Orion the King Lion and his four sons Zuba, Rabat, Ghana, and Taran stood before a huge and bizarre three-tiered stone structure. The first part of the stone stood straight up like a mighty monolith jutting into the sky. The second part jutted forward. The third part acted as a pillar supporting the second. There were also stairs leading up to the second level.
No one knew how the structure came to be and how long it had been standing there. It had likely been there for thousands of years, long before the first lion ever set foot in Africa. But whatever the case, there was an almost divine atmosphere about the great tower.
"Wow." Zuba awed. "Is this the Tower of the Great Kings?"
"Yes, son." Orion said. "It is said that many king lions ruled from this very place. Some good. Others wicked. But the tower endured over thousands of years. The lands grow dry and parched before the rains come again during the wet season. Flood, fire, disease, and hardships plague the land. But the tower stood strong."
"In other words, it's also Simba's father the king ruled from." Rabat filled in the gaps for his other two younger brothers.
"That's right. Or so the legend goes." Orion replied to his second son.
"Shouldn't we bow or something?" Zuba asked.
His brothers stared at their normally brash elder brother's unusual show of reverence. Even their father seemed surprised at his eldest son's behavior.
"If you insist." Orion said. With that, the king bowed. The other three cubs looked at one another, and then reluctantly bowed.
Once they rose, they continued onto the tower itself. They climbed the stone steps leading to the second level where there was a cave opening. Inside the cave, they found many drawings of lions.
"Every one of these lions were once kings. They are long gone now." Orion said.
One drawing showed a scary, black-maned lion with a missing eye.
"Who is that? He doesn't look like a king."
"That is Scar. He was the last king for a long time. Then there came a period of darkness and ignorance during which much of this land's history was forgotten."
"Scar? Is that his actual name?" Rabat asked.
"No. I certainly hope not." Orion said. "Scar was the brother of the last king. He took the throne after he killed his brother in the canyon. His reign was a troubled one and there have been many conflicting stories about the kind of king he was. Some say he was wicked and tyrannical. Others say he was harsh, but tried to rule well. Still other stories say that Scar was actually the true king and that he was merely taking back from his brother what should have been his. Of course, he will never know."
Ghana looked to a red maned lion next to Scar. "Is that Scar's brother the king and Simba's father? He and Scar don't look alike at all."
"Some stories have said the two weren't actually brothers." Orion said.
"What was his brother's name?" Taran asked.
"The brother's name?" Orion paused. "The brother's name was Mufasa. But it is not known for sure if that is his actual name. See, there was, in fact, a lion king named Mufasa. He was a great king. One of the greatest kings who ever ruled. But he existed well over 100 years ago, long before even Lenny was around. So, this Mufasa likely just appropriated his name. I'm sure his actual name was something quite mundane and not as magnificent sounding. Maybe his actual name was Simba." Orion laughed at his own joke as did Rabat.
"Why did he choose such a grandiose name for himself and then name his own son Simba when that's such a common name for lions?" Taran giggled.
"Arrogance, possibly."
Orion led his cubs out of the cave and up a path that curved around the tower to its summit where they were treated to a jaw-dropping view of the Serengeti.
"Wow." Zuba awed. It was a view worthy of a king.
"We should come here more." Rabat said.
"It is said that when the prince came of age, the king who ruled from this tower would take his son to the summit of this tower where we are standing and speak the following words." Orion said. "Everything the light touches is our kingdom. The king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, the sun will set on my time and it will rise with you as its new king."
"Everything the light touches…." Zuba echoed, as his little eyes took in the vast expanse of their father's kingdom. Then he noticed some shadowy dark ruins to the northern border. "What's that place?"
"The Wastelands. Anything beyond the Great River that encircles our territory are outside our lands." Orion said.
"But the light still touches them." Zuba argued. "You said that everything the light touches is part of your kingdom. So, why can't we can't go there?"
"Zuba, it's a figure of speech." Ghana corrected, annoyed at his brother's inability to grasp metaphors.
"Obviously, nobody owns the sun." Taran added.
"No, we cannot go there. The river is deep and its currents powerful. You can easily be swept away miles downstream." Orion reiterated.
"But you're the king, dad. You can do whatever you want." Zuba protested.
"No, I can't son. I am responsible to you, your brothers, your mother, and the lionesses of the pride. With great power, comes great restriction." Orion corrected.
"But you just said everything that the light touches is part of our kingdom."
"I was quoting something the kings of the past supposedly told their sons."
"Zuba, if you really believe everything the light touches is part of our kingdom, then try walking into one of the neighboring lands and tell the local lion pride that it is actually your territory since the light touches it." Ghana mocked their brother.
"That will be enough, boys." Orion silenced them with a gentle, but stern tone.
Just then, somebody sneezed, prompting all five lions to turn around. Having snuck up on them completely undetected was a leopard.
"Oh, uh hi?" The leopard said nervously. "I didn't know someone else had reserved the spot. I just like to come up here to enjoy the view."
"What are you doing here?" Zuba growled at them. "You're not allowed to be up here! My dad's the king and it's his tower! Only he can…."
"Zuba!" Orion said sternly, cutting off his son before turning to the leopard. "My apologies for my son's lack of manners. You may stay. You along with everyone is free to come up here at any time whenever he or she pleases."
"Thank you, your majesty." The leopard said. "But I think I will come back later." With that, the leopard left. Orion scowled at his disrespectful elder son. Zuba pouted. Rabat sighed. Ghana and Taran snickered.
"All this land and we don't even own most of it!" Zuba pouted. "Why did the kings say that everything the light touches is theirs when it's not true?"
"That's the first intelligent thing you've said all morning, Zuba. Give his majesty a prize." Taran teased their eldest brother, who growled.
"Boys, let's keep moving." Orion growled before beckoning them to come with him back down the tower.
As they strolled through the plains, Orion continued in his mellifluous voice.
"It is also said that the kings of the past would take their prince through the fields and say the following words as they have them observe the animals.
"Everything we see around us exists in a delicate balance. As the king, you need to understand that balance by respecting all creatures from the ant to the zebra.
"Dad, we eat the zebras." Zuba interrupted.
"Zuba, don't interrupt." Orion said sternly, his patience tested. "The lion eats the zebra, the zebra eats the grass, and when the lion dies, his body returns to the grass. So, we are connected in the great circle of life." He finished.
"Actually, dad." Rabat corrected their father. "You forgot scavengers."
"Well, obviously. Scavengers are stupid and weak. They can't survive on their own so they need us to kill for them." Zuba taunted.
"Well, genius. Next time we kill a zebra, make sure you finish everything so that the scavengers have nothing to finish. Even the bones." Ghana said snidely.
"Scavengers break down the tough matter such as bone that lions leave behind to recycle nutrients into the soil. Good observation, son." Orion complimented. "If not for scavengers, the carcasses would rot and pollute the air and soil."
"Where do humans fit in?" Taran asked.
Orion scowled. "Humans? It's hard to say. For one thing, humans consume, but do not give back to the environment. Their cattle grazes on the grass that the herds of buffalo and zebra and antelope need. Their factories and cities poison the air, ground, and soil by depleting it of water and introducing dangerous substances that kill and maim animals and plants alike. Humans also consume in excess of what they need to survive and waste the rest. Not all humans behave this way. Some do care for nature and respect its creature and plants. Others do not. We have never been able to talk to humans. They do not understand us. I wonder if they all ever will."
"So, I guess they don't really fit into the circle." Rabat said.
"No. Most humans on their own cannot survive. They lack the strength and claws of a lion, the thick skin of an elephant, or the speed of a gazelle. Individually, humans are defenseless against us. In numbers, they are a serious threat. For that reason, we must do our best never to provoke them. The single death of a human at the claws of a lion, even if the attack was provoked by the human, can bring the wrath of the entire tribe upon us. They have devised great weapons of smoke and fire capable of killing even the elephant. Against such weapons, we have no defense. In fact, humans kill one another far more than they kill us. We just happen to be in the way, often times."
"Why do humans hate each other so much?" Zuba asked with uncharacteristic somber seriousness.
"I wish I knew, son. I wish I knew." Orion said sadly. "In fact, I wish someday, there will come a time when all creatures can live without conflict."