A Lion and Ura's Quest for Salvation

I was a young lion, and I had never seen anything like her.

Some might say I'm a poet, but those people are wrong.

She was a human girl, with skin so pale it made me think of the ice that envelops the northern hills in winter. She wore the skins of animals, and carried with her an odd metal instrument. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and her eyes were green, like chestnuts. When she looked at me, I felt as though my heart would betray me and flutter to the ground in front of her.

She told me her name was Ura. "Ura," she said, "can you help me?"

I wanted to reply to her, but I was too awed by her presence.

"Can you help me?" she asked again, this time raising her voice.

"Of course," I replied finally, finding my voice. "As long as your intentions are good."

"They are," Ura said firmly. "They're the best intentions in the world." She held out a small tubular object and pointed it at me, pushing two buttons on its surface with her thumb. A flash of light shot from its end and struck my face. There was a loud sound like thunder and a sharp pain -- pain like nothing I'd ever felt before -- then everything went dark.

* * *

I awoke some time later with a start. The sun had not yet risen; the sky still glowed faintly blue-grayish in the east. Had it all been a dream? Was Ura even real? I closed my eyes for a moment to rest them, then opened them again and looked around for the girl and what she had called an "instrument". There was no sign of either one; I was alone in the cold morning dew on top of my hill overlooking my tribe's village.

It was not possible that I could have imagined such an encounter with such vivid clarity! I shook myself again and again until water flew off of every inch of my body; only then did I believe that it had actually happened and not just been another strange vision brought on by another night-sickness dream-walk among my people's ancestors while they roamed our lands in their animal forms — visions that always left one strangely refreshed when they woke up atop their hills after having walked among their ancestors' spirits during the night times (as if they were dream-spirits walking among us in our waking hours).

My heart raced as I thought about Ura again — she must have somehow used that strange device she carried to capture my spirit within it! How else could there be any other explanation? She'd said something about needing my help — whatever that meant — but now she was gone! She must have returned to whatever strange place she had come from! What could a human girl want with a mere lion? But why had she chosen me? Surely there must be hundreds of other lions more worthy than I who could have helped her better than foolish old Fikani! Could Ura have been bewitched by my strength? Or was there more to it than that — something only humans seemed capable of understanding? Oh how much I wished at that moment that I knew how to read the thoughts written on her face when she looked upon me! In truth, I could barely understand what went on inside the minds of any creature except other lions ... but what did they really think anyway? They all just watched silently while other creatures ate meat or climbed trees or burrowed into earth or swam through water! Lions were useless beasts — we only lived to eat prey animals whole without chewing them up first like hyenas or dogs did — we were strong but stupid creatures who weren't fit for anything else beyond scavenging off dead carcasses or stealing kills from our pack mates! We were only respected because we were powerful enough to destroy others weaker than ourselves! If only someone would show us how we could use our strength for good instead of evil! But no one ever has! So it is always left to me to do what needs doing even if there's little chance for reward from anyone else ...

Something deep inside told me that Ura needed my help — even if she didn't realize it herself yet ... so I would bring it to her whether she liked it or not! That is why she'd chosen me after all wasn't it? Because despite appearances, despite appearances ... Fikani may not be as stupid as he looks after all ... oh how much easier life would be if he were ...*