Forged in Fire
The Earth is a realm filled with limitless wonders. It has the ability to turn common rocks into stunning gems and supplies us with vital minerals for our everyday requirements. Additionally, the planet experiences natural cycles of heating and cooling over time. Essentially, the Earth is a bountiful entity, reminiscent of a divine presence.
The intense heat was relieved by the refreshing breeze that blew through the day. Meeku and Slash endured the worst of it as they walked across the open plains. Meeku's shirt was soaked with sweat, prompting him to pause and take it off for a moment.
"Take a look at this," Meeku said, twisting his shirt.
Sweat streamed down Slash's face as he shook the liquid off his head in frustration. On the other hand, it glistened off Meeku, he had developed a lovely tan, a natural result of laboring in the sun day after day. Overwhelmed by the intense heat, Slash could sense himself beginning to overheat.
The old warrior asked, "Do you remember the Savannah ever being this hot Meeku?" Meeku thought about his question without responding.
Slash continued with his questioning, "I recall, I used to cool myself when we lived in our old lion bodies, easily. Do you think our new bodies are the reason we can't handle the heat now? Or is it just me in my old age?"
Meeku came to understand that it wasn't a slash at all, but a response from their human forms. Historically, ancient lion bodies relied on fur to protect themselves from the intense heat of the sun, using panting rhythms to swiftly dissipate any increase in temperature. Their bodies now only leaked fluids, acting like melting butter. acclimating to their new forms was proving surprisingly challenging. Slash attempted a new approach by pouring cool liquid from his animal water skin onto his neck and back. Surprisingly, it seemed to be helping, at least temporarily. Fortunately, they could see the elephant territory in the distance, with only a mile or two left to go. Leaders from all eleven kingdoms summoned the finest blacksmiths to participate in the Mawombie parade at the request of the elephant king. Zarda reassured his brother that King Mosiya would be ready and expecting their arrival. As they approached the kingdom, they noticed that the elephant's lands were encircled by formidable, fortified steel walls for their defense and safety.
Meeku halted and gazed in awe. This was like nothing he had ever seen. The gleaming metal fortress loomed before him, a formidable sight. On the other hand, Slash wasn't fazed - he remembered it clearly from when he and his group had delivered the invitations months ago. He was already familiar with the grandeur of the fortress. The gate, made of robust steel bars, was heavily guarded by King Mosiya's loyal sentinels, both of whom Slash recognized from their previous encounter.
"Allow me to speak with the trustees. They will recognize me," Slash said to Meeku.
The creature with large ears approached Slash, extending his hand for a shake and leaning in for a warm hug. His robust belly jiggled as he moved. It was Trustee Taj who so graciously welcomed Slash.
With a large smile Taj inquired, "It's nice to see you again warrior Slash. How are the rest of our comrades?"
"Everyone is doing well, settled back at home. I am here with Meeku, King Zarda's younger brother, to work as blacksmiths," Slash stated.
"Oh, that's right. We've been expecting you all. Welcome, come on in, friend." Taj said.
The elephant moved aside and gestured for them to enter. As they passed by, Slash greeted trustee Bram with a hello. The elephant court had a massive open space at its center. The first thing that caught the eye was the impressively large Quiver tree standing in the middle. On the right front side, there were numerous elephants sleeping huts surrounded by fresh gardens. To the front left side, there was a target practice arena where elephant trustees were seen honing their skills. Far behind the arena, the lions could spot the blacksmith shop where the elephants spent most of their day working. Towards the middle back, past the tree, was the king's sleeping quarters. Finally, In the back right corner, there was a melting system and conveyor belt with chained hooks. The conveyor belt was moving through a large round opening in the steel wall, their destination unknown to the lions for now. Sitting beneath the tree was King Mosiya with a broad grin on his face. His laughter echoed with joy as he clapped his hands together and then opened them, welcoming each lion.
"Welcome to the Mawombie parade! This month will be filled with excitement as we forge weapons in mass production. The idea of crafting them by hand, knowing they will protect our kingdoms, is thrilling. Are you both hungry? or perhaps thirsty? Silly me, you're probably both. Come inside my hut, The queen's ellies have prepared dinner for everyone. I will stay out here and watch for others to arrive. You can go on in," Mosiya said.
Both lions wasted no time entering the room. The warmth of the heat pushed them forward. They eagerly entered to quench their thirst and cool down their overheated bodies. Inside, they discovered Queen Ajanta sitting at a formal table setting, patiently waiting. The regal queen looked beautiful in her elegant white evening gown and wore a stunning crown of white daisies on her head. Her face lit up with joy as she greeted her guests warmly.
"Hello there! Please take a seat next to me. You two are the first guests to arrive. I hope you lions like slug and rice casserole- it's my favorite dish. I asked my ellies to prepare it for tonight, along with some delicious plantain kola nut pies." She mentioned.
They were delighted as their mouths watered, but first they quenched their thirst with a quick sip of water.
"Truth be told, we've never tried it before, and we're quite parched after a long day of walking," said Slash politely.
Queen Ajanta fully comprehended the situation, with her ellie servants close at hand. Upon hearing the lion's request for water, they promptly filled the guests' cups with the refreshing liquid.
"Thank you so much Queen Ajanta." They both said.
"Thank you Ellies, that will do. There you both go. That's better, isn't it?" inquired the queen.
Both of ellies nodded in agreement as they quickly drank their beverages to the very last sip. They downed the cool, refreshing liquid in record time, emptying their cups. The elephants promptly refilled their glasses, ensuring they remained full throughout the evening. As time went by, two additional blacksmiths arrived. Ajanta warmly welcomed both of them from the dining table. As she gazed at the newcomers, she recognized them as the cheetah elites from the cheetah coalition. One of them, warrior Slash was familiar with, but the other one he couldn't place. Before the familiar warrior could introduce himself, Queen Ajanta graciously invited them to join them at the table.
"Welcome, cheetah coalition, to the Mawombie parade. Feel free to take a seat wherever you please. Could you kindly introduce yourselves? I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before," Ajanta said.
The Queen saved the day, as Slash quietly pondering whether he had ever met him or not. The leader out of the two, spoke up in response.
"I am elite Jafari, and this is my cousin Elite Bakari, the newest member of our coalition." He announced.
When Dimitar ascended to his kingly position, his best warrior was promoted to his old rank. Slash was happy to see it, but he didn't recognize the newcomer's name. He wondered if Bakari had replaced Wazingu when he left. Slash had the whole evening to ask and find out. They had engaging conversations that lasted hours and filled the room. Before it was realized by all, hours had rolled by, and the room was filling up. The room was crowded with a diverse group of blacksmiths. King Shani had sent his two blacksmith guardians, Manunui and Ekewaka. King Jarvius had warriors Zawadi and Wick in attendance. The Eagle King's Eagolians, Slate and Riptide, also joined the gathering. Leader Kiama's finest blacksmiths, Zebo's Korfa and Siyanda, were present. Herdsmen Thayne and Senzo represented the two water buffalo blacksmiths. King Ghakarhi's champions, Bonobo and Ghost, made an appearance. From the Hog Hill clan, King Purk's two brothers and newest tributes, Tusk and Crank, arrived. The rhino stewards Bazam and Lazeer arrived last. King Mosiya personally escorted them inside. All the guests were enjoying the delicious meal prepared for them. The King sitting at the head of the table raised his cup, signaling for everyone's attention.
"Thank you once again for joining us to create these much-needed weapons for our kingdoms. We are all in urgent need of them. Tomorrow morning, we will show you where you will be working for the next month. After dinner, Queen Ajanta will guide you to the huts where you will stay. Each tribe will have their own bunk. Once the weapons are made, the pale people will come, as King Tambo knows all too well. Enjoy your desserts and then it's time for bed as tomorrow will be a busy day. I will wake you up at sunrise." Mosiya said.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the moon began its ascent, accompanied by shooting stars streaking across the sky. Birds sang their final melodies of the day, while crickets emerged to fill the night with their gentle lullabies. The creatures of the Savannah settled down for the night, ushering in another peaceful evening. The Queen had completed showing everyone to their rooms for the night, where they would stay for the next month or so. Meeku and Slash surveyed their new abode. The spacious hut featured walls made of thatched straw on the inside and dried clay on the outside. Two windows flanked either side of the square room. Along the left wall, two large beds were positioned in opposite corners. Constructed from iron bars and wool strings, the beds had an interwoven design that created a hammock-like structure to support the bedding. The mattresses were padded with soft wool and ostrich feathers, inviting comfort. Meeku sat down on his bed and felt the remarkable softness, as though he were resting on a cloud. The sturdy metal frame held everything securely in place. Each bed was adorned with a cover and a soft pillow for their use. Meanwhile, Slash continued to examine the room, discovering a cozy table with two chairs, a cupboard for storage, a rug, and a bathing basin for washing up.
The room was pleasant and inviting. They were glad to be sharing it together, rather than with members of other kingdoms. Adjusting to life as roommates with those of a similar background was difficult enough, but navigating the dynamics with someone from a different hybrid species could present its own challenges. They both seemed to settle in well to their new surroundings. Meeku's mind flooded with anticipation. He was ready to get the creative process going. Mosiya was going to teach them all the skill of weapon forging. Meeku settled back more comfortably on his bed and shut his eyes. After washing up in the cool basin water, Slash made his way to his own bed. He took his time getting used to the elevated mattress, realizing that relaxing a bit made it easier to sink into the spacious bed. With a calm demeanor, he reclined and glanced over at his roommate, who was now sound asleep.