Many days later, the unconscious lioness woke up and looked around at where she was in confusion. She had been lying in a beautiful cave that was made of black stone but had streams of gold running through the walls of the cave. A fire burned carefully in the corner and illuminated the surroundings. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw the mysterious lion staring at her with his emerald green eyes. As the lioness backed up against the far wall as if she had intruded into his world, the lion padded forward .
"Greetings, o golden one," spoke the lion in his regal voice. "I am glad to see you have awakened after so long"
"Excuse me sir, but where am I?" asked the Lioness groggily. "I don't remember anything after the fight. I hope I have been no trouble to you and your pride."
"Do not worry," said the lion."I am leader and choose who comes and goes in the Lush Lands."
"The Lush Lands? Where is that?" asked the Lioness quizzically.
Nodding, he answered ."You are in them, favoured one."
As he spoke, he beckoned her to follow and strode out into the sunlight. Following timidly, the lioness stepped out of the dark cave and beheld a valley filled with beautiful plants and waterways, where young cubs splashed around in enjoyment. The snow-covered mountains surrounding the valley contained many hollowed out dens where lions and lionesses lounged and ate food that sent lovely aromas into the air. As she beheld this amazing sight, her stomach began to rumble strongly. Laughing, the male lion beckoned her towards a pile of freshly caught meat that lay basking in the sun. After partaking in the meat, the lioness began to talk to the male lion that had paid so much attention to her.
"Why do you keep calling me things like favoured one or golden one?"asked the lioness.
Smiling, he looked her over. "Because a prophecy was foretold to my ancestors that one day an injured young lioness with a pelt the colour of pure gold will bring news of a far away land that we had thought lost to us. This lioness would be the forerunner of a blessed race of lions that would create a golden age in Africa."
Staring at him in the light, she started when she saw his stripes. "How did you come by your colour? I have never seen a lion with your markings before."
"My mother was blessed with a pelt that had white stripes on her golden fur," he said with a lift of bis head regally. "My father was a rogue lion who escaped from his step- mother and had fur that was completely black and green eyes. Therefore, the two features were joined at my birth. My name is Zenatae and I am the king of my pride."
Looking down, she asked the question "Would you have saved me if I had not been golden coloured, Zenatae?"
"Of course I would. We lions of Karangi Pride never abandon any lion. We learnt that the hard way," spoke Zenatae with a smile.
"Thankyou for taking me in and giving me help, Zenatae. I will leave your pride now and continue on my journey."With that, the lioness attempted to move and winced.
"Nonsense! I insist that you stay with us," said the Lion with a worried look in his face. "We would love to have you and I am sure that you are an excellent huntress. But I still do not know your name."
The lioness looked away at that point but finally spoke. "My name is Kayera. My family was attacked by hyenas and all were killed except me. I had been hunting antelope when the hyenas attacked, so I saw their death from behind a tree when I returned. The hyenas saw me and attacked me, but I escaped and fled through the desert where you found me."
"Very well, Kayera" said Zenatae with a smile. "I am sure you will be welcome."
"May I go and lie down, Zenatae?"asked Kayera. "I am still quite tired."
Zenatae smiled and nodded his head. "Of course. I will wake you for dinner."
With that blessing, she padded towards the den she had come from and lay down. After watching her head back into the den, Zenatae left the entrance and headed down to the valley. Kayera began to think furiously ...
"Greetings, o golden one," spoke the lion in his regal voice. "I am glad to see you have awakened after so long"
"Excuse me sir, but where am I?" asked the Lioness groggily. "I don't remember anything after the fight. I hope I have been no trouble to you and your pride."
"Do not worry," said the lion."I am leader and choose who comes and goes in the Lush Lands."
"The Lush Lands? Where is that?" asked the Lioness quizzically.
Nodding, he answered ."You are in them, favoured one."
As he spoke, he beckoned her to follow and strode out into the sunlight. Following timidly, the lioness stepped out of the dark cave and beheld a valley filled with beautiful plants and waterways, where young cubs splashed around in enjoyment. The snow-covered mountains surrounding the valley contained many hollowed out dens where lions and lionesses lounged and ate food that sent lovely aromas into the air. As she beheld this amazing sight, her stomach began to rumble strongly. Laughing, the male lion beckoned her towards a pile of freshly caught meat that lay basking in the sun. After partaking in the meat, the lioness began to talk to the male lion that had paid so much attention to her.
"Why do you keep calling me things like favoured one or golden one?"asked the lioness.
Smiling, he looked her over. "Because a prophecy was foretold to my ancestors that one day an injured young lioness with a pelt the colour of pure gold will bring news of a far away land that we had thought lost to us. This lioness would be the forerunner of a blessed race of lions that would create a golden age in Africa."
Staring at him in the light, she started when she saw his stripes. "How did you come by your colour? I have never seen a lion with your markings before."
"My mother was blessed with a pelt that had white stripes on her golden fur," he said with a lift of bis head regally. "My father was a rogue lion who escaped from his step- mother and had fur that was completely black and green eyes. Therefore, the two features were joined at my birth. My name is Zenatae and I am the king of my pride."
Looking down, she asked the question "Would you have saved me if I had not been golden coloured, Zenatae?"
"Of course I would. We lions of Karangi Pride never abandon any lion. We learnt that the hard way," spoke Zenatae with a smile.
"Thankyou for taking me in and giving me help, Zenatae. I will leave your pride now and continue on my journey."With that, the lioness attempted to move and winced.
"Nonsense! I insist that you stay with us," said the Lion with a worried look in his face. "We would love to have you and I am sure that you are an excellent huntress. But I still do not know your name."
The lioness looked away at that point but finally spoke. "My name is Kayera. My family was attacked by hyenas and all were killed except me. I had been hunting antelope when the hyenas attacked, so I saw their death from behind a tree when I returned. The hyenas saw me and attacked me, but I escaped and fled through the desert where you found me."
"Very well, Kayera" said Zenatae with a smile. "I am sure you will be welcome."
"May I go and lie down, Zenatae?"asked Kayera. "I am still quite tired."
Zenatae smiled and nodded his head. "Of course. I will wake you for dinner."
With that blessing, she padded towards the den she had come from and lay down. After watching her head back into the den, Zenatae left the entrance and headed down to the valley. Kayera began to think furiously ...