SUMMARY: When Alani's son Jahari meets Kayla, Annalina's daughter, their blossoming friendship will have dire consequences…
THE PRIDE OF THE HEARTLANDS
(Zenka and Alani's Pride)
Zenka: Alani's mate
Hasani: Zenka's father
Tanisha: Zenka's Mother
Nadira: Zenka's older sister
Jahari: son of Zenka and Alani
Ashaki: daughter of Zenka and Alani
THE PRIDE OF THE OUTLANDS
Annalina: Alani's sister
Kayla: Daughter
Linka: Son (older)
Father Of Cubs: (Unknown)
LION KING CHARACTERS:
SIMBA: KING OF PRIDE ROCK
NALA: WIFE OF SIMBA
KIARA: SIMBA'S DAUGHTER
OTHER ORGINAL CHARACTERS:
Rashid: Healer of the Heartlands and Rafiki's elder brother
Gahiji: Hyena
Vana: hyena
PROLOGUE
THE OUTLANDS
The pains were getting worse and Annalina could barely walk. She needed to find a shady spot or better yet, shelter.
I've got to find the den I once lived in, Annalina thought as she took several deep breaths. This helped eased the pain a little.
After walking for awhile, she managed to find the old den. She entered the cool cave and sank down to the ground gratefully.
She was about to give birth-alone and she was scared.
She cried out as a sharp pain seared through her body. A few minutes later, her cub was born among blood and general mess.
She gently nudged it; it was alive and it was a boy.
She hugged the shivering cub close to her body and began cleaning it.
You caused me a lot of pain, she told the cub silently once it was cleaned. It looked more like a cub now then a bloody mess.
The cub found her teat and began suckling.
What shall I name you? She wondered and thought for awhile. She felt a special bond towards this cub. Perhaps because she was alone in this cruel land and so was the cub. Without her, he would be helpless. Vulnerable.
" We have a lot in common. We have a special link, you and I." Then the name came to her, " Linka." She said, " Your name will be Linka."
" Today is the day." Alani murmured and her mate Zenka looked over at her.
" Today's the day for what?" Zenka asked her, his black mane ruffling in the strong wind.
Alani sighed and her green eyes saddened, " Today is the day my father died about a year ago."
" And you're sad about that?" Zenka looked confused, " Alani, have you forgotten he killed King Mufasa? You should be glad he's dead."
" He may have been a murderer, but he's still my father." Alani argued, " And he would have been proud of his grandson. I still can't get over how much Jahari looks like him."
" The black mane, green eyes…" Zenka sighed, " Yes, he's the very image of his grandfather. Let's hope he doesn't take after him."
" Jahari acts nothing like father." Alani defended her young son, " He's a gentle, warm-hearted little cub."
" And a trouble-maker." Zenka added, " He's forever getting into trouble. You spoil him too much Alani."
Alani's eyes narrowed, " I do not!" she exclaimed sounding like a child herself instead of an adult.
" Yes you do." Zenka argued, " I think it's high time for him to be disciplined. You don't want him running wild do you?"
" No…" Alani trailed off.
" I'll have a talk with him." Zenka glanced over at the horizon, the sun was just beginning to rise, " And I'll tell him where he can go and where he can't."
" The Pride Lands." Alani said, " He's forbidden to go there and also the Outlands."
Zenka nodded and an eager, little voice greeted them, " Hi Mom and dad!" they both turned to greet their son.
Zenka smiled at his cub. He was cute with a dark coat, a little tuft of black mane and green eyes. Zenka always resented the fact Jahari looked like a miniature version of his grandfather. If anything, Jahari should have looked like him.
Despite that, Zenka loved his son.
" Morning son," Zenka answered and Jahari went to nuzzle his mother.
" After your bath, how would you like to go for a walk?" Zenka asked him.
" Where to?" Jahari asked as he batted his mother's tail playfully. Alani turned and glared at him. She had never liked her tail being touched or pulled.
" You'll see." Zenka smiled and Alani picked her son up by his neck and carried him back into the den to clean him.
Later that morning, Jahari followed his dad. They walked for some time until Zenka suddenly sat down in the grass and Jahari did the same.
" Do you see that?" Zenka asked gesturing towards a slab of rock that jutted out. Jahari could see something standing on top of it. It looked like another lion.
" That funny looking rock?" Jahari nodded, " yes I see it."
" You must never venture to that rock." Zenka warned him, " That land is not part of ours. It's strictly forbidden."
" Why?" Jahari looked curiously at the rock, " Why can't I go there?"
" It belongs to King SImba." Zenka explained, " and the King doesn't know our pride even exists. And it has to stay that way."
" Why doesn't King Simba know about us?"
" He just doesn't, that's all."
Jahari frowned, " But Dad I-"
" Come along," Zenka stood up and began walking in another direction. Jahari looked over at the rock again. He vowed to himself he'd go to that rock one day and see what's there…no matter what his father said.
" This is another land that is forbidden," Zenka was crouching low in the grass and Jahari looked ahead. They were on the border of the Outlands. It was a dry, ugly place and Jahari found himself shivering. This was one place he'd never go!
" It is called the Outlands. Only the lions and lionesses who have been exiled live there."
" How can anybody live there?" Jahari wondered, " all the trees and grass are dried out and I don't see any animals."
" You must promise me never set paws on that land." Zenka urged him, " And for the Pride Lands too."
Jahari paused before assuring his father he wouldn't.
* * *
When the lion and his cub bounded away, another young cub stepped out of her hiding place. Where had those two come from? Her mother never said anything about a lion and a cub among these parts.
She headed for home to find her mother with her brother Linka-as usual. Her mother spent mos of her time with Linka because Linka wasn't an ordinary lion. Her mother claimed Linka was special because he was born blind.
Linka was older than Kayla by about a year. He was bigger and stronger than her too but wasn't fully grown yet.
Both cubs possessed their mother's golden fur and blue eyes.
" Mom!" Kayla exclaimed. Linka was in their mother's arms getting cleaned.
" What is it?" Annalina asked absently.
" I saw a lion!"
" A lion?" Annalina looked down at her youngest, " Around here?"
" No…they were on the border."
" They? Was there more than one?"
" A grown-up lion and a cub."
Annalina frowned, " There are no cubs around here-except for the two of you and any lions I know don't live in these parts of the Outlands."
" I think she's making it up Mom." Linka interjected.
" I think so." Annalina agreed, " Kayla, I don't have time for your stories."
" I'm not making it up! I did see lions...I swear!
" Not now Kayla." Annalina went back to cleaning Linka.
" But Mom-" Kayla protested but Annalina just ignored her. Kayla frowned at Linka before running off.
THE PRIDE OF THE HEARTLANDS
(Zenka and Alani's Pride)
Zenka: Alani's mate
Hasani: Zenka's father
Tanisha: Zenka's Mother
Nadira: Zenka's older sister
Jahari: son of Zenka and Alani
Ashaki: daughter of Zenka and Alani
THE PRIDE OF THE OUTLANDS
Annalina: Alani's sister
Kayla: Daughter
Linka: Son (older)
Father Of Cubs: (Unknown)
LION KING CHARACTERS:
SIMBA: KING OF PRIDE ROCK
NALA: WIFE OF SIMBA
KIARA: SIMBA'S DAUGHTER
OTHER ORGINAL CHARACTERS:
Rashid: Healer of the Heartlands and Rafiki's elder brother
Gahiji: Hyena
Vana: hyena
PROLOGUE
THE OUTLANDS
The pains were getting worse and Annalina could barely walk. She needed to find a shady spot or better yet, shelter.
I've got to find the den I once lived in, Annalina thought as she took several deep breaths. This helped eased the pain a little.
After walking for awhile, she managed to find the old den. She entered the cool cave and sank down to the ground gratefully.
She was about to give birth-alone and she was scared.
She cried out as a sharp pain seared through her body. A few minutes later, her cub was born among blood and general mess.
She gently nudged it; it was alive and it was a boy.
She hugged the shivering cub close to her body and began cleaning it.
You caused me a lot of pain, she told the cub silently once it was cleaned. It looked more like a cub now then a bloody mess.
The cub found her teat and began suckling.
What shall I name you? She wondered and thought for awhile. She felt a special bond towards this cub. Perhaps because she was alone in this cruel land and so was the cub. Without her, he would be helpless. Vulnerable.
" We have a lot in common. We have a special link, you and I." Then the name came to her, " Linka." She said, " Your name will be Linka."
" Today is the day." Alani murmured and her mate Zenka looked over at her.
" Today's the day for what?" Zenka asked her, his black mane ruffling in the strong wind.
Alani sighed and her green eyes saddened, " Today is the day my father died about a year ago."
" And you're sad about that?" Zenka looked confused, " Alani, have you forgotten he killed King Mufasa? You should be glad he's dead."
" He may have been a murderer, but he's still my father." Alani argued, " And he would have been proud of his grandson. I still can't get over how much Jahari looks like him."
" The black mane, green eyes…" Zenka sighed, " Yes, he's the very image of his grandfather. Let's hope he doesn't take after him."
" Jahari acts nothing like father." Alani defended her young son, " He's a gentle, warm-hearted little cub."
" And a trouble-maker." Zenka added, " He's forever getting into trouble. You spoil him too much Alani."
Alani's eyes narrowed, " I do not!" she exclaimed sounding like a child herself instead of an adult.
" Yes you do." Zenka argued, " I think it's high time for him to be disciplined. You don't want him running wild do you?"
" No…" Alani trailed off.
" I'll have a talk with him." Zenka glanced over at the horizon, the sun was just beginning to rise, " And I'll tell him where he can go and where he can't."
" The Pride Lands." Alani said, " He's forbidden to go there and also the Outlands."
Zenka nodded and an eager, little voice greeted them, " Hi Mom and dad!" they both turned to greet their son.
Zenka smiled at his cub. He was cute with a dark coat, a little tuft of black mane and green eyes. Zenka always resented the fact Jahari looked like a miniature version of his grandfather. If anything, Jahari should have looked like him.
Despite that, Zenka loved his son.
" Morning son," Zenka answered and Jahari went to nuzzle his mother.
" After your bath, how would you like to go for a walk?" Zenka asked him.
" Where to?" Jahari asked as he batted his mother's tail playfully. Alani turned and glared at him. She had never liked her tail being touched or pulled.
" You'll see." Zenka smiled and Alani picked her son up by his neck and carried him back into the den to clean him.
Later that morning, Jahari followed his dad. They walked for some time until Zenka suddenly sat down in the grass and Jahari did the same.
" Do you see that?" Zenka asked gesturing towards a slab of rock that jutted out. Jahari could see something standing on top of it. It looked like another lion.
" That funny looking rock?" Jahari nodded, " yes I see it."
" You must never venture to that rock." Zenka warned him, " That land is not part of ours. It's strictly forbidden."
" Why?" Jahari looked curiously at the rock, " Why can't I go there?"
" It belongs to King SImba." Zenka explained, " and the King doesn't know our pride even exists. And it has to stay that way."
" Why doesn't King Simba know about us?"
" He just doesn't, that's all."
Jahari frowned, " But Dad I-"
" Come along," Zenka stood up and began walking in another direction. Jahari looked over at the rock again. He vowed to himself he'd go to that rock one day and see what's there…no matter what his father said.
" This is another land that is forbidden," Zenka was crouching low in the grass and Jahari looked ahead. They were on the border of the Outlands. It was a dry, ugly place and Jahari found himself shivering. This was one place he'd never go!
" It is called the Outlands. Only the lions and lionesses who have been exiled live there."
" How can anybody live there?" Jahari wondered, " all the trees and grass are dried out and I don't see any animals."
" You must promise me never set paws on that land." Zenka urged him, " And for the Pride Lands too."
Jahari paused before assuring his father he wouldn't.
* * *
When the lion and his cub bounded away, another young cub stepped out of her hiding place. Where had those two come from? Her mother never said anything about a lion and a cub among these parts.
She headed for home to find her mother with her brother Linka-as usual. Her mother spent mos of her time with Linka because Linka wasn't an ordinary lion. Her mother claimed Linka was special because he was born blind.
Linka was older than Kayla by about a year. He was bigger and stronger than her too but wasn't fully grown yet.
Both cubs possessed their mother's golden fur and blue eyes.
" Mom!" Kayla exclaimed. Linka was in their mother's arms getting cleaned.
" What is it?" Annalina asked absently.
" I saw a lion!"
" A lion?" Annalina looked down at her youngest, " Around here?"
" No…they were on the border."
" They? Was there more than one?"
" A grown-up lion and a cub."
Annalina frowned, " There are no cubs around here-except for the two of you and any lions I know don't live in these parts of the Outlands."
" I think she's making it up Mom." Linka interjected.
" I think so." Annalina agreed, " Kayla, I don't have time for your stories."
" I'm not making it up! I did see lions...I swear!
" Not now Kayla." Annalina went back to cleaning Linka.
" But Mom-" Kayla protested but Annalina just ignored her. Kayla frowned at Linka before running off.