Chapter 7
The dawning sun hasn't risen up yet, but its foreglow slightly brightened the cloud-free sky making it slightly less dark in the Pride Lands. As Cody exited out of the tent with a groggy expression, the smell of petrichor hits his nostrils as he then let out a tired yawn.
The only downside from using my medication is that it wakes me up early and forcing me to take a freakin' piss...
The beanie wearing teenager then took several steps away from the tent to relieve himself at a bush in front of him. Luckily there wasn't anything living in there or the animal, or animals, will be very unhappy that their home is desecrated. After thirty seconds, Cody was finished as he pulled up his zipper to his shorts and started to head back. Then he heard a desprate cry of a young animal. Cody turned toward the direction the sound is coming from; an area with three trees and a bunch of dead hollow logs with field of tall grass behind them and a human sized boulder only a few feet in the front.
"What ever it's happening over there, it's not my problem."
Cody was about to head back until the crying became more louder and desperate.
"It wouldn't hurt just to take a look. Besides the source of the animal is only a half mile away and I have dad's knife with me."
Except I don't have my dad's bag containing his gun with me.
Cody began walking toward the source slowly and carefully while trying not to make a sound. Cody then crouched while walking even more slower as he got closer. He gripped the pommel of the knife hanging from his hip as he drew near the boulder. The teenager then peered over and saw what's making all that racket.
It's a zebra foal trapped under a log with vines tangling its front legs. And from the look of it, the foal must've been playing around until it had a accident which is why it is in this predictament.
"What the...?"
Cody took a couple towards the zebra and the moment it saw him, it began to panic in which the teenager stopped. He then looked around his surroundings seeing if its herd is around, except they're nowhere in sight.
Where the heck is its herd? Did it sneak off?
Cody then shrugged as he then started to walk back to the tent. "This isn't my problem. This is the zebra's own fault for getting trapped."
He only took several steps before the foal started to cry even louder. Cody stopped and he looked up to the sky and then let out a exasperated sigh of remorse.
"Freakin' dangit." he muttered.
He did not say dangit.
Cody then walked back to the zebra foal. As he approached it, he then knelt down on one knee and pulled his father's knife from its sheath. When the foal saw the knife, it began to panic. Realizing that it is scared, Cody began to try to calm it down.
"No, calm down! I'm not going to kill you." The teenager reassuring the frightened animal.
He the grabbed a piece of grass and cut in half with the knife as he gave it a small reassuring smile. "See, I'm just going to cut the vines off your legs."
The zebra was still shaking in fear as Cody then wore a annoyed frown. "Why am I even talking to you? You can't even un—!"
To his surprised, the zebra calmed down and stopped moving while giving him a trustful look with it's human-like eyes.
So it's not in our heads!? Not only that, it looked like the zebra understood me! What is with the animals in the Kingdom of Life?! Cody thought while slightly unsettled.
After got the vines off of the young foal's front legs, placed his knife back into its sheath and went to one of the ends of the log.
"I'm going to try to lift this log up. Once I do, you get yourself free alright little guy."
The zebra barked in reply. Cody then spit into his hands, rubbed hands togther, and began to try lifting the log. The teenager grimmaced while lifting the log.
"Why the heck is this heavy?!"
After two and a half minutes, Cody managed to lift it high enough so the foal managed to slip out. After seeing the animal free, he let go of the log as it made a thud as it landed on the ground. The teenager than places his hands on his knees as he breathed heavily in exhuastion.
After he managed to regain his breath, Cody then stretched his back, regained his posture, and then saw the young zebra jumping about in joy. The teenager slightly smiled at the deed he accomplished.
The zebra then stopped and stared at him thankfully. And to Cody's surprise, the young foal then approached him as he then stepped back in response. "Whoa there. I think you need to go back to your herd. I bet your mother is worried."
The zebra tilted its head in confusion.
"Go on, shoo!" Cody said while gesturing it away.
The young animal then nodded as it then toward the rising dawn as Cody squinted by the sun's light.
"You're lucky I was here when you needed me." Cody called out to the zebra, "Or else you would've been predator chow."
"That was very nice of you for helping the baby zebra out."
Cody jumped only a foot in the air with a startled expression as he let out a spooked cry upon hearing a voice behind the tall grass.
Five Minutes Earlier...
The foreglow began to slightly touch the dark sky as Kiara stealthily snuck out from the den of Pride Rock. Since her father, mother, husband, and the other lionesses planned all night, they're too tired to even notice her leaving. The princess planned to talk with the humans peacefully and bring them to her father so they find out why they're here. But if she can't...
No! don't think that! Not until I can see if the humans are as bad as the stories say they are! Kiara really hoped they're not.
The lioness ran toward where the humans are currently located from knowing what Zazu told them yesterday. Kiara was getting close until she heard a desperate cry of a baby zebra. The princess turned head toward the direcion of the cry. Normally Vitani and the Lion would help it out, but they're not back at the Pridelands.
"I got plenty of time." Kiara said, "I'll go help the zebra and then I'll talk with the humans."
As Kiara ran to where the crying zebra is located, the princess then crouched as she entered the tall grass field. The lioness continued walking, but more slowly and quietly, while hoping that the humans aren't the cause of the zebra's dismay. As she got closer, she got a good look at the baby zebra, without getting out the tall grass, and saw it being trapped under a log.
Oh that poor zebra! Kiara thought with saddened concern. Also at the same time, she was glad that the humans are cause of it... hopefully. The princess was about to exit out of the field to help it until she heard the sound of rustling grass in front of both her and the zebra. What came into view took the lioness' breath away... a human.
It wasn't monstrous as the stories described them to be... they just resemble weird looking apes. The 'skins' it wore didn't belong to any animal she ever seen in the Pride Lands, the Outlands, and the Tree of Life. Especially the weird grey thing on top of its head.
Kiara took a step back and accidently stepped on a twig making a loud snapping sound. She winced for making a loud sound... but to her astonishment, the human wasn't fazed as if it didn't hear her which made the princess to raise her eyebrow. To test her theory, Kiara then hit a pebble with her right paw as it skipped the right of her making lots of sounds. And the human didn't even hear that either.
Rafiki is right!? Their senses are horrible compared to other animals!
The human then approached the zebra, causing it to panic in which the human stopped in its tracks and then began to look at his surroundings. The human shrugged and started to walk away as it then spoke "This isn't my problem. This is the zebra's own fault for getting trapped."
Kiara's eyes widened. It's a he! And not only that, he's a teenager!
She was even appalled that he would just leave the zebra like that. The zebra then cried out again and the human stopped as he then looked up into the sky and muttered something. The human then walked toward the zebra, knelt down, and pulled out a shiny stone from his hip as the foal began to panic. At first Kiara thought he's going to kill it in which she got into her pouncing position as she glared at the human while baring her sharp teeth and letting out a soft threatening growl... then he began to reasure the zebra that he's trying to help it. The lioness then sighed in relief as she regained her posture as she crouched back down on her stomach. She's very happy that this human is one of the good ones that Rafiki mentioned.
After getting the vines off of the zebra's front legs, the human placed back his stone back on his hip and then began to lift the log up. Kiara then noticed that the human was having a hard lifting it. She was about to help him out until managed to lift it high enough in which the zebra managed to get itself free. The human then began to breath heavily in exhaustion making Kiara to remember that humans aren't that strong as well... if that's the case, they're also not as fast too.
The zebra then ran back where its herd is as the human then started calling at the the foal. Kiara planned not to talk to the humans face to face until she's sure that they can be trusted. Even after seeing the human rescueing the zebra, the princess figured that the others must be good too. But she isn't going to talk face to face with them until she's comfortable to reveal herself.
Well, here goes nothing.
Then Kiara began to speak.
Current Present Time...
Cody stumbled as he landed back on the ground as he quickly turned around and faced the tall grass with an alarmed expression. Kiara, still hidden behind the tall grass, giggled as she said "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She couldn't stop giggling at the fact that the human jumped in fright like a baby rabbit.
The teenager frowned at the voice behind the tall grass. "That's because you shouldn't spook—!" Cody then realized that he was actually speaking to someone other than his friends... meaning he might be conversing with one of the members of the tribe of the Pride Lands!
The potion worked! I can understand her completely! It's strange that her accent isn't African? Is it because of the potion? Who cares! My friends and I can finally meet up with King Simba and have him help us reunite with out parents! Cody thought with exhilaration.
"Uhh... are you o—"
"THIS IS GREAT! ME AND MY FRIENDS HAVE TRAVELING TO LOOK FOR YOU GUYS!" Cody said with excitement.
Kiara raised her eyebrow with a puzzled expression "You have?"
"Yeah! We were told that you and your tribe can help us!"
Tribe? Kiara thought with a confused expression. She was also right about the humans need help. But help with what exactly?
"We've been traveling for five days to—"
"Sorry." Kiara interuppted, "But before for you talk any further, I have several questions I want to ask."
Cody was in disbelief. "I DON'T HAVE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS?! WE'RE IN A HURRY!?"
"Well I'll gladly help you, but first you need answer my questions before anything else."
Cody was about to argue, but he then let out a defeated irritated sigh as he later replied "If I answer them, will you lead take us to your tribe?"
Is a Tribe what humans call a group of animals? Kiara thought that since the Nomadic Ghosts live in groups called 'tribes' since lions live in groups called prides.
"Yes. I promise." The lioness said with kind honesty.
"Alright then." Cody said, "What's your first question."
"What's your name?"
Cody responded with a incredulous "You can't be serious?!" expression. "That's your first question?!"
"Well we haven't properly introduced ourselves."
"Says the one who's hiding behind tall grass."
"That's because you and your friends are strangers in our homeland."
Cody hadn't of thought of that.
"... Fair point."
Cody then sat down with his legs crossed as he replied "My name is Cody."
Kiara raised both of her eyebrows "Really, I thought it might be more... different?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I've met only a few with that name here. Does yours mean 'rent' or 'duty'?"
"What are you talking ab—!"
Cody realized she must be asking if his name is "Kodi", a Swahili version of the name he goes by, as he then frowned in annoyance while wincing sadly inwardly. His birth name is Dakota since it's considered a neutral gender name when his parents wanted his unveiling of his actual gender to be a surprise when he's born. Both Ryan and Ariel didn't like it so his brother called him by "Cody", which means "helpful" (even though he didn't know that at first), while Ariel called him by "Kodi", the variant meaning "duty". His parents agreed with Ariel's nickname for him, even though Ryan didn't like it at first, and have been called by that until the "Car Accident" in which Cody begged his parents to call him by Ryan's nickname for him instead.
"No." Cody began to correct her, "My name is doesn't begin with a 'K' and end with an 'I'. It is spelled differently; beginning with a 'C' and ending with a 'Y'."
The teenage realized that she might not know about the alphabet since her tribe being outside of the Kingdom of Life. "Sorry. You might've not understand half of what I just—"
"I know about my alphabet." Kiara said while not offended, "You don't need to explain."
Cody is surprised that she knew.
"Oh." If she knows, then her tribe must also know too.
"Nice to meet you Cody. My name is Kiara."
"Well, uh, it's nice to meet you too."
"Now for my second question: what kind of animals skins are you wearing?"
"Animal skins? Do you mean my clothes?"
"Clothes?" Kiara said saying the word for the first time.
"Yeah." Cody replied, "And no they're not made from animals. They're made from fabric."
Kiara has no idea what this 'fabric' is. She'll add that to the other questions she'll ask Cody.
"That includes my beanie." Cody added as he pointed at his knited hat.
"That's a hat?"
"Uh huh. Mostly it's used in colder weather like snow and stuff."
"Then why are you wearing it?"
"Well... It looks cool" Cody replied, "Also cool has—"
"I know it has different meanings." Kiara said while starting to sound annoyed... only a tiny bit as she's trying not to be rude.
Does this mean that her tribe also know modern words, like their different meanings, as well? Cody thought while looking surprised, How the heck do they know if they never left the Kingdom of Life?!
"I can disagree." Kiara said as she expressed a playful snicker, "It looks silly on you."
Cody frowned in annoyance. Just get through with the questions Cody.
"And for my third question: do you and your friends hunt for sport?"
"Of course not! That's disrespectful!" Cody replied while slightly offended.
Kiara smiled at his reply. "The animals here will be glad to hear that."
"You make it sound like the animals here can talk?"
"Don't you believe that?"
"Of course not! Humans and animals can't talk with one another! That's impossible."
Kiara's eyes are wide with disbelief.
"Even they if they could, we wouldn't hear them since they kept their distance from us."
"So if they could talk, how would you and your friends react?"
"Well... I guess we freak out while questioning our sanity." Cod replied with a grin thinking that she's joking. Except Kiara was being serious.
Oh no. Kiara thought with a slight nervous cringe.
Ever since the animals heard word of the humans in Animalia, they stood clear of them in which they couldn't hear them speak.
Well... better break it down to him right now.
"Hey Cody."
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to come out."
"Really?" Cody said with surprised expression, "Does that mean you trust me and my friends?"
"Uh huh."
"Does that also mean we're done with the questions." Cody asked hopefully.
"Nope." Kiara said with teasing smile.
Cody frowned in response.
"But can you promise me something?" Kiara asked.
"Sure... about what?"
"Promise that you won't freak out?"
"Why would I—"
"Just promise!" Kiara repeated almost begging.
Cody responded with a slightly wide eyed blank expression as he later replied "Alright... I promise."
"Good. Now just take a few steps back."
Cody complied as he got up and walked backwards by five steps.
"Okay, I stepped back."
This time Kiara didn't respond.
"Kiara?"
The lioness became hesitant while question if this is a good idea since she didn't want to frighten him if he sees her, being a lion and all.
Cody frowned, figured that she up and left. The teenager barely stook three three steps heading back to the tent until he heard the rustle of grass behind him.
"For a second there I thought you just left—!?"
Cody's expression changed that of terror as he saw a lioness, with gold-like amber colored fur and reddish-brown eyes, emerging from the tall grass.
"HOLY—!"
Cody quickly drew out his knife as he quickly ran backwards. He only ran only a few steps until he tripped over log in which dropping his knife, as it bounced slightly away from him, and falling onto his onto his back. He winced in pain as he crashed hard against the ground.
"Cody, calm down!"
The teenager's eyes went wide as he heard Kiara's voice close by.
"KIARA?! WATCH OUT! THERE'S A LION!"
Cody quickly rolled to his left and grabbed his knife as his back faced the lioness.
"Cody, I am the lion."
Cody's eyes went wide. "What?"
He then faced the lioness with the human like eyes and expression as she smiled nervously at him.
"Hi." Kiara spoke waving her paw.
Cody just stood there all dumbfounded as his knife slipped from his right hand as its blade sunk quarter way into the earth.