Ch 6 New Day
New Day
In a dimly lit hole in the ground, the brothers remained concealed, anxiously awaiting Mara's return. Zarda's eyes brimmed with dust and tears, stinging from the irritation caused by the filth. He thought to himself, how could his friend Purk endure living in such a place? Perhaps that was the reason for the wild, unkempt hairs covering his body—maybe it served as a barrier against the dust. His logic seemed more appropriate than he originally imagined.
"I'm not a warthog like Purk; this way of life is intolerable. As the future King, I require sunlight and fresh air!" Zarda exclaimed in frustration.
The abrupt noise was so overwhelming, that Meeku could hear him clearly within his own thoughts. He turned toward his brother, squinting in acknowledgment. He couldn't help but think that living as a warthog was far from enjoyable. Day in and day out, dealing with the dust and mud was no way to spend life. Consuming wriggling grubs was definitely not his idea of a meal. He would much prefer the fresh air, soft grass, pleasant shade, and a hearty piece of meat any day. His worries began to mount as he considered what the new day would bring.
Meeku was in a state of panic as he called out to his brother, "Zarda, how am I supposed to know if it's morning when all we can see is the inside of our dusty eyelids?"
Zarda instinctively understood the distinction between day and night. He relied on his stronger senses to discern the two. He recalled how he concentrated on these contrasts—the way morning welcomed him with a fresh, crisp air, much different from the aroma of the sweet night.
"Don't worry, Meeku. I understand the difference. I'll inform you when it's safe for us to go," Zarda replied gently.
Zarda attempted to soothe his brother's anxieties. As the night wore on, the brothers struggled to find sleep, constantly jolted awake by eerie sounds above their burrow. The dark air was filled with hoots, howls, grunts, and yips, while the soft patter of tiny feet scurried above their sleepy burrow nonstop. Zarda had no idea what the scene looked like above ground. He could only imagine. Furthermore, He pondered on how the camp was faring. Imagining his courageous father, triumphantly feasting on a gruesome hyena. This thought provided him some comfort, allowing him to drift off to sleep.
Back in the cave, Queen Saharrah's tears flowed freely as she held tightly to her two beautiful daughters, their lifeless bodies resting in her embrace. Her heart ached in grief—she had lost her mate and now all four of her cubs. She prayed fervently for her lost sons, hoping they had survived the wretched night. Though she had never discovered Meeku's body, she took comfort in knowing that Zarda was safe in a burrow belonging to a warthog. This thought brought her some solace amidst her pain. A sense of dread washed over her as she gazed upon the mangled bodies of Mara and Dimvi. Death surrounded her in every direction. Queen Lilith had cast a curse upon the White mane Tribe, and her dark magic had come to fruition. Queen Saharrah held no love for Lilith, but she understood that harboring such thoughts would only drag her down to the same depths as that wicked witch. For now, Saharrah remained rooted in place, dedicating her night to honoring her daughters and mourning the fallen who lay scattered around her.
It was heartbreaking that she had lost more than just the latest cubs. Those who had perished were the brave fighters from earlier litters—the warriors trained by her and her mate—who had fallen victim to the hyenas. In the distance, Slash and Razor were returning after successfully driving the Blackmane lions back into their territory. They hurried back to their pride, unaware of the looming tragedy that awaited them. As the morning sun rose, its warm rays intensified the dreadful odor of blood and death. Lioness Anola approached the Queen and softly pressed her head against hers. Saharrah gradually lifted her head to take in the unfolding scene. With the light of day now illuminating everything, the sight of blood and dismembered bodies became starkly clear. Lifeless forms lay scattered around her. The sight of her mate's body pierced her heart, leaving her overwhelmed with despair. Raya and Keeku made their way to the Queen, every step heavy with fatigue. She gazed intently into their tired eyes.
"It's time to leave," declared Saharrah, taken aback by the weight of her own statement. "We can't stay here any longer. We must abandon our home in search of safety elsewhere. This journey will be difficult. Perhaps my eldest sons, who left not too long ago, will welcome us into their prides. If that occurs, I will no longer be the Queen of this tribe. Zarda is our only hope for the future of our clan," she said, her tone resolute and unwavering.
Saharrah was correct about everything. The events of that one night resulted in immense loss. Zarda was the sole genuine heir and the hope for preserving the Whitemane tribe. Without him, the tribe's legacy would perish with the night. However, on a brighter note, several lionesses were overjoyed to find their cubs nestled in nearby foliage. It was a relief for them to be able to snuggle close to their little ones after the turmoil of the night. The lionesses had no opportunity to grieve for their mate, King Ezekiel, but they felt the profound sorrow as they gazed upon their queen.
The queen's friend hesitated to voice her thoughts. "We need to take our king and arrange a proper burial for him," Keeku said.
Queen Saharrah agreed; it was the right decision. "Summon the remaining warriors. Set up a tripod and place the King upon it. I want them to carry him with us to a new location," the Queen commanded.
Keeku listened closely to her friend's words before stepping away. Raya stayed quietly beside her sister, her body shaking and her throat aching. The weight of all the loss filled her with sadness.
"How? How is this possible? Where are Zarda and Meeku?" Raya inquired.
Queen Saharrah sensed that her son was close by, hiding within a warthog burrow. Though she could feel his presence, she couldn't see him, nor prove which burrow he was in, if he was still in one. While she enjoyed the advantage of living near the warthog clan, the bustling nature of the group posed a challenge. With so many burrows to sift through, it was easy to get overwhelmed. If she wasn't cautious, the warthogs would certainly put up a fierce defense. The landscape to the southwest was dotted with numerous burrows to choose from—some empty, while others were lively filled with wire-haired families. Searching for Zarda and Meeku was worth every trial that came her way. She would die trying anything to receive them back to her. Not only did the Queen's pride have to rebuild their lives and relocate, but they also faced the daunting task of moving their deceased King and searching for his successor. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Meanwhile, the lion cubs were in their temporary home, where Zarda was finally stirring after a long, exhausting night. Morning had arrived, but there was a catch: he couldn't see, and he had no idea where he was. The sun had risen, Zarda could smell the thin crisp air all around them in the snug burrow. He pushed himself upright and inhaled deeply.
He shouted to his younger brother to join him at the surface. It didn't take long for Meeku to arrive, though he was a little unsteady as he stood next to him. He was annoyed by the dust still stuck in his eyes and nose, which tickled and caused him to sneeze intermittently throughout the night.
"Hey Zarda, maybe if I could lick the dust from your eyes, you could do the same for me. That's what our mother would have done," Meeku said.
Zarda thought that this idea could definitely work. It was worth a shot, and if it succeeded, they might be on their way to finding their lion's pride. Meeku searched for his brother's face, taking his time to carefully wipe away the salty dirt from Zarda's eyes. He felt a wave of relief as the plan seemed to be panning out. With his right eye cleared of debris, Zarda could see a bit once more. Before long, his left eye was clear as well. With a gentle nuzzle, Zarda leaned into his brother and reciprocated the gesture, cleaning Meeku's eyes in return. Now, both brothers could see again. They crawled out of the hole and looked out into the vast expanse before them.
They understood just how isolated they truly were. The adventure into the warthog hole had felt so familiar and accessible last night, yet now, in the light of day, it seemed completely out of reach. Zarda felt a mix of confusion and hope; it was a new day, and he was eager to embrace it. The Queen, however, felt a deep yearning to locate her sons, though her outlook was less hopeful. Where could they possibly be? Would they cross paths along the way? Only time could reveal the answers, and all she had left was time, along with her small pride of lions. The lion pack set out on a daunting mission, joined by Zarda and Meeku. Slash and Razor grimly tugged at the vines that were dragging their King, who was suspended on a thatched tripod. The lionesses of Saharrah had skillfully woven it together with their mouths the night before. The sturdy tripod was designed to support the King's lifeless body beneath it. Queen Saharrah draped their zebra-skinned pelt over her mate—a pelt they had once shared as a bed during chilly nights. It was poignant that this symbol of life they had once used to welcome new beginnings was now covering a life that had come to an end.
Life had to continue, and it would do so through Zarda. After hours of trekking, the Lionesses and warriors found themselves parched from the exertion of the previous night and early morning. The surviving cubs cried and pawed at their mothers' tails, seeking comfort. The journey ahead promised to be challenging. She needed to locate Zarda and Meeku, her heart solely focused on them. Raya and Keeku worked to uphold the well-being of the pride in their leader's absence. Raya insisted that the Queen take short breaks to rest, while Keeku led a small group on hunting expeditions. They primarily returned with small game to sustain the pride, as their numbers had significantly decreased. To replenish their strength, the pack would stop to drink from the waterholes before venturing out again. The previous night's battle had claimed the lives of at least five of the Queen and King's warriors, and they could not afford to lose anyone else.
Slash, King Ezekiel's loyal right-hand lion, took it upon himself to scout ahead for potential dangers, while the pride trailed safely behind. Meanwhile, Razor embarked on a separate mission to locate their leader's older bachelor son's group. Unfortunately, their scent was absent from the area; washed away by time and torrential rains that perhaps had once lingered. Her loyal warriors recognized the necessity of being particularly attentive to their Queen's needs and committed to ensuring the safety of the pack.