Shujaa smiled as she raced across the Pridelands. The mark of the guard was warm against her shoulder. It was like a buzzing right under the skin. She couldn't believe she was the leader of the guard… all her life she had been waiting for this! But now… this was a huge responsibility…
"Where are we even going!" Nguvu cried at her side. He was breathing heavily as they ran. "All the lions are back at Priderock!"
Shujaa smiled. At least I know I have you, Nguvu, She thought.
"I know!" Shujaa admitted. She slowed down and glanced around. they were at the border to the backlands. She wasn't worried about Kucha anymore though. If he messed with them. She would send him flying! "Do you remember my Uncle Kion's Lion Guard?"
"No!" Nguvu said. "I never met him. Neither did you."
"Yeah, but I've heard stories about him." Shujaa said. "He was one of the best Lion Guard leaders since Askari himself!" She stopped completely. Shujaa stared at a fresh set of paw prints in the ground. Leopard tracks, she purred to herself. She turned to face Nguvu. He was sitting behind her. His eyes squinted in confusion.
"You see," she explained. "The most amazing thing about Kion was that his guard had no other lions in it besides himself!"
Nguvu raised an eyebrow.
"A Lion Guard," he said. "With only one Lion?"
Shujaa giggled.
"Yep." She said. "But like I said, they were one of the best! So if he can do that, why can't I?"
Nguvu looked around.
"So what?" He asked. "Who are you looking for?"
Shujaa puffed out her chest.
"The keenest of sight!" She said. Nguvu cocked his head.
"Oh, yeah?" He said. "And who's that?"
Shujaa smirked.
"Her." She said, looking up into a tree behind her friend. Nguvu yelped as he met the gaze of a leopard cub. She was perched in the tree. Her blue eyes curious, her white coat puffed out to keep herself warm in the shade.
"Hello, Shujaa!" She greeted, looking at the princess. "I haven't seen you since you and your father came here with the guard months ago!" The leopard cocked her head. "Kucha didn't attack you guys again, did he?"
Shujaa shook her head.
"No," she paused and shrugged. "Well, yes, but that's no why we're here this time. Kupanda, you have the best eyesight of any animal I've ever known!"
Kupanda purred, her tail tip twitching in delight.
"Why, thank you!" She meowed. "I don't think it's that good, but a compliment from you means a lot princess!"
Shujaa grinned. Nguvu rolled his eyes.
"Oh, brother!" He grumbled.
Shujaa ignored him. Kupanda jumped out of the tree and came over to sit by them. She was a little older than Shujaa. Probably closer to Nguvu's age. Kupanda gasped as she spotted the mark on the two lions shoulders.
"Why!" She cried. "Are you leader of the guard now?"
Shujaa held her head high.
"Yes." She said, unable to keep the pride from her voice. "I am. That's why I'm here. Like I said, you have the best eyesight of any animal in the land. I want you to be a part of the Lion Guard, as the keenest of sight."
Kupanda recoiled in shock.
"Me?" She said. "Be a part of the Lion Guard? But I'm not a lion!"
Shujaa shrugged.
"Who cares?" She said. "You're the best for the job. That's all that matters to me."
Kupanda sketched her paw through the dirt. She smiled shyly at Shujaa.
"If it means helping the Pridelands." She said. "I'd be honored to join. But… well, I can't guarantee I'll be perfect, but I'll do my best to please you Shujaa! Thank you for giving me this opportunity!"
Shujaa rested her paw against the kind leopard's shoulder. A glowing pink mark appeared.
Alright, Shujaa thought. Now only the bravest and fastest left to go!
"So," Shujaa said as the wild cats walked across the Pridelands. "I'm kinda lost. Does anybody know who the bravest is?"
"I barely know anyone in the Pridelands sides you and your family." Nguvu admitted. He was eyeing Kupanda distrustfully. "What about you, leopard?"
Kupanda was silent for a moment. She looked at Shujaa curiously.
"You don't care if they're not lions?" She asked.
Shujaa shook her head.
"Of course not!" She said. Kupanda smiled.
"In that case!" She said. "I have the perfect animal! Mfalme, he's a gray fox. He's the bravest guy I know!"
Shujaa looked thoughtful.
"Ok," she said. "Where does he live?"
Kupanda nodded with her head towards the Outlands.
"He lives near the border over there." She said.
"That's going to be a long walk." Nguvu grunted. Shujaa shrugged.
"We're the Lion Guard now." She said. "I guess we had better get used to walking."
"Mfalme!" Kupanda called as they came closer to the Outlands border. "Are you home?"
A gray muzzle poked out of an old aardvark den.
"Yeah?" He woofed. A face came out, followed by a body, then a fluffy tail. "What do you want? I was eating."
The fox smiled at Kupanda and Shujaa. He glared at Nguvu.
"Who are you?" He snarled, shoving his muzzle against the bigger animal's. Nguvu blinked in disbelief. He shoved the fox away from him.
"Name's Nguvu." He hissed. "And keep your sniffer to yourself, kid."
Mfalme was a bit younger than Shujaa. He had a dirt gray coat and hazel eyes. He seemed to be very brave…
But was he brave enough to be on the guard?
Only one way to find out.
"Mfalme!" Shujaa cried out. "The Backlanders are attacking and my father's been injured! I came for your help!"
Mflame gaped at her a moment. He leaped to his feet and started to bounce past them.
"Well!" He called over his shoulder. "What are you guys waiting for? Let's go help!"
Kupanda and Nguvu gazed at her in confusion.
"The Backlanders aren't really attacking are they?" Kupanda asked. Nguvu rolled his eyes.
"Of course not, stupid!" He sneered. "why did you tell him they were, Shujaa?"
Shujaa smirked.
"I needed to make sure he was the best for the guard." She said. Shujaa started after the fox. "Let's catch up with him! Then, I have a good idea of who the fastest is."
"Who?" Nguvu asked. Shujaa grinned at him.
"Who else?" She said. "Haraka the cheetah!"