SCENE: GATHERING EVIDENCE

Sarabi and Elanna were playing with Mufasa and Taka. But eventually they began to wonder when their mom and dad were coming back. Ahadi began to wonder too, for it was getting late in the day. “Did they dump the kids on us and take a vacation?” Akase was only joking, but she was genuinely worried.

Zazu came in for his report. “Sire, Khemoki of the Zebra’ha is certain that....”

“Wait on that. I need to know where Shaka and Avina are. Have you seen them?”

“Well, Sire, Shaka went to chase off some hyenas. They’d made a kill in the eastern meadow, and I sent him off right away.”

“How long ago?”

“Oh, about two hours ago. Maybe three.”

“Two or three hours??”

“Well, Sire, I could be wrong.”

“Where is Avina??”

“I don’t know. She was going to go hunting in the eastern meadow and....” Zazu stopped. “Oh my lord! That’s where the kill was, and....”

“You must show me the place.” Ahadi shouted, “Sarafina, Uzuri, Isha!! Come quickly!! ”

Fearing what he might find, Zazu led the four of them out into the eastern meadow and straight to the place where he saw the carcass. Even from the air, he could recognize the golden color of the pelt. He dropped to the ground and shuddered.

Ahadi stalked up to the body—what was left of it—and glanced at the face. “Oh God, Avina!! ” He turned away and wretched in the grass. A few awful moments went by where not a word was said. Then trying to regain his composure, Ahadi let Uzuri take a look at the body. Uzuri trembled, but she was still able to make her observations. “Her face was....” She shuddered. “There is a kick wound. From a large hoofed animal, no doubt. But there is a trail of blood leading back that way. She wandered here.”

Uzuri followed the trail for some distance, noting with horror the hyena tracks. “The hyenas got to her while she was still alive. Dear God, the evil scum ate her alive! ”

She trotted back to the body, then followed the tracks away toward the elephant graveyard. “It’s Shaka—I can still scent him. He chased them this way.”

The party of lions headed down the weak but definite trail until they reached the boundaries of the elephant graveyard. Waiting for them there was a large group of hyenas, and in front was Amarakh.

The lions came in as a group, showing fangs, and daring anyone to bother them. Ahadi demanded, “Where is Shaka?”

“What is left of him is removed to the place of the dead.” Amarakh scowled. “He took the law into his own teeth and killed one of ours on our own land without a trial. We offered to hold an inquest, a fair trial by the law of our people. But he turned us down and killed a male whose wife is pregnant.”

“So you murdered him! ”

“We EXECUTED him. We couldn’t wait for him to kill others. He was too dangerous to place under arrest.”

“There is no doubt he was dangerous after his wife was ripped alive. We have seen the evidence.”

“We had not, Sire. We could not be sure, and we could not wait to be sure.”

“Here is the dead male’s wife, ” Amarakh said, motioning for Fabana to be brought forward. One of her eyes had been clawed out and healed with a brutal scar. She cowered before the mighty King.

“If you would have revenge, ” Amarakh said, “let all the people see that you fight honorably with her, one on one. Let them see that you have given her the FAIR chance to defend the honor of her family.”

The quaking hyena female stammered, “Mercy! Have mercy! I am with child! ”

Ahadi looked at her with some pity. “Now you know what it feels like to lose someone you love. The Roh’mach is courting death to toy with my sympathies like this, but she has won this round. You will not be harmed.”

But Ahadi looked sternly at Amarakh. “Because your people have killed my brother, and because his wife was basely murdered, you are Corban. No more shall you scavenge on the Pride Lands. Not until the last of the group that killed Avina is dead.”

“But my Lord, we will all starve! ”

“Perhaps a few hungry nights will motivate you to enforce your own laws, Amarakh. Besides, this is not such a bad spot to scavenge. You never know when an elephant might want to die.”

She held up her head and stared back. “You mock me because you are powerful, and I am but a hyena. But the gods know I must be fair to my people. Grief has blinded you, impaired your judgement and robbed you of your wisdom.”

Ahadi and the lionesses left. Someone had to break the news to Sarabi and Elanna. Ahadi knew that Sarabi and Elanna belonged with him, and he knew he was the one that must speak the awful words. “Aiheu abamami, ” he stammered. “Please God, give me strength.”

SCENE: HAMMER AND TONGS

Muffy and Taka are six moons older. Their cubhood spots were long gone, and they had grown in size and agility. It was time for them to learn some important lessons about defending a kingdom.

In their cubhood games, they had built up a repertoire of reflexes and moves that would serve them well as adults. But there were moves reserved for serious combat, moves they would need to defend the Pride Lands from intruders and rivals. Though Ahadi tried to put some fun into learning, this was no game.

Ahadi knew too well that a lion should know his strengths and his weaknesses. With Mufasa, Ahadi saw strength and endurance. For this reason, Mufasa easily mastered the forward thrust his father taught him, coming up on his hind legs and pushing out and in with his massive forepaws. Taka was small but quick, and his father taught him the haunch seize first off, instructing him to dip low to bite the back leg and throw his opponent over. But of course there were defenses against these attacks, and they had to learn them too. A lion with only one strategy will never be king for very long.

Yolanda, who was quite a powerful lioness, helped Ahadi with his demonstrations. It looked much more violent in actual practice than it had in teaching. Mufasa and Taka watched spellbound and horrified as Yolanda and Ahadi went at it hammer and tongs. They didn’t growl or roar, but even in their dignity the raw power of aggressive fighting was all too clear. Of course, Ahadi and Yolanda were careful not to really hurt each other. They retracted their claws and did not bite down hard, but they used a great deal of strength, and the smell of sweat was on the air.

Sarabi ambled over by Mufasa, trying to look casual. “Be careful with him Muffy, ” she whispered. “You know you’re stronger. You don’t have to prove anything by hurting him.”

“Don’t worry, Sassie. He’s my brother.”

“Then you’ll try not to make him look too bad?”

He smiled. “You really like him, don’t you?”

“Yes.” She gave him a quick tongue touch to the cheek. “Thank you, Muffy. You’re a real sweetheart.”

“Not to mention a real hunk, ” Elanna said, flirting.

Winded, Ahadi and Yolanda finally stopped. Ahadi pushed his mane out of his eyes and said, “Of course (pant), you realize (pant) that there would have (pant) been a winner (pant) and a loser if this (pant) had been real.”

Yolanda nuzzled him. “Incosi (pant), I touch your mane.”

“I (pant) feel it.” Ahadi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “OK, my sons. You try it.”

The two brothers stood up and faced each other. Taka took a deep breath and began circling Mufasa slowly. His head bobbed, weaving an irregular pattern as he looked for an opening.

Mufasa lowered his forequarters and shifted around, keeping the bulk of his body facing Taka. The speed with which Taka could dart in and grab a haunch was frightening, and he dared not expose his vulnerable back legs.

Taka frowned. “Fine then, ” he thought. He resumed circling, pacing himself, his breath going in and out rhythmically. Then he took a short, quick breath.