Disclaimer: I do not own Lion King and don't profit from writing this work of fiction.
The silence felt infinite. No one spoke, and all eyes were on Winda. The princess was slumped in on herself, and was shaking in silent sobs. Shilark finally approached her and let her lean into her shoulder. She murmured something to her cub, and the two of them exited the cave for privacy.
"What just happened?"
Timon asked, looking down at Pumba. The warthog shrugged.
"I dunno, Timon. But Winda seems really upset that that lion got swept up in the sandstorm."
"Yeah," Timon narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Who was he, anyway?"
"I don't know," Zazu had landed beside them with Kiri and joined in the conversation, "but he saved the princess, and for that, I believe he has a good heart."
"Agreed," the rest of the group: Kiara, Kovu, Tunya, Shenzai, Banzai, Nala, Simba, Mufasa, Sarabi, Vitani, the leopard viper and the group of lionesses joined them, forming a circle. The hyenas of The Hideout were gathered in a group of their own off to the side, with Jiri standing on a tall rock to address them. Kiara had spoken, and continued, "We have to find a way to rescue him from wherever that funnel took him."
"That funnel couldn't have been natural," Tunya stated, frowning. "Magic must have been involved. Has anyone seen Rafiki lately?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"That monkey never shows up when you need him—ow!"
Banzai groaned as a stick came down and whacked him on the head. Everyone turned to see Rafiki holding the stick and pouting at him.
"Rafiki is needed now, he shows up now!" he scolded the hyena, and withdrew his stick with a 'hmph'. Simba smiled and nuzzled the baboon hello.
"Rafiki, where have you been?"
The shaman chuckled.
"Here and there... here, for a small while. Young Winda needed some guidance."
"You knew she was here? For how long? And why didn't you tell us?" Tunya demanded. Rafiki narrowed his eyes and brandished the stick threateningly at him. The king of Pride Rock flattened his ears against his head and backed off, albeit reluctantly.
"Winda needed to find her own way, on her own time," he said. "I knew that you were not far away, and that the decision to reveal herself would be hers and hers alone. Her companions looked out for her, as well."
"So did you know that lion with her?" asked Vitani. Rafiki nodded.
"There was also a young leopard cub in her charge. They both visited her when she came outside of the cave. Now I realize that I have just said that she would reveal things in her own time, but the cub is now without a caretaker, and should be among those of his own kind, and those who will care for him."
The leopard Viper perked up at the news of a leopard cub, and stood.
"Where is this cub?" she asked, obviously eager to see another of her own species after so long around only lions, and a few hyenas. Rafiki smiled, and began to walk outside, expecting her to follow, which she did.
"The cub is in some bushes outside, but I would like Winda to show you. He trusts her, and won't come out if he sees only us."
The two approached the finally still figure of Winda resting against her mother's shoulder. The queen turned at the sound of their approach, and nodded to give them permission to come closer. Winda looked up, feeling her mother's movement, and smiled wearily at them.
"Rafiki, you're here."
"Yes, child, I am," the wise baboon said, and gestured to Viper. "Viper, as a leopard, would like to see Xola and take him into her care while you and the lion are incapacitated." Winda flinched at the mention of Sekou, but nodded, looking guilty.
"I totally forgot about him. Let's go get him before he wanders off somewhere," she agreed, and pulled away from her mother, who gave her a parting lick on the cheek. Winda made a small face, but Shilark attributed that to her returning to normal, and smiled.
"I would like to meet this cub of yours, as well, Winda," she said. Winda reddened underneath her fur.
"He's not my cub," she protested, though it was a weak one. "And since Viper is going to take care of him now—" Something that she didn't seem to like the idea of entirely, and it showed on her face. Viper looked nervous, and Winda shook her head.
"It'll be good for him to be around another leopard, and not just a half-breed lioness/hyena and lion, but..."
"He has already imprinted on you, and you on him," the soft spoken leopardess said wisely, and Winda nodded in defeat. "I understand this. Until I have cubs of my own, think of me as a babysitter." Winda nodded again, this time in gratitude, and started walking towards where she had seen the cub last.
"Thank you for this, then, Viper," she said. Rafiki had stopped to talk with Shilark, and it was just the two of them. "I'm sure he'll like you, too."
"I hope so," said Viper. "I do wish to have cubs one day, after all."
Winda smiled and reached the border of the cave where Xola usually hung out.
"Xola! It's me, Winda. It's okay to come out, it's safe!"
A small, tan and brown spotted head peeked out from the bushes, and immediately ducked back down when it spotted Viper. Winda sighed and came closer to the bushes, motioning for Viper to stay put.
"Xola, really, it's alright. She's a part of my pride back home."
The bushes rustled, but the cub didn't peek his head out again. Winda sighed.
"She's a leopardess, Xola, a leopard, like you." This brought a response, as Xola tentatively popped out of his hiding place again. "I'm going to be going after Sekou. He was...taken...by the funnel," she felt her throat tighten up again, and tried to recover. Seeing this, Xola finally came out of the bushes entirely, and sat before her and looked up with a worried expression on his small face.
"Sekou's gone?" he asked quietly. Winda couldn't help it, and tears formed in her eyes, and trailed down her cheeks, into her fur.
"Yes," she whispered. "But we're going to get him back, Xola, I promise. This is not like what happened with your parents. We aren't going to leave you for good. But I need to get out there to find him, and leave you behind. Viper has offered to look after you in my stead, along with the rest of the Pridelanders, but she will be your primary caretaker, alright?"
Xola was silent, and looked past Winda to Viper, who was sitting and fidgeting slightly in her nervousness. He straightened and looked back up at Winda, who was wiping away her tears.
"But you'll come back, right? Promise?" he asked softly. Winda felt another batch of tears form; despite his cocky, smart aleck attitude, he really was just a cub, an orphan who had lost his parents young.
"Yes, I promise. I'll come back," she said firmly, and leaned down to nuzzle him. "I'll come back for you."
Xola let out some sniffles of his own, and nuzzled back against her.
"Okay, Mo—Winda," he stuttered slightly, and Winda looked down at him, feeling something warm blossom in her chest.
"Did you just call me Mom?" she asked disbelievingly. Xola turned red, and looked away.
"I—I know you're not—I didn't mean—" he was cut off when Winda licked a stripe up his cheek.
"It's alright, Xola," she reassured him, still crying, only with happy tears. "I'll be your mother. I'm honored." Xola brightened and mewled, rubbing up against her.
"Then go get Dad back," he said, and Winda felt another sob choke her.
"I'll bring... Dad back, then," she murmured against his fur, "I promise."
A/N: I'm back! Seriously, I am. After a 6 year or so hiatus, I'm back. Thank you to those of you who have stuck with it this long, and I'm so sorry it took this long. Life got in the way, and other fics in other places took priority. This will get finished in these next few months; I have a plot planned out and everything. Thank you again for reading this; I started this when I was 12, and I'm now 19, so my writing has matured a bit, don't worry. ;) Thanks again, and see you soon!
