Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Nov 15, 2022 17:43:15 GMT
Sam had been up all night.
He didn’t know if he’d worried the Pride or not, but at the end of the day he didn’t think too hard on it. What he was doing was more important to him than safety. It had taken the better part of hours, multiple stones, and lots of sweat - but he was done before the Pride was up that morning.
When he’d been able to find Simba and join him on his morning patrol. Well, he had an excuse at least to get him here he wanted him to go.
So as they were walking, Sam decided to not beat around the bush. “So… I know I’m supposed to be back at the den by nightfall, but I promise I had a good excuse,” Sam decided to start out with that. No one had asked, but he knew the rules by now. “I was uh… Working on something important.”
Ok. How did he say this without making Simba weirded out? He wasn’t used to doing things like this after all. “… I uh, it was actually something for you. And your mom,” he explained. As he rubbed the back of his neck. “If you’d let me show you… I mean. It’s uh. Something from my culture. Something that is actually a pretty big deal in it.”
Again, he was rambling. But god didn’t he always when he was nervous?
|
|
Simba
PRIDELANDERS
King of the Pridelands
Following in my father's pawprints
Posts: 83
|
Post by Simba on Nov 17, 2022 19:04:29 GMT
"I guess nothing can be more important than your own life. It can be dangerous out there during night..." Came the scold with firm voice and light frown. Sam had no claws or sharp teeth, he would be vulnerable as he would not be able to protect himself if met a hyena for example. Furthermore, Simba was told by Mufasa that the boy must have been protected and cared for - and he took this task seriously, even if he didn't exactly understand the reason behind.
"I don't want it happen again. Many dangerous animals can be lurking here, bad leopards, bad hyenas or any other enemies. Nighttime is perfect for them. You must be careful and responsible. And if you..." Simba suddenly stopped walking and went speechless when he realized what place Sam was leading him to. The Gorge. Of course, during his patrols Simba checked this area but only from the top and rarely went in, only when he needed to.
"Why are we going there?"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Nov 18, 2022 7:56:56 GMT
Sam knew he definitely had a point.
While he always insisted he could handle himself. He really wasn’t used to doing that against well… Natures predators, but that same kid from the streets had always been stubborn. “You’re probably right, I just have to get used to it,” he explained honestly. “Even living with David he kind of lived for danger…? You guys are the first ones to actually point it out to me…”
Sam could notice the tone change in Simba’s voice almost instantly.
Had he done something wrong? He stopped for a minute, eyes turning to look at him. Something still told him, however, that he had to show the king regardless. “… I promise it’s something good, really,” Sam replied as he made his way to one of the higher points of the gourge. “Or at least I hope it is… I worked hard on it.”
It took him another couple of minutes to get to his… Well, his makeshift memorial. It was nothing near as fancy as the ones back home. Just a pile of stones and the biggest one he could find at the center with Mufasa’s name carved into it using a knife. If anything, ir was really simple.
Brushing off some of the morning dust, Sam knelt down a bit. “… I couldn’t think of a real way to properly thank you for helping me or letting me into your Pride. So I just… I’ve been thinking a lot about what you and your mom have told me about Mufasa,” he explained honestly. “Back in America, we made these things called memorials… So that humans of great importance could never be forgotten, and we could pay our respects to them.”
He turned to look at Simba, his cheeks flushing red. “And I don’t know… I just kept thinking about how nice it would be for you two to have that… Even that small little piece to take your grandkids, and they can take their grandkids, and…” His eyes turned away he’d never been good with this kind of thing. “I know it’s kind of cheesy… But something just told me I had to do it.”
After all, for all of the wrong foot they’d gotten off of. Simba had started to feel like a bit of a father figure. Even if he’d never openly admit that for fear of awkwardness. He definitely had wanted to do something for him… Not to mention Sarabi. The two of them had been kinder to Sam than most humans. And that meant something to him.
|
|
Simba
PRIDELANDERS
King of the Pridelands
Following in my father's pawprints
Posts: 83
|
Post by Simba on Nov 18, 2022 20:57:48 GMT
Reluctantly but he decided to follow Sam. "I hope you really have a good reason. I don't like this place." He didn't want to tell more.
As they went deeper in the Gorge and the walls became taller, Simba still could hear those pounding hooves of the wildebeests in his mind, he could still smell that dirty dust that had filled the air after the stampede. Simba hated visiting this place as it always made him recall the bad memories that sometimes felt like it was breaking his heart - and today was not different.
Nothing had changed here. It was still that same barren land like back then, as if they were still mourning the death of the great king, Mufasa. That broken tree was still there reminding every visitor of the terrible tragedy's location. Simba missed Mufasa a lot and this place just made this feeling even stronger.
When Simba noticed his father's name carved into the stone, his heart stopped beating for a short moment. He stepped closer and sat down in front of it, staring at the memorial. He had a memory flash back to his cubhood, the playtime under the stars on the day when he was saved in the Elephant Graveyard, the fateful instant during the stampede, the intimate first talk from the clouds - one after the other and each of them felt like had happened yesterday. With repetitive blinks Simba fell back to reality, realizing his eyes were wet from tears.
The lion looked at the boy, "Thank you, Sam. It means a lot. Truly a lot."
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Nov 19, 2022 0:15:27 GMT
Sam could already feel a bead of sweat running down his face as he said he didn’t like coming there.
What mistake had he made? Sam didn’t know as they continued to the memorial. And he was even more. Infused when Simba started to cry. Back home adults didn’t cry a lot - at least not males. As disgusting as it was they were taught even at his age not to. And as such his initial reaction was worry.
Had he offended the king? Had it been the opposite reaction he’d intended?
Sam took a step forward to put a hand on his back when Simba thanked him. Surprising him… Tears of joy then? Of sorrow but thankfulness? Sam didn’t totally understand. But being he’d never really had parents maybe he didn’t have a way to.
Still he placed a hand on his back, it just seemed to be the right thing to do at the moment. “It was my honor, your majesty,” he replied honestly. “I wish I could have done more - honestly. He sounded like a king worth a big monument. With statues and paintings.” He admitted, admiration in his voice.
He then looked at him. “I know I’m not your son or anything, so I didn’t know at first if it was my place… even as a member of the Pride now. But it felt like something I was supposed to do too,” he explained. “To honor you and him.”
After all, he didn’t have real family, or a guardian really for that matter anymore to honor. Not like he could the person who helped him anyway.
|
|
Simba
PRIDELANDERS
King of the Pridelands
Following in my father's pawprints
Posts: 83
|
Post by Simba on Nov 26, 2022 8:46:57 GMT
"Yes. He deserves them, he was a great king indeed." Simba agreed and glanced at the memorial once more. He was grateful to Sam for having this as Mufasa really deserved any kind of respect.
"As I told you before I was going to make an official announcement about your joining and since the Mfalme Mkuu Tradition is coming, I think I will choose this ceremony for its occasion. Furthermore, I think this time the Gorge will be perfect place for it." The Mfalme Mkuu Tradition meant a lot to Simba because of Mufasa. He didn't like this place at all, however, now for some reason he felt he had to make an exception.
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Nov 27, 2022 7:43:29 GMT
Mfalme Mkuu?
Sam tried to go through that in his head with some struggle. Honestly, he wasn’t sure he could even pronounce it. But at the same time he felt intrigued by the idea. “Oh like a celebration? That’s cool. I like stuff like that,” he explained. “David and I went to a lot of them. What’s it like - is it something I need to prepare for…?”
Sometimes you had to dress up in human culture after all. Maybe animals had their own way.
Standing there, he thought on all that’d happened since he’d come here. And how his mind might have sung a different tune before. But now it was becoming real - his oneness with the Pride - something that almost felt… Surreal.
“Is it weird I’m kind of nervous?” He asked. “Like I’m happy… I’ve just never been a part of something before. Not like this.” He explained. “I don’t want to screw it up.”
|
|
Simba
PRIDELANDERS
King of the Pridelands
Following in my father's pawprints
Posts: 83
|
Post by Simba on Nov 30, 2022 19:35:47 GMT
"Mfalme Mkuu is one of the Pride Lands' traditions, we celebrate it every year to remember the Great Kings of the Past." Simba explained. "So since you made a memorial for my father who is also one of the Great Kings, I think the next Mfalme Mkuu Tradition should be here in the Gorge - with you." He gave the boy a soft smile.
The lion stood up and turned to make his way back to continue his morning patrol, but before doing so he added: "Thank you for this, Sam. I am grateful. From now on, my father's name will prevail here and it means a lot to me. But next time be home in time, okay?"
|
|
Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
|
Post by Samwel Igwe on Dec 1, 2022 6:00:27 GMT
Sam smiled a little proud.
Honestly, it was one of the things he wouldn’t forget. But needless to say, he was honored as he had already told Simba. Thinking on it a moment, he nodded his head. “I’ll be sure I’m ready for it, your majesty,” he managed.
Right, “home on time”. Probably was a good idea. Even if that still would take some getting used to. “I’ll work on it! I’m just not used to it is all,” he replied as he started to make his way back himself. “But I’m pretty tired now that you mention it. So I don’t think I’ll pull an all-nighter like that again.”
|
|