How it started
You might think it all began with Mufasa, Sarabi, their little son Simba and the mean uncle Scar. But then you’re wrong. See, when Mufasa and Scar were young they also took out on small adventures. Scar who was by that time named Taka, was the most courageous, and also the one who always got himself into trouble.
One day Taka and Mufasa chased butterflies. Well Taka did, but Mufasa studied them more than chasing them.
“Woaw, these are beautiful! Don’t you think Taka?” Mufasa asked who sat and starred at the butterfly on his nose.
“Huuh?! Yeah, yeah sure...” Taka jumped high trying to catch a butterfly. When he landed he saw something he’d never seen before: The Outlands!
“Wow! This is too cool” Taka made big eyes of the sight. Mufasa walked over to him.
“Taka let’s go back! Dad says we can’t go there. It’s too dangerous!” Mufasa pipped.
“Come on Mufasa! Are you always daddy’s holy son?!
“No I’m not!”
“You are too!”
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
“Am not!”
“Well, then why don’t you go with me out in the `forbidden´ outlands! It’s no big deal” Taka tried.
“Ehm...okay then, but we have to be careful Taka!”
“Get real! Dad says that there’s nothing for us to see, right?”
“Ehm...yeah, but that’s just because he doesn’t wants us to go out there!”
“He doesn’t want us to have fun Mufasa! It’s the outlands for heavens sake. No one’s living out there! So...are you with me or not?!”
Mufasa sighed: “You’re gonna be my death” but he followed Taka anyway.(He’s right Taka is going to be his death!)
They walked around in the Outlands and suddenly they met another lion, actually it was a lioness. Mufasa hurried hiding in some grass, but Taka was ready to attack the stranger.
“Taka don’t” Mufasa whispered from the grass.
“Grrrr...who are you?” Taka growled to the cub, who was at the same age as himself.
“Ehm...Eh...I-I’m Malaika” the white lioness answered.
“Malaika?! What’s that kind of a name!” Taka sniggered.
“Oh yeah?! But what is your name” Malaika said in a braver way.
“Hehe...I’m Taka, and the grass over there is my `brave´ brother, Mufasa” Scar laughed and looked at Mufasa.
“Your name is kind of funny too!” Malaika was feeling sure about herself.
“Well...I’m at least not white” Taka said and turned his back to Malaika.
“It’s more speciel to be white!” Malaika said to Scar, who just sat and ignored her, with his back turned against her.
“Hey! I’m talking to you...loser...”
Taka turned his head: “Don’t call me a loser!”
“Oooh...really scary!” Malaika said in an sarcastic way. Taka attacked Malaika and got her down on her back. Mufasa slowly came out from his hideout.
“Take it easy Taka! A fight doesn’t help”
“Hey, I can take care of myself thanks!” Malaika said mad to Mufasa, when Taka let her go.
“Yeah, sure and I’m the future king of The Pride Lands!” Taka said sarcastic. Mufasa looked angrily at him.
“Wow, take it easy killer-eyes. It was a joke!” Taka said and walked over to Malaika.
“So...where do you come from?”
“Stop right there! You’ve just attacked me and now we’re like best friends!?”
“Why is everybody so mad?!” Taka said annoyed.
“Maybe because you are here” Malaika snarled at Taka.
“Shut up!” Taka yelled loudly “You’re really asking for it your little-“
“Ehm...Taka, maybe we should run now!” Mufasa said with a little voice and ran away. Taka and Malaika turned their heads and saw some vultures.
“Ruuuuun!” Taka screamed and ran after Mufasa.
“Where are you going?!” Malaika shouted after them “Knock it off! You don’t eat living animals!” Malaika roared as loud as her mother and father had taught her. Taka and Mufasa turned their heads, suprised by the roar. The vultures had flown away because they got scared.
Taka's story
Taka was the first to reach Malaika.
“Cool!”
“Really? Thanks!” Malaika was proud.
“Yeah! Can you teach me how to do that someday?” Taka asked.
“Sure” Malaika grined. Mufasa came over to them.
“Aren’t you afraid of vultures?” Mufasa was surprised.
“No, they don’t eat us, unless you’re dead of course. They’re not dangerous”
Mufasa laughed quietly: “Yeah tell that to Taka...”. Malaika looked at Taka with an annoying smile on her face.
“Hey, I can explain!”
“Okay” Malaika laid on the ground “Let’s hear it!”
“All right: I was very little, had just learned to walk, when I took out on an adventure in the Pride Lands. And then suddenly some huge, angry vultures flew above me. I tried to hide but they had seen me and...they attacked me...”
“Really?” Malaika looked at Taka with big eyes. He nodded his head.
“That’s why I’m so scared of them” Taka said and shuddered rembering the claws form the vultures back then.
“Wow, I understand now. My dad says they’re the dumbest creatures on earth!”
“Your dad must be a brave lion” Mufasa said.
“Yeah, he’s pretty brave”. Suddenly a loud roar sounded.
“Oops, gotta go home for dinner. See you guys!”
“No Malaika, wait! Where are you from?” Taka was interrested in the white lioness.
“We’ve just come to this place few days ago. We’re nomads, you know?” Malaika said just before she ran home.
“We better get home too, Taka”
“All right, all right!”
Taka and Mufasa returned to the pride lands, where Zira and Sarabi were waiting for them.
“Hi guys! Where have you been?” Sarabi wanted to know.
“I bet you’ve been some place where there’s lots of danger...and without me!”
“Knock it off, Zira! You’re not our mother” Taka hated when girls acted like mothers.
“Hrmpf!” Zira was mad and walked away.
“Girls!” Taka sighed. Sarabi and Mufasa giggled and walked away together.
Zira becomes jealous
Next morning Taka slowly walked out to the outlands. He hoped that he would find Malaika there.
“Malaika! Malaika?!” Taka yelled out in The Outlands. Suddenly someone attacked him from behind. It was Malaika, and now she got Taka down on his bag.
“Heheheh, pinned ya!!”
“Oh yeah?!” Taka grabbed Malaika and suddenly she was the one who laid on her bag.
“Hey! That’s not fair” Malaika laughed. Taka and Malaika played all day, and they had become really good friends!
One day when Taka again walked out to play with Malaika early in the morning, Zira followed him, but he didn’t know that. When she saw Taka and Malaika playing and having fun together, she became jealous. She jumped out from her hideout and growled at Malaika.
“Zira! What are you doing here?” Taka was astonished.
“I came to get you home. Why are you here with that ugly white thing!”
“Don’t talk to Malaika like that!”
“Oh, so now you’re her boyfriend?! That’s just great!” Zira was angry.
“What’s your problem, Zira? I’m not yours!” Taka stod next to Malaika. Zira couldn’t take it anymore and started to cry but she didn’t want them to see her crying, so she ran away.
“You better find her and-“
“-And what?! Tell her I’m sorry?!” Taka couldn’t hold his temperament.
“She’s very unhappy now, Taka! Let’s find her”
Malaika and Taka looked everywhere and finally they found her sitting in a tree. Malaika stayed twenty meters away from the tree, so Taka could talk to Zira alone.
“Zira-“
“Leave me alone!” she sniffed.
“I’m sorry. We can still be frinds, right?”
“But what about her ?” Zira looked towards the white lioness in the high grass.
“You two could also be friends. You didn’t even try...”
“Well, okay then...” Zira jumped down to Taka, and they both walked over to Malaika.
“Malaika Zira, Zira Malaika” Taka introduced them to each other.
“Hi, I’m sorry I growled at you” Zira starred at the ground.
“That’s okay. I guess I would have done the same” the two lionesses laughed and all three played together the whole day through.
Goodbye
Zira and Taka went together out in the Outlands every morning to play with Malaika. Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafina stayed in the pride lands and played there. Taka was happier after he had met Malaika, and Zira had found a boyfriend herself.
One day Malaika wanted to talk to Taka alone. Zira understood and walked home to The Pride Lands.
“What do you want to say?” Taka asked.
“Taka, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had and I’m happy to know you”
“-And I’m happy to know you!”
“But...oh how can I tell you this. You know we’re nomads?”
Taka nodded his head.
“Well nomads do travel a lot...and dad says that we’ll leave tomorrow. But we-“
“WHAT!! But you can’t...I mean we’ve just got friends...and I really-” Taka sighed and looked in the ground ”- I really like you”
“I like you too! But we can still be friends, or even more?”. A tear trickled down Taka’s cheek. Malaika gave him a big hug.
“We still have the day tomorrow to play”
Taka and Malaika hugged many times before they walked away from each other.
When Taka finally came home Zira ran over to him.
“What happened?” she asked when she saw him crying.
“Malaika is leaving” Taka sniffed.
“What? Now?”
“No tomorrow”
“Oh...I’m sorry Taka...If you wanna be alone with her tomorrow it’s okay”
“Thanks, but you can go with me to at least say goodbye”
“Sure!” Zira left him because she knew he wanted to be alone.
Next morning Zira and Taka walked to the Outlands. Zira walked over to Malaika.
“Bye. We might never se each other again. Take care” Zira and Malaika hugged. Zira walked home after many `goodbye´s. Malaika and Taka walked around together. Suddenly Taka bend over and picked a flower. It was an Arum Lily.
“Here Malaika, it’s for you. So you’ll never forget me”
“I won’t! I will never, ever stop thinking of you, Taka!” Malaika sat next to him “I have something for you too”. She closed her eyes and licked Taka on his cheek. He blushed. Malaika giggled and pet Taka with her head while she purred. Taka and Malaika had a wonderful time, but in the end of the day they had to separate...forever!! Taka gave Malaika a huge hug. They cried, and cried.
“Bye Taka. You’re my best friend-“
“Just friend?”. Malaika shook her head and smiled. They kissed and hugged again.
“Bye. You better run now” Taka sniffed. Malaika held the Arum Lily gently with her teeth. She ran and after some meters she stopped.
“I’ll come back someday, Taka!! I promise!!” she shouted after him. She turned and ran out in the nowhere. That was the last Taka saw of the white lioness.
Still in the thoughts
When Taka returned the little fat hornbill kid, Zazu dropped down in front of him.
“What are you doing?” Taka snarled at Zazu.
“My mother is teaching me how to fly” Zazu was scared of Taka.
“Oh great” Taka muttered.
“Zazu. Zazu!!” it was Zazu’s mother, Zuzu. “Oh there you are my son., and thank god you’re still alive!” Zuzu looked at Taka with an accusing face.
Does anybody even like me. There’s only one person who does, and now she’s gone. How am I going to make it! Taka’s thoughts were running too fast inside his head.
What if she doesn't come back. She will! And until then...I don't know what to do!
Malaika walked with her tribe. Sometimes she stopped and looked back.
Oh Taka I’m so sorry that I had to leave! But I will return. I will.
“Malaika, Malaika move on!” her father said “Are you thinking of him again?”
Again? I've never stopped thinking of him since we met!
Malaika’s father pushed her forward. “You’d better think of something else. You’re falling behind. You never do! We should have left that place a long time ago, so you didn’t meet that wimp!”
“He is not a wimp!” Malaika shouted.
“Really? What is he then”
“He is my boyfriend!”
“Oh no! Does he have to come to our get-together parties”
“We don’t have that kind!”
“I was joking!”
“It wasn’t funny!”
Her mother, Ema had heard the shouting and came back to them.
“Why are you two fighting?” Ema asked.
“Our daughter has got a boyfriend” Malaika’s father, Gumu said with clenched teeth and a mad voice.
“Well that’s wonderful honey!” Ema said to Malaika. Gumu turned his back to them and walked to the front of the tribe. After all he was the leader.
“I know you’re upset hun, but I think you’ll forget him in a few days. You’ll meet new boys”. Ema joined Gumu at the front. Malaika took the Arum Lily and smelled it.
Who knows...maybe I will forget him. Oh no, no I won't!
Taka was sad all day through and he just laid on a rock and drew a deep sighs.
“Come on Taka! Don’t you want to play with us?” Sarabi asked. Slowly he shook his head. Mufasa and Sarafina stood next to Sarabi and looked concerned.
“Okay. But if you change your mind we’re down at the waterhole” Sarabi and the two others turned away and walked to the waterhole. Suddenly Zuzu flew over Taka’s head. When she saw Taka she landed in front of him.
“The king wants to speak with you”
Typical her to say `the king´ instead of `your dad´. It’s like I don’t have a dad.
Taka walked slowly to the Pride Rock.
“Yes father?”
“Taka, I’m concerned about you”. Taka looked surprised at his father. He had never said that before.
“You’re just hanging around, instead of playing with the others. There must be a girl you like. Sarafina maybe?”. Taka looked down and shook his head. Sarafina was beautiful, but he didn’t want her.
“No?! Who could you probably like more than her!”
“Someone you don’t know” Taka said with a little voice.
“Who?” Ahadi looked angry.
“Eh-ehm... well her name is Malaika”
“Malaika?! I don’t know her. You shall not see that girl again!”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” Taka shouted. Ahadi lift his paw and swung it through the air. BAM. Taka was hit and his scar was bleeding.
“Don’t you ever shout at me like that” Ahadi growled and walked away. Uru ran to Taka.
“I’m sorry Taka” she said with a sad little voice. She held him close to herself and licked him.
It’s not your fault mom. I don’t know what I do wrong. Dad hates me anyway.
Malaika walked and didn’t say anything. Her eyes had a misty look and she didn’t really see anything. Only in her mind her voice was still alive.
How much longer! My dad don’t want to go back to the Pride Lands just because Taka lives there! Life is not fair! One day I’ll runaway. But I can’t ‘cause I’m supposed to be the future leader of the tribe, with a mate, and dad will never accept Taka!
The Arum Lily Taka gave her was withered, but still beautiful!
Days, weeks and months passed. Malaika and Taka both grew bigger. They were no longer cubs but big adolescent who couldn’t forget about each other.
Runaway (bride)
One day Malaika’s father walked to her with somebody by his side. A male lion.
“Malaika I want you to meet Dume!” He smiled a big smile to her but she just saw right through him.
“Hello! Your father and I have just discussed our future. You know you and me, together”
The mist disappeared from her eyes and they was very big now.
“What?! There are no us, there has never been any us, and there will never be any us!” Malaika snarled at Dume.
”Malaika!” Gumu said with a surprised tone in his voice “You’re behaving very unacceptable! I appologizes for my daugther’s rudeness, Dume”
“That’s okay. She’s a little fireball, but soon that fireball will become my little darling!” Dume said with a sugared tone.
Yirk, I can’t live my life with that guy! But my dad seems to like him. This is not good!
“Dume and you will be offical mates tomorrow Malaika. We’re having a ceremony so you better practice on your behaviour!” Gumu and Dume walked away together talking about the ceremony.
“Have you taken a bath? Are your tail fine?” her mother asked hundred of questions the next morning.
“Mo-om!”
“What?” her mother asked.
“You’re treading me like a cub!”
“Oh sorry! But don’t get messed up before the ceremony. It’ll start at sunrise, so dont be late!”
Malaika walked to the tribe. Her father looked proud.
Knock it off dad! I hate when you acts like that!
“Let’s begin!” the old lion said. It was him who should bless them when they’d both had said `I do´.
Malaika didn’t listen to his words.
“I do” she heard Dume say after all the questions.
Blah blah blah! Why shall we be blessed! And all that offical crap. It’s only because dad thinks he can chain me that way!
“Malaika?” the old lion said.
“What?!”
“You’re supposted to say `I do´ now”
She had shifty eyes, and started to sweat a bit.
“Well, I don’t!” she suddenly shouted and ran. Gumu ran after her.
“Malaika! Come back here!”
My flower!
Malaika turned right and ran to the place where she had hidden the Arum Lily so her father couldn’t destroy it. She grabbed it with her mouth and ran off. Gumu was gone.
I’m on my way Taka.
Mufasa was king now. He was young but brave and intelligent. Sarabi was Mufasa’s mate. Taka was no longer Taka but Scar. And Scar didn’t know love only hatred was left in his heart. He laid as always on a rock. He did that when he was bored.
Great, now Mufasa is king. I should have been king...but dad never gave me the chance!
Suddenly a big roar sounded. Scar screw up his eyes.
Sounds so familiar.
Scar raised and looked out in the savannah. He could see someone running towards him.
Malaika had tears in her eyes when she saw Scar. She ran even faster when she saw him.
After all this time! Please remember me Taka, please!
“It can’t be!” Scar whispered ”Malaika?” He sarted to run.
“Taka!” Malaika shouted. It felt weird, hearing his old name.
Finally they met each other in the middle of the savanna. Malaika gave Scar a big hug. More tears trickled down Malaika’s cheeks.
“I’ve always been thinking about you!” Malaika said. Scar looked at the flower.
“Arum Lily. Is it really?”
“Yes. It’s the flower you gave me that day I left”
Scar looked into her eyes. A tear slowly trickled down Scar’s cheek. That was the first time he’d cried after Malaika left. Scar hugged Malaika.
“God! I’ve missed you so much” Malaika said.
“Me too. But time has changed me”
Malaika looked at him in wonder.
“So you don’t like me anymore? Have I travelled so long just so you could refuse me?” Malaika was frustrated “My dad wanted me to be with this lion named Dume, but I didn’t! I didn’t because I wanted to be with you!”. Scar licked Malaika’s cheek.
“I still like you!” he said. “But I’m not who I used to be....my name is Scar now..”
Malaika tilted her head. What? She didn’t understand it.
“It’s a long story...” Scar explained.
Simba is born
Malaika found a cave to live in ‘cause she couldn’t join the Pridelanders. Time went by and soon Mufasa and Sarabi had a son, Simba.
“Aaaarghhh!!” Scar was really mad when he heard the news.
“Calm down, Scar” Malaika said.
“How can I be calm! Now they’ve got a son! There’s no chance I will be king now!”
“You don’t have to be the king of the Pride Lands....we could start our own tribe”
“Hmm...we could, but I’d rather want to be the king of the Pride Lands” Scar said with a dark voice and left Malaika.
Scar you really have chanced a lot! I should never have left you back then!
Zazu had taken his mother’s place. Zuzu was too old and Zazu was big enough now. Simba became bigger, and Scar became more angry. It didn’t help him that Zira also got a cub, Nuka. Scar was the father.
One day when Malaika came to Scar he was walking around looking angry.
“What’s wrong?” Malaika asked.
“The stupid hyenas apperently don’t know how to kill Simba or Mufasa!!”. Malaika looked worried.
Oh no he’s mad. But I have to tell it to him, I have to!
“Scar...I have to tell you something”
“What now?!”
“I’m...I’m pregnant Scar”
“Oh no, not you too! Who is the father?”
“It’s you”
“WHAT?! Malaika this isn’t the time for a baby! I already have to take care of Nuka!”
“Oh, so now you just leave me and my unborn child!! Letting him grow up without a father?!” Malaika left him in anger.
Fine! I can do it on my own then!
Nembo
On a cold night Malaika gave birth to a white little male cub. He had some black markings on his legs and some under the eyes. He had also markings at his paws. They looked like gloves.
“I'll name you... Nembo! A strong and good name” Malaika licked her child.
Scar didn’t see Nembo and Nembo didn’t know his father as well.
Soon after Nembo was born, Mufasa was killed and Simba was exiled. Now Scar was the king of the Pride Lands, just like he always wanted. Malaika lived by herself and took care of Nembo.
One day when Nembo slept Malaika went to the pride rock. Scar was laying in the cave eating some meat.
“Malaika? I thought you didn’t want to talk with me. Come on in” Scar said a bit snobbish.
“I don’t want us to be enemies. Nembo needs a dad”
“Well, we can be friends...”
“You haven’t even seen him!”
“Where is he then!”
Scar followed Malaika. They stopped in front of the little cub, who laid like a ball in the cave.
“His name is Nembo” Malaika said. First Scar looked proud, but then it looked like he got second thoughts.
“Is he really my son?”
“Yes, of cause he is”
“But...he’s all white! He doesn’t look like me!”
“He has green eyes and his personality is more yours than mine” Malaika whispered angrily.
“Who says he’s my son!?”
“Don’t yell. You’ll wake him. And of course he’s your son”
“Who knows maybe you’ve messed around with some of the new male lions that walk through the Pride Lands now and then!”
“How dare you saying that!” Malaika was very close at slapping him.
“I don’t know what I should believe in, but right now I can’t take care of him” Scar said with a serious dark voice and left the cave. Malaika sighed.
You know just as good as me that he is your son. You just can’t take your responsibility.
The argument
The Pride Lands became darker and darker for every day Scar was the king. One day Scar had sent a hyena to get Malaika.
“Yes Scar. What is it” Malaika said with a cold tone.
“The lionesses have `taken a day off´. So I though you maybe would get me something to eat?”
“Well, all right but I want my share!”
“Of course!” Scar said, fondled Malaika and gave her a hug. Scar and Malaika had a good time but Malaika had to go home to Nembo. He was bigger and he played all day, but she still had to take care of him.
Soon after Malaika realized that she was pregnant. She didn’t know what to do, other than wait and see. The days went by and Malaika heard that Zira was pregnant too. Malaika gave birth to a little girl this time.
“Mom?”
“Yes, Nembo”
“What will you call her?” Nembo looked very interrested at the little, newborn, white cub.
“How does Nuru sound like?”
“Nuru? Yeah that’s great mom!” Nembo said and rubbed himself on Malaika while he purred.
Malaika knew she had to and tell Scar about his new daughter, and so she did after a few weeks.
“Nembo!” Malaika called out loud.
Nembo ran towards his mother.
“What now! I was this close at catching a butterfly!”
Malaika smiled: “We have to visit somebody”
“Who is it, mom?”
“You’ll see. Go and wake your sister”
Nembo did as he was told and Malaika grabbed Nuru in her mouth because she couldn’t walk that well.
Zira also gave birth to a little girl and a little boy, twins. It was not Scar’s kids this time. One of the lions who walked through the Pride Lands occasionally, was the father. But he had left her. So Scar had to take care of the two new cubs. Nuka was the only one of them who was son of Scar. Zira named the two cubs Vitani and Kovu.
“Zazu!” Scar yelled.
“Yes Scar?” Zazu didn’t like him.
“What have you done today?”
“Ehh...well, I’ve maked sure that everything is perfectly fine”
“That’s all!?! Go and count the animals!!”
“But I did that yesterday!”
“Do it again!!” Scar screamed loud and Zazu flew away. Scar saw someone at in front of the cave.
“Who’s there!”
“Me, your son and...your daughter”
“What are you talking about?”. Malaika slowly walked towards Scar, carring Nuru. Nembo was hidding behind Malaika’s foreleg. She put down Nuru.
“Say hello to your daddy kids” Malaika said while looking at Scar with a little mean smile. Scar lowered his head and looked at Nuru. She got scared and drew herself back, but she fell over. Nembo walked towards Scar. He sniffed and jumped up in his mane.
“Are you really my daddy?”. Scar looked at Malaika with a `what-am-I-supposed-to-say´ look. He took Nembo down with his paw.
“Look...Nembo. I think your mother and I have to talk a bit. Could you take your littlesister out and play?”. Nembo nodded his head and helped Nuru out of the cave.
“Her name is Nuru” Malaika said.
“Oh great, Nembo and Nuru! Look Malaika, I can’t take care of them and you know that. Zira got twins, so now I have three nuisances to take care of”
“You can’t just walk away from your responsibility!” Malaika was angry.
“Who says they’re my responsibility!!”
“You know they’re yours, you do! I know, you know! Those are your kids, but you’d rather take care of two others that aren’t even yours?!”
“Well at least Zira didn’t run away and left me all alone!”
“You know I didn’t want to! God, Scar. I could have chosen to be the leader of The Nomads! But I didn’t ‘cause my love to you was too strong, even after a long time!”
“Mom?” it was Nembo “why are you and dad fighting?”. Malaika smiled at Nembo and walked to him.
“We don’t fight. We talk, but I think we’re done” Malaika had angry tone in her voice. She turned her back and walked out of the cave, and got Nuru.
The hunters
Malaika walked in her own thoughts with a lot of swears. Suddenly a loud sound sounded. It sounded like a thunder, but it wasn’t storm.
“What’s that mommy?” Nembo asked insecure. Malaika jerked her head around with her eyes all opened.
“Come on Nembo. We have to go home in a hurry!”
Once again a peal sounded. But this time it hurted Malaika. She fell to the ground. She dropped Nuru who began to cry. Nembo ran to Nuru and made sure she was all right. Then he saw Malaika.
“Mom? What’s wrong? Mom?” He cried when he saw his mother in pain. Malaika gasped.
“N-Nembo, promise me you will take care of your sister. A-always have an eye on her. Now run. Run for your lives!” Malaika had blood on her fur. She was bleading.
“But mom-“
“Run Nembo!”
Someone ran towards them. It was human hunters. They had something that said strange sounds. They maked the sound again. Nembo got scared and ran away.The hunters came to the place where Malaika laid. They didn’t see Nuru who was hid herself in some grass. She didn’t say anything she was too scared. While staying put in the grass Nuru saw the hunters do an end on her mothers life. They cut her coat off and took the theeth. They also took some of the meat. The rest of her mother was eaten by vultures. Nuru cried. She couldn’t stand looking at her mother like that. She began to run, but she couldn’t do it that fast.
“Mommy! Mommy!” She screamed while crying. That was her very first word, and she’d never have the chance to say it again.
Nembo ran and ran, but suddenly he remembered: Nuru! I was supposted to take care of her!
He turned and ran back.
“Nuru! Nuru where are you?!”
When he came to the place he ran from, he saw his mother, the rest of her. Vultures was fighting to get something to eat.
“No...noooo!! Mom!!” Nembo looked around. Nuru was gone. He saw Scar standing some meters away.
“Dad....Daddy!” Nembo screamed. At first Scar didn’t react, he wasn’t used to someone calling him dad.
“Nembo?” Scar walked to the sound, but not close to the vultures.
“Dad. Dad they killed mom! They killed her!” Nembo cried.
“I know Nembo. Sssh”. For the first time Scar held his son into himself to comfort him.
“Where’s Nuru?” he asked.
“I don’t know! She’s gone, maybe she’s dead! I was supposed to take care of her, and keep an eye on her! But I failed, I failed!!”
“Easy now Nembo! It’s not your fault” Scar said. He took Nembo on his back and took him home.
All alone
Jabari was playing around when he saw something in the grass. He walked to it, and suddenly it moved.
“Aaaaaaarhhhh! Mommy! Daddy, help!!” He ran off screaming. When Mzaa heard his son screaming he sighed and walked to the sound..
“Dad, dad! It’s white...a monster... danger!” Jabari said gasping for breath.
“Calm down, Jabari. What did you see this time?”
Jabari showed his father where the `monster´ was. Mzaa looked strange when he saw something white. He walked closer.
“Dad don’t it might kill you!” Jabari shook a bit. When Mzaa got closer he jumped back.
“Help Jabari a monster. A monster!” At first Jabari really got scared, but when he heard his dad laughing, and knew he had been sarcastic.
“Da-ad!” he said and attacked him. Mzaa laughed again, but then he took Jabari in his mouth and carried him to the `monster´. There she was. Little, cold and all alone.
“Where are her parents?” Jabari looked out in the savannah.
“I don’t know. All I know is that we have to take care of her.” Mzaa grabbed the little lioness in the scruff of her neck, and walked home to the cave where Mzazi had a zebra for dinner. Jabari ran to his mother and purred while he rubbed himself against her leg.
“Guess what we found, mom!”
“Hmm...a hedgehog?” she asekd with her soft voice.
”Noo…that was yesterday!”
Mzaa slowly laid the little lioness on the floor of the cave. Mzazi sniffed her and looked at Mzaa.
“Was she alone?”
“Yes. She was laying all alone.”
“Where are her parents?”
“I don’t know. I guess we have to take care of her.”
Mzazi laid down and pulled Nuru towards herself. She slowly started to wash her. Suddenly she stopped.
“Mzaa. Look”. Mzaa looked and there on the white fur. Then he looked worried at Mzazi.
“It’s blood” he whispered so Jabari didn’t hear it. Mzazi nodded her head. Mzaa licked the blood off.
“It’s not a zebra or that kind of animal...it’s a-” he suddenly got wide eyes.“- it’s a lion!”
“Jabari hun, go out and play while mom and dad are talking together”. He obeyed his mother and leapt out of the cave.
“Does she have any kind of scratches?” Mzaa asked.
“No not bleeding ones”
“It must be another lions blood. But who?”
“Maybe...her mom and dad left her?”
“What about the blood”
“You’re right. What if...they were killed!”
“I will try to figure it out tomorrow” he said and ate some meat. Mzazi looked at the poor, skinny lioness. She licked Nuru again.
New families
Nembo looked at the stars.
I’m sorry sis’. I’m sorry I just ran away without you! Hope you’re in the stars now, even though you’re not that royal.
He turned away, and walked slowly into the cave.
“Hey Nembo!” Nuka ran over to Nembo. They had become good friends. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing”
“Okay, I’ll go out and chase butterflies, wanna join?!” Nuka looked so exited.
“Nuka, there aren’t any butterflies here anymore” Nembo grinned.
“Yeah, but that’s the fun part about chasing them!”
Nembo nod his head: “You’re crazy Nuka”
“Yeah yeah...are you with me?”
Nembo followed Nuka. Nuka who was older than Nembo didn’t act older. Vitani saw them walk away. She ran to them to them.
“Where are you going?” she asked. Nembo didn’t look at Vitani. She reminded him of Nuru ‘cause she was almost the same age. Vitani was a little younger than Nuru. He looked in the ground while walking.
“Answer me Nembo!”. He stopped and looked at her.
“We are going to catch butterflies” Nuka said in a childish way.
“Can I come with you?”
“No”
“Yes” Nembo answered her. He smiled to Vitani.
I couldn’t take care of Nuru but now I can take care of Vitani. And I won’t fail this time!
Vitani smiled back and jumped around with Nuka.
Nuru woke up. She looked around.
Where am I. Mom? Was it a dream?
She closed her eyes. A flashing light and pictures ran around inside her head. She gasped when she saw her mother in her head: Dead. Nuru remembered now. They had killed her and tug her fur off. They had taken her teeth and some meat. Her mother didn’t look like her mother after that torture!
“Mooooom!” she screamed.
Mzazi ran into the cave. Nuru looked at her.
“It’s all right. You are going to be fine don’t worry”. Jabari was right behind Mzazi.
“What is your name?” Jabari asked.
“Jabari! She is only a little girl she can’t-“
“-Nuru” she said. First time she said her name. But she had to, she didn’t want a new name.
Mzaa walked towards them.
“Is everything all right?” he asked. Nuru looked at all three. So big!
“Her name is Nuru” Mzazi’s eyes twinkled.
“How do you know-“
“Nuru” Nuru said again. Mzaa looked surprised.
“Welcome to our family” Mzaa bowed his head and looked at Nuru with a big smile. First Nuru became frightened, but then she hugged the big face. Mzazi smiled.
You're gonna be just fine Nuru.
Remember!
Time went by and Nuru grew up without knowing who her real father was.
One day when Nuru was a cub Jabari had to take care of her. Mzaa and Mzazi were out hunting, there was almost nothing left.
“Let’s go out on some adventures” Nuru said excited.
“Where?” Jabari said a little irritated.
“Ehm...what about the Pride Lands!! I’ve never been there! Come on, Jabari!”
“The Pride Lands!! Eh...but dad says...I mean, uh...there’s nothing for you to see!” Jabari was in the beginning of his teen ages, but still he could get scared of small things.
“`Daddy says´ ” Nuru made her voice sound pitiful.
“Your little...” Jabari jumped and got Nuru on her bag.
“Get off me! You are too fat!” Nuru screamed while laughing a bit.
Jabari jumped off of her: “Am I fat?”. Nuru walked towards the Pride Lands.
“Am I?” he asked again. Nuru giggled.
“Let’s just say erotic tubby”. She laughed and ran off. Jabari ran after her.
“You are so annoying Nuru!” He yelled after her while running. Nuru turned her head a bit, but didn’t stop: “Yeah I know! And there’s nothing you can do about it!”
Jabari was right next to her after a while. Suddenly they bombed into someone.
“Ouch!” Nuru laid on her bag.
“Hey, watch your steps!” Nuru heard a voice say.
“Ditto!” She said angrily and got up. She stood in front of a male lion. Powerful looking even though he just was a bit older than Jabari. Nuru snarled at the lion. The same did the other lion.
“Nuru I think we should go home...” Jabari said. Suddenly the lion stopped snarling.
“Nuru?” he screw up his eyes. Then he made them big.
“What?!” Nuru said.
“It’s me Nembo” he replied. Nuru looked confused.
“I’m your brother!”
“I don’t have a brother. You must be thinking of someone else” Nuru turned and walke with Jabari.
“Wait! Our mother was Malaika. You are daughter of Scar! Our mother was killed by the humans! They took her fur, her teeth...!! You saw it didn’t you! Remeber Nuru...Remember!”. Nuru closed her eyes. Flashing lights and lot of pictures flow around in her head. Memories. She heard her own little voice. Screaming: Mommy! Mommy! She gasped for the breath. She looked into Nembo’s eyes. You remember it , don’t you! They said.
First now Nuru looked closer at the lion. White as herself, but with some black markings at the body. She always thought that she was the only white lion.
“Come on Nuru” Jabari was a bit nevours. Suddenly Nembo hugged Nuru. She just stood still recieving the hug, but also trying to remember her past.
“Nuru! Mom and dad is calling!”
“Mom and dad?” Nembo said “Do you call them mom and dad, Nuru?”
She shook her head: “No, I call them Mzaa and Mzazi. Why?”
“I just...never mind!”. Nuru looked strange at the lion, but she had to walk away with Jabari.
She couldn’t eat that much, and it got Mzazi worried.
“What’s wrong Nuru?”
“Do...do I have a brother?”. Mzazi looked at Mzaa. They both knew she was daughter of Scar. They had heard some talking about a son of him and a daughter that was dead. They also knew that the daughter was Nuru.
“We don’t know for sure” Mzaa said.
Who am I!! I don’t know who my mom is...or was. And that lion said he’s my brother and Scar is my dad.
“I need to get some sleep” Nuru walked into the cave where they lived.
Nuru suddenly woke up. She gasped for the breath. She dreamt about the hunters. They also tried to kill her. She walked out of the cave still a bit sleepy.
I’m thirsty. Better find some water.
She walked to the river but it had dried out.
Great where can I get some water now?!
She turned and walked. As she walked she suddenly saw a waterhole in the horizon.
“Water!” She ran towards it, and when she finally got there she drank in a very long time. First after she was finished she realised that she was in the Pride Lands.
“Well, now that I am here, I might as well take a look around as well...”. Nuru walked around when she suddenly heard some voices. She hid behind a rock. Then she took a little peek. It was some lions. The white one and then another lion that was a bit older than the white one. A very little female lion jumped after butterflies. Also a little dark cub walked with them. It was about the same age as the little female.
“Come on Kovu!” the big one said “We don’t wanna wait for you all the time. Especially not now when we’ve probably found the last butterflies around!”
“Vitani, you’re never gonna catch one of those butterflies” the white lion laughed. She ignored him and kept trying.
“Ssssh, everyone! I can hear something” Nembo, as the white lion was named said. He sniffed the air.
“All right, Nuru! I know you are here.”. Nuru tried to get away, but she fell over a branch. Nembo ran towards her.
“You know you have to be quiet if you don’t want to be heard”
“Oh...I’m...ehh” Nuru looked at the other lions.
“Nuka, Vitani and Kovu...say hello to my littlesister!” Nembo smiled.
“I thought she was dead!” Nuka said and smelled Nuru.
“Hey back off!” Nuru yelled at him.
“She seems alive to me!” Nuka said and grinned.
“I was just going to get some water...the river has dried out”. Nembo nodded his head and followed her to the waterhole.
“Nuka take Vitani and Kovu home...I wanna talk to Nuru...” Nembo said. Nuka did as he was told
“What now?”
“Do you know your father Nuru?”
“No...not really...”
“Your father is Scar...”
“It can’t be...I don’t look like him!”
“You look more like our mother” Nembo smiled. “Maybe you wanna meet our father?”. Nuru looked interrested.
“Follow me...” he said and walked to the Pride Rock.
The first hunt
Nembo walked into the cave.
“Nembo!” Scar said. Nuru waited outside.
“Dad...do you remember my littlesister?”
Scar sighed.
“Yes I do! Nembo you know I don’t wanna talk about-“ He stopped as he saw Nuru standing in the opening of the cave. Nembo looked at her. She was beautiful; pure white with sparkling blue eyes and some hair sometimes covering her one eye. Scar didn’t move.
“N-Nuru?”
Nuru pattered a bit on the same place.
Dad? I must remember!
Flashing lights. Nuru heard yelling in her head. It was...her mother, and the other one had to be her father. It hurt when she got those flashbacks. She fell to the ground. Nembo ran towards her.
“Nuru?! Nuru, are you all right?!”. Scar came over to them. Nuru looked at him.
It is you. You ARE my father!
Tears began to trickle down Nuru’s cheeks. Scar put his head down to Nuru.
“Are you all right, hun?” Scar was a better father than he was in the start. Nuru nodded her head and got up. Scar stepped back and looked at Nuru.
“You sure have grown! You wasn’t bigger than this last time I saw you!” Scar said showing how big with his paws. Nuru looked proud when he said that. Then her stomach rumbled. She looked embarrassed. Scar laught gently.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes, I am...”
“Wanna go hunting?” there was a glint of excitement in his eyes.
“Yeah...dad!” Nuru grinned at him.
“Wanna join Nembo?” he asked.
“Sure!”
Scar had his paw on Nuru’s back.
“Don’t make a sound” he whispered to her. Nuru looked at him and nodded her head. Nembo laid in the high grass some meters away from them.
In front of Nuru and Scar stood some zebras. Nuru and Scar’s job was to chase the zebras so Nembo could catch one of them.
“Now!” Scar said and jumped out of the high grass. Nuru tried to follow. The zebras ran and Nembo jumped and pinned a zebra. Nuru walked towards the dead zebra with her eyes opened wide.
“Wow! I really helped catching a zebra!” her face lightened up and she had a big smile on her face. Scar laughed gently at her.
“Yes...wanna have some meat?”. He didn’t have to say that twice before Nuru jumped at the zebra starting to eat.
Simba returns
The next days Nuru ran to the pride lands to see her father and her brother. She still lived at Mzaa and Mzazi.
One morning Jabari stopped her in the opening of the cave.
“Nuru you’re not going to the Pride Lands are you?”
“You got a problem with that?!” She snarled at him.
“Nuru, you’re not going there!”
“You’re not my mom...or dad....Scar is. I finally have a father, and now I can’t go see him?!”
“You are the daughter of Scar! He’s not a good person, Nuru! I only want the best for you”
“You sounds like a mother! And if you really want the best for me then go to hell!” Nuru spited at him and then walked to the Pride Lands.
“I hate you!” he yelled after her.
Nuru walked towards the Pride Rock. Suddenly some one attacked her from her right side. It was Nuka.
“Haha. Pinned ya!” he laughed loud.
“Nuka! Your fool!” Nuru said mad, then she started laughing too. “Get off me!”. He jumped off.
“Where’s my brother?”
“He’s at Pride Rock” Nuka said and jumped after a flying leaf. Nuru found Nembo laying in the shadow of Pride Rock. She creeped towards him being as quiet as she could. She suddenly heard a noise and turned her head. When she looked back Nembo was gone. She stood up and looked confused around. Again she was attacked. This time from behind.
“Hahaha....looks like I caught you sis’!” Nembo grinned. Nuru laughed again.
“It’s unfair to move!” she laughed.
Nuru played with Nembo and Nuka. She also played with Scar, but he got tired to quickly after her opinion. Nembo, Nuru and Nuka walked laughing to Pride Rock after a long day. Scar held some kind of meeting. Nembo looked closer. He coud see that he yelled. Suddenly he hit Sarabi so she fell to the ground.
“What is going on?” Nuru asked a little scared.
“Nothing. Come on Nuru” Nembo pushed her forward away from the argument. He looked at Nuka: “Find Kovu and Vitani” He looked back at the lions. A new lion had showed up. He was angry at Scar.
“Tell Zira that a fight is comming up. We have to get the kids away!” Nembo ordered Nuka. He had to act as a grown-up. Nuka did as Nembo told him to.
Nembo, Nuru, Nuka, Kovu and Vitani stood in a small group away from the pride rock. Zira and the hyenas were fighting against the lionesses. There was fire everywhere and it made it all even more confusing. Nembo had his mouth open wide as he looked at his dad fighting against the lion. Nuka had told him that it was Simba, Mufasa’s son.
Kill him dad! A voice said inside his head. Even if he knew that somehow it was wrong. Suddenly Simba threw Scar down to the hyenas. He was already hurt and weak. Nuru had her eyes opened wide as she saw the hyenas kill her father.
“Noooo!” She screamed. She ran towards them. “Nooo! Daddyyy!!”. Nembo ran after her.
“No, Nuru don’t!” He yelled to her. They both had tears running down their cheeks. When Nuru finally got to Scar. He was almost dead.
“Move your bastards!” She yelled to the hyenas. They ran off when Nembo came and growled at them.
“Daddy?!” Nuru cried. Scar opened his eyes a bit.
“Take care of Nuru...” he whispered to Nembo. He nodded his head.
“I’m sorry...for never being a real father...” he said and closed his eyes again.
“No!! Dad! You are a good dad! You are!” tears kept rolling down Nuru’s cheeks. Nembo looked up. Simba watched them.
“You’re gonna pay for this Simba!! I promise! You’re gonna pay the price!!” Nembo yelled angrily. Nuru looked at Simba.
“Murdere!!” Nuru screamed while crying. She only got to know her dad and now she had lost him forever.
Exiled
Simba exiled the lions who had been on Scar’s side, including Nembo and Nuru. He held some sort of speech. Nembo held Nuru close to him.
“-You are now exiled!” Simba ended his little speech.
“Exiled for you killing our father!” Nembo snarled. Simba walked to Nembo.
“Exiled for standing up for a murderer!”
“Then why not exile those who stood up for you, murderer!” Nembo yelled.
“I didn’t kill him! The hyenas did!” Simba yelled with a little nervous voice “Besides he killed my father and exiled me!”
“Oh...so now it’s pay back time?” Nembo spited. Simba looked in the ground. He didn’t know what to say.
“You know...you’re not the only one who’ve had hard days” Nembo said with a deep and dark voice “Come on Nuru, we’re leaving”. He turned away. Nuru looked at Nembo, then she stepped forward. Tears still trickled down her cheeks. She reached her head to Simba and whispered:
“I hope it felt good destroying someone else’s life!” she stepped back again still looking accusing at Simba. Nala stepped forward. She looked at Nuru with a nice face.
“I’m sorry Nuru...I wish I could do something to-“ Nuru looked with angrily at Nala.
“I hope you are all satisfied with your new king! He’s also killed some one else’s father!! He’s not better than, Scar!!” Nuru yelled to the other lions. She turned and walked off, then she stopped and looked back.
“You’re not getting away with this Simba!!!” Nuru screamed at him.
Nuru walked, all alone. She headed to the cave where she lived with Mzaa, Mzazi and Jabari.
Jabari walked towards her with an angry face, but as he came closer and saw that she was crying, and got worried. He ran to her.
“What’s wrong Nuru?!” She stopped and looked at him with a strange face. She looked sad and angry, but also completely empty.
Should I tell him?
Jabari slowly put a paw on Nuru’s back trying to comfort her. Suddenly she broke down and cried so much that Jabari almost began to cry himself. She hugged him tight so she didn’t fall to the ground. He got surprised. Normally they hated each other. They screamed and yelled from sunrise to sunset.
“Please tell me what’s wrong Nuru!” Jabari said.
“I-I” she sniffed “Simba made me an orphan cub, and exiled me and Nembo and Nuka and...”
“What do you mean?”
“He killed my father!!” she cried. Jabari held her closer to his body.
“I’m sorry Nuru...” They stood there for a while. Then they both walked to the cave. Mzaa and Mzazi already slept. Jabari laid down on his customary sleeping spot. Nuru shuffled a bit on her feet but then she laid down on her sleeping spot.
Pridelanders
“Murderer!!!” Nuru woke up with a start. Gasping for her breath she looked around. Jabari now stood in front of her.
“Are you all right?” he asked concerned.
“I had a nightmare” she said and got up “I’m thirsty, I think I’ll go to the waterhole”
“But Nuru, you’re exiled!”
“I know” Nuru faltered. Then she walked away. Jabari ran after her.
“I’m going with you” he told her. They got to the waterhole and slaked their thirst. Suddenly some Pridelander cubs came out from the high grass. First they stoped surprised to see some other lions at the waterhole.
“What are you doing here, Outsider!” one of them yelled at Nuru.
“I-I was just tirsty and-“
“You are exiled! Get out of the Pride Lands!” another yelled. Nuru took aback and looked confused around. Jabari got angry. He roared and the cubs got a bit scared.
“Beat it pridelanders!”
“You’re with her? Then you’re against us!” the first cub said trying to be brave.
“Bring it on!” Jabari growled. The cubs attacked Jabari. He was a bit older than them but they were several more. Nuru didn’t know what to do. Jabari fought hard, and finally he defeated the cubs. They ran off. One of them turned and yelled: “We will get you some other time!”. Jabari roared loudly again and the cubs ran even faster. He turned to Nuru.
“You’re okay?”. She nodded her head. When they walked home Jabari realised that he limped.
“What’s wrong?” Nuru asked.
“It’s okay...just few scratches that’s all” he smiled at her, but she knew that he was hurt. Jabari laid down in the cave. Nuru walked to him and laid down by his side. She laid her head on him.
“I’m sorry...” she said and went to sleep.
When Jabari woke up the next morning he was right about to rise his head, when he realised that Nuru had her head on his neck. If he stood up he would wake her up. Normally he would've done it just to annoy her, but she had been through so much, and Jabari was afraid that she would be broken if he moved.
Few minutes after Nuru woke up. They exchanged a smile and got up.
"So...what about....Nembo?" Jabari asked
"He's with the other outsiders..." Nuru gazed out in the horison knowing her brother was out there somewhere.
Nembo dropped the gazelle he had caught and yawned. They had to hunt in the Pride Lands in secret, so he would have to get up early. They had settled down by the termite plains. Nuka jumped out from his so called hiding place behind a little dead tree.
"Got ya!" He yelled, but Nembo had already moved.
"In your dreams Nuka" Nembo chuckled and carried the food into the cave.
"Zira!" Nembo yelled. Zira's expression was tired and mad. She hated getting up early. Nuka hid behind Nembo.
"It was him mom!" he said still hiding and pointing at Nembo. Nembo poked his pointing paw away.
"Wimp.." he mumbled with a little grin on his face.
"WHY have you waken me up at this time?!" she yelled right up in Nembo's face. Nuka got smaller behind Nembo, who still stood at the same place but with a harsh expression upon his face.
"I brought food home!" he said with an irritated tone in his voice. Zira looked down but without moving her head.
"Next time you bring food home, at least do it at an acceptable time of the day!" she growled a bit. Zira took some meat and walked deeper into the cave to get some sleep.
"Ouch...she gets sooo irritated when she doesn't get her sleep" Nuka said finally coming out from his hideout behind Nembo.
"You noticed that too? Ack, what a small world!" Nembo joked and poked Nuka away. Then he ran off with Nuka right behind him.
The Nomads’ returns
After a few days without seeing Nembo, Nuru missed him and wanted to go and find him. But just as she stepped out of the cave a deep voice sounded from inside it.
"Nuru?" it was Mzaa. Nuru clenched her teeth and screw up her eyes, just as if she were trotting on a hedgehog. But this time it was Mzaa's voice.
"Yes?" she replied with a small voice. He showed up in the opening of the cave.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm uuh...not anywhere special" she made a big grin but it slowly disappeared again.
"Nuru...I know you miss your brother, but no matter how much you miss him it will be too dangerous going out meeting him."
"What?!"
"Think of the other outlanders...not all of them are kind, Nuru..."
"So...that's the reason why I can't go there?!" Nuru's voice rose.
"Nuru-"
"No! You can't-" Nuru shook her head without finishing the sentence. She ran off, but not to find Nembo, 'cause she could not do what he had told her not to, after all he had been there for her all the time. Jabari had seen the argument, and right after she ran he ran out to his dad, looking at him with one of those `what-are-you-doing?´ faces, then he ran after Nuru.
It didn't take a long time for him to get up on her side.
"Go away!" Nuru screamed at him."Leave me alone!"
"Just stop running and let's talk about this..."
"I don't wanna talk" Nuru yelled and tried to move faster but without any luck, Jabari was too fast.
"I'm going to pounce you Nuru!" he warned her, but she just gave him a `yeah-right´ look.
"You asked for it..." he jumped and landed on top of her. She rolled around and faced Jabari. He looked into her eyes. Her breathes slowly went back to normal, but Jabari could still feel her strong heartbeat. It had been quiet for too long and it was getting pretty embarrasing.
"Aherm...so...you wanna go back to the cave?" Jabari asked and slowly removed his body from hers, so she could get up again.
"Yeah" Nuru said and looked in the ground hoping that he didn't see her blushing.
Nembo grew and become a handsome lion. He was adolescent, not a very large one, but powerful looking. He wondered around in the Outlands alone sometimes, and it was on one of his morning walks he saw something strange. First one white dot appeared, and he thought it was Nuru, so he started running towards her, but as he got closer he could see that the lion was too old to be Nuru. He slowed down, and not long after he stood still again. More dots had appeared and Nembo got confused. He was paralized when the tribe of white lions with black and grey markings came closer. Others of his kind? He shook his head, but they were still there. Now one of the older lionesses walked towards him while the others stood a bit away. Nembo looked at her. She smiled at him.
"Hello..." she said.
"Who are you?" he asked while taking a few steps aback.
"My name is Ema and we're The Nomads...." she looked at him. "You must be the son of Malaika...?" her eyes started to twinkle. Nembo got confused.
"You knew my mother...?". She nodded her head.
"Can I have your name, please?"
"Nembo....I'm Nembo..."
"We have travelled a long way to find you"
"What? But why?!"
"Nembo...our...our leader is- dead..." tears appeared in her eyes and she looked down. Nembo couldn't see why that could ever become his problem! She rose her head.
"And that's why we've come to you. You are our new leader Nembo!"
"Okay, easy now! Why am I suddenly your leader?!" he took a quick peek at the lions behind her.
"I'm Malaika's mother...our dead leader, Gumu was my mate and father to your mother. Your mother ran away when she was supposed to be married with a lion named Dume. We haven't seen her since then, but animals told us about the hunters. They said that a white lioness was killed" she sighed "Malaika was the only white lioness who was around the Pride Lands. She was our only child, but...some said that she had a cub with her"
"So that means that...we're related?" Nembo's eyes got bigger. She smiled and nodded her head.
"I'm old, Nembo and my life will soon end..."
"But I can't leave! I mean, what about my sister..."
"You have a sister!" Ema looked at him.
"Yes, her name is Nuru" he smiled. "But it has been a long time since I've seen her"
"Where is she now?"
"At Mzaa and Mzazi...two lions living out of the Pride Lands and the Outlands..."
"Can I see her?". Nembo looked down at his paws.
"I'll see what I can do...". He wanted to see his sister, but she was always watched by her new family. He understood them, it could be dangerous if she met the wrong outlanders. Some of them were very unkind.
Meeting again
Nuru and Jabari walked in the tall grass laughing. They had become good friends, and since they only had each other they spend a lot of their time together. Jabari was adolescent as well as Nembo. Nembo was a bit older though. Nuru was younger but she was acting older, most of the time.
"Hey Nuru let's play `hide and seek´" he laughed. She laughed along.
"Yeah right! You know I hate that game. I suck at it". Jabari sniffed the air and blinked twice.
"Nuru....I think we're not alone....". She rose her head. And now a white dot appeared.
"Nembo" she wispered "It's Nembo!! Come on Jabari!"
"No Nuru! You know it's a bad idea!" but she had already started running.
"Nembo!!" she yelled with her eyes filled with tears and her heart beating fast.
Nembo walked in front. He look over his should all the time. Don't trust strangers a voice kept saying in his head. He felt uneasy walking in front with all the strangers behind him, but soon he forgot all about them. Nuru appeared in the tall grass long away.
"Nuru!" he answered her. He started to run as well and unable to stop Nembo pounced Nuru.
"Well, hello littlesister!" he said with a sparkle in his eyes.
"I've missed you so much, Nembo! But Mzaa says it's dangerous meeting each other"
"It can bee. Some of the outsiders don't accept you as one of them. I don't know why..."
Now Nuru realised that they were not alone. Not even close. White lions sat few meters away from them starring at her.
"Who-who are they?"
"They're The Nomads" Nembo replied. Ema stepped forewards.
"I'm your grandmother, Nuru!". Nuru looked at her.
Yeah right!
"Nembo" she whispered "They're white! Just like us..."
"I know" he whispered back "We were never alone..."
"Hello Nembo" Jabari noded as he walked up to Nuru. Nembo nodded as a `hello´ back.
"Nuru, let's go for a walk and clear up things! We have a lot to talk about" Ema said. Nembo and Nuru walked with her. Jabari didn't know what to do.
"Jabari?" Nuru said and stopped. He rose his head. She nodded her head towards the others asking: Are you coming or what? He smiled and sighed. She had read his mind.
Like a wild beast among the zebras
At the end of the day Ema had told them everything. Since it was getting dark Nuru and Jabari had to go home.
"So....how are you now?" Jabari asked looking at her.
"I'm okay, I guess". Jabari could feel that she didn't want to talk, so he just walked quietly by her side. When they stepped inside the cave Mzaa walked towards them.
"Where have you been?!". His voice was harsh but low. Nuru looked at him.
"I- uhm we.."
"How dare you two being out so late leaving Mzazi and I with nothing but worries?!!"
"It was me who took Nuru out for a longer walk" Jabari said. He took a step forward standing next to Nuru. She looked like she was going to faint every second.
"Well....don't ever do that again!" he said and walked back to Mzazi to get some sleep.
"No, father" he muttered. Jabari and Nuru laid down and went to sleep as well. Nembo found a place to sleep with The Nomads. Ema walked towards him.
"So, Nembo" she smiled "Are you ready to leave with us tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?!" Nembo blinked "uuh...but- what about Nuru? And Nuka and Vitani?"
"You'll have to leave them as well"
"All of them?"
"Well, I suppose Nuru could travel with us...". Nembo nodded his head though he wasn't sure that Mzaa and Mzazi would allow it.
"Can't we wait a bit longer? I don't think Nuru is ready to leave tomorrow, and I really want her to come with me"
"We can wait if you want to, but not for too long, most of The Nomads don't like being the same place for too long" Ema sighed.
"Okay" Nembo smiled and laid his head down trying to sleep.
The next morning Nembo woke up early. He shook his head and looked at the sleeping lions. He yawned as he gazed at the sunrise.
What if Nuru want to stay? I have to convince her to come along with me!
Nembo wanted to talk to Nuru so he walked away from the lions. When he finally got to the cave, where Mzaa and Mzazi lived with Jabari and Nuru he, got unsure.
Maybe it's best for her to stay here...
He was right about to turn his back when Jabari appeared in the opening of the cave.
"Nembo? What are you doing here?". Nembo looked at Jabari.
"I- I wanted to talk to Nuru..."
"I don't think it's such good idea. My dad is pretty angry and he-" Jabari stopped as he heard someone moved inside the cave.
"Come on, Nembo let's talk somewhere else..."
Nembo and Jabari walked around and Nembo told Jabari that he wanted Nuru to go with him. Jabari didn't really like that thought, 'cause first of all Mzaa probably wouldn’t allow it and second he didn't want her to go either.
"I can't do it on my own, Jabari! I'm not old enough to rule a whole tribe!" Nembo looked confused at Jabari.
"I know it may seem to be hard now but you'll learn. I'm sure you will become a great leader"
"What if you came with me too? Would Nuru then be allowed to come along as well?"
"WHAT? Me? B-but I'm not like any of you guys! Nembo, you are all white! Can't you see; I would be like the only wild beast among all the zebras!". Nembo couldn't help laughing at the last part. First Janbari didn't understand why but then he laughed as well.
"So are you with me or not?" Nembo then asked. His eyes looked begging at Jabari. What should he do?
“I’ll think about it...” Jabari answered. At one and the same time the answer made Nembo glad and sad. He didn’t say no, but he didn’t say yes either. Nembo walked back to the lions. Jabari followed him, ‘cause Nembo had asked him to.
Respect!
When they arrived the lions were awake, but they looked confused, sad and angry. Nembo got confused too. He ran towards them.
"What's wrong?!". A young male at the same age as himself stepped foreward.
"We've lost Ema. She died this morning...while you were gone!!" he yelled.
"What?" Nembo was really confused, but then he saw the dead lion laying on the ground. He closed his eyes, but regreted it in the same second. Flashback appeared in his mind:
"Nuru! Nuru where are you?!" he could hear his own little voice screaming terrified. He gasped and looked at Ema again just as he had been looking at his mother back then. Tears appeared in his eyes.
"You were gone! You don't deserve to be our leader!" the male yelled up in his face.
"I-I..." Nembo started.
"Such a wimp!" the male grinned.
"I am NOT a wimp!!"
"You are...just like your father was!". Nembo starred at the male.
"Don't talk like that about my father! He was a better person than you think he was!". The male snarled at him.
"Beat it!" Jabari's voice said; harsh and strong. He walked up in front of Nembo.
"Have respect my gentleman..."
"Never!" he snarled at Jabari. And just as he did that Jabari slapped him with a powerful paw.
"What did you say!" Jabari snarled back at the male who laid on the ground with a scared look on his face.
"I-I"
"Now apologize to your leader!". The male lion looked at Jabari and nodded his head.
"I apologize..." he said to Nembo.
"Good!" Jabari said. "If any of you others want to say anything they better do it now! Respect you're leader for he will be a great leader! Just give him time!". Nembo gave Jabari a `thank you´ smile. They walked some meters away to talk a bit.
"Thanks, Jabari! What would I have done without your help?"
"They need to respect you, and you need time...simple as that"
"Say hi to Nuru from me okay?" Nembo said to Jabari before going back to the lions.
"Okay..." Jabari said out in the air.
To go or not to go- that is the question!
Nembo waited for Jabari to give him an answer, but the members of The Nomads was gettin tired of waiting and some wanted to leave.
“What are we waiting for? Why can’t we just get out of here?!” the male lion from before wanted to know.
“I want my sister and Jabari to go with us...”
“You can’t handle this on your own?! A leader have to stand strong!” he growled a bit. Nembo got pissed and pinned the lion to the ground.
“Don’t talk about strength when it’s the last thing you’ll ever own!” snarling he let the lion up again. Just as he did that Jabari appeared.
“Hello Jabari!” he said relieved to see someone he knew.
“Hello...” he replied. They walked off to talk on their own.
“I’ve been thinking a lot last night” Nembo said “And I’ve realised that I need someone to control the fighters in the tribe. I simply can’t handle it all...”
“Sounds like a good idea! So anyone special of them you want to be it?”
“You...” he said looking at Jabari with his begging eyes.
“Me?! But...I don’t know. It’s quite an honour, but I have to get some time to think it over...”
“Sure! Just do it quick. Some of them wants to leave already” He gazed towards the tribe “Do you think Nuru can come along if you do...”
“As I said once before I don’t really know, but I’ll found out as soon as possible!”. Jabari went back to the cave after saying goodbye. He took Nuru out for a walk like they used to.
“What’s bugging you?” Nuru suddenly asked him.
“Nothing, why?” but he could see on her face expression that she didn’t buy it.
“It’s Nembo. He asked me to be this sort of leader of the fighters in the tribe”
“Is that a problem?”
“It means that I’ll have to leave. And besides he asked if you wanted to come along”
“What about Mzaa and Mzazi?” she asked. He shook his head and looked confused.
“I don’t know!”. She could tell on his voice that he wasn’t feeling well.
“It’s going to be all right” she said and poked his shoulder with hers trying to comfort him.
Next day Jabari and Nuru walked to Nembo.
“So?” Nembo said waiting for an answer. Jabari thought a lot in the few seconds between the question and his answer.
“I’m going with you...” he then answered. A smile grew on Nembo’s face.
“I’m going as well!” Nuru said without any doubts. Nembo hugged them both before leading them back to the tribe.
“Quiet! Everybody pay attention! This is Jabari, he’s now the war leader and my right hand! He’s just as much a Nomad as you are so don’t start crap about him not being one of us! Understood?!”
They nodded in silence.
“Good! This is Nuru, my sister. She’ll join us within these days as well. Treat them both with great respect!”. Jabari and Nuru walked back home after saying hello to the others.
“You what?!” Mzaa yelled.
“We’ve joined Nembo and his tribe. We have to leave soon” Jabari replied his father.
“And what if I don’t want you to?” he said with a deep voice.
“Mzaa, hun! Let them get the adventures we got when we were young!” Mzazi broke in. Mzaa thought and sighed deeply.
“If that is what you want then go...” he made a little smile at them both. Mzazi nuzzled him, and he knew that he had done the right thing by letting them choose for themselves.
“Thanks dad” Jabari said and hugged him.
“Thanks Mzaa!” Nuru licked Mzaa on his cheek just before she left the cave. Together Mzaa and Mzazi saw the young lions walk off.
The big fight
Nuru and Jabari tried to find Nembo and the tribe but they couldn’t.
“Did they leave already?!” Nuru was close at crying.
“Maybe they’re just somewhere else...” Jabari sniffed the air and followed a well known smell. They found The tribe and Nembo at the Pride Lands. As they got closer they could see the Pridelanders standing in front of them and Nembo and Simba arguing.
“He was hungry and wanted some food!” Nembo said angrily.
“He could at least have asked!” Simba said trying to be the calm king. Nembo laughed at him.
“If he did the animals would be long gone! Besides you would have said no!”
“You don’t know that!”
“Maybe not, but I do know that it’s because of you I don’t have a father!”
“It was the hyenas who killed him!”
“Oh Simba, it’s so you to blame others! You can’t deny that you threw him down to them! You let them kill your own uncle!” Nembo snarled. Simba shook his head. Nuru arrived and walked up to Nembo’s side.
“What have happened?” she asked Nembo looking at Simba through the corner of her eyes.
“A member from the tribe was hungry and hunted at the Pride Lands. Simba caught him and they began a fight. Now look at him...” Nembo said while nodding his head in the direction where the lion laid. Nuru looked at the lion who was hurt and had some scratches.
“What have you done?!” Nuru yelled at Simba. “Haven’t you killed enough?”. Simba roared trying to get her to shut up, but she just attacked him instead. Biting and scratching. Simba hit her away and then the others started to fight as well. Grey clouds were showing and few seconds after the first raindrops dropped down from the sky. Lightings lightened up the sky and split it into two.
Mzaa and Mzazi laid outside of their cave as they saw hundreds of birds flying away from the Pride Lands. They sounded scared and Mzaa rose his head as he heard them.
“Something is not right...” he said concerned and started to walk to the Pride Lands. Without knowing it he started to run. His instincts told him that there were danger ahead. Mzazi ran after him trying her best to keep up with him.
Nembo had been trying to attack Simba but he had hitten him away. Jabari didn’t have any luck either, but they kept attacking him. When Mzaa arrived he saw the adolescent fighting hard without any luck. He got angry and ran directly towards Simba attacking him. Biting and hitting he tried to defeat him, but Simba swung his paw and pushed him away. Then Mzazi reacted and attacked Simba. She bit him in his throat holding on with a good grip. Simba roared in pain and suddenly his paw hit Mzazi so hard that she flew through the air and landed with her head on a little rock. Mzaa hurried over to her. Jabari and Nuru were right behind him.
“Mzazi, hun! Are you all right?” he nuzzled her neck, and realised that there were blood on the rock and her head. Tears appeared in their eyes.
“I love you...” Mzazi gasped to him and slowly her eyes got shut.
“No!” Mzaa whispered. “You can’t leave me like this!”. Nuru and Jabari cried as she past away.
“Do you enjoy destroying others’ lives, huh?” Mzaa asked Simba as he walked towards him. Simba’s eyes were now opened wide and for a second you could see that he was scared. Mzaa jumped towards Simba. He wanted his revenge now, but in the middle of his jump a lioness pounced him from the side. He landed with the lioness on him and some other lionesses came to help her. They hit him with their paws as he tried to hurt her, and suddenly he didn’t move.
“Nooo!” Jabari screamed while fighting his way to his father.
“Father?” he pushed to Mzaa with his paw but only to confirm that he was dead. He roared loudly and began his fight with Simba once and again. Nembo was up on his legs and when the lionesses didn’t bother him he attacked Simba as well.
Nembo tried to get up from the ground but failed. Jabari had fallen as well and was too weak to move. Simba stood right in front of Nembo, who coughed blood.
“Come on, your Majesty! Make an end on my life as well, you’re getting pretty good at it!” Nembo snarled at him.
“Leave my lands, Nembo!”
“Typical kings; always so God damn polite. You don’t have my forgiveness yet. And you might never get it!”. Shaking he got up on his legs. Jabari tottered along with him. After some steps he turned his head.
“Don’t think you can get rid of me this easily! I’ll always haunt your dreams!” Jabari snarled and tottered on.
