A Lion Named Black

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Once upon a time in a forest no bigger than a backyard, there lived a majestic lion.  The trees would sway softly back and forth, whispering his name...Black.  They longed to be by him, longed for him to sleep beside them as their arms folded around him in a loving embrace.  All of the critters that lived in this forest bowed at his presence, their hearts in awe, their love for him, introduced by jealously for the only one he let near him...the only one.  This one he cradled to sleep through the dark nights and the sun filled days.  This only one... this little one was a pig named Sam.  Oh how Black held him, loved him, waited by the edge of the path for him to visit him.  Many nights words were spoken between both, words hidden from the outside world under the poetic songs of the crickets who surrounded them.  But one night, the last night Black saw his friend was the conversation that majestic lion would never forget.  "Dont go back..." he began.  He nuzzled his face into his friends to hear him answer not to worry his master would never hurt him, never kill him.  Black looked deep into his best friends eyes and continued.  "I wish I could feel as you do, feel all of the colors in the sky.., red, blue, green and yellow.  I'd take red and blue and color myself purple."  He giggled a bit, saw the smile shine on Sams face.  Purple.  The only one Black loved, the only one he trusted.  "Im sorry," he whispered. "So sorry they picked me..." Those were the last words as he drifted to sleep.  When he awoke he heard the sounds of the villagers nearby.  A feast...,the humans were celebrating.  He stretched his massive body and sat by the edge of the path waiting...,waiting for Sam.  Night fell softly.  Black became restless.  Five nights and four days that lion never left that path.  On the sixth night some thought a violent storm fell across the land.  Sounds so deep and rolling, rain falling viciously in that little forest. But the truth was..., the truth was the thunder was the sound of Black.  Crying, raising his majestic head up to the Heavens, mourning his best friend.  That violent rain fell not from the sky but from the trees as they held Black.  Mothering him, comforting his so colorful soul.  And on the seventh day that lion who sat so solemnly on the edge of the path was awakened by the critters in the forest.  He looked around and about.., nothing seemed different.  "Look up Black" the trees whispered.  He raised his head, softly and slowly and found himself embraced by the color of the sky. It was purple.  Oh it was the most beautiful color he'd ever seen. The trees saw him smile and they smiled too.  The critters sang, sang in that forest filled with love, love by the arms of a best friend.  "Shall we call you Purple now?" a little frog asked timidly.  The lion looked down at this small little being and replied in such an empathical voice..."No...Please...Please just keep calling me Black..."

The End.