The Lion King: Makosa's Beginning

Missing You

•Maha•

The sun sank lower in the sky, light of day draining away, giving way to the velvety dark of night, crickets chirping, dusky, colors subdued in the fading light, first buzz of mosquitoes, day winding down, first star in the night sky, the air became cooler, evening landscape, twilight had fallen, the sharp shadow of the lamppost had faded into the dark of the paths, fading light, only the faintest of light shone through the leaves, soon it grew dark, darkening sky, a close silence in the dim evening light.

The sandy soil was on its way to becoming a rich sable and the cloudless sky promised an unfettered view of the heavens. Lions of Pride Rock are now making their way up to the tall rock to cavern for bedtime. Me otherwise, I decided to stay outside a bit longer. My ears twitch though as I hear paw steps behind me. I look over my right shoulder seeing my nephew Makosa and my friend Bahiya. The two are both giggling.

I smile. "They really do make a cute happy couple." I thought to myself.

I watch them both walk inside the cavern behind my brother in-law Kovu and sister Kiara. I turn my head around facing back to the gorgeous wide open view of the Pride Lands. You can see everything from up here. I can see two giraffes drinking from the watering hole. I lay down alone and stare up at the stars.

Stars winked at me from the endless arch of void-black beyond the moon's corona. In places they were birthstone-blue and beautiful, all a-glitter in their heavenly finery. The ones furthest away, were like flashing pinpricks in a veil of darkness. They had a faint, silver tint and they looked like they were the distant, glittering sparks from angel fire. All of them were beacons of hope for all the lost souls of the world, or so I thought. It seemed to me that there was a snowfall sparkling in outer space and I felt privileged to witness it.

"Father, I know you are up there and can see me." I call out to the night sky.

Nothing but silence. I sigh while closing my eyes. I tightened them, trying my hardest not to shed a tear. Kiara have always told me that father wouldn't want us meaning me, my mother, Kiara, or our brother Kion to feel so upset about his absence. Yeah, he died from old age. It could have been worse I know. His was an natural death. I was still young though then at the time. It was just my first year of becoming a teenager when he passed.

Now look at me, a young adult. I share a lot of my mother's features and beauty. One thing I do have from my father though is his heart. I place my paw over my heart. A tear escape from my eye.

"Maha?" A sweet-tone voice calls.

I open my teal colored eyes. I know that special voice. It's mother. Yes, surprisingly my mother is still out living my father right now. But her days are soon ending much fast too. Me and Kiara talk about it all the time. We pay attention and notice how weak mother has gotten. She walks more slower, takes breaks frequently, and lays down a lot when she's out of breath. I sometime hunt for her too or the huntresses since she can no longer do so.

Kiara, when not busy with her Queen duties or with Kovu, does try to help mother too if she ever needed anything. I'm just so afraid now. I've already lost one parent. I am not ready to lose both yet. But I know it's something I can not control. I just have to live by it.

"Hey, mom!" I greet, while giving her a weak smile.

She sits down close beside me with her soft cream fur brushed against me. "I saw you weren't in the cave. You should come inside Maha, it's getting pretty chilly out!"

Mother shivers a bit as the wind blows. She's cold. I sit halfway up and rub my nose on her cheek. "I will be inside in a few minutes. You go mother, I don't want you to freeze."

"Oh hush child, I'll be okay."

Mother chuckles. I look back up at the night sky again. She does the same. We were both silent for a moment until mother said something which had interrupted my thoughts.

"I miss your father so much." She said.

I place my paw on top of her own. I nod, "I know, I do too."

"He was my first and last love. Sure I could have re-married again to someone new. But it wouldn't of mattered. I couldn't have cubs again due to my age and no one can ever replace what your father have given me. Which was love, happiness, and protection."

I smile wide. I love hearing past stories about my parents.

"Your father did an excellent job fighting for his kingdom. He's probably up there celebrating with his parents your grandfather Mufasa and grandmother Sarabi. Now it's up to your big sister Kiara to continue his legacy followed by her son Makosa."

I nodded. "Yeah, Kiara can do it! I tell her that all the time."

Mother smiles proud at me. "That's good, dear. I have always loved the close bond you and Kiara share. I hope you two stay that way after  I pass. Try to be more close to your brother Kion too. I see how aggressive you be towards him Maha."

Mother grins. I roll my eyes, "Because he thinks he can boss me around like I'm his baby sister still. I'm an adult now!"

"You will always be his baby sister Maha. He's the oldest, him and Kiara both. He just wants to make sure that you're protected out here in these lands. Hyenas a very sneaky you know that."

"I know. There's a lion out there too. That's what Kion told Kovu earlier. They don't know who yet. The guard team is still trying to figure that out."

Mother shakes her head. "Well, hopefully they can come up with something soon. We can't let any cubs go out alone anymore unless they are with an adult. We can't risk a loss from the Pride. I should mention that to Kiara and Kovu in the morning."

"I agree."

Mother stands up and walk back to the cave. I stand up too following shortly after. That's one thing about Kovu, he reacts to news and gets the job done more slowly than father. Father gets down to it right away and won't stop until he gets what he wants.

I lay down next to mother and close my eyes shut for bed. We'll see what the morning brings...