16 Ch 14 A Kingdom Reborn

Māui, Tayir and Namur sat in various places as the impromptu party raged on. To most they looked like sentry guards. To the queen, they looked like Idiots. Sabine had left to get Namur and the queen sighed. "Husband. When will these boys learn. They are never going to get her if they don't do anything about it." she motions exasperatedly at Māui and Tayir. The king laughed and patted her shoulder. "My dear. Mwezi is a strong woman and they probably don't feel they deserve her. She has three strong mates as it is, a five mark legendary Sabertooth pinning after her and she's with child." he offered.

Sabine had all but dragged Namur over to the queen and king. "Hello Namur. I'm king Kaizo and this is my wife Lu'ana." the king said as he started introductions. "What are your intentions for my little girl?" Lu'ana said with a look. Sabine couldn't hide her grin and Kaizo sighed in defeat. "I-we look after our own. She was annoying at first I'll admit." Sabine smacked him upside the back of his head but he kept talking and ignored it. "But she grew on my family, the tribe and eventually me." Namur stated plainly. "You could at least try to lie a little better boy. You're in love with that woman just like those knuckleheads are." she retorted motioning to Māui and Tayir with her head.

Namur wasn't sure how to react so he stared at the queen like a deer in headlights. Sabine bent over in laughter and tried to muffle it by covering her mouth. "You two talk politics. I'm going to do my motherly duties." Lu'ana added as she pushed up the sleeves of her dress, lifted the skirt and walked over to Māui and Tayir. Kai noticed his mother making a b line for the trackers and gave his father a puzzled look. His father just shook his head and went back to talking with Sabine and Namur.

"What are you two doing exactly?" Lu'ana asked. The pair looked at one another in confusion. "Enjoying the party?" Tayir replied but it was more a question. "M'kay well we haven't talked since our last chit chat back at the palace." she relied and clasped her hands patiently. "Well we were definitely going to give her time to let things settle, get back to normal since we just got her back." Māui started. "And then we just kind of have to be honest about our feelings? Court her a bit or whatever she calls it. We don't want to push her too much now with the babies involved." Tayir added. "Well. Do you need a meeting? I can set one up." she offered and they nodded. "Yay" she squealed as she clapped excitedly.

By the time Lu'ana made her way back to her husband's side Kai had joined the group. "I know we can never make amends for the past. But that doesn't mean I wont try." Kaizo said. "After I told Mwezi what happened to our people she told us about a similar experience she had. Her and people like her, enslaved and murdered for nothing but the color of their skin. Seen and treated as a threat when they were innocent people. In retrospect she would tell me to remember that the current powers that be are not the ones that hurt me. But she knew with full conviction that you would try to make amends and right the wrongs. She said where she's from, people were still fighting to uphold the old ways. Here at least you'd be willing to help." Sabine said sadly.

"I have spoken to other members of the royal council. I will not lie and say everyone is on board. Nor will I pretend that those who are on board are there with good intentions. But you saved my daughter's life, took care of her and treated her with kindness. Even before she claimed you as family, I would have been indebted to you. The territory that Mwezi and Kai built together is flourishing well and we are looking to expand. The wolf, ape and fox kingdoms all offered land to build similar settlements." Kaizo explained. "And you're telling us this, why?" Namur asked.

Sabine face-palmed and shook her head. "If you wanted, we would like to make a safe space for you. You would be within the Bear kingdom lands and protections, not that you need it. But you would have resources at your disposal and Mwezi would be able to visit a lot more often." Kaizo replied. The mention of Mwezi's name made Namurs ears twitch in excitement. "So we are to uproot our people and rely on you?" Namur retorted. He didn't mean to sound like an ass but he also didn't care.

"I came from humble beginnings. I know lands, how they fare and their yield. It wasn't until prince Kaizo had found me that I knew the finer things in life. You don't have space for crops, and the land you do have is not fertile enough to yield enough to feed all these people. You've been here for some time and hunt often, I'm sure. Game will learn the dangers and make hunting a bit more difficult. That being said, we can gift you the land. As a Thank you and I'm sorry. Rebuild the Sabertooth Kingdom. We would be your steadfast allies and help as you grow, when asked and you'll still be closer to others if you need aid. A day run for travel is better than the 6 it takes to get here." Lu'ana retorted. "We'll let you chat about it." she added before pulling Kai and Kaizo away.

"I'm not uprooting our people." Namur said plainly. "Brother. Have sense. We can literally start anew. She spoke with knowledge, our crops are dying well before the cold season. This is the perfect time to move. We have enough food and everyone is healthy enough to make the trip. And please drop the act like you don't have feelings for Mwezi. Imagine. Her swollen with your cubs. Our king has been returned to his rightful place, has his own little family and a woman he loves." Sabine retorted. Namur, against his better judgement, did picture it. He imagined making her the soup in the early stages for her morning sickness. Her waddling about as she got bigger. How many cubs they could have together. "We ask the people and only if they agree do we go." He acquiesced.

Mwezi has said her goodbyes to everyone and promised to visit again and bring some goods with her. "Mwezi!" Sabine called out pulling her into a hug. Mwezi squealed and hugged back. "I'm going to miss you, you know." Sabine tld her. "I'll come back at least once a month and stay for a week. Then you'll be sick of me." Mwezi joked. "Doubt it." Namur said. "Nam Nam!" Mwezi yelled excitedly and jumped into his arms. Namur buried his face into the crook of her neck as if trying to memorize her scent. "You okay?" She whispered into his ear. He rested his forehead against her and closed his eyes, taking slow deep breaths.

He stepped back and walked off without looking back. "Did I do-" "No! He's just really sad to see you go and you know him. This is the most he's spent in this form in years and you know he's not good with emotions or normal communication." Sabine said. Mwezi nodded "okay yeah. I get it." she replied. "I'll talk to him. See you soon." Sabine said in a rush. She kissed Mwezi's cheek and ran off after her brother. "What is the fucking matter with you!" Sabine screeched and punched Namur. "How could you leave her like that!? I get it. You don't emotion well but what in the entire fuck!?" Sabine scolded him. He shifted in front of her, tearing his clothing and running off.

Sabine sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. "Alright everyone. We've been given a great proposal from the bear kingdom. They offered to give us land, good land and help us rebuild. We would be our own people and power, but they would be our allies. The trip is long, I will not lie, but it is a bright future for us all. Namur and I wanted to ask you, as the people. Majority votes. This has been our home for years but we have outgrown the space. This is an amazing opportunity for us all." Sabine announced.

They clamored together and began speaking amongst one another. Sabine bit her lip pensively. She felt bad for how she yelled at Namur but not that she did it. He was being an ass and needed to hear it. "What about you and King Namur?" a villager asked. "I say yay. As for the king-" There was a loud roar behind her as Namur walked up next to her. "Yay." she informed them. He put his head against hers and purred apologetically. "You don't have to apologize to me idiot. I wasn't the one you hurt." Sabine whispered. "Show of hands!" Sabine called out.

Nearly everyone had raised their hands. For those that didn't, most had questions or were worried about their autonomy but also the other kingdoms coming for them. Sabine and Namur were honest and told them what Kaizo had told them about their support. Eventually it was a unanimous vote. "Damn. It's a shame Mwezi and them left already. If only someone was fast enough to catch the-" Sabine didn't get to finish her sentence before Namur took off into the night. "Alright everyone. Younger men help with packing the things we need to take. Unless it is super important we don't need things like furniture. Older men prepare any provisions we need for the journey. Ladies tend to the young and prepare the oils." Sabine called out orders like a natural born leader.

Mewzi woke to a loud roar and the caravan coming to a halt. She yawned groggily as she heard what sounded like Namur talking to king Kaizo. "Everything okay?" she muttered as she curled up in Nyoka's protective coils. "Yes," he said and kissed her forehead.

"Alright men, plan b. Pack the provisions for the back trip onto the least amount of carts possible. I want battalions three and four to head back with the Sabertooth King and escort his people back to the kingdom." he started calling out orders. "Nammy's here?" she said, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. She leaned out the carriage she was in and got a full view of his bare backside as he spoke to King Kaizo. She pulled herself back into so fast the carriage shoot a bit. It wouldn't show but she could feel the blush washing over her face.

Namur walked over to the carriage, he was tall enough to see in but she couldn't see anything below his shoulders. "Mwezi…" he started scratching the back of his neck. "I wanted to apologize for earlier. I am not good with...words? Emotions…" he admitted. Mwezi nodded and playfully patted the top of his head playfully. "I forgive you. Maybe work on it will you?" she suggested. He nodded and walked away with a wave goodbye. 'Anything for you' he thought to himself.

The men worked quickly, by the time they finished reorganizing their goods he was sure his people would be ready to move. They were used to picking up and leaving everything at the drop of a hat. Now they wouldn't have too. Namur definitely didn't like Mwezi at first but she helped his sister, so he felt indebted to her. He didn't expect her to grow on him like she did. The stories she told of her home were much like his own and what his people faced. He became king way too young, his uncles doing their best and giving their lives to save him and his sister. From that point on he made sure he would be the strongest alive. He would never lose anyone again. Now he just had one more to protect. A burden he'd gladly take on.