History of the Mazunguko
Written by Lorne_Sionn
So our story begins....
It begins as all stories must, with a cub, a young male, the only one in a litter of six. His mother named him, Tu'Mwana, Only Son. Mwana knew nothing but love from his mother, and pride from his father, for he was strong and clever cub. However, from his sisters Mwana knew nothing but envy. For they were neither as strong as Mwana nor as clever, but what they were, were cunning, and in that cunning they found ways to torment Mwana when their parents were not present. Mwana accepted their torments for he was an honourable male, as his father taught him to be, but in his heart he grew bitter and sought a way to escape his sisters.
As he grew into his mane, he discovered that there were others such as he, males who knew bitterness or fear caused by sisters, mothers or mates, and other males who cared not for female company, but felt more at ease among their own gender. Mwana brought these males into his confidence, and they began to hunt and roam together, forming a bond that became a Brotherhood, which grew into a Pride. And once again earning the respect and love of his parents, and the ever present envy and hate of his sisters.
Understanding that those who had come to his paws seeking safety would suffer if his sisters betrayed them to the lionesses they hid from, Mwana entrusted them to those of the newly formed Mazunguko who could and would fight to defend them, those who would later become the Mazunguko's first Wachunga (Guards). Ranging far and wide Mwana searched for a place of safety, a place well hidden, a place where they could be free of the females who had troubled and injured so many of the males he had gathered to him. It seemed hopeless, and Mwana lost heart as another day came to an end and his Pride still had no land to claim as theirs.
And then he saw it...the tiny bead of light, floating lazily above an opening, hidden well by the jungle's leaves. It was a firefly, that small light, and it lead him to the cave that the Mazunguko would claim as theirs.
Mwana returned to his Brothers, and together they travelled to the entrance he had been brought to. For weeks he and his took turns creating the labyrinth of their new home. Some were suited to digging, becoming the first of the Chimba (Diggers), others were clever in their weaving and fashioned nets to capture more of the fireflies that had been their saviours, becoming the Kamata (Catchers). Those who could not dig or weave, brought meat and water for the pride, becoming the Msako (Hunters) and there were still those who watched and waited, keeping vigil over the others, keeping them safe as they worked. Mwana's loyal Wachunga (Guards).
As time passed, the Mazunguko grew. Brothers of the Pride bringing those like them to their lands, feline and canine both. For to them species did not matter, only that they shared the bond of Brotherhood. Mwana himself ranged far to find others who needed the sanctuary and companionship of his unique Pride. A council was formed, laws were created, rituals and celebrations born, a legacy ready to pass on...save for the fact Mwana had none to pass it to. The cub had grown into a lion, the lion into a leader, but the leader had not sired an heir.
Not wishing his Brothers to be left alone once Death came for him, Mwana made a choice. One that weighed heavy on his heart, but one he knew he must make. He once more ranged from their labyrinth home and brought to their cave a female, one to bear him a son. Her name was Mbeba.
Mwana treated her with the same kindness his father had shown his mother, nothing more, nothing less, for there was no love in his heart for her. Yet no cruelty either. The lioness was confined to one den in the labyrinth of the Mazunguko caves, with her Wachunga (Guards) always beside her. Once her duty was done, and a male cub lay in Mwana's paws, Mbeba was free to go. She was escorted from the caves and seen past the borderlands safely.
Mwana raised his son as his father had him, with pride and love, and Mrithi, the heir, grew.
Yet the story does not end here.....
For legacies continue well past those who have left them, and Mwana's Pride has endured in the labyrinth caves that it calls home..
It is now Nahasi's story, for it is he who wears the crown of the Mazunguko. A young lion, a even younger king. Unsure of his rule, relying on his council. A council left by Nahasi's father, Aina, for a female he loved more then they, the Mazunguko.
A King who had treated the females like guests, Aina, kind and compassionate, a fool, he had let the females roam as they would, love as they would. The opposite of his own father, Kikatili, Nahasi's Grandsire, cruel and cold, worthless, Kikatili. Who had spread misery and tears among the females within the Pride. Slavery was to kind a word for what Kikatili had done... Mwana's sisters would have been proud of their many time's over great grand nephew, for he was like they. Kikatili had found death by the paw of his slave, and Nahasi's father, Aina, had come to the throne, and just as easily left it as soon as Nahasi came of age.
So here our story lays..
In the paws of a young king, on the claws of his loyal Wachunga (Guards), on the backs of his council... deep in the earth, in the maze of the labyrinth, is the Pride of the Mazunguko.
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