Kingdom and Clans, King's Destiny (Book 1)
Ch 8 Zarda and Meeku

The brothers, had been traveling for hours. The bad news was they had been turned around, and were heading further away from the pride, into the wrong direction.

Up ahead, Zarda saw a familiar face grazing along the weeds. It was purk, his new warthog friend. Happy to see a friendly face, he and his brother began to pick up their pace, into a slow trot towards him.

Unbeknownst to them, purk's mother was standing watch and spotted the two strangers running towards her loved one. Instinctively, she assumed them to be a threat to her son and she went into full protective mode.

With a loud squeal, she charged straight in their direction. They were still a good few yards away. Far enough to realize a larger, angrier warthog was charging towards them.

Zarda and Meeku skidded to a halt. Both kneading the ground and eyes searching side to side for an escape route.

Purk heard her outburst and looked around to see what or whom she was charging towards. Stricken with fear, he panicked, realizing her error. Behind his mother, purk's voice sounded an alarm.

"Mother, a kumee no haza, hagoo, hagoo!" Shouted Purk in their native tongue.

It meant "Mother, friends not foes, stop, stop!"

Lucky for the brothers, purk's mother heard him from behind. She slowed her run and waited on purk to catch up to her. He breathlessly bounded upon her left side. He made his way up between his mother and his two friends, who were just an arms length away.

Zarda was thankful. That had been a close call. Purk began to explain to his mother that he had met Zarda and Meeku, while out foraging. He explained how they were friendly and not enemies. Purk's mother, on the other hand; was apprehensive and didn't want the cubs near them.

She doubted their intentions. " How do you know they won't grow up to eat us?" she asked.

Purk didn't know for sure, but he trusted Zarda's vow. He had given him his word, that when he becomes King over his pride, that purk's clan would have his protection for life.

That word meant everything to him. For his kingdoms future on the Savannah. Purk's mother, Queen Torlia loved him so. She felt, if her son trusted the cubs, that she and his Father, King Muck, would as well.

"Hello friends, sorry about that scare. You can understand why mother would be so protective of her future King. Let me introduce you to her. She's old school, so she may not understand you, completely in your tongue, but I can translate for you." said Purk, happily.

Purk turned to his mother, and began to introduce them in their strange language.

"Mother, nona see a kumee, Prince Zarda a Meeku dungee." In their language, which translates to.

"Mother, this is my friend, Prince Zarda and his brother Meeku."

Queen Torlia, bowed her head, a bit embarrassed, at the thought that she almost attacked another royal prince.

"Amongu, lo nuke tee masa a kumee aya ameer, wakoo tu obi hog hill clak." Said Torlia, more graciously.

The brothers listened to her beautiful words, but understood nothing she said. Purk began translating for them.

"Forgive me, How nice to meet a friend of my sons, welcome to our hoghill clan."

Zarda bowed his head first before the Queen. Meeku, realized he should do the same and bowed politely. The mother warthog smiled, then pressed her snout to her son's cheek and spun around with her tail high in the air. She trotted off back to their family. Zarda had not realized the crowd that had gathered just beyond Purk. It was an impressive, sizable group of warthogs. Several tiny just like Purk and one large old warthog. Others, similar to the adults, slowly gazed upon them in awe.

" Are they...your family?" Asked Meeku, with a gulp.

Purk looked over his shoulder, and then back with a nod.

"Yep, that's my family. Big, isn't it? One day, I will lead them just like my Father, King Muck." said Purk, proudly.

The brothers, both, smiled looking upon purk's excitement. It made them think back to their own fearless Father, back home with the pack. Although, sadly they had no idea their Father's life had been taken, during the bustle of the night of darkness. They never saw his body by the rock. Lioness, Mara, had taken them away before the sun had risen.

Zarda sat on his haunches more relaxed, now that the danger was gone. He noticed Queen Torlia, explaining things over to the King and clan. The King's face relaxed, and let out a snort in their direction, before moving on. As did the others, while the piglets chased and played with one another like before.

"I never thought you would ever come this far. Tell me, why the visit so close into our territory?" Asked purk.

Zarda, took a deep breath and proceeded in explaining in full detail. Twenty minutes had passed and purk had a better understanding, of what happened to the pride.

"So, what do you plan to do?" he asked.

Zarda replied. " We hope to travel back the way we come, to replace them. The best thing I know to do is to travel by day, and hide at night. The thing is, the travel is too dangerous for two young lion cubs. We have so many enemies. I'm glad that we've found you. I was wondering, would your family, help us make our way back. We need better protection to survive. My pride, would forever be grateful if they could assist. "

Purk was all for the idea, but he was hesitant in asking his family. He knew they would never go for it. He snorted, and turned on his heels quickly heading back to his mother, without saying goodbye.

Zarda and Meeku sat motionless, watching as purk and his mother interacted. The quiet, subtle talk, grew into almost a squealing scream-fest. It didn't sound good, whatever, was being said.

More curious adult warthogs began to surround the prince and Queen. They were listening and grunting in a few angry squeals. A protest was breaking out. Several old warthogs were expressing themselves. When one would stop, another would pick up into another outburst. The Queen put an abrupt end to the madness. The short meeting was over. Purk and His mother headed back towards the two brothers, who sat waiting patiently.

It looked like purk's fears were right. He explained, his mother and the clan agreed it wouldn't be safe for their clan to go into lion territory. They deemed even more unsafe, if they looked to have captured, the lion's future King. To them, they didn't see the same positive outcome as Zarda had promised.

Zarda, was disappointed. He knew he needed to go, and not waste any more time, speaking with purk and his family.

"Well, my friend, I guess this is goodbye for now. Will you ask your Mother if we have safe passage through your territory? We must keep on our way, I hope to see you again." Said Zarda.

Purk nodded and spoke once again to his mother.

"A kumee wadi a nook, nook tu tizzo clak." Purk translated for Zarda.

"My friend wants safety in our clan Territory."

Queen Torlia looked mercifully upon the brothers. Her heart did ache that the clan was against giving away help, but as a mother she knew if she was in the lioness position, she would hope they would do the same. Unfortunately, all she could do was give full permission to be safe in their lands. She shook her yes to Zarda without a word spoken. She turned back again walking slower with her head hung low this time.

As long as Zarda knew he had her word, he knew it gave encouragement to keep going. The brothers stood to their feet. They slowly made their way closer to the crowd of gawking warthogs. They would need to pass by the, in order to, reach the other side. Purk tried to make them feel more comfortable. He walked with his friends talking, laughing, and wishing them the best of luck. He would miss their visits. Purk made them promise to replace each other again. They all agreed.

A group of nosey, adult warthogs watched with wide eyes. Some spoke out a strange word at Zarda. He didn't understand what it meant, and he didn't care to replace out. It was for the best. They simply kept repeated, wagula, wagula. meaning white ghost, white ghost. Over and over as they passed.