Chapter 18: Under the Stars

The sun had set over the glorious valley. Alex, Marty, and Julien returned to the springs. Everyone still felt jarred from the traumatic incident. Marty emersed himself into the warm spring next to Gloria. Alex felt more comfortable out of the water. Meanwhile, Julien took turns on people's heads. They were about settled when Melman stirred.

"I think he's waking up," Gloria indicated.

The giraffes long eyelashes rustled and opened revealing his green eyes. His long neck hoisted his head out of Gloria's arms, "Wha- where are we?" He blinked rapidly trying to bring the world into focus. Suddenly, his eyes widened, "AH! IT'S COME BACK FROM THE GRAVE TO HAUNT US!" he squinted his eyes, "Oh, Marty. It's you."

Marty sighed, "Yeah, it's me."

"Welcome back to earth, Melman," Alex waved at the giraffe.

Julien's stomach growled, "I don't know about you, but grass doesn't really work for me."

Gloria asked, "So what do you eat?"

Julien recited, "Lemurs usually have a vegetarian diet, consisting of leaves and fruit, although they will occasionally eat insects or smaller animals."

Melman was startled by this information, "You mean you're a carnivore, too?"

"Uh..." Julien thought.

"An Omnivore, actually," Alex corrected. The others looked at him. "What? I read a lot of the species descriptions at the zoo. Not much else to do there."

"Yeah," Marty contributed, "But when we get back, we're going to start an entire revolution at the zoo. The animals will have things to do and places to go. It'll be a whole new zoo."

They all sighed sharing thoughts of their distant home.

Julien's stomach growled again, "I'm still hungry."

"Why didn't you eat some of my Acacia leaves?" Melman asked.

Julien made a disgusted face, "I tried them. They taste like sh-"

"So, go ask the lion's for some food," Marty interrupted.

"Are you crazy!" Melman interjected, "They'll eat him alive!"

Alex resolved the conflict, "Then, I'll just have to go with him. We'll just go to them-"

Gloria pointed, "Or they'll come to us." The lions were returning from the cliff having gorged themselves. Kuju was leading the procession followed by Malik and then the lionesses. In the back was Tenji who still looked a bit hungry. Kuju and Malik stopped under the tree, while the other lionesses came straight for them.

"Uh, guys?" Marty gulped, "I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable."

"We haven't met all of them yet," Gloria mentioned.

The lionesses came ever closer. Alex stepped closer to his friends.

Kindra was first to arrive, "Hi, Alex."

"...Hi," he answered slowly.

Tana came next, "Don't be a stranger, make yourself at home."

"Yeah... I'll do that" he took another step towards his friends.

"Relax, Alex," A voice came from behind him.

Alex jumped. "Ah!" he turned around. It was Elsa. "Don't do that!" he shouted.

"Calm down," she replied stepping around the pool. She stopped briefly, "Sorry about what you saw, Marty. I forgot."

Marty was astonished to be addressed, "Oh, well. It's ok. I'll get over it," he shuddered.

Kindra stepped forward, "No you won't. We were totally irresponsible. We're all sorry." The other six lionesses looked apologetic as well.

"Don't be so hard on yourselves," Gloria sympathised, "Us being here is a bit out of your element. Who could blame you for forgetting?"

"I could," Melman whispered under his breath.

Alex looked around, "Where's Tenji?"

Kindra shrugged, "I dunno. He disappears sometimes. He doesn't exactly fit in with the other males."

Alex agreed, "He was a bit different, wasn't he?"

Julien jumped onto Melman's head, "Could any of you lady's direct me to some leaves, fruit or something to that effect?" Melman looked a bit annoyed.

"Sure, I'll take you there. Get on," she patted her back.

Julien paused.

"I'm not gonna eat you," she laughed.

"Want me to go with?" Alex asked.

The lemur nodded.

"Well, get on then," he pointed at Elsa's back. He obeyed, diving from Melman's high brow landing with exquisite balanced.

"Ok then, let's go," Alex turned around, "Kindra, Tana? Can you stay close to Marty while we're gone?"

"You got it, Alex," Tana answered.

"You ok with that, Marty?" Alex asked.

"Fine with me," the zebra answered.

And so the three left. Marty waved until he couldn't make them out in the darkness any longer.

Gloria tapped her head, "How come you lions have hot springs if you don't go in them?"

Kindra smiled, "We don't do water. King Pala chose this location because of the protection and privacy, not for the water," she sighed, "I miss him."

"Me too," Tana added.

"So, the people k-killed him?" Melman asked.

"Yes," Kindra looked down sadly.

"So, what happened?" Gloria wanted an explanation.

Kindra explained, "Well, King Pala and Kuju were out looking for lions to bring to our pride. The people had come and caught Kuju. Pala returned alone thinking Kuju had died. But the next day, Kuju returned with a tag in his ear. He ripped it out wanting to make sure that the pride was kept a secret. Well, his wound healed, and a season later they went out looking for lions again. This time only Kuju came back. He told us all about the people. They had come and killed King Pala. Kuju was lucky to escape alive. Being second oldest, Kuju became the king. He went out looking for lions again, this time, alone. He came home with Malik. And that's been our situation for the last few months."

Tana sighed, "Tenji's been so sad."

Melman asked, "Was he friends with Pala?"

"He was his son," Kindra informed them.

Gloria was confused, "Why didn't he become king?"

"It doesn't work like that, here. Age represents wisdom. Therefore, Kuju being the second oldest after Pala, took the throne," Kindra told them.

"Sounds like you've been through some rough times," Marty empathized.

"What about you?" Tana asked, "If you guys aren't from around here then where are you from?"

"New York," they answered.

"..." the lionesses didn't understand.

Marty smiled, "I'll tell you all about it."

"Ok, here it is," Elsa pointed to a short but thickly covered tree.

Julien looked at the tree, "Here's what?"

"Inside the branches you'll find these huge fruits. Just knock one down and eat it." Elsa instructed.

"You heard the girl," Alex waved at the tree.

Julien climbed the tree with a graceful pounce. With a few rustles in the leathery green leaves two gigantic fruit came crashing to the ground. The lemur descended the trunk looking victorious. He cracked open one of the yellow/green fruits and feasted on the contents.

"How is it?" Alex asked.

Julien answered, "Not bad...I like it," he took another bite, "Tastes like a mix between a banana and a pineapple. Say, what do you call this stuff?"

"Jackfruit," Elsa answered. She looked at Alex. He was staring into the sky with a mesmorized look on his face. She was curious, "Why so much interest in the sky?"

"It's beautiful..." he answered keeping his eyes up.

Elsa looked as well, "You think?"

"You don't agree?" Alex looked at her.

"Well... it's always been there," she explained.

"Not for me," Alex looked at the stars again.

"It hasn't?"

"No," he answered, "I mean the sky's been there, but not like this. With stars and all."

"What's so special about stars?" she sat down.

Alex sat beside her, "Until I went to Madagascar, I'd never seen so many stars."

"Where's Madagascar?" she asked innocently.

"It's beautiful too," Alex didn't quite answer the question.

Elsa's curiosity was not appeased, "Is that where your from?"

"No. I came from New York City where the people are. There use to be no stars there."

"Ah," she tried to comprehend, "What's New York like?"

"Oh, it's great! The people take care of you, and feed you, and admire you, and buy your merchandise-"

"Merchandise?"

"Uh, never mind. Anyway, there's always something happening and everyone has something to do," he sighed, "I love New York."

Elsa's eyes sparkled in the twilight, "You really want to go back, don't you?"

"Well, yeah," Alex sat up, "It's home."

Elsa stood as well, "Why can't this be your home?"

"I don't belong here," Alex looked away.

"Don't belong?" she laughed, "Of course you belong. Even Kuju likes you, or kinda likes you. The point is, you should be here with other lions."

"Like I said, I don't belong," he shook his head.

She stepped in front of him "Why?"

"Because Marty doesn't belong. Melman and Gloria don't belong. Julien doesn't belong-"

"Oh, I have to disagree," Julien spoke up, "This fruit is to die for!"

"Julien, could you do me a favor?" Alex asked.

"What?"

"Could you go back and keep the other's company?" he asked.

"But, why?" the lemur inquired.

Alex looked at the lioness for a moment, "I want to talk to Elsa."

"About it?" Julien asked.

"No."

"Then about what?" he threw the rind away and approached the lion.

Alex thought for a moment, "About stuff."

Julien groaned, "What's with you and these private conversations?" He walked off towards the hot springs once again.

"What's it?" she asked him.

Alex answered, "What's with all the questions? It's nothing."

"No need to get testy," she retracted.

"I'm not. It's just a sensitive subject," something in Alex told him not to ask about it. There was a long pause. Alex broke the silence, "So, what have you been doing here before I came?"

Elsa shrugged, "Just taking orders from Kuju. Ever since Pala died, we just haven't been the same pride."

"Was he a good king?" Alex asked.

"He was the best," she smiled.

"I wish I could meet him," Alex smiled as well.

Elsa nodded, "I wish you could too." She lied down on the grass looking into the sky. "You know you're right. The sky is beautiful."

"Yeah..." Alex lied down next to her. He thought of when him and Marty did the same, but the feeling now was different... deeper... 'No!' he thought, 'I can't let a woman into my life! They're nothing but trouble... but she is beautiful... No! I can't let anything come between me and Marty. She could be like Yoko Ono or something!'

"Alex, what is it?" Elsa was concerned for the troubled look on the lion's face.

"Oh, er, nothing," Alex lied. Elsa looked into his eyes. Alex felt his troubles fading away looking back at her. She leaned over and licked his check. "Hey now!" Alex shot up.

"What is it?" Elsa asked.

"I hardly know you!" he took a few steps back.

"Alex, C'mon. It was just an impulse. Lie back down with me," she desperately tried to beckon the lion back, "please?"

Alex stood in place for a second. Slowly he returned, lying down next to the lioness.

Elsa sighed, "I wish you didn't have to go to New York..."