Alright, I did have this story finished, but it was pointed out to me that the ending was rushed, so I took it down and gave it a proper reworking. Hopefully the extra time and effort I've put into rewriting this chapter shows.
I do not own the Lion King.
"Simba, the river!" Sarabi called from above.
Simba stretched further, putting himself in danger of tumbling into the angry flood now crashing through the gorge below. His heart was breaking as Zira slid further and further beyond his grasp. Rain soaked through his fur, chilling him but he couldn't feel the cold. His shoulder was still bleeding quite badly, but he couldn't feel his wound. The only thing he could feel was his heart breaking.
He hated this gorge. It had taken his father from him and now it was going to steal away the lioness that he loved as well.
He was sliding too. He'd soon lose his footholds if he slid any further down the edge of the gorge. But he didn't care about that – his only desire was to rescue Zira, the one he loved. He felt no fear, only desperation.
And then his paw caught hold of Zira's.
With all of his might, he pulled her further up the side of the gorge, nearly losing his grip on the mud as he climbed back up, pulling the added weight of Zira with him.
Finally, pulling her body back to safety, he and Zira scrambled several feet away from the edge, panting with the effort of the rescue.
"See?" Simba panted. "I told you that I wasn't going to lose you."
"I'd be lost without you." Zira said with a purr, nuzzling her head into Simba's drenched and muddy mane. Then she pulled away, looking in the direction they were headed. "But we have to keep moving, otherwise we'll all be hyena bait."
"Not yet." Simba said, wrapping one arm around Zira's shoulders and pulling her back to him. "I need a moment – and so do you."
"Really Simba, I'm fine." Zira protested, but she didn't pull away again.
"Please be more careful – I don't want to lose you." Simba said.
"I'm a big girl, Simba, I can look after myself." Zira said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"I know – but the world is dangerous and although I know you can handle it – I don't want to lose you."
"And what would you have be do? Live in a safe place and only do things that are safe?" Zira asked, her eyes narrowed, she pulled away from him now, glaring at him. "Because Simba, you have to face the fact that the world is dangerous – everything is dangerous. You can't keep me safe from everything you know." And then her irritation faded into a smile, and she licked Simba's cheek. "I don't want to lose you either."
"Hey guys?" Kula's voice caught the attention of both lions. "I hate to interrupt your romantic 'moment', but I'd just like to point out that there is a wall of hyenas approaching us, and we've got ten minutes to clear the borders of the Pridelands before they shred each and every one of us."
"Right." Simba said with a nod, taking a deep breath and getting to his feet. Then, he took one last look over his shoulder, looking back at the wave of hyenas in the distance which marched towards them with purpose. And behind the hyenas, standing proud and tall, was Priderock. Nodding towards it, he spoke. "Look."
Above Priderock, the storm was dying away and then a ray of sunlight lit up the edge, where they could hear the roar of a lion.
"Scar's heir has been born." Sarabi said, flattening her ears to her head for a moment.
"Don't look back." Zira instructed before glancing towards the gorge and shuddering. Then she began making her way towards the borders of the Pridelands, all the while at a safe distance away from the edge of the gorge. Then speeding up to a light trot. "C'mon, we've got to keep a brisk pace if we're to clear the borders before those hyenas catch us."
"We should be safe now." Kula said with a nod. "We're in the Outlands. Unfortunately, there's nothing to eat here – trust me, we combed every bit of land bordering the Pridelands, looking for food."
"Well, we should keep moving. We don't know how far Scar's going to have the hyenas pursue us." Zira said.
"Don't worry, I'll keep them distracted." Kula said.
"You don't mean you're staying here, do you?" Simba asked in shock.
"I've got to find my brother. He's out here somewhere." Kula replied.
"Chumvi?" Simba asked hesitantly, earning him a pleased but sorrowful nod from Kula.
"Scar exiled all males in the pride when he took over, save for Mheetu, because Mheetu was so young."
"Lucky me." Mheetu said sarcastically.
"Well, if you're staying, then I am too." Tama said with a decisive nod. Her golden fur had dried spiky, making the tuft of fur on the top of her head look especially amusing.
"You're sure?" Simba asked.
"We'll keep them distracted for you, captain." Tama said with a nod. "Ain't nobody getting past us."
"Alright." Simba said. "It was good seeing you both again. Good luck finding your brother, Kula."
"Have a safe journey!" Kula and Tama said in unison, before the two parted from the group and hurried off into the darkness of the Outlands. Meanwhile, Zira was leading the pride now.
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Also, I've started a writing blog. Eventually I'll be taking story requests, but right now it's just a journal of what I'm currently working on as far as my fanfics go. If anyone is interested in seeing it, just let me know and I can link you to it.