John Burkitt - Shadow of Makei

Ajenti relaxed. “There’s only one hyena that mother knew. You wouldn’t be Kambra, would you?”

“Yes, I’m Kambra.” She looked at Ajenti carefully. “I’ll never forget your muti’s face. You have her eyes, and the bridge of your nose. It was such a kind face, and she had such a large heart.”

“She must have told me about you a hundred times,” Ajenti said with a purr. “Now I see you face to face.”

“I promised your okash--your mother--that I would come back someday and visit her.” She nuzzled Ajenti. “Yolanda, wherever you are, that’s for you.”

Ajenti kissed her. “And that’s from my mother.”

Just then, investigating the odd meeting, Simba came up. He looked at them closely, then shook all over. "Hey, I know you!" He smiled broadly. “You’re the two hyenas that saved my life!”

“You’re that little cub??” Gur’bruk said.

“You’re that big hyena??”

They both burst out laughing. "Come,” Simba said, “let's have something to eat! You’ll be glad to know that grubs are NOT on the menu!”

Skulk’s love for Shenzi was genuine, and it was not long before she had “the light in her eyes” once again, the impending promise of new life preparing to come forth. The birth of the pups was greeted by joyous exultation by the new clan, eager as they were to perpetuate their line. Ed was not particularly impressed with the new children, engrossed as he was in studying the cloud formations overhead, but Banzai’s chest swelled with pride as he looked at his little nephews and nieces. “Nice job, Sis.”

Shenzi smiled tiredly as her children gathered to her to take their first meal. “Thanks.”

Skulk worked overtime to try and fulfill his promise to Fabana. Under the circumstances, he provided for Shenzi and his pups rather well, but they went hungry more often than not. There was little enough food to go around for they had no territory of their own. Even when they did kill, it was sometimes taken from them by the lords of the land.

The brave thing to do might have been to not have pups. But the husbands and wives had few basic comforts and even fewer pleasures. So soon a few more couples had pups.

The scarcity of food began to take its toll, visible in the lean forms and gaunt faces of the clan. The suffering was most readily apparent in the oldest. Fabana could not eat while depriving the children, so Fay was slowly starving herself to death.

Tired all the time, Fay curled up one day at mid-sun in the scant shade of a dying acacia. Soon she was asleep, her body too drained to sustain a prolonged effort in the heat.

Jalkort came and nudged her. She awoke with a start. “Jal?? Is this it? Am I dead??”

“No, Fay. I’ve come to plead with you. You must go back to Pride Rock. Do this for me. Do it for the lions who still love you. Do it for Makhpil who needs someone warm and strong to give her companionship.”

“But I can’t run out on my children!”

“Would I ask you to run out??” Jal looked at her crossly. “You think what you’re doing is noble. But who appreciates it? If you were back at Pride Rock, you would eat well and they would eat better. Look, honey bunch, you deserve a little happiness. I can’t please you anymore, but you can find release from your misery if you’ll only take it. Besides, you’re spoiling heaven for me. I want you with me, but not by you dying young from hunger! Be happy for me. Be happy for you. Be selfish for a change. Gur’bruk and Kambra are there. And remember, you were never banned to begin with. You’re free to go home whenever you please. Uhuru is doing a fine job, and there is plenty of food. What’s more, you will find self respect, and love. Go home.”

Fabana opened her heart to the possibility of home and old friends. Tears began to flow like falling rain, and the burden on her heart melted away. “Oh gods, I’ll do it!”

She awoke with a start. Went and kissed her daughter Shenzi. “Don’t you look beautiful today, my daughter!”

“Say what??”

“No, really you do. Sometimes you need to be told.”

“Well, uh, thanks. You seem to be in a good mood today. What happened?”

“I discovered something about myself. Something that really makes me feel better. You see, it is not my fault that your father died. It’s not my fault that the false Roh’kash deceived us. It’s not my fault that Taka died, and it’s not my fault that you are selfish.”

“Huh??”

“Maybe with a father to give you some guidance, someone who knew more about the ways of our people, you would have turned out differently. That’s not your fault, mine, or Jalkort’s. Things sometimes happen like that. But I’m leaving you now. You’ll be fine without me, I’m sure. I need a little more happiness before I die. I’ve found a fresh trail, and I’m going to follow it before the scent gets cold.”

“But muti, you just can’t!”

“Do me one favor, Missy: don’t tell anyone that I didn’t love you. I’ll always love you, even when you don’t deserve it. So good bye, Hon, and Roh’kash be with you. I will pray for you.”

Shenzi’s jaw dropped. “Is that it??”

“No, say good bye to Ed for me.”

“Muti, I....”

“Yes?”

“Well, I....”

“I know. You love me. Don’t think I don’t appreciate it. But that does not change things.”

“So are you just going to run out on us? Just like that? How can you do this to me??”

Fabana thought a moment. “How can I do this to YOU?? Hah! That’s rich, Missy!” And with that, Fay turned and trotted off into the bush.

Old Fabana was watching some lion cubs playing from the shade of a friendly acacia. It was nearly mid-sun, and she slowly, stiffly got to her feet. “Come on, children! Time for your nap!”

“Oh Auntie Fay, can’t we have a little longer?”

“No, Lakayla. Your growing body needs its rest.”

Slowly, but with a proud bearing, Fabana led the lion cubs to the cave.

“Where did your other eye go?” Lakayla asked.

“I must have forgotten it. Oh, it will turn up one of these days.”

Lakayla laughed. “I’m serious.”

“I was attacked by a large animal. A dog.”

“They’re fierce creatures that just want to kill for the fun of it. That’s what mom says.”

“Your mom is wrong.” She looked back on Fielder with the wisdom of age. “Dogs are vulnerable, just like us. They have feelings that can be hurt, and they can want things so much that they can go too far and do something they regret. Then they feel bad--just like us.”

“You mean you don’t hate the dog?”

“Once I did. Now I feel sorry for him.”

“What did he want?”

“Something I couldn’t give him.” Fay nuzzled her. “Run along now, and don’t ask so many questions.”

Fabana settled to the cool floor of the cave, and the other cubs piled on her one by one to form a large heap.

Tanabi eyed her and smiled. There were times he forgot she was a hyena and thought of her as just another one of the pride sisters. She stayed behind with the cubs when the lionesses went out to hunt, freeing up another lioness to gather food.

Though she was rather frail with age, none of the cubs dared to challenge her authority, even those larger and more robust. She could even make Marli’s cubs behave.

Of course Roh’mach Bashak and his family would always greet Fay affectionately when they’d visit Simba. When this happened, invariably some of the lions--usually the very young--would ask Fabana why she didn’t live with her people.