Vitani’s Guard

A horrific, unending ringing occupied Vitani's head for hours. Whatever external natural ambience such as crickets and hornbill calls were not only muffled, but drowned out by the awful new frequency. She hoped it wouldn't be forever, as she loved the sounds of twilight.

____

Meanwhile, the rest of the Guard shared this same misery as they surveyed Mekundu Cliffs until dusk. Kelele hadn't been found, and being unable to listen for her presence was no help.

Imara shook her head. This wolf's power was so new to everyone. Her very own leader found herself in trouble trying to counteract it. Despite watching Vitani meet her match, Imara wished her friend hadn't left so soon...

____

Vitani retreated to a secluded spot far in the outskirts of the Pridelands. There, she struck a stick against a flammable rock, and tossed the newly-made torch in front of herself.

Vitani took a breath, feeling the voices of the past within her chest. With a clear, confident voice, she bellowed:

"Roho ya Moto!"

The fire from the torch twisted in a slight current as it grew. Suddenly, a bright, orange flash filled the site. Vitani flinched.

There was Nuka, seemingly in the middle of a song he'd been humming. Turning around, he shrieked at his living sister standing before him.

"Ugh, can't a ghost get some beauty sleep around here? Sheesh!"

"Nuka, this isn't the time for lounging about in the great beyond. I need your help." Vitani deadpanned.

"But-"

"You promised me I could summon you any time I needed to. Was that not what you said?"

"Ohh, alright, alright..." Nuka pouted, "Whaddya need, termite?"

"I need your help against this... creature with this weird power. She makes this loud noise that makes the ground shake, knocks everyone down."

"That doesn't sound too different from what you do..."

"Exactly!" Vitani clenched her paw, "Just... that but incredibly overwhelming! I need to do something different from her.

"Soo... why are you asking me?" Nuka squinted, "Why not ask those old guys for help?"

"Like Askari, or something? I don't have time to learn everything in one go, let alone waltz back and forth to the Cikha Escarpment, are you crazy?!"

"Oh..."

Vitani growled, "We gotta come up with something quickly! Some way to cheat..."

As Nuka hummed in thought, whispers brushed past his ears. He listened for them.

"Hmm? Ooh, yeah. But... wouldn't that hurt? Oh... okay... worth a try..." Nuka muttered to the voices.

"What do they say?" Vitani piped.

"I promise it won't hurt." Nuka smiled.

"What won't-" Vitani's heart raced, "...Nuka -- whoa, whoa, whoa -- WHAT?!"

Before Vitani could cower, Nuka's ghastly form launched itself towards Vitani. Nuka's spirit had possessed Vitani's body!

Through symbiosis, Vitani and Nuka had duel thoughts and memories, and most importantly; a new power the Roar was now capable of.

Feeling an immense burning in her chest, despite her flesh receiving no damage from it, Vitani unhinged her mouth and let out a huge cloud of fire as she roared in agony and pure shock.

____

As Vitani trained with her new fire powers, a kidnapping had taken place while none of the adults were looking...

Sauti was staying behind from the royals as they'd discussed amongst themselves about the pup's place in the Pridelands, feeling out-of-place being the only painted dog, and only dog that was really around in the Pridelands.

Beginning to stray from the pride, he eventually stumbled across a stranger, a canine like him who claimed she would volunteer as Sauti's adoptee, but it had all been a trick...

As Kelele snatched Sauti up, she ranted and raved that the pup could very well signify the return of the Lightning Cry, a power allegedly wielded by the legendary Sikio, a fellow painted dog like Sauti. She couldn't wait to train the boy to awaken a dormant power, and to someday challenge her. If she could defeat the Roar-Wielder, the Lightning-Wielder would be next on her record.

The pup was confused. He didn't know of such a legend, nor of such a power. All he knew to do was yell for help.

____

As Vitani exited the secluded area where she'd trained, her ears -- despite still being damaged -- picked up on commotion nearby.

She'd rushed to Pride Rock to find that the royals were demanding that Kelele put Sauti down unharmed. The Guard had also tried to subdue her to no avail, Kelele warning that if they dared touch her, she would kill the boy right then.

The sight of a crazed woman putting the life of a young boy on the line triggered bitter memories in Vitani of her very own mother's behavior of bargaining with Kovu's life. Overall, Vitani did not take kindly to the sight of children being in danger.

Enraged, fire began to build up from Vitani's chest as she told everyone to get behind her. Kelele merely smiled in amusement, awaiting yet another pathetic, predictable attempt to send her flying.

Suddenly, flames erupted from Vitani's throat, accompanied by a garbled, pained roar.

Kelele dropped Sauti in shock. Luckily, the pup scrambled over to the royals to get out of the way of Vitani's new, hazardous move.

"These lands ain't big enough for two power-wielders, Kelele..." Vitani scowled.

Unsure how to calculate her moves against fire, a terrifying element she didn't foresee, and now felt blazing the end of her tail, Kelele cowered and scurried away, revealing herself to be a rather poor sport.

Vitani heaved as she felt Nuka's spirit leave her body, as Nuka's time to guide his sister had been up once again. The Fire Roar was uncomfortable, but she appeared to have won with it.

She slowly turned to see everyone's shocked faces. She walked up to everyone, and looked down at the little newcomer to the Pridelands, and gave a polite nod of approval.