Lion King and Lion King 2

The heavy rain pounded harshly down onto his pelt as he pushed through the endless storm. His jaw was getting tired and his legs were beginning to give out when he finally saw it. The majestic Pride Rock towering menacingly in the distance.

"Hold on, lil' sis!" he mumbled to the cub in his mouth as he picked up his pace, charging through the ferocious thunder in his desperate attempt to save his sister.

He galloped up the stone ramp, heading for the cozy shelter of the den. As he neared the cave he began to try to cry out, "Help! Someone help!"

One of his paws slipped from a puddle of water on the ground and he tumbled forward on the rock platform, feet away from his destination. He managed to let out another, "Help!" before he slipped into the darkness of unconsciousness.

A small head appeared in Pride Rock's cave opening. It was the head of the princess's nephew. The pale colored cub poked his head out of the den and glanced around, as he thought he had heard someone.

"Get away from there, Kabili!" One of the lionesses inside the den called to the cub, as she was concerned for his safety.

"Mother!" the cub, Kablili, replied. "I think there's a lion cub out there!"

Kablili bolted out into the downpour and let his pale periwinkle eyes scan the platform. He ran over and skidded to a stop next to the cub after he'd located him. Kabili spotted the infant cub next to the other cub.

"He looks my age," Kablili spoke softly to himself as he studied the older cub.

Before he could ponder this more, the queen of the land, Nala, darted out of the cave and quickly examined the injured cubs.

"Kabili, pick up the younger cub gently and bring her into the den. Swiftly now, come on," Queen Nala urged, lifting the older cub herself and watching warily as Kabili lifted the little infant in his mouth.

The two lions carried the foreigners into the den. Kabili followed Nala into the cave further and they set the cubs down in a dry corner.

"Kabili, you can't run out into a storm like that!" Kabili's mother, Vitani, scolded as she ran over to meet her cub.

She gasped once she saw the two strange cubs. A few of the lionesses gathered around and began to check out the cubs.

"Alright," King Simba said. "Give them some space. Nala, dear, how about you appoint a lioness to lie down and keep these cubs warm until they awake. I will see if I can find someone willing to locate Rafiki."

"Of course," Nala responded with a smile towards her husband. She turned to her daughter. "Kiara, will you clean this younger cub up and keep her warm,"

"Certainly, mother," Kiara replied, advancing forward and lifting the cub.

Kabili watched as his aunt Kiara returned to her spot next to her husband, Kovu, and snuggled against her mate. Kiara laid the cub in her paws and began to softly lick her clean as she murmured sweet words to the infant. Queen Nala lifted the older cub and set him in her selected lying place, curling around him and beginning to bath him with her tongue.

As Kabili watched these things, he felt his mother come up behind him and give him a kiss on the top of his head.

"I will go for Rafiki, sire." Vitani spoke up.

Kabili looked up at his mother, who smiled down at him as she awaited the king's reply.

"Very well, thank you for volunteering, Vitani," Simba replied, stepping over to her. "Just be fast and be careful. The weather outside is savage and unmerciful. I have lost many friends to storms like this. Will you be safe?"

"Affirmative, sire." Vitani answered, changing into her military mode by altering her vocabulary and adjusting her posture. "I will be as swift and cautious as possible."

Simba gave her a nod and she bowed low before exiting the cave to perform her duty.

"Bye momma," Kabili said softly as he watched his mother leave.

He glanced around the cave. It was dark and peaceful except for the loud rumbles of thunder outside. He was a little tired but after the amazing event of finding two strange cubs, he didn't want to sleep. So instead he wandered over to Queen Nala.

Kabili watched as she cleaned the alien cub. With each stroke of her tongue, the cub's pelt became lighter until the true color was revealed. His coat was a dull, gray tan. The cub's nose was like Kabili's, black and pointed. Kabili was thrilled this lion cub had some similarities with him, for he feared all the other cubs born in his cubhood would be more pridelander in appearance.

Before Kabili knew it, he had laid down in front of Nala as he watched the cub being bathed.

"You look sleepy, little one." Queen Nala kindly pointed out. "Come over here and lay beside this cub. He'll feel more at home when he wakes up if he has another cub his age to greet him."

So Kabili did as he was told. He moved over to Nala and the cub and cuddled up next to them. With a wide yawn, he settled his head on top of the other cub's backside and slowly closed his eyes.

Nala's steady breathing and the gentle pitter-patter of rain lulled Kabili into a deep and relaxing sleep.

"The storm is absolutely awful," Kiara whispered softly to her mate as she gave the cub one last lick.

"Um-hum," Kovu mumbled his agreement.

"Sweetheart, why didn't you go out and get Rafiki?" Kiara asked him.

"Vitani is perfectly capable of getting Rafiki," Kovu replied, not opening his eyes nor moving his head from his resting position.

"I know that, but some of the pride landers are worried that you don't care about what happens to the lands or the animals. They are concerned you won't be a very good king. And when you don't do anything to help the kingdom, how am I to prove them wrong?" Kiara spoke gently towards her husband, not wanting to hurt him but also wanting to get her point across.

"You mean they don't trust me because I'm Zira's son," Kovu said, finally opening his eyes and giving his caring smile to his wife. "Yes, I know. But those animals are few and far between. Many of the animals understand and are okay with me being their future ruler. And they know I'll have a great queen to put me in my place every now and then."

Kiara grinned lovingly and nuzzled into his mane.

"I love you, Kovu."

"I love you too, Kiara."

------------------------------------

Kabili felt his pillow shift. Then move. Then. . .groan?

Kabili opened his pale periwinkle eyes and lifted his head to see that the strange lion cub had awoken. Queen Nala was fast asleep, right where she was before. But the foreign cub was watching Rafiki, Simba, and Vitani conversing quietly in the corner.

"Is he safe for Kabili to be around?" Vitani asked.

"Yes, Kabili will be fine." Rafiki responded. "The older cub just suffered a head injury, but he will be okay with some rest. His sister, however, seems to have been attacked. She also has a cold, so keep her warm, fed, and dry. Make sure she gets plenty of rest and stays safe."

"Of course, Rafiki. Thanks for stopping by." Simba said.

"Hakuna shida," Rafiki replied. "No problem."

With that, Rafiki head back out into the rain, which had all but ceased for the moment.

Vitani and Simba continued to converse.

"What's your name?" Kabili asked the cub quietly.

The cub jumped from fear, as he was not aware that anyone else had awoken. He turned his head around and looked Kabili in the eyes with his dark red ones.

"Be-beno," The cub stuttered.

Kabili looked into the cub's frightened red eyes and saw the quivering soul inside. The two cubs watched as Kovu joined Vitani and Simba to discuss the cubs.

"Is that your sister?" Kabili asked Beno, motioning to the resting cub in his aunt's arms.

"Yes," Beno replied as he strained to look over his shoulder at Kabili. "Is she gonna be alright?"

Kabili moved his innocently large eyes over to gaze at the infant as he thought about what had happened before he fell asleep.

"I don't know," he answered honestly as he tilted his head in thought. "I can go ask my mom,"

"Okay," Beno replied. "Could you do that for me?"

Kabili nodded and slowly stood up. He stretched his arms out in front of him and yawned blissfully as he prepared to leave Nala's warm side.

He trotted over to his mother, who was still talking, and he rubbed against her legs.

"Hello, son," Vitani whispered gently, leaning down to lick her son's tuft of fur on his head. Her pink tongue ruffled his thin fur and made him smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes mother," Kabili replied. "Is Beno's sister gonna be okay?"

"So the cub's name is Beno, huh?" Simba asked Kabili, leaning down to get on his level. "Could you go ask Beno if he wants to join us? We want to talk to him."

"Okay," Kabili said, quickly scurrying back over to his new friend.

"You son is nothing like you, sis," Kovu pointed out as the three adults watched Kabili.

"I know," Vitani replied. "But he will fit in better here in the Pridelands with his trusting and caring traits."

They watched Kabili whisper something in Beno's ear. Beno slowly stood up and warily glanced their way. With precise steps he made his way over to them in a much more balanced way then Kabili's scattered steps behind him.

As the two cubs approached them, they all took a seat on the cool stone floor.

"Hello there, Beno," Simba told the young cub.

The adults noticed how cautious the cub was and how afraid he seemed of his environment 

"You don't need to be afraid, we won't hurt you." Simba said.

Beno looked into Simba's eyes. The two shared a moment of silence as Simba stared back with with a kind glint in his eyes, attempting to gain Beno's trust. But what was meant to be a simple kind glance, became a revealing moment.

Simba's red eyes widened as he looked the cub over carefully. Kovu and Vitani watched curiously as Simba examined the cub thoroughly and the cub sat innocently staring back.

"Are you King Simba?" Beno asked quietly.

"Yes, that's me," he replied with asked slight nod. "Beno, who asked are your parents?"

"Daddy said to come to you for help, King Simba." Beno told him, bowing down as he realized this was the king. "Sire,"

"Who is your father, Beno?" Kovu asked more firmly then Simba had.

"My dad's name is Mtoto." Beno replied.

Simba exhaled lightly with a huge smile on his face.

"Who is Mtoto?" Kovu inquired, looking Simba in the eyes.

Simba smiled widely at the cub and responded, "Mtoto is my cousin,"

Beno gave Simba a tiny, almost invisible smile. Simba stepped over to Beno and they rubbed heads affectionately.

"I don't believe I've ever met Mtoto." Kovu said, looking from the cub to Simba.

Simba shook his head.

"Mtoto left the lands before you were born, Kovu. He took his new mate and went off to find a better home with more food and freedom for his future family." Simba replied, looking down at Beno. "That would be you, lad,"

"Who was his mate?" Vitani asked.

"His mate was a good friend of Nala's. Her name was, or is, Kula." The king explained. "Where are you parents, Beno?"

"We came down from the mountains. They told me to flee to Priderock with my sister."

"Flee from what?" Vitani asked, her ears erect at the possibility of danger.

"From the hyenas," Beno whispered with a shudder.

"Where were your parents when you left them?" Simba asked.

"We were in the desert, and we saw a whole pack of hyenas, resting at an oasis. My mom said they were probably hunting us because they smelled my dad's blood from his injured leg. So dad told us to run for Priderock and not to stop for anything but rest, food, or water." The cub spilled out.

"What is all this about?" Nala asked with a yawn as she stepped up to the group.

"Nala, this is Beno." Simba introduced her. 

"Hello there, Beno," Nala said, leaning down to greet him with a head rub.

"He just happens to be Mtoto and Kula's son," Simba told her. " The last time he saw his parents, they were surrounded by hyenas. I'm going to send a team out to see if they can find them."

"But Simba, it's pouring out there," Nala said, taking in all the things her husband just told her. It was a lot for her to think about.

"But they could be in danger," Simba insisted.

"She's right, sire," Vitani interjected. "You'd be putting your pride members in danger if you sent them out in this weather."

Simba lowered his ears and looked at the rain. He knew they were right.

"I assemble them now and send them later, I guess." he said.

Nala lovingly nuzzled into his mane, giving him comfort. 

"I know, you're worried about our friends, but there's nothing you can do right now," Nala told him gently.

"Is my sister going to be okay?" Beno asked suddenly.

The adults looked down at Kabili and Beno, sitting side by side and staring up at them in wonder.

"I'm not sure," Simba said. "But we think your sister will be okay."

"What's her name?" Nala asked, lying down beside him so she could be on his level.

"Tulia," Beno said very quietly as he watched his sister carefully. "Her name is Tulia,"

The adults watched as Beno slowly walked over to Kiara's paws, where his sister was sleeping peacefully. He gave Tulia a soft kiss on her forehead and laid down, resting his paws and head on Kiara's forepaws. 

Kiara smiled gently at the cubs as she watched them lay, cradled in her arms. She longed for the day she could hold her unborn cub like she was holding these two, affectionately embraced and snuggled into her cozy fur. 

"I think we know who will care for the cubs if their parents don't turn up," Simba said with a smile as the four of them watched Kiara lay her head carefully in her paws, gently covering the younger cub's body with her neck, almost like a blanket. "Go ahead and rest everyone, we'll send a search party out for my cousin and his mate when the rain lets up."

With that, Vitani took Kabili in her mouth by his scruff and she went to lie down in the corner of the cave, next to a few other resting lionesses. 

Nala and Simba sat down and watched Kovu lay next to their daughter, and the couple and the two cubs slept quietly in peace. And all was well and comfy in the den, except for the horrifying thoughts that enveloped and entangled Nala and Simba's minds as they wondered what could be happening to their long lost friends in this horrible weather.