Early the next morning the sun hadn't risen yet, but the pride woke to a gentle breeze making the grass sway under their bodies. Although some rolled over going back to sleep, there were a few that woke, including the cubs.
Cheshi and Tau woke first, stretching out their bodies. They wanted to take the cubs to the waterfall but weren't sure what Ewali and Nakita would say, so they talked to each other and the cubs quietly.
Unknown to them, Ewali heard the conversation. He opened his eyes smiling.
Watching as his friend silently took the cubs to the waterfall, Tau noticed Ewali's movements and froze. "Should I tell Cheshi to wait? " he asked himself. He looked into the king's face and relaxed, sighing with relief. Grateful he bowed his head and walked to waterfall.
Ewali lifted his head yawning quietly so he didn't wake Nakita or his cubs. Shaking his head to remove the sleep from his mind and eyes, he looked around, seeing some of the pride awake and talking softly.
"Everyone must've slept fitfully. How can you not? The grass is so soft."
Getting up, stretching out his body the king looked down at his family, and a warm smile came to his face.
Knowing the cubs would be in the care of their mother, Ewali walked to the waterfall and took a drink. The one drink didn't help him so he jumped in the water, dunking his head under as deep as he could.
Cheshi, Tau, and Arazia saw him from their view underneath a tree, and didn't say a word. The cubs who were nearby stopped splashing water and watched.
After a few seconds, Ewali lifted his head out of the water, feeling his mane's side bangs drip water on his muzzle. Gasping for air, and feeling the water go into his nose and mouth he sneezed.
The cubs scampered over to Ewali, each saying 'good morning'.
The king smiled and nuzzled each of them. "Good morning kids."
Arazia, Tau, and Cheshi walked into the water and up to the king.
"Morning Ewali," Arazia said.
"How are you?" Cheshi asked.
"You sleep well?" Tau questioned.
Ewali smiled, answering their questions at one time. "Morning kids. I'm fine and yes I slept well. How about you?"
"We slept pretty good too," they answered in unison.
"That's good." Ewali replied. He looked up ahead seeing that Nakita and the cubs were starting to wake. The sun was beginning to rise too.
The lion's blue eyes rested on his daughter and heir, Samawati. He couldn't but smile, knowing that she was and is heir material. "Not Ugas," he thought to himself sadly with his ears lowered. "It's too late for him to change his ways. I don't even think he can change even if he wanted to."
Cheshi noticed that his 'uncle' wasn't paying attention and asked, "Uncle Ewali, would you mind if I cub sat again?"
At the sound of his 'nephew' 's voice Ewali said quickly, "If you want, it's okay." Climbing out of the water, shaking the excess water out of his coat and mane, the lion walked to his family.
Tau laughed. "I'll take that as a definite 'yes!' "
"Yeah, me too," Arazia said as they walked over to the other cubs.
Seeing his children rise to greet the day, Ewali's fears left his body, all except one. Ugas.
Machwa, Sheena, and Jemasi saw the lion king and ran over to him. Machwa jumped in the air, plowing into Ewali, who fell on his back with surprise as the cub ran up nuzzling his father.
Sheena and Jemasi looked at each other chuckling.
"Good morning to you too Machwa!" Ewali said laughing as his son continued to embrace him.
The girls waited for Machwa to stop. Ewali looked at them and turned to his son, "Machwa, could you please get off me. I think your sisters want to say 'good morning' too."
The cub stopped his licking, looking at his sisters and got off his father, with an embarrassed smile.
Sheena, after saying hi to Ewali, padded over nuzzling her 'brother' gently and said, "It's okay Machwa. We all know you love dad."
Machwa nuzzled her back.
"Kids, if you want, you can join the others at the waterfall," Ewali said pointing his head in the direction.
"Will Cheshi or Tau be looking after us?" Jemasi asked because she loved hanging out with the two lions. She looked up to them as older brothers.
"Both," Ewali answered.
The cubs jumped up with glee and ran to the waterfall splashing the others once in the water. Tarna and his siblings yelled, 'hey!' and splashed the royal cubs back. Within a few moments a water fight broke out.
Ewali saw the cubs' water fight and laughed, while shaking his head. He walked over to Samawati who was still sleeping near her mother.
Nakita woke at the cubs' laughter. She lifted her head, seeing her mate standing next to their daughter smiling. She got up and stretched out her legs. Afterwards, she nudged Sammy.
The white cub's blue eyes flew open at her mother's touch. She yawned and stretched herself out. Seeing her father Sammy came and nuzzled him, wrapping herself around his legs.
Ewali nuzzled his daughter, licking the top of her head. "Morning Sammy, how are you?" he asked in his fatherly voice.
"I'm fine dad," she answered.
"Good. You want to go and play with your siblings? They're at the waterfall."
"Sure!" Sammy said jumping up and down. She then ran from her parents and to her friends. First she splashed water on Tau who gave chase, splattering water everywhere.
Ewali and Nakita laughed and turned to each other nuzzling.
"How are you?" The lion asked his mate.
"I'm fine," Nakita replied. "I think I'll join the sisters on a hunting exercise. It's been a while and I'm ready to get back in the game," she said with a cocked eyebrow.
Ewali smiled, his eyes glowing at his wife's anxiety. "I wish you luck. Jani and Hekaya will know where I'll be and if not they'll split up looking."
"Why do say that? Do you have other plans today?" she asked, confused at Ewali's statement.
"Well, other than telling Ugas about Sammy…" he said with his gaze staring at the grass, "I'm thinking about showing Sammy the kingdom. I mean it's obvious she knows that she'll be the new heir," he said raising his head.
"That's a good idea. It's time that she sees the kingdom, but she's only a cub…" Nakita paused.
"What?" Ewali asked curiously.
She continued, "I was going to say that she's only a cub… but seeing the kingdom now, she'll be more than willing step up to the responsibility in the future."
Ewali smiled and nuzzled her affectionately. "I know you're right. She's a good cub." He turned to the cubs who were now lying on the soft land by the waterfall's side. "Sammy!" he yelled. "Come here!"
Samawati heard her father and turned to the others. Machwa gave her a brotherly nod, which she returned smilingly and walked over to her parents. "Yes dad?" she asked sitting down in front of them.
"Sam," Ewali began. "How would you like to walk with me around the kingdom? I know you've seen the jungle but I want to show you the plains. How does that sound?" he asked.
Samawati's eyes lit up in excitement. "I'd love that dad!" she said jumping to her feet, but her gaze lowered and she asked, "Is there a chance that Machwa and Jemasi can come or is this just for you and me… not that I don't mind it or anything. I'm curious."
The parents smiled at her. If there was one thing that made their daughter differ from their firstborn son it was that Sammy loved others. That was one of the reasons Ewali and Nakita wanted to make her the heir, and not just because she was the first of the second litter.
Ewali laughed, bent down whispering into the cub's ear. "You and me."
"Okay, but what about mom?" she asked.
Ewali looked at his wife, and knowing what she would say, he allowed her the floor.
Nakita shook her head smiling at her daughter. "No, sweetie. I have to attend to my duties. You have fun with your father."
"Alright."
Ewali nuzzled Nakita again, kissing her on the cheek, and started walking with his daughter beside him.
Nakita smiled again, watching them go and went to join the lionesses. She was reinstated as leader of the hunting party with Orissah as her second in command.
As father and daughter walked along the lands, they bowed their heads to animals that were already up. The animals saw the king walking with his daughter and bowed their heads back in respect.
Ewali smiled at them and stared at his daughter. "Sammy, you know that one day, these lands will be yours right?"
Samawati looked at her father with a thoughtful expression then she spoke, "Daddy, I always had a sense that the lands would belong to someone, but I never imagined me, that they would be mine! I thought Ugas would be the heir. I mean he's the oldest… but…" she paused as her ears pinned back slightly. She shuddered, remembering how Ugas' blue eyes stared into hers the day before. "They were full of hatred," she thought shutting her eyes tightly to get the image out of her head.
"You okay sweetie?" Ewali asked with concern.
Sammy peered up at her father slowly, her eyes meeting his. "Yes, I'm okay."
"You sure?"
"Really, dad I'm okay," the cub said assuring.
"Okay," Ewali said, smiling warmly, but he still worried. "It's Ugas… AGAIN!!!!" he thought to himself, with a hint of anger.
As they continued walking, Samawati was taking in the lands beauty. "I will rule these lands the way my father has: with fairness. I won't turn into Ugas!" she vowed silently. With her head held high like her father, she walked in his shadow, feeling secure and proud.
Again, the day flew by. The sun was still in the sky but was starting to set.
As Ewali and Samawati walked back to the caves, Ewali noticed Ugas sitting on the cliff, surveying the lands.
"What does he think he's doing? He really thinks he's going to rule? I better tell him now!!!" the king told himself but first turned to Sammy. He lowered his head so that his eyes could look into hers. "Sammy, I want you to stay as close as you can to me, okay?"
Sammy looked up at her father with a confused look. "Okay, dad," she replied, not comprehending why he was acting this way. She looked at the lion on the cliff and instantly knew. "It must be about Ugas."
Ewali looked up from her, to the cliff and began walking up the pathway. Samawati was beside him with her body pressed close to his foreleg, walking very slowly.
Ugas was as Ewali thought, sitting on the cliff looking at the kingdom not knowing that his future position was all going to come crashing down.
His ears twitched upon hearing large paw steps and little paw steps. He recognized the first steps as his father, but the others he couldn't place. He didn't care if his father was coming up, knowing that anytime and everytime he did it was probably for another lecture. "Not that I need anymore!" he thought, growling lowly.
Ewali stopped in mid-step not wanting to get too close for fear that Ugas would just up and charge, not caring who he hurt in the process. He looked back down at his daughter and nodded his head as if saying, "If any trouble happens, run into the cave and stay there!"
Sammy was even more confused but just looking into her father's eyes, his silent request was very clear. She stayed behind her father for as long as necessary.
Ewali stepped forward, leaving Sammy a fast dive into the cave if need be. "Hopefully she won't have to," he prayed.
He knew that Ugas was being arrogant and selfish so with that in his mind the time was now to tell his son everything. Above all he wanted to tell Ugas that he was turning into the most hateful thing - person ever: Ewali's real father Kacha, Ugas' grandfather.
The king took a deep breath, letting it slowly, trying to get the words that forming in his mind to come out of his mouth. "It's now or never," he said to himself, clearing his throat trying to get his son's attention. He tried again only louder. When the third time didn't work Ewali spoke his name instead. "Ugas?"
Ugas turned around to see his father sitting before him and his little sister almost near the cave's entrance. He rolled his eyes and turned his head back to the scenery.
"When are mom and the lionesses coming back from the hunt? " he asked himself. "I'm starving! It shouldn't take long to find a decent meal." He shook his head in, vexation and/or irritation, "Lionesses think they're soooo smart! Yeah right. Lions are the dominant rulers. We can hunt just as good if not better! "
Ewali was getting tired of Ugas' ignorance. "All the more reason to tell him and be done with it," he told himself. "UGAS!!!!!" he cried, roaring out his son's name.
Ugas turned around this time, but his expression was annoyance. "What is it dad?" he asked grumpily.
"Don't use the tone of voice with me! I'm your father, treat me as such!" Ewali said, trying not to lose his patience.
"Fine! Fine!" Ugas said resigning. "What do you want?"
Ewali got up from his sitting position and walked around his son, eyeing him up and down.
Ugas, seeing his father 'examining' him was down right ridiculous. "Dad! What are you doing?" he asked.
After he was finished Ewali sat back down facing his son with every ounce of authority given. "Ugas, I've made a decision about your future…" he began.
"Oh, please dad!" Ugas said, interrupting, and throwing his head back snickering, "We all know I'm going to be the next king after you and mom step down so I don't see why you're…"
"Samawati will be taking your place as the next leader when your mother and I retire!" Ewali said, shouting over his son's useless sayings.
Ugas stopped talking and looked at his father as though he had been stabbed by a wildebeest's, or an antelope's horns, and then stomped on the chest by an elephant. The prince's eyes grew wide with shock and amazement.
Ewali hoped that his son would be happy about this decision, seeing as he never attended the king's travels.
Staring hard into Ugas' eyes, Ewali could see the shock and amazement go away. He sighed with relief but looked again and saw that the old expressions were replaced by shock, devastation, and worst of all anger and hatred. The anger and hatred were mixed in.
In all this time, Ewali never thought he would have to see that in one of his own children. It crushed him and he tried not to think of what his father's expression must've been when he realized that Ewali's mother was dead and that he lived.
"W-wha-what?" Ugas asked stammering. "Could you repeat that father? I think I need to clean out my ears. What did you say?" he asked again, his voice riding on anger.
Ewali shook his head at Ugas' stubborn cubhood ignorance but thing was Ugas was no longer a cub. He was an adolescent. "You heard what I said. Don't make me repeat again!"
"How can you do this to me?" he asked, with a huge yell. "I'm your firstborn son of you and mom's first litter. You told me that traditions say that the firstborn of the first litter, whether it's male or female, gets to be the next ruler of the lands. That applies to me! I'm your son! I should be next in line, not Samawati!"
Getting hysterical at this news Ugas began walking around his father, almost as if in a challenging stature.
Ewali didn't want to argue but felt it was needed. "I know you're my firstborn son and I love you just the same, but you don't have the patience to rule these lands. I want someone of my and your mother's blood that we can trust and depend on to keep the lands safe and to keep the peace among the animals and the pride. Your other brother and sister know about this and they're okay with it. They will help Sam with anything she needs."
"Oh come on dad! That's a load of garbage and you know it! Machwa is mute! Jemasi is weak! How can you stand there and say 'they will help Sam with anything she needs'? I should be next in line! I can take care of the pride you know I can. What does she have that I don't?!"
Listening to his son's insults at his children and lies about taking care of the pride was too much for Ewali to hear. He let out a heavy sigh. "Well, son, it's obvious to everyone of the pride members that you can't take care of them."
He looked directly into Ugas' eyes and continued. "Do you have any clue what you're doing every day? When you run off into the lands to do whatever it is that you do, you scare the animals half to death."
Ugas turned away but Ewali wouldn't back down. This had to be shoved in Ugas' face. It was a painful fact but it had to be done. "You insult the lionesses any and every chance you get. They're the ones who feed us and they're creatures of the world, just like us lions. Kilwa, your own mate, is afraid to even come near you or haven't you noticed? You've turned your children against you because of your moody attitude. Tau is even afraid to come near you, as are Tarna, Shara, and Zarmu. Those four have been sleeping with your siblings and the other cubs, nearly every night for as long as they've been here."
"You still didn't answer my last question dad!" he said 'dad', with a hiss. "About Samawati!"
Samawati, who was still sitting near the cave entrance, heard her brother say her name with anger and a hiss attached to it. She started to get scared, and trembled in fear.
Ewali looked at his son, then back to the cave where his daughter, to his hope, was safe and out of harms way. He saw her cowering in fear and felt a tear come but brushed it away.
"As for Sammy?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "Well… yes, she's mischievous, but that'll pass, not unlike with you. She's clever and caring and above all else she loves spending time with her friends. If I recall correctly, you only played with your brother and sisters just so you could beat them in a game."
Ugas' face was lowered to the ground and his anger still fuming within his mind and chest. "I was a cub then!"
"Yes that's right! You were a cub but look at you; you're not anymore. You're an adolescent with a family to provide for and you can't even do that!" He sighed again, with pain in his heart, but then the pain mixed with heartache spoke through him, "Ugas please, I'm begging you, see the wisdom in my choice. You're still my son. That will never ever change."
Ugas just stared at his father, and with no sign of remorse, started in again. "How can I see the 'wisdom' in your decision dad?! For crying out loud what did I do wrong?" Ugas was so angry that he had to hit something and soon.
Ewali lowered his ears, his gaze also lowered, and his eyes stared at the ground. Of all the things in the world, there was one person he didn't want to mention: his real father King Kacha of the Genge Lands.
Ewali shut his eyes at the fact that Kacha was exactly whom his son was turning into. He took a step forward until his eyes stared into Ugas'. Then taking another deep breath, letting slowly like before he spoke. "Ugas did what I tell you of my past in the Genge Lands mean anything to you? Your behavior is making me have flashbacks of all the terrible things my father did to me and not just to me but to his pride as well. I don't want you to end up like him," he pleaded, hoping to reach Ugas with his words before it really was too late.
Ugas' eyes burned into Ewali's, making his father shudder in fear. "What? You think I'm going to turn into Grandpa Kacha?" He laughed loudly. "You're out of your mind!"
Ewali looked again into Ugas' eyes with pity. "No I'm not. You're acting just like him! Your putting your anger, issues, and problems on everyone else except you. If I put you on the throne, whose to say that you won't treat the pride the same way my father did? Whose to say that you will treat your cubs as nothing, just treating your heir as the important one? That you won't spend time with them and be a good father and king? I can't risk that! I'm doing this for your own good and for the good of the pride," he paused. "I'm sorry my son, but it has to be this way," he finished with softness in his voice.
The anger in Ugas' eyes was sincere if not certain. His eyes were like a small fire that would turn into a blaze.
Ugas sheathing out his front claws, and tapped them on the ground. He roared out, got into a fighting stance, and pounced on Ewali, who responded by sheathing out his own front claws, preparing to fight his own son.
Ugas rose up on his hind legs and in one swipe with his right paw, hit Ewali in the middle of his lower chin, clawing away the skin, and leaving three bloody claw marks.
Ewali roared out in pain, feeling the blood flow down from his chin and into his mane. He didn't want to hurt his son, even though his own claws were out, but he knew that sooner or later he would have no choice.
Before his father could do something to him, Ugas scratched Ewali again with his left paw, only this time giving Ewali four long bloody claw marks on his right upper shoulder.
Again Ewali roared out in pain and with all his might, even it hurt him as a father to do this, and his shoulder, burning with pain, and blood running down it, he smacked Ugas in the left side of his face right on the cheek leaving the young lion four to five bleeding claw marks. Ugas roared out and tried to pin his father, but Ewali got the upper hand.
Ewali jumped on his hind legs, putting his clawed paws on Ugas' chest and pushed him to the ground, pinning him hard. Ugas growled, struggling under his father's heavy weight.
Little Samawati couldn't believe what she was seeing: her own father and brother fighting. It was scary to see her father so angry but she knew why. "Ugas asked for it," she said to herself sadly.
Both males' wounds' were bleeding heavily. Ewali's shoulder and chin wounds were anyway. He tried to be gentle when he hit Ugas, but his facial wound was bleeding heavily too. Ewali looked at his son, seeing that there was only one-way to settle this. Banishment!
By this time, the pride had just returned with the evening kill. Nakita looked up in shock as she saw her mate and son; Ugas on the ground, and Ewali on top of him. She sighed sadly, pinning her ears back. "You must've told him Ewali," she thought as a tear rolled down her cheek.
The cubs were back too. Tau and Cheshi looked up in horror at what they were seeing. Tarna, Shara, and Zarmu had to look away. Tau noticed and ran to comfort them. Cheshi and Arazia, held Machwa, Jemasi, and Sheena close to them.
Ewali stared at the pride below him, feeling a painful tears flow down. Looking back at his son he whispered, "You gonna be calm now?"
Ugas was still angry but nodded his agreement and Ewali let him up.
Ewali looked back down at the pride and nodded, letting them come up.
Nakita ran from her position at the party and up to her mate. She nuzzled him fiercely asking if he was alright.
Though his wounds hurt, Ewali responded, "Yes, I'm alright. It was self-defense. Ugas did this."
Sammy came up to her father and nuzzled him, as did the other cubs. They were all crying worried for the lion they saw as a father and protector.
Nobody, not even his mate and cubs, came to Ugas' aide for everyone was worried about their king.
Ewali whispered something into Nakita's ear. Her eyes grew wide, but seeing as Ugas must've attacked Ewali and that he hit Ugas in self-defense, the queen agreed with the banishment even though it pained her tremendously.
The king and queen stood together with all cubs, both by blood and adoption. The pride was near the cave entrance with the kill in front their rulers but they knew that now was not going to be the normal eating hour.
It was judgment day for Kivuli's prince.
You like this one? I worked really hard on it so I really hope you enjoyed it!
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my reviewers who have encouraged me to continue this story: scuta5, Fan Boy 101, Kovu 01, DianaKitty, Ochi, King Ligerion, King Simba 12345, Serengeti Lioness!
And my new reviewers: Syntax Captain, Aveostar, Aerocat3989, Belitagurl, Narfy, and Sun Rei Lioness!
Thanks again guys! I appreciate it!
Shadow Swift: Thanks for giving this story another chance. I understand how confusing it must've been for you the first time. I'd be confused too, if I wasn't the one writing so don't feel bad okay? I'm just glad you're reading again. Thanks buddy:)
For now, R&R!- Minister
