The combination of buzzing and her own heart pounding inside of her chest like hammers caused Kiara to feel a piercing headache that was almost deafening.She wanted to move away,but Kovu stayed on her.

"We have to wait until this passes,"he told her,which sounded like his voice was coming from a very long distance."I can't even see a thing."

'He can't see?!'Kiara thought,panicky.'Is he blind while I'm deaf?'

Gradually,his underside shifted from on top of her and the loud noise lessened even as she clamped down hard on her ears.She was afraid to open her eyes,but curiosity won out over her gratuitous assumptions.

"Is it safe?"

"I think so."his voice was expressionless."But you won't like seeing this."

Seeing this?Seeing what?The lioness rose to her feet from under the ledge of rock they'd been under to see a tree.Nothing unusal.All of it's bark still intact and many bare branches rose as high as ever they had.Bare...

"Kiara..."Kovu said slowly.

Perplexed,she looked out onto the lands with a bated breath.Not one blade of grass sprouted out from the rich,brown soil.And where there were once grazing animals stood gaping and bewildered herds about.

"What happened?"Voices rang up.

"The grass and leaves are gone!"Some cried."It all just vanished!"

Kiara looked to Kovu,somehow he seemed out of tune with all of the pandemonium taking place.As if he were adjusted to the sights he was taking in.Then she remembered,he had been adjusted to this lifestyle.

A calmness fell over her at that moment."We need to get back."

He didn't say a word as she mounted the rock and released a roar to silence the crazed animals.They all turned to her,startled by the noise.

"Everyone,"she called out."You need to come with us back to Pride Rock.Tell everyone you can to meet us there also.Don't waste time."

There was murmurs of agreement as the two lions made eye contact and headed back to the sanctified stone structure with the kingdom in toll.

x.x.x

"What if they don't believe me?I haven't been here in so long."

"They will believe,not to worry."

Rafiki hobbled along weakly on his stick,surveying the lack of greenary with a grim expression.The elder mandrill had seen damage exactly as severe as this and more so.But it had never,not ever,occured this fast.

Glancing over at the many groups of animals,he knew this was a great nightmare come to pass.It was something they'd hoped their children would never have to see,a desolate waste land with no hope in sight.

"Everyone."King Simba's voice called down to the animals that flocked below him.His voice wasn't as booming with annoucement as his father's had been,but he had the trust and cooperation of those around himself.

Rafiki took a moment to look behind him as the princess and prince went by him lightening urgency,in their wake followed more of the pridelanders wandering toward Pride Rock.He smiled warbly,they had grown up much.

"This is not the time to panic,"he continued,as did the baboon."I'm not at all sure what has happened,I don't think any of us knows.The biggest priority at the moment will be finding enough water for all of us to drink."

There was a pause where a group of birds,including Zazu,gathered down before him to discuss something.Rafiki took a moment to massage his old knee where he had sprained it last week and began climbing up the rise.

From what he could hear,the birds were frantically trying to be the first among themselves to tell Simba something important.He sighed as he reached the top and the lionesses made room for him to walk forward.

"There's..."One squawked and was cut off by Zazu closing his beck.

"...no..."He clamped down on the other one's,immensely irritated.

"...more..."Zazu had to use his wing for this one's.

"Water!"The last one got out before the hornbill could reach him.

Suddenly,all chaos erupted up again.Simba inhaled deeply to release a roar so as to silence them when Rafiki placed a hand on his shoulder to garner his attention.The two connected gazes as he got ready to speak.

"I have heard of these sort of disaters before,but never before did I ever think I'd see a plague.This sort of termination has occured before and it will take many rains before there is regrowth.To survive,you must leave."

He knew by now his words were being repeated to the vary majoirty and yet he still maintained eye-contant with the king,trying with persuasion.

"That is,you all must leave not just as a pride.But an entire kingdom."

"To where?"Simba questioned."We need a lot of open fields."

"It is a four day trek,my King.Beyond the desert and the jungle."

"We could lose many."Nala stepped up,sounding skeptical.

"It will take months for everything to regrow."A teenage voice suddenly annouced.Everyone looked down to see a brown mustard-colored lion.

He gave the queen sideways a glance and then continued."I heard of the damage coming from where I'm from in the Inlands and that the plague would travel in this direction.I didn't know how far it would take me,but I came.I've come all this way to warn...it appears as though I'm too late."

"And your lands are unaffected?"The king asked.

"Yes,sire.Your kingdom would be welcomed there wholeheartedly."

Everyone looked anxiously at Simba.Whatever he said would determine the rest of their futures.Rafiki looked down at the lion known as Tu with a feeling he didn't normally feel,shame.He should have listened to the young male lion days ago when he had arrived,but instead he had waited.

"We'll go to these Inlands."Simba decided,then out loudly."It looks like it will be our only chance.To stay together and try to travel to these lands."

Most talked in agreement.

x.x.x

Simba looked back behind him as Rafiki remained on Pride Rock,staring up into the scattered cloud ranges that moved rapidly across the late evening sky.As everyone had readied themselves to move on,he had stayed there.

In that one spot.

"You need to speak to him."Nala suggested,"I think he feels responsible."

The idea sank into Simba uncomfortably and he climbed up to where the baboon set his sights heavenward,unmoving as if he were frozen by time.

He sat down patiently a few feet away from his old friend without a word.

"Your father once said that we all have at least one great quest we must follow before we die."his words felt carved into stone,spoken to everyone through the ages."And sometimes,we have more then one we must take."

"I must take another one."Simba nodded his big head."I have no doubts."

Rafiki smiled warmly."I remember when you were able to fit into my hands, Simba.This is the same place I first laid eyes on you."his brown eyes filled with sublte sadness."And this is the last time I will lay eyes on you again."

The lion felt the strong scent of dryness without the hint of a post-damp aroma that normally accompanied a healthy rain shower.A bit lost,he left the resigned baboon to meet the other lions and animals were gathering.

Lightening streaked across the sky as no one dare look back toward the apocalyptic plains,both in respect and fear;with only one remaining where he was.One would remain on Pride Rock to finish his circle of life by choice.

To be continued...