Moonrise
Chapter 7
The Circle of Life
"From the eternal flame, you are reborn."
The sun rose over the Pridelands on the morning of the Winter solstice as a lion roared the news in the distance.
"Nants ingonyama bagithi baba!" The dark one's chanting sang through the air. The two gods who assisted her sang the spell into the yule morning. "Sithi uhm ingonyama!" They were singing in the tongue of the original continent where all cats had come from as they raised the new light one back to life. Hearing the roaring of the lion and the chanting of the dark one and two deities, the grazers raised their heads and took alert. The antelopes twitched their ears and looked towards the distance. "Nants ingonyama bagithi baba!" the lady in black's voice sang again, her voice carrying over the plains and across the animal kingdom, echoing through the dark castle that was her home. A cheetah stood on the hills overlooking the valley as a dragon flapped its wings in the distant watering holes. Life began to stir all around the animal kingdom and beyond, beckoned by the dark one's song. They knew what news the lions had brought. "Igonyama…"
From the animal kingdom and beyond, the animals began to follow the continuous chanting of the dark one and the god and goddess who were assisting her as they brought life back into the world. From around the enchanted forest and the exotic animal kingdom hidden within, animals of every shape and size began to migrate towards the dark castle and the kingdom of the animals that lay at its side.
"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.."
Deer and Unicorns leapt through the wood, leaving snow flying in glittering showers in their wake.
"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala…"
Birds and dragons of all shapes and sizes flew in large numbers, leaving silhouettes against the larger warmer sun that had risen over the enchanted land.
"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala…"
Elephants trudged through the waters of the Pridelands, carrying more birds on their tusks.
"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.."
Stray cats and dogs in the thousands padded towards the animal kingdom, howling and purring in celebration and walking side by side like brothers and sisters.
"Ingonyama nengw' enamabala…
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (se-to-kwa!)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (asana)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (se-to-kwa!)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (se-to-kwa!)"
As Nimue sang the final words to the spell, a little newborn giraffe stepped out into the sunlight for the first time, observing the herds, packs and flocks in their thousands.
"From the day we arrive on the planet,
And blinking, step into the sun,
There is more to see than can ever be seen,
More to do, than can ever be done.."
From the Maharaja jungle in the animal kingdom, packs of Asiatic wolves bounded forward with joy, tongues happily panting as monkeys chittered besides them and even vultures flew overhead in respect.
"There's far too much to take in here,
More to find than can ever be found,
But the sun rolling high, through the sapphire sky,
Keeps great and small on the endless round…"
All of the animals, from Forest to field, from protected preserves and farms, from the highlands to the Pridelands were all gathering around one special place in the animal kingdom. Over the protected Savannah was an outcrop that had been home to the lions. Merlin used to address his animal subjects from that place where nearly the whole of the enchanted forest could be seen, where one could see everything that the light touched. The lion who had sent the message, Sarabi, stood on the highest rock to oversee the gathering for the presentation of the new light one.
"It's the circle of life,
And it moves us all,
From despair and hope,
To faith and love.."
The dark one's owl, Archimedes, bent low, fanning his feathers. Sarabi had been friends with Nimue and had suckled her and her sister when they were abandoned as children. The lioness smiled and bent her head with respect. And now she would help Nimue welcome her own cub into the world even though she was not technically a cub. Her new cub would allow her to see her mate again, who's spirit was now within her.
"Till we find our way,
Through the path unwinding.."
The throng of animals parted to allow two figures to come through. They were the two deities who had helped Nimue bring the light one back into the world. Behind the muscular, beautiful blonde warrior and the tall dark haired god of mischief was the dark one herself, her cape sweeping behind her and her golden face brimming with pride. She looked tired but thrilled, joyful maternal tears welling in her eyes. Sarabi stood up and embraced her, the dark one wrapping her arms around the lioness before following her into the warm and cozy dimness of pride rock.
The lionesses that would become part of what was now known as Goldenpride were laying around and protectively surrounding the new Queen of the animal kingdom. Laying there weak and injured but alive and breathing was a young female imp of teenage years now with tawny long and fluffy hair, a leg brace around her injured knee, a long fluffy feline tail curling out from the cloth diaper that was wrapped around her waist and tail, feline ears and golden glittering skin. She had been dressed in a red and gold tartan dress and a tawny fur cape covered her shoulders. A leather collar with a glowing bell that would serve as a translator was looped around her neck. She blinked in confusion as her eyes slowly opened to the new sunlight entering the cave, her vision trying to adjust. Her amber eyes glowed in the dim light with happiness upon seeing Nimue. The dark one's voice sang softer now as she got to her knees to embrace her light one.
"In the circle, the circle of life…."
The god of mischief approached to look upon his and Freya's creation with a smile, not able to help himself. His mother had taught him magick and he had actually helped Frigga deliver some of Asgard's citizens. He was using his traditions and those of the Pridelands to bless the young queen. He shook a rattling charm over her head and spoke in Norse, blessing upon her the power of shapeshifting. Splitting apart a jackfruit, he used the fruit to trace runes with the meaning of "king" and "leader" and "chief" across her golden forehead. No longer abused and feeling safe in her dark one's embrace, she couldn't help batting at it as her feline instincts came to the surface. His emerald eyes danced with fond amusement as he smirked and sprinkled herbs over her, causing the imp to sneeze softly and adorably. Freya chuckled and placed a circlet of antlers upon her head, to signify her connection to the light one that came before.
Nimue chuckled and cackled before trying to help her rise to her feet with Freya on the other side. Goldenstar's weak legs and injured knee immediately buckled, panting in exhaustion. It was too soon for her to walk. Loki shook his head and smirked, picking up the small cat demon as if the immortal teenager was his own newborn. Carrying her out to the awaiting throng of animals like the child she was deep down inside, he stepped up to pride rock as Nimue sang out again.
"It's the circle of life,
And it moves us all,
Through despair and hope,
Through faith and love…"
Lifting her high into the air so that all creatures could see her, the animals began to cheer with fervor. Elephants trumpeted in triumph. Canines barked and howled. Big cats and their domestic cousins roared and yowled in celebration. Dragons roared. Monkeys cheered and whooped. Zebras and horses whinnied and pawed at the ground. The light one had happy tears in her glazed over eyes as she looked over her new kingdom, her new family. She had gone from being abused to being celebrated, from hated to rejoiced. Even the long thin scar across her eye couldn't mar her joy.
The animals bowed their heads in respect and all creatures bent low as ears and horns scraped the ground. The sun burst forth from the cloud cover, rays of sunlight illuminating the new queens face from the star she now represented. The enchanted Forest had a new light one. The animals bowed their heads in respect at Queen Goldenstar, the new queen of the beasts.
"Till we find our way,
On the path unwinding,
In the circle…the circle of life.."