Naba: Zimwi Catcher

**Naba: Zimwi Catcher** is the ninth episode of Season 4.

## Synopsis

After listening to Rafiki’s tale about the Zimwi, Naba wants to be the first animal to catch it. There is only one question to ask: does it even exist?

## Script

The Moon hanged in the sky, shining down moonlight upon Rafiki’s tree. Rafiki stood outside, telling a story to the ones listening. Kovu, Kiara, Naba, Vitani, Shabaha, Kasi, Imara, Tazama, Tiifu and Zuri all listened to the story. Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri had all heard of this tale before, but the others hadn’t. Naba gleed in awe as Rafiki finished.

”And that’s how you know, to stay away from the Zimwi!” Rafiki said, laughing.

”The Zimwi isn’t even real!” Kasi stated, before turning to Rafiki. “No offence.”

”Well, we shouldn’t be so sure.” Rafiki replied. “Those who have encounter the Zimwi, have never spoke another word to tell its encounter!”

”This is so cool!” Naba exclaimed, jumping up in excitement.

”Keep it down, Naba!” Kiara whispered. “Other animals may be sleeping!”

”Now now, go back to Pride Rock you lot!” Rafiki stated. “And don’t let the Zimwi-“

”Wait Rafiki!” Naba asked, “I have a question about the Zimwi!”

”We’re going to go on night patrol now.” Vitani said.

”Yeah. There has been a rogue on the borders hunting for sport.” Tazama added, as the guard left. Kovu and Kiara turned to each other as they sat down, waiting for Naba’s question to be answered.

”What is it, young one?” Rafiki looked down at Naba.

”You did say that the time when you told Kion, the Lion Guard, and those other animals the story you didn’t tell them the short second one, since some were too scared!” Naba answered. “And even though I am younger than Kion when this happened, please tell me? Please!”

”Very well.” Rafiki responded, looking up at Kovu and Kiara. “You two should listen too! It is a tale not even you have heard!” Rafiki said to them, as they listened. “King Mansa of the Pride Lands had many cubs, with many lionesses. One of these cubs was a son, Prince Ruka. One day, the young prince went out to find herbs for the Royal Mjuzi of that time, Oyenusi. Prince Ruka never returned.”

”What happened to him?” Naba asked, gasping.

”No one knows for sure. Some say a crocodile got him, others say the hyenas. If you ask me, I’d say the Zimwi.” Rafiki spoke, climbing up his tree. “Now now, go home you three!”

”Let’s go now.” Kovu said, as they stated to walk back to Pride Rock.

”Wasn’t that story awesome!” Naba smiled, looking at his sister and brother-in-law. “I am going to catch the Zimwi! And everyone in all the Lands will know me as Naba: Zimwi Catcher! I bet that your great great great grand cubs will be listening to the story of how i caught the Zimwi!”

”You’re thinking about me and Kovu’s descendants?” Kiara looked in confusion, turning to Kovu. “We haven’t discussed about cubs yet.”

”Yeah. Let alone a whole bloodline!” Kovu added on. “And anyways, isn’t it bad for a small cub like you to be looking for something with teeth sharper than a crocodiles? Tall as two giraffes? Each leg bigger than the last?”

”I am not a small cub!” Naba shouted. “And I am going to find the Zimwi right now! Rafiki told us this story tonight as it was the full moon! The Zimwi is defiantly out right now, and I am going to catch it!”

”Naba, you shouldn’t-“ Kiara started, but was cut off by a loud snap,

”What was that?” Kovu questioned, looking at the two.

”Teeth sharper than a crocodiles…it’s the Zimwi!” Naba screamed as he ran after it. “Zimwi, here I come!”

”Naba, wait!” Kiara shouted, as she and Kovu ran after him. “It could be something else! Or worse!”

”Zimwi! I heard you like to scare the youngsters of the Pride Lands and eat any animal, and they never speak another word!” Naba stated, as he hid in the bush. “But prepare, your end had come!”

Naba pounced up, however stopped and fell when he heard a voice that didn’t seem to belong to the Zimwi.

“What are you doing, little boy?” Jani, one of the lionesses and Simba’s youngest cousins, asked. She was outside with Wazi, a former outsider.

”Oh, I was looking for the Zimwi!” Naba gleefully replied. “Did you hear it?”

”You mean that snap?” Wazi looked down at the cub. “Yeah, that was one of those crocodiles. And isn’t the Zimwi just a made up sorry to make cubs go to sleep? My mother sure told it to me when I was growing up here.”

“We were out hunting.” Jani announced. “That’s why we were here together.”

”See, the Zimwi isn’t real Naba.” Kovu said, looking down at Naba.

”Yeah, now let’s just get home.” Kiara responded. “Come on, it’s getting late. Mom and Dad are going to get worried then.”

”I guess…” Naba muttered as they walked away back to Pride Rock.

”But hey!” Kiara smiled, looking down at Naba. “Next time it is a full moon, I promise that we will all go look for the Zimwi!”

”Really?” Naba looked up. “Let’s get home then! The sooner we get home, the sooner the next full moon comes! And next time I see Kion, i am going to tell him that the Zimwi does exist!”

”He’ll probably forget about it.” Kovu chuckled as the couple followed just behind. A tall creature, teeth sharper than a crocodiles, smirked, as it walked in the opposite direction.