Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ Lion and Blade ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter Three

“Damn it, I thought I’d hit you. Looks like my aim is a bit off.” Removing his hood, the tattooed man smiled at Leon and stuck out his hand in an attempt to shake it when he saw that the force of his punch had knocked over a few trees. Scratching his head, the man then said sheepishly, “I barely even swung my fist. And who opened the door?” Sora stuck his now wind swept head through the front door asking if it was safe to come in. “Uh, yeah sorry about that kid. Names Zell Dincht and I take it you’re Sora?”

Shocked that the blond knew his name, Sora nodded asking, “Where did you hear that? I’ve never met you, so how do you know my name? “ Zell removed a large manila envelope and threw it at Sora. Opening the tab, Sora pulled out a thick book containing information on his and his friends growth since they started their journeys. Looking up at the brawler he asked, “Where did you get all this stuff? There’s things in here you couldn’t know unless you had been spying on us for a long time.” Looking back over the papers Sora noticed a large amount of pictures dating as far back as his first visit to Traverse Town.

Adjusting his Ehrgeiz gloves, Zell cracked his shoulders saying to Sora, “Did you ever meet a guy who could use a weird sort of chakram with the ability to create fire?” When Sora mentioned the name Axl, Zell’s head twitched a bit and growled under his breath getting the attention of his friends. “Fine I’ll let him out.” Zell’s eyes rolled into the back of his head when and then reappeared as his mouth let out the words, “So, seems you’ve gotten a lot stronger Roxas. Too bad I can’t test it out in this body.” Giving Leon a glance Zell’s body said, “I remember you! This guy seemed to hold you up on a pedastel before he became a heartless. But, again this is my true body and I won’t betray it’s friendships.”

Before he could speak, Zell’s eyes returned to normal prompting Sora to ask, “Okay, how the hell did you become a heartless. If weak punch from you could do this,” he pointed at his odd afro, “how is it possible for Maleficent to turn you into a Heartless?” Zell remained silent gaining the attention of Leon in the process. “I can see that it’s not the best topic at the time, so I’ll just drop it and ask how you got to this world?” Sora’s question was answered by a toddler running past him and climbing up Zell’s leg.

Scooping the girl into his arms Zell proudly stated, “Squall, excuse me Leon, and Sora this is my daughter Diana. Diana say hello to Daddy’s friends.” The bown-haired girl waved hello asking how Zell knew them. “Well,” he began, “remember when we visited your auntie and she talked about this guy right.” He pointed to Sora and said, “He’s the guy who helped save our world bring it back to what it once was.”

Leon suddenly looked on the verge of collapse forcing Sora to rush forward and hold him up. Zell smiled at the former SeeD commander and said that it was no lie. Panting heavily Leon asked, “When did this happen?” Zell told him that it happend only a few years ago and he’d found himself suddenly transoported back to Garden. Letting Sora take him to the couch, Leon leaned back and asked his friend, “Who was this Auntie you spoke of?” Zell said that he was told not to tell but a sudden shout of, “Tell me the damn name now!” Prompted Zell to drop the name just as the woman walked in.

“Hello, Squall.” A soft voice came from the doorway outlining the frame of one Rinoa Heartily. Leon stood up immediately and walked to her and began rubbing her face. Laughing, Rinoa did the same thing only telling him, “You look like you’ve been relaxing way too much. Tell me, when did you enjoy flower print shirts and shorts?” Getting no reply, Rinoa stepped away from Leon and extended her hand, “I’m Rinoa. Thank you for taking such good care of Squall for us. And for making him a much more social person than he was when we first met.”

Shaking Rinoa’s hand, Sora was about to say that the clothes weren’t his idea, when out of nowhere his mother stuck her head in saying, “There better not be anymore people showing up because I do not have anymore food left to feed you people!” Turning her head she caught sight of another girl and asked, “Who are you?” The girl blushed and told her that she was named Ellone and was married to Zell. Giving her a look and then catching sight of the bags Sora had in his hands she asked, “Could you help me cook? And Sora, “ her son looked scared at her sudden request. “Wipe that look off and help me as well. You, “ she counted quickly, “four can sit in here but you’re doing the dishes when we’re done eating.”

With Sora, his mother, and Ellone in the kitchen, Leon took a seat in the recliner as Rinoa, Diana, and Zell took the sofa. Giving his friends a sharp look, Leon asked in his usual stern fashion, “So how exactly did you and Ellone end up together? I thought you might have gone after Quistis.” Zell looked away from the Gunblade master saying that Quistis was dating somebody that nobody knew about. “Knowing her it’s probably one of those people in the Trepies. But, on to more serious matters when did our world return and how the Hell did you get here? As far as my knowledge goes you guys don’t have Gummi Blocks in that part of this universe. Unless you traveled in...” he trailed off and went outside and looked up to see a giant space ship floating in the sky casting a shadow over part of the ocean.

“The Ragnarok was away looking for you with your dad at the helm, but only a select few survived the collapse.” Leon looked to see Rinoa crying a bit, “Laguna, Zell, myself, and the rest our group were on the ship, and a few technicians. But, after that we each went to different worlds to look for you when Zell was ambushed and put under the control of that woman Maleficent until a ocuple of years ago.” Hugging Zell she added, “But, luckily he came back to us and Ellone for no explainable reason stayed over him crying for the few days he slept in his body after he took in the sights of our world and passed out in the streets of Balamb.”

Diana looked to Rinoa saying, “No cry Auntie! It a happy day!” The three of them all laughed and the girl stuck her tongue out at Leon telling him, “You can’t laugh because you’re a stranger!” Leon’s eyes bulged at the girls retort and chuckled when Zell smacked her head saying for her to apologize for being rude. Pouting she said, “I’m sorry, but you’re still a stranger.” When Leon agreed that she was correct, the girl stomped out of the living room saying, “I’m going to help momma!”

The child gone, Zell asked Leon what it was like for him to be knighted by an overgrown mouse. “It’s a bit odd at first to see animals up and talking like this, but if you ever met the group Sora traveled with it will be more shocking than a mouse ruling a galaxy.” Stretching his arms a bit Leon added in, “Where are the others right now? I take it Irving is out trying to find Selphie and Quistis and the others are all out on the beach or something?” Hearing that only the Irving part was correct, Leon asked, “Are they all on our home world?”

Ellone walked in after he asked the question wiping her hands on a towel telling him, “Looks like breakfast is just some fruit and breads. But to answer your question Squall, Uncle Laguna and the others are at home and sent us to bring you back. Of course we can’t do that unless you’re willing to. And should you decide not to come we were given these to put in those ships you travel in.” She pulled a couple of disks out of her pocket and handed them over telling her friend, “These are the coordinates so you can download them into any ships computer system and access it for an auto-pilot flight.”

Taking them shakily, Leon set them on top of the television thanking her as Elizabeth announced that dinner was ready. “Vegetarian, great. You guys couldn’t have made me some hotdogs or anything with meat in it?” Getting smacked in the head by his wife, Zell took his seat and began putting some fruit onto his daughter’s plate before grabbing himself a couple donuts. Noticing Sora’s gaze Zell whispered, “I don’t think he’s going to leave just yet, Pal. He’s got a duty here and won’t give it up unless he’s given no other choice.”

Sora blinked and whispered back, “Why did you tell me that?” Zell smirked saying that he could tell Sora held great respect for Leon and had a deep friendship and knew he’d be a bit lonely if Leon left. Blushing slightly, Sora told Zell, “You are right. He’s one of my best friends and we learn a lot sparring together. Wouldn’t you feel that way if one of your best friends on your home world just left you because he thought you guys weren’t as important?”

Zell felt a bit uncomfortable at that sudden cathartic reaction to his statement. Chewing a strawberry, the fighter told Sora, “I would be mad and it has happened. So just remain calm as Squall is not one to forget those he fights with. Knowing him he’d probably leave home a lot to come and visit you and all your companions.” That being said they joined in with their friends discussions of anything from food to buy, to some of their most gruesome and bloody battles prompting Zell to mutter, “Cuff them,” at Diana making the girl cover her ears and hum gently until her father tapped her head four times signalling it was safe to listen.

As Sora and company ate breakfast, Riku was running down the street to Sora’s with his sword out. Looking over his shoulder the platinum-haired boy sliced at an odd gold enemy. It shuttered and exploded sending a cloud of shiny dust into the sky. Catching his breath, Riku jogged the rest of the way to Sora’s keeping an eye out for the thing he’d just fought after getting off the boat with his father. He was able to keep it from hurting any civiilians, but after summoning the Keyblade that was a white version of the one Sora had used to free Kairi’s heart, Riku had gained the attention of the creature. Normally he would have killed it in a few strikes, but it took him nearly ten minutes of running through streets and hacking at it to finally kill it.

Arriving at Sora’s an hour later, Riku knocked on the door finding Zell standing in the doorway. Not caring for who he was Riku ordered, “Get me Sora and Leon, now.” Inside the house, Riku gulped down about four glasses of water before giving a loud sigh and looked at his two friends. Blinking a bit Riku said, “I don’t know what they are, but I know they are neither Nobodies or Heartless. They’re something stronger, tougher, and a much more difficult opponent than even a Samurai Nobody. But if the one I just killed was one of the weaker members we’ll have some problems keeping them under control.”

Noticing that Riku had not put away his Vorpal Keyblade, Sora asked his best friend, “So even your weapon barely made a scratch, considering what it did to that brick wall a few weeks ago during a training session?” Riku explained that the armor on the creature was stronger than the wall and when it punched the armor allowed it to create small craters where it’s fist struck the ground. Whistling loudly, Sora asked the question, “Do you think that it was just some freak accident? Or are we being monitored?”

Rubbing his temples, Leon sighed saying, “Unfortunately we must report this to the King as quickly as possible. So I suggest we get in our uniforms and head out to the palace by tomorrow.” Gazing at Zell and his friends, Leon asked, “I would like to come aboard the ship if that’s possible and you can bring Selphie along as well, after sparring with her a while back she’s not the same dainty girl who transferred from Trabia.” Going to his room, Leon began to pack his bags while shouting, “Sora! Riku! Get your stuff ready because we’re heading out!”

Leaving Riku gave his farewell to Elizabeth while Sora went to his room and pulled out his traveling bag. Shutting his door, Sora changed into his battle gear and finished strapping on his gloves just as a knock came at his door. “Come in, Mom.” The door clicked open allowing Elizabeth to see her son prepared for battle. She began to cry, the sound immediately made Sora feel guilty. So he did what he always did in this situation and hugged his mother whispering, “I’ve always come back so don’t’ cry and keep my room the same until I come back.” Elizabeth told him that she loved him making Sora cry a little as he said to her, “I love you too, Mom. But I need to get ready to go and do my job.”

In his room, Leon was packing his gunblade into his case along with some bullets incase he needed an extra boost during battle. Latching the cases shut and double checking his vest, Leon plucked his bag from the closet and left the room with his weapons case in hand. Looking into Sora’s room he told his friend, “I’m going on ahead. I’ll see you and the others at the castle?” Sora finished packing his bag and slung it over his shoulder telling Leon that knowing Riku he’d have Kairi warming up the ship, and would get their near dead. “I forgot that girl has a tendency to put too much faith in the throttle. Just be sure to wear your seat belt and keep the communication channel open.”

“Will do, mon frere.” Sora and Leon both received a final tear-driven send off from Elizabeth before heading their separate ways. Leon went toward a dock to the south of the house while Sora headed more to the west. As Riku changed it to a more defense driven mode, the Gummi Ship stood out among the water despite it’s camouflaged coloring, a giant patch of sky with birds nestling on it was a bit conspicuous to anyone with an attention to detail. Knocking on the ship side, Sora stepped back momentarily as the door opened. Entering he wasn’t surprised to find Kairi going over some last minute schematics and speaking to somebody through the headset.

“So you’re Leon’s dad? I can see the resemblance . Just make sure to take care of him or else our group will have a hard time explaining it to the king.” Waving Sora over, Kairi shut down the com-link with a smile. Turning to her best-friend she told him, “Riku called me on his way home to fetch his stuff. Lucky for me I always keep an extra weeks worth of clothes and stuff in the ship so I just headed down before you guys to get her warmed up.” Kairi patted the ships control panel gently as it hummed softly in the sunlight. “Also I just happened to be down here and he got through on the ships communications device. Either way he never really told me what was happening, just that we needed to see the king.”

Taking his seat, Sora summoned his Keyblade equipped with the Oblivion chain and gave it a good hard stare. Comparing it’s shape and strength to Riku’s Vorpal, SOra asked Kairi, “How hard do you think it is for Riku to cut through something with his Keyblade?” Saying that it shouldn’t be too difficult if the material was of certain quality, Sora sent his Keyblade away telling Kairi that Riku had fought an opponent that was stronger than some of the most powerful Nobodies. Getting asked how that was possible Sora told her, “Anything is within the realm of possiblity. Just as we hadn’t planned on our other enemies being at the same level and sometimes stronger than the Nobodies, we’ve found yet another group that strong and have to report it to the king.”

“Also it seems that Leon and the others have already left. So we better quit yapping and get out of here fast, or else Aunt Elizabeth will come looking for us.” Hitting his fist to the hatch, Riku hopped into his seat and latched in. “Let’s blow this joint.” His voice going silent for a split second, Riku gave out a loud yell as Kairi lifted them off and blasted out of Destiny Island with an unprecedented speed. Once they reached a steady speed, Riku ran off to the bathroom to expunge a bit of food from that morning while Sora opened a cooling compartment and pulled out a couple of juices.

Settling into Riku’s seat, Sora checked their position saying, “Did he piss you off this morning?” Kairi gave a negative response to the inquiry prompting Sora to tell her, “Then that was a bit crude, but still pretty funny.” Kairi tapped juice bottles with her friend and set in the course to Disney Castle while draining the bottle in half after only a couple of gulps. Sora had barely taken a sip and capped the bottle. Staring out the window, he gave a satisfied grunt and tilted his chair back staring out at the stars in complete tranquility. Hearing Riku stumble out of the bathroom, Sora tossed a box of matches at him declaring loudly, “That room is now a level three bio-hazard. So if you don’t want to pay decontamination fees, I suggest you dispose of the fumes or else.”

“I despise you sometimes,” RIku glared at his best friend while turning back to the bathroom and struck a match. Coming back out, Riku kicked the back of Sora’s chair and sat down in another sneering half-heartedly at his girlfriend. Receiving an innocent smile from her, Riku growled out, “You’re sleeping in your old quarters tonight.” Kairi kicked him in the shin forcing the teen to grab the slowly forming welt yelling, “Why in the name of all that is holy are you wearing steel toed boots!?” Kairi gave him the cold shoulder and went back to piloting without another word. Riku tried to question her but his spine suddenly had a cold chill race down his spine.

Feeling bumps grow on his arms, Sora turned on what they dubbed the “Chameleon Eye,” setting looking for anything abnormal. Kairi knew what was happening and began powering up the shields moments after setting their safety straps to combat setting. Just as she did that the alarms on the ship went off signaling that one of the engines had somehow been hit with the half the power into the shields. “Okay you two hold on tight! Riku get into the extra gunning station, Sora you handle all base fire!” The two males immediately hopped into action waiting for any sign of enemy fire. Kairi knew that while they were the strong physical fighters, she was the better pilot and was in charge when using the ship. “Sensors are on full, and remaining power is keeping us afloat at the expense of defense. So, try and kill them before we get hit.”

“No problem babe, just make sure we can get a good shot,” came Riku’s voice with a hint of static through the speakers. “Also make sure to send a distress signal to the others incase we end up stranded. Also did that package arrive for you?” Sora noticed that Kairi’s outfit was different, it looked a lot like Tifa’s after the fighter had been made a Royal Soldier. “All right Bud, eyes off my girl or else we’ll be taken out.” Sora told his friend not to miss, “Yeah well...oh shit!” A sudden burst of light collided with the rear right side of the ship knocking out two of their remaining engines sending the ship into a spiral. “KAIRI! SORA!” Those were the last words the two teens down in the cockpit heard when the sudden jerk into a planetary atmosphere releasing large bits of the ships foundation onto their heads.

Hours later, Riku was listening to Sora ask, “You awake? Riku, come on wake up.” Opening his eyes Riku screamed at the sight of a full grown brown male lion smiling at him. Jumping back he hit his on top of the firing station making his headache even more traumatic. Laughing heartily, Sora pointed the keyblade in his mouth at Riku muffling out, “Cura.” Staring at his best friend, the now lion Sora asked, “So, you’re more like a giant black cat than a lion?” Riku tried to stand on his feet only to fall down and see that he now had four paws and a giant tail swishing behind him. “Move right front, left back paw, and vice versa with the other two. Or just try and get your own way of doing it.”

Shaking as he stood, Riku stared out at a jungle oasis asking, “Where are we? Wait is this that Prideland world you told us about? How did we get here?” Sitting like cats do, Sora explained that after they had been hit, the ship had been knocked into the planets gravitational pull and they ended up crashing in the desert just outside the entrance to the oasis. Getting to his feet, Riku climbed down the stairs looking for Kairi while asking Sora, “This really isn’t so hard, the tail actually helps with walking.” With Sora right behind him, Riku walked out into the blazing sun and into the oasis entrance finding a lioness drinking from a small spring. Finding the need to drink, Riku asked the female, “Is it okay for me to join you?”

“Uhh Riku, it’s me Kairi, besides you don’t need to ask to drink if you want it take it.” Resting on her haunches, Kairi laughed as Riku began to drink from the spring as Sora chased after a small mouse. Not confused by them being able to talk, the sudden burst of a red-maned, tan furred lion jumping out of the bushes onto Sora growling loudly. Feeling a need to protect her friend, Kairi tackled the lion off of Sora and pressed her claws into his shoulders until she saw that their attacker was Simba. “Oh God, I’m so sorry Simba.”

Climbing to his feet the pride leader licked at his wounds gently, then stared at her with an embarrassed smile. “Don’t worry about it Kairi. When in this form you attempt to gain our mannerisms.” As he said this, Sora dropped the tiny mouse into his mouth and swallowed happily much to the disgust of Kairi and Riku. “He had to nourish himself somehow when he couldn’t reach a transport point for a few days. But, even in this form he’ll use his Keyblade to carve off some meat and cook it on a fire instead of joining in on the way we normally feed.” He spared them the details at the behest of Sora and said to them, “If you’re ready I have to get back to my lands as one of the females of the pride gave birth and I must give my blessing to the cub.” He turned to leave and when he saw Kairi and Riku hanging back he looked over his shoulder telling them withy complete confidence, “I know these lands very well and can lead you to water so don’t worry, just make sure you keep up.”

Dashing off into the desert with Riku bringing up the rear, the two more confident male lions set a pace making it almost impossible for Riku and Kairi to keep up much to the delight of Sora. The day went by quickly and Riku was unable to move when they stopped at a small oasis for the night. Dipping his head into the water, he lazily lapped at it nearly choking as re-hydrated his parched throat. Kairi curled up next to him after he’d drank his fill and stared out at the darkened sky next to a palm tree. Gazing at Sora and Simba, who had kept pace with each other throughout the whole day, Riku panted out, “How are you able to stand after all that running?”

Simba sat down and laughed telling the new-comer, “We’re used to it and know how to control the bodies. When you two have gotten used to it, you’ll be able to keep up with us. But for now, I’m going to get some food. I should be able to find a Camel or a lost Wildebeast wandering around.” Leaving in a small burst of dust, Simba disappeared into the night leaving Sora to pluck some leaves and small branches from the trees. Summoning his blade, he mumbled a fire spell and set the leaves on fire. It took a bit for the fire to become hot enough, but just as it did, Simba came back dragging a young calf saying happily, “Good catch tonight.”

A bit uncomfortable at the situation, Kairi and Riku looked away as Sora carved off pieces of meat and set them on some stones that he’d propped up above the fire. When Sora agreed with Simba that they had enough meat, the true lion left with his catch behind a bush and ate quietly while Kairi asked, “How are you able to eat that? He just killed a poor little animal!” When Riku told her not to complain and that it was only nature, Kairi looked at him saying, “You know I’m not a big fan of meat so how am I supposed to eat that?” She pointed a claw at the meat with an emanating flow of disdain pouring from the sharp claws.

“If you don’t like it there’s some mangos on the ground over there, eat those if you don’t want meat.” Riku climbed to his feet as Sora told him the strips were ready, setting it on the ground, Riku let it col before picking it up in his teeth and began chewing loudly saying, “Tastes a lot like beef.” Sora laughed and tore at his when Kairi began to hack complaining about the fruit. Staring over his shoulder, Riku told her, “Then eat the meat! Lions are carnivores and they work best off a full stomach of cute fluffy animals then fruit.”

He began tearing at a large bit of flank when Kairi slapped him in the face with her tail. “I’m eating this out of necessity not pleasure.” Pulling a bit of shoulder meat off the stone, Kairi tore at it tentatively. Not noticing the eyes of her boyfriend or best friend on her eating, had she known that would happen Kairi would not have allowed for her lion form to take over as she began devouring the meat like a homeless man at a fresh sandwich in the garbage. Riku and Sora grabbed only a few more strips, by Kairi devoured the large amount of the remainder. When she had finished all three of her companions seemed scared of her, but she just plastered on a satisfied smile and walked of saying she needed to use the little lionesses room.

When she was out of ear shot, Simba laughed as he patted Riku on the shoulder telling him, “You have quite a girl there. I bet even my mate would have to marvel at the way she handles being a lion.” Riku and Sora joined in on the laughter before yawning loudly, Simba yawned himself and they all found their own spots to rest in before Kairi came back. Sleeping near Sora, Simba heard Kairi come back and saw her curl up next to Riku happily. Looking to Sora, Simba saw a feeling of loneliness in his eyes as he slept.

The next morning, Simba found Sora staring out at the small bit of sun coming over the horizon. Sitting next to his friend, Simba tried to ask a question, but Sora just said, “I know what you want to ask. And I’ll tell you this.” Turning to gaze at Simba, Sora said to his friend, “I’m just a bit lonely. Everyone is at that stage where they seem to have someone beside their mother, but in my case, she’s the only other person I really have besides my friends. No companionship for me, just friends and my mother.” Sighing he looked to Simba and said, “But, I’m sure I’ll find that person at some point, or it’s that old cliche of we’ve probably found each other, but haven’t realized it. Either way I have more important things to deal with.” Just as he finished Kairi and Riku woke up asking if it was time to leave.

The two large male lions said nothing, but they nodded and left without saying anything. As they reached the canyon, Simba came to an abrupt stall and began sniffing. Sora came up next to Simba and began sniffing the ground and looking for tracks. Riku began scanning the skies when out of nowhere Kairi was slammed into a rock by a mechanical looking Cheetah. Summoning their blades, Sora and Riku began to attack their attacker when Simba shouted, “We have three more coming!” Leaving Kairi to Riku, Sora jumped at what looked like a large Gorilla and stabbed his Keyblade into it. Dragging it along it’s back, Sora skidded along the ground as Simba shouted, “Their armor is too tough!”

Finding that Fenrir was not even working, he focused his thoughts onto the Keyblade he’d received in Atlantica. Charging an ice spell, Sora shot it at his target. It froze instantly and he switched to Oblivion and charged at it slicing his head off. The creature shuddered and collapsed onto the ground and he told Kairi, “Try spells and see if they’ll affect it!” The girl nodded as Riku finally stabbed his blade into the his foe. Aiming a fire spell at her enemy, Kairi was shocked to see what appeared to be a lion back into a wall until it was consumed by the flames. “Good job Kairi!” Just then a loud explosion came from behind them. Simba was limping out from behind a rock with his left paw bleeding heavily as his Wildebeast monster peppered the surrounding rock with an odd liquid. Going up to the rocks, Riku smelt it saying that it wasn’t anything he’d smelt in his life.

“Kairi can you heal Simba while I talk to Riku?” As Kairi tended to their friends leg, Sora began scoping out the remains of their enemies with Riku. Finding the Gorilla to be the only remaining body. Poking it gently Sora felt an sort of blob like creature hiding under the armor. Digging a claw in a grayish ooze poured out of it leaving Sora to ask, “Should we take a sample with us when we get rescued?” Riku asked how they were supposed to get rescued with the ship in it’s condition. Raising his paw, Sora showed a transmission device, “Took a while to strap on the thing but it’s sending the signal where ever we’re at in this world.”

Leaving the corpse, Riku and Sora found Simba to be back in prime health. Confirming with the two that all was ready for them to head off and finish their journey. A few hours later, the lush green of the Pridelands was a welcome sight from the desert and a large number of grazing animals bowed and welcomed Simba. Bowing in return, Simba walked through his lands greeting a small gathering of animal children. Laughing as they played, Simba told them to be safe when Kiara ran up and jumped on her father. The cub began chewing on his ears when she saw his companions. Cowering she made a few grunts and Simba laughed telling her, “Yes these are Mother and Father’s friends. Do not worry they won’t hurt you.”

Kiara growled and began playing with Sora like a cub would trying to hone her hunting skills. As Sora batted at the cub playfully, Nala rushed up nuzzling Simba’s head with hers and then greeted the group. “She’s growing so quickly and even muttered out a few words last night. But, she can’t talk much yet. All she gets is a few words in with the grunts and growls.” Sora gave a sudden yip of pain as Kiara bit his tail. “And getting a nice sharp set of fangs.” Picking the cub up her neck, Nala pointed to Pride Rock muffling out that there was plenty of food as they caught a few Zebra only a short time ago.

The groups sudden rumbling guts had both Nala and Simba laughing saying that Zebra was a much tastier meal than Wildebeest. Sora followed behind with Kairi saying, “Don’t worry I’ll eat it. Can’t pass out on this mission, not with those creatures we have to fight.” Riku was tempted to make a comment, but Kiara ended up gripping his back with her claws and riding him up the rest of the way to where the food was waiting. The little cub pounced down and tore at some of the meat before Nala finished and took her off for some of more appropriate nutrition. The group had divided up the kills making sure there was enough for anybody and Sora went about his work preparing the fire to cook their meat. For the first time in the few days the group settled in for a nice meal and a long break before going about investigating the recent attack waiting for their friends to pick them up.