Fallen Allies

Chapter 9 Broken Pieces

Akili was standing on the ledge of Pride Rock overlooking the Pride Lands taking a deep sigh of relief, after hours of searching Kiara was finally found and safe. Akili walked into the den to find Kiara, he told Kovu he would bring her to his temporary residence, and he was positive Kiara wanted to see him again.

As Akili walked through the den, he had no sight of the princess but the lion was approached by another lioness, "Akili, how are you" said the lioness, "I'm well Queen Nala, how about yourself" Akili said with a smile "I'm good, thank you Akili, I was worried about Kiara I know the toll having the one you love taken from you can take on someone" said the Queen.

"Yeah, it can destroy a person, make them slowly crumble away" Akili said shaking the thoughts out of his mind, "anyways speaking of Kiara, where can I find her?" The lion asked the Queen, "I believe she's in the Guard's lair" the Queen said as Akili began to leave the den.

"Akili, are you ok, Sierra told me about what she saw last night, if you need to talk you have people here for you" Nala said sincerely, she cared for Akili she heard the story of his land and she truly felt for him, she couldn't imagine bearing what he did. His whole home destroyed by a man he trusted and called his friend, his family and friends killed along with his mate.

"I'd rather not talk about last night, I've done what I can to lock that part away and I plan to continue doing that, have a good day Nala" Akili said to the lioness as he left the den. As Akili approached the Lion Guard's den he heard the sobs of a lioness, Akili stepped in to see Kiara sitting in front of the paintings of the Guard as tears pooled on the ground below her.

Kiara looked to the entrance to see Akili who gave a small sympathetic smile, she tried to stop herself from crying, but the tears just kept coming and she couldn't control it. Akili sat down beside the lioness, placing a paw on her shoulder, "he was a beacon of hope for these lands, it's a role he keeps even in eternity, he was a great leader, and his story will be set in stone for the many generations ahead of us" the lion said giving the lioness a soft smile.

Kiara's sobber look remained as she continued to stare at the wall, Akili deciding to give the lioness her space for a little longer.

As he approached the entrance of the lair he looked to a patch of vines and saw a small design of what resembled a black lioness bearing a purple mark on her forehead. "Kamili?" The lion said as he approached the viny patch and pushed them to the side seeing multiple paintings depicting multiple moments from his time.

"Who did this" Akili mumbled, the memories flooded in like a tsunami, paintings depicting the day he came of age and began his trials all to the day where his home fell but his vision laid on one particular painting.

Kiara looked towards the direction of Akili to see the paintings as she turned around and slowly made her way to the space Akili was located. The lioness took a seat beside Akili and admired the work of Rafiki, "looks like Rafiki wanted to immortalize your story as well" Kiara said with a small chuckle.

A small growl escaped Akili, "how did he know, only I was able to escape my home and I've never spoken of these moments" Akili was offended by this, these were moments he sealed away, they were no longer happy memories to him, definitely not moments he wanted to be permanently set in stone.

"He always knows, he's one of the smartest animals I've ever known, the connection he has with the great kings is like nothing I've ever seen before" Kiara said as she looked up to the lion who still had a look of disgust over his face.

Kiara scanned back over the paintings admiring the looks of the lionesses shown, Akili's land really was special it wasn't even just the spiritual aspect, it was the physical aspect as well. All the unique colorations of the fur and eyes of the inhabitants, the multiple unique variations and markings across everyone it must've been something beautiful to see in person.