Author: Ok, now we're getting into these African names. Let me clarify the pronunciation, Kindra: (Kenn-drah), Elsa (Ell-sah), Tana (Tann- nah), Kuju (Koo- joo), Malik, (Mall- eek), Tenji (Tenn- jee), Pala (Paw-lah).Got it? Good. This is a longer chapter so brace yourself.

Chapter 15: Over the Rock

The group resumed their walk. Alex felt a bit better now that Marty knew. Marty, however, felt unsettled. Who could blame him? A single zebra surrounded by four lions, and his protector is trying too hard to save himself to be a body guard.

Julien became bored with Gloria and Melman and returned to Alex's shoulder. Of all the people, Julien felt Alex was the closest to him. Though, Julien was still curious about the guardedconversation. Apparently, Marty knew this.Marty looked at Julien and Julien looked at Marty. Marty's distressed appearance erased any longing that existed to know what had taken place. They broke there gaze and Marty looked at the lionesses. They were a bit uneducated about life with prey animals, but other than that, pretty nice. They hadn't gone for Marty once. Which lead him to thinking.

'They don't seem to have IT,' he thought, 'Maybe it's just a male lion thing, or maybe it's just a thing that happens really rarely' he analyzed, 'Maybe if I get closer to the lionesses on a personal level, I can ask them some questions about IT' He noticed the lioness named Tana staring back at him with a twinkle of hunger in her eyes. Marty quickly averted his gaze. 'On second though, Ithink I'll keep my distance a bit longer...'

Julien, however, was concerned about Alex. If he couldn't share a conversation with him, maybe he wasstill feeling down.Heleaned forward and gazed upon Alex using his ringed-tail for stability.Alex was walking lazily, staring at his feet as he dragged across the savanna. Julien patted him on the head, "C'mon Mr. Alex," he said, "Cheer up. We'll be to this 'pride' thing soon. I bet they have wicked parties. Too bad I left my Winoki juice by the tree."

Alex looked up at the lemur, "I'll cheer up when something happens... Have you ever felt like the world was standing still around you? That you're the only person trying to move forward, but then the world gets to you, and you feel like your the one standing still?"

Julien raised an eyebrow, "Did you take a swig of my Winoki juice before we left?"

"No, it's just-" Alex sighed, "Never mind."

Though he didn't understand, Julien just wanted his friend to feel better. He thought of something to say. The solution came to him. "Just remember," the lemur answered with sincerity, "There will always be a little source of comfort right hereon your shoulder."

Alex smiled slightly, "Thanks."

Meanwhile, about ten feet behind them, Marty and Gloria followed. Melman groaned, "Oh, this trip is murder on my hooves."

"Don't worry Melman, we haven't been walking for that long," Gloria commented.

Melman answered, "At least we're not making the trip on an empty stomach."

Gloria glanced at Alex, "Most of us..."

"Poor Alex," Melman sympathized.

"Wow, Melman," Gloria was surprised, "I've never heard you pity someone else before."

Melman shrugged, "I guess I know when I'm beat."

They continued trudging across the grass, the sun beating on their backs. Even the lionesses felt uncomfortable. But there journey soon came to an end.The grass began to thin and a large grey rock blocked their path. Elsa stopped and looked to the others, "Ok, we're here." She stepped back between Alex, Marty, Julien, Gloria and Melman. She looked around at them all "To be safe, I think that Alex should come with us first. The rest of you stay here until we give the signal for you all to join us."

Julien tilted his head, "Why can't I come?"

Elsa approached the lemur, "Because the other lion's will try to devour your very flesh."

Julien's jaw dropped, "...oh..."

Alex scratched his head, "She's right. I'll come back for you guys. And trust me, no one's getting eaten."

Tana sighed, "Such a pity."

Kindra tapped her shoulder, "Shut up, Tana. You're upsetting Alex."

Alex heard every word, "Honestly, I'm used to it now. Though, I would've never heard this kind of stuff with the people around. One word about hunting and they go crazy. Anyway, I'm ready to go. Julien," He looked at the lemur still planted on his shoulder, "You know what to do."

Julien thought for a moment, and realized what he meant. Quickly, he scampered off and disappeared into Alex's mane.

Elsa looked to the other two lionesses, "Kindra. Tana. Go inform Kuju of Alex's arrival. And only Alex's". They nodded and went over the rock.

Alex looked boggled, "Why have them introduce me? Why not just walk in?"

Elsa tried to explain, "Well, King Kuju isn't the easiest guy to get along with."

"Then, why is he King?" Alex wondered.

"Because, he's the oldest male. And age means respect in our culture."

Alex continued his questioning, "So, how old is this Kuju guy?"

"About 32 seasons," she answered promptly.

"How long is a season?" Alex asked.

"Let me explain another way," she paused, "He's about 10 seasons older than you, I'm guessing."

"Is he in his prime?"

Elsa thought for a moment, "I guess you could say that. But, I would say that you, of anyone, are in your prime."

Alex raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

"Well," she said nervously, "You just seem to be, well, most-" she struggled to find the right word.

"Yes?" Alex urged her to finish.

"Well... attractive," she blurted out. Alex replied with a smug smile.

Beyond the rock, Tana and Kindra descended into the valley. It was very green compared to the rest of the surroundings. A stream ran through the middle, and next to it a large tree. Resting underneath it's shade was Kuju and two other males.

Kuju had a very sleek look about him along with comparatively lighter fur contrasting with a very dark mane which curved gracefully around his chin. To his right was his assistant, Malik. He was a golden color with a ruffled brown mane. His whiskers kinked in several places giving him a scattered appearance. And off to the far right was Tenji. He was very shy looking lion with large green eyes covered by the bangs of a long tan mane. He had a white patch of fur on his stomach that none of the others male shared.

Kindra was first to reach them. "Kuju, sir?"

"Yes?" he answered lazily.

"We found a male lion in the savanna," Tana told the King.

"And I care why?" he replied cynically.

"Well, sir," Kindra started, "This lion seems to know about the people."

Kuju suddenly showed interest, "The people, huh? Well, what are you waiting for?" he waved his hand, "Show him in." The lionesses bowed and head back to the rock, again.

Once they were out of sight, Kuju smiled at Malik, "You hear that, Malik? A lion that's close to the people."

Malik didn't see the importance, "And, why do we want that?"

"Because," Kuju hissed, "The people are the only thing in the path of total control."

Tenji looked up at the two, "Why can't we be happy with the amount of control we've got now?"

"Because, what's the point of having power if you can't have more of it?" Kuju answered.

Tenji sighed, "King Pala would have never said something like that."

Kuju grew angered, "Well, Pala is dead. And you don't want to avenge him? The people killed him, and you don't want to get back at them?"

"King Pala taught me that war won't solve anything," Tenji explained.

"And look where it got him," Kuju pointed out grimly.

Tenji shot up and loomed over Kuju, "Don't you ever talk about my father that way!"

Malik stood as well, stepping in front of the king, "You watch it, Tenji. You're lucky Kuju let's you stay in this pride, young one."

Tenji surrendered and lied down, once again. Kuju sat up proudly viewing the confrontation as a victory. Patiently,he awaited his guest.

Kindra and Tana once again climbed over the grey rock.

Elsa inquired, "So, how did it go?"

Tana answered, "He seems quite content to meet Alex."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Elsa smiled at Alex. She gave the lionesses orders, "You two stay with the prey animals-"

Alex interrupted, "Hold on. I don't think so."

Elsa was confused, "Why not? Don't you trust us?"

Alex tried to be tactful, "Well, no. Not completely. I think they'll hold up fine, alone."

"Good idea,"Julien's voice protruded from Alex's mane.

"Well," Elsa submitted, "You heard him. I guess, we're all going." They began climbing the rock.

Alex looked down at his friends, "Don't worry. Once I work things out with this Kuju guy, I'll come get you."

Marty remained unsettled, but nevertheless smiled at his friend, "Good luck, Al. Ask about it, ok?"

"You got it, Marty," Alex waved as he vanished over the rock.Thegreen, lush valley soon came into view.Alex was amazed by it's beauty, "Wow, this is where you live?"

"Yes. It's our little scrap of paradise," Kindra showed a sense of pride. Alex recognized it as a similar feeling to his thoughts of New York. "That's the stream, our main source of water," she began pointing at various locations as they descended, "That's the cliff, where we hold our gatherings and feeding sessions. You can't really see it from here, though. And that's the hot springs where we socialize. And that there is the tree, where the king spends his time."

Tana pointed out, "And look, there he is waiting to meet us." They made there way to the stream. Kuju stepped from out of the shade, the bright sunlight twinkling in his powerful brown eyes.

Kuju bowed his head slightly at there arrival, "Welcome to my kingdom, fellow lion." The lionesses bowed. Elsa did so reluctantly.

Alex felt awkward, "Uh...hi?" he waved weekly. "Are you King Kuju?"

"Why, yes I am," he waited for Alex to bow, but nothing happened. He dismissed it, "And what, may I ask, is your name?"

"Alex," he answered.

Kuju stroked the fur on his chin, "Hmm, Alex... a strange name I must confess."

Alex shrugged, "Well, I'm not really from around here."

Kuju smiled slyly, "Really, do tell," he circled around him, "So where is it that you come from?"

"Er, Manhattan?" he answered feeling slightly intimidated.

Kuju raised his eyebrows, "Manhattan? And who rules this kingdom?"

"Um, Michael Bloomberg," Alex answered.

The sly king's eerie smile never left, "Two names? Would this ruler be a human?"

Alex narrowed his eyes "Yes, but why does this matt-"

"So would you say you're close to humans?" Kuju continued his interrogation.

"Well, yeah. I used to live with them," Alex played his game.

"Live with humans? What kind of place were you living in?" Kuju continued to circle around Alex, slowly closing in.

Alex felt more and more uncomfortable, "A zoo. I lived in a zoo."

Malik stepped forward, "You mean those places where they all gock at you?"

Alex took the defensive, "Gock? No. They came to admire me. You see, I use to be the King of Central Park."

"Ah. We're in the presence of royalty," Kuju said melodramatically. His mood became serious, "So, Alex, would you say that you like the people?"

Alex was about to say yes, but he thought of all the trouble he had gone through and the way they treated him and his friends on the boat. Slowly he answered, "I'm not really sure. I know I don't like the one's here. They didn't even give us food."

"Us?" Malik grew suspicious.

"Oops," Alex put a hand over his mouth.

Kuju's mood lightened ignoring Malik's comment, "As long as your not on the humans' side, you're a friend of King Kuju."

"Side?" Alex was curious, "Why are there sides?"

"Let's just say that we lions and humans don't get along too well,"he explained."You see this?" the king pointed to a pronounced scar in his ear, "The people put a tag in my ear. Inorder to keep the pride in absolutesecrecy, I tore it out, and I've had this mark ever since."

Tenji stepped into the light, "That doesn't mean we have to fight. They just wanted to find out more about us."

"Quiet, you!" Kuju held up a hand at Tenji. The young lion quickly retreated back to the shade. This bothered Alex.

"Who was that?" Alex asked.

"Him? Oh that's just Tenji. Pay no attention to what he says, he's a little confused," Kuju laughed. "This, here, is my royal assistant, Malik." he glanced at the lionesses, "And I assume you've already met Elsa, Kindra, and Tana. The other lionesses are at the hunt, but I expect they should be returning soon."

Suddenly Julien burst from Alex's mane, "Oh lord! Can't breathe! Fur in throat!" he coughed. He looked up and realized where he was. Kuju looked at him with hungry eyes. Julien simply stared at the hungry lion, "... oh crap..."