The sun was just rising, and the animals were getting ready for this new day. And i just woke up.
"Good morning Africa!" I opened my eyes and stretched my limbs.
"Good morning, mark." Zazu landed near me.
"Hey there Zazu, how are you today?" I asked
"Oh you know, majordomo and all that."
"Heh, yeah. So what's it like being a majordomo?" I asked the blue hornbill.
"Well, for me I just fly around the kingdom's skies and scan the area if there are individuals who pose a threat to the land letting the king and queen know if there is one." He explained.
"Is it hard being a majordomo?" I asked
"Most of the time, no. But it certainly has its downs, for example-" he gestured for me to come closer.
"Watching over Simba when he was a cub." He backed a bit.
"Oh, he was such a naughty cub I tell you." He exclaimed.
Simba, out of nowhere came over to us.
"Were you guys talking about me?" Simba raised an eyebrow.
This caused the look on the majordomo's face to become that of nervousness. Which made me chuckle.
"Certainly not Simba." he stated very fast.
"I somehow doubt that. But never mind. What's the morning report Zazu?" Simba dismissed the earlier subject.
"Oh. Well, both the wildebeests and hippos are arguing because someone from both sides trespassed their territory. Oh, and there are new arrivals from the east border. That's about it sire." Zazu finished the morning report.
"No hyenas?" Simba said.
"There's non at all sire. Maybe those drooling poachers changed their mind, if they even have one that is." Zazu joked and I snickered.
"Hey Simba, where's Kiara?" I asked.
"She said she was training with whom? I do not know." Simba said.
"Ah, ok. Oh wait, I'm gonna go to the crash site and see if i can get some stuff." I said.
'There was like, over 200 people going to Kenya. There's bound to be something I can salvage there.'
"Alright, how long will you be gone?" Simba asked.
"Maybe an hour or two. The crash wasn't that far anyway." i put my finger in chin.
"Alright, I'll let the pride know and oh, be careful. Anyways, I'll tend to my kingly duties now." Simba left me to myself
"I will simba." I waved goodbye to the king.
I finally made it over to the crash site. The way here was boring, but I did see some beautiful scenery.
I made my way to the scattered bags.
'The crash site wasn't as bad as I remember. maybe the vultures ate most of the bodies'
The thought of vultures eating my parents horrified me and made me depressed. My eyes soon started watering.
"M- mom, d- dad, I'm sorry if you were ever disappointed in me. I'm sorry for being such a pain. I'm sorry if I hurt both of you. If you can hear this, I'll be better the next time we meet."
I cried for about a minute. But i did feel better after saying those words.
I began calming down to continue what i was doing. I rummaged through the bags and found Bluetooth headphones.
"Hey, maybe I can charge this. I do have a solar-powered power bank and a phone that has loads of music in it." I smiled as i rub the last tear that escaped from my eye.
I stood up and scanned around me. my eyes locked on to a bag that looked weird. I came closer to the weirdly shaped bag and gasped.
"It's a freaking guitar!!" My depression quickly formed into excitement and started celebreating soon after. I opened the bag that revealed to be an accoustic.
"AND AN ACOUSTIC AT THAT!" I exclaimed. I was so happy that I was shaking the guitar around. I realized what I was doing and stopped.
'Maybe I shouldn't be doing that'
I shook my excitement out, put the instrument back in its case and strapped it on my back.
"Man, I can't wait to play this thing. Oh and sorry to whoever owned this guitar, may you rest in peace." I said.
I walked around the crash site and saw what looks to be a small case. I opened it revealing to be a knife.
'That'll come in handy'
I rummaged more bags and found a lighter, camera and a drone.
'Haven't used a drone before, the lighter is helpful in starting fires, so i'll be definitely be using that.
I walked inside the cabin and towards the cockpit. I saw 2 dead people, they don't even look like people anymore. The co-pilot didn't even have a left hand.
"That's gonna stay in my brain for a while." Just by looking at it made me almost puke.
I got out of the plane and decided it was time to go. I looked back and said my prayers for the people who died on that plane.
The path was as boring as ever. But i did encounter 2 monkeys who were fighting over a stick. So i sat down and watched for what felt like an hour. It did distract from the crash.
I got bored watching them, so I decided i want to play the guitar. I sat beside a nearby tree and opened the guitar case. I thought about what I was going to play and the thought of stiches by shawn mendes came to mind.
'That'll do.'
I put my fingers in their designated chords and strummed.
"I thought that I've been hurt before
But no one's ever left me quite this sore
Your words cut deeper than a knife
Now I need someone to breathe me back to life
Got a feeling that I'm going under
But I know that I'll make it out alive
If I quit calling you my lover
Move on
You watch me bleed until I can't breathe
I'm shaking, falling onto my knees
And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches
I'm tripping over myself
I'm aching, begging you to come help
And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches
Just like a moth drawn to the flame
Oh, you lured me in I couldn't sense the pain
Your bitter heart cold to the touch
Now I'm gonna reap what I sow
I'm left seeing red on my own
I got a feeling that I'm going under
But I know that I'll make it out alive
If I quit calling you my lover
Move on
You watch me bleed until I can't breathe
I'm shaking, falling onto my knees
And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches
Tripping over myself
Aching, begging you to come help
And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches, no
Needle and the thread
Gotta get you outta my head
Needle and the thread
Gonna wind up dead
Needle and the thread
Gotta get you outta my head
Needle and the thread
Gonna wind up dead
Needle and the thread
Gotta get you outta my head
Needle and the thread
Gonna wind up dead
Needle and the thread
Gotta get you outta my head, get you outta my head
You watch me bleed until I can't breathe
I'm shaking, falling onto my knees
And now that I'm without your kisses, say
I'll be needing stitches
Tripping over myself
Aching, begging you to come help
And now that I'm without your kisses
(I'll be needing stitches)
Tripping over myself
Aching, begging you to come help
And now that I'm without your kisses
Baby, I'll be needing stitches"
"I miss playing the guitar." i sighed and stood up to continue to pride rock.
Nala's hunting party:
"Good hunting girls, this will feed us until tomorrow." The hunting group celebrated.
"The king will be pleased." said a lioness.
We started taking our kill to pride rock but stopped when we heard something strange.
"Do you hear that sound?" Nala asked the group, and they all nodded.
We decided to investigate and to our surprise, it was Mark, holding something.
The sound that came from the thing mark is holding is strange but in a good way.
He started singing.
"I thought that I've been hurt before
But no one's ever left me quite this sore
Your words cut deeper than a knife
Now I need someone to breathe me back to life"
"I didn't know mark can sing." kaya said.
We all had surprised expressions on our muzzles.
"Me too." Nala said before listening to the lyrics.
"You watch me bleed until I can't breathe
I'm shaking, falling onto my knees
And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches
I'm tripping over myself
I'm aching, begging you to come help
And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches"
"The thing that he is holding sounds very nice." My friend maua said.
"Yeah." Nala agreed.
"Let's say hi." ife said
"No. Let's wait for him to finish." Nala said and ife nodded
We stopped talking for us to hear him better
After 3 minutes of him singing, he stopped.
"Wow." Said maua.
"He sang wonderfully." Complimented Lesedi.
"That song was great! The lyrics were kinda sad though, but great nonetheless" ife said.
"I agree." kaya said.
"I miss playing the guitar." We heard mark say.
He soon stood up and started walking towards the direction of pride rock.
"So that's what it is, a Gutar? Gatar?" Kaya said, trying to pronounce it right.
"Guitar." Nala corrected.
"Ah yes, of course, guitar." kaya smiled sheepishly.
"Maybe we can request a song from him." ife said.
"Let's do that at pride rock. Right now, we need to drag our kill over to pride rock. I mean, We do need to eat right?" They all chuckled and nodded before continuing to drag their prey to pride rock.
I finally arrived at pride rock. I brought my arms to my hips and sighed. But before I could take a step, Kiara came running towards me.
'She isn't.. YO GET OUT OF THE WAY!'
I warned myself inside my head but my dumb brain processed it too slow.
"Ow!" Kiara knocked me over, landing on my bottom.
"Kiara! what was that for?" I rubbed my head and looked over my shoulder to see my backpack. Luckily, it wasn' broken.
"Where were you?" I asked kiara as i dusted myself.
"I should be asking YOU that." she made a questioning face.
"I thought Simba told you." I was confused.
"That's the thing, I don't know where he is." Kiara sat down and brought her two paws up for dramatic effect.
"Maybe he's dealing with buffalos and rhinos, but Why didn't you ask the other pride members?" I asked. She paused and blinked at me.
"Why didn't I think of that... Anyways, back to the question, where have you been?" She continued.
"I was at the crash site." I simply said.
"Why?" she stared at me.
"I decided to get some things like-" I unstrapped my guitar.
"This guitar." I smiled
"The what now?" she asked, confused.
"A guitar, it makes music." I strummed the guitar to make a sound.
"Oooohhh, can you play something?" Her eyes sparkled.
"Nah, maybe later tonight at the falls." I yawn as I put the guitar to where I usually sleep.
"You just woke up 2 hours ago, how are you tired?" she asked, amusement in her voice.
"I walked for a solid 30 minutes and didn't have breakfast." I said deadpan.
"You knew you had an empty stomach yet, you still decided to go." Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"There was no food yet. I should probably hunt to help the pride." I suggested to myself
"You didn't wait? Also, you know how to hunt?" Kiara licked her paws.
"Don't want to wait and no, I do not know how to hunt." I also sat down with her.
"Kovu can teach you!" Kiara suggested.
"no kiara, I want my own form of hunting. Learning on the go right?" I stood up and shrugged my shoulders.
"You're so hard to handle sometimes." she rolled her eyes
"And you're Kiara." I smiled.
"Is that supposed to be an insult?" She chuckled.
"Maybe, maybe not." I said in a mysterious voice.
"You are the embodiment of confusion." She smirked.
"Thanks, princess." I smirked.
"Uhhhgg, for a millionth time, stop me calling me that." She exclaimed in annoyance.
"I thought you're a princess, aren't you?" I snickered
"I am, but you're my best friend." she said with a small but noticeable blush.
"Aww, you really do care." I lightly laughed
"C'mon Kiara, it's just a nickname." I crossed my arms and a smile emitting from my face.
'Ah, easy victory here men, nice work Markus.'
The refrence made me chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Kiara tilted her head with a smile.
"Oh nothing, just something in my head." I said, still laughing.
"ok? but I'm gonna call you markie from now on." She stated.
'The enemy has countered our attack. I repeat, the enemy has the upper hand.'
"I hate that nickname..." I crossed my arms and pouted
"Aww, c'mon Markie, it's just a nickname." She smirked and i blinked 3 times at her.
'Mission failed, we'll get em next time'
"Touchè, princess." we both laughed at each other. We soon began calming down.
"So, who trained you?" I asked her.
"What?" She said.
"Simba said you were training with someone." I repeated my question.
"Ohh, it was kovu. He said I should train with him because he saw my performance. But c'mon, I was doing fine before the fire." She tried to cover up her lie.
"Yeah, I doubt that princess." I deadpanned
"Oh yeah? Can you do any better" She playfully growled.
"Oh yeah, 100x better. When I get out there, watch me hunt for a rhino." I was getting pumped up.
'poor choice. But hey, we can eat 3 days straight, when I get out alive that is.'
"A rhino? Are you going bonkers? Did I say it right?" she used my lingo.
"Maybe a rhino is too much. I'll try something smaller like a gazelle. And yeah, that's how you use it. Good job." I scratched her bottom jaw only for a mere second before I stopped.
"Aw c'mon, why'd you stop, it was actually itching." She said as she was trying to scratch it.
"Just cuz." I smirked at her.
"I hate you." she deadpanned
"And I love you." I just blurted that out like a mad man
"What?" she said.
"I- I mean f- for being a good friend." I try to cover my reddened face from her.
"Ok?" she said and I noticed a small blush that formed on her muzzle. I cleared my voice to try and change the subject.
"Anyways, you're still up for the uh, hakanu mutata falls?" I asked.
"It's hakuna matata, silly." She chuckled.
"Ah, right. So... Are You going or not? I don't know the path." I walked around the cave.
"Of course, why not?" She raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Ah, ok. Well, what time? Tonight?" I said hello to the lionesses.
"Uh, yeah." She said while walking towards me.
"Got it. Anyways, imma go take the hay." I stretched my arms to get ready for a mid-day nap.
"Not without food in your stomach. Get up and eat." She tries pushing me up.
"But there's no food." I countered.
"There is now." She countered my counter.
'Yep, i'm not gonna win this argument.'
I opened my eyes and gazed around, my eyes landed on the hunting group with two HUGE buffalos behind them.
"When'd they get here? And dang, that's a big catch." I rubbed my eyes.
"Just now. So, get up." she walked over to Nala's hunting group to greet them.
'She does not give up I tell you that'
I sighed as I made myself stand up to greet them.
"Hey guys." I waved my hand
"Hey mark. Your voice was really good." ife purred.
"What?" I was confused by her sudden compliment.
"I agree, and the thing- what was it? Guitar? It sounded very nice too." kaya said which made me blush.
"You guys saw and heard me sing?" I raised an eyebrow.
"I thought I was the only one there." my face formed that of confusion.
"Well, you couldn't see us. We were hiding inside the bushes." Nala said.
"That explains it." I said. The embarrassment from my face faded.
"You sing? What song?" Kiara said surprised.
"Uhm, stitches, by Shawn Mendes." I recalled.
"And it was really good." Ife purred and nuzzled my leg which made Kiara growl, she stopped and blushed as soon as she knew what she was doing.
"oh, uh, sorry." Kiara smiled in embarrassment.
"Anyways, we gotta go." kaya said.
"Bye Markus." ife said. She brought her tail up to touch my face.
"Uhm, bye?" they began walking towards the relaxing lionesses outside.
"What was that about?" I asked, confused.
I looked over to Kiara who has a scrunched eyebrow and a frown.
"What's with the face?" I asked her.
"it's nothing." she dismissed.
"If you say so princess." I shrugged.
I inched myself towards the buffalo to cut a piece using the knife I got from the crash.
"What's that? It looks sharp." she pointed to my knife.
"This? It's a knife. It's for hunting and stuff." I said as I started making myself a bonfire.
"So you're gonna use it for your hunts?" she inched towards the fire I made.
"Careful, you're gonna get toast. Don't want that to happen again do you?" I warned her.
"No dad." she rolled her eyes and I laughed.
"Hahaha, and yeah, I'm going to use this." I held the blade above my head, squinting my eyes as the light bounced off of it.
"Can I try some of the cooked meat?" Kiara asked, inching her face towards the cooking buffalo meat.
"Huh? Oh, sure, after it's done cooking." I flip the meat to the other side with my knife.
We waited for a few more minutes before I picked it up with my knife and sliced it in half.
"Careful, it's hot." I warned.
She nodded in response and waited for it to cool down until it was safe to eat. After cooling down she bit a small portion and her eyes sparkled in delight. She took a big bite after.
"Ohhhh, it's soo goood." She closed her eyes and a smile came to her lips.
"I wish I could eat more of this." She said.
"You can, but it'll take some time." I put more buffalo meat in the fire.
"As long as it takes. It's just so.. Goood." She sat down with me.
"If only I could get spices, it would be awesome." I wished.
'If only...'
Kiara was about to ask something before I cut her off because I know what she was already going to ask.
"Spices are from plant parts like, roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, bark, flower, fruits, and seeds. It makes food taste better." I explained before she could ask.
"I- how did you know I was going to ask about that??" She was baffled.
"Because you're Kiara. You're like an open book. And no, I'm not going to explain what a book is." I smugly said.
"Fine." She said.
"Alright, I'll go to sleep." I got ready to sleep, this time, for real.
"Night Kiara." I closed my eyes. Letting the dream take me wherever it wants.
"It's noon." She corrected.
"Right, good afternoon Kiara. Wake me up when you're ready to go?" I asked her.
"Ok, see ya later Markie." She trotted towards the cave's exit.
"I still don't like that nickname." I said to no one.
I saw a bright flash before I woke up inside my room. All the stuff was exactly where it was.
"What the?" I looked around before I got out of my bed and touched my surroundings, checking if it was all real and if it did feel real.
I was startled by a knock coming from the door. I walked towards it and opened the door.
What i saw shocked me. It was my parents but without eyes and pieces of their flesh gone.
They soon talked to me without any movement whatsoever.
"You were such a disappointment, son." My dad said without moving his mouth.
"Why did you have to be my child." My mom said.
"No... I love you guys. What did i do?" My breath was getting shallow.
"You should be the one who's dead." They both said at the same time.
"No... I- i love you guys." I couldn't move my legs or arms.
"Can't say the same kiddo." My chest hardened.
"You don't deserve to live." She began closing the door.
"No, guys, please... Wait! I'm sorry!!" I tried really hard to move my legs but it was no use.
Darkness started creeping around me before it swallowed me whole.
"Mark... Markus.. MARK!" I got up, my body was sweating all over and my breathing was deep.
I looked around and it was Kiara who was calling my name.
"Mark! It's ok! It was just a dream." She came closer and nuzzled my face, trying to comfort me.
I calmed down, but the images left by my parents were still there. I sat down and i teared up.
"Mark.. It's just a dream, it wasn't real." she looked at me and I looked back.
I rested my head on her neck, trying to clear my thoughts.
"what was the dream about?" Concern can be heard in her voice.
"it- it's about my parents..." I said.
Just now, Sarabi, Nala, and Simba came in.
"What happened?" Sarabi asked. Kiara explained to them what happened.
"Poor thing." Nala nuzzled me. Simba had a look of sympathy. He came closer to me.
"I know what it feels like to a parent. I lost my father when I was a cub. And I can't stop having nightmares about it." He related to me.
Sarabi motioned for Nala and Kiara to come with her.
"The nightmares have been reduced to once a week." He sat down.
"I miss him, we all do. But we can't let the past eat us up. We should focus on the present and the future. Being stuck in the past would not only hurt you but your loved ones as well. It would take some time for you to heal and I'm still recovering from the past." He said.
"But it will be worth the wait." He smiled.
I thought about the things he said and he was right, I should not let the past get to me. Focus on the bright side of life.
I looked at Simba with a smile. And he nodded.
"Thanks, Simba." I got up and dusted myself. I sighed.
"You're welcome mark. Just like timon and pumba said, hakuna matata, it means no worries." Simba said
"Oh, so it's called no worries falls? That's cool."
I smiled.
"Yes, i go there from time to time to escape, all this." he motioned around us.
"Alright, thanks again, simba. bye." I cracked my knuckles to release stress. I soon left the cave to meet up with Kiara.
'I nearly forgot about the trip. It should distract me for a while'
I saw Kiara talking to kovu, and I walked up to them.
"Hey Kiara." I said to her.
"Are you okay?" She turned towards me.
"I'm fine.." I said, trying not to worry her that much.
"Hey, I'm sorry for ignoring you before. I was in a bad mood, hope we could actually form a good friendship." He apologized.
"Apology accepted." I smiled at him and he smiled back
"Hey, do you wanna come with me and Kiara to hakuna matata falls?" I asked kovu.
"Uhm, sure I could have 'fun' as Kiara calls it." Kovu smiled at the invitation.
"Cool, it's already sundown, let's go?" I asked Kiara.
"Sure." she agreed.
"Just let me pack my things." They waited for me down at pride rock.
I checked everything inside my backpack and it was all good. I headed down the ledge.
"Alright, let's go. You lead kiara." I said and she nodded.
We started following Kiara to hakuna matata falls.
Meanwhile, two outlanders were spying.
"What is kovu doing? Why is he leaving? Mother's not going to be proud when she finds out." Vitani said.
"HAHAHA SEE? I TOLD YOU. I SHOULD BE THE CHOSEN ONE!" Nuka said.
"What are you doing?! You'll break our cover!" She half shouted.
They saw a lioness walking towards them.
"Someone heard us! Let's go before they see us!" She began running towards the outlands with Nuka behind her.
jeez, sorry for the late chapter, I lost motivation in writing. Buuuutttt chapter 7 should be out next week, maybe. Oh, and write a comment about my writing if it's good or not, i can correct my mistakes if you saw any. Anyways, byeeeee.