Entry 221: "Farewell…"

His name was Vumi. He was a lion who lived and died several lifetimes, reincarnated again and again. He saw the horrors of this world. He saw the wars, inequality, deaths, all the impurities we all live with. Unfortunately, that was all he saw, and he wanted to change it. He continued to destroy several lifetimes, claiming to have 'purified' it. The world, along with him, continued to start over after he had his way, only to never achieve the purified world he desired. Now, that monotonous cycle is broken because we believed in the life that lion despised. I hoped he would find peace at last in the next life. Maybe that misguided fool will find his perfect world there. Rest easy, old lion…

        "Oh, come on, Daddy! Wake up!"

    Zuhura's voice was the first thing I heard today. I slightly opened my eyes and saw a pair of violet eyes indiscreetly in my face. "Come on, wake up! I'm ready for my hunting lesson!"

        "Let me sleep a little longer. We'll go later," I murmured.

I tried to go back to sleep, but Zuhura wouldn't give up. "But, I wanna go now! I wanna go now, I wanna go now!" There was no way I could sleep through that tiny voice and her tugging my ear with her mouth. I finally gave in and opened my eyes. "Okay, okay. Let's get going," I yawned.

        "All right!" she cheered.

After Zuhura ran out the den of Pride Rock, I stood up and stretched my body with a great yawn. Before I left, I looked to my side to see Sarabi briefly awaken. "She's so loud," she purred cheerfully. "I hope the next cub will be a bit quieter."

        "Oh, but where's the fun in that?"

I laughed gently and looked over Sarabi's large belly. She was of child once again. So, she must once again stay in Pride Rock most of the day until it was time. I nuzzled her in her head and whispered, "Take care of yourself." I pulled away from her and proceeded to exit the den with Zuhura.

    After just a few days, the Pridelands was back to normal. Everything returned to the promising and casual world we always lived in. Everyone was well. Busara, Sarafina, and Kayura left us to go back to the Destinylands, but somehow I knew we would see them again one day. With the threat to all of Africa lifted, I was free to raise my daughter while another cub was on the way. As Zuhura hopped about and danced happily in front of me, I saw the antelope running by as a small group. "Good morning, your majesty!" one greeted.

        "Good morning! Catch ya later!" I replied, winking at them.

        "Not if I can help it!"

After they had gone, I noticed that Zuhura was trying to pounce on a small lizard. But, it kept running off before the cub landed on the ground. The cub was doing it all wrong. "Zuhura, come here and let me show you how to pounce." Loyally, Zuhura turned around and came to my side, completely attentive to me. "Now, your target is that lizard there. Crouch down slowly." Zuhura did as I said and slowly crouched down. But, her rump was up in the air for everyone to see. I lied down and pushed her rump down to the ground. "Stay low to the ground, and do not make a sound."

        "Do I pounce yet?" Zuhura impatiently said.

        "Shhh. Try to get closer without a sound. Take it slow."

Zuhura obeyed my instructions and slowly crept closer to the lizard. She stopped shortly after being three feet away from it. "Take one more step," I whispered. Zuhura moved her right paw forward. She was ready to jump. Now, it was all about timing and accuracy. "Then…" The lizard began to move. "Pounce!" Immediately, Zuhura leapt perfectly and caught the lizard under her paws. "Yeah! I caught it, Daddy!" she exclaimed proudly.

        "Yes, you did very well," I nodded.

Zuhura then let the lizard and walked back to me, feeling extremely proud of herself. "Be sure to keep practicing," I said. "You also take the same actions in stalking before the situation in which you chase after your prey."

        "Yes, Daddy."

        "Also, it helps to identify a different animal's pawprint. They will let you know that which animal is nearby. For example, who made this pawprint?"

I pointed to a pawprint slightly similar to ours, but it was much smaller. Zuhura looked at it and thought for a moment. "Umm…is that a cheetah?"

        "That, it is."

        "Yeah! Kayura and I like to play a game like that! She picks a pawprint, and I have to tell her which animal made it. After I guess right, I have to quiz her back. The first one to name 10 animals correctly is the winner."

        "Yes, your uncle and I used to play that game all the time when we were cubs. I can't remember how many times he beat me in that game. He always liked to make me feel dumb. I didn't know the difference between the pawprint of a gazelle and an antelope, and he would never let me live it down."

        "What's wrong with Uncle Taka? He's acting stranger and stranger day by day. Everyone's starting to call him 'Scar' now."

        I sighed deeply. "Your uncle appears to be going through a tough time right now. He might be still upset that he won't be the next king, especially if the new cub turns out to be a boy. But, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be okay in due time."

        "I hope he'll be okay after Aunty Zira leaves the pride."

That's right. Zira was heartbroken when she learned of her sister's death. But, the next day, she said she must take this opportunity to live her life without Dziva's guidance. Her wounds have completely healed, and she has decided to leave before nightfall. But, I feared her leaving would hurt my brother even more.

    There was a growl…from a hyena! Nearby at the top of a short hill behind a small river, I spotted a male hyena catching a small rabbit! "Banzai!" I gasped. I quickly ran through the cool water and up the hill to cut in front of the trespasser. Banzai dropped his catch when I recognized me, and the rabbit quickly hopped away. "Dammit! Do you realize how long I spent on catching that?!" the brash hyena scowled.

        "It's unlike you to go out on your own without your other siblings," I replied. "Nevertheless, you're trespassing."

        "Daddy!" Zuhura cried out, watching from the side.

        "Stay back, Zuhura, or you'll get hurt. Now, get out of here, you scoundrel, or I'll throw you out!"

        "Be careful!"

        "Don't worry; this won't take long."

Not to waste anymore time, I jumped at Banzai, making him run back. He hissed at me and swung one claw at me, barely grazing across my head. Then, I attacked him and sent him on the ground with one swipe. He got back up, but I leapt at him again to make him step back. But, after he did, he slipped over the cliff behind him and fell into the pool of water below.

    Easily defeated, Banzai quickly ran off with his tail tucked between his legs once again. "You did it!" Zuhura cheered. My daughter ran to my side happily as I watched the hyena head back to the Elephant Graveyard. "You sure showed him, Dad!"

        I smiled down at her and replied, "I guess I did."

        "Oh, Daddy," she purred with concern. "That mutt scratched you behind your left ear."

I sat down and took my left paw to feel over its matching ear. When I pulled it away and examined it, I found a spot of blood on one claw from my paw. "So, I did. I was careless this time. But, it's nothing. It will heal just fine. Now, come." Zuhura nodded and followed me off to another point in the Pridelands.

    Out in the grasslands, Zuhura and I came upon the lionesses lying around after another hunt. Resting on her back, Kigali spotted and greeted me. "Good morning, Mufasa. Did Zuhura have to wake you?"

        "What'd you say?" I replied coyly.

        "Hey, Little Zuhura. Is your father teaching you the way of a lioness?"

        "Yep, he sure is, Aunty Kigali!" Zuhura replied.

        "But, he can't tell ya everything."

        "True," I laughed. "So, why don't you teach her 'firstpaw?'"

Without hesitation, Zuhura ran to Kigali on an innocent whim. After I watched her go, I looked over to see a cream-colored lioness with her nose nestling in the pistil of a flower. "Good morning, Ashleigh," I greeted. She answered to her name and smiled. "Good morning, your highness." I came to her side after she went back to sniff the small blossom. "Listening to the flowers sing again?" I said.

        "Yes. I had to save this pretty flower today. A gazelle almost trampled over it. It was singing the most beautiful song, and I didn't want it to be interrupted. Flowers spend everyday singing about life, their paradise. Living as long as they can is what they hold dear, like we do."

        "Perhaps," I nodded.

        "Oh, Ashleigh, I wish you grow up!" the dark-orange colored lioness, Lina, exclaimed. "You spend too much time with something that doesn't talk back!"

        "You're free to voice your opinion," Ashleigh replied calmly. "But, I believe these flowers do talk back."

Lina scoffed and looked away. "Now, now, Lina, leave her be," the brown-furred lioness with small green stripes over each cheek, Sahara, said. "I think it's great that Ashleigh at least has a hobby…whereas you have none."

        "What? I do too have a hobby! Wanna have a wrestling match?" Lina challenged.

        "No thanks. I prefer a nice, quiet day of sunbathing."

        "Heh. Of course you do. That's all you do."

        "It never hurts to relax."

Suddenly, two random lionesses nearby started to roll with each other, fighting. They quickly came toward Sahara and rolled over her tail like a boulder. Sahara roared to the sky in pain, but her face was hilarious. Along with Ashleigh and Lina, we laughed to ourselves. "So much for rest and relaxation," Lina chuckled.

        "Sire!"

I looked up and spotted Zazu fluttering down to me. "Like I said…" Lina joked.

        "Good morning, Zazu," I greeted. "How's your vacation?"

A day after Vumi's defeat, I made good on my promise to repay Zazu for what he's done for me and gave him a vacation that will last for six moons and seven suns. "It's just fine. I can't thank you enough for this," Zazu replied gratefully.

        "You seem giddy. Has anything happened during your vacation?"

        "Oh, nothing. It's nothing, really," he said with an uneasy tone in his voice.

        "Oh, Zazu!" a new, feminine voice sung out.

Suddenly, a light red-feathered hornbill hovered down next to a flustered Zazu. A female hornbill! "Zazu!" I exclaimed in ecstasy. "Don't tell me she's…"

        "Well…yeah. I met her in a couple of days ago," Zazu replied in embarrassment.

        "You don't have to sound so disappointed about it!" the female hornbill pouted. "And after you tried to sneak away and leave me at the nest while I was asleep…!"

        "Could you be any louder? I can still hear out of this ear!" Zazu squawked at her.

        "Hmph! Anyway, you must be the legendary King Mufasa," she said to me. "It's a pleasure, really, it is. I'm Binti."

        "It's nice to meet you, too, Binti," I replied. "You're not giving her too much trouble, are you, Zazu?"

        Zazu crossed his wings with contempt. "Hah! More like the other way around!"

        "Hmm. You should hear his impression of you," Binti murmured.

        I raised an eyebrow. "Impression?"

        Panicked, Zazu laughed uneasily, "N…now, Binti, let's not get into that! Let's get going!"

        "Fine."

With that, the two hornbills flew into the air, dancing around each other frantically. "Goodbye, sire!" I heard Zazu cry out. Then, the 'happy couple' disappeared into the skies.

    As I watched the hornbills go, I heard Ashleigh giggle to herself. "The flowers told me love was in the air. And it's flying back home."

        "Yes," I nodded.

        "Oh, dear! You're bleeding!"

Suddenly, the lioness named Anasa came to me. She had a light brown furred upper body and hind legs, but the fur around her torso was dark white. She examined the small cut that Banzai gave me in my left ear before and licked over it. "It's just a small scratch," I said.

        "It might be a bigger one next time. Or did you forget all those times you were injured before?"

        "Fine, Anasa. You win," I sighed, licking her back in her cheek as reassurance. "I'll be careful next time. I promise."

Next, I noticed Zira heading my way, and she had her head bowed down in low spirits. "Good morning, Zira," I greeted. "Are you feeling okay?" The downcast lioness stopped before me and looked up distressfully. "I won't forget your kindness," she said. "I'll be going."

        "You're going so soon?" I asked. "You said you would leave by sunset."

        "I know. But, I feel like I should hurry and get going."

        "The pride and I will miss you."

        "At least, I will," Anasa added. "You were a great help against Vumi…and a great friend."

        "Anasa's right," I agreed. "We can't thank you enough for your assistance. I might not have made you my mate, but you were always one of us."

Zira finally smiled and sighed with ease. "Who would have thought a tough guy with a gentle heart would live this long? You have such a powerful spirit that no one will ever break you, no matter who your adversary is. Maybe that compassion won't come back to haunt you, after all." Finally, Zira nuzzled her head into my mane, and I reacted with my left paw petting and stroking over her neck. After she pulled away, she licked across my muzzle mischievously. "Farewell," she purred.

        "Godspeed," I replied with a nod.

Finally, Zira proceeded to walk past me with one last flirting slap of her tail tuff. I watched her go as she looked to her left and right to reply to the lionesses' goodbyes. But, she didn't stop and kept going forward. Anasa nudged me in my shoulder to get my attention. "You know…why she wanted to leave early," she said.

        "Scar…something must have happened between those two," I replied. "But, it's not over yet. I see it in her eyes. She'll return…one day."

After she had bid farewell to the last lioness of the pride, Zira finally went on to her quest to live on her own…outside her sister's looming shadow.

    Later that day, I stood over the peak of that mountain where Father's body used to rest upon. It became known as 'Mazimwi' shortly after his death. The tallest mountain inside the Pridelands, we believed the spirits of the ones who left us climbs this mountain to follow the pathway to the next life. My father's body slept here before it eventually became the grass. I scaled this mountain once again… with a flower in possession.

    At the top of Mazimwi, I sat before a large bed of grass. It used to be an empty space in the ground, but it had been nourished after all this time. It was my father's grave. It was so far away from Mother's, but I knew their spirits couldn't be any closer. I laid my flower over Father's bright and grassy bed. I took a small step back and bowed to it. "You've taught me a lot," I purred. "And you were always right. I wish I could tell you what your teachings mean to me now. But, then again, you probably already know. I thank you…for everything." I picked myself up and sighed contentedly. I turned around and got set to leave the mountain…only to spot Shenzi just climbing onto the top!

    I growled at her, catching her attention. But, I stopped as soon as I saw a flower in my mouth. Shenzi frowned in disgust. "Dammit! Don't you lions have anything better to do?!"

        "Well, you certainly have a lot of nerve to be trespassing again," I replied. "You and your stupid brother."

        "Which stupid brother?"

        "Never mind. Now, what are you doing here?"

        "Well…I wanted to present this stupid flower to Ru-gal."

        I was astonished. "To Ru-gal?"

        "Yeah, yeah. After you handed her body to me years ago, I put it up here next to that tree over there," she said, pointing to a tree nearby. "I just…wanted to pay a bit of respect to her. That damned freak wasn't my mother, but…I wouldn't have lived long without her."

Wonders will never cease. I never thought a hyena would actually show compassion. I guess even scum like the hyenas have a heart. She seemed sincere, so I gave her a benefit of a doubt. "Do what you will," I said, sitting down placidly. Shenzi looked away and proceeded to walk to the tree where Ru-gal's body used to reside. She put down her flower and shut her eyes to share a private prayer to her deceased maternal figure. After she was down, she turned away and started to walk off. But, she stopped and looked toward me again. "Why are you looking at me, ugly?" she barked.

        "Nothing," I grinned. "I'm just amazed that a mutt like you actually has a heart."

        "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm as heartless as they come. When I'm in heat, I'm always on top."

        "But, after a fight, I'm always on top. I wouldn't mind demonstrating if you don't take yourself back home."

        Shenzi laughed brashly. "Look at us! We fought together, and we still hate each other! I never knew your God to be a funny man."

        "I'm not laughing," I replied. "The differences between us are too great a gap. We were always against each other, even when the first lion and hyena first walked the earth. As much as I want it to change, we could never be friends. I'd have more luck befriending a snake."

        "Yeah…when you're right, you're right. You guys are no fun anyway."

        "But, ultimately…you prove to be just as useful as any other animal in the Pridelands. Thanks again for your help."

        "Right, right. Don't get mushy on me. I might start to cry," she replied sarcastically. "But, seriously, what else can I do? You saved my life."

        "So, we're even."

        "Yeah. Well, see ya around, ugly."

        "I better not, you mutt."

With that, Shenzi walked down the pathway to the bottom of Mazimwi. After she disappeared, I followed far behind to go back home myself. It would've been nice, I thought, if lion and hyena could really live together in peace. We may have been against each other for so long, but that's never too late to change. Maybe that day will come someday…be it in my lifetime…or the distant future…