Well, here's the second chapter of this Christmas story. I'm really sorry about the wait. Because of the topic of this story, I'm taking it much more seriously than my other stories. Not that I don't take them seriously, but I hope you understand what I mean. I tried to sit down and write while frustrated at myself for taking so long, but it just wouldn't flow. I had to wait till one quite night when I was up alone before it all began to come to me, and then it practically wrote itself. And so without further delay, here is the second of probably three chapters of what was meant to be a one-shot: Star of Light.
We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
The star shone overhead, casting its warm, bright light on the land below. Hekima, Dhoruba, Abiri, and Jani traveled beneath its glow, crossing the wide plains with long, quick strides.
They all wanted to reach the child's birthplace as soon as possible. Each of them was eager to meet Him. Each wanted to see the child and to give the newborn the amber that hung around Hekima's neck and was their gift to Him.
The lions kept up a steady trot, eventually slowing to a brisk walk when they became tired. When they'd began their journey from the Pride Lands, it had been early morning. Now the sun was in the center of the sky, lighting up the ground and making the yellow grass, still apparent through the new shoots of green growth, appear to glow. Even though the sun was high in the sky, the guiding star was still clearly visible, and none of them had any trouble following it. Eventually, the plains they crossed gave way to sand as they entered the wide, barren desert that lay near the outskirts of the Pride Lands.
The lions did not journey in silence. They talked, of course, about the star and its appearance, about the future King of all, and what it all meant. But they also spoke of what would be happening back at their home, knowing that the lionesses of the pride had probably started their hunt and wondering what the hunters might bring back to Pride Rock; wondering if they were safe and would remain so. And they swapped stories. Hekima told the others of what his son, Hamu, had recently been getting up to. The adventures and misadventures (thankfully none of them too dangerous) that the curious and rambunctious cub had first reported to his parents, Hekima and Halisi, now had all four of the group laughing. And so the first leg of the journey passed quite quickly for the lions, despite the monotony of the desert.
By the time the sun had begun to sink from the center of the sky, however, all four of the lions were thirsty. The desert didn't seem to have any source of water, at least none that they saw. The lions were surprised and relieved, then, when they spotted something on the horizon, something quite apart from the sand dunes they were by then all too accustomed to.
A wide jungle sprawled across the land ahead of them. There was a wild array of bright to dark greens and thick foliage emerging from the middle of the desert. And even from far away, they could see the sparkling waterfalls that fell throughout it; tall, mountain peaks whose tops were surrounded by long, thin clouds; and below, threading between the trees, were wide, calm streams. All together, the jungle oasis was a breathtaking sight to the hot and thirsty lions.
All four lions picked up the pace until they were trotting once more, almost running, in fact. They soon entered the blissfully cool shade under the canopy of large leafy trees above. Glad that the scorching hot sun no longer beamed down on his back, Hekima shook his head, trying to shake some of the heat from his mane one last time, then took in a deep breath. The cooler air of the jungle oasis felt good in his lungs, a relief to his overheated body. The other three in his group were likewise pleased with the much cooler, moist air of the sanctuary. Hekima noticed that the air was alive with the cries of birds and the buzzing and clicking of insects.
They stepped further into the trees and away from the desert, searching for a stream. Thankfully, in a jungle as abundant as the one they were in, they found one almost immediately, and all four lions took a long drink. The stream was not terribly far into the jungle, though the desert that they'd just come from was already hidden from sight by the thick branches and underbrush.
When he realized just how effectively the jungle's foliage hid things from sight, Hekima was struck with the worry that they wouldn't be able to see the star through the branches. Raising his head from the stream and suddenly tense, Hekima looked up, searching with his eyes the branches that crisscrossed overhead, trying to see through them for some sign of the star.
He sighed in relief as he saw it; a white glow, visible even though the branches and leaves that would have blocked any lesser star's light, had it been nighttime instead of day. They could still follow it easily, even through the jungle.
Had they not been able to see it, then in order to see the star, the lions would have had no choice but to exit the jungle the way they had entered. This would have forced them to skirt around the jungle so they could continue their journey, and the jungle was such a large one that this would have added quite a few days to the length of their trip, an inconvenience Hekima was eager to avoid. There was also the fact that they desperately needed the water and craved the shade. He was not sure how long the star would remain in the sky; surely at some point it would fade from sight, and he did not want to miss his chance to pay his respects to the King of kings.
"Are you all ready to continue?" he asked the others, when they finished drinking. Abiri was still shaking water from her muzzle.
"Yes, of course," Dhoruba said.
"Let's keep going," Jani agreed, arching her back in a brief stretch, the claws on her forepaws sinking into the squashy ground, before she straightened.
The lions, following the light of the star that managed to shine even through thick foliage, padded deeper into the jungle as they walked away from the stream.
They'd traveled for a while longer through the vast jungle, and the walk was largely uneventful. The desert had been brutal, and the beauty of the lush trees and roaring waterfalls renewed their tired spirits, though their resolve to get to their destination had never wavered and was in no need of renewal.
Then, when they'd been in the jungle for a good amount of time- though not long enough for the sun to have set, yet- they heard a new sound, different from the various bird calls and insect noises that surrounded them. A raised voice echoed through the trees, coming from not too far away.
"Hey!"
The four lions stopped walking and glanced up at the sound of the shout. It had come from somewhere high above and ahead of them, but they couldn't see the one who had spoken. All they could see was the green foliage with shadowed patches between the branches. All four lions scanned the trees for the speaker, and, to their bewilderment, saw nothing.
Then one of the shadowed areas up on a high bough seemed to shift. In one fluid movement, a dark form leapt from the shadows down to a lower branch, though one that was still quite high above their heads.
"What are you doing here? This is my territory, you know!" It was the same voice as had spoken before.
Hekima blinked as the moving black shape came into focus. It was an animal, feline in shape, with a pitch-black pelt on which not a dash of lighter fur could be seen. The young male cat was gangly and thin-limbed, obviously not yet a full adult. He appeared quite small compared to the lions, and it seemed likely that even as an adult he would be smaller than the average lion. His head was lowered between his shoulders, and a slight frown was on his dark muzzle, but his expression appeared more anxious than angry. His long black tail flicked, and his eyes, bright blue in color, were narrowed at the lions.
After a brief moment of studying the other feline, having never seen one of its kind before, Hekima responded. "I am sorry for trespassing. We didn't know that this area was claimed by anyone, we were simply passing through."
"Oh," the black cat said, un-narrowing his eyes and lifting his head. "So you're not here to steal my prey, then?"
"No, we're not," Hekima assured him. "We've already eaten today, and you have my word we'll hunt only once we've left your territory."
Accepting Hekima's promise and seeming to decide they were no threat, the black-furred feline relaxed his tense pose and slumped right down on the branch on which he stood, laying down on it with one fore leg and one hind leg hanging off. "That's good. I just got this territory recently, you know. I don't really know how to defend it yet."
"Well, not telling strangers you don't know how to defend your territory is a good way to start," Jani said with a smile, tilting her head at the young one.
"Um… Right, I guess that's true…" he agreed, ears flattening slightly in embarrassment. He tilted his head as well, quizzically. "So, what exactly are you guys?"
"We are lions," Hekima answered.
"Lions?" He frowned. "Are your kind as dangerous as my mother said?"
"We can be, of course," Dhoruba admitted. "But I'd assume that so could you. Since we're on the subject, what exactly are you?"
"Me? I'm a black panther," he replied, rolling onto his back without falling off the branch. He tilted his head back to look at them from an upside-down position, still appearing to be curious about them.
"Ah," Hekima said with a nod. He had heard of a species of big cats by that name, though he'd never seen one himself. As he'd heard it, they were simply leopards that had been born a different color from the norm.
"My name is Eupe, by the way," the panther continued. "What are your names? And where are you going?"
The black cat struck Hekima as an incredibly trusting individual. His tone of voice was open and friendly, and though he had just met the lions, he no longer seemed the least suspicious of them. His pose, lying on his back, exposed the soft underbelly that was the universal weak spot of virtually all animals. It was a dangerous move even from his seemingly safe position on the branch that was out of the lions' reach, and surely his instincts would not allow him to lay that way if he felt even slightly threatened by Hekima's group. Eupe's eyes were curious, awaiting their answer to his questions with a keenness that reminded Hekima of his son Hamu. Hamu, still a young cub, was a good bit younger than Eupe appeared to be.
Hekima found that he quite liked the young panther already.
The lions introduced themselves and told Eupe of the star and its meaning, of the prophecy Maarifa the Shaman had told Hekima, and of the journey they were on. They knew that pausing in their trip to tell Eupe this story would take time away that they should be spending traveling, but all four lions thought that anyone who didn't know of the star and the newborn King should be told and given the chance to choose whether or not they would travel to Him themselves.
Their tale left Eupe, who had rolled back to a standing position on the branch as they talked, wide-eyed with amazement. "So that's where you're going?" he asked, his voice high-pitched with excitement. He continued speaking, his words coming so quickly that the lions had no time to reply. "To visit this human child? Will he really be the King of kings? I mean, I've heard of kings, like from the Pride Lands- you're the king there, right, Hekima? But this child will be the King of kings? He'll be a Savior?" He suddenly looked upwards, toward the sky. "I have to see that star! Wait here, I'll be right back!"
The lions watched, mouths hanging slightly open, as Eupe turned and bounded up the tree, springing from branch to branch with great speed and agility. He was clearly planning to get a look at the star from the top of the tree, where the view would be unobstructed by branches.
Hekima and the others glanced at each other, smiles on their faces.
"Something tells me that Eupe is a bit excitable," Abiri commented.
"Wow!" Eupe's cry came from high above them. There was silence for a moment, and when he narrowed his eyes, trying to see to the top of the tree, Hekima spotted Eupe standing on one of the highest branches, his body rigid with what could only be awe and his head raised toward the daytime sky. "It's amazing…"
A long moment passed as Eupe absorbed the feeling of the star, and as the others silently watched him, not speaking because they knew Eupe would need that time.
"I'm going," they heard Eupe say to himself firmly. "I'm definitely going!"
Finally Eupe twitched and glanced back down toward the lions, his expression seeming to say that he'd almost forgotten they were there as he gazed at the star. He turned and clawed paw by paw back down the trunk of the tree, glancing over his shoulder frequently at the sky and the star it held. He bounded back onto the branch from which he'd spoken to the lions, and, from there, leapt to the ground, landing nimbly beside Hekima.
Eupe's eyes shone, joy and excitement clear in them, as well as a burning determination. As soon as his paws had touched the jungle floor, he said, "I'm coming with you! I want to travel to see Him like you four are." He paused, then added quickly, "If you don't mind, that is."
"You want to travel with us?" Hekima asked, blinking. He was not surprised that the desire to make the journey to the Savior had seized Eupe as well. He understood that completely, having felt, and of course still feeling, the star's radiant warmth and draw himself. But he was somewhat surprised that Eupe apparently wanted to make the journey along with the lions.
"I will go anyway, and I'll travel alone if you don't want me to come with you, but… can I please travel with your group, Hekima?" Eupe asked, his tone hopeful.
"Of course you can!" Hekima said, smiling. "You're welcome to come with us. I'd be glad for your company, in fact."
"So would I," Dhoruba said, and the other two agreed.
"Thank you!" Unable to contain his excitement, Eupe jumped straight up into the air, twisting, and then landed on his hind paws and balanced there for a moment before dropping back to all fours. "So are we going now?"
Hekima nodded, still smiling, and the four lions and panther started off, traveling toward the star that glowed through the thick foliage overhead.
"It will be new, traveling with others," Eupe said, padding beside the lions. "I've been on my own for a while now."
"On your own?" Jani asked in surprise. "Why?"
"Panthers are solitary. My mom said I had to have a territory of my own, and live alone in it. So she sent me out of her territory to find one for myself, like my brothers and sisters did, and after a bit of looking I got this one. But I've been kind of lonely, lately."
"I've lived with my pride my entire life. I can't imagine living without the comfort of pride mates," Hekima said. "But if panthers are solitary, as you say, shouldn't you enjoy being alone?"
"I probably should. But then a lot of animals have told me I'm a little strange." Eupe grinned as he shrugged his thin shoulders. "I guess they might be right… In any case, I'm not so fond of being solitary, at least not all the time."
"Yes, I can see where that would get lonely," Hekima agreed. "Well, we're glad to have you with us."
The panther smiled, eyes bright, then asked, "How far away do you think this place is that we're going?"
"We don't really know," Hekima said. "We expect it will be a long way."
Eupe nodded in determination. "Whatever it takes, I want to be there."
The five cats talked amiably amongst themselves and got to know each other as they trotted through the jungle oasis. Soon, the light of day faded from the sky and the trees and brush around them changed from lush shades of green to objects shrouded with deep shadows, nightfall having arrived with a speed that surprised the lions. They managed to continue their trek, though it was complicated by their decreased ability to see. It was so dark that even their natural night-sight couldn't penetrate the darkest areas beneath the trees. In fact, the only things truly visible were the light from the star they followed and a faint glow of moonlight.
A short time after the sun had set, the group jumped in shock when Jani's sudden startled hiss pierced the air, closely followed by the sound of her jaws snapping shut on something.
"Jani?" Dhoruba called, his voice raised with concern.
There was a moment during which they could hear only the sound of Jani's paws scrabbling against the ground, and Hekima and his group could only vaguely see Jani's pale-furred outline in the dark. But before they could start to panic, the lioness' frantic movements ceased and she let out an embarrassed chuckle.
"Sorry," she said. "My leg got tangled in a vine… It's so dark, I was afraid it might have been a snake; I bit it in half."
"Yeah, sorry about that, I should have warned you," Eupe's voice came from close by, his black pelt making him completely invisible in the night. "There are a lot of vines around here… And a lot of snakes, too. Don't worry, most of them aren't really poisonous, and we should be able to see the ones that are quickly enough."
"Thank you, Eupe, that was very reassuring," Abiri sighed.
"Are we near the edge of this jungle, Eupe?" Hekima asked.
"Yes, we should be out soon."
Sure enough, within a short while longer the trees began to thin, allowing welcome moon and starlight to shine onto the group. They came to a small clearing within sight of the oasis' edge. Once in the clearing, they paused and stood on the grass just among the trees, looking ahead of them and out of the jungle.
Beyond the oasis lay the desert they had traveled through, albeit a different area of the desert. The dunes appeared white-blue at night, as opposed to the bright tans and yellows the sand had been in the day.
"I had hoped we were through with this desert," Dhoruba said with a sigh.
"Apparently not," Hekima said. He looked up at the sky, easily spotting the star among the other stars. Its light was so much brighter than the others of its kind, brighter than the moon, as well. Hekima wanted to continue their journey right away, but they had set out early in the morning, and now it was partway into the night. Truth be told, Hekima was tired and sore, and he knew his pride mates would be feeling the same way. And Hekima would feel much more comfortable if he fell asleep on grass, surrounded by lush plant life, rather than out in the open desert, sleeping on hot dry sand and surrounded by yet more sand. He didn't have any particular dislike for sand; he just far preferred the thought of sleeping on grass. He glanced back at his traveling companions. "Perhaps we should rest here tonight and start again in the morning," he suggested.
"Good idea," Eupe replied agreeably.
The others nodded their own agreement, and the four lions and the panther went about making their sleeping spots for the night. The lions made nests out of the grass in the small clearing, flattening the stalks beneath their paws before lying down, sleeping close to one another as they would in the comfort of their cave back at Pride Rock. Meanwhile, Eupe scaled a nearby tree to find a spot to sleep himself, choosing a fork between two branches, and soon settled down as well.
And so the big cats fell asleep under the moon and the warm glow of the prophesied star, resting so they could continue their long journey the next morning with fresh paws.
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (
Hekima was the first to wake, opening his eyes with a yawn. He stretched as he rose to his paws, and then looked around. The day was bright and breezy, and the brisk wind whisked back his mane and made the many leaves of the jungle rustle softly. The other lions were waking up as well, and they, too, stood and stretched before padding to stand beside their king, exchanging morning greetings.
Abiri looked up at the sky. "I'm still amazed we can see the star- it's daytime, after all. But even so, there it is."
Hekima nodded, looking up as well to see the star shining with a light bright enough to rival that of the sun's. He could empathize with her amazement; he felt the same awe whenever he looked at the star, and he doubted that feeling would ever leave him, even after years had passed and the star was long gone from the sky. A part of him felt intense relief that the star had not faded overnight as they slept, though the largest part of him had known without a doubt that it would not yet disappear. He still did not know when it would fade, still believed that it would at some point. But despite that, he'd known it would still be there when they woke, and that faith had not been misplaced.
Hekima was shaken from his thoughts when, with a rattle of leaves and a thud of paws against ground, Eupe the panther tossed himself from the tree in which he'd slept. The young cat absorbed the forceful landing with what seemed like practiced ease, as if he jumped from trees with such enthusiasm every morning of his life- which Hekima strongly suspected he did.
"Good morning!" Eupe said cheerfully as he trotted over. The lions responded in kind.
All of them were thirsty, so before starting out, they went a short distance deeper back into the jungle, and stopped at a nearby river.
"Is everyone ready to go?" Hekima asked the group once they had drunk their fill.
"Quite ready," Jani answered.
The group returned to the clearing in which they'd slept; and from there, left the jungle behind, trading cool grass for the hot desert sand.
Like it had the day before, the sun heated Hekima's pelt to an uncomfortable temperature after a while of walking. The other lions seemed to be in a similar state as Hekima; though Abiri and Jani, being lionesses and so lacking the thick, heavy manes that the males sported, were doing better than Hekima and Dhoruba. Out of all of them, Eupe was having the most trouble. His coat was a sleek black and the dark color absorbed the heat of the sun like dry ground absorbed rain water. Even so, they were able to mostly ignore the heat thanks to the brisk breeze that sent thin streams of swirling sand into the air, and somewhat cooled the otherwise scorching desert.
The group was moving at a brisk trot, covering ground with a fairly high and steady speed. But even so, the sun had risen from the horizon to its highest point in the sky before they were able to see anything apart from sand dunes. The trek across the desert had again been rough. Their paw pads, unused to the hot sands, were dry and sore, and they were panting from the heat. And now that the sun had fully risen, the breeze that had formerly helped to keep them cool now only blew the hot, dry air around.
Eventually, though, the sand began to give way to tufty patches of grass. And now, a short time after seeing evidence of the end of the vast, dry desert lands, they were entering a massive Savannah. Its size and appearance reminded Hekima of the sprawling plains of the Pride Lands.
Together, they strode through the tall Savannah grass, following the light of the bright star.
"Look at that!" Jani said suddenly, when they had been in plains only a short while. "Is that another jungle?"
Hekima looked into the distance and could just make out what looked to be lush vegetation. It had appeared on the horizon ahead of them and was growing larger as they approached. It was indeed another jungle, similar to the one in which they had met Eupe. Hekima was pleasantly surprised; he hadn't been expecting to find another jungle here. He and his friends were all hot, thirsty, and exhausted from a long day of traveling in the burning African sun; and an oasis was just what they needed for another good night's sleep.
However, even as that passed through Hekima's mind, Eupe faltered in his step, stopping and causing the lions to pause as well to look back at him. "Hey… Uh, guys?" he said, his voice thin with sudden strain. "Let's go around that jungle, alright? I mean, we can't go through it!"
"What?" Dhoruba asked, bewildered. "What do you mean, Eupe?"
"That's Baya Kichaka," Eupe explained in a low voice, ears flattening against his head in fear.
"Baya Kichaka?" Hekima exclaimed, turning his gaze sharply from Eupe back to the jungle they had spotted, feeling himself tense. He took an automatic step back, away from the jungle that now seemed to loom on the horizon with an ominous air. "That jungle is Baya Kichaka?"
The jungle called Baya Kichaka was well known among African animals. Rumors of the jungle were spread far and wide, known by both predator and prey, winged and pawed, alike, and not one of the rumors was pleasant to hear. From the time he was a cub, Hekima had heard about that jungle. It was bad luck, a place from which none that entered ever returned. He'd heard that it was a dangerous place, a place of shadows and fear; and some even said that the jungle itself seemed sentient, and that it was the jungle- and not simply the dark creatures who were said to live among its trees- that caused those who traveled within its boundaries to vanish without a trace.
Not that any of these disappearances had been truly confirmed; they hadn't. The disappearances were only word of mouth, hearsay. But everyone Hekima had ever heard speak of Baya Kichaka had done so in a fearful tone, and because of that, the fear of that legendary, infamous jungle had been planted in Hekima as well. And not just him; he could see the sudden alarm in the eyes of Dhoruba, Jani and Abiri as well.
"Yeah…" Eupe responded to Hekima's question, his voice low and his ears still flattened to his head. "I knew it was in this direction, I just hadn't realized we were heading straight for it."
"We've all heard the stories…" Dhoruba said. He was eying the jungle, tensed and scanning its depths for the slightest sign of movement.
"Yes, we have," Jani said, as though she didn't particularly care to think about the stories in question, especially not within sight of Baya Kichaka.
"Maybe they're just stories," Abiri suggested hesitantly. "I mean, have any of us ever really known anyone who's disappeared in there?"
"Well, no," Dhoruba admitted.
"Neither have I," Jani added.
"I haven't either," Eupe said. "And I actually live pretty close by to this place… But I still don't like the idea of going through it. The stories could be true."
Hekima nodded. "Many stories we call legends have their basis in truth," he said.
"Even though it may take a little longer and we'll be spending the night on the desert instead of in a comfortable oasis with readily available water," Jani said, "I'd feel better if we just went around."
Though no one expressed it aloud, the relief in the air was palpable, and everyone agreed.
The group of five started ahead toward Baya Kichaka, intending to skirt around the jungle. This would certainly add time to their trip, but if they hurried, they all reasoned that it wouldn't be too much longer.
Once they were as close to the jungle as their nerves would allow, they started walking parallel to it. They had barely started when they heard a voice, coming from the jungle.
"Hello, friends, you look like you could use some water and a good meal."
The group, startled, turned at the unexpected voice to see a lion standing not far inside Baya Kichaka, underneath the nearest branches. Hekima stared at the lion, surprised that no one in their group had seen or heard him coming. This lion's appearance was surprising as well, because it was quite unusual. His mane was a bright yellow, almost golden, and it gleamed in the sun. His coat was of such a pale tan as to be nearly white; while his muzzle, chest, underbelly and the tips of his paws were all pure white. His eyes were sky blue, and his body was thick-shouldered and powerful. He seemed to be in the prime of his life; not an exceedingly young adult, but also quite far from being old. Overall, his appearance was very pleasant and appealing. He approached them with a friendly smile.
"You live in there?" Eupe blurted in shock, looking beyond the lion into Baya Kichaka.
The lion blinked in confusion. "Yes, what- Oh!" His expression cleared with understanding. "You've heard the stories, haven't you? I'm called Giza, and please let me assure you, they're just stories. I've lived here all my life." Giza's voice was deep and melodic, a very soothing voice; but Hekima was so shocked by the lion's claim that he wasn't at all soothed.
"You've lived in Baya Kichaka all your life?" Hekima repeated in surprised disbelief.
"Yes, ever since I was a cub," Giza replied, with a nod. "I know what the stories say about Baya Kichaka, but it truly is not a dangerous place- in fact, quite the opposite. It is really very safe and pleasant."
Still shocked, Hekima blinked at him in silence for a moment, unable to equate this new information with everything he'd heard about Baya Kichaka all his life. Then, with a start, he remembered his manners. "Oh, forgive me, I haven't introduced myself," he said. "My name is Hekima, and these are my friends, Dhoruba, Abiri, Jani, and Eupe." He gestured toward each as he said their names.
"Nothing to forgive, you were understandably distracted," Giza said. "And I am so glad to meet you all." His words sounded sincere, as though he truly was glad to meet them and was not just giving a customary greeting out of courtesy.
The four other lions and the panther returned the sentiment, and then Dhoruba put in, "I must say the concept of Baya Kichaka being a safe place is startling, to say the least."
"Yes, I can imagine," Giza said. "The rumors about Baya Kichaka are truly horrendous, especially because their origin was based in the lies of one greedy lion."
"How do you mean?" Hekima questioned, curious.
"There is a story of this jungle that dates back before the dark rumors," Giza said. "A story of how those rumors started in the first place. It's quite an interesting story, actually, as well as a true one, though almost no one knows of it. Would you care to hear it?"
"Yes, of course," Hekima said, noticing that all in his group now watched Giza with curiosity. "If you don't mind, we would love to hear it."
Giza nodded, sat down in the sand and began, "Many years ago, a rogue lion named Riba happened to stumble upon this jungle. Back then, this jungle was unnamed and uninhabited by any other lions, though many birds and reptiles made their home here. Riba was the first lion to have found it, and he decided to claim it for himself. He declared himself king, though he had no pride to rule. So enchanted was he by the jungle's beauty, that Riba became convinced some other lion would surely come and try to steal the territory from him. Riba was not a physically powerful lion; his true strength lay only in his brilliant mind, so he was aware that the likelihood he would win in a battle for the jungle territory was remote indeed. Riba became so paranoid, so afraid of such a possibility, that he struggled to find a way to make sure that a battle would never come about.
"Finally, Riba hit upon an idea that appealed to him. Other lions would want the jungle territory because it was such a wonderful place to live, wouldn't they? So, he reasoned, if the jungle was not such a pleasant place- or, rather, if it appeared that it was not- then no one would even care to attempt to take it from him. And so he decided to create stories about the jungle, stories that would not only make it sound unappealing as a potential home, but in fact, a terrifying place that all would fear to enter. Riba gave the jungle its name, Baya Kichaka, and whenever a lion came near the jungle, he would stop them from entering, warning them of the danger they would find there. Danger, of course, that did not actually exist. But so persuasive was Riba that he was able to convince those he warned of the jungle's deadliness. Even those who doubted his word were unable to completely dismiss him, and with that seed of doubt in their minds, none were able to bring themselves to enter Baya Kichaka's depths. Oh, there were a brave few who came close, but their fears caused them to see moving shadows and crouched beasts where none existed.
"And so over the years, the rumors had been spread so far and wide that they were no longer just rumors; they were legends with a life all their own. Riba had not even needed to come up with many ways in which he could say the jungle was dangerous; he just gave a few examples of its supposed deadliness, and those stories would spread, perhaps even with a few exaggerations.
"And then, as you might expect, those lions spread the word even farther, exaggerating Riba's already extravagant claims to the point that, after many repetitions of the tales, whole new stories were born of the old, even more frightening than the last. Eventually, the tales had spread not only to lions far and wide, but to other species of animals as well; and of course, the stories are still told to this day, many, many years after Riba's death."
Giza sighed. "Riba lived a long life as master of this jungle, unchallenged throughout his entire reign, and even now his tales, made so no one would enter this jungle, are still doing their job. And so Riba's plan worked better than I believe he ever imagined it would." Giza went silent as he finished his story, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Wow," Eupe was the first one to speak, staring at Giza as though mesmerized. "That's amazing! All this started because of this Riba guy?"
Giza nodded. "It did. It is amazing, isn't it, how the lies of one lion can trick the minds of so many?"
Hekima asked, "If no other lions besides Riba lived in Baya Kichaka, how then did you come to live here, Giza?"
"Ah, well, you see, Riba was not the only lion who lived here. At least not eventually. A small pride happened to pass by Baya Kichaka one day, and among them was a lioness with whom Riba fell in love. He chose to travel with them as they skirted around Baya Kichaka, and eventually he decided to tell the lioness the truth about the jungle, and ask her to live with him as his mate as well as keep the jungle's secret. She agreed, asking only that the rest of her pride be allowed to live with them as well, to which Riba consented. I live in this jungle because I am a descendent of those from that pride."
"You're related to Riba?" Eupe asked, his muzzle twisting in distaste. Clearly, he didn't think much of Riba, an opinion that Hekima shared.
Giza laughed, a deep, booming laugh. "Oh, no, I'm glad to say I'm not related to Riba," he assured Eupe. "I'm a descendent, instead, of some of Riba's adopted pride mates."
"Oh, good," Eupe said.
"That was a very interesting story, Giza," Hekima said. "Thank you for telling us about it."
"It was my pleasure. After all, you deserve to know the truth about this jungle, rather than the lies Riba created." Giza shook his head disapprovingly.
"So Baya Kichaka isn't at all like the stories say?" Eupe asked, shooting a still-nervous look at the jungle. "I mean, I hate to sound like a coward, but, uh…" He trailed off, seeming slightly embarrassed by the need for reassurance.
Hekima could understand, however. All of them had heard those stories from the time they were weeks old, and it was difficult to dispel all their wariness of Baya Kichaka within the few minutes they had been speaking with Giza. Some part of Hekima was finding it hard to believe Giza's claim, simply on the grounds that it was so different from what Hekima had heard since cubhood. Even so, the largest part of Hekima found himself trusting Giza, who had greeted them more openly and been kinder to them than Hekima and the others could have expected, given that this was their first meeting with the lion.
"It's not cowardice at all to still be concerned, Eupe," Giza assured him with a smile. "But I promise you Baya Kichaka is safe."
Eupe nodded, his shoulders relaxing, and Hekima felt most of his own tension leave as well as Giza met his eyes with an earnest gaze.
"By the way," Giza said, "may I ask where you are headed? This is quite out of the way for most journeys, after all."
Hekima and his friends once again explained their journey, traveling to the true King, following the prophesied star.
Giza listened with interest, and when they were finished, he said, "That is quite in incredible story, and the fact that it is true makes it even more so." He tilted his head, thinking. "It sounds like a long journey, as well, and skirting Baya Kichaka will only make it longer." Giza nodded to himself as though deciding something. "And, like I said before," he continued, "you all do look as though you could use some food and water. If you want, you're welcome to come through the jungle. There are many streams to drink from, and the prey is quite plentiful. Your group is welcome to both."
"You would not mind us hunting your prey?" Hekima asked in surprise. It was one thing for Giza to greet them so well and to tell them the truth of Baya Kichaka; it was another thing entirely for him to allow them to hunt the prey from his own territory. Hekima had not completely registered the offer when Giza had first presented it, having been sidetracked by both Giza's unexpected appearance and the fact that Giza had come from a jungle Hekima had thought to be, literally, a place of nightmares.
Giza nodded. "There's so much prey in Baya Kichaka that for your group to have some would in no way endanger my pride, so yes. As well, you'll be able to pass right through Baya Kichaka, rather than around. I imagine that would take a good deal of time off of your trip."
Hekima was even more impressed with Giza now. He realized how useful a trip through this jungle would be. They would have shade, water, and food, and on top of that, Giza was right that walking through Baya Kichaka would really cut down on their distance and time.
With a surge of gratitude to this lion they hardly knew, yet who was offering so much, Hekima said, "Thank you, Giza. Your offer is quite generous. If you truly do not mind, then we accept with gratitude."
The golden-maned lion smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. I imagine you would prefer a drink first before you hunt?" he asked rhetorically, continuing before they could respond. "Follow me and I'll lead you to the nearest stream. The cool, clear water should do wonders for your undoubtedly parched throats."
"Thank you," Hekima said again, his words echoed by the others in his group. Giza nodded, still smiling, and turned to head back into Baya Kichaka. With only the slightest hesitation, Hekima followed him, stepping into the infamous jungle with the others at his side, and Giza leading the way.