VoK Prompts

B 01: Basic writing prompt
Word count: 980
Earning: 1 white feather for every 200 words

The sun rose on Usuku Lokuziqhenya, the day between 13 and 14 PY, to find the entire Ukusizana Pride scattered around the Tryout Grounds and the surrounding hills. Instead of two year olds looking to be given a field, though, today the arena was filled with young lions of from newborn to four years old buzzing at the chance of being chosen as the next king or queen. Council elders perched stoically in a designated hill, along with a beaming Queen Umsebenzi Wobuciko and sulking King Intukuthelo.

Once it was ensured that everyone was present, Ubuciko turned to Kuth. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Unimpressed and still in the grumpy mood from the previous night, he snapped, "No,"

"Fine," Unfazed, Ubuciko stood, and with the clarity and authority that only a true queen could muster, she announced, "Let the games begin!"

The challenge was simple in prospects, but a truly daunting task for cubs alone. For the first round, a few elders separated the cubs into groups and gave them a puzzle that they were to solve as a group as fast as they could. The Council wanted to see who would shine through as servant leaders right from the start. The cubs were encouraged to win in order to get bonus votes, but secretly, though, the Council was to watch who would put others first by helping instead of only worrying about themselves. Kuth, though, could not care less what the Council wanted from him. After all, he got the final say, and he had every intention of choosing the winner himself.

As the groups worked through the first puzzle, Kuth half-heartedly scanned the crowd. The younger half of the cubs dazed off, wondered around, or played with the grass as their frustrated parents practically pulled their hair out from the sidelines. The cubs that did know the purpose of the day sat in circles, some talking, some fighting (both verbally and physically), and some genuinely trying to work through the puzzle.

Kuth was about to look away when his eye caught on the furthest group of cubs. A single beam of sunlight had broken through the cloud cover like a spotlight of gold illuminating the group, but, more specifically, a bright orange cub who was intently bent over the puzzle as the rest of her group argued and fought. Kuth couldn't seem to tear his eyes away, but when he did, he saw that none of the other Elders seemed to be watching her. He instantly knew that God wanted him to see this, although he couldn't imagine why.

As he watched, the young lioness finished the puzzle as if she had been trained to do this. Her face shined with joy and surprise, but only an instant before she looked around at her group. Her brow furrowed seeing how none of them cared about the puzzle. Kuth knew the cub was thinking the same thing he was: none of these cubs were worthy of the crown. Kuth watched as the cub's eyes scanned the hillside, probably watching to see who, if anyone, was watching her. The king looked away before their eyes could meet but immediately looked back, and he could hardly believe what he saw. The cub was already busy putting the puzzle back together, and when it was finished, she snuck away from her group to one nearby which had all the cubs leaning over the puzzle. She's helping a more deserving group.

Kuth's feet were propelling him down the hill before he even knew what he was doing. His voice worked of its own accord: he roared with all his might so that even animals miles away knew the king was speaking. "The competition is off!" 

As he ran, his eyes never left the now-petrified cub. It wasn't until later that he would realize how much he had scared the poor thing: she thought she had been caught breaking the rules. She wasn't the only one that was confused, too: the entire Council was on their feet, their faces showing varying degrees of confusion, annoyance, and anger. Furious, Ubuciko raced after her husband, still thinking he was mad. She shouted her own objections as she followed: "Kuth, you agreed. This is not your decision to make. Do not be rash. You know we have no other choice, no other option. This is your only chance to achieve your dream..." but Kuth didn't hear a word of it. The king had found his heir.

Kuth didn't stop until he was immediately before the orange cub. Hardly loud enough for even the cub to hear, he whispered, "Miss, what is you name?"

The cub stared back into her king's wide eyes, as dumbfounded as anyone. The only interaction she had ever had with him had been brief, and nothing like this. Looking for help, her eyes darted around, but her parents appeared even more confused and the queen had slowed to a stop several paces behind the king. No one seemed worried, so maybe she wasn't in trouble? Hesitantly, she met the king's eyes again. "Amanzi," she whispered back.

"Amanzi... what a fitting name for royalty... You, my dear, are a wonder. How would you like to be queen." Kuth beamed with a sparkle in his eyes.

Amanzi couldn't comprehend what she was hearing. "Me? So, I'm not in trouble?"

"Far from actually," Kuth said, his voice still and whisper and eyes never leaving hers. He could hardly believe what he was saying, just as Amanzi couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kuth only waited for a smile to break over her face before hoisting the cub in the air. Every jaw in the arena fell open and every eye bulged at the unlikely beaming pair. For the second time that day, Kuth roared.

"Everyone bow before the heir to the thrown: Princess Amanzi!"