Chapter 16: When the Clouds Have Passed

Nahara was the first one of the group to wake. She knew she was the only one who wasn't a Pridelander, and wondered what would happen to her now? Would she be ignored again, left behind, or worse, executed? Being brought up with hardly any love from her father and stern discipline, Nahara had never given much thought to herself. At least not until she began talking to her Kovu and Kiara. Although they weren't her parents and they had only known each other for a short time, all those short talks they had added up to something; they taught her something. But what did she learn overall?

Not being able to get back to sleep, the young lioness left the sleeping Pridelanders and sat near a pool of rainwater that hadn't yet dried up, as it was still dawn. Dawn: So peaceful, so harmonious. It was the one time the world around Nahara co-existed in harmony with ever living and non-living thing. Everything was just about to wake up, although they still yearned for a little more sleep, if only for a minute. She closed her eyes; this was the part of every morning that she wanted to freeze so she could live in the moment forever. It was the only time in her day that she felt happy and warm. She felt loved by the sun and everything it touched in that moment. She felt that she belonged.

"Nahara?"

She gasped and spun around, ready to defend herself. "Suvo?" she relaxed upon seeing his soft expression. "What are you doing here?" she whispered as to not wake the others.

" I just wanted to watch the sun rise. Mind if I watch with you?" he asked shyly.

"Why do you want to watch with me?" she asked, feeling nervous.

"Well, I just," he suddenly reached over and licked her cheek.

She gasped at the action and blushed.

"I thought I could make up for not showing you the kindness you showed me that day," he smiled.

Her face brightened and the nervousness left her body. A smile spread across her face and she giggled. "Sure you can watch with me."

He returned the smile and sat next to her.

The golden-orange ball peeked over the horizon and met the young lion and lioness's eyes.

Nahara turned to Suvo as a new feeling came over her. She liked being next to him, and wanted to stay close to him, as she had wanted to stay in the moment of dawn. Suvo was a real living, breathing animal, like her. He was someone she could be with forever. That is, if he felt the same way.

As the sun ascended into the sky, shooting its warm ray over everything it could, Suvo felt Nahara's gaze and turned to her. His sun-lit eyes shone as blue as the afternoon sky, and Nahara's shone as green as the jungle leaves themselves. Suvo wanted to watch over this young lioness as she grew; he wanted to bring her back to Pride Rock with him and show her his world and teach her new things. He wanted to watch every sunrise with her.

The two were drawn closer to each other by these thoughts and fell into a warm embrace.

Suvo wondered if this was what Niru felt for Siva.

Nahara had never felt his kind of love before, and became overwhelmed with the feeling and suddenly broke away when the sun had reached it's pinnacle in the sky. Before Suvo could ask her why she had broken away, Vitani's voice rang out happily.

"Suvo!"

The Pridelanders had all woken up now.

Nahara stepped off to the side as Vitani ran over to greet her son.

"Mother, I missed you," Suvo cried, embracing her.

"I missed you too my son. I knew you would come through for us, Suvo, all three of you. I knew I'd see you again. I'm so proud of you," Vitani stammered through tears of joy.

Suvo licked her tears away. "It's Ok now mom, everything is Ok. I'm back and we can go home and restore the balance in the Circle of Life," he said in a gentle tone and then looked at Nahara.

He gently lifted his head from his mother's embrace and walked over to Nahara. He stood next to her and smiled at his mother. "Mom, can Nahara come back to the Pridelands with us?" he asked hopeful.

"What?" Nahara gasped and looked up at him wide eyed, mouth agape.

"Well Suvo, that's not up to me. That's up to King Kovu and Queen Kiara," she paused and smiled at Nahara. "And Nahara."

Nahara's face lit up at Vitani's words.

Suvo turned to face Nahara. "I'd like you to come back to the Pridelands with me and join our pride, like Siva, Niru, and I once hoped you could," he spoke gently and smiled at her.

"Well, I have nowhere else to go now and no parents, so, yes, I'd love to, Suvo!" she grinned and nuzzled him lovingly like she once had as an infant long ago.

In response, Suvo nuzzled her back and kissed her cheek. Then he gasped. "That's it!" he whispered.

"What's it?" she asked, as she paused from nuzzling him.

"Come on!" he shouted happily and ran over to Siva and Niru, who were also sharing a morning nuzzle.

"Guys!" Suvo panted as he skidded to a stop in front of them.

"What is it?" Niru asked.

Suvo calmed down and swallowed. "What do you think about Nahara coming back to the Pridelands with us and joining our pride?" he grinned.

They both gasped and returned the grin.

"Do you think your dad and mom would allow it?" Siva asked Niru.

"I don't see why not. Hey, wait! If Uvok is dead, I'm sorry Nahara, then you have no parents, right?" Niru asked, standing up.

"Yeah," she nodded sadly, wondering why Niru was so happy about her being parent-less.

"I remember after we found you that day and thought you were an orphan, my dad told me you could only have become a member of our pride if you really were an orphan and now you are! Plus, you saved my life, twice, and fought on our side in the battle, so you've got to be allowed to join," Niru exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Siva and Suvo nodded.

"Niru," Kiara said from behind him.

Niru paused in the jubilation, and spun around. "Mom!" he cried.

Kiara let out a happy cry and went to embrace him. "Oh I missed you so much, my little prince, and I prayed every night I was away that you were safe and that I could see you again," she sobbed, nuzzling and grooming him.

"And you did," he smiled and sniffled.

"My precious Niru," Kiara purred.

Soon the entire rest of the pride had gathered around Niru, Kiara, Suvo, and Siva and were thanking them for rescuing them and commenting on how they had all grown and how proud they were of them.

When Kovu approached his son again, Niru asked if Nahara could come back with them. Niru explained to the pride that she was now an orphan and Kovu's sister and how she saved his life twice and fought on their side during the battle last night. After Niru was finished, Kovu looked around at his entire pride and then at his sister. He cleared his throat. "Well, after hearing of your honorable deeds to my son, his friends, and the pride, and seeing that you are my sister, I have absolutely no reason," he paused.

The four young lions and lionesses held their breaths and dug their claws into the wet desert sand nervously, waiting for a the decision.

"To not let you join," Kovu smiled and winked at them.

The four of them gasped and jumped for joy as they pulled Nahara into a group hug with nuzzles and kisses.

"Come on everybody, let's go home," Niru yelled happily.

"Yes, I must tell Rafiki to make arrangements for the ceremonies," Kiara smiled at the foursome.

"Niru, Siva, Suvo, come here," Kovu said sternly.

They paused from their rejoicing and walked obediently in front of their King.

"I think that you three should lead the pride back home, seeing you're the most familiar with the route," Kovu smiled proudly at them.

They all smiled to each other, and lined up in their formation, as the rest of the pride gathered behind them. They each gave a roar to begin walking and the pride responded. Walking proudly and happily side by side, Niru, Suvo, and Siva led their pride back to their home.

Upon reaching the border of the Pridelands, the exhausted pride suddenly became renewed with energy. The familiar sights, sounds, and smells greeted them, and they roared ecstatically.

Kunta was the first to greet them all. "Suvo, Siva, Niru! You did it! You proved yourselves as strong, loyal, and brave individuals out there in the jungle, and by the looks of it, you've discovered more than I could have taught you," he smiled, eyeing Siva standing close to Niru, and Suvo standing close to Nahara.

"Kunta, you trained them?" Vitani's face lit up, amazed, seeing her long- ago mate.

"Vitani," Kunta spoke softly.

"Hey, hold up! Kunta, would you mind running back to Pride Rock and announcing our return to the present king and queen? Then you're invited to stay in the Pridelands tomorrow for an all-day return celebration tomorrow," Kovu smiled to his pride.

"Yes your Majesty," Kunta bowed respectively and raced toward Pride Rock.

"Let's go home everyone!" Niru roared happily.

"Yeah!" the pride roared in response as they tore off from the ground, racing to Pride Rock.

Rafiki and Reekyo's ears shot up immediately and they hopped out of their tree and ran across the fields. Simba and Nala were the first ones to come down Pride Rock, followed closely by Sarabi, Sarafina, and Chaka. Zazu flew over them and Timon and Pumbaa came running from the "smorgasbord." They all re-united for the final time in a joyful display of nuzzles, tears, licks, and roars.

The next morning at dawn, the lionesses that had gone to the jungle, gathered on the bottom platform of Pride Rock as they had done two years ago.

Rafiki made a marking of red gourd juice over each lioness's heart and announced her name while shaking his stick over her head.

Each lioness roared and the animals responded with proud cheers. After Queen Kiara was honored, Rafiki had her step up onto Pride Rock with her beloved mate, and walk to the edge.

The animals cried out joyfully at the return of King Kovu.

Simba and Nala again stepped down for the last time as Kiara and Kovu re- announced themselves as King and Queen while Rafiki performed a re- initiation ceremony on them. Then Kiara and Kovu turned and walked down to their cave entrance where Niru and Siva sat, nervous and excited. Kiara and Kovu nodded for the couple to walk up to the top as Prince and Princess.

The couple smiled at them and looked at each other excited and nervous.

Before they stood up, Niru whispered something in Siva's ear. "Don't be afraid, Siva. I'll always stand by your side as long as I live," he smiled lovingly at her and licked her ear.

She smiled back and whispered, "I'll stand by you, too forever," and returned the lick.

Then they both turned to Kiara and Kovu, who were smiling proudly at them, and stood up, acknowledging their duties. Prince Niru and Princess Siva began walking, mature and proud beside each other up the great rock. They gasped, amazed as they looked out across the entire Pridelands and all its inhabitants who stood in silence, gazing up at them. Smiling lovingly to each other, they roared to announce their titles as future king and queen.

After the animals had acknowledged Siva and Niru, Suvo appeared on the other side of Niru with Reekyo as she honored the three of them as heroes. They stood side by side, and roared in unison as the "unbreakable trio."

As afternoon came, the return celebration continued with Nahara's initiation ceremony. Everyone sat in a circle again, but made a space next to Suvo for Nahara.

Nahara walked slowly towards the space, feeling a bit shy and nervous at first. Then she saw the excited, happy faces of Niru, Siva, and Suvo. She remembered the wonderful feeling of warmth and belonging she felt from Suvo and how much Niru and Siva cared for her also. She realized this was what she had never had; this was what she missed in her life-a family.

Now Suvo had asked her to join his pride, and they were all welcoming her in. As her confidence grew with every step she took toward the space in the circle, she realized she loved Suvo. She wanted to be able to always love him. Smiling warmly, her gaze met his as she sat down into the space. She reached up and nuzzled Suvo as Reekyo performed an initiation ceremony on her. The pride roared their acceptance of her and she roared back.