A/N: Hey guys! Ok so I just got a boatload of reviews and each one has been really helpful and encouraging. Thanks, oh one of my reviewers brought up a really good point about Rafiki. He's about 10 years old here and mandrills will leave about 40-50 years. Lions live about 20-25 years, so it's possible for him to have been around for that long. BTW this story is about 20-30 years before the first Lion King. Anyways hope you enjoy!
Chapter 9: New Friends
Jolina awoke much later than she usually did, to warm sunshine flooding into the den. Yawning, she felt an odd, fuzzy feeling pressing against her back. She suddenly remembered how she'd found the lion and Rafiki had treated his injuries. Rising, she saw that he was still asleep, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he woke up, and he would need to eat. Looking back at the peaceful figure, she bounded off into the oasis in search of prey.
The lion slowly opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as sunlight poured into the den.
"How long have I been out?" he thought.
Then, after his bearings had slowly returned, he realized that the den he was laying in was not his own, nor was the lush shrubbery outside part of his ruined home.
"What the..." buthis thoughts were interrupted as a lioness cautiously entered the cave. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and when she flashed him a timid smile, he knew right then and there that he'd died and gone to heaven.
"Hi..." the lioness's melodious voiced coaxed him from his trance.
"Uh, hi" he stuttered. "Umm... Am I dead?" he asked.
The lioness smiled, "No, your alive."
"Oh well, I figured I was cause' I thought you were an ang- nevermind."
"You thought I was a what?" the lioness asked.
"It's not important, uhhh, could you tell me where I am?"
Jolina looked at the young lion and was almost transfixed by his warm blue eyes.
"Oh, what is wrong with me, he's going to think I'm as crazy as Rafiki."
Tearing herself from her mental rant, she softly answered,
"I know you must be confused right now, but about a day ago I found you in a wasteland. I brought you here and a friend of mine, who is a healer, treated your wounds."
The lion slowly absorbed what she had said and then a thought hit him,
"Wait, I don't remember an oasis being anywhere near my home, it must be pretty far off, how did...did you carry me here all by yourself?"
"Well I half-carried, half-dragged you." she answered.
"Whoa you must be pretty strong for a girl, I mean not that you looked small or weak or anything, your a good size, OH NO not that your fat..."
Jolina cocked her head and giggled to herself as the lion rambled on. She saved him from further embarrassment by interrupting his babbling and saying,
"Hey I just when hunting, are you hungry?"
The lion's ears immediatley perked up and his stomach gave a loud rumble. He grinned cheekily.
Laughing Jolina said "I'll take that as a yes, c'mon it's this way!"
She waited as the lion stood up, wincing as pain shot through his still tender injuries. As he walked over to her, she noticed how muscular he was, and that he stood several inches taller than her. Looking away quickly she led him over to the kill she'd made.
After they'd both eaten their fill and she had shown him the nearest waterhole, they lay together, (though maintaining a modest distance between their bodies), in a thick patch of grass.
"Well my name is Mohatu and I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me." the lion said.
"Oh, no need to thank me, I'm just glad I found you in time." Jolina answered.
"Yeah me too." Mohatu replied, "What's your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Jolina."
"Jolina" the lion reapted. "Well that's a beautiful name."
Jolina blushed and said "Thank you."
"So Jolina, how long have you been living here?"
"Oh, I've actually only been here for a few weeks, the friend I told you about found me collasped in the desert just on the other side of the oasis." she answered.
"Whoa, how'd you end up in a desert?"
Jolina looked away as she felt a familiar pang of loss and grief wash over her.
"It's kind of a long story." she said quietly.
He saw how her mood had suddenly changed and decided not to push her anymore and an awkward silence ensued before Jolina changed the subject.
"Anyways, speaking of my friend, I think it's about time you met him."
Standing up, the two lions set off in the direction of Rafiki's tree.
It was about noon when they arrived at the sturdy boab tree. Jolina glanced at the oblivious Mohatu, knowing he was in for a bit of a surprise. Leaning her front paws against the trunk, she arched her neck to look up into the tree, she saw that Rafiki was munching away on the odd assortment of fruit that was his midday meal.
"Rafiki" she called. "I hate to disturb you, but I have someone who wants to me you."
The mandrill put his lunch down and came over to the lioness, giving her an affectionate pat on the head.
"Ahh a visitor you say, well dis is an interesting day indeed." The mandrill hopped over to the surprised looking lion.
"Rafiki, this is Mohatu, Mohatu meet Rafiki." Jolina said gesturing between the two.
The lion remembering that this was probably the "friend" who had treated his wounds, he overcame his surprise and raised an out-stretched paw to shake the mandrill's hand.
"Jolina told me that you treated my injuries, I can't thank you enough." Mohatu said.
Rafiki grinned and was just about to reply when a small orange bird flew into his tree. To Jolina and Mohatu's utter shock and surprise, Rafiki let out a loud shriek and leaped into the tree. The two lions could only stare as the mandrill expertly swung his stick at the terrified bird, letting out more battle cries. The bird though, somehow managed to dodge his swings and in the process Rafiki sent several gourds and other odd items flying out of the tree, to the point that Jolina and Mohatu had to duck several times out of the path of the projectiles. After several minutes the little bird escaped and shot out of the tree with a shrill "tweet". Rafiki finally emerged with a toothy grin and said,
"Dat mischievous bird, he's always after de berries I keep up dere."
Mohatu could only look at the mandrill, stunned. Jolina, who knew Rafiki better, recovered quicker.
"Well Rafiki, we were just off to the waterhole, catch ya' later."
And she led Mohatu away. Finally he said,
"Uh-Whoa, that was a bit, uh...unexpected."
"Yeah, he's...different, but he really is a great friend when you get to know him." Jolina replied.
Mohatu flashed a grin before responding,
"I like him!"
This made both lions laugh as they strolled through the jungle.
(Later that evening...)
After their "meeting" with Rafiki, Jolina had given Mohatu a tour of the small, but lush oasis. As they had talked and gotten to know one another, Jolina found the company of another lion pleasant. They shared stories from their cubhoods, careful to avoid topics containing whereabouts of family, and established that Mohatu was only about a season older than Jolina. They also found that they had many interests and hobbies in common...stargazing being one of them.
"Hey, did you know that the Great Kings of the Past are up their looking down on us...or at least that's what my parents told me." Mohatu said as they lay on a small grass- covered hill on the outskirts of the forest, staring up at the twinkling heavens. Jolina paused for a moment before responding,
"Yeah, my...mom told me that when I was a little cub." She then braced herself for the rush of pain that always followed thoughts about her mother, but, strangely, they didn't come. It was almost as if the lion's presence had created a shield of peaceful contentment around her. He interrupted her thoughts when he asked,
"Do you believe that?"
"Uh?" she asked, confused.
He repeated his question,
"Do you think the Great Kings watch over us?"
Jolina thought back to her mother's dying words, and this time the pain did come, but she pushed it away and a cold look of absolution entered her eyes as she answered,
"Yes, I do." Her features quickly softened as she returned his question,
"What about you?"
The young lion sighed and looked away,
"I-I used to...now...I just don't know."
Jolina looked at him for a moment, noting the sadness in his voice,
"Perhaps... time will reveal the answers to you." she told him.
"Maybe." he whispered, his eyes never leaving the ground.
Jolina then felt a sudden chill run down her back and she realized how late it was.
"We should probably head back, it's getting late, and you need rest in order to heal. Rafiki's orders." She said the last part with a cheeky smile.
The lion's smile returned as he said,
"Oh well, we'd better hurry then, I definitely don't want him after me, especially with that stick!"
Neither lions could contain their laughter at the thought of the eccentric mandrill.
Entering the cave, both lions laid down close, though not close enough for their bodies to touch.
"Goodnight." Jolina said with a small yawn.
"Sweet dreams." Mohatu replied.
The tone he used sent another one of those odd sensations through her, but she did her best to ignore it, and fell of to sleep.
A/N: Well there's chapter nine! We finally met Mohatu! And, oh Rafiki...what would we do without him? Tell me what you thought, oh and you don't have to be a member of the site to leave a review, guests reviews are most welcome! Chapter 10 coming soon! Till' then, *Nantsingonyama*
