"Good people of Nilo!"
Hannah sat placidly on a chair, watching the young Greencloak address the crowds gathered before him.
"We stand here this afternoon to administer a scared liquid to seven young children tonight, in hopes that the rare connection between man and beast will join a child here to an animal."
Today was Hannah's Nectar Ceremony. In a few minutes, this Greencloak - named Jabari - would hand to her the bowl he held in his hands. She would sip, and perhaps an animal would come to her.
She had always longed for a companion of some sort. She had few friends in this bustling city, called in simple terms, Tau - City of the Lion. It was one of the largest cities in Nilo, and by far one of the most populated. Hannah's few friends were orphans who had no love for anyone in the city, save for her. She often helped to feed them, but that was it. She had never gone out of her way to make time for them, and vice versa.
The people gathered were silent, watching the seven children with intensity. Hannah was fifth in line, preceded by four higher-ranked children. Traditions in this city were much different than the ones south. While the tribes closer to the southern tip of Nilo used tribal customs, Tau was much more developed and tended to do things in the way Eura did.
"Zazu, son of Eshen, please come forward."
Hannah watched this boy rise to his feet and walk elegantly toward the front of the stage, where Jabari waited for him. Zazu was a noble boy - son of a wealthy merchant. He stood in the place of honor, as did most higher civilizations in Eura.
"Receive the Nectar of Ninani."
Zazu took the bowl in his hands and sipped. The crowd leaned forward, ready, as he was the most likely of all children to call something.
At first, Hannah felt nothing out of the ordinary.
Then, the ground rumbled.
There was a warm glow of light next to Zazu, and out from the flash stepped a large crane.
Hannah yawned. This would be the fourth spirit animal she had seen summoned in her lifetime.
The boy put his hand on the crane's head and smiled. "She's a female." He said loud enough for the crowds to hear.
There came the respectful applause for him and his new companion. As he went to sit down, Hannah saw him smiling brightly. She knew he'd be congradulated later on.
"Kojo, son of Saski, step forward." Jabari announced.
The blacksmith boy did as he was told, looking grim.
"Receive the Nectar of Ninani."
Kojo sipped the Nectar, and as predicted, there was no calling. The boy sat back down, not looking the least bit disappointed.
"Kiara, daughter of the Orphanage, please come forward."
The young girl stood up and walked to the center of the stage. Hannah smiled slightly as she recognized one of the orphans she tended to. The long light hair was a dead giveaway, as she'd never asked the orphans any of their names. Kiara. Pretty.
"Receive the Nectar of Ninani."
Kiara nervously took the bowl in her hands and sipped, wincing slightly at the taste. She stood there for about six seconds, waiting, before she turned and walked quickly back to her seat.
Jabari seemed to be considering the remaining children. "Imani, son of Cancer, please step forward."
This young boy was a shopkeeper's son. He was quite shy, as Hannah had experienced before.
"Receive the Nectar of Ninani."
Hannah thought Imani would trip over his own two feet as he had walked up to the Greencloak, but now she feared he would drop the bowl as he sipped. Once he had, however, he didn't even wait. The boy practically ran back to his seat.
"Hannah, daughter of Claus, please come forward." There was a hint of amusement in Jabari's tone.
The girl stood up, her best dress swishing in the hot breeze of Nilo. She stepped forward, toward this Greencloak, and faced the crowd. All eyes were on her, and although her parents were not known as well as Zazu's, they made fair trade with anyone.
"Receive the Nectar of Ninani."
The bowl was handed to her, and Hannah took it delicately. Holding it to her lips, she took a single, small sip.
The flavor was sweet, familiar. She smiled in recognition at the taste of honey roasted chicken, but with a tad bit more honey than she liked. Still, her eyes teared up.
A darkness had descended over the city, and Hannah looked up to see a huge dark cloud blotting out the sun. Spirit animals from the crowd started to call out in a pandemonium - horrible sounds that came together in a sort of harmony.
Hannah started to itch. Her skin buzzed as though she had thousands of ants crawling all over her. She looked down. Nothing.
The ground rumbled beneath her feet, and a great roar had risen up above the screams of the animals. Hannah almost fell when a bright light overtook her vision, and a grand lion was left standing on the stage before the crowd.
There was a stunned silence.
Hannah backed away with a short gasp, her eyes fixed on the huge feline before her. It was huge, much larger than normal. Its head came well above her shoulders.
It wasn't possible. A Lion? Here?
Hannah has no idea what to do. This lion couldn't be her spirit animal. Lions were never spirit animals - just like leopards. Cabaro the Lion, a Great Beast, had died in a battle avenging Uraza the Leopard, centuries ago.
So how was it possible that one was standing before her now?
Its mane was thick and bronze, with tinges of gold highlights. The eyes were bright golden, penetrating her skin.
Was it waiting for something?
Hannah, captivated by the dazzling eyes, held out her hand toward the huge cat, waiting for it to make a move. At first, it blinked, as though disinterested. With a feeling of dread, the girl watched the lion turn away.
She lowered her hand.
Then, the Lion, as though by some invisible connection, turned back to her, meeting her gaze. Hannah felt her heart swell as it took two steps forward and pressed its head against her shoulder.
A feeling of great pride swelled in her chest as she surveyed the crowds, her eyesight sharpening in order to pick out individuals from the mass. Every murmur was heard, and she could smell the bakery three blocks down, delicious bread being pulled from the oven.
She turned her eyes to consider the lion. It was obviously a male, judging by the thick mane of fur. His eyes bore deep into hers, searching her soul. It was clear to Hannah that this lion considered her an equal, despite him being pretty much royalty in the animal world.
The insight faded, leaving the girl dizzy.
She couldn't believe it. A lion! She had called a lion as her spirit animal! As impossible as it was, he was there, rubbing against her shoulders like an overgrown kitten. And he was purring. Purring!
Leading him back to her chair, Hannah sat down, never ripping her eyes from the magnificent creature. He lay down before her, his bright gaze looking around him and taking in his surroundings. The simple twitch of the tip of his tail told her that he was bored of the crowds already.
The Greencloak seemed to have ripped out of a trance. "Oh, a-ah, Kwame." He stuttered. "Son of Walter, r-recieve the Nectar of Ninani."
Kwame stood up and walked - cautiously - to the front, his eyes focused on the lion. He sipped, and a goat appeared in a flash of light
Nala - daughter of Renoir - was the last to go, and she didn't call anything.
"Three cheers for three summons!" Jabari called, still looking at the lion.
The crowd exploded.
The lion stood up and gave a roar unlike any other animal Hannah had heard. The crowd silenced, and the animals within the mass all lowered their heads. The newly-called crane and goat did as well.
It seemed as though a king had returned to his throne.
Later that evening, Hannah entered her home and pounded up the stairs with her lion in tow. Her parents had not been home all day, so they didn't know about him. Launching onto her bed, the girl snuggled into her covers, grunting from sheer exhaustion.
The lion watched her closely, hunched near the door. He seemed to be rather irritated.
"Sorry, buddy." Hannah said apologetically. "The bed is too small."
He growled low in his throat, but it wasn't aggressive. Rather, it was sulky, and Hannah felt bad for leaving him on the floor.
"Alright." She finally said. "Come on up, King."
The lion brightened and stood up, pouncing on the bed. It freaked under his weight as he curled up with her.
Hannah ruffled his mane. "King, I can't believe I called you." She whispered, using the name she had chosen for him. "You're amazing."
King purred gently, seeming to enjoy his new name.
A lion. Hannah still couldn't believe it. She had a lion as her spirit animal. One that looked exactly like the legendary guardian of northern Nilo. King was gorgeous, and she already felt their bond was as strong as any other.
The door slammed. "Hannah!"
She sat up. "Mom! Dad!"
Getting out of the bed, Hannah ran to the door and charged down the stairs, jumping into the embrace of her parents.
"It was great! There were so many people!"
Her father set her down. "Who called an animal?"
"Well," Hannah wrung her hands. "Zazu called a crane, and Kwame summoned a goat."
She looked up at her parents.
"And, I called an animal too."
At once, both sets of eyes widened.
Hannah beamed. "He's so nice! I love him!"
Her mother blinked. "Oh? Call him down then."
The girl turned to the staircase and smiled brightly. "Hey, King! Come down and meet my parents."
There was a creaking, a grunt, and then soft pawsteps as the lion left the room and came into view at the top of the stairs.
Silence from her parents.
King yawned lazily and descended the stairs gracefully, coming to stand beside Hannah and stare intently at the two grownups in the room. His human snuggled into his mane.
Finally, after a few minutes of stunned silence, her father spoke. "T-that's a lion."
Hannah nodded. "His name's King."
"I think not." An unfamiliar voice spoke from the doorway.
King growled when the man standing behind the family, leaning against the doorframe. There was a green cloak draped over his shoulders, and a sloth climbing slowly up his left arm.
He stepped forward. "My name is Keith. And that's no ordinary lion, Hannah."
Hannah put a hand on King's head defensively. "Of course not. He's my lion."
"Hannah, dear, have you heard of the recent return of the Four Fallen?"
The girl shook her head.
Keith smiled slightly. "Eight Fallen beasts are returning to Erdas as spirit animals. Briggan, Uraza, Jhi, and Essix have already been apprehended."
"What's that got to do with King?"
"Because," Keith held up his hand. "while the Four Fallen return, so do the Fallen Avengers. Halawir, Suka, Cabaro, and Arax. A prophecy foretold it."
Hannah winced. "It did?"
"A famed assassin will tend a natural killer in exile. A girl who would be a fisher will befriend a hunter. A child who is also a thief will call a king. A prince who wishes for skills will summon a warrior. And in the shower of battle in the shadows of a cold palace, a war will be won . . . or lost." Keith recited, his eyes on King. "You are a thief, yes?"
Hannah's mother responded. "Yes. She is. Always stealing from others and running."
"And the Lion is the king of the pride, is he not?"
"Yes . . ." Hannah was nodding.
Keith smiled. "In conclusion, dear Hannah, that lion of yours is not just any lion."
Hannah froze as she turned to stare at King.
"His name's not King, Hannah." Keith said calmly. "His name is Cabaro. Avenger of Uraza."