“Hello Markaaagh.”
The buzzard pulled his head out of a impala carcass and looked to the lioness, “well...if it isn’t Fuzzy’s mate. Har har!”
She smiled slightly, remembering how he hated that name. “Yeah...it’s me.” She moved to the carcass. “Is the deal still in place...because I could really use some food.”
Markaaagh flapped a bit out of the way. “Of course.” He looked around, noticing the absence. “So...where is he? After you two routed that lion, I thought you two wouldn’t be more than a step away from each other. Don’t you love him enough to stay with him?”
She sighed slightly, taking a bit of meat from the carcass, “I love him too much to stay with him.” She gulped down the slightly aging meat and sighed, reaching for some more.
“Eat up, Honey Tree! You are delirious!” The vulture moved closer to her. “If there is anything you need that I can get, I will offer it to you. Our old agreement still stands.”
She looked at the vulture, her nose wrinkling slightly at the familiar foul smell. “I do need one thing. Do you know of a place called ‘Pride Rock’?”
He seemed to go in thought for a moment and shook his head, “No...I’m sorry...can’t say I ever heard of it. But I don’t usually talk to them what can talk back. Har har! Maybe if you describe it, I might know where it is.”
Elanna described to the vulture about the lion pride that lived there, the huge rock the dominated the skyline, and about the terrible drought that over took the land. Markaaagh took some time and nodded, “I know where that is...had some fine pickings a while back, but now it’s lean times for us.” He smiled only how a vulture can. “Not that they’re sorry to see us go.”
“Can you show me the way?”
He just chuckled. “Of course...we were heading that way anyway. Times may be good for the lions there, but there is always something for us to eat there. Har har!”
She just smiled. “Oh thank you...”
After she had a bit of meat and let the vultures feed on the remaining portion of the carcass, they started to make their way towards her old homelands. After a walk that took the better part of the day, she finally saw it...the jutting stone of Pride Rock.
CHAPTER: IN THE SHADOW
Through the walk...the thoughts that haunted her dreams came back. Would she be accepted back or be killed for her husband’s crime? She finally reached the stream that marked the border of her lands...the lands of her family. She stopped...the small trail of water becoming a huge stone wall blocking her quest. Markaaagh noticed her balking and flew down to meet her. “Is this not where you want to be, Missy?”
“No...this is it.” She slowly scanned the sky...and something caught her eyes. It was a small bird...flying from the rock. To her horror it was coming right towards her. It must be Zazu, she thought. How could she face him after what Taka had done to him? He would tell the king immediately and the hunting party would be formed to go after her. She gasped loudly and shook. “No...I can’t stay here.”
The buzzard just looked at her, “what...what is it?”
Without answering, she turned quickly and ran into the grass, leaving the flock of buzzards in complete confusion as she disappeared.
Heart pounding and sweet dripping from her brow, Elanna put more distance between her and her home. She had stood so close to going back to her old life...and yet. It was the doubt in her mind about how she would be greeted that made her run.
The thought of being alone ran through her mind also. Now it would be for good. She couldn’t go home...and she definitely could not go back to Kubali. The feelings were just too strong for her to be anything but his mate.
The urgency of getting away soon faded and she slowed down to a slow trot. She looked around the surround area to get her bearings. Her gaze fell back to where she came from. Only the very tip of Pride Rock was barely visible over the golden grass. She dropped her head and continued to walk away slowly, until Pride Rock was nothing more than a memory.
The day slowly faded away as the sun set in the west. Not seeing anyone coming after her, she figured it was safe for her to lie down and try to rest her aching muscles some. She flopped into the grass, disappearing from sight. She sighed, thinking of her future. Now, even the vultures wouldn’t talk to her. She was truly alone...or was she?
CHAPTER: ANOTHER TRAIL
“Hello there,” a booming voice cut through the air. Elanna froze, hearing the voice...her breathing picking up. “I know you are here...I can smell you, lioness. Why don’t you just come on out. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
Elanna held her position, trying not to let her breathing give her away. Suddenly, she could sense that the huge form was moving towards her. “So you want to play, lioness, I’m game”
Elanna still had no idea what was after her...but she was ready. She wasn’t going to go with a fight. She growled softly, baring her claws as her body tensed to jump at the owner of the voice. Suddenly, she jumped out...straight at a maned figure.
“Whoa...” he said as he tried to scatter back from the lioness flying towards him. Elanna landed squarely in front of him, growling loudly. “I said I wasn’t going to hurt you! Now calm down.”
Elanna got a good look at the lion in front of her. He wasn’t like Kubali at all...he was much larger and older. Slowly, as she realized that the lion wouldn’t attack her, the growling in her throat died down as her muscles began to loosen.
“There we are...I was just wondering what a beautiful creature like you was doing on my lands.”
Elanna chuckled to herself, thinking how flattering some lions are. Suddenly it hit her, did he say his lands? “Oh Gods,” she thought, “I have wandered into someone else’s kingdom!” She spoke softly, “I...I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to intrude.” Slowly, she began to back away from him.
“Hold on...it’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you. Do you need help?”
Elanna just shook her head, continuing to back away from him.
“I am King Mabongo...and you are?”
Elanna stopped for a moment...her body still shaking, “I...am Elanna.”
The king just looked at her thinking, “I have heard that name before...”
Elanna looked down. “I was a member of the pride at Pride Rock.”
Mabongo nodded. “You were the queen if I remember correctly. Your husband was named Scar. Latest news that I heard from you old pride was that his nephew came back and took the throne from him.”
She breathed softly, “Simba...”
Mabongo looked at her, “Yes, that was his name. From what I hear, the lionesses were happy to overthrow your husband and have Simba as their king.”
She nodded softly and looked down.
Mabongo shifted softly, “That was tactless of me. I’m sorry. It’s a pity about your husband...I’m sure it was a great loss to you.” Elanna stood there, quietly as he continued. “You don’t have a home, do you?”
Elanna shook her head, “I thought I did...”
He sat down slowly, “If you want...I could always use another lioness in my pride. We are small but tightly knit group.” He smiled to her softly, “You are tired. Come start a new life here. Would you like that?”
Elanna looked up, “I...I’m not sure, sire.”
“Mabongo...I don’t go for formalities here. If you want, you can come with me and I will introduce you to the pride. We are a friendly bunch and if you like what you see, you may stay for as long as you want.”
Elanna looked at him speculatively then rose, “All right...I will try...Mabongo.”