Chapter 10: The trail to Udugu.

Yo guys, I know it's been forever. Life has been crazy I'll tell you that. I want you guys to know that through everything I have continued working on this story and have found new motivation for it! Ive never given up and I will continue to work on this project beside other projects. to those wondering if I'm mad, I'm not. Everything's all good, let's move on and enjoy the chapter :) enjoy.

Two months after chapter 9.

'Nice job Kion, it's looking better every day.' Nala complimented her son after they made their way down pride rock. Together they walked a bit further into the grassland, Kion limping on his rear leg.

'Feels good.' Kion responded, proceeding to yawn loudly. The first sunshine hitting the grasslands. Everyone took a moment to take in the beautiful morning, smelling the fresh air that came with it, a nice could breeze moving its way through the grasslands. 'And your leg?' Nala asked Kion. 'Not as good as the rest, still hurts.' Suddenly, Kion heard a sound, he listened to it without moving to see what it was. He put on a smile before slowly turning around, Kiara standing right in front of him. 'Ah man so close.' Kiara said, as she sat down in defeat. Kion laughed. 'Did you really think it would be that easy?'

'Worth a shot.' Kiara responded. She then started running through the fields ahead. Kion watched her. He could almost see a younger version of himself running after her, playfully and competitively chasing her. Though right now, he was in no position to do so. Nala saw him watching, not even trying to walk towards his sister, who was still joyfully running around.

Nala returned to pride rock, Simba watching the two play from the best seat in the house, Nala joining him. 'You think he's safe like this?' Simba asked.

'The entire pride lands have a massive respect for him. They'll protect him, as will Kiara, wouldn't you?' Nala responded. Simba put on a smile: 'I certainly will.' Simba and Nala watched the two cubs play with each other, Kiara very quick to find Kion in the tracking game, whilst Kion seemed a little bit less strong on the nose. 'I think it's time you know.' Nala told Simba, giving him a mischievous look. 'What?' Simba asked confusedly. 'They are about the right age, and Kion needs to get back out there at some point, better now than never, right?'

'The Ugudu path? Don't you think Kion needs a bit more time?' Simba wondered. 'Look at those two, they've become so close yet it still looks like there's a valley separating them. As much as Kion needs to take it slow, we can't have him stay like this forever.' Nala explained. Simba sighed; 'If you think this is the right thing to do, I trust you.' Nala nodded. 'I'll go prepare the route.' She said in a mischievous way.

Kion meanwhile still stood there watching his sister in the distance, before hearing another sound. The smell gave away who it was though. Kion turned around and saw the Lion Guard approach. Bunga running ahead. 'Bunga don't.' Kion said, knowing what Bunga wanted to do. Bunga didn't listen tightly hugging Kion's front leg. 'Bunga, let go.' Kin said, a little anoyedly. 'Bunga, listen to your friend.' Fuli commented, Bunga letting go. 'Fine, then I'll have to settle for yours!' Bunga responded running over to Fuli and hugging her front leg tightly. Fuli rolled her eyes. 'Good to see you.' She told Kion. Kion smiled. 'Good to see you guys out here too. I've heard good things about your work.'

'Oh yeah, when are you coming back Kion, it's so boring without you.' Bunga said.

'We literally just did your favorite thing. You said it was the best day ever.' Fuli responded.

'Right, but it would be even better with you Kion.'

Kion smiled. 'Thanks Bunga, I'm sure you won't mind stinking away the enemies for a bit longer.' He joked.

'Oh, it's the best thing.' Bunga responded.

'For you maybe.' Fuli responded.

Kion laughed. He looked around, seeing Nala approach. 'I think I gotta go guys, nice seeing you.' Kion said. 'Keep up the good work.'

'Will do.' Beshte said.

Kion turned around and slowly walked over to his mother. Fuli seeing him struggle to do so, his left back leg definitely still hurting.

'Hey Kion, ready to go on a journey?' Nala asked Kion. 'A journey?' Kion responded. 'How did you convince dad to that?' Nala smiled. 'Because it is a very special journey, I already asked your sister and she is coming too.'

In the pride lands

Fuli stood in the same place she still stood every day, awaiting the daily visitors. It took a little longer than usual, but eventually Madoa showed up with the cubs. 'Sorry it took so long, had some things i needed to take care of.' Madoa apologized to Fuli, looking down at the ground as the group started walking. 'What's wrong Madoa?' Fuli asked, noticing the off behavior. 'I am really lost on what to do. The lions are starting to take more territory, if this goes on, we'll be herded out of the outlands and can't easily go to the pride-lands safely anymore.' Madoa explained nervously. 'Has Jasiri had any ideas?' Fuli asked. 'She's being super annoying. I know she's struggling, but we need her and she is letting us down. We need a way to get the lions to go back where they belong, but Jasiri is being very distant, we're pretty lost on what to do.'

'Oh, that's is bad news indeed. I wish I had a way for us to help, but at least until Kion's back, we're not really going into that territory unless something requires us to. I'd love to help you; I hope Kion can return very soon.' Soon everyone arrived at the lake and the young cubs started drinking the water. 'How have things been going in the pride lands?' Madoa asked, not really knowing what else to do. 'It's been in waves, sometimes it's very calm, sometimes Janja launches a lot of attacks. We're managing so far. But the longer the roar is unavailable, the bigger the possible confidence and therefor threats from the enemies can become.'

'Yeah, once they get confidence it's a real problem.' Madoa responded.

'There is a lot that still has to be done. But I'm sure we can manage; the team is working very hard.' Fuli said.

'Good.' Madoa responded. 'Thanks again for the water.' Madoa proceeded to call the pups in and everyone walked back towards the outlands.

'Best of luck Madoa, I'm sure things will clear up soon.' Fuli said.

'I sure hope so.' Madoa responded. 'Thanks for everything, see you later.'

Fuli went back to the rest of the group. Going back on patrol with the rest.

'So, where are we going mom?' Kiara asked curiously. Nala smiled mysteriously 'You'll see when we get there.'

Kiara excitedly ran ahead, smelling the new smells of land that she had never been to before. Kion watched silently as he walked beside his mom. The family passed a small mountain, finding the path through that had the least elevation. As they came back down, they saw a gorge, surrounded by high cliffs.

'Are we going through the gorge?' Kiara asked.

'We sure are.' Nala responded.

Kiara again ran ahead.

'Be careful Kiara.' Kion told Kiara as she ran off. Kiara stopped and laughed. 'Says the slow one.'

'Don't they say slow and steady wins the race?' Kion joked.

'Losers say that.' Kiara joked back, running ahead again.

Kion looked around; the gorge was pretty big in size. Slightly comparable to the on in the pride lands, but this wasn't the pride lands. Something about this place spoke to Kion, but he had no idea what it could be. Suddenly he seemed to see something in the corner of his eye, he looked in the direction, but saw nothing. Kion smelled the air, trying to get a scent of what he thought he saw.

'Saw something Kion?' Nala asked.

'I thought so, must've imagined it.' Kion responded. Nala too smelled the air, but nothing out of the ordinary for her too. 'Maybe the wind moved something.' She commented

'Yeah, probably.' Kion continued keeping a close eye on his surroundings. It took quite a while for the gorge to end, by the time the family found the exit, they took a break to rest. After that the family continued, soon finding bushes of thorns.

'Seriously, isn't there a better, less stingy way?' Kiara asked.

'No, this is the path.' Nala responded.

'How do we go through this?' Kiara asked.

'Theres always a way.' Nala said, using her paw to lift one of the thorn bushes up, creating a small opening.

Kiara immediately jumped through the opening, finding herself right in the middle of the thorn bushes, trying to figure out which way to go. Kion looked at his mom, who smiled and nudged him to go in too. Kion carefully entered, trying to crawl through the thorns, which was very hard to do, especially when his rear leg already struggled to walk normally, let alone crawl. Kiara tried jumping onto the thorns to pass through them quicker, which didn't go amazingly. Eventually both reached a clearance in the thorns at the same time, an old seemingly dead tree right beside them.

'Ehm, where did mom go?' Kiara asked Kion.

Kion looked around, trying to spot his mom. 'No idea.' He responded.

'Then we better get looking.' Kiara said, both cubs going back the way they came.

'She's not here.' Kion told Kiara.

'How does someone just disappear like that?' Kiara asked.

'Don't ask me.' Kion responded. 'Come on, let's go look for her.'

'Janja is attacking, I repeat, Janja is attacking!' Ono exclaimed as he arrived at the rest of the group.

'Where?' Fuli asked.

'On the plains, He's going after the zebra's again!' Ono said.

'What are we waiting for?' Simba asked.

'Let's go guys.' Fuli said. 'Till the pride lands ends?'

'Lion Guard defend!' The rest of the group responded, following Ono towards the open plains. Eventually spotting the smoke in the distance.

'I spotted a lot of hyenas, looks like Janja found some new recruits.' Ono said.

'How many Ono.' Fuli asked.

'Probably 7, 8, maybe nine.'

'How does an idiot keep finding more idiots?' Bunga asked.

'Okay guys, use the dust the stampede is unleashing to your advantage, surprise them one by one, like we always do.' Fuli explained.

'Sounds like a plan.' Simba responded.

'Let's go.' Fuli said, everyone going in different directions to sneak up on hyenas. Bunga spotting three hyenas at the back, knowing exactly how to get them to back off. One fart worthy of Pumba being called smelling like heaven compared to that fart later, three hyenas had backed off. Bunga leaving to take on a fourth one. Fuli found herself facing off against two hyenas, using her speed to avoid getting his and working hard to scare the hyenas. Simba came to join her, the two fighting off the hyenas together. Beshte yeeted two more hyenas away from the zebra's. Janja saw his fellow hyenas had been taken out, and joined them, all the hyenas standing in a row looking at the guard.

'So nice of the king to join you.' Janja said, looking at Fuli.

'Get out of here Janja.' Fuli said.

'With all the dust you had the advantage. But now.' Janja looked at all the hyenas standing beside him. 'It looks like you're outnumbered.' Janja laughed loudly, some others attempting to join in before being silenced by Janja.

'Go back to the outlands, you and your followers.' Simba told Janja.

'What are you gonna do? Roar at me?' Janja laughed even more. 'Where even did that cub of yours go anyway?' Janja asked mockingly.

'You'll see soon enough Janja.' Fuli said.

'I'm waiting.' Janja said, sitting down for a second. 'I'm not patient. I think it's time I end this boring standoff.'

'By walking away? Smart move Janja.' Bunga joked.

'You wish.' Janja said.

Fuli looked at Simba, who looked at her.

'Made a decision yet? Like I said, I'm inpatient.' Janja said, noticing the conversation without words.

'We have.' Fuli said, looking at Janja with confidence.

'Just give up!' Janja said.

'Not without a fight!' Simba said, a brawl between the lion guard, Simba and the hyena's unfolding. Hits being thrown left and right. Beshte running through the crowd like a heavy bowling ball, striking as many hyena's as he could. Bunga distracting two hyena's. Fuli and Simba going side by side and fighting the hyena's directly, Simba especially handing out a lot of free bruises to the hyenas. How nice of him. Janja watches the battle turn against him, wondering how the lion guard was having the upperhand. Suddenly Simba pounced on top of him, pushing him tightly against the ground. 'Order it.' Simba said. 'Okay, okay, okay.' Janja responded. Simba let go and Janja quickly ran to a distance. 'Let's go furbrains.' He ordered, all the hyenas following him. 'Ono, you know what to do.' Fuli said. Ono nodding before flying after the hyenas to make sure they were heading for the outlands.

'Whoo, that was Unbungalievable!' Bunga exclaimed. 'That was so much fun!'

'Nice job guys, that will show them.' Fuli said. 'That was tight.'

'Hey has anyone heard of the word outnumbered? Cuz I haven't!' Bunga exclaimed again

'Phew, good that's over.' Besthe said.

'And it seems like the herd has managed to calm down as well.' Simba noticed.

'Ono did that during our fight.' Fuli explained.

'Smart thinking.' Simba said.

'Thats Ono alright.' Besthe commented.

'Come on guys, let's make sure the herd didn't cause any trouble.' Fuli said.

'Wow, I keep forgetting you guys have to just get right back to it after something like this.' Simba said.

'Thats what we do.' Bunga said excitedly.

'Mom, where are you?' Kiara called out. Kion looking around nearby bushes. 'How did she just disappear like that? That doesn't just happen right?' Kiara asked.

'Don't think about that, priority one is to find her.' Kion responded. 'If she had told us where Udugu is, we would be able to meet her there.'

'But she didn't.' Kiara said. 'Maybe we can track her.' Kiara said, sniffing around the area. 'I got it.' She said, 'come.' Kion followed Kiara through the bushes. 'Ah, I've lost it again.' Kiara said.

'Look.' Kion said, pointing at some pawprints in the distance. 'Paw prints.'

'Nice one Kion.' Kiara said, both continuing on, following the pawprints closely.

'It stops?' Kiara said, both ending up at a wall, the pawprints just stopping there. Both cubs looked around confusedly, wondering where Nala could've gone to. Kion then looked up. 'The trail continues, upwards.'

'hmm, that could be possible.' Kiara responded.

'You think you can jump up there?' Kion asked.

'I sure hope so.' Kiara said. She took a few steps back, got ready, and ran up to the wall and jumped up. 'Not even close.' Kiara said as she slid back down the wall.

'How could we get to mom then?' Kion asked.

'You could boost me.' Kiara said.

'Me? I don't know if I can.' Kion said, looking at his rear leg.

'You have two rear legs don't you.' Kiara said confidently. 'Use what you do have.'

'Right.' Kion said. 'I'll try.'

Kion set himself up by the wall. Kiara got up on his front shoulders, reaching as far up as possible. Kion used all his strength on his strong rear leg to try and help Kiara reach as high as possible. Both reaching as far as possible. 'Yes!' Kiara exclaimed after a few moments, relieving Kion and making her way up the ledge. Kion looked up, Nala suddenly appearing up on the ledge looking down at him. 'Hello down there.' Nala said.

'Mom!' Kion said excitedly.

Nala jumped down, Kiara following after her.

'Why did you disappear? Aren't we going to Udugu?' Kion asked.

'I think you two found it.' Nala said with a smile.

'What? Is Udugo just a big rock?' Kiara asked confusedly.

'Its another word for the bond siblings have. The trail to Udugu is a challenge to see if siblings can work together, which you will need to be able to do in the future.' Nala explained. 'And I'm very sure you two passed.

'Awesome.' Kion said.

'Wasn't that hard.' Kiara joked playfully giving Kion a tap on the shoulder. 'Yeah right.' Kion said. 'You definitely weren't scared at all.'

'As were you.' Kiara defended herself.

'Are you two done or does the trail need to go on a little longer?' Nala asked jokingly.

'All done.' Kion laughed.

'Right, let's go home.' Nala said, the family going on their journey back home. Entering the gorge that would lead back towards home. The gorge again making Kion very alert, it's almost like he can hear a conversation, but he can't quite understand the words. Sometimes it seems like someone is there, yet there is not a scent to be picked up. Eventually the gorge ended and soon the group arrived back home, where Simba was waiting for them. 'So, have you two found the path?'

'Oh yeah.' Kiara said.

'Absolutely.' Kion added.

Simba smiled. 'Good, what is the trail actually?' Simba asked. Nala laughing in response. 'I will tell you all about it, let's go home.'

Wow, ten chapters already, we are flying! Thanks for all the support, please leave comments letting me know what you think of these first ten chapters. I hope you enjoy the rest of it, have fun.