Chapter 21- All I'm Holding Onto
Kiburi stared at me for a while longer, trying to work it all out. His frown wasn't in anger or irritation, but like he was trying to convince himself, "Princess Tishala?" He asked. For obvious reasons, he wasn't as emotional as Zazu, but there was definite surprise. The young lioness beside him was looking between us, though she had more than anything. I didn't pay her much mind yet, instead, holding my look at the dark furred lion. He looked a little different than when I saw him before. He still looked like what I remembered of his father, but the time I had been gone, he had matured in his features some. A small part of me hoped that meant his attitude would have mellowed as well. "We had no word you would be visiting." He followed up with, using a tone that suggested annoyance. It was not the reaction I expected, leading my smug grin to fade into a questioning frown. He stepped closer, his eyes inspecting me to make sure he wasn't being deceived. I heard movement from behind, Simba closing the distance between us, worried Kiburi might attempt to strike me. I was less concerned about that, but I didn't know what to make of his comment. He would be able to see I was tired, having travelled for days, so it confused me that he would respond with little care for me. Instead, he was searching for answers, "Why have you come here?" I had to give him credit though, he had softened his tone.
Whilst he walked around me, taking a look at the others with me, I answered, "Well, Kiburi, I'm doing fine, thank you. The few days travelling has only left me exhausted and in need of a good wash and food. What's that, you didn't ask how I was?" It was like I couldn't help myself trying to irritate the prince. I could hear him sigh as I continued, "I hope you've been doing well too. You haven't been arguing with any smaller lionesses, have you? Or would I get a better response asking your friend?" I grinned, looking to the lioness who was stood at the top of the hill, just watching the prince and I question each other, the tension growing with each second. I looked back at Simba who was asking me what I was doing, using his eyes to throw the question my way.
The dark furred prince growled at me, getting to my side, looking down, "It must be you, you're just as annoying as before. Leave Neema out of this. I was addressing you, Tishala. You would do well to respond when I ask you." He growled again, moving ahead to get back to the lioness' side. "Now that I think about it though, it may be more appropriate to ask why you have come here with others?" He looked right at Simba when he finished that question, the younger prince frowning back. Not only was there tension between Kiburi and I, but the older lion prince had started the same feeling with Simba.
Tutting, I pouted at him, still unable to stop myself from messing around with the stern lion prince, "Oh, am I not allowed to bring my friends to your party? Would you rather I made the journey by myself. That's not very caring of a future king, is it? Take notes, Neema." I shot a wink in her direction, seeing a faint smile grow on her face. Her initial frown was a weaker façade than Kiburi's.
The large lion sighed again, "Having met you once before, I can't say the thought of you travelling alone here is a bad thing. I don't know what kind of company you may attract." He turned his nose up, looking down at my three travelling partners. None of them appreciated the way he talked about them, glaring daggers the whole time. It seemed like I was the only one to approach him with a smile. He looked to the lioness next to him, "Neema, don't listen to her. She is nothing but trouble." She nodded in response, though her expression didn't harden when she looked back to me. I shot her a smile, seeing a reserved one from her. It seemed like she didn't hold all his opinions but put up with him. "Now, Tishala, if you would answer the question, I have asked you." He tried again.
Of course, I wasn't about to stop, having too much fun winding up the royal, "Neema, did Kiburi tell you how he knows me?" I looked to her with a giggle, seeing a small shake of her head, "Well, he visited the Pridelands about a moon ago, thinking I may be his betrothed. As it turned out, his younger brother had greater potential, at least in the king's eyes. I can imagine how frustrating that must have been for him. I assume that's why he decided to be rather critical of the Pridelands. He didn't expect me to shut him up." I smirked, shooting a playful wink at Kiburi, who did not look amused. I bent the truth a little bit about what happened, but there was enough of a reminder for the lion prince to huff in response. "I'm guessing he didn't want you to know that. Oops." I had a claw against my closed mouth as I giggled again, seeing his friend try to hold back her own amusement at it.
"I will not be brought into your childish games. The truth was that the princess acted out against what was an innocent comment. She had no reason to be defensive if there really was nothing wrong with the Pridelands." He explained, being brought into my childish game. "I see nothing wrong with looking out for my brother. I want the best for him, and I was just questioning if the Pridelands were adequate. With a future ruler like you, I don't think a betrothal was ever going to happen."
I put a paw to my chest, "Oh, the pain. Kiburi, you do know how to break a heart." I snorted out my laugh, not trying to hold back.
All my laughter was stopped when the surprise of hearing his roar hit me, "Enough! I ask you a question multiple times and still you refuse to tell me. If you do not answer, I have no choice but to force you to leave." Neema's expression changed to a frown, along with Kiburi's. The large lion was growling again, though he was joined not by Neema, but by Simba, who had stepped to my side, the two of them ready to make this encounter a battle.
Even with the tensions high, I rolled my eyes and shook my head, stepping right up to the angered prince, looking up as I spoke, "I will not answer you. I haven't come to see you, anyway." His eyes showed the growing anger, starting to mix in with confusion, "I have come to answer questions from you king, Nguvu. I don't know much about your lands, but I can tell that your father wouldn't be happy if you chased out a couple of young lions, for no other reason than you lost your temper. Now, if you take me to him, I will keep your outburst as our little secret. How does that sound?" I offered, reverting to a calm smile. I knew I had him in a corner, so I just thought I would have a little fun with it. Kiburi stopped his growling, and when I looked back to Simba, nodding, he did the same. "I take it that's an agreement, right?" I asked, seeing the large lion nod, "Good. Now, I promise if you play nice, then Simba and the others will to. Be warned, we have a warthog and know how to use it." I heard a snicker from behind, no doubt coming from Simba. "So, prince Kiburi, lead the way." I gestured to him.
The prince rolled his eyes and groaned, "Fine. Follow us." He turned and started guiding, with Neema by his side. "How long have you been travelling for? All of you look exhausted." He commented, finally asking the question I mocked him for leaving out at the start. With the adrenaline from seeing a new environment and a tense encounter wearing off, I could see just how tired the four of us looked. I gauged my own appearance on Simba, who was dragging his paws along the ground a little bit.
"We started travelling a few days ago. We had to leave what I can only describe as a paradise, cross a desert, then head to these lands. We have done all of this on minimal food and water. Any of that would be appreciated when we get the chance. I promise to stop getting on your nerves when I'm not hungry. Well, I half promise...your reactions are too good to give up. Sorry." I offered him an apologetic smile, shrugging it off. "So, yeah, the days of travelling non-stop have meant we look a little worse for wear. Give me a comfortable place and I'll see you in a couple of days. I know I'm going to have a good sleep." I chuckled, though I didn't get a reaction from him, just a look back in acknowledgement. "How come you spotted us?" I queried, curious to know if he had any help.
He looked back, allowing Neema to lead so he could walk beside me, "Neema and I were patrolling the land's perimeter. It was our turn today, it'll be my little brother's turn tomorrow evening, I believe. It's something our father is having us do, in order to learn the responsibilities. Fikiria doesn't need to, nut insisted if he goes to a different pride, then he will know what to do to help straight away." He chuckled, that kind of response from him surprising me. Until that point, I didn't think he was capable of any emotion other than anger. I did have a lot to do with that though. He went back to frowning though, "You said you're hungry. Why didn't you just eat the warthog?" He asked, looking back at Pumbaa who had no clue he became the subject. The trio behind were talking amongst themselves.
My eyes rolled as I replied, "He's our friend. We aren't going to eat him. The thought hasn't even crossed my mind. He and the meerkat, Timon, are very close to him as well. They saved his life in more ways than one." I gestured to Simba, forgetting to even name him. "If there was a random warthog we didn't know, then we probably would have tried. I say tried because I never finished my hunting lessons. I think I could catch things though. I've gotten faster since we last met, at least." I shrugged again, "Oh, and sorry for the little growling match you two have. He's protective of me, as well as the other two. You'll learn to like them." I assured, even getting comfortable enough to give the stern prince a playful nudge.
He nodded in response, "Very well. My father will see to it that you all get fed and rested. I will talk to him to see what consequences you may have for entering the pride uninvited. As much as this may be a fun reunion for you, the pride can't just let anyone roam in and out of the lands." He explained, going all grouchy again. "You may be accepted easier, because of your connection to our pride, but the other three may have more problems."
Huffing, I looked to him with a frown, "You know you can talk without going on about all those things you just mentioned, right? Come on, loosen up and let your father, the king, do all of the judgement stuff." He looked to me with a raised brow, unsure of what was required, "Like...I dunno, tell me about Neema. What she to you?" I asked in a lowered voice, not wanting to cross the lion in any trouble.
"Neema is my friend and has been since I was a small cub. I've not known a more dependable friend." He answered, both of us looking at the lioness who was walking just a small distance ahead. "She will be a valuable member of the pride for her-" I stopped him, shooting a look that told him he was starting to get too serious again, "Fine. She and I grew up together and I can't see us not being friends in the future. It's why she joins me on the patrols." He explained, "I also asked for her to come with."
With that admission, I started smirking again, "Oh, Kiburi, you recommended this lioness to accompany you? Does that mean you might have some feelings for her? Feelings other than how useful for the pride she will be." I gave a little jab, prompting him to look at me like I'd angered him again, "What? There's nothing wrong with liking someone. You are allowed to, you know?" I nodded.
The prince went back to looking ahead at Neema, "I don't feel that way about her. I never could anyway. As future king, my father has seen it appropriate to find a betrothal that will be a benefit not only to our pride, but also to the pride that agrees to it with us. So, no, there's nothing wrong with liking someone, but as prince of the Kifalme lands, it wouldn't be fair to either one of us if we were to like each other. Didn't your father tell you this before you met with your potential kings?" I shook my head, not even bothering to mention how Scar was not my father. "I suppose it might have fallen flat on your ears. You don't seem like the type of lion to accept what has to be done." He commented.
Having been told that, I frowned, not finding it fair, "I only react the way I do because in my opinion, just because two are suitable options for ruling by themselves, it doesn't mean that they will work well together. I guess that's why Fikiria and I spent time together when a potential betrothal was being discussed, but still, sometimes it's better to let someone find the lion or lioness they were meant to be with, because they care for and love each other. Maybe Neema might be that for you. I wouldn't believe you if you told me she didn't care about you, and you care about her. It just needs love."
Once again, the prince let me know he disagreed, "If you make a whole pride wait for the king to fall in love, then there is the risk they will not be able to see the pride's future. Why would they have reason to stay if they can't see the future? I do understand what you're saying to me though. I just know that things have to be done for a rule to be set up for success." He told me, not sounding angry, or even irritated with me. It just sounded like he was educating a little sister or something.
With all we had talked about, I hadn't noticed that we were at the entrance of one of the three large structures. Looking around, I could tell it was the middle one, the other two in view either side, though each a few hundred metres away. Having stopped to look at them, the previous topic was dropped, Kiburi gesturing for the four of us to follow him up where I could see the mouth of a den. We climbed to that point, seeing Neema leave us, wandering around the path leading to the side. Kiburi led us into the den, where I could see no other lion in there, giving an eerie similarity to how I had seen the den in the Pridelands whenever the kings of the past would meet me. "King Nguvu, I have a group here, requesting your presence." He boomed over to his father, who turned around, taking himself out of the darkest part of the den. Once I got the chance to look around, I could see that Nguvu had been the only lion in there, but from the scent of the area, it seemed to be a the main den for the lions of the land. "Do you wish for my assistance?" Kiburi asked, waiting for a response from his father.
The hulking lion looked to his son with those intense, brown eyes. His deep voice started, "No, thank you, son." He bowed his head, "You may leave and return to your patrol. Thank you for bringing them to me." He hadn't even looked at me yet, watching as his son exited. Once the king had looked to who his guests were, I could see his eyes widen, "Princess Tishala. This is unexpected, yet wonderful news to see you here." It was like his hardened exterior had dissolved before our eyes; the massive lion almost giddy with excitement at seeing me. He even got close enough to pull me in for a brief embrace, purring as he did. "Truly, the news is wonderful. A surprise, but one that the great kings will look down upon with kindness." I raised a brow, unable to speak before he answered the question I was going to ask. "We received news after our visit. We expected the news to be a readjusted date for my son's trial period at the Pridelands, but it turned out to be a message from king Taka, expressing his deepest regrets. He told us that you had fled the Pridelands because pressures had become too great for you. He added that you had not been sighted since. Of course, I knew how this would affect the potential alliance we had struck with your lands, but my first thought was of sorrow. That kind of news, rare as it is, often means the worst has happened. I am glad to see you safe and well." He looked at the trio behind me, who had stayed silent the entire time the king spoke, assessing all three within seconds, "I should have known, no young lion could have survived by themselves. Thank you, all three of you, for taking care of the princess." The lion king bowed his head at them, his rich, dark mane falling over his eyes for a second. For such a large, intimidating stature, it was odd to see him behave in such a soft manner, "You all look exhausted, I will see to it that you are given time to rest. You two," he gestured to Timon and Pumbaa, freezing them on the spot, "you may relax in my presence. If you kept the princess safe, then you have my thanks, and as a result, my protection." The two nodded, not quite ready to feel safe. "Young lion," He looked at Simba, "I thank you too." They exchanged nods at each other, although Simba looked less easy than the king did. A moment later, Nguvu directed his attention back to me, "I will grant you all sanctuary. Though, I must ask you to sate my curiosity. It has been over a moon since you disappeared. What happened?" He laid down in front of me, which made it easier to keep eye contact with him. "I cannot tell you how great it is to see that you did not perish after your disappearance. Being a father, I dread to think of what would happen if any of mine were to disappear in the same way, so please, tell me what happened." He leaned forwards a little bit, waiting for the response.
The nervous chuckle I gave him as I looked back to the others for some kind of encouragement. They all shot different smiles at me, varying levels of support, "Your majesty, thank you. I can't feel anything but gratitude to hear of how you felt abut my disappearance and how you feel upon my return. It makes me feel lucky that I have such support." I took a deep breath before continuing, "If I may share a shortened version for you? I promise I will provide more details when I have caught up on my sleep." My stomach rumbled, making my cheeks go red, "And eaten. Anyway, I didn't disappear because of the pressures getting to me, like Sc- king Taka said. I ran away because I didn't want to be a part of his plans anymore." The king raised a brow, unsure on what I meant, "I knew he had plans to betroth me. Not to your son, but to another lion pride. I heard him say that he would be using their prince to get access to another land and have it for himself. I didn't want a part in that. I wanted to find a way to stop it. I ran away, crossing a desert before I was lucky to find a jungle. That was where I met these three." I looked back to Simba, who had stepped up to be by my side, "You see, your majesty, you are aware of what happened to make king Taka's ascension possible, aren't you?" I asked.
The king nodded, letting out his am response before he could listen again, "Of course. The tragedy that befell the Pridelands to lose king Mufasa, but also his son, Simba, it was news that travelled to many other prides, as did the news of the new king of the Pridelands. The tragedy is something all prides were surprised by. Of all kings, it was the king of the Pridelands who stood above the rest as an example." He explained.
Clearing my throat to speak again, I felt a little nervous, "Yes, well, there is no denying it was a tragedy. However, this lion next to me, who I found in the jungle, I knew him before. Your majesty, I found prince Simba, alive and well." I saw the king's eyes start to widen again, staring at Simba without blinking. "I know this seems doubtful, but it really is him. He never died. I don't need to tell you that if he is alive, then king Taka has never been the legitimate king. The true king is right here with us. Another thing that I need to discuss with you is the very reason we are here. The news you received from Taka was created by him, knowing that Simba never died in the same place his father did. Scar does think Simba is dead, but not in the way you think. Simba told me his uncle had blamed him for Mufasa's death. He told the prince to run away, under the guise that it might save him from the consequences he would face in light of the accusations. However, we both think that Scar ordered a group of hyenas to ensure Simba was killed. We think this, because Simba mentioned to me how he was chased out into a desert by hyenas just after he started running away. They failed, but I doubt they will have told Scar. I know this may come as a surprise to you but having spent a lot of time in close distance to him, I don't think this could be wrong. We think Scar wanted Simba dead. With this in mind, and although we don't have the same sort of evidence, I don't think it would be out of place to guess that Taka was also responsible in some way for Mufasa's death. Again, I am sorry to inform you of all of this, your majesty, but I can only tell you what I think." I bowed my head to him, not knowing what sort of response I would get from the great king. He stood up, satisfied with what he had heard.
"The gravity of what you've told me is huge. Princess, you don't strike me as the type to lie. Hearing that this is the son of Mufasa, I didn't believe you, but looking at him, I can see his father lives in him. There is no denying his lineage. Prince Simba, I apologise for not realising sooner, and I welcome you back to a life away from self-imposed exile. Princess, what you suggest about the king of the Pridelands surprises me, but less than you would think. Despite the arrangement we had, I was hesitant to allow my son to stay there. The discussions felt futile, like he wasn't interested in the potential benefits of the union. I did not assume he would do something with such malicious intent though. If everything you suggest is true, then it would be irresponsible for anyone to ignore what is happening. If he plans to take lands for himself, then we cannot sit by. Not only is there a balance to a kingdom, but also between kingdoms. If he takes one, there is no telling where his ambition may stop. In addition, the fact that he may have committed treason, he cannot be allowed to remain in a position of power. Thank you for informing me. I had small suspicions about king Taka, but your words confirm them. He is not fit to be king." Nguvu finished, looking at both Simba and I. My mouth opened to speak, still looking at him with wide eyes, "I know what you have come here for. Yes, I will agree to helping return your pride to a rightful state, Simba. As a king of my own lands, I would not be doing my duty if I didn't help out those in need of it." He paused for a moment, sighing as he started speaking again, "However, even in a dire situation like this, I feel it would be most fair if we arranged something that the Kifalme pride can gain from assisting you in your efforts." My heart sank at hearing that, fearing that he would start demanding much of the lands for himself, or giving greater control than would. Zazu's words echoed in my head, forcing my expression to look rather uneasy in front of the king. Being the vigilant ruler, he was, he noticed my trepidation just with one look, "Do not worry. The terms are something we can discuss another time, and we will only settle on an agreement that is fair to both prides. I am not looking to invade. I am looking to strengthen both prides for the future." He assured, offering a kind smile to us.
Still frowning in thought, I didn't seem to look convinced, "Just so I can know what to expect, what do you think might be a suitable arrangement?" I asked, wanting to know the sort of plan that would come to his head, first. He raised a brow at me but didn't appear offended by my question. "I think we should at least agree on something now, then we can look at refining it."
The king paced around a small circle, keeping his deep eyes on me, "Very well. As you say, Simba is the true king of the Pridelands. There are ways of forming an alliance between our two prides, which can allow for free movement for all pride members between the two prides, allowing short stays to be granted without permission, but longer stays needing approval, with the exception of royal family visits. The alliance will mean that both prides work together, including in the defence of those prides, such as the event where one pride is under attack. It would be expected that the allied pride would assist in defending against the attackers, much like they would defend their own pride. I don't think that kind of expectation is unreasonable, do you?" He looked to Simba, rather than me, seeing a nod from the prince, though he had grown in confidence with a determined look on his face. "Of course, in the future, it may be wise to consider solidifying the alliance of the prides by unifying them through the bonds of marriage." He expressed, nodding at his own suggestion.
I cocked my head to the side a little bit, "Considering our past connection, am I right in assuming that I would be part of the plan to unite prides through marriage?" I gulped, only recently having gotten used to being with a lion, let alone marrying. However, I steeled myself, knowing it was a possibility.
The great lion let out a small chuckle, the rumble of his laughter coming from deep in his chest, "It is true that our connect would make that a sensible proposition. And whilst it would be convenient, I am not convinced that it would be a decision everyone would be happy with. The marriage wouldn't need to come in the immediate future. Once both prides have more trust in each other, we may find it is more effective to create that tie, making it seem less forced. From what I have been told, if the tensions between a pride are high, it may be best that they just have their agreements, and nothing else. I'm sure that our prides wouldn't have that issue, but I find it would be best to wait and find out."
Normally I would have gone with what he said, nodding. However, some of his words played on repeat in my head as there was a silence between us. "Wait, I'm trying to work this all out, sorry. You said that you don't think everyone would be happy with the arranged marriage? Besides a nervous bride, who would be me, and maybe a somewhat reluctant lion...I don't see who wouldn't be happy with a marriage that unites two prides. Sorry if I'm not keeping up very well." I apologised, only to see the king start laughing again, like there was something I had missed.
"I cannot offer a marriage for you, princess Tishala, because you and the true king seem to have sorted that out already." He gestured to the two of us. I felt nervous with the knowledge that he had called us out like that. I was maybe going to be betrothed to his son after all, "Do not worry, Tishala, the potential arrangement we had was ended once you were reported missing. As such, you haven't betrayed anyone. I will also have you know that I am not the type of lion to interfere when love is growing. As I said, there are other ways we can arrange an alliance. I am happy for there to be no arranged marriage. If you two will ascend as king and queen, then as long as you honour our alliance, I doubt there would be any animosity between prides." He nodded in a slow manner, giving his form of approval to the two of us. I bowed my head in response, prompting Simba to do the same. "Without wishing to seem blunt, subtlety is not a new pairing's strength. I could see it when you both stood together. It gives promise to the Pridelands' new rule." He assured. "I have to stress though, when it comes to our pride helping you overthrow Taka, it must be Simba who rids the lands of his uncle's rule. Simba must strike the final blow. If he does not, then there will be a degree of uncertainty as to who the rightful ruler is. This tradition of overthrows is respected, and I will adhere to it. If I were to land the final strike, then there is the risk Simba would not become king. As you can understand, the consequences of that happening could be very negative. To ensure this won't happen, Simba and all male lions of the pride will devise a plan. You can be as involved as you like, Tishala. I will ensure that we are able to complete Simba's ascension with as little conflict as I can." He started walking past all of us, out of the den, "Come, I will show you to the royal sleeping quarters. You all look as if you need the rest." We weren't about to disagree, following without a word.
Perking up when I remembered something, I made my way to Nguvu's side, "Your majesty, I forgot to tell you; Taka will have help. The major-domo, Zazu, who told us where to find the Kifalme pride, also told us there are a few lionesses who are loyal to their king. Not many, but some. In addition, I should tell you that he also has a lot of hyenas. I don't think you saw them when you visited. I think that was deliberate. He has a lot, and they all follow his command. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I could blame it on my sleep deprivation, but at least I've told you, right?" I offered a smile, hoping it wasn't a deal breaker. He didn't look at me, instead focusing on taking us to the den he mentioned. He knew everyone else would want to get there as fast as possible. It turned out the royal sleeping quarters were very close. Both Nguvu and I stopped out the front. I gestured for them all to go in, that I would join them in a moment. "I would have still come to you even if there weren't hyenas, actually."
The king just smiled down at me for a moment, "The steps you took are surprising. Most lions your age, in your situation would have tried an outright attack. That level head tells me enough. I know you've thought this through. You need to rest as well though. Unless you have anything else to say?" He raised a brow.
"Well, I'd feel bad if I didn't ask how Fikiria has been. I assume you told him the news of my disappearance." Nguvu nodded, looking solemn at the thought of the moment he told his son.
With a sigh, Nguvu replied, "Yes. I told Fikiria. He had been looking forward to his visit. My younger son is far more willing to show his emotions than Kiburi. He always has been. I think he had been looking forward to it in no small part from the time you spent with each other. A large portion of our journey home was dominated with him telling us all about you. When I told him, I expected to see a breakdown of tears. I made sure his mother was with me, so that we were both there to comfort him. That did happen, but not to the extent we thought. What happened was more worrying. For a while afterwards, he was a recluse, avoiding contact with everyone. He wasn't even eating at times. I am not sure what his mother said to him, but he started to change for the better. Because of what happened, we haven't mentioned your name too much. I have no doubt he will be thrilled to hear of your arrival. I understand you two promised to be friends. It is funny to think that in the timespan of a moon you have both been through so much, in different ways, and both of you have changed a great deal in that time. You've both grown as lions, that's for sure." He finished before gesturing I go into the den he offered us. "Now, grown as you may be, you are still growing, and sleep will only be a good thing for you. As king of Kifalme lands, I command you to get some rest." He gave me a wink, walking away as I went inside. Even as tired as I was, I felt a small surge of energy, a smile forming on my face. I couldn't believe we had made it this far. Sure, that journey wasn't easy, but I expected more bumps in the road.
I came into the den to see Simba had been waiting up, unlike Timon and Pumbaa, who were crashed out, asleep next to the prince. He was looking at me with a smile, although his eyes were fighting to stay open, "You can go to sleep without me, you know?" I commented, laying by his side.
With a small yawn, he replied, a sleepy smile on his face, "I know, but I wanted to wait for you. What were you smiling about as you walked in?" He asked, resting his head on my shoulders as I looked up to him.
Before too long, our purrs kicked up, filling the room with the comforting sound, "It was just hitting me that we've made it here. We got help. Everything has gone so well. It's better than we could have hoped. I knew they liked me, but I didn't think they would really remember me in such a good way. Kiburi was standoffish the last time I saw him too, but even he was pleasant to me after a while." I explained, shifting our positions a little bit so I could rest my head on his paws, his head atop mine.
He nodded, "Yeah, it has gone well. I hope everything else goes as well. Are you going to help plan how we take down my uncle? You've been good so far with plans." He suggested, giving me a light squeeze, embracing me with a snug warmth.
My thoughts stayed on whether I would join the meeting or not, "I don't think I would be much good in that. It might be good for me to know what the plan is, but I think you can trust king Nguvu to come up with the best plan. I'm sorry that he couldn't just take out your uncle for you. I didn't realise it had to be you. Still, I think if Nguvu is leading the plan, you'll be safe...and before too long, you'll be king." I purred out, smiling as I looked upward, although I couldn't see him, I could tell he was smiling too.
Our eyes started to feel heavier, but we fought it enough to continue speaking, "Okay, yeah, I'll tell you the plans. Do you think Nguvu might also help me on how to be a good king? The thought of being king makes me nervous now. I don't want to do it wrong." He mused.
"Simba you'll be the best king. I believe that." I replied, attempting to nuzzle him from the position we had assumed. "Don't worry about it yet. We have a little bit of time to work things out." I assured him.
Yawning again, he relaxed some more, adding a little weight onto my head, "Yeah, you're right." He placed a gentle lick to one of my ears, purring into it, "You'll be a great queen, too." I huffed with a small smile. I wasn't convinced as much as him, but if he needed me to be there, then I would be the first to step up. It may not have been everything I wanted, but it was the right thing to do for the prides, at least. At that, Kiburi's words echoed in my mind. At last I fell asleep.
Waking up was not something that I thought would happen without a lot of effort. However, my ears twitching woke me up, letting me know that there was a source of noise nearby. I opened my eyes just a little, trying to catch a glimpse of what might be making the noise. I heard laughter, though it wasn't a voice I knew. It was higher pitched, chirpy, and not easy to get myself to go to sleep to. A figure did come into view, being much smaller than I was expecting. I opened my eyes a little more and took a better look. It was a cub, and judging by the fur colour, she looked like a female version of Nguvu. I realised at that point it must have been his daughter. She had grown since I last saw her, though I didn't pay too much attention to her appearance before. She had the same brown eyes her father had, the same rich, dark fur. She had spotted Simba and I the moment she was inside the den. She bounced towards us, giggling more as she got closer. I feigned sleep, thinking she might leave us be, but that wasn't the case. She was right in our faces, sniffing, prodding and just being e general nuisance. Simba didn't flinch at any of the touches, but I wanted to let out a small growl. No matter who it was, I didn't like having my sleep interrupted. I held off from reacting though once I caught sight of another lion entering. I guessed it was her mother, the queen. Thinking about it, I wasn't even sure if I had learned their names. That felt a bit rude.
The queen's soft voice carried over to her cub. It was clear she was trying to keep quiet for my benefit, not knowing it was already too late, "Zahra, leave our guests to sleep. They have had a long journey, but I'm sure when they wake up, they will be happy to play with you too." She tried to persuade the cub, but she did not relent. Instead, the cub, Zahra, leaned in, tickling my whiskers by accident. It was just enough that I had to sneeze, startling the cub backwards. "Oh dear, I apologise for my daughter waking you up. Once she heard there were visitors, I'm afraid her curiosity is too strong. One moment she was there, the next she had disappeared. How are you, princess?" The queen asked me, standing in front of me, looking down with a calm smile.
Keeping my voice quiet, I replied, "I've had worse ways to wake up. It's okay, I'm fine." I offered a smile to her and her daughter, "I feel bad for asking this, but I don't think last time we met, I ever got introduced to you. I never learned your name and right now it is making me feel pretty awkward."
The older lioness let out a small chuckle, "It's quite alright. My name is Amali. I suppose it is strange you were never told. It doesn't matter too much though, you know now. It seems like a long time ago now, that day, doesn't it?" She said, looking to me with her kind eyes as she waited for my answer.
It didn't take long to come, "Yeah, a lot has happened since then. I do remember how nervous I was on that day though. I woke up early, my stomach in knots, doing flips...whatever you want to call it. I was lucky that the queen of the Pridelands was ready for my little panic attack." I chuckled at the thought of it, "Then again, I was very unsure about the whole idea of being betrothed. I'll admit, even if it was a bit obvious anyway, but after spending time with your son, Fikiria, I wasn't as scared of being betrothed. He made it seem like not such a bad idea. The lion prince I met after...well let's just say he put me off the idea all over again." The two of us shared a small chuckle again.
She sighed with that same smile on her face, distracting her young cub with her swishing tail, "You weren't the first, and you won't be the last to have something put them off betrothal. It's not always an easy idea for someone young to understand the reasons. It can lead to resentment in some cases, but often, when they grow up, the paired lions realise the importance of their being together. I remember the day you two met as well. I was so happy to see my youngest son had the chance to be betrothed to someone like you. At first, it was the fact you were princess of the Pridelands, but then, once you two had returned, seeing the look on his face, as well as when he decided to give you a little nuzzle goodbye, I could tell you were kind. It isn't rare to see the lioness act cold towards the suitor. Fikiria is sensitive, so I worried for him when I saw you have a verbal spat at my eldest. I look back at it now and just think of how rare it is to see a cub with such passion. Of course, now it seems that you have avoided arranged marriage altogether and have chosen a different path." She gestured to Simba, who still rested his head on mine, sleeping with a tiny amount of drool threatening to touch. I was about to apologise, when Amali spoke first, "Nguvu told me about you and the prince. You shouldn't feel bad. You had only met Fikiria once, your betrothal hadn't been confirmed, and in truth, I know what it is like to be young and in love." She chuckled, wiping away the bit of drool Simba had been building up. "Speaking of Fikiria, I imagine his father has told him of your arrival. You may be surprised when you see him, he has done some growing in the time since you last me him." She warned, though keeping a warm tone.
As if on cue, a young lion walked in, his fur the same lighter brown that his mother had. I recognised those beautiful teal eyes anywhere, but what was new to me was the outcropping of mane that this lion possessed. It wasn't the darkness of Kiburi's or Nguvu's mane, but it was still a luxurious dark colour, a perfect gradient to his body's fur. Looking at his face, I could see exactly who it was. The younger prince himself, Fikiria. "Mum, is it really true?" He asked whilst looking to her. A moment later, after she nodded, he saw that I was looking back at him, already starting to smile. I felt a spark of energy hit me deep within. I wanted to leap up and greet him, but with a sleeping Simba resting on me, I resisted, opting for a calmer smile when he returned the smile. It was like neither of us knew what to say. That silence was broken with a pained cry when it turned out his little sister had taken matters into her own hands, forcing words from his mouth when she chomped onto his tail. "Ah! Zahra, no!" He looked to her with a stern expression, reminding me of his father a little bit, even if he did look more like the queen. The noises had woken up all three of the others with me, Simba lifting his head to rest by my side. He was still waking up, watching the scene with a good deal of confusion. Once the sibling situation had defused, Fikiria was facing me again, "Tishala, I can't believe it, you're here. You're actually here!" There was elation in his voice, a large grin plastered on his face. I could see his mother looking on with an amused smile, not used to seeing her son so animated in front of her. "I didn't think my dad was right when he told me. I thought there was some kind of mistake, that it was just a lioness who looked like you, but it's actually you." He rambled on, looking as if he wanted to be leaping around the room. "This is the best day I've had since...well, since I met you!" He beamed, bringing my energy up at the same time. Fikiria's demeanour changed a little when he looked to Simba, bowing his head, "It's also great to know you're alive, Simba. I uh...I look forward to helping you get your home back." The nervous smile he had in front of the future king faded when inspiration hit him, "Hey, if you want, you can go on patrol with me tomorrow before we meet with the other lions. You'll love it!" He offered, getting a sleepy nod from Simba in response. Their agreement made me wonder what I would do in their absence. I had a feeling Amali would have something planned for me. If not, I was going to seek out Neema to see if she and Kiburi were lovers in secret. I suspected not, but there would be no harm in finding out. She didn't seem quite as quick to anger as the large lion did.
"Why don't the two of you catch up? Take a walk and let the others rest, dear." The queen inserted herself back into things, speaking before her son could continue his excited rant. I peered across to the queen, who was returning it, our eyes locked for a moment, "Yes, princess Tishala, I mean you and Fikiria. I can see you two are about to fill this den with noise. Need I remind you that this area is primarily for sleeping in." She raised a brow as if challenging us to disagree. I stood up, nodding.
Fikiria, for his part, nodded, making his way to the exit, but not before he gave some affection to his mother and little sister, nuzzling both. "Thank you, your majesty, uhm, Simba, I'm just gonna go for a walk with Fikiria. I'll be back later, so you three just rest up and I'll see you soon, okay?" I waited for him to respond, seeing a laid-back nod, yawning afterwards. I didn't know how much more sleep he would be getting with the young cub still in the same room as them, but I supposed Timon and Pumbaa would cope, seeing as they looked after Simba, so they had experience with energetic cubs. With the confirmation, I left the sleeping quarters, following the youngest prince of the Kifalme lands.
Once we had gotten away from his home and onto the grasslands, Fikiria led me along, though keeping to my side, "Sorry if I keep on looking. I'm still amazed that you're here. I couldn't believe it when dad told me that you had run away from your home. For a few days I tried to tell him he was wrong, that he was just playing a trick on me. I don't think I took it very well. I think I knew it wasn't a mean joke when dad cancelled the visit I had planned. And yet, not long after that day was meant to come, you come here. I mean, okay, you're still pretty late, but you're here." He chuckled, "Now I think about it, you're the toughest lioness I think I know. I mean, you told me that you were the only one that survived your pride being attacked by rogues. When I asked my father, he said he wasn't aware of any close by kingdoms being attacked, so that means your pride was far away. That means you had to make it to the Pridelands by yourself...as a cub!" He exclaimed, getting right in my face with an animated smile about him, "That's tough! And now I've found out that you survived a month away from the Pridelands, having escaped by yourself as well. It's good you found Simba though. Do you think you would have come here if you didn't meet Simba?" He asked.
For a moment I had to think about that. In my circumstance, I only went the way I did because it led to Simba. If I had left without being guided to Simba, I didn't know if I would have found anywhere to survive, or if I would have found any help. If I did manage to survive, then I would have tried to find help, which may have led me to the Kifalme pride. "Uhm, that's a good question. I did promise some of the lionesses that I would come back with some help. I don't know where that help would have come from though. Your father was one of the first lions I thought of when I thought about getting help. So, I guess that means I would have done the same thinking. It just might have taken me longer to get here. I would have been by myself and I'm not sure I would have made the journey by myself." I sighed with a smile pointed in the prince's direction, "I am so glad I managed to get here though. It's such a beautiful place. I think last time I saw somewhere so pretty was back at the jungle, but in a kingdom? It was when Mufasa was king. It's like all the colours have been pumped up, when I compare it to the Pridelands now." I explained, starting to look around at the scenery some more. Each of the colours were distinct to their own little areas. It was perfect, at least to me it was. "Your father must do a great job as king if the lands are this nice. It almost seems a shame I'm gonna have to leave for the Pridelands." I commented, sighing again.
Fikiria raked his paws through a patch of grass, looking at it with the same smile he had been holding since we started walking, "You still have some time here. The sort of thing we're going to try and do, we're going to need to plan and prepare. That means we will probably help Simba get stronger and such. Whilst he's strong, he won't be as strong as his uncle just yet. We might be able to even it out by the time we set the plan in motion. You'll need to get stronger too." He smirked, as if teasing me.
A frown started to grow on my face, though I could feel myself wanting to smile, "What's that supposed to mean? If you remember, I won when you and I had a little battle. I think I've only gotten stronger since then." I winked at him, reminding the prince of the little dunk in the water he received last time he and I tussled. "I don't think you need to worry about my strength." I walked a little ahead, my tail tip flicking at his nose. I heard the playful rumble of his growl after that.
He got back to my side, looking down to my eyes, the mischief clear in both of us, "You got lucky. Besides, that wasn't serious. My father mentioned that you said there were a lot of hyenas. You could just about beat one cub one on one, but what would happen if you had four or five hyenas ready to strike you down, hm? Everyone will need to be ready, so I can't wait to see what you're like when my mother puts you through your paces in training." He chuckled, prompting me to nudge him to the side, making the prince trip a little bit. It didn't seem to affect him though, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to cheer you on from the side lines. Maybe I'll get Simba to watch as well." He grinned, knowing that would not be something I wanted.
Huffing, I looked at him with a bit of a frown, though he knew I was putting it on, "If you do that, I will make sure your little sister finds your tail in the night. Every night. Don't think I won't, because I will. Just think about that before you invite yourself to watch anything that I might do. Remember that I can always take you down, myself. Now, shut up and tell me more about your home. I really don't want to think about a war that I decided to pursue." I shuddered at the thought, though it was an exaggeration, of course.
The prince huffed after me, a small attempt at mimicking what I did, "Okay, if you insist. My home, the Kifalme lands, are a prosperous area filled with different species of animal, some only seen in our borders. In fact, it is said that the Kifalme lands have the highest variance of subspecies of antelope." He informed me as we walked along, though when I shot him a frown, he stated laughing, unable to keep up his tour guide-esque speech. "Okay, okay, sorry...just let me say a few more things and then I'll be normal." He beamed at me, waiting for me to let him continue.
Rolling my eyes, I replied, "Fine, you can finish your little skit. I know you can't keep your promise of being normal though. That would imply you ever had the potential to be normal." I smirked at him, prompting both of us to chuckle. Both of us looked in the direction where we could hear several hooves thumping to the ground; zebras were charging together.
With our eyes on them, Fikiria continued, "We also home the fastest zebras...not that it stops them from being a meal. Ah, if you look beyond them, you can see the elephants of Kifalme. The elders there are wise beyond the years of any lion. It does help that they just live longer. Perhaps I can introduce you to them sometime. Now, where was I? Oh yeah! The centrepiece of the Kifalme land is its royal pride. The king is the latest in the second largest lineage known between all prides. King Nguvu upholds his traditions and rules with a steady heart and weighted judgement. Since his rule began, he has overseen the continued success of life in this land. The successes aren't limited to just the other animals though, he has had his own successes. His eldest son, Kiburi, is future ruler of Kifalme. The most recent addition to his growing family is his daughter, Zahra, princess of Kifalme and royal pain in the tail of every unsuspecting member; chief instigator of pained gasps with fangs so sharp it is very possible she chews rocks to make them as lethal as they are! The final member I have yet to mention...how to describe him?" He paused with a smug grin on his face, using a paw to stroke at his chest for a moment, "Well, some might say that prince Fikiria is an enigma. He isn't the baby of the family, but he isn't in line to lead, which can make him seem rather ambiguous. However, to those who know him, the prince is a daring adventurer, if not a wonderful family member, caring for all, even those who might not appreciate it." I couldn't help but giggle at the little display he was putting on for me. With the lion in front of me, busy performing, I couldn't help but notice how he had filled out in his frame, getting larger overall. It made him resemble his father much more, although he still looked more like his mother, sharing the same fur colour. I took a look at his mane, which had grown a little more than Simba's, but it was still nothing compared to his father or older brother. The colour of it complimented his fur in a gradient. What both succeeded in doing though, was bringing attention to his eyes. They were bright with that beautiful teal colour that I found so easy to stare at. Even if the fur around his eyes was a little lighter than the rest of his fur, those eyes drew me in straight away. I found it hard to listen to what he was saying, just waited to see the occasional twinkle in his eyes when he was talking to me. "I don't really need to tell you much about these lands just yet. Like I said, you're going to be staying here for a while before we get you to the Pridelands. There's no rush."
Hearing him again took me out of the staring I had been doing. "Oh, okay, then I guess what was the point of this walk? I get it, your home is pretty. Not everyone is so lucky." I quipped, returning to teasing the prince, unable to give him the satisfaction of a fully positive comment. "I hope you're not going to be like this with Simba. Also, if you think you'll get him up for an early morning walk, you've got another thing coming. You wake him up, it seems like he can't help but wake me up to. I like my sleep, Fikiria, you best respect that." I warned, though making it clear I was only half serious.
Without a moment to hesitate, he chuckled, bowing down in front of me, "I wouldn't dream of interrupting your sleep. I would rather let your future king take the brunt of your anger. I saw enough when you laid into my brother. For sure you'll be a fierce queen." He chuckled again.
"You know that I'm going to be Simba's queen?" I looked to him, trying to gauge a reaction.
"Yeah, my father told me." He replied, though I kept looking at him, as if expecting some other answer to follow. When he noticed me staring, he grinned, "Don't worry. We were never betrothed. Plus, we're always going to be friends, at least. That's what you suggested. Don't go backing out on it now." He teased.
I couldn't help but start grinning back at him, both of us of a similar mind, "I said it so I didn't break your heart. You were scared of me. You may look good now, but-" I didn't get the chance to finish what I was saying, getting interrupted by the prince as he wore a massive smirk.
Stepping in my way, he got in my face again, "You look good too. I may have been talking a lot, but I'm not so bad that I didn't notice you were looking me over. You've changed too, I'm just a bit more subtle than you, I think." He grinned, challenging me to argue with him. "Oh, I have an idea! Come with me, you'll like this." He turned and started running off. I had no choice but to follow, unable to even ask where we were going. The idea seemed to come out of nowhere. He looked back to check I was following, "See if you can keep up with those smaller legs." He teased me, starting to push away at a higher speed. I took a deep breath, putting more effort into my strides. Before I knew it, I was catching up to him fast, passing him moments later. "Oh, the princess can run!" He called out, catching up to me again, though I could tell neither of us could go much faster. He led the way a little bit, gesturing to a flock of birds we were headed to. "Two options: roar now, or keep your moth closed." He chose for me, roaring to clear the birds. The surprise he gave them meant we could hear their squawks as they took off, making both of us laugh at the little bit of chaos he had just caused. It did mean we had a clear path, sprinting through. I decided to push again, starting to get ahead of him again, "Oh, Tishala, I didn't know you knew where to go." He teased, "You'd know to stop." Before I knew it, he had put a paw out in front, hooking onto me so that I tripped and rolled a few times.
I laid still for a few seconds, the rage building a little inside me. Fikiria got to my side, "What did you do that for?" I growled, though it did nothing to change his perky attitude.
The young lion snickered, speaking in that same teasing tone, "It wouldn't be very nice of me to let a guest charge straight into the water, would it? Not only that, but I have to think how the other animals wouldn't want to be drinking from that watering hole once a lioness has taken a dip in there. I'm just looking out for the other animals, like my father has taught me to." He sat down, a paw to his chest with pride. Once I sat beside him, he looked back to me, "How did you not notice the water you were running straight for?" He didn't even try to hide his laughter. When I looked away from him, I could see he was telling the truth. There was a pool of water, the watering hole. I did wonder how I didn't notice it before, guessing I had been too focused on passing the prince I hadn't registered what was coming up. It was a large pool, too, the surface shimmering from the sun's reflection. I made a mental note to myself to visit again, but when I was alone and when the sun was setting. I could already imagine how beautiful it would be at that moment. "So, what do you think?" Fikiria brought me out of my little trance to ask. It became clear he had been speaking when I zoned out, "You need me to say it again, don't you?" I nodded, "What is it with lionesses and zoning out? What I said was that we should see who's the strongest now. I've made it fair, we're by some water, just like last time. The loser will have to refer to the other as your highness for the next day. What do you think?" He offered, grinning at the prospect of there being some sort of stakes to it. "Oh, and you've gotta bow." He mimicked the movement he was looking for. "All day, no backing out or there's a forfeit."
Raising a brow, I asked, "What's the forfeit?"
He stepped in closer to me, holding that seem grin, though I was just drawn into those teal eyes again, "Forfeit is you have to do everything and anything my brother wants you to do." He kept his grin, "Why do you ask, scared?" I couldn't escape the wink he shot me, going a little red in the cheeks.
"Hah, you wish. You're on, half mane." I snickered, giving him that little nickname. He looked a little confused at it, "Though saying you have half a mane is generous. Nothing like your brother's." I teased, taking a few steps away from him before I went into a crouched pose, showing I was ready.
The prince lowered himself as well, but couldn't help retaliate to my comment, "I'll have a mane even better. When Kiburi was my age, his mane was a lot smaller." He defended. As much as I made fun of it, I was glad Fikiria saw it for the joke it was. Once he had crouched, he leapt at me without warning. I jumped out of the way for the first one, making sure to turn so I faced him all the time. I wasn't about to let him surprise me with a second leap. He didn't miss by much though, telling me how much stronger he had gotten since we last met. Of course, my faster reactions came from my own greater strength. I tried my own pounce, pushing off with enough speed that I landed on the prince's back, although it didn't take much effort or him to shake me off. I supposed there was a silent rule about no claws, so I didn't grip on with them. Once I had been shaken off, he took advantage of my moment of instability, using one of his paws to swipe at my side. I grunted at the hit, but rolled with it, standing up in time to dodge his next attempt. We had a repeated cycle of him lunging and me dodging. I was starting to see what he meant that I might need some help. I wouldn't be able to dodge every attack thrown at me if there was more than one attacking me. I steeled myself, dodging later than normal, but only so I could swing one of my paws at the lion who was throwing all of his weight past me. My paw connected and it sent Fikiria onto his side, close to the edge of the watering hole.
Before I could make a fun little jibe at taking him down, we both looked to the source of some laughter. We both saw that Kiburi and Neema had been watching, though it wasn't clear for how long. "Brother. Neema and I agree that perhaps you should take less time on patrol and focus on your combat. If you're getting bested by a lioness smaller than you, perhaps it would be he wise decision. I'm sure I can handle a few more patrols. If you can't even beat Tishala, how do you expect father to agree to let you come along to the Pridelands. You may as well stay behind with the cubs." His brother taunted.
It was no surprise that I felt I needed to say something, but I waited, glaring at the eldest prince instead, "Actually Kiburi, it might be best if you were to help your brother get stronger. You're probably one of the strongest, after the king, that is. Plus, you've been taught a lot more on fighting than he has." Neema spoke up. I couldn't tell if she was being helpful or also taunting Fikiria.
The younger prince looked as if there was anger bubbling up. I noticed he had his claws out, scratching into the ground, though making it slow so it wasn't too obvious. "Kiburi..." He growled, "can you just go away? We were just having fun and you came to interrupt it. No one asked for your opinion." He grumbled, looking up to his brother, part of his mane covering an eye. I looked between them, feeling the sibling rivalry, though it felt unfair on this occasion.
Rolling my eyes, I stepped forward to get the attention of the Kifalme heir, "You know, he is younger than you. You can't expect him to be as good as you, yet. With an attitude like yours, I bet you're all talk. If you were his size, I'd have you on your back, easy." I grinned, almost challenging the lion.
He didn't flinch though, letting his friend respond for him, "Don't be ridiculous. He could match many full-grown lionesses by the time he was prince Fikiria's age. Kiburi was just suggesting that maybe his brother's talents lie outside of combat." She mused, though it was very clear the two were there just to wind up the young prince, and it was working.
"Now that I would have loved to see. Did young Kiburi ever smile? What was it like? Either way, even if he was that good, it might just be that I'm even better. Maybe I can match an adult too. Maybe it's also a good thing he isn't as into fighting. Not everyone needs to fight...all the time. I bet all of what you said is only half true anyway. Fikiria's still gotta grow, so don't worry, we'll make sure he makes his big brother know who's boss."
"Well, Kiburi will be boss. He'll be king."
"Neema, not the point I was trying to make." I sighed.
Still, the lioness defended the prince, "I know, I was just telling you how it is." She chuckled. If I wasn't trying to defend the younger lion, then I might have joined her, finding her humour to be similar to mine.
The tension between us wasn't high, but the same couldn't be said for the brothers, so we both agreed with a subtle nod that we would continue this another time, "Well, okay then. How about Kiburi leaves and either one of us will give him a gift when we get back, hm? It's a surprise though, so you'll have to go. Oh, and don't worry Kiburi, I'll take you down next time. I can't wait to see some frustrated tears on the future king of Kifalme." I winked at him, letting Neema escort him away before he could give the grumpy response I was expecting. As they walked away, I could hear him grumbling to her. "So, Fikiria, I believe I was just about to win." I grinned at him, making the other lion do the same, both of us getting into a crouching position again.
We both continued fighting with each other for a while, finding that our energy hadn't gotten to a point we wanted to stop. We hadn't noticed how much time had passed, what with the amount we were crashing into each other. At one point I tried to use some stealth, ducking into the taller grass. It worked for a little bit, allowing me to get some easy hits on him, but then I got predictable with it, and he would just get to me anyway. Throughout most of our sparring, we exchanged words with each other, trying to provoke a reaction. Despite that, the atmosphere around us was light, a positive tone to every word we said. We both knew it was just a bit of fun and games. Both of us tried to throw the other into the water, replicating the feat we achieved the first time. There was no way I would be able to shove him into the water outright. I would need to use his momentum like the last time, but he was wise to it each time I tried, instead ending up with me closer to the water than he was. Neither of us had noticed the sun going lower in the sky, too absorbed in our back and forth to care.
With one final attempt, I stood a few metres from my adversary, letting out a growl, showing my determination, "I hope you've been practicing your manners. Kiburi will be impressed, apart from the fact you'd lost to me." I mocked, preparing to get the final strike in and win this little challenge we had.
Fikiria met my words with his own, "Everything about your statement was correct. Except it will be you serving to every one of his requests. He will be proud of me though, because I got the lioness he is most annoyed by to agree to be his slave for a day." I could see how much he wanted to win. We charged at each other with the same intensity. It was unfortunate I wasn't the same size as him, often having to adapt so that I could get some form of leverage to improve my chances. When we locked together, we were both on our hind legs, holding on to each other with our front paws on the other's shoulders. In this position, we were in a bit of a stalemate, with the only thing we could do being stare into each other's faces, trying to win a battle of wills. I didn't want to admit it, but I felt like I was losing that battle, almost softening when I looked into his eyes again. They were just so damn pretty. Even as I broke free of that, I could feel the young lion was overpowering me, my body begging me to stop fighting, as it had been for the previous hour. I wasn't meant to stand up to his strength for quite so long. With all the exertion, I could feel my legs start to give.
That was all the invitation that the prince needed, changing his line of attack so that he could push me to the side. I landed on my paws but didn't have the strength to dodge out the way when I saw he was leaping at me. I closed my eyes and accepted the hit I was going to take. With enough force to make me grunt, I was sent to the ground, but it was strange because he went rolling with me. I saw this as a last-ditch chance to win this. As we rolled along, I tried my best, using my back legs to gain the advantage. As we slowed, I could feel I was going to end up on top, able to pin the prince and claim victory. I looked to see it was about to happen. However, I didn't expect to see Fikiria with a calm smirk. He let me think I was about to win only to turn the tables on me, forcing one more turn, when I then felt my back thud to the ground, a pair of paws pressing me down. With both of us breathing heavy, that was the only sound for a second as he looked down at me with a victorious smile, though it was more muted than I thought it would be.
"That took longer than expected." He started, huffing as he got his breath back. From the sounds of it, he had decided not to gloat, offering a kind smile down at me. I shot him the same sort of look. He leaned in a little closer, "You're not gonna need as much help as I thought...once you learn to attack as well as dodge, that is." He chuckled, purring a little bit. I shared the laughter, giving a playful little push at his chest, though it wasn't enough to actually move him.
Finding myself quite comfortable on the ground once he took one paw off, I replied, "You're not too bad yourself." We both gave each other the same sort of smile, though I could feel tongue being bitten a little bit to stop me from saying anymore.
Before I knew what was happening, he leaned down some more, not stopping until the two of us had made contact. Our breathing had silenced and all that could be heard was our purring, with my purrs having joined him the moment we made contact. Our cheeks brushed together, rubbing with a great deal of affection. Like I wasn't in control of my actions, I started licking his cheeks with affection, the prince soon reciprocating. We were moving to press our foreheads together, then going back to nuzzling one another. It wasn't clear how long we did this, both of us embracing the moment, my eyes closed to feel the full extent of the passion we expressed towards each other. Once again, I had a paw push against his chest, though this time I let my claws out to drag against his fur, hearing his purrs get louder. We stopped and he lifted his head up to look down at me as he had done before, though both of us were still a little lost in the moment, not breaking eye contact to even blink.
I broke out of it as soon as Fikiria started lowering his head again. I scrambled out from underneath him, stumbling over to the water where I used my paws to splash at my face, then starting to drink from the pool. Afterwards, I looked back with a sheepish grin, chuckling in a way that would show how nervous I was, "Wow, okay, that was a great fight, it really was. Maybe we can do it again sometime? Tomorrow? Great, I think we might need to get back. It looks like a lot of time has passed and no doubt Simba wants to see me. You know, Simba. The prince. Pridelands and me...I'm supposed to be his...let's go, okay?" I was jumping around, trying to act calm, though I was unable to look Fikiria in the eyes. He nodded and started leading me back.
The entire walk back was silent, filled with awkwardness. I watched my paws with each step, only looking to see if I was following Fikiria. I made sure not to be too close. When I did chance a look, I could see he was acting in a similar manner, both of us just wanting to have someone else's company to reduce the awkward atmosphere I had created. In addition, all that went over my thoughts was that moment with Fikiria. I didn't know what to think other than there was just a lapse. He and I had been sparring, having fun in each other's company. In a fight, we had to get close, so it must have just been impulse. I tried to reason with myself, but it didn't make what I did feel any better. I wasn't helped once we arrived, seeing Simba waiting for me, as well as the queen and her daughter. Fikiria and I both forced smiles as we went to greet our respective members.
"So, good news, I am rested and ready to learn tomorrow. I guess you'll need more sleep, because you look tired." Simba chuckled as he nuzzled me. Though, I returned it, my mind was still swirling with the thoughts from before. "Also, queen Amali's huntresses have come back with a lot of food." He beamed, starting to smirk. "Timon and Pumbaa have gone to find their own food. King Nguvu told them where they would find the best grubs, so we'll see them in a bit." We stopped, Simba and I stood in front of a zebra that had been hunted. I looked around to see that there were a few more successful catches of zebra, so plenty to go around. I could tell some lions had their share already, telling me this was a larger pride than I first thought. Simba took me from my thoughts, chuckling with that same smirk from before, "They have your favourite; anything but grubs." He grinned, getting a small laugh from me, though again, I didn't feel the emotion that I showed.
Whilst we were eating, I couldn't help but look over to see where Fikiria was, with his family. I was looking often, and I could tell that he was too. Both of us clearly hadn't stopped thinking about what happened, the thoughts alone making me feel uneasy at best. From across the area, many a time my eyes locked onto those teal ones, but only for a second, as neither of us were ready to confront each other about our mistake.
Was it a mistake?
A/N: There we go, another chapter. The next one may take a little longer to come out as I have one teensy thing, I need to take care of before I can start writing it. I don't own Lion King, that's all Disney. If you guys have any thoughts, predictions, suggestions and whatnot, then please, let me know, I'd love to see them! In short, please leave a review, I do read and appreciate all (yes, all) of them! See you next time!