Hello everyone! Let me warn you that this is the first story of a not so talented person (me), but I hope you'll enjoy it! So let it begin!
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Chapter 1: Kimo's lossSlowly and carefully, the lone lioness made her way through the tall savanna grass. The midday sun made her creamy brown fur radiate warmth. She took one step after the other, making sure her paws didn't make a sound as they touched the ground. Every now and then her amber eyes scanned the surroundings for something, going left and right, looking for the smallest trace of other animals. One would think the lioness was hunting, because she was crouched low to the ground. But that was for another reason, she didn't want to be seen. Her ears were alert, not even a rustle could have passed her attention by. Step by step, the lioness crept forward, the tension raising in her body, tail twitching nervously, until...
'Ouch!'
she stepped on a thorn. She didn't even have the time to realize the mistake she made by accidentaly crying out, when she was hit in her side by a ball of fur accompanied by a tiny roar. As surprized as she was, Minzi lost her balance, and soon she was lying on the ground with a small, panting male cub on top of her. His colour was almost the same as hers, and his blue eyes were shining with joy.
'Gotcha mum! (pant) Oh yeah! The mighty lion has won again!' he exclaimed happily.
'Yes, you've got me. You're getting better at pouncing every day Kimo.' Minzi patted her son's head with a proud expression on her face.
'Sure I am! I'm the best fighter in the whole world!'
'Yes you are, now, will the mighty Kimo let me up?'
'What if he doesn't?' A grin spread on Kimo's muzzle. 'What are you going to do then?' he said, using the most mischievous voice he had.
'Now let me think about it.' Minzi replied, pretending to be in deep thoughts. 'How about this?' With a quick move she rolled around, reversing positions. Now she was pinning Kimo to the ground. He tried to struggle but her big paw held him firmly. A smile appeared on Minzi's muzzle.
'Hey, it's not fair!'
'Life is not fair!' she said, then began to tickle her cub for all she was worth.
Kimo was laughing, tears running down his cheek. The golden furred tip of his tail waved left and right and his paws were twitching as he tried to break free of his current position.
'No (laugh) mum, lemme go! (laugh) Please!'
'Where is the mighty Kimo now? I thought he could handle a situation like this.'
'Please stop! (laugh) I can't take it anymore!'
'Alright'
Minzi released her son, who slowly recovered from the 'treatment' he just received.
'By the way Kimo, it is time for your bath.'
'NO WAY!' Kimo squealed. 'I had a bath two days ago and I'm not even dirty yet!'
He tried to make a run for it but Minzi stepped on his tail and he ended up falling on his belly with a loud thud. He wanted to resist but she grabbed him by his scruff and a few second later his only choice was to calm down as his mothers tounge ran up and down on his back. Kimo decided that this was a good time to ask a question that was bugging him.
'Mum, I was thinking about something. How come we don't live with a pride? Lions usually live in prides you know.'
'Well – my mother – was – a rouge – too.' Minzi answered between licks. 'I just – didn't – want to – settle down.'
'But it could have been fun to play with other cubs.'
'I thought – you enjoyed – playing – with me.'
'Yes I do.' Kimo paused for a second. 'And wath about my father? I never knew him. Did he live with a pride or was he a rouge too?'
Minzi stopped in the middle of a lick. She looked at Kimo with a worried expression, then pulled him closer to herself into a hug. Should she tell him about that? No, he was too young to understand, she thought, maybe when he gets older.
'I didn't know much about your father. We only spent a few days together while we mated. Then he left towards the setting sun.'
'I know I've never met him, but still, I miss him.'
Minzi felt like as if her heart was being torn out in that moment. She snuggled her son even more in an attempt to comfort him.
'I'm so sorry, I didn't know that this meant so much to you.'
'Will I ever see him, mum?'
'I don't know Kimo. Maybe one day, when you're older. Maybe.'
'Uh, okay. But mum...'
'Yes darling?' she said, closing her eyes as she nuzzled her son.
'Wath is mating?'
Minzi's eyes opened in a flash. She knew she was in trouble...
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Life was most of the time easy for Kimo. There was always enough prey so he was never hungry. He could run around the savanna exploring everything driven by the natural curiosity of cubs, only to make his mother continiously worry about him. And her mother was always there for him. He loved her very much. Minzi cared for his son as all mothers would. She taught him the ways of lions and everything else he needed to know. She watched him grow every day with pride. Months have passed, working their magic on Kimo's body. He became stronger, bigger and his golden-brown mane began to grow too. As time went by however, there were two things Kimo missed greatly. One was the company of other lions of his own age. The other was his father. The only thing Minzi ever told him about his father was that he had the same blue eyes. From that day on, he spent hours gazing at his reflection in the water, desperately trying to imagine a different lion with the same eyes. No matter how hard he tried, the only thing staring back at him was an adolescent and - as he liked to say - handsome lion. Himself. Every time he asked his mother about him she didn't answer.
One day Kimo was relaxing under his favourite tree while Minzi was hunting somewhere. He was lying on his back, enjoying the warmth of the sun heating his belly. He was just about to drift off to sleep, when... The scent hit his nose. He sat straight up and sniffed nervously in the air. His mind was working faster then ever, tying to find the meaning of it all. And then it hit him.
'Lions' he muttered, with a puzzled expression. 'Other lions, here?'
As soon as he said that a scream struck his ears. It was faint and came from far but he would have recognised it anytime. It was his mother.
'Mum?'
In a second Kimo was up on all fours, looking into the direction from where his mothers voice came. And he heard it again. But this time it was a cry of pain. Kimo began to run, trying to go as fast as he could.
'Mum, hold on! I'm coming!' He tried to shout but he was already panting from the effort to run faster then ever before. 'Please don't let me be late, please.'
He was getting closer and closer, he could hear the sound of someone hitting the ground. With one leap across some bushes he arrived at the scene roaring, claws unsheated. Minzi was badly hurt, lying on the ground seemingly unconscious and next to her was another lioness, whose attention was now turned to Kimo.
'Mum, no!' He growled at the sandy coloured lioness. 'YOU!'
He crouched, he jumped, he roared ... and he was hit. The lioness was clearly more experienced at fighting then Kimo. He landed next to his mother, with a few cuts on his side. Before he could react the lioness was pressing her paw to his throat with claws out.
'From now on this is my territory. Leave or you'll end up like her!' Then she raised her paw and knocked him out.
Kimo slowly opened his eyes. His mind was confused, but soon the pain in his shoulder reminded him of the events that just happened. He jumped up, assuming a defensive position and bared his fangs, but the lioness was long gone. Kimo turned around and spotted his mother lying on the ground. He rushed to her side and gently nuzzled her cheek.
'Mum, mum it's me, Kimo. Please, wake up.'
'Kimo' Minzi looked at her son. 'Kimo, darling, I feel that my time is near.'
'No mum, don't say that, you'll be fine.' Tears ran down his muzzle. 'You'll be up in no time.'
'We both know that isn't true.'
'No' Kimo began to sob. 'I'm so sorry, I tried.'
'Shhh, it's all right. It's not your fault. I just want you to forgive me before I go.'
'Forgive you? For what? You should forgive me, I couldn't protect you!' Kimo was now crying.
'Please listen to me. I never wanted to leave him, but I had to.'
'Leave who, mum? You mean ... dad?'
'Yes. He and I...' Minzi lost her strength, her breathing became heavy.
'Mum, hold on, please! You can't leave me, I need you!'
'I love you darling, I... I'll be watching over you. Follow the set... setting sun...'
Minzi's eyes closed for the last time as all the life left her body. Kimo let out a painful roar which echoed throughout the savanna, but finally, it died away. He was alone.
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Oh well, a few reviews would be nice... even if you want to criticize me. Please!
BTW, be on the lookout for
Chapter 2: The quest'Am I dead?'
'What do you think?'