The sun begins to rise over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the national park. The animals awakened, already eating grass. The lions; Dakarai, Sabi and the other lionesses and the cubs were all asleep or supposed to be.
Jua nestled against something warm and solid, a soft purr rumbling in his chest. His paw knead rhythmically against the rough surface, a contented sigh escaping him.
That peace was ruined when his brother Kito loomed over him, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "Jua. Jua," he hissed.
Jua frowns in his sleep and turns away, making Kito gasp in shock.
The audacity!
Now determined to make him wake up, Kito goes around him, leans right up to his face and roars.
Well, more like a meow actually which earned a snicker out of Jua before a snore was heard.
His pride wounded, Kito resorted to biting and tugging on his ear. This made the cub wake up, although his face contorted to an annoyed expression.
"Kito," he yawned, one eye open. "It's 6:30 in the morning-"
"Jua, come with me now," the cub said excitedly.
Jua sat up, his eyes squinted. "Why-"
"We're going to…" Kito leaned close and whispered. "The watering hole."
The young cub stretched, then licked his lips. "That's what you woke me up for?" He asked, annoyed in his voice. Kito pouted. "Come on! Now you're acting like our Dad," he accused as sauntered away, his tail flicking in the air.
"I want to sleep," he mumbled as he laid back down, his head nesting the rock.
Kito surrendered and walked away from his sleeping brother. "Ah well. Guess I'll have a head start and I'll be declared the fastest cat alive," Kito said, a knowing smirk tugging on his lips.
The cub's eyes shot open and he got up, shaking himself of all sleepiness. "Wait for me!" Jua hissed, carefully stepping over each ion present to get to his brother.
"Meat ... .Zebra meat…." Dakarai, the cubs' father, mumbles as he turns in his sleep. His dibble fell on his great black mane. His great paw landed on Sabi, his favorite lioness, right on her snout.
Sabi groans and moves her head, letting his paw hit the ground. He sits up with a start, wiping off the spit before laying back down.
Jua giggled at the scene before sneaking off.
Now at the base of the boulders, he spots his brother, smugly smiling at him before taking off. Jua sighs then crouches down, his silver mantle glimmering in the sunlight before taking off.
The cub gradually picked up speed, everything around seemingly a blur. Kito looked behind and gasped to see Jua catching up to him.
In vain, he put on a burst of speed but Jua soon ran past him, now ahead of him. Kito pushed himself in order to keep up.
________
The cool, crystal water reflected the antelope which bent down and lapped at the water. Her friends joined her, drinking the water eagerly.
Jua slowed down, his feet almost touching the water. He gazes at his reflection and smirks. "Who's the fastest cat alive?" Jua asked, looking behind him.
Kito jogged into sight, panting heavily. "You," he wheezed. "But hey. My plan worked. We're at….the watering hole!" He said dramatically.
Jua looked around, noticing the lush vegetation and the animals that gathered there.
Elephants in their packs came close, their trunks scooping up water and putting it in their mouths.
Zebras came next, the black mouths slurping up the water joined by rhinos and warthogs.
"Kito. We're not supposed to be here," he whispered. "Dude. It's a watering hole. What's the least that can happen. Plus, aren't you a little thirsty?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"That's not the point. The first rule ever taught by mom: don't go anywhere without pride," he reminded him. "Jua, that rule is rule 12 for one. And two, I'm his son. No one's messing with me," he said confidently.
Kito then walked forward and lapped at the water. Jua looked around and sighed before joining him. Seeing his brother drink made him smirk. "See? And you were worried," he said.
Jua shoots him a glare. "I'm full," he said, but his eyes darted around nervously towards the trees boarding the watering hole. "Can we go now? I don't like being away for too long," he mumbled, his tail twitching.
Kito's eyes followed his brother's actions, concern etched on his face. He then smiles in comfort. "Okay, okay," he said, rolling his eyes. Then feigning annoyance he adds. "One more drink?"
Jua sighed and leaned down but he saw something. He narrows his eyes for a better look. There was something long and scaly in the water. It had irregular blotches bored by brown and black along its body. And it was very still.
Then it moved, making the cub gasp and turn to his brother.
"Kito! Rock Python!" Jua yelled. Kito sat up, his gaze on his brother. "What–" the water erupted at that moment, the python aiming right for his throat. The other animals, startled, sprint off.
Too late, Kito sees the snake but the python latches onto his throat. It quickly coils its body around the young cub. Jua jumps on the snake and scratches at its body, trying in vain to save him.
The young cub gasps as the snake tightens around his body, squeezing the air out of him. He feels it getting harder and harder to breathe.
"Kito!" Jua cried out, scared for his brother. The snake throws him off and Jua's eyes dart around. "Dad! Mom! Help us!" He shouts into the Serengeti air.
Suddenly, Dakarai jumps on the snake, his teeth piercing the back of the snake's neck. He pulls and the snake opens his mouth, releasing his cub.
Dakarai shakes the snake a bit before tossing it aside, its hold broken. Jua runs over to his brother and Kito gasps, taking in some well needed air.
The wounded python hisses and rears itself, its scales shimmering in the sunlight. The two cubs gasp, staring in horror at the monstrous length of the snake, a living rope of muscle that seemed to stretch on forever. The lion paws the ground and shakes his mane. Dakarai growls and the snake lunges.
The massive lion manages to bite its lower jaw. The snake wraps around him, hoping to squeeze him to death. He pulls on the lower jaw before letting go and biting its head, pulling on it.
The snake's hold loosens and he tosses aside its head. He sits up and shakes off the snake's limp body.
His gaze turned on the two cubs and he rushed over to the coughing Kito. "Are you alright?" He asks, his voice laced with concern.
Kito nods. "First time getting choked by a python. Not fun," he joked. Dakarai breathed out a sigh then he glared at the two cubs.
"You could've died," he said sternly. Kito rolled his eyes. "But I didn't die," he argued. "Yes, you nearly did," Jua countered. "You're lucky Jua is weak willed or you would be dead," he spat.
"Hey," Jua said, glaring but quickly looks down at the ground in shame. Dakarai let out another breath before walking away. "Come. We're going home," he ordered. The two cubs followed their father back home.
Sabi, sick with worry, was comforted by the other two lionesses. Jabari meanwhile borefly stares at the floor. "I hope they're okay," she said.
Kira looks up and spots three individuals approaching. She nudges Sabi whose countenance changes when she sees them:
Dakarai, with the cubs behind him, licking the blood on his mouth.
She rushed forward and met up with him. The two lions nuzzle each other. Zara retches at the sight of it before pulling her son close so he wouldn't see the disgusting sight.
They separate and she spots the two cubs behind them. "Kito, what did you do?" She asks, her face showing concern and her voice being serious. "I nearly got killed by a python," he mumbled. "What?" She said, glancing at her husband.
"They went to the watering hole. Alone," Dakarai clarified, shaking his head. "Kito, what's rule number 12?" She asks him. He briefly looks up before answering, "Don't go anywhere without the pride."
"I'm sure you now know why," she said, licking his head. "Almost got killed and you never even took your bath yet. Come here," she said, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck.
"And you. You should know better too," she said in a muffled tone. "Yes mom," Jua bowed. Sabi carts her son off as Jua follows her swishing tail. Dakarai leapt up unto the boulders and lay down only to get up with a start.
"I forgot to desecrate the carcass!" He gasps. He leaps down and runs off in the direction of the body. Zara chuckled and pushed her son aside. "Oh, that Dakarai. So forgetful," she smiled.
"He seems remarkablely unconcerned for a father whose cubs were nearly killed," Kira commented, strolling past the lioness.
At the outskirts of the territory, Dakarai drags the body of the serpent, some of it dragging behind him.
His presence alerts the vultures who take to the skies. Dakarai drops the body and content, heads back to his pride.
This was a sign and it has one message:
Don't mess with his pride.