A Difficult Choice

Safari raised his eyes at the huge water buffalo his daughter and his niece had brought in. 

"Good Job." he told them.

Adia's eyes gleamed at the praise from her father. Kaliona smiled warmly at him.

"Thanks." they both said.

"You're welcome." Safari said kindly. "Now let me help you drag this in."

He walked forwards and took hold of the buffalo with his teeth. Together, they tugged the buffalo carcass up to the fresh-kill pile that was already full to bursting. Simba came up.

"A water buffalo?" he asked amazed.

"Adia and Kaliona caught it." Safari said proudly.

"Good." Simba nodded. "You can have it."

"Thank you, King Simba." Adia and Kaliona bowed their heads respectfully.

Simba nodded. They began to take it away and Safari began to follow them when Simba stepped in front of him.

"Safari, may I talk to you?" he asked.

Safari was surprised. He followed Simba to the water-hole.

"Simba," Safari said. "What's wrong?"

"Adia and Kaliona seem to be grown ups now." Simba said. "Are you thinking of getting them mates?"

"You mean, getting them bethrothed?" Safari asked.

Simba nodded.

"No." Safari said. "I'm going to let them follow their hearts. They're not young cubs anymore now. They can make their own decisions."

"Good choice." Simba nodded. "Let's go see Rafiki. I could do with a few herbs, couldn't you?"

"Now that you mention it, I could." Safari said. "c'mon, let's go."

The two lions walked towards the old Baobab tree in which Rafiki lived. They reached the base and pulled themselves up to the lowest branch. Like that, they both finallly reached the interior. Rafiki was mixing herbs in his old turtle shell. He looked up when the king and his friend came in.

"Ah, Simba." Rafiki said, standing up. "What brings you by?"

"Aching muscles again." Simba said.

"Ah, I have a cure." Rafiki replied.

He walked over to the fruits hanging. He plucked a few purple fruits and picked up an empty turtle shell. He crushed the fruits and put them in. He then picked a few yellow fruits and put them in. Rafiki put fruits and leaves in the shell till it formed a mixture that was yellowish-gray in colour.

As Rafiki walked over to Simba and began applying the paste to his left leg, Safari walked over to the trunk where Rafiki drew his drawings. There was a drawing of Simba with a mane, with Nala, a drawing of Kiara and Kopa. Safari tilted his head to look at a picture of a darker lion than Simba.

"Rafiki." he said. "Who's that?"

"Why," Rafiki said looking at the drawing. "That's you."

"That's me?" Safari looked at the lion again.

"Yes it is." Rafiki said. "And that is your father and mother." He pointed to a white lion and a lioness from the pride.

"Those are my parents?" Safari asked.

"Yes, Rafiki very good friends with your parents. Your father was a rogue. He came to the pride and king Mufasa grant him permission to stay." Rafiki said.

"Wish I knew what happened to them." Safari said, staring up at the picture of his parents. 

Safari put up his paw to the picture of his parents, feeling choked. Then he saw a white lion with a reddish-brown mane like his.

"Who's this?" Safari asked Rafiki.

"That is your brother Sergei." Rafiki said.

"I have a brother?" Safari asked, stunned. 

"Yes." Rafiki said. "He was separated from you when the poachers killed your parents. He came to me and I took care of him till he went to live his life as a rogue."

Safari saw a gray lioness beside Sergei.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"That is your sister Nuru." Rafiki said.

"I have two siblings?" Safari asked.

Rafiki nodded.

"Well, why didn't anyone tell me?" Safari asked.

"it was necessary for you three to be separated." Rafiki said. "It is the will of Mufasa."

"They were the only connection I have to Mom and Dad." Safari said, running his paw on his siblings' pictures. "Now they're gone."

"They're not the only connection you know." Rafiki said. "I knew your parents. In fact, I'll tell you about them."

"You will?" Safari asked.

Rafiki nodded. He began to move to a curtain of leaves and vines.

"Come on then." Rafiki said to the two lions. "You follow old Rafiki, he knows the way."

Safari looked at Simba and shrugged. Then the two lions pushed their way through the leaves and vines and found themselves in a room filled with paintings. Rafiki was sitting on a small stump in the middle of the drawings.

"Well?" Rafiki asked.

Simba and safari walked in and sat opposite Rafiki. Rafiki looked to a painting and began telling the story.

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Hisia crouched in the long yellow grass. Her ears flitted to the place where Sarabi and Sarafina were also crouching. The trap was set.

Grazing, just a few jackal-lenghts away from Hisia, were three huge buffalo. The smaller was the lionesses' target. They slowly stalked through the grass, their golden bodies blending with the yelow grass and their bellies brushing the ground. 

Suddenly, Sarabi jumped out and started the chase. When they ran towards Sarafina, she also jumped out and began separating the smaller buffalo from its companions. The other lionesses came to help. Few began to distract the other huge ones. Then, Hisia ran and dug her teeth into its neck.

"Good job." Hisia nodded at all the lionesses. "Let's get it back to King Mufasa."

"And you're a good leader as usual." Sarabi told Hisia.

Hisia hoped she wasn't blushing at the queen's praise.

"It was nothing." she said quickly.

The lionesses put their heads down and dragged the buffalo. On the way, Hisia stopped.

"What's the matter?" Sarafina asked.

"I.....I need some time alone." Hisia said. "You go on without me. I'll catch up."

"Suit yourself." Sarabi shrugged and continued dragged the huge carcass towards the huge rock looming up in the distance.

Hisia began walking towards the water hole. She looked at two antelope nuzzling each other. She then saw a mother wildebeest helping up a baby. Her thoughts strayed to herself having a mate and cubs. She wondered if that would ever be her.

*

NorthStar wandered onto unknown territory. He didn't know where he was or how he got there. All he wanted was some shelter. The white lion shook his mane and began walking towards the shadowy place. It was promising.

NorthStar walked down a slope to a dry and dark place. He looked around. He was so focused on what was in front of him, he didn't notice the puff of steam building up beside him. He jumped as the gyeser launched. When it dissappeared, NorthStar beheld a huge elephant skull. 

He walked up to it. Strange, he thought. But then suddenly, he heard a snarl behind him.

Three hyenas walked up to him. He stood to fight, but he was weakened. He had just walked over a huge distance and couldn't stand for long. But his father had taught him to stand his ground. But his father was dead now. He didn't know what he was going through now. 

Just then, a huge lion leapt over the bones and fought the hyenas away. He then turned to NorthStar.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"NorthStar." NorthStar replied.

"My name is Ahadi." The lion said. "King of the Pridelands."

"Thank you, King Ahadi." NorthStar bowed his head in respect to the black maned lion king.

"You're not from around here." Ahadi observed the white lion. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from very far away." NorthStar replied. "My family is dead. Their death caused me to come to your territory."

"You're beaten," Ahadi observed. "hurt, injured. You need time to heal."

"Thank you for understanding." NorthStar bowed his head.

"You are welcome to stay in the Pridelands for as long as you wish." Ahadi said.

"Thank you." NorthStar said.

"This way to the Pridelands." Ahadi led NorthStar away from the Elephant Graveyard.

They soon came in sight of the huge rock looming up in the distance.

"Pride Rock." Ahadi told NorthStar. 

NorthStar had never seen anything so huge and wonderful. He looked at Ahadi. Ahadi nodded and began to walk towards the rock. NorthStar followed.

*

Hisia walked back home. She saw Sarabi and Sarafina tucking into a carcass from one of their earlier hunts of the day. Mufasa and Scar were also there.

"Hello Hisia." Mufasa said to her.

"Hey Mufasa." she said warmly to him.

"Where have you been?" Sarafina asked her.

"The water-hole." Hisia said simply.

"Have some." Sarabi pushed a bit of the meat towards her.

"Thanks." Hisia began to tuck in.

All through, Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafina asked her questions. Hisia also noticed that Scar wasn't saying a word throughout the conversation. When Hisia looked at him, he grunted and walked away. Mufasa sighed.

"He's been like this since he got his scar." Mufasa said. "Its like he blames me for what those buffalo did to him."

"He'll get over it." Hisia said, not feeling as optimistic as she sounded.

Hisia gulped down the last bit of meat and stood up. She walked towards the den when she heard growls coming from inside. She panicked and ran in to see Scar growling at a white lion.

"Get out NOW!" Scar roared.

"But, King Ahadi told me I could stay." the white lion protested.

"I don't care what my father said." Scar roared. "Get out of my home!"

"ENOUGH!!!"

Hisia looked behind Scar to see Ahadi striding over.

"Taka." Ahadi said. "Is that any way to talk to a guest?"

"I didn't know he was a guest." Scar turned away from his father. "And don't call me Taka. I'm Scar now."

"Fine 'Scar', mind your manners." Ahadi told him.

"Whatever." Scar mumbled and pushed his way past Hisia.

"Thank you again King ahadi." the lion dipped his head.

"It's okay." Ahadi said. "Sorry about Taka. He can be very rude at times."

Hisia walked in. 

"Hello King Ahadi." she turned to the king. "who is our new guest here?"

"I'm NorthStar." the lion said. "Nice to meet you."

"I'm Hisia." Hisia said, smiling at him. "Nice to meet you too."

"Well, I'll leave you two to get yourselves acquainted." Ahadi said and walked off.

Hisia looked after Ahadi's disappearing body. She then turned to NorthStar.

"Where are you from anyway?" she asked.

"Very far." he replied. "My family died in an elephant stampede. So, I had to run away."

"You must have had a hard journey." Hisia's eyes were sympatethic.

"Rather." he said.

"You must want something to eat." she nosed the leftover buffalo towards him. "Here, eat."

"Thanks." he smiled at her and dug into the meat.

She walked over to Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafina standing nearby. Mufasa then strode over to NorthStar and had a talk with him. Sarabi and Sarafina pulled Hisia aside.

"Who is he?" Sarabi asked.

Hisia rolled her eyes. Ever since Sarabi had found out that she was bethrothed to Mufasa, she had been super-cautious and had been trying to be like the current queen, Uru.

"That's NorthStar." Hisia explained. "He's from very far away. His family died in an elephant stampede and he had to leave his homeland. Fortunately, he ended up here."

"Fortunately?" Sarafina echoed. "What if he's a dangerous rogue?"

Hisia sighed. Sarafina had been acting like her big sister lately. She had been very protective of her, especially around males.

"He doesn't look like it." Hisia said. "He didn't even sound like it."

"But that doesn't mean you let your guard down." Sarabi said. "He's a newcomer and he must prove himself worthy of the pride."

"And the way to do that is to make friends with him." Hisia completed. "Get to know who he really is inside."

"Good plan." Sarafina said. "But who'd be willing to make friends with a lion as white as him?"

"I am." Hisia said.

"No, no Hisia, you're taking a big risk." Sarafina panicked.

"Which is what my mother taught me." Hisia said, looking at her two friends. "For the good of the pride, I'm willing to sacrifice anything."

Sarabi and Sarafina opened their mouths to argue, but they saw the determination in the adult lioness's eyes. They shut their mouths. Hisia looked at them with a look that said to much to be put into words.

"Just give me a chance." she whispered to them.

Sarabi and Sarafina put their heads down and nodded. Hisia nuzzled them both and turned around and began to walk towards Mufasa and NorthStar. They both were parting. Mufasa walked towards Hisia.

"He's got a really sad story." he said. "It'll be good for him to have a companion while he's here."

"Good, just what I thought." Hisia said.

"Good luck." Mufasa called after her, as she ran after NorthStar. 

Hisia soon caught up with the white lion. 

"So, you're feeling comfortable here?" she asked.

"Yeah, its a nice place." NorthStar looked around.

"But its still got its dangers, you know." Hisia gave a chuckle.

Soon, before the two knew it, they were bonding. They soon became inseperable. Hisia taught him all about the land and NorthStar taught her how to rely on hearing and sound to catch prey. Most of his family who were white lions, were blind, so this technique was passed down from father to son and mother to daughter. Hisia found it very impressive. She was impressed by the way he hunted, even though he was a white lion.

Days and weeks passed. Hisisa soon found her friendship for NorthStar turning into love for the majestic white lion. NorthStar found the same. By this time, they had grown a little older. Ahadi had stepped down and Mufasa had taken his place with Sarabi as his queen. Sarafina had met a lion called Mfalme and was mates with him. 

One day, Hisia felt sharp pains in her belly. NorthStar took her to Rafiki. He told her that she was pregnant. This was the best news they had. Hisia couldn't wait for her first cubs.

A few days later, Hisia gave birth to a tiny orange boy, a white boy and a gray lioness.

"Have you thought about what to call them?" she asked NorthStar.

"I don't know." NorthStar said. "Maybe we can take them to Rafiki. He always knows what's best."

Hisia nodded. She bent down and licked her cubs. She was so proud. But something bothered her. She stared down at the orange cub. How could this have happened, when her other cubs were white or gray? Somehow, she had a feeling this cub had an important role in his life, and she wouldn't be a part of it.

*

A sharp bang echoed through the undergrowth. The night was dark, and Hisia held her cubs close to her. Northstar layed down next to her. Coming out here was a bad idea tonight. 

The wierd things were coming closer. 

"Hisia." NorthStar whispered. "Help me get the cubs to safety."

Hisia picked up the orange cub and gray cub while NorthStar picked up the white. They both went closer to the border, closer to the dangerous world of Twolegs. Hisia put down her cubs.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

NorthStar was about to answer when four Twolegs burst out of the bushes carrying the sticks that shot out things that could kill. NorthStar dropped the cub he was holding and attacked.

"Take them somewhere safe!" he yelled as he slashed out.

Hisia was about to protest when she noticed the cubs. The orange cub was the first born. The gray and white twins. The older orange cub seemed to notice the tension in its surroundings. He was protectively holding his younger siblings. Hisia knew that if she went into the fight, they would die. She then picked up the orange cub and ran as fast as she could to thenearest place she could think of: the place the Twolegs called the zoo.

Hisia dropped the cub. She then noticed two lionesses looking at her from an enclosure beside her.

"Take care of my son." she told them.

Without waiting, she took off back to the border and picked up her second cub, the gray lioness. She ran in the other directin till she crossed the border and placed her cub down. She then ran back to hide her third cub, but he was nowhere to be found. But NorthStar was weakening. Hisia lashed out and tried to help her mate. But then, two bangs echoed out of the stick one Twoleg had. 

Hisia felt a sudden hard and sharp jab piercing her heart. NorthStar fell down. Hisia was in too much pain. She collapsed and closed her eyes, never opening them again.

Rafiki saw all this unfold from his tree. Then, he heard a sudden tiny mew. He climbed down and saw Hisia's third cub mewling. Rafiki felt sorry for the tiny scrap of fur and picked him up.

"You will be safe with old Rafiki." he said to the tiny cub.

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"Wow." Safari said, as Rafiki finished telling the story. "I never knew that. And to think I was mad that my parents left me."

"I know." Simba said. "I still get angry with my father for leaving me."

"So, it looks like we have one thing in common," Safari grinned. "Our parents died saving us."

"But, Safari." Rafiki said. "You have a bigger task in hand."

"What task?" Safari asked, bewildered.

"You must find your siblings." Rafiki answered.

"Find my siblings?" Safari asked. "But I don't even know them."

"You three are more powerful together. Seperated, you are vulnerable. But together, nothing will stand in your way." Rafiki explained calmly.

"But they made it all these years, I'm sure they are fine." Safari said.

"But you three have a major part to play in the destiny the Great Kings have set for you." Rafiki said.

Safari turned to the drawing of the three cubs: him and his siblings. He felt something storring inside him, like he could see the way.

"Then that's what I'll do." Safari said. "I'll find my siblings and together, we will find our path in the Circle of Life."

***