Almost to the End
After ten days of travel, the company had reached twelve more tribes, leaving only four kingdoms left to visit. They had journeyed across the Savannah, rivers, jungle, and rocky cliffs, making new friends in amazing kingdoms along the way. Today, they headed towards the Hendris pack to meet with King Tambo, whose kingdom was surrounded by the dense woodland terrain of South Africa. The tightly packed trees made travel difficult, as the company struggled to move without getting snagged, scratched, or blocked by the thick forest. Heading forward, Slash discovered a clearing leading to open land. Searching for the African wild dogs' kingdom, he could see it nearby. Despite being drained by the maze of trees, Slash and his companions pressed on.
"Finally, I thought we would never get out of that annoying forest," said Mazunga.
The moment Mazunga finished speaking, a group of dog soldiers charged towards them, brandishing long javelins pointed directly at their faces. They encircled the group tightly, forcing them to back up into each other as they moved around, examining the intruders closely. The pack of wild dogs approached their jobs with seriousness. Safeguarding the pack was a daily responsibility. The group started communicating in a cryptic language that the company couldn't understand. It was no coincidence that slash had saved the most difficult kingdoms for last. The remaining four kingdoms were known for being unpredictable and difficult to negotiate with. A seasoned soldier approached slash, observing him closely.
"I recognize you, you're he warrior from Zarda's group. What brings you all the way into our territory?" inquired the soldier with a rough voice.
After a moment, Slash recognized the soldier he was talking to. The soldier removed the cloth covering his mouth, revealing his face. Slash noticed a long scar across his right eye, but still found him to be a handsome leader. He was the top pack dog serving under King Tambo. The soldier was wearing a long beige tunic made of gazelle hide and had a light turban the color of sandstone wrapped around his head.
"Soldier, we come in peace. We are here to present this invitation to your king," Slash said, extending the invite outward from his hand.
The soldier, appearing visibly irritated, grabbed it from his hand and proceeded to read it aloud for the others to hear.
"Dear, King Tambo, I am Queen Saharrah of the White mane Lion Pride. I am formally inviting you and your queen, along with two guests, to attend my son Zarda's coronation as king. We would be honored if you could join us. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Sincerely, Queen Saharrah." Soldier Diji finished reading with a smirk on his face.
The old lion reassured, "As I mentioned earlier, we come in peace. We will now take our leave, if you can relay this message to your king. It would be greatly appreciated."
The soldier glanced smugly at him, and Slash returned the same cautious gaze to the wild dog.
He responded, sarcastically, "Sure thing, boss."
Despite soldier Diji noticing that Slash was visibly upset, the old lion stayed composed and quiet, realizing they couldn't afford to waste time or energy on an argument. The company needed to quickly move on to the final three kingdoms without any more interruptions.
"You're fortunate that we were on a crucial mission of our own. I don't have time to deal with you and your group of misfits at our camp. Leave now and make sure I don't find you here again, or you won't be as fortunate next time," Diji snarled.
No one was captured this time, unlike the previous incident with Wazingu. His reckless actions caused a delay of two days. Slash swiftly led the group away from the soldiers, disappearing into the nearby forest. He stopped them at a safe distance and huddled everyone together.
"To avoid any trouble, it's best to stay away from their territory. It seems we are not welcome there. I hope we don't have to go that way again in the future. Follow closely behind me in the shadows of the trees and keep as quiet as possible. We need to make our way back through the outskirts and head towards the river. Once we reach the other two kingdoms, we can finally return to the Black mane pride," he said.
The two lions and Wazingu all nodded in agreement, fully comprehending the task ahead of them. Just before they moved out, Matiti caught the leader's attention.
"Leader, hold on. What about the hyena territory? I just noticed we haven't delivered to them yet," Matiti said.
The young lion was correct - they had been forgotten. However, their territory would be near the Lions and close to their old familiar stomping grounds, Pride Rock. Mazunga could feel a knot forming in his stomach, and he immediately began devising an escape plan in his mind. His heart raced as he anticipated the return of painful memories. Mazunga asked if it would be possible for him and Wazingu to first travel back to his home. Once Wazingu was safe, Mazunga would then travel back to their Kingdom alone. He mentioned that he couldn't bear to visit their old home due to the painful memories it brought up. Before he could even think, the words spilled out of Mazunga's mouth. He instantly regretted what he had said as Slash remained silent. He knew he was in trouble. No longer able to hold his tongue, Slash let out a loud hiss at Mazunga's words and angrily spat on the ground. He was furious, pacing back and forth in front of the group, his glare fixed solely on the young lion.
"Alone? You want to travel back alone, you say? You can't handle bad memories I lost my beloved brother, my king whom I served since I was your age, and you can't handle bad memories. You must think I'm a fool. Do you think I get to escape from all the bad memories? No! So you will stay the course, then we will all take Wazingu home," he replied harshly.
He was in disbelief. His eyes, once barely open swollen slits, were now large, round, and filled with green, fiery intensity. Mazunga was terrified, stepping back and almost stumbling over their cheetah companion. Wazingu sensed Mazunga's silent plea for assistance. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, he tried to reassure him.
"I wouldn't have asked that, if I were you, my friend. It seems like you've caused a trigger for the leader," whispered Wazingu softly.
Mazunga was certain of it as well, but he should have kept his thoughts to himself. Slash moved away, disappearing deeper into the trees. The rest of the group followed closely behind him, quiet and determined. When Slash saw that the soldiers had gone in the opposite direction, he swiftly guided them out into an open clearing. Slash was thankful, after his little outburst, he hadn't drawn any unwanted attention back towards them.
"Quick, let's go. The river is just up ahead, maybe the hippos will welcome us there." Whispered Slash.
He charged ahead, sprinting towards Panyamo Thunder domain with the wind flowing through his mane and whipping his leather kilt. Matiti, Wazingu, and mazunga followed close behind as the agile old lion, Slash, held his own. The young lions worked hard to keep up with his pace. Slash didn't bother looking back to see if his comrades had followed. He kept his focus on the approaching region ahead. As he neared, he spotted two Hippo guards looking at him in surprise. The guards were impressively large, one with a round gut and the other lean and muscular. They were prepared for a fight, tightly gripping their wooden clubs. However, their worry dissipated when they realized the strangers were simply escaping the wild dog's territory. Slash slowed down as he crossed the border safely, feeling out of breath and panting heavily. Leaning over with his hands on his shaking knees, he tried to regain his composure. As he turned his head to the right, he saw the other three approaching quickly. He had hoped they would also slow down, but unfortunately Matiti slipped and crashed into the old lion, knocking him to the ground. Wazingu then collapsed on top of them. Fortunately, Mazunga managed to stop in time at their feet. He immediately helped his friends up, then extended his hand to assist the leader. However, the old lion swatted it away.
"I can get up on my own, I don't need your help," he retorted with a sneer.
Mazunga felt hurt and frustrated because he believed that his efforts were never deemed satisfactory. He was tired of facing defeat and no longer wanted to feel this way.
"I've had enough of you, old lion. I'm fed up with your constant teasing, tired of being pushed around, and exhausted by your refusal to accept my help when you clearly need it," he boldly responded.
Slash furrowed his brow and curled his lip on the left side, revealing his sharp teeth as he snarled. He did not appreciate the foolish words of the young lion.
"What did you say, young fool? Do you dare challenge me?" Slash growled as Mazunga stood firm in his stance.
"I didn't stutter. I meant to challenge you, you old fool," he replied, mirroring his intense energy.
Mazunga heard gasps of shock from Matiti and Wazingu. They had simultaneously shouted the same words, "No, Mazunga!"
It was already too late. Mazunga's adrenaline was surging through his veins as his emotions reached a fever pitch. He knew there was no turning back now. With a deep breath, Slash stood up straight and clenched his fists, holding them in front of his face.
Slash snarled, "If you think you can beat me, young fool, let's do this."
Mazunga mirrored Slash's movements as they faced off, preparing to exchange blows. Slash anticipated the young lion to make a mistake and strike first, but Mazunga surprised him by not doing so. Frustrated and fatigued, Slash threw a jab which Mazunga swiftly dodged. Seizing the opportunity, Mazunga delivered a powerful uppercut to Slash's chin. The impact caused Slash to bite down on his tongue, drawing blood that began to trickle from his mouth. The old lion was enraged. In retaliation, he delivered a powerful rear hook punch to Mazunga's face, causing him to spit out blood and bite down hard on his lip. His head spun downward, a sharp pain shooting through him like lightning bolts, but he managed to stay conscious. Despite the pain, Mazunga quickly fought back with a high over kick followed by a forceful knee to the old lion's chest, knocking him off his feet. The impact was so strong that Slash landed flat on his back with a loud crack and a deep groan. He lay there beaten and bloody, tears streaming down his face as his pride also took a hit. Gasping for air, he remained motionless on the ground, his chest heaving with each breath.
Mazunga panted heavily, standing triumphantly over his fallen leader. Happy with the outcome, he walked away to be by himself, hoping for his leader's gratitude and respect. Matiti rushed over to aid Slash, offering his assistance. However, the elderly lion simply shook his head no.
The old lion spoke up, "Pass me my water skin. I will be alright. You take the lead now, Matiti. go deliver the invitation to the king. I will join you all later."
Matiti felt privileged to take charge in place of his mentor. Slash had no intention of standing up anytime soon. Matiti chose to leave his leader as he insisted. He walked away and headed over to his friends. Slash was alone now. He raised the water skin to his bloody mouth, drinking the cool water as he observed the three walking away.
As Matiti approached Mazunga from behind, all he could ponder was, 'What was Mazunga thinking?' He felt shocked and concerned about the uncertain future they faced together. As footsteps approached from behind, Mazunga braced himself for another altercation, assuming it was Slash coming back for a rematch. However, Mazunga sighed in relief when he saw that it was actually Matiti. He knew that his friend wouldn't grasp the depth of his struggle, as Matiti had never faced the same challenges in earning respect. On the other hand, Wazingu truly understood the sacrifices and determination needed to achieve that level of dignity. Mazunga raised his hands with palms facing out towards his friend, silently imploring Matiti not to make any inappropriate remarks.
"Don't judge me with your eyes. I had to prove to him that I am a strong lion, just like you. I had to gain his respect, even if it meant hurting his pride," responded Mazunga.
Mazunga was correct in believing that his friend did not grasp the importance of standing up for one's respect. He silently hoped that his friend never had to experience that feeling. Matiti simply shook his head in silence. It was time to continue on their journey. Mazunga motioned for them to enter the area to find the hippo king. As they made their way towards the hippos, all three of them glanced back at Slash. Peering forward, Matiti could see the guards' faces filled with awe. As they approached the hippos, the three of them halted just a step-in front. They stood still, waiting silently. The lead guard locked eyes with mazunga.
"You are bleeding. I presume you are aware," the guard stated, with a matured tone of voice.
Matiti glanced at his friend's face and saw that the guard was correct. A deep, open cut was visible above Mazunga's eyebrow, with blood flowing down the side of his temple and matting his golden mane. His cheeks were swollen, making his face appear monstrous. Despite wiping away the blood, it continued to gush out uncontrollably. Mazunga eventually gave up trying to stop the bleeding and allowed it to flow freely. In the end, he resembled a gruesome massacre.
The hippo offered, "You appear to be in need of our assistance. We have a medical guard on hand at all times."
Since so much time had already been wasted in conflict, what harm would a little more delay do? Mazunga accepted the hippo's offer of assistance. The hippo was happy when the lion agreed to the offer. He efficiently led the trio past the boundaries of their kingdom.
"I'm Guard Banogo by the way, and this is Guard Jalenji. We will lead you to the assistance you seek. What brings you here? You must have journeyed a long way," the hippo said, as he turned towards the water dock.
The ground trembled beneath the group's feet as they followed the towering hippo, who matched their leader in height but surpassed him in weight. He wore a soft, white linen garment wrapped around his waist like a towel, held up by a belt made of dried leather. As they walked onto the dock spanning the river, the guard swung his club casually at his side. They passed by tents filled with curious hippos peering out from the safety of their homes in the floating community. Unlike other kingdoms, this one had no protective walls; instead, the huts rested on sturdy wooden frames along the riverside. Ahead of them stood a large grass hut beside the pier, which Banogo was guiding them towards - the thatched construction was their medical hut.
Banogo signaled for the group to remain outside as he entered the hut to speak to the medical guard, River-Oboe. Shortly after, two hippos emerged from the hut. The medical guard examined Mazunga's gash and determined that it would require stitches.
The medical guard urged, "Please come alone, your friends can wait. This won't take long; I need to stitch you up quickly or you may bleed to death."
Mazunga glanced at Matiti and Wazingu with a reassuring smile before entering the room. He carefully studied the medical guard's demeanor, noting his full-length purple robe adorned with hand-sewn colorful beads. In an instant, Mazunga decided that the medical guard exuded wisdom and trustworthiness.
"Your friend is in good hands. Tell me, why have you come here? Just to fight at our doorstep? You're crazy animals for that, you know it. I've never witnessed a group turn on its own kind." Said Banogo.
Matiti was embarrassed. " We've been on a long, exhausting journey, delivering invitations to each kingdom. Prince Zarda is to be king, it's his coronation ceremony. We were on our way here to deliver to your leader. We had just escaped the soldiers of king tambo from delivering theirs. Likewise, we hadn't planned to fight. Things just...escalated. " Said Matiti.
The hippo pushed up his bottom lip, while nodding. "I see, still it doesn't explain the fight, but who am I to judge? Come, I'll take you two to our king." He replied.
They moved closer to a thatched hut. Matiti, observed the large construction. He thought the medical hut was big from the outside, but it was bigger on the inside. He had been wrong. Several groups of hippos could live comfortably within. Focusing back to reality, the small group pressed forward to meet up with another guard, general Oko. Who stood shielding the entrance. The two hippo guards spoke a few words quietly, before Guard Oko let them pass. Banogo led them to the king's throne room. It was a large round room. The walls were plastered with dried mud. Several large square windows were fixed, on the back wall behind the thrones. They allowed for bright sunlight to settle within the room. The King's throne sat nestled up to another one just like it. Two very, large thrones. Both were formed from wooden logs that appeared to be stumpy and uncomfortable to sit on. Draped upon the back of the empty throne, was dark green linen. The visitor's eye's wandered back to the king, seated precariously before them.
The guard bowed his head, announcing the reason for the sudden intrusion. King Jomo, an even bigger hippo, waved him away. The guard left immediately from the hut, heading back to his post at the front gate. King Jomo's belly hung over his white sarong, spilling onto his lap. His thick legs were spread open, with one hung over the side arm of his throne. His hairy chest heaved up and down as he breathed. The upper body wide and thick was pressed firmly against the back of his throne, while he looked down upon the visitors. He had no expression upon his face. None that Matiti, could read. He wasn't sure if he was angry or confused. The silence was broken.
"Guard Banogo says you have a letter for me. Bring it to me, now!" ordered the king.
Matiti retrieved the invitation from his leader's pack. He had taken the bag. When they had left slash outside. He walked the invite up to the king, and handed it over swiftly. The king unrolled to read it, then paused when his wife entered the room.
"What is all the talk, my king?" Queen Winokur asked.
She looked around the room at the strangers staring at her and knew her answer. The large queen had not realized anyone had entered in. She had been day dreaming in their sleeping chambers about future trips down the river with her love. Observant, she noticed the white invite in the Kings hand. The queen moved her way closer to take a better look.
" What is that in your hand, my Love?" she asked, as she took a seat on her throne.
" I don't know yet! My cow, let me read." He replied.
He looked over the letter, then handed it off to his bride. "Tell your queen it is a maybe." King Jomo said with a blank stare back at his visitors.
The queen reached her hand out to gently touch his fat bicep; she looked lovingly over at him. She gave him her answer with one seductive smile. The king knew he better rethink his last statement. So, he turned his attention back to the visitors with a different answer.
" Fine, tell your queen we will join her." Annoyed, He replied, rolling his eyes.
Queen shrieked with delight. She smiled from ear to ear, at the visitors. King Jomo never could resist the beauty of his bride, her golden eyes sparkled, covered by long black lashes. The queen's cute button nose and gentle smile was complimentary to her natural features. Her head always wrapped beautifully; this one made of purple linen. The queen's thick curvaceous body was dressed in a tight revealing gown, made of woven silk they acquired from the local trader. The king was in no need to keep the visitors, staring at him and his wife, ogling over one another. He was in the mood to love on his bride. He quickly dismissed the party from his hut. Bowing quickly to the king, Matiti and Wazingu made their way out, and back to mazunga.
"Well, that was interesting, and rather disturbing at the same time." Said Wazingu.
Matiti couldn't agree more. He quickly changed the subject, pointing towards their friend. The two smiled their way over to Mazunga. He had been waiting patiently outside for the two, watching the calm rivers flow from the peer's edge. It was relaxing, no wonder the hippos and crocodiles had built their homes over them.
"Did everything go okay?" Mazunga asked.
Matiti reassured him their task here was complete. "Let's get back to our leader." He replied.
Matiti, turned to lead the way, Wazingu followed behind him, and last, reluctant to follow, was mazunga. As the three appeared back at the door of the hippo kingdom, they could see their leader up a head. Slash, was sitting up now, waiting on a nearby stump. His entire body ached, especially his lower back. His face was bruised and bloody, but not as bad as Mazunga's. Although, he needed no medical attention. His body felt like it. Slash just wanted this trip to be over. He had been replaying the moment over and over in his mind as he waited. All of his tears were dried up. If he could cry, they would stream down, right then. Slash had been defeated, as it would have been in the old days. How could he let himself fall for it; he thought?
"Stupid young lion he is, but a dumb old lion I am." He said to himself.
He was quickly met by three familiar faces. He looked up in shame at each one and rested upon Mazunga's face. Mazunga didn't look away in fear this time. Slash stood to his feet and walked up, face to face, to his opponent. No one knew what to expect. Wazingu was nervous, and Matiti was tense. Slash wrapped his large hands around Mazunga's biceps and squeezed lightly.
"Of all the lion warriors, Zarda chose you to join me...well done." Slash said, with a slight smile.
Mazunga's heart raced, his eyes almost welling up. He had finally received the respect from his leader he so longed for. Mazunga smiled back with a half-swollen face.
"You look like hell. What did you do? Run into a rhino's back end, or something." Slash said, breaking out into a deep laugh.
Everyone couldn't help but join in, including Mazunga. Slash turned to Matiti and took back his pack.
"I'll take that. Thank you." He spoke.
Matiti helped his leader put it on this time. All four were off, moving again towards the Nile crocodile's kingdom. Hour by hour the time passed; the company had finally fulfilled their mission. Each invite delivered to the last three kingdoms. First to King Sefu, then to King Kwanza, and last on the delivery, was to King Jarvius, with no more delays or trouble at hand. The group journeyed back home quickly. Their jobs were completed, the travelers almost to the last hours of the journeys end.