The Next Day/DJ's pov
I opened my eyes and was greeted by the roof of the cave, bathed in an orange glow. As I did every morning, I untangled myself from the two lionesses and blanket.
I emerged from the den and stretched my body. My back and arms making popping noises as I did.
I was about to start my patrol, when a gold color caught my eye in the sea of orange.
Looking over to the edge, I seen a gold lioness looking out over the Pridelands. I know that Maisha was used to the view, so more than likely it was Jua.
"Morning Jua" I said about to walk down the steps. But she didn't say anything back or even grunt in acknowledgement. "Jua?" I said a little louder. Still nothing.
"Jua!" I yelled as loudly as I could without waking anyone inside. She jumped before quickly turning around shrinking and crouching as she did.
"Sorry, I'm sorry" she said quickly almost backing up. I quickly put my hands and backed up. Just so she would go over the edge.
"It's alright, it's alright. I was just saying morning and you didn't answer. I also don't want anyone in that deep of a trance that close to the edge" I said giving a chuckle.
"Oh I'm sorry" she said getting out of her position. I waved it off. After what she and Maisha and Malka went through, it can be understandable that she is cautious.
"It's okay. It's a nice view" I said looking over the Pridelands. She nodded and smiled, standing beside me.
"Yes it is. Do you ever get tired of it?" she asked. Wait...There was something in her voice. I wasn't sure what it was, but it didn't sound good.
"No and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it" I said smiling." Are you okay? You seem a little distraught" I added. She seemed to flinch, but said nothing.
Just as I was about to pry a little Zazu appeared.
"Sire I hate to interrupt. But the elephant leader, Aminifu has requested that you attend the ceremony to welcome the new additions to the elephant herd" he said.
Aminifu was the large, scared elephant that had helped me find Simba and Nala when they went exploring in the Elephant Graveyard.
"Of course Zazu. Tell him that I would be honored to attend and I just need to do one more thing and then I'll start making my way there" I said.
He nodded before flying off. I turned to apologize to Jua but she was gone, not anywhere near me. And I thought I could disappear quickly.
I walked back into the den and looked up at the ledge. As usual Sarabi was awake, but was laying down. I waved to get her attention before I gestured for outside.
She nodded before getting up. Since Simba was in his teenage years, he wasn't sleeping right next to his mom so she didn't have to worry too much about waking him.
"Is everything okay DJ?" she asked once we got outside. I did a quick look around just to make sure we were alone.
"Can you do me a favor today?" I asked. She nodded, now looking at little worried.
"Jua. Something is off. She was in deep thought this morning and when she talked to me, I could hear it in her voice. I couldn't tell what it was, but I didn't like it" I said. Once again she nodded.
"Yes I noticed that too. She doesn't seem that happy to be reunited with her sister and nephew" Sarabi said. The realization hit me dead in the gut instantly.
"You mean like she doesn't want to get too attached?" I whispered leaning in. She looked up at me with a horrified look. I did one more quick scan and I seen Zazu returning.
"Okay I need to get to an elephant ceremony. Can you find something out before I start patrolling with all the guns?" I asked. She nodded as I started towards the steps again.
Sarabi's pov
I watched as DJ walked down and away from Priderock. I sat in place for a moment thinking about the past few months.
I don't know how everything would've turned out had he not met Sarafina that day.
'But no time to think about that too much. I need to find Jua' I thought before trying to find her scent.
I really didn't want to think that it was anything too bad. But I had a feeling that I was wasting my time wishing for that.
I finally found her scent trail and it lead around to the side of Priderock. I walked down the steps and around the corner.
I found her by the edge of the large crater DJ had made when he threw those exploding things. It had now turned into a small watering hole, which was good for us because now we didn't need to travel far to get water.
"Jua?" I said. She was still for a few seconds before turning to me. I could see it in her eyes, she was hiding something.
"Can you come with me? I need someone to help me scout out today's hunting ground" I said making up an excuse. Whatever she was hiding I bet that she didn't want it revealed in front of the whole pride.
She nodded and we began our walk to the eastern hunting ground. About halfway there, she suddenly stopped walking and just looked at the ground.
"Jua" I said a little nervous. I extended my claws a little bit just in case. But when she looked up at me her face was full of fear.
"This isn't a scouting mission, is it?" she asked. I turned to her, now very confused. and shook my head as she sighed.
"Okay. Just make it fast" she said before closing her eyes and tilting her head up. My confusion now turned to shock.
"I-I didn't bring you here to kill you" I said as she opened her eyes. "Malka and Maisha are respected members of our pride. I could never look them in the eyes again if I did something like that."
"Then why'd you bring me out here?" she asked. I gestured to a tree and she nodded. Better to talk under some shade. We sat underneath it in the shade and I looked at her.
"What are you hiding?" I asked plainly. She now had tears coming down her face. She sniffled a few times before looking at me.
"I've dug myself a deep hole here, Miss Sarabi. One that I don't know how or even if I can get out of" she said. I nuzzled against her head and neck in a calming gesture.
"You know, our king has a bad habit of finding himself and others in the same kind of holes. But he also has a good ability of being able to get himself and others out of those holes" I said smiling. She giggled slightly, but still kept the frown.
"Now what is it?" I asked again. She looked up at me.
DJ's pov
"It was a beautiful ceremony, Aminifu" I said as me and the bull elephant leader walked away from the grazing herd. The new mothers and calves had arrived and the ceremony welcoming them had lasted about an hour.
"Thank you your majesty" he said reaching up and taking some leaves off of a tree. I still had to check on the borders and check back in on Sarabi.
"I say, isn't that queen Sarabi?" Aminifu asked pointing with his trunk. I looked to where he was pointing and seen Sarabi walking towards us with Jua next to her.
"Yes it is. Escuse me" I said politely before started to walk towards them. I met them halfway they both had concerned and fearful looks.
"What?" I asked once I got to them. Sarabi looked over at Jua who took a deep breath before nodding.
"The first time that we met. Myself and Damu the smaller male, we had never met you. But Muuaji the leader, he had heard about you before that day. I don't know how, but he had" Jua said. I just stared at her blankly. She sighed before continuing.
"I wasn't the only one they brought. When Maisha killed the one rogue, the rest forced us all out of our territory. I was just the only one they brought to the border... As a backup plan" she said looking down.
"They would've challenged you, even if you weren't protecting Maisha and Malka. But I was brought so that if you did kill them, then I was supposed to bring you out into a gorge near where they're staying. A week from the initial attack day."
"But... But you were so nice to me and you helped my sister and my nephew when they needed someone. But... But... They said that if I was even a day late or if I warned you that they'd... My daughter... Tumaini" she said starting to break down.
I wrapped my arms around her neck, pulling her into a hug. I let her cry into my shoulder for a little until she stopped shaking and crying loudly.
"It's alright, you thought you were doing what would protect your daughter. I'm not going to blame someone for that. But right now I need you to tell me some things. The truth now" I said. she nodded and looked at me with watery eyes.
"I need to know where they have your pride staying at, how many rogues are left and who I need to get to trust me, so I can get the pride out of there quietly and quickly" I said.
"The- they're about two miles away from your lands, the way the rogue ran. In a cave. Um there's two rogues left Vurugu and Damu. And you'll want to find our mother Maya, she has fur like ours but blue eyes. My daughter, she has brown fur and green eyes... Like her father" she said starting to cry again.
I kneeled down, put a finger under her chin and lifted it so she looked me in the eyes. I gave her a reassuring smile.
"I will make sure that your daughter is one of the first ones I get to safety. You have my word" I said putting a hand over my heart. She smiled before breathing heavily. She nuzzled my head and cried tears of joy.
"Thank you" she kept whispering. I nodded, letting her nuzzle me for a little more before I pulled away. I turned in the direction of my truck and began walking away.
"No, I don't want anyone following me. Sarafina, the cubs everyone stays in the Pridelands. In fact keep this between the three of us as long as you can" I said already knowing what Sarabi was about to say.
I then began full on running towards the truck. This time I ain't going up against rogues with just a crossbow and a pistol.
'Plus punching a lion with my bare hands probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done' I thought looking down at my slightly shaking hand. It was at least fractured.
'Though not the dumbest neither' I thought laughing at some memories that came back.
I arrived at the truck in record time and opened the back door. I set my crossbow in the bed before getting out the rifles.
The 30.06 was the only rifle with a scope, so I'm taking that. Automatic seems like some over kill.
"I'll make these guys pay" I kept muttering to myself. Heh if Derek was here, he'd say something like 'always gotta play the hero'.
Timeskip
I looked down at the paw prints leading outside my territory. I'm just lucky that there had been no rain for the past few days.
I made sure that there was a round in the chamber before I started tracking the lion. I had the 30.06, my pistol, my machete and my knives.
As I tracked I found other signs as well. like brown fur stuck on a dead tree branch and a gazelle carcass that was now just bones.
Once I got nearing the two miles away from my territory, I started to slow down. I hid behind a hill and crawled until I at the top.
It felt good to do stuff that I was trained to do again. I held the rifle up and scanned the valley. Nothing. Nothing. A flash a brown. Nothing. Wait what.
I looked back to the area where I seen the flash and looked over the area. It was a medium sized cave entrance in the side of big hill.
In front of the entrance was a lion. He had the same coloured fur as the leader, but he wasn't the one that was with him. He was slightly more muscular.
I watched as he stood outside of the cave. Suddenly a cub ran outside, but stopped immediately seeing him.
A lioness than ran out after her and looked like she apologized. She then picked the cub up and brought her back inside.
I recognized the description of her and knew it was Maisha and Jua's mother, Maya. I looked over to the right and seen a group of lionesses being escorted by the male... Um Damu.
They had a few hares, but that was it. Not much in the Outlands I guess. I watched as they approached the other male.
The two males talked as the lionesses took two of the hares inside. There looked like there was maybe six females outside and however many inside.
They were too far away for a sniper shot. Plus if I shoot one then the other retreats inside and gets himself a bunch of hostages.
I sighed before looking around. The only way that I could get close enough with cover was upwind.
So they would smell me long before I could get in range. Plus Duma knows my scent probably by now.
I took a look around while sighing. I took another look at the cave and the hill surrounding it.
I had ran far enough that the stone and gorges were beginning to be replaced by green grass and soft dirt. Which was exactly what the hill was made of.
I smiled before moving around so I would not be scented. I moved silently and quietly until I was behind the hill.
For a second I wondered if I could do an Assassin's Creed attack from above. But decided against it. I put my gun and machete against the side of the hill before unsheathing my ka-bar.
I gave the dirt a couple silent stabs before I smiled and looked up at the sun. It was probably round noon-ish. Sooner or later someone, Sarafina more than likely will begun to worry.
"Sorry, but this is the only way" I said quietly before I took our my other knife and began to silently dig the dirt.
timeskip
'Jesus' I thought to myself self as I looked the tunnel over. It was about twenty five feet long. But every five feet that I dug I had to stop scoop out all the dirt and widen it enough so I could get the lionesses out.
I was now only inches from getting inside. I carved out a small hole and looked inside. The dirt was harder here, more like a clay or rock but it was still soft, so the dirt didn't collapse and give me away.
Inside was seven lionesses and... Four cubs all female just entering their teen years. I looked for the males and I seen them asleep at the entrance. Probably guarding it, from me or the lionesses I don't know.
Slowly I began to chip away at the last of the dirt. Once the hole was big enough, I entered the room.
Everyone was asleep, I had to silently wake up the lionesses. I knew that if I just straight up killed the males, then the female would either attack me being I was a human or they would take the cubs and scatter.
"Sorry" I said quietly before placing my hand over a lioness's jaws. Just so she couldn't open her mouth, both to scream or bite me.
Her eyes shot open and she jumped up. We danced around, mostly me dodging claws as she let out muffled screams. But I didn't loosen my grip.
Soon enough we had made enough noise that all the females were awake. The males were still asleep, but the females were wide awake. Some snarling at me.
I put my finger over my mouth and gestured for them all to be quiet. I did the same for the female that I was holding.
"No biting" I said before releasing her. She quickly ran to the side. Immediately I put my hands up in a 'I surrender' gesture.
They all looked at me with confused faces. I then pointed at Maya, who looked just as confused.
"You're Maya, right? I asked quietly. She nodded before looking back at the sleeping cub at her side. She then side stepped, so she was in front of her.
"My name is DJ. Jua sent me" I said keeping an eye on the males. She looked skeptical, but the cub next to her, who I recognized as Tumaini face lit up.
"Maisha is one of the top huntress in the pride. She is responsible, caring and a little strict. But only when she is protecting Malka and others that she loves."
"Jua is slightly the same but she is more the fun loving aunt then the responsible one. And Malka you take your eyes off him for three seconds, he's two miles away exploring" I finished.
She looked like she was about to cry. But she nodded before she turned to the rest of her pride sisters.
"This is a good man. None of them would act that way if they weren't safe. He's here to help us" she said. The others slightly relaxed, but still kept their guard up.
I gestured for everyone to follow me. Some grabbed the cubs in their mouths. We got to the hole and I crouched down and held a finger up.
"Maya, me and you go first I need to get something. Once I get back I'll send everyone else through" I said. She nodded, Tumaini in her mouth.
I let her crawl through first just to make sure it was large enough to fit a lioness. Once we were out on the other side, I grabbed my rifle. Only to be met with fur in my face.
"We prayed. Every night for almost two months before we would sleep. We would pray to the great kings of the past for someone to come and rescue us. Until tonight, we had almost given up hope. Thank you" she said barely above a whisper.
I smiled and nuzzled her back like a lion would before I stopped and went back to go through the hole. I untied one of my boots and unloaded the rifle. I then tied the gun to my shoelace and crawled back through.
Once through I loaded the gun quietly. I then nodded at the lionesses. They nodded back before they started to crawl through.
I made sure that the ones carrying cubs went first. All the while keeping an eye on the still sleeping rogues. Be honest I probably could've walked them right out the entrance, these guys are so heavy sleepers.
But this was way safer. Before the last one went out I stopped her and whispered in her ear.
"Make sure the cubs stay away from the hole. I'm gonna make sure that these guys don't kill anyone ever again. Cubs or adults" I said. She nodded before looking at the two males one last time with a disgusted face.
I looked at the two lions before I walked towards them. This time I didn't play around this time and just put the rifle to Vurugu's temple and pulled the trigger.
The shot rang out through the cave. Duma jumped up, but before he could know what was happening, I kicked him in the gut and brought my knee up under his chin.
He fell backwards on his back and I quickly loaded another round and put the barrel in the same spot as the other one.
"Remember me?" I asked as he roared and tried to lunge. I fired and his body dropped immediately. I took another look at Vurugu and made sure he was dead before going back to the hole and crawling through it.
"Okay ladies, I know you're all tired but it's probably best if we make it back to my lands. This place is teeming with hyenas. Believe me, I know" I said. They all nodded and muttered 'thanks' to me again before we began the trek home.
timeskip
'Okay. So in a perfect world no one has said anything and I can make something up' I thought as we reached to bottom of Priderock.
"I still can't believe that you let him go alone" I heard Sarafina said obviously angry and worried. Or not.
"It was a direct order from the king of the Pridelands" I heard Sarabi say back as me and the others walked up the steps. "Plus have faith in DJ, he will return."
"Who doesn't have faith in me?" I asked jokingly entering the cave with my hands up, Maya and Tumaini right behind me. Immediately Maisha and Jua ran to their mother and daughter.
Sarafina nuzzled me as did Amani and Neema. I smiled before going over to my blanket. But was interrupted by Jua nuzzling my back.
"Thank you DJ. My family and pride is my life" she said nuzzling me. I smiled, turning around and hugged her. I then looked around at the pride.
If Jua and Maisha's pride decides to stay then we'll have a pride at around twenty-seven. But it's their decision, I won't force them to stay if they don't want to. Some of my pride, like Zira and Nuka were sleeping peacefully already.
And the others were just starting to find their spots and lay down. I laid down and put my head against Sarafina's stomach as she curled her body around my head.
"I'm glad you're safe" she said. I just smiled and closed my eyes. After a few minutes of vibrations and purrs, I felt sleep take me.
I woke up to slight nudging. I opened my eyes and seen the last lion I expected to see. Zira.
"Zira? Is something wrong?" I asked sitting up as fast as I could without waking Sarafina and Nala. She shook her head.
"Uh no. But I uh, I was wondering if we could talk?" she asked. Okay now I was really confused. Zira and talk did not belong in the same sentence.
"Uh yeah sure" I said still kinda uneasy. She nodded before picking up Nuka gently and walked out of the den. I was about to follow until I looked down at my pistol.
I grabbed it and thought for a moment before shaking my head, setting it back down. Why the hell was I thinking about bringing it. Zira did let her emotions run wild every now and then but she wouldn't harm me.
I walked out and found her sitting at the side of the den. She had Nuka in her front paws keeping him warm. I walked over next to her and leaned against the wall.
"So um Sarabi told us the story of what happened and what Jua was supposed to do" she said as I nodded.
"Well I was just wondering. How did forgive her so fast? I mean she was supposed to kill you or at the very least lead you to your death" she said. I shrugged.
"I dunno, just who I am I guess. Back in America, I had a lot of people who used to try and kill me when they were drunk. Then the next morning it was all apologies and gifts to make up" I said before looking at her and laughing slightly.
"Some foster parents, huh?" I said. She looked at me with a horrified look. I just tried to laugh it off, but eventually images started to flash back to me. I pulled a cigar out of my pocket before lighting it up with the almost empty lighter.
"My parents weren't so great either. They raised me to be vicious and heartless" she said. I was shocked. Both at that statement and that she was opening up to me.
"I didn't even really get a childhood. I was taught to hunt by my mom at a young age, younger than someone should be. And when that wasn't going on I was being trained to fight from my dad. On days that they thought I was slacking... They would discipline me. Finally when I was a teenager I ran away and headed south" she said.
"After a few weeks, I found a lion. His name was Taka, but I fear that he is long dead" she said. That name clicked inside my head. Suddenly it came to me when I remremembered what Sarabi yelled at Scar.
"Wait Scar?" I asked. She nodded before looking at the stars.
"Yes but this was before he was Scar. Back when he was Taka. He was strong, fearless, and he would always put himself in front of the danger" she said smiling.
"Sure he was always jealous of Mufasa and their father, Ahadi's relationship and Mufasa's title. But he was never a murderer. At least not that I know" she added
I looked at her with a dumbfounded look before sniffing the cigar making sure the poachers didn't cut it with pot. Either way I put it out.
"What happened?" I asked. She looked down and gave Nuka's head a lick before looking back up at me.
"My father was persistent. He tracked me down, but Scar was the first to meet him in the Outlands. I'm not sure what they talked about, because I was too far away but I seen what happened."
"My father tried to kill him, but Scar countered and they fought for a while. Then I seen a blue snake crawl up and bite Scar on the leg."
"My father took that chance and slashed him across his face. Which gave him his Scar. He destroyed them both with his roar of the elders. But the venom, it changed him."
"A few days later he returned from a mission with the lion guard. But he was the only one to return. He said that the guard had been destroyed by enemies of the guard."
I hummed before nodding my head. That was an interesting story, but she couldn't have just brought me out here for that.
"Why'd you come inside and help me when Nuka was being born? I thought you hated me?" she asked before I could ask my question.
"I don't hate you, Zira. Sure when I first got here, I thought you were a little rude. But I never hated you" I said.
"And for the birth thing, that's what you do in a pride. You help other out. And it ain't gonna stop once Simba becomes king" I said. she smiled but then Nuka yawned and triggered a chain reaction.
"Well if that's all you wanted to talk about, then I'm gonna head back to bed" I said after yawning. After a few seconds she nodded. I nodded back and walked back inside.
Third person view/ The next night
The trio of hyenas walked into the large cave. None of them wanted to tell their leader what they had just seen what remained for their allies.
"Well do they know the plan?" a voice called out. Scar then limped out of the shadows. When the explosion happened, he didn't get out of range fast enough and a sharp piece of rock caught him and got embedded in his back left leg.
"Uh, well not exactly" Banzai said shrinking back. Scar narrowed his eyes. Two weeks ago he had met a pair of rogues. They said they were looking for a lioness and a cub.
A hyena that was with Scar, stepped forwards and told them that they had chased a lioness and a cub to the Pridelands.
Scar then devised a plan. He told the rogues about the human and how it would be in everyone's best interest if he was dead.
"I don't like that tone Banzai" he said in a menacing tone. Banzai gulped before backing behind Shenzi, who just rolled her eyes.
Scar hadn't been the nicest lion to talk with ever since Shenzi told him the size of his cub. A hyena made a comment about his son being scrawny thinking that Scar didn't hear him. No one ever saw that hyena again.
"The lions are dead. Two in the cave looked like they were shot with his gun thing. And I guess Muuaji was killed when they made contact" Shenzi said. Scar however just smiled.
"You don't seem as mad as I thought you would be" Shenzi said confused. Scar looked at the Pridelands through a hole in the cave, at least five miles away.
"Well we were going to kill them anyway. I'm not raising any brats that aren't mine. Plus the only thing that human is doing is adding to my pride."
"How much longer until your clan is ready to move" he asked. Shenzi looked at Banzai and Ed who shrugged at her.
"Well we got the numbers but they still need training to match lions. Another two months I'd sa-" "Make it one. I don't want to risk Simba and the other cubs to be able to defend themselves too much" Scar said interrupting.
Shenzi growled under her breath but nodded. She didn't want her clan to be put in danger if they were unprepared for combat.
But then she remembered the reason she was still with Scar and his insane plans.
The human.
See how I changed Scar's back story from the lion guard. I just didn't really like the fact he got his scar from a snake, but I did like the venom idea.