The Lion King: Rise of the White Pride
Chapter 20: Depressing Days
Happy new year! Yeah I know I'm late to say that. This chapter's supposed to be uploaded on new year, but I had issues.
Note that Chapter 19 was rewritten to fit the new series in. Other than that, sorry for the hiatus. The site got blocked here, you see.
Oh, one more thing. I have a poll going on. It's just my attempt to test out the poll function, but you could give it a vote.
The rain ceased a little but still could be considered a hard rain. The dark clouds didn't get lighter so the rain seemed going to last longer than they thought. The sun didn't show up either, leaving the Pride Lands in shadows. The Zuberi River raised a little and got harsher, making splashing sounds that accompanied the raindrops. Hardly any animals, beside the lions, were seen. They were drenched in water, making their fur wet and covered most of their faces, concealing their expression.
Kiburi walked behind the group, the last one. Before him was Kasi and then Kubwa and Nala, who were carrying the body of Simba. Simba's death dealt severe shock and sadness to them. He fought, defending the Pride Lands, but lost his life in the process. Kiburi could only look downward, leaving Kasi to guide him. He was too sad and too ashamed to Simba's death. Everyone might tell him that it wasn't his fault, but he could've done better. He could just smash the hyenas circled him around and went straight toward Hasira, but he didn't. He was full of regret.
On the front was none other than Kovu, the King of Pride Lands. He didn't look sad from behind, as with everyone else, but for sure, he was as shocked and as sad as the others. He had to keep his composure; he was the king after all. Had to be tough and reliable, not a crybaby. Judging by his unusual walk though, he was in verge of a breakdown. If his wounds already healed up, then Simba's death must have caused that.
Kiburi glanced to his left, trying to get his mind off Simba. Instead, he saw Kabisa, Kuruka, and Mrefu. The three walked normally, but they kept their distance and didn't talk any words. They could respect Simba, should respect them for that. Respect them for respecting . . .
When they approached Pride Rock, Kiburi looked at the worried pride members. As he predicted, they were all as shocked as he was. Some tried to comfort Kovu, but he didn't even seem to notice them talking. Some cried soon after our group told them what happened, but like Kabisa, they cried in silence. Kiburi's heart was struck harder when Kiara came out from the crowd full of worry.
"Kovu!" she shouted as both she and Kovu drew closer. "What happened-," but she gasped as she saw Nala carrying Simba's body. Kiara looked at her, but she could only shake her head. Kiara turned to Kubwa and she simply looked away. Kiara broke out crying before Simba's body. Kovu fell down to the floor as he reached the end of the den.
Kiburi didn't have the courage to face her and walked away, trying to calm himself. He did fail to protect Simba. Kasi didn't seem to be shaken, but deep inside, she was crying. She saw Kiburi walking away, but decided to give him some time alone.
The rain was almost ceased when Kiburi reached the Five Stones, which was some distance away from Pride Rock. Raindrops still fell, but a lot lesser then minutes before. No one was there. Which was obvious as it was raining, but somehow he didn't feel to care about that. He dropped himself in the middle of the stone formation. Flashes of Simba came to his mind.
It was morning and the sun hadn't rise yet. Kiburi woke up earlier just to see the sunrise along with Kasi. They passed through the lions, who were lesser on the floor because of the recently found cave system underneath the den. They looked back, only to giggle when they see Kovu and Kiara still sleeping peacefully with a space between them where the cubs were. Kiburi led the way outside where it was still dark and the stars still glimmered upon the land, struck them with awe. They would be falling down the ledge if it wasn't for Simba who appeared behind them, catching them by their scruff.
"Grandpa Simba!" they both squeaked when they were put down and look at their savior.
Simba grinned ear to ear when he saw the little cubs wriggling around trying to get back on their paws. "Now, what did I and your parents say about wandering off alone?"
"Never," the cubs said in unison. "But daddy and mommy never let us see the sunrise!" Kiburi protested, his emerald green eyes flashed need for justice. "Yeah, we want so bad to see the sunrise!" Kasi added.
Simba put a paw on his chin while humming. "Well. What do you think?" he said as he looked to his back, where Kovu and Kiara emerge from the den all fresh already.
Kovu put his angry face when his cubs saw him, but chuckled when he saw them terrified. "Okay then, but we're going to watch it together," the twins' face immediately lightened up when they hear that.
"Come on," Kiara called while Simba led the way to the back of Pride Rock.
Of course, the way to the top was dangerous. They were literally scaling up a gigantic rock. There weren't any fence or whatsoever that prevents anyone or anything from falling down to the ground. It wouldn't be good. Pride Rock's side was decorated with dangerous spikes that could kill anyone instantly. It was more dangerous because there wasn't any light besides from the stars and the moon, and their light didn't provide enough light to light up the entire way up, so the twins had to get to the top on Simba's back to get there safely.
"Whoa!" the twins said as they saw the brilliant sight that were laid before them. The beautiful full moon was glistering with its light being manipulated by the moving clouds in the sky. Behind the disappearing moon was the orange glow of the rising sun on horizon.
"Another beautiful night. With a full moon, and the stars," Simba remarked. Kovu and Kiara could only smile in agreement. "This, my grandchildren, is the world we live in, where everything exists in a delicate balance. Everything rolls in the great Circle of Life," just then the wind blew strong with white particles decorating it. "It's pretty much what your great-grandfather Mufasa said. A king's time rises and sets like the sun. When one king's time sets," Simba glanced at Kovu, who raised his chin proudly. Simba smirked. "It would be the time of another's time rises. But I think I'm having second thoughts on your bratty father being the king."
"Hey!" Kovu protested. Kiara just giggled.
The twins looked at Simba before returned their sight at the sky. "The Circle of Life," they said as the sun rose from the horizon, starting to illuminate the savannah.
Tears of sadness and agony once again ran down Kiburi's cheeks, dropping on the wet earth of the rain from sky his grandfather left off to. His grandfather that taught him how to behave, how to be brave, how to be gentle, and how to be helpful. The one that told him why the sky cries, why the sun sets, and why there were so many stars in the sky. That lion, Simba, wasn't here anymore. No more standing beside him, no one to prevent him from going the wrong path like Scar did. It was painful, knowing that someone you held very dear to your heart aren't going to be with you again.
When Kiburi remembered the day he knows the 'Circle of Life', he glanced upon the stars, which glimmered prettily, playing rays of light beside the moons. Among them, one star appeared, and it shone brightly, brighter than the rest. "When kings died, they ascend to the sky, where they'll sit on their throne in the sky forever, watching us," a whisper from the wind said to him. And when Kiburi remember, it was Simba who told him that.
"No! Simba wouldn't want this!" Kiburi said to himself as he stood up and wipe his tears away. "I hope you're fine at your throne, grandpa," he said as he smiles, knowing that Simba must had get to his throne, high in the sky, away from the living.
The moment of rising was enough to distract him long enough for someone to sneak behind one of the stones. This one was very skilled. Their movement was almost soundless. They could slit his throat easily if he tried harder. The frict to the grass and the strange wind told Kiburi that someone's coming.
"Who's-!?" but they got him first.
As if Simba's death wasn't enough, the desert wind blew in such force that pushed Shaka back toward the Pride Lands. But Shaka was too down to even notice the sand particles that swirled above him like a swirling twister of agony along with flowers that were carried by the wind. White and pretty, the countless flowers flowed along the twisting wind.
Shaka could've fainted long ago as his strength was almost completely gone along with the rage he unleashed not too long ago but, he was too shocked to the point that he unconsciously forcing his body to move across the vast desert, burdening his body even more. Why not? Again, once again, he watched another person dies before him while he couldn't do a thing to save them. He already lost Hasira's old self, his father, Sadaka, and now Simba. He couldn't take it anymore.
The cold sand stung his already numb nerves like thousands of blades. His tantrum took its toll to his body heavily. Yet, he moved along with the glittering rays of starlight, walking past sand mountains slowly. The barren land that was scorched by the sun was as cold as the disappointed eyes of his father.
He remembered when he was a cub with already growing mane on his head. When his gentle father stood on the edge of the mountain top, watching the beauty of the upper atmosphere while telling legends to the cubs and juveniles. That time everything seems perfect. With Hasira's rivalry, Uzuri's support, Sadaka's jokes, and his father's advices and stories. Time sped forward as the clouds move as fast as the wind and the terror of the dark lion ravaged the pride, throwing Shaka down to the mountainside. The years with Ujuzi and his disappearance. And stopped, when he first meet Simba, one of the most wise person he ever met, who somewhat made him feel like his father was never died. The thought of losing them all was just too much.
Right when his mind shattered into pieces and he fell to the soft sand land, something tender and warm caught him and told him softly that he'll going to be okay.
"Shhhttt-!" the being silenced but Kiburi kept fighting back. "Stop it!" and the being hugged Kiburi in a tight bear hug. That worked, though, Kiburi calmed down fast.
The being let go of their hug and as they backed a little, the moonlight hit upon their face, revealing the being to be a lioness, the only white colored being beside the moon and the stars. She grinned mischievously as the confused Kiburi got to his feet.
"Furaha, is that you?" Kiburi asked just to be sure.
She scoffed disappointedly. "Huh, you're not as bright as the others, are you?"
"Hey!"
She spit her tongue out. "Try to catch me, dumbass," she said before jetting off through the tall grasses.
Ooh she wouldn't get away that easily, Kiburi quickly trailed her to the woods where the trees were denser. The atmosphere couldn't be more relaxing than the quiet and peaceful night. The resting butterflies were disturbed by the passing lions and flew alongside them, giving both young lions a beautiful view in the night where the air freezes as cold as ice.
On the edge of the forest where the trees end, Kiburi caught up with Furaha and sent them both spinning down a hill, splashed by some water in the process. Furaha retaliated by grabbing Kiburi's shoulders and threw him off to a pool of water where he fell helplessly and get wet all over.
"I don't understand," Furaha said as Kiburi rose from the pool. "Why did you convince me to stop fighting? I was your enemy..."
"It was written on your face that you fought hesitantly. Even though you looked giving your all," the words struck to Furaha's ears. "Besides..."
Furaha waited for him to finish. But when he didn't, she asked, "Besides what?"
His face reddened. "I-I-I don't want to make any more enemies, OK?"
But some kind of aura pulled Kiburi's eyes to meet Furaha's. "Liar," she said. Kiburi just threw his face away in response. "Just go to sleep already."
Furaha was taken aback. "Well, hello. I left them," she said venomously. Kiburi peered in surprise at her. "So now, I don't have anywhere to go. So I'll ask you: could I join your pride?"
"It's not impossible," Kiburi said calmly and then jumped down under hanging earth that shielded a room below it. "But things aren't good this time so I guess you'll have to live somewhere else – such as here – until everything's alright," and then Furaha came down and raised her eyebrows. "Okay, okay, I'll stay with you, but I'll have to return sometimes, alright?" and he got a blink as an answer before she went ahead and curled up.
Kiburi breathed out. How did this happen? But a single glance at a shivering Furaha told Kiburi that he had to do something. And he curled up close to her so that they wouldn't freeze up.
"I hope no one dies again tomorrow," he said, silently before drifting off to sleep.
Furaha took a peek at the young lion. "Agree," and she drifted to sleep as well.
Stinging cold attacked Shaka's whole body, knocking him awake and claws unsheathed. "Whoa!" said frightened voices around him. "Calm down," said another distinctive voice. This one got his attention and he calmed down, trying to open his heavy eyes.
It was Uzuri, the snow white lioness that was the last thing he saw clearly. Standing in front of him, staring at his awakening in the night. It wasn't dark, though. The moon was shining brightly, and the place he was lying on was moonlit.
"Where am I?" he said as he stood on four legs, but his hind legs failed to stay up. "Ngh!" he grunted as his feet strained.
Uzuri smacked his head by reflex. "Stop hurting yourself!" she said as he tried to sit instead. "Do not interrupt my explanation, alright?" She said, knowing that Shaka would only asked more and more annoyingly if hadn't answered. "You ran till you fell in the desert. Which, thankfully, close to an forest called... uhhh... What is it called again?" she asked a meerkat beside her.
"My son named this paradise, Hakuna Matata," the female meerkat replied, slapping a powder of medicine onto Shaka's joints, but he didn't even flinch. "You didn't feel that? You must be too strong or too tired to feel that," she commented while trying to cover more surface.
"'No Worries?'" she asked again for assurance. Which the meerkat just nodded it off. "Okay, I think he'll be okay with those now. Thanks again for the help."
"With pleasure. We have to help each other, right?" she said before walking off with her fellow meerkats.
"Were those meerkats? In a jungle?" Shaka said as he slowly rose to four feet. "Now that's not a sight I see most of the time," he said while trying out his legs. Uzuri just smiled him off. "What?"
She shook her head to a way upward to a hill. Shaka groaned, but Uzuri just give him a disappointed look, which returned most of his strength in an instant. But still, he had to move slowly so that his body wouldn't fall apart. He walked in the front while Uzuri on his back, keeping him on course.
It took a whole ten minutes to get to the top, where they got a wide view of the oasis on the back and the great vast desert in the front, constantly blowing sand particles that decorated the air. The sky was very clear, as if the heavy rain didn't happen here at all. Sound of dripping water, water current, leaves against each other reminded Shaka how calming nature could be.
Maybe, just maybe, if someone or something could actually reverse time or travel through time, he would find it is no matter what and return to his past life where he was just a cub that only knows playing – and fighting to some degree. He would change everything. He would save Hasira from his loneliness and the avalanche. He would train hard so that his trip would be shorter and he would be stronger, strong enough to prevent his father's death and the dark lion's conquest. He would came down the mountain, travel to the Pride Lands and find whoever live around the ravine. He would even reject of being the next leader of the Mountain Pride and rather journey somewhere else to help anyone in need.
Unfortunately, no one could reverse time. What had been done could not be undone. "Sometimes, I want to be able to reverse time," we could only live with it, with both the good things and bad things altogether. "So that I could prevent all of this from happening..." Shaka's voice weakened as he knew how impossible that was.
"Yet, here we are," a deep voice caught Shaka and Uzuri's attention, making them wary at condition red. "We all did mistakes, caught in troubles, loss of something, they all made holes in our life," the voice continued. Shaka and Uzuri unsheathed their claws, scanning their surrounding. "Good and bad things were left, but all we can do is moving on. Each of us have life that need to be kept running. We can't stop and let it end just like that," and the leaves sway around. The white lions frantically looking for the source of the voice.
"While on the topic . . .," than the direction became clear: from the jungle edge. Both white lions faced whoever that was. "My friends' life is at stake. Care to help?" a lion came to the top, backing the rising sun. Casting shadow that engulfed the white duo. While the backlight blinded them, they could make up the lion's appearance.
He had dark orange fur with cream muzzle and underbelly. He had two-colored full mane with black and brown alterations and unique black tuft from the back of his ears, swaying as the ears move. Like his mane, his tail tuft was brown with black end. His eyes were . . . shifting? His eyes were brown then green and then gold. Both of them constantly shifting colors. It could be because of the back light that made the white lions couldn't see clearly, but it seemed too real.
"If you help, we'd be very grateful," he said with a friendly smile.
Happy reading! Review to tell me your opinion of my story. Cheers!