Twined by Tragedy

Uru gazed down from Priderock onto a dying land. The rains had not fallen, and now the effects were visible. Instead of patches of dark green, there was a dead, golden yellow. As for water...in many spots there nothing was patches of dry, cracked mud. 'How do things change,' Uru thought as she looked around with troubled eyes. The drought was having a telling affect on the animals and lionesses, the lion guard had been disbanded until the drought ended. The blue-fawn lioness walked back into the main den, her ears flattening against her skull when she heard the harsh, rasping cough. It was not only the drought that was of great concerned. There was another issue much closer to home. Queen Bibi was very sick and none of the shamans' remedies were doing much good. A painful sight it was, watching the wise and gentle old lioness slowly waste away. The once strong, noble Queen was now weak and very thin. Her once rich red-brown coat was dull. Her green eyes were also dimmer, but yet still clear and held a little spark of life in them. If she had any fears or regrets, then the lioness kept them to herself. Uru gently licked Bibi's forehead wincing at the dry, dusty feeling of her coat instead of smooth slickness. The lioness shifted slightly, but didn't wake. The soft sounds of cries alerted Uru to the cave's other sole occupant. The drought was not just hard on the old, but also on the young. Tatu was quite thin, her ribs evident through her thin pelt. Her eyes, normally bright with life, were now dim. The child did not run and play like she used too. It was as if her boundless energy had been wasted up. But Uru had a sense that there was more to Tatu then just lack of food, water, and the heat. The young lioness often heard Tatu weeping during the night or when she thought nobody was paying attention. One night in particular, Uru head her whisper. "I'm sorry grandmammy." Uru had no idea what would make the young cub say those words, but it pained her to hear the sobs of a young child. The blue-fawn lioness sniffed at the ailing Queen then went and gently drew Tatu in for a hug, gently murmuring words of comfort to the little one.

It was a blessing when Mohatu discovered the Great River. The water was enough to quench the thirst of all the animals. There was such delight. Especially when Uru got Ahadi to frolic with her in the water, an accidental slip sent both lions tumbling into the water. For the first time since arriving, Uru could feel the connection with Ahadi...and it felt wonderful, more precise than it had with those two low-born rogues. King Mohatu watched his son and the Galelander lioness with a smile. Ahadi would be the future king indeed, with Uru as his Queen and soon...if the Great Spirit was kind, then there would be heirs. Hopefully with the drought over then Bibi would also recover and he knew the lioness would be delighted to hear the news.

The Kingdom celebrated the day that Ahadi and Uru were officially married. The pridesisters lined up outside the royal den with Ahadi sitting on the edge with his father. Over them perched Donker and Zuzu, and beside Ahadi was Rafiki. Pitipiti had decided to let her apprentice cover the wedding ceremony, as it will be one of the tasks of the mandrill shamans. Pitipiti shook her staff to signal for quiet, the ceremony was about to begin.

The first out of the den was Queen Bibi. Her appearance brought some soft gasps. It was hard to imagine that this thin, bony creature was ever a muscular, stocky lioness who was quite large. Her illness and the drought had taken its toll on her body, but the Queen stubbornly refused to miss the long-awaited for ceremony. Close on Bibi's heels came Erevu, wearing a wreath of flowers around her neck. The Princess smiled warmly at her brother as she followed her mother down the line of lionesses. A few seconds later, Tatu came trotting from the den. The little cub was back to her glowing self and like her mother she wore a wreath of flowers around her neck, in her mouth she carried more flowers. The lionesses, stunned by Bibi's appearance, gave some murmurs of praise at the sight of the young child, her spirit lifted the pridesisters'. The blue-ginger lioness stood at the entrance of the den, seeming almost a little shy. Flowers of all shades dotted her scruffy neck fur and head tuft. A necklace of fuchsia flowers hung around her neck. On her front legs were mauve-colored flower bracelets. She was simply breath-taking. The ceremony was a simple one. Ahadi and Uru each had to say their vows and offer a gift, a gift from the depths of their hearts. Ahadi hesitated then offered his gift. It was a piece of elephant tusk, collected after he witnessed a battle between two bulls, one had part of his tusk broken off. As it had not been on a dead elephant, the gift was perfectly safe. One of the laws that has spanned over the ages was that no bone must be taken from the elephant graveyard. If the elephant had died not there then still the body was not to be touched for a herd would soon move the bones themselves. Uru gazed down at the piece of ivory in awe. Carefully touching it with her paws. Elephants were friends in the Gale, they were wise animals, free to go where they please and they always had wonderful news. It was this news that helped the Galelanders in the few times of need. This gift was something that she would treasure forever. The bride then offered her own gift. A sea shell; it was long and spiral, a lovely cream color. Uru knew this shell, it had been the very first thing she had seen when she did her first dive as a child. It was a token from the Goddess, perhaps it had been given to her for this moment...Uru didn't know, but now it was her piece to give, her gift to her future mate, her beloved. Their gifts exchanged. Ahadi and Uru touched noses, sealing their bond and finishing the ceremony.

In the eyes of the Great Spirit and Great Goddess...Ahadi and Uru were one.

Later that night, the pride were gathered outside of the den. On this night, only Ahadi and Uru could sleep in the main cave. But it was alright with the pride and slowly the lionesses all fell asleep. One by one. At last only two lions were still awake, King Mohatu and Queen Bibi. The royal couple laid side by side, watching the stars. "I guess this chance was worth it," Mohatu said to his queen. Bibi gave a small smile. "My mother taught me her ways and I taught our children, but sometimes it is nice to have a reminder." Mohatu nodded and gently touched his nose to his mate's then yawned. "Well, goodnight then. I'll see you tomorrow my Queen." Mohatu's voice quickened with sleep and it was not long before the Lion King was asleep. Bibi watched Mohatu then shifted her gaze to Erevu and Tatu then towards the pride den where the new couple was spending the night. The old lioness smiled faintly then laid her head on her paws. "It has been worth it." Bibi whispered and her eyes slid closed.

The next morning the pride found their Queen dead. The disease that had ravished Bibi's body had finally proved more than her old body could handle. But yet Bibi did not die in pain, her expression was content, peaceful. A faint smile on her lips. The pride coated her body with flowers from the ceremony and each lioness gave the deceased lioness her farewell. In the early morning light, Mohatu suddenly looked up and saw the star...his Queen was up there, with his mother, father, and the other lions who had came before. She would be waiting for him.