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 15
Combat has been successfully avoided around this conflict. At least for the time being thanks to Taka's intervention.
The three of them can thank the river for bringing them so far so fast.
In a section of the river that's much calmer the three of them climb out onto dry land.
Coughing and sputtering, sarcastically, Mufasa said "Well, that went splendidly."
"Let's never do that again," grunted Taka.
Scrambling out of the river, Ashanti crawls away and collapses on her side in fatigue.
Ashanti winces as a twinge in her abdomen sends a spasm through her.
Worry and fear thunder throughout Ashanti for her unborn cubs. This incident caused a lot of stress on her body.
As such her cubs might've sustained heavy damage. She doesn't know.
Noticing that she was in extreme distress, Mufasa said "Ashanti!"
Mufasa and Taka rush over to her side.
Checking her over, Mufasa said, "Are you alright?"
"I don't know. I'm fine, but the cubs…," said Ashanti.
The cubs?
Taka freezes as the cubs are mentioned.
In their haste to break away from the Outsiders, Taka had been so caught up in the moment that he'd forgotten about Ashanti's pregnancy. Taka's impulsiveness could've just cost him the cubs Ashanti is carrying.
Now that the threat from the Outsiders has passed with this increase in distance the risk of Ashanti now having a miscarriage from that stressful ordeal is now very real.
This realization hit the expectant father like a stampede of rhinos bulldozing over him.
In horror, slowly, Taka said "You're carrying our cubs…and I made you…jump off a waterfall."
Taka seems like he's about to faint.
Taka stumbles and Mufasa ends up catching him on the shoulder.
"How are the cubs," said Mufasa.
Holding up a paw, Ashanti said "Give me a minute."
Ashanti steadily works on catching her breath and steadying her heartbeat. Perhaps that'll get her womb to settle.
The attempt works.
It does take a little while, but Ashanti can feel her cubs resettle and her abdomen relaxing.
Releasing a relieved breath, Ashanti said "It's fine. Everything's okay."
"You are sure," pressed Mufasa.
"Positive," said Ashanti.
"You need to eat. I'll catch you something," said Mufasa, heading off to hunt.
"Do we have time for that," said Ashanti.
"We don't have much of a choice. You're eating for two, perhaps more. After that tumble, you need your strength, Sister," said Mufasa, vanishing into the bush.
Taka and Ashanti are left alone.
Taka proceeds to dote and fawn over Ashanti to make up for his severe error in judgment despite it being the right course of action at the time.
Proceeding to groom her, Taka said "Are you comfortable? Do you want me to get you some water?"
"I think I've had enough water for one day, Taka," said Ashanti, teasingly.
"Right," said Taka, ducking his head in bashfulness.
Ashanti's tail happily sways at this display from him.
Taka is very intrigued by the movements inside her womb as he catches a slight shift beneath the skin. He is making great efforts to remain regal and composed, but his enormous curiosity is all too apparent.
It amuses Ashanti considerably.
In soft warmness, Ashanti said "You can listen to them if you want. I know you want to."
Huffing impassively, Taka said, "No, I don't."
Lightly chiding, Ashanti said "Taka…It's fine. I know you like doing so when we're sleeping. It's very calming and soothing for you."
"And how do you know I like to do that," challenged Taka.
With a deadpan expression on her face, Ashanti said "Do you forget that I tend to rise earlier than you."
Taka's shoulders slump and ears droop in defeat as he sighs for having indeed forgotten about that.
Laughing at his awkwardness, Ashanti said "What are you waiting for? Go on. We have some time before Mufasa gets back."
Grumbling under his breath at the indignity of being found out, Taka settles beside her with a wallop and reluctantly places his head over her abdomen where the cubs would be resting.
Taka yanks back his head wearing a startled expression when their cub promptly kicks him.
Grinning, Ashanti said, "Looks like our child shares the same sentiment in saying hello to you."
Taka is royally miffed.
Chortling, Ashanti said, "Did you think I didn't know what you were doing?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't," mumbled Taka.
From her position, Ashanti uses her tail to tickle Taka behind the ear.
"Hey," said Taka, swatting it away.
Ashanti laughs upon getting the desired reaction out of her beloved and Taka soon joins in, displeasure slowly melting away with ease.
Changing the subject onto something more delightful and promising, Ashanti said "How many cubs do you think we're going to have? I know you were an only child before Mufasa and I came along, but our mother had twins."
"Even if it's one we will love it just as much if there had been two," said Taka, resolutely.
"I wish for it to be two," admits Ashanti, gingerly. "But if it's one, what do you think it will be? A male or a female?"
"A girl," said Taka, quickly.
Brow raised, Ashanti said "You sound so sure about that. What if it's a boy?"
Shaking his head profusely, Taka said "It is a girl. I'm sure of it. It must be. Coming out of that fall unscathed, the cub must have the fortitude and strength of their mother."
Ashanti purrs at the compliments from her mate. The level of love and certitude in the force behind his words made the young mother blush.
"Still, don't you wish for a boy? I know Obasi was more than content in just having a son and no daughters," broached Ashanti, gently. "It's what most kings want, having sons to succeed them instead of their daughters."
Face becoming stony, Taka said, "Not with me."
Mentioning Obasi appears to have touched a nerve with Taka.
Concerned, Ashanti said, "What is it, My Love?"
"My father…," said Taka, ashamedly, feeling awfully dreadful about it. "The way he treated you and Mufasa, endlessly insulting you. I cannot abide it. It was unconscionable. All you had ever wanted to do was please earn his approval. You did everything right and in return, he treated you so terribly."
"Taka, it's alright," said Ashanti, softly.
"No, it's not," said Taka, firmly, showing tremendous integrity alone upon speaking out at the injustices that had been thrown against her in particular. "It never was and never will be. His behavior was wrong, wrong on so many levels. My father committed a sin and did a huge injustice to the pride by being so contemptuous. Obasi conducted himself in a manner unbefitting his station or any royal. It hurt you every and in doing so much pain. The only reason why he finally accepted you and Mufasa in the end was because he needed to, not because he wanted to. Everyone could see it, including me."
"That is now in the past. We must now look forward to the future, not behind. I've forgiven him for that and so should you," said Asanti, wisely.
"Well, I can't. I won't. Not only did he act with disdain toward you and Mufasa, but he kept trying to turn me into a lazy fop of a lord instead of a righteous and noble ruler that a king is supposed to be," said Taka, angrily resentful. "Right before we left, Obasi pressed onto me that deceit is the way of a leader. Well, that is not me. I won't turn out that way."
"You are more than this, Taka. You are far more than what Obasi tried to mold you into being," said Ashanti, assuredly.
"And I will be," vowed Taka. "Here and now, I promise you, I will not be like the king that Obasi was. I will never shirk my duties and various responsibilities like Obasi always felt he was entitled to do. Obasi was an imbecile, completely incompetent to rule. I will be a just and fair ruler as Mother wanted me to be. Our cubs will never know what it means to be mistreated or pushed aside. I will ensure that our cubs will never be mistreated. Whether male or female, they will always possess my favor and be treated according to their station. I will be a proper father to them as Obasi never was to any of us."
"Taka," said Ashanti.
"He never looked on you with compassion and that was by far his greatest fault. Not seeing the infinite beauty and kindness within you," said Taka," reservedly.
"Taka, it's okay for you to miss him," said Ashanti, sympathetically.
"I'll miss Mother," allowed Taka. "And while I will always love my father, I doubt that I'll be missing his influence that much."
Sadly, Ashanti said "I wish that weren't the case. Although there wasn't much to admire, remember the good parts of him. Whatever they were."
"Fine," sighed Taka.
"Good," said Ashanti, tiredly.
"Do you miss your father," ventured Taka, moving up so that he was now sitting evenly beside her.
Nodding, Ashanti said "All the time."
"It must be a great comfort to you, to know that he's with you and Mufasa now," said Taka.
"It is," said Ashanti, smiling. "Then again…he's always been watching over us. I can feel him in my soul."
Carefully, Taka said, "You know what that means, don't you?"
Exhaling shakily, Ashanti said "It would be foolish not to. While I always held onto the hope, it was a likelihood that couldn't be callously ignored."
Cocking his head to the side, Taka asked "Does it pain you?"
"It does pain me, yes. But I have made my peace with it," said Ashanti, softly. "I've had to. But at least I know now that Father is trying to bring us home. To protect and provide for us, just as he tried to do before the flood."
Affectionately rubbing his face against hers, Taka said "I wish I could've met him. Masego sounds like such a strong and capable male."
Returning the gesture, Ashanti said "He would've liked you, too. I know he would've."
A purr rumbles deep in Taka's throat.
Insightfully, Ashanti said, "It's a new day with new opportunities that await us."
Not long afterward, Mufasa returns carrying a nice fat and juicy hare in his mouth. Gave him a bit of a chase, but he eventually outsmarted it.
Catching the tantalizing scent emanating off of it Ashanti licked her muzzle and stomach rumbling in eager anticipation. Looks like her cubs agree.
Biting into it, Ashanti relishes in the warm and succulent flavors overpowering her tastebuds.
As Ashanti is eating the hare a discussion is held between Mufasa and Ashanti.
It's been decided that after Ashanti is finished with her meal, the trio will have given a wide birth to any major activity so that they lay even more low in order to remain undetected.
A wise course. Hopefully, it'll buy them more time to reach Milele.
That is if it even exists.
Tragedy may have serendipitously united them and maybe it'll be the key to keeping them together.
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.