My Lion King Forum

Examining the past of the Naborhi pride, and how it all came to be. Because every happy ending has to have a beginning-- whether its tragic, or a happy one...you decide. This will ALSO be put on my DeviantArt page (link in my signature).
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"Brother, you remember Zuri" Okeli boldly told his brother. It wasn't easy to see the joy in Okeli's eyes, but it was quite easy to see that he was beaming with pride that he had something over his brother, Tendai: a lioness who meant more than just a friend. I only looked at it as friendly brother competition; Tendai being the younger of the two and Okeli being older though, I would have never guessed the roles would have been switched. Wasn't it usually the opposite; younger brother trying to one-up the older one? Seemed odd to me, but I only had a sister to which I got along ridiculously well with so I wouldn't know what competition between siblings was like.

I had only met Tendai a few times while I was getting to know Okeli, and he seemed like a pretty good guy. He was rough around the edges, sure, but he was polite to every adult he met and seemed to know how to treat a lady when it came to liking someone the same way his older brother had come to like me. Something that really caught my eye about him was that he fathered three cubs from a previous mate whom had either left or...well who knows. I guess the reason so many females liked him was because he was raising three kids with only the aid of his own parents and the baby sitters who watched them over as Tendai learned the ways of the king from his father, Gathii. To be truthful Gathii intimidated me slightly and it seemed so difficult to believe that he was mates with a lioness like Hova. The reason being that Hova was so full of life and always on the move looking for something exciting to do while Gathii was so full of...well, no life. And he wasn't always looking for something exciting. Yet there they were, in love and happy with being each others' mates. 'Opposites attract' would probably be their motto if not 'good things come in odd packages'.

All I could do was smile and hope that what I said next would not come out as though it was too informal for the brother, "I'm glad to have finally been introduced formally to you, Tendai. It's nice to meet you" I was just being myself...and being myself was obviously making me sound like a stick in the mud. As I watched the younger brother's facial expression for any signs of altercation like if he had been insulted, I felt Okeli peer down at Tendai for the answer as well. Was that a threatening look on Okeli's face? I dashed from one face to the other to find that Tendai was no longer looking at me but more of his brother, and Okeli was doing the same. There wasn't much for Tendai to do, nor could he look nearly as compromising to Okeli's health as Okeli did to Tendai's. Since there was an age difference in the two, Tendai was still growing out his mane meanwhile Okeli had already a full growth of hair armoring his neck and chest with some tufts on his elbows to spare. Well now that I was getting a better look at Tendai without him taking better notice that I was looking him over as opposed to waiting for a reply that I deserved (in both being his brother's 'good friend' and a polite lioness), Tendai was sturdier/well built for his age following a year and a half behind his brother's compared to Okeli who had impressively long, but thin limbs.

Finally though, the silence was broken when Tendai glanced down at me with his gray-green eyes and nodded. "Likewise" was all he said before starting to walk off. Interesting response, but it had me wondering if I had done something to offend the male? With a perplexed expression tattooed on my face while watching the younger brother walk off, Okeli followed my gaze before getting in front of it with his own body. All I could do at that point was look up and beam the phoniest (not to mention most stupid looking) look up at the oldest -- I was a little bothered though I would never admit it.

"Don't worry about him; he's not worth your worries". I could have said differently, but there seemed to have already been enough tension between the two of them that all I could do was nod my head and lie to him and myself that it would be better from there on in. The last thing that was needed for both my life and theirs was the added drama caused by myself. If I was going to be causing drama for the two boys, would there really be any reason for me to stick around and possibly spark more to the fire? I liked Okeli...a lot...like A LOT, but because I liked him so much I was still worried that me being in the picture would start something, or at least give a reason for there to be a start to something. All I could do at that point was wait and see how things would turn out...

This was getting ridiculous! Every time I was with the family and every time Tendai was around, there was something that always had to go wrong! Either I messed up my words, did something to make myself look stupid, or probably made Okeli ashamed to think of me as the lioness who could maybe be his mate in the future. I imagine Gathii's judgments were harsh on me, while Hova was taking quite a liking to me-- that, or she was an insanely good actress.

Now that I got a better look at the parents from being around them so much, I could see where each brother got their features from. It was obvious that Tendai took on his father's colors and body type, but had his mother to thank for the beautiful and unique shade of eye color but his face shape was made to look more like his father. Meanwhile Okeli had the body shape of his mother coupled with her color tones but the face of his father. Not to say that Gathii wasn't a good looking old boy for his age but he wasn't what the typical lioness would call 'handsome'. I think the biggest appeal from him that I was getting was that he had some kind of regal grace to him and always knew what to say when he needed to say it. Hova on the other paw, was stunning. But that was from the typical vision of 'beautiful' was to lions all around. I think the reason I saw her as a pretty lioness was the fact that she had a personality of someone so much younger than her but she could easily pull off motherly attributes when it came to her two sons. The family's dynamics were quite interesting as well. Okeli and his brother had the personality of their parents in each of them, but more so one than the other; Hova lived in Tendai, and Gathii ruled over Okeli. Like fire and water, the two were so different and yet they had so much in common with each other-- including the brothers.

I examined the family personas over and over again in my head, running over countless times how both boys could have grown up to be the way they were now and possibly change over time until my brain couldn't think anymore. It was easier to simply watch the family as opposed to think about them and thats just what I did on lazy afternoons such as these. While we lay there, all five of us, I observed quietly while Gathii spoke with his son and Okeli received a bath from his mother-- and obviously wasn't pleased about it from his face. I couldn't help but laugh and I think that's what fueled Hova to keep on showing off her motherly annoyance to me though we could both clearly tell Okeli was fond of the attention. Or so I would think. "Mom, I can bathe myself y'know" he tried to get away from her, but the lioness had the strength of any male and she pulled her son back down when he tried to free himself. "Mom!"

"Oh Okeli, let your mother have this at least. It's not every day I get to clean my handsome son" Hova smiled while continuing to lick. It was at the mention of 'handsome' that I saw the gold brother turn his head and look down to his mother and brother, examining them as opposed to his father now. Had a nerve been struck? As far as I could tell, something about that certain word was somehow interesting to Tendai and there was a reason for his gazes to now be on his older sibling, then coming to look at me to which I instantly turned my head away from him to look back at the mother-son mini-battle. "I remember you used to ask me every day when you were younger to bathe you" she started telling a story that I couldn't help but listen intently to. Hova had obviously noticed when I placed my chin on my crossed paws in front of me with a smile on my lips and she continued, "always getting into dirt just so you could get a bath. I remember the days so well" she smiled and continued to lick him though I would imagine her tongue didn't go as far as it did when Okeli was tiny.

But sadly it had to come to an end when Okeli ducked out of his mother's hold and looked down at her, "I can take care of myself now, okay?" He agitatedly hissed down at the gray lioness, bringing silence upon the group of us. Hova's blue eyes searched over her son while she stayed dormant on the floor while his bright ruby reds communicated the simple message of displeasure. What was there to be displeased about though? All she wanted to do was remind her that she loved him like any mother would want to tell their child every second of the day. Gathii looked at his son and waited for Okeli to address his mother in apology but Okeli did no such thing and started to walk off. When I looked back at Hova, I didn't see a change in her mood and that was...worrying me. What was I supposed to say? What was I supposed to do? Would it be rude of me to leave and go get Okeli, or would it be worse to go after the oldest brother and drag him back if I had to? The four of us simply breathed silently and rotated our eyes to see who was going to go after Okeli. I wasn't expecting it, but my legs seemed to bring life to themselves as I heightened my body back to my original height and ran after the oldest son.

Soon, I caught up. "Okeli, hold on" I saw him turn his head to look at me before I slowed down to his side, "I think you hurt your mother's feelings". He simply scoffed, which brought a frown to my face.

"She was treating me like a child. What else was there for me to do?" He started to walk off, but he was obviously expecting me to say something so he turned his head and waited for my mouth to open and words to come out. There were words, but I just wasn't sure if I should exchange them with him or not. I had learned that when there was the slightest bit of doubt that I shouldn't go through with something, and so I simply looked over him. "You want to say something, I can see it". Yeah, I did. But it didn't look like I was going to say anything. The gray lion walked back over to me and looked down with a light smile, "I know you too well already". Too well already? Was that his way of saying I was predictable and obtuse? "Tell me what you want to say" he tried to ask me to speak my mind to him freely, but there was no way of me doing that at this point, so I said it to myself and the mental image of him.

If you acted more like an adult you wouldn't have to be so angry. But the mental me was then left alone from mental Okeli and there was nothing left for me to do. Clearing my head and looking up I blinked, "thank you?" I listened to him laugh a little and then place his head on mine. I had to admit to myself that I wasn't used to the affectionate attention of Okeli as he didn't do it much but I was only assuming that was because he wasn't used to it either. That, or he liked to save it for moments like these. And I think he knew that when he created moments 'like these', it made my chest feel empty in the sense that my heart had leapt to my stomach which was turning from the slightest touch. I only let out a happy sigh and looked back up at him, "will you come back and spend some more time with your family?"

"No," I raised my brow, "I'm going to spend time alone. You can go back if you'd like". Yeah, like that was something I was thinking of doing in the first place? Things were awkward enough when Okeli was there since I was too afraid to do anything around his parents, how much more awkwardness could be added without him there? With that, his mind was made up and his paws were set in a path away from me and his family pride only leaving me where we shared warmth with each other and watching him walk away. Well not much I could do now except go back and either put up with the fact that he was no longer there and try to get over the rough patch with his parents and brother, or leave and look like a complete jerk. The answer was obvious: run like I never ran before away from them! Or at least that's what my legs were telling me, but my brain and heart were teamed up against my limbs desires to flee and instead I walked back to the family.

They seemed surprised I came back-- Tendai more than his parents with a little shift in his face. It seemed like Gathii and Hova knew I would come back? But were they expecting me to come back with some kind of explanation as to why my sides weren't occupied with their son? Gathii took in a breath through his nose, "Okeli went off on his own then, hmm?" Monotone hit some notes in his voice but all together I could tell her was unimpressed by his oldest's behavior in front of a guest. "I'm sorry for this".

I jerked my head back, "no, you don't need to be sorry king Gathii! Please don't feel the need to apologize for your son's actions when you have done nothing wrong". Was I being too relaxed about this? Had they wanted me to bring their son back even if it meant dragging him by the tail no matter how badly he placed his claws into the ground? I looked over at Hova who was flat to the ground in an uncomfortably upset manner. No doubt she was probably embarrassed by Okeli's outburst-- I could see why, after all. Giving the king one final head nod, I walked over to the mother and sat down in front of her to which she picked her head up and looked into my orange eyes with her bright blue ones. "Queen Hova, are you alright?" My questioned seemed like it was another language to her as she stared at me for what seemed like countless moments before she smiled up at me.

"Thank you Zuri. I'm fine" she replied quietly, smiling up at me still. I didn't know what else I could say to her from that point, and it made me feel so useless and blank. It was difficult of me to know what it was like to mother someone who was a mother since I had no primary experience and I hadn't had one to guide me along. Now that I thought about it more, I was getting angrier and angrier with Okeli and how he treated Hova-- he didn't know how good he had it.

He had a mother and father that loved him and he treated it like he would his next meal-- like it was always going to be there at his disposal. No wonder Tendai was being picked as the next king of the pride. There was no question that I liked Okeli, but there was question as to why I was liking him in the first place. And as I watched Hova and Gathii silently pass the time by thinking, there was no question in my mind that they were good parents, and leaders. And suddenly, something came over me while I looked down at the dark lioness in front of me. She had obviously caught on that there was something I wanted to say, but her kind and polite nature didn't push me into saying anything like Okeli did so I was hesitant but knew I had nothing to lose from speaking my mind. "You're a good mom, queen Hova" I closed my eyes and swallowed my fear of saying something wrong, "I suppose hearing it from me isn't really your favorite activity, but you've just got this way of making me so jealous of your two sons that I didn't have a mom like you". The tears weren't coming to me but my throat was starting to tighten up when I saw her wilt her brows at me. Maybe that meant I should stop talking right there and then but there was more to say to her that I knew she was expecting, "I know I told king Gathii not to apologize for Okeli on his behalf, but I'm going to be hypocritical and say that I'm sorry Okeli was like that," I smiled, "he doesn't know what it feels like to not have someone like you, and I hope neither Tendai or Okeli have to ever know". I was finally finished. I probably blabbed their ears off so much at this point that they were close to ripping them off, or so I would think.

The same silence of the pride was there, but they weren't feeling so heavy now as compared to when Okeli acted out. Instead it was more light and thankful-- even Tendai was giving off the same feel. When I looked back at the queen, she was simply glowing from what she was originally smiling through which indicated to me that I must have said something right and she was a little more patient than I thought. I had to applaud the three lions for being able to listen to me go on and not have slapped their paws over my mouth by now, so I was pleasantly surprised. At the same time, when I snuck a glance over to Gathii, he was grinning at one corner of his mouth and looking at his mate and myself with a new light in his eyes. Hova broke my trance of gazes with the two remaining males when she sighed out and continued to shine, "Zuri, can I give you a bath?"

I didn't even have to say anything before I ducked down under her chin and allowed her to swipe me softly over my dark brown pelt. I could tell she was enjoying herself just as much as I was. Sure, I had baths from my older sister before and some lionesses who seemed to take pity on us being orphan cubs, but it didn't seem as natural as Hova was with me at this moment. "Thank you queen--"

"Hova," she looked down at me, "no need for the title". With my body crouched like that and my head so low to the ground for her convenience, my orange orbs peered into hers with happiness. I truly felt like at that moment, there was an acceptance from the pride I had been trying so hard to convey my true self to with trouble and then when the time came for me to be myself all over again with a rebirth of an opportunity, I was taken in where I stood and they would never let me go.

"Zuri," my name was called and I looked over with the others to see a lioness who resembled my appearance but not my age standing a little ways away, "come on". With a nod of my head over to her, I looked back down at Hova with a smile and bounded forward to Yusra, my older sister. Though my older sister was a year and a half older than I was and we didn't have the same feminine features, we shared the same eyes and similarly colored pelts as well as the same height. Though, she was slimmer while I had a lot more meat on my bones.

"Zuri" my name was called a second time when I looked behind to see the golden lion who I had been trying so hard to prove myself to. When Tendai got close enough to me, without paying heed to the sister who stood beside me, he peered down at my form and nodded his head. "Thank you for what you did today," I was pretty sure he cracked a small smile, "you made my mother and father very happy". Simply hearing that I made Hova and Gathii happy was enough to infect me with a smile larger than I would have liked to reveal and it coming from Tendai made me a lot happier. Had this meant that I was truly one of the pride? But my question now was what was I to them? A friend? Future daughter-in-law?

All I did was nod and smile up at him in thanks, "thank you, prince Tendai".

He left with a smirk which I could only assume was to the title that was waved off by Hova, but I used it none the less so he would know I still held him to the same respect as his parents. Though it wasn't relevant to the young blood to be calling him such a formal title I thought it would show off a little more to him of how I governed myself around royal lions. Wait...why was I trying so hard to make sure he was pleased? Why did I like seeing him smile? How come I had this urge to make sure I was liked by him enough to be his friend? My orange hues glanced down to my side before I started walking with my sister who remained silent to allow me to think better. And I had a lot...