Hunter with
the Hunted:
What Happened
to Quwin’go
This story
takes place during The Lion King IIX: The Spirit of Uhäki. It’s supposed to be
what happened to Quwin’go when he was actually living with the zebras. It’s
quite long, but I thought there wasn’t enough information in my eighth lion
king. This also tells a little more about the part in the story where it says, "Then the zebra in his vision spoke gently. ‘Little one, use
your future powers to help others." it said. "And one day, it all
will come back to you.’" for those
of you who didn’t quite get that. This whole story is pretty much like the one
it was born from (TLK 8: TSOU), just more detailed and taking place in the glen
with the zebras, and less of what’s happening outside.
Note: The characters
Quwin’go, Zariy, Uhäki, Thuraia, Kwennoir, Irawh, Icawh, Medi, Kutu (both),
Baytamba, Mpenzi, Lateefah, Jiri, Wengel, Desta and Ashur have been created by
me and are not allowed to be used without my permission, so please email me
first if you would like to use any of them. And I apologize if any are the same
in other fan-ficts and I didn’t know, so I won’t change anything unless you
email me. You can also email me if you would like to say anything about the
stories. The characters, Simba, Mufasa, Scar, Kiara and Kovu have been created
by Disney.
Warning: You won’t get this if you haven’t
read my other story, The Lion King IIX: The Spirit of Uhäki. You should also
read my other stories first, The Lion King III: A Clash of Kingdoms, The Lion
King IV: The Lost Trio (all three parts), The Lion King V: Attempts of the
White Lioness, The Lion King VI: Pride Rock’s Heir, The Lion King VII: Kusa and
Cheasala, The Lion King IIX: The Spirit of Uhäki and The Lion King IIX: The
Falling Stars (all three parts) but you don’t have to. Also, you obviously
won’t get any of this if you haven’t seen The Lion King or The Lion King II:
Simba’s Pride, both created by Disney.
What it’s Based On…
This story
wasn’t really based on anything, I just made it up. It is, though, as I’ve
said, based during The Lion King IIX: The Spirit of Uhäki.
Chapters/Scenes
1. Zebras
(Glen)
2. Predator
and Prey (Glen to Jungle to Glen)
3. Meetings
of the Foals (Glen to Flaming Pits)
4. Irawh
(Flaming Pits)
5. Hormones
(Flaming Pits to Glen)
6. Hunter
Hunted (Glen to Jungle to Flaming Pits to Glen)
7. Savior
(Glen)
Characters
Original Characters from Disney
Simba (Once
King of Pride Rock, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, father of Kiara, mate of Nala)
Mufasa
(Once King of Pride Rock, mate of Sarabi, father of Simba)
Scar (Once
King -evil- of Pride Rock)
Kiara (Once
Queen of Pride Rock, mate of Kovu, daughter of Simba and Nala, mother of Mangel
and Shyla)
Kovu (Once
King of Pride Rock, mate of Kiara, son of Zira, father of Mangel and Shyla)
My Characters
Quwin’go
(Son -oldest- of Kusa and Cheasala, brother of Zariy, prince of Pride Rock)
Zariy
(Zar-eye) (Son -youngest- of Kusa and Cheasala, brother of Quwin’go, prince of
Pride Rock)
Kwennoir
(Leader of zebra herd)
Irawh
(Zebra in Kwennoir’s herd)
Medi (Zebra
in Kwennoir’s herd)
Kutu (Zebra
in Kwennoir’s herd, son of Medi)
Thuraia
(Lone lioness)
Uhäki
(Zebra, great spirit)
Baytamba
(Once King of Pride Rock)
My New Characters
Lateefah
(Zebra in Kwennoir’s herd, mother of Mpenzi)
Mpenzi
(Zebra in Kwennoir’s herd, son of Lateefah)
Desta
(Zebra in Kwennoir’s herd)
Wengel
(Zebra in Kwennoir’s herd, older brother of Jiri)
Jiri (Zebra
in Kwennoir’s herd, younger sister of Wengel)
Ashur
(Zebra shaman in Kwennoir’s herd)
Icawh
(Zebra in Kwennoir’s herd, father of Irawh)
One
~Zebras~
(Glen)
~~~
This takes place right after cub Quwin’go is running from the flood in the
gorge. ~~~
The sun was
shining greatly, and came over in a warm blanket upon a small lion cub;
Quwin’go. Quwin’go awoke with a little cough. He got up and looked around to
find that he was now over the gorge in the east, looking down at it. When he
turned around to saw that he was on the edge of a great valley that was
encircled with giant rocks of red, pale brown and gray. The grass was small and
green and there was a river that flowed through this glen. It must’ve been the
thing that had started the flood in the gorge when it got too filled and
probably flooded the glen, too, which was wet and soaked and many trees near
the rock walls had fallen. The whole encircled glen itself was upon a great
ledge just over the gorge on one of its own highest walls. Where Quwin’go was
standing right now was on a ledge of the circling bowl of rocks in an opening
where the river came through as a small waterfall.
He carefully stumbled away from the falling
river and slid down the circling rocks, then came down in the glen itself. It
went a long way, for he could just barely make out the other part of the bowl
of rocks on the edge of the glen, way in the distance, a hundred miles it
seemed. One thing for sure, was that if he were to walk all the way there, it’d
take at least one whole sun and one whole moon.
At first, Quwin’go got a drink from the
river, then started out, heading to the east. Suddenly, a rumbling came. He
looked to the south where a great herd of zebras was running toward him.
"Ahh!"
he screamed and started to run away. But then, a zebra, which seemed like the
leader of the herd, did a very unusual thing. He lifted the cub up by his
scruff and started to carry him with the herd.
The herd
stopped atop a grassy hill and the leader dropped him.
"That’s it!" cried a zebra.
"That’s the chosen one!"
"Yes!"
said another zebra. "It has to be!"
"I’m a
he, not an it, thank you very much," corrected Quwin’go as he got up,
shaken a bit.
The zebras gasped at this as they all
surrounded him.
"Is it?" asked another zebra to the
leader.
"I
told you, I’m a he!" the lion growled.
"He
might be the chosen one," replied the leader. "He might be. I mean, he is, after all, the
first lion here. And just a cub. Very unusual. Yes. This must be it!"
"HIM!"
He got up and huffed, then asked, "What are you guys talkin’ about,
anyway?"
"Little
one," said the leader as he leaned down to look Quwin’go straight in the
eyes. "You must be brave and face our lord, Uhäki."
"Huh?
Who? And how do I do that? Why would I wanna?"
"Just
close your eyes and relax. Feel one with the wind."
"Now
you’re startin’ to talk like that old lioness shaman!"
"Just
try it."
Grumbling,
Quwin’go closed his eyes and tried to relax, trying to feel the wind. Suddenly,
he heard the zebras chanting something in a different language, but he didn’t
open his eyes. Mostly because of fright, for those strange, unfamiliar words
gave him shivers that snaked down his spine slowly. Finally, something started
to swirl up in his vision. At first, it was all black. And then, his eyes still
closed, he saw a beautiful mixture of colors. They swirled around a bit as
Quwin’go shivered, not only from the chants, but from the wind itself.
Suddenly, the colors turned black and white, and they took the form of a zebra
in the distance. It was running toward the cub, who gasped, and tried to open
his eyes, but he couldn’t. Something, like his own soul he felt, was keeping them
shut.
"What’s happening?!" he finally
cried out.
Then the
zebra in his vision spoke gently. "Little one, use your future powers to
help others." it said. "And one day, it all will come back to
you."
Suddenly
Quwin’go opened his eyes and fell over. He got up and shook, then thought and
said, "I saw a zebra! It told me something…to help others? Something
stupid like that."
The other
zebras gasped. "How dare you call our lord stupid!"
"I
wasn’t calling him stupid," said the cub, defensively. "I was just calling
what he said stupid!"
Another
zebra screeched, "Stop saying that!"
The leader
sighed and shook his mane. Then nudged the cub with his nose. "The only
way you will get out of here, is if you complete what he said. And the only way
we can get out of here, is if you complete it."
"What?
You mean I have to help others t’ get out of here! Pft, yeah right. I’m not
staying! I’m getting out of here now!" Quwin’go growled, tough like.
"OK."
said the leader. "But…how?"
"Well
that’s easy! I just go the way I came in!" He turned and gasped to see
that the whole glen was closed up by the circling rock walls. Even the place
where the river had fallen down in a waterfall was closed. "Hey! Where’d
that opening go?"
"Lord
Uhäki had put the beginning of our family here the day he died for King
Baytamba. He said we had to learn our lessons in life and pass them on to
others. Why he picked us, I do not know. But, he said, one day, our family will
be free again, by the chosen one. The chosen one was of King Baytamba’s
family." exclaimed the leader.
"Wait,
why would he do this?"
"After
King Baytamba and Lord Uhäki both died, zebras and lions looked to each other
as enemies, more than just parts in the great Circle of Life. Yet I know they
only eat our kind because they have to, and we only eat their grass because we
need to."
"Well…it’s
not my problem we can’t get along! I don’t even know why you’d want to
if we’re just gonna eat you anyway!"
Once again,
the zebras gasped. But the leader just shook his head and sighed gravely.
"Fine. But it’s your problem that you’re stuck in here. Now, the only way
to get out is to complete what the great spirit tells you."
"What? You mean I’m stuck in here with
zebras?! Ah! I have a family! And I don’t want to be known as the lion who
lived with zebras!" …
~~~
The little
cub had alas, quieted down. He laid by the river, batting his paws at the
flowing water. It caused him to shiver, but Quwin’go didn’t mind as he saw the
reflection suddenly appear above him of a zebra. It as the leader of the
zebras.
"My
name is Kwennoir." he said solemnly. "I’m sorry we got off to a bad
start. So let us start it over, for Uhäki would want that."
It had only
been an hour after Quwin’go had stumbled into this valley.
Quwin’go sat up and blinked at Kwennoir.
"I’m Quwin’go. Don’t ever call me Quwin. It’s what my brother does. I hate
it."
Kwennoir
chuckled. "Oh, you have a brother?"
The cub
nodded. "His name is Zariy."
"Well,
Quwin’go, would you like to attend a meeting tonight at the flame bowl?"
"What’s
the flame bowl?"
"It’s
an ancient pit in the ground, but it’s always covered in flames."
Tilting his
head, Quwin’go asked, "Why?"
"Some
say it’s because Uhäki himself put them there. But we’re not really sure."
"Hmmm…well
why would I wanna go to a meeting?"
"It’s
something very special. We adult zebras, and the higher ones in ranking, such
as me, the leader and others, like the ones we call Watchers, come and do this
once every full moon. We talk about the heard, and the coming of
Og’niwuq."
"Who’s
Og’niwuq?"
"Well,
for many years, in fact, all the time our family has stayed here, all the
generations of this heard have been talking about and telling about Og’niwuq,
who would be our savior. The chosen one."
Quwin’go
lifted a brow. "But I’m the chosen one at Pride Rock. I can’t be here.
Besides, you said so yourself, that the chosen one was named Og’niwuq."
"Did
I?"
"YES!"
"No."
the zebra stated very calmly. "That’s just what we called him. But alas, here you
are. Our savior. The chosen one. Og’niwuq."
"Quwin’go."
meowed the cub, crouching low now.
"Anyway, the meetings are very special.
Twelve times a year. Pretty rare. The thing is, like I said, only zebras in
high rankings are allowed to go. And in that, adults. That’s why you’d be
pretty looked up to from the foals." He chuckled.
"Aren’t
I already because I’m ‘Og’niwuq’?" Quwin’go spat, sarcastically. But that
just made Kwennior’s smile grow. "Besides, I don’t care if I’m impression
zebras, and babies at that. They’re—you’re all just prey. I should be with
lions. I don’t care about going to a stupid meeting with my dinner surrounding
me."
~~~
At night,
Kwennoir found Quwin’go still at the river. The cub hadn’t talked to anyone all
that day. He was too mad and sad to get up and talk, even when others came over
to try and arouse a conversation. He always just ignored them. Quwin’go,
though, wouldn’t ever dream of the feelings he would experience later in life.
"Quwin’go,"
said Kwennoir. "It’s time."
Quwin’go
hadn’t said yes to going to the meeting, in fact, he didn’t want to. But, there
was something in Kwennoir’s stern voice that caused the cub to get up and
follow the zebra, though he was glaring at the ground, ears folded back and
tail low. He huffed at the foals he passed.
Finally,
they came to a place away from most of the zebras. It was night, and so it was
dark about, but the environment changed rapidly, growing warmer and lighter as
Quwin’go and Kwennoir reached the bowl of flames. It was just a bowl of dirt,
really, that surrounded many dancing crimson flames that licked the crisp air
of the night. Each zebra—there were only about ten—was lying down, staring at
the stars. Kwennoir laid by his herd, and the cub joined in. For awhile, they
talked about things like the stars, and how they were the great spirits of the
past. Quwin’go never mentioned the stories his mother and father used to tell
him and Zariy, for he felt too pained, and so never talked during the first
part of the meeting. But the council went on, and he even started to listen
more as he heard what Watchers were; five of the zebras who looked out for the
herd, mostly watching for either enemies that might find their way into the
glen, or, watching for Og’niwuq. Finally, the meeting was over.
Two
~Predator
and Prey~
(Glen
Jungle to Glen)
"Mama! Mama!" someone cried, now waking up Quwin’go.
It was the
next day, and the cub was just getting up, by the river again. At first, his
sight was blurry, until he shook. And then, he gasped, just noticing the little
colt who was staring at him.
"Mama!" the colt called again.
"Stop
crying out ‘Mama!’!" Quwin’go said, but when he said ‘Mama’ he had done it
in a mocking kind of way.
"Sorry,"
and the colt giggled.
"Why,
hello there." the colt’s mother replied warmly, walking slowly over to the
cub, who looked back up at her. "I am Lateefah. This is my colt,
Mpenzi."
"Yeah?
Well tell him t’ get a life!" Quwin’go remarked, standing up, glaring at
both the zebras.
"Hey!"
Mpenzi neighed out, but his mother only snorted and trotted away. With one last
glance, her son followed.
As the
little lion sat down, glaring at the ground, tail curling around himself, two
zebras from afar were staring at him.
"I
don’t know what you see in him," exclaimed one.
"He is
the one. I know it. I can feel it." That one was Kwennoir.
His
companion sighed, but nodded. "If this is what you really think, then OK,
my leader."
~~~
At a water
hole in the glen, many foals were frolicking about, splashing and having fun.
Because the glen, though huge, was much smaller than the savanna, and the
zebras, especially the young, had always found ways to have fun, including in
the water.
It had been
about a week after Quwin’go had stumbled upon this place. Within that time, he
had survived off of bugs, though he much rather have had the great taste of
meat once more. Sometimes he’d even lay down in the long grass and stare at the
herd, tail twitching and eyes wide, ready for anything…ready for the move. But
of course, being only one lion, and a cub at that, he never did anything. He
instead, spent his time practicing his hunts on the grub itself.
"Hey,
wanna play?" cried a little zebra happily. It was Mpenzi.
"Play with you? Why’d I want t’ play
with zebras?" he asked, sitting up by the edge of the water hole.
Mpenzi walked over as the other foals kept
splashing and crying out in joy. "Well…because," the striped creature
finally replied after a few moments. "You have no one else to play
with."
"I don’t need anyone else." declared
Quwin’go strongly, acting the way Kovu had when he had been telling Kiara about
how he didn’t need anybody. "I can take care of myself and I do. But when
it comes to playing, I say, ‘Pft. Who needs to play? Just cubs,’ and in your
case, foals." He never mentioned all the playing he had done with his
brother.
"Well,
that’s not very fun."
"Or is it?" Quwin’go snorted. "I prefer hunting. It’s my thing."
With that,
Quwin’go started off toward the forest on the southwestern most part of the
valley. It was like a miniature jungle.
"Ooooh, we’re not supposed to go
there." Mpenzi said wearily, following the lion.
"Pft,
who cares?" Quwin’go replied over his shoulder. "Besides, you might
not be able to, but I am.
I don’t follow your herd’s rules. Why would I obey prey?"
And he
disappeared into the trees. Glancing around cautiously, Mpenzi dipped into the
small jungle as well.
"C’mon," he said, stumbling over
roots and fallen logs, pushing through bushes. "I’ll let you practice your
hunting on me if we go back."
But
Quwin’go was enjoying himself.
"Shh," he said quietly, crouching
down, and Mpenzi did the same with a gasp. There was a rustling in the bushes
nearby, and a deep growl. As horrified as the colt was, the cub was very
anxious. Suddenly, a great flutter of bats came from a hidden cave. "Just
flying rats!" Quwin’go spat, watching them, though he couldn’t help a grin
grow on his face.
"We scared ‘em…they’re usually awake at
night, Mama says,"
"So
what, ‘Nzi?" Quwin’go replied, now walking along again.
"I—Whoa—!"
"Quwin’go!"
cried Mpenzi, horrified.
At first,
Quwin’go was too shocked to do anything as he was pounced by a tiger. But,
within moments, he got up, and watched the striped cat circle him, growling. He
breathed shallowly, before taking off in the bushes. But the tiger, instead of
going for the cub, looked back at Mpenzi and smirked. It started toward the
colt, shoulder blades moving under its great fur. The colt backed up slowly,
jaw dropped, giving frightened noises occasionally.
Quwin’go sat near, in a bush, watching with
some amusement, his eyes bright. He would be like a young, light Scar watching
with awe as Mufasa struggled in the stampede to rescue Simba. But still, as the
cub was young, and inexperienced, this expression was ment only for prey, and
so it wasn’t dark.
"Go
help him," something or someone whispered in the wind, that strangely blew
in the jungle, into Quwin’go’s face. He watched as Mpenzi gave a cry and turned
around to stumble/run through the forest, the tiger taking off right behind
him. Right then, as something had whispered to him, Quwin’go felt presence and,
as he shivered, he took off, too, running after his friend.
"Hey!"
he finally cried out as he ran, trying to catch his breath, though the tiger
and zebra weren’t in his sight anymore much of the time, as mostly bushes
separated them from his limited view. "Leave…my…friend…alone!" he
said, breathlessly. "Why don’t…you pick on someone…your own size!"
With that,
the tiger stopped, causing Quwin’go to run into its back legs.
"Liiike
you?" the tiger replied, turning around with a smirk, looking darkly down
at the cub who gasped and started to back up.
"Er…wasn’t really thinking that, ‘cause
ya know I’m a lot smaller and…" he kept saying cheekily, now lying on his
back as the tiger glared down at him.
The tiger
raised his right front paw, claws extended, and, as he roared out, he slashed
it down, only to have it break into a bush, Quwin’go scrambling away. He had
luckily dodged, just in time. For a few moments, it was a chase. Carnivore
after carnivore, and yet for once, Quwin’go experienced being the prey.
"AHHH!"
he screamed, the tiger just on his tail.
And then,
the cub crawled quickly under a root that came over the ground, causing the
tiger, who had also tried to climb under, to get stuck. For a minute or two, as
the tiger scratched the ground ruthlessly, trying to escape, Quwin’go leapt
over a log. That was when the tiger finally, with a tremendous roar that shot
through the jungle, broke the whole root and was about to jump over the log,
too. But, he stopped just as Quwin’go had taken a branch in his paws and pulled
it back and let it go, almost smacking the tiger hard in the face.
"HA!"
the tiger laughed out, though he had done it too soon as a branch from above
the tree fell on his head.
As great cat fell, out cold, Quwin’go took
that chance and ran as fast as he could, back to the glen.
He suddenly—after about five minutes—jumped
out from the jungle’s edge in the southwest. The cub rolled down a small hill
of dirt after springing from the bushes. For a moments, he lay on the ground,
groaning and then, opening his eyes, he heard voices.
"Mama,
we had gone in there and he’s gone now!"
Quwin’go knew immediately that it was Mpenzi.
But he heard other voices, too, and his stomach churned as he knew they were
the herd, including Kwennoir. Putting his two front paws, one at a time, up on
the dirt hill, he peeked to the east to see them a few yards away, standing at
the edge of the forest, all gathered around, talking worriedly.
"I’ll
go in, Lord Kwennoir." a great zebra suddenly declared. He stepped up,
looking proud as he stood tall, black mane and tail waving in the air wildly.
The zebra was huge, and he snorted, about to go in.
"No."
Kwennoir said simply. "We’ll wait a few minutes and if he doesn’t—"
"I’m
right here," meowed Quwin’go after gulping and getting the nerve to walk
slowly over, tail and ears low.
"Quwin’go!"
Mpenzi cried happily.
"What
happened, dear?" Lateefah asked gently.
"Mama,
we ran out into the jungle to play and—" the colt started.
"Why
don’t you let Quwin’go tell us his story, please, Mpenzi, as you have already
told us?" his mother suggested.
A few of
the zebras nodded in agreement as the all surrounded the cub in a circle.
"Er,
um…" Quwin’go started. At first, he was panicking and then, he thought of
something and smirked to himself, exclaimed calmly, "Why, Mpenzi, what are
you talking about?" He turned to the adults as Mpenzi looked puzzled.
"It’s true, we went near the jungle, but not in it. We were playing near the edge
of the trees when Mpenzi fainted. I went to go tell someone and he must’ve
woken up when I was gone, thinking I had gone in."
"But
he said you both went in." stated the big zebra who had offered to go in and
rescue Quwin’go.
For some reason, that zebra made him flinch,
so Quwin’go had to look away before shrugging and replying, "Probably
dreaming."
Lateefah
snorted and looked at Mpenzi. "Is this true?"
"Er…"
Mpenzi looked at Quwin’go, who was now sitting on a rock and grooming one of
his front paws casually, then winked at the colt. Mpenzi, looked at his mother,
"I…don’t remember, Mama. I guess that’s it. I dreamt it. I’m sorry…"
"No
need to be sorry little one," the big zebra exclaimed.
"Icawh
is right." Kwennoir added.
"After
all," Icawh continued. "The cub is our way out. And if something
happens to him, then we’re doomed to stay here."
Kwennoir
said, "And because he is part of our herd, and we must look out for each
other."
Quwin’go
blinked, feeling touched…somewhat. And now, there was a great wave of guilt and
shame washing over him. He glanced at the ground, feeling many eyes burn into
him. Most of it didn’t hurt much, though the staring of Icawh sank into him,
making him tremble in fear, and Kwennoir made him feel even more uneasy and
guilty. Especially since he felt pity from many, but it pained him most as he
felt Kwennoir knew his lie. Indeed the leader was looking at the scratches all
over the cub’s body, and a few twigs and leaves on him, which Quwin’go quickly
shook off. Plus, the little lion looked quite shaken, same with the colt.
"Oh,
Mpenzi!" Lateefah grunted, out of the blue. "I told you not to stay
up so late!"
"Don’t
worry, Lateefah," Quwin’go suddenly said, jumping from the rock and
starting to the west of the glen, near the water hole the other foals had been
playing at before. "I’ll take ‘im t’ rest."
Lateefah
sighed and nodded, watching Mpenzi follow the cub.
"All
right, so what was that all about?" Mpenzi whispered down to Quwin’go.
Quwin’go
didn’t answer until they were out of earshot from the others. "I’d like to
keep that under wraps if ya know what I mean, Mpenzi," he replied.
"Why’d
you lie?!"
"Because…I…please,
Mpenzi. This is all so sudden for me. I’ve been here but like eight suns, and
suddenly I’m attacked by a tiger and spoken to by a spirit?"
"Huh?"
Mpenzi’s ears twitched and his little tail swayed in excitement. "What?
Did you see Uhäki?!"
"No…er,
I don’t know. I mean, I heard someone. It was in the wind, which is weird since
the trees pretty much block most of the breeze. It told me to go help
you."
"And
you did!" cried the little zebra. "If you hadn’t yelled at it, I
would’ve been dead!"
Quwin’go
gasped and stopped suddenly.
"What?" Mpenzi asked, tilting his
head.
"Nothing,"
Quwin’go replied, now walking again and shaking his head, though he was
smirking.
At first, Quwin’go had thought that all the
zebras were his prey, and not ment for him to talk to. That they weren’t even
worthy of him, because he was a carnivore. But then, a new mask covered this
place, and all the zebras in it. Quwin’go decided that, because he was stuck
here anyway, he should find a way of enjoying it, and living it up. So, instead
of thinking about these zebras and how weak they were, as he had pitied them
before, and just minutes before they had pitied him, and he just saved a colt, Quwin’go decided that he should look at them
in a different pitying way…that they were the ones to be protected, like cubs with their mother. And
when he was old enough, he’d be able to protect them fully. In the meantime,
he’d learn the skills in life.
Three
~Meetings
of the Foals~
(Glen to
Flaming Pits)
"But why?!" Quwin’go meowed out, growling and his claws started
to extend. His fur was bristling and he was glaring up at the leader of the
herd.
It was just
a month later and, as he was a young lion cub, he grew fast. Quwin’go was still
a fur ball, but he was about twice the size he had been the last full moon.
Now he, as he was glaring up at Kwennoir, he
couldn’t help the hunting feelings inside him. If I were big enough, he thought
to himself, I’d rip his throat out! But just a split second after that thought, he couldn’t help the
regret that flowed over him. Sighing, he sat down, ears and tail low.
Quwin’go
had been begging Kwennoir to let him bring Mpenzi, the only foal, the only
zebra besides the leader himself, that was his friend, to come with him to the
meeting. But Kwennoir had refused. And, after many more times of asking, the
leader just snorted and began ignoring him. Finally, the zebra couldn’t help it
and stomped the ground angrily, crying down at the cub.
"Little one, we have gone through this!
Only adults, and the strongest of them at that, are allowed in the
meetings!" he exclaimed. "They are not ment for the ears of a young
foal!"
"Then
why am I at the meetings?!"
For a
minute, Kwennoir stared down at Quwin’go, now more calmly. His nostrils were
flared and he blinked, when finally sighing. "Young one," he said
gently. "I have misinterpreted things. Perhaps you yourself are too young
for these. Yes, now I am seeing things clearly. When you are older, I might let
you come and join us again. But alas, as these ancient meetings are not ment
for the foals, they are not ment for the lion foals either."
With that,
he tossed his mane and galloped off.
Quwin’go’s
blood was now boiling in rage as he stared at the zebra running off into the
distance. Kwennoir was obviously heading to the council, but leaving Quwin’go
this time. This meeting would’ve been Quwin’go’s second. Yet, Kwennoir was now
sure he was right on this one.
The little
lion huffed, then turned and trotted over to Mpenzi and the other foals, who
were scraping up what fun they could out of the rest of the day, for it was
evening and the sun was setting. They were running around and crying out in
playful matters.
"Mpenzi!"
Quwin’go called, and his friend trotted over to him.
"Yes,
Quwin?"
"Don’t
call me that," Quwin’go muttered and then said, "Get the other foals
over here."
"What?
Why?"
"Don’t
ask questions! Just do it!"
Mpenzi
snorted, about to turn when Quwin’go added, "Please?"
The zebra
nodded and gathered the other foals. Right then, they followed the cub over a
few grassy hills. As night was coming, they kept going until they all gasped,
reaching a brightened place. It was near the easternmost part of the giant
glen. All around were natural pits in the ground, filled with natural flames.
"This will be it!" Quwin’go cried.
He was not
scared, nor surprised as he had seen fire before at the first meeting, and he
had found these as well after that, not telling anyone. Now all the foals knew.
They kept following him, though most were weary and slow, glancing around
fearfully and staying close together. All together, there were twenty flaming
pits.
Quwin’go
jumped on a log, that had surprisingly survived all of this without being
burnt.
"What
will be what?" Mpenzi then asked as the foals surrounded him.
"For
many years and generations, your herd has blocked the meetings and councils of
the herd itself!"
"Huh?"
the ten foals asked at the same time.
"Now,
we will make our own meetings!"
"But
what are in the meetings, Quwin’go?" a foal called Desta questioned.
Many of the
foals had looked up to Quwin’go, for he was the only young one that actually
had gotten to participate in the meetings.
"I
wasn’t really listening before…Mostly about the stars, and Uhäki and how I’m
going to rescue you and get you all out of here." he replied, but when
they all cheered, he said, "Shhh! Listen, I don’t think I am the one."
"But,
Quwin’go," Desta exclaimed. "You have to be. After all, Uhäki said
Og’niwuq would be in the blood line of King Baytamba. And you are! Or most
likely." she added.
"Well
anyway…I must tell you about that day in the jungle." Quwin’go then said.
They all
gasped.
"But,"
a foal named Wengel said. "You said Mpenzi had fainted."
"I
lied. I didn’t want to cause attraction."
"Well
you just did." grumbled Mpenzi sourly.
"Well,
from the adults I mean…Anyway, I think from now on we should have our own
meetings here."
"But
about what?" a tiny foal asked.
"About
life. About spirits. About the stars. About how I am your savior…in a way. Not
Og’niwuq I don’t think, though."
"Then
in what way?" said Wengel.
"In
the way a parent protects its young."
"But
you’re only a foal, too!"
"Cub…"
the lion corrected. "And anyway, I am strong predator, and you are
helpless prey. Whenever something happens, a lion out in the savanna runs after
you, you all just run, and leave your young, your old, or you sick to be
captured and die. Normally I wouldn’t care. Normally I’d be the lion." They gasped, but
he continued. "But because I’m stuck here, I should make use out of my
time. Having this meeting for one. In fact, we shall have meetings every full
moon, just like the adults. We will show them who’s boss."
They all
neighed in agreement, bobbing their heads.
The meeting
lasted a bit longer as Quwin’go told them about what his parents had told him
about the stars being the great Kings and Queens of the past in his family, of
course, no one had really told him much about them past generations, as lioness
shaman had been planning to before he had disappeared. They all stood
interested and listening quietly to the stories he mostly made up. After, there
was time for questions before they made their way back to the herd.
Most the foals’ parents scolded them upon
their arrival home, but none of those small zebras really cared. They even
found ways of getting out of staying for the full moon nights so that they
could make the meetings again. And the councils were such a big hit with the
foals, that the only thing disappointed them—mostly Quwin’go himself—was that
the meetings weren’t even half as long as the adults’.
But for many months, each full moon, they
would have their own meeting. They were all very entertaining, but most of the
time, the councils turned from knowledge of the stars, to stories of the past.
Each was a great social gathering, and soon, Quwin’go had softened up about the
very small amount of adults who attended the other meetings.
Four
~Irawh~
(Flaming Pits)
One night, Quwin’go had been done telling them the story of Simba,
(as he had hear some of the story of Simba) when a colt stepped up and snorted,
tossing his mane a bit and stomping the ground disapprovingly. Quwin’go sat up
on his log, staring at the foal, ears twitching.
"What
is this all about?" Quwin’go meow/roared out. He was near early
adolescence now, and surprisingly, this was the first time out of the only ten
foals he had actually seen this foal.
"That
story is stupid," said the zebra, and everyone gasped as Quwin’go glared
and started to growl, fur bristling.
He leapt from this log, stalking over to the
foal, his shoulder blades moving gracefully under his skin. Quwin’go acted as
he had seen his parents and other adults when they were hunting, plus his own
hunting instincts took over.
"And
so are all the other stories you tell, you fuzz ball!" neighed the colt,
stomping anxiously, almost leaping around. "And stop acting like that, you
idiot. You have no reason to. After all, you’re just a cub and you will never
be able to hunt, even when you are older, for, even though you may not know it, the prey is much
more stronger than the predator."
"Then
why does a zebra herd run, leaving parts of it to die and be eaten by the
predator? Why does it flee in fright?" That is what Quwin’go would’ve said
if had not made friends with Mpenzi and most of the other foals. But, he
decided not to point it out, as it would hurt his friends personally, and the
whole herd at that. Instead, he walked strongly over to the zebra, and though
the colt towered over him, Quwin’go still looked very strong, and the others
admired him for his bravery. "What is your name?" the cub asked
simply.
"Huh?"
the colt asked.
"Are
you deaf, or just stupid? I said, WHAT-IS-YOUR-NAME?"
With that,
the colt reared up and screeched. "That’s it!" he cried. "I’ve
never liked any of your dumb meetings, for they were and are full of lies! I
only came because Wengel, the one who I thought was my friend, dragged me here! But I’m going now and, just in
the next full moon, Father says I will be old enough to attend the normal
meetings for adults. Who are truly strong. Like my dad himself."
"Go
then!" Quwin’go hissed, and he glanced at Wengel, who seemed somewhat
hurt.
"Not
without doing what I have been planning on doing!"
And with
that, the colt reared again, and kicked his front hooves in the air. Everyone
gasped, but Quwin’go stepped up to this challenge and gave a meow/roar.
"Doing what? Neighing?!" Quwin’go
cried out sarcastically, smirking.
But then,
the foal came down on Quwin’go, forcing his weight onto the little cub. There
were a few cracks as he felt his bones snap, and then, before the other foals
could do anything, the young zebra ran off, back to the herd.
"Quwin’go!" they all cried.
Yet
Quwin’go was in too much agony and pain to even here them. He quickly fainted.
Four
~The Colt’s
Punishment~
(Glen)
"Who was that?" Quwin’go choked the next morning.
He was brought back to the herd after the
attack.
"Irawh
is his name. He’s always been somewhat messed up, sorry to say," Lateefah
replied, nudging the cub with her nose. She was now acting very motherly toward
him. "But his father is Icawh, who is also messed up slightly."
"Huh?"
Quwin’go tilted his head. "Icawh…he was that zebra who offered to rescue
me."
Lateefah
sighed and nodded. "Yes…probably to show others how strong he is. He has
always wanted to take Kwennoir’s place in the herd and be the leader. Now he is
teaching his dark ways to Irawh, his son. I mean, I know it is natural for
males to be like this, but still, there is something with Icawh. He has never
been right in the head."
A zebra
walked hurriedly over to Lateefah and Quwin’go, two foals behind her. One of
them was Mpenzi, the other was Desta.
"Oh,
Ashur," Lateefah said, pleased, looking at the other zebra. "You
brought the medicine."
"Yes.
Thanks to Desta and your colt. They were hard to find, you see," Ashur
replied.
Ashur was
the wise shaman of the herd. She was an old zebra, and had had many foals in
her time. Now she mended the hurt, which was extremely rare for zebras…or even
lions at that.
Leaning
over, Ashur wiped a green and damp substance on Quwin’go’s back. He flinched,
but tried not to show it. Ashur straightened up and smiled. "He’ll be all
right. A couple bones were fractured in the back, but none actually broken.
This should seep into his fur and skin and held him, making its way to the
bones themselves. We’ll have to give it to him every sun, though."
She looked at Desta, her daughter, and
probably her last foal she’d bore, and Mpenzi.
"Would you two help me in the next sun
rises to find more of this plant?"
They nodded
eagerly.
The suns went on, and Quwin’go healed slowly.
He wasn’t walking straight at first, but got through it somehow. He even
managed to make it to his meetings.
One
morning, after Ashur gave him his medicine, Desta and Mpenzi were grazing near
the cub when Wengel came trotting over, happily.
"Did
you hear what Kwennoir did to Irawh?" he neighed.
Quwin’go
shook his head as Desta and Mpenzi came over and listened, too.
"Kwennoir
made sure he was punished by taking away his Watcher future."
The two
other foals smirked, but Quwin’go looked puzzled.
"Huh?"
he asked, tilting his head.
"Well,
you know what a Watcher is? You know, those zebras who go out from the herd to
watch out for anyone who might be able to find their way into the glen. Mostly
predators. I’m surprised they hadn’t seen that one tiger that chased you that
one sun awhile back. Anyway, they, the Watchers, always come back for the
meetings, and they’re always honored. In fact, Irawh wants to be one. His
father was making sure he’d get his way there ‘cause," and he said this
mockingly. "Daddy’s gotta help him in his life since he’s just a
baaaaby." They all laughed as he continued. "But Irawh’s future in
being a Watcher is gone. And it is great to be one. You’re always in high
rankings and like I said, always honored and looked up to."
"Well
I’m glad then," Desta exclaimed. "He shouldn’t be one anyway. He
doesn’t deserve it."
"Yeah,
he sucks," Mpenzi replied.
Quwin’go
couldn’t help but notice the look Mpenzi gave Desta. He could see the shimmer
in his eyes, as well as hers. But they both looked away from each other, quickly,
somewhat embarrassed. Quwin’go giggled.
"What?"
they both asked.
He shook
his head with a smirk. "Oh, nothing."
Later, the
young ones found out that Irawh had been sentenced to an even worse punishment
as he had again, attacked Quwin’go, taking his anger out on him…He, Irawh, was
banned from the herd, and sent to the other side of the glen…forever.
Five
~Hormones~
(Flaming
Pits to Glen)
Over the course of the next few full moons, Quwin’go healed, and
the meetings went on without any disturbance from Irawh or his father. And
Quwin’go’s back successfully healed all the way.
And, in the meetings themselves, Quwin’go and
the others had made plans. Four of the foals, two female and two male, became
Watchers in their own little ways. They’d make excuses to their parents about
how they were busy, learning from Quwin’go as he was their savior, and then
they would run out to follow the real Watchers themselves. Of course, they only
stayed out a couple suns before returning, and took turns so they weren’t
missing all at the same time. Also, that way, they would stretch out the span
of watching for any prey or predator that might stumble into the glen. All
together, they watched only for about eight days, but it was still worth it.
Plus, even though the foals would’ve left the ways of being under their
parents’ commands soon anyway, this way it just went sooner for those four, as
they, including their own parents, were getting used to their absence. One even
announced just last meeting that his mother and father let him go whenever he
wanted. He was in his adolescence then.
And the others were nearly there. In fact, Quwin’go himself was in early
adolescence now.
Quwin’go was much bigger than before, and
obviously very healthy as his wounds were gone, and still, he ate but bugs and
fish and even birds if he could catch them. He had grown strong and even though
still very young, was great at hunting, even if he was a male and the only lion. Only once had he hunted
something big, and it was an antelope that had found its way into the glen. He
was very proud of this, even if it did freak the zebra herd out, including his friends. Quwin’go had a
part of a mane, growing along his neck now, falling over the sides. And now,
being emotionally healthy was not as hard, for though he was still homesick at
times, he had grown used to the this place. It was his home after all, and he
knew that.
Back to the
meetings…Wengel and Quwin’go were the story tellers, and Quwin’go was also the
leader of it. Mpenzi was second in command, and then Desta. Those two always
stayed together.
The youngest of the meetings was a foal, who
had been born not too long ago, and so she wasn’t near adolescence, and could
make the meetings rarely as she was kept under close eye of her mother and the
herd itself. She was the younger sibling of Wengel in fact. Her name was Jiri,
and her job was to keep her ears perked, listening for anything in the herd
that she could bring up in the meeting. Anything strange or important to tell
the other foals. Of course, nothing did happen. Nothing interesting that
was…until one sun when they were at the meeting pits.
"What
is it?" Wengel asked his little sister as she came running up, hurriedly.
"Something’s
gonna happen!" she screeched, out of breath. When she caught it, and
everyone was listening, she went on. "Most of the adults fear something.
They feel something in the earth. In the wind. Something’s gonna happen, but I
don’t know what. I don’t think any of them do."
The foals
shuddered, but Quwin’go simply and calmly nodded. Indeed, he himself had felt
something that made his blood tremble and heart beat increase at times. But he
did nothing about it.
~~~
Desta and
Mpenzi were grazing one day. Both their parents had let them live on their own
now, of course still in the herd. But they were never told what to do in the
parent ways, but more so in dominant matters. Though both were younger, and so
grew stronger than most of the old ones, even if they didn’t have experience.
Almost all were in their mid adolescence by
then. And Quwin’go’s mane still had some growing to do, though it was still
much more full than it had been.
He was laying on a grassy hill, watching his
friends from afar. His half mane was swaying in the gentle breeze as he stared
at them. Desta and Mpenzi seemed like soul mates. The two looked at each other,
and slowly closed in, until they were grazing side by side. A few minutes
later, the two nuzzled, and in that instant, Quwin’go knew they would be mates.
He was very happy for them, and when they would tell him about their courtship,
he would smile, nod and act surprised. But really, his heart was leaping out.
He felt so sick as his stomach did a flip and his throat tightened.
Gulping, he got up and staggered to a water
hole. It wasn’t that they were mates, but that he knew he would never have a
mate himself, for he was the only lion in that glen. And in the whole time he
was there, even looking for ways out, he had never discovered his way back
home. He missed his family. His father and mother. His brother. The shaman and
the other lionesses. He missed the wide open savannah and the great grasslands,
and he missed even the majordomo. He missed his Kingdom, and he missed nuzzling
into his mother’s fur. He missed hearing her calm, gentle cooing and purring.
He missed listening to his father’s wise words about how to be King. He missed
wrestling with his brother. This all came at once. It was like a rock hitting
him with much force. For awhile, Quwin’go had not been homesick as he had been
used to this place for suns, but right then, he felt as if he could cry.
Then he straightened up as his friends came
over. There they were, trotting to him, side by side and smiling. He quickly
hid his grief and smiled weakly at them.
"H-hey,"
he stuttered.
"Is
something wrong, Quwin’go?" Desta then asked with concern.
Again, the
lion smiled and shook his head slightly. "No."
"Well,
in that case…we’ve got something to tell you, Quwin." Mpenzi said.
"Shoot."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Quwin’go,
I just called you Quwin. You would at least growl at me. Now there is something wrong, isn’t
there?"
Again, the
lion shook his head.
"Tell
us, please, Quwin’go." Desta pleaded.
"There
is nothing wrong." declared the teen cat. "Now tell me what you came
here to tell me."
Desta was
going to protest, but Mpenzi knew better, and nodded.
"Well," Mpenzi said. "Desta
and I have decided to become mates."
Once more,
Quwin’go smiled. "That’s great!"
For awhile,
he forgot about pain again, until he was alone that night.
~~~
The lion
was pacing around in the grass, growling to himself. It was dark, but he could
see great. It was cold, but he didn’t shiver a bit. Right then, Quwin’go seemed
dangerous to anyone, and the truth was, that he was dangerous. Hormones were racing
through him. He felt like he would explode with all this pressure. It would’ve
been much better if he was at his home with his family. Learning how to hunt,
and practicing. Getting a mate.
Suddenly, he took off to the south, running
as fast as his legs could carry him. But atop a nearby hill, two zebras were
watching him leave.
"Oh,
we’ve got to go after him!" Lateefah cried, taking off, too, but Kwennoir
stopped her before she even go to the base of the hill.
"No."
Kwennoir replied sternly.
"But he’s going out there alone!"
"Lateefah,
you have forgotten this glen is filled with predators only rarely. He himself,
is a lion. And almost an adult. He can obviously take care of himself."
"Oh, I
suppose you’re right." she said wearily.
They
started up the hill again.
"It’s
funny, but Lateefah, you’re mothering him more than you would you’re own
colt."
"No…it’s
just, Quwin’go has had no parents. I mean, he does, but not anymore…well you
know what I mean."
The leader
nodded.
"Well,"
Kwennoir exclaimed. "We must get back. Your own son is celebrating his courtship
to his new mate. You wouldn’t wanna miss that, now would you?"
She shook
her head and they went back.
Quwin’go
kept running, on and on into the dark night. The grass was long and green,
swaying in the cool breeze. He stopped only when he got to a water pool and
laid on the edge, glaring down at his own reflection.
Then, someone came up behind him. He didn’t
look, just twitched his ears.
"Go
away, Jiri." he demanded forcefully.
The little
foal snorted and cried out.
"But, Quwin’go…"
"I
said go away."
"What’s
wrong?"
Suddenly,
the lion leapt up and ran to her, roaring out as he yelled, "What don’t
you get about go away?! Hurry and leave before I do something I can’t help, and
we’ll both regret it!"
The zebra
reared and cried out in fright, running back. But, as Quwin’go turned back to
his reflection, he didn’t regret at his threat, for he knew something bad would
happen if Jiri had stayed. Though he couldn’t help his feelings or rage and
pain and sometimes even lust toward nothing.
~~~
In the
morning, Quwin’go was feeling much better. He was sitting on a hill, watching
the herd pass by. They were running. He sighed. Always running, he thought. Why are they always running? It’s like they’re constantly fleeing
from something. And that’s when his protecting
feelings increased, and he licked his lips. For a moment, he felt ashamed from
last night, for he could’ve killed one of those zebras, and dug into its
carcass without a care. But now, he remembered, that that was what he was
protecting them from.
He sighed and laid down in the grass once
more.
Six
~Hunter
Hunted~
(Glen to
Jungle to Flaming Pits to Glen)
"Do you mind watching my colt and his playmate?" a zebra asked
Quwin’go one day.
He sighed,
and didn’t feel like being a baby-sitter very much, but agreed to it, as that
what he was in the herd; the protector.
Medi, the zebra who had asked, thanked him
and ran off. Her colt was Kutu, and his playmate was Jiri.
"Oh
no!" Jiri cried, about to run off as she saw Quwin’go.
"Wait,
Jiri!" Quwin’go said, running in front of her. "I’m sorry for what
happened yesterday. I didn’t mean to act like that."
Jiri
hesitantly made her way back to Quwin’go and Kutu.
"Why? What happened?" Kutu asked
eagerly.
Quwin’go
shook his head. "Hormones is all, little one."
"Huh?"
they both asked.
Again, he
shook his head, mane tossed a bit. "You’ll understand one day. But because
you eat plants and not meat, it will not be as strong…Anyway, let’s go play.
What do you two want to do?"
"Let’s
go to the water hole!" Kutu exclaimed.
They agreed
and set off there. They met up with Wengel, and Jiri ran to her brother, crying
out happily. He and Desta and Mpenzi were all watching the foals play with joy.
Occasionally they’d join, being still young, but they most reflected on their
foalhood memories.
At last, they set off to the edge of the
jungle, walking beside the trees, but not dare entering it.
"So,
how was your day, love birds?" Quwin’go asked, chuckling.
"Great!"
Desta exclaimed. "We mostly grazed and reflected on our foal days…And, how
was yours…Quwin?"
"Don’t
call me that!" he whined, and snorted.
They
laughed.
"Just
fine, but like I said, I’m watching Jiri and Kutu for Medi…Er, where are
they?"
All of them
gasped, looking around, but the foals were gone.
"Jiri!"
Wengel called out. "Jiri, come back please."
But no one
answered. Finally, Quwin’go groaned. "They must’ve gone into the
forest."
"How
do you know?" asked Mpenzi.
"Because
I had told them about when we went. I told them this morning."
"Oh
great," Desta replied sarcastically, groaning.
Finally,
they started in. Just a few minutes later of stumbling through brush, they
heard laughing.
"Jiri!"
cried Wengel. "You…!"
They
stumbled into a clearing where the little one had been playing. And there were
hoof marks all about the soft soil. After a bit of scolding, the teens started
to take the foal back.
"Where is Kutu?" Mpenzi questioned.
"I
don’t know." Jiri replied. "He went out into the bush. I told him
not, honest I did! But he didn’t come back."
Before
anyone could say anything, there was a roar, and everyone was quiet, listening.
"The
tiger!" Mpenzi yelled, frightened.
"C’mon,
hustle back," Desta ordered.
They
started to run, when suddenly the striped cat jumped from the bushes.
"I’ll
take care of this," Quwin’go whispered to the others. "Just
run."
And they
did.
He swirled
around and stared the tiger in the eyes, his own eyes narrowing. "Not you
again!" he scoffed. "I thought you’d be dead by now!"
With that,
the tiger roared out and pounced to the lion, saying, "The little fur ball
has grown into a fluff ball!"
But
Quwin’go leapt to the side, causing the old tiger to stumble as he landed.
Quwin’go smirked as he turned around and started to lead the tiger. For a few
more minutes, the hunter was hunting another hunter, but Quwin’go was much
faster than before and, before he knew it, they were out of the jungle, and in
the northeast of the glen.
There, he ran about in the flaming pits,
dodging each one. The tiger hesitated, staring, wide eyed at the flames, before
roaring and running after him. This went on forever it seemed. And then,
suddenly, Quwin’go leapt on a log, turned around and made a face at the tiger.
"You
little…!" it started angrily.
The thing
was, that Quwin’go was sitting on a log that was about to fall into a burning
pit. Right then, the tiger roared and pounced. That’s when Quwin’go ducked and
moved forward, causing the tiger to land on target. For a moment, it stood
still, before the log fell into the flames below.
~~~
Quwin’go
came back to the herd. They were all very scared and were huddled around Desta,
Mpenzi, Jiri and Wengel. The lion was slightly limping, but smiling.
"I got
‘im." he declared to everyone.
But
everyone still looked very sad. In fact, some were mourning.
"What
is it?" he asked.
"Quwin…Quwin’go…"
Mpenzi started, but he looked down and fell silent.
Quwin’go
nodded, and looked to others for the answer. Then, Kwennoir stepped over to
him.
"Quwin’go…we
thank you for slaying that tiger. It’s been long passed his welcome. But, alas,
there was one who didn’t make it."
"Huh?"
"Kutu!"
Medi then cried out. "The tiger had gotten him before you came into the
trees!"
~~~
Within the
next week, Quwin’go felt awful. He didn’t talk to anyone, and always moped
around, just as Medi did. But then, as laid on a hill, thinking to himself, he
looked up to see Irawh, who laughed.
"So…now
you know how it is." he said.
"Huh?"
"You’ve
lost someone. And so have I. My dad was the most important in the herd, and he
died just a couple suns ago!"
"I am
very sorry." and Quwin’go turned away.
"Look
at me when I’m talking to you!"
But
Quwin’go didn’t.
"Do
you want what you had before as a cub?!"
"You
should be to the east right now, Irawh. You were banished from the herd, and
since I am part of the herd, for I am their protector, you must leave me
alone."
Irawh gave
a sneer and a fake laugh. "Some protector you are! You couldn’t even look
after a frikin colt!"
Right then,
Quwin’go jumped up with a roar, but Desta and Mpenzi came galloping over. As
they did, Irawh saw that he was out numbered. So, he turned and ran to the
east.
Quwin’go laid back down, his fur flattening
as he glared at the running zebra.
"Ignore
‘im," Mpenzi snorted. "He’s not worth dirt."
Quwin’go
grumbled to himself, ears folded back.
"It’s not your fault, Quwin’go."
Desta said, nudging him with her snout.
He got up
and nodded with a sigh, curling his tail about him.
"Yes I
know," he replied wearily. "But I can’t help think it was."
"Well
it’s not."
And then
Medi came walking over to them. The younger zebras left, and Medi smiled at
Quwin’go. He blinked, for he hadn’t seen her smile since her son had died. And
then, he too, smiled back. The lion hadn’t smiled since Kutu had been killed
either.
"Quwin’go…I
have good news. When my mate and I decide to have another foal, we will name it
Kutu, after our first son. It will be a delight. I know it won’t be him, and of
course we’re not replacing the colt I lost, and he will always be in my
memories. But Ashur has said that Kutu’s spirit spoke to her and told her to
give life again. After Kutu had died, I thought I would never have another cub.
Heck, I thought I’d die. But Kutu wants me to go on, and to give life to new
foals."
"That’s
nice," Quwin’go replied, still smiling, though his voice cracked.
"Also,
Ashur said that Kutu had told her it was not your fault he had died."
With that,
Medi smiled and ran off.
Quwin’go
blinked to himself. And then, he sighed with relief. He looked up.
During
their next meeting, the foals, who were almost completely adults, had a
ceremony for Kutu.
Seven
~Savior~
(Glen)
~~~
Read The Lion King IIX: The Spirit of Uhäki Chapter Eight: Moving of the Land to
to
get this. This takes place while Irawh is hanging on the edge of the hole that
was formed from the earthquake. ~~~
Quwin’go gasped as he saw Irawh, screeching out and rearing up upon
one part of land that hadn’t fallen. Yet it was the only piece of land within
the hole. Quickly, Quwin’go spotted a ledge on the northeastern most part of
the glen’s rock wall.
The lion
was full grown now. His mane was great and dark gold, and quite bushy at that.
All of himself was much bigger than before and now, he was a young adult. It
was less than a year later, but within that time, he, and all the other zebras
had continued to have the nauseating feelings. This earthquake, had probably
been why.
What
should I do? he pondered. For only a split
second, memories of all his life came rushing through his head, most of it
being here with the zebras and, as he thought, Quwin’go knew that, even though
he didn’t much care for Irawh, he still had to save this zebra for he was their
protector.
Then, he suddenly leapt to the cliff, digging
his claws desperately into its rock wall. He looked down to where the zebra
was, and, after a moment of hesitation, he jumped from the ledge to the left
where there was a single tree standing along the outer part of the hole where
there was still land beside the rock wall. The lion had landed on it, and it
was already tipping over, so when he landed, it fell over to make a bridge from
the wall, to the edge of the gap of land. As everything still shook, Quwin’go
jumped to the small piece of land where Irawh still was. Without any words, the
zebra jumped to the tree and made it. He ran over it to the edge of the gap and
Quwin’go leapt back to follow him. And then, when they were both about to get
on solid—though still shaking—land, the tree started to fall slightly. Irawh
reared up and then quickly climbed atop Quwin’go and got out onto land. He
turned around, blinked at the lion, but then ran off, not bothering to
help. Quwin’go, though, managed to get
out.
Now he ran after Irawh, who was trying to
find the herd. But the earthquake went on. Suddenly, Irawh fell into a crack in
the ground. Quwin’go stopped and thought, but he dug his claws into the zebra’s
lower front legs, right above the hooves, and managed to pull him up right
before the land pressed together and literally would’ve squished the zebra.
At last, the earthquake stopped.
"Is everyone all right?" called
Kwennoir.
Everyone nodded shakily in response. Then,
they all gasped.
"He
did it!" cried a Wengel, amazed.
"We
can get out!" another zebra said.
"Quwin’go!"
Kwennoir said to the lion.
"Yeah?"
the lion said, getting up slowly and shakily.
"Quwin’go you did it! You completed Lord
Uhäki’s words! Now we can get out!"
"How?
What did I do?" Quwin’go was astonished.
"Look
behind you!"
Blinking,
Quwin’go turned around and gasped, seeing an opening the northeastern part of
the circle of rocks. Quwin’go felt somewhat confused, but a great wave of
relief washed over him and a smile grew on his face, hearing the words of
explanation from the herd. His herd. It was time to go home.
The End…
OK, well,
this is the end of what happens to him and the zebras in the glen…right? What
about Kutu? Sure, here’s a more detailed part of rescuing the little colt.
~~~
This comes right after Quwin’go convinces Medi to go with the herd so that he
himself, will stay and look for Kutu, the second Kutu of course. He is right by
the water hole now. ~~~
"Who’s
that?" Quwin’go asked, wearily. "C’mon, speak up. Show yourself. I’m
not afraid."
He stood
up, fur bristling as he stared at the bush, his front paws in the water.
Quwin’go didn’t feel like fighting, but, as he watched, tattered ears
twitching, cracked paw pads dampening from the water hole, a little zebra
stumbled out of it. He looked cautiously at Quwin’go.
"Quwin’go!"
he called and collapsed.
"Kutu!"
Quwin’go got up and ran over to the colt. "Just lie here and rest."
Gently,
after trotting to him, the lion took the colt’s neck in his mouth as if he was
carrying a baby lion instead of prey, and started to drag him to the water
hole. There, he let the colt still lay and drink.
"Where’s
Mama and the herd?" Kutu then asked.
"Kutu,
they’re already out in the grasslands. Free."
"You
mean, you opened up a way out of here?!" he squealed in excitement.
Quwin’go nodded. "How?" the zebra
questioned.
"By
saving an enemy; Irawh."
Kutu gasped
and his eyes widened. So, the lion told the zebra what had happened. Then he
told him of his and his mother’s plans. "But right now," Quwin’go
said, finishing up as he yawned with a joined in roar. "We should get some
sleep. In the morning we’ll head out and I’ll introduce you to the grasslands."
The
End…
OK, still
not the end. Well, it is with the glen which is what all this story is supposed
to be about. But here are a couple parts I added for when Quwin’go is out of the glen.
~~~
This is where Quwin’go is bidding his goodbye to the herd. ~~~
"Like
the strong leopard, the swift cheetah, the hungry hyena, and even the fearful
lions themselves. But, around me, be at peace, for I, and no one in my pride
will dare harm you…I will make sure of that. Farewell, friends. Farewell,
family…Farewell." He glanced at Mpenzi, Leetifah, Desta, Wengel and Jiri,
and said a silent goodbye to his dear friends, his heart sinking as their
absence was just in a few moments. They all nodded to him, grave smiles on
their striped faces.
With that,
Quwin’go took off in a run to the south, toward his home. His heart longed for
his family and Kingdom, and he was incredibly curious about what had happened
when he was gone and what would happen when he got back and how everyone would
react. A smile spread over his face.
~~~
Here is taking place during Chapter Eight: Lioness. ~~~
"My
name?" The lioness chuckled. "My name is Thuraia."
~~~
That night,
Quwin’go laid by a water hole. The grass was swaying as his tail was. He looked
down at his reflection. Indeed he had grown much. He was strong and buff—not
the least bit fat or chubby of course—and Quwin’go couldn’t wait to show
himself to his family, to show his strength to them and test it on his brother,
and then, if he was lucky, show himself off to a few lionesses.
"I’ve
seen that look before," Thuraia said. She was laying down in the grass
nearby and she sneered. "That is how all males look when they want a
mate."
Quwin’go
sneered back, but laid his head on his paws. He didn’t close his eyes, but
instead let them wander, up to the stars where he was told the great King and
Queens of the past were. He sighed, and felt such depression right then, for he
knew he had missed out on the life of being a prince, then a king, but most of
all, he was pained by the feeling that he had missed out on his family and
pride.
"Don’t
look so down." Thuraia meowed, now gently. "Your zenith will come.
And then, you will feel and be great."
Even though
the lions didn’t know each other, Quwin’go smiled, and felt much relief. He
sighed, calming down. That night, he didn’t even shed a tear.
In fact, he
felt a longing more to this lioness than ever. After all, it was the first of
his kind he had seen for almost all his life!
Later, when
he was half asleep, he felt a shiver run down his back, feeling the warm breath
and hearing the gently purring of Thuraia. She put a paw on his, and he
accepted that, then fell into a deep and restful sleep. It was one of the best
sleeps he had had for a long time. Really, it reminded him of mother, nuzzling
and cuddling him, crooning him with her purrs to settle him down and yet, this
was still much different. There was indeed, a great level to this snuggling.
That night,
as he slept, he smiled, for Quwin’go knew he would arrive home soon. And
perhaps…this lioness would come.
~~~ And now, here is one last added part. ~~~
Quwin’go sighed, sitting beside his brother
on the very top of Pride Rock. For once, in all these full moons, he was back
with his family. His head dipped gratefully as he felt the warm African breeze
graze his beautiful and great mane of dark gold. Again, he sighed. Then a
question, born in the mind of a long lost lion hatched, and he couldn’t help
but ask his brother, "So…" Quwin’go paused. This lion, the one he was
sitting by, Zariy, his brother, made him very nervous. It was like speaking
with a stranger more than a sibling. Soon, Quwin’go caught his breath, and his
nervous feelings took their absence as he figured how stupid it was for him to
be like that. And so he continued the question. "…Who’s the King?"
"What
d’ ya mean? We’re both Kings now. Like it was gonna be all along." Zariy
replied happily, tail swishing as if he and Quwin’go had never been separated.
As if Quwin’go had been there, at Pride Rock, in the family, all their lives.
"That’s
great." Quwin’go sighed.
"Uh
huh."
His ears
twitching, Quwin’go brought on the conversation. "I hope Dad gets here
soon. I’m dyin’ t’ find out more about life and this King stuff ‘n all."
"It’s
not as much information as you’d think!" laughed Zariy.
"Heh.
Oh well." He was a bit disappointed as he had always thought it would be a
great surprise to know the secret of being King, and then, he just found out
there was none.
"Yeah…" Zariy thought, then asked,
"So you were really friends with zebras?"
Quwin’go
noticed a grin on his brother’s face. "Yeah, like family. Why?" And
he, too, was grinning.
"Well…I
see now that we really are one and it’s not stupid."
"What’s
not stupid?" He blinked, somewhat surprised as he had excepted his brother
to say something much different.
"Never
mind." Zariy shook his head. And Quwin’go nodded, knowing he would never
find out what Zariy ment, as he at least did know that there was some deeper meaning in his words.
"Ya know, Mom and Dad are gonna teach ya how to hunt. After that, tonight,
Aurora’s gonna catch ya up on the past generations and whatnot."
"Hmm?"
"Well
it’s better than ya think. Simba’s pretty cool."
"Yeah, I’d like t’ hear about the past
all right." He yawned. "You know what?" Quwin’go said.
"What?" Zariy replied, smirking.
Something
did a flip in his stomach just thinking about her, and he smiled. "I know
we’re gonna be Kings ‘n all…and I think I know who one of the Queens is gonna
be."
"Huh?
You don’t mean…"
He nodded.
"No
way! You just met her!"
"Yeah
but," Quwin’go went on. "There’s something about her. I mean, after
the fight, she was actually taking care of me and whatnot. And before then,
when the zebra attacked her, I felt an urge to protect and avenge."
"Hopefully
that’s not fatherlyness you’re talkin’ about!"
"I’m
not!"
They
laughed and, before their parents came, Quwin’go suddenly said out of the blue,
"’…use your future powers to help others.’"
"Huh?" his brother questioned,
tilting his head like a cub.
"That’s
what Uhäki said to me…I mean, I know it sounds weird and doesn’t make sense…or
I mean it didn’t. Now I understand…I had once lost my family, and I’ve got them
back now."
"You
mean we’ve got you." Zariy added.
"And
that’s how it all came back for me. Just like I gained the free land all back
for those zebras."
"Yeah
well," Zariy said as their parents came up. "You’re a hero, then,
Quwin’go."
He smiled
inwardly. "I can’t believe you’re actually here, Uhäki," Quwin’go
whispered to the wind. "Thanks."
Now The End
Baby Fire
Wolf