Chapter 60
"Kiara is there anything you want us to do?" Taja asked.
Kiara looked at every lion and lioness in front of her.
"For right now, Taja, Ari, and Adin I want you three to stay low. Other than Kovu and my dad you guys are some of the strongest in the pride." Kiara said.
"Hey!" Vitani protested.
"No offense." Kiara said to her sister. Vitani smiled and nodded.
"Ok. We will be right here with the cubs and Star." Ari said.
"Ok good. And Adin, you know your father's roar. If you hear it and it doesn't sound right come as fast as you can. All of you." Kiara said.
"Same goes for Simba." Nala said.
"Exactly. If any of you hear Kovu or Simba's roar run to us. We might need you." Vitani said.
"Ok. Got it." Adin said.
He had a bit of nervousness in his voice.
"Adin don't worry. You are a part of the pride Lands. Courage is one thing you will always have." Kiara said.
"Your mother is right. I see your great grandfather in you every time I see you do something brave. Mufasa and Sarabi would be so proud of you. We are." Said Nala.
Adin smiled and nuzzled his mother, aunt, and grandmother.
"Be safe." He said to his mother.
"I will. Protect your family." Kiara said with a smile.
Suddenly a loud roar came from Pride Rock.
"Go and hide. All of you. But stay in hearing range." Vitani said.
"Ok." Taja sad.
After their goodbyes the older females were just about to leave before Shanni stopped them.
"Mom!" she said.
Vitani stopped and looked back.
"Mom please be careful. If anything were to happen to you, or Kiara, or Nala, I don't know what I would do." Shanni said trying to hold back her tears but failed as they continued to pour like rain down her cheek.
"Shanni stop. Shay, look. Look at me Shanika. Everything is going to be fine. If we lose one we lose one. And that doesn't mean we aren't strong enough to fight. If one of us dies it's because we were strong enough fighting for our pride." Vitani said.
"No, not a pride." Shanni said in between sobs.
"What do you mean 'not a pride'?" Vitani asked.
"We're not just a pride. We're a family." Shanni said.
"Shanni that's it." Vitani said.
"What's it?" Shanni asked.
"You gave me an idea. Go with the others and I promise with your father, uncle, and Simba on our side, we will be fine. Go with the others and I promise you will see everyone again. Ok?" Vitani said.
"Ok. I love you mom." Shanni said.
"I love you too." Vitani said.
After their hug, Vitani turned and darted away. Shanni stood and watched. Her head was held high and her muscles were ready to be put in use. When Vitani reached Pride Rock she stood in the crowd with the others. Kovu, Kiara, Simba, and Nala were all at Pride Rock's peak waiting. Vitani looked up and caught her brother's eyes. She dashed right up there.
"Brother, I need to say something before anything happens." Vitani said.
"What is it?" Kovu asked.
"Just listen." Vitani roared and got everybody's attention.
"Listen everybody; I want to say something before anything happens." She said.
As soon as every lion and lioness was looking up at her she stared directly into their eyes. She named everyone she knew in her head.
"Ok. I just want to let everyone know that no matter what happens today we are more than a pride. We are a Family. If we fight, we are not fighting for ourselves. We will fight to protect. We have each other's back because of how close we are. If we die, we die warriors.
And if any of us survives which I know we will, we will carry on living. The Pride Lands aren't just any lands to us. It's my home, your home, my brother's home, my sister's home. Your home. We have been here for too long and we are not going to give up our home for some rouge pride.
We will fight if it comes to that. All I have to say is that we are strong because of who we are individually, and what we can create as a whole." She finished her speech and looked over everyone in the crowd.
"We are One!" Kiara shouted.
Everyone roared in agreement.
"We are One!" Leo shouted. "We are One!" Kuda shouted.
Suddenly, their agreement celebration came to a halt. Kovu saw someone on the horizon.
"Get ready everyone. And remember we are one." He said.
He looked over to Simba, Nala, and Kiara. He nuzzled his Queen and brought her closer to him.
"You are worth fighting for." He whispered in her ear.
She smiled and everyone turned their head the threat rising against them.
Sorry for the length of this chapter. I hope everyone enjoys it and cant wait to see what you have to say.