Nesibindi (c) Wild Wind
Buli, Mafuta, Themanini and other characters (c) Me
Zarah (c) Disney
Sudden Changes: Chapter 3
Two days had passed since Mafuta had met the Sametu Pride. There was not enough food for them, and they began to starve. It had rained, which gave them enough water. But Mafuta didn't know what they would do when the water dries up.
"Good luck, Buli," Mafuta said as Buli was leaving. "Please succeed this time!"
"I'll try!" Buli called back. She was going on another hunt, and hoped to actually catch something this time.
After searching in that area for hours, Buli gave up. There were no animals left there. Buli then looked at the Sametu Pride's land. There were lots of herds and other animals there.
"I'm sure they wouldn't notice me hunting there," Buli thought.
Meanwhile, Kuu and her friends, Kamwe, and Ukaidi watched Mafuta and Nesibindi talk to each other.
"They don't seem harmful," Ukaidi whispered to Kamwe and Kuu.
"Be quiet, Ukaidi," Kamwe whispered. "We don't want them hearing us."
"Ugh, where is Kitisho?" Kuu groaned. "She's been gone for ages!"
"I see her up there!" Ukaidi gasped, pointing at two lionesses on one of the hills. "She's talking to Queen Tawala!"
"Queen Tawala!" Kitisho panted as she sat next to the queen. "I... I just saw... Coming towards our land, a... A black... Lion..."
"What?" Tawala exclaimed. "This can't be good, what color was his mane?"
"I couldn't really see," Kitisho shrugged. "But I think it was white or gray."
Tawala growled. "He's back, I'm sure it's him..."
Buli slowly crawled through the grass. Her prey was a very young female zebra, who's name was Zarah. She stopped, waited a few seconds, the lept. The zebra ran before Buli landed on her, but the lioness was faster than the zebra. She would have caught it, if Utu hadn't noticed her hunting in his land.
"Stop!" He shouted as he ran down to Buli. She stopped, and the zebra ran far away.
"I-I'm so sorry...," She stammered. "I-I-I had to hunt h-here, there's no food left in our home..."
Utu stared at her crossly. "You could have asked to hunt here, but instead just go into our territory and hunt without permission."
"I'm sorry!" Buli exclaimed. "I-I'll go back if I'm not welcome!"
Utu nodded, and Buli ran back as fast as she could.
"When is Buli coming back?" Nesibindi asked Mafuta. "She's been gone for hours!"
"Look! There she is!" Mafuta pointed at Buli, who was slowly walking towards them. But the disappointed look on her face told them that the hunt was unsucsessful, again.
"Hey guys," Buli sighed and sat down next to them. "I searched everywhere, there's nothing left here. I don't know why..."
"It's odd," Nesibindi agreed. "If the animals go to the Sametu Pride's land, then why not here?"
"I could see our old home from where I was searching," Buli said. "There's nothing there, either."
"Perhaps we could ask Utu and Tawala if we can hunt in their land," Nesibindi suggested.
"I-I tried hunting there, but Utu saw me," Buli sighed. "He wouldn't let me hunt there. The Sametu Pride is so selfish."
"Kuu! Ukaidi! Kamwe!" Tawala called.
"Yes, Queen Tawala?" Kuu answered as she and her two friends walked up the hill where Tawala and Kitisho were sitting.
"Kitisho saw a black lion coming into our territory," Tawala explained. "I want the four of you to get information about who this lion is, and warn everyone about him."
"Hmm, alright," Kuu said. "Where did you see him, Kitisho?"
"Come with me," Kitisho replied.
When it was late now, Mafuta, Nesibindi and Buli sat on a rock together, talking and laughing as they enjoyed the afternoon sunshine.
"Hey, Mafuta, where's your mother?" Nesibindi eventually asked.
"I think she's in the den," Mafuta replied.
"Hmm, I haven't seen her much today," Buli said as she lay her head between her paws.
"Neither have I," Nesibindi agreed. "I don't think I've even seen her leave the den."
"You're right...," Mafuta said, now concerned. "I'll go check to see if she's okay." She said and left them.
"I hope Themanini is okay," Buli said to Nesibindi.
"I'm sure she's fine, she's probably just tired," Nesibindi said.
Buli shrugged. "I hope you're right..."
Mafuta stepped into the cave and saw Themanini sitting there. She noticed how thin Themanini was, and she didn't look alright.
"Mum, are you okay?" Mafuta asked as she nuzzled her mother.
"Mafuta, I don't feel too good....," Themanini said slowly and quietly. She slowly closed her eyes, and then collasped.
"MOTHER!" Mafuta exclaimed. A few seconds later Nesibindi and Buli entered the den, startled by Mafuta's shout.
"Mafuta, what's wrong?" Nesibindi asked.
"Mum!" Mafuta replied as tears began to fall from her eyes. "Is she alright? IS SHE STILL ALIVE?"
"Calm down, Mafuta," Buli said as she put a paw on Mafuta's shoulder. "Nesibindi, is Themanini's heart still beating?"
"Yes, I think so...," Nesibindi answered as he listened and felt Themanini's chest.
"She's alive," Buli said to Mafuta. "She'll be alright..."
"But she collasped!" Mafuta sobbed. "I was sure she was dead!"
"She may have fainted," Nesibindi said as he stared at Themanini. "She looks very thin. She's probably dehydrated, too."
"I'm going to hunt in the Sametu Pride's land," Mafuta announced. "Mum needs to eat something soon or else she'll starve to death."
"But Mafuta, it would be dangerous!" Nesibindi said. "The Sametu Pride is selfish, they might attack you if you go there!"
"I don't care, Mum needs to eat," Mafuta said and ran out before Buli or Nesibindi could stop her.
"There...," Kuu sneered as she and her three friends stared at a black lion in the distance. "Luckily, he's easy to scare, so we can frighten him out of our territory, just like last time...."
"But that was a long time ago," Ukaidi said. "He might be braver and stronger now!"
"I doubt it," Kuu laughed.
"Kuu!" Kamwe gasped. "Look!" They turned around and saw Mafuta stalking some gazelles in the distance.
"Ah, so the new lioness has returned...," Kuu sneered. "You girls stay here, I'll deal with the lioness."
As Mafuta carefully stalked her prey, she noticed the sound of someone running. It got louder and louder, until Mafuta heard Kuu say, "Hello, Zbuga Ma Mefetu, or whatever your name is!"
Mafuta growled and unsheathed her claws. "Mbegu Za Mafuta! And I'm not here to cause trouble, only to get food for my mother."
"Well, you can't!" Kuu smirked. "You aren't allowed to hunt in our land, Mafuta!"
"Why not?" Mafuta asked.
"You're banned from our territory!"
"What?" Mafuta exclaimed.
"King Utu and Queen Tawala decided you and your friends must be banished," Kuu explained. "They think you steal, and cannot trust you rogues!"
"They... They're stupid!" Mafuta growled. "At least we aren't selfish like you!"
"Anyway, you're banned, so you cannot hunt here," Kuu said. "So go now before I tell the pride you're in our territory!"
Mafuta growled again before she ran back to the den. Kuu grinned, pleased that Mafuta was gone.
"KUU!" Kuu turned around and saw Kitisho, Ukaidi and Kamwe running towards her.
"He... He's here! He's entered our land!" Ukaidi panted.
Kuu gasped. "Let's go!" She shouted to her friends as she ran away as fast as she could. "We must get him out while he's still around the border!"
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