nuzzling her.

       Racing out of the clearing the leopards found a battle in raging through the trees. Kopa and Imoo’s attack had not been as silent as planned and the alarm had been raised. Led by Malka the lions were fighting fiercely to hold onto the kingdom they had taken. Too the rebel’s horror Fumbe arrived leading a group of lionesses which include Kamaria while at the same time Dwanh attacked from behind. Fumbe and Dwanh’s eyes were filled with arrogant glee at the sight of the apparently cornered rebels.

“Well now you are caught. You should have stayed gone little Bakari,” Fumbe snarled.

“This kingdom belongs to me! I know my subjects can hear me. I am Bakari rightful heir, rise up, help me reclaim our land,” Bakari roared.

“A coward as a king, for months you have hidden,” Fumbe scorned as more leopards arrived.

“Not hidden, I have trained and gathered allies. Once a lion cub called Simba made his home in his kingdom. A prince exiled from his kingdom. Besides me stand Simba’s son Kopa and Imoo their cousin, my allies.”

             The words of Bakari sunk deep into the hearts of the leopards. The older one remembering Simba fondly while the younger saw the strength in Kopa, Imoo and Bakari. The lions looked on with scorn at the princes words. Then to the shock of them all, Kamaria walked away from the lions and stood next to Imoo.

“No more will I be a prisoner to those who will oppress me. I will not become my Father,” Kamaria said staring at her family defiantly.

                 In the blink of an eye the assembled leopards attacked, Kamaria’s speech had been the spark to light the fire of rebellion in their hearts. Led by Dwanh, Fumbe and Malka led the lions attacked. The cries of the battle broke the nights’ peace. Realizing what was happening the subjects of the kingdom rose up to aid the leopards. The lions had ruled all their subjects harshly, never imaging the other subjects would rise up against them.

       The fighting raged ferociously. In the midst Bakari fought Dwanh while Imoo faced Fumbe and Kamria fought Malka. Blinded by rage Malka fought to kill his own daughter. Raising his paw Malka aimed a blow at his daughter’s face. In the blink of an eye Imoo jumped in front of her, taking the blow to his left side. Blood dripped from the wound that was in the very same place as his father’s scar. For a moment Malka froze.  In that split second Imoo and Kamaria pounced, falling to the ground Malka hit his head, the force of the blow rendering him unconscious.

        Suddenly a mighty roar ripped through the air, time seemed to stop as Bakari delivered a fatal blow to Fumbe. All watched as the lioness fell next to the body of Dwanh. The fighting was over. All their leaders dead the lions surrendered, praying for the mercy of the leopard. As the sun rose across the jungle Kofi, Reuben and Anan proclaimed Bakari king of Osumare. The rightful heir had taken his place.

         Two days had passed since Bakari had ascended to the throne, after two days of rest the time had come to deal with the remainder of the lion pride. After the battle had ended Bakari had been reunited with Tameka, the meeting was slightly awkward due the recent event.

    With Imoo, Kopa and Anan by his side Bakari walked toward the clearing where the lions laid under guard. Seeing them enter the tension rocked, the quartet noticing Kamaria was sat on the very edge of the clearing, as far away from the others as possible. In the middle of the group gathered the cubs, filled with fear they cowered next to their mothers. In the middle Malka looked up at the quartet with arrogance in his eyes.

“Greetings your majesties, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Malka said silkily.

“We have come to discuss your fate,” Bakari said in a voice fill with authority. 

“Our deaths you mean.”

“I am not like you Malka. This is my judgment. All who are willing to swear an oath of loyalty to me will be allowed to remain in this kingdom or to leave if they wish. All cubs will be allowed to remain without condition until they reach maturity then they will have to swear an oath of loyalty. Malka you will be exiled on pain of death should you ever return.”

“Conditions, an oath of loyalty, weakness begins your rule,” Malka hissed.

“Be grateful your life has been spared,” Kamaria replied stepping forward. “Allow me to be the first lion to take the oath.”

“Kamaria this condition does not apply to you,” Bakari replied courteously. “You have helped me to reclaim my kingdom. I give you freedom to live here without condition or to leave if you so choose. I give you freedom from all bonds.”

“Thank you Sire,” Kamaria replied bowing deeply.

“Always call me Bakari, you are my friend.”

“Bakari is right Kamaria, you are our friend,” Imoo said placing a paw on her shoulder.

      Smiling with happiness Kamaria turned to stand next to her friends, Kopa, Imoo and Bakari each nuzzling her in turn. The lions looked on in amazement as the lion they had marginalized had been accepted. It was a reality check for many of them, one by one they agreed to take the oath. At the same time others refused or in several cases voluntarily wishing to leave the kingdom.

      Getting up Malka walked toward Bakari with defiance shining in his eyes. Before he could reach the king Imoo and Kopa sprang in front of their friend blocking his way. On Imoo’s face the eye wound Malka had inflicted had begun to heal, he carried a scar in the same place as father.

“Why Malka? Why do all this, why became like Scar after all he did to you?” Imoo asked looking at the older lion in disbelief.

“You were friends with my parents. My father would have welcomed you. After everything you had seen why take this path?” Kopa asked with bewilderment.

“Scar’s actions taught me that the only way to get what I want in life is to take it by force. Scar may have been wrong to kill Mufasa but he was right in his actions. Take what you want in life, kill for it if you have to, a good code to live by,” Malka replied coldly

“You disgust me. What happened to the adventurous cub I was told stories about?” Kopa retorted.

“He died the day Scar threw him out! Me, Togo and Chumvi were thrown out when we were barely of age to fend for ourselves!”

“My father was a heartless and ruthless tyrant who lived without care for others. I may look like him but I am not him. I see you were his true pupil,” Imoo roared, hatred shining in his eyes.

“I am glad of that,” Malka replied silkily. “So alike in looks both of you are to your fathers.”

“I cannot believe my parents once called you friend not after what you have done to your own daughter. My parents would never do that. No cub deserves that treatment,” Kopa snarled in disgust.

“Kamaria had her place and her uses, she was prized by some lions, had she not turned traitor she would have made an influential alliance,” Malka sneered looking at his daughter.

“Kamaria is more than a pawn to be used,” Imoo snarled with barely controlled rage.

“You made a mistake raising her Malka,” Kopa said smugly. “By treating her badly you made sure she hated you, hated you enough to betray you when offered the chance of a better life. As Rafiki would say you sowed the seeds of your own destruction, you created the perfect traitor.”

“So what did they promise you Kamaria, acceptance, better food?” Malka asked facing his daughter.

“I betrayed you because I hated the way the pride’s cruelty. I hated what you had done to this kingdom. Bakari promised me freedom in return for betraying you. I would have taken my freedom from you by force if necessary. I would have left or I might just have followed Scar’s example” Kamaria replied, laughing at the look of horror that crossed her father’s face at the implication of her words.

    Turning their backs on the clearing Bakari, Anan, Kopa, Imoo and Kamaria left the lions to the fate they had decided. At midday the entire kingdom assembled next to the river to witness the formal coronation of Bakari. Standing on a section of rock that jutted out into the water Bakari let out a might roar. At the same time on the edge of the kingdom the lions were being forced out. The new king had taken is place, the invaders had been exiled, hope had returned to the kingdom.

 

  

             Helping to heal

       The days passed, wounds began to heal and the full extent of the lion’s impact on the kingdom became clear. Seeing the uncertainty in their friend’s eyes Kopa and Imoo decided to stay in the jungle to help.

    On the wings of birds the news was carried back to the Pridelands. At Pride Rock Simba, Nala, Kiara and the pride listened with keen interest. Sadness and shock filled Simba and Nala’s hearts on hearing what Malka had become. Simba’s heart leaped with joy that Leena was safe. Hearing their son’s choice Simba and Nala looked at each other pride. Sitting next to them Aketch felt her heart sink.

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