Chapter Thirty-Four: Stillness, Laughter, and War

Moment One: The Desperate Show.

Under the familiar twisted tree where Jitu always rested, the forest clearing bustled with uncharacteristic energy. Vitani and her Lion Guard had declared a mission—to make the stoic, silent lion laugh. Shabaha juggled rocks with an exaggerated flourish, Imara mimicked every major animal in the savanna (her impression of Zazu was particularly spot-on), and Kasi executed a flawless, daring acrobatic flip. Jitu watched them from his usual spot—his massive, frost-touched frame unshaken, his icy blue eyes steady and unreadable. Vitani tried one last thing, stepping forward with a bold grin. “Why did the lion avoid the muddy patch? Because he didn’t want to be… lion around!” Silence. Not a blink. Not even an ear twitch. Vitani’s smile cracked. “Grrr… why is this so hard?!”

Moment Two: Almost a Smile.       Later, with the forest quieter, Simba, Nala, and Kiara sat nearby, sharing stories. Jitu listened, his hulking form resting peacefully in the shade. Nala recounted a tale of young Simba getting stuck in a tree. Kiara, trying her best, broke into a flawless Zazu impression, her voice rising in pitch and tone. “Oh, young lady, that is absolutely unacceptable!” Jitu didn’t laugh. But the corner of his mouth twitched—barely, but it happened. Nala nudged Simba. “You see that?” Simba chuckled. “Almost.”

Moment Three: The Comedy Kings Return.                                             Timon and Pumbaa charged into the clearing with grand flair. “Alright, big guy!” Timon called, bouncing atop Pumbaa. “Round two!” Jitu’s gaze met theirs. Steady. Flat. The act began: Timon juggled twigs while Pumbaa spun in awkward circles, culminating in a synchrony of wild dancing and complete collapse. Timon lay sprawled in the grass. “Tough crowd…” Still, there was a faint flicker of light in Jitu’s glacial eyes. Not laughter—but something warmer.

Moment Four: A Sibling Rivalry.     Kovu and Vitani teamed up next. “Oh please,” Kovu said loudly. “I’m way funnier than you.” Vitani rolled her eyes. “You couldn’t make a ticklish cub laugh. ”Kovu leapt onto a rock, puffing his chest. “ Why did the antelope go to school? To learn how to skip class!” Silence. Jitu’s icy blue gaze lingered on them… then he rested his head on his paws, eyes closing. Vitani sighed, her tail flicking. “I give up.”

Moment Five: Battle in the Grasslands. The savanna was calm. Jitu wandered near the waterhole, his reflection shimmering in the clear surface. Then, the peace shattered. A deafening roar echoed from the trees. A corrupted rhino burst from the brush—its hide crawling with dark tendrils, eyes glowing crimson, twisted horn pulsing with sickly black energy. Black mist poured from its mouth. Gazelles screamed and scattered. The air turned sharp with panic. Jitu’s gaze snapped to the threat. Ice turned to steel. He moved. With terrifying strides, Jitu barreled toward the beast, dodging its horn with a smooth roll, claws slashing into corrupted flesh. Hissing black mist evaporated where he struck. The rhino charged again. Jitu latched to it's side, caught the horn in his left paw, held it firm. His eyes blazed, and with a powerful wrench—he snapped it. The mist exploded in a blast of shadow. He didn’t hesitate. He drove the broken horn deep into the creature’s skull with vivid twists, wedged between the eyes. The corrupted monster gave a high-pitched shriek—disintegrated into ash.The forest was silent. From a ridge above, the others had witnessed the scene in frozen horror. “He… he just…” Vitani murmured. Simba whispered, “he saved them, that's all that matters. ”Below, Jitu stood alone. He let the broken horn drop, shook the ash from his mane, and without a word, turned and walked back toward the mist. No glory. No words. Just stillness. As his silhouette disappeared, Vitani whispered, “I… I need to know.”