Chapter 9
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A few minutes went by as the group came upon Pride Rock. Kisasi was silent during the walk and Kion thought that maybe he may have pushed his luck with the Jackal.
Grandfather Mufasa did say that he would hear his side of the story, so he would have to wait and see what would become of the meeting.
They climbed up upon the rock path, and waiting for them near the entrance of the den was Simba, Nala, and Kiara. And beside her were her friends Tifu and Zuri.
Kisasi eyed them for a second before he sat in front of the two royal lions, keeping his gaze only upon Simba.
Kion and the others stood nearby in case anything went wrong.
Simba approached Kisasi and sat down. The Jackal's green eyes bore into the king with such intense hate that it made him take a step back, but only just a little.
"Kisasi," said Simba after a long silence. His gaze was steady and direct as it took in the Jackal's appearance. "I've heard that you wanted to have a word with me. But after what I've heard about you and the things you've done, I don't think this should be allowed."
Kisasi sat motionless, green eyes fixed on him. "You will hear me out, Simba." he said sharply. "I really don't care what you've heard, but this is happening now."
Simba narrowed his eyes at the Jackal. "All right. Why did you want to speak with me?"
Kisasi closed his eyes, took a breath, let it out slowly, then looked up at Simba. "Three years ago you ran away from the Pride Lands, Simba. Three long years this kingdom needed a king, other then Scar. But you were not here. That lion, your uncle, allowed the Hyenas to take over the Pride Lands and ruin everything. Us scavengers had to live a meager living because you weren't hear to claim the throne. Where were you, Simba? Tell me!"
He glowered at Simba, his jaws working. Bunga started to interrupt, but Fuli told him to be quite.
"Oh, that's right." He continued in a sardonic tone. "You were off fooling around in a lush jungle far away with a pig and a rat!"
Bunga suddenly became angry and defensive. "Hey!" he shouted, waving a clawed fist. " You can't talk about my uncles like that!"
"Bunga!" The shout this time came from Simba and not Fuli. The young Honey Badger took a step back after he saw the warning look on the king's face. "Stay out of this." he said sternly. Bunga did so as he moved back amongst his friends, but glared at Kisasi.
Simba cleared his throat as he turned back to Kisasi who was licking a forepaw nonchalantly, as if the interruption didn't happen.
"Continue, Kisasi," he urged.
Kisasi blinked and then narrowed his eyes again scathingly. "Well, as I was saying, you left your father's kingdom in the paws of a false king. Animals were dying! But did you care? No you did not, your majesty.
Three years with no worries in a paradise must have been grand for you, huh? You could have come back, but you didn't.
And because you didn't return my mate, Zulay, was killed by the Hyena clan.
My two pups were killed as well."
Simba looked shocked by this. "If this is true, then why didn't you leave the Pride Lands soon..."
"Why?" Kisasi spat. "There was nowhere else to go, that's why. Zulay insisted that we stay. And like a fool I allowed it." He breathed slowly and looked away. But his voice was now full of loathing. "I walked around for days and for months asking myself "why". I realized that it was all your fault, and the fault of every lion in this kingdom that ever ruled it."
Simba didn't know what to say. He felt that there was some deep truth in what Kisasi had told him.
But then he felt that he should say something to defend himself, and his father. "Kisasi, I understand that you are angry with me." he said gently. "But you must also understand that I was just a cub when my father died. Scar convinced me that I was responsible for the stampede. I was frightened that my mother and my pride would think me a murderer if I went back home. They would have killed me for what I'd done."
Kisasi snorted and shook his head. "Is that really what you'd think they'd do?" he said.
"It's what I thought," said Simba. "But it was Scar who had done the dark deed. If I had known he was the one responsible, I would have returned sooner to help my pride, to help my father's kingdom.
But I didn't.
I stayed away out of guilt. And my life in the jungle was not all grand as you say, Kisasi."
Kisasi narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?" he growled.
Simba's voice became a little sullen. "Some nights I couldn't sleep. I would have nightmares. I carried a lot of my guilt with me as a cub back then. But my two friends helped me. Timon and Pumbaa eased my guilt and their lifestyle helped me forget about my past. But deep down I still felt that it was my fault.
But then Nala found me and she convinced me to go back. I returned and overthrew Scar. The Pride Lands became whole again."
"Yeah, but you were a little too late to return, weren't you?" Kisasi retorted savagely. "Three years too late to help the lesser animals who needed a king the most. So many waited for you to return, even though they thought you dead. And then you suddenly return out of the blue? What do you want for your effort, Simba? A prize or something?"
Simba shook his head. "No, that's not it! I can't change what's happened, Kisasi." he said earnestly. "I want you to understand that I'm sorry for what happened to your clan, I really am."
"If you really are sorry, then let my kind back into the Pride Lands." Kisasi growled. "Let us hunt what we need to survive so that we don't go hungry. Oh, that's right; your son's Lion Guard won't let us because of what Reirei and her clan did at the kupatana celebration. Am I right?"
Simba as well as Kion and the others were all taken aback by the Jackal's outburst. But then Simba's voice became low and fierce.
"What Reirei and her clan did was a bold-faced lie to my son and the guard. Kupatana was a celebration of peace. She and her clan attacked the animals during the celebration and the guard stopped them. From that day on they were no longer welcome in the Pride Lands. That went for all Jackals who would disturb the Circle of Life."
Kisasi's eyes went wide and his voice also became fierce.
"Simba, look around you and your kingdom, okay. The Circle of Life is constantly being disturb, and you don't see it. None of you lions who ruled over this land ever did!"
Simba bristled and growled low. But Kisasi went on, unhindered by the king's growl.
"We Jackals have a right to hunt wherever we want. Following the Circle of Life won't protect us from larger predators nor feed our empty bellies. The Outlands do not follow the Circle of life, Simba. Janja and his clan do not follow or respect the Circle of Life. Speaking of which..."
He paused and pointed a paw at Ono, who was perched on Beshte's back.
"Shouldn't the feather-brained twit be doing his duty by being the keenest of sight?"
Ono, looking offended and insulted, suddenly realized that the Jackal was right. He should have been keeping an eye out.
"Hapana!" he exclaimed and then he took the sky, his wings flapping quickly. Using his keen sight, he scanned the Pride Lands and let an alarmed squawk a moment later. He flew back down to the others.
"Kion! The Hyenas and Jackals are in the Pride Lands, and they're attacking the Gazelle and Zebra herds!"
"Hevi kabisa!" Kion gasped. He turned to the others. "We have to stop them. Let's hurry! Till the Pride Lands end..."
"Lion Guard defend!"
Kisasi watched them go with an unpleasant smile on his muzzle. Simba noticed and cleared his throat loudly so that it got the Jackal's attention.
Kisasi looked at the king and saw a hint of suspicion on his face.
Oh, if only he knew that the Jackal's meeting with him was not just about his matters, but an elaborate diversion.
A diversion to get the Guard away from Pride Rock as soon as he had given Mzingo the signal, which was when he had licked his paw.
The next step in his plan was standing right beside Kiara and her mother.
All he had to do was wait till the two Hyenas he chose got to Pride Rock.
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