The Lion King: The Forgotten Son

Return To The Mabiya Oasis

Kopa POV
The next morning we made it out of the tundra and into the desert.
"Okay Vitani we will have to be careful here, don't push yourself. If you feel exhausted we will stop and rest".
"Okay Kopa, where's the next stop"
"It should be a half days journey, it's a small oasis that many animals stay at. It is ran by King Karus or it was before I showed up".
Vitani noticed my sorrow and nuzzled me.
"It's okay Kopa if they are half as strong as you have told me then they should be fine, don't blame yourself".
"Come on before it gets to late".
We continued to walk through the hot dry desert. It is as brutal as I remember it. Hopefully Vitani doesn't fall I'll to it's many harmful effects. We kept pushing on, surprisingly Vitani kept on pushing through the heat even more than me. Maybe because she was skinner than me. I may have been traveling but anytime I was hunger I would always stop to eat. That or she didn't have a bushy mane overheating her. She smiled as she noticed my discomfort.
"Well looks like I'm not the one who having a hard time" she teased.
"Very funny" I panted.
"But seriously do we need to slow down"?
"No...I'm good".
"Didn't you just say that if we get tired or exhausted to stop".
"Yeah but we are almost there".
"How far".
"Just over that dune". We slowly walked up the dune. Vitani stayed close to me to ensure I didn't fall down or slip.
Once we were at the top we over looked  the oasis.
"There it is The Mbiya Oasis" I said.
It didn't look like it had changed since I was last here.
"Wow it's larger than I pictured".
"Come on let's get down there". We headed down. We were soon met by guards.
"Halt what is your business here outsiders".
"We were looking for a place to get out of the shade".
"Mmm him Alright go ahead in".
We entered. There were animals all around. Every animal imaginable was here. I saw a few lionesses standing near by the waterhole. Vitani and I passed them to look for Karus if he was still alive. One of the lionesses noticed us passing by. She got up and walked towards us.
"Hello are you two new here to the oasis".
We turned.
"I am Inara my father is the king here...wait are you Kopa".
"Yes I am Inara it's been awhile".
"So you did make it out, it's good too see you again".
"It's good to see this place is still safe and sound".
"Yeah we get attacked by dingoes alot it is nothing new".
Imara was different than before. She a fient scar above her right eye and one on each side of her torso that ran all the way down to her hip. She had a large build than Vitani. More like mine but desert lions do have larger bodies.
"Inara this is Vitani, Vitani this is Inara princess of the oasis".
Imara seemed a little off when I introduced Vitani.
"And lead defender of the oasis" she added.
"Nice to meet you" said Vitani.
"What happened to your father".
"He uh suffered some major injuries from the attack mainly resulting in him not being able to defend the oasis anymore".
"Can we see him".
"Sure right this way"
She lead us too his usual den. He was asleep in the back. His left eye was completely gone and had major scaring on it. Luckily it was held closed. His back left leg lay limp and loose on the ground as if it were useless.
"Hey dad some one is here to see you" Inara whispered to him.
He opend his eye and hoarsely whispered.
"Who is it dear".
"Kopa and his friend Vitani".
He seemed more lively now. He looked at me.
"Wow you sure have grown kid" he said clearing his throat.
"And you seem uh..."
"I know, that last attack by the dingoes did a number too me. I can't even protect my own kingdom now but luckily I hav Inara for that. I still am the ruler of this place though, that won't change for awhile."
"I'm sorry to hear that Karus".
"Ahh don't worry about that kid I will be fine, besides sitting here all day isn't to bad I get to sleep in" he laughed.
"Whatvhas brought you here Kopa" said Inara.
"Well wolves have made threats to attack the tree of life in a few days so we want to warn them about it".
Karus groaned.
"If it isn't dingoes it's wolves".
"Why would they want to attack them" said Inara.
"I'm not sure exactly".  Karus noticed Vitani.
"Well who is this Kopa, someone special" be said as he winked his one eye. Inara seemed to shrink away.
"This is Vitani she is from the pridands, leader of the lion guard".
"That's me, I came along to make sure he survives".
Karus smiled.
"Ah so this is your friend you talk about all the time, you said you could live with out her" he said. Vitani smiled a d looked at me. I blushed a little.
"Yeah she...uh she is".
He laughed.
"You were always the funny type kid, now you two should go and rest up. The tree of life is still a long ways away oh and it was good to see you again".
"You too Karus".
"See everyone is still alive and kicking" said Vitani as we walked away.
"Yeah I guess you were right" I nuzzled her. I noticed Inara sitting alone on the cliff edge.
"Hey you go to the den I will get us something too eat"
"Okay Zazu I'm not a cub" she laughed and walked to the den. I was so happy to have her in my life now.
I walked over to Inara.
"Hey Inara are you okay".
"Yeah I'm fine".
"Well you have been acting off ever since I introduced Vitani".
She looked down
"Okay this may sound stupid Kopa but I have hid from you for the whole time you were here, Kopa I love you like more than friends"
"Why didn't you tell me Inara".
"I don't I didn't want to ruin our friendship or make you want to leave more than you did already".
"Inara I told you about Vitani".
"I know but my feelings for you were to far along to change them but now you are reunited with Vitani and I am to late".
"Inara you made me feel as if you were my sister that I never got to know but now that I know her you are just like her. You are strong and a completionist just like her. There will be others Inara"
"None like you Kopa".
"Yes there will be Inara you just have to be patient".
She smiled
"Thanks Kopa". She gave me a slight  nuzzle then walked away. I went and grabbed some loose fruit from a near by bush and took them back to the den.
Vitani was looking around the glowing dens that were in the oasis.
"What's are these Kopa".
"Some kind of glowing fungus, they are unique to this place". She looked down.
"It took you that long to get to fruit" teased Vitani.
"Yeah I had to chase them all around the oasis" I laughed and she did too.
I lay down beside her and she lay her head on my shoulder.
"You and Inara seem close".
"Well you showed me the ropes of this place when I got her, she is almost like another sister and Karus felt like another parent".
"I wish I had someone as good as them or your parents to have as a parent but I got stuck with Zira".
Living with Zira couldn't be easy. For ths first time since we were kids I saw Vitani tear up.
"At least I have you now" she said as a single tear rolled down her cheeks.
I nuzzled her she smiled.
"You will always have me Tani".
Later that night Karus would start having problems with his heart and soon die when the moon rose high above the sky. Inara was crushed.