Chapter 7: An unexpected visit

Dan and Shany had gone into the caves near the mud pits. These, unlike the route the children had taken, were much wider for an adult lion.

"We haven't been down here in a while," said Dan, "do you still remember the way?"

"Well, of course, I remember every detail of our childhood adventure," Shany responded. Then, he looked ahead, where the road forked. Okay, to the left."

Dan vaguely remembered those adventures with Shany, which made him feel like a fool.

"I'm sorry if I've forgotten a lot of things," the lion apologized, "It's not that I've gotten amnesia again, it's just that... since I became king, I have a lot of worries about you, my brother, the children, the Pride lands, our friends from the trip... it's a lot to deal with"

"I know, but that's why you shouldn't forget everything that led you to who you are now," Shany reassured him, "After all, I'm the queen too, right?"

Dan laughed at his partner's attitude.

"Well, one thing I always remember," he finally told her, "You always fill me with encouragement."

As they talked, the caves seemed to light up little by little, ending in a large cave filled with crystals so bright that they painted the walls in warm, golden tones. However, they had barely set their paws to continue advancing when they were surrounded by a number of ten yellow moles. Five of these climbed onto their backs and the other five stood in their way, raising twigs as if they were spears.

"Intruders! intruders!" they all shouted.

"Excuse us if we don't show up," Dan said, being patient, "We're looking for an old friend named Kuchimba."

"Hey! What is this fuss?" asked a slightly older voice, but familiar to both lions.

Behind some crystals, an older mole appeared, carrying another twig as a cane.

"Kuchimba!" exclaimed both lions.

"You shouldn't shout," he told them, approaching, "I'm old, not deaf."

"Sorry father, but do you know these lions?" said one of the moles.

"Maybe, because I can't see, but I think we already know each other, right?" Kuchimba asked the lions, "I think their voices are a bit similar."

"Yes, we know each other. I'm Shany; Tiifu's daughter," she reminded him, "And I'm also with Dan."

"Shany! Dan! We haven't met for a while," he responded. Then, he turned to his children, "Children, show respect to the King and Queen of the Pride lands."

At the mention of the kings, the other moles immediately threw down their twigs and bowed. When Dan convinced them to stop bowing, they both explained the situation to their old friend.

"I'm old, but my children can help you," Kuchimba concluded, while all the other moles nodded, "If they work all night, they will have enlarged the tunnel by early tomorrow."

"Until tomorrow?" Dan asked, worried as was Shany. However, even though he is the king, he could not demand that they hurry up, "If there is no option… Please do what you can."

(Meanwhile...)

"I see, it's strange, but somehow I believe them," said Grandpa LongNeck, after the young ones of the present explained all the situation.

"I don't know, I'm not convinced…" said Cera's father, "What if these kids just have a great imagination?"

"I don't think these children make up things about how they got here being chased by Red Claw. "I think they can stay with us, at least for tonight."

Immediately, the dinosaur children began to celebrate, just like the young people of the present.

"Well, now... it's time for you to eat something, you must be tired after that chase" continued Grandpa Longneck.

"I would like to know what they eat, to be sure," Cera's father asked again.

"Well…" Simba opined, "Bambi is an herbivore, but the rest of us…"

He did not finish speaking (scaring the young lions), because Mr. ThreeHorns immediately shouted:

"I knew it! They are carnivores! One was enough…" he said, pointing to Chomper.

"Mr. ThreeHorns…" Grandpa Longneck stopped him before he started making a fuss, "If they were carnivores like any other Sharptooth, then they would have attacked their herbivorous friend. I think they are more like Chomper"

"Well…" Amira clarified, "We don't always eat meat, sir. We also eat fish or fruits"

"Yes, do you happen to have fruit around here?" Maya asked.

"My question: What is fruit?" Petrie said.

"Don't you know the fruit?" Amira asked, "Well, it's sweet and it grows from trees and plants…"

"They look like sweet bubbles. Yes, yes, yes" Ducky commented.

"Littlefoot, take your friends to see if they can get sweet bubbles or something they can eat," his grandfather told him.

"Yes, I can also take them to my special place where I have many delicacies," said Chomper.

"Do you have a special place?" Sam asked.

Cera made a gesture of disgust upon hearing that, while Rudy indicated:

"I don't know if it's a good idea, but it's good to try."

"Yes, don't worry, grandpa. We will take care of it" his Littlefoot told his grandfather.

As the children walked away from the two adults, Mr. ThreeHorns said to old LongNeck :

"And it already seemed to me that this usual group could not grow any more, but… why do we allow those… strange Sharpteeths to enter the Great Valley and live with our children?"

"They're not Sharpteeth. We are not sure what creatures they are," said Grandpa LongNeck, "We cannot leave them to their fate in Red Claw's territories. "I know you want to protect Cera and Trisha, but you have to see things differently."

And, without further ado, he turned around, leaving Mr. ThreeHorns doubtful.

(A few minutes later ...)

"You are kidding, right?" Simba asked.

"Come on, try it. "They are delicious," Chomper told them.

Littlefoot, Chomper and Ruby had taken Simba, Bambi, Nabil and Sam near a stream, where the little carnivore showed them a large palm leaf, inside which a large number of worms, beetles and other types of insects were moving. bugs. Almost immediately, he had stuck his head in and started eating. It seemed like a joke that a large carnivore like him would eat that. Meanwhile, Littlefoot was sharing his favorite leaves with Bambi.

"Wow, I have never tasted such a delicacy," said Bambi, with his mouth full. "What kind of leaves are these?

"Star Leaves," the LongNeck clarified. Then, he turned to Simba, "Do you want that too, Simba? Or do you prefer to eat with Chomper?"

"Well…" he said, not knowing what he could decide.

"You should try it," said Sam, who had a worm in his mouth.

"Do you really eat that?" Nabil asked.

"When you live on the streets of the human world, there is almost no food and you have to look for it where you least expect it," the dog explained to them, "Besides, they are not that bad."

"Here," Chomper said, giving Simba a red worm, "Go ahead and try it."

"Well…" Simba said, looking at the worm, "You might as well try, right?"

The lion cub put the insect in his mouth and ingested it, almost swallowing it immediately.

"Well…" he said a few seconds later, "I guess it's not as bad as I thought…"

"Guys!" The voices of Cera, Amira and the others told them, "We found the sweet bubbles!"

Each of them brought at least one bunch of those sweet fruits. Seeing them, Sam confirmed:

"Wow, grapes!"

"Grapes?" both mammals and dinosaurs asked in unison.

"What are grapes?" Simba then asked him.

"A fruit that humans eat" explained the dog, "I have never been able to taste it, but they said they were sweet."

Amira began to eat, followed by Maya, Nabil, Sam, Bambi and finally Simba. While the bugs were 'okay', the grapes were much better in every way.

(Meanwhile, back in the Pride lands ...)

It was already night and the moon was shining next to the stars, illuminating the dark atmosphere of the night over the Pride lands. On the Pride rock, Geno stood at the top, worried about his son's uncertain fate. After the kings returned, mentioning to him and Selene that they would go look for him tomorrow, both parents' concern increased, but they thanked them for allowing them to rest there that night. However, even though his wife and daughter were safe and sleeping peacefully in the guard's den, Geno couldn't stop thinking about Bambi.

"Are you okay, Geno?" asked Dan, who had come out of the cave.

"Hum? Oh, well..." Geno tried to hide it, but he couldn't do it.

"Don't worry, friend, I understand you: I share this concern. I can not sleep either"

"It's true... your two children are there. I'm sorry friend"

"No... if anyone should apologize, it's me: my optimism that Simba and Amira could take care of themselves and their friends was what put yours and the other little ones in this situation. Forgive me"

"Forgive you? Dan, you don't have to feel guilty, I didn't think Bambi should go there on his first visit either. Besides, I could never blame you: not again."

Dan remembered that time Geno, after his grandfather's death, was upset because 'his best friend' had previously been 'a human'. However, they had overcome that and had become closer than before.

"It's been a long time since that, I'm glad our friendship has lasted until now, and with our children," Dan said.

"Well then we must have faith that it is okay, because if they share our union, we will surely find them" Geno said. Then, he yawned, "It seems that fatigue is finally overcoming me."

"Rest my friend. "I'll stay here a little longer."

"Okay, good night."

Geno walked away, descending the rocks with the grace of a deer. Dan, for his part, continued to think: should he trust that Simba and Amira would be fine until the next day? Sure, he trusted his children, but he never knew what danger he would encounter.

"You never change," said a voice next to him.

Dan turned around and gasped as he saw an adult lion with a reddish mane at his side. However, this one looked like a ghost, as it was also transparent, and could be seen behind it. The lion king didn't have to think long to recognize who it was.

"Grandpa Simba!" he exclaimed, "You are…"

Simba shook his head.

"You know that I am no longer fully fit, but my spirit will always be able to visit you," he said.

"But, I thought…" Dan continued, "I…"

"Just because my father has decided to transcend and leave you in charge of everything does not mean that you have lost your great connection with the spirits of the great lions of the past," Simba interrupted, "Now tell me, why are you so worried?"

"Well, if you've been watching me, I think you know," Dan replied calmly.

"Yes... You are always worrying about your children; it is a quality you share with Mufasa"

"Do you think I shouldn't worry?" Dan asked, puzzled.

"No, I myself know that worrying about your children is quite natural. But I'm pretty sure they're fine: not only because I have faith, but also because I gave a little gift to your little Simba."

"What kind of gift?"

"A fragment of my soul, of course. That is why I have been communicating with him several times"

Dan was silent for a few seconds until he finally responded:

"I knew it"

"Did you already know that I have maintained a connection with little Simba?" his grandfather asked.

"Yes, in a way... I'm not sure when: if it was because, from the moment he was born, I wanted to remember you; Or if, as you say, I always have a connection with the great lions of the past..."

There was a minute of silence between both lions. Finally, Dan asked him:

"Grandpa Simba, can I ask you a favor? Can you take care of them until we get there?"

Simba smiled, nodding his head.

"Thank you, Grandpa Simba," Dan told him, as he watched him disappear.