This brings Chapter 4 to a close. Writing and drawing this chapter was a wild ride, but I learned a lot in the process and had a lot of fun doing it. I'll be slowing down on posts for a bit, but if you're interested in what's coming next, scroll down to the bottom for a few announcements. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: To Die For
Part 13: Sunset (Finale)
Simba felt tears forming in the corners of his closed eyes as he silently listened to the hushed voices speaking at the back of the den. He didn’t want to hear them. He wished he could tune them out or find some way to ignore them. Instead, the cub found his mind clinging to every word that came across his ears as he morbidly overheard the depressing conversation.
“When did she last eat?”
“It must’ve been… two days ago.” Sarafina’s voice wavered as she spoke.
“She’s getting weaker. I’m afraid if she doesn’t wake up by the end of the day…”
Simba pulled himself closer to Nala, still lying beside him on the cool stone floor of the den. The girl’s breathing was slow and labored, with every breath accompanied by a soft wheezing sound. Her face was contorted in pain, and her body felt much colder than usual. Simba knew that his friend wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer. She had lost far too much blood when the hyena tore into her rear leg, and who knew what kind of damage she suffered when she was slammed head-first into the wall. The worst part was there was absolutely nothing Simba could do about any of it. He had tried so hard to protect her, even tried to sacrifice himself to keep her safe. But in the end, it was Nala who lay dying while he quickly recovered. Why did this happen? How could this part of the circle of life? It wasn’t fair!
“Wake up, Nala!” Simba suddenly blurted out. “You have to wake up! Please!” Tears now freely streamed down his face as the prince desperately shook the unconscious girl.
“Simba! Simba, stop!” Sarabi trotted over to her son and gently picked him up by the scruff of his neck. With a mother’s firmness, the queen purposefully walked the prince to the back of the den and away from the others so they could talk without being overheard. “Simba, listen… Your father told you about the circle of life, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” Simba muttered. He really didn’t want to have this conversation.
“Then you know that when someone leaves this world, they’re not really gone. They’re always there in the stars watching over us.”
The prince felt his heart sink into his stomach. Had everyone given up? Did they all really think Nala was going to die? Simba refused to believe that. He couldn’t! “Mom, she’s not leaving! She’ll get better, I know she will!”
“Simba, all I’m saying is you need to be prepared in case Nala…in case she doesn’t make it.” The queen sighed as Simba quickly looked away in frustration. “I know you two have grown really close, and I want her to make it just as much as you do… But I’ll be honest with you, Nala’s condition is getting worse. It’s been a long time since she ate or drank anything and her body is growing weak. Even if she wakes up…”
The two sat in silence for what felt like hours as Simba silently wept for his friend. Before long, the sun began to set on the horizon, its fleeting orange glow casting long shadows across the den like foreboding fingers reaching out to take Nala away. As if on cue, a low murmur began to drift across the den. It was then that Simba’s young heart shattered. Sarafina was sitting next to Nala, her head hung low with tears freely flowing. Several of the other lionesses had begun to sadly gather around as well, and even Rafiki now held his head in sorrow.
“No…” Simba sprinted back across the den and dove through the gathering crowd until he was nose to nose with his best friend. Nala was completely still. Even the wheezing sound of her breathing had ceased. There were no signs of life. The golden-brown cub stood motionless, staring blankly down at the tormented body of his best friend. The one who was always beside him. The one he had sworn to protect. The one he loved. She couldn’t be gone! Tears once again poured down his face, staining the fur on his cheeks before dripping down onto Nala’s nose. “Nala! Wake up!” Simba gasped between unintelligible cries. “You have to wake up! Don’t leave me here on my own! I need you!” The cub’s despair echoed across the den for several minutes until finally his voice completely gave out. Still he continued to weep, tightly cradling the girl in his paws as though she might vanish if he ever let go.
“Sim…ba…”
Simba’s bloodshot eyes snapped open as the soft sound reached his ears. The word was so quiet it was almost inaudible, but he was sure that he had heard it. Heart pounding in his chest, the prince slowly looked down at his friend. The cub wondered for a moment if he might be delusional, because there, timidly staring back at him, was a pair of teal-blue eyes. “N-Nala?” Simba struggled to contain the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him as he gazed into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. She was alive! A huge grin slowly spread across the prince’s face even as he continued to sob uncontrollably. Momentarily unable to speak, Simba gently pressed his forehead against Nala’s in an emotional nuzzle. He had never been so happy to hear her voice in his young life.
“S-Simba? Ugh… What happened?” The girl’s voice was hoarse and barely audible. “I feel… Ow!”
“Take it easy, Nala,” Sarafina cried softly as she also nuzzled her daughter affectionately. “You’ve been through a lot. Are you able to move?”
Nala grunted as she attempted to lift her head and then her legs to no avail. “No…” she replied sadly. “Why…can’t I move?” Although the girl’s words were calm, Simba could see the fear in her eyes. In one quick motion, the prince laid down next to the young lioness and draped his leg comfortingly over her shoulders. Nala reflexively shifted her body so that her back pressed warmly against Simba’s side.
“You just need to rebuild your strength, then you’ll be back to normal,” Simba replied reassuringly. “Right?”
Sarafina nodded hesitantly, “Yes, you had a bad cut on your leg. You…lost a lot of blood and it made you sick. But you’re safe now. Sarabi,” the lioness called as she turned to face the queen, “could you bring us a piece of meat for her to try? Oh, and bring Rafiki, please. He needs to redress her leg.”
As the adults continued to talk, Nala nestled closer to the golden-brown cub lying next to her. She felt exhausted, nauseated, and in constant pain from the wound on her leg. The blood loss had left her cold and anemic, and Nala found herself shivering uncontrollably. “Simba, I’m… I’m scared.”
“Hey, don’t worry.” Simba gently squeezed the girl’s shoulder with his paw and did his best to put on a reassuring smile. “We won! We beat those hyenas and now we’re safe. Just wait, we’ll be back to having adventures again in no time!”
“But… but what if I don’t get better? What if…”
“What? No way!” Simba shook his head vehemently. “You’ve taken on hyenas, and snakes, and things a billion times worse than this. There’s no way something like this could beat you!” Simba’s voice was bright and upbeat, but Nala could sense the forced optimism. He was just as worried as she was.
“Thanks, Simba,” the girl sighed sadly. “But… Promise you’ll stay with me?”
“Of course.” Simba rubbed his nose through the soft, cream-colored fur on the cub’s cheek, causing Nala to briefly smile in response. “I… I don’t know what I’d do without you, Nala,” Simba whispered softly in the girl’s ear. “I love you.”
Chapter 5 Announcement:
Chapter 5 is already in the works, and I'm excited to announce that the teasing is finally over. While working through the repercussions of their near-death experience, Simba and Nala will take their relationship to the next level. Expect Chapter 5 to begin posting sometime in mid- to late-October. I may also post a few fun stand-alone images in the meantime if time allows. See you then!
Keywords
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Details
Published:
3 years, 8 months ago
05 Sep 2020 21:14 CEST
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