Ok here it is all you loyal readers Part 2 of A Hearts Loneliness. We finally find out what happens with Nalia and things start to come back to Kopa will he get his memory back and how long will it take him?
Chapter 7: Upweke Mioyo Part 2 (A Hearts Loneliness)
Nalia had just been blindsided by the question Kopa had just asked she wasn’t sure what to say or do whether what he had just asked her was genuine or if he had somehow figured out what she was there to do. All she knew right now was that she had to at least keep him distracted long enough to get closer so she could push him off the edge. Nalia chuckled “Kopa there are so many things that I wish for I can’t just choose one of them they all are equally important.” She slowly started to walk closer her claws extended now only a few more feet separating them before she stopped in her tracks again. She noticed that he hadn’t even bothered to turn around yet it was like he was transfixed on something in the distance. Nalia let her claws retract there was something definitely going on here but she couldn’t quite put her paw on it, she just sat there and waited until she notice his ears droop.
“My wish is clear to me Nalia and that’s……to be free.”
Nalia’s widened when she heard what Kopa had just said to her she didn’t think it was possible for him to have the same wish as she did. It was true that she was a prisoner of this place when Chuki saved her mother back when she was still pregnant with her and struck a deal with her mother. It was simple in exchange for saving her mother’s life the child that she was about to have would serve him in any way he would deem fit for the pride. Although her mother objected to the deal it was either that and be able to stay with the pride in safety or be left out in the plains to starve to death and loose the cub. Her mother obviously had to choose the choice to save her cub but Nalia didn’t understand what her part in the circle of life was if this was what she was supposed to do. Her mind quickly snapped back to reality still seeing Kopa sitting in front of her, she walked up and sat down next to him looking over at him she could see tears in his eyes “What do you mean Kopa you’re already free.” She giggled trying to cheer him up.
“Toko never told you that I’m not originally from this pride did he?”
“No he said that it would be better if I found out from you because it’s your life to let someone into.”
“I’m not really free Nalia I’m trapped here and I’m also trapped inside my dreams.” Kopa lowered his head letting some tears hit the lush grass. Nalia did her best to comfort him her mind draw to the fact that they were so similar in wanting to be free of this place. Kopa began to tell her about what he could remember when he woke up and found himself here in the Burning Plains recapping his life filled with both fun and sadness. Since he had come to this pride none of the other lionesses or cubs liked him they all scowled at him and picked on him, the only ones he could count on were Shema and Toko but that didn’t mean he wasn’t above defending himself. Nalia felt sorry for Kopa although she was sick most of the time she couldn’t imagine what it was like to have to deal with that kind of pain every day and even now he still wasn’t liked by a lot of the lionesses and Chuki obviously didn’t want him in the pride anymore. Nalia nuzzled up against Kopa trying to make him feel better she had developed genuine love for him and didn’t want to see him hurting like this anymore, but was surprised when Kopa turned and walked from her standing over a small pond next to the waterfall.
“I’m sorry Nalia but I can’t be what you want me to be for you.” Kopa stared down at the water hearing Nalia walk up next to him.
“What do you mean Kopa you don’t feel the same way I do?”
“It’s not that it’s just that I think I’m in love with someone from my home I remember making a promise to her but…” Kopa trailed off having a hard time remembering. “I remember someone telling me that we are only half of who we are and when we find the person we love they make us whole and see.” Kopa pointed into the water both of them only showing the left side of their faces in the water and Nalia chuckled.
“So you’re saying that we aren’t meant to be but this girl was your love.” Nalia let out a sigh and then smiled “Well if she’s anything like you I’m sure she’s waiting for you to come home, and don’t worry about me we can be best friends how’s that sound Kopa?” Giving Kopa a big cheesy grin before pushing him to the side.
Kopa started laughing as he rolled on the grass “I think I’d like that Nalia thank you.” He smiled Kopa was enjoying such a happy moment which hadn’t come very often here he began to think maybe things were finally starting to look up, it wasn’t long before they were headed back to the den when they saw Shema standing outside with some other lionesses.
“What’s going on Shema?” Nalia questioned.
“Chuki is holding a council with the hunting party. With the rainy season coming the lands will flourish and we will have to hunt farther out of our territory and we need ideas on what to do.”
“I want to be part of this Shema.” Kopa took a step forward meeting resistance from Shema.
“I can’t let you go in Kopa you know what he will do if he sees you there.”
“Then I won’t say anything I’ll just observe he can’t kick me out for that.” Kopa watched Shema dig her claws into the dirt thinking it over he had made a valid point now it was up to her.
“Very well but if anything goes wrong I’m getting you out of there understood.” Shema saw the look on Kopa’s face as he nodded in approval. Before heading in Shema made sure that Nalia stayed outside to wait and see how things would go. Upon entering the cave Kopa was greeted with a barrage of glares and evil looks, he could see Toko sitting next to his father. Toko had been doing a lot of tasks for his father lately getting only little time to spend with Kopa but the return was that he was getting his father’s attention and praise now. Shema sat down at the opposite side of the den with Kopa next to her until Chuki finally caught wind of what was happening.
“What is he doing here Shema?!” Chuki growled standing up wondering how he could’ve still been alive but then realizing that Nalia had failed again.
“He just wants to observe nothing more he promised he wouldn’t even make a sound.”
Chuki glared at Kopa knowing he would deal with him and Nalia later “Is that true boy?” he watched as Kopa simply nodded, he was surprised that Kopa had more smarts than he thought had he said anything Chuki was prepared to force him out. Chuki sat back down, Toko was nervously awaiting an answer from his father “Fine he can stay.” Toko breathed in relief as the discussion got under way. The council was nothing but boring talk about what to do when the rain started nothing of real interest until it got to the food situation. Chuki looked around at the hunting party “Well does anyone have any suggestions as to what we should do about the food shortage we are bound to have?” he looked around until one of the lionesses spoke up.
“Our only option as it stands is to hunt the other prides.”
Kopa’s eyes widened when he heard the plan to help pride survive he couldn’t believe that this was there only option. Kopa stood up he had to take a stand on this “YOU CAN’T DO THAT IT ISN’T RIGHT!” Kopa watched as Chuki stood up growling furiously walking right up to Kopa. Kopa didn’t move he was determined to hold his ground on this subject.
“You dare challenge me in my own home about this BOY.”
“You can’t just hunt down other prides just to shake your hunger; those prides have a right to hunt the same prey as we do.” Kopa stood looking up at Chuki holding his ground, and it wasn’t until he saw Chuki draw his claws and started growling. Kopa started to back up a bit giving himself some space until he started to raise his paw ready to strike when Toko jumped in between them.
“Dad Kopa’s right we can’t just hunt down other prides dad that’s not going to gain us any support.” Toko dug his claws into the stone hating what he was about to say. “We could just steal the food from the other prides or make a larger hunting party not many lions will threaten us with the rain coming.” Toko was sure that his father was going to strike at Kopa regardless of what he said but instead he felt his father’s paw on top of his head.
“Toko I had such high hopes for you and then you side with him and defy me your own father, for that you must be taught a lesson.” Chuki extended his claws and brought his paw down fast cutting into Toko’s right eye and hearing his son roar in pain before he and Kopa ran out of the cave. Kopa tried to calm his brother down but it only made him angrier. Meanwhile Nalia watched as they headed to the watering hole to clean his face. She turned to see Chuki walking out of the cave looking at her and she backed up keeping a little bit of distance. She kept her distance from everyone for the rest of the day finally getting to close her eyes and get some sleep once everyone else had already fallen asleep.
“Nalia wake up we have to leave NOW!” Nalia’s mother hurried her up and out of the den.
“What’s going on mother?”
“We’re getting out of here so we can find another pride to live with.” Nalia ran with her mother into the plains as fast as they could until they saw a dark figure in the distance, her mother growled ferociously. Nalia’s eyes widened when she saw that it was Chuki his eyes glaring at them both and slowly started walking towards them both.
“You didn’t think you could just walk away from our deal did you Nalia? What about your mother too did she think she could walk away from the deal we struck as well?”
“NALIA RUN!” her mother shouted attacking Chuki, Nalia didn’t have much of a choice she started running until she managed to get herself at the top of one of the large chasms that had been made from the dry conditions. Nalia hear the cracking of a stick looking behind her to see Chuki walking towards her making her back up more and more until she had no more room her back foot slipping as she slid down holding onto the cliff edge. Nalia clawed at the ground trying to hold onto the crumbling earth underneath her “Where’s my mom?” Nalia could feel tears starting to form in her eyes.
“Your mother won’t be joining us Nalia, besides you’re usefulness has come to an end.” Chuki dug his claws into Nalia’s paws hearing her scream in pain and gave her a big grin before tossing her off of the ledge.
Nalia screamed as she fell, her mind drifted back to Kopa and Toko her only friends that she had made in the whole pride and she let a smile appear on her face “Kopa my wish finally came true.” Nalia said to herself before she hit the ground snuffing the life out of her young body. Back at the den Kopa laid out under the stars his tail swaying back and forth as he stared at the stars. He had been unable to sleep after having one of his nightmares. He had decided sleep out under the stars staying away from everyone which had probably been his best choice for the night. Kopa rolled over onto his back looking at one of the brightest stars his eyes starting to get heavy “I wonder what Nalia’s wish was….well whatever it is I hope it comes true for her.” He thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep hoping that his dreams wouldn’t be invaded by nightmares again.