Night quickly turned to day. The sun's illuminating gaze spread across the Uasilands, spreading down the Uasian tower as the life-giving orb slowly arose from the snow-capped mountains, gleaming into an opening at the peak of the mystical structure.
The light shimmered into an opening at the top of the tower, gleaming every inch of crystal that it touched. In the corner of this grand, regal room, Kopa lay on his side, softly breathing as he slept, still and motionless. Not even the near blinding light awoke him.
As he lay there. A single, brown feathered eagle ascended the surface of the tower, using her strong, agile wings to propel herself upwards, like a fiery, soul-piercing claw through fur and skin. The heavy, almost ethereal winds fought against her, pushing down on her aerodynamic form as she countered it, slicing through as if the winds themselves knew who she was.
As she reached the peak of the tower, the winds subsided, defeated by her superiority. Holding steady, she looked in on the Uasian king, a focussed frown adorning her beak as she moved forward, transcending the wall of the tower as she entered the carved opening. Passing through, she felt a powerful energy pulsate past every cell in her body as if she had passed through an invisible, spiritual boundary. Landing on her claws, she surveyed the room, until her sharp, avian eyes located the proud, if sleeping, king.
"Kopa?" The eagle squawked, rocking her head forward as she slowly hopped towards the resting lion. His eyes weighed heavily in the realm of dreams. The rhythm of his chest matching the soft, gentle hum radiating from the crystallised ground beneath her claws. "Your majesty?"
Still no answer. With a stern, almost puzzled look, the eagle looked directly forward, towards the slumbered king. Her eyes scanning his body, thinking, pondering. After a few moments, her eyes locked back on his bare, snoring forehead. The crystallised mark etched into his forehead reflecting her sharp, smug stare back at herself.
Standing just in front of his most majestic of kings, Jicho cleared her throat. Her mind harkening back over the past five years. She remembered a time when the lion before her was but a mere cub, lonely, scared. She could never believe that he would become king, let alone a good, wise, almighty king. With her throat cleared, she moved closer to his sleepy head.
"KOPA!" She squawked at the top of her lungs. The beckoning call sent an uproar through the king's body, forcing his dreams to subside, bringing him back into this realm of existence. He shot up, literally leaping into the air a few feet before landing on all fours.
"Huh? What?!" Exclamations erupted from his lips as he scanned the room, holding a defensive, secured form as his eyes darted, waiting for anything or anyone to attack. His heart racing in his chest, pumping boiling, soul-sucking blood throughout his body, preparing to fight for his life. It was only as Jicho expanded her wings that he froze, eyes locking upon the elegant eagle.
"Jicho?" Kopa's breathing slowed as he looked down at the softly chuckling eagle. "What's wrong?" a puzzled, rather concerned look adorned his muzzle. His eyes scanned the room, right away noticing.... His mates, his cubs, all those closest to his heart, gone. Jicho smiled up at him, standing firm and proud as she ruffled her feathers slightly.
"They're alright, my lord." She hopped forward, brushing the King's belly fur with her wings. "Her Majesty has been awake since the early moments of the morning." She fluttered her wings around the area where Kopa had slept, as if cleaning up after the stunning king. "Since the first drip of sunlight." She looked up at him with a strict, almost maternal stare.
With a sudden burst of panic, Kopa shot towards the illuminated opening, looking out to the land below. His kingdom. He noticed a small gathering at a tree, nestled on top of a nearby hill. Squinting his eyesight, he recognised a few of the creatures. Lionesses, two of them sparking a flame in his heart, huddled up to two adorable, strong cubs. He felt a small, cooling drip of water brush down his cheek as he looked down at them. The Pride, his pride, all snuggled up. As a family, as a pride should be.
"They await you." Jicho raised her feathered wing, resting it upon Kopa's front leg. His eyes never lost focus on them, those small dots beneath him. "They need you." Her eyes turned to their corner, catching a rather sorrowful sight. A branch, seemingly growing from the wall of the Royal chamber. It hung reasonably high, empty and out of place. But for Jicho, something was missing. Her heart sank as she figured it out, the air rapidly sighed out of her beak as her body chilled.
"I heard what happened, with Kwaheri." The shallow, sombre sound of Jicho's voice reverberated across the room, sending a sorrowful hum through its walls. Kopa turned, catching sight of the feeble, shrunken figure of his eagle friend, and servant. She looked up at him, slightly shuddering as she wrapped her wings around herself. "Is it true? Did..." She hesitated, wishing not to reopen deep wounds within the scarred king's troubled soul. "Did he... speak to you?"
Kopa sat beside her, looking out at the rising sun. "He did." His eyes remained focused. His ears flickered as he felt Jicho's sighing. The floor hummed with her sadness, her... apparent loneliness. He faced her, resting a paw on her shoulder. He looked down at the crystallised floor, feeling the recognisable rumblings from within the very depths of the mystical structure.
"He's still with us." The eagle looked down as well, letting her tears dribble upon the ground. "He's a part of the Uasian tower now." He looked up, watching as the spiritual hum glistened across the crystallised roof. "As we always will be."
Jicho stared down at her wings. She could... feel him, as if he were pulling on every feather at once. It tickled, both her body and soul. She knew all too well of the possibility, wielding some diluted presence herself within the Tower's conduit. An entire lifetime's work. Harmonising her soul with the structure she had called home since she was a chick. But Kwaheri, he had not. She looked up at Kopa seemingly confused. "But...How?"
"I don't know." The king replied, smirking softly at this thought driven friend. He shook his head softly, arising from his proud, regal pose. Giving off a soft, relieving stretch, letting every inch of his muscular body contract before relaxing, ushering a soft sigh from his muzzle. Jicho watched on, relaxing as the words of her benevolent king sank in. Kopa looked out at the land beneath one more time, before turning to the eagle, lowering his shoulder slightly in her presence. "But enough consultation, we'd better get down there."
"Oh, of course, my lord." The eagle agreed, happily hopping onto his scarred shoulder. The soft, almost shifting reverberations of his muscles, plus the ethereal power within sent shivers through the eagle's feathers. "Oh my, I'd forgotten how... rough you were." She scraped her claws slightly on Kopa's shoulder, making herself comfortable upon his shoulder blade. It had been years since she last sat like this upon him. She did this all the time with Karimu. But then, Karimu was a much more... subtle, patient being.
With Jicho perched upon him, Kopa slowly strolled out of the room, chuckling softly at her amazement. But this was quickly silenced as she started to peck at his messy, unwoven mane. "Look at all this mess, I'd have to have a word with her majesty over this."
"Hey!" Kopa replied, clenching as he felt the eagle's beak try to comprehend the maze-like mess of fur around his neck. "Watch where you put that beak of yours! My head's in there you know."
"Oh, don't I know it." The eagle chuckled. "It's been lost in here for many years."
Kopa sighed. He knew it was impossible to combat the queen's royal advisor. The walk down to his love, his queen, would be long, but at least he'd have some company for a change. Descending the gigantic, awe-inspiring spire-like tower, the pair conversed, losing track of time as they met the lush, thick grasslands that surrounded the mystical structure. The pair chuckled as they slowly ascended the hill.
"Yep, that sounds like him." Kopa shook his head side to side, a wide, energetical smile spreading across his muzzle as he gently, effortlessly topped up the hill, towards the singular, gold-tinted tree at its peak. Jicho chuckled softly back at the king, rubbing her beak through his thick, seemingly sorted mane. It wasn't until she let go however that it retaliated, flicking back to its messy, unsorted state. She sighed, looking over her wing at the Uasian king as he burst into an uncontrollable outburst of laughter.
His laughter subsided as he reached the summit. Before him, barely a few feet away, most of the pride lay in the tree's shade. A golden hue illuminated small specs of their combined, snuggled fur, shifting in the gentle morning breeze. The sun held high in the sky, creating a light show through the sheltering leaves above them. Two lionesses at the centre of the furry pile took Kopa's attention instantly, huddling up to two playful cubs, washing the adorable furballs nestled between their paws.
Slowly, mightily strolling towards them, Kopa couldn't help but smile. Jicho spread her wings, swiftly ascending from the Uasian king's shoulder with the gustful gracefulness she was well known for. His entire mane swayed from the updraft, becoming even more entangled and messed up as the eagle took to the sky, quickly approaching the relaxing pride ahead.
As Kopa began to make his way through the relaxed lions and lionesses, Jicho landed, bowing in respect to the Uasian queen. Karimu quickly turned to see Kopa, smiling softly as he stood, finally conquering the pile of lions. He watched as the Uasian queen smiled back, their young son Ulinzi resting in her paws, stretched out as she licked his belly. Kuwinda rested not far away, cleaning Amani's ears as both lionesses turned. All four lion's faces illuminated at the sight of their father and mate.
"Kopa!" Karimu arose, letting Ulinzi roll over onto his well-fed belly. He watched as his mother trotted up to his father, nuzzling up deep into his blackened, lush mane. She looked up at Kopa's face, lovingly looking into her king's eyes. The scar across his left eye, despite knowing what it meant, only made him more attractive as he couldn't help but giggle slightly. "I wondered when you'd wake up."
She looked back at his mane. She analysed the messy, entangled fur ball wrapped around his head. She knew it all too well. tutting slightly, she softly licked his messy mane before chucking softly. "Always with the messy den mane."
The pair laughed, slowly joining Kuwinda and the cubs. Ulinzi and Amani quickly leapt to their paws, rushing over to greet their father.
"Dad! Dad!" The two cubs giggled, rushing up to their father. Amani was the first to approach him, nuzzling her body across his front legs. Moments after, Ulinzi joined in, following his sister as both cubs nuzzled lovingly up to their father. Kuwinda just watched on, smiling widely at the scene playing out before her. She could picture her cubs, their cubs, one day doing the same thing. A warming pulse burst from her heart, spreading across her body as she thought about it.
Hey, my little furballs." Kopa chuckled proudly, licking his cub's sweet, clean back as they nuzzled him. After a moment, they departed from his leg, letting him rest beside Karimu and Kuwinda. The lead huntress, now seeing the rest of the royal family relaxed, approached her king, gently nuzzling into his neck. Kopa, burning inside with love and pride, licked her cheek, causing the young lioness to skip a breath. "It's nice to see you, my love." Looking up into Kuwinda's warm brown eyes, Kopa couldn't help but smile. He moved a paw under her chest, feeling the small, warm lump protruding from her belly. His eyes locked on hers' as if curious, even worried. "How are they?"
"They're fine Kopa." She calmly replied, licking the king's cheek as they both nestled back beside their queen. Ulinzi and Amani sat with their mother, watching lovingly as their aunt nuzzled their father. After a few moments of this, Kopa turned to Karimu. A focussed, worried look spread across his furry face.
"Are you ready?" Kopa softly spoke, almost whimpering as his eyes stared directly into Karimu's. The queen turned away, looking at the gathered pride, who had arisen, watching the Royal couple with intrigue. A few of the lionesses wept softly, barely noticeable, apparent from the narrow stream of tears rolling down their cheeks.
"I think so." Her eyes scanned the pride's troubled faces. Her heart sank. She knew she had to do this, but she couldn't help but feel a little essence of... regret? But Kopa needed her and if it led to the end of this bloody war, it would be worth it. She turned back to her love, who remained locked into her beautiful face. "The pride knows what to do, without us."
"We'll be alright." Jicho hopped forward, ruffling her feathers as she approached the royal couple. "Shujaa and I will make sure the kingdom is well cared for, your majesties." She bowed slightly, and yet an uncertain trepidation mumbled from her beak. Kopa knew how everyone felt, but it was for the greater good. He felt his scar rumble with pain, reminding him of why he had to do this. He looked down at his cubs, both now huddled up to him, their small, soft faces brushing into his mane, wiping their innocent, heartbroken tears into his fur.
"And I'll take care of the cubs." Kuwinda affirmed, standing before her king and queen. "With my life." Kopa nuzzled her, a hint of worry trembling in his muzzle as he heard her words.
"Take care of yourself, my love." He licked her cheek, which slowly dampened with her own tears as well. She nuzzled into his mane as well, wiping her tears into him as Amani and Ulinzi stepped back, nuzzling up to their mother lovingly.
"Please don't go, mum!" Ulinzi wept up at his mother, rubbing his tearful face into her leg. She looked down at him, feeling his tears soak her fur. Her daughter brushed up to her too, nuzzling her brother gently, trying to calm him down.
"We have to, sweetie." Karimu replied, holding her son closer to her fur. Her heart shattered even more, feeling his tears dribble down her leg. "For the greater good." Kopa stared at the scene before him. The complete and utter heartbreak pouring from his mate and cubs. But despite this, he knew what had to be done. He solely approached lowering his head down to meet Ulinzi's forehead.
"I'm sorry son." He spoke softly, voice trembling as he gave his son an affectionate lick. Ulinzi looked up at his father, his lovely, warm brown eyes staring up, trembling at his father. "But if we want to keep you safe, we must go somewhere."
"But we'll be back soon." Karimu buttered in, smiling softly at both of her cubs. She felt their little heartbeats, fluttering through their bodies, caressing her own. Both cubs looked up at her, seemingly a lot calmer.
Kopa raised a paw, placing it upon Ulinzi's back. The male cub turned to face his father, looking up at the majestic, borderline crying king before him. "Just remember that we will always love you." He turned slightly to his daughter; softy tucked into her mother's belly fur. "Both of you." Kopa moved closer, licking his son's forehead once more.
Just a few feet away, Shujaa arose from the pride, leaving the lionesses surrounding him be. Two of them raised their heads, watching the king's advisor approach the royal trio.
"It'll be okay, my old friend." Shujaa spoke calmly, looking Kopa warmly in his eyes. "Nothing will happen to them, not on my watch." He glanced down at the two cubs with confidence. He wasn't going to let history repeat itself, not like his own cubs.
"I'll protect them with my life." Kopa nodded slightly, slowly approaching him. Within muzzle distance, the Uasian king lowered his head, softly nuzzling up to Shujaa's mane. After a few seconds, he pulled away, looking the younger lion in the eye. "Thank you." He turned to Shujaa. Jicho, who had been standing beside Karimu, moved to the side of the male advisor. "All of you." He smiled softly, placing his shoulder on Vipawa's shoulder as Karimu slowly stood forward. Kuwinda strolled past them, along with the two, still crying cubs.
"We'll be back as soon as we can." Karimu turned to Kopa, a rather stern look adorning her muzzle, a smirk of understanding quickly replacing it in mere seconds. "Right Kopa?" The Uasian king smirked back. How could he resist his queen? He turned back to the rest of the pride, watching as the rest arose to their paws, watching as the royal couple said their goodbyes to their higher hierarchy.
"Take care, your majesties." Shujaa bowed his head, followed by the rest of the pride behind him. "And take our blessing with you." Kopa and Karimu lowered their heads, before quickly shooting forward, giving their friend and advisor one last nuzzle. He repaid the favour, rubbing his head against theirs. As they pulled back. Kopa raised his paw to his shoulder, nodding his head slightly as Shujaa stared him in the eye."
The Uasian king turned, followed closely by Karimu. The pride watched on as the royal couple softly started to stroll away, walking in unison down the shallow, leaf coated hill. As soon as they reached the base of the hill, Shujaa roared, followed closely by the rest of the pride, a final farewell. A final crescendo of pride and goodwill. Kopa and Karimu looked back, for just a moment, smiling widely before looking at each other. The pride was with them and would be with them... always.
"So, where are we going, my king?" Karimu queried as they both continued. She nuzzled up to her mate's strong, muscular body as they began to trot slowly.
"You'll see, my queen." Kopa chuckled, not knowing precisely how to answer her question. That was for the gods to answer.
And answer they would...