I. Debts To Pay
"Hold on, dad. We will be fine." Repeated Kunga for maybe hundredth time. In fact he preferred not to ask himself honestly if they would.
Coming of summer rains happened in the worst possible moment. Kunga's father, Jali, got his injure just in the end of dry season. Simple hunting accident would have been a death sentence for lone rogue, but as old, greyfurred lion had his son to take care over him, would was just a painful nuisance. For a time being.
As sky suddenly burst with falling water, all went wrong. Kunga even failed to notice when his father's wound started to fester. Old lion got a fever and each time his son left him, while was going to hunt, shivered to find dead parent. Jali resisted first wave of the illness, but looking on nasty cut that no lion could totally clean, Kunga knew that return of grave danger was just a matter of time. That was why he was both assuring father that he had all under control and thinking what to do, for make that statement real.
They took a den, under a fallen baobab. It was placed on a small hummock and thanks to that not so many water flooded the lair itself. But still these weren't conditions for wounded lion to recover. Kunga treated that shelter as temporally stay. But he had to invent some way to save his father during that stop.
Rain was hitting dry savannah hard and soil, unable to receive so many water turned to hard armour of mud. Torrents and small rivers of water ran to ravines of plain and in the night that father and son stayed in baobab den, lightings of storm enlightened landscape with bizarre flashes of blinding light. In normal conditions Kunga would have rate it as amazing and beautiful spectacle. In fact Jali did.
"Look!" Her whispered with weak voice. "So powerful… so pure. Forces we will never fully understand, that rule us, in spite what we decide or think."
"Sleep, dad." Said Kunga. "Tomorrow morning I will look for acacias and get some bark to lower your fever. But until than you should…"
"Don't fight it, son. It just my time." Replied older lion.
In the same moment another lighting struck. In flash of light, Kunga saw his father. His parent looked like just older copy of young rogue, with the same greyish furs and manes, yet in that fraction of second, son learned how old his patent actually was. Jali was almost twelve, what – in addition to hard rogue's life – meant real limit of creature potential. "But I won't lose him!" Thought Kunga. "I let mother go, even not knowing about it. I will do everything to keep dad with me as long as it's possible. There still is a chance…"
He shivered, thinking on that possibility. Of course, he didn't hesitate, but perspective of going back was in the same way hypnotizing and scaring. He didn't want to be there again and of course craved it with every fibre of his body. He knew that all the joy he could received on that cursed land would be paid back with suffering quickly. But fortunately there was no space for thinking and considering. He had to ask pride for help and Pridelands were the closest kingdom he knew. They had shaman to cure father, fertile land to feed him in times of recovery and noble queen that would agree to help. Invite them with her mild, gentle voice, promising sympathy and care and…
Kunga shook his head, dispersing these thought. Every dream made him weaker and she was a dream. He met her few months back, he knew her just for time of one day and had head full of wonderful memories based only on that moment. But he wasn't going back to see her… only to help father. If he have had any choice ("Stars! I haven't! So wonderful… no, so terrible!") he would avoid Pridelands with a decent distance. Distance from her ("Does she remember me?"). But with choice given: to watch father die or take his odds in the kingdom, he had but one option.
"You know…" Continued old lion. "I really miss your mother. I hope to meet her on the Sky. And it's time for you to take your life in your paws. No you could find yourself a mate and start…"
"We are going to Pridelands." Said Kunga, interrupting Jali. "They have a shaman to help you."
"Pridelands?" Asked old lion with weak voice. "Oh, I recall it! Eight months ago, when that cute queen of theirs had a stretched paw…"
"They will fix you, dad." Said Kunga quickly, as if he wanted to muffle any reference to the queen. "Just rest. Tomorrow we will set off in Priderock direction. I just hope that we will find some acacias in the way."
Bark of acacias had some healing effects, one of these was lowering temperature and at least partially curing the inflammation. But to save Jali the would had to be cleaned and lion himself should rest for long weeks and these conditions Kunga couldn't secure for his father, in spite of all love he felt.
They finally fell asleep. Young lion kept holding his paw on father's neck, trying to sense every sign of incoming fever attack. Fortunately they both made it to the dawn without any problems, at least with no greater problems that they were dealing earlier. Rain was falling still and lighting struck, but Kunga was so tired, that dreary sounds lullabied him to sleep.
He was dreaming about her, what was that unique example of a dream that could be a delight and nightmare in the very same time.
\/\/\/
Uru always liked rainy seasons. Not just because she disliked heat, but simple she wanted to get wet with falling drops of rain. As far as she remembered her best cubbish plays were connected with water and in spite she was over a half when her first rains came, she still acted like a pranky cub then. Well, those days Mufasa was in the roughly the same age and his young mother couldn't believe that prince could be bored.
"Mom, mom!" Kept calling Mufasa. "When you make that water to stop falling?"
Oh, that was something new in complains and wants of prince, so lioness came to son, who was lying on the doorstep of cave. She laid down next to him and started to lick his head, although he was already bathed that day. He was irritated and bored, but not that pinned Uru's attention. She couldn't help, but she smiled, repeating silently what Mufasa had told.
"So, mom?"
"What do you mean, my dear?" She asked. "I can't stop the rain."
"Why? Aren't you the queen?"
"Queen can't give orders to the sky." Said lioness carefully. "It's… beyond my range of my power and competence."
"But dad could?" Inquired Mufasa.
"No, it's also beyond range of dad's competence as well." Replied Uru with smile. And of course, he had to hear that. Not Mufasa – Ahadi.
King was just entering the ledge of Priderock and somehow heard his mate's words in spite of whisper of the rain. It was amazing, as Ahadi – usually rather poor scout, failing to hear many things – instantly detected every single word that could be taken as a criticism about his rule. He succeeded to catch actual complains, stupid and recklessly forwarded gossips and finally sentences that had nothing to do with king – as Mufasa's – but in ruler's ears sounded like an outrage. Outrage given by family member was ten times worse.
It was not real, but Ahadi made it real. He clenched his jaws and entered the cave with fast steps. He wanted to do all to avoid impression he hid from any form of criticism. He stopped on the doorstep (his backside was still outside pride's keep), just in front of his mate and son.
"Yes, my dears? What is the problem with my incompetence." Said, trying to keep calm tone.
Uru smiled even wider, but in next second she realised that Ahadi took her words seriously, not knowing about their joking context.
"Oh… my love, that was my stupid jest." She replied.
"Yeah!" Added Mufasa. "Mom said just you couldn't stop the rain."
Sometimes truth is unacceptable for suspicious mind. Prince said what was the point, but Ahadi, thinking that his son and mate were leering at him, didn't believe. He looked on Mufasa and replied with seemingly calm voice.
"I understand." And he turned to Uru. "I was on the western border, next to Green Den. It's seems peacefully there."
It was an impulse. King doesn't have to report anything to his mate. Never. Ever. Well… save for that situation, where the monarch was actually not a ruler, but a mate of lioness in charge. Just two years back Ahadi was simply a rogue, wandering plains and seeking fortune. He reach one, at least that was he thought. He met, fell in love and mated with princess Uru, daughter of Priderock's king, Mohatu. As old monarch passed away about half a year after, Ahadi became a king, but in nothing but title. Pride knew that real monarch was Mohatu and the power over land came down to Uru. Ahadi was just a addition to the queen – necessary to give kingdom a heir, but nothing more. Former rogue at first seemed to ignore his very unsure status – happiness, after sudden turn of fate and love to his mate made him mostly immune to envy and spotted pride. But in time he started to suffer more and more from being just 'queen's mate'. His behaviour became more erratic and violent, especially towards these rare guests that visited Pridelands. Birth of Mufasa – quickly changing 'prince consort' into 'father of the heir' – came in best possible moment, calming down most of Ahadi's pains. But that was not enough. After over a year of being official king, former rogue believed he was a king indeed. That was why again he started to hear complains and blackmouthing everywhere, even between his son and mate.
"All right." Replied Uru after a moment of embarrassing silence. "I believe you handle well with keeping us safe. But I guess you would have the same problems as I have, if you have to keep an eye over our son."
"I'm bored, dad." Said Mufasa.
"I think you take care of him, while we go on hunting." Threw Uru in. "Show him something interesting and I will lead girls to get our dinner."
Ahadi for a second was thinking, how to respond on that. Idea that he was a cubsitter, while his queen was doing a real job, seemed not appealing at all. But on the other paw, opposing that request would make him fool and – Stars forbid! – suggest he didn't want to spend time with his son. He sighed and replied.
"Of course, my dear."
"Have a good fun, my brave lions." Said Uru, smiling and licking Ahadi's then Mufasa's forehead.
Hunting party didn't wait until it got clear – they set off into rain, the way that Uru liked. In the cave stayed just Ona with Onya and Mboni – other cubs of that season. Mufasa could hang with two kitties, but Uru clearly suggested that prince should go with king, whatever was the plan of Ahadi.
"Right, son." Said lion with a bit unsure voice. "Maybe we will go to Gorge River to see if there is a possibility of flood."
"Yeah, dad." Said Mufasa. Even if king said that they were going simply to sit and get wet on foot of Priderock, prince would agree with compare joy. Whatever Ahadi thought, for young prince he was not just a father and king but a role model in every inch of his being. "Let's go."
\/\/\/
Uru loved to hunt. She had to take a long break of any physical activity, caused by pregnancy and an accident she had about eight months earlier, but when Mufasa became old enough to stay in cave under care of some other lioness, Uru started to lead hunting team herself. In a way she felt a bit guilty to leave solid part of Mufasa's upbringing to others, but on the second paw she hoped that it allowed Ahadi to spend more time with his son.
With some sixth sense – or maybe it was cold logic, but lioness was simply to gentle to admit it openly – she understood most of her mate's problems. She knew that strong and proud lion suffered a severe trauma of once being an outcast, if not an inferiority complex, after being put in his current position. But Uru never liked to think about it. Some voice inside her mind whispered that she never actually loved her mate and she chose to make him king mostly to secure the kingdom. Of course, many other voices assured her she loved her mate with genuine feeling, but only one false tone could break whole harmony. That was why queen preferred to leave some things on their own ways, focusing on her current duties: being queen, being mother and being huntress.
Sandyfurred Zari was running just beside her, as always. She was Uru's best friend since early cubhood times. Their friendship was strong and proved, also in very dramatic circumstances. When Ahadi came to Pridelands, Zari had a clear crush on him. She hoped that he would fathered her cub and stay close to kingdom, as her mate, if Mohatu allowed. But it all happened in different way – Ahadi stayed, in kingdom itself, but as mate of Uru. Zari let her dreams go – both because of good of pride and her love to best friend, Uru. Queen tried to do anything to somehow make up for that sacrifice. But Zari didn't get bitter – she still was friend and advisor of Uru and as they both shared the same passion for hunting, as not a duty, but as pleasure, they still were close and trusted each other. Also friends used to tell each other much more than anyone else, doesn't matter if those are nice or harsh words.
"That's not Uru I knew." Said Zari, after water buffalo ran away they trap. "Year back you wouldn't let it go."
Rain kept falling, covering land with greyish coat of mud and filling air with heavy wall of water. Hunting team laid under baobab on the hill, taking a short break before another try. Only queen and her friend stayed under open sky, being lashed by streams of rain, but they both liked it. Also sound of weather allowed them to speak freely, being sure that no one of pride would hear that.
"I'm not even four. As well as you." Noticed Uru. "Are you suggesting, I'm getting old already?"
"I doubt if that has anything to do with age." Replied Zari.
"So you think that, because of Mufasa and…"
"No." Disagreed sandyfurred. "Neither with pregnancy. And…" She added, seeing expression of her friend. "…not with that accident, eight months back. It's nothing connected with body, however…" She smiled. "You should keep your condition. I overran you easily today."
"I will do my best. But Zari, what is that you mentioned?"
Sandy lioness looked on the queen and for a moment was gazing on her with inquiring stare. Uru didn't like it at all, because usually such stares meant Zari wanted to speak about some hard topics. That time she was absolutely right about that.
"Something in your mind or heart, that keeps your distracted." Replied Zari. "I'm currently trying to find what it is."
"Feel free to guess, my friend." Said Uru, although she actually preferred not to hear any guesses.
"Right…" Nodded Zari. "So that has nothing to do with being mother. Your pregnancy went smoothly and if not that leg injure, you would have regained your condition from old times… It's also not connected to that accident, at least not directly…"
"Not directly…" involuntary repeated Uru. These words awoke a very bad feeling in her – partial understanding.
"But there is some link. I noticed some strange signals from then on… Do you remember that lion? Dunga…"
"Kunga." Corrected Uru, before she understood that was a mistake. Queen's, not Zari's. sandyfurred smiled with bitter smile.
"As I thought. Not good."
"What?" Asked Uru with uncertain voice. "What do you mean?"
"You remember him perfectly." Explained Zari. "You reacted in time shorter than blink of an eye, telling his name. By the way: what is the name of his father?"
"E… um… Jali." Said the queen. "Of course, I remember sir Jali…"
"Because he is Kunga's father." Finished Zari. "I think I followed your way of thinking, where you remember that event because of him. You seem to be obsessed with that lion."
"Don't be ridicules!" Sighed Uru. "I met with him one. We spend one day together, while I was half-dimmed with pain."
"Definitely, he helped you to stand it, didn't he?" Asked Zari. Then she looked directly into Uru's eyes. "When it was? Give me an exact date."
"Eight months and… five days ago." Replied the queen after a short while of thinking. "It was last actual week of rainy season, I was in about thirds or fourth week of pregnancy. I dropped hunting with you about week before."
"Correct!" Replied Zari smiling. Then her smile died. "Too bloody correct. Have you any reason to keep that date in mind? Tell me, when you and Ahadi were announced mates?"
"A…" Uru felt a sting of panic, but then she replied. "It was week before first rain came, what makes fifteen months back from now. I member that you hunted a water buffalo and an addax then."
"Correct… almost correct."
"It was when I said."
"Yes." Nodded Zari. "But it took significantly more time to remind it, than in case of Junga…"
"Kunga!" corrected Uru, but then narrowed her eyes in embarrassment.
"All right, I will count the time. When Mufasa was born?"
"Six weeks after rains come. It was almost a full moon and that day you caught two zebras." The queen almost shouted on one breath. Zari nodded.
"Yes, that data you recalled faster than about Ahadi, but slower than about Lunga…"
"Ku…" Started Uru, but then asked with harsh voice. "What is your point?"
"Just… be careful what you feel." Replied Zari. "That lion marked you with kind of want, nostalgia. He won't make any trouble for you in the future, as I doubt we would ever see him again, but I think that obsession you have about him means something is not right between you and Ahadi."
"I love my mate." Declared Uru, but listening to own words she judged these sounded a bit false.
"I have no doubts about it…" Assured Zari. "Just…understand my care. We are friends, we are telling each other everything, right?"
"Sometimes I regret that…" Replied Uru. "But you're right. Everything."
"Anyway, that's not a surprise for you, but in my heart Ahadi is in the same place that was when he came to us. Don't worry, I accepted you are together long time ago… but still I do care about lion I love and lionesses I consider as my sister I never had. So I want you two to be happy and if you can't fix some issues between you, I must make you to."
"I understand." Said Uru. "Believe me: I appreciate that."
"If you really welcome my advices, apply them." Replied Zari.
"I will." Replied Uru. "I'm going to show Ahadi more of what I feel. And no more Kunga. He's just a past event."
"Good." Smiled Zari. "Let's back to the team."
But in fact she shivered inside. She had a brilliant memory and Uru was gifted in that as well. So sandy lioness recalled a simple fact that on day of Ahadi's and Uru's mate proclamation they hunted just two gnus. A water buffalo and an addax was the spoil of the other day. When Uru didn't hunt, because had an accident. That day Kunga took care about her.
\/\/\/
The flood was not an issue. All streams from nearby came down to Gorge, then Gorge River, filled it with water, but tide was continuously going further to Border River. On their way there and back king Ahadi managed to get another laurel leaf for his glorious name, as he saved young calf of zebra, who almost drowned in the mud. Strong lion ignored terrified yelps of herbivore and put it out from the swamp. Then – instead of eating a potential victim – he let it go. Just for the record: mother of that calf was wandering there because its herd was scattered and its mother was hunted by lionesses team and eaten also by the king few hours later. But all those details are really secondary to our story.
Mufasa witnessed deed of his father and when king went out from the swamp, dripping with water and mud, cub asked him with curiosity.
"Dad… that was a zebra. Why haven't you hunt it?"
"Are you hungry already?" Asked Ahadi. "I could catch her now."
"No… I just wondered, why haven't you done it."
"There is no need for us to eat right now." Replied king. "And this zebra is a creature given to our power by the Circle of Life. We hunt zebras, but also we care about zebras. If not those herbivores, we would starve to death. In time you will learn way of the Circle and see when you have to be a predator and when a keeper."
"Yes, dad." Said Mufasa and his voice was sounding with admire towards father. But Ahadi – most likely got deaf about that due to morning talk – failed to notice. "Are we going home?"
They set off to Priderock and arrived just after hunting team was back. Lionesses came with just one zebra (as we already know: mother of saved calf), but that would be enough for pride until next hunt. Of course no one started to eat. Perhaps lionesses were waiting for king to come. At least they should. But in fact they just watched as Uru didn't eat and do the same as their queen.
"Oh, you are back already." Said Ahadi, a bit confused.
"We could go again and hunt a bit longer, if you prefer to have house for your own for while." Replied Uru.
Lionesses laughed with merry and airy laughter, that had nothing to do with leering on king. But Ahadi read it that way. Of course, he didn't blame his queen, but assumed that his incompetence is so clear that Uru could embarrass him involuntary, even unconsciously. He just lowered his ears.
"I'm just surprised by you extraordinary efficiency as a hunting leaderess." Said with quiet voice.
"Thank you, dear." Replied queen. She came to mate and licked his cheek, then gave a lick to Mufasa. "But in fact Zari saved the day. It's her kill."
Hearing that sandy lioness raised her ear and tail in expression of embarrassment and pride. She couldn't helped that, but she liked to be praised in presence of the king. Blink of an eye after Zari hear that, she was shook by a striking thought. "Speaking with Uru about old fascinations lying deep was very… blunt for me. We might… have very similar problems…"
"All right, that's cool, but maybe we eat finally?" Asked Mufasa and lionesses laughed again.
They formed a circle in main chamber of the cave and started a meal. Slowly a tensed atmosphere ceased and all troubled lion of Priderock managed to throw doubts out of their minds. Only Uru, sitting between Mufasa and Zari kept thinking about what happened eight months before. She was looking into doorstep of cave and wall of rain, standing just outside the pride's keep. She was eating in mindless manner, being away in her mind. Zari must had noticed it, because she nudged her friend in side, in discrete way. Uru looked on sandyfurred and said with her silent stare.
"Wake up! He is not here. Ahadi is."
"He is not here." The Queen replied in the same voiceless manner. "Oh, Stars!"
She was completely wrong. He was there.
Wet and tired lion entered the cave with hobbling steps. On his back laid Jali, apparently unconsciousness, after efforts of long way, or stricken by a fever. Seeing that sever lionesses raised up and ran to newcomer, relieving him from his living cargo and carefully putting old rogue on the floor. Just a second after that tired Kunga fell down.
Uru was next to him in a time shorter than blink of an eye. She called: "Get the shaman!" Then she knelled down to Kugna. After a short check that he was alive, she forced herself to look on Jali and check older rogue. He was burning, but save for fever no other injure seemed to be present. A skilled shaman like Rastarian - or even his trainee, Rafiki - could save newcomer easily.
"What is a meaning of this!" Growled Ahadi, feeling a sudden wave of anger.
Attention of all lionesses, including Uru herself, was directed towards these two strays who entered his cave without a warning. "That's also Uru's cave!" Thought the king but that enraged him even more. He realised that was going to be settled. If he throw rogues away it would be his cave also. If he don't – that would be Uru's place exclusively.
"Help…" Said Kunga with weak voice. But he wasn't addressing the king – he looked on the queen. "My father is dying. We need a shaman!"
"What the crack you've done!?" Gasped Ahadi, loosing his temper. "You came to my lair without warning and permission…"
"Sire…" Said Ona to king's ear. "Most likely he was calling, but we failed to hear him because of rain."
"You must save him…" Whispered Kunga. Uru kneeled again next to lion and replied to him.
"We will, don't worry."
"No!" called Ahadi, although he knew that he lost that battle before it started. "I didn't offer him my hospitality."
He felt a wave of surprise among lionesses. Actually they were just scared by sudden approach of guests, but also worried about eventual argument in royal family. However Ahadi read it on his own way. He almost heard voice like: "And who the hell would care? Uru runs this place…"
"You did…" Panted Kunga, turning his stare on Ahadi. He didn't want to do it, but he decided that he couldn't afford any risk. If he wanted to save father, he need to have king… at least neutral. "Eight months ago. You said we are welcome here anytime. You have some debts to pay."
Not only Kunga, Uru and Zari had good memories. All pride had, so Ahadi realised that he was lost – he had to take care about wounded incomer. But in last impulse of defiance, he replied, trying to keep his voice calm and decisive. He almost succeeded.
"Silence! How you dare to ask me for hospitality this way?"
"I don't." Uttered greymanned. "I'm just putting my and my father's life under paws of the queen. I believe she will be merciful."
He raised his head with clear effort, but for short moment he met stare of Uru. In that while a flood of thoughts and emotions joined that two. They both went back, to a day eight months earlier, when it all started.