Vitani's Quest: Chapter 7.
"Why didn't you just bite or claw the snake Vitani?," Hodari asked after hearing her story.
"You could have killed yourself slamming you head into that tree."
"I acted impulsively to save those cubs, without thinking it through first," Vitani explained. "Believe me, I regret that suicidal move. I didn't enjoy being stuck in that cave for weeks, getting headaches, or drinking that nasty medicine. No offence, Kito."
The white mandrill smiled and said, "None taken my child."
"Its a good thing she planned out killing that elephant in musth, and saving Makonnen," Chinua remarked.
"Now there's something I'd like to have seen!" Hodari exclaimed
"So we would all have," Yoruba agreed.
"Yeah, Aunt Vitani is so awesome!" Zuhura interjected
"You know what's most awesome?" Moto asked proudly, causing the others to turn and look at her.
"That this lioness of war was able to see reason and accept peace. She saw where the road of her mother's loyalty to and vengeance for Scar led, and that it was not in the best interest of herself or her family. Too many animals are blinded by revenge and refuse to see reason."
"Like my brother Nuka."
Vitani bowed her head in sadness after saying that. Piramidi, Zuhura, Galaski and Nyota nuzzled her legs in comfort. Chinua put his paw on her shoulder and said, "I know you miss him, but didn't blame yourself. Nuka made his choice and suffered the consequences."
"It's not just that your highness," Vitani said turning to look at the white lion monarch.
"I was so mean to my brother, and mocked him over being rejected by Zira and Scar. Yeah he was an annoying goofball, but I could have been nicer to him."
"Living in the past is useless, what matters is what you do now. I'm not saying don't feel regret, remorse is a sign of a conscience, but don't obsess over them," Kito advised her former patient, who smiled in gratitude.
"I really want to meet this brave young woman Kiara you told me about. She was a positive influence on not one, but two prides. She's proof that youth are often wiser than their elders."
"Yes Hodari, and her brother Kovu is proof that love can defeat hatred," Iperile added, with her mate Lerumo nodding.
"I'll introduce you to them if you'd like, but first let's get some grub."
"Yes and yes!"
Suddenly, the grass rustled and the rest of the Marshland pride emerged.
"You found her!" one of them exclaimed. One by one, the other lionesses assured Vitani that they didn't hate her, that they understood her mother's brainwashing of her, and that they were proud of her for defying Zira. The war lioness was grateful, but still sensed distrust from all lions present, and now they knew her past, it would likely take longer for them to put their faith in her. But it was better than being disowned.
"We brought down a giraffe before Bille delivered your message, my friend. You and Hodari are welcome to it," Yoruba said.
Said lion suddenly sniifed the air, then said, "Thanks but I've got a taste for some snake." He ran off about fifty yards away grabbed a swimming African anaconda by the neck. The reptile only struggled for a few second before the giant brown lion disemboweled it with his claws.
"You guys should have pulled those crocs Vitani killed from the river. Their meat went to waste."
No one responded to his statement, and Chinua told him to drag his prize to their buried kill. Picking the elongated reptile back up, he dragged into alongside the trodding white lions and their scruffy guest.
It was nighttime, and the rest of the Marshlanders were sleeping, while Vitani and Hodari remained up. They had been looking at the stars, pointing out different objects and animals made from star constellations. The former saw a lion resting beneath a palm tree, while the latter made out two Ibexes head-butting each other.
"Hey Hodari, do you mind if I ask you where you came from?"
"No I don't mind Vitani. However, I don't have much to tell. I've been a nomad for as long as I can remember. I don't remember anything about my mother or her siblings, not even their names. Only that when i was a cub, they never returned from a hunt in the woodlands. I waited in my cave, which was under a river, for three days before I swam to the surface and set out on my own."
"I'm sorry," Vitani said with a sad tone of voice.
"I didn't have time to miss them. I was too focused on surviving. It's a good thing I was good at escape and evasion, and could bring down small animals," Hodari explained. Then he looked at her and said, "A lot of lions and animals look at my huge size and assume that I'm a threat. Thank you for not doing that Ms."
For the umpteenth time, Zira's daughter blushed and then turned her head away muttering, " Y-You're welcome."
The wandering male then shocked Vitani by telling her despite her grizzled/gaunt appearance, she was gorgeous and her body was that of a resilient survivor. He also remarked that he would be proud if she chose to become his mate, but that he wouldn't pressure her and accept it if she rejected him.
"Trusting me will take time, so i don't expect us to start being all lovey dovey anytime soon. But I am willing to be patient and do the necessary work."
The war lioness just stared at him for a few seconds before rolling on top of him and exclaiming, " You might be the most considerate lion I've ever met! I know your not just flattering me!"
Then Vitani kissed him square in the lips, partly out of gratitude, but also to get back at him for making her cheeks turn red. Hodari just gave her a flabbergasted stare in response, while she gave him a toothy grin. Then she walked off to a nearby apricot thorn tree to sleep. She neither trusted nor was trusted by her potential husband or the Marsh pride to even think about resting with them.
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The next day, the pair announced that they would be departing to her homeland. Chinua wished them both safety and requested they ask Simba to visit them, since he and his pride couldn't leave their territory undefended.
"I'd love to have a conversation with that young man. And you brother Kovu for that matter," Yoruba remarked.
"I know me and Kiara would get along, were both loving and friendly," Moto said.
"You will come back, won't you Ms. Vitani?" Nyota asked in a pleading tone. Vitani smiled reassuringly, then bent down to the cub's level and cheerfully said "Of course I will!" Said cub smiled back and licked the former Outsider's nose, causing her to slightly giggle.
"May the ancestors guide and protect you my daughter," Kito said, stroking the fur on Vitani's head. The scrawny lioness hugged the albino baboon and thanked her for everything she said and did.
"Hey! I'm the king of this land, and I permitted her to treat you. You should be thanking me!" Chinua said in a mock-offended tone. Vitani trotted up to the white maneless lion and licked his cheek.
"Thanks sir, so much!"
She walked away, soon followed by her wandering companion. Chinua stared after them, open-mouthed and felt the spot where she kissed him.
"Look whose embarrassed now? Is that a blush I see?"
"S-Shut up Moto."
Vitani and Hodari traveled for twenty four hours, only resting when they were plum tuckered out. Crossing the desert was something they both had in common. The biggest danger in the desert wasn't the heat but the dry air, which sucked the moisture from your body, leading to dehydration. That's why it was important to cover as much ground as possible, so as to find an oasis or waterhole. After thirty six hours, the two came upon their second oasis and a familiar (for Vitani) face. Makonnen was using his trunk to spray his body with water, like a shower hose. The waterhole he was swimming in could fit twelve of him, and was surrounded by 24 acacia trees.
"Hey big guy!" Vitani shouted from ten feet away. The Bull elephant turned his head toward her voice and cheerfully responded, "Hi Vitani! Whose your friend?"
"My name is Hodari sir. I'm traveling with Vitani back to her home in the pridelands."
"I'll give you two a ride," the pachyderm said, stepping out of the water and shaking himself.
"But first, you two drink your fill."
The two predators didn't need to be told twice, and ran to a different side of the waterhole and drank until their bladders were full. After relieving themselves, Makonnen lifted both of them onto his back at once.
As he walked, Makonnen asked Vitani and Hodari how they'd met. When the latter mentioned the former's near rape, the elephants body tensed with rage, only relaxing when Hodari brought up Iperile and Lerumo driving off and infecting both of the wretched assailants.
"I hope those two suffer a slow and painful death!" Makonnen remarked fiercely. Then he asked his lioness savior if she would mind telling him about her home and family. She nervously said no, and with a comforting nudge from her might-be romantic partner, revealed to the behemoth beneath her the crimes that her father, her mother, the outsiders and herself had committed. Makonnen was furious, not at Vitani, but at her sorry excuse for a mother who used her as a tool of vengeance. He congratulated the war lioness for breaking the spell her mother put her under, and saving her family from death.
"You may miss your mother Vitani, but I don't. She deserved her fate!"
"Don't call Zira her mother," Hodari interjected.
"She utterly failed to fill that role! Being a mom means more than giving birth. And NO mother would threaten to kill their own daughter!"
"And Scar was no brother to Mufasa, or Uncle to Simba!" Makonnen responded. Having murdered his own flesh and blood was bad enough, bit trying to kill a cub and making him think for years that he was responsible for his father's death was abhorrent. Makonnen was happy that Scar was eaten alive by Hyenas and died a slow and painful death, and verbally expressed this. Vitani apologized to her gargantuan companion for not telling him sooner, but he said he knew her fear if rejection and that their was no need to say sorry. Zira's daughter expressed her gratitude to the male elephant for his acceptance of her.
Makonnen continued to carry his feline friends for two days. He allowed them to walk for an hour each day, so their blood would circulate right. He also let them down if prey was in sight. On the third day, Vitani and Hodari spotted a dromedary camel, which was usually only seen in the Sahara. Makonnen threw both carnivores toward the humped herbivore. The former landed near it's belly and latter nears it's neck, both lf were were quickly ripped open. The camel died within seconds. The lioness of war and the wanderer ate their fill and left the rest for the vultures, knowing their pachyderm friend wouldn't agree to carry a carcass. On the fifth day, the trio arrived in what used to be Vitani's home, the termite mounds of the outlands.
"I've never seen a mound that big before," Makonnen remarked looking at the structure where Zira and her cubs once dwelt in.
"Zira may be dead, but I can still feel her hate," Hodari added.
"I'm sure you'd feel Scar's hate in the gorge where Mufasa died. Let's go there," Vitani replied
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Simba was staring down at the gorge where his father was murdered by his wicked, scheming, power-hungry brother. Once a year he came here to mourn Mufasa. He suddenly smelled a familiar lion approaching the gorge from fifty yards away to his southeast.
"Kovu?"
"Simba, Hey!"
Running up to his king in a matter of seconds, Kovu explained that he was going to follow the deep ravine's path to the desert's starting point and pray for his sister's safety. The prince had been worrying about his sibling ever since she'd left, though he tried his best to avoid thinking bad thoughts. He also missed her, and while hoping she found a lover, was deeply concerned that she'd be so happy she wouldn't even think of coming back to Simba's kingdom, even for a visit. Not knowing what to say to his son-in-law, the leader of the pridelands simply told him to wish for the best but prepare for the worst. A huge trumpeting sound from a mile away startled the pair. It was repeated two times, and Simba and Kovu realized that whichever elephant was making that noise was calling to them. They headed in it's direction, running and having to stop often, not being long distance runners. They were caught completely off guard upon seeing Vitani lying on top of a strange 13 foot pachyderm, and the hulking giant of a lion resting next to her.
"Sis?! Is that you?!" Kovu asked incredulously. Simba just stared with bulging eyes and a wide open mouth. Kovu's expression was similar.
"Yes it is Bro," Vitani answered, jumping down from the elephant she had saved from another in Musth. Walking toward her two family members who were ten feet away, she hugged both of them and said, "Do I have a story to tell you!"
