Gone, But Not Alone (A KionxRani AU)

Welcome Back

"Surak!" Rani called out to her uncle.

Kion, upon further inspection, realized that they were no longer walking by the river, but instead made their way onto a path. He could see in the distance what he presumed was the Tree of Life, seeing how big it was.

Surak shot his head up and looked at the duo. His mouth dropped open for a bit before being able to speak. "Rani, is that you?"

"Go ahead," Kion whispered. "I'll follow from behind."

"Thank you," she mouthed as she took off in a dash toward her uncle.

"Uncle Surak!" she yelled in joy once she got to him.

They had shared a hug that was just ended when Kion finally came up to them.

Surak looked Kion straight in the eye. This is going to be very awkward.

"Uncle," Rani began, "I would like to introduce to Kion...my boyfriend."

Upon hearing the b-word, Surak looked Kion straight in the eye. Kion took a loud gulp. Oh god, I'm already sweating and I haven't even met her parents yet.

"Hello, Kion," Surak sternly said.

"Hello, sir," Kion respectfully replied.

"He helped me get back here," Rani mentioned, hoping to break the ice and tension between the two.

Surak tilted his head slightly. "You helped her get back here?"

"Yes, sir," Kion answered, not knowing what was about to happen next.

"Where are you from, kid?"

"The Pridelands," replied Kion.

Surak's eyes shot wide open. "The Pridelands?!"

"That's my home. I'm actually the Prince there."

"What are you doing all the way over here?" Surak asked, bewildered.

Kion chuckled. "Long story, but I'll make it short. I got taken away from home by a store, met Rani, we fell in lo-I mean...we confessed our feelings, I broke my paw, and here I am, to get healed."

"I see..." Surak said, slowly nodding his head before shrugging it off. "Thank you, so much, Kion, for bringing her home safely."

"She helped me as much as I helped her," Kion stated. "Would you know directions to the Pridelands from here?"

Surak shook his head no, but then nodded it yes. "I don't, but I know some people who do."

"What's going to happen between you two?" Surak asked the duo.

"What do you mean?" they both replied, confused.

"Well," Surak began, "with your whole relationship going on here, how will you make it work with homes in different locations?"

"I don't know," Kion admitted, "but we decided to take it one step at a time. First step was to get to the Tree; next is to get healed."

"Where's Mom and Dad?" Rani asked, wondering when they could set up Kion's healing.

Surak's face immediately dropped as a sorrowful look appeared on his face. Having many tragedies occur in the Pridelands, Kion knew immediately knew what that look meant; Rani, on the other hand, did not seem to notice.

"Is everything okay?"

Surak ignored her question. "Follow me..."

Kion leaned on Rani as the trio made their way along a path. Kion was pretty sure he could her Bunga yell "Zuka Zama!", that's how quiet it was at the moment. It seemed to take hours, despite the Tree being in sight for the whole time, but it finally appeared.

Surak walked inside the Tree and the duo followed along. When Kion saw the inside, he saw someone, with blue paint on their head, sitting on a rock.

"Baliyo, look who's returned," Surak announced.

Baliyo looked up and jumped in excitement when he saw Rani. "Sis!"

"Brother!" Rani ran up to Baliyo and hugged him. "Wait...why do you have the blue paint on your forehead?"

Baliyo's attitude immediately changed. "Something...happened."

"When you went missing, your mom and dad went out looking for you. They got into a fight with some animals trying to invade the Tree of Life," Surak explained.

Baliyo continued in his place. "And they were able to stop them. However...they paid the ultimate price and died after the fight."

A gasp came out of Rani as her eyes began to get a little wet.

"Queen Janna died soon after," Surak went on with a heavy heart.

"And, seeing as you weren't here, that's how I became King. Uncle has been helping me."

"They're...d-dead?" Rani teared up, not wanting to believe what she was being told. Baliyo was beginning to tear up also, remembering the tragedy.

Kion didn't know what to do. Some people like being hugged and comforted when they're sad; others like being left alone.

Even if she did want to be comforted, was it his place to comfort her? He had never met her parents. If she wanted to reminisce, he couldn't help her other than just listening.

Kion made up his mind, however, that if Rani wanted his comfort, he would be there for her.

Rani, with tears flowing down her eyes, ran off, away from the cave. So, Kion was left with two lions he never met before. Not awkward. Not awkward at all.

Even though he just met them, they all gave each other a look that read: What do we do?

Of course, they all wanted to help, but it was a matter of how.

"Baliyo," Surak finally announced. "You go find and talk to Rani. I'll take care of Kion."

Take care of me...what does that mean?  Is that take care as in help, or take care as in get rid of?

He was unbelievably nervous. Since Rani's parents are dead, was Surak going to give him the "if you hurt my daughter" talk? He may just die.

Of course he wouldn't hurt Rani, but that wouldn't make the conversation any less scary.

Baliyo nodded in agreement and ran off to find Rani.

"Stay here, Kion, I'm going to find Nirmala. She's our new healer."

Words couldn't come out of Kion's mouth, so he just nodded. 

My list of problems:

1) Rani's parents are dead.

2) Rani is understandably saddened.

3) I don't know how to help her.

4) I don't know what Rani and I are going to do.

5) My paw is currently broken.

6) There is still a possibility that Surak may kill me.