Lion Guard: Neema the Leopard

Chapter 21 (5-16-2018)

The noise of screaming stamping animals erupts from all over the pridelands as the herds are thrown into chaos. Kion and his friends decide to split up to try to calm the individual herds while the hyena wait at the base of priderock forming a barrier.

Neema sits on the edge of pride rock overlooking the chaos. Mwamba is next to her with his ears back. "why would they do this sort of thing?" he mumbles.

Neema glances around quickly and then turns to Zazu. "have Janja lead the hyena to the herds. There are too many leopards for the lion guard to handle."

"are you sure that's a good idea?" Zazu pipes back. "can we even trust them?"

"they wouldn't have come all the way here if they didn't want to help." Neema growls back. "this is full on war we are talking about! Do you have time to be picky about your allies?"

"reasonable." Zazu nods. He turns to king Simba who is currently resting nearby on his side because Rafiki told him not to get involved unless he had to. "sir?"

"she knows what she's talking about." Simba replies. "Kion and his friends can't calm all the herds by themselves."

"very well. I will send word now." Zazu leaps into the air and glides down to the base of the rocks where Janja is waiting with his clan. "Neema is worried the lion guard can't handle this situation alone. The king would like for you to send your troops to cooperate with Kion and calm the herds."

Jasiri who had been standing next to Janja nods to this and glances at Janja. "if we split our group in half and go different ways we might be able to stop the madness."

Janja frowns to this and shakes his head. "you ott not to be getting involved though."

Jasiri pouts. "well why not!?"

"don't do that face you know why." He fires back. "you should have stayed home to get rest."

"and miss this action? No way!" she grins back. "I'll take half down to Besthe and Bunga. You go over to Kion and Fuli and Ono." She then hurries away followed by half of the pack.

Janja smirks a little bit. "she's stubborn. Alright follow me guys." He calls out and leads the rest of the pack to help the lion guard.

Zazu leaps into the air once more and looks out over the fields. He can't see much of anything in the chaos and then all at once a streak of yellow flashes across the ground. His gaze is drawn towards the flash and he spots three leopards sneaking around in the bushes. Upon closer inspection he realizes there is a whole pack of leopards moving very slowly one at a time getting ever closer to priderock. He flips into panic mode and screams. "leopards are coming! They're practically at our doors!"

Neema rushes to the other side of the rocks and looks down. "he's right! There are a lot of them!" she looks back over her shoulder. "Simba get inside. This could get messy."

Simba retreats inside the rocks and the lioness form a barrier. Mwamba glances at Neema. "I insist you wait inside. You will only get hurt out here."

"you know I can't do that." She huffs. "I will stand and fight."

Before another word can be spoken the rocks are thrown into the chaos of battle. Neema leaps into the crowd confusing a few attackers but they are undeterred by these two leopards who have joined the lioness.

"don't worry about the lioness! We want Simba!" the leader growls his command to the others.

Neema is easily pushed to the side and she slides off the rocks down onto a ledge. "ha! you can't even fight!" tana gloats. "I'm glad you aren't in our troop you would just bring us down!" then tana turns and charges the next lioness in line.

Neema forces herself to her feet and scrambles up the rocks the best she can. When she reaches the peek, she spots the larger male of the group sneaking around the fight into the cave where Simba is hiding.

Neema races into the cave without thinking.

"wow look how the mighty have fallen great ruler of the pridelands indeed." The male spits in a huff. "hahaha"

"you will never take the pridelands." Simba growls.

"oh, and I suppose you're going to stop me?" he replies.

"he won't but I will!" Neema growls pushing the male leopard down. The two roll across the ground landing outside the cave in a scuffle Neema ends up pinned.

"insulant!" he growls but before his claws can mark her he pauses. He pauses and stares for a moment before lowering himself and stepping off her.

"what you suddenly give up?" Neema grumbles as she forces herself onto her feet again. "you aren't taking pity on me because of my injury?"

"Neema?" he says in disbelief.

Her ear prick at the mention of her name. "do I know you?"

"I'm Jaffire... your father." He pauses then growls loudly and everyone stops. "hold up!"

"m-my father...?" Neema questions. It is then that her wary body finally gives out and she collapses.

"tana..." he growls. "go tell the others to retreat now!" he then turns to Simba inside the cave and frowns. "if I had only known she was here the whole time... I... I'm so sorry."

"you don't mean to tell me this was all about her?" Zazu pipes. "I knew she would only bring trouble."

"when Neema was a cub we were still very new to parenting..." Jaffire replies. "while most pairs had 3 or 4 cubs we were very content with the one we had. I had just become leader of our wondering pack and we passed through a human controlled area. There was plenty to eat and so against all logic I decided we should stay the night near the humans so we could eat plentiful. But it was like a trap... they came in the night and we scattered... many did not make it to safty that day and... our poor cub was lost." He huffs with his ears back and tail down. "we have since been gathering numbers and destroying the human settlements as payback. The hyena told us you were hurt, and we thought it'd be the perfect chance to expand our lands and armies."

"then I can assume you don't wish to continue fighting?" Simba replies.

"I could never hurt anyone Neema would be willing to give her life for." He replies. "therefore, I wish to instead call a truce. Please accept our apologizes." He turns to his troops. "you all retreat. I'll catch up."

All the leopards leave, and one other comes bounding up the rocks. Jahari the female leopard rushes to the scene. "is it true? Did you find Neema here?" she looks at the collapsed Neema and smiles. "after all this time she's safe. Thank goodness."