Ch 19 Quest for Kings

      Quest for Kings



As morning flashed across Zarda's face the warm sunlight streaming through the canopy comforted him. Most of the pride had awakened to eat again and to rekindle the fire from the glowing embers left behind. He observed his mother savoring a tender bird leg, juices cascading down her chin. The primal instincts lingered, though soon they would adopt a more sophisticated approach to their new lives.

Meanwhile, Meeku sat early crafting his designs. These garments were destined to be shared among all members of the pride, bringing them joy and comfort. He labored quickly.  Stitching, cutting, and pulling the fabric diligently. Once he completed the first set, he was eager to try them on a willing model. A young lioness stepped forward, allowing Meeku to dress her. The clothing fit her petite frame perfectly, enhancing her beauty, or so Meeku believed. Eventually, he finished the remainder and distributed them to the rest of the pride. Everyone was content, not to mention still well-fed from the previous night's feast. The pride reminisced about the good old days when they would hunt until satisfied, living comfortably and harmoniously among the residents of the savannah.

Zarda wasted no time to share the visions of the master and the pride direct instructions.  He was pleased to see how quickly his pride was picking up on simple tasks. They no longer would have to use their bodies to take down food, now he had perfect instructions on how much easier hunting would evolve. Zarda made his way closer beside his mother after sharing his dream.

"Hello, Mother," Zarda said with a smile as he looked down at her.

His mother raised her eyes to behold her tall and handsome son. To Saharrah, he would always be her cub at heart. She took a moment to appreciate every aspect of his new hybrid face—a fusion of human and feline traits, framed by a strikingly white mane that encircled his features. His eyes shimmered with the same light as his father's. As their gazes locked and smiles appeared, they were suddenly interrupted by the loud sound of trampling reverberating through the trees. From the depths of the jungle emerged Meeku, Slash, Razor, Matiti, and Mazunga, all exhausted and in desperate need of sustenance and rest. Meeku glanced at his well-rested brother with heavy-lidded eyes.

"Good visits with the creator, I assume," he said, stifling a yawn.

Zarda nodded in understanding as he watched his brother approach a lioness and effortlessly seize a roasted bird with his bare hands, unfazed by the heat. Acknowledging his own hunger and fatigue, he recognized that the same was true for the other four; they all took a moment to eat before finding comfortable places to settle down for the night. Zarda understood he needed to arrange a rotation for the night watch. While his brother and the other warriors enjoyed their well-deserved rest, Zarda and the lionesses occupied themselves with foraging for more food. The younger lionesses eagerly showed Zarda the best spots for gathering, blushing with delight as they followed their king. The young females found him quite appealing. Sensing the palpable awkwardness, Zarda swiftly returned to the camp with his palm leaf full of finds. The lionesses rushed to keep up with him. Once by the fire, they carefully organized the fruits and insects into neat little piles that showcased a stunning array of colors. As Zarda sorted through the fruit, he was tempted to indulge in a large, shiny red beetle, but he resisted, knowing the importance of distributing everything evenly among the pride before enjoying any treats himself.

After an hour of new tasks, the warriors finally stirred, looking well-rested after a deserved sleep. Zarda chose to leave the lioness warriors to their work, realizing it was better to share the food rather than consume it all himself. It was time to exchange information with the others. The male warriors were gathered around the fire pit, forming a circle at the jungle's edge and facing the warthog territory. Zarda wasted no time initiating the meeting among the six of them. He settled on a short stump beside Meeku and began sharing everything, including the intricate details of each topic the creator had discussed. Meeku, was enthusiastic about the creative ideas, he felt a strong urge to start crafting, but knew he needed to wait until their return from Mount Sabyinyo.

The warriors recognized that those who were journeying would enjoy a restful night and set out before dawn. Gathered around the comforting glow of the fire, they engaged in an animated discussion about the best route for their adventure. Meanwhile, Saharrah was with the lionesses that Zarda had parted ways with earlier. She directed them to prepare bundles from the woven blankets to carry the food and supplies needed for the travelers. After ensuring they were busy with their task, she approached the small group that had formed. Wrapping her arms gently around her two sons, she offered them a warm embrace and lovingly placed her soft hands on their cheeks.

"This time, please don't be gone for too long. Come back to me. I'll hold things down while you're both away. Don't worry about us; we'll be fine. Stay safe and come back soon," Saharrah said.

Zarda planted a gentle kiss on his mother's forehead before heading out to find more work ahead of their departure. Meeku stayed nestled in her warm embrace, bidding her farewell as he ventured off to design new creations. Saharrah had resolved to keep a vigilant watch over her sons and their warriors. Despite the recent tranquility of the camp, they resided in a capricious world where anything could occur. The young male warrior, sitting with Slash and the others, soon stood up to track down Zarda, who was busy working. He approached him confidently and asked, "Zarda, what does this Quest for Kings involve for all of us?"

Zarda paused in his work, glancing up from crafting a wooden hood for the water well. He wiped the dust from his hands and replied, "Well, my friend, first of all, it means a brighter future for our community. Furthermore, you and the rest of us will have the chance to encounter kingdoms we never even dared to imagine visiting in the wild. Just picture it—you could be face to face with a hippo, a crocodile, or even the mighty elephant king. Isn't that exciting?"

Mazunga's eyes widened in alarm at the idea of a colossal elephant looming above him, stirring feelings of anxiety. Zarda gently rested a strong hand on Mazunga's shoulder, offering reassurance that there was no reason for him to be concerned.

"Listen, I know you're excited—I am too. Keep yourself occupied until we leave; believe me, the time will fly by," Zarda said.

The pride was hard at work, gathering, crafting, cooking, and safeguarding their territory. Saharrah returned to the lionesses, where she had last seen them. They had been diligently preparing the travel bags as instructed, carefully ensuring that everything was balanced and tailored to the specific needs of their journey.

"Nice work everyone. If only we weren't back inside this confounded jungle. I know my sons are home, but my body is restless of this place I need open freedom. I want to travel" she mentioned. Lionesses Anola walked over to stand beside her queen. She smiled over at her happy to see her queen thriving.

"I'm really happy to see you doing better, and it feels great that we can all understand each other again. Last year was incredibly challenging for communication. Thankfully, your sister and friend Keeku, were there to help translate. Just think about it—what would we have done if they hadn't?" she asked.

"That's very true. I'd rather forget all that now, since my sons are back. I'm actually worried to see them leave out again. To be honest, I'm quite tempted to ask Zarda to take me along, but I realize it's not a suitable destination for Queens. Maybe once they return from their journey, we can plan our own expedition," Saharrah suggested.

Anola gently rested her hand on her shoulder and said, "At least they won't be alone this time. You don't need to worry. Now that everyone has transformed into their hybrid forms, I believe they can manage just fine. They've taken care of themselves for a whole year, just the two of them."

Queen Saharrah recognized the truth in her lioness warrior's words, and her anxiety began to ease. She turned her gaze to the right, distancing herself from Anola's presence.

The day dragged on, brimming with endless tasks. Everyone concentrated on their responsibilities, maintaining productivity late into the night. Saharrah faced yet another chilly evening in the jungle, as dusk enveloped them. Saharrah prioritized ensuring that Zarda and his team received ample rest for their forthcoming journey. All arrangements were in place for their departure. The quest for Kings a waited their arrival up into the dormant volcano. A long adventure for worthy warriors. A future king and his loyal subjects.