"Our old dry season home collapsed in the rainstorm last week!" The crocodile leader was saying. "We'll need a new one come dry season!"
Kovu sighed as he listened.
"Makuu," Kovu said. "You do realize the wet season just started, right? It won't be dry season again for quite a while now! Why don't we worry about this later?"
Makuu lashed his tail. He was halfway in the water. His back out and his front in. Kovu frowned as water droplets licked his face.
"Your highness," the leader growled. "It is not the crocodile way to not be prepared."
"I know," Kovu said. "But… I'll find a place for you. I promise. I'll have the guard be on the lookout for a spot you can sleep through the dry days."
Makuu ducked his head and turned. The crocodile dived into the water of the lake and disappeared. Kovu sighed and ran a paw through his mane. Ok, he thought. I'd better go tell my sister about this. Then I can go see what the elephants want.
As Kovu turned to leave the crocodiles watering hole. The ground began to rattle and shake under his paws. The king gasped as he heard a sound off in the distance. It was a sound he knew well.
But… Kovu could see lions in the clouds close to Priderock. I don't understand… Vitani and the guard are over patrolling by the backlands… how…
Kovu's heart leapt into his throat. Surely… that wasn't Shujaa's roar! Right? But if it was his youngest cub roaring that meant…
Horror flooded the young king. He began forcing his trembling paws to move in the direction of the earth shaking sound.
"Shujaa! Koda!" Kovu cried as he spotted his two cubs. They were sitting on the top of a hillside. Simba was sitting between them. Kovu swallowed as the ting of fresh blood hit his nose.
"Who's hurt?" He asked. Climbing the hill until he had reached them. Nguvu, who was sitting by Shujaa, nodded toward Simba.
"He got his pelt torn by Kucha!" The cub said. Simba frowned and stopped licking his shoulder, which had a huge bleeding scratch going down it.
"I'm fine!" He said. "I just got scratched up a bit."
Kovu shook his head as he ran his eyes over the ex-kings injuries.
"A bit?" He said. Kovu sighed. "We'd better get you too Rafiki." Kovu glanced once more at the cubs. "How about you three? Are any of you hurt?"
Nguvu hesitated.
"My back's kinda sore from where my uncle pushed on it." He admitted. Kovu walked over and ran a paw gently over the cub's spine. Thank the kings, Kovu thought. He's just a bit bruised, He could have had his spine broken!
Ever since he had come to live here. Nguvu had become a lot like a third cub to Kovu. He couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to him.
"We'll have Rafiki look at you too," Kovu told him. "I think you're ok. But I want to be sure."
"Daddy!" Shujaa exploded. "I roared! Really, really, roared!"
Kovu shivered. So that had been Shujaa. But if she was using the roar… that meant…
"I heard," he said absentmindedly. How can she be ready to lead the guard? She isn't even a year old yet!
"She did dad," Koda said quietly. He was gazing at his sister in shock. "She blew Kucha and the others all the way back to the backlands."
"She saved my life." Nguvu admitted. Shujaa shivered and brushed her head under his chin.
"His uncle was going to kill him!" She whispered. "I was so scared! I roared without even thinking about it."
At that moment, Kovu heard the loud pounding of pawsteps. He glanced over and found the guard racing over to them.
"What's going on?" Vitani demanded. She gasped when she saw Simba's blood coated fur. "What happened!"
"Kucha happened!" Simba said.
"But, how did you drive him away?" Tazama, the keenest of sight in the Lion Guard, asked.
"She roared um right into the sun!" Nguvu said. He playfully flicked Shujaa's ear with his tail. Vitani looked at the cub.
"You…" she paused. "You used the roar?"
"Yeah… she did." Koda answered. He still looked a tad shellshocked.
Vitani looked at Kovu. He could see the pain in her eyes. The Lion Guard meant everything to his sister… but now. The circle of life was ordering her to give it up.
"Come on," Kovu said. He let Simba lean on him as the bigger lion started to stand up. Kovu gave Vitani a 'we'll talk about this later' look. Vitani nodded and picked up Koda by his scruff. Koda frowned, but didn't protest the childish treatment.
With Shujaa and Nguvu trailing after them, Kovu began to walk home.
"I don't believe this Kovu!" Vitani was snarling. Kovu and her were in the lair. The midnight bugs buzzing away outside. "She's just a cub! How could she possibly be ready to lead the guard?"
Kovu sighed and kicked at the rock he was laying on.
"I agree with you." He said. "But Kiara says Kion started leading the guard before he was a year as well."
"Kion?" Vitani asked. "Really?"
Kovu nodded.
"Yeah." He said. "Besides. Don't you remember? He was awfully young when he sent our pride flying out of the outlands."
"He didn't have the authority to do that." Vitani sneered. "The outlands weren't his turf."
Kovu shrugged. He glanced at himself in the pool. His eyes looked so tired… he looked… old.
"It's her time to lead, Vitani." He said. "Whether we like it or not. It's her birthright."
Vitani looked down at her paws.
"But…" her voice cracked. "If your daughter starts leading the guard… what will happen to me?"
Kovu purred and leaped up on the rock his sister was pacing on. He let Vitani rest her head against his shoulder.
"Don't think like that." He said softly. "You'll always be important to everyone in the pride. To me." He pulled away and looked her right in the eye. "Your family. And besides, Shujaa's going to need someone she can come to when she's needs advice on the roar and… guardy things."
Vitani raised an eyebrow.
"Did you seriously just say 'Guardy things?'"
Kovu grinned sheepishly.
"Maybe?" He started toward the exit to the lair. It was late and the king was tired. "Tell her tomorrow Vitani. As the current leader, it's your duty."
Vitani watched him go then looked down at her paws.
"I hope I'm ready to let go." She whispered. "And I hope you're ready to begin Shujaa."