Chapter 2: Jabari
For those who wonder, Jabari is my OC for this story, and his name is Swahili for courageous. I don't know why I picked that name honestly.
Vitani once again lay in the den, but something just kept her awake. She was thinking about what all had happened in the hour that she had been awake. She was still tired, and only woke up in the first place when she realized she was in heat. Now she tried to get back to sleep, but couldn't.
'Surely I'm just thinking to hard about all of this.' Vitani thought to herself. Soon, however, she smelled something. The only thing familiar about it was that it was a lion. She ran outside and saw a strangely colored lion. Regardless, she thought he was handsome. He had light brown fur, creamy belly, cerulean eyes, and a crimson mane and tail tip. Also, his mane curled out in front into a tuft of fur that kinda dangled in his face. He saw her and spoke.
"Good morning! I have come from the mountains as a messenger! Are you in charge around here?" He asked. Vitani stayed serious, though she found it very hard. She spoke back to him.
"Sorry, my brother and sister-in-law, King Kovu and Queen Kiara, have yet to wake. You'll have to wait at least another hour to speak to them." She said. The lion heard that and squinted his eyes, trying to get a better view of Vitani, who said,
"You might have more luck if you come a bit closer." The lion laughed, and walked up to her, stopping about 2 feet in front of her. He looked at her for a little while longer, then asked in shock,
"Vitani? Is that you?" Vitani then asked,
"How do you know me?" The lion then introduced himself as Jabari. Vitani still didn't recognize him. Jabari felt stupid then,
"Oh, how could I have forgotten. When I met you as a cub, you were a newborn. I always wondered what you would look like full grown. So, living a good life?" He asked. Vitani nodded. Jabari then said,
"Well, I'd best wait until your parents wake up." Then he walked down into the savanna. Vitani followed, and asked,
"Why did you wonder how I would look like as an adult?" Jabari then replied,
"Well, you were cute as a newborn, and I wondered if that was only because you were a newborn. I had hoped not, and now I see that I was correct." Vitani was shocked. She didn't know how to reply. 'Is he complementing me for the sake of complements, or is he going somewhere with this?' She thought to herself. Jabari then said,
"Yeah, I'm going somewhere with this." Vitani was shocked again.
"Did I say that outloud?" She asked. Jabari shook his head to mean no, and Vitani was confused.
"I can read thoughts as they pass through someone's mind." Jabari said. Vitani understood, but was more amazed than ever. She soon got her wits about her and asked,
"So where are you going with this?" Jabari then said,
"I think you already know." Vitani shook her head to mean no. Jabari frowned because Vitani didn't understand, but he decided to explain, even though he wa disappointed that she couldn't figure it out.
"Vitani, aside from being a messenger, I have searched for you for years. I had almost given up hope of ever finding you." Jabari said. Vitani was speechless, but finally found words.
"Y-you were looking...for me?" She said nervously. Jabari then said,
"Well, do you know any other Vitanis?" Vitani shook her head no, then Jabari said, "You and only you." Vitani backed up. She didn't fully trust him. It was too much of a coincedence. Vitani then asked,
"Did you truly just get here?" Jabari nodded and gave a warm smile that showed sincerity. He then asked,
"Why do you ask?" Vitani responded by saying,
"I just thought it was too much of a coincedence." Jabari couldn't help but wonder why. He soon found out. Vitani said,
"Oh great, not again. I guess part of it was stubborn." Jabari wondered what she was talking about. He soon saw though, that Vitani was in heat.
"Oh, now I get it." He said then chuckled at the thought Vitani had had about him. "You thought I was stalking you waiting for this, didn't you?" Vitani hesitated, but finally nodded. Jabari then asked,
"Why would I do that?" Vitani then said,
"To impregnate me." Jabari laughed.
"I'm not a nomad. I have a home. I wouldn't search for a single lioness if I were simply looking to impregnate them. I'm not that desperate to be a father, come on!" Vitani let out a sigh of relief, realizing that this male had come all this way searching for her, to actually be a mate, and a father with her as the mother. She heard yawning, and ran up to the den to see Kovu yawning to wake up again. Kiara and her parents were waking up as well. Kovu said,
"Good morning again Vitani." Vitani apologized for her outburst earlier, which Simba questioned afterward. Vitani explained what had happened. Then brought up Jabari.
"There's a lion outside named Jabari. He and I were childhood friends, even before Kovu came along, and now he's come from his home in the mountains and searched everywhere in Kenya for me. He wants me." Kovu didn't understand, but Kiara was able to explain it.
"This 'Jabari' fellow apparently wants to be Vitani's mate." Kovu understood then, and said,
"Go for it." Vitani was confused.
"I thought you were going to demand to meet him before allowing such things." She said. Kovu shook his head to mean no, then said,
"Unless you want me to." Vitani said she didn't care, and ran out of the den to talk to Jabari again.
