Blech, somehow through sickness and sniffles I managed to get this thing done. Figured it was about time we heard from the other Pride, neh?
Thanks as always to my loyal fans, Vader and Starz. Trust me, even if you don't have anything critical to say, your reviews encouraging me are basically all that keeps me going, so thanks for that. Hope you enjoy this!
So long since the flood, and yet the valley is still covered in debris. We should get somebody on cleanup duty, thought Mirani as she surveyed the scene critically. I mean, look at all those logs. Sometime we're going to have to move those, or they could do some damage if the river came through again and smashed them into something. She moseyed over to the heap of logs and debris. Mirani could see bits of grey rock, brown logs, and God knows what else. Eww… it smells terrible.
Mirani stopped. …But why does it smell terrible? Looking closely, she picked something off of a log. Is that… a hair? Mirani's heart began pounding. She clawed fervently at the pile of logs until a few gave way, crashing down beside her. Her eyes widened in shock and disgust.
***
The air around Pride Rock was thick with excitement as all the members of the pride gathered into the clearing. The morning sun shone brilliantly down as pleasantly cool winds playfully whipped this way and that. The day of the annual great tournament had come.
The great tournament was a time-honored tradition in the pride. It was a day of competition that pitted the members of the pride against one another in a host of different contests. The games ranged from sparring to racing to hunt-offs. The spirit of the tournament was friendly, but that didn't mean that things didn't get heated as the events went on. Tempers had a tendency to rise with the sun as the day went by. However, in tandem with the sun, as the day wound down, so too did the tempers. Any ill will felt during the competition was long gone by the time the awards ceremony arrived at the end of the day.
This was the first year Kivu, Tama, and Kizuri would had have the opportunity to, if they so wished, participate in the tournament. Ravi had entered the year before, making his parents proud by bringing home a sparring victory against one of the younger adult lionesses. Kivu was nestled in between his parents, watching with interest. Tama was eagerly standing in front of Izze and Scia. They both looked amused at their cub's enthusiasm, but Izze clearly looked ready to restrain Tama should she try to run out during the ceremony. Ravi and Kizuri sat beside their parents, Skye and Ike. Ravi looked on confidently. Kizuri appeared unsure but unafraid.
Simba and Nala descended the steps into the clearing with merry smiles.
Simba cleared his throat. "Welcome, all, to the great tournament!" he announced. "The day so many of us have trained for is here! Now, most of you know how this works, but we have some new competitors this year," he gave a nod to the cubs, "So Zazu will explain just how today will go."
Nala gave the cubs a motherly smile. "As you already know, the tournament has been held in our pride for as long as it has existed. Now that you are old enough to participate, should you choose to, you will become part of this sacred tradition." Kivu, Kizuri, and Tama smiled jointly.
Zazu began his explanation. "Simply because you are cubs and are not as physically developed as the rest of the pride, there are still events you will not be allowed to join. The hunt-off, the endurance race, and the climb are off-limits for you." Tama huffed in irritation. Zazu continued, "In the spar, you may choose any opponent you like, but you may feel free to turn down any challenge from an older lion. It would hardly be fair for a cub to have to fight an older lion. Other than the spar, you may choose to enter the sprint or the swim. You now have a few minutes to decide which events you want to take part in." Zazu finished.
Instantly a blanked of energized conversation fell over the crowd as every lion and lioness turned to one another and animatedly debated what they should try. Tama dashed over to Kivu and his parents, with Izze and Scia strolling behind her. "Kivu! What are you going to try?" she asked excitedly.
Kivu hesitated. To be honest, a lot of those things sounded kinda intense for me… He considered, then answered, "I dunno. Maybe the sprint?"
Tama's eyes brightened. "Me too!" she said eagerly. She grinned competitively, "I guess we'll see which one of us is faster, huh?"
Kovu overheard and laughed. "Sounds like your daughter's gotten into the spirit of the tournament," he said lightly to Scia and Izze.
"Oh, perhaps a bit too much," said Izze. "I'll have to make sure she doesn't get in over her head."
Kiara smiled at her best friend. "Don't worry about it, Izze. I'm sure Tama will do great."
"I think little Kivu might make you two proud today," proclaimed Scia in his deep, sanguine voice.
Kovu beamed back and nodded. "Any events for you guys?"
"Oh, I'll probably get challenged to spar, but other than that, I think I'll just enjoy watching," replied Scia. He looked over at his mate.
"I'll be doing the swim," declared Izze. Izze had been one of the best swimmers in the pride since she'd been a cub. She'd won the contest two years prior, having missed the last one due to her pregnancy. "You two?" she asked Kovu and Kiara.
Kiara puffed out her chest and proudly announced, "I'll be doing the hunt-off." Kovu smiled. You've improved a lot, Kiara, he thought. You might just have a shot. Let's hope all your training has paid off.
"I'll be doing some sparring and the climb," Kovu said fearlessly. The climb was the perhaps the most difficult and definitely the most dangerous event. It was basically a straight-up race in which the contestants scaled the walls of the valley. It required great strength, and mistakes could be fatal. Izze and Scia's eyes widened, impressed.
"Well, good luck to all of us!" said Izze agreeably.
A roar rang out and buzz of conversation subsided. Simba's voice boomed, "I hope you've all made up your minds, because it's time to begin! The first event to begin will be the endurance race, because it will take the longest to complete." The endurance race was a long race around many miles of the Pridelands, essentially a circuit around the entire border. It put the fortitude of its contenders to the ultimate test.
The participants lined up at the tree that marked the start. The event was one of the smallest in terms of number of competitors simply because of its difficulty. Kivu spied the same four lionesses that had participated last year. To general surprise, Azdgari ambled up next to them, wearing a confident smile. A number of other pride members seemed surprised at the audacity of the newcomer to participate in such a tough event, but if there were any doubts, they were left unvoiced as Zazu shushed the crowd.
"Quiet now! The race is about to begin!" he said firmly. "Racers: on your mark…" The racers tensed. "Get set…" Azdgari let out a deep breath. "Go!" Zazu called as the racers dashed out. Azdgari began somewhat behind with a slower pace. Perhaps you've overestimated yourself, newcomer. Zazu thought to himself.
With the race underway, it was time for the sprint. Tama looked over expectantly at Kivu. "You'll do fine," said Kiara encouragingly as Kivu reluctantly padded over to join Tama at the starting line. The spring was a quick dash across about one hundred meters. Kivu felt a bit foolish and out of place as he and Tama assumed their places among the other contestants, barely coming up the shoulders of most of them.
Tama spied among their rivals Skye, Ike and Nala. Tough competition.
"Well, the gang's all here," said a familiar voice behind Tama. Ravi strode up beside them holding himself high. "Don't get your hopes up, kids. I've got this one."
Kizuri padded up next to them and apologized, "Sorry. He thinks he's some sort of battle-tested veteran because he did this last year. And got smoked," she added. Ravi pretended not to hear.
"Look lively!" called Zazu. "We're ready to begin!"
Kivu fiddled nervously with his claws. Ravi stood tall. Kizuri eyed the finish. Tama bent down, coiled and ready to spring.
"On your mark… get set…" Here goes nothing, Tama thought.
"Go!"
The throng of racers exploded from the start. Tama dashed as fast as her legs could carry her. Looking over, she saw Kivu and Kizuri falling behind her. Hah! She thought triumphantly. Then, looking forward, she realized she'd fallen behind the rest of the pack as well. She squeezed her eyes shut and doubled her efforts. Her paws barely touched the ground she bounded forward.
Exhaustion began seeping into her limbs, and she felt like she was paddling through molasses. Just as she thought she could go no longer, she felt herself collide into something soft and furry. She bounced off and landed on the ground with a thud. Opening her eyes, she looked up and saw Nala looking down at her wearing an amused smirk.
"Try keeping your eyes open," Nala recommended. "You passed the finish line and would've kept running forever if I hadn't stopped you."
Tama grinned sheepishly, her ears flattened against her head. "Oops… sorry."
Nala laughed. "Don't worry about it. You actually came in first out of the cubs. I'm sure Ravi will be beside himself," she said as she padded over to the rest of the finishers.
Tama looked over and saw her fellow cubs panting in a circle. She trotted over with her head held high. "Well, looks like I'm the quickest," she said smugly.
Ravi looked resentful. "Hey, don't get a swelled head. I can still take you down in a fight, any day," he said angrily. Kizuri promptly swatted him on the head before congratulating Tama.
"Wow, you're faster than I though," said Kivu, impressed by his friend's speed.
Tama's eyes brightened, and she looked away. "Awww… I wasn't that fast…" she said, a bit flustered.
The cubs rested as the tournament continued. Izze won the swim contest by a long shot, and Simba proved to be the fastest climber. The sun was well past the center of the sky and beginning to fall westward as the silhouette of the first returning endurance racer pierced the horizon. Murmurs of surprise swept through the pride.
"That's not…" Kiara said in surprise.
"Gotta be," said Kovu. Not bad.
Azdgari bounded across the finish line to great applause from the assembled crowd. He bent down, panting heavily and coughing. When he looked up, an exhausted smile covered his face. Kovu patted him on the back and said, "Not half bad, Az. People won't forget that for a while!"
"Wow," Kivu said in amazement as he padded up next to Azdgari. "Nobody thought you had a chance when you started off so slow, but you won anyway!"
Azdgari nodded. "It's all about pacing, I had to start slow so I could end fast."
Simba wandered over to congratulate the victor. "I'm impressed, winning the endurance race on your first try is really something," he commented with an approving look.
"Thanks." Azdgari replied, glad he'd proved himself to the lion that had accepted him into the pride.
"Well, get some water and rest up," Simba advised. "The sparring will begin at sunset, and I'm sure someone is gonna want a piece of you," he said with a laugh. Azdgari nodded and headed off to the waterhole along with the other racers. "Now, it's time for the hunt-off to begin. Let's have the hunters over here," asserted Simba.
Kiara gave Kivu an affectionate nuzzle. "You did great, Kivu," she said proudly.
Kovu gave her cheek a lick and said bracingly, "You can do it, Kiara." He smiled slyly. "You've learned from the master." Kiara chuckled and licked him back before joining her fellow hunters and huntresses.
The cubs returned to their parents to recuperate before the spar. The sky slowly morphed from blue into purple into brilliant maroon as the breeze turned into the cool evening air. As the sun bid the sky farewell, the pride reconvened in the clearing for the main event.
***
Oh… my Nuka…
Zira tore her eyes away from the grisly sight. Mirani had found the corpse buried in the debris pile and had recruited a few other lionesses to dig it out. Curious, Zira had joined them, only to find a horrific surprise waiting for her. Nuka's corpse now lay before her, bathed in the sad scarlet glow cast by the setting sun. Nuka's body had been violently battered by the river as it swept through the valley. Strangely, Nuka's face had been mostly unscathed. He wore a peaceful look, as though he'd finally found the joy that had been unknown to him during his short, trying life.
A few other lionesses tentatively tried to comfort her. In the time Zira had spent, they had come to think of her as a fine lioness. However, everyone agreed there was something off about her, though nobody could quite put their paw on it. She was typically a bit aloof, and while she was polite, she could come off as less than sincere. Still, she had done nothing wrong, and if her story was true, as most believed it was, she had reason to be a little screwed up.
Katamai walked up beside Zira. "I'm sorry," he rumbled somewhat awkwardly. "You know him?"
Zira took deep breaths, holding back tears and trying to think straight. She knew she could work this to her advantage, but a mist of grief was clouding her judgment. Nuka… my poor Nuka… loyal until the end… Until SIMBA…
Zira let her pent up tears flow. "Nuka was my son," she cried. "I had hoped that he had escaped the cruelty of Simba's Pride." She sniffed and blinked, squeezing out a few more tears. "I see now he was not spared. They threw him to his death after me. But… he was not so lucky." She finished dejectedly, hanging her head.
In truth, Zira felt an unusual tug of guilt in her heart at this ploy. Somewhere deep down, her subconscious asked, Where is the line drawn? At using my son's death as a tool? Quickly her rage brushed the thought away like dead autumn leaves before the wind. He's dead because of SIMBA! The only way to avenge him, and Scar, is to exact my revenge!
Katamai sadly patted Zira on the back before leaving her to mourn. He strode over to Mirani and sat down, looking melancholy but determined. "There can be no question after this. The time is coming close. The cubs are almost grown." He gazed grimly towards where the flooding river had come from. "Soon, we will march to war."
In case there is confusion, the river being referenced is the one that flooded at the end Simba's Pride. We're assuming it swept through that valley and onwards for quite a ways, eventually to a valley nearby the Forest Pride. Thanks for reading!