The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

Postby divsalley » March 1st, 2010, 10:01 pm

Mfalme is the new King; but the herds; especially the elephant herd, weren't so compliant. Hyenas have wreaked havoc after Giza's death; leaving Mfalme to deal with a big mess. We will look at his time as King; and also journey with Kuchinja in story.



Chapter Twenty One: The New King



The sun rose brilliantly over the beautiful landscape. The King walked to the edge of the den and watched as the sun rose over his Kingdom. He thought of the things Giza had done, and it still hurt him to think that he'd taken so many innocent lives. He sighed and turned around to find his mate looking at him. "Up so early?" Malkia asked him. Mfalme smiled at her and said, "I'll need some time to get used this, Malkia... I have to do right by my father... and the herds. They've suffered long enough. I'll have to speak to Ndovu, though." "Be careful, then... He's not going to like what you're going to say.

"And try to come back in one piece!" Malkia said. Mfalme laughed out loud and said, "Don't worry, Malkia... Ndovu doesn't kill. He might threaten to kill, but he's not a murderer." Malkia sighed and went back inside. He slowly made his way down to the grassy plains and walked past a waterhole. He found Ndove resting by a pond. "Fine morning, isn't it Ndovu?" Mfalme asked him. Ndovu didn't reply. "Well, Ndovu... I'm just concerned about the arrangement you and Giza had. You see, there's no need for something like that now. We don't need someone to dish out punishments," Mfalme said.

Ndovu slowly turned to face Mfalme and asked, "Who are you to question my authority when the King himself doesn't?" "The new King, Ndovu," Mfalme said simply. "So Giza's gone?" Ndovu asked, surprised. "Yes, he's gone. So the sooner you adapt to the new rules, the better. I don't want any disruptions because of you," Mfalme said calmly. "How dare you speak to me like that?" Ndovu thundered. "I'm not a scrawny creature who can be crushed under your paw!" "I know that, Ndovu... I'm speaking to you as your King. You need to adapt. Please do that as soon as you can," Mfalme said.

"I will never accept you as my King! Giza had a better way of handling things! A soft approach never worked! Don't you know what happened when Aiheu was King? Those hyenas were running amuck!" "That's my father you're talking about, Ndovu. Be careful. Under his rule things were peaceful here. Now the herds are terrified of us! That's not how we build a prosperous Kingdom! Please cooperate with me, Ndovu. We need to work together to make this Kingdom a good home to live in; not just for you, but for all the herds here. Do you understand?" Mfalme asked.

Ndovu looked at Mfalme and said, "I won't bow to you, but I won't hinder your plans, either. I'm not going to be unreasonable. So go on and carry out your grand plans. Let's see how they work." Mfalme sighed and left. Ndovu's allegiance wouldn't be won so easily. And although the other herds appreciated not being terrorized, they didn't appreciate the fact that hyenas came in more frequently. Mfalme walked back home and watched as Malkia rested. "What's wrong? Is everything alright?" he asked her. "No, Mfalme... I was out on a hunt... and I felt unusually tired!" she said slowly.

One of the other lionesses came to him and said, "We were just making sure that she isn't ill." "Is she, then?" "No, Sire... She's not ill. She's carrying your cubs!" she said, smiling. Mfalme smiled at her kindly. "Thank you! Malkia... did you hear? You're going to be a mother!" Malkia smiled at him and said, "We're going to be parents!" Mfalme nuzzled her lightly as Safidy looked on. "You get some rest, dear," she told Malkia. "I need to talk to my son." Mfalme followed her as she walked out of the den. "You're anxious, aren't you?" Safidy asked him. Mfalme laughed and said, "Maybe just a little.

"I just hope I can do right by them. That's all." "I'm sure you will, my son. Until then, Kioo and I will be more than happy to fill in for her in the hunting party," Safidy said. "Thank you, mother... I know Kioo needs to be up and about after Tsavo died," Mfalme said sadly. Then he nuzzled his mother and walked towards the waterhole to mull things over. His cubs were on the way! He was very happy about it, but also anxious. All he knew was that he'd do everything in his power to keep them from harm. He watched as the sun set over the horizon and went back home.


Chapter Twenty Two: Asumini



Kuchinja looked at the tiny cub in Kala's arms. It looked just like him. "A son," Kuchinja thought. "I have a son. But I have nothing to give him! These barren lands offer no food... Will he even survive?" he thought gravely. "What shall we name him?" he finally asked his mate. "We'll name him Jahili," Kala said proudly. Kuchinja looked around to find Njaa. He found his younger brother sitting sadly on a rock. Kuchinja sighed and walked up to him. "Come see your nephew, Njaa... Don't you want to see him?" Kuchinja asked him. Njaa looked at his brother and smiled. "Of course, brother... I want to see him.

"Let's go," Njaa said. So the two brothers walked to where Kala lay with Jahili in her arms. "This is Jahili," Kuchinja said. "Look, little one! Your Uncle Njaa is here to see you," Kuchinja said, looking at his son. Njaa smiled at Jahili and nuzzled him. But his mind was elsewhere. He yearned to go back home to see the one lioness who'd meant everything to him. "We would've been married by now," Njaa thought sadly, "had it not been for me. She must hate me for it!" Njaa sighed and walked away. "Is everything alright with him?" Kala asked her mate. "He's just thinking of Asumini," Kuchinja said.

"Who's Asumini?" Kala asked. "She was Njaa's closest friend. They would've been mates by now had it not been for Mfalme. I regret that day very much, Kala. Look at him! He's just too sad. Someday, Kala, I will avenge my father's death!" Kuchinja told his mate. "Not anytime soon, you won't! Our son doesn't need to live with a feud marring everything. He needs his parents!" Kala said. Kuchinja smiled at her and said, "Alright, alright. I won't do anything right now." "Tell me more about Asumini," Kala said. Kuchinja sighed and sat down.

"They were born at around the same time. Asumini was always Njaa's favourite. He preferred her over everyone else in the pride. They got along very well, too," Kuchinja said, smiling. "Njaa was much younger than I was... So she was the only friend he had. But we had to leave her behind... Njaa had to leave her behind. And it was all because of Mfalme!" Kuchinja said angrily. Jahili started yowling. "Calm down, Kuchinja!" Kala said. "You're frightening our son!" "I'm sorry... It's just that... things would've been different for us if Mfalme hadn't returned. You would've been Queen!" Kuchinja said.

"I don't need to be Queen, Kuchinja... We're happy! What else do we need?" Kala asked him. Kuchinja sighed and walked away. Why didn't she understand what Mfalme had done to them? Now Jahili would be a weak cub. He cursed Mfalme again and vowed to avenge his father one day soon. "Thinking of home?" he heard his brother ask him. "I think of it every day, Njaa. We're no longer Princes! I was Crown Prince! You would've been my chief law enforcer... Now, we're banished Princes in some barren land! How will Jahili even survive?" Kuchinja asked. "We weren't banished, Kuchinja. You had a choice.

"You could've stayed," Njaa said boldly. "How could you even think of staying with Mfalme as King?" Kuchinja roared. "I couldn't stay on with someone else taking my place!" "Mfalme took his rightful place, Kuchinja. Our father had promised to give it to him once he'd returned," Njaa said. "What about Asumini, little brother? Don't you miss her?" Kuchinja asked him. Njaa flared up at once. "Don't drag her into this, Kuchinja... Believe me, it won't be pleasant for you to hear," he said angrily. Kuchinja was shocked. "You think it's my fault that you had to leave her behind?" he asked Njaa.

"I do, Kuchinja. More than anyone, it is your fault. Had you decided to stay, or had you not questioned my loyalty to you, I would've been married to her by now," Njaa said firmly. "Look... you have a family now. Can't you put that animosity behind you at least to give your son a good home?" Njaa asked his brother. Kuchinja turned around and walked away. Njaa sighed and thought, "I can't believe he wouldn't do it even for his son. He's determined to avenge our father's death. Oh, Asumini... I wish I were with you now... instead of here, with my brother. I miss you very much."

Back home, a young lioness was looking at the stars in the inky blue sky, hoping that someday they would indicate Njaa's return. "Asumini," she heard another lioness say, "it's late, dear... Come back home and get some rest." Asumini turned to face Safidy. "He told me he'd return... I just don't know if he'll ever return!" she told Safidy. Safidy sighed and said, "You and Njaa have always shared a very special bond... It's too bad he had to leave you behind." Asumini nodded sadly and walked back home with Safidy, hoping that Njaa would come back soon.


Chapter Twenty Three: Mfalme's Little Terrors



Mfalme looked at his three little cubs in wonder. One of them was a dark shade of brown. This cub was his first born. The other one was a gentler version of his father with his brownish gold fur and scarlet eyes. The third was a beautiful lioness like her mother. "What do you want to name them?" Mfalme asked his mate. "We'll name our heir Sulubu," she said. "Sulubu, huh? Great! And what about this one?" Mfalme asked, pointing at the cub that looked like him. "We'll call him Dhahabu," Malkia said softly. "And our daughter will be named Taraji," Mfalme said. Malkia smiled at him as he nuzzled his cubs.

Time passed and the cubs grew strong. They weren't yet allowed to leave the den for anything, but they made up for it by scampering all around the den. One day, when Malkia finally decided to rejoin the hunting party, Mfalme was scared. "Why on earth are you so scared?" Malkia asked him, laughing. He looked at his three cubs and raised his eyebrows at the glint in their eyes. "They're up to something!" he told Malkia. "I can feel it! Their mischievous little eyes tell me they're up to something!" "The most they can do to you is bite your ears and tail or tug at your mane! You'll be fine" Malkia said and left.

Mfalme looked at his cubs again and asked, "So... what do you want to do now?" The cubs looked at each other and jumped on their father. They started tugging at his mane, ears and tail. Mfalme laughed as he scooped them up and nuzzled them. Soon, Dhahabu got bored and ran right to the edge of the den and almost fell off. He hung on to the edge by just his claws. Mfalme watched in horror as his little cub pushed himself up and ran towards him, looking scared. Mfalme sighed and said, "Now we know, don't we?" Dhahabu smiled weakly and nodded.

He only just remembered that he'd left his other cubs to get Dhahabu. Now they were gone. He dropped Dhahabu gently on the stone floor and looked everywhere for his cubs. Then he heard sniggers. He smiled as he saw two tiny tufts swishing behind a rock. "Oh, well... I wanted some quiet time, anyway," he said and flopped on the ground with a flump. Then three sets of paws were upon him. "Gotcha!" he said as he scooped them up and nuzzled them. All four of them laughed heartily as Mfalme asked, "So, what do you want to do now?" Taraji yawned richly. "Time for a nap," Mfalme declared sleepily.

The two male cubs climbed up on their father and slept there. Taraji held on to her father's paw and slept there. Mfalme nuzzled her and slept with his cubs around him. He only opened his eyes when he heard his cubs yowling again. Their mother was back. "You seem to have managed well with them!" Malkia told him. "I did... for the most part... They're such mischievous cubs!" Mfalme said, smiling. Malkia laughed and said, "That's how they're supposed to be, Mfalme! Come little ones! Time for your meal!" she said as she led them to tiny scraps of meat.

The cubs ate to their hearts' content. After that they ran out to the edge to play again. "The cubs are growing up so fast," Mfalme told his mate as he watched them. Malkia smiled at him and nodded. "Soon, they'll want to go out and play in the meadows!" she told him. "What? No! They're not ready for that! They could get hurt!" Mfalme said, horrified. Malkia laughed at his concern. "Oh, Mfalme... You're just too worried about them!" she said. "Well, of course I am, Malkia! Look at them! If anything ever happened to them, it would destroy me!" Mfalme said.

Malkia nodded and walked over to the cubs. Mfalme watched as they played with their mother. He sighed and remembered never being able to understand how he could love someone so completely. Now he knew that his cubs meant everything to him. He felt a rush of love and pride and a fierce need to protect them from anything that might harm them. He silently told himself that he'd never let any strange lion trick him like Giza tricked Tsavo and Kioo. Then he remembered Kuchinja's words. He would come back to fight him for this Kingdom. Mfalme just hoped that his cubs wouldn't be harmed in the process.


Chapter Twenty Four: Jahili's Resentment



"Again!" Kuchinja roared furiously. "You aren't doing it right, Jahili! Your shoulders are too rigid! Make them flexible! Your movements should be agile, fluid, and swift! Not just calculated and accurate!" The young cub panted heavily as he got up to face his father. "We've been at it for hours, father! I need some rest!" Jahili told his father. Kuchinja roared to vent his frustration. "Listen to me, you worthless lion! I'm only doing this because you can be King someday! You're my last hope of conquering the Kingdom I'd lost! You're not getting any rest until you do it right!" he told his son.

Jahili sighed and went back to work. By any standard, Jahili was a strongly built lion. His training kept him fit and active all the time. He was stronger than most cubs his age. He wondered why his father never told him about the Kingdom he'd lost. He personally thought that his father would make a lousy ruler. He'd never told his father that to his face, but his uncle Njaa found this very amusing. Jahili was the spitting image of his father, but he had his mother's eyes. Kala had left on a quest to find a better source of water and food. Kuchinja's attitude had gotten worse after that.

He trained his son harder everyday so that he could help him take over Mfalme's pride. Jahili resented it more than ever now because his father never appreciated his successes. Every time he made an extraordinary pounce, he'd say that it could always be improved. He preferred spending time with his uncle Njaa, who was loving and caring and playful as and when needed. So today, when his training finished every day, he'd go to find his uncle. "Fine," Kuchinja said angrily. "You may leave for now. We'll resume your training in the evening."

Jahili ran away to find his uncle. On this day, he had the sudden urge to talk about his mother. And every time he felt that way, he went to his uncle. He found his uncle resting on a hillock. "Hey, uncle Njaa!" Jahili said brightly. Njaa smiled at his nephew and said, "Your father seems to have let you off early today. How did that happen?" "He didn't let go easily," Jahili said sadly. Njaa sighed and said, "He's having a hard time coping with your mother's departure, Jahili... He'll be fine soon." Jahili looked at his uncle and asked, "What exactly happened to my mother?"

Njaa sighed and asked, "Hasn't your father forbidden you to ask me about this?" "He never tells me the truth! I want to know what really happened to my mother!" Jahili said firmly. "Alright, then... But you have to promise me that you won't hate your father once I tell you about it," Njaa said firmly. Jahili nodded with as much conviction as he could muster. "Ok... Let's start with how much your father told you," Njaa said. "He just said she left to find food and water... and never came back," Jahili said. "Hmmm... I bet he didn't tell you why she left," Njaa said dramatically.

"It was a clear, crisp morning. The sun shone down on us like never before. It wouldn't be long before drought gripped us. So your mother had asked your father to do something about it. "Kuchinja, please... We have to do something! Otherwise, Jahili will starve!" Kala told her mate. Kuchinja looked at her lazily and said, "Don't you see I'm thinking of ways to get my Kingdom back? If that happens, we won't have to worry about any of this!" Kuchinja said. "Our son needs food and water now! If he doesn't get it, he'll die!" Kala said, taken aback at Kuchinja's indifference.

"You go find whatever it is you need to keep him alive! I have to think of ways to defeat Mfalme!" Kuchinja said firmly. Kala couldn't bear it anymore. "That's all you care about! That stupid Kingdom of yours which is doing perfectly fine without you ruling over it!" Kala roared. "Your son means nothing to you!" Kuchinja looked at her calmly and said, "Everything I do is for him to have a better future. Don't you dare accuse me of anything like that again!" That's when I stepped in. I'd had enough. I went up to your mother and said, "I'll take care of Jahili, Kala. I can find food for him.

"I know a place not far from here where a herd of zebras grazes every day. I can hunt one down for now." Kala looked at me and said, "Thank you, Njaa... But that is only a temporary solution. Sooner or later we will need to move to greener pastures. And if he's too busy to go do something about it, then I'll have to go myself!" "Kala... Jahili needs you! I can go look for food," I told her. "Didn't you hear her Njaa?" Kuchinja asked me, finally speaking up. "She wants to do this herself. She doesn't care about the fact that we lost everything because of Mfalme," he finished.


"I could see how hurt your mother was... She looked at me in a reassuring manner that she'd be fine and began her journey, and we never saw her again. Personally, I think she left because she needed time away from your father. But she didn't have any luck... She never came back," Njaa finished. Jahili was close to tears, but didn't want to show it. He looked away, trying not to meet his uncle's eyes. "There, there, little one... I know it's sad. I told you this would be difficult for you," Njaa said, trying to console his nephew. "Why didn't you say something to him?" Jahili asked him.

Njaa sighed and said, "Jahili... Your father wasn't the brother I knew and loved. That lion was kind and caring and loving. But ever since we left our Kingdom, he's been bitter. He's been consumed by his desire to get that Kingdom back. I've tried to dissuade him, but it didn't work." "Mother could still be alive, right?" Jahili asked him, a little hopeful. Njaa looked at the young cub's eager eyes and said, "She could be." Jahili's face lit up as he smiled at his uncle. "I'll find her someday, Uncle Njaa. I'll find her and bring her back," Jahili said firmly. "I'm sure you will, Jahili... Just don't go tell your father yet.

"He won't like it," Njaa said. Jahili nodded and said, "Thanks, Uncle Njaa... If it weren't for you, I don't know what would've happened to me." "There's so much you still need to learn, Jahili... So much I wish I could tell you, but can't... Not right now. Maybe when you're older, I'll tell you what really happened to the Kingdom we were in," Njaa said. "I have to find my mother first," Jahili said. "And to be able to do that, you need to listen to your father... for now," Njaa said firmly. "I guess so. I'm going to train harder so I can face him when the time comes," Jahili said and scampered off to find his father.

"I'm back, dad," he said as soon as he saw Kuchinja. "I'm ready to train harder. I need to be ready," he finished. Kuchinja smiled at his son genuinely and said, "That's my little lion! Come on, then! Try and pounce on me from farther away than before." And so it began. Jahili's only desire now was to find the mother he'd lost because of the lion he had to call father. And he knew, with all his heart, that when he grew up, he'd want to be just as compassionate as his uncle. "You wait," Jahili thought as he looked at Kuchinja. "You just wait, father... One day, I'll make you pay for whatever you've done."


Chapter Twenty Five: Adventures



Three little silhouettes could be seen trying to nudge two bigger ones at sunrise one day. "Come on, dad! Wake up! We’ve got to go!" Taraji was telling her father. "Come on, mom! You promised we could go play out of the den today!" Dhahabu and Sulubu were telling Malkia. "Alright, alright... We're up!" Mfalme said finally as he stretched before leading them out. Malkia nuzzled each one of the cubs as she walked out. They joined Mfalme who was waiting for them at the edge. He sighed as he looked at his three eager cubs. "Are you three sure you want to do this today?" he asked them. "Dad!" Taraji whined. Mfalme knew he'd been overruled.

"Alright, then... Before you start exploring, I want you to know where you're going. So we're going to take you all around the Kingdom today. And we want you to pay very close attention," Mfalme finished. The cubs looked disgruntled to say the least. It was clear that their father's speech was dampening their spirits. "When're they gonna let us go out and play?" Taraji asked Dhahabu. Dhahabu shook his head, looking as bored as she was. Sulubu was the only one listening to Mfalme. "Quiet down, guys... They're not gonna let us go out if we don't listen to them," he told his siblings.

"Yeah, yeah Your Majesty! Don't worry... even if we don't go, you will," Dhahabu said sarcastically. "Dhahabu, mind your attitude," Mfalme said sternly. "You're supposed to love and respect one another. I don't want you to fight over something as petty as who gets to leave the den first. And don't taunt him using his future title." As soon as Mfalme saw Sulubu looking smug, he admonished him saying, "And that doesn't mean you think you're better than them, Sulubu. Remember that!" Dhahabu and Taraji smiled slightly as Mfalme winked at them, knowing how they'd feel. Then he sighed as he looked at Sulubu.

"Why don't you two run along with your mother... I need to talk to your brother here for a while. I'll join you soon," he told the others slowly. "Sulubu," Mfalme said as he looked at his son. "You just yelled at me for actually listening to you!" Sulubu said angrily. "I asked them not to mock you by your future title, didn't I?" Mfalme asked with a small smile. "They weren't even listening!" Sulubu said indignantly. "You're all still young, Sulubu! I don't expect you to understand these things right away!" Mfalme said in a stern tone. "Look, son... They're going to live their lives being only part of the royal family while you become King.

"That's not easy for them... and it's not easy with you correcting them all the time!" Mfalme said. "What about me, dad? What about how I feel?" Sulubu asked his father. "Your opinions will be considered by everyone in the Kingdom, Sulubu. Theirs isn't. I'm trying to be fair to all my cubs, here. I don't want them to resent you; and I don't want you to give them a reason to, either. Do you understand?" Mfalme asked his son, bending low to look him right in the eye. Sulubu still looked angry. "Look, Sulubu... Things will change as you grow older. But I want you to promise me that you'll love and respect your brother and sister as much as you do now.

"They need to know that they're important to you when you're King as they are to you now. Do you understand?" Mfalme asked his son. "Fine, dad. Thanks... Shall we go now?" Mfalme smiled at him and nudged him ahead. "Off we go!" he said. They walked down to find Malkia with Dhahabu and Taraji. "Come on then! Let's see our Kingdom," Malkia announced. And so they walked past a herd of zebras. They didn't even acknowledge their King's presence. Then they walked past a river where the hippos paid no attention to the fact that their King was watching them... Even the crocodiles paid no heed. This surprised the cubs.

"Why don't they greet you, dad?" Sulubu asked him. Mfalme looked at his son and said, "They don't have to, Sulubu. Just because I'm their King doesn't mean I'm better than them." "So there's nothing special about being king?" Dhahabu asked him. "Well... It's an important position... This land has chosen Sulubu because he'll be the one the herds can lean on in a time of crisis," Mfalme said. "What's a crisis?" Taraji asked him. Mfalme smiled at her and said, "That, my little lioness, is what you would call a bad situation. For example, if there's not enough water for all of us, that would be a crisis." The three cubs nodded.

"Has that ever happened here?" Dhahabu asked Mfalme. "Once, when I was young," Mfalme said. "What was it like?" Sulubu asked him. "Unfortunately, I wasn't here at the time," Mfalme said. "But I was," Malkia said. All the cubs turned to her now. "And it wasn't good at all... No water means no trees or fruits... and that means herds moving out in search of better places... which means less food for us," she finished. "Whoa! I didn't know all those things worked together!" Dhahabu said in amazement. "That's what makes it so important for us to maintain harmony among all the herds... and make sure it doesn't come to that situation," Mfalme said.

"What balance?" Dhahabu asked them as they walked past a herd of elephants. Mfalme thought about it for a minute. He wanted to make sure that they all understood. "Alright... Now listen carefully because this is very important. All living creatures are connected to one another in the great Circle of Life. We have to respect all of them because they help this land in their own unique way! Hyenas might be scavengers, but they can be helpful by doing exactly that. Squirrels dig such amazing burrows for the winter! And if they didn't store their food, the whole jungle would be a mess because of all the fallen fruits!" Mfalme said.

The cubs nodded appreciatively. "Wow! That's amazing!" Sulubu said. Malkia nodded and said, "And we're all part of it. We need to make sure we keep it that way in our unique way. We try not to hunt until our survival depends on it. Our hunting party gets out only twice a moon. If there's a shortage of water, the gap increases accordingly. We need to make sure that we're not the reason for the herds leaving these lands." "Oh," the cubs said slowly. Mfalme smiled at his mate and said, "Your mother's right. And you, Sulubu, will have to make sure that no animal hunts the other down for sport."

Sulubu gulped and asked, "How am I supposed to do that?" "When the time comes, you'll know what to do," Mfalme said calmly. Sulubu still looked worried. "And we'll be here to tell you what you need to know," Malkia told him. Soon they reached the southern border. "We've reached the boundary here... Now you know. I want you all to be very careful when you go out and explore, alright?" Malkia told the cubs, who nodded in excitement. "Can we go now?" Taraji asked her mother. "Yes, you can," Mfalme said slowly, "but be careful out there; all of you."

The cubs ran towards the meadows as soon as they could. Mfalme and Malkia sighed as they watched them leave. "They'll be fine," Malkia told her mate slowly. "I hope so too, Malkia. I hope so too," Mfalme said and they both walked back to the den. Back at the meadow, Sulubu looked apologetically at Dhahabu and Taraji and said, "I'm sorry, you guys... I didn't mean to make you feel bad at all! I was just... well... I'll try not to correct you so much." "We're sorry, too," Taraji said. "We shouldn't have mocked you," Dhahabu said. "We won't do it again."

With that cleared, the three cubs played to their hearts' content until midday, which meant bath time. After that, they had until sunset to play; after which their parents would come get them, if necessary. So they seemed to have explored most of the Kingdom in about a moon's time. On one such adventure, they came across a cave in the western border. "Whoa!" all three of them said as they looked at it. It seemed eerie, deserted, and even fascinating because the cubs had only seen their own den until now. It didn't look like this at all. What could possibly live there? Their curiosity got the better of them.

"We've got to go there!" Dhahabu said, excited. "Are you sure, Dhahabu? It looks creepy!" Sulubu said. "That, my brother, is what makes it fun!" Taraji said, her eyes ablaze with excitement as she started walking towards the cave. "Just where do you think you're going?" they heard their father say. Taraji gulped as she turned around to face him. She'd never seen him this angry. "We... we were just... Well, that cave looked interesting, and... We thought we'd go explore it," she said, quailing under Mfalme's furious stare. "Let's go home," he said sternly. They all followed silently.

Once they reached home, Mfalme wordlessly motioned them to get inside. "Dad, we're..;" Taraji began, but Mfalme silenced her with a stern look. "Now it's my turn to speak. I thought you would use your discretion and be wise enough not to go into strange dens. I'm very disappointed in all three of you! You could've been hurt!" Mfalme said. "Dad, it was my idea! Please don't blame Taraji!" Dhahabu said. "Be that as it may, Dhahabu, none of you is supposed to agree! You will stay in the den until the moon wanes as punishment. By that time I'll see if I can find someone to watch you when you're out exploring," Mfalme said, cutting Dhahabu short.

Malkia shook her head as the cubs looked to her for some comfort. "Your father's right. You shouldn't have gone there," she told them. "Time for bed now," Mfalme said and led them to a corner. They slept there peacefully. Malkia joined her mate who was standing at the edge of the den. "They didn't go in, Mfalme. You're being too hard on them," she said slowly. "In that case, I thank you for standing by me when I was talking to them," Mfalme said gratefully. "I said you were being too hard on them; not that you were wrong," Malkia said.

Mfalme sighed and said, "Maybe you’re right... Fine, I'll tell them tomorrow that they can go out and play." Malkia smiled at him and said, "That would be great! Now come along... We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," she told him. And so they went inside to get some sleep. Mfalme thought of how scared he'd been when he saw his cubs almost entering the desolate cave. He sighed in relief because none of his cubs were harmed. Then he thought of Kuchinja ad his threat as he slowly drifted off to sleep, hoping that Kuchinja would never carry it out.


Chapter Twenty Six: Misadventures



As the blazing sun stayed hidden in the clouds, three cubs played in a nearby meadow. They'd grown considerably and were on the verge of adolescence. Sulubu and Dhahabu hadn't gotten their manes yet, but their build was changing from a cub's to a lion's. Taraji was getting more agile every day. They still enjoyed each other’s company and were more like friends to each other than siblings. Today, they were trying to see who could pounce the longest distance. "Come on, Sulubu! You can jump farther than Taraji!" Dhahabu was telling his brother.

But the feat seemed close to impossible. Taraji was a lioness; trained to hunt and to be a fierce predator. Sulubu fell short of Taraji's jump by probably an inch or so. Dhahabu, on the other hand almost equalled it. The three siblings stood panting after spending a considerable amount of time pouncing. Then Taraji looked at Sulubu and asked, "Isn't it time for you to go and meet dad?" "Oh, yeah! I almost forgot! Thanks, Taraji! I'll see you two later," Sulubu said and walked back towards the den to meet Mfalme. "He won't be back until midday, sis! Whaddya wanna do until then?" Dhahabu asked her. "I'll go see if Asumini needs any company," Taraji said.

"See you later, sis!" Dhahabu said and scampered off towards the hills at the northern border. As he walked towards the hills, he heard a faint trumpet. Dhahabu was all ears for a minute as he listened to where the trumpet came from. Then he heard it again. He ran left and climbed the steep hill ahead of him deftly. Then he looked down to find an elephant calf trying to climb up. He was almost there, but couldn't get a firm footing on the summit. "Help me!" the calf said. Dhahabu crouched down low and extended his neck. "Hold on to my neck!" Dhahabu said.

The calf wrapped it's trunk around Dhahabu's neck tightly. Dhahabu winced only for a second as he backed into the hill with all his might. The calf slipped back a little, but with Dhahabu's help, it came back up safely. "Thanks!" the calf said. "How'd you get there?" Dhahabu asked the calf. "Oh... Well, I was just running from a pack of jackals! And I slipped and fell and rolled down the hill... I tried to get back up, but it was too steep! I'm Tembo, by the way," he finished. "I'm Dhahabu," Dhahabu told him. "Where do you live, Tembo? I'll take you there."

So they walked towards the southern border of the Kingdom. They talked about many things. "So you're the King's son?" Tembo asked him. "Yes, I am... Is there something wrong with that?" Dhahabu asked, a little affronted. When Tembo didn't answer, Dhahabu turned to see where he was looking and froze. A huge tusker stood right in front of them and was eyeing Dhahabu suspiciously. He was the largest creature Dhahabu had ever seen. "Where were you, Tembo?" the tusker asked Tembo. "I... I accidentally rolled into the hillocks over there, dad... and Dhahabu here saved me," Tembo said slowly.

The elephant looked at Dhahabu, trying to size him up. Then he bent down a bit and said, "Thank you, Dhahabu... You have shown great loyalty to your fellow creatures here by saving my son." "Thank you, sir," Dhahabu said tremulously. He was still recovering from the shock of seeing this elephant. He seemed menacing to say the least. "I'm sure you're facing the same plight under the King's callous reign as we are," the elephant said pompously. Dhahabu flared up at once. "That's my father you're talking about, Sir; and I think we haven't had this much peace since the Great Aiheu was King!" he said.

The elephant turned grave again. He frowned at Dhahabu's remark and said, "His son, are you?" "Yes, I am! And I'm proud of it!" Dhahabu said firmly. The elephant looked ready to strike Dhahabu with his trunk. Just when he was about to retort, they heard a mighty roar. Dhahabu turned around to find his father walking up to them with Sulubu and Taraji and Malkia. "Ndovu," Mfalme said coldly. The large elephant nodded curtly. "He's Ndovu?" the three cubs asked Mfalme together. "Yes, he is," Mfalme said calmly. "Malkia, please take the cubs back home. I need to speak with Ndovu."

"Bye, Dhahabu!" Tembo said as he smiled at his new friend. Dhahabu nodded and walked home with his siblings and mother. He wanted desperately to ask his father if he could stay and find out more about Ndovu, but the look on his face stopped him. So he just went back, hoping he'd be able to see Tembo again. "What happened, Dhahabu?" Malkia asked him. "Well, after Sulubu left, Taraji went to find Asumini. So I went on a stroll by the hillocks over there. That's when I heard Tembo. He was stuck trying to climb up a hill, so I went up and helped him. That's all," Dhahabu said. Malkia just nodded and led her cubs home.

"What have you been telling your cubs about me, Mfalme?" Ndovu asked him. "Nothing more than what everyone here knows about you, Ndovu... That shouldn't concern you so much, now, should it?" Mfalme asked calmly. "What you say about me in front of my son does concern me, Mfalme. I don't want you poisoning his mind against his own father," Ndovu said sternly. Mfalme smiled as he said, "So you do admit that what I have to say might change your son's opinion of you." Ndovu trumpeted out loud. Tembo went further into the trees, cowering against the stumps.

"Get inside, Tembo. I don't want you to see what I'm about to do," Ndovu thundered. "But dad... he's a King! We have to respect him even if we don't agree with him!" Tembo said boldly. Ndovu sighed and turned to face Mfalme, "You're spared for now, Mfalme. I won't hold back next time. I will never accept you as King as long as I shall live!" Ndovu said. "Come visit us at the meadow sometime, Tembo," Mfalme said cheerfully as he left to go back home. The little elephant was wiser than he'd imagined. He'd make a good friend for his cubs.

Mfalme reached home just a little while later. "Dhahabu, I need to talk to you," he said as he walked in. The young lion came running to his father. "What is it, dad?" he asked Mfalme. "What exactly happened out there?" Mfalme asked his son. "Well, Taraji left to find Asumini so I went for a stroll by the hills. That's where I found Tembo. He was slipping down the hill. So I helped him up and took him home," Dhahabu said. "I see... Well, I want you to be careful whenever you're out with him. Ndovu might not be far away," Mfalme told him. "And what was it that Taraji and Asumini wanted to tell me, Malkia?" he asked as he looked at his mate.

"They brought home a lioness, Mfalme. She was alone and needed food," Malkia said. Mfalme walked over to the lioness and said, "Consider this your home. When you're well enough, you may join the hunting party. What is your name?" "My name is Kala... and I have journeyed from afar in search of food... I survived solely on will... Now I don't know if my cub is alive!" she said. "Do you want us to send a search party out to find your cub?" Malkia asked her. "Those lands are so far away... I wouldn't recommend it. I just need some time to think about it! I might go after him myself and bring him here," she said.

"Then so be it, Kala... You may stay here for as long as you wish," Mfalme told her. She bowed to him and sat down. "Now he's a good King!" she thought. Then she thought again of Kuchinja and his plan for revenge... "Whoever this Mfalme was, he needed to watch his back. Kuchinja wouldn't wait long to go after him. Jahili... my dear Jahili... I do hope you're alright," she thought to herself as she fought back tears. "I hope you understand why I had to leave... I hope you're alive, at least, if not well... I'm coming to find you, soon." Then she fell asleep.

Dhahabu was lying down next to his siblings. Taraji was telling her two brothers about how they found Kala. "Asumini and I were walking by that cave you found many moons ago, Dhahabu, when we heard a low growl... So Asumini asked me to follow her carefully. And I did... And then we found her, trying in vain to fight some hyenas off," she said excitedly. "Whoa! Hyenas live in that cave? Now we've got to check it out!"" Dhahabu said. "But why?" Sulubu said. "Well, coz we have to see what it's like... and Taraji knows how to get out!" "Look, I got out because Asumini was with me," Taraji said. "Well, we're older and stronger! It's not like we're smaller than them! We can take them!" Dhahabu said. So they decided to go there the next morning.

They woke up earlier than everyone else and scampered out of the den as soon as Malkia nuzzled each one of them. They walked to the cave slowly, as if still pondering over whether this was a good idea. But there it was; a dismal cave with an air of despair looming over it. Instinct told the cubs to stay away, but their curiosity once again got the better of them. So they plodded on until they reached the mouth of the cave. "Shall we, then?" Dhahabu asked his siblings. They gulped a bit and boldly walked in, hoping that they'd be able to tackle whatever came in their way.

Their every step echoed as they entered the cave. It was creepier on the inside than it was on the outside. Bones were strewn all over the stony floor. "Guys," Dhahabu said slowly, "I think we should get out of here." The other two nodded in agreement, but stood rooted to the spot. Something about this place fascinated them as much as it scared them, making them want to leave and stay at the same time. "Come on, Sulubu, let's get out!" Taraji told her brother, who was still frozen. "We... we can't leave now, Taraji," Dhahabu said nervously. "What do you mean?" Taraji asked him as she turned around, but she froze. Three hyenas stood at the entrance, and one was inside, eyeing them greedily.

"Well, well, well!" Ukware said. "Fresh meat! How lovely it is of you to wander into our lair as and when we need food!" He looked old and frail, but the other hyenas didn't. The three cubs tried to stand their ground. "You'll have to come get us first!" Sulubu said boldly, even if he didn't feel to confident. Mfalme had always told him to remain calm in a crisis even when he didn't feel calm. Watching their brother, the other two smiled. They were ready to fight if necessary. And so they did. Two of the hyenas charged at Dhahabu and Taraji, but the cubs got away just in time to watch them crash into each other. Sulubu was dealing with the other one by tailing it.

Soon, the hyena got frustrated and spotted Dhahabu, who was waiting at a corner to help Sulubu if necessary. Before Dhahabu could move, the hyena had pounced. All he heard was a scream, and then he heard a crash. Dhahabu opened his eyes only to find Sulubu lying in front of him. He was bloody and breathing rapidly. "No!" Dhahabu said slowly as he looked at his brother. Taraji came towards him after having dealt with the hyena. He jumped in the way when that hyena attacked you. The force of it's pounce crashed Sulubu into the wall," she said slowly. Sulubu looked like he was in a lot of pain.

"Sulubu, come on! Don't leave us!" Dhahabu said in a pleading voice. "I'm glad you're ok, brother," Sulubu said in a pained voice. "You will be, too. I promise! I'll take you back home and you'll be just fine!" Dhahabu said firmly. Taraji was nuzzling her brother lightly. "I... won't make it, Dhahabu... I'm... sorry. I'm... just glad I could save... you," Sulubu said and flopped his head on the ground, eyes closed. "No!" Dhahabu said slowly as he tried to nudge his brother awake. "No, Sulubu! You can't go! We have to go home!" he screamed. "Dhahabu, he's gone," Taraji said. "He won't be coming home with us." Dhahabu looked at his sister's tear stained face and knew that she was right. Sulubu was dead.


Chapter Twenty Seven: An Unwilling Crown Prince



Mfalme was standing at the edge of the den when he saw the strangest sight. Taraji and Dhahabu were trudging back home and Sulubu lay motionless on Dhahabu's back. "Something's wrong, Malkia!" he told his mate. "We have to get to the cubs now!" So they ran towards their cubs and got to them before they reached the den. "What happened, Dhahabu?" Mfalme asked his son sternly. Dhahabu looked pale and miserable. The smile that usually adorned his face was gone. It was replaced by a dull, sullen look. He looked up sadly at his father, unable to speak.

"I'm so, so sorry, dad! I didn't mean for this to happen! He died trying to save me from hyenas," he told his father when he finally found his voice. Mfalme stood there, stunned. "What?" he asked his son. "Sulubu died?" Dhahabu hung his head in shame. "Where did you go?" Malkia asked them. It was Taraji who spoke up. "We went to the cave where we found Kala," she said. "We didn't know that we'd find hyenas there." Mfalme flared up at once. "Did I not tell you never to enter strange caves? Look at Sulubu! He's dead!" Mfalme thundered. "Dad... I'm so, so sorry!" Dhahabu said sadly. "That won't bring your brother back!" Mfalme said.

Malkia nuzzled him lightly and motioned him to look at Dhahabu's pained face. Mfalme looked at his son's pale, sullen face and sighed. "Forgive me, Dhahabu... I know you didn't mean for this to happen, but... you should've been more careful!" he said, softening a little. "You're right, dad... I was reckless as always," Dhahabu said sadly and walked off after gently placing Sulubu's body on the grass. Mfalme stopped him. "Don't run away from the situation, Dhahabu. You need to face it. Come on... We need to bury your brother," he said and led his family to a hill overlooking the river.

Mfalme held back tears as he carried his son gently in his mouth. He dug the hole himself, trying not to show the pain he felt. Then he placed the cub in it and looked at him one last time. He remembered how tiny Sulubu was... and how loving and caring... Now he knew how Tsavo and Kioo felt. There was a gaping hole in his heart where Sulubu had been. There was a void that would never be filled. Then he looked at the skies above and said, "Watch over my son for me, father! He's joined you now, where I can't reach him." Malkia's cheeks were stained with tears; as were Taraji's.

Dhahabu remained silent. His mind was still numb with shock. His brother was dead, and it was all his fault! If only he'd shut up and stayed home, none of this would have happened! Sulubu would still be alive! He didn't want to be alive... He wanted to die... He should've died instead of Sulubu... Then nothing would've changed. Now, all because of him, the Crown Prince was dead! Mfalme covered the hole with mud again and said, "Rest in peace, my son." Malkia sobbed as she said, "May the Great Spirit watch over you, my son."

Taraji couldn't bring herself to say anything, so she buried her face in her father's foreleg who was trying to console her. Dhahabu watched as his parents and sister said goodbye to Sulubu. He'd caused his family so much pain by leading Sulubu to his death, even though unintentionally. They were all looking at him now, waiting for him to say something. "I need some time alone, please," Dhahabu said. Malkia nuzzled him and left. Taraji gently nuzzled her brother and left with her mother. Mfalme didn't say anything, but placed his massive paw on Dhahabu's shoulders and walked away.

Dhahabu sat there, alone, thinking of his brother. Then he found himself shaking because he was holding back tears. There was nothing else for it. He lost control of his emotions as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm so, so sorry, brother! I wish it was me instead of you! I wish you didn't have to die! You were kinder and wiser... and so loving! You were so brave! You didn't have to go! It should've been me!" he said in a choked voice. Mfalme watched silently as his son suffered. It took every last ounce of his will power to not go to him and comfort him, but Dhahabu couldn't know that he had listened to everything he'd said.

"Poor Dhahabu," he thought as he watched his son cry for the loss of his brother. "I wish I could help him... I wish I could tell him he's not at fault for what happened to Sulubu. The poor cub blames himself!" Then he sighed and walked back to the den. Malkia looked sullen and her face was tear stained. He sat beside her and nuzzled her. She soon buried her face into his shoulder and started crying. Taraji held on to her father's paw as she sobbed. "There, there, both of you... I know this is a great loss... We will all miss Sulubu terribly... But we need to help Dhahabu now. He blames himself needlessly.

"He's not going to be able to get through this without our help. We need to be strong for him," Mfalme said in a shaky voice. For he, too, missed his son... He'd lost his first born! The pain of it was unbearable. They waited for Dhahabu to return. But until late night, there was no sign of him. He slowly trudged back into the den and nudged his father. "I want to leave," he told Mfalme. "You'll do no such thing!" Mfalme said firmly. "You're not a coward, Dhahabu! You're not going anywhere. You'll stay here and take your rightful place in this pride! You are now Crown Prince!"

"I don't deserve so much kindness, father... I killed my own brother," Dhahabu said. "Accidentally!" Mfalme said. "Even so," Dhahabu pressed on, "I did lead him to his death. Had it not been for me, he would've been alive. You wouldn't have had to choose a new Crown Prince. I'm sorry, but I can't do this! I have to go." "You're not going anywhere!" Malkia said. Taraji nodded in agreement. "Come on, Dhahabu... We all miss him! And this was an accident! You can't leave us in rage like this! We're all in pain!" she said. He smiled at her slightly and said, "As much as I want to believe that, I don't think you'll understand." "You're staying, and that's final," Mfalme said. "Now go to sleep. It's been a very long day for all of us." Dhahabu had no choice but to obey.

Time passed on slowly. Sulubu's death was still weighing very heavily on their minds, especially on Dhahabu's. His family was very worried about him. Even Tembo, who had soon become his good friend since their very first meeting, tried to get Dhahabu to divulge the details of what had happened, but in vain. Dhahabu had turned into a sullen, brooding, and moody young lion. His mane had started to grow magnificently, yet he was still the young cub who was mourning the loss of his brother. He'd have nightmares about the incident very often. He often dreamed of Sulubu actually surviving the attack and returning, which made him feel worse because it didn't happen and it was all his fault.

Dhahabu knew that he'd been next in line to Sulubu when it came to becoming King. He also knew that now that Sulubu was gone, he'd have to be King. This made him feel guiltier than ever because he didn't have the confidence to take the place that was meant for the lion he'd had killed. Every time he mentioned this to Mfalme, he was admonished severely for ever believing he was responsible for his brother's death. Why didn't they understand? If he hadn't suggested that they go see the cave, Sulubu would've been alive and well. He would've grown, as he had, into a strong, adult lion. He would've been declared Crown Prince and everything would've been just fine. But now, because of him, Sulubu was dead and he had to take his place and rule over this Kingdom.

On a fine, sunny morning, Mfalme invited his son to join him on a stroll. "Well, my son, it is time for you to begin your journey," he told his son. "What journey?" Dhahabu asked him. "Well, before I declare you Crown Prince, you will have to choose a mate! I think it's best you start immediately," Mfalme said. "Father, I'm not worthy of that honor. I have done nothing to deserve it!" Dhahabu said sadly. Mfalme looked at his son and said, "The Great Spirit has chosen you to rule over these lands after me. When Sulubu died, I wished it could be any other way only because I'd lost a son. I still do wish it hadn't happened, but the Circle of Life must go on. It is clear to me now that you are meant to be King. And I know you'll do just fine. We'll always be with you and guide you."

"I need to see Taraji," Dhahabu said slowly. "I need to know that she's ok with this." Mfalme nodded at his son and watched as Dhahabu left to find his sister. He hoped with all his heart that he would one day forgive himself for the accident that caused Sulubu's death. "His guilt will cloud his judgment soon... and I don't want that to happen when he becomes King!" he thought. Then he returned home where Malkia was waiting for him. "So... did you tell Dhahabu?" she asked him. "Yes, I did... He wanted to discuss it with Taraji first, though," he told her. "He's such a thoughtful lion... I just hope he frees himself of all that guilt soon," she told him. "I hope so, too, Malkia," he told her and sat down to rest.

Dhahabu found his sister on a hill overlooking the river. He knew this place well. This is where they'd buried Sulubu. "Hey, sis," Dhahabu said slowly. "Ah, the Crown Prince!" Taraji said with a smile. Dhahabu winced at this. "Are you alright with that?" he asked her. "Why wouldn't I be, brother?" Taraji asked him without any ill will. "I know you'll make a fine King. My place is somewhere else," Taraji said. "But this is your home!" Dhahabu told her. "As it will always be. Listen... Sulubu wouldn't have wanted us to fight over who gets to take his place. Father has already decided, and I don't regret his choice one bit. Stop blaming yourself and look at the possibilities! You're going to be King! You'll have a chance to prove to Sulubu that he didn't die in vain... that you were there to step up and do the right thing!" Taraji said.

"I guess so... Dad wants me to find myself a mate," Dhahabu said a little distastefully. "Ooh! So you're going to have to be all sweet and romantic with her!" Taraji said laughing. "Stop that! Well... No... I want you to tell me what lionesses actually like... I mean... how do I get one to like me?" Dhahabu asked hesitantly. "You haven't ever acted too royal... so I don't think that should be a problem... Well, Dhahabu... All I have to say is... lighten up a little!" she said brightly. "Thanks, sis!" he said as he nuzzled her lightly and left. "I'll see you soon," she told him. And so Dhahabu left to find himself a mate. He had no idea what he needed to do once he did find himself on, but he realized he'd find out soon.


Chapter Twenty Eight: Of Two Minds



A young lion with tawny fur and jet black mane crouched low, flexing his shoulders and readying himself to pounce. His lips curled into a malevolent smile as he pounced. He landed accurately on the lion walking lazily towards the pond. The lion crashed into the ground with a thud, but freed himself easily. Then he growled at the lion who'd pounced on him. "Good work, Jahili," Kuchinja said. "You got me this time. Continue this way and no one will be able to defeat you in combat." Jahili nodded and smiled at his father. "Well, dad... I guess we're ready for the takeover!" Jahili said. "Soon, my son... Soon. We have to plan these things. We can't just rush in there and expect them not to fight," Kuchinja told him.

Jahili's change of attitude had been gradual, but drastic. As a cub, he'd always believed that his mother had left for his sake. But as he grew, his rationale on the matter changed. He kept thinking that his mother had a choice... but she chose not to stay with her son. She chose to leave instead. She chose to desert him when he needed her most. Why should he blame his father for her decisions? The only thing he didn't understand is why she hadn't returned. Even if she had left, she could've come back just as easily... If not for Kuchinja, then at least for her son... His uncle's stance on the matter hadn't changed one bit, so Jahili had stopped arguing his case with him. All he knew was that his uncle was a very passive lion who always avoided conflict; even with his own brother.

"So, my son... are you ready to fight for what should have rightfully been yours?" Kuchinja asked him. "I am, father," Jahili said. "I'm ready to fight for my Kingdom." "Good! We'll leave soon, Jahili... You've grown into a strong lion. You will be able to fight Mfalme and his cubs well. I'm counting on you to win this war for us," Kuchinja said. "What about Uncle Njaa?" Jahili asked his father. "He's not going to fight them!" Kuchinja said bitterly. "He's too much of a coward to fight his dear cousin!" Jahili was surprised. "Why? Doesn't he want the Kingdom back?" he asked Kuchinja. "He wouldn't be King anyway... So I guess it isn't in his best interests," Kuchinja said. "But that's very selfish!" Jahili said, astounded. "Well, yes, it is... And he will be coming with us. But he won't fight," Kuchinja said. "So avoid telling him about our plans," Kuchinja said slowly. "He might go inform our foes and foil them!"

Jahili looked at his father and asked his father a question he'd wanted to get an answer to for a very long time. "Dad... what exactly happened over there for you to leave your Kingdom and come here?" Kuchinja sighed and said, "I told you, Jahili... Mfalme came over and killed my father... and we got thrown out!" "But wouldn't the lionesses fight him instead of letting you go?" Jahili asked. "The head huntress was Mfalme's mother, Jahili... Who would she choose? Her son or her nephews?" Kuchinja asked bitterly. "She was grandfather's sister?" "Yes, she was... and a traitor to say the least! She betrayed her brother for that treacherous son of hers!" "She must be dead by now," Jahili said slowly. "Maybe, but her son lives... and rules over those lands without fear!" Kuchinja said in disgust.

Jahili sighed as he watched his father walk away. He still had some qualms about his father's story. There seemed to be more to this than Kuchinja was telling him. He had to see his uncle. He was the only one who'd been honest with him. He found Njaa looking at the stars that shone brightly in the night sky. "Uncle Njaa... I need to talk to you," Jahili said. Njaa looked at his nephew and asked, "What is it?" "Why did you have to leave your Kingdom?" Jahili asked him. "Because your father refused to stay," Njaa said simply. "Didn't Mfalme banish him?" Jahili asked eagerly. "Is that what your father told you?" Njaa asked with his eyebrows raised. Jahili nodded. Njaa sighed and asked, "Do you believe him?" "It makes sense to me. He wanted to be King, so he banished the Crown Prince!" Jahili said. "Then I have nothing to say to you that'll make you feel better," Njaa said simply. "Fine! Don't tell me! I know what happened! My father told me the truth! You, on the other hand, are a coward!" Jahili said angrily. Njaa looked at the nephew who'd loved him more than anyone else, then he looked away, wishing he could speak to Kala's son instead.


Chapter Twenty Nine: Mahiri



A young lioness stretched as she got ready to go for a stroll. She was ready to step out when she heard someone call her. "Mahiri!" a deep voice said. "Come back in for a minute, please! There's something I have to tell you." She sighed and turned back to go inside. "Yes, father?" she asked as she saw an old, strong lion with a dark brown mane and auburn eyes. "My dear, it is time you chose a mate for yourself! You are a Princess! You have to do this before I step down!" he told his daughter. "But father, I'm not going to be Queen! Zuva and Winda already have a son! They're going to rule over this Kingdom!" Mahiri said. "Be that as it may, my dear, I think it's best for all of us if you do... I'm not going to be here forever and... I need to know that you'll be well taken care of!" the King said. "I'll be fine, dad," Mahiri said, a little exasperated. "I have a few lions coming in here today. Please meet them," the King said. He nuzzled her lightly and went back inside. She sighed and went out to explore.

Mahiri was a beautiful young lioness with her father's auburn eyes and a light, brownish gold coat of fur. She had a manner which had endeared her to everyone in her family; most of all to her brother. Zuva loved her dearly ad would do anything to protect her. She thought of the immense fortune they'd had in finding him again and smiled. But then she thought of what had happened in the process and her smile faded. Her family was still trying to recover from that tragedy. She walked as she remembered that horrific and wonderful day when they found Zuva again... It was many moons ago, but the memory of it was still fresh. She closed her eyes and inhaled the crisp air.

Zuva was the Crown Prince and was only a few moons old when he got lost and never came back. His parents looked for him for moons. Not able to find their son, the dejected parents were forced to accept the worst; that their son was dead. Mahiri had been too young then, but she'd known she wasn't an only cub. She vaguely remembered her brother. But time passed and they began to heal... Mahiri grew into an adolescent lioness wonderfully. Now, as she walked towards the hills where Zuva had been trapped for days, she remembered how they found him again. She sighed as the clouds covered the sun and reflected the sadness she felt as the sky looked pale and grey.

She was taking a stroll when she spotted a young cub trying to pounce. She smiled as she went up to him. The young cub had sharp, jade eyes which looked up at her curiously as she smiled at him. "Hi," she said as the cub straightened up. The cub looked worried to say the least. "What's your name?" she asked him. "Mkunga," the cub said. "Hi, Mkunga... What're you doing?" she asked him. "I'm trying to pounce," Mkunga said. She smiled as he tried again. "You know... you're good for someone so young. When I was your age, I had a tough time," she told him. Mkunga smiled brightly. "Where are your parents, Mkunga?" she asked him. Mkunga's smile faded. "I... can't find them," he said sadly. "Did you run away, Mkunga?" Mahiri asked him. Mkunga turned away, not wanting to answer her question. "Come with me," Mahiri said calmly. "I'll take you to my den. You'll be safe there." Mkunga nodded and followed her slowly.

The walk to the den was short. A lion was standing at the edge, watching as they walked up to him. "Ah, Mahiri! Back home so soon? And who's this little lion?" he asked her. "This is Mkunga, father... He's lost. He needs a place to stay," Mahiri told him. "Is that so, Mkunga?" the old lion asked the cub. Mkunga was terrified, but he managed to nod. "Alright, then... I'm Adhimu... the King of these lands. You're in Kisouli now," the old lion said. Mkunga's eyes widened in shock. "You're Adhimu?" he asked the King. "Yes, I am... What's wrong, Mkunga?" Adhimu asked him. "Nothing, sir... I just thought that name seemed familiar, that's all," Mkunga said. "Oh... Well, come inside! I want you to meet my Queen," Adhimu said as he led him inside the den. "Tara," Adhimu called out, "we have a little guest with us today." A lioness came out to see Mkunga. She smiled warmly. "What's your name, little one?" she asked him. "I'm Mkunga," the cub said.

So the little cub had become Adhimu and Tara's adopted son. They thought that since they'd lost Zuva, they could take care of this cub. Mkunga was glad to be part of this family, but he did miss his parents. Sometimes, he'd look at the horizon and think of them, hoping they'd understand why he'd left. Mkunga was friends with Mahiri as well. She'd play with him whenever she had the chance. She enjoyed the happy little cub's company. She'd come to regard him as her little brother. Adhimu and Tara, on the other hand were reminded very much of their dead son as they watched Mkunga play. They often wondered where his parents were, but didn't give it too much thought because the cub was happy with them What they didn't know was that Mkunga was here for a reason. And he had to finish what he'd started.

Adhimu was lying down when he noticed Mkunga was watching him. "What's going on, Mkunga?" Adhimu asked him. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm going out to explore!" Mkunga said. "Alright, then... Be careful, now!" Adhimu said and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes hours later, Tara was looking at him, concerned. "What's going on?" he asked his mate. "It's Mkunga! He hasn't returned!" she said. Adhimu sensed the alarm in her voice. He got up, nuzzled her and said, "We'll find him, Tara... Trust me!" She nodded at him and they set out into the savannah, calling out his name. The moon and the stars had already appeared in the inky blue sky, but Mkunga remained elusive. By this time even Adhimu was worried. They'd already lost a son... Why would the Circle of Life be so cruel as to rob them of another?

Back at the den, Mahiri was hoping to find Mkunga safe and sound at home. "Mkunga!" she called out. "Mkunga, are you here?" she asked again. When she didn't get an answer she started to leave, but two silhouettes at the mouth of the cave stopped her. "You're looking for Mkunga too?" a deep, male voice asked her. Mahiri went to get a closer look. Standing there were a completely strange lion and lioness. "Who are you?" Mahiri asked them. "Please!" the lion said, "If you know anything about Mkunga's whereabouts, please let us know! We're his parents!" Mahiri couldn't ignore the plea in his voice. She was sure that they didn't mean Mkunga any harm. "I really don't know! I haven't seen him since this morning!" she told him. "This morning?" the lioness asked, shocked. "Well, yes... he's been living with us for about three moons now," Mahiri said. "My parents had adopted him." "You're too kind... But please help us find him!" the lion said.

They set out in the direction Adhimu and Tara went in. They met the old couple half way. "Father... They're looking for Mkunga, too. They're his parents!" Mahiri told them. "Then I'm afraid we have very bad news," Adhimu said, his voice cracking from strain. "No! No! Don't tell us he's dead!" the lioness cried out. "I'm very sorry, my dear... But he is... We saw him... He fell off a cliff trying to get to the neighbouring valley," Adhimu said sadly. "That's where we live!" the lioness said. "Can you tell us why he left home?" Tara asked them. "Because he wanted to find you," the lion said slowly. "What?" Adhimu asked him. "How could he? He didn't even know us then!" "Yes, he did! And I know you, too! Winda, it's them!" the lion said happily. "I don't understand," Adhimu said, a little irritated. "Father, It's me! Zuva!" the lion exclaimed. Adhimu and Tara stood speechless as their son smiled at them.

"Zuva?" Tara asked as she went closer. She scrutinized him and then smiled joyfully! "My son!" she said happily. "How did you survive?" Adhimu asked. "We looked everywhere for you!" "I know you did... But I was too weak to call out to you! I was stuck in the valley! But then, I fell... and I must've hurt my head hard... because I didn't remember where I'd come from... I just remembered names... Adhimu... Tara... Mahiri... I kept telling myself that these names were random, but they kept coming back to me! I remember one day when Mkunga woke me up, telling me that I was yelling for you in my sleep. I wondered why, but I guess he wanted to find out, too... And when I told him that I never knew my family, he promised me that he'd find them for me... and he did! He led me straight to you!" Zuva said. Adhimu and Tara were overwhelmed at finding their long lost son, and Mahiri finally got to know her brother.


Now, as Mahiri walked to the valley, she remembered how guilt ridden his father and she had felt about not watching Mkunga closely enough to figure it all out... Mahiri still blamed herself for never asking Mkunga bout it. Had they found out earlier, Mkunga would've been alive. Zuva and Winda now had Bato, but Mkunga's loss would always weigh heavily on their hearts and minds. She sighed and walked back to the den slowly. She didn't want her father to know that she still felt this way about Mkunga's death. She inhaled the crisp air once again and felt it chill her as she tried to stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks. Then she steadied herself as she reached home. "You've been crying, sis," Zuva said flatly as soon as he saw her. Mahiri looked away. It was one of those annoying traits that endeared her to him. "Mahiri... If it's anyone's fault, it's ours! We let him go! He wasn't your responsibility!" Zuva said soothingly. "Please, Mahiri... for my sake and your own, stop blaming yourself. What's done is done. We can't change the past, but we can look to a better and brighter future!" he finished as he nuzzled her affectionately. Mahiri sighed as she walked inside. Her father was waiting for her.

"There you are, Mahiri... The time has come for you to choose a mate amongst these lions," Adhimu said. Mahiri had an idea. She smiled as she said, "Good! Then let's go outside so I can make the right decision." As they went outside, all the lions wondered what she was up to. Adhimu followed them slowly. Mahiri stood on a spot where the grass had worn out. Adhimu knew what was going to happen, but didn't object. "Fight me if you dare!" Mahiri said. "I've been trained to hunt all my life... and I know how to fight. Which one of you can fight me and win? For the one who can, I will respectfully accept him as my mate!" she said. Adhimu smiled slightly. His daughter had set up an excellent test to find herself the right mate. Tara, on the other hand, was not so sure. "Is this the right way, Adhimu?" she asked her mate. "We shouldn't question her now, Tara," Adhimu said slowly. "I'm sure she'll do a fine job... She's our daughter, after all. We've taught her well."Tara nodded and watched.

None of the lions seemed to want to take her up on her challenge. Mahiri thought that her battle had been won until she heard a lion say, "I'll fight you." She was shocked at first, but as she turned around, she found herself facing a strong lion with a windswept, reddish brown mane and brownish gold fur. His scarlet eyes gleamed in the sunlight, making them look like they were aflame. Mahiri smiled and said, "Alright, then... Let's do this!" Dhahabu withdrew his claws and sunk them into the ground. He had to be prepared. Mahiri charged at him in full force. Dhahabu closed his eyes and listened to what his paws felt. Every step she took was like a loud thump against them. When it became even louder, he moved just in time to let her fall. Mahiri landed with a thump and took a while to steady herself. She smiled at this lion's nerve. He'd learnt well. She was a Princess! She wouldn't let him defeat her like this. She planned her move carefully. She watched as Dhahabu charged at her. She smiled and slid to the side just in time to claw his face.

The roar that rent the air was loud, but it was nothing compared to the thump that they all heard as Mahiri pinned him to the ground. She smiled at him and she watched him look at her, surprised. "The fight's not over, Princess!" Dhahabu told her as she pushed her off with his hind legs. Mahiri was surprised to say the least when she recovered from her fall. She charged again and they tried their best to maul each other. This time, it was Dhahabu who pinned her down. He looked at her, mauled and bloody. Instantly he remembered his brother's writhing body just before he died. "Enough!" he said as he released her and walked away, exhausted. There was total silence. Adhimu looked on as the lion walked away. "The fight's not over yet, young lion! You haven't defeated her yet!" he yelled. "No, father... But he did win!" Mahiri said. "What's your name?" she asked the lion. "My name is Dhahabu," the lion said. "and I'm sorry I hurt you so badly. I shouldn't have." "No, Dhahabu, you did the right thing," Adhimu said. "You treated her as your equal by fighting her, but by ending the fight, you showed us that you're capable of restraint and mercy as and when necessary. You are the best choice for my daughter," he finished as Mahiri smiled. "So, Dhahabu, will you be my daughter's mate?" he asked the young lion. "I would be honored," Dhahabu said as he smiled.

Dhahabu and Mahiri were married the next day. After the ceremony, the newlywed couple sat down by the river to watch the sunset. "This might sound out of the blue," Mahiri said hesitantly, "but what made you stop the fight?" Dhahabu sighed and said, "I've lost a loved one due to my irresponsible actions... I didn't want to be responsible for someone else's death ever again!" Mahiri looked at him and asked, "What happened?" Dhahabu looked into her auburn eyes, and for some reason, he told her everything about Sulubu and how he died. "Even now, I blame myself for what happened. If I hadn't suggested going there, he wouldn't have had to save me at all!" he said sadly. Mahiri nuzzled him lightly and said, "I know exactly how you feel." Dhahabu looked at her, puzzled. "Have you lost a loved one, too?" he asked her. She nodded and told him about Mkunga. "Had I asked him where he'd come from even once, he wouldn't have died the way he did," she said tearfully. "You do know how I feel," Dhahabu said slowly. "But Mkunga had a choice! He didn't have to die! He tried to find you for his father!" he finished. "Didn't Sulubu have a choice, too? He didn't have to die, either! He wanted to save you, and he did!" Mahiri said. Dhahabu's eyes widened at this statement. He hadn't realized it until now, but Mahiri was right! He smiled at her and nuzzled her, hoping that she'd be by his side to help him through everything the way she did just now. Mahiri felt relieved, too... Both of them had finally laid their pasts to rest.

Over the next moon, Dhahabu and Mahiri had bonded very well and had come to love and depend on one another deeply. Adhimu, upon finding out that Dhahabu was the son of his two closest friends was even more delighted to have him as his son in law. "I just can't believe I didn't see it before! You resemble your father greatly, Dhahabu!" Adhimu told him. "I have to take Mahiri home soon, Adhimu... It has been too long, and I miss my family," Dhahabu told him. "Then go you must! Take good care of my daughter, Dhahabu!" he said. "Yes," Tara mentioned happily as she and Mahiri approached him. "Especially now, when she's carrying your first cub!" she finished. Dhahabu smiled at Mahiri and nuzzled her. "We're so lucky to have found each other, Mahiri!" he told her. She nodded and said, "Let's go home, Dhahabu... I want to meet your family, too!" "We'll leave tomorrow morning," he told her. And so they left the next morning with blessings from Adhimu, Tara, Zuva, Winda and a tearful goodbye from their young cub Bato. Dhahabu couldn't wait to get home and have Mahiri welcomed into the family. It would be a great reunion.


Chapter Thirty: Dark Times



Mfalme and Malkia were ecstatic at what they'd just heard. They'd received a message from their best friend Adhimu that Dhahabu was returning home with his mate, who happened to be his very own daughter. The message also let them know that they were to be grandparents soon. "True friendships always find a way to strengthen bonds all the time," Mfalme told Malkia. "I can't believe that after all this time, our son went to Kisouli and married Adhimu's daughter," she said. They awaited their son's return. Taraji was shocked at hearing the fact that they were already expecting their first cub. She was definitely going to ask him about it when he got back. But for now, everything was going fine for all of them. The Kingdom was prospering and the herds had plenty of food and water. But the herds still hadn't truly accepted Mfalme as their King; and he didn't know if they ever would.

Dhahabu and Mahiri were almost home when a huge elephant standing in their way. For a minute, Dhahabu and Mahiri were unnerved. Then when the elephant raised his trunk, Mahiri growled. But before she could do anything, the elephant ruffled Dhahabu's mane affectionately. "Tembo!" Dhahabu said. "It's so good to see you!" "It's good to see you, too!" Tembo said. He had grown to become a huge, strong, elephant. "Mahiri, this is my friend... Tembo," Dhahabu told her. She smiled weakly at him. "Sorry for frightening you before... It's just been a long time since I've seen him!" Tembo told her. She nodded and smiled. "We have to go home, now, Tembo, but I'll see you soon," Dhahabu said and left with Mahiri after getting hugged by Tembo.

They reached the den soon. Dhahabu saw Taraji standing at the edge. He sighed as she smiled at him and ran inside. He knew she'd gone in to tell everyone he was back. Then she came down running to greet him. "Hey, sis!" he said as she nuzzled him lightly. "And you must be Mahiri," Taraji said as she smiled at her. Mahiri smiled and nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Taraji," she said. "Come in! Everyone's waiting to meet you!" Taraji said. They walked up to the mouth of the cave until Dhahabu saw his parents. He smiled at them weakly. Then his mother came up to him and nuzzled him. "Mom... Dad... this is Mahiri," he said as he looked at his mate. "You are most definitely Adhimu's daughter," Mfalme said. "You have his eyes," Malkia said. Mahiri smiled and said, "It's amazing how these things happen, isn't it?" "Yes it is, my dear... Welcome to the family!" Mfalme said and led her inside the den. She looked at Dhahabu for a minute who nodded at her and motioned her to get inside. She smiled and got in.

"Well, my son... I'm glad you're home!" Mfalme said. "Dad, I want to say something... Not just to you, but to mom and Taraji as well. I know I hadn't been treating you well after Sulubu died... and I lashed out at all of you for no reason... I shut you out when I shouldn't have. I've come to realize that I have a choice all the time... And I've decided to choose happiness... our happiness... over my grief. I've had enough time to think this over, and I think it's time I put my past behind me," Dhahabu said. Mfalme sighed and said, "You were in pain... and you didn't know how to rid yourself of it. You should've realized that we'd love you no matter what! But I'm so glad you realized this before it's too late! And I'm sure now that you'll be just fine after I'm gone." "Thank you, dad... I won't let you down. And thank you, mother, for being there for me when I needed you the most," Dhahabu said. "I'm so glad you're happier now, Dhahabu... And I guess Mahiri here has already been a good influence on you!" Malkia told her son and nuzzled him. Taraji rolled her eyes and sighed. "This is supposed to be a happy occasion!" she said. All of them laughed out loud; even Mahiri joined in.

Time passed by and Mahiri was due to give birth any day. Dhahabu was anxious to say the least. One day, when they left for a stroll, Mahiri felt unusually tired and sat down. "Are you alright?" Dhahabu asked her. "I think it's time, Dhahabu," she said slowly. "What? Now?" Dhahabu asked her. "Yes, now!" Mahiri said and lay down. Dhahabu watched as she gave birth to their cubs. By the end of it they had two sons and a daughter. All three of them started yowling as he nuzzled them lightly. Their first one had dark, brown fur. He bore a striking resemblance to Sulubu. They decided to name him Mohatu. Their second born was their daughter who looked like Mahiri, but her eyes were like her father's. They named her Busara. Their youngest cub resembled Dhahabu greatly. They decided to call him Makani. "Look at them, Dhahabu," Mahiri said happily. "Our cubs are so amazing!" All of them started yowling again. Dhahabu smiled at them and nuzzled them again. Now he knew how his father felt about him and Taraji and Sulubu.

So when they went back home with their cubs in their mouths, everyone was shocked and delighted at the same time. Mfalme and Malkia were ecstatic to have grandchildren. Mfalme and Malkia were shocked at how much Mohatu resembled Sulubu. "He's your heir, then?" Malkia asked her son. "Yes, mother... Mohatu will be King after me," Dhahabu said. "Look at them, Mfalme!" Malkia said. "They're precious!" "Yes, they are," Mfalme said seriously. "I just hope Kuchinja doesn't harm them for vengeance against me!" Malkia sighed as she remembered Kuchinja's threat. "Mahiri and I will keep them safe, dad. We'll make sure that Kuchinja doesn't come anywhere near them!" Dhahabu said firmly. Taraji was smiling at Busara who was trying to paw at her face playfully. Mahiri was smiling as she watched all three of her cubs. They would grow up to be strong and independent... She would go to any lengths to protect them from harm. And from what she'd just heard, they'd need all the protection they could get.

Kala was listening carefully to this conversation. Her mate's name was mentioned and so was Mfalme's. Then it hit her. She was in the Kingdom Kuchinja had wanted to conquer! She had to tell Mfalme about this immediately. They could all be in danger. "Sire! I have to tell you something!" she said. "What is it, Kala?" the King asked her kindly. "I just remembered something, Sire! You have to know about this!" she said. Mfalme looked at her intently and asked, "What is it?" "Your Kingdom is in danger, Sire! This Kuchinja you're talking about... I know him! He was my mate! He intends to attack as soon as Jahili grows up, which means it is time now! You have to act immediately!" she said.

Mfalme was still trying to take this in. Kuchinja was still obsessed with getting this Kingdom back... He had to do something about it; and fast. If Kala was right, Kuchinja might attack any day now. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier, Kala?" Mfalme asked her as calmly as he could. I’m sorry, Sire... Forgive me! I didn't know it was your Kingdom that he wanted to conquer! If I had any idea, I would've told you immediately." "Fine... What's done is done. We have to act fast, though... He will want to get to the King, first. In that case, we'll have an advantage. He still thinks I'm King," Mfalme said. "Uhm, Dad... You are the King!" Taraji said. "I've decided to step down," Mfalme said. "As of today, Dhahabu is our King. Don't let this out just yet. We wouldn't want Kuchinja to know about this. And Kala, are you with us, or are you with Kuchinja?" Mfalme asked. Kala bowed to him and said, "I'm loyal to my pride, Sire... You provided me shelter when I most needed it. You have my support." "Thank you, Kala. Dhahabu, you and your cubs will stay in another den, so he doesn't spot you. I'll have a few lioness patrolling that area. That should do," Mfalme said. "That would make it obvious, dad! It would make him suspicious. We don't want that," Dhahabu said. "Dhahabu's right, Sire," Mahiri said. It's best we stay here, with all of you." Mfalme sighed and nodded. "You're right... I wasn't thinking correctly... But you're still going to be King, Dhahabu. He'd try to attack me first. And when he does, even if he succeeds in finishing me off, he won't have the Kingdom because you'll still be alive!" Dhahabu nodded with a smile on his face.

Far away, at the southern border, three lions made their way in. Kuchinja looked at the den he'd once called home. "It'll be ours once again," he thought. "Let's rest here for the night," he told Jahili and Njaa. "We have to stay hidden for now. We'll attack only once we've observed their defenses." And so they went towards a small cave and slept there. For now, their objective would be to stay hidden. If they were caught before they'd decided on their next move, it would be disastrous. It was crucial that they observe where Mfalme stationed his lionesses if they wanted to ensure victory. Kuchinja had been very specific about this. He was depending heavily on Jahili since he knew Njaa's stance on this would never change. This was going to be serious liability should Jahili decide not to fight Mfalme. But since that seemed unlikely, Kuchinja slept in peace, hoping that their plan wouldn't be foiled.

The pride survived normally not knowing that they were being watched constantly. Dhahabu and Mahiri were kept busy by their three mischievous cubs all the time. They kept the cubs under watch all the time to ensure their safety, so that even if Kuchinja came in to attack, the cubs wouldn't be harmed. This brought little comfort to them, but it was still nice to know that the whole pride was with them when it came to protecting them and each other. Dhahabu decided not to exercise any of his Kingly powers yet because he didn't want to make it obvious to Kuchinja just yet. He let his father perform most of the Kingly duties, but Mfalme always asked him to decide everything, which he did. Things were starting to look up for them after a moon because there were no signs of assault from any border, so they were slightly relieved. But their relief was short lived.

One day, Mahiri had decided to go on a hunt. She'd left the cubs in Malkia's care. The three cubs enjoyed playing with their grandparents any chance they got, so this was no different. After a brief storytelling session from their grandparents, the cubs fell asleep. Mfalme and Dhahabu had decided to go on a stroll. So Malkia was alone in the den with the cubs. She was taking a nap when she heard paws pressing against the stone floor. She got up immediately. The lion she saw there had angry, grey eyes. They were filled with loathing. Malkia shielded the cubs immediately. "What're you doing here?" she asked angrily. "Is that how you welcome the Crown Prince, Malkia?" Kuchinja asked slyly. "You're not the Crown Prince! My son is!" Malkia said, flaring up. "And to think... I wanted you as my mate," Kuchinja said with a leer in his voice. Malkia looked disgusted to say the least. "But you had to marry that filthy lion and have cubs with him, didn't you?" Kuchinja asked in an almost pitying tone. "Mfalme is ten times the lion you are!" Malkia said. Kuchinja laughed at this and asked, "Is that why he had to be sent off to prove his worth?" "No, that's because your father was a pathetic, insecure, and murderous lion!" Malkia said.

Kuchinja roared and charged at her. Before Malkia could move, he was upon her, mauling her badly. She was bleeding profusely when she felt Kuchinja being lifted off her and thrown out. "That ought to teach you not to hurt my mother!" Dhahabu roared as he watched Kuchinja go. Then he looked at his mother and said, "Mother... are you alright?" She nodded weakly. We need to clean those wounds up!" he told her. At that moment, Mfalme came in. The minute he looked at Malkia, his anger knew no bounds. "Who did this to her?" he asked in a dangerously low voice. "Kuchinja did," Dhahabu said. Mfalme ran out of the den as fast as he'd come in. "Dad! dad, please! Don't go after him!" Dhahabu yelled, but he knew for a fact that his words had fallen on deaf ears. He looked at his little cubs who could've been easily harmed. They were scared to say the least. "There, there, little ones... I'm here... I'll keep you safe," he told them softly as they curled up against him. He nuzzled each one of them lightly to comfort them, but they were still shaking. He sighed and lay down holding them close, hoping to calm them down and comfort them. "I can't let him hurt them!"Dhahabu thought to himself as he closed his eyes.

In the meanwhile, Mfalme tore after Kuchinja. He'd found him limping back home after being thrown out by Dhahabu. He tried his best to control his temper to keep things from spiraling out of control, but the image of Malkia’s mauled face haunted him. "Kuchinja!" he roared. Kuchinja turned around and smiled maliciously. "Why, if it isn't the King himself!" he said. "You shouldn't have hurt Malkia!" Mfalme thundered. "She insulted my father!" Kuchinja fired back. "Who wouldn't?" Mfalme said angrily. "He was pathetic! And you've inherited it with finesse!" Kuchinja roared and charged and crashed Mfalme into the ground. Mfalme pushed him away, but he returned and hit him hard across the jaw. The force of it sent Mfalme reeling, but he recovered soon enough. Soon he was surrounded by hyenas. Kuchinja was smiling malevolently at him. "Do you remember how compliant they were under my father's rule? Well, you've antagonized them by driving them into a miserable excuse of a home. Attack!" Kuchinja told the hyenas.

Dozens of paws blurred Mfalme's vision. He felt their claws tear into his flesh and hurt him. He roared as he tried to fight them off. But he was unsuccessful. He heard Kuchinja asking them to stop and leave. "You're not going to make it Mfalme! By the time I reach the den, you will be dead! Then I will be King! Your son will be banished!" Kuchinja said as he looked down upon him. Mfalme laughed weakly and said, "No, you won't!" "What're you talking about?" Kuchinja asked, infuriated. "My son has already been crowned King! And he's much stronger than you! You won't be able to defeat him!" Mfalme said weakly. "I won't, but my son will!" Kuchinja said and walked away. Instead of going to the den, he went back to where he'd camped. Now that he knew the King was still alive, he knew that the lionesses wouldn't be persuaded so easily. Then he winced in pain as his wounds grazed against the hard earth. He dug his claws into the ground to stop himself from roaring in pain, hoping that someone would come soon enough to relieve him.

Back at the den, Mahiri had returned with a feast for all of them. the cubs ate to their hearts' content and played with their mother as Dhahabu ate. Something was bothering him. His father hadn't returned. He should've been home by now! He looked at his wounded mother and turned to Mahiri. "I'm going to look for my father, Mahiri," he said as he nuzzled her. "I'll come back safe; I promise." He walked out and sensed his father's scent. He followed it until he reached a writhing silhouette lying on the hard earth. "Dad!" Dhahabu yelled as he ran towards the silhouette. "Dad! What... what happened?" Dhahabu asked as he tried to nudge his head up. "Don't try... It's useless!" Mfalme said in a choked voice. End it! Please! Relieve me of this pain!" he cried out. Dhahabu stood motionless. "No! You can't possibly ask me to kill you!" he said horrified at the idea. "You would be helping me! I'm in a lot of pain, Dhahabu! I wouldn't have asked you otherwise! Please! Just end it!" Mfalme said. Dhahabu thought of his brother and his pained face just before his death. He didn't want to do it, but the plea in his father's voice couldn't be ignored. He closed his eyes and took on, great swipe at his father's chest. Then he heard his father's roar and opened his eyes. The old lion had collapsed on the ground, never to get up again. Mfalme, the Great Aiheu's son, was dead.



End of Book Three (Part One)



With Mfalme dead and Kuchinja on his trail, Dhahabu and the Kingdom is now in great danger. Will the pride survive? Find out in Book Three (Part Two)
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Re: The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

Postby divsalley » March 2nd, 2010, 1:50 pm

Your opinions, please!!!
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Re: The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

Postby YFWE » March 5th, 2010, 12:02 pm

Finally got around to finishing this! As always, kind of hard to read and follow, but it's a good storyline, full of many twists and the like. Things should get even more interesting now with Mfalme dead. I'm quite curious as to where Jahili's allegiances will lie in the end.
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Re: The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

Postby KiarasMate » March 5th, 2010, 1:08 pm

lol, I told myself that I was only going to get in a few chapters tonight, seeing as it was late when I started reading this but of course, without fail divsalley, your story pulled me in and I had to read it all the way through. :) First off, may I praise you for taking most of the suggestions you've been given from the past two books, and really have stepped up your game, so to speak. ^^ The chapter lengths were the biggest improvement I think, followed by your character development. It was much more refined this time around and made for a much more enjoyable tale in my opinion. :) Lastly, your plot development seemed a lot more thought out in this one and didn't seem quite as rushed as before. All these things just came together to make one hell of a memorable story and I must admit that this was my favorite book out of the trio thus far, and this seems to only be part 1, so I truly can't wait to read the rest. Sorry for taking so long to read and review this though. I've been rather wrapped up in another Fan Fiction that I've just recently discovered. lol. :) Any-who, keep up the marvelous work my friend and please let me know once Part 2 is up. :)
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Re: The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

Postby divsalley » March 5th, 2010, 6:48 pm

Thanks for all your suggeststions, KM and YFWE! Really appreciate it! Part Two is coming out nicely! Will let you know once I finish!
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Re: The Tale of the Great Kings-Book Three (Part One)

Postby Kina » September 15th, 2010, 3:51 am

Sorry about the major bump, Divsalley, but I can say with certainy that I've enjoyed everything I've read of your tales so far. (Read all the way from "A Prince's Struggle" through Book III-Part I in about four hours.) That says just how good it is, too. *Smiles.* I'll be looking forward to reading the rest of your works tomorrow, as I'll have more time then. I can also see a clear improvement with each book that you complete, only making each tale more enjoyable.

~ Kina.
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