo had only heard rumors and tales during his travels, things easily dismissed as exaggeration or fancy. No one seems aware that the Lion Guard has returned from legend. I must find out more about them—how long they've been operating, what they can do...and how much they know. He doubted Malka had any knowledge of the Lion Guard; the king had only been to the Pride Lands once as a cub, and from his stories Fujo knew his brother hadn't been up to anything knowledgeable.

He watched Malka's team file through the canyon, tailed closely by the Lion Guard's cheetah; she was quite stealthy for such a bright-furred creature. It would not be long before the Guard would pledge help to his pride, and Fujo intended to accept it graciously. This could be exactly what I needed. I can easily turn this around on Janga—once she kills Malka for me.

For now, I still have to follow Kivuli. Malka would surely make it to the Hollow, and Fujo was not about to reveal its location to Janga. So until he could lure his brother out into the open again, he had to make sure the rest of the Tempest Pride arrived safely as well.

One of them had to do it.

•••

"Are you sure the honey badger will deliver our message in time?" Siri asked dubiously. "He seemed a little...scatterbrained?"

"He's with the Lion Guard, he must be competent," Tumaini pointed out. "If nothing else, at least now we're not the only ones who know what's going on."

"If you want to call it that," she said dryly. "Still, it feels good to know Janga's plan is starting to come apart. I guess we still stand a chance."

He gave her an incredulous look. "Of course we stand a chance. You must have believed that, after running all that way."

Siri gave a small laugh. "That was...I don't know, just blind desperation. I decided to just keep going until they were able to catch me, but thanks to you and Kopa they never did. I couldn't have hoped for a miracle, but...I'm glad someone still believes in taking on the odds, no matter how small they may be. Makes me believe too."

"'Nothing is fair unless you make it so'," Tumaini recited. There was a faraway look in his eyes. "My mother used to tell me that. She used to be a strong lioness as well."

"So you do have family somewhere?" She watched his reaction closely.

"They don't want to see me," he said instinctively.

"Because of the terrible thing you did," she ventured.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"And I didn't want my problems to be yours, or Kopa's," Siri said firmly. "But here you are. Tumaini, whatever it is you did, whoever you were before...it's in the past. I owe you my life. Whatever you're holding onto in there, I want to help."

"It isn't something you can help with," Tumaini said with resignation. "Help protect your pride from Janga. Don't worry about me, I'll be gone once you're safe at the Hollow."

"But—" Siri bit her lip, trying to figure out the right words. "So that's it then? We won't see each other after that?"

"It's for the best." He managed a slight smile, strained as it was. "I'm glad you joined the Tempest Pride, Siri. They need more lions like you around."

She frowned. "You keep talking about my pride like you know them. What exactly is that about?"

Tumaini tried to keep his composure, but she could read him with ease now. "I...can't tell you," was all he managed to say.

"You sure are full of secrets," she said, exasperated. "You know about the Hollow, and I've never even been inside. I find that strange. Maybe you should reconsider whatever it is you're not telling me, because we're about to meet my pride."

Tumaini shook his head. "I'm not going up with you."

Siri hadn't expected this. "You're not?"

"I really need to find Kopa," Tumaini deflected with an apologetic smile. "I'm worried about him and we have to warn the Pride Lands. I'm going to show you the entrance, then leave."

Siri narrowed her eyes. "Without speaking to my king? About all this? About saving my life? Tumaini, what—" Her words were cut off as a tremendous roar echoed in the distance, louder than any lion should be capable of producing. "What was that?"

Tumaini ducked as a strong wind blew past them, surging through the badlands from the same direction the sound had emanated. He waited for it to settle before peering to see where it had come from. "It sure didn't sound good," he murmured. His eyes widened. "Wait a minute, that honey badger—he was going this way. Come on."

The two of them broke into a sprint, with Tumaini following Siri's pace to make sure she wasn't aggravating her healing injuries. A dull rumble reverberated through the badlands as the rock beneath their paws trembled. They weaved through clusters of barren hills, rock stacks, and sparsely grown trees until they could see the escarpment on the far end of the badlands.

Heading away from the canyon that divided the escarpment were a trio of lions—a male and a female led by an older black-maned lion. Siri gave a cry of relief when she recognized them; Tumaini halted immediately, and so did Fuata and Kaidi when they saw one another.

Malka rushed forward. "Siri?" he murmured in disbelief. "Oh, thank the Great Kings, you're alive! During the attack—but there was no way to tell you—I thought—"

"I saw them, Malka," Siri whispered, her face pressed against her king's. "I saw what they were doing and I overheard them. They came after me, and they almost had me..."

"You're okay now," Malka assured her, looking encouraged. "We're going to set up at the Hollow, then once we have our bearings, we can get back on our—"

Kaidi cleared her throat. The king followed her gaze and tensed.

"This just keeps getting better," Fuata grumbled, sounding both indignant and a bit astonished.

"He's one of the lions who saved my life," Siri explained. "Everyone, this is—"

"Tumaini," Malka growled. A spark appeared in his eyes, a look in his maroon eyes of intense anger. Siri had never seen him like this before.

Tumaini looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else. His usual confidence seemed to have evaporated, and it was then that Siri realized where she had seen the pain in his eyes before.

"Father," Tumaini murmured, and silence fell over them.