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

Ashanti: Peace Of Milele Chapter 5

How ironic. To survive drowning and coming all this way only to die getting eaten by crocodiles.

Crocodiles are approaching fast from behind.

"I hate secrets," yelled Mufasa.

Releasing the log, Ashanti makes a break for shore toward Taka.

Mufasa tries to follow but is far clumsier about it due to his lack of experience in swimming combined with his newfound fear of water from the flood that brought them here.

Noticing his predicament, Taka said "Swim."

"But I can't," said Mufasa, barely able to keep his head above the water.

"You have to swim," urged Taka, pacing back and forth in a panic as he watched the crocodiles get closer and little progress on Mufasa's part.

"I don't know how," shouted Mufasa.

"Mufasa, copy me! Pretend you're walking on the ground but in the water," said Ashanti.

Nodding, Taka said "She's right. Chin up and walk underwater really fast."

Thrashing around, Mufasa whined, "I-I can't."

"Come on, Mufasa," said Taka, anxiously standing on the edge.

Ashanti finally makes it to the embankment. While it would be no hindrance at all for an adult lion, it's still too high for cubs like them. She attempts to climb up independently yet can't get the proper footing.

By some miracle, Mufasa reaches them without sinking. Seeing his little sister is in trouble Mufasa ignores the danger to himself and instinctively gives Ashanti a boost. She now has enough leverage to make it to safety.

Digging his back paws in and pulling Ashanti by the scruff, Taka said "There you go."

"Thank you," gasped Ashanti, turning to look down at her brother still trapped. "Mufasa, you have to come up. They're almost here!"

Having the same difficulty, she did in locating no sure spot to plant his claws, Mufasa pleaded "Help me, Taka! Help me!"

Doing the only thing that comes to mind, Taka reaches out and digs the claws of his front paws into Mufasa's own and tries to pull him up on his own to no avail.

Whimpering, heart thudding in her chest, Ashani buries her head under her paws unable to watch her brother get eaten.

Suddenly, a booming roar echoes around them. Ashanti would've assumed she was simply imagining it except for the massive shadow standing over her and Taka that she sees as she peeks through her legs. One familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

A female lioness.

Ashanti's heart soars as she watches the lioness scare off the crocodiles with her massive roar and then manage to successfully tug both Taka and Mufasa to safety. Her first thought is that this is Afia, arriving just in the nick of time to save them from catastrophe.

That is until Ashanti hears the lioness speak and it registers what is actually in front of her.

"I told you to wait for me," she said, sharply stern.

All at once it hits Ashanti that this isn't her and Mufasa's mother.

This is a different lioness entirely to Ashanti's disappointment.

This lioness is Eshe, the Queen of Taka's pride and his mother.

Undeterred by his mother's anger, getting up from where he'd been playing with Mufasa in a small tussle, Taka said "It's not my fault, Mom. I came down for a drink and saw them floating by. I'd like you to meet Mufasa and his sister Ashanti."

Bowing her head, curling her ears back in submission, and shrinking a little closer to the ground, meekly, Ashanti said "Hello."

"Hi," said Mufasa, politely.

Scoffing, nudging Taka in the rear to get him moving away from them after staring critically at the twins, Eshe said "You're lucky those crocs were young and afraid to fight. Let's go."

"But we can't just leave them here," protested Taka, arguing on their behalf.

Shaking her head, Eshe said "Rules are rules, Taka. Obasi will never accept a stray let alone two."

Quietly, Mufasa said "We're not strays. We're just lost."

"See," said Taka, brightly. "They're just lost."

Mufasa explained "There was a flood. Our parents tried to save us. Do you know which way is home?"

This causes Eshe to stop, her demeanor softening as she listens to this.

Sympathetic pity rises in Eshe's heart for these two lost cubs, and she comes to a decision about them on her own as a strong sense of compassion takes over.

"Oh, to be lost is to learn the way," said Eshe, softly, pressing her face to theirs and gently nudging them. "Call me Eshe."

Ashanti rubs against Eshe's front legs, licking her muzzle in appreciation and giggling when Eshe licks her right back.

Bowing his head in fatigue, bedraggled, Mufasa said "I'm tired, Eshe."

Bouncing on his paws excitedly, moving ahead of them, Taka said "Come on. It's this way."

Smiling, Eshe leads Mufasa and Ashanti in the direction of her and Taka's pride.

Ashanti and Mufasa stop briefly to stare out over the marshlands, thinking of their parents and where they came from. For just a second maybe believing Mesago and Afia would appear over the distance to join them.

But they don't, to the twin's sorrow.

Fortunately, the feeling doesn't last for very long.

"Come on, Mufasa, Ashanti. Don't fall behind," called Eshe.

Mufasa and Ashanti shake themselves off and run to catch up to Taka and Eshe through the long grass away from the marshlands. To a new home, a new pride, and so many potential new possibilities that await them here in the face of adversity.

Unfortunately, the twins aren't out of the woods yet.

There remains one quite serious complication left to face before either of them can rest. This complication has a name.

Obasi.

The dominant male of this pride will have the final say on whether or not they can stay.

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.