The Lion Guard Season 5

Chapter 21: I am Mature

{Saka's POV}
Amani has been acting very strange in the few days the newcomers have been here. And Shani has also been acting differently. Shani is happier while Amani is more secluded than ever. She had been drifting away from us ever since we became the Night Pride, and I don't bother with her much. After all, she can take care of herself.
"Saka!" Duma yelled
"Patrols are done?" I asked
"Yep," Moto said "We patrolled twice."
"Great," I said "Anything that needs my attention?"
"No."
"In that case, let's go training." I said
"Race you there." Duma said before running off.
"Hey that's not fair!" I yelled "You're way faster than me!"
I took off after her and almost caught her until Uzuri cut in front of me and stopped me.
"Uzuri?" I asked
"Babe, I need to talk to you." She said
"Can it wait?" I asked "The Night Pride and I are going to train a bit."
"No it can't," She answered "It's about Amani."
"What about her?"
"You haven't noticed?" She asked with skepticism "She's acting weird. She disappears, sometimes for days, then comes back and acts like nothing's wrong."
"I did notice that," I admitted "But me and Amani aren't that close anymore."
"But you're her brother," She said "On some level, you have to care about her."
"I do," I said "But her life is none of my business."
Uzuri was starting to get agitated "It becomes your business when she isn't seen for days at a time! You are the leader of the Night Pride. You protect everyone in this kingdom and Amani is no exception! If she's in danger, it's your job to help her! Not just as leader of the Night Pride but as her brother!"
I sighed, she was right. I have to try and help "The Night Pride are at our training grounds. Let's go there and discuss it with them. Maybe even the Lion Guard. I can have Dekha and Ullu looking for her."
"Thank you."
Uzuri and I walked to the training grounds where the Night Pride was waiting for me.
"Saka?" Duma asked "Where were you? I was just about to send Dekha to look for you."
"I stopped him," Uzuri answered "We need to talk to you guys."
Uzuri looked at me expectingly, as if she wanted me to say it.
"Amani has recently started to vanish from the Tree and isn't seen for days." I said
"That's just Amani," Duma said "She told me she likes her solitude."
"Yes, but this is different." Uzuri said "If she wanted solitude, she would normally be at the snowy plains. But she's no where to be found in the Tree."
"You think she's been sneaking out?" Moto asked
"It's the only reason." Uzuri answered
"How?" Duma asked "Ullu is watching the Mountain Pass day and night. If Amani tried to sneak out, Ullu would have stopped her."
"Duma," Dekha said "There is more than one way to get to the Tree of Life. The other ways are harder than the Mountain Pass but are still possible."
"So what?" Duma asked "We also patrol at night."
"She could've found a gap between our patrols where she can sneak in and out." Moto explained
"But where would she sneak out?" Hofu asked
"That's a good question." Moto said "I'm not sure."
"There is something else," Uzuri admitted "She's been acting like this ever since Nirmala took us to Dirisha."
"Dirisha?" I asked
"The River of Patience," She quickly explained "Amani was up that ridge for a long time talking to someone, and she brushed me off when I questioned her about it."
"Huh, so she's sneaking out by the River of Patience?" I asked
"How?" Duma asked
"Let's go there and find out." I said
The rest of them nodded and we went to the River of Patience. Before we got there, we were stopped by Amani.
"Hello Saka." Amani said "What do you want?"
"Amani," I said "What's going on with you?"
Amani raised a brow "What does THAT mean?"
"Uzuri told us that you've been disappearing for days and you've been brushing off her questions." I said
"So?" She asked "Can't a girl have some peace and quiet without everyone speculating?"
"Amani," Uzuri said "This goes beyond peace and quiet and you know it."
"So you had to get HIM involved?" She yelled
I was confused, him? Him who? I'd decided not to ask about it.
"He should know." Uzuri said "Besides, you aren't telling me anything!"
"If I wasn't telling YOU anything, why would you think I would want to tell HIM??" She asked, obviously getting annoyed
"Because clearly SOMETHING is wrong!" Uzuri yelled
Amani furrowed her brows "Whatever happened to girl code?"
"What you're doing also violates girl code." Uzuri said "You're keeping secrets from me, your best friend."
"Girl code?" I asked Duma
"Don't worry about it Prince. They're universal laws every girl knows." She explained
I raised my brow "Okay?"
"Just ignore it for now," She repeated "We have something more important."
Duma was right, I have more important things to be putting my energy towards.
"So I'm not allowed to have secrets anymore?" Amani asked
"That's not what I meant and you know it." Uzuri said
"Do I?" Amani asked
"Yes!" Uzuri yelled "Yes you do!"
"Sorry for butting in ladies," Duma said "But maybe we should talk about something else."
"Duma, what are you doing?" I whispered in her ear
"Clearly Amani isn't going to tell us what we want," She whispered back "And the tension is getting too high. You boys continue with training, I'll stay and try to deescalate this situation before it reaches critical mass."
"Okay." I relented "Guys, let's go."
Me, Hofu and Moto walked away from Amani, Uzuri and Duma while Dekha took off, I assume back to her nest. We went to the training grounds where we discussed what just happened.
"So can we agree that Amani is acting weirder than we thought she was?" Hofu asked
"Yeah," I said "We can agree on that."
"My question is, who was that someone Amani had was talking to?" Moto said "And what did they say? Because this change couldn't have happened overnight."
"Yeah, where's Shani?" I asked
"Still with the new lion, Nguvu?" Moto said "Why?" Hofu asked
"Amani and Shani are close," I answered "Maybe Shani can get some answers for us."
"Saka," Moto said "We shouldn't try to force this. Maybe Amani's just not ready to tell us."
I sighed and let my head drop down. I wanted answers, I needed answers. Uzuri is right, she's my sister and I should know if something's wrong. But maybe Moto is right. "Fine." I said. If she won't be, I'll be the mature one. Because someone has to be. I made a promise and I'm going to keep it. I will be rational, because emotions will only get in my way.