Kingdom and Clans, King's Destiny (Book 1)
Ch 4 Shadows in The Dark

It had been a full month now, into the peak hunting season on the Savannah. The pride kept their bellies full and clan healthy. Many more births came from the abundance of life and for the Whitemane pride, all was well with their souls. Zarda and his siblings had grown too. He now fashioned, along with his brother Meeku, a fuller mane around his face. Not quite the show, the more mature lions adorned, but it was beginning to take shape with sprigs popping out around his ears and chin.

His sister's freckles had all disappeared, and they were looking more like fine young felines. King Ezekiel's sons had outgrown his pride finally, and they left for bachelorhood off in distant lands. Most of them would remain together in a pack, until mating season arrived, and then it was every lion for himself. It would not take them long, and they too would take on a bride and start their own pride to rule and reign.

They would forever be close allies to their Father's pride, but they would never again join them unless they wanted death. It was late evening and Zarda had finished his meal of a tasty Greater kudu. It was a large creature in the antelope family, local to Africa's wildlife. Not only that, but it was always a treat when the pride took down the larger game. Larger the animal, the more the meat, the fuller the pride. Along with the perks came the downfalls of life too. Like dealing with their pesky foes the hyenas, scavengers like vultures, and African wild dogs.

They did not fear the hyenas. They were more annoyed, by their poor lack of table manners. Zarda wondered off, as he had lately done these days. A little older meant he felt braver. He didn't seem to have any worries or fears as he struck out alone. Meeku, was laying on his back, licking his paws, when he noticed his brother's departure.

"Wonder where he's going?" Said Meeku to himself.

He rolled over and quietly stalked behind Zarda careful not to give himself away.

Zarda, mindlessly trotted along a common traveled path, his pride took out into the plain lands. Zarda's eyes explored the horizon for any fun he could rummage up. His heart was set on a locust hunt. It didn't take much to replace those. They were very common around these parts. Soon, Zarda would come across a new and interesting animal he had never seen before. He paused in his tracks, unknowing his brother copied his every move far behind. The creature was brown with warts on its face. Its hair on its body look like tapered grass or tiny spikes. He wondered if it was sharp like the porcupine.

He did not want to replace out, but the creature was too interesting to move on. He sat down on his haunches and observed a little while longer. The animal's nose, was turned up and flat, not like his own. It nudged the ground and made a funny grunting noise as it moved.

It had hooves instead of paws and there were two white sharp spears coming out of his mouth next to his nose. The creature, noticed Zarda watching him, but didn't seem to feel in danger. So, he casually carried on, his foraging for juicy grubs. Zarda wondered if he could speak to the creature mentally, like he and his pride could.

They never used, their voices, other than to hiss, growl, snarl or chirp. He only spoke audible words telepathically to his family and to the creator.

He stopped, realizing he hadn't heard from him since he was firstborn. Zarda, curious to know if he really could contact him again, or if that was just when he was a newborn. Zarda pushed the silly question aside, not needing an answer to that question at the moment.

He was too curious to see if this creature could hear him. Zarda, quieted his thoughts and focused all his energy towards the odd being.

"Hello creature, be not afraid." He said, just like he had heard the creator's voice do at their first meeting.

He thought perhaps that was the formal way to speak to others. The creature stopped from digging his nose into the soil and looked up at Zarda oddly.

"What? Who are you and how can I hear you?" replied the animal, a bit confused. Zarda smiled from ear to ear, he was so excited it had really worked.

"My name is Zarda, and I'm a lion cub. A prince to the kingdom of Whitemane Tribe. Not really sure how you can hear me, but I'm glad you can."Zarda answered.

The creature snorted and smiled back.

"Nice to meet you, Zelda. I'm Purk. An African warthog. My parents are somewhere beyond the shrub just over there. I am a prince as well, to the Kingdom of Hog Hill. I've never met another prince or lion for that matter" said Purk.

He was still pointing his snout over to his right side towards his home. Zarda laughed.

"No, no. My name is Zarda, not Zelda, but close enough. I had no idea, there were other princes on the earth".

Zarda, was pleased, he had met a new animal, a warthog. Of all the creatures to meet. He had never heard of them, perhaps his mother could explain more later. ,

" So, are your kind friendly? Do you have any siblings like I do?" asked Zarda curiously.

Purk smiled and waved his stringy thin tail.

" Yes, of course. We have no reason to be mean, unless your kind is eating us. And as far as my family, I have twelve other siblings. I am the firstborn son out of thirteen, then comes all my siblings behind me. Vashti(va-stee), Unik(enuch), Ati(awe-tee), Morris, Crank, Tusk, Eneema(aw-knee-ma), Pike, Durk, Trot, Havana, and Mills." Answered Purk.

Zarda, was at awe, on how many members he had just within his family. His pack must run, very, large, he thought.

" I have two sisters, Zaza and Teek, with one other brother named Meeku" replied Zarda.

Purk glared past Zarda, at something behind him.

"You mean. Him?" asked Purk.

Zarda was confused at first, but followed Purk's gaze. He realized, it was his brother, Meeku.

"Meeku, what are you doing here?" He asked.

" Well, I was going to ask you the same thing. Is this where you go every day, and what you do? You talk to goblin creatures, called warthogs?" Said Meeku, with his nose scrunched up.

Zarda, was embarrassed and swiftly went over and swatted his brother's left ear. He lowered his thoughts deep inside and spoke more harshly, something into Meeku's mind where Purk could not hear. Whatever Zarda was saying to him made Meeku quickly straighten his face up, and sit on his haunches.

"I'm sorry Zarda, I did not mean to be rude to your new friend Purk" said Meeku shamefully.

They were in agreement, that he would not poke any more fun, at Zarda's new friend. The three spent the rest of the evening chatting and playing around the general area. Daylight was going down, and the moon was a bright yellow haze. Soon, they heard their mother's thoughts calling them. The three new friends said goodbye and parted ways. It had been a great day, thought Zarda.

He was looking forward to meeting up again the next evening. Meeku, was glad he had followed his big brother, and hoped he would be invited back to join Purk and Zarda again.

Zarda had to think about it over a long night's rest. The two cubs noticed, as they returned home, that the hunting pack was gathering for another night's raid, out on the eastern plains.

Word that the wildebeest were coming through, and they did not want to miss an opportunity for easy pickings. The only trouble was the crocodiles had heard the news as well and were planning on joining the buffet riverside of course.

Queen Saharrah, looked upon her boys and gave each one a lick on top of their heads. She pawed them over, towards their babysitters for the night. Zarda's sisters, Zaza and Teek, were already curled up a sleep. Against the other cubs who lay near Mara and Demvi the two lioness Mothers.

It was such a busy day, the two boys were ready to crash. They found a soft place under the hanging branches of an Acacia tree, and snuggled up back to back.

Off, into dreamland, Zarda went. He dreamt of Purk and Meeku, and their time that day spent having fun by the watering hole.

What adventures would await Zarda, and his new friend the next day, he thought? The night could not go by fast enough for both cubs. Meeku was just as excited as his brother.

The great thing about Purk was, he didn't seem to be bothered by him being so white, verses his brother who was a natural golden hue.

Purk didn't care at all that his new friend had his kind, once in a while on their menu. Zarda promised himself and Purk to never eat another warthog as long as he lived. He would protect them instead. The pack returned after two hours later with mouths full of thick wildebeest meat. The hunt had been favorable and rewarding to the Pride.

The Queen lioness drug back some of her spoils, hiding them into a spiky bushel, where they usually stored their food overnight. She nudged rocks around it to block off the savory smell from drifting into the air. Exhausted as usual, but well satisfied. King Ezekiel, commanded the young male lions who had moved up in rank to stand guard with him through the night. The lionesses found comfortable spots to rest and were quickly a sleep.

The night sky was clear from clouds and full of sparkling stars. King Ezekiel took in a deep breath, and rested upon his usual rock above the pride, looking into the cosmos. He sat high enough, that he was able to easily see all of his Tribe mates and any approaching foe.

The night was silent, except for the occasional laughter of distant hyenas and the musical chirping of nearby crickets. From a dead tree nearby, a soft hoot from an eagle owl, drew the King's attention to his right side. He noticed something off below moving in the bushes, under the tree the owl was perched on.

His eyes narrowed in on the shadows.

Dark figures, were lurking quietly upon them. He stood to his paws and let out a loud roar. This alerted his pride to their feet. They were being watched, by what? He didn't know. He was grateful to the eagle owl for the alert.

The King's male warriors, quickly got into formation and stood shoulder to shoulder, growling into the dark. The lioness Queen Saharrah commanded Mara and Dimvi(Dim-vee) to take the cubs underground.

They would hide them beneath the pride rock where the King stood upon. Inside, was a small cave formed just big enough to hold cubs and two lionesses.

The rest of the lionesses joined their places in line with the warriors. All of them ready to fight. Only they hoped it would not go to that extreme. King Ezekiel, in his mind, called out orders to two of his most trusted warriors, Slash and Razor.

"Slash, Razor, go scout the ground near the bush. See if you can scent the shadowy figures out for me. See who watches us in the dark. Be prepared to fight. We will have your backs all the way. We can't let an enemy attack enter in. Well fight if we have to. " ordered King Ezekiel.

The two warriors nodded in agreement. As soon as their orders were given, they were off.