Forbidden Love

Confessions

Chapter 7: Confessions

Dusk had come and went in the Pridelands as the sun sank below the horizon and the subtle hues of the orange sky slowly turned to the cooler ones of night. The aftermath of the furious battle between the Outsiders and the Pridelanders scarred the savanna surrounding Pride Rock, as blood and feathers stained and littered everywhere across the greenery. Despite the gory scene that plagued the once-brilliant scenery of the African savanna, it was a miracle there weren't many fatalities as a result of the vicious battle, save for a trio of unlucky hyenas who were slain during the midst of the skirmish.

Once Kion roared away the Outsiders, Simba thanked the civilian animals for their bravery and assisting the Lion Guard in defending the Pridelands, he even announced that a special gathering will take place the following day to celebrate their well-deserved victory against Janja and the rest of the Outlanders. But tonight, the Lions of the Pridelands along with the Lion Guard were having their own gathering inside Pride Rock.

Simba and Nala along with Kion, Kiara and Kovu stood over a stone ledge that overlooked the entire den where the Lionesses and the rest of the Guard were gathered down below. Simba stepped forth and began addressing his speech to his subjects:

"First of all, I'd like to thank everyone here for finding the time to attend this rather impromptu meeting here in Pride Rock. I know that now is usually the time when we all would usually rest and sleep and prepare ourselves for the day ahead, but I feel that tonight's agenda could not be put off to tomorrow or anytime later."

The Lionesses and the Guard nodded with acknowledgement, many were accompanied with warm smiles as all of them were more than willing to sacrifice their time and sleep for their King and Queen, despite their injuries.

"As we all know, Nala and myself were ambushed by the troop of rogue Outlanders while we were at the Elephant Territories, which, according to Kion, was part of the devious scheme orchestrated by Janja to take over the Pridelands. Yet, despite our absence and your assumptions that Nala and I were dead, all of you fought hard and defended our home, and for that you have my utmost gratitude. I'm very proud of each and every one of you."

The Royal Family beamed as the audience below them cheered at their King's complements. They reverted back to silence when Simba continued;

"The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are; but it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as Pridelanders. The cost of freedom is always high, but we Pridelanders have always paid it. And the one path we shall never choose, that is the path of surrender or submission. Our goal was not the victory of might, but the vindication of right; not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom. And with what happened today, I believe it is safe to say that our goal was finally achieved; we have won the war against the Outsiders and peace is restored to the Pridelands, her citizens once again have the freedom to continue on with their respective journeys in the Circle of Life."

Murmurs and nods of agreement were exchanged amongst the Lionesses as Simba finally concluded his speech;

"And, as an act of gratitude, I have planned a little feast to celebrate our victory today. Vitani?"

Their attentions were shifted to the den's opening where Vitani and two other Lionesses dragged in the three dead carcasses of the hyenas that were slain earlier during the battle earlier.

"Okay, I know it's not really nice to eat the dead bodies of the enemies that you defeated in a war... but hey, it's 'cause of them we had to skip lunch and dinner just to defend the Pridelands. It is the Circle of Life, after all." Vitani sardonically joked while the other Lionesses grinned at her dark humor.