Chapter Two: Sorrow

The lionesses of Pride Rock could only stare in wonder as Simba led the strangers into their midst.

"Simba, what on earth...?" Nala asked, just as startled by the appearance of the lions as the rest of the pride.

"Nala, everyone, this is Leo and his mate Raya. They and their cubs have come a long way to be here, and the story they have told me is very grim indeed." Simba murmured, as one lioness approached, gently took Rune from Leo, lay down, placed the exhausted cub between her front paws, and began to bathe him.

"Their fur looks singed, King Simba. Did they come through a fire?" another lioness asked, as she had Raya sit down in front of her, put Maya down, and began to gently clean her face. Simba nodded.

"Our home burned down, recently. There was only enough time to grab the cubs and run, before the smoke could overwhelm us." Leo tiredly stated, watching as a matronly lioness approached; her red-brown eyes showing grave concern for them.

"Then here's what we should do; send a portion of the lionesses out on the hunt, so some can remain here and help them get settled in for the night. Also have someone go and get Rafiki, in case there are any wounds that need tending. Are you in agreement with this, Simba?" the elder Lioness asked, getting a quiet nod from the King of the Pride Lands in response.

"You don't need to ask, Mom. I'm sure you've seen more of this sort of thing happen than I have, so you have a better idea of how to handle it. I'll leave it up to you." Simba replied, getting a smile from his mother as a response to that. Sarabi then turned her attention to a just-arriving Zazu (who was just about to start on his evening report when he spotted the strangers).

"Zazu, would you mind going and getting Rafiki for us?" Sarabi asked, getting an immediate nod and bow from the bird as a response.

"Absolutely, your Highness! I will be right back!" Zazu said, as he sharply did an about-face, and flew quickly in the direction of Rafiki's tree.

"Thank you, King Simba...we owe you much for your kindness." Leo murmured, tiredly; trying to convey his and his family's gratitude through the weariness he now felt. Simba gave him a calm smile.

"Think nothing of it. Now, go ahead and find a place to lie down. You look like you're about to fall asleep on your feet." Simba replied, as the white lion again nodded, and followed some of the lionesses into the cave, his mate following closely behind him, with two lionesses carrying a sleeping cub apiece.

"I wonder what could have caused the fire that had destroyed their home? I don't remember the jungle being dry enough to burn." Nala murmured, with pity in her eyes for the exhausted and heartsick young family.

"I know...And I can only hope that it doesn't happen here...We almost lost the Pride Lands to fire when Zira tried to set it ablaze that time...I don't want to tempt fate that way again." Simba said, getting a shudder as an agreement from Nala for that; she also remembered too clearly what had almost happened...and also hoped that they wouldn't be faced with that sort of trial again.

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Leo winced as the first rays of the morning sun fell across his face; almost moving a paw to drape it over his face, and stopping when stinging pain lanced across the lacerated and slightly scorched pads.

"Do not move your paws, white lion. They are too badly burned." a voice said, startling Leo into opening his eyes. To his surprise, there sat a baboon about a foot away from him, and he appeared to be rubbing some kind of ointment onto Raya's paws.

"I didn't know they were that bad off." Leo replied, speaking softly, since his throat felt as parched as the desert he and Raya had run through.

"They were...I guess you were too tired to realize that you were both leaving a blood trail behind you last night." one lioness said, from her position near the cave entrance.

"I apologize, then." Leo murmured, feeling a little ashamed of that, for some reason.

"Why're you apologizing? You didn't have any control over it. I'm just glad my father found you and your family before something else did." another lioness said, as she padded over to Leo and lay down across from him.

"Your father is King Simba?" Leo asked, talking in an effort to ignore the burning pain in his paws. The lioness nodded.

"My name is Kiara. And you are King Leo, right?" Kiara asked, in turn.

"Just 'Leo' now, your Highness...A burned down jungle isn't exactly an ideal kingdom, and a displaced pride of lions doesn't make a good royal family, either." Leo muttered, bitterly.

"Are you that concerned over your lost power, Leo?" a male voice asked, this time, as its' owner, a dark-furred, dark-maned lion, approached and sat beside Kiara; his green eyes strangely grave for a lion so young.

"It's not my status I am worried about...It is the fate of those I had shared the jungle with for most of my life that I am concerned about now. Did they make it out in time? If they did, then where could they go for refuge? How many lives were lost in, or because of, the inferno?" Leo questioned, the anguish in his blue eyes genuine; almost moving those around him to tears.

"We'll probably...never know for certain...Leo." Raya whispered, as she slowly lifted her head and gave him a tearful look.

"Dan'l...Pauley...Tomi...Everyone, please forgive me." Leo thought, as he laid his head back down; the trauma and sorrow of the recent events overwhelming him. What was going to happen to them now? While it was true that they had had the good fortune of having met King Simba and been allowed to stay with his pride for the time being, how long would it be until their luck ran out, and they would be forced to leave?

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Rune found himself rousing up to a warm tongue gently brushing against his tired young body. At first, his mind questioned who was doing this, then he decided that it didn't matter, and let whoever was bathing him continue; the feeling comforting him in ways that he hadn't thought possible.

"At least you seem to enjoy getting bathed, little one." a warm, albeit unfamiliar, female voice gently said, startling him into semi-wakefulness. He opened his eyes to find himself curled between the front paws of a strange lioness. At first, a feeling of panic went through him; then he looked directly at the lioness' face. From what he could see, there was no evil intent in her eyes; only warmth, and concern.

"No way that can be faked...And if she'd wanted to hurt me, she would have by now, right?" Rune reasoned, as he let himself relax. For a moment, a thoughtful look crossed the lioness' features, almost as though she'd heard his thoughts just then, then she resumed the cleaning session. Within moments, Rune was purring.

"I find it amazing that he's letting you do that, Mom." Simba's voice said, as he came into view; getting a wry smile from the lioness in response (and a soft growl from Rune for the disturbance in his bath).

"When you were his age, you didn't want me to mess up your mane, remember?" Sarabi, as the lioness so happened to be, teased, getting an embarrassed shuffling of paws and even a blush from Simba for that.

"I was young and foolish back then, Mom." Simba admitted, as he gently nuzzled her cheek, and gave her a sad smile. The smile was returned, a wistful look appearing in her eyes, as well.

"No. Just young...and full of life. You didn't, and still don't, like to sit still, lest life pass you by and leave you behind. We'll always miss Mufasa, and the time of peace that died with him...But you brought happiness and peace back with you. That is the part of the legacy your father had entrusted you with. Never forget that." Sarabi murmured, as she blinked back her tears, and refused to let them fall. Simba nodded, then gently gazed at the cub between his mother's paws.

"You're right, of course...Now, I think I'd better get going, and let you get back to what you were doing." Simba said, smiling a little bit when Rune gave the both of them an almost impatient look (but it was also tinged with curiosity and a tiny bit of concern as well). Sarabi also smiled and nodded, as she started smoothing Rune's pure white fur back down; getting him to start purring all over again.

"I'll ask 'em where Maya is later...Too sleepy now..." Rune thought, as he allowed his tired mind to be lulled back into dreamless slumber; leaving his questions about all the two adults had discussed in a corner for a later time.

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The smoke was thick and as hot as the flames they preceded, as they ran for their lives.

"The alarm, Leo! Do we have time to raise the alarm?.!" Pauley shouted, the panic in his voice very easily heard, even over the roar of the flames.

"I don't know! Try it! If it doesn't work, then don't wait for it to start working! Just warn as many animals as you can!" Leo replied, the fear in his own voice telling the bird that he was just as afraid of the fire as he was.

"Will do, Leo!" Pauley replied, as he flew off to do just that. And that was the last Leo ever saw of the brave bird...

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Author's Note!

I know it's been an incredibly long time since the last update, but I need some help! Does anyone know of the names for the rest of the pride members? Or can you suggest some? Any help will be most welcome! Thanks!

Gemini14