Kion and the Guard continued their search. The small team of animals had been patrolling all day, through downpours and heatwaves, the Guard had searched constantly for the Uasian king.
Most of the guard remained focused, fighting their tiredness as they strolled. In the distance, the crackling, brewing rumbling of a storm brewed.
"Looks like it's gonna rain soon." Kion stared out to the horizon, turning to the guard as the flicker of lightning illuminated the sun dewed horizon. As he turned back to face the guard, the fast flicker of yellow fur rushed past him, a gleam of two emerald orbs shot beside him, staring out, followed by a rather annoyed, agitated sigh.
"Urrgh, really!" Fuli trotted up beside her fierce leader, her eyes scanning the horizon rather worryingly. She continued to stroll, trotting slowly up to a gathering of nearby caves. The rest of the guard followed as Kion caught up with his second in command.
"Well, yeah Fuli." His auburn eyes focussed ahead as they walked. Giving off a silent sigh, the young adolescent lion continued. "We have to find Kopa before the funeral starts." Just as Kion finished his sentence, a sudden sigh erupted from a member of the guard. Turning around, the young lion noticed his honey badger friend, Bunga, slowly following the rest of the guard. His posture had sunk, practically dragging across the ground. A blue, depressing look adorning his face.
"What's wrong Little B?" The large, bulky hippo beside the depressed honey badger. His optimistic, friendly tone barely piercing Bunga's thick furred body, let alone his sorrow-soaked soul. Kion turned back to his friend, a flash of concern spreading across its surface as he saw his friend's furry face rise slightly.
"It's nothing..." The honey badger sighed, slowly continuing to stroll forward, only halted by a quick-thinking, concerned stride from Beshte. The rest of the guard turned too, halting rapidly as Kion approached his down, troubled friend. Stroking his quickly wetting cheek, Bunga looked up at his friends. "It's just... I'm gonna miss him..."
A wash of silence fell among the group. The air became thick with sorrow, clouding out the sky with its darkening, gloomily hue. But from this silence, Kion slowly approached closer, placing his paw on Bunga's shuddering shoulder, feeling the soft, slight shivers within the emotionally troubled Honey Badger's mark.
"It's gonna be okay, Bunga..." Kion spoke rather calmly and clearly, softly nuzzling up to this emotionally shaken, distressed friend. Even Fuli couldn't help but sit, watching as the leader of the lion guard tried to calm his friend. "We'll head back for the funeral soon..." Without delay, Bunga clenched into Kion's warm, comforting fur, crying into the sat lion's chest, his body vibrating with heart-wrenching grief.
After a few moments, Bunga raised his head. He stared up at Kion, who softly returned a warm, concerned gaze to his friend. "Th...Thank you, Kion..." The honey badger wiped his teary eyes, making sure not to poke them out with his sharp, flesh-piercing claws.
Seeing their friend calm, the guard arose back to their paws and feet. Kion took the lead once more, leading them further into the rocky opening nearby. Fuli trotted closely by his side, sniffing at the ground, hoping to pick up the familiar scent of the Uasian king.
Before they knew it, a blinding light sparked before them. Shimmering and refracting light, an anomaly bloomed, spitting out a familiar lion. He landed on his paws, catching his breath before the lion guard.
"Kopa?" The lion guard leader stood mere inches from the Uasian king. As soon as he spoke Kopa's face shot up, staring up at the adolescent lion before him. His thick mane swayed in the breeze.
"Kion." The Uasian king gave a single affirming nod towards the lion guard leader, before spreading his attention among its huddled members. "Lion guard."
"Karimu sent us to find you." Kion sat before the majestic presence of the Uasian king. His eyes slowly sloped downwards, looking away from Kopa's inquisitive, wisdom-suckling eyes.
"Yeah." As Kion sat, Fuli approached the two conversing lions, sitting beside her leader. "Karimu's been worried about you." The cheetah's ears remained erect, like two small furry antennas twitching in the shallow breeze. She watched as Kopa's ears arose as well at the sound of his mate's name.
"Karimu?" His eyes widened, his voice trembling as his mind focused on his love. He closed his eyes for a split second, letting the sensation of her heartbeat pulse in time with his. He could sense every inch of her presence. The sadness, the regret, the slight glimmer of hope that only barely remained in her heart.
"She's..." A rather shallow, sombre toned voice slowly rumbled as Bunga stepped forward, rubbing his right claw along his left arm nervously. "She's preparing... For Kwaheri's f..." His shrunk, blue eyes looked up at the Uasian king, watching as a heavy, heartfelt sigh escaped his muzzle. The rest of the guard watched on as Kopa arose from his regal sitting stance.
"Of course." The ex-Royal Mlinzi raised his head, looking up to the light gleaming from the cave's entrance. The shallow glimmer of moonlight glistened from behind the gathered guard, illuminating the royal mark woven into Kopa's forehead. He felt the slight shimmers, the microscopic reverberations in the air. The winds were changing once more. He knew he couldn't just stay here, at least deep down. With one more heartfelt sigh, he began to walk forward, causing the guard to move out of the way.
"Kopa?" Kion froze rather shocked as Kopa walked past him. The Uasian king turned, halting as soon as he heard the younger lion. A mere second of silence slithered among the two as a breeze brewed outside, the crackling eruption of lightning bolted across the skies as a flash illuminated Kopa's magnificent, messy mane.
"Come..." The Uasian king turned back to the entrance, his eyes focussed as a downpour of rain ruptured from the now cloudy, darkened sky. The very last glimpse of sunlight slipped under the horizon, welcoming the cold, damp, darkening hue of night. "I need to talk to Karimu." The Uasian king took the lead, leaving the cave slowly and carefully. Kion and the guard watched as he left, slowly following close by.
Fuli strolled alongside her lion leader. Slowly wandering with him as the rest of the guard followed suit. Kion remained focussed on the Uasian king ahead, a shot of worry shuddering across his body as the thunderous rain started to pour over him.
"Urgh, really?!" The female cheetah alongside him sighed as the rain washed over her soft, sweet fur. A small, giggly chuckle erupted beside the two felines, as a ball of blue-greyish fur rushed past them. Turning to its source, Fuli shot her attention to Bunga, who leapt into a nearby puddle, splashing both her and Kion in a small puddle.
"What?" The honey badger raised his claws beside his head, causing Kion to chuckle softly at his sarcastic antics. A sudden, deadly stare from Fuli put both boys in their place however, silencing them as the cheetah attempted to shake the rain from her fur, to absolutely no avail.
"Well, at least you're feeling better, Little B." Beshte felt right at home in the rain, letting his thick, oily skin become nourished in the thick, bombarding precipitation. Ono struggled to fly in the quickening gushing winds, but eventually found balance as he led the way back to the shining, crystallised tower in the distance.
Kopa strolled slowly, his head laid low as he struggled through the muddy grasslands. His mind once more flushed with thoughts of his loved ones. Karimu, Kuwinda, the cubs. But not just them. Everyone he cared about, his parents, Shujaa, Jicho, even Kwaheri. He couldn't fail them, not anymore. He knew what he had to do, even if it meant facing his worst fears.
Loss... Regret... Saying goodbye, for the last time...
…
The raging storm intensified, soaking the lion guard as they strolled to the base of the crystallised tower at the centre of the kingdom. Kopa, still slightly focussed on other matters, led the mismatched group of animals, only looking up as the gleaming, foreboding refraction of the tower shone across his face. As he looked up, a group of feline-shaped shadows softly swept in front of him.
"Kopa?" A familiar, sweet voice brushed the Uasian king's ears. With a quick, refreshing blink, he noticed the strong, yet regal postured lioness before him. Her forehead glistened just as bright as the crystallised structure she stood on. Her stern, hazel eyes pierced his heart and soul, quickly relaxing as she stared at him, a large, gleaming smile adorning her muzzle within seconds.
Without delay, Kopa sprinted towards his beloved queen. Leaping up the crystallised monument's exterior up to the overhanging ledge she stood on. As he reached the peak however a flash of fur leapt from behind the rock. Freezing in fear, Kopa was tackled to the ground, before being... licked?
"Daddy!" A jolt of calming, paternal instinct kicked in as he felt the small, furry bodies of his daughter and son nuzzle against him, their heads flickering into his mighty, majestic mane. The lion guard approached the base of the tower's overhand, a series of soft chuckles rupturing from their mouths as they watched the mighty, almighty Uasian king fall to his adorable, excited cubs.
The young cubs continued to nuzzle their father lovingly, followed closely by their worried mother. Karimu, rather shaken with worry and regret, nuzzled up to her mate's pounced, messy mane, nudging his head up from the ground as the others approached. Kion and the guard halted, as Karimu and Kopa nuzzled, softly speaking to one another as the cubs sat beside them, their small, fluffy ears flickering to their parent's words.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Rather curious, Fuli turned to her lion leader, her eyes humming as she focused on the royal couple sitting at the edge of the overlook. Kion turned to his cheetah friend as the rest of the guard sat beside them, Bunga especially watching forward, locked on Kopa and Karimu's intense conversation.
"I don't know..." Kion sighed softly, watching as Kopa and Karimu arose, slowly turning to face the gathered guard. The two regal felines slowly strolled up to them, Kopa's head lowered as he strolled.
With a stern, yet relaxed tone in her voice, Karimu turned to Kion. "Could you take the cubs back to the lair?" She turned to Kopa before sighing softly, her voice rumbling with uncertainty as she looked back at Kion. "We need to head to the..."
"We know." Kion smiled, his tail swaying side to side softly as he arose. "We'll take care of the cubs for you." He turned to the rest of the guard, smiling softly. "Right guys?" The rest of the guard erupted in a wave of confirming cheers, growls and chirps.
"Very well then..." Kopa nodded slightly, moving past Kion softly. He looked down to his cuddly cubs who practically clung to his mighty, stern, muscular legs. With a warm, paternal smile, he admired the bravery and strength of his offspring. They would go so far in life; he just knew it. As they looked up at him they let go of his legs, flopping down to the ground before their loving father. "Time for bed, little ones."
"Daaaaad!" The two cubs pleaded, only halted by an uncontrollable, tired yawn from the little cub's sweet, innocent muzzles. Amani instantly turned to her younger brother, rather annoyed by his obvious tiredness. Kopa chuckled slightly at the sight, sitting before the cubs as Kion and the guard moved beside him.
"Okay, fine." The female cub sighed, before rolling her sweet, hazel eyes up and away from her father. She nudged her younger, barely awake brother as the guard slowly encircled the two. As Kopa lowered his head, Kion approached., a wide, honourable smile adorning his muzzle.
"Don't worry, we'll take them to the lair, safely." And with that, Kion and the guard lead the cubs away, letting them clamber onto Beshte's back. Bunga quickly leapt up too, giggling childishly as he settled the cubs down. Ono rested on Beshte's neck, rolling his eyes at the cub-sitting honey badger before him, ruffling his feathers as Beshte continued to stroll back to the grand, gleaming tower before them. Kion and Fuli led the way, leading the guard inside.
As the guard left, Kopa left out a deep, sorrowful sigh. His shoulders dropped, forcing his head to slope to the ground as he fought for control over his mind, body and soul. The very thought of what lay ahead, what and who lay in the centre of the crystallised tower he now stood upon.
"It's going to be okay." Karimu quickly nuzzled up to her love, humming softly as she inhaled his manly, regal scent. The sensation of her warm, loving embrace sent a flicker of comfort through the Uasian kings' body, letting him fight back the ever-consuming grief for his deceased friend and stepbrother.
He didn't speak, not even a murmur. His body slowly crept forward, driven by an urge to just get this sombre night fulfilled. Karimu's ears flopped down, her body trembled as she watched her mate slowly stroll towards the entrance to the magnificent, crystallised monument they called home. Her heart sank. She could feel his heart cracking, the doubt and worry, the small hints of regret slowly consuming his very soul. With a soft, worry-infused sigh, she followed him, her head softly falling as she took small, concentrating paw steps forward inside.
She knew what lay ahead. They both did. Inside, the pride had gathered to pay their respects to a fallen hero, a fallen friend, even brother, at least to a certain, regal male. The final part of Kwaheri's journey was about to be fulfilled.
...
The royal couple entered the Uasian tower, trepidation and uncertainty rushing through their veins. Kopa led the way, slowly strolling down the flame lit corridor leading to the Uasian throne room. As he walked, the flames ignited, bursting into life as he passed.
Karimu strolled not far behind him, her head resting low as she strolled through the crystalized corridor. The sound of Kopa's muscular paw steps ahead, harmonised with the shallow, mumbled sobs and murmurs far ahead. The air itself was infected with a depressing cloud, choking the joy and positivity from those who dare breathe it in.
Reaching the large, foreboding archway at the end, Kopa froze. He could hear the soft hums and heavy sobs from within. Every muscle in his body froze, before melting in a pool of sorrowful uncertainty. The scar across his left eye hummed as images of Kwaheri's bloody, mangled body flashed before his eyes.
"Kopa?" Karimu rushed to her mate's side, softly placing a creamy white paw on his tensed, locked shoulder. "Are you okay?" She gently brushed her head against his, softly nuzzling into his muzzle as he seemed to awaken.
"I...I can't do this..." His voice trembled, his eyes welling with the mournful residue brewing in the corners of his eyes. Karimu nuzzled him deeply, barely holding him up as he started to lower his head, completely paralysed by the complete, utter distraught rushing his body.
"You can, Kopa!" A worrisome, deep voice rumbled from behind the cuddling royal couple. Turning around, Karimu and Kopa both saw the familiar face of Shujaa, their proud and loving friend and advisor, rushing up to Kopa. The big, bulky softie brushed up against his king, softly wiping away the Uasian king's tears with his puffy brown mane. "We're here for you, all of us."
And indeed, they were. Along with Shujaa, Jicho, Ema, Kuwinda and Wivu all joined in, taking it in turns to nuzzle their king and queen. Jicho was the last however, softly flapping her strong, brown feathered wings before the Uasian couple. Her sharp, blue eyes locking onto Kopa's unfocused, sloppy, watery orbs lodged in his skull.
"Come here, Kopa!" Jicho raised her wings to the Uasian king's face as she hopped forward. As Kopa lowered his head, the concerned eagle started to caress and brush his fur. Her feathers softly scraping away the dirt and tears out of his magnificent, darkened mane. "Can't have you looking like this."
The eagle began to nuzzle into Kopa's mane, gently brushing it with her head and beak as the others watched on. Shujaa and Ema nuzzled, softly sighing as they watched the Uasian king and his old friend exchange nuzzles. In time, Jicho pulled her head away, her sharp, blue avian eyes staring up at him worryingly. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine..." The Uasian king raised his head, away from Jicho's comforting touch. Kuwinda, seeing her opportunity, rushed to her mate's side, nuzzling up to him tightly as he looked forward, towards the foreboding archway before him. The mournful hums and sobs from within etched into his heart. And yet he knew he couldn't escape. He couldn't run, not now.
He had to do this, For the pride... For Kwaheri...
"Let's get this over with..." Kopa's deepened voice rumbled through the air as he stepped forward slowly. Karimu and Kuwinda froze for a second, looking at each other before quickly catching up with their mate and king, gently comforting him as they walked. Ema, slightly heart warmed by the interactions she had witnessed between them, gently nuzzled up to Shujaa, following closely behind them. Wivu and Jicho both followed suit, softly conversing about the preparations for this most glamorous of sombre events.
The entryway gave way to the large, regal throne room, seeped with gloom and sombrely. The crystallised walls hummed with sorrow as the rest of the pride had gathered, looming around a pile of beautiful, sweet flowers, nestled just before the thick, shining steps leading up to the grand, all-powerful Uasian Throne. Beside it, Afya waited for the royal couple to approach. An emotionless, clear expression spread across her muzzle as she stared forward, towards Kopa especially.
Catching a glimpse of the flowery pile, Kopa sighed, closing his eyes softly for just a second. His breathing was deep as he stepped forward, both Karimu and Kuwinda following beside him. Despite the heartbreak, he knew he had to do this. To say goodbye. Shujaa, Ema and Jicho followed closely behind the royal trio, strolling towards the gathered pride.
As they approached the Uasian throne, Kopa noticed a huddle of primates, all enveloped in sheets of paracausally woven fur. The Uasian king sensed its spectral strands reverberating through the ground, hugging each clanmate's bodies with a supportive presence. The robes were black apart from Mtafuta's, who's blackened garment shadowed her sorrow. Clenching her staff firmly, the bereaved flicked her attention towards Kopa, giving him an affirming nod before staring back at her lover's final resting place.
From the well-lit, narrow corridor entrance, the Lion Guard slowly strolled in, surprisingly led by Bunga. The honey badger slowly stepped forward; his heartbroken, troubled face locked on the funeral flower pile. His heart froze as he slithered through the gathered pride.
Now at the front of the gathering, he froze. His eyes secreting their salty, emotionally ooze as he looked on at the pile. Every muscle in his flabby, fur-coated body tensed. He still couldn't believe it, even now. That his newest friend, his silly, playful monkey bud, was laying deep in there, resting for the last time.
As his cheeks dripped with tears, Bunga found the bravery to step even closer, reaching his claw out to the slightly shuddering flower pile. A heavy gush of wind from up high rushed down, bringing a gush of chilling, fur wetting rain down upon the gathering.
"Tag..." Bunga brushed his claw into Kwaheri's flower coated funeral pile, feeling the soft, sweet-scented mound caress his furry appendage. "You're...it.." His soft croaky whimpers suddenly cut out as the immense realisation of the situation at hand, or rather... claw. From out of nowhere, he felt the sudden jolt of a paw rest on his short, shuddering shoulder. Turning slowly, he found a rather tearful Kion staring him down, giving off a sweet, comforting smile as Bunga let go of Kwaheri's mound, turning sharply to embrace his feline friend, falling into his comforting fur as he wept softly for but a few moments. Kion held him close, knowing all too well what his friend was going through. He remembered his grandmother's funeral, in a very similar light, having to hold his sister similarly as they both wept the loss of their grand, caring, strong grandmother.
After a few moments, Bunga calmed, letting go of Kion's tear-soaked fur. Turning softly, the adolescent lion led his honey badger friend towards the rest of the guard, who stood rather mournful a little further away than the lions of the Uasi Pride. Simba, Nala, Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri all sat with them. Simba and Nala did the same, nuzzling each other softly as they watched their son approach them.
"Kion?" Nala whimpered. Without delay, Kion nuzzled up into his mother's warm, sweet-scented fur. His father joined in, nuzzling him gently as Bunga joined the rest of the guard, being welcomed with a soft cuddle from Beshte, Ono and even Fuli, surprisingly. Watching her parents nuzzle Kion, Kiara approached the trio, softly squeezing herself in between them.
The two siblings comforted each other as their parents and friends looked on. As he held his sister, Kion looked over to the Uasian throne, watching mournfully as Kopa and Karimu approached the lioness who stood beside the crystallised throne. Her pale white fur glistened with scars and marks etched into her fur, illuminating with the same hue as Kopa and Karimu's royal marks.
Kopa and Karimu welcomed the lioness, softly bowing as she did. She looked up, her calm, wise blue eyes looking up at the royal couple. "Kopa, Karimu." She gave off a patient, calm smile as her tail swayed across the crystalized floor. "I'm glad you're both here."
"Is everything ready, Afya?" The Uasian queen queried, causing her long-time friend to turn over to the pile of flowers. Her ears folded back, before turning back to the inquisitive royal couple.
"Indeed, your majesties." Her eyes flickered to Kopa, who had stood rather gloomily, looking down at the flower pile beneath him. A slight nudge from Karimu knocked his senses back, however, forcing him to turn to Afya respectfully. The leading Sister of Mponyaji softly raised a paw, gently stroking Karimu's head as she hummed a strange, almost spiritual chant. She turned to Kopa, stroking the crystallised mark with her paw, letting her claws caress the very depths of his rough marked forehead, continuing her chanting. Her front leg began to glow with an ethereal power as she stood, slowly turning beside them as she approached the magnificent Uasian Throne.
Reaching out, she placed her enlightened paw upon the crystallised seat of power. Within mere seconds, a burst of energy burst from her paw into the crystal, quickly spreading outwards from the throne, travelling across the floor like a stampede. The burst trembled up the very walls, shooting up the tower's walls, softly reverberating up to the large crystal suspended high above, souring in the pouring rain and whistling winds rushing from the open skies above. The stars twinkling brightly as the power grew with every second.
A series of roaring hums echoed throughout the room as some of the lionesses joined Afya in her spiritual chant. After a few seconds, she removed her paw from the throne, ushering the last gasp of breath in her lungs to reach the end of her heavenly chant. At the note's crescendo, she lost her breath, gasping heavily as she began to recover, collapsing softly upon the side of the throne.
"Afya!" Kopa darted to her aid, followed closely by Karimu. A series of gasping, terrified cries rumbled from the pride, only halted as Lead Sister of Mponyaji arose slowly, shaking her head as she regained consciousness. Kopa brushed his head underneath hers, lifting the staggered lioness to her feet. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, my lord." The lioness replied softly, flashing her cool blue eyes between him, Karimu and the concerned pride beneath them. She watched the walls hum with the spectral energy she had conjured. "He is ready..." The wise lioness reached a paw out, pointing towards the flowery pile amid the gathering. As Kopa caught sight of it, he noticed a slight glimmer shuddering over the many succulent flower petals, humming softly with the same strange hue as the tower itself.
"It is time...Kopa..." Afya, arising to her paws properly, stared up at the mighty Uasian king. Her eyesight flickering between him and Karimu. "Time to let go." She sensed Kopa's rapidly inhaling breath, the pain and sorrow wedged in his heart, but despite this, the Uasian king arose to his paws. Slowly strolling up to the edge of the platform of which the Uasian throne stood, looking out at the gathered prides before him His eyes flickered among the crowd, picking up on certain individuals. Kuwinda and Wivu, Shujaa and Ema, The Pride of Prides. Everyone he cared about, everyone he loved, at least to a respectable degree.
Closing his eyes for a split second, he envisioned his now sleeping cubs, nestled up nice and warm high above. The strange pulses pulsing through the tower's walls waking them slightly, forcing a rush of intrigue to flow through their curious little bodies.
Whilst still filled with sorrow and regret, he couldn't help but feel a puddle of longing love and powerful pride rush through every cell in his body. Looking up at the gathered crowd, he felt the shallow, glistening moonlight brush across his face as he cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for coming." Kopa's voice was soft and sincere as he scanned the crowd around him. Their faces looked up at him, a mix of tearful and mournful expressions, as he stood in the moonlight. Karimu slowly strolled up beside him, sitting next to her king.
"You all know why we're here." His ears folded as he talked. "To say goodbye to a dear friend, servant." He took a moment to think, the fracturing in his heart intensifying as he thought of the stupid, yet caring and loving monkey that had given his life so much light. "To a brother..." His head lowered, reflected by the pride beneath him. Seeing this, Karimu nuzzled up to her mate lovingly, slowly forcing his head back up. His eyes coated in tears, gleaming in the moonlight as he looked out at the crowd once more.
"I know there are many that blame themselves for Kwaheri's death..." Upon saying this, Kopa's eyesight shot downward, towards the reflective crystallised floor beneath him. His scar hummed with a chilling reverberation as an unquenchable fire embedded in his heart. "None more so than myself…" He looked away sharply, turning back to the rest of the gathering as a bolt of heart-sinking agony clawed at his body. A burst of energy sliced at his scarred eye as he shot his attention upwards.
"But know this!" With a sudden outburst, Kopa pounced to the side, slowly strolling up and down the edge of the platform. "There is only one being responsible for this, one being that will PAY! FOR EVERYTHING HE'S DONE!" The lights upon the room intensified as Kopa's once calm, worrisome words blossomed into full-on roars, ushering into nothing more than flickers as the Uasian king collapsed. Karimu, Afya. Even Kuwinda, Shujaa and Jicho rushed to the Uasian king's aid, only to be hated as he arose, tears pouring from his face as he held his scarred eye. His heavy, gasping breath slowly calming as he arose to his paws once more.
"Scar will pay..." Regaining some sense of control, Kopa looked back up at the frightened, shocked crowd. None of them quite sure as to what to do, how to react. Seeing the king's weakened state, Afya stepped forward as Karimu comforted her mate and king.
"I'll conclude the passage of Kwaheri." The lioness approached the edge, looking down at the pile of twinkling flowers beneath her. At the same time, Karimu nuzzled Kopa back to a comfortable state, letting him look on as Afya's body started to glisten with a similar aura.
"No!" the Uasian king pounced, quickly rushing up to the wise lioness. Karimu held back, trying to hold Kopa as he sprinted past her. Afya's body dimmed as the Uasian King approached her, slowly trotting up to the lioness before sitting beside her. "Let me..."
Afya turned back to Karimu, who now stood, rather surprised by Kopa's actions. She gave off an accepting nod as she curiously looked over at her mate. The Sister of Mponyaji stepped back, letting Kopa take her place at the very edge of the platform. As he did, the empowering pulses in the Uasian Tower's walls intensified, glistening even brighter as it arched upwards, high into the quickly clouded sky.
With a single, unrelenting intake of air, Kopa released a gush of powerful breath, targeted directly at Kwaheri's funeral mound. As soon as it hit the glistening flower pile, the sweet, beautiful blooms ignited with a white, blinding flame. The fire intensified, spreading and spreading until the entire pile had ignited. But Kopa did not halt.
Building up to a roar, the flames began to spread upwards, defying the laws of reality as they began to fly into the air, seemingly travelling up to the glowing, spinning crystal high above. Within a few seconds, the flames hit the crystal, sending a decent shockwave across the thunderous, pouring, moonlit night sky.
The gathered prides stood in awe at the light show before them. The area where the flower pile once stood was now just a burnt pile of ash, slowly spraying downward as the winds rushed through the open-air down the crystallised tower. Halting his roar, Kopa stood proud, if a little weakened, knowing all too well that he had sent his stepbrother off to the spirit realms, never to hold again.
Strolling slowly, Kopa leapt off the platform, landing with a muscular thump on all fours upon the crystallised ground. Kuwinda strolled up to her love, concern and uncertainty flooding her mind. Karimu followed close behind him, nuzzling the other side of the Uasian king.
"Are you okay?" Both lionesses licked and nuzzled their mate as the rest of the pride continued to converse. Some felt the throne room, yawning widely as they strolled to the narrow corridor. Feeling his mate's fur brush against his, Kopa couldn't help but still feel... cold. As if something was now missing. A deep hole now rested on his soul, one that their love seemed to not fill.
"I think so..." Kopa nuzzled the two lionesses as they continued to walk forward to the exit. He turned after a few moments, just as Shujaa, Ema, Wivu and Jicho joined Karimu and Kuwinda. "I just need some time..." The once-proud lion continued to stroll away holding his head down as he left the throne room. The gleaming, power-infused walls dimmed ever so slightly, still charged with the pulsing like a heartbeat.
Kuwinda slowly began to weep, softly being comforted by her friend Wivu. Feeling the heartbreak in the pregnant lioness' body, Shujaa tried to follow Kopa, only to be halted by a focussed Karimu.
"No, I'll talk to him." Shujaa froze at the queen's demand. He knew better not to cross her after all. With a stern yet worried look, Karimu quickly trotted off, following her mate and king out of the throne room, leaving the rest of the inner pride to comfort each other.
The walls for the tower grew in strength and power, resonating faster and faster, brighter and brighter as the king and queen left. The pulse timed exactly like a heartbeat, shooting up into the stormy, flashing night sky.
Kwaheri had been laid to rest.
But at what cost?
...
Karimu left the shelter of the Uasian Tower, the shallow shower of rain pitter-pattering across the lush, moistening grasslands surrounding its base. She could feel the sombreness in the air, the stench of the moonlit dew slowly forming on the thick, green strands of grass, slowly swaying in the thunderous breeze.
She sensed its source. Looking up at the Crystallised tower, she saw a figure, sitting just as the edge of the newly formed overhang. Taking a slow, rather careful stroll, she made her way towards it, knowing all too well who it was.
As she strolled, a sudden, earth-rumbling pulse of energy rattled across the surface of the Uasian Tower. The blue hinted, soulful blast nearly knocked the Uasian Queen off her feet as it passed. As soon as it hit her fur, she felt it. The cold, almost deathly hue spread across her quickly chilling, soaking fur as the rain intensified.
"Kopa?" Her voice couldn't help but soften. The once proud, strong body of her mate and love, now hunched over, shaking. She could see the water rushing from his face. Rain? Tears she couldn't tell until a single droplet hit the crystallised ground. Another blast of energy rumbled from the impact, a little less potent than the first. "Are you okay?"
Kopa refused to reply, continuing to look out at his kingdom, their kingdom. His tearful stare watched as the rain washed down upon the plains, nourishing the flora beneath his regal if uncertain gaze.
"I will be..." The Uasian king raised a paw, wiping his tears from his cheek. He was soaked, the rain weighing his mane and fur down. "It's just..." The Uasian king sighed, lowering his head as he turned to his concerned queen. "I'm gonna miss him..."
Karimu approached slowly, sitting beside her mate. The rushing, pouring rain saturated Karimu's fur as she softly nuzzled into Kopa's cold, heavy, wet mane. Feeling his mate's head nestle up to him, he turned slightly, his eyes shuddering as he caught sight of Karimu's hazel, loving optical orbs.
"I know Kopa..." The calm lioness nuzzled up to Kopa even harder, taking in his masculine, potent scent. She couldn't help but lose herself in his embrace slightly. Feeling his mate continue to nuzzle deep into him, Kopa continued, sighing softly as he thought about Kwaheri.
"He... He was always there for me..." Kopa raised his head as he spoke, the swift moonlight illuminated his warm, wet brown eyes as he analysed the clusters of stars above him. Their warm, overseeing presence warming his soul as they watched the royal couple embrace one another. From out of nowhere though, the memories of Kwaheri's crushing death shot through his mind.
"I'm surprised you took all this so well." Karimu once more brushed up into Kopa's soaked mane. The small stream of salty residue slowly creeping down the corner of his face, onto hers. She still remembered his mother's funeral, how he refused to speak, refused to let her go. Even going as far as to try and run away, to give up on everything. Losing his mother nearly destroyed him. She could only imagine how losing Kwaheri was going to affect him...
"I have to..." Kopa whimpered, rubbing his head above Karimu's. wiping his face into her fur, a sudden sharp pulse of pain brushed against his left eye, forcing the Uasian king to scratch at it, snarling in agony as he felt the menacing, demonic soul-reverberating laughter clawing at his mind. Karimu stared up at her lover's eye nervously. A thick layer of concern brushing across her sweet, soaked, pale furred face. "For the pride."
The rain started to subside as the cloud layer thinned. Both the king and queen sat nuzzling, looking up at the clearing, twinkling night sky. Kopa's eyes caught the sight of three, bright stars, nestling high in the darkness above, standing out above all others. They formed the shape of a diamond, twinkling at the same pace as Kopa's heart.
"Besides, we've got more important things to worry about." Kopa slowly turned to Karimu, His eyes focussed, even concerned with what was to come. "We have a war to win, after all."
"I know." Karimu replied, sighing softly as she looked up at the stars as well. Closing her eyes, she remembered what her parents had told her about what had to be done. "My parents told me; about this journey 'they' wish you to go on..." She stared him down, locking her hazel eyes onto his brown, concerned visual orbs. "I'm not letting you go alone, not this time."
The pair snuggled again, trying to warm each other up as the chilling, nightly winds intensified. Kopa, still rather mindful of recent events, couldn't help but lose himself in his love's soft, if wet fur. He was glad she'd come with him. After all, he knew he couldn't do this alone.
"We're going to make things right, Kopa." Karimu comforted the muscular, fluffy lump of fur holding her close. With a slow sensual lick across his cheek, the Uasian queen looked back into her king's eyes, slightly, losing herself in them before looking back at the night sky.
"We've come a long way, haven't we?" Karimu's words caused Kopa to look at the star too, feeling her warming, drying body nestle close to his.
"Yeah, we have..." The Uasian king raised his paw, pacing it upon Karimu's.
"I know you're afraid… of how much we have to lose..." She turned back to Kopa, her eyes widening as she found his thoughtful, worried stare. "But you'll never lose me, or the cubs..." She moved her paw from underneath Kopa's, reaching it upwards to the male lion's mane coated chest. "I promise..."
A silence fell between the royal duo, only halted by a thoughtful sigh from Kopa's lips. Karimu looked up to him, curiosity spreading across her muzzle as their eyes met once more.
"I'm just...worried. "Kopa's eyesight shot upwards, back up to the night sky. He felt a familiar trio of presences stare back at him. Their regal, holy gaze warming and chilling every cell in his body at the exact same time. The weight on his shoulders, the very security and existence of the world. No wonder he was knackered, drained of all life. He slouched, looking down at the reflecting crystal at his paws. He watched as the scar across his left eye glimmered slightly, the darkened, demonic chuckling deep down echoed in his mind.
"About this..." He stroked his scar with his paw, feeling the pain and agony intensify slightly. He growled in retaliation, stroking it harder and faster until the pain diminished. "I feel him clawing away at my mind... my soul..." He quickly turned to the Uasian queen, letting go of his scar as his brown, trembling eyes met her gaze. "I... I don't think I can trust myself anymore..."
"Kopa..." Karimu sighed, softly swaying her head side to side as she once again nuzzled up to Kopa. Moving his attention upwards, she looked up at the twinkling night sky, feeling their warming, soulful light gleam on her crystallised forehead.
"Many years ago, a very wise, handsome lion told me something." She smiled as she thought about him, all those years ago. Raising a paw, as she softly caressed Kopa's chest, feeling his heartbeat intensify as she stroked it softly. Her calm, sparkling eyes stared up at him, looking lovingly into his soul. "Scars are but a gateway to the soul." She looked up at the spectral scar etched across his left eye, nuzzling beside his head as she spoke. "They stay with us, A sign of our struggles, our challenges..."
Kopa looked up at the stars above, feeling his mate's head resting underneath his. "But they don't make you...you..." She caressed her head away from his, looking back into his focussed, thoughtful eyes. "I don't care what you think, or what he is trying to do to you..." She licked his cheek, returning her heart-warming, affectionate eyesight towards her king. "I love you, and I trust you, more than anything."
"We all do..." As the royal couple turned behind them, they were treated to the sight of their pride, all gathered behind them. Kuwinda stood forward, still rather tearful as her eyes darted between Kopa and Karimu. Without delay, she trotted forward, rushing in to comfort her love, nuzzling up to his thick, majestic mane as Karimu stepped back, allowing the lead huntress to caress their king.
Shujaa, who up until now had stood firmly behind Kuwinda, slowly approached Karimu, sitting before the Uasian queen and king as Kuwinda turned, facing him as she nuzzled Kopa. "We're a pride, we stick together." He smiled over at Kopa, who quickly turned his attention over to Karimu. The Uasian queen slowly nodded, before standing, turning back to Kopa.
Kuwinda finally stepped away from the Uasian king as he strolled forward, approaching Shujaa with a welcoming smile. His tongue occasionally licking his muzzle as he approached. Reaching his advisor, Kopa nuzzled Shujaa, before sitting beside Karimu looking towards his royal advisor. "Thank you..." The Uasian king smiled, only just before his mind kicked in. He lowered his eyesight, swiftly turning his head to look out at the heightened moon illuminating the land surrounding them. "But we have something to do, me and Karimu."
Upon hearing this, Shujaa rolled his head to its side, curiosity filling his head as he looked on at Kopa. Kopa turned his head slightly. "And what's that?"
With a thoughtful sigh, Kopa faced his friend. How could he explain it? His eyes shot up, staring over at the sitting, alert lion before him. "We have to go somewhere, to find something..." Hoping it would be enough, Kopa stared at his friend, only relieved when he was met with an agreeing nod from Shujaa.
"Very well." Shujaa turned to Karimu, lowering his head in respect of the Uasian queen.
"Kopa?" Karimu's voice shot through the Uasian king's ears, forcing his attention back into reality. Turning sharply, he found his queen slowly approaching him, along with Kuwinda. Both lionesses were fraught with worry and uncertainty.
Wiping his tears, Kopa let the two lionesses softly nuzzle him, forcing his body to turn towards the Uasian tower's entrance, not far away. Shujaa watched as the lionesses encircled their love, softly comforting him as the rain intensified. Just as he did, Kopa felt a strange sensation rushing through his body. His heartbeat intensified as he felt a strange, almost tear provoking presence.
The gathered pride before him seemed to turn, rather shocked as the sound of heavy, thudding footsteps boomed across the ground. The very reverberations of rock and stone screeching, clawing its way up the shallow, crystallised slope up to the overhang. The skies illuminated with a burst of starlight as the pride started to give way, moving aside as something, or someone approached.
"It can't be..." Kopa froze, He couldn't believe the presence that stood before him. The slender, hunched being slowly ascended the crystallised overhang, slowly treading through the gathered pride of lions. It was a primate, formed in solid rock encasing pulsing, flowing lava, pulsing through the small, irregular gaps in its rocky, spectral body. His eyes stared up, towards Kopa as he approached, using a stalagmite form of rock as a walking stick, assisting the primate being to walk towards the mighty, rather shocked Uasian king.
"Kw...Kwaheri?..." Kopa stuttered. The spiritual monkey before him smiled as he looked up to meet the lion's gaze. Spreading his arms out, Kwaheri started to chuckle slightly, softly howling as he stared at his feline stepbrother.
"Did you miss me?" The recently deceased, spectral monkey smirked, holding his arms out towards his quickly welling stepbrother lion. A few primate chuckles escaped his mouth as he watched Kopa's face reverberate with shock and sadness as he stared down at him. From out of nowhere, Kopa pounced, flying gracefully in the air as Kwaheri's face dropped, watching as the majestic, muscular lion shadowed his rocky, slender body.
With an anxious, wide-eyed howl, Kwaheri was knocked to the ground, crushed under the heavyweight of his lion brother's body. He felt the cool, yet surprisingly soul-warmed crystallised ground hum beneath his lava fused, rocky body. Kopa, now pinning his primate stepbrother down, looked down at him, his eyes watering as he lowered his head, maniacally licking at the spectral monkey's rocky, cracked face.
"Ko...Kop..." Kwaheri struggled to speak as Kopa's wet, rough tongue coated his rocky, equally rough face. Grabbing his rocky stick, the spectral monkey nudged the lion's emotional, tear-pouring face away from him. "Kopa!"
"Oh, erm... Sorry." Kopa struggled to speak, softly wiping his face with his furry paw as he looked down at his spectral stepbrother. "I just... I thought I'd lost you..." He arose, sitting before the spectral, rocky monkey. Tears poured from the corner of his glistening eyes, seeping down into his majestic, comfortable dark mane as Kwaheri looked up at him.
Smiling softly, Kwaheri approached the tearful lion, placing his rocky, craggy hand upon the Uasian king's shoulder. He felt the slight indentations, the scars of his past, each of them, one at a time. The pain and sorrow reverberated through them. The burden that she beared. "You'll never lose me, my fair brother." He moved his hand slowly down Kopa's front leg, feeling the vibrations in his body as he softly snivelled. Looking up at the tearful lion's heartfelt gaze, Kwaheri couldn't help but let a single droplet of lava drip from his steaming eyelid. "No one's gone forever."
Kwaheri moved his hand downwards, stroking past Kopa's front leg to his chest. Shifting through his thick, tangled mess of a darkened mane, the spectral monkey rested his hand on Kopa's chest, feeling it pulse at his touch. "No one's gone, as long as you hold them in your heart..."
Time seemed to freeze. The pride watched on, rather bewildered as to what was happening before them. Kopa stared down at his primate stepbrother, feeling his soul blossom until an emotional, tear-jerking breaking point, he quickly grabbed the equally tearful spiritual monkey, holding his rocky, fiery-warm body tightly as they both began to weep softly.
The rest of the pride could only watch on. The very crystalized ground beneath them reverberating with the same platonic reverberations that pulsed through Kopa's veins. They could only coo as their king held his deceased brother's soul deeply, embracing him for every moment, every second that he could.
Calming slowly, Kwaheri looked up at his larger, older feline brother. The Uasian tower's crystallised surface hummed at the same pace as his fiery heart and soul. He could feel the craggy, molten rock that formed his body start to melt, start to seep back into the crystal of which it was summoned. Staring up into Kopa's tear wrenching, solemn brown eyes, he knew.
Kopa grasped tightly, not wanting to let go of his stepbrother's quickly melting body. The lion shot downward, watching as Kwaheri's soul slowly but surely began to melt back into the realms that fuelled the majestic, almighty construct.
But something was different, deep inside. His heart, once filled with frozen, chilling loneliness, was now alight with... hope? Maybe something...more?
Kwaheri's face was the last thing he saw, reverberating back into the crystal of which it spawned from. Looking down deeper, Kopa watched as the soul of his beloved step brother joined back with his father and mother, looking back at him warmly. The realm they inherited seemed so beautiful, so peaceful. The grass as lush as a rainforest, rivers and mountains as picturesque as the Uasilands itself, glistening with a clean, almost heavenly glimmer in his eye.
Or maybe that was his tears, slowly dripping onto the already soaked crystallised ground, washing away all that he had lost, all he had loved.
The pitter-patter of rain slowly rumbled from the sky once more, the illuminating, chilling moonlight sunk behind the darkened, moisture-rich clouds, nestled high above this most spiritual of lands. Most of the pride slowly arose, creeping back into the shelter of the Uasian tower, looking back occasionally as their king continued to softly weep, staring down at the ground before him.
"Come Kopa." Kuwinda whispered, looking over at Karimu with the greatest respect. "Let's get you inside." The lionesses slowly corralled the Uasian king into walking forward, back to the shelter of the crystalized tower. Shujaa followed behind, taking a glance down at the same spot that Kopa had just mere moments prior. All he saw was the reflection of soaked, worn crystal, illuminated in the shallow, cloud coated moonlight cascading from the sky.
The 4 lions slowly made their way inside, away from the now pouring rain. The events of the day, the sorrow of loss slowly being washed away with the downpour. Kopa, for one, felt a little better. He had Kwaheri, at least in his heart. It warmed his fur, quickly drying the rain from his tangled fur. The thought of his now sleeping, adorable cubs, his two mates beside him, right now. He was surprised his fur hadn't burst into flames.
So much love... So much belonging...
It was enough for him, a reason to keep on fighting, to keep on living.
Unbeknownst to him, however, to all of them, events were moving along quickly. And this would only be the beginning of the end. For in a faraway land, miles upon miles away from the Uasilands, a forgotten power was about to be awoken.
The secret would soon be discovered...
...
The almighty, ethereal pulse had travelled far, spreading across land and sea far away from the Uasian Tower. The same message remained in its vibrations. A plea for help. A plea for allegiance.
The wave washed through a forest of thick, snow-capped trees, shaking their frozen, soft white leaves and pinecones off their branches, tumbling to the ground beneath as the wave passed.
As the tree's separated slowly, the wave of spiritual energy met a large, frozen lake. The hardened, freezing surface reflected the humming light of the pulse, as well as the clear, cloudless moonlight gleaming down upon the once peaceful lake. Until now.
The pulse carried on, not halted by anything in its path. Cascading the frozen body of water, the pulse caused the unstable land to shudder slightly, cracking the ice as it passed by. The freezing, free water swayed up and down, forming small, ice consuming waves as the pulse continued, towards a small, hidden canyon ahead.
Upon hitting the rocky, freeing walls, the pulse reverberated, sending pulses of spiritual energy up high into the sky, clambering the face of the mountains quickly. The savannah still as clear as the moonlight illuminating the land beneath it. A small burst of the pulse managed to fire its way into the canyon, quickly reverberating down the narrow, irregular canyon walls. Boulders of rock started to tumble from the walls, quickly destabilising the walls of the canyon in such a way that the weight of even a small animal would cause a rockslide.
Reaching the end of the canyon, the pulse widened, seeping into the wide, bowl-like land it found itself in. The mountain ranges keeping the pulse enclosed as it rushed to the centre.
The land itself was separated into a series of different biomes. Grasslands, tundra, deserts, forests. A seemingly impossible combination of biomes configured around a single large, lush tree at its centre.
The pulse rushed across the land until it reached the tree at its centre. As it creamed towards it, a lone, rather wrinkled lioness stood tall and proud, watching as the spectral energy screamed towards her. Upon hitting her, she heard the screams of a thousand animals, their begs for help and protection. A gust of wind brushed through her fur, blowing through her aged skin like a hurricane. She stood strong though, resisting the blast as it passed.
The pulse hit the tree, stripping the leaves from its branches as it passed. Turning around, the lioness noticed that, as the pulse passed, a humming, glowing blue light illuminated from the tree's roots. Her eyelids shot sky-high, intrigue and amazement bursting from her brain to her heart as she felt a new sensation sweep her body. She looked up at the now glowing tree, watching as it dimmed softly as the pulse continued its journey, spreading off into the horizon.
"So... They have returned..."
