Here is the next chapter. I Own NOTHING, except Kimaria and any other changes to the story. I hope you enjoy.
All around me, I see darkness. It's nothing, but a black hole and yet I keep falling deeper in. My arms and legs feel like cement as I try to move them. I want to scream, but my lips are glued shut. Gradually, the darkness starts to disappear as my eyes inch open. Shifting my hand, I shiver as it falls against cold rock. Rough ground rubs against my skin; its cool temperature feels wonderful on my burns. I blink a few times as my eyes grow used to the darkness of the cave. A cave...it's a cave; terror runs through my body as I try to push myself up, my arms are too heavy to lift. Turning my head back and forth, but I am alone. Questions race through my mind, but go unanswered as my heart quickens its pace. How did I get here? Where am I? Where is mother? My breathe catches in my throat as my heart sinks into my stomach. No…it can't be true. I curl my fingers into fists and try to fight back the tears rolling down my face.
"Ah, you're awake, did you sleep well?" a deep voice asks off to my left
.Despite my heavy limps, I spring up onto my hands and stare at the muscular lion only a few feet away from me. Sunlight streams across the cave floor from the large entrance, casting shadows against the walls as the lion stepped out into the light. I inch away but my eyes are fixed on the great beast in front of me. Large brown eyes watch me closely, but his body is relaxed and patient. The sun's rays highlight the golden fur and dark red mane as the lion steps closer to me. Again, I move back until my back is pressed up against the cave wall. I wince as my leg rubs against the now rough ground. I shut my eyes and try to hold back a cry. My body tenses as saliva burns my skin, but the lick is tender. Slowly, the lion moves back and sits back on its haunches.
"Are you feeling better, mdogo moja?" he asks softly.
I gulp, but my throat is still sore and I nod.
He nods and opens his mouth again, but a female voice cuts him off. "Mufasa, I need…oh good, you're awake."
A tan lioness comes up and stands beside the male. I stare hard at the lioness, but lower my eyes instantly when she turns her full attention to me. Was I here to be eaten? What had father told me about the lion hunt and prey? I shiver again as I slowly raise my knees in front of my chest. Neither the male, Mufasa, nor the female only stare back at me.
"Be careful you're hurt. Our shaman, Rafiki, came and examined your injuries and you must rest," the lioness says gently with a nod of her head.
I gulp and glance over at her and stare into her eyes. Clear blue eyes that match the color of a river filled with concern as they stare at me. I shiver and blink back more tears. I watch both of them and sigh.
After a moment, I brush my hair from my neck and ask, "Who are you?"
Mufasa smiles and glances over at the lioness. Turning back to me, he clears his throat. "You, motto, are in the Pride lands and I am the ruler, King Mufasa."
"King?" I ask my knees digging deeper into my chest.
The female nods and says, "Yes and I am Sarabi, queen of the Pride lands."
My mouth opens, but Mufasa cuts me off. "What is your name and what is your purpose for being in the Pride lands?"
I gulp and rub my neck nervously. My hand pauses for a moment and I shudder. Again, my throat feels raw, but I force myself to speak, though it's barely above a whisper. "I'm Kimaria and…and I didn't mean to come here, but…but my village was attacked last night."
Oh god was it only last night? More tears fight to escape, but I force them back as more questions race through my mind. Taking a deep breath, I turn toward Sarabi and ask, "Why…why… did… you bring me here?"
Sabari smiles, her eyes sparkling with a look of amusement and concern. "You were a strange creature to me. I have only heard stories about mwanamumes by Mufasa and I would have left you be but…I saw you fall and as a cub, no matter the outside features should be left alone," her voice softens as our eyes lock, "I am sorry for your loss, Kimaria."
I sniff and nod as I lay my head against my knees. Mufasa nods, adding, "When Sarabi brought you here, I had my doubts, but I saw your damu covering her fur I knew something had to be done."
My eyebrow raises confused. "I was bleeding?"
Sarabi nods and points with her paw to my left arm. I glance down and finally see a cloth wrapped tightly around my upper arm. How could I have noticed this, but last night is a huge blur in my mind that I fight to forget. Gradually, I lower my legs down and look from the wound to the two lions.
"Where did you get this cloth?' I ask.
Both Mufasa and Sarabi exchange glances, confused. I press my lips together to try and keep my laughter inside. I take a piece of the bandage around my arm and repeat the question. "Where did this cloth come from?"
Sarabi turns her head, looking deeper into the cave. "It came with you and we tore off a piece as Rafiki told us. He says it stops the damu and from losing too much."
"It does," I say, already holding a high respect for the shaman among the lions. He seemed to be like my mother and father.
Mufasa clears his throat and takes a tiny step toward me. "Do you have a place to stay, Kimaria?"
I begin to nod, but pause and slowly shake my head. The king nods and looks over at his mate. Sarabi looks from him, to me, and back to Mufasa before she nods too. I glance between the two as my knees slowly rise back up to my chest.
Mufasa turns toward me and smiles. "You may stay here, Kimaria, if you like."
My mouth falls open, but all I can do is nod my head. Words seem to have left me as Mufasa and Sarabi smile at ne. Again, I lower my knees and a tiny smile forms on my face. Questions circle around in my mind, but none of them seem important, except to find my family. The beating of wings breaks through my thoughts as a bird flies inside the cave. Setting itself on the ground, the tiny creature bats a large black eye at me before turning toward Mufasa. Blue feathers and an orange, yellow beak almost scrape against the ground as the hornbill bows to Mufasa.
"Good morning, your majesties. How are you this fine morning?" the bird asks.
"Very good, Zazu. What is going on today?" Mufasa asks with a nod of his head.
"It is a glorious morning in the Pride lands, but what is this creature?" the bird, Zazu, asks Mufasa.
"This is Kimaria, she will be leaving with us from now on," the king explains.
Zazu flies up in protest; his wings beating dust up into my face. I cough, but Zazu keeps talking. Fear and worry fills his eyes as he glances back and forth between me and the great lion. "Sire! What are you thinking? That…that thing will kill us all. Please reconsider, this is a bad idea!" For a moment, he turns toward Sarabi and lands down beside her, but his eyes are still fixed on the king. "Think of our queen and your son, Sire, please!"
"Zazu! That is enough. This…Kimaria is barely older than a human cub. She is no danger to us."
"But Sire, she-"
"Is staying with us, she has lost her own pride and I do not want to hear anything more about my choice, Zazu," Mufasa says, standing up on all fours and addresses me, "Now rest, Kimaria. We have other business to attend too, but you may stay here."
Timidly, I nod as a shiver crawls down my spine. Again, Zazu's eyes watch me closely in distrust. He turns up his beak, but sighs in defeat and nods to Mufasa and Sarabi. Without another word, the three begin to leave the cave. Sunlight bounces off Sarabi's tan fur tipped with dried blood… my blood. I gulp and lower my eyes. I can see her small swollen belly as she walks. My heart sinks into my stomach as an image of Imani when she sat outside her house, late in her pregnancy, enchanting anyone who would listen with her stories. I close my eyes, chocking back a few tears as I shook my head. Turning around, I look deeper into the cave and try to move further inside. Cold, rough gray stone surround me as I crawl deeper into the cavern, but my leg kept stinging from the burn. I grit my teeth, but keep moving. Slowly, I find my clothes, tossed away carelessly.
My fingers rub against the torn hem of my shirt and the burnt off right sleeve. Another shiver runs down my spine as flashes of the orange and yellow race through my mind, but the rest of the images remain in shadow. I hold my breath as my hand slides into my skirt pocket. My fingers brush against metal as I pull out the necklace, mother had given me. It's cold chain feels good against my palm. A tiny, tired smile forms on my lips, but still last night events seem to be blocked from my memory.
Tightening my grip on the chain, I close my eyes as tears begin to roll down my face. I bite my bottom lip, roiling my skirt up into a pillow, lie down, and drape my shirt over me as a blanket. Even through the heat, I shiver in the semi-darkness of the carven. In the silence, I watch the sunlight casting shadows against the cave walls in patterns as a gentle wind blows over my face. More tears roll down my face as fear crawls down my arms. Every one of my senses seem alert and sharpened at every sound even as I lay there. What would happen to me down? Had the lioness or gods saved me now only be eaten by these wild animals? Who had attacked my home? Was anyone still alive? All these questions kept circling through my mind before I slip into a dream.
Something shakes me and calls my name as my eyes inch open. For a moment, I think of my mother and I bat the arm away. The shaking continues and I roll to my other side saying, "let me sleep, Mother."
"Unaamka, Kimaria. We have something to show you," an older female voice says.
I blink and glance over my shoulder at Sarabi. Again, I blink and just stare at her; my eyebrows frown in confusion. What could she want? Instantly mu body tenses as I roll in the opposite direction of the lioness. Terror pulses through my body as I stare at Sarabi with sweet dripping down my forehead. My back digs deeper into the wall, as though it wants to be absorbed into it, but my eyes never leave the feline. Stories from my childhood race through my mind of the huntress loins as the search for human prey. A tale to keep young ones from wondering off alone beyond the borders of the village. The lioness steps toward me carefully, bends her head and nudges my legs. I whimper, but Sarabi just backs away for a moment and stares at me.
Clearing her throat, she says, "Kimaria, please, you have to get up. Mufasa wants you to meet the pride."
The Pride of hungry lions. I gulp and try to make myself invisible, but it doesn't work. Again, Sarabi nudge me a little, until I stand up. Without a word, she turns and out of the cave while I follow her. Turning sharply to the right, she descends off the large ledge and down into the savanna. Off in the west, the sunlight has begun to set, casting a golden glow across the grasslands. How long was I asleep? I wonder, but shake my head as I follow Sarabi. At least a dozen lionesses sit in a semi circle around the base of the massive rock formation. Unconsciously, my eyes scan the area for any escape route, but at the same time my body is frozen to the ground.
Every animal watch me closely. Low growls of warning echo through the group as I enter the center of the circle. All heads bow as Sarabi enters and goes to sit by her mate, but move back to me instantly. Terror, curiosity, and confusion shine through every pair of eyes. Some cubs back away and hid under their mothers' legs while some bounced forward in total innocence until their mothers snapped at them. For a moment, I dare a glance over to my right and catch Mufasa's firm, but softer gaze with a tiny smile on his face.
Shifting his eyes away, he clears his throat before he begins. "Loyal subjects and friends, please listen. I have called this meeting to welcome a new member into our pride," he points his paw at me, "bi Kimaria."
Define: Mdogo moja = little one mtoto = child Mwanamue = human
Damu = blood Unaamka = wake up
I know I know you were expecting more, but I wanted to get into the lion king Unversive quickly. I hope you've enjoyed it and more will be coming soon. PLEASE review and thanks so much.
