Chapter Thirty-Nine: Even Mountains Rest

The sun draped the Pride Lands in gold as it sank behind the horizon, casting long, amber shadows over the familiar rise of Pride Rock. The breeze carried warmth across the plains, rustling the grass and stirring the manes of those gathered below. Yet even with the comfort of the hour, one figure stood apart—towering, snow-powdered, and silent as ever. Jitu stood near the base of the rock, his massive frame still, his icy blue eyes trained on the distance. The silver of his mane rippled in the wind, its usual shimmer dulled by strain. Every so often, a low, grating cough rumbled in his chest, and though subtle, the slight droop in his posture betrayed more than he let on. Vitani stood before him, her stance firm, her violet eyes fierce. “Look, we’ve been over this. You’re staying, until you’re better. End of discussion.” Jitu’s eyes met hers, calm and unreadable, but he offered no response. Kovu leaned casually against his side, flashing his trademark grin. “She’s right, y’know.” A flick of Jitu’s ear. The only acknowledgment. Simba approached with quiet strength, his voice filled with calm authority. “It’s for your own good, son.”                                         “And I’d feel better knowing that you’re safe,” Kiara added gently. Her eyes, warm and full of light, lingered on him with something between affection and worry. At that, something flickered in Jitu’s gaze. A softness, so faint it might have gone unnoticed—if anyone other than Kiara had been looking. Nala stepped beside her mate, her voice motherly and firm. “No one’s holding you down dear. But this isn’t a demand. It’s a request. From all of us.” Another cough escaped Jitu’s throat, low and deep. It wasn’t violent, but it echoed with fatigue. Vitani stepped in immediately, sharp and unrelenting. “See? That's not normal. You’re staying.” His eyes moved back to her—steady, unreadable, unwavering.Kovu nudged his elbow with a smirk. “Think of it as a break. A little vacation from your brooding forest thing.”            “You won’t have to do anything,” Shabaha added with a grin, lounging nearby. “We’ll bring you food, stare awkwardly at you, try to make you laugh. Business as usual.”              “Who knows?” Tazama teased. “Maybe this time, you’ll crack a smile.” Jitu said nothing, but his gaze didn’t harden. It lingered—calm, thoughtful, just a little softer than usual. Kiara stepped closer, her voice warm and low. “Please. Just for a little while.” Silence stretched between them. Jitu’s gaze turned to the mist on the horizon, that distant, quiet world he always seemed a part of. The others waited, breath held—not daring to push further, not daring to hope too much. And then… he moved. With deliberate ease, he lowered his massive body to the earth kicking up dust, settling in beneath the shade of Pride Rock. His head dipped low, his paws stretched out before him. He faced the horizon still, his gaze steady. But he had stayed. Vitani’s sharp expression melted into a grin of victory. “Yes! I knew it! He’s staying!” Kovu whooped, leaping into the air. “That’s one for the books!”  “We actually won an argument.” Shabaha whispered, stunned.Simba chuckled, wrapping a paw around Nala’s shoulders. “Seems we did.” “Even mountains,” she said softly, “need to rest.” Vitani walked to Jitu’s side, sitting beside him with a playful glint in her eyes. “See? This isn’t so bad, is it?” Jitu didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. He lay still, watching the sunset, the curve of his jaw relaxed, the light in his eyes quiet—not distant, not cold. Just… still. And that stillness spoke more than words ever could. For once, his silence wasn’t a wall. It was a moment. Shared. And for all of them, that was enough.