Lesson
It was morning. The Guard woke to find that their leader had not yet returned home like she normally would during her late-night walks. For hours they patrolled the perimeter of Pride Rock and kept watchful eyes.
Tazama, the Keenest of Sight, stood on the peak of the ridge that broke up the Pridelands and the Elephant Graveyard. She spotted a hunched figure exiting the vast land of carrion.
"Hiyo Kali!" she cried, "Vitani spotted coming from the Graveyard."
"What? What on earth is she doing there?" Kasi questioned before following the Guard down the ridge.
Vitani's ears perked up when she heard familiar voices call her name from a distance. She saw her Guard racing for her. Imara carefully followed, trying not to put too much weight on her severely bruised foreleg.
"Vitani! Where have you been?" Kasi asked, arriving first.
"We were looking all over for you." Tazama added.
"Yeah, we were afraid something happened to you..." Shabaha froze and arched an eyebrow, "...What's happening here?"
They took notice of Vitani carrying a flaming stick. Spots of soot were scattered across her disheveled fur, and she clearly hadn't gotten a wink of sleep.
"Vitani, what were you doing in the Elephant Graveyard?" Imara said, catching up with everyone.
"I spent the night devising a plan to deal with that rhino, and I've got a fool-proof plan, right here." Vitani gestured to the torch, "Girls, say hello to Nuka."
Shabaha loudly cackled, while Imara and Kasi exchanged concerned looks. Tazama tilted her head.
"Vitani? Are you sure you didn't breathe in too many fumes in there?" Kasi leaned into Vitani's face to get a better look at her.
"I'm positive!" Vitani hissed, "I summoned Nuka with my Roar last night. I don't know how, but I did! Now, where's that rhino?"
"Vitani, I'm not sure this is a good day for a mission." Imara shook her head, doubtful of her friend's health.
"Where's. The rhino?" Vitani growled, having had enough.
"We heard him announce some kind of gathering at Ukuni Woods this morning. Said something about a debate against the old crash leader before the next Savannah Summit, why?" Shabaha answered, unwittingly going against everyone's plan to just take Vitani home. Everyone scowled at the Bravest.
"...How did you even know all of that?" Imara squinted, "You won't listen to most commands, but you'll retain all that?"
"That's all I needed to hear," Vitani brushed past the Guard, "Come on, girls."
"What are you planning?" Kasi asked, near-frantic.
"Just leave it to me." Vitani grinned.
___
"...and as future crash leader, I promise no predator will be welcome to our expanded grazing grounds! No longer shall we be called 'prey' to anyone!" Ngurumo's voice boomed across the plains.
The herbivores cheered and bellowed what sounded like war-cries. A few even shouted pejorative remarks in regards to the predators they've quickly grown to hate.
The Lion Guard lied low in the tall grass, watching what they could of the densely-crowded rally.
"Oh, brother. " Shabaha rolled her eyes, "What a show. The jokes really tell themselves, here, and we even got the best seat seat in the house behind a wall of hippo cheeks. The flies really add an atmospheric ambiance to the literal bull-"
"Shh! you're gonna give us away!" Kasi hissed. Meanwhile, Imara silently pushed Shabaha's head below the grass' height.
Vitani briefly closed her eyes and shook her head before glancing back up, "What's the path look like, Tazama? Any direction I can enter?"
"A gap between two zebras just opened up northwest of us. You better decide to slip in quickly. The gap appears to be closing soon."
"Super..." Vitani began moving, grabbing her stick.
"So, what's the plan, Vitani? We're dying to know!" Kasi whispered.
Vitani craned her head, "Like I said, leave it to me. Just stay back and listen if I need your aid, don't want anyone to get caught up in the flames, now."
"Flames?!" Kasi's eyes were orbs, "What are you- Vitani!"
Vitani continued to wordlessly head for the opening. She abruptly and rudely cut in between the two zebras, who scowled in offense.
"I'll be accepting your questions, now." the rhino stood tall.
"I got one."
Everyone turned to the lone lioness amongst the crowd. Gasps and mutters filled the plains.
"Are you going to close this charade down and abide by the Circle of Life's laws, or am I gonna have to put a stop to all of this, myself?"
"Well, look who dropped by." Ngurumo smirked and cocked his head up tauntingly, "What're you gonna do, little girl, roar at us and harm your fellow Pridelanders?"
"Worse."
Vitani swiped her stick across a slab of flint, the sparks igniting it. It was now a torch.
"Roho ya Moto!" she growled.
Suddenly, a large flame exploded from the end of the torch. It gave a roar as a head and forepaws took form. A maniacal cackle followed.
The crowd gasped and prepared to run as the spirit jarringly lunged forward. The Guard, who now had an excellent view of the affair thanks to the scattering crowd, could not believe their eyes.
"Nuka?!" they all shouted in unison.
"Panic and run! Panic and run!" cried Thurston.
"Wh- W-What is that?" Ngurumo sputtered, unable to hide his cowering.
"Your warning to stop this conspiracy you got going on. Shut this all down, or you'll be chased out of the Pridelands at your own risk." Vitani glared.
"Unholy conjurer of the evil spirit! She preaches the Circle of Life, yet wants us all to burn! Get her!" Ngurumo was so fearful of the supernatural being that stood before him, that he was losing control of his thoughts now.
"Are you insane?" questioned Zito, "We're not fighting her or that thing!"
"So much for our brave protector." a sable antelope rolled his eyes.
"What a coward!" said a gazelle, "We're out of here!"
The herbivores ran for their lives. The Lion Guard was forced to leave their hiding spot as a storm of hooves nearly crushed them. Only Ngurumo was left behind.
"No!! Where are you going?! We must stand together to fight!" the rhino desperately called.
Ngurumo growled as he slammed his hoof to the ground. He glanced up to see the rest of the Guard gathering behind Vitani as the fire spirit whispered in Vitani's ear.
"I gotta go now, my minutes are up. I think you know what to do for a nice little finale." Nuka smirked.
"Sorry you're gonna miss it." his sister matched his smirk, "Girls, get behind me."
The Guard, already bewildered at everything that was going on, obeyed and took a few steps back.
Vitani's eyes glowed. She took a deep breath, and roared the mighty roar of thousands of lions in the sky. The winds carried the four-ton rhino like a feather, launching him far into the unknown outskirts of the Pridelands.
After moments of the Guard silently glancing at the disheveled ground and dissipating clouds, Shabaha finally spoke up.
"What. Was. That?!" she leapt on her forelegs, giving her signature cackle.
"Vitani, we're really sorry for not believing you earlier... about Nuka..." Kasi's ears pinned back.
"Oh, it's crazy to me, too." Vitani smiled proudly.
Vitani's eyes became reflective thinking about how she got to see Nuka again, as well as finally overcoming a hurdle she never thought she would. Everything was coming together, under her control. She would master the power of the Roar like her predecessor had once said. She was more than content with her place in the Circle of Life, now.
___
Ngurumo shook off the dust and pain from his old bones. He didn't know where he was now, but he was never going to leave the Pridelands, not the land he'd promised to his fellow herbivores.
This would not be the last of his schemes...