Alright, chapter 10. We're about a third of the way through this thing now. So after the shocking end to the last chapter how will the pride, especially Kion, react?

Chapter 10

Kion wasn't the only one shocked at Fuli's presence, but he was the most shocked out of all the people there. The girl thought to have been killed along with the rest of the lion guard years ago was now standing right in front of them, breathing and talking in the flesh.

Vitani resealed the entrance way and moved next to Kion, disbelief still lingering in his eyes.

"Kion. She said you'd be surprised. But I couldn't leave her out there to die." She said.

"What is she doing here?" Said Kion.

"I'm here, Kion..." Fuli joined in. "...Because there's a war going on outside. Of course I'm going to come to the safest place."

Kovu came to join Kion and Vitani and said to Kion:

"Do you two want some time alone to talk about this?"

"I think we'd better do." Kion replied.

Kion then wandered off to the very back of the tree.

"Talk with him. Tell him how you're still alive." Vitani said to Fuli.

"OK. I know this is a shock but please, don't focus on me. There's a much more pressing matter happening outside."

Fuli went to follow Kion and the two of them sat at the back of the tree, out of the way of the rest of the survivors.

Kovu sighed and turned to Vitani.

"This is going to make things even more difficult. How is she still alive though? I thought the lion guard was all killed in a rock fall except for Kion a few years back."

"That's what everyone else thought too. But she survived, somehow."

"How long have you known about her then?"

"It's been a couple years actually. I found her at the edge of the Pridelands. She wasn't in a very good state as it was so I helped her back to health and after that she just stayed in that old den that I used to go to. Simple as that really."

Kovu looked across at Kion and Fuli in the corner.

"I see."

Cold, red eyes belonging to the crazed female watched the lioness (her daughter) and the cheetah (an enemy of hers from years ago) disappear inside the huge tree across the savannah. So that's where they were all hiding. This was perfect. They were all under one roof and sitting targets, ready to be targeted.

"You think you're so smart? It doesn't seem like it."

Zira turned around and wandered in the direction leading back to where Scar was, a wide, evil grin spread across her face.

Kovu nuzzled Kiara with his head for what seemed like the twentieth time in the last ten minutes.

"Oh, Kiara..."

Meanwhile Kion and Fuli were still at the back of the tree discussing a few things privately.

"But how did you even survive?" Kion said. "I saw what happened. You, Bunga, Beshte and Ono were crushed under all those rocks and boulders in the canyon."

"I guess I was just lucky there. The rocks that fell formed an arch over me, but only me. The others were indeed... Crushed. And killed. I'm sorry."

Kion sighed and bowed his head.

"It's alright."

It clearly wasn't.

"But, on the plus side I did kill the lion who caused that rock fall." Kion continued, his voice perkier now.

"You did?"

"Yeah. His name was Jenvl. A year ago there was an... Incident here and we had to deal with some... Supernatural affairs. Guess how he died."

"How?"

"In a rock fall in a gorge."

"Ha, that's irony for you."

At least now the two of them were a bit more upbeat than they had been earlier.

"So where did you go after you got out of the canyon? Why didn't you come back to Pride rock?" Kion asked.

"Well, I wasn't sure how you would react. I couldn't reach you in time before you left so you thought I died along with the others. No doubt you would have told the rest of the Pridelanders about it as soon as you got back too."

"Yeah, I did. I was miserable for months after that, you know."

"Well, anyway, for some reason I thought that since you'd have told the whole pride, I wouldn't really belong in the Pridelands any more. I don't know why I thought that but at the time I just felt like I was... No longer a part of this place. And after some time I got used to being out there on my own. Then again, I've never had any trouble with being on my own."

"And it's taken you all this time to come back. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Fuli turned her head to the side and sighed.

"I don't know. I suppose I was just starting to get home sick after all those years alone beyond the Pridelands. I can't say that I'm much happier for returning though. I know I should be but I can't quite see myself being here any more. To tell you the truth I still don't think I belong in the Pridelands any more."

Kion came closer to Fuli and spoke softer.

"Fuli, you were born here, and that means this is your home. You definitely belong here."

"Thanks."

Kion softly rubbed his cheek against Fuli's in a comforting way. She needed it right now.

At least things are alright in that regard, aye? But Zira now knows where they're hiding. That can only mean bag news. So don't forget to leave a review and favourite and follow if you haven't already. And here's an idea, why not tell your friends about this series? It's always good to get as many people reading these as possible you know. So yeah, usual scheduling with the next chapter, should be up in a couple of days.