Chapter Thirteen: I'll Find You
WHEWIE. Chapter thirteen already. I'm amazed at how fast this is going. But we're far from the end. With that, onto review responses:
TRON0602: GODDAMN! Kali, calm down. Breathe. Air is good. *goes to bed and pulls Maji out from underneath and cuddles him* hush now Maji, you're okay, you're okay. *looks at Kali* comfort your son, good sir he needs to know you're there for him. Enjoy the chapter.
CSIMentalistTLK Lover: I know… I feel bad for hurting her but… you know she's of Moonlands true royal blood and Kibuluu's also jealous of the life she made with Kali, so… He will get what's coming to him. Rest assured. Enjoy the chapter.
Guest: He is. He definitely is sick in the head. Worse than Kula last story. Enjoy the chapter.
Hunter305414: It was short and harsh, and I will admit that I couldn't write it at night. It gave me literal chills down my spine. Nothing at all could make Kibuluu worse now, I know. I can't easily reveal when he'll die, but he will die painfully and slowly. He will get what he deserves. Don't worry about killing him, my friend. Enjoy the chapter.
Whoa it's fandoms: O.O GODDAMN! I got some hates going on here. MURP! Enjoy the chapter.
We're onto Rikala, Zuri, and Fahamu's chapter! :) I've decided for this, since Zira died protecting the young ones, and Kijani and Nuka are missing, the song for this chapter is "Memories" by Timeless Miracle. We get some warm, cuddly feelings in this chapter as opposed to fast-paced hell last chapter.
Rikala found Fahamu still fast asleep next to a creamy golden lioness. She smiled when Moyo nuzzled Fahamu awake. The red-gray one-year-old stirred and looked up at Rikala with a smile. The dark brown lioness's heart sank. How could she tell her little brother of all the death and disappearances? Zira, his mother, was dead. Kijani, their father, was missing, and most likely dead. Nuka, his brother and her mate, was missing, but had a chance of being alive.
Tears caught in Rikala's throat and Zuri nuzzled her mother, her bi-colored eyes looking into her mother's ruby eyes. Rikala took great pride in her daughter, and sighed.
"Fahamu, can we go for a walk?" Rikala asked. Fahamu stood up and nodded.
"Yeah, no problem, Rikkie." Fahamu said. Moyo's teal orbs met Rikala's ruby eyes.
"Is everything okay, Rikala?" Moyo asked. Rikala shook her head a little bit. She had come to be good friends with Moyo, and had bonded with her. Moyo's teal eyes filled with sadness.
"Is Nuka missing too?" Moyo mouthed. Rikala shut her eyes, tears threatening again. Moyo took that at a "yes" and sighed, standing up and nuzzling Rikala.
"Do you want me to come with?" Moyo asked. Rikala shook her head and sighed.
"I need to talk to Fahamu and Zuri alone. They need to know." Rikala said. Moyo gave Rikala a sad smile.
"I understand. Amri is missing as well. If you need to talk, I'm here." Moyo offered. Rikala smiled a bit at Moyo's kindness.
"Thank you," Rikala turned to the two one-year-olds at her side, "come on you two." Rikala lead the young ones away from the pride, and her heart grew heavier with every step. Her mind wandered to a happier time with Nuka.
"Riri." Nuka purred. Rikala smiled and nuzzled her mate.
"We're mates. Can you believe it?" Rikala asked. Nuka smiled.
Moments of happiness
Will they ever come back?
"I can. We were meant for each other, you know. Kenya and Scar had originally set us up for betrothment." Nuka said. Rikala laughed.
Embraced by darkness
Now that you are gone
"The only good thing Kenya did for me out of the goodness of her heart was pair me with you." Rikala said. Nuka purred and nuzzled Rikala, bringing the dark lioness into a hug.
"I promise, I will be with you forever." Nuka said softly.
"Nuka…" Rikala said happily.
Leaving me.
Why can't you see I'm
Standing in the rain
Calling out your name?
Rikala felt tears prick at her eyes. The dark brown lioness waited until they were at an oasis. Fahamu looked into his sister's ruby red eyes. Rikala sighed heavily and looked at her little brother.
"I have bad news, 'Mu." Rikala said. Fahamu's sea-blue eyes widened a bit.
"What is it?" Fahamu asked. Zuri nuzzled her uncle.
"Zira died last night. Dad's missing." Rikala said, not wanting to beat around the bush. Fahamu was a good cub and deserved to know the truth. Fahamu's jaw trembled. His breathing quickened and the teenage male shook his head, his brown mane flowing with his emphatic shaking of his head.
"No." Fahamu said simply. Rikala's ears pinned against her skull and she looked at Fahamu with saddened eyes.
"I'm afraid it's true." Rikala whispered. Fahamu stepped back a step.
"Quit lying about Mom. She was fighting and alive last I saw her! Where is she?" Fahamu demanded. Zuri looked to her uncle.
"She died to save us." Zuri said softly. Fahamu shook his head again.
"No. She's not dead. She's not dead!" Fahamu was now enraged. Rikala stepped forward to her little brother, and the teenager tried running, but Rikala caught him in a hug and held him close. The red-gray male struggled against Rikala's firm and steady grip.
In my memories I see you smile
The road to the future was in your eyes
"Let me go! I want to go find Mom and Dad! Where are they?!" Fahamu yelled. Rikala held her brother steady in a tight embrace. She knew that by holding him still, he would accept the grief to overcome him. That was what Tojo did when Ashaki saw Tama dead and believed the Savior Queen wasn't dead.
Taking a page from Tojo's book, little brother. Rikala thought as Fahamu finally stopped struggling and burst into tears. Fahamu became a shaking, shivering, emotional mess as Rikala held him. Zuri walked to the scene, nuzzling Fahamu, tears running down her cheeks.
"Why couldn't the Great Spirit let them stay?" Fahamu sobbed.
Rikala's jaw trembled again as she backed away to look into Fahamu's sea blue eyes.
"I don't know, little brother. I don't. But, we still have the memories, don't we?" Rikala asked. Fahamu stayed silent, so Rikala continued.
"I remember when you were born," Rikala began, "it was right after I had Zuri. I helped Zira give birth. Dad was there. Nuka was there. Kovu, Myota, Ashaki, they all were there."
"Isn't he beautiful?" Kijani asked as he nuzzled a tired Zira. Zira smiled and leaned into Kijani.
"He is. His eyes, Kijani. That shade of blue… where do they come from?" Zira asked.
"My mother. She lived along the coast and that color is common there." Kijani said. Rikala walked up to the new arrival and gazed at him. The red-gray bundle looked similar to Nuka, only with a sharp pink nose and those sea blue eyes. Rikala smiled at him.
"Hey, little one," Rikala began, "I'm your big half-sister. We have the same father." Rikala said. Nuka stepped beside his mate.
"And I'm your big half-brother. We have the same mom." Nuka said.
"Our family's a little screwy, bro," Myota said to the new arrival, "but rest assured, we will explain to you if you need help. And we all love you just the same." Myota smiled and nuzzled his new brother.
"Mom, what's his name going to be?" Nuka asked. Zira gazed at Fahamu and smiled, tears in her eyes.
"He looks near similar to my father, and he looks so wise like him." Zira said, Rikala seeing the slight mourning in the new mother. This had to be bittersweet, the cub reminded her of a father she barely remembered. Nuka's nuzzle brought Rikala back to reality.
"Then you wish to name him after your father, Zira?" Kijani asked. Zira nodded with a sniffle.
"I want to name him Fahamu. He's so much like Daddy…" Zira hiccupped as she sobbed and held her son close. Rikala saw the happiness and leaned into Nuka.
I can see you like I used to do
In my memories of you
Rikala felt tears burning her eyes again and nuzzled Fahamu.
"We all loved you from the moment we saw you, little brother. We all did. Even Kovu, if that seems possible, but… no matter. I promised Zira and Dad should anything happen to them, I would take care of you." Rikala said.
"You and Nuka promised that. Where is Nuka?" Fahamu asked, his voice thick. Rikala's tears spilled over. Zuri started sobbing a little bit.
"He… he wasn't found. He chased off a lioness last night and hasn't been seen since." Rikala said softly, her tears falling silently.
Fahamu didn't make a move, just sighed.
"Nuka would want you to keep going, Rikala. You too, Zuri." Fahamu said. Zuri looked at Fahamu, her eyes blazing.
"You should understand." Zuri's statement was through clenched teeth. Rikala looked at her daughter with a reprimanding look.
"Zuri, sweetheart…" Rikala began.
"No! He's trying to keep us going when we can't even think about it. I realize we're being chased by killers, most likely, but can't we have a reprieve, Fahamu?" Zuri demanded of Fahamu. Fahamu glared at his niece.
"Zuri, I understand perfectly. But Nuka wouldn't want us to be sad. He'd want us to keep going, just like Mom would, or Dad." Fahamu said. Zuri rolled her eyes.
"Please, excuse me, Mom. May I go see Ashaki and Nurisha?" Zuri asked. Rikala sighed.
"Go cool off." Rikala ordered. Zuri walked away from the scene, leaving Fahamu and Rikala together.
"So, I suppose you'll be taking care of me from now on?" Fahamu asked. Rikala nodded.
"I am. Only if you want me to." Rikala said. Fahamu smiled.
"You have your paws full with Zuri. Plus, Moyo doesn't know where Amri is so I think she needs me a little more." Fahamu said. Rikala smiled at her brother's wisdom.
"Whatever you feel comfortable with, I am comfortable with." Rikala said. Fahamu laughed.
"I want to go see the guys, if I can?" Fahamu asked. Rikala laughed.
"You don't have to ask. Go." Rikala said. Fahamu nuzzled Rikala and left the dark brown lioness alone, where Rikala began to sob.
"Nuka…" Rikala whispered, "I'm empty without you. I can't feel anything without you here. Please… please come home." Rikala prayed.
Searching through my soul
There is nothing inside.
Rikala's tears ran unchecked, the dark brown lioness finally alone. She wanted Nuka. She needed him back. She remembered when Zuri was born.
"She's beautiful, Riri." Nuka nuzzled his mate. Rikala nuzzled Nuka back.
"She is, isn't she? Her eyes are bright and bi-colored." Rikala said.
"Beautiful baby girl. I like the name 'Binti'." Nuka said.
"And I like the name 'Ema'." Rikala said, her eyes looking into Nuka's. Nuka laughed.
"C'mon, Binti fits her." Nuka said.
"So does Ema." Rikala argued.
Every day
Time takes it's toll.
"I have a suggestion." Kijani appeared, looking to his stepson and daughter. Nuka and Rikala looked to the giant gray lion.
"What?" Rikala and Nuka asked at the same time.
"Zuri." Kijani said. Rikala and Nuka looked to each other then to the cub in Rikala's arms.
"It… fits." Rikala and Nuka said softly. Kijani smiled.
Rikala sobbed harder. Her heart hurt. Hurt so much. She needed Nuka's hug. They were fighting together when Nuka had decided to go off to chase off a lioness near Myota.
"Rikala, I have to." Nuka said with a nuzzle.
"Nufaika! Please, I need help. I can't lose track of you!" Rikala begged.
"Myota needs my help and I will help him. He is my brother, after all." Nuka said. Rikala's ruby eyes looked hurt.
"Go." Rikala said.
"I must go. I will come back." Nuka said.
It hurts me so
When you say you must go
The love we shared is not coming back
But… you aren't back! Why Nuka, why?! Rikala begged in her thoughts. Her sobs prevented her from screaming aloud. She needed to scream, wanted to scream. She wanted Nuka there to scream at him for making her worry so much.
"Nufaika… come back. Come back to me. Please come back to me. I need you. I need you to yell at and when I'm done yelling you can smile at me." Rikala whispered.
In my memories I see you smile
The road to the future was in your eyes
I can see you like I used to do
In my memories of you
*+-/_\-+*
Fahamu wandered back to the pride, seeing Moyo sitting by a small waterhole looking depressed. The red-gray lion sat next to the creamy gold lioness with a sigh.
"Rikala told you?" Moyo asked. Fahamu nodded.
"Mom's dead. Dad's missing. Nuka's missing too." Fahamu said. Moyo gave the younger lion a nuzzle.
"Oh, Fahamu. I'm so sorry dear. This isn't fair to you. Not one bit." Moyo said.
"It's not fair that Amri's missing too." Fahamu countered.
"It isn't, but I know Amri will be okay." Moyo said softly.
"How?" Fahamu asked.
"A mother knows when she raises her child right. Amri is strong and he will be just fine. I feel it. He's alive. I know he'll come back." Moyo said, the light in her eyes bright. Fahamu remembered the light in his mother's eyes whenever she looked at him.
Zira looked at Fahamu and smiled, her eyes light and shining on him.
"Why do you look so happy when you look at me, Mama?" Fahamu asked.
"Well, sweetheart, that's because I love you. I love you so much, my little boy." Zira nuzzled Fahamu.
I saw the light in your eyes
Shining down on me
I saw the light in your eyes
Shining on me
Tears filled Fahamu's eyes and he started sobbing. Moyo looked to Fahamu and nuzzled him.
"Sweetheart, it's okay. Zira wouldn't want you to be sad for her. Oh, Fahamu." Moyo brought the boy into a hug, and Fahamu cried into Moyo's neck. He was a son without a mother, and she was a mother without her son. They needed each other.
Fahamu felt Moyo's hot tears dribble into his mane, but didn't care. The two held still and just cried together, both sobbing a little.
Finally Moyo spoke: "What matters is you have your memories, Fahamu. Your mother lives on in your memories. She always will." The lioness's voice was strained, but her voice and words rang true in Fahamu's soul as he looked to the creamy golden lioness and gazed at her.
A small smile played on Fahamu's lips and Moyo smiled at him.
"I'm sure Rikala wants you to get back to her." Moyo said. Fahamu looked to Moyo.
"I'd much rather… I'd rather be here with you, Moyo. I need a mother, and Rikkie already has her paws full with Zuri." Fahamu said. Moyo smiled broadly, and for a second, Fahamu saw his mother smiling down on him.
In my memories I see you smile
The road to the future was in your eyes
I can see you like I used to do
In my memories of you
*+-/_\-+*
"As you can imagine… I was extremely… fragile for a long time." Tama chuckled, twin tears falling off her cheeks.
"It got better though. You had a daughter. You named her for the light that shows through your family, not the dark. Kenya," Rikala paused "I can't rid myself of her. She birthed me."
"That doesn't make her your mother!" Nuka said.
"Nuka's right. Nala is your mother. She raised you and Kiara. She protected you two. She taught you and Kiara how to hunt. Simba is your father. He'd die for you and Kiara." Tama said.
"That's not the worst part. Kenya is also Kula's mother! Kiara and I have a link to that, that, bitch!" Rikala burst. Her ruby orbs filled with sorrow.
"But you aren't Kula, Rikala. You have a different father. You were adopted by two of the best-damned lions I know. Kiara, too." Tama said softly.
"Kenya… Kenya had me to try to overthrow Kula as Scar's heir. She wanted me to be a boy. Kiara, too." Rikala said softly. Nuka nuzzled his girlfriend.
"We have a link to Kula. Nuka as well. Yet, you love Nuka, the son of Scar. And he loves you, the daughter of Kenya. I can see it in Nuka's and your own eyes." Tama said.
"Love doesn't do anything sometimes." Rikala whispered.
"Love made me come back to the Pridelands. Love kept me strong when Ashaki was kidnapped. Love," Tama paused, "is a part of the Circle of Life. You love Nuka. Nuka loves you. In fact, I bet your parents would be absolutely thrilled if you two became mates. You're about old enough, almost three." Tama said.
In my memories I see you smile
(In my memories I see you smile)
In my memories you are mine
Rikala had wandered for a bit alone, random memories here and there coming into her consciousness. She thought about Nuka, about her birth mother. Kenya had light brown fur, but the same ruby red eyes.
"I never wanted her, Kula." Kenya told her eldest daughter.
"Then why did you conceive her?" Kula asked.
"So Scar could have an heir. He had you, but… he needed a male heir. Needed a male heir, Kula. I love you, because you are Scar's, but Rikala was a mistake. Why do you think I pawned her off on Sarafina until we came out here?" Kenya said.
The memory of seeing her pregnant mother with her elder sister made Rikala growl. The dark brown lioness looked to the sky, then to the pool of water beneath her. As Rikala gazed at the water, Sarafina's image appeared. The dark brown lioness reeled.
"There's no need to be afraid, Rikala." Sarafina said. Rikala looked up into Sarafina's eyes.
"Sarafina?" Rikala asked.
"Yes. It's me. Sweetheart, everything will be fine. Nuka's alive. I have that on good authority." Sarafina said.
(The road to the future was in your eyes)
In my memories I see you smile
In my memories you are mine
"He's alive?" Rikala asked, her eyes filling with tears. Sarafina nodded.
"For now, you two can't be reunited. You lost something with each other. The Kings can't guide you two back together, but you two can find each other again." Sarafina said.
"He's alive." Rikala sobbed. Sarafina smiled.
"He's alive. You'll find him. And he'll find you." Sarafina said.
*+-/_\-+*
(I can see you like I used to do)
In my memories I see you smile
In my memories you are mine
A reddish-gray lion stirred, his body aching from every angle. His sunset red eyes scanned his surroundings, a cave. He had found shelter for the night.
The lion stepped up and thought about his mate. He thought about Rikala.
"I hope you're okay. I'll find you. I'll find you soon. I promise." Nuka said. The red-gray lion stumbled from the cave, his limbs still sore from the chase he had gave. He found the nearest water source and drank from it. As he gazed at it, the image of Scar appeared before him. Nuka gasped and looked up, seeing Scar.
"My boy, my Nufaika." Scar said. Nuka's face fell.
"Dad?" Nuka asked. Scar nodded.
"You're not happy to see me." Scar said.
"Not… really. We never ended things on the best of terms." Nuka said.
"I'm sorry for that, Nufaika. I am so sorry. I should have treated you better." Scar said. Nuka nodded.
"I think I forgave you long ago, Dad." Nuka said. Scar smiled.
"I'm glad. So, how is your family, my boy?" Scar asked. Nuka frowned.
"I don't know." Nuka said softly. Scar smiled broader.
"My son, you will find them. You and Rikala lost something in your relationship. You two have to find each other to regain it." Scar said.
"How do I find them?" Nuka asked. Scar chuckled.
(In my memories of you)
In my memories I see you smile
In my memories you are mine
"Just remember the love you two shared. Remember it. Remember her smiles, remember her laughs. Her tears, her frowns. Remember everything. Memories will lead you two to each other." Scar said.
"I'll do it." Nuka said. Scar smiled.
"I am proud of you, my son. You'll find her, and she'll find you." Scar said.
You are mine
A/N: NUKA'S ALIVE! YAY! Oh, and if you don't get the Nufaika-Nuka connection, you have to read my one-shot about Zira. Another thing. Sarafina visited Rikala because in Whoa it's Fandoms' story Rikala: Through Her Eyes Sarafina originally adopted Rikala from Kenya after Rikala's birth. I'd suggest reading Whoa it's Fandoms' story. It's quite good, actually. I give it five stars out of five. No, scratch that, seven stars out of five.
Nuka: Isn't that over the top?
Me: SHUT UP!
Rafiki: *Smacks me over the head with his stick* It's time for a nap, Chin.
Me: 'Kay *passes out*
Rafiki: *Puts a blanket over me* dere we go, sleep now.
Nuka: All right, readers. Review and stay tuned.