Chapter CXXXII: Divided, The Conflict Upon The Pridelands Part VIII

Hiding within the high grasses of the Pride Lands Nozomi was doing her best to be completely quiet , for just as planned they'd initiated their hunter training and so far... they weren't doing too well!

Her body lowered down into the grass it was now her turn along with the others to watch and see Kiara's efforts as she was taking her 'go.'

As she watched on quietly she whispered as softly as she could, "I hope Kiara does a better job than what we've done so far!"

Cait sith hearing her whispered back, "don't hold ya breath lass!"

On cue it was then that Kiara began her approach but as Nozomi and the others sat and listened on they all sadly could hear her as she stepped on a stone that made her hurt her paw, "ow!" She moaned. Nozomi then shuddered as again she'd stepped on another stone "ow!" This was definitely not a good result.

Kovu in the distance was lying on the ground looking bored out of his mind at having to play 'teacher,' he had also heard these little painful complaints but he could also hear her moving in the grass, it almost sounded like the grass was breaking to his expert ears. He sighed this was getting really old, really fast.

Jona sitting upright watching next to him was smiling away in her usual calm and confident demeanour. Like Kovu she too could hear Kiara and as she heard her approaching she spoke aloud jokingly, "oh I wonder who this could be?"

Then on another cue she quickly got up and moved away to a slightly safer distance as Kovu did his predicted count down, "three, two one..."

"Gotcha!" Kiara cried out as she leaped forwards to grab him with both paws, however quicker then lightning Kovu bowed his head forwards which made her miss him and instead she made herself roll over and lay upright on the dirty ground. She'd failed the lesson... again.

Getting up Kovu walked over to her as he did Jona did too as they both now stood over looking at her. Opening her eyes confused for a moment Kiara quickly became embarrassed as Jona said aloud, "felt like dropin' in did ya?"

Looking at her, then to Kovu Kiara asked now really bashfully, "ha? You could hear me huh?"

To which Kovu replied looking on with a sarcastic smile, "yeah, only a lot," then looking up he called out to the others, "guys you can come out now! This little sessions over!"

At once hearing their teacher call out to them all, the animal changed keybladers all got out of the grass quickly themselves. Mickey the first to escape the grass laughed a little awkwardly before he asked, "oh? So Kiara didn't pass huh?"

Jona chuckled a little as she replied, "oh no, I'm afraid not sweet one, y'all need a little more practise before yer on the appropriate operatin' level."

Riku then escaped the grass himself and as he did he asked clearly annoyed, "and I just wonder how long that's gonna take! We've been doing this for over three hours!"

Then finally getting out of the grass too Nozomi appeared but it was Cait sith on her back who spoke out, "yeah and it's been three hours too long lad! Just what is it ya're all playin' at anyway!? Why can't ya-"

"I'm gonna give you all your assessments now!" Kovu spoke as he walked over to them followed by Kiara who still looked embarrassed and Jona who continued to smile away.

Confused as she looked up to him Nozomi asked, "assessments?"

Nodding Kovu told her, "that's right! Mainly I'm telling you what you're all doing wrong and what you all need to do to improve!"

At this Nozomi felt like sinking into the ground due to the intensity in his eyes as she replied feeling almost nervous, "oh?"

Kovu hearing her say this decided since she was the one he'd started to speak to first, he'd begin with her, "now we're going to begin with you!" Nozomi then gulped feeling really nervous now as Kovu then began her hunting assessment,"the problem with you is that though you might be good at approaching, and you're quite quiet, you're wagging your tail way too much!"

Confused Nozomi asked looking back at it, "my tail?"

Nodding Kovu replied, "that's right! You're hitting the grass around you too much with it, this then ruins the approach you made in the first place!"

Then looking back to Kovu she replied feeling bad, "oh, right?"

Kovu then told her, "now your solution is to concentrate not only what's in front of you but also things that are behind you! Keep that tail still!"

Quickly nodding at this Nozomi replied, "okay! Okay! I'll do that!"

Seeing that she'd got it Kovu nodded then looking to her back he told her small feline companion, "and you need to stop chatting away on her back Cait sith!"

Hearing this the little Scottish accented cat was baffled for a moment before he cried out, "what?!"

Kovu then told him, "you're the one here making the most noise and it's a distraction! If you don't improve on it I'm gonna have you walking on all fours and hunt by yourself!"

Cait sith then was outraged as he spoke back to Kovu as he said,"I ain't no chatter box! How dare ya say that about me! When I'm doin' me best to..."

As he went on and on complaining Nozomi couldn't help but giggle a little for once again Cait sith was being told off by someone and she thought secretly to herself, 'well serves him right!'

"That's my word! Now you behave yourself Cait stih!" Kovu spoke as he made his words final turning to the next trainee on his list.

Cait sith on Nozomi's back now was deeply annoyed as he was sulking with his arms crossed, he then moaned aloud, "I don't speak that loud! He don't know what he's talkin' about!"

This in turn made her roll her eyes at this comment but smiling she turned to see who Kovu would be assessing next, it was Snowball.

Looking down at him he asked, "Riku was it?"

Hearing his name being mentioned the white lion cub nodded as he replied, "yeah that's right."

Seeing that he'd got this correct Kovu then continued, "well I've got some good news for you, out of everyone here you've performed the most highly so... congrats."

Hearing this info it seemed almost worth those three hours so Riku replied then with a smile, "well thanks."

Nozomi though became depressed as she sighed aloud, she then thought to herself 'well I guess that was only to be expected huh?'

Nodding at this reply Kovu then turned from him and looked to Mickey... he was silent for a little which made the king a little uncertain as he asked, "um... so how did I do Kovu?"

At this question it was then that the Outsider lion finally came to his conclusion,"well in all honesty... Mickey, I don't know why you're hunting?... Are you actually a meat eater?"

Hearing this question it was the oddest one that could be asked, but then who'd ever heard of a kangaroo mouse hunting before? Mickey was unsure of how to respond to this question and so he let out an embarrassed laugh before he made a reply, "uh well um... well I wanna be of help to my pals and you all... I mean I don't eat meat usually but... y'know? It's not right for them and you to do all the work by yourselves is it?"

Listening to this Nozomi felt a warmth in her heart as she thought to herself in awe 'your majesty...'

At this reasoning Kovu couldn't help but feel a little touched inside, but this was no time to be sentimental, so he replied, "I see... all right then, well you're doing okay but in order to be of real help to everyone, I'd recommend you try and hop faster, okay?"

Hearing this info Mickey nodded and he knew he had to get better with his animal form he was in and so he replied, "okay Kovu I'll do that thanks."

Nodding seeing he'd got his reply he turned to the last trainee of the group, the lioness princess and so looking to her he spoke, "and you Kiara."

Seeing that she was being called she responded instantly, "yes!"

Kovu then told her his assessment, "you're still breathing too hard! You need to relax okay?"

Hearing this Kiara nodded as she responded, "sure! Right okay!"

Seeing that the assessment was now over Nozomi spoke feeling deflated,"we're just not doing that well are we?"

Jona picking up on the depressed tone in her voice told her, "oh no honey! You're not too bad... besides everything comes with practise! Now... why don't we carry on with the lesson, Kovu?"

Seeing that she was turning to him Kovu sighed again as he replied, "all right I'll take it from the top!" Walking away a little distance he then told everyone, "okay guys! Extend your claws!"

At once on command everyone did just that as they all quickly extended their claws from their paws and listening they heard Kovu continue as he spoke on, "feel the earth under your paws! So it doesn't shift and make noise..."

Listening to this at once everyone scratched their claws into the earth, as she did this herself Nozomi felt a warmth from the earth as she felt it... and there was something subtle and sharp about her claws now. It was dangerous.

Seeing his students do this Kovu smiled but then his ears pricked! He could hear something! Turning his head he saw a flock of birds fly over the hill and as he did he decided on something, he smiled at the thought.

Jona walking over had seen the smile that appeared on her companion lion's face and so she asked him, "oh? What've you picked up on there Kovu honey?"

Hearing her he gave her a one word reply, "prey."

At this she smiled brightly and so she asked, "I see... wanna double team up?"

Kovu then did a single nod, with that both of them geared themselves back as they moved their shoulders making them ready, as they did this Nozomi became curious as she asked, "hey what're you two-"

"Shhh! Watch the masters in action and learn!" Kovu told her which silenced the small tiger cub in seconds, with that both outsider lion and lioness prepared themselves. Then in moments they quickly both launched themselves forwards leaping over the hill they went to pounce on their helpless prey!

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Hearing this shout Nozomi thought it sounded familiar but then Kiara called out, "Timon?!"

At this name Riku repeated, "Timon?"

At once the lioness princess ran forwards as did the others worried and as they did they all came over the hill, there they saw both Jona and Kovu on the ground. The earring wearing lioness had an unconscious grey spotted bird in her jaws while Kovu had the small terrified meerkat between his paws, he looked at the creature with odd eyes as it babbled on, " don't eat me please! I never really met ya tyrant! I mean uh! Scar! Heck of a guy! A little moody but-" Then he finished as he finally pushed himself out from Kovu's paws.

Looking at the little meerkat Cait sith was far from pleased as he said, "oh great, it's one of these annoying little twits!"

Nozomi hearing this sentence didn't like it but ignoring it she went over to Timon as she asked concerned, "hey? Are you okay?"

Timon hearing this looked to Nozomi and was baffled for a moment himself before he recovered himself and his sarcasm, "oh yeah! Sure yeah! I mean who doesn't just get over being leaped at by an over grown kitty cat!"

At this comment Nozomi repeated uncertainly, "uh... okay?"

Kiara though at that moment asked with an annoyed tone in her voice, "Timon what are you doing here?"

Seeing that it was the princess and he was in safe company Timon spoke truly relieved, "Kiara! Thank goodness! Hey for once we're not followin' ya!"

Jona at this moment seeing the little meerkat walked on over with the now conscious bird in her jaws who was making a ruckus, desperate to get away. Annoyed she spat it out making a few feathers fall out left and right as it flew making its get away, looking to the small mammal she asked, "and just who might this little one be huh?"

Timon quickly became quiet as he looked up at Jona, he became a little fearful at what she'd nearly done to the bird who'd been in her mouth, however not paying it any mind Kiara answered her, "this? Oh this is Timon, he's one of my father's close friends."

Hearing this Jona looked to Kiara as she asked, "a friend huh?" Then back to Timon making him nervous again she asked, "not dinner?"

At this comment Cait sith laughed out loud as he remarked, "this scrawny lad dinner lass? He'd wouldn't even make a decent size snack!"

Nozomi then told him annoyed, "Cait sith that's not nice!"

Timon hearing this not feeling comfortable at being talked about as a main course spoke as he pointed out, "oh hey! Well if you guys wanna talk about snacking look at this!" With that everyone looked in the direction he was pointing to.

There across the hilly ground with patches of green grass spread about left and right they saw a dirt path that was strewn with birds left and right, they were just like the one Jona had in her mouth a few moments ago.

Seeing it everyone wasn't really that impressed as Riku reflected as he asked, "yeah what's so great about this place?"

Timon then told him energetically, "this place!? This is the best smorgasbord in the Pride Lands!"

Mickey hearing this repeated curiously, "smorgasbord?"

The little meerkat nodded as he spelled it out for him, "yeah bugs everywhere!"

Nozomi repeated, "bugs?" Then after a moment it clicked in her mind as she looked at all the birds as they all had worms in their mouths, "oh you guys eat bugs!"

Nodding at this Timon replied, "yep! They're slimy yet satisfyin' but trouble is you don't call for a reservation and yeesh!"

At once Timon's demeanour changed as he marched forwards and shouted out loud waving his arms left and right, "get outta here ya scavengers! Shoo! Shoo!"

He then stopped for a moment as he eyed down one particular bird as it looked back at him with the same annoyance, then suddenly it pecked him in the nose making it glow painfully red in pain.

This was an odd sight if nothing else, then in the distance they all heard a shout and looking they saw Pumba who was doing his best to chase away the little scavenging birds as he raced up and down the hill like a little bull dozer. But the cunning sneaky little birds simply flew over him and settled down again with complete ease in a never ending unsuccessful cycle.

Everyone looking at this couldn't help but laugh at this silliness, giggling Nozomi spoke , "oh this is too much! This is great! Ha ha!"

However no-one noticed that Kovu wasn't laughing at all, he was confused at this behaviour, what was going on here?

Jona next to him though slightly amused a smile on her face didn't laugh out loudly like the others as she simply said aloud, "well those guys won't be goin' nowhere too fast huh?"

Cait sith holding his sides now as they were aching from the hilarity replied, "oh ya got that right! Ha ha ha!"

Pumba then stopped as he spoke up, "oh Timon I'm getting' tired! I gotta lose some pounds!"

Then looking to his back they all could see more of the reason why he was so tired, the birds had now settled themselves down on his back, ears and tail using him as a rest post and looking at this Riku laughed out loud himself as he said, "oh it's more than that you gotta lose Pumba!"

Aggravated Timon climbed up his wart hog's back as he shouted out loudly, "shoo! Shoo!" Then at once all the birds all flew away in seconds as they scattered left and right into the sky finally letting Pumba recover himself.

At once everyone walked over though most of them let out a few more giggles at what had just occurred, Mickey too smiling brightly hopped over as he asked, "are you okay there Pumba?"

Nodding feeling a little tired still the rich brown wart hog replied, "oh yeah! Yeah I'm feelin' better now..." then suddenly something occurred to him as a bright smile decorated his face as he asked, "hey do you guys think you could help us?"

Hearing this question Riku asked, "help you?"

Pumba nodded as he replied, "yeah!" Then turning to his meerkat friend who was busy shooing away more birds from his tail he asked," what do you think Timon?"

At this suggestion Timon became sarcastic again as said, "oh yeah! There's an idea! Just let the vicious outsiders and weirdos-"

Nozomi then repeated annoyed, "weirdos?"

But at that moment it seemed something had clicked into Timon's mind as he cried out, "hey I have an idea!" Then jumping off of Pumba's snout he spoke out, "why don't these guys help us out!"

At this Pumba said aloud annoyed, "what!?"

Cait sith then spoke aloud himself as he asked, "wow... makes me wonder who's the real brains of this duo?"

Nodding at this Nozomi replied, "yeah ditto on that!"

Mickey though curious asked the meerkat, "how are we supposed to help ya out there Timon?"

With that the meerkat spelled it out for everyone as he told them all, "easy answer ya just got lend us yer voices!"

Not getting it Riku asked, "voices?"

Growing frustrated Timon told him, "grrr! Grr! Y'know roar! C'mon work with us on this!"

Kovu hearing this asked, "roar? Why should we-"

However Kiara then taking the initiative then said, "oh come on let's just all try it!"

With that she let out a huge roar making a huge ruckus amongst all the birds on the ground making all of them scatter and fly away left and right in total panic.

Seeing this didn't impress Jona whatsoever as she spoke on with scepticism, "oh yeah that was real nice!" Then turning she started to walk away as she said aloud surprising everyone, "I'm gonna sit this one out."

Nozomi hearing this asked, "huh?" Then chasing after Jona a little worried she asked her, "Jona don't you wanna join in?"

Seeing the concern she was showing Jona smiled as she shook her head slightly and told her, "nah I'm afraid not! Besides I'm a little tired! I'm gonna rest somewhere in the fields for a little bit so don't mind me."

At this comment Kovu called out to her, "hey but what about the training! You're supposed to help me out with this! You-"

Then for a moment a harsh dark look appeared in her eyes that stilled Kovu in moments but quickly she covered it with a smile making it be unnoticed by the others as she replied back to him, "oh just take a break! Besides... this'll be more good for you then me Kovu honey... take it easy!" With that she took off over the hill away to rest.

Nozomi seeing her go spoke a loud feeling a little saddened, "oh... bye then?"

Cait sith seeing her go then said himself, "well suits some huh?"

Timon then called in the distance as he waved his small paw, "hey c'mon! You get yer stripy tail and give us a hand here!"

Nozomi then called back, "fine! Fine geez!" With that she quickly ran back to the others.

Then seeing that she'd made it back Timon smiled as he said, "great! Now why don't you new guys give this a shot!"

Nozomi hearing this asked, "huh? What us roar?"

Cait sith at this comment became amused as he said, "oh yeah this should be a laugh!"

Becoming suspicious Nozomi asked, "what do you mean by that?"

Mickey though quickly spoke up as he said, "uh Nozomi don't worry about it! Why don't you both give it a try!"

Distracting her Nozomi turned to the king as she asked, "what you're not going to roar Mickey?"

At this question the king replied making a small laugh as he said, "well uh... I can't cause...ya know..."

Then quickly seeing that she was being ignorant Nozomi quickly apologised as she said, "oh sorry Mickey! I-"

Quickly he cut her off as he told her, "it's okay! It's okay! You and Riku just take it from the top!" With that the king hopped a little distance away as he stood next to Kovu and Kiara he waited to see what she and him would do together.

Feeling a little unsure Nozomi had no idea how she was supposed to roar properly but then looking to Riku she saw he had a smile on his face and as she looked at him he looked to her as he asked, "what's wrong? Nervous?"

Becoming annoyed she told him, "no! Of course I'm not!"

Hearing this Riku smiled as he then turned back to the birds again and at once he let out a big roar that one could do as a small cub and at once all the birds all went flying left and right making feathers fall left and right.

Kovu himself was impressed again as he told him, "wow! Nice one!"

Nozomi herself became surprised, but then Riku turned to look at her with a smug look on his face as he told her, "well you're next!"

Feeling uncertain again Nozomi turned to look at all the birds again and she then concentrated hard as she went to roar but what came out of her mouth sounded simply like a puny squeak making nothing go flying.

There was a brief silence when suddenly all around her everyone started laughing like mad, even Kovu was now too which made Nozomi become flushed with embarrassment as she heard Cait sith say, "ha! Ha! Ha! Ya call that a roar? yer nothin' more then a squeaker!"

Nozomi then gritted her teeth mad and then suddenly she let out a series of little roars and each one became a little louder than the next until suddenly she let out one big roar which made even more birds go flying away simply in fear from all the rage that was in those roars.

This left everyone gobsmacked at what she did and then Nozomi turning around still fuming a little said, "who's a squeaker now!"

At this no-one definitely could call her that anymore, but Timon and Pumba seeing the birds that had gone flying quickly acted to take advantage of this situation as they double teamed up as they went chasing the birds away so they could no longer land anywhere!

Kovu recovering from his little bout of laughter and shock looked to the meerkat and warthog as they continued to chase away the birds and then suddenly Timon called out, "c'mon again! Again! Do it again!"

Then he looked to the others and saw now they were now all looking at him and seeing that it was now his turn he then let out a huge roar which made even more birds fly away into the distance and as this occurred Timon cried out, "yeehaw!" As he let out a huge raspberry at them all as he continued to ride Pumba.

Seeing him do this Nozomi spoke out forgetting her rage, "hey that looks great! Let's join in!" With that she quickly took off as she started to speed forwards down the hill.

Seeing her go Riku called out, "hey Nozomi wait up!" Then quickly he went to chase after her and quickly becoming a little flustered Mickey hopped after his friends too!

Looking at them take off Kovu had no idea why they were all doing this? Then quickly Kiara laughed out loudly as she cried out, "hey guys wait up for us!"

Then seeing the princess go Kovu quickly chased after her too as they all started to run around chasing away more birds as they all let out more roars and though he felt something rise inside him his confusion was still strong and as he quickly joined up with them all he called out, "hey what's the point of this training?! What're you all doing this for?"

Riku hearing this as he ran asked, "training what're you talking about?"

Kovu then replied, "what this isn't?"

Kiara laughed out loud as she told him, "no this isn't! This is just for fun!"

With that they all climbed up another hill and as they did more birds went flying and as Kovu heard this one word he asked hearing it properly for the first time, "fun?"

Nozomi nodded happily as she told him, "yeah! Fun!" Then as she looked to him and saw the confusion on his face she asked him becoming baffled, "what you've never had fun before?"

Kovu then started to answer her, "well I-"

But then suddenly from nowhere suddenly Timon appeared as he was now hanging on tightly to the claws of a scavenger bird as he told the Outsider lion, "geez you gotta get out more often!"

Cait sith seeing Timon then quickly decided to follow suite and so leaping from Nozomi's back he grabbed another bird that was flying past as he told him, "yeah lad besides this is what fun's all about! Lettin' yer mane flow and go with the easy flow! Whoo!" With that he flew higher into the air followed by Timon who also called, "whoo wee fun!"

Seeing them both ascend Nozomi laughed out loud, "Cait sith!" Then running quickly followed by Pumba both of the steeds ran beneath their riders birds as they both suddenly let go and they went to land on them again but as Timon did this he called out loudly, "YEEHAW!"

At this certain word Kovu repeated hesitantly, "yeehaw?"

Then as everyone laughed and leaped over another hill more birds went flying and as they did the Outsider lion felt more of this uplifting, powerful and positive emotion soar within him and as he did he finally understood as he cried out loudly now, "YEEHAW!"

With that he and his trainees, no, his friends all played together as they chased more birds and ran in the great expanses of the Pride Lands, making huge roars together and finally at last, he knew and understood what fun was all about.