This chapter is going to be in third pov as a trial for the rest of the book. Parts of it may change back to 1st pov, but will mostly stay in third. If you like the change please let me know and if you prefer the original pov then let me know as well! thanks! NanoWriMo is coming up so chapter uploads may be a bit more frequent!! Have fun reading!! I edited the previous chapter's ending with the original beginning to this one so go check it out!
Previously on The Lion Guard Meets Selena Burns....
”I’m sorry, what was the thing you said after the strongest?” I asked the king.
”The slyest?” he replied.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when Rafiki laugh. “Yes, the slyest member in the Lion Guard! This animal must be able to maneuver between enemy lines and conduct ambush attacks and act as a scout for nighttime missions!"
I nodded my head slightly. I didn't remember this being part of the show when I first saw the trailer. "Oh, well that makes sense then, thanks for explaining!!" I smiled at the baboon.
---
"Yes, Bunga?" he asked.
Wide eyed the young animal cried, "This is un-bunga-lievable!!"
---
"You see, Simba?" he questioned. "And now Kion will choose the best lions in the Pride for the Guard."
Simba sighed solemnly as he stared at our small forms growing smaller on the horizon, one of them destined to lead the strongest group of animals in the land.
"I hope so, Rafiki," he stated. "I'm still just not sure he's ready..."
Chapter 6: Wary Suspicions (3rd POV)
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A bird was soaring overhead and a loud caw was audible as Sauda trailed next to Kion as they processed and went over the huge amount of information we'd just took in. The dark furred lion cub could tell that Kion was definitely excited enough by the tone of his voice as he spoke, but the way his eyes lit up as he talked about what we'd just learned and the way his tail was practically wagging confirmed it. Sauda giggled at his behavior and listened to what he was saying.
"Wow! Me!?" he exclaimed. "Leader of the Lion Guard... Protectors of the Pride Lands!!"
His expression changed with what he said next. "It's kinda scary..."
His ears had drooped slightly with the statement and Sauda being the person she was, playfully nudged him in the shoulder hard enough to grab his attention. Kion's head turned to her with a questioning gaze and in response his new friend smirked and then ran in front of him, crouching down rear end raised in the air. 'What is she doing?', the lion cub thought.
Sauda noticed he seemed almost seemed bewildered by her actions when he stopped and stared at her confusedly. She thought for a moment on what to do from there and then as if a proverbial lightbulb appeared over head lit up with an idea, she adopted a impish grin before letting out a low growl. Her tail flicking behind her and eyes narrowed with a gleam in them that screamed mischief to Kion, the dark furred female almost seemed to want to play-fight with him! Kion didn't seem to be able to believe what his eyes were seeing.
Sauda however continued to smirk at him until he too grinned mischievously and lowered his front half down to the ground and began to slowly circle her. Beginning to move as well so he didn't run into her, Sauda looked Kion in the eyes, mentally gauging what his next possible movements would be. Both cubs' ears twitching back in forth, tail ends dancing behind their bodies and sharp feline eyes measuring up each other's opponent, they continued their dance for what seemed like eternity.
As a wind blew through grass that towered over them and a splash was heard from the nearby watering hole, Kion's attention was diverted for a split second and when he glanced back to where his friend had been, she wasn't there. He'd barely even looked away from her and she disappeared as if she'd just been a figment of his imagination, just gone! Kion immediately stood up, senses on alert, trying to find out where'd she had gone. Sauda on the other hand had moved behind him, downwind and in a position where Kion wouldn't be able to catch onto his scent with the wind in the air. She'd maneuvered herself into the tall grass behind him, waiting for him to find her. After nearly a minute had gone by without Kion finding her, she decided to scare him. Bunching up the muscles in her powerful hind legs, Sauda raised her rear in the air slightly before she pushed off and extended her front legs out towards the male cub.
Tackling him to the ground they rolled around for a moment before Sauda took he chance when Kion was on his back and pinned him by the shoulders. Panting slightly, Kion looked up at his friend who was also panting yet smiling down at him in amusement as she pinned him. Kion froze then, not realizing how pretty Sauda actually looked until just then. Shaking his head to get rid of the random thought, he grunted under her weight as he tried to free himself from the hold.
Satisfied with the fact that the prince's mind had been pulled from the doubt surrounding his new responsibility, Sauda got off Kion and stood next to him in order to help him stand back up. Kion shook the dirt away from his mane and then looked over to his friend.
"What was that about?" Kion asked, a smile on his face.
Sauda giggled and smiled in response to his question. "Nothing, you just looked like you needed to get your mind off the load of news you just got..."
Kion stared at her like she was off her rocker for a second before chuckling at her explanation. As he got to know her more, Kion was starting to realize just who Sauda really was through the little things she did. Moments like this for example, told him that she consoled others not with words but with actions showing her affection and concern.
"Hey, Kion... Kion!!" a voice was heard getting louder as it grew closer.
Sauda looked up from Kion and noticed Bunga approaching quickly, not stopping to notice anything in his way or whatever, or whomever he trampled over in his path.
"Huh?" Kion was broken from his thoughts, looking up only to see a flash of gray-blue fur flying towards him.
"Ergh!" Kion grunted as he was thrown to the ground. "Bunga!"
They rolled for a moment towards the watering hole and then into the body of water.
"Ready to start assembling the Lion Guard?" said honey badger asked excitedly after surfacing. "Huh? Now? Yeah? Huh?"
Kion surfaced and spat out the water as Bunga continued to unknowingly splash him in the face. "Yes!-spit- Just stop splashing me!"
"Splashing?" Bunga questioned, ceasing his movements. "Oh, heh heh! Sorry, Kion..."
Kion simply smiled at the honey badger, "Hakuna Matata, Bunga."
Kion and Bunga had gotten out of the water and back onto the shore where they shook out their fur, getting Sauda wet in the process. Shaking the water droplets from her face, the dark lion raised an eyebrow as she commented, "I didn't think today can get anymore weird..."
"I mean, how did you even get anywhere near the watering hole?" She laughed. "Now c'mon you goofs, time to assemble the Lion Guard!!"
Unbeknownst to the three cubs who were surrounding the shore, a sly, hunched over figure sitting up in a scraggly looking tree next to the watering hole could overhear their conversation. Then from out of the shadows of the tree branches a wrinkly head with a small cluster of feathers atop peered into the light, a curious and somewhat devious look on the face.
"Lion Guard?" the figure voiced, stepping out fully into the light, only to be revealed as a vulture.
"Hmm..." the vulture voiced to himself.
Sauda who'd sat down at the water's edge to get a pebble out of her paw, looked up at the tree next to the watering hole where the vulture was sitting. When she saw the hunched figure of the vulture peer his head out of the shadows of the tree branches, her eyes narrowed. What was he up to? No doubt he was listening in on their conversation when the topic turned to the Lion Guard. Sauda kept an eye on the vulture as she walked back over to Kion and Bunga from the water's edge. No way in hell was she letting the vulture get away with hearing anything about the Lion Guard without seeing where he was going after he got the full news.
"Dad said the Lion Guard needs the Pride Lands' bravest, strongest, fastest, slyest, and keenest of sight," Kion reiterated his father's words. The auburn maned cub smirked mischievously before looking to Bunga and continuing, "So I think I'll go ask the bravest animal in the Pride Lands first..."
The small honey badger's eyes lit up at this news. "Kion, wait! Before you go asking whoever you think is the bravest, think about this..." he said vivaciously.
"I might not be the biggest honey badger..." Bunga's voice took on a more serious tone as he continued. "But I know what's in my heart. And I'm not afraid of anything, or anyone!!"
Sauda smiled. "It is true, he doesn't appear to be afraid of anything from what I've observed, Bunga's definitely...outgoing."
Kion nodded to her and turned back to Bunga with a smile. "I know, Bunga. That's why..." he trailed off with the same sly smirk and mischievous tone to his voice from before.
Not noticing what Kion was up to Bunga continued with his pleas, "I'll help the Lion Guard fight hyenas. Or jackals! Or crocodiles! Or vultures!"
It was only then that Sauda heard another comment come from their friend in tree, "Vultures?"
"Or great big rock slides or wild fires or floods! I will stand with the Lion Guard!" Bunga declared. "I'll never give up! I'll, I'll..."
Before Bunga could could continue Kion interrupted him with a laugh, "Why don't you stop talking so I can ask you to join the Lion Guard?"
Sauda giggled and mentally counted down, "And 3... 2... 1..."
Bunga stopped short and stood still, his head tilting and nose curling up in confusion. "Say what?!"
Kion shook his head fondly in exasperation, "Come on, Bunga! You're the bravest animal I know! I want you to be the first to join the new Lion Guard."
The expression of confusion on Bunga's face immediately turned to uncontrollable excitement as the honey badger practically began to vibrate with pure elation. Sauda had to take a step back when the young mammal just abruptly did a backflip out of nowhere.
"Zuka Zama!" he cried out in pure exhilaration.
It was then that he stretched his wings into the air and pushed off the branch heading out towards the Outlands.
Sauda's attention was once again brought to watch the Vulture's actions once again when she heard him speak once again, "Zuka Zama, indeed....."
His voice trailed off in thought before he continued with a curious voice, "I wonder if Janja knows about the Lion Guard..."
It was then that he stretched his wings into the air and pushed off the branch heading out towards the Outlands. Sauda having heard the name of the hyena who was declared as the boss of the two hyenas that attacked Bunga in the Outlands earlier that day, knew one thing for certain then and there: Kion and the guard were now going to have to deal with Janja and his lackeys for a while into the future.
Bunga landed and hugged Kion, "You couldn't have made a better choice!!" he exclaimed in glee. "We're gonna make a great team. I can't wait to tell Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa!!"
Sauda mentally agreed with the honey badger, for she herself wanted to meet her favorite duo from the Lion King franchise. Sauda followed Kion and Bunga as they began to walk again and bounced slightly with each step she took. Deciding to pretend she was clueless she asked, "Um...who's Timon and Pumbaa? Are they honey badgers too?"
Kion opened his mouth to respond but his words didn't escape his muzzle before he was interrupted by a ear-splitting, high-pitched scream was heard from about half a mile away from them. Kion and Bunga's heads immediately turned in the direction the scream came from with worried expressions on their faces. But Sauda knew where the shriek had originated from and even the owner of said scream and the only thing running through Sauda's head at that revelation was, "Why me....?"
There you go, the next chapter! Make sure to be on the lookout for the next chapter sometime next week!!!
Happy Reading,
Selena
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