Name: Ajali

Meaning: Destiny/chance

Age: Varies from cub to adult

Gender: Male

Pride: King Simba and King Kovu’s Pride

Mother: Dikeledi

Father: Dakarai

Siblings: None

Mate: Dafina

Cubs: None for now

Friends: Nabii, Wema and Kabili (Chimalsi as a teen and adult).

Enemies: Chimalsi (as a cub)

Likes: Hanging around with Wema and Kabili, fighting with Chimalsi and being with his mate Dafina. He also likes touring the Pridelands and helping others.

Dislikes: Being picked on and being thought he is less worthy than other Pride members

Dreams: A place in the minds of everyone he has helped.

Fears: Being exiled

Pelt: Mid brown

Eyes: Light brown

Mane/tail: Dark Brown

Distinguishing Features: Pridelander build, but with a pushed back/thinner mane and light spots on his hind leg left over from when he was a cub.

Personality: Ajali is kind, caring and considerate. He would help anyone in need, especially his own Pride members, however, he feels upset at Chimalsi’s lack of trust and faith in him.

Relation to the Lion King: He is the mate to Kopa and Vitani’s daughter.

History: Ajali was born in the Pridelands to two rogues. They were trespassing on the land belonging to King Simba and King Kovu, not that Ajali could do anything about it.

As he grew older he realised that he didn’t have a proper home. He was constantly travelling, staying in the same place for only a day or two. It bothered him deeply. He decided to join a Pride!

One day, whilst his parents were out hunting, Ajali heard growls, followed by laughter. They sounded like cubs. Ajali has never had anyone to play with as he had no siblings and his parents were too intent on surviving to play with him. He decided to go over to the group and join them.

There were 4 cubs playing in the grassland. As soon as one of them saw him they stopped playing immediately.

“You’re not a Pridelander! Who are you?” questioned one of the cubs.

“Where do you come from?” asked another.

“What are you doing here?” said the third cub, in a calmer tone.

Ajali cleared his throat. He’d never had an experience like this before and he was nervous.

“My name is Ajali. I live here with my parents – just by that cave – and I heard you playing. I wanted to come and play too. I have never had any friends before and I was lonely. Can I play with you?”

All four of the cubs beamed and nodded. Ajali went over to join them and they had a brilliant game of rough and tumble. He soon learnt they were all from Pride Rock and that their names were Chimalsi, Wema, Kabili and Dafina. They also invited him to Pride Rock. Ajali said he would love to come, but asked them to wait as he went back to check with his parents.

When he returned he could see something was wrong. His father was leaning over his mother crying and his mother was on the floor, not moving.

“What happened?” he cried.

His father lifted his head to see Ajali, before lowering it again.

“She… she… she took on an antelope calf without a mother. I… I went in for the kill, but as soon as I’d got my jaws around its throat the mother appeared and kicked your mother and caught her several times with its horns. She… didn’t make the journey home.”

At that, Ajali burst into tears, but his heart was torn in two when his father told him:

“Leave. Run away. I can’t bear to look at you because you remind me of her and she will never be back!”

Abandoned by his father, Ajali went to Pride Rock with Wema, Kabili and Dafina. He didn’t say a word about what had happened between him and his father, although all the cubs could tell something was wrong.

When they got to Pride Rock, Ajali was introduced to King Simba, Queen Nala, King Kovu and Queen Kiara. Simba had learnt that every cub has to be given a chance before a decision had to be made. The others agreed to let him stay for now. Ajali was happy. He had left his old life behind and started a new one.

A few months later was the day on which it would be decided if Ajali would stay in the Pride or not. He was nervous every though he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong. He had spent most of his time playing with Wema, Kabili and Dafina. There was another cub at Pride Rock, older than the others. His name was Chimalsi and he had taken an immediate dislike to Ajali and had done whatever he could to show it. Ajali hoped he wouldn’t be kicked out of the Pride because of it.

He needn’t have worried as he was welcomed with open arms. He was part of the Pride.

He had a wonderful time with Wema and Kabili, but an even better time with Dafina. He was beginning to like her a lot. Only Chimalsi made his life a misery.

As a teen, Ajali began to spend most of his time with Dafina. She liked him a lot too and they decided to become mates in later life. They made all sorts of plans together. On one of their wanderings together, Dafina showed Ajali a patch of grass where she used to star gaze. Ajali loved it just as much as she did. They went there every evening.

One evening, Ajali planned to surprise Dafina by turning up there early, but as soon as he got to the crest of the hill, he noticed he wasn’t alone.

There was a white lioness sitting on the hill, sobbing quietly.

“Hello. Are you okay?”

The white lioness turned to look at Ajali and shook her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“I had my life all planned out. I would find my perfect lion for my mate, start a family and live happily ever after, but the world obviously doesn’t like my plans.”

Ajali thought for a moment.

“I know someone who is also lonely. He lives with me up in Pride Rock. I think he is looking for love too. He is bitter towards me, but I think that it is because I have found love but he hasn’t! Come with me to Pride Rock and I will introduce the two of you.”

The white lioness thanked Ajali and agreed to come to Pride Rock. Once Dafina came along, all three of them went up to Pride Rock. Dafina and Ajali found out that the white lioness was called Nabii. When they got to Pride Rock, Ajali went straight up to Chimalsi.

“Chimalsi. I know why you are so bitter towards me now. You thought Dafina would be your mate and I came and ruined everything. I’ve come to make it up to you. I found Nabii in the Pridelands looking for love. I think the two of you will like each other.”

Then Nabii came in and Chimalsi’s face lit up. Ajali went out and left the two of them in peace.

A few days later, Ajali was sitting by himself at the top of Pride Rock gazing at the sunrise when he heard someone calling his name behind him. He turned to see Chimalsi behind him, smiling.

“I want to say thank you for bringing Nabii to me.”

“What?!”

Chimalsi came and sat beside him.

“You were right. I did think Dafina would be my mate. I tried so many things in order to win her over but she always seemed distracted and wanting to be with you. When I realised that, I knew she was gone. When you introduced Nabii to me, both of us felt we were complete. How did you know?”

“I just saw the same expression in her eyes as I saw in yours.”

Just like that, Chimalsi and Ajali became friends.

As an adult, Ajali helped everyone in Pride Rock with their love problems. He knew it was his destiny. He became mates with Dafina and best friends with Chimalsi. Nabii mentioned daily how grateful she was and Wema and Kabili were pleased everyone was friends.

Ajali had never been happier!

Both bases belong to me

I will not be accepting any cub designs for this character's cubs!

Thank you to Troll Beserker for the adoption.