You guys are great. Tons of support already. I just posted a pilot chapter to see if the story would catch, and it did, before 24 hours even passed. So with further ado, I give you, chapter two.
A New Life - Chapter Two
Hasara wakes up with a start, a bad dream having filled his mind with fear. He sits up and blinks, allowing his eyes to adjust to the his surroundings. He looks around at the low lit stone walls. A cave, with a small crevice in the ceiling, allowing just enough light in for Hasara to see. In the middle of the dimly lit room, lay a small raised platform.
"Good to see you're awake! We were beginning to wonder how long you would be out." Comes a voice to Hasara's left. Hasara jumps up, claws drawn and growls in the direction of the incoming foe. He notices a large opening, the caves mouth, with a silhouetted figure standing in it.
"Calm yourself friend, I am not an enemy. You are in my home. I would expect a little more respect from someone who just got rescued."
'Rescued?' Hasara thinks. "What do you mean?"
"My advisor Rafiki found you sprawled out in the desert, with a young cub by your side. Myself and a few others retrieved you and brought you here, to our home."
The figure steps into the caves entrance, a large, well built gold lion, with a flowing red mane. He looks Hasara, who was still standing in a defensive position, and smiles. "Are you challenging me, here and now?"
Hasara drops his defense. "Challenging? What do you mean? For what?"
"You drew your claws at the king, that seems to be a classic challenge."
"The king?" Hasara questions. "Where am I? Who are you?"
"So many questions. I won't answer them all now. But you should know, you are in the Pride Lands. My Pride Lands. I am Simba, the King. Myself and my lionesses dragged you and a young cub out of the desert, and allowed you into our home."
"Wait, just one young cub?" Hasara asks frantically. Tears begin to well up in his eyes. "Who?"
"I believe she said her name was Imani?" Simba tells him. "Very friendly young cub. Already gets along with everyone."
"Where is she?" Hasara panics, looking around the cave. He trots around the cave, looking into small crevices in the cave wall. The other lion let's out a hearty laugh.
"Please do calm down friend, she is alright! She is out in the Pride Lands playing with Vitani. She is in no danger. Now, you've got to give me a little more detail about yourself. When we found you several days ago, you looked like you'd been mauled."
"You only found the one cub?" Hasara asks. "Where's Maji?'
'I have just one request from you. Take care of my son.' Hasara sits down, beginning to cry at the thought of his lost friend. His whole pride, everything he knew, gone in one night. Several tears roll down his muzzle.
"She was the only one with you when we found you. She didn't mention anyone else. What is the matter? What is your story?"
"My story is one I should not be proud of," Hasara sniffles, opening up to Simba. "I too am a king." Hasara looks down at his paws. "I was a king. Of a once great kingdom."
"Were you exiled?" Simba asks. A slender, young lioness with piercing blue eyes walks in the cave and sits next to Simba, her coat the same cream color as Imani's. "Ah Nala, just in time to hear uh... what'd you say your name was?"
"Hasara. My name is Hasara. And no I wasn't exiled. I was... attacked. My entire pride was taken out, all but me and two young cubs," Hasara fights back more tears. "It is hard for me to explain it all right now. Can I please just see my daughter? I want to know she's okay."
"Daughter? I take it that would be the young cub you had with you?" Nala asks. Hasara nods his head. "Simba, do you mind if I show Hasara here around a little? Then I'll take him to the water hole for dinner."
Simba smiles and nods his head. Nuzzling his mate, he takes one last glance at Hasara with his ruby red eyes, then walks out of the cave. "There is nothing to fear here Hasara. I know of you. You were a great king. I heard when you overthrew the tyrant Ugomvi. News travels across these lands."
"You've heard of me? I've never heard of this place," Hasara tells Nala. Nala laughs, her emerald eyes full of compassion.
"And that is okay. Now please come with me. Let me show you mine and Simba's kingdom." She turns around and walks out of the cave. Hasara shakes his head, lost in the events that have turned his life upside down.
'From everything to nothing in less than 24 hours.'
"Your daughter has taken a liking here in the past few days. She gets along with everyone. You've done well as a parent," Nala compliments.
"Wait, few days? How long have I been out?" Hasara turns and looks at his body. Black scabs has grown where the hyenas had ripped into his body. Someone had applied medicine to his wounds, as there was a gooey substance on his side.
"When Simba brought you back here, it was about five days ago." Hasara gasps, then, his stomach lets out a deep growl. Nala laughs. "And it seems to me that you're hungry. Let's go to the water hole. The hunting party should be back about now."
Hasara flinches at the thought. But shakes his head and follows Nala out of the cave. His jaw drops. Before him, lay what had to be miles of the most beautiful green grasslands he had ever seen. Within the grass lay patches of full grown acacia trees.
Several herds of different animals graze as far as Hasara can see. Just in front of the cave entrance, a large outcropping, a promontory of sorts. It appeared to be a place of gathering to show off something of importance. Above him, a large rock strut extends high into the evening sky.
To the west, the sun descends the horizon, casting beautiful colors over the grasslands. "Welcome to Pride Rock. Our home. A beacon of safety for all around us. Standing at the top of Pride Rock, everything the light touches is Simba's kingdom."
'The same thing my father told me about the Great Tree.' Hasara looks around, taking it all in "It's beautiful. I must say. Greener than where I came from."
Nala laughs. "It wasn't always this way. We too have had our share of troubles. But that's a story for another time. Let's head down to the water hole. Dinner should be waiting for us there."
Nala proceeds down a stone path running down along the side of the large L shaped Pride Rock. Hasara follows suit, still looking around at the glory of the Pride Lands.
"Is dinner only served at the water hole?" Hasara questions.
"Only in certain days do we eat at the water hole. Today is extra special. It was one of our lionesses first hunts, and we pray to the Kings of the Past that she was rewarded well for it."
"I pray she was rewarded too," Hasara says as his stomach growls again. Nala laughs. The two fall into silence, and several minutes later, reach their destination.
The water hole, a large pond with a few scattered trees. Around it, several animals drink from the calm waters. Just ahead of Hasara and Nala, a large pack of lions gather around just off the banks of the water hole.
"Daddy!" Imani yells, peaking out beneath a young dark tawny colored lioness. She runs to her father, immediately jumping on him. Hasara falls over on his back, holding Imani close to his chest. "You're okay!"
"Of course I am sweetheart. I just needed a nap, is all!" Hasara explains to her. Imani rubs up against his side. Tears well up in Hasara's eyes. He shakes them away, trying to stay composed.
"I'm glad you could join us Hasara, please, come sit with me." Simba offers, patting the ground next to him. Hasara obliges, and walks around the large group of watching lionesses. "To all, this is Hasara. Most of you have already met his daughter Imani. I expect you all to give him as much kindness and respect as you gave to her."
Hasara looks around, noting all of the lionesses stares. One in particular, the tawny lionesses whom Imani was originally standing with, was looking straight down at her paws. She seemed to be avoiding Hasara's gaze.
"I would like to personally congratulate Ushindi on her first successful hunt. She brought back a fantastic kill all on her own. We are all proud!" All of the lionesses let out a roar, and Simba follows up with an even louder roar. "In tradition, I would be the first to eat, followed by Nala. Today, as a welcoming gift, I would like Hasara to go first." A few of the lionesses look at Simba confused. Including the lioness who was staring at the ground.
"I can't do that, Simba. This is your pride. You eat first. I don't want to intrude." Hasara declines Simba's offer, looking at the dead gazelle.
"Are you planned on going somewhere? Are you not planned on staying with us?" Simba looks at Hasara, puzzled. Hasara looks down at Imani's pleading eyes. "There is plenty of room for you both here. If there are no objections from my pride?"
Simba looks around at all of the lionesses. A few smiling, some with concerned looks on their faces, and one in particular looking at Hasara with a look he couldn't quite place a paw on. He meets her gaze, and she quickly looks away. 'What is up with her?'
"Dad aren't we staying? It's not like the Great Tree but I love it here! And I already have friends! and everyone is so nice! It's perfect!" Hasara holds on to his daughter's words. Where was he to go? He had lost everything he knew. He couldn't go back, so why not just stay here.
"I was not planned on staying in your way Simba." Hasara looks at Simba's ruby eyes. Simba raises an eyebrow. "But I have no where else to go. I've lost everything." Hasara bows down, something he was not used to. "I cordially request to join your pride."
Everyone goes silent and looks at Simba. "I don't see how I could say no! Hasara, Imani, welcome to my pride!"
I don't know why I had such a hard time writing this short chapter. Anyway, leave me a review, let me know what you think. And questions or suggestions? PM me. Thanks guys and gals. Also, if there are any really good artists reading this story, PM me. I have a request for the title art.