The Lion Guard | Still Together

Chapter 5.2: Journey

With Fuli

Fuli woke up and stretched, before telling Kiara, Kovu, and Mwanga that she would be heading out on her journey to wherever Kion's located.  They all wished her luck, and she set off on her journey.  It was the second night when Fuli started to lose hope of finding Kion and she dreamed of her mother.

Fuli woke up in a flower field to see her mother staring down at her

"Don't lose hope, Fuuls." Her mother said. "You'll find him tomorrow."

"I'm just so tired and-" Fuli said, only to be cut off by Duma

"Don't worry, you'll find Kion."

Fuli woke up to find herself refreshed and ready to run off towards the setting sun, and did so until she needed to rest.

Need..rest..must..keep...going...must...find was all she could think before she fell into a sleep, only to wake up to buzzards circle above her, and she was too weak to move.  They know I won't last much longer out here without help. 'I'm sorry everybody, I've failed you'  Fuli started to think, but was interrupted by a load roar coming from somewhere else.  When the roar finished, she could've sworn that she saw the sky clear, but she was so out of it, she might've imagined it.

"Quick, up here!" Came a voice from the direction of the roar

"I don't know if you've noticed," Fuli said, "but I can't exactly run."

"Fine." The voice said, revealing a lion, covered to the shoulders in mud. "Then I'll take you."

The lion started to drag her by her scruff to a watering hole. "Here. Drink." he commanded

There's something familar about this lion, but I can't pinpoint it, with him smelling like fox-dung and mud covering half his body. Fuli thought. "How did you know where I was?" Fuli asked

"I heard you saying something about failing someone, so I decided to investigate." he replied

I didn't realize I shouted it out loud. Fuli thought, "One more thing." She added

"Sure." The lion relpied

"Why do you smell like fox-dung and have mud covering half your body?"

"Oh, that?  I fell into a pile of fox-dung earlier today, trying to climb a tree right before I heard your distress call."

"Aren't you gonna wash it off?"

"Not yet.  It helps to hide and hunt for gazelles."

"If you don't scare them off with your smell first."

"Haha, yeah. Speaking of markings, what's that on your shoulder?"

"Oh, this?  It's my Mark of the Guard.  I'm part of the Lion Guard."

"The Lion Guard?"

"You haven't heard of the Lion Guard before?  Even the animals at the Tree of Life have."

"No, actually, I haven't."

"They help defend the Circle of Life, you've heard of that, right?"

"Right.  Only kill to eat or for self-defense otherwise the land will go to waste."

"Right. What is your name?"

"Oh, ummm, what's yours?"

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

"Fine. My name's Uongozi, but you can call Uon."

"My name's Fuli."

"Okay, Fuli.  You're welcome to stay here as long as you like."

"Asante, Uon."

Uon's definitely hiding something.  I see no reason to not wash off fox-dung or mud with the golden pelt a lion has, if he did need to hide his scent, wouldn't it make more sense to roll in nzuri or something?.  He also heard me telling the Guard I failed, but I could've sworn I didn't say that out loud.  Uon's also way to comfortable with me and my name when any foreigner would be more cautious around me.  I guess I'll see him without the "fox-dung" soon.  Fuli thought as the two walked in silence beside each other before Uon decided to break the silence by saying, "Here is where we sleep." as a leopard jumped out of the trees, causing Fuli to assume a battle stance and snarl at the leopard

"Calm down, it's just me, a friendly leopard." the leopard said

"I don't trust leopards." Fuli spat, her words laced with venom. "Even ones that claim to be friendly."

Great.  I should've thought of this before bringing Fuli here.  Uon thought. Should I try to reach out to Fuli, or just let them settle this?  I'll just let them settle it. 

"They took over my home and killed my family, so if I never see a leopard again, it'll be too soon." Fuli said, still bristling with anger

"Calm down.  I don't know what can make you trust me, but I promise, I'm a good leopard." the leopard said

"Okay, I'll give you a chance." Fuli said, calming down. "Sorry about that.  I really need to let my guard down sometimes."

"Oh," the leopard replied, "if cheetahs took over my home and killed my family, I'd be snarling like that at you, so I understand."

"Now that you two are done fighting, Paka, did you make a nest for Fuli?" Uon asked

"Yes I did, follow me to your nest, and Uon, we need to talk." Paka said as Fuli complied and flopped into her nest

"What did you want to talk to about?" Uon asked Paka as they walked out of the den

"Why do you want to hide your identity from her?" Paka asked

"We've been over this.  I'm not sure I'm ready to go back, just play along.  She's smart, she'll discover who I am in time." Uon replied

"I will.  But doesn't mean I have to like it." Paka agreed, albeit reluctantly

"Wouldn't ask you to." Uon said as they walked back into their den, ready to sleep.

"You do really need to wash that smell off sometime though." Paka said

"I will.  Just Fuli's a great tracker, she'll recognize my scent a mile away." Uon replied, after checking to make sure Fuli was asleep. "Besides, it's a great excuse for having mud all over me with my fur being golden already."

"What are you even hiding?" Paka asked

"You know what I'm hiding." Uon answered