CH.15: Nirmala revealed

Nirmala was pushed down roughly by Janja who laughs a bit maniacal like. "Ha, been meaning to do that for a while. It feels good. Now, you are to treat the wounded and let me not repeat myself, cause I will forget…but one wrong move and the jig is up…or something like that."

"Do you treat all your guests like this?" Nirmala spat out some blood as she had been roughed up prior, some sort of sick thing that Janja had initiated and got others to join in on.

"Guest, ha, you are merely serving a purpose and when you have outlived that purpose you might serve us as a meal, by that I mean you will be the meal…so…get to work already. Sheesh." He walks off mumbling to himself and Nirmala rubs a paw along her lip and finds she is before many who are not looking so well.

"Right…I suppose my purpose was to heal, so might as well make use of my skills." Nirmala did what she could with the supplies she had been granted. It honestly was not a lot and perhaps if she had more time to remedy a solution to the ailments it might make some sort of dent, but, given her time allotted and the pressure on her she could only do half the normal job she would say back at the Tree of Life.

In her time serving as the healer at the Tree of Life under Queen Janna and of course as working as a member in the Night Pride she had learned to perfect her skills. Her best friend was Surak as both were around the same age. He had this sense of duty but also a humility about him that drew her to him. The two of them kind of held themselves as semi parental at best to Rani and that of Baliyo.

The day wore on as it would and she was near exhaustion when Janja showed up again. That snide and cruel smile that warped his features made her want to give him some sort of fungal affection but knew that went against her code. She had made a code or rather she had learned of making a code to keep herself in line and one of them made it quite clear never to use her healing skills for bad.

"You must be tired…well…go and find some place to nap and knock back a few winks but if you…do bad…I will hurt you myself." Nirmala was pretty sure that didn't work with what he said earlier but it was not her place to call him out on it.

"Very well…I shall abide and take a few winks." Nirmala left the area where many of the wounded were recuperating from her healing.

Nirmala could care less about Janja and how serving yet another evil ruler gave him some credence. Truth be told some part of her was near exhaustion and yet another part of her wanted to explore and see the rest of the camp. Jabari and Jasiri had been chosen or selected to do some routine border patrol to ensure no animal got too close without permission.

So this very well left her on her own, and, honestly it was a bit disconcerting. Nirmala had never been truly alone for even at the Tree of Life she had been surrounded by those who understood her and would offer her conversation even during a long transitional healing session. The animals here all looked tensed, some even pumped at the coming transgression with the Pride Lands. Nirmala was not a fan of war and violence…in fact…being part of the Night Pride she wasn't a power player but she had her own strengths which allowed her to traverse certain obstacles like the trees easier than others.

Nirmala kept walking till she noticed someone in bad shape. She was a lioness but unlike those who served MD. Nirmala preferred calling him something she could remember and saying such a name over and over could give one a splitting headache or a slipup which would only cause someone harm. She was beautiful but sad…an image that no doubt would haunt her waking and sleeping hours. There was nothing wrong with her though in regards to haunt, but, such imagery would be hard to shake.

Nirmala saw that she was looking her way as well. The two share a look that says about as much as there needs to be without physical words leaving their mouths. She knows that she is here to save her but also in a situation where she cannot reveal her identity or what plans she has in rescuing her. Zuri for her part is unable to call out for help or to even signal her that this place was crawling with animals ready to pounce on her the moment she gets too close.

"Ah…I see you found our prisoner. Mnyanyasaji managed to get her before slipping back here before his meeting with King Simba. Quite the prize ain't she? I mean not a big fan of the lions myself but there have been those staring. It will be a shame to kill her though if King Simba doesn't come through-."

"She appears inured…it might be best that I see to her wounds before she dies, you know, before your leader has her planned for elimination." Nirmala stared at Janja making it quite clear that her medical expertise far outweighed his. Even if there was nothing overly wrong with her…he did not know, nor would he bother examining her too close without upsetting MD.

"Huh, well, she don't look too injured…but I am no healer. Fine, go on and take your examin…whatever but you do anything off and you will suffer." Janja gestures for her to go past the guards.

"I am a healer…do you honestly expect me to try anything with all these prying eyes? I would hardly think so." She walks with purpose and once she is allowed closer she attempts to steady her breathing and Zuri brightens as she sees her.

"You were at the Tree of Life that day-." She began but Nirmala places a paw to her mouth before she said anymore on that.

"Yes, now, please hold still while I look after your wounds. Can you tell me when it is that MD plans to-?" She examines her body and notes a few places where bruising is taking shape but that shouldn't be too hard to deal with. It did look like one of her legs was sprained…given how she was situated, could make escape a bit difficult if they needed to press for speed.

"Mnyanyasaji…oh…yeah MD suits him so much better. Far as that maybe tomorrow, I don't know it feels like the days are stretching now. Janja really gave me quite the beating…and a few other animals, some just watched."

Nirmala felt bad she had to go through this. Honestly the whole lot of them believed that they were part of something great…that by labeling themselves the betrayed that MD really cared about helping them solve their problems. Nirmala felt sick just thinking about how many of them looked at the past as some obstacle to overcome when they should just get on with their lives and be better off not dwelling on such…tragedy or mistakes.

"I have some things to help with your pain…however I will need you to stand up." Nirmala goes to grab her stuff or rather have someone bring it to her, given she was under surveillance and as Janja pointed out…she could wind up in bad shape, paraphrasing much of his broken language.

"Ok, I will try, ouch…hurts like…" Nirmala hurried back to her and she began to apply some of the solvent or healing herbs onto her body. Zuri sucks in a breath as she tends to her and next came the sprain which honestly she could only do so much for aside from having her keep off it…but given her death was coming that might not be easy.

"The smell might be a bit much but I say the stronger the smell…the more healing love there is to make you all better." Zuri then wound up against her and the two share a look and Nirmala feels a heat flush her cheeks.

"Um, Nirmala, what would you say to a patient of yours whose heart is racing and her paws are all…shaky?"

"I believe I would tell her…that…she must be afraid of admitting something and it wouldn't hurt sharing it with someone she can trust." Nirmala had no idea what she was doing and she would never give such advice to someone she was treating…lest they wound up confiding to her of their own free will and either way that information stayed with her.

"I bet you say that to all of your patients…still…there is something about you I can't shake, something that makes the pain I have bearable. You are so warm too…" Nirmala wants to say something but she notices that Janja is making his way back.

"You should rest…I will be back later to see if the bruising has gone down." Nirmala eases her down and Zuri appears disappointed but she also welcomes the sleep.

"So, what was the point of all that anyway? Healing her only so that she may die?" Nirmala cast him a dirty look one that halted any other thing he might think to say.

"I am a healer…even when I heal those who are doing things I am not in favor of…I do not turn a blind eye to them. And what of you Janja…how long will you find yourself serving another-?"

"I am working with him on this…in no ways am I serving. I have been betrayed and I am only looking out for those-."

"You were not betrayed Janja…if anything you were the one who betrayed others. However given that is how it is…you might actually belong. A word of caution though…the world can be a very dark place, when all is said and done…where do you see your next meal coming from?"

Nirmala left him with such thoughts before she hoped to find Jabari and Jasiri and inform them of the change of plans.

Jabari let out a yawn as he was worn out from all of the patrolling they had done. Jasiri was lying on him as the two kept warm as a cold breeze came through. Nirmala was late but he can see her now approaching them but almost like in a daze.

"Yo Nirmala…what kept you?" He let out another yawn and Jasiri smacks her lips as she nestles into him more and he lowers his voice.

"I found Zuri…however it would appear she only has a day or so left. Also while I was tending to her…" She appears to blush which Jabari didn't even think she could do. Course he only knew her reputation and didn't know of her personally too much.

"I know that look…had the same look with Jasiri. I never really took you for that Nirmala, but, I am happy that you have found it. She is a cute…just no word of this to Jasiri, she is the only hyena for me."

"Uh, no, no that is not it at all…she is my patient first and foremost and besides that…" Nirmala realized he had fallen asleep then but was smiling.

This could not be…and even if it was…it was a precarious situation and one that could unravel fast if things went south. Nirmala looked on at the other animals as they were looking to take a nap to recharge. Nirmala had never been open about her feelings romantically and the same could be said about Surak, another reason they got along.

Nirmala decided to rest and maybe pursue this avenue of thinking later. For now she attempted to fight past the cold chill.

Waking after a bit she goes to check on Zuri but she doesn't find her. She feels panic set in and that is when she realizes that MD is watching her.

"I don't believe we have been properly introduced, I am Mnyanyasaji-." He studied her and she tried to calm her breating.

"Wouldn't it be easier just calling you MD?" Nirmala saw a twitch in his left eye and he seems like he is about to lose it but the moment it was there…just as soon did it vanish.

"I was informed of your little exchange with the prisoner. One would even say that it had an intimate undertone to it. Suffice to say the time of her sentence has been moved up. King Simba will be making a call…one that I hope is right for if it is not…it will cost this young lioness her life. Speaking of lioness…you weren't planning on doing anything to say, I don't know, rescue her were you?"

Nirmala shook her head. "No, um, I was just on my way to see if she needed anymore healing is all. Is she any better?" She stiffened as she heard a cackle from behind her.

"Oh she is doing much better…not that it will help her any. Oh and turns out we got ourselves some traitors in our midst." Nirmala was curious about that till she spotted Jabari and Jasiri, both of whom looked better the night before.

"Everyone listen up…in just a short bit I will be confronting the King of the Pride Lands and if all goes well…I will have avenged the very betrayal my father faced long ago at the hands of his father. Trust me when I say that your time will also come when you can seek out vengeance and move on from your suffering."

Nirmala did not like where this was going and she was guided along with Jabari and Jasiri as they left the hideout and her worry for Zuri rose even more.

Authors note: The final five chapters of season 5 are coming up and in the next chapter the clash to end all clashes is going to bring the season to a close.