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The sun arose brightly on the horizon. Lights of bright yellow, gentle orange and a deep red, shined brightly on the grasslands. The animals slowly awoke, starting with the graceful antelope. She slowly woke up and nudged her calf awake. The two of them danced through the tall grass.
The rhinos were the next to wake up and head to the grassy fields. They started to graze along with the other antelope.
The mother birds emerged from their nest and scoured for worms for breakfast: their babies chirping in hunger and excitement for their meal.
The sun rose more and shined brightly on Pride Rock. All the lions were sleeping peacefully. The Outsiders preferred the smooth,cool rock of Pride Rock compared to the rocky-rough terrain of The Outlands.
Most of them, if not all, were tired from the fight last night, not to mention sore.
So most of them were out like a light.
"Ow!" Nala yelped, waking up immediately. She had a sharp pain in her abdomen. She gently put her paw on it and winced again. Maybe I got hurt yesterday, or I'm hungry.
If it was hunger, it would be way to early to hunt, and the hunting was heavily regulated. Maybe a drink of water would help.
Nala stood up and stretched her back legs. The sharp pain came back and she winced. The lioness headed to the water hole.
Usually animals got a drink right away in the morning. Currently there was a zebra and her calf, an elephant, and wildebeest at the hole.
Nala went over and lapped up some water quickly, causing some glances from the other drinkers.
"You must be thirsty." The Wildebeest chuckled a bit.
"Yeah,..a Little." She said, which wasn't a lie. Her mouth was actually pretty dry.
Nala finished drinking, but her stomach was aching and she felt nauseous. She sighed and took another sip before heading back to Pride Rock.
"Nala?"
"Oh, Zazu." Nala greeted. "Good Morning."
"You're up early." Zazu commented.
"I just went to the water hole." Nala said. "My stomach's kinda, well, it just feels...weird."
She started to enter the den again for more rest.
"Your majesty, if you don't feel well, maybe you should go see Rafiki." Zazu commented. Sure he thought Rafiki was kinda odd and improper compared to a royal majordomo like himself, but what other choice did they really have?
"I guess so.." Nala said idly. She headed towards the shaman's tree.
"Asante sana, squashed banana" Rafiki chanted, painting on the tree. He laughed and dipped his thumb in the paint once again. He dragged it against the rough bark.
"Rafiki?" Nala's gentle voice came.
"Oh, your majesty!" Rafiki said, turning over to him. "How are you?"
He leapt down the branch he was sitting upon and approached her. He wiped off this thumb.
"Actually, my stomach's kinda upset." Nala said.
"Hmm..." Rafiki thought for a moment, gripping his chin in his hands and lightly tapping his fingers. "Oh, old Rafiki has just the thing for you!"
He leapt up a branch, laughing again. The mandrill grabbed a gourd and opened it. He spilled out the contents. Rafiki put some water into it and sprinkled in some mint leaves. Quickly he grabbed a hand full of berries growing from a branch and squeezed them into the gourd.
"Hmm..." He thought for a moment more. The shaman grabbed some leaves that were much darker than the mint ones and splashed them in. He grabbed a stick an stirred the concoction together.
Rafiki leaned down from the branch. "Come here." He said, gently.
Nala strode forward. He grabbed her head and neck gently and leaned it back. He poured the drink down her throat.
Nala's fear was that it would be bitter, but to her surprise it was a sweet. A real sickly sweet. The pasty water stuck in her mouth. Nala clamped her lips and tried to swallow the remaining juice.
"Now." Rafiki said,gathering soft,downly leaves. He laid then in a pile and made them up neatly. "You can rest here for a bit."
"Thank you." Nala smiled, heading towards the pile. She pawed at the leaves before laying down on them. She purred gently as she fell asleep.