Shauku didn't need to seek out her cub this time. He was looking for her. He'd had his fun re-enacting the scenarios she described about Indlovu and the history had opened up a new sense of appreciation for the story telling his Mother had been doing. The stories had started out as fantasy and eventually grew to becoming history. Hlaziya had fallen for the history. "We'll start soon." The lioness told her cub warmly. She'd bee preparing some small tokens for her litter. The tokens were meant to be unique for each cub and made by her paw, with some help from their allied gorillas. The tokens would likely have to wait now.

Finally she turned to him. "Do you know who we'll talk about next?" She queried him lightly. At first he hadn't been sure of the answer, but it was clear that he was thinking quite hard about the question. "Someone had said the name, but I can't remember Mom. Sorry." Ashamed of his memory his ears flipped back briefly, but didn't remain that way for long. "It's okay. You'll know them all by the time we're done. Or at least most of them." She reminded herself that only those that would catch his interest would likely float about his memory for long.

"Today we are discussing the Mnyama era." She began as the pair settled in sitting facing each other. Again Hlaziya was set up with a snack had even brought along a little wooden lion toy he had. "It's a good thing you brought your friend because todays story gets a little scary." She admitted to him. With Mnyama brought a dark time.

"To begin the story of Mnyama we have to start with the end of Indlovu. In her passing came our next Malenga, Ma`gxila. She was the eldest grand daughter of Indlovu and brought a number of changes. Among those changes were the development of instruments, primarily drums. It was found that no one could seem to stomp the way Indlovu did - not anymore." She smiled fondly, but Hlaziya bore a said look on his face. Clearly the disappearance of stomps had disappointed him. "Don't be sad, we still stomp in our songs, but the drums help us." That made the cub brighten a small amount, but not completely. "Ma`gxila was the reason Mnyama was being trained to become the next Malenga, but it wasn't meant to be. During her youth she found and fell in love with a rogue lion that had begun to hang around our borders." She paused for effect - a gasp was received.

"Most times this is harmless, we have had many rogues enter our borders. Most of them enjoy what our home has to offer and stay, they become part of our traditions and honor the arts as we do." Her eyes became sad. "This was not what happened for Mnyama and her rogue. The rogues name was Lubisi and he had no intentions of joining the pride, but instead chose to court the Malenga to be anyway." The curious cub intervened with her continuing the story briefly to gag a little bit. "Ew, she didn't become the Malenga because of a boy?" He asked. This question received a laugh from Shauku. "Yes, unfortunately it happens."

"Eventually he did convince her to leave. Shortly after she disappeared the pride dove into something known as the Ukuhlwa`inkathi..." Before she could define the new words she heard Hlaziya whisper to himself. "The dark times." The cub had surprised her yet again. Amazing. "Yes Hlaziya, the dark times."

"Do you recall what happened during this era to create the dark times?" Surely if he knew of the name he must know what had happened. To her surprise he was quick to respond. "Yes. It was the time when a lot of lions got really really sick." The proud look on his face was inspiring. "You're correct. A plague passed through the pride like a reckoning. It destroyed many lives, both young and old. Those who out lived the plague were left to mourn those who hadn't been so lucky. But following dark times we tend to find some light - should the world be kind. The god of arts, Kazi`Malaiki, brought our pride back from the brink of destruction. Imparting strength on to those left and with his help brought the dawning of our next era, Nsundu." Without failure Hlaziya was struck with awe once again and his eyes grew wide.

"A god helped us!" The word had only be heard by him in passing. It was hearsay that gods existed even if they were part of their traditions. He felt as though he'd need to see one before believing fully. "What is a god like? Do they act like us? Are they nice?" A raised paw, just like before, stopped the cub in his tracks. "Let me answer your questions from last time first." He nodded slowly, not entirely remembering what his excited little brain had asked before. "You had wanted to know how long a Malenga stays in her position.. the answer can differ based on reasoning's in the current situation." She waited to make sure he was following. "For example, you know my good friend Nantale?" He nodded. "She stepped down when she felt like she could no longer handle the position and needed some time away from it. It's as honorable as any leave. She recognized when she needed to let someone else step in." Hlaziya nodded again.

"So you took over to help Nantale?" He asked. The lioness had been a prominent part of life since returning home. It had been clear to him that she and his Mom had been close. "Yes, she asked if I'd step in and that is why I am who I am today." She smiled, but in a sad way. Hlaziya didn't pick up on that detail right away and continued on. "So what about Indlovu? Or Ma`gxila?" He queried.

"Ah. Indlovu passed away shortly before the title was passed onto her granddaughter. Ma`gxila would have passed that same title onto her daughter when she became of age or Ma`gxila had passed away." Then came the big questions he had been expecting. "Is the Malenga always a girl?" Shauku hadn't kept that detail a secret by any means. "Yes, they are always a girl." This didn't disappoint the young male, but he did grow more curious. "Why?"

"Tradition." Was her answer, but she knew he'd ask for more later. "Why don't you scamper along, we will continue again tomorrow." Reluctantly he did. Hlaziya had yet to hear the answers to his god questions and so he was not excited to leave, but he did as he was told.