Fuli met up early in the lair next morning. The others were still sleeping. She approached them and tapped them gently to wake them up.
"Wake up, guys," she whispered. "I got something to tell you."
"What," Bunga said sleepily. He opened his eyes and looked out of the hole to the lair. The sun hadn't even risen yet. "Fuli, come on. The sun hasn't even risen yet. Give us some more time," Bunga yawned. "We now you're the new leader but do you seriously have to start morning patrol this early?"
The honey badger turned around and slept on. Fuli was surprise to see how little interest they had for what she had to say. "I'm going to find Kion and apologize to him."
"Good for you, tell him we have forgiven you," Ono said and laid his head under his wing again.
"I'll be leaving for good," she whispered.
"You - you're what," Bunga asked sleepily.
"I'll be leaving," Fuli repeated. "I'll go and look for Kion and say I'm sorry."
Bunga seemed to be more awake. "Was it just that?" he asked, sounded not surprised at all. "Tell him that we have forgiven you and that he doesn't have to worry about us being enemies."
"You're not getting it, Bunga," Fuli replied annoyed. "I won't be coming back."
"You what!" Bunga exclaimed, he didn't sound sleepy at all by that note.
"You'll be leaving as well?" Besthe asked. He too had woken up.
"I'm truly sorry, guys, but I have to follow my heart, and right now it tells me it's the best decision I have done for a long time," Fuli confessed. They all looked at her with a worry look. "Look, I know that you are all going to be mad at me for doing this, and you are in your full right to be, but it's something I have to do," Fuli tried to reason with them. "It's not because I don't like you guys, because I really do. It's not because I feel guilty – or I do, but it's just nothing without Kion. I'm just not happy without him."
"But why now?" Ono asked.
"Someone had to blow some sense in my face," she said.
"What are we going to do with the patrol?" Besthe asked.
"You know what to do."
"No, we don't."
"Ono take the sky, you two patrol the savanna, while I find Kiara and Rani," Fuli said rapidly.
"No, Fuli. What are we going to do with the patrol without a leader?" Besthe asked.
"We are a team," Fuli said. "We stick together and comes to agreements. You three will have to do the same. Show me that we don't need a fierce leader to lead us all the time," she said while beaming at them. "I know you will be two less on the team, but you three can handle it. Janja is only after me and Kion, and we haven't heard anything from Zira in a long time. The Pride Lands are safe in your paws and claws. Now, what are you all standing there for, let's get to work!"
The Lion Guard went on a very early morning patrol, while Fuli sneaked inside Pride Rock trying to find the two lionesses. The sun was touching the stone floor and many of the lionesses were already moving, ready to start the day. She found Rani and tapped her on her head.
"Rani?" she whispered.
The lioness began to move and opened her sleepy eyes.
"Fuli? What are you doing here?" she asked sleepily. "If you want a talk it's a little too early."
"Would you please wait for me outside the cave?" Fuli whispered.
"Huh?"
"I'll tell you later," Fuli whispered. "Got to find Kiara first."
Rani lifted sleepily her body and went outside, while Fuli searched for the princess. She found her lying beside her parents. They still looked intimidating even when they slept. Fuli could remember that her and Kion had annoyed them while they still slept when they were younger. Kion had got quite the lot of trouble for that, while she would wait teasingly outside.
Fuli patted the lioness and woke her up.
"Fuli?" Kiara asked sleepily.
"Shh, not that loud," Fuli whispered holding a paw across her mouth. "Follow me outside, I'll got something to tell you."
Kiara, a bit confused followed the cheetah out, wondering what she wanted her at this hour of the day. Outside Rani waited with a sleepy face expression.
"You here too," Kiara asked. Rani just nodded sleepily. "Fuli, why have you brought us out this early in the morning?"
"I'll tell you," she said. "Just follow me."
The two lionesses frowned at each other. Fuli led them for a while before she stopped. "Okay," she said. "I'll have been thinking about yesterday, and I have decided to go and look for Kion."
"Was that all?"
"I'm also staying with him, I'm leaving my duties here while I follow my heart," Fuli said.
"Good for you, Fuli," Rani said, sounding a bit sleepy.
"Come on, girls. You could be a bit more cheerful."
"We're happy for you, Fuli. "Finally, you have overcome your fear," Kiara said pleased. "How are you going to say it when you find him?"
"Don't know, just have to follow the flow."
"What about the others? Do they know?" Kiara asked concerned.
"I told them this morning," Fuli said. "I'll be leaving as soon they come back from their patrol."
The two lionesses beamed at her, and Fuli couldn't help but smile back. Finally, she did something that made sense to her. "Simba is going to be so pissed on me."
"Look, there the others come," Rani pointed out.
"Okay, okay, now it's time," Fuli breathed. She was a little scared for going out alone, but it was her only change for reaching the lion she loved.
"So, you still up for this, fast pants?" Bunga asked when they had joined the three females.
"Yes, I'm going to miss you all very much, but I'm not going to be happy here," she confessed. "Remember to not say a word to Simba," Fuli teased. She tried to pull them all into a hug, and all of them nuzzled their heads into her soft fur. "I'll miss you all very much, and I'll promise not to be too harsh to Kion."
She broke the hug and beamed at them all. She could feel her freedom was awaiting her. She took a glance to the horizon before turning her gaze towards her friends. "Wish me luck."
She clenched her paws down in the dirt, feeling it like never before. She lowered her head, making ready for her sprint, swung her tale a few times before sprinting away. She could feel the thrill coming back to her. The wonderful feeling of just running without no worries at all, oh how she missed the feeling.
Fuli had run in some time but could feel she was running slower and slower, until she came to a halt. Her body wasn't fit for long runs anymore. "Seriously, not again!" she hissed and scratched the dirt with her paw in sheer frustrations for not being able to run any further. She could not have chosen any worse time to get exhausted. She wasn't in the Pride Lands anymore which meant she was on other territories. More specifically leopard territory. She laid herself down in the dirt, waiting for her body to recover, not knowing she was being watched from above.
"Is there something wrong, dearie," a cold, familiar voice asked. Fuli looked around for the voice and saw a familiar leopard starring at her with the same hungering look he had had when they met last time. Makucha was laying very comforting on a tree branch.
"Oh, get lost, Makucha," Fuli spat.
"You do realize you're on my territory, so it is you that are going to get lost," the leopard said amused.
"Please, just give me some time, Makucha, and I'll promise I'll be on my way," Fuli said.
"So, you are using my place to rest your fat ass on? You really think you can just lay around on everybody's territory. You won't come unpunished for that, you have to pay, sweetie?" Makucha snarled.
"I'm not up for a fight, Makucha," Fuli said, trying to get up on her paws, but failed. Makucha's smiled twisted in pleasure.
"You're exhausted darling. You can't even move your ass, even if you wanted to," Makuscha said amused. "So, I just think I will take my payment now, when you aren't able to fight back."
"What are you talking about?" she hissed.
Makucha was creeping slowly down the tree towards her. He led his tail slide creepily across her cheek. Fuli turned her head in disgust.
"What are you up to?" she snarled.
Then, without further warning Makucha smacked his lips on Fuli's, forcing her into a kiss. She tried franticly to get herself free, but Makucha kept her locked. He broke the kiss with a desirous smile.
"What the hell is wrong with you!" she yelled. She let her paw slide across her mouth, drying the leopard's saliva off. Then he forced her into a kiss again. But this time she was prepared and launched her paw bat his cheek, scratching it, making the leopard retract. He stared with malice at her.
"You shouldn't have done that," Makucha spat. "You should have stayed still enjoying it."
"You forced me to kiss your foul mouth!" Fuli hissed.
Makucha's eyes narrowed. "And how do you know that? How many boys want to kiss a cheetah?"
Fuli was about to let it slip that she had been trying it out, but quickly thought it was best not to give the enemy more knowledge. This seemed to annoy the leopard. He pinned his claws down into her body. Fuli let out a scream of pain.
"See that as a bit of pay back," he said softly, turning his cheek to her. He moved further down her body, right to her rear end. Fuli eyes went big. She had a terrible feeling for what the leopards next move would be. She tried to move franticly, but the leopard held her still.
"Makucha, please, don't do this," she begged.
"Relax, try and enjoy yourself, it will be fun to try it as your first time with me," he said with his wicked grin. "No one will notice it. No one can help you. Not even your pathetic body can fight me."
"But I can!" growled a voice. Fuli and Makucha looked up and saw Kion with his wild flaming mane starring fiercely at the leopard. "Get away from her now!"
"I would but you see, Kion. She trespasses on my territory, I need some payment," Makucha said softly.
The lion roared, making Makucha step a bit away from the cheetah. Kion moved in between them, protecting Fuli from the leopard's foul tricks.
"You fuck of right now, or I'll be forcing you to!" Kion said fiercely. Makucha snarled and launched himself at the lion, scratching him, but the lion grabbed him and pinned him to the ground. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you."
The leopard sneered at the lion. "We both know you don't have it in you, Kion," he mocked. "You try to stay so fierce and strong but that even gives you a hard time keeping the people you love safe. Just look at Fuli. I almost had fucked her, and she would feel disgraced for the rest of her life, not even have enough courage to join The Guard. You-"
"Keep your mouth shut, Makucha," Kion roared and opened his large jaw.
"Stop it!" Fuli cried. "Both of you."
Makucha and Kion looked stunned at her.
"Fuli you do realize-"
"I know what he wanted to do, Kion," Fuli cried. "But I don't want you to give in for your hate. Let go of the creep."
"I would listen to your-"
Kion roared at him again and reluctantly moved away from the leopard.
"Enjoy yourself with the slut," Makucha growled as he walked away.
Kion turned his attentions towards the cheetah. "What are you doing here, Fuli? I told you to stay home," the lion said a bit stern. "Is there something wrong back home?"
"No, Kion. It's just me. I really want to say that I'm sorry for what I said, and I regret it a lot," Fuli confessed. "I'll just wished you had got yourself a better farewell."
"Was it just that? Couldn't you have waited till I got home to say it," Kion said a bit amused. "I knew you didn't mean it."
"Kion, I'm not going back," Fuli said. "I'm staying here with you."
"No, you're not. The team needs you."
"Your father made me leader. I can't take the pressure, not when I don't got your support," Fuli said. "The Pride Lands is just not the same without you, Kion. There is just nothing left for me."
"Fuli, you're still sad about leaving me and I got it the same way, but you made an decision not to get into another relationship with me," Kion said. "You'll get over it."
"No, I won't, Kion," Fuli spat. "I'll never be free from you. Haven't you guessed why I really came back for you?"
"Just to tell me you were sorry?"
"No, I'm not leaving you Kion."
"Well, you'll have to. I don't want you to see you get hurt, not when you're pregn-"
"Oh, for goodness sake, Kion!" Fuli hissed. "Not this again? Why do you think I am?"
"I have said that already, I heard the heartbeat."
"Wasn't it just mine?"
Kion gave her an amused face expression. He gently rolled the cheetah on her back.
"Just you wait and see," he said. He took one of her paws and let it slide across her soft fur before coming to a halt on top of her under belly. Fuli couldn't believe what she felt. A little beat was pumping. She looked scared at the lion for a moment, before she broke into tears. Kion quickly pulled her in for a hug and let his paw caress the cheetah.
"I'm sorry, Kion. I should have trusted you," Fuli sobbed. "What are we going to do?"
"You'll be taken well care of home," Kion comforted.
"When are you going to get it through your thick head. I'm staying with you," Fuli said. "Haven't we been on dangerous tasks before?"
"Not like this, Fuli. I can't risk you putting you and the cub in danger," Kion said.
"You'll just want me to live in misery until you return?" she sobbed.
"No, it's just - I can't protect you when I'm out looking for prey," Kion said. "I don't know what could happen to you or the cub. You could be killed."
Fuli sighed and looked with begging eyes on the lion.
"Okay, Fuli. You can come with me on one condition. You will go home when you're close to labor, or if you feel the slightest pain," Kion said.
Fuli caressed his cheek gently and placed her lips against his, telling him she was ready for it.
"Yep, you definitely kiss better than Makucha," she teased, as she broke the kiss.
"He kissed you?"
"Don't worry, he was awful at it," Fuli teased. "Didn't come in the right places with his tongue like you," she teased as she pulled him in for another enchanting kiss. Seemed liked their trials had brought them back together after all.
To Be continued in TLK Hope Finds a Way: s/13045721/1/The-Lion-King-Hope-Finds-a-Way
