As usual Kion was leading the group, his dad trailing behind the others. Things started out okay, and Simba didn't intervene…..for a while….
"Careful Kion." Simba said, stepping in front of his son. "Gazelles can hit hard with their horns, you don't wanna get between their fight."
Kion huffed and walked from in between his dads legs, and went around the fighting beasts. "I know dad. Besides they're not fighting, they're playing."
Simba bit his lip and nodded once, unsurely.
"I found this place so I should get to nap here!" Yelled the zebra.
"If you don't leave, I'll make you my next meal." Snarled the cheetah.
They paused when they saw the lion guard approach and bowed. The members of said group gave each other puzzled looks.
"King Simba." The zebra finally spoke, her tone filled with worry.
With his king instincts taking over, Simba stood in front of the two. He gave them both a disapproving glare.
"We-we're sorry Simba." The cheetah said, a tremble in his voice. "W-we won't do it again."
"Good." Simba nodded and gave a small smile.
Knowing now they wouldn't be harmed, the cheetah and the zebra ran off.
"That wasn't so hard." Simba teased, glancing to Kion.
Kion was about to speak when he suddenly remembered a past mission:
"That kill was mine!" One of the former Outsiders,Kuwinda, roared.
"The hunting rules are different here than in the Outlands!" Snarled Kishindo, a Pride Lander since birth. "You filthy Outsider!"
This sentence caught Kion's ears as he walked by with his team. The mixing of the two Prides didn't create a perfect harmony between the lions. Some of the Pride Landers were hesitant about letting the Outsiders do anything, fearing they may turn and attack their king.
Kiara had told him that these problems needed to be solved right away, or the former Outsiders may break away, feeling unloved in their new home.
"Kuwinda! Kishindo!" Kion approached them. "That's not how you talk to each other!"
"What's up with Kion?" Bunga asked in a whisper.
"He doesn't like when the former Outsiders and Pride Landers get into arguments." Fuli explained. "His parents think if they fight, the Outsiders might leave the Circle of Life would be broken again."
"But, why's he yelling at them?" Beshte asked.
"And why didn't he ask us to help?" Ono added.
Fuli shrugged slightly. "I dunno. Maybe he's blinded by anger?"
"How do you know this stuff?" Bugna asked.
Fuli shrugged again. "I've known him longer than you guys have."
"So stop fighting!" Kion snarled at them.
The two hunters gave each other a startled look and ran off.
Kion panted and headed back to his team. "Alright guys, lets go."
"You okay, buddy?" Bunga asked, getting on Kion's back and slightly slugging his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kion answered, as if nothing had just happened.
"Hey! I found a great big mud puddle this morning, why don't we go play in it?" Beshte offered, trying to lighten the mood.
"Sounds like fun." Kion said.
"Lot of fun. Maybe I can find some snakes to scare off." Bunga said then growled.
Ono laughed. "Yeah, and I need to get these bugs off of me." She flapped her wings, trying to dislodge the clinging insects.
Fuli smiled. "It would feel good on my sore feet, from running so much."
"You still think you're the fastest animal in the Pride Lands?" Bunga teased.
"In all of Africa." Fuli corrected with a smirk.
"By don't we race?" Bunga challenged.
"Alright." Fuli looked ahead. "Once we get to the big tree over there we'll start."
The five animals readied themselves for the race.
"On your mark...get set….Go!" Ono started them.
Fuli started in a mad dash, leaving her friends behind in her dust.
Ono took the sky and took big, long, strides with her wings.
Bunga scurried with all his might, already panting from all the the pressure put on his tiny body.
Bashte kept a pretty decent stride, almost akin to a skip.
Kion sprinted and occasionally hopped. He knew Fuli was gonna win, but he'd sure try hard to at least get second place.
Hearing roars he stopped abruptly and looked over.
Kishindo and Kuwinda were at each others throats, clawing and roaring loudly. Kion abandoned the race and ran towards them.
'Is it my fault they're fighting? Is it because I yelled at them and didn't handle it properly?'
"S-stop!" Kion yelled. The two lionesses looked at the lion guard, easing their fighting stances. "L-look I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's just that….we are one,...a-and I-I can't handle the hatred that still exists."
"Do...do you think I hate her because she's an Outsider?" Kishindo asked.
"She's not an Outsider, she's a Pride Lander like you." Kion said. "You treated her like one though, roaring at her instead of explaining how the hunting system works."
"She roared at me first."
"And that was wrong of her." He looked at both of them. "Next time just discuss what happened and make a compromise. Hunting here's an activity most lions do together. So why don't you try that and share the kill?"
The lionesses looked at each other and nodded once in agreement.
"Thanks Kion." Kuwinda purred. "I shouldn't have snapped at her….That's the Outsider part of me...and I'm not an Outsider anymore…."
Kion smiled, glad this argument didn't turn into a brawl to the death.
Kion's eyes widened. "Daddy,they might go somewhere else and fight!"
He looked to the bird on Beshte's back. "Ono, can you follow them and make sure they don't?"
Ono gave a salute with one of her wings. "Sure thing, Kion."
She flew off after them, keeping an eye out for any foul play. However to the team's surprise she flew back a moment later. "Hyenas!"
"And that dumb bird lead us right to you." Shenzi laughed.
Simba stood protectively in front of Kion and growled.
"Oh look, the brave little lion guard brought daddy to protect him!" Banzai laughed.
Kion furrowed his brows. "He wanted to come, because he was afraid you guys would kill me!"
"Your daddy's a hypocrite. He intruded on our land when he was a cub, and now he's trying to kick us out." Shenzi said.
Simba roared. "You three know the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands!"
"Yeah, yeah...of course we do." Banzai nodded. "Uh...what's the price again?"
"Death, you idiot." Shenzi growled. She smirked at Simba. "And we'll gladly pay that penalty."
She lunged at Kion, but Simba head butted her in the stomach. She whined slightly as she fell on the ground. Banzai and Ed both leapt forward and bit Simba, who managed to bat them off.
"Leave my son alone!" Simba roared.
The hyenas knew they couldn't win this battle and ran off, fearing for their lives.
Simba panted, out of breath, and looked at his son. "Kion...l-lets go home..."
Kion wanted to protest, but he had a feeling it would be all for nothing. So he gave his team a glance and said before leaving, "You guys keep patrolling. Fuli, you're in charge for now, okay?"
Fuli smiled. "I'll do my best, Kion."
Kion smiled and followed his father.
He knew Fuli could handle the job...