Kingdom and Clans, King's Destiny (Book 1)
Ch 3 One to Rule

Weeks had passed, and just as Elohim had spoken to Zarda, his eyes were starting to open little by little. He went a few days with just tiny slits. It was enough to let in painful light. It was going to take some time to adjust to the new sense. Out of the five, why did this one hurt the most?

Every day, their mother Saharrah bathed her cubs, gently under her powerful embrace. She softly licked the film, that held their lids shut, tight for two long weeks. It wasn't long after, so much TLC given, that the cubs were now wide-eyed, running around her tired body. Queen Saharrah was not new to being a mom. This wasn't her second or even third litter. This was her fourth litter.

Her first litter, she ever had, never made it past the hottest months in the Savannah climate. No rain and little food, caused starvation for many animal clans. If it wasn't for the migration, and welcoming thunderstorm that followed, no relief would have ever come.

The pride was strong during dangerous times. It seemed that only the old, and newborns suffered under the cruel fate of life. Yet, King Ezekiel and his young, teenager sons thrived. As well as the lioness pride he watched over.

The pack hunted as they could. Providing what fleeting food supply they had available. Most times, they feasted on dead carcasses of zebra or gazelle who had fallen to starvation. The food was just enough to keep them sustained, through the hardest times. All the fat reserves, their bodies held to, were from previous abundant seasons. Helped make up the lack.

Luckily for Zarda, and his siblings, they were not born into such a fate. The land was lush and plentiful with wild game at their disposal.

King Ezekiel lay sprawled upon a large rock in the Savannah sunset. He watched over his lioness pride, and maturing sons. Soon to join their own bachelor pride when of age. He couldn't have his own sons competing for his position yet.

At least, not until the rightful prince was born. He would continue to rule until then.

He was a mighty King, well known abroad. One with a respectable reputation, verses the sleazy outcast prides, that numbered into three separate tribes. All who knew him, feared him, and were in such awe of his greatness. Though the lions didn't have many foes. There were the small handfuls of competitors close by. The three other lion packs, which were the Beta Tribe, The Kafinga Tribe, and the Blackmane Tribe.

The King also had the hyenas of the southern parts to compete with. Along with the cheetahs and leopards of the West end, of course the stubborn crocodiles of the rivers too. The only grave threat over Him, and his families, was from the other lion clans. It would not take much, for them to sneak up during a lazy day, such as this, and steal away the prides cubs and lionesses. Of course, death would only come to the little ones, and enslavement would befall the lionesses.

King Ezekiel was always vigilant in watching what was his. His pride of joy to keep safe. It was the year of the new King to rule. He had to painstakingly fight to keep, by any means possible, his new cub, Zarda, alive. In doing so, it ensured the rest of the cub's favorable circumstances too. The King's piercingly golden eyes shined bright with pride, as he watched his children tussle and play fight below him.

The lionesses, lay near cleaning some and play swatting at others. The sun was going down and tummies were rumbling all around the pack. It was time for a late evening hunt. Zarda and his siblings had grown familiar to all the night raids, and new experiences in their short life on earth. They learned what hiding meant for their safety, and how not to play with an African porcupine.

They learned, by observing, what was good food and what was bad, Even though, they still suckled from their Mother. "Meat!" echoed in Zarda's mind, as he remembered what the great creator had spoken. He recalled, him saying he, one day, would go from milk to meat. He could only dream of it to come soon, and soon it came.

Time had sped fast with its passing, and the cubs were of age.

Three months old now, and the evening hunt was going to be Zarda's, and his sibling's first feast on flesh. He was excited, to see, what all the fuss was over such a disgusting looking food item.

He always took a side peek at his mother, as she ate. Queen, Saharrah was first of the lioness to pick the finest pieces of the choice meats. Zarda would keep sucking the delicious warm milk, as he watched his mother tare and rip at a slimy red object. The odor from the meat, was a disgusting aroma of sharp iron. It reminded him of his brother Meeku, when they had first met.

Thankfully, Meeku didn't smell like that anymore. He had more of an earthy scent these days.

Probably, due to the fact they always wrestled around on the soft dirt. The earth always had a rich, calming scent. Zarda extremely loved the way it smelled after a long thunderstorm. The air even smelt different after the rain. Always had fresh aroma.

The thunderstorms at first, scared Zarda, and his siblings, but eventually it was a welcomed sight and sound.

Zarda smiled, he actually enjoyed seeing better now. The colors and shapes that clung to objects, he was once only allowed to feel or hear. Now, it was a marvelous new sense.

His top favorite out of all he acquired. His favorite thing about it, was when he spied a large armored, plated, hoppy thing-a-ma jig.

That hoppy, thing-a-ma jig his mother referred to as a locust. The largest of their kind in all of Africa.

They were not much on taste, but boy were they fun to chase and scare his sisters with. Sister Zaza and Teek were too prim and proper for their age. They were developing more into that of their mother's royal personality.

The thought of rolling in the dirt no longer satisfied them. They simply kept with the lioness pack and pretended to be like Queen Saharrah, their Mother.

They sat with paws crossed, and their head held high. The sisters had beautiful diamond blue eyes and creamy golden fur. With tiny brown freckles along their backside. Not only that, but they knew their worth and soaked up every ounce of it, from their father Ezekiel. He licked and nuzzled his daughters often, as they made visits over to Him.

He reassured them daily, they had nothing to fear while he was alive.

On the other hand, the boys couldn't care less. Meeku was the same golden color, only he was a shade darker with fewer spots. He, too, had the same bright blue eyes as his sisters.

The only difference was, Meeku, had a small dark tuft of fur on top of his head in the shape of a Mohawk.

Zarda was the polar opposite. He favored his Father. His fur was pure white, with tiny gray spots covering his backend. Zarda, had piercingly bright emerald eyes, not like his siblings or Mother.

One day, those green eyes would turn gold, perhaps like Ezekiel's. He was the most handsome cub around, by far. And he knew it too, but he and Meeku didn't act cute, like their sisters.

Some days, the pack couldn't tell zarda was even white at all. He and his brother often played in the mud or elephant dung that was lying around. Some of the lesser lioness cubs, born at the same time; would join in on the smelly activities. It was a stink fest of mess when the little boys played in it all day.

Everyone knew when they came back. They were often in need of deep cleanings. The stench was sky-high. Often times, the sisters would run away from them to their Father for comfort. The King would just twist up his large nose to the odor. He couldn't help but chuckled at his son's.

It was what little male cubs did. As he too, recalled taking a long roll in the warm elephant piles in his youth. He was no longer one himself, but a royal, matured King. Even he, envied their leisurely fun.

Being a King was hard work. He fathered his children as he knew best. His love was exceedingly great to all of his Tribe. Whitemane was the fairest of all lion prides, and obvious to any who saw them.

The pale people, the lions called them would come from all over the world to take photos and observe them from large open trucks. Funny, Ezekiel thought, how easy he could drag a pale person out of such a useless contraption. Instead, he raised his head and showed off his beauty, like a celebrity at an awards show.

He basked in his earned glory. It didn't come easy for the King. He had been one of those born in his generation into the beginning of the dry season in the Savannah. He survived many times over, which in the end made him the Lion he is today. Likewise, He had many battle scars, wives, and children to add to his accomplishments. King Ezekiel was proud, and he deserved it nonetheless.

Dusk, was upon them, and the lionesses set out into the dark for the hunt. Each member had their assignments given earlier, and did not dare to usurp the other's position. For fear of punishment. The King, and his young male lions, would always follow back rank. They stayed behind to catch any slackers the lionesses missed. There was always one spotter, assigned at the head of the group. Usually, this position was given to Queen Saharrah's younger sister, Raya. She had the best eyesight and her crouch was impressively low.

Queen Saharrah, of course, would be assigned the top hunter position. Alongside with her friend, Keeku. The rest of the pride were assigned to chase and scare out the herd's weakest link. After Raya gave signal. Back at the lions' den, two mother lionesses stayed behind with all the cubs as the hunters left for the night. The thrill of the hunt was an adrenaline pumping experience, one that zarda and his siblings had yet to endure. It was always exciting to see how the hunt would fair for the pride. Either in their favor or to their disappointment. As for most hunts and how they went, it was never a disappointment for the Queen.

Her team was skilled and deadly in what they did. Raya, paused, she caught a glimpse of a nearby gazelle herd, grazing on the long green grass of the Savannah. Once in a while, she noticed scouts, from the gazelles, pop their heads up and peer out from the herd for predators. If they had suspected danger, they would have quickly alerted the herd and darted off. They were no match for Raya, though. She was so good at blending in that even her pack had trouble seeing her and her signals. Once she knew they were in good position for an ambush, her dark tip of her tail would flick above the grass. That would be all it would take and, the chasers would bolt out towards the herd. They followed the lead of Raya, towards an old and weak gazelle. One who had seen numerous years in the Savannahs' comings and goings. They encircled the old creature and ran it away from the safety of the herd. It knew its time had come to an end, and the gazelle let fate take its course. Queen Saharrah, took a deep lunge towards the gazelles back, and landed perfectly on top of it. Her claws dug deep into the creature's spine. The gazelle bellows were loud, but not enough to protect it from the lion's pack. Soon, the rest of the pack joined the Queen in dragging the creature down to the ground. It was Keeku, who bit down on the gazelles jugular and drained it of its lifeblood.

Another lion, helped speed up the kill. By placing its mouth over the animals' snout, it slowly suffocated it to death. It seemed very harsh, but in a sense very humane, to kill it quick, instead of letting it suffer miserably. The maneuver worked, and the old animal was gone. His life had left his weakened body. The lionesses were exhausted from the hunt. They dropped to the cool dirt, panting hard. Queen Saharrah, panted and gulped for cool air, to extinguish the fire burning in her lungs.

Her legs were still tingling from the chase. She collapsed on the flank end of the gazelle and begun to slice at its hind-quarters. This was her favorite part on any wild game. It had the most meat and sweetest juices from blood filled arteries.

She sneered and growled at her sister and friend. Reminding them not to dare take her first pick. They sneered back, but kept their distance with their ears pinned down.

She, eventually, was able to rip off her piece, allowing the others to grab their share. They chose quickly, knowing that once, King Ezekiel sauntered up. He would out power them for the entire animal.

This one gazelle, was not going to feed the entire pack, and they knew it. The young males arrived, not far behind the King.

They understood it was their job now to seek for another prey if they wanted to eat. They snarled out into the air as they were chased away by their hungry Father. Furthermore, respected his space and went on for another hunt.

The females had finished their share, and decided to help the male warriors catch another.

Raya, as usual, made the signal. The chase was on. This time they had the brute strength of the males to aid them in the kill.

It wasn't a gazelle they hunted for, but a ripe young female zebra. She wasn't lame, or ill. It was just the fact, she was so ripe and round that it made the lion's mouth water in delight.

They hunted her down quickly, savoring every moment of her life to the end. Soon the pride had their fill. Hearing a disturbing echo, of nearby hyena's laughter, they soon were on guard.

The hyenas seemed very close, yet nowhere in clear sight. The lion pack gathered and left back home before they had to encounter their adversaries.

They were generous enough to leave scraps behind for the meal crushers.

Saharrah, on her way out, took hold of a leg piece, for her cub's first meal of meat. The lions were in no hurry and trotted a little slower this time back home.

With their bellies full and hanging low. It was going to be a good night ahead. One of the other lionesses, grabbed a large chunk of meat, for the two lioness mothers who had stayed behind.

They honestly never went hungry with such a great trib. On occasion, when they stayed back, they would trade their places for the next hunt during the day.

It seemed to be a well-balanced deal for the entire pack. As for Queen Saharrah, she found her cubs, and dropped the leg portion on a stone next to them. Each cub looked at one another and then back at the bloody meat.

Zarda, was unsure of it, as were his siblings. Just like the gnawing feeling he had when he was born, it had returned. Only this time, he was hungry for "Meat"!!!

He licked his lips and crept up on the leg like he was stalking prey. The aroma was intoxicating, and he instinctively chomped down into the bloody flesh. It tasted good, so much better than the milk.

He understood now why they loved it so. It was hard to explain, but the meat melted like sweet butter inside, and the juices were even better going down.

He began to growl at his approaching siblings. When they realized how much Zarda enjoyed it. His little growl was adorable, but had such authority. It was just the beginning, as a warning to the others of who was to become the boss.

They jumped on occasion at the fear of him and kept their ears pinned back. Soon, they too would be biting off pieces of meat and lapping up the dripping blood. The pride was a well working group and the members made sure to help each other as one. No one would go hungry, as long as Ezekiel had anything to do with it. And so He was the one to rule, and rule he did in deed.