The Lost Rogue: Nothing Like The Rest

Arc 1: Huzuni ya Mama(Mother's sorrow)

Kiara was flopped on the ground, resting her deflated body against Kovu. Her tail drooping over Kovu's and her face laying on her paws. She was underweight, mentally exhausted, and not able to see her brother or think of her father. Anytime the idea of seeing Kion was brought up, her body would repulse and lead to her vomiting uncontrollably. Kovu knew her trauma was already bad when Kion had run away. That alone did enough damage to her mental health. But the destruction of her home and more importantly, the death of her father finally drove her spirit over the edge. All traces of her playfulness and innocence were lost to the world. They were now nothing more than a memory.

"Kiara...you need to eat..." Kovu said with concern, lancing his tone. Kiara didn't react at all and just snuggled more into his dark mane. The dark lion let out a heavy sigh and just cuddled her more, praying that she would not starve herself for much longer. Enough if he couldn't persuade her, he would be beside her for as long as she needed him.

As the air blew through the kingdom, it grazed the fur of a young tigress, lying on the grass, watching her three cubs. Varya felt the wind brushing against her fur and her muzzle. Her three cubs Feliks, Polina, and Pasha were playfully wrestling each other. Her life couldn't seem any more peaceful than it was at this very moment. The only thing that could make this better would be her dead mate Pyaar to be with her. Oh, how she could envision it. The tigress closed her eyes and let her imagination wander freely.

Her mental landscape included everything that was directly in front of her except for one extra detail added. Pyaar was there, running and playing alongside his cubs. His smile was being brightened but the light of the ever scorching sun, which was also illuminating his orange fur. Varya slowly opened her eyes back to reality, where her three cubs were now laying down on top of each other, not having a single care in the world. How Varya missed that naiveness and innocence of youth. "If only you could see them now, Pyaar." Varya whispered to the world as she got up and went to deal with her hyperactive cubs.

Sarabi was occupying herself with her grandson, who had woken up from a medically induced nap from Nirmala, who was tending to the many scars that now inhabited the fur of the prince. Kion was quietly groaning in pain every time the water soaked leaf glazed the wounds.

"I know it hurts mtoto, just focus on me...". Sarabi was no stranger to comforting her family, more specifically Kion. She had been there to watch him grow from the reckless young cub without a care in the world to this current version of him. This empty, hollow, depressed teenager who finally reached his breaking point. A teenager who has lost his father, his home, and his innocence. "The scars you have are infected, and your throat sustained some burns. You need to drink lots of water and rest up completely. No erratic activity. Understand Kion?"

Kion was silent, practically ignoring Nirmala. He felt the pain slowly fade as he repositioned himself so that he would be leaning his head on his grandmother's shoulder. Sarabi let out a quiet sigh as she wrapped her right leg around her grandson. "He understands. Thank you, Nirmala." Sarabi spoke with grace as Nirmala bowed to her and then left to check on the rest of the survivors.

Sarabi turned her head down to look at her grandson's face. The dark circles had gotten bigger and his once sturdy frame was now a starving one, with his ribs starting to show. His muscles now stood out more than ever. Kion slowly tried to stand up but was stopped by Sarabi's paw resting on the back of his neck, forcing him in only one direction. Down.

"Not today mister. You heard what the kingdom's healer said. You need rest." Sarabi said sternly as she pulled her grandson back down into her shoulder with a bit more force than she intended. She is and always has been regarded as the strongest lioness in her lifetime and one of the strongest lioness in the all of the Pride Lands history. Yet she never let her power influence her ego. She was always calm and patient with everyone she met. Kion knew better than to try and argue with her so he decided to not resist. There was no point anyway.