PROLOGUE
The sky overhead was dark and clouded, rain pouring down outside the den. Yet it was not cold. The humidity was almost sickening, both the rain and the hot, still air sticking to his fur and whiskers. He shook it off irritably, raising a paw and swiping at a droplet of water that dangled on the tip of his ear.
He let out a small sigh, looking over his shoulder at his sleeping family. He was the only one awake. His brother was tucked in between their parents, one of his mother's large paws wrapped protectively around him. Blinking, Taka turned back to the entrance to the den, padding forward a few paces to stick his head out curiously.
Thunder rumbled, shaking the ground and making the stiff, spiky leaves on the Acacia trees outside shake. He shuddered, ducking back inside the warmth of his home.
Just then, he heard someone stir behind him. "What are you doing up?" He recognised his brother's voice, not having to turn around. He pricked his dark ears as light, drowsy paw steps came towards him, and felt a wet nose nuzzle at his neck.
Taka watched him from the corner of his yellow-green eyes, unable to resist a small smile. "Couldn't sleep," he replied with a shrug. "What's your excuse, Mufasa?"
Mufasa chuckled softly and leapt onto the smaller cub, bawling him over easily. They tussled for a few moments before the eldest brother eventually pinned Taka to the ground, resting his paws on the darker, scrawnier lion's side triumphantly. "A good brother always knows when his little bro is separated from him," He lowered his head and licked Taka's tiny, scruffy beginning of a mane. "Or that's what dad says, at least,"
Taka sighed again, eyes glistening in the dim light of the moon, wiggling out from under his brother. "Right, yeah. I forgot," He rolled his eyes, one sharp, pearly white tooth visible from behind his thin smile.
"Sure, sure," Mufasa nudged him before trotting over to the main entrance of Pride Rock. With a glance at his sleeping father, he slowly lifted a paw and slunk out to the tip of the rock, peering over the edge. "Being king is going to be amazing," He whispered, tail-tip flicking back and forth in anticipation.
"Long time to go yet," Taka followed him wearily, standing a little away from the edge. "Especially if I become king before you," He straightened a little at the thought.
Mufasa smirked. "Yeah. Sure. Like that'll happen. Taka, I'm bigger, stronger and older. Basically everything better," He grinned. "No offence,"
Taka shrank back into himself, his smile fading. "You're probably right," Then he forced a more cheerful demeanour to hide his stinging pain inside. "Hey, but at least I've got the brains out of the two of us, huh?"
His brother swiped at his muzzle playfully, shaking his head. "Whatever you want to tell yourself," He pawed at the smooth, dusty rock under paw, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. Already starting down the path that lead to the savannah below, he paused briefly to glance back at his brother. He called quietly, "C'mon. Let's go explore,"
Taka stared back at him in disbelief. "We can't! Papa says it's too dangerous. They'll kill us for sure if they find out,"
Mufasa swiped his tongue around his lips as though tasting an extra succulent morsel of prey. "Lions aren't afraid of anything. Especially not the future kings of the Pridelands," he announced proudly, brushing off Taka's warning. Seeing he still wasn't convinced, he continued more seriously. "Listen, okay? If our parents do find out – which they won't – I'll take the blame and tell them it was my idea, which it was. So we won't be lying. Geez, Taka. Learn to have some fun," His whiskers twitched in amusement.
He narrowed his eyes at his brother's accusation. He would go with him, he decided eventually, just to prove him wrong. With a last look over his shoulder at his sleeping parents, he stumbled down to join Mufasa, and together, side by side, they padded into the tall, yellow grass.