Author's note: I made up Rafiki's chant. Any resemblance to a real langauge is coincedental.
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Fire flickered in the main cave beneath Pride Rock. From inside came the sound of a single voice
chanting, followed by two words spoken by many voices, mainly female. Inside the cave, the
lionesses formed a circle around Nukoy, who was leashed by a vine to a small rock pinnacle. A fire
burned in a pit near him, and Rafiki walked around the lion cub, chanting.
"Radian afin shadon!" Rafiki chanted.
(Light against darkness)
"Banmisa gama nana!"
(Evil be gone)
"Scar, eman...gama nana!"
(Scar, poison...be gone!)
"Radian afin shadon!"
After each intone, the lionesses said, 'iyo', quietly. Kovu stood behind the circle of lionesses and
looked at his son. He was concentrating with each intonement, mentally fighting the evil hold Scar
had over his son. Nukoy had bene struggling, but now he flopped back against the rock, exhausted.
Rafiki put out the fire and touched the cub's head. Through a hole in the ceiling of the cave, a beam
of light slowly highlighted the dark cub.
"He's all right." Rafiki whispered. "He is one of us now."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but up in the shadows of the cave, Scar's ghost glowered. He
did not speak, but he watched the cub carefully.
No worries, Scar thought, smirking. I'll let them think he's a perfect son. I'll let them think t
hat he's gonna grow up to be just like Daddy, Kovu, the traitor! Then when he's older and
stronger, I will train him to be my heir! To be who I never got to be, thanks to my nephew!
Kiara and Kovu, entrusting Luneia and Nukoy to a lioness named Reina, strode down to the
jungle, immensely relieved.Kiara rubbed her head against Kovu's neckas they walked off. She
suddenly felt a warm, burning passion for him. She loved him, always, constantly, but tonight was
special. She suddenly wanted to mate with Kovu. It was a beautiful evening, and she and Kovu
no longer worried about Nukoy. Everything seemed so perfect that the idea of being alone with
Kovu sounded perfect. They hadn't had time alone since Kiara had become pregnant with the cubs.
"I know what you want." Kovu whispered, grinning. "And you're going to get it."
"Oh, Kovu..." the lioness whispered, licking his cheek. "It's perfect tonight..."
"I know. It's because your are perfect, my lovely lioness."
Kovu led his mate to a shallow pool behind the waterfall. He licked Kiara again and again,
nuzzling her. She lay down on her back, her soft, tan belly up, and parted her legs. She looked
shyly at her true love, still amazed by his flashy looks and gentle smile. Purring now, she looked
enticingly at him. Smiling with expectancy, Kovu lowered his body to hers, feeling the intense heat of
the lioness' body. He melted in Kiara's brown-eyed gaze and pressed closer to her. His flesh
merged with hers, and they were gently sprinkled by droplets blown from the waterfall. The cascade
hid their enmeshed bodies, but they were alone. That night, they gently expressed their love under
the waterfall.
When they were tired, Kovu and Kiara found shelter in a small jungle thicket. Kiara laid her head
on Kovu's back, pressing her chin into his thick black mane. He smiled his gentlest smile and laid his
own head on his paws. There the two slept until dawn, confident that one of the biggest problems
they had ever faced--Nukoy's evil streak--would never return.
The next morning, Kiara stretched, yawned, and stood up. Remembering the night before, she
smiled, nudged Kovu, and followed him back to Pride Rock. As they came towards the great
pinnacle, they sighed in relief to see their young son playing gently with Luneia. Nukoy acted like a
normal cub now, although he still looked like Scar. The cubs' father ran up to his children, laughing
and chasing them. Smiling proudly, Kiara watched, her brown eyes shining warmly, her tawny coat
shining golden in the early morning sun.
Everything seemed so perfect...