A month had gone by or so since the arrival of the knew lionesses and cubs, a month since Amadi met the mouse, and a month since he actually made a real friend. Since that first moment that Ayo decided to play with Amadi rather than the others the two could not be separated. Though Ayo was two months older than Amadi, the two were the closest friends. Ayo had helped Amadi learn to fight so that his brother wouldn't give him such a hard time. Amadi was a lot less reluctant to learn under Ayo's guidance. And Amadi had taught Ayo, the cub that had survived a fire and survived starving, that there was still beauty left in the world. That there was still something to look forward to.
Ayo thought this philosophy very strange in the beginning, but his mother, Zahra, noticed a positive change in him from the moment he started playing with Amadi. Kovu was happy to see a change in Amadi as well. The cub was still as gentle as a flower, but he showed more interest in learning what it took to be king. He even participated in wrestling matches; even if he rarely won.
Ayo and Amadi were out taking a walk, headed to the game trail for a curious look at the zebra herd. Amadi had grown a bit, he was taller, making his limbs look very lanky, and his form very slender. Despite being a few months old, his mane was not developing to the same rate as his brother. Dumaka, who had tufts of brown mane on his forehead, around his ears, and even on his back, often teased Amadi; saying that he looked like a lioness. This upset Amadi, but Ayo often told him it was best if he just ignored his brother; that Dumaka was just a bit jealous and didn't understand him.
"But that doesn't make sense. And it worries me. Simba and Daddy tell stories of Scar, and how he was jealous of my great grandpa. He killed him." He said, his green eyes scanning the ground. "You don't think..?"
Ayo shook his head. "Dumaka doesn't hate you. He cares about you a lot. You can tell. He just doesn't understand." He said, giving a reassuring smile, his whiskers twitching as he did.
Amadi looked up at the older Ayo and nodded. Ayo was maturing quite quickly as well. He had more of a mane than Dumaka, and was growing some muscles. Amadi could tell that he was going to be a very strong king…Stronger than Amadi belived he could be. "You always know what to say to cheer me up!" He said with a smile, nuzzling up against the others neck. "Thanks."
"Hey, cut that out. What am I, your mother?" He asked with a chuckle, using a strong paw to push Amadi right over onto his side. He looked down at Amadi and shook his head, still smiling. But then his eyes were drawn to a noise his ears picked up on. "Hey look, the lionesses are hunting!"
Amadi got up, but stood very still so not to disturb the hunt. His eyes located his own sister Dalia, then found Ada, Zalika, Nala and Kiara. He figured it must be a training session more than anything because his mother had not brought the entire pride. Though he always felt sorry for the unsuspecting zebra, he loved to watch the hunt; especially Dalia. Dalia had been trained by the best hunter in the pride; Nala. It was also amazing how well she worked with the other lionesses, picking up on every movement and reading every possible outcome. He always felt sad for Sarabi, though. He never got to see her hunt, all she did was lay in the cave. She was getting much worse now, she was hardly able to get up and get water.
"Grandmother Nala tells me stories about when she was a cub. Granny is the best huntress here, but she learnt from Nana. I wish I could have seen Nana in action." Amadi said with a chuckle.
Ayo knew that Amadi was closest to the eldest lioness. "I'm sure she was great. But I'm also sure that she is happy to be able to rest now." He said comfortingly.
Amadi nodded, what Ayo said made a lot of sense; he decided. He glanced at Ayo, he was so lucky to have such a friend. He really didn't know what he would do when Ayo left with his mother and the other new lionesses. But he tried his best not to think about that day. It was strange really; while his brother was starting to seek the companionship of the female cubs, he much rather just be around Ayo.
He was quickly snapped out his thoughts when he heard paws behind him. "Oh, hi Daddy." Amadi said to Kovu as he approached them.
Kovu smiled slightly. "Hi guys. Watching the hunt?" He asked curiously. "Good turn out?"
Amadi shrugged. "They only just started." His head quirked to the side slightly and his ears drooped when he looked into his fathers eyes. "Is there something wrong, Daddy?"
Kovu said nothing, showed no gesture to confirm this or not. At least not for a while. "I think you need to come back to Pride Rock." He said softly and gently. "Your Nanna would like to see you."
Ayo looked at Amadi; he had a feeling he knew what was going on. Sarabi was dying, and she wished to talk to Amadi before leaving him. Amadi knew that something was wrong, but he did not consider death. His Nana couldn't die, she was immortal to him. "Alright, I'll catch you later, Ayo." He said, standing up, and quickly walking back to Pride Rock with his father.
…
Sarabi was laying down at the back of the cave, away from the blinding light of the Pride Lands, laying comfortably on some soft grasses and leaves that Rifiki had brought for her. Amadi realized that something was wrong when he saw Rifiki in the cave. He only ever came down from that tree to talk to Simba or tend to the sick or wounded.
Rifiki walked past Kovu and Amadi, smiling sadly as he did. Simba was laying by his mother, his face caked in sadness as he rest his head upon her back. Sarabi could not lift her head when Amadi approached her, all she did was smile.
"Nana, what's wrong?" Amadi asked in a gentle tone, walking up and nuzzling against her forehead softly.
She was quiet at first, but then smiled softly and said. "I'm dying, Amadi." She looked into the eyes of the horrified Amadi. "Sweet heart, it's alright. It's my time. I am very old. I need to rest."
"That's all you've been doing since I was born!" He said, shouting from grief. "Should you be rested enough?"
Simba looked away from Amadi, closing his eyes, nuzzling his mother's fur. Sarabi sighed slightly, but smiled regardless. "It's my time, Amadi. I've been around for a while, and I am very fortunate to have witnessed your birth, and witness you growing. I use to worry about you a lot. I was afraid that people would make mistakes, and you would go astray. But you are beautiful, Amadi. Your such a wonderful lion and I don't worry about you anymore."
"You can't leave me! You're the only grown up here who understands me!" He said, his eye brows arched sadly, ears running down his face. "Please don't leave."
"Others need to see what you are, and they will. And they will accept you for this. I have faith." She said with a smile, lifting her head weakly to lick him on the cheek. "Just don't loose yourself along the way, my Amadi. I love you, stay strong, and keep caring."
"I love you too, Nana." He sobbed, nuzzling her gently, laying in front of her so she could rest her head. He looked at Simba, who had tears running down his face; Amadi guessed they had already said their good byes. Closing his eyes, Amadi lay there, trying his best not to sob or disturb Sarabi as she drifted into her final slumber.
…
Later that day, Kovu and Kiara went out in search of their son. After the cremation ceremony for Sarabi, Amadi had slinked off somewhere to be on his own; to cry and morn. Kiara was sad for the loss of her Grand Mother, but she had never been that close to Sarabi; not as close as Simba or Amadi.
"He's such a gentle soul, I just hope he is ok. You know how he can get when he lets himself get too sad." Kiara said, her head held high so she could see over the tall grass.
"I'm sure he's fine. He likes to be alone when he's upset. It's easier for him to get over things when he's alone, for some reason." Kovu said, sighing slightly. The whole pride was in morning, and this search for Amadi was just adding to the stress. Kovu would have just let Amadi be alone for a while; it was unlikely he would get into any danger. But he searched to ease Kiara's heart.
"Maybe we should ask Ayo. Amadi always seems to be around him." Kiara suggested.
Kovu nodded slightly. "We could do that." He agreed, before turning back to Pride Rock. He began to think as he walked home, the mention of Ayo had drifted his thoughts away from Sarabi's death. "Do you think it's a little weird that Amadi spends so much time with Ayo?"
Kiara gave him a look. "No, why would it be?" Looking at him curiously, Kiara wondered why Amadi having a friend would be weird.
"Well, I mean, male cubs should have male friends to buddy around with. But all they do is walk and talk. He wont spend much time with his brother, and apart from Ayo, and he doesn't seem to express any interest in being around the girls. He plays with the girls, but he doesn't show any interest in them…at all. All he cares and talks about is Ayo."
Kiara gave him a look. "He's just a cub, he should care about girls yet!" She exclaimed, turning into the protective mother.
"Kiara, when I was younger than him I met you, and even at that age I was interested in girls." Kovu said. He really didn't know what Amadi's problem was. "Simba and Nala were cub friends, and now they are married. The only real cub friend Amadi has is Ayo. You know, as king, he's going to need a Queen. How can he possibly know which of the cubs is going to be 'the one' when he doesn't spend time with them."
Kiara chuckled. "You lions are always too worried about masculine things. Amadi has always been a slow grower; it wasn't until last week that even a hint of a mane started to poke through. I'm sure he'll show interest in the girls eventually."
Kovu nodded, reassured by Kiara's words. It was worrying to him, Amadi had always been different, and ever since Simba mentioned something to him a month or so ago, Kovu has noticed it more and more. But for now, he would put it behind him; perhaps he was just thinking too into it. "I suppose your right. Alright, let's go find Ayo."
…
Kovu and Kiara had found Ayo grooming himself on the ledge that Sarabi use to rest on. It worried them that their son had not gone to him for comfort. Of all people, now that Sarabi was gone, Kiara was sure that Amadi would have gone to find Kyo. Ayo was slightly concerned about Amadi, but he was sure he could find him. Walking through the tall grass, Ayo went to the watering hole; the place that he and Amadi had played for the first time.
He was right, of course, he found Amadi lying upon a rock that had elevated him about 11 feet over the water. "I knew I would find you here." Ayo said with a chuckle, flipping a bit of redish mane out of his face as he approached Amadi. "Feeding the ducks again?"
Amadi did not giggle at the comment like he usually would, he just let his paws and head hang off the ledge; his tears slowly dripping into the water below. Ayo sighed slightly, his ears drooping in sadness. "I'm sorry Amadi…I don't know what to--"
He was cut off when Amadi stood up, turned around, and buried his head into the tuft of mane growing on Ayo's chest. The cub then began to sob uncontrollably, his paws up, resting on the others chest as he cried.
Ayo sat there for a moment, glancing left then right as the smaller Amadi sobbed onto him. Eventually, he lifted one of his paws up and wrapped it around the troubled cub. "Shh….It's ok. I'm here for you, buddy…" He murmured, nuzzling up against the top of the other's head.
Amadi sat there for a while, just crying. But eventually he calmed down, and his tears stopped. Pulling away from Ayo he smiled shyly up at him. "Sorry…I…I usually don't cry like that."
"Don't worry about it. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on every now and then." He said with a smile, beginning to lick the tears off the others face like Ayo's mother use to do to him when he got upset.
Amadi didn't mind the attention, he actually started to laugh and playfully swatted Ayo away. "Quit it, your not my mom." He said with a smirk.
"I wouldn't have to be if you didn't run off from your own." Ayo teased before standing up. "Lets head back to Pride Rock. It's getting dark."
Standing, Amadi stood, sniffling a bit. Walking slightly behind Ayo, Amadi began to think. Ayo was all he had now that his Nana was dead. But he held comfort in that; Ayo offered him a happiness that no one else could, not even his own family. Once they got back to Pride Rock he stayed close to Ayo.
Dumaka and Dalia watched with awkward curiosity as Amadi chose to sleep next to Ayo instead of them. "They're weird." Dumaka said, rolling his eyes as he curled up with his sister. Even Dalia was beginning to question her brother in her thoughts. His behavior was unlike any lion king that the Pride Lands had ever seen.
