Hi everyone!
Sorry it took me so long to write this chapter, but once again, time waits for no one. This chapter takes place 4 years in the future, and this will be the chapter the climax takes place. This will be the last chapter with a huge time gap, so things will be slowing down a bit. Also, this chapter will be a lot longer than usual, so take advantage of it!
I hope you enjoy!
"How about we take care of the teens today?"
"Good idea, Kipe! Besides, we have nothing better to do, do we?"
"Well, Kupu, not everyone loves Kipe as you do. Kipe, don't you remember the last time we babysat?"
"That's enough! Kua's right, though, I thought you and the teens hated each other."
"Neema, I completely agree with you. It's actually gotten worse over the years, shockingly."
"Of course you do, Kion. Are you sure you can do this Kipe?"
"I'll try, Hofu. Hopefully, it'll work."
"Let's see!" laughs everyone.
"Hmph. Do you believe in me, Kupu?"
"Ummm…"
"She means no."
"Kua!"
"Sorry, big brother, she has to be on our side!"
"Thank goodness you guys decided to babysit today! Msaidi is sick and the teen…I don't even know anymore!"
"Don't worry! The young adults are here to save the day!"
"That, Kipe, is what scares me."
"Thanks for the comment, Mom. Now he's mad."
"You're welcome! Bye!"
Seconds later, the young adults hear a rustle in the bushes.
The teens jump out of the bushes and attack Kipe, go to their favorite young adults, and start talking.
"Eww, it's Kipe!" snorts Kukosa.
"Hi, Kupu." greets Usawa.
Who's the new guy?" questions Kiini.
"Hi, my name's Hofu."
"Hi Kuko, Usa, and Ki. That's Kua's boyfriend."
"Is that true, Kua?" asks Kiini.
"Nope. Your sister's going to get it."
"Can we get Kipe first?"
"Of course! Let's plan our attack!"
"Hey! What about me?" screams Kipe.
"Wait!" responds Kupu. "I need to see this!"
"Ugh."
Half an hour later, Kipe is still waiting for the meeting to finish. Suddenly, Kupu walks up to him.
"Here!"
"Antelope? Delicious!"
"It's good we live near a savannah, or else we'd have to eat all the baboons around here!"
Kipe and Kupu continue talking and eating ("I'm hungry, too!") they relax, laying down next to each other.
"Kupu?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
For once, Kupu is shocked speechless.
"Kupu?"
"S-same h-here." Kupu stutters nervously. The two share a warm nuzzle before continuing their conversation.
"When we become mates- "
"-even though we never planned that (I think), continue, Kipe."
"-we should see if we can become King and Queen of your parent's pride."
"Why there?"
"Your uncle has no children, Kua's becoming Queen here, and I don't want to waste our training."
"Great idea! Let's ask after we become mates."
"ROAR!"
"What was that?" the lovebirds ask each other. Sadly, their romantic moment ends when everyone else starts to chase them.
"At least we're fully grown now! We might have an advantage!"
"Sure, Kupu, sure."
The chase continues, with Kua and Hofu leading, Kion and Neema wavering in and out of the brush, and the teens swinging from vines.
"Over here!"
Kipe leaps onto the rock that Kupu pointed out to him…only to get stuck on it. Everyone, including Kupu, laughs their heads off as Kipe struggles to get off.
"What's on this rock?" queries Kipe in anger.
"Only tree sap. It'll come off by the time we finish explaining what happened," explains Kua.
"While we were meeting, Kupu went hunting for an antelope for both of you guys to eat." starts Kukosa.
"We then went to this rock, where Neema used her sharp claws to open a tree full of sap. She then spread the sap on the rock and cleaned her paws at the river." continues Usawa.
"Hofu roared loudly to scare you into running right into the trap." finishes Kiini.
"Impressed much?" smirks Kion.
"Yes…very." grunts Kipe, who stretches his muscles, jumps off the rock and heads for the river. "How did you know about the sap?"
"One time I saw some lazy lions using it to catch their prey," explains Kua. "Except they used much thicker sap."
Everyone (except Kipe, of course) lets out all of their laughter at this point and Kipe angrily mutters something loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"If only I hadn't told you what I said earlier, Kupu."
"Please say you're joking!"
"Of course, I am! Why would I change my mind about that?"
"Wait…what did Kipe tell you?" asks Neema.
Both Kupu and Kipe turn very red, and the young adults begin to play the guessing game.
"He told you he loves you?" asks Kion.
They both turn an even deeper shade of red.
"What did you say, Kupu?" gasps Kua.
"Let me guess…she said she loves you back, right?" guesses Hofu.
Kupu and Kipe have somehow turned an even deeper shade of red, and the pigment continues darkening as everyone begins to celebrate.
"Congrats!" exclaims Kukosa.
"We always knew!" teases Usawa.
"Hooray!" shouts Kiini.
"Let's go and tell everyone!" suggests Msaidi, fully recovered, while walking out of the den.
Weeks later, Kion and Neema are going to the rock to talk to Mufasa.
"Hello, again. You guys are excited."
"Kion thinks he knows what 'Umoja' means now!" exclaims Neema.
"What does 'Umoja' mean, Kion?"
"It means 'unity'! All the members of Rehema work together to make sure that this is a safe, wonderful pride to live in!"
"You did it!" Neema screams, nuzzling him out of excitement. "Whoops."
"It's ok," Kion replies, returning the nuzzle.
"Don't leave yet. There's more to come! Congratulations, Grandson."
"Thank you!" reply Kion and Neema.
As soon as they reach the entrance to the cave, Kupu and Kipe run up to them in excitement.
"You'll never guess what just happened!" exclaims Kupu.
"Kua and Hofu are mates!" shouts Kipe.
"What happened?" asks Neema excitedly.
"While you two were gone, they went to the river to 'spend some alone time'. When they came back, they disappeared into the cave. Msaidi told us, but everything's being worked out as we speak." explains Kupu.
"Oh, my goodness! There they are!" points out Neema.
Everyone swarms around Kua and Hofu, very, extremely excited. Suddenly, Kipe, Hofu, and Neema leave and walk away without warning anyone.
"What just happened?" asks Kion aloud.
"Don't worry! They're too occupied to steal her!" teases Kua.
"You better watch out! Adrenaline's on the loose!" giggles Kupu. Unfortunately for the girls, Kion is not in a good mood. When he finds Neema nuzzling the two young adults, Kion calls for her to come over.
"Neema, why were you nuzzling those two?"
"So, I can't nuzzle anyone anymore? Or are you jealous?"
Kion's face reddens out of anger.
"You're not answering my question!"
"Well, we were talking about how exactly they admitted to Kupu and Kua. We were all excited and repeatedly nuzzled each other. I would understand your jealousy if I romantically nuzzled them, but I didn't! Stop acting like this!"
"Like how?"
"You've become so possessive of me! I can't even spend time with my other friends! What is this?"
"You're talking! This is the person who wants me to stay in Rehema, even though you know I have to return to my family!"
"Is it my fault that I don't want you to go? What if your family doesn't remember you? Don't I matter more to you?"
"First of all, we're talking about my family, not yours. Second, no. Family matters more than friends."
"Is that all I am to you? A friend?"
"Yes."
"Fine. If that's all you see me as I obviously don't matter."
Neema takes off at full speed.
"Neema? Wait! I didn't mean that!"
Kion sits down, morose.
'How could I have done this? I love Neema, but I've just broken her heart. I want to go back to my family, but I think I should stay here with her.' thinks Kion.
"Grandfather?"
"Yes, Kion?"
"What should I do?"
"What you do when you hurt someone you love."
Meanwhile, Neema has run to her secret cave, tears running down her fur.
'Kion obviously doesn't love me, so I think he should return to his family. He hasn't seen them for 12 years, so he must miss them.' thinks Neema.
Neema takes a "short" nap (that ends up being 30 minutes) and wakes up to the sound of paws running on the ground.
"Kion?"
"Neema?"
"I'm so sorry- "
"-no, I'm so sorry- "
"-ladies first."
"Ok, fine." Neema relents. "I think you should return home. You haven't seen your family in 12 years! They love you and miss you! You already figured out what 'Umoja' is, so there's no point in staying!"
"Actually, Neema, I've decided on something else. I'll stay here with you."
"Why?"
"I love you."
Neema is in shock and waits a while before responding. Meanwhile, Kion stares at her nervously, knowing that he just told her his deepest, darkest secret.
"I love you too."
"Really? Why?"
"You tell me first."
"You're kind, strong, beautiful, and so many other things. What about yourself?"
"You're compassionate, brave, handsome, and so many other things as well."
They both happily nuzzle until Mufasa interrupts them.
"Finally! I thought this would never happen!"
Both Kion and Neema blush in embarrassment.
"Grandpa!"
"Mufasa!"
"Sorry! Now, what are you going to do?"
"I've decided that you can go home, and I'll follow you."
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Of course!"
"Then, we should tell King Mshtuko, Queen Aina, and all of our friends the truth."
"Then we can go to your home, finally."
"Don't do it," Mufasa says when Kion and Neema are about to nuzzle again. "There's only so much nuzzling I can bear."
"Grandpa!"
"Why can't we, Mufasa?"
Mufasa decides to leave at that moment, leaving Kion and Neema alone with each other again.
"Typical Grandpa. Now, come on! We have to tell the others."
1.8k words later, I am finally finished. It's been a year and a week since I published the first chapter of this story and almost 6 months since the last chapter. Thank you so much for your patience.
Now that we have the climax over with, the story will continue with Kion and Neema announcing their "engagement" and leaving for the Pride lands…what will happen next?
See you soon,
Jane the fan.