The next Round (of The Circle of Life)
Dramatis Personae (in alphabetical order):
Akra – lioness from Golden Sands.
Amali – daughter of Vitani and Tanabi, mate of Mtanga.
Anasa – mate of Dhahabu
Baka – young lioness from Golden Sands.
Baridi – rogue lion from Mtanga's pack
Beluwa – lioness from Golden Sands.
Biti – lioness from Pridelands.
Cheka – lioness from Pridelands.
Dahabu - older son of Vitani and Tanabi, new king of Priderock
Dhalimu – son of Kiara and Kovu, king of Golden Sands.
Hodari – king of Sahel Plains.
Hofu – rogue lion from Mtanga's pack
Kadiri – lioness of Green Valley.
Kauli – ball python, adviser and chamberlain in Golden Sands court.
Kijani – young king of Green Valley.
Kimeta – queen of Green Valley.
Kinamu – shaman, mandrill.
Kivuli – lioness of Sahel Plains.
Kota – lioness from Golden Sands.
Mtanga – Amali's mate, rogue who came to Priderock in beginning of the Second Drought.
Niva – white lioness, queen of Golden Sands.
Njaa – old leader of rogues pack.
Raia – lioness from Golden Sands, queen Niva's sister
Simmi - lioness from Golden Sands.
Taka the Second – son of Vitani and Tanabi
Udole - rogue lion from Mtanga's pack
About six years after The Scar's Heir
I. The new sun rises.
Starting song. As in previous stories – you have to invent your own melody. I suggest something dignified and a bit mysterious. Three, two, one, go!
A capture of Pridelands from the air. Sun is slowly setting, now is half-sunken on horizon. Priderock is enlighten by blood-red light. We see mournful procession of lionesses and lions, coming down from main rock-ledge. Two males – one mighty, goldenfurred and goldenmaned and the second – a bit smaller, significantly thinner with sandy fur, black mane and light-red beard: they are carrying motionless body of just deceased ruler. Old lion has red mane and scary-looking scar on face (precisely: over his left eye). We recognize that is Tanabi – weaken and wearied by long years of ruling on Priderock. After then a group of lionesses is going. On it's tail is walking a pair – goldenfurred lioness and lion with grey mane. She is crying, he tries to comfort her.
Since the day of our birth and a days of cub's time
Life is flowing down, faster quickly passing its prime
Waterfall of our youth, backwater's maturity
Divine spark going further to fade out in the sea
And like river ends its float in the ocean of night
Breathing of every creature meets the end of its plight
Zoom-out – we see that savannah in the area is dried and sun-scorched. In few places we can see piles of bones of dead animals. Over that sad-looking landscape slowly is flying old, green-feathered hornbill. We notice that is Tiko.
You just won't stop that current with the dame of your will
It is floating since always and it'll be floating still
Tiko lowers his flight and stops over lions, that are carrying dead king's body. Then bird look with sadness on setting sun.
You can stand on its bed but you know there's no use
To prevent run of water – like your end you can't choose
We see distant host of animals, slowly coming to Priderock.
And image you did it – and the current is gone
That means death, nothing more, you put down spark you own
Creatures are gathering in ranks, almost like on new ruler's presentation. But now on animals faces a great grief and concern. Zoom-in on the body of fallen king – his motionless paw suddenly falls from shoulder of smaller lion and hangs freely. Young antelope, standing nearby, turns away her sight with heavy emotion.
Chorus:
So go ahead and swim ahead
Don't waste your time
Goldenfurred points with tail on pile of rock on Priderock's foot. Few lionesses come to that pan and slowly push away the stones. Tiko lands on boulder nearby.
There's no use to stand and cry
Cause to live that means to die
And your days are going shorted every night
A shot of stones, rolling on dried soil and causing a small clouds of dust. Blackmaned looks on it with sad stare and goldenmaned is proudly looking on horizon on the fading sun.
Torrent's running into sea
Sun is fading in night's dim
Like an echo – death just a life's reply
Zoon-in of face of blackmaned: in his tired eyes we see some pictures from the past. Vitani and Tanabi over tiny cub with dark fur, few meters away his older siblings are looking on that – a goldenfurred young lionesses and adolescent, goldenmaned lion.; Tanabi and Vitani leading the hunt, a bit older lion is going after parents.; Death of Vitani – lioness is passing with a peace on her face, lying in royal cave, surrounded by family. Blackmaned pretends to be easy and proud but two tears are flowing on his muzzle.; Old Tanabi is speaking with three of his children – blackmaned is listening with sadness, he says something to father, but he just nods with paw, calming down his son.; end of the vision – blackmaned is putting father's body to the stone-pan.
Don't cry for those who've passed in that current of time
They have own days of glory, swimming in youthful prime
But then used to that truth there is all comes to end
And they peacefully drowned just behind river's bend
So let learn from theirs waves, hear the voices from past
There no use to save moment, in eternal put trust
With his brother, he buries king's body with rock and gravel and when the last boulder is in place, all animals knell in absolute silence.
Chorus:
So go ahead and swim ahead
Don't waste your time
Life is fading every day
But there is no other way
So this is the only way to be fulfilled
Both lions are standing over the grave, looking on it but in the same time giving a discrete looks on each other. Camera is zooming-out and we see crying pride, still holding in bow and Tiko, flying over them.
Look on those who paid their fare
We are there where once they were
They are now - where some day we certainly will
Sun fades out. Music stops.
All the world, a warmth of evening, scorching dryness of desert wind and quiet sobbing of lionesses were coming to Taka like from beyond the thick veil. For long minutes he was standing over father's grave, next to the tomb of mother. In fact, he was barely aware where he was. Finally the voice of Dahabu called him back to the reality. His older brother started a funeral speech. Previously they had decided that they told it together.
„My father..." said goldenmaned, just like he was the only child of Tanabi. "...was a great king. His reign finished a tragic conflict between the Golden Pride and Pridelanders. He and my mother restored a harmony in the Circle of Life, that had been disturbed by argument between Scar and Mufasa. For the common good of your land and creatures living here, he decided to oppose his own father, Simba. He was ruling with strong but gentle paw, in spite of disablement he suffered. He was a master but also a father to every animal in our land. That why his deeds and achievements will be remembered here for generations. He left us in hard times, but he showed us the way how to survive the drought." Dry wind intensified and showered with sand gathered lions. One of lionesses sneezed, when dust got to her nose. But she instantly fell silent, ashamed by her faux-pas. Dahabu was talking still. "That why I humbly ask you: don't cry, because every drop of water is required to outlive that disaster. Holding in times of trial we will celebrate the memory of Tanabi in the best way we could!"
In spite of common grief among lionesses sounded a murmur of approval and admire to touching words of goldenmaned. But Taka was standing indifferent, looking on father's grave. Amali came to him and nudged his side.
"Will you say something?" she whispered.
"For what?" murmured blackmaned. "Dad knows what I want to say. Dahabu won't heat it, even if I was screaming with all my might.
It was because older son of Tanabi considered himself as a king already. He was standing before gathering – straight and serious, but sparks of pride were blinking in his eyes. Deceased king left no last will but everybody knew what was about to be. Amali knew too – she left her younger brother and went to funeral stones. Taka even didn't listen her speech, but he believed that she told something beautiful and wise.
Ceremony was over – lionesses went back to cave and Tiko flied to farewell gathered animals. On the cemetery left just Tanabi's children and Mtanga, Amali's mate. Taka was still standing closer to the grave, until majordomo came. Bird sat on Dahabu's shoulder ("Why on his shoulder?" asked Taka in mind. "My brother isn't the king yet!") and goldenmaned whispered something to his ear. Hornbill raised to further flight and Taka narrowed his eyes.
"Brother, we are going." Announced Amali. Obviously, she was talking to Dahabu, although her brother was also Taka. But goldenmaned just nodded his head and replied with calm voice.
"Good. Let Kings of the Past show you the way and let you establish a powerful pride. South Forest?"
"Yes, there still could be some herds there." Agreed greyfurred rogue.
"You know, that if something goes wrong... you could return here." Added Dahabu, but with tone that was suggesting something opposite.
"I'll be missing you, bro." Whispered Amali and licked goldenfurred cheek. "And you too, take care..." added quieter, coming to younger brother.
"Take care of what?" asked blackmaned but too quiet to be heard.
Pair of lions set off to south, to a bit wetter parts of savannah. If shock in Taka's mind and burning pain after his father's death, Taka would have wished them the best. But not in that moment. The youngest of Tanabi's children was slowly overcoming the emotional paralysis, but only to feel a growing anger on Dahabu. They were standing in silence, maybe even for few hours, still aren't knowing what to do and how to act.
"And what then?" asked Taka and coming blow of wind cover them in sandy dust.
"Come closer to Priderock." Instructed older brother and not waiting for reply he set off into home direction. They hid from wind in rock-pan next to western slope. Goldenmaned stood in centre of hutch, where was a big boulder. In cubhood, Tanabi's children were fighting for that stone, claiming that holder of boulder would be Pridelands king someday. Of course, younger and weaker Taka had been getting a regular beating in those struggles, but sometimes a wheel of fortune turned his way – he was inducing his sister to help him in fight and that way they sometimes overcame Dahabu. But Amali was not there to help and tiny Taka remained alone.
"You know, what is about to be." Said Dahabu.
"No." Lied blackmaned. "And father didn't know too. What why he hasn't decided who is to be his successor." Older brother smiled maliciously, hearing that.
"So, what it will be?" he raised his right paws and showed his claws. "Do you want to fight for the throne? Father would never allowed on this, but now..."
For shot moment young lion was seriously considering accepting a challenge. He didn't hope for victory, because that was possible only by miracle or thank to support from Kings of the Past. But for pure perversity, some voice in his mind was calling to extend this claws to and stand to the duel. "He wouldn't kill me." Thought Taka. "And if even Kings of the Past bless me, I wouldn't kill him too. We are brothers and blood-bond is a sacred thing. And he is older brother... I can't ignore that simple truth. Throne is destined for him." He extinguished in mind memories of humiliations from cub's times and replied.
"No. You will be king. I will leave Priderock."
"You always could..."
"Oh, shut up!" gasped Taka, hearing a mockery in brother's voice. "I will set of to Golden Sands tomorrow to announce aunt Kiara about dad's death. When I leave, you will do what you want."
"I'll do it even if you stay here." Goldenmaned smiled in malicious way. "Dawn is nearing and Tiko is already gathering animals..."
"WHAT?!" growled furious Taka. „Call them off! Don't you try to assume the throne until bereavement after out father is going on!"
"Kingdom has to be ruled by a king. Subjects have to be ruled by ruler." Reminded older of brothers.
And then Taka extended his claws. He even didn't realise what he was doing because wave of anger washed his mind. Dahabu wanted to proclaim himself as a king before his brother left the land. This not what was fixed in their unwritten agreement. Just like Amali, Taka was about to leave Pridelands before coronation and that why he hadn't had to pay a homage to the new ruler. He wanted to remain a prince. Maybe prince without land, but still free creature with undeniable title. As a king's son he could establish a new pride when drought would be finished or to marry some queen from other kingdom. But Dahabu tried to humiliate him in front of Pridelanders and force him to pay a homage. For few heart-beats Taka wanted to pounce on brother and finish it for good. But he restrained his rage and just growled.
"You start your reign with betrayal! Godspeed, brother!" and instantly, without any other word of farewell, he started to run due north.
Goldenmaned was looking on speeding lion for long minutes, chewing in silence last curse of Taka. He hadn't wanted to finish in that way. But what other choice he had? He had to assume a throne after his father, for common good of kingdom and pride. For keeping the peace and order in Pridelands in times of the Second Drought. Land couldn't afford for war, even just cold war of two claimants. In spite Dahabu loved Taka (or least he was convinced about it), that love couldn't disrupt his reason and ability to judge the things as they were. Especially state-matters. Younger of Tanabi's sons had to go away and any of bitter reproaches couldn't change it. When blackmaned disappeared behind the hill, Dahabu whispered to northern wind.
"Good luck, Taka. Let the Kings of the Past guide you, wherever you want to go." And then he went back into Priderock's direction. Dawn was coming and he had to be ready for announcing his new subjects a good news.
Meanwhile younger lion was quickly passing the kilometres of savannah to the border. Actually he understood perfectly motives of his brother and just after few minutes he regretted so cold and furious farewell. But he had no time to stop and get back. Dawn was nearing mercilessly and he had to get outside his homeland before Dahabu's proclamation. That wasn't too long distance but exhausted and thirsty lion, who was deeply sinking in dust of savannah, was not just running but marching to the desert. He was a hard male but he was also forced to effort much above his limits. After about hour he felt dizziness and soaring in throat. Brother even hadn't let him to drink before the journey. Only fully safe and clean source in kingdom was nearby Priderock and Dahabu was responsible to distribute the precious liquid. Taka hadn't quenched his thirst before burial, too touched by whole situation to think about body's needs. But before he reached border he had understood his error. He knew that he was trying something crazy – march through the desert in the middle of drought, additionally during dry season. He was hungry, thirsty and sleepy. But he also had no choice – he had to leave his home. Even for a short moment he didn't presume that his brother was wishing him death, but whole this pitiful situation could ended in that way. "I must drink from slime of Border River." Thought disgusted lion. "Or I won't last long."
To almost dried backwater of river he got few minutes before dawn. He submerge a thirsty lips into mud and tried to suck every gram of water from it. Liquid was salty and lion knew what salt could do with dehydrated organism. But he trusted in his luck and strength of his body. He drank till he was full and his stomach refuse to receive more poisoned water. Then he got through the streak of mud and fell motionless on sand of the Great Desert. He did it – escaped from own home.
And a moment later a distant roar of lion sounded. Taka barely heard a proclamation of brother. In that moment he was lying, shrunken on dry sand, fighting the overwhelming weakness of body. He knew that it wasn't time for sleep. He had to go ahead, for good or bad, but do everything for not to fall asleep under scorching rays of sun. When calls of animals announced common joy in Pridelands, Taka stood up and made a first step north. When sounds fell silent, lion was already thirty steps away from home. He was ignoring the celebration behind him – he had only one task. To go ahead and ahead. "Maybe... somewhere there a new home and a new home is waiting for me?" Thought but then even his thoughts he hid deeply. He couldn't afford constant disruption of uneasy mind. He had at least five days of way before him. Or less, if he would died on route, what after few hours of marching turned to him as a tempting perspective.
Sun raised up from the east and quickly climbed on the sky, going to northern part of firmament. Wind was blowing weakly, however it was causing a clouds of dusk that was soaring his nose and mouth. Taka had eyes shut – he was guided by burning sun from above and saw it through eyelids. But also he was led by ancient instinct of desert wanderer. And additionally he was guided by someone else, however he didn't know that.
"Just great!" was murmuring Sparthi, walking next to grand-nephew. "You have a quarter of golden lion's blood in your veins, but won't help too much if you have no water in your stomach."
Even if blackmaned took a look aside, he wouldn't saw dead Golden King. King from the Past was calmly staring on his kin, didn't try to establish any contact – as a patron of desert wanderers he had many duties and was limited by numerous prohibitions. He couldn't even help Taka with his heavenly might, because it would be transgressing the laws of Circle. So he was just looking, but it's good to remember that sight of Ancient Ones is much sharper than ours. Sparthi saw not only weary and hobbling silhouette of Zira's grandson but he was able to look inside dehydrated organism. Living lion was marching with remnants of his strength and dehydration and impossibility of remove the toxins from his tired body was pushing lion to the edge of consciousness. Until dusk there were still three long hours that Taka had to walk through or at least to stay in shelter, without falling in deadly sleep.
Sparthi was unable to do anything. With the wind he was just whispering the words of encouragement but lion, focused on his slow march was ignoring them. "And good." Thought desert patron. „Let him go. If he survive this way it means that he is strong. He will survive! He is grandson of Zira! This will be a sign that the Circle of Life has chosen him to important quest." And Golden King was right – in spite of dizziness, burning cuts on paw-pads and body, boiling with its own toxins, about an hour before sunset Taka got to Far Oasis.
"That means..." thought Sparthi with bitterness. "This was once 'The Last Oasis', a part of Golden Sands. When Zira was cub and made a pranky trip on the desert, she made it to here. If not a local source and I didn't find her quickly, she would be dead." He threw memories away when he noticed what pathetic remnants remained from once great oasis. Instead of 'The Last Oasis' it should be written: 'The Last Cluster'. From sand was growing just a bunch of green-yellowish stalks of desert thistle and in place that once had been running a source then was just a pool of half-dried mud. "Well, better that than salt from Border River." Murmured Golden King silently.
And Taka fell down and submerged his muzzle into stinking slime. For few minutes he was staying motionless, absorbing with fur that pleasant moisture. Then stood up and with both paws started to dig the mud in order to find some water. Fortunately quickly got to stock of liquid. He submerged his muzzle into wet darkness and once again that day drank to full. That water was dirty, but fresh. Few litres that Taka was able to suck turned out to be saving for weary wanderer. Sweat that came after that instantly expulsed most of toxins from lion's body and dried throat felt great relief. Blackmaned wanted to fall asleep there, still bended over waterhole, but he gathered his strength and covered source with gravel. He didn't expect that until morning oasis would be able to restore the water-stock for next drink, but he thought about the others wanderers. He couldn't destroy that last chance for thirsty ones and if there was a possibility or even slightest chance that waterhole would gather some moisture during upcoming week, Taka had to help it.
"Cheers!" he whispered to unknown, future user of oasis. Then he laid down in shade of thorny bushes and instantly feel asleep.
Moon raised up on northern sky and enlighten with faint light the desert isle. Quickly it turn to be colder but in times of drought every cold was welcomed. Through sleep, lion smiled when cool wind from desert made him to roll into ball. The colder it was the slower he was losing water of his body. And every water was as worth its weight in gold and meant life. Taka was not afraid to die, seeing no way before him. But the Circle let him survive his first day of exile, like it was preparing some important path for blackmaned.
"Well, my boy, indeed you are the tough one." Whispered Sparthi with serious admire. Ghost was standing next to thistle bushes, over the sleeping lion. Then he bended down and friendly nudged his shoulder. "But this was just a one day. We aren't even in quarter of the way. You must recall the legacy of Desert Lion. Recall that heritage that you have taken from your grandmother."
Sleeping Taka nodded his head.