Chapter 29

Kambiri's morning hunt wasn't going as well as he had hoped when he first set out. He'd been in the same crouched hunting position for too long. An hour at best, maybe longer for all he knew.

Though he was under the cover of a very shady part of the lands, whatever the name, whoever ruled it, the sun was in the sky, and thankfully not beating down on him. He'd made sure of that wherever he would hunt this day. He had to stalk his intended prey in the shade. It helped his concentration, always did.

He wasn't like his friend Tayari, who could hunt in just about any weather condition, including rain! He ran his tongue over his dry maw and swallowed slowly. His throat was dry, but his want for thirst could wait. This, hunting for himself and his friends, was more important.

Kambiri was selfless, something he learned quickly from his father. Selflessness was his special practice, something he lived by.

The first animal he spotted when he left the shelter and settled in a shady place was a herd antelope. The grass-eating animals were on the northern side of the lands, at least Kambiri thought that. But it didn't matter. The antelope were blissfully unaware of his presence, mainly due to him being undercover in the shade and the slightly tall grass, that when he was standing, came up to his shoulders. Now that he was low, had been for who knows how long, the blades came up over his head.

Kambiri flexed his paws, inhaled a breath of crisp air and let it out slowly. His whiskers twitched and he was careful to shift his weight. He moved ever so slightly. He sighed heavily and put his head down to the grass, the blades pricking his chin. He was frustrated and it showed in his blue-green eyes. When would these animals move? Kambiri wanted to get up and leave. A few times he was tempted. Surely there was another herd of antelope, zebra, or gazelle, even wildebeest nearby he could hunt!

But he waited. He had to. He'd made a promise to himself that he would return with breakfast.

But I didn't say breakfast had to be antelope, he thought silently. I didn't say what kind of animal I'd hunt…

After a few minutes of thinking it all over, Kambiri made his decision. He would find another herd of some herbivores. Surely there had to be a whole bunch, but he didn't want to travel too far away. And yet he did travel far today, much farther than he liked. Hunting, as he learned his first few days in the unknown, away from the comfort of the Northern Valley, could take a long time and could lead someone far from their place of rest. And this, though there were two other lions in his group, was no different.

It wouldn't be any different if Tayari or Kipaji were out here alongside me, he thought again silently with gritted teeth.

Before making any other decisions, much less willing his body to leave the place he'd occupied for well over an hour, he switched to a more comfortable position and contemplated on what his idea to leave. Could he? There were no easier alternatives. He couldn't go back to the others without something. He'd promised, though it wasn't an out loud promise. He never returned without the meal on his back. He just wasn't that way, even if the hunt took him a long time, which apparently, this one was going to.

Then again, he could just rush out. These animals couldn't harm him, unless and only unless, they used their horns, which in the event of him charging, they probably would. It was a risk, one he was willing to take. Then there was the idea of the antelopes using their hooves against him.

Kambiri groaned and clawed the grass at his paws, more frustrated now than before.

What scenario was worse?

He could rush these peacefully eating animals right now. He could avoid their horns, their hooves and kill one easily without getting killed himself. He could drag it or carry it back home. He, Kipaji and Tayari could eat after Dumaka blessed it.

The other option was that he could leave and spend hours searching for any kind of herd, or a lone herbivore, no matter what it was. The options weren't much but they were something!

Kambiri lowered his head. Unless he wanted to spend the rest of the day, searching for another herd, or taking a chance with the herd directly in front him, he would be here long after the sun went down. He eyed the grass and then lifted his head just a little to look at the still grazing antelope herd.

The more he looked, the more he stared at them, the more his mind screamed at him.

What are you waiting for, Kam? The meal for you and your friends is right in front of you, rush them! They'll never see it coming! This is your chance, buddy! Do you want to stay here all day, thinking over other options? Go for it!

Kambiri's eyes burned and he felt claws on all four paws come out. He felt his adrenaline pumping, felt his heart pounding deep and hard inside his chest. He gritted his teeth again and slowly rose from his spot. He'd been lying there for so long he was certain his body had made some kind of imprint in the ground.

He stretched his aching limbs but made no noise. He couldn't. Then he got low again, studying which antelope he would bring back to the shelter. He licked his lips, his mind spinning with various thoughts, all of which he shoved away, save one.

To bring back a catch, a good catch home to his friends.

Even as he waited for the group of about six or seven antelopes to make up their minds and leave the area so he could charge, he thought that maybe a charge now while they were distracted with their eating was the best thing.

He waited for another strong beat of his heart. Then another and another until the adrenaline reached his brain. Claws in the grass, feeling the earth just as his father had taught him, and another sharp breath through his nose, he raced from his cover and out toward the, at first unsuspecting, and now frightened herd of antelope.

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Jahzara looked all around her, seeing no sign of any animals in the vicinity. Then she looked to Safiya, who stood a few feet from her to her left. Her friend was focused, that much she could see, but she herself wasn't. She couldn't bring herself to be. She just didn't want to be here.

I had hoped to be with Father today, she thought to herself. Aside from spending time with her grandmother, Radhiya, or even Safiya like she was now, she loved being with her father. She'd known for most of her life that she would rule after him, and she knew the intense opposition she would face from the pride when he stepped down. With all the training and lessons and speeches her dad had given over the past few years she'd known beyond any doubt that there was no one else with royal blood who could lead the kingdom and the pride.

"The only one who can is you Jahzara," Nkosi had said when they were walking the kingdom. "You are the daughter of the king and that makes you an heir, the only heir."

Then Jahzara had given him the question she'd asked many times. Luckily her father never tired of hearing it. "I am still your heir even though Mother was never queen?" She always asked the question slowly, hesitantly.

But that time he had stopped in his walk, bowed his head and shut his eyes and, from what Jahzara could see peering closely at him, fighting back tears at the mention of her mother. After a moment he composed himself, cleared his throat, opened his eyes and raised his head high with the dignity she knew so well.

The lionesses have been talking out loud again, he thought and then he answered. "Jahzara," He spoke her name tenderly, but the anger he felt in his soul burned. "Though your mother wasn't queen, I loved her very much. As I'm sure you know sweetheart, Queen Sauda and I were and are in a forced marriage. We are not in love. Your mother and I… well… we had feelings for each other long before my arranged marriage with Sauda, but we were unable to express them. Then a few months, maybe less than that, after I became king I couldn't take my so called marriage anymore and realized that no matter what anyone said my first and only real love was your mother." He shrugged. "Guess I couldn't take not telling her any longer so I finally did. Then she told me how she felt and well…" He paused.

Jahzara nodded in understanding. The love her parents felt for each other had brought her into the world. When she was a cub it struck her just how well her parents were together and when her mother died, the deep devotion her father had never left. Instead he lavished that devotion on to her, their only daughter. With all of that and her grandmother's stories about her parents when they were young and growing up it made it seem as though her mother had never died, at least not her memory. With her father being around, the stories she'd heard as a cub… all of it was keeping the memory of her mother, the lioness Nyari alive, and her own presence was doing the same.

Despite that conversation with her father, one they'd had numerous times, she still wished she was with him.

When she woke this morning, Radhiya, the other older lioness who was like a grandmother to her, the mother of the queen, was in the royal chambers waiting for her to rise from sleep. When she did, Radhiya informed her that her father had already left. Thinking she could catch up with him Jahzara rushed out of the chamber, out of the den and paused to sniff for her father's scent. But before she could make a move Radhiya stepped on her tail.

"What was that for?" Jahzara asked angrily.

"Your father wanted you to have some time to yourself. He doesn't want to exhaust you by taking you on his patrols every day."

"But I'm his daughter!" she snarled, though not meaning to, especially at this loving lioness. "I'm supposed to be with him! I –" She looked to the entrance of the den and lowered her voice. "I am his heiress."

The old lioness nodded knowingly. "I know, Jahzara, and he loves you greatly, which is why he wants you to have this time away from him. How long has it been since you and Safiya spent time together? A few months or so, am I right?"

She hadn't considered that. She'd been so consumed with following her father and learning how to be a leader that she'd nearly forgotten her best friend, who probably suffered daily with verbal taunts from her twin sister and the gray lion Adawa. Radhiya was right, she realized. It had been far too long since she and Safiya wandered the plains of their home. Maybe her father was doing her a favor after all. If he was, she loved him for it.

"Okay," she said at last, nodding slowly.

Radhiya smiled and removed her paw from the young lioness's tail. "I'll be going with you. Is that okay?"

Jahzara nodded again. Of course it was okay. Her paternal grandmother probably needed some time alone too, away from the pride. Either that or Radhiya was just being nice. Maybe it was both.

Safiya was all for the idea. In fact she was ecstatic about it. "I've missed spending the days with you. You're pretty lucky going with your father. I wish I could. Adawa…" She shivered.

Jahzara nuzzled her kindly. "Maybe I'll talk to him about letting you come. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. He loves you like a daughter."

"I know." She sniffed sadly and her friend nuzzled her again.

"Radhiya's coming with us."

"That's fine with me. As long as I'm away from my sister and Adawa, I don't care."

And now here they were, wandering their home. This is just what we both needed, Jahzara said to herself as turned her eyes away from her friend and looked ahead. Still nothing, no animals, not even animals grazing. She drew a confused look.

"What is it, Jahzara?" asked Safiya. She'd seen the look.

The air around her grew stiff, cold, and Jahzara trembled. Then she spoke. "There's something off today. The Eastern Valley has always been filled with animals, and around this time of day we should be seeing gazelle, zebra, antelope, buffalo and wildebeest, and birds of many kinds, monkeys… But there's nothing, not a single animal to be found, and we're on the southern side of the kingdom. Something's not right." In that moment it scared her at just how observant she was. Her father's lessons were paying off tremendously.

"I agree with you Jahzara," said Radhiya who was walking behind the two. She looked around. "Something is off. Question is what is it?"

The brown lioness shook her head. "I don't know, and there's no one around we can ask."

"Should we head back to the caves?" Safiya asked with her head tilted in worry.

Jahzara looked back at Radhiya, but the lioness only looked back at her, eyes sharp and insistent. Jahzara continued to stare until she saw in the elder's eyes what her mouth would have spoken but didn't need to. Her eyes said it all and Jahzara understood. Radhiya was the oldest of them, but she Jahzara, daughter of King Nkosi and Princess in her own right, was the only one who could answer Safiya's question. Radhiya knew it wasn't her place. It was Jahzara's.

She knew why Radhiya had given her that look. With them, the only two other than the former queen Nadia and her father, Jahzara could acknowledge herself as Princess of the Eastern Valley and the power that came with it. And Radhiya, bless her soul, was giving Jahzara that opportunity here and now. It was the only chance she would get without suffering opposition which would surely happen if she were with anyone else.

She thought on it for a moment. What would her father… No, no she couldn't put herself in her father's place, wouldn't consider what her father would do in this kind of situation. The answer had to come from her, from her own mind, her own mouth.

At last she faced the front and spoke, her voice full and certain. "We press on. We find out what's going on." Then she turned back to Radhiya. "Maybe you should go back to the caves," she said with a low and quiet voice.

The lioness stepped back. "Your highness," she said, using the title with great care, "I may be getting old, but I think I can continue. If I cannot I will let you know but until then I shall stay with you and Safiya and investigate the strange happenings of the animals of this realm." She took a step forward. "If that is all right with you, my lady," she said then she bowed her head and Jahzara knew it wasn't a false move. Radhiya clearly meant it and her admiration for this lioness filled her spirit.

Jahzara smiled. "Very well, Radhiya then let us proceed."

And proceed they did.

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When Kambiri returned to the shelter with his morning catch, the two lions and the meerkat shaman were waiting. Kambiri came near and shrugged the dead antelope off his back and stepped around it while Tayari and Kipaji gathered near him.

"Nice work, Kam," said the old lion, nudging him in the shoulder.

He smirked. "Thanks."

Tayari rubbed the ground with a paw. "So this means I'll be hunting dinner then." It wasn't a question and it was said lowly, almost reluctantly.

Kambiri looked at him. "Yes, and I'll go with you."

His friend returned his look, his face clearly shocked as if he hadn't expected that. He figured that with Kambiri catching this and last night's dinner alone his own hunt for the evening would be alone too, but now… He couldn't speak, unable to get the words out, so instead he smiled and head bumped his friend.

Kipaji smiled at the two and all three of them bowed their heads as Dumaka prayed. His prayers for the fallen whose flesh would feed his lion companions were always the same. They were short and sweet, full of praise to the hunter and the hunted. Above all they were praises to the Creator. Whenever Dumaka did this Kambiri could feel his heart and soul be lifted up with each word spoken by his small friend.

The prayer finished and the three lions started stripping away pieces. Dumaka sat back near the shelter and ate his fruit. The meal was eaten in silence, a welcoming silence and when they were finished Tayari took care of the remains. Kambiri and Kipaji went to the waterhole to wash their muzzles of the blood.

The sandy-brown lion raised his head, water dripping from his whiskers and looked at the older lion. "Kipaji," he started, uncertain of how he should voice himself.

"Speak your mind, Kambiri."

"Before I left you said that something was going to happen today…"

"I did, but I didn't say what. I'm not sure what it is." This time the two met eyes and Kipaji knew. "You want to find out, don't you? Though we didn't speak I could tell that you were rather restless while eating."

Kambiri nodded. "Well, you were right. I mean, we've been here, wherever here is, for far too long. I can't just hunt and return all the time. Tayari can't either. He gets more restless than I do."

"And you want to explore?"

"Well, patrol is more of a word for it, but yeah, I do."

"Want to take Tayari with you?"

Kambiri looked at the direction he'd last seen the other lion. He thought on Kipaji's suggestion for a moment and then shook his head. "No. He's going to need his strength for the hunt tonight. Besides," he shrugged then shivered, "whatever I'm feeling right now I don't want to hear him nag about it and say I've lost my mind. He's not really the open-minded type."

The gray lion's ears flickered. "Then… why don't you take Dumaka? I'm sure he'd like to see the land."

"What about you?"

"You want to take me?" Kipaji laughed kindly. "Thanks, Kam, but no thanks. You're the one with the feeling."

"And you're the one who told me something was going to happen."

"That is true but we all have places we're supposed to be. You're supposed to go and investigate your feeling. Dumaka is to go with you for moral and if need be spiritual support. I'm to stay here with Tayari and maybe I can find out what it is that he hides from us. I'm sure Dumaka knows, but I won't push him for anything. It's about Tayari so he should be the one I ask."

Kambiri nodded in agreement. "I won't ask Dumaka either." He paused, stared ahead at the trees then looked at Kipaji again. "Are you sure, my friend?"

The older lion smiled. "I am. Go on."

Kambiri smiled and went to Dumaka, telling him his idea. "Want to go with me? I could use the company."

The meerkat was up on his feet and Kambiri lowered himself so Dumaka could ride on his back. "I don't know when we'll be back," he said to Kipaji.

"Never mind that, guys, just do what you must," said the old lion.

When the two were gone, Kipaji went to find Tayari all the while his heart pounded and he shivered deeply.

The air around him had grown cold.

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Rashid had woken early, earlier than his usual custom. He normally woke when the sun was high in the sky, not at midday, but close to it. For an unknown reason, a reason he still had yet to figure out, he had risen from his peaceful sleep early in the morning, before the sun was even up. He had felt a sudden urgency to rise, to pray, meditate, both of which he did for hours. But even afterward he felt weird, out of place, disoriented even, and his chest felt as though an elephant had stomped on it.

The strangest thing was he had no patients to treat. No injuries to try and heal and no spiritual counsel to give. When he went out to collect his morning fruit he'd been surprised to see that there were no animals around, hardly any except for a small few of a variety of species grazing here and there. Other than that there was nothing. No sign of life in the kingdom at all, which was very rare in the Eastern Valley as it was always buzzing with life and activity. But today there was nothing.

Rashid returned home, an arm full of fruit. He climbed into his tree with ease, a task he'd mastered years before. He contemplated the strangeness of the kingdom while he ate a green colored fruit. What was wrong, if anything? Why weren't the animals out and about except for the few he saw while gathering his meal? The whole thing was mysterious and, in a word, odd. He chewed thoughtfully. What in the world was going on?

He took another large bite and stared into the fruit, eyeing something. It was the seed of the fruit. He dug it out, examined it then threw it out of the tree. He continued to eat until the fruit was completely gone, then got into a comfortable position, legs crossed, hands on his knees, eyes closed and meditated again.

God, he prayed, what is wrong with this realm? Why is everything so quiet?

As if in response a breeze blew into the tree and hit him full force. He was taken aback by the breeze and opened his eyes, slowly rising to peer out of his tree into the skies above. The sky was blue, clear and empty of any clouds. The sun was warm but now… the whole atmosphere felt cold and not because of the breeze. He stepped back and rubbed his hands along his upper arms, shivering. He closed his eyes again.

Creator… what is wrong?

Another strong breeze blew in, near knocking him over. His soul ached, the pains in his chest increased and he clutched a hand there, grimacing in hurt. He gritted his teeth and let out a soft yet sharp cry. He doubled over, the pain too much.

"Lord!" he called out, clenching his eyes tighter closed. "Lord! What is this? Tell me!" He landed on his knees and rolled onto his left side, curled in a fetal position. Tears leaked out of his eyes like a hard rain. Why was he going through this unexplained agony? And what was wrong with the kingdom he'd served for so long?

If he had any strength to move he would leave, go to the lions' home and speak to the king, if he was there. One eye snapped open, then shut again. Now that he thought on it, he hadn't seen King Nkosi in a while, a few weeks at most, maybe longer than that.

The breeze came again and it fell upon his ears, almost whispering.

He wanted to sit up, but any movement of his legs to try made the pain in his chest worse. He groaned and rolled flat onto his back, the pain spreading from his chest, down his stomach and to his legs and feet. He felt paralyzed. For all he knew he probably was. He clenched a fist.

"God!" he cried out again, tears falling harder with each stab of pain. "Why is this happening? Why? Give me a sign! Anything! As shaman of this kingdom I deserve to know!"

In another response, a breeze went by him and Rashid had the feeling there was a word on the air.

King…

He tried to open his eyes but couldn't. Instead he focused on the word he'd heard. King… What did that have to with – In that moment his eyes snapped open and he sat up, ignoring the pain that shot through him. King… his king…? King Nkosi? What did all of this, any of it, have to do with him?

With a hand still over his chest he slowly got to his feet, but didn't go anywhere else. Then thinking standing wasn't a good idea he sat back down. Nkosi… Did something happen to him, to Rashid's king? Was that why he was feeling like this, why he was hurting so much? How was that possible? Yes, Nkosi was his king but –

Then he remembered something his master had once told him. Rashid concentrated on the old, near ancient words. What were they? His mind spun, which caused hurt and he winced and shut his eyes. After a minute or two the words came.

Rashid, you must always remember, the bond between a king and his shaman is important. It is strong and it is special. It's much like an individual's relationship with the Creator. It too is special, strong, unique, deeply connected, and almost, in a way, one, but not entirely. That same bond between a king and his shaman whether that shaman is male or female, no matter the species…

Rashid remembered his master had rubbed the back of his neck, as if he was afraid to continue, but he did anyway.

When a king dies, the shaman feels it all the way to his soul and the pain is deep, heartfelt and intense. The connection is that strong, because the shaman has helped the king through many trials and to lose his or her best friend is like losing one's mate. The shaman is the king's counselor, his advocate in the spiritual realms, but the shaman, like the king, will be judged for his actions by the Creator.

No shaman knows who his or her king, that special king, will be, nor does the king know who his shaman will be. The meetings don't happen by chance or accident and the bond is there almost from the beginning, at times even before the king takes his throne.

While shamans can live a long time, and see many kings come and go there will always be that one special king who formed a bond with the shaman.

Rashid's eyes opened. His heart beat increased to rhythmic thumps in his chest. The pain was still there and with every beat he gasped for breath. Not just because of the pain but because of the old words he remembered.

He muttered, "When a king dies, the shaman can feel it to his soul… The pain is deep, intense…"

His eyes widened and he understood all of it. His uneasiness early that morning, the feelings while eating… It all made sense and his heart fell. The tears he cried a few minutes ago returned and he made no move to stop them.

Was it for real? Was it true? Was Nkosi, his king, no longer in the realm of the living? Was he gone?

The tears continued to fall and he sobbed a little. "God, please, no, it can't be…"

No breeze this time, nothing but the stillness of the air, the same stillness he felt when gathering his fruits.

Was it possible that Nkosi had died? How? He was healthy, the healthiest lion he'd ever known and seen. Was it natural causes or something worse? He shivered again, his legs trembling. He wrapped his arms around himself.

There was a reason he was feeling like this and his master's words returned. If what he feared was true then the kingdom was in for a highly uncertain future.

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Kambiri tread the grass and the dirt very lightly. His steps were cautious and careful. On his back, Dumaka made no sound. Perhaps he was meditating. Kambiri looked around, to the right, then to the left. His whiskers twitched, his brow furrowed and his confusion began to grow. What in the name of all things was going on around here? Whenever he hunted, the lands were practically overflowing with herds and other animals, even in the late afternoon. Tayari said the same. Kipaji did too, but only once, when he had snuck off to hunt; only telling Kam and not Tayari.

Finally, on his back, Dumaka said, "I don't get it, Kam. If this is a kingdom we're in and it has to be, why aren't there any animals?"

"That's what I've been trying to figure out. This place seems almost barren, but it isn't. It can't be. There were plenty of wandering animals all over yesterday."

Dumaka leaned forward and Kambiri could barely feel the meerkat planting his elbows into his mane. "Maybe they're all on one side?" he said in suggestion, perhaps to shed a bit of hope for his friend. But Kambiri wasn't convinced and his silence told the shaman such.

"I don't think so," the sandy-brown lion said at last. His eyes narrowed. "Something's not right. In fact, if I didn't know any better I'd say something is wrong, very wrong."

The meerkat sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. He tilted his head back and in spite of himself he shook. "Yes… question is what?"

"I don't know, but I think we should –" He suddenly stopped as he caught a scent on the still air. He sniffed a bit, then harder. Harder still until he drew his head back, almost disgusted. He snorted.

"What is it, Kam?"

"Dumaka, try not to panic."

"What? What do you mean? What is it, Kambiri?" He sounded angry or frustrated. Maybe it was the latter.

"There's blood in the air."

"What… blood?"

"Yes, and it's fresh…"

A flash of alarm shone in Dumaka's eyes. "Kambiri," he said urgently. "If someone is hurt and the shaman of this kingdom is too far away… Wait, where is the scent coming from?"

Kambiri sniffed again, walked a few steps and pointed his head in a single direction. Dumaka looked around the lion's head and knew. It was pointed north.

"Well," said the meerkat, "what are you standing around for? Let's go! Whoever it is, they'll need help."

"I know." And with those words Kambiri ran, Dumaka holding on, trying not to grip the strands on the lion's mane too hard.

Though he had no idea where was going Kambiri felt that he was being pulled or guided by an unseen force. Whatever it was he wasn't going to fight it. Or maybe he was running on instinct, but if following, whatever this was – be it instinct or something else – he wasn't going to turn back. Dumaka would scold him and he would be following another force. Kambiri leaped over a few logs and skirted around the waterholes so as not to get Dumaka soaked with water.

Then when his breathing hardened and his panting caused his heart to beat pound with great increase he finally stopped and caught his breath. Once his heart slowed to its regular pace and beat Kambiri sniffed the air and treaded carefully once again. It was near, this scent of blood and he was amazed he'd smelled it from so far away. He looked around, eyes alert, studying the trees all around, the ground under his paws, any waterholes in sight, sniffed again and followed where he knew the scent would lead.

He walked about twenty feet on flat ground, grass blades only coming up to his paws and stared ahead, mouth agape. What he saw made his heart stop and he stood frozen.

"Kambiri, what do you see?" asked Dumaka.

But the lion made no move to speak.

"Here, let me off."

Kambiri carefully lay down and Dumaka slid to the grass with ease. Then Kambiri stood back up and the meerkat saw what he saw. His own mouth fell and he ran straight ahead. Kambiri could only watch as his friend ran toward a lion, covered, no, soiled in blood. The very blood he had smelled!

"Kam, get over here, but be careful," said Dumaka as he went to examine the lion's wounds.

He put one paw in front of the other, slowly at first then forced himself to move faster. He did and thought he was going to be sick. He had never seen death, at least not the death of an animal like him. And hunting was a different thing. He hunted to survive. Just like Kipaji and Tayari. Just like this lion that lay before him.

Blood was everywhere and the smell entered his nose again. It even covered the lion's brown pelt and his black colored mane. Kambiri wanted to look away but couldn't and he knew this image would stay with him for a long time, perhaps the rest of his life.

God… why? Why did this animal have to die like this? Who did this to him?

"Kambiri," said Dumaka. He gestured to the injured lion. "Looks like he's still alive and he's trying to speak." He walked around to the lion's backside.

Kambiri looked down at the lion, noticed that he had opened his eyes and was trying to move his mouth to form words. Kambiri leaned closer, being aware of the blood that pooled around the lion's head. He avoided stepping in it and tried to focus, but one look into the lion's crystal blue eyes was enough to make his heart stop just for a moment. A sudden and deep awkwardness fell over him and Kambiri knew this was no ordinary lion.

"Sir, my name is Kambiri. The meerkat is Dumaka. He's a shaman."

The lion tried to pick his head up. He moved his jaw a little bit then winced in pain. He tried again and managed to speak, but it was in a weak, soft voice. "N-Nkosi…"

"That's your name?" Kambiri asked kindly. He felt his eyes start to mist.

"K-king… Eastern Valley…"

Kambiri's heart fell into his stomach. His awkwardness grew and he wanted to melt. He was talking to royalty… royalty that was – No, no he couldn't, wouldn't, think like that. There had to be something Dumaka could do, but his friend was still looking over the lion's – King Nkosi's – wounds.

"It's… an honor, your majesty," said Kambiri and he chided himself. The only honor he could have gotten was to have met this lion before this… this… butchery!

Blood spilled from the lion's mouth. He swallowed and tried desperately to speak again.

"T-take your time, sire," said Kambiri. Mentally he chided himself again. Time… Idiot! He doesn't have that much left! He glanced again at Dumaka. The meerkat, his hands covered in the blood of this king, shook his head sadly and didn't speak. Kambiri only swallowed and looked to the lion. He felt his heart fall into his stomach.

"G-good… l-lion…"

A tear fell from his eye and he sniffed. What right did this lion have to call him, someone he'd met only a few seconds ago, a good lion? It didn't make sense. Maybe he was becoming delusional because of his wounds and the blood loss.

"Your highness, your kingdom… they, well…" He wasn't sure how to phrase it.

"Kam… I'm d-dying…"

Emotions welled in Kambiri's throat and he struggled to control them. Because King Nkosi was dying right in front of him and there was nothing he could do about it, or Dumaka, and because the ruler had spoken his nickname without meaning to. What do you say to that?

"Nkosi," he said, pronouncing the name with respect. "If you would like me to…" He paused again, sniffed and blinked back a few oncoming tears to no avail. They fell anyway, down his cheeks. "My friends and I… There are four of us, three lions and Dumaka the meerkat."

The leader tried once again to pick up his head only to have it fall back into the pool of blood with barely a splat. "St-stay…" he managed.

"What?" Kambiri glanced at Dumaka who had stood back, his small body shaking. Then back to the lion. "You want us to stay?" he asked, surprised.

"Pride… kingdom… it, it needs…" He coughed and spat up some more blood. He closed eyes then slowly opened them, making eye contact with this young lion. "Needs… good animals…"

Shock worked its way throughout Kambiri's body. Now more than ever he wasn't sure what to say, how to respond. Was he being asked by the king to stay in the lands, with the pride? Him and his companions…?

"Your majesty, we –" But he stopped mid-sentence as the shock worked to his mouth, silencing him. He watched, as did Dumaka, as the wounded lion slowly raised a leg in the air. His face filled with pain at the movement but clearly it was what he wanted. Kambiri took one step closer and, to his even greater shock, the king's paw landed on his mane. Kambiri was rooted to the spot, his eyes on the bloodied paw that now rested upon his chest. Was he being anointed by the leader in his final moments?

Kambiri swallowed a large lump in his throat and tried to get a firm grip on the emotions that threatened to burst forth. He dipped his head graciously. "I, and my friends, would be honored to join the pride, sire…" New tears appeared in his eyes. He was overwhelmed with gratitude and though the lion before him was going into shock what he had just done proved that there was some part of him trying desperately to hang on. Oh how Kambiri wished he could help! He knew Dumaka felt the same.

The king spoke again and it broke Kambiri's heart. "Good…" His paw fell from Kambiri's mane, leaving an un-seeable paw-print of blood. Kambiri didn't care. This was the sign of the king of the Eastern Valley.

"Kambiri," Nkosi now said in a strained whisper. "My… my daughter, the heiress…"

"You have a daughter who's the heiress? I will treat her with respect, you have my word."

"Help her… g-gain the throne…"

Kambiri had no idea what that meant and he wasn't going to ask. He would find out later, hopefully, from a member of the pride. "I will," he said. He had to say it. This dying creature, this king, had just allowed him and his friends to join the Eastern Valley Pride!

Nkosi smiled despite his pain. "Peace… b-be… with you…" His eyes closed for the last time, slowly, gently, and what breathing his body could give ceased.

Dumaka stepped back and walked around from the lion's back to the face, tears running freely down his cheeks. He wasn't sure what to do but he couldn't give last rites as much as his shamanic training and the urge grabbed him. But he wasn't a shaman of this land or this king's. He could only do what he would do for any dead. He began praying and gently but gracefully, he picked up some grass and walked back to the back of the lion and gently placed the grass on his side while muttering his prayer.

Kambiri finally moved and turned away from the site, tears falling hard. Seeing a bush not some three feet away he ran toward it and threw up. When he came back he looked at Dumaka, his face sure, serious and certain.

"I don't know about you Dumaka, but I would like to fulfill King Nkosi's wishes."

His friend carefully stepped around Nkosi's body and came up to him. He had a look Kambiri knew well. Did that mean he agreed?

The meerkat nodded his head. "I'm with you Kam," he said.