A Life and death tale. By "SHA" (Oscar Almaraz) sha@nimh.com *********************************************** TO MY BROTHER, WHO DIDN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE AS I DO. I never met you... but your soul lives in me. *********************************************** Characters: Fuandi, the old lion Kinda, the lion prince lioness cubs WARNING: THIS STORY MAY HAVE SOME CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR KIDS, IF YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN 15 YEARS OLD, PLEASE DELETE THIS MAIL, OR READ IT WITH AN ADULT SO HE CAN EXPLAIN THE SITUATIONS ON THIS STORY. All characters and situations are not real, it is not based on a real story or on any other story, if there are similarities with other stories or situations, it's just a coincidence. ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* --------------------------- A long time ago... on another lands, on another time, a new hope, a new pride. The circle of life. It was a warm afternoon on the savannah, 25 years before the great battle, before the curse of the marked one, when the circle was in a perfect balance. Fuandi, an old lion, the vagabond, with the knowleadge of the stars. The young cubs used to go and play with him, and they'd made fun of him, but when things didn't go as they planned them, they would go with him and ask for his advice, he was their heart, and their eyes when the darkness was reigning their souls, he knew the words, and the smiles, when knew the tears and the pain. Until they became kings, and he was getting older and older, but with a young soul minute by minute. But that afternoon... the cubs were sad... Fuandi: Hi cubs! how are you? When Kinda saw Fuandi, he ran as fast as he could and hugged Fuandi burying his face on his belly, crying. Kinda: Oh baba... it's terrible The lioness cubs where started to cry too and ran to Fuandi surrounding him with his sad chant of tears Kinda: oh baba... dad killed my brother Huzuni... I hate him!! I hate him!! he went to the waterhole alone... and my dad got mad... (his voice became weak and his crying was more and more sad) he just went to the waterhole, he didn't tell anyone... and my dad got mad.. and killed him!!!... Fuandi sighed and shaked his head closing his eyes and hugged him with one paw. Kinda: I'm afraid of him now... that could be me... he was only one hunting season old!! The lioness cubs couldn't even speak and they were crying too. Fuandi: oh... I see... Fuandi nuzzled him. Kinda: I don't wanna got back baba... we don't wanna go back, when he finds out that we are not in the cave, he will try to kill me and my sisters too. Fuandi sighed Fuandi: Yeah... that's so sad... but don't be afraid, your dad wouldn't harm you. Kinda: but baba!! he killed my brother. Fuandi: I have a story for you... let me clean those tears and let me tell you a story that happened a long time ago, before you were born, before your dad was born. Kinda: Baba! Fuandi: Calm down my little cubs, and let me tell you another story of the past. The cubs sat infront of him and listened. ---------------- Version B A long time ago, two male cubs were born in the same night, the first was bigger and stronger, but he was arrogant. The second was smaller, but with a good heart, a loving son. One day, the younger were atacked by a hyena, the hyena almost killed him when he was trying to practice his hunting skills with a lizzard, he saw his big brother doing that, and he wanted to do the same. But he weren't that lucky and a hyena saw him and tried to hunt him while he was alone on the tall grass. His father saved his life and killed the hyena, he was invading his lands and he almost killed the little cub, the cub was bruised and was crying on pain. His brother was watching hidding on a rock a few steps from them. Father: "WHY DID YOU COME SO NEAR TO THE BORDER??" Cub : "oh dad... I was just playing, i didn't notice i was comming here, I wanted to hunt something for you" His father sighed and closed his eyes, then turned to see the stars and then sighed again. FATHER: "NO... i'VE TOLD YOU NOT TO COME HERE!" CUB: "I'm... I'm sorry dad" FATHER: "YOU NEVER LISTEN!!" The little cub tried to stand up, but his leg was broken, but he took the dead lizzard from the ground with his mouth CUB: "Dad.. look... I hunted him for you! don't be mad at me.. I won't come near the border again, but please, don't get mad" His father couldn't hide his tears, but he knew what he had to do what his ancestors did. He atacked the cub, the cub could only cry in fear and say "but I hunted the lizzard dad!!" he tried not to listen, the cub was so afraid, and he didn't know why his dad was atacking him. Even when he was crying on the inside and hating the fact that it was his duty as king. He killed him. The older cub saw him and then ran away, far, away from that scene, he was so scared and he understood that he was wasting his time being so arrogant and selfish, and he ran away from the Pride Lands, and never returned. After a few minutes after the yonger cub died, his father cried for hours... like he never cried before. He spoke with the stars. FATHER: I LOVE YOU MY SON... i'M SORRY... I'M SO SORRY... FATHER: WHY??? WHY IT MUST BE LIKE THIS?? IT'S NOT FAIR!! .... IT'S NOT... FAIR... !!!! He cried for hours that night... he took the dead lizzard and went back to Pride Rock. The cub was really hurted after the hyena atack, and we wouldn't survive more than 16 moons, it was not a hutning season, and the pride was starving, it was a big pride, 20 lionesses, the twins and his father. And they had to walk for days to hunt small creatures, the Great Kings taught us that to survive we must be hunters, and avoid dangerous creatures, life may be cruel, but the stars can't lie, it's the wheel of fortune, the pride would have to make a lot of sacrifices if they had to take care of the cub, he never learned to hunt, and he alwas lost all the pouncing lessons with his brother and sisters. The father was old... and was sick. That season... the entire pride died starved. Only two pregnant lionesses survived... and one of them had a male cub who became King a few hunting seasons later. ----------< THE STORY OF THE TWINS >------------- End. FUANDI: My cubs... this is the circle of life, don't be afraid, and listen to me, I'm old, and I know that my sunset is near, but please, I must give you more than I receive, but all I can do is telling you what the great kings taught me. Your brother died with honor, and he is with the great kings now, HE IS one of the great kings now! and his star will be one of the biggest star on the sky and he will guide your path. He is alive in your hearts, as long as you never forget that he gave his life to save the pride. Now... go with your dad... and be proud of him... he was so brave.. I would never do what he did... I'm weak.. and coward, that's why I'm a vagabond. Your dad must be worried about you... and... Kinda... your dad is getting old... now it's your turn to take your place in the circle of life, you'll become king, and your dad will be so proud of you because you are the cub that survived and became the guardian of these lands. And... my lionesses... you are the future mothers of a whole new pride, a new hope. Go back home... and come visit me if you feel sad. - The Cubs walked back home, still sad. When the cubs were far enough to hear Fuandi's words... A tear came out by the first time from Fuandi's eyes in a long time ago. Fuandi said almost whispering: And... that's how my father killed my brother... A long time ago... on another lands, on another time, a new hope, a new pride, (He turns to see the stars)... The circle of life. Oh mta ka mama wam [Oh, my mother's child] Oh mfo wethu [Oh, my dear brother] Ndi ya ku khumbula mna [I miss you] La la, La la Oh mta ka mama wam [Oh, my mother's child] Oh mfo wethu [Oh, my dear brother] Ndi ya ku khalela mna [I cry for you] Motswalle waka [My dear friend] Ngwana mme [My mother's child] Ndiyani khumbula [I miss you] La la kahle [Farewell] We sangoma ngi velelwe [Oh, spiritual healer, I'm troubled] We baba ngivelelwe [Oh, my father, I'm in pain] We baba ngivelelwe [Oh, my father, I'm in pain] Oh mta ka mama wam [Oh, my mother's child] Oh mfo wethu [Oh, my dear brother] Ndi ya ku khalela mna [I cry for you] Motswalle waka [My dear friend] Ngwana mme [My mother's child] Ndiyani khumbula [I miss you] La la kahle [Farewell] ----------------------------------------- Thank you Sha. Pride Keeper "Talk with the stars, they may not answer, but they'll always listen" sha@nimh.com ICQ:19665839