Kion's Legacy

Chapter Six: The Lion Guard

"This way!" I called, racing forward and guiding the Guard to Diamond Peak.

"I hope everything is okay," Fuli commented as she rushed behind me.

We climbed up the bluff, the angry yells and upset cries reaching my ears as I spotted the group of lions having an argument on top of the bluff.

"They sound angry," Beshte said with concern.

We reached the group and everything went quiet once more. It was weird how that kept happening.

Bunga, Fuli, Ono, and Beshte slowly approached the group, all of their eyes were wide. My father just stared at them, his eyes filling with joy and his mouth curving into a smile. 

"Kion!" Bunga cried suddenly. He ran over to my dad and gave him a bear hug.

"I missed you," Dad exclaimed.

"I missed you too, man! Where have you been?" Bunga asked.

My dad chuckled.

"That's a long story," he said quietly.

"Trust me, we have time." Fuli replied, raising an eyebrow.

My father turned to me and said, "Kito, honey, why don't you-"

"-no dad," I interrupted him. "I want to know why you left. It's the least you could do after all my sorrow."

Dad hesitated and lowered his eyes to the ground, obviously debating in himself weather or not he would tell me.

"She deserves to know," Ono said, landing gently on Beshte's back.

"Kion, I don't think that's a good idea," my mother insisted, frowning harder at my father.

"No, they're right," Dad admitted, nodding. "She should know."

I gave a small smile and went to rub my head on my father's leg lovingly, to give him comfort. He smiled down at me and kissed my forehead.

"You guys may want to take a seat. It's a long story." My father suggested.

Everyone sat down and got comfortable. They turned their eyes to my father, willing him to continue so they'd have a clue to what was going on.

He let his amber eyes wander around the circle of animals that were our friends and family.

"A long time ago, I met this lioness." My father began. "I was on a typical patrol around the land, and I spotted her in the grasses, lapping some water from a puddle. She seemed startled, but then her eyes landed on my shoulder mark. She said something about knowing who I was and that she was searching for my team. I informed her that you guys, the Guard, were all busy with your patrols and that you all had other activities to attend to afterwards. Then she insisted that it would be fine if just I could help her. That I would surely be enough being the fiercest and all. I agreed and followed her off across the border. Well I didn't catch onto her until we reached the elephant graveyard. Nasty barren place, dark and creepy.

"Anyway, there was a gathering of all kinds of animals there, mostly predators. Well, I saw one lion off to the side with the faded mark of the Guard on his shoulder. I couldn't believe it, because I'd thought all of Scar's guard had passed away. He was old and shaky, but definitely alive.

"It turned out that the group was a group of former protectors and warriors who felt they'd lost their meaning of live after retiring or being exiled. So they came together to sharpen their skills, share techniques and stories, and just be social with fellow fighters. So I joined them every week to visit and enjoy each others company.

"Then, the trouble started to come. I noticed that they weren't what they seemed when one of the group announced that they had been accepted back into his former pride and that now he was stealing food and provisions from them. I voiced my opinion, that was wrong! They didn't agree, and told me if I did anything about it that they would kill me. So I started coming less and less.

"The lioness who had brought me noticed this, and she was close with the former Guard member. The two confronted me nastiliy one night, threatening me and yelling at me. So I stopped coming altogether.

"In three weeks time, I'd all but forgotten about them. Never really thought about it or cared. But on one of my trips to the watering hole, I saw the elderly Guard member sitting at the edge. I tried to avoid him, but even though I got away, I always felt as if he was around, waiting to pounce.

"So I became more protective and strict with you, Kito, for I never knew if he would come after my family or not.

"A week after I saw the lion, a message appeared on the lair of the Guard."

"Yeah," Fuli commented. "I remember. It said 'You ate and drank your fill of our food, then went your merry way.  Now you will pay the price for deserters'."

"Right, Fuli," Dad nodded, barely lifting his eyes from the ground. "Well I knew the price for deserters in most cases was death. So one night, so late the dawn was showing, I decided to leave. I knew I couldn't stay and endanger the Pridelands and my family for a petty group of disgruntled warriors.

"I'm sure Kito remembers that night. I woke her and kissed her goodbye, promising that I would return."

"And you did." I said, smiling, a few tears slipping down my cheeks.

"The Guard member has since passed, but the lioness is still there. She's taken over, and demands provisions for the promise of leaving me and my family and land alone. But she must have her food." Dad said.

I glanced around the group, who were all in deep thought. My mother still seemed angry, Fuli seemed upset, Bunga was just happy that Kion was back, Beshte and Ono looked like they were so deep in thought that they couldn't be dug out if we tried.

"Father, King Kovu," my dad said, turning to my Grandfather Simba and Uncle Kovu. "What do you suggest we do? Should I give up the provisions or fight them off?"

Simba and Kovu glanced at each other and sighed.

"I feel we should discuss this further." My grandfather said.

"I agree." Kovu seconded.

"Whatever you decide, we are willing to help and support." Beshte spoke up.

The rest of the animals in the circle nodded. Except mom. My mother still looked like she could kill someone. Why was she so angry? Was wasn't she happy?

My Aunt Kiara surged forward and embraced my dad once more. My grandmother planted a kiss on his forehead and the three shared a moment of rejoicing for my father's return.

"It's great to have you back, Kion," Fuli stated, smiling.

"It's great to be back," he replied, embracing his mother and sister.

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