Hi there! This is a Christmas story. This is based on the story of the Three Kings of Orient, the Magi, traveling to baby Jesus. This isn't an AU of that by any means; I'm not making the Three Kings into lions, that would be changing history, and just be plain weird. This is about other kings who also made the journey, lion kings. I put a lot of effort into it. Given that it was created after a story about Jesus, I did not want to risk messing it up. So I really hope you enjoy it!
Star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding.
Guide us to thy perfect light.
A long time ago, in the land we now call South Africa, there lived another pride of lions at Pride Rock. They were the ancestors of those who live there today. Simba's great, great, great, great, great- well, there were many greats- grandfather, King Hekima, ruled his pride with kindness and wisdom. King Hekima was deeply loved and respected by those of his pride, for he was a king with a true and proud heart. His pride was a large one, and the most respected pride for many miles. He was the most respected king in the land.
But before we speak more of Hekima, we must go back to when the first Shaman to the king of Pride Rock lived. Way back in that time, this Shaman spoke a prophecy that told of the coming birth of the one true King, the King of all, who would grow up among us to teach of love and acceptance, to be our Savior.
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On this day in the long ago, the lions of King Hekima's pride were resting under a starry sky. The day had been a hot one, and most of the pride had opted to sleep outside in the cooler night air, rather than inside the grand monolith that was Pride Rock. King Hekima lay with his son Hamu, telling the curious young prince the story of his Great Grandfather Babu- Hekima's grandfather. He was pointing to the stars with his paw, explaining how King Babu now lived with the kings who had come before him, and how they all watched over the lions who still live, guiding them in times of trouble and strife.
It was then that the lions of King Hekima's pride witnessed a very strange thing. A star appeared in the sky; a star so large and so bright that Hekima knew it would be clearly visible even if the sun were bright in the sky. Something about that star touched the heart of every man and creature who saw it, and filled them with a sense of wonder. The star's light was warm and brilliant, and it almost seemed to beckon to the lions. The pride watched the star for some time as it glowed brightly in the sky. Its light never flickered, never wavered, but continued to shine steadily.
The lions talked in reverent whispers for some time, wondering what this meant, for surely this star was no normal star. But as the night rolled by and the long hours they had been awake took their toll, one by one the Pride Landers dropped off to sleep. King Hekima, though, stayed awake for a long time after the others drifted off, his eyes fixed thoughtfully, wonderingly on the brilliant star above him.
By morning he had a plan.
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The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And so it does for our lions.
King Hekima set off across the Pride Lands with three of his pride mates at his side. The sun now glowed brightly in the sky, having raised a short time earlier. Even so, Hekima and his friends could see the singular star that shone above them; brightly enough that even the light of the sun did not blot it from sight. As it had the night before, the star radiated welcoming warmth.
Earlier that morning, Hekima had spoken with their pride's Shaman; a tan-colored lioness named Maarifa. The night before, he'd decided to consult with the near omniscient Shaman about the appearance of the mysterious star and what it might mean. She'd told him of a long ago prophecy, a prophecy that the Shaman before her had passed on to her, just as the Shaman before him had passed it to him. Maarifa told him that the star heralded the birth of a human child who would be the one true King; a King of kings among humans and animals alike.
Soon after his talk with Maarifa, Hekima had said his goodbyes to his pride mates and to his mate Halisi and their son Hamu, promising that he would return as soon as possible. Hekima knew that he needed to travel to the place of this child's, this King of kings', birth, in order to pay homage to him. Much more than that, he desperately wanted to travel to the child, however long the trip may be- and Maarifa had promised him that it would be a very long trip indeed. When something so wondrous blessed the world, how could he, Hekima, stand to miss it?
Even before he'd known what it symbolized, the brilliant star had beckoned to him, calling to his heart. Even then, King Hekima had wanted to follow the star, and was certain from the way they'd reacted that his pride mates had felt the same draw. It was similar to how a lion dying of thirst would feel when greeted with the sudden sight of a wide lake of clear, clean water. Though the call of the star was much less insistent since it was not an answer to a desperate need for survival of the body, it still caused the same feeling of joy and wonder, the same awed sense that made lions question whether their eyes were tricking them. It beckoned because it offered a survival of the soul. And now, knowing that the star meant the true King would soon be born, Hekima could not just rest idly at his Pride Lands.
As Hekima completed his goodbyes and started on his way, he was joined by three of his pride mates. These three had chosen to join Hekima on this journey. They could not all go, the Pride Lands must be protected, the young and old must be cared for. Though the star called to all who could get there, many lions were needed to stay behind and maintain the lives and livelihood of their pride here at Pride Rock. As well, the journey would be long and harsh. It would take them through unfamiliar lands with terrain foreign to them. But three stepped up beside Hekima, determined to join him on this journey. They were Dhoruba, a large male lion, and Jani and Abiri, two lionesses. Hekima, Dhoruba, and Abiri were in the prime of their lives and were best suited for such an uncertain and possibly dangerous journey.
Jani, however, was an elder lioness, her formerly creamy tan coat now more of a gray. When others in her pride questioned the wisdom of Jani embarking on such a long journey, she'd stood firm, explaining that she knew of this prophecy, and had believed since young cubhood that it would come true in her lifetime. Now that it had, she was not going to stay behind. When the others, worried, had asked whether she could handle this journey, she'd assured them that old she may be, but her body had not yet failed her and this was one trip she could certainly handle. Hekima had no doubt of the truth in that statement. Jani may be old, but he'd known few lions with a stronger will than hers.
Abiri and Dhoruba were equally determined to travel with Hekima to honor the new King soon to be born in the lands to the north, and he was grateful for their company. Before setting off, they had all assured the others that they would bring back news of the Savior and of the journey itself.
"It is customary to offer a gift to a human child at birth, and most especially this human child. What do we have to offer, Hekima?" Dhoruba asked as they neared the border of their Pride Lands, his green eyes watching the golden-coated king curiously.
Dhoruba was Hekima's closest friend, and one of his most loyal pride mates. Hekima had been tempted to leave the burly brown lion behind so that he could protect their pride while Hekima was gone, but he'd decided against it. This would be a long journey, and Hekima was not sure what they would find while they traveled. He knew there was a possibility that they would run into danger on this journey, and he would feel better having Dhoruba along. He had not left his pride unprotected. In a pride as large as his was, there were many strong lions and lionesses who would defend their pride mates and lands with their lives if need be. Their families would be fine. Hekima prayed it would be so.
Hekima paused to raise a paw to an object that hung around his neck. "We will give Him this," he said in response to Dhoruba's question, placing his paw on the smooth orange stone.
Dhoruba looked surprised. "The amber?"
An object that had been passed down from king or queen to prince or princess, from parent to child, generation upon generation, the amber was strung around King Hekima's neck, resting against his flame-orange mane. It was held around his neck by a thin but strong vine that had been strung through the stone. This amber was the most prized possession of the pride, aside from the pride members themselves.
Hekima nodded. "Yes, the amber. I can think of nothing else to give than this. What better way do we have to show we honor the child than to give Him this, our pride's heirloom?"
Dhoruba nodded as well, an expression of chagrin on his face at his earlier surprise. "Yes, of course, you are right. It is the best we have to give."
The four lions continued on their way, crossing the border that defined their lands, and they followed the star that gleamed brightly in the daytime sky.
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In another part of the plains of Africa, King Thabiti, a young and energetic ruler, shook out his rusty-brown coat. He turned to look at the four lionesses who would be accompanying him on a journey through faraway lands.
One of the four was his mate and queen, Kujali; a strong lioness with a sand-colored coat. Thabiti was a fairly new king, and he and Kujali had not been mates for very long. As of yet, they had no cubs, though both looked forward to the day they would start a family. Kujali stood at attention, her head raised and her naturally kind brown eyes fixed on a point in the sky and filled with awed wonder.
Thabiti didn't need to follow her gaze to know what held her attention. Indeed, his own eyes were inexorably drawn to the same point in the sky. Above them, in the sky that when dark was resplendent with the Great Kings of the Past, there now glowed a star that, despite the light from the bright African sun, was larger and more brilliant than any nighttime star. It shone high over the land as a beacon to all who would heed its call. Thabiti and his pride mates were among those who felt the draw, as though the star was asking them to follow it.
And follow this star they would. Thabiti knew exactly what the star's appearance symbolized, what it meant. The knowledge had been passed down to Thabiti from his great, great grandfather, Sikia. Though Sikia now walked among the Great Kings of the Past, when he'd lived and ruled the mighty king had been approached one day by a mysterious rogue lion. The rogue, who had not given his name, had referred to himself as a wanderer who had a message of great importance for Sikia and his pride, as well as every animal the rogue could find to tell in the vast land of Africa.
The message he gave to Sikia had struck a deep cord within the king's heart. He'd told of the day a human child would be born, and that this child would be a King to whom all kings would bow, for he would be the Savior of all. He told of how a star would appear to herald the coming birth of this child; a star that could be seen from anywhere in the world. And when that star appeared, all would know that the true King would soon be born. He said also that the star would lead those who saw it and listened to its call to the birthplace of this special child. Sikia had found himself unable to doubt the rogue's word, something that was said to be very unusual for the normally cautious lion. He'd believed the rogue's story, hearing the truth that rang in the mysterious stranger's every word.
Then the stranger, his message conveyed, had gone, asking only that Sikia pass this information on to his children, for the star's appearance would likely not happen during Sikia's own lifetime, and it was something that must be known.
Sikia had done as the rogue requested, he told his daughter of the star. His daughter, once she had grown to be a queen, had passed it on to her son, who was Thabiti's own father. And he, in turn, told the tale of the strange rogue lion and the star to Thabiti himself.
And now, the tale the rogue had once told to Sikia had proven to be true. Thabiti, who always had a bright and hopeful outlook, had never doubted the story. The way his family had told him it, the rogue lion had apparently been very convincing. It had been clear that he himself completely believed that the star would one day appear, the star that signified the impending birth of the true King. And the rogue had not struck anyone in Sikia's pride as at all crazy. He'd left a lasting impression on every lion he'd spoken with about the star; and all he told the story to had believed him. And if his Great Grandfather Sikia, as well as his grandmother and his father, had believed the story- and they had, strongly so- then that had always been more than enough proof for Thabiti.
Even so, Thabiti had been astonished when the star had suddenly appeared in the sky. Who wouldn't have been? Its appearance had not been a gradual thing either. One second, all that could be seen in the sky was the silver slash of moon, the ordinary, though beautiful, stars that Thabiti saw every other night, and a scarce number of barely visible clouds. The next second, the star of the prophecy glowed with a bright light against the backdrop of black sky. It immediately captured their attention, not simply because of its brightness, but because of the feeling the star radiated; a feeling of peace, and of love, as well as the call to follow it.
So now, Thabiti, his mate Kujali, and three other lionesses from his relatively small pride were about to head out on a journey to wherever the star would take them, to where it promised the newborn King would be found.
All were ready to start out, and so Thabiti picked up the gift they had decided to give the human child. He clutched the leaf wrapping that was wound around the gift carefully between his teeth, so as not to rip through the leaves that helped to make it easy to carry. Then he straightened up, and with his four pride mates at his side, began the long journey heading in the direction of the star.
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In yet another part of the African plains, Itikadi trotted briskly, despite his somewhat older age. His eyes were fixed so constantly upon the star in the pale-blue sky that he paid only the barest amount of attention to where he placed his paws. He was followed by two of his pride mates; a lion named Tafuta and a lioness named Winda. A well-built lion whose light tan coat contrasted sharply with his pitch-black mane, Itikadi was the king of his pride, and proud to be so.
The trio of lions had set out only a short time before, determined to follow the star that shone overhead. Itikadi and his pride had seen the star appear the night before. All had wanted to go, but his pride was such a new pride that with the small number of members, they just couldn't spare many lions. As a result, only the three of them, Itikadi, Tafuta, and Winda, had set off on the journey after promising to represent them all once they reached their destination.
Itikadi had also learned of the star's meaning before its appearance. His daughter, the Princess Amini, was a young lioness nearing adulthood, though not quite yet there. She'd told him of the star. She, herself, had learned of its appearance and its meaning from a dream she'd had only a few days before the star's appearance.
Itikadi had been surprised by his daughter's story of a dream that was not just a dream but was also a vision of what she insisted would come to pass. He had been startled because Amini was not at all the type of lioness given to fanciful stories or wild beliefs. She was, in fact, usually quite level-headed. That's what had made it all the more unusual when she'd woken him and his mate, her mother, in the middle of the night. Her amber eyes had sparkled as her words tumbled wildly over each other in her excitement to tell them of the dream and its meaning.
Her family and pride mates had been incredulous, knowing how fantastic the story was, how seemingly unbelievable it was that her dream was a prediction of the future- but also knowing that it simply wasn't like Amini to make up a story and present it as truth, or to believe without cause in a dream she'd had.
Just a few days after Amini's dream, the star appeared in the sky just as she'd described. The dream truly had been a prediction of the future. Suddenly, inexplicably, it was there. And any who may have once held any doubt about the prophetic quality of Amini's dream were caught up in amazement and wonder at the sight. Every lion in the pride had been struck with awe, but none more so than Amini and her parents. Amini had been given a great and wondrous gift. She'd been chosen to tell the pride what was to occur. They were honored beyond belief.
That was when Itikadi made the decision to travel to where the star called them, to the place where the newborn human baby, the King and the Savior who had appeared in Amini's dream, would be. Itikadi's mate and Amini chose to stay behind. Though Amini, like the rest of them, had wanted to come, their pride was not a large one, and Itikadi was proud to see that his young daughter was turning into quite a capable hunter who was needed on the hunts in order to feed the pride. Though this fact worked against Amini's hope to travel to the child, she'd graciously agreed. And despite her sorrow at missing out on seeing the baby King in person, she'd been proud of the fact that her pride needed her.
And so Itikadi and his pride had chosen their own precious gift to take to the child. They'd all felt that they should bring a token of their adoration, for their presence alone could never be enough to express how they felt.
Before they left, Itikadi had grabbed their gift as the lions left their pride mates and their home behind and had started on their way, eyes frequently fixed on the star above and wonder and gratitude in their hearts for God's gift to the world.
Then Itikadi, Tafuta, and Winda, with Itikadi holding the gift, left their pride and started out on the journey. And now, the group exited their territory, and continued on their way. Itikadi's eyes were still on the star, filled with reverence and wonder.
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And thus some of the greatest kings of our past have started out on their journey. Hekima, Thabiti, and Itikadi, as well as several of each king's pride mates, all chose to follow the Star of Bethlehem. They were not the only ones. There were many creatures, man and animal alike, who made this journey, the journey to the birthplace of the King of kings, and the Savior of souls.
This is chapter one of what will probably be a two-shot. The second half will hopefully be up by Christmas, but if not, certainly up by the New Year. Please leave a review and tell me what you think so far.