Author: Daggermouth
Message from the Author: A nice very short chapter to introduce four Lion King canon characters.

Lion King 4
Book Two – Reuniting the Pasts

Chapter: V – A Day in the Life of Chumvi & Kula.

As nightmares and tales of the past present themselves to inhabitants of Priderock, two old friends of queen Nala are having their own chronicles chaptered to the faraway northern borders of the Pridelands. So very far away even the monument of Priderock cannot be seen, Chumvi and Kula left Priderock together just a few years prior to when Scar was dethroned. The adolescent lions had have so many adventures with Nala, but as the three of them grew up together it seemed Nala was dedicated more to hunting in faraway lands and their adventures together came a close. Being the same age as Nala, Chumvi and Kula migrated to the far north, Chumvi once dared himself to travel to the very edge of the Pridelands, and when leaving Priderock along with Afua, Kula and Beba achieved just that. At the far north of the Pridelands are mountains taller than ever imagined, the land itself was different, filled with lush jungles but without as much rainfall or water, the tree's hung downwards and their long leaves almost touched the ground and the creatures here always seemed to be making chirping noises. Chumvi and Kula were settled in the side of the northern mountain which was just above the canopy of trees, there was a fairly steep path leading up the cave, Chumvi believed that a forest wild bear must have once lived here a long time ago. And it's this same cave where Chumvi and Kula awake each morning to the warm forest which never sleeps. And this is how Kula came to came to call the northern land. She named it the Dry Forest. Afua and Beba settled just the south in the heart of the forest there is a small opening in the large forest in which the stars could be seen, Afua and Beba made their home here, both of them enjoying sleeping under the stars. So far away from Priderock, nothing ever really bothered them here, Chumvi and Kula were free to fall in love without any hassle and they quickly become mates. But it seemed the happy days along with Afua and Beba the four of them will have their own account of tragedy...

"Beba, I can't see!" Afua stirs in the heart of the forest awakening from his deep sleep, the entire forest was covered in a strange mist, unlike the normal morning haze which covers the forest, this mist was more severe, Afua couldn't see anything, not even his leopard mate Baba as he steps forward and falls over the still happily sleeping leopard. Beba opens one eye and slowly awakes out of her sleep in her own time; she was very laid back like this, even in emergencies. The Dry Forest was completely covered in white mist, making it difficult to see, the forest was still as noisy as ever and Beba realises they can use the forest livestock to their advantage. In all Beba's running and hunting skills, not only could she run fast but her hearing was more attuned as well, following the sound the leopard guides her mate to higher ground, towards Chumvi and Kula's home. Along the way the two of them realise the mist is wreaking havoc of the wildlife here, the once dry and warm forest has become a moist wetland, perhaps this was just a part of the extreme climate here, or perhaps not, when Beba and Afua get their friend's home they climb up along the steep path, up above the canopy of trees to see the full extent of the problem. Standing together both of them were shocked, the mist continued on for what looked like forever, the world itself below them seemed to disappear into the white mist, as if the clouds themselves has fallen from the stars, the sky was a stony grey around the Dry Forest and the sun was blanked out of the sky. The air was cold, very cold; Beba found herself shivering in the cold, after gawping at the site of their home covered in this most mysterious mist both Afua and Beba head inside the home of Chumvi and Kula to converse their plan of action.

"Well the obvious easy solution to this is to just leave." Chumvi grunts in his solid cave, the older Chumvi with his small dark mane is still as obstinate and as daring as ever. Everyone is talking over eachother discussing the problem:
"We can't just leave the forest like this, this is our home now, and this mist is destroying the delicate life here,"
"Maybe the mist will pass in a few days," Afua suggests, his paws always facing outwards, the older Afua was rather clumsy for his age. So the four friends waited together, as the days past, the mist showed no signs of vanishing, this worried Kula the most mainly because she could no longer hunt for food in the Dry Forest. After three moons have passed the four friends can no long wait, and decide to take action. Their adventure begins as Chumvi leads the group back down into the woodland. As they march down into the forest a sudden gust of cold merciless air brushes around them, their breathe can be seen coming from their mouths as the cold mist envelops them.

"Stay together," Kula says stridently; Kula has the largest coat of fur but even she was shivering slightly. Sticking together and four friends advance slowly through their home, the mist had ruined most of the plants here; the once dry plants were not drowned in the shallow moist and wet undergrowth. After searching for what seemed like hours the group were starting to lose hope. Afua was now leading the group as Chumvi and Kula were huddled together for warmth and protection, but as the adult lion steps forward he suddenly falls through the forest floor, the ground collapses under him much to the shock of his friends who immediately rush over. In the heart of the Dry Forest there is a small cave complete covered by overgrowing undergrowth and vines, Afua in his clumsiness had just inadvertently discovered the entrance. After falling a small height Afua was covered in vines and old dying tree roots he was struggling to break himself free, Beba was slow to the rescue cutting the excessively panicked Afua free. The cave entrance was small and slowly descended downwards below ground; the mist seemed less powerful underground. The group of four keep heading down inside, the cave eventually came to an end a large stone wall blocks them from proceeding. After realises they can go no further together they head back to the cave. Back through the forest after a short journey home the four have returned back due to the cold and general stuffiness of the mist below. They all conclude that the mist was coming from underground, perhaps from a series of tunnels that run underneath the Dry Forest. Whatever was down there was producing this mist and the mist was rising up into the Dry Forest through the ground and making the entire forest cold and genially miserable. It seems the problem could not be solved from here. Chumvi and Kula have no over choice than to leave the Dry Forest and go for help. Kula nuzzles the younger Afua bidding him farewell.

"If we don't return within six moons come to Priderock and no matter what happens: Make sure you stay together..."
Chumvi says in the entrance of the cave nodding his friend's farewell before dashing off with his mate Kula. It is a sad sight indeed seeing your once beautiful home slowly being destroyed, but it seems not even Chumvi and Kula can escape this disaster; together they travel south through the dazzling sunset, towards the heart of the Pridelands, towards Priderock.

The unexpected events of the generally peaceful Dry Forest seemed minuscule to the events at Priderock. So much was happening in such a small amount of time. But Priderock was strangely deserted. With Kopa, Vitani, Nala and Kovu all gone on journey's to find their pasts, this left Simba and his daughter Kiara to greet the guests. Chumvi and Kula after a long journey through the Pridelands now walk up onto Priderock itself approaching the Lion King Simba. Simba was very pleased to see his old friends once more. But Chumvi and Kula are interested to hear they are not the only ones to of returned to Priderock. Simba informs his friends of everything what has happened: Kopa has returned only to run off once more to the Outlands. Chumvi and Kula were both there when Kopa was presented as a baby cub to all the Pridelands after the Great Migration and they are both fascinated to hear about what finally happened with Zira and Kopa. All the talk of the past suddenly makes Chumvi worries about Afua and Beba back home that might still be waiting in the frozen forest…

"They'll be fine, trust me, they know what do to, they're not cubs anymore. But our home, the Dry Forest is gone..." Kula smiles warmly at her mate trying to reassure him and together they nuzzle. Chumvi sighs before agreeing to remain at Priderock. Although it was sad to see the Dry Forest destroyed Priderock was once their home and they want to help the Lion King by any means they can. As all four of them stand on the largest terrace of Priderock, it's just at that moment a small flock of blue birds fly past all four of them upon Priderock. Little did they know; the birds are a sign that another old friends of Simba's is returning. One of the cubs who joined Simba on the adventure to the Daggermouth Gorge and the only one who has been touched by the Great Spirit herself…

End of Episode V.