"Wh-what do you mean!" Laini stepped back nervously. Storm sighed looking at her nease solemnly, "You, need to know what exactly happened their- happened in the past,". Storm started trotting down the painting covered tunnels of the caverns, "You have the roar of the elders, it- has been used for generations to protect the Pridelands," She looked over to Laini who still looked really nervous. "What does- it do- why?" She nervously chimed. Mtende looked at Laini walking along next to the lions, "Every leader of the Lion Guard has had it, they protect the Pridelands helping the animals and guarding the circle of life. The leader enforces this with the roar," Laini stared up at the older animals, "What happened to these guards then?" Storm pinned her ears back sighing clawing the ground standing still suddenly, "The previous leader was your uncle- my brother Kiburi even if not by blood. They all died in a big battle the same battle which killed the previous king, Jiwe," She sighed staring at the ground. Thunder stared at her sister, "Go on, sister," Storm nodded with the reassurance of the fawn lioness, "I'm the last of them I suppose," She looked to a dark orange-gray lion shaped marking on her shoulder, "The mark of the guard, I'm the last, the bravest..." She sighed, "I'm done talking Thunder,". Thunder nodded respecting her sisters wishes. Laini nervously looked at the older lionesses, "Isn't that dangerous!" She yipped jumping back, "Is protecting the Pridelands really worth losing lives?" She whimpered quietly. Zamaradi jumped in, "Woah I barely know what you're talking about but I'm not going to let my little sister do something that killed the best lions in the Pridelands!". "I-I don't like the sound of it either Zamaradi- but-" Kujali barely whispered trying to keep her body low to not be noticed. Mtende nodded, "I understand but maybe you should talk to someone else before jumping to conclusions,". Laini tilted her small head what did the dark furred Mandrill mean by that? Laini soon realized what Mtende meant when a weird animal with splattered patches of ginger, black, cream, and white raced torwards them, "I'm so sorry Mtende! I was out too long! You sa-" Mtende put a palm over the animals mouth. "Introduce yourself to them, you know who these cubs are, right?" The big-eared canid nodded, "The paintings! Right? The royal cubs, slightly older than me, Zamaradi, Laini, and Kujali,". Laini jumped back she never met this creature before yet it knew her and her sisters names. Who in the Pridelands was this!? The paint splattered canid suddenly realized what she should be doing, "Oh! Sorry I must've scared you! My names Mimea! I'm an African Wild Dog theres no others around here so you probably think I'm just a weird creature- oh its so nice to actually meet you!" Mimea yipped her tail curled over her back. Zamaradi stepped forward first, "Well- its nice to meet you- uh- Mimea,". The cub closely examined the wild dog not trusting the excitable creature. Laini looked up at Mtende again, "What do you mean by anothers opinion?". Mtende looked at Mimea, "What do you think about Laini leading the new guard?". "Well- firstly its dangerous, but its exciting! Well I think. But its not for the light hearted if she really doesn't want to lead it we have Storm. She protects the Pridelands well alone," Mimea carefully noted everything but she sometimes also blurted things out randomly, "But I think she could do it! If she believed she could!". Thunder nodded looking back to her cubs, "The guard usually consists of five members, the roar belongs to the fiercest in the Pridelands the there is the Bravest, Strongest, Fastest, and Keenest of Sight, so you would not be alone- but whta do you think now?" Laini snapped, "Away from you guys!? The lionesses are everywhere we're already targets! My sisters won't have any defenses- I might lose them- I-I might lose me too," Zamaradi nodded planting herself right in front of Laini. Kujali looked off to the side trying to avoid any eye contact. Mtende looked at the young cubs in front of her sighing in slight dissapointment before looking up at Thunder. Thunder slightly smirked, "Laini, you should see what the guard really does before making the decision of turning away, Storm knows how to do this and still protects the circle of life to this day. Zamaradi, Kujali I want you two to think of what you want to do aswell I don't want my daughters to have their paths set by any animal or any experience,". Storm nodded as if agreeing to the words of her sister. Laini was shocked, well- she would be with Storm so it would be fine? Right? No big scary lions or noises- or smells- or anything. "Go." Mtende looked at Storm and the cubs as they retreated out of the caverns. Thunder looked at Mimea, "How much of what you told us was true?" "All of it! Well- except I do know whats going to happen. Don't worry my queen!" The AWD smiled, "I don't need the paintings for this one,"
yeesh had to stop bc letter limit Meet Mimea! The mysterious AWD! Laini learns about exactly what her roar is and about the Guard but she has heavy doubts about leading the Guard. And it turns out her aunt is the bravest of the former guard! Characters: Laini (Soft) Storm Mtende (Palm Tree) Queen Thunder Zamaradi (Emerald) Kujali (Caring) Mimea (Flora) (Welcome the wonderful AWD! With some secrets of her own!) Mentioned Characters: Kiburi (Pride) (The former Lion Guard Leader) King Jiwe (Stone) (The former king, as dead as his step-son previously mentioned)
