Isha’s side rose and fell slowly with the tides of her breath as she napped fitfully in the oppressive heat. Sighing with resignation, she gave up and rolled upright, licking a forepaw absently as she began to groom herself. She mentally cursed the drought which gripped the land in its dry and thirsty clutches and again wondered if the mumbling overheard from the hyena seers were true; that Taka had lowered a curse on the land and the rain was gone for good.
Motion at the cave mouth caught her eye, and she glanced over to see her son trot in, tired and dusty. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, kiddo.” Isha reached out with a paw and swept him to her, nuzzling his side.
He wriggled uncomfortably. “OW!”
Isha flinched and looked him over. There was an ugly scratch on his flank. “What happened to you? Have you been fighting?”
“No, but I sure wanted to. Kombi knocked me over when we were playing. He and Togo always push me around.”
Isha rolled her eyes and sighed. “Those two! At least it’s not too bad, Honey Tree.”
“Yeah, but Mom, Lisani was there!”
Isha’s mouth made a soundless “Ohhh.”
A rough growl escaped the cub and he scuffed the floor angrily. “I wish I was bigger and meaner. I’d show them!”
Isha slapped her tail idly at an annoying fly. “And what would you show them?”
“I’d give them a pawful of claws across the nose, that’s what I’d do!”
“Habu, you would not.” Lisani’s warm voice drifted into his ear as she snuggled up from behind him. “You’re too sweet to be mean like they are.”
Habu’s ears flattened and he writhed in embarrassment. “Sometimes I want to be mean, though. When people deserve it. If I was strong and powerful like Simba, I wouldn’t take that stuff off ‘em.”
Isha blinked. “Another lion once thought as you did, son.”
“Huh?”
“He thought that if he was strong and powerful, it would solve all his problems. He found out how to become the strongest and most powerful lion. And you know something? His name was Habusu. I named you after him.”
“Oh?” Habusu settled into a sphinx, with Lisani sprawling comfortably against him. “What did he do? Did it work?”
Isha smiled and shook her head. “Not exactly...
“Long ago, a lion named Habusu lived with his wife among the grasses of the savanna. They were a happy couple, but seldom got to spend time together; Habusu was ever on his guard to defend his mate and territory from intruders.
“One day he was confronted by three brothers who approached him, roaring challenges. Habusu fought bravely, but was overcome; they sent him running in fear, jeering and shouting epithets at his back as he ran.”
Habu frowned. “What’s an epithet?”
Isha grinned. “It’s those naughty words Togo and Kombi use.”
“Ohh! You mean like--”
“Ah-AH! Not in my cave, please.” Isha cleared her throat and continued. “Habusu had to flee as the three brothers took everything he had; his lands, his food, even his mate. In tears he wandered away into the wilderness, railing bitterly against his fate. “Would that I could avenge myself upon those who torment me!
“Suddenly a black lioness emerged from the grass nearby. Such a thing is rarely seen, and he took it as an omen.
“‘What is wrong, traveler?’
“‘My mate, my home, all is lost! I would give anything to regain them, anything!’
“‘Did you say anything? If you would really be avenged, go to the holy lake of Mara, and drink your fill; for then you shall be like the Nisei themselves; immortal and invulnerable.’
“Habusu was dubious. ‘It is forbidden; the lake is for the spirits themselves, and not for a simple lion.’
“‘Did you not hear the cries of your mate as she was wrested from you? No simple lion could save her, yet one blessed with the milk could cleanse the land; indeed, Aiheu Himself would smile upon your quest!’
“Now these were lies, for the black lioness was one of the grand Makei, the race of those separated from God. The lake was indeed forbidden to mortals, and for good reason. Yet Habusu set out for the lake of Mara confident that God had answered his prayers.
“He encountered many obstacles on his way, for Aiheu knew the temptations of Mara and accordingly set wards to bar the beings of Ma’at from his precious spring of life. Yet Habusu was pure of heart, and had set out on his journey out of love for his mate, and so won over the guardians that stood between him and his goal.”
“So then what happened?” asked Lisani.
“Well, Habusu eventually got to the lake forest itself, but his exertions had exhausted him, and he fell asleep in the cool glade. He was awakened the next morning by the sound of Koko the Gorilla making his rounds, for Koko is Aiheu’s most trusted guardian; he keeps all mortals from the lake itself. Bracing himself, Habusu made a dash for the shore.
“Koko thumped his chest angrily and blocked his way. ‘Go back, lion!’
“‘I seek only to drink from the lake my friend. I mean no harm.’
“‘You will drink from it indeed, but only when you have joined the kings of the past in their eternal rest.’
“Habusu growled deep in his chest. ‘Are you threatening me?’
“‘By Aiheu’s grace, I do not threaten, but tell you as a friend. Go hence from here, and find happiness, for you shall slake your thirst with woe should you drink here.’
“Habusu snarled angrily at Koko, for he only saw him as an obstacle to his goal. He fiercely he drove off the gorilla and knelt to drink. As he bent his whiskers to the milk of Mara, Koko called to him in vain, ‘You shall learn to regret what you have done!’
“’Then if it is my regret, it is no concern of yours.’ He drank anyway, and went home rejoicing. In a stream he saw his reflection. HE was a white lion like Mano; his fur white as the snow on the mountains, and his eyes as blue as the vault of Heaven above. Indeed on his way home the very enemies he had faced as obstacles ran from him or fell to the ground and kissed his feet.
“At last Habusu returned to his homelands. And he found the three brothers and terrified them, charging in among them and striking fiercely, for he feared no fang nor claw; immortal, like Mano, he suffered no wound from the creatures of Ma’at. At last, his enemies were set fleeing, and he stood proudly before his mate. ‘Look, love, look what I have done!’
“A terrible fear and sadness filled her. ‘Oh gods,’ she moaned, ‘what have you done to yourself, my husband?’
“‘I am like the Nisei, free of the accursed bonds of earth. Come, my wife, join me, and we will live together in love forever!’
“’This cannot be! One day I shall lie down and give up my Ka to Aiheu to be with him forever. Husband, you have left the path we walked together! Do you not see that one day we should be separated, and not for a while but forever??’
“Habusu was stricken with grief and he begged Aiheu to take the gift away but Aiheu said, ‘Did not Koko, my servant, try to warn you?? Did he not say there would be consequences??"
"’Then convince my wife to drink as well.’
"’What?? And double the mistake??’
And so before him she grew old while he remained young. Finally she was in her old age. She had become receptive, and he came to her, purring words of love into her ear. ‘Let us make love.’
“But she denied him, saying ‘I am sore and tired. No more shall I know my husband's pleasures. Find yourself a younger wife, that she may please you for a while before she too grows old. Someday you shall forget me.’
"Habusu was stricken. ‘Never! I shall never forget you! And I shall remain faithful, my dear wife, till we are reunited in death!’
"We will never be reunited. You have chosen a different path that leads you apart from me.” She kissed his cheek tenderly. “Goodbye, my love. I wish you all happiness.’
“‘Where are you going?’ he asked, frightened.
“‘I journey to the West, where Aiheu awaits me.’ She fondled his cheek with a paw, then slipped into death.”
Habu and Lissie huddled together. “Aiheu let him die, didn’t he?” Habu was agitated. “I mean, if he was very sorry, or did something very brave??”
Isha kissed him. “Let me finish. Habusu was devastated. ‘Oh Aiheu, that I should die some strange and painful way, I would yet be set free of this burden!"
“I knew it!” Habu said. “I knew there would be a way out!”
“Aiheu denied him.”
Habu’s ears fell flat against his head and he sighed. “That was a sad story.”
“Just wait.”
“Does he make her alive again? They’re together forever, aren’t they?? That’s it--that MUST be it!”
“Who’s telling this story? You, or me?” Isha kissed him. “He then awoke on the forest floor near the lake of Mara. His paw before him was golden. Before him stretched the lake. Though years had seemed to pass, it was only a dream, one which Aiheu granted him as a final warning to the foolish.”
“Yes!!” Habu gave Lisani a long, wet lick on the cheek, then went and rubbed his mother.
“Koko spotted him and started to forbid him access, but Aiheu spoke, saying, "He has come a long way. Let him refresh himself."
"‘Thank you, I should rather not, Lord. Not if you offered it freely.’"
"‘But if you will not drink, is there something else I may offer you?"
"‘Yes, my Lord. That I may be a good husband and father, and rule my land with wisdom and compassion."
"‘You have chosen the good portion, my son. A good lion shall you be, but also I shall protect you from your enemies all the days of your life, that no rival shall put fear in your heart."
“And when Habusu left the Lake of Mara, the Lord Aiheu drained it that no more would his children be tempted. And to this day when a lion is named Habusu it is in the hope that he will be as good as his namesake.”
Isha reached out and caressed her son’s gentle face with a paw. “That is why I named you Habusu. I can see the love in your heart, just as I saw it in your father...and I know that wherever he is, that he’s very proud of his son.”
Habusu sat content in his mother’s embrace and draped a paw over Lisani, who purred quietly.