Chapter Six: Ni and Kona
"No!" Ahadi groaned as he watched the tidal wave of sand approached him menacingly. His face was as pale as death as he watched it come closer and closer. It seemed like he was paralyzed. Try as he might, he couldn't move a muscle even in the face of imminent death. The wave of sand was feet away when he heard the pounding of paws against sand and he felt himself being carried by the scruff of his neck. Ahadi managed to steal a look at the creature carrying him. It was an old lion with jade eyes, just like his, and a fading brownish gold pelt that Ahadi imagined, had at one time been rich and dark. The lion's mane was thinning, but again, Ahadi was sure that at one time it had been a glorious jet black mane. But before Ahadi could say anything to his rescuer, he felt the wave of sand enclose them. He didn't know if they'd make it out of this alive. This strange lion had risked his life to get him out of here... Why was he helping him? He wanted to find out, but he didn't know if he ever would. The last thing he remembered was the look on his rescuer's face as the wave of sand crashed in on them.
He felt the cold, stone floor brush against his paws as he felt for his surroundings. He awoke with a start.
He was alive! He looked around so fast he cricked his neck. He found the lion who'd rescued him. He was smiling at him.
"Easy, there, kid... You were pretty beat up when I found you," the old lion said. "I'm Ni, by the way... And this is my mate Kona," the old lion said as he motioned him to look at a lioness with keen, auburn eyes and a light brown pelt. She was smiling at him, too. Ahadi tried to speak, but no voice came out. He realized he was parched. Kona understood and picked him up and walked to the nearest source of water. On the way, Ahadi looked at the landscape that was spreading out before him. The grass was lush and green, and there were herds everywhere. Antelope were grazing in a meadow near by...The landscape was dotted with wildebeest and zebras... Hippos and elephants were bathing themselves in the river. Kona put him down gently, and Ahadi ran forth to drink to his heart's content. After he was done, he looked at Kona, as if asking her what he should do. She smiled at him and carried him back to the den.
"Help yourself to some food," she said as she placed him gently in front of a carcass. Ahadi suddenly realized he was famished, so he ate. After a while, when he was full, he turned back to Ni and Kona and smiled.
"Thank you... I," Ahadi began, but he couldn't express his gratitude in words. They'd saved his life.
"You can begin by telling us who you are," Ni said kindly.
"I'm Ahadi, Sire,” the young cub said. Ni looked at him curiously, as if waiting for more information. But when Ahadi didn't continue, he didn't pry.
"You need to rest. You can stay here for as long as you like. We'll see what position you'll have in our pride once you grow up. There's plenty of time for that, though... For now, just rest," Ni said kindly. Ahadi nodded at him gratefully and slept. But even then his disturbing dreams about his parents dying did nothing to ease his pain. The face of that horrible, menacing lion haunted him. Ahadi knew that he was responsible for the situation he was in... He was the reason his parents were dead. He would avenge them one day... He wouldn't let this go. He
had to find out who did this to his parents.
"Ahadi, wake up!" he heard Kona say. "Wake up, little one!" she said again as she nudged him. Ahadi opened his eyes and found that he was perspiring. He had relived various versions of his parents' death in his sleep. He tried not to look at Kona, but he couldn't avoid talking about it.
"What happened, Ahadi? You were screaming for your mother and father... What happened to them?" Kona asked him. By this time, Ni was awake, too, and was listening intently.
"They... died," Ahadi said sadly. "They died in battle. Two days before you found me, my pride was attacked. My parents were killed, and I ran away because they would've killed me too, if they'd had the chance," he finished. Kona and Ni looked at each other for a minute, then they looked at him.
"We're your family now... I know it's not the same, but... it's not nearly as bad as being alone," Kona said kindly. Ahadi smiled a her slightly, knowing she was right. They were being so kind... He couldn't resist.
"Thank you... I just... need some time to get used to not having them around," he told them. Both of them nodded at him and hugged him, hoping to comfort him.
"When you feel like talking about it, you can always come to us," Ni told him. Ahadi thought he ought to tell them, but he didn't want to relive that yet... He wanted to be away from all of that for a while. He wanted to be a free lion for once... Those days had seemed ages away. The last time he'd run across grassy plains without a care in the world seemed to belong to another era. How long would he feel this way? How long would he carry this weight before he collapsed from the strain of it?
Time passed slowly for all of them. Ahadi was now an adolescent lion. His jet black mane was growing fast; as was his body. His build was changing rapidly into an adult's. To Ni and Kona, he'd become an adopted son. And as grateful as he was, he couldn't forget his vow to avenge his parents. He'd have nightmares about it so often. Sometimes he'd dream being able to save them, which made him feel worse because it didn't happen. The evil face of the lion who'd ambushed his father's pride with his haunted him. One particular night, Ahadi woke up with a start, not knowing how to find him. He walked out of the den as slowly as he could, but he was shocked to find Kona and Ni awake, whispering to each other. He walked up to them apprehensively.
"Why, Ahadi! You're awake! Is everything alright?" Kona asked him. Ni smiled at him kindly, but Ahadi knew he couldn't hide it from them anymore. He had to tell them about his past.
"No, I'm not alright... All this time, I've been here living a comfortable life, while my parents are
dead! Their Kingdom is in that monster's hands, and I've done
nothing to take it back! I think it's time I told you how I came to be here," Ahadi said. Ni and Kona looked at him eagerly, waiting for him to begin. Ahadi sat down beside them slowly. He took a deep breath and began...
"My parents... were Aku and Zara. Our Kingdom was small... just on the other side of the desert you saved me from. But it was prosperous. Everything was fine until another pride came in and killed them. I ran away from there, knowing they would kill me if they found me. I had to cross the desert... It was the only way I could get away from them. That's when you found me, Ni," Ahadi finished. Both Ni and Kona were stunned. They didn't know how to react.
"
You are Aku and Zara's son?" Kona asked him incredulously.
"You
know them?" Ahadi asked them, looking at each of them in turn for an answer.
"Do you remember the face of the lion who attacked your pride?" Ni asked him gravely. Ahadi closed his eyes for a moment. He hadn't described the lion to anyone. The minute he saw the face, his eyes flew open again, and then he spoke.
"His eyes were cold and grey... His face was... gaunt and menacing. He had scars on his left cheek. That's all I can remember.
"Mako," Kona whispered slowly. She looked at Ni and he nodded at her sadly. Ni sighed as he looked at Ahadi remorsefully.
"Aku's death... is my fault. Now it is our turn to tell you a story, Ahadi. Please listen," Ni said. Ahadi was all ears as Ni began narrating the tale.
"Kona and I had two sons. For a while it seemed like they would love and respect one another, but when the time came for one of them to assume Kingship, the younger one challenged is brother. The older brother, afraid to hurt him, offered to step down and let him rule. But I didn't want that to happen. Our pride's tradition demanded that the first born be next in line to the throne, and no one else. Not wanting to fuel the feud, I had the Kingdom divided and gave one half to my first born, and the other half to my other son. Again, it seemed like the problem had been resolved... But I didn't know that such darkness could exist in my own son... He left with a few lionesses to take over his brother's Kingdom. But not without a fight. He got that scar from me. Our son's names were Aku and Mako," Ni finished.
Ahadi was stunned. When he finally found his voice, he asked, "Are you telling me... that the lion who destroyed everything I ever knew, is my
uncle?"
"I'm sorry, Ahadi, but yes... Mako is your uncle," Kona said sadly. For a while, Ahadi didn't know what to say. Then he got up and leapt in the direction of the river that crossed into their Kingdom just a little distance away... Ni and Kona didn't stop him, but they didn't know what he'd do to himself in light of what he'd just found out.