The next morning came quickly and she looked at him, fondling his mane like she did the first night. “Thank you for all of the things you gave me.”
He woke up slowly, purring at the fondle. “Thank me for what love?”
She looked at him sadly. “For all of the times we were together.” She sighed, building up her courage. “Love...I have to go.”
His head shot up instantly. “What? Why?” he stammered.
She continued to fondle him gently. “Dear...I have kept a horrible secret from you...something you must hear before you take me as your queen.”
His tongue licked at her paw. “Whatever it is...you will always be my queen.”
“Dear...I can’t have cubs.”
He looked at her stunned. “What?”
“Taka gave me cubs one time, but it was not to be. The cubs came out dead...along with any chances of me having anymore.”
He shook his head. “I don’t care...I love you. You will still be my queen.”
“And what about the pride? Without me being able to have cubs, you will have no heir. Your line will end.”
He licked her check softly. “I don’t care about being king...I care about you.”
“But you are prince, and a prince must someday be a king. You must not think about yourself. You must think of your pride.” She rose up slowly, giving him a soft lick. “Look for me when you join the stars. Part of you will always be with me, and I will not forget you.” With that, she slowly began to walk off.
Kubali rose up also, following her. “I’m coming with you...I give this up for you.”
She turned quickly, “No...you can’t. You must stay here and be king.” Kubali froze as she continued, “Tell your father and Debara thank you for welcoming me.” She moved back to him and gave him another nuzzle. “Tell Penzi that she will get a loving mate.”
“Elanna...please.”
“Before when we parted it was because of a secret, a lie, or a misunderstanding. This time I am completely certain in what I’m doing. This time it’s the truth that must split us apart. You know what will happen if I remain. Your father will discover that I am barren, and he will drive me off. I will tell him so myself before I let you throw away everything Aiheu meant you to have. Besides, it is Penzi that really loves you. I just wanted a little companionship.”
“Don’t say that!”
“But it’s true! I like you well enough, and you’re a very good lover as far as that goes. But I’m just not in love with you. Penzi is, and your feelings for her could be returned.”
“But Elanna! I know it’s not so! I know you love me! I felt your body tremble next to mine! Oh gods, you can’t tell me that was all an act!”
She kissed him gently. “That does not matter now. You gave me back my self respect. We were together when we needed each other. Now you need Penzi and she needs you.”
“And what do you need??”
“I need to face my past. I need to go some place where you can’t come. Darling, if you love me, let me go. Please??”
“Say you love me first.”
She looked at him, eyes moist with tears. “I won’t lie to you. I am a ripped gazelle, and my heart is being slowly eaten.” She came and kissed his cheek quickly, then turned and trotted away into the grass. A short distance off, she heard his mournful roar. She fell to the ground and sobbed.
CHAPTER: SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR
The heat started to build as the sun rose in the sky. A lone lioness walked through the golden savanna, unsure where to go.
Her future looked bright just the day before, but now she was alone again. She had been with Kubali for so long, she had forgotten what it felt like to be alone. Looking around, all she could see was the flowing grass. Not only was she alone...she was lost.
She continued to walk, desperate to find her way back to where she was. She continued to look for any sign of a jutting rock that signaled her childhood home. Her mind now set...it was time to face her punishment. If they accepted her back, at least she would have companions. If not...she would join her long lost husband.
The problem was trying to find her old home. She had been walking for nearly a full day, and her legs were starting to buckle under her. It had been a few days since her last good meal, so hunger started to return to her body. Finally, after she had walked as far as she could, her body gave out and collapsed the ground.
Her stomach protested, but she tried to put that in the back of her mind as she did with the memory of her husband. Her aching limbs seemed to make a sigh of relief as her weight now spread over her whole body. She laid her head down on the ground and mumbled softly, “Hunt tomorrow...” She was soon asleep.
Her sleep was restless. Her first night in a long time with out someone next to her was troublesome. She missed the warmth of Kubali’s body and she missed the safety she felt when next to him, her head buried in the soft hair of his mane. How she wished she could be next to him, but deep down she knew it wasn’t meant to be.
Aiheu had other plans for her, but what? She wanted to be in a group--she hated being a rogue. The fear of what her old pride still felt about her preyed on her mind...the hyena’s warning rang in her ears. “They’ll rip you!”
She woke the next day, not really feeling refreshed at all. She rose out of the grasses and yawned, looking around. She looked into the sky, seeing them. “Can it be the same group,” she wondered aloud. She wasn’t going to take the chance that they weren’t and began to move towards the circling birds. In a few minutes, she caught up with the group and smiled.
“Hello Markaaagh.”
The buzzard pulled his head out of a impala carcass and looked to the lioness, “well...if it isn’t Fuzzy’s mate. Har har!”
She smiled slightly, remembering how he hated that name. “Yeah...it’s me.” She moved to the carcass. “Is the deal still in place...because I could really use some food.”
Markaaagh flapped a bit out of the way. “Of course.” He looked around, noticing the absence. “So...where is he? After you two routed that lion, I thought you two wouldn’t be more than a step away from each other. Don’t you love him enough to stay with him?”
She sighed slightly, taking a bit of meat from the carcass, “I love him too much to stay with him.” She gulped down the slightly aging meat and sighed, reaching for some more.
“Eat up, Honey Tree! You are delirious!” The vulture moved closer to her. “If there is anything you need that I can get, I will offer it to you. Our old agreement still stands.”
She looked at the vulture, her nose wrinkling slightly at the familiar foul smell. “I do need one thing. Do you know of a place called ‘Pride Rock’?”
He seemed to go in thought for a moment and shook his head, “No...I’m sorry...can’t say I ever heard of it. But I don’t usually talk to them what can talk back. Har har! Maybe if you describe it, I might know where it is.”
Elanna described to the vulture about the lion pride that lived there, the huge rock the dominated the skyline, and about the terrible drought that over took the land. Markaaagh took some time and nodded, “I know where that is...had some fine pickings a while back, but now it’s lean times for us.” He smiled only how a vulture can. “Not that they’re sorry to see us go.”
“Can you show me the way?”
He just chuckled. “Of course...we were heading that way anyway. Times may be good for the lions there, but there is always something for us to eat there. Har har!”
She just smiled. “Oh thank you...”
After she had a bit of meat and let the vultures feed on the remaining portion of the carcass, they started to make their way towards her old homelands. After a walk that took the better part of the day, she finally saw it...the jutting stone of Pride Rock.
CHAPTER: IN THE SHADOW
Through the walk...the thoughts that haunted her dreams came back. Would she be accepted back or be killed for her husband’s crime? She finally reached the stream that marked the borde
r of her lands...the lands of her family. She stopped...the small trail of water becoming a huge stone wall blocking her quest. Markaaagh noticed her balking and flew down to meet her. “Is this not where you want to be, Missy?”
“No...this is it.” She slowly scanned the sky...and something caught her eyes. It was a small bird...flying from the rock. To her horror it was coming right towards her. It must be Zazu, she thought. How could she face him after what Taka had done to him? He would tell the king immediately and the hunting party would be formed to go after her. She gasped loudly and shook. “No...I can’t stay here.”
The buzzard just looked at her, “what...what is it?”
Without answering, she turned quickly and ran into the grass, leaving the flock of buzzards in complete confusion as she disappeared.
Heart pounding and sweet dripping from her brow, Elanna put more distance between her and her home. She had stood so close to going back to her old life...and yet. It was the doubt in her mind about how she would be greeted that made her run.
The thought of being alone ran through her mind also. Now it would be for good. She couldn’t go home...and she definitely could not go back to Kubali. The feelings were just too strong for her to be anything but his mate.
The urgency of getting away soon faded and she slowed down to a slow trot. She looked around the surround area to get her bearings. Her gaze fell back to where she came from. Only the very tip of Pride Rock was barely visible over the golden grass. She dropped her head and continued to walk away slowly, until Pride Rock was nothing more than a memory.
The day slowly faded away as the sun set in the west. Not seeing anyone coming after her, she figured it was safe for her to lie down and try to rest her aching muscles some. She flopped into the grass, disappearing from sight. She sighed, thinking of her future. Now, even the vultures wouldn’t talk to her. She was truly alone...or was she?
CHAPTER: ANOTHER TRAIL
“Hello there,” a booming voice cut through the air. Elanna froze, hearing the voice...her breathing picking up. “I know you are here...I can smell you, lioness. Why don’t you just come on out. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
Elanna held her position, trying not to let her breathing give her away. Suddenly, she could sense that the huge form was moving towards her. “So you want to play, lioness, I’m game”
Elanna still had no idea what was after her...but she was ready. She wasn’t going to go with a fight. She growled softly, baring her claws as her body tensed to jump at the owner of the voice. Suddenly, she jumped out...straight at a maned figure.
“Whoa...” he said as he tried to scatter back from the lioness flying towards him. Elanna landed squarely in front of him, growling loudly. “I said I wasn’t going to hurt you! Now calm down.”
Elanna got a good look at the lion in front of her. He wasn’t like Kubali at all...he was much larger and older. Slowly, as she realized that the lion wouldn’t attack her, the growling in her throat died down as her muscles began to loosen.
“There we are...I was just wondering what a beautiful creature like you was doing on my lands.”
Elanna chuckled to herself, thinking how flattering some lions are. Suddenly it hit her, did he say his lands? “Oh Gods,” she thought, “I have wandered into someone else’s kingdom!” She spoke softly, “I...I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to intrude.” Slowly, she began to back away from him.
“Hold on...it’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you. Do you need help?”
Elanna just shook her head, continuing to back away from him.
“I am King Mabongo...and you are?”
Elanna stopped for a moment...her body still shaking, “I...am Elanna.”
The king just looked at her thinking, “I have heard that name before...”
Elanna looked down. “I was a member of the pride at Pride Rock.”
Mabongo nodded. “You were the queen if I remember correctly. Your husband was named Scar. Latest news that I heard from you old pride was that his nephew came back and took the throne from him.”
She breathed softly, “Simba...”
Mabongo looked at her, “Yes, that was his name. From what I hear, the lionesses were happy to overthrow your husband and have Simba as their king.”
She nodded softly and looked down.
Mabongo shifted softly, “That was tactless of me. I’m sorry. It’s a pity about your husband...I’m sure it was a great loss to you.” Elanna stood there, quietly as he continued. “You don’t have a home, do you?”
Elanna shook her head, “I thought I did...”
He sat down slowly, “If you want...I could always use another lioness in my pride. We are small but tightly knit group.” He smiled to her softly, “You are tired. Come start a new life here. Would you like that?”
Elanna looked up, “I...I’m not sure, sire.”
“Mabongo...I don’t go for formalities here. If you want, you can come with me and I will introduce you to the pride. We are a friendly bunch and if you like what you see, you may stay for as long as you want.”
Elanna looked at him speculatively then rose, “All right...I will try...Mabongo.”
He smiled to her, “There you go...you will fit in fine.” She smiled to him softly and followed him through the grasses.
CHAPTER: THE THIRD PRIDE
As they topped a ridge, Mabongo roared and a lioness replied. The king turned to Elanna. “Come...they know we are coming.” Quietly, they walked down the rise. A small group of lionesses and cubs were gathered below, looking at the visitor with great interest. Mabongo smiled and said, “This is my pride.”
Elanna looked over the small group, trying to gauge their mood at seeing her. In the group were five lionesses and a few cubs who huddled uneasily next to them. “Very nice,” she said, scanning the cubs’ eyes for some sign of acceptance. “You must be proud of them.”
Mabongo ran to one particular lioness and nuzzled her. Elanna guessed that she must be his queen.
“This is Elanna. She comes to us without a home. I feel that it is the right thing to do is to allow her to stay here if she wants a home.”
“Flip that mane out of your eyes, babe,” the lioness said, stepping toward Elanna with a pronounced swaying strut. “How do we know this gal is worthy?” The lioness walked up and looked at Elanna’s face. “Pretty enough for two, but who knows what kind of past she might have--or what future.”
Mabongo looked at Elanna uneasily. “That is Ujuzi...my queen. She means no harm.”
Ujuzi pawed Elanna’s shoulders politely enough. “Of course I mean no harm. But Sweetcheeks, if you want to run with this crowd, we gotta check you out. If you got nothing to hide, you won’t mind answering a few questions.”
“I’m willing to answer any of your questions, Your Highness.” Elanna said softly.
Ujuzi looked back at the timid lioness. “You can skip the Your Highness bit. Yes Ma’am and no Ma’am do nicely.”
“Yes, Your--uh--ma’am.”
“Well, for first, what brings you to these parts? You tick off your queen?”
Elanna sighed softly, “I was the queen. I was driven out by my pride sisters...”
“Driven out by your pride sisters?” Ujuzi stared at Mabongo. “I guess you already knew that? And I’m sure she also told you why while you were flapping your jaws, but I want to hear it with my own ears.” She turned back to Elanna and said, “So you’re going to tell me you’re very sorry and you just want a second chance? What happened? Did he catch you crouching in the bushes?”
“No!”
“No, WHAT??”
Tears sprang to Elanna’s eyes. “No, MA’AM!” Her head hung low and tears streamed down her face. “Thanks for the offer, Mabongo, but I won’t stay where I’m not wanted.”
Elanna started to walk off, but Mabongo cut her off with a gentle nuzzle. “Ujuzi, would you calm down and let her finish?” He turned back to Elanna and smiled softly. “Come on, dear. It’s OK.” Mabongo glared a
t Ujuzi, showing a little tooth. “I’m sure my wife didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
Elanna regained her composure and turned to face Ujuzi respectfully but firmly. “I was driven out because my husband was disposed. My only crime was that I loved him.”
“And where is your husband?”
“Dead.” A tear ran down her cheeks. “He was ripped alive.”
The other lionesses drew in a quick gasp. Even the queen was a little nonplused.
Mabongo wiped her tears with a paw and gave her shoulder a pat. Then he turned to Ujuzi. “There. You see! Nothing wrong with that.”
“Yeah, right.” Ujuzi looked about uncomfortably. “So we have royalty among us.” She turned her gaze on Elanna. “I’m not heartless, honey. Just remember who’s the queen around here, and who’s the subject and we’ll get along real fine. There’s no special treatment here for ladies of leisure. Forget breakfast in bed. You want hard work, clean living, and fair treatment, you came to the right place.”
Elanna went and fell before Ujuzi and kissed her forepaw. “Oh thank you! You won’t regret this, I swear it!”
“Well let’s hope not,” Ujuzi said, touching Elanna’s cheek with her paw. “Welcome to the pride, but remember you’re on probation. I’m keeping my eye on you.” With that, she turned and walked away, disappearing.
Mabongo frowned as his wife disappeared into the grass. “Don’t let her intimidate you. She will warm up to you with time--she’s just mistrustful. Come...meet your new family.”
Elanna nodded and walked with him to the group. Another lioness stepped forward, “I am Wehu...hunt mistress.” She sat down in front of Elanna and smiled disarmingly. “Don’t worry about my mother. She’s just grumpy because she missed on the hunt and she keeps thinking she's getting old.” She nuzzled Elanna and half-whispered, “She is, but most people are at her age. She's been keeping the cubs, but we need to get her back on the hunt again. Build her confidence again.” With a chuckle, she said, “Until we get you up on our lands, we might just allow you to stay with the cubs. Then she'd HAVE to hunt!”
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