Author's note: I'm back, people! Sorry for being a week later than I promised, but I had some quite busy days. Of course, if you have opinions to share, good or bad, you know what to do.
CHAPTER NINE: THE FALLOUT
Two fireflies, gleaming in the dark shadows of the Outlands, circled around Scar's head. On a regular day, he would shake his head to chase them away, but this time he didn't seem to notice. He was lost in his thoughts, planning what to do next if it was even worth coming back. No, he had to come back. The results were catastrophic, especially considering the upper hand that they obtained for a few days.
Scar sank further and further into regret as he slowly walked over a rocky, dusty landscape. In a way, the change of land reflected the way he felt after such a terrible failure. It was desolate, lonely, miserable, and dusty with rocks all over the place. At least the air was breathable, but when that's what one has to settle for, things are very wrong. He used to be at peace before this. But he let the unresolved emotions from his youth drive him. He was foolish and impulsive. And now his son was dead, his mate badly injured and one of the pride members was killed by his dead son in his reckless escape. He pondered on how unfair it all was that Simba got to come back, barge in and resolve everything for himself while Scar failed miserably trying to do the same. But after the death of Warithi, he was not willing to call this over. Not yet.
After some more slow dragging, he heard someone following behind. Carefully turning around, he saw Damu.
"What are you doing here?" Scar snarled, still angry at everyone about the defeat.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, father, but I bring great news," Damu humbly replied.
"What is it?"
"Simba succumbed to his wounds. He and Warithi killed one another," Damu proceeded with a victorious grin on his face. "The king is dead."
Scar expected to be relieved by this, but all he could think of is how agitated he was by Damu's presence, as important as these news were to him.
"How do you know?" Scar asked gruffly.
"I went to check it myself," Damu answered, proudly lifting his head and throwing his chest out.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Scar shouted, making Damu quickly go back to his usual, slightly hunched posture. "You could have been caught!"
"But I wasn't..." Damu muttered, feeling ashamed.
"You could have been captured, killed even!" Scar continued to yell.
"Yeah, but I wasn't," Damu said a little more harshly now.
There was a long moment of silence as Damu for the first time looked at his father. In that moment, Scar felt something he had never felt with Warithi. He saw himself.
Scar didn't want to keep thinking about it. He didn't like the way it made him feel.
"Leave," Scar uttered harshly as he turned around.
When he turned around, Mufasa's voice boomed in his head.
Don't turn your back on me, Scar!
"Leave!" Scar cried out, more aimed at his thoughts than at Damu. Damu winced at the suddenly loud and harsh tone, collected himself with an angry expression on his face, almost as if about to roar or snarl, but restraining himself and running off back into the misty landscape sprawling behind Scar.
Scar was left alone with his thoughts, thinking how maybe that wasn't a very good idea after all. Mufasa's voice in his head still echoed as if he was about to pop out of somewhere. Now, the voice was different. Less harsh, more alarmed.
Brother...
"No," Scar muttered to himself.
Brother, help me!
"No!" Scar screamed, half-roaring.
Scar began to think if this was what going mad felt like. Or maybe he wasn't going mad at all. Maybe his brother is coming back for him. Coming back for Scar to be the one who is trampled this time.
He stared into the dead, menacingly quiet night with darkness sprawling ahead and turned around to run away from it.
...
At the Pride Rock, as the sun repeatedly came and went, days passing one by one, the silence was starting to die with more and more small instances of chatter. The pride was slowly moving on. Most of them were very silent for the first few days, even Timon and Pumba. There was something strangely discomforting about seeing those who were usually the liveliest and loudest go quiet. But they were holding it together throughout the whole ordeal, constantly checking on Nala, Kiara and sometimes Kovu, who pretended to be holding it together for the sake of others but was visibly shaken, similarly to Nala. However, Kovu didn't let even a tear be shed; it just wasn't the way he was taught. Kiara gave in to her emotions a bit more for the first two days, but began pulling herself together after that. Sometimes, however, Timon and Pumbaa were even forcing them out of the cave to go for a walk, goofing out the way they usually did.
Nala was mostly stoic and she kept taking on the responsibility of leading the pride until things cooled off. Kiara and Kovu were not the only ones who needed adjustment, but they probably needed it the most. They were still young at heart and didn't feel capable of leading. And there was also an added burden of losing Simba. They were still helping Nala with some things, but no big obligations came around yet anyway and Nala was already established as someone the pride listens to on pure instinct.
Maybe things really were coming back to normal after a week or two, but the sense of uncertainty about the future remained. Until one day Timon came up to Nala with a proposition:
"We are going back home. Back into the jungle."
"Timon," Nala said with exhaustion in her voice. "We still don't know if it's safe out there. Besides, you know this is your home too."
"Who are ya kidding?" Timon joked with hidden poignancy that was ever-present in his voice for the past couple of days. "This is far from our life."
Nala sighed. "I don't know, Timon..."
"Well, alright if you are so concerned, Kiara and Kovu can come with us. Just to give them some good old Hakuna Matata. Like a vacation. One final Hakuna Matata before all the worries start pouring in."
"Ooh," Pumbaa shivered. "That sounds terrifying."
Nala chuckled. It felt good, relaxing. But since Simba's death was still so close behind, there was an underlying guilt every time someone tried to loosen up. Except for Timon and Pumbaa. For them, it was natural to ease things. Even though they were just as struck as everyone else, instead of acting like parents to Simba, they began acting like parents to the entire pride.
"I'm still not convinced..." Nala said.
"Okay, okay, look," Timon shifted to a more serious tone, as much as his voice allowed him to. "We have all been struck by everything that happened. But I know Simba wouldn't want us to just stop what he kept going. They need loosening up and you need loosening up and we will take good care of those two lovebirds."
"How do we know what he would have wanted?" Nala asked, staring into the distance as if Simba was still somewhere in this land, just far away.
"Now, I'm aware that you are someone who knew all his secrets, which is fine. But I raised that kid."
"We raised that kid!" Pumbaa shouted.
"Fine, we raised that kid," Timon corrected himself, calming down Pumbaa. "And we know how his heart works, well, worked."
A small gulp was heard from Timon, but a comforting smile was still on his face, not looking away from Nala.
"Okay," Nala nodded. "If they agree to it, okay."
...
Kiara and Kovu looked at Timon and Pumbaa in confusion.
"I'm not so sure if we should abandon the pride..." Kovu said.
"It's only for a couple of days. Besides, we need an escort. You don't want us to get eaten now, do ya?" Timon persisted.
"Can you just give us some time alone to think about this?" Kiara asked.
"Sure. But keep in mind, we are going with or without you."
Timon and Pumbaa distanced away, presumably to go back to the cave, leaving Kiara and Kovu under the Pride Rock.
"Kiara, what do you think about this?" Kovu asked.
"I don't know, but I think it might actually be a good idea. They could use an escort and the two of us could use some space to think about things. Everything just changed so suddenly," Kiara responded, finishing off on a slightly grim note.
"Yeah, but, what will the pride think of us?" Kovu sighed and looked down. "What will they think of me?"
"They will understand. Besides, I think Timon and Pumbaa want us specifically for the escort. In a way, it's also our first duty as king and queen. And also, I think you've eraned this pride's trust at this point."
Kovu nodded. "Yeah, but the whole thing with Imani..."
"There was nothing else you could have done, Kovu."
"What if there was a way to save her?"
"There wasn't. It was either her or the pride," Kiara remorsefully said.
Kovu remained silent.
"Gana doesn't blame you. She blames herself more than anyone else and even that is unreasonable. You should all stop blaming yourselves for things you had no control over and couldn't possibly know would happen."
"I'm trying, Kiara, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm the one who killed her!" Kovu said more harshly than intended.
Kiara opened her mouth as if to say something back, but stopped herself when she saw the look of immediate regret on Kovu's face.
Kiara sighed. "We really should go with Timon and Pumbaa. Maybe it will help us let loose a bit for the last time. I think we need that. Don't you?"
Kovu responded with another nod. "Okay, you're on."
And for the first time since Simba passed away, they smiled at one another.
...
Out of spite, Damu kept hunting for small prey out of his pride's temporary safe haven. At this point, he considered himself capable. After killing Warithi, he intended to toughen himself more with each day. At first, his motivation was to show his father he could be a worthy king. But as days flew by, the thought of overthrowing his father started to appeal to him more and more.
First, however, he needed the Pride Landers out of the equation. It was his father's unfinished business and Damu didn't know how he could deal with them by himself. And so he started to spy on them. He knew it wouldn't do him much good if he just walked around the Pride Lands. Especially with that wretched bird flying around. Therefore, he started to dig a tunnel.
It was just far enough from Pride Rock for no one to notice. No one seemed to be roaming around the thicker parts, probably because of the recent attacks. Still, it was tough work. He had to claw around in all directions so as not to bury himself underneath once he got down. He never thought his weak and skinny body could prove so useful someday. But there he was., putting every ounce of his strength in throwing more earth out, getting almost choked in it as he forcefully pushed through. And somehow, it was working out well for him. Slow, but well. Then, his plan had a way quicker resolution than expected as his head broke into an already dug tunnel, probably by some meerkat unit.
The tunnel was huge for a meerkat unit, like they were too confident with their position. And yet, no one lived there anymore. Damu was disappointed that not one meerkat appeared, hoping to feast on at least one of them. But he didn't occupy himself with that. He found an easier way out. He just had to expand it.
With each day, he pushed a little further. He had a whole abandoned system of tunnels to push through. Each day he would come back to his pride covered in dirt and dust, sneezing a lot and annoying everyone around. But of course, no one really paid much attention to him, as usual. Ushindani was inconsolable and Wafa had to take care of her because Scar was too busy isolating himself. It drove Damu a bit mad, but he kept his focus on the plan.
Scar wasn't in the pride often, mostly just walking around and brooding instead. Even when he was there, he would hardly even look at Damu. He would hardly look at anyone, let alone speak. But the pride was still hopeful, as defeated as they were. They all seemed so convinced Scar was coming up with something. Damu could bet no one even gave a thought that he, Damu himself, might come up with something. But still, he didn't let himself be bothered by it too much.
One day, finally, he decided he got far enough with his digging and broke out. The majestic sight of the back of the Pride Rock soared ahead of him. But Damu knew he had no time for euphoria, took a quick and careful look around and jumped out when he realized no one was there. Immediately, he started running towards the Pride Rock to hide behind it and try to blend in with some shadows left by mid-afternoon daylight.
It wasn't a long run, but long enough to be risky. As soon as Damu got to the Pride Rock, he looked around him. No one was there. Only the land in lazy afternoon silence.
Until he heard the voices farther around the corner.
...
"I just wanted you to know before we announced it," Kovu said to Vitani when they got down from Pride Rock.
"What is it?"
"Me and Kiara will go away for a little bit."
Vitani seemed like she was about to say something right away, but Kovu immediately interrupted. "I know how it sounds, but Timon and Pumbaa want specifically us for the escort. It's only a couple of days, really. We can't let them go alone and they want us or no one."
Vitani hummed. "I just hope you're not running away from your responsibilities."
"We are doing what we have to do," Kovu assured her. "This is our responisbility as well."
"I know. But remember, you will be our king now. Use this opportunity well then. It's all a pressure and the two of you could use some time and space to think about things. Otherwise, no offense, but the consequences might be disastrous."
"Might?" Kovu asked and they both chuckled.
"You will make a good king, Kovu. You worry way more than you should. But at least that means you care."
"Yeah..."
"Look, I know you don't want it. But that only further proves my point," Vitani smiled and winked at him. "Neither did Simba."
The mention of Simba still left a tinge of grief in the air, but there was no running away from it.
"Well, thanks for believing in me," Kovu said after a short pause.
"No problem. I know that eventually you will too."
...
Damu barely dared to breathe while listening in on the conversation Vitani and Kovu were having. His heart was thumping with excitement. The voices started getting more distant and finally disappeared, but he heard enough. He quickly sprinted back to his tunnel, not even looking around.
As he entered the tunnel, he realized how stupid it was and peeked with his head out to see if Zazu was flying around. No one was there.
He crawled back in completely, pushing through faster and stronger than ever before. He had a plan. At last, his plan was fully formed.
They will see now, he thought as he dug through. They will all see.
...
"Are we all set to go, kids?" Timon called out, already descending down the Pride Rock on Pumbaa's back.
The pride was already clearing out from the gathering. Slightly worried, but self-assured. Like they felt things would get better after this. Initial reactions were some judging looks at Kovu by the older Pridelanders, but Timon quickly took it all upon himself.
"If someone does not like it, I do not care. We are going and that's final. And if they don't escort us, no one will. Okay? Okay."
Kiara and Kovu said their goodbyes, promising to be back soon and went off after Timon and Pumbaa, in the direction of the desert in the setting light of the sun. When it came to the heat of the desert, it was better to travel at night. On the plus side, not many predators were there and they could walk freely in the open.
They were not feeling good about it, but it was like all the somberness was dimming away as they got farther from the Pride Rock. Like they were leaving this new, ravaged and torn Pride Rock and when they came back, it would again be that old Pride Rock in those good, old, heavenly beautiful Pride Lands. Those Pride Lands that felt like home, restored to their former glory, former harmony and former balance, with colorful sunny days and magnificent, warm, star-lit nights, where everything was the way it was supposed to be.
Kiara in particular was feeling a rush of excitement, going into that jungle. And when they come back, deep inside she felt they would be able to make the Pride Lands feel like their home again.
