Like Water and Rain (Chapter 3)

Oh dear god, it’s summer.

 

And not just any summer, it’s what Nala told me was the dry season, the hottest part of the year for them. And coming from a naturally hot continent, this didn’t fill me with anticipation of what is to be the worst experience with weather in my life.

 

Speaking of my life, I was currently sitting on the edge of Pride Rock with Zuri, looking over the lands with a sigh before frowning. This is not going to be fun…

 

To my surprise, the lioness elbowed me in the arm with a smile. The tawny-orange cub and I have formed a brother-sister kind of relationship over the couple weeks i’ve been here and has helped me with my struggles, earning my full trust.

 

‘’You okay?’’ She asked worriedly, causing me to chuckle.

 

‘’Of course, ‘Ri.’’ I answered, calling her by the nickname I gave her, ‘’It’s just I hate the dry season sometimes.’’

 

‘’Tell me about it.’’ She said, looking at her claws, ‘’Because of the dry season, I have less places to sharpen my claws to look shiny.’’

 

Oh, you. The desire for a great appearance has grown on me, allowing me to playfully roll my eyes at her with a smile, ‘’You know, your habits will have to lose some weight some time.’’

 

‘’And so will you.’’

 

Her comeback caused me to smirk.

 

‘’You calling me fat?’’ I asked the lioness, who scoffed.

 

‘’Well, you do tend to eat some of the fruit from the plants more often than you should, so yeah.’’ She said before I heard the Queen of the Pridelands herself.

 

‘’Shujaa, we need you for something.’’ Nala said, causing me to look at her curiously, ‘’Helping the elephants find water.’’

 

‘’Isn’t that Kiara’s jo-’’ I started, before realizing what that means and immediately shaking my head, ‘’No, no, no! Please, Nala…’’

 

But the Queen merely smiled with her eyes closed as I sighed.

 

‘’Fine…’’ I groaned before walking with her.

 

‘’Good luck!’’ I heard Zuri say, causing me to at least crack a small smile.

 

‘’I’m going to need all the luck I can get.’’ I joked as Nala and I got farther away.

 

 

As we approached Kiara and Simba, Simba gestured to me, causing Kiara to blink.

 

‘’You mean i’m with HIM!?’’ Kiara shouted in disappointment before groaning, ‘’Why…?’’

 

‘’Well, Ma Tembo needs help finding a new water source for the dry season and your mother and I figured you two would be perfect for the job since The Lion Guard would be protecting the Pridelands.’’ Simba explained as I stood next to Kiara, but the King frowned, ‘’I can trust you two to not rip each other apart, right?’’

 

Kiara and I both nodded, Kiara with visible hesitation and me without question, being fully ready to help find resources for the Pridelands regardless who i’m with. Despite our tensions, I still had somewhat of a respect for Kiara considering her royal standing, but I didn’t let that get in the way of my absolute hatred of her attitude and less than gracious views of the way I handle problems, though I keep shooting her down for this.

 

We slowly walked off together, away from Simba and Nala, who were understandably doubtful, but at the same time hopeful for the two they chose.

 

 

‘’Come on, Mtoto, you can do it.’’ I said to the young elephant as I was helping him get up a hill that he kept slipping off of, ‘’Just gotta put your weight into it.’’

 

‘’Okay!’’ Mtoto said before I felt him get heavier, causing my eyes to widen.

 

‘’Wait, I didn’t mean it litera-’’ I started, but was cut off as we both tumbled down the hill, and into some rocks, with us being uninjured from the fall, ‘’lly…’’

 

The elephant had a sheepish grin as I rolled my eyes and amusement, ‘’Sorry…’’

 

Mtoto got off of me as I got up, coughing from the elephant’s weight and sighing as Kiara trotted over to us.

 

‘’What’s holding you guys?’’ She asked in annoyance, before doing a smug smirk in my direction, ‘’Can’t keep up?’’

 

I balked at the mocking, ‘’You’re asking me and an elephant if we can’t keep up. Real smooth, Princess…’’

 

‘’Whatever..’’ She groaned as we started helping Mtoto up the hill to be with the rest of his herd.

 

When we eventually did get Mtoto up there, I looked around to try to find them, unfortunately not being able to. My surprised and almost fearful expression caused Kiara to look ahead, squinting her eyes and sniffing the ground.

 

“I got their scent...but there's something...else with it.” Kiara said, “It's like they're being pursued by sonething.”

 

“Or someone.” I pointed out, “The dry season is the perfect time for widespread hyena attacks. Perhaps this could be one of them.”

 

“If that's the case, then we need to get to the herd and quickly.” Kiara said before running, “Come on, sludge!”

 

I looked to Mtoto before nodding, then we followed Kiara to track down the elephants.

 

As expected, we managed to find the herd. Despite me disliking Kiara and vice versa, she does have admittedly good tracking skills.

 

When eyed the herd, I noticed Janja and his cronies sneaking through bushes, intending to launch a surprise attack. Knowing this, I turned to Kiara and Mtoto.

 

“Mtoto, go warn the herd of the hyenas.” I told the elephant before looking at Kiara, “Kiara, help me fend off the hyenas until he does so.”

 

Kiara scoffed at the idea of taking orders from me, “And who are you to command me?”

 

I growled in anger at her ignorance and clear arrogant personality, “Do you have a choice?”

 

After a few moments, she groaned.

 

‘’Okay…’’ Kiara shook her head, ‘’Just don’t think this changes anything.’’

 

‘’I wouldn’t have it any other way.’’ I said with a smirk before the three of us broke off to do our own thing, me and Kiara eventually jumping in front of the hyenas.

 

‘’Wait.’’ Janja, who was leading them as always, started with a squint, ‘’I remember you…’’

 

‘’Glad to see it.’’ I mocked before frowning, ‘’What are you and your goons doing in the Pridelands, Janja?’’

 

“It's a plan by Scar…” Janja said with an arrogant smile. Forgot that debacle with the hyenas and Ushari happened, “But that's all the details I'll provide.”

 

“Well then.” I said as I dug my claws into the ground as Kiara did the same, “Tell him I send my regards in scratches and bite marks.”

 

While Janja was slightly...perturbed to say the least by my threat, he regained his composure, “Let's get ‘en, fellas!”

 

Him and his hyenas charged at us as we knocked several of them down, but more kept coming as the ones that didn't ended up getting to their paws and coming from behind me, knocking and pretty much PINNING me to the ground.

 

As I struggled and growl, I see Kiara get knocked down too, then begin to get dragged off by the clan. This caused my eyes to widen and grab one of the hyenas on top of me, then slam him down before chucking the other one across the ground before running to catch up with jJanja, Chungu, Cheezi and Kiara.

 

I may not like Kiara, but I won't allow the Circle of Life to be unbalanced by her capture.

After minutes of running, I slowed down to avoid detection, as I saw Janja and his goons surrounding the Princess.

 

Will I seriously play the Link to her Zelda in this scenario?

 

Nonetheless, I snuck across the yellow grass and dry ground, looking to come up and attack before Mtoto came over to me, having supposedly gotten back from the order I gave him

 

“I'm back from warning The Lion Guard.” He said and I had a baffled face.

 

“I had said to warn the HERD.” I whispered with a higher tone, “Where's The Lion Guard now?”

 

“Heading this way.” Mtoto answered, inciting my frown, “Why?”

 

“I'm not letting them take all the battles as victories for them.” I looked back at the captured Kiara surrounded by Janja’s hyenas, “This will be a victory for the Pridelands. Tell the elephant herd to redirect to this location. Once all of the hyenas are rounded up by Janja, send out a signal to the herd to run towards and knock the hyenas out of the Pridelands, but not hurt Kiara.”

 

“Yes, sir!” Mtoto said with a hint of adoration before running off to get the herd. I examined the pack with narrowed eyes. Janja, Chungu and Cheezi were currently surrounding Kiara, Janja having had her pinned down by pressing his paw on her cheek, keeping her down.

 

‘’Alright, we got her!’’ Janja shouted, ‘’Someone go tell Scar!’’

 

‘’Now what fun would that be?’’ I asked, appearing from the grass to a confused Janja, ‘’Waste of time, don’t you think?’’

 

‘’What are you talking about?’’ Janja asked with a growl, inciting my laughter.

 

‘’Don’t tell me you actually believe his lies!’’ I said, ‘’Listen. He’d be using you for his own goals and throw you away like common garbage.’’

 

Oh, I don’t know about that…

 

My eyes widened as I recognized the voice in my head...wait...you’re the entity who ended up bringing me here. What do you know that I don’t?

 

Only that there’s more to my use of the hyenas than simply capturing Simba’s brat.

 

Wait...you’re-

 

However, I knew it was all for naught as the voice faded away in laughter. If that’s who I think it is...then I must have been sent here for much darker purposes. Shaking my head, I continued my speech.

 

‘’You think you have Scar all figured out, don’t you?’’ I said with a smirk, ‘’He’s simply using you as his errand boys now that he’s too weak to actually move much.’’

 

As I expected, the rest of the hyenas formed together while Janja kept pressing Kiara down. Alright, time to launch the attack.

 

‘’Boys, boys, let’s settle down a bit.’’ I said, backing away from the hyenas in mock fear before putting a paw on my chin, ‘’Although...I do have an...alternative solution to this debacle. NOW!’’

 

As I said that, the elephant herd came racing down a hill, causing the hyenas to look towards it in fear and run off, leaving me to run through the stampede, nearly getting hit by some of the elephants as I looked around for the Princess.

 

‘’Kiara?’’ I asked, ‘’Kiara!’’

 

I heard coughing as I saw the lioness laid down, slowly starting to  get up before I got her on my back, though she was slightly heavier than I expected, and ran over to Mtoto, who looked at me with a slight sense of panic.

 

‘’Over here!’’ He said before he ran to an opening between the two parts of the stampede, followed by me, the three of us managing to get away from the stampede as they continued to run.

 

As I set Kiara down, she originally looked at me with a smile of gratitude, but blinked, as she knew who she was going to be grateful to. Slowly getting up, she had a frown, but was rather softer.

 

‘’I give my thanks to you, Shujaa.’’ She said, ‘’Despite our mutual dislike, you still went and rescued me from the hyenas before The Lion Guard had a chance to…’’

 

At her surprise at my noble act, I coughed.

 

‘’To be fair, Kiara, you didn’t exactly hide the fact you needed help.’’ I pointed out, ‘’You had a visible expression of pain and almost tears. Hardly the best example of a brave and tough Princess.’’

 

At my playful insult, she scoffed.

 

‘’Hardly…’’ She said, but had a smile, ‘’Don’t think this changes anything, though.’’

 

‘’Oh trust me, I wouldn’t have this time bickering and arguing with you any more entertaining if you DID like me.’’ I said, causing Kiara to blush while growling, ‘’Now, run along, Kiara.’’

 

‘’You are so annoying, you know that…’’ She said, but blinked, ‘’What about the water source?’’

 

I felt rumbling underneath my feet and smirked, ‘’I got that covered.’’

 

Gesturing to Mtoto to stomp the ground repeatedly, I watched in proudness and Kiara in awe as water straight up shout out of the ground as Mtoto quickly opted to make a large enough hole for the water to stay in.

The herd, thankfully, managed to find the water source by following the water shot out, drinking the water with the other animals as me and Kiara overlooked it.

 

‘’Wonderful, is it not?’’ I asked the lioness, ‘’Teamwork and dedication can unite even the worst of rivals under a common goal.’’

 

‘’I suppose so…’’ Kiara said before looking at me, ‘’You know you didn’t really have to save me from the hyenas.’’

 

‘’I prefer to keep all of the royal family in tact rather than boiling in the lava of the Outlands, Kiara.’’ I said, but sighed, ‘’I...heard something odd….someone knowing...my true name.’’

 

‘’’True name?’’’ Kiara asked, but I shook my head.

 

‘’No need to explain.’’ I said before the Princess got up.

 

‘’Well...i’ll be off now.’’ She said before ruffling my mane, ‘’Remember...this doesn’t change my dislike...but thanks.’’

 

She then walked away as I continued my observation of the herd.

 

But...why...why did that voice...that tone...that way of talking...sound so familiar…?

 

'''NEXT: Bonding! When Sarabi asks for Shujaa to travel with her across the Pridelands, the two reveal secrets and tales to each other, and how for Shujaa to feel more at home among the kingdom.'''