Chapter 3

Kiara woke up to find Tiifu and Zuri were already up. Getting up from her spot she left the cave to Tiifu and Zuri chatting, unaware that Kiara had woken up. "Hey girls," Kiara said, getting the attention of the two lionesses.

"Oh, hey Kiara," Tiifu said as she turned to face her other friend.

"Good morning sleepy head," Zuri teased as she also turned to face Kiara.

Kiara rolled her eyes as she sat down. "Very funny Zuri."

"So whats the plan for today Kiara?" Tiifu ask.

"We need to get settled in, we don't know how long Kion's healing will take, so we need to be prepared to stay here for a while." Kiara said as she turned to Zuri. "Zuri, since you like to keep things extra clean, you can go and make the den spotless if you like."

"Very funny, but alright, I'll get it looking like home in no-time!" Zuri replied as she got up and went into the den.

Kiara then turned back to Tiifu, "Tiifu, go and wake Ono so you two can look for the nearest water source and hunting ground."

"On it!" Tiifu answered. "Oh, and if I'm correct to assume, you going to check on Kion right?"

"You know me too well," Kiara nodded.

As the pair got up and went there separate ways, Kiara hopped that Kion was doing well with Raffiki. She would know soon enough as she continued to make her way back over to Raffiki's Tree.

Kion had awoken a bit too early in the morning for his liking, but knew that he wasn't going to fall back asleep. So he took the opportunity to look at all the painting Raffiki had draw inside the Tree. As he looked around the room, Kion noticed that lots of the painting were telling the story of his fall and how Kiara and her guard defended the Pride Lands during that time. Kion as so deep in thought as he looked at the painting and reliving his nightmare of a past he didn't hear Raffiki enter the room.

"Are you alright young Kion?" the old mandrill asked, getting Kion's attention immediately.

"W-what? Oh, yeah, I'm fine." Kion said as head shook his head. "I was just lost in thought was all."

"Hmm I see, tell me Kion, what had you so lost in thought?" The mandrill asked as he got closer to Kion.

Knowing there was no getting out of this, Kion knew that just telling him was the best option. "I was looking at the painting around the room, and noticed most are about my fall and how it affected the Pride lands," Kion admitted.

"I see. It is only natural to feeling regret when reminded of a past you would like to forget," Raffiki responded. "however, we mustn't let the past define our future."

"What is that supposed to mean? As far as I'm aware my past has made my future miserable. Everyone hates me and wants me dead, Kiara has to be with me every second to watch me now, whether its to watch me or keep others from attacking me. And mine own family except Kiara has basically disowned me. So tell me, how does my past not define my future?" Kion question with some pain in his voice.

Raffiki paused, taking note of the emotional pain Kion was displaying. He was starting to get an idea of just how damaged Kion's mental state was. It was concerning, to say the least.

After a few long seconds of silence, Raffiki spoke again. "It does not define your future because you are still in control of it. The consequences of your past may be unavoidable, but how to take them is up to you now. Are you just going to sit and do nothing? Or are you going to regain what was lost and be the lion you were supposed to be?"

This caught Kion off-guard, but it did raise the question, what should he do?

Before Kion could respond, Raffiki spoke again. "Look to the future, because you can't change the past. Whats done is done, but what comes tomorrow is still your choice."

Kion only nodded in response.

"The path of redemption is never easy, but it is not impossible either, now, let me get you something to eat. Then we will begin with your therapy," The old mandrill stated as he went back up into the top of his tree.

"Wait, I thought this whole talk was the start," Kion said looking up here Raffiki disappeared from view.

Raffiki's head popped out of the leaves a second later. "Oh no, this was just me gauging how open you would be, and getting an idea of your true mental state."

Kion could only look in surprise as Raffiki's head disappeared from view once again.

With a sigh, Kion laid his head back down and was once again lost in the thought of his mind, and recalling unwanted memories that still haunt him to this day. He also thought about what Raffiki has said, 'Look to the future, because you can't change the past.' He may not be able to change the past, but he wished more than anything that he could. With another sigh he looked up and to his surprise, or not, Kiara was standing there with a sympathetic look on her face.

"What is it Kiara?" Kion asked, with little to no energy in his voice.

"I came to check on you, how was your sleep last night?" Kiara asked, concern for her brother building up again.

"It was fine, and before you ask, I'm fine. Raffiki is getting some food for me and then we will be starting our therapy after that." Kion said, not wanted Kiara to start prying.

Kiara saw her brother didn't want to get into his feelings, and since Raffiki was about to do just that, she decided not to push the matter further. "well, if you need me, Raffiki knows where to find us. I'll be back around sunset to bring you some food."

Kion nodded in response.

Kiara smiled back, then turned and walked out of the Tree. She knew she had nothing to worry about, now that Raffiki was taking care of her brother. Still, there was just a bad feeling she couldn't shake, and hoped she was just going crazy about her brother well-being.