Hi my friends! After receiving such enthusiastic review I couldn't just let the suspense hang too long. Well bets are on Sauda for being the killer of the birds and fishes. Also most of you understand Simba's reaction towards the loss of Zazu but I must agree it is not a reason to take it out on the pride. How will they deal with it? Find out now!

ENJOY!

After this display of power, the King raced out in the storm. Cubs began to cry, females began to shake and reach out to each other for comforting hugs. Simba's mother, Sarabi was the one most shaken. Nephi went close to her and tried his best to comfort her but Rafiki was the only one to get a response from the old paralyzed lioness. Nala was extremely shaken too but a touch from her loving daughter brought her back to reality. The lionesses had turned to her for reassurance. Kiara was holding Sauda still. The baby cub wasn't crying at all, perhaps too young to understand what had just happened.

My friends, Nala began, I am sure this was only a sort of backfire to the loss of the counselor. I am sure our King will come back safe and sound and most of all recognizing he has just made an enormous mistake. He will make it up to all of us I am confident of this.

Nala's speech was little persuasive since she had difficulties controlling her own voice. In her heart, she didn't even know what had driven Simba to react this way. The usually calm King of Prideland was powerful there was no doubt to it but he had never displayed such ferocious intentions toward his loving pride. Sebek thought for himself that Simba's return will not be a solution to the problem but only will confront the concerned people to it.

Nonetheless, the pride was now reassured by the fact that their Queen believed their King would be back safe and sound. Kiara walked to the back of the den with her daughter, yet too young to speak. She wondered, while bathing Sauda, what had gotten the most of Simba besides Zazu's death. Thinking of it, Kiara had to swallow back her tears. There was going to be an investigation to find the killer but the only clue there was consisted in the black fur there was stuck between the claws of the murdered birds. Black fur…

Kiara pushed back the thoughts of a possible accusation of her daughter. As she carefully licked off the dirt from Sauda's fur, she sensed a patch of soft skin but she ignored it. It was not possible; the cub hadn't left the den yet… hold on. Sauda had left the den to play but not as far as the waterhole. Besides, there was always someone to watch on the cubs. What if she had run off unseen? Through all those cubs one is easily… wait a minute: Sauda is black. She cannot possibly have escaped sight because of the other cubs.

Kiara surrendered to the fact that it would have been impossible for Sauda to escape. The activities of the ending day went on in the den but there was always at the entrance, someone to watch for Simba's arrival. The tension in the den was getting heavier by the minute. Simba's absence was worrying especially with the storm raging outside. He wasn't coming back. Nala began to fear her husband would be spending the night outside, away from the comfort of the den. And after all, Simba was an adult. He could well go where he wanted without permission.

Suddenly, a noise was heard at the entrance of the den. Vitani had been surveying for Simba's return and she could barely believe what she was seeing. At the sound of thundering hooves, the pride ran outside in the storm. A procession of wildebeests was running blindly through the storm right in front of Pride Rock. As the pride stared in disbelief at the phenomenon, Rafiki emerged from the rain shower that veiled the den's entrance.

Bad omen. Bad, bad omen, he muttered for himself as he neared the assembly.

What is going on Rafiki? Nephi asked over the roaring storm. Of all my long life I have never seen such deployment except for an heir's birth.

There was no point in asking the question. The old mandrill didn't know what was going on. He knew nothing more then the assembled lions and lionesses.

This is nonsense! Kiara yelled over the wind. Nothing goes right! The animals are panicked and Father ran off quite awkwardly! What in the Great King's Name is happening?

We will be safer in the den! Sarabi yelled.

Get inside, Jeyau insisted.

Once inside they say something awful. Zazu's grave had been returned. The cadaver wasn't there anymore. Sebek looked at Sauda. She was wet, indicating she had been outside with her parents. Rafiki walked to the grave and found black fur stuck between the stones.

It is more then time we investigate this! Rafiki said with a grave air.

I'll do it, Kovu said. I will find the culprit behind these abominable acts!

I'll help, Sebek said.

Me too, Vitani added.

Well… since Simba is not there to approve it is Nala's duty to do so. Nala? Rafiki noted

You have my permission, the Queen said. But not tonight. Simba will not come back. I know, I can sense it. We will all go to sleep for now and the investigation will start tomorrow.

The next morning, Sebek and Vitani were up early. The lovers and now investigation partners were discussing the best way to take on the task of finding the murderer.

I say we begin at the waterhole and follow the lead of the black fur, Vitani said.

I don't think so. We should be going to the Knowledge Tree and first identify a potential suspect.

The Knowledge Tree? Kovu asked as he was stepping out of the den.

Rafiki's home is called the Knowledge Tree, Vitani explained. There is a hole at the bottom of it that leads inside its living core. Inside the tree itself are represented all the living animals and insects of the Savannah.

Then we could make out which animals have black fur and would be a potential murderer, Kovu realized.

Then it's a plan. Let us be on our way. Sebek said.

Well I hope you liked this chapter. I am sorry for those who expected to find an answer to the question: who is the monster that killed the birds and fishes but that will be a punch for later on! Now the Knowledge Tree. Do you believe there is an answer or a part of the answer there? Find out in the next chapter.

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KeiraMcJulian