Kion's Tale Ch. 16

It had been a whole Hour since they had left Komodo Rock, and Oh what a long hour it was. Kion led his friends through the plains. He did not need to look behind him to see the cold faces of his friends. They cold not believe what he had said back there at the hearing. All but Bunga felt as if they were next on Kion's Anger list. Inside, Fui, Beshte, and Ono all had their own thoughts on Kion's choice of words back at the Hearing.

Ono was the first to speak up, giving a small sigh. "If no one else is going to say it, I will." He then stepped to one side of the Hippos back, speaking as if he were someone else. "Ono, take a look around." He stepped to the other side, giving a salute to himself. "Affirmative." He then took to the skies. He scanned the area, watching for anything unusual. Nothing.

But he did hear something.

"Help!"

"Wait a tick..." The call for help got the birds attention. He turned his head to where he heard it. And that was where he saw it with the keen vision that he had been blessed with. Of all animals in the Backlands, Badili the Leopard was the only Leopard friend they had. And by the looks of things, he was not in a good position. He stood on a very thick limb in a tree above the ground, where roaring flames rose to try and burn him.

"Hapana!" He flew down to his four companions. "Everyone! It's Badili, he's surrounded by fire!"

Kion then leapt forward, bravely willing to help his friend. "Let's go Lion Guard!" He led the way to where the fires were. "Till the Pridelands end..."

"Lion Guard defend!"

-

Badili's eyes darted all around the ground below him, every inch of the grove was colored crimson and gold. His eyes were filled with fear as there was no place to leap down without getting burnt. Even his Limb began to crackle because of the sheer heat of the flames.

His hopes were lifted as he saw the silhouettes of his Pridelands friends approaching.

"Badili!" Kion called up to him. "Hold on, we'll get you down!"

"No, don't worry about me!" Badili quickly shook his head. "You guys get out of here, save yourselves!"

"No way!" Bunga replied.

Kion turned to the Honey Badger and the Hippo. "Bunga, Beshte, start making fire breaks all around the forest to keep it from spreading. Fuli and I will make a safe place for Badili to jump. Ono, you tell him when it's safe to Jump."

The Lion Guard may not have been very happy with their leader at the moment, but since it was to save their friend, they chose not to argue, going on with their orders. Bunga and Beshte bean to dig around Mirihi forest, keeping the fire from spreading to other parts of the Backlands.

Ono flew up to Badili's Limb. "Badili, Kion and Fuli are done. Jump now!"

"Jump?" Badili exclaimed. "Are you crazy? I'm not gonna Jump!"

"Just do it!" Ono ordered impatiently.

Badili seemed hesitant to carry out his Egret friend's request, but since he trusted the group of Pridelanders, he felt it necessary to do what he was told. He leapt from his Limb down to Kion and the others.

"Hurry! This way!" Kion called as he led the Leopard and the others out of the flaming area. As soon as they were safe from harm, they looked back and watched as the tree that Badili had been trapped on came crashing down in the center of the dying fire.

The Leopard gave an exasperated sigh before turning to his friends. "Thanks, guys. I really owe you a lot now."

"It's no problem, Badili." Beshte shook his head.

"So do you have any idea how that fire started?" Fuli asked him.

"I sure do." Badili nodded. "I was coming back from the... um... hearing... and I climbed up my tree to take a little nap. That's when a heard a loud crash."

"It must've been Dry lightning." Ono suggested to his allies.

"Maybe." Kion turned back to Badili. "I'm sorry about your turf, Badili."

"Ah, it's fine, Kion." Badili waved his paw. "It's a big Kingdom here, maybe Nabii will help me find a new place. In the meantime, why don't I return the favor of you guys helping me and help you?"

"With what?" Fuli asked.

"I can show you all a secret passage that leads to the Pridelands. You know, it's the same way I got there after Mapigano kicked me out."

"Really?" Kion tilted his head. He changed from confused to grateful. "Thanks, Badili."

"Well, why don't we get going?" Badili smiled as he led the way. Ah, Badili was such an innocent Leopard. So kind, so clueless. As he led the way, he did not know what scathing looks most of the animals behind him were giving the Lion cub. It appeared that after the daring rescue they had just performed, they were still upset with their leader about what he had said during the hearing. All except Bunga made it clear that they would make their thoughts known to him as soon as they were back in their home.

But behind them all, something else happened.

In the soot that soaked the ground after the fire, something had formed. This particular mark looked like an eye with a large scar over it.

Along with some faint, unearthly chuckling.

-

Makini, her brothers, and Gunge had been escorted to a secure place along the passage to the Pridelands by the Jackals, a place where they could keep an eye on them. Rogo and ugo still seemed to be shaken by what they had just witnessed.

"You know, Makini." Rogo stared at the ground, holding his hands together. "At first, when you told me and Ugo about Scar in the Volcano, We thought you were just pulling our legs. But now that we've seen it....." Rogo was not the kind of Mandrills who was keen on admitting when he was wrong.

"What Rogo is trying to say is:" Ugo spoke up, looking the same as Rogo. "We're sorry for not believing you."

"It's alright, guys." Makini said soothingly. "I wouldn't believe me either, to be honest."

"Well, since we've all agreed Scar's returned," Gunge poked in. "One question: How're we going to get out of here?"

"Don't worry, Gunge." Makini answered. "I have a friend who should be coming anytime now. All we have to do is wait."

Makini sat down next to the Cuckoo, looking up at the Sky. She was sure that Tuca would be by some time soon.

That is, she HOPED he would.