| Chapter Sixteen |
Jozay was finally home. Well, one of his homes. Though it was technically the lower altitude of the two places he
considered home, Pride Rock was so majestic, so powerful that he couldn’t suppress the shudder that ran up his spine
every time he came into sight of it. Nowadays the granite pinnacle didn’t just mark the center and capital of the
Pridelands, it stood for an ideal, a hope, a calling that held resonance with every creature of every leonine kingdom that
the message had been carried to. Herds of every species approached its shadow to hear of the Living Circle, shamans
found a better way and a clearer answer; and in so doing entire lion prides had been changed forever at the foot of
Pride Rock.
Jozay wasted no time in bounding up the rocky steps of Pride Rock, passing a few lionesses napping in the midday sun,
between hunts. Most remained asleep but a few raised their heads as he passed, and it wasn’t long before he was
obliged to politely return greetings and accept congratulations and complements on his newly acquired mark. And so by
the time he made it to the opening of the den, Kovu and Kiara had already stepped out to greet him. Knowing that all
eyes were on him, he paid close attention to the proper ceremony. Between family members it was not strictly required,
but he was in a way a visiting foreign crown prince, and so he paid proper respect to the royalty.
First turning to his grandfather, King Kovu, he bowed low and intoned, “Incosi aka Incosi. I touch your mane.”
The king smiled upon his beloved grandson. “I feel it. Rise, O Prince.”
Jozay did so and turned now to his grandmother Kiara. “Queen and mother of the kingdom, smile upon a humble visitor.”
Kiara laughed. “Our home is yours, Jozay.” Speaking louder so all could hear, the queen announced, “All hail the
Destined One of Izusa!”
At this Queen Kiara and all the lionesses present surged forward to nuzzle and lick their favorite cub, Prince Jozay, the
token of their hopes and futures. This affection was unavoidable and the young cub dealt with it, and looked forward to
the day where he might find this sort of doting enjoyable instead of slightly nauseating. His mother kept telling him
someday he would look back with fondness on these mass lovings, but he had trouble believing it.
When the bath blitz finally relented, Kovu and Kiara gazed down on him questioningly. The king asked, “Jozay, I trust
your mother Queen Zoay is well?”
How to put this? “Oh, she’s well, Sire, thank you. But I sorta need to talk to my dah. Is he here? It’s really important.”
Though they were still puzzled, Kiara answered, “Yes, Jozay, your father is on the summit with several of the bird
incosis. Be careful on your way up. You’re not afraid of heights are you?” Kiara asked this as a joke, since the Izusa
Escarpment that Jozay’s pride called home was even higher than the top of Pride Rock. Jozay found it especially funny.
“Not anymore, Granny!” Jozay scrambled up the narrow path to the summit of Pride Rock faster than he felt he should’
ve been able to. Enhanced senses, better balance, and he never even started breathing heavy during or after his flight.
Maybe he should’ve given his mother more time to explain just what had happened to him. Too late for that now.
When he reached the top, he saw his father, Jothra, Destined One, ruler of the Izusa kingdom and Wise One of both
kingdoms… surrounded by birds. No fewer than six avian incosis sat listening to Jothra. The bigger ones such as the
vulture and flamingo incosis sat on the rock, while two or three smaller ones were actually perched on Jozay’s father.
Perched on his shoulder was Ashayla, the golden eagle incosi and majordomo Nefti’s mate. As the bird flocks usually
flew around territories that overlapped the Pridelands and the Izusan Kingdom, they found Jothra to be an ideal point of
mutual contact. The talk ceased as Jozay approached, and Jothra was quickly grinning from ear to ear at the sight of his
son.
“Jozay! Son, your mark came in, that’s great! The Living Circle has chosen you, like we knew he would. But where is
your mother?”
Time to come clean. “She… didn’t come. I came by myself.”
“You did? Jozay, that desert could kill you! When did you leave and why didn’t your mother accompany you?”
“I didn’t give her time to catch up. I left a little before noon.”
Jothra was really confused now. “What? Did you hitch a ride on a passing cheetah or something?”
“Not exactly…”
Jozay was saved an immediate explanation by a commotion down below. Nefti had landed before Kovu and had
apparently reported something very upsetting. Father and son leaned over the edge to see. Jozay could make out
commands such as “Notify Timusa right away!” and “Assemble! We will find her!” Before long Nefti had flapped his way
up to them. Without needing to be asked, he reported, “Princess Hope has been kidnapped by the race of Man!”
Ashayla immediately flew off with Nefti in the direction that the pride had begun to run. Jozay knew what he had to do.
“Dah… Mum will be along shortly, she’ll explain!” He ran and jumped even as he shouted to the heavens, “Sozo, grant
me wings!”
considered home, Pride Rock was so majestic, so powerful that he couldn’t suppress the shudder that ran up his spine
every time he came into sight of it. Nowadays the granite pinnacle didn’t just mark the center and capital of the
Pridelands, it stood for an ideal, a hope, a calling that held resonance with every creature of every leonine kingdom that
the message had been carried to. Herds of every species approached its shadow to hear of the Living Circle, shamans
found a better way and a clearer answer; and in so doing entire lion prides had been changed forever at the foot of
Pride Rock.
Jozay wasted no time in bounding up the rocky steps of Pride Rock, passing a few lionesses napping in the midday sun,
between hunts. Most remained asleep but a few raised their heads as he passed, and it wasn’t long before he was
obliged to politely return greetings and accept congratulations and complements on his newly acquired mark. And so by
the time he made it to the opening of the den, Kovu and Kiara had already stepped out to greet him. Knowing that all
eyes were on him, he paid close attention to the proper ceremony. Between family members it was not strictly required,
but he was in a way a visiting foreign crown prince, and so he paid proper respect to the royalty.
First turning to his grandfather, King Kovu, he bowed low and intoned, “Incosi aka Incosi. I touch your mane.”
The king smiled upon his beloved grandson. “I feel it. Rise, O Prince.”
Jozay did so and turned now to his grandmother Kiara. “Queen and mother of the kingdom, smile upon a humble visitor.”
Kiara laughed. “Our home is yours, Jozay.” Speaking louder so all could hear, the queen announced, “All hail the
Destined One of Izusa!”
At this Queen Kiara and all the lionesses present surged forward to nuzzle and lick their favorite cub, Prince Jozay, the
token of their hopes and futures. This affection was unavoidable and the young cub dealt with it, and looked forward to
the day where he might find this sort of doting enjoyable instead of slightly nauseating. His mother kept telling him
someday he would look back with fondness on these mass lovings, but he had trouble believing it.
When the bath blitz finally relented, Kovu and Kiara gazed down on him questioningly. The king asked, “Jozay, I trust
your mother Queen Zoay is well?”
How to put this? “Oh, she’s well, Sire, thank you. But I sorta need to talk to my dah. Is he here? It’s really important.”
Though they were still puzzled, Kiara answered, “Yes, Jozay, your father is on the summit with several of the bird
incosis. Be careful on your way up. You’re not afraid of heights are you?” Kiara asked this as a joke, since the Izusa
Escarpment that Jozay’s pride called home was even higher than the top of Pride Rock. Jozay found it especially funny.
“Not anymore, Granny!” Jozay scrambled up the narrow path to the summit of Pride Rock faster than he felt he should’
ve been able to. Enhanced senses, better balance, and he never even started breathing heavy during or after his flight.
Maybe he should’ve given his mother more time to explain just what had happened to him. Too late for that now.
When he reached the top, he saw his father, Jothra, Destined One, ruler of the Izusa kingdom and Wise One of both
kingdoms… surrounded by birds. No fewer than six avian incosis sat listening to Jothra. The bigger ones such as the
vulture and flamingo incosis sat on the rock, while two or three smaller ones were actually perched on Jozay’s father.
Perched on his shoulder was Ashayla, the golden eagle incosi and majordomo Nefti’s mate. As the bird flocks usually
flew around territories that overlapped the Pridelands and the Izusan Kingdom, they found Jothra to be an ideal point of
mutual contact. The talk ceased as Jozay approached, and Jothra was quickly grinning from ear to ear at the sight of his
son.
“Jozay! Son, your mark came in, that’s great! The Living Circle has chosen you, like we knew he would. But where is
your mother?”
Time to come clean. “She… didn’t come. I came by myself.”
“You did? Jozay, that desert could kill you! When did you leave and why didn’t your mother accompany you?”
“I didn’t give her time to catch up. I left a little before noon.”
Jothra was really confused now. “What? Did you hitch a ride on a passing cheetah or something?”
“Not exactly…”
Jozay was saved an immediate explanation by a commotion down below. Nefti had landed before Kovu and had
apparently reported something very upsetting. Father and son leaned over the edge to see. Jozay could make out
commands such as “Notify Timusa right away!” and “Assemble! We will find her!” Before long Nefti had flapped his way
up to them. Without needing to be asked, he reported, “Princess Hope has been kidnapped by the race of Man!”
Ashayla immediately flew off with Nefti in the direction that the pride had begun to run. Jozay knew what he had to do.
“Dah… Mum will be along shortly, she’ll explain!” He ran and jumped even as he shouted to the heavens, “Sozo, grant
me wings!”
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