A shiver rippled through Kion as he stood out on the cold with the Guard. The others didn't look any better.

"H-h-how a-are w-we g-go-gonna s-s-sur-survive th-the n-ni-night i-in th-this c-co-cold?" Makini asked, shivering and teeth chattering.

"I-I d-do-don't kn-know," Ono squawked in reply.

"H-how a-ab-about w-we h-hu-huddle t-to-together f-for w-war-warmth?" Kion suggested. The coldness of the night pierced through his body, sending chills down his spine. Could this night get any colder?!

"S-sure," Makini agreed.

"F-fi-fine b-by m-me," Ono replied.

"O-oka-okay," Fuli mewed, also shivering in the cold.

"P-poa," Beshte said. "Th-that sounds like a g-good idea."

"I-I n-n-nor-normally w-wou-wouldn't t-t-tol-toler-tolerate a-an-any c-contact w-wi-with a-an-any-anyone l-li-like h-hu-hug-hugging, b-bu-but r-ri-right n-now I-I m-mi-might m-ma-make a-an exc-except-exception." Anga's words came out so broken, it'd take one to pay a lot of attention to understand.

"Okie dokie!" Bunga replied, giving a thumbs up. He doesn't seem cold at all.

The Guard all scooted next to each other, pressing against each other for warmth. Suddenly Anga called out: "Hey! Who pushed me?"

"Hey, you're squishing me!" Bunga called back in reply.

Kion felt something hit him in the head. "Hey! Who hit me?" He asked.

"Sorry!" He heard Makini call out. Then she yelped: "Ah! Someone kicked me!"

"You're sitting on me!" Ono squawked.

"You're pecking me!"

"Hey stop rolling on top of me!"

"He pushed me aside!"

"She hit me!"

"She shoved me!"

"He rolled onto me!"

"Enough!" Kion called out. Everyone went silent. "This isn't going to work."

"Well we have to huddle together," Makini protested. "We'll freeze if we don't!"

"That's why I've got a plan," Kion told them. "We'll all sleep in pairs. Ono with Anga, Bunga with Makini, and Beshte with Fuli.

"That sounds great, but-"

"What about you?" Fuli asked, finishing Bunga's sentence.

"I'll sleep alone," Kion told them.

"But you'll be so cold," Fuli protested.

"I'll be fine," Kion told her, trying to reassure her. Fuli didn't look convinced.

"I won't let you sleep in the cold all alone," Fuli told him. "At least sleep with me and Beshte."

"I'll be fine," Kion told her. It wasn't that he wanted to sleep alone, he very much wanted to sleep together with Fuli, feel the warmth of laying beside her. It was that he couldn't let himself get attached to Fuli any more. It'd only put her in danger...

He walked to the other side of the cave and laid down. The cold, rocky floor pierced coldness into his body. A very cold breeze washed over him. He curled up tightly, praying to the Great Kings and Queens for the cold to go away. Please... cold go away. Why can't the cold go away... it's freezing. So cold...

The chattering of Kion's teeth seemed to echo throughout the cave. He dug his claws into the ground as he shivered. He was so cold, it stung almost. He so desperately wanted to curl up next to Fuli and the others, but he couldn't. If they cuddled together and kept each other warm, he would get more emotionally attached to her by spending time with her. 

He shivered. So... so... cold. Freezing... Kion let out a quiet whimper. I want to be back in Pride Rock... I want to be back home... with my mom and dad and sister... my family...

[FLASHBACK]

Kion let out a content sigh. He let out a yawn, exposing his pink tongue. He relaxed as he felt his mother's tongue groom him. He stretched, she stopped licking for a moment to let him.

His sister shifted beside him, almost rolling on top of him. He lightly pushed her away - he didn't want to be squished!

"My sweet little cubs," their mother cooed. Kion yawned. She always does this! "Can we go explore?" Kion asked out of the blue. "We're always in Pride Rock! I wanna explore!"

"I agree!" His sister chimed in. "Please Mom?"

Their mother shook her head. "It's nighttime and it's a little cold too," she said. "You can explore tomorrow."

"Awwwwwwww," he and his sister pouted. "But that's forever."

Their mother chuckled. "Well 'forever' will go by faster if you go to sleep."

"I don't wanna go to sleep," Kion protested. "I wanna stay awake!"

"Me too," his sister agreed.

"Now now little ones, go to sleep," their mother encouraged.

"But whyyyyyyyyy?" The cubs both asked staring up at their mother with big, round eyes. They were interrupted by a yawn from Kion.

"That's why," their mother told them amused after hearing Kion yawn. His sister glared at him momentarily for ruining their small chance of going to explore. 

"Fine. Fine. We'll go to sleep." The two cubs rolled their eyes and laid down in their mother's paws. They felt the warmth of each other bodies. They snuggled against each other's soft fur. So comfy, Kion thought to himself. Their mother started to lick them again. 

Something boomed loudly outside, almost seeming to shake Kion and his family. He jumped up on fairly unsteady paws. "What was that?!" He asked fearfully as he tucked his tail. His mother nuzzled him. "Nothing more than a little thunder. It's alright." This calmed Kion down a little and he laid back in his mother's paws. He felt the warmth of laying beside his sister and mother once more. He felt their soft fur again as he slowly fell asleep. Still very comfy. Their mother's consistent licking somehow finally lulled he and his sister to sleep.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

He continued to tremble against the stony cave floor. His teeth chartered loudly. For Fuli... for Fuli... He curled up into a tight ball, but it didn't help much. He coughed. The cough echoed off of the cave walls.

Fuli perked up her ears, most likely because of the echo. "Alright, enough is enough," he heard Fuli say as she walked over to him. Kion rose to his shaking paws, only for him to tremble and shiver. Fuli wore a very concerned expression.

"Kion... you're so cold. Huddle together with me and the Guard for warmth."

"N-n-n-no t-th-tha-than-thank-thanks." Kion's teeth chattered so much that his words came out broken.

"You'll get sick if you sleep alone in this cold," Fuli protested. "You're already shivering so much..."

"I-I-I'm f-f-fi-fine," he told her, teeth still chattering.

"No, you're not fine," Fuli told him, her ears flattening. Kion could feel concern coming off of her in waves. Fuli rested her paw on his shoulder and spoke again; "You don't need to sleep out in the cold alone. Just let us help you and keep you warm."

I can't... It's for your safety that I stay away from you...Because of both the scar and Jua...

"I-I-I'm a-al-alr-alri-alright. N-n-no n-n-nee-need t-t-to w-w-wo-worr-worry." He was so cold at that point, that he felt a tear slide down his cheek. Not just because he was nearly freezing his whiskers off, but for the fact that he couldn't be near Fuli or his friends. It's for the best, he tried to reassure himself through all the pain. It's for the best...

Fuli sighed. "Kion.. you know that if something is wrong you can tell us," she said softly. "We'll help you."

" I told you there's nothing wrong! I'm completely fine!" Kion shouted as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"No, there is something wrong, I can tell."

"And how exactly?" Kion pressed.

"You're just.. not acting like Kion. You've been like this ever since you got your scar." Fuli stepped back. "I know your scar hurts. And I know you're not feeling too good right now. But we can help you." Her eyes flashed with emotion as she brushed back his drooping mane with her paw, exposing his red, puffy eyes.

"Talk to us, Kion," she pleaded. Her eyes flashed once more. They held a thousand emotions, some of which Kion didn't understand. "Talk to me."

Kion shook his head. Guilt clawed his heart as he saw Fuli trying to blink back tears. I'm hurting her... I'm sorry Fuli, but it's for the best... I have to keep you safe...

"Please, Kion," Fuli begged once more, "I promise I can help with whatever's wrong, if you'll let me. Please don't shut me out again."

They locked gazes for a moment. Guilt stabbed into Kion's heart as he looked into Fuli's eyes, seeming to plead him to open up to her.

"O-okay fine!" Kion sobbed. " It's-" He was cut of by an immense pain in his chest. "AHHHHHHHH!" He screeched in agony. He fell to the ground, clutching his chest with his paws. He laid there for a few moments. The pain didn't subside. What's going on?! Kion wondered fearfully. He then hit a horrible realization. Is this..? No! No, it can't be! Please no... It can't happen again! Please no...! He was paralyzed by fear. Blood roared in his ears as he made an effort to breath. It seemed to stab him directly in the heart. Once he was finally about to tell Fuli to get Makini he found himself unable to speak. His chest hurt too much. The pain seemed to stab him very deep, and he couldn't do anything about it.

Fuli's eyes widened. She rushed over to Makini. "Makini!" She yelled. Makini's eyes snapped open. "What?" She asked in an urgent tone.

"Kion's having a mshkuto wa moyo!" Fuli shouted urgently.

"Wait what?! You can't be serious!" Makini blurted out. They rushed over to Kion. Makini gently put her ear to his chest. She gasped in horror. "Fuli, try to find some-"

"Dhuara flowers, already on it!" Fuli quickly darted out of the den in search of the flower that would help Kion. Kion stared after her. Fuli... Please please please please please be back soon... He silently pleaded while clutching his chest. Then, he could almost see Jua's outline standing next to him.

"Aww... is the little cub hurting?" Jua seemed to taunt. "Serves you right for almost spilling the secret about me. You'll get a whole night of agony for a week as punishment."

"Kion, don't panic!" Makini said, obviously struggling to keep herself calm. How can't I?!

"Don't worry, Kion!" Makini reassured him. "Fuli will be back with the dhruara flowers soon and everything will be okay!"

"No," Jua seemed to snarl. "It won't be okay. You're going to DIE..."

Stop feeding my mind with dark thoughts! He silently told Jua.

"Kion, don't panic! Calm down! Makini pleaded.

He started to panic. He tried to move but he couldn't. He silently wailed. Is this my last day...? Surviving a mkustha wa moyo once is very unlikely, this time... I might not be so lucky... His eyes widened at he stared out the enterance. He felt his pain subside a bit as his vision began to blur. No.. No please! I can't die... Please...!

He suddenly heard a voice call into the den; "I have the flowers!" His panic eased as Fuli rushed over to him and Makini. She gave the flowers to Makini who handed them to Kion. She put the flowers in his mouth and made him chew them.

After a minute or so, the pain began to subside and then finally disappear. Kion trembled against the stony cave floor as Makini pressed her ear to his chest. "The mshkuto wa moyo is gone. Kion should be alright."

Fuli pressed her cheek against Kion's. Her eyes were wide and filled with emotion, mainly fear. "I almost lost you again..." She murmured. "Stop scaring me so much, little furball..."

Kion felt comfort in her gesture. He still shivered and trembled, but he felt comforted nothenless. She laid down next to him. He would have protested for her safety from Jua, but he was too tired. He felt himself slowly fading into sleep, but then one last thought and flashback made it's way into his mind.

'"Aww... is the little cub hurting?" Jua seemed to taunt. "Serves you right for almost spilling the secret about me. You'll get a whole night of agony for a week as punishment."'

No... Please no!...

**
Kion blinked open his eyes. He was back in the Dark Shadows Below the Savanna. He looked around, and sure enough, Zira and Jua were there.

"Hello, Scar-clone. Ready for some... pain?"

Kion tried not to flinch. Zira and Jua surrounded him and dug their claws into his skin. He looked up, trying to ignore the pain. He felt cool blood trickle down. He held his breath. They both held him down and raked their claws down his belly. Pain seared through him. He thrashed his legs wildly in pain. Stop...! Please stop!...

A disoriented voice echoed in his ears; "Kion..." It sleepily muttered. "Stop kicking me in your sleep..." He felt the feeling of being lightly pushed, then Zira and Jua's eyes widened.

"Hyena-scraps," Jua cursed, "the fun could barely begin. No matter. Tomorrow night will be fun. Be prepared for more torture..."
**
Kion's eyes snapped open. He felt a paw lightly paw at his shoulder. "Kion, you awake?"

Before he could answer, Kion let out a small yawn. The paw brushed back his drooping, messy mane. It was Fuli.

"Did you have another nightmare?" She asked softly. "You were kicking wildly in your sleep."

Kion sleepily raised his head. He was almost too tired to utter a word because of the mshkusto wa moyo that happened the night before. Fuli seemed to understand this and she motioned for him to lay his head back down. "You should rest," she told him. Kion didn't object, but he shifted farther away from Fuli. If Jua thinks I don't have a strong connection with Fuli anymore, she won't be in danger if I mess up.

Fuli's eyes flashed with hurt after he shifted away from her. She took in a shaky breath and got to her paws. She walked to the other side of the cave and laid down, sighing.

Guilt stabbed Kion's heart deeper then the mshkuto wa moyo. Fuli... I'm really sorry. I just want to keep you safe...