Powerful Words

Up goes the walls

After the drama that took place had left everyone speechless and shaken to the core. Kiara, Kovu, Diana, Burnt Eboney, Vitani and  Marisa were on the platform, Nala was in the den keeping an eye on the cubs. Aina, Shinda, Tamu and Jaribu were in the cave below Pride Rock, resting.
Kovu sat with Kiara and his eyes roamed the platform, eyeing everyone and thinking about the incidents that transpired.

"So anyone want to come clean and tell me exactly what's going on? Aunt Aina isn't Amani's biological mother, her mother left the pride, grandmother is constantly pressurising Amani to settle down and give birth. What's going on?" Kovu asked as he stared at his parents. Silently demanding answers.

"It's complicated Kovu, things are different in Nashati Falls, there are some unresolved family issue and I'm really not feeling to dive into that right now. Can we please just drop it?" Diana rubbed her temples and leaned on her husband for support. Clearly this topic was a sore spot for her.

"No we cannot drop it. I asked Uncle Shinda to come here and help mediate between us and the Uhuru Pride, but how can I expect the external conflict to be resolved, when there's  internal conflict in the family?" Kovu said.
"This is a family topic that needs to be dealt with fragility. I'm not saying anything, just drop it," Diana said moodily.

"I will not drop it. This is my kingdom, I am the King and I demand to know what's going on!" Kovu said aggressively.
Diana stiffened and turned to Kovu, her red eyes flashing.
"Don't you dare speak to me that way. This may be your kingdom but I am your mother!" she said lowly.

"The situation in the family is not like the everyday problem you solve. Like who's giving birth in a few weeks, or where to put the herds for the rainy season, or who's trespassing on the borders, or anything like that! It's a painful topic and it is not going to be discussed!"
Kovu inhaled deeply and let it out. Then he looked at his mother and smiled.

"It's funny Mom, you say it's a family matter. It's a delicate family matter and it's not to be discussed. Am I not family? Vitani, Marisa, aren't we apart of the family? You speak as though we're strangers, you act as though we have no place to say anything, you treat us like outsiders, as ironic as that sounds," Kovu said with a bitter laugh.

Diana opened her mouth to deny this but Vitani came and stood next to Kovu, and she too had a smile on her face.
"Don't bother trying to deny it Mom. He's right. You say it's a family matter and what does that mean? It means only family is to be involved in it," she said sadly.
"That's not what I meant," Diana protested.
"You're lying. It's exactly what you meant. It's a family matter, not to be discussed. Meaning we have no say," Marisa said.

"Listen kids your mother didn't mean to make it sound like that. It's just that the matter is delicate, it's painful to discuss out loud," Burnt Eboney came up and stood next to Diana and tried to reason with them.
"We're not cubs that needs sheltering Dad. We've seen things, things that if any sane person saw, they'd most likely be scarred for the rest of their lives," Kovu said lowly.

"What's a little family drama to add to it? We grew up thinking we were all alone, no father, no aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. The one who called herself our 'mother' wasn't our mother but a lioness who wanted to use us as pawns to fulfil the legacy of the lion she was sickly in love with," Marisa added tearfully.

"We were forced to fulfill the requirements, the expectations, the demands of a tyrant. To be trained to kill in cold blood! To murder!" Vitani said with a break in her voice.
"No please you don't understand I don't want you to be involved. It's not something easy, you have to listen to me," Diana pleaded desperately.

"It's a family matter? Fine! Don't tell us anything, in fact, just forget we're even related! Since you have your own little family history to take care of, we'll leave you to it!" Kovu shouted angrily. Then without another word he turned around and stormed off the platform followed by Vitani and Marisa. Kiara stayed and watched as Diana collapsed on the floor, crying and clutching her side.

"You didn't do the right thing Mom, you should've confided in them. They're your children, if you don't share your problems with them, they'll never know what's going on. They've a right to know," she said simply as she walked off the platform, leaving Diana and Burnt Eboney there.

"She's right dear, you should've at least given them some insight on what's going on they would have listened and then we could've come up with a solution together," her husband said as he rubbed her back.
"I'm so confused. I knew I should've told them. And I wanted to, I..I just didn't want them to be involved. If they knew of the things I went through, they'll be devastated," Diana cried as she clung to her mate.
Burnt Eboney sighed and hugged his wife close to him, comforting her as she cried.

Over the next few days things had changed in the family. Kovu, Vitani and Marisa didn't speak to their parents, Aina, Shinda, Tamu and Jaribu had guessed what was going on and kept silent. Amani didn't come back to Pride Rock, she had been gone for three days now, no one knew where she was. Not Aina, nor Shinda, no one.

Zalika and Pricilla had no clue what was going on, Kiara didn't want them to know anything so whenever they were around, they acted as though nothing was wrong. Whenever Pricilla or Zalika asked why their parents weren't talking to Diana and Burnt Eboney, the answer would always be the same.
"Grandma and Grandpa are going through a phase right now and they're not in the talking mood"

This seemed to satisfy the forever inquisitive cubs but Kiara knew the excuse wouldn't work forever. Kovu didn't want anything to do with his parents, neither Vitani, nor Marisa. That day left a big impact on them and instead of bridges, there was walls. Walls, walls and more walls.

Kion came back a day ago and he immediately sensed the negative energy that was in the air. He very wisely kept quiet and went about with his duties as leader of the Lion Guard. He asked no questions, he made no statements.

Even the pride knew that whatever was going on, it wasn't in any way related to them. Nala didn't even say anything and Diana confided in her for everything. And what was going on in everyone's minds?
It's a family matter.