The Lion King 4: Dawn of a New Era C.5

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Chapter 5

Aiube came to a while later, shaking her head harshly. She looked around and took in her surroundings. She was laying on a patch of grass, no longer in the dead looking Outlands.

As she tried to stagger up, a sharp pain shot through her leg. She bit down tightly on her jaw as she forced herself to take a step forward. With a small limp, she managed to stagger forward slightly, before stumbling down again.

Come on Aiube ...You can do this … you need to find someone … you need help …

She pushed herself forward with her front paws, sliding against the ground. Desperately she looked around, trying to find anyone nearby.

Aiube groaned and stopped squirming, her chin hitting the ground. Her ears folded back and she looked to the sky. Please …. Help me ….

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Vitani perched on top of a rock, scanning the Pride Lands. The rest of her guard in the surrounding area.

Patrol wasn't always the most exciting job, especially since things had calmed down significantly since Kovu and Kiara united the Prides. Still Vitani kept her guard up, taking great pride in the fact she was keeping her new home safe.

"Vitani!" One of her guard's frantic yells brought her to full attention.

"Tazama." Vitani acknowledged her. "What's wrong?"

"There's a hyena near the west border." Tazma said.

"A hyena?" Vitani asked, slightly confused. They hadn't had any reports of hyenas in The Pride Lands since Kion's return. She wasn't even sure if there were any in the areas surrounding the Pride Lands anymore.

When she and Nuka visited The Elephant Graveyard it had been wiped out completely. She tried to shake the memory out of her head, not wanting to remember the reason she and Nuka were there in the first place.

"Do they look hostile?" Vittani asked.

Tazama shook her head. "They seem to be moving slowly."

Vitani groaned and hopped off her rock. "They might be hurt. Get the rest of the guard, I'll head over there now."

"Are you sure?" Tazama asked, frowning slightly.

Vitani gave her a small, reassuring, yet sly looking smile. "Hey, I'll be fine, okay?"

Tazama returned the smile, anxiously. "Okay."

To make sure she was all right, Vitani gave her a soft nuzzle. Tazama felt her legs wobble and her knees buckle and she relaxed into Vitani's warm touch.

She pulled away and headed off, and Tazama went to gather the rest of the lion guard.

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Aiube closed her eyes tightly as the hot savannah sun beat down on her. Maybe there's a water hole nearby ….

Slowly, she forced her eyelids open and looked around. All she could see was grass all around her. Aiube sighed in defeat and put her head back on the ground. I'm going to die out here aren't I?

While she laid there, fearing for the future, she felt a small tap on her back. "Hey uh … are you okay?"

Aiube's eyes shot open as she examined the lioness towering over her. Her blue eyes looked filled with concern, more than anything, but Aiube couldn't help but notice her strong build, sharp claws, and dominant demeanor. It sent shivers down her spine, making her unable to answer her question.

Noticing her discomfort, Vitani knelt down to her level, and lowered her voice. "Hey, it's okay … I'm not going to hurt you." She tilted her shoulder slightly so the hyena the mark of a roaring lion. "I'm the leader of The Lion Guard."

Aiube's expression changed from worry to that of confusion. "L … Lion Guard?"

Vitani stared at her for a second, before a realization hit her. "Oh … Oh! You're not from around here, are you?"

The hyena shook her head. "My cackle and I left when another group tried to start a fight for our territory. We didn't want to risk getting hurt, so we left." She looked back behind her. "We're living over there."

Vitani's eyes widened a bit. "The .. Outlands?"

"Yeah, I … I guess. If The Outlands is the barren place filled with termite mounds, that is."

"Yep." Vitani chuckled dryly. "That's The Outlands."

"So you've been there?" She asked, curiously.

"Been there?" Vitani snorted. "I used to live there."

"You … you did?" Aiube blinked.

"Yep." Vitani said. "But, things are better now."

"Oh that's …. Good." She winced as she tried to get up again.

"I forgot, are you okay?" Vitani asked, frowning.

"Not really." She said through gritted teeth, looking back at her leg. "I was hoping to find some food. As you probably know there's not really any there."

"I've had termites for dinner more times when I can count on all four paws." Vitani laughed again.

"So I tried to cross the swamp to get across and I … I didn't know there were crocodiles." She said, keeping her gaze on her leg.

Vitani grimaced. "Yeah I've had some … run ins with them before."

"Oh, really?" Aiube asked, sounding curious.

"Yeah. There wasn't a lot of fun things to do in The Outlands." Vitani said as she started to lift her onto her back. "I can tell about it on the way back."

"The way back … where?" Aiube asked.

"You're hurt, I'm taking you back to my Pride." Vitani said. "We have a shaman who can patch up your leg."

"Th … thank you …" Aiube breathed out, clinging onto Vitani's neck.

"Hey, no problem." Vitani said. "It's the lion guard's job to protect The Circle of Life."

"The Circle of Life?" Aiube blinked.

Vitani chuckled. "I guess we have a lot to go over …"

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