Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Chapter 5 is upon us and with the release of this new chapter there are going to be some changes. Firstly, I have gone back to the earlier chapters and I have updated them. Grammar fixes, the quality of writing has been improved, and some scenes have been expanded.
That's not all! Starting from this chapter, all chapters from now will be longer. This should allow me to flesh out the story. I have incredible plans for this story and I cannot wait for you all to see them. I hope these changes will allow for a more improved reading experience for all of you.
Back to Chapter 5 it's going to be packed full of story this time. Strap in tight, grab a drink and a snack. Let's get right into it!
Chapter 5: Head and Heart
"I will ask you both again. Why are you both with a man-cub?" Simba asked once more, his eyes curling into a snarl as he bared his teeth. He let out a deep growl at Matthew, watching him scurrying away into Kovu's fur with a whimper.
Kovu embraced the crying Matthew tightly into his mane, softly hushing at the scared child; a paw at the back of his head. "Shssh… You're alright, Matthew. I got you. He won't hurt you, okay? We'll protect you." He gently nudged the child into the safety of Kiara's paws and softly nuzzled the child's head.
Kovu looked back at Simba, revealing his teeth as he growled in return. A warning growl that a lion would do to protect their cub. The instinct to protect his man-cub was stronger than ever inside the once rogue. He felt like he could protect him from even Simba.
"Simba!? What are you doing?" Kovu demanded. "Scaring a poor innocent cub? I thought you were better than this." Kovu questioned his king with Kiara looking on with a face of not anger but sadness for her father's actions. "Or have you begun to stoop to such lows? You worked so hard to stop threats like Scar and my mother.. But when did you become like them?"
"Man has caused so much destruction on our land for so long, Kovu. Have you forgotten the stories?" Simba grimaced, walking back and forth, keeping an eye on the child. "How they have destroyed our homeland, ended the lives of so many innocent.. How they have disrupted the circle of life that we have tried so hard to keep in balance.."
His red eyes met Matthew's hazels,' sending the child scurrying away deeper into Kiara's embrace with another scowl before returning his gaze at Kovu. "And you're protecting one of them! I should have known something wasn't right. Ever since you returned from that man village."
"You didn't return to the den last night. I work so hard to keep threats like Scar and Zira out of the Pride Lands! I work so hard to keep everyone safe. But what happened? You bring back something much worse than both Scar and Zira combined! The longer that man-cub is here the more danger we are in. Man could be looking for him as we speak! You need to send it back!"
Kovu couldn't believe what he was hearing. He softly shook his head as the lion felt the sting of Simba's words, feeling them seep into his skin like venom from a snake's bite. His man-cub wasn't an 'it.' Matthew had been through so much and Simba was treating him like dirt. "Yes… I have heard of the stories, Simba. A thousand times. How could any of us forget? The destructive forces of man.." The lion sighed, exhaling deeply as he looked back at the crying child being unable to be comforted by Kiara.
"But this child.. He is not an it! How can a king talk to someone so innocent in such a manner? He is not a threat. He is not our enemy. Look at this crying cub. Look at the pain and suffering on his face and tell me he is more dangerous than Scar or my mother!" Kovu returned to Kiara's side and gently nuzzled Matthew's wet cheek, wanting to be by the side of his man-cub. He allowed the child to hug his muzzle tightly with shaky hands and began to hush softly.
He let out a deep smile down at Matthew, resting his head on top of the child's for a moment. He allowed his warmth to cradle and soothe the young human before pulling away. "Whatever destroyed that man village Simba… If it can wipe out an entire man village so easily, we won't fare much better, let alone anything else. We are all in danger if we don't stop whatever is responsible. So please Simba… Deep down you know we are right… This man-cub is innocent.." Kovu pleaded, begging for the same forgiveness that Simba had given him on that day where the two prides were united.
"He is right, father. This man-cub is innocent. He came from that destroyed village alone with no one else. No family. No parents. Nothing. Kovu didn't bring this man-cub back to Pride Rock to destroy it. He brought him here to Pride Rock to give him a new chance. To give this man-cub something when he had nothing..." Kiara kept Matthew closely tucked to her warm and soft fur, trying to reason with her father.
"We are his last hope of survival and you want us to send him back? Are you seriously denying a cub a new chance of life? You are condemning an innocent child to die. What kind of king will you be after that? Would that be the kind of king Mufasa wanted you to be!?"
Simba's jaw dropped, eyes shuddering from the mention of his father. Kovu's words just tickled the surface but Kiara's words cut in deep like a knife. All these thoughts buzzed in the king's head. His fear of man was so deep it dug into his heart. How could he escape it? They did so much harm. He lost so many friends and family to their cruel ways. Now they wanted him to welcome in one of their own?
But he was the only one left from that village? The king knew about the pain of losing family at an early age. The pain he felt when his father was murdered by Scar. That pain of loneliness. Not having that fatherly guidance. It was like he was looking at a reflection.
"S… Surely there are other man villages on the outskirts of the Pride Lands.. It would be best if he were with his own kind.." Simba stammered on his words, unable to get Kiara's words out of there. "If you genuinely want what's best for him..? Then that is the only choice there is.."
"No!" Kovu boomed. "I won't leave him. I have already promised him I will help him find his parents. They could still be alive somewhere, and I won't rest until they are found and reunited with this cub. If we leave him at one of the other villages, they might never be together."
Simba saw the boldness in Kovu's eyes, the true resoluteness inside Kovu's body. The pure tenacity in Kovu's heart. The king looked away and gazed up at Pride Rock, his eyes flickering in the sunlight. Despite his feelings towards the human child, he did want the boy to return to his parents. So that humans and animals can live separately. Never to walk the same path.
"What if the little one's parents were at one of these villages? Would it not be wise to investigate?" Simba queried, still looking up at the vast sky.
Kovu and Kiara looked at each other nervously, wishing that possibility had come across him sooner. While it was extremely dangerous to approach an unabandoned man village, with Matthew by their side a safer outcome could be a possibility.
"W… While that is a great idea, Simba. The man-cub needs somewhere to stay for the time being. We were thinking…" Kovu appealed, hoping the circumstances would reach the king's otherwise tightly locked heart.
"No…" Simba began the slow walk back to Pride Rock, looking back at the two lions protectively watching over that man-cub. He could only look for a moment, looking at that child only brought back the bad memories. The anger of what man had done. The sadness that reminded the king of himself. What a strange duality.
"I will think about the situation at hand. Both about this threat and the… man-cub… Until I have come to a decision he will not be allowed in Pride Rock. I would also like to see you two return to Pride Rock more often. We are all worried about both of your disappearing acts.."
Simba then left the trio in silence, the King never looking back in fear of Kovu and Kiara's faces making his doubt grow. He knew of the great threat of whatever destroyed the man village. He knew the consequences of allowing such a destructive beast to roam free. He believed Kovu when he brought to light such devastation. But why didn't he believe his words about the man-cub's innocence..?
Kovu and Kiara looked at each other in confusion then back at Simba as they watched him walk away sombrely. They noticed the glimmer in the king's eyes. Were they tears? Did Simba really hate the man-cub? They were not sure. Silent whimpers caught their attention as Matthew still clung to Kiara tightly.
"Are you alright, little one?" Kiara cooed, softly licking his forehead as the lioness curled around Matthew just like a mother lion would do with her cub. The thought didn't seem too far-fetched. If Kovu would play the father role to Matthew until he could be returned to his parents, she can play the motherly role.
Matthew nodded behind his tears, softly sniffling with the boy returning to the safe embrace of Kiara's paws. "Y… Yeah… T… The king is scary… W… Why does he hate me? I… I don't understand. I didn't do anything wrong..?"
Kovu and Kiara exchanged concerned gazes, unsure of what to answer. They knew Simba's thoughts on the matter and right now they couldn't change his mind even if they wanted to. Kovu was the first to speak.
"No he doesn't hate you. He is just worried about keeping the balance of the land in check. He wants to make sure all of us are safe. Don't worry, once he gets to know you, he's a great lion." Kovu delicately pressed a paw on the child's back, carefully rubbing in a circular motion until he heard no more sniffling but calmer breathing. He beamed happily and cracked a smirk. "There we go, little one. You're alright."
Matthew nodded and relaxed to the touch, peacefully keeping Kiara's paw close, bringing a smile to both Kovu and Kiara's faces.
Kovu smiled and laid down with his loved one and his man-cub in the slowly warming sunshine close to their den. With a deep and soothing rumble, Kovu and Kiara looked down at the child between their beautiful blend of browns and peach fur with a smile. Even if Simba wouldn't allow Matthew into Pride Rock, they would not abandon him.
Now having left the two lions and the human alone, Simba froze once more, his paw more heavy as they dragged through the sandy dust. He gazed at Rafiki's tree in the distance. Some guidance would help him in this troubling time. Or wait until night to seek wisdom from the Great Kings of the Past? No, that would be too long of a wait. His brain was too jumbled as it struggled to process what Kiara spoke to him.
Was he the king his father wanted him to be? Would his latest actions be condemned by his late father? Would the Great Kings of the Past be disappointed? As his mind lingered on this thought, his paws weighed him down increasingly; each step felt like he was carrying a large zebra on his back. With a few more broad steps, he reached the stony stairs leading up the grand rocky structure of Pride Rock.
"What am I going to do…? What path will I choose to follow? My worried head…? Or my heart, what will I know is right…? Father…? What should I do…?"
The king found himself gazing deep, allowing his tormented mind to wonder as words flowed. He had not felt so lost in such a long time. He wondered if he should have allowed the man-cub to join their pride? But he was man. He should have sent the child away on the spot. But what was the best course of action?
The king began to climb up towards the Pride Rock den, feeling the wind blow against him. At the top, his mate and queen Nala was relaxing. He saw how she was enjoying the nice breeze of the morning air before it got too hot. Despite her closed relaxed eyes, the resting lioness still caught his heavy steps.
"Where did you go, Simba? I heard you raise your voice in the distance. Is everything alright?" Nala's voice was as smooth and gentle as her creamy brown fur. It rustled in the wind as her teal eyes opened to show a worried face. Calm purring left Nala's muzzle as she felt Simba nuzzling her cheek.
"Yes everything is alright. I was sorting out problems with the zebras down south." Simba responded, gulping the lie. He didn't want Nala to find out their daughter was with a man-cub. The panic it would cause. The hint of worry and unease still lingered on his voice like sour fruit, the king's thoughts still buzzing with Kiara's words.
Nala at once caught the worry in Simba's eyes, walking up to inspect her mate more closely. "Simba? Is something wrong? I can tell by your voice. Would you like to talk about it?" Upon seeing the king shake his head, Nala sighed, showing concern herself. "I have not seen Kiara nor Kovu this morning at your announcement. I didn't see them in the den either last night. This is worrying me, Simba.." Even though her cub was now a matured lioness, her motherly worries still came to the surface from time to time. This was such a time and she would not waste any more time.
Simba tried to comfort her mate by rubbing his body against her, their cheeks once more unified in gentle and loving nuzzles. "It's alright, Nala. Everything will be okay. They're adults now. We can trust them." He reassured her, the king trying to bury his doubt.
"Oh, I hope so. You did tell us about that abandoned man village that was so close by. I've been more on edge ever since. Oh, I hope they're alright." Nala sighed, a paw flicking away some dust nervously.
"Nala.. They are perfectly fine. Although there is something I need to talk to you about.." Before Simba could finish, a blur of creamy brown fur rushed past, Vitani rushing down the steps. "Are you alright, Vitani?"
"No Simba.." She bit her lip, trembling as if she were about to break into tears. "I cannot find Kovu anywhere. He wasn't here this morning. He wasn't here last night either. I.. I'm worried sick Simba. W.. What if something happened to him? What if it has something to do with that man village.."
Simba knew without delay he couldn't hide it any longer. He noted down the path as he began to walk downward. "Follow me, both of you. I need to speak to you about something."
Nala and Vitani shared a confused glance before following Simba's lead. They wondered what Simba wanted to converse with them. Would it lead them to Kiara and Kovu? Why did he look so worried? Did he know where they were?
"Where are we going, Simba?" Vitani wondered, the trio feeling the soft grass underneath their paws, the sun growing higher and higher in the sky. Those blue eyes showed uncertainty, viewing the vast landscape for any sign of her brother.
"Yes Simba, do you know something? You seem more uncertain than usual." Nala noted, her tail gently flicking and swaying in the air. "There is something on your mind, isn't there? I can tell it by your eyes."
The king sighed deeply, sitting down on the same large hill he had done while seeing Kiara and Kovu that one night; when Nala told her to give Kovu a chance. "There is something I need to tell you both."
"I found Kiara and Kovu a few moments ago. They were outside this small den at the base of Pride Rock. They were with a small shaggy man-cub." Simba took a deep breath. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I… I challenged them.. Demanding them why would bring in the cub of such a dangerous creature into the Pride lands. I thought man would surely come looking for it. The thought of man finding Pride Rock was terrifying.. The thought of all of you in danger.. The thought of me losing everyone…"
"They challenged me back. They defended the man-cub claiming he was innocent. That he had lost everything. His family and his pack." Shivers ravaged Simba's body, his furry form shuddering heavily. "Kiara said if this was the king that Mufasa wanted me to be.." He lowered his head, ashamed as a tear rolled down his cheek. "She is right… I… I'm sorry for hiding this from both of you. I have shamed the Great Kings of the Past for my actions."
Nala was the first to speak, walking up beside her mate. She placed a paw on Simba's muzzle to silence him, the only sounds being Simba's soft sniffles as he teared. "You are a real doofus, you know that Simba? You should have told me sooner." Pulling her paw away, the queen continued. "As for the man-cub in question.. What was the ruling you gave them? And be honest to me."
"I said I would think about the situation, and until then the child would not be allowed in Pride Rock. It was the fairest solution I could think of.. Despite my anger at the time." Simba answered, his eyes darting away, still embarrassed to look at neither Nala nor Vitani.
"I understand how you must have felt.." Vitani added. "But you accepted me, my brother, and so many others that have betrayed you. Even after what we had all done. But this man-cub… What makes us and him so different? If he is surely alone as you say, then we must help him. We cannot allow fear to halt us if it risks the lives of innocence… And as far as I am aware, this child is innocent."
"Vitani is correct, Simba. This cub.. Even if it is the offspring of man.. Something so dangerous.. It is still a cub, alone and vulnerable. How can we turn a blind eye?" Nala agreed with Vitani. "I want to speak with this man-cub myself. I want its side of the story.
Simba silently nodded, his head still hanging low. If the rest of the pride found out then surely they would.. "Ahh!" His thoughts got interrupted by Nala who tackled him down, pinning her mate just like when they were cubs.
"You're still an incredible king, Simba. We all have hard and tough decisions to make in our lives, and sometimes we get those decisions wrong. But it's how we make up for those mistakes is how we grow. That is what the king Mufasa would have wanted you to be."
Simba smiled and chuckled, sharing a tender nuzzle with his mate, sneaking a soft lick to Nala's cheek. Pulling away, the king sat down on the grassy mound and gazed at the surroundings; in deep thought. "Thank you Nala.. Vitani.. But I will need more time to think about the current situation at hand."
The two lionesses nodded and in respect to their king's wishes left him on the hill. They remained silent as they walked, feeling the cool morning air flow past but felt the tingles of the sun's increasing warmth.
Vitani was the first to break the silence, unable to get the thought of Simba in such a state. "Do you think he will be alright, Nala? He seemed out of it. I've never seen Simba like that before."
"He will be fine, Vitani. Do not worry." Nala reassured with a smile. "I knew Simba when we were cubs. He is a strong-willed lion. He is just getting used to the thought of a man-cub in the Pride Lands. The shock of having man so close to Pride Rock all this time for us must have been as shocking if not more for him.
Kovu's sister nodded. "Yeah.. I understand that. But this man-cub Kovu brought back from that village? Do you think it is wise to walk up so quickly after his interaction with Simba? Simba might have scared the unfortunate thing."
The two lionesses began to trek round the side of the massive mountain, hoping to find this den where Simba said Kovu and Kiara found them. They wondered if this man-cub was scared, or lonely, or if man even shared the same emotions as they did.
"I believe so. After such an experience, it will be comforting for both him and Kovu and Kiara that we do not mean such harm. If the man-cub is not a danger to us then we should be taking him in; regardless of if it is man or not. It is still a child that needs protection." Nala granted her own wisdom on the matter, soon reaching what seemed like a small indent in the rock wall.
Vitani wondered if that was it. Only one way to find out now. "Kovu? Are you there? I… It's Vitani.." Her anxious voice oozed and dripped in distraught, wondering if her brother was there. "I… I've been so worried about you… You haven't returned to Pride Rock since you left to check the forest yesterday…"
She heard movement inside coming closer, stepping back a little next to Nala. A little hand came into view. This must be the man-cub that Kovu had rescued. That means Kovu was inside. Vitani got down low to hopefully be at eye level, not wanting to scare the little one. A warm gasp left her muzzle as she saw Matthew poking his head out.
"Hello little one." She purred delicately, emitting a loving and friendly appearance. "Is Kovu there?" Vitani had never seen a man-cub before, and she was intrigued to see it up close. It looked scrawny and had a brown tinged body with fur on its head. Big, scared hazel eyes shuddered upward as its body seemed to be covered in markings.
Matthew heard a strange noise outside the den and curiously went to investigate, manoeuvring carefully to the entrance to poke his head out. There were two lionesses with creamy brown fur viewing him with curiosity. One was closer to his level, speaking in a delicate and warm yet quiet voice. It reminded him of Kiara's voice.
The small human nervously retreated into the cave, nervously whimpering. He was still frightened from his encounter with Simba, despite the event happening only about thirty minutes ago. "H… Hello…" Watching this lioness eye him all over made Matthew more scared. The child thought Simba told her to grab him. With that thought taunting the boy in his head he rushed back into the den into Kovu's front paws.
"Woah.. Matthew.. What's wrong, little cub?" He comforted his man-cub with gentle rubs to the head. The lion now knew that was an easy method to soothe the child's worries. Kovu planted soft licks and nuzzles to the child's face, rumbling deep purrs in those melodic tones.
"T… There were lionesses outside… O… One was talking to me… E… Eyeing me… Scary…" The boy whimpered, hiding deeper into Kovu's fur, looking for sanctuary. He felt Kovu wrap his body around him instinctively which made the boy feel a lot safer. A little bundle of tanned skin in his protector's brown fur.
Kiara gasped in shock. "Wait.. Matthew? What did they look like?" She asked the small child, softly stroking the little one's head. "They might be from our pride, Kovu. With her mate nodding in agreement, they allowed the man-cub to explain what he saw.
"T… There were two of them.. T… They had brown fur… O… One had this dark blue eyes.. T… The one who spoke to me.. T… The other had bright blue eyes.. I.. I think.. I… I'm sorry… I…"
"Shssh… That's enough, little cub. Relax now." Kiara soothed him with a paw to his cheek, smiling as she saw Matthew reach out and hug it happily. She looked up into her mate's eyes and they both shared a deep smile. A loving smile that a mother and father would share. They gasped and their cheeks softly blossomed into a deep red.
Vitani became worried when the child retreated. She didn't mean to scare it. The lioness backed away gently, looking back at Nala with worry. "I… I didn't mean too.." She hushed, closing her eyes as she felt Nala comfort her with a nuzzle.
"It'll be alright, Vitani." Nala whispered. "He must still fear his encounter with Simba. Give him some time."
Vitani nodded and sighed. She could hear the child's soft voice inside the den, as if he were talking to someone. With very gentle paws, the lioness crawled up to the entrance and poked her head in. To her shock she saw Kovu and Kiara comforted the small child she saw only a brief time ago.
"K.. Kovu…?" Vitani called out, a paw inside the den with a hushed breath. She didn't want to scare the child again. Nala was right behind her, wondering if Kiara was inside too.
Kovu's head turned to the voice with twitching ears, and once he saw who the voice belonged to, his face beamed. "Vitani!" He noted her to come closer, unable to move due to his man-cub clung to his body. "Are you okay, I..?"
Vitani teared as she hid her face in Kovu's mane. "I… I haven't heard you since you left on that mission to investigate those noises from the forest… I was so worried… W… Why didn't you come to see me?"
Kovu felt dreadful with the stings of his sister's quiet sobs digging into his heart. He wrapped a paw around her head to comfort her. "I'm so sorry, Vitani.. Really I am… I wanted to see you… But with this little one… I… I couldn't risk Simba seeing him… Who knows what he or any of you have thought…"? He let out a soft sigh, looking down at Matthew who only clung to him tighter with Vitani's presence.
Vitani pulled back, wiping away a few tears. "I understand.. But you're a stupid head, you know that?" She regained her composure a little, smiling at Matthew who only hid his face in Kovu's fur. "But I'm so glad to see you're alright."
Kovu's face lit up, chuckling a little from the remark, sharing a tender nuzzle with his sister. "So, how did you find us? D… Did Simba tell you about the little one?"
"Yes he did." Nala added, walking up alongside Vitani yet keeping her distance once she saw Matthew cowering deeper into Kovu's fur. "He was acting strangely ever since he got back to Pride Rock. I questioned him on it but he still budged. That's when Vitani ran past trying to find you, Kovu. That made Simba finally budge. He took us to a hill far from Pride Rock and explained the whole story."
Kovu and Kiara gulped nervously, looking at each other in worry. Kovu was the first to speak up.
"Nala, I am so sorry… I… I didn't mean for this to happen; I was only trying to…"
That's when Nala broke into gentle laughter as Kovu looked on in confusion with Kiara right behind him. "Do not worry, young Kovu. I understand why you saved him. You couldn't leave such a hurt and scared cub alone in that dangerous place. You rescued it because you couldn't bear to see a weakened cub without anyone to care for it. Even if it is a man-cub, you, and him both have my blessing."
Despite how proud she was of her own daughter and her mate taking in a lost cub, she did feel some guilt. The guilt for her mate's actions. "However, I must apologise for Simba's actions towards the little one." She bowed her head. "He does not deserve how Simba treated him." She walked up before the young man-cub and gently licked the child's trembling little forehead.
"No, Nala. It is not your fault. Do not blame yourself." Kovu felt a sigh of relief wash over him as he heard Nala's acceptance of the man-cub. However, the once rogue lion still felt discontent from Simba's actions earlier. "I care for him a lot, and so does Kiara. It's just disgraceful to leave an innocent cub to fend for themselves even if they're of man or not. I won't abandon him, regardless of what anyone says."
"I'm with him, Mum. I won't have this innocent cub be abandoned. It's too dangerous. He won't make it on his own. I tried to explain this to my father but he wouldn't listen. If the cub must go, I will too."
Nala saw the determined faces on Kovu and Kiara, knowing she could not change their minds. Not that she would want too regardless. The queen saw the love in their eyes they had for this small cub. She couldn't force them to separate, despite the thought of having Kiara leave to never return to the pride did hurt her.
"I understand, Kiara. I won't stop you. If you think that is what is best for this cub, then I cannot stop you."
Kiara ran up to nuzzle her mother, her head under hers as they shared such love for each other. "Thank you Mum.. I know what I'm doing is right. What is right for this little cub. I know his parents are out there somewhere.."
"Wait, his parents are alive?" Nala became befuddled, what her daughter said was contradicting what was said previously. "I thought you both said he was the only survivor."
"I know his parents are alive. They just must be. And I'll find them.. No matter the cost." Kovu embraced the child in his fur tighter, instinctively trying to hide Matthew from the possibility of his parents' death. He didn't even know if his parents really were alive. But he had to keep the hope alive. For Matthew's sake.
Nala questioned Kovu, her thoughts drifting to wonder if it was wise to keep this little boy's hopes up. He would risk crushing this young cub's tiny heart to risk saving it. She wouldn't dare say this in front of them or the child but from what Simba said of the devastation that morning, surely no one could survive that.
"I will leave you both to it. I don't want the other lionesses to worry with no royalty around. Please keep me informed of how he is doing. You are more than welcome to return to Pride Rock at any time. If his presence does not bring any man into the Pride Lands I would not mind having this man-cub join our pride." With a gentle smile and a soft giggle, the queen of the Pride Lands left the den.
Vitani relaxed with her brother, smiling at the child who played in his fur, feeling the softness in his fingers. "So, does this mean you're a Dad now?" She giggled at Kovu's reaction; a deep eye bulging stare.
"W… Wait what!? What does that mean?" He coughed a little in shock, his brain still trying to process what was just said. Kovu felt his cheeks redden up, sharing a glance with his man-cub. Ever since he found Matthew and brought him back to Pride Rock, he had thoughts; daydreams of where the child could be his cub. He would love nothing more but to take in this sweet little one and nurture him the best he could. But he knew if his parents were alive, the man-cub would have to be returned.
"That blush says it all, brother. You have that look in your eyes. You care for this man-cub way too much." Vitani added. One would think Vitani was being shrewd with her comments but she was only trying to better understand Kovu. Understand him from his perspective. She did want to help the little cub.
"W… Well, that is sort of… K… Kinda. But I only found Matthew yesterday." Kovu added. "Don't you think you're rushing things a tiny bit?" He stammered between his words. He leaned into Vitani's ear so Matthew couldn't hear. "If his parents can't be found, I will take him in, alright? But don't go saying that wildly. I don't want Matthew to hear."
"Alright okay I won't. You can trust me. Dad." Vitani broke out a small giggle as she let the end of her words slip out her muzzle. Kovu didn't get the joke, giving her a stern look. She sighed and gently bonked his brother's nose. "I'm proud of you, Kovu. You saved a life yesterday. Even if Simba doesn't approve, I will. If it comes to it, I will defend his right to stay here."
Kovu chuckled warmly and hugged Vitani tightly, and behind gentle tears, mustered enough strength in his voice. "Thank you… Vitani." Wiping away the droplets from the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Vitani wasn't leaving. "Staying, are we?"
Vitani nodded. "Yep. I'm staying. I don't have much to do anyway, and I would like to spend some time getting to know the little cub." She saw Matthew's head poke out from Kovu's fur and couldn't help but smile. Just as curious as a lion cub would be. Just as curious as she was as a cub.
Kovu licked Matthew's cheek, ruffling his hair with a chuckle. "Go on.. She's my sister. You can trust her. She just wants to say hello." He slowly brought out the child into clear view, despite the little cub wanting to cling to Kovu's soft body.
Matthew looked up at Vitani as Kovu nudged the child forward carefully with his nose. He carefully waddled back towards his guardian lion, a hand on his paw. "K… Kovu…? I… I'm sorry… I…" Tears began to form from the guilt inside, not wanting to be rude.
He could see the child's trembling eyes. Kovu knew the little one was still anxious and fearful over his interaction with Simba. Kovu couldn't force Matthew at this point. "It's alright, little cub. I'm sorry I tried to force this on you." He scooped the child up and nuzzled close, planting soft licks and cuddles.
"I'm so sorry about this Vitani. He's still too afraid of what happened with Simba. I'm afraid we may have to try again later."
Vitani shook her head, tenderly smiled and she placed a paw on Matthew's head to show she wasn't a threat. "It's alright, I get it. Simba can be scary sometimes. But I want to show him I'm not scary. I just want to help."
Matthew struggled a little when he felt Vitani's paw, instinctively trying to fight back but he felt the paw not moving. His eyes were screwed shut, as if waiting for the paw to suddenly strike him. But it never did. Once he stopped moving, the paw very slowly began to rub and massage the child's head. Feeling Vitani slowly brush through his hair was relaxing. It was like how Kovu or Kiara did it.
"Heh, you like that, little one?" Vitani smirked, laughing softly as Matthew nodded gently. "I'm glad. There we go. Just relax. I got you. We got you. Nothing is gonna happen to you. You're alright, see?"
Matthew nodded, allowing time to fly past. He closed his eyes and relaxed in Kovu's fur, a soft smile on his face as Vitani continued to rub and stroke the back of his head.
The sun was continuing to blast its strong heat down upon the land. Animals hid under shade and drank water from the watering hole to keep themselves cool.
Vitani giggled as Matthew climbed on her back, having played with the child in the safety of the den. It was too hot for the little cub to be outside in the blinding rays of the sun for too long. They couldn't do much as they could feel the heat even inside the den. But the lioness found a way to entertain the child.
A few hours of playing and Matthew was worn out, draping himself against the lion's fur, the child whimpering softly from the stuffy heat rolling into the den. He hid his face into Vitani's fur as if hiding from something.
"What's wrong?" Vitani asked, softly licking the child's cheek in concern. "Kovu? Something is wrong." She called out to her brother, who rushed up at once with Kiara not too far behind.
"It's going to be Vitani. He's just worn out from playing with you." He tried to comfort his sister before nuzzling the boy's side. "Matthew? It's me, little cub. What's wrong? Are you hurt?" With only a whimper for a response, Kovu gently felt the child's head with a paw. "He's hot. He needs some water. He must be really tuckered out."
"Are you able to walk to the watering hole, little cub?" Kovu asked, his stomach to the ground in case he had to carry him. "I don't want you getting knocked out on me." Matthew shook his head weakly, and with help from Vitani Kovu managed to get the child onto his back. "Don't worry, Matthew. It won't be too far from the den."
"I'll see Rafiki to get some of those fruits from his tree. Doesn't hurt to help. Who knew that a growing cub would eat so much?" Kiara giggled, nuzzling Matthew just as she was about to leave, whispering sweet words of encouragement into the boy's ear.
"I'll come with you, Kiara." Vitani added, running after her. She slowed down as she passed Kovu, looking on at Matthew with worry. "You'll be okay, little one. I hope.. I'm sorry I wore you out.."
"He'll be alright, Vitani. I promise. After a nice long drink, he'll be okay." Kovu reassured her and with a nod from his sister, he watched her follow Kiara. Kovu began the journey to the watering hole, taking his time to calculate where the closest sources of shade were. He didn't want the child to get caught by the strong sun directly for too long.
Soon Kovu arrived and looked for just the right spot for Matthew to drink. Not too crowded and busy. He found a nice scheduled spot under some trees. Perfect. He leaned down by the water's edge and peered over, seeing his face's reflection. "Okay, we're here little cub."
Matthew carefully slid down Kovu's side and planted his dried lips to the water's surface, beginning to drink. It felt so refreshing having the cool water flow over his dry tongue and down his tight throat. With each big gulp, he could feel his energy returning.
"Woah, slow down. You don't wanna overdo it." Kovu warned, a slow paw gently pulling him away. He giggled as Matthew's face was absolutely dripping in water, running down his face and chin. Once he had his fill, the lion was content with relaxing with Matthew by his side. Under the protection of the trees, it should be fine.
The cool breeze flowed over the duo, displacing the heat around them. Back at the den, it was so small and tight the air felt so stuffy. No wonder Matthew became over-heated.
"So, what do you think of Vitani and Nala, little cub?" Kovu smiled, a paw wrapped around the child. "I hope that they did not scare you too much." They watched as animals came and went to drink from the waterhole. Few took notice of Kovu, let alone the man-cub with him. Must have been the intense heat.
"I like them. They're nice. Vitani was fun to be with and play with. I think she's fun. Nala reminds me a lot of my Mama. She's nice but can be scary when you do something wrong." Matthew rested his head on Kovu's side. The strong warmth of the African sun was a lot more enjoyable when the cool air was lowering its intensity.
Upon hearing this, Kovu held his little cub closer from instinct. "We'll find her, don't you worry. Once Simba allows you to stay at Pride Rock we can focus on finding them. It's hard to balance keeping you safe in that small den whilst looking."
Matthew nodded, squeezing Kovu tightly, affectionately rubbing his cheek into Kovu's fur. "I know.. I.. I'm scared that something bad happened.. But I have you and Kiara.. Vitani too.. Nala maybe.. But Simba.. I'm not sure.. He's scary.. I don't like him, Kovu.."
"I understand, little one. Simba is not so bad once you get to know him. He was once distrusting of me as well. But in time once he got to know me, we became friends. I'm sure once he gets to know you too, you two can become friends." Kovu explained, allowing the small cub to play with his paw. He smiled as he continued. "Nala should be talking to Simba right about now, if not already. She wasn't happy how he treated you."
"You just arrived here and already you have made so many new friends. Me and Kiara.. Nala and Vitani.." He chuckled warmly. And I'm sure so many more while you're here.
"Yeah! But Kovu, you're my best friend. You're silly, goofy, and fun! You remind me a lot of my Dada." Matthew grinned, giving Kovu's paw a great big hug. After giggling and playing with Kovu, jumping around, and rolling about. They stopped to catch their breath with Matthew resting on top of the lion's back. "Hey Kovu, what did you do to make Simba not like you at first?"
Kovu chuckled warmly, his heart lighting up hearing how he reminded the child of the child's own father. "Oh, I can't be your best friend. We only just met, you're such a silly cub. He patted the child on the head after sneakily making him zip down his side. Kovu tried to hide his shocked reaction from the sudden question of his past. "It doesn't matter, little cub. It was just some misunderstanding. That's all." Kovu brushed it off, not wanting to tell someone so young how he was trained all his life to kill someone.
Matthew wanted to know more. A lot more. The child wanted to know a ton more about Kovu but he knew something was wrong by the look on the lion's face. "Okay.. I'm sorry.." He felt bad, thinking he had crossed a line. "P… Please don't be mad…"
Kovu shook his head, planting a soft paw on Matthew's forehead. "Don't worry, little cub. You're alright." He scooped the child up to lick his cheek, chuckling as Matthew squirmed. He felt like the cub was dirty so it was time to be bathed. "Hold still, little cub. You must be dirty after playing in the den and the cave."
Matthew continued to squirm, fussing about. "Nooo.. You're making me all wet. I don't like baths.." He panted as Kovu pulled back, leaving him covered. Seeing Kovu break out in laughter from the stern yet adorable pouting on his face made the child pout even more. "It's not funny."
The lion chuckled softly as he calmed down, wiping away a tear; he hadn't laughed that hard in forever. "I'm sorry, little cub. But I must keep you clean. Can't leave you to be all dirty now, could I?"
"Hmmmph! O… Oh okay…" Matthew accepted defeat and allowed Kovu to quickly finish the bath. He shuddered a little from how slightly cold it was. The intense heat was over as the sun had already begun its descent.
"It's getting colder. Let's head back, little cub. Kiara should be back at the den by now." Kovu allowed Matthew to ascend his body, waiting for when the child was ready before heading back. "Did you have a good day today, little cub?"
"Yep! I did, Kovu. Simba still scares me. But I liked playing with you and Kiara and Vitani a lot." Matthew beamed happily. "Do you think I can play with Vitani again tomorrow?"
"I'm sure you can. Me or Kiara can get her whenever you want to play." Kovu chuckled. He was over the moon that the little cub made new friends. They reached the little den and inside was Kiara with a bounty of fresh baobab on the den floor.
"Me and Vitani managed to get the fruit from Rafiki's tree. We talked with him for a while about the little cub; he seems so interested in him. I mentioned his interaction with Simba though, and he just shook his head."
"Rafiki also said that he knew something like this might happen and for the little one to not give up. What does he mean?"
Kovu shook his head. "I am not sure, Kiara. Rafiki works in mysterious ways, according to Simba. Some say he has connections to the Great Kings of the Past." He nuzzled her softly with a smile, leaning down so Matthew could slide down.
"He looks a lot better than before." Kiara giggled, smiling as she watched Matthew approach one of the fruits and began to take a bite out of the fleshy surface.
"Yes he is. He's gotten a lot better at drinking water at the waterhole too. It's strange how quickly he seems to have gotten accustomed to living out here… Poor thing.. How long had he been out there..?" Kovu said in a sorrowful tone. "I hope Simba will see past his anger and allow the little cub to join us in the pride's den. He should be a lot happier up there."
"I agree.. Although we need to give my father some time. He still has a lot to think about after all. Me and Vitani have decided to spend the night back in the pride's den. We don't want to cause any panic amongst the lionesses." Upon hearing Matthew whimper at that, Kiara strolled up to the little cub and nuzzled the eating child softly. "Don't you worry, little cub. Me and Vitani will visit you tomorrow, okay?"
Matthew nodded, swallowing some fruit. "Yes Kiara. I'll miss you." He stopped eating to hug her tightly.
Kiara smiled and licked the juice off his face, making the child giggle. "Awww.. I'll miss you too. Be good for Kovu, alright? I'll be checking."
"I will!" Matthew giggled as Kiara nuzzled her mate and returned to Pride Rock. The child continued eating, consuming two whole baobabs before feeling full.
Kovu felt his stomach hunger too, realising it must be time for when the pride comes together to eat. But he couldn't leave Matthew alone. He snuggled down with Matthew as he ate some of the fruit. It was fresh and flavourful. Not as nice as raw meat but it would do. He had to make some sacrifices for the little cub before he could be moved into Pride Rock. If he could be at all.
Simba was still at that hill, lamenting his actions. The king did leave from that spot to do his duties but when he was free; always returning to the hill. The stars were about to show as the bright sky began to dim. It felt like time was slowing down for the king, for him he was only there for a few minutes but he had been there for a few hours.
He looked up at the twinkling stars, a tear rolling down his eye. "Father… It's me… I… I did something most foolish… Kovu had brought back a man-cub to Pride Rock… I let my anger take over… I said things I regret."
The only answer he received was the cold African evening air blowing past. He shuddered a little, just like how he did as a cub when his father scolded him. "I know I should accept him… My heart tells me so… To reach out a paw for someone in need… But my head tells me no… That man is dangerous… What can I trust…?
"Simba.." Nala strolled up, sitting next to her mate and king. "I know you are in turmoil right now. Your inner self is battling a mental battle. Your head who wants to send that man-cub away for the safety of the pride. And your heart.. Who wants to accept the man-cub knowing that he is an innocent worth protecting?"
The king nodded; words unable to form as he tried to hold back the tears. "I… I don't want to make the wrong choice.. I have so many lives depending on me for protection and guidance. But this child.. Can cause so much danger if let in…"
"But can cause so much good and peace. Doesn't that remind you of two lions? The ones who united us with another. Remember how that led to a brighter future for all of us." Nala smiled, nuzzling her mate, and slipping her head into the fluffy neck of Simba. "I cannot choose for you. No one can. Only you can decide what happens next. Do not stay out for too long. It will get cold, and Kiara will be joining us tonight."
"What about Kovu?" Simba added, still feeling the harsh guilt of how he spoke to his friend earlier that day.
"Kiara has informed me that he will be sleeping with the man-cub, to keep him safe."
Simba nodded and watched her return to Pride Rock; not speaking another word. Once she was far enough the king gazed back up at the sky whose stars had slowly gotten brighter. "Only I can decide…? That man-cub's fate is in my paws… This may be the hardest decision I may ever make…"
With those words fluttering on the breeze, Simba returned to Pride Rock with a heavy sigh. Each step of his paw was like a reverbing drum, echoing his thoughts louder and louder.
Deep in the bushes, far from Pride Rock, two pairs of glowing eyes chuckled and laughed in the undergrowth. "He must be here… He must be here… Our prizzzeeeee!"
"Will you be quiet, Kuhari for goodness sake? We will get heard." Mfalme rolled his eyes and calculated a plan to get close to the little cub. "That darn Kovu was watching him the entire day. This will be tricky. And now with the queen on their side. We'll never get them now."
"So, what are we gonna do, boss?" Kuhari giggled nervously as Mfalme showed his associate his clawed paw up close.
"Oh… I know what we are going to do. And it's going to be a bloodbath!"
And that is Chapter 5! I hope you all enjoyed it. Please let me know how you all feel about the increased chapter length. Is it too long? Is it too short? Or just enough. I love hearing your feedback. Once again, thank you all once again very much for reading. Have a fantastic morning/afternoon/evening/night wherever you are and I will see you all in the next chapter! See you all then!