Sunset had come to the lands, night was gradually sweeping its black cloak
over all as a dark figure, silhouetted against the pale sister star of the
one now fading, made his way to Tiran'abetna, or the Place of the Liquid
Sun. It was so called because of the way the rocks there reflected the sun,
and the way the water trapped within them seemed to turn to liquid gold
itself. Ketu never found this more breathtaking then at sunset, when the
hazy oranges, dusky pinks and soft reds of the savannah sun were cast right
across the horizon. It was a sight he had hoped to share with Nala, but she
had fallen back to sleep, rightfully exhausted after the day she had had,
but which she only half remembered.
The other lions had amassed on the various boulders, ledges and crags surrounding the water, they were not here for aesthetic appreciation, but because he had ordered them to be, the other lionesses needed to be…taken care of. Ketu wanted to be sure that they would offer Nala no key to the memories she had locked away.
Osisis was the lioness who stood at the highest point, she was the one who had been leader before the appearance of Nala, she would now have to pretend that she had never been queen. Her compensation lay in the lionesses being guarded on all sides before her…if they disobeyed…well, a lion can learn new ways.
Chetu and Dasa had awoken none the worse for wear, and with very clear memories of what had happened. It had been a long time since they had seen Nala, and the other males had deliberately kept them in the dark over her welfare, and Chetu was growing more frantic by the moment, all she knew was that it had something to do with Ketu, the alpha male. The one whose side she wanted to tear into, as he came into view.
"You will remain silent!" Ketu declared, as Dasa opened her mouth.
"Unless I ask you a direct question."
"Why should we?" asked Chetu.
Ketu circled them both, the other lions positioned around them in such away the effect was like they were in an arena.
"So this is the obedience Simba teaches." Ketu said with a smirk. "I wonder what I worried about, his queen for example has offered no resistance of the kind."
Chetu narrowed her eyes "What have you done to her?"
Ketu didn't bother to silence her, his initial order had achieved its aim.
"Me? I am as innocent as those eyes of yours. It was more a case, of what had already done…" he flashed teeth that would have had more of an impact, had they not been stained yellow.
Chetu sprang to all feet, ignoring the assorted snarls that accompanied her action.
"Look…"
"Ketu" he supplied "Your majesty, to you and that one."
"I recognise only one king!" snapped Chetu "And you are not he, but that is not the point, where is Nala, and what has happened to her!"
"And now we come to it" Ketu said, dropping his act of charm which the lionesses had seen right through. "Very well ladies, let me state this clearly, the Nala you knew is gone, and in her place stands my queen, and beloved mate, Zuri."
There were gasps from the captives.
"Nala suffered an unfortunate memory loss when we, met you."
"You mean when you kidnapped us!"
"I will speak without interruption!"
There was silence.
"*As* I was saying, Nala now believes that she is the queen of this pride, and has been my loyal mate for many years past."
"No!" Chetu cried, the horror showing in her eyes.
"Believe it, my dear" Zetu said, walking right up to her and staring her down.
"But the best is yet to come." He turned and stepped away, brushing the tip of his tail in her face as he did so.
"When my band was still far away from these hallowed lands, a tale reached us of a new King and Queen of the Pridelands, who had an attachment to each other rarely seen, at least where I came from."
"Why doesn't that surprise me," Chetu muttered.
"Queen Nala's beauty was woven through this interesting little story and, as we ventured closer, I decided that I would like to see this diamond for myself…"
Chetu gave a pointed yawn, all the while trying to crush the lumps of fear inside her.
Ketu snapped a look at her.
"As interesting as you no doubt are to yourself, you cannot expect every living thing that ever breathed to indulge your ego."
The toothy grin returned "Oh? I don't see why not, especially when I hold power of life and death over two certain living things, that might not be breathing much longer."
There was silence as he told the rest of the story, how Nala now thought of Simba as her captor and the Pridelands as little better then a prison, where she had experienced utter misery. And, even worse to her friends, that she believed all completely and utterly.
"Therefore, the order is that you will remain silent about your past lives to anyone here, no mention, not even a whisper in front of the queen, you will act like you have always been a part of this group. And, to ensure that you comply, you will be guarded at all times, never allowed to be alone with Nala, who you will now refer to as Zuri, and, you will be at the bottom of the hierarchy.
Chetu just stared at him "Why should we obey you?"
"Foolish one, must I rename you as well, if you value your lives then I believe you will go along with this, especially if I am right that it is not only your own lives that you have to worry about." He indicated Chetu's slightly swollen body with a toss of his mane.
He was right, the lionesses knew that for now they were powerless, and gave agreement while trying to keep as much dignity intact as they could. For Chetu it was the hardest thing ever, but she realised it was the only option until circumstances were more in their favour. Dasaon the other hand…
"Chetu, I really don't know what you are making such a fuss about she purred. "Simba was too much of a soft touch, and here, well, I believe they have more to offer…and I certainly have more to give." She looked slyly aside at Ugali who was more then willing to return the gaze, then passed it along her body.
"I am pleased to hear it" Ketu replied "I am sure that Chetu will see sense in time, and that we will be as Nala thinks, a real family unit. Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to return to my own mate"
This last bit was said in such a way that left Ugali free to assume that Dasawas his, if he wanted her. There would be competition of course, but that was part of the reason why these females had been obtained in the first place. One was clearly taken, the other two free for the victor, though the thought had arisen in the mind of more then one male that Dasawould make a more…willing companion, and was certainly looking the more fun.
Osisis watched from her vantage point with interest, she had her own mate, who now leapt up beside her, and consequently could watch the still silent contest with interest. Whatever happened it looked to prove no end of intrigue.
******************************************************
To a lion, the coming of night is not the coming of blindness, they have special eyes adapted for the task of seeing at night, though that was little help to eyes filled with anxiety as they scanned the horizon. Those eyes belonged to Simba, still sat on pride rock, wishing the clear vision he had at night would transfer to his thoughts also.
Sleep eluded him, but he did not seek it anyway as he resumed pacing, all the while looking out onto his kingdom. The strongest presence around him was one who was no longer there.
As he left the rocks the savannah surrounded him with a taunting silence, not the slightest breath of wind disturbed the grass and even the crickets didn't stir. There was no doubt however, that Simba would have known straightaway if they had, so alert were his senses. He swiped the sandy ground with a paw in frustration, leaving a mark where he usually would have left no trace of his passing. Without realising it he had headed towards a rocky outcrop that was one of his favourite basking spots, not that being here was any better while her fate remained unknown.
A full moon now hung suspended over the horizon as he looked up to it, bathing the ground in soft light. Simba smiled sadly, remembering a story that Nala had told him about a bird who had tried to reach the moon. It also served to remind him how it was a bird that he needed, Simba could not go looking Nala not yet, he was to noticeable, and he could be bringing more danger upon her. There was one loyal friend he knew though, to whom land was no hindrance, and it was that friends returned he awaited with the coming of the dawn.
As convinced as he had been that he wouldn't sleep the first appearance of dawn hurt his eyes as he awoke from a light doze. Thankfully, they also opened to a welcome sight, Zazu sat perched on a low branch in front of him.
"Zazu!"
"Good morning, Sire" came the reply, "I thought I could offer my assistance." Zazu didn't hang around when he knew he was needed and Simba hadn't always appreciated that when he was younger. He did now, rising up and smiling gratefully at the bird.
"You read my mind Zazu" he said, knowing that Zazu was fully informed of what had happened. "And you are the only one who can do this."
"What exactly did you have in mind." Zazu asked, knowing already.
"I want you to go on a scouting misson, we know the direction that Nala and her party went, and the area that they were heading for. Could you go and look around?"
"You don't even have to ask!" Zazu said, flapping his wings and going airborne immediately. He circled for a few minutes to get his bearing then banked to the left as a signal to Simba he was off."
"Good luck!" Simba called, then more softly under his breath "And find them."
******************************************************
Pride Rock faded behind Zazu as he flew off in search of the lionesses, he knew the area they had been heading for, right out on the border of the Pridelands, where the big game was. Fresh in his mind was Niata's description of the canyon in which they had been ambushed and he kept his sharp eyes on the lookout for it. Suddenly, there it was, dead ahead and he wheeled in the air to descend and land on one of the many boulders scattered on the floor of the canyon.
He hopped across it's rough surface, taking in the detail of the canyon. It was obvious that there had been some kind of disturbance here, the marks in the ground and the overpowering smells…he flew close to the ground, following the marks which seemed to show one lion dragging another. Zazu was barely able to retain flight when he realised where these prints were heading, right out of the Prideland, and unmistakably towards Chui. What memories that place stirred! It hadn't taken a prolonged visit to freeze that place in his mind forever. Following the tracks he now flew straight to Chui, otherwise known as playing a hunch. However, he flew in such a way as to not come directly from the direction of the Pridelands. Like Simba had said, you could never be too cautious and he had no idea of what he would find there.
The other lions had amassed on the various boulders, ledges and crags surrounding the water, they were not here for aesthetic appreciation, but because he had ordered them to be, the other lionesses needed to be…taken care of. Ketu wanted to be sure that they would offer Nala no key to the memories she had locked away.
Osisis was the lioness who stood at the highest point, she was the one who had been leader before the appearance of Nala, she would now have to pretend that she had never been queen. Her compensation lay in the lionesses being guarded on all sides before her…if they disobeyed…well, a lion can learn new ways.
Chetu and Dasa had awoken none the worse for wear, and with very clear memories of what had happened. It had been a long time since they had seen Nala, and the other males had deliberately kept them in the dark over her welfare, and Chetu was growing more frantic by the moment, all she knew was that it had something to do with Ketu, the alpha male. The one whose side she wanted to tear into, as he came into view.
"You will remain silent!" Ketu declared, as Dasa opened her mouth.
"Unless I ask you a direct question."
"Why should we?" asked Chetu.
Ketu circled them both, the other lions positioned around them in such away the effect was like they were in an arena.
"So this is the obedience Simba teaches." Ketu said with a smirk. "I wonder what I worried about, his queen for example has offered no resistance of the kind."
Chetu narrowed her eyes "What have you done to her?"
Ketu didn't bother to silence her, his initial order had achieved its aim.
"Me? I am as innocent as those eyes of yours. It was more a case, of what had already done…" he flashed teeth that would have had more of an impact, had they not been stained yellow.
Chetu sprang to all feet, ignoring the assorted snarls that accompanied her action.
"Look…"
"Ketu" he supplied "Your majesty, to you and that one."
"I recognise only one king!" snapped Chetu "And you are not he, but that is not the point, where is Nala, and what has happened to her!"
"And now we come to it" Ketu said, dropping his act of charm which the lionesses had seen right through. "Very well ladies, let me state this clearly, the Nala you knew is gone, and in her place stands my queen, and beloved mate, Zuri."
There were gasps from the captives.
"Nala suffered an unfortunate memory loss when we, met you."
"You mean when you kidnapped us!"
"I will speak without interruption!"
There was silence.
"*As* I was saying, Nala now believes that she is the queen of this pride, and has been my loyal mate for many years past."
"No!" Chetu cried, the horror showing in her eyes.
"Believe it, my dear" Zetu said, walking right up to her and staring her down.
"But the best is yet to come." He turned and stepped away, brushing the tip of his tail in her face as he did so.
"When my band was still far away from these hallowed lands, a tale reached us of a new King and Queen of the Pridelands, who had an attachment to each other rarely seen, at least where I came from."
"Why doesn't that surprise me," Chetu muttered.
"Queen Nala's beauty was woven through this interesting little story and, as we ventured closer, I decided that I would like to see this diamond for myself…"
Chetu gave a pointed yawn, all the while trying to crush the lumps of fear inside her.
Ketu snapped a look at her.
"As interesting as you no doubt are to yourself, you cannot expect every living thing that ever breathed to indulge your ego."
The toothy grin returned "Oh? I don't see why not, especially when I hold power of life and death over two certain living things, that might not be breathing much longer."
There was silence as he told the rest of the story, how Nala now thought of Simba as her captor and the Pridelands as little better then a prison, where she had experienced utter misery. And, even worse to her friends, that she believed all completely and utterly.
"Therefore, the order is that you will remain silent about your past lives to anyone here, no mention, not even a whisper in front of the queen, you will act like you have always been a part of this group. And, to ensure that you comply, you will be guarded at all times, never allowed to be alone with Nala, who you will now refer to as Zuri, and, you will be at the bottom of the hierarchy.
Chetu just stared at him "Why should we obey you?"
"Foolish one, must I rename you as well, if you value your lives then I believe you will go along with this, especially if I am right that it is not only your own lives that you have to worry about." He indicated Chetu's slightly swollen body with a toss of his mane.
He was right, the lionesses knew that for now they were powerless, and gave agreement while trying to keep as much dignity intact as they could. For Chetu it was the hardest thing ever, but she realised it was the only option until circumstances were more in their favour. Dasaon the other hand…
"Chetu, I really don't know what you are making such a fuss about she purred. "Simba was too much of a soft touch, and here, well, I believe they have more to offer…and I certainly have more to give." She looked slyly aside at Ugali who was more then willing to return the gaze, then passed it along her body.
"I am pleased to hear it" Ketu replied "I am sure that Chetu will see sense in time, and that we will be as Nala thinks, a real family unit. Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to return to my own mate"
This last bit was said in such a way that left Ugali free to assume that Dasawas his, if he wanted her. There would be competition of course, but that was part of the reason why these females had been obtained in the first place. One was clearly taken, the other two free for the victor, though the thought had arisen in the mind of more then one male that Dasawould make a more…willing companion, and was certainly looking the more fun.
Osisis watched from her vantage point with interest, she had her own mate, who now leapt up beside her, and consequently could watch the still silent contest with interest. Whatever happened it looked to prove no end of intrigue.
******************************************************
To a lion, the coming of night is not the coming of blindness, they have special eyes adapted for the task of seeing at night, though that was little help to eyes filled with anxiety as they scanned the horizon. Those eyes belonged to Simba, still sat on pride rock, wishing the clear vision he had at night would transfer to his thoughts also.
Sleep eluded him, but he did not seek it anyway as he resumed pacing, all the while looking out onto his kingdom. The strongest presence around him was one who was no longer there.
As he left the rocks the savannah surrounded him with a taunting silence, not the slightest breath of wind disturbed the grass and even the crickets didn't stir. There was no doubt however, that Simba would have known straightaway if they had, so alert were his senses. He swiped the sandy ground with a paw in frustration, leaving a mark where he usually would have left no trace of his passing. Without realising it he had headed towards a rocky outcrop that was one of his favourite basking spots, not that being here was any better while her fate remained unknown.
A full moon now hung suspended over the horizon as he looked up to it, bathing the ground in soft light. Simba smiled sadly, remembering a story that Nala had told him about a bird who had tried to reach the moon. It also served to remind him how it was a bird that he needed, Simba could not go looking Nala not yet, he was to noticeable, and he could be bringing more danger upon her. There was one loyal friend he knew though, to whom land was no hindrance, and it was that friends returned he awaited with the coming of the dawn.
As convinced as he had been that he wouldn't sleep the first appearance of dawn hurt his eyes as he awoke from a light doze. Thankfully, they also opened to a welcome sight, Zazu sat perched on a low branch in front of him.
"Zazu!"
"Good morning, Sire" came the reply, "I thought I could offer my assistance." Zazu didn't hang around when he knew he was needed and Simba hadn't always appreciated that when he was younger. He did now, rising up and smiling gratefully at the bird.
"You read my mind Zazu" he said, knowing that Zazu was fully informed of what had happened. "And you are the only one who can do this."
"What exactly did you have in mind." Zazu asked, knowing already.
"I want you to go on a scouting misson, we know the direction that Nala and her party went, and the area that they were heading for. Could you go and look around?"
"You don't even have to ask!" Zazu said, flapping his wings and going airborne immediately. He circled for a few minutes to get his bearing then banked to the left as a signal to Simba he was off."
"Good luck!" Simba called, then more softly under his breath "And find them."
******************************************************
Pride Rock faded behind Zazu as he flew off in search of the lionesses, he knew the area they had been heading for, right out on the border of the Pridelands, where the big game was. Fresh in his mind was Niata's description of the canyon in which they had been ambushed and he kept his sharp eyes on the lookout for it. Suddenly, there it was, dead ahead and he wheeled in the air to descend and land on one of the many boulders scattered on the floor of the canyon.
He hopped across it's rough surface, taking in the detail of the canyon. It was obvious that there had been some kind of disturbance here, the marks in the ground and the overpowering smells…he flew close to the ground, following the marks which seemed to show one lion dragging another. Zazu was barely able to retain flight when he realised where these prints were heading, right out of the Prideland, and unmistakably towards Chui. What memories that place stirred! It hadn't taken a prolonged visit to freeze that place in his mind forever. Following the tracks he now flew straight to Chui, otherwise known as playing a hunch. However, he flew in such a way as to not come directly from the direction of the Pridelands. Like Simba had said, you could never be too cautious and he had no idea of what he would find there.