It wasn't until late afternoon that Makini walked back to the four Guard members. She looked exhausted and as if she would close her eyes, she would fall asleep right on the spot.
"Okay," she yawned, looking at Kion. "I done my best, she needs as much-" but Kion ran past her, ignoring her words. "rest as possible," she sighed. "Don't start tearing of her bandage."
The lion slowed down, bend his head down to the cheetah's. "Fuli?" he whispered. "I'm sorry," he added, touching her eye. Makini had laid a large leaf over her scar, to cover for it. "None of this should had happen to you."
"You're both lucky," Makini said. "She needs rest, but I think she will be able to walk at some point. Her legs are really weak right now."
"And the cubs?" kion asked worried, looking alarmed at the mandrill.
Makini sighed. "Might be a miracle, but her belly wasn't harmed."
Kion sighed in relief. Loosing his wife would had been terrible, but if she had gotten the news, they weren't going to be parents, might be too much for her.
Bunga, Beshte and Ono approached. "Kion, we're-"
"It's okay, guys," Kion said moodily. "You can go now."
"You're sure you don't want us to stay?" Ono asked.
"No, I think we need some alone time," Kion replied, looking at the cheetah and not them. The friends nodded and walked away.
"I'll be up my tree if you need me," Makini said, patting he lion on the shoulder, before climbing the tree. The lion walked around Fuli, trying to see a spot where he could be comforting but not touch the cheetah too much. Eventually, he laid beside her and pressed his mane against her head. The cheetah moved, feeling the warmth. Kion caressed her back carelessly while looking sorrowfully at her.
"It's all my fault, please wake up, fool, I need you."
000
"So, you're the bitch who has been fooling around with our dad?"
"Shida!" Tasha said firmly. The four cubs had just returned from their patrol and had been informed by their family who the stranger was.
"I'm with Shida, sis," Akisi said. "Dad thought she was his friends, but she wanted something else from him, right?"
"I'm not saying what she did was right-"
"Then why won't you admit she is a bitch?" Shida asked.
"Because it's a too vulgarly word," Amara interrupted.
"Look, I understand your mad on me but-" Moto tried to defend herself.
"But still you thought you could flirt with my friend's wife," Vitani said, jumping down from the rocks she had been resting on. "And you told her he didn't wanted to see her!"
"I'm sorry, but-"
"But you still felt you needed to mock her. Yeah, she is not as strong as a lion, but she is ten times more worth than you!"
"Tani!" Nala interrupted. "I know you're angry, we all are. And you," she looked directly at Moto. "You stay away from my son."
Moto looked alarmed at her, backing away and eventually running out the cave.
"Where is mom and dad now?" Shida asked.
"At Makini," Nala replied. "But I don't think you four should go out now, it's getting late and your father probably want some alone time with her. Remember they got something to figure out."
"But we can handle ourself," Shida said, walking away but Akisi bit his tail.
"Grandma is right, Shida," Amara replied. "mom is pretty angry at him."
"But surely they are not going to apart from each other."
"We can only hope so," Tasha said, rubbing a paw on top of the cheetah's head.
000
Kion woke by someone kicking him. He heard distant screaming as well. He opened his sleepy eyes and saw Fuli in pain. She had her eyes close but was kicking madly into the air, like if she was being attacked by someone invisible.
"Noo, stay away from me!" she shrieked.
"Fuli, it's all right," Kion said, getting on his paws, trying to find a gap between the kicking to take her in his paws.
"Stay away from me!"
"Fuli, stop, I only want to help you," Kion assured, pulling the cheetah face into his paws, but Fuli pushed him away.
"Go away! I hate you!"
"Fuli, it's me, Kion," the lion said, trying to calm the cheetah.
"Get away from me!"
"Calm down, Fuli, you're having a nightmare, wake up!"
"No, leave me alone!"
Kion tightened his grip around her and for some reason the cheetah began to calm down. She breathed heavily. Even Kion could feel his heart racing even though he hadn't exorcised. Fuli's head felt flat onto his chest, sleeping heavily. Kion worriedly caressed her head. A terrible thought had just struck him. What if she never woke up or couldn't remember who he was? The terrible thoughts seemed never to end and kept him awake, while the cheetah purred in his paws, but eventually the tiredness overtook him and he, too fell asleep.
Dawn rose above the Pride Lands and Shida was early up, eager to pay his parents a visit.
"Come on, guys. Wake up!" the cheetah said giddily, pushing gently to his siblings.
"Shida, go back to sleep," Akisi said sleepily.
"Come on, guys, we're going to see our parents!"
"Shida," Tasha said, looking determined on the cheetah. "It's nice you want to see them, but I don't think we should disturb them already."
"Why not?" Shida asked hurt and a bit angry.
"Because they might not have worked out everything yet."
"What is there to work out?" Shida asked angrily. He felt annoyed his siblings was so careless about their parents. "You act like you don't want to see them."
"Course we want to see them," Amara assured. "We just think they should come to us."
"Why should they come to us?" Shida said annoyed. "You are so careless about them."
"Shida, course we care about them, it's just we don't want to visit them while they are "arguing"."
"Why should they be arguing!" Shida asked angrily.
"Because, you moron," Akisi said annoyed. "Mom and dad haven't had the best time lately."
"You act like they are going to break up," Shida hissed, feeling himself go red.
"No, we're not-"
"Fine, stay here and expect the worst, I'm going," the cheetah said, running out of the cave.
"That moron is always going to create trouble, he can't put himself aside, can he?" Akisi said annoyed.
"Akisi, that wasn't necessary to call him a moron," Amara said. "I understand him," she smiled. "Funny thing, being the next oldest of us and he is the one who miss his parents the most."
"We should go looking for him," Tasha said, looking worried at the cave.
"He'll be fine," Akisi said. "The worst thing that could happen if he fell down a gorge and fainted."
"Akisi, seriously," Amara spat. "I know he is difficult, but you're just as difficult."
"How so?"
"You act like you're the grown up when really you're in fact the youngest of us," Tasha teased.
"Very funny, you two," Akisi said annoyed, while his sisters sniggered.
000
Sunshine was shining on Fuli's scarred face. The light made her wake. She wanted to shield the light, by moving a paw up to block the light, but her paw too weak to even lift it. Her head felt dizzy and her eye hurt a lot. Odd how things still hurt when you're dead, she thought. She tried again to lift a paw to hold up to her eye, but felt it was blocked by something. Fuli opened her eyes and saw her vision was only half as wide as it used to be. She felt again and realized she had a leaf across it. She pulled the leaf from her eye. To her relief, she still could see but everything was quite blurry. She blinked and everything became visible again. She lifted her dizzy head but swayed and felt back onto soft mane. Very familiar soft mane. Her heart began to pound, and she smelled the scent of what she was leaning against to. As she had feared, it was the scent of her husband. She lifted her head again and turned it. Beside her was the large golden furred and flaming red maned lion lying beside her.
"No," Fuli said on the verge of tears. "Please, Kion you can't be dead as well."
She caressed his face with her weak paw. "The cubs need you, who's going to look after them? Oh, Kion, please don't be dead, you can't be here," she sobbed, pressing her head against his.
"He is not dead, and neither are you."
Fuli lifted her tearful head and looked at Makini.
"Makini?"
"You're very lucky to be alive, Fuli," the mandrill said, approaching her.
Fuli tried to get up, but her legs wouldn't let her.
"Easy, girl, you need to relax," Makini said, looking her into her eyes and mouth.
"I can't be here when he wakes!"
Makini prodded her belly and legs to test them.
"Ouch."
"You know a funny thing Kion told me last night? He told me you never spoked to him," Makini said firmly, looking at her strictly. "How can that be?"
"I tripped and hit my head," Fuli said angrily. "I didn't run away like a coward."
"Then there is no need to keep your husband waiting," Makini said, prodding to him with her stick.
"No, don't."
"Fuli, he got something to tell you and it's not my job to do it."
Kion yawned and opened his sleepy eyes. "What," he said sleepily, not realizing Fuli was awake.
"Is it true you want to leave Fuli over Moto?" Makini asked.
"Not this again! Honestly who told you this!" Kion said angrily.
"Your wife stills believe it," Makini answered, nodding towards Fuli.
"Fuli?" Kion questioned worried, looking to the side. She wasn't looking at him directly. She had her head bend down. "Fuli?"
She made eye contact. "hey, Kion," she said sheepishly, brushing a paw behind her ear.
"Fuli where did you go, I have been-" he said while getting up, approaching her, but as he did, Fuli moved backwards. Kion had his paw in midair to touch her. "Listen, Fuli, I'm really sorry I didn't go looking for you at once."
Fuli remained silent.
"I was angry because you, you know, you can make me crazy like no one else can," he added, smiling.
Fuli made a sound that sounded like a snigger and a snort. Kion reached his paw out to touch her cheek and she didn't move.
"Listen, Kion, I'm awfully sorry of what I called you, I should had known better, you would never do such things without me agreeing you having another-"
"I don't want any other."
"I shouldn't had called you a cheating bastard, because you're not. You're Kion!"
"Fuli, take it easy."
"I shouldn't had stayed at Jasiri for that long, I should had come home, I should had been understanding instead of stepping in shit. I should had-"
Kion placed his lips on hers to stop her talking. Fuli became soft at once by the lion's kiss. She reached out a paw to stroke his cheek, loving every second of it. She could feel herself get goosebumps and a warm feeling go down her body. Kion broke the kiss and looked at his blushing wife.
"You're blushing."
Fuli looked away by this comment, feeling embarrassed. "You don't know for how long I have wished for that," Fuli replied.
"I have kissed you many times."
"On my forehead," she pointed out, looking at him again. "A kiss on the mouth is just… something special."
She reached her lips up to his and kissed him. Kion could feel a warmth going down his spine. It took some time before she broke the kiss and this time it was Kion's turn to blush.
"That was-"
"Something special," the cheetah sniggered.
"And I see this is my keyword to go," Makini said, clapping her hands together.
"Would be nice with some privacy," Kion said embarrassed as he watched the mandrill climb her tree. He then turned his attention towards Fuli again, who stilled blushed.
"Listen, Fuli, I'm sorry I didn't go looking for you, I thought Moto had made a mistake, I forgave her. Yes, I know I shouldn't had done so, but I didn't have anyone to go to, not someone who would support me."
Fuli frowned at him.
"Yes, it was my mistake you ran away, but I thought you were the one who overreacted, but then that – that – that lioness came crawling back to me," Kion said angrily, exposing his claws. Fuli noticed and placed her paw on top.
"You're not the only one she fooled," she sighed, looking him deeply into the eyes. "I believed her. I thought you had found one who you deserved."
"Deserved?" Kion questioned. "I don't deserve anyone, not even you."
"I'm a cheetah, look just because I got the title as princess doesn't mean I'll ever be able to be a graceful wife."
"I don't want a graceful, snobby wife," Kion said, placing his other paw on top of hers.
"You still want to be together with one who called you a cheating bastard?" Fuli questioned puzzled.
"There are no one I rather have by my side," Kion smiled, stroking her cheek. "You weren't thinking straight."
Fuli frowned.
"I mean, you do tend to say things you regret afterwards."
"And you don't do?"
"Course I do, but-"
"You really hurt me, Kion. You began to see me fewer times and always arrived with a sneer. You remember you started out accusing me for not having enough courage to tell you, you spend too much time with Moto?"
"I was angry at myself."
"That's still not an excuse to throw your mistakes at me," Fuli said, looking down.
"I know, I'm sorry," he said, looking worried at her. Fuli didn't reply. He began licking her ears to cheer her up. "Wow, you're really been out in it, haven't you?" he questioned, feeling the dirt on his tongue. "You're really dirty," he added.
Kion?" Fuli asked worried, looking at him again.
"Yeah?"
"We are still going to have cubs, right?"
Kion sighed. "Makini said you were very looking the way you landed. The cubs didn't get harmed, but your leg on the other hand-"
"Never mind that," she sighed relief, pressing her nose against his. "We're going to be parents again.
With that comforting thought, he raised her up and pulled her onto his chest, starting to groom her face. He the paused.
"What?" Fuli questioned, smiling at him.
Kion reached a paw and stroke it across her eye. "Does it hurt?" he questioned.
Fuli brushed his paw away and smiled gently at him. "Not much."
He then smiled back and caressed her ear while Fuli gave him a kiss. They snuggled for some time without saying anything to each other, pressing their bodies tightly together.
"Kion, I have been thinking," Fuli said, looking somewhat worried.
"What is it, fool?"
"Well, I'm pregnant and Zira-"
"KION!" we need your help!"
Kion turned his head as much as he could to see who had interrupted Fuli. Ono was flying towards them.
"What is it, Ono?" Kion asked annoyed and a bit embarrassed.
Ono became suddenly aware he had busted in on something he shouldn't had. "Ehh, hi, Fuli. Great to see you're back," he greeted awkwardly, looking sheepishly away.
"Hi, Ono," Fuli said embarrassedly.
"What's so urgent? Can't the three of you not fix it, we we're in the middle of-" Kion went very silent, knowing what he meant sounded like something else.
Ono seemed to get the impression and became very embarrassed. A awkward tension grew between them.
"What is it you need our help to?" Fuli asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Ehh, a kudu has got his horns stuck in a tree," Ono replied, looking relived to have something else to think about than his friends' romantic life. "We tried to pull him, but he refused, He won't have Beshte pulling his horn, too afraid it will break the other one."
"Can't it wait?" Kion asked. "Fuli was about to tell me something."
"Just go, Kion," she sighed, sliding down from him. "It doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does, I can see your troubled," Kion said, bending his head down to hears. I won't leave before you have told me."
"Kion, just leave, duty before marriage, you know."
"Whenever did duty count before our marriage?" Kion asked, holding a paw under her chin.
"When we started dating, I thought it was awkward that we-"
"Well we are married, and we have never had a problem with duties stepping in the way," Kion comforted. "So, tell me what you have been thinking about."
Fuli looked sheepishly at him. "I tell you when you get back, you got something to look forward to," she replied awkwardly.
Kion gave her a grin and caressed her cheek before he went together with Ono. He hadn't come far when he paused and ran back to Fuli, giving her a big kiss on her mouth.
"I'll promise I'll be back soon," he said, caressing her cheek and then returning back to the egret. Fuli blushed madly, looking at her husband leave.
"Someone is in love?"
Fuli was brought out of her trance. "Makini?"
"You two seems to have found the spark again."
Fuli blushed even more, trying to hide by looking at the grass. "Well, he is tolerable. Sometimes," she confessed.
"And what are you? Bearable?"
"Very funny, Makini, look there is nothing in between us anymore, happy?"
"Yes, because you looked like a broken wreck yesterday, so I'm glad you have found each other, and Moto is not a problem anymore."
"Oh, I wasn't that bad," Fuli defended herself.
"Today you are, you haven't even seen your face," Makini teased.
"I got scars, okay, Kion was worried about it but it's not like I have to run, sobbing about it like Zuri did," Fuli said annoyed.
"And what about your legs?" Makini questioned. "Can you move them?"
"Course I can!" Fuli hissed, knowing it was a lie. She hadn't tried to stand up, but a creepy feeling had been lurking in the back of her head. It was a nasty feeling, telling her she couldn't feel them at all. "I'm The Fastest, I need my legs!"
"I'm just checking, if You need me, just call, I'll go back into my tree," Makini said, climbing her tree again.
Fuli looked nervously at the mandrill, like she knew she was lying. When the mandrill had gone, she looked at her legs and tried to move them.
"Come on!" she hissed. But whatever she did, her legs didn't move at all. "Get up!" she hissed. "URG!" Fuli hissed fiercely and smacked her paws into the grass. She hated to admit it, but she had lost something that made her feel special. Now she couldn't be a help to The Guard, neither a very good mother if her cubs wanted a race.
000
"You just stand back, lion!" the kudu said angrily, kicking after Kion.
"Please, I'm only here to help," Kion said, dodging the kick. "You said you wanted a second one pulling in your horn and here I am."
"You could bite it off!"
"So could Beshte, but you trust him completely," Kion frowned. "Is it because I'm a predator? And if you don't stay still, you will do it yourself," he commented, watching the kudu give another pull.
"Course I'm suspicious at you. Who marries someone who isn't even of the same kind?" the Kudu hissed.
Kion frowned even more. So did The Guard as well. "What are you referring to?" Kion asked puzzled.
"I'm telling you, you shouldn't go and marry someone who isn't the same kind as you!"
"If I recall correctly, you're the one kudu who harassed my wife a few seasons ago, right?" Kion questioned, in a sterner tone.
"I just said she shouldn't be messing with her superiors."
"Superiors?" Kion repeated. "Lions aren't superior to anyone."
"Who isn't who's ruling this land?" the kudu replied back. "Lions."
"But we don't call our superiors to anyone. We respect everyone as they are. From the crawling ants to the antelopes which we eat. That's how the circles go," Kion said proudly. "If you have a problem with me being married to someone I love, you can get used to being stuck in that tree," Kion replied coldly, beginning to turn around.
"I thought The Lion Guard helped the ones who can't defend themselves," the kudu mocked.
"We do, but you are still able to defend yourself with those legs. But we just don't help them who mocks other for their choices," Kion said wisely, giving the kudu a single glance.
"Kion you can't just leave," Bunga said.
"I can, right now Fuli is alone and I should had been comforting her, but right now I'm arguing with a kudu who mocked my wife, so I don't see a need to help."
"But you can't let me be, it's not right," the kudu said, sounding frustrated. "I'm an easy catch for a predator without defending myself."
Kion watched the kudu thoughtfully. "Okay, lets strike a deal. If I help you, you will apologize to my wife and keep your opinions to yourself."
The kudu made a snort. "Fine, I'll apologize to her."
Kion returned, pulled his jaw around the kudu's horn, so did Beshte with the other horn.
"Ready?"
Beshte made a nod. Both of them began to pull and slowly the kudu's horns were released from the tree.
The kudu looked awkwardly on The Guard, as if he was keeping away from thanking them.
"I'll apologize to your wife next time I see her."
"No, you will come with me now," kion replied firmly. "You keep your part of the deal today, and then you can continue to sulk."
The kudu snorted. "Fine," he agreed and began to walk.
000
Fuli was resting and boring herself while she carelessly ripped the grass up from the ground, as if it had mortally offended her. The fact she couldn't stand on her legs haunted her deeply, but then her eyes noticed something in the distance. They narrowed. Someone was approaching her in high speed. Was it Kion who was back already? The shape became more visible and the red mane was there, but the shape had her spots. She got up in a stand position.
"Mom!"
"Shida?"
The maned cheetah ran towards her.
"Mom, I was worried," the cheetah said, his eyes looked like they have cried. "The others didn't want to come. You haven't been up fighting, have you," he added, looking around for his father. "You got a scar!"
Fuli hugged Shida very tightly. "Oh, I thought I should never see the five of you again," she said, stroking a paw down his spine. "No, you father and I haven't been fighting."
"Let go, mom!" Shida said, gasping for air.
"Sorry," Fuli apologized, releasing him and brushed awkwardly her paw behind her ear. "And yes, I got a scar, so that means I'm your evil mom, now, so you four better watch it."
"Very funny, ma," Shida said. "So, you're not going to break up?"
Fuli looked alarmed and puzzled at the same time. Her cubs had certainly let their theories run wild. "No, of course not," she said, blushing. "Your dad and I tend to argue sometimes, but we're not breaking apart from each other."
"Oh," Shida said, blushing as well. "The others thought you were still arguing about last time," he said awkwardly.
"No, we have moved on. You dad and I don't have a bone to pick with each other," Fuli said, gently caressing her son's cheek.
"I just thought-" Shida began but stopped.
"Let me groom you, your mane is a mess, honestly your dad can't keep a hold on you four when I'm not there," Fuli said, starting to groom the cheetah's head.
"Eww, mom, I can clean myself," the cheetah said, moving his head out of her reach.
"Then you certainly haven't taken a look at your reflection. Honestly, how do you expect to attrack any girls like that?" Fuli said.
"Mom!"
"Your main is out of control, honestly it's worse than your father's."
Shida stopped resisting and let Fuli do her work.
"Seems like dad is bringing a visitor," Shida pointed out.
Fuli stopped grooming her son. "What?" she said, looking at the horizon.
"Look, he's bringing fresh food with him," Shida joked.
"Shida!" Fuli said, giving her cub a bob on the nose. "That was very rude."
"What, I'm hungry."
"So am I," Fuli said, only realizing how hungry she was. "But that doesn't mean we can call antelopes we aren't hunting for food."
"Shida, what are you doing here?" Kion asked when he had come close enough. He licked his head as a sign of love.
"Kion, you're messing up my work," Fuli said, kissing the lion on the cheek."
"Can we get this over with," said the kudu grumpily.
Fuli looked puzzled at the kudu and then at Kion. "Shida, would you leave us three alone?" she asked kindly but firm as well.
"But you said you hadn't anything to argue about?"
"We don't," Fuli replied, giving her husband a stern look.
"Fine," Shida said, turning around and running away.
"Explain yourself," Fuli said firmly to the lion when Shida had gone. "Why have brought a kudu with you?"
"He is going to give you an apology you deserve," Kion said, stepping a bit backwards from her wife's penetrating look.
"Like I care for his apology, why did you even find him?"
"He was the kudu who was stuck in the tree," Kion said quickly. "I stroked a deal with him-"
"Honestly I don't care for your apology," Fuli said, looking at the kudu.
"But your husband insisted," the kudu replied. "I'm sorry if I offended you but I don't get how two different cats can find love."
"Apology accepted, and you don't have to understand, just accept it," Fuli said firmly. "Now please go, I have something to discuss with my husband."
The kudu sneered at the cheetah and walked pridefully away, as if to show his superiority.
"Kion why couldn't you let it go?"
"Because he insulted you and me."
"But you really shouldn't care," Fuli said. "Why couldn't you just have helped him out of the tree and not stepped further in it?"
"Stepped further in it?" Kion repeated. "Fuli, I was defending your honor."
"More like your own," Fuli said hurt. "Just accept that some don't like our relationship and live with it, because I really don't care for what they have to say."
Kion looked into the ground, feeling like a cub getting a lesson from her mom. "I just wanted him to apologize," he said weakly.
Fuli changed from stern to comforting. She caressed his cheek. "I'm grateful for having such a caring husband like you, but sometimes you are a little too much, now be that that caring husband again and get me something to eat."
"Wait, wait, hold up. First you got to tell me what Ono prevented you from telling me," Kion said, brushing her paw away.
"Can't it wait," Fuli sighed.
"No, you tell me now, or you can get your meal yourself," Kion said, walking around her.
"I can't."
"That's just too bad, I'll guess you have to starve," Kion teased, not realizing his wife was hurt by his words.
"I can't, Kion, I can't feel my legs. I can't feel them at all!" she confessed. "I can't walk!"
Kion stopped dead. "What do you mean you can't feel your legs? Not the slightest?" he asked worriedly.
"No, I can't even move in sitting position, even though I want to," Fuli sighed, looking down into the ground.
"Maybe something else will work," Kion said optimistically, stepping close to her. "You know what else I regrated when you were alone?"
"What?" Fuli asked tearfully.
"I didn't push you," Kion teased. "I was your caring husband. I should had been your fierce as well."
"What are you talking about?" Fuli asked perplexed.
"Get up on your paws, fool."
"I can't!"
"Get up on them," Kion ordered. "I can't use one who can't stand on her paws."
"Kion, I can't!"
"Yes, you can, I know you can. Now get that ass up from the ground," Kion ordered.
"Kion, I can't, okay! I can't walk, I can't run, I'm paralyzed!" Fuli hissed angrily.
Kion just smirked at her. "Will you take a look at yourself," Kion said teasingly, circling around her again.
Fuli looked down and to her amazement she had managed to get on her paws. "How did you-"
She tried to lift her leg and it did move, but she became very unsteady without it's support.
"Easy, fool," Kion said, getting over to support her. "No need to walk now, I'll get your meal. What do you prefer? Gazelle? Zebra?"
"Just something for both of us to share," Fuli replied, sitting down again.
"Of course, love," the lion said cheekily, kissing her on the cheek before disappearing. Fuli looked by, feeling amazed how she had managed to get on her paws and guilty for not telling him the whole truth.
Kion returned at sun set with a dead zebra. "Here you go, love, plenty for both of us," he greeted.
Fuli smiled and began to eat, so did the lion. They had eaten a lot before Fuli gave her husband a compliment on his found.
"Mmm, it's tastes wonderful when you're starving," Fuli said, chewing on a large chunk. She swallowed and was about to take another bite when she was reminded of what she should had told him. She looked uncertain at him.
"Eat, fool, you can't already be full?" Kion said, chewing merrily on the meat.
"Kion, I have been thinking," she began.
Kion looked up. "About what?" he asked with his mouth full.
"You know, I'm pregnant and Zira thinks I'm dead," Fuli breathed in. "I want it to stay like that," Fuli said guiltily, fearing the reaction from the lion.
Kion began to choke on his meat and swallowed it fast. "You what?" he asked alarmed.
"Kion, she – she was the one who killed my mother," Fuli confessed, feeling a tear slide down her cheek.
"Oh, fool," Kion said, hugging her and stroking his large paw down her spine. "I'm so sorry to hear that.
"I should had known she was unsafe, we should had protected her as well," Fuli sobbed. "It's all my fault."
"SShh, honey," Kion said caringly. "You couldn't have for seen this. None of us could."
"But I did, I saw her in my vision, Kion!" she sobbed in panic.
"Your vision didn't show her actions, just her return."
Fuli sobbed even more. "Zira – she did it for a reason. She wanted me broken and she got it, but she hadn't expected you to find love in someone else, getting me back on track."
"She didn't expect another bad thing could get you back?" Kion joked.
"No," Fuli cried. "That's why I want to stay low, I don't want to bring the cubs in danger."
"Fuli, they can protect themselves, and they are not stupid enough to duel Zira," Kion comforted.
"I meant the unborn cubs, Kion," Fuli said, looking into his eyes. "I don't want her to come after them, I can't live with the fear knowing she might go after them. I know it's a lot to aske from you, but I want her to think I'm dead."
Kion stroked her back weirdly, digesting her point. "If that's what you want, fool, I'll try my best."
"I know it's a lot to aske from, Kion, but you would be scared too, if you were in my seat," Fuli cried.
"I'm always scared for you," he confessed.
"I know that, but you're not the one giving birth to, Great Kings, knows how many cubs," Fuli sighed, relaxing and laying down.
Kion did the same thing and Fuli nuzzled herself against him, yawning.
"There is something else that scared me too," Kion confessed.
"What?" Fuli yawned.
"Last night you had a nightmare," kion confessed. "You kicked everywhere, it looked like you were fighting someone invisible," Kion confessed. "You said, "go away" and "I hate you"," he added, looking sadden.
Fuli looked shocked at him. "I was probably dreaming about Zira. She caressed my belly the creepiest way you could imagine. She's such a creepy lioness," Fuli said hurt.
"Lay that behind you, fool," Kion comforted, kissing her. "You need some sleep."
Fuli closed her eyes again and laid her head into Kion's mane, getting ready to sleep.