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Chapter IX: Meetings

Kopa's POV:

I woke up around noon to see Fuwele attending to Strike, an tentative as ever. I cautiously tested my legs before I got up, and found that she must've replaced the poultices; I stood up and padded silently over to her. The next thing I knew, I found myself on my back, two emerald eyes glaring at me with rage and... fear?

A few hours earlier... Brasta's POV:

I had woken up early enough to be there before Dad left, but he must've left early because when I got there the royal chambers were empty. Frustrated, I stalked back to Strike's den; only to find Dad interrogating Fuwele.

"What's the matter now?" I sighed, jumping in between the two. I know that he's my father, and the king; but she's my sister.

"Learn to respect your elders, Brasta!" Dad said sternly. "I was merely asking your sister about what happened to Strike." He said, motioning with a piteous look to Strike's battered frame.

At this point, Fuwele spoke up in her own defense, "Dad, I already told you I don't know! All I know is that Brasta came in and told us about Strike, so I helped him. Though..." she said, looking towards me, slightly angry, "I do have to admit; I want to know what happened to him." She now gave me a pleading look. "do you know what happened, Brasta?"

I looked from one family member to another, until I finally decided to focus my attention on Dad for the moment. "Dad, can I speak with you alone?" I asked with a slight pleading note in my voice; I didn't want to worry Fuwele.

"What is it, son?" he responded, giving me a confused look.

Fuwele was apparently not to be kept out of this conversation; she wanted her questions answered. "Look, I know these claw wounds weren't caused by only a fire! What attacked him, Brasta?" she demanded indignantly.

"Fuwele, it's none of your concern-"

Dad cut me off sharply. "She's your sister! Like you she has the right to know..." he said.

"Fine." I said with a sigh. I glanced from one to the other before saying the ominous news. "Drake and Sadic are back."

Both of them had such looks of pure shock on their faces, it was almost comical. Almost. "Don't be ridiculous! You and Strike killed them." Fuwele said somewhat fearfully, giving me a look that begged me to tell her I was kidding.

"That's what I thought too." I said, grabbing their attention. "But Strike was out by our old borders that day. I don't know the specifics, but he told me they were back just before he lost consciousness. I followed the blood trail and found the site of the attack; from the looks of things, they are back, and I assume ready to murder us in our sleep if they find us." I said as analytically as possible. Oh, and I knew they would try...

"I don't believe it!" Dad said, shouting. That's his problem; he never thinks logically. Why would I lie about something like that?

"Look, just because you don't believe me doesn't mean you shouldn't take action." I said, keeping my voice level while his was raised to its maximum volume.

"Action? What action? There's no threat and no problem." My dad said firmly, starting to advance on me.

I sighed in exasperation. Why couldn't he see reason? "Are you really that blind, Father?" I said, getting ready to defend myself.

"Who are you to give orders? I am king, and until I see fit the defences shall not be prepared." He said in rash indignation.

"Then you've sealed our fates!" I protested.

"You dare challenge your own father?" he said furiously, crouching low.

My own father was going to attack me. Why couldn't he ever not be so obsessively paranoid about challenges? "If it means saving the Pride from destruction then yes." I said, getting ready to fight. A solitary tear fell from my as soon as my father leapt into the air, I saw a light brown blur bring him down. Strike...

Strike bravely moved in front of me protectively, which was surprising as injured as he was. I felt a sudden rush of affection run through me... which I quickly smothered. "Your Majesty, what-" he said, grunting in pain between every breath, "is the meaning of this?" he said angrily.

"Strike?" Dad said, shocked. "But, I thought you were-"

"Just because I am hurt doesn't mean I can't protect my friends." And there that feeling went again... and with some effort, now it's gone. "Now I assume Brasta told you about the situation..." he said, looking at the king to answer.

"Yes, but is it true?" Dad asked fearfully.

"Yes." He stated simply. "I don't know when they'll be back; but we need to prepare so that we are ready." He said, before collapsing to the ground and shouting out in pain.

Fuwele and I moved to his side in alarm. "Are you okay?" We asked."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Strike said through gritted teeth.

Dad nodded. "Very well then; I will assemble the pride and tell them of what is to happen." He softened his tone a little. "Please get well, Strike; we need you in this battle." He said as he left. I decided not to comment on how he had never apologized. As I turned back, I just noticed how close Strike was to passing out as he struggled to stand again. I helped Fuwele catch him as he was about to collapse again, and and put him back in his spot. A pang struck at me- I hated seeing him like this. And to think he had gotten up with his injuries and defended me! But there was something else to be considered- Fuwele's feelings at the moment. When I looked back at Fuwele I saw the tears in her eyes.

"Are they really back?" she asked, close to her breaking point.

"Yes, I'm afraid. I need to think and form a strategy; I'll be back." I said, walking away confused and annoyed.

Kopa's POV:

"I'm so sorry, Tojo! I should've known it was you." Fuwele said, letting me up in her embarrassment.

"I'm fine. But what's wrong with you?" I asked, concerned. I just had a feeling she was in a tender emotional state at the time.

"Well um, some old enemies of ours are back..." she said drifting off. I guessed these were the same "enemies" that killed Brasta's mother. But they had to have been dead by now, right?

"Well, you beat them last time right? Then why are you afraid?" I asked, confused.

Fuwele gave me the most fearful look I'd ever seen on her face. "It's not that I am worried about; it's who our enemies are." She said. At that minute, I saw something in her fracture. A single tear streamed down her cheek, followed by another and another... until she simply broke down.

"Whoa, who are these people?" I asked, patting her on the back as she started sobbing, trembling in visible fear.

"Sadic and Drake." She spat in between sobs, as if just their names were akin to demons. "They were the ones who attacked our Pride last time through trickery, using the hyenas. They killed Brasta's mother." She took a breath for a second before she said the last part. "But that's not the worst of it. They tore apart Brasta's mother right in front of him, and afterwards they tried to... use me and kill me last time. If it wasn't for Brasta and Strike, I wouldn't be here. Now, seeing as Strike is temporarily out of commission because of them..."

She couldn't speak anymore. After that revelation, we sat there like that for a few minutes, her crying into my shoulder. A few minutes later, I lifted her head up to mine, looked into those emerald eyes, and said, "Look I may not know who or what these people are but I swear I will defend you until my last breath. I won't let them hurt you! No matter what I will protect you, that is the only promise I can make. I vow to let no danger fall upon you." I said, keeping my anger in check. Whoever these people were, I would make them pay for what they had tried to do and are now doing to her.

"Thank you, Tojo." She said, leaning into me and nuzzling her head into my chest. We stayed like that until the defense preparation meeting.

Kiara's POV:

I woke up just as the sun reached its zenith, I and was ready to go out and play. I looked around the cave for my father. When I noticed that he wasn't there, I made a break for freedom... and ran directly into him. "And just where do ya think you're going?" he asked, chuckling while holding on to my tail.

"Daaaaaaaaddy, let go!" I said in my most sweetest voice possible.

"Now, I just want you to be careful," he said. He let me up, and I immediately started chasing a butterfly that happened to be roaming around my head. "Are you even listening to me?" he said.

"But Daddy, I-"

He cut me off. "Look, accidents can happen, you could get hurt-"

"Or stepped on, or even get lost." I said finishing his sentence. "I know that; now can I go?" I asked.

"Look, I just want you to be safe. Now stay near Pride Rock at all times." He said. I really hated that rule.

"Please?" I asked in my cutest voice.

"Ha, very funny." He said, straightening up.

"Mind your father Kiara." Mom said, joining us.

"Yes, Mom." I said dejectedly.

"And stay away from the outlands!" Dad said sternly.

I sighed in impatience. "Fine, can I go now?"

"Sure." Mom said. I immediately dashed off, barely hearing my father say, "And keep on the path I've marked for you!" I went through the fields playing with, and still chasing that butterfly when "Uncle" Timon and Pumbaa showed up.

"Well, if it isn't Princess Kiara?" Timon said nonchalantly. "You should really stay in the shade; the sun is bad for your complexion."

I'm sorry, but the whole "princess" thing was getting to be a pain. I'm a young lioness, not a priceless teacup! "LOOK, will l listen to me? I am not just a princess! I am a lioness as well!" I said, shouting at them.

"Hmm? Did you say something?" Timon said, looking a little distracted.

"Ugh..." I said in exasperation as I ran off. I wanted to go somewhere, anywhere where I wasn't just a princess to people. I happened to stumble across a cool-looking desert area. I wanted to check it out, so I ran towards it... and bounced straight into a dark brown cub with green eyes. I jumped back in surprise, and slowly started to back away as he got back up.