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It took precious seconds for Kiara, Nala, and Abioye to process Kovu’s words. Seconds as the rumbling was felt and heard, building in strength with every pulse of the heart. Enough that they even began to hear the snorts and huffs of the beasts, the cries, and trumpets. Those few seconds that could been spent doing running or thinking were spent in shocked nothing. They were so taken unaware they did nothing. Until finally Queen Nala acted before the others. She shoved her daughter forward and cried to her husband still standing still upon the stone, frightened into statue state.

“Simba!” she screamed. A blink at his name and he came back. And suddenly he was stumbling down, sprinting like a frightened hare behind wife and daughter. And Kovu was with Abioye, who recovered after the queen’s cry, took on after them. And not moments too soon. As a dark wave of beasts overtook the ledge and shade they been in and by, trampling it down under weight of body and hoof. Nothing much left after save rumble. Not that they saw.

Kovu, fittest and best trained, glanced back as they kept ahead, curiosity giving way to fear. And he felt instant regret for the sight behind almost made him stumble and stop. A wall of dusty, dark forms, bodies and debris kicked up in their wake. They looked to be a single mass, many as one frightening and extending all along the back and were thundering towards them with all the weight of the combined. The imposing mass went from one end to another no end in sight of the mega herd, so any escape going parallel was out of question. The types of animals were many types, buffalo mainly but he saw wildebeest, zebra, antelope, rhino and even a few elephants. Along with others his eyes had no time to process. All looked mindless, unaware, or unable to stop save the run ever forward. And worst of all, as expected they were gaining, second by second, slow but assured, they were starting to overtake the lions. For herd beasts were made to run and outlast the predator, why the predator must stalk close before the launch. And now with roles seemingly reversed they’re greater speed would be the groups doom.

He saw and took this in under a minute and new fear was found in him to give him speed. For himself at first but more so as he saw his beloved and her parents along with his fellow pride mate ahead. They already were beginning to flag for they were not built for long runs. Even Abioye, son of the Guard Captain, was panting. But he pushed forward, catching up and shouting between gasps.

“Find a shelter, a burrow or cave or something we can duck into. Even a tree or stone to climb. Something. We must get out of the way.” Nala nodded, not glancing at him but focused on running and scanning. Kiara was too distressed, and Simba seemed lost, some great fear over taking his reason. More frightened then Kovu ever saw him.

“Like he’s reliving a nightmare in real life.” He thought before his heated breaths forced him back to focusing on the moment. Abioye had heard his words and was running alongside him, searching with young eyes for salvation. Kovu joined Nala and him in this endeavor even as he watched his running companions. His eyes glanced about searching for a moment, wondering. Until Abioye’s eyes widened in new fear and nearly halted.

“What?!” replied Kovu near breathless.

“The canyon.” He said simply and Kovu looked to where he did. And saw with new sinking dread. The canyon along the southern plain, wide, and deep. The place they headed towards, the place the herds stampeded towards. And they had no choice as their final death loomed. To be crushed under the pounding bodies or flung to hard ground far below. Abioye seemed to falter but regained footing even as eyes remained wide. Nala had noticed and she looked to him, eyes saying she knew and seen nothing to aid them. But Kovu wouldn’t give up and hoped maybe there was salvation at hand. Maybe a ditch or crevasse or something they could hide in. Or climb up. So he pressed them to keep running even as the others saw the danger. They had one hope and it had to be outpacing the stampede. Their only choice.

But then they were at the edge, glancing over and with few minutes before the herd caught up. No tree or burrow had been spotted. No high point out of reach or hideaway to wait out the danger. They were trapped along that edge looking down into the gap, the way across too far and the way down unclimbable. A horrible sense of his own death set in, of the death of his beloved who was now panting and beginning to weep beside him. Of seeing Nala weeping silent tears as she faced boldly her doom barreling down. Of the king looking distraught and lost in fear of some horror in mind and out. And Abioye, cursing out and roaring at the herd and demanding some option. Kovu saw nothing and no option. Nothing but to die. And he had a minute to decide between the herd or the fall. A minute to treasure living and those of the living before it was over. And he could do nothing but stare out and feel despair.

But Kiara hadn’t quite given up, stopping o breath had seemed to ease her senses, she was not defiant in shouting out or roaring at the coming herd, to stare frightened and confused at the edge, and to keep crying. Her naive, hopeful heart called to find some other way. And naturally she wondered if climbing down would be the solution. She saw rocky ledges along the loose walls and reached down, feeling for some foot hold. But it had toppled her weight forward too much. Kovu didn’t think, grabbing her tail in maw and planting paws into earth and she nearly toppled over. All else was forgotten as the rest noticed Kiara falling forward and moved to save her. But Kovu had managed, and she hung by the tail over the precipice, looking down and at the walls. Kovu was ready to pull her up even as the rumbling grew. But she hadn’t noticed much of this for she had recovered after the shock. And saw what was unseeable from the ledge.

“There’s a platform!” She spoke, voice echo to above. All started at her growing joy, struggled to listen over the growing roar of the herds. “A little nook that can be climbed down too. Enough to fit us all. We can get there and wait. Eventually the herds will stop and go away.”

All, including Kovu, felt renewed hope come into them. Kovu, not waiting and trusting her, swung her by tail till he could let go and she could be flung to the ledge below. She landed safely in the shelf some 6 feet below the main ledge above. After the four others began preparing the way down, taking seconds to get there, mindless of the fear of falling as the herd barreled down. Kovu was last, only satisfied when his beloved, her parents and the young guard were with her. Then did he using his great training for climbing stone did he follow down. He barely had time to leap onto the now crowded ledge with the others before the first shadow of the herd begin to pass over. He grabbed a hold of Kiara, shelter her against the wall and with is body, and they all stood together shuddering as the herd thundered overhead.

Over and over, long pauses of the hoof beats as they were now in air, and then slowly fell until the first thuds began to echo out. After that the cut from shadow to sun continued as more and more bodies streamed over. More and more the thudding of bodies hitting distant ground, echoing out horribly. The trumpets and cries of alarm as some realized what fate waited and the inability to do nothing. Still many screamed all the way down. Even the trumpet or two piercing the air as elephants, with the greatest most frightening cry, fell to their death. Likely wise enough to see the drop but even they weren’t strong enough to stop when so many bodies pressing behind. Kovu had forced Kiara’s face into his mane to prevent her seeing that awful sight. Most of them had turned eyes shut and away, ears pinned tightly to heads. Pressed against wall and each other. Crouched and frightened. But even through that she heard much of it. Most of them did. And it was sickening and horrifying to hear. See through closed eyes the shift from dark to light so rapid it was dizzying, as bodies fell at intervals while the sun peaked through the gaps. The horrible scene played out a long while. A very long while.

Until suddenly all sound seemed to stop, the last thud heard below. The thunder above had stopped, and the sun shone down without break. One moment horrid spectacle, the next done. Like a rain that had given way after falling hard and long. And they remained huddled and frightened, reliving sounds and sights and frightened for more. Until they dared open yes and move form stiff positions. Souls easing as they realized their state, while the day slowly turned back to hot and clear.

All looked down at the dusty canyon and shook and couched the dust from above and below. Slowly normalcy was returning. But with it a dread and realization. They had lived, but what would they find after this? And could they live with it. Or was it better to have joined all those below, who were now coming into view? Splayed like crushed ants on the floor of the canyon.
_____________________

Up we go back to the stampede and the results.

illustration for this was interesting. I was very worried how I was going to do this without having to do a bunch of details. I think I found a quick solution that works. Hope you agree and enjoy.

All things related to TLK © Disney
Idea and story © Me
Please do not use in any way, shape or form without proper consent from me and without using proper referencing.
Feel free to politely point out grammatical/spelling errors that you catch in the story, such comments are welcome for me to keep improving.
Thank you.

Description
First Part | Previous Part | Next Part (?) >
______________

It took precious seconds for Kiara, Nala, and Abioye to process Kovu’s words. Seconds as the rumbling was felt and heard, building in strength with every pulse of the heart. Enough that they even began to hear the snorts and huffs of the beasts, the cries, and trumpets. Those few seconds that could been spent doing running or thinking were spent in shocked nothing. They were so taken unaware they did nothing. Until finally Queen Nala acted before the others. She shoved her daughter forward and cried to her husband still standing still upon the stone, frightened into statue state.

“Simba!” she screamed. A blink at his name and he came back. And suddenly he was stumbling down, sprinting like a frightened hare behind wife and daughter. And Kovu was with Abioye, who recovered after the queen’s cry, took on after them. And not moments too soon. As a dark wave of beasts overtook the ledge and shade they been in and by, trampling it down under weight of body and hoof. Nothing much left after save rumble. Not that they saw.

Kovu, fittest and best trained, glanced back as they kept ahead, curiosity giving way to fear. And he felt instant regret for the sight behind almost made him stumble and stop. A wall of dusty, dark forms, bodies and debris kicked up in their wake. They looked to be a single mass, many as one frightening and extending all along the back and were thundering towards them with all the weight of the combined. The imposing mass went from one end to another no end in sight of the mega herd, so any escape going parallel was out of question. The types of animals were many types, buffalo mainly but he saw wildebeest, zebra, antelope, rhino and even a few elephants. Along with others his eyes had no time to process. All looked mindless, unaware, or unable to stop save the run ever forward. And worst of all, as expected they were gaining, second by second, slow but assured, they were starting to overtake the lions. For herd beasts were made to run and outlast the predator, why the predator must stalk close before the launch. And now with roles seemingly reversed they’re greater speed would be the groups doom.

He saw and took this in under a minute and new fear was found in him to give him speed. For himself at first but more so as he saw his beloved and her parents along with his fellow pride mate ahead. They already were beginning to flag for they were not built for long runs. Even Abioye, son of the Guard Captain, was panting. But he pushed forward, catching up and shouting between gasps.

“Find a shelter, a burrow or cave or something we can duck into. Even a tree or stone to climb. Something. We must get out of the way.” Nala nodded, not glancing at him but focused on running and scanning. Kiara was too distressed, and Simba seemed lost, some great fear over taking his reason. More frightened then Kovu ever saw him.

“Like he’s reliving a nightmare in real life.” He thought before his heated breaths forced him back to focusing on the moment. Abioye had heard his words and was running alongside him, searching with young eyes for salvation. Kovu joined Nala and him in this endeavor even as he watched his running companions. His eyes glanced about searching for a moment, wondering. Until Abioye’s eyes widened in new fear and nearly halted.

“What?!” replied Kovu near breathless.

“The canyon.” He said simply and Kovu looked to where he did. And saw with new sinking dread. The canyon along the southern plain, wide, and deep. The place they headed towards, the place the herds stampeded towards. And they had no choice as their final death loomed. To be crushed under the pounding bodies or flung to hard ground far below. Abioye seemed to falter but regained footing even as eyes remained wide. Nala had noticed and she looked to him, eyes saying she knew and seen nothing to aid them. But Kovu wouldn’t give up and hoped maybe there was salvation at hand. Maybe a ditch or crevasse or something they could hide in. Or climb up. So he pressed them to keep running even as the others saw the danger. They had one hope and it had to be outpacing the stampede. Their only choice.

But then they were at the edge, glancing over and with few minutes before the herd caught up. No tree or burrow had been spotted. No high point out of reach or hideaway to wait out the danger. They were trapped along that edge looking down into the gap, the way across too far and the way down unclimbable. A horrible sense of his own death set in, of the death of his beloved who was now panting and beginning to weep beside him. Of seeing Nala weeping silent tears as she faced boldly her doom barreling down. Of the king looking distraught and lost in fear of some horror in mind and out. And Abioye, cursing out and roaring at the herd and demanding some option. Kovu saw nothing and no option. Nothing but to die. And he had a minute to decide between the herd or the fall. A minute to treasure living and those of the living before it was over. And he could do nothing but stare out and feel despair.

But Kiara hadn’t quite given up, stopping o breath had seemed to ease her senses, she was not defiant in shouting out or roaring at the coming herd, to stare frightened and confused at the edge, and to keep crying. Her naive, hopeful heart called to find some other way. And naturally she wondered if climbing down would be the solution. She saw rocky ledges along the loose walls and reached down, feeling for some foot hold. But it had toppled her weight forward too much. Kovu didn’t think, grabbing her tail in maw and planting paws into earth and she nearly toppled over. All else was forgotten as the rest noticed Kiara falling forward and moved to save her. But Kovu had managed, and she hung by the tail over the precipice, looking down and at the walls. Kovu was ready to pull her up even as the rumbling grew. But she hadn’t noticed much of this for she had recovered after the shock. And saw what was unseeable from the ledge.

“There’s a platform!” She spoke, voice echo to above. All started at her growing joy, struggled to listen over the growing roar of the herds. “A little nook that can be climbed down too. Enough to fit us all. We can get there and wait. Eventually the herds will stop and go away.”

All, including Kovu, felt renewed hope come into them. Kovu, not waiting and trusting her, swung her by tail till he could let go and she could be flung to the ledge below. She landed safely in the shelf some 6 feet below the main ledge above. After the four others began preparing the way down, taking seconds to get there, mindless of the fear of falling as the herd barreled down. Kovu was last, only satisfied when his beloved, her parents and the young guard were with her. Then did he using his great training for climbing stone did he follow down. He barely had time to leap onto the now crowded ledge with the others before the first shadow of the herd begin to pass over. He grabbed a hold of Kiara, shelter her against the wall and with is body, and they all stood together shuddering as the herd thundered overhead.

Over and over, long pauses of the hoof beats as they were now in air, and then slowly fell until the first thuds began to echo out. After that the cut from shadow to sun continued as more and more bodies streamed over. More and more the thudding of bodies hitting distant ground, echoing out horribly. The trumpets and cries of alarm as some realized what fate waited and the inability to do nothing. Still many screamed all the way down. Even the trumpet or two piercing the air as elephants, with the greatest most frightening cry, fell to their death. Likely wise enough to see the drop but even they weren’t strong enough to stop when so many bodies pressing behind. Kovu had forced Kiara’s face into his mane to prevent her seeing that awful sight. Most of them had turned eyes shut and away, ears pinned tightly to heads. Pressed against wall and each other. Crouched and frightened. But even through that she heard much of it. Most of them did. And it was sickening and horrifying to hear. See through closed eyes the shift from dark to light so rapid it was dizzying, as bodies fell at intervals while the sun peaked through the gaps. The horrible scene played out a long while. A very long while.

Until suddenly all sound seemed to stop, the last thud heard below. The thunder above had stopped, and the sun shone down without break. One moment horrid spectacle, the next done. Like a rain that had given way after falling hard and long. And they remained huddled and frightened, reliving sounds and sights and frightened for more. Until they dared open yes and move form stiff positions. Souls easing as they realized their state, while the day slowly turned back to hot and clear.

All looked down at the dusty canyon and shook and couched the dust from above and below. Slowly normalcy was returning. But with it a dread and realization. They had lived, but what would they find after this? And could they live with it. Or was it better to have joined all those below, who were now coming into view? Splayed like crushed ants on the floor of the canyon.
_____________________

Up we go back to the stampede and the results.

illustration for this was interesting. I was very worried how I was going to do this without having to do a bunch of details. I think I found a quick solution that works. Hope you agree and enjoy.

All things related to TLK © Disney
Idea and story © Me
Please do not use in any way, shape or form without proper consent from me and without using proper referencing.
Feel free to politely point out grammatical/spelling errors that you catch in the story, such comments are welcome for me to keep improving.
Thank you.