Long Lost Family

Kemanjo traveled for days and nights without knowing where he was going. He was unsure if he was going around in circles or not. With the heat coming in and settling onto the savannah, water slowly dried up. Kemanjo was relentless and wouldn't stop for anything not even a rest. With the sun beating down hard on his back, Kemanjo became exhausted and collapsed under the hot sun. When Kemanjo awoke, he found himself under a tree in the shade. There were two animals standing above him. It was a warthog with a meerkat on his head. Kemanjo tried to focus his vision. From the looks of it, he thought it was Timon and Pumbaa. "Timon?"he stuttered. The two friends looked at each other. "What do you think is wrong with him Hakim?"asked the warthog to the meerkat. Hakim crawled down the warthogs snout and peered into Kemanjo's eyes. "His eyes are bloodshot,"she said. She sniffed around his matted mane and sniffed around his snout. Her little nose tickled Kemanjo's whiskers and caused him to sneeze. Hakim fell onto the ground and looked back up at her warthog friend. "He's a bit dehydrated and overall exhausted. Go to the water hole Wangero and fetch him some water,"said Hakim. Wangero, the warthog, went down near the water hole and returned with a leaf filled with water. He plopped it in front of Kemanjo's face and watched him lap it up. "Our work here is done,"said Wangero. Hakim jumped onto Wangero's back and they began to walk off. Kemanjo sat up and watched them walk away. "Wait!"he called. Wangero turned around and walked back. "Can you tell me where I am?"asked Kemanjo. "Your in the Eastlands,"said Wangero.

"The Eastern Pridelands?"

"That's right."

"I'm here! I've made it! Please tell me, is there a pride of lions that lives here?" Hakima and Wangero looked at each other and then back at Kemanjo. "Why do you need to know?"asked Hakim.

"This is very important to me. I might be a part of their pride."

"How?"

"I was an abandoned cub and I think that my parents live here?"

"I wouldn't get you hopes up if I were you."

"Why not?"

"There are many other prides and what if this isn't the right one?"

"Then I will keep looking until I find the right one."

"Alright. We will take you to the den. King Malakai and Queen Razi adore company."

"Malakai? Razi?"

"Yes. Are you familiar with them?"

"I think so. Malakai is my adoptive Father's brother and Razi is my adoptive Mother's sister."

"It's a small world. I guess you did find the right pride." Kemanjo smiled and followed Hakim and Wangero to the den. "By the way, I'm Kemanjo,"said Kemanjo. "This is Hakim and I'm Wangero,"said Wangero.

"Do you live with the pride?"

"We have been living with the pride for a few seasons now. King Malakai took us in when he was traveling through the Eastlands. Malakai and his mate Razi allowed us to accompany him on their journey and we found this nice den. It was a season later when Razi and Malakai had their first successor but it was unfortunate for that cub."

"What happened?"

"Razi had the cub during a fire. Malakai had grabbed the cub and ran as fast as he could out of the Eastlands and put the cub in the tall grass as far away from the fire as he could." "You see Kemanjo, the Eastlands have unpredictable weather changes. One minute there could be sun and then there could be a huge rainstorm leading to a flood. He didn't want the cub growing up in these kind of unpredictable circumstances,"said Hakim. "Wow. Did they ever name the cub?"asked Kemanjo."

"I think they did but I can't remember."

"What happened after the big fire?"

"Razi and Malakai returned to the Eastlands after the fire and went back into the den. As the land recovered, which was about another three seasons, Razi and Malakai had another cub. They named her Kali."

"So, she is their heir to the throne?"

"That's right. Actually, she is almost full grown."

"Wow. I hope I found the right family."

Kemanjo followed behind Hakim and Wangero as they entered the den but stopped at the entrance, frozen with fear. Kemanjo saw everyone laying in the den. Hakim and Wangero approached the pride. The big male stood up and approached Kemanjo. He had a limp in his step and a raspy voice. The large male stood in front of Kemanjo and smiled. Hakim walked in front of the big male and over to Kemanjo. "Kemanjo, this is King Malakai,"she said. Kemanjo just stood there in fear. "Welcome to the Eastlads Kemanjo,"said Malakai. "Thank You Sir,"said Kemanjo.

"You might as well start calling me Father because that's exactly who I am."

"You're my Father?"

"That's right son."

"I never thought I would be able to find my real parents."

"Well now that you have, come and meet the rest of your family." Kemanjo followed behind Malakai into the den and saw the small pride. "Razi, this is your son,"said Malakai. "My Kemanjo,"she said as she got up and nuzzled her son on the neck. "I can't believe my son has returned to us." Kemanjo stepped back and sat down next to Malakai. Little Kali popped out from behind Razi. Kali was still a cub but she was growing into a beautiful lioness quickly. She had the same markings on her chest like her Mother. "I am your other little sister Kemanjo. I'm Kali,"said Kali. "It's nice to meet you all,"said Kemanjo. "We're all so glad you're here Kemanjo,"said Razi.

"I'm glad I'm here too but there's one thing I still don't understand. Why did you abandon me?"

"I was afraid you were going to ask that."

"Hakim told me I was born during a fire."

"That's true."

"But if you were all leaving the Eastlands, why didn't you take me with you?"

"We didn't want to endanger you anymore. Our main concern was to get you out of here. We thought the further away you were from the Eastlands the better off you'd be. We weren't sure what would happen to you but we knew fate would lead you back to us someday and you have come back."

"Well, that's because I was found by Simba's pride. A cub named Leewanika found me and her family took me in. I was a member of their pride."

"We're glad you were found by Simba rather than somebody else."

"You know Simba?"

"Yes. Malakai's brother is a part of Simba's pride."

"Who's your brother Sir, I mean Father?" "My brother is Kovu. His mate is Simba's daughter Kiara,"said Malakai. "They were the ones that took me in,"said Kemanjo. Malakai smiled at Kemanjo and Razi nuzzled him again. Suddenly, there was a loud noise outside the den. Buzzards flew up in a panic and screeched in fear. "Kemanjo you must go now,"said Razi. "What's going on?"asked Kemanjo. "Strange creatures have entered the Eastlands and have been making those noises with shiny sticks and other stuff. They have been killing animals and putting them in their big animal with no head. They are after every animal they find and almost killed Kali. You must go now,"said Malakai. Another loud noise came from outside the den. Kemanjo looked back at the entrance and watched more buzzards fly off. "I'm not going unless you all come with me,"said Kemanjo.

"We'll be okay Kemanjo just get out of here."

"No! I'm not leaving without my family."

"You might get killed."

"Then I will die but I will feel better knowing my family is safe."

"Kemanjo please."

"No! You may be my Father but I am smart enough to make my own decisions."

"Fine. You have made your decision. We all must leave now."