A youthful lioness named Rukiya had been running across the desert lands overnight. Copious amounts of dirt and sand covered the ends of her paws. However she wasn't bothered by her dusty look, she was much too focused on sprinting as far and as fast as she could. It took her an excessive amount of strength to keep at a reasonable speed and to refrain from passing out.
Soon she began to slow herself down, feeling a rush of heat hit her body. Rukiya panted profusely from her lack of energy and how long she had been treading in the beaming sun. The young lioness slowed down to a trotting speed. She made sure to look at her surroundings before coming to a complete halt. She was in a heated savannah, without much thought she stopped walking.
"This should be far enough." Rukiya said to herself stopping and looking over her shoulder. When she realized no one had been following her, she closed her eyes to collect herself. Both sides of her head pulsated as her weary eyes were closed. A unbearable pain extended throughout all her limbs. She let out a small groan in response, shooting her eyes back open.
Rukiya slowly lifted her head, feeling even more faint than before. The immense warmth of the sun harshly radiated down onto the savannah. The lionesses eyes began to flutter. It was this unforgiving humidity that caused Rukiya to collapse onto the ground passing out from the heat.
What felt like days later for Rukiya, she awoke to find herself lying on a large rock. Her eyes were slowly forced open with a groan escaping from her lips. She could feel nothing but pain in this moment. Carefully, the lioness lifted her head to see that the sky had grown darker since she last saw it. It was already late evening, she thought.
As softly as she could, the lioness turned her head around to see where she was. Forcing a grunt, Rukiya turned to her side and tried to stand up with no prevail. Her body was still very sore and tired from her trip.
"Grrr.." She growled low, putting her head back on the ground. Just as she did that a grown male lion and two younger lions that were around her age, stood patiently behind her. "Hapana!" Rukiya yelped and jumped up in fear, only to be stopped by the horrible stinging sensation in her limbs. She groaned and shut her teeth down tightly.
"Please miss, we do not mean to harm you.." The younger lion with the red mane said in a surprisingly calming voice. Rukiya breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling with each deep breath. She turned her head to look fearfully at all the lions in front of her. She scooted back a bit and sat down, desperately trying to normalize her breath.
"Where is this place? Who are you?" Rukiya demanded in a voice both equally afraid and demanding. The largest lion stepped forward. Rukiya took a quick second to examine him. He had a long black mane, bright green eyes, canary yellow fur. If she wasn't so frightened, she might take a longer look at the lion thinking he was handsome.
"My name is Ahadi, I am the Lion King, ruler of the Pride Lands." Rukiya blinked for a second. He didn't seem like a threat. This is my first born Mufasa," Rukiya looked at Mufasa, he had a short red mane, red eyes and orange colored fur. To Rukiya, Mufasa didn't seem to be a threat either. "And this is my second born, Scar." The lioness glanced at the
King's second son, Scar. The only thing she could think was, what an odd name to give your son.
"Yes.." Scar hissed towards his father. He then turned his attention to Rukiya and began to circle around her. "And what might your name be?" He asked giving her a unrelenting stare.
"My name...it is Rukiya, your Majesty.." Rukiya spoke faintly giving a small bow to the three lions. She lifted her head and looked to the King with a weak gaze.
"I'm sure you have traveled very far from home." The King said watching her intently.
"Y-Yes I have." Rukiya said lowering her head a bit giving short tireless breaths. She couldn't even remember what her home was right know, where it was, or what it looked like.
"And you don't seem to be in the best of shape. How did you manage to travel here all by yourself?" Mufasa said taking a step forward, showing genuine concern for Rukiya.
"Well I..was sort of in a dangerous situation...my uh, parents they told me to run away...to...never return. One could only assume-" She stopped herself from speaking. From saying what she feared the most. "No wait, that would never happen. Never mind." Rukiya began to think of her parents dejectedly. They couldn't have. "I mean...they wouldn't..."
"Wouldn't what? I'm sorry...what are we talking about here?" Mufasa said attentively.
"My parents...they saved me from a monster I know that for sure. Something strange. Something that not even I could fathom would be real to our world." Scar yawned in boredom, covering his paw with his mouth. Mufasa nudged him causing scar to scowl at him. "But they're definitely alright, I-I'm sure of it."
Ahadi gazed at Rukiya downtrodden. He noticed their was something wrong with her. Maybe she wasn't facing her parents death all that healthy. The King wondered to himself, what can I do to make this child feel better? Perhaps I need to let her sort it out on her own. Maybe she needs guidance from someone even wider than I. Rafiki.
"Rukiya, I strongly advise that you stay the night and see our healer Rafiki in the morning. I'm certain he could help with your wounds and whatever you may be going though." The King spoke in a very gentle sounding tone. She could tell that he did care for her feelings, but he shouldn't. Rukiya lifted her head aghast with the idea.
"Oh I can't stay your highness. I-I have to get back to my parents. I wouldn't want to keep them waiting."
"But you must, you are not doing well," Mufasa interrupted in a concerned voice. Rukiya clenched her teeth and looked away in worry. He was telling the truth, although she didn't want to admit it. "You need to rest." She looked back at Ahadi and Mufasa.
"Do you really think it would be okay? I mean, just for a day...I-I can't stay forever." Rukiya said in a broken voice. Both Ahadi and Mufasa nodded. How were they so kind to her, she thought.
"We are welcome to all passing animals that wander through the Pride Lands. This vision is what my father had intended. I'm quite certain we can help you here." Ahadi said. Rukiya nodded to him and looked out to the sky to see the sun setting. Scar yawned once again causing Rukiya to yawn as well. "It's getting late, you may sleep here for tonight."
"Thank you, King Ahadi." She said bowing her head. He slowly nodded and headed into the main lion den along with Mufasa. Rukiya lowered herself down onto the rock and laid at her side. She blinked taking a look at the Kings second son, Scar. He had his back turned to her, but she still watched him. His fur was a rusty orange, the tip of his tail was black along with his short mane.
Scar was just about to head in when he turned his body to gaze at the lioness. It was then he noticed how intensely she was staring at him. What is her problem? He stared back at her with a disdain look on his face. Rukiya responded with a wistful gleam in her eyes, hoping to make a good impression on him. Scar blinked in confusion. He snickered and turned away from the lioness's gaze. What a strange girl.
Rukiya lowered her eyes and gave a quiet sigh. She laid on her stomach and put her head in her paws. I wonder what his deal was, she thought. She scoffed and shook her head. What's the point in even worrying what he thought about you. You're only going to be staying here for a night. Rukiya blinked slowly as if in a daze. The thought of her parents came up, and for some reason it make her stomach feel sick. It also made her feel...angry.
"Stop stressing Rukiya...everything will be fine. You just need some rest, you'll feel better in the morning when you get to see your parents." Rukiya said out loud to herself giving a small hopeful smile. She felt her consciousness slipping away as she fell into a deep slumber.
Rukiya slept comfortably at the entrance of the main lion den on Pride Rock. Her honey colored body heaved up and down as she took peaceful breaths. A soft breeze began to waft through the air tickling the ends of her thick fur. The breeze swept up a few leaves and dirt that swirled around, weightlessly flying above. Leaves and dirt flew over the head of Rukiya. However, the lioness still continued to sleep curling her paws up close to her chest. She gave a small groan and flopped over.
The wind increased speed and quickly shifted pushing the lonesome leaves on Rukiya's face. She speedily snapped opened her eyes and took a deep breath of shock. Small pieces of dirt and leaves were sucked into her throat which caused her to cough. A rough hot feeling made itself noticed at her throat. She threw her head back and forth coughing and swallowing the taste of dirt.
While the lioness continued to shake her head and toss her neck, Ahadi, Mufasa, and Scar all walked out of the den preparing for a hunt. They all stopped in their tracks to see Rukiya with her head bent over, coughing loudly. In the middle of coughing Rukiya turned her head to see that the royal family had been watching her.
"Uh..." She widened her eyes and sat down to brush her paw against her lips. A line of spit was now apparent on her paw. She chuckled again, and this time gave a small polite cough. She lowered her head apologetically. "I'm very sorry King Ahadi, did I wake you?" Rukiya asked in a shameful tone, lifting her head up again. He chuckled at her.
"No, you did not wake us. My son's and I were just about to go on a family hunting trip...It's more of training really. I wanted to get up early before I had any of my kingly duties to attend to." The King said looking back and forth between both his sons. Rukiya sighed in relief.
"Right, of course. I'm very glad I was not the one who had disrupted your sleep."
"Well, now that you are awake and well enough to stand, you can see Rafiki now. I'm quite sure that he is up at this hour working on a new potion or remedy or something. He's out on the tree of life. You passed by it on your way to the Pride Lands."
"Yes...I think I remember," She said shyly. Still a bit unsure about where it was. "Thank you again, your highness, I very much appreciate it." The King gave her a noble nod. She smiled. "I hope you have a good hunt this morning," Rukiya added looking over to Mufasa and Scar, who had been standing beside Ahadi, waiting for the conversation to end. She exhaled and turned her body.
Small wing flapping noises came from above their heads. The four lions looked up to see a small red-billed horn bill flying frantically towards them. Rukiya paused and turned her head back to the three lions to see what the commotion was all bird halted and hovered just in front of the king.
"King Ahadi, there is trouble in Chakula Plains!" Zuzu spoke in an urgent tone.
"Yes, fill me in on the way Zuzu. I'm very sorry boys, maybe a different time." Ahadi said gently to his sons.
Just after, he jumped clean over the three of them and leaped down the large rocks already running off. He sure was quick to attend to his subjects, she thought. Rukiya looked over to see Mufasa was not phased by what just happened, it was a different story for Scar, however. Scar looked to be extremely disappointed that his father had left the both of them alone.
"He always does this." Scar spoke with a vicious tongue behind his lips. He shook his head and gave a deep growl. Rukiya looked at him with a woeful stare before turning away. I should probably get going before getting all wrapped up in someone else's problems, she thought. She slowly turned around and began to walk quietly down Pride Rock.
"There will be another time Scar, Father just has to deal with more important things right now. He'll make time for us later." Mufasa said softly towards his brother.
"Whatever." Scar scoffed in disappointment. Rukiya tried her best not to interfere, but she couldn't help but felt contrite for him. It sounded like Ahadi rarely gets to spend time with them...or at least that's what she was getting out of Scar. It sounded like Scar really needed his father. Maybe that's why he felt so weird to her.
Rukiya lowered her head dejectedly. She looked back at Scar perturbed for a moment as he stared back heedfully. She gave the prince courteous smile, as gently as she could, then turned around to walk away.
Jumping down onto a cluster of rocks at the entrance of Pride Rock, the feeling of tall green grass beneath her paws made her sigh in relaxation. the cool touch of the plant, crushing underneath her feet caused her to gave a half smile. This feeling quickly fled when she began to think about the Prince. I wish I could comfort him, she thought. Without turning her head, Rukiya glanced to the right anxiously.
The lioness bent her head down and began to jog with heavy speed. A stinging sensation struck her calves and arms. Rukiya scrunched up her face in a result of the pain it caused her. Her legs began to shake and tremble wanting to give out from beneath her, but she wouldn't let them. Despite the burning in her limbs, Rukiya kept pressing on.
Continuing to run with all of her strength, the lioness groaned and breathed heavily behind her clenched teeth. She squinted her eyes trying her best to look around a bit. Ahadi had said that the tree of life wasn't very far away from pride rock. She scanned the area for it finding it to be far off to the left of the grassy plains. The wind pushed against her body forcing her to slow down. Rukiya groaned and closed her eyes wondering if she should just give up now or to go on?
"No...I must go on for my parents." Rukiya said to herself determined. Pulling her head up she opened her eyes and faced the wind head on. With every new step she took, the louder the voice in her head screamed at her, don't give in. Her lips curved down into a scowl, and behind her lips were barred teeth, fiercely clenching onto her last bit of hope.
As Rukiya's paws pressed into the tall green grass, she began to run speedily out of steam. She opened her mouth taking deep breaths, pleading for more air to fill her lungs. A pounding feeling pulled at the skin of both her temples. She narrowed her eyes and frowned trying to forget the feeling and move on from it, but it happened repeatedly, in short, incriminates like a heart beat. It wouldn't go away.
"Ugh!" Rukiya yelled finally tripping over her own paws. She stumbled crashing forward onto the ground, sliding across the dirt. She closed her eyes and breathed hard. "Ouch..." She felt her head bump something. Letting out a soft grunt Rukiya rolled her eyes up to see a large tree behind her head.
"Hmm? What is that?" A voice said from above the tree. The leaves of the tree rustled for a moment, some of them even falling down. From the top of the tree, a baboon poked his head out. I'm here, Rukiya thought to herself worn out. She sighed allowing her eyes to roll back, slowly closing them.