Hey, it's Fiygon~

My bad on the super late upload, I know I said I'd update every week. But life caught up a bit, I'm sure you all understand. Since y'all are super nice and have been giving me such amazing feedback! And I really appreciate it.

Also to Pierre 79: Just go for it! Your first writing doesn't need to be perfect, and it's rather easy to upload. You also don't even have to upload it, I have tons of stories that I haven't uploaded because they're just for me. haha. It's such a fun thing to do when you get into it!

That goes for all of you as well. Anyway, disclaimer~

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TW/Self harm, Suicidal thoughts/tendency,

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/ yeesh sounds so grim in a warning...

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Thanks, enjoy!

Chapter 5

"Consumed by Emotion"

'They're just toying with me,'

"That couldn't be right."

'I don't think they really care do I?'

"I… I hope they do, I don't know what I'd do…"

My mind was being extra active, the same questions plaguing me when I slept. But presently they wouldn't leave my mind.

'They're probably just waiting to make me into a meal!'

"No!"

'You're literally talking to yourself out loud! You look like a fool!'

"Well maybe if I wouldn't think so negatively."

'I'm just thinking realistically. When have I ever heard of a human in a lion pride? Never. My time is coming up short anyway.'

"Yeah when they catch the scent of my blood it'll be over."

'You've been hurting yourself for how long and that hasn't worked yet?'

"...It will."

"Daniel?" The sound of my current caretaker came to my ears. Sarafina's worried groggy voice, "You're still awake sweetie? Why are you whispering to yourself?"

I stared back through the darkness of the cave, she could probably see me well, so I opted to hide my expression. "Sorry Sera, I was drifting off and sleep talking."

She giggled and nuzzled me warmly, putting a paw around my neck and pulling me towards her chest, "Sleep cub, your body needs to heal."

I nodded against her fur, "Night Sera."

A couple days passed, and my body slowly stopped aching as much. But I was running out of food reserves and water was long gone. Thankfully they kept refilling them for me at a nearby spring. I had met most of my 'pillows' as they called themselves. Sarabi and Sarafina were super nice, and the other few were interesting as well. Kimya, one of the pride sisters, was much quieter than the others. But quick to ask me how she could help when I groaned in pain. She was a very light shade of pink, so much some would probably call her light red. She had black hair on her tail.

Sanaa, another lioness, was super energetic and smaller than the others, and had lots to talk about. And a lot of questions… like probably too many. But she was very creative, and often surprised me when she would ask me things most lions never thought of. If I ever felt pained she would grow worried, almost to a panicking degree, and I'd have to calm her down. She was a cream colored lioness, a lot like Kiara. But she had darker brown hair.

Mkali, the last one, was the largest of the lionesses I'd seen. She was probably a good four inches taller than the others, and had a lot more muscle. At first she scared me a bit, and she would always tell me not to hurt myself more. But after a few hours of silence and sleep, I woke up to her cuddling me. She was super embarrassed, "I was just… making sure you still had a pulse." She coughed awkwardly. I just smiled and continued on. So I think she's probably very nice if you know her. She was an interesting dark brown color, and almost reminded me of chocolate. And her hair was actually blonde to my surprise.

As I woke up against Sarabi, on what I assumed was morning as I could barely tell from in here. Sarabi had her head resting gently on my stomach. Nala walked in, "Sarabi, it's my turn." She said amused.

Sarabi groaned, wrapping further around me, "Five more minutes..?"

I laughed a bit, "I'll still be here next time Sarabi."

She opened her eyes and stared at me with a smirk, "You won't always be so small and easy to cuddle though." She said nudging my nose with her muzzle. I blushed deeply, as they swapped places. It was much easier now as it didn't hurt super bad every time I was shifted.

As she left I turned my head to Nala, "Hello…" I said shyly. Every time Nala was here she coddled me like a child, I didn't hate it or anything, but she reminded me of my mother and Miri too much, and she hasn't been around since I was super young.

She smiled warmly, the other reason I felt uncomfortable sometimes when she was here… was because she seemed to analyze me more than the others. I didn't want them to know everything about me, and she asked very encouraging questions to try and get me to talk about myself more.

"Hi Daniel." She said wrapping around me and getting comfy, "What have the others been talking about lately?"

I shrugged, "Asking me human questions, like my age… And what being a human is like."

Nala hummed, "And how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

I shook my head, "I'm thirteen."

She looked at me confused, "Thirteen weeks? Months?"

"Years." I replied.

She nearly lost her mind in surprise, "My mother is still only seven years older than you…"

I stopped for a second in confusion, the zoologist in me screaming in confusion, "I thought… Lions only live fifteen years or so? Without human help of course…"

Nala tilted her head, "Not quite, we can live well into our fifties before we may die. We mature by the age of around fourteen or so."

So that would mean that either all my research is a bust, or this place is some kind of new world wonder… Maybe I was in like the African Bermuda Triangle or something. This was all so crazy.

I laughed nervously, "Yeah, humans aren't even considered adults until eighteen. And even then we don't stop maturing until our mid twenties."

She was shocked but slowly smiled, "Ah, so you're still just a wittle cub~!" She teased.

I squinted my eyes angrily, "Am not, I'm a teen now."

She laughed, "Whatever you say mtoto."

"How old are you then!" I asked in rebuttal.

"Old enough to tell you lionesses don't like that question." She laughed at my expense.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, "That's no fair."

She shrugged, "Did your mother ever teach you that lionesses don't like their ages to be asked?" Then she chuckled warmly.

I shook my head slowly, "No." she seemed oblivious to my mood change.

Nala hummed inquisitively, "Well than, you should ask your parents why when you see them next!" She said with another giggle.

I recoiled slightly, and my eyes darkened along with my expression, and I turned my head away. I laughed, but it was a completely fake laugh to try and hide my emotions, "Yeah." I said.

Noticing how I acted different this time around, she nudged me regretfully, "Daniel? I'm sorry did I upset you? I can tell you my age I was just joking-"

"I'm fine. It was just some dull pain in my leg coming back." I said unconvincingly.

She sighed, pausing for a moment, "Does it feel okay now?"

I nodded, "Yep." I said hollowly whilst avoiding her gaze.

She seemed to grow sadder as I tried not to speak to her, "Oh, okay. That's good."

We sat in silence for a while, my leg really did hurt, but it really wasn't enough to cause notice. The more concerning pain was in my arm, I might've been a bit too harsh on it earlier, before Sarabi woke up. Nala's head went up, and she sniffed, looking around wildly to my dismay, eventually setting her eyes on my arm and gasping, "Daniel, you're bleeding!" My left arm had blood seeping out of the wraps and dripping down.

I nodded, hiding my arm quickly, "I… Yeah, that's kind of why I'm stuck in this cave. I've been bleeding for a while because of those hyenas."

She saw that? She wasn't mean to, though that's my problem for trying it in the first place these past couple of days. "Let me see it," She asked gently.

"No, I'm fine Nala. Just tired." I said.

"Daniel let me see it! It could be serious-"

"No thanks, I'll be fine." I said getting annoyed by her persistence.

She sat in silence, before going back to my reaction earlier, "Are you upset because I mentioned parents? You can talk to me mtoto I-"

"Leave it alone Nala!" I said slightly louder than I meant too.

Her ears flattened against her head and she reeled backwards. I felt terrible about it. After that she didn't say a word. Though I could feel her stare holes through the back of my head, and I kept my arm away from her view. She was trying to figure me out, and that worried me.

A day or so had passed and Nala had been watching the human grow more and more distant from her, until he just wouldn't talk at all. She didn't understand what was wrong with the child.

Occasionally she would ask passing questions to the other guards for him, to see if anything else would come up. Yet they all told her that he was doing quite alright. And as far as Nala could see, he was definitely not doing okay. She worried if she was making too much of a fuss over him.

"Simba something is wrong. And I don't know how to help him…" Nala said worriedly pacing once again.

Simba nodded, having heard his mate's thoughts on the matter multiple times, "He is obviously hiding things from us. He's probably been through a lot lately."

She sighed, "I can't help but think… that he's alone out here… that nobody is looking for him…"

Simba hummed, "That's a very sad conclusion from you… what makes you think that?"

"I think he's still hurting himself, Simba, I-I have no idea why! His arm was dripping fresh blood a few days ago."

He seemed worried by that, "Oh no, that's very problematic… He's so young too..." he said, releasing a sigh.

Just as the lionesses came back from their hunt, Nala stopped one of her guards, "Kimya! Over here for a moment please."

The dark yellow lioness approached timidly, "Yes Nala?"

"Have you noticed anything off with Daniel lately? He was bleeding on his arm." Nala asked.

"Oh uh, yes… actually. He told me you had it checked out already so that we wouldn't worry. But he asked us to stay quiet about it, why is something wrong?" Nala's eyes widened in fear. There were too many possibilities racing through the lioness's head.

Nala thanked Kimya, looking for the other two who had been with him, Mkali repeated a similar story, and also said Sanaa had repeated that story to her as well. Nala's fears were ramping, why… Why was the cub hurting himself and lying to everyone about it? She couldn't possibly understand. Simba watched her rush around in sadness, not knowing what else he could do. Finally Nala ran up to Sarafina panting.

"Oh his arm? He said it was just a human thing. And that we wouldn't need to worry about him in a few days. Silly huh?" Sarafina said absentmindedly.

Nala whimpered in fear, her mind raced with worry and sadness for the human cub, a wave of protectiveness washed over her, "No, not silly!" Nala replied, running off in the direction of the cave he was staying in.

Sarafina watched her daughter run away in confusion as Simba sighed coming up next to her, "We're slowly realizing how bad Daniel's mental state is."

She looked at him questionably, "How so?" And her eyes widened in horror at Simba's quiet explanation.

Later that day I was conversing with Sarabi once again, who was quite fun to talk to. I had woken up a few minutes ago, and she greeted me happily. She reminded me of my grandmother, who passed away when I was much younger. She was telling me stories about Simba and Nala from their childhood, and all the trouble they got into.

I was surprised to find out that Simba had been in a very similar situation as a cub, wandering into the elephant graveyard with Nala, and being saved by his father. "Really? They ran just like that?"

Sarabi smiled, "Mhm! Mufasa got up on the ledge and with one mighty roar, they ran with their tails between their legs!" She was a great storyteller, She mimicked a roar with her head.

I laughed, and she nuzzled me causing me to blush. "I can't believe the same three hyenas from back then attacked me and Kiara…" I said curiously.

She growled, "Me either, you'd think they'd learn their lesson by now."

I nodded, my neck not feeling as sore, "I'd think so too!"

"Daniel?" Nala's voice rang out as she peaked into the room. "Oh, hello Sarabi." She said, I hadn't seen Nala in a day or so, ever since I yelled I had kind of begun to ignore her. Which I felt guilty about.

Sarabi nodded happily to her, and Nala shifted uncomfortably. "Can you… let me speak to him?" My breath instantly seized in my throat, what did she want?

Sarabi looked confused, then seemed to shift to a knowing expression, she nodded, "Of course."

They exchanged a nuzzle as they gently swapped places, laying me against Nala. I looked at her curiously, "She was telling me a story… is something wrong?"

Nala sighed, "Daniel… A few days ago, our scouts told us some things about seeing you before the whole incident in the graveyard."

I grew slightly scared, my mind was completely lost back then, having no social interaction, though I guess it still isn't the best. Seeing how I was still talking to myself occasionally. "Did I… did I do something wrong?" I started worriedly, seemingly catching her by surprise. "I'm sorry if I did. I didn't mean anything by it-" I began to stammer out as I pulled my knees towards my chest and wrapped my arms around them.

Nala stopped me with a very warm nuzzle as she wrapped herself around me tighter, "No! Not at all mtoto. I'm sorry for scaring you."

I sighed, relieved, "Oh… That's good."

She sighed, as a few tears came to her eyes, she wiped them quickly. "The animals out in the pridelands said you were… that you were hurting yourself? And trying to make them eat you?"

My eyes grew distant as I turned my head away, "That's a bit of an overreaction by them…" I said quietly resting my head on my knees.

She nudged me worriedly, trying to look in my eyes, "And the others are saying your arms are bleeding around them too? That you'll be gone in a few days?"

"That's a lie…" I said hollowly.

"Are you still... hurting yourself?" She asked carefully.

I didn't reply.

"Daniel." She said sternly, "Let me see your arms and hands please."

I hid them away from her, who did she think she was? Interrogating me like this. It was just my luck the hyenas hadn't mauled the arm I used for leaving my blood everywhere while out in the savannah. 'Well she is the queen, and I am in her land…' I thought to myself.

"Daniel!" She said sternly, enough to make me recoil downward like a guilty child, "Right now!"

Feeling like I was being scolded by my mother again, I sighed, and showed her. Shaking the whole way. She unwrapped my bandages that were covering the whole of my left arm very carefully, she was already in tears beforehand, but as she got them unwrapped she whined, horrified, and the flood gates opened. Making me feel terrible, "Daniel… are these all… you?"

I nodded, not making eye contact. She wrapped it up gently again, a noticeable shake to her paws. And I growled angrily, "Is that all? Anything else, your highness?"

I felt a paw weave across my chest as she curled herself tightly around me, wrapping herself in a circle, and laying her head against my neck, she nuzzled me, "Oh little one…" she said motherly.

I felt a few tears come from her eyes and falling on my neck, and she looked up into my eyes curiously and sadly, "Why would you do such a thing mtoto?"

I didn't like looking her in the eyes, it made me feel worse. "Nala it's-... It's really not a big deal."

"Not a big deal!" She said in disbelief. "You're… trying to end your own life!"

I looked downward, "Why do you… care?"

"How can you ask that? You're worth so much more than this! You are just a cub!" She sighed lightly, bringing a paw up and against my cheek. "I want you to feel safe now, I don't want you to feel this way…"

I let a few tears out and turned away slightly, "I don't want to feel this way either..."

"Then let us help you mtoto! But you have to tell us how." she asked pleadingly.

I shook my head, and a bit of silence passed as she sighed, "Daniel… Could you answer my question from earlier please... Why are you doing it?" She asked sternly, not allowing me to avoid answers this time.

I sighed, "I… don't have anything left… I've done my good deed for… for Kiara, I gave her hope." She started slowly shaking her head at me, "I thought maybe you guys wouldn't have any use for me, and… maybe eat me… or something..." I said the last bit quietly.

"NO!" She yelled causing me to jump, "Why would we do that? We want you to recover!" She said in disgust, and a look of hurt mixed with sadness.

"I-I don't know! I just thought maybe you'd do it out of instinct… and that if not well… the blood loss would finish the job." I laughed, "Stupid plan, I know… worked out really well." I said, staring at the ground.

She whined and I didn't dare look her in the eyes, "Daniel…" She said sternly again, "What happened out there? Before all of this? Tell me."

I sighed, "My dad and..." I mumbled the rest.

She tilted her head, "What was that? I'm sorry."

I grit my teeth, "My father… friends… died, and so did… Miri." I said it quietly still.

She looked confused again, and I regrettably lashed out in anger, "Miri, my father, and all my friends! They. Are. Dead!" She recoiled slightly at the harshness, but I averted my eyes again, "Everyone died, no, they were murdered. B-By poachers. I have nobody left to go to, everyone I knew is dead! Miri, my dad…"

I broke down, and cried, she watched me in horrified sorrow, "I got them killed! I've been wandering aimlessly trying to join them in the afterlife if there is one, I just… I can't! I'm too weak to end myself outright... So I was trying to get someone else to do it…Or have it happen slowly..."

She started crying a lot more, "Oh Daniel…"

I grew angry through my tears, "I thought finally I could rest when I saved Kiara, that the hyena would end me and then… A-And you guys saved me and… now I don't know what I'm doing anymore!" I said through closed eyes. "Why are you guys treating me like this?"

I felt Nala nuzzle me, and run a tongue against my cheek. "Mtoto... Shhhh I'm here."

I yelled more, "Why do you care? You're just an animal. Just grant me my wish and end me finally! Please!" I was shaking against her body.

After a moment I felt another muzzle, and a mane against my face. And a set of paws wrapped around my neck, I opened my eyes in surprise and Simba was holding me gently, a worried and gentle look on his face. He was holding me against his chest as well. "S-Stop it!" I yelled in shock.

Simba spoke with a deep sadness, "Daniel..."

"I'm… This isn't what I wanted, I gave someone hope! I didn't need anything else!" I said shakily while breathing faster.

"Daniel." He tried a bit louder.

"I'm worthless! I'm just a stupid kid! I got my father killed!"

"Daniel!" Simba said worriedly, bringing my breath to a halt with a caring voice. I looked up slightly and his worried and understanding look made me shudder. His voice came out slightly raspy, as if he was keeping himself from crying as well, "None of that is true!"

I shook my head, "But it feels like it is!"

He placed a paw on my shoulder as I felt Nala, who had stood up, nuzzle into my neck from behind me. And she wrapped her paws around my stomach gently. "I know that it feels that way sometimes. But you have to keep those types of feelings from consuming you." Simba continued calmly.

I nodded, "It hurts... Feeling so alone... Why did he have to go?" I asked futilely as I look up into his eyes. Simba sighed, I almost felt like I was looking in a mirror, with how Simba seemed to understand my feelings at that moment.

Nala rubbed against me, "You'll be okay. You're okay, young one."

"I'm not… but I'm not!" I shouted.

Nala pulled me closer to her chest, "And that's okay!" She said hastily, giving me multiple nuzzles, "Loss takes time to heal."

Simba nodded, "Especially with nobody to help you."

I whined, and Nala pulled me even tighter somehow, "We're here for you cub… Let it out mtoto." Nala gently began to sway side to side with me in her grip still, and I felt myself calm down a bit more.

"I don't want to be alone anymore… I don't want to be left behind… but it hurts so much." I said as I realized they weren't going to leave me.

Nala smiled, "That's alright, you're safe here."

I laughed slightly to myself. I was being comforted by the king and queen of a lion pride. And they talked nonetheless, was there any scientific explanation for that? I didn't really care anymore...

"Daniel?" Kiara said worriedly from the entrance. "Mommy, Daddy? Is Daniel okay? Why is he crying?" She sounded very worried.

Sarabi And Sarafina who were peeking in, shushed her, before smiling sheepishly at the two lions consoling me.

"Yes honey, Daniel will be alright." Nala said sweetly, with such confidence even I believed her.

"Daniel," Simba said, catching my attention again, "If it's any consolation. I also lost my father when I was younger, and the pain has never left me." I could see Sarabi sadly nod in agreement from the entrance.

"But what I have here, is a family. They helped me get through my pain, and we can help you too." He said softly as I held a bit of his mane in my hand. It made me feel better.

Nala nodded excitedly, shining a bright smile at me, "Why not become part of our pride? You'll be safe here, everyone wants you to as well." Sarabi and Sarafina vigorously nodded in agreeance.

I smirked a bit, "A human, in a lion pride…" I looked up, "Won't everybody else object to it…After all we're just killers..."

Nala nuzzled me again, "I think you're just a lost cub who needs a home. You are definitely NOT a killer." Nala said affectionately.

Simba nodded, putting his forehead to mine, "The other pride members know very well of what humans can do. But we wouldn't be asking you without permission from the majority of them."

I was surprised, "They already said… yes?"

He nodded, "Of course, the ones who hadn't met you yet were a little weary at first. But after hearing how you saved Kiara, none hesitated to say yes."

I nodded slowly, and felt as if the entire room was staring at me, I sighed slowly, "I… I accept… I'll be a member of your pride."

They all smiled brightly, and Nala nuzzled me, "Welcome home." She said happily.

She looked me sternly in the eyes, "And now that you're one of us, none of that anymore." She said gesturing to my arm. "Do I make myself clear?" I nodded slowly, which turned to a fast nod after she glared at me.

My stomach grumbled, and they laughed. Sarabi giggled, "Good thing we just got back from our hunt."

Sarafina nodded coming up to poke me in the gut gently, "Yes, and this little one needs to put more weight on these bones."

I blushed, I've always been skinny, but I probably looked miserable with the eating habits I've had the past week in the wild. "I can only eat cooked food though…" I said worriedly.

Simba laughed, "Not a problem. Timon and Pumbaa make fires to cook their food on all the time. They say it makes the bugs taste better."

I raised an eyebrow, "Who? Also, bugs?"

They all laughed at my confusion, as Kiara came over to me and nudged me. "That's what I always say… yuck!" I laughed, there was no way I wasn't meeting these two, they sounded crazy.

I really didn't know what to make of all this… I was part of a pride of lions for god sake! But I still felt out of place, like I was just such a pitiful creature that a bunch of lions felt they needed to protect me. But even so I did appreciate their words.

'Maybe I can move on… that's the only way to give them hope now, right?'

If I died now, they'd all be sad. I'd put them through the same thing I'm going through… That wouldn't be fair to them… And hey, maybe it wouldn't be that bad.