Note to nachonacho: Did you read Sarabi's Kin part 1 and 2? If you didn't, it's understandable that you're confused, if you did read it, then where did you get lost? Perhaps I can help.
Note to Sunrise19: Yes, I did use "Where do I go from here" from Pocahontas 2. It fit how Kitoko was feeling perfectly.
Note to Val: Don't read my fanfics if you're going to call me names. I'm sorry I didn't update, I had writers block and no computer to type with for a while.
Note to everyone else: I'm sorry it took so long, my computer decided to take a crap, and not work...so I have to type on wordpad, I'll check for mistakes as best I can, cuz i don't think this one has spellcheck...so bear with me. OH and I know Kitoko having Amalie was kinda stupid cuz she didn't seem to know....i was stuck for ideas for that chapter except for a song, so I just decided to have Amalie in it.
Chapter 13: A different kind of shaman
"So, you're sure you can watch her for me?" Kitoko asked the gopher. He nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, your daughter will be fine, and I'll keep her near the surface for you." Kitoko smiled. She then licked the cub's head, gently picking her up by the scruff and placing her in the hole. Gopher guided her down the hole and out of sight.
Kitoko nodded and then trotted off, heading toward Pride rock. She still didn't understand why she had been picked for queen, but Amalie had helped her realize she couldn't just run away from her problems. That's what Sarabi had done, and Kitoko couldn't follow her mother's mistakes.
There was an extra spring in her step as she jogged along. She scanned the area, looking for Raimi. She wanted, or rather, needed to see him. She could see Kovu and Kiara, sleeping side by side on the tip of pride rock. She smiled, and then shifted her gaze again. Down toward the bottom of pride rock, she saw Simba and Nala talking animatedly about something.
Raimi's words flashed through her mind, "I'll meet you at Pride Rock." She smiled and then began to run, joy rushing through her. She passed Simba and Nala, running so fast that she looked like a red and black blur. She bounded up the steps and then pounced up on the top.
She saw Raimi making his way out of the den, his eyes half lidded from tiredness. She smiled and ran at him. "Raimi!" she called, pouncing and toppling over him. They rolled a few feet before Kitoko landed on top. She leaned low and nuzzled him.
Raimi sighed. "You scared me," he said, smiling. Kitoko sat up, her eyes sparkling. Raimi gave her a quizzical look. "What's got you in such a good mood huh?" he asked. Kitoko got off and let him up.
"Follow me, and I'll show you," she said, turning and bounding off. "Hey! Wait up!" Raimi called, bounding after her. He tripped almost all the way down the steps before regaining his footing and running after her.
"Kitoko wait!" he shouted. Kitoko glanced over her shoulder and flashed him a smile. She then continued to run, winding her way through the tall grasses until she found the gopher's hole.
She sat down and gestured for Raimi to do the same. Raimi was a bit out of breath by now, and tired to boot. He sighed. "Kitoko, are you gonna-""Shh," She said, hearing Gopher coming up.
She stepped in front of the hole, blocking Raimi's view. "Thanks Gopher," Kitoko whispered as he passed Amalie to her. She set the cub just outside the hole, but still out of Raimi's view. She turned her head to smile at Raimi.
"There's something you should see," she said. Raimi cocked his head to the side in curiosity. Kitoko only smiled and then turned her head back. She smiled and then picked up Amalie and turned, holding her in front of Raimi.
Raimi's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "I-is that...?" he managed to ask. Kitoko nodded and then set the cub down. Raimi leaned down and touched noses with her. Amalie giggled and then lost her balance and rolled onto her back. Raimi smiled and then took a paw and tickled her.
"I named her Amalie," Kitoko said. Raimi looked up and smiled at Kitoko. "She's beautiful," he said, licking his daughter's muzzle. Amalie giggled again, her whole body shaking. Kitoko nodded. She sighed deeply. "I wasn't going to come back to the pride lands." Raimi's head jerked up.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Kitoko sighed and then told him about the night before. Raimi nodded. Amalie however, stared up at her parents, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. Once Kitoko finished she hung her head. Raimi sighed.
"Kitoko, it's a lot for anyone to think about, I'm sure it's perfectly normal to feel the way you did, but you came back, so obviously something made you realize you belonged here." Kitoko nodded. "Amalie did." She said, leaning down and nuzzling Amalie once more.
A rustle in the grass had both parents looking around. Protectively Kitoko stood over Amalie, her ears tipping back and resting tightly against her head. She emitted a low growl and bared her teeth, letting whoever it was know they were not welcome. But the rustling continued, until finally a familiar blue face popped out of the grass, eyes sparkling with knowledge and curiosity.
Kitoko sighed and her guard was lowered. "Rafiki," she said, giving him a slight smile.
"I knew you would return," Rafiki said. He nodded. "Come, let me see," he said, nodding toward Amalie.
Kitoko turned and then picked her cub up, handing her to Rafiki. Rafiki took her and held her, smiling down. Amalie frowned and then squirmed, she batted at Rafiki's beard, tried to roll onto her stomach. Rafiki laughed and Amalie stopped, watching and listening. Finally the baboon sighed and then set the cub down.
"What do the markings mean?" Kitoko asked. She knew they had to mean something, hers did afterall. She only hoped it didn't mean anything real bad. Kitoko sighed, almost dreading what Rafiki would say.
Rafiki smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling. "She's a special one," he said, nodding. "The markings individually have no meaning, but all together they symbolize that of a shaman. Her destiny is to help other lions, with-" Rafiki waved his hands a bit, trying to think of the right word, "disabilities." he glanced over at Kitoko, then quickly away. He nodded again and then ran his hand over Amalie's forehead.
Raimi leaned low and licked Amalie's muzzle. He then sat back up and sighed. "There are no disabled lions in the pridelands that I have met." He commented.
"No, but Amalie is not yet old enough to help yet, now is she? When she is, there will be lions to help." and with that Rafiki ducked back into the grasses and disapeared. Raimi and Kitoko exchanged glances and then looked down at the daughter, wondering how she could help disabled lions when the time came...