TLK 4 – Kiburi Baadaye (The Future Pride)

Prologue

Everyone rejoiced at the joining of Kiara and Kovu. It was a wonderful occasion, with the Outlanders finally having a loving and caring family to protect them. Kiara and Kovu kept getting congratulated by everyone, but soon they decided that enough was enough. They were exhausted and needed some rest.

It was only as they lay down in the cave did they realise they hadn’t seen Vitani anywhere. Kovu leapt up and began searching for her.

Very soon, he found her, just sitting on the edge of Pride Rock, gazing into the distance. She had a glazed look as if her thoughts were somewhere else. He noticed tears steaks down her face.

“Vitani…” Kovu called gently. “Are you alright?”

Vitani started at the sudden noise, but calmed when she noticed Kovu. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she let out a whole flood of tears and ran towards her brother.

“Kovu, I can’t stop thinking about mother.” She whispered.

Kovu put a kindly paw on Vitani’s and nuzzled her face.

“It’s okay Vitani, she’s in a happier place now. She’s found Scar and will now be watching over us as we continue our lives. We will never forget her Vitani.”

Vitani looked up into Kovu’s bright green eyes and nodded. She closed her eyes and fell into his shoulder, trying to stop the tears coming down her cheeks.

Kovu was heartbroken – he had never seen his sister like this. It wasn’t like her, but he guessed that was just a façade when mother was around. He supposed he liked this side of Vitani. It made her more thoughtful rather than just some vicious fighting machine.

“Come on, let’s get some rest.” He whispered into her ear.

“I’ll come in later, Kovu. I just want to spend a bit longer out here alone.”

Vitani felt Kovu leave next to her. She was alone once again. She didn’t want to tell Kovu the real reason for her tears. Although she was crying over Zira’s death, Vitani wanted her long lost love Kopa. She had seen Kovu join with his childhood love, yet hers was dead. Zira had told her that. Just thinking of his beautiful eyes and his cute hairtuft made her cry harder.

“Vitani?” Came a quiet voice. “Please don’t cry!”

Vitani’s ears pricked up. She recognised that voice. Her face lifted and she turned around quickly. In the shadows was a male lion, strong and well-built with a magnificent mane.

“Kopa? Is it really you?”

The shadow moved and ran towards her. It was Kopa! Vitani ran towards him too and they jumped up and hugged each other. Vitani began crying again, but this time with happiness. They sat down and Kopa licked the tears off her cheeks.

“Don’t cry. I’m home.”

The two of them snuggled up tightly and fell asleep under the stars.

 

Chapter 1 – Hope and Peace

A few years later…

It was a joyous time up at Pride Rock. Simba and Kovu had formed a coalition and ruled justly and fairly, the lands were filled with animals and the horror of the past was finally washed away with the sounds of new life. There were four cubs up at Pride Rock belonging to Kiara and Kovu, and Kopa and Vitani.

Chimalsi was the eldest and was growing into a strong, healthy male lion. He was to be King in the future. When he was an only cub he liked getting all the fuss and attention, but that moved when Dafina was born. She was only a couple of months younger than Chimalsi and she was beautiful. She looked a lot like her mother Vitani, but with a brighter glow like her father Kopa. Chimalsi knew that she would be his queen and would try and spend every moment with her. She also quite liked Chimalsi, especially his large hair tufts which would bounce up and down when he ran. Then, a year after Dafina was born, Wema and Kabili were born. Chimalsi loved his sister, Wema, and would often help his parents look after her. Dafina also loved her brother Kabili loads, which meant the four of them were inseparable. They were the best of friends and would do almost everything together.

One day, Wema and Kabili wanted to go and play down at the waterhole. They loved to go down there and play among the tall grass and splash in the water. The other animals knew to give them room because they were royalty and under Simba and Kovu’s protection. They ran up to Nala who was sunbathing on Pride Rock.

“Grandma Nala! Grandma Nala! Can we go and play by the waterhole please?” Kabili called.

Nala smiled at the young cubs, reminding her of the time Simba had asked Sarabi to go to the waterhole.

“I guess I could allow that.” She chuckled. “As long as Chimalsi goes with you.”

“Yeah!”

“Awesome!”

And the cubs were gone. Nala had to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Kiara asked, just arriving back from the hunt.

“Sorry, it just reminded me of Simba asking Sarabi to go and play by the waterhole with me. I used almost the exact same words, only she insisted Zazu went with us. Remember me telling you about how we lost him.”

Kiara laughed. “Yes, I remember.”

Meanwhile, Kabili and Wema were trying to persuade Chimalsi to come with them. In the end, he relented knowing he could get Dafina alone with him. He was planning on asking her whether she wanted to be his mate or not, so he was quite nervous.

“Come on you two!” he shouted to Kabili and Wema. “Let’s go find Dafina!”

They found her laid in the grass just below Pride Rock. Chimalsi admired the calmness she had when she was asleep and knew that he would see her asleep every day if she agreed to his request.

“Psst” he said to the young cubs, trying to get their attention. “Right, here’s the plan. You two will wait here whilst I get Dafina. Okay?”

The little cubs nodded and Chimalsi set off. He had crept up on her and planned on pouncing on her, but figured that might ruin his chances, so he just tapped her on the shoulder.

“Dafina, wake up.”

He saw her stir and open her eyes.

“Wha…” she began, then saw Chimalsi. “Chimalsi, what is it?”

“Would you, um… like to come to the waterhole with, um… me?” He asked nervously.

She blushed, but replied positively and then they ran towards the cubs. They agreed on a race to the waterhole. Kabili and Wema set of straight away, but Dafina and Chimalsi stayed behind, giving them a head start.

“Betcha I’ll beat you!” Chimalsi said.

“Oh no you won’t!” Dafina replied as she leapt off after the others.

They ran all the way to the waterhole, laughing and giving each other long looks of love. Wema reached the waterhole first and cheered, but got cut off as Kabili ran into the back of her and crushed her on the floor. Dafina had her eyes closed whilst she relished the chase, and managed to trip and land on Wema and Kabili. Chimalsi arrived and cried “Pile on!” as he jumped on top of all of them. With much complaining, they all managed to climb free of their friend.

“Okay guys.” Wema said. “Because I won, I choose the game and I choose tag!”

They all groaned. Wema was the best at tag because it meant she could practise her hunting skills, however, Chimalsi groaned because it meant he wouldn’t be able to talk to Dafina. But all the cubs sped off.

Very soon, tag turned into a good old game of rough and tumble, which turned into hide and seek. This was the opportunity Chimalsi was waiting for. He followed Dafina and hid with her.

“Chimalsi, find you own hiding place.” She complained.

“Actually Dafina, I have something to ask you.” He cleared his throat. “Would you like to…”

But he was cut off. An adolescent lion had just come into the clearing. He was a light brown colour with a swept back hair tuft and spotted markings on his back leg.

“Excuse me, I was wondering if I could join your game?”

“Well, actually we were in the middle of something.” Chimalsi said gruffly.

Dafina looked into Chimalsi’s eyes. “But that can wait, surely!”

Chimalsi couldn’t deny Dafina’s request even though he wanted to protest.

At that moment, Kabili leapt into the clearing roaring “Found you!” with Wema just behind them. They took a moment to realise there was a stranger with them and they soon began asking all sorts of questions, completely unaware that it was rude.

“Who are you?”

“Where do you come from?”

“Why have you got funny marks?”

“Who are your parents?”

“Why are you here?”

“Do you like playing games?”

“Why are you staring at my sister?”

The last question came from Kabili and made both Dafina and the new lion blush.

“Please, let me explain.” Said the new lion, quickly breaking his gaze from Dafina. “My name is Ajali. I don’t know where I come from. All I do is travel around with my parents Dikeledi and Dakarai. I guess you’re Pride lions and that you’d call me a rogue. The thing I, I wish to live in a Pride and not trespass on anyone’s land. I want a large family. You asked me about my marks. They have been with me since birth, but I kinda like them. I guess they show that deep down, I am still a cub even if I seem harsh or rough. At the moment, my parents are out hunting. I hope they find something because I haven’t eaten much over the last week or so. I’m here because I heard

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