Chapter XV
The night was living hell. None of the lions were able to slumber or even consider resting; the shock of the night had fallen amongst them all. Nira remained sat next to his mate, consoling her attempting to soothe the stressed lionesses mind.
The shock for Simba was that they were all telling the truth and that he was unable to spot the signs sooner. He remained brooding away in his thoughts for how he planned to get his lands back. His injured head flashed almost everywhere, attempting to rationalise thoughts. He remained slumped next to his mate inside the termite infested damp cavern of the outlands, once housing geysers. The cavern was almost eerily empty, it had been a long time since any paws had entered the housing of the outlands. The roof of the dead cavern was hollowed from where the evil tyrant Zira had proclaimed Scar's death would be avenged.
The rain crashed throughout each sector of the pridelands, hitting hard and almost raining as it never had done before. The lion hit hardest with the exile was Kovu; he was unable to comprehend quite what had just happened. His hell he had returned to. It was just all a morbid memory for him, harshly forced to relive it. The outlands were also the place both of his siblings had died. It was impossible to relax, mortifying flashbacks to watching his dearly beloved sister burning was flooding back to him.
Nira nuzzled his dim furred mate slowly, her tears rapidly rolling off of her face and muzzle every few seconds.
"Shh, it's okay." Nira whispered. "It's over."
The distressed lioness drew away, taken aback by her mates words.
"But...but it's not the end. It just isn't. I honestly wish it was but it's not! This is only the beginning."
"Shemba..."
"His plan! His plan has to happen and..."
"What plan?"
The sudden boom of the older lion, Kovu's voice startled the young lioness as she flipped her head to her adoptive uncle and gulped.
"Y-yeah."
"Are you going to tell me what it is?"
"Well...I can't remember it by heart..."
"Shemba, I know you know some of it. Come on I won't be angry I promise."
"But..."
"There are no buts in this situation Shemba." Simba's voice suddenly proclaimed. Upon exiting the cavern of the outlands he was stunned to discover that the opportunity to fight back could possibly already be in the offing. He stepped up to the other lions, his powerful and majestic presence felt almost instantly.
"You either know the plan or you don't. Knowing the plan would be helpful."
Shemba frowned. "But...gramps...I..."
"I just said there are no buts. How do you know the plan?"
"It-its in the cave. Vitani's cave. He has like this list of names next to the visions and he crossed off names and...and he's planned it all out. He knows how it ends."
So do I... Kovu sighed internally.
"He's also...he's – Kamba's..."
The dim furred lioness, unable to continue suddenly felt herself hit with waves of strong emotion. Her rapid tears which she was unable to prevent for the past days about knowing all along were still slowly falling off her face. Her emotions also rising to the surface over her parents demise.
-"I can't accept this." She sobbed. "I can't accept what Kamba is. You never did anything to him, he shouldn't torture you like this. It's all my fault..."
Nira softly nuzzled the lioness once more. "It's not your fault. You didn't do anything."
Shemba drew away once more. "Exactly! I didn't do anything. I've known all along, I was just afraid of what he was going to do. I couldn't tell you."
The former king shook his head with a weak smile. He flickered his brown eyes. "That doesn't make it your fault. It'll be all our fault if we sit back and do nothing. There are two types of evil; Pure evil, and the people who sit back and allow evil to run its course. We aren't going to do both."
Shemba gave a repentant smile before nuzzling back into the majestic mane of her mate. With nothing else to add, Simba padded away to return into the crumbling cavern of the Outlands where his love sat.
Shemba continued to snivel holding her mate tight and close. "Don't ever leave me." She whispered softly into Nira's mane.
"I promise you I'll always be here." Nira sighed, licking the side of her muzzle.
The brown lion Kovu was abruptly startled by Kiara's comforting nuzzle. Rejecting the golden lioness twice, he promptly stepped away to sit next to a withered tree that remarkably looked familiar. Though it seemed smaller, the tree Kovu sat by was one he used to watch his mother sharpen her vicious claws on. Engraved into the tree were the words 'Death to Simba' as though they were harshly scrapped in at a time of hatred. Kovu shook his head with remembrance that this was where he would sharpen his own claws before his permanent departure from the outlands.
"Kovu?" The soft voice that soothed his stress called. Kovu knew who it was, the only lioness he wanted to see stood behind him. Without turning, he slammed his paw to the floor in an attempt to fight back his own tears.
"Kiara," he replied with a choke. "Kiara, what's wrong with me?"
The golden lioness slumped next to the strong lion and placed her soft head on his shoulder, which this time he wasn't to reject.
"What you mean?"
"Why am I so pathetic right now? I'm crying over my fucking father. He died like years ago, I don't get it I shouldn't be so sad. I just don't understand what's wrong with me."
"Emotions last a lifetime. You don't just cry over something and forget about it. You could be crying over him until death. I don't blame you, you watched him die. But you know what we have to focus on at the moment. I know how tough it is to move on..."
"But you don't!" Kovu snapped, not releasing his grip on the lioness. "You don't know what it's like. You've never lost family. Never. I haven't got a family anymore.
Kiara sighed. "No, you don't but you have me. You have me and the cubs, you have Shemba and my parents. And believe me, we all care for you. And you know I'll care for you always. I don't want you to worry about it, we're all here."
Kovu's emotions suddenly exploded. He unexpectedly drew Kiara so close to him and held her tightly, allowing tears to freely burst from his eyes.
"It's not just about that. I miss my father too much, that's mostly it. Why did he have to die? Why? He never did nothing to nobody, and then Scar comes along and..."
"Kovu," Kiara sighed. "You live in the past too much. Sure, he was murdered. But you're going to have to move on. I know its tough and sure I aint lost any family, but I know it hurts. And I want you to be happy. So come on, take some deep breaths and face what you know is true, it'll only hurt for a little while, I promise."
()0()0()
Over in the drizzly lands of the king, there was a more than eerie silence. The tall grass was swaying gently in the light winds that Simba was attacked in no more than a few hours ago. Harshly waving goodbye to the peace throughout this sector of the Serengeti. The drizzle was causing the shorter grasses and various trees to drip slowly, each droplet of water slowly sliding off of a leaf and onto the dampening floor. It wasn't the same. This wasn't what it was a few hours ago. All from a sudden change of the monarchs was enough to send the Pridelands into a creepy stillness. A cruel beginning.
The newly named and forced King, Kamba, sat at the entrance to the cavern of Pride Rock, addressing members of his pride. Of what the pride had collected from his speech, he was prepared to kill any of the lionesses that still followed the Pridelanders were to be murdered. The ex outlanders remained unaffected by the sudden change of Kings of monarchs due to their selfish and lazy natures however the Pridelanders were furious. Questions raced through their dumbfounded minds:
What happened?
Wasn't Simba strong enough?
Why didn't they stop him?
Was this always going to happen?
They remained sceptic about some changes the charcoal furred lion was making, such as numerous punishments turning to death and much, much harsher tortures.
As Kamba concluded his speech, he stood and watched the prides separate on the two sides of the Priderock cavern. It made him feel proud, knowing his plan was well underway and far from over. He sat at the lower summit, staring out into his newly proclaimed lands. The only thing that could spoil something like this was if he were to die at that very second.
"Hey! Kamba!" The familiar lionesses voice called out. Kamba shot up his ears and with merriment flipped round to notice his best and only friend approaching. She sprinted up to the large lion and plodded next to him, heaving a sigh of exhaustion as she did. Kamba sat once more.
"Alright Jesh?" Kamba chuckled.
"I'm proud of you, you know." She sighed. "You did it."
"Yeah. These are my lands. Hard to believe isn't it?"
"Not really. I knew you could do it. Just something inside me knew you could do it."
"My lands. My lands."
"You said that before."
Kamba exhaled. "I just can't believe it. It all belongs to me."
Suddenly feeling a strange and strong emotion gripping her without reasons, Jeshi rested her head atop the King. He had a comfortable shoulder which she was okay with.
"Listen; I have to tell you something."
"Yeah?"
"Well, when you said you were going to kill the pridelanders, it occurred to me I wasn't part of the old pride here. All I'm saying is..."
"Your joining their side!" Kamba gasped in realisation, shoving her away slightly and angrily.
"No! No, no not at all!" Jeshi reassured the slightly frightening, charcoal furred lion. She once again burrowed her head slightly in his mane. "I'm saying that I need to just...tell them I'm joining your side, then stick my nose up and walk away."
"Nice one. Well, I mean, I suppose you could...but..."
"But what?"
"How do I know you're not deceiving me? How do I know you're coming back?"
Jeshi gave a slight chuckle.
"I promise you I'll come back. I'll do it tomorrow."
"I don't understand why you have to tell them." Kamba grumbled, lightly grabbing the lionesses foreleg without realising. "I mean I'd think they'd guess."
"But they think I'm loyal friends to them, I just have to say 'fuck you' then leave. That's all. I promise you that I'll come back. Promise."
"Double promise?"
"Triple promise."
Kamba sighed contently, until in a split second it hit both lions they were snuggling. Jeshi had not meant for this to become intimate, it was merely a congratulatory nuzzle. Both lions suddenly pulled away in shock and stared at each other. Awkward chuckles escaped them, Jeshi promptly walking away and saying back to Kamba "We're just friends. But friends are allowed to do that."
"Friends." Kamba repeated. "Friends that are allowed to snuggle. Are you sure?"
"Positive. Friends are allowed to snuggle."
Jeshi entered the cavern, looking to the floor and sighing.
Friends are allowed to snuggle. They are right? Couples are allowed to nuzzle. Screw it, I'm telling him. No, I don't want to ruin our friendship. He's had enough in his life. He doesn't need to know who I really am. He doesn't need to know. He doesn't need me anymore. Why do I need him? Stop it Jeshi, you can live. I don't need him. I don't...I don't...I don't...Hell I sure do want him.
Kamba watched the dusty coloured lioness enter the cavern. Before going to enter his slumber himself, he stepped up the crumbling ramp where he sat atop the promontory of Pride Rock and looked out where the view was better. He could feel a devious cackle escape his muzzle.
"Oh Scar, if you knew me, you'd be proud I got your lands back."
()0()0()
Two small cubs began to approach the golden and brown lions standing close to the outland cave. The golden of the two prodded his mothers paw lightly while the black of the two clawed lightly at her father.
"Dad," Jasiri cried, her black fur trembling, her small body freezing. More cold than the winter nights sky. "I'm...I'm afraid. I know you tol' me not to be, but I'm scared."
Kovu gave the cub a reassuring smile, wiping some of his tears away and lightly stroking her head with two of his pawfingers.
"So are we all. We can't help it. I'm sorry Jas."
"No. Dad no I'm so scared!"
"Jasiri calm. Please..."
Kovu used his large paw to lift the tiny cub and place her on his head. With a grunt, she promptly hid into her father's large mane and began to wail and cry. Her fear for everything strongly resembled her older brother Nira, so much so that Kovu and Kiara were worried its where she was learning to behave in such a manner.
"Look; were all going to have to retain our strength. You are gonna have to stay strong. Your brothers here to protect you..."
"That's right I am!" Hasira suddenly bellowed. The cub playfully jumped into a pouncing position but stopped at her mother's stare of warning.
"Sorry." He grumbled before being playfully pushed over by Kiara. "Mom!"
"What?" Kiara giggled. "I didn't do nothing."
"Bu-but...you..."
"It was a ghost."
"No it weren't."
"It was."
The cub huffily flipped round and stuck his tail end high in the air. Kiara, with a playfully devious giggle proceeded to frighten the small cub. With a gentle push to his back end, she bellowed "BOO!"
The small cub Jasiri threw herself into Kovu's mane in fright as well, peering through the gaps. The hairs that had flopped on her head trembled with her body. Hasira yelped in complete fright and threw his head into his black pawfingered paws, his tail end once again high in the air.
"M-mom!" Hasira whined with a slight whimper afterwards. "Why'd you do that?"
"It was a joke. However," Kiara lightly stroked the cub. "If your to be prince one day..."
"Prince. Prince not king. I don't get 'ta be king."
"You might do. You never know."
"Mom, even I know thats only happening if Ra and Shems die."
"Not necessarily. You might meet a girl you really like who turns out to be a princess."
"I'm never falling in love!" Hasira proclaimed triumphantly. "Girls are yucky!"
Kovu couldn't help but snigger. Jasiri abruptly jumped off of her father and stomped over to her proudly standing twin.
"No, you're icky!"
"No, you are!"
"No, you are!
"No you are!"
The golden cub shoved himself onto his younger sibling. The two cubs without warning engaged in a playful fight. The little blows to the faces they sent hurt them slightly but their chuckles, giggles and snorts were to suppress this. Jasiri within a split second had her older brother pinned down but Hasira, still being the stronger cub managed to shove her off and pounce playfully back in retaliation. The cubs rolled into a small ditch, only to find when the dust cleared the black cub was able to pin the golden one once more.
"Ha! I told you I was betters!"
"Get offa me!"
"Why? You scared I'm gonna beat you again?"
"No! Get offa me daddy's girl!"
"Momma's boy!"
"Weirdo!"
"Old!"
"Freak!"
"Fat arse!"
"Cow!"
"Plank!"
"Stinky!"
"Warthog!"
"Hey!" A sudden warthog's voice bellowed. Upon hearing the insult fight, Pumbaa alongside Timon had trotted over. "I don't smell that much!"
Jasiri, with an enormous giggle hopped off of her twin and stepped over to the bumbling duo.
"Yea' you do!"
"We do not!"
The cubs grunted and padded back to their parents, they were both feeling much better. Jasiri, still slightly frightened however she was able to contain herself. Hasira on the other hand, grumbling to himself that he was defeated by a girl. They really did confuse him.
However, it was in that instant that the joy was apparent was it suddenly stolen away. A sudden large and obvious creak from the outland cavern caused all of the pridelanders to swivel their heads and stare at the sudden noise from the housing. Simba darted his head around while sitting next to his dumbstruck mate who was staring into space.
The two new lovers pelted towards Kovu, Kiara and the cubs before sitting down.
"Mom? Dad?" Nira gulped. "Wh-what was that?"
"I don't know son, I don't know." Kovu replied, not turning around. "But, something tells me we aint safe no more."
Another large creak escaped the cavern, even swaying slightly though the winds were calm. Kovu's eyes dilated. Simba and Nala were in there. With no hesitations he sprung from his embrace with his mate and flew to the old caverns entrance, where he screamed out their names desperately.
"Simba! Nala!" He screeched. "The cave, its going down!"
Simba threw himself up as the rest of the pride approached behind Kovu. He nuzzled Nala attempting to stand her up however she wasn't responding. She remained staring at the cavern wall still in shock.
"Nala!" Simba roared. "Nala stand up!"
The former queen didn't move. She remained sat. Her eyes flickered emotionlessly. Simba darted to the entrance and turned around once more to notice Nala only just standing up. She was rained on slightly by moving rubble but the second it hit her that it was caving it was far too late. Simba hopped out and only watched on in horror.
"NO!"
Each time the former queen attempted to evade being hit with rocks she only darted into the path of more. Outside the pride fearfully watched as Simba's desperate attempts to jump back in and rescue his mate were cut short. He watched the roof of the cavern slowly begin to lose height. Nala threw her head up to notice the large rock preparing for its fall and for her demise. She screeched loudly at the top of her voice.
"Everyone get back!" Simba bellowed. The lions darted back with a collective gasp as it fell more. Soon enough the entrance was completely blocked. No one could see in, Nala was powerless.
"Simba! Simba help me!"
The rock towering above her quite suddenly lost its balance and disintegrated. A mixture of rocks and rubble began to rain down on the fearful lioness, becoming scratched and bruised in the process. Quite suddenly, the right side of the cavern split in two, collapsing before landing on one side of the defenceless lioness before the other side of the cavern fell.
The final side of the outland cavern began to collapse however it fell into the other direction. A deadly and cold silence fell through the outlands. No one sure what was happening. Simba, in fright stepped forward and kept his jaw wide open. He exhaled to the pace of his heart and screeched.
"NALA!"
No response. Simba felt a warm tear roll down his face before he heard a weak choke and groan.
"Simba..."
"Nala?" Simba stepped closer.
"Simba...I'm scared. Help me."
Simba flipped round.
"Help me move the rubble. She's alive, she is!"
Kovu, Nira, Shemba and Kiara threw themselves over and began to desperately throw the various debris out of the way. As Simba darted his head up he noticed a very large, unstable rock ready to fall. One false move, and it was over.
ZOMG EPIC CLIFFHANGER XD
