"No!" she screamed, running over to the rock pile. She quickly began to clear it, sending rocks flying left and right. "Help me, quickly!" She continued for a moment, then turned and saw that they were all looking uncertain. Bunga was scratching behind his ear, Ono was looking at his feet and Beshte had his ears folded. "What are you doing?! We have to help him!"
"Fuli…" Ono was struggling to find the words. "I don't think that… that he would…"
"Don't you DARE say what I think you're about to say." She narrowed her eyes at the egret. "If it was anyone else under there, Kion would be doing what I'm doing right now. Even if it was hopeless, he'd keep going until he was certain. So if you really are his friends- or mine, for that matter- then help me get him out!"
She returned to digging Kion out. One by one, the rest of the Guard started to help her, moving rock after rock. They quickly got the majority of rocks off of the young lion's body, and were able to lift him out, settling him down on the ground. His body was still, and his head was bleeding from above his right eye.
"Fuli," Beshte said slowly, "I think he might be-"
"Stop," she snapped, "give me a second." She carefully lowered her ear against his chest and could feel his slow intakes and outtakes of breath. "He's still breathing, so he is alive."
"What a shame!" they heard Janja taunt from the top of the gorge. "Looks like that kid still has some fight left! Boys, let's finish the job!"
"YOU STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, before unleashing a ferocious growl that echoed throughout the Pride Lands. "You come ANYWHERE near him, I will tear you apart!"
Janja waited for a moment, before turning around. "Let's go, boys," he ordered, "he ain't gonna be feeling too good if he wakes up anyway."
With that, they headed back to the Outlands. Fuli kept staring at where he had been, her gaze not lessening, ensuring he did not return.
"Fuli?" Bunga asked, tapping her on the shoulder, but to no avail. "Fuli, it's okay. He's gone, they won't hurt him now."
She huffed, giving an angry groan. "It's not okay, Bunga." Her voice was low and you could sense the pain behind it. "It's my fault that this happened. The one time I'm too slow and this happens."
"Don't say that! If it's anyone's fault, it's Janja's. He led us here by causing the rockfall, and it was his sleazy cronies that caused the stampede. He forced Kion to use the Roar. This is not on you."
"If you say so, Bunga."
"Not to interrupt," Ono stepped in, "but if Kion IS going to live, we need to get Rafiki, and we need a plan to do so."
Fuli, thought about it for a moment, comparing the different options that came to mind, before settling on a plan. "Alright. Ono, fly on ahead to Rafiki- tell him what happened, do whatever you can to help." She then turned to Bunga. "Bunga, make sure the wildebeest herd know it's safe to pass through again, then find Simba and take him to Rafiki." She turned to face Beshte. "Beshte, you make sure that nothing falls on us while I carry Kion to Rafiki."
"Wait, why are you carrying Kion?" Ono asked. "Surely, Beshte should carry him- after all, he's the strongest."
"If Beshte carries him, I might not be able to watch their backs if any more rocks fall. It's better if he watches my back. Any more problems?" No one responded. "Alright. Let's do this."
Ono and Bunga nodded, heading their own ways. Fuli carefully eased Kion onto her back. He was by no means heavy, but she could definitely feel his weight on top of her as she began to carry him through the gorge.
Back in the Pride Lands, Rafiki was working on the mural in his baobab tree. While he was adding the newest image, the mandrill felt an uncomfortable chill in the air.
"Mufasa? Is that you?" he called out, before lifting his finger to check the wind. "Hmm… something is amiss here."
"Rafiki!" he heard Ono call, the egret headed straight for him. "Rafiki, it's an emergency!"
"What is de matter, Ono? Can't you see I am busy!"
"It's Kion! He got trapped in a rockfall!"
"That IS serious!" He put down his paints. "You must tell me exactly what happened." Ono quickly explained the situation and what Fuli's plan entailed. "I see. If that is de case, we had better begin de preparations! I will begin to work on something to numb de pain, but I do not have any of de right vines to bandage de wound, so you will have to get some!"
"Where can I find them?"
"There used to be a tree that had some near Pride Rock, but I think it has run out. If there are none left, there will be plenty at Hakuna Matata Falls. As long as that warthog hasn't farted on dem all, that is."
"I'm on it!" He quickly took off, while Rafiki began to get to work.
It didn't take long for Fuli and Beshte to exit the gorge. Fuli was starting to tire, and Beshte could tell.
"Fuli, we're out of the gorge, so I can take over carrying him if you want," he offered the tiring cheetah.
"It's fine, Beshte," she replied, "Rafiki's tree isn't far off. Besides, it's better if you watch my back, in case those mangy hyenas come after us."
"Fuli, they aren't going to follow us. Besides, you look tired. Maybe I should-"
"I told you it's fine! Now, let's keep going."
Her response had come as a surprise to him- he was chosen for the Lion Guard because he was the strongest there was, so why didn't she want him to carry Kion?
"Fuli? I-if something's wrong, you know you can tell me!"
"Really, I'm fine. At the moment, I just want to get Kion to Rafiki."
Beshte sighed, his ears folding back down as he replied. "Alright."
