And just before the hyenas reached Anana and Kani, who still lay in the sand, Anana still holding Kani, they hesitatingly slowed, and eventually came to a stop, looking back at their clan.

“This has gone on for way too long, all of you back off!”

The hyenas seemed somehow what confused, and apart from the hyenas that had been pursuing the surviving Pridelander (who had by now already made it up the riverbank again), no-one really backed off as ordered. That is, not until one particular hyena, the one with the strange, grayish manes, who was by now covered in scratch-marks from her prominent role in taking down the Lion King, repeated that order.

“You heard our matriarch, back-off! Take twenty paces in the direction of the southern riverbank and regroup. This fight is over…”

Now with considerably more confidence (and more specific directives), the hyenas started moving back, regrouping into some sort of formation, dragging along the wounded that could no longer stand on their own paws. What remained were the dead, who only now became clearly visible. At the center of the battlefield lay Simba’s enormous body, surrounded by four hyena carcasses. Towards the lions side of the Golden River lay the two Pridelanders to have fallen, along with three more hyenas. And finally, a bit more towards where the clan sat, lay the two figures that seemed out of place: nd Outlander and a hyena, their paws seemingly extended at one another, the toes of their left forepaws just touching. Both the pride and the clan silently watched the blood-stained scene for a moment. Seeing their king, their Simba, actually laying down in the now brownish discolored sands, the surviving Pridelanders could no longer escape the hard truth: the king was no more. Even the Outlanders seemed affected by the current state of their former ruler, and quite a few looked away in tears. On the other side, feelings were no different: the hyenas too had lost one of their most prominent leaders, and he too now lay dead in the sands of the Golden River. In spite of that, the hyenas remained calm enough to back up their cohort even further, until all of them once again sat on their respective riverbank. That made one thing clear: they had understood Kovu’s intentions. And even though they had not hesitated to spring to their leader’s aid when he had been in danger, now that he was dead and now that they had seen what Kovu had gone through to distance himself from the fight that had caused his demise, their current actions gave a clear message: what just happened was a mistake, a terrible and tragic mistake, but for the sake of both our clans, let us not repeat it. Kovu was more than willing to see to that, but first things first: his pride had just lost their king, and it would be monstrous not to allow the lionesses to mourn his passing. The hyenas withdrawal from the Golden River was more than helpful in the matter, giving the lions a chance to reach their leader without risking too much provocation.
Kovu walked over to Kiara and Nala.

“My queen, my princess… please, follow me…”

The stare he got from Kiara surpassed all other things to have hurt Kovu in his lifetime: it was cold and full of hatred, and no attempt was made to hide her utter despise for Kovu. He was quick to realize why she looked at him like that, but that knowledge made his one true love’s hateful stare no easier to bare. Kiara looked at him not as her beloved Kovu anymore, but she looked at him as the lion who had stood by and did nothing as her father had been slaughtered. Kovu would from now on have to learn and live with that; yet another sacrifice he had to make for the pride’s continued existence. That being said, it was no surprise the lionesses were reluctant to follow.

“We’re going to see the king…” Kovu sighed to convince them. It worked, but in stead of following Kovu, both lionesses independently started walking towards where Simba lay, not even granting Kovu as much as a stare. That hurt. But he’d have to learn and live with it. With a discrete gesture, Kovu ordered Enyi to follow him as he too started walking towards the center of Golden River, where Simba still lay. The rst of the lionesses he ordered to stay put. On their way down, the four lions passed Kani and Anana, the grimly frowning Anana still on top of the weeping Kani.

“It’s over, there’s no need for you to keep her pressed down like that. Come on, get up, both of you…” Kovu grumbled, “Lets go see the king…”

Looking at each other with saddened yet suspicious eyes, both lionesses hesitatingly got up and followed Kovu as he walked towards the fallen Simba. Nala and Kiara had already sat down next to their partner and father, carefully stroking and embracing the huge lion, whilst letting their tears run freely. Kani, who had always seen her king as some sort of demigod, was equally moved and shuffled closer to Simba as well, and both Nala and Kiara allowed her to come sit alongside them, seeing in Kani the representative for all the pride. As all three lionesses knelt at their deceased king, the red sun that had been bathing the entire seen in a ghastly reddish light, finally set, and with it ended the last day of King Simba's reign, one that would be remembered for generations to come, and strangely enough not only by the lion pride. Simba's years would over time become a concept onto themselves, but until that time, the lionesses were left with nothing than their grief.
It goes without saying, however, that Kovu and Anana were allowed nowhere near the body of the deceased king by the other lionesses; Kiara and Nala felt resentment against Kovu, and Kani couldn’t stand the mere presence of Anana (ignoring the fact it had been Anana to save her life). Then again, Kovu hadn’t really come down into the Golden River to mourn Simba (though he would most certainly do so at a latter time), but had in stead come to check on that other lion who lay down there: Vitani, his sister. He cautiously moved closer to where she lay, followed by Enyi and Anana in his wake. All three of them were ecstatic when they saw Vitani’s chest was still gently moving up and down; she was still breathing! That of course didn’t mean Vitani was perfectly all right, however, as the area around her left eye had been completely devastated by Simba’s claws. But that was only of secondary importance; what mattered was that Vitani lived, for now. And even though she had lost quite some blood, she’d probably make it anyhow, that is if she were to receive adequate care from her pride. Her brother would certainly see to that. Careful not learn and live with that; yet another sacrifice he had to make for the pride’s continued existence. That being said, it was no surprise the lionesses were reluctant to follow.

“We’re going to see the king…” Kovu sighed to convince them. It worked, but in stead of following Kovu, both lionesses independently started walking towards where Simba lay, not even granting Kovu as much as a stare. That hurt. But he’d have to learn and live with it. With a discrete gesture, Kovu ordered Enyi to follow him as he too started walking towards the center of Golden River, where Simba still lay. The rst of the lionesses he ordered to stay put. On their way down, the four lions passed Kani and Anana, the grimly frowning Anana still on top of the weeping Kani.

“It’s over, there’s no need for you to keep her pressed down like that. Come on, get up, both of you…” Kovu grumbled, “Lets to hurt her, Kovu gently stroked Vitani across her forehead. She groaned gently at the feel of his touch.

“Hush, it’s okay… don’t push yourself…” Kovu whispered. As was to be expected of her, Vitani paid little attention to what her brother said and hesitatingly opened her eyes. When she recognized Kovu, she tried getting up, which took her great effort. Kovu was quick to step in and support her side with his strong paws as she tried sitting upright.

“Easy now, easy now… don’t hurt yourself…”

“Kovu, is that you?” Vitani uttered exhausted, “I… I can’t see you that well… It’s… aah! My eye! It hurts!”

“Calm down, I said calm down!” Kovu grumbled as he tried keeping Vitani from reaching up with her paw towards her wounded eye, “Night has fallen, your eyes probably have to adjust... and you’ve got a nasty wound to the head. No, don’t touch it! Wait, here let me just…”

Whilst still keeping his holding his sister tight, Kovu moved his head closer to hers and started licking clean Vitani’s wound. She of course squealed in pain as he did, but Kovu’s muscular paws prevented her from backing away. But as he was licking her wound clean with his rough tongue, Kovu suddenly felt his emotions welling up, and got a sudden urge to hug his sister whom he had presumed dead.

“Oh Vitani… thank the Spirit’s your still okay!” Kovu mewled quietly as he pressed his head tightly at his sister’s neck.

“Aw!”

“I’m sorry! Did I do something wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I’ts nothing – but don’t hug me so tight… I’m still hurting all over…and  my eye…”

“I’m sure it’ll be all right,” Kovu lied, “It’s just got some blood in it now. Once we’ve cleaned that out, you’ll using it again in no time.”

Kovu licked Vitani’s wound again.

“It’ good to see your okay; you’ve been living way too dangerous – I don’t think I could stand almost losing you again.”

In stead of using words, Vitani chose to thank her brother for his concern with an embrace. The fact that her brother had not come to her help when she had been fighting for her life didn’t even spring to her