The Lion Guard - AU

Chapter 5

Kion opened his eyes to find himself huddled against Fuli, the air being much colder than normal Pride Lands temperature.  He would've stood up if he didn't Fuli's warmth, but he did, so instead he nudged her with his muzzle.  "Wake up, Fuli."

"Hmmm?"  Fuli looked at Kion and stood up.  "It's still freezing out here."

"Should we go to the Lair, or Hakuna Matata falls?"  Kion pressed himself against Fuli.

"The Lair."  Fuli answered.  "It's closer, and if any member of the Guard has any common sense, they'll be there."

"We just need to stick together."  Kion added.

As Kion and Fuli were walking to the Lair, Bunga came up to them, covered in leaves.  "You two aren't cold?"

"We're walking like this for a reason."  Fuli rolled her eyes.  "It's freezing out here."  She looked around at all the animals outside.  "I don't see why anyone else isn't cold."

"Timon and Pumbaa think I'm crazy, wanting all these leaves to warm myself up."  Bunga responded.  "Is your left shoulder the coldest part of you?"

"Yeah," Kion answered, "what about you, Fuli?"

"Same as you."  Fuli responded, jumping into the Lion Guard Lair before pulling away from Kion.  "Finally!  Some warmth!"

"What do you mean, 'some warmth'?"  Kovu asked from outside the Lair.  "It's pretty warm outside."

"You don't find it cold?"  Kion asked, then saw Kiara.  "What about you?"

"Not cold at all."  Kiara answered.  "Can we come in?"

"You're the king and queen."  Kion responded.  "You're always welcome in here."

Kovu walked into the Lair and turned to the whole Guard.  "You all find it cold?"

"We all do."  Kion looked at the Guard.  "Including Vitani and the other-"  Kion cut himself off, his scar starting to hurt.

"Kio-!"  Kovu cut himself off, his scar hurting.

"Kion!"  Fuli ran to her mate, but only to be growled at, Kiara having the same trouble.  Keeping her distance, she tried to comfort her mate.  "Kion, if you can hear me, you need to focus.  Focus.  You're nothing like Scar.  Focus.  Stay calm."  She cautiously moved closer to Kion, repeating her words until Kion looked up and nodded in thanks.

Kovu did the same as Kion before speaking.  "That's never happened before."

"I thought I was finished with this scar after the Tree of Life."  Kion added.  "I hope this is just once.  I don't want to feel that ever again."

"Anyways," Kiara started, "we came in here for a reason.  What are we going to do about the great evil that's arrived?"

"We don't know anything about it."  Kion answered.  "We should head outside the Pride Lands to find out if anyone else knows anything about it."

"The Back Lands and Outlands?"  Kovu asked.

"And the Theluji Mountains."  Vitani added.  "We'll need to split up."

"We can split up into our two Guards, then meet again at the Theluji Mountains."  Anga suggested.

"We can take the Back Lands," Vitani agreed, looking at Kion, "and you can take the Outlands."

"If this weather is any indication, we'll need to keep each other much warmer there."  Kion looked at Kovu and Kiara after he spoke.  "Is all that okay with you?"