AUTHOR'S NOTE – Thank you very much for your kind reviews. Wow, 7 reviews! That really means so much to me! Sorry it took me so long to update! To LMDGlUVR4EVA: If you haven't noticed, I have already read & reviewed your stories. To queen Sarabi: I know, Kovu is being a real jerk in my story, but I honestly don't think he'd make such a good king. He's pretty arrogant, at least that's the way I see him. To all: Please take a look at my profile, I've uploaded some drawings I did of the new characters already mentioned in my story (Lina, Ari, Takita, Kinja, Roho, Mitauro). ;) But now, here's chapter 6 of TLK3D:
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CHAPTER 6: Gotta get away!
Several days had passed since the incident. Each of these days went by without Lina confronting her father, and without Kovu explaining himself to his daughter. Lina grew more and more embittered. She constantly avoided her brother, didn't enjoy playing as much any more and remained silent most of the time. Her mother tried to talk to her whenever she spent some time with her alone, but Lina wouldn't give many answers. Kiara took her out under the stars one night, while Kovu and Ari were already asleep, and told her daughter about the Great Kings. She thought it might cheer her up a little to hear some of the things that Kovu told Ari. But Lina only looked at her mother in disappointment while listening, as she would never be up there with the Great Kings.
That night, Lina also heard about Scar. When Kiara told her how he murdered his own brother and sent Simba into exile to become King himself, Lina's attention was attracted. "So he really became King then, though he killed his brother?"
"Yes, he did. No one knew he was the one who killed Mufasa. But he wasn't the rightful King. He was never chosen to be heir to the throne by the Great Kings. But he was brought to justice, and destroyed by his own hatred and his subjects."
"How so?"
"Your grandmother Nala escaped his horrible tyranny to look for help. And the Great Kings helped her find Simba, your grandfather and the rightful King. He was still alive, but felt too hurt and scared to come back. At last, his own father gave him enough strength from above in order to return and challenge Scar. And so, the will of the Great Kings was fulfilled and the Pride Lands were saved."
"Scar died?"
"Yes, dear. He was defeated by Simba and slain by his own subjects and accomplices, the hyenas, for he betrayed them as well."
Lina looked up at the stars and then down again. She was thinking hard. No, she'd never kill her own brother to become Queen. Especially not after what happened to Scar. But if the Great Kings always got their way, maybe there was a chance she would become Queen. Lina smiled at the thought.
Kiara beamed with joy as she noticed her smile. "How long did I have to wait to see you smile again?" She nuzzled her daughter.
Lina nuzzled back, still thinking. She would only have to wait, but as long as the Great Kings wouldn't help her, she knew she couldn't stand her brother or her father. There was no other way, she had to get out of the Pride Lands. She looked in her mother's eyes and said: "Mom, I love you. And I won't be like Scar, I promise."
Kiara gasped for a short moment, so Lina added carefully: "I... thought you might think so. That I'd kill my brother because I want to be Queen."
"Oh no, Lina, I know you wouldn't!" Kiara said licking her cheek. "I never even thought of that, that's why I was so shocked." They were silent for a while, Lina rubbing her cheek against her mother's. Then Kiara asked: "Is there anything else you want to know about the Great Kings and the Pride Lands' history? I can tell you some more, if you want."
Lina shook her head and yawned. "No, Mommy. Maybe later. I wanna go back now."
"Alright, honey, let's get some sleep." They both stood up and made their way back to the Royal Cave.
-
The next day, Vitani was looking after Ari, Lina and Takita again. It was early in the afternoon already. Ari had stopped playing tag with them, but he looked a little bored watching the two girls. Vitani's thoughts seemed far away. But when she just tried to draw her full attention back to the three cubs, she heard someone approaching from behind her. She turned around and as the grass surrounding them wasn't tall this time, she could tell who it was immediately. A joyous smile spread on her face.
"Mitauro!" she shouted as she got up on her paws. "You've come back!"
Mitauro smiled as he stopped to stand next to her. "Yes, I'm back. And this time for good. I met Kovu... I mean, King Kovu at the border about an hour or so ago, and I told him I'd like to join his, your Pride. And he agreed."
"That's fantastic!" Vitani said happily.
"We walked around in the Pride Lands and had a nice talk. It's really wonderful here. And then we met Kiara and the hunting party who were just returning with their kill. I was wondering why you weren't with them. But then Kovu, Kiara and Kinja told me you were looking after their cubs again."
"Yeah, that's right," Vitani said, turning her head to see the three of them were still there. She lay down next to Ari and motioned Mitauro to join her. "And this time, I won't lose them. Let's keep an eye on them together."
Mitauro lay down next to her and suggested: "Maybe next time – if Kovu agrees – I could watch them, so you can go hunting again. If you want to."
"Well... if you don't mind. Okay, let's talk about this later with them."
Lina and Takita had stopped chasing each other, both wearing concerned looks. "I guess it's not gonna be that easy," Lina whispered to her friend. "But we gotta try. I have an idea."
With that, Lina approached her brother, Takita following behind her. "Ari? Do you wanna play hide and seek with us?" Lina asked him.
"Okay. Sounds more fun than your stupid tag game. But only if I hide!" he replied.
"That's perfect..." Lina smirked, but quickly snapped out of it. "I mean – great! Okay, Takita and I are gonna seek."
"What, you two? That's unfair!" Ari complained.
Takita grinned: "Then you just have to find a good place to hide."
"Yeah, come on, you always say you're so good at hiding, so prove it!" Lina teased him. "We're gonna get behind the two of them, so we can't see you." She added, motioning towards Mitauro and Vitani who chuckled a bit at their conversation.
"Okay!" Ari smiled. "You're never gonna find me!"
"Could be..." Lina said, giving Takita a wink. And so, the two of them crawled behind Vitani and Mitauro and began counting, while Ari went to look for a good hiding place. Lina noticed that the adults were watching Ari closely. So as soon as they finished counting and shouted "Coming!", they ran off heading to the North, as fast as they could...
-
"Lina? Where exactly are we going?" Takita coughed after a while.
Lina turned her head slightly and shouted back: "To the Outlands!"
"WHAT?!" Takita gasped and stopped. "But that's too dangerous! Your aunt said..."
"I know what she said!" Lina interrupted, catching her breath and approaching her friend. "But they won't look for us there! And it can't be THAT dangerous. Now, come on!" But as she turned around and ran a little again, all of a sudden, she bumped into something and fell on her back. The cubs both gasped at the sight.
"Hey, look, what a wonderful surprise!" The warm voice of an elder lion said. As Lina slowly looked up from the golden fur of his leg which she had bumped into, she beheld a somewhat familiar sight. A tall lion with full auburn mane and ruby eyes – the same color as hers and those of her mother! The lion smiled and exchanged looks with his mate, a sand-colored lioness: "We've only just come back home, and meet our little granddaughter already!"
Lina was still speechless. Only seconds later, Vitani approached from behind her, calling: "Lina! Takita! Not again! I told you not to run..." She stopped as she reached them, quite stunned. "Oh, now I see," she smiled at Lina. "You wanted to meet your grandparents. Welcome back!" She bowed a little to Simba and Nala who nodded with a warm smile.
"We're no longer King and Queen of the Pride Lands, Vitani, so you don't have to bow to us," Nala explained.
Vitani nodded and asked: "How was your journey? You have to tell us everything. But come on, now, you have to meet your grandson, too! And you, Lina and Takita, still have to find him!" She winked at them. But the two cubs trotted behind her with frustration in their eyes.
As soon as they arrived, Mitauro stood up with an inquiring look. Lina and Takita went to look for Ari, while Vitani introduced everyone: "Mitauro, these are Simba and Nala, Kiara's parents and the former King and Queen. They accompanied two friends back to their home in the jungle. Simba, Nala, this is Mitauro, my ma- uh, a good friend of mine." She pinned her ears and looked away quite ashamed, but Mitauro gave her a smile.
"I'm pleased to meet you," he then said to Simba and Nala.
"So are we," Simba replied.
At that moment, Lina shouted: "We found him!" And she explained to her brother who Vitani was talking to. Then the three cubs approached Simba and Nala, Takita a litte behind the siblings.
"Grandpa! Grandma!" Ari shouted excitedly, rubbing his head against their forelegs, and Lina did the same.
Simba and Nala beamed with joy, and Simba remarked: "How you have grown! How long have we been away?! I'm so happy and proud to see you two."
All of them decided to go back to Pride Rock and see if Kovu and Kiara had both returned already. And as they met, Kiara was as happy as never before. But first, they had not much time for conversation. Now they had to give an announcement to the other lionesses and lions, to inform them about Simba's and Nala's return and about the acceptance of Mitauro as a new member of the Pride.
After that, Simba and Nala told Kovu, Kiara, Lina and Ari everything about their journey with Timon and Pumbaa. How they met Timon's whole family, how Pumbaa got a little ill and they had to take care of him. They had some very funny stories to tell which were quite entertaining for the two cubs. Of course, Simba also asked how everything has been going in their Kingdom. Kovu assured him that everything was just fine. Kiara couldn't help but glare at him shortly. But she decided not to tell Simba about Kovu's decision in his presence. She wanted to wait for a chance to talk to her father alone. Unfortunately, there was no chance of doing so, as they had spent the whole day together, talking till the sun set and night went down on the Pride Lands. She would talk to him in the morning.
-
That night, Lina stayed awake. She lay next to her mother and Ari, but wouldn't let her eyes close themselves, staring out of the cave into the deep blue night. Cocking her head from side to side, she listened closely to the breaths of her family. They were all sleeping soundly. Lina slowly lifted her head up from her paws and got up to crawl into another corner of the huge cave. Carefully, she made her way to Kinja, Roho and Takita, who were also sleeping. Kinja held her daughter in her left foreleg, but not very tight.
"'Kita? Wake up, Takita," Lina whispered, nudging her friend's head several times, until her eyes fluttered half-open.
Takita blinked, trying to clear her vision and then yawned: "Lina? What is it?"
"Come on, we have to get away now."
"Now?" Takita asked sleepily.
"Yeah, now. This is our only chance. We can only get out at night," Lina replied. "So, are you coming?"
Takita closed her eyes for a short moment. Then she glanced at her parents and sighed. Turning her back at Lina, she nodded.
"Okay, let's go," Lina smiled. "Be careful not to wake anyone."
So, Takita got up on her paws, fixing a last mournful glance at those she left behind – her parents, Lina's Aunt Vitani, the King and Queen, and Ari. Ever so cautious, the two cubs snuck out of the Royal Cave, and once outside, broke into a run. No looking back. No turning round. No stop. Running and running. To the North, leaving them all behind in the middle of a peaceful starry night...
End of Chapter Six
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AUTHOR'S NOTE – Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed. Sorry if it seemed a bit rushed towards the end. Please review and tell me how I'm doing. And remember to take a look at my profile, 'cause there are two links to the pics of my characters. I'd like to know what you think about them. ;) I'll update a.s.a.p., so please be patient. See ya around! :)