The Fallen Lioness

by Rayeverydangday

Summary:

A lion has fallen, one no one has ever seen before, one who only remembers her name. Li’Ella.

Now she lives in the lion city walls, trying desperately to find out who she was. But maybe she won’t find her answers in the suffocating walls. But rather the sky high eagle library, the soothing stone of the Forever Rock, and the deep dark secrets hidden in the gorge…

Chapter 1: The Fall

Laval was almost thankful for the accident. Who knows what could have happened if they had gone and saw the chi. 

“It’ll just be a quick peak!” Cragger gestured to the ropes dangling from the wall. Those towering lion walls that seemed to judge their very actions. Laval gulped despite himself. 

“Oh, I don’t know.” He said to his crocodile friend.

“You're gonna bring up all your lion rules again!?” He taunted back. 

“Well yeah…” They were meant to keep them safe. They weren’t old enough yet. But Cragger was his friend! A small part of Laval couldn’t help but wonder though, that if he refused, the croc would just climb up the rope himself. 

Better to go with him and watch over his friend then not at all. 

“Well all I can say to that is-“ Cragger began. But he would never learn what Cragger had to say. As the sound of flesh and bone hitting the ground echoed throughout the area. The two froze at the sudden sound, staring at each other wide eyed. 

“What was that?” Said the shock croc. 

Laval’s ears dance a bit as they search for another sound. Another indication that whatever had hit the ground is okay…

“Come on! We gotta check it out.” The lion prince dashed toward the sound, with Cragger right behind him. 

Every part of him prayed to Cavora that they weren’t about to run into a possible crime scene. Laval was never one to shy away from a bit of blood, but the idea of seeing a dead body was something he was not sure he was ready for in his young life. He tried to imagine what would happen if he fell from the top of the lion walls, assuming that’s where whoever fell. 

He once fell halfway down the stairs and only made it out with a broken arm. But it looked as if they had fallen from the walls, a much higher distance than his stair tumble. 

Unluckily for him, Laval would not need to imagine anything. As he and Cragger arrived at the scene, which would no doubt stick with him forever. He closed his eyes, and with all his might, bellowed out a roar that would alert the guards above. 

He tried to be optimistic about it. The body was intact, but calling it a body already felt wrong. 

Laval forced himself to look at the face. But he couldn’t recognize the lioness, not due to any injuries, but… 

He had never seen her before in his life. 

“Who is that?” Cragger asked, as lion guards, and thankfully a medic, began to crowd around her. 

Laval stared at the croc with nervous contempt. “I don’t know…”

His father had made sure he knew every citizen living in the lion kingdom, no matter who they were. But he never met her before, nor had she seen attire like hers. As bright red as the blood leaking from her- 

He heard the voice of the medic declaring there to be a pulse, bringing a sigh of relief to all that gathered. 

“Thank the chi, huh? Maybe it’s a good thing we didn’t go up?” Cragger admits in a whisper. 

Laval nodded, grateful they were there at all. 

Chapter 2: Hitting the Ground

Summary:

Liella punches someone in the face.

Three Years Later

 

“Did you get in trouble again?” Laval asked as she stomped down the halls in anger. 

Li’Ella sighed, her face relaxing to a softer expression. 

“Yes. I’m grounded. For a week.” She huffed. 

“What happened this time?” Laval smiled. 

“I punched someone in the face.” 

Li’Ella looked down at Laval, who stuffed down a laugh and replaced it with a serious face. She swears he has to be at least one or maybe two years younger than her but had a look that was way too mature for his age. 

“Why… Did you punch someone in the face?” Laval asked slowly when she didn’t explain. 

“He said I could change my name if I wanted to.” 

The lion, whose name she couldn’t even remember, came up and asked her if she would ever want to change her name. Arguing that since there were no records of her identity before she could probably get a new one pretty easily.

It was a stupid question, though Li’Ella never really asked him why he would say such a thing, as she was too busy introducing her fist to his face. Along with every other part of him. 

Which meant another lecture from their dad. 

“Perhaps he didn’t wish to mean any harm, you must learn to express your feelings differently. Blah, blah, blah.” Was all she remembered from that. 

She was too busy brewing in her anger. Maybe she should have just asked. But the idea of just tossing aside her name after everything she went through sounded like an insult.

Li’Ella only knew her name and it scared her. 

But it also reminded her that she existed before her fall. Before her brother and her tribe had found her dying in the dirt. 

It reminded her she was a person, someone that cared (at least enough) to be given an identity.

What that identity was, she still didn’t know. 

No one came forward to claim the mysterious lioness who fell from the sky. King Lagravis had allowed her to remain in the castle till they found the identity of her guardians. But those days in the infirmary turned into weeks in her own room next to the Prince, and after a few months everyone seemed to have silently agreed that Li’Ella belonged with the royal family. Now if only she could act like it.

”Come on.” He chuckled, leading her to his room. 

Sir Punch-a-lot was waiting for her like an old friend, and she returned the favor by socking him in the face first. The dummy whirled to life, throwing back his own punches to meet with hers. 

“That… stupid… lion… guy…” She growled with every punch she could muster. 

“Are you still gonna be grounded when your anniversary comes around? I think you’ll like the gift I got for you~” Laval claimed in a sing-song voice from his bed.

Li’Ella stopped the dummy in its tracks. 

“It's… just a week. It’ll be over by the time it comes… around…” She began punching again. “But thanks.”

Since they didn’t exactly know when Li’Ella’s birthday was, the day she had been adopted was when they celebrated her “arrival” to Chima. The last one had ended with her decorations catching fire due to Longtooth giving her a new blaster. So she doubted any weapons would be given to her for this one.

With one last punch to the dummy, Li’Ella declared. “K. I’m bored. Let’s go speedor racing.” 

Laval jumped from his spot on the bed, the plush he’d been playing with dropping to the floor. 

“What!? But you’re grounded!” 

“Then you better come to make sure I don’t break any rules!” She chuckled. 

 

-

 

Sometimes Li’Ella felt a little bad dragging Laval around on her schemes. He already has Cragger to worry about, so she tried not to encourage him to break some rules. But she was having a pretty bad day.

And riding through Chima with the wind whipping through her tail was a freeing feeling. It made her feel as if she could fly. 

It was a feeling that she knew her brother felt as he dashed ahead of her, his worries disappearing with the hint of a challenge. 

“Hey!” She chuckled, attempting to catch up. 

“Later!” He called back.

The two raced around, teasing each other throughout the land, getting lost in their own thrills. 

“Ha Ha! See ya you hairball!” Li’Ella taunted as she surpassed Laval. 

“Wait! Li’Ella!” She heard him call out.

“You better catch up-Ahhh!” She hurriedly stopped her speedor once she realized its destination.

The Fangs.

She pulled the break with all her might but it was too late. Without her guidance, her speedor collided into the towering spires of rocks and she was sent flying. Li’Ella yelped as she hit the ground, her back aching in pain upon impact. 

“Ugh. OwwAHHHHHHh!” She screamed when she realized where she landed. Had Li’Ella been thrown just a centimeter further, she would have gone over the edge of the Gorge of Eternal Depth. She scattered away from the edge, in complete shock. 

The residents of Chima were no stranger to the haunting presence of the gorge. But for whatever reason, she never felt dread as she stared down into its emptiness. Sure, the thought of falling was scary but the curiosity within her overruled any fear. 

It’s not like the gorge itself took anything or Cavora forbid, anyone from her. But she really did want to go see what was inside. 

She peered over its edge. 

Yep it looks pretty eternal. 

“You okay?” Laval’s voice called out to her and she immediately backed away from it. She didn’t want her brother to get any closer. 

“Yeah. Ow. Just peachy. Ow.” She limped a little on her way to her speedor. 

“You gotta be more careful! And you know it’s true when I’m saying it!” He said, a smile returning to his face. 

Li’Ella playfully rolled her eyes. 

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s head back before dad catches us!”

“You mean “catches you”?”

“I’ll drag you along with me.”

They bickered with grins on their faces as they rode home. But the desire to see what was at the bottom never left Li’Ella as she rode along. She had asked Eris to borrow books about it but not many of them seemed to answer her questions. 

Her curiosity must have been contagious because Eris had asked Ewald about it but he made them promise him that they wouldn’t go down there to investigate that mystery. A promise Laval had her reiterate when she told him about it. 

And a promise she might just have to break if she wanted to get any answers for who she was, 

Before the fall. 

She probably couldn’t fly down there as in the books it was said the gorge had a way of pulling its victims down. 

But maybe she could climb down…

Notes:

Liella might be a little different from how she is in the show. Just a wee bit

Chapter 3: Daughter

Summary:

Someone’s in trouble~

“Li’Ella.”

The lioness practically jumped out of her skin when that all too familiar voice called her name. 

“Hey, Dad!” 

She was literally about to open her bedroom door and go to bed when he caught her. But it was pretty hard to sneak anything by him. 

Lagravis had always been a slight mystery to her. 

She’s never understood why the lion king took her in the way he did. Maybe he pitied her. Maybe it was a publicity stunt. Maybe he knew something she didn’t… 

He seemed sincere enough when he would regularly visit her in the infirmary during her first few weeks of recovery. He would stand by as his guards would ask her questions about herself, what she remembers, where she came from, so on and so forth. 

But he would also come and ask how she was doing and if she needed anything. It was actually small things like this that would make him earn her trust. Even when he had Laval take her on tours around the Temple or anywhere in Chima, instead of a random guard, she couldn’t help but get the feeling it was his way of saying “I’d help you if I could but here's the next best thing.”

That or she was being used to train Laval in kingly humility. 

Maybe it was a bit of both but she didn’t mind. 

“How are-” 

“I know you snuck out with Laval.” 

Li’Ella sighed in defeat, “Yeah, fine. I did. But it was my idea, Laval just came along.” 

She didn’t need to drag him along into her punishment. 

But Lagravis didn’t really seem angry as he gave a sigh of his own. 

“I guess I should be glad he went along, I know you can be a little reckless when it comes to a speedor. But he should still know better because he knows you are grounded. I’m very disappointed in both of you.” 

Oh, that was so much worse. 

“Sorry. I just wanted some fresh air! Honestly I don’t know why I even hit that guy but it's just… ugh!” 

Now the shame was finally setting it. It was like the moment the sun set, retrospective thinking finally hit the lioness.

 Because yeah, that was kind of a dick move on her part for an innocently ignorant question. 

Lagravis put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. 

“Li’Ella, I know this time of month is hard for you. And I would do anything I can to help, but you must tell me if something is bothering you. I don’t believe punching someone in the face is a good way to ask for help.” 

The lioness smirked at her father’s little joke. She knew she couldn’t have asked for a better caretaker. But… 

“Anyone come in today for me?” She asked, trying to change the subject.

But it felt like a useless question with such an obvious answer. There was always that chance, that hope, that what if someone came for her. 

Lagravis' smile turned to a sympathetic frown. 

“I’m sorry, Li’Ella. No one has come in today.” 

She pulled away from the King’s touch. It had been almost a year since anyone had come forward and that was after Lagravis had added a cash prize for those who “had any relation to the fallen lioness.”

It was Eris’s idea to not mention her name in the flyers. Sure, she was living with royalty so her name had been thrown about in rumors but the eagle argued, “Family shouldn’t need rumors to know your name.” 

It did kinda work as some who came in stumbled with it, claiming her real name was something completely and that’s why they didn’t know it. 

But she knew her name. 

Her name was the only thing she had to a clue of her old life. 

“Li’Ella?” Lagravis concern never left his face, especially after she had gone so quiet. 

“I’m fine. I’ll just be in my room. Being grounded.” 

She had finally opened the door but stopped herself before she entered. 

“Could I go visit Eris at the Eagle Spire? After I’m ungrounded of course.” 

Lagravis nodded, “Of course. Good night, Li’Ella.” 

“Good night, Dad. Thank you.” 

 

-

 

“Something on your mind, Lagravis?” Longtooth asked as he rejoined the king down the hall. 

He had asked to be alone when talking to Li’Ella. 

“Just thinking… Do you think we should raise the reward?” Lagravis asked.

“Raise it? Anymore and we’ll have ravens trying to scam us!” Longtooth chuckled but the King didn’t seem to be amused.

“Besides, if her parents don’t want her, they are missing out!” The guard added. 

“I just can’t help but feel like I’m failing her. Something like this hasn’t happened to our tribe in years. What if there is a reason her family hasn’t come forward?” 

Such a mystery seemed almost impossible. 

How could a lioness in her teens just show up with no history or relation to anyone?! Was she hidden away and disposed of for reasons unknown? Lagravis had personally gone over all the missing person cases over the years after the fall. But the only recent one had been a three year old cub who had been found in the Fallen Jungle. Thirty five years ago. 

And what of that outfit? 

It looked almost like a guard uniform but there was no history of their tribe dawning red. 

Was Li’Ella even a part of the lion tribe? It felt like such a heartless question to ask but it was one Lagravis would consider at times. How else could they explain her sudden appearance? But if she was not a lion, who was she?

“I think it’d be better to continue speculating in the morning.” Longtooth assured him. 

“You have done all you can for her, Lagravis. Even if we can’t find her family, she has a pretty good one right here with you and Laval.” 

Oh, Laval. He couldn’t help but think he grew up a bit too quickly. 

Lagravis still remembered the look of horror on his face when he saw his sister's broken body. 

But Longtooth was right. All this worrying would do him no good at such a late hour. The best he could do right now was get some rest. 

Notes:

Longtooth is being the embodiment of the voice in my head telling me I’m doing everything I can because man am I having some depressive episodes as of late.

Chapter 4: At the Library

Summary:

Library day with the girls

Notes:

They are girlfriends even if historians will call them close friends ;3

“What do you want for your anniversary?” Eris asked. Nice and deliberate, just how Li’Ella liked it. She had waited an agonizing week to see her girlfriend and their library time.

“I want a million kisses and another map of Chima.” She had about a 100 dozen of them already but she loved each and everyone. 

And Eris seemed to just have some magical ability to find a new map of the same place, each one created from a different perspective, from a different time, or for a different purpose. 

Most were written by eagles, but occasionally she’d get one written by another tribe. Some even missed a few landmarks, like the Forever Rock or Fallen Jungle. 

Even the Fangs.  

“Hmph. I bet I can do better than that. Go find your book, I’ll grab us a spot to sit.” Eris grinned, and gestured in a vague direction around the library. 

The almost labyrinth-like library calmed Li’Ella to a T as she navigated its halls. Though Eris had to fly her to each and every level of it, at least it meant she would find a different book each time. The floor they picked was full of books that were dustier than usual.  There weren’t too many eagles on this level either, though she’d still wave to the few that would fly by. 

She was about to turn into a pretty run down section of the library. But the foulest odor filled her nostrils after just taking a step inside. 

 Li’Ella reeled back and started walking towards the opposite side of the spire. She’d have to tell Eris and see if she could get someone to clean that place up. 

She ended up in a section about fauna and flora. The perfect topics that could get a gorilla on their good side, if she wanted to save some money on an ethically sourced, totally not stolen gorilla mech. 

Seemed no eagle had come her in a while as every book she picked up sent dust flying. Well, more than usual. She finally settled on one after she was through with all the dust bunny. 

“A Guide to Exotic Plants of Chima.” Li’Ella read out loud. 

“Shhhh.” Eris hissed at her playfully. 

She was sitting in a cozy little nook beside a window, the sun already beginning to set in its view. 

“What’d you find?” The lioness asked.

“Something about a murder, what about you?”  Eris raised her wing so Li’Ella could sit next to her. 

“Something about plants.”

 She opened to a random page as she plopped down and was greeted with a detailed drawing of a plant from the Outlands. 

She traced its unnaturally sharp teeth along its massive jaw on the page. There weren’t too many books on the Outlands, too much work to write one when everything in it can eat you. 

But this one was surprisingly detailed.

Even showing a full diagram of the plants insides. She flipped to the front of the book to see the author’s name. 

Eboni. 

“Is it possible to fly in the Outlands?” Li’Ella whispered. 

“Uhhhh,” Eris began, as she shook her head. “The tree’s branches are too thick. I doubt anyone could just fly up to get away from that quickly.” The eagle said pointing at the page. 

Li’Ella continued to flip through the book, her interest and respect for this Eboni growing. 

“Must have had some pretty tough guts to- Wait what?” 

Li’Ella stopped when she saw the words “fog of destiny” on one page. 

“What?” Eris looked over at the page Li’Ella was staring at.

“The persuader plant…” The lioness read outloud. 

She shifted her position so Eris could read along with her. 

The plant itself essentially brainwashed the recipient who breathed in the flower’s nasty pollen. In Eboni’s own notes, she talked about how she tested it on some mice. How she made one mouse absolutely hate cheese for a short period of time. Another had been forced to run on a wheel till it collapsed of exhaustion. And what had to be the darkest one of all, she made one of the mice fall off the spire to its death. All thanks to that poisoned flower. 

She shuddered at thought. But it wasn’t the plant’s effects she was interested in. 

It was the roots. 

“Yeesh, that sounds way too creepy.” Eris whispered as she finished. 

“But look at this! These roots have some sort of power that shows you your destiny!” Li’Ella added, with excitement. 

Eris looked her dead in the eye. 

“What are you saying?” She said slowly.

“I’m saying maybe I won’t need to go to the bottom of the gorge to get any clues! Maybe this could help me instead!” 

The lioness was so overjoyed she struggled to keep her voice down. Earning her a few more “sshhhhs” from above the higher levels of the library. But this was more important than some dumb rule!

As she skimmed the page it said that all she’d have to do is burn the roots and all those who breathed it in will learn their destiny!

But Eris did not seem to share her feelings as she continued to look at the book. It was as if the fog had already begun to cloud the lioness’s judgement. 

“That sounds extremely dangerous. I mean did you miss the part where it says, ‘this dream could last from a day to a year’!” The eagle said.

“Well… maybe I could go under for an hour? I’m sure I’ll get my fill after that.” Li’Ella reassured her. 

“And how would you control how long you're out?” 

“Maybe you could wake me up! With, like, water or pull me out with a rope!” 

“Li’Ella.” Eris raised an eyebrow at her. 

“I don’t know! But we could figure it out! This could be the lead I’m looking for! You keep saying how dangerous it would be to keep going to the Fangs but this could be it!” Li’Ella protested. 

She felt herself getting worked up,  but also knew Eris just didn’t want to see her get hurt. 

“Destiny doesn’t exactly mean your past. It just feels like you're flying too close to the sun!” 

“I’ll wear sunscreen!” Li’Ella retorted. 

A slight smile tugged at Eris’s lips at that. Still… 

“Okay. Look, when you do find the plant, and I say WHEN because I know I can’t stop you from finding it. Just promise me that when you do, you’ll let me know before you go and drug yourself.” Eris asked.  

Li’Ella nodded. 

“I promise!” 

Notes:

This was gonna be part of chapter 3 but it would have been too long and too much so new chapter early
Yippee OwO

Chapter 5: Doubt Roots In

“The persuader plant?”

“So you’ve never seen it around then?” Li’Ella’s shoulders deflated a little. 

She had followed Laval along to a visit with Cragger in hopes he could help her find it but…

Cragger tilted his head in confusion “Never seen it.” 

Li’Ella sighed in defeat.

“Why do you need a plant like that anyway?” 

She grew a little nervous as Cragger eyed her up and down. Li’Ella kinda always had a sneaking suspicion Cragger didn’t like her too much. 

“It says if you burn the roots, you could see your destiny-”
“And it still seems like a bad idea.” Laval added. 

Her brother had already known about the fog of destiny legend and had made it very clear multiple times he didn’t approve. But he seemed to calm a bit when Li’Ella told him Eris would be helping her. 

“It’ll be fine! I just want to know who I was before. You know… the fall.” Li’Ella retorted. 

Cragger gaze seemed to soften a little at the mention of the fall. Maybe the memory of him seeing her broken and battered body that day gave him a little sympathy.

“You could ask my mom or dad?” The croc suggested. 

But Li’Ella shook her head. She didn’t know what the King and Queen of the crocs would say to her if she asked. It was very possible they already knew about the plant and what it could do. But she doubted they’d be willing to help her find a flower that can control people. 

“I think I’ll just look around for it.” She settled on saying. 

Laval nodded, “Just be careful, okay?” 

“I said I’ll be fine.” Li’Ella waved away his concern with a smile. 

“Yeah, she’ll be FIIIINNNNEEE!” Cragger playfully pushed the worried Prince. “Now come on! Let's go on a speedor ride!” 

Laval gave a toothy grin of his own to his croc friend.
“OKay, okay! I’ll see you later, Li’Ella!” He yelled as he chased after the croc. 

“Later, Laval!” She called back. 

And into the swamp she went. 

 

— 

 

 

Make no mistake, Crooler didn’t want to kill her brother. But she still couldn’t accept the fact that he was taking her place as the rightful ruler of Chima their tribe. 

Her parents however… 

Well let’s just say she has been patiently waiting for a possible accident. Or murder. Or anything really. 

Her plans depended on it after all. But unfortunately for her, patience wasn’t paying off, no matter how many disgruntled guards or civilians she heard muttering. 

And it’s not like she didn’t want to get her hands dirty, but the idea of doing anything herself made her feel a little sick to her stomach. Even if she wished it would happen. 

So this was probably her best plan yet. 

The crocodile princess would walk up to her unsuspecting parents and apologize. That's right, apologize!

For how mean she's been to her brother, how dismissive she’s been of the other tribes, and how much of a horrible daughter she’d been. Oh, how could she! She’d even present them a nice bouquet of flowers as part of the “apology.” 

And when they finally drop their guard and take a little sniff of the flora, she’d command her parents to give her the throne, to give up their power,

and make her the Queen of the Crocodiles.

If Cragger asks any questions, she’d just give him his own flower for the occasion and he’d be just as willing to give it up. Maybe he wouldn’t even need one. Her brother didn’t seem interested in taking over anything with how much he hung around that lion. 

It was brilliant. 

It was perfect. 

And she would have gotten away with it too. 

If it wasn’t for another lion ruining her plans!

Crooler heard the coughing before she even entered her sacred garden. She shoved aside the bushes hiding it only to find that a lioness had stumbled down hill and trampled all over her persuador plants! 

Pollen and petals floated in the air as the feline got up from the wreckage. 

“Oh- *cough* Hey Crooler.” She choked out. 

As the croc stared daggers at her intruder, she realized it was that “fallen lioness” she had heard too much about. 

The one who was, oh so lucky, to be adopted into royalty and live in that damn temple. What was her name again? Ella? Lila? It didn’t matter. 

“Why are you here?” Crooler growled softly. 

She had moved her garden to a more secured place after she saw Crug and Crawley eating her flowers. Settling on a nice place covered by tall bushes with even taller trees right next to a cave. 

It was as if Chima itself wanted her to have it, because it was meant to be  perfectly secure and secluded. 

But Li’Ella seemed to have this magical ability to destroy everything perfect going on for her right now! 

“I kinda fell from up there,” The lioness pointed to the top of the cave, rubbing her head. 

“I was hiking around your swamp looking for this plant and fell. Sorry. The rest of your garden is pretty nice though.” She added. 

Crooler had to admit, she did like this extra green thumb she had developed. As other types of blooming flowers and some bush growing fruit surrounded her prize plant. She’d even kept tools in the cave.

But her pride departed when she realized what the lion had said. 

“Why are you looking for persuader plants? And here I thought you lions were noble.” 

“It’s not to control anyone! It’s for me! These could help me find out who I was but- Wait, why are you growing them?” 

Uh-ho. 

Could she just say she didn’t know what they could do? Not after she just said their name! It didn’t take a genius to figure out why they were called that. 

“I-uh-Well, how do I know you’re telling the truth? For all I know, you could be lying. You could have been trying to find that flower to take the throne from your own father! And after he took you in, how could you?” She coated her words in false sympathy for the king. 

“I would never!” Li’Ella bared her teeth and stomped her foot. Which only sent more petals and pollen into the air. 

Crooler smiled. 

“Of course, and I’m sure everyone will believe you when you walk in their front gates with a deadly plant like that in hand.”

“No-I-” 

“But what do I know, Cragger is only YOUR brother’s best friend. If I let it slip about what you were doing here though, I’m sure he’d gladly tell Laval.” 

She could see it in Li’Ella’s eyes. 

“And who would Laval believe then, his life long best friend or the girl who dropped into his life and threatened his throne?” 

The fear was starting to settle in. And if Crooler’s luck was on her side, so were the pollen’s effects. It didn’t matter what Li’Ella had told Laval or Cragger about her little hunt for the plant. 

The seeds of doubt were taking root. 

She took a step forward when she was sure that she wouldn’t be able to ingest any of the poison. 

“So how about we make a deal? You help me regrow my plants and I won't say a word about this to anyone.” 

As much as she wanted to tell the lioness to go away and forget this all happened, it was clear she knew something Crooler didn’t. She needed her. For now. 

Li’Ella seemed to be trembling a bit as her ears pressed against her head. The red in her worried eyes began to fade and return to their usual amber color. 

Crooler held out her hand. 

“Okay. I’ll help.” Li’Ella took her hand. 

Still seemed pretty shaken up from Crooler’s own little speech. If only there was more pollen lingering in the air. Otherwise Crooler could have said some more commands. But no matter, she could save them for later. 

“Alight, then. Grab me a shovel from the cave. I’ll have to dig these up.”

Li’Ella perked up at that. “Can I have the roots then!? That’s all I need!” 

“If that's what you need, you’re not getting it till my plant’s are healthy again. What’s with the roots anyway? Are they poisonous?” Crooler perked up. 

Li’Ella shook her head and explained her plan for the roots. 

“A fog of destiny?” Crooler never heard of it. 

“I just want to know who I was.” Li’Ella dug up the dying plant and held up its roots. “In any way possible.” 

“Well,” Crooler snatched the roots from the lioness’s hands. “You can have these when I get my plants back.” 

The croc princess lightly shook the plant over the palm of her hand. Only a few seeds fell from it which she dropped into the hole Li’Ella had dug. 

“Now what?” Li’Ella asked. 

Crooler rolled her eyes as she grabbed a watering can from her cave. 

“Now, we wait.” 

Notes:

This might be my favorite chapter so far. Though it was incredibly hard to write ngl