Hello to all my old and new readers.
That's right, I've finally gotten around to making a Lion Guard Fanfic!
In truth, I've had several ideas rattling around my head for awhile, and I figure it was time to put them to paper...uh screen.
Also, just so you know, I've started making a habit of fan-casting OCs, as well as characters who had no voice actors.
Anyway, enough prattling and ENJOY!
Kion trudged along the dimly lit dusty path to the aardvark dens, his head held low as his tail hung limply behind him, the young cub trying to prep himself for what was to come. And given the way he carried himself, one might assume he was going to deliver some very terrible news. But that wasn't the case. In truth he wanted to properly make amends for a mistake he had made a few days prior. He would have done it right away, but he figured the animals he wished to see would rather have a few days to enjoy their all-you-can-eat termite buffet.
But the further Kion walked, the more he hesitated to confront the aardwolves. Sure, they had graciously accepted his offer to return to the Pride lands after he accidently used the roar on them after mistaking them for hyenas, but Kion still couldn't help but feel bad for it. And while the rest of the Lion guard had offered to tag along, Kion said it was his mistake to fix. But right now, he was wishing he had at least brought Bunga or Fuli for some emotional support, especially when he laid eyes on Mjomba's pack.
Given the lateness of the hour, Kion knew that the usually nocturnal aardwolves would be up and about, and quite possibly looking for their dinner…or was it breakfast? Kion shook the thought from his mind as he approached the empty aardvark dens that the aardwolves had called home for the time being. And needless to say, Kion didn't need to announce himself, for the moment he was within sight, one of the aardwolves, a small, scrawny looking male with a small tuft of a mane on his head, gave a small, somewhat startled scream as his gaze fell on Kion. And the moment saw the fear in the small canine's eyes, his guilt only intensified.
"O-oh, s-sorry K-Kion," the timid aardwolf stuttered in a high-pitched whisper, the aardwolf's head bowed in a submissive pose, "w-were t-t-these d-d-d-dens t-taken?"
"No, no," Kion gently reassured with a laugh, the aardwolf's submissive pose somewhat relaxing as he glanced shyly at the ground, "you guys are fine…uh…sorry, I never got your name."
"O-OH!" the aardwolf exclaimed as he offered a nervous smile, "my name is Aibu."
Upon hearing this, Kion offered a warm smile, a smile that seemed to fully succeed in easing Aibu's nerves.
"It's nice to meet you Aibu…but I actually came here because…"
Kion faltered for a moment, his smile falling as he nervously glanced at his paws. But, even though his body was overcome with great anxiety, he knew he had to push forward.
"I need to talk to Mjomba…actually, all of you guys."
"Oh," Aibu said, raising his head fully to meet Kion's gaze, a smile trace of a smile present on his muzzle, "o-okay. Um, follow me."
Of course, it didn't take long for Kion and Aibu to reach the others, the remaining members of Mjomba's instantly taking note of the lion cub alongside Aibu.
"Kion?" Mjomba called as he reluctantly turned away from his meal of termites, the leader of the small pack pushing past his fellow aardwolf, all of whom seemed to cower behind their leader. Well, they were really keeping a distance, but that still didn't ease Kion's guilt.
"What are you doing here?" the elder aardwolf asked in an almost accusatory tone, his eyebrow quirked in a questioning manner, only for his expression to change to one of indignation.
"Don't tell," he said in his loud and brash way, "you want us to leave the aardvark dens again?"
"B-but we just got back," another one of the two females voiced, her voice strained and her eyes wide with fear.
"You aren't going to send us back to the outlands, right?"
"Don't be crazy Maridadi," another male voiced, his soothing voice actually succeeding in offering some comfort to the somewhat hysteric female, "Kion wouldn't send us back there…I think."
"Yeah," the only other female voiced in a hyperactive, giddy voice, "I'm sure he's just checking in on us…maybe."
Kion couldn't help but chuckle at the aardwolves. Upon hearing this, Mjomba allowed his defensive stance to relax, his eyebrow still quirked but with a gentle smile on his muzzle as he looked back to the former two aardwolves.
"Kion," he said in a manner that was a mixture of pride and teasing.
"You've met Aibu, but I don't believe you have been formally introduced to the rest of my pack."
"No," Kion said with another laugh, "I haven't."
"Well for starters, this cockatoo," Mjomba began, gesture to a rather submissive male, the only one left, his rather tale mane making him actually look like the aforementioned bird, "is Kimya…doesn't really say much. That ball of nerves is Marida-…MARIDADI STOP HIDING AND GET OUT HER!"
"OH, SORRY MJOMBA!" the female said as she quickly scampered out from behind a rock she had been using as cover. After letting out an exacerbated sigh, Mjomba then allowed a tender, loving smiling smile to grace his features as he was joined by the only other female and male, said female nuzzling up to Mjomba in way that Kion recognized…it was the way he nuzzled his mother or father.
"And this little lady is my daughter, Ogopa. And this doofus…"
And while it was said in a teasing manner, the other male lowered his head shyly, a timid chuckle escaping his lips as a result.
"Is her mate, Haya."
"It's nice to finally meet you all…officially," Kion said with a chuckle. At that moment, the otherwise timid aardwolves relaxed, each offering a smile in return. Unfortunately for Kion, the warm feeling it gave him did not last long as hew as suddenly overcome with a great sense of foreboding. And unfortunately for him, Haya noticed.
"Hey," he called gently, taking a brave step forward, "you okay Kion?"
And while Kion wished he could lie…he knew he couldn't. So, he felt it best to just to get it over with.
"No," he said in a dejected tone, "I'm not. I just wanted to say…I'm sorry, for everything."
The aardwolves were taken aback by this. Not because Kion had apologized, but because they thought bringing them back and getting all the termites they could eat was apology enough. But, upon noticing the lion cub before them bowing his head in sorrow, they realized just how much his mistake had really eaten away at him.
"Hey, don't sweat it kid," Mjomba waved off.
"Yeah," Haya added in with timid chuckle, "it was an honest mistake. I never really realized how much we looked hyena's until Mjomba pointed it out."
"And besides," Ogopa said as she walked towards Kion, the female sitting in front of him as soon as she reached him, the usually skittish aardwolf displaying a greats sense of calm as she placed a comforting paw on Kion's.
"It's not your mistakes that define you, it's…"
"What you do to fix them that matters," Kion finished with a small smile, a smile returned by Ogopa.
"My dad told me the same thing."
"Well," Aibu spoke up, "Simba is a very wise King."
"He really is," Kion laughed, only for his smile to falter again. This did not go unnoticed by Mjomba.
"Look kid," he said, going to sit beside his daughter, "don't beat yourself up over it. Haya's right, it was an honest mistake, which means you've nothing to reproach yourself with. And even then, you've more than made up for it; You came to get us, you saved from those mangy jackals, and you brought us home. Believe me, you are more than forgiven."
Kion didn't know why, but hearing those words from Mjomba, to see the other aardwolves offering tender smiles of friendship, just broke something in him. And to the other's surprise, a tear fell, staining the fur of Kion's cheek. But, to Kion's surprise, he felt Ogopa's rough tongue wipe away the offending tear.
"It's okay Kion," she whispered in a soothing tone.
"Thank you," Kion whispered back, his smile now reaching ear-to-ear.
"Just remember this kid," Mjomba added gently, "Tazama Mbele…look forward."
"Never look back," Haya added. And before Kion new it, he was enveloped in a massive group hug from the aardwolves…well, minus Mjomba, who never really fancied himself as a touchy-feely kind of guy in that category. And so, Kion stayed and chatted with his new friends, well into then night as the moon rose high into the sky. And it was only when Kion felt a powerful yawn coming that he realized he better head home and get some sleep, only to be briefly stopped by Mjomba.
"Oh, and here," Mjomba added with a teasing smirk, motioning to Kimya to bring Kion a bundle of leaves, the otherwise silent aardwolf smiling as well as he placed the leaves down at Kion's paws. And when the leaves fluttered open, Kion was met with the sight of a massive pile creepy, crawly termites.
"A thank you gift for your little honey badger friend."
And so, with a smile, took the buddle of termites with, sending one last appreciative look to his new aardwolf friends. And as he walked away, taking the gift for Bunga with him, he made sure to never forget the lesson that was taught to him that night…
Tazama Mbele.
Aibu~Zeno Robinson
Maridadi~ Kari Wahlgren