New Beginnings

chapter fifty seven

The lions left the Upweke River and resumed the journey into Kukimbia. Kiara stuck close to Kovu all the while. After the alligator incident she was less inclined to stray very far from her mate. Marisa lagged behind for a while, her head bent low and her steps were slow. Kiara noticed how dejected her sister-in-law looked and nudged Kovu.

"What's wrong are you okay?" Kovu asked in concern as he stopped walking a moment.
"Marisa seems sad, why don't you talk to her," she whispered.
Kovu turned to look at his sister and saw Kiara was right. She looked worse for wear.
"Muuaji lead the pride for a while I'll be back," Kovu said to his first in command.
"Would you care for an escort my lord?" Muuaji inquired.

"That won't be necessary. Just lead the pride for now, I'll be back," Kovu told her.
"Very well my lord as you wish," Muuaji said bowing as she took the lead with Mkali and Siri right behind her.
"Marisa can you come with me please? I need to talk to you," Kovu said to his sister.
Marisa stopped walking and looked up, her red eyes were glistening with tears and swollen from crying. Kovu felt his heart breaking as he looked at her.

"What is it?" she asked hoarsely.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" Kovu asked sadly.
"What am I doing?"
"You're crying, you're beating yourself up and in the process you're stressing yourself out. Why Marisa why?"
"I deserve it," she said smiling dolefully. "I deserve it all. The confliction, the hurt and the pain."

"But why do you say that?" Kovu asked frustratedly.
"I doubted you, I mistrusted you and made you feel bad because of my lack of faith in you. You're my brother, we've been through so much while living in the outlands. Training, fighting and learning to survive. Looking out for and protecting each other," Marisa said sobbing.

"I..I'm sorry Kovu..for everything that I put you through. I'm sorry." Marisa was crying so much her words were barely distinguishable. Kovu inhaled sharply and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him tightly while placing her head on his shoulder, still crying bitterly.
"It's okay, I forgive you. It's my fault just as much as it is yours. I was so harsh with you, I didn't mean it sis, forgive me?" Kovu asked as he stroked Marisa's fur.

"Of course, can we just put this whole thing behind us? Can..can we please go back to the way things were before?" she asked as she looked up at her brother.
"I can't promise that things will go back to the way they were before, but yes. We'll put this whole thing behind us for sure," he said as he nuzzled her with brotherly affection.

"I love you little brother," she said  as she hugged him again while laughing.
"I love you too big sister," Kovu said as he too laughed and hugged his sister, happy that things were finally alright between them.
So they separated and walked to catch up with the rest of the pride.

They eventually did and when Kiara saw them she smiled and told Muuaji to stop for a minute.
"So, how did it go? Everything alright with you guys?" she asked cheerfully.
"We're good," they said in unison.
"We're here my lord," Muuaji said from the front of the pride.
Kovu walked up and stood next to the lioness and stared out into the distance.

Kukimbia. The land of deception, lies and secrets. The land where three of his most hated enemies resided. The land where he would find and eradicate Scar, Zira and Kisasi forever. They were finally here.
"Milana, Roman go back to Ustawi and tell Freya and Hekima to bring everyone ASAP," Kovu said to his two warriors.
"Yes my lord," they said bowing. The pride parted and they ran off to carry out their orders.

Kovu then turned to Mpole who was walking in between Nia and Haraka.
"Look at me!" he demanded.
When she did, Kovu saw fear and apprehension in her  eyes.
"Where's Kisasi?" he asked coldly. 

"You had one task! ONE SIMPLE TASK! Do whatever it is you can to keep Kovu away from me. Khan, Kusudi, Alec, Maumivu, his mate and sisters, Andreas, Wazimu, Kichaa, Hifadhi, Kifo, Huzuni! EVERYONE IS DEAD!"
Scar shouted as he advanced upon Kisasi, rage burning in his eyes.

"You were in Ustawi, you were supposed to kill him! Not run away from him like a coward! You left your lions and lionesses there to stall him, but you've only aroused his suspicions! Khan was there, Khan must've told them where we are! YOU FAILED KISASI!" Zira also shouted.
"Give me a break! We still have some of your lions and lionesses don't we?" Kisasi growled in annoyance.

"Yes but what will twenty five lions and lionesses be able to do? Kovu has his pride behind him, he has his resources! What do we have? NOTHING!" Zira screamed.
"The leopards from Kurusha, they were supposed to come weren't they? Why aren't they here yet?" Kisasi asked.
"Relax Kisasi, you worry too much, we're already here," a sinister voice called out from the shadows.

Scar, Zira and Kisasi turned around and saw the leader of the Kurusha leap, the elderly patriarch Bínwa, emerge from the back of the cave with his leopards.
"Glad you could make it Bínwa, I assure you, once I eradicate Kovu, and his pathetic army, you and your leopards will be more than welcome to stay with us in the Pride Lands. I will be King again and there will be no-one to ever again threaten my reign," Scar said with a dark chuckle.

"Is Kovu coming here?" Bínwa inquired. "If he is, he may be coming with two of my female leopards and their cubs. I wish for them to not be harmed."
"Very well then," Scar said.
"We should rest, if he does come, he'll be expecting a fight, we need our energy for when he does," Zira told them.
"Fine. Kisasi go out and ensure tight surveillance around the territory," Scar ordered.
"As you wish," Kisasi said lowly as he turned and left the cave.

"Do you have a plan for when the boy comes?" Bínwa asked Scar.
"But of course. Like everyone, Kovu too has a weakness. I had always known that this weakness of his will one day become his downfall. And that weakness is the key to his destruction," Scar said. "Once we have that weakness in our paws, we'll have more leverage over him than ever before."

"What is this leverage, this..this  weakness in which you speak of?" Bínwa asked curiously.
"He's in love with Simba's daughter isn't he?"
"Very much so. I've seen them together,"
"She's pregnant isn't she?"
"That's what I heard from the grapevine,"

"So you have your answer," Scar said gleefully. "We have Simba's daughter, we have Kovu's heart. He'll do anything to ensure her safety."
"You're using Kiara as leverage over Kovu?" Bínwa asked.
"That is correct my spotted compadre,"
"But you did it once  in the past didn't you? Wouldn't he expect you to do it again and be prepared for it?"

"I'm not as dumb as you think Bínwa, I know exactly how to get Kiara in my paws. Once I have her, Kovu will have no choice but to submit to my wishes. Yes I held her captive in the past and spared her life, but this time she won't be so lucky. The only difference between now and then is she's carrying Kovu's cubs in her womb," Scar told him.

"What does the cubs have to do with it?"
"She's going to be a mother Bínwa. And everyone knows a mother will do anything to protect her children,"