Chapter 2: A Proper Home
For the first time in years, Kopa actually felt relaxed. The scarred lion sighed in relief, savoring the Tree of Life's healing power as Nirmala carefully placed vines across his deep scars.
"Ahhhh." Kopa wished this healing session would never end.
"That's it, feel the Tree's energy revitalize you." Nirmala's warm voice helped him ease up and forget his years of agony. After an hour of healing, Kopa left the Tree feeling utterly rejuvenated.
"How are you feeling?" Makini asked as he came out.
"Good, very good." Kopa shook himself and looked up at the morning sun, breathing in the fresh air. However, his mood immediately shifted when he saw the various young ones and their parents.
"Be good for Makini, and no running off again." Fuli said sternly to her son as she set him down beside Ike, Rae, and the others. He tried to look away, only to see Saka with Rani.
"Make sure you listen carefully this morning, Saka. You're going to be King one day, and that's a big responsibility."
"I'll do my best, mom." Rani smiled tenderly before nuzzling her son.
"I know you will. Later today, you and Prince Tamu will get to spend time with your father at the canyon."
Vitani stretched as she walked past the tree and noticed Kopa. She nervously pondered, approaching him until noticing the lion's somewhat painful demeanor while he watched Saka with his mother.
"Hey, are you ok?" Kopa glanced back at Vitani, trying to hide his feelings.
"I'm fine. The tree helped."
"You don't look ok. Is something bothering you?"
"I'm just hungry. I wasn't able to eat yesterday."
"There's a hunting ground in the savanna, I can show you-" Vitani started with a hopeful expression at the idea of going on a hunt with Kopa.
"It's fine. The Night Lions showed me where it is."
"Ohhh. Ok, enjoy your hunt." Kopa left without a word, leaving a disappointed Vitani. Kion slowly approached from behind. He, too, watched Kopa with conflicted emotions, though not for the same reason as Vitani. For he didn't even consider the possibility she did.
"Vitani, do you have a second?"
"Huh? Oh, sure Kion."
"Vitani, before we train today, I want to clear the air. You need to know there are no more hard feelings over what happened months ago."
Vitani slowly turned towards Kion and saw his entire Guard had assembled around him.
"I hope we didn't hurt your feelings yesterday." Fuli said sincerely.
"Yeah, you're more than welcome here." Beshte added.
"Don't be anxious over it anymore. We're all Guardians here." Anga said.
"You've more than made up for it." Ono added.
"We all make mistakes. I mean, Duke Advik's Guard attacked us once. Now we're as thick as thieves with them." Bunga assured Vitani while patting her leg. Hearing them say this raised Vitani's spirits immensely.
"Thanks, that's good to know." With this sense of encouragement, she looked back at Kopa as he walked towards the desert hunting grounds.
"We're not training until later, right?"
Kion nodded, not noticing Vitani's expression as she stared at Kopa. Fuli and Anga, however, did.
"I might do some hunting first."
"Alright, I'll see you at the canyon."
As Kion led his King's Guard towards the Northern border, Fuli and Anga smirked at each other with sly expressions.
"I think she might be hunting for lions." Fuli whispered.
"More like one lion in particular."
Elsewhere in the savanna, Baliyo and Afia returned from their Night Pride duties and a morning hunt. Idan and Kanda, having already gone back to Tian at the Tree. Baliyo and Afia walked past many Night Lions and lionesses, slowly getting up from their resting places by a waterfall. The steady flow of water providing the lions with a tranquil sensation.
"Morning Baliyo, Afia." A Night Lioness yawned while stretching.
"Morning." Baliyo replied.
"How was the patrol, any trouble?" Another lioness asked.
"Just a territorial herd. Is my mom awake?" The two lionesses and a few nearby lions gave uneasy looks.
"She's awake."
Afia and Baliyo looked at each other in concern.
"How is she?"
"...Her usual self."
Afia and Baliyo slowly approached the waterfall and a hidden patch of grass near the pool. An older lioness rested in the grass, remaining still, dull to the world around her. Her face held no light, no spirit, only lament.
"Mom." Afia said softly as she and Baliyo approached her. Imani slowly lifted her head, and the slightest smile formed.
"Afia, Baliyo." The two young-adult Night Liones took turns nuzzling Imani.
"We had a good night. With only one territorial herd, we had time to help a pack of aardvark through some rough terrain."
"That's good. I'm glad you're both doing well." Imani's voice held no real happiness and barely any life.
"We brought you some meat. Hare, your favorite." Afia set the body down before her mother, but the lioness showed no interest.
"The baby is still coming along well." Baliyo added, finally raising Imani's spirits a little.
"That's right." Afia quickly allowed her mother to nuzzler her stomach for a minute, seeing the life restored to Imani's face.
"Don't let anything happen to them. Please." Tears filled Imani's eyes, and Afia quickly nuzzled her mother again, trying desperately to comfort her. Even years later, she'd never truly recovered from losing her mate and son.
Kopa eventually reached the desert hunting ground where a few Barbary lions and leopards carefully stalked the massive herds within the fertile area that needed thinning.
Kopa looked around for a spot not taken by other predators until he found one. A group of ibex ruffed each other up near a vegetation patch, growing increasingly violent while pushing the smaller ibex back so they could eat first.
Kopa honed in on the one acting the most rambunctious and stayed absolutely still, waiting for the right moment. However, just before he could pounce, Kopa saw her. Vitani loomed over the ibex from a low ridge above them.
The lioness smirked down at Kopa, who glared back up in annoyance. However, there was nothing to be done now, so he emphasized the largest ibex.
Waiting for the right moment, when the wind blew towards his prey, Kopa roared and charged right for his intended target. The other ibex fled in panic while Kopa forced the large one towards the ridge, trapping him.
The ibex tried to huff and stand his ground, but Kopa proved too intimidating, and he instead looked for any way out but had no chance. Vitani pounced down from the ridge and slammed the ibex into the sand, ending him with a quick bite to the back of his neck.
"Hmp, not bad for a jungle lion." Vitani chukled.
Kopa continued to glare at her.
"What are you doing here?" He growled.
"I'm hungry, and Rani told me the herds here need thinning the most. A few are starting to get sick from overpopulation." She said, trying to sound innocent, though Kopa didn't buy it.
"This should've been my kill!"
"Well, it's ours now. We can share, or I could help you catch another."
Kopa sighed, not noticing Vitani's eagerness, for she was perfectly fine with either outcome.
"There must be more nearby. Come on." Vitani quickly placed her kill somewhere it would be safe before racing after Kopa. The two carefully tracked another group of ibex near an oasis and began patiently waiting for the opportune moment.
"So, feeling any better?"
"Mostly." Kopa admitted, making Vitani look back at him with slight concern.
"Mostly?"
"Not all wounds can be seen."
Vitani lowered her head slightly.
"I know what you mean." Vitani laid down against the sand as painful emotions began to afflict her again. Kopa tried to focus on his prey but saw Vitani's expression. As much as he wanted to keep on the hunt, he felt compelled to do something.
"You said you're family with King Kion. How's that?"
"My brother is mates with his sister."
"...So you're close with your family then?" Kopa tried not to sound resentful. However, he saw the pain in Vitani's face get a bit worse.
"What's left of them."
"What?"
"...My mother's dead, so is one of my brothers. I never knew my father."
Kopa heard the pain in Vitani's voice and sympathized. The lioness saw him bring his head down closer, nearly making her blush.
"I understand. I lost my family a long time ago. I'm not even sure I'd recognize them if I saw them or if they even thought about me before they passed.."
Vitani shook her head.
"Don't say that. Besides, it's not all bad. My brother has a cub now, and he's the sweetest thing. Plus, with his mate, I actually have a sister." Vitani began to smile again. However, she noticed that Kopa's demeanor didn't improve. The lioness felt stupid as she forgot the last bit of what he said.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Don't be. They died a long time ago."
"Are you sure they're dead?"
Kopa nodded.
"I need to move on."
Vitani didn't know how she became so bold but decided to throw caution to the wind with her next question.
"So you want to have a family of your own one day?"
Kopa didn't notice her expression and merely sighed again.
"I don't know...I'm not sure I could handle the pain of losing anyone else. Maybe it's for the best I just live in peace as long as I can and then move on in the circle of life."
"Hey! Don't talk like that! We all have our trauma, but life is for living!" Vitani nudged against Kopa, who looked a bit surprised at her renewed vigor.
"Now, are you going to wallow or hunt with me?" Vitani growled while emphasizing the ibex, who now got very close to their hiding place. Much to Vitani's delight, she saw life return to Kopa, and he got into a pouncing stance.
"So what's your plan, jungle boy?"
Kopa narrowed his eyes back at a smirking Vitani, though in good spirit.
"We come in from two different directions and surround the big one. Whenever his attention shifts to one of us, the other closes in."
"Hmm, not the worst idea. Alright, if you think you can pull it off."
The two lions waited another few moments, and then when the biggest ibex lowered his head to drink, they roared and surged from their hiding place. The other ibexes scattered, leaving Kopa and Vitani to encircle their prey. This ibex huffed and kept his horns lowered, but the lions moved towards his flanks from two directions. Just as they planned, each time he turned to face one, the other moved closer, until finally, Kopa seized the moment and pounced into his side, slamming the ibex down.
Vitani tried to help, but it proved unnecessary. Kopa's hunting style was just like his fight the other day, brutal yet efficient. The scarred lion exhaled, still feeling an adrenaline rush.
"Not bad." Vitani chuckled.
A few minutes later, they both ate their ibex on top of a dune with a few barbary lions doing the same nearby.
"So, how do you like your new home so far?"
Kopa looked around at the desert region, which teemed with life and prosperity. Once outside the hunting grounds, the animals lived without fear or brutality in a harmonic cycle.
"It's certainly a nice change of pace."
"So this jungle was the Kivuli Jungle then?" Vitani jested. However, judging by the way Kopa reacted, she was starting to wonder if maybe he was from that accursed place.
"Is your kingdom like this?"
"It is. Maybe now quite as big or diverse in its environment, but I think you'd be just as happy there." Vitani tried not to sound eager, but it didn't matter. Kopa merely shook his head.
"It was quite a journey just getting here. I don't think I'll be leaving anytime soon."
Vitani sighed before returning to her food.
"So what is your plan then? Just live out your life here?"
"...Maybe. I suppose you enjoy a sense of accomplishment being the head of a Guard."
Vitani began to smile again and stood up with a proud demeanor.
"That's right. I help protect the Kingdom and everyone in it. My Lion Guard is probably the most effective in the world."
Kopa smirked
"Really, then why have I only heard about the Tree of Life's legendary King's Guard."
Vitani narrowed her eyes.
"We've done just as much as Kion and his companions! We fought in his northern crusade too! I even killed one of Radcliffe's Lieutenants, Shetani the merciless!" Vitani boasted.
"Well, I suppose that is something. Still, if you're here to learn from Kion-"
"That's only because he's had the Roar longer than me! I swear if my lionesses were here, they'd show you just how good we are!"
Kopa's grin widened.
"I suppose you'd need all of them to impress me."
"Meaning what exactly?" Vitani growled.
"Nothing." Kopa returned to his food, but Vitani soon stood on top of the body.
"You think you could beat me in a fight, don't you!"
"No, I don't 'think' that." He smirked, making Vitani growl.
"Alright then, let's see!" Vitani swiped at Kopa with both paws and then snapped her fangs at the scarred lion. However, he moved forward and down, coming up beneath Vitani before using his immense strength to slam the lioness into the sand.
Despite this, Vitani furiously tried to force herself up with further claw strikes and bites. However, even when she got to her feet, Vitani found herself slammed backward by Kopa's sheer strength and surprising speed. The lioness almost became terrified by his ferocity, one again, reminding her of the way Radcliffe fought.
However, when Kopa placed his jaws around Vitani's neck, he only gently pressed his teeth down to prove he'd won.
"You were saying." Kopa chuckled, not noticing Vitani's bright red and bashful expression. He got up, and she quickly regained her composure.
"Well, you've got some skill."
"Right, well, I suppose that means I'm stronger than Shetani the merciless." Kopa chuckled.
"I was taking that fight seriously. Whenever I do my duty, I take the fights really seriously. Doing good for others is when your real character comes out."
"...I suppose that's true."
Vitani noticed Kopa's demeanor shift slightly, but before she could say anything, they noticed Rani and her Queen's council enter the desert. Saka and Lyra walked together between their mothers, observing them as they tended to the Kingdom.
Kopa laid down again as he watched her with growing interest as Rani and her council reached a group of fennec foxes.
"I wonder if the Queen is going to be diplomatic or use force. I hope it's the latter." Vitani chuckled, remembering with fondness how efficiently the Night Lioness Queen dealt with unruly subjects who became dangerous and didn't listen to reason.
"Your majesty, the rosy boas took our burrows again!" The lead fox muttered in frustration. Rani narrowed her eyes while looking at the various holes before them.
"Binga."
The honey badger gave an eager smile before cracking her neck.
"I've got this!" Binga burrowed her way underground, and a minute later, she tossed a frightened snake up with her jaws. After three minutes, all six snakes lay before them.
"Uhhh, your majesty." The lead snake hissed nervously.
"We've been through this before. You can't take other animals' burrows!"
"But we have no choice! The Tawny Eagles fly over our usual paths! We'll get picked off!"
Rani sighed before turning to Cadoc.
"Tell the leader of the Tawny eagles to get meet me near the center oasis. I'll have a word with him. As for you, stay out of their burrows!" Rani growled. At that, the snakes slithered away, allowing the foxes to return home.
"Thank you, your majesty!" The foxes bowed eagerly.
"You see Princess Lyra, Prince Saka. Problems aren't always as simple as one group doing something bad." Old George said as the cubs nodded.
"He's right. For all, we know the eagles might have a reason for flying where they do." Rani said with a dutiful.
"What happens if it just keeps going, mom?" Saka asked.
"Well, at one point, you have to put an end to it or neglect the rest of the Kingdom."
Rani's dedication and commitment made Kopa stare down with a growing sense of admiration. Though Vitani was relieved to see such reverence didn't extend to attraction by the look on his face.
"Is your sister-in-law like that?"
"Yes. Her and Rani are a lot alike."
Kopa turned his gaze onto Vitani and then back on Rani. Both of whom dedicated themselves to others.
The scarred lion felt his head hurt for a moment as remnants of memories flashed through his head.
"You must always remember Kopa. A King commits himself to his subjects. To their well-being and the circle of life."
Kopa saw himself as an adolescent back in a dark and unforgiving jungle, hiding from a group of shadowy tigers as they feasted on a dead okapi calf and his mother.
A few parrots, monkeys, and antelope practically shook as they tried desperately to remain hidden. Kopa observed as a small and almost starved leopard tried to reach for pieces of meat on the okapis bodies.
However, the lead tiger snarled and almost killed the leopard with his jaw snap.
"Hmm, I don't think I could eat another bite. What about you?" The tiger asked his companions, who shook their heads. The leopard looked at what was left of the bodies with a desperate expression.
"Well then." The shadow tiger snatched both bodies and tossed them into a nearby river, laughing sadistically as he did so.
"Don't want to be wasteful." All three tigers left, leaving the smaller predator struggled as he returned to a pair of starving cubs.
Kopa narrowed his eyes and raced into the river. A few moments later, he dragged the adult okapi's body over.
"Try to be quick. More will come." Kopa said as the leopard opened his mouth to speak, but the adolescent lion quickly left them to eat. Eventually, Kopa heard a series of frantic tweets. Looking up, he saw a pair of Crinigers desperately squawking at a shadow jaguar who inched closer and closer to their nest and three babies.
Despite their best efforts, the birds couldn't pick up the chicks and became helpless as the jaguar came closer and closer.
"No! Please!"
The jaguar licked his black jaws and reached out, only to yelp in pain as a set of powerful jaws snapped around his tail, dragging him down. Kopa and the shadow jaguar battled each other in a vicious melee, ultimately ending with Kopa knocking his foe out.
"What was that!?" A familiar voice snarled.
Kopa looked back and saw Mshindi, who now snarled at him.
"There you are!" Kopa scaled the tree and picked up the nest in his mouth before placing it on a branch no tiger or jaguar could reach. However, just as he did so, Mshindi snapped his jaws around Kopa's leg and began dragging him down.
The birds reached out for Kopa, but he found himself slammed to the jungle floor.
"Making trouble for us again, are you, brat. I wonder what Jehanamu's going to do to you this time?"
Back in the present, Kopa stood up again with a sense of purpose.
"Maybe you're right. I do feel like staying active."
Vitani watched in surprise as Kopa made his way down to Rani and her council.
"Your majesty." He said respectfully, bowing.
"Kopa, good morning. Are you doing well?" She asked cordially while Lyra and Ska gazed a the scarred lion with interest.
"I am. Your majesty, if it's not a burden. I'd like to offer my help to you and your council."
"I don't see why not." Lyra said with a smile, still very grateful after Kopa saved Lyra.
"I'd say he's more than proven his character." Old George added.
"I agree." Cael said.
Rani thought back fondly to Saka and the others when they first came to the Tree of Life.
"We'd be glad to have you."
Vitani longed to follow but remembered she had to get ready for training and sighed.
Eventually, Kopa and the Queen's council reached the Tundra province as well as the tundra dutchy, where a group of grizzly bears and dire wolves quarreled over a large den.
"This den was originally part of the tundra dutchy. Therefore it should go to us!" The head bear snarled.
"This is all one Kingdom now, and we found it!" The dire wolf alpha growled back.
"Us grizzly bears have lived in this area long before you dire wolves have!"
"Did you live in this particular den?" Earl Cael asked sternly.
"...No." The lead bear said sheepishly.
"Earl Cael is right. You bears have been more than happy to use lakes in the Tree of Life's tundra and use its hunting ground." Rani added, a firm look on her face.
The lead bear looked back at his companions.
"Come on, we should-"
"No! I want to live in this den!"
"Our old den is-" The lead bear groaned after feeling one of the others slam him aside before racing at the dire wolf alpha.
Rani quickly got in front of Saka before Lyra pulled both cubs back. The Queen, Binga, Bellezza, and Cael readied themselves to intervene. However, it proved unnecessary.
Kopa sprung into action first, slashing both the bear's hind legs before he even knew what hit him. The great omnivore groaned in agony, trying furiously to slash and bite the lion. Despite this, Lyra and Saka gazed in wonder as Kopa pounced into the bear, strikings his stomach and pinning him down.
Seizing the opportunity, Rani, Cael, Binga, and Bellezza rushed in and kept the other bears from doing anything stupid.
"Are you calm?" Kopa growled, his fangs inches from the bear's snout.
"Yyes."
"Roger, you're going to regret that." The lead bear growled as he got up, holding his throbbing face.
"If your dens are so bad you want new ones this desperately, why not ask these dire wolves to help you find suitable ones." Kopa said. Rani nodding.
"Yes, do you think you could find more dens like this?" She asked the alpha.
"We can try your majesty."
At that, the two parties left, leaving Cael to sigh.
"He hasn't kept his sleuth in order for years. My brother had to break up fights between them and others twice a month." The white tiger groaned.
"Just tell them Kopa's coming back if they don't behave." Binga chuckled while patting the lion's shoulder.
"It was nothing. I'm sure her majesty would've gotten him if I hadn't." Kopa said humbly while Rani shook her head with a slightly tired look.
"No, at least not for a few months. Makini and Nirmala warned me no more pouncing like that this morning until the I give birth. That wasn't a bad plan you had, though." Rani admitted before stroking her son's head.
"That's another thing to learn, Saka. Sometimes you can find a way for everyone to get what they want."
"How do you figure that out?" Saka asked with genuine curiosity.
"It isn't always easy, my prince, but it just requires you to look at something in a different way." Old George added.
Kopa nodded, lowering his head to Saka and Lyra.
"Answer me this. You have a herd of antelope and a herd of okapi who need water, but there's only one watering hole, and it's not big enough for both. If you're the King and Queen, how do you solve the problem?"
Saka tapped his mouth while thinking, but Lyra blushed for a few moments first after Kopa implying she and Saka would be King and Queen. Rani and the others chuckled, seeing a bashful Lyra.
"Hmm, I suppose the best thing would be for them to take turns." Saka said.
"Or maybe only let the members of each herd who need it the most drink?" Lyra added, sounding less than sure of her answer.
Kopa smiled and looked up at Rani.
"Your majesty, what would you do?"
"I'd take the okapi to the first river we could find."
"Correct."
Saka and Lyra looked stunned and then a little angry.
"Hey! You never said there was a river!" Saka growled as Kopa smirked down at the cub.
"No, but I only said there was one watering hole." Kopa said before stroking Saka's head with his paw.
"He's right, Saka, Lyra. You both made the mistake of only seeing what was directly in front of you."
"Hmp. I won't make that mistake again." Saka boldly proclaimed.
The adults chuckled again while Rani bent down and licked his face.
"I'm sure you won't."
A half-hour later, they arrived in a marsh where a family of platypus and turtles lay trapped beneath half-rodded dead trees that slipped off the rocks they'd rested on.
Following Rani's direction, Kopa and Bellezza used their immense strength to lift up one of the trees from both ends, allowing some turtles to go free. However, Kopa noticed that some of the turtles' shells became embedded into the mud so hard they remained trapped.
As much as he wanted to help, he had to keep the tree up. However, assistance soon came in the form of Saka, who began furiously digging through the mud.
"Don't worry! I've got you! Prince Saka is here to help!" Saka tried to roar as he finally pulled a turtle free.
Bellezza and Kopa smiled down at the prince as he continued his work before turning to Lyra, who nervously sat on a rock.
"Come on, Lyra!"
"...I don't know. The marsh water looks dirty. The last time I got dirty during play time, my mom gave me a half-hour bath."
"You can help him, Lyra." Mary answered while by the other tree. There, she, Binga, Cael, and Rani all dug beneath the platypus, allowing them to wiggle their way free.
"See! Come on!" Lyra trembled and gave a slightly grossed-out look while moving through the muck. A few of the turtles had minor injuries, bent legs, or cracked shells.
"Ouch!"
"Oh, sorry." Saka said, not sure what to do now.
"Put them on my back. We can take them to the Tree." Old George said while walking over. The two cubs began doing just that, though Lyra did everything she could not to get dirty.
"Come on, Lyra. Sometimes you have to do uncomfortable things to help others, right!?" Saka asked, all but plunging himself into the mud to pull out another turtle.
Kopa and Bellezza nodded.
"He's right. A good king does anything for his subjects, no matter how dirty or unpleasant." Kopa spoke a playfully noble tone while pressing Saka further into the mud, though the cub didn't mind.
"Like lifting up a tree full of filth?" Saka laughed, emphasizing fungi, muck, and other disgusting growth now directly on Kopa and Bellezza's backs.
"Precisely."
"So Kopa, does this mean you were a King?"
Saka's question caught Kopa off-guard, and Bellezza noticed with interest how he almost looked uncomfortable.
"No. I just know these things."
"I think you'd make a good King. You even remind me a lot of my grandpa."
Kopa sighed but still smiled.
"That's kind of you to say. But I'm not a King and never will be." Kopa realized he gave away a bit too much with his tone and choice of words. Saka and Lyra didn't think much of it, but Bellezza did.
"Alright, that's all of them." Rani said as she placed the last injured platypus on old George's back.
"We saved them, mom!" Saka proclaimed as he stood upon a rock. Rani shook her head but still smiled as she saw how thoroughly filthy her son looked.
"Someone needs a bath."
"Huh!?" Saka looked almost as terrified as he had a day earlier when attacked.
"Sometimes a kind has to do things that are uncomfortable." Lyra teased while Saka looked back up at Kopa, who nodded.
"Awww!" Saka groaned.
Eventually, they returned to the Tree and dropped off the injured animals with Nirmala and Makini. As they waited, Kopa watched Rani clean Saka in the water as her cub thrashed about, trying to get free. However, despite this, the lioness remained tender as she washed her cub.
"You're just making it last longer, Saka." Rani chuckled while licking him clean in the water. Kopa watched the two in a somewhat longing manner, despite how much he tried to hide it.
Nearby, Bellezza rested with Ike and watched the lion with growing interest and concern.
"Mommy, is he ok?" Ike asked while the female hippo took a deep breath.
"I don't know, Ike."
"Maybe he's just tired. He was holding up that tree for a while." Binga said nonchalantly while carrying Rae on her shoulders.
"I'm not so sure, Binga. I think he-" Bellezza quickly silenced herself when Kopa glanced her way. In truth, he saw none other than Kion approaching with Vitani and Vegter.
"Dad!" Saka finally broke free, or rather Rani released him after finishing, and the cub sprinted towards his father.
"Go for a swim?" Kion chuckled, noticing his soaked boy.
"Mom made me take a bath." Saka groaned, almost glaring back at Rani as she approached.
"I see. Well, that's too bad. After joining us on patrol, you might have to take another tonight."
"What!?" Saka cried in horror.
"Daddy's right. You could get all dusty and dirty. Of course, he'll be the one actually fighting, so I might have to give him a bath first." Rani laughed while licking the side of Kion's face.
Kopa continued to watch the three with a longing sigh before seeing a slightly eager Vitani standing over him.
"What's the matter, can't handle all the monotonous work of a monarch?" The lioness laughed.
"It beats roaring at a canyon all morning." Kopa retorted though Vitani only smirked back.
"You better hope you never end up on the wrong side of my roar. At this rate, I'll be even more powerful than Radcliffe was." Vitani noticed a flash of resentment and fear in Kopa's eyes when she mentioned Radcliffe, though he swiftly removed it.
"Well, if I recall the story of your Northern Crusade, King Kion here overpowered Radcliffe's dark roar."
"One step at a time." Vitani said, narrowing her eyes back at Kion.
"So, are you sticking with the Queen, or do you want to have some real fun?" Vitani asked with a vigorous smile, making Kopa raise an eyebrow.
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning we're meeting up with the King's Guard for the rest of the day. If you think you can handle it."
"I handled Mshindi and you." Vitani growled slightly, and Kopa got back to his feet with growing enthusiasm.
"Your majesty." He said, approaching Kion.
"Would you mind if one more joined you on patrol?"
"You should let him come, dad!" Saka almost jumped up and down in excitement.
"Well, your actions yesterday show you can fight. What do you think, Rani?"
The Night Lioness Queen smiled at Kopa and the back at Kion.
"I think he can help you."
"Alright, welcome to the King's Guard." Eventually, they joined the others and Vegter's party near the northern border near Old George's island and lake Pratibimba.
"So Kopa, tell us more about yourself. All we know is what we pried out of Vitani." Bunga said as he kept getting in front of Kopa in a far too friendly manner.
"You didn't pry anything out of me!" She growled.
"She's right. Vitani gave it up willingly." Anga chuckled, making the Lioness growl louder.
"There's not much to me. I just came from a jungle south of here."
"I don't know. These scars must have an interesting story." Bunga said before Fuli smacked the back of his head.
"Bunga, he might not want to talk about those." She growled.
"Why not? Kion's scar has an awesome story behind it."
"Tell it to me again, uncle Bunga!" Saka shouted as he ran over.
"Well, there we were, inside the volcano, and Ushari lunged right for your dad! I wrestled him into the lava, but he'd already gotten your dad."
"And Ono saved you!"
"That's right. He's a lot stronger than he looks."
"Those were the days, back when I could still use keen sight." Ono didn't sound down, though Anga still patted him with her wing.
"You're still the smart one."
"I don't know. Beshte might be the smarter one."
"Aww, don't say that, Ono. You know way more than me."
"Either way, brains and brawns, you're the whole package, big guy." Kion said, making his entire Guard laugh.
Kopa couldn't help but smile a little, listening to the way Kion and his guardians acted around each other.
"So you've known each other for a long time then?"
"We've been friends since we were cubs. Except for Azzad. He's the new guy." Bunga jested while elbowing the male cheetah.
"I still haven't heard any complaints from you lot yet." He chuckled.
"Only when you fall behind, babe." Fuli said, stroking her head against his.
"The stories aren't clear about how King Vegter became close with King Kion." Kopa said, turning to the Tsavo lion.
"Vegter and others meet Kion because of Saka." Kopa turned to the prince cub.
"Really?"
Vitani chuckled with the others.
"Not that Saka, stupid." She laughed.
"Saka was named after another lion. Vegter and the other's leader. He came here wounded after trying to depose Radcliffe. After that, Saka stayed on as our advisor. He was a noble lion." Pain filled Kion's voice and expression, and everyone else who'd known Saka well seemed to follow this example.
However, Kopa noticed Vitani looked more guilty and ashamed than sad.
"What happened to him?" Kopa asked with a cautious expression.
Vegter growled.
"Radcliffe, kill him."
"He sacrificed himself to save Rani, who was pregnant with Saka at the time...Radcliffe wanted to." Kion stopped himself and looked at Saka. From the King's demeanor, he looked almost as angry as yesterday.
"It doesn't matter."
"Well, he does sound like a noble lion."
"He was." Talib huffed.
"He was our friend." Bunga added, sounding surprisingly profound.
"Friend." Kopa thought.
"You must've had friends too. Did any leave that jungle with you?" Bunga asked.
"...I didn't have any friends there."
"You didn't!"
Vitani felt her heart sink slightly, hearing this.
"You didn't have any friends?" Kion asked in similar concern.
"...I had one as a cub...But that was a long time ago."
"Well, we can remedy that! You can consider us all your friends!" Bunga said as he jumped onto Kopa's back and began messing up his mane.
The scarred lion almost looked taken back by this.
"Really?" He almost muttered.
"Well, nothing builds comradery like fighting beside someone. I don't see why not." Kion said with an almost brotherly smile as he and the others got closer to Kopa.
"Besides, you saved Lyra yesterday. I'd consider anyone who saved my future daughter-in-law a friend." Kion smirked at his son, who glared back.
"Dad!"
"There's a whole lot of the Kingdom we can still show you if you'd like." Beshte said in a warm tone.
"We also hear you're pretty fast. Maybe you could even give Azaad a challenge."
"Just me?" He chuckled.
"Of course."
Kopa felt a rush of emotions he'd forgotten himself capable of. Their kindness almost brought the scarred lion to tears, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Kopa, are you ok?" Kion asked, having noticed enough.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kopa muttered, fighting back the flood of emotion.
Vitani saw this too and came closer, nudging her head against him.
"I suppose you're my friend too."
"I don't know about that." Vitani said with a smirk. Though in truth, she was hoping not to get trapped with that particular title.
"Hold on. We've got something!" Anga flew up higher, followed by Ono.
"Hapana, she's right!" Less than a minute later, they saw them, a massive pack of leopards mixed with striped hyenas.
"Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding me!" Anga groaned, more annoyed than concerned.
Kopa was a bit confused, particularly when he saw the others soon mirror Anga's expression.
"All the entrances we could've tried to get through, and you chose the one with them guarding it!"
"Honestly, Makucha. You wouldn't have had a chance against any of my Guards." Kion growled back at the lead leopard.
However, Makucha laughed with unsettling confidence.
"Maybe, that's why this time I brought help." Kopa's eyes widened slightly as he felt the ground shake a little. Three imposing figures emerged behind the raiding party, a trio of scarred and rugged-looking gorillas.
Makucha's grin grew wider as he looked at the largest gorilla.
"See the one with a blue marking and scar over his eye. That's the King. Kill him, and this place will fall apart. You can plunder all the fruit you want."
"Groooou!" The ape violently pounded on his chest before charging for Kion.
"Get ready, now!" Kion snarled. He'd chosen his moment perfectly and lunged forward, claws extended just when the head gorilla rewound his arms to strike. Kion brought his full force of mass into the ape's chest, slamming him onto the ground harshly.
"Attack!" Vegter snarled, following Kion's example and leaping onto the second gorilla, managing to slash and bite at the ape's head before he could fully react.
Vitani similarly seized an opening, coming at the third gorilla's legs and clawing their insides, causing him to topple over.
"Zuka Zama!" Bunga leaped onto a striped hyena's face and began mercilessly mauling him.
At the same time, Fuli and Azaad sped around the group from two directions, attacking those near the back and forcing them to compress inward while Ono and Anga did the same from above.
"Twende kiboko!" Beshte charged in with Talib close behind, the two bulldozing their way through a few leopards and hyenas.
"Brings back old memories, doesn't it?" The hippo almost laughed while Talib huffed.
"It certainly does."
Back on the hill, Saka watched the battle with Tamu while Obasi stood over them, a lioness and spotted hyena from the Northern Kingdom also standing guard for the princes.
"Get 'em, mom, dad!" Tamu cried, almost bursting with enthusiasm when he saw Vegter slash deep into his opponent's chest, drawing blood. Jane was no less active, diligently fighting off any hyena or leopard that tried to flank him.
Saka kept a close eye on his own father and felt the adrenaline rush through him after Kion slammed the massive gorilla back onto his back. However, Obasi's eyes went wide when he noticed Makucha carefully positioning himself at Kion's flank.
"Hapana, Kion, look out!" Ono squawked.
"No, stay on the gorilla!" Anga quickly countered.
"Wait, she's right!" Kion felt slightly annoyed at the contradicting information but kept with the final word, avoiding the gorilla's punch before snapping his jaws deep into the ape's bicep and clawing the other.
Saka nearly became frantic until he realized why Anga wasn't worried anymore.
Kopa slammed into Makucha so hard, the leopard actually flew up into the air and crashed into the ground like a rock. Nearby, Jade and Beskerm similarly kept a few stripped hyenas off Vitani's blind spots, the lioness finding similar success as Kion and Vegter, though not easily. The gorilla nearly struck her more than once, and she only attached when sure the opening remained clear.
Makucha shook his head before noticing Kopa's defensive stance behind Kion.
"Attack at your own risk, skinny." He growled. Makucha looked a bit unsettled by Kopa at first but soon found comfort as two more leopards joined him, each trying to move around Kopa and Kion from different directions.
Despite this, Saka lost himself to Kopa's furious defense of his father, fighting off the leopards off with brutal efficiency. The prince couldn't decide which fight he wanted to watch more, Kopa or his father.
"Gaaaahhh!" Makucha yelped in pain as Kopa tossed him away like a ragdoll.
At the same time, Kion slammed the lead gorilla beside him with a headbutt. Within moments, the entire raiding party lay sprawled out.
Makucha opened up his eyes just in time to see Kion, Vegter, and Vitani in front of their companions. The marks on their shoulders glistening.
"Here it comes!" Tamu practically jumped up and down, and Makucha went pale.
"No no no no no!"
All three lions unleashed the Roar of the Elders together, bringing down a tsunami wave of power upon the raiding party, sending them beyond Anga's keen sight.
Kion slowly exhaled.
"You know him?" Kopa almost chuckled.
"Unfortunately." Fuli groaned in annoyance over still having to deal with Makucha.
"Thanks for covering my back."
"It was no trouble."
Vitani almost felt a bit jealous that Kopa defended Kion instead of her but quickly realized it wasn't worth getting upset over.
"Not bad for your first patrol." Vitani said, smirking as she approached the scarred lion.
"I don't know Vitani. He's clearly been in plenty of fights." Kion said with growing admiration.
"Fights and patrols are different. Patrols are on a higher level."
"Agreed." Anga boasted.
"Well, I'll have to work that much harder to impress the mighty Vitani."
"That's a fool's errand." Kion muttered, making Kopa chuckle.
"Call me a fool then. I wouldn't mind a good challenge."
Vitani struggled not to blush after hearing him talk this way. Anga and Fuli easily noticing this with growing amusement. After another two hours of patrols, the guards met back up on old George's island, where the gentle ocean waves helped the wary guardians relax in the warm beach sand.
"Ahhh, that's nice." Fuli purred while resting her head against Azaad. Ono and Anga similarly kept beside each other, with Bunga curled up on a small mound of sand. Beshte, however, enjoyed the refreshing lagoon and company of several island hippos, though he wished Bellezza and Ike were there too.
Vegter, Mungo, Advik, and Rune all napped with their respective guards, but Kion kept busy.
"Remember, Saka, when you're bouncing, you need to get low first; otherwise, it won't have as much impact." Kion demonstrated the form, and his son eagerly mirrored it.
"Low to the ground got it." Saka eagerly got ready to jump on a crazed-looking bat in front of him.
"Hit me if you can, prince Saka! You can't get me! I'm too fast, I-" The bat laughed before Saka jumped up and pinned him into the sand.
"Good, very good." Kion nuzzled Saka with a proud expression.
"Thank you, Mikey."
"No problem, your majesty!" The bat continued to laugh hysterically.
"Is there anything else I can learn, dad!"
"Well, there are a few things. But it's easier to show with a partner."
"I'll do it!" Mikey laughed.
"Thanks, but I need someone more my size, and I don't want to wake anyone." Nearby, Vitani tried to move closer towards Kopa subtly, but the scarred lion got up before she could and approached Kion.
"I can help."
"Are you sure?"
Kopa nodded with a growing smile.
"It's no trouble."
"Alright, watch me closely, Saka. We'll go through the motions first, then speed up into a spar."
Saka nodded quickly, an uncontrollable glee in his face.
Kion and Kopa got into fighting stances, both putting on fierce expressions. Vitani's earlier disappointment faded into intrigue, and it didn't remain limited to her either. Bunga and many others took notice and got in better positions to watch.
The two started slowly, focusing more on demonstrating the techniques to Saka, but they moved faster and entered a general sparring match after a minute. Both growled, though more to make the fight seem real rather than actual aggression.
Both lions weren't surprised by the other's fighting skills, as neither could gain an advantage.
"Come on, Kion!" Bunga shouted.
"Kopa, you beat me, so you better not lose to Kion!" Vitani cried. Despite their lack of progress, Kion and Kopa found themselves enjoying the match, as neither faced such a challenge in a long time. For a few minutes, both gave spirited smiles while sparring, enjoying themselves immensely, that was until Kopa stepped it up a notch, and Kion's eyes went wide.
When Kopa fully committed to his fighting style, Kion saw himself back in the Northern Kingdom fighting Radcliffe.
"Grauuu!" The King consort snarled in a rage that caught everyone off-guard, including Kopa. Kion slammed Kopa down, taking the fight seriously now and making Saka jump in fright.
"Kopa!" Vitani yelped in horror. Kion steadied himself, only then realizing what he'd done.
"Kopa! Are you alright!?"
"Uhhg, yeah, I'm fine." Kopa grunted while getting up.
"Sorry, I just. I don't know what happened."
"Don't worry about it." Kopa didn't seem upset, but Kion was ready to end the fight, not wanting it to happen again. Instead, the two observed Saka as he resumed practice against Mikey.
"Kopa, where exactly did you learn to fight?"
The scarred lion hesitated for a moment.
"I just picked it up in the jungle. It was a rough place, and you had to adapt to survive."
Kion nodded slowly, still a bit wary that Kopa's fighting style was almost exactly like Radcliffe's.
"What about you?"
"My dad taught me."
"...I see." Kopa sighed, lowering his head slightly.
"Of course, I've refined it my whole life. Been leading a Guard practically since I was a kid."
Life slowly returned to Kopa's face as he smiled again.
"Still enjoy it after all these years?"
"I'm not saying it isn't hard work, but I wouldn't change anything."
"I'll bet, being a King and all."
"That's just a title. Scar and Radcliffe were Kings too."
"Humble, I see." Kopa jested.
"Don't worry. I make up for it." Fuli said.
Kopa continued to watch the King's Guard with an almost yearning expression.
"You're close with your friends then. Almost like another family."
"Without a doubt." Kion said.
"That must be nice." Kopa sighed.
Kion quickly understood what Kopa implied and patted the scarred lion's back.
"You know, Kopa, maybe you should consider starting a family here."
Vitani's head almost sprung up when she heard this. Kopa similarly looked back at Kion with intrigue.
"I mean, no one's family is ever limited by size. There are plenty of lionesses here, and I think you'd make a good father."
Kopa became lost in that thought, having a mate and cub of his own.
"A new family." He almost muttered.
Later that evening, Kion returned to the Tree of Life with Saka and Rani. The Queen now bathed her son again, licking his fur clean as he squirmed.
"Come on! I'm clean already!"
"Hmm, alright." Rani let Saka up, and he dashed outside, joining Vadik, Vala, Lyra, and Tuma.
"So, how was your day?" Kion asked, resting beside his mate.
"Good, Kopa was certainly a nice addition to the team this morning. He reminds me of you." Rani said before licking the side of Kion's face.
"He does seem like a good guy, for the most part."
Rani's smile faded into concern.
"Meaning what?"
Kion took a deep breath.
"I must be going crazy, but the way he fought. I swear it was exactly like the way Radcliffe did."
Rani went silent for a moment but then shook her head.
"There's no way."
"Maybe you're right. Besides, Saka's taken a liking to him, and I don't blame him. Who knows, maybe I'll add him to the King's Guard permanently."
"Not if I take him for the Queen's Council first." She growled playfully.
"Should I be concerned you want to be around him that much?"
"Ha!" Rani answered Kion by pinning him onto his back with a vigorous expression.
"Let me give you a hint." The two began passionately licking each other before hearing paw steps.
"...I can't believe I did this again." A familiar voice groaned. Kion and Rani looked up at Baliyo and Afia, who'd entered the cave.
"Sorry, we'll leave." Baliyo muttered while Afia laughed, shaking her head.
"No, guys, it's fine. Plenty of time for that later." The two got up and noticed the concerned expressions on Baliyo and Afia's faces.
"Is everything alright?" Rani asked warily.
"It's Imani." Baliyo said, giving a consoling look to his mate, who lowered her head.
"She's getting worse, Rani. I've never seen her so depressed. I thought when my mom found out we're having a cub, she'd find a new sense of happiness, but it only lasts as long as we're around."
Rani felt immense sympathy for Imani. She'd lost her mate and son the same day Rani lost her parents.
"You don't think the Tree might help her?" Baliyo asked.
"No, I don't think so. It only helps with physical injuries." Rani sighed.
"Maybe Makini and Nirmala can talk with her again." Kion suggested.
"That could work, at least temporarily."
"Maybe once our cub is born, she'll be he old self again." Afia almost pleaded to herself, feeling comfort when Baliyo nuzzled the side of her face.
Elsewhere, Kopa rested in the savanna near the Night Liones and lionesses while gazing up at the stars.
"Hmp, I suppose you made a good impression with the King and Queen." Vitani said, having approached him from behind. Kopa glanced back at her with a slightly playful expression.
"Yeah, very successful day. More successful than your attempts to get me alone."
Vitani's face shot pure red, and she began trembling, almost afraid to look back at him.
"You, you-"
"I'm not dense. I figure you either can't get over me beating you and are bitter, or you can't get over me beating you and want something else."
Vitani's shaking only got worse, despite her best attempts to hide it.
"No! That's not true! I'm not interested in you like that, not that you'd ever be interested in me." She held her head up while Kopa continued to smirk.
"Really, why not?"
"Look at me! I don't look pretty like Rani, Afia, Kanda, or any of the lionesses here. There's all like Kiara, just too cutesy."
"What's wrong with that? I think you're cute."
Vitani yelped a little, and she lost the ability to control her bashful expression.
"...You, you do."
Kopa nodded.
"It's ashamed you have to leave. It's been fun."
The words struck Vitani like a boulder. She'd forgotten that particular bit of information, going back to Pride Rock.
"I'm not fully trained yet! I'll be back!"
"Well then, I've got to know, when can I see you agian?