That night Kovu and Kiara's pride slept inside the cave of Pride Rock as
normal. However Nahara, who was supposed to be sleeping behind the group
of boulders outside the cave, crawled inside and curled up against Niru.
He was dreaming that he had pounced on Siva, and rolled on his side in his
sleep. He subconsciously put his arm around Nahara, weighing her down onto
the cold, hard earth. Startled, she whimpered and nipped his paw. Niru
awoke startled, and looked down at the small ball of fur next to him, and
knew it was Nahara. Realizing his arm was weighing her down; Niru quickly
lifted it off, and quietly snuggled her against his side. She purred
softly and he smiled, letting his eyelids shut again and began to purr with
her subconsciously.
When Niru awoke the next morning, he discovered Nahara was no longer next to him. He thought that maybe she had gone back to sleep outside with her pride. Glancing around the cave, he saw Suvo and Siva sprawled out near Vitani, all of them still asleep. About 3 or 4 lionesses still remained in the cave, but Simba, Nala, and his mom and dad weren't. Niru decided to look for Kiara so she could get him some breakfast. Then he would come back to wake up Siva and Suvo if they weren't up when he got back.
Niru rose to his paws, shook his fur off, and scampered out of the cave. He paused to sniff the air, and picked up his mom's scent east of him. He looked in the direction of the sun and ran down the ledges of Pride Rock, passing some of the lionesses in Uvok's pride. A few stopped what they were doing and glanced at him curiously before returning to their tasks at hand.
Kiara's bright orange coat glimmered in the morning sun as she lay grooming herself quickly yet carefully.
"Mom!" Niru yelled as he raced towards her and pounced on her back.
"Niru? What's wrong? Are you ok, dear?" Kiara asked becoming concerned.
"No, actually I'm hungry, and where is Dad and Nahara? He told me we were going to spend today getting to know Nahara and Uvok," Niru panted.
"Well Niru, your father and Uvok needed to discuss that first, so they took a walk this morning, and they should be back soon," Kiara said, and picked her son off her back. She placed him in her arms and began grooming him.
"Mom, I said I was hungry, not that I wanted to lose my appetite," Niru groaned, forcing himself to suffer through the morning bath. He had learned his lesson last night from Kovu about trying to sneak away when your parents are right in front of you.
"Niru, don't you want to be clean for your father and Uvok?" Kiara asked, smiling.
"Uh, no!" Niru and Kiara replied at the same time, laughing.
Kiara sighed, still giggling. "I know, I know, all cubs hate baths, but you'll grow to appreciate being clean when you're older."
"Then why can't I groom myself, huh? I could if I wanted to, you know," Niru said, sitting up in his mother's arms and began grooming himself.
"That works too. I guess my baby's growing up too fast," Kiara joked.
"Mooom," Niru rolled his eyes.
"Ok, I'll stop." Then Kiara grew serious and sniffed the air. "But you remember that you need your parents' scent in case you get lost or in trouble, right?" she whispered.
Niru gulped as butterflies began to flutter in his tummy. "Yeah, right mom. But, why are we whispering?"
"Just don't let your guard down," she whispered.
"I told you, I won't. I'll do my best," he nodded as the butterflies multiplied.
"Good," was all Kiara could say as Kovu and Uvok walked into the clearing.
"Ah, good morning your highness, young prince. Beautiful day, isn't it?" Uvok said loudly and happily.
Kiara smiled politely and acknowledged his presence, while shooting a cursory glance at Kovu. "Oh yes it is."
Uvok bent down to Niru with a grin on his face. "Hey Niru, how'd you like to go on walk with us (referring to him and Kovu) and Nahara?"
Niru's face brightened at the mention of Nahara's name, and looked up to his mom. "Can I go, Mom?" he said with an expression of hope on his face.
Kiara smiled. "Yes, but just be careful," she glanced at Kovu, mentally reminding him too to be careful.
"I will, Mom," Niru smiled and turned back to face his dad and Uvok.
"Nahara should be outside the cave, Niru. Let's go get her, OK?" Uvok said beginning to trot.
"Hey! Dad, uh maybe you and I should stick to walking, hmm?" Kovu warned.
"Ok, son," Uvok said taken aback and slowed to a walk.
The trio walked a few more yards in silence, as Uvok had nothing to start up a conversation. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries and get kicked out of his own son's kingdom. Kovu greeted lionesses he saw in the fields and under the trees, but that was about the most talking that went on during the short walk. Suddenly, Niru saw a bunch of lionesses from Uvok' s pride looking at him. He spotted Nahara sitting close to one of them, and he ran over to her.
"Nahara!" Niru yelled happily.
"Ooh!" she squealed, overjoyed to see him.
They shared a short, sweet greeting of nuzzles and licks before Uvok and Kovu came up to them.
"Good morning everyone! Isn't it a beautiful day today?" Uvok said inhaling deeply and smiling at his pride before him.
They immediately began agreeing at different times.
"Well, how about we head off now, hmm?" Uvok said quietly to his son to show he respected the king's privacy.
"Yeah, I think we should. Come on, Niru," Kovu quickly snatched up his son, as Uvok scooped up Nahara.
Then Uvok quickly looked back at his pride and said with Nahara in his mouth: "En-hoy ha hay hall!" (Enjoy the day, all!)
Niru couldn't help but snicker. The lionesses bid them good day, and looked at each other with smirks on their faces.
Once they were out of site of the lionesses, Kovu put his son down, and Uvok put Nahara down. The two lions let the cubs walk together.
"So you're future king, huh, Niru?" Uvok asked, raising his eyebrows.
Niru nodded. "Yep. I'm brave, strong, and I'm a great pouncer, just like my dad."
Kovu smiled proudly, and Nahara's eyes lit up as she gazed up at Niru.
Uvok casually lowered his eyelids. "Whoa, I better watch out then," he chuckled. "Is that true, Kovu?"
Kovu chuckled, "You better believe it." He winked at Niru, who smiled at both lions. "Care to demonstrate.?" Uvok began.
Kovu was just about to answer, when Uvok spoke again. ".Niru?"
Kovu blinked and stared suspiciously at his supposed father. "Well, I don't know if that's such a good idea," Kovu said.
"Oh it's no problem, I'm good with cubs," Uvok chuckled, resembling Scar's nervous, malevolent, light chuckle.
"Well maybe we better skip that."
The group kept walking as Uvok slowly led them farther and farther away from Pride Rock. "Hey, come on, sport. Show me what you got!" Uvok said pushing the idea.
Niru began to get an uneasy feeling, so he took a few steps backwards. "Well, I'm not warmed up yet, so-
"You can warm up by practicing pouncing on me!" Uvok yelled happily, but with a hint of impatience in his voice.
Kovu, sensing this, gave a warning growl. "Hey! I said it's not a good idea right now. Maybe later, OK?"
"What's the harm in it though?" Uvok continued to push Kovu's patience.
"How dare you question my authority!" Kovu said in a sharp whisper, as to not scare his son or Nahara.
"Kovu, are you also ruler of the Outlands?" Uvok said with a sly tone, glancing at the ground.
"Why do you ask?" Kovu said stepping closer to the lion, narrowing his eyelids.
Niru shuddered at the rising tension, and Nahara whimpered and nuzzled his side. "Dad, can we go back now?" he said nervously.
"Now why would you want to go all the way back to the Pridelands when you're right next to the Elephant Graveyard?" As Uvok spoke, he took 4 paces in front of Kovu to show they were now standing on the territory of the Elephant Graveyard/Outlands.
"Elephant Grave--," Niru stopped, realizing there was no one else around but the four of them, and the barren Elephant Graveyard. He remembered his grandmother telling him this was where a lot of animals had died horrible, unfair deaths.
Before he could think any further thoughts, Kovu had realized the same thing his son had, and raced over to Niru.
"Niru!" he roared, realizing himself and his son had been led into a trap.
Niru looked just in time to see Uvok shoot to the side and tackle Kovu to the ground. For a second it almost looked like they were playing an innocent game until Uvok's claws pierced Kovu's skin and a bright red liquid oozed out of Kovu's shoulder, staining his coat. Kovu let out an angry, yet pained growl.
Niru stood in shock for a moment before his brain fully processed what he had just seen, and he let out a cub roar. His fur rose and his ears went back.
"DAD!"
Suddenly Nahara shrieked and Niru ran over to the grass she was staring at. "What is it, Nahara?" he panted.
Suddenly a face belonging to a lioness in Uvok's pride popped her head out of the bushes. "Surprise!" she snarled.
"NIRU!" Kovu yelled, terrified, as he kicked Uvok off of him.
Uvok grunted as he landed a couple yards away from Kovu.
Niru screamed and struck her cheek.
The lioness let out a pained roar, and Niru grabbed Nahara by the nape of her neck and ran like the wind toward his father.
Kovu immediately leapt up and covered his son, and looked around. "Don't worry, son, I'll protect you," he said and roared for the lionesses in the grass to back off.
"SON! COME HOME, NOW!" Uvok yelled as he charged towards Kovu, his eyes burning with intense green flames.
Kovu turned just in time to get up and jump to the side. As Uvok misjudged his timing, he skidded to a stop too late, and knocked Niru over as well as Nahara.
The two cubs cried out, and Kovu panicked. Then he grew furious at Uvok and roared so loud that all the birds in every tree in the Pridelands scattered.
Just then Zazu had been on his way since the first time Kovu roared, and Kiara had gone with. However, she was preoccupied fighting off some of the lionesses in the grass, and Simba had stayed to help, despite his age. Nala had run back to alert the rest of the Pridelanders.
Now arriving at the scene, Zazu gasped and called out to Kovu. "Sire!"
"Zazu! Get Niru out of here!" Kovu yelled between swings.
Zazu looked frantically around and immediately spotted Niru and Nahara on the ground. Nahara was on the ground huddled next to Niru, crying. Niru had been "sideswiped" by Uvok's powerful hind foot and had taken a nasty tumble. Nothing was broken; he just bruised his rib cage and scraped his arm and side on the dry ground while trying to protect Nahara. He was now panting, for he had gotten the wind knocked out of him, but he was more shook up from fear than he was from physically pain.
"Prince Niru!" Zazu squawked shocked, as he flew down to him. He gently touched the young cub's head with a soft, light blue feather.
Niru groaned without opening his eyes. "Zazu, I'm scared."
"Don't worry, you're going to be just fine, Prince Niru. You're mother and the pride are on their way to help your father," he reassured him.
Niru's eyes shot open and he lifted his head up. "Where's my Dad?" he asked.
He looked over at Kovu and Uvok, just as Uvok struck Kovu on the side of his head. Kovu stumbled and fell onto his bottom, roaring.
"STOP!" Niru sprang to his feet, forgetting about his injuries for the moment, and raced toward Uvok's back.
Uvok ignored Niru's cry and stood looking at his son, panting furiously, and preparing to strike again.
"KOVU!" Kiara roared arriving at the scene followed by Simba and the rest of the pride. Just as Uvok spun around, Niru clamped his teeth down on Uvok's tail. Uvok let out a painful roar, followed by a series of whimpers. He spun in a circle to see what bit his tail, and sent Niru flying about 5 feet into the air.
The frightened Niru flew for about a good 10 seconds, crying out the whole time. While he was in the air, Niru thought to himself: "I can't die, at least not now. I've got to help my dad and my kingdom." At the word "kingdom", a mental picture of everyone he knew and cared for flew through his head like leaves in the wind. For them he wouldn't give up; he would be there for them. At his final moments elevated, he looked to the sky, spread his paws, and prayed "Mufasa, spirits, please help me!" At that moment, the wind picked up, not too much, but in a warm, gentle, comforting breeze. Then Niru felt a light thud against his paws and looked down. He was safe on the ground, as safe as ever. He looked around, taking in everything that had happened when he was in mid-air, and sighed deeply, relieved for the moment.
"Niru!" A voice rang out.
He turned back to the battle scene and saw everyone looking at him, including his father and Uvok.
Siva and Suvo were racing towards him, and they embraced their best friend with licks and nuzzles as Kiara and Vitani ran over. Simba remained where he was, keeping an eye on Uvok and his grandson.
"Guys." Niru panted, still shook up as he returned nuzzles and licks to Siva and Suvo.
"Are you hurt, Niru?" Vitani said quickly inspecting him.
"No, I'm fine, just a scrap on my side and shoulder," he said pointing to the places.
"Niru!" Kiara said, panic-stricken for one of the few times in her life. She quickly embraced her son gently and he nuzzled back.
"Mom."
Suddenly Uvok broke the silence again with an enraged voice. "What is this fuss over a scrape? You deserved it for biting King Uvok, King of the Jungle's tail, you little rodent!" Uvok said baring his sharp, powerful teeth.
Then he returned his attention to Kovu, with a twisted smile on his face that made Kovu want to hurl. He leaned over him and began to speak calmer.
"Now then, back to what's important. What I came here for." he said prolonging each word to get everyone's attention.
Kiara's fur stood on end, ready to lash at Uvok's throat, but she forced herself to listen to what he came here for in the first place. Besides, she knew she couldn't risk Kovu's life by attacking Uvok when he was so close to him.
Everyone listened intensively, for they were now at the mercy of Uvok at the moment.
".To bring my son, the prince of the jungle home!" Uvok yelled to the heavens.
Kovu grunted, stifling his pain from his wounds, and managed to project his voice so that everyone could hear him. "This IS my home! How can you come here and claim you're my father, inflict pain on me, and try to force me to come back to where you live? Home is not always where you were born; it's where you feel you belong. Where the ones you know and love are near you always," Kovu's vision blurred as the African sun beat down upon him, and the dirt began to irritate his open wounds. He panted, as he spoke, and faces of Kiara, Niru, Simba, Nala, Vitani, Siva, Suvo, Zazu, all the other lionesses in the pride, Zazu's, Rafiki's, and Reekyo's faces as well raced through his mind. Then, the young king passed out from dehydration.
"Son!" Uvok bent down to inspect his son, as tears sprung to his eyes for the first time.
"KOVU!"
"DAD!"
Kiara and Niru yelled simultaneously, as the lionesses from Uvok's pride quickly made a fortress around Kovu as Uvok and 2 lionesses helped lift Kovu onto their backs. Immediately, the Pridelanders began to lash out on all sides of the fortress, but Uvok's pride having younger, stronger, and more lionesses struck the Pridelanders to the ground.
Suddenly Rafiki appeared with Reekyo at his side and whooped "Halt!"
Everyone turned and looked at him, and Uvok snarled for his pride to flee.
Kiara shook her head frantically at the sight. "No you can't take him!" she yelled as the tears sprung to her eyes.
A few lionesses attempted to run after Kovu, but Kiara surprisingly called them back. Over the years of being a princess, she had learned to trust Rafiki's judgement and wisdom, just like her father and mother had, for she knew Rafiki would tell them the correct way to rescue her beloved mate.
Rafiki gathered everyone around a tall rock and had Kiara bring Niru on the rock. "I came as soon as the winds changed. Now, where does it hurt, Prince Niru?"
Niru inhaled deeply and bit his lip, more pained by emotions than his scrapes and bruised rib. "Here and here, but they're just scrapes," he said trying to not make a big deal of it.
Rafiki examined the cub and had Reekyo hand him a gourd. He gently rubbed a thick purple liquid over the scrapes on Niru's shoulder and side.
While the rest of the pride watched, Rafiki spoke solemnly. "Now. I understand what has happened to King Kovu, but I must ask you not to panic, and remain silent. For I have received knowledge from the great kings, and I have a plan."
Everyone listened eagerly, mouths agape, staring up at Rafiki as if he had taken the place of the king.
Rafiki inhaled deeply and then spoke again. "Everyone will get lots of rest tonight and eat all day tomorrow, enough to suffice you for two days at least. Den after you have eaten your fills tomorrow, you will get lots of rest tomorrow night, and wake up at dawn de next day to embark on your journey. You will be travelling to da jungle, where Uvok and his pride live. Now, dis may take longer dan you might expect, but remember dis everyone: it is for your king. You are all loyal to him and he lives for you. Remember dat. Patience is rewarded," Rafiki said, looking down at Niru, who was still lying on his side, looking up and listening to Rafiki.
Suvo and Siva were sitting in front of the rock, which Niru was lying on, looking up at Rafiki and trying to secretly catch a glimpse of their best friend.
Reekyo slowly bent over and whispered something in Rafiki's ear and eyed Suvo and Siva.
Suvo and Siva blinked, startled, and looked at each other concerned.
Rafiki's eyebrows rose a bit and then he nodded. "Oh I almost forgot one ting. Not all of you will be journeying to the jungle.
At this mention, Suvo and Siva's hearts sank as they realized what Rafiki was going to say. However, Niru didn't quite catch Rafiki's drift yet. Thinking it would probably only be the elder lionesses staying behind, Niru turned to the pride, which had their attention focused on him yet again, and some on Siva and Suvo.
Rafiki cleared his throat and spoke again. "Of course, as the current queen, Kiara, will be away, it is fit that the ex-king and queen, Simba and Nala, temporarily regain control of the Pridelands again while de rest of de pride is away. Also, de tree (three) eldest lionesses will stay behind to help Simba and Nala watch over de tree cubs," Rafiki finished his speech, and looked from Niru to Suvo and Siva.
Instantly Niru's heart sank more than it did when his father was taken away only minutes ago. He wanted to jump up and protest, but what good would that do? He would only disgrace himself and insult Rafiki, and disobey his mother, creating more tension in everyone. He wanted to yell something out, but as the adrenaline began increasing its flow in him, his breathing increased, causing more pressure against his bruised rib. This pained him even more mentally, and more than anything Niru wanted to cry now.
"I'm supposed to be strong, for myself, my dad, and my pride," Niru thought to himself. But his pain got the better of him for the moment, and he put a paw over his face, not wanting to humiliate himself in front of his own pride by acting like a baby. "Maybe that is what I am," he thought to himself again as a warm tear trickled down his face and off his wet nose and splashed onto the rock.
When Niru awoke the next morning, he discovered Nahara was no longer next to him. He thought that maybe she had gone back to sleep outside with her pride. Glancing around the cave, he saw Suvo and Siva sprawled out near Vitani, all of them still asleep. About 3 or 4 lionesses still remained in the cave, but Simba, Nala, and his mom and dad weren't. Niru decided to look for Kiara so she could get him some breakfast. Then he would come back to wake up Siva and Suvo if they weren't up when he got back.
Niru rose to his paws, shook his fur off, and scampered out of the cave. He paused to sniff the air, and picked up his mom's scent east of him. He looked in the direction of the sun and ran down the ledges of Pride Rock, passing some of the lionesses in Uvok's pride. A few stopped what they were doing and glanced at him curiously before returning to their tasks at hand.
Kiara's bright orange coat glimmered in the morning sun as she lay grooming herself quickly yet carefully.
"Mom!" Niru yelled as he raced towards her and pounced on her back.
"Niru? What's wrong? Are you ok, dear?" Kiara asked becoming concerned.
"No, actually I'm hungry, and where is Dad and Nahara? He told me we were going to spend today getting to know Nahara and Uvok," Niru panted.
"Well Niru, your father and Uvok needed to discuss that first, so they took a walk this morning, and they should be back soon," Kiara said, and picked her son off her back. She placed him in her arms and began grooming him.
"Mom, I said I was hungry, not that I wanted to lose my appetite," Niru groaned, forcing himself to suffer through the morning bath. He had learned his lesson last night from Kovu about trying to sneak away when your parents are right in front of you.
"Niru, don't you want to be clean for your father and Uvok?" Kiara asked, smiling.
"Uh, no!" Niru and Kiara replied at the same time, laughing.
Kiara sighed, still giggling. "I know, I know, all cubs hate baths, but you'll grow to appreciate being clean when you're older."
"Then why can't I groom myself, huh? I could if I wanted to, you know," Niru said, sitting up in his mother's arms and began grooming himself.
"That works too. I guess my baby's growing up too fast," Kiara joked.
"Mooom," Niru rolled his eyes.
"Ok, I'll stop." Then Kiara grew serious and sniffed the air. "But you remember that you need your parents' scent in case you get lost or in trouble, right?" she whispered.
Niru gulped as butterflies began to flutter in his tummy. "Yeah, right mom. But, why are we whispering?"
"Just don't let your guard down," she whispered.
"I told you, I won't. I'll do my best," he nodded as the butterflies multiplied.
"Good," was all Kiara could say as Kovu and Uvok walked into the clearing.
"Ah, good morning your highness, young prince. Beautiful day, isn't it?" Uvok said loudly and happily.
Kiara smiled politely and acknowledged his presence, while shooting a cursory glance at Kovu. "Oh yes it is."
Uvok bent down to Niru with a grin on his face. "Hey Niru, how'd you like to go on walk with us (referring to him and Kovu) and Nahara?"
Niru's face brightened at the mention of Nahara's name, and looked up to his mom. "Can I go, Mom?" he said with an expression of hope on his face.
Kiara smiled. "Yes, but just be careful," she glanced at Kovu, mentally reminding him too to be careful.
"I will, Mom," Niru smiled and turned back to face his dad and Uvok.
"Nahara should be outside the cave, Niru. Let's go get her, OK?" Uvok said beginning to trot.
"Hey! Dad, uh maybe you and I should stick to walking, hmm?" Kovu warned.
"Ok, son," Uvok said taken aback and slowed to a walk.
The trio walked a few more yards in silence, as Uvok had nothing to start up a conversation. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries and get kicked out of his own son's kingdom. Kovu greeted lionesses he saw in the fields and under the trees, but that was about the most talking that went on during the short walk. Suddenly, Niru saw a bunch of lionesses from Uvok' s pride looking at him. He spotted Nahara sitting close to one of them, and he ran over to her.
"Nahara!" Niru yelled happily.
"Ooh!" she squealed, overjoyed to see him.
They shared a short, sweet greeting of nuzzles and licks before Uvok and Kovu came up to them.
"Good morning everyone! Isn't it a beautiful day today?" Uvok said inhaling deeply and smiling at his pride before him.
They immediately began agreeing at different times.
"Well, how about we head off now, hmm?" Uvok said quietly to his son to show he respected the king's privacy.
"Yeah, I think we should. Come on, Niru," Kovu quickly snatched up his son, as Uvok scooped up Nahara.
Then Uvok quickly looked back at his pride and said with Nahara in his mouth: "En-hoy ha hay hall!" (Enjoy the day, all!)
Niru couldn't help but snicker. The lionesses bid them good day, and looked at each other with smirks on their faces.
Once they were out of site of the lionesses, Kovu put his son down, and Uvok put Nahara down. The two lions let the cubs walk together.
"So you're future king, huh, Niru?" Uvok asked, raising his eyebrows.
Niru nodded. "Yep. I'm brave, strong, and I'm a great pouncer, just like my dad."
Kovu smiled proudly, and Nahara's eyes lit up as she gazed up at Niru.
Uvok casually lowered his eyelids. "Whoa, I better watch out then," he chuckled. "Is that true, Kovu?"
Kovu chuckled, "You better believe it." He winked at Niru, who smiled at both lions. "Care to demonstrate.?" Uvok began.
Kovu was just about to answer, when Uvok spoke again. ".Niru?"
Kovu blinked and stared suspiciously at his supposed father. "Well, I don't know if that's such a good idea," Kovu said.
"Oh it's no problem, I'm good with cubs," Uvok chuckled, resembling Scar's nervous, malevolent, light chuckle.
"Well maybe we better skip that."
The group kept walking as Uvok slowly led them farther and farther away from Pride Rock. "Hey, come on, sport. Show me what you got!" Uvok said pushing the idea.
Niru began to get an uneasy feeling, so he took a few steps backwards. "Well, I'm not warmed up yet, so-
"You can warm up by practicing pouncing on me!" Uvok yelled happily, but with a hint of impatience in his voice.
Kovu, sensing this, gave a warning growl. "Hey! I said it's not a good idea right now. Maybe later, OK?"
"What's the harm in it though?" Uvok continued to push Kovu's patience.
"How dare you question my authority!" Kovu said in a sharp whisper, as to not scare his son or Nahara.
"Kovu, are you also ruler of the Outlands?" Uvok said with a sly tone, glancing at the ground.
"Why do you ask?" Kovu said stepping closer to the lion, narrowing his eyelids.
Niru shuddered at the rising tension, and Nahara whimpered and nuzzled his side. "Dad, can we go back now?" he said nervously.
"Now why would you want to go all the way back to the Pridelands when you're right next to the Elephant Graveyard?" As Uvok spoke, he took 4 paces in front of Kovu to show they were now standing on the territory of the Elephant Graveyard/Outlands.
"Elephant Grave--," Niru stopped, realizing there was no one else around but the four of them, and the barren Elephant Graveyard. He remembered his grandmother telling him this was where a lot of animals had died horrible, unfair deaths.
Before he could think any further thoughts, Kovu had realized the same thing his son had, and raced over to Niru.
"Niru!" he roared, realizing himself and his son had been led into a trap.
Niru looked just in time to see Uvok shoot to the side and tackle Kovu to the ground. For a second it almost looked like they were playing an innocent game until Uvok's claws pierced Kovu's skin and a bright red liquid oozed out of Kovu's shoulder, staining his coat. Kovu let out an angry, yet pained growl.
Niru stood in shock for a moment before his brain fully processed what he had just seen, and he let out a cub roar. His fur rose and his ears went back.
"DAD!"
Suddenly Nahara shrieked and Niru ran over to the grass she was staring at. "What is it, Nahara?" he panted.
Suddenly a face belonging to a lioness in Uvok's pride popped her head out of the bushes. "Surprise!" she snarled.
"NIRU!" Kovu yelled, terrified, as he kicked Uvok off of him.
Uvok grunted as he landed a couple yards away from Kovu.
Niru screamed and struck her cheek.
The lioness let out a pained roar, and Niru grabbed Nahara by the nape of her neck and ran like the wind toward his father.
Kovu immediately leapt up and covered his son, and looked around. "Don't worry, son, I'll protect you," he said and roared for the lionesses in the grass to back off.
"SON! COME HOME, NOW!" Uvok yelled as he charged towards Kovu, his eyes burning with intense green flames.
Kovu turned just in time to get up and jump to the side. As Uvok misjudged his timing, he skidded to a stop too late, and knocked Niru over as well as Nahara.
The two cubs cried out, and Kovu panicked. Then he grew furious at Uvok and roared so loud that all the birds in every tree in the Pridelands scattered.
Just then Zazu had been on his way since the first time Kovu roared, and Kiara had gone with. However, she was preoccupied fighting off some of the lionesses in the grass, and Simba had stayed to help, despite his age. Nala had run back to alert the rest of the Pridelanders.
Now arriving at the scene, Zazu gasped and called out to Kovu. "Sire!"
"Zazu! Get Niru out of here!" Kovu yelled between swings.
Zazu looked frantically around and immediately spotted Niru and Nahara on the ground. Nahara was on the ground huddled next to Niru, crying. Niru had been "sideswiped" by Uvok's powerful hind foot and had taken a nasty tumble. Nothing was broken; he just bruised his rib cage and scraped his arm and side on the dry ground while trying to protect Nahara. He was now panting, for he had gotten the wind knocked out of him, but he was more shook up from fear than he was from physically pain.
"Prince Niru!" Zazu squawked shocked, as he flew down to him. He gently touched the young cub's head with a soft, light blue feather.
Niru groaned without opening his eyes. "Zazu, I'm scared."
"Don't worry, you're going to be just fine, Prince Niru. You're mother and the pride are on their way to help your father," he reassured him.
Niru's eyes shot open and he lifted his head up. "Where's my Dad?" he asked.
He looked over at Kovu and Uvok, just as Uvok struck Kovu on the side of his head. Kovu stumbled and fell onto his bottom, roaring.
"STOP!" Niru sprang to his feet, forgetting about his injuries for the moment, and raced toward Uvok's back.
Uvok ignored Niru's cry and stood looking at his son, panting furiously, and preparing to strike again.
"KOVU!" Kiara roared arriving at the scene followed by Simba and the rest of the pride. Just as Uvok spun around, Niru clamped his teeth down on Uvok's tail. Uvok let out a painful roar, followed by a series of whimpers. He spun in a circle to see what bit his tail, and sent Niru flying about 5 feet into the air.
The frightened Niru flew for about a good 10 seconds, crying out the whole time. While he was in the air, Niru thought to himself: "I can't die, at least not now. I've got to help my dad and my kingdom." At the word "kingdom", a mental picture of everyone he knew and cared for flew through his head like leaves in the wind. For them he wouldn't give up; he would be there for them. At his final moments elevated, he looked to the sky, spread his paws, and prayed "Mufasa, spirits, please help me!" At that moment, the wind picked up, not too much, but in a warm, gentle, comforting breeze. Then Niru felt a light thud against his paws and looked down. He was safe on the ground, as safe as ever. He looked around, taking in everything that had happened when he was in mid-air, and sighed deeply, relieved for the moment.
"Niru!" A voice rang out.
He turned back to the battle scene and saw everyone looking at him, including his father and Uvok.
Siva and Suvo were racing towards him, and they embraced their best friend with licks and nuzzles as Kiara and Vitani ran over. Simba remained where he was, keeping an eye on Uvok and his grandson.
"Guys." Niru panted, still shook up as he returned nuzzles and licks to Siva and Suvo.
"Are you hurt, Niru?" Vitani said quickly inspecting him.
"No, I'm fine, just a scrap on my side and shoulder," he said pointing to the places.
"Niru!" Kiara said, panic-stricken for one of the few times in her life. She quickly embraced her son gently and he nuzzled back.
"Mom."
Suddenly Uvok broke the silence again with an enraged voice. "What is this fuss over a scrape? You deserved it for biting King Uvok, King of the Jungle's tail, you little rodent!" Uvok said baring his sharp, powerful teeth.
Then he returned his attention to Kovu, with a twisted smile on his face that made Kovu want to hurl. He leaned over him and began to speak calmer.
"Now then, back to what's important. What I came here for." he said prolonging each word to get everyone's attention.
Kiara's fur stood on end, ready to lash at Uvok's throat, but she forced herself to listen to what he came here for in the first place. Besides, she knew she couldn't risk Kovu's life by attacking Uvok when he was so close to him.
Everyone listened intensively, for they were now at the mercy of Uvok at the moment.
".To bring my son, the prince of the jungle home!" Uvok yelled to the heavens.
Kovu grunted, stifling his pain from his wounds, and managed to project his voice so that everyone could hear him. "This IS my home! How can you come here and claim you're my father, inflict pain on me, and try to force me to come back to where you live? Home is not always where you were born; it's where you feel you belong. Where the ones you know and love are near you always," Kovu's vision blurred as the African sun beat down upon him, and the dirt began to irritate his open wounds. He panted, as he spoke, and faces of Kiara, Niru, Simba, Nala, Vitani, Siva, Suvo, Zazu, all the other lionesses in the pride, Zazu's, Rafiki's, and Reekyo's faces as well raced through his mind. Then, the young king passed out from dehydration.
"Son!" Uvok bent down to inspect his son, as tears sprung to his eyes for the first time.
"KOVU!"
"DAD!"
Kiara and Niru yelled simultaneously, as the lionesses from Uvok's pride quickly made a fortress around Kovu as Uvok and 2 lionesses helped lift Kovu onto their backs. Immediately, the Pridelanders began to lash out on all sides of the fortress, but Uvok's pride having younger, stronger, and more lionesses struck the Pridelanders to the ground.
Suddenly Rafiki appeared with Reekyo at his side and whooped "Halt!"
Everyone turned and looked at him, and Uvok snarled for his pride to flee.
Kiara shook her head frantically at the sight. "No you can't take him!" she yelled as the tears sprung to her eyes.
A few lionesses attempted to run after Kovu, but Kiara surprisingly called them back. Over the years of being a princess, she had learned to trust Rafiki's judgement and wisdom, just like her father and mother had, for she knew Rafiki would tell them the correct way to rescue her beloved mate.
Rafiki gathered everyone around a tall rock and had Kiara bring Niru on the rock. "I came as soon as the winds changed. Now, where does it hurt, Prince Niru?"
Niru inhaled deeply and bit his lip, more pained by emotions than his scrapes and bruised rib. "Here and here, but they're just scrapes," he said trying to not make a big deal of it.
Rafiki examined the cub and had Reekyo hand him a gourd. He gently rubbed a thick purple liquid over the scrapes on Niru's shoulder and side.
While the rest of the pride watched, Rafiki spoke solemnly. "Now. I understand what has happened to King Kovu, but I must ask you not to panic, and remain silent. For I have received knowledge from the great kings, and I have a plan."
Everyone listened eagerly, mouths agape, staring up at Rafiki as if he had taken the place of the king.
Rafiki inhaled deeply and then spoke again. "Everyone will get lots of rest tonight and eat all day tomorrow, enough to suffice you for two days at least. Den after you have eaten your fills tomorrow, you will get lots of rest tomorrow night, and wake up at dawn de next day to embark on your journey. You will be travelling to da jungle, where Uvok and his pride live. Now, dis may take longer dan you might expect, but remember dis everyone: it is for your king. You are all loyal to him and he lives for you. Remember dat. Patience is rewarded," Rafiki said, looking down at Niru, who was still lying on his side, looking up and listening to Rafiki.
Suvo and Siva were sitting in front of the rock, which Niru was lying on, looking up at Rafiki and trying to secretly catch a glimpse of their best friend.
Reekyo slowly bent over and whispered something in Rafiki's ear and eyed Suvo and Siva.
Suvo and Siva blinked, startled, and looked at each other concerned.
Rafiki's eyebrows rose a bit and then he nodded. "Oh I almost forgot one ting. Not all of you will be journeying to the jungle.
At this mention, Suvo and Siva's hearts sank as they realized what Rafiki was going to say. However, Niru didn't quite catch Rafiki's drift yet. Thinking it would probably only be the elder lionesses staying behind, Niru turned to the pride, which had their attention focused on him yet again, and some on Siva and Suvo.
Rafiki cleared his throat and spoke again. "Of course, as the current queen, Kiara, will be away, it is fit that the ex-king and queen, Simba and Nala, temporarily regain control of the Pridelands again while de rest of de pride is away. Also, de tree (three) eldest lionesses will stay behind to help Simba and Nala watch over de tree cubs," Rafiki finished his speech, and looked from Niru to Suvo and Siva.
Instantly Niru's heart sank more than it did when his father was taken away only minutes ago. He wanted to jump up and protest, but what good would that do? He would only disgrace himself and insult Rafiki, and disobey his mother, creating more tension in everyone. He wanted to yell something out, but as the adrenaline began increasing its flow in him, his breathing increased, causing more pressure against his bruised rib. This pained him even more mentally, and more than anything Niru wanted to cry now.
"I'm supposed to be strong, for myself, my dad, and my pride," Niru thought to himself. But his pain got the better of him for the moment, and he put a paw over his face, not wanting to humiliate himself in front of his own pride by acting like a baby. "Maybe that is what I am," he thought to himself again as a warm tear trickled down his face and off his wet nose and splashed onto the rock.
