Rifts in the Ice: A Lion King Story
Chapter Two
Simba gnawed at the rough meat clasped in his paws. He chewed it soft, ripped it ragged, but the tough substance clung to its bone like stink on a warthog. The few pieces he managed to liberate tasted rich and gamey, but food was food so long as his belly rumbled.
Karina took a break from eating to watch the show, trapping several giggles in her mouth.
"What's so funny?" Simba asked, glaring.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing whatever," the girl leopard said, covering her mouth. Her cheeks swelled full of laughter.
"I've never eaten food like this before," Simba said. He bit at the meat a few more times. "What is it, anyway?"
"It's moose, darling," Nia said. "Do you need help?"
"No, no, I got this." After a hard minute of struggling, Simba finally swallowed the last strip off the bone. "Hey, you guys don't have-"
"No, silly," Karina interrupted. "No, we don't have any zebra, antelope, hippo, or water buffalo. You've asked a million times."
"Oh, sorry." Simba slumped against Nia's side. The young cub remembered very little concerning what he asked or didn't ask over the last three days. Much of that time was spent recovering, occasionally passing in and out of delirium. But although everything was happening at a cheetah's speed, he did remember his nightmares; the screams of his plummeting father, uncle Scar's punishing voice declaring Simba's banishment, and the growls from hyenas closing in. But Nia's soothing nourishment helped with the despair. It was amazing how she knew nothing about the runaway prince, and yet she was so sweet to him. Simba sighed. He didn't deserve this.
"Karina," Nia snapped. "Be nice. He's never been here before."
Nia perked at her mother's words. "That reminds me. Where did you come from?"
Simba looked down. "I don't really want to talk about it."
"Aw, come on." Karina pounced about. "I love a nice story."
The cub cringed. His tale was anything but nice.
"Actually, Karina, we have another problem."
Nia rose up and walked to the mouth of the den. "Simba," she said, "try walking outside." She then motioned towards the snow.
The young lion left the cave's cover while both snow leopards watched. As he took in the outside, the forest wind swept through his fur, shivering him frigid. The crisp mountain air stung his throat, and the snow-capped field crunched under his paws. Simba did his best to endure the new climate, focusing on the positives. The place smelt rich of pine, and the surrounding mountains, scraping the sky, were a beautiful sight. But as he trudged through the powdered, cloud-like matter, the freezing temperature became too much to handle, and he ran back to the cave.
Simba nuzzled against Nia's legs, teeth jittering. The mother leopard smiled and lay back down, wrapping Simba in another warm embrace.
"Just as I feared," Nia said, licking the prince's cheek.
"It's so cold," Simba whimpered.
"Your body isn't meant for this climate, young one."
"Which means," Karina interrupted, wide-eyed, "you'll always need mom's fur to stay warm." She scoffed. "Goodbye, mother daughter alone time for me."
Simba detected some mock worry in her voice, knew she was kidding. But still, the young cub did feel guilty at stealing away Karina's parent from her. The snow leopard girl had willingly, and without complaining, given up her traditional sleeping space in Nia's paws so that Simba might enjoy the extra heat. Without the concession, Simba worried the harsh environment might have hampered his recovery.
"I think a trip to Radimir will solve everything, Karina." Nia said, rising up again. "Why don't you take him there? See what the big lug can do?"
"What about you, mom?" Karina asked.
Nia nodded towards the discarded bones. "That was the last of our kill," she said. "I'll have to head out and see what I can hunt."
"All by yourself?" Karina shook her head. "No, I should go with you."
Nia nuzzled her daughter's face. "Simba will need you to show him our territory, to help him adjust. And besides, I'm sure other snow leopards will out in the hunting fields. I'll be safe."
"But what if they're not? What if…"
"I won't run into the enemy. I promise."
Karina turned silent for a solid minute. "Alright," she finally muttered, relenting, "but don't be gone long."
Simba cocked an eyebrow. Why was there suddenly so much worry in her voice? Weren't these local leopards the dominate predators? What was there to take them down?
Nia gave Karina another warm nuzzle. Then, she dashed off into the woods, kicking up billows of snow with her sprints. Both cubs watched until the mother leopard was out of sight.
"Okay, guzzler," Karina eventually said, smirking. "Ready to brave a winter trek?"
The two cubs cut trenches through the snow, weaving themselves in between naked trees. The sun was at full rise, shimmering the white land like a crystal, and not a single rain cloud bruised the sky. Though Simba did his best not to give in and complain, the cold frequently upset him.
"Are w-w-w-we there y-y-y-y-" Simba slammed down a paw, growled his frustration.
"Easy there, Rex." Karina replied. "You've been a trooper so far. Don't lose it all, now."
"I hate this w-w-w-weather." Simba's whole body shivered. "How do you guys live like this?"
Karina chuckled. "You just have to find the positives."
"Like what?"
"How about this?" The leopard girl traced her paw through some flurries. "When I was born, snow was one of the first things I discovered. I found out it's always changing, never the same. And I fell in love with it for that."
"Why?" Simba asked, padding close.
"Look at the sky," Karina said. "Or a still rock. Watch the mountains and stare down the fields. You'll notice the same thing every time: they don't change. Not like snow, anyway. With snow, it can harden into cold sparkles, melt down to running water." She scrapped up some flakes and blew them into the wind. They fluttered faintly as a mist before disappearing. "Or it joins with the air we breathe." The snow leopard smiled. "I guess I've always liked the idea that something doesn't have to stay trapped in one form or another. It's free to change when it wants. That's pretty amazing, don't you think so?"
"I guess," Simba shrugged, then his face brightened. "You know, I used to be trapped in a female's body?"
Karina blinked. "You were what?"
"Uh huh," Simba nodded, "but then I was born."
He flashed Karina a silly grin.
"You're so dumb!" Karina laughed, taking a swat at him. Simba ducked and ran away laughing. "Get back here!" The snow leopard shouted, sprinting after him. The two cubs bolted against the wind. Simba's eyes watered and his throat burned, but he kept going, happy to have finally found something enjoyable to do. But any heat his body worked up from this little game quickly extinguished as he felt a pair of paws collide with his back.
The cub barreled down a hill in a laughing heap, clumps of snow clinging to his fur. As he slowed to a stop at the bottom, Karina caught up and stood over him.
"Gotcha, you dork," she said, pawing at him.
Simba kept laughing until the surrounding snow resumed its affect.
"Aw, no! I'm cold again." Simba stood and shook the wet flakes off his pelt. "G-g-g-got any tips for d-d-d-drying out here?"
A mischievous grin spread along Karina's face. "Just one." She brushed herself against Simba's body.
Simba jolted back. "What are you doing?"
"Reminding you what dry fur feels like." Karina made a flirtatious grin. "Need some more?"
"No, I don't. I'm fine." Simba looked down at his damp paws still collecting frost. "So long as we're almost there."
But while he was distracted, Karina drew near again, brushing herself around his side. She started nuzzling his chest, pressing her cheek into his, and Simba nearly recoiled. But Karina's tail quickly flung over Simba's back, and the young cub stood still, accepting the situation. Karina sure is weird, he thought. But at least she's warm.
The lion cub maintained an awkward expression as Karina carried on with the affection. After a long, drawn-out nuzzling, Simba finally spoke.
"Um, thanks. I'm actually feeling better, now. We should keep going."
"Hold on," Karina smiled, emanating pure bliss. "This'll really warm you up."
"What will?"
Karina stopped nuzzling Simba's cheek and looked at him lovingly. Without any hesitation, she opened her mouth and lapped a slow lick up Simba's face.
As Karina broke away, the young cub's heart raced. For an instant, he forgot how to breathe and couldn't feel his legs. Karina trenched a few feet through the snow before looking back.
"Hey, come on! Radimir's place is just over the hill."
Swallowing his shock, Simba started forward. And then, a cold wash of realization flooded him. Sooner or later, he'd have to tell Karina and Nia of his past. And then what? The only reason they'd treated him kindly was because they thought he was a victim, some stray little scatterling without a place to scatter to. How would they react when they found out who he really was? Even if they still showed him slivers of kindness, Simba knew he couldn't handle it. He didn't deserve such love, wasn't worthy of their time. This all had to end.
As the cub approached the girl leopard, he made up his mind. He'd take whatever help this Radimir would offer, keep up appearances, and then run away when the opportunity struck, preferably that very night. He wouldn't be a burden to Nia nor Karina anymore. He wouldn't be a burden to anyone.
Loneliness was his sole companion now.
