New chapter, yay! Couple new fun little plot additions goin' on in here. A few new characters as well. I'm happy with it overall. Hopefully y'all will be too!

Wokovu: Kovu's Journey

Chapter 4: Koko and Bidii

The light of the moon shimmered on the surface of the tiny pool of water, a calming and placid complement to the wasteland of rock and dirt that surrounded it. It was midnight, and the large gorge was nearly silent, save for the occasional chirrup of a miniscule insect.

A flickering flame burned nearby, barely inside the small cave of the Matapeli. The glow it emitted was dim, and yet sufficient. The outlines of many lions and lionesses were visible, though only their heads could be clearly viewed. Close by, trapped in the skeleton of a long-dead zebra, was a dejected-looking vulture, its gaze to the ground. The lioness Jasusi reclined nearby, her tail lazily brushing against the skeleton every so often.

Furthest into the cave sat an elderly lion, his faded brown mane matted and patchy. His eyes were implanted on Jasusi, as if studying the outsider. Jasusi returned the stare curtly, a slight smirk spread across her muzzle.

"So," spoke the lion finally. "So. First, the noble lion and my close friend, Scar, was murdered…." He stood, his left hind leg wobbling as he did so, and began to stalk around the small flame. "…and now you're telling me that his gracious mate and devoted adherent—and my beloved sister—Zira… is now dead too?"

"That's right," Jasusi said succinctly. "I was instructed to watch from afar in case the worst occurred and to find help if it did. Which brings me to your humble abode, Katili, my friend."

Katili grunted, stealing a long glance out the cave's mouth and at the glimmering oasis water. He hung his head low, what was left of his mane falling down over his eyes. "You claim Simba is responsible for Zira's death?"

"Him and his wretched daughter. Pity they'll let anyone reproduce these days."

"…and you want the Matapeli to help retake the Pride Lands…"

Jasusi nodded. "Don't act like you don't want it either. Simba's ancestors banished yours long ago. You have as much a right to those lands as he does."

There was a glint in Katili's eye as he turned to Jasusi. "It's tempting," he said, sauntering over to the lioness, "ah, is it tempting. Especially given… well, the legend."

The lioness's ears perked up immediately. "The legend, you say? Whatever might you be referring to, my dear Katili?"

Katili grinned showily. "Ah, of course, you wouldn't know of such a thing. 'Twas my ancestors who passed the story down to their children, and then the same to their own children, and so forth. They told of an object of unimaginable power, blessed by the great shaman Mlezi, that is kept in the Pride Lands. It has been lost for many, many seasons, ever since the good shaman's death. Whoever controls it is granted the power of the kings."

"Katili, my friend, you have intrigued me," said Jasusi. "Please, please, do tell me more."

"With pleasure."

xXxXxXx

Pride Rock was barely visible against the night sky now. Kovu had been walking for miles in the dead of the evening, the only stirring creature for as far as the eye could see. Moonlight provided some luminosity that evening, though the grounds were still mostly jet black and comatose. Kovu did not mind this, of course. The less to see him leave, the better.

Already he was tired, though he could not stop and rest, of course, as enticing as the thought was. Jasusi could be anywhere at that point… she could even be on the way back to the Pride Lands with an entire army of lions poised to kill. Rest was not an option.

Kovu leapt up the rocks to the gorge into which his mother had fallen to her death. He thought fleetingly of her, of the hatred that had consumed her and the envy that ultimately killed her, as well as of the affection she had shown him when he was a cub. There were deep memories here; he could spend hours reminiscing here by the gorge and nearby, in the Outlands. But there was no time for that. He found, instead, the spot Vitani had reported seeing Jasusi run off before the fight. It was just on the other side of the gorge. Kovu did not need to cross right now necessarily, as long as he stayed true to the direction Jasusi had gone in.

The ground leveled out, and soon Kovu was past the gorge, once again treading on the dirt terrain, off into areas of the Pride Lands he had yet to even set paw in. His only hope was that Jasusi, when she had run off, had continued in that direction, else he was in deep, deep trouble.

I have no idea where I'm going, the young lion thought, staring dejectedly at the ground. After another few minutes of walking, he finally paused underneath a tree, sighing and slumping to the ground. "I can't do this," he said softly. "I'm gonna be completely lost… I may never even find my way back…"

This much was true. Having stepped into a land so far away from his homelands, from the places he'd known his entire life, there was almost no way he would be able to find his way back if he went further. What if he ended up getting so far off Jasusi's track that she passed him on her way to the Pride Lands? What if he returned to the Pride Lands, finally, to find that the Pride had already been attacked? What if he came back and found that Simba and Kiara… were….

This was on Kovu to rectify. The problem was, the lion was finding, that the likelihood of him even finding Jasusi—let alone stopping her—was diminishing with each passing second.

A tear rolled down Kovu's cheek. He looked to the sky, searching the stars, as if the answers to his problems were there. Internally, he wished that he, like Rafiki, could speak to the supposed "great kings of the past"… if they would even talk to them. Yeah, right, Kovu shook off this notion. Like they'd talk to me. I'm not a king, I'm not worthy. Look at the mess I've gotten us into…

There was a rustling nearby; Kovu jumped up, alert and ready to act, his heart pounding against his chest. "Who's there?" he called out into the night. His eyes darted around wildly, his pulse hammering in his head. "Show yourself!" he called.

Nearby, Kovu could clearly hear voices. A hissing noise, like someone trying to shush another, was noticeable, and a quick whisper could be heard shortly after.

"I said," called Kovu again, hints of impatience in his trembling, yet stern voice, "show yourself!" The hushed voices continued, but no figures did appear in the shadows.

Kovu began to creep forward, taking care as to not make a sound. A large boulder was nearby, a few paces into the darkness. The whispers seemed to be coming from there.

Without giving another warning, Kovu leapt atop the boulder, a guttural growl emitting from his throat, his features twisted into an imposing snarl. Within moments, however, his face softened, soon to the point where his mouth had downturned into a grimace.

Two small creatures lay cowering in front of him, gripping each other tightly. A slight whine was coming from one of the small animals—it was the larger of the two, and had a long tail and canine-like ears. The smaller creature was largely hidden from view by its companion, who had its leg wrapped firmly around it.

Kovu realized he was looking down at an African wild dog—and a young one at that, judging by its size—and another smaller creature. He sighed. They were more frightened of him than he was of them, no doubt—certainly no threat to his safety. "Hey, hey, heeey," he said calmly, "I'm not gonna hurt you guys. It's okay, it's okay…"

The dog's ears picked up slightly. It raised its head to look up at the towering lion with shining hazel eyes. It moved its paw, revealing the other creature, a plump little hyrax, which quickly darted behind its cohort.

Kovu forced a grin. "Sorry to get all jumpy there. Thought you guys might've been… something else."

The dog shrugged. "Y-yeah, it happens," it—a female, Kovu discovered upon hearing its voice—stuttered. "We're not out t-to cause any t-trouble or anything, sir. We were just passing through…"

"It's fine," Kovu grinned warmly and in relief. "I'm just passing through myself. My name's Kovu. I come from Pride Rock," he jerked his head back behind him, in the direction of the stone edifice.

"Koko," the dog replied. "I'm Koko. This is Bidii. We're… we're out on our own…"

"Why's that?" asked Kovu.

Koko looked down dejectedly. "I don't wanna talk about it…"

Kovu frowned. "I'm sorry," he breathed. He felt bad for asking, but he was curious; Koko was not a pup by any means, but she was certainly nowhere near an adult.

The hyrax, Bidii, began to whisper quickly from behind Koko, who cocked her head toward to the side to better hear the animal. She nodded, seeming to agree with whatever Bidii had said, and turned back to Kovu. "S-sir… I'm sorry to ask but… you're not following one of your kind, are you?"

A wave of realization hit Kovu, and he was taken slightly aback. "Why… y-yes, I am, in fact. Why? Have you seen someone?!" he asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah, a few hours ago!" Bidii the hyrax finally stepped out from behind Koko. "Yeah, we saw one, didn't we, Koko? A lioness! A lioness passed through here not too long ago, just before sunset, didn't she, Koko, didn't she? Yeah, a lioness!" Bidii spoke quickly, his words all jumbled and slurred into each other. Koko glanced up at Kovu and simply shrugged and nodded.

Kovu's eyes narrowed. "Jasusi." He stared off into the distance. She had come this way; he was on the right path.

"K-kovu?" came Koko's voice.

"Yeah?"

"You're tracking that lioness, a-aren't you?"

"That's right."

Koko appeared fidgety. "I don't mean to stick my nose into other's business, but… d'you think you'd need help tracking her?"

Kovu considered this for a moment. "Depends. Do you know the area well?"

"Been travelling in it for a couple days… grew up a little ways away… so yeah. Bidii here knows a bit, too."

They could prove useful, Kovu thought. At least until I find Jasusi… could get ugly… they're young… wouldn't want them in danger….

"Promise me one thing," said Kovu.

"Yeah?" Koko and Bidii said in unison.

"If I tell you to run… promise me you will, okay? No matter the circumstances."

"Sure, sir… though I don't see why… is the lioness your enemy?" Koko asked with uncertainty.

"Yeah, your enemy?" added Bidii. "Do you two hate each other, Kovu, sir, do you? Are you going to fight? Are you—"

"I'll explain later," smirked Kovu as he stared off into the distance. "Koko, since you know this place, mind picking up Jas—I mean, the lioness's scent?"

"Yeah, for sure!" the wild dog said eagerly, lowering her snout to the ground. And off she went, stalking the dusty earth as Kovu and Bibii followed close behind. Kovu stifled a yawn, recalling once more his lack of sleep. However, things were finally looking a little more positive—or at least as positive as it was going to get.

Kovu was finally on Jasusi's trail. Now it was a matter of finding her.

END CHAPTER

I ended that a lot earlier than I expected, but I wanted to get something out, so here we are. The scene I had planned will be in the next chapter, no doubt about it. Anyway, I'm starting to add a few more plot developments now… slightly exciting, I guess. I'm gonna have to do a lot of thinking on what I'm going to do next, but I'm hoping to have something up soon.

Thanks for reading!

~YFWE