Wow, don't know why I didn't post this sooner. It's been done for about a week. It's just setting the mood for the finale.
Kiara risked a glance into the cave before she returned her gaze to the mottled lioness Winda. She was just entering adulthood. Her mellow brown eyes returned Kiara's gaze and the two shared a brief smile before moving away from the cave entrance and gracefully down the side of Pride Rock. The shade of a small tree offered them comfort from the heat and the two sat down, sharing the experience of a rare moment of silence in the majestic Pride Lands.
Kovu had spent much of the night crying and roaring in the cave and the Pride had done its best to avoid him; even Kiara had remained outside while he played out his rage. But now, finally, the heat and exhaustion had caused him to collapse into a fitful slumber.
Kiara sighed and crawled onto the rock Nala had slept her last night on, finding it mentally sobering to relive that final night with her mother. She smiled then made room for Winda, who jumped up next to her. After a while of silence Kiara spoke quietly.
"Winda, why haven't you run?"
The lioness smiled and chuckled.
"Why should I? It would take forever to journey to the edges of the Pride Lands and even longer to find another pride who would take me in. I have my loyalties and my history here, anyways, and you too."
Kiara looked over at her and opened her mouth to speak when suddenly Aujilo and Penrai appeared, the latter looking anxious and nervous.
"Where is the King, Lady Kiara?"
Kiara hid her smile, but Winda chuckled. Penrai referred to her as Lady Kiara, thinking that it sounded more elegant and beautiful than Queen Kiara or Her Majesty.
"Kovu is taking a… Well deserved nap."
The two lionesses shared glances after watching Penrai's dance of anxiety. The eagle Aujilo spoke for the small bird when he refused to continue.
"Maten passed Rafiki's tree hours ago, your majesty. He was with the lion Kovu named Saga, who was jumping around and appeared very out of his mind. Maten roared for Rafiki to come down to him but we remained silent and he moved on. He will be here by…"
A roll of thunder brought his speech to a dead halt. He shared a look with Kiara, remembering tales from Rafiki and Simba of the storms they had faced. It rained when Simba overthrew Scar. It rained when the Outlanders came to overthrow Simba.
And now, it seemed as if it would rain when Maten came to overthrow Kovu.
Winda, not understanding the tension, laughed and jumped off the rock. Penrai, also forgetting his anxiety, flew with the lioness as they bounded into the grasslands like cubs, both chanting and dancing.
"The rains are coming, the rains are coming!"
Aujilo landed next to Kiara, watching the two. Kiara forced a smile as she watched Penrai and Winda dance.
"I suppose even majordomos need to rejoice once in a while. It seems only the old warhorses like us fear what the rains have brought before."
Aujilo rested a wing on Kiara's back, his voice filled with false hope.
"Perhaps this time it will be different, my old friend. I will return to Rafiki – I fear he will not last the night. It seems age catches up with the best of us." He quickly wiped his eyes with a wingtip and sighed. "He desires very much to see Mufasa and Sarabi again – He has missed them so."
Kiara watched Aujilo take to the skies then closed her eyes. She wanted to go see Rafiki one last time, but the danger presented by Maten and Saga was something she knew he wouldn't want her risking. She noticed Winda and Penrai had stopped dancing and the bird was now perched on Winda's head as the two watched Aujilo's flight and the dark clouds gathering on the horizon.