Chapter 2
"C'mon Lela!" Cried the young leopard cub "You slow sloth!"
A small, golden tan spotless beast barreled out from the high grass after her brother.
"Wait Ahi! I.." She gasped, noticeably slower then her spotted companion. Ahi stood amidst the parched land, looking to the dense brush he'd emerged from, for his sister. When he caught sight of her tiredly wobbling her way to him, he sat down on his haunches.
Aside from the obvious difference, she was stockier than him, meatier around the neck, stomach and legs. Her eyes were a brilliant azure and on her left shoulder, a small, furless scar grew with her. Ahi was an energetic cub, often tiring out Lela with his antics. A master at climbing the trees of the savannah, and one of the fasted cubs born to the lands, his mother would often tell him he would make a fine adult hunter.
Despite what his mother referred to as Lela's "variation", Ahi accepted and loved everything about his sister. That however, didn't stop him from teasing her relentlessly.
"Lela Lela Lela.. You lose a leg or something?" He laughed as she plopped down next to him.
"Shut up!" she snapped.
"It's okay slothy, I understand not everyone can be as fast as yours truly" he placed a paw over his puffed out chest.
"Yeah, so fast. I saw you taking that shortcut!"
"Shortcut? Hah! If by shortcut you mean I jumped over you and ran ahead so quickly you didn't see me coming, than yes, I took a short cut"
"I said, shut up!" she leapt with full force, pushing her brother by his shoulders and pinning him to the ground. She'd had him there, pouncing. She was frustrated at her own shortcomings, being as headstrong and competitive as she was, but knew Ahi only meant well and went from a half growl to a playful gnaw on his ear.
"Hey! Let me up!" He laughed and tried to push the heavier cub off him.
"Get yourself up!" She said smugly and continued chewing on him.
Ahi let out a loud, juvenile roar and slid out from under Lela, kicking up a thin cloud of dust and leaving a trail of filth along his back. He knew it was useless to try to push her off of him.
He leapt into play stance, his rump in the air and his muzzle grazing the earth beneath him. She took a similar stance, and the two began play fighting.
The commotion sent a cloud of Savannah sparrows into the air, their screeches and pounding wings echoed through the land, and just as quickly died down as they dispersed.
"Lela, Ahi!" A motherly voice, equally stern as it was loving, boomed from within the brush. A large, majestic, full grown leopard emerged, moving the high parched grass effortlessly as she walked to the plane where her cubs played. Muscles rolled under her thickly spotted pelt, her movements were deliberate yet exceptionally gentle. Her orbs were a soft hazel, but always held a determined and authoritarian air.
She exuded motherhood, caring and gentle with a firm steady knowingness.
"It's time for your baths." Chui said to her young ones "And supper. Ahi, you're filthy!"
"Sorry mother, we were playing" He laughed and moved into nuzzle his mother's front leg. She pressed her son to her.
"Of course, I suppose Lela roughed you up a bit hm?" she chuckled and motioned to Lela "Was that the case?"
"He might be fast, but if he had to fight off a water buffalo he'd be vulture food." She scoffed lightheartedly and too fell into her mother's embrace.
"Come now then, the sun is falling and you two making such a ruckus will bring the attention of some hungry hyenas" she took Lela into her mouth by the scruff of her neck, and, expecting Ahi to follow, padded to the safety of their home.
--
"Stupid child! Stand up and take it! A king shows no weakness!" An angered beast brought a heavy paw down to the weeping youth quivering in his shadow.
"F…father.. I'm…" the cub was cut short, another blow to his left flank sent him to another place. He had to take himself there, remove himself from the world when his highness decided to "make a king out of him". He'd fixate on something solid, something unmoving and focus all his energy on it. In the distance, he'd see his home; priderock. He'd watch it spin as his father knocked him onto his back. He'd taste the warmth, the sweet salt of blood and dirt as he'd lie and wait for the only physical attention he'd receive from the lion who gave him life.
Siku was the son of Ekuka, great leader of the Rogues. Born to a dying pride, he was exiled by his father at an abnormally young age for fear he would grow to threaten his already fading authority. He wasn't spectacular looking, not by a stretch. Of average build and strength, the auburn painted loner had great ambitions that would've faded into nothing more than cub's daydream had he gone at it by himself. He wasn't the strongest, nor the most desirable; but he was in possession of a great mind. A fantastic orator, when he spoke animals clamored to listen. He unified the lone males that'd been exiled from their birth prides. He'd seen great potential in the young virile brutes on the prowl for harems and hunting parties of their own. It wasn't difficult, a mere promise of food and females coupled with a few propagandist slogans sent the ignorant males into a blind charge against the ruling monarch, Hodari.
He'd come to Hodari with a long winded speech on his hopes for "belonging", and a simple "chance at a life of happiness". With every word that rolled off his tongue, he'd quietly congratulate himself as he watched the foolish king swallow his sob story.
Ekuka went, in private, to the subjects; elephants, gazelles, zebras, hippos, whichever group would listen, spitting venomous lies into their ears. Speaking of an impending drought, a food shortage, a hyena invasion and Hodari's utter failure as protector, the kingdom was slowly turned against its ruler. Albeit the animals never experienced such a calamity, the power of persuasion was easy when it came to those in possession weak minds.
He'd debated, briefly, on perhaps exiling Hodari and mating his queen. Ultimately however, he'd come to the conclusion that a threat as great as the royal family must be exterminated completely.
And now, Ekuka wanted to make sure his son and heir would not fall victim to the same fate of his predecessor.
He looked down at his offspring with a mix of contempt and pity.
Perhaps I was too hard? No. I was alone, I had no one. He should have no one, it breeds strength!
"Get up" he spoke with detached ambivalence. "I'll make a king of you yet". He turned his back to his son, and without another glance or word, left Siku lying in shame.
With strained effort, Siku managed to roll onto his stomach, releasing an exhausted grunt. He'd grown used to the taste of the earth, the smell of his own open flesh and more importantly his affection-free relationship with his father. Siku resembled his father physically from his cub days, similar pelt tint, build and stature; completely average. Ekuka purposely kept his Siku's mother's identity secret in an attempt to keep the cub separated from anything that might weaken or hinder his development into a harsh, steadfast and aggressive monarch. Family connection was generally discouraged under his rule, not illegal, but frowned upon. This most certainly held true for the king's son.
The wounded cub let his head sink onto the ground, left paw under his muzzle, the remaining three sprawled out. He knew eventually he'd have to get up, drag himself back to Priderock and force the tears back. Strange, no matter how accustomed he'd grow to the beatings he'd never been able to restrain from crying. Perhaps that's why they were so harsh; if he could learn hold it in until he leaves they'd become less frequent.. Maybe even stop? Yes, than he'd be the king his father truly wanted!
"No." he said to no one "I'll never be that king."