a cub was busy licking its paws on the field under the heat of the sun. the cub was used to be fed during hunting season by some older lions, and hunting all by itself for food was never been a priority. one night, while strolling in the wilderness, the cub noticed a big lion sitting on the rock under the big moon. the cub was curious enough to approach the lion and gazed at its mighty stand. its fur looks really smooth and its hair looks like a crown.
the cub asked the lion,
"excuse me.. do you want to play with me?"
"life has so much to offer other than licking paws and chasing bugs.. one day, you'll understand what i mean..". the lion replied with sympathy on its eyes..
the cub was confused by what the lion had said and just ignored it.
since then, the cub checks out the lion. the cub watches how the lion hunts, cleans its fur, how it stand with a might. everyday, the cub gains an insight with the path it needs to take with life. the cub started to take down smaller animals, clean own fur, watches steadily across the wide grassland.
time passed so fast that the cub realized how the lion created a such great change. the cub told to itself, "i will be like you (pertaining to the lion) someday, and i'll make sure you'll be proud of me.." the cub developed a bond with the mighty lion and soon enough the cub became attached and ironically felt dependent on the lion.
"how can i be able to stand with a might like you?" asked the cub
the lion replied "you dont have to be boastful, especially here in the wilderness.. you dont have to brag what you got. being simple is the best way to be admired."
he added.. "...you are special in your own way... take care of yourself.."
the cub was happy with what the lion had said.. "ok, i will.."
one day, the cub went out to visit the rock where the lion usually show off its might.. the cub was surprised not to see the lion from its usual throne. the cub was bothered, confused and did not know what to do. it ran towards the stone and stand above it, hoping to check for any signs where the lion could gone to. but nothing was there. only a blurred image of the hot scenery of the grassland with some animals doing their own business. the cub saw a herd of lions on the other part and thought..
"i guess i wasn't good enough.. that's why the lion looked for others who's mighty and outstanding too.."
the cub usually checks on the throne the lion has left.. looking for some changes or traces. some grass and moss have grown out from the stone throne. bugs started carving some home between the holes of the overlapping rocks.
days.. weeks.. months past, the cub made its own throne. trying to enjoy itself like before. the cub wasted all its time with paw-licking, bug catching and sometimes hunting small animals if desired. the cub can hunt now, though its first days are harsh. the cub usually get lost in the field.. to the jungle and be back to its own thrown tired and wounded. the cub is learning.
then among the most unexpected time of the cub's usual day, the cub heard a very familiar roar from the center of the grassland. he ran towards it with its heart thumping in excitement and nervousness. the cub is right. its the mighty lion that the cub admired so much.
"how's it goin with you boy?!.." said the lion with little concern on its tone.
"well.." said the cub, "i started to hunt now" proud of himself and seeking for some appreciation.
"ah.. good." the lion said..
the cub noticed such response. it seems that the lion has changed. maybe because of the herd that the mighty lion has been spending time with.. and with that thought, the cub was not surprised..
the cub decided to continue the same routine it had during the missing days of the mighty lion. . it checks on the throne lesser and lesser everytime. .
the cub enjoyed staying on the cliff.. enjoying the scenery, the clouds and the cold wind blowing across its fur. the cub is still haunted by its memories, but it said to itself.. "all i need is time, i was born and raised to be alone.. i can do this on my own."
then the cub saw the mighty lion on the oppossite side of the cliff surrounded by other lions that each has something to brag about. but the cub glued its sight to the only lion it idolize. it wanted to release an uproar just to be noticed. but it never did.
"...what's the use?" it said.
the cub just let the herd of the great lions walk away from the its sight. all of a sudden its paw accidentally stepped on a weak part of the cliff.. breaking the solid foundation where the cub is standing. all of its paws rushed down the side of the cliff. its nails tried to cling into anything to stop the speed of falling, it wasn't successful. the cub almost gave up and just let itself fall in the cliff a hundred meters high.
"i wont die yet.. not yet.. not today.. i still have to make somebody proud and appreciate me" with the mighty lion's roar echoing on its mind. the cub was able to cling on a branch of a dead tree growing on the side of the cliff..
minutes.. hours.. and a day passed.. the cub regained its concsiousness. its paw was stuck on an intertwined dry branches. the roots of the dead tree already losing its usual attachment on the cliff. eventhough it's dead, the cub still noticed some mushrooms and moss growing on its surface..
"it died but its sacrifice gave life to another.. it may lost its beauty, but its strength was enough to support me up to this moment. it may ended, but i still find some beauty in it. i hope i can see other things this way too. "
the cub can see only few roots attached. it would only take few more minutes to have all those roots flying off the cliff. the roots had been supporting the cub's weight for more than a day already.. it can hear some of the roots breaking and rocks crumbling down.. it's merely few seconds from now.. the cub had accepted its fate and the dead tree.
then all of a sudden, a mighty shadow was seen above..
"its the mighty lion.." the cub told to himself
"you ok there boy?!"
"yes.. i'm ok. just enjoying the secenery down here.." the cub answered with a sarcastic smile.
"ok, i'll try to look for something to help you out.."
"ok.. TAKE YOUR TIME. i can hold on forever.." the cub lied.
"i will.." said the lion as it walked away calmly form the site with a belief that everything is alright.
"i'm hanging on the last root of this tree which i think had been almost perfect one.. i guess i can no longer wait for you to come back now.." the cub said to himself as the shadow of the mighty lion is nowehere to be seen.
*snap*
and the wilderness heard the mightiest, loudest, and fierciest growl every animal has never heard before..