In an ancient baobab tree, Madana rested calmly, the fur rustling in the breeze. She took a deep breath through her nose as she closed her eyes. Something rancid hit her nostrils and she could practically taste it in the air. Sickness.
"This is not good." She murmured, reaching out to grab her bakora staff and run her hands up and down it, hands twisting. She was still a bit uncertain, as she would usually turn to her old mentor, Auni for help. Auni's gone. She gently reminded herself, heart giving a tiny twist at the memory of laying the older mandrill down to rest at the roots of the baobab tree she called home. He had passed away in his sleep peacefully, and now Madana was taking his place as the Royal Mjuzi of the Pridelands.
She took another breath to clear her nostrils of the rank omen before grasping her staff and climbing down the baobab. Her gaze turned to te east side of the tree where Auni was buried, but shook her head and tightened her grip on her staff.
It felt like both lifetimes and no time at all before Madana reached the base of Pride Rock before climbing up. Mirembe was laying at the enterance of the den as she watched Eran circle anxiously above Farai and Ciana as the two play-fought.
"Your Majesty?" Madana called hesitantly. In the den the mandrill heard a yawn as Imari's great form shifted and slowly got up.
In the darkness of the den, only the king's orange eyes were visible until a great honey colored paw stepped out of the shade and into the sun. "Yes Madana? Does something bother you?" Imari asked kindly.
Madana nodded. "I had a omen. There will be a sickness in the pridelands... I can sense it will be a scourage among us." She informed him. The king grew pensive, pondering the mandrill's words.
After what felt like seasons, Imari spoke again. "Do you know when it will strike?" He asked. Madana shook her head, upset that she had no answer.
"No, your majesty." She admitted quietly, Imari gave a quiet sigh, dark brown mane like tree bark rippling in a small breeze.
"I guess time will show us what happens..." The king mused, then added to Madana "Thank you for alerting me of this, Madana. Auni would be proud." Causing her to look at her feet as her heart panged at the name of her mentor. A shadow cast over her and Imari was right infont of Madana. "You are not alone in your sorrow, Madana. I miss Auni as well." He informed her.
"Thank you, King Imari." Madana murmured before heading back to her tree.
"You may confide in me whatever you wish, Madana." Imari called after her, Madana sighed and kept walking.
Halfway back to the baobab tree, a breeze ruffled her fur and a few leaves swirled through the air above the mandrill's head before settling a few feet away from her. As the breeze subsided, it Madana felt her spine tingle as a voice whispered in her ear like the breeze "Trust in yourself, young one. I am with you."
She paused, and listened again. There was no more ghostly whispers, but Madana knew in that moment that Auni was watching over her.
Meanwhile, Imari waited outside of the den for Furaha to return with some of the lionesses from a hunt.
"Dad?" The king was snapped abruptly from his thoughts by the mew of one of his daughters.
"Hm?" He looked down to see Hadiya looking back up at him with golden eyes. "Yes little one?" He asked. His youngest daughter sprawled herself over his paw.
"What's wrong? You look sad." She asked. Imari gave a comforting purr, bending down to lick the light brown cub.
"Nothing, dear cub of mine." Imari told Hadiya, who rolled onto her back. "Just waiting for your mother to come back."
Hadiya purred, "She's been away for a while - maybe she brought back a whole elephant!" She exclaimed in wonder. Imari gave an amused grunt.
"That would be quite the hunt." The king agreed, "How about you go play with your sisters?" He suggested when he heard Farai call for Hadiya. The cub flipped back to all fours and scampered off to join the two other cubs.
Imari got up and padded to the edge of Pride Rock where he could overlook the surrounding land.
In the distance were the forms of several lionesses, and Imari felt his anxiety ease as he saw them approaching Pride Rock. Once they drew closer, he turned around and climbed his way down to meet them.
Furaha led the group and picked up a trot to meet him half way. "Hello my love." She purred, headbutting him and rubbing her face against his.
"Furaha, there's something coming to the Pridelands." He murmured making the queen pause.
"What?" She asked.
"Madana came to me not long ago and told me a sickness will come to our land." Imari told her. By now the other lionesses were gathered around, the zebra carcass between Mudiwa and Dayo.
A murmur came from young Mirembe. "A sickness, Imari?" The great king nodded. "What will we do?" She asked.
"We will stand strong and continue on with our places in the Circle of Life." Imari stated, his words met with general approval.
"What if it wipes out our prey? What than?" Kamaria asked. Imari considered the lioness's words for a moment before answering.
"We will do what it takes to survive, as long as we uphold the Circle of Life." He told Kamaria.
A/N
: Welcome to Burden of Atlas! This will (most likely) be a fun side project of mine.
I'd like to say that I have a Discord server now, and all are free to join! 5AYbh