Chapter 28:
The sun was about ready to set when Rafiki ascended to Pride Rock. Many of the lions were turning to walk into the cave when a figure rising to their level had appeared.
"It's Rafiki," a few lionesses whispered to themselves.
Nala approached the baboon first, who bowed to her and she responded to it with a nod. "Is something the matter?"
"Yes," Rafiki said with a sigh as he squatted down on solid rock. "I have been walking all day and my feet are killing me!" He said with a smile, "But enough about this old baboon. I must speak with Simba."
"I'll get him, Nala," Vitani said as she turned into the cave. She returned with Simba a moment later. Rafiki did a courtesy bow as Simba approached him. Simba nodded to him.
"Not that I'm unhappy to see you, Rafiki, but why have you come?" Simba asked as he sat down in front of Rafiki.
"One part of mystery is solved. I have determined that the strange roar we hear everyday and night has been coming from the Outlands," Rafiki said, holding his staff out in front of him.
Vitani stepped up behind Simba. "The Outlands? We've never heard that roar before we left and it just appears eight months later? What could it be?"
"We're about to find out," Simba said with a growl as he stood and prepared to descend Pride Rock. He stopped when Rafiki suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Now, now, the creature hasn't caused any trouble here besides singing its song a few times a day and waking the neighbors. It should not be cause for alarm, Simba. Besides, larger animals such as yourself may make it hostile."
"But how long until it comes here? The only reason we never went out searching for it is because we never knew which direction it was coming from or had reports of any larger animals missing."
"You have smaller agents in the Outlands who may be able to answer these questions we all have been asking. Have faith in them as you always have."
Vitani stepped up next to Simba. "Smaller agents?"
"But I never sent anyone," Simba said with an arched brow.
"No, you did not send them, Simba, but someone else did."
Simba turned to Nala. "Did you, Nala?" Nala shook her head.
Rafiki leaned his weight on his staff. "Rafiki will make this a little easier for you. A lion did not send agents, but rather one of the Great Kings of the Past did." He opened his arms outwardly as he looked up to the heavens, where the stars had begun to come out. "Or should I say, one of their servants has sent agents?"
"Stop talking in riddles, old man. Who are our agents?" Vitani asked, a little impatient.
Rafiki pressed the end of his staff against Vitani's nose. "You want Rafiki to tell you straight out, Vitani? Fine." He pulled his staff back and leaned against it again. "They themselves do not know it, but Timon and Pumbaa are the agents who will uncover the great mystery of the Outlands."
"Timon and Pumbaa are here?" Simba asked, a bit surprised.
"And their mates and sons."
"Timon and Pumbaa... oh, yeah, the meerkat and warthog who raised you. I'm surprised they didn't drop by to visit yet," Vitani said to Simba.
"Their sons Kito and Bango came to me without their fathers knowing to uncover a family mystery," Rafiki explained.
"A family mystery?" Nala stepped up.
"Kito and Bango came to me so I could determine if Timon's lost brother was still among the living. Titus is alive and he is somewhere in the Outlands with a meerkat colony and, without a doubt, under a new name." The wind brushed past them for a moment, rattling the fruit on Rafiki's staff. "I would tell Timon myself who his brother is, but that is no place for Rafiki to tell. If he does not figure it out himself, then one of his parents would. His mother is not here in the Pride Lands to tell him herself."
"And his father has been dead for nearly six years," Simba said.
Rafiki nodded. "This is true, but despite having no physical form, Fearless Buzz has been helping his sons and grandson along the way. Soon the truth will be revealed to them all."
"OK, enough about the meerkat's lost brother.That's not what you came here to talk to us about, Rafiki," Vitani spoke up.
"You are correct."
"Simba, can we really trust those two to discover what animal is making that noise everyday?"
"Well, they have been known to do unbelievable things before when they're together," Simba said as he looked out towards the Outlands. "But if this creature is too much for them to handle..."
"We have not heard its call since late morning. They may have already discovered what it is, put a stop to it, and are now focusing on Titus," Rafiki said. He paused for a moment as he listened to the sound the fruit on his staff made as they clinked together in the wind. He then stroked his beard. "Hmm... I suppose not. Wind spirit of Fearless Buzz says they are no longer in the Outlands."
"So where are they now?" Nala asked.
Rafiki listened to the fruit clink a bit more. "Hmm... you don't say." Rafiki frowned and furrowed his brow. "Stubborn boy, that first son of Fearless Buzz. He should realize his brother is in that colony! It's the only colony in the Outlands! Does Rafiki have to knock some sense into his very small but very thick skull?"
"What?"
Rafiki turned to the lions. "Timon and Pumbaa left the Outlands to try and go meet with me so I would determine Titus's 'true' location, only I am not there to tell them differently. Rafiki is never wrong on these matters!" He leaned his weight on his staff again. "As much as I do not want to I may have to end up directly telling the brothers myself after all." His attention turned back to the clinking fruits attached to his staff as the wind intensified. "Hmm? What is that?" He listened to the clinking as the lions looked at each other, a bit confused. "I don't see how I will be able to get him there, but--" The clinking continued. Rafiki nodded. "Very well then." And then the wind died down.
"I never knew he talks to fruit," Vitani said dryly. She gasped and ducked as Rafiki's staff went to clock her on the head.
"The spirits lack actual speaking voice 99 percent of the time, so I have to listen carefully to what they can take form of. In this case, the spirit uses wind to communicate with clinking fruit. But sometimes an actual voice can be heard," Rafiki said, waving the end of his staff at Vitani.
"So what are you going to do?" Simba asked.
"I have made plans to meet with someone, so I must be going. You rest, for you never know when you may need to help Timon and Pumbaa with their quest."
"But--"
Rafiki put a paw on Simba's shoulder. "Simba, have faith in your friends as you always have." With that Rafiki turned and ran down Pride Rock. He ran out into the distance as the sun completely set.
Simba exhaled as he turned to head into the cave. "We will do as he suggests... for now. Everyone, go inside and rest. We may need it sooner than we think."
To be continued...