The Night Roars

The THUNDERING sound of feet slapping atop the terrain.

Running, JETTING for dear life as they struggle to pull in some air while fighting the smoldering heat! All of them saturated in sweat as if they were locked away inside a humid vault.

Desperate to continue moving it's obvious the air has taken a toll on them.

A family of four.

Starting with the youngest, we have young ZURI. The innocent age of five and frankly too young to comprehend the circumstances. To her they're just running, or playing a game. A game that has already wore down her youthful body.

Next we meet the energetic KIRABO. Nine years young and still very able to keep up if not outrun everyone. Something about his spirit. Cunning, brave and full of zealous. Like a baby god who doesn't quite understand his power although consciously aware of it.

Nearby Kirabo is the dominant matriarch ASHA. The mother of the clan. Stern, nurturing, loving, all of the above and some but growing highly impatient and tired.

She notices Zuri taking a breather hunched over, hands on her knees and sucking oxygen from the ground. Asha comes to her aid and places her hand on Zuri's back.

She inhales side by side with her daughter.

Taking deep breaths.

Coaching her in a non-verbal manner.

A last, the head, leader of the family, the father, MOTI. Standing tall and on high alert. Poised with a permanent "ready to go" type expression on his face. A soldier and warrior. He carries the weight of lifetime battle scars but not those of healed gashes, scrapes, and cuts. No, those would be much easier to move on from. It's the wounds you can't see in the physical. The scars which burn like an eternal flame, the interior wounds.

Wounds he will carry to his grave.

Moti nods to Kirabo.

He signals to his son to cover his mother and sister.

He gazes around the entire perimeter making certain nothing is in sight while clutching a rugged but razor sharp dagger. He paces slow to his family, surveying them as he stares Asha into her eyes.

She's immediately overwhelmed with relief.

A look where nothing need be said nor spoken.

It's a "we may rest" kind of gander.

Time has passed and the sun sets.

The family enjoys a meal surrounding the fire like a dinner table.

They feast on a spread of starchy veggies and whole grains. The type of meal that produces the necessary energy needed for the following day's labor that lies ahead.

Moti and Asha seated across from each other on their rears while the two children face one another. Kirabo is quite the growing young lad as he devours his dish. Zuri is snacking opposed to eating.

"We build at dawn." Moti announced in their native tongue.

He nods to Kirabo.

Kirabo replied "Yes papa."

Moti continues to eat.

He glances to Zuri. Winks and smiles to her. Zuri fights to stay awake.

"It's alright little one, you're almost there." he says.

Zuri barely finishes. She leaves the last bite and hands her food to Kirabo as it doesn't even last one second.

Moti and Asha chuckle.

Zuri doses off.

A brief family moment of warmth.

Moti stares to Asha. He smiles with tenderness. Her smiles are filled with hope.

"ROOOOOAAAAARRR"

Moti turns his head swiftly. The three of them hold still while Zuri continues to sleep. Moti signals to them to hold steady.

"ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR"

Another one.

Not exactly close but not exactly far.

Maybe about five miles away. The breathing intensifies for the three although they have no idea of where theses sounds are coming from. They do nothing but remain still for the remainder of the evening.

More time passes.

This time darker.

Cooler.

Moti and Asha are cuddled while seated as they watch the children rest. Asha wrapped and protected in Moti's arms. He glances up towards the stars.

Asha tilts her head a bit to Moti.

"You're brewing." she stated.

Moti replies "Listening to the ancestors".

"Do you doubt yourself" she asked?

"No." he answered.

Asha nods her head with reassurance.

She returns to her position of comfort and responds, "You have no reason to be. A kingdom steeped in greed is a kingdom that is good only to the glutton."

Moti takes that in.

He inhales deeply.

"I am asking them for protection. And secretly hoping the tales I heard of while I was a boy are false." He said.

"Tales of what my love?" Asha inquired.

Moti gives a delayed response, "The Beast."

An extended pause of silence until...

Another LOUD ROAR.

Loud as hell!

For some reason this roar has traveled farther than the previous two.

Reaching closer.

This one startles Asha. Moti grabs her tighter.

He continues to view the stars. "We are safe for now." he said.

The night passes.

The following day arrives. The family has been working hard since before dawn and now coming to a close during the height of daylight. Also the heat is climbing. They've managed to utilize natural parts of the jungle to create shelter.

They stand together as a unit and admire their work.

"Beautiful" said Asha.

"It is almost time to dine. Tonight we celebrate." stated Moti.

He glanced to Koribo and Zuri. They are antsy and eager. Moti allows the space for Koribo to speak.

"Papa I was hoping if Zuri and I can play before we dine?" Koribo asked.

Moti grins and looks to Asha.

Asha nods yes.

"Only for a few moments, clean up first." he said.

Zuri books it inside as Asha follows her.

Kirabo begins to run inside but Moti stops him. He kneels down face to face with his son. "You may only stay close by, and look after your sister." he said.

He raises and walks toward their home.

"Is it the beast?" Kirabo asked.

Moti HALTS right in his tracks.

"What do you know of that?" asked Moti.

"I was snooping on a discussion you and grandfather had before he transitioned. It was when he handed you the dagger." replied Kirabo.

Kirabo stood straight up and declared "I am not afraid papa. If I encounter the beast I will kill it!"

Kirabo pumps his fist high in a victorious style.

Moti snatches him by the wrist and applies a hint of pressure.

"Papa you are hurting me!" said Kirabo.

Asha glanced from the entrance of their home. Ready to referee if needed.

Moti scanned directly into Kirabo's eyes and stated "We kill only to eat, or to defend. Understand?"

Kirabo can't nod yes quick enough. It's the first time he's experiencing a tiny drop of his father's strength.

Moti releases Kirabo, points to him and demands "Stay in this area. I am going to rest for a moment. Remember what I said."

Moti walks inside while Kirabo rubs his wrist.

An hour has passed. Approaching nightfall.

The tall grass blows slightly while the remaining sun covers just about every inch of the territory except for a particular section.

There's one spot of the grass which appears to have a life of it's own. It paces in one direction as the wind gusts the rest of the body of grass into another. Hidden within the grass sits an extremely large head of something.

The eyes of it shine through like beams focused on a target.

It's hungry.....it's vicious....it's getting CLOSER!!!

Back near the family home Zuri and Kirabo play out front with sticks.

Asha watches them from inside as she preps dinner. Moti is taking nap. Kirabo spots a rarely shaped rock. His eyes light up. He grabs it and dashes towards Zuri.

"Look! Look!" He stated.

He shows Zuri the rock.

"I want one!" said Zuri.

Kirabo replied "You may have this one, or we can share it."

Zuri thinks to herself. "Are there any more?! Lets find more!" she released with excitement.

"Tomorrow perhaps. Papa said we can not wander too far and Mama is almost done with dinner." Kirabo said.

Zuri RACES OFF towards the area of the tall grass!

"Zuri!"

Kirabo shouts with a low voice.

He glances inside for a moment as Asha finishes dinner. Torn right now. He doesn't want to disappoint his father so he runs after Zuri into the field of tall grass. Zuri with her active energy gave herself a decent head start. She enters the field of grass.

Kirabo arrives towards the field a few moments later.

Zuri nowhere in sight.

He panics.

Back at the family home Asha walks outside and doesn't see the children.

She looks everywhere. "Zuri?....Kirabo?" she said with a clear pitch. No responses from anywhere.

She dashes into the home!

Moti awakens from his nap. He sniffs the aroma of a meal that will satisfy his soul.

"The children are gone!" she states in a terror stricken way.

Moti bounces up a grabs his dagger.

Returning to the grass field, the sun has just about gone down at this point. Coming into the heart of the field, Zuri searches everywhere. She finds a nice spot where the soil is soft.

She begins digging.

Just one hundred yards out behind her sits the large movement of grass. It creeps slow. Zuri continues to dig. Kirabo explores another part of the land but still no sign of Zuri. Returning back to Zuri while she still digs. She finds a couple stones but none like the one Kirabo discovered.

Behind her, now about fifty yards away....THE BEAST. A full grown male lion but much larger than the average.

It is prehistoric huge!

The lion takes his time getting into pouncing position. It's back hunched down while the hinds legs are fixed to take off. Fifty yards from to right is Kirabo as he has finally locates Zuri.

Only in a not so good situation.

"Zuri!" he yells.

She turns to Kirabo with smiles and holds up a rock of her liking.

"RUN!"

Kirabo shouts.

The lion SPRINTS towards Zuri!

Kirabo picks up his pace but the lion has already gotten a good jump. It's too fast. He runs with all his might. Zuri turns and faces the lion as he extends its massive jaws and clamps down on Zuri.

The screams are horrifying.

Kirabo doesn't give up. Now closer he rushes and leaps atop of the lion's back.

He pierces into the beast multiple times with the fine stone he found. It effects the lion but not enough to release Zuri. The lion moves its body and tosses Kirabo from it's back a few yards away.

It continues to tear into Zuri.

MOTI APPEARS raging towards the beast from it's side.

It finally lets go of Zuri. Moti charges with his dagger ready.

The lion slashes Moti across his shoulder but he's able to get under the lion and stab it smoothly through its heart.

The lion lets out an agonizing roar with Moti instantly. Moti twists the dagger. Deeper inside the lions heart until it falls. Moti fights to stand up straight as blood leaks rapidly from his wound.

He stares to Zuri's lifeless body which throws him into shock. Asha arrives to the scene hysterical!

Yelling...screaming...crying.

Kirabo stands tall as the tears pour down his face. Moti stares to his son in a continued state of shock and delusion.

"You did good son. Now. Watch after your mother." he said.

Moti tosses the dagger to Kirabo's feet.

It pains Kirabo deep inside his core.

Moti drops to the ground and falls into an everlasting rest.

Kirabo's tears slow down. He lifts up the dagger, walks to his grieving mother and consoles her.

Allowing her to fully release her agony.

"We shall give them an honorable burial." he spoke softly to his mother.

Believe it or not this soothes a touch of her pain.

"Everything will be alright mama." he said.

His father.

Sister.

Although now ancestors and Asha a widow with her daughter gone, Kirabo understands he is now a man, a soldier....

A Warrior.