The Lion King: Rise of the White Pride
Chapter 18: Move Out Pt 3, The Breakout
Sorry for the delay but, readers, I present you the last part of Move Out: The Breakout. R&R, please :)
The sky brightened up in orange as the morning sun of a new day slowly rose from the horizon. The quiet night bit by bit became life as the chirping birds and the sound of the waking up animals brought the usual noises to the morning. The calm Zuberi River began to ripple as many animals started to take a drink and some even took a dip to bathe. Ones that woke up sooner already on their meal. With the zebras and antelopes with their grass and the leopards and cheetahs with their prey.
It wasn't the same though in a place, farther south, traveled far east by the edge of the ravine, a lion came into view as the light touched the wasteland. The tan lion with his rough dark peach mane walked casually by the edge as if he was planning a suicide. He swayed away from it, when a certain lioness stopped his tracks.
"Giza, what news do you have for me?" he asked, his voice sounded more like a wildebeest with severe throat damage than a lion. "I do hope that the things I ordered to you is already done," he said, indirectly threatening the slender lioness.
Giza shrugged. "The base has five rooms ready with two occupied by prisone-"
"Five?! I said I want fifteen done when I come back! What the hell are you doing this whole time?!" he growled, claws unsheathed, drawing scratch marks at the place he stomped them upon.
"Finding softer spots, the use of meerkats, moles, and even water stream took a long time to finish. What did you expect?!" she retaliated, not realizing her raising her voice.
"Useless moron!" he snapped, slashed Giza across her face with his claws still unsheathed. "You're lucky I got what I want so I'll forgive you . . . for now," he glanced to his back as soon as he finished his sentence, making a large crooked smile of his ear to ear.
Giza, now with five fresh slices on her face forced her face to look behind the tan lion. Behind him, was an unexpected thing.
"Hell no . . . Kuzimu tell me I'm hallucinating . . ."
Shaka got up in the middle of the night in the middle of grassy plains with occasional trees grew. It was silent as always and the stars were shining in the sky. Shaka looked to his front only to found a lioness, who he guessed was another 'guiding spirit' or so he thought they were. The lioness had a tough build, and overall looked like Nala, but her eyes were faint green. She smiled at him and then walked through him. Shaka turned only to find that she was looking at something. He tried to focus and saw something. It was the Pride Rock, and when he saw all of it, the lioness disappeared in a flash of light.
"You think Scar is up there?" Shake heard a voice and turned to see who. "He wasn't my father, but he was still . . .," it sighed. "Part of me."
"Shaka looked farther and then found two lions near a tree. One looked much like Kovu but lacked his scar while the other one was a lioness that looked like Kiara.
The lioness answered. "My father said there was a darkness in Scar that he couldn't escape."
Shaka grimaced at the name but kept it in.
"Maybe there's a darkness in me too," after saying that, the lioness put her paw on the lion's and then nuzzled him.
At this point, Shaka noticed someone watching the two. It was obviously Simba though younger. Shaka closed in on him.
Simba looked at the sky. "Father, I'm lost. Kovu is one of them. Scar's heir. How can I accept him?"
Eh? So that's Kovu after all, but where did his scar go? And she must be Kiara Shaka thought after hearing Simba.
The grass behind Simba moved away and Nala approached. "Simba?" she said, as if Simba's gone for days.
"I was . . . seeking counsel from the Great Kings," he answered.
"Did they help?"
Simba sighed. "Silent as the stars. My father would never-"
Nala cut him off. "Oh, Simba. You want so much to walk the path expected of you. Perhaps Kovu does not," she said.
A shocked Simba asked, "What? How do you know what-"
Nala chuckled at him. "I can see them down there just as easily as you can. Get to know them and see," she said before leaving. Simba hesitated a little but left too.
"Darkness in Scar . . . and darkness in Kovu," Shaka said. Then he thought on Nala's words. "(Perhaps) Kovu does not want to walk Scar's path?" and then another, "Get to know them and see."
He was silenced just in time as another flash of light blinded him.
He woke up. The sunlight hadn't reached their room but he was sure it was morning. He looked at Kovu and thought about his dream. Haraka already woke up. They looked into each other and then nodded. They approached the still sleeping Kovu.
"Kovu. Hey, Kovu."
Kovu rolled and faced the one that called him. "Wha-?" is what could only say when he opened his eyes.
"Hey. Rise and shine," Shaka called him again.
Kovu forced open his eyes and saw both Shaka and Haraka sitting in front of him.
He stood up, and in the same time, the leaves that covered his wound fell off. Meant that the medicine had disappeared and the wound had healed. He looked around with a bit blur in his eyes. When his sight landed at the hole in the wall, the sunlight hit his eyes and knocked him wide awake. He shook his head to make sure he was awake before facing Shaka and Haraka.
He rubbed his eyes a bit and stretched. "What is it?"
"We're escaping today," Haraka said, bringing the point straight up.
Shaka stepped forward. "All you have to do is keep low in here and when I came back, it's time to act," he explained short and clear.
Haraka peered at him "what are you going to do? We're not escaping now?"
"I want to make sure we're clear when we escape," he said unconvincingly. "Besides. I have something to sort out with Hasira . . .," before he could continue, his ears shot up and became more wary. "Shh! Kovu, lay down!"
A second after Kovu laid down, a gripping sound was heard and the boulder moved out of the way. Coming in was Hasira with fresh buffalo with blood still dripping from it. His face was the usual tough-looking expression with his messy mane increasing the tough look. But today, instead of coming all the way in and set the prey down near Kovu, he merely threw the prey in after a quick look at Kovu. Shaka didn't know why, but whatever it was he'll go with him.
"None of you're coming out?" Hasira asked coldly, still standing on the entrance, glaring at the three.
Haraka returned the glare. "I'm staying. I don't want anything happen to my king," she said, still locked to Hasira's eyes.
Shaka could feel a thin lightning raging between the two and decided to stop them. "I'm going."
Hasira's mouth corners raised a little before he turned his back. "Then come on."
Like yesterday, after Shaka stepped out, Hasira immediately put the boulder back. They walked out with nobody out there. Just the swirling wind and dust and the blue sky with the clouds. Shaka stretched under the sunlight and looked at Hasira, who was walking onto the place they went the same sight of the Forest of Waliopotea, the Pride Rock far off. It was simply the same like yesterday where all they do were talking.
"You know," Hasira started. "I'm still confused about something."
"What?"
"Your friend, the white leopard," he said struggling over the name. "His fur was white?"
"Hmm? Nah. He's normal with that yellow fur," Shaka said while playing on small rocks.
Hasira was confused at the answer. "But then, why-?"
"Because I want to keep him in my memory forever. The moment I will remember about him that the first time we met he was a snow covered-leopard that saved me. And then became a friend who, like you, I cared like a brother."
Hasira was silenced by the answer. Remembering how Shaka used to go against his parents order because of Hasira's repeated attempt of escaping. Their young times were spent only the three of them. Because Hasira's not liked by most of the pride members, he tend to play with Shaka and Uzuri, the only cubs his age that was his close friends.
"How long are you going to keep us here?" Shaka said suddenly, catching Hasira off guard.
"Indefinitely," Hasira answered simply.
"What are us to you anyway? Coming all of the sudden and kidnapped us?"
Hasira turned his sight to Shaka. "It wasn't my decision . . ."
"Then who's?"
"Doesn't matter. Until she says so, you're not going anywhere."
Shaka practically cursed Hasira in his state now. "What's wrong with you?" he stood up in rage. "And who is 'she'? The Hasira I knew is a lion with his own ideals and not the one to obey orders!" he accidentally snapped. "Are you a puppet now?"
"No . . . it's not. It just that . . ."
Shaka stomped his paw to the ground. "What?!"
"I was all alone, for years. Anyone I came into walked away, as if I'm a . . . freak or something. Just . . . " he sighed. "Leave me alone."
"I won't leave you alone! Never again I'll leave any of my friends! Not after I lost the pride, Uzuri, and I've lost you once!" he went all out, trying to encourage Hasira to stop whatever he was told to. Hasira looked away, but were surprised when Shaka pulled him into a bear hug. "I think about you guys all this time. Without Sadaka, Uzuri, and the others, I'm hollow inside. I really miss you all," he cried letting it all go out. "I don't care what 'she' said. I'll be there. Come with me. There's so much in Pride Lands that would make us feel like home. I already felt it, you can too!"
Hasira held his tears, trying to keep it in. But one managed to escape in the warmth of the lion he once felt like his own family along with Uzuri. The three of them, up in the cold mountain.
But apparently, it wasn't enough. "Wait here," Hasira said coldly as if nothing Shaka said meant anything to him, before returning to the underground passage.
Shaka followed Hasira silently, trying not to make a sound. After Hasira disappeared into the passage, Shaka put his ears close to the ground to catch any possible conversation.
He heard a boulder being moved before, "Hasira!" a feminine voice echoed through. The voice even startled Shaka, though he didn't flinch too much so that Hasira wouldn't notice him.
"Are you getting me out?" the voice enthusiastically asked.
"Not yet, but the time's near," Hasira's voice ensuring.
"Okay then, I trusts you, Hasira,"
"You can count on me," Hasira paused briefly. "Uzuri."
Shaka literally slide down the ramp and confront the two, face by face. His eyes searched frantically to the one Hasira called 'Uzuri', relying on the tiny ray of hope that he'll see his childhood friend again. Standing in front of Hasira, right beside the moved boulder, a white lioness around the same age as him and Hasira. With a long scar ran vertically along her neck. Her muzzle and paws were ash gray, and her ears rimmed thin black. Beside the scar, the thing that tore right into Shaka's heart was her teal-mint eyes, and the way it looked at him was the same it did back then in the whiteness of the snow.
"Uzuri?" Shaka asked, still couldn't believe the lioness he saw in front of him.
"I know you?" she said, not recognizing Shaka. But when she took another look at him, "Shaka?"
But before Shaka could say anything, Hasira lunged at him with his claws unsheathed and teeth bared. Shaka shielded against the sudden attack instead of parrying it, so that Hasira would think that he hasn't recovered yet. Hasira backed off only to strike behind Shaka's neck and had him passed out. Before Shaka blacked out completely, he saw Uzuri repeatedly said his name and tried to tend to his side but Hasira held her back.
Simba and Kiburi stood, along with Nala and Kubwa side by side in front the forest's entrance. Since days ago when Shaka first appeared, the area around the entrance was as empty as Mufasa's Gorge. The four of them didn't have any idea to navigate the forest to begin. The daylight started to wash their drowsiness away.
"Well, now that we think about it, how are we gonna get past these trees?" Nala said, looking at the sinister woods. "We should think two or three steps ahead, you know," she continued, looking at Simba.
"Just run straight ahead and don't stop," he answered simply. "Let's go!" he took off.
Kubwa shrugged. "I didn't know Simba can be that energetic," she commented.
Nala chuckled. "Well, my dear. Everyone have a side that anyone else didn't know."
"Come on, Granma, Kubwa. He's disappearing!" Kiburi ran off with the lionesses followed suit.
The three sprint as fast as they could but Simba was nowhere to be seen. Kiburi put up the pace and left the lionesses behind. The shadows of the trees just made Kiburi disappear in a blink of an eye. The random light patches disrupt the vision and the random trees rendered the lions hard to move around. Kubwa find herself slowed down because of her huge build while Nala swiftly evaded one tree after another, over a fallen tree and under a low branch, and jumped over seemingly invisible pit holes. Kiburi did the same, though more quickly and reached an opening where a pond bent ahead with a dirt bridge overhang above it.
When he scanned around him, he saw an antelope coming toward him, but it fell over and it was just Simba carrying a prey. Nala arrived a second after while Kubwa arrived late completely out of breath.
"Now that's a meal!" Kiburi hopped around before digging in.
Nala realized something when Kubwa's falling body created a small quake. "Come to think about it, we haven't had breakfast. Oh, we really need to watch this kind of things, Simba!" she raised her voice, hoping that Simba hear her this time.
Suddenly something make Kubwa jumped to her legs. "Who is that?!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, in the Forest of Utulivu.
Vitani woke up on a huge nest made of smooth and comfortable leaves between the roots of a huge tree. She rolled around, trying to sleep again, but couldn't when the leaves above wind away and the sunlight hit her face. She stood up and stretched, cracked some bones. She looked behind the tree to find Tojo and Kula sleeping side by side, cuddled against each other. She looked around again and found Kimbia on a branch up a tree. The sudden movement behind her startled her when she was not looking.
"You realize that you slept in my bed, do you?" it was Kabisa, with his serious look in his eyes and a sign of not sleeping well last night.
Vitani shrugged. "Yeah, whatever," she walked out to her friends.
Vitani stood before the couple and just there watching them sleep peacefully, until Vitani threw a broken branch at them, making them hit their head against each other in surprise. The two tried to stand up while still dizzy. Vitani just laughed at them, Kabisa could only shake his head. When Vitani turned to Kimbia's tree, he was already gone and then appeared behind her, startling her.
"Wake up, lazybones. Let's catch some breakfast. Kula, Tojo, get moving!" she said when she saw them still sleepy.
The four were about to go deeper into Utulivu when Kabisa cleared his throat. "For your information, I've never caught any prey here in Utulivu, hence the name," he said on top of a big root. "I've always hunt in the forest over there," he pointed a paw at a direction, which is the direction of Waliopotea.
"You crazy? We'll be lost by the time we step into that damn place!" Vitani retorted.
Kabisa sighed. "Well I've hunted there every day and only get lost once or twice a month."
"Wha- how long have you lived here?" Tojo asked, not believing that someone actually came there daily and only get lost occasionally.
Kabisa raised his head as if he was counting. "My entire life? Or so did my friends said."
"Your friends?" said the group minus Kimbia.
"Yep, although I could say they're my . . . foster parents. I've lived under their care since I was a cub."
The group looked at each other. "And they are . . . ?"
"Hey, Kabisa!" rang a voice from the direction Kabisa just pointed.
Two cat-like beings came into view. The first one had small head in relation of the body, white bars on the outer tall, oval ears, lines from the neck that transited into spots on tawny, slender body, short tail, and ridiculously long leg, making it as tall as Kimbia.
The other one had shorter fur and black lines that ran from the inner corner of the eyes to the nose and the same short tail. What was interesting about it that it had long tuft on the ears. Compared to the first, this one was way shorter.
"Mrefu, Kifupi, you're back!" shouted Kabisa before he jumped to hug them.
"Kabisa, can't. breathe!" the tall one struggled to speak under Kabisa's hug.
He let them go. "Fellas, meet my best friends. Mrefu . . ."
"Nice to meet you," said the tall one.
" . . . and Kifupi,"
"It's Kuruka!" the short one yelled, losing the temper. "Anyway, nice to meet you all."
"Same here. I'm Tojo," Tojo started followed by Kula.
"I'm Kula. That's Kimbia and that's Vitani," she said, pointing at Kimbia and Vitani, respectively.
Kabisa cut into the chat. "Catch anything?" enthusiastic at the breakfast.
Mrefu stretched his legs. "We didn't, but they did," he raised his front leg.
From the shadows of the trees, four creatures appear.
"Simba!" Kula shouted out loud. She wasn't wrong, Simba appeared along with Kiburi, Nala, and Kubwa.
"Guys!" Kiburi leaped and landed on Tojo and Kula.
"Careful with those oldies, Kiburi," Simba joked.
Kiburi pulled his head from Tojo's mane. "You guys ain't old."
"Eat up," Kubwa threw a piece of meat she carried by mouth.
The others swarmed it and when no one was looking, she looked for Kimbia. She found him and flirted a while before walked somewhere. Nala saw that, though. "Pft, young ones," she scoffed.
Vitani facepalmed herself. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you. We can't stay put while you guys went out in action," Simba explained.
Mrefu and Kuruka was dumbfounded by what the lions were talking about so while they eat, they discuss on what to do next. While the time passed by, something disturbing came into Kiburi's mind.
"Where's Kasi?"
The lone question silenced the entire group. Even the energetic Kabisa came into silency. The waving leaves and the dancing lights just increasing the quietness. Kiburi knew, because he always felt Kasi if she's near, and he didn't felt her, so she wasn't with them.
"We lost her when he chased a white lion that appeared in the forest. We haven't seen her since, sorry," Tojo said, saddened because he couldn't stop her. "Then, what about the plan?"
"We're in!" said Kuruka. "Maybe in Pride Lands we'll have more friends, right, Kabisa?"
"Yeah!"
Ten minutes passed and the meat was dust. "Are you done? We'll split up. Kiburi, Tojo, Kula, Mrefu, Kuruka and Nala will go look for Kasi" Simba briefed. "Vitani, Kabisa, Kubwa, Kimbia, and I will continue searching and rescuing Kovu."
Kiburi was shocked that he didn't get to go with the rescue team. "But I want to help rescue Shaka and Kovu."
"Sweetie, you're the one that know Kasi the best, so do as I say, find her, and help us as soon as possible, got it?"
"Okay then."
The group split into two as planned. With Mrefu and Kuruka as the guide, the search team would scan the area for Kasi while with Simba, Kubwa, and Kabisa as additions, the rescue team continued to look for their kidnapped friends. It was almost afternoon but there were dark clouds approaching. There could be raining anytime, but the spirit of the group wouldn't disappear. As the wind shook the leaves once again, the sound of Simba's command sent their spirit up.
"Go!"
Shaka was in the Pride Lands, and it was dusk and the sun was disappearing in the horizon. He looked around and then found Simba standing in then grassland, calm and collected. Shaka went to him but when he was about to speak, a giant white form appeared behind Simba. Simba then transitioned into a worse state, where his legs tore and severe injuries all over his body. He was about to attack the form when two red lights lit up and then the form engulfed Simba, erasing any sign of him. Shaka couldn't move as if there were chains that bind him in place. When the red lights went brighter, everything went blank.
"Shaka. Shaka wake up!"
Haraka's voice didn't seem to reach Shaka's soul and there where Kovu came through. "Wake up!" he smacked Shaka's unconscious head.
It worked as Shaka's eyes began to open, though slowly. "What happened?"
"After we heard something were up outside, we tried to get out and see but then the boulder moved and Hasira threw you here," Haraka explained.
"Hasira . . . Uzuri!" he remembered Uzuri and panicked. "Where is she?!"
"Where is who?" Haraka asked, not understanding who Shaka meant.
Shaka snapped and went silent. Kovu and Haraka were drowned in questions after that. When Shaka looked at them, he immediately knew what to say: "It is time," with a dead serious face.
"I'll open the path for you," he pointed at Kovu. "Haraka, you cover Kovu while he went home. If Hasira chase us, then I'll hold him off."
Kovu's ears pricked up when he heard his last sentence. "You're not going to finish him off? He's the one starting all of this, you know. He's from the same pride, from your past. You'll need allies to win."
Haraka tried to reason with him, "But, my King. You injuries aren't-"
"I know," Shaka replied, cutting Haraka's sentence. "That's why I have to face him, alone," a determined Shaka said.
Kovu didn't say more and they went to the entrance with their ears sharp. No sound, except of the sound of streaming water in their front and down below. No sound of breathing or steps outside. Shaka, who had sharper hearing, didn't tell them that someone was in the room just on their right. He unsheathed his claws and grabbed the boulder tightly before pushing it. It didn't take five seconds for the boulder to move and off the way.
They went out from the room and Shaka placed the boulder back. They ran silently to the exit ramp but before they did, Shaka came into stop, right in front of a boulder.
Both Haraka and Kovu stopped when they see Shaka stopped. "Shaka," Haraka said softly. "What are you doing?"
Shaka didn't answer. He took a deep breath and moved the boulder away, slightly rougher this time, almost throwing it off. He went in, not hearing Haraka and Kovu, who stayed outside. In there, he saw a figure near the hole, staring soullessly into the sky before realizing he was there. It was Uzuri and she was about to make her fight stance when Shaka hugged her tightly.
"I thought you were dead," he said sadly, letting some tears run down his cheeks.
Uzuri was surprised at him. "Wha-? Are you? Are you really Shaka?" Shaka tightened the hug as an answer and Uzuri returned it.
"But, I don't understand," both let the grip go. "Hasira told me you were an impostor they sent to kill me."
Shaka's face saddened by the fact. "I don't know but, that Hasira isn't the Hasira we knew. I've been here for days and yet he didn't tell me you're here. He even told me you're already dead," he explained, trying to convince Uzuri. "Come with me. I know a place where we could have family again, like back then in Mountain Pride," his eyes were filled with hope that she'll come and get out from this place.
Uzuri hesitated. "But . . . he . . .," she closed her eyes. "Alright," she opened her eyes and grinned with the same hope inside. "I believe in you."
Shaka flashed back when he saw that grin. It was the same just like back then. Whenever him or Hasira were about to get into trouble, Uzuri always made the same hope filled grin that always cheered them up. Making near-deaths a little farther from them. Every. Single. Time.
"Shaka," Kovu called from the passage. Shaka nodded.
"Come on, they're my friends," Uzuri nodded and they went off.
When they arrived at the ramp, Shaka go first to look around. The dark clouds limited his vision but as far as he could see, they're clear. The four ran as fast as they could in a triangle formation with Kovu in the middle. They scaled down the rock hill and arrived at the lower level with a few scratches. But then, Shaka's fear came true. Hasira suddenly emerged from behind and tried to tackle Shaka but Shaka turned around and scooped Hasira off to the left.
"Uzuri!" Hasira shouted and attempted to go after her but Shaka blocked his way.
When they were locked in a power clash, Shaka told the rest, "Go! I'll handle him!" and they continued running after hesitating a bit.
Both white lions clashed again. Shaka swiped at Hasira but Hasira headbutted him, cancelling the attack. While Shaka was staggered, Hasira tried to bite him but Shaka managed to snap out and smacked Hasira on his head. After they backed off a bit, they tried to claw each other only to parry both attacks.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me she's alive?!"
Hasira paused a bit. "Shut up!" he tried to pounce on Shaka but Shaka retaliated by uppercutting his chin, sending him flying and seemingly passed out.
Shaka approached his laying friend while the cloud started to fill the sky. He raised his paw, claws out. He looked at his own claws but he couldn't make himself to finish Hasira off and the downward swipe missed his head. But then Hasira woke up and swiped at Shaka, but Shaka backed off from the attack. Hasira ran and cross-swiped with a jump, which Shaka evaded easily.
"Why don't you quit?!" Hasira yelled, trying to make Shaka surrender.
Shaka reminisced the old times, when they used to play together, and not occasionally wrestle until they tire each outer out. But Shaka was the one who keep stood up first and did same taunt to Hasira . . .
"Come on, Hasira. I thought you were stronger than that," he said the taunt, hoping that Hasira would regain his senses.
Instinctively or sub-consciously, Hasira retorted, "Get real! Look which one of us is winning!" he said angrily, but gasped at his own action.
"See? I know it! You're still the Hasira I knew, the Hasira I played with together everyday. You're not someone else's-"
"What are you talking about?!" Hasira snapped. "I am me! Nobody else!" he ran again but this time did a feint and strike Shaka gut.
Shaka was shocked and was easily pinned by Hasira. "How many times do I have to beat you out?" he said while tightening his pin.
But in the darkening sky, Shaka saw what could be his worst nightmare come true. On top of the hill, thirteen shadowed beings appeared. Shaka couldn't get a better look because of Hasira blocking his sight and the disappearing light didn't help. But he could tell that most of them were . . . oh, no . . . hyenas.
The longest chapter, whooo! Actually, since my second daily test starts tomorrow (21-9-'15), I have to finish this chapter as soon as possible. See you guys in the next chapter!
A glossary for character names (in this fanfiction) and places. All in Swahili with some exceptions
From The Lion King:
Simba: lion
Nala: gift
Mufasa (Manazoto): king
Sarabi: mirage
Rafiki: friend
Pumbaa: stunned
Taka (Scar's real name): trash
From The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride
Kiara (Gaelic): little
Kovu: scar
Vitani: battle (and interestingly 'ducks' too)
Zira: hate
The Lion King: Six New Adventures
Chumvi: salt
Tojo: tattoo
Kula: eating
Tama: trifle
Original Characters (OC)
Shaka: doubt
Hasira: anger
Uzuri: beauty
Kiburi: pride
Kasi: speed
Haraka:quick
Kubwa: great, big, large
Kimbia: run
Haraka: fast
Sadaka: sacrifice, offering
Giza: dark
Kuzimu: hell
Locations
Zuberi: strong
Zulu: the Zulu language
Waliopotea : lost
Utulivu: calm
Miscelaneous
asante sana: thank you very much
squash banana: squash banana
wewe nugu: you're a baboon
mimi hapana: and I'm not
Just've noticed how many OCs I have ._. I'll try to use less as they only make the story more confusing.