The next day, Kion was drinking some water from the nearest waterhole in the Pride Lands. Simba and Nala were with him on this morning and the cub was done getting the water he needed for the day. "So, Kion," said Simba. "We have got word that you have met the Night Pride of Lions in the Back Lands. Am I correct?"
Kion nodded his head before saying: "Yep. They rule over the Back Lands. King Jinjin and Queen Maya are a little interesting."
"Are they similar to us, honey?" asked Nala curiously
"You could say that, mom. They care about their home and their subjects like you guys do with ours." And then he wiped his face from any drips of water near his lips.
Simba himself sounded rather intrigued by this peculiar pride that lives and rules over the Back Lands, and he even looked over to where those lands were from where he and his family were. "I would really like to meet him sometime." he admitted. "And, Zazu tells us that there have been no attacks from Makucha or Harif lately
"I know. I can't believe it. Usually, they would really love to cause trouble, same with Mpishi, and she is one of our usual problems when we are out on patrol." Kion admitted. "What if something is... not right?"
"Maybe they have given up trying to cause trouble in the Pride Lands." Nala thought.
Kion was a little deep in his thoughts about why those animals that his father mentioned didn't come here. The reason to him was clearly unknown, and sure; it was good that they have not com to the Pride Lands for an attack or to look for a meal that would go against the circle of life, but, deep down, something was wrong.
"Yeah, but, what if it's something else?" Kion speculated.
"Well, I am certain that there is nothing you can't handle out there son." Simba remarked with his fatherly smile. "Besides, there is still Janja and Reirei that can attack the Pride Lands from time to time."
The cub made a small chuckle. "Yeah. You're right, dad. Those guys are really easy to fight. Makucha and Mpishi sound way more formidable than Janja and Reirei. And, Ramses was quite a tough fight on me yesterday."
"Who's Ramses?" Asked Nala.
"The tyrannical former leader of the Night Pride." Kion answered flatly. "He was unstable and tough. Ramses is like Scar times ten. Jinjin came and save us and banished him to the Outlands."
"Well, good thing he is not in the Back Lands anymore. Do you think Ramses will come back?"
"I have no doubt he will, dad. He said that he will kill me and my friends if we ever cross paths again, and take revenge on Jinjin of course. And... and..."
"What is it, Kion?" Asked Nala
"He was really tough and I'm worried that he will completely obliterate us when we face him again. Even if I have the Roar of the Elders, Ramses might make a more determined attempt to try and kill me."
"Don't worry. You still have your friends and you know that if you do feel overwhelmed, never be afraid to ask us for help, and will answer your call." Simba reassured. "We do have friends on the inside if you know what I mean," he winked with his right eye. "We have Zazu and hyrax to give us news if they see you in grave trouble."
"Oh, thanks dad." Kion gratefully noted. "But, it's kind of every lion for himself out here in the Pride Lands."
"Yes, but we're family, and we always look out for one another." Nala stated. "And there is nothing wrong with asking for extra help if needed."
"I know, mom." The cub let out a small yawn. "Well, I'm gonna go get my friends and patrol again."
"Alright, Kion. Just be careful out there as usual."
"I will dad." The cub rushed through the savanna to find his closest friends and when he gathered them all, they began their usual patrol. In the beginning, it was so far so good for the kids, and all of a sudden, a cry for help was heard in a distance.
"Heeeeelllp!" It shouted. This voice sounded like a male tone of voice. Kion and his cohorts instantly went over to where the sound of the voice came from, and they heard: "Heeeelp!" Again, it was louder than before, meaning that they were all getting closer and they hoped that whoever was in deep trouble, they would be able to save him from whatever was causing him great panic and distress.
Every once in a while, the sound of someone shouting: "Help!" Was getting louder and they all had to be close. "Ono!" Kion said to the bird. "Go see who is shouting for help."
"You got it, Kion." The cattle egret flew in the skies and used his very keen eyesight to look at the valley below him for any animal in need of helping. Ultimately, he found a side-stripped jackal in a river, gripping a boulder with both arms and the water looked like rapids, moving and flowing in a chaotic flow. "Oh no. Cony!" He reconizeg that dot veloe him. "Don't worry, Cony! We're coming!"
He flew back fo his friends and told him what was happening right now. "Cony's in the rapids?" Said Fuli.
"Hevi Kabisa!" Kion exclaimed. "We need to help him. Until the Pride Lands end,"
"Lion Guard will defend!" His cohorts finished. They all went to where Cony was in trouble at. "Kion! Help me!" The side-striped jackal shouted in desperation.
"Hang on, Cony!" Said fuli. "Beshte, can't you just swim over and get him back on land?"
"I would if I was as big as my dad, but, for my size; it's too risky."
"Then, how do we help him?" Asked Bunga.
Kion looked around and saw a gigantic log larger than Beshte and as long as ten feet. "I got it! Beshte, do you think you can move that log over here? If we can get it over to Cony, he can walk across it back here."
"Good thinking. I'll try and haul it over here." The hippo ran as fast as he could, and moved the gigantic log while grunting. There was a large rock spire that was close to the land, and Beshtr made it as an obstacle to keep this log from floating away through the rapids.
It was certainly a good thing that this log was very long, otherwise, it would not end well.
"Okay, Cony, grab on to that log and walk on it all the way through here!" Beshte instructed the jackal.
"I'll try. Just like that, Cony climbed and stood on the ro I very carefully without having to slip and fall in the moving waters. He readied himself, and jumped on the log. "Okay I'm coming over there!" He was slowly moving on the gigantic bark towards where the Lion Guard was standing at, and he tried not to look down.
"You can do it, Cony!" Kion shouted with encouragement. "I know you can!"
This kind of situation was quite stressful for poor Cony, but, he was doing very good on getting back on land. "I'm almost there!"
When he was only about one foot away, he stopped and made a jump. The kids cheered and the log suddenly collapsed and flowed down the river radically off-course. "Are you okay?" Asked Fuli
"Yeah, thanks to you guys." Said Cony gratefully "thank you guys so much. I would have drowned if not for you."
"You're welcome, Cony." Kion replied gratefully. "We're glad to have saved you. But, what happened?"
"I was pushed off by Harif. You see, I was looking for some hyrax to eat, when Harif jumped out and we fought. Boy, that honey badger was tough and I was about to bite his neck and suffocate him, but then, some third threw me in the river, and I was flowing two-handed feet from where I am now. That's when I clung to that rock and you guys found me and here we are."
"What bird?" Asked Bunga.
"That would be me." Said a female voice. They looked, and it was Mpishi herself. However, she was not alone. Harif was in front of her, then there was Tuma, Makucha, and Draak.
The kids looked surprised by what they were looking at. These old foes working together? This could sound like trouble.
