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 11
Taka is so grateful to be out actually doing something instead of being forced to sleep with the dull males in the pride. All they want to do is eat and sleep and that's not any fun or exciting at all.
Ashanti is immensely pleased to see Taka enjoying himself while privately musing to herself about the paths the future will take them now. The new life residing in her womb acts as pure motivation.
Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a peaceful interlude, as Eshe strove to make the hunting lesson be, is soon to turn into something completely horrifying and ungratifying if one is being candid about it.
Eshe, Mufasa, Ashanti, and Taka had located the antelope herd that Mufasa had found much to the latter's amazement. And they were oryx just as Mufasa had described and Ashanti suspected.
As much as Taka wanted to join in on the lesson, Ashanti held him back.
Eshe's original intention had been to teach Mufasa how to hunt in pairs, so all the two of them can do is watch. Taka is paying attention very closely while keeping his distance so as not to disrupt the hunt. None of them should return without something to show for it. That's why they're required to be so meticulously careful on these various hunting excursions. He observed and mimicked his mother's and Mufasa's movements just in case he ever had to use these methods. Right beside him, Ashanti adds further explanation to what the pair are doing in order to grant him a better understanding of it.
So preoccupied with all of this the four of them don't realize right away that they are not alone.
And it's not this oryx herd that they have to be concerned.
Obasi had spoken of those feared Outsiders, but they were very much real, not just legends.
And after all these seasons they have reached this prides section of the Valley of Kings.
Two mature male white lions called Shaju and Azibo are currently on the other side of the herd and have spotted Mufasa, Eshe, Ashanti, and Taka before any of them had any inclination that there are unwanted intruders in the territory.
Intruders that are not stalking these four other oblivious lions as prey instead of the antelope with ill malicious intent.
Unaware of the danger, inching forward on silent paws, making sure they don't scuff the ground, Eshe stalks through the long grass toward the herd. Using a fallen tree as a sort of blind.
Mufasa is following more slowly, watching closely for Eshe's signals.
Just as Eshe is about to attack, she suddenly catches an unfamiliar scent in the air as the wind shifts from upwind in their direction.
Ashanti catches it, too. The smell of unfamiliar cats. Not cheetahs or leopards, no.
This is the distinctive smell odor of other lions.
"What is it," said Taka, concerned.
Eyes wide, Ashanti said "We're not alone."
The oryx realize this same as them, snapping their heads up in high alert.
Not seeing the sense in keeping their presence hidden, Ashanti shouts "Intruders!"
That sets the oryx off in a panicked stampede.
From their hiding places Saju and Azibo break cover, roaring as they charge.
"Mufasa, run," said Eshe, turning just in time to intercept the male that launched at her from over the fallen tree.
"Eshe," shouted Mufasa, instinctively charging forward to defend her, coming to her aid.
"Mother," called Taka, frantically.
Ashanti and Taka run side by side toward the peril.
Taka ends up getting slammed by a fleeing oryx, knocking him off course.
The same can't be said for Ashanti. She makes it all the way. Ashanti makes it all the way there to stand at Eshe's side. Mufasa stands as their first line of defense, growling and baring his teeth at these trespassers.
Ashanti and Eshe look to Taka, waiting for him to join them.
He doesn't.
Allowing fear to take over, Taka turns tail and bolts, running for his life.
"Taka," muttered Eshe, heartbroken.
Ashanti exhales shakily as she watches Taka run away from them.
These two females aren't left to linger on this for very long.
The fight soon resumes.
"Keep moving, Mufasa! And go for the neck," said Eshe, she and Ashanti teaming up together.
Their opponent swiped Ashanti aside with a paw and had Eshe in a vulnerable position on her back. Ashanti claws Shaju's shoulders but fails to yank him off. He's too big.
Seeing the danger, Mufasa knocked aside his Azibo to go after Shaju.
So focused was he on Eshe that Shaju wasn't prepared for Mufasa's attack.
Mufasa careened headlong into Shaju, sending the white lion flying. Shaju ends up impaled by a thick branch, killing him instantly.
Realizing he is now fighting alone and way outnumbered, Azibo now chooses to retreat. Running for him life and to inform the leader of his pride Kiros what's happened here.
Mufasa, Ashanti, and Eshe roar and swipe at Azibo, nipping at his haunches to send him off faster.
"It's okay, Mufasa. It's okay. It's okay," said Eshe, soothingly, summoning Mufasa back to her side. Ashanti is currently leaning against her. "That was very brave of you, Mufasa. Both of you." Eshe presses her forehead to Ashanti, chuffing reassuringly to show that she's fine. "Thank you."
Ashanti purrs.
"Come," said Eshe, tiredly. "We must warn the rest of the pride."
At the shade tree, the pride has gathered. In his flight, Taka hadn't informed Obasi that there were intruders in the territory. They're left fully expecting to hear that all they're going to be told about is news about freshly killed dinner.
Instead, the entire pride is greeted with the sight of Ashanti and Mufasa supporting a battered and exhausted Eshe back home after that wretched battle.
Ashanti and Mufasa barely fare any better. Once the adrenaline from the battle had worn off the twins because equally as fatigued, limping into camp.
Showing a rare side of himself that reveals that he's generally a good mate to her, Obasi said "Eshe, what has happened? "A-Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"They were huge. White as ghosts," panted Eshe, moving stifling from sore muscles. "Like nothing I've seen before. Oh, Obasi, had Mufasa and Ashanti not been there. I…"
Eshe trails off, looking with wide eyes at where Taka stands sullen and subdued behind his father. His ears are pinned back and his head bowed in shame for his actions that only she, Mufasa, Ashanti know, and now Obasi.
"Taka," breathed Eshe, slowly, the expression on her face telling Obasi all.
It's a huge blow to Obasi that the strays had the courage to stay and protect Eshe in the fight while his son and heir would not.
Eshe could've died and their son had not done anything to defend her.
This could easily have ended in tragedy if not for Mufasa and Ashanti's timely interference.
Deeply ashamed of his cowardice in the face of a true threat upon their lands, Taka bows his head in conscience-stricken guilt.
From where Ashanti sits on the rocks beside Mufasa underneath the shade tree she feels a pang in her heart for Taka. Like her, Taka had gone running to Eshe's side. If only that oryx had not collided with him, then he would've leaped into the fray just as she and Mufasa had done. She's sure of it.
Be that as it may, Obasi cannot address this now. Not in front of the rest of the pride. He'll have to find a moment when he and Taka can be alone.
There's something else that Obasi is obliged to do.
Obasi circles around Eshe to address Mufasa and Ashanti.
Ashanti lifts her head from where she's licking a wound on Mufasa's shoulder, an eye on Obasi as he approaches them.
Bowing his head toward them in sincere appreciation for their actions, fully acknowledging their heroic actions, Obasi said "I owe you a great debt, Mufasa."
"We need to prepare. They're downwind less than a day away," warned Mufasa.
Sniffing the air and catching nothing unusual in the wind, Obasi said "No. You couldn't possibly know this."
"Send a scout and you'll see. They'll be coming for us," insisted Mufasa, voice cracking from the desperation radiating off of him to be heard.
"He speaks true. There are strange lions outside the borders," said Ashanti, backing him up.
"Chigaru," commanded Obasi, heeding the warning, finally listening to them.
The normally complaining Chigaru breaks off into a run in the direction the twins had indicated.
Taka tentatively approaches Obasi, suitably abashed.
Whispering so only Obasi can hear him, Taka pleased "Father, please. Let me explain."
"No, not now," said Obasi, quietly, shaking his head in heavy-hearted dismay, turning his back on Taka.
The cracks of scandal created from this should it ever get out would never be mended.
Taka releases a low guttural moan, watching Obasi walk away from him,
"Taka, come," said Eshe, softly.
Eshe needed to have a one-on-one talk with her son.
As Eshe leads Taka away, he glances over to where Ashanti is.
Meeting his gaze, Ashanti smiles gently at him. The love in her eyes clearly showing him that she forgives him for his fearful actions out there.
An immense wave of relief swarms through Taka that at least one lion there isn't disappointed in him, glad to know at least one is aware of how remorseful he is. But it still doesn't change the fact that he ran from an enemy, ran away from defending Eshe and her.
No matter what anyone else says or does, Taka will always carry that disgrace, serious dishonor, for the rest of his life. He'll never be able to escape it.
Authors Note:
For those of you who are wondering why Ashanti fought while pregnant, female lionesses are very resilient. They hunt and fight in the wild while carrying young all the time. It's a major fact of life for them.
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.