A Dry Rainy Season so Far

Part Two: Forward six years...

Four lions sat atop of Pride Rock, staring up at the sky with silent, worried eyes. A pair of two-toned blue lowered to gaze upon the kingdom that stretched out beneath their feet, faintly surprised by the faint patches of greenery that could be seen despite it being the end of summer...and no rains had come this time. The two younger lions, both males who now had their manes sprouting on their heads and around their necks, watched the parents carefully. Mufasa was studying their father closely, trying to mimic the solemn expression and furrowed brow of the King. Taka was watching the lionesses. A hunting party had just returned, dragging a dead wildebeest between them. The other lions, who were basking in the shadows of the huge mountain, got up to greet them. Their voices were too faint for him to hear, but the younger prince knew that the other lionesses praising them. "Looks like the hunting is still well," Uru commented to her mate, her own gaze on their pridesisters. "Yes...but how long will it last?" Ahadi questioned and the Queen could not answer.

Taka walked with Mufasa, following on the heels of their parents, as the royal family went to join their pride at the feast. Bright green eyes flicked from lioness to lioness, seeking out one pelt in particular. From the corner of his eye, Taka could see Mufasa brighten, the golden lion's tread quickening. The sight of his brother warmly greeting Sarabi made the younger lion's coat twinge slightly with envy. "Hello, Taka," that voice made Taka jerk his head around, his eyes widen in delight as he gazed upon the object of his search, the object of his affections...Sarafina. Her creamy pelt was covered in dust, much like everyone's coats were these days, but somehow she still looked good. While Sarabi had grew larger, more compact and muscular, Sarafina was lithe with a long back and legs, she was a hunter through and through, although, like her friend and Zira, Sarafina had yet to complete her Rite of Passage. That would be in another few weeks. Sarafina was looking at the carcass, her apple-green eyes blinking in delight. "That was a great hunt, was it?" Taka blinked out of his stupor, mentally kicking himself for staring at her like a lovesick baboon. Had anyone else saw? That last thing that the younger prince wanted was for the pride to gossip about him, combined with light-hearted teasing about young love...Mufasa and Sarabi had received enough that Taka wanted no part of it. But Taka did want some of what his brother had, a lioness who was always happy to see him, who was always ready to listen and give advice. The young lion would give anything to have Sarafina give him those same tender gazes and small smiles, like what Sarabi gave to Mufasa whenever the older prince happened to look her way. Oh how much did he want that same feeling of love. "It was," Taka replied, giving what he hoped was a sheepish smile. Sarafina wasn't looking at him, her gaze was on the kill that was now surrounded by all the members of the Pridelands, then her gaze lifted to the sky. Finally the tawny-pelted lioness looked at Taka, her eyes were troubled. "I hope it rains soon," Sarafina murmured as she moved to stand at the red-brown lion's side, Taka took a moment to enjoy the sweet scent of her fur. "I'm sure it will," Taka assured her quickly, without a thought. From the corner of his eye, Taka spotted Zira. The striped lioness was sitting a little ways from the rest of the pride, her ruby-eyes flicking from the carcass to gaze out upon the open savanna. While the princes and Grass Whispers girls had grown closer, Zira had grown distant from the pride. Despite her royal status due to her mother, Zira was one of the last to eat from the kills. She also slept a little ways from the pride during the rest periods. Her body was with the other Pridelanders, but her eyes and heart were somewhere out in the world, it was little doubt that she would probably go rogue or choose a solitary lifestyle upon completing her Rite of Passage.

"Hey Taka! Guess what?"

Taka jumped as a large ball of tan fur barrel its way into his stomach, making the red-brown prince grunt with a slight wince. He looked down into the wide eyes of his younger brother. Nunka giving him a huge grin in return. "I'm not really one for guessing games." Taka said, trying his hardest to be stern, but couldn't help the smile that came to his lips. "I caught a mouse today!" Nunka declared, bouncing around his older brother's front legs, his tail flicking in excitement. Taka's eyes brightened up quickly, "Did mom help?" "Nope," the cub shook his head. "I did it all by myself." Nunka puffed out his chest, looking extremely pleased with himself. "Mama said that I could have it all to myself. It was delicious." "Well, then I guess you're too full to have some wildebeest?" Sarafina asked, her eyes and smile showing that she was just kidding. The cub's orange eyes went wide. "Of course not, I LOVE wildebeest." Nunka's large front paws kneaded the ground. "It's my favorite food!" "I thought zebra was your favorite?" Taka raised a brow. Nunka looked between the two older lions and let out a small huff.

"I changed my mind."

Potential Heirs

"What's going on?"

Mufasa and Taka watched the shaman in confusion as Kandoro carefully opened a melon, using her thumb to smear the reddish juice over the cub's tan forehead. Nunka gurgled, his large paws churning slightly as his eyes with solid black pupils looked up at the aging mandrill. "He is going to be presented to the kingdom," Ahadi said, though he was watching as Kandoro carefully scooped up some sand and sprinkled it over the robust hairball's head, causing the cub to sneeze as was expected. "But...I thought I was going to be the future king," Mufasa said, his brows furrowed. Did his parents plan on replacing him with Nunka? Uru gave the golden cub an affectionate lick. "Of course you are, little ruler," Uru replied with a warm smile, her gray-blue eyes still sparkling as they had the moment the Queen called them into the birthing chamber. "Then...why?" Taka looked up at his father, then over at his mother. But it was his aunt who replied instead, coming to join the happy little family with Zira peering out from between her front paws. "As the oldest child, Mufasa is indeed the future king, but this presentation is not about who will be the next ruler." Erevu paused a bit, smiling warmly down at the new arrival. "This is going to let the kingdom know that Nunka can be a potential heir, just like you are Taka."

"I don't get it."

Erevu's brows furrowed a bit as if she were collecting her thoughts. "Mufasa will be the future king, but you would be next in line for the throne, Taka. But if Mufasa were to have children, then they would inherit instead. Of course if Mufasa's children are unfit to rule then Taka would still be king. If Taka became king, then Nunka would be next in line, unless Taka has children." She paused as the two cubs seemed to be getting it, the brown lioness smiled. "This is more of a way to assure the kingdom that they will have a heir no matter what the future brings." Before the two princes could reply, Kandoro lightly shook her staff, the dried melons gave a rattle that commanded silence. "It is time," the old mandrill declared, setting the staff down before she carefully picked up Nunka. "Come along, you two," Uru said as she nudged her two cubs. Mufasa and Taka exchanged a glance with each other, then trotted eagerly after their parents, excited for what the future would bring.

End of Part 1.

The First Change of A Path

"Is everything alright, my heart?" Uru asked her husband one day. It was an off day of sorts for the Pridelanders, though this time was so that the pridesisters could have the opportunity to try for cubs or their own. The three royal cubs and two Grass Whispers cubs were growing fast, soon they would not be cubs anymore. The pride needed new cubs in order to keep going. Ahadi was lost in thought while his mate had been dozing contently at his side, but Uru obviously knew that something was on her husband's mind and her voice pulled the King from his thoughts. Ahadi sighed, his two-toned blue eyes gazing to where the five cubs were sitting before Ua, playing some new game that the yellow lioness had just introduced, before looking away. Uru was quiet, waiting patiently for her mate to speak. After a while, her patience was rewarded. "Taka is not going to be the next Lion Guard Captain." Uru gave a slow nod, but was not too surprised. Despite the best efforts of his parents, the young males were still just as cruel now as they were when the red-brown cub was first introduced to them. Taka was a good lion, but not the right lion. "I think that would be for the best," Uru said, gently licking one of Ahadi's ear. "I'm sure there might be a better position for our youngest son." Ahadi only gave another deep side and laid his chin on his paws, not looking too hopeful. Uru's let her gaze drift over the pride, the few lionesses who had chosen not to head for the borders in search of male company. Erevu was resting close to Ua and the five cubs, with Tatu at her side. The young teenager licked one of her creamy-tan paws, swiping it over her head tuft. The young lioness looked so at ease with the world, even if she was the youngest of the lionesses. But youth didn't make her a pushover. Perhaps... The blue lioness nudged her mate's shoulder, the scar no longer brought such intense feelings of guilt. Ahadi lifted his head and turned it towards his Queen, noticing the bright light that made her gray-blue eyes sparkle. "What is he?" He asked her, when Uru had that look, the King knew that Uru had something in mind. "What about Tatu?" Uru nodded to the young lioness. Ahadi followed her gaze, watching his oldest niece for a long time, but didn't get what she was implying. "You could train Tatu to be the next Captain. And please, don't use the old gender-related excuses." Ahadi stared at his mate in surprise, his mouth working, but no sound came out. "We don't know if she'll want that kind of life," Ahadi protested. "Do you think that Taka wanted that life when he was only a day old?" Uru inquired, raising a brow. She had a good point there, so the King only nodded. "I'll talk to her later." He told his blue Queen, giving her cheek a gentle nuzzle.

Uru didn't have to wait for her mate's confirmation, Tatu's loud cry of delight was enough to confirm that the creamy-tan lioness had liked the idea. That was one less problem for them to worry about for now. But now there was news that the Queen felt that her husband would appreciate now, an bonus to the possible idea that the guard will continue on long after Ahadi's circle completed. Ahadi walked up to her and smiled. "I take that you heard her response already." Uru nodded with a smile of her own as she saw the relief in her love's eyes. "I'm sure that Tatu will handle the guard with no problems," she replied, then stepped forward to rub her nose along her King's cheek. "But I have more pleasant news." Ahadi looked at her, his expression puzzled now.

"What is it?"

"I'm pregnant, again."

There's Always Tomorrow...

Uru was watching for Taka, Ahadi and Sarafina had already been home for a while now, but the Queen hadn’t seen Taka since this morning. The look on her mate’s face had told her that today had not went well and the lioness had to bite back a sigh. After several hours and still no sign of her youngest son, the Queen set out to find her missing cub.

The sky was painted with the colors of twilight when Uru found Taka, not that he was really far from home. The cub was sitting a little ways from Pride rock, looking glum as he stared at his paws. As she moved nearer, the lioness saw that his cheeks were stained by tears, though now the cub was silent and the tears were gone.

“Taka?”

The cub didn’t respond. The Queen sat down beside her son, gazing down at him with concerned eyes. When he still didn’t say anything, the lioness decided to try again. “Your father and Sarafina had been back for a while now, and they said you came back earlier,” she frowned. “Where had you been?”

“Here.”

Uru tried not to sigh at the simple answer, but she was a patience lioness and she was willing to wait for as long as it took for the red-brown prince to talk. After a while, Taka gave in and spoke. “Mom…the guard males were mean to me.” “What do you mean?” Uru asked, her voice both gentle and comforting. She knew that adolescent lions could be difficult to handle, especially young males, but she wouldn’t blow off her youngest cub’s words so easily. If there was a problem, then Ahadi had to know before it could escalate into something far worst. “They were picking on me,” Taka replied, with a small sniffle. “Calling me names and stuff.” The Queen reached out a paw and drew Taka closer to her, the cub pressing into his mother’s colorless belly. “Were they being mean to Sarafina?” Uru asked, knowing that Sarafina had become a close friend to the little prince, she wouldn’t let anyone talk down about Taka, neither would Mufasa or Sarabi. For a moment the Queen felt a small flicker inside as she saw Taka’s green eyes flash with a light that she never saw in them, his voice was bitter as he said. “Of course not! They’re loved her!” Taka spat as if it was something nasty in his mouth. Seeing his mother’s confused expression, the red-brown cub continued. “They were nice to her, joking and even let her spar with them.”

“Did you say anything to her?”

“Yes…but she said that they were just messing around and I worry too much.”

Taka paused, looking shyly up at his mother. “Do I?” he asked her. “There is nothing wrong with being worried,” the lioness replied. “However, there is a difference between being worried and having your feelings being hurt.” As she spoke, Uru made a mental note to speak to Ua in the morning tomorrow. For a while mother and cub were silent, listening to the sounds of animals settling down for the night. On Pride rock, the Queen could see the faint outline of Ahadi with the smaller form of Mufasa, the two keeping a lookout for them.

“Mom?”

“Yes, Taka?”

“I…I don’t want to be a Captain to the Lion Guard.”

Uru blinked and looked down at her son. “Why not?” she asked curiously. “It’s fun and…I know dad wants me to succeed him since Muffy is going to be King...” Taka paused, dropping his eyes back to his paws. “…I don’t think I will be good enough.” Uru was quiet for a while, her mind spinning as she tried to both process the words and come up with a suitable response. “Taka…just because you had trouble today, it doesn’t mean that it will be the same later.” Taka looked up at her, his green eyes round with confusion but also sorrow. “I don’t think it will,” he murmured and pawed at a small beetle that scuttled close to his paw. “There’s always tomorrow, for dreams to come true.” Uru told her son and turned her gaze to look out across the savanna. “Believe in your dreams, come what may.” She stood up and motioned for him to follow. The blue-fawn lioness looked up to see Zuzu fluttering down, checking up on them. “Tell my husband that we’re just going for a walk, we won’t be long.” The hornbill frowned, but nodded and flew off.

Taka walked beside his mother, listening as she spoke. “With so much to do, and so little time in a day.” Uru lifted her gaze to look up at the sky, during their walk the stars were starting to peek out from their dens, filling the sky with bits of bright light. The Kings and Queens of the Past, Taka remembered. Uru smiled as she sat down by a small waterfall, the spray making a faint rainbow in the. Uru nodded at the stream that would later form a river.

“You'll be there my friend someday.”

Later the Queen smiled as she felt Taka nestle in beside her and Mufasa. But the Queen found herself remembering the expression that had been on her son's face. The fire that blazed, turning the soft grass pools into the color of snake venom. The look had...scared her? She hoped that it was just a one time occurrence, but Uru knew better.

"Oh Goddess, do not let him take that path." The lioness murmured.

Spirits in the Stars

It was two weeks after the arrival of Sarabi and Sarafina that Ahadi roused both his sons one night. Taka opened his eyes to peer up at his father, wondering what was going on. Ahadi didn't speak as he turned his attention to judging the golden cub that was snoring against Uru's flank. Taka poked his brother in the tummy and Muffy opened his eyes with a grunt. "Come, there's something I need to tell you." Ahadi said as he turned to the entrance of the cave, pausing to glance over at Zira who was peering out from between her mother's frown paws, her red eyes blinking sleepily. "You can come too," he told the small striped cub. Zira looked up at her mother for permission which Erevu gave by a nod, although the three royal cubs noticed that their mothers had exchanged a knowing look. What was going to happen, they didn't know, but all three cubs got up to follow the king.

Ahadi led the cubs onto the savanna which was fairly empty as the herds had settled down to sleep. A few were still awake, but they didn't give the lions much thought. Mufasa, Taka, and Zira moved closer to the King, wary of being out in the dark even though there was a huge white moon and billions of starts. The small party came to a stop on top of a grassy hill. Ahadi lying down while his sons sat on either side of him, Zira sat down beside Taka. For a while there was silence as the three cubs looked around, waiting for the King to speak. But Ahadi was still quiet for a while longer, then finally he spoke. "When I was your age, and Erevu too." Ahadi added with a glance to his niece. "Our parents brought us to this very spot." Muffy's eyes were wide in awe and Taka lifted a paw to look under it, as if expecting to see anything to make it special. "Look at the stars," Ahadi continued, lifted his two-toned gaze to the sky and all three cubs lifted their heads to stare at the small twinkling lights above their heads. "Up there is the Kings and Queens of the past," the lion explained. "They have left their physical bodies behind, but their spirits watch over us and guide us.

"Is Grandma up there?"

"Yes your grandfather too. He is that star right there."

Taka looked to where Ahadi was pointing and blinked at the sight of the star that seem to be brighter than many of the others. "Do they miss us?" he asked in a little voice. Ahadi nodded. "They miss us as much as we miss them. But be there for you, when in doubt, just look to the stars."

Zira listened to Ahadi in her usual silence, but her eyes were fixed on the stars and she was wondering. Was her father up there as well? Her mother had said that he died before her birth, but Tatu had described him a grim and strict lion who was often grumpy. Did all lions become stars when they died? Or only good lions? Zira wanted to know, but she was too nervous to ask.

Uru sat on another hill, watching the lion and cubs with warm eyes. She was too far to hear what was being said, but she didn't mind. As the cubs lifted their gaze to peer at the sky, Uru lifted her gaze as well. Amongst the net of twinkling stars, she saw the seven small stars that she felt were the spirits of her lost cubs. "Goodnight my little ones." She said with a smile, then turned to return home.

Who are You?

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Mufasa darted between the sleeping bodies of the pride lionesses, looking for any sign of his brother. Their father had asked that they stay close to home and to the boys' surprise, their father came home early from his business. Mufasa peered around, scratching his head with one paw as he tried to spy a hint of the darker cub's whereabouts.

Taka held in giggles by covering his mouth with both paws. He had chosen the one spot where he knew Muffy wouldn't check first. Right under his father's mane. Ahadi seemed to get the idea that silence was needed for he said not a word when Mufasa searched around him, not thinking to look under the King's mane.

Several hours pasted and Mufasa soon sat down, dejected. It probably be thought easy to find a vibrant red cub in a sea of pale-coated lionesses, but it was far from it. Taka watched from under his father's chest and pitied his brother, enough that he decided to end the game. One minute Mufasa was sitting, then the next he was tumbling in a ball of red-orange and gold fur. They came to a rest and the golden prince blinked up at his brother. "Pinned ya!" Taka declared. The golden cub blinked his eyes in surprise and opened his mouth to comment, but paused glancing up, or down, suddenly. "Mom's back!" Mufasa declared and pushed Taka off to him then got to his feet and trotted down to meet the returning Queen, with Taka and Zira on his heels.

Uru purred as she rubbed her cheek against her two cubs then lifted her head to touch her nose to Ahadi's. "Have you two been good?" the Queen asked the princes, her gray-blue eyes blinking with love as she gazed at the two cubs who were peering up at her. "Yep!" the two cubs said together. Mufasa suddenly noticed that his mother wasn't alone and looked at the unknown lioness. "Whose that?" Muffy asked his mother. Taka peered around his mother and spotted two smaller shapes cowering under the yellow female's body. "How did it go?" Ahadi asked his mate. The two princes snuck under their mother to get closer to the new cubs, though Taka paused to glance back at Zira who was peering out from between Tatu's front legs. The adults' conversation was meaningless to the two princes who found the cubs far more exciting. "Hi there." Mufasa said as he stopped in front of the foreign lioness's paws. The two cubs peered at him warily. "I'm Mufasa-," "But you can call him Muffy!" Taka piped up. The golden cub playfully nudged his brother. "This is Taka." Mufasa nodded to the red-brown cub. "Who are you?" Taka asked, his green eyes wide and his head tilted. The paler cub hopped out from under the lioness. "I'm Saffy, and this is Sarabi." the green-eyed cub jabbered, her tail twitching. "Are you sisters?" Mufasa asked them, looking between the two cubs. Sarabi shook her head as she moved to stand beside Sarafina. "No, we're friends," the beige cub replied. "That's my mom," Sarafina said, pointing upwards with her nose and the creamy-yellow lioness smiled back in reply. "Mufasa, Taka, why don't you take the girls and go off to play?" "And Zira can go along," Erevu added, nudged her youngest cub out from under Tatu. The two boys looked up at their father and Ahadi nodded along with the lioness who their mother had introduced as Lady Ua. "Let's do it!" Muffy said, his reddish eyes wide in excitement, spun around and pelted off with Taka on his heels. The two female cubs exchanged a look before they turned and followed. Zira watched them go for a moment before she went that way with Zuzu flying overhead.

Two Girls

One would had thought that the three cubs would had learned after the ill-fated adventure into the Outlands. But once their punishment had ended, the three royal cubs were back to their old tricks again. Much to their parents' exhaustion. You would think that they would realize the dangerous world that they lived in, but it did not seem to click. There was one development. Zuzu's beak had gotten the cubs into trouble, so now it was part of her duty to watch the three cubs. The cubs sure didn't enjoy it, and most likely it was that Zuzu also wasn't thrilled. But the King and Queen had spoken, and thus the four had to bear with it. Any complaining meant being confined to the den (in Zira's case) or having to do rounds with Ahadi (mainly Mufasa and Taka's punishment).

Today, Uru had a special mission. After ensuring that all the lionesses knew their duties for the day, seeing Ahadi off for his business, and making sure Zuzu was keeping an eye on the boys and Zira, the Queen headed off, alone. One of the blue fawn lioness's great aspects was that she was brilliant with handling foreign affairs, she was well learned in the customs of the nine other prides that were recognized kingdoms. Had she had a meeting with the Craglands, then she would had brought some of the strongest lionesses for backup. However, the Grass Whispers were not a pride that required a large party for a meeting and Uru knew she would be safe. While there were Eleven true kingdoms, there were also many smaller pride units called composition prides. These were recognized prides, but yet they could not be considered kingdoms because they had no clear royal family. The entire pride; from the very old to the very young, regardless of intelligence, contributed to the matters. The composition prides were usually scattered further, due to lands around here being owned by the larger kingdoms, but a few were able to take root. These prides often were harassed by larger kingdoms or by rogues. But most could hold their own. Uru was looking to find potential betrothals for Mufasa and Taka. This was going to be different, instead of declaring that Mufasa and Taka would marry a female cub, they would be given the chance to grow up with the female cub and if feelings were slowly developed, only then would there be an official betrothal, Uru did not want to force her sons to marry somebody that they did not like. The TallLands were skipped over immediately, Ahadi and Erevu had filled the lioness in on what had happened with Amira. A broken betrothal was not the best grounds to try another possible betrothal. Uru had to be careful when rejecting the Craglanders' offer. The Craglands might had been in control of one of the largest pieces of land in Africa, but it was common knowledge that resources were low. If they got a foothold, then it probably would not be long before the Pridelands were reduced to just another piece of land with hardly anything left to offer. When the Grass Whispers sent a bird to voice their acceptance of her offer, Uru had been surprised. A composition pride rarely did much politics with the kingdoms, unless it was absolutely necessary. The reason the Grass Whispers accepted was beyond Uru, but she took the chance, if the two girls were not up to her standards then she would look elsewhere. But a chance was good.

The two mother lionesses were respectful and kind when they greeted her. Small talk was both possible and comfortable. The three lionesses exchanged news before they focused on the true matter at hand. The first lioness, whose built reminded her of Bibi and whose coat was a dark grayish-beige color, moved and gently nudged a cub out from under her. "This is Sarabi," the lioness said warmly. Her eyes full of obvious love for her child. Sarabi was like a small copy of her mother, though her fur was a lighter shade and her eyes were orange. The pale yellow lioness nudged her own cub. While Sarabi closely resembled her mother, Sarafina did not. Her coat was cream-color with light areas on her muzzle and underside, while the lioness had ear rims, Sarafina did not. The only similarity between the two were their apple-green eyes. "This is Sarafina," the lioness said, then added with her name of Ua. Uru studied both cubs carefully. The Galelanders were accepting of anyone, even those deformed or with mental problems, but yet in the case of ruling, that could not be accepted. Sarabi and Sarafina were both in obvious good health and they were lovely. Will you both come with them?" "As much as I want to come along, I must return to my other cubs." Sarabi's mother said with a note of sadness. Ua once more spoke up. "I will accompany both girls to the Pridelands and stay as long as I feel needed." Uru smiled to her. "I am sure you will always be wanted." she replied. It was over soon and Sarabi's mother turned and began the slow walk. Uru knew somehow that the lioness was used to good-byes, but it felt sad having to watch a mother leave her child. When the lioness had vanished, the blue-ginger lioness turned to Ua. "Come along now, let's introduced you to the other members of the Pride." As they headed off, Uru walked beside Sarabi. She gently touched the young cub's forehead. "I know how hard it is to be away from your mother," she murmured softly. "For once I did the same." Sarabi's orange eyes widened in surprise but she seemed a little more brighter as she was led to her new home.