Savanna ChronicleS The Coming of Tamu
(sequel to The Coming of Meersha) By BabyFireWolf4tlk
It's time for Meersha's daughter to embark on her own path ...
Note: I began "The Coming of Tamu" a few years ago, and haven't finished it, nor have I even really looked over it, so sorry about the mistakes. Enjoy what I have so far ...
Part I:
The Cub
I
The Birth of the Twilights
"The light shined on the little ones, bathing them in all its glory. They were so small and so helpless, it could melt anyone's heart. But we all knew, that one sun they were to be big, and strong, and step up to be our own protectors. …For now, we were their protectors."
-Queen Andra of Pride Rock (Sunrise Era)
It was almost night, and the grunts of a stressful lioness would linger through the environment. Another lioness – much younger – waited anxiously outside. No matter how much she longed to go check in on her friend, the youngster knew she could not.
By the time the sun barely peaked out from under the horizon, the lioness within the den fell silent. Only a few purrs were heard, but the youngster still stood her ground outside, head slightly tilted.
"What happened? Is she OK?" someone suddenly said in an urgent tone.
The lioness turned to see another lion, only to remark uneasily, "Just in time. Anyway, go see for yourself, Zarazu."
"Pursha, I'm the mate and will be nothing more until I am presented with cubs and given the OK by Meersha." Zarazu replied, now more smoothly and strongly.
"Exactly. Neither of us will find out until the time is right." Pursha said, almost proudly at the fact that she was acting so calm and adult-like about this – something she normally was not.
"Hmph." Zarazu could only react to the young adult's trick.
"Zarazu." someone called, causing the black and white lion to jerk his head.
"Meersha?" he cried back.
Just then, the beautiful head of his mate popped out from the entrance of the den, and she nodded, gesturing him to come. Desperately, Zarazu lunged toward the den, and nuzzled his mate anxiously.
"Meersha, are you all right? What happened? Are they here? Are they OK?" Zarazu blurted out before he could stop himself.
Giggling, the lioness exclaimed calmly and exhausted, "Calm down. Yes. They are here. We're all OK."
"Oh, Meersha! I never thought this would–could happen!" Zarazu abruptly cried.
"Neither did I." Meersha muttered, before saying, "C'mon. See your cubs."
"What? But, Meersha … am I allowed to?"
"Why wouldn't you? You're their father, you silly brute! I know this is different than most lions, but I'm not going to let my mate wait so see his own cubs."
The two smiled, locking eyes for a moment in which their love seemed to grow even stronger, before Meersha turned and crawled back deep into the den. Carefully, Zarazu climbed in as well, until he could now see four tiny bundles of fur suckling at Meersha's side. At first, the lion was speechless.
"They're beautiful." he was finally able to choke.
"Yes." Meersha whispered.
"What are their names?"
"Well, this one here." she said while nosing the darkest of the four. "was the firstborn. His name shall be Hadra."
"Hadra…" pondered Zarazu aloud. "I like it…Hadra, leader of the…" but then the adult cocked his head as if he himself was a cub again. "Meersha, we don't have a name yet for our pride."
"Well, because our cubs were born at twilight, I think we should be called the Twilight pride." Meersha suggested.
"That's great. I love it." Zarazu replied with a proud smile. "Hadra: leader of the Twilight pride!"
Meersha could only smile at that, before nosing the second darkest cub and explaining, "This is another male, and was born second. His name is Binjaji."
"Binjaji?" Zarazu questioned, raising a brow.
"It kind of reminds me of my dear brother Banjija."
"Then Banjija it is!"
"Binjaji." corrected Meersha with a smirk.
"Right. Sorry." he cheekily responded. "Go on."
"This one is a girl, and I wish for her to be called Gwalu." Meersha began to lick a light cub as it stopped nursing and quickly fell asleep.
"The name is as beautiful as she is…and her mother." Zarazu purred.
"I think it fits her."
"But what about the lightest?" he then asked.
"She is the last of the litter. And, Zarazu…"
"Yes?"
"I wish for you to name her."
Gasping, the male blinked and said, astonished, "What? Me?"
"Yes you."
"But why? You're the mother. It's well known throughout the Broken-Claw and even your own birth pride – as you said – that the mother always names the cubs."
"Well, when I was born, my mother told me I was the last of all the cubs brought into the world, not only from her at that time, but by my father, Ashuma. It was a special tradition held in her bloodline that she passed on, and so my own father named me because I was his last. I'm not saying this it is our last litter, but I wish for you to name the last cub in this one. Will you?"
For a moment, Zarazu considered this. But, finally he gave in and, with a wide grin he answered, "Of course I will."
Again, there was silence as Zarazu looked down at the creamy colored cub who suckled at her mother's stomach. What name would be perfect for such a beauty as this? Finally, a name popped into his head.
"Tamu."
"Tamu?" Meersha questioned.
"I've made up my mind. Tamu…Sweet little Tamu."
Again, Meersha smiled and said, "I love it."
Suddenly, Meersha's smile became a frown. Though there was a great feeling of having to protect her offspring, she recognized it as the first time she felt it when she became Rombu's adoptive mother. This only led to the memories of her lost cub all those years ago.
"What is it?" Zarazu quickly asked. "What's wrong?"
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"About Rombu…I miss him so much, Zarazu. And seeing these cubs makes me miss him even more – makes me think they might end up like him."
"Rombu was a great cub and we'll always love him, but now he's up in the stars. Now it's time to let go and move on and take care of these little ones. They depend on us. They won't end up like him…I promise."
With that, the two nuzzled, reassured by each others' company and warm words.
Before long, Meersha, still exhausted, laid her head down and closed her eyes to reunite with slumber as Zarazu turned and trotted proudly outside, reporting the good news to Pursha. He was in such a good mood that he even treated Pursha decently, but he also joined her on a hunt for the night, ignoring any traditional roles a male lion would play. After all, his mate needed meat for the milk which the cubs needed, and there were only two hunters now.