Chapter 4: Kito's Report

Ucheshi and Mohatu walked side by side down the trail from Misty Rock toward the open savanna. Finally, when they were about a mile away from Misty Rock, they came upon a small burrow. The two stopped just outside the burrow. Mohatu looked at it, then looked at Ucheshi questioningly. "Here we are," Ucheshi muttered to himself. He leaned down so that his face was just inches away from the hole. "Kito?" he called.

"Be right up!" a muffled voice replied.

Ucheshi sat back with a grin on his face, awaiting the creature inside the burrow. Out of the hole emerged a long, slender rodent. The rodent was a golden color, and had a tuft of black hair atop his head. Down on all fours, he spastically looked from side to side to see who had called him. He looked up, saw Ucheshi and stood upright on his skinny legs. "Ucheshi!" he exclaimed with a voice that sounded like that of an Italian mafian. "Great to see you!"

"Likewise, I'm sure," replied Mohatu with a polite smile. "Excuse us."

Mohatu walked a few meters away, and Ucheshi followed. When Mohatu was confident that they were out of earshot, he glared at Ucheshi. "Is this some kind of joke?" he asked.

Ucheshi drew back in surprise. "What?" he exclaimed. "You said you needed a spy!"

Mohatu looked over his shoulder at Kito, then looked back at Ucheshi. "But a meerkat?"

Narrowing his eyes, Ucheshi replied, "Hey, you never specified what kind of spy. You told me to check out what was happening in the east. I refused. I told you I could find someone that would do it. I kept my word." Ucheshi sat down and gave Mohatu a stubborn look. "Take it or leave it."

Mohatu frowned. Ucheshi had been his friend since cubhood, and over the years, he learned how stubborn he could be. Once Ucheshi made up his mind, that was that. No point in arguing any further.

Mohatu looked over his shoulder again and looked Kito over. He was small enough, and plus, he could burrow. That was far less suspicious than if Ucheshi went and did it himself. This might actually work! The only danger would be if Kito was the only prey in the whole eastern land, and he got caught. They'd have to take their chances.

"Will he agree to this?" Mohatu asked, raising an eyebrow.

A small glint in Ucheshi's eyes hinted that he had been expecting that question. "He doesn't have a choice," he replied, "I saved his butt from hyenas about a week ago, so he owes me." He grinned. "Debt is a beautiful, beautiful thing."

Mohatu smiled and rolled his eyes. Ucheshi could be a real pain sometimes, because he was always right, and he always liked to joke around even about serious matters. But still, he always kept his word and always found a way to make things work out to his advantage. "Alright, go work your magic," Mohatu replied, nodding toward Kito.

Mohatu and Ucheshi trotted over to the waiting meerkat. "Kito, I need you to do me a favor," Ucheshi said.

"Anything for you, boss," replied Kito.

Ucheshi smiled. This was going way too easily. "The kings themselves have appointed you to a very important task," he started. "They need you to go and observe the conditions of the eastern land. Think you can handle that?"

The meerkat gave Ucheshi a cocky smirk as a reply. "C'mon, Ucheshi," he said, "you know how infallible my loyalty is for our Great Kings. I'd give my life for them." He snapped. "Consider it done, my friend." A huge smile came upon Mohatu's face and he looked at Ucheshi as if to say I owe you one. Ucheshi just grinned. "When do my kings wish me to set out?" asked Kito.

"Erm..." Ucheshi gave Mohatu a sideways glance.

"Soon as he can," whispered Mohatu. The sooner Kito set out, the sooner he could confirm a possible famine, the sooner they could find a way to prevent trespassers. Ucheshi nodded. "How soon can you be ready?"

"How's about tonight?" asked Kito.

"Fabulous."

"Say it."

"Huh-uh."

"Saaay it."

"Forget it, Ucheshi!"

Ucheshi and Mohatu lay in the shade of a tree on the savanna. Some of the scorching rays of the noon sun streamed through the leaves of the tree and warmed both their pelts. Mohatu was rolled onto his back, back legs sprawled in the air, front paws tucked neatly on his chest. Ucheshi was laying on his stomach, front paws crossed in a cocky fashion as he harassed Mohatu. "Come on, Mohatu," he continued, "you know you want to."

Mohatu rolled his eyes. "Isn't there someone else you can bother? Back at Misty Rock?"

Touching his index' claw to his chin in an almost human manner, Ucheshi rolled his eyes skyward and pretended to give this some thought. "Hmmm, now that you mention it...no."

Mohatu gave a huge growl of annoyance. Ever since last night after their discourse with Kito, Ucheshi had been trying to wheedle a you-saved-my-butt, thank-you-so-very-much' comment from Mohatu. He hadn't yet been successful, but that didn't bug him any. He enjoyed the initial process of annoying a thank you out of his friend too much.

Tilting his head back, Mohatu looked at an upside-down Ucheshi. His grin was almost twice as annoying from this angle. "Alright, Ucheshi," he chided, "as your king, I command you to leave me to rest in peace."

Ucheshi raised an eyebrow, facial expression reading are you kidding?' "Riiiight," Ucheshi replied finally, rolling onto his side and resting his head in the grass. With a sigh, Mohatu closed his eyes and mentally kicked himself for even thinking that his command' would be effective on Ucheshi. Had this command come from Mtundu, Ucheshi would slink away, maybe with a few not-so-kind mutterings about the king's methods. But since Ucheshi and Mohatu had been friends since late cub-hood, Ucheshi's obedience wasn't as strong toward Mohatu. He was Mohatu's friend, not his subject. And Mohatu was his friend, not his king.

Didn't his mother ever teach him respect? Mohatu thought a moment. He never even remembered Ucheshi giving any hint toward a motherly figure when they were growing up. He had no mother. That would explain it.

"You know," Ucheshi started, breaking the silence, "had I not saved Kito's butt from the hyenas--thus forcing him my debt--you wouldn't have a scout. We would never find out what the deal is in the eastern lands. The trespassers would return time and time again, eventually eating us out of our home. We would begin to starve, as the Misty lands turned into a desolate wasteland and eventually, would start eating eachother like cannibals." Mohatu scoffed. Ucheshi continued. "See, I just prevented a whole heinous sequence of events from happening. And do I even get a thank you'? No sir."

With an exasperated groan, Mohatu rolled onto his stomach and gave Ucheshi a sarcastic look. "You are so overdramatic."

Ucheshi's eyes widened. "I'm overdramatic?" he exclaimed. "Hey, Mohatu, does this sound familiar?" He curled into a ball, covered his eyes, and started to shake in a cowardly fashion. "No! No! You tricked me! I thought you were my friend, Mzungu! Waaaaah!"

Mohatu's jaw dropped in mock anger. It was not below Ucheshi to bring up a humiliating moment from his cubhood and rub it in his face in this fashion. He had done it before, but this time he would pay. He growled. "You!" Mohatu caught Ucheshi completely off-guard when he tackled him to the ground and pinned him. Ucheshi looked up at Mohatu with wide, surprised eyes. Mohatu smirked triumphantly.

"Mohatu! Quit pummelling the royal courtiers!" a deep voice boomed.

Mohatu jumped, startled by the sudden interruption. He whirled around, only to see a grinning Mtundu sauntering toward them with Kito at his side. Mohatu groaned. "Oh, it's only you."

Mtundu snerked. "Glad to know my presence is appreciated." He sat down in front of Mohatu and Ucheshi in a regal fashion. Mohatu and Ucheshi both knew that this position meant business was to be discussed. Not taking his eyes off Mtundu, Mohatu side-stepped off Ucheshi, allowing the dark lion to pull himself to his feet. Mohatu sat down in front of Mtundu in the same regal fashion. Ucheshi and Kito exchanged glances, then mimicked their kings. Mohatu and Mtundu both chose to ignore this gesture. "I have news," said Mtundu.

From the tone of his voice, Mohatu could tell that this was going to take quite a deal of time to lay out. He shifted his weight to his left haunch. "Do tell," he replied.

"Kito reported to me just moments ago, and gave me the information on the eastern land," Mtundu started. "He confirmed that the eastern land is, in fact, completely deserted of game. No grass, no water. It is also aptly named--the Waste Lands. The lionesses are thin and sickly looking, but they are alive, so they must eat just enough to get by."

Ucheshi looked at the ground and tampered with a stray grass blade. "By free-loading off us," he muttered to himself. He wasn't quiet enough. Mohatu, Mtundu and Kito all looked over at him. Ucheshi felt their gazes, looked up, and realized his mistake. He gave them a guilty smile. "Sorry," he apologized.

Mtundu sighed and continued. "Anyway, that's the scoop. We just have to schedule a council and figure out where to go from here."

Mohatu rose from his position and stretched fore and aft. "Don't bother," he replied indifferently. "I know exactly what we need to do. Send someone there to keep the pride under control, and summon a shaman. The Sent One tells the shaman to inquire of the gods to send rain for a few days." Mohatu slowly sauntered back to his place under the tree. "The grass grows back, the rivers fill. Game begins to slowly relocate to the Waste lands." He flopped into the grass and streched once again. "Once the Waste lands are up and running again, the Sent One returns, and we all live happily ever after." With a great yawn, Mohatu rested his chin on his paws and closed his eyes.

Mtundu paused for a moment to think the plan over. Though the plan seemed a bit too utopian, it could work. Sure, there were some spots they'd have to smooth out, because, of course, not everything would go that well. But since Mohatu had already laid out the primary plan, the Royal Council just had to sort it out and get rid of the bugs. This whole process would take maybe a few days, a week at most. Once the plan was formulated, they could set it into action.

"Great idea, Mohatu," he replied.

Mohatu smiled drowsily and hummed a you're welcome'. Mtundu grinned as well.

"Thanks for volunteering."