Shenzi rested a moment, then through sheer willpower she struggled to her feet and wobbled unsteadily to the water to wash off. Shenzi lingered in the water a moment, eyes closed as she relished the cool flow over her body. Reluctantly, she paced slowly out of the water and walked carefully towards the red stain on the sand, her eyes swimming as she took in the tiny form lying motionless on the ground. The pup had broken free from the afterbirth, small but well formed. Shenzi’s skin crawled as she saw it stir. “Muti!” she cried. “Look!”
Fabana gasped in horror as the pup’s head lifted waveringly, seeking them out with blind eyes. “I’ll get you,” it silently but clearly mouthed. “I’ll kill you!”
It trembled, crumpled over, and collapsed lifelessly into the dust.
Though afraid to touch it after this supernatural curse, Fabana dug a hole and pushed it and the afterbirth into it, covering it too deeply for most scavengers to dig up. After all, they did not want to attract any danger while they had to remain there.
For the next night and day, Shenzi drifted in and out of consciousness as the toxin circulated through her body. Sometimes she would have chills, and her okash would snuggle next to her, patting her with a paw and speaking words of encouragement and love.
Finally by the fourth day Shenzi could walk slowly but properly, and Fabana insisted that they must leave Redrock Kopje to find the others.
Shenzi was horribly weak and wobbly. Vultures, seeing her unsteady gait, begin to circle. But Fabana glared at the birds from time to time and they kept a safe distance.
Fay insisted that Skulk must know nothing of the abortion, so she kept Shenzi walking for long periods of time, resting only when necessary. “You are weak, but you must seem strong.” And little by little over the two day trip, Shenzi got her strength back.
When they rejoined the others by Elephant Kopje, Shenzi gracefully hid her remaining weakness.
“You must have had bad hunting,” Skulk said.
“No,” Shenzi quickly replied. “We fasted.”
Skulk glanced at Fabana. “Both of you?”
“Just her,” Fabana said.
“I did it for you,” Shenzi told Skulk, rubbing down his side. “In a few days there will be a full moon. They say pledging under a full moon means love will last forever.”
“At last? After all this time?” He nuzzled her passionately. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
Skulk pawed her gently. “I love you Shenzi.”
She smiled. Surely he would not be as skilled in pleasuring as was the Makei. But his love filled a hole deep inside of her, something the Makei never would or could try to address. “I love you too. You’ll never just know how much.”
CHAPTER 69: AMOR VINCIT OMNIA
Gur’bruk and Kambra gazed wearily upon the savanna before them as they padded over the ground with sore paws. Searching the horizon eagerly, they spotted Antelope Kopje in the distance, and soon afterwards the Clan Acacia. “Home!” Kambra muttered, her hackles standing up. “Dearest Roh’kash, I never thought I’d see it again!”
“Yes, old girl.”
“I wonder who’s in our old place.”
“I wonder how Bath and Mer’bel are.”
Kambra briefly whined. “So do I, but I’m scared. Will they want to see us? What if they’re dead? We don’t really know anything!”
“Don’t be foolish, dear. You’re just nervous, but everything’s going to be all right--God willing.”
They headed to the invisible line that marked the territory of the clan. In the bushes there were subtle sounds around that they recognized as sentries calling to each other.
“Maida elekhvor,” Kambra said.
One of the sentries stepped out. It was Ber. “That’s an old password, but....” He looked at them carefully. “Are you spirits?”
“What do you think?” Kambra asked.
Ber scratched behind his ear awkwardly. “Gur’bruk, how are you? Those things I said about your son--I mean--Gur’mekh paid for what he did, and I’m just trying to say that....”
“That you’ve missed us?” She pawed his face. “We’ve missed you too. You are glad to see us, aren’t you?”
Ber’s tail began to wag so hard that his whole back end began to shake. He nuzzled her warmly and cried, “Yes, yes! Welcome home, old friends! Oh gods, it’s good to see you again!”
“I take it we may pass?”
“Of course. I’ll take full responsibility. When you want in, remember that the new watchword is ‘elim galberet’ cause some of the new guards may not know you. We have a new Roh’mach, and he’s much kinder than the last two. He knows all about the makei, and I doubt he’ll honor the ban.”
“Who’s in charge now?” Gur’bruk asked.
“Uhuru. You knew him as Krull.”
“Krull? Your grandson Krull?”
Ber practically beamed. “Yes sir, none other!”
“I hope you don’t mind if we go say hello to the family.”
“By all means! But don’t be a stranger!” Ber nuzzled them both lovingly. “I’m so glad that we put the past behind us!”
Gur’bruk said, “I know what it feels like to lose a son. I’m so sorry, Ber! I just want you to know that.”
Ber nodded. “And I’m sorry about Gur’mekh. He loved you a great deal.”
“We’ll pay our respects to Lenti if she’ll see us.”
He shook his head. “Perhaps she’s looking down on you now.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry!”
Ber looked down. “And that’s not all.” He pawed Kambra’s face. “Prepare yourself, my dear. Your sister is gone too.”
Kambra’s eyes widened. “My Shimbekh?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Kambra’s eyes misted up. “We were so close....” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “My poor Shimbekh! Oh gods!”
When Kambra regained her composure, she signaled to Gur’bruk and the two of them headed deep into clan territory.
They were in for more surprises as they went to find their family.
Bath and Mer’bel were playing with their pups in the eastern march. “Girls!” Kambra said, feeling her heart rise in her mouth. “It’s time for your nap!”
They looked around, stunned. “Muti! Maleh!”
There was a tearful reunion, one made all the more special by the quick arrival of Gur’bruk and Kambra’s parents. Word spread fast among the hyenas.
The whole family was together for the first time in years. En’geer and Tela were off hunting, but a quick look by Mer’bel turned up their pups. It was becoming a rather large reunion.
The absence of Shimbekh and Gur’mekh was keenly felt, but they all felt that somewhere, somehow their hearts were with them. Such peace came to them all as had not been felt in many moons.
Bath and Mer’bel introduced them to their husbands, then to the pups. There was no way Gur’bruk and Kambra could remember all those names, but they both loved children so, and fit easily into the new role of grandparents. They were mobbed by affectionate pups, some of whom had the gift.
“I can see that prophesy is alive here,” Kambra said with a happy sigh, kissing the small wiggling bodies that tugged at her ears and tail, rubbing against her side and crying “Grand-okash!” Gur’bruk rolled on his back, batting at his assailants. One pup sat on his stomach and peered straight down into his eyes. “Gotcha!”
Bath said, “They’re going to love their grand-okash. Muti, we’ll have to find you a new place. Dabrek is old and set in his ways, and he is fond of napping on your old scratching grounds.”
“We’re not here to stay,” she replied.
“But you MUST stay,” Bath said, her ears folding back. “Muti, it’s OK for you to come back. The Roh’mach understands.”
“We have things to do first. We’re going to Pride Rock, and I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone. But the moment we leave, we’re coming back here.”
“Why are you going there?”
“To keep an old promise.”
Just then, Uhuru came by. Gur’bruk winced. “We were just leaving,” he said. “We came to see the family.”
“Now look here, Gur’bruk. Since when is having puppies a crime worthy of expulsion?”
“We must be honest about this. You know good and well Gur’mekh told us he was guilty. We harbored him for a while because he was desperate to have an exorcism. No matter what the Roh’mach said, only God has the right to condemn an immortal soul. What we did, we had to do. On this basis you may make your decision, and we will abide by it.”
Uhuru said, “I’m not telling you to trample the law underfoot, but I’m a little more open minded than poor Amarakh. I’ve seen things in my life that have broadened my views. The ban is ended, and tonight we will set aside time to grieve for Gur’mekh.”
“Thank you, Roh’mach. How is Amarakh?”
“Dead, Gur’bruk. The dying has stopped, but during the two conflicts and the famine nearly a third of the people you knew died.”
Gur’bruk gasped. “My gods!”
Gur’bruk and Kambra headed on toward Pride Rock. Halfway there, they were challenged by a hunting party of lionesses.
“Ho there, we don’t know you.”
“King Ahadi will understand our mission.”
“Ahadi? He’s been dead for some time. His grandson Simba is king now.”
“Grandson?” Gur’bruk looked at Kambra. “Has it really been that long, old girl?”
Kambra spoke up. “Where is Yolanda? She can explain this.
"Sorry, ma’am. She’s dead." Ajenti drew closer and examined Kambra carefully. It was a tense moment. “So how did you know my mother?”
"Your mother was very kind to us in our suffering. We came here to thank her. I’m so sorry."
Ajenti relaxed. “There’s only one hyena that mother knew. You wouldn’t be Kambra, would you?”
“Yes, I’m Kambra.” She looked at Ajenti carefully. “I’ll never forget your muti’s face. You have her eyes, and the bridge of your nose. It was such a kind face, and she had such a large heart.”
“She must have told me about you a hundred times,” Ajenti said with a purr. “Now I see you face to face.”
“I promised your okash--your mother--that I would come back someday and visit her.” She nuzzled Ajenti. “Yolanda, wherever you are, that’s for you.”
Ajenti kissed her. “And that’s from my mother.”
Just then, investigating the odd meeting, Simba came up. He looked at them closely, then shook all over. "Hey, I know you!" He smiled broadly. “You’re the two hyenas that saved my life!”
“You’re that little cub??” Gur’bruk said.
“You’re that big hyena??”
They both burst out laughing. "Come,” Simba said, “let's have something to eat! You’ll be glad to know that grubs are NOT on the menu!”
CHAPTER 70: THE HUNTER HOME FROM THE HILL
“I believe that our sun is rising, not setting. That there are great things ahead for our race, and that those who have looked down upon us for centuries will come to respect us as children of Roh’kash.”
-- GUR’MEKH
Skulk’s love for Shenzi was genuine, and it was not long before she had “the light in her eyes” once again, the impending promise of new life preparing to come forth. The birth of the pups was greeted by joyous exultation by the new clan, eager as they were to perpetuate their line. Ed was not particularly impressed with the new children, engrossed as he was in studying the cloud formations overhead, but Banzai’s chest swelled with pride as he looked at his little nephews and nieces. “Nice job, Sis.”
Shenzi smiled tiredly as her children gathered to her to take their first meal. “Thanks.”
Skulk worked overtime to try and fulfill his promise to Fabana. Under the circumstances, he provided for Shenzi and his pups rather well, but they went hungry more often than not. There was little enough food to go around for they had no territory of their own. Even when they did kill, it was sometimes taken from them by the lords of the land.
The brave thing to do might have been to not have pups. But the husbands and wives had few basic comforts and even fewer pleasures. So soon a few more couples had pups.
The scarcity of food began to take its toll, visible in the lean forms and gaunt faces of the clan. The suffering was most readily apparent in the oldest. Fabana could not eat while depriving the children, so Fay was slowly starving herself to death.
Tired all the time, Fay curled up one day at mid-sun in the scant shade of a dying acacia. Soon she was asleep, her body too drained to sustain a prolonged effort in the heat.
Jalkort came and nudged her. She awoke with a start. “Jal?? Is this it? Am I dead??”
“No, Fay. I’ve come to plead with you. You must go back to Pride Rock. Do this for me. Do it for the lions who still love you. Do it for Makhpil who needs someone warm and strong to give her companionship.”
“But I can’t run out on my children!”
“Would I ask you to run out??” Jal looked at her crossly. “You think what you’re doing is noble. But who appreciates it? If you were back at Pride Rock, you would eat well and they would eat better. Look, honey bunch, you deserve a little happiness. I can’t please you anymore, but you can find release from your misery if you’ll only take it. Besides, you’re spoiling heaven for me. I want you with me, but not by you dying young from hunger! Be happy for me. Be happy for you. Be selfish for a change. Gur’bruk and Kambra are there. And remember, you were never banned to begin with. You’re free to go home whenever you please. Uhuru is doing a fine job, and there is plenty of food. What’s more, you will find self respect, and love. Go home.”
Fabana opened her heart to the possibility of home and old friends. Tears began to flow like falling rain, and the burden on her heart melted away. “Oh gods, I’ll do it!”
She awoke with a start. Went and kissed her daughter Shenzi. “Don’t you look beautiful today, my daughter!”
“Say what??”
“No, really you do. Sometimes you need to be told.”
“Well, uh, thanks. You seem to be in a good mood today. What happened?”
“I discovered something about myself. Something that really makes me feel better. You see, it is not my fault that your father died. It’s not my fault that the false Roh’kash deceived us. It’s not my fault that Taka died, and it’s not my fault that you are selfish.”
“Huh??”
“Maybe with a father to give you some guidance, someone who knew more about the ways of our people, you would have turned out differently. That’s not your fault, mine, or Jalkort’s. Things sometimes happen like that. But I’m leaving you now. You’ll be fine without me, I’m sure. I need a little more happiness before I die. I’ve found a fresh trail, and I’m going to follow it before the scent gets cold.”
“But muti, you just can’t!”
“Do me one favor, Missy: don’t tell anyone that I didn’t love you. I’ll always love you, even when you don’t deserve it. So good bye, Hon, and Roh’kash be with you. I will pray for you.”
Shenzi’s jaw dropped. “Is that it??”
“No, say good bye to Ed for me.”
“Muti, I....”
“Yes?”
“Well, I....”
“I know. You love me. Don’t think I don’t appreciate it. But that does not change things.”
“So are you just going to run out on us? Just like that? How can you do this to me??”
Fabana thought a moment. “How can I do this to YOU?? Hah! That’s rich, Missy!” And with that, Fay turned and trotted off into the bush.
CHAPTER 71: OLD FRIENDS
Old Fabana was watching some lion cubs playing from the shade of a friendly acacia. It was nearly mid-sun, and she slowly, stiffly got to her feet. “Come on, children! Time for your nap!”
“Oh Auntie Fay, can’t we have a little longer?”
“No, Lakayla. Your growing body needs its rest.”
Slowly, but with a proud bearing, Fabana led the lion cubs to the cave.
“Where did your other eye go?” Lakayla asked.
“I must have forgotten it. Oh, it will turn up one of these days.”
Lakayla laughed. “I’m serious.”
“I was attacked by a large animal. A dog.”
“They’re fierce creatures that just want to kill for the fun of it. That’s what mom says.”
“Your mom is wrong.” She looked back on Fielder with the wisdom of age. “Dogs are vulnerable, just like us. They have feelings that can be hurt, and they can want things so much that they can go too far and do something they regret. Then they feel bad--just like us.”
“You mean you don’t hate the dog?”
“Once I did. Now I feel sorry for him.”
“What did he want?”
“Something I couldn’t give him.” Fay nuzzled her. “Run along now, and don’t ask so many questions.”
Fabana settled to the cool floor of the cave, and the other cubs piled on her one by one to form a large heap.
Tanabi eyed her and smiled. There were times he forgot she was a hyena and thought of her as just another one of the pride sisters. She stayed behind with the cubs when the lionesses went out to hunt, freeing up another lioness to gather food.
Though she was rather frail with age, none of the cubs dared to challenge her authority, even those larger and more robust. She could even make Marli’s cubs behave.
Of course Roh’mach Bashak and his family would always greet Fay affectionately when they’d visit Simba. When this happened, invariably some of the lions--usually the very young--would ask Fabana why she didn’t live with her people.
“But I do. My people are the ones that love me. Some were hyenas, like Jalkort, my parents, and Ber. Others like you are lions. It’s all in what you call family.”
EPILOGUE:
Melmokh was wandering the Pride Lands. He looked at Pride Rock, bitter because of the setbacks he had endured, but still hopeful that he would achieve his dreams.
He was attracted to those who suffer. And though tired and empty inside, he was stalking a grief, an angry grief. He had no idea that it would lead him to the cave atop Pride Rock, the home of the King himself!
The lionesses were gone, and the cubs were playing in the field. But what luck! King Tanabi’s twin sons Imani and Watanga were experiencing the grief that only one would inherit the kingdom, and it would be Imani.
Watanga was confronting his father bitterly over the decision. Tanabi and Misha listened to his outpouring of ire and hatred with absolute consternation. “How can you speak of us this way?” Misha said. “How can you say we don’t love you? Watanga, how can you put this thorn through our hearts?”
“Love, you say? If you’d just given me half a chance to prove myself--just half a chance! I’m as good as Imani. Maybe even better. But you never gave me a chance! And let me tell you about thorns through the heart: every time I wanted to play, you would tell me to study if I wanted to be king someday! You knew all the time! That’s why you called me Watanga, ‘cause I’d never be anything but a wanderer!”
Melmokh watched with glee. What an opportunity! He went to touch Watanga to influence him, when Watanga turned around.
"Melmokh, have you learned nothing?" The cub spoke in a deep and powerful voice totally unlike his own.
"How did you see me? How did you know my name??"
"I see all and know all."
Melmokh tried to look into the cub's eyes, but he saw in them an overwhelming goodness and righteousness which burned him like fire. He quickly looked away. "Aiheu! You tricked me!" He backed back till the wall of the cave stopped his progress. Swallowing heavily, he could almost feel the walls closing in on him. "Aiheu, have mercy! Have mercy!"
"You have made no progress, though I have extended you the benefit of the doubt and shown you great patience."
"Don't kill me! I'll do anything you ask, but don't kill me! I’m a miserable wretch who just wants to be left alone! I’ll go away, far away!"
He turned to flee, but found that Tanabi and his Queen had vanished. In their stead were the brilliant forms of Mano and Minshasa. He was trapped.
"No! Don't!" He fell before the cub and with his eyes tightly shut began to kiss his feet. “My life is not worth living, but I’m afraid to die! Don’t hurt me, Aiheu! Please!”
Aiheu looked on him with pity. "Since you cannot escape me this time, let me tell you what's about to happen so you won't be afraid."
"You're going to kill me! How can I not be afraid??” He began to rub the cub’s forearm with his paw. “Like all living things, I'm part of your spirit! If you kill me, you would decrease! You would only harm yourself!"
The cub shook his head. "Your spirit will go on living, but in a real sense, you will die. Everything that made you Melmokh will perish along with your past."
Melmokh cowered down. "All of it?" He whined and pawed at Aiheu. “Will nothing be left?”
“If there were, the memories would only torment and sicken you. It is best that you remember nothing.”
“For my own good? Even the wisdom it took me centuries to acquire?”
“It did you no good, Melmokh. You attained much knowledge, but acquired so little wisdom. You don’t even know how to love! What else is worth knowing when your heart is desolate?”
Melmokh said, “But it is not my fault! I have tried to love! Really I have! And if I were a rock or tree that didn’t care, that would be different, but I can hurt. Hate, jealousy, fear, these all come easy to me. They are as unpleasant to me as they are to Mano and Minshasa, yet I have drunk only from those streams. Must I die never knowing love? Never knowing happiness?”
“Your last thoughts as Melmokh will be happy ones.”
“Will it hurt?”
“No. I will make sure it does not.”
"Is happiness anything like pleasure? I know what pleasure feels like, but I can't remember ever feeling happy."
"Happiness is even better than pleasure." Aiheu trotted over to the cistern. There in the mud by the water lay a small lion cub. "Look at her, Melmokh. Look closely. That’s where you will find happiness."
"Is she dead?"
"She has never lived. I made her from the mud. Complete in every good thing except that she lacks a living spirit."
Melmokh looked at his Lord slowly, hope dawning at last. "Mine?"
"Yes. And you will know enough love and happiness in this small body to outweigh a thousand lives as Melmokh."
Melmokh padded over to her. He felt strange. "Oh, isn't she beautiful!"
“She pleases you?”
“Yes, but....”
“But there’s more to it than that?”
“Yes, Lord. I’m not sure what.”
A small coal of happiness inside him began to grow. There was much tinder that had accumulated over many cheerless centuries, and all those buried feelings burst into flame. Tears began to stream down his cheeks. "Is this it? Is this happiness?"
"Yes."
"If I could feel this way, I wouldn't want to hurt anyone. Why not let me go, My Lord? Why kill me now?"
"You are already dying. It is the happiness that is burning away your past. Don't fight it. Let the feeling flow through you. All your pain is burning away."
"Then let it burn! Yes, Lord, let it burn! I want it to burn!" He ran his paw over the small, furry child. “Look at those tiny little paws! And those ears! I never had a mate or a child of my own. Oh, look at that little pink nose!”
The hyena shuddered and his shape began to dissolve into a mist. "Oh gods, I feel so happy! Happy at last! So very...."
Within seconds he completely deresolved, leaving only a golden fog. Aiheu breathed in, capturing the spiritual essence. He then carefully parted the female's jaws and gently breathed into her the breath of life, watching her chest rise, then fall. She gasped and her eyes opened.
Aiheu looked at her with mirth and amusement in his eyes. "Wake up, Shandra!" He smiled and nuzzled her. "Happy birthday, little girl!"
She smiled, yawned, then stretched luxuriously. Rising to take her first steps, she rubbed against Aiheu, then toddled over to Minshasa who lay ready to nurse her. With a friendly paw, Minshasa cuddled her to her milk.
"Well," Minshasa said with a sigh, "There's always room for another."
"No thanks," Mano said. "I just ate."
She smiled wryly. "Oh you are so wicked sometimes!" She jerked her head. "Come over here where I can nuzzle you!"
Mano settled next to her and purred softly, rubbing his face against the sweet comfort of her cheek. Aiheu smiled and raised his paw in blessing. "Daima pendana. Love one another as I have loved you." And so it was that the shadow of the Makei was lifted from the land.
"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good."
-- Genesis 1:3-4
THE END: SHADOW OF THE MAKEI
LEGAL NOTE:
This original copyrighted work is based on Walt Disney's feature film, "The Lion King." Elements taken directly from “The Lion King” are the property of The Walt Disney Company. "Shadows of the Makei" is distributed free of charge excepting reasonable distribution costs. Quoting passages from our work, writing original pieces based on our work, or using characters we created is fine as long as you secure prior approval. That begins by sending either of us a copy of the work. Our e-mail addresses are:
David A. Morris:damorris@wilmington.net
John H. Burkitt: john.burkitt@nashville.com
Your comments on our work, pro and con, are always welcome. We have been asked about our legal note. This is our official response: “The copyright is maintained solely to prevent patently vulgar or lewd misuse of our characters. Most any work, including parodies would be fine as long as it meets certain reasonably broad standards of decency. We reserve the right as copyright holders to define and change those standards. None of these standards is meant to force the applicant to be consistent with the literary style or plot of the original work.”
The characters Akase, Isha, and Malaika are the property of Brian Tiemann. Used with permission.
This story is a fictional work, but we don’t claim that any resemblance to any characters living or dead is purely coincidental. With love and respect, we acknowledge the debt we owe to those who taught us how to laugh and cry. Without acting as clear models for any one character, many great souls, some non-human, have been woven deeply into the fabric of our lives only to end up in “Shadows of the Makei.”
