Mwokozi: 'Saviour' (Swahili)
(mm-wo-KO-zee)

Age: Nuka's generation
Pride Affiliation: Bushlands (birth), Rogue (choice), Rebel Sentinels (choice)

Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown

Brothers: Unknown
Sisters: Unknown

Paternal Grandparents: Unknown
Maternal Grandparents: Upepo and Heshima

Mate: Madi
Cubs: Kinyume

Likes: Wandering, cubs
Dislikes: Responsibility, having to be bossed around too much

Personality: Mwokozi is very laid-back and very friendly, despite being a little rough around the edges. His sarcastic wit can often lead others to misjudge him, but once you get to know him, probably one of the nicest lions you'll encounter. He is also fiercely protective of those he loves, and very loyal to his superiors. He will follow his leaders to his own undoing, and will be proud to do so.

Bio:

“My leader is rather insane, and his plans are going to get us all killed, but he's my leader, and I shall follow him to the death.”

Mwokozi is born in the Bushlands, son of a huntress and grandson of the Queen and her Prince-Consort. His mother is destined to be Queen when her parents pass away, but Mwokozi hates the idea of becoming King, but bides his time, praying for something to happen that will eliminate his chances of become monarch.

When he is a teen, he decides to run away from his home. His mother has found a new mate, which will probably mean new cubs, so the Bushlands won't go without an heir. So he leaves in the night, making sure no-one follows.

He spends most of his life alone, paying no mind to the affairs of prides or rulers. His life is free, and there's no reason to get involved.

When his mane is only just grown, he finds a young lion, about his age, sprawled out on the floor. His body is severely damaged, and his eyes are fixed shut. So Mwokozi takes the lion and deposits him somewhere safe, giving him food and dressing his wounds with a plant he learned of in his travels. When the lion wake, he confronts him and learns of his name; Nuka.

Nuka tells him that he is the son of a lioness named Zira, who planned to rebel against the King of the Pridelands, Simba. Her plans failed though, and she was killed trying to fight against him one last time. He pairs himself with Nuka, and they travel side-by-side.

They come across a valley, known as the Sentinel Valley, home to the Rebel Sentinels, an order of lions that will help or hinder rogues and assist prides in wars. But their current leaders, they learn, are abusive of the lionesses that live there and do not abide by the code.

They also meet a young rogue lioness, who tells them that she has watched the pride for some time, and she has figured out their leaders are arrogant, but will rise to any challenge. Their lionesses are afraid of them, but they will assist any challengers in an uprising, if it were to happen. Mwokozi and Nuka are impressed, and ask the lioness her name. She is Madi, and she will follow them if they are willing to be her friends and allies.

Mwokozi and Nuka challenge the leaders of the pride, and they end up having to fight all three of them on their own. Mwokozi is knocked out when only two are left standing, and many lionesses think he will bleed to death.

Many of the lionesses are capable healers though, and Mwokozi is taken care of. He lives to tell his tale, and the lioness Madi is overjoyed. She tell him that she has been beside herself with worry, and she asks him to be her mate. He agrees, and they spend many nights together, but he is shocked when Nuka goes to Madi a few days later and asks her the same question. Mwokozi tells her to please him and accept his request, for he knows that Madi is kind and doesn't want to see anyone upset or hurt over it.

About a month later, when the pride has the borders secure and the Sentinels are safe, Nuka ascends to the position of King, for Mwokozi wants nothing to do with the responsibility that comes with being a monarch. So Mwokozi sits idly by as a bodyguard, occasionally having to settle a few disputes along the road.

Then his son is born.

Madi, after being absent for some days, goes to him and tells him that he is a father. He is quiet about it, and only shows his excitement when he is alone with her and the cub, little Kinyume. But Madi is saddened, for she cannot go to Nuka claiming that he is Mwokozi's, and Mwokozi can never truly be seen with him. Mwokozi tells her that as long as Kinyume is told at some point, and that the two can share a father-son bond.

Time goes by, and little Kifaa is born to Madi, the daughter of Nuka. But Nuka starts a harem, and the two other lionesses in the harem are Ingona and Mwezi. Mwezi is laid-back and docile, but Ingona mistreats Madi, and often throws a set of claws her way just to let it be known that she isn't the only lioness that has Nuka's love.

Mwokozi often has to comfort Madi, and be a shoulder for her to cry on. He promises her that he will do something about it, but he doesn't know what. There is nothing he can say to Nuka that will stop him from hating him and Madi, but he can't protect his mate forever.

When all of Nuka's cubs are older, Mwokozi rescues a lioness in the gorge that borders their land with the Pridelands. He takes her to the Sentinel Valley, and it turns out that she is Nuka's older sister, Raziya. She joins their cause, and sparks the beginnings of a war.

One night, Nuka comes to Mwokozi and tells him that he is planning an all-out attack on the Pridelands. Their true King, Kopa, has returned and the land is in a state of celebration, meaning their border defence has somewhat... slipped. Mwokozi does not like the idea, but as Nuka's bodyguard and friend, he agrees to go along with the plan.

Then he hears that Madi is doing all of Nuka's dirty work for him.

He hears the news that Madoa, a former Outsider, has been slaughtered by a russet-furred lioness, and he begins to worry. If Madi is doing all the work, it could be dangerous for her. He goes to his beloved and tells her of his concerns, but she bursts into tears and tells him that she is afraid of Nuka. Apparently he has become abusive and power-hungry, with no qualms about killing anyone who defies him. Again, Mwokozi is lost for what to do.

When all of Nuka's cubs are adults, Nuka finally has the strength and the lionesses to attack. He leads the pride to the Pridelands and demands to speak to the King, Kopa. Kopa is at first astonished at the ranks that threaten to plunder his home, and Mwokozi cannot help but admire the King's courage and confidence. When Nuka decides to wait in the Pridelands until the right moment, Mwokozi swoops in to see if any lionesses will consider joining him in convincing Nuka to stand down.

It turns out some of Nuka's own cubs are willing to spill his blood to stop him. Kifaa, Lingana, Kaidi, Dhoruba and Dhaifu (Nuka's cubs produced from his harem) will all stand with him, as will Madi, Kinyume and Mwezi. Ingona, her son Nikela and Mwezi's son Mafuroki refuse to do likewise. They side with Nuka, and Mwokozi fears the worst.

When Nuka launches his attack and would kill Kopa, Mwokozi steps in and shields the King. His own following then swarms around him, protecting Mwokozi from their King. He tells Nuka that his attempts are futile, that the attack will only end in his own death. He tries to make Nuka reconsider, but Nuka swipes at him and questions his loyalty. He also turns on Mwokozi, breaking through his defence and tearing at him with all he's got. Kopa and the Pridelanders help Mwokozi's following battle Nuka's loyalists, but it's clear Nuka's pride are the stronger.

Then Nuka threatens to topple Mwokozi off the promontory, but Mwokozi is just quick enough to deflect the attack and return it. It sends Nuka plummeting to the ground, and the impact kills him. The fighting then ceases, and Mwokozi takes the pride home, banishing Nuka's loyalists that weren't killed.

He then takes over as King until he feels Kinyume is ready, and when he is, Mwokozi abdicates, free to live beside Madi till the end of his days.

Relation to TLK: Saves Nuka's life and helps him take over a pride. He then goes on to become Nuka's bodyguard, and then turns on him.

Bases © Wolgirl50