(I decided because it was so long, that i would split it into two chapters)
Diata felt as much sadden as what was to be her deepest fear come to sight. She gazed over to her daughter who appeared just as much taken by the response of the people of the jungle as much as her. However the disheartening moment was not to last very long. It was than that Mufassa stepped forward once more and gave out a mighty roar. One of which even caused the young girl cub to shutter in fright upon it's brief moment. The people of the jungle of which were all silenced from the thunder roar of their king.
The alpha stood with a glare to his loyal subjects. For no further words would be tolerated that would be against the daughter of Diata.
"People of the jungle, hear the word of thee king!" The lion demanded.
All the jungle folk complied to the wish of their king. In silence they stood, without another word to speak of in the case of the girl-cub.
"Does the fear of man cloud thee minds. For what fear could plague you all fro the sight of a young cub as she. We must all remember the law and heed to one of its many demands!"
Hearing the kings words, many of the animals gazed to one another and pondered to what law he referred to.
"As you all know, the law states that a cub must be spoken for by two." Mufassa explained.
"Those who must speak must not be that from the pride, and it will be those two recommendations that will determine the life of the cub. Thous I ask now who will recommend Elsa, speak now and come forth."
For a time, all was silent. No one dared to speak nor step before the king for the recommendation of the girl-cub. There were of course few that knew Elsa for who she was and that she would indeed be of no harm to anyone. The continuous silence was ever more disturbing to Diata as it was that disturbed her more than anything at all. She prayed that she would indeed hear at least one voice from the crowd. Of course, the answer to her prayer would soon be answered.
Within the ever so large and expanded crowd of countless animal, there was the sight of something moving though them. To whoever was the one to be, each of the animals he passed by moved aside as he made his way to the clearing ahead. To add along to it was the familiar sound of chuckling and pointing out in clear sight was a familiar staff with two round ball tied at the very top.
The sight of which caught the attention of that of Mufassa and Elsa. While it was curious and confusing to the girl-cub, It was very much an anticipation of that of the king. For he knew just who it was that was coming forward to them at the moment.
It was than at the front of the herd, the mandrill appear from the crowd and sauntered up before the ledge. The mandrill stood up on his hind legs and bowed to the king.
"Lord Mufassa." The mandrill spoke, as he raised his head up.
"From the chosen bloodline of the elephants long ago, the guardian of the jungle and it's laws, it is I, Rafiki who has come before you."
Mufassa of which nodded his head and smiled.
"Rafiki my old friend." He said.
"We are honoured by your presence."
The mandrill nodded his head in response.
"I bid to your word, Mufassa." The mandrill explained.
"For old Rafiki would like to speak for the man's cub in your care."
The mandrills words caused the other animals to gasp out their thoughts of the matter. However it was short lived a Mufassa than called out to them.
"Silence!" Mufassa roared, causing all to to cease their chatter and turn back to their king.
"Let us hear of what Rafiki must say."
Mufassa than turned back to the Mandrill.
"You have the right to speak, old friend." He said.
"Thank you, Mufassa." The mandrill responded.
"Yet before I am to give my word, I would first like to see the cub for my self."
Mufassa looked to Elsa, who gazed up at him curiously. The request in of itself could be given, especially if this was to be the first to speak for her.
"Very well, Rafiki." The alpha accepted his request.
"Your request has been given."
The baboon than leaped forward to the large piled rocks at the side of the ledge and began to climb his way to the top of the cliff. The mandrill came up on the very top of the ledges smooth surface above as he then turned and came forth to the girl cub and Alpha lion. The baboon came face to face to the girl, who gazed up him very shyly.
He leaned down at her, holding his chin as he observed the girl-cub. Even now he found the fear the people had to be merely pointless. The girl as young and fragile as she was appeared to be more fearful than all the people of the jungle. No harm could possibly come from her. She was simply another innocent cub like all the other cubs within the jungle.
The mandrill chuckled as he drew back from her, seeing all that he wished to see.
"My friends!" He called out to all at the council den as he came up to the top of the ledge.
"Is this young cub of man worth any of your fear? I see the cub now and old Rafiki see's no harm in the girl. She is just as frighten like all of you. She has no fang or claws, she cannot be of any concern to any of you. Does the repetition of man cloud all your minds?"
The question of which flourished through the people of the jungle. For man was clear to them like a painted picture in an art gallery. Every detail was a full representation of what man was and their ways which had long diverted from the laws of the jungle. To what made this cub of there's to be any different from them?
Bagheera gazed up at Rafiki as he listened to the words of the mandrill. His question of which he knew to be of a good one to be asked. To why did their fear of man come to blind them to the girl-cub?
"Let not the fear of man amend you." The mandrill said as he turned to Elsa and Mufassa.
The girl-cub of which smiled out of her joy of being spoken for in a way that differed from all that s he had heard.
"Let the girl-cub run with the pride, let her thrive in the jungle with us and someday we may yet see that she can be of value to the circle of life. I myself shall give her my full recommendation. AndI shall teach her the ways and laws of the jungle."
The mandrill's words at best were please to have heard by Diata. The white lioness smiled and sighed in relief, ever so please to see one who would recommend her daughter.
Both Elsa and Mufassa came forward to the mandrill.
"Thank you, Rafiki."The girl said.
The mandrill chuckled and rubbed the top of the girl's head, causing her bleach blond hair to become a bit messy.
"Your welcome, child."The mandrill said, just before he drew his hand back from her.
Bagheera watched at a close distance from the ledge. The panther of which peered up to Rafiki and the girl-cub. The mandrill's word had already been given in full support of the girl-cub. However it was only one recommendation. The second one was in need of being given. He knew it was time for him to speak up.
The alpha lion then came forward to the jungle shaman.
"I thank you for your word, Rafiki." The alpha said.
"I only hope that yours will not be the only to come."
The mandrill of which gave out a slight chuckle for he knew it not to be true. He knew there would be another to speak for Elsa. One that he knew was close by in the crowd.
"Oh, Mufassa." Rafiki reassured
"My word will not be the last to be heard on this night. There is someone who wishes to speak at this time."
By the news given by the mandrill, the king felt very much splendid to hear of it. To who was the one to do so he was never so welcomed than at this moment of time. Even now, he question as to just who it was. Though he answer was not so far behind.
"May I speak!" A voice erupted from below.
The two then shifted their gazes below. Elsa of which did the same as she came to see someone whom she had seen before, emerging from the crowd of animals. The black panther she had met long ago when she had first came to the jungle. The day she was being taught to hunt.
The sight of which surprised Diata as well. The white lioness turned herself around to face what was below the edge. She watched as the panther stepped forward to the ledge.
Bagheera came up to the left side of the cliff, looking up to Elsa and Mufassa who gazed to him like an eagle perched atop the branch of a tree. He than bowed his head in respect for the royal family.
"Hear thy words, lord Mufassa." The panther said.
"Son of Ahadi and Uru, guardian of the jungle law and the circle of life. It is i Bagheera who comes before you now."
"Bagheera." Mufassa said.
The alpha turned to the mandrill. Rafiki smiled and nodded his head to confirm it was thee. Mufassa of which turned back to the black panther.
"Your majesty." Bagheera said.
"I will speak for the girl cub."
Elsa of which was very much surprised. She had come to figure that the panther saw her to be very much a nuisance. He had come to claim that she couldn't hunt the way a lion does. Yet he comes here on her time of need to speak for her and give her recommendation.
"Very well, Bagheera." Mufassa said.
"May we all hear what you have to say."
The panther of which nodded his head to the king. Now given the right to speak, the panther turned back to all who came to attend the council meeting.
"My fellow brothers and sisters of the jungle." He began.
"As you have all come to know me, the leopard who stalks during the night. Dose a young girl-cub bring more fear to you than thee. She has no fangs or claws like any of the hunters of the jungle and of her pride."
Some of the animals of which turned to one another, small whispers were spoken of at the time. The words given by the panther was to give much valid points.
"The man's cub is as Rafiki has said. She is of no harm to any of you, she is simple a cub who is without any parent to guide her. And now that Diata has chosen to adopt the girl as her own, she may be as one like every other cubs in he jungle. What are we to judge a cub as young as thee to that of her own kind?"
Bagheera of which turned back to gaze back up to the cliff.
"For this reason alone, I shall pledge my full recommendation to the cub."
The words of the panther were ever so pleasing as it was Rafiki's. Diata smiled in relief to his choice to support her daughter. As a good friend as he is to her and the pride, he was as honourable as any knight to his kingdom.
"Thank you for your word, Bagheera." Mufassa said, nodding to him.
The panther turned back to the king.
"You have honoured us gratefully for speaking for Diata's daughter."
The king gratitude flattered the black leopard very well. Though he felt that it had came much to soon. While he had come to give his word to the girl-cub, there of course was another thing to ask of the king and the pride as well.
"I thank you very much for giving me a chance to speak, your majesty." Bagheera said.
"However if I may, I have more to speak of on this night. I seek for your blessing of a request "
"Oh?" The king said curiously.
"What is your request, Bagheera?"
"I wish to purpose an offering to the pride." The panther stated.
By mention of offering, the pride each looked to one another. An offering of which hadn't been made to the pride for a time that long exceeded all. Of course, there were very few times in the past for one to be made. For what reason could it be, that the panther would ask for one to be made?
"Offering, Bagheera?" Mufassa asked.
The panther of which nodded his head to him.
"To what reason?"
It was than that Bagheera stated his reason, and the law that ever supported it well.
"The law of the jungle clearly states that a cub may be bought at a price. But it does not say who may or may not pay that price. By this law, I have hunted long before during the day and I have killed a buffalo not half a mile from here. And this kill is one that I wish to give to you and your pride."
The panthers words caused much anticipation with the alpha and his lionesses. The offering of which had come to relieve them of their hunt during the late night. Mufassa of which was surprise at the actions of the panther. He owed them nothing yet he committed a deed such as this. though he was very much grateful for he panthers deed.
The alpha of which gazed to his beloved queen, seeking for her answer. The lioness of which nodded her head, believing that the offering should be well accepted by thee. His mid concluded, Mufassa turned back to Bagheera.
"Your offering is much appreciated, Bagheera." he said.
"To what do you ask in return?"
"I ask but the same rights as Rafiki's." Bagheera said.
"The girl-cub is unable to hunt like thee, which is why I ask thee that I teach the girl-cub to hunt."
The panthers answer ever more surprised by him as well as Diata. It was by custom that a mother was to teach her young to hunt. However it was also by custom that an offering was to be fairly honoured the way the one who had made it. However the cub while apart of his pride, the choice was really Diata's. For she was now the mother of Elsa and it was to her of what fate would be her daughters. It was before answering that Mufassa looked to Diata.
"Diata?" The alpha asked.
The white lioness turned to him.
"Elsa is your daughter." He stated.
"It should be you that makes this decision."
The white lioness first looked to her daughter as she pondered at what Bagheera had told you so long ago. He spoke much truth, her daughter may not follow the same way as any cubs in the pride. With her need for Elsa to live freely in the jungle, she would welcome any way for it to be a reality. If it were Bagheera had a way, she was willing to give it a chance.
Diata looked back down to the panther.
"Bagheera," she said.
"How will you teach her."
The question was very much simple to answer. It was far to the east of the jungle where there lies a primitive tribe of man with darkened skin. Now one would see it to be the wrong path, to teach Elsa to hunt like a man if she was to live in the jungle. However to take in consideration Man who is native to the jungle, their ways and tools to hunt could provide much for the girl's survival. Bagheera of which had come to see the natives in certain places during the passing years, he was one of the few who came to understand the ways of man.
"Man who thrives in the east." The black leopard explained.
"I have seen in the past, those who hunt without that of their sticks of a fire and lighting. I know most of their ways of hunting, therefore I will teach them to your daughter."
The panther proposal sounded very concerning as much as it sounded much like the relief Bagheera insisted it was. The essence of man was frightening enough, but to have her hunt like a man seemed very much concerning in of it's own right. The same went for that of the lioness. She at the very least wanted for Elsa to be the same as that of the rest of the pride.
The answering did too cause Elsa to be curious and confused of it as well. She looked to Mufassa.
"What does he mean?" The girl asked the alpha.
Mufassa looked down to the girl-cub.
"He means well, Elsa." The lion insisted.
"He only seeks to help you."
"You'll teach her to hunt like man?" a fellow leopard asked from the crowd behind him.
Bagheera turned back to face the crowd.
"She is a cub of a man." The panther stated.
"But she will not fall into the same shadow that was placed upon her kind. Rafiki shall guide her with the laws of the jungle. I give my word to all of you, my brothers."
Bgaheera then looked back to Mufassa's pride. It was now that he would seek the answer that Diata would give.
"My offer has been made." The panther said.
"Shall it be acceptable to you or not?"
The promises and ways Bagheeera had told seemed to come with a great risk. But if he was confident of it, than it was deserving of at least one chance. However there was one more thing she wanted to hear from him. On that stood before the offering was given the right to proceed.
"All I wish is for Elsa to live freely here with us. Do you promise me that you will honour my wish."
The panther first looked to Elsa. Her wish was his alone. By any means did he wish for what she wanted out of him. He was all the more willing to full fill it by any means. He turned back to the white lioness and spoke up.
"To whatever you ask of me, Diata, I will honour your wish." He said.
The white lioness had come to hear all she needed to hear. Bagheera was one trusted friend to her and knew his word was as good as another. To whatever he could do to help her daughter thrive in the jungle, she placed her full trust in him.
"Diata?" Mufassa said.
The white lioness turned to him and her daughter. He head narrowed down to Elsa for a moment. All she wanted was the very best for her daughter. If this was to be the only way, than so be it. The lioness gazed back up at Mufassa and nodded her head to him.
"I've made my choice." The lioness said.
"I give Bagheera my blessing for his request."
Her answer caused the king to nod his head to her.
"Very well." He said.
The alpha than turned back to the gathered jungle folk.
"The offering has been accepted." He said to all.
"The matter has now been settled. The word of both Rafiki and Bagheera have spoken well for the girl-cub. May all you see from this night, that they may speak of the very truth."
(I hope you enjoy this chapter, it is now that we will soon begin the teaches and lessons of Bagheera. Some that will take place between the stories and chapters I have named. Until than, please comment and Review!)