Chapter Twelve: The Inevitable
TRON0602: Only Kali's name change was temporary. Kamaria's is forever. *Kamaria: yep. Chin's right* enjoy the chapter.
Hunter305414: I know right? If our ancient ancestors could do for us what Kamaria's did for her it would be epic as hell! Thank you for the nice words, and we might not get back to Timon and Pumbaa for a little while. I'm focusing on one or two characters at a time, so… :) enjoy the chapter
Guest: Isn't it? Enjoy the chapter
Whoa it's fandoms: Fahamu and Rikala's chapter is next chapter (I've preplanned them) so we'll see Mr. 'Mu soon :) enjoy the chapter.
CSIMentalistTLK Lover: They do me, too lol. Unfortunately we won't see them for a little while, I want to take the time to explore some character personalities here like I did with Kamaria last chapter. And yes, I renamed her. I just didn't feel right with 'JJ' anymore… lol enjoy the chapter, my friend :)
Well, here we're exploring Usafi (belongs to TRON0602) and how she feels about the Pridelands. I'm using Evanescence's "Haunted" as the song. You'll see why. I'm using the "T" rating heavily as well, be warned. If you want to turn away, go ahead, I won't bite you for not reading. You can PM me to get the details if you have a weak stomach. I won't mind at all telling you basic events if you can't handle it.
Usafi woke up in Pride Rock, Hafsa to one side of her, Maji to the other, and Kali surrounding all of them. The pink lioness smiled at the sight, but her heart still felt somewhat heavy. They had exiled the Pridelanders from their home. No words could mend Usafi's thoughts.
Sister… Mpenzi's voice came into Usafi's head. The pink lioness stood up slowly, careful not to wake her family.
Mpenzi? Usafi wondered immediately. A white lioness visage appeared. It turned away from Usafi and walked to the waterhole. Usafi followed the ghost, her heart nearly soaring. Finally the ghost stopped and turned to Usafi.
"Sister. It has been too long." Mpenzi said. Usafi felt tears in her lavender eyes.
"It has been, Mpenzi." Usafi said. Mpenzi smiled.
"Don't cry. Usafi, what keeps you and your family here?" Mpenzi asked.
Long lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
Usafi lowered her gaze from her white sister and she looked into the water.
"We follow Kibuluu… he's the King." Usafi said softly.
"Safi!" Mpenzi admonished. Usafi snapped her head up and looked into Mpenzi's blazing blue eyes.
"What?" Usafi asked.
"You're the rightful Queen of the Moonlands. Our blood is pure. Kibuluu is an outsider, a simple rogue! You let him be Queen?" Mpenzi asked. Usafi lowered her purple gaze.
"Sister, please understand… my children…" Usafi said.
"Know of their lineage as well. You're hollow inside. What happened to you? What happened to the Usafi with a fiery temper and a heart of gold? You exiled the true Royal Family of the Pridelands. The Usafi I know never would have let that happen. She would have looked to the stars for guidance before believing a false King!" Mpenzi said. Usafi glared at the ghost.
"I did look to the stars, they were silent!" Usafi snapped. Mpenzi gave a small, sad smile.
"That is still hollow, what you said." Mpenzi said.
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
(I know you're still here)
"And you've always been the expert on my behavior?" Usafi asked. Mpenzi chuckled.
"We are twins, remember? I know every quirk about you, Usafi. You knew all about me." Mpenzi said. Usafi smiled a bit.
"We did know each other inside and out, didn't we?" Usafi asked. Mpenzi nodded.
"There's nothing holding you back. Go home. Forget the False King." Mpenzi begged. Usafi shook her head.
"I can't go home. Something…" Usafi began. Mpenzi had a tear roll off her cheek and Usafi looked to her sister.
"You have to go home for your own safety. Please." Mpenzi begged. Usafi shook her head.
"I'm sorry, sister. I can't." Usafi said. Mpenzi sighed.
"You've always been bull headed… I guess you must do this alone." Mpenzi said as she disappeared. Usafi gazed at the spot her sister just stood, no matter her ghostly form. Usafi shook her head and got a drink of water.
She didn't see the sky blue eyes behind her. She didn't see the golden pelt as she drank. Her ears twitched, and the lioness was positive it was her mate and smiled. Apparently Kali was looking for a little more of what he had gotten the night before. Usafi turned her head with the most seductive smile she could until she realized that it was Kibuluu and she gasped. Kibuluu smiled back at her.
Watching me and wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
"Kibuluu, I thought you were Kali I'm sorry." Usafi said quickly. Kibuluu smiled and purred.
"It's all right. I understand" Kibuluu said. Usafi felt her heart pound. Kibuluu was flirting. With a married lioness, nonetheless!
"I should get back to Kali now…" Usafi began. Kibuluu blocked Usafi's path.
"What's the rush, pretty girl? You know…" Kibuluu leaned in and whispered into Usafi's ear "I have yet to find a suitable Queen. You have the blood of the True Royal Family of the Moonlands." Kibuluu said. Usafi shivered in disgust.
"I won't mate you. I already have Kali." Usafi growled. Kibuluu leaned back, his blue eyes darkening to a shade of cobalt with desire. Usafi felt fear pound into her heart. Kibuluu was bigger than Kali, more muscled than Kali… he'd tear her apart now, surely.
"Come on, sweetheart. The heirs would be wonderful, and they'd be the true heirs. I am but a false savior." Kibuluu said.
"I already have my heirs. I have Hafsa and Maji. They are the heirs to the Moonlands." Usafi held her ground.
"Usafi… come now. Hafsa is headstrong, and Maji is weak. Maji could never defend a kingdom." Kibuluu purred, rubbing against Usafi. The pink lioness pulled back.
"I am loyal to Kali. I will never betray him." Usafi said. Kibuluu smacked Usafi across the face, his claws still in their sheaths. Usafi went flying into the waterhole with a loud splash. The pink lioness fought her hardest and pulled her head above water only for Kibuluu to use his paws to push her back under. Usafi swallowed water and Kibuluu brought her back up onto the shore. Usafi coughed and choked, suddenly aware that Kibuluu was nearly on top of her.
The pink lioness used the strength she had left to run from the waterhole into the tall grasses nearby. Being the bright color she was, though, she could be easily spotted if she didn't disguise herself enough. Kibuluu had the advantage completely, being a dusty gold.
Fear ripped into Usafi's heart as her lavender eyes scanned all around her. Repugnance flowed into Usafi's veins. She wouldn't let Kibuluu mate her. She couldn't let the lion do that. Not only was it rape, not only was it wrong, Usafi couldn't bear the thought of having his cubs.
Fearing you, loathing you
I won't let you pull me down
Usafi caught her breath a bit and immediately got back up. Her instincts all screamed at her to go south. So she did. Her legs started to carry her to the southern border of the Pridelands, she was aiming to go home.
She suddenly smelled Kibuluu behind her. The pink lioness quickened her pace and was near the border. She turned and saw the golden lion right on her trail. Usafi looked and saw a sturdy tree. The lioness climbed it with amazing agility, having no qualms getting up into the tree. Kibuluu growled at the bottom.
"You can't avoid me forever, Usafi…" Kibuluu said, starting to slash at the tree's trunk. Usafi gasped and looked down. She had gone so high up that she would certainly break something if it came down. The pink lioness started a small descent to assure she wouldn't break anything. Kibuluu stopped his frenzied slashing, smiling.
"I knew you'd come…." Kibuluu was cut off when Usafi jumped over him, and hit the ground running. Kibuluu roared, and Usafi swore she felt his heartbeat in the ground. She ran into the Moonlands so quickly, so agile, that she ducked into a cave to hide in near the river.
Hunting you, I can smell you alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Usafi caught her breath for a second, her heart pounding so loudly in hear ears she was afraid that it could be heard for miles. The pink lioness lied down and breathed slowly and quietly, being as silent as possible to avoid detection by Kibuluu. Her mind raced despite her stillness. She was beating herself up.
Watching me and wanting me
She should have listened to Mpenzi. She should have listened to her sister. Now, because of her headstrong urges, she was in big trouble. Kali had no idea where she was, nor did her children. She wouldn't be saved from Kibuluu if she didn't by chance escape by a pure stroke of luck.
Usafi raised her head up and heard roaring water. The roaring water splashed into the cave and slapped Usafi in the face. The lioness reeled, and was forced to the back of the cave. Was this how she was to die for her sins?
I can feel you pull me down
It seems fit… I would rather die than bear Kibuluu's brood. The lioness thought as she closed her eyes. A pile of rubble at the top of the cave gave out, and teeth reached down and grabbed her scruff, pulling her from her would-be watery grave. She turned up, expecting to see an ally. Kibuluu was there and she almost screamed until he put his paw on her mouth. His gigantic paw muffled her scream.
Saving me, raping me, watching me
"You could have done this willingly. I really hate to do this, my dear." Kibuluu forced her to the ground and Usafi had no choice now. Her energy was spent and she could barely move. The pink lioness just put her head into the dirt, silently praying. Silently crying. Suffering through everything Kibuluu did.
She felt nothing but pain and loathing. She felt some fear, but pain was the number one thing she felt. Loathing was a close second. She prayed maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't fall pregnant, and if she did, it was with Kali's cub, not Kibuluu's. She had been with him the night before, so it was only logical that Kali would be the father and not Kibuluu.
She heard Kibuluu's grunts and blushed, embarrassed. She should be fighting, but she had no chance with her low energy level. He'd kill her. The pink lioness watched as her tears fell to the ground, ashamed.
Then she had a miraculous thought. At least it was her, and not her daughter. Hafsa would be spared this pain. Despite Usafi's fear and shame, she felt some pride. Her daughter was safe. Hafsa was safe from the pain Kibuluu would cause.
Watching me and wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
*+-/_\-+*
Hafsa heard a scream in her dreaming and sat directly up. She saw her mother was missing from their dais and got up slowly, making sure to not wake her father. The silver lioness smelled her mother's scent and followed it to the waterhole. At the waterhole, Usafi's scent still permeated the air, but then a bitter scent in Hafsa's nose made her cringe.
"Kibuluu…" Hafsa growled.
Fearing you, loathing you
I won't let you pull me down
Hafsa growled and followed the two scents, smelling the fear tinge her mother's scent. Her heart sank. What was Kibuluu doing to her mother? Hafsa continued to follow the scents, tracking them to the southern border where her mother seemed to make a giant leap into the Moonlands. The silver lioness was hesitant.
Mom… Hafsa thought. She stepped carefully into her old homelands, walking through the marsh and passed Kibuluu, who looked exasperated. The silver lioness backed up a bit, sitting down.
"Hafsa, what a nice surprise. What brings you here?" Kibuluu asked with a smile. He was panting. Hafsa's heart sank. Where was her mother?
"Just smelling a kill." Hafsa outright lied. Kibuluu nodded and nuzzled Hafsa. Hafsa felt her stomach burn. He nuzzled her like a mate would their mate. Hafsa reached out and slapped Kibuluu. Kibuluu reeled with a growl.
"You'll regret that one day." Kibuluu growled. Hafsa leveled her gaze with Kibuluu's.
"Don't even think about touching me, you ingrate!" Hafsa snapped, trotting towards her mother's scent, which was stronger and stronger by the second. The fear now almost completely covered her mother's scent.
Hafsa came to a cave and heard sobs. The lioness went behind the cave and saw her mother, a crumpled mess. Hafsa ran to her mother.
"Mom! Mom! What did Kibuluu do to you?" Hafsa asked as she nuzzled Usafi. The pink lioness leaned on Hafsa as her crutch. Hafsa decided not to press, just held her mother.
I won't let him get away with this.
A/N: Some pretty powerful stuff here… Poor Usafi. I'm sorry, girl but… a short stick was drawn. Kibuluu's jealous of Kali's perfect little family he made with you so… he wanted to take that away. Feel free to cuss me out TRON. Feel free. I will take it.
I have no more to say. I can't break the fourth wall after this… review and stay tuned.
