TLK 4; Seeds of goodness

 

Part five:                      The Nemesis

 

Legal note; all characters found in the TLK movies are © Disney.

                   All other characters are © Me Sigurd Engerström.

 

Comments and such are welcome to:                       Timba@inhell.com

Drop dead notes and flames to:                      Thrashcan@unwantedmail.com

 

This is the fifth and final part of TLK IV, to fully understand it; you will have to read TLK III the legacy of Zira (all parts) and all previous parts of TLK IV the seeds of goodness

 

Note from the Author:

Because this is the last part of TLK4, I would really like to know what you readers thought of this story.

Questions about the characters and the plot are also welcome.

 

Dedication:

I have dedicated this last part to my cat Hampus that died the 13:th September 2002 at the age of 13 years. I will forever remember you.

 

 

Character List:

 

Old:

 

Aihatu:                      Leesha’s mother, former queen of the rim land (Aih-athu)

Anasti:                      A leopardess previously under Kubaki’s control. (Ah-nah-stih)

Ba´koi:                      The last of the former Jawlanders. Lioness. (Bah-[click sound]-oih)

Dunsj:                      Half demon, son of Dix. (Duns-jii)

Ibihaza:                      Watabi and Timba’s dead daughter. (Ih-bai-Hah-tza)

Kamu:                      A former member of Aihatu’s pride. Lioness. (Kah-mooh)

Kevee:                      Another of the former Jawlanders. Lioness. (Khe-huee)

Kikafu:                      Son of Pinja and Timba, twin of the late Sidun, heir of the pridelands. (Kih-kah-fuu)

Leesha:                      Aihatus daughter. (Leeh-sha)    

Maovu Damu: A raving mad lion. (Maoh-vu Dah-moo)

Rai:                      Son of Kubaki and Thaneta. (Rai-ih)

Rasawah:                      Son of Watabi and Timba. (Rah-sa-wah)

Sibati:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. (Sih-bah-tih)

Slodia:                      The current shaman and healer of the pridelands, panthress. (Sch-loh-di-ah)

Watabi:                      Rasawah’s mother, cheetress. (Wha-tha-be)

Xiamu:                      A former member of the Jaw pride, exiled by Aihatu. Lioness. (Ksi-ah-moo)

Sidun:                      Timba and Pinja’s dead son, brother of Kikafu. (Sih-dhun)

Fiziju:                      One of the former members of the Jawpride. Lioness. (Fye-Zaj-ooh)

 

New:

 

Deya:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. (Deh-iah)

Gecke:                      One of Watabi’s dead sisters. (Gheh-kheh)

Ghene:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. Older sister of Illaya and Katzeh. (Ghe-neh)

Illaya:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. Twin sister of Katzeh. (Ih-lah-jah)

Katzeh:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. Twin sister of Illaya. (Kah-ts-eh)

Liehna:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. (Lie-H-nah)

Tanwe:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. (Tan-ueh)

Zantzeh:                      A lioness previously under Kubaki’s control. (Tzahn-tzeh)

Zina:                      Another of Watabi’s dead sisters. (Thzi-nah)

 

Character note: “Maovu” Damu can’t speak properly, so he might talk very strange

 

                        

Chapters:

 

C50: The Lion and the Demon

C51: Son of Kubaki

C52: Kikafu’s Ascension

C53: A mothers’ Confession

C54: Dark Omen

C55: Dunsj’s Plan

C56: Freedom in Captivity

C57: Compelled Curiosity

C58: Feeding Problem

C59: Diabolic Presence

C60: Evil influence

C61: A Lesson

C62: Revising the Plan

C63: Secrets Revealed

C64: Tanwe Knows

C65: Victims of Prejudice

C66: Reflections

C67: Watabi’s Departure

C68: Entanglement

C69: Heaven or Hell

C70: Old Acquaintances

C71: A day of Disaster

C72: Unanswered Love

C73: Another day of Disaster

C74: Preparations

C75: Doubts

C76: Marks of Anger

C77: Plan in Motion

C78: Final Blow

C79: Damu’s Emerge

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, especially the cheetahs, say some times…

 

Zhiech = thanks

Yoah / Yobaduz = hi/hello

Mizhk / naklat = goodbye

Zibihi = lion

Kekaba = cheetah

Tekahn = human/terran

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

Bitikibi = love/lover/mate

Ententa = spotted

(Name forming words)

Rasaw = filthy / unclean (Rasaw+ah means ”filthy one”)

Uzuk = evil / twisted (Uzuk+ah means “evil one”)

Miak = pure / clean (Miak+ah means “pure one”)

 

 

 

 

Chapter L

The lion and the Demon

 

 

Somewhere at the western border of the pridelands, in the only by pale moonlight lit savannah, a rather large and strong built lion sat. The lion seemed to be talking to himself…

 

Damu:                      you be sure? Watabi go in there?

Voice:                      [from somewhere nearby] yes, I’m sure. I saw her and her bastard son enter those lands with my own eyes.

Damu:                      you too be sure she say she hate me?

Voice:                      [from somewhere nearby] Yes Damu, she said so.

Damu:                      [sighs and looks into the ground] then she not be friend of mine, me never want to see her again…

 

The half demon Dunsj emerged from his invisible shape, sitting in front of Damu. In comparison with the lion, the leopard-like creature was about half the size.

 

Dunsj:                      Damu… you’ll meet someone else, someone nicer… and perhaps prettier.

Damu:                      [looks at Dunsj] how you be certain?

Dunsj:                      well… I mean if you can charm a cheetress off her feet, you’d have no problems with a lioness.

Damu:                      [shrugs] you say much Dunsj… but me think you be right… you never lie to me

Dunsj:                      nah, not exactly lie, I might alter the truth a little sometimes… I am, after all, half demon you know.

Damu:                      Yes, me know… but still, you be me only friend Dunsj… me very happy that you be me friend.

Dunsj:                      you’re very welcome Damu… you’re my only friend too, so no chance on Earth that I’ll let you down… [Pauses] well… you must excuse me for a while… I have to find something to eat…

Damu:                      ok… be seeing you

Dunsj:                      of course, I’ll bring the remains back to you as soon as I’m done…

 

Dunsj’s shape faded away and vanished. Paw prints on the ground told that someone was padding away.

Damu sat silent for a few minutes… as if making sure that he was alone…

 

Damu:                      [thinks for himself] what me do now? All me wish is that someone love me… be that too much to ask for?

 

 

Chapter LI

Son of Kubaki

 

Slodia had brought the leopard cub she had found back to her old home in a large baobab tree. She had gently put the still sobbing cub down and made her best to seem friendly…

 

Slodia:                      [smiling friendly] well… I am sorry for what happened, little cub…

 

The leopard cub looked up at her and gave her an empty gaze, still sobbing heavily.

Slodia felt how the helpless cub’s sobs nearly tore her heart apart… she wanted to help it in any way she could. After a long while of silence, except for the sobbing sounds, Slodia finally encouraged herself to speak to the cub again.

 

Slodia:                      tell me… whats your name?

 

The cub looked at her again, this time with its eyes full of distrust and fear. Slodia gave it another friendly smile…

 

Cub:                      [sobs] it’s… Rai…

Slodia:                      [smiles] hello Rai… My name is Slodia…

Rai:                      [sobs for a few moments] will… they kill me now?

 

Slodia sat baffled for a couple of seconds because of what the cub just had said…

 

Slodia:                      no… I will not allow anyone to hurt you Rai…

Rai:                      [sobs] you promise?

Slodia:            I promise Rai… as long as I’m around, you’ll be safe…

 

The leopard cub smiled faintly for a brief second before tears overwhelmed him again. Slodia gently moved him close to her and to her surprise; he snuggled up to her and buried his face in her fur.

She stroked him on his head and shoulders with her paw in an attempt to comfort him.

 

After a couple of minutes the cub fell asleep, still snuggled up to the panthress. Slodia stayed awake, to watch over the poor cub. Judging from Rai’s twists and moans Slodia believed that he had nightmares. She stroked him to calm him down…

 

The following morning Rai woke up with terror printed into his face. He was totally covered in his own sweat. Terrified he beheld his surroundings that he did not recognize. And when he tried to move, he realized that he was held close to Slodias body by one of her paws. No matter how hard he tried, he could not get out from her grip, neither could he turn his head enough to see her.

 

Rai:                      [frightened] Mom? Dad? Where are you? [Despair fills his voice] Mom??? Dad???

 

Again he tried to wriggle out from Slodias grip, but he succeeded only in waking the panthress up. She lifted her paw just as he was about to push away, causing him to almost fly away from her.

He landed on his paws and began to slowly back away from the panthress that lay before him…

 

Rai:                      [terrified] w…who are you? Where’s m…mom?

 

Slodia got up into a sitting position and sighed…

 

Slodia:                      Rai… I know it is painful for you to hear it… but… you will have to stay here with me for now on…

 

Tears began to fill the cubs eyes…

 

Rai:                      [sniffs] it… wasn’t a dream then… was it?

Slodia:                      I’m sorry Rai… your parents has… passed on…

Rai:                      [sobs] but… dad… where is he?

Slodia:                      [sighs deeply] I… found you clinging onto his lifeless body…

Rai:                      [stares at her with disbelief in his eyes] He promised not to… get hurt [sobs] he promised!!

 

Slodia had much pity for the now crying leopard cub. She slowly moved over to sit next to him…

 

Slodia:                      Rai… some promises can’t be kept… no matter how much you want to keep them…

Rai:                      [sobs loudly] What am I going to do now? [Sobs] I… [Sobs] the pride…[Sobs] they’ll help me…

Slodia:                      no Rai… you mustn’t go to them… not yet…

Rai:                      [sobs] why not? [Sobs] mom and dad are gone…

Slodia:                      because… I’m afraid that they would kill you if they found you.

 

Rai’s eyes grew wide and he stared shocked at her…

 

Rai:                      k…kill me?

Slodia:                      I’m afraid so… but they won’t find you here…

 

Slodia saw how Rai’s eyes began to fill with despair. She quickly decided to let the matter rest… for now.

She hugged Rai and did her best to solace him.

 

 

Chapter LII

Kikafu’s Ascension

 

The same morning Kikafu woke up inside the den in the priderock. He lay huddled up next to Kamu.

He looked around and recognized every part of his old home…

 

Kikafu:                      [lets out a sigh of relief and thinks to himself] thank gods… it was only another terrible nightmare…

 

He turned his head and expected to see his mothers sleeping body. But instead of Pinja, he saw Kamu laying there, snoring slightly.

 

Kikafu:                      [shrugs] mom must’ve gone somewhere and put me here… [Pauses] nah… I’ll go and see if                       I can find her… she can’t be far away…

 

Without taking any notice of the former members of Kubaki’s pride, who also slept in the cave, he padded towards the exit of the den. Just as he came outside, he met a lioness he had never seen before. He froze in his step, but the lioness just smiled at him…

 

Lioness:                      good morning your highness.

Kikafu:                      uh… good morning to you too… I guess…

Lioness:                      oh… silly me, we haven’t been introduced properly yet… I am Deya.

Kikafu:                      okay… nice to see you Deya… I’m Kikafu, or Kiká… the prince of these lands.

Deya:                      [looks surprised] Prince? Oh… [Sighs] it must be hard for you Kikafu…

Kikafu:                      [confused] what do you mean?

Deya:                      [bites her lip] uhm… I think that you’ll need to see Aihatu…

Kikafu:                      what for? Am I in trouble?

Deya:                      no… Aihatu will tell you about… the things that… transpired lately…

Kikafu:                      oh… well… okay… See you later then.

Deya:                      [smiles faintly] see you too…

 

Kikafu turned around and went back into the den. As he made his way towards Aihatu he noticed that he did not recognize any of the other lionesses in the cave. When he came close enough to Aihatu, he poked her slightly. The old lioness woke up immediately and the first thing she saw was young Kikafu gazing back at her.

 

Aihatu:                      [yawns] good morning Kiká…

Kikafu:                      morning to you too Aihi… [Pauses] say… do you know where mom is?

 

Aihatu swallowed hard and bit her lip; she did not know what to tell him…

 

Kikafu:                      [continues] and who are all those lionesses? I don’t recognize any of them…

 

Aihatu took a deep breath before answering…

 

Aihatu:                      Kiká… your mother… died… don’t you remember?

 

Suddenly Kikafu realized that his horrible memories weren’t just only dreams… His face turned to a worried one, and then to one of full despair… Aihatu showed for him to come closer to her, but Kikafu only sat down where he stood and stared down into the ground.

 

Kikafu:                      [sniffs] then… dad is dead too? [Sniffs] What am I going to do without them?

Aihatu:                      [tries to console him] Kiká… I know how much it hurts and I feel very sorry for you… [Sniffs too] Kiká… please come over here…

 

Kikafu obeyed her and slowly he walked towards her. When he came close enough she nuzzled him.

 

Aihatu:                      Kiká… would you accept me as your stepmother?

 

Kikafu looked at her with his misty eyes and nodded slowly. Aihatu showed him closer to her and embraced him.

 

 

Chapter LIII

A mothers’ Confession

 

Neither Rasawah nor Watabi had chosen to rest with the pride in the den. Instead they had slept just outside it, at the base of the priderock. Both of them usually woke up long before the lions did.

 

Rasawah sat alone at the waterhole and was busy quenching hit thirst when Watabi came walking towards him…

 

Watabi:                      Rasawah?

Rasawah:                      [turns his head towards her] Yes faha?

Watabi:                      there’s something I’d like to talk with you about…

Rasawah:                      okay…

 

Watabi sat down in front of him and watched him for a moment.

 

Watabi:                      do you remember the demon that almost killed you?

Rasawah:                      yea… I do…

Watabi:                      there’s something you should know, my son… [Looks straight into his eyes] I… I sent him after you…

Rasawah:                      [gasps] what? No… tell me you didn’t…

Watabi:                      [looks very ashamed] … I did… and I regret it…

Rasawah:                      [disbelieving voice] no…

Watabi:                      [ashamed] Rasawah… it was wrong of me… and it was almost too late at the time when I finally realized…

 

Rasawah sat silent and gazed at her with an uncertain look on his scarred face…

 

Watabi:                      [ashamed] I know that there’s no way that you can forgive me… but I wanted you to know the truth…

Rasawah:                      faha… I… do forgive you…

 

Watabi lowered her gaze to the ground for a second before raising it to his face again. She smiled faintly…

 

Watabi:                      Zhiech kobto nim… I love you…

Rasawah:       I love you too faha…

 

Watabi smiled at him and nuzzled him lovingly…

 

 

Chapter LIV

Dark Omen

 

Three nights later the half demon Dunsj sneaked around in the pridelands, invisible in case he met anyone. Sometimes he stopped and sniffed in the air for a second before continuing. There was a familiar scent at some places, but he couldn’t extinguish its owner from his memory.

After some more searching he finally found an unbroken scent trail to follow. It led him straight to the gigantic priderock.

 

His unseen, ruby like eyes scanned the rock from the base to the top…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks for himself] whoa… look at the size of that… [Pauses] …ok, whomever or whatever this scent belongs to, I’m certain that I’ve met it before…

 

He strolled about at the base of the rock in search of a new trail to follow. After some time he found one that led up a well-used path. He decided to follow the trail and was led up the path to the entrance of the dens.

 

He stood silent and gazed into the dark depths of the cave. He could sense the presence of the ones who slept within its concealing darkness.

 

Dunsj:                      [talks to himself] heh… since I’m the scariest creature around here, there can’t be anything to be afraid of in there…

 

Suddenly he heard the sound of paws against solid rock from inside the den. He went dead silent and slowly stepped aside. Then he saw a young lioness emerge from the cave. He recognized her immediately as she went past him and down the path to the ground… it was Leesha…

 

The half demon sat gaping as he had let his jaw drop open in surprise… He had never in his wildest dreams expected to ever see her again. He quickly shuck his head to clear his thoughts before he began to follow her…

 

 

Leesha had woken up because of a great thirst that had dried her mouth out entirely. So she had headed for the waterhole to do something about it. But since she couldn’t see invisible things, she hadn’t noticed Dunsj at all… But as she made her way towards the water, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling of being watched and pursued. She sat down at the edge of the water and looked at her mirror image in it. Still she couldn’t get rid of the feeling that she wasn’t alone. She perked her ears and looked around, but when she saw none, shrugged and lowered her head to drink.

 

Dunsj had followed her all the way to the waterhole and sat down a meter away from her.

He beheld her beauty as she lapped up water with her tongue. Without knowing it, he let out a loud sigh.

 

Leesha raised her head quickly and looked around. She had heard something. Dunsj realized his mistake and held his breath as Leesha came towards him…

 

A second later Leesha walked into him, knocking them both of their feet. Leesha got up and stood wondering what she could have collided with. Dunsj did not stay for long; he turned west and ran as fast as he could.

 

Leesha saw how something left paw prints on the ground in front of her… She stared at them for a split second before turning towards her home and ran as fast as her limbs could carry her.

 

Just as she had reached the priderock and was about to enter, she met one of the other lionesses of the pride…

 

Lioness:                      hey… watch where you’re running Leesha… my… you look like you’ve had the devil on your tail…

Leesha:                      [out of breath] sorry Tanwe… not the devil…

 

Tanwe raised one of her eyebrows and looked sceptical as Leesha briefly explained her encounter with something at the waterhole.

 

Leesha:                      you… don’t believe me, do you?

Tanwe:                      well… I wouldn’t if you hadn’t almost ran into me like you did…

Leesha:          I know it sounds crazy…

Tanwe:           it sure does sound weird, but not as weird as a leopard with glowing eyes that can take control over ones soul by staring at you…

Leesha:          I get your point Tanwe… I maybe just ran into some animal or something…

Tanwe:                      see, you’ve just found the explanation yourself…

Leesha:                      yea… I must be very tired…

Tanwe:                      go get some rest then… while I… [Speaks with a spooky voice] go to the haunted waterhole…

Leesha:                      very funny… I’ll remember that you said that when we find your corpse…

Tanwe:                      [grins] you’d better… unless you’d want my spirit to bug you in eternity.

 

Tanwe padded giggling towards the waterhole. Leesha shrugged and went back into the den to get some more sleep…

 

 

Chapter LV

Dunsj’s Plan

 

Dunsj had run very far before he could manage to come to a halt and calm himself down. He looked back at where he had collided with Leesha…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks to himself] ok… calm down… no need to worry… She can’t possibly know that it was I she ran into… but still… she might have caught my scent… [Pauses] I’d better go back and remove any traces I’ve might have left….

 

He turned back to the waterhole and carefully eliminating all traces he had left. Just as he was done, a rustle in the grass was heard. A couple of seconds later a lioness emerged from the high grass and headed for the waterhole. Dunsj froze and did not move a muscle. He sat silent and watched this new lioness drink. When she seemed to have satisfied her thirst she began to talk to herself…

 

Tanwe:                      heh… invisible creatures indeed… I wonder how much she’ll remember of this tomorrow…

 

Suddenly a plan took shape inside Dunsj’s mind…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks for himself] what an opportunity this is…

 

He made himself visible and spoke out loud…

 

Dunsj:                      excuse me miss lioness… what was it you said about invisible creatures?

Tanwe:                      [startled] AAH!!! [Calms down] Who are you?

Dunsj:                      Me? I am Dunsj the half demon… and now you’ll tell me everything you know…

 

Suddenly their gazes met. Tanwe tried desperately to tear herself away from Dunsj’s hypnotic gaze… but to no avail…

 

Dunsj:                      now tell me about this pride you belong to…

Tanwe:                      [static hollow voice] what do you wish to know?

Dunsj:                      how many members does it contain?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] fifteen lions…

Dunsj:                      good… how about any shamans or healers?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] yes… one shaman.

Dunsj:                      and the name of that shaman?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] her name is Slodia.

 

Dunsj eyes opened wide as he heard the name Tanwe told him.

 

Dunsj:                      [exclaims] Slodia? A panthress?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] yes.

Dunsj:                      very well… Is there anything else about your pride worth knowing?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] yes… Kikafu the prince is been given lessons on how to rule. His mentor is Aihatu.

Dunsj:                      ah heck… Aihatu too?

Tanwe:                      [continues with the same voice as before] … and when he is ready to become king. I will try to get his attention. He is so handsome.

Dunsj:                      you can skip that part… proceed…

Tanwe:                      [static voice] yes. There are also two cheetahs that more or less live with us.

 

Dunsj perked his ears as he heard the word “cheetah”. He mentioned for the hypnotized lioness to continue.

 

Tanwe:                      [static voice] it is a male and a female, I believe they are mother and son. I haven’t got hold of their names.

Dunsj:                      ok… that’d be enough for now… you will wake up within a minute and all you’ll remember is that you took a long refreshing drink, got that?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] got it!

Dunsj:                      and you will meet me here in tree days, got it?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] got it!

Dunsj:                      good… now go back to your pride and fall asleep.

Tanwe:                      [static voice] yes.

 

She turned around and headed back for the priderock. Dunsj went invisible again, but his evil chuckle could be heard…

 

 

Chapter LVI

Freedom in Captivity

 

The next morning brought nothing but heavy rain clouds that mercilessly poured there contains down on the lands. In the tree that the panthress shaman used as her home, the raindrops found their way trough the foliage and down onto the sleeping leopards.

The cub Rai woke up when a very large drop fell on his nose. Shivering and partly soaked he snuggled up to Slodias warm body…

 

His entire world had crashed down before him all at once. All he had left now was the black panthress whom he snuggled up to…

 

Rai:                      [turns his head to Slodias] Aunt Slodia?

 

The panthress continued to sleep. Rai sighed and got up on his paws and tried to shake the water out from his fur. Then he padded over to a hole in the web of branches and foliage that Slodia used when she came up into or left the tree. Rai poked his head out trough the hole and looked down the trunk of the tree.

 

Rai:                      [thinks for himself] no… I can’t leave her. Where could I possibly go?

 

He turned back to Slodia and began to brush his head against hers, making her wake up.

She opened her eyes and smiled to him…

 

Slodia:                      hie Rai… slept well?

Rai:                      [looks down into the ground] well… [Looks up at her] no…

Slodia:                      still having nightmares, eh?

Rai:                      [nods]

Slodia:                      [licks him on his muzzle] I really wish I could make them go away Rai…

 

Rai gazed briefly into her eyes before turning away. Slodia stopped grooming him and a short period of silence followed…

 

Slodia:                      [breaks the silence] ugh… horrible weather… doesn’t you think?

Rai:                      yeah… but still… it is necessary for the survival of this land… [Pauses] … dad told me that…

Slodia:                      can’t say he wasn’t right… because he was… the rain is needed indeed…

 

Yet another period of silence followed… the rain continued to pound down with out mercy on the foliage above. A little now and then some water would come trough the foliage and own on them. Slowly Rai began to shiver in cold…

 

Rai:                      it’s so cold and wet here… I wish that we could go somewhere there it did not rain in…

Slodia:                      come over to me Rai and I’ll warm you…

 

Rai snuggled up to Slodia and the panthress nuzzled him and did her best to cover him. She also groomed him in order to get him dry and warm again…

 

The day passed by and the rain ceased late in the afternoon. Rai’s stomach had began to make noises and an overwhelming hunger had come over them both…

 

Rai:                      Slodia… I’m hungry…

Slodia:                      [nuzzles him] so am I… I’ll go find us something nice to eat… don’t worry, I’ll be back in no time…

 

Rai was just about to tell her something when she rose to her paws and left the tree…

He wasn’t old enough to eat anything else than milk…

Suddenly the taste of his mother, Thanetas, milk lingered in his mouth…

Happy memories began to resurface in his mind and he came to think of how much he had taken for granted that was no longer. Everything seemed so unfair… and before he knew it, he was sobbing in his paws…

 

Slodia made her way towards the priderock and came just in time to find three lionesses drag a zebra towards their home. Slodia approached them…

 

Slodia:                      hello girls…

Lioness:                      [stops pulling the zebra] hello Panthress… what brings you here?

Slodia:                      well actually I came to see if I could find something to eat…

Lioness2:                      seems like you came right in time then… you can have the leftovers…

Slodia:                      [raises an eyebrow] the leftovers) I had like a whole steak in mind…

Lioness:                      [glares at Slodia] then why don’t you hunt for yourself?

Slodia:                      tell me, you don’t have any clue about who I am do you?

Lioness:                      no, I don’t know who you are… and I don’t care either…

Slodia:                      [gives the lioness an odd gaze] well, in that case I can tell you… I am Slodia…

Lioness:                      [interrupts her] ah shut up will you? No one cares who you are…

Slodia:                      well… can’t you just give me a piece of that zebra and I’ll leave you…

Lioness:                      No way, it’s ours!

Lioness2:                      [to the first lioness] Ghene… just give her a bloody steak and let her be gone with it…

Ghene:                      No Katzeh, I’m not going to give that panthress anything… it’s ours, we caught it, and we don’t have to share it with anyone…

Katzeh:                      what about the others of this pride then, aren’t we going to share it with them?

Ghene:                      who cares about them?

Slodia:            if I understood this right, then you’re going to eat this zebra without sharing it with your pride?

Ghene:                      [glares at Slodia] are you still here? No, we’ll not share it with anyone! Now piss off and let us eat….

Slodia:                      oh I’ll remember that one the day you come crawling with some disease…

 

Slodia turned away from them and tried her best to conceal her anger. Then she went to the priderock…

 

At the base of the rock Kamu met her. The lioness greeted her…

 

Kamu:                      hello Slodia, how are you?

Slodia:                      angry…

Kamu:                      [looks puzzled] angry? How come?

Slodia:            I just met three very arrogant lionesses not far from here…

Kamu:                      oh… let me guess… it was Ghene, Katzeh and Illaya, right?

Slodia:                      [nods] yeah… and they had caught a Zebra which they refused to share with anyone…

Kamu:                      [sighs] it is about time someone thought them some manners… or kicked their tails out of the pride…

Slodia:                      somehow I’ prefer the first alternative… [Pauses] well anyway… is Aihatu nearby?

Kamu:                      yep… and ol’ miss sleepy head is still sleeping…

Slodia:                      [grins] then I’ll have to wake her up…

 

Kamu nodded grinning as Slodia walked past her and entered the den. She went straight towards Aihatu who slept in one of the innermost corners of the cave. Snuggled up to her laid Kikafu.

Slodia watched them for a couple of moments before she began to nudge Aihatu in her side. When no reaction came, she began to tickle the old lioness. Aihatu began to giggle in her sleep, then to chuckle and finally to wake up… to see Slodias grinning face.

 

Aihatu:                      oh you… you…

Slodia:                      [fills her in] … panthress?

Aihatu:                      [smirks] yeah… that too…

 

The lioness gave the panthress one last annoyed gaze before showing Kikafu aside so that she could rise up….

 

Aihatu:                      so… what’s gnawing at you Slodia?

Slodia:                      [looks surprised] why do you think anything is bothering me?

Aihatu:                      that’s very simple, if nothing had been wrong, then you wouldn’t have come this early…

Slodia:                      seems like you know me well…

Aihatu:                      [grins] care to tell me what it is?

Slodia:                      [nods] three of your lionesses aren’t behaving themselves.

Aihatu:                      well… actually it is Kiká’s lionesses… he’s the heir after all… and I know whom you’re talking about… Ghene and her sisters…

Slodia:                      yep… and someone ought to teach them a lesson or two…

Aihatu:           I had gladly done it if I had been younger…

Slodia:                      [nods] I do hope that Kiká can get them into line when he gets older…

Aihatu:                      so do I… [Pauses] that reminds me that I should get myself together and give Kikafu another lesson in how to rule… I’ve been postponing it for too long now…

Slodia:            I guess you’ll be busy then…

Aihatu:                      sorry that I cant help you Slodia… but wait… why don’t you and Leesha go and see if you can’t change the minds of our three little self-seekers?

Slodia:                      well… sounds fun enough…

 

Aihatu shook her daughter back to being awake…

 

Aihatu:                      [to Leesha] Rise and shine my daughter!

Leesha:                      [glares tiredly at Aihatu] uh… couldn’t you have awakened me a “little” earlier?

Aihatu:                      nupe, not a chance Leesha…

 

Leesha gave her an annoyed gaze before she noticed Slodia…

 

Leesha:                      hey aunt Slodia…

Slodia:                      good morning Leesha… did ya sleep well?

Leesha:                      well… I did… until my loving and caring mother woke me up…

Slodia:                      [laughs] yea… but when I tell you why we woke you up, you’d certainly appreciate that we did…

Leesha:                      [curious] why did you two wake me up then?

Slodia:                      well… I think you’re familiar with Ghene and her little gang…

Leesha:                      don’t remind me of them…

Slodia:                      then you know them… and I’d like to, with your help, give them a lesson in good manners…

Leesha:                      you are? Then sign me up!

Slodia:                      Didn’t I tell you that you’d like the reason of waking you up?

Leesha:                      yeah… you did…

 

Slodia mentioned for Leesha to follow her outside…

Aihatu watched them leave, sitting next to the still sleeping Kikafu…

 

Slodia and Leesha went down the bath and began to plan what to do with Ghene and her bunch…

 

 

Chapter LVII

Compelled Curiosity

 

 

Tanwe woke up just a few moments after that Slodia and Leesha had left. She knew she had some very strange dreams during the night, but she couldn’t remember anything from them. She sat up on her haunches and was evidently confused. Aihatu noticed that Tanwe was awake and turned her attention to the lioness…

 

Aihatu:                      good morning… Tanwe… right?

Tanwe:                      [confused] huh? uh… yeah… I’m Tanwe… and you are… uhm… Kamu?

Aihatu:                      [shakes her head] no… not Kamu… try again.

Tanwe:                      hmm… Aihatu then?

Aihatu:                      yep….

Tanwe:                      gee… I’ll never learn all those names.

Aihatu:                      don’t worry Tanwe; I actually took a chance guessing your name.

Tanwe:                      oh… then I’m not the only one to be lousy at remembering names.

 

Aihatu:                      definitely not… [Looks briefly at Kikafu] but I’m sure you know the name of this fella here

Tanwe:           I know, he’s Kikafu…

Aihatu:                      heh… good

Tanwe:                      You know… I’d really like to learn to know more about him than just knowing his name…

Aihatu:           I guess there’s no harm in that… but just remember to be a little careful… his nerves is a bit fragile at the moment…

Tanwe:                      sure… [Looks at Kikafu] he lost his dad when we were freed, didn’t he?

Aihatu:                      [sighs] yes he did… and he also lost his mother when that Kubaki took over here…

Tanwe:                      [bites her lip] gee… I feel a bit guilty now…

Aihatu:                      don’t be… you were all under Kubaki’s control… it wasn’t your fault. And if anyone ever blames you or any of the others, then he’ll answer to me…

Tanwe:                      thanks for your confidence Aihatu…

 

A short silence occurred between them…

 

Tanwe:                      well… if I don’t remember wrong… weren’t there one or two leopardesses with us while Kubaki controlled us?

Aihatu:                      there were indeed two leopardesses. We had to kill one of them in self-defence and the other one escaped…

Tanwe:                      sad to hear… I’m sure they must’ve been just as confused as we were…

Aihatu:                      one thing is certain… we’ll never know the truth about them…

Tanwe:                      sadly enough… [Thinks for a while] I have a vague memory of another lioness that was tricked to join Kubaki’s pride only a few weeks before you came…

Aihatu:                      oh… that was Xiamu…

Tanwe:                      what became of her? Was she killed too?

Aihatu:                      no… I exiled her…

Tanwe:                      exiled? Why, what had she done?

Aihatu:                      she was a part of our pride, while we lived in exile ourselves… there I also banished her…

Tanwe:                      but what had she done wrong?

Aihatu:                      [shakes her head] nothing… she had done nothing wrong… I exiled her the first time for no good reason… and the second time I exiled her in a fit of anger to see her here…

Tanwe:                      but what did she do in the first place?

Aihatu:                      the only thing she did was to be in her season…

Tanwe:                      … ooh, I get it. She was a little too friendly to your king…

Aihatu:                      yes… and that was just after that we had been chased away from those lands. He was, so to say, heart broken…

Tanwe:                      oh…

Aihatu:                      and… her little escapade only made things worse… or so I thought… I just got so pissed off when I found out… because I had made her promise not to attempt any move on Timba…

Tanwe:                      oh… well… now I know more than I did just a few minutes ago… can we drop the topic now?

Aihatu:                      sure…

Tanwe:                      thanks… well… I’m off to the waterhole now... care to join me?

Aihatu:                      nah… I’d like to, but I’m going to spend the day with Kikafu… I’ll have to teach him how to rule this land when he gets old enough…

Tanwe:                      well… how about this? All three of us go to the waterhole, I get a drink and you can teach Kikafu at the same time… and if you should get thirsty, then you got water nearby.

Aihatu:                      sounds like a good idea… I’ll just wake Kiká up and then we’ll go…

 

Aihatu bent her head down to Kikafu and nudged him softly with her nose. Kikafu opened his eyes and gazed absently at the two lionesses.

 

Aihatu:                      c’mon Kiká… its time for your long delayed lesson now

Kikafu:                      [yawns] oh… alright… [Looks to Tanwe] oh… good morning Tanwe.

Tanwe:                      [smiles] morning your highness.

 

Kikafu smiled back at her before turning to Aihatu.

 

Kikafu:                      I’m ready now, aunt Aihi

Aihatu:                      fine… we’ll begin at the waterhole

Kikafu:                      Okie…

 

Aihatu and Kikafu went together out trough the entrance of the cave and then headed for the first waterhole. Tanwe stretched out a little before going with them…

 

 

Chapter LVIII

Feeding Problem

 

Slodia and Leesha were walking around on the savannah, busy discussing different topics. Slodia was just about to comment on Leesha’s last suggestion as she sent a gaze towards her tree. It hit her like a cold shower; she had almost forgot why she had left her tree in the first place.

 

Slodia:                      Leesha… sorry for interrupting… but I need some fresh meat…

Leesha:                      [confused] fresh meat? What for?

Slodia:                      I… eh… just remembered that I should make some more medicine today.

Leesha:                      oh… I see… um… does it require any special kind, or would anything do it?

Slodia:                      no, not at all… just bring me the first you can catch… and please bring it to my tree then you’d be a real darling…

Leesha:                      sure… I guess we could continue this discussion later then…

Slodia:                      [nods] yea…

Leesha:                      good… and now you’d better get some speed on your paws… unless you want me to wait for you at the tree…

Slodia:                      [grins] in your dreams…

 

The panthress grinned some more before she dashed off towards her tree… Leesha shrugged and went out on the prowl…

 

Within the safety and shelter that Slodia’s tree provided, the leopard cub padded back and fro. Waiting impatiently and with a gnawing hunger in his stomach. All of the strange objects and doodads that hung from branches above him began to attract his attention. When studying one of them closely he saw that it was a fragment of a bone with multicoloured feathers attached to it. Not having any idea what it could be for he decided to let it be.

 

Instead he turned his attention to a bundle of different herbs that lay neatly tucked away in a small cavity on a vertical branch. While studying the weeds he heard the sound of claws digging into the bark of the tree. Frightened he crept close to the branch he stood on, almost as if trying to sink trough the tree itself.

 

A second later he saw Slodia pull herself up into the tree and he let out a sigh of relief…

 

Slodia:                      there you are Rai… [Pauses] I’ll have some food for you very soon…

Rai:                      but… mom said that… that… …

 

Mentioning his mother caused a cold hand to grip around his heart and throat. He went silent and his face turned sad again. Slodia moved over to him and licked him on his chin… but Rai pulled away from her.

Slodia could see how the memories he had was tormenting him.

 

Slodia:            I only wish to help you Rai…

Rai:                      [sniffs] I know… I… I’m sorry [sniffs]

Slodia:            it is I who should be sorry Rai…

 

She was suddenly interrupted by that someone yelled her name down from the ground bellow.

She gave Rai an affectionate nuzzle and a quick kiss on his forehead before she went to see whom it was that called for her…

 

She gazed down to the ground trough the hole and saw Leesha stand there looking up with two dead rats at her front paws. The lioness was just about to call again when she saw Slodia’s grinning face.

 

Leesha:                      oh, there you are… [Mentions at the rats] look what I brought you… would they be sufficient?

Slodia:                      [nods] they’ll do just fine… I’m coming down for them…

Leesha:                      well, why not save you the trouble by bringing them up to you? I’d really like to see how you turn those vermin into good medicine…

 

Slodia was just about to object, but before she even could open her mouth Leesha was already halfway up the trunk of the tree. With some effort Leesha managed to pull herself up on the lowest branch and hen put the rats down and grinned to Slodia.

 

Leesha:                      All right Slodia… do your magic on them…

 

She lost her speech as her eyes saw Rai try his best to hide behind a shell of a turtle. She stood totally speechless and gazed at the leopard cub…

 

Slodia:                      Leesha… I can explain…

Leesha:                      [astonished] why… why didn’t you tell us that you had a cub? What kind is it… what is its name?

 

Slodia quickly thought of a white lie to tell Leesha…

 

Slodia:                      [lies] I… I didn’t know if you would accept him… knowing that some around here aren’t too over confident when it comes to leopards…

Leesha:                      that’s not true Slodia… I am very sure they’d accept him… and well [grins] if they didn’t then I’d have a little chat with them…

 

Leesha felt how curiosity took over her mind. She walked over to Rai, bent her head down and sniffed at him… The cub shivered in fear by the presence of the young lioness…

Leesha suddenly felt how Slodia tapped her on her shoulder

 

Slodia:                      Leesha… he’s afraid of you… just back off a little and I’ll talk to him, ok?

Leesha:                      oh… ok!

 

Slodia went over to Rai and stroked him gently to reassure him…

 

Slodia:                      [to Rai] she’s a friend of mine, Rai… you have nothing to fear from her…

 

Rai nodded slightly but did not tear his gaze from Leesha. The young lioness smiled at him, looking as friendly as she could. Slodia continued to stroke the startled cub as she turned her head to Leesha…

 

Slodia:                      [to Leesha] go on, say something to him…

Leesha:                      [to Rai] Rai? I’m sorry that I scared you… it was not my intention…

 

Rai continued to look at her, silent but thinking… after a while he reached out for her with his paw…

 

Rai:                      friends?

 

Leesha smiled and touched his paw with her own…

 

Leesha:                      we’re definitely friends, Rai!

 

Slodia couldn’t help smiling…

 

Slodia:                      that’s good… [Short pause] well, if you excuse us, Leesha… I was going to feed him…

Leesha:                      no trouble at all… [Smiles to Rai] bye Rai, see you some other time, ok?

Rai:                      sure… bye!

Slodia:                      and Leesha, another thing… please don’t tell anyone about him… I’ll do that myself when the time is right.

Leesha:                      sure Slodia!

Slodia:                      thanks… bye then…

Leesha:                      bye, bye!

 

Leesha then climbed down without much of an effort and walked away when she reached the ground.

Now when they were alone, Rai noticed the two rats that Leesha had brought…

 

Rai:                      [wrinkles his nose] ew! Rats…

Slodia:                      come one Rai… they do taste a lot better than you think…

Rai:                I doubt that…

Slodia:                      very well then… try it… it won’t hurt you…

Rai:                      Slodia… my mom said that I was too young for meat…

Slodia:                      oh… then… I’ll have to find another way to feed you…

 

Her gaze wandered from Rai and across her collection of herbs and weeds. Her eyes stopped when her gaze landed on some red-tinted herb. Carefully she took the particular herb away from where it hung.

 

Slodia:                      [mumbles to herself] …the milk giver… didn’t even know that I had one of those… I wonder if it has the same effect on a leopardess as it has on lionesses…

 

Rai watched as she put the herb in her mouth and ate it.

 

Rai:                      uhm… what does that do?

Slodia:                      well… usually it is for making lionesses give milk… I’m not sure that it’ll work the same way on me… but we can always hope that it does.

 

Suddenly she felt how her entire belly from the chest down to the groin started to itch. She laid down on her side and began scratching her belly like a mad…

 

Rai gave her a puzzled look there she lay, itching herself all over. A few moments later the itch ceased and Slodia drew a sigh of relief…

 

Slodia:                      gee… I think it worked…

 

She turned her head to Rai, who still looked very puzzled, and gave him a smile…

 

Slodia:                      go on; don’t think that I went trough this for my own amusement…

 

Rai shrugged and went over to Slodia, who was still lying on her side. He settled down at Slodias belly but hesitated for a moment. Slodia nudged him with her paw. Rai took a deep breath before he began to draw milk from Slodia’s belly…

 

 

Chapter LIX

Diabolic Presence

 

Early the following morning Leesha came to Slodias tree and called out for the shaman.

 

The panthress was already awake when Leesha came so she turned her attention away from what she was doing and looked down upon Leesha.

 

Slodia:                      good morning Leesha… it’s not like you yo be up this early…

Leesha:                      what? Ain’t one allowed to change a little?

Slodia:                      [grins] but of course.

Leesha:                      [grins back] actually… I cane here so that we could finish the discussion we started yesterday… you know, the one about the three you-know-who’s

Slodia:                      oh yeah… sure, I’ll be right with you… I just have to tell “him” that I’ll be gone for a while…

Leesha:                      sure, I’ll wait here.

 

Slodia turned to the still sleeping leopard cub. Rai was laying on his back a few decimetres away from her, pawing at the air in his sleep. She nudged him lightly, causing his eyes to open…

 

Slodia:                      morning Rai, slept well?

Rai:                      [groans] no…

Slodia:                      same nightmares again, huh?

Rai:                      [nods]

Slodia:                      [strokes him gently on his shoulder] I still wish that I could make them leave you alone…

Rai:                      me too…

 

He got up and rubbed his head against her foreleg and she bent her head down and nuzzled him…

 

Slodia:                      Rai, I will have to leave you here for a short while… can you manage that?

Rai:                      [looks at her] will you be far away?

Slodia:                      [chuckles] no dear, I’ll be in visible range from this tree. If anything happens just yell out my name and I’ll be here as fast as I can, ok?

Rai:                      okay… [Hesitates] I’m a little hungry tough…

Slodia:                      well… that will be dealt with right away…

 

She laid down on her side with her belly presented to Rai. The cub still hesitated but he started to nurse her side anyway.

 

Slodia:                      that’s a good boy…

 

Rai kneaded her tummy with his paws while nursing… and without knowing it he started to purr. Slodia laid her head to the ground, closed her eyes and listened to the soft hum that emitted from the cub.

 

Down at the ground Leesha began to grow a little impatient. She walked back and fro like a restless spirit. Now and then she would stop and send a gaze up to the tree, only to see that Slodia was still unseen.

Then she continued to pad around in a little circle until she got dizzy. She sat down and waited for the dizziness to go away. Letting her gaze wander absently she suddenly saw a cheetah pad towards her. She called out for it…

 

Leesha:                      hey Rasawah!

Rasawah:                      yoah zibihi Leesha…

Leesha:                      soo… how are you today then?

Rasawah:       a little pissed off…

Leesha:                      don’t tell… I can guess that you met Ghene and her sisters, right?

Rasawah:                      yeah… they harassed be verbally by saying that my fur was so badly kept that it had spots on it…

Leesha:          if it would help you feel better Ras… then I think that your spots look terrific on you. I think they are jealous because you got such beautiful fur.

Rasawah:                      [smiles] heh, thanks. Say, you haven’t seen Slodia around here, have you?

Leesha:                      [makes a gesture to the tree] she’s up there… very busy for the moment.

Rasawah:                      well, I guess I’ll just sit here and wait with you then… all those scars on my face have begun to itch all by sudden… it’s killing me.

Leesha:                      oh… [Thinks for a moment] didn’t you get those scars from a demon?

Rasawah:                      yes… I got them from that… demon…

Leesha:                      lucky for you that your mother saved you

Rasawah:                      yeah… [Looks up to the top of the tree] what’s taking Slodia so long anyway?

 

Leesha shrugged. She knew what Slodia was doing, but she had promised not to tell anyone about Rai.

 

Leesha:          I have no Idea… but I’m sure she’ll be done very soon.

 

Suddenly they heard Slodias voice from above them.

 

Slodia:                      actually I’m already done. Make way and I’ll be down with you.

 

She easily climbed down the trunk of the tree and got down to the ground.

 

Slodia:                      [smiles] hello Rasawah.

Rasawah:                      yoah Slodia… I wonder if you could help me…

Slodia:                      depends on what you need help with

Rasawah:                      all those scars on my face has begun itching like hell…

Slodia:                      hmm… let me have a look at them…

 

She stepped over to Rasawah and studied his face carefully.

 

Slodia:                      as far as I know of demon-inflicted wounds… the demon that caused those must be somewhere nearby…

Rasawah:                      Nearby… like it was lurking right behind me?

Slodia:                      uh… no, but well… somewhere in the pridelands… [Turns to Leesha] Leesha, I think we’ll have to set our discussion to a later time. You’ll have to go tell Aihatu… Having a demon lurking on our doorstep can be very dangerous.

Rasawah:                      well, why don’t we all go tell her? I don’t like to be alone out here with the knowledge that a demon is around. Especially not when the specific demon already tried to kill me.

Leesha:                      your right Ras, we should go… all four of us…

Rasawah:                      [raises an eyebrow] four?

Leesha:                      err… I mean three…

Rasawah:                      ok then… why tarry about here? Let’s be going right away.

 

All three of them, the lioness, the panthress and the cheetah half-breed turned their heads in the direction of the priderock. While walking Slodia couldn’t quite get rid of the feeling that something horrible would happen to Rai while she was gone. She had told him that she’d be near the tree. Who would come to his aid if something happened? Several horrible scenarios appeared in her mind and she struggled not to let it show on her face that she was worried.

 

 

Chapter LX

Evil Influence

 

 Dunsj was roaming trough the vast expanses of grass that covered most of the pridelands. He was invisible to avoid detection.

He was searching for something. Something about the two cheetahs that Tanwe had told him about was bothering him very much. He was following a very fresh trail of scent that someone had left recently.

The scent was another so extremely familiar one that he could not place his claw on. He walked with his nose and eyes pointed into the ground. He did wasn’t really aware of where he was going and soon he had ran his head into the trunk of Slodias tree.

 

Up in the tree Rai heard something. With caution he went over to the hole in the dense branches and looked down. He gasped as he saw something move around down there…

 

Dunsj suddenly got the feeling of being watched, and when he heard Rai gasp he knew that he was not alone. He followed the trunk of the tree with his eyes until his gaze landed upon Rai… who was looking back at him…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks for himself] can it see me? No… don’t be silly Dunsj. No one can see me!

 

But Rai had seen him. The little cubs yellow eyes sent a frightened gaze straight into the half demons ruby-red eyes…

 

Rai:                      [yells out] SLODIA!!! HEEEEELP!!!

 

Dunsj cursed loudly… the little leopard cub had seen him. Without hesitation he began to climb up into the tree, his eyes locked on Rai. The cub backed away and hid in a little cavity that Slodia used to store herbs in. Carefully he covered himself with all the weeds. Some seconds later the invisible Dunsj came up into the tree…

 

Dunsj:                      [somewhat sinister voice] come here, cubby, cubby… I don’t know how on earth you could see me, but that will not matter. It is nothing personal, cub, but I can’t allow you to tell everyone about me…

 

Rai lay perfectly still, concealed under a thin layer of weeds and dried foil. He was begging for Slodia to arrive and rescue him.

 

Dunsj:                      [sinister voice] come out, come out, wherever you are…

 

Rai heard how Dunsj came dangerously close to his hiding place…

 

Dunsj padded around on the branches, his rubies for eyes scanning for the leopard cub. But no matter how hard he looked he could not find Rai.

 

Dunsj:                      [getting a little angry] Don’t make me tear this place apart to find you!

 

Dunsj stood still and did not say anything. A compact silence laid itself over the tree. Nothing could be heard, until Rai started to hear his own heart beat…

 

Dunsj:                      [evil, crooning voice] I can hear you now…

 

Suddenly the half demon stood and glared angrily into the cavity that Rai hid in. He swiped the weeds that hid the cub away with his paw. Dunsj grinned sharp toothed at Rai.

 

Dunsj:                      You know… I usually don’t take pleasure from taking others souls. But I will enjoy ripping your out.

 

 He reached out for Rai with his paw to drag him out, but Rai bit Dunsj’s paw before it could get a hold around him. Dunsj withdrew his paw very quickly…

 

Dunsj:                      Ow you little brat! You asked for this!

Rai:                      [snarls] go away!!!

Dunsj:                      höh? [Mocks] what was THAT? Eh?

Rai:                      [snarls] just you wait until Slodia gets here, she’ll kick your butt!

Dunsj:                      [scornful] Slodia eh? Kick my butt eh? I wouldn’t hope for such a miracle if I were you…                      now come out here before I take you out… in pieces!

Rai:                      [snarls] Go away!!!

Dunsj:                      pah! As if you could order me around…

 

Suddenly Dunsj’s gaze met with the leopard cubs. Rais eyes suddenly shifted in yellow, giving them a brief glowing appearance. Dunsj saw something familiar about Rai. Rais eyes shifted back to normal again, but it seemed like all the fear that was in the cub had been passed on to Dunsj. The half demon wasn’t as confident as he had been before, in fact, he was afraid. Without staying any longer Dunsj escaped from the tree and vanished in the vast fields of grass.

 

Rai remained in the cavity, not really knowing what to think of what had just happened.

 

Dunsj headed for the western border and stopped as soon as he had crossed it. Exhausted he fell to his side, breathing heavily and became visible again…

 

Dunsj:                      [talks to himself] oh my… what the heck was that? [Pants] that wasn’t a demon… it was far worse… It like that lion that… Zifa hated so much… only ten times worse…

 

He took a deep breath to calm himself down…

 

Dunsj:                      [still talking to himself] that… cub… gesh… [Shudders] I’ve never been so scared before in my life! I’ll have to deal with that cub some day… before it grows stronger…

 

He shivered slightly as he thought of Rai again. He shook his head repeatedly to clear out his thoughts.

 

 

Chapter LXI

A Lesson

 

Kikafu sat next to Aihatu on the top of the priderock and gazed out into never-ending plains bellow them.

 

Aihatu:                      [to Kikafu] you know Kiká… I really enjoy sitting up here to watch the sun as rises and sets.

Kikafu:                      well… me too, I guess…

Aihatu:                      [smiles and turns her head to him] good… [Pauses] When I was the queen of the Rimlands, I thought Leesha how to rule… it was my wish that she would take over the day I passed on… But it seems as if fate wanted different. We were chased away from our lands by demons. But we were also lucky enough to get here…

Kikafu:                      lucky? Nearly all of the rimlanders are dead except for you, Leesha and Kamu…

Aihatu:                      [sighs] that is true… but I meant that we were lucky not to be killed by demons…

Kikafu:                      [bites his lip] why did the demons invade the Rimlands in the first place?

Aihatu:           I don’t know… they do things without any reason at all… [Sighs] I do hope that they’ll never cross the desert to spoil these lands with their filthy presence…

 

They looked at each other for a few, silent seconds…

 

Aihatu:                      well… I could as well just continue telling what happened when we came here. It was, after all, before you were born.

Kikafu:                      please tell, Aihi…

Aihatu:                      [continues] ok then… the first of those that lived here we met was Bubby the crow. He more or less cross-examined us with a lot of questions about who we were and why we had come. I told him nothing but the truth and he believed us. A little while later he fetched your father and his pride…

 

She silenced for a few seconds as she searched her memories for what happened next…

 

Aihatu:                      [continues] Ah… yes, I remember that I thought that Timba seemed loath to help us. So I said to him “If you can’t let us stay, then please take care of Leesha for me”… to my surprise he allowed us to stay…

Kikafu:                      oh, you mean, that if dad hadn’t let you stay, then Leesha had been my… sister?

Aihatu:                      well, stepsister would be more correct…

Kikafu:                      [smiles] well, she has become like a sister to me anyway…

 

Another short period of silence occurred between them…

 

Aihatu:                      well… let’s talk about something else, shall we?

Kikafu:                      sure…

Aihatu:           I wanted to ask you a question about those two cheetahs, Watabi and Rasawah. I’m very curious about Rasawah, because I’d swear that he’d been a lion if he hadn’t been covered with spots…

Kikafu:                      [looks at her] Leesha said something similar to that when we first met him.

Aihatu:                      she did? Heh… like mother like daughter I guess. Anyway… there is something strangely familiar about him… and I’m not referring to that his face is all cut to pieces… its something about his eyes…

Kikafu:                      [sighs] I guess I’d better tell you… Rasawah is my half-brother…

Aihatu:                      he is what?

Kikafu:                      my half-brother…  Watabi told me that she was once Timba’s mate… and that he fathered Rasawah without knowing anything about it.

Aihatu:                      but… that means that he’s… oh my god…

Kikafu:                      now you know the truth… but I guess either of us who knew would tell you…

Aihatu:                      [feels a bit awkward] I… am quite surprised…

 

Kikafu did not reply and another moment of silence occurred.

 

Kikafu:           I guess almost everything is surprising these days… [Looks into the ground] I really wish that my dad were still alive… then I would at least have one of my parents…

Aihatu:                      [manages to suppress her thoughts about Rasawah] I wish that too, Kiká… both of your parents were good friends of mine…

 

It went quiet again. And after a while Aihatu decided that they should go down again. She rose to her paws and mentioned for Kikafu to do the same.

 

 

Chapter LXII

Revising the Plan

 

Dunsj was waiting for Damu to arrive at the appointed place. It was a tree standing in a pile of rocks. Dunsj sat underneath the tree and scanned the area for any sign of Damu. After having waited for half an hour, the crimson lion finally appeared.

 

Dunsj:                      Ey there Damu!

Damu:                      Hello to you Dunsj.

Dunsj:            I have a plan Damu. This plan might get an entire pride of lionesses to adore you Damu

Damu:                      Let me hear then Dunsj

Dunsj:                       sure… I’ve found out, trough a spy, that there are no king in the pridelands. Only a little prince that is almost adult.

Damu:                      [nods] me do hope this plan have no killing in it.

Dunsj:                      rest assured Damu, if all goes well, not a single drop of blood would be spilt. [Continues] well anyway. All we have to do is to somehow get the pride to despise their prince, enough to expel him from their lands. And when that is done, I guess that they would accept the first lion that came and claimed the throne.

Damu:                      but what if they not accept me?

Dunsj:                      believe me, they will…or else we’ll have to create a little distraction that’d put you into the role of the hero. We could make some sort of faked threat to them that you solve.

Damu:                      hmm… not bad plan, Dunsj.

Dunsj:                      I’ll keep you informed if I discover anything else. And by the way… my spy is… quite cute actually. And I think she’ll like you when she meets with you.

Damu:                      [smiles] me like her already…

Dunsj:                      [grins] I guessed that you would. Now I’ll have to go sneak out some more secrets and stuff… bye Damu.

 

Damu nodded to him as a reply before the half demons image faded away and vanished.

 

At the same time in the pridelands, Aihatu and Kikafu met Slodia, Rasawah and Leesha…

Aihatu was a bit confused over the worried faces they had.

 

Slodia:                      Aihatu… there’s something you must know…

Aihatu:                      let me hear

Slodia:                      [looks at Kikafu] it would be best if as few as possible knew… Leesha, could you take Kiká somewhere else?

Leesha:                      sure… [Pads over to Kikafu] C’mon Kiká… lets go

 

The young lioness looked at Kikafu. She couldn’t carry him anymore because he’d grown rapidly. So she had to let him walk.

 

Slodia waited until she was sure that no one else could hear them.

 

Slodia:                      ok, I’d better tell you right away… I suspect that we have a demon lurking around here…

Aihatu:                      A… demon?

Slodia:                      [nods] a demon.

Aihatu:                      Is there more than one?

Slodia:            I don’t know. But one thing is certain; it is the same demon that caused all those scars on Rasawah’s face.

Aihatu:                      how can you know that?

Slodia:                      well, since those scars were done by a demon, and Rasawah survived the encounter. The scars will now warn whomever that wears them of the presence of the demon who caused them. Whenever the demon is near, the scars will itch.

Rasawah:                      [continues] it all began this morning. And at one time it felt like my whole face was burning.

Slodia:                      that means that the demon was so close that you could touch it. [To Rasawah] do you feel anything right now?

Rasawah:                      no, just a faint tingle in the skin, nothing more…

Aihatu:                      that means that the demon is… far away, right?

Slodia:                      yes. And even if Rasawah can warn us, the demon might invoke its influence on some of us.

                      We must take precautions so that no one falls under the control of the demon.

Aihatu:                      what do you suggest Slodia?

Slodia:                      well, one simple precaution would be that no one goes anywhere alone.

Aihatu:                      but what about you then, you live all alone? Will you come live with us now?

Slodia:                      no, I think I’m able to resist the demon.

Aihatu:                      but still… I can tell some to live with you, just in case…

Slodia:                      [shakes her head] no, you don’t have to Aihi. I can take care of myself. Your job will be to find a way to make the pride adapt to these precautions without causing any panic.

Aihatu:                      Sure, I’ll do what I can…

Slodia:                      and Rasawah, from now on you and your mother will have to sleep in the den. We can’t risk losing you.

Rasawah:                      [seems hesitant] I… ok… I’ll talk to Watabi as soon as I see her.

Slodia:                      good… now try to act calm… both of you

Aihatu:                      sure

Rasawah:                      of course

Slodia:                      fine… if you excuse me now, I have to replenish my stocks of medical herbs

Aihatu:                      okay… bye Slodia…

 

The panthress nodded to them before she padded away in the direction of the tree. Rasawah and Aihatu went to carry out the orders that Slodia had given them.

 

When Slodia came to her tree she sensed something. Something evil and wicked was in the air. Quickly she spurted up the trunk and up into the tree. To her horror she saw how all her stuff lay scattered about. And Rai was nowhere to be seen either. A chilling vision of Rai’s death entered Slodias mind as she began to search for any trace of the cub.

 

Slodia:                      Rai? Rai where are you?

 

As she was about to give up, she felt a foul stench over the place. She knew that smell all to well. A demon had been there. This made her search for Rai again. Suddenly she heard someone sneeze from underneath a pile of weeds and herbs. She jumped over to it and moved the vegetables away. Her face shone up when she saw Rai in it. He was breathing and very alive. She took him out from the little cavity and embraced him…

 

Slodia:                      oh Rai… thank gods that you are alright… I was so worried for you…

Rai:                      Slodia… is it gone? The red-eyed creature, is it gone?

Slodia:                      yes my precious one, it is gone now…

Rai:                      you should’ve seen it… at first I was scared for it when it came up in the tree. It wanted to kill me. So I hid here. It looked for me and then found me… but then something strange happened. It was suddenly afraid of me and ran away…

Slodia:                      [confused] ran away? The demon ran away from you?

Rai:                      [nods] yes, just as if I had been the scariest thing it had ever seen…

Slodia:                      odd… say, did you tell it your name?

Rai:                      of course not!

Slodia:                      good… [Pauses] whatever you did, you scared the demon away. I’d guess you could become a great shaman if you wanted to be that.

 

Rai did not reply to that. Instead he looked over Slodias shoulder, apparently staring into nothing.

 

Rai:                      you didn’t come when I called for you…

 

The cold statement Rai said sent a chill down Slodia’s spine. She trembled slightly for no reason…

 

Slodia:                      I’m sorry Rai… I was too far away to hear you

Rai:                      Why did you go then? You promised to be nearby…

Slodia:                      I… [Lies]  had to attend to someone who was injured… it wasn’t anything serious. I should’ve stayed here to protect you Rai…

 

She let go of him and he sat down in front of her, looking up into her eyes. Suddenly it seemed like his eyes gleamed in a yellow light that came from deep inside him. A second later his eyes were back to normal again. Slodia saw it and gasped….

 

Rai:                      What is wrong aunt Slodia?

Slodia:                      [shakes her head] ah… nothing. My eyes must be deceiving me…

Rai:                      what?

Slodia:            I just thought that I… ah… nevermind…

Rai:                      no, what is wrong Slodia? Is it something about me?

Slodia:                      your eyes… I thought that I saw something in them. I must’ve begin to feel of my old age now… I see things…

Rai:                      but, you’re not old Slodia

Slodia:                      but I am. I’m the oldest feline around these parts…

Rai:                      and I must be one of the youngest…

Slodia:                      [smiles] yep, it seems like fate has put us together Rai.

 

Rai went over to her and snuggled up to her side.

 

Rai:                I love you Slodia.

Slodia:            I love you too Rai.

 

 

Chapter LXIII

Secrets Revealed

 

Near midnight the same day, Tanwe suddenly woke from her sleep. She didn’t know why, but she felt urged to go to the waterhole. She got up and quietly she sneaked past the rest of the pride without waking any of them. When she came near the exit, she noticed Rasawah and Watabi lay sleeping in her way. She scowled at Rasawah and spat in his direction before going out from the cave. There was just something about that cheetah that she did not like at all…

 

When she came to the waterhole she sat down and was utterly confused. She wasn’t thirsty at all so why had she come here? She hadn’t even bothered to wake anyone else up, in contradictory to Aihatu’s clear orders that no one went anywhere alone.

 

She looked down into the water and saw her own image look back at her. Suddenly the water rippled and her reflection was lost. She straightened up and suddenly got the feeling of that someone sat next to her.

 

Tanwe:                      [looks around] is there anyone here?

 

No answer came, but an overwhelming feeling of deja vú came over her. This had happened before but she couldn’t remember it. She reached out with her paw to her sides, but the paw hit only air.

Suddenly a flash of memory came to her. Leesha had said something about invisible creatures… and all she remembered was that she had a long cool drink.

 

Puzzled she turned to leave, but just as she was about to take the first step, Dunsj appeared right in front of her as if he had came from the air itself. His ruby-red eyes instantly met with hers…

 

Dunsj:                      hello to you again, my little spy. Now tell me everything you have found out.

 

Tanwe tried desperately to resist Dunsj’s demand, but his gaze was so commanding that she could do nothing else than obey.

 

Tanwe:                      [static voice] I’ve found out the names of the two cheetahs. They are Rasawah and Watabi.

Dunsj:                      [curses slightly] Do you know why they are here?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] I don’t know. But Rasawah and Kikafu carry many similarities.

Dunsj:                      find out as much as you can about them.

Tanwe:                      [static voice] as you wish.

Dunsj:                      now another question. What do you know about Slodia’s cub?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] Slodia does not have any cub.

Dunsj:                      [talks to himself] hmm… curious… [To Tanwe] ok, never mind then…

Tanwe:                      [static voice] as you wish.

Dunsj:                      now do you know anything else about the two cheetahs?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] I know that there is something strange about Rasawah. I do not like him at all.

                      I know nothing else about them.

Dunsj:                      ok…now a last command. Whenever you are alone with Rasawah, be sure to be very mean to him. Call him names and such things.

Tanwe:                      [static voice] as you wish.

 

Dunsj:                      oh, and by the way… Rasawah is a filthy half-breed. Remember that.

Tanwe:                      [static voice] he is? I will remember that.

Dunsj:                      You will meet me here again in four days. All you will remember of this conversation is that you just sat here and had a nice drink, got it?

Tanwe:                      [static voice] got it!

 

Dunsj vanished into thin air again and padded away, leaving the still hypnotized lioness behind.

 

 

Chapter LXIV

Tanwe Knows

 

In the afternoon the following day Tanwe and Deya was walking about on the savannah, not really knowing what to do. Then they found Rasawah lay basking in the sun.

 

Tanwe felt how an urge to hurt him came to her mind. But she couldn’t as long as Deya was present.

 

Tanwe:                      [shouts to Rasawah] Hey Spotty! Didn’t Aihatu tell you not to go anywhere alone?

 

Rasawah rose his head and looked at Tanwe…

 

Rasawah:                      must’ve slipped my mind zibihi… but right now I’m not alone, am I?

Tanwe:                      nay… so, “spotty”, how are you then?

 

Rasawah could hear a hint of scorn in her voice, but he thought that she was kidding so he played along.

 

Rasawah:                      I’m fine thanks, how are you spot-less?

 

Deya looked at them and smiled… she too thought that Tanwe was joking.

 

Tanwe:                      well… I could tell you, if I wanted to, but I don’t…

Rasawah:                      ah well… [Turns to Deya] how about you then? How are you?

Deya:                      I’m fine, thanks for asking.

 

Tanwe snorted at Rasawah, which made both him and Deya look at her.

 

Rasawah:       is something wrong, Tanwe?

Tanwe:                      wrong? You ask me if anything is wrong?

Rasawah:                      No need to get upset… I was just asking…

Tanwe:                      Hell yea something is wrong! And it is you!

Rasawah:                      what’s wrong about me?

Tanwe:                      everything about you is wrong! You make me sick just looking at you! You filthy half-breed!

Rasawah:                      Hey!

Deya:                      TANWE! Shut up!

Tanwe:                      I’m not going to shut up… that… [Points at Rasawah] is disgusting!

Deya:                      You are HORRIBLE!!!

 

Tanwe gave them a scornful gaze and her voice was almost poisonous.

 

Tanwe:           If you are so blind, then why don’t you go nuzzle with him?

Deya:                      [snarls at her] Go away Tanwe!

Tanwe:                      [snickers] oh, you want him for yourself? Then I will not disturb you any further… I don’t care if you want to create more filth half-breeds with him…

 

She turned around arrogantly and walked away.

Deya went straight over to Rasawah, who seemed to be hurt emotionally…

 

Deya:             I don’t know what gotten into her Ras… I have never seen her like that before.

Rasawah:       I think I know why… she’s found out what I really am…

Deya:                      half-breed? Pfft, not a chance that you are one. You’re a cheetah!

Rasawah:                      look at me… then imagine that I was a lion with spots…

Deya:                      [looks closely at him] so? You have similarities to a lion… what about it? Isn’t that the way all male cheetahs look?

Rasawah:                      no, it isn’t… Tanwe was right... I am a half-breed…

 

Deyas jaw fell open and she just stood gaping and looked at him.

 

Rasawah:       I got my leonine features from my father… and not just any lion… he was also Kikafu’s father…

Deya:                      [shocked] Kikafu’s father?! That… means that…

Rasawah:                      that I am his half-brother, yes.

Deya:                      … does he know?

Rasawah:                      of course he knows, he was among the first to know…

Deya:                      who else knows?

Rasawah:                      well, Slodia does and Leesha too… and now you know as well…

Deya:             I guess… [Thinks for a moment] maybe Tanwe somehow knew that you’re a…

Rasawah:                      [interrupts her] I’m not sure, she’d been nice to me until today…

Deya:                      well, it could just be a little mood swing… she can be a little moody some days…

Rasawah:       it sounds like you’ve known her a long time…

Deya:             I have, we were born in the same pride. We’re the best of friends.

Rasawah:                      well then… let’s wait and see if Tanwe just yelled some bad chosen words at me or if she indeed knows.

Deya:                      I’ll go talk to her. Don’t worry, if I know her right, she’ll come to you tomorrow and ask you to forgive her.

 

She gave him a wink before she padded away in the same direction that Tanwe had gone.

 

 

Chapter LXV

Victims of Prejudice

 

Shortly after her banishment from the pridelands Xiamu headed east, towards what used to have been her home. The loss of her daughter was a heavy burden for her to bear, but the knowledge that she was carrying the children of the one that had ruined her life was unbearable.

 

After having left the pridelands far behind her and faced the borders to the haunted Jawlands she stopped to rest. It was first now that she noticed that a leopardess had been following her. Xiamu remembered well how she had been lured into a false sense of security by that leopardess… it was Anasti.

 

Xiamu:                      [sighs bitterly] why have you followed me? You weren’t banished…

Anasti:                      they… they would kill me if they knew that I was carrying Kubaki’s child.

 

Anasti’s words made Xiamu think of the cub that was growing inside her womb. She closed her eyes and looked very bitter.

 

Xiamu:                      [sighs again] they would have done the same to me if I had stayed there…

Anasti:                      well… seems like we are on our own now…

Xiamu:                      [opens her eyes and looks at Anasti] We? There are no we. It’s thanks to you that I ended like this…

Anasti:                      hey! It was not my fault. I have no responsibility for what he made me do.

Xiamu:                      …

Anasti:                      how would you manage alone? C’mon, we would have better chances of survival if we…

Xiamu:                      [snaps at her] What’s your problem with talking in plural all the time? [Looks away] And what is there to live for anyway?

 

Xiamu’s bitter statement gave Anasti an idea.

 

Anasti:                      how about your daughter? She could still be alive, crying for you to be with her. Have you ever thought of that?

 

Xiamu did not say anything; she was still looking away, knowing that Anasti was right.

 

Anasti:                      so what do you do? Die or live to see your daughter again?

 

Xiamu turned her head to Anasti and nodded…

 

Xiamu:                      I’m going to live.

Anasti:                      good… are we “we” now?

Xiamu:                      yes we are…

 

Anasti could see that she had managed to awaken Xiamu from her bitterness, which had been her goal.

 

Anasti:                      great, now we’ll need someplace to stay. You know these lands better than I do.

Xiamu:           I know just the place… the Crescent cave…

Anasti:                      you’ll lead the way Xiamu.

 

Xiamu raised up to her paws again, and together the lioness and the leopardess continued east towards their distant destination.

 

 

Chapter LXVI

Reflections

 

Some days later Kikafu stood alone on the moonlit top of the priderock and gazed into the starlit void above him. He felt so very lonely. He came to think of how his mother had told him that the great kings of the past were watching him… but how about the great queens? Where they up there too?

 

He missed his mother more than anything else… with a tear in his eye he fixed his gaze upon a certain star near the southern part of the horizon.

 

Kikafu:                      [whispers] I miss you mom… I want you to be here with me… [Sniffs] I really do… I have nothing left now… [Sniffs] I wish you were here with me now…

 

He sighed deeply but did not take his eyes from that star. Suddenly a faint breeze caressed his face. He wasn’t sure, but it was like the scent of his mother was present in the wind. The soft wind caressed his face as it passed by and he did not feel alone anymore… but even tough it soothed him, it did not remove his sorrow…

 

Kikafu:                      [sniffs] mom… is dad up there with you?

 

As an answer to his question the wind seemed to go around his neck and shoulders. Pinjas scent was so present that it was as if she was sitting next to him…

 

Kikafu:                      [sniffs] mom… can you take me with you?

 

The wind stopped abruptly when he spoke the question.

 

Kikafu:                      [sniffs] please [A couple of tears falls from his eyes] please mom, take me with you up there… let me be with you… [Sniffs] …again…

 

The wind did not return, and only the faint sound of crickets could be heard from far bellow him.

 

Kikafu:                      please… [Sniff] I beg you, mom…

 

But the wind did still not return and the so familiar scent of his mother was gone with it. He slowly lowered his eyes to the ground again…

 

Kikafu:                      [sniffs, whispering] … please…

 

Nothing answered to his plea. He closed his eye, trying to blink the tears away from his eyes.

Slowly he raised his head again and opened his eyes… He sighed deeply as he rose to a standing position and turned to leave…

 

Kikafu:                      I’ll never forget you mom…

 

He sighed deeply before he descended from the top of the rock.

 

He then entered the den. Inside he headed to his own spot next to Aihatu, but he stopped when he came to think of that he wasn’t really a cub anymore. In fact, it had been quite some while since he had been. He was just on the wedge to mature… Shaking his head slightly he went over to an unoccupied spot, laid down and fell asleep…

 

A couple of hours before daybreak, Kikafu were awakened by a prod in his side. It was followed by some nudges on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes he saw two very green eyes look back into his….

 

Illaya:                      good morning your highness… err… well, it isn’t really morning yet…

Kikafu:                      Illaya? [Yawns] if it isn’t morning, then why are you up?

 

The lioness looked shyly into the ground and traced a small circle with her paw…

 

Illaya:                      well… I kinda noticed that you’ve grown quite handsome since you came here

Kikafu:                      [confused] and?

Illaya:                      and… eh… I just wanted to tell you… if you even need anyone, don’t hesitate to seek me out…

Kikafu:                      uh… I’ll keep that in mind.

Illaya:                      [winks to him] thanks Kikafu.

 

The lioness padded back to her own spot in the cave, lay down and fell asleep with a happy sigh.

Kikafu couldn’t fall asleep again. Something bothered him. Absently he let his gaze wander across the pride…

 

Kikafu:                      [thinks for himself] what a strange feeling… I never noticed that they were so beautiful before… [Pauses] oh gee… what the heck am I thinking?

 

A thought appeared in his mind. They were all lionesses, and he was the only lion…

 

Suddenly he snapped out from it because someone tapped his shoulder. When he turned to see who it was, he saw Tanwe…

 

Kikafu:                      oh… Tanwe… I didn’t notice that you were awake…

Tanwe:                      well… I guess I’m very proficient in sneaking and pretending to sleep. Tell me Kiká, why are you awake this early anyway?

Kikafu:                      couldn’t sleep…

Tanwe:                      neither could I… care to join me for a drink?

Kikafu:                      sure.

 

Kikafu rose to his paws and together with Tanwe he went out from the cave and headed towards the nearest waterhole…

 

Tanwe:                      [talks while walking] … isn’t it a bit lonely for you? I mean, having no living parents…

Kikafu:                      well… I guess it is… I really miss my mother.

Tanwe:                      oh… I… feel a bit guilty because I was with the one that murdered your mother…

Kikafu:           I know Tanwe… but it wasn’t you that slew Pinja, it was Kubaki.

Tanwe:                      [sighs] but still… I’m sorry that I didn’t do anything to prevent it, your highness…

Kikafu:                      please Tanwe, you were under Kubakis control… what you did wasn’t your own actions… [Pauses] and please, call me Kiká…

Tanwe:                      … thank you… Kiká

Kikafu:                      [smiles] you’re welcome.

 

They had now reached the waterhole. Kikafu went over to drink but Tanwe watched him instead of drinking.

 

Tanwe:                      you know, Kiká… you’ve grown a lot since I first saw you.

Kikafu:                      [looks up at her] strange… isn’t it?

Tanwe:                      [smirks] yeah… very strange… I thought that you’d stay a cute cub all your life.

Kikafu:                      [smiles] heh… well, I remember that you were the one that used to carry me around…

Tanwe:                      yep, I remember that too… and I would have been much gentler to you if I hadn’t been under that bastard leopards control…

Kikafu:           I guess you would… but on the other side, if it hadn’t been for Kubaki, we’d probably never met each other.

Tanwe:                      … nothing bad that doesn’t bring any good with it… and as I see it, it’s very nice to have met someone like you Kiká...

Kikafu:                      well, it is nice to hang out with you too Tanwe…

Tanwe:                      [smirks] oh… you have no idea how nice it is…

Kikafu:                      uh… what was that supposed to mean?

Tanwe:                      [smiles at him and winks] I might tell you some day…

Kikafu:                      oh… I get it; you think that I am handsome, right?

 

Tanwe looked away embarrassed, she was blushing…

 

Tanwe:                      eh… heh heh… well…

Kikafu:                      well, you don’t look too bad yourself Tanwe…

Tanwe:                      [looks at him again, still blushing] heh… thanks Kiká…

Kikafu:                      well… I just…

 

He stopped in the middle of the sentence because Tanwe had gone over to him and stood face to face with him. Tanwe looked him straight into his eyes for some seconds. Kikafu wasn’t really sure of what she intended to do next…

 

Tanwe:                      [exclaims] ha! You do have grey eyes!

Kikafu:                      [dumbstruck] eh… what does my eye-colour have to do with it?

Tanwe:                      oh, nothing at all… I just wasn’t sure what colour your eyes had…

Kikafu:                      oh…

 

Neither of them moved there gaze from the others eyes. Kikafu noticed that her eyes was very dark bronze coloured…

 

Tanwe:                      actually I like your eyes…

Kikafu:                      want to trade yours for mine?

Tanwe:                      no silly, I like them because they… they suit you so good…

Kikafu:                      well, yours do make you look better

 

A short silence followed…

 

Tanwe:                      aren’t you going to ask me now?

Kikafu:                      [confused] ask you?

Tanwe:                      yeah… ask me… c’mon…

Kikafu:                      uh… ask you what?

Tanwe:                      the question of course!

Kikafu:                      what question?

Tanwe:                      ask me if I want to marry you!

Kikafu:                      [looks at her…] uh… I…

Tanwe:                      go on… say it… “Tanwe, will you marry me?”

Kikafu:                      I… I’m sorry… you must’ve got something wrong.

Tanwe:                      got something wrong? Not at all, it is obvious that you love me.

Kikafu:           I do enjoy your company… but…

Tanwe:                      [looks very dejected] b…but… all that talk of me being pretty then… you didn’t mean it… did you?

Kikafu:                      I…

Tanwe:                      oh… I… get it… sorry for bothering you… your highness…

 

With a sad, heartbroken sigh she turned away from him and ran away…

 

Kikafu:                      Tanwe… wait…

 

But she did not listen to him… sobbing she continued to move away from him.

Some sort of uneasy feeling came over his mind…

 

Kikafu:                      [talks to himself] why did she think I wanted to marry her? I didn’t know she was so serious about it.

 

No one had ever told him what to do in a situation like that. The only things Aihatu had thought him was a brief explanation on how to rule the land and that he should chase intruders away when he was ready for it… not knowing what to do, he decided to ask the old lioness…

 

He went back to the den and there he found Aihatu busy with preparing a hunt. Kikafu knew well that he shouldn’t bother her at the moment, so he waited patiently. A while later the hunting party left. And Aihatu sat behind, sighing sadly while looking out to the horizon. Then another lioness came up to her and they began to talk about something. After a few minutes Aihatu saw Kikafu and called him over.

 

Aihatu:                      Hey, there you are Kiká! I’ve been looking for you.

Kikafu:                      [pads over] okay… [Nods to the other lioness] Good morning Zantzeh.

 

Zantzeh nodded back…

 

Aihatu:                      well Kiká, where have you been anyway?

Kikafu:                      [sits down] well… at the waterhole… talking with Tanwe.

Aihatu:                      okay… is Tanwe still there?

Kikafu:                      [looks away] eh… she kinda ran away…

Aihatu:                      “ran away”?

Kikafu:                      yea… I think I said something dumb…

Aihatu:                      … what did you say to her, Kiká?

Kikafu:                      I’m not sure… [Looks quickly at Zantzeh] can’t I talk to you between four eyes?

Aihatu:                      sure

 

She nodded to Zantzeh, who understood and padded away from them…

 

Aihatu:                      there, now please tell…

Kikafu:           I think that I somehow made her think that I wanted to marry her…

Aihatu:                      oh… no wonder she ran away, crying no doubt.

Kikafu:           I had no idea she was serious about it…

Aihatu:                      [sighs] Kiká… I guess it is about time that someone told you about actions and consequences…

Kikafu:                      uh… whats that?

Aihatu:                      Everything you do has one or more consequences. Like if you do something wrong during a hunt, the consequence will be that you’ll miss your intended prey and you’ll have to hunt again…

Kikafu:                      [nods]

Aihatu:                      and as you might have noticed, you are on the edge of maturity and some lionesses in the pride finds you very handsome and attractive. Some of them even pray that you’ll come up to them and ask them if they want to marry you. Believe me, I have heard them…

Kikafu:                      so you mean that… Tanwe really wanted me?

Aihatu:                      yes… now tell me exactly what you said to her.

Kikafu:                      well… she said that she thought that I was handsome… and I said that she looked good herself… then she stared into my eyes and said that she liked them…

Aihatu:                      oh Kiká… you have no idea… you have done a real bummer…

Kikafu:                      huh?

Aihatu:                      you made her think that you loved her back…

Kikafu:           I did?

Aihatu:                      yes you did. Girls like when you compliment them on their looks or eyes… no wonder that the poor girl thought that you loved her…

 

Kikafu felt very uneasy with knowing that he had been such a jerk…

 

Kikafu:                      I… I wish I had known…

Aihatu:                      normally you should’ve learnt this a long time ago… but because… of the unpredictable things that happened you never learnt…

Kikafu:           I guess I’ve learnt it now…

Aihatu:                      yes, and there is much for you to catch up with…

Kikafu:                      …

Aihatu:                      well, I’ll go and talk to Tanwe and see if I can cheer her up a little… oh… I almost forgot… Zantzeh will stick around you from now on…

Kikafu:                      uh… what for?

Aihatu:                      to keep you safe… just wait right here and I’ll send her in your direction. If you have any questions, ask her, ok?

 

Aihatu strolled away from him and soon she was gone in the grass… a few moments later Zantzeh returned. She went straight over to Kikafu and sat down near him…

 

Kikafu:                      so… you’ll be my cub sitter, huh?

Zantzeh:                      [grins] well… I would prefer the term overseer instead of cub sitter, because it sounds more important.

Kikafu:                      well… why do I need an overseer anyway? I mean…

Zantzeh:                      Aihatu told me a brief explanation to all this. She believes that there are demons on the loose somewhere in these lands.

Kikafu:           a demon?

Zantzeh:                      yup, a demon… and as a security measure, no one should go anywhere alone.

Kikafu:                      so, if I have to go somewhere, you’ll have to follow me there?

Zantzeh:                      exactly, I’ll be like a second shadow to you…

Kikafu:                      oh… nice…

Zantzeh:                      yep [grins] no stinking demon will lay its filthy abdomen on you while I’m around.

Kikafu:                      that sounds very reassuring…

Zantzeh.         It is, Kikafu, it is… and… not to forget that we’ll get to know each other better…

Kikafu:           I guess… but don’t say anything about my eyes or face or nose or whatever, ok?

Zantzeh:                      sure…

Kikafu:                      … and if I compliment you, slap me across my face…

Zantzeh:                      uh… why should I?

Kikafu:                      … I don’t want to cause any more trouble than I already have…

 

Zantzeh looked at him… and laughed…

 

Zantzeh:         oh, I get it now… the other girls have been bothering you, right?

Kikafu:                      [surprised] how did you know?

Zantzeh:                      heh, I am not stupid, you know. Some of the others don’t talk about anything else than you. Illaya and Tanwe is the worst, they sometimes argue about who of them that will eventually “win” you…

Kikafu:                      “win” me?

Zantzeh:                      uhm… never mind…

Kikafu:                      come on, what did you mean?

Zantzeh:                      well, if you can’t figure out for yourself it would be a waste of time to tell you.

Kikafu:                      … in that case I don’t think that I want to know at all…

Zantzeh:                      [giggles] a wise choice…

 

Suddenly Kikafu understood what Zantzeh meant…

 

Kikafu:                      … Why do you girls bother talking about me anyway?

Zantzeh:                      soo… you figured it out [grins] well, it is quite obvious. You’re the only male within reach…

Kikafu:                      what about Rasawah then?

Zantzeh:                      don’t be silly, he’s a cheetah and we’re lionesses!

Kikafu:                      never mind…

Zantzeh:                      okay… nah… come on, my ward, lets go and hang around with the others that aren’t out hunting. And don’t worry about them bothering you. I’ll see to that they won’t get any chance at all.

Kikafu:                      well, I guess I don’t have much of a choice.

Zantzeh:                      [grins] nupe you don’t.

 

Kikafu smirked and then they both went to look for the others of the pride…

 

 

Chapter LXVII

Watabi’s Departure

 

The time that Watabi had spent living in the pridelands hadn’t been too pleasant for her. She missed her old home dearly and she didn’t feel too comfortable with having all the lionesses around even if none of them had ever been mean to her. But she felt like she hadn’t made everything good again with Rasawah.

 

Her mind was fighting with her emotions. Rasawah weighed on one side and returning to her home weighed to the other side. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

 

It was about noon of the next day that she decided to take farewell of her son and then head back to the cheetah lands in the west. She had realized that Rasawah would be able to take care of himself without her help… after all, he had a lot of friends and he was very much accepted by the pride.

 

She found Rasawah taking a nap with a couple of the other members of the pride. She went over to him and beheld his scar-covered face. He did indeed remind much of his father, even if his fur was spotted. She sighed as she looked at the stump that was left of his severed ear. She remembered well how she had in blind rage ripped it off. She shook her head at her own foolishness.

 

She woke her son gently by nudging his nose with her paw. He woke up and she hushed at him and mentioned for him to follow her. She brought him a little away from the others and she began to tell what she intended to do…

 

Watabi:                      Rasawah… there’s something I have to tell you. [Pauses] I’m going to leave the pridelands and go back home again.

Rasawah:                      [shocked] but… why? I don’t understand…

Watabi:                      I… really miss my old home. I don’t feel comfortable here with all those zibihis around. Its not that they aren’t kind towards me… its just that… I don’t feel comfortable with them.

Rasawah:                      [sighs] I understand faha… when will you leave?

Watabi:                      as soon as I am done saying farewell to you.

Rasawah:       I will miss you.

Watabi:                      don’t worry kobto nim... I will come visit you sometime. And who knows, maybe Conhaba will like to meet you when I have told him the truth.

Rasawah:                      yeah… I would very much like to meet him as well.

Watabi:                      [smiles] I have to say goodbye now, my son. [Embraces him] May Madun forever watch over you, my son.

Rasawah:                      May she also watch over you as well, faha…

 

Watabi had to let go of her embrace of Rasawah, but she wanted to hold on for as long as possible.

With a saddened sigh she finally let go of him and gave him a last smile…

 

Watabi:          I love you, kobto nim…

 

She then turned away and headed west. Rasawah kept looking after her for as long as he could. And when she had vanished in the grass, he kept looking in that direction. After a few minutes he sighed and headed back to the den…

 

 

Chapter LXVIII

Entanglement

 

 

As the cheetress crossed the invisible border of the pridelands she still felt like going back to Rasawah. But she had made up her mind. She shouldn’t go back. At least not before she had told Conhaba the truth.

 

Her emotions was still torn apart. She had left Rasawah behind, but she would see her other son again. While continuing her travel, her mind was busy with finding a way to explain it all to Conhaba.

 

Suddenly she heard voices. She stopped immediately. She could faintly hear what the voices said.

 

Suddenly she heard one of the voices mention Tanwe. That was too much for her and her curiosity took over. Silently she moved closer to the sources of the voices. As she came closer she recognized one of the voices by the strange way of talking. One of the voices belonged to Damu.

 

Watabi:                      [thinks] Damu? What is he doing here? And whom is he talking to?

 

She snuck even closer, knowing that it wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

She could now see Damu’s red fur trough the grass, but the owner of the other voice remained unseen. She could now clearly hear the conversation.

 

Voice:                      … and right now my spy Tanwe is doing everything she can to make the life of that bastard half-breed as miserable as possible… and there’ll be a point when he won’t be able to take more crap, and when that point is reached, he might leave by his own free will… and if he comes this way… there’ll be no more Rasawah to worry about…

Damu:                      what about Kikafu? How you plan to rid him?

Voice:                      aah, I have a very devious plan in stock for him.

Damu:                      do tell…

Watabi:                      [thinks] yeah… do tell, you bastard…

Voice:                      okay, when Tanwe have gotten Rasawah to leave, she’ll pretend that she is interested in Kikafu. She’ll convince him that she is the right one for him and then, she’ll tell him that it is his duty to give her children… and when… you know what… [Snickers] she’ll scream for help and make it look like she was going to be raped…

Dunsj:                      very simple, but effective. Me likes it.

Voice:                      good… hey, wait a minute [sniffing sound] there’s someone here… [Sniffs again] It’s Watabi!

 

The cheetress gasped, thus giving away her location…

 

Voice:                      There she is! Get her!

 

Before she could escape she felt two heavy paws pounce down on her shoulders. There was no way possible that she could carry that weight so her legs collapsed underneath her. She could not see who it was, but she knew that it had to be Damu. The voice of the other person now came from right in front of her face…

 

Voice:                      well, well… if it isn’t our little cheetress friend Watabi…

 

The voice was familiar to her… it chilled her spine by its sinister tone…

 

Watabi:                      [frightened] who are you?

Voice:                      aw come on Watabi. You do remember me; otherwise you are the first to forget about Dunsj!

Watabi:                      Dunsj??!!!

Dunsj:                      did you hear that Damu, I believe that there’s an echo here… or a parrot!

Watabi:                      [wriggles, trying to get free] let me go!

Dunsj:                      neh… not a chance little cheetress…

Damu:                      [voice from above her] you hurt me when you left. You said you not leave me, you betray me!

Watabi:                      I…

Dunsj:                      Shut your trap Watabi… my friend here does not want to hear your lame excuse… he already knows the truth.

Watabi:                      the truth?

Dunsj:                      Say, are you a parrot or a cheetress? It seems much like a parrot to me!

 

The half demon made itself visible in front of her. The leopard-sized, spotted feline creature with glimmering, ruby red eyes stood with his face lowered to her face. Peering intensely into her eyes.

 

Dunsj:                      Damu, you may do as you wish with her, as long as she isn’t alive when you’re done.

Watabi:                      No! Don’t do it Damu… please!

Dunsj:                      why shouldn’t he? He has every reason in the world to do it…

Watabi:                      I… I still care for him…

Dunsj:                      Ha! Did you hear that?

Damu:                      no Dunsj… let her be talking…

Watabi:                      Damu… there was something important I had to do… I was on my way back to you just now.

Damu:                      you were?

Watabi:                      yes I was… I still love you Damu… please let me go and I’ll prove it.

Dunsj:                      don’t listen to that, she’s only trying to fool you…

Damu:                      [unsure] I…

Watabi:                      [pledges] please Damu… let me go and I’ll make up for what emotional harm that I have caused you… I swear that I’ll never hurt you again.

Dunsj:                      Kill her! She’s lying! Her every word is filthy lies!

Watabi:          I am not lying to you Damu… I swear!

Dunsj:                      … remember who killed Dizjuh? Whose fault is that?

Damu:                      [deep growl] me remember…

 

Suddenly Watabi felt Damu’s strong jaws clamp down around her neck… a mere second later her entire world faded out into blackness…

 

 

Chapter LXIX

Heaven or Hell

 

 

Slowly the darkness gave way to a faint light that grew rapidly in intensity. She could no longer feel Damu’s jaws nor could she hear Dunsj’s evil laughter anymore. Slowly she rose up, expecting to be pressed down by Damu. But not! She could rise to her paws without any trouble. She looked around in the place she was. It was the same place that she had run into Damu and Dunsj… but there were no sign of the antagonists. Utterly confused she began to think…

 

Watabi:                      [thinks for herself] did they take me for dead?

 

She was interrupted in her thoughts by a very familiar voice that came from somewhere behind her. She turned around and found herself standing face to face with the cheetah goddess Madun.

 

Madun:                      greetings my child.

Watabi:                      bwa… Madun? You… you saved my life!

Madun:                      [looks to the ground and sighs] I am sorry to disappoint you Watabi, but you have died.

Watabi:                      [chocked] Died? But…. But…

Madun:                      Damu killed you just a few moments ago. He snapped your neck…

Watabi:                      [still in chock] but… I must warn the pride… Please, let me go back, I must tell them that…

Madun:                      [hushes] no Watabi, you cannot go back…

Watabi:                      please… many will die…

Madun:          I am sorry my child, you have reached the afterlife now. You cannot go back. Now come with me, the scales awaits you…

 

Watabi bit her lip and nodded her head. She followed the goddess to something that reassembled of a large pair of scales. Strangely Watabi felt like they haven’t moved at all.

Madun mentioned for her to sit down in front of the scales…

 

Madun:                      let us see how your good and evil deeds will affect the scales…

 

Watabi watched as one of the scales moved downwards… it was the one that weighed her bad actions. She nervously sent a frightened gaze towards the goddess, who only mentioned for her to continue to watch the scales. Watabi swallowed hard and waited anxiously for the scale of good actions to move. To her relief it stopped moving up and began slowly do go down instead… But it stopped just as it weighed equal to the other scale. Watabi swallowed again and sent another gaze to Madun…

 

Watabi:                      is… it done now?

Madun:                      not yet… there is still one thing that hasn’t been put on the scale. If it is a good deed, you’ll enter heaven, But! If it is an act of evil, you’ll be going to the place way downstairs!

 

The fact that she had lied to Damu right before she died came to her mind. She waited with nervously for the result… for many seconds the scales did not move at all…

 

Watabi:                      [nervous] please tell me! I’ve tried to make up for my stupid actions…

 

The goddess’ attention was fixed upon the scales. With her lip quivering with fear for going to hell Watabi returned her eyes to the scales.

A loud yip of happiness escaped her mouth as she saw how the scale of good deeds moved down…

 

Madun:                      [cheerful voice] come my child, heaven awaits you now…

 

 

Chapter LXX

Old Acquaintances

 

Some moments later Watabi stood in a place where the ground seemed to be made of the softest imaginable grass. And above her the sun shone down on a vast ocean of grass. Madun was nowhere to be seen, but as Watabi looked around, she noticed a small cheetah cub sit on a stone and watch her. She immediately recognized the cub…

 

Watabi:                      [overjoyed] Ibihaza!!!

 

The cheetress cub rose up and bounced over to Watabi with a wide smile on her little face.

 

Ibihaza:                      [smiling] Faha! I’ve been waiting for you for I don’t know how long.

Watabi:                      [nearly crying of happiness] Ibi… I’ve missed you so much!

Ibihaza:          I missed you too faha… come, there are others you might want to see…

 

The cheetress cub bounded away towards some other felines that Watabi hadn’t noticed until now. As she followed her daughter closer to the others she recognized her parents and two of her older siblings among them…

 

Watabi:                      [overwhelmed by happiness] Faha! Azna! I…

 

She cut of her sentence as she realized that she was about to say, “I thought you were dead”.

 

Cheetah:                      welcome, kobto nim

Cheetress:                      we’ve been waiting for you…

Watabi:                      I’ve missed you so much [turns to her siblings] Gecke, Zina… I missed you too!

Zina:                      oh well, who wouldn’t miss the two most wonderful siblings you ever had?

Gecke:                      [smiles] not would lil’ Wati forget us…

Watabi:                      aw, you know that I always hated to be called that…

Gecke:                      [giggles] of course…

 

Watabi turned to her parents again, but she had no idea of what to say to them. She smiled to them and they smiled back at her. Suddenly she thought of Timba…

 

Watabi:                      say faha… do you know of anyone called Timba aka-mira around here?

Cheetress:                      two-tail? Yes, I’ve heard about him.

Zina:                      [pokes Watabi] I’ve met him, he’s very nice.

Watabi:                      [turns to Zina] do you know where I can find him?

Cheetah:                      your daughter should know where he is, Wati…

 

Watabi turned to her child that sat right next to her…

 

Watabi:                      [to Ibihaza] can you show me where he is?

Ibihaza:                      Sure faha, it isn’t that far away from here…

 

The little energic cub skipped away towards some lions that had gathered not too far away. Watabi was certain that the lions hadn’t been there a few moments ago.

 

As they came closer to the lions, she recognized a orange-coloured lion amongst them… it was Timba…

 

The lions noticed her approach and turned to greet her.

 

Lioness:                      hie there!

Watabi:                      yoah… [Turns to Timba, who was waiting for her] Yoah Timba!

Timba:                      welcome Watabi…

Watabi:                      I… guess this is your pride, right?

Timba:                      well, at least some of them are….

Watabi:                      err… is your wife here too?

 

A lioness turned her head towards her…

 

Pinja:                      yes, I am here too…

Watabi:                      [looks into the ground] then… I could as well leave again. There can’t possibly be room for both of us…

Timba:                      ah, you are wrong Watabi, there’s plenty of room for you too…

Watabi:                      [looks up at him] there is?

Timba:                      [nods his head] there sure is…

Watabi:                      [smiles] well then… care to introduce me to your pride then?

Timba:                      sure. [Mentions at Pinja] this is my wife Pinja, and the cub next to her is our son Sidun.

 

The two mentioned waved to Watabi.

 

Watabi:                      Sidun… isn’t that Kiká’s brother?

Timba:                      he is.

Watabi:                      [looks down to Ibihaza] I guess you’ve met my… [Corrects herself] I mean, our daughter Ibihaza.

Timba:                      [nods] yes, she and Sidun have become great friends. [Turns to Ibihaza] right Ibi?

Ibihaza:                      [giggles] yep azna…

 

Now Watabi noticed that Timba was speaking normally…

 

Watabi:          is it just my imagination or did you say “s”?

Timba:            it isn’t you Watabi… everyone seem to hear me say that…

Watabi:                      [smiles] I am so happy to see you again… nam bitikibi…

Timba:                      [moves over and nuzzles her] I’m happy that you are here too, nam kekaba…

 

For once, Watabi felt truly happy again… she was between her loved ones that she had though been lost forever…

 

 

Chapter LXXI

A day of Disaster

 

Saddened because of the fact that his mother had gone home, Rasawah slowly padded back to the dens of the priderock. But just before he reached the rock, he met Tanwe… and she had spotted him first…

 

Tanwe:                      oh no… I thought my bad dreams would go away when I woke up…

Rasawah:                      [bitter] just shut up Tanwe…

Tanwe:                      why don’t you make me, filth-fur?

Rasawah:       I don’t have time for you right now, move out of my way…

Tanwe:           It is you that should obey my orders, not the other way around…

 

Rasawah mumbled something and then simply walked by Tanwe and towards the den.

 

When he finally got there, he only found a few of the pride inside. At the entrance he saw Illaya, Aihatu and Deya discuss something. Rasawah walked past them and waited. Not really paying any attention to what they were discussing he waited for them to finish.

 

Some while later both Illaya and Deya left Aihatu and padded off.

Now Rasawah went over to the elderly lioness…

 

Aihatu:                      oh, good morning Rasawah.

Rasawah:                      [downhearted] morning Aihi…

Aihatu:                      Ras, is something wrong?

Rasawah:                      [sighs] Watabi is no longer here…

Aihatu:                      [gasps] oh my god! I… I’m sorry… what happened to her?

Rasawah:                      no, no! She’s not dead… she just left these lands and went back to her old home

Aihatu:                      oh… [Sighs of relief] for a second I thought she was dead… but why did she want to leave?

Rasawah:                      she said that she missed her old home…

Aihatu:                      … homesickness… I can’t blame her for that. Well, at least she told you before she left. Say… will she come visit us some day?

Rasawah:                      seriously, did you think I’d let her go if she didn’t promise to return?

Aihatu:                      [chuckles] heh, I can imagine that. [Pauses and then sighs] well… I miss her already…

Rasawah:                      me too…

Aihatu:                      [sighs again] I’ll go tell the others… why don’t you tell those that are in here?

Rasawah:                      alright…

 

With yet another sigh, the old lioness rose to her paws and walked out from the den. Rasawah looked around in the cave and saw that there were two other lionesses in there with him. He padded over to them.

 

Rasawah:                      excuse me girls… I have some bad news for you…

Lioness:                      bad news? Lets hear…

Rasawah:                      Watabi has decided to go back to her old home…

Sibati:                      aw, that’s a pity…

Lioness:          it sure is… will you leave us too, Ras?

Rasawah:                      no, I’ve intended to stay here… less prejudices here than back home.

Lioness:                      oh… what a shame… I really wanted to get to know Watabi better.

Sibati:                      ah well… I wanted to learn to know her too… I’ve only spoke to other species a few times…

Lioness:                      well, at least we still have Rasawah around.

Sibati:                      [grins] yeah… we’ll have something handsome to look at…

Lioness:                      [sends a sharp gaze to Sibati] never mind her Rasawah, she’s a little crazy sometimes… I think she hit her head on something when she was a cub.

Sibati:                      maybe I am, but I’ll have a lot more fun than you, Liehna.

Liehna:                      duh!

Sibati:                      [grins] then why don’t you go join the others of the “Kikafu” fan club?

Liehna:                      While you lay your paws on Ras? Not a chance!

Sibati:                      you just said that to annoy me, didn’t you?

Liehna:                      [grins] that is a possibility…

 

The two lionesses continued to vex each other and Rasawah soon grew tired of listening to them. Shaking his head at the two lionesses he walked out from the den…

 

But as soon as he had got outside, Tanwe came towards him as if she had waited for him.

 

Tanwe:                      hey dirt-face, I heard that your mother left you. I can understand that she wants to get rid of you…

Rasawah:       I don’t want to bicker with you right now Tanwe… come back tomorrow…

Tanwe:                      duh… why don’t you leave us too, you damned half-breed…

Rasawah:                      [snaps back at her] you watch your mouth…

Tanwe:                      ooh, I’m so scared for the offspring of a cheetress bitch and a regal lion…

Rasawah:                      Shut your face before I do it for you… permanently…

Tanwe:                      ho! Was that some kind of futile attempt to threaten me, half-breed?

 

Rasawah proceeded down to the ground, totally ignoring Tanwe…

 

Tanwe:                      [thinks to herself] oh no Filthy One… I am not trough with you…

 

Just as she was about to follow him to prank him some more, the two lionesses that had been in the cave came out…

 

Liehna:                      ey Tanwe…

Sibati:                      we’re going to have a little talk with you…

Liehna:                      about what we heard you say to our little darling…

Tanwe:                      We have nothing to discuss…

Liehna:                      oh yes we have Tanwe…

 

Tanwe tried to run, but Sibati blocked her escape route.

 

Liehna:                      now… Tanwe… why are you so mean towards Ras?

Tanwe:           I don’t know what you are talking about…

Sibati:                      don’t give me that Tanwe. We heard everything you said.

Liehna:                      why does his heritage bother you?

Tanwe:                      uh… I have no idea what you are talking about… I don’t think anything bad about Rasawah.

Sibati:                      yeah right? Then why did you call him a damned half-breed?

Tanwe:                      I… I never said that, honest!

 

Liehna and Sibati looked briefly at each other with a “yeah, right” expression on their faces…

 

Liehna:                      ok then, if you don’t have any grudge against him, then why don’t you go give him a hug?

Sibati:                      yeah, a real tight one…

Tanwe:                      No problem at all

Sibati:                      All right, I’ll go get him for you… [Glances at her] … and it better be a really tight one before I believe you…

 

Sibati rushed off, leaving Liehna to keep watch over Tanwe.

 

Liehna:                      [keeps her gaze on Tanwe] You’d better keep your promise Tanwe, or else you might find yourself having two enemies…

Tanwe:                      Of course I’ll hug him. I haven’t said anything dumb to him, and if I have, I’ll ask for him to forgive me…

Liehna:                      good…

 

Neither of them said any word until Sibati returned with Rasawah. The half-breed looked sceptically at Tanwe. The sight of Rasawah made Tanwe see red, but she could not show it in front of the others…

 

Sibati:                      whatcha waiting for Tanwe?

Tanwe:                      err… nothing…


She moved over to Rasawah and gave him a quick hug…

 

Liehna:                      you can do better than that… a tight one was it. And don’t let go until we tell you to.

 

Tanwe hugged him again, tightly. It made her stomach twist and turn to be so close to him, but she held her face and did not show anything…

 

Sibati:                      there, you can let go now Tanwe… or else you’ll choke him…

 

Tanwe immediately let go of Rasawah and moved away.

 

Tanwe:                      there, I’ve hugged him tightly now…

Liehna:                      [snickers] … and now you’ll promise that you’ll never ever say anything bad about him…

 

Tanwe snorted and glared at Rasawah…

 

Tanwe:                      alright… I promise never to say anything bad about him…

Sibati:                      that’s a good girl… now off with you…

 

Tanwe walked away, concealing her anger and disgust professionally.

Sibati and Liehna looked after her as she vanished out into the grasslands…

 

Sibati:                      [turns to Rasawah] see?

Rasawah:                      [unsure] it’s just a feeling that tells me that she didn’t mean any of that at all…

Liehna:                      don’t worry Ras, if she ever says anything to you that you don’t like, just tell us and we’ll maul her up for good…

 

Rasawah did not make any reply at all to that… He somehow knew that Tanwe would find other ways to torment him. After all she knew that he was a half-breed.

 

 

Chapter LXXII

Unanswered Love

 

Very early the next day Kikafu woke up in a jerk after have had another horrible nightmare. The same scene as all previous nightmares he had. He had seen himself as a cub run over to his father, only to see him rot away into a leering skeleton…

 

When the shock had faded away he noticed that Leesha had laid herself right next to him. In normal circumstances he wouldn’t have given it any further thought… but now he totally lost himself in the peaceful beauty of her sleeping form…

 

Kikafu:                      [talks very silently to himself] I… I…

 

He had been feeling a certain attraction to her that he had never felt before. He wanted to spend every wake hour with her, see her as the last thing he saw when he fell asleep and the first thing he saw when e woke up. He remembered faintly how his father had told him about how he and Pinja had met.

That being the only thing he knew about it, he decided to do the same. He would ask her… right now…

 

But just as he was about to wake her up, a second thought made him stop. What if she said no? He would make a fool out of himself. He kept watching her, gradually becoming more confident. After a minute he had gathered enough courage to tap her shoulder, but just as he was about to touch her, she woke up…

 

Leesha:                      [yawns] hey Kiká… why are you awake this early for?

Kikafu:                      I… eh… uhm…

Leesha:                      [looks at him] is something wrong?

Kikafu:                      uh… no, nothings wrong… everything is just fine with me…

 

Leesha got up and scratched herself behind her ear with one of her hind paws. Kikafu kept up looking at her, making her somewhat nervous.

 

Leesha:                      [annoyed] what is it Kiká? Does my fur stand to all directions again?

Kikafu:                      uh no… it’s just that… eh… I would appreciate if you would watch the sun rise with me…

Leesha:                      [yawns again] I’ve seen it rise dozens of times…

Kikafu:                      maybe… but this one will not be like any other you ever seen.

Leesha:                      [interested] are you sure?

Kikafu:                      [nods his head] yes I am sure.

Leesha:                      all right! I’ll be right with you!

 

The young lioness walked eagerly out trough the opening of the cave. Kikafu followed closely after her, careful not to wake any of the other by mistake…

 

Some moments later they had both gotten up on the top of the rock. Leesha sat down and waited. Kikafu stood next to her; he took a deep breath to further encourage himself…

 

Kikafu:                      Leesha…

Leesha:                      [turns to him] mhm?

Kikafu:                      did you know that my father proposed to my mother up here?

Leesha:                      [still looking at him] no, I didn’t know that… say, why are you asking?

[Talks] well… I thought it could be fun to know that…

Leesha:                      yea sure…

 

She returned her attention to where the sun should appear in just a few minutes…

Kikafu took another deep breath…

 

Kikafu:                      the real reason why I brought you up here was that…

Leesha:                      [looks at him again] what was it?

Kikafu:                      I… [Stammers] I… have known you all my life, and you’ve always been my friend… you were always there when I needed you. When Sidun died, you cheered me up and when Kubaki held us prisoners, you were my only comfort…

Leesha:                      [looks confused]

Kikafu:                      would you… marry me?

 

Leesha’s jaw fell open and she looked totally dumbstruck at him.

 

Leesha:                      Kiká… I…

 

A slight hope built up inside Kikafu and a faint smile came on his lips…

 

Kikafu:                      please… say yes…

Leesha:                      I… I’m sorry Kiká… I… I can’t…

 

His hope collapsed like a house of cards and his smile vanished instantly…

 

Kikafu:                      [looks into the ground, embarrassed] no… it is I who should be sorry… I shouldn’t have asked… [Sighs] now I’ve made a fool out of myself…

Leesha:                      Kiká… I am really flattered that you chose to ask me… but you are like a brother to me… it would feel so wrong to marry you…

Kikafu:                      [sighs sadly] I understand…

 

With another heartbroken sigh he turned away from her and walked towards the path that led down to the ground. Leesha watched him, well aware that she had broken his heart…

 

Leesha:                      Kiká… we’ll still be friends?

 

Kikafu stopped and turned his head to her and nodded slowly before continuing towards the path…

 

Leesha felt uneasy with having turned his proposal down. But she just couldn’t picture herself as his mate… just as a friend and a brother… nothing else…

She stared into the ground for some while until she noticed that she had a shadow. When she looked up she saw how the sun was just about to break the day.

She watched it as it started its journey across the sky. When it had risen completely she sighed…

 

Leesha:                      … you were wrong Kiká… this dawn was no different from any previous one…

 

 

Chapter LXXIII

Another day of disaster

 

Zantzeh woke up a few minutes after that Leesha and Kikafu had left the cave. The first thing she noticed was that her protégé was nowhere to be seen. Muttering silently to herself she got up and went out trough the cave mouth to search for Kikafu.

 

She quickly spotted him as he came down on the path from the top of the rock. She went over to him and stood before him, with a very annoyed look on her face. But just as she was about to tell him off she saw dark lines going from his eyes and down his cheeks…

 

Zantzeh:                      Kiká? What happened?

 

He gave her a blank gaze as answer to her question. Then he walked past her and continued down to the ground.

 

Zantzeh:                      hey… where are you going?

 

He didn’t stop nor did he answer. Zantzeh decided to follow after him…

 

After a while Kikafu suddenly stopped and turned around

 

Kikafu:                      [to Zantzeh] why are you following me? I want to be alone…

Zantzeh:                      Kikafu, what has happened to you?

Kikafu:                      I… don’t want to talk about it… the whole damned pride will know about it tomorrow… if you want to know so badly, why don’t you go gossip with them?

Zantzeh:                      excuse me! I didn’t mean to step on your sore toes.

Kikafu:                      just leave me alone…

Zantzeh:                      you know as well as I do that there is something evil lurking here, and I was ordered to protect you. I can’t do that if you go wander about all by yourself!

Kikafu:                      then let the evil take me…

 

He turned around again and continued to walk. Zantzeh continued to follow him, whether he liked it or not…

After yet some while Kikafu stopped again and turned around… this time his eyes was beaming out anger… Zantzeh stopped and backed off a few steps…

 

Kikafu:                      [angry] Leave me alone damn it! Can it be so darn hard to understand?

 

Tears of bitterness began to moist his eyes. Zantzeh had no idea of what to do. Kikafu couldn’t manage to be angry anymore, he collapsed to the ground and began to whimper…

 

Kikafu:                      [sobs] why don’t… you just go away?

 

Zantzeh came closer to the trembling Kikafu. She rubbed his shoulder with her paw…

 

Zantzeh:                      Kiká… what happened… please tell me so that I can help you…

 

Kikafu looked up at her with empty eyes…

 

Kikafu:                      … can you mend what can never be put together again?

Zantzeh:         I won’t know if I can do that if I haven’t given it a try, will I?

Kikafu:                      [sobs] I… I’ll tell you…

 

He gave her a brief explanation to what had transpired on the top of the priderock…

 

Zantzeh:                      oh… now I understand… a broken heart is what ails you. I know no cure for that but I know that it is not irreparable. Time heals all wounds you know.

Kikafu:                      … but the scars will remain forever…

Zantzeh:                      maybe… but they won’t be sore, you’ll get over it Kiká.

 

A short period of compact silence occurred. Kikafu had stopped to sob…

 

Kikafu:                      now you maybe know why I wanted to be alone…

Zantzeh:                      running away from your problems does not solve them. What you need is condolence, not loneliness…

 

Kikafu looked at her with blank eyes for a moment. Then he turned away from her and stared out into nothing. Zantzeh moved over to him and continued to console him the best she could…

 

 

Chapter LXXIV

Preparations

 

Some while later Kikafu drew a deep sigh and rose to his paws.

 

Kikafu:                      you… you are right Zantzeh… I cannot run from my problems… I’ll face the others now so                       that I can get it over with…

Zantzeh:                      that’s the spirit Kiká.

 

Kikafu turned towards his home and began to walk towards it. Zantzeh was right by his side all the way.

 

Just a few hundred meters from the rock they met the three from the jawlands lay basking in the sun. None of the very relaxed lionesses took any notice of them before they were right beside them.

 

Fiziju:                      hey, isn’t that Kiká… where’ve you been all day?

 

She got up and was about to ask more when Zantzeh cut in between…

 

Zantzeh:                      back off!

 

Fiziju backed off a little and looked very offended…

 

Fiziju:                      whats the matter with you? Aren’t one allowed to say hello nowadays?

Zantzeh:                      of course you are, but don’t question him out…

Fiziju:                      alright… [Turns to Kikafu] hello Kiká…

Kikafu:                      [looks briefly at her] … hie Fiziju…

 

Kikafu walked past them and continued towards the priderock without saying anything else…

 

Kevee:                      what’s with him?

Zantzeh:                      he’s depressed…

Kevee:                      oh… poor him… someone ought to cheer him up…

Zantzeh:                      believe me, I am trying my best…

 

Zantzeh then followed Kikafu without waiting for any reply from Kevee.

 

When Kikafu and Zantzeh finally reached the base of the gigantic rock, they proceeded towards the entrance to the dens…

 

Inside the den they saw only Aihatu, who seemed busy with sniffing around…

 

Kikafu looked at Zantzeh, who nodded to him… Kikafu went over to Aihatu to get her attention…

Aihatu seemed surprised for a brief second, but her face turned neutral almost immediately…

 

Aihatu:                      Kikafu… where on earth have you been?

 

The young lion kept his eyes locked onto Aihatu’s. Something in the old lioness’ gaze made him feeling strange inside…

 

Kikafu:                      I… I…

 

He took his eyes from Aihatu and mentioned for Zantzeh to continue…

 

Zantzeh:         I found him way out in the grasslands… and he was very depressed…

Aihatu:                      Depressed, what for?

Zantzeh:                      [looks at Kikafu] shall I tell her?

Kikafu:                      [shakes his head] no, I’ll do it…

Zantzeh:                      okay

 

Kikafu straightened up a bit and his gaze met with Aihatu’s again… and just like before, it made him feel very strange inside…

 

Kikafu:                      I… this morning I… proposed to Leesha… but… she declined…

Aihatu:                      you did what?

Kikafu:                      haven’t she told you?

Aihatu:           I haven’t seen Leesha today. If anything has happened to her, you’ll be in deep trouble.

Zantzeh:                      he? Why should he get in trouble for?

Aihatu:                      Because he have hurt her feelings, Kamu…

Zantzeh:                       I’m not Kamu I am Zantzeh.

Aihatu:                      Kamu, Zantzeh… whatever…

 

Kikafu couldn’t believe that Aihatu, his stepmother, did not give a damn about him or his feelings. And that she began to mistake Zantzeh for Kamu was strange… She had always been good at remembering the names of the pride members…

 

Kikafu:                      excuse Me Aihi… don’t you think that I have feelings that got hurt?

Aihatu:                      its different with you Kikafu, you’re a grown male now…

Kikafu:                      that’s no excuse!

Aihatu:                      [irritated] haven’t you remembered anything of what I’ve been trying to learn you?

Kikafu:                      you never told me what to do!

Aihatu:                      You haven’t been listening to me!

Kikafu:                      But…

Aihatu:                      [snaps at him] Shut up! Piss off!

 

Kikafu glared icy at Aihatu for a short second before he turned away and stomped out from the cave. Zantzeh remained in the den with Aihatu. She gave the old lioness an accusing gaze…

 

Zantzeh:                      aren’t you overreacting now? I mean Leesha declined so she isn’t the only one that should be pitied…

Aihatu:                      [grumbles]

Zantzeh:                      please be reasonable about it…

Aihatu:                      [snaps at her] why are you still bothering me? Wasn’t it your job to keep him out of trouble?

                      Just a nice way to handle your tasks, Zanzah… who knows what mischief he is up to right now?

Zantzeh:                      it’s Zantzeh… and you must’ve been sleeping on bones tonight, I’ve never seen you so mean before…

 

The old lioness snorted her right in her face. Zantzeh did not want to argue anymore. She turned her back at Aihatu and padded out from the den.

 

When Aihatu was finally alone, it seemed like her eyes turned into a red colour… her entire shape then shivered and changed form. A few seconds later Aihatu was not there and instead the half-demon Dunsj stood there…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks to himself] that was close… but now he’s almost down deep enough for the final blow. I’ll teach him to keep his filthy paws away from MY Leesha… [Snickers] and then… it’s that pretty-boy Rasawah’s turn to taste the fury of my wrath and mind…

 

His evil snicker faded away, as did the image of the half-demon. Soon there was no trace that he had ever been there.

 

 

Chapter LXXV

Doubts

 

Simultaneously at the other side of the priderock, Leesha and the real Aihatu sat and talked. Aihatu had convinced Leesha to tell her what had happened…

 

Leesha:                      [looks down into the ground, sounding guilty] and… I declined… [Sighs] the way his face changed… it was so horrible to see…

Aihatu:           I understand Leesha…

Leesha:                      [looks up at Aihatu] why did he have to ask me? Why absolutely me?

Aihatu:                      [sighs] love works in strange ways Leesha… but both you and Kiká will get over it soon… don’t worry…

Leesha:          I guess…

Aihatu:                      [pauses for a while] say… how about we went for a little hunt? So that you can focus on something else…

Leesha:                      I… I don’t know…

Aihatu:                      c’mon, it’ll be fun, I promise…

Leesha:                      alright… I’m in…

 

The two lionesses made their way out into the vast fields of grass that surrounded the priderock.

 

The day slowly passed by and it became nightfall before the two lionesses returned, empty handed and very tired, to the priderock. But neither of them seemed to care a bit about that they hadn’t caught anything. But when they descended into the priderock they were quite puzzled with finding Kikafu sleeping very close to the entrance with Zantzeh sleeping very near him. Leesha and Aihatu looked briefly at each other before they shrugged simultaneously and went deeper into the cave to get some rest…

 

Chapter LXXVI

Marks of Anger

 

 

A few days later…

 

Kikafu had done everything he could to avoid both Leesha and Aihatu. He could not stand to face them.

Zantzeh did her best to cheer him up, but she was not very successful.

 

Kikafu had made a habit of being the last to fall asleep in the evenings and the first one to wake up in the mornings. But he still had to see them whenever they ate or went to the waterhole.

He sometimes slipped away from Zantzeh to be alone for a while, which Zantzeh was a bit upset with.

 

It was a late afternoon and Kikafu was walking around on the plains, as usual, accompanied by Zantzeh. The lioness was talking to herself, or at least it sounded like she did. After a while she puffed him in his side…

 

Zantzeh:                     Kiká! I asked you if you’d like to hunt with me!

 

Kikafu hadn’t been paying any attention and was at first a little startled.

 

Kikafu:                     wha…?

Zantzeh:                     hey… you weren’t listening, were you?

Kikafu:                     I… eh…

Zantzeh:                     fine… just ignore me!

Kikafu:                     no, I’m sorry I didn’t hear you… I was thinking…

Zantzeh:                      oh yeah? You’d better watch it so that you don’t think too much and forget where you set your paws.

Kikafu:                      isn’t that your duty to see to that I don’t go harm myself?

Zantzeh:                      heh, maybe it is, but your cooperation would be very appreciated. And, you still haven’t answered my question.

Kikafu:                      oh… well, yeah, I’d like to hunt with you.

Zantzeh:                      [smiles] Great! Lets go find some innocent grass-eater to catch, shall we?

 

Kikafu made some sort of nod to her. Zantzeh grinned widely and padded off to find something suitable for them to hunt. Kikafu waited for a short moment before going after Zantzeh.

 

After an hour of failed attempts to bring down anything they finally gave it up.

Zantzeh had all but depleted her reserves of energy because she had run the most of the two of them.

She headed straight for a shadow provided by a nearby tree. There she flopped to the ground and watched Kikafu…

 

Zantzeh:                     oh those darn gazelles, I swear that they must get more slippery for each time I hunt them.

Kikafu:          I never hunted gazelle before, so how could I tell?

Zantzeh:                      well… your first try could have been a little more successful, but neh… maybe you are luckier next time… and besides; the thrill of the chase is half the fun… [Yawns widely] gee… I think I need a little nap now… and you better be right where you are now when I wake up again…

Kikafu:                      …

Zantzeh:                      good… [Closes her eyes] and you’d better not wander away while I am sleeping either…

Kikafu:          I won’t…

 

Kikafu sat down right where he stood and watched his now sleeping ”cub-sitter”.

 

Not too far away from them, Leesha was meandering about the savannah. She did not know that Kikafu and Zantzeh were nearby. She suddenly stopped because an unknown scent had come right into her face. Curious about what it could be she tried to locate where the scent came from. Within a few minutes she had the owner of the scent in sight, it was a brown-furred, lanky and very skinny young lion… Leesha didn’t think he posed much of a threat to her. But she remembered well what her mother had told her about foreign lions. And that it was her duty to chase them away if she could.

 

She crouched and crept closer to the unaware lion.

 

Leesha:                     [pops up from her cover] Hey! You!

 

The lion almost leapt up in the air when she appeared. Fear was very present in his eyes as he watched her…

 

Lion:                     [shivers in fear] p…please… d…don’t hurt me miss…

Leesha:                      [starts to pity him] calm down, I’m not going to hurt you. I just have to ask you to leave our lands…

Lion:                      [still shivering] y…your lands? I… app…apology for my intrusion…

Leesha:                      your apology is accepted…

 

She was about to tell him to leave, but her curiosity took the best of her...

 

Leesha:                      [continues] say… where do you come from anyway?

Lion:                      uh… what?

 

That question seemed to be among the last things he had expected her to say

 

Leesha:                      where were you born?

Lion:                      [stutters slightly] wh…why do you ask of that?

Leesha:                      cus I’m curious… now answer my question.

Lion:                      uh… I was born f…far to the west of here…

Leesha:                      okay… whats your name?

Lion:                      [surprised] My name?

Leesha:                      mine’s Leesha…

Lion:                      Leesha… I… I am Ukete…

Leesha:                      well then… Ukete, what were you doing here anyway?

Ukete:                      I… was trying to find some food…

Leesha:                      no luck so far, eh?

Ukete:                      [shakes his head] no, none at all…

 

Leesha had now forgot everything about chasing Ukete away.

 

Leesha:                      then you must be very hungry, right?

Ukete:                      yes…

Leesha:                      well, just wait here while I go find something for you…

 

The lion opened his mouth to object but Leesha had already bounced away… He stood speechless; no    one had ever been this kind to him before…

 

Leesha went in the direction of the priderock, hoping to find some leftovers of the previous meal… Halfway there she found Ghene and her sisters eating of a zebra they obviously had brought down…

 

Leesha:                     hey girls…

 

Ghene looked up and glanced at Leesha with a “piss-off” gaze.

 

Leesha:                     say… Couldn’t I have a piece of that zebra?
Ghene:                     so that you can grow even wider? Not a chance!

Leesha:                     Hey! It’s not for me!

Ghene:                     doesn’t matter whom it’s for. You won’t be getting anything of this kill!

 

Illaya sighed at her sister’s stubbornness… She tore a large chunk of the zebra’s haunch and tossed it over to Leesha. It landed in front of the lioness with a splat. Leesha quickly picked the meat up and gave Illaya a nod as if saying thank you before she padded off. Ghene stared at Leesha for a moment before slowly turning her acid gaze towards her sister…

 

Ghene:                     what… was… that, Illaya?

Illaya:                      in case you didn’t notice, Ghene, then that was an act of kindness… something that you never learnt…

Ghene:                      [gasps] how dare you?

Illaya:                      look, I’m tired of being some sort of outcast here… we’ll never get home again, so why not make this to our home?

Ghene:                      [acid voice] fine… if you don’t want to be with us, then get out of my sight and don’t expect that we’ll ever talk to you again…

Illaya:                      [ignores Ghene and turns to Katzeh] C’mon Katzeh… let’s leave our so “perfect” sister to sulk on her own…

 

Katzeh looked first at Illaya, then at Ghene and then back to Illaya again…

 

Katzeh:                      [hesitant] I… I don’t know…

Ghene:                      you’re not going anywhere Katzeh…

Illaya:                      don’t listen to that sourpuss, come with me and we’ll have a lot more fun…

Ghene:                      Do you want mother to think that you are a weakling?

Katzeh:                      no… I…

Illaya:                      Ghene, stop that nonsense… mom didn’t want us to be such outcasts as we are now… now come Katzeh… let’s go make some real friends…

 

Katzeh took a step towards Illaya, but then she stopped and turned her head to Ghene… who only replied with a cold gaze…

 

Katzeh:                     no… sorry Illaya…

Illaya:                     well, the offer will still be open if you should change your mind…

 

Ghene hissed at Illaya and Katzeh went back to her original position and remained silent. Illaya shook her head and turned away from them…

 

 

Meanwhile Kikafu still sat where Zantzeh had told him to stay. The lioness was still taking a nap. Lazily Kikafu let his gaze wander across the endless oceans of grass… Suddenly he saw Leesha walk by at a fast pace, and it seemed like she was carrying something in her mouth. Kikafu came to think of that he maybe should talk things over with Leesha. Forgetting what Zantzeh had said, he went after Leesha…

 

After only a few moments he thought he had lost her in the grass, but then he heard her voice very close to him… but she wasn’t talking to him…

 

Leesha:                     There you go, Ukete…

 

Puzzled and curious of whom she was talking to; Kikafu sneaked closer to where Leesha’s voice had been heard from. He moved silently trough the grass and stopped on in his move when he could see Leesha and the foreign lion… with a scowl on his face he continued to watch them…

 

Leesha had given the zebra haunch to Ukete, who had greedily devoured it. He had eaten it so fast that his entire face was a mess of blood and fur. Leesha looked at him and couldn’t help but to giggle at the sight.

 

Ukete:                     uhm… thanks Leesha…

Leesha:                      [giggles] you’re welcome Ukete. [Looks at him again] Perhaps you should clean yourself…

Ukete:                      well, yeah… I should…

 

Just as he was about to begin, Leesha moved over closely to him…

 

Leesha:                      let me help you…

 

Before Ukete could protest had Leesha begun to clean his face. She ran her tongue across his muzzle, nose and cheek, removing almost all traces of his previous meal. When she was done, she looked up into his eyes. And to her surprise, he was looking back into her eyes. Without knowing why, they both moved their muzzles closer to each other…

 

Kikafu had seen enough. Who did this lion think he was anyway? Roaring loudly he emerged from where he stood and charged straight at Ukete. In a blur of bites, claws and slashes he made Ukete run for his life. Kikafu did not pursue the other lion. He snorted in the direction Ukete had ran and was just about to turn to Leesha when four claws slashed him across his face…

 

Leesha:                     [yelling furiously] YOU BASTARD!!!

Kikafu:                     [totally confused] Leesha?

Leesha:                     [yells] You stupid Bastard!!! You ruined it all!!!

 

She broke out into tears and turned away from him and ran…

Kikafu stood as if frozen by shock, not noticing that blood was pouring out from four long wounds on his cheek.

 

Almost at the same time Zantzeh’s eyes popped up. The first thing she saw, or didn’t see was Kikafu.

A split second later she was up on her paws, muttering something to herself…

 

Zantzeh:                      [Shouts] Kiká!! [Waits and listens] KIKÁ!!! [Pauses again] Ok Kiká… I’m going to hurt you plenty if you’ve done something stupid…

 

Suddenly Leesha came out from nowhere and nearly ran into her…

 

Zantzeh:                      hey Leesha… Have you seen…

 

Leesha stopped and looked at Zantzeh. Zantzeh did not complete her sentence as she had seen tears in Leesha’s eyes.

 

Zantzeh:                     Leesha, what happened to you?

Leesha:                     [sobs] Kiká… that bastard… [Sobs] he…

Zantzeh:                     gesh! That little… How could he?

Leesha:                     [sobs and shakes her head]

Zantzeh:                     ok, where is he now?

 

Leesha pointed in the direction she had come from…

 

Zantzeh:                     [nods her head] ok, you get back home Leesha… and I’ll go take care of him…

 

Leesha nodded and then she hurried towards her home while Zantzeh glanced acidly in the direction Leesha had pointed out. Then she padded off in that direction with very determined steps…

 

It did not take her long to find Kikafu. The lioness quickly leapt over to him, growling and baring her teeth at him…

 

Zantzeh:                     [growls] Kikafu! How on earth could you do that?

Kikafu:                     …

Zantzeh:                     [growls] Answer me or… err…

 

She once again stopped in the middle of her sentence when she saw that Kikafu’s cheek was bleeding and that most of his side was drenched in blood. Her growl died away and she didn’t bare her teeth anymore. The four cuts on his cheek was fairly deep and it was like she saw a glimpse of the bone beneath…

 

Zantzeh:                     oh my… I’ll better get you to Slodia!

 

Every single trance of anger had been washed away from her. With a great deal of effort she managed to get him all the way to the pantheress shamans’ tree.

When they had finally got there Kikafu immediately fell back into his state of apathy… Zantzeh watched him for a moment before calling for Slodia. The pantheress appeared immediately and leapt down to the ground. She began to examine Kikafu’s wounds…

 

Slodia:                     oh my... Those are really deep…

 

She then started to clean his wounds with her tongue, but it seemed like the blood just wouldn’t stop. After several attempts, using nearly all of the methods she knew about, she was finally down to her very last knowledge of sealing wounds… even if she didn’t like it, she had no other choice…

 

Slodia:                      [looks concerned at Kikafu] Kiká… I haven’t been able to stop the bleeding yet, I have one last… cure… to test… but it will leave some very nasty scars behind…

Kikafu:                      [looks back at her, nodding slowly] … then do what you have to…

Slodia:                      okay, I’ll be right back…

 

Then she dashed off, not to her own tree, but to an Acacia that stood alone a bit away from them. Zantzeh sat down next to Kikafu and did her best to calm him…

 

Zantzeh:                     you’ll be fine again Kiká don’t worry…

 

Kikafu just sat and stared down into the ground a few meters in front of him. His silence made Zantzeh go quiet as well. The silence lasted until Slodia returned a few moments later, accompanied by a strange looking, black bird that had very slim and sharp talons.

 

The bird flew straight over to Kikafu and landed on his shoulder to get a better view of the damage. Kikafu could feel how the bird’s talons nearly penetrated his skin. The bird looked the wounds over carefully… then it turned it’s head to Slodia and nodded.

 

Bird:                     [hoarse voice] this will not be any problem Slodia…

Slodia:                     [nods slowly] good, then let us not waste any more time with talking…

Bird:                     [hoarse voice] my thoughts exactly…

 

Slodia mentioned for Kikafu to lie down on his side with his wounded cheek upwards. The bird jumped off his shoulder so that he could lie down. The bird then jumped up and stood on his muzzle to get close enough to the wound…

 

The bird used its sharp talons as needles and stitched the wounds up, binding it with thin straws of grass. Kikafu groaned in pain each time the bird pressed a talon trough his skin.

 

After what seemed like an eternity of pain, the bird finally hopped off his face. Kikafu raised his head a little, only to see how the bird cleaned its talons by rubbing some grass against them with its beak.

Feeling a little uncomfortable with that sight, Kikafu rose to a sitting pose and turned to Slodia instead.

 

Kikafu:                     [to Slodia] w…what did he do to me?

Slodia:                      well… she closed your wounds and then she sew them shut with some straws of grass… and it looks like it worked too…

 

Kikafu felt how his cheek pulsated in pain…

 

Kikafu:          it still hurts…

Slodia:           I know Kiká; it will be sore for a couple of days. But then it’ll be better… and if you want some, I have something that can take the pain away for a while…

Kikafu:          I would appreciate that…

Slodia:                      Okie, I’ll be back before you know it…

 

She climbed up into her tree and vanished. Kikafu turned his head to look at the bird again, but it had already flown away. Then he moved his gaze to Zantzeh, who smiled back at him. He sighed and turned back to Slodia, who just had come back with some kind of leaf in her mouth. She dropped the leaf before him. He looked suspiciously at it…

 

Slodia:                     go on, you have to eat it! It won’t do you any good if it lies on the ground.

 

Kikafu looked hesitating on the leaf for yet some moments before he finally took it into his mouth and chewed on it. The bitter-sour taste it had almost made him spit it out again, but he managed to swallow it.

 

Slodia:                     [smiles] tastes awful, doesn’t it?

Kikafu:                     [pulls a very wry face] awful… yeah…

Slodia:                      well, if it tastes bitter, then it is fresh, quite simple actually…

[Takes a closer look on his stitches] wait a second… those wounds are claw-slashes!

Kikafu:                      [nods]

Slodia:                      how did you get them? Have you been in a fight?

 

Kikafu didn’t say anything; he looked into the ground and sighed…

 

Slodia:                      Kiká?

 

Still no reaction came from the adolescent lion…

 

Zantzeh:         I don’t think you should ask him that question again…

Slodia:                      uh… how come?

Zantzeh:                      [leans over to Slodia and whispers] I think it has something to do with Leesha…

Slodia:                      [whispers back] oh… I see…

 

Zantzeh returned to her original position…

 

Slodia:                      well… anyway… you two better get back to the dens right now…

Zantzeh:                      yeah… [Turns to Kikafu] come along Kiká… time to go home…

 

Kikafu sighed and got up on his paws again…

 

Zantzeh:                      thanks for your assistance Slodia…

Slodia:                      anytime

 

The pantheress climbed up into her tree again and disappeared in the foliage. The two lions at the ground headed back to their home…

 

 

Chapter LXXVII

Plan in Motion

 

When Kikafu and Zantzeh at last arrived at the priderock, the angry gazes of the other members of the pride met them. Sibati and Deya came towards them…

 

Sibati:                      how dare you show up here Kikafu?

 

Kikafu stopped and looked confused.

 

Sibati:                      [turns to Deya] Deya, tell Aihatu that he’s here…

Deya:                      [snarls at Kikafu] right away…

 

The lioness went up the path and into the den. Sibati kept her cold and harsh gaze fixed upon Kikafu.

Some moments later Deya reappeared at the entrance to the den with Aihatu.

Despite of her age, Aihatu leapt down the path and padded towards Kikafu with her eyes locked on him.

 

Aihatu:                      Kikafu! How could you?

Kikafu:                      [totally confused] but…

Aihatu:                      [snarls at him] be quiet! What reason did you have to be a jerk?

Kikafu:                      but… what do you mean?

Aihatu:                      [Roars straight in his face] SHUT UP!!!! I don’t want to hear your lame excuse! You know well what you’ve done…

Kikafu:                      but I…

Aihatu:                      [snarls]

Zantzeh:                      [cuts in] Aihi… could you at least LISTEN to him?

 

Aihatu turned her burning gaze from Kikafu and aimed it at Zantzeh…

 

Aihatu:                      Zantzeh… Wasn’t it your Duty to keep [spits his name out] Kikafu out of trouble?

Zantzeh:                      I… he slipped away from me while I took a nap…

Aihatu:                      Then trough your lack of attention all of this happened. [Glares at Kikafu again] He won’t need any sleepy headed cub sitter like You, Zantzeh…

Zantzeh:                      What happened?

Aihatu:                      [snorts at her] why don’t you go up to the den and you’ll see what you’ve caused…

 

Zantzeh slowly moved from her position next to Kikafu and towards the den…

When she had gone, Aihatu continued to stare angrily at Kikafu…

 

Aihatu:                      and for you… you’ll be banned from the den from now on…

Kikafu:                      b…but… you can’t do that!

Aihatu:                      [snorts] I just did… and you won’t get in unless you learn how to behave. Now, piss off… I don’t want to see your ugly face more today…

 

Kikafu’s eyes widened and a touch of complete helplessness came to his face. But Aihatu remained cold and refused to even look at him.

 

Kikafu couldn’t bear the angry gazes from the pride anymore so he obeyed Aihatu and walked away. Some of the lionesses snapped insults at him as he passed by them. He tried his best to block them out from his mind, but they pierced trough his defences and straight into his ears. He kept up walking away from them… as far as he could…

 

 

At the same time Zantzeh stood at the entrance of the cave. She had seen it all…

 

Zantzeh:                      [thinks to herself] oh Kiká… what have you done to deserve this?

 

She sent a last pitying gaze at the distant Kikafu before she entered the den… inside she saw Leesha and… Illaya. The presence of Illaya confused Zantzeh… but she decided to talk to Leesha first…

 

Zantzeh:                      [approaches Leesha] … Leesha?

 

Leesha looked up at her, her face was nearly covered in dust that had attached itself to her tears.

 

Leesha:                      Zantzeh…

Zantzeh:                      are you ok?

Illaya:                      [snaps in] of course she is, idiot! Do you think she’s crying her eyes out for fun?

Zantzeh:                      [ignores Illaya] Leesha… what happened?

 

Sobbing a few times, Leesha told Zantzeh how she had met with Ukete and what they had talked about… and how Kikafu had suddenly come and almost killed him…

 

Zantzeh:                      and those wounds on Kiká’s chin… was it Ukete that gave him those?

Leesha:                      [sobs] no… I did…

Zantzeh:                      [gasps] You did!?

Leesha:                      [sobs] I told you… he was such a jerk [sobs] he deserved much worse than that…

Zantzeh:                      I… I don’t understand…

Leesha:                      [snaps back at her, sobbing] I don’t want to talk more about it!

Zantzeh:                      but…

 

Illaya stepped over to Zantzeh and pushed her away…

 

Illaya:                      Leave her alone, damn it!

 

Zantzeh could see in the eyes of the other lioness that it was of no use to discuss any further with her…

 

Zantzeh:                      fine, I’ll leave…

 

Puzzled and somewhat disappointed she left the den. She went straight down to Aihatu again. The old lioness watched her…

 

Aihatu:                      now do you see what you’ve done?

Zantzeh:                      yes… but wasn’t it a bit careless by Leesha to talk to a stranger?

Aihatu:                      she knew what she was doing…

 

Zantzeh wasn’t happy with that answer, but she didn’t feel like argue more that day. But as she turned to leave, she were stopped by the other lionesses…

 

Aihatu:                      sorry Zantzeh… you are to remain under close watch until further notice…

Zantzeh:                      [sarcastically] so you mean that I am grounded?

Aihatu:                      exactly…

Zantzeh sighed and sat down with her back at everyone else…

 

As the day passed, Zantzeh didn’t see any glimpse of Kikafu and as night came, She was forced into the den to sleep…

 

Kikafu sat in the distance and watched how the pride went into the den to sleep, while he was alone in the darkness. Not having any other options, he curled together underneath a lone tree…

 

 

Later in the night when Kikafu was fast asleep, two dark silhouettes came closer to him…

 

Figure:                      [whispers] he’s asleep… good. [Pauses] Tanwe, you’ll sit right where you are and remain passive until I tell you to act.

Tanwe:                      [static voice] as you wish…

 

One of the two shapes stood still while the other snuck closer to the sleeping lion…

Two reddish-glowing orbs told who it was. It was Dunsj the half-demon. Dunsj went over to Kikafu and hovered his paw above the lions head while whispering a few words…

 

Inside Kikafu’s mind, a dream took shape… He found himself as a cub, sitting at the top of the priderock.

There was another person present in the dream; it was Dunsj in the shape of Kikafu’s dead brother Sidun.

In the dream Kikafu approached what he thought was his twin brother…

 

Kikafu:                      Sidun?

Dunsj:                      [fakes Siduns voice] yes Kikafu, it’s me

Kikafu:                      is… is it really you?

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] yes it is I… now please listen, because what I am about to tell you is very important…

Kikafu:                      I’ll listen, Sid…

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] Thanks…

 

Dunsj paused, and the image of Sidun looked around as if it was looking for something

 

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] I am not supposed to tell you this… but I’ll do it anyway. [Pauses]

                      Kikafu, you are on the edge to be thrown out completely from the pride…

Kikafu:                      [exclaims] Thrown out?

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] shh… keep it down Kikafu…

Kikafu:                      sorry…

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] ok… but I must tell you, there is a way to avoid banishment. You must do something that makes them like you again…

Kikafu:                      what must I do then?

 

The image of Sidun looked around again, as if making sure that no one else was listening…

 

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] you must… get yourself a wife. I know it sounds silly, but it is the only way to change their hearts.

Kikafu:                      but whom should I marry then? I’ve basically ruined every chance I ever had.

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] ah, you are wrong dear brother, there is still one that has her eyes on you…

Kikafu:                      [sounds hopeful] there is? Who is she?

Dunsj:                      [with Siduns voice] let me see… her name is… Tanwe, yeah, Tanwe! She’s your only hope brother…

 

The dream then suddenly faded away and Kikafu returned to normal sleep… Dunsj quietly withdrew and faded into invisibility. When he had backed off long enough, he gave out a whistling sound.

 

That was the signal Tanwe had been waiting for. She arose from her hiding place and padded towards Kikafu. Dunsj watched them from a distance, grinning maliciously as Tanwe nudged Kikafu…

 

Tanwe:                      Kiká, are you awake?

 

Kikafu grunted in his sleep but he didn’t wake up. Tanwe sighed and poked him again…

 

Tanwe:                      c’mon Kiká, I wanna talk with you…

 

When Kikafu had failed to wake up the second time, Tanwe moved the tip of her tail across his nose, causing him to snort and then to sneeze violently. This woke him up…

 

Kikafu:                      a! What!?? Uh... Tanwe?

Tanwe:                      [smirks] I was just wondering if you’d ever wake up.

Kikafu:                      uh… what can I do for you?

Tanwe:                      well… [Cringes a bit] we could chat a bit, you know…

Kikafu:                      sure…

Tanwe:           I think Aihatu was overreacting earlier today, from what I heard; Leesha practically invited that other lion. You did the right thing to chase him away.

Kikafu:                      well, no one else seem to think like you…

Tanwe:                      ah to hell with them… they are the typical “follow the leader” types. They will all soon be come crawling to you when they realize the truth.

Kikafu:                      do think so?

Tanwe:                      [nods] yep I do [pauses] oh, I forgot to ask, how bad is your wounds? They look pretty nasty to me

Kikafu:                      I… I don’t know. Slodia said something about that they had gone all the way trough to the bone…

Tanwe:                      [makes a disgusted face] sounds awful… [Looks closer at the stitches] uh… whats that they’re closed with… grass?

Kikafu:                      yes, its grass… it was the only method that worked…

Tanwe:                      ew… doesn’t it hurt?

Kikafu:                      normally it would, but Slodia was kind enough to give me something that takes the pain away…

 

Tanwe looked into his eyes, seeing nothing but longing and misery in their grey depths…

 

Tanwe:                      well, from one thing to another… do you remember the talk we had not so long ago?

Kikafu:                      err… [Looks ashamed] I do…

Tanwe:                      well, I guess I misunderstood you… sorry for that…

Kikafu:                      uhm... don’t be sorry, I should’ve known better.

Tanwe:                      [sighs] I guess I’ll only hear you say that you love me in my dreams…

 

Suddenly Siduns words echoed in his mind. The one who could prevent him being exiled stood right in front of him…

 

Kikafu:                      [stutters] I…

 

Tanwe looked very disheartened as she looked at him….

 

Tanwe:                      oh well, could as well have figured it… no one loves me…

 

She sighed and turned away from him with tears moistening her eyes…

 

Kikafu:                      no… wait. Tanwe I… I do love you… I love you more than anything else…

 

Tanwe turned around, half surprised, half overwhelmed by happiness…

 

Kikafu:                      will you marry me Tanwe?

Tanwe:                      [shocked] I… Yes I will!!

 

She bounced back over to him and stood face to face with him…

 

Tanwe:                      [smiling widely] Yes I will Kiká! You have no idea of how long I’ve longed for you to ask!

 

She touched his nose with her own, and then she kissed him straight on his mouth.

 

Tanwe:                      [licks her lips] you’d better get used to it… my love

Kikafu:                      heh, yea… I guess I will enjoy every second of it

Tanwe:                      oh you cute little thing…

 

She nuzzled him very affectionate for a few seconds before she withdrew her head and got a serious look on her face

 

Tanwe:                      oh… I remember why I came to you… [Sighs] the others spoke of… banishing you…

Kikafu:                      [gasps] just like in my dream!

Tanwe:                      huh?

Kikafu:           I dreamt that I would get exiled unless I didn’t… find a mate, which I have…

Tanwe:                      hoo, talking about having a true-dream…

Kikafu:                      but it is not because of that that I asked you… I do truly love you Tanwe, it just took me so long to realize…

Tanwe:           it is ok Kiká, we’re together now… and I’ll follow you anywhere if they banish you…

Kikafu:                      whatever happens, I will always love you…

Tanwe:                      [nuzzles him] so will I, Kiká. [Yawns] how about we sleep now and continue tomorrow?

Kikafu:                      [nuzzles her back] sure… good night my love

Tanwe:                      [kisses him] goodnight Kiká…

 

Tanwe lay down on the ground and she mentioned for Kikafu to lie beside her. Snuggled up to each other they fell asleep.

 

From his hiding place Dunsj watched them. He waited for a few minutes before he made himself visible again…

 

Dunsj:                      [snickers] this is almost too evil… [Grins] sleep well little lion, for tomorrow will be your day of banishment…

 

He grinned smugly at the sleeping lion before he set his course towards the priderock…

 

Some minutes later he stood at the very entrance to the dens of the priderock. Snickering he turned invisible and entered…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks for himself] time to seed some distrust here…

 

The first he saw was Rasawah lying near the entrance as always. Dunsj could see how the half-breed twitched and turned in slight pain. Dunsj knew that it was due to his presence…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks to himself] don’t worry, filthy one… your time will come soon enough…

 

He walked further into the cave and looked at all the lionesses.

Snickering silently he began to walk from lioness to lioness, gently touching them right between their eyes… until he came to Leesha. He hesitated for a moment before he decided to skip her and go on to the next one instead… and the next one was Deya. Dunsj remembered what Tanwe had said about her. Knowing that the lioness could ruin everything he instead walked on to the next one, which was Aihatu.

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks for himself] well, well… if it isn’t Aihatu…

 

He touched her head and held his paw there for some seconds before removing it…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks for himself] that should be all… now if Tanwe plays her role, everything will be perfect… [Grins and looks at Aihatu] sweet dreams Aihatu…

 

Grinning maliciously he walked outside and vanished into the night…

 

 

Chapter LXXVIII

Final Blow

 

Very early the next morning Aihatu woke up with a gasp and was totally soaked in sweat. With her heart pounding she looked around and saw that most other members of the pride had woken up in a similar manner.

 

Aihatu:                      [whispers to herself] thank god… it was only a nightmare…

 

Another of the lionesses that had awoken heard her…

 

Illaya:                      you too? I had a nightmare too! It was about Kikafu…

Aihatu:                      strange… mine was about Kikafu too… he was such a monster… and we were all his obeying slaves…

Illaya:                      [stares wide-eyed at Aihatu] That was in my dream too! I was pregnant, carrying his filthy spawn…

Aihatu:                      [gasps] now this is getting scary… I dreamt that too!

Illaya:                      gee… I dreamt that it all started with Tanwe becoming his mate…

 

Aihatu heard her and swept her gaze across the den… to her horror she couldn’t see Tanwe anywhere…

 

Aihatu:                      talking about Tanwe… she isn’t here…

 

Illaya gave her a frightened gaze…

 

Illaya:                      you don’t think that…

Aihatu:                      no, don’t be silly… it was just a bad dream and a scary coincidence that we had the same dream…

Illaya:                      uh huh… I’m going to find Tanwe anyway… just to be sure…

 

Aihatu felt a chill of suspicion in her mind that she wasn’t able to shake…

 

Aihatu:                      I’m with you…

 

After a short talk with some of the others that was awake, it became clear to them that they had all had the exactly same dream. Without any further discussion they went out to find Tanwe…

 

At the same time Tanwe had awakened next to Kikafu and was amusing herself by gently nipping his whiskers. After one too rough nip she woke him up… to her visible joy…

 

Tanwe:                      [smiles] morning Kiká!

Kikafu:                      [yawns] morning Tanwe…

Tanwe:                      [kisses him on his unhurt cheek] well, I know it is a little early… but… I would really like to know how it feels… [Blushes] to really be your mate…

Kikafu:                      uh… you mean?

Tanwe:                      we’re mates Kiká… and what do you think it is called “mate” for?

Kikafu:                      because they…

 

Tanwe effectively prevented him from saying anything further by covering his mouth with her own.

She kept up pressing her muzzle to his for a long while… until she heard a clicking noise from nearby… that was the signal from Dunsj she had waited for… She let go of her kiss and looked straight into Kikafu’s grey eyes…

 

Tanwe:                      [whispers] I’m ready now…

 

She laid down in front of him, looked back and waited…

 

Not far away from them were Aihatu and some of the other lionesses looking for Tanwe… Suddenly a scream pierced the silence… its source was nearby…

 

Tanwe:                      [screams] HEEEEELP!!!!!

 

None of the search party waited… they all rushed towards where they had heard Tanwe’s voice… all fearing that their nightmare had come true…

 

When they reached Tanwe they found her laying on the ground, covering her face in her paws and Kikafu standing behind her, frozen in shock. Aihatu and Illaya rushed over to Tanwe while some others pushed Kikafu away and saw to that he didn’t escape…

 

Aihatu:                      [nudges Tanwe] Tanwe… are you all right?

 

Tanwe slowly removed her paws from her eyes and looked frightened up at Aihatu…

 

Tanwe:                      [trembling voice] it… was horrible… he… [Sob] he said he would kill… kill me if… I refused…

Aihatu:                      [growls and looks up at Kikafu] How could you!!!

 

She leapt over to Kikafu and smacked him across his face.

 

Aihatu:                      [with an ice-cold voice] what you did to Leesha was bad enough… but this… [Pauses]

                      There can be only one punishment… [Pauses again] Kikafu… I hereby take the name your mother gave to you… you are not worthy to carry it anymore…

Kikafu:                      [exclaims] No, you… you can’t do that!

Aihatu:                      [ice-cold voice] shut up… [Continues] you are hereby exiled from these lands… and if you ever return, we won’t have any mercy upon you…

 

Kikafu did not know what to do… all the lionesses around him, including Zantzeh was growling and baring their teeth at him. Their angry gazes pierced him like arrows… He couldn’t stand it and began to run… some of the pride chased after him.

He was chased all the way to the western boundaries of the pridelands, where the lionesses stopped and yelled obscenities after him as he continued towards the western horizon…

 

 

Chapter LXXIX

Damu’s Emerge

 

As Aihatu and Illaya tried to counsel and calm Tanwe down a rather large built lion with crimson fur approached them… without anyone had noticed him…

 

Damu:                      excuse me…

Aihatu:                      [turns to face him] and who the hell are you?

Damu:            I be Damu…

Aihatu:                      now look Damu… why don’t you just do us all a favour and walk back to where you came from?

 

Damu ignored Aihatu completely as he saw Tanwe. He pushed past everyone and stood right before her…

 

Damu:                      Tanwe!! What they done to you?

 

Some of the other lionesses were just about to push him away when Tanwe bounced up and wrapped her paws around his neck…

 

Tanwe:                      [plays her role] DAMU!!! Is it really you?

Damu:                      Tanwe… Me found you!

 

Aihatu and the others stood gaping, not able to understand a thing…

 

Tanwe:                      h…how did you find me?

Damu:                      me looked everywhere… but you be gone… until now…

 

Tanwe let go of her embrace of the lion…

 

Tanwe:                      oh Damu… I thought I had lost you forever…

Damu:                      me thought so about you… but now we be together…

Aihatu:                      uhm… sorry to interrupt… but how do you two know each other?

Tanwe:                      [looks at her] well… back were we used to live, Damu here was my Fiancé… but we got separated because of Kubaki…

Damu:                      me then left all I knew to find her… me refused to know she was gone…

 

The bunch of pridelanders seemed to have forgotten that they just had expelled Kikafu. This strange reddish lion that just had appeared from nowhere was too curious for them…

 

Damu continued to tell them about what endeavours he had survived to find his beloved Tanwe…

 

… Somewhere nearby, hidden in the shades of the tall grass the invisible Dunsj grinned to himself… total success…

 

Dunsj:                      [thinks] everything has worked perfectly… the pride will accept him in no time… [Snickers] and for that poor little half-breed bastard… I have a special surprise for him…

                      But now, I’ll have to talk to Leesha…

 

In his invisible state he went back to the priderock again. But most to his dismay he found that only Deya was still there. But that didn’t hinder him. He knew Leesha’s scent and had no problems with finding it among all the other smells. He easily followed her trail to a nearby waterhole, where he found her sitting all alone gazing absently into the water. Dunsj hesitated for a few moments before he padded over to her and tapped her shoulder…

 

Leesha:                      [turns around] yes… [Looks around] Who’s there?

 

Dunsj shrugged… he had forgot that he was still invisible…

 

Dunsj:                      sorry about that Leesha…

Leesha:                      [gasps and looks around] t…that voice… it… it’s impossible… he’s dead!

Dunsj:                      [turns visible again] nothing is Leesha, as you can see, I am alive and kicking.

Leesha:                      [surprised] but… how?

Dunsj:                      well, lets say that I was dead the last time we met… and now I am alive again…

Leesha:                      h…how is that possible?

Dunsj:                      I… don’t think you want to know exactly how it was done… [Pauses] do you remember that I told you about possession last time we met?

Leesha:                      I… have a vague memory of that…

Dunsj:                      ok, lets say that someone cursed me to kill someone else trough possession of the other ones body…

Leesha:                      [shocked] you what?

Dunsj:            I know it sounds awful, but I have no choice… I really hate it when people curse me upon others… but trough it I regained my body… [Looks into the ground] at the cost of an innocent life…

 

Dunsj looked as if he was tormented by his memories…

 

Dunsj:                      Leesha… the only reason I came here was to see you… and… [Stutters slightly] t…that I st…still love you…. I know it is silly… but it is my love for you that has kept me going…

Leesha:                      but… it was so long ago…

Dunsj:                      [sighs] for you maybe… but for me it was like a blink of an eye… [Sighs again] I realized long ago that we can never be together… it saddens me just to think of it…

 

For once, Leesha did not know what to say… the half-demon that stood in front of her looked so pitiful. His face was so full of sadness and unhappiness that she barely could look at him without going sad herself.

 

Dunsj:            I don’t want to have a demon side anymore… I want to be free… to live a normal life. Live without having two voices inside my head telling me what to do all the time. They are never silent; even now they are trying to urge me to do either good or evil things…

Leesha:                      uh… what do they say to you?

Dunsj:                      one of them is trying to get me to strangle you with your own tail while the other tells me to run away and never bother you again. But I don’t want to leave you… nor do I want to kill you… because I love you so much… [Pauses] and if you say that there has to be someone out there for me, I’m going to cry…

Leesha:                      don’t be so unrealistic Dunsj…

Dunsj:                      Just look at me! Who would ever even like me one lousy bit? Almost everyone I ever met has either died or ran away in fear… the rest always wanted me to kill someone for them…

Leesha:                      what about me? I haven’t died, ran away or asked you to kill someone…

Dunsj:                      almost everyone… except for you and two others… you three are the only ones that has ever bothered to befriend me…

Leesha:                      two others?

Dunsj:                      yes… I had one friend before we met in the Rimlands… and one all until now…

Leesha:                      who were they… and what happened to them?

Dunsj:                      well… Zifa, my first friend is most likely dead by now… and the other one, Damu is still alive…

Leesha:                      where is Damu then?

Dunsj:                      Damu… won’t need me anymore…

Leesha:                      how can you be sure of that? How can you know that he won’t need a friend?

Dunsj:                      he’d be living a much better life without me around…

Leesha:                      why do you think that?

Dunsj:                      because… [Hesitates] I… I just know…

 

Leesha did not say anything… the pained expression on Dunsj’s face told her not to push it any further. She simply decided to change the topic all over…

 

Leesha:                      well, if you ever feel lonely you can always come to me.

Dunsj:                      [smiles faintly] thanks Leesha… I really appreciate that…

 

A short silence came between them…

 

Dunsj:                      Leesha… could… could I ask something of you?

Leesha:                      sure you can, Dunsj

Dunsj:                      c…could you… give me a… hug?

Leesha:                      A hug? You want a hug?

Dunsj:            I really want to know what it is like… I’ve never been hugged in my entire life…

Leesha:                      oh… sure, I can hug you…

 

She went over right in front of him and embraced him tightly. Dunsj gave out a gasp that almost made Leesha let go of him…

 

Dunsj:                      no… don’t let go… I… feel so… secure… so… You are so close to me… I can almost feel your soul…

 

Leesha held on to him under a soft silence… that was broken by that Dunsj began to weep. Lone tears rolled down his cheeks…

 

Leesha:                      [concerned] Dunsj? Are you all right?

Dunsj:                      [whimpers] I… never been… so close to anyone… before… I [sobs] I…

Leesha:                      hush now Dunsj… try to relax… let it all out…

 

She slowly rocked him back and forth while emitting a soft humming sound. This was a strange experience for her to be embracing a crying half-demon like Dunsj…

 

Dunsj:                      [sobbing] wh…why do I have to live like this? No one in the entire world likes me at all…

Leesha:          I like you Dunsj…

Dunsj:                      [sobbing] no, no one likes me…[sobs] no one…

Leesha:                      Dunsj, listen to me… Aihatu once told me what your mother did when you died…

Dunsj:                      [sobbing] she… she was so happy to finally be rid of me…

Leesha:                      you are wrong, she cared for you more than you know… she cried because of your death… even if her tears was of fire, she cried of agony and sorrow…

Dunsj:                      [sobbing] c…can that be true? D…did she really love me?

Leesha:                      your death must’ve set something in motion inside her. She must’ve loved you dearly, but was too afraid to show it…

Dunsj:                      [sobbing] b…but… demons can’t show any emotions…

Leesha:                      but you are part demon, aren’t you? And it looks to me like you are expressing some very strong emotions right now…

Dunsj:                      you are right [sobs] I am… I never done that before…

Leesha:                      well, I remember that you said that you loved me once…

Dunsj:                      I… I still do…

Leesha:          I love you too Dunsj…

 

A weak smile began to form on Dunsj’s face as his sobbing died out. Leesha let go of her embrace, with her shoulder totally soaked by his tears. The empty void inside him was no longer empty. A stirring sensation spread across his entire soul… she loved him back… but then, a gnawing sense of quilt appeared…

 

Dunsj:                      Leesha… I must be honest to you… Do you know anyone by the name Kikafu?

Leesha:                      yes I do… he used to be like a brother to me…

Dunsj:                      [shakes his head] you will hate me now…

Leesha:                      hate you?

Dunsj:            I haven’t told you the entire truth… my friend Damu joined a pride… and I helped him in doing so… and… it was this pride…

Leesha:                      oh… whats wrong with that?

Dunsj:                      I… I didn’t know that you lived here…

 

Suddenly he smacked himself across his face…

 

Dunsj:                      no… now I am lying again… I knew well that you lived here… remember that night when you ran into something at the waterhole? It was me you collided with…

Leesha:          I still don’t understand…

Dunsj:                      when your pride sister Tanwe showed up later… I hypnotized her… she has been acting like my spy all the time. I used her to gather information… and I also used her to the awful thing…

Leesha:                      what did you do that is so awful?

Dunsj:                      I… I used her to… get… Kikafu banished… I had… planted nightmares into every pride member’s head… about him…

Leesha:                      [shocked] WHAT???

Dunsj:                      [looks into the ground] it is too late now… Aihatu has already stripped him of his name and expelled him…

Leesha:                      I… I can’t believe it!

Dunsj:                      [still looking into the ground] … it is my entire fault…

Leesha:                      I… can’t believe that you did it… why?

Dunsj:                      [looks up at her] I… I just had to… I couldn’t help it… I had to help my friend…

 

Leesha was silent for a few seconds…

 

Leesha:                      then help me now, Dunsj… help me to set everything right again and I will forgive you…

Dunsj:                      I… [Slaps himself again] Of course I will… no stupid voice inside my head will ever again tell me what to do! I will help you because I want to help you…

Leesha:                      thanks Dunsj… right now we’ll have to find Kiká and… then tell the truth to the pride…

Dunsj:                      wouldn’t it be easier if we told the pride first, and then had their help to find him?

Leesha:                      yeah… now come on…

Dunsj:            if you don’t mind I prefer to be invisible…

Leesha:                      do as you wish…

 

Dunsj turned invisible and then they set their course towards where Dunsj had last seen the pride. Leesha somehow knew exactly where the invisible creature was all the time.

 

Somewhere along the way they met Rasawah who was strolling about on his own…

 

Leesha:                      Hey Ras!

Rasawah:                      Yoah Leesha… [groans] ow… my face…

Leesha:                      what’s wrong?

Rasawah:                      my face… it’s like it is burning…

Leesha:                      [concerned] are you ok?

 

Suddenly Dunsj began to talk…

 

Dunsj:                      no… it is his scars… demon caused wounds tend to itch when a demon is nearby…

Rasawah:                      ow… who is that? Who said that?

Leesha:                      Dunsj…

Dunsj:                      Leesha… we should continue… my very presence here is inflicting harm upon him…

Leesha:                      just a sec, ok? [Turns to Rasawah] Ras… Kiká has been exiled…

Rasawah:                      [totally confused] what? Why?

Leesha:                      because a plan Dunsj had… but now we’re going to tell the pride the truth and then find Kiká again…

Rasawah:                      uh… I’ll go ahead of you…

 

But just as he was about to leave, Dunsj came to think of Watabi’s fate…

 

Dunsj:                      hey… wait… there is something I have to tell you…

 

The half-demon became visible again and went over to Rasawah and whispered something to him. As soon as Dunsj had told him, Rasawah turned around and darted as fast as he could towards where he the rest of the pride ought to be…

 

Meanwhile had Damu finished telling his faked adventures to the pride…

 

Aihatu:                      I… your story am truly amazing… your love for Tanwe must be extraordinary.

Tanwe:                      [looks hopeful] then he can stay?

Aihatu:                      yes… otherwise I had to expel you as well… which I has no intention of doing… [Turns to Damu] Damu… I welcome you into this pride…

Damu:                      [bows slightly] me be very grateful…

 

A short silence occurred over the pride…

 

Tanwe:                      but wait a minute… if Kikafu is gone, then there is no heir…

Aihatu:                      no… [Looks briefly at Damu] there isn’t…

Tanwe:                      then… maybe [looks at Damu]

Aihatu:                      I… don’t know… does he know how to rule?

Tanwe:                      yeah, where we came from, he was the heir…

Damu:                      that be true… me left all of it to find her…

Aihatu:                      then… I have to discuss this with the pride first…

 

Both she and the rest of the lionesses withdrew a little and began to discuss what to do. Tanwe nuzzled Damu while listening to them. Damu looked surprised at her and smiled…

A few minutes later Aihatu stepped towards them…

 

Aihatu:                      Damu… we have decided that you can be our king…

 

An even wider smile came across Damu’s face…

 

Damu:                      me accept your offer…

Aihatu:                      [smiles] then long live king…

 

But before she was finished Rasawah suddenly came running towards Aihatu…

 

Rasawah:                      no Wait!

 

Everyone’s eyes turned towards him…

 

Rasawah:                      [takes a few deep breaths and glares at Damu] He killed Watabi!!!

 

A multi-voiced “What” came from all of the lionesses.

 

Damu:                      me never heard of Watabi… me never seen her…

Rasawah:                      [growls] if you never met her, then how do you know that she’s female?

Damu:                      you not come talk nonsense cheetah…

Aihatu:                      [talks to Rasawah] Ras… do you have any evidence?

Rasawah:                      evidence? [Snorts] I’ll give you evidence!

Aihatu:                      you’d better… because if you don’t, it is a crime to accuse a king…

Rasawah:                      KING??? [Steps towards Damu] If you are the king, then I have a claim on your rule. If Kikafu is gone, then I am the only remaining of Timba Aka-Mira’s children. I am the only true heir here!

Aihatu:                      Rasawah… have you gone mad? Don’t do it…

Rasawah:                      doesn’t listen to her] you… Zibihi… I challenge you…

Damu:                      [bares his teeth] as you want cheetah…

 

The large lion stepped towards Rasawah… The half-cheetah wasn’t much compared to Damu…

 

Without much of a warning Damu lunged at Rasawah, but the half-cheetah easily stepped aside.

He knew that he couldn’t win this fight by pure strength… he had to rely on his agility…

 

After a few unsuccessful pounces by Damu, the lion and the half-cheetah began to circle each other. The lion bared his teeth again and emitted a low rumbling snarl…

 

Damu:                      you not know how to fight?

 

Rasawah snarled in reply…

 

Damu:                      fight me or leave…

Rasawah:       I will not leave before you have admitted your guilt…

Damu:                      pah… who tell you such nonsense?

Rasawah:                      your little demon friend seem to have changed sides…

Damu:                      Dunsj? No impossible. He not betray me… [Whispers] and… Watabi was mine…

Rasawah:                      You Lie!

 

Rasawah leapt at Damu and caught him off-guard…

 

The pride watched terrified as the crimson lion and the half-cheetah began to inflict wounds on each other… At this time Leesha and the invisible Dunsj arrived. They both went over to Aihatu…

 

Leesha:                      [looks at the fight] Mom, you have to stop this!

Aihatu:                      [turns to Leesha] Leesha? I… I wish I could… but Rasawah challenged Damu… there is nothing I can do…

Leesha:                      listen mom, Kikafu was innocent… it was all a part of a plan made by Damu and Dunsj.

Aihatu:                      [confused] Dunsj?

 

The half-demon reappeared right beside Leesha…

 

Dunsj:            I admit Aihatu… Damu did not really have anything to do with it all… it was all my plan, all of it… and now I’m going to reverse it…

 

He walked away from Leesha and shouted to Damu…

 

Dunsj:                      DAMU! STOP FIGHTING!!!

 

Both Damu and Rasawah stopped and looked confused at Dunsj…

 

Dunsj:                      Damu… come, let us leave these lands in peace…

Damu:                      NO! Me not leave… not before Dizjuh’s murderer be dead.

Rasawah:                      [shoots in] I din not touch Dizjuh… [points at Dunsj] He came out from her… He killed her!

Dunsj:                      that is the truth Damu…

Damu:                      What??? [Enraged] You… lied… to… me… Dunsj? ME WILL KILL YOU!!!

 

The lion lunged for Dunsj, who unfortunately wasn’t as agile as Rasawah. The result was that Dunsj received a large cut on his back. Stunned by the pain, Dunsj could not dodge Damu’s paw. With a loud crack he fell to his side… Damu quickly went over to him and flipped him over on his back and pinned him. The lion bared his awesome teeth before Dunsj’s face…

 

Damu:                      me kill you now…

 

Leesha couldn’t stand and do nothing… she charged straight at Damu, pushing him away from Dunsj.

But the lion was quickly on his paws again and smacked Leesha across her muzzle and then pinned Dunsj again…

 

Damu:                      [hisses] me will kill your girlfriend after you…

Dunsj:                      [coughs] in hell you won’t….

 

With a sudden strength from his demon side, Damu was pushed away from him. Dunsj got on his paws and leapt straight at Damu. Then he quickly bit Damu’s neck and pulled backwards. Dunsj tore Damu’s soul out… but instead of consuming it… he let it go…

 

Both the lion and the half-demon collapsed at the same time, with Dunsj laying half over Damu’s shoulders…

 

Dunsj:                      [coughs violently] damn you Damu… I hate doing that…

 

Leesha got over to Dunsj and gently got him off Damu and onto the ground, now lying on his side…

 

Leesha:                      Dunsj? Are you ok?

 

The entire pride, including Rasawah and Tanwe began to gather around them…

 

Leesha:                      Dunsj?

Dunsj:                      [coughs] no… Leesha… I am not ok… [Coughs] I am as good as dead…

Leesha:                      [with tears in her eyes] no, you’ll survive… I know you will…

Dunsj.                      [coughs] this is it… I will soon face the  reaper… [coughs] the world will forget about me [coughs] the sooner the better…

Leesha:                      don’t say that Dunsj…

Dunsj:                      [coughs] Leesha… I… [coughs] love you…

 

The last words were more like a gasp. Then the red glow in his eyes slowly faded away as he gave up his life. Leesha embraced his body, crying heavily…

 

A few moments later Dunsj’s body began to turn into dust… within some seconds all that remained was a pile of grayish dust and two marble-shaped red rubies on the top of the pile…

 

Leesha:                      [sobs loudly] oh Dunsj… the world will never forget you…

 

A couple of dead-silent minutes passed by until Rasawah spoke…

 

Rasawah:       I hate to disturb… but we have to find Kikafu…

 

Some of the lionesses agreed while others didn’t react at all…

 

Kamu:                      Rasawah… you are our king now… we will obey your commands…

 

 

Epilogue

 

Much later in the night, Rasawah and the other lionesses returned to the priderock without having seen any trace of Kikafu. Heavy-hearted they all, except Rasawah, entered the den.

 

Rasawah padded out to the tip of the promontory and sat down…

 

He would most likely never see his brother again, and his mother was dead. What did he have left now? He sighed heavily. The future was the only thing that remained now. He sighed again and gazed towards the western horizon…

 

Somewhere out there Kikafu was, all alone in the night, thinking that he could never return to his home again…

 

Rasawah shook his head sligightly before he rose to his paws again… maybe Kikafu would meet Inkhobi or any of the others he had known in the cheetah lands… who could tell? Rasawah sighed once again before he walked back to the den, entered it and vanished into the shadows…

 

 

THE END

 

This part:

Started: 28:th July 2002

Finished: 22:th September 2002

 

Entire story:

Started: 13:th July 2000

Finished: 22:th September 2002

 

This was the end of The Lion King IV; The Seeds of Goodness. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Please to mail any comments, questions and such. I would appreciate any feedback from my readers.

 

Sigurd Engerström