Chapter Eighteen

Simba's POV

'Why did I let him go? Why did I let him go play today?' I asked myself frantically as I ran headlong into the flames.

"TANO? TANO? WHERE ARE YOU?" I shouted, coughing.

I was scared beyond words, I pleaded with the kings above to keep Tano safe, just until I found him, then I would do all of the safe keeping from there on. I cursed myself for caving to Tano that morning, I should've stuck with his punishment and kept him in the den, now for all I knew he was dead.

No. I had to stay positive, I reassured myself that Tano knew exactly what to do when there was a fire, he was probably fine...Probably, I reprimanded myself for the use of the word, Tano would be just fine, no question about it.

'Please let him be Ok...'

Tano's POV

The fire caught me and Vitani completely off guard, one minute we were playing and goofing around, the next we were running for our lives. The flames spread rapidly, and there was very little we could do to outrun them, before we knew it, we were surrounded by a wall of fire.

Vitani was nearly incoherent, "Tano, what do we do? Where do we go?" she asked.

I didn't know, I wasn't exactly calm at that particular moment either, I frantically scanned the flaming grass and trees for a way out.

"I don't...I can't see a-" I started, but just as I started to give up it happened: a break in the flames.

"There!" I shouted, "Follow me!"

Vitani and I charged the break in the fire, I silently begged for it not to close back up as we were running through it. We made it through the break in the flames, but the smoke severely limited visibility, I couldn't see Pride Rock or any other obvious landmarks, everything looked the same: burning trees and burning grass.

Vitani seemed to notice my lack of direction, "We gotta move. We'll find our way back after the fire dies out." she said, stepping in front of me and taking point.

We hadn't walked ten steps when I heard the sickening crack of a nearby tree beginning to fall.

"Vitani! Look out!" I shouted, pushing her out of the falling tree's path.

I couldn't move fast enough to dodge the tree myself however, as I heard the tree hit the ground with a deep 'Thud' I felt a very sharp and immense pain surge through my body.

As I blacked out, I remember thinking, 'well, my life wasn't a total waste.'

Vitani's POV

"Vitani! Look out!" I heard Tano shout to me

Next thing I knew, I saw a massive tree land right were I would've been standing, and right were Tano was standing.

'NO!' I thought and shouted at the same time, I was mortified, Tano had just saved my life, but he very well may have ended his own.

"TANO!" I shouted, running over to the flaming tree trunk.

The tree had Tano's tail and right hindleg pinned under it's massive weight, I knew I had to do something to help him, but I couldn't lift this tree.

'Hang in there Tano, I'll go get help.' I thought as I looked at him one last time.

I wasn't about to let my best friend die on me.

Rinaka's POV

I watched as the stupid hyena approached where myself and the other two hyenas stood, his head held high and his face scrunched into a confident smirk.

"Way to go pyro." Their leader, Shenzi remarked as he sat down beside her.

I looked out to the enflamed land with a smile, "Yes, good job." I remarked.

When Zira told me that I was to act as her voice until she got better, I was more than honored. I didn't see babysitting these three as a chore, as I normally would've percieved it. My mind drifted to thoughts of Zira's son, Nuka; he was such a charmer, even though he'd gotten into a termite mound and they clung to him like fleas.

The three hyenas were mezmerized by the fire, "Yeah, I don't see how the little shrimp is gonna live through all that." the more intellegent of the two males said.

Shenzi hit him on the shoulder, "Shut up, remember what happened the last time you said that somethin' was as good as dead? He ended up coming back on us."

Hyenas, they were morons, all three of them. I had no idea why Zira had allowed them in on this plan, I could've swore she hated them as much as Simba did.

"This will be the beginning of the end for Simba." I said

Shenzi nodded, "You mind telling us how again?" she asked

I did mind, but I told them anyway, "Tano dies in the fire, Simba and Nala both are greif stricken and distracted, then we move in and it's off with their heads." I explained, trying to keep it simple.

The less than intellegent male drew an imaginary line across his neck and laughed his stupid sounding laugh.

"I have to report back to Zira, I trust you three can confirm Tano's death?" I asked as I walked away from the hyenas.

Shenzi nodded, "No problem Rinaka, tell Zira congrats for us too." she said

"For what?" I asked

She laughed, "She's expecting."

Well, that explained Zira's sickness, sudden anger control issues, and... well that explained everything that was off about our leader actually.

I nodded my understanding and left the three to watch the fire burn out, at the current rate of expansion though, they were gonna be there a while.

Nala's POV

I was about to have a breakdown, Tano was in serious danger, and I couldn't find him, you couldn't have stopped the flow of tears down my cheek even if you told me he was alright.

"TANO? WHERE ARE YOU?" I shouted at the top of my lungs, my voice cracking as I began to cry mid-shout.

Simba had every lioness in the pride out looking for Tano, the fire had for the most part died out at this point, but one still had to watch one's step for a little flare up or some embers that had yet to burn out.

"Queen Nala!" I heard a tiny voice frantically call out

Vitani emerged from the thick smoke, her entire body was grey from the ashes, save for the tear tracks on her face, she looked as though she was terrified of something, I was immediately concerned.

I tried to keep my cool as I asked, "What is it Vitani? What did you see?"

Her light blue eyes widened as a mix of emotions played out across her seven month old face, "It's T-Tano...there was a tree...he pushed me out of the way when it fell...and..." she stammered

My eyes began to fill with tears once more, "Vitani, what happened?" I asked, my voice devoid of it's usual authority.

"You have to come help him! He's hurt!" she barked, suddenly very to-the-point about it all.

In any normal circumstance where a cub barked an order at me like that, I would've given her the biggest ass-chewing of her life. Reguardless of whether Zira approved of it or not, but this wasn't a normal circumstance, was it?

I followed Vitani for what seemed like an eternity, when in fact it was probably only two or three minutes. We came upon a large fallen tree, underneath the tree, about midway down the trunk was Tano, either unconscious, or dead.

I freaked out at the sight of my son's lifeless form, but I still approached him slowly.

"Tano?" I asked

No reply

"T-Tano?"

No reply

"Tano please...answer me..."

No reply

Sarabi's POV

"HELP!" Came Nala's shrill cry

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me toward the sound of her voice, "Nala? Where are you?" I shouted through the thick smoke.

This didn't sound good, my only reply was a wailing sound.

"Sarabi, over here!" came a small voice from my right.

It was Zira's daughter, her and Nala stood near a fallen tree, "Nala? What is it dear?" I asked my daughter in law as though she were a young cub.

"He's dead." she replied

I looked over to my grandson's body, and I noticed his chest raise and lower ever so slightly. I immediately sprung into action, "Help me lift this tree Nala." I commanded her as I latched onto a thick branch and began to lift.

Nala seemed perplexed, but she did as I told her, and with one good effort, we freed Tano from the tree. That was when I realized just how badly he was hurt, Tano's tail was severed from about mid-way on, And the back leg that had been pinned was broken.

As she picked his body up, Nala noticed his breathing, "He's alive!"

I nodded, "Yes, but he wont be for much longer if you dont get him to Rafiki's tree, hurry!" I shouted at her.

"But what about Simba?"

"I'll get him, go!"

And with that I went to go find my son.

Zira's POV

Rinaka returned as the last of the fire burned out, "Well done Rinaka, I am most pleased with you and your three little helpers." I said

"All in the name of Scar." she replied

I nodded, I wondered if she would think the next part of my plan was in his name.

"Now Rinaka, I am going to ask you to do something that might seem confusing, but it is necessary to the success of our plan."

"I'll do anything, what is it?" she asked

I smiled, perhaps she was a little more useful to me than I had originally given her credit for, "I want you to tell Simba about the hyenas, how they started the fire. But be sure and omit your involvelment and mine, we just want him thinking about the hyenas."

She nodded and bowed, "Yes ma'am." she said as she left to go find our "King".

It pained me to want to be rid of one so devoted to Scar's cause, but if Nuka was going to remain just another male and not the heir of Scar, he didn't need a future mate.

It was an hour or so before the three hyenas arrived, "Everything is going according to plan ma'am." the female reported.

I shook my head, "Not everything Shenzi, Rinaka is a traitor, she went and told Simba that you three started the fire. You now have new orders, kill her and get this plan back on track."

Shenzi growled, "She won't live to see nightfall."

I laughed, "See that she doesn't, she's due to report in in an hour if you three wish to wait for her." I said

The stupid hyena laughed deeply and growled.

Rafiki's POV

Nala lept into my tree in one bound, in her mouth she carried a battered but still alive Tano, "Rafiki, please save my son." she begged

I took Tano from her mouth gently and lightly set him down on the floor of my tree home, I immediately took note of Tano's severed tail and broken leg, but he also had minor burns, bruises, scrapes and cuts. To say he was in rough shape would be putting it lightly, I dug through the various medicine pouched scattered about the tree in search of some root-powder that I used as a heavy pain killer. Tano would need to be awake so I could see if he had any brain damage or vision problems.

"Nala, I will not lie to you, 'dis doesn't look good. If you will wait at the bottom of my tree, I will call you up 'ere if his condition improves." I hated telling it to her like that, but if I sugarcoated it and said everything would be fine, she would only be disappointed.

Nala seemed hesitant to go, but she complied with my order.

I then set about my work, I wasn't going to let Tano die on me.

Sarafina's POV

Simba, Sarabi, Timon, Pumbaa and myself made haste to Rafiki's tree, sitting at the base and crying her eyes out was my daughter. Simba immediately ran over to her side and began trying to comfort her.

"Rafiki says it doesn't look good Simba, what are we going to do if..." she started, but didnt finish

Simba pulled her close, "Nala, Rafiki knows what he's doing, Tano will be just fine." he reassured her

Nala buried her head into Simba's shoulder, it pained me to see my daughter so upset, and I genuinely wished there was something I could do to ensure that Tano lived, he was too young to lose his life.

Timon tried to be supportive, "You got nothin' to worry about, the kid's a fighter, he'll make it!"

Pumbaa gave him a quick disapproving grunt and he said no more

Not a word more was exchanged amongst the group for hours. We all sat there, hoping that little Tano would make it through the night...

Ed's POV

We waited patiently until the traitor returned to report in to Zira, she approached us with a look of surprise on her face, "What are you three doing here?" she asked

If she only knew.

Shenzi shook her head, "Do you know what happened to the last lion that betrayed us?" she asked Rinaka

Rinaka seemed not to understand, "Betrayed you? I didn't betray you?" she said

Shenzi took a unorthodox approach to calling her a liar, "I asked you a simple question Rinaka, do you know what happened to the last lion who betrayed us?" she repeated insistantly as she began to circle the young lioness.

Bonzai chimed in, "Yeah, do you? It is a very easy yes or no question Rinaka." he said menacingly, falling into step with Shenzi

I was angry, this made the second lion that had tried to pin something serious on us

"What are you trying to say? And where is Zira?" she asked, looking at us nervously

"Zira has stepped out for a little while." Bonzai answered

Shenzi got in Rinaka's face, "We know you went and tattled to Simba on us."

Rinaka's eyes widened, "I didn't. I swear." she lied

I stepped in front of Shenzi, with a devilish smile and a great deal of focusing I said, "Loose lips cost lives, my dear."

Her face became the embodiment of pure, primal horror, I knew what she'd originally thought of me, that I was daft and idiotic. I made sure she knew what I really was before I sent her to see Scar.

"And now my dear little traitor, you will die." came my uncharacteristically raspy voice once again

...Then we closed in on her.

A/N: Hey, it's me again. So...what did y'all think?

Whew, this one was kinda depressing. but trust me, the good times are coming (Might not be for another two or three chapters) but the good times are coming

So, tell me what you thought, and look out for Chapter 19 soon.

Thanks!