Coronation
Saharrah was amazed that the time had finally come. Beautiful wooden tables had been meticulously crafted and decorated with flowing white sheets made from sheep wool spun into thin twine by a traveling trader. The queen and her lionesses adorned the tables with stunning flower petals and placed coconut husks filled with beeswax and tiny vine wicks for lighting. Plates and utensils crafted by the lions from materials found in the jungle were set out, with benches snugly pushed up to the tables for seating. Meeku and three male lions named Kenya, Zuri, and Badru had constructed the ceremonial stage flawlessly. Queen Saharrah had her lionesses cover the edges with baskets full of jungle flowers, filling the air with a sweet and calming aroma.
Everything was incredibly elegant, Saharrah thought contentedly. Lioness Anola and her team had been cooking since the night before, preparing a roasted zebra dish for the guests along with a vegetarian option for herbivores. They also made a fish dip with baked bread for the appetizer and sweet passion fruit pies for dessert. As Saharrah inspected every detail of the ceremony's decor and was satisfied with the preparations, she left to her tent to dress for the evening's festivities. For weeks now, animals had been using the knowledge they had gained to either buy clothes from the traveling merchant or make their own. The queen, who was not skilled in sewing, had purchased a beautiful outfit from the mysterious trader a week ago.
Saharrah was thrilled to finally wear it. She put on a light blue gown and draped a white fur robe made from goat hair over her shoulders. The fur was soft to the touch and surprisingly did not have a musky smell. Queen Saharrah wore a diamond necklace, which her son Meeku had made for her during his travels with Zarda. He had collected fine jewels and saved them for special occasions like this. Saharrah placed a wooden crown on her long gray hair and looked stunning. She gazed at herself in a mirror that Meeku had also made for her, crafted from melted silver and stone. She was proud of both her sons; one a great leader, the other a talented and wise young lion. A tap on the tent flap caught her attention suddenly.
"Enter," the queen said.
Zarda pushed the flap aside with his staff and entered her living quarters. She thought he was handsome - tall, lean, and impeccably dressed. His white mane was thick and pure, with golden beads braided into his hair. His eyes sparkled in the flickering light of the torches. The queen admired her son in his newly crafted armor, made by Meeku for the warriors. Zarda was the first to receive the original edition - silver metal armor with their pride's crest engraved on the chest plate. Underneath, he wore an airy padded shirt called an aketon, and leather pants made from old sharkskin. His brother had even made him a leather strap to sheath his staff and sword.
"You look beautiful," Zarda said, to which his mother responded with a loving smile.
"Look who's talking. My, my, me. I had no idea I had such a handsome son," she replied.
Zarda laughed in response. "No idea? Where have you been all my life? Hiding in the darkness? How could you not know I've always looked this good," he said playfully.
"I'm just kidding. You look so much like your father. If he were here right now, I know how proud he would be. It pains me to think two individuals who took his life will possibly be here tonight," said the queen.
"Yet I must forgive them so I may have peace in my heart, but then again the reality of the pain angers me deep down."
She turned her back to Zarda and took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly with a tear.
" I need strength my son, I hope I don't take out my vengeance in front of everyone." She said, wiping away her falling tears.
Zarda walked up behind his mother, gently grabbing her arms. "Elohim is with you, and so am I." He replied.
She turned her head to the side and looked back at him with sad eyes. "Please, don't start with that. You know how I feel on that subject." Said the queen.
"I hope after tonight, you find favor for the creator again, as you once did. We need his protection." Replied Zarda.
"It may require more than favor to prove his protection is real for me," she responded.
Zarda was disheartened and released his mother's arms. He had a strong bond with the creator. It pained him to see her reject him. Zarda headed back to the front flaps of the tent. Before leaving, he glanced back at her.
"A son can only hope for that miracle," he remarked, before exiting.
A loud kudu horn sounded outside her tent, indicating the arrival of guests. The queen emerged into the bright sun light and went to welcome them. The members of her pride had finished their preparations and gone to get ready for the evening. Queen Saharrah observed her two sons standing together, ready for the kingdom's event. She calmly joined her youngest son, Meeku, by his side.
"Good day, mother," Meeku greeted, flashing a charming smile.
He was a handsome lion, clad similarly to his brother as they represented the White mane lion pride. More warriors would soon join them, forming two lines to create a path between them. Slash stood beside Zarda, while Razor was next to the queen, and so on down the line. One by one, each member of the Animal Kingdom made their entrance on foot or in wheeled carriages, some using beasts of the field purchased from a traveling trader. This trader, always shrouded in mystery with a white mask and linen scarf covering his face, was known for acquiring unique items and had earned a good reputation among the tribes. The Warthogs from clan Hog Hill arrived first, exchanging greetings with the White mane lion pride. Purk and Zarda, close friends, shared a special moment as they tapped their staffs together, creating a burst of energy. As they felt the pulsating energy, Purk moved back towards his bride, accidentally zapping her with the electrifying charge."
"Ouch," Hazel exclaimed as Purk looked at her with confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Your hand zapped me," Hazel replied.
Purk grunted, followed by a giggle. "I guess the energy from my staff got you. I'm sorry, my love," Purk apologized.
Accompanied by tribute Roz and Purk's mother Torlia, Purk and his bride Hazel were joined by King Mapoza of the Cheetah Coalition and his queen Jemila, along with their sons Dimitar and Wazingu. Queen Saharrah admired the diversity among the kingdoms, noting the different crests on the male's armor. Each clan had its own unique representation, from Hog Hill's dark brown armor with a white warthog face to the cheetahs' black and yellow spotted circle. The females all wore beautiful royal gowns, adding to the colorful display of attire at the gathering. There were a couple of Kings who attended the event without their queens by their side, as they had passed away years ago. Usian of Giza, known as the owl king, and king Morbius of the wildebeest were among them. Despite their loss, they both brought their companions to the event- Usian brought his pupils Iniko, Indy, and Owlistare, while Morbius gathered his beasts Ramello, Ontrel, and Fidge. Each ruler proudly represented their kingdom with elegance.
The owls were adorned in shimmering cherry red armor, with a symbol of a black owl face carved on their chests. Usian's most treasured possession was his ring, a gift of foresight from Elohim. Morbius, on the other hand, carried his bow and arrow on his back, with his beasts dressed in dark purple armor decorated with a silver wildebeest symbol on the chest plate. Queen Saharrah was intrigued by the unique design worn by both. She proceeded to welcome their guests one by one. The rhinos, hippos, and giraffes arrived simultaneously, followed by the meerkats, bullfrogs, and leopards. The gazelle and water buffaloes came shortly after, with trotting zebras not far behind. The Eagle king and his queen, Olivian, flew in, followed by the baboons.
The Plain tiger butterflies fluttered in next to the gorillas, with King Shani, the whale shark, and his sons entering happily. They were accompanied by their guardian Zyreh. Everyone was excited to see their friends so soon. Even Wazingu left his conversation with Matiti and Mazunga to greet the gentle giant and his company.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake as King Mosiya, his queen Ajanta, and their trustees Salim and Bram arrived in a grand parade, trumpeting their arrival. King Mosiya was always a lively presence and knew how to dress for any occasion. He proudly wore his shiny silver armor, spear in hand, and draped over his armor was a red fur robe made from bear skin and dyed in Indian Holi powder, as told by a traveling trader. The King's armor bore his crest of two elephant tusks and a trunk, representing the Mawombie parade tribe. He stood tall among the guests, who were mingling and gawking at the majestic elephant king. Without delay Queen Saharrah's warriors ushered the guests into the coronation arena, where they found seats with their clans and friends in the curved benches surrounding the platform. As they awaited the arrival of more Kingdoms, they engaged in conversation with each other.
Queen Saharrah instructed her lionesses to take their places in the arena and her warriors to guard the ceremonial stage. Except for four warriors who stayed behind with her and her two sons. Wazingu, lingering with his friends, kindly offered to help at the gate. Queen Saharrah accepted Wazingu's offer as they waited for the remaining four groups to arrive. Time passed, and the dust settled from the travel of the other kingdoms. The queen was secretly relieved not to see the remaining groups, perhaps her wish had come true. As the sun sank lower towards the horizon, indicating the imminent darkness, everyone readied themselves for the upcoming full moon celebration.
"I spy a figure in the distance," Zarda pointed out.
Looking out at the same direction, "I see it as well," Meeku confirmed.
All attention shifted to the dark shapes approaching on the horizon, their outlines becoming clearer against the backdrop of the orange sunset. As they drew closer, it became evident that they were riding chariots. Only one kingdom was known for such extravagant phaeton - ruled by the Nile crocodiles. Zarda's speculation was proven right as King Sefu made his way towards them, adorned with lavish jewels. He nonchalantly waved as he passed by the prince, the queen, and her warriors, all in awe of his impressive array of ornaments. King Sefu was famous for his extravagant flair, always seen with his dazzling jewels. He wore a tall golden crown on his scaly head, with his Trident by his side. He had a beaded collar and scarab beetle necklaces around his neck, along with gold arm bands on his thick biceps. His ab's were bare, his hips covered only by a thin white shendot held in place by a leather belt. The shendot was so sheer that everything underneath, including his manhood, was visible. Beside him in the chariot stood his queen, Eisha, a dark green crocodile with yellow eyes. She wore a dangling diamond beaded crown, a sheer black mask over her short snout, and golden chains on her cleavage. Her attire, like his, revealed much of her figure.
In the second chariot behind them were their children, Sobek and Anut. Anut, resembling her mother, had long black hair, a diamond band on her forehead, and a tight-fitting outfit that displayed her hourglass shape. Sobek, resembling his father, had a similar attire with his own unique features. Their appearances reflected their proud Egyptian heritage. The Crocodile kingdom was filled with vain and materialistic creatures, as evidenced by their appearance. Anut, like her mother, wore a revealing outfit consisting of a thin white halter top and a long white and gold trimmed skirt that split down the sides. Her skin, like her father and brother's, was a light green shade. As they entered the arena, the crocodiles looked like statues in their opulent attire. They, too, shared the eerie yellow eyes like queen Eisha. Sobek opted for a more subtle attire, wearing a black shandot with minimal jewelry. He sported only golden wrist cuffs and a single crocodile tooth necklace that hung over his muscular chest. Along with His belt was adorned with golden beads. As the crocodiles entered the arena, they quickly took their seats. Queen Saharrah watched as they moved inside. The queen waited a few more moments before starting the opening ceremony.
Understanding the time Zarda dismissed some attendants and warriors to assist his mother, while keeping his brother and fellow warrior close by. Zarda stood waiting with anticipation of the remaining guest, but there was no sign of the African wild dogs or hyenas; they were either not coming or had gotten lost. Soon, Zarda would have to leave for the ceremony as his mother had decided to start. Despite not being in a rush, he listened carefully for his name during the introductions welcoming the guests and long speeches about their kingdom's history. However, something in the distance caught his attention. Another shadow appeared on the darkening horizon, causing all three lions to squint and try to make out who it was. As the figures became clearer, it became apparent that it was the Black mane lion pride, approaching on foot. Zarda could recognize King Jarvius and Queen Lilith, but the other two were unfamiliar to him. His heart raced with anticipation as he waited to see Queen Lilith for the first time in a long while. Despite trying to remain calm and polite, he couldn't shake the negative thoughts swirling in his mind about how they might react. Would they come in peace or cause chaos from the start? Zarda didn't have an answer, but he knew he would find out soon enough.
Meeku asked, "Who else did the King bring? I can't recognize them."
Zarda replied, "I don't know, they're still too far away."
They patiently waited for the newcomers to approach. The members of the Black mane pride finally arrived, offering warm greetings to the prince and warriors. This unexpected kindness was suspicious and shocking to witness. Zarda felt relieved and responded graciously, thinking to himself that perhaps they had changed. King Jarvius, now old and leaning on his Trident like a crutch, did not seem to pose any threat. However, his queen remained untrustworthy, with her evil demeanor and questionable smile. The lion queen remained silent, keeping her arms folded as she walked past towards the ceremony area. Queen Lilith walked alongside their warrior, Tatsuki, ignoring the others. King Jarvius stopped near to stand by Zarda as he looked towards Lilith and Tatsuki as they walked away from his side. All that was left behind, sticking close by him was their daughter, Natia. Jarvius's gaze followed his queen's slender figure and long tail all the way to her seat. He then turned his attention to the puzzled young prince. The king grinned widely at Zarda, causing a brief, awkward pause before he began to speak.
"It feels like just yesterday when your father and I were playing in elephant dung, before we got married and became kings ourselves. You bear a striking resemblance to him. I believe... yes, I believe you do," Jarvius said, struggling to find the right words.
"Never mind," he added quickly.
"Please, allow me to introduce my daughter, Natia," the king finished, He reached around his daughter's arm and pulled her in tight to his side.
Zarda glanced over at Meeku and Slash, who looked just as confused as he felt.
"His, daughter!" he thought to himself.
With great care, he made sure to keep his thoughts hidden as he smiled and bowed his head to her. Her sparkling blue eyes and captivating smile had a way of melting him. She was truly a stunning sight, with a feminine face framed by long, white hair. While her skin was black like her father's, her chest and stomach were a pale beige that closely resembled her mother's complexion. Zarda couldn't help but let his gaze linger on her as he admired her curves in all the right places. Her outfit was modest, with a bright fuchsia wrap covering her top and a delicate gold necklace resting perfectly on her chest. Something inside him stirred as he looked at her, a feeling he had never experienced before. He found himself wishing he could be the necklace adorning her. As his eyes traveled down her tiny waist, past her lovely hips, and onto her long, lean legs, he couldn't deny that she was a very attractive and well-built lioness. Unlike the others in his pride, Natia seemed to stand out in every way. His heart raced and his palms sweated as he couldn't help but be captivated by her presence. Meeku noticed the uncomfortable silence and nudged his brother with a sharp elbow. Zarda snapped out of his daze and quickly apologized. Natia blushed and looked down at the ground.
"No need to apologize, Zarda. My daughter Natia is a stunning lioness. Her mother and I are very proud. I would react the same if I were in your shoes," he said.
Jarvius shifted closer, causing the warriors to tense up. The old king intervened.
"If I may, I'd like to speak with you after the coronation," the old king said.
Zarda eyed the king warily. "Of course, as long as my brother and our warrior are able to join us," Zarda replied.
" No, not at all. Natia can join us too, if that's okay with you?" Asked the King in response.
Zarda nodded his head yes, looking over at the timid Natia, staring off at the kingdoms' decor. Off to the side Zarda heard his name being called out, it was his mother, queen Saharrah from the platform. She was now introducing him to the stage. It was time he embarked on his new chapter in life. He left immediately to go become the new king.
"If you'll excuse me, I must go now," he said.
Zarda quickly left them at once, they, too, followed speedily after him, finding a seat nearby to watch the ceremonies proceedings. All eyes were drawn to the stage, watching Zarda as he approached.