The Lion King: Dawn of the Nations
Episode 46: Innocence
In the dense jungle of Ferezan, over the fresh and green grass, Fuli was taking a walk. The midnight's cold made her shiver a bit, but she could handle it, she wanted some time alone, to think and reflect, while enjoying the landscape of her nation. She was talking to herself inside of her mind. "Will all be worth it?" The crickets and the sound of the river reached her ears as a soft and calm singing. "All the deaths we have suffered, just to…return to the Pride Lands." She blinked and a tear escaped her eye. "Food is abundant, as well as the fields for our cubs to run and play." Fuli glared down. "Baturu has brought so much dead and suffering, are we obliged to fight back with the same?"
"Love?" Azaad arrived all of a sudden.
Fuli gasped then glared at her mate and sighed. "You scared me."
Azaad chuckled. "Sorry." He approached her, starting to walk by her side. "Trouble to sleep?"
"Not really." Fuli replied, looking away. "I just needed some time to think. The final battle will be in a couple of days."
"What?" Azaad inquired.
"Kion sent a messenger." Fuli explained. "They will invade Baturu's land and kill him."
"Our warriors are ready for that." Azaad said. "Our captains have always kept them in shape."
"I know." Fuli replied. "It's just that, I don't know what will happen after that."
"Well, we'll all be free from that maniac, that's for sure." Azaad said.
"Yes, but, what then?" Fuli inquired. "We came back to the Pride Lands after a long exile, and now that we're back. It just…doesn't feel the same." Fuli thought for a moment. "I…I miss my friend."
"Kion?" Azaad raised an eyebrow.
Fuli nodded. "Those times when we defended our lands, with…" She smiled with nostalgia. "That innocent hope and bravery."
"Well, that was a long time ago." Azaad got closer to her. "Times change. We grow." He licked her cheek. "Am I the same cheetah I was before? Back when I met you?"
Fuli chuckled. "Of course not." She looked at him with playful eyes. "You are way more arrogant now."
"Arrogant, me?" Azaad inquired, nuzzling her neck. "You are as moody as you were back then."
"Hey, moody? Since when have I been moody?" Fuli raised an eyebrow.
"Uhm, since always?" Azaad chuckled.
"Okay…I think you're gonna sleep outside tonight." Fuli looked away jokingly.
"Oh, come on, I need your warmth. You want your mate to die by the cold?" Azaad licked her face lovingly.
Fuli pretended to not care. "That's what you get for calling me 'moody'."
"Oh, but you called me 'arrogant', remember, pretty?" Azaad got before her and nuzzled her snout.
"Well…" Fuli chuckled while blushing. "…that's the truth." She looked deeply into his eyes. "My arrogant, brave and silly Azaad."
"Brave." Azaad caressed her face with his snout. "Now that's accurate." He chuckled along with her. "My good, sweet and beautiful Fuli."
"Oh, I like that." Fuli chuckled briefly, then she got her forehead against his. "I love you."
Azaad closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness and love between him and his mate, her scent comforted his soul, her breathing was a blissful music to his ears. "I love you too, Fuli."
Faeze, Aozo, Niri and Tizei were looking at Jantu attentively, laying down before him, inside the lair. "The antelope was lost in the deep gorges of the Outlands, a young but strong and brave hyena heard his steps."
"You?" Niri inquired with fascination.
Jantu winked at him and continued his story. "The hyena walked over a higher ground than the prey, in order to ambush him! He didn't make any noise at all, and with a quick jump, the brave hyena jumped at the antelope and brought him down! Then he bit him until dead." He took a deep breath and then exhaled with nostalgia. "The hyena told his friends and they all ate together that night…just them, three hyenas enjoying a full antelope." He lowered his gaze slightly. "Three good friends."
"Woah, that's awesome! You took an antelope on your own!" Faeze praised.
Jantu chuckled briefly. "Well, I was hungry, hunger can be a good motivator."
"No one will stop us with you at our side! Karu-Karu will be invincible!" Faeze celebrated.
"Yeah! Maybe you could hunt some antelopes for us, that would be nice!" Tizei said.
Jantu chuckled. "Maybe, yeah. Some help will do no harm, though." He glared at the four cubs. "But you're too young to hunt antelopes."
"Oh, well I'll ask my mom to, uhm, train me already!" Faeze proposed.
"Yes, me too!" Niri said.
"I doubt mine would accept." Aozo opined.
"Mine will so it's done!" Tizei expressed with excitement.
"If only I were like you now." Jantu said.
"Huh?" Faeze inquired.
"I mean, a cub, you know?" Jantu explained. "With that happiness, that…wonder." He chuckled and let out a sigh of resignation. "But those days are gone."
"Well, you can be like us! You just have to, uhm, forget grown-up stuff once in a while, I guess that would work." Faeze got onto his paws and approached him.
Jantu let out a brief chuckle. "Thanks, but it's not that easy." He sighed. "Those times never return, you know?"
"Oh they can!" Faeze exclaimed with certainty.
Days pass like the water in a narrow river,
Everything changes in the blink of an eye,
Could we stop for a moment and enjoy the ride?
Playing with no worries and having a great time!
You can find!
New wonders and dreams to lighten up your heart,
You can find!
Everything that made you laugh when your paws were small,
You can find!
The place you thought it was long gone but it's voice echoed in you.
My life was bitter as the sun had lost its light,
Years of laughs and tears were now dust in the air,
The sounds I used to hear now seem like a dream,
I woke up early and my heart wants to return.
You can find!
New wonders and dreams to lighten up your heart,
You can find!
Everything that made you laugh when your paws were small,
You can find!
The place you thought it was long gone but it's voice echoed in you.
Jantu and the four cubs had fallen asleep, with their company and the warmth of the lair being everything they needed to have a peaceful night.
Dogo was thoughtful, sitting on the cold rocky ground at the main defile while glaring into the horizon. He was thinking about his cub, coming up with name options, male and female ones. Dogo was missing his mate greatly, but he knew that the only way to see her soon was to end the war with Baturu. His thoughts were interrupted by Bedor.
"My king." Bedor approached him.
"Bedor." Dogo greeted.
"You should have some sleep. The battle is days ahead." Bedor advised.
Dogo kept his glare focused in the horizon. "Their absence keeps me awake."
"I know. Still, It's wise to rest now." Bedor insisted. "You'll need all your energy when the day arrives."
Dogo kept gazing at the stars of the night. "Then…" He glared at him with a straight face. "…follow your own advice."
Bedor thought for a moment, then gave Dogo a nod and walked away from him.
Janja was sleeping, the complete darkness of the cave was of great help to let the nomad hyenas rest as they should. His ear twitched when hearing the crying of his mate, he opened his eyes rapidly and got onto his paws, then walked through the darkness, following the sound of Jasiri's sobs. He finally approached her, she was crying on a corner, sitting down, facing the rocky wall. "Hey." Janja got behind her, sitting down and resting his head on her neck.
Jasiri sobbed. "Sorry…I woke you up."
"It's okay." Janja licked her neck gently. "What's wrong?"
Jasiri shook her head. "It's nothing."
"Jasiri." Janja insisted. "Please, tell me."
Jasiri sighed. "I…I hate how things change, how easy…" She sobbed. "…how easy is to end up somewhere you…you never wanted to go."
"I get what you say." Janja nuzzled her. "None of us wanted this. Yet, we are here, it's what we have now."
"And how is that reassuring, Janja?" Jasiri sobbed. "You're just reminding me how bad of a leader I am. Jazanu was my…fault. I got too confident, I was blind." Tears ran through her fur continuously. "And now you're paying the consequences."
Janja looked away, getting thoughtful for a moment, then he frowned. "It's not your fault." He shook his head. "Not at all. There's only one we can blame for this."
Jasiri's crying got louder. "Kion…" Distant memories invaded her heart.
"Yes. He promised you the protection of his kingdom, the vastness of the Pride Lands." Janja expressed with anger. "But as soon as things went difficult…he didn't hesitate on exiling us. He broke his word."
Jasiri kept crying. "Why can't we return? To the times when everything was…easier." She shook her head. "Not all this stupid problems!"
Janja nuzzled her face. "Difficulties, they…show us the true face of the ones we once thought were on our side."
Jasiri sobbed on his shoulder. "What are we gonna do?" She kept crying with deep sorrow. "We can't live here forever."
Janja thought for a moment. "We'll make him fulfill his promise." He said with conviction. "Whether he likes it or not."