The Lion Guard: The Northern Crocodile

Chapter 38

It felt like an eternity before the sights and sounds of destruction ceased. No one dared to speak a word once silence fell upon the area. The sensations of shock and grief were felt strongly by everyone present.

{Oh, Tuma. Why did you have to go and get yourself killed? How do you expect us to explain this to your sons and Zula?}

"Over here!"

The animals turned around and spotted a white bird flying towards them, a small group of animals following not that far behind.

{Oh, great. The lion guard. Just what we needed at the moment.}

"Nice work, Ono!" Kion called, padding to a halt once he and the Guard reached the crocodiles and Talib. "Is everyone okay? Ono saw the canyon collapsing when I asked him to see if he could find Makuu and Kiburi."

"Of course, once I noticed that you guys were here, we came as quickly as we could," Ono explained.

"We appreciate the concern, Kion," Makuu replied. "However, I think you arrived a little too late."

"What do you mean, Makuu?" Beshte asked.

"Yeah! You're all up here and in one piece, and none of you are dead," Bunga pointed out.

"It's not that! It's just...well...um..." Makuu stammered, unsure of how to break the news to the Guard.

"Makuu? What's wrong?" Kion asked.

The crocodile leader, still hesitant about spilling the truth to the cub and the other youngsters, kept his jaws shut.

"Ugh! Will someone please tell us what's wrong?" Fuli growled.

"Tuma's gone," Kiburi blurted out, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"Tuma?" The Guard exclaimed all at once.

"You found him?" Ono asked.

Kiburi gave a slight nod of his head.

"Well, where was he? Or is he? Eh, same difference!" Bunga added.

"He was down in the canyon...and that's where he still is," Kiburi responded.

"Wait a minute, I thought you said that he was...oh..." Ono trailed off, realizing what both Makuu and Kiburi were trying to tell them.

"Ono?" Kion asked, his voice cracking.

"I...I'm afraid so, Kion."

The lion guard, now fully aware of Tuma's death, fell silent. However, it didn't stay quiet for long when Makuu noticed Kiburi heading for the path that led back down to the canyon, or whatever was left of it.

"Kiburi, where are you going?" Makuu spoke up.

"I'm going to go find Tuma, and I'm not leaving here until I do!" Kiburi answered.

"Why, though?" Kion asked.

Kiburi stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath, then rounded on Kion, taking everyone by surprise.

"Okay, then, how about you go back to Zula and the others empty clawed and try telling them exactly what happened to Tuma," Kiburi snapped. "I'm sure they'd love to hear that explanation coming from the jaws of a lion cub and his friends when they have nothing to show for their supposed rescue effort."

"S...sorry, Kiburi, but..."

"'Sorry' doesn't even cover the half of it, cub!"

"Calm down, Kiburi," Makuu interrupted.

"As for you, Makuu, don't you dare try telling me to calm down!" Kiburi snarled. "And the whole lot of you, just stay out of my way!"

Kiburi turned around and stalked away from the others.