It was said that long ago lions used to come from the night stars. It only made sense, since many believed that the night time sky is where great kings ended up. The Kusini'Mwezi established a long time ago, and every time a fallen star was spotted elders whispered that births would be coming, new life would be springing up. Comet showers always meant that the year would boom, populace increase would be a sure thing and all would be well.
For many ages, a rumor that a blue star could be seen in the sky, right near the horizon. Stories and myths were created, foretelling why this star was blue as opposed to white like the rest of the bright, glowing lights. None of their stories were ever proven; this is because one night a large storm blew in. It was like a storm no lion had ever seen, it raged on for days over Africa, spewing out sheets of hard, pelting water and flashes of lightening. It lasted for a total of six days, in which many lions became sick and died.
Rain was a blessed thing, but too much of a good thing killed. On the following night of the long-lived storm the stars sparkled as brightly as ever. But all over the south murmurs were made. Where was the blue star? It was missing! There could be only one answer, the star had fallen and somewhere another lion was born.
Was this lion important? An answer to the rogue life? Would it come and sweep these lions off of their paws, so to speak? All of these would be answered, or so the lions thought, from one prophecy made by a mysterious lioness. No one knew if she was magical or not, god or mortal, but they did believe in her prophecies. How it went, many lions could tell you.
He comes, He comes.
Delivered from the skies of sea,
as the blue miracle goes missing.
Chaos spreads through the hearts of many,
but he comes.
Entering on the back of Autumn’s dying breath,
he that shows promise.
He binds the unruly together.
In power lies his demise,
in loyalty lays his savior.
His downfall surely means equilibrium to all,
His survival leads to sure destruction.
He comes; He comes,
pray that the day comes
when he leaves again,
to return to his home of eternal loneliness.
In it tells of a savior, though much of the prophecy the lions choose to ignore, fearing how true it could be. Would destruction come to their population?
For the next two years the lions were still in a bit of a panic, a dull confusion. Stars had not been falling as often as they once had, in fact, they barely fell at all. Many became sick; they feared their race was dying off. They did not know that many of their kind traveled beyond the south, in areas to the north, west, and east. Their world was the south.
The hunts had been failing, and even the vegetation had been slowly dying. Where was their savior? The blue star? They were growing low in spirit, and did not know what to do. They had no one to look to, except for the slim chance that prophecy would come true, even if only a little.
On one of the last days of Autumn, on the second year, their prayers seemed to be answered. The winds were blowing strong that day, and into their midst a stranger came. Proud in his standing he was, fur of an odd gray that sometimes seemed to sparkle gray. His mane was full and lush, although pure white in color at such an early age. His eyes sparkled with a quiet intelligence, a deep, midnight blue.
It took him only one year to establish a pride amongst their ranks, slowly climbing to the top and claiming himself as their king. Shooting stars could be seen often again, hunting was getting better, and the sick were no more. He was the blue star of which they all dreamed about, there was no doubt in their minds.
He called himself Nili'Nyota.
With him as their leader they thrived, and lasted many long years. Though he was growing old, and many worried because he had not picked a heir to the throne, nor did he fall in love or have cubs. Ten long years it had been, but changes had slipped in here and there. He we power hungry, and deceived them many times. He began to receive more food rations; he raised close friends to the elder positions. Births were not as often, and laughter happened less and less.
The pride was slowly rolling into a valley, a deep valley; No, a pit. And at the bottom lay their doom. They could not imagine that their precious savior would try and rule them so strictly, but he had.
In the next few years, surely his time of death was near; births were restricted to only when he allowed them. Hunts were less, many died. The elderly were cast out from the pride and were told to fend for themselves.
It was whispered throughout the pride that the eusibaridi had taken him, the black wind. It was rumored to consume souls, turn them evil. Though rebellion was springing up, quietly and insignificantly, but it would grow.
One of the younger lions, Eupe'Nyoya was forming a group to resist the evils that were now Nili'Nyota. They provided meat for the others, though it would be when hunting was strictly forbidden. A few of the mated pairs even dared to start the cycle of life again, but were quickly sent out of the pride; banned.
The day finally came when Eupe had gathered most of the pride into believing that Nili should be no more. A fight between Nili and Eupe began a bloody and dreadful fight. It was a sad day, seeing their once beloved savior finally be put down.
Though he gathered many wounds, Eupe won the battle. Nili lay dead after the fight, in a pool of mixed blood; both his own and Eupe?s. Nili's loyal friends ran that day, and again the former pride was put into chaos and confusion.
It took two years for things to go back to a semi-normal state, Eupe slowly set up a pride. Though to ensure power would never corrupt him he began the tradition of four elders, guides that would help him rule the lands. Other jobs were set up, such as head huntress. Never again would the king be able to say who was allowed to hunt, or when. It was the head's job now.
As time progressed so did the pride, new things were learned. Such as herbs, and how they help heal. One lion began to devote himself solely to the study of herbs, and thus the tradition began.
Ever so slowly the belief in stars died out, or was not spoken out loud. Only a few still believed that lions were born from stars, and died as stars. Eupe slowly turned them to pray to the goddess of Harvest, whom determined if they would have a good year or not.
Good years meant many births, plenty to hunt and good weather conditions. Bad years meant just the opposite, and it was much easier to live on.
Generations passed, until it was the time of Mng'ariza's generation. She did not stay in the pride; she decided a life of exploring would be better. It was the year the plague swept the lands. It had a devastating effect on the Kusini'Mwezi. At least 3/4ths of the pride was killed off, the others wandered. Only one remained faithful to the lands; Madakata, the great elder female.
Ari was destined to return to the lands, with her mate and family. Slowly she would reestablish the great pride, continue the lines of the Kusini.
Only few know of the rebirthed pride know the true history of the Kusini'mwezi. Most knowledge was lost with the last disbanding of the pride. Rumor has it, the 'keepers' of the Kuzimbi'mwitu (a pride of legend), guard over the history, and in troubled times will make their presence known.
The pride resides west of the Sacred Lands. Only the Mkulima live on the old territory of the Kusini lands, working on bringing it back to it's former glory.
The Sacred Lands may be used as a crossing point to go between the old territory to new. Old members are hesitant to use it.
The old river that use to serve as the eastern border of the pride has dried up, which makes the land easily accessible from the east. The forest border still proves to be a challenge to those not accustomed to the maze. Arirsalas with the ability to sense nearby rogues will seek out those lost in the forest and escort them into the pride.
Reply
