Mayai

Mayai is a male ostrich.
Zazu the hornbill earned a notorious reputation for getting the Pride Landers in trouble with Mufasa. Mayai and his friends decided to play a prank on Zazu by feeding him false information and thus discrediting his reports. The plan initially worked, with Mufasa losing faith in his majordomo, but Zazu redeemed himself by warning the Pride Landers of a deadly army ant attack. Shamed by Zazu's heroism, Mayai and his friends confessed their dishonesty to Mufasa, then explained the ruse to their parents. Afterward, they helped Zazu gather information around the Pride Lands.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Mayai had a sister named Pamba. The two lived in the Pride Lands.
===Prank on Zazu===
After formulating a plan to get Zazu in trouble with Mufasa by spreading rumors, Cheka and his friends met with the baby ostriches and filled them in on the plan. Mayai asked Cheka if all they had to do was wander around and ask the other animals if they had heard that a strange beast was roaming the Pride Lands. His sister, Pamba, asked why they would do that, and Lulu explained that they wanted everyone to start worrying. Sukari explained that all the animals would get spooked and that Zazu would report it to Mufasa. Mayai was excited and exclaimed about how much fun the game was going to be, but Pamba was still hesitant and asked her brother if they should participate. Mayai called her a "scaredy-cat" and reminded her that it was going to be fun. Nzuri told her not to worry, for it would be funny to watch Zazu get yelled at by Mufasa. Privately, she was relieved that the ostriches had already forgotten how she and her friends had been chasing them just the other day.
The rest of the day, Mayai and Pamba went around the Pride Lands and asked the other animals if they had seen or heard of a strange beast wandering the plains. The other animals had not seen the beast but promised to keep a look out for it. After the plan was a success, Cheka and the gang gathered at the water hole. Cheka asked the others how they should fool Zazu this time, and Mayai suggested they pretend that another beast was roaming the Pride Lands since he had had so much fun running around and telling everyone the false news. However, Pamba wanted to do something different. Lulu suggested that they make weird noises in the middle of the night, but Nzuri pointed out that that was not too different from their first idea. Cheka then suggested that they report someone missing. Lulu got excited, and Cheka proclaimed that Mayai would be reported missing. He told the little ostrich to hide with Lulu in the forest. Mayai got on Lulu's back, and the two headed for the forest.
Later, Zazu was flying over the water hole when he saw the young animals waving urgently at him. He landed beside the water hole, and Pamba ran up to him, exclaiming that she could not find her brother. Zazu asked where she had last seen him, and she explained that they had been playing "hide-the-feather" in the trees near Five Stones. She had gone to hide the feather, and when she had come back, Mayai had been gone. Zazu calmed Pamba and assured her that he would find her missing brother. Pamba made Zazu promise not to tell her mother, and Zazu commented, "Sometimes, it's better if bad news waits until it can become no news." He then flew off to tell Mufasa. He reported the missing ostrich and suggested that the beast may have caught Mayai.
Mufasa was the greatest tracker in the Pride Lands and immediately set out to look for Mayai. He ran to Five Stones, with Zazu flying overhead, and they searched the area thoroughly. When they found no trace of Mayai or the mysterious beast, they searched the Elephant Graveyard but once more had no luck. Mufasa suggested they search the forest. Upon reaching it, they heard a strange rustle. A moment later, Mayai and Lulu came trotting out of the forest, as if nothing were wrong. Mufasa demanded to know where they had been and told them that Zazu had heard that Mayai was missing. Lulu explained that they had not been lost; they had just been playing in the forest. Mufasa was content and expressed his relief that everyone was safe. Zazu started to mention Pamba, but Mayai interrupted, calling his sister an "airhead." Zazu realized that Mayai was right, for ostriches were known for getting excited about nothing, and it had been unwise for him to trust an unreliable source. A bit perplexed, Zazu bid Mufasa farewell and flew off.
Eventually, Mayai and his friends felt so guilty about lying to Zazu that they confessed to Mufasa. The king was furious but fair. He told the young ones to tell their parents, and they once more confessed. Nzuri explained how fed up they had been with Zazu's nosiness but that they now understood the danger of lying, especially to someone who looked out for their safety. Their parents were angry and wanted to punish them severely, but Mufasa gave the animals a different punishment. From then on, they were to gather news about all important events in the Pride Lands. That way, they would recognize the difference between fact and fiction and would always have to be responsible for their words.
===Legacy===
Zazu told the story of Mayai and his friends to Mufasa's grandson, Kopa.
==Physical appearance==
Mayai has black and white feathers, with a pink neck.
==Personality and traits==
Mayai is much less cautious concerning disobedience than his sister, Pamba. He is outgoing, fun-loving, and enthralled by the idea of spreading rumors. Though his intentions are not to harm others, the consequences of his decisions sometimes cause trouble around the Pride Lands.
==Appearances==
* The Lion King: Six New Adventures
** How True, Zazu?
==Trivia==
* Mayai's name means "eggs" in Swahili.
* It is possible that Pudini is Mayai's mother, for she has two unnamed children, and Mayai and Pamba are referred to as "the ostrich babies."
==References==
Category:Characters
Category:Males
Category:Ostriches
Category:Pride Landers