| Chapter Twenty-one |
Jothra the Just, Teacher of Teachers, surveyed the damage he had come upon. He had felt Sozo’s leading to not join the
rest in the chase, instead using his knowledge of the lay of the land to circle around to this point. Bodies lay before him.
Two humans, two unknown cubs, his niece… and his only son.
Jozay, chosen by Destiny and inexplicably blessed with wings. Heir of the Izusa Escarpment. The cub lay at his father’s
feet unresponsive, twitching instead of standing, gasping and wheezing instead of breathing. Feathers lie all around him,
and his wings spasmed as they shrank to nothing. Jothra had an interest in the rest of the scene, to be sure, but he could
not tear his eyes from the figure of his son. Schooled well by the old baboon Rafiki before his retirement, Jothra could
treat wounds and restore strength, but he had not the foggiest idea how to ease his son’s torment.
The only thing that could break his attention was the man.
A third human jogged up to the accident and stopped abruptly, staring at the lion standing amongst the wreckage. Jothra
vaguely registered that this must look as if Jothra himself had done this, but he barely cared about that. A deep growl
welled up in his throat. If this young master had come for a fight, Jothra was well within his rights to defend himself. He
was not quite insane enough to kill a human just yet, but it could come to that.
Sozo, what is your plan? Show me the way through this, teach me to not just survive it but to thrive on the struggle. It was
a well-worn prayer, as his life was fraught with hardship. Usually when Jothra prayed he felt a bit better, and sometimes
the clarity of mind prayer brought him was in itself enough to find his answer. Often, he was left to his faith a bit longer,
until the goodness inherent to Sozo was made fully manifest.
This time, though, he received a real miracle. The human spoke and Jothra understood.
“I am not your enemy. I can help; I wish to be a friend.”
Jothra’s shock was considerable, even after what he had just seen. Human masters did not speak the tongue of beasts
or vice versa. Barely daring to hope, Jothra eased his aggressive stance somewhat and replied, “I did not do this.”
The man crouched down so that their eyes were level. “Neither did I.”
“These humans are evil. They have harmed beasts without thought, and soon my son will be dead because of them.”
“I am a doctor.” Though Jothra did not recognize the word, it evoked images of Rafiki’s skill at healing. “I have to check
the people first, but perhaps I can also help the cubs.”
Jothra nodded numbly. The doctor knelt to his work, dressing and binding the wounds of his human companions. It
seemed they would be fine. As he worked he introduced himself. “My name is Kodi. I travel with these others to heal both
human and animal. They are not evil, only ignorant and misguided. The man they work for is evil, however. In truth I work
for a group who wishes to stop him from hunting in these lands. That is why I wish to help and take care of the cubs.”
“Why does this evil one hunt if not to eat?”
“He hunts only those of unique qualities. He captures them alive and gives them to other humans in return for great favor
and recognition.” Kodi seemed content with the humans and now righted the cage containing the genetic cubs. “These
two are the children of a lion named Charlie that was given great gifts of strength and intelligence by humans. Charlie
escaped and we didn’t know until now that he had fathered cubs.” He very carefully examined the cage containing Hope.
The actual cage had been mangled in the crash; it looked like it was piercing the unconscious cub in places. “This cub is
a cross between two tribes that we have watched for many years that have never before bred.”
“Her name is Hope. Her mother is a Pridelander named Leandra, her father is my brother Timusa, half Pridelander and
half-Outsider.”
Kodi looked up from his futile attempts to pull the cage back apart. “So, this is your niece. Well, she’s been hurt by her
cage and I can’t pull it apart without tools.”
Tools. Manmade things that helped create other manmade things. Humans were truly a marvel. “But she will live?”
“Yes, if I can get this metal out of her quickly. Where is your son?”
Jothra looked down between his front paws. “Here.” Kodi carefully approached the large cat and looked at the cub.
“He… he is a white lion?” The doctor gently examined the cub further. “This is amazing! One pink iris and one blue iris…
a darker snout… and brown streaks on his face? This is completely unlike any genetic mutation I’ve ever seen!”
“My son is the heir of a royal line that passes down white fur and a facial marking onto the one chosen to rule.” Best not
to mention the wings. Jothra wasn't sure what to make of that himself. “Please, master… doctor… Kodi. Please help him if
you can. He is beyond my power.”
Kodi focused and examined the strange cub. He pulled out a source of light from his clothing and shined it in Jozay’s
eye. He listened closely to the sporadic breathing and examined his tongue and nose, both of which were dry. “He is
dehydrated and in shock. I would say from physical exertion beyond his limits.”
“Yes, that is most likely the case. Can you help him?”
“He must have water very soon. He cannot wake up to drink; I will have to feed the water directly into his blood.”
Jothra’s eyes grew wider. “You can do such a thing?” The doctor nodded. Jothra sighed. “Praise Sozo. These cubs
would most likely all die in the care of beasts alone.” They were interrupted by more human voices approaching. Jothra
began to speak very quickly, but no less clearly. “You undoubtedly know of Pride Rock, the great stone formation in the
center of our lands. Please bring the cubs there as soon as you can. I trust you, Kodi. Pray either of the cubs’ mothers
does not find you without the cubs. The lionesses will not be nearly as understanding as I.”
Kodi watched the strange lion turn his back, but could not remember clearly watching him run into the night. He simply
disappeared.
rest in the chase, instead using his knowledge of the lay of the land to circle around to this point. Bodies lay before him.
Two humans, two unknown cubs, his niece… and his only son.
Jozay, chosen by Destiny and inexplicably blessed with wings. Heir of the Izusa Escarpment. The cub lay at his father’s
feet unresponsive, twitching instead of standing, gasping and wheezing instead of breathing. Feathers lie all around him,
and his wings spasmed as they shrank to nothing. Jothra had an interest in the rest of the scene, to be sure, but he could
not tear his eyes from the figure of his son. Schooled well by the old baboon Rafiki before his retirement, Jothra could
treat wounds and restore strength, but he had not the foggiest idea how to ease his son’s torment.
The only thing that could break his attention was the man.
A third human jogged up to the accident and stopped abruptly, staring at the lion standing amongst the wreckage. Jothra
vaguely registered that this must look as if Jothra himself had done this, but he barely cared about that. A deep growl
welled up in his throat. If this young master had come for a fight, Jothra was well within his rights to defend himself. He
was not quite insane enough to kill a human just yet, but it could come to that.
Sozo, what is your plan? Show me the way through this, teach me to not just survive it but to thrive on the struggle. It was
a well-worn prayer, as his life was fraught with hardship. Usually when Jothra prayed he felt a bit better, and sometimes
the clarity of mind prayer brought him was in itself enough to find his answer. Often, he was left to his faith a bit longer,
until the goodness inherent to Sozo was made fully manifest.
This time, though, he received a real miracle. The human spoke and Jothra understood.
“I am not your enemy. I can help; I wish to be a friend.”
Jothra’s shock was considerable, even after what he had just seen. Human masters did not speak the tongue of beasts
or vice versa. Barely daring to hope, Jothra eased his aggressive stance somewhat and replied, “I did not do this.”
The man crouched down so that their eyes were level. “Neither did I.”
“These humans are evil. They have harmed beasts without thought, and soon my son will be dead because of them.”
“I am a doctor.” Though Jothra did not recognize the word, it evoked images of Rafiki’s skill at healing. “I have to check
the people first, but perhaps I can also help the cubs.”
Jothra nodded numbly. The doctor knelt to his work, dressing and binding the wounds of his human companions. It
seemed they would be fine. As he worked he introduced himself. “My name is Kodi. I travel with these others to heal both
human and animal. They are not evil, only ignorant and misguided. The man they work for is evil, however. In truth I work
for a group who wishes to stop him from hunting in these lands. That is why I wish to help and take care of the cubs.”
“Why does this evil one hunt if not to eat?”
“He hunts only those of unique qualities. He captures them alive and gives them to other humans in return for great favor
and recognition.” Kodi seemed content with the humans and now righted the cage containing the genetic cubs. “These
two are the children of a lion named Charlie that was given great gifts of strength and intelligence by humans. Charlie
escaped and we didn’t know until now that he had fathered cubs.” He very carefully examined the cage containing Hope.
The actual cage had been mangled in the crash; it looked like it was piercing the unconscious cub in places. “This cub is
a cross between two tribes that we have watched for many years that have never before bred.”
“Her name is Hope. Her mother is a Pridelander named Leandra, her father is my brother Timusa, half Pridelander and
half-Outsider.”
Kodi looked up from his futile attempts to pull the cage back apart. “So, this is your niece. Well, she’s been hurt by her
cage and I can’t pull it apart without tools.”
Tools. Manmade things that helped create other manmade things. Humans were truly a marvel. “But she will live?”
“Yes, if I can get this metal out of her quickly. Where is your son?”
Jothra looked down between his front paws. “Here.” Kodi carefully approached the large cat and looked at the cub.
“He… he is a white lion?” The doctor gently examined the cub further. “This is amazing! One pink iris and one blue iris…
a darker snout… and brown streaks on his face? This is completely unlike any genetic mutation I’ve ever seen!”
“My son is the heir of a royal line that passes down white fur and a facial marking onto the one chosen to rule.” Best not
to mention the wings. Jothra wasn't sure what to make of that himself. “Please, master… doctor… Kodi. Please help him if
you can. He is beyond my power.”
Kodi focused and examined the strange cub. He pulled out a source of light from his clothing and shined it in Jozay’s
eye. He listened closely to the sporadic breathing and examined his tongue and nose, both of which were dry. “He is
dehydrated and in shock. I would say from physical exertion beyond his limits.”
“Yes, that is most likely the case. Can you help him?”
“He must have water very soon. He cannot wake up to drink; I will have to feed the water directly into his blood.”
Jothra’s eyes grew wider. “You can do such a thing?” The doctor nodded. Jothra sighed. “Praise Sozo. These cubs
would most likely all die in the care of beasts alone.” They were interrupted by more human voices approaching. Jothra
began to speak very quickly, but no less clearly. “You undoubtedly know of Pride Rock, the great stone formation in the
center of our lands. Please bring the cubs there as soon as you can. I trust you, Kodi. Pray either of the cubs’ mothers
does not find you without the cubs. The lionesses will not be nearly as understanding as I.”
Kodi watched the strange lion turn his back, but could not remember clearly watching him run into the night. He simply
disappeared.
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