The Lion King: The Retold Continuation

Part I, Chapter VI: Light in the Area

Kion began rapidly gulping in air. He felt his heart pounding loud and fast.
"KION!"

He whipped his head around to Vitani sitting in front of him. Her leg had been scratched, but by what?

Kion looked around more, everyone in the cave was awake. He then felt his sweat pouring down his entire body. Everything began piecing together. He had been moving in his nightmare about Kopa. Kion looked down and he saw his unsheathed claws. I scratched her..., he thought.

Nala broke the silence, "Kion, calm down, it was only a dream-"

"I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME!" Kion yowled, cutting off his mother. He bolted out of the cave.

Simba sighed. "He just needs time."

"I'll talk to him. Kion's just still deep in the stages of recovery." Vitani offered.

Simba looked down and paused for a moment. "Well, I do admit you get to him the most. Go ahead."

Kion sat on the ledge of Pride Rock. His head was lowered, ears down. He felt like crying. How can I apologize to her?, Kion thought. He knew that it was only almost a month ago and he would continue having these nightmares for some time. But if they made him do motions in his sleep that could hurt others, how could he carry on? It wasn't fair for them, and it wasn't fair for him to have so much care given.

"Kion..."

The prince pricked his ears to the sound of Vitani. He rose his head. "Vitani, I...I didn't mean to...I'm so sorry-"

"Shh, Kion don't. Don't. I know what's going on. Relax." Vitani wasn't interested in sympathy. She was just worried about how her best friend felt after unintentionally scratching her.
Kion knew that, but he lowered his ears. He still refused to forgive himself for committing the act.

Vitani noticed this. They stood silent, then she slowly rubbed her head below Kion's, having the knowledge that he wasn't going to say anything else besides his apology.

Kion's eyes softened. He rose his ears slightly to Vitani's action. Feeling her sense of warm forgiveness only made him want to cry more. But he took in a breath, and held in his tears.
Vitani looked up at him after. She formed a smile, encouraging Kion to make his awkward grin when usually in her presence.

Though neither physically spoke, both felt what each other wanted to say. The two then just turned to look at the sunrise together, Vitani leaning on Kion's shoulder. Kion's pupils shrinked as the sun grew brighter. It was a hard time for him, he knew for sure.

His father's words that were told to him a while ago suddenly floated into his mind. "Where there is darkness, there is also always light in the area, too." It was true though, Kion thought to himself.