Mabadiliko Ya

Chapter 1 - Intruders on the Land

The sun peeked over the horizon, paused a moment, and then continued, stretching it glorious rays over the plains of Africa, reaching out to a dusty village that sat wearily on the edge of the Sahara. Even before the sun was up, there was movement in the town, as men and women called to one another as they tried to sell their wears and services to one another as well as newcomers and travelers. They reached, just like the sun, and curled their fingers out to anyone who would pass by, raising their voices in attempts to win someone's attention. Many of these people passed without giving them a glance, except for one who paused occasionally to study and explore what the natives had to offer.

"Do not get too close," a gnarled old African man warned his client as he saw her stare at some of the products his neighbors produced. "If you walk within ten feet of their stands, they will demand you pay for something." His wife nodded in agreement, sending one of the vendors a dirty look as they ignored them.

"I won't, I promise," their client smiled reassuringly. "Really Seba, Tsabo, you don't need to worry. I've visited and stayed in plenty of towns like this to know what to do and who to avoid."

The woman, a bent and kindly figure shook her head at the girl. "Armina, you need to find a place to settle down. Wandering through vast wildernesses is not for young girls."

"You know that I do it for Dad, Tsabo," the girl, Armina, replied, firm in her beliefs and desires. "Besides, I like traveling Africa."

"So we've noted," the old man, Seba, smirked, guiding the girl and his wife to the bustling outpost. Entering the structure, they split up and grabbed the items Armina required – a new canteen, blanket, hat, and some dried food. Gathering together at the desk, Seba insisted on paying for the items, with Armina – or Mina, as she liked to be called by friends – arguing nonstop.

"Your father was my friend, and the least I can do is help you," Seba stated stubbornly, shoving the money towards the cashier before Mina could fight back.

"You let me stay at your house – that's enough," she insisted.

"Y'mind moving this conversation someplace else, love?" a smooth British accent asked from behind, startling her into turning around and facing the newcomer.

He was tall, tanned from too many days on the savannah without protection, his green eyes glistening in the morning sun while the left corner of his mouth seemed to unconsciously curl upwards, as if in a permanent half-smirk. He slicked his short blonde hair back before placing a wide-brimmed safari hat over his brow and looking Mina up and down. He found her amusing and strangely attractive – she couldn't have been any older than eighteen, though she carried herself as a young woman. She had cut her own soft brown hair to her shoulders, looking untamed with her choppy locks as they surrounded her cheeks and chin. She had grown out her bangs to try and match it to the length of the rest of her hair; it flipped of its own accord over her left eye as she raised an eyebrow at him. Her amber eyes stared back at him contemptuously as she sniffed and grabbed her belongings.

"All yours, Aussie," she shrugged, passing him without another glance and walking out the door with her friends in tow.

Seba looked at the man and noted how he had at least three men behind him, all watching them leave. He frowned at this and moved away, guiding the females to a waiting jeep. "Try to keep away from them," he warned her. "They look like poachers."

She nodded. She, too, had noticed the gear and clothing they wore, and the equipment the goons held in their hands as they waited in line. "Don't worry, I'll steer clear of them," she winked, slipping her new additions into her waterproof backpack. Zipping it closed, she caught sight of a woman selling bracelets made of leather cords and beads, typical African jewelry. "I'll be back," she promised the elderly couple, taking off to peek at the merchandise. She glanced back when they weren't looking and smiled. She had known the old couple since she was a toddler, her father taking her to Africa after her mother had passed away. He was an ambitious veterinarian who wanted to explore places he'd dreamed of since he was a boy, and suffering from the pain of losing his love. She had grown up in this world, and came to love it as much as her father, learning everything she could about the animals and residents that she saw. Last year, however, her father had gone out during a flood at their camp to try and save a lost baby elephant. He had prevailed, and the baby was reunited with his mother, but Earl Parker had caught pneumonia. They were so far out from any civilization that by the time they made it to the nearest town, he had passed away in his sleep.

Picking up a woven, intricately designed bracelet, she remembered her father's burial just outside of a jungle he had found and loved all his time there. She knew it was what he wanted and planned to visit him once they got on the road.

"You get this one, too," the vendor chirped cheerfully, handing over another bracelet as Mina gave her the money for the bracelet she had chosen.

Shaking her head sympathetically, she said, "Sorry, I just want one-"

"It's gift!" the woman insisted, placing it in her hands. "For one you love. You find love with this bracelet – you see!"

She gave a wry smile at the middle-aged native and shook her head with a chuckle. "I don't think I can find that sort of love, but thank you all the same." She placed a small nugget of gold she had found on her previous trip on the table, signaled for the woman to be silent, and walked away with the two bracelets. Slipping the extra into her backpack, she rolled her eyes again at the idea of finding love here in Africa. "Maybe I can leave it on Dad's grave…"

"How'd'ya do, Missy?"

The voice made her snap out of her thoughts, making a small grimace appear on her lips as she identified its source. "Howdy, Aussie."

She heard him laugh and he poked his face around from behind to grin at her. "Name's Kurt, actually, Kurt Wells."

"Hmm," she muttered, adjusting her own bracelet onto her wrist. If this was someone's idea of "love" for her, they would be sorely disappointed.

"What's the matter? You were chatty earlier," he chuckled. "I haven't offended you, have I?"

"No," she answered briefly.

"Well, where are you headed? My crew and I are planning on driving out to the deep savannah. Care to join us?" he prodded on amicably.

"No," she said, walking back to Seba and Tsoba.

"Oh, c'mon," he jested. "We're planning on looking for amazing, life-changing wonders-"

"I've done plenty of that," she smiled curtly.

"But have you seen…" He lowered his voice to a whisper and said, "…the Pool of Mabadiliko Ya?"

She raised an eyebrow at him for the second time that day, unable to believe him. "The mythical pool that can change you into an animal?"

"It doesn't just change you into an animal-!" he started.

"Yes, yes, there are other steps," she waved him off. "I've heard the stories and that's just what they are – stories. Why are you talking to me, anyways?"

"I suppose I find you intriguing," he smirked, making her want to slap him stupid. "If you change your mind, Missy, I'll be back in town in a week…hopefully. Anyhow, cheerio." With a wave and turn, he left for his group, all three men waiting at a rather large and costly vehicle.

"What were you talking about?" Seba asked suspiciously, having seen them the entire time.

"Nothing – he was just being a creeper," she answered lightly. Embracing the couple, she slung her bag onto the jeep and joined the small group that would join her in the wild for this next trip. She always traveled with groups that went mostly for studying, photography, or sight-seeing – they made the trips interesting all the time. "See you in a week!" she called to them, gripping the side of the automobile as it pulled away, bumping and swaying over the uneven ground. She watched them until she could see them no more, pulled out her hat and placed it securely upon her head. "Let's see what adventures I find today…"

~ROAR~

A frantic blue horned-bill swooped through the morning air and came to land upon a great stone structure many miles from the tiny village at the end of the vast savannah plains. "Sire, there are humans venturing out into the Pridelands!"

"Humans?!" gasped a warthog.

"Oh great, I hope they're not looking for another episode of 'Meerkat Manor', because my family has decided to stay outta the limelight!" a small but big-mouthed meerkat joked, jabbing his warthog friend's stomach with his elbow.

"We can't just run them out," a fourth voice spoke, stepping towards the edge of the rock and squinting over the land, though he could see nothing out of the ordinary approaching. "I'll tell Nala to warn to other lionesses not to go out too far today. We'll have to keep an eye out for them and any traps they might set up." The lion king had heard horror stories from other prides that would travel through or even from rogues, and he did not intend for any of his family or friends to get captured. Humans did not always come with the intentions of destruction or greed, but they were to be kept as far away as possible for everyone's safety. "Stay close to home. Zazu, be careful when you go out."

The bird nodded and took off once more, anxious to see how the two-legged creatures were progressing onto their land. He had no intentions of letting these horrid creatures attack the Pridelands or his King, not now, and not ever.