Rafiki and Zazu were looking at the ongoing birds trying to replace the old hornbill as the new majordomo. It still satisfied Zazu a little bit to let him see that there will never be another like him.
"I hope you are not being contemptible towards those fellow birds." Rafiki pointed.
"No, of course not." Zazu retorted. "Yet again, a falcon, or an eagle would be far more powerful than I am. They are called birds of prey for a good reason."
"Indeed. Carnivorous birds at heart." the old mandrill remarked. "But in my opinion, it's not about just strength or power, it's about dedication and taking full responsibility like you do."
"Perhaps." Zazu admitted. "But i don't know if they will take responsibility as muc as i did when i served the king and his father."
"Like i have mentioned, Zazu." Rafiki pointed. "Just try to ease your mind every once in a while, and enjoy the bliss and happiness of life. You live it while you can."
"You are older than me." the hornbill looked down, and looked to the other side. "So you are more wise and experienced than i am."
"Yes. I have been around for a looooong time. Long before Simba was even born."
"I know, i know. At least we can always count on Kion and the Lion Guard."
"Yes. Kion is a wonderful boy and quite the strong-hearted lion. One can say he's 'lion-hearted'! Hehehehehe! get it? Because he is literally a lion?"
"Oh you are too much." Zazu nodded his head. "But i can still never forgot how terrifying i was while brainwashed under Inuwa."
"Come now, Zazu. You just have to let all of that go. Besides, it wasn't your fault. Inuwa was far more powerful than you are."
"So anyway, have you met the human visitors, Rafiki?" asked Zazu. "One of them named: Chris, just became one of Kion's new closest friends. They have only met for a day or two, and it's like they have a... special connection."
"Well, that is something." Rafiki sounded interested. "Good friends can come from in and out of the Pride Lands." he got off the rock. "Hence, another reason why I travel far from the tree i call my humble home." he grabbed hold of his signature staff, "So I can meet these curious outsiders."
"They are a delight." Zazu said. "As a matter of fact, the biggest human killed Ramses the deranged lion with some powerful, exploding tube."
"Very peculiar indeed." Rafiki had a thinking look on his face. "Well Zazu, don't despair, just enjoy your retirement and enjoy the life of freedom from being a majordomo."
"I will try."
The baboon then went off to meet the human family not that far from here.
Kion and his friends were having a little friendly conversation with Maurice and Zoe, the striped polecat lovers. "So Chris and his family are really nice. You might like them."
"Well, anyone who is a friend of you guys," said Maurice, "Is a friend of ours."
"Oui, Are you sure we can trust zem?" asked Zoe
"Absolutely." said Fuli. "All you have to do is: mention our names and you'll be fine."
"Got it." said Maurice.
"So how have you guys been?" asked Bunga
"We've been having our... ups and downs." Zoe admitted. "But it's nothing to worry about."
"Oui, every couple has their moments. I bet even Mufasa and Sarabi themselves had some arguments when they were alive."
"True." said Beshte. "I've seen a big fight between my parents."
"What was it about?" asked Ono.
"Taking turns running my pod."
"At least they didn't physically fight." said Bunga.
"Well, it's probably none of our business if something happens or if something rocky comes to you guys." Kion admitted.
"No matter how rocky or tense if might be," said Maurice, "Me and my lovely zorilla with black and white can always try to work tings out."
Meanwhile, Rafiki found the settlement and saw the small bonfire that was not lit, but the wood was burnt to the core The tents were up and Chris was gathering some more firewood to light it for tonight.
"So dad, what's your favorite part of being here?" said Chris' voice.
"There are so many things, champ." said Joel. "The Rwenzori mountains were amazing, so many interesting animals out here to meet. I mean... i can't believe we didn't even think about coming here years ago."
"I know!" said Persephone. "This is just simply devine. Good thing we brought our winter coats for the snowy mountains."
"We could have froze to death if we went up there like this." said Tara. "But this is fun, our new friends are fun and interesting, seieng a fight between a family of gorillas and a family of chimpanzees for control over territory was a little... unexpected."
"It caught us all be surprise." said Joel. "But we got to try the amazing springs up in the mountains."
"I wish my friends back home were here to see this." said Cody as he was down with collecting the firewood.
"So, you're the ones I heard about." said Rafiki, walking up to them nonchalantly. "Forgive me in case i startled you, but i am Rafiki."
"Rafiki?" asked Persephone. "I think Kion and the others mentioned you to us before."
"Well they must have told you right about me." Rafiki pointed. "You see, I have been friends with Kion, his father, and his father, and father before him."
"Wow. How old are you?" Chris sounded amazed.
"Chris!" Tara scolded him.
"No, no, it is quite alright. I am one hundred years old, my curious boy." Rafiki couldn't help but check him out by putting his hands on his cheeks, and his head. "You are a very interesting kind of animal."
He then looked at Cody's hand and compared it to his own hands.
"Ah! Are we related? Your hands
"Well, we're more related to apes. Gorillas, chimps, you name it." Joel revealed. He was cleaning his rifle with a wet rag and put the bullets next to him for safekeeping.
"So you are Chris, am I not correct?"
"Yep. I'm Chris."
"Tara,"
"Persephone"
"And I'm Joel. it's a pleasure to meet you, Rafiki"
"I can say the same. What exactly are you? I am very very curious."
"Well, we come from a far away land." said Chris.
"Very far." said Tara.
The humans began telling Rafiki more about humans and the lives they live in compared to animals. The more Rafiki heard about this, the more intrigued he was.
