With the rising of the sun on the East African horizon, animals of all kinds lifted their heads as a morning wind brought news of great importance. The scent in the sweet breeze had shifted and these mammals knew what had come. Each one rose from their den, immediately setting out to the large pile of rocks where the lions dwelled. They all had anticipated this morning for a long time...
In a nearby cave, four human girls were sleeping on opposite sides of each other. Ever so slowly did the sun's light creep into the dugout where they camped, planning to awaken them. Once a ray of daylight reached their faces, they sat up with yawns. It was the alarm clock that they had grown used to ever since they had come to live on the plains of Africa.
Kelley Deskins had been elected as the leader in this small group and didn't mind it one bit. She was the youngest at fourteen but was sagacious beyond her age. Modest as she was, the teenager knew that she was the best to be leader out of the four. Kellie's will was strong and courageous which made the other three look to her for advice.
Second in line was Fiona Berkley but had been nicknamed Foxy by her friends. This girl was sly, creative but really a wonderful person at heart. It seemed as if she were the mother to the group for she always looked out for the ones younger than she was. Foxy was nineteen years old but hardly acted her age.
Next came Rachel Arrington who was by far the smartest when it came to academics. If it hadn't been for her, the four girls would have never come on this trip to study in Africa. She was kind but sometimes let her theories get the best of her. Rachel's age was eighteen and she had graduated first in her class.
Last but not in the least was Mya Wysong, the most bright and cheerful person one could ever meet. Although she wasn't the best to turn to for advice, she somehow could always make someone smile. Vanessa was fifteen years old and best friends to Kelley. She had come because of her interest in animals.
After a few minutes of stretching and getting dressed, Foxy strode out of the cave to look out at the plains. It was bare... No animals were roaming at all.
"Kelley, better come look at this."
Flipping her brown hair back and tying it in a ponytail, the fourteen-year-old stepped outside beside her older friend. Her eyes drifted from place to place, finding not one animal in sight. Suddenly, a wide grin formed upon her face and she leapt into the air. "The lion cub is born! We must go!"
"But Kelley," Mya whined slightly, "We're not going to get there in time. Especially on foot."
Rachel held up her index finger, "If we were to leave now, we could make it."
Nodding, Foxy looked over at Kelley. "Well leader girl... What do you say about it?"
"Quite delaying and come on!" Kelley was already making her way down the small hill of the cave.
Mya was the second to follow her, then Foxy and last was Rachel. It was hard for them to keep up with Kelley since the girl was having an adrenaline rush and sprinting. It was easy to tell that she wanted to get to the ceremony of the lion cub. As they ran across the flat horizon, the huge stone den of the lions came into view. Already, hundreds of beasts had gathered around, anxiously waiting. A tropical bird flew overhead of them, landing in front of a proud lion on the edge of the large rock.
"Pride Rock!" shouted Foxy in excitement.
They continued to run as hard as they could, not even caring for the aching in their legs from it. This ceremony was extremely important to see and they weren't about to miss it. Just as the four made it to Pride Rock, a baboon called Rafiki had already climbed up to meet the king of all animals. The two embraced each other in friendship, smiling happily. The lion king, who was called Mufasa, then led the primate to his lioness mate. Sarabi, the mother and loving wife, held in her paws a baby cub. It was fast asleep in her arms as the two approached silently. With a smile, Mufasa lightly touched Sarabi's head with his own. Carefully, the lioness gave the lion cub a lick across the backside of its head, which awoke it. The cub's huge eyes looked up at Rafiki, curious as to what he was about to do. With a inaudible chant, the baboon waved his fruit shells over the head of the cub. Afterwards, he broke open a ripe African fruit and placed a small bit of the juice upon the forehead of the lion cub. Grasping dirt in his hand, Rafiki sprinkled it upon the cub's head, which caused it to sneeze.
Gently picking it up in his arms, Rafiki carried the cub to the edge of Pride Rock and held it up for the whole animal kingdom to see. Animals began to celebrate the birth in their own way before bowing before them. Kelley and her friends bowed as well, for they were close friends with the lions of Pride Rock. This lasted for only a minute before Rafiki brought the lion cub back to Sarabi.
Kelley regained her poise and tugged at Mya's shirt, "Let's go see the baby up close. Come on!"
The other three straightened up and dusted their clothes off, following after Kelley. "Wait for us!" They shouted in unison.
In a nearby cave, four human girls were sleeping on opposite sides of each other. Ever so slowly did the sun's light creep into the dugout where they camped, planning to awaken them. Once a ray of daylight reached their faces, they sat up with yawns. It was the alarm clock that they had grown used to ever since they had come to live on the plains of Africa.
Kelley Deskins had been elected as the leader in this small group and didn't mind it one bit. She was the youngest at fourteen but was sagacious beyond her age. Modest as she was, the teenager knew that she was the best to be leader out of the four. Kellie's will was strong and courageous which made the other three look to her for advice.
Second in line was Fiona Berkley but had been nicknamed Foxy by her friends. This girl was sly, creative but really a wonderful person at heart. It seemed as if she were the mother to the group for she always looked out for the ones younger than she was. Foxy was nineteen years old but hardly acted her age.
Next came Rachel Arrington who was by far the smartest when it came to academics. If it hadn't been for her, the four girls would have never come on this trip to study in Africa. She was kind but sometimes let her theories get the best of her. Rachel's age was eighteen and she had graduated first in her class.
Last but not in the least was Mya Wysong, the most bright and cheerful person one could ever meet. Although she wasn't the best to turn to for advice, she somehow could always make someone smile. Vanessa was fifteen years old and best friends to Kelley. She had come because of her interest in animals.
After a few minutes of stretching and getting dressed, Foxy strode out of the cave to look out at the plains. It was bare... No animals were roaming at all.
"Kelley, better come look at this."
Flipping her brown hair back and tying it in a ponytail, the fourteen-year-old stepped outside beside her older friend. Her eyes drifted from place to place, finding not one animal in sight. Suddenly, a wide grin formed upon her face and she leapt into the air. "The lion cub is born! We must go!"
"But Kelley," Mya whined slightly, "We're not going to get there in time. Especially on foot."
Rachel held up her index finger, "If we were to leave now, we could make it."
Nodding, Foxy looked over at Kelley. "Well leader girl... What do you say about it?"
"Quite delaying and come on!" Kelley was already making her way down the small hill of the cave.
Mya was the second to follow her, then Foxy and last was Rachel. It was hard for them to keep up with Kelley since the girl was having an adrenaline rush and sprinting. It was easy to tell that she wanted to get to the ceremony of the lion cub. As they ran across the flat horizon, the huge stone den of the lions came into view. Already, hundreds of beasts had gathered around, anxiously waiting. A tropical bird flew overhead of them, landing in front of a proud lion on the edge of the large rock.
"Pride Rock!" shouted Foxy in excitement.
They continued to run as hard as they could, not even caring for the aching in their legs from it. This ceremony was extremely important to see and they weren't about to miss it. Just as the four made it to Pride Rock, a baboon called Rafiki had already climbed up to meet the king of all animals. The two embraced each other in friendship, smiling happily. The lion king, who was called Mufasa, then led the primate to his lioness mate. Sarabi, the mother and loving wife, held in her paws a baby cub. It was fast asleep in her arms as the two approached silently. With a smile, Mufasa lightly touched Sarabi's head with his own. Carefully, the lioness gave the lion cub a lick across the backside of its head, which awoke it. The cub's huge eyes looked up at Rafiki, curious as to what he was about to do. With a inaudible chant, the baboon waved his fruit shells over the head of the cub. Afterwards, he broke open a ripe African fruit and placed a small bit of the juice upon the forehead of the lion cub. Grasping dirt in his hand, Rafiki sprinkled it upon the cub's head, which caused it to sneeze.
Gently picking it up in his arms, Rafiki carried the cub to the edge of Pride Rock and held it up for the whole animal kingdom to see. Animals began to celebrate the birth in their own way before bowing before them. Kelley and her friends bowed as well, for they were close friends with the lions of Pride Rock. This lasted for only a minute before Rafiki brought the lion cub back to Sarabi.
Kelley regained her poise and tugged at Mya's shirt, "Let's go see the baby up close. Come on!"
The other three straightened up and dusted their clothes off, following after Kelley. "Wait for us!" They shouted in unison.