The Lion King III: An Unexpected Life
Chapter 3
An Act of Bravery
It had been 3 weeks since the cubs had been born. Lrui, Kujo, Jermiah, Aasim, Sharise, and Chad all grew into playfull little cubs, and had lots of fun together. Chad's leg did get better, but he still had a bit of a limp and Kiara was always trying to tell him not to run, and every time he didn't listen, he end up tripping. Today Luri and Kujo were heading to the water hole to play game of water tag with their friends. Kiara of course said to stay in sight of the lionesses down there. Chad had slept in, so his siblings didn't want to disturb him.
After they took off, Kiara made her way back inside, and laid beside her son. She couldn't help but daw at him. He always looked cute when he sleeped. But she was worried. While his siblings made friends outside the little group, Chad had not. She had been wanting to talk to him about it, but she felt she shouldn't push him. But today, with this siblings gone, she, for one, didn't want him to be alone, or sulk in the cave on his own. He didn't mind it, since it didn't always happen. As Kiara felt her son stir beside her, she nuzzled him. "Good morning little one," Kiara said.
Chad yawned, "Morning Mommy. Where are Luri and Kujo?"
"Their at the watering hole right now. They didn't want to wake you," Kiara said.
Chad was bummed. He knew his mother wouldn't let him do things alone, and knowing that his siblings and friends were already out playing, he saw very little chance of going outside. "Rats, I was hoping to go with them," Chad said.
Kiara would have offered to take him, but she had a hunting party to gather this morning, and with the rest of the family gone, and all lionesses present needed to watch over new cubs that were just born, she couldn't have him go anywhere, and she knew that Chad wasn't fond of having to stay with all the baby lions, even though he admitted they wer cute. Then she saw a chance to take care of two problems. Asila and Kizu, twins who had their mother's light brown fur, and beige underbelly, were about to head out. "Why don't you ask Asila and Kizu to go with you?" Kiara said.
Chad saw them, and looked back his mother. "But Mommy, they never play with me," he protested.
"Well have you asked them to?" Kiara asked.
"Well no but... well, I guess, it couldn't hurt," Chad said.
"That's what I like to hear. Asila. Kizu. Can you come here please?" Kiara requested.
Kizu and Asila sighed, and walked over to the queen. "Yes your majesty," Asila said.
"My son was wanting to go to the water hole. Do you think you can accompany him?" Kiara asked.
"Um, sure," Kizu asked.
"Thank you very much. Now remember to be careful out there Chad," Kiara instructed.
"Yes mommy," Chad said.
"Okay, I'll see you later honey," Kiara said as she nuzzled her youngest.
As she took off, Chad turned to the two cubs and said, "So, shall we go to the water hole?"
"Well, we could. But we wanted to check out this really cool place. You wanna come," Asila asked.
"Where is it?" Chad asked curiously.
"It's the Okani riverbank," Kizu said.
"But... my parents said that place is dangerous," Chad said.
"Oh come on. Are you chicken?" Asila mocked.
"No I'm not, but," Chad was cut off as Kizu interjected, "Come on, what your Mom doesn't know won't hurt right?"
Chad sighed, and agreed. He didn't want to disobey his mom, but he didn't want to be called chicken either. He had to think of some way to please both sides. Maybe he could just look at it from the edge and not leave the Pridelands. That would prove he had the guts to go see it. Soon they all took off. Kizu and Asila were hard to keep up with, but Chad did his best with a few mishaps. And soon, they were there. The edge of the river bank. "Woooow," the three said.
"That's one big river. I wonder why no one drinks from it," Asila said.
"Because there's monstrous crocs that lurk in the river. That's what Nala says," Kizu said.
"Well, now that we've seen it, why don't we," Chad was unable to finish his sentence as the three hadn't realized they were on loose soil.
It soon gave way, and they slid to the beach below. "Hahaha. That was fun. Now get your limping but off me," Asila said.
"Hey, stop making jokes at my leg," Chad said as he got off.
"Why, it was funny," Kizu said.
"Not to me," Chad said.
"Sheesh it was just a joke," Asila said.
"Yeah, well it's not a funny one," Chad said.
He was about to add more when he saw something moving in the water. "Uh oh," he said.
The other two saw what he was staring at, and soon they all jumped. Chad ran upstream, while the other two headed downstream. Chad yelled to say they were going the wrong way, but it was too late, the croc burst from the water and had them cornered. Chad then saw an opportunity. He picked up a rock and threw it at the croc to get it's attention. "Hey come over here you big belly dragger," Chad taunted.
His plan worked as the croc scurried toward him, While Asila and Kivu climbed a dead log. He soon started running and saw he was about to get surrounded. And at that moment he tripped. He thought he was done for, but the trip had saved him. He had rolled just in time to avoid a crocs bite. As he got to his feet. He saw another dead log, started to climb it. AS he climbed it though, he lost control as one of his paws feel through the hollow part of it making him stuck and then the log rolled a bit. He was now dangling. As this all happened, the crocs were all surrounding him.
At this time. Kiara, back form the hunt and the rest of the family had shown up, and could only watch in terror. Chad then saw a croc make a jump, and while his jaws missed, his claws did not, and swiped Chad in his bad leg. He screamed. He thought he was done for until he heard someone yell, "Take My Paw!"
He looked up and saw a beige lioness who looked like a mini version of his grandma. He reached, and just in time as the log released it's grip on his paw that had fallen through. Soon he was away from hungry jaws. "Th-thank you," Chad said.
He was unable to hear the answer from the cub who saved him as he passed out. Kiara soon found another log not too far up stream that crossed over and came to the other side. "Chad! Chad!" She yelled as she came to her son. She saw he was passed out but still breathing. This gave her some relief. But she didn't have time to wait there and dilly dally. She motioned to the little cub to follow her, and she picked up her son, and made haste for Rafiki's tree, with the Pride close behind, along with the visitor.
Once they were at Rafiki's tree, Rafiki examined Chad's condition. "Well, the wound will need some care, but it was not too deep or life threatening. He merely passed out from the shock of the moment. He'll be awake in a few hours. I advise not to let him walk anywhere for at least two weeks," Rafiki said.
"Two weeks, I'll make sure of it. Thank you Rafiki," Kiara said.
"Always an honor to help the royal family," Rafiki said as he applied the last of the medicine to Chad's wound.
Soon Kiara picked up her son and began to carry him back. She gave a stern look at Asila and Kizu, who just coward to their mother. Once they arrived at Pride Rock they saw the visitor. Kiara soon layed on he royal resting area and asked the young cub, "What is your name dear?"
"M-My name is Xena your majesty," she said.
"And why were you by the river?" Kovu asked as he walked in.
"I was looking for a pride. My... my old pride... they were wiped out by a fire, made by humans... I was the only one who escaped," Xena said, beginning to cry.
Kiara was surprised. Humans, they knew, were bound by their own kinds law not to hunt lions. These had to be poachers, as humans called them. Kiara was sad for her. Jaha soon offered to care for her, seeing that Jeremiah was always saying he wanted a brother or sister. Xena thanked her, and soon the afternoon hunting party made their way in with a new kill. Kovu got a piece for him and Kiara, and soon Kiara started nusring her cubs, who were still a little to young to have meat yet. All, but Chad. As he came to, Chad groaned, "Mm-my leg."
"Be thankful it's not your neck dear," Kiara said.
"Mommy. I... are you mad at me?" Chad asked.
"Now why would I be mad at you Chad?" Kiara asked as she started to clean the wound as Rafiki's medicine wore off.
"I, ah! I disobeyed you and was on the riverbank," Chad said, thinking there was no way around it, even though had a good reason for what happened.
"Well, why don't you tell me what happened," Kiara said.
Chad explained everything to his mother and she smiled, "Well, it was just an accident, but I am a little disappointed you went near there in the first place. I think you suffered enough punishment already though. However... Asila, Kivu, come here."
The two gulped and approached the queen. She then said, "I know that my son did not go to the riverbank of his own decision, so I want to know what possessed you in the first place that in turn made you convince him to go to the river."
"We- we just thought it was a cool place to go see, with everybody talking about how dangerous it was," Asila admited.
"We thought it was just to try and scare us," Kizu added.
"I'll let you off this time. But you now must understand, when we say something is dangerous, we don't mean it's something to scare you with, we mean that it could potentially harm, you and really hurt you. And now my son has felt that pain because of it. I will leave it to your mother Helena to decide your punishment," Kiara said.
"Yes your majesty," the cubs bowed respectfully.
"We're really sorry Chad," Asila said.
Chad turned away still feeling soar at them for what happened. Soon Kiara let Chad have his meal, and as the night settled in, all fell asleep, unaware of the eyes that stood watch on the other side of the river. "So it seems that a cub from the pride I lead the humans to has lived. Have to find a way to deal with her," the dark female voice of a lioness said.
She soon walked off into the darkness to plan her next move.
End of chapter 3. Wow that took long. Hope you all enjoy. So the pride has gained a new member, and learned a few lessons too. But who is this Lioness that has a quarrel with Xena? Only future chapters will tell.