Chapter 17: Fearless

The Pride Lands buzzed with activity as animals of all shapes and sizes gathered at the watering hole. Stories of the Lion Guard's daring deeds often circulated here, and today, one lion in particular was the topic of every conversation: Jabari, the Bravest.

The smooth-talking lion strolled through the crowd, his powerful shoulders and confident grin making him an easy figure to spot. His dark brown mane, streaked with five burgundy stripes, glimmered in the sunlight, and his long, goatee-like chin fur gave him an air of charm and wisdom. His hazel eyes scanned the scene with an ever-present spark of mischief.

"Bila Woga!" Jabari called out, greeting a group of young antelope who stared at him in awe. "Without fear, my friends. That's the way to live!"

Behind him, his stone shield clattered slightly against his back as he walked. A gift from Taka, it was both a tool and a symbol of his unwavering bravery. The shield had saved many lives, from shielding cubs from falling rocks to being used as a makeshift stretcher. Today, it had seen a more playful use: Jabari had used it as a dirt board to entertain some meerkat pups on a steep hill.

As he reached the center of the gathering, a group of animals surrounded him. Zebras, warthogs, wildebeests, giraffes, and even a few baboons were eager to thank him for his latest heroic feat. Just this morning, he had ventured into a thorny thicket to rescue a trapped baby giraffe, his fur still carrying a few scratches as proof of his daring.

"Jabari!" cried a mother zebra, nudging her young colt forward. "We don't know how to thank you for helping us find that watering hole last week."

The colt looked up shyly. "You're my hero," he said in a small voice.

Jabari crouched down to the colt's level, giving him a warm smile. "The real heroes are those who keep going, no matter what life throws at them," he said, nudging the colt gently with his paw. "That includes you."

As the crowd dispersed, Zumaridi approached from the shadows of a nearby tree. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Jabari bask in the attention.

"You sure know how to make an entrance," she teased, her voice carrying a hint of affection.

Jabari turned, his grin widening. "What can I say? The Pride Lands love a lion who's not afraid to get his paws dirty."

Zumaridi smirked, flicking her tail playfully. "And here I thought it was just the meerkats who adored you."

Jabari chuckled, but there was a softness in his gaze as he looked at her. "I do what I can. Speaking of which, you coming with me? There's talk of a stranded troop of monkeys in the Baobab Valley. Could use someone with sharp eyes to spot the best path."

Zumaridi raised an eyebrow. "You just want me to save your tail if things get dicey."

"Maybe," Jabari admitted, his tone playful. "But mostly, I want your company."

For a moment, Zumaridi hesitated, her cheeks heating slightly. Then, with a nod, she joined him.

As they walked together, Jabari glanced at the stone shield on his back, a reminder of his journey. Once, he had been a timid cub, raised in captivity and terrified of the world. It was a far cry from the lion he was today.

He thought back to that fateful day when everything changed. As a cub, he had accidentally saved a meerkat from a snake, an act that earned him his first taste of courage. From that day forward, he vowed to never let fear control him.

"Bila Woga," he whispered to himself, the words carrying the weight of his resolve.

With Zumaridi by his side, and the Pride Lands relying on him, Jabari knew his journey as the Bravest was far from over.

Jabari's earliest memories often haunted his dreams, but this time, they surfaced as he rested beneath the shade of an acacia tree. The blinding lights, the cold, unfeeling stares of the pale beings, their prodding hands—it all came rushing back. He remembered the suffocating confinement of his cage, the endless terror of living under the watchful eyes of those strange creatures.

Their faces were blank and pale, with bulbous, expressionless eyes. Their odd skins—cloaks of shimmering silver and intricate patterns—seemed otherworldly. Jabari shuddered as he recalled their chants, strange sounds that echoed through the sterile environment of his cage.

Yet amidst the fear, there was a singular moment that stood out. One of the beings, smaller than the rest, approached him. Its movements were slow, careful. It reached out, stroking his face gently. Its lips curled into something unfamiliar—a smile. Jabari had never seen one before. The warmth of that expression, the kindness in those lifeless eyes, was the first semblance of comfort he had ever known.

And then, suddenly, he was no longer in the cage.

The next thing Jabari knew, he was lying on the warm, dry earth of the savannah. The sun blazed overhead, and the vast, open expanse of the wilderness stretched out before him. But instead of freedom, Jabari felt terror. He had no idea where he was, how to hunt, or even how to survive. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound felt like a threat.

The tiny cub stumbled through the tall grass, his stomach growling and his limbs trembling. He was utterly alone, shaking and shivering as he jumped at every sound.

Then he heard it—a sharp, panicked cry.

Peering through the grass, Jabari saw a young meerkat with cream-colored fur, a pale underbelly, and dark stripes running along her back. She had an orange tuft of fur atop her head and striking green eyes, wide with terror. A snake had cornered her, its body coiled and ready to strike.

Jabari froze. His heart raced as he looked around for help, but there was none. He wanted to run, to hide, but something kept him rooted to the spot. Then, as he shifted his weight nervously, the ground beneath him gave way.

The cub tumbled forward, his small body colliding with the snake. In a chaotic flurry, the serpent was sent flying, hissing in shock before disappearing into the brush.

When Jabari finally regained his footing, he was trembling more than ever. But the meerkat was safe.

The tiny creature stared at him with wide eyes, then burst out in a loud, frantic voice. "You—you saved me! Oh my stars, you're a hero!"

Jabari blinked, utterly baffled. "A… hero?"

"Yes, a hero!" the meerkat declared, her voice teetering between relief and hysteria. "I thought I was a goner! That snake had me right where it wanted me, and then you came barreling in like—like some kind of fearless warrior!"

"I didn't mean to…" Jabari muttered, but the meerkat wasn't listening.

"My name's Lianne," she said, brushing herself off. "And you, my brave, brave friend, just saved my life. I can't thank you enough!"

Lianne was small but full of energy. Her cream-colored fur was a bit disheveled, and she had a way of darting her green eyes around as if constantly expecting danger. She was clearly a bit of a hypochondriac, flinching at the smallest noises, but her gratitude was genuine.

"Where did you come from?" Jabari asked, his voice still shaky.

"Oh, it's a long story," Lianne replied, waving a paw. "I got separated from my boyfriend, Mark. He's probably worried sick about me. Or not. He can be kind of clueless sometimes." She paused, tilting her head. "What about you? Where's your family?"

Jabari's ears drooped. "I… I don't have one."

Lianne's expression softened. "Well, you've got me now, hero."

For the first time since he had woken up in the savannah, Jabari felt a flicker of something other than fear. It wasn't confidence—not yet—but it was a start.

"Hero, huh?" he murmured, glancing at his paws.

"Absolutely!" Lianne beamed. "Now come on, let's find Mark before I get into another mess."

As the unlikely pair set off together, Jabari realized that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as helpless as he thought.

=

The savannah was alive with its usual symphony of sounds as Jabari and Zumaridi walked side by side, the sun casting long shadows as it began its descent. Zumaridi, ever observant, glanced over at Jabari, whose usually bright and confident demeanor was replaced by a quiet, contemplative expression.

"Now this is rare," Zumaridi said, her emerald-green eyes glinting with mischief. "Jabari, the self-proclaimed 'lion of action and hero to all,' caught deep in thought? Should I be worried? Or is the world about to end?"

Jabari snapped out of his reverie, chuckling warmly. "Very funny, Zumaridi. I do think sometimes, you know."

"Sure you do," Zumaridi teased, nudging him playfully with her shoulder. "But let's be honest: you usually let your paws do the thinking for you."

He grinned, shaking his dark mane streaked with burgundy. "Well, my paws have a pretty good track record."

"True," Zumaridi admitted with a smirk. "But it must be something big if it's got you all quiet."

Jabari's grin softened as he looked ahead. "Just… thinking about someone I haven't seen in a long time. My first friend, Lianne. A meerkat I met when I was just a cub."

Zumaridi tilted her head curiously. "A meerkat? Now that's not a story I've heard before."

Jabari chuckled, his hazel eyes distant with memory. "She was the first one to ever call me a hero. I was scared of everything back then, but she believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. It's because of her that I started to find my courage."

Zumaridi smiled, her teasing tone softening. "She sounds special."

"She was," Jabari said quietly. "I just hope she's doing well, wherever she is."

Zumaridi nodded thoughtfully but didn't press further. She knew when to let Jabari have his space, even if she couldn't resist teasing him from time to time.

Their conversation was interrupted by the distant cries of a monkey troop stranded on a jagged rocky outcrop. Jabari's ears perked up, his instincts kicking in immediately.

"Looks like it's time for the 'lion of action' to shine," Zumaridi said with a grin.

Jabari grinned back, his moment of reflection replaced by his usual confident energy. "Let's go show those monkeys why they call me Jabari the Brave!"

As they sprinted toward the stranded troop, Zumaridi glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He might laugh and play it off, but she could tell that his memories of Lianne still meant a lot to him.

"Don't worry," she thought to herself. "We'll find her someday, Jabari."

=

The cries of the stranded monkey troop grew louder as Jabari and Zumaridi approached the rocky outcrop. The area was perilous, with jagged edges and loose stones threatening to crumble under the slightest pressure. A group of small monkeys clung to one another, their wide eyes filled with panic as they huddled near the edge of a sharp drop.

Jabari stopped and assessed the situation, his confident grin returning. "Alright, Zumaridi, let's show them what teamwork looks like."

Zumaridi glanced up at the precarious ledge. "We'll have to be careful. That rock doesn't look too sturdy."

Jabari nodded, but his grin never wavered. "Don't worry. I've got my shield for that."

He unstrapped the stone shield gifted to him by Taka, testing its weight in his paws. The shield was smooth but sturdy, its surface etched with intricate patterns that symbolized bravery. It had been a reliable tool for rescues like this before.

Zumaridi positioned herself near the base of the rocks, her keen eyes watching for any signs of instability. "I'll guide you from down here. If anything looks like it's about to give way, I'll call it out."

"Bila Woga," Jabari said with a wink as he began his climb. "No fear, right?"

The monkeys chattered nervously as Jabari ascended, using his shield as a stabilizing tool to secure loose rocks and create footholds. "Hang tight, little ones!" he called out, his voice filled with confidence. "Your hero is on the way!"

Despite his reassuring tone, the climb was treacherous. The rocks shifted beneath him, and dust cascaded down as he moved higher. Zumaridi's voice called up to him whenever she spotted a danger, her calm presence keeping him grounded.

Finally, he reached the monkeys. The smallest of the group, a tiny infant clinging to its mother's back, whimpered softly. Jabari crouched down, his warm hazel eyes meeting theirs. "Don't worry," he said gently. "I'll get you all out of here."

He turned to the largest of the monkeys, who appeared to be the leader of the troop. "Okay, here's the plan. I'll carry the little ones down first, then come back for the rest of you. Trust me, I've done this before."

The leader hesitated for a moment, but Jabari's steady confidence seemed to calm him. Slowly, he handed over one of the younger monkeys, who clung to Jabari's mane with trembling paws.

Using the shield as a makeshift sled, Jabari carefully slid down the rock face, keeping his movements slow and controlled. When he reached the bottom, Zumaridi helped him safely transfer the young monkey to solid ground.

"Alright," Jabari said, dusting himself off. "One down, a few more to go."

The process was slow, but Jabari's determination never faltered. With Zumaridi's guidance, he managed to rescue the entire troop, one by one, until they were all safely gathered at the base of the outcrop.

As the monkeys chattered their thanks, Jabari let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He glanced at Zumaridi, his grin as wide as ever. "Another day, another heroic rescue."

Zumaridi smirked. "You really can't help yourself, can you?"

"Nope," Jabari said with a laugh. He turned back to the monkeys, who were now reunited and safe. "Alright, you're all good to go. Stay away from unstable rocks next time, okay?"

The leader of the troop gave a respectful nod before leading the others back into the safety of the trees. As the last of them disappeared into the foliage, Jabari picked up his shield and strapped it to his back.

"Think Lianne would've called that brave?" he asked Zumaridi as they began their walk back.

Zumaridi smiled. "I think she'd call it classic Jabari."

"Good," he said, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction. "Because that's exactly who I am."

=

As they walked together under the setting sun, Jabari couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. He didn't know if he'd ever see Lianne again, but he was certain of one thing: wherever she was, she'd be proud of the lion he had become.

On the way back to Pride Rock he played with many young prey animals who all looked up to Jabari for his bravery and kindness, a hero to all but especially young ones.

Jabari was then rushed by a young warthog, the warthog glad Jabari always takes time out to play with him as usually everyone avoids him, for as some put it his dangerous wind, but after being abandoned as a piglet he had been found by Jabari and raised with the other young orphans he often helped take care of.

Jabari laughed heartily as he rolled on the grass with the young warthog, Pumba, who squealed with joy. The little warthog jumped on Jabari's back, pretending to be a fierce predator as he let out a tiny roar.

"You've got me!" Jabari declared dramatically, falling over onto his side as Pumba giggled. "The mighty Jabari, defeated by the fierce warrior pig Pumba!"

The other young prey animals gathered around, cheering for Pumba and urging Jabari to get back up for another round. Jabari obliged, springing to his feet and chasing after them in a playful game of tag.

Zumaridi sat nearby, shaking her head with an amused smirk. "You're going to smell like him for days, you know," she teased. "That little gas bomb could clear out a whole savanna."

Jabari waved her off with a grin, clearly unfazed. "Hey, heroes don't choose who they help, Zumaridi. And besides, Pumba here is a champ!"

Pumba beamed at the compliment, puffing out his small chest. "Yeah! Jabari says I'm brave, just like him!"

Zumaridi chuckled, unable to hide her fondness for the moment. "Well, bravery is one thing. But Jabari, if you come back to Pride Rock smelling like that again, you're on your own when the lionesses come after you."

Jabari gave her a mock-serious salute. "Noted, Commander Zumaridi. But until then, duty calls!"

He scooped Pumba up onto his shoulders, the young warthog laughing uncontrollably as Jabari ran around, pretending to be a stampeding wildebeest. The other animals joined in, chasing after them and filling the savanna with the sound of laughter.

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, Zumaridi called out, "Alright, hero, we've got to head back. The Pride will start to wonder where you are."

Jabari gently set Pumba down, crouching to meet the warthog's gaze. "Alright, buddy, time for me to head home. We can play more tomorrow. But remember, you're brave, okay? And don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Pumba nodded, his small eyes shining with admiration. "Thanks, Jabari! You're my hero!"

Jabari ruffled the young warthog's tuft of hair before turning to Zumaridi. "Ready?"

Zumaridi shook her head with a smile. "Always."

As they walked back toward Pride Rock, Jabari glanced over his shoulder to see Pumba waving enthusiastically. He waved back, his heart full. No matter how big or small the act, being a hero to someone always made it worth it.

Zumaridi broke the silence, her tone playful. "You know, if you keep this up, you're going to have a fan club of smelly warthogs, hyper meerkats, and every other critter you've ever helped."

Jabari grinned. "Good. Every hero needs a fan club, right?"

Zumaridi laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

As the two lions approached Pride Rock, the sky painted in shades of orange and pink, Jabari couldn't help but feel grateful. For the life he had, for the friends he'd made, and for the chance to be the hero he'd once needed.

To be continued…