The young male, Lutalo, had not been able to find Maawio and now Amari was beginning to fear the worst. If she was not at home, tucked up safe, then she might have been out there during the battle and he was afraid - far too afraid - to go picking amongst the ruins in fear of what he might find.
He was old. So old.
His bones ached; the joints popping as he moved along the easy terrain. The fur on his face was more grey than brown, now, and his eyes were tired. So very tired. This was not how he had pictured his passing. He had wanted to be tucked up at home with his mate at his side, nuzzle against her fur and drift away into that endless sleep. But now he had the feeling that this wasn't going to happen and it broke him inside. His heart...it was as if it were missing; nothing there now but a gaping, dark, chill hole. If she was gone what was left for him here? Nothing. He'd want to follow after her. But he was afraid. Very afraid.
Death. It was so final. So...unknown.
Everyone had their own ideas on what happened after death. Some believed it wasn't a death at all, but a moving into another land. Amari believed in the circle of life but he had never really considered that one day he would shift into another part of that circle. A part where he could not roar and roam and bathe in the sun. Would the circle bring him back here? Would he, reborn, be standing here in a new skin; a new body, someday? Or was this it? His only life? His only chance at happiness. Had Maawio left him behind? Could he follow her if he wished for it hard enough?
He sat heavily and lifted his dull eyes to look around him. He was close to the borders, but in a part that had not been savaged by battle. He was certain he could still smell death on the wind, but perhaps it was simply his imagination. Perhaps he needed to move a bit further. Maybe the air was fresher out there. Towards the lands of his son and his family.
Chunuka - no, not Chunuka - Beshtetu was only across that expanse. Not too far. Perhaps he could get there, pay them a visit and tell them that he was....that he was dying. That he didn't want to be alone when that happened. That he thought that Maawio was...was gone.
Gone.
He hauled himself back to his paws and continued on, though he dithered as he sensed himself reaching the edge of the territory. This place was his home. Did he want to die outside of it? Away from what he knew? What he was comfortable with? Which was the lesser of two evils? He sat again and heaved a great sigh of despair.
"Maawio..." His eyes closed. "Where are you?"
"Oh, look, Saren. This one's lost. Away from the safety of his home." There was a sharp tutting. "What are we to do? Help him?"
The response was a snicker of cruel laughter. "Yes. Lets. We can put him out of his misery."
"You are miserable, aren't you, old one?"
The old pridelander startled, immediately lifting himself back onto his paws. And, across the way, a hyena and jackal stalked him. They both looked relatively unharmed and fresh - perhaps they had hung back out of the battle to wait for this opportunity? He could smell blood on the jackal, though, and spied a wound on his neck. Ah, perhaps they had fought, then.
"You hyenas still here? Why don't you learn when to admit defeat? We won." He tried to sound brave but his voice croaked in a rather weak tone.
The hyena looked taken aback. "Won? Won?! Seems like I missed something." She stalked closer, her powerful body making him suddenly fearful.
"You...are not Mava'Bunda?"
"Mava-what?"
"I warn you now, hyena; you'd best leave before the guards come. There are many who wouldn't hesitate to tear you to pieces."
"They won't come quick enough to save you, fool. You should have stayed holed up in those lands of yours. You'd have been safe there."
"If you are not with the others, why are you even here? Why would you pick a fight with me?" Amari demanded, his ears pinning back against his mane.
"Because I hate lions with a passion. Because I am bored. Because I'm in a particularly bad mood today; ever since that filthy cat ruined my hunt." She blinked, clearing her nose. "Perhaps because you look like her. Smell like her."
"Like who?" Amari backed up as the hyena approached, his heart pounding wildly. Had his wish for death been granted? Was this the way he was supposed to go? Murder?
"Like the one who foiled my plans and let my prey get away." The hyena replied smoothly, her eyes darting to a space just over his shoulder.
Too late did Amari realise that the jackal had slipped up to flank him and a flash of sharp teeth caught him at the ankle. The lion jolted forwards in pain and the jackal skittered away - circling warily. And though the attack had been but a test, he could feel the hot trickle of blood flow down between his toes.
"A bit of a coincidence really. I wonder...what is she to you? A daughter? No, too young to be your daughter. Granddaughter, then? Niece?"
"Orenda..." Saren warned. "I think someone's coming."
The hyena ignored him: "A pretty little thing, rusty-brown with hints of gold and blue. She even had that mark. Branded with it. Poor dear. She's going to regret messing with me. She's going to regret ruining my fun. It'll cost her dearly."
"Endesha..." Amari's eyes widened fearfully. Had they hurt her? Was she somewhere close? His eyes snapped wildly across the horizon, though he could see nothing to suggest that she was anywhere in sight. Dammit! If they had hurt her he was going to--
"Oh? Is that her name? How pretty. So you do know her." She grinned. "Well, there you have it. This is just perfect! You have her to thank for your death. I hope you are grateful." She gave Saren a silent signal and the jackal leapt in again, crashing heavily against Amari's flank. He was pitched forwards, his wounded leg losing purchase on the ground and tipping him straight into the hyena's teeth.
She grappled him by the neck and gave a sharp twist. He felt fur pull and rip and a flare of pain took his breath away.
And then the fight came to him. He was old and inexperienced in battle but he'd be damned if he was going to just accept defeat and die. He went into a frenzy, flashing claws and teeth and snarling and growling with such fury that for a moment both hyena and jackal were startled into hesitancy. He saw the blood on the jaws of the canine and wondered if it was his blood. And then she was coming at him again and the impact sent him reeling and her weight rolled over him as they toppled roughly to the ground.
He managed to hook a hind leg under her belly and kick outwards in an attempt to push her off, but then the jackal was there, biting at his underside and forcing him to relent.
With a growl of fury, he kicked out and struck the jackal hard, sending the lighter canine sprawling into the dust.
Unfortunately, the hyena's teeth found flesh and he felt the fangs sink deep, cutting into flesh and draining blood. He tried to stand but his head felt woozy and as he battled to regain his paws he wondered whether perhaps this was for the best after all.
No lingering.
This was quick and simple; if painful.
But the pain would be over soon.
A loud, enraged roar rolled across the lands and Amari wondered whether it was the great kings of the past calling to him; welcoming him to their new kingdom that twinkled so beautifully in the dark. He tried to roar back but the sound came out strangled and weak and he wondered if, perhaps, they'd turn him aside.
And then the pressing weight was gone and he felt lighter. Felt as if he could rise up through the clouds. The land wavered beneath his back as if trying to hold onto him and he relaxed his body into its embrace.
Another roar echoed, followed by snarls and a sharp, punctuating yelp.
The yelp of pain startled him out of his stupor and, with a low groan, he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. He was still lying on the ground, bleeding and in pain, his breath hissing past his teeth. Somewhere close by a fight echoed across the flat plains and he growled in pain as he shoved himself onto his side and tried to regain his paws.
"Amari! Amari!" That voice. He knew it. "What are you doing out here? Are you okay?"
"Lutalo." Amari coughed, trying to rise. "I'm fine, thanks to you. I thought I was...I was dead." He felt the lion press in against him and help him to stand.
"You're not dead yet. Not by a long shot."
"Where are they?" His voice shook.
"I got a good attack in and they ran off but they'll be back, no doubt about it. They'll have wounded pride. Come on, let's get you up onto your paws and back into the lands before they turn back for us."
"No."
"What?"
Amari pulled himself up onto his paws and set them firmly against the ground. "I'm...I'm going to go and see my son."
"Your son?"
The old lion coughed, wheezing, and his hindquarters sagged until he was sitting again, looking haggard. "Yes."
"No you're not." Lutalo ignored Amari's dark look. "We're going home."
"This isn't home now." Amari replied sadly. "Not without Maawio."
"We haven't found her yet, Amari. She might still be somewhere close."
"We both know that isn't true."
"Amari..."
But Amari was already trying to limp away, his wounds hindering him more than he would have liked. He could feel Lutalo's eyes on him as he moved away and felt himself grow angry. This is not how he wanted to be seen: weak and pitiful. He wanted to retain some pride and self-respect, and hear it was, shattering all around him.
And then his strength left him and he found the ground solid and comforting against his cheek.
"I can't do it." He whispered. "I can't make the journey." He sensed Lutalo's shadow fall over him but didn't bother to lift his head. "You should leave me before they come back."
"I'm not going to leave you."
Amari's eyes squeezed closed.
"We're going back to the lands. Then I'm going to get your son."
Somehow, the thought of the walk back home was much worse than the thought of leaving it behind for the lands of his son.
