Trumpeting Blast
In the middle of the night, the Savannah was eerily quiet. There were no birds chirping, no signs of life. Slash now, fast asleep, was cradled by the peaceful night surrounding him. Under the protection of King Mosiya's kingdom, everyone slumbered undisturbed. The individuals' minds were consumed by dreams of flames and metal. Forging of pure steel, bending and breaking of working tools. each minute filled with wonderous tomorrows. The time of night crept by, and daylight stood ready to return through the gates. As the sun rose, signaling daybreak, King Mosiya trumpeted loudly to summon the recruits. The noise startled all who were still a sleep. The morning greeted them with a lovely, sunny warmth, providing a refreshing contrast to the biting cold of the previous night on the Savannah.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, I will be giving you a tour of my kingdom's estate. I have tasks prepared for our work today. We will start at the blacksmith quarters and then proceed to the smelting station if necessary. Our first challenge is to determine who excels at forging. Those who pass will be given roles in that area. Those who do not pass will be reassigned to the smelting conveyor belt. Please follow me," said the king.
Slash eagerly anticipated receiving the forging materials as he had developed a passion for creating things from the ground up. As a lion, he had never possessed such extraordinary talents. Despite being a fierce warrior, Slash had never realized his full potential until he began working with the earth's provisions. Meeku, too, had never expected such a profound calling in his life. It felt as though the universe was urging him to create. Every time they engaged in hands-on work, they experienced a profound bond with the earth. Focusing back on leader Mosiya, during the tour, the group stayed close together as they followed along. The new recruits were eager to prove themselves and earn a spot on the team. Meanwhile, life outside of the forge carried on as usual, with the Savannah supplying materials for the forger's needs. Over the next weeks, King Mosiya took the recruits under his guidance, teaching them faster and more efficient techniques for forging weapons. He was thrilled to share his knowledge and passion with the enthusiastic students. Meeku and Slash were both willing to be successful in handling excelling, every day task assigned to them. They would prove themselves worthy and skilled beyond others with metal and fire.
"Come with me, both of you. I have a unique workspace set up for you. I'm pleased that Zarda selected you for this mission; I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear about your dedicated efforts," Mosiya said.
In One's Embrace
The aroma of fresh intimacy hung in the room as Zarda and Natia embraced each other. Natia rested her arm across Zarda's hard abdomen, her leg draped over his warm groin. Zarda's left hand clenched tightly around her thigh, while his right arm was outstretched underneath his lover. They were fast asleep in his bed. Sunlight filtered in through the small window, gradually moving towards the bed. It crept up their bodies, finally resting on their closed eyelids. Zarda stirred, opening his eyes slowly. Almost forgetting Natia was still nestled in his arms, he gently kissed the top of her head, rousing her from her peaceful sleep. She smiled up at him with her beautiful blue eyes, wrapping her arm tighter around his stomach. Zarda pulled her close to him, their bodies pressed together as he kissed her softly. He pressed firmly into her for the sweet embrace. With a sense of obligation to attend their monthly training, she pushed away and stood to her feet. Natia's long hair swept over his chiseled chest as she left it. Zarda watched her intently, tracing the curves of her perfect breast and hardened nipples. Feeling bashful, she quickly searched the floor for her clothes and got dressed. As she finished placing the last piece of clothing on, he pulled her back into his arms for one more kiss. She savored the moment before pulling away once more.
"If we don't put an end to this, we will be stuck in this room indefinitely. Unfortunately, it's time to begin our training session, my king. Everyone is aware of the recent physical encounters and the mistakes from last night. We can't stay hidden in your hut forever. Let's face it head on. I promise to go easy on you this time in training," she said with a Suttle laugh.
Zarda promptly responded, "To clarify, last night was not a mistake. And soon enough, you'll be asking me to go easy on you during training."
Zarda mimicked her laughter before sitting up and turning to the edge of the bed. Standing tall and confident, Natia couldn't help but admire his physique. She thought he was absolutely stunning, almost God-like rather than just a king. Zarda then made his way to the water basin to freshen up before heading to his bathing tub. Meanwhile, Natia had already left the room and was on her way to join the warriors practicing battle attacks. Zarda arrived late to his own project, having begun it after meeting with the tribe leaders. Mazunga and Wazingu sat patiently on the side, watching their friend Matiti practice first. Zarda glanced at the pride members working in various areas - some wrestling, others shooting, and a few running the agility course. Matiti had been diligently honing his sword skills on a wooden dummy. Kenya and Anola were navigating the agility course, while Keeku and Raya were equipped with archery gear. Each lion had their designated role and worked diligently in their respective tasks.
A few minutes later, Zarda noticed Razor and the old queen, Saharrah, approaching to join the group. They appeared to have been engrossed in a serious conversation. Zarda observed his mother's somber expression and then turned his attention back to Natia. Natia had moved closer to Zarda, idly twirling a javelin in her hand while avoiding the stares of the onlookers. The atmosphere was vastly different than it had been just days before, with a sense of calm and euphoria evident on their faces. It was peculiar how they were in such close proximity yet refrained from using their weapons against each other, leading others to find their behavior suspicious. Saharrah was pleased with the peaceful interaction between Zarda and Natia, happy to see them getting along versus biting each other's heads off. She took her place beside her son, Razor stood next to the old queen, while Matiti finished his sword exercise. Mazunga and Wazingu worked on their bow skills nearby. Each one side by side of one another. The two young lions were missing their mentors. Slash and Meeku, would not be joining this time, as they were off working for king Mosiya. Zarda eagerly grabbed his sword and staff, practicing his attack on a dummy filled with hay. Sparks of purple electricity sputtered, but nothing too grand. He still required more practice time. As Zarda diligently honed his skills, Warrior Razor and Saharrah conversed and exchanged the latest information they had gathered. Razor mentioned the ongoing narc issue and the worries surrounding the pale people.
"Did you hear? The traveling trader has died. The giraffes reported that he slipped into the watering hole and drowned overnight." He informed her.
Saharrah gasped in surprise, and the lions nearby were equally shocked. Saharrah had not expected that to happen. The information left many feeling dismayed. Natia had now joined the conversation.
She inquired, "Did he die from drowning accidentally, or was he deliberately drowned by someone?"
Razor shook his head from side to side, feeling uncertain. He said, "The only thing I can say with certainty is that the trader was an animal. According to reports, he was identified as a fennec fox from the Sahara Desert.'"
Zarda listened attentively as he practiced. He was confident in his assessment that the traveling merchant was not a spy. Zarda believed that the animals would not betray each other, as it would ultimately harm their own kingdom. He found it odd that a desert animal would travel so far from home and disguise itself in their lands. He aggressively shoved his weapon toward the dummy and then spoke loudly so everyone could hear him.
"So, now we can stop blaming the poor trader of nark characteristics. As far as the pale people, what news on their case?" asked Zarda.
Razor lifted his shoulders in a shrug before grabbing a spear. Mazunga nudged Wazingu to share the information he possessed. Setting his bow aside, Mazunga joined the small group. He walked over to Zarda and spoke up.
"I had a conversation with Tribute Haze from Hog Hill Clan, and he mentioned that there were rumors circulating about the hyenas causing trouble in the kingdoms. The African wild dogs are particularly upset with them. They suspect that the hyenas attracted the pale people to their territory, resulting in the disappearance of their pack members," he explained.
Zarda scratched his chin and considered the news before responding. "Did they engage in a battle against one another?" inquired Zarda.
"My king, they haven't yet, but there's always a chance. The world is in chaos. How do we handle it?" He inquired.
Zarda responded, "Why do you think we are training? We must defend our honor and stay vigilant. If a war breaks out, we must intervene. Fighting could attract unwanted attention and lead to more casualties for us all. We may not be able to stop everything out of fear, but we can strive to be peacemakers and halt the cycle of violence."
All were in unanimous agreement that it was the correct course of action. He quickly inserted, "If only we had more warriors to raise up."
Saharrah pursed her lips, before speaking confidently. "We require a King to have descendants. You hold the power to expand our numbers. Provide me with royal offspring to nurture and educate. Seek out a queen and formalize the union." stated the elder queen.
Zarda blushed, having already accomplished the task. He wasn't prepared to reveal the news to anyone else just yet. Many he assumed had guessed but were unsure. The majority of the time, others saw the two of them fighting rather than showing affection. Zarda's concentration wavered. He halted his training and took a break. The king permitted other warriors to attempt the task. Calmly approaching his wise mother, he stood next to her silently facing the warriors. He felt her gaze upon him, trying to decipher his emotions. Saharrah could always tell how he was feeling without needing to ask, but she was ready to inquire if necessary. Natia also came over and joined them, standing silently by their side. The three of them found a secluded spot to stand together, exchanging knowing looks.
The queen then leaned in close to Zarda. "Tell me, my son, has Natia become the new Queen? Did you secure the arrangement last night? Can I expect grand cubs soon, I pray?" She whispered quietly.
Zarda blushed once more and let out a humorous giggle. In an attempt to steer the conversation, he sarcastically asked, "Hold on. You actually prayed again?"
The old queen not amused. Slapped at his arm playfully. Before she could reply, Zarda quickly spoke up again.
"I suppose I will no longer keep any secrets. It's time you knew the truth. And I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that Natia is officially my queen. Well, that's only, if she decides to have me as her king." he inquired softly, leaning closer to her.
Natia listened to his words and gazed into his golden eyes. She found it impossible to resist him. With a nod, she agreed to be his queen. He felt overjoyed and wanted to pull her into his arms for a kiss, but he held back as he needed to wait to share the exciting news. Instead, Saharrah embraced them both.
" Oh, that's fantastic! Please go and make me some grand cubs. I am eagerly anticipating their arrival," exclaimed Saharrah in a playful manner.
Zarda lifted an eyebrow at his mother, signaling that he wasn't rushed to complete the task. He preferred to let it unfold naturally in its own time. Still, the idea of being back in his lover's embrace wasn't unwelcomed idea.