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I began to follow the lionesses into their daily hunts. Since there were so many of them, they always broke off into three groups. Every time they left to hunt, the groups would alternate different lionesses, by order of Mufasa. This was to ensure that no groups would form and get too competitive with each other over who hunted better. Mufasa had instilled many rules that seemed harsh, but were there to keep peace through the Pride Lands. From the look of things in the kingdom, his rules worked perfectly.
When the groups brought back their kills, they all set them in front of Mufasa in the round cave. I remembered from my school days that the king of the pride always ate before the rest did. The first time I saw them set the kills in front of him, Mufasa’s next action shocked me. He stepped back and allowed the rest of the pride to eat their fill before himself. I walked forward, unsure if I should or shouldn’t get some food for myself. Mufasa saw this, and told several lionesses to move aside so I could get through. I inclined my head to him in thanks, and then moved to the place that had been cleared for me.
I looked down to see what was to eat. All three kills were antelope. I’d never eaten antelope before, but I remembered the phrase my mom always told me when I refused to eat my food.
You’ll never know until you try it.
I smiled at her memory, then pulled out my knife I had retrieved from my backpack. I sliced away a slab the size of a steak and stepped back. Mufasa was watching the feast, so I quickly grabbed my backpack, and hurried out of the cave.
I walked down to a small clearing I had seen earlier that day, and set the slab of meat on a rock that looked sanitary. Then I gathered some sticks and rocks, and set up a makeshift cooking pit. I’m glad I packed some matches and lighters, I thought to myself as I pulled a small book of matches from my pack. I lit the small pile of wood, and then let the fire build.
Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind me.
“Ayden, why aren’t you eating with us?”
I jumped, and turned to see that Mufasa had followed me from the cave. I felt my heart beating a mile a minute. I had not expected to be followed.
He looked confused. “You have taken such a small portion and simply laid it aside. Are you not hungry? And why have you started a fire?”
After my heart slowed down, I told him about human’s inability to eat raw meat without getting sick. I also explained that what looked like a small portion to him, would actually fill me up quite nicely.
I thanked him, and finished cooking the steak. Then, when it was done, I moved it to a cooler stone and followed Mufasa back to the cave with it.
I was glad I had not offended him. I left the cave earlier because I was unsure if they saw me mutilating their kill, they might be offended and think their food was not good enough. But now that Mufasa knew my reasoning, all was well. Eating here would not be a problem.
Several hours after sunset, the pride all went to sleep in the room I had awakened in several days before. Mufasa, Sarabi, and Simba all slept on the raised rock in the center of the room, just as I had thought. Everyone else slept around them. Each night, I set up my sleeping bag at the edge of the room, as far from Scar and Zira as possible. They had taken to ignoring me, but every time our eyes met, I felt some hostility. I hoped, in time, they would warm up to me. For now, I was fine sleeping away from them.
Every morning, I would wake up before everybody else. Usually they were all awake when the sun was fully over the horizon. I was always up before it even peeked over.
On one particular morning, I woke up earlier than usual. Generally the rays of sunlight were already peeking over the horizon, but today, the sky was only now just turning light purple. I decided to go ahead with my routine. I got up, grabbed my backpack, and left the cave. I looked out around the Pride Lands.
I had begun to appreciate the beauty and majesty of these lands. Everything was perfect in its’ own way. The trees that grew around here were all full and green. The grass was unrestricted in its growth, and waved lazily in the breeze. It was the image of perfection. Mother Nature had really outdone herself here.
I breathed in deep the morning air, and began my short journey to my spot. On my second day in the Pride Lands, Sarafina took it upon herself to show me around. I had noticed that about a mile north, there was a small stream that no animals seemed to go near. This was where I usually performed my morning routine.
I reached the stream in a short amount of time. I set down my pack, stripped down, and dived into the cold water. It took some time to get used to the temperature, but once I did, I swam around easily.
As I bathed, I looked up. The sky was streaked with orange and pink, but the sun had yet to be visible. Off in the distance, Pride Rock was standing silently, waiting for the new day to begin.
Suddenly, something rustled in the grass near me. I neared the edge of the stream where my backpack was, and pulled out my knife quickly, ready for whatever the thing was.
Suddenly, a golden flash jumped out of the grass and splashed into the water. Relieved, I set the knife on the ground and resumed swimming, looking at Simba, who had resurfaced.
“Did I scare you?” he asked, spluttering in the water as he laughed.
“Just a little,” I admitted, smiling. “For a moment there, I thought I was gonna be attacked.”
“Ooh! The big brave Ayden was scared of a cub less than half his size!” Simba jeered.
“Startled.” I corrected, swimming a little ways from him. I had a momentary lapse of shame at being naked around another individual. Then I remembered that Simba, a lion cub who had never seen a human before, did not care in the slightest. I relaxed and swam near him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his head bobbinghim. I left the cave earlier because I was unsure if they saw me mutilating their kill, they might be offended and think their food was not good enough. But now that Mufasa knew my reasoning, all was well. Eating here would not be a problem.
Several hours after sunset, the pride all went to sleep in the room I had awakened in several days before. Mufasa, Sarabi, and Simba all slept on the raised rock in the center of the room, just as I had thought. Everyone else slept around them. Each night, I set up my sleeping bag at the edge of the room, as far from Scar and Zira as possible. They had taken to ignoring me, but every time our eyes met, I felt some hostility. I hoped, in time, they would warm up to me. For now, I was fine sleeping away from them.
Every morning, I would wake up before everybody else. Usually they were all awake when the sun was fully over the horizon. I was always up before it even peeked over.
On one particular morning, I woke up earlier than usual. Generally the rays of sunlight were already peeking over the horizon, but today, the sky was only now just turning light purple. I decided to go ahead with my routine. I got up, grabbed my backpack, and left the cave. I looked out around the Pride Lands.
I had begun to appreciate the beauty and majesty of these lands. Everything was perfect in its’ own way. The trees that grew around here were all full and green. The grass was unrestricted in its growth, and waved lazily in the breeze. It was the image of perfection. Mother Nature had really outdone herself here.
I breathed in deep the morning air, and began my short journey to my spot. On my second day in the Pride Lands, Sarafina took it upon herself to show me around. I had noticed that about a mile north, there was a small stream that no animals seemed to go near. This was where I usually performed my morning routine.
I reached the stream in a short amount of time. I set down my pack, stripped down, and dived into the cold water. It took some time to get used to the temperature, but once I did, I swam around easily.
As I bathed, I looked up. The sky was streaked with orange and pink, but the sun had yet to be visible. Off in the distance, Pride Rock was standing silently, waiting for the new day to begin.
Suddenly, something rustled in the grass near me. I neared the edge of the stream where my backpack was, and pulled out my knife quickly, ready for whatever the thing was.
Suddenly, a golden flash jumped out of the grass and splashed into the water. Relieved, I set the knife on the ground and resumed swimming, looking at Simba, who had resurfaced.
“Did I scare you?” he asked, spluttering in the water as he laughed.
“Just a little,” I admitted, smiling. “For a moment there, I thought I was gonna be attacked.”
“Ooh! The big brave Ayden was scared of a cub less than half his size!” Simba jeered.
up and down as he came next to me.“I could ask you the same thing.” I said, smirking. “You’re never up this early. And how did you know I was out here?”
“You were kinda noisy when you got that pack of yours. It woke me up, so I followed you.” He smiled, and then asked, “So what are you doing here? Why is your skin on the ground?
“My skin?” I asked, puzzled.
“You know, your skin that changes color every day.”
It took me a second to realize that he was referring to my clothes.
“Oh, you mean my clothes! Well, I can’t bathe in them.”
“Oh…” he said. I could still see he was confused. He didn’t say anything else.
“This is where I do my morning routine.” I said, breaking the silence. “I bathe here, wash
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