A Note From the Author

Hujambo, my friends! This month has been a very language-filled month for me; while I'm also still practising French (which the folks on the French side of TLK Source have been very helpful with!) there's also an awesome new thing starting on the English side; Lionobsession here on TLKS has started a competetion every two weeks to either write a fanfic, draw a picture or make an image for a Swahili phrase or proverb
At the minute, it's not very popular but I trust in time (and with a bit of heavy advertising!) they'll be plenty of enteries; check it out on the forums or on the rolling banner at the top!
I'll have to get into writing a fanfiction for one of the phrases! This one is unrelated, however but there are plenty of Swahili phrases that Lionobsession has been teaching us that I've been using :)
It's been half illustrated already, but there'll be plenty more pictures to come!

The last thing is some standard trigger warnings; in this story there is food multiple times, water, drought, famine and death is mentioned but not on-screen. There is also a description of minor injury

 

P.S. in my version of the story, Mega (as seen on the site) is called Leo as this is the design I assumed matched the name.

Now on with the show!

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Some Swahili Words

Zazu

Movement

 

Kuruka

Flight

 

Mwezi

Moon

 

Mufasa

King

 

Leo

Today

 

Ndiyo

Yes

 

Hapana

Oh no!

 

Chapter 1- Blame Banzai

 

It was a hot day in the Pridelands of Africa. The ground was hard and dusty and the sky a deep and clear blue. It had not rained for some time, but the animals were coping since the watering hole had not yet dried up completely.

A young brown cub with a partial black mane lay on top of a rock, gazing through squinted eyes at the sky.

“Air is dancing with ground.” said a voice below him.

Jino rolled on to his belly and looked down. Underneath the slab of rock was his hyena friend; a creamy-brown striped hyena named Mkali.

Jino was used to Mkali’s interesting way of speaking by now, and also his almost poetic descriptions about their African home. Jino followed Mkali’s gaze into the distance were the hot air could be seen shimmering just about the earth.

“It is,” Jino agreed. He leant his head on the hot rock and looked down properly. “How’s the shade down there?”

Mkali stretched out one paw and patted at a passing beetle. “Mkali thinks under rock is just as hot as top of rock…” he muttered.

Jino did not mind the sun as much as his friend. Mkali preferred dark and cool places as did most of his species but even Jino had to admit it was uncomfortably hot today, even for him.

He put his thoughts into words and Mkali smiled.

“Jino will complain in wet season that there is too much rain, Jino will complain in dry season that there is too much sun…” he shook his head.

Jino shared his smile, “I know, I know, I’m never happy. Tell you what; let’s go to the watering hole.” he suggested, “That should cool us down.”

Mkali agreed and they raced each other to their destination. The watering hole was a huge lake in the middle of the otherwise dry savannah. There were trees dotted around with many more growing closer to the water.

Rocks could be seen around the edge and there were normally always animals there having fun or drinking their share. However this time was different. As Jino and Mkali approached they found many more animals than usual crowded in a circle; their voices betrayed they were unhappy, maybe even angry about something although it couldn’t be heard yet exactly what they were saying.

Mkali’s long ears shot up in the air as the sound reached them. “What going on over there?” he wondered.

Jino slowed his pace to a trot and gazed over. “I’m not sure…” he said, “Come on, let’s go find out!”

Jino and Mkali slipped in between the hooves, paws and thick legs of animals to get to the front of the group. They emerged to find a grey hyena cowering in front of The Lion King, Kovu.

Kovu and his mate Kiara ruled over the Pridelands now, with Kiara’s parents Simba and Nala never too far away to give advice if it was needed.

Kovu looked angry as he gazed down from a rock that jutted out from the ground; his tail was whipping from side to side and his teeth were bared.

Mkali recognised the hyena; it was Banzai, one of a small group of hyenas that lived near the Outlands- a barren wasteland on the outskirts of the Pridelands.

“I’m tellin’ ya, I didn’t steal anything!” Banzai complained. Although he seemed unnerved by Kovu and the presence of the other animals, his voice gave away that he was annoyed.

“Food has gone missing,” Kovu replied, “my lions claim they have seen you hanging around the store. Why should I believe you?”

“Cos your lions are liars…” Banzai muttered under his breath.

Kovu clearly heard him, for he snarled and pawed the rock with his claws. Banzai jumped visibly but he managed to stammer bravely, “W-well it’s true! I was around the food store, but I was lookin’ for scraps; rotting food that you wouldn’t be eatin’.”

“Who are you accusing then, if not yourself?” Kovu growled.

“Well, I don’t know… One of your own lions probably!” retaliated Banzai.

This time Kovu openly roared, “My lions would never steal food!”

“Maybe this is a one off then!” Banzai barked- his voice was high with fear.

Banzai looked around him for support but saw none. However when he laid eyes on Mkali he practically pounced on the younger hyena. “Tell them I’m tellin’ the truth Mkali, old buddy, old friend!” he begged.

Jino looked at his friend as Banzai pawed at him. “You know this hyena?” he asked.

Mkali nodded, “Mkali often run into them when looking for food in Outlands.” he frowned down at Banzai, “Banzai and others make fun of Mkali for being friends with lion.”

Banzai laughed nervously, “T-that was a joke!” he whined, “Come on, you’re not still mad about a little friendly teasing like that, are you?” Banzai lowered his voice, “Please help! These lions’ll kill me otherwise; you wouldn’t leave me to fend for myself, would you?”

Mkali sighed, “No, Mkali not other hyenas in that way.” he looked up at Kovu, “Mkali think Banzai is telling truth.”

The other animals looked surprised before talking amongst themselves. Jino looked at his friend, “Why do you think that?” he asked. He wasn’t questioning his friend’s decision but he wanted to know his reasons for coming to his conclusion.

Mkali replied but spoke to all the animals accumulated around them. “Banzai not have reason to lie about stealing food. Hyenas not care who they steal food from; why would Banzai lie now?”

Banzai nodded eagerly, “Right, I always tell the truth!”

“Mkali did not say that…” Mkali muttered.

Kovu thought about what Mkali had said and frowned. Mkali went on, “This reminds Mkali of story that took place not that long ago.” he said.

Kovu tipped his head in puzzlement before nodding. “Ah yes, Mkali I know the story you mean.” However it appeared the animals around them were unfamiliar with the tale.

“What story?” asked a zebra.

“I don’t know of it,” said an egret.

Mkali waved his paw for silence. “Then Mkali tell you!” he said joyously.

 

Chapter 2- Who’s the Thief?

 

The hot weather had not let up in the Pridelands for some time. Many of the prey animals had left to find more of their own food and water and so the lions and other predators were getting less to eat.

Jino peered at his reflection in the diminishing watering hole. The water was getting closer to the bottom and was beginning to turn a murky brown.

Jino didn’t feel satisfied with what he had drunk and relayed his feelings to his friend.

Mkali shrugged, “Only fair that animals all drink less, so everyone get something. Kiara’s law a good one,”

Jino nodded, “I don’t disagree with her idea, but that doesn’t help the weather.” he said, looking around at the Pridelands; once lush and green it was now dry and barren. Jino sighed, “Hopefully it’ll rain soon.”

“Bad weather never last.” Mkali said wisely.

Jino patted the water with a paw before drawing it back over his face in an attempt to cool down. “Why don’t we go to Pride Rock?” Jino suggested, “I’ll bet it’ll be cooler there. The place where the lions sleep is always a little less warm than outside.”

Mkali flashed him a toothy grin. “Good idea! Mkali will race you!”

 

* * * * *

Cub and hyena were working their way up the side of Pride Rock as the sun continued to beat down on them. Jino was ahead and Mkali was just behind him when suddenly something swooped down and landed right in front of them!

“Stop!” it barked in an authoritative voice. Jino jumped back in surprise, almost knocking Mkali off the edge of the grand rock structure.

In front of them stood Zazu, a blue hornbill and majordomo to King Kovu and Kiara. Zazu was getting on

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