We wait in the jungle the rest of the night. Nakia brings back what she tells us is the last heart-shaped herb, and begins leading us up the cold mountainside. We are all gratefully wrapped in blankets.
"Bucky," I gasp, grabbing Shuri's arm. "If he sees Bucky, he will kill him!"
Shuri shakes her head. "We can't go back now, but try not to worry. I locked the room he is in, so Ross would not find him. Only you and me can enter, now."
I sigh in relief, nodding my thanks.
"Bucky?" Ross asks. "As in James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier?"
"You knew he had to be somewhere," I tell him. "Why did you think I was the only one to escape your prison who came here?"
"Not my prison," Ross defends. He turns to Nakia. "So, where are we going again?"
"We're taking the heart-shaped herb to Jabariland," Nakia answers.
"The heart-shaped herb?" Ross asks. "What is that?"
"It gives whoever takes it heightened abilities," Shuri explains.
"It's what made T'Challa so strong," Nakia finishes.
"Nakia, I don't like this," Queen Mother states. "The herb belongs to us. We may be creating a bigger monster with M'Baku. Nakia, you should take it yourself."
"I am a spy with no army," Nakia answers. "I wouldn't stand a chance."
"We'll go," Queen Mother sighs.
We start to walk again, but are stop as we are suddenly surrounded by Jabari men, chanting and grunting.
"Shuri, Ayana," Queen Mother warns, and I grab Shuri's arm. "Look down."
We do, and the men stop just in front of us. They lead us into their city, and to M'Baku's throne, stamping their spears behind us.
"My son," Queen Mother addresses, "was murdered in ritual combat."
"Were the odds fair?" M'Baku asks.
"Yes, but-" Shuri begins.
"Then it was less of a murderer, and more of a defeat," M'Baku interrupts.
"Do not rub our noses in it!" Shuri exclaims.
"Silence!" M'Baku commands. "I make the pronouncements here, girl."
"Look, uh, Your Highness," Ross says, "the new king is a US-"
M'Baku interrupts with a stern grunt.
"The new king-" Ross tried again, but this time M'Baku and his men take up the grunting.
"You cannot talk!" M'Baku warns Ross. "One more word, and I will feed you to my children."
Ross gulps.
"I'm kidding, we are vegetarians," M'Baku claims, laughing.
"Great Gorilla M'Baku," Nakia says finally, kneeling and presenting the herb, gaining his full attention. "This is why we are here. To offer this to you. An outsider sits on our throne. Only you can help us stop him."
M'Baku stands, a strange expression on his face, and Queen Mother sinks to her knees. The rest of us follow suit, our heads bowed.
"Come with me," M'Baku says.
Ross is the first to stand, and I have to try not to laugh at the absurdity. All that's happening, and he's embarrassed to have bowed?
We follow M'Baku to a cave, where, half buried in the snow, lies T'Challa. Queen Mother gasps loudly.
"Impossible," Nakia says as we kneel beside him. "Is he breathing?"
"He is in a coma, barely clinging to life," M'Baku tells us. "One of our fisherman found him at the edge of the River Border. He brought him to me."
"Why do you have him in the snow?" Shuri asks, sounding indignant.
"It is the only thing keeping him from joining the ancestors," M'Baku answers, crossing his arms.
"We need to get him to my lab," Shuri pleads. "I can heal him there!"
"Take him," M'Baku offers. "He'll be dead in seconds."
"Nakia, the herb," Queen Mother says.
Nakia hastily gives it to Queen Mother, who crushes the herb into a bowl.
"I call upon the ancestors," she says as M'Baku and Ross turn away. "I call upon Bast. I am here with my son, T'Challa. Heal him." She pours the herb juice into T'Challa's mouth, then turns to us. "We must bury him. Cover him, cover him!"
We quickly cover T'Challa with the snow.
"Praise the ancestors," Queen Mother starts the chant, and Nakia, Shuri, and I copy her. We repeat the same thing, over and over again.
Then, T'Challa sits up, gasping for breath.
"T'Challa," Queen Mother cries.
T'Challa smiles at us, shivering. "Do you have a blanket?"
Laughing with relief, I pass mine to him, and he wraps up.
We head back to M'Baku's throne room, where Nakia fills T'Challa in. "Killmonger has the full support of our military, and he burned the garden of the heart-shaped herb."
"Of course he did," Ross says. "That's what he was trained to do. His unit used to work with the CIA to destabilize foreign countries. They would always strike at a transition of power, like an election year, or the death of a monarch. You've got control of the government, the military-"
"Our resources," T'Challa concludes.
"Right," Ross confirms.
"The Great Mound," T'Challa realizes.
"Our vibranium," Shuri explains. "All of my designs"
"He will send our weapons all over the world," T'Challa concludes. He points at Queen Mother, Shuri, and I. "Nakia, you must get them out of Wakanda safely."
"What about you?" Shuri asks.
"The challenge must continue," T'Challa says.
"T'Challa, we will not leave Wakanda," Queen Mother declares.
"It is my duty to keep you safe," T'Challa reminds her.
"If he gets control of your technology, nowhere will be safe," I tell him. "I saw it with Hydra. When power goes to people's heads, they immediately want more."
"Besides," Shuri smiles. She pulls out the necklace containing T'Challa's suit, and places it around his neck. "The Black Panther lives. And when he fights for the face of Wakanda, I will be right there beside him."
"So will I," I declare, standing with them.
"As will I," Nakia says.
"I will, too," Ross announces, and we look at him. "What? You're going to need all the help you can get."
M'Baku yawns loudly. "Are you done?" he asks. "Are you- are you- are you done?"
"Could you give me and M'Baku a moment?" T'Challa questions.
Shuri leads the way, and we all follow. But I remove my rose gold headband, letting my cat-like senses take over so I can still hear. Shuri smirks at me, realizing.
"Thank you," T'Challa is saying.
"I owed you a great debt," M'Baku answers. "A life for a life. Consider it paid."
"Please allow my mother to stay here," T'Challa requests.
"No harm will come to her, I give you my word," M'Baku assures.
"You know, I could use an army, as well," T'Challa tries.
"I bet you could," M'Baku laughs. "But no. I will give no Jabari lives towards your cause."
"It is our cause," T'Challa corrects. "It is for all of us."
"Oh, us," M'Baku replies. "You are the first king to come here in centuries, and now you speak of 'us'?"
"I cannot speak for past king's," T'Challa answers. "But an enemy sits on the throne right now. We both know the power of vibranium. If Killmonger gains control of it, who do you think he will come for next?"
"We will not help you," M'Baku says.
T'Challa joins us, sending Queen Mother back into the caves. Before he can say it, I do.
"They won't help."
He looks at me, noticing the lack of headband. "I forget you can do that," he smiles softly. "No, the Jabari will not help. We are on our own."