Avatar: The Journey Book I

Simba

Fire.
Air.
Water.
Earth.

    Only the Avatars, masters of all the four elements, can unite the universes.

Book I: Tahala
Chapter V: Simba

A small lion cub leapt out of a cave, surveying the landscape. It smiled ear to furry ear, and leapt back into the cave, trying to avoid the several lionesses across the floor.

"Dad, dad dad! C'mon dad, we gotta go!" He pounced onto a lioness. "Sorry, sorry. Dad!" He growled, pouncing on a bigger lion.

"Your son.. is awake." rumbled a lioness.

"Before sunrise, he's your son.." The lion murmured sleepily.

"Dad dad dad, c'mon!" The cub growled, tugging at the maned lion's ear. The cub lost its grip and bowled over. "Whoah!" It crashed into something, quickly regaining its balance, and head-butted the lion.

"You promised," It said stubbornly.

The lion looked up. "Alright, I'm up, I'm up." the lion yawned, showing of it's great jaws.

"Yeah!" The cub growled in anticipation, running back to the mouth of the cave.

The mother of the cub followed the lion and the cub up to the top of the great rock, and nudged him off. The cub scampered off, following his father. As they sat, the sun rose up from the horizon, illuminating an even greater landscape than from the cave.

"Look Simba, everything the light touches, is our kingdom." the lion explained.

"Wow.." the cub, now Simba, said in amazement.

"A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king."

"And all of this will be mine?" Simba asked.

"Everything."

"Everything the light touches.." Simba recalled. He surveyed the landscape for the umpteenth time, noticing a dark canyon with a dark mist surrounding it. Turning to his father, he asked curiously. "What about that shadowy place?"

"That is beyond our borders, Simba. You must never go there." He said sternly.

"But I thought a king can do whatever he wants." Simba pondered.

"Oh Simba…"

Me and Wan were practicing our abilities, seeing who can move a rock the farthest with only our air-bending. It was difficult standing up on my two back paws; luckily, I had a tail to balance myself.

So far, I lost five times to Wan. I was getting irritated. "You said you would go easy on me," I growled grumpily. Wan pushed the air into the rocks direction, moving it five feet, easily beating my measly two.

"I did," he retorted with a hint of amusement. I growled, "Wan I'm gonna-"

"Hi guys!" someone yowled, interrupting me. I looked down from the rock we were standing on.

"Simba!" we all said in unison.

"Hey, guess what?" Simba said.

"What?" questioned Korra.

"I'm gonna be king of Pride Rock." he said with a smirk.

"Really?" Korra asked, looking at me, playing along.

Wan stepped in. "Well, King Simba, shouldn't you be with your father?"

I chuckled, and eventually started snorting from trying to keep in my laughter. Eventually I busted out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Simba sniffed.

"Oh nothing," I said lightheartedly, looking the other way.

Simba snorted. "Well anyhow.. I'm going to the water hole. You guys should come with me."

I sensed Simba's quickened heartbeat. "Oh really, you're sure of that?"

Simba bit his lip and flicked his ears. "Alright alright. I don't know how you do it but.. I'm actually going to the Elephant Graveyard," Simba countered, raising his tail proudly.

"What are you talking about?" questioned Wan protectively.

"I mean, it is dangerous.. but if you're scared.." He headed north of us, leaving us hanging.

Korra broke into a run. "Well I'm going." "Korra…" Aang nagged, but followed her. Wan followed him.

"I don't really like this…" I sighed, racing towards them.

"Taka, rise" rasped a dark voice. A slim body slinked into the geyser cave, awaiting it's orders. "I told my nephew he should go," sneered Scar, "And in only a matter of time, I will rule this pride. As soon as that little hairball and my brother are out of my way." Scar loomed over the slender body. "Do not fail me, Taka."