Remember Me

Chapter 8

Ashanta and Zaine showed Kumo around the palace. Although it was
large, it was quite cozy as well. The three youngsters had turned
the corner and Kumo collided into another person.

[Watch where you are going runt.]

Kumo looked up to see Ashanta scolding another lion demon. [You
big jerk, why don't you watch where you're going.] She knelt down
beside Kumo.

The demon glared at the three children coldly and snorted. [What's
with the mutt being here. There has never been a mongrel in this
palace.]

[How would you know who has been in this palace? This building is
older than our great grandfather,] scowled Zaine.

[Sometimes I wonder about you.] Ashanta turned her attention back
to Kumo and helped him to stand up. "Sorry about that Kumo," she
said switching back to speaking in the dragon language. "This
jerk here is our big brother, Ngbaka." She turned to her
brother. "Stupid, this is Kumo. He's Lady Nefra's boy. He can
only speak the dragon language."

Ngbaka snorted again. "Sorry about your mother," he added.

"Thank you," Kumo said weakly.

"Well, out of the way squirts." Ngbaka pushed the children out of
his path and continued down the hall.

"JERK!" Ashanta yelled after her older brother's retreating form.
"That guy . . . sometimes he makes me want to strangle him."

"Why?" asked Kumo.

"Because he tries to act so grown up just because he's seventeen. Acting
all superior and cold just because he's the one to take over when
father steps down." The girl ranted. Kumo stared at the flustered
girl and burst out laughing. It's the first time he has laughed in
days and it felt good.

"Come on, let's go show Kumo our favorite place to play," said Zaine.
But before the three could take another step they where stopped by
a female voice.

[And where do you cubs think you're going?]

The three turned around. Ashanta and Zaine ran to the woman hugging
her. Kumo stared at the tall woman. She was very beautiful with soft
dark brown skin and onyx colored eyes. Her long black hair hung down
to her knees. When she moved her head, the beads would clack together.

"Mother, we were just about to show Kumo our favorite spot," said
Zaine.

She smiled sweetly at the little dog demon. "So, you are Kumo. My
husband told me that the Dragon Father wanted us to take care of you
since your mother died. My heart broke when I heard about her
death."

"Thank you. You are very kind," said Kumo bowing.

"Now Kumo, there is no need for the formalities. You are part of our
family now," she said. "You may call me Nala if you wish." The smile on
her face became even brighter if that was possible.

Kumo smiled and nodded his head.

"Good, now I’m sorry kids but you can't go to the waterfall today,"
said Nala.

"But why, we wanted to show it to Kumo," whined Ashanta.

"Because your grandmother is coming to see you."

Both children moaned. "Do we have to see her," groaned Zaine. "She
pinches our cheeks. Hard."

"Yeah and she wets a napkin with her spit and wipe imaginary dirt
from our faces," Ashanta said cringing in disgust.

"And when she hugs you she tries to crush every bone in your body."

"Plus, she smells funny." Ashanta crinkled up her nose.

"That's no way to talk about your grandmother," said Nala scolding
her daughter. "Now, go to your room and get cleaned up. She will
be here shortly."

The children turned moaning in distress. "Let's go Kumo, you will
have to learn first hand about the terror known as grandmother
Xhosa," said Zaine.

After showing Kumo around the palace, the three children prepared
themselves for their grandmother’s visit. They were told to wait in the
nursery until she arrived.

"This is so boring," said Ashanta sitting on the window sill looking out
at the bustling town. "I can't believe mother wants us to wait in here. We
could have been showing Kumo around the village."

"Tell me about it," said Zaine walking over to his sister. "I mean it’s not like she
will be leaving any time soon. She usually stays a month or two.”

“You shouldn’t talk so about your elders,” said Kumo. “At least you know
who you are and who your family is. I have no memory of who I was
before Nefra found me floating in the ocean.”

Ashanta stared at him in shock. “You mean you don’t remember anything
from your past?”

The half-breed shook his head. “Not one thing. I couldn’t even speak
because I didn’t remember how. Although it wouldn’t have matter because
I couldn’t understand her.”

“Wow, it must sucks not knowing,” said Zaine.

“Sometimes, I have these strange flashes of people I’ve never seen before.
Or someone might say something that jars my memory a little but not enough
for me to know for sure.”

“I can’t say I understand what you are talking about,” said Zaine sighing. “But it
is too nice a day to be inside waiting."

"Well," Ashanta smiled mischievously at her brother. "It will be hours
before she gets here. What say we sneak out and show our new brother
around."

"Mother and father will be angry with us if we leave before grandmother
arrives."

"And your point." The girl cocked a delicate brow. Zaine shrugged and
they turned to Kumo.

Kumo stared at the two children and walked over to join them.
======================================================

Shortly the three children made their way through the crowded marketplace
of the village. Kumo had never seen so many human, demons, elves and
other creatures in one place before. On one street all the venders were
selling perfume and incense. The intricate aroma of all the different
scents mixed together made Kumo's nose itch. The scents made the other
two gag and they quickly cut through an alley to another section of the
market. They ended up in the cloth section. The vendors were all
selling different kinds of cloth. Turning the next corner they were in the
food section. One vendor was selling something called a honeydew
melon. Kumo stared at the lit green melon the man sliced opened. The
vendor generously gave the kids a slice, and they continued their trek
through the bustling village.

"This is the biggest village in all of West Africa," said Ashanta. "We
have vendors from all over the world."

"Wow, it's amazing," said Kumo staring at all the different vendors.

"This is nothing," said Zaine smiling. "Let us show you our favorite
place in the village. They turned at the end of the street onto another
street. And the delicious aroma of baking cakes, breads and other sweets
filled their noses.

Ashanta and Zaine led the dog demon to one of the shops. Walking inside
they were met by a pretty woman with long, lavender colored hair. Kumo
stared in wonder at the large glittering wings on her back.

"She's a Fairie from Ireland," said Zaine.

[Ashanta. Zaine,] the woman said upon seeing the three children. [Who is
your new friend?]

[Hi Stellara,] said Ashanta. She turned to Kumo and pulled him forward. [This
is Kumo. He is the adoptive son of Nefra. He's living with us now.]

[I see.] The Fairie turned her blue gaze upon the little dog demon. [Hello
Kumo. My name is Stellara.]

Kumo stared at the woman puzzled.

[Oh, he doesn't speak our language. He can only speak the dragon language,]
said Zaine.

Stellara smiled nodding her head in understanding. "Hello, Kumo," she said
switching to the dragon language. "My name is Stellara."

"It is an honor to meet you," said Kumo bowing to the woman. Both Ashanta and
Zaine rolled their eyes.

"Well since you're with these two I guess you want some candy as well." She
turned her back and pulled something down off the top shelf. She turned
and held out three long spiral shaped candy.

"Thank you," said the three children.

"You're very welcome," said Stellara. "Now, you three should head home."

"Okay, bye." They waved to the Fairie and hurried out of her shop.
==========================================================
After leaving Stellara's shop, they continued to show Kumo the rest of the
village. It was way pass noon when the three decided
to head home. Instead of going back into the nursery to wait, they
went into the garden zig zagging through the ocean of violets and
orchids. They headed to the man made pond in the center of the cotton-silk
trees. The three sat under the shade of one of the trees and ate the fruits one
of the vendors had given them.

It was late evening when Ngbaka went into the garden and found his siblings
fast asleep under the trees. Kneeling beside the children the older
teen nudged the children awake. "Hey!" He nudged them again. "Hey!
Wake up idiots."

Ashanta bolted up to glare at her older brother. Kumo and Zaine
began to awaken also. "What do you want jerk?" demanded Ashanta.

"I just came to wake you because grandmother has been
here waiting for over three hours to see you idiots," Ngbaka said smiling
smugly at the children.

Immediately the three children leaped to their feet. Grabbing Kumo by
the hand they ran back inside the palace.

When Ashanta and Zaine dragged Kumo back to the nursery. Waiting
for them was a disappointed Mugabe, a distraught Nala, a smug smiling
stuck up Ngbaka. How the hell he made it back before them is a
mystery to Kumo. Sitting in a chair looking quite regal was grandmother
Xhosa. She was an elderly lion demoness with long black hair that was
starting to gray along the length of her braids.

[Grandmother!] Ashanta and Zaine said running to the demoness and
embracing her.

[And how are my little sweet ones doing today] she asked kissing
both children on the cheeks.

[We are well, grandmother,] said Zaine smiling. The smile became
brittle when the elderly demoness began to pinch his cheek.

[Have you two been good?] Xhosa took out a handkerchief wet the
tip with her spit and began to wipe the children sticky mouths.

[Yes . . .grandmother,] Ashanta said while holding a tense smile
on her face. [We have been very good.]

Over near the window they heard Ngbaka snort. Both children threw him a
dirty look.

[If you two have been so good. Why weren't you here to greet your
poor grandmother!] The lioness roared at them. Both children
cringed.

[Because we were showing Kumo around the village,] said Zaine.

Kumo stiffened as all eyes turned on him. The old lioness stared
at the white hair, half breed. Her eyes widened in shock. [He's
a . . .a dog demon.]

[Yes mother,] said Mugabe. [He is Nefra's adoptive son. The Dragon
Father asked us to keep him after she was killed by poachers.]

[Yes, I heard about that. Poor child.] The elderly lioness turned
her gaze upon the dog demon. [He is a half demon and a very
powerful half demon at that. Even before I met him, I was able to
sense his strength and power when I entered the outer limits of
the village.] The old lioness smiled slyly. [He will be the
perfect mate for either a princess . . . or prince.] She glanced over at her
elder grandson.

The elder boy snorted and looked out the window. Both Ashanta and
Zaine gagged.

Xhosa walked over to Kumo. The little demon stood rigid as the old
woman stood before him smiling.

[He only speaks dragon, mother,] said Mugabe.

/Please don't grab my ears. Please don't grab my ears. Please don't
grab my ears./ Kumo silently chanted almost like a prayer. Unfortunately the
gods were not listening.

The first thing she did was grab his ears. "Oh, these ears are so
soft and cute." Once she was through tweaking his ears. She gathered
the child in a big hug squeezing the breath out of him. "You are such an
adorable little puppy."

"Mother, please," said Nala smiling. "You're going to break him in
half."

Xhosa let the child go. "So, your name is Kumo."

"Yes maam."

"Now now, let's not start with this maam stuff. Just call me
grandmother." She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "Welcome
to the family." She pinched his cheeks and then wiped the sticky
residue of the candy from his mouth.

Kumo smiled up at the elderly matriarch and sniffed the air. His
brows shot up disappearing into his hairline as he held his
smile. /Ashanta and Zaine was right. She do smell funny./ Kumo
thought.

Just then a human child walked into the room bowing. [Dinner is
ready, majesty.]

Mugabe nodded to the boy and the human left the room. "Dinner is
ready. Shall we go."

"As for you three I should send you to your rooms with no dinner for
making your grandmother wait," said Nala scolding them. "But since
this is Kumo's first day. I will let it pass, this time. But be
warned, I will not be so generous next time. Now let's go eat." The
three elder members walked out.

"Dummies," said Ngbaka walking passed the three children to follow
his parents.

Ashanta gritted her teeth and growled.

"What a jerk," said Kumo scowling. He turned to his new siblings
smiling. Ashanta and Zaine stared at the boy in shock and then
all three burst out laughing.
=========================================================

The next day Kumo was to attend class with Zaine and Ashanta
but Xhosa took it upon herself to teach the little dog demon to
speak their language. Kumo was thinking that his ears were
a curse. Every time women saw them, they would hover over him just
to touch them. Xhosa was not any different. The old lioness would
cuddle him and just stroke his ears. Kumo looked up to catch the
sight of Ashanta and Zaine looking at him in pity. /Some friends, they
just leave me here in this crazy demoness hands while she yank on
my ears./ He would be so happy when it was time for his lessons with the
warriors. At least then he wouldn’t have to worry about anybody grabbing
his ears and telling him how cute his ears are. Or tell him how adorable
he looks.

The lions were training him how to fight, to hunt and all he needed to
know about lion society. And as the Dragon Father promised, one of the
elderly females came every day to continue his training in dragon
magic and dragon society. He was coming along in his studies
very well. And out on the training field, his skills as a
fighter was amazing. He learned almost as quickly as Ngbaka.
Mugabe was impressed but Ngbaka was not. The elder prince
growled in anger as his father praised the little dog demon.

One day the three children were walking down the hall talking
when Ngbaka stepped out of one of the rooms stopping them.

"You think you're better than me," he grounded out at
Kumo in anger. "Just because father praise you does not mean you are
a better fighter than me and I shall prove it to father in the morning.” Then
he forced his way through the children and disappeared down the hallway.

"JERK!" yelled Ashanta. "Honestly, I just don't understand
him." She turned to Kumo who looked very sad. "Hey, Kumo
don't let what he said make you sad. Remember Ngbaka is a
big fat jerk. Just ignore him. We do."

"I don't think he can, this time," said Zaine. "He was really
angry. I'm afraid he might do something stupid."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, remember before Kumo came he was the best fighter in the
Pride. There was no one that even came close to him." Zaine
stared at his sister to see if she understood. "And now here's
Kumo, a dog demon at that, and he learns faster than brother and
is stronger than him. Remember what grandmother said about Kumo's
power. She could sense it at the edge of the village."

"Come on Zaine, Ngbaka is an arrogant, self absorbed idiot," said
Ashanta. "Are you saying he's jealous. In order for him to be
jealous he would have to have some kind of feelings."

"Ashanta it is because Ngbaka is so arrogant and a self absorbed jerk that
will make him do something stupid.”

"I don't want to cause problems," said Kumo looking at the floor
sadly.

"You're not causing any problems," said Ashanta assuring him.
"Ngbaka is an idiot. You'll see. Come the morning, he will have
forgotten all about it."

Kumo didn't look convinced.

The next morning out on the training field. Everyone was standing
around waiting for Kumo. Mugabe, Nala and Xhosa was out on the field
also. Kumo, Zaine and Ashanta walked up to their parents.

"Mother. Father. Grandmother, why are all of you here?" asked
Zaine.

"It seems your brother has challenged Kumo," said Mugabe.

"What!" yelled the children.

"Yes," said Xhosa. "He came to your father last night and asked
for the challenge."

"But that's insane," said Zaine. "Kumo is only seven."

“I’m eight,” said Kumo.

“Whatever.” Zaine shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes.

"Doesn't matter. When father was Kumo's age he was fighting
hyenas and jackals," said Ngbaka walking up to them. He bowed to
his parents and grandmother.

"But father wasn't trying to prove that he was better than
everyone," sneered Ashanta. Then she turned to her father. "You
can't allow this father. It's not right."

"I can and I already have," said Mugabe. He turned to Kumo. "Are
you ready, little one."

"Yes," said Kumo.

Ashanta and Zaine turned in shock at the half-breed. "Kumo, what
are you doing?" asked Zaine.

"He's doing what he must to prove himself." Mugabe placed a hand on
the little demon's shoulder. "I went to Kumo last night and told him of
Ngbaka's challenge. Like a true warrior, he accepted the challenge."

"This is madness," said Ashanta. “The Dragon Father left Kumo in your
care to protect not to let him be killed by your stupid, idiot of an elder
son.”

“He left Kumo in my care to raise in our ways to make him strong. Kumo
is a good fighter and he would have to face Ngbaka once his training
was completed,” said Mugabe. “Kumo is now a member of our Pride
and we must treat him as we would any member of our clan.”

“But . . .” Ashanta was about to argue with her father but the great lion
king silence her.

“Be silent!” he roared. “Kumo has accepted. He shows more courage at
this age than any cub I have ever met.”

One of the lion demons placed a spear in Kumo’s hand. Xhosa grabbed
Ashanta by the hand shaking her head at the girl warning her not to
argue with her father’s decision. She dragged the girl out of the way. "If
you hurt him Ngbaka I will never forgive you!" Ashanta yelled at her
older brother. “You hear me you snake! I will hate you forever!”

The two combatants faced each other. The lion prince ignoring the
angry rant of his younger sibling. "I was surprised when father told
me that you had accepted the challenge," said Ngbaka smirking.

"I had no choice," said Kumo. "It seems like this is the only way
to prove myself to you." Kumo poised to attack. "I guess we should
get started." Kumo launched himself at Ngbaka and the fight began.