The sun arose on the Uasilands, gleaming across the wide grasslands covering its surface. The sun consumed all darkness from the land, helped by the crystallised tower standing in the centre of the kingdom. Within this tower, the majority of the pride rested, rising one by one from their slumber. The previous few days had been difficult. So much labour, so much to clean up. The pride had gathered the dead, both of their own and of Baya's forces, and had begun burning them, allowing them to rest forever in the spiritual plains.
While the last bodies were being prepared, Kopa, Karimu, Kuwinda and Shujaa all slowly marched through the main entryway into the tower, sliding down a slope made of pure crystal, which hummed with power at each and every step. Kuwinda noticed Wivu with a group of lionesses, dragging the carcasses of the morning's hunt into the tower. She turned to the others, smiling widely.
"I'd better go and check up on the hunting parties." She trotted up to Kopa and then Karimu, nuzzling them softly as she passed. Her tail flickering under Kopa's muzzle, a mixture of their scents brushing up against the king's nostrils. She lowered her tail as she brushed past him, her scent swooping by as she did so. "See you later, my king." With a lasting smirk, she stepped towards where Wivu waited.
"Someone seems a lot happier," Karimu chuckled, nuzzling up to her mate's mane. Shujaa looked on at the loving couple before continuing onwards, focusing on the steps ahead of him. The entire tower had been repaired, not a single speck of dust and rubble in sight. The Uasian queen glanced around her, mouth agape at their work. "I can't believe this is the same place as yesterday!"
"We've all worked hard, your majesty." Shujaa bowed as he walked, his eyesight floating around the room. The entire pride had worked day and night to take this place back to its former glory. Kopa, who had remained in a state of awe this entire time, stared upwards at the looming, glowing crystal hanging high above them. The source of the tower's powers. The literal heart of the pride.
"You've done well, Shujaa!" Karimu continued smiling at her friend. Shujaa continued to avoid their gaze, leading the royal pair down to the main entryway of the tower. The lions and lionesses who had worked tirelessly all day and night wandered past them, heading to the inward carved caves on the surrounding walls of the tower. The many small lairs etched in its walls had become filled with one of the smaller prides, all slowly recovering from recent events.
"I'd better go and see our cubs," Karimu chuckled, her mind filled with visions of her happily cuddled and snuggled cubs, most likely surrounded by lionesses all cooing in pure awe of the two adorable little ones. "Kopa?" She turned to her mate, who was lost in his thoughts. After a sudden, soft nudge, Kopa shot back to reality, nearly jumping out of his fur as he landed beside his queen, who simply giggled.
"Of course, my queen." The new Uasian king tried to regain his dominance. But Karimu had him in her paws. She always did. His body shivered as she snuggled up into his mane. He nuzzled his queen back, their love growing with every second. They remembered the night before. How close they had been, how calming Kopa's presence was. Her body practically trembled at his touch, as it always did. She loved him, only him. How could she love any other male?
The moment seemed to last forever but, like all good things, it had to end eventually. Karimu slid out of Kopa's mane, his scent soaking her fur as she stared into his longing, loving brown eyes. Pulling herself away from him, she smiled. "See you around, my king." The smirk on her face sent bolts of affection through his chest, only heightened by watching her regal, yet savagely toned body turn around, heading further into the tower's depths.
Kopa continued to watch Karimu until she disappeared from sight. He couldn't get enough of her. As he watched, Shujaa strolled to the tower's exit, his head lowered, not looking back at the tower or Kopa. Upon seeing this, Kopa turned, trotting up beside his old friend, as they both left the tower.
"Kopa?" Shujaa's tone lowered along with his head. Kopa picked up on this instantly, nudging his newly appointed advisor.
"Yeah?" Kopa's ears flicked up as Shujaa gave him a gentle nudge back, feeling the king's strong, muscular body against his own. He remembered the night before. How close they had been. A smile grew across his muzzle as he glanced back at his king. The dominant scent coming from Kopa's thick, dark mane enticed the shorter, piebald lion closer, sinking his muzzle deep into his king's fur.
"Thank you… For last night." The King's advisor departed his mane, letting his loving blue eyes sparkle up at Kopa. The Uasian king could barely hold his heart rate steady at the glance that met him. Shujaa was such a handsome male. The kind that any female would gladly choose to be her mate. But for him to swear his loyalty to him, to bow in his presence. It meant more to him than anything, especially given their close past.
"It was my pleasure, Shujaa." Kopa smirked, remembering how quickly the younger male submitted to him without hesitation. The entire pride did, in fact, once Karimu gave her blessing. Now, the pride was rejuvenated, energised for the battles ahead. The pair sat at the small hill overlooking the kingdom, under a tree bearing life itself, watching as the pride slowly reached out to the herds. They had been hit hard, but now, they had returned overnight, almost as if the land itself had told them to.
"Your majesty!" Kopa shot off of Shujaa, turning to the source of the sound. A familiar eagle fluttered in from the south, kicking up dust and dirt into the air as her majestic form slowly descended on the land. "Kopa! Shujaa!"
"Jicho?" Shujaa arose to his paws, his fur-coated in dust now. "What's wrong?" Kopa also rose to his paws, his dark mane now dyed brown with the dry dirt. With all the elegance only an eagle could possess, she sat before the presence of the two lions, folding her wings back into a resting position.
"Simba and the Pridelanders are approaching from the eastern pass." Jicho raised her head to the king, giving him her full attention as he glanced down at her. Shujaa turned to Kopa, unsure what the two were talking about, and simply sat beside his master.
Taking a relieved breath, Kopa spoke. " Good work Jicho!" Shujaa stared out at the horizon, watching the animals slowly approach. "Go to the Uasian Tower and inform the others." Jicho bowed, before fluttering off across the clear savannah skies at light-breaking speed.
"Looks like reinforcements have arrived." Kopa smirked, looking back at his friend. He couldn't help but admire the slightly younger lion's strong, capable body, analysing every inch he could see. "Come on, softy." With that, Shujaa trotted up beside Kopa, rushing off across the Uasilands.
…
At the edge of the Uasilands, the gathering of animals rested. Tired and still scarred by recent events, they gathered in the shadow of the great Theluji Mountains. Among their ranks, a pride of lions patrolled, protecting the herds from other predators. Only one male existed in this pride, surrounded by around ten female adult lionesses and a handful of cubs.
"Simba?" One of the lionesses approached him, her worried blue eyes staring into his focused, brown ones. She slowly embraced her love, wiping her tired, emotionally drained face through his thick mane. "I'm worried about him." Her eyes started to water as she nuzzled into her king's fur. His scent seeped into her nostrils, comforting the ageing, emotionally scarred lioness.
"It's okay, Nala." Simba replied, nuzzling his mate back, giving her an affectionate, loving lick behind her ear causing her to giggle slightly. "Kion's strong. He'll be alright." The pair looked out to the opening before them, the Uasian tower gleaming on the horizon, separated from them by a large grassland. "This place... It's kinda beautiful, isn't it?"
"It is." Nala chuckled, snuggling deeper into Simba's bushy mane. "Kopa certainly knows how to pick a kingdom." The pair hummed, continuing to affectionately snuggle up to one another. Their body warmth only added to their comfort as their hearts pulsed as one.
"Mum? Dad?" A sweet, feminine voice shot the regal loving pair out of their romantic trance. Looking up, they both noticed their daughter Kiara sitting before them. Her two friends, Tiifu and Zuri, to either side of her. "Are we gonna be okay?" The younger lioness whimpered. Leaving her mate behind, Nala arose to her paws, nuzzling her daughter. Simba couldn't help but admire his daughter. She certainly wasn't his little girl anymore, and he knew soon he would have to give her up. Just the thought sent a shock of horror through his body. No! He had to keep her safe. She was far too important to fall into any danger.
"Everything's alright, Kiara." Nala whispered, comforting her daughter. Tiifu and Zuri joined in the cuddles, snuggling up to Kiara and Nala. A series of affectionate hums escaped their muzzles as they did so. Despite recent events, the pride had survived by standing together.
As the lionesses huddled, a series of roars echoed across the land. Someone was coming and in vast numbers. Simba immediately shot to his paws, running around the herds with Nala not far behind him. Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri also followed, immediately pushed away from Nala as she sprinted off ahead. As they reached the front, the lionesses halted their roars as the apparent danger became oh so clear.
Approaching from the west, an army of lions approached. Simba started to recognise a few of the lions leading the slow advancement. The thick, darkened mane on one stood out among all the others. A smile grew across his muzzle as he waved a paw, ordering his lionesses to stand down.
"Kopa?" Nala gasped, seeing her nephew slowly wander up to them. Karimu and Kuwinda nestled up either side of him, snuggling up to his mane. Besides them, Kion strolled along with the guard, as fierce as ever. He froze as he saw his mother, raising a single paw off the ground as his body swelled with emotion.
"Kion!" Nala's eyes started to water as she saw the young adolescent lion. Upon hearing his mother's call, Kion's face brightened . A loving, energetic smile spread across his muzzle as tears started to pour from his eyes. Without thinking, he sprinted at her, leaping into his mother's embrace once more. Kiara soon followed, snuggling up to her brother as she wept. Finally, they were a family once more. They were one.
Simba also joined in the family embrace, before Kopa interrupted them with his presence. Seeing the Uasian King, Simba turned to his nephew, bowing to the young male as a sign of respect. At the same time, Karimu and Kuwinda approached Nala, who welcomed them into the loving nuzzling between her, Kion, Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri..
Some time passed, and the lions of both prides finally split from the snuggles and nuzzles. Kopa and the rest of the high ranking Uasi Pride members took a step back, along with Kion and the rest of the Lion Guard. Kopa turned to Simba, who approached him once more gesturing with his paw forward. "I'm glad you're still alive, my nephew." A cheerful, even loving tone swayed through his muzzle.
"You too, my uncle." Kopa smirked, leading the way back to the Uasian Tower. The Uasilanders and Pridelanders followed, slowly embracing one another in the spirit of companionship and cooperation. As Simba and Kopa conversed, Shujaa broke away from his established path, scanning through the gathering of Pridelander lionesses. There was one, in particular, he was looking for, one he had spent some time within his journey. A lioness he had spent his time in the Pridelands with, not to mention given some of his heart to.
He searched and searched, to no avail. It was at this moment that a young male cub jogged up to him, smiling. Shujaa stared down at the cub. His scent seemed familiar… too familiar, though he couldn't put his paw on it.
"Vibaya!" One of the younger adult lionesses roared, causing the cub to turn in her direction. She pounced above him, quickly grabbing him by the scruff. As she did, she started to apologise to the male lion before her. "I'm so sorry he's a paw-" Her brown eyes froze as she saw who it was, her chest pumping faster and faster with every second. "Shujaa?"
"Ema?" Shujaa's usually rough voice softened, his mind melting at such a revelation. He quickly started to panic, his voice trembling from his muzzle. "Where's Tuliza? Where's your sister?" At this, the lioness' face dropped, her ears shot back.
"She... She..." A small tear rolled down her cheek as she dropped the small cub from her grasp. The young Vibaya flopped to the ground, his own cheeks misty with tears as he cried. "She didn't make it, Shujaa." The lioness lunged at the male lion, burying her face into his mane, dampening it with her tears. The young lion cub did the same, snuggling up to Shujaa's leg. After a few minutes, they both calmed down, letting go of the male lion.
Shujaa couldn't help but stare down at the cub before him. He even looked familiar, along with his scent. But it couldn't be? Could it?
"Who's the cub?"
Ema blushed slightly trying to find the words to explain the situation. "Well, he was Tuliza's son." She wiped her tears, staring at the male lion before her. "Your son." Shujaa completely froze every muscle in his body, clenched and locked. His heart ruptured in his chest, beating away faster than the wings of an eagle.
He knew what he had to do.
With a single paw flick, he grabbed the cub, snuggling him into his fur. Tears rolled down the lion's face as he held the cub . . . his cub. Ema could only look on, crying at such a beautiful scene, only halted when Shujaa looked at her.
"I guess we'd better keep up with the rest of the pride, right love?" It was Ema's time to freeze, her body warming with slight embarrassment, with a mixture of pure love. By the time she had come back to the real world, Shujaa had walked ahead, looking back at his new love and mate. His son trotting beside him.
"You coming, Ema?" The young lioness didn't need to be asked again and quickly rushed to her new mate' side. Her first mate's side. She had secretly always loved him, ever since they first laid eyes on one another nearly a year ago. She had always been a bit jealous of her sister. Now? She was saddened but grateful. Where a hole had been left in her heart now lay an entire world of possibilities of love. She couldn't be happier.
As the two lions joined the pride, an ushering of coos erupted from its members, Shujaa made his way to the front, beside Kopa, who turned to his advisor. A loving, happy smile adorned his muzzle upon seeing a joyful Shujaa.
"I see you've found another mate." Kopa glanced over at Ema, who approached Karimu with a pleasant smile."Kopa's eyes analysed her body before turning back to the younger male. "Good choice."
As the gathered pride chuckled, they strolled ever onward back home, knowing all too well the discussions that were to be made would change the savannah forever. It had been so long since the Pridelanders had marched on Uasian soil.
Even longer since they did so without being dyed in blood.