(Author's Note: I do not own Lion King. That's pretty much it. This story is the sequel to my story Eusi Moyo Mhuni. Please enjoy! :D)

Wakati Wa Majaribio

The Lion King and the Time of Trials

Chapter One: The Reality of Dreams

The soft feeling of fur brushed along my side, a comfortable sensation amidst the cold, cruel reality of my nightmare. I'm not sure at what point in time my dream began to feel so real, but I wished I could banish the images from my mind, even as my brother's comforting presence banished away the last traces of sleep from my eyes. I blinked as sunlight filtered into my vision, listening to my brother breathing softly beside me. My pelt felt like ants were crawling in it still, even though my dream was far behind me – over and lost within the fabric of existence that remained a mystery to me. I slowly got to my paws, shaking out my dark fur. I was glad I looked like my mother. She was so beautiful and strong. I could only hope that one day, I would be, too. As I padded out into the camp, my crimson eyes sought her form, sitting on a rock bathing herself in the first few rays of sunlight. She looked like a stone image, carved by the wind and rain to leave behind a story. Then her blue eyes opened and she turned to greet my father. Jua was lucky, most of our pride-mates said. He'd inherited my father's glorious rusty coat, and most likely his golden mane as well. It was hard to tell now, when he was young. He would be great, they said. He would grow to rule all of the Northern pride-lands.

"Hatima!" I turned my attention to the owner of the voice calling to me. My nurse, Laktta, was sitting nearby with her gaze fixed steadily on me. I sighed, wishing I could ignore her and wander off to do something less productive than learning histories and listening to her jabber on about things I didn't even care to know of. I wished I could have had a mentor like Jua's. Laktta's brother, Miska, was always moving and always making things interesting in any way he could. I wished Laktta was like that, instead of being so uptight and somber. I walked over to her with my shoulders slumped. She seemed to notice, and the whiskers above her eyes rose a few inches as she glanced at me thoughtfully.

"You seem in low spirits today, my little Kunguru. What's wrong?" I looked up at Laktta and sighed.

"I'm just… I wish I could run around and have fun like Jua always does." I said, thinking of my blue-eyed brother lying in our family's warm cave. He always got to sleep in if he wanted to. I looked over at my mother and father. Father was sitting with his head bent, whispering something into mother's ear. She smiled gently and laughed, her blue eyes sparkling. I wondered if my red eyes sparkled like that.

"Alright," Laktta said suddenly. I looked up at her and frowned.

"Huh?"

"Today we can do something fun, if you like. Studying the histories all the time isn't good for a young cub. I'm surprised you haven't spoken sooner. But then, you seem to have a natural curiosity about you. Those stories of yours get better every time you tell them." My mouth hung open, and I knew I must have looked foolish. But I'd never been praised by my nurse before. She smiled, and I felt bad about wishing that she was not my mentor.

"Will you tell me a story, Mlezi?" I asked, my eyes widening with excitement.

"Well," Laktta sighed, "I'm not quite as good as you at spinning shadows. But I will give it a try, if you wish. Come, let's find our usual place by the stream." Laktta led me out of camp and through the thick jungle growth that surrounded our small home by the waterfall. We soon arrived at our favorite spot to study together. I had found quickly that Laktta's taste in adventure was as keen as mine, when she wasn't being serious and trying to disguise it. We liked the small stream to the north of our home, and Laktta especially liked swimming in it. I wasn't all that fond of water, but my nurse insisted that it was good for a hunter to get used to all sorts of obstacles – swimming being one of them.

"Alright, then," Laktta sighed as she sat down on her favorite rock, "Have a seat." The sun was peeking through the trees behind us. I wondered if Jua had woken yet. Miska usually went on a morning patrol to the distant borders, so my brother slept late most days. But he surely would be awake by now. His ravenous belly wouldn't wait for long after the sun rose past the eastern cliffs.

"Where to begin?" I started as Laktta's voice broke into my thoughts. I turned and looked up at her face, which looked very thoughtful. I sometimes liked how smart my nurse was. If I had someone like Miska, I would probably always be asking questions and always getting "I don't know" as an answer. But Laktta knew everything, and always had an answer for me, no matter what I asked her.

"Once there were two lions called Raven and Thistle," she began. "Raven was smart and handsome and everyone loved him. He was younger than Thistle, and was the favorite of the parents the two lions shared."

"They were brothers?" I asked curiously.

"Oh yes," Laktta replied solemnly, "And very different. Raven was strong and had fine fur, while Thistle was lanky and small and never seemed able to match his brother at anything. The King, their father, proclaimed to all the lions that his son Raven was a fine and well-mannered sort, and that he had the makings of a true King. He was displeased with his eldest son Thistle, and wanted to give the young lion's birthright to his brother."

"That's awful," I said, my eyes widening.

"Do you think so, Kunguru?"

"Of course! The true heir should be Thistle, right?"

"Yes," Laktta said evenly, "But that is not how it was to pass. Thistle grew bitterer and more furious at his brother as time passed. Finally, he devised a plan. He secretly framed Raven for murdering their father's mate, taken after their mother had died." I looked into Laktta's face and read something behind her eyes that frightened me. I was suddenly drawn back into my nightmare, where it was cold and there were haunted figures, red eyes glaring, teeth snapping, flesh tearing…

"-Raven returned and refused to be taken in again. He proved his brother's guilt and Thistle was banished." I started, realizing I had missed a great majority of the story. I felt ashamed of myself, with my drifting thoughts and ever-present imagination.

"Do you know what this story means, Hatima?" Laktta asked, fixing me with her even gaze.

"Yes," I replied evenly, "It's… well, Thistle… he let… uh, revenge… poison his mind…" I said sheepishly, wishing I had paid a bit more attention. Laktta twitched her whiskers at me and curled up on her rock, swinging her tail lazily.

"Well," she said, "I suppose that will do. Now it's your turn. Tell me another of your stories." I met my nurse's gaze and then thought back to my dream. I had woken in my Dream, knowing that I was in the Dark Place the moment I opened my eyes. I had wandered for some time, knowing full well I would never find my way out of the Dark Place and into the Clearing. The cold stars twinkled overhead, ever-present reminders of the empty silence of the night.

"I was standing in the Dark Place," I said at last, my voice hushed and my eyes wide. Laktta leaned forward, her brows furrowing slightly, showing her interest. "And all around me there were stars. I walked and walked, hoping to find my way out of the darkness and into the light of the Clearing. The world in all its blackness seemed to go on forever, leaving me alone with nothing but cold sky to keep me company.

"The lights flickered overhead, and I knew that I was to look up. I saw the north star and pointed my head east. The Clearing was always to the east. I ran with all my strength, hoping to flee from the Darkness." I paused, remembering the vivid fear I had experienced in my sleep. My Dream was nothing if not real. I had woken in a sweat, my bones and muscles aching as if I'd really been running.

"And then?" Laktta prompted, her eyes as calm as ever. If I didn't know her, I wouldn't have noticed how interested she was.

"Then I followed the sun. I knew that it would take me away from the Dark Place and into the Clearing. I ran through the darkness, ignoring the strange voices that rose up around me. Then I emerged into the Clearing, and…" I paused.

"What?"

"I woke up," I replied, defeated. I wished I could have held on for a moment more, but the transition from the Dark Place to the Clearing had shattered the reality of my Dream.

"Oh," Laktta said, amused, "I see."

"Do you think these dreams strange, Laktta?" I asked.

"Dreams are a window into one's soul," my mentor replied evenly, "They do not always make sense, especially to those who have not experienced them. I cannot say why you feel such strong things and see such realities as you do when you are in your Dream World. But I suppose there must be some reason for it." Laktta looked at me thoughtfully and then she stood. Her fur rippled like water as she leaped off of her rock, landing smoothly beside me.

"You should think of a better ending to your story, Kunguru," Laktta murmured as she passed me, leading the way back to camp, "As it is now, one would think you'll never be rid of the darkness." I looked up at her, my red eyes filled with questions. Then I bowed my head and followed her.

The camp was quiet for it being so late in the afternoon. The smell of prey filled the air as the hunters brought back their kill. I watched in silence as my brother helped carry a sizeable antelope to the pile forming at the heart of the camp. My father was already emerging from his den, reflecting the sun in the golden strands of mane around his shoulders. My brother walked up to him and bowed his head respectfully. Father, in return, licked his son's forehead and smiled proudly at him. Jua cast a look about him and froze when he saw me. His eyes lit up as he darted away from father and the other hunters, ignoring Miska's warning to not overexert himself after his hunt.

"Dada!" Jua exclaimed, rubbing his muzzle affectionately against mine. I smiled and returned the greetings, feeling less inclined to envy him now that he was with me.

"Ndugu," I murmured, watching as the sunlight lit up my brother's rich blue eyes and made them sparkled like the surface of still water.

"How was your walk with Laktta?" Jua asked.

"It was fine," I replied, "She told me a story that I believe I have heard before." My eyes strayed to where my father stood, his head raised and his eyes fixed on his mate as my mother emerged from the hunting party. They touched noses and then turned their attention to Sein, who had approached slowly and stiffly. His many seasons were catching up to him at last, it seemed. I'd never heard of a lion living as long as he had.

"Did you have a story to tell, as well?" He prompted. I knew this was my brother's way of asking me if I had entered my Dream. My stories were rarely of anything else, and he was always interested in the rich world my subconscious had built long ago, when I was a very young cub. I hesitated, feeling a bit loathe to share with him the experiences of last night.

"I went to the Dark Place again," I sighed.

"So you didn't see him?"

"No." I paused. "I didn't see him." My brother looked into my eyes for a moment and then nodded. I couldn't help feeling that he was waiting for something. But I couldn't say what. Maybe he thought I was crazy, creating this Dream that was all I could think of when I closed my eyes. But I couldn't help it. I didn't even know that I hadcreated this Dream. Perhaps I had only been drawn into it. Thinking of the Dark Place, that seemed a likely explanation to me. I would never want to dream of so horrifying a place if I could help it.

"You really shouldn't get too caught up in those dreams of yours," Jua warned, looking into my eyes steadily, as he always did when he wanted me to understand him, "It could end badly, Dada."

"And what? You expect me to just shut them down like I had control of them? You very well know I've tried that before, Jua." I said harshly.

"And I know you haven't tried since you met him there. I just want you to decide what the Reality is, Hatima. I need you to choose where your paws will walk." He touched my ear with his nose and then turned away. I was left staring after him, wondering when my brother had suddenly become so mature.

The Dream swallowed me as soon as I closed my eyes. The day I had spent with my mentor and father preparing myself for my first hunt seemed like ages ago, another lifetime. All thoughts of places I knew and those I loved melted away. I felt somehow cleansed as I stepped into the morning and looked around me. Instead of the dismal Dark Place, I was standing in the Clearing, bathed in the first rays of dawn. I took a few steps forward, listening intently. For many moons, I had wandered the Forest in hopes of finding some form of life besides the birds in the trees and the small animals that slung through the branches and hovered in the bushes, never making themselves known to me. Now, I listened and waited. It had been two moons ago now. I remembered clearing that moment, turning and meeting his gaze. My breath caught as I heard soft movement behind me. I whirled around and a smile stretched across my face.

The young lion was perhaps only a few moons older than me. His pelt was as white as the moon, shimmering as he took a few steps towards me. He had a handsome face, with eyes shaped like raindrops that were storm grey and as deep as the horizon, full of warmth and intelligence. He paused, his eyes searching as he waited for me. I padded forward and gently touched noses, careful not to prolong the contact. I didn't want to ruin this moment by shattering Reality and returning to my World.

"Mahro," I said gently, smiling.

"Hatima," he responded, his grey eyes softening. He sat down and relaxed visibly, obviously feeling the comfort of my presence as I felt his. I sat across from him, getting comfortable as I watched his face.

"How have you been?" Mahro asked worriedly, "I was concerned when I didn't see you last night."

"I woke in the Dark Place," I sighed. "I tried to find you but…" But Reality was shattered when I tried to cross over to the Forest.

"I understand," Mahro murmured, his eyes grave as he looked down at his paws. Then he glanced into my face, peeking through the meager start of the mane that would soon cover his neck like a rich fleece. I loved how the strands of white hair would fall across his eyes, masking his expression just so I could not tell what he was thinking. I smiled and flicked his shoulder gently with my tail tip.

"You should be careful, Hatima," Mahro cautioned, "The Dark Place will swallow you whole if you let it. There are… many terrible things there…" He said, his eyes darkening. I froze, thinking of the Visions that had come to me in the Dark Place the first few times I had been there. I'd learned to avoid them afterwards, rejecting the terrible pain in favor of searching for the Forest, where Visions were always hopeful and the air was always clear. And of course there was Mahro. He had become like a brother to me, a constant companion that I could speak to of my troubles and know that he'd never judge me. Looking into his kind face, I had to wonder if he knew how much I relied on him.

"How have you been, Mahro?" I asked, tilting my head to one side. I felt as if I hadn't seen him in ages, even though I had walked in this Dream with him only two nights before. He met my gaze and I could see he understood how I felt.

"Training has been difficult," he said, careful not to divulge too much information about his training. I knew that his father was a Shaman, and that he was trying to learn the ways of a Healer and Teller. But more than that, I couldn't ask to know. The moment I did so, Reality would tear again and I would be sent back.

"Does your father know yet?" I asked quietly. Mahro hesitated, and in his eyes I could see the truth.

"I don't know what to tell him," the lion confessed with a sigh, "It's all just so strange…"

"It is," I agreed.

"But you're always open about us meeting here. You tell those you know and care about. Why is it so easy for you?" He asked.

"It's never easy," I murmured, looking deeply into his stormy eyes, "To them, I'm just telling a bunch of fairytales that mean nothing. Spinning shadows." I sighed as I saw the hurt look on his face. He understood the pain of Reality as deeply as I did.

"Is that all I am, then? A shadow?" He asked quietly.

"Of course not!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening, "You're… you're my best friend." He smiled, and I felt as if my spirits had been lifted with just that small gesture.

"And you're mine," he said at last, looking at me steadily.

"I wish they could understand," I sighed. He blinked and opened his mouth, but as soon as his voice came a low tearing sound filled the air. I looked up at the sky with wide eyes as a dark chasm opened, pulling me back. I looked at Mahro and parted my jaws to call to him as he was dragged away. But it was useless. I clamped my mouth shut and stared after him longingly. His stormy eyes were sad as he gave me one last smile and dissolved into light.

Author's Note:

Some definitions for you:

Kunguru – Raven

Mlezi – Guardian

Dada – Sister

Ndugu – Brother

Thank you for reading chapter one of Wakati Wa Majaribio! In case you are new, this story is a sequel of Eusi Moyo Mhuni (Also known as The Lion King and the Black-Hearted Traitor). You do not have to read EMM to understand WWM, but it is highly recommended by myself for some clarity reasons. So, what did you think of Hatima? She certainly has some problems feeling like she fits in. No one in her pride quite understands her imaginative self. No wonder Jua warns her against deciding on what Reality she wants to be a part of – the one full of family that don't understand her or the one with her best friend who always listens and encourages her. I wonder, if she had a chance, what would Hatima choose? Hmm… Well, for a short explanation, Hatima is NOT schizophrenic. She just enters another World when she dreams (Sort of like Warriors). Is this other World really real, or just a figment of her imagination? And what about Mahro? These questions will be answered in later chapters! Hope you're excited for that!

Anyways, thank you so much for reading! Please PLEASE review! I love to hear what you have to say! :D

-LR