XXIV

What was Left

"It was awful," sobbed Meersha as she nuzzled her teary face into Zarazu's pale coat.

"It's all right," assured Zarazu as he put a large paw around her, purring and nuzzling her. "It's OK. It's over now."

"They were just cubs!" she cried.

"Shh, you won't have to see that again,"

"They forced me to, Zarazu!" Meersha snarled in anger then, looking up at him.

He gasped and replied in shock, "They what?!"

"Yes. They forced me to watch murder!"

He shook his head solemnly, closing his eyes in shame at his family as she buried her face into his mane again. They were back where they had slept by each other in the southwest, on the flat rock, next to the glittering water hole where the Broken-Claw, including its guards where usually never at. It was night, and Meersha had skipped any lessons she would have had after the "hunt."

"Izegbe," Yawnda called, a few feet away.

Kikaru looked up quickly and glared as Meersha stopped her crying, but kept her face in his mane, away from Yawnda, her eyes closed. Her rage towards that lioness was too great right then.

The lion roared, "Yawnda!" so loud that Meersha could feel it shake his whole body.

"Yes, my son?" she asked with a snicker.

Zarazu shook his head and snarled, "How dare you do such a thing to her? How dare you show your face to her again!"

"Well, if that's the way you want it to be," Yawnda growled lowly, then jerked her head at Meersha. "Izegbe! I know you're listening,"

"Don't talk to her!" Kikaru yelled, and leapt in front of Yawnda, leaving Meersha to sit, staring up at the sky, her eyes still stinging and watery.

"I have something to show her." the dark lioness stated strongly. "One of the lionesses had been able to rescue one of the cubs before we fled,"

Her words made Meersha turn to her, teary eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" she snapped.

"Come closer, my sister,"

Kikaru sat down as Meersha joined them. The two adolescents looked down, just as Yawnda took a step back to reveal a small fur ball of gold, curled in the grass. It looked up at Meersha with baby blue eyes and blinked.

"It's...it's a cub," she whispered in disbelief.

The lion smiled at it.

"All right well, I'll be leaving you with it," Yawnda exclaimed with a yawn as she was about to turn away.

"Wait!" Meersha said, looking up.

"What?"

"I-I can't keep a cub,"

"And why not?"

"I..."

Yawnda shook her head. "There is no excuse, Izegbe."

"Then why don't you take it?" Meersha growled.

"The lionesses are too busy these days, training the adolescents - including the Drie-Leeu. We can't be bothered with cubs until the females have been fully taught to find another batch for the Broken-Claw's newest generation. Look, this was the only cub left alive and we got it. You think you'd be too busy? All you have is lessons once a day, and the lessons are for this."

"For what?" she replied, eyes narrowed still.

"For taking care of cubs. Adopting, rescuing, and eventually having them yourself. When you're old enough and have your mate, you two will take care of any cubs the lionesses bring back. That's why we have you, Izegbe. And this fur ball," she nodded to the little one. "is good for training you for cubs in the future. Got it?"

For a moment, Meersha thought. Was it the right thing to do? Well, if the cub would be sent back to his first family, he would surely be killed. So, taking pity, she finally nodded.

"Good," Yawnda smiled, and turned back around.

"But," Meersha said, turning to Kikaru. "What will I do with it while I'm at my lessons?"

"I can take care of it." he suggested.

"But don't you have 'em, too?"

"Yeah, but you have yours in the morning until noon. Mine start at noon and end near evening."

"Oh, Zarazu!" Meersha cried out and nuzzled him.

He chuckled, but then looked at the cub, who stared back, fright in his sparkling eyes. "What's his name anyway?" he asked.

"Hmm," Meersha looked at it. "What do you think it should be?"

"Er," he said. "You're the mother,"

"I already named you, though." she giggled. "Besides, you're practically like it's father. I mean, we're both taking care of it..."

For a moment, the two stared at each other, but quickly looked away awkwardly. "Yeah...I guess you're...Er, how about," and he paused to think, only to say, "Rombu?"

Meersha said nothing, but her _expression was soft and he knew it was the right name. So, leaning down, Meersha picked the cub up, and they walked back near the water. There was a den near its edge which they easily climbed into.

"It's so beautiful," Meersha uttered, staring at the lake that lie in front of them.

"It looks like he's cold," Kikaru pointed out.

Indeed, the cub was now shivering.

"Oh, crap," she growled, and quickly curled herself around it, and began to groom it.

Meersha was young, and needed much practice in parenthood. Yet she hadn't asked for the cub, it just came to her. Zarazu helped out as much as he could. Whenever he was gone, learning how to be a "true" lion, though, Meersha was stuck with Rombu. The only free time she had away from him and the lessons, she spent asking the older lionesses about how to take care of cubs. Sometimes they themselves were too busy to answer, though. So she just watched them raise the young lionesses, which helped, too.

Luckily, she had never been taken on another "hunt" again. The younger adolescents easily caught prey, though, and brought them back to her. It was a sad thing to see those young ones often fighting in combat, for one day, they would be the ones hunting males. At least half would, while the other half would one day be out searching for cubs to rescue.

Meersha was usually found around the water hole in the southwest now, often with Rombu. If she was anywhere else, he was there, too. Unless he was being taken care of by his "father." Some lionesses pitied the two, others felt sorry for them, taking on this much responsibility at such a young age, never having time for fun. After all, an adult was usually never found playing, and one should live their youth up. The other adolescents, including the males, at least had time for some fun and play, while Kikaru and Meersha were left with Rombu.

It wasn't all bad, though. After the first week, Rombu had been able to talk and walk better than before. This meant at least they got to play with him, instead of trying to calm down a crying ball of fur, or having to chew up food and even mix it with water and special crushed up plants that had had many vitamins in them. Rombu was so young when they had gotten him, that he was still nursing, and because Meersha was so young as well and had never had cubs, she did not produce milk. The other lionesses were either too young, too old, or too busy - despite the fact that they as well did not have any blood cubs. So, the adolescent parents had been able to find the right vitamins he needed to survive.

Rombu would pounce and play, run around and never stop asking questions. He thirsted for information. That was the thing that really frightened Meersha the most, though. What was she supposed to tell him when he asked where he came from and about his old family and why he was rescued? What was she supposed to tell him about how prides worked and when he asked about males and being leaders? If she ended up telling him anything wrong, she was afraid that Ahadgna and the rest of the Broken-Claw would not see him fit as a "true" male, and kill him. Often Meersha spoke to Kikaru about this, but he always told her not to worry, and to let him explain to Rombu all the things a male should know.

One day, Meersha was lying down in the grass, tail swishing around. Rombu was pouncing on it as his mother sunbathed.

"Mama," he then said.

"Hmm?" she asked, peeking out of one eye.

"Why does Daddy call you Meersha but Grandma and everyone else call you Izege or whatever?"

"Izegbe," she corrected. "Anyway, that is my name to them. But to your father, I am Meersha, just as he is Zarazu to me, and Kikaru to the pride."

"But why?" Rombu asked, his head tilted.

She chuckled and sat up. "So many questions. It's just the way it is."

That was a phrase Meersha usually used to answer him, even if it wasn't much of an answer.

He heaved a sigh and said, "OK. Whatever you say."

"I'm sorry. I can't explain it. Maybe one sun you will learn." and she laid down again to lick him.

Rombu was small, but growing fast. His coat was a red-brown and the tuff of his tail was a red-gold. The eyes were still baby blue, but there was some development of green in them.

"Daddy!" he yelled, pleased as he romped through the grass, over to the approaching Kikaru.

Zarazu leaned down and nuzzled his son. Meersha smiled. His mane was almost fully grown.

"You got off early today," Meersha exclaimed.

He nodded with a grin. "They said that was our last lesson."

"Really? That's great!" she said, sitting up by him now as Rombu head butted their forelegs playfully.

"Yup," he said proudly. "They say we're all true lions now. But, Meersh..." and he looked down at Rombu, making sure he was now too busy, pouncing after bugs. "when is the time that you pick your mate?"

"Er, well, I'm not sure. Mother and Yawnda haven't told me yet," she explained.

Meersha had finally been calling Ahadgna "Mother" now that Rombu was calling her "Grandma."

"So um, who do you think you're going to, uh, pick, then?" he asked nervously.

She smiled and bopped him on the head with her paw. "Who do you think, ya silly cub? You!"

He returned the smile, along with a sigh of relief.

Later that night, the small family was atop the hill near the water hole, staring up at the sparkling stars.

"What are they?" Rombu asked as he rolled over on his back.

"They're the lions of the past," exclaimed Meersha, gazing up at them with wonder, as she recalled the times she had done this with her mother, father and brothers.

"Wow," the cub muttered in pure fascination. "Will I be up there one day?"

"We all will." she acknowledged.

"Cool!" he shouted, and started pouncing around.

Because of Zarazu's lessons ending, the three of them spent more and more time together. For once in a long time - ever since she left her brother, half-brother and half-sister - Meersha felt happy. She smiled, laying in the grass on the hill that oversaw the silky water hole.

"Mom!" she heard someone call.

"Yeah, Rombu?" she asked as he came romping over to her.

"Dad just showed me all the lands of the Broken-Claw!"

"Took ya long enough," the lioness snickered as Kikaru came over.

"Hey," he giggled. "He barely gets to see what's far from this water hole, don't ya son?"

Rombu nodded as his father nuzzled and licked Meersha. Soon, though, the cub was pouncing a near fly.

"You know, Zarazu, this cub has really brought us together and has made us happy," Meersha pointed out.

"Mhm," Kikaru replied with a nod, smiling at the playful Rombu.

Indeed, this little scrap of fur, this tiny animal had brought them both happiness. Rombu was something special. He was a miracle, just as Meersha herself was, having been lucky enough to survive the actions of a rogue as a cub, even if she didn't see herself the way she saw Rombu. How brave and strong he was to have gone through it. And more happy moments came from him, because, they - Zarazu and Meersha - both felt in their minds, even if they hadn't said anything, and the ceremony hadn't yet taken place, the two thought of each other as mates. They were a family. They were kin.

Meersha smiled at the thought. I have kin again, she stated in her mind. And nothing can take that away from me.

Rombu ran down the hill, away from the water hole and the knoll his teen parents were on.

"Don't go far, Rombu!" Meersha called.

"I won't!" he replied over his shoulder.

"He'll be OK. There's guards anyway," Meersha said to herself.

Kikaru shook his head. "Mother let the guards go back to training for future...'hunts.'" he exclaimed. "They did when you got Rombu."

She blinked. "Ah, I wonder why they didn't tell me."

"Guess they trusted you enough to take them away, but not enough to tell you." and he shrugged.

The cub tilted his head as a gray feather landed in front of him. Smirking, he crouched for a moment, before pouncing on it. Yet, due to the wind, it was let free in the air again. Snarling, Rombu ran after it, crossing the borders of the Broken-Claw Empire. His parents, being young and in love, were nuzzling and chattering away, not even noticing their cub was now in real danger as the feather landed on a river bank. A few feet away, the small lion crouched once more, growling, before suddenly leaping up. It was then, that he landed on it, and it was then, that the giant, black rock - or what he thought was a rock - rose from its spot in the gentle river, abruptly breaking the surface, only to reveal an angry face, a flaring nose, blazing eyes and large horns. Rombu gasped and jumped back in fright, forgetting about the feather that was now taken away in the water. The buffalo's ears twitched angrily as he narrowed his eyes at the cub.

"What do you want?!" he yelled.

Rombu took a few steps back, only to have the buffulo walk in front of him on land now, soaking wet as he spit the grass out from his mouth. "Well?"

"I-I'm sorry," the cub stammered. "I just-"

"You just what?" interuppted the huge animal. "You just ran into me on purpose."

"No! I-"

"It doesn't matter now! My patience is running out. You stepped upon my land and will pay. But just to be fair, I will count to three."

"What?" and he cocked his head.

"One..."

Rombu's eyes widened, and he turned sharply around to run back back.

"Two,"

"Mom! Dad!" he yelled as he scampered away.

"Three!"

"Help!"

Suddenly, thunder sounded behind him as the ground shook. Rombu could feel the buffalo catch up to him in a couple split seconds, hearing him snort as the gigantic hooves pounded the ground, almost ripping the dirt apart from his weight so that chunks of the earth flew out everywhere. When he was close enough, he lowered his head, the horns gentle pressing at the cub in front. Rombu gasped at the sudden touch, but found, surprisingly, that it was light, and the only thing it did was push him. It didn't stop his heart from beating in fear, though and his eyes from tearing up. The buffalo was just playing with him, but would soon make that one move which would end Rombu's life.

"Mom! Dad!" he pleaded.

Back at the hill, Meersha lifted her head, ears twitching as she scented the air.

"Zarazu, did you hear that?" she asked.

"Hmm? Hear what?" he mumbled, peaking out of one eye.

The adolescents had just gotten ready for a catnap when Meersha had heard the cries for help.

"MOM!" someone yelled in the distance.

"That!" she snapped, jumping up and running, following her son's scent trail as Kikaru quickly did the same.

The lions luckily met up with the cub who had been running as fast as his little legs to carry him as he panted. Meersha and Zarazu leapt in front of him, roaring. This gave Rombu time to stop and breathe deeply as his parents reassured his safety.

"What are you doing to our son?!" Meersha snarled.

"He got on my territory!" the buffalo snorted after he had come to a hault.

"He did not harm you or your land," growled Zarazu lowly. "And he's just a cub. So back off."

The buffalo lowered his head and stomped the ground in challenge.

"You might want to move out somewhere else, and take your family with you. You're right by a large pride that can take down any elephant," the lion threatened.

This caused the huge animal to snort, and back off.

The lions said nothing, and Meersha picked up her son as they headed back. When at the hill again, the lioness heaved a sigh after setting the little one down, not exactly knowing what to say.

"I-" he started, but she then cut him off, now finding the words.

"How dare you!" she growled. "I tell you not to go too far but you do!" She paused and hesitated before using the words her mother and father had used on her when she was being a naughty cub. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Rombu's ears lowered at the scolding as he pawed the ground. "Aw, I'm sorry, Mom. I was just playing."

"You're not gonna be a true lion if you do things like that, son." advised Kikaru.

The cub looked up. "Huh?"

"Any male adult in the Broken-Claw must be a true lion. Now, are you going to be a true lion?" he asked.

Rombu sat up and blurted out, "Yes!"

"Well straighten up then," the lion said, pawing playfully at the cub.

Meersha blinked, thinking for a moment. She had joined the Broken-Claw, but even if she hadn't she would've been forced to, all because she had the scent of Banjija and Gatu - who supposedly had tried to take over the pride - all over her. Now, did she really want to raise her cub - or any cubs for that matter - here? The lioness was about to point that out, when yet another thought struck her. If she were to try and have a normal life in a pride or make one up herself, then that would mean she would have to let Zarazu go, because one sun, he would either be chased off or killed. As well as any future cubs. Really, she pondered, what's better? Living here or in a "normal" pride?

"What's wrong?" Zarazu asked, sensing something wasn't right.

She sighed and shook her head. "Nothing."

"Tell me." he said, nudging her with his nose. "Er, if you want to."

Again, she shook her head. "Nothing I'd be able to find the answer to anyway."

That night, the small family was still at the hill, sleeping peacefully under the twinkling stars. Not even crickets were sounding that moon, and so it all seemed so much harder for the creeping shadow to get closer to the three lions. It was a daunting job, not just stepping on old grass or moving a bush, but eventually, the shadow was close enough to them to let the moonlight show in its face, so that if one looked up, they would see the evil _expression of Yawnda. She glared, narrowing her eyes at the cub. It had been thirty suns and thirty moons, and now it was time. But the lioness had overseen the incident earlier that day. She had been able to find a feather, and not stuck it in Rombu's sleeping face. It tickled his nose as she slumped off.

"Huh?" he muttered to himself, opening his eyes. "Hey!" he growled then, getting up quickly, ready to pounce the feather. Right as the cub landed before it, though, the piece of nature was soon up in the air once more. He tilted his head and watched. It was getting away! But last time this had happened, it had ended him in a quite of a situation. Should he follow it? Unfortunately, being the playful, mischievous cub he was, Rombu padded after.

It took but a few minutes for the cub to end up far away from his mother and father again. The feather had been blown over, behind a few large boulders. The direction of the sudden wind had not been planned, but hoped for. Shadows blanketed the giant rocks' walls, but Rombu had seen plenty of them, and was always reassured that a shadow came from a tree or a stump...usually. Yet he was so in tuned to this feather, that even as it landed right between the boulders, he did not notice one of the shadows shift.

"There goes the prey," he told himself, smirking at the fallen feather. "Here comes the predator!"

And with that, he leapt once again. This time, the feather had stayed, but Rombu gasped as someone had suddenly walked up in front of him. Yawnda shook her head with a, "Tut, tut." She sat down and exclaimed, "Cubs shouldn't be out late at night, away from their mommies."

Rombu stared up into the cold face of the lioness, whom his mother had told him about several times to know she was never up to any good. He began to back up, his eyes wide with fright. Maybe he was not afraid as he was supposed to be, after all, this lioness was family. And family would not hurt family, right?

Suddenly, the shadows of the lions were melted into one. Only a second later, the larger shadow rose, and padded away. The smaller one was left, still. Just a few moment later, the big one came back, looking somewhat deformed as it was holding something - a bloody piece of mane, which was rubbed around on the infant. It had once belonged to nothing more than a victim, as was the body of the cub.

The next day, everything made Meersha frantic. When she had found that her cub was not around, she had began to call, then search, and finally go to others for help, including other animals. Zarazu helped all he could, but no one knew where the cub had gone. None of the lionesses themselves knew either. It was when she nervously approached Ahadgna, did she get a clue.

"I believe," the ghostly lioness said, yawning from atop her hill. "That there was a rouue lurking near the southwestern borders of our lands...Isn't that where you usually are?"

Meersha gasped, and took off to tell Kikaru of the news. He roared, and their search became more desperate.

"Bahashi!" she pleaded when she was at the one knoll where many of the lionesses lazily basked in the sun were. "Tell me, have you seen my cub?"

"Oo, you've had him but a full moon and you've already lost him?" she snickered in responce.

Meersha glared, ears folding back for a moment, before she looked around, notcing a few lionesses were missing. About to ask, her question was answered as a few of the missing lionesses - including Yawnda - had met up with the rest of the pride, panting.

"Meersha," breathed Yawnda. "We...we found your son."

"Where?!" she quickly asked, jumping up.

But Yawnda shook her head gravely and after catching her breath, replied, "It's all too sad. You might not want to see him."

"What? What happened?!"

"A rogue," said one of the lionesses who had accompanied Yawnda. "We tried to stop him but..."

"He got to the poor cub before we could," another exclaimed.

Meersha gasped. "No!"

"I'm sorry," Yawnda uttered, looking at the ground. "I'm sure you don't want to see-"

"No! It's not true! Not my little Rombu!" she cried.

"Come. Follow, then."

The two walked out to the southwest, passing Hawkna on their way.

"Pretty lioness in tears?" he responded to the scene. "Want me to make it all better?"

"Enough!" snapped Yawnda. "There has been a murder, by a most untrue lion. Now hush."

The male fell silent as the two soon disappeared over the horizon. Meersha just stared in front of her, not talking, not crying, and rarely blinking.

"Meersha! What's wrong? Have they found him?" Zarazu called as he ran over to them.

"I'm leading her to him now, if you'd wish to come," Yawnda replied.

"Yes! He's my son!"

The trio didn't take long to stop at a few boulders, and Zarazu didn't need telling that something bad had happened.

"In there," the old lioness whispered.

Meersha and Zarazu looked at each other briefly, fearing for the most, before padding silently in. There, in the circle of huge rocks, lie the bloody carcass of little Rombu. Meersha roared so loudly, that near animals fled. It was a roar that filled the whole night with a terrible shock, layered by sentiments that could only be recognized as one of pure sorrow and grief.