Cry Wolf
Chapter 3
Simba jumped to the side in shock, not knowing what the loud bang meant. But he didn't move fast enough, although the bullet missed his face it struck him in his broad shoulder, close to his exposed neck. He let out a pain filled roar, falling to the floor as the searing pain over took all of his senses. The humans then took aim at the others. "Get out of here!" Simba wheezed.
"We can't leave you!" Kovu shouted in panic.
"You can and you will. Go Kovu, you have to. If you stay we'll all be killed. Go, look after my mother, Nala and Kiara. I'll hold them off."
"Simba, no." Kovu shook his head, but Simba was already struggling to his quivering feet.
"We must go." Li said, looking round all of the hunters with fright.
"I can't leave you hear." Whispered Kovu, ignoring the wolf and keeping his focus on his King and father-in-law.
Simba was now up on shaky legs, loosing blood fast. He faced the oncoming humans ahead of him and growled menacingly. He used what little strength he had left and leapt at them, scattering them and making a clear path for the others to escape. "GO!"
"Come Kovu, there is nothing we can do now for Simba." Rican told the lion sadly, "Simba is giving us a chance to escape, take it." With that he and Li made a run for it, getting past the humans trying to control Simba and along the long road back to the Pridelands.
Kovu stayed were he was, looking at Simba with guilt and sadness. "I'll help you."
"NO, go now Kovu, look after Kiara."
Kovu still wouldn't move so Simba clawed out at him, forcing him to back off in the direction of the escape, before quickly turning his attention back to the hunters. Tears in his eyes, Kovu took one last look at the Lion he respected above all, who he conceded a father to him, then turned and fled.
He got to the end of the road were he meet up with Rican and Li, who was waiting for him, when they all herd a sickening sound. From the distance Simba's loud, menacing roar sounded, a second later the bang of a gun shot which echoed along the road, then silents.
The three animals stood rooted to the spot, ears perched up high, listening for any sounds of life, but all that was heard was the humans, no lion. "H-he's…gone." Kovu whispered in shock. He didn't believe it, how could he. Simba wasn't supposed to die. Not like this, not so sudden, not now.
Li looked to Kovu with tenderness. "Come, we must return to the Pridelands." She spoke softly, feeling Kovu's pain and grief in her own heart, form those she lost to the humans.
The journey back was in silent's, for all of them time seemed to just fly passed, each lost in their own thoughts.
All too soon Pride Rock was in view, were they'd have to give the fateful news of the Kings passing. But it had to be done. It had turned dark half-an-hour ago or so, so the Pride was in the den along with the wolf pack, but when the three entered, Kiara, Nala, and Sarabi were up and got to the feet. "Kovu!" Kiara shouted in excitement, she ran over to him and rubbed her head under his chin, purring. When Kovu didn't hung her back she turned to look into his eyes, gut he wouldn't look at her. "Kovu, what is it, what's wrong?"
Kovu bowed his head, still not looking at Kiara, Rican and Li gave Kovu a last sympathetic look before leaving to join their pack, knowing that this was for just the family to hear. "Kovu, were is Simba?" Nala asked, looking over the young male's shoulder to the entrance of the den of Simba.
Kovu finely lifted his gaze to the three lionesses, Simba's mother, wife and daughter, how he wished that he didn't have to deliver such devastating news. "We…we were attacked while their."
"Oh my God, are you OK." Kiara asked Kovu in worry.
"I'm fine, but they surrounded us, I tried to help, I did, but he wouldn't let me, God I wish he did. We got away, but…I'm sorry." Tears were now falling freely down Kovu's face. "Simba, he-he's dead."
Kovu quickly turned and fled, running hard and fast, leaving the three stunned lionesses behind to their grief.