Chapter Forty-Two: The Breeze Against the Mountain

The golden light of sunset blanketed the Pride Lands in a soft amber glow. Pride Rock cast a long, regal shadow over the grassy plains, and a warm breeze carried the quiet sounds of the savanna—distant birdsong, the rustle of tall grass, and the contented murmurs of the pride. Simba lounged with Nala at the base of Pride Rock, while Kiara and Kovu lay nearby, sharing quiet laughter. Vitani and her Guard relaxed nearby, stretched out in the shade. It was a moment of rare peace. Until a thunderous voice shattered it. "Come on, then! Show me what you've got, brute!" Heads turned. Jaws dropped. Stomping across the sunlit grass was a towering, broad-chested bull, his dark brown coat shining with sweat and bravado. Curved horns gleamed beneath the sunset, and a cocky, snorting grin twisted across his massive face. And facing him—silent, unmoved, and utterly unbothered—stood Jitu. The great frost-touched lion was as still as ever, his massive frame calm, his icy blue eyes half-lidded and unreadable. Vitani sat up straight, already grinning. "Oh, this is gonna be good." Simba frowned. "Who is that?"                     "No clue," Kovu said, sitting up. "But will shortly regret his life choices." The bull pawed the ground, tossing his head dramatically. "You think you’re something special, huh? Just standing there like you're better than everyone!" Jitu blinked slowly. Said nothing. The bull snorted again, louder this time. "I’ve fought lions before! Proud, arrogant things—all teeth and ego! You’re no different! SELFISH!" Then he charged.A roaring bellow split the air as the bull launched himself forward, head down, horns aimed directly at Jitu’s chest.Jitu didn’t move. The bull closed the distance in a blink—but just as those horns were about to strike, Jitu raised one massive paw and pressed it forward. He didn’t strike. He didn’t dodge. He simply placed his thick paw against the bull’s horns and stopped him—dead.The bull’s hooves scraped violently against the dirt. His muscles flexed, trembled, pushed—but Jitu didn’t even budge. He held the bull like one might hold a flower stem between two fingers. "You—come on!" the bull grunted, thrashing. "MOVE!" From the sidelines, Kovu keeled over in laughter. "He’s not even trying!" Kiara wiped her eyes, breathless. "Like a toddler throwing a tantrum!"Vitani was crying. "I thought I've seen it all!" Jitu’s icy eyes never changed. He stared down at the bull with that same distant calm, holding him in place like time itself had frozen. The bull gave a final shove, roaring through clenched teeth. Jitu exhaled. And with a subtle flick of his paw, tilted the bull’s head to the side. The bull stumbled. The force of his own charge, redirected with that one small gesture, sent him tripping forward. His legs flailed. His hooves slipped. He tumbled across the dirt in a graceless roll, kicking up dust and embarrassment. When he finally staggered upright, he was covered in grass, humiliated and panting. "Y-you—" he sputtered, red-faced and furious. "That was a trick! You… you cheated!" Jitu stared at him. Silent. Cold. Bored. The bull’s fire wilted. His eyes darted around, suddenly aware of the many smirking lions now watching from all directions. "I didn’t want to fight you anyway," he muttered, turning tail. "You’re just a boring old rock." And with that, he stomped away—grumbling, limping, and utterly defeated. Kovu collapsed again. "A boring old rock! That rock just ruined your life!" Kiara was still giggling. "He didn’t do anything!" Vitani’s grin stretched from ear to ear. "Like a mountain, to a breeze!" Simba chuckled, shaking his head. "Still the calmest of us all." Jitu, unfazed, padded quietly to his usual resting place beneath the tall twisted tree. He lay down, stretched out, and let the warmth of the setting sun touch his thick mane. His icy blue eyes drifted to the horizon. And just for the briefest moment, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. A mountain’s smile—barely there, but unmistakably real.