Lion King - Lost Heir

Lake Rescue

Mpenzi

Over the last few weeks, I havn't had any time at all to speak to Askari, it just never seems to be the right time to tell him that as a newly qualified medical lioness, I probably won't be able to speak to him much in the long term.

I feel like none of the other lionesses have any faith in me, and the king keeps putting me on babysitting duty - I expected to be looking after some of the older cubs. But no, I end up being Kuishi and Kuua's personal carer. I wish they just let me look after Swala : everyone just ignores her, but I can sense that she's more than she seems.

Instead I end up following those two boys around as they play with the other cubs born this year. It's a bit unusual that the king put a ban on any more cubs this year, only those that are the product of last year's breeding season. Not that I want cubs yet.

I sigh, another day watching all he cubs at the waterhole. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the little guys, but their unwillingness to play with their little sister disgusts me : every day, they play with the other cubs and Swala just sits and watches from the sidelines.

"Penz!" it's Kuua, they all call me Penz nowadays.

"Coming!"

I run to where the shouting came from to see Kuishi struggling to stay afloat in a deep, fast flowing lake.

I freeze. I can't swim in and get him, I wouldn't be able to get both of us out alive. But maybe I can save Kuishi ; what use am I to the rest of the pride? I bet they wouldn't care if I died, as long as Kuishi lives.

I gulp, juping into the pool. I curse as a hippo that was basking in the pool jumps out, causing spray to temporarily block out my veiw of Kuishi. As I near him, I grab him by the scruff of the neck and use all my energy to drag his still body to the edge of the pool where I deposit him at the water's edge.

He screams out as I'm pulled under by an unerwater current.

I gasp for air, only guping down water, then everything goes black.

A few moments later

I cough, vomiting out salty water. I breathe deeply as I regain my bearings : I'm lying on the back of another lion - a male, large, and with muscles rippling under a thick layer of wet fur. Askari!

I can see in the time we've been out of touch, he's been trying to buff himself up, he looks way stronger since when I last saw him.

As he lies me down under the shade of a tree, I finally look up to see his face: just the same kind face as always.

I smile sadly as he sits down next to me, I struggle to sit up next to him, and when I'm finally close enough, I launch my face into his thick mane. He hesitates momentarily, before rubbing his head against mine.

I look up and smile at him, before leaning up and licking his muzzle tenderly.

With that I leap away, to find Kuishi and Kuua sitting next to each other and wrinkling their noses in disgust. I roll my eyes at them, then pick up Kuishi by the scruff. Kuua follows close by my heel.

As I drop the boys with their mother, the Queen smiles at me.

"That was amazing Mpenzi, we'll try to get you promoted!"

I gasp at her, and she excuses me.

What a day...