Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Ashanti and any alterations to the original storyline her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.

Ashanti: Peace Of Milele Chapter 4

"…Ashanti."

Releasing a gasp upon hearing her mother's voice, Ashanti opens her eyes and frantically gulps in the air.

Once she has regained her bearings, Ashanti takes on her situation.

Ashanti is surrounded in all directions by a vast amount of water—more water than she's ever seen in her short life.

All at once everything comes back to her in quick flashes. The rains returning, the flood at the river, the destruction of the dam, and the water carrying her and Mufasa away from their parents.

The last thing Ashanti recalls is Afia calling out their names and she and her twin reaching out for each other before everything went black.

And now she's here.

"Mom? Dad? Mufasa," whimpered Ashanti, desperately, grip tightening on the log as she strains to find anyone in her family alive with her. "Can anyone hear me? Is anyone out there? Mom?"

Ashanti heard her Afia's voice. Surely her mother has to be close by out with her. But she isn't. Afia is nowhere in sight. And neither is Mesago or Mufasa.

"Please…don't leave me alone," sobbed Ashanti, crying into her paws.

Ashanti is well and truly alone.

Or so she thinks.

Suddenly, off in the distance, a sound catches that makes her ears flick.

Another voice calling out. One that is very familiar.

Eyes widening, immediately recognizing it, frantically looking in all directions for the speaker, Ashanti called "Mufasa? Brother, I'm here! I'm here!"

The voice answers back through the light fog. Growing clearer and clearer until it was literally right there in front of her.

"Ashanti!"

It is Mufasa. Like her, he is hanging onto a log for dear life although his is much smaller than hers. Brother and sister kick toward each other until they're well within reach. As soon as this is so, Mufasa ditches his floatation device and latches onto hers.

The twins greet each other with eager licks, nuzzles, and purrs, beyond happy to see that the other is alive.

Crying, Ashanti said "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I thought you were gone."

"So did I. One minute I was being thrown around everywhere and the next I was waking up on a log."

"Me too," said Ashanti, broaching a subject that hit both of them. "Mufasa…our parents…Have you seen them?"

Ears drooping, Mufasa shook his head.

A wave of distraught grief and devastation hits Ashanti anew, burying her face in her paws.

Laying his head on top of hers, trying to appear brave for her, Mufasa said "It's going to be fine. I'm going to take care of you."

Easier said than done. Too young to hunt and with no home of their own, what hope is there for their survival now?

The river system that Ashanti and Mufasa were on connected to other waterway networks, therefore carrying the pair far from the familiar. Removed from all they had known and brought them to completely unfamiliar territory.

Ashanti and Mufasa lost track of how many days they'd been stranded in the river, letting the current carry them on its own.

Water is aplenty for them now, but with barely anything to eat afloat like this, the twins are quickly losing strength.

Mufasa and Ashanti don't know what to do.

Sure, they have each other, but without their parents there to guide them with their supportive and comforting presence they're coming close to just feeling like giving up.

What else is there to live for now? What can they do as they are, so very tired and hungry?

But just when they're about to give in to their sadness and misery…

"Hello."

Ashanti and Mufasa instantly snap their heads in the direction of the voice's origin.

Upon on a nearby bank is another cub the same age as them.

Other lions? There are other lions here. Maybe the twins can find someone here to help them.

Seeing he now has their combined attention, grinning, he said "I'm Taka, Son of Obasi. What are your names?"

"I'm Mufasa. This is my sister Ashanti," introduced Mufasa.

"Hello," said Ashanti, waving a paw at him.

"Hi." Following their slow progress along the water's edge, Taka said "I'm not allowed to talk to outsiders, but I have a secret, and I really want to tell you."

"What's the secret," asked Ashanti, interestedly, struggling to maintain her grip on the log and helping Mufasa keep on it at the same time when he starts to slip.

Shaking his head, Taka said, "I'll get in trouble."

"Please just tell us. We can keep a secret," promised Ashanti, starting to kick with her bag legs toward the bank.

Mufasa mimics her when he realizes what the intentions behind her actions are.

"Uh, I don't know…," said Taka, uncertainly.

"Just tell us," shouted Mufasa, impatiently.

Ashanti smacks Mufasa with her paw for his rudeness.

"Okay," said Taka, cheerfully, finding it funny. "You're about to be eaten!"

This statement causes both Ashanti and Mufasa to freeze.

Say what now?

Authors Note:

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.