Many things kept Maisha running that day. One of the things was the reassuring feel of Joka's fur brushing her own, or perhaps knowing that friends were beside her. Or perhaps the idea that, if she didn't keep going, she'd never be able to confront Simba. Joka, on the other hand, had the slightest idea of his sister's little "discovery", and all he was focused on was loyalty to his pride, and the safety of his parents and friends. Though neither sibling questioned one another, because their minds were both set on what they needed to do, and they both figured one another were running for the same reason.
"Oh, look!" Dakima pointed with her paw.
All their heads turned to a flurry of battling lions. As the group charged forward, none of them realized that Maisha pulled back. She was, indeed, looking for the alburn mane that was usually very hard to miss. Simba was nowhere to be seen in the large crowd. Kovu and Lord Gyasi were in the very middle, fighting ferociously.
"Where did Maisha go?" Taja asked in a frantic tone.
"I don't know, she was right beside me-" Joka told him, though was cut off as a lioness launched herself at him, but he ducked.
"I'll go look for her," Dakima said quickly, dashing off into the flurry.
"What do we do?" Nafisa asked Joka. Her, Joka, Badrani, Jespur and Taja were back to back, protecting all sides, fending off enimies.
"Keep doing this." Joka ordered. "I'm sure Dakima will be back soon."
"Maisha?" Dakima aimlessly walked around, avoiding enimies. She truthfully had no allies or enimies anymore, except for the fact that her old allies were now her enimies. Maisha was nowhere to be found in Dakima's eyes. She must have wandered off on her own the moment after Joka led them into the battle. Dakima looked around, then spotted Cheja at a distance. The two same lions were holding him still and keeping his mouth shut. Dakima growled and ran towards them, her emerald green eyes flaring in anger. She smashed into the two and sent them flying, her claws unsheathed so they could feel them.
"Dakima," Cheja weakly smiled at her, breathing heavily. "Thanks."
"Come on," Dakima nudged him. "it's Maisha. I can't find her."
Cheja's eyes widened, "Is-is she still mad at me?"
"Yes." Dakima sighed. "But that's not the-"
Another lioness flung herself in their direction, and Dakima ducked while Cheja jumped aside.
"point." Dakima finished flatly, as if no one ever interrupted her.
"Let's go." Cheja bolted away, Dakima swiftly following after him.
Maisha was outside the battle, watching from a distance, in fact. Simba was still nowhere in sight. She felt rather annoyed that she could find him all the times before, but not now. She did see her father, Kovu, however. For a moment, Maisha wanted to run over and nuzzle him, and tell him she was sorry for running away, but she immediatley thought better of it. Kiara came into sight also, standing tall beside her mate. Nothing from her gave away where Simba was, and Maisha was still sure that no one except Joka, Nafisa and Taja knew that she was actually home. Then, as Maisha looked over a damp mound of earth, she saw Rafiki. He stood there, watching sadly with a shake of his head. The rain was pouring harder down, flattening Maisha's ears against her head as she paced, waiting for Simba to come.
Nafisa still stood her ground beside Joka, lashing out her claws at any enemy who came near. She didn't even pay much attention as a large, chocolate-brown furred male streaked past her. Then, to her horror, the male lunged at her father. Erevu wrestled with the male on the ground until he had him pinned to the wet earth.
"Erevu, is it?" The male sneered.
"How do you know my name?" Erevu demanded, lashing his tail.
"Vorker speaks of you all the time," The male grinned evilly. "I can see why he holds such a grudge."
"What do you know of him?" Erevu hissed.
Nafisa blinked rain drops out of her eyes, listening in on their conversation. Though it was half drowned out by the sound of rain pelting the terrain.
"Nafisa, pay attention!" Joka exclaimed, making Nafisa jump.
"Sorry!" Nafisa shook out her pelt again and ferociously snarled at a passing lioness who slinked past her, baring her fangs. "Get out of the Pride Lands! You don't belong here!" Her beige fur bristled, but it wasn't much use as how hard the rain was coming down. It was constantly flattening her fur. She sunk her claws into the muddy earth in frustration.
"...That's right!" A light-brown furred male flung himself at Erevu, pushing the first male off and sending him rolling across the mud. "Where's your other daughter, 'Revu?"
"You'll never harm anymore of my family! I wont stand by like I did before!" Erevu snarled, forcefully pushing the male up. "Tell me...what are you doing here? I live here, now. I wont let you hurt any pride members!"
"I just want you," The male hissed through bared teeth. "and that daughter of yours, Nafisa."
"Huh?" Nafisa swung her head around.
"Nafisa!" Joka gasped.
"Why are you here, Vorker?" Erevu asked in a dangerous tone.
"Vorker?" Nafisa broke the circle that Joka, Badrani, Jespur, Taja and herself had formed. "You killed my sister!"
"I'm here to gain leadership of the pride, Erevu. Gyasi was never the ideal leader, if I do say so myself." Vorker growled. "You must agree."
"I don't care! I'm not with Gyasi anymore." Erevu pointed out angrily. "That wont happen, anyhow. Because I'm going to kill you." He rose a paw, claws unsheathed, but the chocolate-brown furred lion rammed into him, knocking him off balance.
"Nafisa!" Joka's shaky voice made Nafisa turn, only to feel a horrible pain sear through her body, making her fall to the ground, her body being swallowed into the mud as the pattering of rain drops and the roars, snarls and growls of big cats all around her began to quiet, until she couldn't hear anything anymore. Everything went black...
"Is she going to be okay, Rafiki?"
Joka's voice made Nafisa stir a bit. She winced as the same pain as before throbbed through her shoulder. The sound of rain still sounded, and Nafisa could still hear the snarls of angry lions in the distance.
"She'll be fine." Rafiki replied. "It hurt more before when she got it. The pain seems to have singled down to one area, now, anyway. If you look." He turned to Nafisa.
Nafisa looked up at them groggily. "What happened?"
"Some brute came up out of nowhere and clamped his jaws over your shoulder. This obviously hurt you so badly, you just collapsed." Jespur growled.
Rafiki shook his head. "It was the suspense of the moment, is all."
"Why didn't, who ever it was, finish me off?" Nafisa asked.
"He almost did." Taja said grimly. "Joka chased him off you, though."
"Wow," Nafisa blinked up at the prince. "you did?"
"Of course," Joka nudged her soothingly. "why wouldn't I?"
"Thank you." Nafisa breathed, brushing her head against his mane. She couldn't say she was fully concious, and she supposed Joka thought so too.
"Are-are you going to be okay?" Joka asked uneasily, taking a small step back.
"Ah, I'll be fine," Nafisa smiled up at him. "not like I got hit that badly."
"Well," Badrani shrugged unsurely. "it was bad enough to knock you out, force and sharpness of the teeth that punctured your shoulder."
"Nafisa!" Dakima and Cheja came bounding up to them, their paws drumming the muddy earth.
"Dakima, did you find Maisha?" Joka asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not." Dakima lowered her head sadly.
"We'll find her." Cheja reassured her determinedly.
"Who are you?" Joka turned to look at him.
"I'm Cheja, uh...another lion Maisha met in the Outlands." Cheja looked back quickly, as if he was just making sure Maisha wasn't there.
"Outlands?" Joka narrowed his greenish-blue eyes at him. "You're from the Outlands?" His fur bristled. "Meaning you're one of them!" He let out a furious roar and unsheathed his claws. "And you too!" He glared at Dakima.
"No, no, no!" Dakima stepped in front of Cheja. "It's not like that, we swear. We're no longer a threat, anyway." She sighed.
"'No longer'?" Joka growled suspiciously.
"Sure, we meant to attack the Pride Lands...at first." Cheja put on another pained expression. "Now, we don't want to anymore."
"Why is that?" Nafisa asked curiously, tilting her head.
"I knew it was a bad idea from the start." Dakima explained quickly. "Cheja...well, he was all for it at first. He'd follow anything my father says."
"Why your father?" Joka asked.
"Oh, because he's the leader of the pride that's fighting with yours right now." Dakima replied flatly. "But then..."
"I went soft, all right?" Cheja growled. "I care about what happens to Maisha, I...I'm scared for her."
Taja took a step forward. "In what way?" His voice was icy.
"Enough to protect her with my life," Cheja replied surely. "I lied to her throughout our entire journey...I lured her here to basically kill her, and now I'm making it up to her." He glanced at Dakima. "We're here to help the Pridelanders and put a stop to the battle."
"Really?" Rafiki cut in. "You...that's-that's why you're here?"
"Yes." Dakima nodded. "We'll do anything it takes."
"Oh," Rafiki began pacing, talking very quietly to himself. "I know it's one or the other...oh, Mufasa, which one?"
"Who's he talking to?" Dakima asked.
"Aheh," Joka shuffled his front paws awkwardly. "a Great King of the Past."
"What?" Nafisa lifted her head but quickly put it down again, cringing. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"Everything, Nafisa, is wrong right now." Joka shut his eyes tightly. "You shouldn't be hurt, I should have figured out...well, nevermind...Maisha should be here with us!" He glared down at his paws, his tail beginning to lash again. "It's my fault."
"And one of their faults!" Rafiki exclaimed, making them all jump, as he pointed at Cheja and Dakima.
"Excuse me?" Dakima tilted her head.
"Very supportive," Joka muttered. "pal."
"Joka, listen to me." Rafiki said irritably. "It's either him or her. The lion that's supposed to help you."
"Can somebody explain?" Cheja glared.
"Really?" Joka gasped, as if neither Cheja nor Dakima spoke.
"Heh, both Outlander lions look pretty angry right now." Nafisa smirked.
Dakima looked rather weary in stress, while Cheja looked flustered.
"Oh, so sorry." Rafiki rested his arm on top of Cheja's back. "Mufasa, can you work this out in some way?"
"Perhaps just answer a simple question...?" Joka tried.
Above them, the clouds slowly began to part. To their surprise, the night sky appeared. They all stared in awe at the stars and moon. They had been so caught up in what was going on, they had no idea how fast the day went by, especially with the clouds covering the sky. The moon sent a beam down through the part of clouds, shining down on...
"Dakima," Joka whispered, the breath seeming to get caught in his throat. "y-you..."
"Me?" Dakima tilted her head. "What is this all about?"
"I'm sorry, Dakima," Rafiki sighed. "you've never heard. I never told Joka that well either...you see, there was a prophecy that I recieved when Joka and his sister, Maisha, were only cubs. It was sent by a Great King of the Past named Mufasa. He said that a time of battle and demise was coming, now, if I'm not mistaken. Two lions are supposed to make things right again, Joka included. I've been wondering for ages who this other lion that is supposed to work with Joka is. Then I found you, Dakima. You're the lion, or lioness, in your case, that is to make things right again, alongside Joka."
Dakima's eyes grew wide. "I...I can't be. What is a Great King of the Past, anyway?"
"A past King of the Pride Lands. Mufasa ruled years ago, before Joka, Maisha or even King Kovu were born. He was very wise." Rafiki wistfully stared up at the clouds that were still parted, the stars reflecting off his yellowish eyes.
Dakima's expression slowly grew more sure, "I was...destined to stop the thing I dreaded most all along. That was why I didn't want battle! That was why I always thought I could somehow stop it!"
"Indeed." Rafiki dipped his head.
"Joka," Nafisa whispered, her voice a bit more faint than before, as if she hadn't used it in a while. "If you are what Rafiki says you are, can you please help my father? I just want him to come out of that fight between him and Vorker okay." Her icy-blue eyes were clouded with worry.
Joka eyed her for a few heart-beats, then nodded, "Yes...I-I promise I will."
Nafisa beamed up at him, whispered, "Thank you." and before Joka could react, she reached up with both paws and pulled him towards her, licking him on the cheek. "That," Her words were stronger this time. "is just in case you die." She gave Joka a daring smile.
Joka blinked down at her for a moment in shock, then gave a slight smirk. "I wont." He reached down to press his muzzle against hers.
"How can you be so sure?" Nafisa closed her eyes, her fur still brushing against his.
"Okay," Joka sighed. "I sure hope I don't."
"Me too." Nafisa pressed her head against his mane, her expression far more serious now. "Be careful, please."
"For you, right?" Joka chuckled.
"Oh, Joka," Nafisa gave him a playfully stern look, shoving him away gently with one paw. "it was always for me."
"Then don't you die on me either." Joka nudged her affectionately. "I'm not losing you that easily."
"You wont, I promise." Nafisa smiled.
Rafiki was staring at them, his fury rising by the minute, "Do not use the word 'die' so lightly."
Dakima laughed. "Let's go, Joka. You'll get to talk to your girlfriend more after we finish this."
Joka's jaw dropped as if to say something, but no words came out.
Nafisa smiled and nuzzled his cheek. "I like that...'girlfriend'."
"Off with you, Joka." Rafiki pushed him away. "I'll look after her."
"Right, right, uh...bye Nafisa." Joka weakly smiled down at the lioness he had had feelings for for so long.
"Good show, Joka." Taja tagged along beside him. "I'll have to try that with Maisha."
"What?" Joka turned to look at him. "Get her hurt and find some big, dangerous prophecy that you yourself need to fulfill, making her open to the possibility that you might die so she'll declare her true feelings for you?"
Before Taja could reply, Dakima raced up to Joka's other side, "Hey, you're not going to fulfill this by yourself, you have me!"
"Dakima," Joka sighed. "you-you're just so young..."
"So?" Dakima glared at him. "I'm involved in this, aren't I? The "Great Kings of the Past" chose me." She pointed out. "Besides...I'm not going just because I'm required to. I'm going because I think you'll need my help, Pridelander." She emphasized the last word teasingly.
Joka nodded almost immediatly. "Very well." He stared at her, a coming idea making him smirk again. "Dakima, you're with me." He turned to Taja. "Taja, you go with Badrani and Jespur and continue to look for Maisha." He began looking around blindly. "Badrani? Jespur?"
"We'll be happy to." Jespur's rough voice sounded from up ahead, Badrani seen at his side. Taja hurried up to them.
"Go then." Joka ordered sharply. "If you do find Maisha...come and find Dakima and I." He ran off without another word.
"What are we going to do?" Dakima asked from beside Joka as she ran at pace with him.
Joka sighed heavily. "I'm not quite sure. I think we should find my mother and father first. They don't know yet."
"Are you sure we should tell them?" Dakima asked unsurely.
"Rafiki never told me not to." Joka growled.
"Well, in stories of old prophecies that my mother used to tell me when I was younger, the lion from which the prophecy was based upon would never tell anyone of it. He or she would keep it a secret. Not sure why." Dakima told him with a shrug, then looked away awkwardly before murmuring, "Then again...that was when I thought they were make-believe."
"Let's just go." Joka panted. "We're almost there."
The two sped off toward the battle again.
Maisha kept low, making sure no one spotted her. It had been a hour since she returned, and not even her parents knew she was there still.
Well done, Maisha. She praised herself, and almost right afterwards, she spotted him.
His fur dull and blood matted from the battle, though his alburn mane still standing out, Simba charged his way through a feirce line of Gyasi's lions.
Maisha's heart leapt; the moment she had been waiting for, ever since she found out the 'truth'.
Kovu and Kiara stood a few feet away from Simba, and Maisha blinked in shock when she saw Joka and Dakima leaping through the crowd towards them.
Should I really do this? Maisha gazed down at her soaked paws unsurely, her heart beginning to pound.
"Mother," Joka stepped in next to Kiara, breathing heavily from the run. "I know what's supposed to happen."
"What?" Kiara swung her head around to gaze at her son. "What do you mean, Joka? You know this is no time for fooling around-"
"When have I ever fooled around in a situation such as this, mother?" Joka demanded. "Rafiki told me of a prophecy, you see..."
Meanwhile, Maisha's claws flexed against the earth, now quite unsure that the moment was finally there.
Maisha, what are you doing? Zira's echoing voice startled her, ringing in her head. You know what you are to do now, do you not?
"I don't know, Zira," Maisha took a few steps back. "this wasn't how I pictured things."
How did you picture things, then? That was Scar this time.
"Well, not exactly like this...I..." Maisha paused, feeling a strange sensation and inner knowledge that Scar and Zira had momentarily left her. She wasn't sure how she knew, she just did. It was then that she began to hear voices within her, some more familiar than others, and along with them, she felt a feirce sense of protection sear through her,
Hey, Taka! Where is she? That first one wasn't as familiar as the others came to be,
Why should I tell you? That sounded a bit like...Scar...though younger.
You've taken a liking to that little rogue cub, haven't you, Taka? Sneered yet another familiar voice, though this one was more feminine.
Father chose foolishly to have taken her in. Now she's nothing but trouble! The first voice declared, Maisha still not being able to make him out.
She's just a cub, Mufasa, can't you go more lightly? Scar's younger voice pleaded.
Mufasa? Maisha thought suddenly, remembering that name from the stories Kiara and Simba had told. Mufasa was Simba's father. Who are they talking about? Maisha wondered, instantly hoping that her thoughts hadn't disturbed the echoing voices. To her relief, the voices continued to argue,
You're just acting protective of her because she's the closest thing you've ever came to a friend! Mufasa had yelled, as Maisha assumed this arguement had taken place a while back.
Those words stung Maisha as if someone had said them directly to her...as if she were feeling what Taka was feeling...
Get away from us. Taka's voice grew dangerously low.
Come on, brother, we've always helped eachother out, haven't we?
I'm not going to help you with this...and by the way, brother, you are to address me as Scar from now on...not Taka.
Mufasa's voice suddenly got more shocked than smug, What? B-but Taka, that's your name! Your father named you-
He hates me! Don't you know what Taka means?
"Dirt," Maisha murmured sadly, quietly, already knowing the answer.
Several things, The female voice spoke again tauntingly, dirt, trash, rubbish. I'll give Ahadi credit for knowing what you'd be as soon as you entered this world!
Maisha growled lowly, anger burning deep within her, and she was sure this was what Taka was feeling too. Though...strangely enough, there was something else mixed with it: feirce, feirce love, almost so much, it made Maisha angry all over again, frustrated too.
Mufasa, Sarabi, leave him alone! I know he's sorry, I just know it! A new female voice entered the conversation.
Hmm, let's see... Mufasa's voice became sly, and before Maisha could prevent anything, a sharp pain went through her head, and she was sprawled out on her side almost immediatly, the feel of claws digging into her shoulder.
Are you sorry, Taka? Mufasa whispered, and Maisha felt as though he were standing right over her.
"Ah," Maisha winced, the pain becoming stronger, until she was screaming, echoing Taka's words, "Yes! Yes, I'm sorry!". All the while, Maisha didn't even know what she was apologizing for, or what Taka was originally apologizing for when Mufasa had him pinned.
Get off him! The second female voice gasped.
He should be sorry. Mufasa growled. Attacking me, all the while going against father's orders. How dare he.
"Please," Maisha squeaked. "g-get off me."
She somehow knew that Taka had said the exact same thing, and wasn't even sure how she recieved this knowledge, and so fast...
Fine then, have it your way. Just don't ever come anywhere near Sarabi and I with plans to attack without a death wish again, understand?
"Yes." Maisha whimpered, her eyes beginning to water. She felt just like a helpless cub again. Mufasa had complete dominance over her, and there was nothing she could do about it...
Enjoy the show?
The pain instantly went away, and Maisha was able to move again. "What was that?" She stammered.
I think you know very well, Maisha. Scar whispered. You know that you know, don't you?
Maisha slowly nodded in understanding. "I do...sort of."
Get on out there, then. Scar hissed. Then, just maybe, I'll explain better.
"Thank you." Maisha breathed, then turned towards Simba again. Kiara appeared to be staring at Joka in confusion.
With a low growl, Maisha began to charge forward, through the large crowd of fighting lions, to the very middle, where many stopped to stare at her. The voices seemed to linger again, though these seemed far more recent, though more jumbled together,
Mufasa, you shall be the next King.
"NO!" Maisha roared.
"Maisha!" Kiara gasped.
Maisha ignored her as she continued to run towards Simba.
Are you sorry, Taka?
Address me as Scar from now on.
No, fool, we're going to kill him...and Simba too.
As if obeying his words, Maisha found herself crash into Simba, and the two toppled over into the mud.
"Maisha!" Simba gazed up at her with wide eyes. "What-are you okay? W-where have you been?"
"No need for such questions, old one." Maisha's voice shook with rage, her voice not seeming to even belong to her anymore.
"Maisha, what are you doing?" Kovu exclaimed.
"Should I even tell you the truth?" Maisha snarled, whipping her head around to look at her father, her reddish-brown eyes seeming to have turned to a more blood-red color. "It's not like you haven't done any different!"
"What are you talking about, Maisha?" Kiara asked gently, her expression mixed with the emotions of wild fear and confusion.
"You've been lying to me throughout my whole cubhood," Maisha growled. "Do I need to be the one to point that out?"
"Maisha, all I know is that you're home safe. Now, get off of Grampa Simba before you hurt him." Kiara ordered sharply at the last sentence.
"Do I usually act like this, Kiara?" Maisha hissed.
Kiara took a small step back. "Did...you just call me...?"
"No, I don't." Maisha growled, as if her mother never spoke. "If you never noticed, I was a very serious lion throughout my short-so-far life, even as a cub. Why would I even dare attack Simba unless I had a reason?"
"Maisha," Kovu gave her a stern glare. "if you come off him, we can have a peaceful talk about this."
"We could of had a peaceful talk moons and moons ago! You chose to lie instead." Maisha lashed her tail violently. "We're way past peace, anyhow!"
"We're far after the peace." Joka murmured in quiet understanding.
"Can one of you explain this all?" Kovu glared from Joka to Maisha. "You both seem to know something that your mother and I don't."
"I have the slightest idea what Maisha's on about." Joka told his father honestly. "What I can say is that Rafiki received a prophecy involving me and this young lioness here." He jerked his head towards Dakima who stood quite stiffly beside him.
"What?" Lord Gyasi shoved past a few lions in the crowd. "What are you on about now? I can understand why Maisha would want to kill Simba, but-"
"She doesn't want to kill Simba!" Kiara gaped at him.
Maisha couldn't help throwing in hotly, "H-how would you know?"
Kiara swung her head around to gaze at her daughter with rounded eyes, "What?"
Simba seemed quite calmed by the conversation, and he lay unmoving under Maisha's weight, waiting for something to happen.
"Maisha, get off Simba, please." Kovu growled.
The Pridelander lionesses tensed around their King, ready to lunge if Maisha did anything to the retired King.
Maisha closed her eyes tightly, the voices a bit more faint now,
Never do anything of that sort to your brother again!
I-I w-wont, father.
That scar'll teach you so. Get out of my sight, now!
"Never," Maisha murmured, loud enough for Kovu to hear.
Kovu felt more surprised than angry, "Maisha, I'm your father, do as I say."
Why do they hate me, Scar?
Because they have horrible taste in friends.
Maisha blinked in confusion. That first voice sounded like Zira, though far younger...cub-like.
"Maisha..." Kiara's voice was barely a whisper.
It took Maisha a while to realize that everyone's eyes were on her now. Joka stared at her awkwardly, not being able to find the right words to say.
Get away from us, stupid rogue cub!
"Shut up," Maisha growled, glaring down at Simba again. "you killed an innocent lioness named Zira."
Simba stared up at her in shock. "What? I didn't kill her, Maisha. Zira fell off a cliff and into the river. She was washed away. She drowned. And she wasn't innocent. She was one of Scar's followers. You remember, don't you?"
"She was one of Scar's followers because she loved him." Maisha murmured sadly, looking away for a moment. "And because when she came to the Pride Lands as a cub, she was picked on for being a formal rogue."
"That," Sarafina stepped forward from the crowd. "is very much true."
Sarabi looked away, hiding her guilty expression.
"Maisha, Scar killed Mufasa, my father." Simba pointed out. "We're lucky he died when he did."
"Wrong," Maisha growled, rage taking over her body again. She jumped off Simba and slammed a paw into his face, claws unsheathed. Blood spilled from the whole side of his face, and many lionesses around bared their teeth and snarled.
Kovu stopped them from charging, "Don't hurt her. That's an order."
The lionesses scowled and looked away.
"None of you will stop me." Maisha growled, more sure of herself now. She lunged at Simba, biting and clawing. Simba didn't want to hurt her, however. He simply wanted to reason with her.
"What's gotten into you, Maisha?" He asked calmly, cringing at the deep claw marks in his shoulder which oozed blood.
"Nothing but the truth." Maisha hissed in reply.
"Maisha, stop, now!" Kiara yelled, losing her patients.
Are you sorry, Taka?
"NO!" Maisha screeched, and before anyone had time to believe it, she swiftly bit down hard on Simba's throat, through his thick alburn mane.
Kiara gasped in horror, Kovu's eyes widened in shock, as did Joka's. Nala gaped at the sight of her lifeless mate lying in the mud. Everyone, in fact, even Lord Gyasi, watched in disbelief.
Maisha pulled away from Simba's neck, her muzzle soaked with blood. It took her a moment to believe it, but Simba was dead...she killed him...
Just like that, without Kovu's orders, every Pridelander lioness lunged Maisha's way. They tackled her to the ground, clawing and biting. All Maisha could hear were roars, snarls, her own blood splattering and pelting against the little rock of terrain there was. She was going to die, she knew it, but at least she did what was needed to be done.
"STOP!" Kovu snarled, letting out a roar that seemed to shake the whole Savannah. Joka stared at his father in shock. He had never seen him so angry, or hear him make such a loud roar. Kiara was sobbing, Nala beside her as comfort, though she was crying too, Sarabi aswell. Sarafina stared expressionless, her greenish-blue eyes slowly beginning to lift toward the cloudy sky. The clouds, in fact, began to part which revealed a starry sky.
"What are we supposed to do?" Dakima asked in confusion, turning to look at Joka again.
"I'm not so sure." Joka turned around in circles a few times, looking for something with a meaning.
At the sound of Kovu's yell, all the lionesses stepped off Maisha.
The once-pretty russet furred lioness was now a bloody mess. Her fur was matted with blood and mud, and her fur was ruffled. One of her ears were torn, and yet that scar across her eye still stood out. Many gashes ran along her body. An uproar of voices began to call out viciously,
"Put her on trial, Kovu!"
"She doesn't deserve to be here!"
"How dare she!"
"ENOUGH!" Kovu shouted, his voice echoing.
Maisha staggered to her paws, her eyes barely in focus, and hardly opened at that. She couldn't see straight.
"Maisha will be put on trial," Kovu said smoothly, reassuring all the lionesses. "She will have a chance to explain herself before we do anything. Understand?"
Many heads slowly began to nod unwillingly.
Lord Gyasi stepped forward, "May we finish this battle now?"
Kovu glared back at him. "How about for another time? If you're so anxious, we'll set up a planned battle. Who ever wins gets the Pride Lands."
"When?" Gyasi narrowed his amber eyes.
"A while after we ourselves have figured this all out." Kovu replied firmly, turning his back on Gyasi.
"Very well." Lord Gyasi turned to every one of his lions. "Fall back!" He looked at Dakima. "Do you wish to stay here?" He glared at her in contempt.
Dakima nodded. "Yes. I must."
"Have it your way, traitor." Gyasi vanished within his lions, leaving Dakima there to wonder why he let her stay so easily. Though, Dakima couldn't help but flinch at the way her father called her a 'traitor'.
Soon enough, every lion was leaving into the Outlands again.
Joka watched after in confusion. What were we supposed to do?
Dakima gasped from beside him. "What if we were supposed to keep Simba alive? That would mean we failed!"
"No, Dakima. I don't think...the prophecy never mentioned..." Joka tried to reassure Dakima, but more himself, because deep down he was panicking like crazy.
Then, out of nowhere, it suddenly came to him...
"Vorker," Joka turned around. "I promised Nafisa."
"But the prophecy never mentioned a promise!" Dakima pointed out.
"It's not about the promise." Joka growled. "Somewhere, Vorker has an army of lions who are beating Erevu senseless right now. We have to go and save him."
"That's just Erevu, though." Dakima said. "I thought it had to do with the pride and-"
"Vorker just might try to take over the pride once he's finished with Erevu. Then..." Joka's heart skipped a beat. "...then, he'll try to kill Nafisa."
Joka shuddered, shakily turning to watch as Maisha was pushed away by a crowd of angry lionesses and Simba's dead body being carried back.
"Let's go to the trial first." He decided. "And you know we must go to the funeral."