Knowledge of Enlightenment || Jasper's Journal

[Jasper]

August 15th

I should have guessed he would of gone ahead with it. I should have know when I laid down that I would awake to half our forces being gone in the morning, and the camp being almost deathly silent. That idiot sent our forces out there to hunt Jafar. To take him down even though I warned him. I warned him what a mistake it would be, he did not heed my words again. We've been arguing about this shit for days now, back and forth. Even Clopin agreed that this was a foolish idea, but Simba just- he didn't listen. He didn't listen and it cost us. It cost us so much...

Over half our army was ripped through like they were nothing, only three of our people made it back. But they were severely injured, two of them died before the night even hit. The other is in critical state. Shani's lost her mother, I've lost my brother... So many of our people have lost family and all because of Simba's foolishness. If he had just listened to me, listen to Clopin, we wouldn't be struggling right now. He's left us open for attack, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Blackbloods came to crush us while we're this weak.

I don't know what to do. We plan to bury our dead once the night settles. But I can still hear the wailing outside my tent, and I can't even be brought to cry. I feel numb and cold. My hands won't stop shaking while I write this. Simba needs to be spoken with. He needs to pay for his actions, but I don't see that happening since he's both a king and the leader of our small forces now. I just don't know what to do...

[Jasper]

August 20th

It's been a few days since I've last written in this thing. I'm not sure why I'm even bothering at this point. Everything around us is falling apart, Clopin and I confronted Simba a day or two after the slaughter of our men. He had little to say, he seemed to hold a little remorse but not enough to make a true difference. Clopin absolutely lost it on him.

I've seen my partner I've seen Clopin lose his temper before but never like this. He was almost screaming at that damn lion, and it still felt like it didn't get it through his thick arrogant skull. The Freedom Fighters have been divided in two and Clopin left with those that were loyal to him.

Clopin and I had discussed it on and off about leaving the night before together with as many people as we could muster but I told him I was unsure if I could do it. I think he understood my hesitance but I felt as though I had somewhat betrayed his trust...

I've grown close to Shani since the loss of her mother, I've been helping her try to cope but I also don't want to leave the land my brother is buried on. It's still too soon, my wounds though not physical are still far too fresh. They sting every time I think of him...

This madness is tearing apart what little forces we have left of the Freedom Fighters. We're on a thin tightrope now, threatening to plunge into the depths below us. Who will be there to fight then? Who will help defend everyone from the Blackbloods if the Freedom Fighters are wiped out? No one. I believe in Clopin, I do, but how long can he stay afloat in this madness too?

Everything is divided up against us and there's hardly any breathing room and I've come to the realization that Simba isn't going to stop. Nothing is going to stop him until his mate or children are killed. And that thought scares me, seeing those broken bodies splayed out on the ground like prey. Killed by Simba's own arrogance. I see their faces every day, Kion and Kiara are so full of hope. Kopa is bliss to his own father's faults but still smiling and giddy, and Kanzi and Kufi seem to know something is up but they are still too involved with their siblings to really pay too much heed.

No one is going to stop this train wreck. No one is going to stop until it's too late. Something has to be done about it. It frightens me the thoughts that have begun to cross my mind but no one else will act. This is something I have to take into my own hands. I made Simba a promise when I first signed on, I would not let him become like his Uncle.

He is too far gone. I have to keep to my word.