Time for chapter nine. I have to write a full story for next week based on something that happened in history. Otherwise known as 'Historical Fiction', so if next chapter is posted a little late for my average updates, then you know why is it. I am also going to start working on a new story based on the life of one the pride's unimportant lioness, that goes through much in life during Scar's reign. If you see it in a few days, please give it a try! Now, as you probably noticed, I add tittles to chapters. Hope you like it!
Truth is Pain in Words
"Sometimes we are less unhappy in being deceived by those we love, than being undeceived by them." -Francois La Rochefoucauld, 'Maxims'
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"Mother," said Riga as he entered the den, dragging a dead beast.
"I just killed a yak. Used my skills to bring it down; with my claws, a slash here and there, then grabbing it by the neck, and now its dead. Although, let me tell ya, it gave a hell of a fight." He looked around, and at seeing her annoyed face he told her what he came here for. He sighed, defeated. "Yes, Tilce did as he was told to."
It was annoying for him that she only cared for revenge, but this was his mother. And Zira will always be Zira. And always his mother.
Riga left the dead yak on the dusty cavern floor and moved over to his favorite spot. As he lowered himself, to get comfortable, Zira moved over to the dead yak, but only to stare at it hungrily. Her red eyes scanned the animal, and then returned to her son, who was laying idly under the shade at the end of the den, where his tail flickered in the small light that beamed through, but the rest of his body was concealed from view, except for his orange-red eyes.
"That's all you have to say?" she growled lowly, but not menacingly at him.
"Do I look like one of those imbeciles that spy for you?" Tilce and Jive, of course.
"Hmmp, hmmp." Someone cleared his throat. It was Jive, who was standing in the bare sunlight, looking as vexed as ever. "In my eyes, yes, you look like an imbecile." You are one…Tilce thought as he made his way inside.
"Be nice to your brother!" Zira snapped. She started circling the dead yak, claws extended. "Hungry?" she asked him. Something in her voice said trick.
Although her hostility was an extremely rare thing, he shook his head in refusal.
"You fool! Refusing my offer. Now you better bring me news or you will have to hunt on your own." this time when she growled, she meant it. And this was supposed to be the trick. "Now tell me! What is it they're doing next?" Jive didn't care since he always was welcomed to eat in the pride anyway, but since she was so insistent…
"They're having a hunt. All lionesses, 'cept Kiara." He sat facing his brother at the end of the den. Zira changed direction, while still circling the dead yak, a smile tugging at her lips. Riga shared a look with him and Jive rolled his eyes. Even though he and Riga didn't go along well, this obsession their mother had had brought them together since childhood, even when they couldn't stand each other's company. Just as it did now.
"Very well," she purred. "this may be another chance." Jive groaned to himself. He knew it was coming. Wait for it on… one… two… t-
"Jive! You must make sure she does hunt!" And here it is!
"But how, Mother?" he inquired. His mother sat behind the yak, and stared at Jive with her angered eyes. Every time they talked about what to do next she went ahead, and her eyes went blood red.
"Simple. You must tell Tilce play with her mind again. Convince her that she is independent, and whatever occurs to you. But make sure to he takes this opportunity! And disposes of it well. Anything that comes to mind is helpful, specially now that she has been… weakened…" and she grinned. Something in Jive's mind told him she was lost into her world again.
"Remember him that our purpose is to bring them apart," she lifted a paw and played with her claw along the yak's head and neck. "And to do so…" Her claw penetrated the animal's throat as she slashed it, and its blood pooled down like a river. The same river in her eyes as she laughed happily. "We must bring them down one, by one."
She was lost of words. What to say to something like this? And Tilce only looked at her with a calm, worried expression, as if he really cared.
"W-what?" she managed.
"You have a brother," he said carefully. As if she were a cub learning to speak.
"What?" she repeated, this time she was back in her senses. "What?" Yep, it was her, no doubt.
"You have a brother. Well, used to is more likely." he watched her calmly.
"Don't joke, Tilce!" But she knew he wasn't joking, judging by the look on his face, it was all true. "Explain yourself!" she demanded.
"Kopa. His name was Kopa." he didn't hesitate before continuing. "He was killed when he was six-months old. Your father loved him very much, but after he left the cub out of his sight, and the little boy was killed, he made sure to swear to never do it again." Kiara fought with herself to maintain all this new information in her head. "Then he had you. And it was like starting over again. At first he saw it as if his son had never gone. As if it had been all a nightmare, until you were born a girl. And he does love you but… he wanted to revive Kopa. And since he has to satisfy with you he makes sure that his original error never occurs again."
She was speechless again.
Finally she found something to say: "How do you know this?" Tilce was surprised at how she kept herself together. But her voice was low.
"Well, I heard some of the lionesses speaking.. And well, I eavesdropped on them." he said it as calm as if it were nothing. "I told you because after this morning's incident I felt guilty about you not knowing anything of it."
"And does.." she didn't finish, but Tilce knew what she was asking.
"He does. In fact it was the reason why I was fighting him in first place. And Vitani does too. So does your whole entire pride." He sat looking away at the distance, leaving her with her thoughts.
She didn't know. And they didn't tell her either, hiding the truth from her for all this years. She was expecting a cub herself, but she never knew about her brother. She was probably meant to never know. Then it all clicked. Tilce had been right about everything. And her father was over protective of her. 'He made sure to swear to never do it again'…she thought.
And it hurt. To know it was all a true. She had no one. Just the idea of coming back to her pride, to go back to the fantasy world created by her dad, made her head swirl with questions. What if they never intended for me to know? Do they see me as a little cub who is not able to manage this? And why not even tell me themselves? What other things have they concealed from me? Just.. Why did they do it?
Kiara directed her eyes at Tilce to find Jive talking to him in low voice, then turning to look at her, smiling. She quickly noticed that Jive was darker colored than Jive, and that his fur was not so paled as his brother's. His mane and eyes were a light brown that made him look completely different from Tilce.
"Something wrong?" he asked her, tilting his head.
"No…not at all." she fake smiled. She sat and looked at the dirt under her paws, then back at Jive.
"Good to know," he smiled one last time and turned to go, the darker lion retreating into the pastures.
Tilce walked over to her and sat at her side looking ahead with the same blank expression she held.
"You know…" he said slowly. "There's a hunt today."
She frowned. "What is it to me? I can't hunt since I am forbidden to."
Tilce shook his head lightly. "You know, they used to tell me how adventurous, stubborn, and strong you were. I see neither of them now. I used to think there were no boundaries for you." Kiara turned to him this time.
"Ther-e are..none!" she spat, angrily.
"Well," he stood, "why, if you love so much to hunt, are you here?" he said nonchalantly.
"I-It just happens that in my condition I cannot!"
"But you are only- what!- two weeks pregnant?" he sounded amused by now.
"No!" she looked down, and in a low voice said, "It's one."
"So? Why not do something you want to before you can't? And it may be better if you do it before facing them again." Kiara thought for herself, and not about possible outcomes. Somehow, Tilce managed to convince her.
"I will go." she stood fast, determined. "They are no one to tell me what or what not to do! I'm old enough to take my own decisions! I will go to hunt today, and no one will stop me! And after what they did to me…" her voice shattered. "I may not trust them so much."
Tilce only watched as she walked past him, to the opposite direction of Jive. She was murmuring slowly, and as she went ahead doing so, he smiled.
The Kingling hurried across Pride Rock to speak with Simba. He was mad at himself, and at the world for putting him at the critical situation he was in. Kovu felt that everything was falling little by little, and that it was only matter of time for things to get worse. The lions that cared about him the most had turned their backs on him.
First, Kiara…
"To Pride Rock! Got a problem?" her warm brown gaze was almost red, and her intense glare made him doubt.
"I, uh… no.." he managed and then gulped. He could feel Tilce grinning next to him.
Then Vitani…
"As your brother I don't want you to see that outsider." he held up his head proudly, and regally as Simba did in things like this. But it was no help with family.
"Why not?" Vitani spat. Her deep blue eyes searched his face for weakness but found none. Simba had tough him well.
"Because I don't want to, they…" he remembered Kiara and Tilce. "Make me uneasy. We cannot trust them. Not yet at least. Something tells me we are letting them get too involved in our personal problems-"
"You mean your personal problems." she turned and left, angered at him. Why was it that no one heard what he said?
Then Simba…
"How dare you leave her alone!" he looked intensely at the boy. And turned around to try to control his anger. Kovu felt he had failed him. Another one for his list…
Then Nala…
"Look at him.." she motioned to Simba, who went walking behind them, alert for sings of Kiara.
"I know, I shouldn't have.."
"Yes, yes, I know that, but I meant really, look at him," she paused, "I've never seen him so… sad." Her words now were directed at him. "You need to learn not to hesitate about what you do, and become more responsible for your actions! I know it wasn't your fault but…" she had a troubled look on her face as she bit part of her lower lip. "I'm worried about her…" she directed this at the missing princess.
Kovu hung his head.
Even Sarafina and Sarabi…
"Oh, boy…" Sarabi said. "You should have listened to her. Paid more attention to Kiara."
Sarafina joined. "You better do something about her. And Simba and Nala."
"And us…" Sarabi added, but not for her, it was for the entire pride, who once in a while looked at him in an annoyed manner. "Even you…" He didn't dare to look at her in the eyes.
As he stomped his way up, small rocks falling along, Sarabi and Sarafina looked at him worriedly.
"What's wrong with this kid now? First Kiara gets lost, and when he is supposed to find her he is throwing a tantrum?" Sarabi murmured. Her eyes watching his every step.
"Let's find out." Sarafina answered, and went ahead over to Nala, then motioned in Kovu's direction. Nala narrowed his eyes and stood, while Kovu went ahead into the cave as the lionesses followed, quietly.
"Where's Kiara?" Nala asked, while whispering. They were crouching behind a set of rocks, their heads popping one after another.
"We question the same thing…" Sarabi said in return with the same low tone. Her attention was directed as Kovu approached the impatient Simba who was waiting for news of his daughter. The cave was dark but with their night vision they were able to see Simba's worried expression. As his gaze fell on the apprentice, he became the next target for his insane questioning.
"Where is she?" he growled, asked, exclaimed, all at the same time.
"I found her near the waterhole. She was just taking a sun bathe, that's all." As he said this, Nala noticed something was bothering the young lion.
"And can I know where is she now?" he used the same tone again, only that this time he hid his hysterics.
"Last time I saw her she said she was coming here." Kovu's gaze went to the ground, and back up again to face an angry Simba.
"Have you noticed… well, I don't mean to be rude, but don't you see the little problem that SHE'S NOT HERE!" The King stood, chest puffing, rising and falling in all his feelings.
"I'm not blind." Kovu's calmness in situations like this made him earn his respect from Nala. Simba lost it all the time, but Kovu tried to stop panicking although his eyes couldn't lie as well as him. But it was still something hard to achieve after living with a lioness like Kiara.
Sarafina chuckled a little. "I told you she would drive lions mad." Nala rolled her eyes as well as Sarabi.
"Where is she then? If you seem to know that much!" Simba, as everyone could clearly notice, was in the stage which all lions go through at some point. And Kiara's disappearance didn't help.
"Last time I saw her she was with Tilce," Kovu's bitter tone, and the way he said the other male's name made it clear to Nala that he was jealous. "I left them talking last time I checked." His jaw was set in a tight manner, and the look in his eyes shown thinking.
"Tell the lionesses that when they set to hunt they have to find Kiara and have her escorted here." Simba sounded relieved to know that she was in company of someone, and that she was within reach. But he was still freaked out.
"Why did you let her with him alone?" Kovu and Simba knew that this new members should not be fully trusted.
"She'll be back on her own." Simba's eyes narrowed.
"The Dark Side!" Kovu looked surprised at Simba's outburst but only frowned. "They're manipulating you, aren't they?" Simba moved forward, a menacing gaze.
"What-"
"Don't let them take you! It's a trick!" Simba padded around. "I won't risk you to it. You are now like a son to me." It was obvious that he had warmed up to Kovu, but Nala had never heard him admit it. He always said things like 'good', 'better', or 'fine' about Kovu.
The young lion looked at Simba for a moment. It was the kind of look no one wished to be given. A mix of disappointment, anger, and disbelief.
"Son." Kovu used the word. Pronouncing it with annoyance. Simba regarded him with a strange look. Kovu never acted like this.
"So am I your new cover for Kopa?"
Kiara watched the pastures shift with the wind, blowing dead leafs of the old tree she was sitting under, to the spoiled, wet earth.
It was springtime. The sun was as burning and shining as ever. Blue skies, green grasslands, wild flowers, chirping birds, crystal clear water, newborn butterflies, buzzing bees, young new wildebeests, and log insects being munched to bits by a meerkat and a wrath hog… a beautiful spring time.
A meerkat and a wrath hog?
"Timon! Pumbaa!" Two surprised faces popped up to look at her.
"Kiaaara!" Timon gulped the last of his worm.
"Princess, where have you been?" Pumbaa said, stepping ahead in interest.
"We were," Timon grunted. Pumbaa looked behind, but Timon moved at the same time, as Pumbaa looked around perplexed, Timon grunted again and tried to push Pumbaa. "Looking…" He pushed with all his force. "for…" He gasped as Pumbaa moved away and he fell in a mud puddle. He raised his arms and pointed at her while still being submerged. "Grouo" or at least it sounded like that. Big, dark bubbles forming in the mud as he said it.
"Sorry," Pumba mumbled, looking guilty. Kiara laughed softly, her ears perked low.
Timon raised himself from the ground and shook his fur, spraying some move at her paws. "As I was trying to say," she shot a look at Pumbaa, "We were looking for you."
"You were?" She wasn't surprised at all that they searched under every rock, literally.
"Yes!" Pumbaa chimed in.
"And we found you! Now lets go back…" Timon walked behind her and placed his muddied little paws on her left hind leg, pushing with his might.
"But I don't want to go." She said stubbornly.
"Kiara!" It was another uncle moment Timon usually had. "Don't say that…" his eyes shone. "Your father is worried sick…"
"And Queen Nala…" Pumbaa added.
"And the pride…"
"And Kovu…" Timon listed.
"But I just talked to him!" She thought about Kopa. "And…" It hurt to know how much she troubled her parents. "I don't want to see them."
Pumbaa looked astonished.
"Oh!…" Timon tried to say casually, but he looked unsure, "That's just the hormones!…?"
"No. And I won't go." She sounded like a cub in her old stubborn self.
"But why not?" Pumbaa looked at her with a worried expression.
"Just… not." She sighed.
"Oh, come on!" Timon tried to look secure. "You're joking… right?"
"No. In fact it would be a relief to get a break from all of you." She didn't want to treat them so badly, but they also knew about Kopa, and she didn't want them insisting so badly for her to go home.
"You didn't mean it… did you?" Pumbaa looked hurt as he asked, while Timon didn't speak but had moved away and had jumped on top of Pumbaa to look at her directly.
"Yes, I do." she made sure to sound as cold as possible. Timon immediately grabbed hold of her muzzle with his paws and focused his eyes on her.
"I can't believe you, kid." He sounded hurt. His eyes were bright. In the blink of an eye he and Pumbaa were hugging each other crying their eyes out.
"She doesn't love us!" Pumbaa cried.
"After all those years!" Timon accompanied.
"Look.. I'm.." She didn't finish because Timon had mounted Pumba again, holding himself by the ears as they both went away to return to Pride Rock, crying.
"Oh, boy…" she sighed.
Nala's mouth parted in surprise. When had he found out?
"WHAT?" Simba looked out of breath.
"You heard me." Kovu said passively. "I know about your first son, and how you kept him hidden from your own daughter!" He didn't notice his voice was rising. "How long will it take for you to tell her? Huh? Is she to die without knowing? When will you tell her?" He regulated his tone.
Sarabi and Sarafina edged closer, as well as Nala.
"Yes, I know. I know how you expected to have another boy. I know everything about it. Don't deny that I know perfectly well-" he was cut off as Sarabi, Nala, and Sarafina fell from their hiding place, all looking dazed after the impact. Sarabi and Sarafina, who had landed both on top of Nala, regained their composure first.
Nala sat rapidly.
"What's going on?" Simba asked. Sarabi and Sarafina shared a look.
"Nala made us!" they motioned to her, and nodded.
"What!" This time it was Nala who spoke.
Simba shook his head.
"Wait-" he looked at Kovu, "How do you know all of this?"
Kovu didn't look surprise to see any of them.
"It doesn't matter. What matters here is why did you keep it hidden from her."
"It doesn't matter." Simba said. "Personal reasons. Family things." he said gravely.
"Yes. Family things." The den was filled with tension.
Until Timon and Pumbaa broke into the cave, crying. And with it Simba and Kovu looked away.
"What's wrong?" Nala asked the two of them.
"She-… she-" Pumbaa tried to say.
"She hates us!" Timon said between sobs.
"Hates us! Hates us!" Pumbaa added.
"Who?" Nala had an idea of who it already was.
"Ki-Kiara!" Simba now acknowledged them rapidly.
"When? Where is she?" He asked. Kovu also looked interested.
"Near the acacia trees…" Timon continued crying.
"Nala," Simba called, and she was already focused on him. "Prepare the lionesses for their hunt, but make sure to send two or three to retrieve Kiara." Nala nodded slowly, taking everything in.
"Timon, Pumbaa she didn't really mean it, I'm sure…"
"She did!" They cried.
Simba sighed.
"Kovu, keep patrolling, and if you also see her, bring her back." Simba hadn't looked at him for the past minutes. Not even now.
"She won't come with me." Simba now turned.
"She will. Don't question my authority!" He came face to face with Kovu.
"I wasn't."
And with that Kovu left, not stomping, but you could see how tense he was.
"Sarabi, Mom," Nala called.
"Yes, dear?" Sarafina said.
"Round up the lionesses. Tell Vitani, Dia, and Ariadne to look for Kiara. They can join us for the hunt when finished." Nala was distracted looking at Simba who now looked drained.
"Yes, we will." And they left behind Kovu.
"Zazu," The bird was just arriving from his morning patrol, looking tired, but eager to tell the news.
"Yes, madam?" he said with his funny accent.
"Go ahead and help Kovu, please." She said as nicely as she could. Zazu didn't complain, but he looked tired as well.
"Yes, I'll do." And he fluttered out again.
Simba was sitting alone at the end of the den where they slept. His shoulders hunched, his face gazing down. His mane fell like a cascade around him, blocking his face from view, but Nala knew how he already looked.
"He is right, you know?" He said sadly. "We shouldn't have hidden this from her. You were right all along." He raised his head and searched her face. Nala nuzzled him.
"It was our fault, not only yours. I should have insisted when she was already old enough to get it." She was as sorry for it as him.
"How will we tell her?" He asked.
"Well, I'm sure Kovu won't. You said it yourself with the 'family' thing."
"Yeah… about that…" He trailed off.
"Even though he didn't show how much that comment hurt, it did." Nala said wisely.
"But it is better if he doesn't say anything." He thought aloud.
"Yeah…" Nala knew this as well as him.
"Go," he nuzzled her. "You have a hunt to lead."
"But what will you do meanwhile?" she asked worriedly after the consequences had paid off.
"Get the courage to tell her." He said, as Nala stood silently.
He sat still until she was already leaving, when she turned and gave him a smile.
"I'm sure you will." Simba smiled back half-heartedly as she left.
"I'll try to believe so too." He whispered.
As Nala came out of the den she found that the lionesses were all ready. They were discussing lowly in between groups, but Vitani, Dia, and Ariadne were apart, waiting for instructions.
This job of giving orders made Nala feel 100 years old, but it had to be done. She walked over were Sarabi was and watched all the other lionesses stretch at her presence, knowing that she was the one who said when to move.
"Today you will hunt at least five or seven. Just that. We still have some leftovers stored in the under den. It will be enough for the next few weeks." She looked around.
"But, Isn't that too much?" Xela asked.
"We have a pregnant lioness. You know how it comes." Xela nodded and went back to her previous chatter. Nala walked past to were Ariadne was waiting for orders.
"Look for her, I guess?" Nala nodded.
"And.." Vitani joined. "Where can we find her?"
"Last seen was near the waterhole, ad the acacia trees. Check the territory. Kovu will be doing patrol around with Zazu, so that should help." Vitani moved over to Dia and said something lowly. She nodded and started going ahead.
"She will be going around the waterhole. Ariadne and I will be doing the inside and outside of the acacia trees territory. Maybe the elephants could help."
"Good idea. I'll do the inside." Ariadne said, and sprinted into a run down the same way Dia had left.
"Don't worry," Vitani reassured Nala. "I'm sure we'll find her." she smiled, but when Nala smiled back she didn't seem so sure herself.
Kiara watched the zebras eat peacefully. It was her third try, and this time she was sure she would succeed. The wind was in her favor, and she was walking behind the pastures over the soft, molding earth, making it easier to hunt. She had ran for a while now, and with the sun at its highest it was a really hot, long, hour of hunting, although she could not catch even one.
Her fur was wet with sweat, muddied, and filled with little rocks and pebbles that made it uncomfortable to walk. But her mind was buzzing, and she was prepared to keep hunting. Her instincts were alert as she lowered her body behind the pastures, and her mind concentrated on the lonely zebra that had left the group to rest under the security of the shade. She felt her muscles stiffen, coiling her tail, ready to pounce. Every inch of her wanted to do so, and she was going to.
The zebra doze off distractedly; Kiara's best chance. It eyes were closed, and its head was bowed, however, its predator was active, and silently hidden nearby. It's ears were pointing forward on the lack of attention, and it's tail moved to make the flies go away.
Kiara took a small, but silent step forward, and crouched as much as she could to get impulse. Her eyes scanned the clueless zebra, and she concentrated on capturing it. Then she posed herself. Her muscles unclenched, and she drifted forward into the air, the zebra slowly waking as the others ran for their lives. Her claws extended and she was about to land on the scared zebra, who was making its way to run, in a fast motion- and she crashed into someone.
Kiara landed sprawled on the ground, with an annoyed expression. She shook her head and looked up to see two grinning lionesses. Vitani and Ariadne.
"Thought you'll get past us?" Vitani laughed.
"We've been chasing you for a while now. You're really fast." Ariadne took deep breaths while laughing.
"What were you doing, anyway? You were about to pounce on us-" Vitani's laughter died as she looked at the zebra herd not far away.
"You were hunting, weren't you?" she said. Her tone was grave.
"Kiara!" Ariadne cried. "You know you mustn't do it!"
Vitani shook her head. "What would Simba say?"
"He won't find out." Kiara said lowly. Her body was tired, and she could almost not lift herself. But she managed to and when she did…
"And how are you going to hide that?" Vitani spoke. Kiara looked at what had taken Vitani's and Ariadne's attention. She had a small gash by her side, and a few scratches un her along her bottom, visible between the sticky, muddied, wet, fur, and the pebbles that had tangled along. Apparently she was being too busy thinking to notice.
"I can go to the waterhole and clean myself." She stated.
"But it won't heal the cuts." Ariadne said, logically.
Kiara looked down at herself again, and felt herself shrink in what huge mistake she had done. Then she felt lightheaded, and an overwhelming feeling of sadness fell over her. Vitani moved to her side to aid her, but Kiara moved away and refuses, shaking her head.
"I'm fine, really…" She walked ahead. Trying to ignore the pain and stiffness in her muscles.
"OK, then," Adriane said unsure. She turned ahead and started to walk back to Pride Rock.
"'Kay then," Vitani tore her eyes away from Kiara and padded up ahead. At a fair long distance.
As Kiara started to walk again, pain spread through her. Her legs failed to hold her and she started to collapse, gasping for air. She was lying on her side, taking deep breaths, slowly. Something inside of her felt wrong. Completely wrong. As if something had been torn away from her.
As Vitani turned around to catch a glimpse of her, she caught Kiara on the floor and immediately returned running while shouting at Ariadne to find help. But the lioness was helpless as soon as she started to see black dots clouding her sideways vision. She moved a paw to her stomach, searching for that secure small heartbeat she was now used to feel. Nothing. Not a single beating.
Vitani reached her rapidly and scanned her face. "Stay with me, Kiara!" But Kiara's vision was already blurry and she could only make out the pressure in one of her paws and a light cream blur with two blue splotches looking at her.
"Stay with me, Kiara! Focus! We'll get you out of here! Look at me!" But the sounds started drowning slowly. Kiara tried to tell her about the cub's heartbeat, but her lips could barely move, while still gasping for air. Her head ached, her body felt drained of all energy. And then all her senses failed. Darkness.
Told ya I was going to do many cliffys lately. And here you have another one. This chapter was longer than chapter four, and it was harder to write since I had to find a way to channel all of the feelings about Kopa into actions. That's why Kiara was stupid enough to hunt for such a long time. Some things are hard to take in, and so they make us do stupid things. Just to make it clear of why she did so. Please review!
-Cal
