Sorry took so long. I know I keep making up excuses. But life really is hectic, and had surgery not that long ago. And writer's block doesn't help either. Please forgive me.
Chapter 19
The circle of life.
As endless as the coming and going's of the seasons. As balanced as light and dark. Life and death.
One could not exist without the other.
But what was truly separated life and death? What did await those that the circle closed on their lives? Many would believe that death was only the end of one life and the beginning of another.
But what if death…was the only life you ever knew?
For one such curious creature that was just how life was. Knowing no other life, but the one they had opened their eyes too was their playground. With nothing but faint ghostly memories of warmth, and comforting scents. A soft voice full of love. One full of mischief and another full of strength. Then the feelings of cold and wet…then fear…and pain…lots and lots of pain.
When the pain was gone. And their eyes had opened they had found themselves dark world. Loud sounds came from the sky where streaks of pretty light danced among the clouds. And then he was there…he came out of the dark, fur golden brown and a mane almost as grey as the clouds in the sky. Eyes of sternness that hid the pain that hid deep inside them. A gruff voice that the young creature felt comforting.
This stranger would then lead him to a voice the young creature remembered.
The one full of love. So soft and warm like the kisses she gave. Fur the colour of his, with big blue eyes that held kindness, and love. But also something more. And unlike the one who found him, she did not hide her sadness. But that sadness was always held with a smile. A smile the little creature lived to put on her face.
To make this pretty one smile. The one he would come to call…Mommy.
And she would come to call him with a smile…"Musa. My little Musa."
The sounds of thunder had always fascinated him. The first sounds he'd ever heard in his new life. It was like the sky was roaring. Only it was the loudest roar he'd ever heard. No one in his family he knew could roar as loud as the sky could. Out of the pure curiosity of a cub, Musa had once wondered if the sky was some strange lion itself. His mother had reassured him that the sky indeed was not a lion but Musa did not believe her.
They told stories of lions in the stars.
The stars were in the sky.
So that meant the sky was a lion.
And right now it was roaring.
So he tried to roar back.
But the only sounds that came from the tiny lion were loud squeaks. But Musa didn't care. His grandpa's told him he had a mighty roar. His grandma said they were suck ups trying to bide for the position of favourite grandpa. Musa thought it was funny, because both his grandpa's were his favourites.
However neither one of them was the best…the best lion in the world next to his Mama was his Daddy. He was really big and super strong, or so Musa thought. He always liked to play with him, just like he liked to play with the best big brother in the world that he had. His big brother Kopa. But playing was always one sided.
At first Musa could not understand what was going on. Why were they ignoring him? He would be standing right in front of them. But they would never look at him. No matter what Musa did to catch their attention. Jumping on the spot squeaking as loud as his little cub body could. Even batting at them. Though he was never successful in touching them to get them to look at him or talk to him.
Why could the other's like his mother, and grandparent's and such see him and talks to him? But his Daddy and brother Kopa and sister Kiara could not? His sister Zawadi seemed to be able to see him. That made him happy. She did not ignore him like the others did. The last time he saw her, he had worked hard to try and get her to play with him. He'd been so happy that she was seeing him.
But like always she never played with him.
Much like the others did not.
Poor little Musa just could not understand. Did they not love him? Did they not want to be around him?
It had taken him a long time to understand what his mother had told him that what he thought wasn't true. And that his Daddy and siblings did love him. But they lived in two different worlds.
Two different worlds?
That had baffled the young cub.
How could there be two different worlds?
His mommy said they were ghosts.
Souls like the lions in the stars.
But the young cub while he could grasp some of what his mother told him. Still could not understand everything. His Great Grandmother Uri told his Mama that he would in time. That young soul's were always the most confused ones. That Musa was simply so young when his soul had crossed worlds that he was just full of the innocence and curiosity of his world that he had trouble understanding. But he would in time.
They tried to teach him.
Show him how different they were from the others that they watched over.
Like the rain…wide brown eyes looked at the roaring sky. That cried down on them in what the adult's called rain. Rain that would never touch him or anyone else that was always with him. Just the mud that Musa liked to slap his paws against whenever they walked around in the storms. But the rain and mud always touched his Daddy. Whom Musa liked to follow when he went on his 'patrols' whenever it was raining out.
Musa thought it was funny. Seeing his Father's mane stick to him the way it did. When Musa pointed that out with a paw to his grandparents. His Grandpa Kopa would only laugh, slick back his mane and wink saying. "He wishes he was as lucky as us little guy. All this rain and we got the perfect manes." That had ended with his poor Grandpa getting smacked on the head by his Grandma Zakia who told Musa never to listen to what his silly grandpa ever had to say.
One other thing Musa noticed how different the living were from the dead was that unlike him. They all got bigger. His sibling's all grew bigger than him. And he stayed the same. He could not even speak like they could. Whenever he wanted something all he could do was squeak and wave his paws. He wanted to be big too. That he tried to tell his Mama.
"Yes, but all the more to love you by. So many mothers' often wish that their little ones would never grow up and stay young and cute forever. And I get to keep you like this my sweet Musa." His mother had told him with a hug and kiss.
Musa though could see and feel the sadness in his mother when she told him that. He hated it when his Mommy was sad.
Being sad didn't suit his mother. But while she would smile from time to time his mother had a tendency for being sad about certain things.
His mother was too pretty to be sad all the time. Not that she wasn't pretty when she was sad. Musa just liked seeing that smile on her face a lot more. And he tried his very best to try and put it there and keep it there.
Thunder drew his eyes back to the skies. It was like this for some time. His mom called it the…uh…rainy season yeah that was what she had called it. He wondered what it felt like to be touched by the rain. Was it the rain that made him cold and wet in that distant memory he had? He did not know.
"Musa." Speaking of his mother. Musa turned on the spot in the direction he heard his mother's voice and bounced excitedly on the spot. A large toothy smile breaking across his face. Which only got bigger when he finally laid eyes on the brown lioness who stepped through the tall grass that swayed harshly in the howling wind that neither of them could feel.
When Zuri looked upon her cub, she returned his smile that only reminded her of her mate, with a soft smile of her own. "Did you not want to play with your Father?" Play wasn't really what she had left Musa to do, while Simba could not see the cub it became a habit for Musa from time to time to chase the King around the Pride Lands while Simba was on patrol. Zuri at first thought it was sad to see her son's ghost chase his Father in attempts to get Simba to play with him. Be as it may in the end it made her son happy and Zuri could not deny her son what he enjoyed. She was beginning to hope he understood what she'd explained to him about the difference between the living and the dead.
It wasn't uncommon for ones as young as him to not have a clear understanding of death. Zakia had told her daughter that when she was young, she didn't quite understand what it meant by her Father being dead until she got slightly older.
Musa watched his mother blank out for a moment. Something she often did when she was so deep in thought about something. So without the ability to speak, Musa used his only way to get her attention. With a very loud squeak. He smiled once more when her blue eyes landed back on him and filled with love. "Well?" she asked. "You didn't answer my question." She chuckled at the look her youngest son gave her.
It frustrated Musa a bit that he could not speak like the adults or his sibling's. But he had his own way of getting across to the adults. His squeaking and his facial expressions. His grandfather Kopa loved to tease that if the cub could talk he might never shut up. That had earned him a smack from both Zakia and Zuri on the matter. And while Musa had limited ways of communication, Zuri always seemed to understand what her son was trying to say. Most the time.
With a paw Musa pointed to the storm raging above them, then to Pride Rock that was a mile from where the two of them stood. Which was pretty obvious to what Musa was saying and so Zuri chuckled. "Your Daddy never changes. He always hated getting his mane too wet. Not surprised he's called it early on patrolling. Males are so silly. Always so concerned about their manes…" Zuri paused for a moment at the look that Musa was giving her and she shook her head. "Yes I know females are the same about their fur."
Musa gave a squeak and nodded her head. He always thought it was weird when he heard someone complain about their fur. His Aunt Tufa whenever they went to visit them was like that. She did not like mud. Which Musa thought was silly; if he could he would be rolling in the mud right now. One could always just have a bath. Which Musa loved, in spite of the fact that he never needed one. Zuri just loved to bathe her son, said it made her feet like she could still bond and bathe one of her cubs.
Who was he to deny his wonderful Mama anything?
"Well…" Zuri started looking thoughtful which made Musa curious to what she was going to say. The tiny smirk she got on her muzzle intrigued him further and he gave a squeak and shuffled his paws then batted her leg to tell her to say what she was thinking about. "Well…I guess if you're done playing with your Father today. Perhaps we can go and visit your big brother." Zuri's heart swelled at the excitement and joy that overcame Musa's face at the concept of seeing his big brother.
"Would you like that?" Musa gave her a questionable look that she would ever have to ask such a question. Of course he wanted to see Kopa.
Reaching out, Zuri ran her paw over his head and smiled at the young cub. Her sweet boy. So innocent. So sweet. So naïve at times. But of course that was all what made cubs so great. They were too little to often understand the complications in the world. Something Zuri had hoped to spare her other three cubs from in life but that would never be the case now. Whether her cubs were separated and going through different things, Zuri could not protect them from the harshness of life.
The young spirit purred pushing his head up into his mother's paw rubbing it and enjoying the feeling of her petting his head. Then braced himself as his mother picked him up in her mouth. Musa did not like to dangle all that much. Therefore she would pick him up completely in her mouth with her jaws wrapped around his little body. Even if they were alive she would not be hurting him.
With four striding steps the two souls vanished from sight among the raining grasslands to appear seconds later among the jungle. Where the sun was shining. Even though it looked dark beneath the towering canopy of trees. Patches of sunlight would peer through where it could. Musa's face lit up at the sight of more of his family and squirmed in his mother's mouth till she placed him carefully down on his paws then released him.
Not wasting a moment, Musa darted toward Zakia who smiled warmly at him and pulled her grandson into her arms. "Well look who's here. How is the sweetest little boy in the world?" Musa giggled when she rolled him onto his back in her paws. Her nose rubbing against his stomach while she spoke. Musa squeaked batting the top of her snout making her snicker.
"Where you having fun in the Pride Lands?" Zakia asked watching the cub nodded his head vigorously. The adults took turns in who they would watch over at certain time's, and would often have Musa with at least one of them. Zuri did not trust leaving him alone for too long. Less Bakari were to get his hands on the cub. And lecture them that a cub so young should not be wandering among the living. Not that they cared.
The young cub often made them smile even when they felt like there really was so reason to smile at all.
The cub was like a ray of sunshine. A breath of fresh air. Well if they could still breathe that is.
Zakia lifted her head to look at her daughter who was looking off into the distance. "He's off with Amun at the moment. That boy will never change. He's always so fascinated in stories and Amun seems full of them from apparently traveling." The tanned lioness rolled her eyes while Zuri smiled at the thought.
"It put's a smile on his face. That is all that really matters. He will need this slight moment's of happiness before he face's what his future holds." Musa watched that look of sadness come over his mother's face. And with a single bound, was out of his grandmother's arms and hugging his mother's leg rubbing his head against it purring. With her other paw, Zuri patted her sons back. "It's alright Musa. Mommy is alright." She told him reassuring. Musa however looked like he didn't believe her.
"Do not worry about it. You are much too young." A snort came from the cub. Yeah he would always be young. Giving his mother's leg one more rub with his head he let her go. Zuri smiled down at him then nodded her head off in the direction she heard her eldest with his newest friend. "Now why don't you go use your great stalking skills and find your brother."
Jumping onto all four paws. Musa waited until his mother pointed him in the right direction and gave her permission for him to go off on his own. He bolted off in the exact direction. Though on his own wasn't really that much of being alone. He knew his mother or someone else would be close by like they always were. He didn't mind though. They were just being caring enough to watch over him.
His ears flicked when he caught the familiar sound of his brother's voice. The closer he got towards it the louder it got. Until he was upon him. Poking his small head out of the pushes that didn't really rustle much at his presence. Turning his head which way and that until his eyes finally spotted his big brother, lounging on a rock beneath a large tree in which the strange black leopard was laying about in.
Both appeared to be conversing with each other about something. Musa wiggled his rump in excitement at seeing his big brother. Who every time he saw him just seemed to be growing bigger everyday. Almost made Musa wonder what he would look like if nothing had ever happened to him and his family. Would he be as big as his Father? What colour would his mane be? Would it be brown like his brother's and Uncle Jaali's? Would it be read like his Father's and Grandfather Mufasa's? So many questions that would never be answered.
So Musa's cubby mind did not linger too much on it.
Living in the now was what was important to him.
Well as living as a spirit could be.
He didn't like that word. Spirit. It made him different from his siblings. If he wasn't a spirit then his family would be able to see and play with him. Maybe next time he saw Zawadi he ought to try harder to coax her into playing with him. But that would have to wait until later. For now he had other matters to attend too…
Like getting his big brother to notice him.
Sure, Musa got what his family was trying to tell him to an extent. But that did not mean the young cub wasn't persistent. He would always be persistent.
Wiggling his rump Musa ran from the bushes. His target. Kopa.
Gaining the speed that he would need. Musa made a running leap at the older cub with an attempt to jump on him. But like all other times in the past his body just passed right on through his older brother's. Making him hit the ground on the other side of the rock silently. Shaking his head, Musa squeaked looking up at Kopa who hadn't even seemed to notice what had just happened the two just kept on their conversation.
Though it was more one sides with Kopa listening and Amun telling the young lion a tale of another land far from the Jungle that Amun had seen in his youth.
Determined not to give up just yet. Musa backed up and took another running leap this time hitting the rock beside his brother. Huffing the young spirit jumped several times onto Kopa only to pass right on through once more. At some point Kopa thought he felt something and lifted his head turning his attention away from Amun and looked around him.
"You okay kid?" Amun called from the branch he lounged upon.
"Yeah…just thought I kept feeling some wind drafts." Kopa looked around the spot again. But could not see a thing. Maybe it was Jelani trying to get his attention but the young Prince had decided that he was spending too much time with the Guardian and figured he ought to spend time with friends. Or that's what his Aunt Leta said about him going off alone all the time. His only excuse to tell her was he just needed to be alone from time to time and she told him in return that it wasn't healthy to always be alone.
So here he was. Hanging with Amun. Listening to stories he had to tell. Much like with the other Rasheda's that told him stories of the past or his parents while they had lived in the jungle. Kopa was interested in hearing what Amun had to say about other parts of Africa.
Seeing no sign of the Guardian, Kopa turned his attention back to Amun. Not noticing the small cub that sat along side him by his head. Musa had seemed hopeful when his brother seemed to take some notice of his presence. Only to put it off like every other time that Kopa seemed to notice something odd.
Kopa Sr. once told him that Kopa could see the ghosts watching over him but because of current events he was choosing to close that self off. Musa was hoping to make him open that side up again. He had wanted his mother to do the dreams with Kopa like she'd done with Simba and Kiara. But the guardian that was watching over his brother would not allow it.
Musa did not know how he felt about the Guardians.
They were hairless monkeys to him.
That of course is what the rest of the adult's tended to call them.
For Musa he didn't like Jelani because the Guardian would not let them make contact. Something about messing around with Kopa's destiny if he were to find out that those he thought was dead were actually indeed alive if Simba and the other sibling's didn't visit him in his dreams like Zuri and Musa would.
That made his mama mad on many occasions.
But of course the guardian's never listened.
So sitting there, Musa slouched his shoulders. Then with a paw attempted to bat at his brother's only ear. That had made him sad. Seeing the scars on his brother's face as well as the fact that his big brother was missing an ear. Whimpering Musa attempted to nuzzle his brother.
"It's alright sweetheart." Hearing his mother's voice Musa turned to see both his grandmother and mother standing there. Watching the two brothers'. One with a tender smile, the other with a sad look in her eyes despite the smile she had on her face.
For Zuri it was hard seeing Musa trying his hardest to get his living family's attention. Always trying to explain to him what was going on and what was what was hard. But it also made her smile a little because for a brief moment she would think about how it was when they were alive. When the cubs had just been born and how Kopa loved to be a big brother and play with the cubs. Remembering when he had tried to get Musa to crawl toward him. Kopa couldn't await the days they would have been allowed to play with him.
So that he could teach them especially Musa how to hunt and be a Prince like him.
But now he would never be given that chance.
Zuri shook her head to get those thoughts out of her mind. And think about something else.
Making her way over toward her two boys she reached out and laid a paw on Kopa but unlike Musa her paw didn't go through him. Having practiced enough to touch her son she did it on occasion with all her cubs. Giving them some motherly attention even though they would never be aware of it. And there were times she lay beside her mate and nuzzle him though like the cubs he too was never aware.
However Zuri mostly did it at night when they would not notice her presence. Like now Kopa turned his head looking at his paw when he felt something. With Amun once again asking him what was wrong. But before the prince could say a word the feeling was gone as Zuri had lifted her paw from his back.
Musa squeaked at her in question waving his paws around. Zuri smiled and answered "Perhaps in time you'll learn to do that. Although if you do you might end up hitting someone with how many times you tried to jump on your brother here." Her smile broadened at the sheepish look that came over her youngest sons face.
Sighing, the young cub nodded his head. But he sometimes doubted practicing would work. He tried all the time. Maybe because he was too little. Musa turned her head when he heard shifting behind him to see that Kopa was getting to his paws. Along with Amun who had jumped down from his perch in the tree. The two were about to walk off and Musa pointed toward them.
Chuckling, Zuri nodded. "Yes, you may follow them." She smiled as Musa squeaked happily and giving his mother a quick nuzzle took on after the two. Though behind him Zakia and Zuri were not that far behind.
"Jelani is getting impatient that Kopa has been putting off his training." Zakia commented while she watched her grandsons. Musa at the moment was padding along side Kopa staring at his big brother with admiration. Without the fear of walking into things, Musa didn't bother to really look where he was going. Both lionesses thought it was both sad and cute to see how much young Musa looked up to his big brother. No matter how much Kopa would never know that.
So what that could have been. If fate had not got in the way of things.
This was not what Zakia had sacrificed her life for. She had given her life for her daughter that night knowing that Zuri deserved a happy life. The tanned lioness had known for some time how the two felt for each other even when they probably weren't aware of it themselves. And she was happy they had gotten together.
If there was anyone she would entrust her beloved daughter too it was Simba. She was proud of him even if he wasn't her own. Zakia had raised him. And he was family now, he was the mate of her daughter and the father of her grandchildren. And it saddened her to see just how much he was suffering with the loss of his family. Just as much as it appeared that Zuri was suffering. And though they would both deny it she was sure, the two were alike in their stubbornness that they would never openly admit it.
Keeping it to themselves hidden behind a smile.
Putting on a brave face for all those around them.
Just like Simba had done when he had first come to live with the Rasheda's. He had closed himself off. It had been Zuri that had helped him open up, her and Jaali.
Now…Zakia smiled. She only hoped his daughter could keep that smile on his face and help him through the coming years. Which were surely to be trying on them all.
From beside her Zuri gave an indignant snort. "I care not if he is growing impatient." Claimed the brown lioness. Her blue eyes sparking with raw emotion at the very mention of the smaller of the two Guardians'. She lifted her gaze towards her two cubs and the leopard walking on ahead of them. They were quite a distance from the two trailing lionesses but it mattered not.
Eyes landing on her eldest, Zuri gave yet another snort. "Kopa has been doing as he wished for months now. My son deserves some time to himself and still enjoy his youth." She expressed her thoughts on it.
From beside her Zakia gave a soft chortle. "Oh, my dear. I did not mean that the boy should just drop everything and run off and train his poor tail off. I was merely expressing what Mansa and Mufasa had been so kind to point out just the other day. Of course he should enjoy his youth. You only get one chance to do that. Just like his father had to learn."
Rolling her eyes. Zuri shook her head with a scoff. "Kopa still has plenty of time for what is to come. And Simba still need's to learn that lesson. He became so preoccupied with what needed to be done with being King…oh don't give me that look." Zuri shot her mother a look of her own. "Simba was and still is a great father and always been a great mate. But sometimes he became so distracted by his duties…well at least by the end he started seeing how much of effect that had on Kopa and spent more time with him." A soft smile came over her face at that thought.
Her mate always tried everything to make up for things he did. And that of course meant making up everything to Kopa. Though Zuri was sure that day he let Kopa tug on his mane as much as he wanted when he didn't show up on time to take him on an outing in the afternoon he later regretted. Complaining the cub had tore out a good part of his mane and spent much of the evening pouting about it to her for some pity. Which unfortunately for him. Hadn't worked.
Now however…Zuri was a bit worried about her mate. He was growing paranoid now. So worried that he would loose Kiara as much as he had the others. If only she could really tell him the truth of what was going on. That Kopa was here and that their other daughter was stuck in the Outlands with the enemy.
"My dear you shouldn't reflect on so much." Turning her head to her mother, Zuri looked confused. Zakia smiled "I know you dear. You're thinking about all the wrong going on right now and that was put on our family."
"It's just not fair."
"You always say that."
"Well it's true."
"And I agree with you. However…" Zakia stopped walking placing a paw on her daughters. "You should never reflect on something so much that it eats you up inside. Like you have been doing. You know that Musa can sense that about you right."
With a deep sigh, the brown lioness hung her head with a small nod to show that she did know that. The cub may be young and may never grow up like all other cubs. But he was intuitive. It was one of the many things that made her youngest son special. Lifting her eyes forward toward them again, it was to find that Musa had stopped walking with Kopa and Amun and instead was looking back at them.
His brown eyes alight with curiosity and acknowledgement as though he knew what they'd just been talking about. And what was upsetting his mother again.
Which couldn't be further from the true. While he'd been paying most of his attention on Kopa. He had been listening to his mother and grandmother. Catching the slight difference in his mother's tone and looking back seeing the look on her face she tried so hard to hide but there it was lingering deep in her blue eyes.
And there came the reassuring smile.
A smile she always gave him.
Musa sometimes hated he couldn't do anything. Though he would not admit it. Not that he ever could. He could only admit it to himself. But of course that didn't mean he didn't try. So putting on a large smile, he scampered on back to the two lionesses giving loud squeaks and bouncing around the two of them until he got what he wanted.
Laughter.
When he heard them both laugh. His smile broadened. And he knew their laughter wasn't faked. It was genuine. More importantly his mother's was.
Stopping in front of her, he looked up at her with his wide brown eyes. With a question he could not openly ask. And thankfully his mother knew just what question he was asking and what answer he was expecting from her. "Yes dear. I am just fine now. Sorry for worrying you so much."
Musa rolled his little eyes and waved his paw at her like it was no big deal. This only earned him another chuckle from the two in front of him. Sometimes he just didn't understand adults. He got an idea as to why his mother was sad. But Musa did not know all of it. There was just something he did not understand. Much like his concept between life and death. His young mind just had a hard time grasping and making sense of it all.
No matter how many times it was explained to him.
Mufasa had once told them that it was probably for the best. Let the young cub keep that innocence. Sometimes things were better left unknown.
With another squeak, Musa placed his small paw on his mother's much larger one. Always happy he could touch her when he couldn't touch anyone else. "I'm fine dear." Zuri told him more reassuringly. "Now why not run off ahead. I think I hear your Uncle Jaali. You can go help bug him." That got a large smile on the cubs face. While Musa could not touch them there were sometimes when he had the right energy to do so he could toss stones or rocks.
Whenever he did it around the Rasheda's it was always assumed that it was just the serval Nuru doing it all. Especially if they were aimed at Jaali or Kopa. Musa had a great pastime in tormenting his Uncle Jaali. And the other's all had to admit it was amusing watching the lion look like he wanted to attempt to pull his mane out of his head at the frustration of it all.
Musa could never understand it himself. He went through grass and could not splash in mud but could kick rocks if he wanted too. His mother said because he was young he did not have as much energy as others did. But when Musa wanted to play with something. Rocks were what he focused that energy on. Now he wished he could focus it on touching his family.
Though his grandfather Kopa would say. "He ever accomplishing that he's bound to drive everyone insane wondering what the heck is touching them." It was such an amusing thought Kopa Sr. often worked hard on trying to make sure the cub accomplished that goal. He wanted to see how badly it would drive his nephew insane. Though he was sure if Leta ever knew what her brother-in-law was up too then she would probably smack him something good when it came her time to crossover.
She would probably kill him a second time if she ever heard that he often helped the young cub play pranks on the living.
Something that he'd been hit a dozen or so more times for by Zakia. And sometimes his own daughter. But as the saying went…he just never learned. Zuri at one time wondered if her Father had been dropped on his head as a cub. Something Mansa said might have been possible. Now Zuri understood she had named her son for the right lion. Both Kopa's were alike in many ways.
Whether that was a good thing.
Not even she could figure that out.
Was still a mystery to her.
With a wave of her paw, Zuri motioned for Musa to run along. "Go on. Go see your Uncle."
With a happy squeak, Musa rubbed against her legs and looked up at her with an ever knowing look that made Zuri smile warmly and say. "I love you too."
Doing the same with his grandmother. And getting the same response. Musa turned and scampered on down the trail. Jumping into the bushes taking a shortcut. Heading for where he heard his Uncle talking with both Amun and Kopa who he had run into on his usual patrol routes.
Enthusiastically pouncing through the underbrush, the cub tried to come to a stop but ultimately ended up loosing his footing causing him to tumble and go right through his Uncle. Who looked down when he thought he felt a brush of air but seeing nothing shook his head. With a squeak, Musa landed on his back paws sticking straight up in the air and a disgruntled look on his face. His ear twitched while he tried to rock his body to get back onto his paws. Something that took him a second or two. But by the time he got back onto his paws his mother and grandmother had caught up with him.
"You okay my little one?" asked his mother. Both lionesses hung back and laid themselves down.
Rubbing his head, which really didn't hurt. Nothing in the living world could hurt him. But having seen so many others do it when they hurt their heads. It was a habit to pick up from them. Sometimes he thought if he copied the living enough than that would allow him to one day fully interact with them. An innocent thought from one so young.
Lifting his head he looked toward the three that were still talking. Not once noticing the three newcomers that had joined them. Musa padded his way to their sides. This time taking a seat beside Jaali rather then Kopa. And much like his big brother looked up at the lion with admiration. Though not as much as he would give his Father. But he heard the stories about Jaali and Simba as cubs and the lion reminded him of his Father. Something he heard his big brother say to that…what was she again?
The small spotted one with the large ears that looked to big for her own head?
Oh right!
Nuru.
Her name was Nuru.
That's who he heard Kopa say that to. But that really wasn't right. Their father was…again that word…alive. He always wondered why his brother was here. He should be home. In the Pride Lands.
Musa shook his head and focused his attention back on those before it. Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind. It was always a touchy subject especially with his mother. So Musa tried his best not to think about it.
The rest of the day, Musa spent much of his time following his brother around wherever he went like a tiny invisible shadow. To Zuri it was something she would picture would have been something that could have happened if they were still alive. Only she pictured Kopa walking about with a cub clamped on his tail while Musa would have been dragged along on his rump.
And though he could not get truly sleepy, his mother or grandparents would find him curled up against Kopa wherever the young Prince would lay himself down at the end of the day. Eyes closed in a failed attempt to sleep. But none who found him had the heart to disturb the cub. He just seemed too peaceful. This was something he even did with Zawadi from time to time but more so his Father and Kiara.
So rather then 'wake' him, Zuri would lay herself down beside him. And watch while Musa would crawl into her arms. Give a pretend yawn, and curl himself up between her paws. Zuri stared down at her son with warm eyes. It was moment's like this that she relished in. Giving her son a lick then looking at her oldest that was fully passed out, so she took her chance to give his growing mane a lick watching Kopa twitch and mumble. "Not my mane Aunt Tufa!" And roll over in his sleep batting at nothing but air.
Musa in his mother's arms snickered with one thought.
Silly Kopa.
Giving another fake yawn, Musa turned in his mother's paws so his head rested on the edge of her arm. Face turned toward his brother. Reaching over he batted at the paws Kopa kept swatting in the air as he started to dream. But like always his paws went right through. But that didn't matter it was fun. And that's what mattered. Fun! Hearing his mother clear her throat he looked up at her with an innocent look which turned into a full blown grin at the smile she was giving him.
Settling back down, Musa laid there. Some may think it was foolish to pretend to sleep when there were plenty of young ones who didn't want to sleep and would relish in the idea that they didn't need too and could play forever all day long. With no rest. But not Musa. If his siblings had to sleep. Then so did he.
Where was this cooperation with Kopa when she was alive? Zuri thought. When she had to fight to get her son to go to sleep at times. And her mate was no help. Simba would think making Kopa more rowdy some nights was fun to see Zuri get all flustered until Zuri left him in charge of putting their son to bed. Then it wasn't so fun anymore.
"Rest my little one." Zuri purred to her youngest son.
Who gave her a little 'tired' squeak. Then curled up staring at his brother a few more moments then closed his eyes. Settling down in order 'sleep' and just relax in his mother's embrace after a long day of playing.
The sun was high in the sky. Blazing down on the barren ground that spread on for miles in every direction. It was a miracle anyone could live out there.
Or so that's what Musa thought.
But it really wasn't the heat of the desert that bothered him. No. He couldn't really feel it at all. Instead it was the brightness of the sun that got into his eyes that bothered him a good deal. It made him squint a lot. It was an amusing thing to say the least when it came to those who were watching him at the time.
For them, the light didn't bother them as much as it had when they were living. But cubs could be cubs no matter if they were living or dead. So they never bothered to stop the young cub when he would start squeaking and squinting his eyes as though he could not see and neither of them could bring themselves to stop him.
A rock rolled along the ground, to which was soon covered by an excited cub who pounced upon it the moment it got close to him. But with the rock being almost about the same size as him it caused both the rock and Musa himself to roll upon the ground. Landing on his back with the rock resting upon his stomach, his paws clutching it like a vice, Musa giggled.
"Come on my boy, you're supposed to roll it back. That's the game." The cocky voice of his grandfather filled his eyes.
Tilting his head back just enough and turning it to the side, Musa grinned widely up and squeaked at Kopa Sr. who came to stand above him. His Grandfather's blue eyes, the same colour as his mothers, gleamed with mischief as Kopa stared down upon his grandson. He watched Musa grip onto the rock more tightly than he had previously been holding it. Part of him was proud that his grandson was managing to successfully manage his energy more and more with the touching of objects.
Another part of him was a little concerned much like all the others. And what they were concerned for was the fact on whether or not Musa would try and reveal himself to his living family if he could manage it. Something that was forbidden unless given permission for. Bakari was strict about that. Going as far as to even threaten to take the cub to the other side where he belonged and keep him from having any interaction at all with the living world. And only see his dead family members should they cross over to visit him.
The few times that Musa and Zuri had interacted with Zawadi had almost gone too far with the Guardian. It took all of them to prove to the Guardian it wasn't their fault that the girl could see ghosts. It wasn't an uncommon thing especially with young ones. And if Zuri was supposed to be their Guardian in these times of need then having at least one of them see her in order for her to do the job that they had laid out in front of her. And that girl was in the worst place she could be with the enemy, Zuri would have done anything to get some word to Zawadi like she had with Simba and Kiara.
Kopa Sr. knew it hurt his daughter that she wasn't allowed to contact her eldest son. Something that angered him. He didn't care if it would ruin Jelani's precious mission if Kopa were to somehow figure out the truth. That boy needed his mother as much as Zuri needed her boy.
But of course he was powerless to the Guardians as they all were. So their only thing was arguing which didn't get far with the smaller Guardian.
A loud squeak and the tumbling of a rock drew his attention back to the situation at hand. He looked down to see that Musa had moved away from him and with as much energy as he could muster had pushed the rock at him in a game of catch. Of course his aim being off, the rock only ended up tumbling right on past the brown blonde mane lion.
Kopa Sr. grinned and reached to the side grabbing the rock in his paw which he lifted off the ground. Sitting back on his haunches as he did so. This action rewarded him with a disgruntled look from his grandson. "What is it my boy?"
Musa jumping fully to his paws pointed at the rock in the older lions paw. He watched his grandfather give it a curious look then looked back at him. "Oh? This rock?" Musa nodded. "Is it yours?" Once again another nod from the cub. Musa watched a big grin come over his grandfather's face as Kopa tossed the rock into the air then caught it again doing this a couple of times. "Is it really?"
Getting impatient, Musa gave a loud demanding squeak stomping his paws soundlessly against the ground. This however only served to make the older lion laugh. Grunting, Musa sat back on his own haunches this time his disgruntled look turning to a pout in a single movement in order to try and make himself look more cute in order to think he would get his way.
His grandfather on the other hand saw right through his act. Having watched over his daughter while she grew up. Kopa knew that act all too well. While Simba had his grin which seemed to have been inherited by many of his offspring. Zuri on the other hand had that little cute pout she would like to work on others…if her glare wasn't terrifying enough to do that for her to get her way.
Kopa shook his head. "Not going to work on me Musa."
Dropping the pout, Musa continued to pound his paws against the ground. Which the cub figured would have been more effective if they actually made sound. Sure he could touch a rock but he couldn't make a sound on the ground. Seeing that wasn't getting him anywhere either. The young cub settled for sitting there and sulking upon the ground until he heard another voice coming their way.
"Kopa stop taunting the boy."
Two heads turned toward the voice that seemed to have an ever permanent sternness too it. Mansa stopped a foot from where the two brown lions sat. A large toothy grin broke across Musa's face and in seconds the cub was racing toward his great uncle with speed that didn't give Mansa enough time to sidestep the cub.
Who when he reached the gray mane lion grabbed onto his leg and held on with a steel tight grip. Happily squeaking rubbing his head against the leg that he held onto like it was some sort of life support he could not live without. And would not let go no matter how much or how hard Mansa would shake his leg in attempts to shake the cub off it. It only served to make Musa squeal in laughter and hold on tighter. It didn't matter what the lion would do, Musa was not letting go.
"How is it, I'm his Grandpa and you get more excitement out of him seeing you than I do." Kopa Sr. complained. Dropping the rock he previously been holding onto he made his way toward his oldest friend. Who was still trying to much avail to shake the cub off his leg.
"You think I am enjoying this?" The other lion scowled. He wasn't used to this. Not even his own cubs were this clingy. Though Zakia liked to point out that Mansa like he did in the afterlife scowled so much when he was alive that his cubs rarely found the opportunity to be clingy with him. But now it seemed his scowl would not be scaring off Musa, who for some reason loved to hug his great uncle whenever he saw him. "He's like a monkey!"
"Then I guess that makes you a monkey's uncle!" Kopa ignoring the murderous look that his life long friend shot him laughed hard enough that if he were alive he'd be gasping for air.
Growling, Mansa lowered his leg stopping his shaking of it when he saw there really was no point in doing it. Nothing fazed the young cub. Musa gave a loud squeak and stared up at his great uncle with his wide brown eyes full of curiosity and innocence. More innocence than Mansa had ever really seen in his life. It was that same innocence he saw in the cubs eyes the night he found him wandering the stormy Pride Lands confused and scared.
Zakia pointed out that perhaps that was the reason why Musa loved Mansa so much. For it had been the old lion who had found him that stormy night. Had taken him into his care and had later delivered him to his mother. Mansa did not know whether he should think this as a good thing or a bad thing. It sure did get annoying now and again whenever the cub would cling to him like a newborn monkey clinging to its mother.
Though whenever Musa seemed like he had enough he would eventually let go. Many didn't know the real reason why Musa loved his great uncle so much. It wasn't like he really could speak to explain his reasons. But the estimate guesses they'd made in the past was only a partial truth to it all. Mansa really had been the first one he'd laid eyes on and had helped him.
But another truth was that Musa did not really think that Mansa was only this big grumpy lion. The cub believed his great uncle was a big softy beneath it all. Something if the others ever found out would never let Mansa live it down and the old lion would spend the rest of his eternity trying to deny it.
Rubbing his head against the lion's leg he grinned up at Mansa who raised an eyebrow staring down at him questioningly. "What?" He gruffly asked.
Which of course his only response was a squeak like any other time he asked why the cub would grin at him the way he was. Kopa smirked. "What were you expecting?"
"Perhaps him learning to talk so he could speak his mind." Mansa responded looking back down at Musa whose ears had drooped at the thought of not being able to speak. Which unknowing to others, made the old lion feel guilty. While it never appeared to be so, Mansa did have a heart for cubs. He may have a hard way of showing it but he did care for his cubs when he was still alive, and even now he still cared for them. Which was why he checked on them. And his mate.
Just showing emotions had always been hard for him. Well expect anger as Kopa would point out.
With a roll of his eyes, Mansa lifted his other paw and gave the cub a pat on the head. "There, there…"
Ears shooting up, and a grin crossing his face Musa rubbed his head against his leg again then pranced around him. Much to Mansa's embarrassment and Kopa's amusement. "Aw Mansa he loves you."
"Ancestors know why." Mansa shook his head.
Grinning Kopa then looked off into the distance. "So where is Zuri is she still…"
"Aye. She's still watching the boy." Came Mansa's answer.
The topic of his mother made the cub stop his dancing and peer up at the two lions giving a curious squeak. His mother had dropped him off with his grandfather that very morning when Kopa Sr. had come to see them. Which he didn't mind since it meant he could spend some time with his grandfather not that he never got time before he always had plenty of time for that. But that didn't mean he wasn't curious as to where his Mother was and what she was doing.
Who was this 'boy' that his great uncle spoke of?
Was it his big brother?
No couldn't be him. His mother was out in the desert just like they were only she was someplace else out there.
So who?
A thought struck the cub. Maybe it was that gray lion that his Mommy was helping? The one that she promised his sister Zawadi that she would look after. Yes maybe that was it.
Though why?
Maybe it was because his mama was nice and she wanted to help. Yeah that was definitely it. His mama was very nice and loved to help others.
Though now on the topic of his mother, Musa wanted to go see her. She been gone half the day and he wanted to see what she was doing and who she was helping. Maybe he could help her too!
With that thought in mind, he tapped on his grandfather's leg until he had Kopa's full attention on him. "Yes Musa?" The blonde mane lion asked.
Squeaking Musa pointed off into the distance. It didn't take long for Kopa to catch on to what his Grandson was demanding of him. Sharing a look with Mansa, Kopa Sr. shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps we should play a little longer." What he got in response was a loud demanding squeak which made him grin and slick back his mane from his face. "Oh, alright." He patted the cubs head. "We'll go see your mother."
Musa cheered bouncing on the spot for a couple seconds, then jumped up onto his Grandfather's back when Kopa bent down for him to climb on up. There he moved until he laid across his grandfather's head settling into his blonde mane. Mansa shook his head. "Well at least he doesn't seem like that bloody serval that keeps sitting on my blasted sons head."
Kopa chuckled. "Well not quite. It's just he doesn't talk our ears off." A loud squeak was heard. "On second thought." He grinned when a giggle came from the top of his head.
Wasting not a second they headed on across the desert in the direction that Zuri was. Kopa knew she wasn't far but having wanted Musa to just have fun like always had made her father watch her son while she checked up on Nuka. Kopa and the rest knew Zuri was doing it for more then the fact that she had promised her daughter but for the guilt she felt for the cubs she had come to care for being led on by their mother in this cruel form of testing.
Though it was nothing short of being that cruel. Young males did eventually leave the pride from time to time. Nuka at his age would have already been ready to leave in a few months if he'd been in the Pride Lands. But his daughter was insistent and who was he to tell her otherwise?
And being her Father didn't count in that regard. She was just to scary like her mother when she wanted to be. Not that he would ever say that out loud. He got hit on the head by both of them well enough as it was.
Musa from where he sat on his Grandfathers head looked out all around them. So much sand and dry land. It often made him wonder why places were so different. But that question was easily answered by his Grandmother who had told him that like lions who all look different and act differently so did the lands and the weather that came to those lands. So in a way it made sense. A little.
"She's just over that dune." Mansa spoke up from beside him and his grandfather.
Hearing this and seeing where Mansa was pointing, Musa jumped off his Grandfathers head and down onto the sand before. Then with a running start bolted on up the sandy dune not leaving any trail or sand kicked up behind him. When he got to the top his head whipped around while his eyes searched out his mother until he found her. She was sitting on a rock with another lion.
The one they called Taka.
At first the scar over his eye had scared Musa. But if his brother could have scars and that didn't scare him then neither should Taka's. And his mother and grandfather Mufasa said that he had repented from the evil he had done in life. So if his mother liked him then so could he. The two seemed to be watching that gray lion in the distance where he seemed to be tending to a wound he somehow got.
Squeaking Musa slid on down the dune toward the two on the rock. Hearing him they turned their head to look at him and Zuri shook her head. "Figured you would show up sooner or later." She smiled as Musa reached the bottom of the dune then darted on towards them jumping up onto the rock. Almost falling if it hadn't been for Taka who reached out and helped him up onto the rock.
Musa grinned up at him then sat down between them as they were soon joined by Kopa Sr. and Mansa.
"How did he get hurt?" Kopa asked eyeing Nuka.
"Defending his catch from a wandering scavenger." It was Taka who answered. "He did well. Managed to keep the hyena from getting it but still ended up with wounds."
"You say that like it's a disappointment he got hurt. Everyone eventually gets hurt over food." Zuri lectured.
Musa looked back and forth between the two as Taka rolled his eyes. "Do not lecture me female. I know that." He ignored the sharp look that Zuri gave him for the female comment.
"He seems to be doing better then what Zira perhaps expected of him." Zuri turned her attention back to Nuka in the distance who after cleaning his wounds settled down to eat the small warthog he had managed to catch when he had found it wandering the desert. The last couple weeks since he been out on his testing had been trying. The young lion never knew how to be on his own. Always having been with a pride.
But the fact that he was still alive spoke for itself. And that he did not seem to be growing as sickly as he had been as a cub. No he seemed to be improving. Much so that it made Zuri proud and even though Taka would not admit it out loud, she had a feeling he was proud of his only son as well.
She looked down at Musa who had slipped under beneath her and poked his head out from between her front legs staring off at Nuka. She knew he knew who the young lion was and smiled as she saw how happy he was. She knew Musa was glad his sister had a friend like Nuka and was sad deep down that his sister didn't have her friend at the moment and was at the Outlands worrying about him. Musa looked up at his mother giving a tiny squeak which made her lick the top of his head.
"Don't worry dear he's going just fine."
Taka snorted beside her. At her questionable look he commented. "He still has a long way to go. He's survived these last few weeks but that is only a few weeks he still has months ahead of him."
"Which he will survive and prove that lioness you took as a mate wrong." Zuri fiercely stated.
Taka growled. "You think I want my son to fail?"
"Of how you treated him as a cub I would not be surprised."
"I've repented! I've regretted what I've done in my life and I'm doing everything to make up for it now!"
Zuri sighed. "Yes Taka I know. Forgive me."
The lion snorted and shook his head. "Forget it."
Musa looked between them again then looked out over at Nuka. With a squeak he jumped down and ran towards the young lion with his family staring at him but not bothering to stop the cub. It wasn't like he could do anything.
The young cub padded over until he was right in front of the gray lion that was tearing meat off the bone of his kill. Hunger was one thing like many that Musa had never felt. So he could never understand why others ate the way they did or the way Nuka was eating like it could possibly be his last meal. But if what his mother and great uncle Taka said was anything to go by Nuka could have trouble getting meals more so then he did in the Outlands.
There he always thought Nuka was nice when he would give the mice he caught to Zawadi so that his sister could eat. Musa didn't like when he saw that Zawadi would sometimes go to bed hungry if there wasn't enough food to go around. Although the one taking care of her seemed good at making sure Zawadi had enough to keep herself going.
Sitting himself down in front of Nuka. Musa watched him carefully cocking his head to the side. The young male wasn't as big as Musa's father but the young male did look like he would get bigger then possibly his own father. Musa looked back at Taka as he thought this then back at Nuka. That is if he didn't get sick as his mother had once pointed out. But judging by what the adults were saying he was doing well.
And he would need to continue doing so if he wanted to return to Zawadi.
Something that Musa thought would be a terrible thing not to happen. He would not let his sisters good friend not return home. It would only make his sister sad. And with the things he saw that horrible lioness do to his sister already she did not deserve to loose a friend.
No. Like his Mommy he would make sure he came home. And came home strong.
Jumping to his paws he ran around the young lion's side and attempted to get him to his paws and continue his journey. The sooner he got done the sooner he could go home.
Nuka feeling as though the wind was touching him looked at his side curiously then up at the sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight. Much like there hadn't been for days. A week prior he managed to catch some shade from a couple of clouds passing over the desert not much but enough to give him enough shade from the deadly uncaring sun.
Seeing there to be no reason for any wind hitting him, he looked at his side but could not see any explanation. Maybe the sun really was playing tricks on his mind.
At some point Nuka had thought he had heard Zawadi's voice calling to him but that had just been a dream. Then what was really weird was he thought he heard the old Queen's voice…the dead one…Queen Zuri's voice telling him to carry on…and then that of his fathers. That had made Nuka sure that he was just imagining things and the sun was getting to him.
Like his Father would ever encourage him.
Yell at him and call him weak much like his Mother did was more like something his Father would do.
Which only made Nuka want to prove them all wrong. Once and for all. Make them see that throwing him aside and making someone else heir had been the wrong choice.
So it was the voice he thought was Zawadi's that made him carry on. To return to his best friend. Something he thought he would never have. Sure he had a friend with Kopa. But with Zawadi it felt…different. He could not play his paw on it. But it just was.
Feeling that feeling of wind again, Nuka sighed. "I'm loosing my mind." He though aloud.
Hearing him, Musa huffed and sat down on the ground. Sometime's he really…REALLY hated that he could not touch others. He was just too little to get up the amount of energy that he needed to be able to do so. He knew this because ever since his mother explained it to him he'd been trying harder at it. But nothing worked. No matter how much work he put into doing so.
And right now would have been a good time for that.
Sulking he looked over his shoulder at the four adults watching him. Zuri jumped down and made her way over. "He needs rest Musa. He can't just get up and go all the time like you can. One does need their rest. Especially in this heat." Zuri waved her paw to all around them then up at the sun. Seeing her son's sad look she smiled softly. "I know you want to help. But sometimes help isn't always needed."
Musa looked at her confused then pointed at her with a silent question.
Zuri chuckled. "I know I am helping. But I know when to offer my guidance and when not too. You see sweetheart…if you always help others, sometimes they become dependant on that help and don't learn to help themselves." She watched her son cock his head his ears twitching as he fought to understand what she was explaining to him. Sometimes it took a while for him to grasp and understand it which she knew was hard for one as young as he.
He did learn in time though. Always. Slower at times but eventually he did.
"Do you understand?"
Lowering his ears Musa looked back at Nuka who had moved in the shade of a large rock to get out of the sun as best he could after he had finished his meal. Having not left a single bit of meat on the corpse leaving it as nothing but bones. No point in wasting food when he didn't know when he would get as lucky as he had this time in catching that warthog which thankfully he had beaten that hyena off who had tried to take it from him.
Revenge Nuka thought for all the times the hyenas would steal his food when he was a cub. True this hyena hadn't been one he had known, it wasn't even a spotted one it was a brown hyena. But a hyena all the same. So he proved his point in fighting it off and chasing it off. Hopefully it was off licking the wounds he had given it. Which thankfully had been more than the hyena had inflicted upon him.
Musa watched Nuka closely as he started to drift off. Maybe he didn't need to help but he wanted too. He looked up at his mother and squeaked at her. Though she could not truly understand she smiled showing him she knew he understood what she was trying to convey to him. "Don't worry Musa. We will get him home. And he will be with your sister."
That drew a large grin across his face and he looked back at Nuka. Thinking of ways he could help his mother. Perhaps if he helped carry her burden she might not be so sad anymore.
Yeah that's what he would do.
He would help his mother.
No more just running off and playing all the time.
He was going to help.
Grinning he hugged her leg as she chuckled and held him close. Musa hugged her for all it was worth. He was going to help her. It wasn't right for someone to carry that burden alone. So whatever he had to do.
He was going to help.
He would find a way.
And that Guardian wasn't going to stop him.
Bit on and off about this chapter. Writing it during writers block. And some issues going on right now as I mentioned.
But here it is. Wanted to add some Musa in there.
Hope you liked it.
Sorry it took so long.
Please remember to review.
Next chapter will be Kopa and will be bringing in some new characters. Those who I talk to about this story knows whats coming next.
