Awaken To The Dawn

The slightest hint of a golden light pierced the deep blackness of the sleeping quarters within Pride Rock. It trickled in like a sliver of a stream, its path making way right unto Simba's proud, majestic face.

Simba, the king of the Pridelands, awoke slowly, first opening one brilliant yellow eye, then the other. He let out a tremendous yawn, that turned into more of a growl, and shook his mane so that it fluffed out from its rather smushed state.

He gazed around him and smiled slightly to himself. His beloved queen, Nala, was beside him, her head lying ever-so-gently upon his right shoulder-blade, and his daughter Kiara a little ways off to the left, curled into a small ball of golden fur. He noted, however, that Kovu was missing from the den.

Quietly he rose and let Nala's head slip from his shoulder, and walked out onto Pride Rock itself. The sun was only just beginning to come up over the valley, and inside of him he felt a slight ping of pain and remembered being here, so long ago, with his father, and dreaming of becoming a king.

But being a king was not what he had dreamed it to be. This wasn't fun and games. This wasn't getting to run around all day and not listen to what others say and just boss people around. This was about ruling not only a pride, but a kingdom, a vast, glorious kingdom that consisted of all creatures, small and big. It also meant protecting his family, especially his daughter, who he was terribly attached to.

But it's time to let go, he told himself. It's time to say good-bye.

He shook his mane again, this time out of frustration. How he was going to manage with letting Kiara and Kovu go off on their own with only a few lionesses to begin their own pride was beyond him. Hours after hours the past few nights, he'd trailed off alone to the waterhole, and gazed into his reflection and staring at the stars and the sky, wishing with all his might for a vision, or a glimpse, of his father. He needed him now. He needed him now more than ever before. But Mufasa's spirit was of being no use this time.

He began to pace, huge padded paws thumping against the rock. You can't keep Kiara and Kovu locked up here forever, Simba he told himself. They'll be fine. Kiara is spirited, and Kovu is strong. He paced some more. If only this place wasn't so far away... If only I knew more about it...

Less than three months ago, a sickly gray lion had come wandering into the Pridelands. It was scrawny and thin, its skin loosely draped around its skeletal frame. He had collapsed near the water hole, and Simba, Kiara, and Kovu had found him lying there. In his dying breaths, he spoke of a land... a beautiful, wonderful land a long, long ways away from the Pridelands, to the west. He spoke not of its name, only its wonders, but that it was trapped by a force of evil lions that used the land for mis-doings. Then he died.

Kovu and Kiara had been obsessed with it ever since. It was all they had ever talked of, milions of questions always darting back and forth. Their curiousity seemed to have no end. But when Kiara had asked if they could leave about three weeks ago... Well, internally he was shredded. Nevertheless, when seeing the pleading look in his daughter's eyes, he said yes.

But now he wasn't so sure. Anything could happen out there. It was beyond his kingdom, beyond his knowledge. By the description of the feeble lion, it was not the same as where he had spent so many days with Timon and Pumba, but a different land... a fantastic land, one beyond your wildest dreams...

But could a place exist? He could not be sure, and he knew he'd never know. His place was here, at Pride Rock.

It was then that he saw Kovu sitting at the edge of the rock, gazing out into the morning. Sighing to himself, he padded over and sat down next to him, also looking out. He said not a word.