The Tale of Mwasi's Stone
by Sam Simpson
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     As all good cubs know, Kube Fireheart had two
sons.  His elder son Raha became the first Lion King,
while his younger son Mwasi became Mwasi Thunderstroke,
the first leader of the lion rogues of the Southlands.
     Now, one day when Mwasi had long since grown old
and passed the leadership on to another, word came from
the prides of the north, proclaiming that the holy
mountain Cloudtop would henceforth be called Mount
Raha, in honor of their first King.
     When the rogues heard this, they were greatly
angered.  "Kube has a great river named for him, and
now Raha has a mountain.  Shall it be said that
Thunderstroke is any less great than they?"  And they
spoke to Mwasi and insisted that he, too, should have a
landmark that would inspire awe in all the generations
to come.
     But Mwasi liked not this idea, for he had worked
all his life to teach rogues to think for themselves
and not be bound by old rules and traditions.  Yet, he
feared to refuse them, for he knew that the plan was
very popular.  What use would it be to deny them now,
only to receive a grandiose and unwanted honor after
his death?
     Therefore, Mwasi Thunderstroke called on the
rogues to assemble in the Gathering Place.  He stood
upon the flat-topped boulder where speakers addressed
their audiences, and spoke unto them saying, "Why
should I be concerned by this news of Raha?  My brother
must be small indeed, if he must name an entire
mountain after himself to feel great and mighty.  Do
you think me so vain, my sons?  Let this rock upon
which I now stand be called Mwasi's Stone, and that
will be enough for me."
     The lion rogues went each one back to his own den,
praising Mwasi's great wisdom.  And the stone in the
center of the Gathering Place still bears Mwasi's name,
and stands to this day.