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FROM THE AUTHORIn this entry, the character named Chiruwi talks like a stereotypical homosexual. So, all of his 's' syllables are pronounced with a 'th' sound.
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Entry 212: "Nine Diviners"
…I heard someone. He had a very bad lisp in his voice. "Hey, you! Wakey, wakey!" I opened my eyes and looked up to see a face. It wasn't too clear because my vision was still blurry from my rest. Now, my eyes focused clearly. Huh? Oh my God! I must be going crazy! I spotted another lion in my face or rather half of him! I jumped up onto my feet and stepped away in shock. I could see his right side. I see his red mane, his blue eye, and his deep brown fur coat. But, his left side is completely invisible! "Is…is this sorcery?!" I exclaimed.
"No. The name is Chiruwi," the lion snorted. "Thorcery, he thays."
"Chiruwi, you definitely need to work on your speech," another voice purred mischievously.
I looked to see another feline step out of the shadows. It's a cheetah. But, he had red fur instead of the usual yellow. His white spots with black outlines were still there, though. He walked next to me and examined me from my feet up. "I never got a good glimpse of you before," he said. "You look pretty strong to take my shot like that."
"What do you mean?" I blinked. "Where am I?"
I looked around to see that I'm inside a huge, evolved sand dune. There were holes along a second floor against the walls. "Why, you're up, Mufasa!" a familiar voice called out. I looked to the right to see Vumi in front of a cavern opening. "Welcome to the Shadowlands."
"'Shadowlands?'" I repeated. "This place?"
I heard snarling. I looked back to the second floor of the dune and grimaced once I spotted those Shadowlander lionesses again emerging from those holes. Apparently, they had their own shelter, but I wasn't worried about that, of course. They seem to despise my presence, but others seemed pleased that I'm their captive. "You won't be leaving…or escaping anytime soon or at all," Vumi said.
"So I see. Is that why you let me walk around freely?" I replied.
"Please, dear Mufasa! You're my guest!"
"Some welcome."
"Amazing. Are you not scared at all?" a voice called.
I looked to see Legba sitting with Chiruwi and that cheetah fellow. He seemed to be the most intimidated along with the lionesses. He's always frowning at me. "Maybe he is, and he just hides it very well," a feminine voice purred. There was a sapphire-eyed, dark green furred lioness lying down next to Chiruwi. Now, there's a strange woman in my midst. "That's a good quality, but I've seen better," she snorted.
I scoffed, "Well, I've seen lionesses with better coloring schemes."
She gasped, "Oh! You snapped back at me! Vumi, are you gonna let him get away with that?!"
"Calm down, Mwana," Vumi sighed.
"Just who are you all?" I wondered.
The cheetah stepped forward and brashly exclaimed. "The name's Oya of the Wind! No one's faster than I am!"
"I'm Chiruwi of Invithibility," Chiruwi replied.
"Mwana of the Rain," the green lioness said proudly.
"I believe you already know me, Legba the Trickster," the old lion finally grinned. "We're ALL diviners!"
"'Diviners?' So, you all have 'blessings' like Vumi as well?" I gasped with intrigue.
"That is right, Mufasa," Vumi replied. "I've been waiting patiently for these mercenaries to arrive for several weeks. But, each one of them lived in different places in Africa. What you see now are five Diviners. Brekyirihunuade of Omniscience is outside right now with the remaining three. Altogether, we are the Nine Diviners."
"I see. I can't believe Nuade's one of you," I sighed, bowing down my head.
"You're not the only one," I heard Legba murmur to himself.
"So, why have you brought me here?"
Vumi replied, "Your resistance allowed my forces to grow. I want to negotiate with you one last time. Resist and you will surely die, even here if need be. But, I have so much respect for you; you helped me before. Don't throw my gratitude away for your petty ideals."
"Ideal? Not wanting to die is an ideal?!" I snarled.
"You want to cherish life. Tell me, was your life a wonderful one to live through?"
"No, it wasn't. But…"
Argh! It's that sound again! Not now! My head began to throb in overwhelming pain. My legs trembled under the pain's weight. I tried hard to resist. I held my head and shook it violently, roaring out. It was too great. I felt faint. Suddenly, I began to drift into a daze while I felt myself falling…
…Singing…I heard…singing. I opened my eyes and rose to my feet. I gasped! I looked down from a cliff to see a gorgeous forest below me. I looked behind me to see a cave. I looked in and saw the walls covered in crystal. It was then that I found out what this place is. It's the Forbidden Cavern, the place where I 'saw my future.' The warmhearted singing continued. Is this place actually inhabited? I quickly ran down the same pathway against the cliff's wall. As soon as I made it at the bottom, I went into the forest. Shortly, I stopped and hid behind the trees once I saw something. I looked from my hiding place and saw many white lions in front of that same watering hole, singing in Zulu. But, the watering hole was a lot bigger than what I saw. It even has a big shrine in the middle. Water fell from the sides of the shrine into the pure pool of water. And all the white lions continue to sing their exotic melody. There were even small cubs singing along with them. This must be some sort of ritual, because the song felt more like a prayer. But, my Zulu is rusty, so I couldn't translate it. But, it was still a beautiful song sung by a race of lions I never saw before. Then, too preoccupied to notice, something ran at me and tackled me to the ground! I landed on my back, and, before I got back up, a white-furred paw held me down on my chest. I looked up and gasped once I looked upon the face of an angry Ombwiri!
Ombwiri snarled down at me. "What do you think you're doing here? Are you one of them?"
"One of whom?" I replied, surprised I actually spoke to her.
"No. You're not. I never saw you before in the pride. Forgive me."
She calmed down and said, "No, that's okay; it's understandable. But, believe me, I mean no harm."
Ombwiri let me get back up on my feet. I shook my mane while she walked past me to look at the white lions from behind the trees. Then, that thought finally came to me. Ombwiri is a white lioness, so is she one of them? I walked next to her to watch them. "Are you curious?" Ombwiri smiled. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No, I'm not. I'm…just passing through," I answered.
"And you noticed them, right? Aren't they a mysterious group?"
"You say that as if you don't live with them."
"I don't. Well, I'm not sure. I was raised in a pride of golden lions as far as I can remember. But, I remember nothing about my past or my origin. So, maybe I am supposed to be with them. I sure do feel like I fit in better with them. My pride ridicules me because I'm different from them. But, these lions welcome me, not because I look like them but because I'm a lion, just like them."
"Do you understand what they are singing?"
"They sing about their blessings. Each white lion has an unnatural gift that God is believed to possess. They pray that they shall never use them for any reason. Everyone hates their gifts and wants God to take them back."
"So, they want to be normal, treated like equals," I deduced.
"Exactly. I hear stories that they have been shunned by other lions because they fear them. Others want their powers for themselves. So, the white lions hid themselves here and called it home. Lions from the outside know this place as the 'Forbidden Area.'"
"The Forbidden Area?"
"Right now, King Vumi knows about this place and wants the powers to be the ultimate pride with no rival and infinite life. I want to protect these lions from him, but I'm a terrible warrior. I can't even make them leave this place."
"Well, it is their home. No lion really wants to leave his or her home. And even if they did, where can they go to avoid something like that again?"
"Yes, that's what every white lion told me. I just wish I could do more…to protect these innocent beings," she sighed.
"I'm sorry," I murmured.
I bowed down my head and exhaled deeply. Then, at my surprise, Ombwiri got under my chin and rose up with me over her head. She nuzzled me and purred, "Thank you for listening to me."
"Um…of course," I purred back…
…I regained consciousness, but I didn't want to wake up just yet. I felt the most invigorating massage over my head. I purred like I did in that dream. Finally, I opened my eyes slightly and smiled. But, that smile quickly left me once I saw Vumi next to me, petting over my head. I lifted my head and shoved his paw away. "You shouldn't move so suddenly after passing out," he whispered.
I scowled, "Hmph! Now where am I?"
I sat up and looked around to see that I'm now in a room where little light shone from the seams of the walls. "This is my den," Vumi answered. As I looked around, I looked toward the opening of the den and spotted a familiar silhouetted figure. I saw those familiar outlandish pupils and that slender body. It was a lioness I knew, but she ran away as soon as I saw her. "Zira?!" I gasped.
"No, you are mistaken," Vumi said. "That was not Zira."
"But, those eyes…that figure…that match Zira perfectly."
"It's amazing how much twin sisters look alike, isn't it?"
"What?"
Twin sister? Wait; I remembered the story Zira told me before. "So, you're the one who abducted Zira's
sister," I deduced.
"Abducted? I merely retrieved her," Vumi laughed heartily.
"I assume Zira doesn't know."
"We were mates, but that doesn't mean she knows everything about me."
I bowed down my head. "You must be happy."
"What's that?"
"Having what you always wanted: ultimate power and infinite life. That's why Father was unable to kill you, wasn't it? You possibly might have faked your wounds when we first met."
"No. I have not faked a moment back then. But, how did you that much?"
I didn't answer that question directly. "Tell me; why are you doing all this?" I asked. "Why do you kill?"
"I do not kill. I purify."
"All lies. You kill."
Vumi sat up next to me and sighed, "You still do not understand. Purification is taking the old and reforming it into the new. Purification is like recreation. You do not die; you are reborn."
"Reborn?"
"Exactly. No one is of one soul. The Circle of Life is broken, Mufasa. I only fight to fix it. I want to turn this hellhole into a heavenly paradise! In relative terms, all of our powers will 'destroy' this world and bring life to a new and better world! Don't you see?!"
I was stunned. So, this is his true motive? I had no idea until he finally explained it to me. Was he so mad at this world that he would destroy all of us to bring a new one? He wrapped a shoulder around my neck and purred to me, stuck in his dreams. "Don't you see? A perfect world where everyone is one…that would be life, my friend! We can all start anew with lives we all dreamed we had in place of the miserable ones we have now. That is life to look forward to!"
"A perfect life…a life we dream of," I murmured hesitantly.
He released me and purred, "Do you understand my intentions now? Do you realize that you're the antagonist of this boring drama? You prevent me from performing the only available act to bring complete happiness."
He brings harm, and yet he doesn't. I pondered over this for a moment. Was all of this really for nothing? Was I the bad guy the whole time? Wait. I had my answer. It was right after I heard their voices again…
"I don't…want to die."
"I just wish I could do more…"
"Son, I want you to live your life to its fullest, no matter what. Because, even if you die, you will die knowing you were truly happy."
"I have…no regrets."
Ombwiri and Father reminded me of who Vumi is. I walked a few steps from him. I went over the issue one more time. Then, I shortly made up my mind. "You know what?" I purred. I looked over my shoulder with a warmhearted smile. "If you weren't a crazy old fool, I would've taken your side."
Vumi was taken aback. "What?"
"There are ones who lived wonderful lives…and ones who want to make their own lives better for the sake of happiness. Would you really take away their lives as well? I doubt that God is that unfair."
"But, you…"
"I know how my life has been! But, it's mine and no one else's. Besides, just because parts of my life has been miserable, that doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed it. If you take all that away from me, I can never forgive you!"
That was my answer. I refused to side with Vumi once again. And he looked severely disappointed. "After all my offers, you still resist me," he said. He walked a few steps closer to me and stopped again. "I really wanted us to be friends," he said, raising his right paw over his head. He was going to strike me. But, before any one of us made a move, the old voice of Brekyirihunuade called out. "Lord Vumi!"
Vumi let down his arm and cried back, "What is it, Nuade?! I'm busy!"
"There are intruders, and they are pushing the pride back rather quickly!"
"What?!"
Intruders? I blinked after the moment I thought about it. It had to be them! Suddenly, Vumi ran out of the den, leaving me behind. I went to the entrance of the den and looked down to see him run down the pathway that led outside the den. He completely forgot about me. This was working out too perfectly.
"You're hard to break, aren't you?" someone said.
I looked over to the right and spotted that same lioness from before again, the one that resembled Zira. Now that I've got a good look at her, this lioness has a much darker brown fur coat than Zira and seemingly untainted brown eyes. I wonder if it's true what Vumi said about her. "Do you know Zira?" I asked.
"Zira. That name brings back so many memories."
"So, you are her sister?"
"I am Dziva of Benevolence. And you are Mufasa, am I correct?"
"Yes. You look sad, my dear. Out of place, if you will."
"Maybe I am. For some reason, I could never bring myself to leave this place. Every time I try, I always walk back here."
"I can't say that makes much sense."
It seems as if I could trust this girl. She definitely gives off that innocent aura. Dziva blinked, "Why are you staring at me?"
"I was thinking…do you want to try and escape again?"
"Are you saying that you are?"
"Do you trust me?"
The lioness looked at me thoughtfully. Skeptically, she replied, "I got caught, and I suffered many times. Why would this be any different?"
"Answer my question," I answered. "Do you trust me?"
She thought it over once more. But, I couldn't waste too much time here. "You don't have to leave. You can stay. But, think twice about standing before me. If you do, you will become my enemy." With that, I started to run off. But, Dziva leapt in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. "Please don't leave me here," she pleaded.
"That's more like it. Now, come."
With Dziva behind me, we ran off elsewhere to find a way to escape while Vumi and the others are distracted.
A moment later, Dziva and I walked down a pathway next to the sand dome's wall. Beams of sunlight shone through the holes in it. As I looked outside, I saw the afternoon sky over a large barren land with few living organisms. So, that was the Shadowlands. As I walked on, I soon noticed someone in front of me, sitting there and looking toward the land through a single hole. It was a lion with a black mane and brown fur with crimson eyes with no pupils. "Doomed. There is no future for this land," he said. "None at all."
I walked to him and said, "Is that what you think of this place?"
The lion stared at me with those strange eyes as I walked over to him. He looked away and sighed, "That's what I believe this whole world is. I see nothing but sorrow and despair. I see no love. I see no friendship. I see no families. It's all false. Imagination."
"Why do you look at so little details and paint such a huge, depressing picture?" I wondered.
"It's how life has been for me. It's how life has been for everyone."
"You are mistaken. Life is not the same as yours."
"Life is living. We all live. We all have the same life."
I sighed, "That's a very odd definition of 'life,' if you ask me."
The lion didn't reply, got up on his feet, and walked away. Puzzled, I watched him go. I looked toward Dziva and wondered, "Dziva, who was that?"
She replied, "That is Musso of Disorder. He has no fighting ability, but it's said that he's a living curse. I never seen his power before, but Vumi said he has the power to bring sadness and disorder wherever he goes."
Despite whether he has power or not, I fail to understand why he speaks about his life being like everyone else's. I didn't understand. Probably I wasn't meant to understand the likes of him. After all, I have a more realistic definition of the matter. Right now, I have more urgent things to do.
"Mufasa! Psst! Mufasa!"
I looked over to the dune walls and smiled in relief to see a few of my pride lionesses led by Kigali on the other side! "Kigali!" Then, I gasped shortly when I spotted the darker coats of Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed! I walked to the wall and looked out the hole to see Kigali's beautiful face. "I'm so glad you're all right," she purred.
"I'm just glad you can make it," I replied.
"Thanks to Zazu."
"But…what is the meaning of this?" I wondered, looking toward the canine trio behind her.
Kigali looked toward them and turned back to me, scowling to herself. "Believe me, we didn't want all the hyenas to come with us," she said.
"Hey! What's that mean?!" Banzai cried.
"Shut up, Banzai!" Shenzi whispered through her fangs. "We're trying to break Mufasa outta this slammer quietly!"
"You're really here to help me?" I awed.
"Don't get us wrong, hairball," Shenzi said. "I care about you as much as I care that you're the Lion King. But, this is way bigger than the both of us. I can't waste my time fighting you when this Vumi punk is trying to kill us all. So, believe it or not, the pack and I want to fight beside you and your pride. Besides, I owe you for saving me before."
I nodded in agreement, "I understand. Thank you, Shenzi."
"Hold on; I think we can dig a way under the dune," Kigali said.
With that, Kigali, two other lionesses, and the hyenas began to dig. To make this faster, I came closer to the wall and began to dig as well. "Oh, Mufasa!" Dziva gasped. I stopped and looked over my shoulder to see Dziva backing away from Legba!
I quickly turned around and snarled. Legba growled, "I knew you would try to escape. Well, I won't let you!" He charged at me with claws unsheathed. I crouched down, ready to meet the old lion in combat once again. But, suddenly, Dziva tackled him onto his side! I gasped, "Dziva?"
She looked back to me and purred, "You keep digging. I'll hold Legba back."
I had no time to argue with her. I just had to trust her. I nodded and went back to digging. As I dug, I heard Legba and Dziva fight each other. "You fool! Why are you helping him?!" Legba roared.
"I never wanted to stay here! This time, I will escape and see my sister again!" Dziva roared back.
"How dare you! Argh!"
I briefly stopped digging and looked back to the battle. Dziva had clawed Legba hard in the ground and leapt over him. They wrestled around briefly before the lioness struck him again over the face once he was pinned down. Legba pushed her away with his feet and went after her with a great roar. He swiped at Dziva, but she easily dodged by sliding to the right. Then, she followed up by leaping on his back, sinking his fangs in him. Legba soon bucked her off, but Dziva quickly went on the attack, rapidly swiping across his face. What stamina! What agility! Zira was right about her. What an incredible fighter. I kept digging a while longer. And sure enough, the lionesses, the hyenas, and I made a hole under the dune! "Dziva!" I called. She looked back briefly and nodded back to me. Then, she swiped him again to push Legba back and went after me. I already crawled through the hole and was greeted by nuzzles from my fellow lionesses. "Where are the others now?" I wondered.
"Sarabi and the rest of the pride, as well as the whole pack of hyenas, are fighting back the Shadowlanders while we head here to find you and help you escape," Kigali replied. "She'll only pull back once she hears your roar."
"Is that all?" I chuckled.
With that, I threw my head to the sky and roared my loudest. I held out my roar for a while before I let it die down. Immediately, I faintly heard Sarabi's roar as a reply. It was nice to hear her voice again. "Argh! Damn you!" I looked over to see Legba trying to get through the hole we made. But, Dziva held him back by clawing at him and throwing dirt in his face. "That's enough, Dziva! Let's go!" I cried. After Dziva finally pull away, we all ran away, far away from that sand dune. I looked back to see Legba watching us go. It looked like we made our escape. But, soon, I plan to return.
****
Far from the Shadowlands, I waited at an oasis for the pride to arrive while Kigali and the others got acquainted with Dziva. I went to take a drink for the wet pool of water. After taking a sip, I took the moment to see my reflection. I didn't know for sure, but I thought that was another lion facing me. I couldn't put my claw on it, but I looked different somehow. Just then, my reflection broke under the ripples in the pool. I looked to see the three hyenas rudely making waves in the water with their paws. I frowned, "Excuse you!"
Banzai laughed, "You can't roar at us for wrecking your concentration. That would be pretty selfish."
"You're right. So, I'll do this."
Then, with a powerful swipe, I splashed a great amount of water over all three of them. I chuckled in amusement while they looked at me angrily…except for Ed. He just laughed, and Shenzi slapped him across the jaw to make him silent. "You're laughing?" Shenzi said to me. "That's a new one! The first time I saw you, you were anything but." She may have been right. I think I was just a cub when it was the last time I laughed full-heartedly. And it was before I stepped foot into that pool…
…Suddenly, I heard one of the lionesses cry, "Here they come!" I turned around and saw the pride heading our way with Shenzi's pack of hyenas right behind them. We all came out the oasis and waved to them to come this way. As they came closer, I saw my Sarabi leading them. I smiled in relief and ran to her. "Oh! Mufasa!" she cried. I came at her, and we immediately nuzzled each other. "Don't scare me like that again. I was worried silly," she purred.
"It's all right, really," I answered.
"Sire!"
I looked up to see Zazu flying down to me. I smiled proudly at him and let him perch on my shoulder. "Mission accomplished, sire!" he saluted.
"Excellent work, Zazu," I nodded warmly. "You will graciously rewarded for your work."
"Oh, your praise is more than enough."
"Nonsense. There was no way my plan would've worked without you. I am so proud of you."
Respectively and gently, I nuzzled my nose under Zazu's beak. "Sire," I heard him say in awe. After I pulled away, he blinked at me in surprise. "I don't believe you ever showed any affection like that to me before."
"Mufasa…" Sarabi purred.
I looked toward and saw her eyes gleaming with awe. It was as if she was more attracted to me, but I wasn't sure why. "You're…different somehow…but in a good way," she said.
"Are you sure? I don't feel any different," I replied.
"I'm sure of it."
"I see it, too," someone added.
Busara suddenly appeared right next to me and looked me in the eyes. "It's as if your eyes are clearer than they were before," he said. "They're like a calm pool of water."
"Water?" I repeated.
"Maybe it's just me, but you seem perfectly calm and detached. You're not the Mufasa I met for the first time."
It's starting to make sense to me now. I was different somehow. I don't feel so disturbed and cold like I once did. The feelings I had because of my depression were nonexistent. It was as if I never experienced depression at all. Now, I feel…warm. I felt relaxed, full of ease. I felt so loose and bouncy. And my strength…I never felt so strong before. I was mentally aware of my strength now. I was now aware of my limits. My temper was still there. I could feel its heat boiling deep within me. But, that was even stranger since I never felt my rage in me before until it came to the surface. This was it. This was what Rafiki was trying to tell me. This was equanimity.