New Angles

Return To The Pridelands pt. 15

~Episode twenty: Return To The Pridelands~

~Part fifteen~

(AU; after coronation; journey recap continued)

"Kion,.." Fuli addressed her leader expectantly, glancing over at him briefly as if to remind him of what they both saw.

They stopped at the edge of the ravine, where they remembered their epic ride from one side to the other.

"The last time we were here you got us across so we could get to where we needed to go." Fuli recalled. "But there's no way you could get all of us across this time."

"I could.." Kion corrected thoughtfully. "But even though we're not pressed for time,.. It'd take too long.."

"Not to mention, energy you don't have.." Fuli re-emphasized. "And you've been expelling a lot of it on other parts of our journey and haven't had a lot of time to recover some of it.. It's just enough for Rafiki, Ono, and I to make sure you're at least staying hydrated and refueled.. At least you sleep like a rock every night. We don't have to worry about you not getting the rest you need at night. Even though it's not enough."

"At least I know you care,.." Kion smirked..

"That's not funny, Kion.." Fuli shot back earnestly.

"I know, I know.." Kion sighed, reading her concern clearly. "I'm glad you have my back,.. but I'm fine,.. really. And actually.. I've never felt better."

"Even if you're exhausted?" Fuli countered softly.

"Even if that were the case.." Kion returned mildly. "I'll have time to fully rest when we get to the Tree of Life."

"Not making me feel better," Fuli sighed, even as Kion strode forward away from her.

Staring down into the gorge, he simply noted the consistency, or rather the inconsistency, of the walls winding together in both directions.

"This is an easy fix.." He decided, glancing over his shoulder thankfully. Facing the open drop he lowered his head slightly, then summoning the power within him he roared down into it. Stepping before anything rose up the animals momentarily freaked until they saw that he never fell, but instead walked steadily all the way across the ravine;.. without stopping and without difficulty. Letting his roar dissipate, he turned to put the gorge on his immediate left side, and looked down at what he had done.

"Poa, Kion!" Beshte gasped. "Great idea!"

"Except.. this ravine could be a valuable outlet for flood water.." Fuli pointed out, strolling towards Kion a few paces; stopping right at the edge of the new bridge. "If excessive rain or a blown dam were to break, either here or upwind, it could flood this whole area.. The Moja Kwa Moja stone, wherever we put it, could get washed away and lost.. Not to mention the risk of the bridge going out."

"Hm.. yes.. good point." Ono agreed thoughtfully.

Kion looked down into the ravine again and began to think.

"I've got a fix for that too.." he decided after a moment. Then dropping his gaze closed briefly, he sent his roar down into the giant divide creating a whirlwind. Everyone was surprised when Kion rose up and then down into the ravine below. But when he turned his roar on the wall, they soon became nervous. Those closest to him, that being the Royal Family and the Lion Guard, peered down over the edge at him with caution. All hoping and praying that nothing would go wrong. Kion's roar displaced some tiny pebbles and some dust, but the crunching together of rock raised the whole arch slightly, without compromising the flatness of the bridge surface between the two cliffs. The ground vibrated beneath their feet and the animals among the group couldn't help, but feel a bit nervous.