[1st POV]
"There they are,"
There was an earthquake.
The ground trembled with each step they took. My sensitive paws that could feel the tiniest vibrations when hunting blared alarms as behemoths charged at me.
The giants slid when they neared me. Their hooves left a deep mark on the earth as their unstoppable momentum was stopped in just a few metres.
I had a wide smile on my face as I latched onto one of the rhinos. My claws came out, trying their best to tear at the impenetrable hide they had. What could leave any other creature bloody was only enough for them to feel my loving scratch.
I was tiny in comparison to my sons who were both grown white rhinos now,
I had already fallen from my peak weight of 500 kg and I was sitting at around a comfortable 340 kilograms. My giant children on the other hand neared 4000 kilograms. They were more than ten times my weight.
Although bulls live alone and have their own territory, Jumbo and Mambo were inseparable since the start and even till now. They occupied the region near the lake where greenery was vast and water was easily accessible.
"You've come, father," Mambo said, his voice easily bigger than me. But I couldn't help but imagine his voice as that of a child still. "You rarely visit us these days?"
"I apologize for that," I said, then turned to Jumbo who was looking the other way like the giant tsundere he was.
I spent the day with my giant children. We roamed around the Serengeti and near the lakeside. The way of social interaction between animals was tricky, even more so when it came to completely different species.
There was not a lot of talking as we simply moved around the land. Our bodies on the other hand were always close by. We intentionally brushed against each other, basking in the fact that we were close to each other.
They showed me where they graze, where they lived and they showed me the best secret spots that they've encountered in their daily life. Nothing that we did was special, but it was the fact that we did it together that made it special.
I was only supposed to patrol, but I ended up spending the entire day with them.
"I will be leaving the Serengeti," I said in the end.
Jumbo and Mambo showed displeasure at the words but neither looked surprised. It was only natural for the parents to let go of their children after they matured. The only reason why I was with them for so long was that rhinos took a lot of time to grow up.
But now they were grown.
They didn't need my protection anymore. In fact, it had been the opposite since the last few years. Mambo and Jumbo had chased off many possible challengers that came to the central Serengeti.
I had also heard of tales of their fights as they grew. Unlike how they act towards me, they were both bulls with a lot of attitude when it came to other animals. Male rhinos were as territorial as they come. They've fought against hippos, crocodiles, and other giants and have always come out victorious.
They especially hated hippos for obvious reasons.
But yes, they no longer needed my presence.
"Father, have you ever fought against a rhino?" Mambo asked suddenly after a long silence.
I thought about the question for a while and replayed a few memories in my mind. I smiled when I recalled them.
"A few times. Both in the Serengeti and in the Masai Mara," I said.
I've fought rhinos before and killed them too. But if we were being specific, I had never fought against the biggest of the rhinos, the white rhinos.
Looking at the living tanks that were my sons, I wondered if I would be able to take them down when I was in my prime.
I reckoned I had a chance but not much. But then again, the stakes had always been against me in most battles and I always clawed my way to victory.
"Then do you think you can still take the both of us?" he asked again.
They both turned to me and somehow, there was a warning from my instincts.
"Where are you going with this, son?"
"Just considering," he said and his brother nodded, "Should we just cripple you and take care of you?"
I laughed out loud but they didn't.
"Are you serious?"
"..."
There was a long silence. But right when I was just considering running away, they pulled back their heads and laughed.
"Of course we are joking!"
For some reason, I highly doubt that.
"We understand, Father. You can't be with us forever. Even if you don't move, we will have to part eventually. We are younger and rhinos live longer than lions," he said. I could hear a tinge of sadness in his voice.
"Will we ever see each other again though?" Jumbo asked.
I shook my head.
They looked sad.
"Unless you come to me, I don't plan on returning to the Serengeti," I admitted, "So this might be the last time,"
"I see," Jumbo nodded and came close to me. His giant body and long horns clashed against mine, nearly pushing me to the ground.
"Although if you want, you can come to my kingdom," I said, "It's called the Pridelands, and it is full all year round. Truly, it is a paradise in Africa."
I was planning on finally returning to the Pridelands and spending the end of my days there. It was a land cut off from the outside world. I wouldn't have to worry about challengers there and after all these years, the land should have recovered.
But the possible issue was that the Pridelands didn't have enough diversity in animals as it once did. If Mambo and Jumbo came, they would be very welcome to start their own family in the Pridelands.
"I wouldn't be able to take you with me," I said, the travelling speed of a lion and a rhino was just too different, "But the vultures will be able to lead the way. Maybe you can come after you find yourselves a mate,"
They perked up at the idea. They looked at each other before they nodded.
"We will come then," he said, "Just don't die before we arrive,"
I chuckled, "A king does not die so easy,"
After spending a little more time with them, I left to head back to my pride. There, I finally announced my plan for the coming dry season.
When the wet season comes to an end, we will move our home. We will travel west and go to the Pridelands.
And until the end of my days, I would rule that kingdom that was my birthright.
..
////////////
Since my announcement, the pride began to move West. We spent almost a month doing so. We were not in a hurry to reach the Pridelands and since it was still the wet season, we planned on leaving only after the dry season began.
When we entered the kingdom of another pride, they didn't bother us. In fact, the king came to pay me a visit and welcome me to his kingdom while also asking why I was here.
I believe he was secretly prepared for a fight, but after I assured him that we were just passing through, he breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't the dry season, so resources were not scarce, so there was no issue as our pride slowly moved through the Western gate.
After a month passed and the sun was starting to be rough, we finally left the Serengeti.
It was right outside the Serengeti, but it was also a kingdom of another pride. But unlike the previous king we met, I was the one who announced my presence with a roar when we entered a new territory.
My roar echoed through the plains. And after a few minutes, it was replied to by a familiar roar.
I smiled.
It seemed Zael was still king.
By communicating through Grim, we decided to meet up with our pride. Their pride began moving towards us instantly, and I ordered mine to do the same.
After a few hours, two different lion prides met in the middle.
I stopped when I saw the figure of my son from a distance. My pride, especially the newer ones, stopped as well.
Both kings stepped forward.
I walked slowly towards Zael as he did the same for me. It was the meeting of kings and there was tension in the air. My pride, especially the newer ones, did not know of my history with the king.
When I got a good look at Zael, I couldn't help but feel my body tremble.
Old.
He was so old. He looked even older than I.
His body was wrinkled and his mane was sparse. His body was a ruin that was held together with strength and resilience alone. I lived in the nice central part of the territory while he was in the outermost,
Surely he had a rougher time as a king and took on many challengers. Perhaps he had fought more battles than even I did. Hence, he looked aged.
Low growls of recognition filled our throats as we clashed our heads together.
"It's good to see you, Dad,"
Time was indeed cruel. The cruellest of all enemies I have faced so far.
"My son, you don't look good,"
"I've been king for seven years. It's a price I was willing to pay and the price I have paid," he said.
After we shared a moment, I looked at the pride he had behind me. They were a greater number than even mine. I could also see the silhouette of small cubs from here.
I wanted to see them.
So with a matching roar, we summoned our pride.
And two lion prides mingled together like one.
..
..
//////////////