'ello!.. sorry for lack of updates.. u.u just things in the non-computer life keeping me from writing. err. 'nyways, I shall get to writing for ya. n.n; On to the story!
Another sunrise marked the new day as the Liba Pride members began to wake up and migrate outside the den. Obassi smiled contentedly as he watched his sons and daughter play with Gunab in the warm sun. Azazsi rubbed against Obassi, affectionately and smiled at him, looking towards Gunab"Don't you think the young prince needs to be going home, today"
Obassi sighed and nodded, looking towards the cubs then to Azazsi with a slight smirk"If he goes back to the Pridelands, that means he'll have to learn about his mother's dreadful death.."
"..Obassi" She hissed, hushing him a bit then whispered to him with a sly smirk"If he realizes that you murdered his mother, he'll turn against you, and eventually, that'll come back to haunt you."
The king smiled down to Azazsi and looked over to Gunab, standing straight up"Gunab" He called, causing the young cubs to snap out of the trance of stalking beatles and other insects.
Gunab looked at Boteshu, Qua, and Ibzimai and cautiously walked in front of Obassi, his head lowered and his ears flat"D-Did I do something wrong" The young cub's eyes looked up to Obassi, his body almost shaking with fear, knowing that Obassi could kill him in one small swipe.
"No, of course not" Obassi chuckled and crouched down by him, pulling Gunab closer to himself. "But you need to be getting home, don't you think? You've been here long enough. You can come back any time you want, but I think your father might want to see you."
"Oh.." Gunab smiles and glanced in the direction of Pride Rock and chuckled nervously. "Yea.. I need to be getting back.. I don't think they even know where I'm at.. I'll probably get into big trouble."
The three cubs who were listening in lost interest and went back to rolling around in the dust and fighting each other. Obassi chuckled at the three cubs and stood back up, beginning to head towards the border with Gunab following him"Maybe.. but that's the price you have to pay for a little fun on your own." Obassi chuckled and looked back at Gunab, and once they were out of hearing range of the others, Obassi's tone was more serious. "Gunab, you cannot tell your father you were here in the Outlands."
"What" Gunab looked up at Obassi oddly, his ears flattened to his head. "Why can't I tell him I was here"
"Your father holds a grudge against us. Don't ask me, why, I couldn't tell you. Don't ask him either. Can you promise me that, Gunab"
The prince thought for a moment, looking to the ground and nodded slowly"I think I can promise that.. but what do I tell them when I get back"
"Just.. say you were lost." Obassi said quickly, trying to think quickly, and get the cub out of the Outlands.
"Alright." Gunab nodded and looked down at the border separating the Pridelands and Outlands than back to Obassi"Bye.." He sighed and turned, walking quickly in the direction of Pride Rock, wondering what was going to happen to him.
.-.-.-.-.-.
Vitani was slowly pacing near the borders, keeping watch for any intruders who might come to attack Pride Rock in it's now weakened state, due to Kiara's death. She hung her head, replaying the scene of finding Kiara's body with Nala and Kovu and tried to force back tears. Sounds of the lionesses' mourning still sang through out the land, sadly.
Her thoughts shifted from Kiara's death to Simba and Nala, who had both fallen ill the morning before and showed no signs of pulling through the devilish fever. She clenched her jaw, her pace slowing even more, her eyes glued to the ground in mourning, knowing as well as all the other members of the pride that Simba and Nala's times' were coming.
With all the strength she could gather, she lifted her head, hearing the sound of grasses shifting at the border and spotted the streak of tall grass winding a path towards Pride Rock. Instantly, Vitani jumped in the path of the possible threat and bared her fangs and claws, growling loudly. Gunab stared up at Vitani, his ears pinned to his head again and he stared at her in fear, but both of them quickly calmed down after recognition.
"Gunab" Vitani pulled the cub close to her and held him tightly, tears almost escaping her eyes as her voice broke when she spoke"Gunab! We thought you were dead" She stared in relief at the prince.
"No.. I'm fine.." Gunab looked up at Vitani oddly, hearing her voice breaking. "Aunt 'tani.. what's wrong" He looked at her, concerned, and he wrapped himself around one of her front legs and looked up at her.
Vitani closed her eyes and began slowly escorting him to Pride Rock"We.. We all thought you were dead. Kiara, your Mom.." Vitani closed her eyes tightly, forcing herself not to look down to Gunab, who stared up at her, concerned. "..she was killed. Murdered by either Outlanders, rouges, or hyenas."
The young cub stopped where he stood, completely still, one paw raised of the ground to take another step, but never touched the ground. His aunt's words hit him like a bag of bricks. She couldn't be dead! he thought and stared up at Vitani, tears forming in his eyes. "No..." he whispered, seeing Vitani's long, truthful face"NO" He screamed and collapsed to the ground, crying. "Mother.. no! She's not dead... no"
Vitani closed her eyes as tears streamed down her muzzle as she wrapped a paw around Gunab, holding him close to her, feeling the need to protect something. "Yes.. she's gone.." She sobbed silently as Gunab buried his face in Vitani's paw, crying. ".. I'm sorry Gunab." She sighed, hating to see the poor cub in such a state, but she had to tell him the whole truth. "Nala and Simba.. have fallen ill as well."
He sobbed and shook free of Vitani and growled, tears staining his face"NO" He screamed, then whispered"You're lying.. No.." He sidestepped away from Vitani, his legs feeling like rubber under him and he stumbled around, landing on his side in the grass.
She closed her eyes tightly and walked to Gunab, picking him up in her jaws and he fell limp, almost as if he were unconscious, but he was awake. His eyes were wide as they stared into space in shock. The only thing keeping him from losing his own consciousness was Vitani's random stumbles, her legs rubber, too.
Lionesses lifted their heads as Vitani arrived to Pride Rock. Their silence created an eerie feeling in the Pridelands, much different from the thriving life and peacefulness that echoed though their land. Gunab snapped back to reality when Vitani placed him at the entrance of the cave at the top of Pride Rock and walked back down the path to help comfort her fellow lionesses.
Gunab was staring into the dark cave, his eyes not yet used to the dark until he heard his father's voice ring to him"Gunab" He walked to his son and wrapped his paws around him, seeing the expression on his face then realized that Vitani must have told him what had happened. Gunab stared up at Kovu, tears streaming down his face again. Kovu, relieved at the sight of his son, held back tears as he laid down beside Gunab at the mouth of the cave.
"Simba and Nala are in there.." Kovu sighed deeply, shutting his eyes tight in the midday sun. "Gunab.. if you want to say good-bye to them..." He sighed again and laid his head on the ground by Gunab. The small cub slowly moved out of Kovu's grip and stumbled into the cave, sitting in front of the resting couple.
"Please.." Gunab's voice was barely a whisper"please... don't go.." He pleaded to his grandparents.
The old Simba stirred and blinked at Gunab, slowly"Gunab.." He said just as quietly as Gunab spoke to them. "Gunab.. don't plead for us to live. Our time has come.. and we've accepted that.." His mighty voice was slow and weakening quickly. Simba looked to Nala and closed his eyes slowly, seeing that Nala's sides moved no more for breath and he took a deep breath before looking at Gunab again"You are going to be.. a mighty king. Powerful and strong.. keep the peace between the lands." He sighed as Gunab's face was streaked in desperate tears. "You.. will be the one.. who can finally bring a stop to the outlanders.. and bring peace back to these lands.."
Gunab nodded slowly and curled up under Simba's paw, just as Simba did with Mufasa. Simba let out a slow breath, his eyes closing slowly and his mighty head lay peacefully on a strong paw. Gunab sobbed quietly, feeling guilty for the deaths in the pride and he slowly cried himself to sleep.
I'm sorry it's so short and sad.. but I was in desperate need of an update. I'll try to get the next chapter up as fast as I can. C'ya next chapter!