Chapter Two: The Council of Pride Rock

Later that day, the great cavern within Pride Rock echoed with a tense silence. Shadows clung to the walls, stirred only by the flickering light that filtered in through narrow cracks in the stone. The air felt heavy—expectant.Simba stood near the center of the chamber, tall and steady, the weight of years etched into the fur around his eyes. Nala was at his side, her presence calm but sharp, like a spear at rest. They said nothing, but their silence said enough.Kovu stood nearby, tail still, muscles coiled like rope. Vitani was beside him, her stance less composed—ears flicking, eyes sharp with unease. She didn’t bother hiding it.From the shadows came Rafiki, his staff clicking softly with each step. He moved with uncharacteristic urgency, the rhythm of his walk deliberate. He paused before the gathered lions, his eyes grave.“There is a name,” he said, voice low, as though even speaking it gave it power. “A name whispered only when the wind turns cold. The Northern Wastes.”The words settled like frost.Simba’s expression shifted, his brow tightening. “The Wastes?” he repeated, almost disbelieving. “That place is nothing but a frozen myth. A desolate stretch of land beyond the stars. No lions have lived there for generations.”Rafiki nodded solemnly. “Until now.” He tapped his staff once, and the sound rang out like a warning. “What I fear is not the myth itself... but what has followed in its wake.”Vitani stepped forward, her shoulders squared. “If something’s coming from there, we need to know what it is. The Guard can scout the northern border—quietly, quickly.”Simba looked at her, and the weight of his gaze fell hard. His eyes weren’t just those of a king—they were those of a father, of a lion who had lived through war and peace and knew what both could cost. He didn’t want to send anyone toward what might be nothing. But he could see it in Vitani’s eyes—this was no longer a question of belief. It was already real.He drew a long breath. “Take your Guard,” he said, voice measured. “Find out what lies beyond the edge of our world. But be careful, Vitani. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”She nodded once, no hesitation. Her jaw tightened, her resolve set like stone.“I won’t let them cross,” she said. “Not while I still stand.”