A Word From The Author:
Welcome, all faithful readers to my story. Hopefully it will be an enthralling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting and begging for more. I'm new to the Lion King FanFiction community, and am very open to suggestions and criticism. I hope you all will join me on this journey and make this a great story. I have much planned for it and the fan base can make or break it.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the rights to the Lion King. That is all Disney. I also don't own the rights to my lions names, for most of them are words translated from Swahili. I do own their personalities, and if you would like to use them in your story, simply PM me for details. And on that note, here we go.
A New Life - Chapter One
"Imani! Cut it out for just a moment. I cannot focus with all of your complaining," says Hasara, standing just on the edge of his kingdom. His kingdom. Those two words still bringing back memories of the dark times, before he overthrew the throne of king Ugomvi.
Hasara shakes his head, his maroon mane blowing in the wind. He looks down at his current predicament. The wildebeest that once grazed on the beautiful grass in his lands had run off. They hadn't just run from the hunting parties, they ran out of his kingdom. Gone, with no trace, except the hoof prints of the stampede that had blown through just yesterday.
'Where could they have gone?' He thinks to himself. He stares off into the barren desert looming before him. "Surely they know they would die out there.'
A slight impact to his leg snapped him out of his trance. He looks down, only to see his daughter, Imani, rolling around with her own cream colored tail in her mouth. Hasara laughs. Watching the young cub reminded him of his late mate, whom died in a fatal hunting accident shortly after Imani's birth.
'You'd be so proud of her, Siku.' Hasara thinks, while looking up at the sky, the yellow sun beginning its descent over the western sky.
"Did you figure out where the wildebeest went dad?" Imani asks, dropping her tail from her mouth and wiggling upright. Hasara sighs, his auburn chest stretching in and out. He looks down at his only cub.
"Not quite. But there is a good reason for them leaving. It's unheard-of for the herds to leave the kingdom so abruptly and without reason. It disrupts the circle of life," Hasara explains. Imani sighs.
"I'm still hungry, dad." Hasara looks down at his cub. He had noticed her cream colored coat looking lighter from lack of eating in almost three days. Hasara leans down and nuzzles her affectionately.
"As we all are Imani. I'm trying to figure out the wildebeest herds reasoning for leaving my kingdom. Give me time, and I will find out." Hasara thinks for a moment. "Why don't you go find Maji and play with him for a while?"
Imani's face brightens a little at the thought of her best friend. Maji, Moto and Hewa's cub. The only male cub in the small pride Hasara calls his own. "Alright dad!" She exclaims, and takes off towards the Great Tree.
The Great Tree, the only tree in all of Hasara's kingdom. It was nothing more than a highly matured baobab with a hollowed out trunk. It was a beacon through his kingdom. From the top of the tree, everything light touched was his to rule.
After Hasara had overthrown king Ugomvi, the previous tyrant of these lands, peace had been restored quickly. The kingdom had returned to its former glory, just as Hasara's father had left it before he went to the stars.
Hasara breaks his thoughts, and gets back to the matters at hand. His pride was hungry, and with the main source of food nowhere to be found, he had to come up with something else. Hasara backs up and roars, deep from within his chest. To any other animal, it was a regular lions roar, to his pride, it was a calling.
Not minutes later, 8 full grown lions stalked through the grass and ended up in a semi circle around Hasara. They all bowed in respect. He looked over at Moto, Hasara's best friend since they were cubs. Moto's mate, Hewa, stand at his side.
Beneath Hewa's feet, two cubs growled and pounced on each other playfully. Hasara's daughter, Imani, who had found her friend, Maji. Hewa nudges them with her paw to bring their attention to Hasara, who had cleared his throat, ready to speak.
"My pride, as you know, there has been an incident involving the wildebeest herd. They have run off into the desert, with seemingly no reason why." He looks at the faces of the members in his small pride. Most staring intently, listening to his words. A couple slightly distracted, probably due to hunger taking its toll.
"This leaves us with a problem, as we all know. We must eat, so we must find a new food source, for we know not if the wildebeest will return. This leaves us with only one option."
"Hasara! You're not suggesting we hunt outside our lands are you?" Moto interjects. All eyes turn to him. "Your pride is small in numbers as is. Not many are willing to leave our borders."
"I have to agree with Moto, your highness," says Hewa, Moto's mate. Hasara sighs. "Surely there is something we can hunt here."
"Field mice, at most. The only creature we don't have a pact with, if I'm correct," says Maana. The female lioness scratches her paw over a hole in the ground. A field mice den.
"It would take hundreds of field mice to feed us, even with our small numbers." Hasara explains. "And I don't like the idea of a hunting party leaving any more than you all."
Moto looks at Hasara, and shakes his head. "You're right. I'll lead the hunting party. We will leave now, while we still have some light from the heavens. I'll take two lionesses with me, and we will head out."
"Myself and Nzuri will go," Maana offers. Her Twin sister, Nzuri nods her head in agreement. The lionesses stand up and walk towards Moto.
"Very well. So be it. Return by sundown, no matter what, food or no food, just be back." Hasara orders. The trio walks by Hasara, headed off towards the barren desert that surrounds his kingdom. Moto stops just next to him. "Be safe, friend."
"Watch over Hewa and Maji for me, keep them safe, friend," Moto requests. Hasara's heart sinks. Even he knows that this journey could prove futile, but it must be done. For the sake of the pride. Hasara nods.
Moto roars, deep from within his chest, and takes off running into the desert. Maana and Nzuri follow closely behind. There paws throwing up sand behind them as they head off to the west.
Hasara and the rest of his pride watch the three run off onto the horizon. Hasara sighs, and sits down. Hewa walks up and sits down next to him, followed by two cubs. "Maji, Imani, please give us a moment. You two head back towards the Great Tree. Stay with the rest of the pride."
The two cubs nod in acknowledgment and take off towards the Great Tree, following behind the remaining lionesses. Hasara looks over at Hewa. "You are troubled, my king."
"The wildebeests should not have just up and vanished like that. Something is afoot, and I'm not sure what. It worries me. I don't enjoy sending anyone outside of the kingdom. Regardless."
"I understand your fear. After all that we've been through, it is understandable. Just remember Hasara, you are a strong king. We follow your judgement fully. Moto and I are always here for you when you need us."
"I thank you, Hewa. You two are my closest friends. And without Maji, I think Imani would go crazy as well. I'm just worried, is all. It brings back a sense of Deja vu."
"No need to he worried Hasara. The great kings are watching over us. They will take care of us. Food will return, plentifully," Hewa reassures.
"That is not what I'm worried about my dear Hewa."
"What is the true matter?"
"I'm worried about our safety."
A loud clap of thunder awakens Hasara with a start. He sits up and shakes his head, looking outside, he gasps. 'What time is it? I must have fallen asleep! The hunting party!' He looks around the dark hollow where his pride calls home. He counts the sleeping lions, coming three short.
He let's out a roar, and the heavens follow up with a clap of thunder, waking the lionesses and cubs. "Hasara! What is the matter?" Asks Hewa, quickly getting to her feet.
"That storm Hewa! The heavens are telling us something! The hunting party has yet to return!" Hasara yells, fear seeping into his voice. Imani rubs against Hasara's leg.
"Dad I'm scared." Hasara looks down at her and licks her head.
"Imani, stay here with Hewa and Maji, I'll be back." He nudges her towards Hewa, standing on the other side of the room. Imani runs over and rides beneath Hewa, next to Maji. Hasara looks over at two of his lionesses standing next to him. "Ahueni, Makazi, come with me."
Hasara leaves out of the Great Tree and takes off in a full sprint. His strong muscles weakened from hunger. Behind him, two mahogany colored lionesses keep an even pace, headed for the boundaries of his kingdom.
The rain intensifies, and a strong wind picks up, bringing a chill into the air. Hasara's chest tightens. From ahead, he hears a familiar roar, followed by maniacal laughter. 'No it can't be!'
Hyenas. Hasara's most hated foe. The beasts that took his beloved mate away from him the day after his cub was born. They were back, and they were attacking his best friend.
Hasara lays on the speed, kicking up mud behind him. He skids to a halt in a clearing. Before him, lay seven mangled Hyena bodies, and his panting best friend, Moto.
"Moto are you alright? What happened?" Hasara over towards his friend. Moto takes several deep breaths.
"Hasara! We mustn't stand around! The hyenas! They want the Great Tree!" Another clap of thunder, then two faint roars. 'The lionesses! Ahueni! Makazi!'
"Are you able to fight, friend?" Moto nods. "Very well, we must go!"
Hasara turns around and heads back towards the Great Tree. 'How could I have forgotten them right behind me?' More screams resonate over the thunder and pouring rain.
Hasara and Moto stop abruptly, both gasping. Before them, lay Ahueni and Makazi's bodies. Or what was left of them. Hasara roars, anger instantly filling his body.
"Hasara!" Moto cries. "They are headed towards the great tree!"
'No! Imani! This will not happen! I will not lose her too!' Hasara takes off again, anger filling every large bound he takes. Within a few short minutes, he reaches the Great Tree. He skids to a halt at the entrance of the hollowed out trunk.
"Imani!" Hasara yells. Two large hyenas turn their heads a growl. They had their prey in sight. Hewa was standing in the corner with the two young cubs behind her, growling at the hyenas.
The hyenas turn and jump on Hasara. Hasara swats at one of the incoming hyenas, his claws digging into its face and throwing it into the wall. The second hyena jumps at his side, grabbing his back leg with its teeth. Hasara roars, and bucks the hyena off.
A tan paw smashes down on the hyenas head, killing it instantly. Moto retracts his claws, then heads straight to his mate. "Hewa, are you well?"
"Yes my beloved. What is going on? Hasara! Where are the lionesses?" Hewa asks, looking around. Hasara looks down at his paws, frowning.
"They are gone. The hyenas are on attack. We must leave! Imani, come!" Hasara calls for his daughter. His frightened cub runs up beneath him. "Hewa, Moto, Maji, we must go now!"
Gone, in one night, his whole pride, aside from his two closest friends and the cubs. Hasara roars again, in anger. "Hasara look out!"
Four hyenas lunge on Hasara, swiping in barring their yellow teeth. Hasara knocks Imani out of the way. She let's out a slight grunt and slides to the side. Hasara kneels back, raising his front paws off the ground, and bringing them back down on the leading hyena with full force.
Several loud cracks echo in the hollow as the hyenas ribs snap. A massive band of lightning arcs across the sky, followed by a loud clap of rolling thunder as the storm intensifies outside.
The remaining three hyenas don't yield, and jump onto Hasara before he bounds back. One of the hyenas bites down on Hasara's flank. Hasara roars again and swings his paw and another hyena, missing it's muzzle by a hair.
"Hasara! Watch out!" Moto warns. Six more hyenas enter the hollow. The Great Tree begins shaking violently as the wind outside grows stronger. The six new hyenas join the fight on Hasara, biting and clawing at the auburn lion.
Hasara swings again, making contact with two hyenas faces, knocking them out and scarring their faces. Three more hyenas enter the hollow.
Moto nuzzles his crying mate, watching the scene unfold. He jumps into action, clawing and biting at hyenas, tearing them off of Hasara, who is badly injured and covered in bite marks.
Together, the two lions take out the small army of hyenas, panting heavily, they sit for a moment. "We must leave now, before more show up," Hasara orders. Moto shakes his head in agreement, still panting. Imani runs up to Hasara and looks at him.
"Daddy you're hurt!" She exclaims. Hasara nuzzles her.
"I am aware my dear. Now come Imani, climb on my back. We must go now." Hasara leans down, grunting in pain, and allows his cream colored cub to climb up on his back. "Moto, Hewa, let's leave."
Hewa picks Maji by the scruff of his neck, and proceeds towards the entrance of the Great Tree's hollow. The wind blows rain into her face, and lightning strikes the ground outside, illuminating four dark forms.
"Hewa!" Moto screams. Hewa drops Maji just before four hyenas jump on her, tearing into her neck. Moto roars and jumps to her aid. In two bounds he crosses the room and swats at all four hyenas, killing them in few swift blows.
Moto draws back, horror in his eyes. He was to late. Before him lay his beloved mate, her throat torn open by the savage beasts. Maji screams at his dead mother with no avail.
"We must leave now!" Hasara says, fighting back tears at the loss of a friend. "We must leave before we all ascend to the stars."
Moto shakily picks up Maji by the neck and sprints out of the hollow, Hasara follows suit, with Imani on his back. More lightning illuminates their surroundings, revealing shadowy figures stalking them as they run towards the desert.
"Moto look out!" Hasara yells. Six hyena jump out of the grass in front of Moto, blocking his escape. He backs up next to Hasara. Ten more hyena jump out behind them, circling them in. "This could be it, friend."
Imani cries into Hasara's back, to scared to look up and her impending death. "No my king. This ends here." Hasara looks over at his closest friend, and sees nothing but pure hate in his eyes. "I have just one request from you. Take care of my son."
Maji lets out a loud cry, knowing that his father just sealed his fate to save his life. The hyenas laugh.
"Moto, no! Not like this!" Hasara pleads. A small smirk crosses Moto's face.
"At least I know I'll be back with her." He lunges at the hyenas blocking the path to the desert, tearing into their throats, as they had done to his mate. "Run!"
Without thought, Hasara scoops up Maji, screaming for his father, and takes off, Imani holding on to his back. He runs past Moto, who is in a losing battle with fifteen hyenas.
Tears well up in Hasara's eyes. 'He gave his life to save his son, myself, and Imani's. You will never be forgotten, brother.'
A pained roar echoes across the soaked wasteland into Hasara's ears. The tears from his eyes flow like water through a broken dam, quickly being washed away by drops of water stinging his face.
Hasara runs, holding on to Maji, and Imani holding on to him. He runs past the borders of his once great kingdom, and runs into the desert, the storm soaking the sand.
Not an hour later, the hunger he was faced with, as well as his injuries and exhaustion finally catch up. Hasara collapses in the sand, and blacks out.
And there you have it folks. The first chapter in what I hope to be an amazing story. Please leave me a review, it helps me know who's reading and enjoying, and who thinks I should do some improvements. I love to hear back from the fans. Again, thank you all for embarking on this journey with me. Let's make it the best we can.