Powerful Words

Family drama: part three

"How could you kidnap Pricilla?! She's small, she's innocent and she's such a sweetheart. What was your motive for committing such a heinous crime?"
"I never expected two females to do something so horrible. Kidnapping a cub. Aina you have two daughters, you're a mother!"
"Your majesties exile them! Anyone who takes a cub away from its parents for their own selfish motives are not worthy to live in the Pride Lands!"

The pride launched insults and repercussions at Aina and Tamu, Kiara and Kovu listened for a while then decided it was enough. Kovu stepped forward and help his paw up. The pride stopped talking immediately.

"The felony of kidnapping my daughter is one that is not going to be taken lightly. My aunt and cousin have not only kidnapped a member of their family, but also the daughter of the King and Queen of the Pride Lands," Kovu said sternly. "To be fair, we will have a trial. I will give them a chance to explain themselves."
Kovu them turned to Tamu and ordered her to come forward. When he did, she stood in front of the pride and looked down at the ground.

"You kidnapped my daughter. Would you care to explain why?" Kovu asked.
"I already told you. I kidnapped her so Kiara-"
"A valid reason!" Kovu said aggressively.
"It was mother's idea! Ask her!" Tamu growled. "She told me to kidnap your daughter, she told me to hide her at the gorge, she told me to feign innocent!"

"Your wife insulted me! Just because she's the Queen, does that give her the right to speak to anyone anyway she pleases?!" Aina said angrily.
"My wife has a name and you will address her by it! She's the Queen, this is her kingdom! What gives you the right to disrespect her?!" Kovu shouted.
"I wouldn't have any reason to disrespect her if she hasn't insulted my daughter!" Aina shouted back.

"Mother have you lost your mind?! Kovu is the King of the Pride Lands, you're lucky he's giving by you a trial. How dare you speak to him that way?!" Amani walked up to her mother and glared at her. "You kidnapped his and Kiara's daughter, you acted as though nothing was wrong and instead of apologizing, acknowledging the fact that you made a mistake and humbly accepting your punishment, you argue?"

"Oh please Amani, you act as though you're such a saint! You came here and insulted Kiara, Kovu, Vitani and Marisa first. You were so audacious and you have the gall preach to us about what's right and wrong?" Tamu said sarcastically.
"At least she apologized to us without a fuss! She humbly apologized and acknowledged her error," Kiara retorted.

"I was feeling conflicted. Just because I'm smiling, doesn't mean I'm happy inside. My real mother left me at a young age, I had to watch my father marry another lioness and have another cub, I was forced to accept her as my mother. I'm not making excuses unlike you!" Amani shouted.

"Grandmother hates me! She always says I'm the reason her daughter left her. She blames me and on top of it all, she still expects me to give birth to her grandcubs! You're lucky I'm still sane!" 
"Amani you are such a hypocrite! Sure your mother left you, but you still had my mother didn't you? You act as though you were this poor innocent cub being left out in the cold, no parents, no place to call home and no-one to love you," Tamu said mockingly.

"ENOUGH!" Kovu roared.
This stopped all arguments cold. Everyone stopped talking and turned to face Kovu, his eyes were blazing and his jaw was clenched with the effort to keep his self control in check.

"This was supposed to be a trial not a showcase for everyone to scream at each other, blame each other and spew our their problems! I've had enough! Tamu and Aunt Aina kidnapped my daughter and for that, they will be banished from the Pride Lands-FOREVER!"

The platform grew silent. Tamu and Aina's faces turned ash white. Shinda and Jaribu stiffened and Diana and Burnt Eboney inhaled sharply and turned to Kovu.
"Kovu, banished? Forever? Isn't that a little harsh?" Diana asked softly.
"Mom I was banished for something I didn't even have a part in. Simba exiled me for allegedly planning an ambush and trying to assassinate his life. They kidnapped Pricilla," Kovu said firmly.

"Shouldn't we have a bite at least?" Burnt Eboney inquired.
"Vote? Dad, I am the King of the Pride Lands. My judgement is fair, I was going to give them a punishment much more severe, but seeing as they're family, I'm showing mercy," Kovu said.
"You have twenty minutes to say your goodbyes and leave the territory. If I send my lionesses after you and you've not left, I am giving them full right to deal with you as they please," Kiara said coldly.

"Fine. We're going back to Nashati Falls. I don't ever want to see any of you again!" Aina scoffed as she turned on her heel and stalked off the platform. Tamu sat there, her ears bent low. She looked at her father, tears falling down her face.
"You're not coming are you Daddy?" she asked sadly.
"Tamu I'm sorry, but I have to stay. I agreed to help Kiara and Kovu deal with the Uhuru Pride, I can't just leave," he said.

"Are you coming back to Nashati Falls?"
"I'll come back once I'm done here, leave with your mother. You brought this on yourself," her father said turning away from her.
Tamu stiffened and hung her head and walked off the platform crying softly as she departed.

Shinda watched his daughter leave and bit his lip. It hurt his heart to see her like that, but what could he do? She did something wrong and suffered the consequences of her actions. Burnt Eboney walked up to his brother and placed a paw on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry this had to happen Shinda," he said comfortingly.
"Thank you Eboney," Shinda murmured I'm a dreary voice.

"You all are dismissed. This is the last time I want to hear of this matter being discussed. Carry on with your activities," Kovu offered the pride.
Without much being said, the pride walked off the platform and went their separate ways, the only ones remaining were Kiara, Kovu, Vitani, Marisa, Nala, Diana,  Burnt Eboney, Shinda, Jaribu and Amani.

"Uncle Shinda I'm sorry for everything, I didn't want to banish them, but the case called for it. Forgive me please," Kovu said.
"No Kovu it's perfectly all right. Aina and Tamu were wrong to kidnap Pricilla. You did the right thing," Shinda said turning to his nephew and placing a solid paw on his shoulder.

"You are young, but you are truly wise. You could've just exiled them on the spot, but you didn't. You gave them a chance to explain themselves. I am proud to call you my nephew."
Kovu smiled and nodded. Kiara walked up to her mate and kissed him on his cheek.
"Now that that's over...what say we get something to eat? It's past noon now," she said cheerfully.

"I SAY YES IM STARVING!"
Everyone turned around and saw Zalika standing there with Pricilla. "You have no idea how hungry I am, my stomach is empty and I feel like I can eat a whole zebra!"
"Hear that? She wants to eat a whole zebra, best get our baby something to eat," Kovu laughed as he picked Zalika up and tickled her, making the cub laugh hysterically.

"C'mon don't waste time tickling her, I've been in that old musty hole forever! I deserve first preference!" Pricilla complained.
"I'm the youngest, I deserve first preference," Zalika retorted.
"Okay let's not start an argument, I'll hunt a zebra and everyone's gonna get a bite," Kiara said hurriedly.

"Where's Damien?" Vitani asked looking around for her son.
"Right here Mom!" Damien appeared from behind Marisa's legs and grinned up at his mother.
"Okay let's go eat I'm starving," Kovu said as he walked off the platform with everyone else following closely behind.