Zuka Zama Part II: The Scourge of Kopa | The Lion Guard

2. Bunga's Fear

Kion followed his mate to the edge of the Pride Rock where Bunga was sitting, his head bowed. As he walked closer he could hear soft sniffling.

"Bunga. What's the matter?", Kion asked. The honey badger didn't respond he just simply turned his head away from Kion and quickly wiping his tears away with his paws.

"What? Are you actually scared to fight?", Kion asked. "It's okay..."

"I'm not afraid of a fight", Bunga grumbled, looking down and scraping his claws against the rock.

"Well, are you afraid we'll lose. Because there's a fat warthog's chance of that", Kion chuckled, trying to get a smile out of him.

"Its not that either", the honey badger, crossed his arms, now becoming agitated with his mate.

"Well, what is it? What are scared of. You're the bravest person I know. If you're scared of something we can solve this together like we always do", Kion encouraged.

"Ugh. Kion! I'm scared of losing you!", Bunga finally admitted, his face softening as tears were starting to pool in his eyes again. He turned back around to wipe them. He hated crying in front of others, especially Kion. It made him feel weak.

Kion was taken aback for a second. "Bunga what are you talking about? I'm fine and I'm right here". He walked up to Bunga and attempted to nuzzle him.

Bunga turned back to push Kion away. "Don't you get it, Kion? When I woke up you were bleeding so much and you kept passing out. I thought you were gonna die. Even Rafiki didn't know if you were gonna make it. I stayed by your side the entire night", Bunga paused, his nose sniffling and tears now freely flowing. "When you woke I was so happy to see you, but the first thing you want to do is go risk your life again? What if you're not so lucky? What if someone can't save you? What"ll I do without you? I love you, Kion. I don't want to lose you"

Kion took a deep breath. He felt completely ashamed watching the one he loved the most cry, even worse him being the cause of it. He walked up and wrapped his paw around the badger and ran it against his back. "Bunga. It's okay. I'm here. And somehow...I'm fine. Please, look at me", Kion pleaded.

Bunga sniffed and looked up his mate. Kion's had a soft, comforting look on his face. The lion pressed his face against the honey badger's. "I'm scared, Kion. Almost losing you is the only thing that scares me", Bunga admitted.

"Bunga, please. Don't cry anymore. I need you to understand that I have to do this. This is our home and our family. But I can't do this alone. I promise you we'll be fine as long as we stick together", Kion nuzzled Bunga's face softly.

Bunga took a deep breath and began to chuckle a bit. "Okay...I'll help you. But the next time you try to risk your life, I'm gonna get you better and then I'm gonna beat you up"

"Like I'm just gonna let it happen", Kion joked, hugging his best friend close.

"So, you wanna help me defend the Pride Lands?", Kion asked.

"Alright, but only if you help me lift logs for grubs afterward", Bunga argued.

"Ugh, deal. Log grubs aren't even that good", Kion rolled his eyes as he and Bunga made their way back into Pride Rock to access the situation.