TLK 4; Seeds of goodness Part one: The spotted lion cub Legal note; Vitani and all other characters found in the TLK movies are © Disney. All other characters are © Me Sigurd Engerström. This story will be split up in parts, this is the first, and the rest will be finished soon. (That will be when I have the time) Comments and such are welcome to: S_the_spikeshark@hotmail.com Drop dead notes and flames to: Thrashcan@unwantedmail.com This story continues from TLK III "the legacy of Zira" you have to read it as well to fully understand this story... Characters: Old: Dix: A weird demon Zifa: Dix's mate. Inkhobi: A black cheetah shaman Watabi: A female cheetah, Timba's former mate Timba: The present king of the pride rock Mazho: A meercat who helps Inkhobi Vitani: The last living from Zira's children Khotz: Timba's step brother Cisa: Khotz's father and Timba's stepfather Kehata: Khotz's mother and Timba's stepmother New: Rasawah: Timba and Watabi's cub … Ibihaza: Rasawah's brother Conhaba: Rasawah's sister Nokata: A lioness from the shattered Jaw pride Toto: A hyena Khabka: Another hyena Amakahr: The shaman of the pride lands Pinja: An outlander lioness Grukboz: A hyena Bubba: A crow, the best scout in the pride lands Zikale: A lioness in the pride lands Ajaba: A female cheetah Kotoko: The leader of the hyenas Character notes: Dix talks like Kerrigan in starcraft and Timba can for some reason not use the letter "s" he uses "z" instead… Chapters: Prologue: C1: the birth C2: neglected from birth C3: a slight hope C4: brother and sister C5: raising a cub C6: the lone king C7: acceptance C8: Khotz's mantlement C9: going east C10: the battle of the pride lands Epilogue There is also a cheetah language that is used frequently… This little dictionary might help a bit on it, 'cause without it, it would be hard to understand what some characters say some times… Zhiech = thanks Yoah / Yobaduz = hi/hello Mizhk / naklat = goodbye Zibihi = lion Kobto = little/small Ninibi / ikaba / bathar = see you later Nam = my Nim = one Aka = two Zik = three Mira = tail_ Ki = I \ Akh = am ==(used only when introducing themselves) Kiah = I'm _/ Raka = poor Buko = stupid/idiot Azna = father/dad Faha = mother/mom Ban = yes Cot = no Kekaba = cheetah Bitikibi = love/lover/mate Ententa = spotted Tekahn = human/terran Rasaw = filthy / unclean (add a "ah" after and it means "filthy one") Uzuk = evil / twisted (+ "ah" and it means "evil one") Foreword: Just when I finished TLK3 I just thought that I was free from the curse of writing, …not… I got this idea, 'what if Timba and Watabi had an offspring', so there I was again, writing… but it was the only way to get it out of my head. It will also be split up in parts like the previous story. This is the beginning of TLK 4 "the seeds of goodness" -==- Enjoy it. Prologue: When Timba and Watabi was captured by the humans, there were a male cheetah in the same room as Watabi was, and he took advantage of her while she was tranquillized Now, several months later, Watabi found out the truth about Timba, and left him. When she came home she cursed her overlarge belly… because she knew that she carried his offspring… Chapter I The birth It was a very dark and stormy night, lightings made the black sky lit up, in the heavy rain that followed, Watabi fell into labor, she smiled a tired smile when she saw that the first cub was a cheetah… then another cub came, that one also a cheetah, she cleaned both of them, while pushing a third cub into the world, to her horror it was a spotted lion cub, she had no choice that cleaning that one as well, but she hesitated on feeding it… but it found it's way to her milk without the help the two cheetah cubs were given… Watabi gazed with joy on the two cheetah cubs, and with dismay on the third… Watabi: you two will be the most beautiful kekaba's the world have ever seen… You [looking at a male cub] will be Conhaba, and you [looking on a female cub] will be known as Ibihaza… [A long silence] and you "zibihi" will be Rasawah the filthy… She spat on the nursing lion cub and groomed the two others. Some days later she took all three cubs over to Kehata, she was overwhelmed with joy when she saw Watabi approach with the cubs… Kehata: Yoah, Watabi, those cubs are cute… Watabi: Yobaduz, Kehata, yes I know, I did my best… Kehata: you didn't have any success with THAT one, did you? She pointed on Rasawah. Watabi: that is not my son. He is Rasawah the filthy. Kehata: oh, the son of "him"? Watabi: yes him, I still don't' know what I was in him… Kehata: well anyway, I was about to get myself some food, mizhk Watabi… The cheetah padded out on the plains… All the three cubs meowed of hunger, Watabi laid down and let the two "pure" cubs nurse, Rasawah was kicked away each time he came close, he began to cry, but Watabi ignored it… First when all three of them had fallen asleep he could nurse, he drank what milk that was left, ten he also fell asleep. Next day Watabi too the two "pure" cubs and headed towards Inkhobi's cave, she left Rasawah behind… She reached the mound and entered; inside she was greeter by Inkhobi… Inkhobi: Yoah, new mother, and such beautiful children you have brought… Watabi: yeah, I know… Inkhobi: Weren't there three cubs in this litter? Watabi: no, there were only these two… Kehata appeared in the entrance with Rasawah, she dropped him on the floor. Kehata: hey, don't dump your leavings on my territory. Keep it! She disappeared again… Inkhobi: there were three cubs then, why did you lie? Watabi: he's not my son… it's "his" son. Inkhobi: I don't see anything wrong about him; he's a perfectly healthy cub, why did you not bring him? Watabi: I told you, he's not my son. Inkhobi: blood is thicker that water, Watabi… I can see that he is made out of the love you and Timba shared… Watabi: don't… even mention "him" in front of my children; bless them in the name of Madun. Inkhobi: [speaks with a singing voice] hear me, grandmother, bless these children, keep them from the path of evil, and lead them to the path of goodness. He touched each of the cub's heads, but Watabi stopped him when he was about to touch Rasawah… Watabi: no, not him, he's not a child of Madun… Inkhobi: nonsense… He touched Rasawah's head as well. Inkhobi: now you will taste the life fluid of the earth, kobto cubs. He took a bottle containing a yellow liquid, each cub had a sip of it, and again Watabi hindered him when he reached Rasawah… Watabi: no, he is not worthy… Inkhobi: you gave birth to him, which makes him to your son. Now stop interfering… He gave the last cub a sip of the liquid… Inkhobi: you are now blessed in the name of Madun… go with your mother and grow strong… Watabi picked up the two cheetah cubs, and walked out, the third cub ran after her… Inkhobi stared out through the hole in the wall… Inkhobi: [to himself] poor him… He went over to a metal box that stood in a corner and spoke into a hole in it: Inkhobi: [to the box] Mazho, get over here at once… A minute later the meercat appeared in the entrance, he looked quite mad… Mazho: what is it now? I had just caught the trace of a zibbab ((a bug)) Inkhobi: I want you to see to that Watabi don't mistreats her cub… Rasawah…. Mazho: who's Rasawah? Inkhobi: he's the son of Watabi and Timba Aka-mira… Mazho: of the evil one? And you want ME to look after it? Inkhobi: yes, he was created before he went to be evil… Mazho: oho, I see, by the way, how can you call me over those distances? Inkhobi: the necklace I gave you… and that box over there… are connected in some way, whatever I say to the box, the necklace say to you… I took both from a "green hawk". Mazho: Is this THING I wear made by humans? Inkhobi: relax, it's harmless, like other things I have taken from them, the bottles for instance… Anyway, if you see her mistreating the cub, report to me immediately, just push the red thing on the necklace and speak… understood? Mazho: yep! The meercat saluted and walked out through the cavern. Chapter II Neglected from birth When Watabi came back to her territory with her cubs she laid down and let the cubs eat, when Rasawah finally catched up with them there was no milk left, he began to cry when his nursing was effortless, and instead of comforting him, Watabi kicked him away with her hind leg. She then began to groom the two sated cubs, when the third one crept up to her head to be cleaned, she pushed him away with a forepaw. Then he tried to snuggle up against her belly, but was immediately forced away. She simply refused to help him. When they went to sleep, the cub desperately tried to lie at her side, but was kicked or pushed away each time. Mazho saw this and pushed the button on the necklace… Mazho: Yo! She's doing it! Inkhobi: [voice through the necklace] I'll be there at once… stay where you are… Mazho: got it! A little while later the black cheetah appeared… Inkhobi: ok, where is she? Mazho: right over there The meercat pointed at a couple of trees that stood alone. Inkhobi went over there and saw the "filthy" cub lie and shiver all alone. Without hesitation he picked the cub up in his mouth and carried it back to the cave, Mazho stayed to watch Watabi… When Inkhobi came to the cave he did everything he could to feed the cub, but he had nothing to supplement the milk with. Inkhobi: oh Madun, hear me… help this poor cub… show your mercy… his mother neglects him… tell me what to do to help him… Suddenly the cub began to hover over the ground, a pure white liquid flowed from nowhere into the cubs mouth… then a gentle voice came out from it's mouth, but it was not the cub's own voice… Voice: now I have helped him, Inkhobi, I gave him the same milk I once gave you and your sister… Inkhobi: you gave him your own milk?? Voice: yes, now I will live in him too… I can see that he is destined to do great things… he will be Rasawah the pure… Inkhobi: but… how can I keep him alive when his mother refuses to feed him? Voice: you have taken things from the tekhans before… three days from now there will come a creature called Apc to the great mountain, there it will be slain by a flying creature called Apache… Inside the Apc you will find a flask… as long as Rasawah needs it, it will never drain, but use it only if his mother continues to refuse him her milk… Inkhobi: thank you, great Madun, bless you… The cub landed on the floor and fell to sleep; Inkhobi looked on the small body and sighed… Inkhobi: poor you, kobto cub. Then he also fell asleep. Next day when Watabi woke up, she didn't even notice that a cub was missing, she gave the two remaining cubs some milk, then she went out to hunt, Mazho who had hid in a nearby tree reported through the "necklace" Mazho: Yo! She didn't even notice that he was gone, what a heart of stone she has… Inkhobi: [trough necklace] I'll be right there, you can go now. Mazho: thanks… But the meercat waited until he showed up… Mazho: ok, the field is yours, sir. The meercat saluted and walked away… Inkhobi: may Madun forever treasure your soul. Inkhobi went over to the two cubs and put Rasawah down among them and waited for Watabi to return. When she finally appeared she got a real telling-off by Inkhobi. Inkhobi: why are you rejecting your own son? Watabi: he's not my SON!!! Inkhobi: I found him half-dead yesterday; he had died if I hadn't shown up… You denied him his right to your milk and your warmth, you refuses him the motherly love he deserves… he is of your blood Watabi; he is your son as much as his siblings are your children… Watabi: he is the son of Timba Aka-mira, the fallen one. Inkhobi: is your heart made of stone? He was created before Timba became evil and twisted, there is no sign of evilness in his heart… but it can and will change if you continue as you does, sooner or later his love for you will turn to hate, and if that happens nothing can save you… Watabi grunted back and let the "pure" cubs nurse… Watabi: I won't have anything to do with that monster, keep him if you want, I don't care… Inkhobi: you must, or else you have written your own epitaph, that decision will be your doom; this will be a heavy weight on Madun's scales… on the bad side… Naklat Watabi… Watabi saw as the black cheetah disappeared, she kicked Rasawah when he came near her, the two other cubs fell purring asleep, the "filthy" cub also began to purr while trying to lie at her side, but a swing of Watabi's paw made him cry instead. Inkhobi went to the great mountain instead of going home, a trip that took two days, when he got there he saw an Apc come driving, not far behind it an Apache-chopper came, and before Inkhobi's eyes it was blown by the choppers missiles. When the chopper was gone Inkhobi slowly walked towards the burning vehicle, he stopped when he heard a noise from inside the Apc. Then suddenly the rear ramp on the vehicle fell out and a bleeding soldier managed to crawl out, even though the human was foreign to him, he did not hesitate on helping him. He saw the fear in the widened eyes of the soldier as he approached. Inkhobi: calm down, tekahn, I will help you… The soldier fumbled for his riffle, but it was too miss figured to be of any use, the soldier cursed heavily and looked on Inkhobi, waiting for him to end his pain. But instead Inkhobi cleaned his wounds and bandaged them with some herbs and weeds he found nearby. The soldier was still suspicious about the black cheetah, but managed to get up on his feet, he limped towards the still burning Apc and put the fire out, when that was done he went into the smoking interior of the vehicle and came out a second later carrying a dead body, he laid it down on the ground and went back into the vehicle and got a spade, he dug a hole, and gently he laid the corpse down in it, then he buried it. Then he made a cross out of some wood and planted it on the grave. Inkhobi could see and hear that soldier wept, so he laid a comforting paw on his shoulder… Inkhobi: death is just another beginning… The soldier looked on him and nodded, then he walked away, Inkhobi looked as the soldier disappeared behind a hill. Inkhobi: [thinking] I always thought that they were emotionless, but he proved me wrong… He walked over to the Apc and looked in through the rear opening, he saw a feeding bottle lie at the burnt remains of a human, he took it from the charred hand, he also saw a bag with batteries, and he took that as well and departed for his home. Chapter III A slight hope Somewhere on the burnt fields of the rim lands some years ago, Dix and Zifa bounced happily around, high of each other, they became one in the black grass… A while later. Zifa: so that's how a demon can get an offspring? Dix: yes, dear… Zifa: tell me, was Dunsj really so old as he said? Dix: yip, he was, and I am even older… Zifa: how old? Dix: well, something around… more than a thousand years… Zifa: more than one millennia? Dix: yeah, my mother died right after our birth… Zifa: our? Dix: me and my brother Inkhobi, we were on the edge of starvation when the cheetah goddess Madun showed mercy upon us, she gave us of her own milk to drink, and I think that it made us immortal… Zifa: oho, is this Inkhobi a demon too? Dix: no, Madun made him into a shaman, and me into a demon… Zifa: I see, who was Dunsj's father? Dix: Dunsj's father was a lion that wanted to cross my territory… and instead of giving me his soul, he convinced me that he could give me a cub instead, and I was foolish to trust him, so I agreed, but the very next day he had disappeared, it was first many years later, when Dunsj asked about his father that it struck me, so I went after him, and to my surprise he was still alive and had a mate, so when I found him I did what I should have done, I killed him, his name was Umeme. Zifa: aha, but weren't you happy to have Dunsj? Dix: I'm a demon, and demons can't show the emotion "love", only hate, but in the deepest corner of my black heart I could feel a slight motherly love, and that burnt me from inside when he died… but you won't live long enough to see your cub grow… Zifa: maybe not, but wait a minute, can't your brother help us? Dix: nah, I don't know where he is anymore… Zifa: then we'll have to find him… Dix: not a bad idea… Zifa: let's go then… where did you see him last time? Dix: let's see, that was at the base of Kilimanjaro, just when our paths separated… Zifa: good, I'll race you there… The both of them departed to the distant mountain… Hovering over his own burnt body, Dunsj's soul peered down on it, the half open eye still gleamed like a ruby that stared out in nothing, tears of pure light fell from the souls eyes, he could feel his soul be ripped apart, then it disappeared in the air… Chapter IV Brother and sister When Inkhobi came home Mazho met him… Inkhobi: what is it, Mazho? Mazho: yesterday I saw Watabi teach her cub's to speak… Inkhobi: sounds good, but? Mazho: but each time Rasawah tried to say something, she cuffed him, when he said "mom" she hit him so hard that he started to bleed… Inkhobi: it can't continue like this… Mazho: nope, and by the way, there came someone to see you… Inkhobi: who could that be? Mazho: well, she introduced herself as Dix… Inkhobi: Dix? Here? Suddenly she appeared out of thin air… Dix: yep, brother, it's me… Inkhobi: what do you want? Dix: I don't want anything, but someone else wants something… Inkhobi: and who could that be? Dix: Zifa the unborn… Zifa appeared next to Dix… Zifa: and I am Zifa… Inkhobi: I've heard of you, what do you what then? Zifa: I want to become immortal so that I can see my cub grow… Dix: our cub… Inkhobi's jaw fell… Inkhobi: did I hear "cub"? Dix: you sure did… his cub is growing inside me… Inkhobi: but… you're a demon, you can't show love… Dix: much can change over one millennia, the death of my first son moved my soul out from the darkness… Inkhobi: but what make you think that I can make you immortal? Dix: you were blessed by Madun herself… Inkhobi: but I don't possess the power to do that, only Madun herself can do that, and I doubt that she would do it… Dix: I see, I will have to raise a cub alone… again… Zifa, you might live to see it grow from infant, but not much more… Zifa: it will be a pleasure… He sniffs… Inkhobi: that won't help a thing, I don't have the powers to do that, besides, I already have someone to look after… Dix: soo… what is her name? Inkhobi: HIS name is Rasawah, he is a lion/cheetah cub, and his mother neglects him [to Mazho who stares on them] Mazho, go and see what they're doing now… and report if you see something suspicious… Mazho: Right away… The meercat walked away… Inkhobi: I can't help you two, so if you excuse me… He walked in trough the hole in the termite mound and put his newly acquired goods on its place. Then he took a turtle shell that lied on the floor, he mixed some liquids in it and watched the patterns… Inkhobi: [mumbled] nothing important as usual… pah, this is waste of time… here's something… or maybe not… only those skirmishes… what's this? The tekahn I saved will do something great later in his life… The box gave some scratching noises… Mazho: [voice from the box] Yo! You'd better come see this… Inkhobi: I'm right there, just a sec' He walked out of the cave and saw that Dix and Zifa sill stood there and waited for him… Dix: so? Inkhobi: are you still here? Dix: yep, we'll stay until you helped us… Inkhobi: then you'll have to wait until the sun stops to shine… I have a cub to rescue… With that he walked away… Dix and Zifa stood and gazed after him, then Dix walked off in the opposite direction… When Inkhobi found Watabi, he saw two cubs play happily, but no sign of the third cub… he walked towards Watabi in a quick pace… Watabi: Inkhobi, what brings you here? Inkhobi: you know well what I want, where is Rasawah? Watabi: I don't know, why should I care for him? Inkhobi saw that there was blood on Watabi's paws… Inkhobi: what have you done to him? The female cheetah only gave him a sharp-toothed grin in answer, then he heard a sobbing from a nearby tree… when he went close to it, he saw blood dropping down from it, he looked up and saw the bloodstained face of Rasawah, his right ear was missing. Inkhobi: oh why? Come down here, kobto nim, I won't hurt you… The cub gazed on him with frightened eyes… then it fell down from the tree and hit the ground, Inkhobi began immediately to clean his wounds, then he bandaged it with some leafs… When that was done, he picked the incautious cub up and carried it home… He took it inside and laid the cub down in the turtle shell… Inkhobi: kobto nim, what pain you have endured, but it will be over now, I will take care of you from now on… Zifa stuck his head in trough the hole in the wall… Zifa: oh my… poor him… what is he? Inkhobi: he is the fruit of the love between a lion and a cheetah… Zifa: is that possible? Inkhobi: you mated with Dix, didn't you? Zifa: yeah? Inkhobi: and she's not a lion… she was a leopard once… Zifa: leop… OW!!! Mazho had kicked Zifa in a very sensitive place because he blocked the entrance… Zifa laid squirming on the ground while Mazho jumped over him, and into the cave… Mazho: so, now I don't have to look after him, do I? Inkhobi: nope, now I got another task for you, go get me some of the tiba roots, I'm all out of them. Mazho: sure, you know, you'd better give that guy outside a painkiller… I think I hit too well, hee…hee… Inkhobi: why you little, now you go get what I need… Mazho: yep… The meercat walked out trough the hole in the wall… When the meercat had gone, Rasawah slowly woke up… Inkhobi: yoah, kobto nim… Rasawah: [stammering] m…gh…ech… Inkhobi: gods, you can't talk… Rasawah: [stammering] ech… gh… rk… Inkhobi: don't worry, I'll teach you how to speak… The cub began to cry, when Inkhobi laid his paw on its shoulder, it covered its head with its large paws. Inkhobi embraced the crying cub… Inkhobi: it's all right, she will never hurt you again, I promise. He hugged the cub and licked its face… Chapter V Raising a cub Mazho did get the roots Inkhobi bargained for and returned with them, and gave them to Inkhobi. He was surprised when Mazho didn't require his payment… Inkhobi: what is it my friend? Are you sick? Mazho: What's the matter? Inkhobi: you don't want any payment… Mazho: aw… I forgot… where's my payment? Inkhobi: as usual, you don't get anything; I gave you that necklace, didn't I? Mazho: it was only because you could find me faster… Inkhobi: and it works… Mazho: too good, now if you excuse me… Inkhobi: sure, by the way, can you give these to Zifa out there? [hands over some weeds] Mazho: yep! The meercat jumped out of the cavern and gave Zifa the pain killers, Zifa moaned and swallowed them, then he gazed after Mazho as he disappeared, in much pain, he went inside the termite mound… Inkhobi: feeling better now? Zifa: not entirely, he hit too good… Inkhobi: [sarcastically] I only employ the best… Zifa: bah… you know, I've been wondering something… Inkhobi: if you don't ask, you'll never know… Zifa: if you and Dix are siblings, how to come that you look so darn different? Inkhobi: that is because we were both born as leopards very long ago, but our mother died right after our birth, the cheetah goddess Madun showed her mercy upon us, and took us to her home on the top of Kilimanjaro, there she made us both immortal, and gave us a gift each, I got healing powers and goodness, but Dix's soul was already polluted, so her gift was evilness… and to match her evil nature, she got reshaped, and because that Madun was a cheetah, she reshaped me as well, that's why we are so damn different. Rasawah moaned… Inkhobi: just a minute, I'll have a son to attend… The cheetah took the feeding bottle he had taken from the Apc and fed the cub with it, out from nowhere, the whitest milk in the world appeared inside the bottle, Zifa dropped his jaw when he saw it… Zifa: what in the name of the god is that? Inkhobi: it's just an item I "burrowed" Zifa: I can see that, I'm not stupid, but… where does the milk come from? Inkhobi: I think it's the milk of Madun… Zifa thinks for a moment… Zifa: it was her milk that made you immortal, wasn't it? Inkhobi: it only makes those who are truly good, or truly evil immortal… and forget it! Zifa: who said anything of "begging"? Give that to me… Zifa snatched the bottle out of Inkhobi's paw and drank of the milk, and then suddenly he gripped his stomach with a paw and dropped the bottle, Inkhobi managed to save it before it hit the ground, he looked up on Zifa and saw how his eyes changed from brown to entirely yellow… Zifa: whoa, what an experience… am I immortal now? Inkhobi: your eyes have changed; look in that… thing in the wall… Zifa stared into the mirror on the wall… Zifa: i...s that me? Inkhobi: yes, that is you, you're immortal now, go, or I'll have to punish you… Zifa: yes [hiss] sir… The lion walked outside and met Dix… Dix: Zifa… your eyes… Zifa: now, we'll both live to see our cub grow… Dix: yes we will… Zifa: but we cannot stay here, your brother is furious… Dix: I know the best place, come on… The demon and the lion walked away to the south, inside the mound, Inkhobi continued to feed Rasawah. Chapter VI The lone king In the pride lands everyone still grieved over their former rulers deaths, and feared their new king, Timba Aka-mira, they knew that he had conquered the land trough force, and that made him evil in their eyes. Timba himself felt a large black hole inside his soul, his reason of living was fulfilled, he had revenged Zira, but at what cost, the ones who loved him had turned their backs at him… he often sat alone and watched the stars, sometimes he even wept… one of the former outlanders began to get curious over the mystic that surrounded their king, so one night she decided to speak to him, she found him watching the stars… Lioness: do I disturb you, my king? Timba: [sad] no, not at all, Pinja… Pinja: may I ask what you are doing? Timba: I'm watching the ztarz… Pinja: oh, do you see any constellations? Timba: no, I never learnt any… Pinja sat down beside him… Pinja: I can teach you some… if you want… Timba: thankz… go on… Pinja began to point out some stars… Pinja: those stars are called the tree brothers, and those [pointing out the stars] are the leopard… Timba: why did I never learn them? Pinja: that's a good question… you know, you remind me of someone… Timba: Whom do I remind of? Pinja: some months back a guy named Zifa got his mantlement; he had a ring similar to yours in his left ear… Timba: zo… Zifa you zay, who waz hiz parrentz? Pinja: no one knows, I don't think that he knows himself… Timba looks on the stars… Timba: I wonder what thoze ztarz are, don't you? She gives him a confused look… Pinja: they are the great kings of the past that looks down on us from them, didn't you know that? Timba: no… I didn't, I waz raized by cheetahz… Pinja: you WHAT? Timba: I waz adopted by Kehata, a cheetah, that'z why I didn't know that… Pinja: then it's about time someone teaches you… come; I know the one who can help you… your highness… Timba: you can call me Timba, I don't mind… Pinja: sure Timba, come on now… Timba followed the lioness to the shamans baobab tree, that now were inhabited by Rafiki's nephew, Amakahr… and he was asleep when the two lions reached his home… Pinja: [shouting] HEY AMAKAHR!!! A light muttering about "come back tomorrow" was heard from the tree… Pinja: it's your king down here… A curse was heard from the tree and the mandrill jumped down from the tree and bowed in front of them Amakahr: my king… The mandrill touched the beard like tufts of Timba's chin… Amakahr: [continuing] …what can I do for you? Timba: well, you can ztop acting like that, and teach me the leonine cuztomz and lore Amakahr: ok, tell me were to begin… Pinja: begin from the start… Timba: cauze I don't know anything… Amakahr: [gasping] didn't your mother teach you that? Timba: no, I lozt my mother when I waz born, and the few dayz I lived in a pride did not teach me anything, and zince then, I've been raized by a cheetah… Amakahr: that makes it all a bit difficult, because cheetahs and lions are very different, both in the way they think, they way they live and their religion, tell me, what god do you pray to? Timba: I pray to Madun, the cheetah goddezz. Amakahr: and your pride believes in the lion god, that makes it even more difficult, but I'll give it a try, come back tomorrow, when we all had a good nights sleep… see you tomorrow then… Timba: yez, tomorrow… The two lions headed back towards the pride rock and the shaman went back to sleep… Next day when the pride woke up, they saw that Pinja slept alongside with Timba… he himself was surprised when he woke up and felt a warm body lie next to him… He shacked her gently: Timba: hey, Pinja… wake up… She replied with closed eyes… Pinja: what is it? Timba: why aren't you zleeping where you uze to? Pinja: well, I was kinda tired, and it got late yesterday… Some of the half awake lionesses nearby burst out in laughter… Pinja: no… I didn't mean it that way, idiots… The lionesses laughed even harder. Pinja: pah… idiots…[to Timba] let's go and wake Amakahr up… Timba: zure… Both of them went outside and walked towards the baobab tree, when they arrived, the shaman came down and greeted them… Amakahr: greetings, my king… hi Pinja… Again he touched the "beard" Timba: good morning, Amakahr… Amakahr: are you ready? Timba nods… Amakahr: good, follow me… Pinja: well… see you later, Timba… She turned around and disappeared in the high grass, Timba followed the shaman out on the savannah… When Pinja came back to the Pride rock, she noticed that everyone there gazed on her… one of them came forth to her and poked her in the side… Lioness: so… what have you been up to? Pinja: nothing. She pushed the lioness away… Lioness: nothing you say, [teasing] is that really true? Pinja: yes… I'm not up to anything… Other lionesses begin to speak… Lioness2: aint it seductive Pinja who strikes again? Pinja blushed… Lioness3: first it was Simba, and then you tried on Kovu… and now Timba? Lioness4: she must be attracted to royalties… Pinja: no, it's not like that at all, you nuts… Lioness: we saw how you gazed after him yesterday… sisters; I think I can see a romance unfold… Pinja: you… your just jealous! She turned around and stomped angrily towards the waterhole, trying her best to ignore her pride sisters laughter behind her… The day passed by, and the stars began to lit up one by one… Somewhere at the eastern border a lone lioness ran as possessed towards a small grove, some meters behind her a lot of hyenas came. The lioness managed to get into the grove and crept into an abandoned den… she could hear the laughers of the hyenas outside, she waited until it had ceased, then she crept out again, two hyenas jumped down behind her, more came out of the bushes… The lioness began to growl Lioness: [growling] what do you want me? The hyenas laughed as an answer…. Hyena: you murdered some of our pups… and we'd like to kill you for that, sweetie… Lioness: I'd never killed any pups… Hyena: let their father be the judge of that… Another hyena stepped forward… Hyena2: I saw her commit the terrible crime, I saw how she slaughtered them and their mother in cold-blood… Lioness: liar! I haven't done that… The hyenas began to come closer… Hyena: that's proof enough, kill her… The pack began to bare their fangs at her… Lioness: no… please don't kill me… Hyena: too late, sweetie… Lioness: I'd do anything… Hyena3: anything? Lioness: anything, please don't kill me… The hyena began to grin an evil grin… Hyena3: Toto [whispers something to a nearby hyena] go tell this to the others The hyena grinned and told the plan to the others… then he walked up to the lioness and put his fangs around her throat, then the first hyena whispered in her ear: Hyena: [whispers] you just lay still, or else… Then the hyena went behind the lioness, which closed her eyes and gritted her teeth… Somewhere else on the savannah, Timba was doing a little patrol in the eastern parts of his land, he went by a small grove and heard a cry of agony from it… Timba: [thinking] what the heck can that be? He heard the cry again, and without any further hesitation he entered the grove, be slowly pulled some branches aside and saw seven hyenas stand in a ring around a whimpering lioness… Then one of them began to laugh: Hyena: hee… hee… be here tomorrow, and then we maybe let you go… Lioness: [sobbing] go… to hell… Hyena2: aw, how cute… see you tomorrow sweetie [laughs] we'll bring some friends… The hyena touched her back with his paw and laughed… Hyena2: next time you can lie still… That was enough for Timba, he barked loudly, all the hyenas turned their heads in his direction, and saw Timba come charging, before they could react, two of them where dead, the rest scattered in all directions, with his enormous speed he catched one of them and pinned it to the ground: Timba: [whispers] what have you done to her? The hyena whimpered… Timba's eyes went from gray to deep crimson, and he placed his paw on the hyena's throat… Timba: [whispers] I can end your mizerable life with no pain at all, or I can make you regret that you even where born, it'z your choice… what have you done to her? Hyena: [frightened] i… it was Grukboz's idea… Timba: thiz iz your lazt chance, what have you done to her? Hyena: I didn't do it, i…it was Toto, Grukboz and Khabka who did it… Timba: you didn't anzwer my queztion, but you gave me the namez, now I'll give you a one-way ticket to hell… He slowly choked the hyena and threw the life less body away; his eyes went back to grey and then he went back to the sobbing lioness… he laid his paw on hr shoulder… Lioness: DON'T TOUCH ME!!! [continues to sob] Timba: zorry, I didn't mean to… Lioness: GO TO HELL!!! Timba: iz that the way you thank your zavior? Lioness: just… leave me alone… Timba: if it'z that you want, I'll go, but remember, they're ztill out there… He turns around to leave… Lioness: [sobs] no… don't go… Timba stops… Timba: I'm zorry I didn't zhow up earlier… The lioness rose to her paws and wrapped her arms around his neck and wept down his shoulder… Timba: it'z ok, I don't think they'll be back… Lioness: [sobbing] c...can you believe what t…they did to me? Timba: I will get them for thiz, I promize… A long silence followed, the only thing that broke the silence was the lioness's sobs… Some drops began to fall from the black sky; soon they were in the middle of a cloudburst… Timba: juzt what we needed, rain, come, you can zleep with my pride tonight… Lioness: you… are so kind… Timba: that'z one of my good zidez, now come along, or we'll both dizzolve in the rain… Timba led the lioness trough the heavy rain, and into the den, they shacked of the water in the entrance… Timba: I'm zure that my pride will take care of you… Lioness: t…thank you… Timba: your wellcome, I am Timba… Lioness: thanks Timba, I… am Nokata… The both of them lay down and went to sleep… Chapter VII Acceptance The lionesses of the pride got themselves a surprise when they woke up and discovered the foreign lioness, one of them poked her in her side… Lioness: so… what made you think that you just could walk in here? Nokata: [in fear] I… Lioness: … broke into our home as if you owned the place, now get out! Nokata: but… Lioness: NOW!!! Nokata began to sob: Nokata: I was invited… Lioness: yeah, and HELL HAS FROZEN OVER!!! GET OUT NOW!!! Nokata collapsed to the ground and began to bawl her eyes out; Timba was awakened by all the sudden yelling. He saw a furious lioness and a weeping Nokata, He rose up… Timba: ZIKALE! How are you treating our guezt? Zikale? Your… guest??? [to Nokata] I'm sorry… I didn't know… Timba: there'z much you do not know… He mentioned for her to come closer, when she was close enough, he whispered something in her ear. Then she stared on him… Zikale: you… mean that she was… Timba nods Zikale: Gods, that's AWFUL!!! Timba: and I counted on you to help her, and zee how it turnz out… Zikale began to cry, and then she hugged Timba… Zikale: gods, you're not heartless… These words touched Timba deep inside his soul… She let go of her hug and licked Nokata's face… then she nuzzled her like a cub, she opened her mouth to say something, but not a sound came out from it, instead, an unstoppable stream of tears came…the other lionesses stood as gasping statues… After a long cry, it didn't seem that either of them had any tears left… Zikale: I'm sorry I yelled at you… Nokata: it's ok… I've been though worse things, it's just… Zikale: you don't have to talk about it… come, I'll show you these lands… Nokata: after you… Zikale, Nokata and the rest of the pride, except Timba and Pinja, left the den… Pinja stood and gazed on Timba… Pinja: what was that about? Timba: yezterday, when I waz on my way home, I encountered about eight hyenaz… [long pause] …doing awful thingz to her, I drove them off and invited her to ztay, thatz what it iz all about… Pinja: what kind of awful things? Timba: I would throw up if I thought of it again… Pinja: oh, forget that I asked… well; let's talk of other things… Timba: you give the zubject… Pinja: ok… what did Amakahr teach you yesterday? Timba: he told zome legendz, zhowed me zome ztarzignz and zuch thingz I need to know… and I'll have to vizit him again… Pinja: mind if I joined you? Timba: no, not at all… He rose up and walked out of the den, closely followed by Pinja, both of them went to the waterhole and found the lionesses gossiping as usual… they all went silent when they saw Timba and Pinja come walking side by side… One of the lionesses burst out: Lioness: I knew it! They're in love… Pinja: don't be ridiculous… Lioness2: look, her nose is turning red, it's true…. Pinja covered he nose with a paw… Pinja: no, it's not… Lionesses: [in chorus] Pinja is in loove… Pinja is in love… Timba: you know what? You act juzt like cubz… Lioness: yeah, maybe we do… Nokata saw Timba and rushed towards him and overwhelmed him with kisses and licks, then she backed off… Nokata: oh, I maybe shouldn't have done that… but I never thanked you for saving me… She gazes on him in "that" way, and one of the lionesses sees it… Lioness: Pinja, I think you just got a rival Timba: ZHUT UP!!! All went silent again and looked on him… Timba: thankz… [turning to Nokata] now, I never caught were you came from… Nokata: I came from the former Jaw Pride… Lioness: what happened? Lioness2: did they banish you? Nokata: no, I left because of Iron and Clay… Lioness: Iron and Clay, who's that? Nokata: I'd better tell you what happened in the Jaw lands… Not so long ago, the pride was split up in three parts, king Mjuwa gave both his sons, that's Iron and Clay, one part of the land to rule, while the king lived, there was peace, but when he died, the war started… and that's why I left, I couldn't stand see them slaughtering each other… [some tears falls from her eyes] excuse me… I hope that such a thing never will have the possibility to occur here… Timba: There'z no danger for that, Nokata… Nokata: don't you have any cubs? Timba: nope… Nokata: can't your wife have any? [points at Pinja] Timba: Pinja iz not my wife… Nokata: she's not? But I thought… I'm sorry… Timba: you don't have to, it waz juzt a miztake… He sees the hunting party return with a zebra… Timba: ah, breakfazt… The zebra was quickly devoured by the pride, after the meal Timba walked away, followed by Pinja, the rest of the pride went to their resting spot, to bask in the sun, and of course, to gossip… They all began to talk about everything from cub sitting to hunting, and some talked about certain rouge that had been near the land for some time… Lioness: …and he has SUCH brilliant eyes… and what a mane… Zikale: you told us that about seven times now… Lioness2: it's beginning to get boring… Lioness3: bet you she can tell much… [mentions at Nokata] don't you? Nokata: nah, but I do have some questions… Lioness: fire ahead… Nokata: I wonder why you have put a youngster on the throne, he hasn't even grown his mane fully yet… and what's the deal with his tail? Zikale: first, he's not the legal heir, he overthrew the previous rulers, second, he is fully grown, but his mane doesn't seem to get any larger, and third, we don't know what's with his tail, more questions? Nokata: yeah, why is he speaking so strange, and what's that ring in his ear for? Zikale: he says that he always spoken like he does, and the ring… he haven't spoken of, but I think that he always have worn it… Lioness: let's not talk 'bout him… was there any handsome males in the Jaw lands? Lioness2: is it the only thing you can think of? Lioness: yeah, is that a crime? Nokata: please… [waiting for them to shut up] the only males in the Jaw pride are the two brothers, Iron and Clay… Lioness: what do they look like? Nokata: well, Iron has a strange gray color, and Clay… is all brown, the same color as mud, and all they do is to fight each other, neither of them wants to give up the stupid war… Zikale: males… what can I say… you know how they think… Lioness: can they even THINK?? Zikale: no… All of the pride burst out into laughter… After a while they stopped because they spotted a lioness coming towards them from the south… Lioness: hiyas Vitani… why this early? Vitani: don't think you can get rid of me that easy… [she sees Nokata] well…well… I'm gone three weeks, and you already try to fill the gap… I'm Vitani, Kovu's sister… Nokata: I'm Nokata… who's Kovu? Vitani: who Kovu is? He's the king for god's sake… She notices that everyone else lovers their heads… Zikale: I'm sorry to tell you this, but Kovu's dead… Vitani: b…but… dead? How? [tears forming in her eyes] Zikale: a rouge lion named Timba Aka-mira killed him… and took over the throne… Vitani: but what about Kiara? Lioness: Kiara… was thrown off the presentation rock by the same lion, but right before she fell, she yelled something about having killed Zira. Vitani: no… NO!!! She burst out into a stream of tears, the others tried and failed to console her… She didn't know what was worst, that her last living relative was dead, or that her best friend killed her mother… then, as sudden as it had begun, the stream of tears ceased… Vitani: where's that Timba? I'm going to kill him… Lioness: I think he's busy with Pinja right now… Vitani: Pinja… of all of the lowest creeps, why her? Is she attracted by kings or what? Zikale: they'll both come home soon enough, you can confront them then, but I don't think you'll stand even half a chance… Vitani: why not? Because he is male? I'm an outlander, we know how to fight… Zikale: Because he doesn't fight like a lion, but like something else… you'd be dead in a matter of seconds… Vitani: I'll get him sooner or later, be sure I will… Chapter VIII Khotz's mantlement Far in the west, in the land of cheetahs, Timba's stepbrother Khotz had reached the age of ten months… He and Cisa walked towards Inkhobi's cave: Khotz: um… Cisa, what exactly is the final test? Cisa stopped. Cisa: I will explain when it's time, now come on, or else we will meet a mad shaman… Khotz: all right azna… They began to walk again, and without any further conversation they reached the termite mound that served as Inkhobi's home, Khotz entered it, closely followed by Cisa, he saw the black cheetah shaman groom a spotted fur ball… Cisa: Inkhobi… we're here now. Inkhobi: oh, I didn't see you, Yoah Cisa… Cisa: Yobaduz Inkhobi, I have brought my son… Inkhobi: okay [to Khotz] what is your name, Kekaba? Khotz: kiah Khotz! The cheetah shaman examined him from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail… Inkhobi: he is ready; he will pass the test, please come closer Khotz… Khotz came closer, while the shaman took a bowl from the floor, dipped a claw in it and painted the symbols of maturity on him, then he put a stinking mass on his cheek… Inkhobi: a new kekaba has entered the world, Khotz, go and let the world admire you, but before you go, drink this… Inkhobi gave Khotz a flask containing a clear liquid. Khotz drank of it… Inkhobi: go now, Khotz, go as a kekaba… Khotz went out trough the hole in the wall, outside he saw one female cheetah stand and gaze upon him, Cisa came out right after him… Cisa: ah, I see that you have seen her, don't be shy, go and say hello… Khotz walked over to the female cheetah… Khotz: Yoah kekaba, kiah Khotz… Cheetah: Yobaduz Khotz, ki akh Ajaba… Khotz: it's a pleasure to meet you Ajaba… Ajaba: the pleasure's all mine Cisa: now you know each other… Ajaba: have you explained the test yet? Cisa: no, not yet… [to Khotz] ok, Khotz, now it's time for you to face the final test, Ajaba over there will run in any direction, and you must follow her until you catches her, and then… [winks] you know… Khotz: got it… Cisa: [to Ajaba] he's ready… Ajaba: good luck Khotz; you will certainly need it, hee, hee… Then she darted off and Khotz pursued for some while before he finally catched her. She laid down in the soft grass and gazed on him… Ajaba: you got me Khotz… ya know what to do now, don't you? Khotz: well, I got the basic clue… She licked the stinking substance off his cheek, and then she licked her way to his mouth and kissed him… Chapter IX Going east A week later, Inkhobi sat on the top of the mound with Rasawah and watched the sun rise… Inkhobi: [to Rasawah] see the sun, kobto nim, feel its rays on your skin… Rasawah: [stammering] I…I can f f f…feel it… Inkhobi: it is the source of all life here… Rasawah: i…t is? Inkhobi: yes it is, without it everyone should die, all from the tiny ant to the mighty elephant, even the tekhans would not survive… Rasawah: w…who are the t…t t…t t..tekhans? Inkhobi: the tekhans is a specie much unlike anything else, they are long, and walks on two legs, they don't have claws or fangs, but they can be very dangerous… Rasawah: h…h…how? Inkhobi: they have the ability to control enormous beast of the "tank" specie, witch have the ability to fire spines in long distances, the tekhans themselves are dangerous too even on foot, they also uses some sort of needle spines, fortunately we don't see much of them, because they are at war with themselves, as far as I know they are divided in two "prides" one called "the star of blue" and one called "the hawk of green" Rasawah: b..b..but isn't t..th..that lines from t…the pr..prospery? Inkhobi: yes it is… A long silence followed… Rasawah: why d…d…did m..om l…leave me? Inkhobi: she… well she judged you because of your appearance, and because she hates your father… Rasawah: she h…h…hates you? Inkhobi: no… I knew I had to tell you this… I am not really your father Rasawah… I adopted when you were young… Rasawah: w…ho is m...my father then? Inkhobi: you know how the prospery goes, don't you? The spotted lion cub nodded. Inkhobi: well, it is about your father, Timba Aka-mira… Rasawah: t…two tail? Inkhobi: yes, he had two tail-tips, and, he was a zibihi… Rasawah: i…is m…my father a lion? Cool… w…what was h…he like? W…what happened t…to him? Inkhobi: you should have loved him; he had all the qualities to become a good father, if he hadn't gone to be evil… Rasawah: but… evil? Inkhobi: yes evil, but how he became what he is, that's a long story… Rasawah: please…t…tell it… Khotz and Ajaba heard a bit of the conversation and went over to them… Khotz: yeah, I agree with the fur ball, tell it… Ajaba: but it's about the Uzukah… Inkhobi: it was before he turned to be the one he is today, I will begin from where I first heard of him… He starts to tell the story… A while later… Inkhobi: …and because of the legacy, he was forced to take over the throne… that's all I know… Ajaba: I think I have misjudged him… Khotz: you certainly have, I couldn't believe them when they told me that he had gone evil, neither could Ehasna… I wonder where she is now… Inkhobi: from what I heard she joined the pride she came from… Khotz notices that Rasawah isn't a cheetah cub… Khotz: eh, sorry for interrupting, but where did you get that zibihi from? Inkhobi: his name is Rasawah, and if you look closer you see that he's not a zibihi… Khotz looked Rasawah over… Khotz: his tail… what the heck is he? Inkhobi: he's the son of a zibihi and a kekaba… Ajaba: a half-breed??? Khotz: why is he here with you? Are you that kekaba? Inkhobi: no, I took care of him because his mother neglected him… she thinks that he is his father… she even ripped his ear off… Ajaba: raka kobto thing… how can anyone be so cruel? Khotz: I dunno… [thinks for a moment] Inkhobi? Is Timba evil all the time? Inkhobi: from what I heard, he is able to suppress the evil thoughts… why are you asking? Khotz: I was thinking about giving him a little visit… Ajaba: visit HIM? Khotz: yep, he's my stepbrother… Ajaba: but isn't the pride lands far away? Khotz: you don't have to wait, you can come with me if you want, and Ehasna's pride is also in that direction, so we'll visit her as well… Ajaba: I'm coming with you, just to make sure your not fooling around… Khotz: don't worry [to Inkhobi] witch way is the pride lands? Inkhobi: just follow the rising sun, and you will reach Ehasna's pride… Khotz: thanks Inkhobi, see ya… The two cheetahs went in the direction of the rising sun… Some where in the elephant graveyard, a lot of hyenas had gathered, one female seemed to be the leader of them spoke from a little higher ledge… Hyena: Ok, listen up; you all know the plan, don't you? All hyenas: YES WE DO, KOTOKO!! Kotoko: they will pay for their crimes against our specie, Toto witnessed a rouge that killed some of our kind for no possible reason, and we'll have the plan if the king doesn't punish the criminal… You, you and you, come with me, you too Toto… Selected H.: we will follow you… The five hyenas walked towards the pride rock, when they got near it, they met a part of the pride lay basking in the sun… Kotoko: where's Kovu? Lioness: Kovu's dead… Kotoko: he is? Who rules now? Lioness: Timba Aka-mira does… Kotoko: can I speak to this Timba? Lioness: then you'll have to wait… [sees him as he approaches] no there he is… Timba sees the hyenas and heads that way, he sees Toto and Toto sees him… Timba: YOU!!! Toto: that's him, the rouge… Timba: [to lionesses] what are thoze hyenaz doing here?? Kotoko: we are investigating a crime committed by a lion… Timba: crime? Kotoko: yesterday some of my pack was murdered… Toto: [shoots in] by YOU!!! Timba: if I'm not miztaking myzelf, it waz hyenaz who committed crime… I caught them, doing unpleazant thingz to a lionezz… Toto: LIAR!!! The hyena leaped him but was struck to the ground by Timba's paw, it hit a stone on the ground and a cracking noise was heard… Kotoko: YOU KILLED HIM!!! MURDERER!!! Lioness: that was self-defense, you stinking creep… Kotoko: this means WAR!!! The four remaining hyenas disappeared quickly… Timba: damn, war iz the lazt thin I want… Lioness: don't worry; we can beat their laughable little pack in no time… Timba: we'll need to know… iz there a good zcout around here? Lioness: not really [to another lioness] is there? Lioness2: let me see…[thinks for a while] Camba? Lioness: nope, he's dead… Lioness2: Jami then? Lioness: no, she lives far to the north at this time of the year… Lioness3: what about Bubby then? He's not dead or gone, is he? Lioness: yeah, Bubby's the one… Timba: ok, where do I find thiz Bubby? Lioness2: um… let me see… …I don't know… Timba: great, we have a zcout, but no one knows where he iz. A croaking laugher came from above, and a crow landed in front of them, and bowed for Timba… Crow: [hoarse voice] Bubby to your service, sir, I heard that you had some problems with the hyenas… Timba: you bet, can you find out how many of them there are? Bubby: jus' say the word… Timba: fine, report at duzk. Bubby: I'm on it… The crow jumped up in the air and flew towards the elephant graveyard… Timba and the lionesses went back to the pride rock, where they gathered the whole pride… Timba: ok, here'z the zituation, we are at war with the hyenaz… Some lionesses mumbled something like 'let them come'. Timba: we don't know how many there are; yet, I'm expecting Bubby to be here zoon… while we wait I want to know who are the bezt warrriorz here? The whole pride pointed ad Vitani… Lionesses: that's Vitani… Timba walked over the her and stood in front her… Timba: I don't recall having met you… Vitani: that's because you haven't… Timba: very well, zo you are the bezt warrior in the pride? Vitani: you bet, I was raised and trained by Zira… Timba: Zira? Vitani: yeah, my mother… Timba realizes… Timba: you mean that you are… Vitani: …Zira's daughter, and Kovu was my brother… Timba: [turns sad] I know… he waz my brother too… Everyone looks on him… Vitani: WHAT??? Timba: Kovu waz my brother, or at leazt ztepbrother, Zira adopted me… Vitani: but… I never see her with a cub… Timba: didn't zhe zometimez zlip away for a day or zo? Vitani: she did… Timba: did it never occur to you that zhe waz meeting zome one… az me? Vitani: no… The crow Bubby flew in between them… Bubby: I bring the report sir. Timba: [to Bubby] go on then… Bubby: it's the bad news for you, I spotted at least fifty hyenas, I suspect that three other packs have joined the first; you're going to be severely outnumbered… Timba: [to Vitani] how many here are zkilled warriorz? Vitani: at least ten of us… Timba: that'll make eleven with me… A voice sounded from behind them… Voice: that's twelve with me, Zibihi. A male cheetah came padding towards them… Timba: wait a minute; I know that pattern of your zpotz, your Khotz! Khotz: Timba? The two felines hugged each other… Timba: what are you doing here? Khotz: thought you could need a paw around here… Vitani interrupts them… Vitani: do you two know each other? Khotz: yeah, we are brothers… Lioness: BROTHERS??? Timba: well, he is my ztepbrother Khotz… Khotz: and not only me… Another cheetah came… Ajaba: I will assist you as well, zibihi's. Timba: and you are? Ajaba: kiah Ajaba, Khotz's mate. Timba: nice to meet you Ajaba [changes subject] I hope you know the oddz around here… Khotz: yep… and we wont let you down. Timba: fine... [turns to the pride] all right, are we going to wait until those drooling fiendz breathez uz in our neckz? Whole pride: NO!!! Timba: good, now, all the bezt fighterz, ztep forward… All of the still living outlanders and some few pride landers stepped forward… Timba: good, I know that I am not the bezt tactician, but I zuggest that we all attack them from the front, while Vitani and zome otherz flank them… underztood? Random lionesses: yep, we got it… Timba: good, let'z go make them zorry for even being born… The pride, and the two cheetahs, marched off in the direction of the elephant graveyard… At the same time in the graveyard, all fifty hyenas stood gathered around their leaders… Leader1: …you all know your orders, don't you? All Hyenas: YES WE DO!!! Leader2: then carry them out; let's go conquer the pride lands for our children… All the hyenas marched away, except Kotoko, who slipped away into the shadows of a long dead elephant… a shadow moved in the dull darkness inside the hollow skull… a shadow with yellow, glowing eyes… Kotoko: the orders have been carried out. Master… Shadow: good… you have served me well, Kotoko, and for that you will not be without a reward… Suddenly a paw with flexed claws flew across the hyenas' throat… Shadow: a first-class ticket to hell isn't bad, is it? HA! You're even more stupid than you look… The glowing orbs disappeared in the darkness… Chapter X The battle of the pride lands Somewhere between the pride rock and the graveyard the two groups engaged each other in a mortal combat… Vitani killed one with a swing of her paw, but didn't see the hyena that seized the opportunity to bite her unprotected belly, she roared in pain when she felt the fangs sink into her side, she turned around and choked the hyena with her fangs… Then she slipped bleeding away from the battle… When the battle was over, and the remaining hyenas had retreated, Timba survived the battlefield, he saw four severely wounded lionesses, but none of them had fatal wounds, the rest of the pride only had minor scratches… He swept his gaze over the pride, but did not see Vitani anywhere… he looked again, but Vitani was gone… Timba: where'z Vitani? Lioness: I dunno… last time I saw her she was choking one of those bastards… oh my god… She was bleeding… Timba: quick… we have to find her… He tried to catch her scent, but did only feel the foul stench of drying blood… he began searching trough the field… Then he found her, lying on her side with an awful wound in her side… he quickly ran over to her… She looked on him, with half-closed eyes… Vitani: [weak voice] Timba? Is that you? Timba: yez, it'z me… Vitani: I love you… brother… She closed her eyes… Timba: no… don't die… I need you… everyone here needz you, you have to zurvive… She opened her eyes again… Vitani: I wish I knew you, Timba Aka-mira… Timba: you're going to get all right again… you have to… Vitani: [even weaker] no… you know as well as I do, my time here is over… Timba: I'll be zo terrible alone without you… Vitani: [even weaker] Pinja loves you… return her feelings and you won't be alone… I promise… Her eyes closed again and her head fell to the ground… Tears began to form in Timba's eyes… Some of the pride came, and they lowered their heads and began also they to cry… One by one the rest of the pride found their dead pride sister, when all was there they held a memorial for her… The whole pride and the two cheetahs sat in a wide ring around Vitani, one of the lionesses spoke… Lioness: [very sad] she was always like a sister to me, always there to help… even tough she had her bad sides, she was always happy… The lioness goes silent, and Timba starts to speak… Timba: I never knew her, but I wizh that I had [a tear falls from his eye] the little while I knew her gave me the imprezzion of an intelligent, happy and optimiztic lionezz… may you rezt in peace now zizter… He went silent and the pride began to roar out their sorrow, Timba, who still couldn't roar, and the two cheetahs barked instead…. Epilogue: Somewhere in the northern lands, a pair of glowing yellow orbs lit up the darkness of the night… They looked in the direction of the pride lands, and a dark voice emitted from somewhere near them: Voice: just wait, pride landers… you maybe repelled this attack, but I will come back and finish you off, one by one if I have to… just you wait… The two orbs began to move northwards and disappeared… Khotz and Ajaba returned to the land of cheetahs… The end of part one This part took me 3 weeks, 6 days, 2 hours, 29 minutes and seven seconds to complete From: 13/07/00 21:04:30 To: 09/08/00 23:33:23 Hope you enjoyed this part -:< Sigurd Engerström >:- Part two will be finished in a month or two…