Like Water and Rain (Series Finale)

‘’WHERE ARE THEY!?’’

‘’I-I don’t know!’’

‘’Shujaa, calm down..’’

I was choking the ever living life out of a hyena, who was downright shaking and terrified of my angered state with Vitani trying to calm me. We had been a few hundred feet into The Graveyard before we say a group of hyenas. The group ran off, but one was not too fast, allowing me to catch it.

Narrowing my eyes, I got right in his face. ‘’Stop lying to me…’’

Extending my claws, I smirked. ‘’Or you’ll have...facial reconstruction.’’

The hyena, terrified at my clear bluff, began to cave. ‘’Okay, okay! Tashi and Ni have them in the volcano! Where all the steam is!’’

I raised him up, paw around his throat. ‘’How do I know this isn’t a trick?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Well..’’ He wheezed. ‘’Would someone lie when threatened with death?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’You never know.’’ I huffed before tossing him into a wall. ‘’Now go. Run off to whoever you want, it makes no difference to me.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Quickly nodding, the hyena scurried off as Vitani walked next to me. ‘’Don’t you think that was a bit much?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’We all have our own form of interrogation, Vitani, extensive time in The Outlands taught me that much.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’True…’’ She sighed. ‘’But be more cautious when interrogating. You never know what new enemies you will make.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I don’t care how many enemies I make right now. All I want is to get Kiara and Zuri back.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I guess so…’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">We ran through the Graveyard, trying to find the volcano. Vitani said that she remembered where it was, since she and Nuka had went to it to enact Zira’s plan a week earlier….speaking of which, I have to go to that area sometime and check out all of the damage.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Get this done, then you can.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I know…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I think I see it!’’ Vitani shouted as we neared it. ‘’Here it is!’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">But something caught my eye as I grabbed Vitani and pulled her to cover. ‘’Hold up.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’What is it?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Hey! You hear about the kid?’’ A hyena asked his comrade, who scoffed and shrugged.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Bits and pieces.’’ He replied. ‘’From what I was told, Ni and Tashi ambushed the former king of The Pridelands and took a newborn with them.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I snarled as Vitani put a paw on my shoulder.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I think it’s all a story.’’ The 1st hyena raised an eyebrow. ‘’Why would they be crazy enough to ambush them? Doesn’t make too much sense.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Oh, but it does…’’ I muttered. ‘’Attacking Sarabi to mess around with me...and taking Sara for whatever reason. Probably to lure me in. As if the capturing of Kiara and Zuri didn’t do that.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’He wants you further in so he can do something.’’ Vitani sighed. ‘’We have to hurry.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Yeah. More we stay here, less likely we are to get them in time.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">The two of us snuck around the hyena guards and through a hidden entrance Vitani knew.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Don’t worry…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I’m coming.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">We reached where Ni and Tashi are, me gasping in horror as I saw the state of Zuri, but sighed in relief when I saw nothing was major.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Start it, Ni.’’ Tashi ordered and Ni grabbed Zuri. Looking around, Tashi smirked. ‘’I know you’re there, Shujaa. You think I wouldn’t come prepared for you? I am not stupid! I have heard of what you’re capable of...which is why I enlisted help.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Suddenly, I was pounced on, tumbling down the hill and crashing near a pool of lava. Turning around, my eyes widen.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Kovu…?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’The one in only.’’ The brown and black male said as he pinned me down, Vitani being taken down by a large group of hyenas. ‘’Only reason why I bothered to help them is to get back at you.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Ack.’’ I choked. ‘’Wouldn’t have to if you just stayed with us, Kovu.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’You ruined everything of mother’s plan...I won’t go with you even if my life depended on it...however…’’ He said, turning my head over as Ni began torturing Zuri. ‘’If I can’t kill you physically...why not emotionally?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Her screams caused me to close my eyes, tears beginning to come out as bones cracked. ‘’Stop.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Chomp...one of Zuri’s legs were instantly broken by a strong bite from Ni, her crying reaching my ears and causing me to growl.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I said stop…’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’That’s enough, Ni.’’ Tashi frowned, walking to me. ‘’I think we can end it here.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’No…’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Tashi then walked over to Zuri, extended a claw and putting it to her throat. ‘’Your choice, Shujaa. Her or the cub? Pick one.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Seeing Sara being carried by a hyena to Tashi, I narrowed my eyes. ‘’You lay even a hair on her and I will have your head!’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Oh, so scary.’’ He said sarcastically. ‘’Look, since you can’t make the choice, i’ll make it for you.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">...A slit of the throat...and Zuri...my friend...my sister from another world...fell..

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’ZURI!!!’’ I screamed in horror as she fell, lifeless. ‘’NO!!’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Tashi laughed as tears came down my face, seeing one of my closest friends die right in front of me.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Get off…’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’Hm?’’ Kovu blinked at my low tone. ‘’Aw, are you sad?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I said...GET OFF!!’’ I roared before springing up, taking Kovu down and slashing at him constantly, the surprised lion doing his best to defend himself, but I quickly bit both of his paws and pinned him down. But as I was about to kill him, I knew I couldn’t. If I killed Kovu, Vitani would be without a sibling...so I simply broke his legs. ‘’Now stay down!’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">But then my attention was turned to Tashi and Ni, who was both stunned by my burst of anger. But Tashi suddenly laughed. ‘’Ah, look at you. Did we hit a nerve?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I suddenly grinned madly. ‘’Oh, you did more than that…’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Instantly I sprung at them, taking them both down at once. As I jumped back, Ni got up and tried to pounce me, but I did a monkey flip, sending him careening into a pile of bones.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">The hyena holding Sara dropped the newborn sadly, fearing for his own life as I stared down Tashi.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’I did it...I finally broke you!’’ Tashi cackled. ‘’For ages, nobody thought you could break. You could never look to fully kill and yet I managed to break you mentally and emotionally.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’You heartless...piece of…’’ My eyes burned with the fire of rage. ‘’Killing innocents just to lure me. Killing those closest to me. You’re really obsessed with me.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I heard bones land on the ground as I looked behind me, grabbing Ni and throwing him into Tashi, sending both tumbling down. Walking to them, I smacked Ni into a wall, then grabbed Tashi and knocked him into a large rock.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘’You want suffering…?’’ I asked darkly as I began choking the life out of Tashi. ‘’THIS IS SUFFERING FOR YOU!’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Wheezing, Tashi tried to break free, but the more he broke free, the more I increased the pressure. ‘’No more will you do harm to Africa!’’ <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">He stopped struggling, causing me to toss him off a cliff leading to a large pile of bones, burying him under it. ‘’Still a more honorable death than you deserved.’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Looking to Ni, the lion getting up, I coughed. ‘’You want to be next?’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ni, knowing all too well and being quite smart, ran off, not wanting to take further punishment.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Quickly, I ran over to Zuri’s body and shook her. ‘’Zuri! Zuri, talk to me! SIS! TALK!’’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">But she wouldn’t.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I buried my face into her fur, my tears causing the fur to be wet, dampening it as I sobbed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I failed…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Sure, Kiara was safe, as Vitani managed to get her out of The Graveyard as I later found it, but…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">I still failed..

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Grabbing the meowing Sara, who put her paws on my face, I smiled ever so slowly and walked out of The Graveyard, not even wanting to see the body of one I called a sister…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Returning to The Pridelands, I gave Sara to Kiara, who smiled with tears and nuzzled me, also devastated over the death of Zuri. I nuzzled her back, looking for some form of comfort….but there was none.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">...I wasn’t fast enough…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">And because of that…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">Zuri was gone…

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;white-space:pre-wrap;">OOF! The Series Finale of ‘Like Water and Rain’! Sure, this was a bittersweet ending, but there will be more explained in the next fic: Children of Light!