The following day arrives as the sun slowly rised from the horizon. The African landscape hasn't been touched by the light of the sun yet and Makosa is first out of the lions' den. He walked up near the edge of Pride Rock and looked down below. His task for today is to patrol his territory, an idea of his that came up last night inside his thoughts with the suspicions of Kiara seeing Kovu or someone else.

Makosa came down from Pride Rock and started his patrol along the borders of the Pridelands. He didn't do so with haste as he had all the time in the world.

The sun came shining through the cave and into Nala's face. It irritated her and forced her to get up and face the day. She lifted her head off the ground and stretched herself. She noticed that Makosa has gone out already. It was strange to her that he was the first the leave the cave. Although it was confusing for her, she looked at the bright side and thought that without Makosa she could find the time to have a peaceful moment without someone she hated constantly bugging her.

Nala stepped out and went near the edge as usual. She admired the landscape being given light by the sun. The wind gently flows through her giving out fresh air. She starred off into the distance and contemplated. Like the usual of hers, she liked the morning breeze, it calms her and brings down her anxieties. If only it could end their current situation.

Nala was sitting at where usually Simba stands, infront of the kingdom for everyone to see. She could still remember the day that he became king and officially made her the queen, it was a time to be cherished for her. Although they were memorable the things that remind her of Simba seemed to ruin her positive mood. She tries to ignore it and focus on something, but failed to do so. She had her head down thinking of anything that will distract her.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of their den, came Kiara who just recently woke. She stretched her body and saw her mother by the edge. She proceeded to approach her. Kiara could feel her mother going through some deep emotions and on the verge of a breakdown.

"Good morning." Kiara greeted in a gentle tone.

"Oh, Kiara, you're up. You too. I'm just admiring the view up here." Nala was slightly startled.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine, there's nothing more I like than getting to see my beautiful daughter."

"Mom, I get that we're going through alot right now, but we have to keep it together. Who knows maybe someone will help us."

Kiara reassured her mother, she wanted her mother to be at her best attitude, as it hurts her to see her being like this.

"I know. Thanks for being here for me honey." Nala nuzzled Kiara.

"Not just me. Vitani, Shika, Kiburi and the entire pride are here for you and we'll always be loyal."

Nala chuckled at Kiara's immense positivity.

"Alright, c'mon let's get to the watering hole."

Nala walked passed Kiara after their short but sweet conversation. It felt like a huge achievement to Kiara that she made her mother feel positive. And so, Nala and Kiara stepped down from Pride Rock and headed to the water hole to get a drink.

Moving over to Simba and his gang, everyone else was still in their slumber with the exception of Rafiki. He saw the light of the sun shine on his face. He smiled happily as the view of the open savannah was always the first thing he sees every morning.

Rafiki then stood and stretched his body and prepared himself for the new day. He picked a fruit from the tree and raised it up high in his head as he opens it in half with his bare hands. It was nothing special for him of course.

After his first meal of the day, he placed the remains of the fruit on a stack of previous fruits he had picked over the passed few days. He then climbed on top of the tree and felt the morning breeze. The wind came and to Rafiki, the wind represented Mufasa in his beliefs, a king he is ever loyal to.

"Ah, good morning to you too, Mufasa." Rafiki said as the wind flew by.

Unfortunately this was cut short as he sees a lion in the distance, it was Makosa. He could not see who it was but all he could see is a maned lion. It alarmed him as he only knew two lions with manes, Simba and Kovu. Rafiki quickly got down from his tree and tried to wake up Simba and everyone else.

As Makosa patrolled along the borders, his sight spotted a boabab tree with activity going on. It looked like a monkey to him, he became of suspicious of it and inspected the area.

"Wake up!" Rafiki exclaimed.

"What is it?" Kovu asked and still in a tired tone.

"A lion approaches!"

"That's probably him." Simba said.

"Makosa? What's he doing here?" Kovu asked.

"I do not know, but you should get out of here before he sees all of you."

"Ok, Timon, Pumbaa, get as far away as you can from here. Come back after an hour." Simba ordered.

"We're on it already." Timon and Pumbaa suddenly left, leaving only dust that resembled their outlined bodies.

"What will you do." Rafiki asked.

"Do the same thing. Kovu, help me up will ya?"

As Makosa closes on Rafiki's tree, he could hear distant voices, he became much more suspicious and curious every step on the way.

Kovu tries to help Simba as he can but with Simba's injury, it made the process slow and they wouldn't have time to get far enough to not be seen. Fortunately there was a nearby boulder.

"We'll hide behind there." Kovu suggested.

"No, we keep moving, we'll get far enough."

"That's gonna take too long, we have no choice." He Replied.

Rafiki went back to his tree and hoped that Simba and Kovu had got far away in time. He opened up a few boabab fruits from his tree and spilled the juice on where Simba and Kovu had recently been to cover their scents. For now he'll do what he does best, enlightening. It's good as being a helpful and inspirational message and also making a distraction. He waits for Makosa's arrival.

Makosa arrived and is curious to why his destination was met with silence. He thought to go around the tree to inspect but is visited by Rafiki hanging upside down on a branch. It startled him for a moment.

"A visitor I see." Rafiki started.

"Who are you?" Makosa asked.

"That is not important, the real question is who are you?"

"I am the king." He answered.

"The king? You are not the king, there is only one king I am loyal to, and that is King Sim-"

"Simba's gone, I'm the new king." He interrupted Rafiki.

"Oh... Why was I not told about this?" Rafiki pretended to be surprised.

"It just happened real fast, nothing special." Makosa nonchalantly replied.

Makosa went around the tree as he looked for anything suspicious and the splatter of boabab juice on the ground seemed like one to him.

"What's up with the red color on the ground?"

"Accident." Rafiki got down from the tree and stood upright with his staff.

"What do you do around in the Pridelands?" Makosa continued.

"I am a friend of the royal family of Pride Rock."

"I see, so you take orders from anyone in the royal family?"

"In some cases, yes."

Makosa and Rafiki continued to chatter, Kovu and Simba were behind the boulder and remained silent. They are dangerously close to Makosa, they could hear the two converse with each other. Simba thought to listen with their conversation.

"You seem new to the Pridelands, where are you from and what brings you here?" Rafiki asked.

"I come from the far south." Makosa answered.

"What do you plan to do for now?"

"I only need to wait."

"Wait for wh-" Rafiki was once agian interrupted.

"Say, have you seen anyone with the name "Kovu?" He quickly changed the subject.

Kovu overheard what he said.

"He's looking for me?" Kovu whispered.

"Just keep your mouth shut." Simba interjected.

"Prince Kovu? Yes, I have."

"Mind telling me where he is?"

"I would tell you if I knew. But I have not seen him for several days." Rafiki lied.

"You see I exiled him a few days ago, but I've been getting the feeling that he hasn't left."

"Oh, well I have not seen him since." He answered.

There was a short pause between them, Makosa was trying to read his face whether Rafiki was lying or not. Rafiki remained calm and acted like as if he knows nothing.

"Alright. I best be going now."

"Farewell."

As Makosa was about continue his patrol, Simba and Kovu felt relieved, but unfortunately Kovu accidentally let out an audible sigh of relief. He quickly covered his mouth. Rafiki was startled and Makosa over heard and looked back.

"Did you do that?"

"Did what?" He replied and pretended that he didn't hear anything.

Rafiki's reply to Makosa made him very curious. He couldn't tell whether he's lying or not. So he looked around at his surroundings and took a guess where would someone hide. A nearby boulder caught his attention and it seemed convenient. He became suspicious. He thought that someone would be hiding behind it.

"That rock seems convenient. Would you hide something behind that?"

"I keep every item I own in my tree."

Simba and Kovu were incredibly nervous and afraid. Simba tried to be as silent as he could and Kovu was in a pouncing position preparing himself for the worst. Makosa started to slowly walk towards the boulder. Rafiki stood by his tree, unable to do anything as it would only show that he's hiding something. He could only pray and hoped for a miracle.

Makosa was only a few feet from the boulder and to finding Simba and Kovu. Rafiki was afraid to what might happen next. He thought of every possible scenario to distract Makosa but all of them led to the discovery of Simba and Kovu and also may start a fight. Makosa was preparing himself to pounce and so was Kovu. They were at point blank range, the only thing that remains is one's offense.

Luckily, a distant call of Rafiki's name was heard. It was Kiara returning for another visit. Makosa heard it as well and quickly turned his attention to Kiara.

"Rafiki? Where are you?" Kiara called.

Rafiki quickly ran to her.

"Rafiki, where are-" Kiara got cut off.

"Kiara! I see you're back for another day." Rafiki exclaimed.

"What's she doing here?" Makosa appeared behind the tree.

"Well, she is here for our... daily talk." Rafiki said and walked up towards Makosa.

"Daily talk?" Makosa asked.

"Yes, you see I am not only a friend of the royal family, but I am also approachable when you need someone to talk to. Isn't that right Kiara?" Rafiki referred to Kiara while subtlety winking at her.

Kiara was confused for a moment but soon got the idea once she saw the "message" of Rafiki.

"Oh right, yeah. I... um.. been talking to Rafiki lately. I just needed someone to talk to that's all."

"Right."

There was a brief of silence but soon was broken by Rafiki.

"For you, Makosa, I suggest you resume this patrol of yours. This talk of ours needs privacy." Rafiki persuaded.

"Goodbye then, nice meeting you by the way." Makosa started to walk away and continued his patrol.

"Yes, you too." Makosa had already made distance between them and Rafiki continued the act just to be sure to not raise any suspicions.

"Come, Kiara let us continue our talk." Rafiki guided Kiara to the other end of the tree.

"Okay, what's going on?" Kiara asked.

"Ssshhh! Wait here."

Rafiki climbed up his tree to watch Makosa as he leaves. He watched him go to make sure he doesn't return. Moments later, he got down from the tree to meet Kiara.

"That was close. Thank the great kings that you came Kiara."

"I don't understand any of this, where's everyone?" He asked in a concerned tone.

"We're right here, Kiara." Simba answered with Kovu assisting him.

"Oh thank the great kings." She said in relief.

"That was a close one." Kovu said.

"Yeah, it was. It could've ended much worse. Kovu here nearly got us caught."

"Sorry about that." Kovu shrugged.

"It's alright. What matters is we're safe."

"Where's Timon and Pumbaa by the way?" Kiara asked.

"They'll come back in an hour." Simba replied.

A few moments ago they were nearly caught by Makosa. If it weren't for Kiara coming over it would've ended in a terrible way. They got incredibly lucky. Their nerves were still wracking from earlier, but soon after they calmed down and carried on with Kiara announcing the events going on in Pride Rock with the front page of Makosa's patrol.

But it's only the beginning.

END OF CHAPTER

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