Safari's Quest

Nuru looked at the stars. Her father had told her that all the Great Kings of the Past looked down from the stars. Although she had been too young to understand, those words were what kept her going all these years.

"Nuru?"

A lion with a black mane and ear tufts came up to her. She sighed. Although Malka was her brother, he was like a father to her. 

"You miss Dad, don't you?" Malka asked.

Nuru nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Their father had died a few weeks ago. She pressed her body against Malka and gazed up at the stars. Malka put his head on her head. 

"Why do I feel so different?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Malka asked.

"Well, we don't look like each other. Some of the lionesses say we're hardly siblings." 

"I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."

Nuru looked at him. Although his words would have comforted her, she felt something was wrong. She had always thought Malka was her younger brother, but the bond they shared was strange. It felt like they were not blood-related at all.

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Sergei had no idea where he was going. He ran through the thick undergrowth. When he burst out of it, he saw a huge herd of zebra. 

"This is it." he muttered to himself.

He crouched down in the tall grass that nearly hid his white body. His reddish-brown mane mingled with the setting sun. He slwly moved forward, slowly casting one paw in front of the other. The zebra hardly noticed the blue-eyed lion stalking up to them.

Sergei made sure they were all looking the other way when he sprang up. The zebra jumped and began to run. But Sergei had a head-start. He ran after one, jumped on it and sunk his teeth into its neck. It soon fell to the ground. The rest of the zebras had run off.

Sergei searched his limbs for any signs of tiredness. Surprisingly, he felt more alive than before. The hunting technique always left him feeling relaxed, like he had slept for a week. he had no idea how he learnt the technique, but it ran in his blood. He knew that.

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Safari gasped. He found himself in Pride Rock. It was midnight and all Pride Members were asleep. He looked to his side and saw Uzuri sleeping soundly. Seeing her sleeping softly made him feel better. Ever since he had heard the story of his parents from Rafiki, he had been having wierd dreams.

In that, he saw a white lion with a mane and eyes like his and a brown lioness walking away from him. He dreamt that they were suddenly attacked and he was paralysed to the rock he was standing on. He then saw the lion and lioness fall off a cliff.

Safari let his breathing slow. He silently decided to visit Rafiki the next morning. He put his head on his paws and closed his eyes. He was afraid of going to sleep; he was afraid the dream would come again. But, his sleep was peaceful and he slept soundly.

He woke as the morning sun rays fell on his face. He got up, gave Uzuri a small lick, and walked out of the den.

"Safari?"

He looked back to see Simba walking towards him. He gave a small sigh.

"Simba." he said, adressing his friend. "You're up early."

"And so are you." Simba pointed out.

"I couldn't sleep."

"You too?"

"Why? What's the matter?"

"No idea. I think I'm getting a bit too fidgety these days." Simba gave a laugh.

Safari laughed along with Simba. The two lions had become even closer since Rafiki's story. 

"So, I'm going down to see Rafiki." Safari said.

"I'll come along too." Simba said. "We can hunt on the way back."

"No." Safari said quickly. " I'll be fine on my own."

Simba noticed that something was bothering his old friend. Safari had never been so quick to answer. However, Simba knew he had to do this alone.

"Good luck." he said.

Safari nodded at Simba and then jumped down the few rocks that led him to the ground. He made his way to the old baobab tree that the shaman used. He climbed up to the interior of the trunk. 

"Rafiki!" he called. "You there?"

"Safari." Rafiki came up holding a coconut shell with some juice in it. "Nice to see you."

"Its good to see you too." Safari said. "But that's not why I'm here."

Rafiki looked at Safari. His eyes searched the orange lion's face. 

"I know why you're here." Rafiki said. "You have dreams."

"Yeah, ever since you tole me the story of my parents I keep seeing a lion and a lioness walking away from me, and then me falling off a cliff." Safari said, struggling to visit the world of his nightmares.

"It is a sign." Rafiki said. "You must go and find your siblings."

"Now?" he asked.

"Yes, you have wasted a lot of time." Rafiki said.

"Okay, I'll leave by noon." Safari said. "I just gotta tell Simba and I'm off."

"I'm sure it will be fine." Rafiki reassured him.

"Just tell Uzuri that i'll be back as soon as I can." Safari looked at Rafiki who nodded.

Safari climbed down and turned back.

"May the Great Kings go with you." Rafiki called after him.

Safari nodded at the old baboon shaman. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him and ran to Pride Rock. There he almost collided with his son Hadi.

"Dad." Hadi yelled.

"Sorry son." Safari said. "Do you know where simba is?"

"Simba?" Hadi said. "He's near the water-hole. What is it?"

"I'd rather not tell you." Safari said.

"Dad." Hadi said. "I can handle it."

"Okay." Safari sighed. "I'm going away."

"Away?" Hadi asked, disbelievingly.

"Not away. Just for a few months." Safari said. "I'd rather not tell you the rest."

"Good luck Dad." Hadi sighed.

"Thanks son." Safari looked at his son with pride in his eyes. "Take care of your sister."

"I will Dad." the brown lion looked into his father's eyes.

Safari was suddenly overcome with a sensation to stay. His heart told him not to leave and stay with his son and daughter. But if he did, his dreams would continue. He had to find his siblings. He swallowed the emotion that choked his throat and looked at Hadi.

"Bye son." he said.

Hadi nodded, a trace of tears in his eyes. Safari turned, and ran. He went staright for Rafiki's tree. Rafiki told him to check near the border of the jungle. Safari nodded and ran in that direction. On the way, he bumped into Simba. 

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked.

"I don't know." Safari admitted and put his head down.

"I always knew you had a destiny that stretched farther than your own pride." Simba smiled. "Whatever you do, wherever you go, let my father go with you."

"Thank you Simba." 

Safari looked at Simba not as a king, but as a friend. The two had been so close. Simba had started hanging out with Safari a lot. Safari was like a brother to him, even though he would never forget his brother Tojo, who had left when Scar took over. Safari and Simba were brothers not by blood, but by bond.

Safari turned his gaze away from Simba and padded down towards the jungle. Simba turned around and went back to Pride Rock. Safari made his way towards the border. 

He soon came up to the river that marked the end of the border of the Pridelands. He knew that crossing it would put him in danger of the other pride across. But, his mother had come this way and he had to too. So, taking a deep brath, he plunged into the shallow water and crossed the river effortlessly. 

He pulled himself up on the other side and shook the water out of his mane and fur. Dry, he began walking forward. He suddenly smelled lionesses from another pride. He immediately jumped into the bushes and hid in silence. 

Five lionesses passed by him. But one lioness caught his eye. She had a goos build and had dark brown fur. But the thing that made him interested in her was her eyes. They were the same blue as his.

Maybe this is my sister. he thought.

Then, the lioness stopped and tasted the air.

"Do you smell that?" she asked.

"No, we don't." another lioness replied, smelling.

"It smells like, another pride's smell." the lioness said.

"Nuru, are you sure?" a third lioness asked her.

"I know when I smell outside lion smell." Nuru replied, her blue eyes focused.

Safari saw the look in her eyes was the same as the one he had given Simba when he had asked him whether he really wanted to do it. Safari then was confident that this lioness called Nuru was really his sister. Now he had to find a good time to get to her and tell her the truth.

"I don't smell anything." the fourth lioness said.

"I must be losing my pebbles." Nuru shrugged.

The patrol went on and Safari let his breath loose. They hadn't recognised his scent. Only Nuru had. He quietly followed the patrol to find out where their den was. 

The lionesses went to the mountains and a lion with a black mane and ear tufts greeted them. Nuru nuzzled him. Safari strained his ears for words.

"I'm so glad you're back safe and sound." the lion said.

"You always worry Malka." Nuru grinned.

Malka. Malka. That name sounded so familiar. Safari racked his brains to find where he had heard that name. Then, he suddenly remembered. Hadn't Simba mentioned Malka when he was telling Safari about one of his adventures when he and Nala were cubs? 

It was him. Now Safari devised a plan to talk to Nuru. He waited till Nuru and Malka were alone and then walked out of the bushes.

"Who are you?" Nuru growled at him.

"I'm sure you don't remember who I am." Safari said.

"Have you met?" Malka asked.

"No, we haven't." Nuru said, not taking her eyes off Safari.

"I'm Safari." Safari said. "I'm a friend of Simba."

"Simba?" Malka asked. "I know him. We met when we were cubs."

"So, you're not a threat?" The anger in Nuru's eyes was ebbing away.

"No." Safari shook his head.

"So, what are you doing on my territory?" Malka asked.

"I came to see Nuru." Safari replied.

Nuru stared at him, the look of anger replaced with a look of confusion.

"Nuru." Safari said. "You're not Malka's sister."

"I knew it." Nuru said. "But why did you come all this way to tell me that?"

"I didn't." Safari said. "I need you to come back with me."

"Why?" she raised her eyebrow at him.

"Well, its a long story." Safari began.

"I'm not going anywhere." Nuru said.

"Okay." Safari said. "The thing is, you're MY sister."

"Your sister?" Nuru studied him.

"Yes, we were separated a few days after our birth." Safari said.

"I don't understand." she said.

"Sit down." Safari invited her to sit. "And I'll tell you the rest of the story."

She cast a glance at Malka. He sat down and so did she. Safari then started the story.

"Well, it began when our dad stumbled across the Elephant Graveyard......"

Safri told her the entire story, of how their parents met, how they had cubs, and how the three were separated. When he came to the part where Rafiki told him he had to find his siblings, Nuru interupted him.

"So, you had to come and find us." she finished.

Safari nodded. He looked at her and his heart nearly burst with hope.

"You're coming to find our brother, aren't you?"he asked.

He relaxed as her face was filled with happiness.

"Of course I'm coming, you stupid furball." she laughed.

He smiled. Malka got up and so did he.

"So, it looks like this is good-bye then." Malka said to Nuru.

"I'll come visit you whenever I can." she said, nuzzling him.

Safari let the two share their final farewell. Then, he looked at Nuru.

"Its time to go." he said.

Nuru nodded and followed him. Once the two were out of the territory, Nuru stopped.

"What's the matter?" Safari asked.

"Do we have any idea where our brother is?" she asked.

"Rafiki told me he passed your territory and went North." Safari said.

"Then it looks like we're on the right track." Nuru said.

Safari nodded and made his way across. He stopped and let Nuru catch up. By nightfall, they were almost near the snowy mountains.

"We'll start searching for Sergei tomorrow." Safari said.

"How do you know his name?" Nuru asked him.

"Rafiki raised him and gave him that name." Safari said.

"Oh." Nuru said.

"Get some rest." Safari said.

He knew Nuru was worn out. She needed her strength.

"I'll catch you something." he offeredn

When she gave a tiny nod, he got up and begn searching for prey. He saw a hare eating nearby. That would be enough for Nuru to regain her strength. He crouched and began to stalk up to it. When he close he made a dash and quickly killed it. He brought it back to Nuru. She stared wide-eyed at the hare in his mouth.

"That's hardly enough for the two of us." she said.

"Its not for me." he replied. "Its for you. I'll catch myself something later."

"You're an amazing brother." she said and began tearing into the hare.

Safari's throat choked with emotion. He couldn't believe he had just met his sister today, and they were already closer. He caught a hare for himself and sat down beside Nuru and quickly finished his meal. She put her head on her paws and went to sleep. He protectively put his head on her neck and went to sleep, feeling a strange feeling that he had felt when he was just a newborn. He felt protective of her, he felt like he could rip the throat out of any lion who ever hurt her.

As the sun rays shone on the edge of the river, Safari got up and stretched. He looked around. He padded out of the tiny den they were camping in. He quickly caught a runaway zebra. He dragged it into the den and lay it down near the enterance. He walked in and prodded Nuru in her flank, keeping his claws sheated. She opened one eye and looked drowsily at him.

"Whassup?" she asked sleepily.

"Breakfast is over there." Safari said. "We need our strength if we're going to find Sergei today."

"Alright, I'm up." she shook her body and then went over to the zebra.

She raised her eyebrow at Safari. He went over to her and began digging in. She shook her head and began to eat. In a few minutes, all that was left of the zebra was a pile of bones. 

"That was good." Nuru said.

"Yeah." Safari agreed. "I'll go bury the bones while you stay here."

"Why should I stay here?" Nuru suddenly asked angrily.

"Because......" Safari began to say but Nuru stopped him by flicking her tail.

"I stayed here last night and today morning. I'm not fragile as you think I am." 

"But....." Safari got cut off again.

"I can take care of myself, Safari. Just trust me. I'll go bury the bones." Nuru looked at him.

Safari opened his mouth to protest but closed it. He knew he was being too over-protective. He nodded. She took the bones and went outside and quickly buried them. Safari went for a drink by the river. Soon, the two set out to search for their brother. 

They soon came upon an unknown territory. Safari had the feeling that someone was watching them.

"Stay close." he whispered to Nuru.

Nuru silently nodded and followed him closely. Safari managed to keep her in view the whole time. Suddenly, a white lion with a red mane jumped out and attacked them. Safari attacked back. Soon, the lion was panting angrily. He had blue eyes just like Safari and Nuru.

"Sergei?" Nuru asked.

"How do you know my name?" the lion snarled.

"Its hard to explain." Safari said.

"I'll tell him this time." Nuru looked at Safari.

"If you two have finished talking, can you tell me what are you doing here?" Sergei growled.

Nuru told him all Safari had told her. Safari picked up when she got to the part about being separated from the rest at birth. Sergei's eyes began to lose their hostility as Safari and Nuru told him their story.

"So, you're my siblings." he said.

"Yes we are." Nuru said.

"And you want me to come back with you." Sergei said, fixing both of them with a soft look.

"You are coming, aren't you?" Safari found himself asking Sergei the same question he had asked Nuru.

"No." Safari's heart sank. "I'm fine with my life here. But I will come and visit you."

"You have no choice." Nuru nuzzled him.

"Yeah, I'll be looking forward." Safari smiled at his brother, understanding his decision.

Sergei looked gratefully at him.

"C'mon Nuru." Safari said to his sister. "Let's go home."

Safari's mission was complete. He had found his siblings and was bringing his sister back home with him. Life was looking pretty good for the orange lion.

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