Prince Jashua was walking through the savanna, past a herd of grazing gazelle. He took a moment to survey his surroundings and determined that everything was in order. He moved on to the next part of his patrol route. He couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom at finally being allowed to do a solo patrol.
His ear twitched as he heard a soft crack. He turned and felt his heart stop when he saw Nala and Askari.
Askari was scowling at his sister and guard leader. "You just had to step on a twig, didn't you? Once again, how are you a member of the hunting party?"
"Oh, shut up." Nala growled lowly.
Jashua closed his orange eyes for a moment before speaking. "Nala… Askari…what are you two doing here?"
The brother and sister exchanged awkward glances, as neither of them wanted to be the one to tell him.
The light beige lioness finally sighed, flattening her ears. "Mother sent us," she admitted quietly.
Jashua felt a strong pain of betrayal. "Wh-what?"
"Mother just doesn't want you to get hurt," the lion guard leader muttered, not meeting her older brother's hurt filled eyes.
Jashua sighed, frustrated. "Mother promised me I could go alone this time. How can I learn to be a good king if she doesn't trust me to do these things on my own?"
"I tried to tell mom it was a bad idea, but... you know our mother," Askari said quietly.
Jashua shook his head. "I should've known she'd never give me a real chance," he muttered. "I can do it on my own," he said, turning around and running away from his brother and sister.
Askari and Nala exchanged another glance. "Should we go after him?" the tawny, small red-brown mane teen wondered.
"No. He needs some time alone. We'll go back to Pride Rock and tell mother we lost sight of him," Nala said, shaking her head. "Come on."
The royal siblings turned to walk back to Pride Rock, unaware that their brother was heading into a trap…
...
Jashua sped across the savanna, his face tense. He paused, wistfully looking over his shoulder, before continuing on.
Not far away, Vitani and Simba who were still carrying their fiery sticks, watched the pale cream prince's progress from a nearby ridge. They were panting slightly from the effort of keeping up. When they realized the prince was alone, they leapt off the ridge into the open savanna, grinning.
"Let's light FIRES!" Vitani cackled as she and Simba set fire to the grass with their sticks.
Simba smirked as he lit up the dry, brown grass by running in a line through it.
Vitani laughed maniacally as she lit a fire that completely encircled her. "Roasty, toasty princey!"
In the tan lioness excitement, she leapt outside of the fiery circle. She turned around and laughed as she crouched low to the ground.
Simba snarled. "Come on! We have to get out of here!" As the fires grew in size and intensity, the two fled.
~TLK~
Jashua was walking past a herd of zebras when they suddenly lifted their heads and looked around before fleeing.
"Huh. That's odd," he observed, concerned.
Jashua became aware of a scent on the wind. He turned to the nearby ridge, his nostrils flaring and his eyes widening in horror as he saw flames. The thick smoke was darkening the sky, which had been blue only moments before. He stood there, watching as the herd of zebras doubled back toward him, this time followed by a large number of other animals and birds, all fleeing the flames.
The future king turned and fled in the opposite direction, the other animals following close behind.
...
Chumvi and Sherise surveyed the fire from a nearby ridge. The dark brown lion was grinning. "The plan is in motion." he glanced at his sister as he ordered, "Go!"
Sherise descended the ridge with a determined look on her face.
Pride Rock
Queen Eshe paced restlessly on the promontory of Pride Rock. Arella stood close by. Both were oblivious to the black smoke in the distance.
"Don't worry, my queen. He'll be fine. What could happen?" Arella attempted to reassure the queen.
The light blue hornbill had barely finished when they heard the sound of running pawsteps.
"Mom!" Nala's frantic voice rang out as she and Askari dashed onto Pride Rock.
Mheetu who was speaking with Sãhasí and Ahadi followed them, his expression confused.
"Nala? Askari?" Eshe's heart began to sink as she came to a halt in her pacing.
"We've lost track of Jashua," Askari explained, panting.
Mheetu immediately gave Eshe a stern look, but before he could say anything about his mate's broken promise, the tawny Prince continued,
"But mother, father, look!" Askari motion towards the smoke in the distance.
Mheetu's teal eyes widened in terror as Eshe turned around and gasped.
"No. No! Jashua!" the light brown lioness bolted. Mheetu was close behind, followed by Nala, Askari and the rest of the princess lion guard.
Arella took to the air, gasping at the sight of the smoke.
"Arella, fly ahead!" Eshe ordered as the eight lions bounded down Pride Rock with Heimdall already flying ahead. "Find him!"
A small group of the pride's lionesses, who had been lounging and conversing, growled and followed them as they raced past.