Proud Of You

Naanda opened her eyes, the light was blinding. She didn't know where she was. Eyes squinting, she slowly got to her paws and started looking around. Where on earth was she? It was bright, very bright... But not hot. Then she remembered. With a gasp, she grasped at her neck with her right paw. Last thing she knew she was getting her throat torn out in an attempt to get her family to safety. But to her surprise, and massive confusion, when she pulled her paw away from her neck the torrents of blood she expected to be splattered upon her paw was not there. There wasn't even a drop.

"You did so well..." An echoing voice came from a distance, coming from everywhere, but no where at the exact same time.

"Dad?" The words slipped her maw before she even registered that the voice was her father's. She just knew somehow. And as she turned, staring into the blinding light of the sun as it reflected against the clouds around her, she saw a silhouetted approach her. And as the figure grew near, more followed behind her.

Her father was the first to step into view, out of the harsh glare, and tears sprang to her eyes. And the spring became a river of tears as not only her father but Kweli, Hazina, Juno, and Mohatu came from the light. Other kings and queens of the past followed them, though she did not recognize them. But it didn't matter, at that moment, she only had eyes for her father.

"How could I have done well?" She asked, her voice cracking as she sat before her father, his magnificence amplified by their heavenly surroundings. "I didn't make it. I've orphaned Zira... I let Mnyama go. I'm a failure."

Dumaka raised a paw, and gently cupped Naanda's Cheek. "You got our family away from those horrible lions... You freed them, and gave them a fighting chance. One male might have survived, but now our family can be safe; at least for the time being." Her father said gently. "And just the opportunity to escape and live is the greatest gift that you could have given them all... Especially Zira."

Naanda sobbed now, nuzzling her cheek against her fathers paw. "I am so proud of you." Dumaka's voice said, forcing her eyes upward quickly to watch and listen to her father.

"Thank you father..." Naanda said softly, lifting her paw to cup his leg as he continued to hold her cheek. "But where to I go now?"

"On..." He said softly, looking back over his shoulder to the Kings, Queens, and cherished loved ones of the past. "A star awaits you."

And with that, feeling not an ounce of fear, or pain, or remorse, Naanda walked on with her father, and the others of her past, into the great unknown.

____

"Dear Fans,
Well, there you go guys. My Naanda Tribute. It was so good to draw Dumaka again too. This was very hard for me to write. I am one that generally doesn't believe in a heaven or anything, and I fear death. So writing about death always gets me a little. But I wanted to do it. I hope you all enjoy.
From her Bunker with Love,
Raven"