The Lion King/Guard : Survive from Death

Part 10 - Back to the Pridelands: Kion's Return from the Tree of Life

After several days of arduous travel, Kion, Rani, and their friends finally reached the border of the Pridelands in the late afternoon. They appeared visibly exhausted, their fur matted and dusty from the long journey from the Tree of Life.

"Finally, the Pridelands!" Bunga exclaimed with excitement, his energy seemingly boundless as he sprinted towards the nearby waterhole. Beshte, wearing a broad smile, followed suit, his massive frame lumbering after his energetic friend. "Wait for me, little B!" he called out cheerfully.

"They sure know how to keep the energy up," Binga observed, her eyes flickering with amusement, as she exchanged a knowing glance with Makini, who nodded in agreement.

Kion looked at Surak, who was limping heavily, and empathetically offered his support. "Come on, Surak, just a few more steps until we reach Pride Rock," Kion encouraged, his voice filled with determination.

Surak nodded gratefully, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and determination. With Kion's help, he continued to place one paw in front of the other, his large body leaning on his son for support.

As they walked, Kion couldn't help but feel the weight of Surak's body straining his muscles. "Wow, your body is so heavy," Kion mumbled, coming to a halt and needing a moment to catch his breath.

Baliyo, observing their struggle, quickly stepped forward. "Let me take his place, Kion. I'll help you carry him," Baliyo offered, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Thank you, Baliyo. I appreciate your help," Surak expressed his gratitude, lying down on the ground and allowing Baliyo to step in as his support.

Kion and Baliyo exchanged positions, with Baliyo now taking on the weight of Surak's massive frame. With renewed determination, they pressed forward, inching closer to the towering Pride Rock.

Arafa and Kijani, their youthful enthusiasm undiminished by the long journey, continued to play tag inside the cave. Their laughter echoed off the cave walls as they sprinted and leaped, oblivious to the world outside.

However, their playful antics brought them face to face with Kovu and Kiara, who had been conversing nearby. Startled, Arafa and Kijani froze in their tracks, dropping their jaws in awe at the sight of the majestic Pride Rock.

"Wow," they breathed in unison, their voices filled with wonder. "That rock is so huge," Arafa exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

Inside the den, Nala perked up her ears, hearing her grandchildren's voices drifting from outside. "Simba, do you hear that? Someone is talking from outside," Nala said to her husband, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

Simba nodded and shared her curiosity. "Yes, I hear it. Let's go and see what's happening," he suggested, his voice filled with determination. Together, they exited the cave, their eyes scanning the area below Pride Rock.

Simba's gaze settled on the group of injured lions and recognized his son among them. "Is that... Kion?" he muttered, a mixture of surprise and concern coloring his voice. "Dad, is that you?" Kion called out from below Pride Rock, his voice filled with both relief and exhaustion.

Simba's eyes widened with joy as he recognized his son's voice. "Yes, it's him!" Nala exclaimed, her heart swelling with excitement. Without hesitation, Simba descended from the rock to meet his son, a mixture of worry and relief etched on his face.

"Dad!" Kion shouted, his voice filled with emotion as he rushed towards Simba, their reunion a long-awaited moment. Embracing each other in a tight nuzzle, father and son found solace in the warmth of their reunion. "Kion!" Simba greeted, his voice laced with love and pride.

"We were so worried about you," Nala added, joining in the affectionate nuzzling.

Nala's gaze shifted towards Surak's broken leg, her concern deepening. "Kion, what happened to his leg?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Kion's expression turned somber as he recounted the events that had unfolded at the Tree of Life. "That's why we're here. The Tree of Life was attacked by Cheka and his army," he explained, his head bowed with sadness.

Simba's mind quickly processed the situation, and he suggested a solution. "Rafiki should come here to heal them," he proposed, immediately calling upon Tiifu to inform Rafiki of the urgent situation.

While Tiifu hurried off to fetch Rafiki from the Baobab Tree, Baliyo found his attention momentarily captured by Tiifu's presence. He couldn't help but notice her beauty and was momentarily lost in his thoughts. "Oh my God, she's the lioness who attended Kion and Rani's wedding. She's so beautiful," Baliyo mused to himself, his thoughts briefly drifting.

Rani, noticing Baliyo's distracted state, furrowed her brow in curiosity. "Hello... Baliyo, are you okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Baliyo snapped out of his reverie, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay," he responded, shaking his head to refocus his attention on the present.

Fuli, ever attentive to her husband's well-being, noticed his body covered in cuts. "Does that hurt?" she inquired, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Azaad winced slightly, his injuries stinging as Fuli began to lick his wounds with care and tenderness. "Yeah, it stings," he admitted, his voice strained.

As the healing process began, Rafiki and Makini worked diligently to attend to the injured lions. Makini, catching sight of her uncle, couldn't contain her joy and ran towards him, embracing him tightly. "Rafiki!" she exclaimed, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes.

"Makini?" Rafiki's eyes widened with surprise and delight as he recognized his beloved niece. Overwhelmed by emotions, he found himself fighting back tears. "I missed you so much," Makini said, her voice filled with heartfelt joy.

Meanwhile, Kion and Rani made their way into the cave, seeking a private conversation with Kovu and Kiara about their arrival in the Pridelands. Arafa and Kijani, their playfulness momentarily paused, stood in awe of their surroundings as they faced their mother, Nirmala.

"Mom!" they exclaimed in unison, rushing to her side and embracing her tightly, their affection overflowing.

Kiara, engrossed in conversation with Nirmala, turned her attention towards her cubs. A warm smile graced her features as she greeted Arafa and Kijani. "Hello, you must be Arafa and Kijani," she said, her voice radiating love and warmth. The cubs simply nodded, their shyness evident in their demeanor.

Arafa and Kijani took a moment to introduce themselves, confirming their identities as the children of Surak and Nirmala. Kovu, joining the conversation, recognized the young cubs. "You are the son and daughter of Surak and Nirmala, right?" he asked, seeking clarification.

"Yes, we are," Kijani affirmed, a sense of pride in her voice.

As the night sky began to cast its shadow over Pride Rock, the tired pride found solace within the cave, preparing for a well-deserved rest. Under the starry sky, Kion and Rani lay side by side, their bodies illuminated by the gentle glow of the celestial bodies above.

Gazing up at the stars, Rani expressed her hope for the future and the strength they derived from the great kings of the past. "I hope the great kings of the past help us solve this problem," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of longing and determination.

Kion turned his head towards his wife, his eyes reflecting the twinkle of the stars. With a tender smile, he reassured her, "Yeah, me too. And we can overcome any challenge if we have each other to defend the Tree of Life."

The two lions shared a quiet moment together, their hearts filled with hope and love. Kion gently licked Rani's forehead, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. "Come on, let's go inside the cave and get some rest," he suggested, his voice filled with a sense of calm and protection.

Rani nodded, her trust in Kion unwavering, as they made their way into the cave, finding a safe spot to rest. Surrounded by their loved ones, the sound of gentle breathing, and the warmth of their united pride, they drifted off into a peaceful slumber, knowing that they were together and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.