VI



The next morning, Kimba stood at the edge of the jungle. Dan'l, Bucky, Pauley and several of the other animals were there also. Kimba addressed them. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to leave the jungle and look for Kitty."

"But Kimba," said Dan'l, "she's probably in a cage in a big city somewhere. How do you intend to find her?"

"I'll go to the stone temple first and get all the information I can from Leona," said Kimba. "Then I'll follow those men's tracks to wherever they've taken her. I can read, you know. I might be able to pick up clues from a newspaper."

"It will be like looking for a needle in a haystack, Kimba," said Dan'l. "And they won't allow a lion like you to just traipse around the streets of a city. Besides, we need you here. The jungle's a mess and we have lots of work to do fixing it up. And who knows when Claw or someone else is going to attack?"

Kimba replied, "The jungle is safe enough for now. Claw won't try to make any more trouble for a long time. You can direct the repairs, Dan'l, and maybe even build everything better than it was before. I know looking for Kitty will be tough, but I have to try." He hung his head. "I'm so miserable. If I don't give it my best shot now, I'm afraid I'll always feel so sad and distracted that I won't be good for much of anything ever again."

Dan'l thought a little. "Kimba, I won't argue with you anymore. Your father said something very much like that before he set off to try and free your mother from the hunters. If this is what you feel you have to do, then so be it, and good luck."

Kimba usually protested any comparison of himself and Kitty to his father and mother, but this time he didn't. "Thanks for understanding, Dan'l." Kimba turned to the rest of the group. "I won't forget you." His voice broke. "I'll be back someday, I promise. Good bye."

"Good bye," everyone said halfheartedly. Every head hung low. Kimba turned and walked away.

Dan'l looked up to watch Kimba leave. "Wait, Kimba!" he called. "What's that coming in off the desert?"

"Huh?" Kimba looked up and gasped. "It looks like a human!" Kimba ran towards the figure. "Ignotso! You're back!" He reached him and rubbed against his leg. "You're safe! We were all so worried about you!"

Ignotso smiled, crouched down, and rubbed Kimba's head. "Don't worry, I'm all right, Kimba. And look who I brought with me," he said pointing. A young, tawny lioness walked over the next sand dune and came into view.

"KITTY!!!"

"KIMBA!!!"

They raced towards each other at full speed, jumped in the air, knocked each other down, and rolled on the ground together laughing and playfully cuffing each other. After chasing and tumbling for a minute, they sat and nuzzled each other's cheeks. Kimba didn't even blush.

"Kitty, I was worried sick about you," said Kimba. "I'm so happy you're back. I'm sorry for sending you into danger like that. It's all my fault."

"It isn't your fault, Kimba," said Kitty. "Neither of us knew what was going to happen. I'm just glad that we're together again."

"I wasn't going to just let them take you away, Kitty. I was about to go try and save you. I couldn't live without at least trying." He rubbed his cheek against her head.

"Kimba, that's so brave of you." She smiled, obviously enjoying this affection from Kimba. "But you didn't have to save me. Ignotso did."

"Ignotso?" Kimba looked up and remembered. He saw Ignotso walking away. "Ignotso! Wait up!" Kimba left Kitty's side and ran after Ignotso. Kitty sat where she was and watched.

Kimba caught up with Ignotso. "Ignotso, where are you going?"

"Back to civilization," the human replied. He smiled and frowned at the same time. "I have a very important meeting with the Director of the Interior Department."

"What are you going to tell him?" the white lion asked.

"To leave the white lion shrine alone." He held up his roll of film. "I have proof that the shrine exists. If the shrine is disturbed in any way, everyone will know it's his fault, and countries will stop sending foreign aid. All I have to do is make him realize how much trouble he'll be in if that happens and he'll see the light."

"You're a good forest ranger," said Kimba. "I'm glad we have you here to help protect the jungle. When will you be back?"

"I'm afraid I won't, Kimba. After helping Kitty escape and working against the Director's orders, I'm sure that they won't let me be part of the Interior Department anymore."

"I'm sorry, Ignotso. I know it was your dream all along to be a forest ranger. You must feel badly it all ended like this."

Ignotso stooped down. "It's all right, Kimba. The only reason I wanted to be a forest ranger was so I could help animals, but now I know there's very little I can do in that respect. You can help the animals infinitely more than I can ever hope to, Kimba. The best way I can help the animals is by helping you." Ignotso looked straight into Kimba's large blue eyes. "And I realized that the best way I could help you was by helping Kitty."

"By helping Kitty?" asked Kimba. "I don't understand, Ignotso."

Ignotso smiled at his friend and shook his head. "Kimba, I think you do."

Kimba looked back at Kitty, and then he looked down at the ground for a moment. He looked up at Ignotso. "You're right. Thank you for saving Kitty. I owe you my life." Kimba thought a little more, then brightened up. "We beat the hyenas, Ignotso! We made guns with gunpowder just like you told me, and we scared them all away!"

Ignotso laughed out loud. "Coming from you, Kimba, I'm not surprised to hear it. I must go now. Take care, good friend." Ignotso stood up and walked away. Kimba trotted back to Kitty and sat next to her while they watched him leave.

"What did Ignotso say?" asked Kitty.

"He said he has to go back to civilization, and they probably won't let him be a forest ranger anymore."

"I'm sorry for him, Kimba."

"I told him that too, Kitty, but he isn't too sad. Come on, let's go home." They walked back to the jungle side by side, stopping every few feet to rub cheeks with each other. Dan'l observed from a tree.

"At last, Kimba has finally figured it out," said Dan'l chuckling to himself. "Too bad it took something like this to bring his feelings to the surface. But if this is what we need to ensure that there will be another generation of white lions to rule and protect the jungle, then so be it!"

* * *

NARRATOR: It was long, hard work repairing the damage done by the hyenas. But all the animals worked together and rebuilt their schoolhouse and restaurant. They replanted the damaged crops, and another bountiful harvest seemed to be on the way. Kitty stayed in the jungle for the rest of her vacation and worked harder than anyone. On Kitty's last day, the amusement park repairs were finished. The animals celebrated the reopening, and Kitty and Kimba took one last ride together on the roller coaster. It was finally time for Kitty to leave for home. All the animals gathered to say good bye to their guest.

"I'm sorry I have to go," said Kitty, "but my Uncle Specklerex is expecting me. He says that as my guardian it's still his job to give me parental supervision and guidance."

"I understand," said Kimba. "Your uncle is probably right, whatever he means by parental supervision. I'm just sorry that you had to spend your vacation working so hard."

"That's all right. I enjoyed it, Kimba," said Kitty. "I'd rather spend time working with you than playing with someone else any day of the week." She smiled at him.

"Thanks, Kitty," said Kimba. "I feel the same way." Dot and Dinky snickered and winked at each other behind Kimba's back.

"It's getting late, I really have to go now. Good bye, everyone!" said Kitty.

"Good bye!"

Kitty turned and headed out of the jungle. One by one the animals left until Kimba sat all alone watching her walk away towards the west. Kimba grew sadder and sadder. "I'm so used to her being here; now I can't stand to see her go. I know I'll see her again, but when?" A tear dropped from one of his eyes. "It's so lonely without Kitty. What would happen if I lost her forever like Roger Ranger or my parents? I can't take it. I just can't take it!"

He got up and ran after Kitty. "Kitty! Kitty! Wait a minute!"

Kitty turned around and saw Kimba running towards her. When he reached her she said, "Kimba, you know I have to leave now. My vacation is over. What is it?"

"I know, Kitty, you have to go," said Kimba. "But there's one more thing I have to tell you before you leave."

"What's that, Kimba?"

"It's this, Kitty. I've decided ... that when I grow up ... I ... I'm going to ask you to marry me."

"Kimba!" Kitty exclaimed with wide-eyed surprise.

"I couldn't tell you back there," said Kimba. "If my friends heard me say that, they would tease me forever. You don't have to decide now, of course. But you should know anyway. I can't stand the thought of living my life without you. I..." he blurted out, "I love you!"

Kimba looked down at the ground for a while. He then ventured a sheepish glance up at Kitty. Kitty just smiled. "Well ... say something, Kitty," Kimba said weakly.

"Kimba," said Kitty, "I can't think of anything I'd like more than to enjoy white lion magic for the rest of my life." She leaned forward and gave him a big wet lick on the face. She watched Kimba blush.

"Thanks, Kitty." Kimba smiled and licked her cheek. They rubbed foreheads together. "Good bye, Kitty."

"Good bye, Kimba."

Kimba turned around and trotted back towards the edge of the jungle. "There," he said to himself, "I feel much better now." He sat down and continued to watch Kitty walk away. As Kitty was about to vanish over the horizon, Kimba surprised himself by voicing the biggest, loudest roar he had ever given in his life. "Good bye, Kitty!"

Kitty was just a speck in the distance, silhouetted by the setting sun. "Good bye, Kimba!" she roared, and dropped out of sight.

THE END