Fallen Allies

Chapter 32: High Expectations

"There are so many stories where some brave hero decides to give their life to save the day and because of their sacrifice, the good guys win, the survivors all cheer, and everybody lives happily ever after. But the hero never gets to see that ending. They will never know if their sacrifice actually made any difference. They will never know if the day was really saved. In the end, they just have to have faith."

A lioness was in a cave where a green light illuminated the interior, "what do I have to do, I was given these powers for a reason, I have to bring him back" she said as she looked over the paintings on a wall behind a set of vines, placing her paw on one that depicted a young lion with brown fur and a growing dark brown main, "damnit Bal, why did you do it" she said as a tear fell from her eye.

As the lioness turned around, she saw another viewing the paintings, "it's horrible how he went out, he was an amazing lion" he said, "why are you here Akili, shouldn't you be preparing" Rani said to the lion.

As Akili put on a smile he looked to the lioness, "I'll be doing that tonight, I don't sleep, I relax while the sun is out, the moon is my true guide" he said as Rani didn't give a response, "you know that he can't be brought back with it Rani, you need to move on" he said, "oh like you did?" Rani snapped at Akili, "look at what I am now Rani, that's the exact reason why you should move on" he growled.

Rani had a scowl on her face as she quickly tore her vision away from him, "why did you come here, you know that you don't have a place here anymore" she said, "me and Baliyo were friends, I wanted to revisit him before I got my home back" he said, "even if he's gone, his presence still lingers in this kingdom, he's here, just not in a physical sense" Akili said.

Rani's face dropped down at the words, "I've failed him, he was always so proud of his big sister, such high hopes for me, now look at me" she said as her words came to an abrupt stop, "I was almost there, I could've saved him, I could feel to tip of his paw on mine but that feeling was replaced by the snow" she said as her voice started to break, "I can't fail Nguvu as I've failed the rest of my family" she said, "and you won't, but you need his training to be done at a higher level, Fallen or not he's still the son of two divinations, he's a target, you're a formidable opponent Rani, I know you are capable of training him" Akili said with a smile.

"The way he came along may be something I didn't want but he's still my child nonetheless, I want what's best for him, I want him to be safe" he said, "you won't fail Nguvu and you didn't fail anyone else, but we can't attach ourselves to our past mistakes, we need to look ahead and make sure we make the people we lost proud, do their names right" he chuckled as he looked back to the paintings.

After a short silence Akili spoke again, "Baliyo was strong, he was an amazing fighter, brother, leader, he did well training the young prince, but we can't focus on what he did, we need to focus on how we will carry him on, he was an amazing lion, but you need to now be an even better lioness" he said, "the expectations are just so high, I don't know if I can do it, Akili" she said in a defeated tone.

Akili looked back at the lioness, "if anyone knows anything about high expectations it's me, think of the titles I had, "Syon reborn," "the prince of the heavens," I was considered to be hand made by Eternal himself, I know high expectations, and I'm still expected to live up to them, we all have our own set of expectations, but all we need to worry about is having the will to live up to them, and I know you are capable of it" he said, Rani having a small smile appear.

"The Frostbourne will be out of your hair soon, we just need rest and a place to allow some of our members to stay" Akili said, Rani nodding in response, "I'll get out of your fur" he chuckled as he walked out of the tree leaving the Queen to her thoughts.