"Hodari! Hodaaarrii!!"

The small cub shuffled by the swamp, placing two dirty paws on his eyes as if to rub them. And he would open them, showing dull blue oculars as he looked around, vision blurry. The male attempted to get up, but his arms were too weak, and he could only manage to slump back down into the mud once again, closing his eyes slowly as a bigger, perhaps a teen, figure started to run over to him. And it all went dark for the cub.
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Nootau raced towards Hodari, panting heavily as he grabbed the cub by the scruff and made a run for it, water and mud dripping from the cub's pelt. The teen was suffering from a large gash on his ribcage, and it kept bleeding as he bolted through the marsh, sharp pangs occasionally getting to him. He was in so much pain, even the soft leaves rubbing up against him would sting his wound. 

They reached a grassy area that hid them well, but also hid the potential dangers of other lions and snakes... and branches. Nootau suddenly struck a large, fallen branch that unfortunately got his wound on his rib, stabbing it, and the male yowled in pain. It yanked him back and Hodari flew from his jaws, still unconcious as he hit the ground nearby, Nootau writhing in pain on the ground, slowly starting to fade into a cold blackness where he could not be saved...
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Hodari awakened suddenly, dull blue gaze bouncing around the area. It was evening now. How long was he asleep? The cub struggled to his paws but managed to anyway, scanning the vicinity once again. Wait.. how did he get here? Last he remembered, he was by the swamp, only for a few seconds before he was knocked out yet again by his own will. And then the thought of Nootau crossed his mind.

The cub whirled around and started to run back in the direction of the marsh, though didn't get far. Nootau was laying in front of him. And he was not breathing. Hodari's heart sank and his eyes welled up with tears as he bolted towards the body, immediately seeing the large gash on Nootau's ribcage, penetrated by a large branch that blindsided the male while he was running. The cub stumbled backward in shock as tears streamed down his face. He tried to remember what happened. 

What is going on here?