John Burkitt - Chronicles of the Pride Lands

Quietly, Misha whispered, "And let him know how much I love him."

Nala touched her cheek with her tongue. "He knows, Honey Tree. He knows."

The ceremony, and Tanabi's speech, was not rushed. There was no need. And for those who would read the Chronicles of the Pride, the particulars are worth the effort. But Misha did not pay much attention. She was depressed, and after all the grand speeches and blessings were over, she slunk away silently to mope. Tanabi started to follow her, but was advised to give her some time alone.

That night, when the crowds were gone and quiet reigned once more, Tanabi looked out across the Pride Lands. "It is peaceful. Just for tonight there is no fear in any heart." He looked at Simba with a half smile. A zebra colt walked right up to me. He asked me what I was. Can you believe he didn't know what a lion was?"

"He came to you in his innocence. Remember that moment, " Simba said. "They have thoughts and feelings too. You must remember that zebra and never hunt for sport or kill cruelly. Son, I might have been born a Zebra, or an antelope. I would have loved my child no less than I love you here and now."

"So after all is said and done, it's all a matter of luck, isn't it?"

"That, yes. But we may go beyond luck through faith and courage, and rise to the challenge. Misha's love is courageous, and in time it will overcome all challenges. All she needs is to build her faith. You must help her believe in herself. You must believe in her."

"I wasn't talking about her, " Tanabi objected, but then he sighed deeply. "Who am I trying to fool."

Early the next morning, Tanabi showed up at Misha's den. "Good morning, Misha. It's a fine time for a walk--just the three of us."

"It IS lovely this time in the morning, " Zazu said in a very upbeat voice. "Misha, you know what Rafiki said about your shoulder. Let's start out with a nice short walk--loosen up the old muscles and put the spring back in your step."

"Anything to get back in the hunt, " Misha said tiredly. She stretched, wincing briefly as her shoulder pain flared up.

They walked away from Pride Rock, down the path to the watering hole. Though the ban was lifted, most animals kept only a convenient distance between themselves and a pair of talkative lions on an early morning stroll. Tanabi looked at a herd of skittish zebras, wondering if one of them was the colt he met the day before. "It's a shame we can't have a truce more often."

"Like today, perhaps?"

"Heavens, no! " He whispered to her, "Every day without you is an eternity."

"I think about you all the time, " Misha whispered back.

"I will wait for you, Misha. As long as it takes, I swear it."

"Don't make promises you might not be able to keep. I may not be any good at hunting, and you will come to forget me."

"You only have to be good once. I will never forget you. Your love is in the bones of me."

"Would you really wait for me, Tanabi?"

"I've always waited for you, haven't I?"

"I hear you love birds whispering down there, " Zazu said. "I hope it's not some sort of plan."

"Matter of fact it is a sort of plan, " Simba said. "A plan to get her well again."

Zazu fluttered down and lit on Tanabi's backbone. The smooth lion tread swayed Zazu ever so gently as he perched there. "Your Highness, I do sympathize. We hornbills have some rather ridiculous mating rituals too."

"Are you saying our laws are ridiculous?"

"Oh no, Your Highness. Just that while I'm not a good judge of lion beauty, I know a natural pair when I see one. When a hornbill and his mate are that struck on each other, all it takes are a few flutters and squawks--no more than a dozen or so--to cinch the deal."

"Flutters and squawks?"

"You know...." Zazu flapped his wings quickly, shook his tail feathers and went, "Squ-WAWK! Squ-WAWK! "

Misha laughed. "So that's what woke me up this morning! "

"Heavens, no! " Zazu folded his wings indignantly. "Madam, I am more discrete with my private life than the neighborhood riffraff. Where I come from...."

Misha's ears snapped to attention. She froze in her tracks.

"What's up?" Zazu asked.

"Hssssh! "

There was a rumbling. The ground tremored expectantly. Seconds later, a group of antelope came bursting from the thicket and charging blindly toward them. Zazu had to fly hard and fast get out of the way. From the air, he could just see the lionesses that started the stampede. "This sort of thing doesn't go on in the morning. What are they trying to do?"

Misha and Tanabi ran to intercept one of the antelopes. She was so close to one that she could almost touch it, but her shoulder was hurt, and she was in pain. She was beginning to lose ground, and afraid of another injury. "Help me, gods! I need a miracle! "

Just then, claws and feathers came at the face of the antelope. Panicked, it tried to stop and go back the other way. Again, the hornbill flew right in its face. "Out of my way, fool! "

Misha's strong jaws closed around its throat. It was soon over.

Shortly after, the other lionesses arrived. "Well well, look who got her first kill! " Uzuri took some of the blood from the body on her paw and touched her own cheek, then Misha's. "Warn them a lioness is on the prowl! "

The lionesses roared, sending a flock of flamingos scattering in pink disarray. Elephants trumpeted in surprise and headed back toward the cover of the trees.

Zazu was walking unsteadily on the ground. "Oh gods, I think I'm going to be sick." There was a sound of hide being stripped from the abdomen. Zazu glanced for an instant at the open hole and turned quickly away. "Yes, I'm sick! "

"Zazu! " Tanabi ran over. "Zazu, you old son of a gun! Good work! "

"Good? You call that good?" He nearly wretched. "Never tell anyone I helped in this disgusting spectacle. I'll never admit to it. I always keep myself as far away from blood as possible! "

"He's trying to thank you, " Misha said. "It was very noble of you, Zazu. In a way, it makes you a sort of...well..."

"Please don't say honorary lioness, " Zazu replied, staring at her bloody cheek. "I don't look good in red."

"No, I meant hero."

"Hero? Me?" Zazu bowed with a flourish. "Pardon my manners--you're both quite welcome. It was the least I could do under the circumstances. All in a day's work, you know. And since you won't be needing a chaperone, I'll leave you alone. Be good, now."

Zazu flew away, but Tanabi and Misha were not alone by any means. The other lionesses stood about smiling, the sort of smile that made Tanabi feel shaved of all his fur. "Ladies, don't you have somewhere to go? Huh?? Well find someplace. Scat! Shoo! "

"Oooh, they want to be alone! " one of the lionesses said, coyly. It started a chorus of giggles.

"Talk about ingratitude, " one of them chimed. "I don't have to hang around here and take this abuse. I'm leaving."

Misha watched them go slowly into the tall grass. "Tanabi, they helped us. Do you really think that was the right thing to do?"

"Yes, Honey Tree. And I'd do it again."

She nuzzled him. "Just checking."

Isha’s son Habusu was more than a best friend of Tanabi. He was in every way a brother. Because of this, and the strong feelings engendered by the kidnapping, there were many reasons why Simba did not want to lose Habusu.

Still he had the obligation to do something concerning Habusu since his mane was fully grown and he was well past his second birthday.