Hey guys, Fiygon.

Thanks for all the reviews and everything else! Editing these chapters sometimes is interesting. I'll go in trying to check grammar and continuity, and end up writing a whole scene. A good half of this chapter is brand new almost. Not complaining though, I like how it's turning out, and I hope you guys will too!

Anyways,

Rated T, dark themes. Please take care of your mental health friends.

Chapter 3

"Guardian"

"Dad!" The small lioness came running into the pride lands, "Daddy!"

A few minutes later, she heard her father's voice, he cried out in a mix of relief and worry, "Kiara!"

Her father, Simba had been hunting the pride lands for her, along with around six lionesses including her mother, Nala. The lioness shouted at her daughter in worry, "Kiara, over here! Come here cub!"

Kiara ran until she came ramming right into Simba's leg, her mother instantly nuzzling her along with Simba. "Where have you been!" Nala said relieved.

"Kiara that direction is from the graveyard. Please don't tell me you-" Simba began disapprovingly.

"I did daddy!" Kiara started.

Her parents fur bristled, dozens of questions floating around in their head. Nala sighed with a questioning look of disapproval, "Kiara! You could have been-.." She shook her head, "What have I said about running off! And into the graveyard no less?" Nala scolded in disbelief.

Simba joined with a very stern voice, "Kiara why would you ever disobey me like this-" having his words cut off from the panicked speech of the cub.

"I got saved from hyenas by someone! Please help him, he couldn't outrun them! They're going to… they're going to kill him daddy!" She teared up, was breathing faster, and tearing up.

Simba's face steeled, "Get Kiara back home." He told one of the lionesses as she nodded.

"But what about-?" Kiara said horrified.

"Everyone else, we're going on a rescue hunt." He said, quickly. Flashing a short smile at his daughter. Kiara breathed a sigh of relief, as the lioness began guiding her back home. "We will be speaking about this later, Kiara." Simba said with a sigh. The cub merely nodded with a worried look.

Sarabi growled, "Those dirty hyenas again…"

Sarafina looked angrily towards Simba, "Can we attack? I'd like to teach them a lesson about messing with my granddaughter." Sarabi nodded in agreeance.

Simba showed no emotions towards either, "Do not kill them. Whatever else you have to do, I will allow."

The sight they saw as they crossed over the hill horrified the group. Simba had heard of this species that were far more advanced and dangerous than any other. But the one being mauled looked to be no older than a child, which regardless of the species, was a horrible act. It brought a look of questioning and disgust to the king's eyes. "Scram!" Shenzi yelled. But it was no use, a couple of hyenas were already being outmatched by the lionesses. As the hyena looked around in a frenzied panic, glaring at the King in disdain.

"I heard you were after my daughter," Simba started, "And I find you with the blood of a cub in your mouths? Get off, now." He growled menacingly.

Shenzi laughed nervously, "Really? Your daughter is safe! What, did you come back to… save this hairless monkey?" She said between cackling laughs, a few more of the hyenas joining her.

Simba growled louder, approaching her quickly with a short pounce, baring his fangs close to her face as she nervously cowered, "This 'hairless monkey' saved my daughter. So unfortunately for you, I have a debt to repay. Get. off."

The moment the hyena begrudgingly complied and stepped back, Simba lunged forward, making the hyena yelp. But he merely took a protective stance over the young human, then growled ferociously. She looked to her sides, seeing her badly damaged pack, the hyenas begging for their lives and running away in fear.

Taking one final look at Simba in annoyance, she seemed to give up, and yelled, "Retreat!" The hyenas all ran, some limping away from the lionesses who made no attempt to give chase.

"Don't come near my grandcub again!" Sarabi shouted with a look of anger and a hint of triumph.

Nala ran up to the small human, as Simba backed away in alarm at her speed. He was a small human, and would maybe come up to Nala's chest in height if he stood up. "The poor thing!" She said suddenly, with a horrified expression, she inspected his wounds, his left leg and right arm being badly mauled, and he was bleeding alarmingly fast.

Simba shifted uneasily, "Be careful Nala, we don't know what he's capable of-"

Nala raised a brow and looked at her mate with a hint of anger, and Simba almost cowered at the feeling from her look. She scoffed, "He's a cub, what could he do? He saved our daughter Simba!" She said with a bit of disbelief.

Simba was caught off guard by her, clearing his throat with a bowed head, "Yes, you're right."

Nala nodded slowly, paying him no mind as she turned her attention back to the human. The blood was coming out at an alarming rate now, and Nala looked fearful. "He needs help, he'll die!"

Sarafina growled, "Those hyenas, always causing trouble."

Nala nuzzled his face, getting no response at all, she whimpered sadly, "Girls, help me lift him onto my back!" Sarafina and Sarabi quickly ran to help, along with a few more of the lionesses.

Simba nodded, "One of you run ahead and get Rafiki! I want him at pride rock when we get back!"

One of the lionesses nodded, and took off in that direction as the rest helped nudge his legs up around Nala's back, and others pushed him up, so that his stomach and head would rest on her shoulder and neck. "Simba, he's bleeding bad!" Nala panicked as she felt the blood drip onto her fur.

He nodded solemnly, "Let's go, now!" He said as they took off back towards a large rock in the distance, that pointed towards the heavens.

Returning to the rock many of the lionesses crowded around the King and Queen. Initially many of them worried by the amount of blood covering Nala, fearing that she may have been injured. Before they all noticed the human laying on the back of the Queen. Murmurs spread throughout the crowd like wildfire.

"Is that a… man cub?"

"Are there poachers here?"

"The poor thing looks so hurt…"

"Hyenas did that..? Oh my…"

"Is he okay?"

Nala found herself having a tough time getting through the crowd of lionesses, and Simba was growing impatient as well. But thankfully for them, three lionesses came out from the cave, pushing themselves past the crowd, "Hey, hey!" The biggest one yelled around her.

"Can't you see the Queen is trying to get past you to help our new guest? One that saved princess Kiara?" She shouted around her. The lionesses stared wide eyed for a moment.

"He saved the princess?"

"I thought poachers only hurt us?"

"He's our new hero! Let them through!"

One of the two lionesses behind the larger one spoke up, "Yes and he looks to be gravely wounded so if you would please... step out of the way… maybe…" she said timidly.

"Move it!" The third one said loudly.

The lionesses parted from their gathering, as the three lioness walked on all sides of the queen. Nala looked at them thankfully, "Thank you Mkali, Kimya, Sanaa." They nodded.

"Sire!" A bird yelled, swooping down from above and perching on Simba's shoulder, "I've done what you asked but… by the gods what is that!?" He said, his feathers going rigid as he saw the human on Nala's back.

The King and Queen ignored his outburst as they continued walking, Simba smiled, "Then you have let Rafiki know?"

The hornbill looked perplexed, clearing his throat and looking away from the bleeding boy, "Well, yes. He's already here waiting in fact. But more importantly why do you have a bloodied human?!"

Nala looked over surprised, "Already here? How?"

Zazu sighed at being ignored once again, "Something about the changing of winds, knowing where he was to be. Must I explain what that old monkey is up to? And why haven't you explained why this… creature is in our lands!?"

Simba sighed, "He was being eaten alive by those hyenas… He sacrificed himself to save our daughter, Zazu."

Taken aback by what he said, the bird composed himself, "Be that as it may, bringing 'man' to our pride rock is highly dangerous! Do you not know of poachers? Terrible, horrid, blasphemous beings that kill without class!"

Nala couldn't hold back the snarl from her mouth as they got closer and closer to the cave, glancing a dangerous look at the hornbill, "He is a cub, Zazu. I will not compare him to murderous heathens, and especially not after he saved my cub!" The queen snapped at him, speeding up her pace until she disappeared into the cave up ahead. The three guards keep their pace, and respectfully take their leave at the front of the cave.

The majordomo looked surprised, and felt a twinge of guilt as he looked at Simba who continued walking calmly. "My apologies Sire… I just wish you to be cautious is all…"

Simba smiled, "It's quite alright my friend. I've actually got a specific mission just for you... It'll go along with your regular duties."

The hornbill saluted, "Of course."

As Simba entered the mouth of the cave he parted ways with Zazu, who now had his new task to complete. Simba looked all around, noticing his mate and daughter watching Rafiki give aid to the human cub. The mandrill laughed which echoed across the cave, "Certainly unexpected! Yet exciting!"

Simba came up by Nala who nuzzled into his side. Looking down at the small human, a look of worry passed over the King. After all, it was just a cub. "How is he, my friend?" Simba asked hopefully.

He hummed, "He'll live, may not walk for a while, and will be quite weak." He paused, looking over the bite marks, "The boy certainly had not fought back against their attempt, which may have saved him some additional injury."

Nala tilted her head, "What do you mean?"

The mandrill sighed, "He did not panic and thrash about when bitten. Which would've made the wounds worse. Quite a feat I'd say!"

Nala looked down at the cub sadly, "So he… gave up? He was just going to let them eat him?" She said analyzing his face, wondering what the boy had been thinking.

Simba nuzzled his mate gently, as Kiara walked over and buried her face in Nala's fur, "Will he be okay? I didn't mean for him to get so hurt..." She cried sadly.

Nala smiled sorrowfully, looking between the human and her cub, then nodding, "It'll be alright mtoto, he'll be okay. I promise." Nala herself didn't seem to believe her own words, but Kiara nodded hopefully.

Rafiki finished cleaning the wounds and wrapping them, stepping back with a respectful bow. "Do not let him walk!" He said suddenly, turning to the thankful royal family, "And keep in mind, a child of man may not take it well, to awaken in the den of lions." He said with a short crazed laugh.

Simba smiled, "We'll find a way to gain his trust, as our daughter trusted him just the same."

"Yes, yes," he said, "I will return within the week to check on him. If you need my help you know where to find me!" He said smiling than walking out of the cave, as the three said goodbye.

The cave soon fell quiet again, Nala looked down at her cub again, then at the human cub, and sighed, "What could make a cub give up hope of living… he must've been so scared…"

Simba nodded angreeingly, "We just have to wait…"

The padding of paws came in behind them, and they turned to see the three lionesses from earlier. Mkali stepped forward, "We kept the pride out while Rafiki was here, would you like us to help you get him to a temporary den?"

The Queen smiled thankfully, "I'd love that, thank you three."

The lionesses along with Simba carefully navigated the sleeping child to the center of a den one that was particularly far in the back, and was very secluded. Simba parted from them, "I must speak to the rest of the pride, I'm sure they are very confused…" the others nodded as he took his leave.

Before they could place him in the room, Nala's eyes widened, "We can't just lay him on the floor of the den…"

"Maybe he has something for that in his carrying thing?" Sanaa said questioningly.

Kimya nodded, setting the back pack they had carried with them on to the floor. Nala rustled through it, pulling out a large green blanket he had kept in it. "Perfect!" She said, carefully laying it down on the cave floor. She then laid herself in the middle of the blanket, "Alright, place him against me now."

The three looked at her confused and slightly surprised, before gently laying the sleeping child against the Queen. He nearly instantly seemed to grow a content look on his face whilst sleeping. And Nala couldn't help but smile, his face to her was quite adorable when he was happy.

Mkali smiled at the sight, before putting a more serious look on herself, "I can hear the other lionesses entering, would you like us to guard the entrance to this den?"

Nala nodded happily, "Oh, yes please. And could we maybe take turns, with you giving him somewhere to sleep?"

Kimya tilted her head, "You mean taking turns letting him sleep against us?"

Sanaa nodded, "Sure!" As the other two also agreed with head nods.

Kiara curled up against her mother's chest, letting out a yawn. Mkali cleared her throat, "We will guard you. You need some rest after such a day."

Nala nodded, "I could… use some sleep. " she said between a yawn. They began leaving respectfully, wishing her good night.

Nala sighed, the weight of the day crashing down on her. Her cub had almost been ripped apart by a pack of hyenas! And worse yet, someone had to sacrifice themself for her sake. And as if that wasn't enough, it was but another cub that had done so. Nala's lip quivered at the idea that she couldn't protect her daughter herself, and that some brave soul had enough courage to save her only daughter.

But where were his people? Had they abandoned him? He did look rather small for a human, young or not. The child barely had enough fat to cover his own bones… Did his parents abandon him?

She felt him stir slightly, he had gently shifted almost as if to cuddle himself closer to the lioness, for what she assumed was warmth. She giggled quietly, curling her own body farther and more tightly around the smaller human. He would be okay, if the lioness had to take him back to his parents even past the graveyards and the jungle, she would take him there. He deserved as much in her mind.

Daniel began to wake up slightly, his mind filled with questions, and his body aching. Though try as he might he could not move his body, his eyes blinked open quickly, but the world around him was blurry and unfocused. His upper body was very comfortable, like he was laying next to Miri again… The thought sent tears to his eyes before he even had a clue where he was.

He began panicking, wasn't he surrounded by hyenas? They didn't kill him yet, were they waiting to finish him off later? He began attempting to move, finding it way too difficult, but he felt whatever he was laying against began to stir. He flinched at the sudden movement, and began shaking, "H-Hello?" He asked weakly.

"Hello little one. Already awake?" A very soft caring voice answered him. He could feel no malice in her voice.

"Am I dead?" He asked shortly, "Why does everything hurt…"

"Shh…" the voice soothed him, "You're okay now. You aren't dead, cub."

Her voice was putting him back to sleep, but he refused it as he jerked back awake a second later, whatever he was laying against slightly startled by the action, "The little lioness cub, is she okay? Who are you?" He said, his eyes still unable to tell.

Nala felt tears in her eyes at the fact that the human cub was still thinking about their daughter's safety. She curled herself against him, "She's okay, you saved her for me. Thank you so much."

"I did?" He asked confused, "That's good." He said, his voice slowing down as he was falling back to sleep.

A lion's head came into view, but his mind couldn't think much of it at the time. The lioness lowered her head and nuzzled into the human's face, "Please rest, you're still injured." The human seemed to agree as he fell back to sleep almost instantly.

Tears continued escaping Nala's eyes, and she kept nuzzling his face, "Thank you…" she whispered quietly, over and over again.

"Thank you…"

Simba and Nala were quietly conversing whilst basking in the sunlight. Simba wore an unhappy and worried expression, "I've told her the dangers… I just don't want the same things to happen to her as in my cub years…" he said the last part with a sigh and a shake of the head.

Nala leaned against him and hummed angeringly, "Cubs are too adventurous, especially when you keep them from exploring too long. But this time she could've…" Nala's spine shivered with unease, and she sighed as well gaining a sympathetic look from her mate, "And if that human cub hadn't been there we could've lost her Simba." She gazed over to Kiara, who after being lectured by Simba had decided to take a nap in the cave nearby, still feeling guilty about getting the human hurt.

Simba nodded slowly, looking out over the horizon with the sun slowly shifting into the evening, "Perhaps human cubs are just as adventurous." He said finally with a small smile.

Nala cracked a small worried smile, "Do you think his family is looking for him?" She asked quietly, looking at the setting sun herself.

Simba leaned in closer to her, "Hard to be certain until we get some answers from him."

Nala's head lowered, "He can stay with us, right?" She looked up at him suddenly with a few tears in her eyes, shocking Simba, "I know you don't trust humans, and that your great grandfather would disapprove…" she said quickly, taking a larger breath.

Simba looked at her in concern, "Nala I would never-"

She continued through his words, "I-I mean, he has nowhere else to go right now, he must be so scared and lonely… and hurt. He saved Kiara, I owe him everything Simba!"

He nuzzled her and she released many more tears, "Nala, I would never chase him out I promise." He said soothingly, rubbing his muzzle against her face. She choked a bit on her words but smiled regardless.

After a few minutes of calming down and returning to watching the sunset lower, they heard a small commotion from within the cave. It made them curious, but did not make them move. That was until they heard a very loud yell from within, and the two looked at each other in alarm. The other pride members slightly rousing from their naps as well, looking around in confusion. "Nala that's-"

She didn't let him finish as she shot up, practically running into the cave. Simba followed close behind. A lot of the other pride members seemed equally interested, but the three of the queen's bodyguard lionesses returned to guarding anyone from passing into the smaller cave with them.

When Nala got into the cave she widened her eyes taking in the situation. Sarabi had been the one letting the human cub sleep against her, but was now sitting a few feet away with an extremely worried expression, her ears lowered against her head. The human was cowering against the ground, crying and pleading, with a very confused and dazed look, but couldn't seem to see his surroundings fully.

"Honey calm down, I would never eat a cub-" Sarabi tried to reason with him.

He took a sharp breath, "Stop talking! P-Please, you're not real!"

Nala and Simba quickly walked over as Sarabi noticed their presence. "What's going on? Is he alright?" Nala asked quickly, with a quieter tone.

Sarabi sighed looking at him with sadness, "He was sleeping, but he was dirty so I started giving him a bath… Well he woke up and I think that he thinks I was trying to eat him." She said with a guilty look.

Simba chuckled lightly, "You and your baths…"

Nala nodded slowly, looking at the human who was covering his ears and talking to himself lightly. She began walking forward as the other two looked in hopefulness at what the lioness might be able to do. Nala stood in front of the human, slowly lowering herself to his height on the floor, once the view of her came to his eyes he jumped, and Nala quickly spoke with a soothing and caring voice, "Hi little one."

Gaining a confused look, she continued, "How are you feeling, does it hurt?"

He stared at her for what seemed like forever, before nodding. "Why are you talking? Am I dead now?"

She couldn't help but giggle along with Sarabi, "Once again no, not at all sweetie." She paused again, "You're hurting because you shouldn't be moving much, I don't want you to cause more pain, you've already had enough."

The human seemed calmed by her voice, like the first time he had woken up. "I can't see much…" he said slowly, "My vision is all blurry." Simba and Sarabi were impressed by how well Nala could work with the human.

Nala smiled sympathetically, slowly moving a paw outwards to put against his face. When it touched him he jumped again slightly, but allowed her to continue. "You need more sleep. Would you allow us to take care of you while you're hurt please?"

He shifted slightly to a more relaxed position, "O-Okay. It… it hurts…" he said, slightly wincing at the pain he was causing himself against the floor.

"Shh, let me get you comfy okay?" He nodded to her as she moved around his back and laid down, looking expectantly at the other two in the cave. Who quickly caught the hint and moved to help shift him back onto her stomach. Though he did seem wary.

Nala curled around him, putting her muzzle against the side of his head and asking him quietly, "There is it better now sweetie?"

He slowly nodded, leaning into her embrace. "I-I'm sorry for yelling… I'm so confused and I-I can't see. Everything hurts." He choked, letting out some tears. The three looked at him in pity and sadness.

Nala nodded quickly, nuzzling him over and over, "Shh, I know, I know sweetie. You'll be okay I promise. You'll be okay."

Nala licked the side of his head gently, making him shudder again, "I'm sorry… to that other lioness? I didn't mean to be rude…" he said the word lioness questioningly.

Sarabi smiled and chuckled, "It's quite alright little one. Get some rest for us all okay?"

Nala nodded in agreeance, nudging his face. "Sleep!" She said like a scolding mother, "Cubs won't heal if they're not getting sleep."

He blushed with confusion and slowly nodded, lowering his head on to her stomach. "Okay, thank you…" he said, quickly drifting off.

Simba, Nala, and Sarabi shared a relieved look, as well as a worried one. Nala continued to look at Simba for a while, before he smiled and joined her on her side. Nala shifted the human closer to herself, as she laid against her mate quietly. And Sarabi left the room with a wide smile.

"He's okay." Simba heard Nala quietly say to herself before she drifted off. He chuckled lightly, joining her in rest.