III The Adult
Chapters
26. A New Meersha
27. Only Two Now
28. The Ceremony
29. Unexpected Bloodshed
30. Her Dying Wish
31. Dibi
32. By the River
33. Gatu's Quest
34. Strangers
35. Heavy Sentiments
36. A Fight in the Rain
37. The New Pride
38. Cubs, Establishments and Travels
39. Same Blood
40. Two Old Lions and Two Young Lions
41. The Flatland Pride
42. A Plan
43. The Warning
44. Finally
45. A Son's Revenge
46. Welcome Home
47. A Real Leader
48. Reunited
49. Corrupting the Circle of Life
50. Passing the Emperor
51. The Birth of the Twilights
52. A Best-kept Secret
53. Father and Son
54. A Chase to Danger
55. A Trick, a Chase, and a Mistake
56. Mist is an Ally
57. Her Mistake
58. Decisions
59. A King and a Brother
60. Hello…Goodbye
61. Searching
62. The Pass
63. Messenger of King Basha
64. A Broken Love
65. The War
66. Her Path
67. Turned Upsidedown
68. Leaving
69. The Feeling of Loss
70. Reborn
71. The New Nyte, and a Path Shaped and Ended
72. The Coming of Meersha
Epilogue
My Characters
Meersha (Daughter of Kinara and Ashuma, litter-sister of Kasha, Banjija, half-sister -younger- of Chusuka) Meer-sh-uh
Banjija (Son of Kinara and Ashuma, litter-brother of Kasha and Meersha, half-brother -younger- of Chusuka) Bon-shee-shaw -- "sh" pulled in like "z" is a pulled in "s", Banjija sounds African with French
Kasha (Son of Kinara and Ashuma, litter-brother of Banjija and Kasha, half-brother -younger- of Chusuka) Kaw-shaw
Kinara (Lioness of White-Feather pride, mother of Meersha, Kasha, Banjija and Chusuka) Kin-ar-uh
Ashuma (Once leader of the White-Feather pride, father of Kasha, Banjija. Meersha, and other various cubs) Uh-shoo-muh
Bayna (Lioness of White-Feather pride, mother of Lusala and Pashi) Bay-nuh
Lusala (Daughter of Bayna and Ashuma, sister of Pashi) Loo-saw-luh
Pashi (Daughter of Bayna and Ashuma, sister of Lusala) Paw-shee
Chusuka (Lioness of White-Feather Pride, daughter of Kinara and Tambi, mother of Toga) Choo-soo-kuh
Toga (Son of Chusuka and Ashuma) Toh-guh
Tambi (Once leader of White-Feather pride, father of Chusuka) Tawm-bee
Shashi (Lioness-shaman of White-Feather pride) Shaw-shee
Dashu (Once leader of White-Feather pride, father of Kinara) Daw-shoo
Tanda (Lioness of White-Feather pride) Tawn-duh
Helalu (Lioness of White-Feather pride) H-law-loo
Gatu (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Gaw-too
Tokto (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Tawk-toh
Shap (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Sh-ap
Daba (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Daw-baw
Naynana (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Nay-naw-nuh
Bondu (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Bawn-doo
Kiku (Lion cub in White-Feather pride) Kee-koo
Chaska (Leader of the White-Feather pride) Chaw-skuh
Gali (Female hippo) Gaw-lee
Unaro (Rogue lion) Oo-nar-oo
Natira (Wild shaman, grandmother of Unaro) Nuh-teer-uh
Ahadgna (Leader of the Broken-Claw) Uh-hawd-g-nuh
Yawnda (Lioness of the Broken-Claw) Yawn-duh
Chioke (Son -adopted- of Ahadgna) Chy-oh-kay
Kumba (Rogue lion) Koomb-uh
Gonra (Lioness of the Broken-Claw) Gohn-raw
Bahashi (Lioness of the Broken-Claw) Bawh-ha-shee
Ignu (Lioness of the Broken-Claw) Ig-noo
Uhawku (Son -adopted- of Ahadgna, part of the Drie-Leeu) Oo-hawk-oo
Hawkna (Son -adopted- of Ahadgna, part of the Drie-Leeu) Hawk-nuh
Kikaru, Zarazu (Son -adopted- of Ahadgna, part of the Drie-Leeu) Ki-kar-oo, Zar-aw-zoo
Rombu (Son -adopted- of Meersha and Zarazu) Rom-boo
Izegbe (Meersha's Broken-Claw name) Ee-zeg-bay
My New Characters
Hilali (Lioness of the Broken-Claw) Hi-law-lee
Julu (Lioness of the Broken-Claw) Joo-loo
Dibi (Male prarie dog) Dib-ee
Umbsha (Once leader of the Sunset pride, father of Yora, Tati) Oom-baw-shuh
Yora (Lioness of Sunset pride, daughter of Umbsha) Yor-uh
Kira (Lioness of Sunset pride, mother of Kashu and Tati) Keer-uh
Tati (Lion cub of the Sunset pride, son of Kira and Umbsha, son -adopted- of Banjija, brother -younger- of Kashu) Taw-tee
Imba (Daughter of Kinara and Tambi) Eem-buh
Mika (Lioness of Flatland pride, sister of O'star) Mee-kuh
O'star (Leader of Flatland pride, brother of Mika, father of Cheasala, Pinga and Pursha) Oh-star
Kula (Lioness of Flatland pride, mother of Cheasala) Koo-luh
Fina (Lioness of Flatland pride, mother of Pinga and Pursha) Fee-nuh
Runaka (Lioness of Flatland pride) Roo-naw-kaw
Cheasala (Lioness of Flatland pride, daughter of Kula and O'star, sister of Kirasi -- great, great grandma of the Cheasala featured in The Lion King VII: Kusa and Cheasala) Chee-saw-law
Pinga (Lioness of Flatland pride, daughter of Fina and O'star, sister of Pursha) Peeng-uh
Pursha (Lioness of Flatland pride, daughter of Fina and O'star, sister of Pinga) Per-sh-uh -- "sh" pulled in like "z" is a pulled in "s", like the word "Persia"
Kirasi (Son of Kula and O'star, brother of Cheasala) Ker-aw-see
Rawkshaw (Lioness shaman of Sunset pride) Rawk-shaw
Tara (Lioness of Sunset pride) Tar-uh
Bongo (Lion cub of Sunset pride) Bawn-goh
Runcha (Lion cub in Susnet pride) Roon-chuh
Kashu (Daughter of Kira and Umbsha, sister -elder- of Tati) Kaw-shoo
Hadra (Son -eldest- of Meersha and Zarazu, brother -eldest- of Binjaji, Gwalu and Tamu) Haw-druh
Binjaji (Son -second- of Meersha and Zarazu, brother -second eldest- of Hadra, Gwalu and Tamu) Bin-shaw-shee -- "sh" pulled in like "z" is a pulled in "s" so Binjaji sounds African with French
Gwalu (Daughter -third- Meersha and Zarazu, sister -third eldest- of Hadra, Binjaji and Tamu) Gwah-loo
Tamu (Daughter -youngest- of Meersha and Zarazu, sister –youngest- of Hadra, Binjaji and Gwalu) Tuh-moo
Ashu (Lioness of the Sunset pride) Aw-shoo
Hagra (Leader of the guards, lioness of the Sunset pride) Haw-gruh
Untru (Lioness of the Sunset pride) Oon-troo
Bayla (Lioness of the Sunset pride) Bay-luh
Talka (Hippo, once leader of Gali's pod) Tawl-kuh
Sutu (Son of Hunru, queen of the Nyte pride) Soo-too
Hunru (Mother of Sutu, once queen of the Nyte pride) Hoon-roo
Kami (Edler sister of Tae, mate of Ganru, once Messenger of the Nyte pride) Kaw-mee
Basha (Father of Bahi, once King of the Nyte pride) Baw-shaw
Yaynu (Once Shaman of the Nyte pride) Yay-noo
Bahi (Daughter of Basha, once Queen of the Nyte pride) Baw-hee
Tae (Younger brother of Kami, once Warrior of the Nyte pride) Tay
Ganru (Younger brother of King Basha, mate of Kami, once Protector of the Nyte pride) Gawn-roo
Kaniki (Once leader of the Sunlight pride) Kuh-nee-kee
Kangu (Son of Kaniki, once lion of the Sunlight pride) Kawn-goo
Shika (Once lioness of the Nyte pride) Shee-kuh
Belu (Once cub of the Nyte pride) Bay-loo
Tatri (Once cub of the Nyte pride) Taw-tree
Singdu (Once half-cub of the Nyte pride) Seeng-doo
Nitala (Ancestor of Meersha, once cub of the Sunlight pride, and lioness of the Nyte, adopted daughter of King Basha) Ni-taw-law
Yamu (Once lion of the Nyte pride) Yaw-moo
Saka (Cheetah cub) Saw-kaw
Hayru (Son of Hadra) Hay-roo
My Characters Updated
Meersha (Leader of the Twilight pride, daughter of Kinara and Ashuma, litter-sister of Kasha, Banjija, half-sister -younger- of Chusuka, mate of Zarazu, mother of -adoptive- of Rombu, blood mother of Hadra, Binjaji, Gwalu and Tamu) Meer-sh-uh
Zarazu (Son -adopted- of Ahadgna, mate of Meersha, father -adoptive- of Rombu, blood father of Hadra, Binjaji, Gwalu and Tamu) Zar-aw-zoo
Banjija (Leader of the Sunset pride, son of Kinara and Ashuma, litter-brother of Kasha and Meersha, half-brother -younger- of Chusuka, father -adotive- of Tati) Bon-shee-shaw -- "sh" pulled in like "z" is a pulled in "s", Banjija sounds African with French
Naynana (Daughter of Ashuma, mate of Kumba, mother of twin cubs) Nay-naw-nuh
Kumba (Mate of Naynana, father of twin cubs) Koomb-uh
Hadra (Leader of the Twilight pride, father of Hayru)
Part III:
The Adult
XXVI
A New Meersha
As the wind blows,
and the fog grows,
there will be a new one,
to destroy us all,
and there will be a new one,
to save us from the fall
-Prophecy of the Messiah (Highsun Era)
"Meersha, can I talk to you?" Zarazu asked.
A young lioness slowly stalked over to the male who sat atop the hill, over looking the water hole in the southwest. The female purred as she began nuzzling her future mate.
"Call me Izegbe. And what is it, Kikaru?" she replied.
He shook his head, his night-like mane flowing – it was fullgrown, as was he now.
"That!" Kikaru snapped.
"What?" she innocently peeped.
"Listen to yourself! You're calling me Kikaru – you Izegbe. You're at your lessons way earlier than usual. We barely get to talk because even in your freetime, you're always off with the pride-"
"They're my family, Kikaru!"
"Stop calling me that! And no they're not!"
"Yes they are." she growled lowly. "What's happened to you? You're not the lion I remember..."
Zarazu's blue eyes widened as he looked over Meersha in shock. He fumbled to find words, but she went on.
"I'm just off with them...hunting. How d' ya think we get food, silly?" Her voice was smooth, and somewhat reflected Ahadgna's. "And why can't I spend time with kin?"
"Well what about me?" he whispered coldly, then looked away, glaring at the ground.
"Oh don't be like that, hunny," she purred, nuzzling him once more. "Don't be so jealous."
He suddenly jerked around, roaring, "I'm not jealous! Just worried!"
"There's nothing to be worried of, Kikaru," she assured, with an awkard giggle.
"Don't call me that." the lion warned.
"It's your rightful name, though. Just as Izegbe is mine."
Zarazu took a deep breath, before exhaling deeply, and bursting out, "You used to hate lessons, Meersha! And now, every time you come back, you always arrive at midnight, smelling as blood!"
"Blood from your meals." Izegbe growled, slightly shocked at his yelling. "The meals I get you."
"That's not it...I mean, you do get food, and I thank you and the others for it. But I smell more than just zebra or antelope."
She took a step back, astonished, before becoming outraged once more. "What are you saying?"
"I don't know," He glared.
"Are you saying...I'm a murderer?"
"I'm not sure..."
Izegbe blinked, taking another step back.
Seeing his mistake, Zarazu quickly replied, "I mean no."
She glowered at him, though. Before Izegbe could reply, there was a voice behind her.
"Hey, love birds,"
Meersha turned. "Yawnda."
"Tonight's the big ceremony at the Rock Claws, just to let you know. The boy's are...anxious," Yawnda snickered. "Oh and, you better choose the right one." she glanced darkly at Zarazu. "To mess up this, could mean messing up the future."
With that, the older lioness turned and slowly walked off.
Zarazu couldn't help but shiver at the thought of never being picked for Meersha. So far, they were best friends! He couldn't stand it, and wouldn't know what to do if he wasn't picked.
Indeed Meersha had changed, though. It was about about two full moons after the killing, and she had taken part with the Broken-Claw. She had accepted them as family, and accepted her "rightful" name as Izegbe. People began to respect her – almost as much as Ahadgna – all except Yawnda, who looked at her as she had the time Meersha first came. This only caused Zarazu's suspicion to grow. What could she have done to get the whole pride to like her? It wasn't that he wasn't proud or glad for her, but most of the lionesses had not taking a liking to her in the first place, so there had to have been something she had done to gain this much respect. And, knowing this pride for practically his whole life, Zarazu knew there was nothing good she could do to get their admiration.
One would think she had turned to murdering, though this was not it...not yet, at least. But of course, her hatred of adult males had dawned, and was now thriving. She hated all – all but Kikaru. What of her father? Brothers? They didn't matter now, and deep down, Meersha knew she would most likely never see them again. And so she had pushed them out of her mind, along with any cubhood memories. She didn't hate them, she just did not know them anymore. They were gone – they were nothing to her.