Fuli was still in surprise- a happy surprise, but surprise nonetheless- that Kion was awake. The prince of the Pride Lands was looking right at her, but she couldn't say anything. She just didn't know what to say.
"Fuli?" he asked, groaning slightly. "Ugh, my head hurts like crazy. What's going on? Where am I?"
"Good evening, prince Kion!" Rafiki answered, whispering but happily. "You took a nasty bump on de head at the gorge, and your friend brought you to me."
"Oh, yeah." He then widened his eyes and turned to Fuli. "Fuli, are you alright?"
"M-me?!" She was in pure shock. After all that had happened, he was still putting others before himself. She just nodded, and Kion visibly relaxed.
"Yes, Kion, the rest are fine," Rafiki stepped in again, "your friends helped the wildebeest. Your family are here, but they've been sleeping for about an hour."
"Oh." He slowly tried to stand up, but lost his balance and fell over. "Oof!" He then felt an unsettling feeling in his stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick!"
"Take this," Rafiki gave him the medicine. Kion winced as he swallowed the disgusting mix of berries, making Rafiki chuckle. "Yes, it is bitter, but it will numb de pain and stop de nausea. You have a mild concussion, which will settle, but you need two days to rest."
"Alright. Thank you, Rafiki."
"Like your father taught me, hakuna matata. I'll let them know you're okay."
Rafiki left the two alone as he exited the room. Kion laughed a little, shaking his head lightly enough not to cause more pain.
"I'll never get that crazy monkey," he chuckled. He looked at a Fuli, expecting her to laugh too, but she was staring at her feet in silence. "Fuli?" She wouldn't look up. "Are you alright?"
It took her a moment, but she answered him. "How are you feeling?"
"A-a little sore, but alright. Fuli, something's bothering you. What is it?" She gritted her teeth, knowing he wouldn't stop. "Fuli, if something is wrong, you know you can-"
"Why?" she replied, her teeth still gritted. "Why did you push me out of the way?"
"What?" Kion was shocked. He couldn't believe she was asking him that. "What do you mean, why?"
"It's my fault you ended up like this. I wasn't paying attention, and I was the one who wasn't fast enough! It should have been me that got hurt by the rockfall, not you! You didn't deserve for that to happen to you!"
"Fuli, it's okay! You don't need to get so worked up, it's alright!"
"No, it's not!" She glared at him, then realised that she was shouting at him and stopped. "I'm so sorry. It's just… I should go."
"Fuli, wait." He slowly got to his feet, wobbly but he kept his balance. "Fuli, I would have done that for you if it was one rock, two rocks or a thousand. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"But you shouldn't have to get hurt for me." She was fighting back the tears and her voice was shaky. "I carried you all the way here, because I was afraid that you had… that you…" She forced back the tears and emotion with a sniff. "It's clear I don't belong on the Guard." She turned around to leave, but couldn't bring herself to do it, so she turned back to Kion. "I'm sorry. For… for everything."
"Fuli, stop." His voice was firm, but still as caring as she knew it to be. "First of all, you carried me the whole way here from the gorge? Not only must that have taken you forever, but you could have seriously hurt yourself doing that! Have you slept at all since you got here?" She shook her head. "You must be so tired! Why didn't you let Beshte carry me?"
"I don't know. He offered, but I kept turning him down. I guess I felt that I had to do it."
"Fuli…" he sighed. "And second of all, don't ever say that you don't belong on the Guard. Fuli, the truth is… I didn't just pick you because you were the fastest."
"Y-you didn't?" she put a paw over her heart. "Then why did you choose me?"
"Truth be told, I would have picked you even if you weren't the fastest animal the Pride Lands. I didn't pick any of you based on that. I picked a team that I thought truly cared about the Circle of Life; of animals that would be prepared to do whatever it takes to protect and help those in need. But do you know the main reason I picked you?" She shook her head. "I picked you, Fuli, because you could be the entire Lion Guard by yourself. You have the speed, strength, bravery, vision and fierceness to do so. You clearly had the bravery to take over and help me earlier, because I wouldn't be here otherwise. You not only had the physical strength to carry me here, but you have always had the will to do what ever it takes to help people, no matter the problem and no matter how hard. And I've seen you get fierce- honestly, you've scared me before!" She couldn't resist but laugh at that. It made Kion's heart flutter to see her finally smile. "And you can spot if something is troubling someone, and put yourself by their side to make them feel better. Above all else, you are the most considerate; the most caring; the friendliest, most amazing animal in all of the Pride Lands. So it would be wrong to have anyone in the Lion Guard instead of you."
"K-K-Kion," she was struggling to hold it back, "a-after everything that's h-happened, y-you still…" She held on for another moment, before she let the tears flow and the emotion pour out. "I'm so sorry!"
She placed her head under his chin, nuzzling him as she sobbed. He allowed for her to cry into his chest- she needed to let it out, and he was happy to let her do so. He gently rubbed her back with his paw, even though he nearly fell over doing so, and quietly shushed to calm her down.
"It's okay," he whispered. "I'm alright now, thanks to you. Everything is going to be okay."
"T-thank you," she whispered back.
"No. Thank you, Fuli. You saved me."
After a few moments, he heard her sobs grow to a stop, before they were replaced with the gentle intakes and outtakes of breath. Looking at her, he noticed her fall asleep, gently lying down on the ground.
'She's worn herself out,' he thought with a quiet chuckle. 'She's been through a lot today.'
He gently lay down as well, placing his head on top of her. He smiled. Looking at the entrance, he saw Rafiki come in, the mandrill chuckling at the now sleeping cheetah.
"I see she has finally fallen asleep," he spoke quietly. "I thought she would be up for de whole night! Should I take her through to de others?"
"No, don't," Kion whispered back, "let her rest."
Kion soon feel asleep as well, the two cubs sleeping soundly. Rafiki couldn't help but chuckle at how innocent they looked. He then got an idea, and started looking around his wall.
'Hmm,' he thought, looking at the number of different paintings he had added, 'where can I find a little room?"
