Chapter Two: A Meeting With Royals.
That night Jifunze had slept much more soundly than he had the rest of his life, being up in a warm safe tree had probably helped with that. In fact he slept so soundly he didn't even really dream, the night being an empty void for which he had no memories. However by the time the morning rose the darkness inside Jinfunze's head was suddenly filled with the light of the rising sun.
As Jifunze stretched himself awake he felt a slight panic coming upon him as he didn't recognize the tree in which he stood, not quite believing that he was truly free and that the night before wasn't just a dream. However as he became more lucid his panic began to fade, only for it to rise once more as he felt that there was something cold and moist upon his back.
As he turned to look he noticed that there was quite a few large leaves tied to his abdominal and hind regions, "What in the world," Jifunze said, not quite understanding why he had leaves on him.
"Ah, you're awake," Rafiki said from the left of Jifunze, "Now don't touch de leaves, dey are dere to help you heal."
Jifunze turned towards Rafiki, noticing he was in the middle of painting what looked like a lioness upon one of the branches of his tree, "What are you doing?" Jifunze asked, stepping closer to the mandrill.
"Just painting one of de Kings of de Past," Rafiki replied, "Though in dis case I'm painting a queen," Rafiki added with a chuckle.
"Oh, well it looks really good." Jifunze said, examining the painting closely.
"Tank you Jifunze," Rafiki replied with joy in his tone, "However we have more important matters to attend to, now come," Rafiki said as wiped the paint off his hands and grabbed his staff, "Dere is someone you must meet."
"Oh, ok then," Jifunze said as Rafiki hopped out of his tree.
"You do know how to get down, yes?" Rafiki called from the bottom of the Baobab.
"Yes I can get down on my own Rafiki," Jifunze replied before he jumped down from the Baobab tree, "Though I appreciate your offer."
"Well den come on," Rafiki motioned Jifunze to follow him, "You have someone very important to meet."
"Who is it I'm going to meet anyway," Jifunze asked as he walked alongside Rafiki.
"It is a surprise," Rafiki answered with a chuckle.
"Oh, well that sounds fun," Jifunze said, walking with stronger strides.
As the two made their way to wherever Rafiki was taking them, Jifunze decided to finally ask the question that was eating away at him all morning.
"Hey Rafiki," Jifunze stated, breaking the silence of their walk.
"Yes Jifunze," Rafiki replied, turning his head to the young leopard.
"I just wanted to ask," Jifunze began, fixing his gaze upon the ground below him, "Why are you doing all this?"
Rafiki replied with a question of his own, "Doing what exactly?"
"Well, you let me sleep in your home, you're helping me to heal my wounds, and now you're taking me to meet someone really important," Jifunze said, hanging his head in shame, "So I want to know why you'd help somebody like me?"
"Why would I help someone. . ." Rafiki stroked his beard pondering the thought, "Perhaps it's because, it is de right ting to do!" Rafiki exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air.
"Well, you really shouldn't have," Jifunze said.
"Why not," Rafiki asked, "Is it because you are a leopard? Or perhaps it's because you are from the Backlands?"
"No it's not that, it's just," Jifunze said, shame filling his tone, "I didn't do anything to earn it, I'm a complete stranger to you! Why should I get anything at all."
"Stranger?" Rafiki said stopping to turn around and face Jifunze, "Let me ask you someting, do you know my name?"
"Well, yeah but-" Jifunze responded.
"And do I know yours," Rafiki asked, cutting Jifunze off.
"Well, yeah you do but-" Jifunze tried to argue.
"Den we are not strangers," Rafiki exclaimed, turning to continue walking.
"But you've only known me for a night," Jifunze stated as he caught up with Rafiki.
Rafiki chuckled, "The greatest of friendships can form in just a night, Jifunze."
"But-" Jifunze began, however he was cut off by a voice calling out from above.
"Um, Rafiki," The voice called out, it was quite high pitched and sounded somewhat distressed, "Who is that with you?"
Suddenly a young egret landed atop a stone in front of Rafiki and Jifunze.
"Ah, Ono, it is a good ting you've spotted us," Rafiki said, approaching the egret, he then leaned down and whispered something into Ono's ear.
"You want me to-" Ono tried to shout out, however he was cut off by Rafiki putting a finger up to the bird's beak.
"Hush, it is a surprise." Rafiki gestured to Jifunze, "Now go, and swiftly!"
"Ok Rafiki," Ono said as he took off from his rock, "I don't see why it has to be a surprise though!"
"Um, who was that," Jifunze asked, confused as to what had just happened.
"Dat was Ono, he is de Keenest of Sight, and a member of de Lion Guard," Rafiki said a bit of mysticism in his voice.
"The Lion Guard?" Jifunze tilted his head to the side, inquisitively, "What's that?"
Rafiki chuckled, "Come I will tell you along de way." Rafiki motioned for Jifunze to follow once more.
As the two made their way through the Pridelands, Rafiki told story after story of Lion Guard, both past and present. Jifunze listened in carefully, completely forgetting his prior disagreement with Rafiki.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eventually the two approached the center of the Pridelands and a massive rock that Jifunze couldn't believe the size of. It was so big it nearly touched the clouds, and Jifunze wouldn't accept it wasn't a mountain.
"Woooow." Jifunze gawked at the massive rock in front of him only now truly able to appreciate its size now that he was close to it.
"Yes, Pride Rock is quite majestic," Rafiki said as the two got ever closer.
"Why's it called Pride Rock," Jifunze queried, still gawking at its majesty.
"Because it is where de King's Pride lives," Rafiki stated matter of factly.
"KING?!" Jifunze stumbled back at Rafiki's statement, shocked that he would hide something like this for so long, "You're taking me to see the King!?"
"Oh not just de King, but de whole royal family," Rafiki said as if he was telling Jifunze that the sun rose or water flowed.
"THE WHOLE ROYAL FAMILY?!" Jifunze was freaking out now, "I CAN'T SEE THE ROYAL FAMILY!"
"Why not," Rafiki asked, "You've already met de royal Mjuzi, what's so different about de King?"
"But I-I," Jifunze said trying to keep track of his thoughts, "What if they hate me? What if they find me disgusting or horrible or I embarrass myself? What if-"
Rafiki then cut him off, "Jifunze, you mustn't worry so much about de what if. If you tink about de future too much, you're going to miss de present!"
"But-" Jifunze tried to interject.
"No buts," Rafiki exclaimed while bonking Jifunze on the head with his staff, "Now come, de royal family awaits."
Rafiki then returned with walking towards Pride Rock, while Jifunze tried to keep up he just couldn't stop worrying about what the royal family would think of him, what if he messes up, what if he's rude, what if he's apprehensive, what if he blows this whole thing from the very start and gets banished from the Pridelands entirely! The young leopard just couldn't keep his mind off it.
"Um, Rafiki," Jifunze asked as he began to match the mandrills pace, "Are you sure the royal family will like me?"
Rafiki laughed at Jifunzes question, "Of course dey will. So long as you keep being you, and stop acting like a baboon."
"Ok then." Jifunze trailed off, still not sure of what he'd even say to the royal family.
Eventually the two reached Pride Rock itself and standing atop the outcropping at the front of Pride Rock was a group of four lions. The first(and biggest) was a full grown male, Jifunze could tell because of his massive bright red made that encapsulated his head, Jifunze assumed he was the king. The second was a full grown female standing directly to the right of the male, Jifunze assumed she was the queen. To the left of the King stood a younger lion, Jifunze assumed he was the prince, and judging by the fact that the lions mane was only a small mohawk he seemed to be around the same age as Jifunze, maybe a month older or younger. And to the right of the Queen stood a young lioness who looked slightly bigger than Jifunze, Jifunze assumed she was about a year or two older than him, and that she was the princess.
"Simba, Nala!" Rafiki climbed up the small staircase of rocks leading to the outcropping, "And of course we can't forget about Kiara and Kion!"
"Rafiki," Simba exclaimed, "It's good to see you. And I see that you've brought a guest."
Jifunze only then crested the staircase up, noticing that the focus was on him, he immediately became flustered.
"Ah yes, allow me to introduce to you, Jifunze!" Rafiki then gestured to Jifunze.
"Greetings," Simba stated, a kindness in his tone that Jifunze didn't expect, "and welcome to the Pridelands Jifunze.
"U-um, greeting your majesties." Jifunze bowed, "It is an honor to be in your presence."
Nala chuckled, "Well there's no need for that."
"Um, there isn't," Jifunze said as he looked up towards the royal family.
"No silly," Kiara said with a slight chuckle of her own.
"A-apologies, your m-majesties," Jifunze stammered as he shot up from his bow, "It's just that, in the Backlands, I was taught that you should always bow to royals, to show respect."
"Well that's certainly not how we do things around here," Simba said, still as kind as ever, "Though I must ask what brings you to the Pridelands?"
"Oh, well it was really just an accident," Jifunze said, still flustered.
"An accident," Nala said with confusion filling her tone, "How do you end up in the Pridelands on accident?"
"Um. W-well." Jifunze tried to come up with a good story to tell the royal family, one that would avoid further questions, "Do you know of Ngazi cliffs?"
"No, I do not," Simba said while a look of intrigue spread across his face.
"Well it's this pretty large area of the backlands that's kinda far south of the Pridelands border," Jifunze explained, "It's got a bunch of layers to it that can easily be climbed, that's why it's called Ngazi cliffs."
"And I assume it was your home?" Simba said.
"Well, y-yes," Jifunze said, somewhat embarrassed, "Anyways, the river that leads near Mizimu grove also passes through Ngazi cliffs, and I. Well. I fell in it." Jifunze looked to the ground embarrassed about his actions, "I was atop the cliffs. It was storming. I was trying to find shelter, and I didn't see the edge, and. Well."
"Oh my." Nala said, seemingly shocked at what happened to the young leopard, "Is that how you got those injuries?"
"What?" Jifunze looked up and suddenly remembered the leaves upon his back, "O-oh, well, yes."
"But what about your parents?" Kiara asked, confused by Jifunze's story, "Wouldn't they have stopped you from going somewhere so dangerous?"
Jifunze's gaze returned to the ground, "My parents aren't. W-well." Jifunze couldn't finish his statement.
"Oh." Kiara suddenly realized what Jifunze was implying, "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to."
"It's fine you couldn't have known." Jifunze tried to reassure the Princess.
"Well, thank you for informing us of your story Jifunze," Simba said trying to break the tension, "Though if I may inquire, what is it you plan to do now?"
"What do you mean?" Jifunze finally looked up from the ground and towards the King.
"Well, do you plan on returning to the Backlands," Simba asked.
"Probably not, I've learned it's not that safe for young leopards like me," Jifunze said, lowering his head out of embarrassment.
"Well, you could stay in the Pridelands," Kion finally spoke up, "I'm sure you'd love it here."
"Really?" Jifunze raised his head, hope filling his heart.
"Kion," Nala said, glaring at her son, "Don't get his hopes up."
"What do you mean," Jifunze asked the hope dying down once more.
"Well, you might not be able to stay in the Pridelands," Simba said.
"What, why not?" Kion interjected as he stepped forward.
"Well he's a hunter, and there might not be enough food for him," Simba explained, "Especially once he's fully grown."
"Oh that's not a problem," Jifunze said, a joy in his tone he hadn't used for years, "I eat grubs and such."
"You eat grubs?" Kiara nearly gagged.
"Well, yeah, I never learned to hunt." Jifunze said, slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, right," Kiara replied, now more embarrassed than before, "You're parents."
"Well, if you really do eat grubs, then I see no reason why you can't live here in the Pridelands," Simba said, giving Jifunze a feeling of joy the leopard didn't even think was possible.
"You. You really mean that," Jifunze queried, a smile of pure joy spreading across his face.
"Yes, Jifunze," Simba said as a gentle smile crept across his lips, "We'd be glad to have you stay here in the Pridelands."
"Oh thank you your majesty," Jifunze said bowing once, "I promise you won't regret this."
Simba chuckled once more at Jifunze's strange show of respect. And as Jifunze had realized what he was doing once again, he swiftly stood up and smiled embarrassedly.
"Well now dat dat's taken care of." Rafiki said, startling Jifunze as the leopard had forgotten that Rafiki was there, "I shall be on my way," Rafiki said whilst climbing down from Pride Rock, "Oh and Jifunze, if ever you need help, you know where to find me," Rafiki added as he reached the base of Pride Rock.
"I guess I should go too," Jifunze said as he turned to leave, "I've gotta find a place to sleep after all."
"Well, I don't see why you should do that alone," Nala stated, causing Jifunze to stop, "Perhaps a member of the Lion Guard could give you a tour." Nala turned to Kion.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure Beshte would love to show you around," Kion said, stepping up alongside Jifunze.
"Oh, that's quite alright," Jifunze said, "I'm sure I can find my own way around."
"Nonsense," Simba interjected, "Someone as young as you shouldn't be left all alone while trying to find your way around someplace new."
"Well," Jifunze said, "If you insist."
"Great," Kion said as he began to climb down from Pride Rock, "Come one I'll introduce you to the guard."
Jifunze then swiftly followed behind the young lion. And while he didn't truly know exactly what the future would hold for him, the young leopard felt hope that it would be much better than whatever would've happened if he stayed in the Backlands. And as he reached the base of Pride Rock he smiled, as he felt joy to finally have a safe place to call home.