18- Goodbyes

"Is he dead?" Sarandi asked.
Everyone one moved closer to King Alok who was lying still on the floor. Lily was lying next to him struggling to breath and a banging head. Achio crouched down to check his pulse, he held Alok's wrist trying to see if he was alive.
"Is he dead?" Sarandi reiterated, chewing her lower lip.
She was ignored as everyone waited to get the news from Achio. Baba Mbari who three the stool was still standing, leg frozen to the ground. The old man was still stunned that he almost lost his precious Lily and his heart was still banging in his chest.
Achio looked up at his council members. "He's alive."
A look of horror came upon their faces. They started to step back, worrying for their lives. The evil king had gotten into the throne room and had seen Damien, forcing the old man to take him to the others. It was at that moment the elders knew the end had come for the Kayaan kingdom. They had tried their best but it seemed destiny had other things in store for them until Lily showed up.
Lily.
"Get the soldiers!" The commander croaked out. Her weak voice made Baba Mbari hurried to her side pushing. Lily was bleeding badly, she was laying powerless on the floor, groaning. When he reached for her to help her up, she stopped the old man. "king Alok."
"Lily, I need to get you to the healer." He told her.
She picked on his voice. The chief warrior knew that voice anywhere. ,"Baba, I need to ensure king Alok is detained."
"You come first."
She countered. "The people come first."
Baba Mbari felt like a proud father hearing those words from Lily. It only put out what a selfless leader she was and she was proud to say all that the young commander knew, she learnt him. They had spent hours everyday training and telling her side sayings preparing her for her future. He was glad his lessons paid and he was pleased to know that the Kayaan kingdom would have her as a leader when he was gone. He let out a small cough
The elder worried for the kingdom. For Lily. And for the council of elders. He had tried to imagine how things would be when he was gone. He had imagined the kingdom flowing with milk and honey. He knew Lily was a brilliant leader and would be able to navigate her way around whatever hurdles were in her path and he knew the council of elders would draft in a replacement. These were his thoughts before King Alok came along.
The only reason King Alok was back was to get revenge. The old man was one of the few who had fought during the first war with his older brother Mbaka. He was still a young Kayaan and it was his first time fighting in war. Usually, he was stuck with the training he did in the kingdom so he was excited about fighting other supernaturals.
He remembered not even understanding why he was fighting. He only lived to go out of the walls of the kingdom and flex his fighting skills. It wasn't until a while later when the war had lingered on longer than they thought and was causing a lot of havoc and lives were being lost he got to know the rape story between prince Chad and one of their Kayaans.
Soon after, King Alok was overthrown, sending him and his bear shifters to exile. Up until now, it was rare to find bears around. Most of them move in their human form far away from the kingdom but now that their King was back, that was bound to change.
Three guards walked in with Sarandi. They widened their eyes when they saw the helpless form of the bear King. They had doubted when Sarandi had told them and they had only followed her out of courtesy.
They picked him up and carried him, one guard held onto his legs and the other, his hands while the last only stood behind them leading the way to the prison. The other elders followed closely behind the guards as they took king Alok to the prison.
Baba only worried more when he saw the arrow King Alok wanted to use to take out his child. He heaved a sigh. His heart would be able to take the news that Lily was dead but he knew her own heart to take the news. He was old and it was expected of him to transition to meet his ancestors anytime soon.
He crouched down trying to get the commander up but she was just too heavy for him to carry on his own. To him, it felt like she weighed double the size she weighed. When he managed to get her to stand, the commander staggered as Baba Mbari tried to get her to walk so they could get to the Healer's place.
"The soldiers-" She wasn't able to finish off her words before blood gushed out of her mouth. He admonished, "save your strength."
"The soldiers." The chief warrior got out again.
Baba Mbari still struggled to get the chief warrior to move.
Lily was in pain and could barely breathe. Her vision was in a blur with yellow stars moving around. Her head and body hurt from the blows she had received and her mouth and nose were constantly pouring out blood. Even Baba Mbari's already had blood stains on him.
Baba Mbari tried to get her to move but she was in too much pain. While she groaned in pain, he tried to get her to move but she only staggered then her legs started to feel heavy till she collapsed on his shoulder.
Swiftly, he carried her with all his strength in his arms bridal style and ran as fast as his aged legs carry. With rapid movement he made his way to the Healer's so she could save the commander.
The old man almost stumbled over when he got to the Healer's cave. He placed Lily on a healing table and shivered as he watched as the healer would do her best in saving Lily's life. Baba Mbari had started to feel cold, he had not taken his medicine since the brouhaha in the kingdom began.
He knew he had very little time left. His depleting health was starting to tell but the smile he always made his front helped to prevent the others from finding out. He always attended all the meetings and tried to ensure his meeting with the Healer never fell during one of their meetings. He also tried to ensure he was there for Lily everytime she needed him. The only days he couldn't make it was when she had her final fight and their feast. It was one of the most important days of the girl's life and he had to miss it. They had both anticipated those special days, practicing their actions but he couldn't make it because it was the day he found out he was going to die.
Baba Mbari had felt a pain in his chest. It was something his medicine couldn't heal because the pain had been there for two whole days and it won't stop throbbing no matter how much medicine he took. He made his way to the healer's cave because the pain got worse each day and so she gave him another medicine which relieved him of the pain. It was then the Healer broke the devastating news to him.
"Mbari," the healer started with a sullen look etched in her features. "Your health is deteriorating."
He sighed. Ever since the cough some years back, it had him taking medicine daily. The healer continued, "I don't think you can make it to the next full moon."
Baba Mbari had started to think of all the things he would miss out on in Lily's growth. It was hard to believe and comprehend that the child he labored and worked hard for was going to be all alone without any guardian. Lily had only known him as her guardian. He trained her morally and in other facets of her life so it was hard to think someone else was going to reap where they didn't sow.
He couldn't hold back the tests that rolled down his cheeks. The last time he found himself crying was when his brother Mbaka died. The only good news was that he was going to see his brother Mbaka after many years.
For days, he stayed all alone in the bushes trying to avoid any form of interaction, even from his daughter Lily. He had ignored her when she called out to him to help with her training with Mbazi a day before. It took all the strength in him to come to terms with the Healer's statement.
"You need to get some rest."
Baba Mbari shook his head when the Healer interrupted his train of thoughts. "I'm okay."
The healer could tell he wasn't. She had seen his type before. Worried parents who put their child's health over theirs it was always an amazing sight to behold but she knew she couldn't. She was too busy mixing herbs to start a family. She wanted to experience what it felt like to care about someone and have someone care about you and on the same day.
"Lily is going to be fine" . She put a hand around his shoulder. "She's doing okay.
Baba Mbari let out a breath he didn't know he was holding then smiled. "Can I move closer to her?" The healer nodded and left her cave leaving the father-daughter duo to speak freely.
Lily still had her eyes closed, deep in sleep due to the medicine the healer had given her. The commander was no longer bleeding and leaves were put on her external injuries to stop the bleeding. He took her hand and whispered softly. "May you find the pieces to the missing puzzles, child."
Just as he was about to leave her, Lily's hold on Baba Mbari's hand became stronger. Her eyes were still shot closed but she refused to let go of his hand. Forcefully, Baba Mbari pulled his hand away, tearing his hand from Lily's. His heart broke to know this was the last time he was going to see her. He could feel it.
Baba Mbari made his way to Achio's cave. Achio was the only elder who Baba Mbari had told about his terminal sickness. Elder Achio had been supportive, helping him get his medicine and keeping an eye on Lily when he couldn't be there. Baba Mbari''s cough announced his presence. Achio frowned hearing the cough.
Baba Mbari''s face had a pale look like he wasn't getting enough air into his lungs. He also had a big leather draped across his back ."life just goes by in a blur for some of us."
Achio gave a perplexed frown. He was in his cave and the first thing he says is that. Not even a greeting. "Hello, to you."
Baba Mbari tried to smile filled miserably. "All they wish and hope for will be given to someone else while they're stuck trying to accept and come to terms that they can never have such priceless artifacts.
Baba Mbari coughed."Take care of her."
Achio hummed. "Who?"
"Lily.That one word explained it all. "I need you to promise you'll take care of Lily."
He put his hand on the left side of his left chest. "I promise." Achio laughed. He was confused as to why Mbari was telling him such words but he nodded all the same. Lily was the Chief warrior so he was definitely going to be strong to what Baba Mbari asked of him.
Later that night, Baba Mbari died in his sleep.