A Dark Secret

Chapter 4

"Let's go find the Tree of Life!"

The Lion Guard were still on their way to the Tree of Life. Fuli walked alongside Kion and the rest of the Guard. The next Moja Kwa Moja Stone they had to find was a mountain with two peaks. They had already found two Moja Kwa Moja stones, one on the Back Lands waterfall and one on an iroko tree. Luckily, Anga had spotted the mountain with two peaks and they were currently walking there.

'Let's go find the Tree of Life!' Kion had said enthusiastically a few moments before. Makini seemed to have a worried look on her face the moment he said that, but she shook it off. Weird, Fuli thought. What was wrong with being enthusiastic? What is going on with everybody lately? she wondered to herself. Fuli shook it off and matched her pace with the rest of the Guard. She saw Kion pawing at his scar and quietly wincing a few pawsteps ahead of her. It must hurt, she thought in pity for the young lion. She decided to check on him, matching her pace with him.

"Kion, are you okay?" she asked even though she knew the answer. No, he isn't okay. Fuli expected him to respond calmly and say something like; 'I'm alright, don't worry,' or 'I'm fine, don't worry about me.' Instead he replied harshly. "I'm fine Fuli!" he snapped in irritation.

Fuli was shocked. As far as she could remember at the moment, Kion never snapped at anyone like that, especially at his friends. Kion, obviously realizing what he just said, shook his head and apologized. "Sorry, Fuli. I didn't mean to-"

Fuli cut him off. "It's alright Kion," she replied. She didn't want to make a big deal out of his small outburst. After all, the scar was affecting his ability to think clearly.

Kion gave her a grateful smile and slowly walked towards the head of the group.

"Uh, guys." Fuli heard Anga say. "We have a problem."

"What is it Anga?" Fuli asked her.

"You see the mountain with two peaks that we need to climb? It's covered in loose rocks. There aren't any strong grip holds. And it's not like I can just carry all of you up a mountain." Anga added the last part with sarcasm.

Great, Fuli thought sarcastically.

"Well, let's go." Kion told the Guard hastily. "We'll figure out what we do when we get there."
It's not like Kion to not come up with a plan first, Fuli thought to herself. But he's probably just in a hurry to get to the Tree of Life.

When they got there they saw Anga was right. The rocky mountain side was covered in loose rocks without a strong grip hold. "Why not just try to climb it?" Kion asked.

"No! Wait Kion don't-" But it was too late. Kion jumped up onto the loose rocks, and he climbed a good thirty paw-jumps up until he stumbled on a loose rock and fell to the ground with a yelp and a thud.

Fuli rushed over to where he landed. "Kion! Are you alright?!" Fuli looked down at his front paw. It was swollen. His leg was scabbed and bruised from the fall.

Kion's eyes glittered with pain. "I'm-" He winced. "Fine." Fuli knew he wasn't fine. He tried to get up, but his leg wouldn't allow him and he fell back down.

"Oh no!" Makini exclaimed. "Kion, let me help you!"

The mandrill walked over to him and tried to examine his leg, but only managing a gentle touch before he pulled it away and growled. "I don't need help! I'm fine!"

Fuli tried to intervene. "Kion," she said calmly. "Makini is just trying to help you." Your scar is bugging you again, isn't it?

"Oh," Kion shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. "Sorry Makini."