Chapter 37, Tatu falls
Kovu dawdled up to Jay and Nala, all while he was matched by his fear and hesitation. There were so many unfamiliar sights and faces, the experience was quite intimidating to the young cub. He had never been around the other pride members other then his parents as well as Mufassa, Sarabi and Jay. And also it was quite rare for him to be out in the pridelands. He was always kept hidden away in the den since he was a cub and only went anywhere his parents would go. Though he did tend to wander off someplace else on his own like when he first met Jay, but they were far in between.
Yet even at such a nervous paste as he was going, he needed not worry about coming up to Jay and Nala. For it was right then that Jay turned and looked back at Nala.
"Come on, Nala!" The boy said.
Jay then turned and rushed over to meet with Kovu as Nala followed suit. Even on all fours, it the brief moment before the man-cub became faced with his auburn fur cub. Upon coming faced with Jay, Kovu leaned his head back hesitantly at the now ecstatic man-cub.
"Hey, Kovu!" The boy said.
"It's me, Jay!"
Kovu was left speechless for about a moment, dumbfounded in the position he was in. With such little contact he had with Jay and the other Pridemembers, he was unfamiliar about how to react the way suited the way suited to Jay's greeting to him.
"Uh, hey." He said so timidly.
"It's so great to see you!" The boy insisted.
"Yeah, uh... you too." Kovu said back to the boy.
"Kovu, this is Nala." Jay the said, turning to Nala who stood behind him.
"She's my best friend."
Nala came up from behind Jay and stood before Kovu, looking intently to the other male cub of the pride. For a moment the two cubs stared curiously at each other. Though Nala expression turned staggeringly to the auburn cub. Needless to say at the first glance a quite unsettled and distraught feeling. She never knew there to be any other cub in the pride besides her, Simba and Jay. And while he appeared quite timid and awkward, he bared a striking resemblance to Taka. Much like Jay, the King's younger brother was quite intimidating to her as he was for her.
"Hey." Nala said.
"Uh, hey." Kovu said back to her.
Nala glance to Jay before she leaned in toward him.
"He seems kind of weird." She whispered to him.
Sarabi walked up behind Kovu, where she stared warmly down at the three cubs. As shy as Kovu must be in regards to his upbringing, her adopted son already looked to be giving him such a warm welcome. Seeing how ecstatic and playful Jay was being to him, she could tell the three would be the best of friends.
"It seems you've been given a warm welcome, Kovu." She said, smiling.
"I guess so." Kovu agreed, never having to have been greeted in such a way.
Sarabi looked to both Jay and Nala. She could see the awe and excitement that he had expressed by her adopted son and the slight confusion by Nala.
"And I can see you both know one another." She commented.
Jay nodded his head.
"Ah huh!" The wild boy exclaimed.
Sarabi smiled. It seemed there was no introduction need in the case of her adopted son. It seemed as if the two had already met each other and were well acquainted at that. However it seemed Nala had very little familiarity to him. Though she could expect nothing less considering the up bring he was under by Taka and Zira.
"Nala, this is Kovu. He is son to Taka and Zira. He wishes to be friends to you and Jay."
There was very little surprise on Nala's part, for she had long discovered so by just his resemblance alone. Although having very little feeling for his parents, she began feeling quite hesitant to Kovu. Though seeing that Jay seem to know him and consider him a friend, she was willing to give him a chance.
"Um, okay." she said, still feeling quite unsure of Kovu.
It was just then that Mufassa walked up to the four, coming beside his queen. As he looked upon the three cubs, he saw there was a special bond between his adopted son and nephew. Something that was lost for both him and Taka so long ago and what he wanted for both Jay and Kovu. The opportunity to do so with Simba had been squandered since Taka and Zira had concealed Kovu for so long. Though now that they had decided to oblige to his wishes and allowed for his son to be around the rest of the pride, it may yet be a chance to atone to the mistakes of the past.
"Now, why don't you three go and play." The king suggested.
"Perhaps you could show Kovu around the Pride Lands.
Jay gasped in anticipation of his lion father's idea.
"Yeah!" He said, turning to Nala who nodded in agreement.
The two raced passed Kovu, who turned and glanced curiously to them. Jay and Nala then stopped and looked back to him.
"Come on, Kovu." Jay said, gesturing for him to follow.
Kovu only raised an eye brow confusingly. Although his response to Jay and Nala's playful antics was hardly of any surprise to Mufassa. He had been kept from the pride for most of his life and had little experience playing with other cubs. As he looked up to the alpha lion, Mufassa simply gestured his head for him to follow.
Kovu then turned and walked after Jay and Nala, following them into the open Serengeti.
The three cubs had ventured deep into the Pridelands, far from their elders. As they walked about the clear grasslands, Kovu peered nervously to all the sights and animals around him. While he may have seen what lies beyond the Pride Lands a hand full of times, he had yet to see what all it had to offer.
Though as he observed, Jay and Nala raced passed him to the steep side of a hill. Nala then pounced on Jay, causing them to roll down together. Kovu had then walked to the edge of the hill, where he peered down curiously to the two friends. With the little experience he had with being around the other members of the pride, he had little understanding of how to interact with other cubs. They looked as if they were fighting one another, something Zira had taught him all his life. However they were laughing and smiling, a reaction that differed from the one said to be common in such a situation.
Jay quickly got up and pounced at Nala, who stood up and caught the wild boy. The two rolled over each other till she came on top and pinned Jay to the ground.
"Pinned ya, again!" she said, triumphantly.
Kovu had already came down the hill, where he came before the two friends.
"What are you guys fighting for?" He asked, curiously.
The two friends both glanced to Kovu.
"We're not fighting." Nala said, before stepping off of Jay.
"We're playing."
"Playing?" Kovu said, utterly confused.
"Yeah, we do it all the time." Jay said as he rolled onto his stomach.
The auburn furred cub only stared confusingly to the two friends.
"What's the matter, don't you know how to have fun?" Nala asked.
Kovu just stood in complete and utter silence at Nala's question, turning away from them before glancing to his side. He had little idea of what she was asking. As what was of his upbringing, such things like fun he was never given the chance to experience.
Jay looked curiously at Kovu as he came up on all fours. He turned to Nala, who only glanced to him with the same questionable expression as him.
"You do know how to have fun, don't you?" Jay asked, turning too him.
"Uh... no." Kovu answered.
Jay and Nala merely stared completely dumbfounded at Kovu. The fact he didn't know anything about how to play or have fun was surprising to say the least.
"You mean, you've never had fun before?" Nala asked, squinting her eyes at the auburn furred cub, curiously.
Kovu just shook his head again, to which Jay and Nala looked to each other once more. Though it wasn't long before an idea had came to mind. Seeing that he didn't know how to have fun, the answer was quite obvious. They could teach him how to have fun. He gasped with anticipation before he turned back to Kovu.
"Then maybe we can show you how." Jay insisted, coming up before auburn cub.
"Really?" Kovu asked, curiously.
"Yeah." Jay said, shaking his head.
"Well okay." Kovu said.
"So... what do we do?"
The two friends stood and though for a moment of what to do. There were so many ways to show Kovu how to play and have fun, it was hard to decide what to do first. However their pondering had lasted for a short time, for it was right then an idea had then popped into their minds. They both glance to each other, a grin written upon their faces. For they then had thought of a certain place in the Pride Lands they could go, one which they always liked to go.
"We know!" Jay announced, looking back to Kovu.
"Come on!"
It was right at that moment that Jay and Nala turned and ran ahead. Kovu stood curiously upon their sudden departure, though he was quick to follow the moment after. I didn't take long before he came had caught up to them and came in between the two friends.
"Where are we going?" He asked, tuning to Jay who was running at his left.
"You'll see." Jay said, turning to him.
"Hey Nala,race you there?"
Nala of which smiled so competitively at the wild boy.
"Oh, your on!" She said back.
Jay and Nala had then dashed ahead passed Kovu. who sprinted to keep up with the two friends. The three cubs raced out into the far reaching grasslands ahead, passing the animals along the way. They came to two giraffes grazing upon the leaves atop an umbrella tree, to which Nala ran underneath before turning o Jay, who pounced at her. Though with quick reflexes she came out between the back legs and ran ahead, laughing as Jay followed her. They then came into a herd of grazing Zebras, leaping around one after another and passing under a few.
It was all the while as Kovu followed both Jay and Nala, doing all that they were doing. As he came around a Zebra, he stared over at the two who came to meet as Nala appeared from under the same Zebra and pounced onto Jay. The two rolled over one another before Nala jump off and raced ahead.
"Hey, no fair!" Jay said as he recovered quickly and raced after her.
Like how he was following, he ran toward Nala before he pounced upon the female cub. Nala was just in time to notice him before the auburn fur cub pounced upon her, knocking her to the side. Though upon rolling over each other, he was quick to find himself under Nala, as he pinned him to the ground.
"What the..." He said glancing up at Nala who was smiling down at him.
"Pinned ya!" she said, chuckling.
"How did you...?" Kovu asked, glancing confusing up at Nala.
It was right then that Jay walked over to them, grinning as he saw Kovu stuck underneath Nala.
"She got you, Kovu." He said, chuckling.
Kovu glanced annoyingly to Jay.
"I wouldn't try pouncing on me." Nala claimed to the auburn fur cub.
"I've pinned Jay every times he's tried to get the jump on me."
"Yeah well..." Kovu said, pushing her off.
"Get off me."
Nala back up from Kovu, who came upon his stomach before standing up on her four paws.
"Geez, poor sport much." Nala commented.
"Come on, Kovu." Jay said.
"We're just playing around."
"Speaking of which..." Nala said, grinning to Jay.
"See you guys there!"
It was then Nala turned and continued on through the herd of grazing Zebra herd.
"Hey, no fair!" Jay called out before he and Kovu raced after her.
Nala had raced on ahead through the Savannah fields for a time as Kovu and Jay followed suit after her. She appeared out from the tall grass into a small clearing near the high cliffs, to which she has then stopped She then looked back to Jay and kovu who had caught up to her. She of which turned to the two, grinning upon seeing that she had won the race.
"Ha, beat ya!" She announced to them.
"Only cause you got a head start." Jay argued playfully.
"Was not!" Nala said back, before leaping up and pushed his head down with her front paws.
Jay chuckled as she rubbed the top of his head, messing up his long thick hair. As the two friends bickered among each other, Kovu stared in awe to the small patch of Jungle which stood before a water fall. With such little knowledge of the Pride Lands, such a place was quiet unfamiliar to auburn furred cub.
"Where are we?" Kovu asked, turning to Jay and Nala.
Nala stepped off of Jay, allowing for him to stand up straight.
"It's our secret hang out spot." Jay said.
"Secret hang out?" Kovu asked, curiously.
The wild boy nodded his head to his newly discovered cousin.
"Wait till you see the inside." Jay insisted.
"Come on!"
In a mere instant, the wild boy turned and dashed off into the bushes. Nala and Kovu followed after him soon after. He raced on through the forage of leaves and twigs far below the few cluttered trees, scurrying upon all fours like the lions who had raised him. All the while, he felt a thrill of excitement as if he had stepped into his wild fantasy. Racing through the bushes and under the trees, he felt as if he was running wild and free in the jungle like the jungle heroine. While one could say he was living the life he had always desired now living in the Pride lands, it didn't quite turn out to be how he had always fantasized to be.
Jay had then appeared on what lied upon the other side of the bushes, right before Nala and Kovu who appeared to each side of him. It was there that the apparent cousin of the wild boy came to gaze upon the secret hang out. For it was there in the cover of the crowd of trees, there was a small opening where the water was falling upon with a small pool of water down before it.
"Wow!" Kovu said, stepping forward to the edge of the rock.
"This is where you hang out?"
He looked back at Jay and Nala, who walked up to him.
"Yeah." Jay answered, coming up beside him.
"We come here all the time. Rafiki calls it Tatu Falls."
"Tatu Falls?" Kovu asked, curiously.
"It means trio." Nala explained.
"You know, like three friends."
"Rafiki said this used to be where Mufassa's dad and his brothers used to hang out." Jay explained to Kovu.
"They used to call themselves a Tatu, so they named it Tatu Falls."
There was much that Rafiki shared with Jay of his lion family in the months since they had come to adopted him. One such thing was in particular was Tatu Falls. A place that once had been where king Ahedi and his yongers brothers played long ago but had been long forgotten by the pride. Though like the three brothers long ago, Jay and Nala had wised for a place to be away from the pride. The two cubs had often wandered off into the Pridelands to play from the watchful eye of Sarabi and the other lionesses. Although Zazu was all the more willing to to keep an eye on them whenever they ventured into the Pridelands. Something which neither of them really liked all that much. They wanted to go somewhere where they could play it, not have to always be followed by the majordomo. And it was Rafiki who came to show them of Tatu Falls. Needless to say the two were ecstatic with their new hide away.
As Kovu continued to stared over at the waterfall, it was then that Jay turned to the auburn fur cub. It was to to which that a scheming grin formed on his face as an idea.
"Hey guys." He said, turning to Nala.
"Can't catch me!"
He rushed over to the tree.
"Oh yeah?" Nala said before she pounced at the wild boy.
Jay quickly leaped to the side before Nala had caught him. He then ran the other way as Nala chased after him. Kovu only stood over the edge of the ledge, observing as they continued to pounce around, laughing and chuckling. It the following moment that Jay leaped out of the way of Nala attempt to jump him, he gazed over to the auburn fur cub.
"Kovu, come on!" The wild boy encouraged.
Kovu glanced leftward for a brief moment before turning back to Jay. He then rushed over and came up to the wild boy, who leaped back from the other male cub. Kovu then tried prancing at Jay once again, yet still Jay was quite quick to react to the cub's strive. The wild boy then turned and ran off from Kovu, who followed after him. As Jay ran from the auburn fur cub, Nala rushed before the wild boy in an effort to catch him. Though like Kovu, he shifted to the side and ran over to a tree rightward of him.
He leaped up onto the tree, where he started to climb up to the high branch above him. Nala and Kovu came to the tree, where they looked up to Jay.
"Hey!" Nala said.
"Can't get me now!" Jay teased, looking back down at them.
Nala tried to jump at him, but the wild boy was far out of his reach. The wild boy came up onto the long stretching limb, where he then stood up on the long reaching limb. It was here that Jay truly felt that he was living his wild fantasy. For there standing in the tree, he imagined himself being like Tarzan in the stories he had grew up reading. He stood up straight, placing his hands over his hips as he stared dominantly outward before him.
"Hey guys, look at me!" he announced so proudly.
"I'm King of the jungle!"
He the cupped his hands over his mouth and gave out a Tarzan like cry. Kovu of which winced upon hearing his mighty cry. Even so the animals outside the clutter of trees, who raised their heads and looked in the direction of Jay's wild call. After lowering his hands, he turned to a vine which hang next to him. He grabbed hold of the thick tree rope and leaped off the branch. Nala and Kovu watched in awe and wander as he swung over to the next tree.
"Cool." Kovu said, gazing up at the wild boy.
Jay landed upon the branch. He then turned and faced the small pond of water below the water fall. While it seemed quite shallow, the pool was indeed deep enough for one to jump into. Jay had many of times pulled it off from high in the tree tops. He grabbed another vine to swing across the pond, to which he turned and looked down to Nala and Kovu.
"Hey guys, watch this!" he called down to them.
He then turned forward before he jumped of the branch and swung over the pond. Upon coming over the water, he released his grip over the vine and fell into the pond below. Breaking through the surface of the water, he fell into the cool abyss. Nala and Kovu rushed over to the ledge where they stared down at the small pond.
"Wow!" Kovu said.
A moment later, Jay had emerged through the surface of the pond. He shook his head, making his long wet brown hair fly around with the many drops of water. All the while he laughed so cheerfully.
"That was awesome!" Kovu declared, smiling.
Jay smiled before he leaped back and swam upon his back, as he and Nala began laughing. Kovu too started to chuckled as well. For the very first time, he came to experience what it meant to play and have fun.
(I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, if there are any requests or criticisms of how to improve, feel free to share. And as always please comment and review!)