The Lion King 4: The Marking
By Juliana Davey
It was a warm and sunny afternoon, and the lionesses of Pride Rock were stretched out, enjoying the fine weather. Below them, many herds grazed on the grass, and the sparkling river twisted its way through the land. The Pride Lands were flourishing and filled with beauty.
On a small green hill, a short distance away from Pride Rock, a grown lion sat next to his dozing mate. As his dark brown mane ruffled in the wind, he glanced around at the scenery and the grazing animals. A slow smile crept onto his face and he looked back at the sleeping lioness beside him. Her belly was large, and Kimoni smiled. Looking up at the stars, he remembered sitting on the same hill, years before, at his father's side. So much had happened since then.
In the first few months after the deaths of Kovu, Kiara, and Nala, the Pride Lands reached a desperate period. When Kimoni claimed the throne, many of the herds and animals left the Pride Lands, not confident enough that the young king would perform his duties well enough. Some animals died from the disease brought to the lands by an unfortunate lioness and her young cub, which had died within hours of arriving. Rafiki, the baboon healer, had worked long and hard to finally drive the sickness from the Pride Lands. After a time, Kimoni, and his new queen, Azmera, traveled to search out the missing herds, and upon finding them, invited them back to the Pride Lands.
Soon, the lands were filled with joy again, and the herds began to grow. Kimoni lead the animals with kindness and respect. And there was peace.
As the day wore on, Kimoni finally bent and woke Azmera. "Come, we should get back to Pride Rock."
The beautiful lioness nodded as Kimoni helped her stand. Slowly, the pair returned to their home together, to be greeted by the other lionesses. They had gone hunting, and soon the pride had settled down to eat together. After a moment, Azmera felt the tell-tale pains, and looked to her friends for comfort. Sauda, her closest friend, helped her into the cave, and send a lioness to fetch Rafiki.
That night, it was very dark and the sky was full of twinkling stars. Kimoni paced anxiously back and forth outside the cave. He and Azmera had often spoken about their cub – what they thought it might be; what it would look like; what they would call it. But now, as it was being born, Kimoni felt like a nervous wreck. Finally, Rafiki stepped out of the cave and motioned for Kimoni to enter. The grown king stepped softly on the ground, his paws barely making any sound as he went in.
There lay Azmera, her sides heaving. In her paws lay a tiny bundle, curled up tightly and breathing softly. Starlight fell down through a hole in the roof of the cave and landed on the cub's rusty colored fur. Looking up, Azmera smiled.
"It's a boy," she whispered meeting Kimoni's proud gaze. The king nodded. They had already decided on two names – one for if it was female, one if it was male. Licking the cub's head, Azmera closed her eyes for a moment.
"Sleep well, little Daren."
Kimoni bent to brush his head against Azmera's. Licking her cheek, he got back up and walked to the mouth of the cave. Looking back, he gazed deep into his mate's eyes.
"Kovu would have been so proud," Azmera said, returning Kimoni's stare. The king just nodded and stepped out of the cave. As he made his way slowly to the tip of Pride Rock, a soft breeze ruffled his mane.
"Father," said Kimoni, his eyes scanning the vast sky, "the Pride Lands are flourishing again, the herds have returned and the disease has faded. Everything has been peaceful, and yet – I feel so empty. Like there is something I haven't done."
The king turned when he heard a noise behind him and saw the old baboon, Rafiki, waiting quietly. He looked down at his great paws. The baboon stepped forward, patted Kimoni's shoulder, and sighed.
"Why do you search so much to be something you are not?" The king looked down at the healer.
"Why do you give me that puzzled stare?" asked the wise baboon. "The kings are proud of you. Kovu is proud of you. You could not help what happened to the Pride Lands, but you have made them great again. It isn't your fault."
Kimoni looked up at the stars and then back at Rafiki.
"But how can you say that? Have you spoken to the Kings?"
Rafiki shook his head.
"Then how -"
"I have faith in them," interrupted Rafiki. "They have guided those who dwell in these lands for years – I promise you, they have not, and will not, ever desert you."
Kimoni nodded. "I try," he replied, still looking at the ground, "but it always feels like they aren't there. Like I must do everything alone."
Rafiki nodded. "I have heard kings before you say that," he told the troubled lion. "Your father; your grandfather; even Mufasa had his times of doubt. But they all realized at some point that they were not alone – and neither are you."
Kimoni nodded, the words bringing comfort to his heart. "Thank you Rafiki."
The baboon bowed. "It is my pleasure. Now you should rest. Tomorrow, we will present the future king."
In a distant land, dark shadows crept through the trees. A lone zebra made its way carefully through the forest towards the shadows, and there it halted. Two of the shadowy creatures nearby made to pounce, but they waited, held back by another.
"What do you want?" asked one of the dark shapes.
"I have news your leader may find useful."
"Speak," said the largest shadow, stepping forward, his blood red eye shining through the darkness.
"Oh great one," began the zebra, "my herd used to dwell in a place called the Pride Lands." The shadow's head jerked up, and he listened with great intensity.
"We left when the lands were past onto a new, young king. But now, he has grown strong, and has built up his pride. The lands are beautiful, the herds are plentiful. I know, because he personally invited our herd back."
The dark shadow listened in silence. When the zebra finished, he nodded. "Well done." Turning away, he slunk off through the trees. The zebra however, remained behind, waiting, perhaps in the hopes of a reward for his tale. Instead, at a whispered word, the shadows flung themselves upon him, and carried out their attack.
In a clearing, the shadow paused in the darkness. His black coloring caused him to blend in perfectly with the shadows cast by the trees. Waiting for a moment, he turned his head in greeting as a smaller and younger shadow crept into the clearing. They were lions.
The smaller was a female, and she stepped quickly over to where the black lion stood.
"What did he say?" she asked.
The black lion turned to face her, his eyes full of hatred. "They survived. My father's plan failed. It is now up to us to carry out years of revenge. We must go back to the Pride Lands."
Nodding, the black lioness smiled, her face becoming twisted and evil. "It will be a pleasurable visit," she replied.
During the night, the news had spread quickly and by the time the sun had risen above the distant mountains, all the animals of the Pride Lands were waiting to see Kimoni and Azmera's tiny cub. It was always a special occasion whenever a new heir to the throne was presented.
As the hot sun beat down, a calming, cool breeze swept about, and Rafiki embraced it, as if he were hearing voices being carried along on it. Then he turned and approached the royal couple. Gently lifting the cub from where he lay nestled against Azmera, Rafiki sprinkled a small bit of sand on the cub's nose. Looking into the cub's big brown eyes, Rafiki chuckled, and then stepped forward and lifted the prince high into the air. The animals far below him began to cheer, and then one by one, lowered themselves into respectful bows. A silence fell across the lands, as the sun shone down on the little cub, and Kimoni raised his face to the sky. He could hear soft voices around him, although he knew that all the animals were being quiet. It was his answer from the night before. Sighing with gratitude, he looked over at Rafiki, who nodded back at him.
"Father," whispered Kimoni, looking up at the sky as the soft breeze ruffled his mane.
And then, the stillness was broken, as the tiny prince tried to roar. It went from a tiny squeak, to small cough. Kimoni looked down at him and grinned. Stepping forwards, he roared with all his might. Azmera joined in beside him, and all the animals began to cheer again. As the royal family walked back to the cave together, flocks of birds took off to spread the word of the Pride Land's new prince.
Later that evening, Rafiki sat in his ancient tree, carefully adding a small picture to the many drawings of the past kings and queens of the Pride Lands. Using berries and mud, Rafiki drew the picture of Daren next to Kimoni. Near the cub drawing of Kimoni, were the pictures of Kovu, Simba and Mufasa – past kings of the Pride Lands. Dozens of other cub pictures surrounded them, showing a long line of great leaders.
When Rafiki sat back to examine his drawing, a heavy wind passed through the branches of the tree. Rafiki waved his arms as leaves and dirt flew around the tree. When the wind had stopped, Rafiki turned back to his drawing and gasped. The setting sun was cutting in beams through the branches and shining on the tree wall. It landed on only one of the pictures however – the newly added picture of Daren.
Rafiki gently touched the tree wall. The picture of the new prince was surrounded by a ring of light, and a line zigzagged down near the cub. But, what caught Rafiki's eye the most was the three shafts of light, creating three small lines on Daren's hindquarters.
"Three scars and a warning?" asked the baboon, looking to the sky. "What does this mean?" A sudden dark thought came into his mind, as he remembered the Black Pride from so long before, and their ruthless attack on the floxes. The young flox cub, Jayson, had carried three scars as a remembrance of it. Shaking his head, Rafiki pushed the thought from his mind. It had been too long. The Black Pride was surely far away from the Pride Lands by now or else gone completely.
Please note that Rafiki, Simba, Kovu, Mufasa and the other characters referred to from The Lion King or The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride belong to Disney. All other characters belong to me, Juliana Davey (a.k.a. Sun Rei / Sun Rei Lioness).