Summary: Just a little atmospheric piece that I wrote a while back… takes
place a couple of months after the end of the film…


Mamela
By Quaxo

As she approached close to where she was sure the object of her search was
to pass, the old lioness lay down in the tall grass, watching, listening.

* * *

The night wind tugging and pulling at his mane, the young lion shivered
slightly as the chill bit through his thick fur. Full maned, though not yet
fully grown, his eyes bore the mark of a heavy burden, recently taken up, that
did not sit well on his inexperienced shoulders. The pressures of ruling a kingdom,
though no longer his uncle's concern, were not something he was accustomed to;
though the lionesses tried to be as helpful as possible, the responsibility was
his and his alone.

And so he roamed the night, a little further away from his home, the symbol
of his burden, than the rest of his pride, his mate, his family, and considered
the loneliness that power brings, a loneliness that distances a ruler from his
subjects. The king slowly made his way, without any real destination in mind, over
to where a small rise broke the undulating monotony of the grasslands. Sighing, he
lowered his body to the ground and stared into the night, the rustle of the wind
in the grass his only companion; the only movement of any living creature the
steady rise and fall of his own breath.

Then, though no new sound broke the silvery whisper of the breeze, his ears
twitched, swivelled as if to catch a faint noise and he rose. The wind picked up,
wildly pulling at his fur, but no cold seemed to touch him now. His gaze, once
filled with worry, clouded with burden, now seemed even cheerful, and an almost
cub-like smile curved the corners of his mouth around the sides of his muzzle. He
leaned forwards, seeming to nuzzle at something unseen, basking in the presence of
someone who was not there.

Greetings past, the young lion now seemed deep in conversation, now speaking,
now listening to the other's reply. Slowly, the doubt, the loneliness, the burden
of responsibility, seemed to fall away from him and his shoulders, which has
imperceptibly slumped, now straightened as their owner received the council of one
whom he loved, trusted and still deeply missed. He listened, absorbing the wisdom
offered and, after a while, when it seemed that the other had begun to leave, some
of the pain returned to his eyes. The other must have then offered some works of
reassurance, for the young king nodded once, and again nuzzled at that unseen
presence. He turned and, as the wind died down, began the journey back to his home,
more confident and ready to face the challenges of his kingdom.

* * *

The old lioness rose and turned her face to where a single star burned brighter
than the rest, considering the point of light for a moment.

"Thank-you," she spoke softly to her mate and then followed her son back, to
Pride Rock.

Fin.


"… whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there
to guide you… and so will I."
– Mufasa

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Disclaimer: Disney owns "The Lion King" and all the characters therein. I don't,
please don't sue me…

'Mamela' roughly translates to 'listen', or 'be aware of'.

Reviews appreciated! =^^=