The King

The King. _{(TEMPORARY TITLE)}

It was a cold night in the savannah, everything seemed calm. The sound of rain, which had lasted many days already, washing the lands was soothing, announcing it was soon to stop. Despite that, several spots in the sky were clear, and allowed to see the deepness of a star filled sky, and a bright blueish moon. The far mountains could be seen from side to side through the short grass, majestic, giving the night strenght and power.

The only thing that perturbed such a perfect peace was a constant mewing. A cub, standing outside a cave's blocked entrance. It was cold, yes, and raining. his usually tawny fur was all damped, he was shivering and his mew was a cry, a cry to be let in, but he wouldn't be. Only one was near to hear his crying. Inside the cave, warm and comfortable, laid Noyana, his step mother. Nevertheless his mewing, she had managed to fall deeply asleep. The rocks she had blocked the entrance with were big and heavy, way too heavy for a cub this young to try to move, and climbing was also out of the question, his many scratches and twisted ankle were enough to discard that option.

Time is cruel, the night went by, and Zuri only got to fall asleep after the rain was over, an hour or two before the sun was blessing the lands with its life again. The birds were singing and rejoicing with the change of weather; several animals were around now, leaping antelopes, playful otters. Everything seemed to be in harmony and Zuri sleeping peacefuly outside the cave, smiling as he always did in his dreams, no matter how the world was just before falling asleep; his fur was begining to dry, it was only a bit wet now, though enough for it not to be soft yet. His features were more visible now, he had big ears and a long tail, his fur was gold, the color of the savannah grass, he was thin, but through his skin the figure of a great Lion could already be seen, especialy his stout legs. He was young, old enough to talk and walk, but still not a single trace of what would one day be his mane or tail tuft were visible.his eye patches were just the color of the rest of his fur, unlike the fur around his muzzle, that was lighter.

"ZURI!!", a scream run through the lands, startling the animals nearby that ran away quickly. Zuri opened his eyes, it was clear how much he had slept last night, or was it this morning?, he saw Noyana and let out a little smile to her. "Wake up Zuri, we have to go", he replied, "but mummy... I haven't slept yet, I'm very tired", to which she said, "Don't be lazy, Zuri, that way you'll never get to do anything. Wake up already, it's late for your training". Zuri streched and yawned, his still diminute, but sharp claws scratched the ground and grass below them as he did, sighing, knowing any further arguments would be useless, he proceded to nod and stand up, staring at his mother with sleepy eyes, "and take that face off, don't you think looking like that I'll let you sleep more, you have had enough.", she said, and so he shaked his head to wake up more, and replied, "where are we going today, mummy?", "you'll see, I don't want to tell you and set you up for it, better if it takes you by surprise", and began to pad off, he thank for a few moments, but finally followed her to wherever it was that they were going, just hoping it wouldn't be that bad today.