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Abiye wakes up to find himself laying on a pile of leaves at a base of a huge tree. He gets up and stares at it wide eyed, it's the biggest tree he's ever seen. Wow, Bhati will love this! He turns to call his bat-eared friend , he stops when he remembers the recent events. His family is dead and he floated down the river on a log with... The young cub frantically looks around for his little sister.
" Anami! Where are you? Anami! Ana-"
He finds her on the other side of the massive tree with a baboon. The baboon has a long stick with gourds hanging at the top and is shaking it gently right above his sister's head. As he approaches, his sister is happily swatting at the stick playfully. The baboon turns and smiles at the young cub approaching.
" I trust you slept well?"
Abiye just nods while watching the baboon cautiously.
" What happened?"
The baboon gently placed the stick down beside Anami and motions to the distance.
" Rafiki found you two drifting on the river soaked, so Rafiki brought you here to rest. Good thing Mufasa woke me up otherwise I wouldn't have got there in time."
Abiye was confused about the names thrown in the explanation but, he got the main idea. The baboon studies the cub and can see a dark shadow forming over him.
" Tell me, where are your parents?"
At the mention of his parents, Abiye frowns and turns away not sure what to say.
" I didn't mean- The hyenas came- we had to leave."
The baboon nods like he understands and walks over to him and pats him on the back gently, then he points to the cub's sister.
" Isn't this cub your sister?"
Abiye nods then walks over to her. He looks his sister over and when he's satisfied she's okay he turns back to the strange baboon.
" where are we?"
The baboon picks up the stick again and points to a huge pointed rock in the distance.
" the pridelands, young one. Here you two are safe."
Safe. That's what he needs for his sister, he promised his mom he'd keep Anami safe. Abiye studies the surrounding area again remembering what Rona had taught him a couple weeks ago.
a couple weeks ago...
Abiye hopped in and out of the grass chasing a butterfly while following Rona
To the clearing on the hill. The hill was about a hour run away and two hours walking which is what they did. Rona stopped and sat down calmly and waited for her brother to sit down too. She scans the horizon before speaking.
" Abiye, this is where our borders end. Our family picked this spot because it has everything we need."
The younger lion looks about but doesn't really see anything worth while.
" like what? I thought all we needed was eachother."
Rona smiles at him then points down to the land before them.
" well, yes but we also need the river to have something to drink, the grass to bring in prey and to hide in to hunt. We need other animals to coexist."
Abiye turns to his sister.
" even birds?!"
Rona laughs knowing Abiye's bad history with birds.
" yes, even birds. It's importaint to know All of these things make for a healthy, safe place to live."
Abiye doesn't fully understand why this talk was so important but he decides if Rona thinks its important, then he thinks it's important. He looks at everything his sister talked about.
" so for a safe home we need water, animals, grass, and Birds?"
Rona smiles again nodding.
" yes but you do know birds are animals right?"
Abiye makes a face.
" hardly!"
Rona laughs as they start making their way back home.
present...
Abiye scans the area and goes through the list in his head as he sees them. Water, grass,animals, and... He looks up just in time to see a flock of birds overhead. ... Birds! The baboons nods and smiles.
" ah, that is a wise checklist. Does this place suit you?"
Abiye hadn't even realized he had been speaking out loud, he nods. The baboon stands up.
" would you like to stay here in the pridelands?"
Abiye thinks it over, it's safe and he really has no clue where Rona's new pride was. He glances at his little sister asleep on a huge leaf, he wouldn't be able to go far pulling her and he isn't big enough to carry her. We have eachother so anywhere safe is good. He turns back to the baboon.
" can we?"
The baboon nods and points again to the majestic rock.
" of course. Go there and tell them Rafiki sent you. They will protect you and your sister."
Abiye stares at the huge rock then turns to look back at the baboon but he was gone. After looking for the baboon for a moment or two, he grabs the leaf with his sleeping sister and starts to drag it towards their new home.
