II
Sarabi's Reflection
As the weeks passed, the tension within the pride began to decrease, and normal routine was followed once again. Everyone fawned over the new cubs and Simba was instilled with such a pride that he had never felt in his young life. He didn't know how others would see him as a leader, but he wanted to show them he wasn't inexperienced, and could handle being a father.
Sarabi was lying quietly in the cool confines of the cave, her head resting on her paws. Her back faced the mouth of the cave as she stared blankly into the wall. She sighed deeply as memories began to take over her thoughts, and again she could see Kamau, wrapped tightly in her paws. She smiled at the thought of his squeaky mewing, and his little attempts at pawing his mother's face. She could see his ocean blue eyes staring back at her, with that simple innocence radiating through them. She became teary at the thought and wiped her eyes. She wondered about him often, more often than not. She had hoped he was ok, and that Yetunde was taking care of him.
Suddenly, Sarabi felt a hard nudge at her side. Startled, she turned to see Tanabi propped cheerfully on her foreleg, smiling his cub like smile.
"Hi bibi!" Tanabi cried as he nuzzled her.
Sarabi smiled. "Hello child," she replied as she gathered him into her paws.
As he curled up within her grasp, he sighed deeply. Sarabi could feel his tiny breaths against her paws and licked his forehead. A small, auburn tuft had begun to grow on his forehead, resembling his father's mane. He was somewhat scrawny, as Simba had been as a cub, and Sarabi shook her head knowing he would never achieve a bulk and size such as his grandfather had borne.
Tanabi looked up to see Sarabi's solemn expression and nuzzled her. "What's wrong bibi? Is everything ok?"
Sarabi looked down at the cub and smiled weakly. "It's nothing sweetheart, bibi was only thinking."
"About what?" Tanabi asked curiously.
Suddenly Kiara burst onto the scene and leapt on Sarabi playfully, gnawing her ear gently. Sarabi raised an eyebrow and chuckled before reaching back and grabbing Kiara and dropping her between her forepaws. Kiara giggled and Sarabi licked the cubs across their heads. As she did so, she could suddenly see a bright orange colored cub staring up at her. Shining blue eyes stared into her own, but she suddenly shook the image out. Sarabi coaxed the cubs to sleep, and looked out to see dusk setting itself upon the Pride Lands. As it did so, Sarabi could not help but wonder where Kamau was, where Yetunde was, and if all was well for them.
The sun began to set slowly over the western hills, and Kamau admired it intently. It shined onto him, his lone figure standing idly in an open field. Through the glitter of the awakening stars, a glint could be seen on his jet black mane as it began to grow on his head, neck, and chest. He was a thick lion, not skinny like his father, but better built with muscle. He neatened the tuft on his neck before turning back to find Yetunde.
He walked up to her and she turned to see him from where she lay. She smiled up at him and nuzzled him under his chin. He returned the gesture and lied down next to her.
"The stars are sure pretty tonight, aren't they?" Kamau pointed out as they gazed at the star packed sky. "There's always been something about them that captivated me."
Yetunde smiled at him and looked up herself. "That's so interesting."
Kamau looked back at her, slightly confused. "What?" he asked.
Yetunde had a knowing, proud look on her face. "Your mother had the same captivation with the stars. When we were young that was all we did, lie out under the stars, and she would name each one."
Kamau smiled at the thought of his mother. He often wondered about her, what she looked like, how she acted, and if she even remembered him. Kamau knew close to nothing about his parents, only the small things Yetunde would tell him at times. Yetunde was very secretive about his family, and was almost hesitant to tell him anything. He had to pester to find out her name, Sarabi. The young lion had no idea who his father was. Yetunde seemed to cringe before replying, "I did not know him."
Kamau finally decided to raise some more unanswered questions. "Yetunde, where was I born?"
Yetunde snapped to attention at Kamau's question. She pondered it for a moment, before at last coming to terms that Kamau could not spend his whole life not knowing about his past. She knew that he would one day have to return to the Pride Lands, it was expected of him in the Great Circle of Life. After all, he was still Prince of the Pride Lands one way or another.
"You were born in a place known by most as the Pride Lands," Yetunde replied taking a deep breath.
Kamau snapped at attention. "The Pride Lands? Really? The birds are always delivering news from there! That's supposedly one swell place to live nowadays!" Yetunde smiled sadly. "Yes Kamau, it is, but it wasn't always that way. When you were born, the Pride Lands were in a time of great trouble. The ruler of the lands was a mad tyrant who cared little for the well being of his pride. In order to attain the throne, the wicked lion killed his older brother, the rightful King, and attempted to kill his nephew. The cub escaped, but we all thought he had died. You were born during the tyrant's rule, which prompted your mother to make the hardest choice of her life. She knew the only way you would survive would be if you left the Pride Lands and received a better life. But the tyrannical ruler was overthrown not long after we departed. I remember the day the birds sent word of it to me...you were just an infant back then."
Kamau listened intently to what the lioness told him, but was still amazed that he could have been born in a place as legendary and majestic as the Pride Lands. It was a place most lions dreamed of living in, for word passed from the birds that the King was a very peaceful ruler.
"Then why can't we go back Yetunde? The Pride Lands are at a time of peace now, and I'd love to see the land where I was born!" Kamau exclaimed.
Yetunde instantly grew hesitant. Under normal circumstances she would have returned immediately, but what would the pride think? Kamau was the son of that tyrannical ruler, the lion known as Scar. After Scar's death Yetunde heard of the rebellion, and how Simba had banished Scar's followers. Simba had also put the Pride Land's through a period of "purification," a time in which he urged all to abolish Scar's memory. Simba even went as far as to absolutely destroy Scar's legacy, and made an announcement to all the Pride Landers that Scar would never be seen as a King of Pride Rock. In fact, it was made to be seen that Scar had never ruled at all. Simba's intense hatred of the lion forced Yetunde to keep Kamau from returning, at least until he was old enough. She feared Simba might kill Kamau, whether they were half brothers or not.
Yetunde sighed. "We will return someday Kamau, but not yet. For now, let us sleep. The day tomorrow will bring us a new adventure."
Kamau smiled and rested his head on his paws, intending to sleep soundly. Suddenly, several high pitched yips came to his ears and he instantly pricked up his ears. Yetunde was already on her feet, and tan pelt glinting in the moonlight. Kamau could see in her eyes that something was wrong, and she instantly looked back at him.
"Get back. Hyenas."
Kamau's eyes went wide in fear and he gingerly stepped backwards as many bright, flashing eyes became visible not far off. Obviously two lions in the middle of nowhere was a welcome treat to a starving hyena pack. Yetunde growled and lowered herself, prepared to strike. She bared her teeth as the hyenas inched closer until coming within pouncing range.
Suddenly the filthy beasts leapt at Yetunde, consuming her in a mountain of fangs. Yetunde roared angrily and bucked the hyenas off her, clawing them mercilessly. She took down a few of them, then whirled around for more.
"Come on!!" she roared angrily. "Make my day you filthy rats!"
They continued their attack of the lioness, and Kamau saw clearly that Yetunde was tiring. Her blows grew weaker until it barely scathed the hyenas who attacked her. Blood oozed from numerous wounds plastered around her body, and one eye had eventually swollen shut. Kamau desperately wanted to intervene and help her, but he knew he was hardly a match being as young as he was. Watching in horror, he at last saw Yetunde collapse, disappearing under a mountain of bloody fangs.
"NO!" he cried as he leapt in instinctively.
Roaring as best he could, he jumped into the fray and clawed the filthy hyenas. Yetunde had done well in taking down a good number, but the rest was up to Kamau. He managed to down a few of them, at least enough to scare off the rest. The lion took several deep breaths before staggering to Yetunde's body. She was breathing heavily, her body caked in blood.
"Y-Yetunde?" he stammered as he looked at her fearfully.
She managed to look up at him, and a small smile crossed her lips. Kamau's eyes sprung with fresh tears as he looked at his dying foster mother. He nuzzled her and cried into her fur pitifully.
"Oh Kamau," Yetunde said consolingly, her voice raspy. She managed to raise a paw and stroke the tuft of mane on his head and neck. "Don't fret over me. You just proved that you can handle your own without the help of another."
"Don't talk like that," Kamau said sternly as he could. "You're gonna be fine. We'll just rest here tonight, and you'll be fine in the morning."
Yetunde smiled at the adolescent's naivety, and looked seriously up at him. "Kamau we cannot always live on hope alone," she said. "You know as well as I do that my time is up. It is as the gods have commanded it to be. I think that this is something to get you started on your own journey."
Kamau looked at her confusedly.
"You were right Kamau, it is your time to return to the Pride Lands. I was foolish to think you weren't ready."
Kamau looked at her nervously. "But Yetunde, I don't know where that is! And we've been traveling away from there since we left! It would take me ages to return, even if I knew where it was!"
"Kamau," Yetunde said soothingly. "In your heart, you know where home is. All lions know it. I know you can feel it inside you, and you will know the path to take. Yes the journey will be long, and it will not be complete until your mane has grown in full. But you must do it."
Kamau looked at the ground and let a few tears escape his eyes. "I can't go without you."
"Yes you can," Yetunde said with encouragement, holding a paw under his chin. "You are capable of things you cannot imagine Kamau. Our goal in life is to discover those things, that's what life is about. Your journey truly begins upon your return, and you know I'll be watching."
Kamau smiled at her and licked her forehead. She smiled back at him, but Kamau began to panic as he saw her eyes roll to the back of her head before closing forever. Kamau's jaw trembled as her paw fell from where she had been touching him, and onto the cold grass. Kamau buried his head into her mangled body, and cried pitifully, knowing the only lioness he ever knew had arisen into the stars. She was no longer where he needed her most. Right alongside him.
Kamau stayed with Yetunde's body until the wee hours of the morning, before at last realizing that he had to begin his trek home. It was Yetunde's dying wish. Looking back at the body of his foster mother, Kamau shed his last mournful tears for her, before departing for the Pride Lands, and in discovery of the family he desperately wanted to know.
Sarabi's Reflection
As the weeks passed, the tension within the pride began to decrease, and normal routine was followed once again. Everyone fawned over the new cubs and Simba was instilled with such a pride that he had never felt in his young life. He didn't know how others would see him as a leader, but he wanted to show them he wasn't inexperienced, and could handle being a father.
Sarabi was lying quietly in the cool confines of the cave, her head resting on her paws. Her back faced the mouth of the cave as she stared blankly into the wall. She sighed deeply as memories began to take over her thoughts, and again she could see Kamau, wrapped tightly in her paws. She smiled at the thought of his squeaky mewing, and his little attempts at pawing his mother's face. She could see his ocean blue eyes staring back at her, with that simple innocence radiating through them. She became teary at the thought and wiped her eyes. She wondered about him often, more often than not. She had hoped he was ok, and that Yetunde was taking care of him.
Suddenly, Sarabi felt a hard nudge at her side. Startled, she turned to see Tanabi propped cheerfully on her foreleg, smiling his cub like smile.
"Hi bibi!" Tanabi cried as he nuzzled her.
Sarabi smiled. "Hello child," she replied as she gathered him into her paws.
As he curled up within her grasp, he sighed deeply. Sarabi could feel his tiny breaths against her paws and licked his forehead. A small, auburn tuft had begun to grow on his forehead, resembling his father's mane. He was somewhat scrawny, as Simba had been as a cub, and Sarabi shook her head knowing he would never achieve a bulk and size such as his grandfather had borne.
Tanabi looked up to see Sarabi's solemn expression and nuzzled her. "What's wrong bibi? Is everything ok?"
Sarabi looked down at the cub and smiled weakly. "It's nothing sweetheart, bibi was only thinking."
"About what?" Tanabi asked curiously.
Suddenly Kiara burst onto the scene and leapt on Sarabi playfully, gnawing her ear gently. Sarabi raised an eyebrow and chuckled before reaching back and grabbing Kiara and dropping her between her forepaws. Kiara giggled and Sarabi licked the cubs across their heads. As she did so, she could suddenly see a bright orange colored cub staring up at her. Shining blue eyes stared into her own, but she suddenly shook the image out. Sarabi coaxed the cubs to sleep, and looked out to see dusk setting itself upon the Pride Lands. As it did so, Sarabi could not help but wonder where Kamau was, where Yetunde was, and if all was well for them.
The sun began to set slowly over the western hills, and Kamau admired it intently. It shined onto him, his lone figure standing idly in an open field. Through the glitter of the awakening stars, a glint could be seen on his jet black mane as it began to grow on his head, neck, and chest. He was a thick lion, not skinny like his father, but better built with muscle. He neatened the tuft on his neck before turning back to find Yetunde.
He walked up to her and she turned to see him from where she lay. She smiled up at him and nuzzled him under his chin. He returned the gesture and lied down next to her.
"The stars are sure pretty tonight, aren't they?" Kamau pointed out as they gazed at the star packed sky. "There's always been something about them that captivated me."
Yetunde smiled at him and looked up herself. "That's so interesting."
Kamau looked back at her, slightly confused. "What?" he asked.
Yetunde had a knowing, proud look on her face. "Your mother had the same captivation with the stars. When we were young that was all we did, lie out under the stars, and she would name each one."
Kamau smiled at the thought of his mother. He often wondered about her, what she looked like, how she acted, and if she even remembered him. Kamau knew close to nothing about his parents, only the small things Yetunde would tell him at times. Yetunde was very secretive about his family, and was almost hesitant to tell him anything. He had to pester to find out her name, Sarabi. The young lion had no idea who his father was. Yetunde seemed to cringe before replying, "I did not know him."
Kamau finally decided to raise some more unanswered questions. "Yetunde, where was I born?"
Yetunde snapped to attention at Kamau's question. She pondered it for a moment, before at last coming to terms that Kamau could not spend his whole life not knowing about his past. She knew that he would one day have to return to the Pride Lands, it was expected of him in the Great Circle of Life. After all, he was still Prince of the Pride Lands one way or another.
"You were born in a place known by most as the Pride Lands," Yetunde replied taking a deep breath.
Kamau snapped at attention. "The Pride Lands? Really? The birds are always delivering news from there! That's supposedly one swell place to live nowadays!" Yetunde smiled sadly. "Yes Kamau, it is, but it wasn't always that way. When you were born, the Pride Lands were in a time of great trouble. The ruler of the lands was a mad tyrant who cared little for the well being of his pride. In order to attain the throne, the wicked lion killed his older brother, the rightful King, and attempted to kill his nephew. The cub escaped, but we all thought he had died. You were born during the tyrant's rule, which prompted your mother to make the hardest choice of her life. She knew the only way you would survive would be if you left the Pride Lands and received a better life. But the tyrannical ruler was overthrown not long after we departed. I remember the day the birds sent word of it to me...you were just an infant back then."
Kamau listened intently to what the lioness told him, but was still amazed that he could have been born in a place as legendary and majestic as the Pride Lands. It was a place most lions dreamed of living in, for word passed from the birds that the King was a very peaceful ruler.
"Then why can't we go back Yetunde? The Pride Lands are at a time of peace now, and I'd love to see the land where I was born!" Kamau exclaimed.
Yetunde instantly grew hesitant. Under normal circumstances she would have returned immediately, but what would the pride think? Kamau was the son of that tyrannical ruler, the lion known as Scar. After Scar's death Yetunde heard of the rebellion, and how Simba had banished Scar's followers. Simba had also put the Pride Land's through a period of "purification," a time in which he urged all to abolish Scar's memory. Simba even went as far as to absolutely destroy Scar's legacy, and made an announcement to all the Pride Landers that Scar would never be seen as a King of Pride Rock. In fact, it was made to be seen that Scar had never ruled at all. Simba's intense hatred of the lion forced Yetunde to keep Kamau from returning, at least until he was old enough. She feared Simba might kill Kamau, whether they were half brothers or not.
Yetunde sighed. "We will return someday Kamau, but not yet. For now, let us sleep. The day tomorrow will bring us a new adventure."
Kamau smiled and rested his head on his paws, intending to sleep soundly. Suddenly, several high pitched yips came to his ears and he instantly pricked up his ears. Yetunde was already on her feet, and tan pelt glinting in the moonlight. Kamau could see in her eyes that something was wrong, and she instantly looked back at him.
"Get back. Hyenas."
Kamau's eyes went wide in fear and he gingerly stepped backwards as many bright, flashing eyes became visible not far off. Obviously two lions in the middle of nowhere was a welcome treat to a starving hyena pack. Yetunde growled and lowered herself, prepared to strike. She bared her teeth as the hyenas inched closer until coming within pouncing range.
Suddenly the filthy beasts leapt at Yetunde, consuming her in a mountain of fangs. Yetunde roared angrily and bucked the hyenas off her, clawing them mercilessly. She took down a few of them, then whirled around for more.
"Come on!!" she roared angrily. "Make my day you filthy rats!"
They continued their attack of the lioness, and Kamau saw clearly that Yetunde was tiring. Her blows grew weaker until it barely scathed the hyenas who attacked her. Blood oozed from numerous wounds plastered around her body, and one eye had eventually swollen shut. Kamau desperately wanted to intervene and help her, but he knew he was hardly a match being as young as he was. Watching in horror, he at last saw Yetunde collapse, disappearing under a mountain of bloody fangs.
"NO!" he cried as he leapt in instinctively.
Roaring as best he could, he jumped into the fray and clawed the filthy hyenas. Yetunde had done well in taking down a good number, but the rest was up to Kamau. He managed to down a few of them, at least enough to scare off the rest. The lion took several deep breaths before staggering to Yetunde's body. She was breathing heavily, her body caked in blood.
"Y-Yetunde?" he stammered as he looked at her fearfully.
She managed to look up at him, and a small smile crossed her lips. Kamau's eyes sprung with fresh tears as he looked at his dying foster mother. He nuzzled her and cried into her fur pitifully.
"Oh Kamau," Yetunde said consolingly, her voice raspy. She managed to raise a paw and stroke the tuft of mane on his head and neck. "Don't fret over me. You just proved that you can handle your own without the help of another."
"Don't talk like that," Kamau said sternly as he could. "You're gonna be fine. We'll just rest here tonight, and you'll be fine in the morning."
Yetunde smiled at the adolescent's naivety, and looked seriously up at him. "Kamau we cannot always live on hope alone," she said. "You know as well as I do that my time is up. It is as the gods have commanded it to be. I think that this is something to get you started on your own journey."
Kamau looked at her confusedly.
"You were right Kamau, it is your time to return to the Pride Lands. I was foolish to think you weren't ready."
Kamau looked at her nervously. "But Yetunde, I don't know where that is! And we've been traveling away from there since we left! It would take me ages to return, even if I knew where it was!"
"Kamau," Yetunde said soothingly. "In your heart, you know where home is. All lions know it. I know you can feel it inside you, and you will know the path to take. Yes the journey will be long, and it will not be complete until your mane has grown in full. But you must do it."
Kamau looked at the ground and let a few tears escape his eyes. "I can't go without you."
"Yes you can," Yetunde said with encouragement, holding a paw under his chin. "You are capable of things you cannot imagine Kamau. Our goal in life is to discover those things, that's what life is about. Your journey truly begins upon your return, and you know I'll be watching."
Kamau smiled at her and licked her forehead. She smiled back at him, but Kamau began to panic as he saw her eyes roll to the back of her head before closing forever. Kamau's jaw trembled as her paw fell from where she had been touching him, and onto the cold grass. Kamau buried his head into her mangled body, and cried pitifully, knowing the only lioness he ever knew had arisen into the stars. She was no longer where he needed her most. Right alongside him.
Kamau stayed with Yetunde's body until the wee hours of the morning, before at last realizing that he had to begin his trek home. It was Yetunde's dying wish. Looking back at the body of his foster mother, Kamau shed his last mournful tears for her, before departing for the Pride Lands, and in discovery of the family he desperately wanted to know.