New Beginnings

chapter fifty six

After that incident that happened with Kiara, Kovu and Mpole, no one said anything for the rest of the journey to Kukimbia. They eventually reached Mchanga Laini Desert, a barren, dry, dusty desert with barely any plant life, no animals in sight and bones- lots and lots of bones. As a result of lack of rain, the murderous heat and the quicksand, the Mchanga Laini Desert was better suited as a graveyard than an actual desert.

"Be careful while walking through the desert, there are certain spots where the quicksand is light, therefore making it easier to sink into," Kovu said loudly enough for everyone to hear as they started the walk  through the precarious deathtrap. Kovu took the lead and behind him was Kiara. Behind Kiara, Muuaji, Mkali, Siri, Nia and Haraka walked in a line and the rest of Kovu's pride followed.

"My lord why didn't you let us walk in front? You are risking your life walking on such dangerous grounds!" Muuaji said urgently.
"Should I walk behind everyone and let them take the risk of stepping in the sand? No Muuaji. A good king always protects his own," Kovu replied.
"You are a good king my lord, you protect your pride and in return, our loyalties in your paws," Nia told Kovu.
"She's right my lord," Siri put in.

"You see my darling? They respect you, honour you, fight for you, and are loyal to you," Kiara said to Kovu as she put her head on his shoulder.
"Yes. And for that I am proud to be their leader," Kovu said nuzzling his wife.
They eventually reached the end of the Mchanga Laini Desert and crossed without difficulty. No one got stuck in the quicksand and everyone made it safely.

The Upweke River was long, turbulent and deep, infested with alligators, much like the West River that separated the outlands from the Pride Lands. The only method of safe passage was the stepping stones that were spread vertically across the river.
"Alright everyone, step onto the stones one by one, no rushing, no fighting to see who can cross first and absolutely no competitive jumping! That means you Haraka and Siri," Kovu said looking pointedly at the two lionesses.

"Yes my lord whatever you say," Haraka and Siri said a little disappointedly.
"What about Mpole and her brother? I don't trust them as far as I can throw them," Mkali said glaring at the two lions.
"Let Khan stay here. Milana, Roman, take care of him, but be discreet. We can't afford for anyone to see him," Kovu said shooting Roman and Milana an inconspicuous wink.

"Of course as you say my lord," Roman said bowing.
"And what about his sister?" Muuaji inquired.
"She'll be coming with us," Kovu replied as he led the way across the stones. But then he stopped and looked uncertainly at Kiara. 
"You should go in front of me Kiara, so if you stumble I can catch you," Kovu told her as she nudged her rump with his paw.

"Couldn't you touch me on my shoulder?" she asked sweetly.
"Why should I? I can touch you wherever I please," Kovu whispered seductively.
"Because I belong only to you?" Kiara asked as she bumped Kovu's side with hers.
"That's right, now go," Kovu said as he touched her rump again, this time with his head, making her giggle.

So as carefully as possible, Kiara stepped onto the stones and began moving forward. It was easy at first, but then the stones were a little farther apart and it was hard to stretch as a result of her rapidly growing stomach.
"Ooh darling, you're a lot heavier than I thought you'd be, it's hard for Mommy to move with you without damaging you," she groaned softly.

"Are you both doing okay sweetheart?" Kovu asked in concern as he walked carefully behind his wife.
"Y.. yeah babe, we're f..fine," Kiara said as she jumped on another stone, slightly out of breath.
"We're almost there my love, just three more stones and we'll make it to the bank. Then you can rest for a while," Kovu said encouragingly.

"I think I can skip this stone and jump to the third one," Kiara stated as she shifted her paws around on the stone.
"What? No Kiara don't do that! You'll fall in!" Kovu exclaimed.
"I can make it babe," Kiara I dusted as she prepared to jump.
"No Kiara!" Kovu said frantically.

But it was too late, Kiara made a large leap over the middle stone and landed on the edge of the bank, but the momentum from the jump caused her to slip and she fell into the water with a scream.
"KIARA!" Kovu shouted.
Although Kiara was a very good swimmer, the rapids of the current was too strong for her to swim in with her one and a half month pregnant belly.

"Kovu! Kovu help me! The current is too strong!" Kiara cried out as she tried to stay afloat in the middle of the deep, perilous  river.
"Kovu leapt on the bank and reached down a paw to pull Kiara up, but from his peripheral vision, he caught sight of a green tail swishing in the river.
A Upweke River alligator!

"Babe take my paw!" Kovu shouted as he reached even further down in an attempt to pull his love up.
But then a loud growl was heard and a huge alligator sprung up out of nowhere and pushed Kiara down into the water with its massive weight.
"Oh no you don't! No-one does that to my wife but me!" Kovu growled as he leapt into the water and dove down to save Kiara.

"What do we do?!" Nia shrieked as she paced the ground frantically while everyone started to panic upon seeing first their queen and now their king in the turbulent water.
"Siri! Haraka! Stay on the side and watch for more alligators on the left, Nia and Mkali, the right," Muuaji instructed.

"Okay fine. What're you going to do Muuaji?" Nia asked.
"I know how to escape alligators when they're attacking, come with me Muuaji we'll go down and help them," Marisa told her.
"But...aren't you and your brother annoyed with each other at the moment?" Muuaji asked.

"Yes we are, but he's my brother. If anything happens to him because of our utterly ridiculous, pointless arguments, I would never forgive myself," Marisa said sadly.
"I wouldn't either. Let's go," Muuaji said as she jumped into the water, followed by Marisa.

Kiara was struggling to free herself of the alligator who was holding onto her hindleg and pulling her down to the bottom of the river while Kovu was swimming after her, trying to grab the alligator's tail so it would turn on him and leave Kiara. But the large reptile was swimming too fast and was evading Kovu's every move to grab it. Kiara was running low on oxygen and her head was starting to ache because of it.

Kovu tried once more to grab the reptile but it evaded him once more. Suddenly Kovu felt more movement in the water and turned around. He saw Marisa swimming rapidly downwards followed by Muuaji. Marisa's body was more lean than most lionesses making it easier for her to move through the water than most.

She eventually came into contact with the alligator and smacked him on his muzzle with her paw several times. The alligator stopped swimming and tried to hit Marisa with its long, thick tail Kovu took the opportunity to grab Kiara and Muuaji to shove herself hard against the alligator's gut, causing its mouth to open and Kiara to be free.

Kovu swam upwards with Kiara in his arms and didn't stop until their heads broke the surface. They both took rapidly deep breaths while weakly swimming to the edge of the bank. Three lionesses took Kiara from Kovu and rested her on the bank and then assisted Kovu. Kiara laid in the bank, breathless, exhausted and fighting for breath. Kovu collapsed on the bank next to her and they laid there, panting,  gasping and coughing.

Muuaji and Marisa surfaced several seconds after and climbed on the bank and laid down to catch their breaths.
"Are..are...are you okay baby?" Kovu asked in between deep breaths as he looked at his mate.
"F..fine...I'm fine! And I'm sorry for pulling that stunt sweetheart. It was stupid, immature and dangerous...I'm sorry," Kiara said mournfully.

"It's okay. Hopefully you've learnt your lesson," Kovu said sighing.
"I did. I'm sorry, it won't happen again I promise," Kiara whispered as she scooted closer to Kovu and rested her head on top of his chest.
"You have one more apology to make you know," Kovu murmured while looking up at the now darkening sky.

"Oh really to who?" she asked.
"Our little one, you put him at risk when you did that," Kovu told her with a smile.
"Oh right. Sweetie, Mommy is so sorry for doing that, it wasn't nice to scare you like that. Forgive me my love?" Kiara asked sweetly as she rubbed her stomach in circular motions.

Several seconds passed before Kiara felt a slight kick like movement in her womb.
"He said yes I forgive you, just don't ever take me for a swim with an alligator again," Kiara said with a laugh.
"Did he really say that?" Kovu asked rolling his eyes.
"No but it's what I thought he said," Kiara giggled.