Shujaa

Chapter 1

Not a dog, not a wolf, all he knows is what he is not.
- Boris, the snow goose.  (Balto, 1995)

    The early morning sun slowly dawned over the savannah.  The red sun cast it's warm glow over the sand and rocks of the desert, causing small shadows to form in the small places light could not reach.  The creatures of the night began to scurry away home for the day while the creatures of the morning slowly awoke from their peaceful slumber.  The tranquil scene was not to last, a loud roar was to disturb the sun's awakening.
    “I said you could drink from the watering hole," growled a large lion, with a golden mane.  “Not hunt on my land."
    “I was not hunting, your majesty," a smaller lion replied.  “We only crossed paths."  The smaller lion had a much darker mane, black paws and a shorter muzzle than his aggressor did. 
   “You always cross paths with antelope at full speed with your teeth bared?"  The king asked.
   “I was running because I was thirsty and wanted to get to the watering hole quicker.  The antelope got in my way so I growled at her a little.  I was not hunting her."  The tone in the smaller lion's voice was one of mild aggravation.  The king noticed it and growled a warning.
   “I do not like the tone you are speaking to me, youngster."  He warned.
   “So, you think I was hunting do you?"  The small lion raised his head high, exposing his neck.  “I know your laws as well as you do.  If I am as guilty as you think I am, take your pound of flesh and get it over with.  Once and for all."
   “It's far too early in the morning for this pettiness," remarked the king, turning his back and beginning to walk away.  He was not to get far.
   “I thought you would back down, Maovu.  Whether you like it or not you still have to accept that by killing me you would be murdering one of your own kind.  You know I have a place in this pride and you just fail to accept it."
   The king, enraged by this outburst, turned and swiped the younger lion across the face with the back of his paw.  “You will never belong here.  You were born of a Chukia male in an act of sin.  You are a threat against my pride and if you ever refer to me by my name instead of Your Majesty, I will rip out your throat and leave you for dead."
   “I was born of a Kipendo female, and in these lands.  I have as much right to be here as you."  The defiant lion scorned.  “If I am such a threat to your pride, why am I granted access to your watering hole?  If I was such a threat you would have taken those rights away when my mother died, all those moons ago."
   “So be it," replied the king.  “You, Shujaa, are hereby no longer granted rights to the watering hole, on the grounds of possible treason.  The next time you are caught on my lands, I will personally see to your execution."  Shujaa gasped as the king swiftly carried out his sentence.  The nearest watering hole was in the territory of the Chukia pride, the pride where his father came from.  He was already a marked lion with that pride and now with the Kipendo pride, his mother's pride.  Things were not looking good.
   “Looks like the love's all gone in Ari Kipendo."  Shujaa growled as he turned his back on the king and walked away.  The king said nothing in return, he just roared out his message to his pride that Shujaa was now a marked lion and all sightings were to be reported.  Shujaa sighed a little, the damage had been done, and there was no turning back now.

   “Well, this is a problem," Shujaa pondered out loud as he retreated to his territory.  His home was a small patch of neutral land between the prides of Ari Kipendo and Ari Chukia.  There was little shelter provided by a small cluster of trees but little else.  Food was begged, stolen, or poached from Ari Chukia territory.  Water was provided by the Air Kipendo watering hole.  It seemed that this lifeline had now been cut.  Without water, Shujaa knew his time would be short.
   “Hello down there!"
   Shujaa looked up with a small grin, he knew who it was who wanted his attention.  Not too high above him flew a black vulture.  The vulture was Shujaa's eyes and ears in the air and very useful when hunting on Chukia lands.
   “Hello above," Shujaa called.  “What's new in the world today?"
   “The lands are awash with talk!  Sounds like a rouge lion has managed to get themselves outcast from every pride they know!"
   “This is true.  The love has truly all gone from Ari Kipendo."  Shujaa called to the bird, as he circled once and then landed at the lion's feet.
   “In that case," the vulture said as he rested his wings on Shujaa's shoulders, “you had better hope that there is still hate left in Ari Chukia."
   “Huh?  I don't follow you," Shujaa muttered.
   “That," his feathered friend chuckled, “is because you don't fly!"
   With that he gently swiped the lion round the back of the head, took off, and flew away.  Shujaa shook his head.  That bird was a mix of both wisdom and insanity.  The problem was deciding when he was being a fool, or a genius.

   Pondering on his situation made the walk back to his small, but cosy, den seem a lot shorter than normal but the lion couldn't deny he was glad to be home.  His stomach, however, would've been happier if it was full, or at least not as empty as it was.  The day had barely started and already had been action packed.  Laying down in the shade of a small tree, Shujaa's mind began to wonder.  He ran a thought over what the vulture had said before thinking of the members of each pride he had been banished from.  One lioness lingered in his mind more than others did.  A lioness with golden brown fur perfectly set against a lighter muzzle and underbelly.  A lioness with features so beautiful that every male from both Ari Kipendo and Ari Chukia both fancied their chances with her.  She had grown up with Shujaa, even though playing with the lion had been forbidden while the lion was young.
   “Ahail," he sighed to himself.  The one lioness he wanted was the one whom he could not have.  She was the daughter of Maovu therefore she could not be touched, especially by a rouge lion.  Closing his eyes, Shujaa let his mind wonder further before it wondered off in to a mid-morning sleep.  He didn't see a lioness bringing a hunk of meat and he didn't notice as she gently licked his maw before vanishing back to her own lands before she was missed.  It was a good hour after being given the meat did he awaken as his nose caught scent of the meal before him.
   “Nice meat you've got there."
   Shujaa's eyes snapped open, the voice was too harsh to be that of a lion and only one type of animal was foolish enough to cross his patch.
   “Who are you?"  The lion growled, barring his teeth at the intruder.
   “Woah, Shujaa!"  Exclaimed the hyena as the look of death hit him right in the eye; “it's me!"
   “Dakil, how many times?"
   “I know, I know.  Never creep up on you when you're asleep."  Both animals relaxed and took a friendlier stance towards each other.
   “You're going to get yourself killed one of these days you know."
   The hyena grinned at his leonine friend.  “You know you'd never be able to live with yourself."
   “Maybe not, but my gut would feel a lot happier."
   “Thinking of food," Dakil said, “when did you get that huge hunk of lunch?"
   “I have no idea," replied Shujaa, “it wasn't here when I went to sleep and both you and the meat had arrived when I awoke, I thought you'd brought it."
   Dakil sniffed at the meal in earnest but waited to be invited before tucking in.  Shujaa subjected his mouth to a wide-opening yawn and tore a large chunk out of the meat; he then nodded at Dakil, offering some to the hyena.
   “See Maika recently?"  Dakil asked, between chews.  Shujaa nodded.
   “Yep, that crazy oversized buzzard was around this morning.  Offering more of his advice...  I think."
   The hyena stopped chewing and looked the lion in the eye.  “I heard you were banished from the Kipendo lands.  Is this true?"  Shujaa moved his head and broke out of the eye contact his friend was inflicting upon him.  He didn't need to speak.  Dakil shook his head and sighed, the one thing he always told his feline friend was to make sure he didn't upset Maovu.  The leonine form of Shujaa got up and shook violently, throwing his mane from left to right.  It felt good to wind down like that, though the feeling was over far too quickly.
   “Not a Kipendo, not a Chukia.  What am I?"  He sighed as he returned to his laid position without any of the graces of other lions.
   “Without water," Dakil noted, “you are in trouble."

Chapter 2

 Dead man walking!  Dead man walking here.
- Percy Wetmore.  (The Green Mile, 1996)

    The mid-day sun was just as hot as normal for the time of year, even slightly warmer.  Shujaa's last drink had been that morning before he was ejected from the Kipendo lands, but he had to admit a cool drink would have been nice.  Dakil had departed to hunt for his own lunch, though he did promise to bring a few tit-bits of meat for the lion, should he find enough.  Maika's words still occupied the back of Shujaa's mind.
   “Hope there's still hate left in Ari Chukia."
   “Hello below!"  The familiar call of the wild once again floated down to Shujaa's ears.  Looking at the ground, a black shadow circled before getting larger as the aerial shouter came down to land.
   “Nice to see you again so soon."  Shujaa muttered, looking beyond Maika and into space.
   “Heat getting to you already?"  Laughed Maika.  Shujaa's focus snapped back to the bird.
   “Just thinking about things," he replied.
   “How would you like a cool, refreshing drink?"
   “Don't even tease me about it!"  The lion's mouth felt dryer the more he thought of liquid refreshment.
   “I don't need to, you have a chance for a drink in the Chukia territory, if you're quick."
   “How?  There are border patrols everywhere to stop Kipendo hunters entering their lands."
   “Not at the moment," the vulture was hopping from one foot to the next, as if he was in a hurry to leave.  “Zewlee has called all creatures great and small to the parade rock, one of the pride females have given birth and it looks like the cub is Zewlee's son."
    “I thought Zewlee was," started the lion, only to get cut off by his feathered friend.
    “Infertile?  So did I, guess he wasn't after all.  Now come on, get to the watering hole before it's too late."  Shujaa didn't need telling again, so with as much speed as he could muster he ran to the source of a cooling drink.

   With his thirst suitably quenched, the lion made his way back to his shelter, under the watchful eye of Maika who was ready to warn him of the first hint of danger.  There was nobody around at all.  Maika could see the parade rock in the distance, surrounded by a great crowd of assorted animals.  A sudden roar echoed out around the lands, the cub was now a prince.  It was also the cue for Shujaa to hurry up a little as the ceremony was over and the guards would soon be returning to their posts and patrols.  Making it back with plenty of time to spare, Shujaa collapsed in the shelter of his small collection of trees and relaxed.  The sun had moved during the course of the day and now long shadows were cast as the trees protected all those who lie under them from the direct heat of the sky's glowing orb.  Chatting idly to each other, the lion and the vulture waited to see if Dakil would return with dinner.  With a new prince in the Chukia lands the border security would be a lot tighter than before and the chance of a bit of poaching would be dramatically reduced.  Today, however, dinner was to come to them and Dakil did not bring it.
   “This time I come in peace."  Zewlee stood on the border closest to Shujaa's resting-place.  Shujaa was in no mood for an argument over the borderlines, so he invited the lion in to his territory in a gesture to keep the, albeit temporary, peace.  Maika was a little uneasy in the presence of the leader of Ari Chukia and so walked behind his friend, trying to remain as calm in appearance as possible.
   “I hear congratulations are in order."  Shujaa said, getting up and bowing slightly at the king.  “You must be very proud."
   “Well," Zewlee replied, “I am glad to get rid of those infertility rumours once and for all.  It is good that the cub is male since, as I'm sure you are aware, I was the only male in Ari Chukia.  When I die, there would have been no one to take my place."
   “This problem exists in Ari Kipendo," Shujaa mentioned," Maovu is not getting any younger, nor is he getting any more fertile."
   “He is also not doing anything about it."  Maika chipped in; finally getting over his fear of the king and the idea that the king's goal was anything but peaceful.
   “Exactly my problem."
   Shujaa and Maika looked at the king in surprise.  Maovu's personal life was causing Zewlee problems?
   “How is this a problem?"  The pair talked in near exact synchrony.
   “You know how Maovu can bear a grudge, something I'm not exactly innocent of myself.  Now I have a prince, my pride has a future.  The Kipendo pride does not, which leaves them open to hostile take-overs once Maovu passes on.  However, in an argument going back many years we had when we were each starting our prides we each said our pride would out-last the other.  Before my son was born, we stood equal chance of winning and so we did nothing.  Now the balance has tipped in my favour and I'm sure Maovu is not going to stand by and let me win."
   “Wow," Shujaa commented, “no wonder the love left Ari Kipendo."
   “What do you mean?"
   “I was banished from the Kipendo lands this morning.  I was falsely accused of hunting on their lands and was not allowed to put my case forwards."
   “In that case," the king proposed, “maybe we can help each other?"
   “How?"
   “Understand that you are still a marked lion and in our eyes a member of Ari Kipendo since that is where you lived until your mother's death.  Now you are banished from both lands your death is certain.  I might be a grudge bearer but having this cub has opened my eyes and I am not so cruel as to watch you starve."
   “You were before."  Maika retorted.
   “Don't be stupid, bird," Zewlee mocked.  “I've known Shujaa has been hunting on my lands since day one, aided by that hyena friend of yours.  I've let it continue since nether has been greedy or attacked my lionesses or me.  However, things can change."
   “What do you want from me?"
   “I want you to keep patrol on my borders, marking your scent alongside mine.  I want to show Maovu that I take security more seriously now and that I have another strong male on my side.  This should act as a deterrent to stop him doing anything, stupid."
    “Why should Shujaa agree to that?"  Maika asked, a little surprised at the request.  “You said yourself you see him as a member of Ari Kipendo."
   “I am as much part of Ari Chukia as I am Ari Kipendo," Shujaa said, “joined to each pride by lineage and borders only."  Zewlee nodded, he understood what Shujaa meant.
   “So you'll do it?"
   “What do I get in return for my service?"  Shujaa spoke slowly as he mentally weighed up the pros and cons of such a request.
   “I'll make sure the line you walk goes via the watering hole so you can drink whenever you please.  I'll also ensure you and your friends are looked after as far as food goes.  Just remember, if you so much as put one paw off the marked trail my lionesses will rip you to shreds.  I also want the poaching to cease, I will provide enough for you all so there should be no need to hunt on my lands."  The king looked Shujaa straight in the eye.  He had meant all he had said and said all he had meant.  Shujaa knew this but was still suspicious.
   “How do I know I can trust you?"
   “As we speak, I have a group of lionesses hunting a zebra for your exclusive feasting.  They have been told if they take so much as a bite out of it to feed from, exile is the only punishment other than death.  This alone should serve as testimony as to my seriousness about this.  I want to protect my son so I need the help of another strong male.  By securing your trust, I hope to secure your services."
   “Very well," Shujaa agreed after a long pause, “if I dine on zebra tonight I shall work for you on the next sunrise."
   “Excellent!"  Zewlee exclaimed with delight, “I shall look forward to arriving tomorrow morning and showing you the path you will walk."  With that, the older lion said his farewells and left Shujaa and his feathered companion to their thoughts.
   “Well," Shujaa sighed, “you'd better fly over the Chukia lands and tell Dakil to stop hunting for a meal.  Tonight we feast on zebra."
   “I don't like it Shujaa," Maika commented as he got ready to fly, “it's a little odd that Zewlee is suddenly so friendly."
   “I know," Shujaa replied, “I don't like it either, but if I don't take him up on it I have no watering hole access.  Besides, this will be a good chance to look for any weaknesses in his pride should we need to exploit them.  He may have secured my services, but he'll never secure my trust."

Chapter 3

It's a very superficial trick, and no doubt you will soon acquire it
- Sherlock Holmes.  (How Watson Learned The Trick, 1923)

    The sun was beginning to set as Dakil returned from a small hunt on the Kipendo lands.  He hauled a small wildebeest leg along and dropped it in front of Shujaa.
    “Still no sign of the zebra then?"
   “Nope," Shujaa sighed, shaking his head; “Maika is scouting the Chukia lands to see if he can see any signs of lionesses or zebra."
   Dinner, however, arrived before Maika returned.  Three lionesses dragged the dead zebra to the border of Shujaa's land.  They were all slender with nicely groomed fur.  To the male lion they were a perfect example of what a healthy, fully nourished, and energetic lioness should be, and not at all unattractive.  The hunt mistress was the youngest looking of the three.
   “My name is Donna, leader of the Chukia Hunting Party.  We bring you your zebra, as promised by Zewlee."
   “Greetings, all of you," Shujaa said, “why not come and join me for dinner?  Let me get to know you all better."
   “As much as we'd love to," Donna started with a sarcastic undertone to her voice, “Zewlee has demanded that we come straight back.  Maybe next time."
   “Yea, next time."  Shujaa shrugged as the three lionesses turned their backs on the lion and departed.  “Typical, two of them didn't even speak to me."
   “You expected them to?"  Dakil asked.
   “I'm not sure what to expect."
   “Just keep your senses open, I don't trust Zewlee at all," Dakil had issued many warnings like that in the past and had rarely been wrong.
   “Still," Shujaa muttered as he tore in to the zebra, “I gave him my word and he's kept his end of the bargain.  I guess we shall have to see what tomorrow brings."
   “Hello below!"  The familiar call of Maika rang out from overhead.
   “You're too late," Shujaa laughed, “They've been and gone already.  Come and get some zebra before we scoff the lot."

   With a gut full of zebra, Shujaa did not want to rise with the sun, preferring to let it digest in it's own time, but the lion knew that today was not a normal day.  Today was the first day of working for a living, doing Zewlee's dirty work.  Taking his time in getting ready, the bulk of feline meat made his way to the borders to wait for Zewlee's collection.  His wait was a short one; the figure of his employer could be seen in the distance as Shujaa arrived at the borders.  He had two lionesses along side him, as if they were his bodyguards, there to protect him if Shujaa tried anything funny.  Shujaa scoffed at this idea, he needed the food and water too badly although Dakil was a good scavenger and food was never normally much of a problem.  Water, however, is harder to scavenge so Shujaa didn't make any open indication of his disgust at this escort the king was enjoying.  As it turned out, that was a wise move.
   “Good morning," the king called in a voice normally reserved for reunions of old friends who have been apart for an extended period of time.  “I'm glad to see you nice and ready."
   “Good morning sire," the reply was slow and mechanical.
   “Zewlee will be fine, no need to call me sire."
   “As you wish."
   Zewlee had been expecting Shujaa to act like this.  Had any other animal talked to the king in this way, their lives would often be a lot shorter than nature intended.  Shujaa, however, was a special case and the king knew what would help break the ice and loosen the lion up a little.
   “I have brought two lionesses to guard your territory while you are guarding mine," he announced, “you can either let them stay overnight with you or send them home upon your return.  My hunting party will be catching food for them so having these fine lionesses need not encroach on your payment of meat."
   “You seem to be doing a lot for me," Shujaa was kicking himself mentally, the two lionesses were not guarding Zewlee at all; the lion knew deep down that Zewlee wouldn't have been that intelligent, or paranoid.  “I thought this whole deal was struck because I apparently needed you more than you need me."
   “I have a son now," Zewlee said, ignoring the slightly bitter tone in Shujaa's voice, “and I need your help in protecting him.  I want you to feel comfortable in my lands and if you prove yourself to be trustworthy, maybe I'll relax the area restrictions I'm enforcing and let you have free roam of my lands."
   “Are you not going to introduce me to your lionesses before we leave?"  Asked Shujaa but the king shook his head.
   “Plenty of time for that when we return.  Now come, we have a fair amount of ground to cover today and you need to learn your route."
   With that, the king turned to depart.  Shujaa shrugged his shoulders, looked back at his friends and the two lionesses briefly before following Zewlee over the border in to the Chukia lands.

   The morning sun was not unpleasant as it cast it's light over the small patch of land Shujaa called home.  The two lionesses found basking in the heat quite relaxing, retreating to the shady tree when the sun became just that little bit too much.  Dakil wondered why the king had sent two lionesses when a single lioness could have done the job with ease.  His question was answered when one of them became thirsty and went to the water hole in the Chukia lands to drink, the second lioness was still there to protect the land, meaning the land was never left defenceless.  Dakil had to admit it was a spot of good thinking on the king's part but the land had been open to invaders many times in the past and neither neighbouring pride had ever shown interest in taking over.  Before too long the lioness returned.
   “All clear!"  She announced to her friend.
   “About time," the second female replied, “no spies this time?"
   “Spies?"  Dakil was concerned.  The lionesses had been cold and officially spoken until that moment, now they were more relaxed with their attitude and appearance. 
   “Yep, that king has no faith in us at all."  The first lioness almost had an indignant tone to her voice, but she kept a cheeky smile on her face.
   “You're not to talk to Shujaa's friends, if talked to be short and unfriendly with your answers," the second lioness mocked the king's voice and waved her paw around as if she was scolding a naughty cub, or instructing a pair of lionesses on the day's duty.  “He can be such a dragon at times."
   “I have always, and will always, hold the utmost respect for the king!"  Dakil said.
   “What?"
   “Well, now if you're questioned as to what I said, you can quote me on my respect for him and he'll be happy.  As it turns out, I was lying through my teeth, but he doesn't need to know that does he?"
   “Very clever," the first lioness said, “My name is Anima, and this is Juane."
   “Dakil," the hyena introduced, “ and the blunderbuss of a vulture you may meet later is called Maika.  Pleasure to meet you both on more relaxed terms."  The group sat and talked the hours away, forging new trusts and cementing new friendships between the lionesses of Ari Chukia and the exiled creatures of the wastelands.
   “A hate to see his new love hurt," Dakil thought to himself as he talked to the lionesses.  “This may not have been the kind of hate I expected from Ari Chukia, but it is exactly what we needed, when we needed it."

Chapter 4

A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
- Oscar Wilde, 1891

     The start of Shujaa's day had been nothing out of the ordinary, but extraordinary at the same time.  Two lions having a talk about life and other random small talk.  It was not what Shujaa expected.  He was tempted to tell Dakil about it later, referring to it as a 'father and son chat'. 
   The conversation had not started too well, neither lion knowing quite what to say.  However, as the morning continued, both lions began to feel more at ease being in each other's company and the conversation flowed.  By mid-day, a passer by would think the two lions had been friends for years, though the two lions were refraining from talking about anything deeper than small talk.
   As the two lions talked Zewlee showed Shujaa around his pride.  More importantly, Shujaa was being shown the route he was to take every day when on patrol.  Most of it was along the border between Ari Kipendo and Ari Chukia.  The rest was a short stretch of land against a wasteland area.
   “What's the story with that area, sire?"  Shujaa asked.
   “That dry, desolate wasteland?"  The king replied, “A long story.  The makings of a good fairy tale, or legend."
   “We have all day," Shujaa encouraged.  Zewlee nodded and began the story.
   “Long ago, before my time, there was a lion pride whom used to live in those lands.  Back then the land was fruitful and lush.  There was plenty to eat and drink, the weather was always good to the land, and there was rarely any trouble from outside prides.  All seemed well for the King, until he fathered two sons.  While one son was the perfect child, his second son was not.
   “As he became more aged, he decided to leave the pride in the care of whichever son beat his brother in battle.  The battle was fierce and violent, taking a good few hours.  Neither son would give in, each not able to defeat his brother.  The battle ended when the nastier brother tried to cheat, but his plan backfired and the nicer brother was able to bring down his opponent.  Showing mercy, he did not kill his brother but instead allowed him to stay as a member of the pride after their father's death.
   “This, however, was not good enough for the nastier brother.  With the aid of a few loyal followers, he poisoned the king and his own brother, claiming the pride as his own.  The tale says that this move offended the Gods.  The land was destroyed under a reign of weather terror, from droughts to freak and vicious storms.  The soil was ruined, the animals left for greener pastures and the entire pride starved.  Eventually, the lionesses overthrew their king in a bloody battle and left to follow the food.  The land has been a wasteland ever since."
   “Nasty," Shujaa commented.
   “I think so," the king replied, “now let us leave and move on.  We have spent entirely too much time here."

   As the two lions were nearing the end of the tour, Zewlee made an announcement.
   “I think now we should introduce you to the rest of the pride."
   “With all respect sire," Shujaa said with a wry grin, “I think I have met most of them before.  Normally as they were chasing me out from your lands."
   “Well," Zewlee said, “it is time you met them on more pleasant terms."
   “You're the boss," agreed Shujaa with a sigh.
   “Yes," Zewlee thought to himself, “I am."

  The walk to the heart of Ari Chukia was not a long one.  The two lions were not in a hurry to meet the lionesses, Shujaa less so.  He hoped they would accept him as a 'guest' in to their pride, though he expected them to assume him a threat to Zewlee and outcast him instantly.