Clouded Mind part 2 #8

Fight harder

It is a new day in the Pridelands and everyone was just as miserable. Once again, Simba ordered his lionesses to search for Kion but Fuli knew that Kion didn't want to be found. So instead of facing the King, Fuli leads the guard on their morning patrol. It was very quiet with Kion not coming up with a conversation but no one was in the mood to talk. The guard got a lot of worried glances from grazing animals but they tried to ignore them. Fuli's ears prick up at the sound of an animal in distress.

"Ahh! Panic and run! Panic and run!" Cries Thurston the zebra herd leader.

"Ono, take a look." Commands Fuli.

Using his keen eyesight, Ono takes flight and finds the panicking zebras running away from Janja and his clan.

"Hapana!" He shrieks. "Everyone! Janja and the hyenas are chasing the zebras."

Fuli groans. "Well, duty calls. Till the Pridelands end...!"

"Lion guard defend!"

They approach the scene to confront the attackers. Fuli stands on a rock with her friends beside her to show authority and power.

"JANJA! How many times have we told you? Get out of the Pridelands!" She orders threateningly.

"We will leave as soon as we get a snack." Janja replies looking closely at the guard. "...Or blown away by Kion's roar. Speaking of Kion, where is he?"

Fuli growls and unsheathes her claws, preparing for a fight. "So what if he's not here? We don't need the roar to defeat you!"

"Most times, you do." Laughs Janja. "Enough talk. Let's fight!"

Janja pounces at Fuli but she saw it coming and steps aside.

"Bunga, Beshte, think you can help take out the other hyenas?" Asks Fuli.

"You bet. ZUKA ZAMA!" Cheers Bunga as he jumps and lands on top of a hyena.

"Let's move. Twindeki Boco!" Shouts Beshte.

Beshte smashes his body against a group of hyenas and sends them flying. Janja recovers from his failed attempt at pinning Fuli and tries again.

"Got'ch ya now!" He yells and pins her down.

Fuli lands with a hard thud. She pushes her paw against Janja's face to try and get him off. Ono could see Fuli struggling against Janja's grip.

"Fuli!" Ono panics.

"Don't worry about me Ono. Help the others and get the zebras to safety." Fuli orders.

It was hard for Ono to leave without helping her but he had an order. He takes one last glance at Fuli before taking flight.

"Here we are without your little friends helping you." Snarls Janja. "What chance do you think you have at beating us when you don't have Kion here?"

"It's a one v one, Janja. Don't get too confident." Replies Fuli smiling evilly.

Using her back paws, Fuli scratches Janja's sides making him wince in pain. Fuli kicks him off and pins him down.

"Last chance Janja." She warns.

Janja growls. "Ok, ok, you win. Let's go boys!"

Janja runs away to the Outlands with his clan, Fuli watches them leave and collapses. The other members of the guard hurry to her side.

"Fuli, are you ok?" Asks Bunga.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired." Fuli replies.

"You should go back and rest." Says Ono.

Fuli shakes her head. "No. We have a patrol to finish. And without Kion, these battles are going to get harder. We need to fight harder to defend the circle of life."

Fuli stands once again and leads the others to finish patrol.

In the Outlands

"Kion wasn't with his friends at the attack. The plan worked." Says Janja.

"Excellent Janja. With Kion gone, the Pridelands are defenceless. Getting rid of Simba will be child's play." Replies Scar.

"Uhh...Scar? What about the remaining members of the guard? They are still here and they can still fight. Fuli has taken charge and..."

"But does she have the roar of the elders?"

"Uhh...no."

"Exactly. Without the roar, the guard is defenceless. Fuli may be the new leader but what chance does she have at protecting the Pridelands without Kion?"

"A better shot than we do at taking it." Answers Cheezi.

"Yeah, she's scary." Agrees Chungu.

"Shut up fur brains!" Snaps Janja.

"Yes, I suppose there's that. But one day, she will fall."