CHAPTER EIGHT
The next afternoon was a sad one. News travelled through the savannah like wildfire. King Mufasa was dead and so was his young son Simba. They both died in a tragic stampede.
" So it is done," Annalina whispered to herself, " I am now Queen."
Scar nodded, " Yes Annalina. It is now your turn. You must greet your loyal subjects."
Annalina was suddenly nervous, " Okay." She murmured.
" Remember what I taught you," Scar added as he led her to the rock that overlooked the kingdom.
All eyes turned to Scar as he leaded a young lioness to the rock. Sarabi, now a widow, stared at the little cub in wonder. Where on earth she did come from? Scar never mentioned a cub.
Scar and the little cub stood on the rock as the lionesses all looked up at him. Scar was now the King. Or so they had thought.
" Feast your eyes on the new Queen," he boomed and Sarabi's eyes went wide with disbelief. That little thing was the new Queen? She thought Scar was next in line!
" This is Annalina, my daughter. She is now your new Queen and you must obey her every command. If not, I will send you to the hyenas." Scar paused, " I want you all to bow to Queen Annalina."
The lionesses all obeyed but Sarabi felt confused. It was such a huge responsibility for such a young cub. Scar really should have waited until she was older to be Queen.
* * *
A young lion cub crept up and sniffed at the body in apprehension. Then he raised his head and called to his father, " Dad!"
The cub's father trotted over to him, " Son. What did I tell you about wandering off? I told you to stick close to me!"
" Look what I found." The cub exclaimed excitedly, " A girl cub."
His father inspected the unconscious cub. She was badly bruised and her leg was in a funny angle. She had a large gash on her forehead and a weird looking scar above her closed eyes. Then he saw her breathing. This little one was alive, but barely.
" We must get her home." The lion said in concern, " Rashid might be able to save her." He managed to get the cub onto his back and walked home slowly. He gently put her down inside their cave.
" Zenka, go and get Rashid please." He ordered his son. The cub nodded and sprinted away. A few minutes later he returned with an elderly mandrill.
" She is bad." The mandrill ran his gnarled hands over her body, " the leg is broken and she may have a concussion."
" What can we do?" Zenka's father asked him.
" I can set her leg so it will mend properly and I can patch up her cut." The mandrill assured him, " the rest though is up to her."
* * *
It was a day after the little mysterious cub woke. Her eyes opened and she looked straight at Zenka.
" What's your name?" Zenka asked her. The cub didn't speak. Then she uttered one word, " Annalina."
" Annalina?" Zenka repeated. He looked up at his father, " Who's Annalina?"
" I do not know my son." Hasani answered, " but at least she's awake. Hello little one. Where do you come from?"
The cub didn't answer. She tried to move but winced with pain.
" What's your name."? Hasani tried again.
" Alani." The cub whispered.
" Do you have a family?"
" No." Alani replied, " I have no one."
The next afternoon was a sad one. News travelled through the savannah like wildfire. King Mufasa was dead and so was his young son Simba. They both died in a tragic stampede.
" So it is done," Annalina whispered to herself, " I am now Queen."
Scar nodded, " Yes Annalina. It is now your turn. You must greet your loyal subjects."
Annalina was suddenly nervous, " Okay." She murmured.
" Remember what I taught you," Scar added as he led her to the rock that overlooked the kingdom.
All eyes turned to Scar as he leaded a young lioness to the rock. Sarabi, now a widow, stared at the little cub in wonder. Where on earth she did come from? Scar never mentioned a cub.
Scar and the little cub stood on the rock as the lionesses all looked up at him. Scar was now the King. Or so they had thought.
" Feast your eyes on the new Queen," he boomed and Sarabi's eyes went wide with disbelief. That little thing was the new Queen? She thought Scar was next in line!
" This is Annalina, my daughter. She is now your new Queen and you must obey her every command. If not, I will send you to the hyenas." Scar paused, " I want you all to bow to Queen Annalina."
The lionesses all obeyed but Sarabi felt confused. It was such a huge responsibility for such a young cub. Scar really should have waited until she was older to be Queen.
* * *
A young lion cub crept up and sniffed at the body in apprehension. Then he raised his head and called to his father, " Dad!"
The cub's father trotted over to him, " Son. What did I tell you about wandering off? I told you to stick close to me!"
" Look what I found." The cub exclaimed excitedly, " A girl cub."
His father inspected the unconscious cub. She was badly bruised and her leg was in a funny angle. She had a large gash on her forehead and a weird looking scar above her closed eyes. Then he saw her breathing. This little one was alive, but barely.
" We must get her home." The lion said in concern, " Rashid might be able to save her." He managed to get the cub onto his back and walked home slowly. He gently put her down inside their cave.
" Zenka, go and get Rashid please." He ordered his son. The cub nodded and sprinted away. A few minutes later he returned with an elderly mandrill.
" She is bad." The mandrill ran his gnarled hands over her body, " the leg is broken and she may have a concussion."
" What can we do?" Zenka's father asked him.
" I can set her leg so it will mend properly and I can patch up her cut." The mandrill assured him, " the rest though is up to her."
* * *
It was a day after the little mysterious cub woke. Her eyes opened and she looked straight at Zenka.
" What's your name?" Zenka asked her. The cub didn't speak. Then she uttered one word, " Annalina."
" Annalina?" Zenka repeated. He looked up at his father, " Who's Annalina?"
" I do not know my son." Hasani answered, " but at least she's awake. Hello little one. Where do you come from?"
The cub didn't answer. She tried to move but winced with pain.
" What's your name."? Hasani tried again.
" Alani." The cub whispered.
" Do you have a family?"
" No." Alani replied, " I have no one."