Once when Ugas was lying under the night sky, Uzuri his wife came alongside and laid next to him. It was often her custom to leave the hunt when things were slow and she would not be missed. She would spend those times next to her husband to feel his closeness and watch the stars proceeding overhead.
“Look, it is The Brothers,” she said.
“That is easy to spot,” Ugas said with a chuckle.
“No, there is a significance to The Brothers. They are your sons almost exactly. Togo and Kombi were twins, and they have been trying at times.”
“Do they fight each other a lot?” Ugas said, worried.
“No. They are--well--high spirited. In many ways they are like N’ga and Sufa.”
“A little high spirits won’t do them any harm,” Ugas said, draping a paw across her chest and feeling her heart beat. “Just as long as they’re not at each other’s throats. I picked one out for Togo and another for Kombi. Amara is a little shy. She would be perfect for Togo. Togo is the shy one, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” She thought a moment. “He got it from you.”
“Me, shy?”
“About some things. About things that mean a great deal to you.” She rolled over and pawed his cheek softly. “You’re my shy little cub, and I want to hold you next to me and protect you from anyone who would hurt you.”
Ugas looked at her, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “Protect me then. Stay with me, Uzuri. Bring our sons. Please?”
She gave him a slow, lingering kiss on the cheek. “Soon, Darling.”
He rubbed his cheek with a paw.
“You wiped off my kiss?”
“It was an accident. Now you’ll have to replace it.”
She kissed him again, and he nuzzled her and cuddled her cheek with his paw.
“Tell me about N’ga and Sufa again.”
“You know that story so well.”
“I love to hear you tell it. And I like to watch your mouth form those round little vowels when you say ‘Sufa.’”
“Sufa?” she asked.
“Ooooh, there you go again!” He gave her a kiss. “Precious little mouth, so deadly on the hunt but so wonderful to kiss!”
She could never refuse him. She rolled on her back and looked at The Brothers. Their sparkle brought memories flooding back of her cubhood when her mother taught her about her heritage.
“When Ramallah was ruler of a great kingdom, his wife Chakula conceived twin sons. They were the brothers N’ga and Sufa of whom many stories are told. So bold were N’ga and Sufa that even within their mother’s body they would struggle, and she would eat herbs to dull the discomfort.”
She shoved him with a paw. “Quit watching my vowels!”
He grunted and shoved her back. “Your consonants are kind of cute too.”
As soon as she could regain her composure, and he had stopped watching her mouth, she continued:
“When time came for her to give birth, she called them N’ga and Sufa after the sun and moon, for they would chase each other as the sun chases the moon. Though they often fought each other, their hearts were good and they walked with Aiheu. Queen Chakula consulted the shamans about them, and was very happy and sad at once. For they all agreed N’ga and Sufa would live happy yet short lives. From that moment she was afraid to leave them with anyone but her sister Alba for she worried about them constantly.”
Ugas looked at Uzuri. “I know how she felt.”
Uzuri kissed him. “Don’t worry, Darling.” She looked back at the stars and continued. “Once when the Queen was aprowl, Alba took the cubs to her cave to sleep. And that night the earth shook, and the entrance of the cave was sealed. When Chakula returned, she found the rubble and tried to dig them out. But all her efforts and all her mother’s love was not enough to clear the entrance. So the other lionesses took turns digging, and the work went on as the moon rose and the sun rose. One, two, three days, then four days passed and still the cubs were beyond reach. All hope had gone, and Chakula was left alone to dig, but she was faithful and kept working into the fifth day that she might see their bodies one last time. She was sure this was the fulfillment of the prophesy.
“On the fifth day, she opened a passage to the inside of the cave. And N’ga and Sufa emerged weak and unhurt. Chakula wept with joy, and gave thanks to Aiheu. But when she looked inside, her sister Alba lay dead. Alba, who was not in her milk, had opened the deep veins of her arm and nursed the cubs with her own blood so they might survive.
“Alba’s body was dragged to the fields, but along the way where each drop of blood fell there grew a beautiful red flower which to this day is called Alba in her memory. There is a medicine made from this plant called ‘the blood of mercy,’ and it has great power to heal and instill gentleness.
“N’ga and Sufa grew in power and size until one day they were ready to take a mate. It was at this time a white lioness named Minshasa came into their kingdom, and N’ga and Sufa were both smitten with her great beauty and the powers she possessed.
“Their father Ramallah spoke with them, having seen the lioness and spoken with her. ‘I have known this strange vision. Minshasa, cloud white, borne upon the breast of the savanna like a dream of love. Who that bears the mane shall look upon her visage and remain unsmitten? Minshasa, the voice of tender longings. Minshasa, beloved of the gods. Beware, my sons, her awful charms! She is not of this world, and it is better that you choose among the daughters of Mamaan.’”
Ugas’ paw ran down her chest and ventured a bit too far down for casual grooming. “Beware, my sons, her awful charms!”
She popped his paw with hers. “Do you want to hear this story or not?”
“I’ll be good,” he said with an innocent smile.
She gently fondled him. “You good? I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“At least I’ll listen.”
Uzuri smiled. “Their father Ramallah spoke with them, having seen the lioness and spoken with her....”
“You already said that part.”
“You got me so confused!”
Ugas said, “It serves you right. You have the same effect on me.” He added, “Because they were both strong and determined....”
Uzuri cleared her voice. “Because they were both strong and determined, the brothers fought for five days and nights without sleep or food. On the fifth day, they both collapsed in a deep sleep, and while they were unaware, Minshasa left to find Mano whom she married. And when N’ga and Sufa awoke, they felt sore and foolish and swore before Aiheu to end their days of fighting forever. To seal their pact they prayed to Aiheu that neither should outlive the other to succeed his brother, but that both should die on the same day....”
Uzuri fell silent. She was looking at Ugas and tears began to run down her face.
“Uzuri, are you all right?” Ugas looked into her pain-filled face and wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks with his paw. “Honey tree, speak to me! Dear? It’s my age again, isn’t it?”
“You are handsome to me,” she said. “I will never stop wanting you just because you’re older.”
“But my path grows short, and you don’t want to grow old alone--I can understand that.” Ugas kissed her. “If I can come back from the stars and comfort you, I will be there for you whenever you need me. I swear it.”
“You’re really very sweet,” Uzuri said. “That’s one of the things I love about you.” She looked away solemnly for a moment, but added, “With all the glories of heaven, would you really come to me?”
“Of course I would--you are my heaven and my earth. But I’d be a lot better company if you’d come to me now. I’d spoil you rotten every day and whisper a thousand loving names in your ear and paint your world with a thousand loving dreams.” He looked into her eyes, a hint of sadness in his large face. “I wish this night could go on forever, but it won’t. Let’s make the most of what path lies before us. Uzuri, stay with me.”