Two worlds collide
Chapter 8 Darkness returns
The next morning Bramblestar and Squirrelflight came to the pridelands. When they arrived at pride rock, they say Simba, Nala, Kiara and Kovu standing at the entrance of the den.
"Hey there Simba," said Bramblestar smiling. "What's going on?"
"Good day Bramblestar," replied Simba. But then his look turned grave as he spoke. "I'm afraid you've come at a bad time. We're kind of going through trouble."
Bramblestar looked past Simba and saw Kasi lying down on the floor and noticed some scratches on her, a pridelander and a former outsider were tending to her.
"What happened?" asked Bramblestar cringed.
"A rouge lioness is on the lose," explained Kovu. "It attacked Kasi."
"We understand," said Squirrelflight sympathetically. "Rouge cats have been trouble for us cats in the past too."
"It's not the only trouble," added Nala. "Vitani's guard reported they found an oryx had been killed by the rouge. It's remains were scattered all over the area. This rouge killed it for fun."
Bramblestar and Squirrelflight frowned in disgust.
"That rouge is so foxhearted!" exclaimed Bramblestar.
"We warriors know better than to waste prey" agreed Squirrelflight.
At that moment some of the lionesses returned from hunting. They had caught a zebra. Simba offered Bramblestar and Squirrelflight some to eat.
Bramblestar and Squirrelflight ate some of the zebra. It wasn't what they were used to, but it tasted amazing. They were more used to smaller prey like mice and birds and were surprised at the lions for catching animals they were too big to get. But they observed that lions were larger than them, so they would need to catch big prey to eat.
"This is great!" said Squirrelflight cheerfully with her mouth full as she ate her piece of the zebra.
The royal family chuckled.
"It's a whole lot better then the food we had to eat in the outlands growing up" declared Kovu.
Bramblestar and Squirrelflight remembered Kovu's story about growing up in the outlands. They were told that how it was all dry and lifeless and how there wasn't much food. They had noticed the outsiders looked malnourished, like they hadn't eaten for seasons.
Kion's guard returned and reported there was no sign of the rouge lioness.
Kiara and Kovu offered to show the cats around the pridelands, since they hadn't really seen too much of it. Simba and Nala agreed as long as the lion guard escorted them.
As they walked through the pridelands, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight looked around and the pridelanders pointed out the other animals, the zebras, the giraffes and the elephants. They were breath taken by beauty of the savannah.
"I still can't believe you rule over prey," said Bramblestar as he walked along side Kovu and the lion guard. "You don't see us ruling over the birds and mice and shrews."
"Because the other animals aren't just prey," explained Kovu kindly remembering his lessons with Simba. "They're our subjects."
"They help keep nature's balance," added Kion. "They all take part to serve life's balance."
Kiara and Squirrelflight walked from behind and talked to each other.
"I'm gonna admit," said Squirrelflight. "I envy you and Kovu. He and I have argued a lot in the past and as you've probably been told have broken up when he found out about my sister's kits. You and Kovu have such a perfect marriage, sometimes I wish we could be more like you two."
"Hey," Kiara said encouragingly. "Lots of mates argue, even my parents argue sometimes. And I'm sure Kovu and I will have our arguments. There's nothing greater than the power of love."
"Bramblestar and I always do get back together," Squirrelflight admitted. "We have a special bond. Leafpool told me once she had an omen that she saw me and Bramblestar walking in the stars, it means nothing can separate us."
"That's very sweet," said Kiara.
They continued walking until they came to a river.
"We'll have to cross" said Beshte.
"Are you kidding?" cried Bramblestar in annoyance. "I hate swimming."
"Wow," said Fuli amused. "And I thought I was the only one who didn't like water."
"We cats aren't really into water," said Squirrelflight. "Riverclan cats though like swimming."
"I can't understand how they like it" grumbled Bramblestar.
"Don't tell me you can't swim" retorted Bunga.
"We kind of can," admitted Bramblestar. "But we don't unless we really have to, like during the great flood when I had to swim in that abandoned twoleg nest to rescue one of the kittypets we rescued from the flood."
"Come on," said Kovu encouragingly. "It'll be fun!"
"I don't know why anyone would swim for fun," muttered Bramblestar. "I've seen twolegs swimming in the lake for fun and I can't understand why'd they do it for fun. It looks more about survival to me."
"Come on Bramblestar," said Beshte wading into the river. "I'll give you a lift."
Bramblestar and Squirrelflight looked at each other in hesitation and then walked over to Beshte and climbed on. It was kind of strange to them, especially the feeling of a hippo.
"I'm way to old for badger rides" muttered Bramblestar.
"But you're riding on a hippo, not a badger" called Bunga.
"Badger rides are what we cats call back rides," explained Squirrelflight. "We used to get them when we were kits, but we're to big for them now."
As they waded through the water the two cats looked around, it was amazing. They watched the beautiful pink flamingos flying off.
"Hey Beshte," Squirrelflight called. "What are those?" she pointed over to in the distance where Makuu the crocodile's float was. "They look like giant lizards with teeth."
"Those are crocodiles," explained Beshte. "They can be pretty dangerous at times; we've had trouble with their leader Makuu in the past but he's become a more fairer leader over time so you don't have to worry about him."
Bramblestar felt relieved, he was so busy thinking about the pridelands and all the animals, he wasn't paying attention and he fell off Beshte and fell into the water.
Bramblestar yowled and splashed, Kovu swum over and helped him up.
Bramblestar grumbled and shook his fur complaining about the water.
"You're never gonna get over that incident when you fell into the ocean are you?" chuckled Squirrelflight.
"What's she talking about?" asked Ono.
"When we journeyed to the sun drown place," explained Squirrelflight. "He fell into the sea and I had to save him."
"I certainly didn't fancy swimming again" retorted Bramblestar.
Everyone laughed.
Just then a lioness jumped out of nowhere. To the pridelanders surprise, she was all familiar. The beige fur and red eyes. The stripe on her head.
"Zira!" gasped Kion.
"Mother?" cried Kovu.
"That's right Kovu," she chuckled evilly. "Did you miss me?"
"What are you doing here?" cried Ono. "Kiara sent you falling off the cliff and you fell into the water!"
"I survived," declared Zira. "I washed up far away and healed myself slowly. Then I found my way back to the pridelands."
"So you're Zira," said Bramblestar stepping up. "I've heard of you."
"And you must be the great Bramblestar," taunted Zira. "You would've been leader a lot sooner if you'd done what your father said instead of being loyal to that fool Firestar."
The pridelanders were shocked to hear what Zira said. How did she know that?
Squirrelflight hissed furiously.
"My father was the greatest leader ever," she snapped. "And my mate is just as great."
"You're so just like my son," Zira huffed. "Weak, useless spending a lifetime training him to take down you're enemy and make you leader, only to marry that spoiled selfish daughter of his."
"Firestar was kind to everyone," snapped Squirrelflight. "He honored the warrior code and protected all the clans!"
"The warrior code is for weaklings just like the circle of life!" growled Zira. "It's dumb. Survival is about strength and fighting."
"You oughta be ashamed of yourself," snapped Bramblestar crouching down hissing. "Abusing your cubs and brutally training them, and then scarring your son mousebrain!"
"Who you calling "mousebrain" mousebrain?" snapped Zira. She raised her paw and slashed Bramblestar on the neck. Bramblestar yowled as he flew to the ground. Kiara, Kovu and the lion guard gasped, Squirrelflight screamed as Zira swiped her claws across Bramblestar's side.
Kovu and Kion jumped on Zira. They punched and kicked the outsider. Zira gave a few defensive swipes, but missed.
Kiara and Squirrelflight ran over to Bramblestar. His neck and sides were bleeding and was having a hard time breathing.
"He's losing a life" Squirrelflight whispered to Kiara.
Kiara quickly ran to the edge of the river and grabbed some mud. When she got back, she saw the outline of a ginger furred cat walking up to Bramblestar. Kiara wondered if it was Firestar. The cat touched Bramblestar's head with his snout and the transparent form of Bramblestar's spirit came out of the body and then they disappeared.
Kiara stared for a second, neither Squirreflight or the rest of the guard had noticed Starclan claiming Bramblestar. Squirrelflight was too busy holding Bramblestar's neck trying to stop the bleeding and the guard was watching in concern. She quickly ran up and started applying mud to Bramblestar's neck and side.
"That should stop the bleeding" Kiara told Squirrelflight.
They looked up to see Kion and Kovu still fighting Zira. They had her pinned down. Zira looked up at the body of Bramblestar and laughed insanely.
"Looks like the great leader of Thunderclan has fallen!" she taunted.
But to everyone's surprise, Bramblestar let out a gasp and shot his head up.
Squirrelflight smiled relievedly and nuzzled her mate's head.
"But…" stammered Zira speechlessly. "But… I killed you!"
"I still have eight" Bramblestar gasped weakly, though tried to sound bold.
Zira was speechless and quickly ran off.
Kion felt Bramblestar.
"He's losing blood," Kion stated. "We should get him to Rafiki. Squirrelflight, you go back to Thunderclan and inform the others about what happened."
Squirrelflight nodded and quickly headed off.
Kovu put Bramblestar on his back and carried him off to Rafiki's tree and Kiara and the lion guard followed.
…
An hour later, the pridelanders watched as Rafiki and Makini tended to Bramblestar's wounds. They had used vines for bandages on his side and had applied ointment to his neck.
Squirrelflight returned with Jayfeather, Twigbranch, Finleap and Dewnose. The other cats all stared inside with horrified looks.
"What happened!" cried Jayfeather.
"You remember the story I told you about my mother Zira?" asked Kovu. "Apparently she's still alive and attacked."
Jayfeather walked inside.
"Hey," he said in a gentle voice. "Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," Bramblestar assured humorously. "Rafiki's bandaged the wounds and says the cuts didn't get too deep."
Jayfeather pushed some yellow flowers up to Rafiki.
"Marigold is good for stopping infections" he told Rafiki.
"Thank you," Rafiki replied kindly as he took it from him and applied it.
Simba, Nala and Vitani's guard arrived.
"Is Bramblestar okay?" asked Nala.
"He's alright," said Kovu. "The wounds didn't get too deep. He lost one of his lives though."
"That's terrible!" exclaimed Dewnose.
"Is it true what Ono said?" asked Vitani softly. "Is mother alive?"
Kovu looked down. "Yes" he replied admittingly.
"Where is she?" Simba demanded.
"We don't know," said Fuli. "She just took off."
"Yeah, she was certainly surprised when she say Bramblestar come back to life!" Bunga spoke up.
"What's more surprising, she knew about Firestar and the clans" added Kiara.
"I knew this Zira was just as bad as the dark forest cats," said Finleap. "But she certainly sounds horrible."
"How could she know?" asked Dewnose.
"Maybe she's been spying on us" suggested Beshte.
"Do you think she might be the rouge lioness?" asked Kovu.
"No, you know mother," said Vitani. "She focused more on survival to just leave a kill there, and she wouldn't have killed it so brutally. Besides the rouge looked like Kiara remember?"
"The rouge looks like Kiara?" asked Twigbranch dumbfounded.
"Sort off," said Vitani. "It has orange fur and a white muzzle and underbelly."
Rafiki came out of the tree.
"I think it will be best of Bramblestar stayed here for a couple days till he's able to return to Thunderclan."
"Rafiki's right," agreed Squirrelflight. "I can lead until Bramblestar's fit to walk back to the forest."
The cats all murmured in agreement and said goodbye.
Everyone went home, but Simba stayed behind to talk to Bramblestar.
"The reason Squirrelflight and I came today was that we had something to tell you," Explained Bramblestar. "Last night Firestar and Cinderpelt visited me and told me a prophecy. That two worlds must collide to defeat the rising darkness. Then they gave me an omen a lion and a cat were together. What do you think it means?"
Simba stared in astonishment.
"I don't know," he said unsurely. "It sounds like Starclan wanted you to find the pridelands."
"I get the feeling both your kingdom and our clans are going to be in trouble" muttered Bramblestar.
Simba said goodbye the leader of Thunderclan and headed home.
…
"This oryx tastes amazing!" said Mapleshade as she ate the oryx in the outlands. "It's even more delicious than mice or birds!"
She noticed Zira was facing away.
"I still can't understand what happened," Zira exclaimed. "I killed Bramblestar and then he just came back to life!"
"Leaders have nine lives!" explained Mapleshade. "They're given nine lives by Starclan, he won't die until he loses his last one."
Zira was surprised.
"How are you even alive?" she asked crocking her eyebrow. "You said you died long ago."
"I told you," said Mapleshade in annoyance. "I found this staff in the dark forest and it returned me to life in the form of a lion!"
Zira looked at Mapleshade and noticed how much she looked like Kiara.
"You look like the mate of my so-called son," she said dryly. "The daughter of Simba."
"That explains why that other lion I attacked called me Kiara" chuckled Mapleshade.
"You dark forest cats really know the strongest survive" said Zira with a smirk.
"I did say before that we're more alike," said Mapleshade. "I have unfinished business with Thunderclan and Riverclan for what they did to me."
"What do you mean?" asked Zira.
"It's a long story," said Mapleshade. "But if we work together than we can take over both the pridelands and the clans."
Zira and Mapleshade both smirked as they stared ahead at the pridelands.
