Chapter Three: Enhanced Terror
Hmmmm… 3 REVIEWS? What? That's meager compared to 9 my first chapter, folks… So I thank Francis, CSIMentalistTLK Lover, and TRON0602 for reviewing. Also, if you have the time, take a glance at the following stories:
The New Lion King by CSIMentalistTLK Lover
Brave Heart by Maua
Now, guys, more reviews equal chapters on time. I was late last time because where I live, snow has just fallen and my vehicle has decided to go off its medication (I'm thinking of renaming it from "Saya" to "Kula" because of this matter even!) So, please, if more reviews flow, I will do my best to update at least once a week. If not, it's because of the weather. Enjoy the chapter.
A couple months passed without incident in the Pridelands. The cubs, of course, hated the new rules about being with the eldest lionesses, but they had to get over it otherwise they were grounded from going out. Chumvi had returned, a helpful thing, especially to Tojo and Simba, and of course, Vitani. Chumvi had stories about Tama that soothed Vitani's still mending soul. That was what Vitani and Chumvi were doing that day, too, making rounds together and talking about Tama.
"That was when Tama fell into the waterhole. She was soaked to the bone, and of course, it began raining." Chumvi laughed. Vitani laughed too.
"What luck Mom had." Vitani's jaw quivered and her eyes filled with tears. Chumvi stopped and looked to his cousin.
"'Tan?" Chumvi asked. Vitani sobbed as she stopped.
I'm so tired of being here.
Suppressed by all my childish fears
"'Tani? What's wrong?" Chumvi asked as he nuzzled Vitani. Vitani sobbed.
"Mom would have known what to do. Kibuluu's back and I'm positive he's after JJ. I'm so sure of it, Chumvi." Vitani cried. Chumvi brought Vitani into a hug.
"Tama would have known what to do, but you did the right thing. I'm sure she's proud of your decision, Vitani." Chumvi said. Vitani hiccupped.
"I don't know," Vitani sobbed, "I'm the Queen, and I can't even protect my lands because I'm so…"
"So what?" Chumvi gently prompted.
"Afraid. When Kibuluu…when he had my mother, I felt fear. For her." Vitani whispered.
Vitani and Zazu heard Tama's roar before anyone else. The Princess and the majordomo headed for Pride Rock at full speed. Vitani felt her feet and lungs simultaneously burning as she stepped onto the warm kopje. She ran into the cave to see Kibuluu beating the hell out of Tama.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Vitani roared. Kibuluu looked to Vitani and laughed.
"Well, well, well, isn't it the prodigal daughter of the Lovely Tama and the Handsome Tojo, formerly named Ashaki and now going by the name her adoptive mother gave her?" Kibuluu asked. Vitani roared and stepped between the large golden lion and her unconscious mother.
"Why don't you just get the hell out of this cave?" Vitani asked. Kibuluu laughed.
"Oh, dear, dear Vitani," Kibuluu chuckled, "The deed has been done."
"What deed?" Vitani glanced at her mother then looked back to Kibuluu.
"She's not unconscious, she's dead." Kibuluu said, an evil smile crossing his face. Vitani's heart about stopped. She looked back to her mother. Tama was breathing, but so shallow she'd be dead within minutes if untreated. Vitani glanced to Zazu, who nodded and flew off, too fast for Kibuluu's cumbersome reflexes.
"Damn bird… oh well it'll all be over soon." Kibuluu laughed, backing Vitani deeper into the cave. Vitani felt her heart pound. She closed her eyes.
"He just wouldn't leave. He just wouldn't." Vitani sobbed into Chumvi's mane.
And if you have to leave.
I wish that you would just leave
"Hey now, it's okay. Shhh… Easy 'Tani. Easy. You're okay. I'm here." Chumvi said. Chumvi sensed it wasn't just Kibuluu's presence that rocked Vitani to the core.
"He should have just left. Maybe she'd still be alive." Vitani whispered.
"Oh, 'Tan." Chumvi said. His ocher-amber eyes filled with sadness as he glanced into Vitani's electric blue eyes. He saw Vitani's full emotions, and knew it wasn't just Kibuluu that enhanced the terror in Vitani.
"There's something else." Vitani said.
"I won't tell a soul if you don't want me to." Chumvi said.
"I'm pregnant again. I'm worried that this time I won't be able to protect JJ. What if Kibuluu kidnaps Jay like Kula did me?" Vitani asked.
"We won't let him. We've tightened our security. The Mountain Pride, the Downwind Pride, and the River Pride are the only prides allowed here now freely. Anyone else has to be escorted, especially near the southern border." Chumvi said.
"Chumvi," Vitani said, looking directly into Chumvi's eyes, an authoritative note in her voice, "I can't shake the feeling that Kula's presence is still here." Chumvi nodded and pursed his lips.
"It haunts you. Kula haunts you." Chumvi whispered. Vitani nodded.
Your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone.
*+-/_\-+*
Sarabi and Zira were watching the cubs. JJ and Nurisha were learning from Giza and Damu how to pounce properly (a good thing for the girls,) Kweli lied alongside Sarabi, snoozing, Zuri and Jasiri were playing with a butterfly, and Jua, Mwenzi, and Fahamu were playing hide and seek, of course, within Sarabi and Zira's sight.
"Sarabi?" Zira asked softly, not wanting to wake Kweli. Sarabi looked to Zira.
"Yes, Zira?" Sarabi asked.
"I can't help but feel that something's wrong with Vitani." Zira whispered. Sarabi nodded.
"She's scared. The lion that killed her mother for Kula is alive and threatening her lands and her children." Sarabi said with a sigh.
"It is scary, but there's something else. She's gained a little weight." Zira said. Sarabi's eyes widened, then became normal.
"Do you think she's pregnant?" Sarabi whispered.
"She might be scared if she is. Remember? Kula kidnapped her when Tama was pregnant." Zira said. Sarabi nodded, remembering the incident.
Nala, Sarabi, Sarafina, Tojo, and Chumvi chased off the lionesses holding Simba and Tama down.
"Tama! Are you all right?" Tojo asked.
"Ashaki! Kula's going for Ashaki!" Tama said.
"And Kopa!" Simba said.
"On it!" Chumvi ran after the direction Kula went after the cubs, Sarafina following him. Tojo helped Tama stand.
"Oh, Tojo she's going after our baby!" Tama cried.
"Don't worry, Tama. Chum's got this. You trust your cousin." Tojo said.
"How's the baby?" Nala asked.
"The baby's fine. I'm worried about Ashaki," Tama looked down the acacia grove, "I'm going after them!" Tama started running but Sarabi stepped in front of her daughter.
"Tama, you're pregnant. You have to think about the baby!" Sarabi said.
"I'm thinking about both my babies!" Tama protested.
"Tam', I'll go. Just stay here." Tojo said, running through the acacia grove.
"Be careful!" Tama yelled.
Hours passed and the group of lions stayed in the same spot, Tama's heart running. Ashaki was out there, alone with a killer lioness. Finally, a brown lion, a dark gold lion, and a creamy lioness with a gold cub in her mouth appeared. Tama's heart stopped.
"They're back!" Nala called. Tama ran over to Tojo first.
"Where's Ashaki?" Tama asked. Chumvi looked at his cousin with hurt reddish orange eyes. Tama looked at Chumvi and saw a light beige tuft of fur in his mouth. Tama's eyes filled with tears.
"No…" Tama whispered. Chumvi set the tuft of fur down and Tama sniffed at it, recognizing it at Ashaki's scent. She felt a tear run down her cheek as she held her head low. Sarabi nuzzled her daughter.
"Oh, Tama I'm so sorry…" Sarabi said, her own eyes full of tears.
Sarabi's eyes watered again and the beige lioness brushed them away with a paw.
"Those wounds just won't heal, just like Tama being gone." Sarabi whispered. Zira nodded.
"There's too much that time won't erase." Zira said softly.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time
Cannot erase
*+-/_\-+*
Nuka and Kovu also were patrolling, but the southern border of the lands. The brothers laughed and talked, both trying to ease their unison tension. Then Nuka sighed.
"Zuri's been sick." Nuka said.
"How bad, bro?" Kovu asked, concerned for his niece.
"Not like ill, but her stomach's in knots. Rikala isn't sleeping, she's worried about Kiara." Nuka said.
"What's going on with Kiara?" Kovu asked.
"She and Myota have been fighting. Jua is a lot like Myota, quiet, polite, yet spirited, but Mwenzi is… well she isn't like Kiki." Nuka said.
"Whom is Mwenzi taking after?" Kovu asked.
"Myota thinks Mwenzi's taking more after Kula and Kenya, Kiara just says it's a phase." Nuka said.
"And Rikala isn't sleeping because Kiara's been her confidant?" Kovu asked. Nuka nodded.
"That and she has worried herself awake more than one night. Rikala feels Kula's presence lingering here. Just hanging over us after Kibuluu showed his ugly mug." Nuka said. Kovu frowned.
"I'm sorry about Riri. I mean, she's my sister through my dad, and even though I haven't gotten to know her…" Kovu said.
"Riri's just worried about how it's affecting Zuri. Zuri is saying that she's waking up from bad dreams. She describes them as she's running from a golden lion with blue eyes this lion won't stop chasing her, and she wakes up when he gets her." Nuka pursed his lips.
"Maybe you and your family should get the hell out of here for a week or two, go to the mountains, the River Pride, the Downwind Pride, anywhere but here." Kovu suggested.
"Someone needs to be here to wipe away Mom's tears, though. She won't let Kijani see her cry." Nuka said. Kovu sighed.
"We're all scared." Kovu said.
When you cried I'd wipe away
All of your tears
*+-/_\-+*
The cubs had started to calm down and flocked to Sarabi and Zira. Zuri settled in between her grandmother's paws with Fahamu. Zira saw the sadness in her granddaughter's bi-colored eyes.
"Zuri, what is it sweetheart?" Zira asked. Zuri's eyes filled with tears.
"Zuri?" Fahamu asked. Zuri began sobbing.
"Mama's not doing good." Zuri sobbed. Kweli, seeing the situation, grabbed Fahamu and started bathing Zira's son so Zira could comfort her granddaughter. JJ walked up to Zira as well, nuzzling her cousin.
"What's going on with your mom?" JJ asked. Zuri hiccupped.
"She won't sleep. She says it's bad dreams." Zuri whispered. Zira wiped away Zuri's tears.
"Come now, there is no need for tears in such beautiful of eyes." Zira said. Zuri looked up to her grandmother.
"Gramma, what do you do when you have bad dreams?" Zuri asked. Zira grimaced.
"I do the same that your mom does. I get up. I can't sleep. Usually Papa has to help me." Zira said. Sarabi saw Zira's painful expression and stepped in.
"Sometimes bad dreams are so bad that sleep is impossible." Sarabi said. JJ walked to her great-grandmother and curled into Sarabi's arms.
"What makes you have such bad dreams?" Zuri asked. Zira sighed.
"Let us tell you a story. A story about a bad lion that murdered Queen Tama, the mother of Vitani and Muujiza." Zira said softly.
"She's still breathing. We need to get the family here, now." Vitani hitched a breath. Tojo nuzzled Vitani.
"Why's that?" Sarabi was at the mouth of the cave. Vitani trotted to her grandmother, seeing not only the main Royal Family, but the hunting party as well.
"Only the Royal Family inside, please." Vitani said. Sarabi, Simba, Nala, Kopa, Kiara, and Rikala entered the cave. Zira looked at Vitani.
"Is everything all right?" Zira asked. Vitani shook her head.
"I'll need to fill you in later." Vitani said, tears catching in her throat. Zira nuzzled the younger lioness.
"Fair enough. Go." Zira said. Vitani trotted back inside. Sarabi's tears were flowing freely, as were the rest of the family's. Vitani started sobbing. She leaned her head into her mother's neck again.
"Mommy, don't go!" Vitani burst. Her inner cub was begging for Tama to live.
"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry. I love you all." Tama whispered hoarsely.
"We love you too, sis." Simba said. Tama smiled a little.
"Dad…" Tama breathed her last breath. Vitani started sobbing. She started going into hysterics.
"Mom, come back!" Vitani sobbed. She tried leaning into Tama again, but Tojo pulled his daughter back.
"NO! I have to be with her! SHE ISN'T DEAD!" Vitani screamed. Tojo pulled his daughter into his chest, just holding her there despite her fighting. Vitani finally gave up and sobbed into her father's chest, shaking uncontrollably. Muujiza leaned into Tojo's mane, his face just tearstained. Rikala and Kiara cried into Nala, who in turn was leaning on Simba. Kopa comforted his grandmother while nursing his own tears as well.
"Mufasa, please, guide Tama's spirit. Watch over our daughter." Sarabi prayed.
When you scream I'd fight away
All of your fears.
Sarabi took a deep breath, the pain of losing Tama still evident. JJ looked up to Sarabi with wide blue eyes. Sarabi smiled at her great-granddaughter.
"Our birth mother let this lion kill Vitani's mom?" Damu asked. Sarabi looked to Damu, amazed at the resemblance between Damu and Scar, but knowing he was Damu, not Scar.
"She had ordered it. Tama died soon after." Sarabi said sadly. Giza dropped his gaze, and Kweli stopped bathing Fahamu.
"How could she do that? Be that evil?" Kweli asked. Sarabi swallowed hard.
"She was raised wrong. The lion that came to be known as 'Scar' raised her. Scar wasn't always Scar, at one time, he was Taka, and the sweetest lion ever seen." Sarabi said.
"Taka was never Scar, and Scar was never Taka. Taka… was a gentle and kind soul, and wouldn't have tried to hurt Kula or make her hardened, but Scar did." Zira said.
"Scar sounds like a creep!" Nurisha said. Sarabi glanced to Nurisha.
"He was… always a little harsh as Scar. As Taka, he," Sarabi looked to Damu, "well, he was a lot like Damu, kind, gentle, loved his family." Sarabi said. Damu smiled.
"I'm glad to know I'm like Taka, and not Scar." Damu said. Sarabi smiled.
"Well, you are Taka's grandson, you Kweli, and Giza are his grandchildren." Zira said. Giza glanced up, electric blue eyes pained. Right then, Jua reached out and put her paw on Giza's.
And I held your hand through
All of these years
And you still have all of me.
Giza, surprised by the gesture, glanced at Jua. Jua smiled, her lime green eyes bright and happy.
"Thanks, Jua." Giza said. Jua nuzzled Giza's leg.
"No problem, Giza." Jua said.
"So, Kula was Scar's daughter?" Giza asked.
"Yes, one of his two daughters. The other daughter, Amani, she left some time ago to find her place in this world." Zira said.
"So not all the kids of Scar ended up bad." Kweli said.
"That's correct. Amani was the one to stand up to her sister and say 'we are one.'" Sarabi said.
"And we are one. I've seen the sisterly love from pridesister to pridesister, either from Outland heritage or Prideland." Damu said.
"Exactly. If it weren't for Kibuluu, all would be well." Zira said.
"Is that why we can't play by ourselves?" JJ asked. Sarabi glanced down at JJ, and her blue eyes held all the wonder that Tama's gold used to.
"It's only to protect you." Sarabi nuzzled JJ.
*+-/_\-+*
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by
The life you left behind
Vitani and Chumvi got done with their rounds and Vitani wanted to be alone for a bit. She mentioned going to visit Rafiki, to which Chumvi didn't disagree, since Vitani was pregnant.
It also gave Vitani a chance to think about what she remembered about her mother. To think about the memories, the happy ones, never the bad, unless necessary.
Ashaki was two months old. Her scruff hurt from her mother's jaws, and her mother just didn't understand.
She didn't want to see the crazy monkey. She wanted to stay home and play with Kopa. She felt herself being lowered to the ground.
"Ashaki, you have to behave. We're almost there, sweetie." Tama said to her daughter.
"Mommy! I don't want to see the cwazy monkey!" Ashaki said. Tama smiled and laughed.
"He's crazy, but think of it this way, baby, he made sure you were born." Tama said. Ashaki's eyes widened.
"Weally?" Ashaki asked. Tama nuzzled her daughter.
"Of course. Do you want to ride on my back the rest of the way?" Tama asked.
"Yeah!" Ashaki said.
And, of course, the bad memories kept Vitani sane, remembering that Tama wasn't perfect.
"MOM!" Vitani yelled again. Tama still didn't respond to Vitani's cries. Vitani looked for a path down the side of the gorge, and found one, but it was steep. She made her way down the path and to her mother's side. She nuzzled Tama.
"Mom, please, wake up!" Vitani said. Tama didn't respond. Vitani felt tears meeting her eyes.
"How… how dare Kula come here? How dare…Kibuluu. Kibuluu, oh Mom, Kibuluu was once her mate before they fought and he left! Please wake up, I need you Mom. Now more than anything." Vitani begged Tama. Tama didn't respond. Vitani let out an ear-piercing roar.
"Help!" Vitani's echo went through the canyon, calling back to her.
"Somebody!" Vitani yelled. Her echo went unanswered.
"Anybody… please… help." Vitani started to sob. Tama groaned. Vitani gasped and turned to her mother.
"Mom!" Vitani said, nuzzling her mother.
"God damn it, my head…" Tama said.
"Mom, are you okay?" Vitani asked. Tama sat up and looked at Vitani.
"Ashaki?" Tama asked.
"Yes, it's me. But, remember? Kula renamed me Vitani, and you were calling me that." Vitani said.
"What? I was calling you by Vitani?" Tama asked.
"I've been home for a couple weeks." Vitani answered.
Tama blinked a couple times, sighing.
"What happened just now?" Tama asked.
"Kula came into the Pridelands, she pushed you off the edge of the gorge. You landed hard. Mom, I was worried you were dead." Vitani said.
"Kula was here, and you were?" Tama asked.
"What are you saying? Mom, I swear to Mufasa himself I had nothing to do with it!" Vitani said.
And the worst thing was Tama only fully regained her memory in death, remembering Vitani was her daughter. Vitani's wounds were still deep.
She'd have nightmares for the months to come, thinking about Kula's harsh training. Then, Kibuluu's reappearance just two months earlier just about made Vitani drop dead from emotional overload.
The fact was, Vitani was haunted, and it was by Kibuluu's smug face and it chased away Vitani's sanity.
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me
Vitani chased away her bad thoughts and continued the path to Rafiki's tree. She had only one face in mind at this point, and it was that of her unborn cub. The cub, JJ, and Nurisha came first, the question of Vitani's sanity would come later.
"'Tani! Where ya goin'?" Simba called. Vitani turned to her uncle.
"Rafiki's. Wanna come?" Vitani asked. Simba trotted up next to his niece.
"Sure, what for?" Simba asked.
"Well, I'm pregnant and… I need to talk about Mom. My wounds, they still aren't healing." Vitani said. Simba nuzzled his niece.
"I think I'm just the lion to go with you, 'Tani. Let's go." Simba said, the golden lion leading the way.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time
Cannot erase
*+-/_\-+*
Kali paced again. He had woken from a pleasurable nap to a very unpleasant wakening.
He had dreamt that Mpenzi stayed in the Moonlands, and they were raising their daughter together, and he had woke, and his tears began to flow. Whether Usafi was his true love or not, Mpenzi was a lioness he had grown fond of, and mourned her death.
"Daddy?" Kali turned to see Hafsa, his daughter, her purple eyes wide.
"Hafsa, what's wrong sweetheart?" Kali asked, pulling his daughter close.
"I had a bad dream." Hafsa said. Kali sighed.
"What about?" Kali asked.
"About Kibuluu…. Daddy I was so scared." Hafsa whispered. Kali saw the tears from his daughter's eyes plop onto the ground, and before the next tears fell, he wiped them away.
When you cried I'd wipe away
All of your tears
When you scream I'd fight away
All of your fears.
"Tell me, Hafsa." Kali said.
"He… he was hurting a brown-red lioness. He was hurting her, and she was crying. Her eyes, they were so scared. Daddy, why would Uncle Kib hurt a lioness?" Hafsa looked up to her father with wide eyes. Kali felt cold settle over his pelt. Did his daughter just have a very graphic dream like that?
"Uncle Kib won't hurt anyone that hasn't hurt anyone. He has no reason to." Kali said. Hafsa leaned into her father's leg.
"But the lioness… she hadn't done a thing. She was running away." Hafsa whispered, although her whisper was inaudible, therefore, it never landed on Kali's ears.
"Kibuluu won't ever hurt you. He loves you and Maji." Kali said, reassuring Hafsa. That still didn't help Hafsa but feel extremely scared.
Kibuluu walked in and saw the father-daughter scene between Kali and Hafsa. Kibuluu smiled at Hafsa.
"Well, there's the little silver rascal." Kibuluu said.
"She had a bad dream. I think I'm going to try to put her down for a nap." Kali said.
"Okay, after we must speak." Kibuluu said as Kali took Hafsa deeper into the cave. Kibuluu let his mind wander.
What would he do to Vitani for her murder of Kula?
*+-/_\-+*
And I held your hand through
All of these years
And you still have all of me.
Vitani and Simba came to the tree to see Rafiki was a little busy, but never busy enough for his "dwo favorite royals" as he referred to Vitani and Simba. Rafiki confirmed that Vitani's pregnancy was progressing well, leaving Vitani's fear down a bit.
Then the subject of Tama came up. Rafiki only sat and let Vitani and Simba speak. Simba spoke first, recounting their adventures in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa, learning Hakuna Matata, them having their first cubs within days of each other, and of course, the birth of their grandchildren, which Tama never got to see.
Rafiki then turned to Vitani, who sighed.
I've tried so hard to tell myself
That you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along.
"It's hard to tell myself that she's gone. I feel so alone sometimes. She was my mother and what I do remember about her was… during war. We never had conversation during peaceful times, she never got to be there to see me have my daughter," Vitani hiccupped a sob, "its so hard." Vitani started crying. Simba pulled his niece into a hug.
"I see. Unresolved feelings always hurt de worst. Especially when de family member wa' daken so violently from life and de murderer be alive." Rafiki said.
"It's hard for all of us, but Vitani barely had gotten to know her mother again when Tama was killed." Simba said as Vitani sobbed into her uncle's mane.
"I dink it be best do dell Vitani about her birth, maybe it will help." Rafiki said. Vitani glanced to the mandrill shaman, then to Simba.
"I think you're right," Simba looked to Vitani, "well, here goes. I wasn't there, but Nala was, and I heard every word from her." Simba smiled, making Vitani smile too.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time
Cannot erase
"Is it time for you to have your cub too?" Nala asked.
"Yep. Had a nightmare then my water broke." Tama said.
"That's no fun. But trust me, you'll be happier when you're cub's out." Nala said, licking her golden cub's head.
"Boy or girl?" Tama asked.
"A boy." Sarafina answered proudly. Tama smiled.
"My little nephew. What're you naming him?" Tama asked.
"If you don't mind… Kopa. I like that name." Nala smiled sheepishly. Tama smiled.
"You can use it. I don't mind." Another contraction overcame Tama and she groaned. Sarafina chuckled.
"Sarabi is on her way?" Sarafina asked.
"She is," Tama said as the contraction hit it's peak, "and I hope it's soon. I think this'll be a quick birth."
"Those are always fun." Sarafina said.
"Not for Mommy. Not for Mommy." Tama said. Sarafina and Nala laughed aloud.
"True." Nala said.
Sarabi and Tojo burst into the nursery. Sarabi walked to Tama's side and bumped heads with Tama.
"The contractions?" Sarabi asked.
"Not that far apart. It hurts." Tama said. Another contraction rolled over Tama and she groaned.
"I see. Tojo, you might want to leave." Sarabi announced.
"I'm not going to. I know it's tradition for the King not to see their Prince or Princess until after they're licked clean, but I want to see this." Tojo said proudly.
"In that case, help me with the contractions." Tama begged. Tojo lied down beside his mate.
A few contractions later, Tama birthed a beautiful girl cub. Tama licked her daughter clean. She looked at her cub with intrigue. Her baby had some features that belonged to her Grandma Uru, like dark eyeshades and a sharp nose. But besides that, her cub had her fur color and her hairtuft, and Tojo's pink nose.
"She's beautiful, Tama." Tojo said softly.
"She is. Hi, baby." Tama said. The cub opened its eyes and they were Tojo's electric blue. Tama gasped and smiled.
"She has my eyes." Tojo said, licking his cub. He bumped heads with Tama. They looked at their daughter together and Tama licked her.
"What should her name be?" Tojo asked.
"I don't know. All I know is she's the light of my life." Tama said.
"How about Ashaki?" Nala suggested. Tama smiled at her sister-in-law.
"Ashaki." Tama said licking her daughter's head.
"I like it." Tojo said. Sarabi smiled at her granddaughter. She looked at the cub curiously.
"She has some traits from Uru, that's for sure." Sarabi said.
"I don't care. She's my baby and I'm protecting her." Tama said.
"I remember, she told me when I was younger that she'd protect me even if it meant her own life," Vitani looked to Rafiki, "you don't think that Kibuluu would have come after me next and Mom tried to prevent that?" Vitani's eyes widened.
When you cried I'd wipe away
All of your tears
When you scream I'd fight away
All of your fears.
"I'm sure dat Tama dought it best do dry do keep you safe, especially because you were pregnant, and no matter de amnesia, she still wa' your mother, and she knew deep down." Rafiki said. Vitani dropped her gaze.
"Mom was there, during the fight with Kula." Vitani said. Simba and Rafiki looked to Vitani with awe.
"She was?" Simba asked.
"She was," A smile played at Vitani's lips, "she told me she'd always be with me." Vitani said. Rafiki smiled.
And I held your hand through
All of these years
And you still have all of me.
"Den you can contact her. If you wish, I can have you contact her drough your mind, 'Tani." Rafiki said. Vitani nodded.
"Do it. I need to talk to my mother." Vitani whispered. Rafiki nodded, crossing to Vitani and setting a hand on her head, Vitani closed her eyes.
"Dink about your mother. Dink about your memories with her." Rafiki's voice became far away. Vitani was transported into a night-blue place with gray clouds. She looked up and saw a light beige lioness.
"Mom?" Vitani asked. Tama turned around, her heart leaping.
"'Tani!" Tama called, running to her daughter. Vitani nuzzled Tama, and the mother and daughter didn't want to separate.
"What are you doing here?" Tama asked.
"I needed to talk to you. Kibuluu's alive." Vitani said. Tama nodded.
"I know. And I know of your fight. Vitani, listen to me, you can protect all of your children. Kibuluu isn't a cub-napper. He has a cub of his own, why take one of yours?" Tama asked. Vitani nodded.
"I miss you, Mom." Vitani said, tears in her eyes. Tama nuzzled her daughter.
"I'm always with you. I'll be your heart." Tears filled Tama's golden eyes. Vitani smiled.
"I know. It's just hard not to talk to you." Vitani said. Tama smiled.
"You can always talk to me. I'll always guide you." Tama's voice became far-off. Vitani opened her eyes and sniffled.
"'Tani?" Simba asked.
"I'll be okay," Vitani nodded, assuring herself, "I'll be okay, so will my family. We just have to prepare for war again." Vitani said.
A/N: *sniffles* damn memories anyway, make me cry… plus add the song (Evanescence-My Immortal) and I'm having a hard time writing this. So anyway, I'm going to go blow my nose, fix my makeup, and think happy thoughts. Review and stay tuned!