When it Rains, It Floods
The Savannah sky was filled with ominous thunderclouds, rumbling and casting a dark red hue with shades of burnt orange over the landscape. It felt like a scene of blood and fire, a truly eerie disturbance. The animals in the area had never encountered a storm like this before, feeling the ground tremble beneath them as the earth grew dark and silent. Zarda, in particular, sensed that something was not right. It was not the rainy season yet, but the dark clouds rolled in, emitting a frightening emotion. His mane began to stand on end and his skin tingled with unease.
Zarda asked, "Master, what is wrong? Why do I sense your presence so strongly in this place?"
" Murder has occurred, and I am here to address the issue of innocent blood being shed. The entire Savannah is listening to my words as I call out the perpetrator. You know who you are, and you have taken four lives unjustly, violating the treaty. Today's actions will serve as a lesson for all kingdoms on what not to do. Despite my previous warnings, it seems stronger measures are needed. King Tambo, I summon you. You have wrongfully killed a fellow king and his pack, acting on false assumptions. It was not them who betrayed you to the pale people, but members of your own kind. Your carelessness led to the exposure of your pack, causing chaos and fear among the people. The pale people are now watching closely, intrigued by the conflict you have created. You have brought destruction upon your own camp and the entire Savannah. You must face consequences greater than losing your pups. Release your power and step back, or face severe punishment from me, the creator." Said the Elohim, intensely.
King Tambo was deeply disturbed. Following the creator's instructions, he tossed his Trident to the ground and quickly stepped back. He witnessed as fire descended and devoured the Trident, causing it to liquefy under the extreme heat. The liquid disappeared into the earth shortly after, and a powerful shock wave erupted from the spot, knocking everyone nearby to the ground. The force of the blast was so intense that King Tambo was thrown off his feet, hitting his head upon impact with the ground and losing consciousness briefly. While many others were also unable to stand, none would experience the embarrassment that King Tambo was about to face. Upon waking, he was greeted with a throbbing headache and aching body. He felt diminished, no longer feeling as strong as he had before. His body had reverted to its original state, and he found himself back on all fours. His pack gazed down at him with wide eyes filled with shock and fear. The small group of soldiers who had assisted the king had also transformed back into feral dogs. Acting on instinct, they hurried to their king, frantically sniffing for any signs of injury. With ears pressed back and tails tucked beneath them, they communicated telepathically only with each other, no longer able to connect with the rest of the standing pack. Cast out and cursed, they were condemned to wander the earth in solitude.
Queen Helvalyn was in despair, her tear-filled orange eyes overflowing as they streamed down her cheeks. Soft cries escaped her lips as her legs gave out, forcing her to fall onto her calves. She reached out to touch King Tambo but pulled back when she saw his feral and fierce expression, baring his teeth and snarling. Knowing the danger of a possible bite, she quickly pushed away and sought safety among the remaining soldiers. Diji, Chaga, Sprint, Jabu, and tambo came together in a circle, chattering in high-pitched voices before bolting off into the plains as a group. Queen Helvalyn glanced at her regal husband one final time. Left all alone, vulnerable, burdened with ruling a fractured kingdom, her sorrow morphed into rage. She seethed with fury over the king's costly choice that had led to their pack's downfall. From that moment on, her once warm heart turned cold and callous. The Hendris pack would press on come sunrise. Zarda focused intently, doing his best to hear over the hushed tension in the air, as visibility was limited from their position. He was anxious to discover the fate of the African wild dogs. There was no need to call for his warriors; they were already close by, sharing in his anxious anticipation. Matiti drew near, worry etched on his face.
"Your majesty, what is our next course of action?" he inquired with a tremble of fear.
Without speaking, Zarda listened for the creator and then turned to meet the young lion's gaze without responding.
Matiti stared at his leader with worried eyes. He decided to speak out when Zarda remained silent. "Do you think we should be worried?" Matiti inquired.
Zarda responded, "There is no need to fear. If the master wanted us to know about it, then it must be important for us too. Perhaps the entire Savannah was meant to be aware of the situation. What we truly need now are answers from the highest."
Zarda sought clarity, aware of the murder committed by King Tambo but uncertain of the victim and fate of the king and his pack. He questioned why the entire Savannah had to suffer for one ruler's wrongdoing. With unanswered questions swirling, Zarda prayed for guidance, but his master remained silent, his anger casting a shadow over the pride. Disturbed and resentful, Zarda watched as the sky darkened and the vibrant colors of the earth faded to grayscale, the land reflecting shame due to the violent actions of a single kingdom. Several weeks had passed, and the skies of Savannah were still obscured by ominous grey storm clouds. Thunder rumbled from the heavens above, signaling that a powerful storm was on the horizon.On a foreboding afternoon, the overcast skies suddenly burst open, unleashing a massive deluge of rain upon the earth. The frigid rain fell heavily like spears, causing confusion to mount as the master remained silent in response to Zarda. Some of the animal Kingdoms were starting to lose hope.
Elohim continued sending down more curses, bringing bitter cold and unbearable pain. Day by day, the endless waters kept coming, filling up the earth until it could no longer absorb them quickly enough, leading to the formation of floodwaters. Elohim directed his wrath towards all of his creation, affecting not only the animals but also the humans in Africa. The disobedience of a vengeful king would lead to many deaths. Several days just before, Zarda had relocated his family from the jungle to Mount Sabyinyo. His instincts had prompted this move, as the high elevation of the mountain protected them from the raging waters below. More kingdoms from across the lands followed up to the mountain. King Mosiya and his parade carefully carried their belongings, making sure not to forget the weapons the recruits had quickly forged. Although it wasn't the original quantity planned, it was enough for security. On the positive side, Meeku and Slash were finally reunited with their family.
The presence of death loomed all around, creating a painfully gloomy atmosphere. Despite the occasion, Zarda remained steadfast in his prayers, but they remained unanswered. The master was demonstrating his justice, ensuring that all the Kingdoms understood the gravity of the treaty. He wanted his power to be feared and revered. It saddened the creator that judgement had to be passed on his creation. Even among all his anger, He decided not to destroy everything, but only enough to make his intentions crystal clear. He would not tolerate disrespect. Obedience was to be regarded as a blessing to be remembered. Regrettably, many people and animals were carried away by the floodwaters. Not all perished as the creator had intended, leaving a few survivors to carry on. Meanwhile, the mountain was being covered by various kingdoms and clans, with even local villagers seeking refuge in its mighty safety. The remaining wild beasts also sought shelter on the mountain. Unfortunately, King Tambo and his pack were not so fortunate. They were swept away by the swift waters and met their demise, perished by drowning. The notion of justice prevailed - a life in exchange for a life taken.
Zarda scanned the entirety of the mountain peak, observing the crowded beings huddled closely together. He detected the scent of Fear emanating not only from the humans, but also from the animals. This was his initial encounter with humans, but he did not feel afraid; instead, he felt a deep sense of compassion towards them. They watched the foreboding king with a great deal of fear. Zarda walked among everyone with confidence of his position. Despite the desire to destroy and conquer. No one dared to hurt another, fearing the creator would destroy them completely if they did. He was quick to observe that the kingdoms that were usually near the water, were missing from among them. Not only them, but two kingdoms, unable to survive in deep waters, were not found among them in the crowds. King Morbius's, Imani herd and King Ayo's, Jazmine a Leap tribe were among the missing. Zarda searched desperately for his friends, asking everyone if they had seen them. Regrettably, all responses were negative. Zarda fought through men and animals to reach the precipice of the mountain top, gazing out. It had seemed that the two missing tribes had vanished in the flood. Once an arid Savannah, now a landscape completely submerged underwater. The only inhabitants left below were water creatures such as crocodiles, fish, whales, and hippos.
Zarda bowed his head, tears falling down his face. His friends had vanished. Suddenly, as he glanced down, he spotted three familiar kingdoms - King Sefu, Jomo, and Shani's groups - who had narrowly escaped the flood and were now taking respite on a nearby ledge. Their bodies were weary from the ordeal, the relentless rush of water weighing them down. Zarda watched them with a deep sense of worry.
Extending his hand to assist them, he shouted, "Take hold Brothers, climb up and rest on the peak of the mountain."
King Shani was surprised by his sudden appearance and looked up with optimism in his eyes. He quickly gathered all of his people to ascend the side of the ledge. King Jomo and his queen, along with their frightened thunder herd, followed closely behind. The Lion King assisted his friends in climbing up one by one. As the last of the hippos made their way to the top, he glanced back down at King Sefu. The reptile was stubbornly refusing to urge his tribe to move any further.
Zarda begged the unyielding crocodile, "King Sefu, the waters will keep rising. Please lead your tribe to safety. I can tell you're all exhausted. You can seek refuge up above."
Sefu took some time, but eventually the stubborn-hearted crocodile was swayed. He signaled for his kingdom to move to higher ground to find safety and rest. Zarda breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the crocodile King had finally heeded wise counsel. With everyone now safe and secure above ground, Zarda turned his attention back to the floodwaters, feeling a deep sense of sorrow in his heart. He raised his hands to the sky and cried out in anguish. The floods continued nonstop, for two more weeks before finally slowly subsiding.
Zarda cried out: "Master, you have claimed the lives of my dear friends, they were kingdoms of innocence. Why did they, have to perish in the floods? Please forgive us, master, for we believe in your fairness in all your ways."
Elohim heard the humble words and heart behind Zarda's prayer. As a result, the rains stopped, the clouds cleared, and white light illuminated the mountain top. Colors that had disappeared returned to the creation. The sight was blinding to everyone present. The fierce winds disappeared, and the waters began to drain into the earth's open chambers below very slowly.