Fuli woke up to a sound in the middle of the night. She looked around the cave. She heard Kion whimpering in his sleep. His claws were out and scraping the ground. His breaths were labored, deep and shaky. Fuli quickly rushed over to him. He heard him muttering in his sleep. "We're not the same! I'll never be like you Scar!" It became clear to Fuli he was reliving the events that happened when he got bit by Ushari. "Ushari!" She heard Kion mutter in his sleep. His breaths got shakier. His claws dug in to the ground. His whimpering got louder. Suddenly, he slashed his claws on his scar, creating a likely painful wound. Then all of a sudden, it stopped. Fuli was alarmed.
"Kion?" She asked firmly. No reply came. "Kion?!" She asked again, louder. She then started shaking him repeatedly. Kion's breathing suddenly resumed. "No!" He woke up screaming. His head then shot up in alarm. Half of Fuli was relived, but the other half of her knew she'd have to keep a close eye on Kion incase anything happens again. And the other half of her was very worried for Kion, this was the second time he woke up alarmed and screaming. He saw the blood on his claws from when he slashed his scar in his sleep. He started freaking out.
"No! No!" He screamed. Then suddenly one of the lions of the Sun Pride walked in the cave growling. He started to yell at Kion. "Shut up you little-" Fuli tried not to hear the rest, but she did. She walked over to the lion and growled.
"Don't you ever talk to Kion like that," she snarled. The lion rolled his eyes. "And why should I listen to you?" He asked mockingly. "I am the Sun Pride leader's mate, and therefore I'm King of the Sun Pride. And you. You are a pathetic creature lower than any living thing." Fuli let out a low growl.
"Enough of this," the lion said. "You're a waste of time. I need to get back to my pride duties. Things that are actually important." The lion then walked out of the cave and continued doing whatever it was that he was doing before he came over to the cave and yelled at Kion. Fuli looked back at Kion. She could tell he was trying not to wail in terror again. Fuli could see his claws digging into the ground. She saw his head frantically peering left and right. Fuli tried to approach him, but he backed away.
"S-stay away from me!" Kion shouted frantically. He then wailed in terror again. "Get out of my head! Stay away!" It was clear that this time he wasn't talking to Fuli. He dropped to the ground and put his paws over his head. Fuli approached him.
"Kion, listen to me," she said firmly. She then put her paw over his. "Look at me Kion." He then raised his gaze to meet hers. "It's okay, everything's okay. You're going to get through this," Fuli said, trying to calm him down. But it didn't work. Kion rushed out of the cave. Fuli ran after him. The Sun Pride lions heard it and rushed after them to get them back.
The Sun Pride lions chased Kion and Fuli. Kion looked back and saw Fuli and the Sun Pride lions. He looked shocked. Wait, he didn't know he was being chased? Kion kept running and running and running. Even Fuli was starting to get tired by now. She then looked behind her.
"Kion!" She called. "Slow down! We're not being chased anymore!" Kion then slowed down. Fuli knew he was embarrassed. He looked back at her. Fuli then hit a realization.
"Kion! We outran the Sun Pride lions! Let's escape their territory once and for all!" Fuli saw that Kion brightened up.
XXXX
Kion and Fuli crossed what appeared to be the edge of the Sun Pride's territory. They were relived that the Sun Pride wouldn't be able to find them anymore, hopefully. Fuli then saw something in the shadows. She moved protectively in front of Kion. Then, a young cheetah pounced out. Gozi!
"Fuli!" Gozi exclaimed. He then glanced at Kion. "It's great to see you! And is that Kion that you were talking about?" Gozi asked. Fuli nodded. "Yes." Gozi then walked up to Kion.
"Hi," Gozi said. "Hello," Kion replied, his voice still shaky. "Nice to meet you," Gozi said. "You too," Kion replied. Gozi smiled. During her time in Swift's Clan she had learned Gozi enjoyed meeting new friends. Kion then tried to hide a yawn. Tired... again?
"Kion, you should rest," she told him. She saw that Kion was about to protest but he was interrupted by another yawn. She guided him over to a nearby abandoned den. Kion laid down in a soft, grassy spot in the den. Fuli walked out of the den with Gozi following her.
"I don't know what to do," she confided in Gozi. "I don't know how I can help him. He can't sleep because his scar is too painful. He can't eat much because the venom in his scar makes him nauseous. He also can't think clearly because of the venom." Fuli sighed. Gozi looked sympathetic.
"Fuli, a wise cheetah once told me, 'Have faith.'" Fuli looked at Gozi. She was uncertain that faith would help now. They then heard a wail from the den. They rushed over. They saw Kion laying still on the ground. Fuli panicked. She rushed over to Kion and put her ear to his chest. No movement.
"What do we do?!" Fuli panicked. Gozi looked uncertain.
"Mouth to mouth?" He suggested. "Ew no!" Fuli exclaimed. Then, Fuli remembered something.
[FLASHBACK]
Fuli ran through the fields of the Pride Lands. She saw Makini with Rafiki, they were talking about something. Fuli decided to go check it out.
"Hey Makini! Hi Rafiki. What's going on?" Fuli asked. Rafiki was surprisingly the first to reply. "I am teaching Makini what to do when someone has a mshtuko wa moyo. It is very important she knows this." Fuli was curious.
"Can I stay and listen?" Fuli asked. She didn't know why she asked that, as she wasn't normally one for sitting and listening, but she had a feeling in her gut that she should stay.
"Only if you are quiet," Rafiki replied. Fuli nodded. "Very well then," he responded. "Now listen close..."
[END OF FLASHBACK]
"Gozi! Do you know where any dharura flowers are?" Gozi nodded. "They grow all around here," he told her. "Great! Can you go get some?" He nodded and bolted out the den. Fuli looked back at Kion. His eyes were now wide open and frightened. Fuli tried to calm him down but she knew it would be useless.
"Kion, look at me. You're going to be okay." Kion looked up at her, his eyes wide and fearful. Fuli wanted to help him, but she couldn't. She felt powerless.
Fuli put her paw over his. "Kion, listen to me," Fuli spoke in a gentle yet firm voice. "Relax. Whatever you do, don't panic. Panicking will make it a lot worse." She saw that he was having a very hard time calming down, and she couldn't blame him.
"Calm down. Think about something else," she told him. "Think about the Pride Lands, the times you and Kiara raced each other, the times you and Bunga would play Baobab Ball all day..." Fuli then remembered something else, something that was sure to take Kion's mind off of the mshtuko wa moyo. "Or that one time when Bunga crashed into you and you crashed into me sending us all sliding off of a rock into the lake." Kion's eyes sparkled at the memory. Fuli knew that if Kion could have laughed, he would have.
Fuli saw Kion dig his claws into the ground once more, grinding his teeth. Fuli couldn't even imagine the pain he was going through. "Remember Kion, stay calm." Kion nodded, well at least he tried to nod. Kion looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain. She anxiously looked towards the entrance to the den. Gozi please come back with some dharura flowers soon. She pleaded silently. Apparently Kion saw that she was beginning to worry, because he started to panic again, trying to move around and silently wailing. His eyes became round and frightened once more. Fuli held his paw tighter.
"Kion," she began. "You will be okay. Gozi will come back with some dharura flowers soon," she tried to reassure him. But she was also worried that Gozi might not make it back to the den with the dharura flowers in time. Oh Kion... I can't lose you. I won't lose you. She then saw his eyelids begin to close. No!
Gozi then rushed in carrying some dharura flowers in his teeth. He dropped them in front of Fuli. "I've got the dharura flowers!" He exclaimed. Fuli then pawed the flowers next to Kion's mouth. "Eat these," she told him. She noticed that Kion struggled to chew and swallow the flowers, but all that mattered was that he did.
Fuli sighed in relief. "The dharura flowers will take effect in a minute or two," Fuli told them. Even that soon might be too late. Fuli thought to herself, anxious for Kion. After a minute or so Kion's heartbeat returned. He tried to get up but Fuli stopped him.
"There's absolutely no way I'm letting you go anywhere right now because of what just happened," Fuli declared. Gozi nodded in agreement. "She's right," he said. Fuli saw that Kion was shaking from the ordeal he just went through. "But," she continued. "We need a way to get the blood flowing again."
She then thought of something. "Kion, stretch and flex all of your legs, one at a time." Kion obeyed and started flexing his front leg. Fuli then used her front paws to massage the leg to help get the blood flowing again. She then did the same for all of Kion's legs as he stretched and flexed them. When he was done flexing his legs, Fuli got back to her paws.
"And I will be keeping a very close eye on him," she whispered to Gozi. "You should," he agreed. "What just happened... if we weren't there he would have..." died. Fuli finished in her thoughts. Both she and Gozi knew what he was going to say, but neither dared speak it out loud. Fuli turned back to look at Kion. She laid down next to him. Gozi squeezed in between them.
"There's room for me, right?" The young cub asked playfully. Fuli tried her best not to laugh. "Of course," she told him. Kion nodded, he hadn't spoke since the mshtuko wa moyo he had gotten. "Guys," Kion said. "Can I... can I tell you..." Fuli interrupted. "Tell us what?"
"Everything," Kion responded. I think he means a heart to heart. Fuli nodded. "What if it happens again?" Kion asked, fear in his eyes. Fuli was puzzled for a moment but then she realized he must be talking about the mshtuko wa moyo. "Kion, if it ever happens again, I will help you, just like I did today. I promise," Fuli told him, passion burning in her voice.
"But what if you're not here when it happens? What if you don't get here in time? What if I-I..." die. Fuli knew what he was going to say.
"Kion," she picked his head up with her paw. "I won't let anything happen to you." "Neither will I!" Gozi piped up. "We're friends, right? And friends always have each other's backs." "Gozi is right," Fuli agreed. Kion looked unsure. He laid his head down. Fuli laid her head down too and drifted off to sleep.
XXXX
A couple of hours later, Fuli woke up to a noise. It was Kion wincing and pawing at his scar. She knew he was trying to stay quiet to not wake up her and Gozi, but he failed miserably. Fuli carefully got up, trying not to wake up Gozi, and tip toed her way around to Kion. She then saw that his scar was bleeding from a few hours ago when he clawed his scar in his sleep.
"Kion," she began. "We have to solve this, it's becoming a big problem for you. We have to continue our journey to the Tree of Life." She then saw that Gozi was actually awake. He looked up at her.
"Can I come too?" He asked. Fuli thought for a moment. "Gozi, there will be many dangers on the way to the Tree of Life, are you sure you can handle it?" Gozi nodded as fast as he could. "I can handle anything!" He declared. "Alright Gozi, you can come with us to the Tree of Life," Fuli told him. Her attention then turned back to Kion.
"Until we get there, how are we going to get Kion to sleep?" She asked Gozi. Gozi shrugged. "I heard somewhere that lions are very touch sensitive," he told her. He then walked over to Kion and started massaging the area in between his shoulder blades. Kion tensed up for a moment, then settled back down. He laid his head down and let out a relaxed sigh. Brilliant idea Gozi! Not long after, Kion fell asleep. Gozi then walked back over to Fuli.
"Brilliant idea Gozi," she told him. "Thanks," Gozi replied. He then looked back at the sleeping lion. "Fuli," he said. "Kion won't make it if we don't get to the Tree of Life in time." "I know," Fuli replied solemnly.
"Fuli? Can I ask you something?" Gozi asked. Fuli nodded. "Sure."
"And you won't be offended?" He asked. Fuli didn't know what he was going to say, but she nodded.
"Do you..." Gozi began. "Do you like Kion?" Fuli was blown away by this question. She never thought anybody would suspect she liked him. And he was a different species too!
"I... I do," Fuli replied. "But he's a different species, it would never work. Besides, I don't want to make things hard for him." Gozi looked surprised she had answered this question truthfully.
Fuli continued speaking. "One day he'll find a lioness he loves, and he'll be happy. And if he's happy, I'll be happy, because that's true love." Fuli explained. "If you love someone, you learn to let them go." Gozi looked confused at this.
"What do you mean?" He asked. "I love Kion," Fuli began. "And true love means that if someone you care about heads off on their own path, you let them follow it. They choose their own destiny, and it's your duty to support them on their way."
Gozi nodded. "I think I understand," he told her. "Good," she replied. "Now let's get some sleep while we can." They both settled down next to Kion, who was in a blissful sleep. Soon, Gozi was asleep. Fuli then looked at Kion.
Kion, I love you. And I promise you will be healed at the Tree of Life. I will make sure of that.
XXX
Kion blinked open his eyes. It was morning. Something didn't feel right. His throat was sore and he felt nauseous. His fur was damp with sweat as he realized that his body was overheated. He felt a throbbing pain in his scar, unlike the ones he felt before. He saw Fuli walking around the small cave they were in. He noticed Gozi wasn't there.
"Where is Gozi?" He rasped. Fuli turned to look at him. "He was restless, I told him to go run around in the grasslands, but to make sure to stay out of Swift's Clan and the Sun Pride territory." Fuli then walked up closer to him. "Something's wrong Kion," she observed. "You don't look... normal." She has a way of knowing when something is wrong. Kion admitted to himself. Kion's throat hurt when he talked, so he motioned with his paw to his scar. Fuli looked sympathetic.
All of a sudden Gozi rushed in the den, faster than a lightning bolt. "Woo hoo!" He exclaimed. He turned around and sped out, accidentally kicking dust in Kion's face. He groaned. He could tell Fuli was trying her best not to laugh. A wave of lightheadedness swept over Kion. He covered his head with his paws. Fuli walked over to him and put her paw up to his head. All of a sudden she jumped back, shocked.
"Kion you need to rest," she told him. Kion shook his head. "How do you know what-" He was interrupted by Fuli. "Your scar's bothering you, you have a sore throat, you feel nauseous, and you feel lightheaded. You need to rest," she told him firmly. How does she know what I'm feeling?! "Fine," he half rasped, half groaned. Just then, Gozi rushed into the den, gasping for breath. "So... so... tired," he said through gasps. "Maybe... shouldn't have ran... so much." He then over exaggerating, flopped down in the ground. Fuli tried to stifle a laugh. "All cheetahs learn that the hard way," she told him, amusement audible in her voice.
Kion closed his eyes to go to sleep, but he couldn't. Apparently Fuli thought he was asleep, because she started to talk about him to Gozi.
"I'm worried for him," Kion heard her say. "His scar is making things very hard for him. I told him to rest while you were out running in the fields. He now feels as if he has some sort of serious fever." "As soon as he feels a little bit better we can continue the journey to... uh... what was it again? Oh yeah, the Tree of Life," Gozi said enthusiastically. There was a silence that could have lasted a few moments or hundreds of years.
"Gozi... maybe he can't. It might be too late," Fuli told him. "This might be his last few days." Gozi gasped at Fuli's statement. Although Kion couldn't see it, as his eyes were closed, he knew there were tears being shed at that moment. Kion started to feel himself drifting off to sleep, but the last words he heard before he left reality and entered dreamland were: "I have faith, faith in Kion. He will survive."
XXX
Kion woke up once again that day. He had a weird feeling in his stomach. He was even more nauseous than before. He looked around the den and saw Fuli grooming herself. Gozi was nowhere to be seen. He's probably outside running around again. Sure enough, he could hear a "Woo hoo" in the distance.
Fuli finished grooming herself and walked over to Kion. "How are you feeling?" She asked him. He opened his mouth to reply, but then there was a spasm in his stomach. He gagged as something started to come up his throat. His pelt burned with embarrassment as to what happened next.
"I'll take that as 'not good,'" Fuli said as she helped Kion to his paws and hurried him outside. They made it outside and Kion crouched down, gagging, his pelt burning with embarrassment.
Ugh! Why did it have to be now when Fuli was watching?!
XX
"That was so embarrassing," Fuli heard Kion mutter to himself as they walked back inside. "Don't worry Kion. It happens to everyone when they're sick," she told him. "You should be glad Gozi wasn't there too." Just as she said that, Gozi sped into the den.
"There for what?" He asked. "Nothing!" Kion quickly responded. Fuli stifled a laugh. "Also," Gozi continued. "I collected some peppermint and willow bark, it will help a fever," he said through the peppermint and willow branch he was holding in his mouth. "How'd you know that?" Fuli asked him. "An old healer told me," he replied. He then pushed the peppermint and a willow branch with bark on it towards Kion.
"Here, eat the peppermint and gnaw on the willow branch," Gozi told him. Kion obeyed. He started to eat the peppermint and when he was done he started gnawing on the willow bark.
"Thanks Gozi," Kion said. "Hakuna Shida, Kion! No problem!"
"So Gozi, do you wanna go hunting?"
"Ndio!" He replied enthusiastically. "Yes!" Kion sat up, though he didn't ask to come. His eyes dulled. "Good luck," he told them half heartedly. Fuli and Gozi then ran out of the den and into the grasslands beyond.
"What was that about?" Gozi asked. "Why did Kion act all weird the moment we mentioned hunting?"
"He's jealous," Fuli explained. "His parents never had the time to teach him how to hunt. They were always busy teaching his older sister, Kiara. And also... one other reason that happened later on." Gozi's eyes widened.
"He doesn't know how to hunt?! He should know at least the basics of hunting by now!" He exclaimed. "How did he even get food during the journey to the Tree of Life?!"
"I hunted for him. I wanted to teach him how to hunt but his parents forbid Kion ever learning how to hunt." Fuli told him.
"One time, back in the land we came from, the Pride Lands, Kion tried to hunt on his own without any training. He wanted to prove that he could be a capable hunter so his parents would properly teach him how to hunt. He tried to hunt a buffalo, not knowing the dangers of attempting to hunt one. When he leaped, the buffalo kicked him in his chest and stomach, breaking four ribs and severely injuring his organs. The buffalo then turned and him and rammed his head with it's horns, severely injuring it and it even caused him temporary amnesia. It then trampled over him breaking three of his legs."
Gozi gasped. "That's all true?" He asked. Fuli nodded.
"Kion almost died that day," Fuli said somberly. "If I hadn't found him in time he would have bled to death. He was around the age he is now. We were all afraid that Kion would never be able to walk again," Fuli said with tears in her eyes. "He made a miraculous recovery though."
"But, after that incident, his parents made up their minds. Kion was never to be taught how to hunt. They were fearful it would happen again. Kion was deeply saddened at the fact that he would never have his first-kill, and never serve his pride as a hunter would. I tried to cheer him up, but Kion pushed me away saying I didn't understand."
[FLASHBACK]
Fuli was going to visit Kion in the Lion Guard Lair. He had recently been gravely injured when he tried to hunt a buffalo without proper training. Kion's parents were with her.
"Hi Kion!" Fuli said while entering the Lair. Kion immediately lifted his head up. He had just gotten over the amnesia that came with the buffalo landing a serious blow to his head. "Hey Fuli!" He greeted her. She knew he was in a lot of pain, but he tried to stay positive, even though he couldn't even walk yet.
"Kion, me and your mother have reached a decision." Simba told him. Fuli perked up. Does this mean they're going to finally teach Kion how to hunt after all? Fuli could see that Kion was thinking the same thing, because he perked up his ears and put on a hopeful smile.
"Kion, I'm sorry but.. you'll never learn how to hunt." Kion gasped at this. His face fell. "What?!" He asked them, bewildered. "Yeah!" Fuli said. "That's what I want to know!" Simba gave Fuli a glare, silencing her.
"You have severely injured yourself trying to hunt. You could have died, don't you see that?" "But Dad I-" Kion was cut off by his father. "We don't even know if you'll ever walk again!"
"We can't risk this happening again. Kion, you are forbidden to hunt, and to learn to hunt," Simba said sternly. Kion gasped, and Fuli saw he was trying his best not to cry. Simba and Nala then walked out of the Lair. Kion buried his head into his paws, his breaths shaky.
"Ever since I was a tiny cub I was looking forward to the moment I would catch my first-kill," Kion told her while staring at where his parents had stood, disbelief in his eyes. "And now I never will."
"Shh, Kion I understand," Fuli said. She felt sorry for Kion. She couldn't imagine never hunting in her life. They didn't even know if Kion would ever walk again! She couldn't imagine her life without running.
"No you don't understand!" He shouted. "You don't know how powerless it feels to not be able to take care of yourself! To rely on others for food! You've known how to hunt almost your whole life! And I never will! You can say you understand but you don't. You're not me. You don't know what it feels like to be me."
[END OF FLASHBACK]
"Poor Kion," Gozi sympathized. "Yeah," Fuli agreed. "He never spoke about it to his parents ever again, he was too furious with them to even talk to them about it."
"That's sad," Gozi remarked. "Yeah, now let's just go hunting," Fuli said, hoping to take both of their minds off of that time. Gozi nodded in agreement.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Fuli and Gozi walked in the den, carrying the dead body of a prey animal in their jaws. Fuli saw that Kion was actually sleeping. Why am I so surprised? Fuli asked herself sarcastically.
"Kion wake up," she told him. Kion's head shot up. "What is it?! Are we being attacked?! Is there a flood?! Wildfire?!-" Fuli rolled her eyes and cut him off. "Dinner," she told him flatly. "Oh," Kion realized. He narrowed his eyes on the dead prey animal that Gozi and Fuli were beginning to eat. "I should be hunting for myself," Fuli heard him mutter.
"Well even if you could there's no way you would be hunting for yourself when you're sick like this," Fuli said flatly. "You should eat," she told him. "Starving yourself won't do you any good."
"I'm not hungry right now," Kion told her. "I don't want to... well, you know... what happened earlier," he added awkwardly. Fuli tried not to laugh, it would only make Kion feel even more embarrassed.
"What happened earlier?" Gozi asked. Kion's face turned red with embarrassment. Fuli gave Kion a glance and spoke. "Nothing important," she told him. Gozi looked at Kion and nodded briefly, showing he understood.
When they were done eating, Fuli, Gozi, and Kion were curled up together, snuggling. Gozi was skeptical at first, saying "Aren't fevers contagious?" However, Fuli reassured him. "I think this fever was caused by Kion's scar. Therefore it would not be contagious," she had said.
When Gozi was already asleep, and Fuli was drifting off to sleep, she felt a paw prod her in the side. "Psst! Fuli!" Kion whispered. Fuli lifted her head. "Kion?"
"Fuli, where do you think the rest of the Guard are now?" He asked. "How should I know?" She replied flatly. "And why'd you ask?"
"I-it's nothing," Kion quickly replied. "It's just..." He trailed off. "You can tell me," Fuli reassured him. "And you won't think it's stupid?" Kion asked her. "Of course not! Why would I think that?"
"I-I'm homesick. I miss my family. And when I got separated from the Guard, it was like leaving the Pride Lands all over again." Fuli was sympathetic. "And," Kion continued. "That hurt me more than anyone ever could, with their claws or their teeth. I want to go home! But I know I can't," Kion finished with a single tear rolling down his cheek. Then more. Fuli knew exactly how he felt, but she didn't think it hurt him this much. But then again, lions were group animals, so they formed strong familial bonds.
"I'll never see them again!" Kion told her, obviously trying not to wail. "We all know I'm going to die before this journey is over." Fuli was once again trying to hold back tears. It was the truth, but she couldn't stand it.
*
"We all know I'm going to die before this journey is over," Kion told Fuli. He saw she was trying to hold back tears. "No you are not. You will make it." However, Kion knew he wouldn't.
"I heard you and Gozi talking. You both know I won't make it," Kion said, trying not to cry. "I'm going to die! Before I could barely even live. I wanted a purpose! Not just a purpose to others, but a purpose to myself," Kion told her, tears steaming down his cheeks. "Where's my happy ending?" He asked her.
"Soon after we went into the war with a Scar, I made a wish. A wish that one day I would find happiness. Where one day I could live happily without having to worry about being attacked every day. Sometimes... I even wish I never became leader of the Lion Guard," Kion told her, struggling to get the words out through his tears. Fuli gasped.
"If I hadn't became leader of the Lion Guard, none of this would have happened. And my destiny was chosen for me, I didn't even get a say in it," Kion told her truthfully. "And I... I'm scared. What will happen to me when I die? Will I just... disappear?"
"Kion, the Lions of the Past will guide you," Fuli answered him. She then embraced him in a hug. "But, you won't die," Fuli told him firmly.
"You've already said that!" Kion almost shouted, he was glad he didn't accidentally wake Gozi up.
"Kion, you won't die. Because I won't let you die. You've saved me more times than I can count, now it's my turn to return the favor," Fuli said, passion burning in her voice. "Now Kion, you need to rest," Fuli told him. "You're going through a lot these days."
"But, Fuli-" She cut him off. "No buts. Rest." She told him firmly. Kion gave her a playful shove then laid back down to go to sleep.
Fuli, thank you for believing in me. And as much as you believe in me, I believe in you, too.