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Ngao was a fighter. He was built like a fighter, he spoke like a fighter, but he didn't act like a fighter. He acted like a leader. It was him that Mugambi had originally started to groom as heir to the pride, but Ngao had talked him out of it. He didn't want to rule. He knew he wouldn't be good at it. A king should be smart, a king should be able to think quickly on their feet, stand up to the other prides, but still remain diplomatic. So he had taken it upon himself to seek out a replacement, someone more suited to be king.
It was days like today, though, that made him wonder if he'd chosen the wrong cub. Mkuu was still young, too young according to a few of the pride members, but he had the smarts and charisma that Ngao lacked. The pride could only grow if more lands were claimed and more lionesses joined. None of that would happen under Ngao. He knew that. He wasn't a fool, no matter the smarts he thought he lacked.
"What are you doing?" the young king asked.
Ngao let out a slow sigh to himself. "Listening," he said calmly.
Behind him, Mkuu's ear twitched and his eyebrow rose. "To what? The dirt?"
Ngao was currently laying within the grass, his huge paws stretched out in front of him, his massive head resting on them, and his mane cascaded down like a waterfall flowing into the dry vegitation. A blanket of snow and ice in the middle of summer. "To the rain," he said calmly, his deep voice rumbling out of his chest.
Mkuu turned his gaze up to the cloudless sky. "What rain? It's the middle of the dry season," he said slowly.
Ngao kept his eyes closed, listening a little more before he managed to pull himself to his feet. He stood so much taller than Mkuu, burly and as huge as a tree. A vigorous shake settled the massive mane back into place, and he turned his crystal clear eyes to Mkuu with a slight, knowing smile playing on his lips. "I will gather the cubs and lead them back into the caves," he volunteered, stepping around the young king.
His expression almost exasperated, Mkuu sighed explosively. "You dunce, there's no rain coming!"
Ngao kept walking despite the king's words, and by the time he'd gotten the pride into the cave system they called their den, the thunderclouds had rolled in, and the sky had opened, showering the plains with lifesaving rain. It was coming down hard and fast, thunder rumbling and booming as the lightning arced across the heavens.
Ngao had positioned himself in his usual place as guardian, right at the mouth of the main den. The cubs were more than entertained with playing 'King of the Mountain,' and Ngao did make a very good mountain. They growled and swatted at each other, one becoming entangled in that mane of his before breaking free, and as they played, as Ngao watched, Mkuu finally made his appearance.
The young king was drenched down to the bone, his mane hanging limply from his head, and Ngao smiled a bit at the scowl on his face. "Good afternoon, your highness," he said pleasantly.
Mkuu gave a low grumbling snarl of displeasure as he sloshed into the den. "Show off.."
Ngao chuckled at that, absently catching a cub as she slipped off his shoulder so she wouldn't hurt herself, and he turned back to watching the storm raging outside.
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