Two cubs were training for the Night Pride. One was a lioness and the other was a male. They lived happily with their Grandmother and Uncle due to their parents being gone. They were training away from prying eyes which they were outside the pass with Ullu keeping an eye out. While training, the lioness cub about the same age as Kion spotted something in the river. It wasn't moving but was also golden. She knew the water was getting colder and wasn't safe to be in for a long time.
Lioness: Hey, Baliyo? Do you see that?
Baliyo: You mean that golden-yellow thing in the water, Rani?
Rani: Yes. Lets go check it out. It might be an animal that needs help. The river is getting colder out here, it's not safe to be in for a long time.
Baliyo: You're in charge.
Rani and Baliyo crept up slowly to the golden-yellowish figure only to see that it was a male cub. Rani and Baliyo exchanged looks before continuing, they couldn't see the lion cub's face which they stayed alert. Rani looked at Baliyo before touching his shoulder, it was freezing. Rani pulled her paw away as the cub weakly shifted. They could now see a lion roaring on his shoulder and a pink scar down his left eye.
Rani: He's freezing. Quick. Help me get him out of the water.
Baliyo: When are we not helping someone?
Rani: Baliyo. This is serious.
Rani and Baliyo gripped his scruff, he was soaked with cold water and they pulled him away from the river's edge. They noticed a scratch on his back left leg.
Baliyo: He must've been in a fight or someone tried to drown him.
Rani: Well he needs help and needs it now. Go to Ullu and tell her to bring Surak, i'll try and warm him up.
Baliyo: Please don't tell me you plan on-
Rani: Body heat, yes. Anything else, no. I wouldn't do that with someone I just met and especially while we're cubs and when that someone is unconscious.
Baliyo: Okay. Okay. I'll tell Ullu.
Baliyo took off and Rani settled herself close to the lion cub to warm him up. She decided that while she was laying there, she would look him over more to see if she can spot anything else major. She spotted small cuts, probably from the current, we was obviously fighting do to bruises on him or it could've been from rocks in the river but that paw shaped bruise was as plain as day that he was in a fight or in a middle of a fight. Baliyo returned shortly and decided to help warm up the cub. He settled himself on the opposite side of the cub but as soon as his fur went up against the cub, he felt it was freezing.
Baliyo: Brr. You're right, he's freezing. How long do you think he was in that river for?
Rani: Who knows? But he was obviously in a fight or in the middle of one, you can tell by the paw shaped bruise he has on his side.
Baliyo: But who knows about all these small scratches and bruises? Or that big scratch on his leg?
Surak arrived with another lioness arrived to see Baliyo and Rani try to warm up the cub.
Rani: Surak! Nirmala! Do you think we can take him in? Who knows how far away from home he is or what truly happened?
Surak: We won't know until he wakes up, if he can remember.
Surak carefully picked up the still wet cub by the scruff and walked with the others back through the pass. By the Tree, Surak laid the cub carefully on the grass so Nirmala can have a look at him. Nirmala studied the unconscious cub carefully. She took notice of every little detail.
Nirmala: I'll be right back with a few things. Keep an eye on him.
Nirmala left and returned in a few moments with a few things. It wasn't too hard because she had practiced a lot with medicine and remedies. She applied it carefully to the cub's wounds.
Nirmala: Now lets bring him inside that way he can rest.
Baliyo: You sure he won't wake up?
Surak: We're sure. Not for a while.
Nirmala picked up the cub and carried him inside. She bowed slightly to the queen before placing the cub down against the wall.
Rani: Grandmother Janna. Me and Baliyo found this cub in the river. Can he stay here?
Queen Janna: Of course. He'll be safe here.
Nirmala had brought a big leaf to cover the cub when she noticed him visibly shaken.
Queen Janna: Now go on and play. He'll be fine here.
Nirmala settled slightly close to the cub in case he was to wake up while Surak took the other two cubs out.
*2 Days Later*
Rani and Baliyo were just outside the Tree talking.
Rani: He's been here for 2 days with no change.
Baliyo: If he truly came from that river, he would've been through a lot. Not to mention he was freezing when we found him.
Rani: Good point. Lets go in and see if there's any change.
Baliyo: Okay.
Nirmala was out doing her thing and Queen Janna was resting as the 2 cubs entered. They spotted the young cub they had rescued 2 days ago along the side of the Tree. They noticed him stir a little.
Baliyo: He's been doing the same thing for 2 days. Only stirring a little and not actual waking up.
Rani noticed his eyes were slowly opening.
Rani: Wait. Baliyo, look.
Rani and Baliyo came over to the waking cub.
Cub: Hmm? Where-where am I?
Baliyo: You're at the Tree of Life.
Cub: Who are you two?
Rani took noticed how weak the cub sounded but that was understandable due to him being out so long.
Rani: I'm Rani and this is Baliyo.
Baliyo noticed the cub looking at the sleeping form of Queen Janna.
Baliyo: Oh. That's Queen Janna. She's wise and very kind.
Rani remembered that they just brought in a fresh thing of water in case he woke up. She went over to the water and carefully pushed it toward the cub. The cub looked at Rani quizzically.
Rani: Go ahead and drink.
The cub sniffed the water before he started drinking. He drunk until it was halfway gone.
Cub: How long have I been out?
Baliyo: We're not exactly sure but you were out for 2 days when me and Rani found you.
Cub: 2 days?!
This woke up Queen Janna and she looked at the young cub.
Queen Janna: I see that our young visitor has finally woken up. What's your name young one?
Baliyo and Rani realized they had completely forgotten to ask the cub for his name.
Cub: Kion.
Queen Janna: Well it's nice to meet you Kion.
Kion realized he was still laying down under the leaf. He knew his family would be worried sick or think that he's dead. He thought back to the attack that Zira planned on doing to Kiara and that he intervened. Kion looked at the two cubs in front of him trying to figure out if they were friends or related or something else.
Rani: Right. We're brother and sister.
Baliyo: Though she's older.
Kion hearing this thought of his older sister and tried to stand up but his legs simply wouldn't budge. Then Kion took notice of Surak and Nirmala coming in. He hoped that they were all nice or he would be in big trouble. Rani, Baliyo, and Queen Janna took notice of him trying to stand up and the 2 new lions entering.
Rani: Calm down. Relax. You're safe.
Baliyo: Yeah. That's just Nirmala and Surak.
Kion was glad that none of them looked like Zira though they all kind of looked like Kovu but he also took notice that Kovu didn't want to fight but be friends so he relaxed his body as the 2 new lions came forth.
Surak: I see the young cub woke up.
Baliyo: He said his name is Kion.
Nirmala: Well, Kion? Do you mind if I have a look at you to see how you are healing?
Kion thought for a moment as he remembered how Rafiki always invaded personal space along with Bunga so he was used to it, then again those were animals he knew. He just simply nodded his head, still a little unsure. Nirmala came forth toward him and removed the leaf that was covering him and Kion tried not to feel uncomfortable because the only lionesses that he trusted around him was those in the Pride Lands that weren't enemies. Kion placed his head on his paws trying not to think about the strange lioness looking him over. Nirmala looked at the scratch on his back left leg and it was a scar that was gonna heal in time. She noticed that much of the tinier scratches were gone and the bruises were on the fading side. Then she looked at his scar over his left eye and immediately knew that it would never fade but now it was time to test his memory other than his name. But before she could ask any questions that wouldn't make him uncomfortable, Baliyo spoke.
Baliyo: So what happened to you?
Kion shot his head up with his eyes snapped open. He really didn't want to tell them, he needed to get to know them better before things got personal but knew if they knew what happened, they could help him better.
Rani: Baliyo. Why did you have to ask that?
Kion: No, no. It's fine. But i'm not saying names.
Queen Janna: You don't have to do anything you don't want to.
Kion: -Deep Breath- I was walking when I heard growling. I went to see what was going on. I saw this lioness, who doesn't get along with my dad, about to attack my sister. I just couldn't let that happened so I shoved her out of the way but I didn't get out of the way in time and she ended up scratching my back left leg. My sister didn't want to leave without me but I learned how to defend myself and others so I told her to go and just so she wouldn't worry, I told her that I would be fine. I saw her take off, probably to get help. I faced the lioness alone and I dodged some of her attacks, but she scratched my eye. I stumble toward the river's edge and slipped. I gripped hold of the side just as I see my parents coming. My dad went to take on the lioness while my mom was coming to help me. The lioness hit my side and caused me to loss my grip and that's about all I remember.
Baliyo: You saved your sister?
Kion: Yeah. She wasn't the kind that defended herself. She's training to be Queen of the-
Kion stopped himself from saying anymore, not knowing if he could completely trust them but he had no choice but to be around them for now.
Baliyo: Of the, what?
Surak: Baliyo. If he doesn't want to say, he doesn't have to.
Baliyo: Fine.
Nirmala: He should rest some more.
Rani: Alright.
Nirmala put the leaf back on him, not wanting to make him anymore uncomfortable than he already was. Then everyone but the Queen left the Tree.