Zuka Zama Part II: The Scourge of Kopa | The Lion Guard

46. Reuntied

The group searched through the expansive mass of animals coming together for any sign of Nala and Kiara. Kion looked around to see a group of hyenas carefully approaching some rhino's. They approached with their ears lowered, not wanting to look threatening. The rhino's looked apprehensive at first but soften at the visible effort the hyenas were putting towards trying to come together.

It took the group a while but they managed to reunite with Nala, Kiara and Kovu. Nala noticed the group returning and rushed forward to nuzzle Simba, who she was so worried about. At the same time Kiara was giving Kovu a least of reasons why you don't leave your mate alone in the middle of a battle.

"I'm so glad that you're safe. All of you", Nala smiled warmly, looking to Kion and Bunga as well.

"There's more of us now", Bunga alluded. Nala was confused for a second until Kopa walked into view, keeping his eyes low to the ground. Looking into the lioness that he felt in the core of his being was his mother instantly brought those feelings of shame back full force.

"Oh...", Nala said aloud, only making the feelings even worse. Kopa met her gaze and could feel his own eyes misting. His mother took a step forward and raised her paw to lift his gaze to hers.

"Kopa...I...", Before Nala could get her words out Kopa buried his face into the soft fur of her neck. She could hear the soft sobs the lion left escape. "I'm sorry...", was all that Kopa could manage to mumble out, but she understood.

"I..I'm sorry, too", Nala felt tears running down her muzzle. She wasn't prepared for this at all. She knew that she would have to face Kopa eventually, but she expected to be angry at him for what he had done. He expected to hate him for all of this, but how could she when her own cub was leaning upon her like he as a cub all those years ago.

"Nala, our cub has returned to us", Simba said gently, joining in the embrace. Kiara and Kion watched for a distance. As for Kovu he noticed out of the corner of his eye a familiar cream shade of fur.

She walked up to Kovu with a serious look on her face, but the lion knew her sister well enough to know how she felt. "Hey, Kovu...."

"Hey, Vitani. I'm glad you're alright", Kovu smiled at her. Vitani only felt all the more weird by how Kovu was being so nice to her. Just a short while ago they were enemies. But now is that still the case? Just on a whim there is peace now. Would Kovu be allowed back home? These were things she could dwell upon later. As it stood now the lioness was also glad that Kovu was okay.

"I'm glad you are, too", Vitani nodded. She looked past Kovu to that lioness he recognized from long ago.

"Is that--?", She started...

"Kiara, yes.", Kovu confirmed for her. "We're together now." Vitani nodded once again. She had to admit that Kovu did seem happy. Happier than he ever was back home, but this wasn't the time to think about that.

"Look, Kovu. I don't know how mother would feel about this, but I just want to say I'm sorry", Vitani sighed.

"I never wanted to fight you or anyone else", Kovu admitted. "It's one of the reasons I left in the first place."

"Yeah, the truth is that I'm tired of fighting", the lioness agreed, letting her shoulders heave in exhaustion.

Another thing caught her eye. Past Kiara and the King himself, stepping away from the queen. That lion, Kopa. For some reason in this moment a feeling came over her. It felt nostalgic, like something a long time ago she struggled to remember but it felt so close. Even his name -- Kopa felt like it had much more meaning now....

She was about to ask Kovu about him but Kovu let out a gasp. She quickly jumped around, thinking someone was attempting an attack but instead she was face to face with her other brother, Nuka.

"Nuka? What are you doing here?", Kovu asked, walking up alongside Vitani.

"And where were you the entire time? I know you didn't stay up on the hill", Vitani added.

"N-no I didn't", Nuka nodded, smiling a bit. Hearing Vitani's sharp tongue lifted his spirit in ways that she wouldn't be able to realize. "But this isn't about me, this is about mother."

"Oh... I imagine she's not exactly thrilled right now", Vitani winced. She could already imagine the wrath she would have to endure when she returned to Zira.

"I don't know. Now everyone's free from the Outlands. Maybe she won't have a reason to plot anymore", Kovu said hopefully. Nuka listened to the two of them talking, blissfully unaware that the one they spoke about was gone.

"None of that matters anymore", Nuka said taking a heavy breath. "I mean...well....Kovu, Vitani...Mother's gone. She's dead." He didn't see a point in easing into it or treading around the subject. It wouldn't make his siblings hurt any less.

"She's what...?", Kovu asked. His body instantly felt numb. "Are you sure?"

"I've seen it with my own eyes. She fell from a height and landed on some rocks", Nuka explained.

"I can't believe it...", Kovu said to himself still in shock at what he heard.

"Where is she?", Vitani said firmly. "I want to see her." Nuka nodded in understanding and turned made a motion for her and Kovu to follow.

"You two go ahead, I'll catch up", Kovu said. The two of them continued on while Kovu turned around to approach Kiara.

"Hey, Kiara. I have to go somewhere, it's really important. But when I'm done, I'll be right back", Kovu promised her.

"Oh, okay", Kiara agreed.

"Thanks", Kovu nodded to her and bounded off to join his siblings. Neither Kiara nor Kion knew the finer details of what Kovu was saying, but they took his words for what they were and knew that he would be back just like he said.