MAALUM
Chapter 6 - Welcome To The Tree of Life
The next morning, the sun is still up, the jackals are all gathered to say goodbye to Maalum.
"Are you really sure this is what you want?" Reirei asks, feeling sad to see her adopted son leave again.
"Yes, mom." Maalum replies, completely determined. “I thought I could be happy here, but I was wrong. My place isn't here. Never was. The Outlands are not part of me. I feel like there's a place somewhere where I can be really happy and where I feel at home.”
"And you believe that the Tree Of Life can be that place."
"I don't know. But... I have to try. I just can't stay here without feeling really good about myself.”
“I would like you to stay, Maalum. But... I just want you to be happy.” Reirei nuzzles Maalum.
"Thank you, mom."
“Maalum. Can we talk?” Kijana appears and Reirei leaves to let them talk at will.
"What do you want, Kijana?" He remains upset with her.
“Maalum. Don't go. I know you're upset with me, but... The others are not to blame for what happened.”
"Do you think I'm leaving because of you?!"
"You don't?!"
“Kijana. You hurt me a lot. You made me believe that we could be happy together. I believed that I had finally found my place, that I could be happy here.”
"But you can."
“No, Kijana. I can't. What happened last night made me think of everything I have experienced so far. I never felt good anywhere in the Outlands. That's why I'm leaving. I need to find my place in the circle of life. I need to know where I belong.”
"I... I understand." She's sad. “I really hope you can find what you are looking for. Good luck, Maalum.” She turns to go, but Maalum calls her back.
“Kijana. Wait." She looks back, facing her ex-boyfriend. “Kijana. You were always my friend. You were always by my side and I will never forget all the support you gave to me.” He smiles at her, making her smile back. "Despite what happened, I want to remain your friend."
"I will never stop being your friend, Maalum." She nuzzles him and he does the same.
"I really hope you'll be very happy, Kijana."
"I will miss you so much."
"Don't worry. I come to visit you whenever I can. I promise."
The moment finally comes. Maalum walks among the jackal's, being observed with some sadness, since the jackals now saw him as one of them. Kijana's with her new boyfriend, Tagi, both watching Maalum with some dismay. Reirei watches her adopted son, while releasing some tears. "There he goes, Goigoi." She hears Goigoi snoring. "Goigoi!" She gives him a kick to wake him up.
"Yes. Whatever you say, dear.” He says, before falling asleep again.
Maalum arrives at the border of the Outlands. "Okay. What did that strange monkey say to me?” He starts to remember Rafiki's instructions.
“You must always go that direction. You'll have to cross snow mountains, marshes, deserts and forests. It's a long journey that you'll have to do alone. However, you'll be able to meet friends along the way, who will be able to help you reach your destination.”
Then, Maalum begins his journey to the Tree Of Life. When crossing the Back Lands, Maalum is surrounded by some leopards, but manages to escape narrowly, thanks to the escape techniques he learned from jackals.
Crossing the Snow Mountains, Maalum meets a group of red pandas, who tells him of a legend that has come true. Something about a ghost that wasn't a ghost after all and a "Chosen One" with a special stinky power. They also tell him about how the Chosen One guided his followers towards the Tree Of Life. This helps Maalum to follow his path with more conviction.
Later, Maalum crosses a marsh, where he's chased by several mongooses that are upset with him, for having stepped on a snail. Then, the young hybrid passes by the side of an island, where a friendly dolphin swims in the ocean and tells him about a group of friendly travelers who saved her life. Maalum seems to be going in the right direction, since this group was the same as the red pandas' spoke.
It's when Maalum crosses the desert that he gets lost, not knowing where he is or in which direction to go. However, at night, a small jerboa helps him crossing the desert and indicates the path that the travelers followed.
Some time later, Maalum goes through a forest full of friendly animals with fear of porcupines, which is a rare thing. Even further ahead, Maalum meets a young clouded leopard named Yun Mibu, who tells him about how he helped the traveler's leader. Yun Mibu shows Maalum the way to the Tree Of Life, which seems to be nearby.
At night, Maalum finds a passage between rocky walls, but he's too tired to continue. Then, the hybrid decides to sleep, leaning against one of the walls to keep warm from the cold night.
Not long after that, Maalum is awakened by an authoritarian female voice: “Hey you! Whoever you are, wake up!”
"What?!" Maalum wakes up and sees Rani standing looking at him with a serious face. Behind her are the remaining members of the Night Pride: Baliyo, Surak and Nirmala, all with a serious face. Ullu looks at them from above.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Rani insists again, serious and authoritative.
"I... I'm Maalum." He replies, startled. "I don't want problems. I just want to find the Tree Of Life.”
"And why do you want to find the Tree Of Life?" Rani remains a little suspicious.
"I... I just need to find a place where I feel home. I... I just wanna know where I belong.”
Upon hearing this, Rani looks at the group, trying to understand their opinion. Nirmala's smile is enough for her to make a decision.
Rani again looks seriously at the teen hybrid. "Very well. Maalum, isn't it?”
"Y-Yes."
"Follow me." Rani starts walking through the passage.
"O-Okay." Maalum follows her, accompanied by the other lions.
On the walk, Maalum observes the lions beside him and notices the mark they have on their shoulders.
"Wh-Who are you?" Maalum asks with some fear.
"We are the Night Pride." Baliyo replies with a smile.
"Night Pride?" Maalum is confused.
Finally they stop and Rani speaks again to the hybrid, this time, showing a smile: “Maalum. Welcome to the Tree Of Life.”
Maalum is amazed by the landscape. Despite being at night, the moonlight illuminates the magnificent lands of the Tree Of Life. Maalum has never seen a landscape as beautiful as this. Not even when looking at the Pride Lands.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" Maalum comments with a big smile.
"I'm glad you like it." Rani says, before speaking to his companions: “Night Pride. Keep patrolling without me. I'll be right back.”
"As you wish, Your Majesty." Surak replies. "With strength and respect..."
"...Night Pride, protect!" The three say the motto of the Night Pride.
“Maalum. Follow me." He obeys.
On the way to the Tree, Maalum asks: "So... Are you the queen?"
"That's right. My name is Rani and you are about to meet my king, Kion.”
"Kion?!" Again, that name reminds Maalum of something, but he still doesn't know what it is.
Rani guides Maalum until they enter the Tree. Once again, Maalum is amazed, this time with the lights that illuminate the inside of the Tree Of Life.
“Kion. Wake up." Rani calmly wakes up his mate, nuzzling his sleeping head.
"Rani?!" He wakes up.
“Kion. We have a new visitor.”
Kion gets up and watches Maalum, smiling. "Hello? Who are you?"
"My name is Maalum."
“Hi, Maalum. My name is Kion and I am the king of the Tree Of Life and leader of the Lion Guard.”
“Lion Guard?!” Finally, Maalum remembers. "Hey! You are Simba's son! It was you who attacked Vitani's family in the Outlands!”
“Oh. That was not quite so.” Kion explains. “Zira attacked me and my friends. But... how do you know who I am?” He asks, confused.
“I lived a long time in the Outlands and I often heard other animals talking about you and your family.”
"Yeah. I know my family's fame in the Outlands.” Kion jokes.
“Maalum. What kind of animal are you?!” Rani asks, confused.
"Well... I'm half a lion, half a jackal. I never met my real parents and I never fit into a family. This... This is the main reason why I came here.”
Kion and Rani look at each other, feeling sorry for the hybrid.
"So you don't have anyone?!" Asks Kion.
Maalum thinks for a while. He knows that he's welcome in the pack of Reirei, but he still feels that that's not his place. "No." He responds.
“Maalum. The Tree Of Life is a safe place for all animals that are injured or have nowhere to go.” Explains Rani. "We only have one rule."
"A rule?!"
"You can stay here, as long as you promise to respect the circle of life and all the animals that live here."
"Believe me." Maalum smiles. "I would never be able to harm other animals."
"Great." Kion smiles. "In that case, you can spend the night with me here."
"Really?!" Maalum is amazed.
"Sure! It's too late to find a home for you. We do that tomorrow morning.”
"Wow! Asante, your majesty!” Maalum wags his tail with joy.
“Hakuna matata, Maalum. And you can call me Kion.”
“Kion. Now that everything is fine, I'm going back to the night patrol.”
"Go on, Rani." Kion nuzzles Rani, who nuzzles him back. "Take care of the others."
“Of course, my king. Good night, Maalum.”
"Good night, Majes... Rani."
After Rani leaves, Kion goes back to sleep. “Come on, Maalum. You better sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
“Y-Yes, Kion. You're right." Maalum lies down.
"Good night, Maalum."
"Good night, Kion."
Before falling asleep, Maalum thinks: “Wow. Kion and Rani are so kind. I have just arrived here and they are already making me feel at home. Did I finally find my place?” Maalum closes his eyes, falling asleep to dream of a bright future.