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The Quiet Before the Storm part 15

*Warning, major sadness coming up*

Little Manufaa proved to be an energetic, outgoing cub. He loved nothing more than to run as fast as his stubby little legs would carry him, stumbling around with his big cubby paws, giggling the whole time. There were no other cubs in the pride for him to play with just yet, but Nyeusi and Shari were trying for an heir, and Masilhai hoped it was only a matter of time before there were new playmates for her son.

No one seemed to enjoy running with the boy more than Ahadi. Masilahi had never seen her mate so happy as in the months after their son's birth. He was completely besotted with the cub. The prince who had once been determined to love no one seemed to love this cub with every fiber of his being.

Those hopes were dashed straight from her mind the day Manufaa starting wailing about his stommach hurting. He was now two years old, hardly able to clearly articulate the source of his discomfort, but he'd seemed unusually quiet the day before. Masilahi leaned worriedly over her cub, paw running soothingly down his back. “Shh, what's wrong honey?”

Manufaa just shook his head, trembling all over. Masilahi was starting to get truly worried. His moans and wails had subsided a while ago, and now he was just trembling silently, eyes wide. This silence scared her far more than his wailing. Cubs cried over everything – but only true pain can drive them to silence.

The cub convulsed, coughing violently. Masilahi stiffened in horror when she saw specks of red spatter to the ground as her son coughed. Blood.

Horror froze her paws for a few moments. When she could move again, she immediately pulled Manufaa in close to her chest, hugging him close with as gentle of paws as she could manage. “Shh, it's all right 'Nufaa, you're all right son.” Her mouth ran on without her noticing, her thoughts racing. Blood. Manufaa had been coughing blood. She didn't know much about healing or illness, but she knew that wasn't good.

The two were sunning on top of Pride Rock. The rest of the lionesses were gone on a hunt, but Zuzu was perched on a ledge nearby. Masilahi called her over in as calm a voice as she could muster. The bird flapped over, her smile fading as she took in Masilahi's expression. “Yes Masilahi?” The bird knew Masilahi's true name now, as did Nyonda, but Uru was still the name used among the pride.

Masilahi fought to keep her voice even. “Zuzu, go find Hakimu and Busara.” The old baboon and his apprentice would know how what to do. “Then see if you can find Ahadi and bring him here.” The bird took off without a word, leaving Masilahi alone with the quietly moaning cub.

Several minutes passed before the baboons finally arrived. Hakimu was old and blind, but his healing knowledge and prophetic powers were so vast that he was allowed to continue his work beyond the normal age. Busara was almost as skilled as his old mentor at this point, and the pride was glad that he would be the one to take over when Hakimu inevitably passed on.

The old baboon took Manufaa with gentle hands, his sightless gaze fixed eeiriely on Masilahi. “Has he said anything?”

The princess nodded. “He said his stomach was hurting earlier.”

Hakimu nodded sagely. He almost seemed to have expected the answer. With gentle fingers, he felt at the cub's stomach, ignoring his high-pitched protests. He froze for a moment, his expression becoming grave. Masilahi's blood froze.

He gently handed her the cub back, shaking his head sadly. “I am sorry, my princess. I am so, so sorry.”

“Why?” Her throat felt raw, like the words were being clawed from her. “What's wrong? What is it?!” She knew she was getting a little hysterical, but the defeated expression Hakimu wore had her terrified.

In a solemn tone, Hakimu explained, “I've seen this only a few times before. It's an unnatural growth of the stomach. I do not know what causes it. It usually does not happen in one so young, but it's not unheard of.” He lowered his head. “Milady, there is no cure. I'm so, so sorry.”

“No cure? What do you mean?!? There has to be something, anything you can do!”

The baboon shook his head sadly. “I'm sorry,” was all he would say.

This wasn't real. It couldn't be. This wasn't her life. She screwed her eyes shut, holding Manufaa close to her. If she just lay here, if she just waited, when she opened her eyes everything would be back to normal. Manufaa would be healthy and happy as always, and everything would be as it was. All she had to do was wait.

Masilahi felt tears burning at the back of her eyes, but she didn't truly lose it. Not until she heard pawsteps on the smooth rock surface and her mate's voice asking, “Uru, what's going on? Is Manufaa okay?”

The lioness finally lost herself to her sobs, cradling her bewildered son close to her. She could no longer control the tears, and she made no effort. Ahadi rushed immediately to her side, pulling her close into an embrace, but all Masilahi could do was sob into his mane.

SCENEBREAK

Just like when Mohatu died, Ahadi was again shown just how quickly life could change. But this was different. Mohatu had been his father, but Manufaa was his son, his two-year-old son, and he felt as though his heart was being torn from his chest.

Over the next few days, Manufaa lost a terrifying amount of weight. He refused to eat, groaning that it hurt his tummy, and nothing he ate stayed down. The cub was soon reduced to a pitiful creature of skin and bones. Ahadi and Masilahi did absolutely everything in their power, but nothing they did, no food or amount of care, seemed to do anything to help. Manufaa was wasting away right in front of them, and there was absolutely nothing they could do. Ahadi had never felt so helpless in his life.

It was a warm day, the sunlight warming the surface of Pride Rock. The others were all gone on hunts. Even Masilahi had finally been forced to leave her son behind. Hunting had been hard of late, and they needed all the lionesses doing their part. The only ones left on Pride Rock were Ahadi and Manufaa.

The little cub was lying quietly between Ahadi's paws. He was barely more than skin and bones now. Ahadi was grooming the cub, numbly running through the motions. As his tongue sleeked his son's fur back into place, he could feel how his skin was stretched tight over bone. He felt as though claws were ripping at his chest, tearing open his old scars.

The silence was broken by a moan from Manufaa. “Where's Mommy?” the cub mumbled. His voice sounded rough, dulled by exhaustion.

Ahadi ran a soothing tongue over the boy's head, trying to hide the way his heart was hammering away. “Hunting. She'll be back soon, little one.”

Manufaa shifted until he was lying more comfortably between his father's paws. “Stowy,” he said suddenly. His bright green eyes were peering up imploringly at Ahadi. “Want stowy, Daddy.”

Ahadi was surprised. “You want to hear a story?” The boy usually never wanted to sit still long enough to hear a full story. Nevertheless, Ahadi racked his brain for something, anything to tell the boy. “I'll tell you about how the King and Queen took me in when I was just a little cub like you.” In a slightly choked voice, he began the story of how he came to live in the Pride Lands. How Mohatu and Safi had taken him in and loved him like a son. The way he loved Manufaa now.

Sometime during the story, Ahadi realzied how silent Manufaa had been. He looked down to see the cub lying completely still between his paws. He froze, his throat seizing up. “Manufaa?” The name came out in a hoarse whisper, but the cub didn't respond. Ahadi became frantic, nuzzling the boy and repeating his name until he was hoarse, but the cub remained silent. He was gone.

Ahadi began to tremble all over, his body racked by violet sobs. He clutched his son's body close to him, sobbing his name desperately. “Manufaa. My poor Manufaa. Oh Great Kings, why?”

The world had never seemed so cruel.

------------------------------

For anyone wondering, Manufaa died of gastric cancer.

Sorry to anyone here hoping for a happy ending. This is, after all, the story of the two lions who raised Scar. Something was bound to go wrong at some point. And this isn't the end of the sadness. It all pretty much goes downhill from here, so if you're looking for a happy ending, this isn't the place to find it.

And I'm sorry about Manufaa, but he had to go.

Oh, and I know Ahadi's face looks weird in his panel. Let's ignore that please and chalk it up to that pose being freaking hard and me not wanting to bother with his face much after drawing it.

Description
Prologue: [link]
Previous: [link]
Next: [link]

The Quiet Before the Storm part 15

*Warning, major sadness coming up*

Little Manufaa proved to be an energetic, outgoing cub. He loved nothing more than to run as fast as his stubby little legs would carry him, stumbling around with his big cubby paws, giggling the whole time. There were no other cubs in the pride for him to play with just yet, but Nyeusi and Shari were trying for an heir, and Masilhai hoped it was only a matter of time before there were new playmates for her son.

No one seemed to enjoy running with the boy more than Ahadi. Masilahi had never seen her mate so happy as in the months after their son's birth. He was completely besotted with the cub. The prince who had once been determined to love no one seemed to love this cub with every fiber of his being.

Those hopes were dashed straight from her mind the day Manufaa starting wailing about his stommach hurting. He was now two years old, hardly able to clearly articulate the source of his discomfort, but he'd seemed unusually quiet the day before. Masilahi leaned worriedly over her cub, paw running soothingly down his back. “Shh, what's wrong honey?”

Manufaa just shook his head, trembling all over. Masilahi was starting to get truly worried. His moans and wails had subsided a while ago, and now he was just trembling silently, eyes wide. This silence scared her far more than his wailing. Cubs cried over everything – but only true pain can drive them to silence.

The cub convulsed, coughing violently. Masilahi stiffened in horror when she saw specks of red spatter to the ground as her son coughed. Blood.

Horror froze her paws for a few moments. When she could move again, she immediately pulled Manufaa in close to her chest, hugging him close with as gentle of paws as she could manage. “Shh, it's all right 'Nufaa, you're all right son.” Her mouth ran on without her noticing, her thoughts racing. Blood. Manufaa had been coughing blood. She didn't know much about healing or illness, but she knew that wasn't good.

The two were sunning on top of Pride Rock. The rest of the lionesses were gone on a hunt, but Zuzu was perched on a ledge nearby. Masilahi called her over in as calm a voice as she could muster. The bird flapped over, her smile fading as she took in Masilahi's expression. “Yes Masilahi?” The bird knew Masilahi's true name now, as did Nyonda, but Uru was still the name used among the pride.

Masilahi fought to keep her voice even. “Zuzu, go find Hakimu and Busara.” The old baboon and his apprentice would know how what to do. “Then see if you can find Ahadi and bring him here.” The bird took off without a word, leaving Masilahi alone with the quietly moaning cub.

Several minutes passed before the baboons finally arrived. Hakimu was old and blind, but his healing knowledge and prophetic powers were so vast that he was allowed to continue his work beyond the normal age. Busara was almost as skilled as his old mentor at this point, and the pride was glad that he would be the one to take over when Hakimu inevitably passed on.

The old baboon took Manufaa with gentle hands, his sightless gaze fixed eeiriely on Masilahi. “Has he said anything?”

The princess nodded. “He said his stomach was hurting earlier.”

Hakimu nodded sagely. He almost seemed to have expected the answer. With gentle fingers, he felt at the cub's stomach, ignoring his high-pitched protests. He froze for a moment, his expression becoming grave. Masilahi's blood froze.

He gently handed her the cub back, shaking his head sadly. “I am sorry, my princess. I am so, so sorry.”

“Why?” Her throat felt raw, like the words were being clawed from her. “What's wrong? What is it?!” She knew she was getting a little hysterical, but the defeated expression Hakimu wore had her terrified.

In a solemn tone, Hakimu explained, “I've seen this only a few times before. It's an unnatural growth of the stomach. I do not know what causes it. It usually does not happen in one so young, but it's not unheard of.” He lowered his head. “Milady, there is no cure. I'm so, so sorry.”

“No cure? What do you mean?!? There has to be something, anything you can do!”

The baboon shook his head sadly. “I'm sorry,” was all he would say.

This wasn't real. It couldn't be. This wasn't her life. She screwed her eyes shut, holding Manufaa close to her. If she just lay here, if she just waited, when she opened her eyes everything would be back to normal. Manufaa would be healthy and happy as always, and everything would be as it was. All she had to do was wait.

Masilahi felt tears burning at the back of her eyes, but she didn't truly lose it. Not until she heard pawsteps on the smooth rock surface and her mate's voice asking, “Uru, what's going on? Is Manufaa okay?”

The lioness finally lost herself to her sobs, cradling her bewildered son close to her. She could no longer control the tears, and she made no effort. Ahadi rushed immediately to her side, pulling her close into an embrace, but all Masilahi could do was sob into his mane.

SCENEBREAK

Just like when Mohatu died, Ahadi was again shown just how quickly life could change. But this was different. Mohatu had been his father, but Manufaa was his son, his two-year-old son, and he felt as though his heart was being torn from his chest.

Over the next few days, Manufaa lost a terrifying amount of weight. He refused to eat, groaning that it hurt his tummy, and nothing he ate stayed down. The cub was soon reduced to a pitiful creature of skin and bones. Ahadi and Masilahi did absolutely everything in their power, but nothing they did, no food or amount of care, seemed to do anything to help. Manufaa was wasting away right in front of them, and there was absolutely nothing they could do. Ahadi had never felt so helpless in his life.

It was a warm day, the sunlight warming the surface of Pride Rock. The others were all gone on hunts. Even Masilahi had finally been forced to leave her son behind. Hunting had been hard of late, and they needed all the lionesses doing their part. The only ones left on Pride Rock were Ahadi and Manufaa.

The little cub was lying quietly between Ahadi's paws. He was barely more than skin and bones now. Ahadi was grooming the cub, numbly running through the motions. As his tongue sleeked his son's fur back into place, he could feel how his skin was stretched tight over bone. He felt as though claws were ripping at his chest, tearing open his old scars.

The silence was broken by a moan from Manufaa. “Where's Mommy?” the cub mumbled. His voice sounded rough, dulled by exhaustion.

Ahadi ran a soothing tongue over the boy's head, trying to hide the way his heart was hammering away. “Hunting. She'll be back soon, little one.”

Manufaa shifted until he was lying more comfortably between his father's paws. “Stowy,” he said suddenly. His bright green eyes were peering up imploringly at Ahadi. “Want stowy, Daddy.”

Ahadi was surprised. “You want to hear a story?” The boy usually never wanted to sit still long enough to hear a full story. Nevertheless, Ahadi racked his brain for something, anything to tell the boy. “I'll tell you about how the King and Queen took me in when I was just a little cub like you.” In a slightly choked voice, he began the story of how he came to live in the Pride Lands. How Mohatu and Safi had taken him in and loved him like a son. The way he loved Manufaa now.

Sometime during the story, Ahadi realzied how silent Manufaa had been. He looked down to see the cub lying completely still between his paws. He froze, his throat seizing up. “Manufaa?” The name came out in a hoarse whisper, but the cub didn't respond. Ahadi became frantic, nuzzling the boy and repeating his name until he was hoarse, but the cub remained silent. He was gone.

Ahadi began to tremble all over, his body racked by violet sobs. He clutched his son's body close to him, sobbing his name desperately. “Manufaa. My poor Manufaa. Oh Great Kings, why?”

The world had never seemed so cruel.

------------------------------

For anyone wondering, Manufaa died of gastric cancer.

Sorry to anyone here hoping for a happy ending. This is, after all, the story of the two lions who raised Scar. Something was bound to go wrong at some point. And this isn't the end of the sadness. It all pretty much goes downhill from here, so if you're looking for a happy ending, this isn't the place to find it.

And I'm sorry about Manufaa, but he had to go.

Oh, and I know Ahadi's face looks weird in his panel. Let's ignore that please and chalk it up to that pose being freaking hard and me not wanting to bother with his face much after drawing it.