What We Fight For

In the Present

Kopa had just saved someone who spent the past month trying to kill him. No one told him to do it, he just did.

Why?

Because no aniamal deserves to die when someone can do something to stop it.

Once the sun rises, he will have successfully completed his trialKopa chuckled to himself. He really did it. He managed to survive five long weeks by himself, in a jungle. He couldn't wait to tell his family when he got home.

He still missed them, but he knew he was going to find them. His dad was away from home nearly his entire cubhood. And if Simba, the great Lion King, could find his way home after being lost, so could Kopa.

Just as Kopa began to close his eyes, and finally go to sleep happy, He heard his name.

"Kopa?" It called. "Are you here? I dont want to hurt you. I just-- I just want to talk."

It was Hamya, she was below Kopa. He was suprised she couldn't find him. For the Grassland's best hunter, she sure was doing a lousy job of tracking him right now.

"Maybe she doesn't want to find me" he thought. He had a point, if Hamya wanted to find Kopa, she would have, and with ease. She wanted him to come to her.

What if this was a trap? A last-ditch effort to try and kill him.

He waited.

"I understand if you don't want to come out. I just... wanted to thank you for saving me. You didn't have to do that, especially after what I put you through." said the panthress.

Nothing but silence

"You saved not only me, but my cubs too." She hung her head in sadness. The thought of losing her children obviously had a massive impact on her.

Kopa shot up. Did she just say "cubs"?

The panther waited a few more seconds in the alone dark. As she turned around and began her walk back to where ever she stayed, she was stopped.

"Wait." Came Kopa's voice.

She turned around and stared at him. He looked tense, like he was waiting for her to attack. But the attack never came.

Instead, she embraced him in a long amd warm hug. He had no time to react it happened so fast. Suprised and unsure of what to do, Kopa just stood there.

Eventually he returned the hug, and he knew that she wasn't going to try and murder him.

She pulled away, and looked Kopa in the eyes. She was crying. Not because she was sad. These were tears of joy.

"Thank you so much" she chocked the words, but still managed to keep a smile.

"I want to show you something...If it's okay with you though" she begged.

"Of course" Kopa nodded.

She lead him to a small clearing in the middle of the Jungle and carefully checked the surroundings. After she was sure the coast was clear, she pulled back a rather large leaf and revealed her suprise.

Two panther cubs, only a few months old.

Kopa looked down at them in awe. The cubs returned their feelings by looking at him with wide green eyes, and cooing with happiness.

He couldn't help but smile when he saw one of the cubs turn all it's attention to the firefly that had just landed on its nose. Clearly bringing the cub endless amounts of joy. He looked at Hamya, who was also shared his happiness.

"I don't know how long they would have made it if something happened to me." Said Hamya.

"Thank you, really. You dont know how much this means." she said. "But I need to know...Why?" she questioned. "Why save me? After everything I put you through."

Kopa looked at her and smiled. "Because it was the right thing to do". He turned his attention to the twin boys.

"What is their names?" the lion asked

"This one is Ujuzi" she pointed to the one playing with the firefly. "And this one is Bahati" she pointed to the more relaxed cub.

Kopa chuckled. "Well it is a pleasure to meet the both of you" He said delightfully.

Hamya laughed. "I should probably let you go so you can get your rest. Hila will be waiting for you at your next challenge" she smiled before thanking him again.

"We are forever in your debt Kopa. If you need help, or anything at all, you know where to find me." she aaid bowing politley.

She hugged Kopa once more before he head off. He had a feeling that after over a month, he could finally get the rest he deserved. He smiled, before finally falling into a deep and peaceful slumber he so longed for.

Kopa realized why Hamya was fighting. For her, she fought for the saftey and protection of her cubs/family. Willing to do whatever it took to save them.

But what was Kopa fighting for? The obvious choice was for his survival, but deep down, he knew it was something else.

He too was fighting for his family. So that one day he could return and make them proud, protect them when they were in danger, and love them when they needed somebody.

Too always be there for them.

Thats what Kopa was fighting for.

Off in the distance

"So wait, let me get this straight. You want him to kill you? That doesn't make any sense, How will we move on with our plans if your dead?" Came a jackals voice.

Hila groaned and rubbed his temples.

"We've been through this. It's not our place OR our destiny to take over the Pridelands. It's his. But this soft, "respect all living creatures" version of Kopa has got to go." Began Hila.

"Unfortunatley, if we want my plan to succeed, and turn him into a stone cold tough guy, who isn't affraid of occasional murder... Someone is going to have to make a sacrifice." He said, returning his gaze to the stars.

The other Jackal hung his head in sorrow.

"It was an honor, Hila." he bowed politley.

"Thank you for your trust and loalty." Hila returned.

The other jackal turned and walked away.

"One. More. Challenge." Hila smiled.