A/N: This photo is to show Kiara ☺️. You can obviously tell by the body and face that this lioness has been around for a long time. Since in this book's time period, Kiara and Kovu are aging. So i thought this photo would be age appropriate for our Kiara 😊. Kovu had a storyline last chapter, so why not Kiara?

You may read and enjoy chapter 13 below! 😉

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Kiara

The sun shone brilliantly and the waterhole glittered invitingly. Early morning mist begins to clear and the sun fully rises. It casts orange and pink onto a thin layer of cloud. The birds sing their dawn chorus while the animals stir.

Kovu, Kion, and I exit the Pride's cavern. Outside Kovu and I are greeted by Kion's Lion Guard. I am surprised that they are here already. How long were they standing out here I wonder?

"Good morning, King Kovu and Queen Kiara!" The Guard team greeted together. They kneel bowing their heads showing respect.

"Good morning!" I smiled. Kovu nod his head.

"Alright guys, my sister and Kovu will be joining us today on searching a new home for the hyenas. But first, we need to locate the hyenas." Kion ordered to his team.

Fuli the cheetah looks confused. "And how are we going to do that Kion? We have no clue where the hyenas are."

"We are all going to go around the kingdom and ask the animals if they have seen the hyenas anywhere close by." Kovu answered.

Bunga the badger nodded his head with agreement. "Makes sense!"

"I suggest that we all search in groups so our search won't be too long. Kion, you assign everyone!" I say.

Kion nod his head and thinks. "Alright then. Me, Fuli, and Bunga will be in a group. You, Kovu, Beshte, and Ono in a group. How is that?"

"Perfect! Let's go." Said Ono, who already flew to the morning sky.

Everyone got into their assigned groups and walked down Pride Rock. Once we've enterned the tall grasses, we all went our own separate ways. Kion's group went left while mines turned right.

"I hope we can find them. This worries me!" I said to Kovu concerned, as we both walked close side by side.

"Don't worry Kiara, we will find them." Kovu replied. "They can't be too far. It wouldn't make any sense! Where else would they have gone to?"

Before I could answer his question, i looked up noticing that we have arrived in the elephants home. Many are feasting on green vegetation.

"So, how are we going to do this your highness? Should we go around and ask every elephant in the herd?" Beshte asks me.

I shook my head. "No. That will take us all day. There's too many of them to ask one by one. I can go speak to the leader of the herd, the female matriarch."

Ono flies down and sits on Kovu's left shoulder. "Good thinking!"

"Do you want them or me to come with you, Kiara?" Kovu asked me.

"Nope, i got this! You guys wait here. It shouldn't be long."

They all nod their heads. I started walking more close to the elephants. None of them were alarmed because they know that I'm not just any regular lioness. I am their Queen.

"Good morning, Queen Kiara!" One elephant greeted.

"My, don't you look lovely!" Another one spoked.

I smile at them but kept walking. I am in search for the matriarch and  strangely I don't see her. Usually she is the easiest to find.

"Hello Queen Kiara, may I help you? You seem like you are looking for someone." A female elephant asks me. Close beside her stands a calf.

I stopped walking and nodded. "Yes I am. Where is your leader?"

"Endesha? She is over there drinking from the river!"

(Endesha is pronounced "En-Des-Ha" and it means To Guide in Swahili.)

"Thank you, miss!"

The elephant point her truck to the direction. I follow it and can see the river close ahead. Other elephants are drinking there too. But i knew who exactly Endesha is and what she looks like. She is an elder and the most wisest out of all elephants in the herd.

"Endesha?" I call out.

The elephants kept drinking except for one. It turned around facing me with a welcoming smile. It was Endesha. She bows down her very large head to simply show respect.

"Good morning, my Queen! How may I help you today on this beautiful morning?"

"Good morning, Endesha! Wow it has been a while since we've last spoken. How are you and your herd?"

She nodded. "The herd and I are doing just fine. I am just enjoying my last year on earth. My time to join the heavens will soon come."

"Oh wow! So who will take over your place as leader?" I ask.

"My daughter Imara! I know she will do just fine. I taught her every thing I know from my own mother. It is time for a new generation to take place."

(Imara is pronounced, I-Ma-Ra and it means Strong in Swahili.)

"You are absolutely right! Imara will do great. You are an excellent leader Endesha and you have been around a very long time to witness everything from Mufasa's reign, my father's and my own."

(Yes, elephants can live a very long time, 60-70 years!).

Endesha smiles wide. "Thank you my Queen! I am very thankful to have lived during those times being able to watch everything grow including yourself. Simba has done a great job with you. I know he must be proud looking down."

I smiled warmly. "He is."

We stood there in silence for a few moments as the winds blow around us with colorful leaves. I thought about the hyenas and quickly remembered why I was here in the first place. It was nice catching up with Endesha, but I need to get back to finding those hyenas.

"Hey Endesha, have you seen any hyenas around lately?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No, I have not. Did something bad happened?"

"Yes, the day before yesterday there was a rain storm and it had caused our river to rise. It rise so high that it flooded the hyenas home. I assume that they left and took shelter some place else. I was wondering if you've seen them come pass this way by any chance?"

"Wow, that is awful! I knew there was something odd about the river yesterday. It gained lots of more water. But no, i have not seen any hyenas come pass this way. They wouldn't dare anyway since we're elephants. They fear us more than we fear of them."

I sigh with disappointment. I was hoping that Endesha could help us. "Okay, thank you! Me, my husband, and friends are going to continue searching."

Endesha nodded. "No problem! If me or my herd come across any hyenas, we will inform you as soon as possible. Good luck Kiara!"

"Thank you so much!"

With that, I turned around and ran back to Kovu and the others. When I arrived, they were all sitting on the grass.

"Hey guys, I'm back!"

Kovu got up quick on his paws. "Did get any answers from the matriarch?"

I shook my head with disappointment as my ears lowered. "No. She didn't see any come by."

"Let's not give up, we still have time to go around and ask more animals. This was just a start!"

"You're right, Kovu."

"Let's go to the giraffes home. Maybe they will know something!" Beshte suggested.

We all nodded and started walking towards the giraffes home land which is far from the elephants at all. Their land have more forestry while the elephants have just open grassland. I also know the leader of this herd too. My father were close friends with majority of the animal leaders and had showed me around when i was a cub. Kovu knows them too, he just isn't close to them like my father and I are.

"Okay, we are here!" I say.

"So, who's going to go up and ask this time?" Ono asked.

"Kiara and I can both go. You two stay here!" Kovu ordered.

Beshte and Ono both nodded while staying put. Kovu and I walked around searching for the leader of the herd.

(Giraffe herds do not have a leader and individual giraffes show no particular preferences for others in the herd either. But in this book, I'm just gonna make it up and say they have a leader!).

Unlike the elephants, the leader is a male. His name is "Anza", which means Chief  in Swahili. He became leader when I first became Queen. We both share the same time period which is pretty cool!

Finding Anza wasn't hard at all. He was found alone eating leaves from a tree. Kovu and I walked up to him with friendly smiles.

"Hello, Anza!" I greeted.

Anza stopped eating and lowered down his long 6-foot neck so he can see us better. He smiles wide, "Ah, I have royal visitors! Hello King Kovu and Queen Kiara. What brings you here today?"

"Hello Anza!" Kovu greets, while waving his paw. "We wanted to know if you or your herd perhaps have seen any hyenas around here?"

Anza thinks for a moment and nod his head. "In fact, yes we have!"

I smiled happily. Finally someone knows where!

"Do you remember which direction they've went?" I ask.

"The hyenas went south. It was odd because at first we thought they were trying to hunt us, but instead they kept running away." He said.

Kovu looks shocked. "Wow, that is odd!"

"Why are you two trying to find hyenas anyway? If you don't mind me asking."

"The day before yesterday the hyenas have lost their home to a flood. Kovu and I want to talk to them and see if we can help them find a new safer home." I shortly explained.

Anza nodded his head again with a smile. "Ah, that is very nice of you two! I am sure the hyenas will appreciate it. That is awful to lose a home to a flood."

"It is! But thank you Anza for telling us which direction. You said south right?"

"You are both welcome and yes, go south!"

We all said our goodbyes. Kovu and I rushed back to tell Beshte and Ono the news.

"Guys, we have good news!" Said Kovu, smiling.

"Which is?" Ono asked.

"I've spoken with the leader Anza and he said he saw the hyenas go south!" I replied.

Beshte smiled with excitement. "Wow, that is great!"

"But before we go, we must find Kion and the others. They should come with us!" Said Kovu.

We all nod agreeing.

I do hope we find the hyenas safe!