John Burkitt - Shadow of Makei

When they rejoined the others by Elephant Kopje, Shenzi gracefully hid her remaining weakness.

“You must have had bad hunting,” Skulk said.

“No,” Shenzi quickly replied. “We fasted.”

Skulk glanced at Fabana. “Both of you?”

“Just her,” Fabana said.

“I did it for you,” Shenzi told Skulk, rubbing down his side. “In a few days there will be a full moon. They say pledging under a full moon means love will last forever.”

“At last? After all this time?” He nuzzled her passionately. “You promise?”

“I promise.”

Skulk pawed her gently. “I love you Shenzi.”

She smiled. Surely he would not be as skilled in pleasuring as was the Makei. But his love filled a hole deep inside of her, something the Makei never would or could try to address. “I love you too. You’ll never just know how much.”

Gur’bruk and Kambra gazed wearily upon the savanna before them as they padded over the ground with sore paws. Searching the horizon eagerly, they spotted Antelope Kopje in the distance, and soon afterwards the Clan Acacia. “Home!” Kambra muttered, her hackles standing up. “Dearest Roh’kash, I never thought I’d see it again!”

“Yes, old girl.”

“I wonder who’s in our old place.”

“I wonder how Bath and Mer’bel are.”

Kambra briefly whined. “So do I, but I’m scared. Will they want to see us? What if they’re dead? We don’t really know anything!”

“Don’t be foolish, dear. You’re just nervous, but everything’s going to be all right--God willing.”

They headed to the invisible line that marked the territory of the clan. In the bushes there were subtle sounds around that they recognized as sentries calling to each other.

“Maida elekhvor,” Kambra said.

One of the sentries stepped out. It was Ber. “That’s an old password, but....” He looked at them carefully. “Are you spirits?”

“What do you think?” Kambra asked.

Ber scratched behind his ear awkwardly. “Gur’bruk, how are you? Those things I said about your son--I mean--Gur’mekh paid for what he did, and I’m just trying to say that....”

“That you’ve missed us?” She pawed his face. “We’ve missed you too. You are glad to see us, aren’t you?”

Ber’s tail began to wag so hard that his whole back end began to shake. He nuzzled her warmly and cried, “Yes, yes! Welcome home, old friends! Oh gods, it’s good to see you again!”

“I take it we may pass?”

“Of course. I’ll take full responsibility. When you want in, remember that the new watchword is ‘elim galberet’ cause some of the new guards may not know you. We have a new Roh’mach, and he’s much kinder than the last two. He knows all about the makei, and I doubt he’ll honor the ban.”

“Who’s in charge now?” Gur’bruk asked.

“Uhuru. You knew him as Krull.”

“Krull? Your grandson Krull?”

Ber practically beamed. “Yes sir, none other!”

“I hope you don’t mind if we go say hello to the family.”

“By all means! But don’t be a stranger!” Ber nuzzled them both lovingly. “I’m so glad that we put the past behind us!”

Gur’bruk said, “I know what it feels like to lose a son. I’m so sorry, Ber! I just want you to know that.”

Ber nodded. “And I’m sorry about Gur’mekh. He loved you a great deal.”

“We’ll pay our respects to Lenti if she’ll see us.”

He shook his head. “Perhaps she’s looking down on you now.”

“Oh! I’m so sorry!”

Ber looked down. “And that’s not all.” He pawed Kambra’s face. “Prepare yourself, my dear. Your sister is gone too.”

Kambra’s eyes widened. “My Shimbekh?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Kambra’s eyes misted up. “We were so close....” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “My poor Shimbekh! Oh gods!”

When Kambra regained her composure, she signaled to Gur’bruk and the two of them headed deep into clan territory.

They were in for more surprises as they went to find their family.

Bath and Mer’bel were playing with their pups in the eastern march. “Girls!” Kambra said, feeling her heart rise in her mouth. “It’s time for your nap!”

They looked around, stunned. “Muti! Maleh!”

There was a tearful reunion, one made all the more special by the quick arrival of Gur’bruk and Kambra’s parents. Word spread fast among the hyenas.

The whole family was together for the first time in years. En’geer and Tela were off hunting, but a quick look by Mer’bel turned up their pups. It was becoming a rather large reunion.

The absence of Shimbekh and Gur’mekh was keenly felt, but they all felt that somewhere, somehow their hearts were with them. Such peace came to them all as had not been felt in many moons.

Bath and Mer’bel introduced them to their husbands, then to the pups. There was no way Gur’bruk and Kambra could remember all those names, but they both loved children so, and fit easily into the new role of grandparents. They were mobbed by affectionate pups, some of whom had the gift.

“I can see that prophesy is alive here,” Kambra said with a happy sigh, kissing the small wiggling bodies that tugged at her ears and tail, rubbing against her side and crying “Grand-okash!” Gur’bruk rolled on his back, batting at his assailants. One pup sat on his stomach and peered straight down into his eyes. “Gotcha!”

Bath said, “They’re going to love their grand-okash. Muti, we’ll have to find you a new place. Dabrek is old and set in his ways, and he is fond of napping on your old scratching grounds.”

“We’re not here to stay,” she replied.

“But you MUST stay,” Bath said, her ears folding back. “Muti, it’s OK for you to come back. The Roh’mach understands.”

“We have things to do first. We’re going to Pride Rock, and I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone. But the moment we leave, we’re coming back here.”

“Why are you going there?”

“To keep an old promise.”

Just then, Uhuru came by. Gur’bruk winced. “We were just leaving,” he said. “We came to see the family.”

“Now look here, Gur’bruk. Since when is having puppies a crime worthy of expulsion?”

“We must be honest about this. You know good and well Gur’mekh told us he was guilty. We harbored him for a while because he was desperate to have an exorcism. No matter what the Roh’mach said, only God has the right to condemn an immortal soul. What we did, we had to do. On this basis you may make your decision, and we will abide by it.”

Uhuru said, “I’m not telling you to trample the law underfoot, but I’m a little more open minded than poor Amarakh. I’ve seen things in my life that have broadened my views. The ban is ended, and tonight we will set aside time to grieve for Gur’mekh.”

“Thank you, Roh’mach. How is Amarakh?”

“Dead, Gur’bruk. The dying has stopped, but during the two conflicts and the famine nearly a third of the people you knew died.”

Gur’bruk gasped. “My gods!”

Gur’bruk and Kambra headed on toward Pride Rock. Halfway there, they were challenged by a hunting party of lionesses.

“Ho there, we don’t know you.”

“King Ahadi will understand our mission.”

“Ahadi? He’s been dead for some time. His grandson Simba is king now.”

“Grandson?” Gur’bruk looked at Kambra. “Has it really been that long, old girl?”

Kambra spoke up. “Where is Yolanda? She can explain this.

"Sorry, ma’am. She’s dead." Ajenti drew closer and examined Kambra carefully. It was a tense moment. “So how did you know my mother?”

"Your mother was very kind to us in our suffering. We came here to thank her. I’m so sorry."