Fuli blinked. She rubbed her eyes with her paw, blurry from sleep. She looked around, checking her surroundings. She was at the sleeping spot. The rest of the Lion Guard were asleep - thank the Great Kings and Queens.

Her gaze found it's way towards Kion. She suddenly gasped at the horrifying thing she saw.

His scar was bleeding out onto the ground. His body jerked suddenly and sharply inhaled. "Stop... please..! Stop...! Help..."

Fuli quickly got to her paws. She suddenly fell back down when she felt the pain in her paw from her injury. Ugh. Stupid injury.

She got up again, favoring her injured paw and limped over to Kion. She was about to wake him, but stopped. If I wake him, he'll just tell me he's fine. He will just refuse to let anyone help him like he always does.

She then thought of something, an idea that she had entertained before. She looked around, careful not to wake the Guard as she started walking. She stepped lightly to avoid her paws crunching on any dry leaves or grass - that could wake the Guard. 

She broke into a light trot after she was a good distance away from everyone, not going too fast due to her injured paw. It was hard to see in the darkness of night - Fuli didn't know when she'd reach her destination but she hoped it would be soon. She trotted, favoring her injured paw and tasing the air, trying to catch a certain scent.

She soon felt familiar terrain under her paws similar to what she felt when walking towards the Tree of Life. It wouldn't be long, she knew. She picked up the pace as much as she comfortably could and breathed, taking in the cool, crisp air.

She then slowed the pace - she didn't want to bump into something and hurt herself. That definitely wouldn't be ideal. She then stopped when she suddenly saw something. Only a few pawsteps away was the Tree of Life. Only at that moment when she was close enough she was able to see it due to the darkness. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was lucky to have seen the Tree right before she crashed into it and could potentially hurt her injured paw.

She gingerly took a step forward. She could feel the giant Tree's roots under her paw, confirming that it was the Tree of Life. She then walked forward, staring to make her way inside the cavern-like space. The dim light from the moon and stars left and she was momentarily left in darkness. But soon, it lit up with green, glowing mushrooms.

This was the Tree of Life all right.

The further she walked into the space, the brighter it glowed. Soon, she could make out a lioness sleeping peacefully inside. Janna, Queen of the Tree of Life, she knew.

Her sleep seemed peaceful - it looked like the best sleep the queen had gotten in who knows how long. Being Queen of the Tree of Life must've been a lot of work and who knew how often she would get rest like that. A teensy bit of guilt squirmed inside Fuli, but was soon replaced by the feeling that one gets when they know they have to do something.

She sat down. "Queen Janna," she said, her voice not coming out more than a whisper. The queen didn't respond. Instead she lightly stirred and tilted her head the other way, obviously still asleep.

Fuli sighed and guilt squirmed inside her once more. "Queen Janna." She lightly raised a paw and gently tapped on the queen's shoulder. "Janna."

"Hmm...." Janna began to stir and not long after, her eyelids finally fluttered open. "Who is this..." Janna murmured drowsily, not fully awake.

"It's Fuli," Fuli could so much as whisper. What if the queen was upset? Worse, what if the Night Pride found her here? They were already hostile... what would they think if they found Fuli here in the middle of the night?

"Fuli..?" Janna murmured, beginning to fully awake. She raised her head and lifted her paw towards her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"Apologies for waking you, Your Majesty," Fuli tried not to stutter. The lioness from her dreams still had that same energy around her that seemed to command attention and respect, though she knew that Janna would never do that. From what she knew, Janna was a caring lioness who was very gentle and held much wisdom, as much -or even more- of the legendary King Mufasa. Fuli took a deep breath, her heart beating faster than normal. She was worried and.. scared even. "But there's... something important that needs to be done."

"No need for apologies," Janna told her, holding the same warm smile she always held. Fuli looked into her gaze, so full of wisdom and patience. "Now, what is the important thing that you speak of?" Her green eyes seemed to spark with curiosity.

"There's something wrong and I need help." Fuli didn't avert her gaze and looked the queen in the eye. "Please."

"Of course, young one." Janna's calm demeanor didn't change. That might not be for long...

Fuli took a deep breath. "It's Kion," the cheetah told the queen.

"What about him?" Janna asked calmly, her voice seeming to hold a hint of curiosity.

"Kion... he isn't acting right. Something's wrong," Fuli told her, more worry and fear for the young lion welling up inside her. "Like, really wrong."

"How is he acting?" Janna asked.

"He's been... just..." Fuli tried not to trail off on front of the Queen, who still held a calm and warm gaze. "I don't know how to explain... but... he's been waking up every night, screaming. His scar bleeds every day and he coughs up blood... He's always flinching throughout the day, always shaking... He murmurs things.. like 'help' and 'stop.. please' and 'someone help'. He's always nervous.. And he... and he..." Fuli looked at the queen and felt nervousness rushing through herself. Why am I nervous? She asked herself, feeling the feeling and catching onto the fact that for some reason she was nervous. I'm doing what I think is right, why am I nervous? 

Nevertheless, she inhaled and continued; "And he... he hurt himself."

"What?" Janna asked, disbelief edging her voice.

"Yeah... he cut himself with his claws. He thinks that he's meaningless and worthless... He thinks that no one cares about him... that his life was only used as a purpose to others..."

Janna let out a subtle gasp, almost not audible, but if one listened closely they could hear it. "Oh dear... This has happened before..."

"What?" Fuli could barely so much as murmur.

The queen shut her eyes, taking in a breath. A new emotion surrounded the lioness and cheetah. Fuli could sense it. The cheetah had experienced it before, and she knew what it was. It was a feeling that she wished didn't exist. It only filled one with sorrow... remembering someone that they once held close to their heart.

Grief.

Janna opened her eyes. "Fuli, you can save him..," the queen told her. "Be there for each other."

"How is that possible when he keeps shutting me out?" Fuli asked sadly, trying to rid the sorrowful emotion from her thoughts. "I've tried before but he just won't let me. He seems... scared."

"Troubling... Perhaps you can bring him here. I might be able to help his aching mind," Janna suggested, her demeanor of wisdom and patience never diminishing.

"That's the thing," Fuli told her. "He won't go. Believe me when I say that he won't."

Janna let out a sigh. Her gaze looked faraway, as if she was recalling something that had been long forgotten. "Fetch Nirmala. Her and the Night Pride sleep in the grasses near the Tree. Right of the Tree."

Fuli nodded. The queen must know what she was doing. She got to her paws and respectfully dipped her head to Janna then turned around and began walking out of the Tree, minding her injured paw.

When she exited the Tree, she took in a deep breath of fresh air. Still very cool and crisp. The glow of the moonlight and the stars very dimly illuminated the area. Fuli picked up the pace, minding her paw. She paused and tasted the air, trying to catch Nirmala's scent.

Right of the Tree, Fuli remembered and walked right. She picked up the pace - she didn't want it to take longer than it needed to be to get to Nirmala. She soon felt soft grass under her paws. It got longer and longer as she continued to walk. Soon the grass was up to her belly.

Fuli let out a small, involuntary giggle when the tall grass tickled her belly. She then silenced herself. There could be some animals nearby who were sleeping - she didn't want to wake them! She picked up the pace a bit more, picking up her tail so it wouldn't brush against the grass and make noise.

At that moment her mind was set on one thing; finding Nirmala. She picked up the pace more. She knew that she couldn't delay. She started to slowly break into a run. She felt cool grass under her paws. "Why hadn't I ran before?" She asked herself. "I can go much faster like-"

She then set her injured paw on the ground and yelped. She collapsed and bumped into something. That's why, stupid, she told herself, ever so slightly amused. The something, no, she realized, someone she bumped into started moving.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Fuli quickly got to her paws, minding her injury. "I didn't mean to wake y..." She trailed off once she realized who it was. "Nirmala?"

A yawn escaped her and she looked up at the cheetah. "Yes Fuli... what are you doing here..?" Nirmala asked drowsily.

"I need help."

"Help...?" Nirmala echoed drowsily. She rubbed her eyes with her paw and yawned once more.

"Yes, I need help. Kion needs help. I told Queen Janna about it and she told me to get you."

Nirmala looked at Fuli, her expression unreadable. She got to her paws. "Let's go." Fuli rose to her paws and looked up at Nirmala. Nirmala began to trot off. "Come on," she called out over her shoulder.

"Where are we going?" Fuli asked, following her.

"To get Kion," Nirmala replied.

"Okay." Fuli picked up the pace to keep up with Nirmala. "Agh..." She grunted in pain. She could barely keep up with Nirmala due to her injured paw. Stupid paw, she thought.

Nirmala looked to the side. She must've heard the grunting. "Fuli? Are you okay?" She looked down. "What's wrong with your paw?"

"Oh.. I fell and hit it on a rock. Not much really," Fuli explained, hoping Nirmala wouldn't worry.

"It must hurt," Nirmala said. "Let's move slower. You can lean on me if you want."

Fuli didn't object. She knew that this was what was best for her and was grateful that Nirmala understood. So they moved at a slower pace, Fuli leaning on Nirmala.

Fuli soon felt the terrain under her paws that was near the sleeping spot. We must be close, she thought. Soon, when they were close, she could barely see it. Their sleeping spot. She could hear murmurs coming from there. 

"...What if we..."

"...Do you think you can..."

"...I think I know what..."

It made sense, after all, it was probably the rest of the Guard having a midnight chat. What are they talking about though? Fuli wondered.

But then she heard a cry of pain.

"Help."

A heavy and intoxicating smell hit her nose as she and Nirmala walked closer.

Blood.

She knew the voice who cried out in pain. She knew who it was.

She and Nirmala quickly rushed over to him. When they were close enough to see him, their eyes widened and they both gasped in horror.

Kion was splayed out of the ground, lying in a pool of blood. The rest of the Lion Guard were standing around him, obviously trying to figure out what to do. Fuli now knew what the murmurs were about. It was the rest of the Guard desperately trying to help Kion.

Makini looked up in shock. "Nirmala! Thank goodness you're here! I was praying to the Great Kings and Queens that you'd come."

"We would've gotten you but we couldn't leave Kion alone," Beshte added.

"Okay, okay." Nirmala looked at the Guard. "Give me some space."

"But we wanna be near him!" Bunga protested.

Fuli gently nudged Bunga away. She greatly understood his reason - she would do anything to be by Kion's side right then to assure and comfort him during this ordeal. But she knew what was best for the lion. "I want to be there too," she sympathized. "But we need to give Nirmala space to work so she can help Kion."

"But..." Bunga's response trailed off. He obviously knew what was best for his friend. "Okay."

The rest of the Guard obeyed and backed up, letting Nirmala work. 

Seeing Kion and Nirmala together reminded Fuli of the secret. A mother helping her son... The sweet thought was enough to bring a small smile to Fuli's face. However, that smile disappeared and was replaced with a guilty frown when she recalled one fact; He doesn't even know that she's his mother...

She heard Kion say something but she couldn't tell what it was.

Nirmala quickly approached Fuli. "He wants you here," she told her before quickly returning to Kion.

"He does?" Fuli asked quietly. Nirmala couldn't hear her because she already returned to Kion.

Fuli walked over to them and sat beside Kion. He looked up at her as if he had a million things to say, but couldn't say them.

"Fuli," he half coughed, half whispered so that no one would hear. "Leave. Get you and the Guard to leave."

Fuli leaned closer. "What?" She murmured.

"There's a danger," Kion told her quietly. "A danger to you and the rest of the Guard. Get out of here, all of you."

"What?" Fuli asked, then got a small idea. She made her voice slightly louder. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said," came Kion's response, matching her increase in volume. Not in a rude tone, but enough so she could hear. It's working, Fuli thought. "You and the Lion Guard need to leave. Now."

"What danger?" Fuli asked puzzled, raising her voice even more. 

"A danger," Kion repeated.

"What do you mean Kion?" Bunga's voice cut into their conversation as the Guard approached them.

Kion looked shocked that Bunga and the others heard it. Nirmala obviously did too since she was right next to them.

"I mean there's a danger!" Kion shouted. "And you all are in danger!"

"What about you?!" Fuli half asked, half shouted.

"As far as that's concerned, I'm already dead."