Powerful Words

Tragedy strikes

"Father I belive they are ready. I have every confidence that Kiara and Kovu would rule the Pride Lands better than I and Nala have; they are ready," Simba said solemnly as he gazed up into the starry night sky. Everyone was sound asleep in the den and Simba after some serious consideration, came to the conclusion his daughter and her mate were ready to take their place as the next king and queen. He hadn't told Nala his decision yet, but was hoping to receive council from his father first. 

Suddenly, Simba felt a prescence beside him and looked to see who it was. It was Rafiki. the old monkey stood next to the red maned lion, his ever present staff weilded in his hands. Rafiki looked at his friend and patted him on his back, comforting him. "Ah Simba I see you are seeking council from the Kings," Rafiki said softly. Simba gazed back up at the sky and then at Rafiki. "I have been thinking recently and I believe the time has come for Kiara and Kovu to step up as the new king and queen of the Pride Lands."

"You have put a lot of thought into this yes?" Rafiki asked. "What led you to believe Kiara is ready to be queen and Kovu to be king. You cannot undo your deed once it is done Simba, I suggest you think about what you are going to do before you make your final decision," Rafiki spoke this piece of advice then he turned and departed back to his tree, leaving Simba to ponder. "Are they ready?" he asked himself. "Are they ready for the stress that comes with being rulers? Do they have what it takes to be the Pride Lands' new king and queen? Simba asked these questions over and over again. It was well into the night when he went into the den, the long day catching up with him.

The next morning dawned bright and early. The sun was shining its first rays onto the savannah, the herds were already up and grazing, the birds were chirping perkily and everything was just perfect. Pride Rock was in chaos! The entire pride was in the den, encircled around the royal family with Rafiki in the middle. Simba was lying on his side and his eyes were closed, his face tight with pain. Nala was sitting next to her mate and crying her eyes out while she called his name and probbed him gently with her paw. 

"Rafiki what's wrong with him?!" she cried. "He was fine yesterday, why is he in such a terrible state now?" Rafiki was mixing a herbal medicine for Simba and trying his best not to let his emotions show. Kiara was hugging Kovu and crying, Kovu was trying to calm her down but his efforts were in vain. "Kiara please you've got to calm down. Your father's gonna be fine, look Rafiki is making medicine for him, everything's gonna be okay baby, trust me," he said softly as he stroked her head. 

Rafiki finished the medicine and put it down next to where Simba laid. "Nala make him have  the medicine. It will ease his pain until I come back with the ointments," Rafiki instructed gently. Nala sobbingly took the medicine and followed Rafiki's instructions precisely. With Kion's help she tilted the medicine into Simba's parted lips, he coughed twice and fell back down. Nala sighed in relief when Simba's breathing returned to normal. The den was slightly crowded so Kovu asked everyone to leave. 

When there was only Kovu, Kiara, Nala, Kion, Simba, Diana, Burnt Eboney and Pricilla in the den, Rafiki came back and placed a large fig leaf down and on top of it, several assorted ointments were packed on top. Taking a yellow and green ointment from the leaf, Rafiki mixed it up and put it under Simba's nose. "This will prevent him from getting headaches when he takes the next dosage of medicine," Rafiki explained to his curious spectators. Then he took a red ointment and gave it  to Simba to swallow. "This will cure his illness and give him strenght until it passes." 

"What exactly is my father's illness Rafiki?" Kion asked. "Is it an infection or a virus?" Rafiki packed up his ointments and turned to face Kion. "Your father has attained a desert bug," Rafiki replied. "It is an infection that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. The ones who the bug affects will first collapse and their chest will pain them. It lasts for several days and if thee victim does not receive proper treatment well-" Rafiki left the sentence unfinished and allowed them to draw their own conclusions. 

There was silence in the den for several minutes before finally Kovu broke it. "Is the infection contagious?" he asked. Rafiki shook his head and sighs of relief were heard from everyone. "The infection is not contagious and cannot be transmitted through direct contact. It affects the victim individually and can only be transmitted when you cough or sneez on someone." Nala looked at her husband and then at Rafiki. "Rafiki does Simba have to isolate himself from the pride?" she asked worridely. 

"Your  majesty, I am sorry to inform you of this, but that may be the case with Simba. He must stay a safe distance away from the pride until the infection is gone," Rafiki said sadly. Kiara looked at her father's still body and stepped forward. "Rafiki if the infection doesn't go away, will my father... Well what I'm trying to say is... Will he... Is the infection, fatal?" Kiara asked this question with much trepidation and fear of the answer. Her bottom lip quivered slightly at the thought of Rafiki's answer confirming her fear.  

"Princess it pains me to say this, but yes. The infection can be fatal if the victim doesn't recover. The respiratory system will fail and breathing would be next to impossible; I am truly sorry." Kiara stiffened and bit her lip. "Is there a cure?" she asked almost inaudibly. Rafiki sighed and shook his head. Kiara gasped and burst into tears once more; she ran out of the cave crying bitterly. Kovu excused himself and followed Kiara while everyone else stayed in the cave. 

Kiara ran down the steps and into the savannah not stopping once. She ran for a while until she skidded to a stop at the edge of the Pride Lands' border and gazed into the distance, her gaze landed on the now deserted and unhabited Outlands. She sat down and cried silently as Rafiki's words encircled her brain. 'The infection can be fatal if the victim doesn't recover. The respiratory system will fail and breathing would be next to impossible,' The grave tone he used when he spoke those words haunted her soul and made her cry even harder. She bent her head and for two whole hours, she just...cried.