Chapter 35 - The dark Guardian
The area around the volcano in the Outlands was by no means a safe place to walk. There were streams of liquid rock flowing all around, hot volcanic ashes, and the poisonous vapors of sulfur in the air. But the dark guardian was not afraid of either of these things.
He paced among the steaming geysers, looking for tracks, what was never an an easy thing to do in this unpleasant land. He had surprised his companions by how well he knew this place- although the other guardians were oblivious of the fact, it was not his first visit there.
Finally, after a long search, he heard a sound behind his back. From beyond the clouds of smoke came another shadowy figure- also a lion, yet much older, his haggard mane as dark as volcanic rock.
-"I have been expecting you" – uttered he, his voice heavy and raspy from the fumes.
-"I know you have… father" – Giza answered.
The two fell into each other's embrace. This was the first time in many months that Mwitu the rogue saw his son.
-"You've grown a lot, my boy!" – the proud parent commended his only child, now an adult.
-"Oh, you know. Being in the Lion Guard is a lot of work. Unlike when we still travelled through Africa freely, hunting and resting whenever we wanted to…"
-"But you don't mean to tell me that you don't like the job, do you?"
-"Oh, not at all! I love it. Just a couple of days ago, the others and I came here to find a bunch of cubs who ran away from home to visit the volcano. As soon as we got here, we saw that the unfortunate bunch was being ambushed by a pack of hyenas…"
-"Oh yes, Mchawi's clan" – Mwitu snickered. – "Did you give that old hag a kick in the butt from your ol' dad?"
-"Well, actually, we didn't get to fight with them…" – Giza frowned. – "King Mufasa showed up out of nowhere and scared the hyenas away before we were able to do that. I guess it was part of Scar's plan, or something."
-"Oh really? Well, sounds clever… but it was probably also far less fun."
-"Yes, heh-heh. If the clan is anywhere around and they hear us, we'll have the opportunity to make up for it."
-"Oh, I think I'm getting a bit too old for that, you know…"
-"How've you been, anyway? Holding on in the merciless wilderness out there?"
-"You're beginning to talk like a real Pridelander, I see. That merciless wilderness was once your home too, remember? Although it did claim the life of your mother, I'm still around, as you can see. Even though I did have to get used to the taste of carrion recently. Hunting isn't as easy as it once was, I'm afraid…"
-"And what about other lions? Did you run into some of your old enemies? I remember they always used to bug you. Like that Jambazi, whom the animals of this kingdom still refer to as 'the Bandit'."
-"Jambazi is dead" – Mwitu announced without much remorse.
-"Really? I have to inform the others about that! How did he die?" – asked his son curiously.
The old rogue shrugged.
-"Oh you know. Nothing unusual. He challenged a younger male over a mate of his, lost, and ended up with a broken paw. The wound festered, Jambazi became ill, and finally hyenas finished him off. And I was really starting to believe that I would not get to live longer than that idiot!"
Giza and Mwitu continued their conversation for several hours, after which the son made a proposition that the father stay with him in the Pridelands. And, as always, the old rogue declined. They agreed to meet in the same spot at the beginning of the next dry season... as long as both of them would still be alive, that is.
Thinking gloomily over the fact that his father wasn't exactly getting any younger, Giza made his way back to the Pridelands, knowing that it was time for him to return to his duties with the Lion Guard. He crossed the Zuberi river, leaving the Outlands behind, careful not to disturb the sleeping crocodiles…
But when he stood on the other shore and shook the water off his mane, he noticed an animal walking out of the reeds and blocking his passage. It was a leopard… and she looked greatly familiar.
-"Mjane?" – Giza spoke the name of the former mate of the one whom he'd once fought with, and who broke his leg. He assumed a threatening pose. – "What do you want?"
Korofi's widow did not look like she was in any ways hostile, however. On the contrary- she approached him with a smile.
-"The bravest lion in the Pridelands! It's an honor to see you again" – she said sarcastically. – "Don't panic, I'm not here to fight you. For a time after my former mate's death, I thought that my life had ended as well… but then I found another male, and now I'm a happy mother. Do you think I would risk my own life in such circumstances? That would be irrational. I have not, however, forgotten about revenge…"
Eyeing her closely, Giza let her go pass him, and followed her to the bank of the river.
-"What do you have in mind?" – he asked suspiciously.
The leopard sat by the water, stirring its surface with a claw.
-"This kingdom is sick" – she said silently. – "I'm surprised you are all too blind to see that. Even our new king… I myself found out about it a long time ago, when your leader killed my former mate. And I've been seeing it ever since. Scar's Lion Guard is a disease. And it needs to be stopped."
-"You are out of your mind, female!" – the guardian yelled at her angrily. But Mjane just grinned at him again, shaking the water off her paw.
-"See? You don't believe the truth, even though you're taking part in it yourself… But no matter, you'll have to do. Let me reveal something to you, Giza. After Korofi's death, I wondered for a long time about how I could execute my vengeance on you and your comrades. And then I turned to the only ones who could help me- to the Ancients, our ancestors from the past. They answered my cries, and they've told me a lot about the secrets of the Lion Guard… and that you all have doubts about the ways of your leader. The rest of those secrets, however, are not to be revealed to me, but to one from among your ranks- to one of the guardians. Which is why we are here today."
-"I do not believe in visions!" – Giza considered all of Mjane's discourse to be nothing else than the babbling of a female that's gone insane after what happened to her mate.
-"A pity" – she shrugged – "but, nevertheless, it were the Ancients who told me to bring you here. I leave you alone, then. I have a family to take care of. They will handle the rest from now."
And, surprisingly to the guardian, after saying that, the female splashed the water of the Zuberi river one more time with her paw and started walking back toward the reeds.
When she was gone, Giza himself approached the shore, shaking his head. He intended to have a drink, but as he looked at the circles on the surface of the water that distorted his reflection, he saw something unusual…
Actually, it was not his reflection he was seeing at all. The lion in the water had a lighter brown mane, and was much older. Giza knew who that was very well.
-"Upesi!" – gasped the one who did not believe in visions.
The specter opened his green eyes, giving the guardian a sad look.
-"Welcome, Giza, bravest in the Pridelands" – he spoke. – "I have wanted very much to speak to someone from the Lion Guard. You are not doing well…"
-"We've… been unable to find Siri, sir" – the astonished lion uttered the first thing that came to his mind. – "We've been trying, but to no avail…"
-"The blame for the failure of the Lion Guard is not to be put on you, or the sons of Jabali" – said Upesi.
Unfortunately, Giza understood what the former leader of the Guard was referring to.
-"You're speaking of your nephew…" – he confessed uneasily.
-"Taka the Cruel. Or, as he calls himself now, Scar. Yes, it is because of him that the presence of all of you strikes fear in the hearts of the inhabitants of the kingdom. And you know that this is not the way things should be."
-"True…" – the guardian hung his head. – "It is not how we've been taught…"
-"It is not how I've taught Taka during the little time I had" – Upesi raised his voice somewhat. – "My nephew is corrupt. There are forces that have been influencing him, which had tainted his heart. These made him jealous and vengeful, ruthless and self-serving…"
-"It can't be that bad!" – Giza gasped, interrupting him. The specter took a moment before he answered.
-"Do you know why you've been unable to find Siri?" – he asked, finally.
-"No, of course not" – the guardian immediately remembered Mjane's mentioning of 'secrets'.
Upesi's gaze became piercing, and his voice as cold as ice.
-"That is because Siri is no longer among the living. My nephew had allied with the hyenas from the Elephant Graveyard and had them slaughter your pridemember for stealing Sarafina away from him. Sadly, his envy led him to commit murder."
This was impossible! Yes, it was true that Scar and Siri had always been rivals… but after queen Uru's death, they reconciled! He himself saw Scar bewailing his friend's disappearance many times!
As Giza remained silent, his thoughts causing a complete turmoil in his head, Upesi continued.
-"You also think that both Taka and Mufasa had some sort of an agreement during the Marshalnders' rescue at the Outland volcano. Your companions think the same, but they're wrong. The fact that the king showed up when he did was nothing but a coincidence. If it weren't for that, the hyenas would have killed the cubs. My nephew had you to wait on purpose…"
-"No" – the dark guardian interrupted, turning his head. – "I don't believe you. Forgive me, but Scar isn't like that. He can't be like that!"
The deceased leader of the Lion Guard waited a bit, letting Giza settle down. And then he spoke more softly.
-"Believe in whatever you wish. I also lament the way things turned out. But the land is suffering, and it will continue to suffer. My sister's younger son will want to spill innocent blood again, and when he does, perhaps then you will consider that what I've warned you about is true."
The surface of the water started to stir. When it became smooth again, all that Giza could see was his own dark face, bearing the expression of disbelief.