When Mabatu was three moons old, he went to his Auntie Isha for his nightly lesson in star lore. She had to cancel class because the sky was overcast. A bolt of lightning flashed and within moments it was raining heavily. That rain would be remembered for a long time because it was the last one before the drought.
Hunting had already begun to suffer in the Pride Lands because of the hyenas. Besides taking many of the best resting places, shedding hair and raising a smell that many lions called ‘oppressive’ or ‘downright disgusting,’ the hyenas ate a lot for animals their size. There were signs they hid away some of the prey as well. And while the lionesses never killed rabbits, their small carcasses were found more and more often. The hyenas were eating much better than the lions, and the issue began to raise some angry words among the Pride Sisters who had to hunt for their own cubs.
Then came the terrible draught that would be known for many years after as ‘Taka’s scourge.’ It seemed like an unfair name, but Rafiki assured them later that One-who-makes-rain was holding back the water because of Taka himself.
For the first week without rain, no one was alarmed. Two dry weeks seemed odd. Three weeks, and lionesses began to make remarks. But after four weeks without rain, hunting began to become an exercise in frustration.
Among the first to leave the Pride Lands were the hunters. Timid at first, but progressively more bold, the cheetahs would stand the humiliation of a shamefully long wait to see the king. Then Taka would listen politely to their complaints, say something patronizing, and dismiss them.
Eventually the cheetahs left, followed shortly by the leopards that haunted the edges of the Pride Lands. Before the drought was over, the foxes, wild dogs, and eagles would desert the land. Only the vultures never left, but they had their eyes on Pride Rock and bigger game.
Little Baba’s appetite was growing along with his body. His “Uncle Taka” had to work harder to find enough for him to eat. As the river receded, several shallow pools formed along the edges where fish were trapped. The hyenas tended to raid theose as soon as they formed, though the lionesses eventually caught on and would keep a watchful eye along the bank. Those fish were all that stood between them and starvation, and they dared the hyenas to touch them under pain of death. Taka used his royal privilege, however, and brought Baba a couple of large fish. When Baba turned from them, Taka sighed and said morosely, “But I caught them myself just for you.”
Baba sniffed of them again and tried one. It was not bad, and he quickly downed it with a look of pleasure. Then he started to eat the other, but stopped. “What are you going to eat?”
“I’ll find something.”
“Here.” He shoved the fish over to Taka. “You eat this one.”
Taka looked into Mabatu’s face, stunned. “What a kind thing to do,” he said, giving him a warm nuzzle. “I love you, Baba.”
“I love you too.”