XXIIX

The Ceremony

We watched as the new leader was raised high into the light that so blanketed his fur, and wondered, is he finally the one?

-Questions of the Folk

The night was cold. A chill lingered throughout the savannah and all the grasslands, and the moon was full and high, brightening up the dark sky. The stars were not out, though, and mist would lightly blanket the borders of the Broken-Claw empire.

Several lionesses were making their way through the darkness, over to where the Rock Claws lay. It was Ahadgna who was beckoning them with her overpowering roars. Soon, the unusually large pride was together. Older lionesses were scattered around in the groups of the younger ones, who had just entered adulthood. The Drie-Leeu were upon the Rock Claws themselves, each seated upon one. They, now with their full grown manes, were glaring out into the distance, for this was how they were taught to be when in this position. It was Meersha who sat in front of the Rock Claws, tail curled around herself as she gazed at nothing, her face expressionless, even in the dark.

When the younger lionesses were quieted down, Ahadgna began to speak, standing between Izegbe and the young males on the rocks, looking at her pride. "My sisters!" she cried. "We have come here tonight, to the Rock Claws, for a number or special reasons. First, let's congratulate our youngest lionesses, for they, as well as the Drie-Leeu, have now become full adults!"

With that, everyone burst out in a series of roars, that filled the night like deadly music.

"And," Ahadgna went on when it became silent. "now that our Drie-Leeu have grown up, as well as Izegbe, it's time for her to choose her mate...She once came here when she was a cub, and now she is an adult!" Ahadgna turned to look at Izegbe, eyes sparkling in the moonlight as she took a step forward and said, more to Meersha than to anyone, "I know she will pick well...After all, she is to bring on the next generation to let our ways run through the lions of the future. But she cannot do it alone. No. There must be two. And tonight, she will pick one of the three true males, to become her mate. They together, will bring on the ways of the Broken-Claw!"

A second time, the whole pride, including Yawnda, roared. Some lionesses even swept the air with extended claws. This time, though, Izegbe herself and the three males were silent. In fact, Uhawku, Hawkna and Kikaru were gazing off into the distance, the slightest of dark grins on their faces. Zarazu, though, had more of a nervous expression as he stared at nothing. Nothing. The Drie-Leeu were taught to let their eyes stay in one spot: the background. Whenever they were to sit upon the Rock Claws, they were to stare past the whole pride at nothing, and appear as brave and proud as possible. But Zarazu was not that. He felt like he could vomit right then. His blue eyes darted to Meersha for a moment as he swallowed the lump in his throat. The lion had quickly looked back past everyone. Had anyone seen him look at her? He was risking severe punishment in doing so...No one. No one had seen him glance at the beautiful, yet cold lioness. Thankfully...Or was he wrong?

Izegbe stalked slowly forward to the Rock Claws, the pride's eyes upon her. Her _expression was so cold, and yet felt so firey hot to Zarazu, that it made him inwardly flinch. Not that he was looking at her again, but he could feel it, and it made his fur slightly bristle. Izegbe was staring hard at all three of them as she paced by the giant rocks. She was looking up at first Hawkna, but quickly past him. Uhawku was in the middle, and all she could do was glance at the young lion. It was when she came to Zarazu, did she stop.

Kikaru's heart was beating fast now. So fast, it overlapped the music of the chirping crickets. Was she going to pick him? Even though he knew she had changed, he still had to have her. He loved her and, somewhere trapped in her soul, was the old Meersha. He could not let this go. She could not pick someone else. They were meant for each other. He had to have her...no matter what.

Suddenly, Kikaru's heart sank and he felt his stomach churn as Izegbe turned around, heading back to the other two. What was she doing?! Was he not to be picked?! Was she mad at him for their earlier talk? Surely this could not mean losing his mate!

Once more, Izegbe stopped as she sat in front of Uhawku. Her tail twitched a few times as she gazed thoughfully into his eyes, but never once did he look away from the wall of blackness that sat right behind his family. It seemed forever that she sat there, silence among the pride. Finally, though, the lioness stood, and bound over to Zarazu's rock, only to let out an ear shattering roar.

Zarazu was so relieved, that he could not hear the words of his mother.

"She has chosen!" Ahadgna had cried. "She has chosen the other one who will bring on our pride's ways!"

Again, cheering was heard in the rest of the family's roars.

Izegbe lifted her forepaws and let herself rest on the rock's side as she stared deep into his eyes. There was a knowing silence between the two young ones, and she quickly licked his nose, before jumping upon the rock. The two nuzzled in the gleaming moonlight as it bathed them.

"This is a great and happy moment! Our Kikaru, a true lion indeed, has become not her brother, but her mate!" Ahadgna paused, before going on. "Now there's one other announcement...Because our daughters our now full-grown, they are allowed to go out on hunts." The white lioness smirked, and the pride grinned back. "Half of the young ones will be led by our own Hilali. They will shed the black blood of the untrue lions! Now off!"

One older lion suddenly leapt up, and roared, and half of the younger ones followed her over the hill behind them, and disappeared into the night as Ahadgna had yelled, "Good look!" She looked back to the rest. "And, now the rest of the lionesses are to find the innocent cubs, and bring them to us. You will be led by Julu."

As another lioness got up, she slowly began to move off. The younger ones trailed behind her.

"Bring back our two young lovers a few cubs to start off their relationship with," Ahadgna exclaimed with a chuckle, before they were off.

The rest of the lionesses began to separate.

"The two of you," the leader's ghostly voice lingered as she padded closer to the Rock Claws, staring at her sons. "You two are still Izegbe's brothers. Treat her and your brother with respect, as well as each other. But don't worry. Just because you have not been chosen to carry on our ways, does not mean you do not have a part here. No. You two are very important. You will help to train and raise the young males that Izegbe and Kikaru collect. Now, off with you!"

The two had been staring behind their mother as she had spoken, and quickly leapt off, disappointedly into the night as they were commanded.

Ahadgna said nothing as she smiled at Izegbe and Zarazu, before she turned around, her curved tail following.

Kikaru watched her go as he nuzzled into Meersha's fur. He could not argue right then. Not tonight. He was too grateful that he was chosen, and did not want to risk losing her.

"What do you want," Ahadgna asked the environment as she padded to the north. "Yawnda?"

Yawnda padded over in front of her mother and bowed respectfully.

"I was just wondering," the golden lioness began. "Do you think Izegbe and Kikaru will pull it off?"

"Pull what off? The future? They were raised and trained by us. There is no doubt in my mind that Izegbe and Kikaru will raise great cubs and make true lions..." she paused to briefly but deeply ponder. "...and one day, they will rule the Broken-Claw."

"What?!" Yawnda choked. Could she have heard right?

"That is right, Yawnda. They are young and strong, and will make this pride thrive. They will make our way known throughout the lands. I have the deepest trust in them."

With that, Ahadgna started off again.

Yawnda stood, stunned. She could not move for a few moments, but when she did, the lioness quickly scrambled to the white one.

"Mother...are you sure? I mean, we have indeed done a good job with Izegbe but, have you noticed that Kikaru is getting...how should I put it...?" she asked herself.

Ahadnga halted in her tracks and jerked her head around, glaring at her daughter, who took a step back, "Yawnda! Enough! What's done is done! They are mates, and because Izegbe is going to carry out the pride, Kikaru will, too! There is nothing wrong with them. When will you learn this? Now, silence!"

Yawnda's ears flattened as she narrowed her eyes, but nodded solemnly, and said nothing as the leader padded off again. Izegbe and Kikaru, future leaders of the Broken-Claw? How could this be?