They were anxious to prevent Ambia from hurting their family, but they knew better than to run. Ambia would be well rested, and they must be prepared to fight him. At a fast trot, they headed across their old home for the last time. Every landmark was associated with a dozen memories. They quickly glanced about, trying to remember as much as they could. And Togo also glanced over at Kombi. He had a horrible feeling that one of them might not survive, and he wanted to remember his brother. Oh if there was only time to sit and talk! He had wasted the morning napping in the grass when he could have said so many things that were suddenly so important!
The three lions paused a moment at the border. The stream had always kept them in before. Now it would keep them out. As Simba had taught them to do, they bowed their heads to the ground at the bank of the stream and thanked their parents for giving them life. Then they headed into the water. Togo deliberately splashed water on his face to hide his tears.
No sooner did they emerge on the opposite bank than they could smell the new male’s mark. “Well, now we’re in trouble,” Kombi said. “At least some things never change.”
“He’s the one in trouble,” Togo said, shaking water out of his mane. “It’s either him or me. I’m not running.”
“Yeah. Me neither.”
Adhama briefly bowed before them. “Welcome home, my King. I touch your mane.”
Togo glanced at Kombi and nodded at him.
“I feel it,” Kombi said. Then he nuzzled his brother and whispered, “You’re OK, kid.”
There was an unearthly quiet over the land. No birds sang, no crickets chirped. Even the wind did not blow. Adhama expected to be met by some of the pride sisters. But there were no sentries, no messengers, no hunting parties. It seemed like the calm before the storm. Could it be that Ambia had forced one of the lionesses to reveal her plan? Were they walking into a trap?
They got to the Pride Kopje. Ambia was nowhere to be seen, but there were several lionesses around with pained expressions.
“Does he know?” Adhama asked. “Is he watching us?”
“He’s behind the rock--with Amara.”
Adhama’s jaw trembled. “Not my little girl! If he hurts her, I’ll kill him!”
Togo and Kombi crept quietly around the rock. They saw a large lion looking very smug. Lying on the ground with a paw over her face in shame was Amara.
Ambia got up and sauntered over to her. “Admit it, I’m fun to be with. Someday you’ll come to appreciate me.” Trembling, he nosed her slender thigh. “Try to relax this time. It will be good for you too.”
“Stop!” Togo cried.
“Says who??”
“The true king!” Kombi cried.
“The what??”
Togo and Kombi took advantage of his momentary surprise. They snarled and mounted a viscous frontal attack. Amara cowered back as Ambia flailed back at them with swipes of his bared claws and snaps of his powerful jaws. One well-placed blow and he could even up the match.
Suddenly, Ambia felt a hot pain rake down his back leg. He turned around for one fateful moment to look into the burning eyes of Amara. “Was it good for you too?” she hissed.
Before he could look back at Togo and Kombi, they grabbed him by the throat and forced him to the ground. Wide-eyed he stared up, pushing with his paws but unable to dislodge himself. As Togo’s grip threatened to crush his windpipe and choke the life out of him, Kombi came about to face the desperate opponent.
“Spare me!” he cried, gagging. “Spare me! I’ll go away and never come back!”
“Kiss her feet,” Togo said.
“What??”
“I said kiss her feet! Now DO IT!”
Trembling, Ambia crawled across the ground on his stomach toward Amara, kissing her forepaws, then rolling on his back. “Tell them to spare me! Please, for God’s sake!”
The lioness looked at Togo and Kombi. “He defiled me. Do with him what you will.”
Kombi came to him, raising his claws as if to rip him.
“Please, for God’s sake!” Ambia cried. “I surrender!”
Kombi smirked at him. “My mother always said to put personal feelings aside and have mercy on the helpless.”
“Oh thank God!”
“But you’re not dealing with my mother.” He raked Ambia’s face with his claws out. Ambia screamed hysterically, blood staining his cheek a bright crimson.
“Now you know how it feels. Get out!”
Ambia squirmed before Togo and Kombi. “I’m going! Thank you!”
Togo roared with his full voice, “You heard him--DO IT NOW!!”
The intruder bolted wild-eyed across the savanna and into the shelter of the rushes. It was safe to assume he was gone for good. The lion that terrorized lionesses and their cubs was a coward.
Then in the quiet left after the storm, lionesses and cubs came from the bushes and tall grass as if they were popping out of the ground. “Look everyone, it’s Ugas’ sons!”
Lionesses came from all sides and rubbed against them. Cubs stared at them, noting the uncanny resemblance Kombi had to Ugas.
“Is it safe now, Mommy?”
“Yes, honey tree.”
Togo nuzzled some of the small cubs. He turned on his back and began to play with them, the way he had played with Tanabi and Misha long ago, bouncing them on his legs.
Adhama saw that and began to cry. “Look, Kombi! Look at your brother! Ugas lives on in you!”
Kombi nuzzled her and pawed her cheek. “Auntie Adhama, I miss my mother, but it’s good to be home.” He went to Togo and whispered, “Hey, let's not mess this one up."
As everyone watched in gratitude and relief, Kombi climbed to the top of the kopje where Ambia had so recently held sway. But to Kombi it only meant one thing--it was where his father had ruled. It was the closest he would ever come to meeting Ugas in the world of Ma’at. Feeling his father’s blood surging in his veins, he lifted up his muzzle and roared--loudly. The lionesses answered him. He felt shivers go down his spine. As the echoes died away across the savanna, a distant reply caught his ears. His blood rushed as he recognized the voice of Simba answering him from the Pride Lands, acknowledging Kombi’s sovereignty and proclaiming his own. He heard Simba’s lionesses declare their allegiance as well, tears stinging his eyes as he recognized the voice of his mother. He bowed his head to the ground. “Thank you, God. It’s good to be alive.”