Chapter 15

Danyal and Sundar turned and stared at Lukaan. Her father had arrived out of nowhere, The great white lion was looking at the two of them with an expression of intense disappointment. Had Helio really gone to Lukaan? But to their surprise, Helio looked just as agitated as they felt. The lanky youth wasn't looking at either of them, and in fact looked as though he would rather be anywhere but there.

"Do either of you want to explain to me why I am hearing that the two of you have been fighting?" Lukaan asked, carefully. Danyal wilted somewhat, and Sundar stepped forward to defend them.

"Dad –"

"Unless it's an honest answer, I don't think I want to hear it." Lukaan told them. Neither Danyal nor Helio answered. They just glared at one another. Lukaan eventually sighed.

"I don't think I need to tell either of you just quite how delicate situation we are in, nor impress upon either of you how foolish it is to fight among ourselves at a time such as this? I wasn't aware we had the luxury of either of you injuring the other!" He said, looking furious. "I'm not naïve to expect things to be charming all of the time, but clawing at each other? Now? Are you stupid?" He asked the two of them. Danyal swallowed. He was right. It was a reckless and foolhardy thing to do. The Shai'tan could track them down at a moment's notice. They could need to fight wilddogs or jackals. They might even need to fight some other group of rogues for whom the Night Pride represented a great prize now that so many had been displaced by the Shai'tan. It was a sobering thought. They couldn't really be wasting their time fighting each other.

"Lukaan… We weren't…" He trailed off. He didn't have a good excuse. Lukaan just glared at him.

"I expected better from you." He said.

"I goaded him into a fight." Helio said suddenly. "Sundar said it was stupid. There's no point in blaming either of them, Prince Lukaan." He said. He looked agitated. Lukaan arched an eyebrow.

"Really? And why precisely, would you do a thing like that?" He asked him, looking angry.

"We've been sparring." Helio admitted. "And during the hunt, it got away. Tempers flared and we each exchanged words that ought to have remained unsaid. Forgive me." He told him. Lukaan glared at him.

"Is that true?" He asked him. It was close enough to the truth that Danyal wasn't sure what he was lying.

"More or less." Danyal admitted. He felt a twinge of guilt that Helio was apparently shouldering the blame. Maybe it was sincere. Maybe it was for Sundar's benefit. "I wasn't blameless. I regret my part in it." He said. Lukaan growled dissatisfied.

"I'm sure there was more to this than either of you will concede, but seeing as I neither of your fathers, I shan't pry into your affairs unless it impacts us." He gave a weary sigh. "You are each better than this. If you must spar," and here he looked in disapproval, "Do so carefully, and with a Shaman present. We seem to have a surplus now." He told them, and left.

"Wait, Dad!" Sundar called after her, and followed her father, leaving Helio and Danyal standing awkwardly with each other. She chased after him, following him. He didn't seem to notice her following him at first, and when he did so, he looked at her in surprise.

"Sundar? Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Me? It's you I'm concerned for." She said, sounding worried. She looked at the white lion in surprise.

"It's not your job to worry for me, Sundar." He told her.

"That doesn't mean I won't. Is it Danyal and Helio? It was just a stupid argument. I'm sure it won't happen again." She told him, earnestly.

"I'm not so certain about that. But that's not it. It's the fact that it happened at all. It's this waiting around. They want to do something. And I cannot blame them. With Danyal healing so well, our reasons for remaining here are rapidly dwindling. The Shai'tan know this place exists, and they must surely by now know that Sekhmet perished here. That will invite a response." He told her. The thought clenched her stomach, but she supressed it.

"Then we'll fight them." She said. Lukaan grimaced.

"Now you sound like Helio." He said. Sundar wasn't sure it was criticism.

"Are you saying you don't want to take the battle to the Shai'tan?" She asked him, puzzled.

"I want whatever gives us the best chance of success." Lukaan told her. "With our allies here in Africa, that may yet be to make a stand here. I do not fear the coming battle for its own sake. The Pridelands, as Danyal calls them, were a mighty Kingdom by all accounts. They could be so again, and I would have my people be a part of that destiny." He told her. "The alternative is that when Vitani returns to us, we flee together into the lands even they do not know. I do not relish the prospect of a long exodus. We were fortunate to find a welcome here in Vitani's lands. People are rarely kind to those fleeing war, they tend to suspect them of laying claim to land that isn't theirs." Lukaan told her. "We would be a diaspora. I don't think that is what my Malaki would want of me or for our people." He said, quietly. "I would have us make a new home here. Not wander the lands of the world."

"Have you been doing anything else other than thinking about this, father?" Sundar asked him. Lukaan shook his head.

"It does consume my thoughts." He admitted.

"Do you at least share these thoughts with Rafiki, or Yessen?" She asked, sounding troubled. She didn't like the thought of Lukaan dwelling on this alone. If he wouldn't confide in her, he could at least confide in the Shaman. "Please do." She urged him. He grimaced.

"I'll try." He promised, looking weary. Sundar studied her father for a moment, and then exhaled. She breathed out slowly, and her eyes flashed a bright azure.

"What are you –" She didn't reply, instead reaching out with a paw, and closing it around her father's. She was cast in a pale blue low, and it lit up the surrounding grove with a soft light. It bled from her, and covered Lukaan in its same light. He had no wounds on his body, no scars, or tears. But nevertheless, the less she eased his aches, his pains, and his tiredness. Lukaan stiffened at its glow and the touch of her shamanism. It felt good, but his eyes were wide with concern and worry. Sundar though didn't collapse or seem overly exerted by the effort. The only thing of note was a thin layer of frost that formed around the grass around her paws. A tiny aura of cold as the air cooled, that quickly faded in the warmth of the African sun.

"Wow." He said, when she had finished. He felt as though he had received a week's worth of sleep at once. An ache in his back was gone, and the tiredness of his eyes was faded. Sundar was looking at him expectantly. "That's amazing, Sundar. Every time I see you…"

"Yessen has been teaching me. He makes a little more sense than Rafiki does. It's still nothing like I managed with Danyal, I hope nobody else gets seriously hurt." She said, worried. "I can do it without draining myself, now. But not much else. He thinks I'm holding back somehow, but to me it feels like I'm giving too much." She admitted.

"It is still unlike anything I know, and unlike anything I've ever seen before." He assured her. "I'm glad we have finally found people who actually understand what it happening. I was frightened for you." He told her.

"Rafiki and Yessen are very kind. But in several centuries of life, they've never encountered anyone else who gained abilities like I have…" She muttered. "In all that time."

"… Do you think you will live as long as they do?" He asked her, cautiously.

"I..." She trailed off. The thought hit her like a falling tree. She hadn't considered the possibility. But Yessen and Rafiki and Marsade seemed to be for all intents and purposes, immortal. Ageless. Without end. Was it possible that she too would live for as long? The idea of alien to her. All creatures died. All creatures aged. Some faster than others, it was true. But age, and eventually death a part of life. A part of the circle of life as Danyal so eloquently put it. A part of the great balance. People just didn't live forever. They always joined their loved ones in the great unknown. That was a fact of the universe. To live in eternity, as the ageless did, seeing kingdoms rise and fall? Even in her wildest dreams she had never conceived of such a thing.

"I… Don't know." She said, slowly. She knew many creatures would relish the possibility. And it wasn't as if she wanted to die, or especially liked the prospect. She hadn't spent much time considering her future beyond the next couple of moons ever since the Shai'tan had taken over the Imperium. Lukaan must have seen her expression because he immediately waved a paw.

"Pah. You are still young in any case, Sundar. I should not have mentioned it. It occurred to me, but you won't know for a very long time in any case." He said. "Thank you for this." He said, nodding to his rejuvenated form. He bent in to nuzzle her, but Sundar was left troubled by his words, spoken so casually.

Helio and Danyal were left looking at one another.

"Helio. Thank you for that." Danyal admitted.

"For what? My honesty? I'm not a liar." Helio said, sounding insulted.

"No, but…" he trailed off. "Look. We're going to have to live with each other." He said.

"I've already told you. I don't have any problem living with you. Or fighting with you. I just don't have any patience for your delusions." He told him, shortly. Danyal supressed a growl of frustration.

"Fine. Whatever makes you happy." He grumbled, and Helio departed. Danyal shook his head, and made his way past the little grove of trees they had been in, and returned to the Tree of Life. Yessen and Rafiki were present, and the Rafiki was trying to apply some kind of poultice of herbs and fruits to the baboon's back. The injuries he'd sustained from their fallen brother couldn't be healed by shamanic means, but they could still get infected by the ills of the material realm just as easily. It hardly seemed fair.

"Danyal." Yessen called out to him. "I don't suppose you know where Sundar has gotten to? We have more lessons to go over." The baboon said, and waved away his brother's attempts. "I hope I haven't scared her off. It's just that I am not good for much else at the moment." He said, motioning to his wounded form. Danyal made a face.

"Believe me, I know the feeling." He said. Makini dropped down next to him. "She's eager to learn, don't you worry. She is just with Lukaan right now." He told him. Yessen nodded. He wasn't sure what to think of the white coated lion, but he seemed a solid sort.

"Yessen here has never had an apprentice before, aye?" Rafiki said, chuckling to himself.

"I never had the time." Yessen said, folding his arms, grumbling. "You ought to be the one teaching her. You've had dozens of students through the ages." Yessen said.

"Ah, but as you said, you aren't good for much else, are you? Rafiki is only trying to help." He said, grinning. Yessen scowled at him, but didn't dispute it. Makini gave a barely supressed giggle at the bickering between the two ancient shaman. It was something to see, two mighty shamans arguing like small children. They considered themselves brothers, and the comparison seemed apt given how they behaved around each other.

"Do you need something, Danyal? For those scrapes you got. From brawling with Helio." She asked him. Her expression was one of intense disapproval. Danyal gave a sheepish grin. He hadn't wanted to ask Sundar for it.

"Just something to make sure they don't get infected." He said. "It would be a silly way to go, after everything else." He said. Makini shook her head.

"Of course. Come with me." She said, and practically dragged him to the back of the cave that Kion had once called home and shoved him to the ground. She poked and prodded at him, and after mixing up some herbs, applied the paste to his back and side where Helio had clawed at him. When the paste made contact with his wounds, Danyal gave an exceptionally undignified yelp.

"Owww! Gah, tyrant's teeth, Makini, what the hell's that?" He asked. The burning sensation stinged. A lot.

"Oh. Silly me. I must have used too much of that root. It'll sting like hell, but at least you know you won't be getting any wound rot, right?" She told him. "It'll be fine. Don't be such a cub." She told him. Danyal growled. He had no doubt she was right, but she had never used that particular herb before, presumably because it did sting so much. She was clearly annoyed with him.

"Thanks Makini." He told her dryly.

"Don't mention it. And maybe don't do it again." She told him brightly. He wondered if the former Lion Guard had received similar administrations. She also took the time to check the rest of his injuries, and they seemed to meet her satisfaction. Sundar's shamanism was clearly helping, and even if the slowness of his recovery drove him to madness the fact that he was improving was undeniable. It remained to be seen if – as Helio predicted – he would never reach his previous levels of mobility.

Danyal left the tree of life, and began to brood. He nodded to several of the lionesses including Harten. He also found Calin who was sitting by himself doing his level best to stalk a beetle. When he realised Danyal was watching him, he blushed as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing.

"Danyal! Uh… Hi!" The leopard cub swallowed. "How long have you been there?" He asked, embarrassed. "Long enough." Danyal told him, smirking. "If you wanted to practice your hunting, you could have asked. I'm sure one of the lionesses would be happy to take you along for a hunt." The asiatics didn't place as much cultural importance on hunting as the Pridelanders had. It was refreshing. Calin's head drooped.

"My Dad was teaching me." He admitted. "I wasn't very good at it. That's why I got help from that blasted monkey." He muttered.

"I was hunting when I was your age. Small vermin, that sort of thing. I kinda had to in the Outlands. I showed Kiava and the other cubs when it was just us. I could teach you a little bit." Danyal offered."

"You'd do that?" Calin asked him, looking excited. Danyal supressed an urge to roll his eyes. Sometimes, he thought all cubs were the same.

"Why not?" Danyal asked, grimacing. He looked at the scars on his side, recalling something Yessen said. "I'm not much good for anything else." He said. Calin jumped up, looking excited at the prospect. However, before Danyal could speak further, they were interrupted by the arrival of Yoddha. The dark furred lioness looked panicked, and had clearly been running. She was supposed to have been hunting, but there was no sign of her kill. Danyal immediately knew something was wrong.

"What's the matter?" He asked her. She slowed seeing him.

"Cheetah's coming this way. A large group of them." Yoddha told him.

"Minions of the Shai'tan?"

"I don't know, but there were enough that I didn't want to find out myself!" She told him. Wise decision.

"Find Lukaan and the others, now." He ordered, her, standing up straight. "Go with her, Calin." He ordered, and hauled himself to his feet.

"What are you going to do?"

"Most leopards and cheetahs aren't quick to fight a full-grown lion. I'll stall. But do me a favour and don't dawdle." He told him.

"You're not a full-grown lion though!"

"Yeah." He admitted. "So why are you still standing there?" He asked him. Calin and Yoddha sprinted away, and Danyal swallowed. Drawing himself to full height and hoping that his injuries would make him appear fierce and scary rather than vulnerable. He waited only a short time, and soon enough he could smell the oncoming cheetahs. If they were trying to sneak up on them, they weren't doing a good job of it, which gave him some measure of relief.

He let out a roar, as big as he could manage when he finally saw a flash of spotted golden fur.

"Alright! Stay where you are! Who are you and what do you want here?" He roared, as aggressively as he could manage. More cheetahs emerged. Most were adults, but some were slightly younger.

"We mean no harm!" One of them called out to him. That was a good start, but he wasn't sure yet he could trust it. The leader of the cheetahs approached nervously, frowned when he saw the young lion in front of him, but nevertheless nodded in respect.

"We are just passing through. Just looking for people." He told him, clearing his throat. Before Danyal could answer however, behind the cheetah emerged another much larger figure. A large lion with a striking red mane, long and flush with his body. Nimble and lithe. Relief flooded through Danyal, and he relaxed, dropping out of his aggressive stance. The cheetahs didn't make any more to attack, and instead stepped aside allowing the lions to meet.

"King Kion!" Danyal called out to lion in recognition.

Sure, enough it was him. Kion's face lifted when he saw a familiar face. He had managed to keep up with the cheetahs; years of training with Fuli had taught him that, but he still looked exhausted. The small vessel of tuliza about his neck was cracked and damaged and there were several knew cuts and bruises on him, but it was definitely the former king of the Night Pride.

"You!" He reached for the name. "Danyal, yes? Good. Hevi Kebisa. You're looking…"

"Not a corpse?" Danyal asked him. Kion wasn't looking so good himself, but he smiled in relief.

"Less of one. I wasn't sure you'd walk again." Kion admitted.

"Danyal! Are you alright?"

"Stay back!"

"Who are you?"

Several voices cried out in quick succession. Even though Danyal was now fairly confident those cheetahs didn't mean to attack them, he was grateful for the backup and he stood up straighter. Behind him, Calin was returning now. Helio was there, growling threateningly and so were several of the lionesses. There was no sign of Lukaan or Sundar, but most of the others were there. Rafiki was there too, armed with his staff and both Calin and Makini standing by his legs. When Makini saw her old friend, she practically squealed in excitement.

"Kion!" At her name, the young mandril rushed out from the den and practically threw herself at the former fiercest. Kion nuzzled her as she threw her arms around his neck. The cheetahs looked on in surprise, but Kion didn't push her away.

"Hi Makini. Good to see you. Don't worry everyone these are… friends." He said, looking at the group of cheetahs that was following him. They were lithe, ragged and were spattered with blood. They didn't look especially welcoming, but they appeared far more nervous of the lionesses than vice versa. "Rafiki! You are a sight for sore eyes." He greeted the shaman. He hadn't seen him in years. Rafiki nodded the gesture.

"Likewise, Kion." Rafiki said, uncharacteristically serious.

"Your Majesty." Danyal said urgently. "Did you find any trace of Kiava?" He asked him. They could catch up later. There were more important things at paw.

"It's just Kion, kid." Kion reminded him. "And yeah. I found him." He said. There was the faintest note of bitterness to his words.

"Then where is he? Oh Kings, you don't mean –"

"He's alive. Don't worry." He said. Danyal sighed in relief, and was pleased to see the sentiment shared by the other lionesses. They'd never met the Prince of the Pridelands but nevertheless they cared for his wellbeing. That was just common decency. There was little enough of that about the Serengeti. "I found him. But… He wouldn't come back with me."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean the runt refused to come back with me. He knew he was putting the rest of us in danger and wouldn't come back out of some misplaced sense of obligation." Kion said. Danyal's eyes bulged.

"What? But the wraith!"

"The wraith is dead. That's the point. I was tracking it." He said, distastefully. "Now with it gone, I've got no way of finding Kiava again and he knew it. He darted off and practically ordered me to leave him." He said sourly.

"And you did? You obeyed that order?" Danyal asked in astonishment.

"I wasn't in a position to stop him! I'll explain when we have time. For now, we have bigger problems."

"Bigger than the Prince of the Pridelands going off by himself?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." Kion snapped. "Get the rest of the others, we don't have time to go over this multiple times." He urged him.

At Kion's command, one of the lionesses darted off to the find the others, and soon enough they were all gathered. Sundar was relieved and shot Danyal an encouraging smile, but Danyal was too concerned by Kion's words to feel much in the way of relief just yet. Lukaan and Sundar, the asiatic lionesses, all three apes. Little Calin was back, and seemed worried at Kion's expression. He kept close to Danyal and only seemed to relax when Danyal didn't flinch around Kion. He was smaller than Lukaan, but definitely the more seasoned warrior, that much was obvious even to him.

"Right. These fine gentlecheetahs behind me, and formerly soldiers of the Shai'tan. They have since revolted against their rule, and they've brough some awful news with them. Jahi, tell them everything you told me, and as quickly as you ca." He ordered him. The more senior of the cheetahs stepped forward, bowed his head to Lukaan and Danyal in turn and spoke calmly but quickly.

"We bring news from the Outlands." He explained. "Lady Vitani and her lionesses have attacked the tower of Golgorath in the Outlands. After killing several guards, she seemed to have caused some kind of riot and then escaped with several prisoners. The Emperor himself has demanded their recapture and dispatched has Lord Rish'ut after them." Jahi explained succinctly, and wishing Kion hadn't draw attention to their prior state as soldiers of the Imperium. It wasn't a fact wanted restated.

"She's rescued the cubs?" Danyal said, awash with relief. Losing Kiava and Zuri was bad enough. If they'd lost Sara and Inti for good, he wasn't sure what he would do.

"Yes, along with a sizeable host of imprisoned animals that Rish'ut was tormenting beneath his throne." Jahi explained. "They're moving slowly. Rish'ut gathered several cheetahs, and not all of use fled when we had the chance. He's got packs of wilddogs and he is bearing down on them as we speak." He said. He shook his head. "I don't think they'll have much of a chance." He confessed. Danyal felt his blood run cold. They couldn't rescue the cubs only to have them perish on the way back to them. Almasi, Damu and Vitani were in danger! They had to help them!

"Then what are we waiting around here for?!" He asked, urgently. Kion nodded in agreement.

"King Lukaan, if you still intend to form an alliance with my sister-in-law, and with the Pridelands, now is the time. We need to move, now. Cross the desert and reach them. According to Jahi they were travelling in the direction of the gorge. If we don't, they could all be wiped out." Kion said.

"Hold on a moment. How far is this gorge?" Lukaan asked. The white furred lion was frowning.

"Several days journey through the jungle, then several days more through the great desert to reach the edge of the Pridelands." Danyal said, looking worried. "Quicker for the cheetahs. Slower for us." He said.

"By the time we get there, they could already be wiped out." Lukaan said. Sundar looked from her father to Danyal. Danyal looked aghast.

"Lukaan, please. We have to try! We can't leave them." He pleaded with him.

"If you won't help me, I'll go myself." Kion said, he looked to Danyal who nodded.

"That's not what I mean, King Kion. Calm yourself. I am not going to betray Princess Vitani. We are allies in this endeavour; I assure you. Enough mighty kingdoms have already fallen to the Shai'tan Emperor's Imperium, and I will not stand idle as another falls when we could lend aid. This I promise you." He assured him. The got growls of approval of from Helio, and from several of the other lionesses, and Danyal was elated. Kion, who had not spent days and weeks alongside them looked surprised at the confidence and at their willingness to place themselves in harm's way. However, he looked relieved and grateful. He swallowed.

"Very well. What do you propose?" Kion asked him.

"Danyal." Lukaan spoke his name, and Danyal realised that he was asking him a question. "Can you travel?" He asked him.

"From here to the Pridelands gorge?" Danyal asked. He swallowed. It was a massive distance. "If I need to, I will." He said confidently.

"Not all the way." He turned to Rafiki and Yessen. The two Shaman watched him, as if expecting his question. "You travelled to the Imperium through a Gateway of your own, didn't you?" He said.

"Aye." Rafiki nodded. "Rafiki did so with Yessen! But Yessen remains injured!" He protested.

Yessen shook his head, and pulled himself to his full height. The baboon gripped his staff and his lips peeled back to reveal teeth.

"I am sufficiently recovered to aid our friends." He told him. Rafiki didn't look as though he agreed with that assessment, and opened his mouth to argue, but Kion was nodding excitedly.

"Like how the Shai'tan travel? Yes! We can do it!" He said excitedly.

"We'll help!" It was one of the cheetahs. The youngest of them. Talib had spoken out of turn, but he didn't look embarrassed. "We can help rescue your friends. It's the least we can do. Especially if they have creatures with them who've escaped the Shai'tan in the Outlands." He said confidently. Jahi nodded in agreement.

"It'll be risky." Helio said, looking at Lukaan and Danyal in turn. "But I for one am looking forward to sinking my claws into some of the Shai'tan's underlings." He said. Jahi paused at that, and looked uncomfortable, but Danyal shared the sentiment. Sundar looked a little worried but nodded in agreement. They were agreed it seemed. Vitani needed their help, and they were going to do whatever they could to give it.

Sometime later, Rafiki and Yessen were standing together, not far from the Tree of Life. Kion had rested a little bit, and gratefully accepted a rather large dosage of tuliza, which had finally brought some measure of peace to his nervousness. Now, he seemed a little more in control of himself and much closer to the Fiercest of the Lion Guard of legend. Sundar was close by, and looked a little worried, but she didn't dare suggest that Danyal stay behind. Helio had already claimed several times thar Danyal was unfit to fight in his present condition and this was his chance to prove his asiatic counterpart wrong. Their sparring sessions had proven he could take care of himself. If it would be enough, time would tell.

Yessen was leaning on his bakora staff, and Rafiki was nearby with his. Makini was next to Sundar and the two of them were watching the shaman together. In sequence, each of them lifted their rods together and spoke. Yessen's words were too soft and unintelligible to hear, whilst Rafiki's incantations were in the same old nonsense language he had heard many times before. It was not the words that mattered, Yessen had explained to Sundar. Merely the focus the mantra brought. Others of their ilk found such words a distraction and practiced their art in the strictest of silence. They were beings of incredible focus. As they watched, the air between them started to twist and ripple and distort. The world heaved, and Sundar found she could feel it convulse. She let out a gasp. Yessen had been teaching her to listen to the natural world, and how that she did so, she could hear it. It didn't shriek in agony as it did to Marsade's touch, but the world fought and twisted and writhed in the grip of their focus and their minds. In front of them, and Gateway began to form. Its edges were sharp and angular torn rather than a clean slice. Kion swallowed, and without so much as a moment's hesitation, stepped through. Danyal followed, and then came the whole group. We're on our way. He found himself thinking to himself, pleading desperately to any of the great kings who were listening that they would make it in time.