The Hyena Lion

A/N: Now Kion and a certain lioness will truly reunite.

Chapter 13

True Reunion

By the time Kion arrived back to their cave with the zebra carcass on his back, he had saw Jasiri outside with her eyes slightly surprised by the fine zebra's kill he have manage to catch.

The golden lion noticed Beshte in a water puddle that they have gotten for the hippo for him to survive the hot sun out here. Bunga, who was sitting beside him, gave a proud whistle at him, in which the lion merely rolled his eyes.

As Kion laid the fresh kill down, he can see a few hyenas still feasting well on the last zebra which was still delicious. The lion saw a few hyenas who usually act for nurses for the wounded is looking after her. They're very smart and Kion trusted them because they manage to even calm the scar he have gained from Zira two years ago.

It was still very much visible but it had blood pouring out so he needed some help and gotten it. They had walked up to him as Kion stared at the kill to make sure it was truly freshed. It was.

Kion beated the hyenas to speaking, "How is she?" He inquired the hyenas.

Kion had grown an deep respect by all of the hyenas than two years prior. For one thing, he haven't stabbed them in the back in their most desparate state and have even fought a fully grown lioness as a cub which have brought a lot of honor by the fellow hyenas. A few female hyenas even have given him those flirtatious smiles which would usually gross him out; luckily Jasiri and most of all Madoa haven't gotten with them and treated him like family. He has proven his worth among them and didn't betrayed the Circle Of Life.

To the youngest ones in the clan, they would say Kion is a superhero who will always try to lead ones of battle without causalities and without hesitation because he cares more about his companions and allies survival than he ever cared about winning an battle.

"My lord," the lead hyena said. "By my calculations, she is very wounded and tired. She would need to relax herself for two weeks than she would be able to regain her full strength."

"When can she move again?" Kion questioned, stroking his chin thoughtfully. If she can move again, he can go into the pride lands with her and return her to attention of his... sister, mother, and father. He also have some questions for her: why didn't she told him because she had to know? Why didn't no one tried to find him? And why is she out here instead of at her home?

"She can move in around a week, lord, and the a couple of days," the hyena responded.

Kion frowned. He had wanted to see her for a long time, because in reality he missed her greatly despite meeting her only once. She were never the smartest of Kiara and Tiifu and that was clear, but he guessed that is what make her remarkable. He'd wondered was still big on her claws or has she changed over the years? After all Kion had changed himself and gotten even stronger to surpassed many male lions. He had barely gotten a good look at her and saw her slight muscular slick form.

Kion instantly had wondered about Kiara and Tiifu. Did they gotten stronger from those cubs? Most likely, they had because age sometimes changes you. Zuri has gotten an potential warrior on her. So that means both must have developed since they'd grown up with Zuri. There is no way Zuri can be the toughest out of the bunch and will likely lose to Kiara easily and may put up a good fight but Tiifu would likely pin her easily.

He'd wished he have more time with Kiara and Tiifu now. For one thing, he could have taught them how to fight and also shows them the way of his life because Zuri seems to be the only one who understands him and his nature way of living. If he had more time but something else came up. He have always felt an overprotective instinct with Kiara in his time and somehow wanted to shield her. Of course he has a sisterly bond with Fuli and Jaisri but he been joking with them. However, he felt something more with Kiara... not romantic as one would think, but a bond that he had honestly wanted to explore.

Kion had decided to wait one week. Even if she can move, animals will likely attack them and none could have risked that. The teenager lion didn't want her to gain a further injury. Atleast he will have another lioness to talk to and most likely relate to. He have been surrounded with other animals than his own kind which had secretly labor him into a deep full on depression.

"Very good," he dejected. "I need to talk to her so is she up?"

"Yes," the hyena said. "You can talk to her when she wakes but use a kind tone with her because some ringing is in her ears from the trauma pain she had to face. Advise is to be careful. We had notice a bunch of wounds on her that couldn't be caused by the attacks and so she is currently suffering something. Also, she has some temporary ear damage to her left ear that will deaf her."

Kion inhaled, well better than what could have been the worse. "Ok, thanks." The hyenas bowed before exiting the cave and walking out. He walked up and ran an paw through her neck softly. "I miss you," he whispered towards the unconscious lioness who were laying soundly.

Zuri's vision was a blur. She had been running for days Kiara and Tiifu must be worried for now. They will kill her if they find out what happened but there is no way she's in the pride lands. She couldn't remember what happened because her memory were foggy. All she can remember is blackness and the sounds of fighting before her ears went rendered. One question linares her mind:

Where was she?

Fear crawled up on her. For one minute, she'd thought she will awake with the wrath of her so-called aunt and facing the ultimate punishment of suffering her so-called aunt's claw.

But she actually saw the sunlight. No, she wasn't in the outlands. Atleast that were confirmed. Is she in the pride lands? No, the sounds of familiar lionesses being around would have been there; all there is is the sunlight gleaming off her face utterly blinding her.

"Zuri," a voice spoken softly. Though it was more older and mature, she recognized that sweet voice anywhere.

Zuri smiled weakly, "Kion." Her voice sounded weak, valuable, and tired. Well, her mouth was dry, hoarse, and she felt like she've to drink something.

Kion smiled towards her and nudge her on the shoulder. "Hello, Zuri." He said. "It's nice to see you again. I have missed you for the last two years." He begin examining her up and down. "You became a pretty young lioness."

The tawny-orange lioness blushed for a few seconds. He may have grown into a flirtatious beast from that strong cub he once was. Despite only one of her eyes being able to work, she had seen the years done good to him; she saw Kion have a big mane that went down his neck, handsome orange-brown eyes, and that scar...

Zuri closed her eyes and allowed the invisible tears to fall down her eyes. If she had acted a couple years ago, told him the truth than the guilt wouldn't been hunting her. She brought her paw towards his mane. "Big guy has a mane," she teased. "Cute."

Kion snorted and rolled his eyes as he shakes his head, allowing his mane to follow. "The couple of years done me good, uh?" He laughed playfully. "Stare as long as you like."

Zuri hadn't even noticed she was staring at Kion so long. But her eyes refused to move away from his form. How can she? He is one of the handsome lions she had ever met. Even when he was a young cub, Kion were tough, handsome, fierce, sweet, and loveable. At that moment, she were glad that she had met him instead of Kiara or Tiifu. If Kiara had, it would have been kind of awkward and messed up as soon as he would have told her his name. If Tiifu met him, than she may have convince him to stay in the pride lands or Usaliti may have found a way to blackmail her to lure Kion towards her. Zuri had realized she have basically saved Tiifu from the pain she's facing.

'Tell him the truth,' a voice hissed into her head. 'Traitorous snake.'

She had noticed how long she have been quiet thus. Unfortunately, so did the golden lion who were currently staring her over. She have seen him frowning and rubbing against her neck. That shocked her because no one had ever done that before.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

Zuri shallowed in a lump. She was afraid to tell him the truth about her involvement. Instantly, the young lioness had thoughts of Kion completely turning on her and forcing her out or outright attacked her or go onto an rampageous on her, sending assault of words onto her and yelling bashfully at her with argue and sadness from him. Surely, Kion and her friendship will get ruin if she had said something wrong or tell him the truth.

"Yes," she responded, shivering to the sudden coldness onto her. Kion had noticed her shivering and smiled as he have faced it himself because of the coldness in the sky.

"Yeah; that is the cause of nightfall," he says with a soft smile, turning from her to fact the sunlight. "Once it got so cold, I had thought I was going to freeze to death. Madoa got me though and rubbed herself against me since she is the closest I had to a mother in my entire life."

"How long I have been out?" Zuri wondered.

"A few hours." He informed her. "Since we are kind of far away from the pride lands, things are a tad bit different over here than in the pride lands. We're near the Mountain Lands but the king and queen don't even know we're over here."

"Good ol' Kion, the sneaky." She said mockingly.

"Yeah, we're in a different cave than all of the other caves," he informed her. "This is one where the wounded would rest."

Zuri frowned. "It would be kind of difficult for me to sleep in these conditions with winds."

"As a good friend, I can sleep by you and provide you warmth" the young lion offered with a soft smile. Zuri were surprised by that offered since no one... well no male ever sleep with her. Kiara and Tiifu had slept with her a few occasional when they were all either out or their parents were gone. Tiifu had an fear of sleeping alone without anybody, so as the good friends they were Kiara and Zuri slept by her. The three are what all should good friendship should be like. If one of them has problems, than the other two will be quick to help without hesitation.

Zuri nodded, feeling him laying himself beside her and pulling her close to his stomach softly. "This feels better?" Kion inquired as she laid against his stomach.

Zuri nodded and couldn't believe how warm she now felt. She swear she felt something hot coming up her cheeks as she continues to lay like this. How can she feel so warm inside? She hadn't felt this type of comfort beside from her friends for a long time; her mother died during her birth, her auntie is a rat and traitor and an evil lioness. To be honest, she wished Kion grown up with them and than he would have protected and shield she and her friends and Zuri would have been safe as would Kiara and Tiifu.

As she closed her eyes to sleep, she didn't notice the young teenage lion staring down at her. 'Why didn't she told me?' thought the young lion. Whatever the answer to that question was, it would have to wait since he just met her again and most likely is having an harsh memory to answer too much questions right now. If only Kion knew...