Homecoming
7
“Leo is back, Leo is back!” Coco yelled as loudly as he could as he flew his usual reckless way through the jungle towards Leo’s ruins.
The first to greet him was Tomy who ran to him followed closely by Mandy.
“Leo’s back and the human who took away the sickness is with him,” he said flapping to a landing on Tomy’s back.
Higeoyaji was leading Leo through the dense grass when he was greeted by a group of animals who made it clear they were happy to see Leo but unsure about Higeoyaji’s presence. The group kept several meters between themselves and him. But a circle of animals was forming and getting bigger and bigger as all the animals began to chatter amongst themselves. One okapi approached keeping an unsure eye on Higeoyaji and sniffed Leo’s face, then rubbed his face along the side of Leo’s head.
“Oh Leo, I, we are so happy to see you ag…”the okapi’s greeting was cut short.
“Father….Father.” shouted Lune leaping from behind a fallen tree landing on Leo’s mane and throwing him to the ground, closely followed by Lukio who jumped on both of them.
“Oh my children, I thought I would never see you again.” Leo said, so full of joy he made no effort to contain his feelings as the three rolled around furiously licking and play biting each other.
“Lune, oh Lune I thought I’d lost you. I am so glad that you were able to come home again. My little Lukio, did you keep the jungle safe while I was away?”
“Yes father and I always knew you would come back, I just knew you would.” Said Lukio licking her father’s ear.
“Lune, when we get home you must tell me of your adventure and where you’ve been.” asked Leo. “And I have a lot to tell you both and every one here.”
Tomy arrived in a frenzied gallop with Mandy on his back and Coco flying in through the trees as before.
“Leo..” shouted Tomy and stopped so hard that Mandy flew straight over his head and into a dense bush.
Higeoyaji watched as the animals greeted Leo and he thought, “ Where in the world could it be seen that prey animals were so happy to see a predator? Not only happy and overjoyed to see him back but love him and revere him. They wanted to rub their bodies against his and lick him and nuzzle him as he then threw himself affectionately on them. Where in the world could it be seen? No where else but here. Such a display of love and affection was uncommon even with humans yet here something was very different.”
Leo finally contained himself and stood straight and upright and all the animals moved back a few meters as if on some hidden command.
“My dear friends I am so happy to see all of you too.” Said Leo, turning his head towards where he thought Higeoyaji was standing.
Higeoyaji had moved well clear of the area fearing that he might be trampled in the commotion. As Leo turned his head to the left Higeoyaji was standing on his right.
“This is my, our friend Higeo. It’s all right to speak around him, he is our brother,” said Leo and as Higeoyaji approached from the right Leo then looked towards the sound of his steps. Those animals close enough within the circle noticed that Leo could not see.
8
All of the animals began chattering now as Mandy stepped out from among a group of gazelles and stood in front of the man that had taken away the terrible “Purpura”, the man that Leo was calling “brother.”
Mandy stood about chest height to him and he looked at the man from top to bottom then took a couple of sniffs then extended his right hand.
Higeoyaji was no longer surprised by anything these animals could do and he returned the handshake.
“Leo says that you are our friend and our brother, you are most welcome here. We did not have the chance to thank you for taking away our awful disease. “ Said Mandy.
“I was able to help all of you, so I did. You don’t have to thank me,” answered Higeoyaji.
Mandy looked over to Leo and asked,“ Leo, what’s wrong with your eyes?”
“My friend, Higeo, says it is blindness caused by looking at snow for too long but it will pass in time.” Answered Leo.
Mandy moved over to Leo and stood directly in front of him and putting one hand on each ear looked into his eyes.
“Well, the most important thing is, your’re back. When you left for the mountain we all feared the worst. We all feared that you would never return, that we would never see you again,” said Mandy clearly choking at the thought of almost losing his adopted son.
The death of Liya to the Purpura had left the jungle animals in the deepest sorrow.
“Certainly for me,” Mandy thought, “losing you too would have been too much to bear.”
As Mandy choked back his emotion, Leo extended his huge white arm and put it around Mandy and drew his small fury body close to him and Mandy embraced his mane and pushed his head hard against Leo’s face.
Mandy spoke softly into Leo’s ear, “We both know that I have said this to you many, many times, but I’ll say it again anyway. Please, don’t leave us again.”
This time Leo had come closer to death than any other time before, “And,” he thought,
“ even the time when I jumped into the ocean soon after I was born.”
Leo took stock of the emotion and happiness the animals were showing at seeing
him back again and how happy he was to see them. He and all the animals knew no one had ever returned from the mysterious mountain before and as far as they were concerned the moment he had gone to the mountain Leo was already dead.
Leo took stock of the wonderful home for all of the animals that he had helped to create and he knew how much he loved them and how much they loved him. He also knew how much he needed them and how much they needed him.
Leo took stock of this whole situation and he said quietly to Mandy, “I promise my dear friend that I will never leave you, any of you again.”
Other preying animals were also arriving, some cheetah’s, leopards, and lions.
The cheetahs yelped at Leo and one approached him and dropped himself on his back and rolled over in front of him playfully smacking Leo’s face with his paws. Leo couldn’t see the cheetah but he knew who he was and returned his friend’s greeting with joy.
The other big cats kept a few meters from him and were more conservative in their display. One lion roared loudly and in mid roar all the other cat’s joined in. The roaring continued for a few minutes and then stopped. All the cats then bowed their heads at Leo and he answered this showing of respect and reverence with his own roar.
9
Higeoyaji continued to watch in amazement as the prey animals stood without fear as so many predators walked among them.
Mandy waited for all the cats to finish their greeting and spoke.
“Everyone, we shouldn’t stand around here all day. They must both be tired. Let’s go home.”
Leo motioned to Higeoyaji to go on walking beside him while Mandy and Tomy walked on his other side with Coco perched on Tomy’s back, followed by what seemed to be hundreds of animals walking behind. Both cubs walked happily and proudly in front. Some animals were shuffling through the grass and some were swinging and jumping from tree to tree. Overhead Higeoyaji noticed hundreds of birds flying above the treetops. Leo and Higeoyaji and all of these animals were heading for one place, home.
Higeoyaji began to think. This lion is a king. The undisputed king of his domain.
And he is loved, honored and revered.
Higeoyaji had, over the years, heard stories told by local people about the white lion that talked. It was said that he was the son of countless generations of white lions but the only one that could speak human language. The white lions had been in the area since ancient times and had never hurt or interfered with people.
The stories tell that trouble began only when the white man arrived with guns and greed and disturbed the natural order.
The white lion was , never the less considered to be a spirit of some kind. Feared by some and honored by others as a brave, noble and honorable spirit.
He had also heard a story or two from the oldest of people about the spirit mountain.
Only a few humans had ever seen it. It only appeared when something terrible was happening and then only for a short while. No one knew where it came from or why it appeared, but when it did appear everything would be well again.
Higeoyaji believed that the mountain had never interfered with local people yet it certainly had brought disaster to the Mount Moon Expedition and all of his colleagues.
The spirits on the mountain will soon take his life too and then he realized that those spirits, who ever or what ever they are, must be protecting the animals here and perhaps the jungle itself. While humans did not represent a real danger to the animals the mountain did not effect them. The expedition team had met with disaster because they had all taken part in destroying the animals and the forest. Perhaps he was still here because he had saved the animals from the Purpura and the spirits had been lenient but then he too had joined in on the expedition to steal the moonlight stone. So for this reason, he thought, he would have to return the moonlight stone and forfeit his life. He was trying to rationalize the reasons for the choices he was given but he knew that there was no way he could understand. Still, as everyone walked back to Leo’s ruins Higeoyaji looked around him at this spectacle of love and respect and he knew that his life was worth it and he had no regrets. His only problem was that one day soon he was going to have to tell Leo about his meeting with Ofukurosan and say goodbye to him for the last time. But he resolved to enjoy to the full this wonderful place, the closest thing to paradise on earth he had ever seen.
As Leo walked among his friends his feelings of euphoric joy were suddenly dashed as he remembered that Liya was no longer there. He walked among so many friends who loved him and yet he was reminded that he was, in his heart, alone.
10
Yet as Leo walked next to his human friend, his new brother, and all of the animals that loved him, he could not let them see the sorrow that had just taken possession of him.
He had known Liya since his earliest days, since they were both very young. She had loved him the moment she met him while he had taken a little longer to catch on. She had become his companion, his friend, his strength and his love.
The only thing in his life that meant more to him than his children, his home, his friends, his dream and his life was Liya and she was gone.
But somehow he had to find the strength to go on without her. The jungle and every animal in it still needed him and his children still needed him.
Everyone walking all around him needed him and he knew he could not let them down.
Yet their love, a love of so many, could never replace the love of just one.
But Ofukurosan had given him a chance for a new beginning and so life must go on.
Leo hoped that one day he might find his happiness again but certainly, he believed,
not any time soon.
The procession had soon arrived at Leo’s ruins and there waiting was Haguura with his son Bizo and all the other elephants, around twenty in all.
The elephants had arranged themselves in an arch of honor holding their trunks high in the air. Higeoyaji stepped aside from Leo and said to Mandy, “this is for Leo, you should guide him through.”
Mandy replied, “this is as much for you too, Higeo. Without you, most of these animals would not be here today. Please, go on.”
“Yes, please come with me. Help me home, Higeo.” Added Leo.
Mandy, Tomy, Lune, Lukio and Coco moved clear of Leo and Higeoyaji as they both prepared for their walk through the arch of elephants.
Higeoyaji was too overwhelmed for words, he held his hand out to Mandy who held out his hand. As they both held hands for just a moment Higeoyaji said a quiet, “thank you,” to Mandy and then Leo and Higeoyaji moved on into the arch.
As they entered the arch, the elephants began trumpeting, then all of the other animals joined into the crescendo.
Haguura was the last elephant in the arch and when Leo and Higeoyaji came to the end the trumpeting stopped and slowly all of the other animals stopped their noise as well.
Haguura moved out of his position in the arch and stood in front of Leo and Higeoyaji.
“Leo,” began Haguura, with Leo and Higeoyaji having to look high up into his face up past his one impressive tusk.
“I have not always seen your point of view or understood your wisdom. But I have always been your friend and ally. There have been many times when we have disagreed and sometimes when we have fought. When you went to the mountain I, we, all feared you would not return. It was then I understood how much every animal in this jungle, including myself needs you. I now realize that every time I have disagreed with you I have been wrong, I will not disagree with your wisdom again. Welcome back my honored friend.”
Leo stood as straight as he could and replied simply, “thank you, Haguura.”
“Human,” Haguura continued, “I am not yet prepared to accept humans as friends but I am prepared to accept you.
11
My elephants and I have agreed that you are worthy of our trust. You are welcome here among us also.” Haguura finished his speech and moved aside to allow them passage into the building.
“Thank you.” Was all Higeoyaji could say and he bowed his head and moved on.
While Haguura spoke, Mandy, Tomy, Coco, Lune and Lukio had made their way around the elephants to meet Leo and Higeoyaji at the doorway and they all accompanied their father and friend up the stone stairway into Leo’s home.
Higeoyaji and Leo were extremely hungry, tired and thirsty and found their climb up the stairway to Leo’s living area on the third floor quite difficult.
Higeoyaji still had the moonstone in his hand and still kept it between himself and Leo.
Leo pointed his arm to the bed of straw where Higeoyaji had slept the night he had given the medicine to Lukio.
“Please, Higeo, let’s sit down over there, I’m sure we’re both very tired.” Said Leo.
“You’re right Leo, I think I’m going to sleep for a l...o…n…g time.” said Higeoyaji.
Higeoyaji sat on the bed and lifted his weary legs onto it and lay down putting the moon stone beside him. The ordeal was over. The expedition members were all dead but he and Leo were alive and well.
For the moment, at least, it was time to relax.
Leo jumped up on the bed and lay next to his friend. “Higeo, my friends are going to bring us some food and water and we’ll finally be able to rest.” Said Leo barely able to keep his eyes open.
“Children,” said Leo, “come up here with me. There’s lots of room, I’m sure Higeo won’t mind.”
“Of course not.” Answered Higeoyaji.
Lune and Lukio jumped on the straw bed excitedly and rolled around with their father licking, nuzzling and biting as before.
Lune moved off Leo and put both front legs on Higeoyaji’s chest and looked at his face and said, “ I am Lune and I want to thank you, Higeo, for saving me from the fire and for saving my sister Lukio.”
Higeoyaji smiled at him then lifted Lune up onto his chest and hugged him and petted his head. “You don’t have to thank me Lune, we are all friends here. Friends always help each other. On the way back from the mountain your father told me that you had gone. No one knew where you were and everyone was so worried about you. After we’ve eaten and rested will you tell us all about it? ” he asked, with Lune still laying comfortably on Higeoyaji’s chest.
“Yes,” answered Lune noticing the moonstone next to Higeoyaji, still glowing red, and couldn’t resist asking him. “What’s that?” he asked.
Lukio too noticed Lune’s discovery and left Leo walking over Higeoyaji’s chest to look at it herself.
“That’s a stone that we found on the mountain and that’s a story we’ll have to tell you all about?” Answered Higeoyaji.
Tomy and Coco stood close to the bed arguing with each other as usual. Leo listened to them both as Lukio returned to play with him and remembered how annoying their arguments were some times. Now he listened to them both argue with delight.
12
Everything around him reassured him that he was finally home. Mandy sat close by watching them all and watching Higeoyaji petting and hugging Lune. Leo had told Mandy of the love the humans had shown him when he was a cub and how they would hold him affectionately.
“Hmm,” he thought, “everything repeating itself again?”
Soon the food and water arrived and both ate and drank a little. After so long without food their stomachs couldn’t hold very much.
“Lune, Lukio,” said Leo, “Both of you can stay here if you want to while Higeo and I rest. Tomorrow we can talk.”
“Yes father.” both cubs answered together. Lune climbed off Higeoyaji, Lukio climbed off Leo and both cubs happily settled down to sleep next to their father.
“I think we should all leave now.” Said Mandy.
Mandy walked over to Leo and hugged his head one more time but said nothing.
He then held his hand out to Higeoyaji and both held each other’s hands for a moment then Mandy, Tomy and Coco left the room as well.
It was dusk and the sky was fiery red, gold, purple and blue. Exhaustion had over come them both but Higeoyaji still had one last thing to say.
“Leo,” said Higeoyaji, “ you have such a wonderful home and so many wonderful friends and such good children.”
“Yes, Higeo, I feel very lucky. Today I got both my children back and I found out just how wonderful they are. I got back my home and my friends and I found out how much they love me but I also found out how much I love them and need them. It is good to be home again among so many friends.
Before I fall asleep Higeo; thank you.” Answered Leo.
Higeoyaji had just enough energy to manage to run his hand over Leo’s forehead and smile before losing consciousness.
Leo lay down on the soft straw, beside his friend, closed his eyes and slept.
Through the window on the south side of the room, the place where the expedition team had lost their lives and where Leo and Higeoyaji had suffered so much, was becoming less visible and soon it was gone.
The moonstone lay at Higeoyaji’s side, the two friends were now safe and home and slowly the moonlight stone dimmed but remained glowing a soft red light.
The room where Leo and Higeoyaji slept was lit dimly by moonlight and after several hours of rest Leo awoke. He raised his head over Higeoyaji’s sleeping body and tried hard to look over to Liya’s bed. He couldn’t see but he knew where it was. There, only a few meters away, was the straw bed where Liya had slept, where she had given birth to Lune and Lukio and where she had died.
As he thought of her, he was overcome by the same sorrow that had gripped him earlier that day and gently Leo stood up, careful not to disturb the cubs and Higeoyaji, and slowly walked over to it.
Higeoyaji noticed the movement and without saying anything watched his friend in the moonlight. Leo climbed onto the bed and as he lay down on it he pushed his face down hard into the straw and caressed the straw with his head as if it were Liya. Higeoyaji was moved to tears as he heard his two hundred kilogram friend slowly and quietly whimper an uncontrolled and sorrowful, plaintive cry.
13
Higeoyaji strained to hold his emotion back for he didn’t want Leo to know that he was watching him. After a while Leo quieted down and remained there the rest of the night.
In the morning, when Higeoyaji awoke, he saw that more food had been brought in and he looked over to see Leo still asleep on Liya’s bed only now the two cubs were sleeping there with him.
He also noticed that the moonstone was not shining as brightly now and wondered what that meant.
Higeoyaji got up slowly and walked out onto the terrace. Its sides were covered with vines and all manner of plants and green growth.
In the bright morning sunshine he looked out to where Mount Moon should have been and thought, “Well I’m sure it’ll be back. Oh dear.”
He looked at the paradise that stretched out before him and he was sad to think that he would soon have to give up this beautiful place and all of the wonderful animals that live here.
Higeoyaji had no regrets about his decision to forfeit his life in order to save Leo.
He thought about all that Leo meant to this place and these animals and he thought about how much Leo meant to him and was happy about the decision he had made. Up to now he’d led an uninspiring life but here and now he knew he had done a wonderful thing and the loss of his life was countered by the power of his good deed. Yet he couldn’t help but feel a little afraid.
He also considered his other problem, which was still, that he didn’t know how he was going to tell Leo about what he needed to do. He didn’t want Leo to feel bad about what he’d had to do to save him, and at least for a short time, himself.
Leo walked onto the terrace up to Higeoyaji, with Lune and Lukio beside him helping him along.
“It feels like it must be a beautiful morning, isn’t it, Higeo?” asked Leo.
“Any morning here is a beautiful morning. How do you feel Leo? How’re your eyes?” asked Higeoyaji, kneeling down to look into Leo’s eyes.
“I feel alright, I think I can see a little bit. How do you feel?”
“Well,” said Higeoyaji “I feel rested, relieved and very, very happy. Now we’ll have to start looking after those eyes of yours for a while.”
Both cubs looked on with curiosity as Higeoyaji looked closely into Leo’s blinded eyes.
Before Higeoyaji had left hurriedly on the ill fated expedition he had left some of his medical equipment and medicine rolled up in a backpack in the corner of the room and he led Leo over to it.
“Leo, I’m going to put a cover over each of your eyes. You must keep these covers on all the time during the day. It’s the only way your eyes will get better,” said Higeoyaji.
“Yes Higeo. But for how long?” Leo asked, sitting down and waiting for Higeoyaji to do what ever he was going to do.
“I don’t know exactly, Leo. It’s hard to tell just by looking. I need the proper tools to be able to tell you that. But it shouldn’t be too long. Maybe a couple of weeks.” answered Higeoyaji. Leo had to think hard to remember what his human family had taught him as a cub about days and weeks and months. Higeoyaji had given Leo a time frame on his eyes getting better without realizing that Leo may have no concept of time.
14
While Higeoyaji taped a cover of cotton wool over each eye Leo sat quietly trying to figure out how long two weeks was. During the time he lived with humans he could remember these things but he hadn’t needed to think or know about time since he came to the jungle. He knew he had four legs. He knew he had two eyes and one tail.
“So,” he thought, “since I only have two eyes, then two isn’t much.
I know what two days are. So if it’s only going to take two..er..somethings to get better..well..that doesn’t sound like very long.” He reasoned. “Any way I’m sure Higeo will explain it to me later.”
Both cubs watched him tape the covers on Leo’s eyes like two of the most well behaved children in the world. Higeoyaji noticed them moving their heads left and right and up and down watching his every move and it brought a smile to his face.
“Alright Leo, it’s done. I can take those off for you at night if you want to. But during the day they must stay on no matter what. Alright?” said Higeoyaji.
“I understand.” said Leo.
Higeoyaji helped Leo over to the food and they all ate again.
Leo raised his head and said to Lune, “Later you can tell me about your adventure, Lune. I’m really looking forward to hearing all about it.”
After their breakfast Higeoyaji, Leo, Lune and Lukio decided to go back out to the terrace. There was shade, a cool breeze and it was such a good place to hear about each other’s adventures. As they settled onto the terrace, Mandy and Tomy joined them, closely followed, as always, by Coco as Lune began his story.
Part 4