Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lion King or any of its characters.
I do not own the following characters but have prior permission from the author, Nala-Nay to use them:
Hasani
Hiassen
This character is property of T5Tango and I have her permission to use her:
Jolina (Guiding Light)
The characters I do own are as follows (For now):
Kali/Uhami (Fierce/Exile)
Usafi (Purity)
Kusudi (Purpose)
Ufisa (Variation of Ufisadi which means Mischief)
Chaka (Thicket)
Kuchin (variation of kuchinjwa which means slaughter)
Matata (Vicious)
Pepo (Demon)
Ni (I am)
A\N: Please read the following works:
You take the Good with the Bad by CSIMentalistTlkLover
Lean On Me by ILoveTama
ENJOY!
Becoming Uhami
Many things happened in the years that followed Uhami's (Kali)adoption as Ni's little brother. For Uhami, this was a great pleasure because he had only been a twin brother his whole life and always wondered what it was like to be the younger sibling. Ni was also very enthusiastic about being a brother to the young lion and made sure that he was able to take care of himself. The first year they had been together Uhami and Ni had spent mainly in discussing what life was like for a pair of rogues like them.
Uhami learned all about how to survive without the safety of a pride; it was kill or be killed. Completion over food would always lead to fights between rogues, as didterritory. On one occasion, Uhami got to experience what Ni calledsurvival of the fittest. Ni had just brought back a wildebeest for him and Uhami, when the faint rustle of grass could be heard from outside.
"Did you hear something?" Uhami asked with his ears on high alert
"Stay behind me." Ni ordered as he lowed himself into a pouncing position.
"But…" Asked Uhami. Just as Ni turned his head to reply, a gray lioness charged in from behind and attacked. As Ni roars in pain from her claws scraping his shoulder, a cub crept into the cave, and attempt to steal the kill. As this was the first thing Ni had caught in 4 days, Kali launched himself at his opponent. Even though he always had his opponent pined, he got hit with many hard blows.
"Get out of our cave. This is OURS." NI roared at the lioness after over powering her. The lioness grabbed her cub from under Kali and bolted out the entrance. Ni then turned to check on Uhami once he saw the coast was clear, and what he saw made him gasp. The young cub was covered in numerous lacerations all over his body and he was breathing heavily.
"Let me help you buddy." Said Ni, pulling him close to lick his a few minutes, Uhami was completely clean of the blood as his injuries scabbed over.
"You really need to learn how to fight." Ni said in a serious tone, that Uhami never heard before.
"Why? I beat the cub didn't I?" Uhami said with frustration
"Yes, but you came out looking like the loser. You don't have any fighting experience and you seem to rely on nothing more than your strength and wits. That may have saved you before, but out here, fighting like that will get you killed. No arguments." Ni said sternly.
So from that day on, Ni trained Uhami constantly in the art of combat. Kali greatly appreciated this, but deep inside he wished that it was his father, who was teaching him this. Seeing his own injuries awakened something in Kali. In his past life, he had tried to be a compassionate lion that cared for others. He realized that to live in the wilderness and be a true part of this life, he needed to change. He would have to lower his compassion level and give in to the small side within himself that agreed with Ni. It is survival of the fittest he thought.
Other than the training and hunting, Uhami and Ni spent most of their time travelling and exploring the Hill Lands. One day, Ni had taken him beyond the border to see Pride Rock. As it came into view, Uhami froze for a second, then quickly changed his expression to childish admiration. The lands were still a beautiful green and many herds were playing happily in the fields. Somehow there was this feeling in Uhami's heart that this was only the surface, and that the lands were worse than they seemed.
"Want a closer look?" Ni asked.
"No." Uhami responded quickly.
"Why not?" Ni questioned. He had told Uhami that he had always marveled at this spectacular rock formation that the lions here called home since he was a cub himself.
"I don't want to get in trouble with the king. We could be seen as trespassers." Uhami stated and with that they turned back towards their home.
On the way back home, Ni and Uhami stopped for the drink at water hole a mile from the border. Uhami finished his drink and then looked at the lion in the water. He had deep muscles that were as a lion as big as Ni's or his father's if he remembered correctly. He looked at this lion with acceptance, but still wondered who is that looking back at me? He knew that it was his reflection, but he wondered who he was and was this lion what he had become. His thoughts about himself were broken as Ni finished his drink and they made their way home. All the way home, Uhami kept thinking about his reflection and criticized it. Was it me or was it… Kali? His mind raced with this until he and Ni finally returned home, where he decided to rest.
He then heard a deep voice call "Kali." The voice startled and he jerked himself awake.
He looked and saw a large tan lion with a dark brown mane with blue eyes standing at the entrance of the den. He quickly got up to investigate as the mysterious lion turned the corner. Once he walked out, he discovered the lion had a mate. She was a beautiful tan lioness with kind amber eyes that were focused on him as well. He also noticed were almost translucent, and figured these were spirits like his father had told him about.
"Hello Prince Kali." The female said which caused Uhami to growl.
"How the HELL do you know my name?" He shouted with anger.
The female then approached him with a frown on her face and raised her paw to smack him. Uhami smirked cause he knew they were ghosts and thus could not hurt him. His hopes were dashed when the female's paw collided with his head and caused him grab his head in pain.
"How the f-" Uhami said before she cut him off.
"Language, young lion." She said with a stern voice.
"Oh really. Watch it you crazy bitch of a lioness." He roared.
She frowned again and hit him on the back of the head again. This time harder than before.
"So are you going to watch your mouth or do I have to hit you again young lion?" She asked with a glare that could have killed him if it was possible. Not wanting to question her on how she had hit him or incur her mate's wrath he nodded, regained his composure and spoke.
" I am sorry. If I may ask, who are you?" He asked the female.
"My name is Jolina young one." She said with a smile.
"Jolina? Why does that name sound so familiar?" He said while rubbing his head in frustration at his lack of recognition. Noticing this, the ghostly male chuckled.
"What is so funny?" Uhami asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Your father used to do the same thing you are doing when he could not recall something properly." He replied.
"My father. How did you know my father?" He asked with urgency in his voice.
"I knew him many years ago before you were ever born, Kali. He was an adorable cub along with his brother Taka." He said with a smile.
"You knew my Uncle too? Just who are you?" Kali asked through deep breaths.
"My name is Mohatu." He said simply.
"Mohatu. The first king of the Pride Lands? " Kali asked through now painful and realized breaths. Mohatu simply nodded.
"So that makes you my Great-grandmother?" He asked Jolina who simply walked up and nuzzled him which caused him to purr.
"I don't believe this. I never thought I would get to my great-grandma and great-grandfather. I am deeply honored." He said with a bow.
"We understand and are happy to meet as well, but are concerned." Jolina said with sadness.
"I don't understand?" He asked with confusion.
"You have not returned to where you truly belong, the Pride Lands." Mohatu said with determination.
"I can't go back and you know why. Besides even if I could go back, Scar is the king and I am happy with that." Kali said.
"Yes we know why you will not go back. But we also know that you want to go back. You have so much there waiting for you." Jolina said to him soothingly.
"I know. My mother, Nala, Usafi, Kusudi, Ufisa and so many others, but I just can't! Besides, even if I did go back, my life would not be complete." Kali said while his thoughts uttered two names Simba and Mufasa.
"I do believe you are wrong there Kali. It is your destiny to return. To rule" Mohatu said with a knowing expression.
"What are you talking about? It was my brother's destiny to rule. I have no destiny left there." Kali said angrily.
"You are wrong. You have a destiny that our daughter Uru set forth for you from the moment of your birth. You were born to be the light of hope that would outshine the darkness of the Pride Lands. That is the meaning of those white eyes of yours Kali." Jolina said with a smirk.
"Grandma Uru did that for me?" Kali said with a shocked expression.
"Yes because she knew you were the right one to do so." Jolina said.
"But what is this darkness? Is it the hyenas?" Kali asked.
"No Kali. It is not the hyenas, but the ones who lead them." Mohatu revealed.
"Who is this darkness then?" Kali demanded.
"You will know when you return to your home." Mohatu said.
"But how can I outshine this darkness when half of my light is gone?" Kali said with sadness.
"What do you mean half of your light is gone?" Mohatu asked.
"My brother Simba was my other half. We shine brighter together than when we are apart. How can I shine without my other half?" Kali said through gritted fangs as he thought of his dead brother whom he missed dearly.
"Then you must go find that other half." Jolina said with a smile.
"How?" Kali asked.
"When the day comes , and you are faced with shadows from your past that eclipse the lights. That day, you will start to travel the path to find that other half. It will put you on your course to return to the Pride Lands." Jolina and Mohatu said in unison and began to fade out.
"Wait, please don't go." Kali roared with tears running down his eyes.
"We will always be with you, Kali. Remember to just look up at the stars when you feel alone and we will be there." Jolina said as she walked up to him and surprisingly nuzzled him on the cheek.
"I will great-grandma Jolina. I promise." Kali said through his tears.
"Kali, one last thing before we go is this: Your father told us to tell you that he loves you, no matter what happens in the coming years." Mohatu said to comfort the young prince.
"Thank you. Could you tell him I love him and miss him every day." Kali said with his voice becoming calmer.
"Sure I will, but he already knows. Goodbye for now Kali." Mohatu said while he too nuzzled Kali before he and Jolina disappeared.
With the thoughts of his meeting with his great grandparents in his mind, Kali once again returned to his and Ni's cave and laid down his head to prepare for his continued life as Uhami. However long that life might be.
Author: So, the Kali we knew to be so strong and caring now has to be cold and strong in order to survive as Uhami. He was literally within running distance of Pride Rock and he chose not to go out of guilt and honor. Now he starts to wonder who he wants to be. Mohatu and Jolina have given Kali insight on what he must do and that he will one day go back. But, does he believe it.
Swahili:
Ambao unaona wakati ukiangalia katika kioo?
Je, unaweza kuona mwenyewe au uhamishoni umefanya mwenyewe katika?
Translation:
Who do you see when you look in the mirror?
Do you see yourself or exile has made yourself into?