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Ilysm precious bby
I know not much of my past but what my deranged “father” told me when I was a cub. He wasn’t much of a softie but I knew he was hard on all of us because he himself was raised by a kind and loving king who was “killed by his own kindness.” He vowed at a young age that he would always keep others at tail length so he’d never be as weak as his father. But upon his death bed he summoned me privately. For the first time in weeks since that dreaded pond had made him so weak he couldn’t even eat; he stood and shook out his pelt.
“Bismuth I don’t believe I have much fire left in me, but I’d love nothing more then to spend my final evening patrolling our territory with you.”
“You shouldn’t say such things father,” I respond quickly, racing over to his side upon noticing him struggling to balance properly. “I’d love to patrol with you, but you really should rest. A few more days and you’ll be back to your old..” I trail off when I notice the tired look In his eyes.
My father was a stern, strong, and admittedly terrifying king. I’d never seen him so weak, so worn down, and for the first time in my life I saw sadness flickering in his eyes.
“I insist. I know I’ve not always been good but allow an old king this at least.”
With that I shut my muzzle and listened to my father. For all I knew it was the last thing he’d ever ask of me and he was right. As crazy as he’d become in the end he had kept us all safe, I’d seen lionesses pass of old age in my time here.
Once we were outside of camp I began steering him gently towards the closest lake, a place I’d patrolled earlier this morning and reinforced scent markings around. I knew it would be calm, quiet, and relaxing. As we begin settling near the shore I hear a bird chittering in the brush nearby, and in one swift motion I have it pinned beneath my paws. Though I know he won’t eat much I toss it over to Vibrant Blazing Sun and settle myself back down beside him.
I can feel his bones through his once thick now balding fur. I knew then he was right. He would be joining our starry ancestors very soon.
“I want you to know of something every great king knows, a secret only shared with those who have proven they will be a just and strong leader.” He finally speaks after a while, pausing briefly to watch a fish jump out of the lake. “Something my father told me with his last dying breath. I hope you use this knowledge for good, as I have even when I became a horrible king.”
“You weren’t-“ I begin, only to be silenced by his tail twitching with agitation.
“I was, and still am. Always will be now I suppose, but I made my choices, I’ll die knowing there was a better path for me to take.” He nibbles on the bird absently for a moment before continuing, “There is a sacred place of kings, a great place with many kings and queens trading secrets for secrets, trading unwanted and sought after goods alike. This amazing market of delights.”
“Why would only kings and queens be allowed? Do our lionesses not have need of secrets or goods as well?”
“Hush, I was getting to that.” He growls, sputtering out a hefty cough a second later. I shut my muzzle and listen, jumping up immediately to grab a wad of moss in my teeth; gently dipping it in the cool lake water and allowing him to drink from it before setting it a tails length out of reach. “This market was founded moons ago, before even my fathers rein, when a great king and a beautiful and regal queen received a shared prophecy of horrors to come, the yearly sun season fires would wipe out the lands if they didn’t do something.”
I watched as he took the final few bites of the bird, happy that for the first time in days he’d had the appetite to finish more than a couple bites. Upon finishing his meal he tossed it aside and leaned into my long Fuchsia mane, resting his wrinkled blood covered muzzle.
“They were led by their starry ancestors to the lush and beautiful oasis that would become the market and realized it would all be ruined, unless they could bring all the kings and queens across the land together to share in this horribly heavy burden.” A deep sigh escapes his nose and his tired eyes slide shut as he continues, “and despite every lions reluctance to work together, both the king and the queen had many amazing stories and relics to share of the past and every lion saw their own starry ancestors in the two brave warriors.”
The shadows begin dancing around us as the sun meets the horizon, sinking slowly as my father continues his story. I eagerly listen to his every word, trying to memorize it all, I wanted to remember every detail of this moment with him. I’d miss him. I’d miss THIS him.
“That sun season, drought and devastation blazed across the lands, death was inevitable, and upon realizing that had been lead into their own deaths even if unintentional all the kings and queens sought revenge. And despite all they did to defend themselves, the great king and regal queen were struck down upon the same grounds they had fought for peace on.” He continued without a single break, wheezing dryly between sentences.
“With the kings final breath he apologized to all for failing them, and upon hearing him exhale for the last time, the queen started weeping and gasping apologies. Then she heaved her final breath, and despite all they had done the other great leaders of the land felt remorse and mourned them. Then, for no reason other then the grace of gods it started to rain. The fires all ceased, the madness and death ended. The healing began.”
The sun began to dip beneath the horizon and the shadows gre exceedingly longer, my eyes felt heavy. For the first time in a long time I felt at peace at my father’s side.
“A vote was cast and a council of the wisest in the land was picked to prevent such a horrible thing from happening again. They built a grand market for all leaders to visit when they were afraid, alone, in need. Kings and queens help each other, they swap goods and services, they offer help, they heal the wounds inflicted moons ago.” For a moment he goes silent. I look down at him, once a strong and fierce king, now a small, tired lion. I hope I have someone by my side when I’m in his place one day. With a small sign I lean down and lick the drying blood off of his face.
“That sounds grand father. Thank you for sharing that with me.” I rasp, emotion cracking my words,
“One day when you need her most, she will find you, and you must follow.” He boi is open his eyes and looks up at me, “and I will always watch over you my son, you might not be mine but I’m so proud of you. I can’t wait to see the king you’ll become.” He drops his head back onto his paws and looks out to the disappearing sun. “When my father died, and then my mother, I was alone. I started my own pride. First leaf bare my lionesses and I were starving and the market came to me. If not for the market we’d have perished, if not for the market I’d never have found you.”
“You found me at the market? As in that’s where I came from?” I ask sharply, realizing this would be my only chance to learn about my past, something Vibrant Blazing Sun had kept close to his heart.
“I know you will be a kind and just king. Tonight the sun sets on my reign, and tomorrow the sun will rise on yours.” Upon that he falls silent and we watch the last rays of sun disappear behind the distant mountains together. He Deserved his final moments to be peaceful and not full of questions. I’m not sure when he took his final breath but I know It was peaceful.
The first few rays of sun warm my tail tip as I raise my head. I am alone, but not really, I know he’s with me always.
“Ahem. My kind and just king? Your heart aches and your soul weeps, allow me to lead you to the answers you seek.” I tip my head back to see a great and regal starry queen with an endless trail of tears flowing from her crystal blue eyes. “Cosmic Bismuth, the stars are calling.”
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