The Lion Guard: A New Hope (#2)

Chapter 3

A/N in case you missed my announcement: I haven't been updating because I've been working on In the Wild. I think I'll prioritize it over all my fanfictions.  I think if you enjoy my fanfictions, Warriors, or Wings of Fire, you'll enjoy it.  Check it out.

Tumaini sat on the head of Pride Rock.  It had been about a month after she and Aasha had defeated Scar, and the Night Pride was going to leave soon.  As much as she understood Moyo wanting to leave, she didn't want him to.  He was her brother.  She smelled him coming up to her, and she closed her eyes.  She had spoken to her ancestors about what had happened to her, and she found out that, along with the Roar, since she was a hybrid, she was able to change her body shape.  Since she had heard that, she had been practicing to do it at will.  For her family, she normally became lither.  Except Mahali.  When she with him alone, she made it so she was the one she changed into after she woke up.

"You got it," Moyo said, nudging her.

Tumaini stood up and looked at herself.

"Yep," she said, looking down at her paws.  Her claws her out, and she couldn't sheathe them fully.

"Come on," Moyo chuckled.  "I've had to deal with semi-retractable claws my whole life.  Let's go see who you've picked to be the Bravest."

"Right," Tumaini closed her eyes.  When she opened them, she was lithe, but also muscular.  Not the same type she used when she was with Mahali, but enough for her to be able to run fast and be strong.

"I need to talk to Vitani to find him," Tumaini said.

"You're looking for Shauku?"  Vitani asked from the den of Pride Rock.

"Yeah," Tumaini said.  "He and Bahati came up to me when I woke up."

"Follow me," Vitani said.  She started walking, Tumaini and Moyo behind him.  "When are you and the Night Pride leaving, Moyo?"

"Sunset," Moyo said.  "Rani said I should be sleeping right now.  But I want to go see who Tumaini picked to be Bravest."

"It's Shauku, isn't it?"  Vitani asked.

"Yeah," Tumaini confirmed.  "You'd like him, Moyo.  I think he's like you."

Moyo yawned.  He had been trying to adjust to a nocturnal life ever since he had gotten the permission to leave.  The rest of the Night Pride was doing so much better at it than him.

"You're tired?"  Tumaini asked.

"I can stay awake for long enough to see who you've chosen," Moyo said.

"You sure?"  Tumaini responded.  "You'll see him eventually."

"No," Moyo argued.  "I have to talk to him."

"Okay," Tumaini said.

"Here it is," Vitani stopped at a cave.  "I just hope they haven't gone off on a run without telling Imara or me."

Vitani's tone of voice was so motherly that it made Moyo realize that she and Imara were Shauku's foster mothers.  He had completely forgotten that Vitani and Imara had thought of adopting cubs.

"Shauku?  Bahati?"  Vitani called.  Two cheetahs came out of the entrance, pushing each other.

"Hey!"  Tumaini greeted.

"Tumaini!"  Bahati responded.

"Why did you come here?"  Shauku asked.

"I actually wanted to talk to you, Shauku," Tumaini said.  "Moyo's leaving the Lion Guard, and I wanted you to take his place."