Chris and his family was intrigued at how barren the Outlands looked to them. Of course, there was some trees and vegetation scattered around the land, but it was far more barren than the Pride Lands.
Joel, Persephone, Tara, and Chris got an uneasy feeling, because these are not just an ordinary part of the Outlands. No, it is a place where Simba and Nala trespassed before when they were Kion's age.
Yes, it was the place where there were geysers erupted green steam every now and again unpredictability, and bones of many dead animals scattered around the place: the Elephant graveyard. It was just like yesterday that Simba and Nala were in this area with Zazu when they were being chased by Banzai, Shenzi, and Ed before Simba made peace with these three hyenas. It was a good thing that happened, otherwise, he and Nala would have been like how trouble they were when they were cubs when visiting this creepy landscape. Alas, peace was brought between this place and the Pride Lands.
Despite how the king and queen made peace with the three lead hyenas of this very land, it still gave them both the creeps just looking at the geysers and elephant bones that were still standing there since they were little cubs when trespassing, including the big elephant skull that they had first seen and wanted to check it out before Zazu stopped them both that very day. The wind was giving an eerie howl in these lands, and Joel was keeping his rifle extra close to him while gripping it tighter than ever.
He kept Chris close to him at all times to protect him from any kind of danger in this, harsh, unpredictable kind of environment. It was understandable though, for these geysers were scorching hot, almost as hot as lava, and last thing the male human was to get hurt out here.
"What is this place?" asked Tara
"The elephant graveyard." said Simba, not smiling. "I wanted to show you guys this place so you can be extra careful."
"Dad, you don't have to show them this place." Kiara said.
"I want to show them, Kiara." the king noted. "Like I said, i just want them to be more careful."
Suddenly, one of the large geysers erupted hot green steam, startling everyone like there was an explosion. "it's ok everyone." said Kovu. "It was just a geyser. They go off unexpectedly all the time."
"I hate it when they do that." Nala said, looking very irritated.
"It's only been a long time since we've been here, Nala." Simba said.
"True, but I still remember this place so well, from when those hyenas attacked us, to when your dad came and saved us from them."
"I know." Simba sighed. "This place is part of the Outlands." he said to the humans. "Way beyond the boundaries of the safety of the Pride Lands."
"Do any animals live here?" asked Persephone.
"A couple." said the king. "But many of them you do not want to cross paths with. many hyenas included. But there are good hyenas out here too. You just need to look for them."
"Take it from me." said Jasiri. "I've lived in the Outlands all my life. I've never lived in the Elephant graveyard admittedly, but I have been here many times."
"I wish I can believe you on there, Jasiri." said Timon. "But our history with hyenas have been bad ones. You don't know what it's like being a small meerkat like me."
"Or a fat warthog with low self-esteem that has a body that is just crying to be mauled by predators." Pumbaa added. "You carnivores have the easy life."
"Ok," said Jasiri. "Fair enough, you're right. I'm not a meerkat or a warthog."
"And carnivores have problems too." said Kion. "Not all our hunts are successful. There's also droughts, and natural disasters that can happen."
"Point well-taken." said Timon.
"and come on." said Simba. "You guys live the good life. I was there with you, remember?"
"Another good point." said Pumbaa
"But in reality." said Nala, "There are many hyenas like Jasiri, that follow the circle of life."
"but we'll show you guys around." the king addressed the human visitors. Cautiously and slowly, the group formed together and made sure they didn't step on something hot to burn their skin. The human family was uneasy at being in a place like this one, but they stood close to the King since he and the other lions can make the most out of any situation.
Chris, walking alongside Kion, asked him: "have you been here before, Kion?"
"Only once. I was sent with my friends to stop a marabou stork problem thag was terrorizing some animals in the Pride Lands. But it was a long time ago. this is the second time I've been here, Chris. I never even plan to come here on my own."
"That, and we told you to never set foot out here on your own, Kion." Nala pointed. "but you're a little older now, despite still being a cub and you are more careful."
"Thanks mom."
"If you think this is bad, just wait until you see my old home when Simba banished me and my former pride when there were mostly just termite mounds and little water to drink for survival." Zira pointed.
"We discussed this, mother." Kovu said. "Remember what Mufasa showef you about what happened if Scar won against Simba."
"I know. It was a really foolish thing of me to think of that double-crosser." the skinny female lion growled at herself for liking and idolized Scar in the first place.
"You want to know something?" said Joel. "All that you've been through Simba, and you Kovu, it reminded me of two stories I've read that sound so similar to your guys' true stories."
"What's that?" asked Vitani.
"The stories: Hamlet and Romeo and Juliette, both by a renowned writer named William Shakespeare."
"Never heard of him before." said Chikelu. "who is he?"
"It would be complicated for you guys to understand." said Tara. "But there's stories are tragic and don't really have happy endings."
"They are really depressing." Persephone remarked. "Trust me, it is dark."
"Ooh, care to tell me about it? I love a little violence in frilly stories." said Vitani, looking a little eager for some drama.
"Vitani!" Kovu reprimanded her.
