Chapter 2: Malkia's Discovery

Days passed by, and Mohatu kept his promise to Mtundu about the possible trespasser. However, he couldn't help but feel that the pride knew something was going on that they didn't know about. But perhaps that was only Mohatu's imagination running wild. Lying tends to do such things to the mind, after all.

Mohatu could tell that Mtundu was growing uneasy too. Whenever Ucheshi would come back from border patrol, Mtundu would pull him aside--away from the rest of the pride--and ask him in a hushed voice if he had seen anything unusual. Ucheshi's answer was always no', preceded by a confused look. After three days, Ucheshi looked a bit wary when he left for and came back from patrol. Perhaps the rest of the pride suspected nothing, but Ucheshi knew something was going on. He probably knew it was something that was fairly classified, because he never asked.

Four days went by since Mtundu had told Mohatu about the carcass. It was mid-noon, and Mohatu was resting beneath the shade of a tree nearly a mile away from Misty Rock. This was the first time in four days that he had been able to truly relax, and he certainly wasn't going to let it go to waste. With a content sigh, Mohatu let his lazy eyes drift shut for a much-deserved nap.

No sooner had he closed his eyes when he heard some rustling in the grass. His heart skipped a beat. The rest of the pride was wallowing near Misty Rock, Ucheshi was out on border patrol, and Mtundu was tending to a cheetah problem. Who else could be free enough to come out this far? He gulped, realizing. Maybe it was the intruder.

Mohatu forced himself to keep his eyes shut, to provide the illusion that he was sleeping. This would lure the intruder forward to investigate, and when the timing was right, Mohatu would pounce and find out who it was.

The rustling stopped and was replaced by the sounds of footsteps. Tilting his ear back, Mohatu listened intently. The animal sounded big and very heavy. There was a good chance that this animal was heavy enough and strong enough to kill Mohatu if he tried the trick he had been pondering. But then, if he just lay there, he would be killed even more easily. Mohatu then made his choice. He would pounce.

The footsteps stopped just short of Mohatu's body. He froze. He suddenly felt warm breath on his mane. The intruder dared to venture too close. It would cost him dearly. Mohatu's eyes snapped open and he attacked. He let out a furious roar as he lunged at the intruder. With great force, he threw the intruder to the ground. He raised his mighty paw high over his head, ready to deliver the deadly blow.

"Mohatu!"

Mohatu paused as he heard his name come from the intruder. He took a good look at the creature that lay beneath him. Light copper fur, black mane. It was Mtundu.

Mtundu's green eyes were wide in fear, his paws held out, as if prepared to absorb a blow. Mohatu blinked in astonishment. This was certainly an awkward moment. Mohatu hadn't even stopped to think that the intruder' might have been someone he knew, regardless of where they were supposed to be. Still a bit stunned, Mohatu slowly sidestepped off his awe-struck brother. Nervously keeping his eyes on Mohatu, Mtundu slowly began to get to his feet. "Good gods, what was that for?" he exclaimed, voice hinting toward fear more than anger.

Ashamed, Mohatu looked away. He was furious with himself that he would jump to such a conclusion. There was no doubt in his mind that Mtundu's intentions had been good when he approached Mohatu, but Mohatu's actions could have easily undone that. Mtundu could have quite a temper, and could stay angry with someone for days. Mohatu knew; he had weathered it before, and it was very pain-staking. But when Mtundu's anger had subsided, it was as if the whole thing had been forgotten like it never happened.

Mtundu stared at Mohatu, demanding an answer. "I'm waiting," he said. "You were ready to kill me ten seconds ago, I think I have a right to know why."

"I, uh..." Mohatu muttered. "I thought you were someone else."

"Who?"

Mohatu paused, nervous that he may be treading on forbidden ground. "The intruder." He cautiously met Mtundu's eyes, waiting to see what Mtundu would say. However, Mtundu surprised him as a gentle expression replaced the former impatient one.

"Brother," he started, "are you really that sensitive toward this whole situation?" Mohatu just nodded. Mtundu smiled, and walked over to Mohatu. He affectionately cuffed Mohatu on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Mohatu. I just talked to Ucheshi this morning when he returned from patrol, and he said he saw nothing. That's four days in a row. No lion could last four days after eating such a small carcass without at least trying to catch something else."

Mohatu wasn't convinced. Four days was a fairly long time to go without any food, but that didn't mean that the problem had vanished. Mtundu sighed, seeing the uncertainty in Mohatu's eyes. "Like I said before, maybe it was just a coincidence," he continued. "If something else turns up, I promise, we'll alert the pride and find a solution."

That last statement eased Mohatu's tension a bit. Telling the pride was the right thing to do, so at least they would know what was going on, and they would know why their kings were so wary. It simply wouldn't do to keep them in the dark about such a dire issue for too long. He smiled. "Sounds like a deal," he replied. "Sorry I was so jumpy."

Mtundu broke into a smile of relief. "Ah, forget about it. We all have our moments." He laughed. "I really thought you were take my head off there for a second."

Mohatu laughed as well, glad that the moment of tension had passed. Now they could discuss some lighter topics, like weather, gossip, or even romance. He slowly lowered himself into the grass and lay on his belly. Mtundu did the same. "So," started Mohatu, "any news on that girl you're seeing?"

Mtundu blinked. Obviously he hadn't been expecting that question. "Who, Malkia?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

Mohatu raised an eyebrow knowingly. He knew that things were more heated than what Mtundu was fessing up to. Malkia was the leader of the hunting party. She was a little older than Mtundu, and was quite a beautiful lioness. Many other lions had saught to be her mate, but she refused all of them. It surprised the whole pride when she started spending time with Mtundu. But then, he was king, which was more than any of her previous courters could say.

Mtundu melted a bit under Mohatu's knowing eye. "Things are going quite well, actually," he replied. "I think that she's really starting to get serious about our relationship."

Mohatu levitated both eyebrows. "Serious?" he asked skeptically. "Just how serious?"

Grinning cubbishly, Mtundu replied, "Well, she asked me if I'm betrothed to anyone. When I said no, she replied, so you're free then'? I think she wants to marry me."

"You're the king," Mohatu pointed out, "who doesn't want to marry you?"

Mtundu snerked. "Hopefully not you. Besides, I'm taken."

"Majesties?"

The new voice caused both the brothers to jump. They turned to see who the voice had come from. Meters away stood a delicate looking lioness. Her fur was a dusty brown, yet it somehow enhanced the beauty of her ice blue eyes.

"Speak of the devil..." muttered Mohatu with a grin.

Mtundu jabbed his brother and cleared his throat loudly, hoping that his action would cover up Mohatu's comment. He smiled at the lioness. "Malkia, we're on familiar terms now," he said politely, "you needn't address me like that."

Very familiar terms, Mohatu joked inwardly. He would have said it aloud, but he feared that Mtundu would really rough him up for it. Chances are, Mtundu would chide him for the previous comment as soon as Malkia was gone.

Malkia gave Mohatu a sideways look. "Even if you and I are on friendly terms, there is still another king in the premesis."

Mtundu looked over at Mohatu and shoved him playfully. "Ah, don't mind him," he laughed, "he's just my brother." Mohatu cuffed Mtundu playfully while Malkia looked on with a bit of a confused look on her face. Mtundu's attention returned to her. "What do you need?"

"Permission to hunt, Sire?" she asked, straight-faced.

Mtundu and Mohatu looked at eachother, then turned back to Malkia. "Sure, why not?" replied Mtundu.

Malkia bowed respectfully and started off to meet the rest of the hunting party, who were awaiting the presence of their leader on a yonder bluff. Once she was out of earshot, Mohatu turned to Mtundu. "Does she ever smile?" he asked.

"Oh, hush up," snapped Mtundu with a smile. "She has manners, ever hear of them?"

Mohatu rolled his eyes. Mtundu cleared his throat, then spoke. "So, what's going on with the girl you're seeing, brother dear?" he asked snidely. "Last I heard, you two are getting very serious."

Mohatu gave Mtundu a surprised look. "I, uh, well...about that..."

Crossing his paws, Mtundu grinned. "Yes, Mohatu, what about that?" he asked.

Mohatu averted his gaze. He usually liked to keep matters that concerned he and Mzungu just between the two of them. Not that he didn't want others to know they were involved. In fact, everyone knew they were together. But he liked to be a bit more private about such things than did Mtundu. He felt that the romance between he and Mzungu was far more intimate when they kept it between eachother. "Not that serious," he replied finally. "We're just together a lot, that's all."

"That's all?"

"She's good company!" protested Mohatu. "Which is more than I can say about you."

Mtundu smirked. "Ouch."

Mohatu's insult' had the desired affect, and lulled Mtundu's attention away from the subject of Mohatu and Mzungu. Talking about Mzungu too much made Mohatu queezy. Not a disgusted kind of queezy, but a lovesick kind of queezy.

"King Mtundu, King Mohatu!" a shrill voice cried.

Mtundu and Mohatu turned again to see Malkia running toward them, eyes wide and frantic. While Mohatu was trying to think of what Malkia could be so afraid of, Mtundu overlooked the sense of urgency and smiled romantically at Malkia. "I told you, Malkia, you don't have to address me as--"

"Sire, there are trespassers in the Misty lands," Malkia stated, cutting him off in mid-sentence.

Mohatu felt his heart skip a beat, and was pretty sure that Mtundu was experiencing the same stunned feeling. This was exactly what they had been trying to avoid all along. Having Malkia alone know about it wasn't so bad, but now she and the entire hunting party were aware. And the hunting lionesses had a sort of love obsession with gossip, and there was no doubt in Mohatu's mind that this news would circulate throughout the entire pride and a good portion of the kingdom by sundown.

The silence rang in Mohatu's ears for so long he felt like he had gone deaf. He turned to Mtundu, who seemed to be frantically searching for an answer that would qwell Malkia's fears. "Trespassers?" he started dumbly. "Why, I don't really think that's possible, seeing as how--"

This was going to get them nowhere fast. Mohatu gave Mtundu a look that said I'll handle this' as he stepped forward. "Malkia, what did you see?" he asked, cutting Mtundu off.

Malkia gave a look of uncertainty to Mtundu, then turned back to Mohatu. "Well," she started, "I and the rest of the hunting party were searching for food, as usual. Suddenly, one of the lionesses pointed out a fleeing herd of wildebeests about a half-mile in the distance." Mohatu nodded, signaling for her to go on. "We all watched in curiosity, trying to figure out what they were running from." Malkia's eyes suddenly grew wide. "That's when we saw them. Three female lionesses--not from our pride, mind you--chasing the herd, trying to pick off one of the elders. They succeeded in taking it down, and started to feast. All of a sudden, one of the lionesses took notice of us, alerted her friends, and they tore off toward the eastern border and crossed back over into their own lands."

Mohatu kept an intent gaze on Malkia, making sure that her story was through. He then turned to Mtundu, who was watching with nervous eyes, as if expecting Malkia to say, and just how long have you known about this?!' Mohatu sat down, trying to look as calm as possible. "What do you think about all this, King Mtundu?" he asked properly.

Mtundu's gaze slowly shifted from Mohatu to Malkia, who was staring at him with the same intensity. He paused for a moment as a look of thoughtfulness crossed his face. He finally looked up at Mohatu. "We'll hold a royal council at sunset tonight and discuss the issues in play here," he replied majestically. "And we'll find a solution." He looked to Malkia. "Don't you worry."