*MAJOR GORE WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER*
Omens & Tales of Kings Past
After the Hyena's had been sent running back into the Outlands, all of the pride members began making their way back to Pride Rock as dusk arrived. The other members of the Lion Guard returned home to their families and Kion went home with his own, Sauda trailing not far behind her new pride on the pathway back to the den at pride rock. All of them were pretty much silent as they tread back down the path to the den. However, internally two of the cubs in the group were having a serious conversation with themselves in their thoughts about two very different issues.
"How do I even know for certain that she's forgiven me?"
"How am I supposed to be a champion for a council of dead kings and save this world from an evil I don't know anything about?"
Kion glanced to his side at the lioness in question whom had been occupying his thoughts since the fight with the hyenas had ended. As nighttime darkness continued to encroach the pridelands, Kion noticed that the darker it got the more his dark colored friend blended in with the surrounding area. It was almost like the evasion tactics some pridelands lizards used to hide from predators that his mother had taught him about in hunting lessons. She almost looked as if she was disappearing into the darkness and becoming one with the nature around her.
Sauda's eyes had remained on the ground in front of her as she walked, completely unaware that a particular golden colored lion prince was staring at her with no abandon. Her thoughts were focused on the information she'd gotten from Mohatu about the Council of the Great Kings and the prophecy she was meant to fulfill. What did it mean for her and why was Kion such an important piece of the puzzle?
Sauda's thoughts went on pause when they'd finally come upon the rocky face of Pride Rock. Looking up at Simba and Nala making their way up the boulders and into the den, Sauda sighed internally before a determined gleam settled in her eyes. She decided then and there that no matter the consequences she'd protect this world and everything in it, no matter the cost.
After climbing the rock face that led to the entrance of the den, Sauda hesitated at the opening of the cave's opening. Maybe she should sleep outside for the first couple of days? Everyone had already gone inside and in order avoid attention being drawn towards her, the newest member of the pride silently turned around to go find an area outside the cave to sleep. However, that plan was immediately foiled when she felt the teeth of an adult grab her by the scruff of her neck, lift her into the air, and carry her back into the den. Looking around her shoulder to see who had thwarted her attempt at avoiding socialization with the group of animals she was now supposed to live with. The former human had not expected it to be Kion's mother, Nala.
The queen carried Sauda all the way over to where Simba and the rest of her family, including Kion were already laying down to eat from the most recent kill the lioness hunting party had made. It was a juvenile water buffalo that had most likely been split from it's herd. As per the social hierarchy of any lion pride, the adult male ate his fill first. Following that it was the adult lionesses and then the cubs. Nala set Sauda down on the slab of rock where the dead carcass lay and placed her directly next to Kiara. Kion was on the other side of the animal corpse by his father and Sauda did not meet the male cub's gaze as it followed his mother placing her down next to his sister, but instead at the massive amount of blood pouring from the buffalo's corpse.
Sauda practically gaped at the sheer amount vital life essence leaking out of the lethal wounds around the calf's neck. Her reaction wasn't one of much physical disgust, but more of a psychological disgust as in her time as a human she'd never gagged at the sight of blood or injuries that she'd seen. Sauda didn't puke or heave at the sight of the dead animal, but she was struck into silent shock at the vulgarity and the deadly manner of which the wounds were inflicted when it was killed. Sauda hadn't realized up until that moment that being turned into a lion came with having to live off the natural diet of an actual lion and not the cooked and processed food she'd eaten as a human in the modern era.
"Well at least it isn't beetles and maggots," Sauda told herself, looking to the current king who'd been raised on a diet that consisted of bugs and insects only. Snickering under her breath, Sauda turned her gaze back to the queen who finally nodded to Kion, Kiara, and hers direction giving us all the green light to eat.
Having never had a problem with eating under cooked and bloody meat as a human, Sauda greedily tore at what chunks of buffalo flesh that still clung to the corpse's bones. Blood seeping out her muzzle as she began to chew her food, Sauda finally met Kion's gaze and when she saw the gobsmacked look on her friend's face, she laughed causing droplets of buffalo blood to come flying out of her muzzle. When some of the blood from Sauda's mouth landed in Kiara's face, causing said lioness cub to groan in disgust, the prince's shock turned into laughter.
Sauda swallowed her mouthful of buffalo meat and began laughing along with her friend as they both watched the heir to the throne use her paw to wipe the animal blood off of her face. The atmosphere having been solemn all around suddenly turned jovial when Kiara daintily gathered blood from the meat in her mouth and sprayed Kion in the face in retaliation for laughing at her expense. Sauda began laughing at the prince as well but immediately yelped out a protest when Kion jumped over the carcass and used both his front paws to pin them both to the ground. Kion tackling Sauda and Kiara to the ground turned into a full out pinning war as all three of them wrestled along the cave floor. Sauda eventually pulled Tifu and Zuri into the fight as well when she purposefully kicked some dirt soaked with blood in their direction.
It all ended when their parents pulled them apart after the cubs began knocking into other animals but themselves. Simba had grabbed Sauda by the scruff and Nala had grabbed Kiara and Kion. Tifu and Zuri's mother's also grabbed their cubs before they all settled down and went to sleep. Simba and Nala curled up against one another and Kiara was spooned into her mother's side. Kion lay near his parents as well, albeit not even a couple feet away from them. Sauda had decided to lay down next to Kion and his parents for the night. As the moonlight seeped in through the hole in the rocky ceiling, Sauda's eyes grew heavy and slowly drooped closed as she fell asleep to the sounds of Kion's slow and deep breaths beside her.
︎short time skip brought to you by Bunga's stench ︎
Sauda panted heavily as she ran through the pridelands as it burned all around her. Her eyes tearing around the landscape looking for an escape from the flames licking at her heels dangerously as she continued to run for her life. She'd woken up in the middle of the night in the den only to find that she was completely on her own and pride rock engulfed in flames. Sauda had injured herself while escaping the enclosed space of the den to outside where she stood on the overhand that jutted out proudly, hence the name "pride rock", only to witness the sight of the entire pride lands swallowed in orange flames.
As she ran, Sauda saw absolutely no signs of life.
Everything and everyone was just gone, turned to ash by the roaring fires.
She was absolutely and utterly alone.
Sauda climbed atop a large rock that stood on the top of a hill that overlooked the once green, beautiful African Savannah that was now nothing more than an ash heap devoid of any life. Sauda's breathing had slowed, finally having caught a rest after running practically five miles with not stopping. Then, out of the corner of her eye Sauda saw a shape stalking towards her through the flames.
"Hello?" she called out. "Is anyone out there? I'm injured and I can't find anyone from my pride!"
The lioness cub received no answer from the dark shape as it grew closer. The young lioness squinted her eyes to see through the smoke and when she noticed the animal had a was lion shaped and had a mane Sauda's eyes furrowed. Simba wasn't that slender bodied of a lion, so who in the hell was it?
"Hello!" Sauda called out again. "I need some help, sir! My leg hurts really bad!"
The shadow of the lion came closer and when the male finally came into the light of the fire Sauda's eyes widened, she gasped and she stepped slightly back from him. As soon as she saw those green eyes she knew who she'd called over to help her, she didn't need to see the thing silvery scar traveling over the adult's left eyes.
It was Scar.
Sauda gasped awake from her nightmare, and stumbled to her feet eyes searching the interior of the den for the other. When the young lioness saw that everyone was alright and still slept peacefully throughout the den, her breathing calmed down considerably. Glancing to the floor beside her, Kion still slept peacefully as did his mother and sister. However when she looked at Nala she noticed that Simba was no longer present within the confines of the den, which meant he must've been outside.
Sparing one last glance at Kion, Sauda turned tail and quietly crept out the entrance of the cave and ventured outside into the moonlit night sky. Just as she'd suspected, Simba was sitting at the end of the long cliff, staring up at the stars peacefully. When her paw nudged a pebble on the ground underneath her, Simba's ears twitched and the adult was alerted to the cub's presence outside the den. The king turned his head and looked Sauda up and down and when he saw the startled look on the cub's face turn into a sheepish grin he chuckled and motioned with his head for her to come sit with him.
Sauda who still held a guilty look upon her face, immediately padded across the rock to sit by the King's side. When Simba returned his stare to the sky, Sauda's gaze followed and she was amazed to see so many stars out on one night.
At the small sound of the lioness cub's amazement, Simba leaned down and asked her a question.
"Couldn't sleep, huh?" he smiled.
Sauda didn't respond verbally to the king's question but did look at him and nod yes in response. Simba laughed lightly before continuing, "Yeah, me too."
Finally the female cub spoke, "I had a nightmare. That's why I can't sleep."
The lioness cub then looked up at the king with a vulnerable hope in her eyes that made the adult lion sigh sadly. He looked down at the newest addition to his pride and told her something she'd never forget as long as she lived.
"Y'know something Sauda?" Simba asked. "No matter how much something scares us, we can't let our fear of that something prevent us from doing what's important and finding happiness in our lives..."
The former human smiled gratefully at her friend's father. "Don't worry, little one," Simba consoled the cub. "Everyone feels fear, even I feel fear from time to time. It's normal."
"Can I ask you a question, your majesty?" Sauda finally spoke up after a moment of silence.
Simba smiled down at her and nodded reassuringly. "Go ahead," he nodded.
Looking Simba directly in the eye, Sauda asked him. "What makes you afraid?"
Simba looked at the cub sadly before he turned his head heavenwards and looked back up into the stars above. "Being unable to protect the one I love..."
"Oh," Sauda said simply.
Before the silence could settle again, Simba asked her the same. "And you, Sauda?" he asked. "What makes you afraid?"
Sauda gulped in the cool night air and shuddered as she exhaled nervously. "Not knowing what's gonna happen to me next..."
Simba then realized that this little rogue cub that he'd taken in was a lot like him in some ways. They both feared the most unpredictable aspect of life, time and what the future would bring..."
Looking back up at the sky, Simba cleared his throat before speaking aloud. "Sauda," he started. "I'm going to tell you a story now that my father told me, and that his father told him, and so on..."
"As long as you look to the stars, the Great Kings of the Past will always be there to guide you when you need them most," Simba told her. "My father, is up there now along with his father and his father before him..."
"Just remember, as long as the brightest star in the sky shines brightly, the great Mohatu will be their to guide you along with all of the other past kings of the pride lands," the lion concluded.
"Who's Mohatu?" Sauda asked, hoping to get more information on the lion who'd spoken to he through the water.
"Legends say he became the first great lion king of the Pride Lands when he saved his people by finding a new water source to sustain them," Simba answered. "They say that deeds during his time as king were so great, that when he passed on he turned into the brightest star the world had ever seen and soared into the sky where he still stays and watches over us today..."
Sauda contemplated what Simba had just told her about the mysterious lion in the water. So Mohatu had been the first ever king of the pride lands? That made sense.
"Now," Simba stated. "I think it's time that we got back to sleep, don't you?"
Sauda smiled and nodded in agreement as she yawned suddenly and followed the king as retreated back into the den. As she reached her spot where she'd previously been sleeping, the lioness cub eyed the large feline male who'd already fallen asleep next to his mate. Deciding to make a rather rash decision, Sauda waited until Simba's breaths evened out before she crawled along the floor and lay down next to the king and buried her face into the fur of auburn mane and fell back into slumber.
Not one nightmare plagued her the rest of that night.