Hello, everyone! I cannot apologize enough to those who enjoy this story for the fact that it has been left for five years – and a couple months. Life got in the way, meaning college, bachelor's and master's degrees (though I am not done with the master's yet), and I am sorry. I promise this story will not be left without an ending. There's a character sheet at the end of the chapter.
For this story, The Lion Guard occurred... in a way. Kion and the Guard exist and are at Rani's pride, tentatively speaking. However, the Roar does not exist. Kion and his friends did what they could to protect the Pride Lands, without magical powers, though this changes The Lion Guard movie and episodes considerably (also, here, Scar never led the Guard; perhaps the Guard was Kion's creation with his friends). They are unlikely to appear in this story.
Now, to the next step in Mikazo and his friends' journeys.
Nuru hesitated, unsure if what she was doing was at all wise.
The light-furred lioness stood at the border of her lands, the lands in which Jinamizi had ruled for two and a half months. These were the lands that were, in all rights, the late Hodari and Kawanja's, and that of the son who survived them, Mikazo. It was early morning, the sun having barely breached the horizon, and freezing rain continued to pelt the ground without pause. The glow of the sun, though visible, was dimmed greatly by the billowing clouds and thick sheets of rain, and the resultant light was watery and vague. It was sufficient for even the most diurnal animals to see, though not for them to see far distances without distortion. Those with decent night-vision, such as lions, were not unhindered, however, as the sheets of rain effectively blocked long distance sight, regardless of the light level.
Nuru sniffed the edge of the border, taking in the markings that laid there and delineated the boundaries of her land; of her own pride, and the powerful scent of the hyena clan that lived just beyond – Chana's hyena clan. Not even steady rain seemed capable of washing away the lasting, pungent hyena scent, marked by their musk glands, at least not for some time, which Nuru supposed that would allow the hyenas to occasionally skip border marking duty.
The day before, several members of Chana's clan, including Chana herself, had fled back into their own territory following a fight with Nuru and her pride mates, and with their – hopefully temporary – king, Jinamizi. In that fight, the hyenas had been wounded, but none more so than the one called Jasusi, who had been violently mauled by an enraged Jinamizi for the comparatively light wound the hyena had inflicted upon the temperamental king.
Between Nuru's forepaws rested several varieties of healing plants and herbs. Although the rain beat down heavily, the plants and their various bits and bobs were relatively sheltered between her paws, at least as much as any plants were during the rainy season.
Nuru's pride mates were not aware of her plan, here. She had collected the herbs from her storage in one of their cave's side paths, and gone for a walk early this morning, before her pride mates had awakened. Now, Nuru swallowed against a dry throat, anxious and definitely afraid, but then took a slow, calming breath. She bent her head, scooped up the healing herbs, and stepped over her border into the territory of Chana's hyena clan. She had a wrong to right.
Mikazo yawned as he stepped out of the Pride Rock cave into the dreary, rain-soaked day. It had been late in the night by the time he and Msafiri had made it back from Mikazo's lands after their encounter with first Eupe and then the lionesses of Mikazo's pride, and Mikazo had stayed up still longer to tell Kimada and Zawadi about the trip and his reunion with his pride mates.
He would have waited until morning to share the story with his friends, but the brother and sister duo had been waiting in the cave entrance when he and Msafiri had returned. They had attempted to stay up in order to hear about the trip, although when Mikazo and Msafiri walked in, they had been sound asleep in a golden-furred puddle just outside the reach of the rain, only waking to the sound of their paw-steps. Mikazo was grateful his friends cared enough to try to stay up so late to hear about something that was so important to him, and he had been thrilled for the opportunity to report the trip to them sooner rather than later.
Now, however, as morning dawned, Mikazo was quite tired and was somewhat regretting not having fallen asleep as soon as they had returned. He was glad he had gotten the chance to speak with his friends as soon as he did, but that did not change the fact that now he felt half-asleep on his paws. He had not really managed to get the rest Uzuri had mentioned he needed to get, he supposed.
Kimada and Zawadi followed him out of the cave, both of them wincing as a gust of wind swept rain into their faces. They both had ruffled fur from sleep, eyes still heavy, and they looked to be as tired as Mikazo felt. Lifting a paw, Mikazo rubbed at his own face to get the rain out of his eyes, although with the continuous fall, it did not have much effect. Still, it did wake him up some.
Mikazo's training session would take place this evening, so Mikazo and his friends had some time to wait, early in the day as it was. "What would you like to do first, guys?" Mikazo asked.
"Well, anyone up for a rousing rendition of 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head'?" Zawadi suggested dryly as she strode up to Mikazo's side, shaking her head to toss water from her face and neck.
Mikazo grinned. "That's one possibility," he agreed.
"Ah, what's a little rain?" Kimada asked with a smile. "How about we get some food and then go exploring?"
"Sounds good to me," Mikazo said as he tried and failed to stifle a yawn. He supposed hunting might chase the residual sleepiness away and do something to clear his foggy mind.
Zawadi started down the rocky path to the Savannah. "Let's go!" she encouraged, glancing at her brother and Mikazo over her shoulder, her own smile bright, even if it was then broken by a jaw-breaking yawn. "Oh... thanks, Mikazo," she said after snapping her jaws closed. "Your yawning is catching."
Mikazo bumped her shoulder with his head in passing as he bounded past Zawadi and stepped into the grass. "Spreading yawns is the only upside of yawning, if you ask me," he commented with a grin. "At least it's amusing!"
Kimada's mouth gaped as a yawn escaped his control, as well, his jaws audibly cracking. "Will you stop saying the word yawn!" he exclaimed before shaking his whole body and blinking hard to clear his own head.
Mikazo chuckled as the three young lions bounded out further into the grasslands. As Mikazo trotted through the soaked strands of grass, rain and wind pelted him and woke him up fully. The water was cold and uncomfortable, so he could hardly be sleepy while out in it, though he could certainly be displeased with the abruptly soaked condition of his pelt and mane, and by the chilly temperature of the rain. Despite the cloud cover and the rain, it was still surprisingly bright out, and Mikazo's vision was not heavily hampered, if one were to discount the water soaking his face fur and dripping past his eyes.
As they traveled through the Savannah until Pride Rock was just a small shape behind them, catching an occasional small bird or rodent before continuing on for larger fare, Zawadi quietly humming the tune she had jokingly suggested, Kimada suddenly caught sight of something in the distance. "Hey, look at that rhino, guys," he commented, jerking his chin to indicate the creature he meant. "It looks hurt."
"What?" Mikazo asked. He glanced in the direction Kimada was looking. Indeed, there was a rhinoceros wandering across the plains, a white rhinoceros by the look of it, and he did seem to be injured. Every time his left fore-leg made contact with the ground, the rhino limped, moving to the other leg as quickly as possible. The injured leg was clearly scraped up, and even from this distance, Mikazo could see that it appeared to be swollen. There were a few other injuries on the rhino's body, jagged punctures that, though mostly scabbed over, were still lazily oozing blood, but Mikazo could not identify their cause. "What do you think hurt him?" he wondered aloud.
"Well, those look like horn injuries, don't they?" Zawadi put forth, her head tilted slightly as she watched the rhinoceros. When Mikazo glanced at her questioningly, she added, "Those ones along the rhino's face, neck, and upper sides."
"I guess so," Mikazo said, giving the wounds another, contemplative look. "I've never really seen horn wounds like those before."
"I have," Zawadi stated. "When we all – Msafiri's pride and I, I mean – were living in our territory, before things dried up, I saw a battle between two rhinos. They both ended up with those types of wounds. Might be what happened here."
"It does look like that," Kimada said. "Like what I'd figure rhino horn marks would look like – and, ouch, those look bad. Huh, I wonder what they were fighting about..."
Mikazo glanced at the rhino again, noting that he seemed to be quite old. He was still a huge creature, and looked fairly healthy, injuries aside, but it certainly looked as though the rhinoceros was getting on in years. As he watched, the rhino limped over to a nearby, sprawling baobab tree and paused underneath it, noticeably panting with the effort it took to make it all that way. Then the rhino snorted loudly enough to be heard from where the three lions stood and laid down, stretching his injured leg out of harm's way and relaxing on the ground.
Mikazo briefly wondered why the rhinoceros had not noticed them, but then remembered that rhinoceroses had notoriously bad eye-sight. Their other senses were strong, but their eye-sight was quite poor, and the rain would be dampening the scents of the lions to the point it was doubtful the rhino could smell them from here, especially with the brisk wind tending in their direction. Now somewhat sheltered from the rain underneath that tree, the rhino closed his small round eyes.
"I think he's about to take a nap," Mikazo noted.
Zawadi glanced over at the other two lions, then at the lounging rhinoceros. She cocked her head in thought, then said with a sudden smile. "Hey, maybe we should try to hunt it."
"Huh?" Kimada asked as Mikazo's eyes widened. "Hunt him?"
"Sure, why not?" Zawadi asked, clearly warming to the idea. "It's big enough to feed the whole pride, isn't it?"
"Definitely," Kimada agreed. "He's huge! I'd definitely like to bring in that much meat for everyone." He hesitated. "Problem is, Simba mentioned a few times that it's not a good idea to hunt rhino without a big group."
"Msafiri's said that, too," Zawadi added. "But still... this rhino looks really beaten up, doesn't it?"
Kimada nodded. "Sure does. It was limping pretty badly." He paused. "I'm pretty sure Simba meant not to hunt healthy, uninjured rhinos..."
"Makes sense," Mikazo said hesitantly. As much as he was unwilling to go against advice from Simba or Msafiri, especially from the both of them, he also had to think that the kings had meant healthy rhinoceroses, surely. "But I'm not really sure it's a good idea, guys. Rhinos are supposed to be incredibly dangerous, no matter what... I just don't know about hunting something like that without more of the pride with us."
"I'm pretty sure the three of us could manage it," Zawadi said encouragingly.
Mikazo hesitated. "It's probably too big a risk, though..."
Zawadi bumped Mikazo's shoulder lightly with her own, her tone teasing as her tail flicked against his side in a light swat. "Hey, come on now, I thought you and Kimada were supposed to be big, strong lions... It's just an over-sized prey animal, after all."
Mikazo straightened and shot Zawadi a look. "I'm not scared of prey, if that's what you're implying!" He lifted his head, the fur along his spine bristling in indignation. Although Mikazo was not a particularly prideful lion, he nonetheless felt unaccountably wounded by Zawadi's tease, which was obviously not meant to be hurtful. Nonetheless, he felt as though his courage was being called into dubious question.
"Yeah, not even close!" Kimada snorted, equally insulted. "I could hunt that thing in my sleep!"
"Look how old it is," Zawadi pointed out. "And it's sleeping! I think maybe we should go for it." She thoughtfully kneaded the ground with one paw. "I think we could handle it, the three of us. I admit that I don't like disregarding something Msafiri said, but I think you're right, Kimada, about hunting healthy ones. That has to be what Msafiri meant." She cocked her head. "I've never tried rhino meat..." She nodded. "And it is sleeping. We can have it taken down before it even wakes up."
Kimada grinned. "Yeah! And think how impressed everyone will be when we bring 'em all to a rhino meal." He looked quite pleased at the thought. "So, let's get it!"
Mikazo hesitated, giving his friends a glance before he looked toward the hulking shape of the rhino. Then again, he did not want to look like he was frightened by the thought of hunting this large prey, when it was injured, old, and sleeping – he did not want to seem like a coward in front of the other two, especially given Zawadi's teasing comment.
He did not want either her or Kimada to believe that he lacked courage, or was a hunter unwilling to challenge larger prey. No, 'big, strong' lion or not, he would prove to Zawadi that he had the skill, strength and courage to handle this hunt, even if the three of them together were not the usual amount of hunters for a prey animal of this size. How difficult could it really be, after all? The rhinoceros was wounded, weakened, and sleeping.
"Alright, then," Mikazo decided. He crouched low into a hunting stalk. "Let's all attack it at once, alright?"
Nuru cautiously paced into the heart of the hyena clan's territory, her jaws packed full of herbs, her steps careful as she peered at the cluster of rocks and boulders in the distance. The stones were arranged in a somewhat circular configuration that clearly provided somewhat of a roof, and thus protection from the elements. Having followed her nose, she was reasonably sure that this was the hyenas' dwelling, as this was where their scents were most concentrated. She stopped some distance away from the stones for a moment, unsure if she should just walk in, but then she started taking slow steps forward again.
Within moments, she heard a shout of warning echo through the rocks. "Hey, guys! We've got an intruder!" At this, Nuru froze in her steps and stood still, waiting in anxiety and budding fear as she watched hyenas stream out from among the stones, slipping smoothly from various resting places as they moved, despite the rocking nature of their gait. There were around fifteen hyenas coming out of their dwelling to meet her, females in the lead, male hyenas bringing up the rear, all growling low and emitting sharp-pitched whoops of challenge and warning. This was not the full clan, but there were plenty enough hyenas in sight to alarm the single lioness.
The clan encircled her in moments and Nuru crouched defensively, ears pinned flat. She resisted the urge to expose her claws, for fear that any such sign of aggression would provoke the clan into attack. "I'm not here to fight!" she quickly called out. "I'm here to request a meeting with your matriarch, Chana!"
One of the hyenas stalked forward. "And why should we grant that request?" she snarled quietly, and Nuru recognized her as the one named Kuvunja, who was known for her temper. The large female hyena's mane bristled straight up along her neck, and her tail stood out stiffly behind her as she circled around to Nuru's side. With a snap, she lunged at Nuru and bit the air next to her flank in a gesture of threat. Nuru's coat bristled, and though she shifted slightly away, she took great care not to flinch, not to show obvious fear.
Another female stepped forward, moving smoothly in-between Nuru and Kuvunja. "Stand down, Kuvunja," she prompted, bumping the other female back with her own side. Nuru noticed that this hyena was predominately dusky brown-furred with pitch black spots, in contrast to the more gray coloring of many of her clan mates. "Why don't we humor the lioness?"
"Tuliza!" Kuvunja snapped, indignation in her tone. "She just strolled into our territory, and you're suggesting that we, what? Invite her in for a meal?" Kuvunja scowled, then said, "I say we do just that, but she can be the meal!"
"Well, now, Kuvunja..." another voice drawled. "Shouldn't that be my decision?"
"Chana!" Kuvunja immediately stepped back, crouching down, as her matriarch stepped out from among the ranks of hyenas and moved toward Nuru. Nuru saw that the matriarch looked tired, as if she had not slept the night before, and her pelt was stained with crusty, dried blood; her eyes, though sharply focused on Nuru, seemed oddly reddened, the fur around their rims stiff and damp.
"What do you want?" Chana asked flatly. "And more importantly, why should I care?"
Nuru dipped her head to the clan leader, though she remained cautious and ready to run. "I am here as the healer of my pride. I wish to ask after the health of your clan mate, Jasusi." Chana's eyes narrowed as her teeth barred, and Nuru quickly continued, "I could not disagree more with how Jinamizi attacked him, and I wish to do what I can to help."
"Help?" Chana scoffed. "Don'tcha think you lions have done enough to help, lately?" The clan matriarch moved forward, a growl rumbling in her throat.
Nuru lifted her head from the bow, met Chana's eyes briefly, and then cast her gaze away. Unsure quite how to manage the motions, she nonetheless crouched low to the ground, pressing her stomach into the soaked grass, and tilted her head to the side, her cheek to the ground. This was an incredibly risky move, as it greatly limited her ability to respond to an attack with the necessary alacrity; but the lioness mimicked the poses of a submitting hyena, and she heard Chana's steps pause abruptly.
"Okay..." Chana said above her. "Now what are ya doing?"
Nuru swallowed roughly, knowing that she would not be able to fight back against this many hyenas, should they attack; knowing that, as a lone lioness in their territory, they would have every right and reason to do so. If they did, she was not at all sure she would be able to escape. "I just... I wish to offer my services to your injured clan mate. Jinamizi has done enough harm to enough animals, and I want to do what I can to correct some of that." Looking up from the ground, she saw the hyenas exchanging looks, muttering among themselves as they took in Nuru's words and assessed the veracity of her offer.
"Are you serious?" Chana wondered incredulously. "Weren't we tearin' each others' pelts off several times recently? Didn't your king hurt one of my clan so badly he's barely made it through the night? You asked about Jasusi's health? Well, he's nearly dead, alright!" Chana's voice noticeably wavered on her last sentence.
Nuru only had one answer to that. "Jinamizi went too far... and if we had a choice, he would not be our king. He would not be in our lands." She lifted her head to meet Chana's stare, raising cautiously out of her rough mimicry of a submissive hyena into the more natural pose of a cautious, but non-threatening lioness. "I have brought healing herbs. There are some to treat bleeding, some for fever, some to help with sleep, and some to help with pain. I can try to treat Jasusi... if you wish."
Chana now seemed merely bewildered. "You are serious, aren't you?" She shook her head, one ear flicking to the side briefly. "And I'm guessing your king doesn't know about your little visit here?"
Nuru nodded. "He would never given permission for this, so yes, I am here without his knowledge."
After a pause during which she held Nuru's gaze with her own, steady appraisal, Chana glanced back at some of her clan mates. "Kuvunja, Kipande, stick close to her!" She then looked back at Nuru. "Alright, lion, follow me... and if you do anything to hurt any of my clan, we will tear you limb from limb without even bothering to eat you."
Nuru instantly nodded once more. "Of course I have no intention of trying to harm any of you. That would be pointless and stupid."
"No kidding," Chana snorted. "And... Tuliza? You come with, too. Keep Kuvunja under control, alright?"
Tuliza, the brownish hyena, smirked slightly. "On it, Chana... though easier tasks do exist." With that, she padded up alongside Kuvunja, looking at the slightly lower-ranked female calmly. "Let's try not to spill any unnecessary blood, okay, Kuvunja?" she suggested.
"Literally everyone stops all my fun!" Kuvunja grumbled, but she, Tuliza, and a middling rank hyena named Kipande walked to Nuru's sides, each of them meeting her gaze in turn with various degrees of threat and/or curiosity in their stares.
Nuru simply nodded to the hyenas as they paced around her and then she scooped up the herbs that had been laying at her paws. At her sides, they guided her and discouraged any negative actions she might think to take as Chana led them into a sheltered recess of their stony home, out of the rain and wind and into a small den where Jasusi laid, injured.
Mikazo's two friends agreed that when they struck, they should attack as a group. They decided to aim roughly for the rhinoceros' neck, which was large enough for them to attack that portion of the rhino's body at the same time, and for its hip, to disable it further. With that plan in mind, the three of them stalked forward, vanishing into the tall grass and moving silently toward their sleeping prey.
As they approached the large animal, Mikazo realized how much bigger it seemed close up. It was a good four or five times the size of the young lions when taking into account both its length and its height, especially as the three lions were not full grown. The second horn, the larger one on the end of its muzzle, was, he realized with some trepidation, actually longer than Mikazo's whole body. He had to wonder how the rhinoceros managed to hold its head up with a horn that big. Still, old, injured, and asleep as it was, Mikazo figured it would not be much of a problem.
It was a large, slumbering form with a head that made up much of its body length, a huge, powerful-looking hump on its shoulders, and it was, Mikazo noticed, nearly fur-less. It had sparse hair scattered along its body, mostly on its ears and tail-tip, but the rest of it was for the most part bare. Mikazo found that slightly odd. It was fine for a reptile to be fur-less, but it seemed strange on a mammal. Not that it was the rhinoceros' fault that was nearly bald. In fact, Mikazo considered, it probably got cold a lot without much fur, especially in this rain. Although it was called a white rhinoceros, both its fur and skin were a gray-color.
As they come within pouncing distance, Mikazo braced himself and focused on the nearest part of its neck. Sensing his friends moving into position just out of sight in the tall grass but very close by, Mikazo lunged.
Springing out of hiding and hearing Kimada and Zawadi do the same, Mikazo landed on the side of the rhino's neck and sank in his claws, snapping down with his teeth as, beside him, the other two also attacked, Kimada on its side, Zawadi on its hip. He noticed how hard it was to dig his claws into the rough skin, but his teeth were more successful, beginning to break through the rhinoceros' hide.
Then there was a deep, rumbling bellow and the rhino surged up beneath them, throwing the three lions loose with a toss of its head and a thrash of its body. Simultaneously, a squawk rang out as a previously unseen yellow-billed oxpecker, perhaps having been asleep on the rhino's shoulder, took panicked flight and sheltered in the branches of the tree, startling Mikazo even as he was flung through the air.
Surprised by the force with which he had been thrown free, Mikazo did not spin around in time to land on his paws, and thumped against the wet ground with a grunt. He heard similar sounds off to the side as Kimada and Zawadi fell to the ground, as well. Unharmed and quickly shaking off the impact, Mikazo leapt to his feet and looked up at the rhino.
It had risen to its feet and spun to face its attackers, a billowing snort sounding from its muzzle. It was definitely awake now, and the wounds they had caused on its neck and side did not appear very deep. Mikazo glanced quickly at its wounded leg and saw that it was still holding it somewhat gingerly, but the rhino quickly oriented itself from its rude awakening and focused on the three lions.
A heartbeat later, the rhinoceros lunged at the three lions, and they each dove to the side, avoiding the massive horn and pounding hooves. Mikazo spun and sprang at the rhino's side, clawing at its neck, but missed as it raced by. With frustration, he watched as the rhino ran a few more steps, expecting the prey animal to flee from their attack and, with the speed it was moving, for them to lose their chance to bring it down. He was also slightly impressed with the rhino's speed, given its injured leg, but he supposed adrenaline could have that effect.
To Mikazo's surprise, the rhinoceros stopped and twisted around back toward the predators. There was rage in its small, dark eyes, and he realized it was not going to run.
"Uh oh," he heard Kimada mutter and the rhino exploded forward with an enraged snort.
Mikazo darted sideways and forward, bounding alongside the rhino and barely avoiding its barreling form. He saw Kimada lung in and slash along the rhino's upper-leg, which caused it to grunt and twist toward Kimada, trying to slam him with its horn. Yelping in panic, Kimada rolled out of the way and the rhinoceros missed, then it whipped around again as Zawadi clawed at the rhino's side.
Mikazo saw with dismay that their claws were not doing much to the rhino's tough skin, and in fact, only seemed to be angering it further. He watched as Zawadi scrambled backward and Kimada narrowly avoided getting stomped on. Then the rhino turned toward Mikazo, who had no time to dodge before the side of the rhino's head struck him sidelong and swept him off his paws in a jarring impact.
He tumbled along the ground and leapt back up, heart pounding. This had been a mistake, trying to hunt this rhino, he was sure of it. Now it definitely was time to go. "Guys, let's get out of here!" he shouted to Kimada and Zawadi. His friends said nothing, preoccupied as they were by the giant animal they had attempted to hunt, but both siblings immediately turned to run.
Mikazo lunged forward and caught up alongside Kimada and Zawadi as the three of them ran in the direction of Pride Rock with the infuriated rhino pounding the earth and snorting behind them. Mikazo was trembling, pushing himself to run faster. He had never imagined a prey animal could be quite so dangerous to hunt.
For a brief moment, Mikazo thought they were in the clear, that the rhino had let them be; after all, what reason would it have to chase them? But then he heard pounding hooves and felt the ground shake as the behemoth animal raced them down. Mikazo glanced over his shoulder and felt his eyes widen as he saw how close the rhino had drawn in such a short time. He realized they would not be able to outrun it. It was furious that they had tried to hunt it, and it seemed now it intended to get revenge.
"Run!" he shouted at the other two, slowing down himself as he spun to face their attacker. His friends were in danger, and he knew he could not allow them to be harmed. He had to protect them. He doubted they would listen to his advice, but he had to try. "Keep going, both of you!" he called back to them as he threw himself forward to intercept the rhino.
Nuru was led into a small stone clearing which was largely covered by overhanging rock, creating a small protected cave. The cave was dimly lit, with less sun reaching underneath the sheaths of stone that blocked the sky, cloudy and rainy as it was. In the back of this little cave, curled in a gray ball spotted with black and stained with reddened wounds, was the weakened Jasusi. He was sleeping fitfully, his ears twitching as his eyelids clenched slightly in his dreams. As Nuru approached, she saw that Jasusi was covered in wounds inflicted by Jinamizi; claw marks scoring his side, his back hip, and along the side of his cheek; bite wounds along the side of his neck and the center of his back, which Jinamizi had caused when he had grabbed the hyena and shaken him by his back during his mauling attack.
Nuru slowed as she approached Jasusi, allowing the hyenas who were her guards to bypass her and approach their injured clan mate before she could do so, with Chana in the lead. With a brief glance at her clan mates, Chana nonetheless gave a quick lick to the top of the sleeping hyena's head, swiping back his bristly black mane as she groomed the uneasy Jasusi. "Hey now," Chana murmured, "calm down, Jasusi, it's just a dream. Wake up, bud, we've got a visitor. Says she's gonna fix you up."
As Kipande, Kuvunja, and Tuliza moved to lay down off to one side of the cave, out of the way, Nuru watched wordlessly. She was again somewhat surprised to see a hyena, and Chana at that, express such clear concern in her attitude and gentleness in her words to a lower-ranked male, and to do so in front of others from her clan and, indeed, in front of Nuru, herself. She resolved then that she must do all that she could to improve Jasusi's health; she had to be certain that the young hyena would be back on his paws without lasting repercussion from the attack.
Jasusi twitched and groggily opened his eyes. "Uh, wha...?" he blinked up at his matriarch. "Oh, hey, Chan'..." His voice was weak. "What's up?" Chana opened her muzzle to reply, but with a slight drift to his tone, Jasusi continued, "Ever told ya you got very round ears? They're round at the top. Kinda cool. I mean, Kuvunja's got pointy ears. Me too, and most o' the others... Yours are better."
Chana flicked said ears, obviously puzzled. "Ah... what? Never mind. Jasusi, you know that lioness, Nuru? She showed up here with some herbs to fix you up, like I said."
"Lioness? Nuru?" Jasusi's bleary gaze swept the cave briefly and landed on Nuru. "Oh, hey. You're one of that pride. With the claws, and the teeth, and the Jinamizi..."
Nuru muzzle quirked up into a smile around the herbs she carried. "Yeah... that's us. Sorry about the claws... and the teeth... and definitely sorry about the Jinamizi." She carefully approached the injured hyena until she stood a foot away, meeting his gaze and then scanning his pelt to assess his wounds. The rambling nature of his speech concerned her, as it appeared to indicate the presence of a fever and some confusion.
"S'all good," Jasusi replied with weak flippancy to her comments. "Lions don't like hyenas. Hyenas don't like lions... you guys kinda smell bad, you know?"
"I hadn't noticed," Nuru replied, calm, as she set the herbs upon the ground and began to shift through them with a paw.
"Yeah!" Jasusi said with some enthusiasm. "You guys kind of smell! You smell all... liony. Don't they, Chana?"
Chana let out a low, quiet whoop. "Yeah, they definitely smell all liony, Jasusi." She shot Nuru a look, then cast her gaze back to Jasusi before looking back at Nuru again, a question in her deep brown eyes.
"I'll be sure to get a bath in the river, Jasusi, okay?" Nuru said. "That should take care of the smell." She met Chana's gaze, and in a quiet undertone, murmured, "Fever... I'll take care of it."
"Hey, thanks," Jasusi mumbled. "Erm, hate to be rude t'a guest, bu' gonna sl... sleep now, okay?" With that, Jasusi's eyes slipped closed once more.
Chana spoke instantly, her tone sharp, commanding. "What are you going to do this fix this, lioness?"
Nuru had gathered some Cape aloe for its anti-inflammatory effects; some centella, which is also anti-inflammatory, and which promoted wound healing; some waterhyssop, also for healing wounds; some Devil's Claw, for its effects on fevers, inflammation, and pain, and for its effects as a sedative should sleep be hard to come by for an ailing creature; some leaves, seeds and roots of the African wormwood, for fevers, and to encourage appetite; some lavender croton for treating fever and joint/muscle pain, and for promoting the clotting of wounds; and trellis-vine for pain, fever, and inflammation. She explained this to Chana, describing the different properties of each plant, as she sorted the herbs and determined how best to approach treatment, given Jasusi's state.
"So none of them are poisonous, are they?" Chana wondered with obvious wariness. "Cause if they are... if Jasusi dies cause you gave him these things..."
Nuru met Chana's piercing gaze. "If I wanted Jasusi to die, I would just leave without treating him at all." With that, she turned her eyes back to her patient, bending down to chew an herb into its needed consistency for application to the inflamed wounds. "Now hush and let me work."
Mikazo skidded to a halt in front of the rhinoceros and crouched down as it snorted above him, startled by his turnabout. Mikazo watched it rear, ready to slam down on him with its fore-hooves and, instead, he took the time to leap underneath it, slipping beneath its stomach and twisting to tear his claws into that softer underbelly.
The rhinoceros bellowed in pain and ripped away, while Mikazo darted out of immediate danger. Glancing around as he straightened up, Mikazo saw that, unsurprisingly, neither of his friends had continued running for Pride Rock. Kimada and Zawadi were now circling the rhino, darting in turns to swipe at it, though this did little more than irritate the thick-skinned beast.
Frustrated and terrified for his friends as the rhinoceros lashed out at them with hooves and horn, Mikazo aimed for the rhino's hip. He slashed at it quickly, landed a hit, and then sprang backward out reach, using the same technique Kimada and Zawadi were employing.
For a moment, the rhino seemed disoriented, uncertain which direction to turn and which lion to attack. Then it struck out with its horn and nearly speared Zawadi, who hissed loudly as she was scraped along her side. She pulled away, and Kimada tackled the rhino's injured fore-leg with a furious snarl, defending his sister with claws and teeth bared. Thrashing its leg, the rhino tossed Kimada off. It staggered slightly as it put its leg back down, but braced itself and broke into another clumsy, but determined charge. The rhino pounded toward Kimada with an angry grumble, and Mikazo leapt in the way and clawed the side of its muzzle, drawing its attention.
The next thing Mikazo knew, a hoof had made contact with his side in a stunning hit and he was sent horizontally through the air, his world spinning dizzily. This time, he landed on his paws, but his legs fell under his weight and he tumbled along the ground, smacking his head against the dirt as he came down. Though the ground was wet with rain, the impact was powerful, and spots danced briefly in his vision.
Dazed and scrambled from the blow, Mikazo looked up through bleary eyes. His breath halted when he saw one of the rhino's fore-hooves was about to slam down on top of him, a hit that would surely break his spine if it landed. Mikazo rolled quickly to the side, and instead of coming down on top of him, the massive hoof struck the ground right beside him. He yelped as he felt it graze the side of his chest before his second roll took him completely out of range.
Heart thumping wildly against his ribs, Mikazo sprang to his paws and staggered back as the rhino stampeded past. His eyes widened when he saw that Kimada had somehow manage to climb halfway onto the rhino's back. His best friend clung precariously by his front paws on the rhino's back hip, his hind paws churning uselessly through the air as he tried to climb more fully onto the furious, alarmed animal. The rhino's jolting steps were clearly making it difficult for Kimada to even hang on, every step nearly dislodging him.
Zawadi was running alongside the rhino, ears flat against her head and body low to the ground. As Mikazo watched, she leapt up and scored a shallow cut on the rhino's stomach. The rhino snorted and spun around toward its attacker, almost sending Kimada tumbling off as it did. Kimada let out a cry as one of his front paws was momentarily yanked free, and then he sank his claws back into the thick, gray hide, regaining what little hold he had.
Mikazo lunged forward as the rhino spun toward Zawadi and he slashed at one of its beady eyes – perhaps the only noticeable weak points to be found on the beast – with a paw before it could complete the turn. It was forced to draw back to avoid being blinded. As it pulled away, it went into a partial rear, before dropping back onto all fours with a thump that shook the ground beneath Mikazo's paws. Kimada's shout was choked off as the rhino landed and once again jarred him.
"Kimada, get down from there!" Zawadi called to her brother as his obvious struggles to hang onto the rhino abruptly became more pronounced with the rhino's rearing buck.
"I-I'm fine!" Kimada exclaimed, gasping for breath, back paws now scrabbling along the rhino's leg as he tried to get a firmer grip. "I've got it under control!"
Zawadi growled in worried frustration, but before she could respond to Kimada's claim both she and Mikazo were forced to spring aside as the rhino lunged past.
Mikazo chose the cautious route and skirted around the rhino as carefully as one could skirt around an enraged animal several times one's size, looking for a good opportunity to attack. Zawadi darted in close to their supposed prey and swiped at its hind leg, this time leaving a surprisingly deep cut, before she jumped back once more.
Kimada finally managed to pull himself fully onto the rhino's back, and began to very slowly inch himself forward in a clear plan to place himself above the rhino's neck – a perfect place to try to bring the huge creature down.
The rhino seemed to be going into a panic, both from Zawadi's attack on its hind leg and Kimada's weight on its back, and it jumped into a sudden buck in an attempt to free itself from Kimada.
"No!" Mikazo yelled as Kimada was all but flung free, just barely managing to keep his grip. Mikazo jumped forward and launched himself recklessly into the rhino's side, desperate to distract its attention from the unsteady Kimada.
He bit the rhino's side while slashing with both forepaws, clinging briefly to its side, and then dropped to the ground and landed on his paws beside the mammoth animal. Dust swirled up into his face, blurring his vision and making him cough, and he heard the rhino let out a bellow as it twisted to face him. Its eyes were wide with anger and fear, and its sharp, massive hooves slammed down toward Mikazo.
Before it could strike him, Mikazo jerked out of the way. Simultaneously, a snarl rose above the sound of the rhino's snort and pounding hooves, and Mikazo saw a flash as Zawadi plunged into the side of the rhino's head. Zawadi attached herself to the rhino's cheek.
Clinging precariously, Zawadi sank her teeth into the rough skin of the rhino's ear, wrenching as she gripped. As the rhino bellowed and snorted, trying to pull free, she slashed quickly at its eye but just missed, scoring deep wounds alongside its eye socket. With a flail of its head as it reared onto its hind legs, the rhino tossed Zawadi off.
Mikazo watched with alarm as she was flung through the air only to crash painfully to the ground into an uncontrolled roll, before collapsing in a clear daze as she finally fell still. She gave her head a slight shake, seeming muddled.
Though he feared for Zawadi's health and started toward her, quickly reaching her side, Mikazo's attention was pulled back to the rhino and Kimada as his best friend let out another cry. Mikazo stared, frozen, as Kimada was finally dislodged from their intended prey, halfway up its spine in his path to its neck. Kimada was sent tumbling backward, head over tail, as he rolled down the rhino's spine and dropped off its back behind its tail, falling toward the ground. Kimada hit the grassy mud with a stunned gasp, and rolled onto his stomach to rise to his paws.
As Mikazo spun from Zawadi and raced forward to help his friend, terrified that the rhino would turn on Kimada while he lay stunned, instead the behemoth whipped toward the approaching Mikazo. He skidded and attempted to swerve as he realized that the rhino was aiming for him, but Mikazo could not cease his forward momentum.
To his terror, he realized that as the rhino pounded toward him in a few short strides, it lowered its massive horn to pierce his chest. Mikazo dug his hind claws into the ground for purchase and tried to fling himself backward, but he could only stumble back a few steps, watching as the massive horn, almost half again as long as an adult lion's body and more than twice the length of Mikazo's entire body, flashed toward his unprotected neck and chest.
Then Kimada was suddenly there, a living barrier in-between Mikazo and the attacking rhino, shoving his body into the side of its head and horn to divert its attention from Mikazo. In a swift, desperate movement, Kimada slid underneath the rhinoceros' head and shoved his shoulders into its chin, successfully sending the horn off course.
Mikazo ducked with a gasp as the horn stabbed the air just above his head, nearly grazing his forehead in passing. But Kimada was still beneath the rhino's chin, in the position in which he had placed himself to save Mikazo's life, and he could not move away before their supposed prey struck.
With the sort of horror that freezes the body and fogs the mind, of the sort that usually only takes place in nightmares, Mikazo watched as things became so much worse. Bucking up onto its hind hooves briefly, the rhinoceros lashed out with both fore hooves in a blow of shocking speed and power.
Mikazo could only watch as a hoof made contact with Kimada's head, striking his skull in a glancing but stunning hit.
As Kimada was tossed backward and fell limply to the ground without any sound, skidding past Mikazo in a haze of torn grass and splattering water – as Mikazo saw that Kimada was clearly unconscious, a line of blood quickly staining his mane – the rhino snorted. It turned toward the downed lion and scuffed a hoof sharply against the ground, gouging a furrow in the dirt and grass, then lifted it to bring down on Kimada.
Mikazo moved before he could think through the wisdom of his actions, leaping into the air and slamming into the rhino's neck. He slashed with both forepaws, using all of his strength and tearing through the rhino's shoulder. He felt his claws scrape bone, and the rhino bellowed, jerking away from Kimada and thrashing as Mikazo's claws gripped tightly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zawadi stumble to her paws, still dazed but clearly horrified. "Kimada?" he heard her call in stunned disbelief.
Mikazo felt his grip slip, and he fell off of the rhino's shoulder as it whipped to the side. Mikazo rolled across the grass and came up standing. Off to his side, Zawadi was now crouched next to her limp brother, prodding Kimada's shoulder with her muzzle. "Kimada, wake up..." Zawadi's voice broke, strained and desperate. "Come on, are you alright?"
Kimada made no response, laying unconscious. He had to just be unconscious. Mikazo mentally pleaded for that to be all it was. His head was bleeding, and as bad as that was, it meant he was still alive, didn't it? Wouldn't his blood stop pumping if he was...?
Mikazo's gaze was brought back to the rhinoceros as it lunged for him yet again. He dodged away and was nearly knocked over as the rhino's side struck his own. His body aching, feeling his energy dropping fast, he backed away, at a loss for what to do. They had to get Kimada to Rafiki, right now – but how could they when the rhino seemed so intent on killing them, and was so relentless?
Perhaps if he could draw the rhinoceros away from Kimada and Zawadi, then Zawadi could get Kimada to safety. Mikazo was not sure what he would do after that, when the rhino would be aiming just for him, but he did not see any other choice. With that plan in mind, Mikazo sprang, snarling as loudly as he could to keep the rhino's eyes on him. "Hey, is that all you've got?" he growled, darting in and clawing at the rhino's fore-leg before moving quickly away. "Come on, try and get me..." Casting a quick glance toward Zawadi, he called out to the lioness, "Zawadi!" She looked over at him from where she hovered over her brother, her eyes glazed and terrified. Her gaze cleared slightly, and flicked between Mikazo and the rhino as she started to move toward them, clearly intending to help, but Mikazo stopped her with a quick "No, Zawadi! Kimada!"
He did not want to explain his meaning any further, for fear that the rhino would hear his call and realize that Zawadi was to get the injured Kimada to safety, and in so doing, would decide to finish the downed lion off before he could be saved. After all, that would remove one of the rhino's potential predators from this and any future hunting attempts. Thankfully, Zawadi understood his shout, and though her gaze was conflicted, she spun back toward her brother, quickly grabbing his scruff in her jaws.
Intent on distracting the threat away from the other two, Mikazo lunged around the rhinoceros' other side, opposite to where his friends were, and, rearing to his full height and extension, snapped his teeth closed on its tail in a sharp yank before once again jumping out of range. As he landed, he deliberately released a sound somewhere between a roar and a full-throated snarl, meant to deafen the rhino to all other movement and call its attention to Mikazo.
The rhino stamped the hoof of its uninjured fore-leg on the ground and focused on its aggressor, infuriated by his taunting attacks. Mikazo crouched low and backed away through the bristling strands of grass, keeping a steady growl and meeting the rhino's eyes defiantly. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he could not stop shaking. He was terrified, but his plan to attract the rhino's attention seemed to have worked. The massive mammal moved toward him at a pounding gait, head lowered and horn aimed.
Mikazo sprang sideways and ran alongside the rhino, slashing one paw along the side of its head and then spun on his hind paws and launched himself into a running bound, moving farther across the field to draw it away from Kimada and Zawadi. The rhino snorted and spun toward him, fresh though shallow wounds marring its cheek, and lunged toward Mikazo in an unexpectedly quick burst of speed, quickly closing the distance between them.
His fur bristled and he dodged sideways, but felt a hoof smack into his side in a glancing blow. Mikazo took the hit and rolled, coming back to his paws with a wince. As the rhino turned to make another charge at him, Mikazo looked quickly toward his friends. Kimada was plainly still unconscious, his head lolling as Zawadi tried to tug him across the ground by his scruff. She seemed to be making progress, though it was hampered by her smaller size in comparison to her brother. With any luck, though, she would be able to get Kimada out of here, get him to safety and to help.
Mikazo's brief distraction cost him. As the ground shook beneath his paws with the rhino's approach, he turned back to his opponent and saw the rhino was mere feet away. Gasping in panic, Mikazo leapt to avoid the attack, but still felt the impact as the side of the rhino's horn slammed into him.
He felt heat flare along his side as the horn scrapped him, the point digging in just in front of his hind leg. The force of the blow tossed Mikazo to the ground. His new wound burned as he bounced and skidded against the grass. As he came to a jarring halt, the rain pattering down on his side, he groaned and nearly curled into a protective ball, only just stopping himself as he realized he did not have the time. Mikazo forced himself to roll to his stomach and stumble to his feet, though moving his right hind leg caused the wound in front of it to shift as well, and he was unable to bite back a yelp.
He looked up to see the rhino bearing down on him, and it was all Mikazo could do to avoid it. This time, he managed to skip alongside the attacking rhinoceros as it barreled past, and Mikazo backed warily away as it turned again to make another charge.
Mikazo was tired now, and injured. He was relatively sure the rhinoceros' horn had not punctured anything vital, that it had not gone terribly deep, but it definitely hurt, and moving was difficult due to the hot flare it sent blazing on his side. He wasn't sure how he was going to get out of this. He could not hope to outrun it; despite its size, the rhino was fast, and though Mikazo was likely faster when at a flat-out sprint, by running he feared he would allow its attention to drift back to the much slower target of Zawadi and Kimada. He could not risk that. The rhino was injured, that was for certain, but it was also infuriated and not as injured as Mikazo would prefer, given it was attacking them with such relentlessness.
He supposed he could not exactly blame it, since they had attacked it first. Really, though, what prey animal continued attacking after it had the chance to run away?
Apparently, a prey animal that could do far more than just flee.
Mikazo continued backing away but the rhino pressed in on him from the side, swinging its head and hooves in an attempt to strike him. It was a slower but steady attack, a technique that Mikazo had seen other animals use; one that kept the dangerous parts of the rhino aimed at him without giving him much of an opening to attack the more vulnerable sections of its body, though it was also somewhat easier to dodge because of the slower speed. Forced to continuously back away, Mikazo suspected it was intended to wear him out.
He swiped at its muzzle and caught the front of it as it swing its head, causing the rhino to grunt sharply and pull back, but it was little more than a scratch. He shot another glance over to see that Zawadi had made a good amount of progress dragging Kimada across the field, though the field they were in was some distance from Pride Rock. If she could get Kimada away from the rhino, however, she could bring Rafiki to him.
Mikazo continued backing away, drawing the rhino still further away from his friends. The rhino scuffed a hoof against the ground and charged again.
Then a new sound startled Mikazo so much he nearly jumped out of his fur; the trumpeting call of an elephant.
Nuru finished thoroughly applying salve to Jasusi's wounds, which she noted had been carefully cleaned prior to her arrival, a fact that shortened her work – indeed, the skin covering the flesh of the wounds had been licked back into place in order to both protect the wound and speed healing, by bringing the flaps of skin closer together. This would also lessen the chance of scarring, and Nuru was impressed with the thought that obviously went into the attempt. She cast a glance at Chana, who hovered nearby. Although the hyena matriarch appeared outwardly casual and unconcerned, her gaze kept drifting back to her injured clan mate. Nuru felt she could hazard a guess as to who had tended to Jasusi's wounds before she had arrived.
The wounds cleaned, the treatments applied for the moment, and instructions for future treatment given to those in earshot, Nuru nudged the remaining herbs off to one side and turned to face the healthy hyenas who sat nearby, those being Chana, Kipande, Kuvunja, and Tuliza. "Alright," she began, "Jasusi's wounds are pretty severe, yes, but I believe he will recover. Use these herbs as I said at about moon high tonight, and then again in the morning. Clean the old salve off before applying new... and for those Jasusi must swallow, remember to chew them first, to make it easier to digest."
"So..." Chana hesitated. "That all? Are those herbs going to last till he's on his paws again?"
Now it was Nuru's turn to hesitate. "Actually, not really. You will need more in about two days." She glanced back at her patient before again meeting the clan matriarch's intense gaze. "In two days, then, I will return with more supplies for him. I'll just need to make sure that Jinamizi doesn't notice my absence... but I am sure that the other lionesses will understand." Internally, Nuru was not, in fact, sure. She was at least positive that her pride mates would not be thrilled by the risk she had taken, walking into the territory of hostile hyenas, and doing so alone. Nonetheless, she was also certain that her pride mates would share her need to counter the damage Jinamizi had done, even if the harm he had caused was to a member of their natural enemies.
Chana's head tilted very slightly to one side, a frown on her muzzle. "Why are you doing this, really?" she abruptly asked. "Do you expect us to be all buddy-buddy after this? Or are you hoping for something in return?"
Nuru's eyes narrowed. "No. As I said, I simply wish to make up for what Jinamizi has done. I can't fix all that he has done... he has killed members of our pride, including a young cub; he has forced himself upon one of my dearest friends; he has endangered many mammals of our territory by encouraging them to challenge, well, your clan; and he has harmed Jasusi beyond what seemed reasonable for the injury Jasusi inflicted upon him. I can't change most of that, but I can try to save Jasusi. That, Chana, is all I am looking to achieve."
She heard the other hyenas present shift in place, and heard the one called Tuliza let out a quiet "Huh..." of contemplation, but did not shift her eyes from Chana's own. Finally, the hyena matriarch nodded slightly. "In that case..." she paused, the next line seeming to cost her. "Then... thanks. Not a lot of lions would do this for a hyena, even considering your thoughts on your king."
Nuru's ears perked in some surprise. "You are welcome," she responded with a small smile. "I work as a healer for my pride, and occasionally, for other animals in the territory... so why not give a helping paw here?" She turned slightly toward the cave entrance. "I must return to my pride now, as my friends will likely be wondering where I am." She paused, glancing at Chana with false nonchalance. "I assume I am free to go?"
Chana looked at Kipande, Kuvunja, and Tuliza, then back at Nuru. "Yeah, yeah... be back in two days, got it? And Tuliza, you show her off the territory, alright?"
Nuru noticed with vague astonishment that the hyena Chana had assigned to see her off was clearly the least violent of the three available options, and was in fact the one who had talked down her more impulsive clan mate when Nuru had first arrived. What was more, Chana was sending Tuliza alone, a factor that particularly surprised Nuru. A single hyena was not much of a match for even the weakest of lionesses, and Nuru was in fine condition. Perhaps, then, Chana was aware that Nuru truly meant no harm, something that relieved the lioness.
"Sure thing, Chana," Tuliza agreed lightly, rising to her paws and stretching her arched back and shoulders before giving her head a brisk shake. "Come on, lioness..." She strode past Nuru toward the entrance of the cave, adding, "Or, actually... yeah, why not? Come on, Nuru."
Surprised yet again, Nuru followed.
Mikazo spun toward the sound of the elephant's call and the rhino snorted in surprise and turned its head. An elephant was racing toward them at a run, and Mikazo ducked down and moved away, alarmed and confused. What was the trunked pachyderm doing? If it joined in with the rhino, Mikazo had no chance.
That did not seem to be the plan, however. The elephant cut in between Mikazo and the rhino with a short, blasting trumpet, and turned to face the rhinoceros.
Suddenly, the rhinoceros was on the defensive, backing away as the elephant pushed at him with trunk and tusks, shoving the smaller creature across the field and blocking it when it tried to move past the massive animal.
Crouched with his belly pressed to the ground, Mikazo stared in shock as the rhino grunted and tried briefly to shove back at the elephant, only to be pushed back so hard it stumbled. The rhino's fore-legs folded and its chest slammed against the ground. The elephant stepped closer and the rhinoceros whipped back to its feet, glared at the elephant, and then turned tail. The elephant pursued the rhino for a few strides, before slowing to a stop and watching as the rhinoceros trotted across the field and abandoned its battle with the lions.
Mikazo watched the elephant's back for a moment as it saw off the rhino. He shot a glance at his friends, seeing that Zawadi was crouched at Kimada's side, standing partially over him and watching with a startled expression. He looked back as the elephant, who was closer to him than to Kimada and Zawadi, turned toward him.
"Are you alright?" the elephant, who was a male, asked, stepping toward Mikazo with concern in his eyes as he looked between the three lions.
Mikazo straightened slowly, looking up at the elephant who towered over him. "I am, yeah, and so is Zawadi, I think, but Kimada needs help. We have to get him to the Shaman."
"You mean Rafiki," the elephant responded with a nod.
"Yes." Mikazo turned and hurried toward Kimada. "Thanks for helping us," he said to the elephant, who was now walking with him, his long strides easily keeping up with Mikazo's running gait.
"It is my pleasure," the elephant said. "Rhinoceroses can be very dangerous when angered."
Mikazo just nodded in agreement as residual panic left him shivering. Within two more bounding leaps, he had reached Kimada and Zawadi, while the elephant stopped a few paces away.
"Zawadi!" Mikazo gasped. "Are you alright? Is Kimada alright?"
Zawadi was rapidly licking the side of her brother's head near his wound, clearing trying to wake him. "I'm... I'm fine, I'm okay, but... Kimada... he's not waking up." Seeing Mikazo's panicked look, she said, "He's alive, but... we need to... we have to..." She broke off, choking on a sob, and then finished, "We have to get him to Rafiki, but..."
"Let me help," the elephant suddenly said, as he stepped in. Lowering his truck, he gently wrapped it around Kimada's limp form, working it underneath the injured lion so that Kimada was cradled on top of the long appendage. Lifting the young lion with ease, the elephant looked down at Mikazo and Zawadi from the corner of one large brown eye. "Let's get him to your Shaman, quickly."
Character Sheet
Mikazo's pride.
Mikazo – Me-KAZ-zoh. Name meaning: Determine. The main protagonist of the story, Mikazo is the youngest lion in his pride. His parents were killed by Jinamizi for the throne.
Uzuri – OOH-zur-ree. Name meaning: Beauty. She is the oldest in Mikazo's pride, though still quite young. She is a kind and even-tempered lioness, patient and insightful.
Cheneta – Sha-NET-tah. Name meaning: Smart. She worries about her pride mates with Jinamizi as their king.
Nuru – NEW-rue. Name meaning: Light. She takes care of her pride mates' health using her knowledge of plants and herbs.
Tumaini – Two-MAIN-ee. Name meaning: Hope. She is Mikazo's best friend from his own pride. Tumaini is brave, curious, and independent. She was taken as Jinamizi's unwilling mate.
Simba's pride.
Kimada – Key-MOD-uh. Name meaning: True. He is about the same age as Mikazo. Kimada joined Simba's pride when he was a cub. He has a fun-loving personality, and would stick with his friends to the very end. He's Zawadi's brother.
Daka – DAH-kuh. Name meaning: Pounce. Daka is the son of Kiara and Kovu, and a prince of the pride, third in line after Simba and Kovu. He is a cheerful and energetic cub who is always ready for adventure.
Msafiri's pride.
Msafiri – Sah-FEE-ree. Name meaning: Traveler. He is a proud, kind, intelligent king, who loves his pride almost as much as he loves his family.
Azizi – AH-zee-zee. Name meaning: Precious. The daughter of Msafiri and Masa, Azizi misses her mother, but she is playful, smart, and kind.
Zawadi – Za-WAD-ee. Name meaning: Gift. Separated from her brother as a cub after their parents were killed by a rogue, Zawadi was taken in by Msafiri's pride. Around a year later, she was reunited with her brother. She has an outgoing, tell-it-like-it-is personality, and a good heart.
Others.
Jinamizi – Jee-nah-MEE-zee. Name meaning: Nightmare. The rogue who killed Mikazo's parents and took over his pride, Jinamizi is cruel, arrogant and power hungry. He believes that he is more important than anyone else.
Hyena Clan
Chana– CHA-nuh. Name meaning: Tear, split. The leader of the hyena clan near Mikazo's lands.
