Balto continued to follow Jack's scent through the jungle. Anna, Jenna and the others followed close behind, hoping that he would be able to lead them to Jack and the jungle women. Balto emerged from the jungle, into the clearing where Hans's men had attacked them. He paused for a moment, peering into the clearing.
Jenna emerged from the foliage and came up next to him. The two glanced to one another nervously, having to have seen what had happened here. Though they were only so relieved that Elsa and Jack gotten away. Now the question was which way they had gone.
Balto walked into the clearing. It was right at that moment that Anna and the others emerged from the foliage behind the two husky's. Brushing aside the leaves and palms, Anna glanced up and saw Balto had stopped, Anna paused as she looked back at her Uncle and the others. North glanced back at the other, holding out his hand in a gesture to stop. Anna then turned back to Balto.
Balto paused for a moment, sniffed several leaves that grew atop the jungle floor. He hen raised his head, peering ahead through the jungle.
"What is it, boy?" Anna asked, curiously.
Jenna stepped up next to Anna.
"Balto?" She asked.
Balto sniffed the air as he tried to get a grasp on the scent. It was then that he caught it's whiffs coming from off to it's left. He then then turned and gazed back at at her.
"This way." he said in what was a bark to Anna and the others.
He then turned and scurried off into the foliage. Jenna followed suit in anticipation.
"Looks like he's got something!" Mund insisted to them.
"Follow him!" Anna proclaimed as she ran after him.
Balto scurried through the jungle, Jack's scent the only thing to guide him on his way. Brushing through the leaves and palms, the hybrid husky came out to what was the edge of a ravine. The hybrid wolf then rose his heads as he peered down at the rushing stream below. He sniffed the ledge, where he caught whiff of his and Elsa's scent.
He then raised his head as he peered down at the rushing stream below.
"Oh, no." he said.
"Balto?!" Jenna said as she came out of the jungle behind him.
It was there she noticed him standing at the edge of the ravine. Suddenly the anticipation she once had been replaced with nervousness. She came over to the edge of the ravine, where she saw the raging waters below. She then glanced up to Balto.
"Did they...?" she asked.
Balto looked to her. He was hesitant to say, even though it was evident that it was so. Their scent ended here, at the very edge of this Ravine. He remembered one of the mercenaries say that they lost them at the ravine. They had to have jumped into the rushing stream below.
Anna, North and the others had caught up to them. It was there they found the two husky's peering at the ravine below. Balto glanced back at them, only to be met with Anna's expression of shock.
"Oh, no!" she exclaimed as she and North rushed over to Balto's side.
They came over to the edge of the ravine, where she gazed down to the rushing stream below. Anna frowned as she cupped her hands nervously, fearing something may have happened to them. North came up to his niece, placing his large hands atop her slender shoulders.
"Try not to worry," he said to his niece.
"I'm sure that he's alright."
Anna narrowed her head, hoping that her uncle was right. Mund gazed down over the ground, where he saw several foot prints. The tracker kneeled down, examining the foot prints. Most of them seemed to resemble that of military footwear. It had to be the mercenaries. There was another which faced the opposite direction. Along with a set of bear foot prints which looked to be that of a woman's.
The same as the ones they had came across the other day.
Kristoff and Tadashi came up behind the tracker.
"What is it?" Kristoff asked, curiously
"Looks like they were cornered." Mund insisted to them.
North and Anna glanced back to him.
"Cornered?" North said.
North and Anna glanced up to one another. Mung then looked up at the other tracks, where they looked to be leading toward the ravine's edge. Mund stood up and walked over to where Balto and Jenna were standing. He came up next to the two huskies, where he kneeled down to the tracks. Jacks looked to have stepped over the edge. They must have fallen into the ravine below.
Oh, Christ, he thought. He knew this river. It was infested with crocodiles. Some of them were nesting along the banks up river. If the two had fallen in, they would be heading right for them.
"I think we might have a problem." he then said, glancing back at them.
"Like we don't have enough to deal with." Kristoff commented.
"What is it, Mund?" Tooth asked, curiously.
"Looks like they fell into the ravine." Mund proclaimed to them.
"So their headed down stream." Tadashi claimed, pointing in the direction
"Yeah," Mund answered.
"And right toward several crocodile nests. And from the looks of the tracks, they might have already."
Ingrid cocked her head, glancing to the side, worryingly. As relieving as it was that they had escaped the mercenaries, she knew this river and where it leads. The crocodiles were of little concern for her. Having to have watched her grown up in the wild, she had seen her adapt to all the jungle's dangers. She could only hope that she was able to escape the crocodiles.
"So then we head down stream!" Anna proclaimed to them.
"That'll take too long," Kristoff claimed to her.
"We don't even know if..."
Kristoff then paused, hesitant to say it. Even though he knew it was the likely of outcomes to have occurred. As much as he hated to admit it. Though Anna and the everyone else could tell what he was going to say.
"Know if what?" Anna asked.
Kristoff thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"We don't know how far down stream they are," Kristoff insisted to them.
"And Hans and his Mercenaries could be close. We can't just go tromping through the jungle, hoping we find them."
"What other option is there?" Anna argued.
"We need to find another trail," Kristoff claimed to her.
"Foot prints or even a scent for Balto to follow. If we go blindly searching, we could get lost or worse."
Tadashi nodded his head in agreement.
"Kristoff's right," He insisted.
"We need to think this through."
"What's there to think?!" Anna exclaimed to them.
"Jack could be in danger. We have to find them!"
Tooth came in between the three.
"That's enough!" She said.
"We're not going to find them arguing like this."
North walked up to them.
"Tooth is right," North claimed to them.
"No time to argue. We need to keep going."
"How?" Kristoff asked.
"Right now, the river is the only lead we have," Mund insisted to them.
"We head down steam, see if we can't find a trail."
Mund then turned and glanced back at the river.
"Lets hope they made it out." He said.
There was tension as the pride returned to the den. The threat of man still lingered within many of their minds, as well as the danger that Elsa was now in. Not mention the presence of the human male with the white mane. The fears that many of them had regarding Elsa's feelings, now laid bear before them.
The lionesses were all laying over the ledges along the path to the den. Some of them talking to one another regarding the meeting, while others were grooming their cubs. When it was then that they saw Elsa emerge from the jungle with Jack. Elsa turned and gazed up at the lionesses, who were staring down at them, wearingly. The wild woman frowned, seeing their expressions of fear and anger.
Mainly toward Jack, who was staring up at them, nervously.
"Elsa?" He said, glancing down to her.
Elsa hardly noticed. She only continued to gaze up at the pride in contempt. She could only imagine what many of them were saying about her.
It was then that Nala and Diata emerged from behind them. The two paused for a moment, seeing the other lionesses staring down at them. Nala glanced up to Elsa before nudging her side. Elsa glanced down to her sister and saw her gesture her head to follow. Nala and Diata the turned and made their way toward the pathway. Elsa turned to Jack before tugging on his arm, pulling him along.
Elsa then followed her mother and sister up the path, pulling Jack along with them. They came up to the ledge, where Zuri was laying along with Kovu and Kion. The two cubs played at their mother's side, pawing, biting and rolling over each other. When it was then the sight of Nala and Diata coming up the path caught the brother's eyes.
Zuri glanced up and saw Nala and Diata coming up toward her. When she then saw Elsa coming up over the path along with Jack. Zuri stood up at the sight of the human male, as she came in between her two cubs. She growled at him.
Jack took a step back from her. The few years he had taken for zoology, he recognized she was acting protective of her cubs. And that it wasn't wise to come between that of a mother and her cub.
"Easy, girl," Jack said, putting up his hands.
"I'm not going to do anything."
Elsa came in between Jack and Zuri, turning to the auburn lioness.
"Zuri," The wild woman reassured her.
"It's okay. Jack won't hurt Kion or Kovu."
Even with the trust she had for Elsa, she continued to stare wearingly to the young male. Her two sons were hunkered down beneath her, staring up at her. Jack only continued to heed the warnings of the lioness, not daring to come near her or her cubs.
Nala and Diata came up to Zuri, who glanced to them. The two lionesses gave a reassuring look to her, as if to say they would ensure that her cubs will not be harmed. Zuri gave another suspicious glance to Jack, hesitant to say the least. Slowly she turned back to her two cubs, where she laid down next to them.
Jack uttered a sigh of relief. He then glanced back at the other lionesses, who were laying over the nearby ledge. Many of them staring back at him, sternly.
"Your family seems nice." Jack commented, glancing back to her.
Only to see her staring forward toward the auburn lioness and her cubs. Elsa gazed sullenly down at the two brothers, who were glancing up at her. Seeing the two brothers staring up at her so nervously, the wild woman frowned as she felt guilty for snapping at them before. She didn't mean it.
Elsa slowly came up to the two brothers, slowly kneeling down to them.
"Kovu," she said, lightly.
"Kion."
The two brothers only continued to stare back at her, both of them unsure. Elsa slowly held out her hand to them, causing the two to take a step back.
"It's okay," she insisted to them.
"I'm not mad anymore."
Kion glanced down at her hand and back up at her. Slowly. he took a step forward toward her. Elsa smiled at the cub, nodding her head to him.
"Yes," she encouraged him.
"Kion, it's okay now."
It was then Kion smiled as he lunged forward. He leaped into her lap, where he stood up and nuzzled her. Elsa smiled as she wrapped her arms around the cub, holding him close. Tears seeping from her eyes. All but relieved that he had forgiven her. She narrowing her head to him, nuzzling the cub back.
The hearts of both Nala and Zuri touched at the sight, smiling in awe at the two. As too was Diata's. Seeing her and Kion together, it was a sight the white lioness had longed to see again. Ever since Elsa had run away to the far eastern part of the jungle.
Elsa glanced up to Kovu, who was gazing back up at her. Still the brother seemed a bit unsure. But had some essence of confidence at seeing Kion come up to her. Elsa reached out her hand to him, gesturing for him to come.
"Kovu." she said, nodding her head to her.
Kovu could no longer hold himself back with his doubts. He scurried up to Elsa and leaped up to her. Elsa caught him in her arms and held her close.
"I missed you, little brother." she said, tearfully.
Kovu pressed his head against his chest, snuggling into her chest. Feeling the gentle touch of her soft hands against his auburn fur.
"I missed you, too." Kovu said, tearfully.
Elsa felt her heart flutter hearing him say that. The two then departed from each other, gazing to each other with the joy of seeing other again.
Standing behind them, Jack gazed down at them, smirking. Seeing her hugging those two cubs and them lick and nuzzle her back, he's be lying if he said he didn't find it so heartfelt. It was surprising seeing that their mother seemed so trusting of Elsa with her cubs. As two was the other lionesses. They must really consider her as one of their own.
Jack slowly stepped up and came up behind the wild woman. An action which did not go unnoticed by Zuri or Nala. The auburn lioness glanced up to him, uttering a faint growling. Causing him to pause and peer up at her. Jack slowly raised his hands as he slowly kneeled down next to Elsa.
"Do you...?" He asked, curiously
Elsa glanced back to him, smiling as she held Kovu in her arms. She turned back to he two brothers, who stood before her.
"I do," She insisted to her mate.
"They're my brothers."
"Your brothers?" Jack asked, glancing up to her.
Elsa nodded his head to her.
"That's Kion and this is Kovu." She said, holding up the auburn cub.
"Oh." Jack said, glancing down at the two cubs.
The two brothers glances up at Jack, curiously. Jack turned down to the two cubs.
"Hey, there." he said.
Kion slowly backed away, narrowing down as he stared wearingly to him. It was then he felt Elsa's hand over his back. He glanced up to her.
"It's okay." She insisted to him.
"Jack is a friend."
Kion glanced back at Jack, staring up at him, curiously. He narrowed his head, slowly creeping up toward him. Jack gland down at the cub, where he reached his hand down to the cub. Kion paused, leaning back from Jack's hands.
"Easy, little guy," He said to the cub.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
Seeing the human male reach out to her cub, Zuri leaned up her head as she glanced to her cub in concern.
"Come on." He encouraged him.
Kion leaned his head forward, sniffing the hand of the human male. Jack then slowly reached out and petted Kion head, messing his small reddish brown mane. Kion glanced up at Jack's hand, growling. He reach up his paw and swatted it, bringing it down in front of him. The cub then proceeded to bite down on his hand.
Jack chuckled down at Lion cub, who continued to bite down over his hand. Kion fell over onto his side, holding onto Jack's hand with his paws.
"Hey." Jack said, smiling playfully down at the cub.
Jack pulled the cub up to him, trying to take back his hand. It wasn't long before Kion released his hold Jack, allowing him to pull his hand back from his mouth. He the reached down placed his hand over Kion's stomach, rubbing the rub fur his stomach. Kion growled, playfully pawing at his arm.
Elsa smiled, chuckling seeing them playing together. She glanced down to Kovu who she was holding in her arms. It was then that the cub turned, seeing his brother playing with Jack. He then wormed his way out of her arms and scurried toward them.
He then leaped into Jack's lap, who then turned to the auburn cub. Kovu stood up over Jack, causing him to hunch over as the cub placed his paw over his head. Jack rolled over onto his stomach. Kion quickly leaped back as Jack came down.
He then rolled over onto his back as the two brothers came over him. Elsa turned to face them, staring in aww. Seeing Jack playing with her two brothers, it was a sight that brought so much joy to the heard of the wild woman.
Turning to her mother, she saw her, Nala and Zuri, staring both in awe and shock. Seeing the two brothers playing with Jack, who in turn petted them and held them as Elsa did. It was a shock to the lioness. As if everything they had been told about man, all the stories that have been told of them and the things they had done, all of it was misplaced.
Elsa then turned back to Jack, who had leaned up off the ground. He then glanced up to her, smiling. She came down over her hands, narrowing down into a pouncing form. She then utter a playful growl to the two brothers, who turned to her. The two cubs leaped off of Jack and scurried to Elsa.
Jack leaned off the ground as he glanced over to Elsa. They came up to Elsa, who reached out her hand and pawed at Kion. She then laid down in front of the cubs, bringing Kion into her arms. He reached up his paws, placing them over her face. She leaned her head down and nuzzled the cub, who purred at her touch.
It was right at that moment that she felt something lung over her back. She glanced up and saw Kovu laying over the top of her head. She smiled and gave a playful growl up at him.
Jack smirked, wishing that he had he had his camera. Seeing her playing with her two brothers. It made him think about his own family. Jamie. Riley... Anna.
It was then that Jack remembered the danger that his sister and his friends were in. He turned glanced up, gazing toward the jungle ahead. He wondered if they had caught on to what was really going on. What Hans and his hired mercenaries were really after. He felt so helpless being here, unable to do anything. He could only hope that they were safe.
Elsa then glanced up at Jack, who was staring out toward the jungle. She could tell that he was worried for his family. Of whatever danger may have befallen them by the man who sought them. Though she wondered what they could do. She had to follow Mufasa's word. Nor could she leave her family again.
But at the same time, she had to help Jack save his family from the danger that was to come.
Elsa narrowed her eyes, pondering over what to do.
Mufasa stared down over Elsa and Jack from the ledge above. Though he paid little mind of it, he was concerned with the matter that man was in the jungle. Even more so that they hunted for both Elsa and the young male. They were now faced with being in conflict with man. What would bring such danger to them and all the people of the jungle.
All without a solution of which he would find would be acceptable to solve this.
As the king continued to ponder over the matter, Simba came up next to his father. He then glanced down at them. He glanced down at Elsa, seeing the way she looked to this young male. There could be no mistaking the feelings she had for him. It was as Nala had said. She had mated with this younger male.
Simba frowned. He then shifted his glanced to Jack. The prince then gave a low growl at the sight of the young human male, bearing his fangs.
Mufasa glanced to his son.
"Simba?" he then said.
Simba ceased growling, staring sternly down over Jack. He then turned to his father.
"Father, we should give the human to his people," Simba proclaimed to his father.
"We should not get involved with the matters of man."
Mufasa simply turned forward. He stared over the jungle, contemplating what his son had advised him. He agreed that they should never interfere with the matters of man. Though he was not so in giving the male to those who hunted him. Regardless that he was human, he did not deserve to die at the hands of his own people.
"Even so, Simba," Mufasa said, glancing to him.
"Regardless if they are the matters of man, it would be wrong of us to allow him to die by his people."
"But is it worth endangering our people," Simba insisted to his father.
"Regardless if he is Elsa's mate, if it ensures the safety of our people and all the jungle, we have to take it."
Mufasa stared sternly to his son.
"It is all people that a king should protect," Mufasa remined his son.
"Regardless of who they are. He may be human, but he should also have a people to protect him. And since he is mated with Elsa, she is his people. An so are we."
Mufasa then turned and walked back toward the cave, leaving his son to think of what he had said. Simba narrowed his eyes, knowing that his father words were true. Though even so, his mistrust in the human male still remain. He cared not if he was Elsa's mate. He would ensure the safety of her, Nala and the rest of the pride.
