Mitopanna Savannah Chronicles - Chapter Two
#2 of The Mitopanna Savannah Chronicles
The White Cub
By noon, The Old Sun King Juakali could clearly see the old Acacia that the the black leopardess Jiweusi lived in. Her tail dangled from the outspread branches of the Acacia, who shadow blanketed the brown waters of the Water Hole, which showed signs of drying up during this dry season.
Juakali was a dark tawny lion, his belly and chin lapped in light cream, his mane laced with grey and his movements made graceless by arthritis. Truth be known, he relied heavily on his neighbor's hate of hyenas to keep him on his own throne.
He moved into the shade below the Acacia, indulging himself in a deep drink of the cool waters. Above him, a shocked rustle, followed by a soft thud as Jiweusi leapt to the ground beside Juakali.
The Old Sun ignored her momentarily, lapping up his fill of water. finally, when he met the emerald gaze (that was tinged with fear) that was Jiweusi's, he snorted and coughed, droplets of water dripping from his snout and dotting the ground.
"My Lord! I am surprised to see you!" the young Leopardess exclaimed. "Very, very, surprised... And honoured!" she added the last part quickly, nervously.
"Jiweusi, you stink."
The young Leopardess' fearful eyes grew wider.
"You stink of fresh milk. I thought your cubs had all been stillborn. Tume is always careful and factual, however, if I find he is getting sloppy-"
"No, no, no, no!" Jiweusi said, her voice cracking with panic, "No, Tume had nothing to do with it! It was my mother, she told me-"
"Dhahabu? She is getting far too old to have cubs!"
"Yes, My Lord, and you know I moved here in shame of being unable to have live young," her emerald eyes began welling with tears. "But My Lord, something has happened, and it was- I could not let it- I just had to-," the Leopardess collapse before the Old Sun King, tears streaming from her eyes, "Oh, My Lord! Please, please! Please don't kill Kijivu! I need him just as much as he needs me! Please, Lord, not my son!"
Jiweusi began sobbing uncontrollably, her large paws over her face. Honestly, she was in her prime, and could easily take the Old Sun King down should she fear he would really kill the cub, whom she had evidently named. Juakali was not without a heart, and he placed a large paw on the young black Leopardess' shoulder, shushing her, and speaking softly to her.
"Calm, Jiweusi, little black gem," he cooed gently. "I have not come to rob the life of an innocent for a superstition that is obviously ridiculous. Tume has told me everything... I simply needed to see how attached to the young one you have become, and to see how willing to raise him you are."
As Juakali spoke, the rainclouds in Jiweusi's eyes cleared, and soon her tears were nothing but dampness on her black dappled coat.
"Oh, My Lord!" she said joyously, "Oh, his coming is a sign from the Spirits! I was not meant to have my first litter, I was intended to save and raise Kijivu! My children were sacrificed for him. I sense something special about him!"
The Old Sun King smiled at her youthful joy. "We shall see. Jiweusi, please, would you fetch him for me?"
"Immediately, My Lord!" As she leapt up into the Acacia, Juakali was shown a figure who had evidently come up quietly during Jiweusi's outburst of begging and crying. It was a tall slim mandrill.
"Rafiki!" Juakali said, surprised. "Where is Mshauri? I thought she would be-"
Rafiki quietly shook his head. What happened? It would have to wait.
It was an odd sight, the Leopardess of Deepest Black holding her precious Bright White cub in her mouth as she leapt down from the Acacia. She gently set him down, and he blinked up at the Old Sun King. Once the Cub registered what was before him, he cried out in terror and scrambled beneath Jiweusi.
"Shh, It's alright Kijivu," Jiweusi cooed to the child, pawing him out from beneath her, "This is the Good King Juakali," She licked the cubs face adoringly. "He will not harm you, my son."
It was now that Juakali took a moment to respect the loyalty and faith she held in the King. She trusted him as much as she trusted... well, maybe even more than she trusted her mother, Dhahabu. The Old Sun King smiled warmly upon the white cub, whose great eyes glittered fearfully, like clouds drifting across the stars on a moonlit night. Just as Jiweusi trust Juaklai, Kijivu trusted Jiweusi, and as the large male lion leaned down to the Cub, he made no move to escape, but trembled, his tiny heart racing and his tiny lungs gasping in fear.
The Old Sun King took deep sniffs of the young cub, and in spite of the attentive care of Jiweusi, he could smell the blood and Aminifu on the cub. He sat back up, nodding.
Rafiki, the Mandrill, approached the young white cub, and gently picked him up, Kijivu let out a small whimper.
"Dere, dere, little one. I will not harm you either."
Kijivu's silver eyes flashed to the emerald orbs of Jiweusi, who nodded assuringly.
Kijivu found his gaze locked with the deep, dark brown eyes of the Mandrill's, and for some reason, he felt calmed. The Mandrill smiled as the little white cub relaxed and dangled in his hands. He then lowered the cub and set him back with Jiweusi.
Rafiki nodded to Juakali.
Juakali nuzzled the cub, then Jiweusi. "I will send Tume once I've discussed a few things with Rafiki."
"Send Tume?" Jiweusi blinked, confused. "By, My Lord... Why?"
"You will know that when he comes, Jiweusi." The Old Sun King smiled, padding away, Rafiki at his side.