The Lion Guard: Hidden Secrets
Chapter 6: A Midnight Patrol
"Not dead? What do you mean not dead? I watched her fall off a cliff into a raging river filled with jagged rocks!" Kovu shouted.
"Keep it down. Do you want to wake the whole kingdom?" Umren scolded.
Kovu flattened his ears and grimaced. "Sorry, but I just don't understand how she could be alive."
"Did you ever find a body?"
"Well no, but…"
"Then she's still apart of this world. All spirits are connected to the tree and if they reside in the spirit world, when their name is spoken to the heart they appear here." He said pointing the Moyo Staff at the Spirit Well.
Kovu turned away and started pacing. "This is not good. This is not good!"
"Kovu." Umren placed a hand on his shoulder. The touch of a human was strange but welcoming. "Panic solves nothing. A clear mind leads to right action but right now your mind is tired. You need rest before you can figure out what to do about this situation."
""But how can I rest knowing my mother, the one who has brought so much devastation onto my new family, is still out there."
"Come with me. If the land hasn't changed too much while I was asleep there should be some plants nearby I can gather for you that will help you sleep."
Kovu followed Umren out of the Moyo Chamber and up into the cave. As they walked they passed by a sleeping Kion and Rani who were cuddled together on the rock platform in the center of the cave. Off to the side slept Simba, Nala, and Kiara. None of them woke as they passed by. Out in the open, night had set in and the moon and stars shone brightly up above. Umren paused to gaze out at the landscape which he had not set eyes on in over eight hundred years. Though he couldn't see much in the darkness it was enough that he could tell the land had indeed changed, but not to the point that it wasn't recognizable.
"I believe the plant we are looking for is over here." Umren brought them over to a small wooded area and stopped at the edge of the tree line. He began looking around checking by the trunks of the trees.
"Umren, Kovu, what are you both still doing up?" A familiar voice called out. It was Nirmala. She trotted up to them.
"Oh good, Nirmala, perhaps you can help. I was trying to find Kovu some African Dream Root to help him sleep. Last I knew it grew here but I'm not finding any, do you know where some might be?" Umren asked.
Nirmala nodded. "You weren't too far off. The plant grows a little farther in near the swamp." She started walking farther into the woods and Umren and Kovu followed.
As they neared the wetlands Umren spotted what he was looking for. "Ah here we are." He bent down and plucked a few white flowered plants and then broke off the roots. "Here Kovu, eat these…"
They all jumped in startlement as they heard loud snorts coming from behind some bushes. After the initial fright though Nirmala began to giggle. "Not to worry." She pulled aside some of the brushes from where the horrible snorting was coming from to reveal two snoring honey badgers. One of them Bunga, and the other, Binga. They all let out a chuckle as Nirmala let the brush fall back into place.
"Well now, as I was saying. Eat these roots, Kovu, and you will have some of the best sleep you will have had in ages."
Nirmala chimed in. "But be sure to wait to eat them until you are where you plan to rest for the night. The roots effect happens quite rapidly once consumed."
"Thank you both." Kovu took the roots in his mouth, though didn't chew them, and turned to walk back towards the tree.
When Kovu had walked off and Umren didn't follow Nirmala asked; "So, not tired?"
"Ha. I have slept the last eight centuries. I believe it will be a while before I'm ready to rest again."
"Well, in that case perhaps you'd like to join me on me on patrol."
Umren smiled and gestured forward with his staff. "Lead the way."
They walked out of the woods and onto the open plain, making their way towards a group of tall mountains that made up the barrier surrounding the kingdom.
"So where do you often patrol?" Umren asked.
"Well usually when Rani joins us her and I will start at the mountain pass at the north end and head east, while Surak and Baliyo start near the south end and head west. We work our way around the perimeter of the kingdom until we get back to our starting point. Then we head back to the Tree. If there are no emergencies or intruders then both groups should meet back at the same time. Though tonight I am on my own since Rani had such a long day."
"Well not anymore."
Nirmala smiled up at him. "Yes, not anymore."
"So no one stands guard at the entrance?"
"We have Ullu, Rani's majordomo. Her home is at the pass so she alerts us if anyone tries to enter the kingdom."
"And what if the other group needs assistance while you are on opposites sides of the kingdom?"
She shrugged before answering. "Somehow we just know. When the others are in danger or need help we get this feeling that calls us to wherever the others are. I don't know how to explain it but it has something to do with this." Nirmala looked to her right shoulder where her Night Pride mark was.
Umren nodded "I had wondered what ability your spirit symbol held."
Nirmala looked up at him quizzically. "You called it a spirit symbol, but I receive this mark from Rani when she made me a member of the Night Pride."
"The origin of these symbols is from the spirits. If I had to guess, since Rani is the leader, she must have received her mark directly from a great spirit to help her in her mission with the Night Pride. It is the same with Kion and his roar. As the leaders they would be able to mark who ever they wished to be a part of their team with the same symbol. Though, those that receive these symbols in such a way will not always be granted the same ability as the one who was given the symbol directly from the spirits."
"That would make sense since I don't believe any member of the Lion Guard have any special abilities aside from Kion. I can't imagine the devastation Bunga's farts could make if they were as powerful as Kion's roar."
They both shared a laugh. 'But perhaps there is untapped potential within the lion guard' Umren thought to himself. "Nirmala, may I examine your spirit symbol? It will only take a moment and it won't hurt, I promise. I simply wish to see how your symbol ties in with your ability to sense when your team is in danger and where to find them. I will do this using the Moyo Staff."
"Of course. So now that the lion guard share our mark do you think they…" she paused and closed her eyes as if in deep concentration.
"Nirmala?"
"Never mind, I think I'm about to get my answer." She peered up at him with a look of concern. "Surak and Baliyo, they need our help. They are near the desert lands." She then gave him a small smirk. "Are you ready to become an honorary Night Pride member?"
He gave her a look of confidence. "I'm with you!"
She took off running down a rocky ledge that would lead them to the other side of the mountain range. She then realized that she wasn't running with another lion or even a four legged animal and turned to look to see if Umren was keeping up. To her surprise he was right on her tail and noticed a mark glowing green on his left leg. "Not bad for a two legged." She teased.
"I activated a speed sigil." Umren panted. "It allows me to keep pace with any animal, even a cheetah. As a Mlezi, if someone needs my help I must be able to reach them without delay."
"Very useful, though I'm sure Fuli will want to put your sigil to the test someday. She is the fastest."
He grinned. "Yes, well when that day comes I'm sure she will be quite surprised."
They moved swiftly on the curvy path around the mountains until they came to a cliff side that overlooked a vast stretch of sandy desert. The moon was full and illuminated everything in a blueish-white glow. Nirmala came to a stop and looked around. "They should be here. Baliyo, Surak, where are you?" She called out.
"Down here!" Surak yelled back.
Nirmala and Umren both peered over the cliff side to find Surak holding tight to a small tree that had grown out of the mountain side several feet down from the edge. Below was Baliyo clinging fiercely to Surak's legs and dangling out over at least a couple hundred foot drop.
"Oh my gosh!" Nirmala gasped. "Are you both okay? How did you get down there?"
"Oh we're fine. You know, just hanging out." Baliyo nervously blurted out.
Surak rolled his eyes. "This one wasn't paying attention and lost his footing on the edge. I tried to grab him but we both went over the side. Now we could really use your help if you don't mind." He said irritably.
Off in the distance Umren and Nirmala noticed a dust cloud bellow. It was Kion and Rani with the rest of the lion guard right behind. They arrived just below where Surak and Baliyo dangled from the small tree.
"Don't worry!" Rani called out "Well get you down somehow."
"Hapana! They're slipping!" Ono cried out.
Surak's claws where dug deep into the tree branch but with the added weight of Baliyo hanging onto him the soft wood was beginning to give way.
"Beshte, if they fall can you cushion the blow?" Kion asked.
The hippo squinted up at the dangling lions and shook his head. "Not from that height."
Kion looked to Anga. "Can you fly up and grab them?"
"I can't hold them both but I can see if I can grab Baliyo first and then go back for Surak."
She flew up to the dangling lions and used her talons to grab ahold of Baliyos scruff. "Baliyo, I'm going to grab you first but I need you to let go. I can't carry you both."
"I… I don't think I can." He clung tighter to Surak and the movement caused Surak to lose his grip even more.
"Sure you can." Anga said annoyed. "Just… let… go!" She tried to pull him away from the other lion but it wasn't doing any good. Surak barley had anything left to hold onto.
"Baliyo!" Surak shouted in anger and panic. "If you don't let go we're both going to fall!"
But he just clung on even more and shut his eyes. "I'm sorry, I just can't!"
Surak lost his hold on the tree completely as his claws reached the bottom of the branch. All at once Anga had the weight of both lions in her grasp and it was too much. She wasn't able to hold on and Baliyo along with Surak broke free of her grasp.
"No!" She shrieked.
Everyone gasped as the two lions began to freefall. All of a sudden something long and thick like two giant snakes sprang out from the side of the mountain and caught them in midair. Nirmala stared down in shock and then glanced over to see Umren, with eyes glowing green, holding both arms outstretched with the Moyo Staff held in his right hand. Slowly he began to lower his hands. Nirmala looked back down to see the things that held Baliyo and Surak started stretching downward until both lions were placed safely on the ground near the rest of the group. As soon as the things had released the lions they quickly retreated back into the side of the mountain.
Nirmala looked back to see Umren's eyes were no longer glowing. In astonishment she asked; "What did you do?"
He simple gestured down the path. "Come, let's join your friends. I'm sure they are just as curious as you are."
She nodded and they both quickly made their way down the rest of the path until they reached the bottom a few paces from the group. Surak and Baliyo were both on their feet with an irritated Rani pacing around her younger brother. "You've patrolled that ridge hundreds of times. Were you not paying attention? What were you thinking?" She scolded.
Baliyo slouched and folded his ears back in embarrassment. "That was actually the problem, thinking I mean. After everything that happened today I just had a lot on my mind and wasn't watching where I was going. I'm sorry."
He looked away but Rani came up and nuzzled him under his chin. "We've all had a long day, I'm just glad you're okay!"
They all turned at the sound of Nirmala and Umren approaching.
"Are you both alright?" Nirmala asked.
"We are both fine." Surak assured her. "Thanks to… well… I'm not exactly sure what to give credit to."
"Perhaps you mean whom you should give credit." Nirmala said looking up to Umren with a smile.
Everyone showed looks of astonishment and confusion. She then realized that from down here you really couldn't see the cliff edge from where they were moments ago so none but her would have been able to witness what Umren had done.
"So you're responsible for whatever came out of the mountain that grabbed Surak and Baliyo?" Kion asked Umren.
"Yes, the things you saw were roots from the Tree of Life. As I mentioned before, the roots of the Tree extend throughout the entire kingdom. Through the heart I can control these roots if the need arises."
"And you couldn't have done that before we began plummeting to our death!?" Baliyo shouted in annoyance.
"I wanted to give your team a chance to do their job." He calmly replied. "You all are responsible for protecting the animals here, even members of your own team." Baliyo scowled. "My responsibility is to protect the Tree of Life and use its power only when necessary. Once you began to fall it became necessary, so I did what I did to get you down without a scratch."
"Maybe without a scratch, but not without splinters." Baliyo began complaining but Surak gave him a nudge and a disapproving scowl.
"I think what the young one means to say is thank you. We both appreciate what you did to save us." Surak said, giving Umren a slight bow.
Bunga let out a loud yawn. "Can we go back to bed now?"
"Yeah, but first I want to know one thing. How did we all know to come here?" Fuli asked. "I mean we were all asleep and I don't remember anyone waking me up. I just got this feeling that someone was in trouble and I had to come to this location. And I don't think its coincidence we all ended up in the same place at the same time."
"It confirms what I was wondering earlier." Nirmala remarked. "Now that the lion guard is a part of the night pride you now all share our ability."
"What ability is that?" Beshti asked.
Rani answered. "The ability to know when one of our team is in trouble and where they will be at all times, even if we're asleep. After my parents died I met with their spirits and told them my plans of forming the night pride. They had been attacked and no one knew until Ullu came for help, but by then it was too late." She looked pained. "They presented me with this symbol and I passed it on to my team. It helps so that none of us will ever be in danger without the others knowing. And tonight is the perfect example of how useful this ability is."
"But our old marks never gave us any special abilities, except for Kion," Ono interrupted. "Also, even though they look the same, our new marks weren't passed down to us by Rani or her parents. We got ours from Askari. So how does that work?"
"I don't think it matters much. They are still the same symbol no matter who it came from. Right Umren?" Kion questioned.
Umren glanced up at the moon which had made its way to the center of the sky and would soon start its course back down. "Perhaps it would be best if we resumed this conversation tomorrow. You, lion guard, and your majesties, still need rest and the night is wearing on. In the morning I will examine the spirit symbols. After I have done so I will be able to give you all a better understanding of the abilities each of you possess."
Kion glanced around at all the tired faces and then yawned himself. "I guess that's probably a good idea. I can barely keep my eyes open, let alone try to make sense of this spirit symbol stuff."
"You all head back." Umren replied." I'm going to continue to patrol with Nirmala. I will see the rest of you in the morning."
Rani and Kion nodded and headed back with the lion guard to their resting areas for the remainder of the night.
Nirmala turned to Surak and Baliyo. "Think you two can stay out of trouble the rest of the night?" she teased.
"We'll be fine." Surak grumbled. "As long as Baliyo here can keep his head out of the clouds."
Baliyo harrumphed. "Yeah yeah, let's just go." He started heading towards the mountain trail but then stopped in front of Umren. "I guess I never did say thank you. That was pretty cool how you saved us, even if it did leave some splinters."
Umren smiled and waved the moyo staff over Baliyo. As it passed over his body tiny fragments of wood came out of his fur and collected on the staff. He did the same to Surak.
"Oh wow!" Baliyo exclaimed as he shook his fur. "I don't know what you did but that feels so much better."
"Yes, thank you again Umren." Surak said. They both then headed for the path that would lead them back into the mountains.
Umren and Nirmala headed the opposite direction.
"If I'm not mistaken we must be working our way to the river of patience?" he asked.
"You are correct. Once we make it out of the desert we will patrol the flat land for a time until we reach the river's edge and follow it back to the entrance. I see time has not ravaged your memory of this place." She remarked.
He chuckled. "No, if anything time has affected the land here more than it has affected me. This place is now both familiar and strange at the same time. Almost like the development of a child. As time goes on their appearance changes, but they are still the same person. The land has grown and matured since I last laid eyes on it, but it is still the same land. I will have to familiarize myself with the exact whereabouts of all the plant life again."
"Perhaps I can help."
"Indeed, and in more ways than that I believe."
'In more ways than that?' She wondered. What did he mean? She glanced up at his tall form as he kept his gaze out in front of him. She noticed his muscles in his arms and torso. He was strong, capable, and smart. He really was remarkable. She barely knew him and yet there was this feeling… She had to look away before he caught her staring at him.
They walked for time in the calm of the night just enjoying each other's company, traversing from desert, to flat land, to river. All was quiet until they heard a faint chirping noise near a lone tree with a large bolder at the base of it. They followed the chirping noise behind the bolder to find a small bird with one wing extended in a mangled manor.
"Are you okay little one?" Nirmala asked, approaching the small bird.
"Oh I'm so clumsy. I fell out of my nest and.. eep!" The bird squeaked in surprise as it became aware of Umren. "Wh..who, h..hhow, wha..what is that?!" The bird stammered.
Umren bent down to be less imposing.
"This is Umren." Nirmala introduced. "He is a human and a healer like me, you don't need to be afraid."
The bird looked over the strange creature for a moment before responding. "If… If you say so."
"What is your name my friend?" Umren asked.
"I'm Leela."
"Okay Leela, what seems to be the problem?"
She lifted her mangle wing a bit before letting it rest back down. "I fell out of my nest while I was asleep. I hit the big rock before I knew what had happened and I hurt my wing. I think it's broken.
Nirmala carefully examined the bad wing. "I believe you're right Leela, I must take you to the Tree of Life to heal you."
"But my eggs." Leela said pointing to her nest with her good wing. "I can't leave my eggs."
"But you must be healed Leela, you can't fly. I must take you to the Tree."
"No worries my dear, allow me." Umren reached his arm out and extended the tip of the Moyo Staff to gently touch Leela's broken wing. The emerald green light of the heart shown bright for a moment and then returned to its soft glow. Umren brought the staff back to reveal Leela's no longer mangled wing.
Leela stared with wide eyes as she moved her wing around. She then leapt into the air and flew a couple laps around Nirmala and Umren before landing back in front of them. "Oh my word!" She exclaimed. "Thank you! Thank you! Oh, I will tell all of my friends what you have done this night. You healed me without having to travel to the Tree and leave my eggs. Oh, how wonderful." She then flew up back to her nest with a final "Thank you" as she settled atop her eggs.
Nirmala let out a short laugh. "What a wonder you are." She said, addressing Umren and admiring what he had done. "I don't possibly know what you could ever learn from me aside from locating a few plants." She then put on a saddened expression and turned away. "With your knowledge and ability's what place is there for me to be a healer. You are far more experienced and skilled than I am."
He came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nirmala, do not believe for a second that now that I am here I will be taking your place. I have been absent for over eight hundred years and there are bound to be things that the healers in that time have discovered that I am unaware of." He knelt down in front of her so they could speak face to face. "When we were gathered in the Moyo Chamber Kion mentioned that you healed him using something called therapy. I have never heard of such a method before. That is proof enough right there that even though I have a vast knowledge and ability for healing, there are still things I don't know that you can teach me."
She looked a little surprised. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying we should be a team Nirmala. I can teach you and you can teach me. We will learn more together."
She brightened and felt a pang in her heart at the idea of working alongside this amazing man. "A team then."
They both smiled as they continued on down the river bank.
"So what about your search to find a mate. Are Kion and Rani going to allow you to leave the kingdom?" Nirmala wondered aloud.
"Yes, they have already granted my request." He could see a bit of disappointment on Nirmala's face. "But I won't depart for some time. My duty is to the kingdom and the Tree first and foremost and I need time to get acquainted with all those that live here before I bring in yet another stranger to their home." He could see the disappointment had left.
"So Nirmala, Did you grow up in this kingdom?"
"No, actually. I was born in the mountains not far from the Pridelands. Though I personally had never visited that kingdom so I hadn't met any pridelanders myself until Kion and his friends came to the Tree of Life. Anyway, my pride was one that never had a Royal Mjuzi so it was actually my parents, the king and queen, who were also the healers. They taught me most of what I know, including the healing methods of therapy."
"Intriguing. So you are a princess. Then how is it you came to call this kingdom your home."
"My parents made many trips here and always brought me along. Our family was good friends with King Sashi and Queen Ananda. One day I was out playing with Rani while our parents met. We were chasing each other in a game of tag in the canyon and making lots of noise. I was it and trying to catch Rani when I noticed some rocks break loose and were tumbling down right where Rani was headed. I picked up my pace to shove her out of the way but one of the rocks struck me on the side of the head. The next thing I remember was Rani shaking me. She was shouting something but I could barely hear her. As I came to my senses I found blood coming from my right ear where the rock had struck me and realized I couldn't hear out of that side. Rani brought me back to the Tree where we found her grandmother Janna. Rani explained what happened and Janna brought me into the Tree near the stone platform. She then placed one paw on some of the exposed roots of the Tree. The other she placed over my bad ear and immediately I felt a warm, tingling feeling flow into me. When she removed her paw she thanked me for saving her granddaughter and I was able to hear her through both ears again. That is why I wear this flower over my right ear, to remind me of that day. My parents had told me about the healing powers of the Tree but to experience it first hand was incredible. I wanted to learn how to use that power to help others too. Eventually when I became older I asked my parents if I could leave to learn to be a healer at the Tree of Life. I was the oldest and meant to take over for my parents as the next ruler, but my parents knew my heart. I never wanted to rule their kingdom, but my younger brother did. My father told me he knew one of his children would one day go to live at the tree of life and after that day I had been healed by the Tree he knew it would be me."
"What do you mean he knew one of his children would come to live at the tree of life? How did he know?"
"My father is a unique lion. I was not as surprised as the others were when you said you had been given a prophecy about Kion. My father is also one who receives prophecy."
Umren was stunned.
Nirmala continued. "We don't know how, he has never told us. Probably because he can't, but in many instances he has been able to save a great many lives by knowing future events. Very few know of his ability though so I am trusting that you will not speak of what I am sharing with you to anyone else."
"You have my word and I am honored you would share such a thing with me. Though, I am a bit surprised. We have only just met each other."
"I'm a bit surprised myself but in this short time you have proven how kind, and gentle, and trustworthy you are. I imagine you yourself still hold a great many secrets so I trust you will be able to keep this one."
'A great many secrets indeed.' Umren thought. "I would hope someday I could meet your father." He said aloud.
"And someday you will get that chance. Not too long ago my parents made my brother king of their lands so they could focus on other things, but they are now able to visit more frequently. They typically stop here at the change of the seasons. Unfortunately we are less than halfway through the wet season so it will be some time before they visit again."
"Well perhaps when I begin my journey I can pay them a visit."
"That would be a bit difficult. You see they do not stay within their kingdom anymore now that my brother is king. Those other things I mentioned they do now, they hunt poachers… human poachers."
Umren was silent for a time and then looked to the night sky and whispered; "Oh my people how lost have you become that the lions whom we once shared such a powerful bond with are now hunting you." He looked back down at Nirmala. "So I am not the first human you have seen then?"
"No."
"Then how can you trust me? If your parents hunt humans then you must know of how terrible my kind is."
"Oh no, you misunderstand. They do not believe all humans are bad. My parents taught all of our pride that many humans have good in them, we just have to look for it. They used to lead our pride to defend against poachers in our land and the surrounding areas. It is probably why the prideland animals have never seen a human. Our territory holds one of the only passes a human could use to get to the Pridelands and while we believe not all humans are bad we do not let them hunt in our lands since there is little enough food as it is in the mountains. Being in the mountains though gave us the privilege to witness many human 'camps,' as my father called it, from above as they passed by. This is how we learned to differentiate between the humans who respect the circle of life and those who don't. We observed many groups that would trample the land as they came through, killing and torturing animals, disrespecting life and even each other. These are the camps we attacked."
Umren looked saddened.
Nirmala softened her voice. "But we also witnessed groups that did respect the circle of life. They valued life, respected the land, and each other. When they would hunt they would only kill what they needed. When they ate they would share the food with everyone and when they left you could hardly notice that they had ever been there. These groups we left alone and only intervened if they tried to come into our territory, but we would not harm them."
Umren brightened a bit. "Thank you Nirmala, it is encouraging to know that there are still those of my kind that have not tainted their hearts by the greed and jealousy that brought about poaching."
"Each of us, no matter human or animal, have the ability to do great harm or great good. It all comes down to how we choose to live our lives." Nirmala said as she came up close beside him. Umren laid his hand on her head and began to stroke her soft fur down her neck and along her back. It was a strange sensation but it felt wonderful and she began to purr.
"You thought there was nothing you could teach me but already I have learned from you that my people are not as lost as I might have believed. We will make a great team, you and I."
They gazed at each other. She looked up into his beautiful blue eyes that shimmered like the moons light across the river water. She saw hope and determination in those eyes and could see a heart that was pure and loving. She felt her cheeks start to burn and looked away but smiled and replied. "Yes, we will make great team."
Authors note:
This chapter ended up being a lot longer than anticipated so I broke it into two chapters. Chapter 7 will contain the bit about Kopa I mentioned in my last note. I should have that published in the next few days, I just need to finish up some editing. In the meantime please review and comment and if you like what you're reading please hit the favorite or follow buttons. Also, I have begun writing my new story that will go along with this one titled: The Lion King: A Man among Lions. I have two chapters out so far so go check it out, and again, thanks for reading!