~27~
While Destiny Sleeps
The world was in slumber.
Darkness cloaked the earth with its night sky, dotted with stars.
Worries and troubles were laid to rest temporarily.
But only for some.
Simba was worrying in his sleep, but would worry much more when the sun rose. It would be then that Kovu; Prince of the exiles would strike the King with claws and fangs of vengeance. He would fight in Scar's name and rightfully claim his place on the throne. All would be decided, tomorrow.
But then there was her. His old friend, the Princess he met with in secret during their adolescent years, ever since their time as cubs. Now, she may be more of a problem, Kovu thought. Scar's heir stared at the stars above as he lay outside the King's den, not having earned the privilege of sleeping inside after saving his daughter's life. Of course it was a staged rescue, one that indebted Simba to him no matter what.
Teach her hunting at dawn, she said, thought Kovu; man that'll be a doozy. Was he going to? Of course not, he would assassinate Simba the first chance he got! Time must not be wasted, that was what his mother, Zira, had always told him. Sure, it was a hard lesson to learn as Kovu loved chasing insects and butterflies as a cub; but that all changed, all he knew was discipline and orders.
Focus, she said.
Concentrate, she said.
Prowl, she said.
Approach, she said.
And finally, the one thing he begged and pleaded her not to force him to do; even if it was the smallest mouse to a baby giraffe, Zira made him kill.
'There's no room for weakness in this Pride!'
Obey without question. That was all there was, growing up. But that day he met Kiara, as a cub, things were different from what he was used to and he wondered ever since if he would feel the way he did that day, again.
Kiara made him feel something that he couldn't put into words. She made him feel like he could do whatever he wanted and not worry about the consequences, as well as much more. She had only just opened his eyes to a whole new world he had never discovered outside his Pride of Outlanders, and so quickly was he snatched away from it all by his mother. The memories to follow were not so fond: a daily grind of training, discipline for the slightest distraction or show of weakness and the constant need to satisfy his grueling mother. He remembered his desperation at the start to please her, just as long as she wouldn't be angry with him. His brother and sister, Nuka and Vitani would watch and jeer. Only Vitani would show him comfort, if they were ever alone. He always kept that a secret in return for her kindness, as Zira would surely punish her for her 'weakness'.
Nuka, however, was in nothing more than a relationship of rivalry with his brother. He did not seek Zira's approval out of fear of her anger, but just for what it was. Kovu did not understand why he sought after his mother's pride wilfully, if anything he should be glad that Zira did not tire him of all his efforts to please her. But maybe now that he was close to Kiara again, he could…
"Ow!"
A sudden yelp pulled Kovu from his thoughts.
"Sshh! Quiet!"
The voices did not come from the den. Instantly bewildered, Kovu sprang to his paws and darted his head from side to side; his ears trying to locate the source of noise and his nose smelling for newcomers.
Was this a new ploy by his mother, to defend Simba while he slept and gain Kovu extra credit from the King? Surely he would've been informed. He made his way to the opposite side of the cave's mouth, where he heard the not so stealthy strangers. Carefully, Kovu peered just enough over the edge so that he would not be visible to his potential victims.
About forty feet below, two lions were making their way around the side of Pride Rock, one behind the other. The one in front was not distinctive as only the lower half of his body was visible just before passing behind the huge mass of rock. The second lion, however, stopped for a moment before following his companion to look around; possibly to see if he had roused anyone because of his clumsiness. While he had the chance, Kovu took in his features of the wary wanderer as he revealed his face.
His blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight. Like many other Pridelanders, his fur was a sandy shade with a brown mane. The lion looked bewildered; clearly mistaking his eyesight for that of an eagle, as he scanned the dark vast landscape for spies. Recognising this, he turned and continued past the side of the rock, out of view.
Familiarity struck Kovu as soon as he processed the lion's appearance in his mind. He was certain he had seen him before. Now that he was pondering on the subject, he thought he had seen two of him, in the past. One that resembled him very strongly, at least; while they were both standing together. It may have been a strange situation to recollect, but it was one of the first that had jumped into Kovu's head upon seeing the lion. It also reminded him of…
…Him.
Now Kovu remembered. It was one of the three lions he and Zira had cornered that day in the gorge. Him and his father, as well as the self-righteous, insufferable cub he once knew. The father, as far as he knew; Zira managed to dispatch. Unfortunately these two still remained. But Kovu also recalled that he had at least knocked his son out cold. The killing blow he had delivered that day was not a killing one at all.
Standing up fully again, Kovu allowed himself a quiet growl of frustration, scowling at his mistake.
He instantly turned and made his way to the rocky slope from the den down to the ground.
It seemed he had unfinished business.
The two lions watched Rafiki poke at the ground with his stick. Kura knew what he was searching for, while Zale stood confused. There was absolutely nothing behind Pride Rock, why take him out there?
"Hm…Salaam does a good job of patching up the ground" Rafiki commented, apparently trying to poke through the earth.
Zale, of course, remained oblivious to his goal. He gave a confused look at Kura, hoping he would shed some light on the situation.
"I think I have an idea" Kura stepped forward, Rafiki moving aside.
What stunned Zale even more was what happened next. He watched Kura merely place his paw over the area Rafiki had jabbed at, and the ground simply gave way into a small hole. The faintest blue glow could be seen in the newly opened tunnel, below. Now both Rafiki and Zale looked at Kura in astonishment.
"It was just a feeling I had" Kura shrugged.
He guessed it had been due to his spiritual awakening that night Salaam had shared his abilities with him, as an adolescent. How else would Salaam enter Roho Ndani and not make the ground look like a meerkat's burrow? Kura thought it would only make sense that those who shared his power would have access to the same means of entry into the cave, as the cave itself was sensitive to those people.
Without further hesitation, Kura and Rafiki proceeded inside the tunnel, Zale cautiously following. He was told about Salaam, but could not help but feel anxious about meeting the lion that had the mystical well of spirits' essences at his paws for the longest time now. The blue light became gradually stronger as the three continued on towards the cave's main chamber.
"It's the water" Kura told Zale, noticing his perplexed look.
"The water…glows?"
Kura nodded with a reassuring smile. Zale had one thing after another to comprehend, after leaving the jungle. Life had been so simple, so carefree. He and his father knew that the day Kura would discover who he truly is would change their lives. But not like this.
"You ok?" Kura asked him, noticing the bewilderment in his eyes.
Zale slowed his walking and eventually stopped. Kura and Rafiki also halted, turning to face the lion who was now over-encumbered with his new reality.
"This doesn't make sense anymore…" Zale murmured, dropping his head, "we were…happy! Not a care in the world…now this. Ghosts, magic- cub stories! All coming to life in a second! I just…"
He shook his head in disbelief, unable to find the words to grasp everything that was happening around him. Having been unconscious for a long time, Zale could only slowly realise the unfamiliar and dangerous world he was being thrown into. Although his father stayed with him in his mind during the long and arduous return to the Pridelands for Kura, he was not here now. That fact was being lowered onto Zale's shoulders very slowly like a tonne of boulders as time went on. Tojo's departing comfort would only stay with him for a while until the gravity of his absence would replace it.
"I know."
Kura brought him from the impending misery that he had to suffer alone, while carrying his friend on his back. Zale's head lifted again to look at his companion.
"I know what you're feeling, Zale," Kura murmured back, "I know it all too well."
The raw emotion was welling from Zale, sensitive to Kura's enhanced empathy. He could not read the specific thoughts as his time with Salaam's gift did not allow him, but the anguish from his friend's heart was enough for him to relate to.
"It might be confusing that this is all just starting to hit you now, but that's alright…because you're not alone, you have us. For the time that I carried you, I had those thoughts and feelings all to myself; I had to do something about these prophecies with no leads to go on, these new things I could do were here to stay and they didn't make any sense. But worst of all…"
Zale continued to watch his friend as he sighed out and looked down in sadness.
"Dad is gone; the one person who was always there for us, just taken away."
Zale returned his sight to the ground as well, the despair falling down on him much harder this time and forcing a tear to leave his eye. As soon as the tear fell, Zale's head lifted once more as he felt a paw on his shoulder.
"But we can go on," Kura continued with more confidence, "we were there for Dad, too. We made him happy; he gave us a home and a family, and we gave him a life! We were everything to him, Zale…he made sure we knew that, and made sure that we were happy. He would still want that…he wouldn't want us to give up and let our misery swallow us whole."
The two lions maintained eye contact. Kura was staring into his eyes with hope and Zale received it, taking in every word he was given.
"We can go on, Zale," Kura continued, "for him."
With the younger lion's resolve, Zale smiled a warm smile once more and nodded his agreement.
"We can wait if you are uncomfortable, Zale?" Rafiki suggested with comfort.
"Do you want to talk a while?" Kura also offered.
"No," Zale replied, "Dad would want me to be strong. We'll go meet Salaam, and talk more later."
Kura returned his smile, encouraged by his companion's courage. The two friends turned to the way ahead, ready to continue. Rafiki was also smiling in admiration of their friendship, and nodded in approval of Zale's decision.
Through the tunnel the three continued, the blue light from the waters of Roho Ndani growing ever brighter as they neared the main chamber. Only seconds later did the light source come into full view as they entered the cave proper; a pool of gleaming blue water, at least Zale thought it was, at the opposite side of the chamber lighting the entire space with one shadow before them, that of a lion sitting at the water's edge with his back turned to them.
Kura, Zale and Rafiki stopped in the centre of the rocky room. The cave's omnipotence melted away any greeting on their tongues. The large, white lion turned around to face his new company and strode forward with his powerful paws, wearing a blank expression. Only when he halted in front of the others did he emerge from the shadows, brilliantly illuminated by the reflected light on his flawless fur. One by one did he scan each animal before him; first Zale on Rafiki's right, Rafiki himself and then Kura on the left. His gaze remained on the younger lion.
Startled, Kura watched the white lion step towards him and lift his paw to his shoulder. He returned his look in confusion. Kura's eyes fixed on those that stared back, in front of him. The expression suddenly changed into a smile, warm and compassionate.
"Welcome home" Salaam told him, then immediately pulled him into a hug.
Kura gasped as he softly impacted with a bundle of white fur, then laughed quietly and reached his own paw around his grandfather's back. It was comforting to receive such a warm welcome from the first of his family he met, upon his return to the Pridelands. The two released each other, still smiling at seeing the other standing before them.
"It's good to see you back, safe and sound" Salaam told him sincerely.
"It's good to be back" Kura replied.
Salaam then shifted his sight to Rafiki.
"Thank you for looking after them, old friend."
Rafiki nodded his head in acknowledgement and smiled. Zale timidly glanced around the wondrous walls of Roho Ndani while the other three spoke among themselves, not wanting to intrude in their familiarities.
"Welcome" Salaam's voice boomed louder this time, "…Zale."
Surprised to hear his name being spoken by the same voice that was talking, Zale lifted his gaze to meet the eyes of the white lion before him. The elder offered his paw in greeting with a smile to the bewildered, younger lion. Zale took it and slowly regained his composure.
"I am Salaam… it is an honour to meet you, at last."
"Well, I don't know about that but…it sure is a pleasure to meet you."
Salaam released his paw and smiled brighter. He remained where he was and studied the appearance of the young lion before him.
"You most certainly resemble your father in every way" he marvelled, before his smile began to fade and dipped his head, "…I'm very sorry for your loss. Tojo was, by far, the most remarkable lion I'd ever met. I knew him very well."
Zale also lowered his head at the reminder of his father's absence.
"If it weren't for him," Salaam continued, looking over at Kura also, "and Simba, the Pridelands would not have survived Scar's neglect and brutality."
Zale's head lifted immediately once he felt the white lion's paw on his shoulder, seeing him smile once more.
"You should be proud of him. You are his legacy."
Appreciating Salaam's kind words, Zale smiled with him.
"I am proud…it seems there's so much he has done for everyone, but we never knew. I only heard his true story recently from Kura."
"Tojo had his secrets," Salaam nodded in understanding, "he kept them to survive. No one would have followed him into war if he didn't."
Zale looked away from Salaam in thought, pondering on the shady life that his father had lead during Scar's reign. As far as he knew; Tojo was part of an elite group of guards to begin with and eventually uncovered the King's dastardly deeds, then turned away from him and began a rebellion. However, none of that mattered to him. What disturbed Zale the most was picturing the kind and gentle lion that brought him into the world, loved and cared for him all his life, as a war-hardened, fearless and ferocious freedom fighter.
It was not right. It was not the lion he knew as the father that raised him. To think that Tojo had lived a drastically different lifestyle than the one Zale had seen was…terrifying. Thoughts of Tojo killing animals and rallying others to his cause in the dark and doomed Kingdom of Scar now haunted him. Had he seen the acts committed by his own father during his life as a cub…
"We should not dwell on these thoughts," Salaam spoke more urgently, distracting Zale from his self-torment, "as I'm sure you're aware, we're meeting to discuss more pressing matters."
"R-right…"
Salaam made his way back over to the glowing pool of water and sat at the edge, holding his claws barely submerged in the mystical liquid and began tracing different patterns and lines along the surface, studying the ripples and waves closely.
"So, I assume you're up to speed with what's going on then, Zale?"
"Yeah, at least I think so. I know about the conflicting prophecies, if that's what you mean?"
"Yes. I know it's a lot to take in but we must find out what we're dealing with; your help would be much appreciated."
"I…don't know if I can be of much use" Zale hesitated in doubt.
"Oh don't worry, we'll find something for you," Salaam replied cheerfully with an encouraging smile.
Zale gave a nervous smile in return, completely uncertain just what he had agreed to involve himself with. But he remembered that so too, was everyone else.
"Now," Salaam turned to face his company once more, "this…other prophecy. You've found it?" he clearly directed his question towards Kura.
"Yes," he nodded, "but…they both seem to make the same point."
Salaam raised an eyebrow at Kura's response in surprise.
"How is that?"
"Well…we know what Mufasa said in his prophecy, about overcoming an evil threat to the Kingdom. The other one mentions some 'ultimate power' to vanquish anyone that threatens me, or the Kingdom, I don't know."
"Hm," Salaam uttered, scratching his chin as he thought, "very heart-warming."
"It was found in the elephant graveyard" Rafiki added more urgently.
Whatever significance that fact held, Kura and Zale did not know it. But it was enough for Salaam to look troubled.
"The elephant…graveyard?" He repeated in question, looking up in disbelief and lowering his paw.
"What?" Zale asked, "What's important about that?"
"There was only one lion who dwelled in that place…before he became King" Rafiki answered.
"But that can't be!" Salaam exclaimed with conviction, "Tojo and I kept a tight eye on Scar during his reign!"
"During his reign" Rafiki reminded him.
"We were adamant that Scar had no spiritual aura or resonance! We would've felt it, otherwise!"
This time, Rafiki looked away in thought at Salaam's counter-argument.
"Yes, I suppose so. But I visited the cave where the prophecy is after Kura reported to me what he had found; it is most certainly not natural, a liquid green pool of…of a ghastly substance I could not identify. The natural environment of that place has hosted terrible forces, there is no doubt. I cannot think of why else it has become so…lifeless."
The torment was clear on Rafiki's face as he gripped his staff and curled his head down, shutting his eyes at the memory of the void and barren feeling upon walking into the horrid cavern. As a shaman he relied upon his connection to the spirits of the world, but never did he expect such a dreadful feeling as their absence except for the remnant of the prophet in the graveyard.
"It did feel strange" Zale agreed, cocking his head curiously, "but you said…forces?"
"Spiritual aura?" Kura also asked.
Salaam released a sigh after the heavy conversation, readying himself for another explanation.
"To divine a prophecy, one must have a strong connection to the spirit realm; the world beyond. Very few beings manage to attain such a powerful bond. There are only two we know of, so far: Mufasa and the other prophet."
"What about you?" asked Zale.
"I…don't know. I have studied the energy and auras left by those departed for some time now, but I'm not sure it's a powerful enough bond to guide the claws of fate and it's not something I wish to test."
"What about Rafiki?" asked Kura.
"I try to communicate with the Kings of the past, but it is not a direct connection. I listen to the winds and watch the stars, but never do I speak with the spirit itself" Rafiki answered.
"Trust me, boys," Salaam continued, "If one has the power to forge the future in stone, they are better off not knowing."
The two lions then looked at each other, Zale with confusion and Kura returning his questioning gaze with one of assurance.
"Now," Salaam resumed his explanation, "the forces Rafiki has mentioned are the remnants of spiritual energy attracted to the prophecy. That energy is used in its creation and remains where the prophecy was made."
"Is that why it felt so forbidding to be in that cave in the graveyard, because of the energy?" Kura asked deductively, "When I discovered Mufasa's prophecy it didn't feel anything like the other one did."
Salaam did not answer Kura at once. Instead he stared with focussed eyes, clearly thinking on what he had just heard.
"That is…uncommon. I don't think I've ever heard of feeling anything while listening to a prophecy" Salaam replied with a frown of confusion, "What did you feel?"
Kura took a moment to recall his placed emotions during his discovery of the most recent prophecy before answering. The discomfort of the memory soon became clear on his face.
"…Cold, uncomfortable. It just felt very unpleasant."
"I wonder if it's your heightened emotions from the gift I passed on to you?" Salaam speculated.
"Maybe…does that mean I'm spirit-sensitive, too?"
"Well I think that Tojo, you and I all are, in the sense we are sensitive to the spirit realm but I don't think we are powerful enough to create our own prophecies" Salaam replied.
"No, I wouldn't even try it!" Kura agreed adamantly.
"Indeed not. The…abilities we have are, after all, a result of the spiritual energy in this cave. I managed to attune myself to it and allow it to guide my senses, resulting in my capabilities now."
"Oh…could the energy be from when Mufasa created his prophecy?" Kura continued, trying to close the gaps in his mind.
"He did create it here" Rafiki mused.
"But I found it in the jungle" Kura added, confused at Rafiki's statement.
Rafiki then turned away again in deep thought, trying to connect the bits of information to make sense. Fortunately, Salaam once more took the majority of the headache from all the thinking and solved the most recent riddle from their discussion.
"When a spirit appears in this world, that also causes spiritual energy to dwell in the area of the apparition. So, perhaps you were able to access the prophecy in the jungle, where Mufasa appeared to Simba? He told you that story, didn't he?"
"Yeah…that makes sense" Kura agreed.
"Could you please explain what a 'spiritual aura' is, like you said earlier?" Zale asked, providing fresh pickings for pondering once more.
"Oh of course, I forgot about that," Salaam chuckled, "An individual sensitive to the spirit realm, or 'spirit-sensitive' as Kura puts it, can detect between other life forms who else shares their bond. That is because all sensitive individuals carry an aura of spiritual energy."
"Oh…and that's what makes them spirit-sensitive; the aura?" Zale asked to confirm the logic, to which he received a nod and continued with another question, "How do people come about these auras, anyway?"
"Hmm," Salaam began in thought again, "there are various ways, Zale. I discovered the energy in this cave and spent time studying it. In a way, I nurtured the essence of souls and in return they nourished me with knowledge and wisdom. As for Kura and your father, they both received their auras from me, when I became strong enough to pass it on."
"But Kura's power didn't equal yours, when you did?"
"I only shared a small part of my aura with him. In this way it will grow with Kura, become stronger as he does and adapt as he does. What it is and how he uses it is now a reflection of him."
"These kinds of things also need to be learned, Zale," Kura explained further, "If Salaam had given me every single part of his power there would've been no way for me to understand it, having had no experience with spiritual energy at all."
"And it would've been…taxing, on my part" Salaam added, "Such a transfer expends your own energy and could be deadly if used rashly. So everyone with these capabilities can only use them as much as they feel physically able."
"What of Mufasa?" Rafiki asked a question, for a change.
Everyone looked at him in puzzlement, not understanding what he actually meant.
"How did he come about his aura?" he clarified.
Kura and Zale both turned their heads towards the white lion. But Salaam only stared blankly back at Rafiki. Where the preparation of an answer had been clear on his face before it was now absent, Salaam's face dropped as did his gaze; looking to the floor.
"…Salaam?" Kura asked with concern.
"I…" Salaam began with difficulty, "I don't know…"
The others were slightly taken aback at his response. Their quizzing and eager stares became small frowns of confusion or raised brows of astonishment. Kura knew that Salaam couldn't have known everything about the Pridelands and its denizens, but given everything he had answered already and his knowledge of the mechanics of fate, to say they were bemused at his response was an understatement.
The three in front of the white lion were all wondering what to say next. Of course 'What?' came into their heads but the surprise of Salaam's ignorance had snatched the voices from their throats.
"I'm surprised this has never occurred to me before…" Salaam continued, "He must have had an aura to create a testament of fate."
"Is it possible to…to hide your aura?" Zale asked to solve the new mystery.
"I most certainly hope not," Salaam answered strongly, "that could mean we have a lot more to uncover from the past."
"Maybe," Kura began, "he got rid of it?"
The suggestions were only met with further cluelessness and frustration as Salaam rubbed his brow and sighed out once more in defeat. It then became clear that these new loose ends were going to take more time and clearer heads to tie up. Kura and Zale both looked at each other acknowledging this, while Rafiki kept his gaze on Salaam with concern.
"Sorry boys," Salaam finally spoke up, "I'm stumped on this one. I don't know if either of those is possible. But it's been a long night…we'll pick this up again tomorrow."
"Yeah," Zale agreed with a smirk, "you've taken most of the heat in all this, you could do with a rest."
"Indeed I could," Salaam replied with a smile, "but just one more thing before you go…Kura?"
Kura lifted his head and met Salaam's eyes attentively, waiting to hear his request.
"You mentioned before that you felt something when you discovered the second prophecy," he continued, "would you mind if you showed me?"
Salaam gestured with an open paw to the gleaming pool behind him. Kura seemed uncertain for only a moment, then reaffirmed his trust in Salaam and stepped up to the water's edge. Salaam turned to face their reflections wavering in the water before them and instructed Kura on what to do next.
"Touch the surface."
Salaam demonstrated by lowering his paw down in front of him so that it barely skimmed the shimmering surface of the mysterious yet brilliant liquid, and Kura hesitantly followed suit. His last experience with the same body of water wasn't exactly pleasant, although it was mostly Salaam's responsibility. However, Kura knew that his new abilities as a result of the encounter had saved his life many times, since.
"Close your eyes."
Kura blinked back into the present before blinking his eyes shut.
"Now…remember your findings in the graveyard. Begin to recollect what you saw and heard, what you felt."
Upon mention of the elephant graveyard, memories of the bone-riddled wasteland and ghastly green geysers came flooding back to Kura's mind instantly. The spine-chilling tingle that lingered within him that day and somehow acted as a guide to his destination, the eerie haunting feeling of the land's previous denizens and Zale's apprehension all returned to his senses as he tried to relive the experience as best he could.
"Good," came Salaam's soft voice, "now continue to the point where you approach the location of the prophecy."
Zale and Rafiki stayed behind them, not wanting to interfere in what seemed to be a projection of Kura's memories, which also looked to be a rather delicate procedure as Salaam kept his voice low and gentle in the duration.
Zale could not help but also recall that day in the grim, barren desolation of Scar's old lair. He hoped that he would never have to visit that dreadful place again.
"Keep going…" Salaam encouraged.
Sighing out and withdrawing himself from the memories that irritated him, Zale absent-mindedly flicked his paw against some loose pebbles he felt on the ground and sent them rolling across the stone floor, watching them as they came to a halt and listening to the clicking sound that mimicked their movement. They all stopped within sight and short-range. But a few more clicking sounds were to be accounted for.
"Focus…"
The clicks did not sound close by. They carried a very soft echo around the walls. He very slowly turned his head about, trying to pinpoint the origin of the echo. His brows furrowed as he scanned the shadows.
"It's like it's happening all over again" Kura whispered.
An air of caution crept along the hairs of Zale's back. The cave became unfamiliar and forbidding. The graveyard made him feel similar, as if he did not belong there. To feel the same where friends gathered was chilling.
"It feels like…" Salaam reciprocated.
Instinctively, Zale rose to all four paws. His tail twitched. His claws slid out from his paws. The atmosphere grew ever forbidding. He glanced around a last time and began to flex into a readied stance…
"Ugh!"
It came from his right. In less than a second he had remembered that Rafiki was on his left, making him jump around to face the stunned Kovu that had suffered a harsh blow from Rafiki's staff.
Rage took over.
Zale's brows furrowed further, leading to an angry growl that fuelled the spring in his paws as he pounced. His claws found their target and anchored themselves into Kovu's shoulders, which thudded and dragged along the ground from Zale's landing, holding him in place.
"Like we're being watched" Zale finished Salaam's speculation behind snarling, gritted teeth.
The startled pair of lions at the poolside had now turned their attention completely to the detained outlander. Adrenaline rushed through their veins as Zale had given them a shock from the sudden growl, now staring in surprise at their intruder. Kura narrowed his eyelids in disbelief.
"You…!" he gaped.
Kovu returned to his senses and met his rival's eyes with his own. Just as he was about to start kicking his way out of his captor's clutches in fervour to free himself, Zale's paw lifted from Kovu's shoulder and tightened around his neck in an instant.
"Make one move; it'll be your last."
With a glare and a flash of his fangs, Kovu managed a small snarl and lowered his limbs before he began his struggle. Zale mirrored Kovu's expression, seething down at him as he grudgingly loosened his grip to allow the outlander just enough room to breathe. He kept a claw firmly pointed into Kovu's neck without piercing his flesh.
"What are you…how did you get in here?!" Kura spluttered in shock as he bounded down to Scar's heir.
Kovu kept his jaws shut in defiance, turning his hateful stare back to the Prince.
"If you don't answer," Salaam boomed impatiently, joining the rest around Kovu, "I'll pull it from your head. Either way, you're going to tell us what you know."
Kura was slightly more surprised to hear Salaam sound so direct and intolerant. Just as he had registered the fact in his mind, another thought had joined it, though from the elder lion himself.
I'm tired, ok?
Had the circumstances been less pressing, Kura would've allowed himself a smirk.
"And how are you going to do that?" Kovu sneered up at the white lion, "I've had interrogation training!"
"Not this kind. You won't feel like such a hotshot when I'm through with you, I assure you that. Now what'll it be?"
Salaam turned his paw up and slid out his claws to emphasise his point. Kura, like Salaam, was hoping that Kovu would take the easy way out and answer the question. Not only did he want to get this over with as quickly and easily as possible, but who knew what state Kovu would be in once he'd been subjected to the mental infiltration? He would never wish that on anyone. Even with consent, it did not feel pleasant to know someone else was present in your most secure space.
Zale however eagerly awaited his response. His claws were at the ready should Kovu ever twitch in the wrong direction. The large blue eyes were fixed on their target, not a single move would get past them. The anger was written all over Zale's face, which was understandable; Kovu had knocked him unconscious and left him for dead, all to keep him from ensuring that his father wouldn't be. The worst part was that Kovu had succeeded.
"They left the back door open…" Kovu abdicated behind gritted teeth.
Salaam turned his head to Kura with exasperated eyes.
"Sorry…" Kura murmured.
"It's fine…just lock up behind you and make sure you aren't followed."
Kura looked away in embarrassment.
"Now," Salaam continued, turning back to Kovu, "why are you here?"
"I have unfinished business-"
"Wrong. You have no business here, not even in the Pridelands. You belong back in that pit with your mother, plotting your next attempt on Simba's life."
"That's not-"
"Cut the act," Zale stopped him this time, "we know what your plan is."
"You know nothing!" Kovu barked back at him, "You lazed around in a jungle all day with nothing to worry about! I had to look for my next field mouse for dinner! I had to stalk and pounce all day long until I couldn't be heard!"
Kovu's voice grew increasingly louder as the pain and anguish of banishment rang ever clearer in his mind.
"Tell me this: did your father ever make you fight for your food? Did he ever tell you that you couldn't have something for being weak?!"
"You don't get to talk about my father…" Zale growled down at him.
"Or did he just lie around like a-aghh!"
The tight claws around Kovu's neck had constricted his throat even further, silencing him completely. He had worn Zale down to his last string of patience. The darker lion began spluttering and writhing for breath. Zale jerked Kovu's head closer to his own, glaring at him with searing eyes and growling thunderously. He bowed his head forward until he was a hair away from being nose to nose with his prisoner. Kovu's paws settled on Zale's as he tried to loosen the leverage and gasp for air. The message sank in instantly that Kovu shouldn't have tried to anger his captor and that to do so again would be extremely foolish…if he was still alive.
Kura's eyes widened, his jaw nearly dropped completely. He had never seen Zale so aggressive. It then appeared to him as a reflection of the deepening despair that had come from the loss of his father. Zale held the accomplice to Tojo's death in his claws, which he had realised, too. What he would do with him remained to be seen.
"Want to know what it's like to lie around forever?" Zale spoke with a continuous growl, staring straight through the lion's eyes.
"Alright, that's enough!" Salaam told him authoritatively.
Zale growled once more and reluctantly lowered his victim back to the ground, loosening his grip but not releasing him. Kovu gasped for air as soon as he was allowed to draw breath, panting and heaving in Zale's grasp. Once more, he snarled up at the lion holding him down.
"None of us can live as comfortably as any of you, because we were all banished! Whose fault is that?!"
"Your mother's" Kura intervened, but calmly, "she is the reason you were all banished."
Kovu turned his head towards Kura, lifting his brows in surprise for a moment before frowning again. Obviously he was expecting them to agree that it was Simba's fault for banishing the outlanders, not Zira's.
"She had already been cast out!" Kovu retaliated, "Simba banished me when I was a cub; when I first met Kiara!"
"But that didn't stop you from meeting her in secret."
Kovu was instantly baffled after hearing his own secret from someone else. Unless someone had watched or heard them, no one else could've known. Fond memories began to trickle into his head of all those times spent with Kiara. They would chase, play, and sometimes lie under the sun close to each other. No parents would catch them and no worries would trouble them, until they had to leave. But their time with each other was time well spent.
"Kiara told me about you when I asked who you were, after the fighting two years ago" Kura continued quietly.
"That's none of your business!" Kovu seethed resentfully.
"Maybe not, but it's not Simba's fault you were banished. It's because you all follow Zira. You're all so loyal to her, but why? She's doing nothing for you but filling your mind with hate and yet you continue to listen to every word, obey every order."
"You have no idea-"
"No, I don't. You just told us, though; having to worry about your next meal, training all day until you got it perfectly right, being told you were weak…"
Kovu couldn't say anything this time. It all made perfect sense.
"Whose fault was that?" Kura repeated after him.
There was nothing he could do but wear the same, bitter scowl he had worn on his face the entire time he was there. It reflected just how well Zira had managed to manipulate him against anyone that was in Simba's Pride.
"I don't have a father anymore," Zale stated coldly, still holding his captive down, "whose fault is that?"
The truth to Zale's reasoning was much more condemning. Indeed Kovu had proven Kura's point that Zira had been the cause of his misery from day one, although indirectly, but Zale made it quite clear what else she was responsible for and how serious it was. As long as Kovu was in front of him, he would never let him forget it.
"Face it, Kovu," Kura continued more confidently, "Zira is dragging you down. There's no reason for any of you to stay with her, life could be so much better…just leave her and prove that you're done with her, for good."
Kura's arguments only made Kovu begin to growl once more.
"Think you've got it all worked out, don't you…where am I supposed to go?! What else have I to live for? I was chosen as Scar's heir…and he was murdered by your father," Kovu finally acknowledged Kura's true lineage bitterly, "I will avenge him."
"Avenge him for what?!" Kura bit back, losing his patience with the pointlessly persistent lion, "What has he ever done for you? How could you still even remember him, it's not like he did you any great favours if anything he took your life away from you! What if he hadn't chosen you, huh? Aside from all the training and brainwashing to avenge him, do you really think Zira would've seen anything in you?"
Kovu lashed his claws out to the side towards Kura and snarled aggressively, prompting Zale to tighten the grip on his neck. Once he'd made his resentment clear Kovu left his claws outstretched on the ground. Kura didn't move an inch. He kept his narrowed eyes on the aggravated, untamed beast below him.
"It only stands to reason, Kovu," he reaffirmed, "Zira is only leading you down this path because Scar chose you as his heir. If he picked someone else, do you think you would've gotten so much attention from your mother, growing up? Face it…you're fighting someone else's battle. You're being used."
"I am NOT being used!" He roared angrily, reaching out once more to swipe at the one who so boldly dared to insult him.
Kovu struggled so hard that Zale had to place a second paw on his chest to keep him grounded.
"Alright," Salaam intervened impatiently, "this isn't getting us anywhere."
He approached the disgruntled, enraged lion on the ground and placed a paw on his forehead.
"You need to cool off"
Just as he spoke, a gentle blue glow outlined the curves of his paw. Kovu instantly stopped flailing his claws around and they slowly drooped back down beside him. His growling and snarling halted while his angry green eyes softened and began to close. Zale immediately took his paws away, staring at the elder lion in shock.
"And forget that any of this ever happened" Salaam said with a forbidding frown.
Once more in Roho Ndani, there was silence.
As Kovu's consciousness faded, so too did the glow from Salaam's paw. He withdrew it from the subdued younger lion's forehead and rested it back on the ground. A long, drawn out sigh came from his throat while dropping his head and shutting his eyes in frustration. As always, the white lion's abilities had never ceased to amaze.
"That could've gone much more smoothly."
"I doubt it," Rafiki disagreed, not having spoken since before the intrusion, "he wouldn't have given us anything, he was already too fired up since he came in here. Besides, we already know his plan."
"Perhaps," Salaam said, "we shall see."
They all stared at Kovu's unconscious body before them, each wondering just what to do with him until Zale voiced their question.
"What do we do with him?"
Nobody responded immediately. Glances were exchanged between each of them as if to check whether anyone had an answer. As nothing had sprung to mind, Zale took the liberty to make the first suggestion.
"We could use him as a hostage to make Zira think twice about her plan?"
"And provoke an all-out war so soon? As far as she's concerned, we are loyal to Simba. She won't negotiate with us and we will most certainly not do so with her, it's too dangerous. We would be risking the entire Kingdom with Simba completely unprepared."
Zale kept quiet after his idea was shot down. He dropped his eyes to the floor in thought as he searched his mind for more possibilities.
"We could keep him here and convince him to see reason?" Kura followed up with another suggestion.
"How long do you think that'll take?" Salaam countered again, "Both Simba and Zira will notice his absence, and it's quite obvious who will blame who. Again, we're risking war."
Stumped, Kura also held his tongue. Salaam released another sigh before closing the debate with a final decision.
"We'll have to take him back to Simba. If we interfere now it could prove to be disastrous, it's better to let things run their course and only jump in if it's necessary."
"And let Kovu go ahead and try to kill Simba?" Kura argued with a frown.
"I'm sure you'll stay on top of that" Salaam replied calmly, "after all, that was the original plan."
"Now," Rafiki spoke up again, "we can finally call it a night."
At that, the mandrill planted his staff ahead of him as he turned for the way out.
"Better you all stay here for the night," Salaam directed them once more, "no doubt Zira and her spies will be stationed at different spots around the Kingdom. You'll all be safer if you don't leave Pride Rock."
"Kovu will still know we're down here" Zale pointed out.
"Don't worry; I've made sure he's forgotten everything that happened here. Now, it'd be much appreciated if you two would take him back to outside the den. Good night!"
Saying no more, Salaam took his leave of the party and went to lie down in a shady corner of the cave for some much needed sleep. Rafiki also bade the two a good night and left to find his own spot. Zale and Kura were left alone with each other, dumbfounded at the prompt orders and abandonment. They both glanced at Kovu, then at each other.
"Well there are two of us…" Zale admitted.
"Right" Kura agreed.
With their combined strength, they both figured it should be a straightforward enough task. Could moving an unconscious lion be that hard?
Moving an unconscious lion was very hard.
Both Kura and Zale were at the back of Pride Rock, leaning against the massive structure panting and heaving for breath. They didn't think Kovu would be so heavy, he did look to be roughly around the same build as the two of them. He was left at the side of the den's mouth, Kura and Zale didn't dare to drag Kovu past the entrance of the cave in case they were spotted. They also agreed to hug the wall and stay low while taking their cargo with them, so as not to create any moving shadows against the brightly lit rock face in the moonlight.
"I will definitely sleep after that…" Kura gasped.
"Yeah," Zale sighed amusedly, "I'm just sorry we couldn't throw him off, afterwards."
Instead of laughing, Zale's remark made Kura look at him with concern.
"What?" he questioned.
"I don't think I ever saw you so…angry, before" Kura said worriedly, "it's just…it's not like you."
Zale turned his head away and glared into the distance.
"We both have reason to hate him, Kura. Aren't you angry at him too? Hell, he used to be your friend! Doesn't that get to you?"
Kura sighed out with fatigue. They had discussed so many heavy topics tonight and although Zale had a point, he really didn't want to get into another one. But strangely enough, Kura did not feel the way Zale had guessed.
"I was," he answered, "after Dad…you know. I wanted to end him and Zira both; I nearly got one of them today! But now…now I just want all of this to end."
Zale raised a brow at his friend, not entirely sure of what he was trying to say. Kura didn't have to look at him to guess he was confused, his heightened empathy had told him that. He gazed up at the stars as he began to explain.
"Chasing after ghosts and prophecies and not knowing why, conspiring against conspirators in this world and the next…it's just dragging me down. I don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for, anymore."
"We'll just have to wait and see, right?" Zale offered, knowing it wouldn't comfort him but unsure of what else to say.
"Yeah," Kura sighed again, "I'm getting sick of hearing that too."
"Tomorrow we get to meet Simba," Zale attempted to perk him up again, "and Nala, your real parents!"
"Who knows how that'll go down?"
This time it was Zale who sighed, but in defeat. There was no cheering him up, it seemed.
"Good try" Kura told him with a smirk.
Zale shook his head and laughed gently in response. They let a moment pass in silence, and Zale settled to join Kura in watching the stars.
"What do you think is waiting for us, you know, in the next life?" Zale asked, being reminded of the subject from stargazing.
"That depends" Kura replied.
"Depends on what?"
"What you try to change in this one."
Again Zale was left confused by his response.
"You're becoming as cryptic as Rafiki" he observed jokingly.
Kura chuckled softly, glad for the sporadic light humour to lift his spirits.
"Remember when Salaam told us that we're better off not knowing whether or not we have the power to forge the future in stone?" Kura asked, to which Zale nodded, "Because those who do are trapped."
"Trapped?"
Kura gathered his thoughts once more before mustering up another explanation. He wondered if Salaam had much of a headache tonight, for that matter.
"If one manages to create a prophecy," he began, "there is a price to pay. There is no next life, Zale…Mufasa is a prisoner of the spirit realm. To forge the future in stone is to sell your soul."
Zale stared back at his friend, his eyes slowly widening and jaw opening the smallest bit as he begun to grasp the significance of divining the future.
"Why would anyone do such a thing?" he asked in bewilderment.
Kura had been wondering the same thing ever since he learned of the costly deal with fate, too.
"I couldn't tell you…but I think Mufasa wanted to guarantee the Kingdom's safety after he discovered the first prophecy."
"Wow," Zale marvelled, "that's a new level of selflessness."
"Yeah, to think of what he sacrificed…it makes me feel terrible for turning my back on him those times he appeared to me."
"How could you have known?" Zale comforted him, "Being told what to do and where to go from a bunch of ghosts, as if your life had no meaning? I'd sure as hell get sick of taking those orders."
"Sometimes," Kura looked down to the ground, softly lowering his voice, "that's what life feels like."
Zale immediately turned his head to look at the sudden misery etched on Kura's face. It was harder to believe that he was saying such things; Zale had never heard Kura get so down before, he couldn't help but feel slight resentment for Mufasa and the other prophet or Kura would not be in the position he was in now.
"Hey" Zale called him from his worries, gently placing a paw on his shoulder.
Kura hesitantly looked over to his friend, knowing he was going to try and cheer him up but doubting that he could. Zale's eyes stared firmly into Kura's, wearing a confident expression. He had been the one constant being in his life so far, and Zale would ensure that he would be there for Kura just as he always was for him.
"You may put those thoughts out of your head, because Dad wouldn't want us to let our misery swallow us whole."
Not expecting to hear his own words being returned to him, Kura's ears perked up as he listened.
"He raised us both to march through our fears and worries with our heads held high, and I know I can definitely do that with you at my side. So don't drown in your sorrows, because I'm here for you too."
Zale smiled encouragingly to try and cheer him up. Kura truly was touched by his words; he never thought to have heard them from Zale. It seemed so long ago that he was carrying him all those days and nights to Rafiki's tree, always looking out for him and keeping him safe with no one to watch Kura's back. Now he felt at home once more, as Zale had risen to watch out for his best friend.
He smiled warmly back, and stepped towards him. Zale knew Kura well enough to recognise the gesture, and lifted a paw around his back. Kura embraced him with his own paws, never having been so glad to have someone like Zale in the world that could've fallen down around him at any moment.
"You've got me, and Simba and Nala will be overjoyed to find you again. Then when this is all over, you and Vitani can live together in peace, with all your family around you" Zale told him comfortingly.
"Thank you, Zale…this means a lot to me. I could never do any of this without you" Kura returned his compassion sincerely.
A moment later they pulled apart and smiled at each other once more. Glancing up at the sky one last time, they both knew it was time to head underground for some rest.
"It must be really late now" Zale observed.
"Yeah," Kura replied, "let's go get some sleep."
Using the same means of entry as the last time, Kura unlocked the entrance to Roho Ndani and made sure to seal it fully once they were in. They walked through the long, dimly lit tunnel until they came back into the main chamber to find both Salaam and Rafiki curled up on the ground, fast asleep.
"Rest easy" Zale smiled.
"Good night" Kura returned.
They both settled down into their own corners of the chamber and made their resting space for the night. It didn't take long for Zale to drift off; they all had a long night. Kura, however, opened his eyes repeatedly to see if Zale was asleep yet. Once he was confident, he got to his paws and glanced around at the others to make doubly sure they were all soundly in slumber.
He made his way to the wall between Salaam and Zale, trying his best to be as quiet as he could. When he reached the opposite wall, Kura found a crevice between two rocky outcrops through which more blue light shone very faintly. It definitely would not have been noticeable unless one was right beside the narrow opening where the wall met the stone floor.
Kura checked one last time to make sure he wasn't being watched by any of the others. When certain, he crouched down and began to crawl and contort himself through the narrow passageway; into the mysterious, hidden depths of Roho Ndani…
~End of Chapter~
A/N: Hi folks, sorry this one took so long. I'm going into the final year of my programme at college so I honestly can't say the updates will come any quicker. This one took so long because I had written a previous version before scrapping it and starting over. Basically, Zale approaches Kovu outside the den and distracts him long enough for Kura to knock him out cold and drag him to Rafiki's tree where he is vine-bound and interrogated, but Kura loses his cool and nearly strangles Kovu to death before realising he was being a very naughty lion (not the messiah). Needless to say, I came to my senses. Who knows where I came up with the idea but hey...drafts are drafts. Also I'm ever re-thinking the plot lines to try and make the story more interesting, which takes up a surprising amount of time.
So what's going on here...you had it easy Salaam, I was the one who had to think all of that through -_- so if there are any plotholes, let me know and I'll try to get my head around it once more.
It seems there's more digging to do as Salaam being stumped is never a good sign. How everyone has acquired their spiritual aura differs individually, but Mufasa's remains in the dark.
Ever the bitter word, with Kovu. I thought the interrogation scene went much better this way compared to my first draft, especially as it allowed Zale to take more of a front seat in this chapter and see more of what he's going through.
The chapter began with Kura comforting Zale, and ended with the reverse. Just a reaffirmation of the strong bond these two friends hold, but what's to come in the next couple of chapters will test the strength of their friendship.
Just where is Kura off to...?
Find out next time. Til then. ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own The Lion King or anything of it, this story and my OCs belong to me. Any previous songs/tracks I have listed in all chapters to date are not mine.
