A few months had gone by and Kovu had kept Amadi pretty busy; taking him to many training sessions during the day, then making sure he was in the den by the time the sun had set. Before Kovu caught on, Amadi use to sneak off with Ayo before the sun would rise. But the moment Kovu found out he started to wake Amadi up earlier so he could keep an eye on him. Amadi's mane had not grown an inch, but slowly muscle developed, along with a very cold personality, as Kovu pushed him harder and harder. Kiara, under any normal circumstance, would have told Kovu to relax a bit. But truth be told, Amadi's strange attraction to Ayo had greatly concerned her. And ever since the disappearance of Dumaka, and as whispers traveled about the fight between he and Kovu, the whole pride viewed Amadi differently.
Dumaka had never been found. The last person to see him was Kovu, and that was the night of the argument. Kovu felt a great amount of guilt and sadness to his son's disappearance. He didn't even have the comfort in knowing what happened to Dumaka; remains of any sort were never found.
As for Amadi, he assumed that this was his entire fault, and no one told him otherwise. He felt alone and hated for who he was. Unable to seek out the comfort of Ayo, the King To Be had grown very reserved, and cold. With the exception of his training sessions, he didn't talk to anyone; not even his own mother could get a word out of him. Dalia hated him, as did all the other cubs. They blamed Amadi for Dumaka's disappearance, leaving him alone and companionless. Even Ayo would go off with the other cubs, but Amadi could not blame him. He couldn't expect Ayo to isolate himself as he did. In fact, Amadi was happy that no one blamed Ayo; he didn't want Ayo to feel as lonely as he did.
With the exception of the obvious drama, the pride was functionally normally. All the cubs were growing quickly, reaching adolescence. Simba and Nala were growing older, and this was obvious. Simba had slowed down quite a bit, so much to the point where he had Kovu pick up some kingly duties so that Simba could rest. Whenever a serious problem appeared, Simba would, of course, play his part. It's just that Kovu needed experience as a king, and this was the perfect opportunity.
Dalia had finally reached the age where she could hunt, and absolutely loved it. Now that Nala had slown down, Dalia was defiantly a top huntress. She was strong, quick, and growing into a very beautiful lioness. Even Ayo had started to notice this, which he didn't when he was around Amadi. For Ayo, he assumed and was told that his fling with Amadi was just a phase, and that was becoming more and more apparent. Dalia was happy to receive this attention from Ayo; she had fancied him for a very long time.
Luckily for them, Amadi had not yet noticed Ayo's affection towards his sister. Dalia would occasionally make passes to Ayo in front of Amadi, but Ayo would promptly move away, or refuse to even talk to her when she tried. Though he was loosing his feelings for Amadi, he didn't want to hurt him. He was happy Amadi hadn't noticed yet; it was better that way.
One day, walking alone through the tall grass, Amadi stumbled upon the river. He usually stayed away from the river; that event when he was a cub had really scared him. Whenever he went to the river, he was carful to stay a good 20 feet away from the water. Today was different though, today he didn't care. He walked along the edge of the river, lost in his unhappiness, secretly praying for one of the crocodiles to pop out of the raging water and drown him the way that they drowned those zebras.
But no such luck, the river was calm; gently flowing over rocks and the glistening backs of the lazy reptiles. 'I should have died that day.' Amadi thought to himself as he began to lap up some water from the river. 'died with those poor zebra. It would have been easier that way.'
Sighing, he lay down, looking at his reflection, his eyes studying the tiny tuft of black mane he had on his head and around his ears. What was wrong with him? Why was he like this? Glaring at the water he struck the reflection with claws bared. Standing angrily, he growled and kept walking down the river, watching his thin reflection as the water followed his feet.
As he walked he found himself falling deeper and deeper into thought and depression. Just when it seemed he was completely drowned by his thoughts he heard laughter. His ears perked up, his eyes flinching in the direction of the sound, his thoughts turned into curiosity. It was probably just the others playing, but as he grew closer he only heard two voices. Male and female. That was strange.
The nearer he grew to the voices and laughter, he could pick out his sisters loud, but beautiful voice. As he recognized the male voice his ears flattened, and he lowered himself into the tall grass. Peeking through the tall grass, his eyes caught the figures of Ayo and Dalia. Spying was bad, he knew this from the experience with Dumaka.
Ears back out of anger, claws extended, he watched the two; pouncing and cuddling like he and Ayo use to. A low, menacing growl escaped his throat as he watched his sister run her pink tongue over his face and mane. How could Ayo do this to him? That stupid lion was prancing about with Dalia like a love-struck cub! No, this couldn't be Ayo's fault… That huntress must have manipulated him, ensnared him with her manipulating smart words. He wouldn't allow this.
Rage took over after that point, he exploded out of the grass, charging at Dalia; mouth agape in a loud roar. He didn't acknowledged the surprised faces of the two as he barreled towards Dalia. Months of being a passivism, countless conversations about how he wasn't brutal enough to be a lion were all being contradicted.
Dalia had been taken by surprise, she had no time to react; Amadi pounced her with every ounce of strength in her body, clawed paws beating at her body. It took a moment for Dalia to really know what was going on, but when she did, the powerful huntress threw Amadi off of her.
"What on earth are you doing?!" She demanded, her body trembling from the pain; cuts bleeding from her shoulders and neck.
But Amadi didn't acknowledge her words, he charged again. This time Dalia faught back; both lions were up on their back legs, slashing at each other. Dalia's intent was defense, but Amadi was there to kill. Every ounce of jealousy and anger was coming out in each strike. Dalia was screaming for him to stop, but she was growing weaker. Even though Amadi was structurally different than the other lions, he was a lion none the less; and whatever testosterone he had was mixing with anger and adrenalin.
Ayo had been circling the two, yelling at Amadi to stop, trying to get him off of her. It wasn't until Amadi had struck Dalia hard to the ground that Ayo was able to intervene. Amadi's paw struck the lionesses head hard, sending her crashing to the ground. When he went to pounce on her, Ayo jumped at him; body checking him a few feet away.
"What the hell are you playing at?!" Ayo demanded, standing over Dalia just in case Amadi were to retaliate.
Awkwardly, Amadi got to his feet; a little dizzy from being slammed away by such a force. His eyes found Ayo's, and then he looked at Dalia. In his dizziness, he momentarily forgot why he had attacked his sister. But before he made it to apologizing, the image of Dalia rubbing her body up against Ayo popped back into his mind.
"Me? What are YOU playing at?!" Amadi demanded, teeth bared as he glared at Ayo. "What are you doing with her? She's my sister? Of all lionesses, my sister! What about me? What happened to me?"
"We were young, Amadi! Young and going through a stupid phase. It wasn't natural, and you know that! It was just a small thing; we knew no one else." Ayo shouted, his muscles tense… just in case. "But now I know someone else. I know Dalia, and I really like her. I've allowed myself to outgrow this, and so should you!"
Amadi couldn't believe his ears, his eyes widened for a moment and then grew sad. He was alone… Even though he was strange he had always lived in the comfort that there was at least one other lion like him. But he was alone. "I'll never outgrow this…" He murmured.
Slowly, Dalia got to her feet. Her body trembled from the pain; her fur was coated in blood. Sad, and confused eyes met Amadi. As their eyes connected, Dalia saw nothing but resentment in Amadi's eyes. She never really comprehended Amadi's and Ayo's relationship. She never thought it was like that, even after everyone told her it was. "I am so sorry, Amadi."
Amadi was shocked to hear this, he expected her to be mad considering the state he had put her in. But despite the chance to make things right, he couldn't forgive her. His ears went back and he shook his head. "Your dead to me…."
And with that, without looking at Ayo, Amadi turned away, and continued his walk down the river. He would not look back at them, he would not show concern… He never looked back.
…
When the pack saw Dalia there was immediate shock. Kiara, who had already lost one cub, pretty much broke down as she began to lick her daughter's wounds. Kovu approached, eyes wide with concern and shock.
"What happened?" Kovu demanded as he looked at Ayo.
Ayo looked at Dalia and then back at Kovu. Ayo knew that Kovu did not like him very much ever since the secret came out about him and Amadi. How was he going to explain this. "Uh…She was attacked…Am--"
"There were Hyenas…" Dalia interrupted, wincing as she lay down on the den floor. "I was by border, um, the river one… I was just taking a walk. Then hyena's came. They must have come from the outlands. They attacked me…Uh, if it weren't for Ayo I probably would have died."
Kovu looked at his daughter and then at Ayo. His face softened slightly as his eyes met Ayo's. "Thank you, Ayo. I am in your debt." He said, bowing his head slightly.
Simba looked at Dalia and Ayo suspiciously. Kovu didn't know much about hyenas, but Simba knew that the hyena's left the land after the fall of Scar. It was possible, he thought, that they returned, but he figured that the cubs were hiding something. But Simba wouldn't start questioning in such a state of panic. "Well, Kovu, if there are hyena's about were going to need to patrol the land and chase them off. I will not allow them in the Pride Lands."
Kovu nodded, understanding completely. The Hyena's played a huge role in the rein of Scar, and it was quite possible that it was their fault that Scar grew so corrupt. Unlike the outlanders, who were given a second chance, Kovu knew that Simba would never forgive the hyenas.
After making sure that Dalia was stable and comfortable, Kovu and Simba went to find these made-up hyenas. Ayo and the lionesses tended to Dalia, and after they were all sure that she was ok, Ayo was left alone with her.
Looking at her seriously, he lay before her. "Why did you tell them that. That's not what happened."
Dalia smiled at him and sighed. "Amadi is my brother…And I understand why he did it. It makes me sad that it came to this, and of course I am angry and shocked that he hurt me. But he is my brother… If anyone knew what actually happened he would get in so much trouble." Sighing, she rest her head upon Ayo's paws. "Amadi is already unpopular, this would make it much worse. It would break Mothers heart, and Daddy might even chase him off. I can't do that to him, not when this was all my fault."
"Don't say that." Ayo said firmly, licking her face lovingly. "He chose to act that way."
She shook his head and began to cry. "It's my fault. I stole the only person he had away from him. We all did… This is the least I can do to try to get things back together." Crying turned into sobbing, and she hid her face in his mane. "He's my brother, and I don't even know him! We all thought he was so weird, we distanced ourselves! Amadi's attack is the product of what we did to him. It's our fault! I deserve this! Maybe this will make up for it, maybe I can have my brother back…I miss my brother, Ayo. I really do."
Ayo didn't know what to do. He didn't blame Dalia at all for what happened. If anything, all of this came from Dumaka, but all of Dalia's dramatic ranting made sense in some way. Amadi was weird from day one, but he was such a nice, loving little cub. It was because of the pride that he changed. It was because of their ignorance to his condition. Ayo began to feel a huge sense of guilt. He toyed with Amadi's emotions, even if it wasn't intentional.
Sighing, Ayo rest his head over Dalia's nuzzling her gently. "It will be ok… " he tried his best to believe his words, but dread filled his heart. Luckily, he wouldn't have to stay around to live it. He would have to leave in a month or two, he was reaching adult hood and he would have to leave. His pride would come with him and he would rule his own land. Maybe he would ask Dalia to come with him, for he loved her very much and he wanted the best for her. And that wasn't going to happen around Amadi.
…
Amadi returned to the rock, but refused to sleep in the den with the others. He was happier on the peek of Pride Rock; away from his sister and Ayo. He wondered how much trouble he was going to be in, another reason he avoided the den; if Kovu and Simba were in there he was as good as dead. But his ears picked up to the sound of paws over rock, and he turned to see his father and grand father climbing Pride Rock.
"Where have you been all day?" Kovu asked, his tone much more gentle than Amadi expected after what he did to Dalia. "I've been worried sick."
"What are you talking about?" Amadi asked, quirking a brow as he wondered what was going on.
"Dalia was attacked by hyena's today." Simba said, looking upon Amadi with suspicious eyes. "We've been out looking for them all day. We were worried they had got to you to. After all, what better revenge to take on The Pride than killing a future king."
"But your ok, and that's good." Kovu said, licking his sons face; something he hadn't done in months. But he had been truly worried. "Did you see any about?"
"No, dad… I haven't seen a hyena in my life." Amadi said calmly, looking at them both very curiously. He was feeling a bit guilty now… He had done something horrible to Dalia, and yet she covered for him. He realized he hadn't said anything for a while, and that the two lions were looking at him expectedly. "Is she ok?"
Kovu nodded and sighed. "She'll be fine, just a bit shaken up. Rifiki came by to clean the wounds, he said she would feel sore for a while, but that's it."
"Um…Alright." He said softly, looking away from them at the horizon. "I'm sleeping outside tonight…"
Kovu nodded; he was oblivious still. For Amadi to say that he wanted to sleep outside wasn't unusual; he was a strange cub over all, but he never suspected that Amadi was in fact the hyena that attacked Dalia. "That's fine, just don't wander off; its dangerous when hyena's are about. G'night."
"Night." Amadi mumbled, resting his head on his paws. He heard his father walk away, but knew that Simba was still standing there. Did he suspect something? Simba was very smart, after all. Amadi dared not to turn around, and after a few moments, he heard Simba walk away.
Close call, he thought to himself, as he looked back at the den. Slowly, his head turned to the stars. What was wrong with him? The Amadi that existed a few months ago would have never dreamed to attack someone, not even if he was angry. Where was the mouse loving, passive Amadi that he use to be? His eyes watered as he watched the stars.
"Why did you do this to me?" He asked the stars, tears running down his face. "Why am I so different? Why do I like Ayo? Why did you make me this way?!" he shouted the last sentence, baring his teeth at the stars. "Your cruel….Everyone here is, but I expected better from the great kings."
And with that finally word, he lay his head down, closed his eyes and slipped into a sleep of terror and sadness.
…
The next few weeks were difficult on Amadi. He was forced to go through more training, and when he wasn't out with his father or Simba, he had to deal with Dalia's condition. He wouldn't talk to her, and he wouldn't even look at Ayo. But her wounds, and her healing was a constant reminder of what he did to her. He was feeling more guilt than resentment now. He felt like if he had to see her one more time he would break down and confess himself in front of the whole pride.
Dalia had tried to talk to her brother, but he was ignoring her. It was times like these that she really missed Dumaka. Despite the fact that he was usually a huge jerk, Dumaka was always there for her. She wondered, now more than ever before, whether he was alive. And if he was, where was he and why hadn't he come home?
Dumaka was alive, alive and living with a new pride. After the argument with his father, Dumaka ran away from the Pride Lands. After traveling the desert, he became really weak. When he ran off, he was too young to hunt. With the exception of the occasional lizard, he went days without a meal. On the brink of death, he found a pride of lions.
Usually, the male would not tolerate another male cub in the pride, unless it was his own. But the queen, who had a generous and loving soul, convinced the king to take in the cub and he had been there ever since. He was afraid to go home. Afraid that things had changed, afraid that his family hated him, and afraid that he would not be able to make that journey again.
But as he grew, he grew in strength. He knew that he would return to The Pride Lands soon, when he knew that he could hunt and make the journey. But he would not stay there. His new pride went through a lot of misfortune. The prince of the pride had been killed by jackals, and the pride turned to Dumaka, the only other male in the pride, to rule. That, and the little princess of the pride had grown attached to him, and he to her. It was decided that he would rule as her king, and she as his queen. He was happy, but the memory of his family loomed in the back of his head at all times. He knew he would have to return someday, to visit and ease his mothers worrying heart.
He wondered about the changes that might have become his family now, they did not scare him. And as his mind matured, he knew that his family would not hate him; if anything they were worried sick. He thought often of Amadi, curious as to how he might have grown, and if he had changed at all. He did not suspect in the least what Amadi did to Dalia; violence was not in his brothers nature. He was sure that he would return home, his wife at his side, to a normal, happy Pride Lands.
