"Taka's Mistake"
Chapter 1
Taka's stomach churned with hunger as he hurried toward the fallen zebra his mother Uru had just hunted. His father Ahadi and brother Mufasa were already there, digging into the rich, bloody flesh.
A flicker of disappointment passed through Taka when he saw that the zebra wasn't twitching and moaning in agony but lay motionless. Uru had killed it quickly.
"You should have kept it alive," he grumbled, taking a large bite out of the belly. He savored the warm intestines as they slid down his throat. "I like to see things squirm while I eat them."
"Taka!" Uru chided.
"We're supposed to respect all the animals, remember?" said Mufasa, licking droplets of blood from his lips. Taka glared at him. His older brother's voice had already deepened to a resonant timbre and his mane was thick and russet. He noted with annoyance that he himself was still a scrawny youth with just a scraggly dark tuft for a mane. "Even those we eat."
"Well said, my son," said Ahadi, grinning at Mufasa. "You have learned your lessons well and will make a great king someday." Taka bristled as Ahadi ruffled Mufasa's mane with his large paw. He then turned back to Taka. "You should listen to your older brother, Taka," he continued, fixing his green eyes on him.
Taka swallowed. The zebra, which had, moments ago, tasted so rich and savory, now soured his throat. "But he's wrong." His words came out as a petty growl. "Those animals are beneath us. They're merely food."
"Yes, and as such, they keep us alive," said Ahadi. "And when we die—"
"Yes, I know." Exasperation filled Taka. "Our bodies become the grass and they eat the grass. It's all part of the Circle of Life," he said in a sneering tone.
"Don't you forget it, young son." Taka backed away as Ahadi and the others returned to their meal.
His stomach still grumbled with hunger but he didn't care. He'd come back later and eat what was left of the carcass, perhaps even inviting his hyena friends to join him. Ahadi objected, claiming that they depleted the herds and were not welcome in the Pride Lands. Well, the hyenas' mother Ushari didn't approve of Taka, or any lion for that matter, so they were even as far as he was concerned.
He slinked through the high grass. The scant meal he had just eaten burned in his belly. He locked his gaze on the sunset, which spilled incandescent crimson blood onto the surrounding clouds. The savannah, sprinkled with spiky acacia trees, stretched endlessly toward it. Elephants, zebras, and gazelles grazed, appearing as tiny dots in the distance. Musfasa will rule all of this someday, Taka thought bitterly. It's not fair! I should at least get half.
"Taka," said a gentle voice at his back. He turned. Uru glided toward him, her tawny hide dyed red in the sunset. Pride Rock jutted out behind her. "You should listen to your father," she said, her golden-brown eyes taking on a soft glow. "He is a wise lion and has much to teach you."
"What good will that do me?" he snarled. Rage churned in his chest. "I'm never going to be king. That's Mufasa's destiny."
"You are first in line after him," she said, creeping closer. He backed away. "Should anything happen to Mufasa…" She clamped her mouth shut and shuddered. A wistful longing spilled through Taka. If only, if only… "But even if you never become king, just remember that you are still an important member of our pride. Your father and I love you and Mufasa equally."
"Why does it always have to be the eldest?" Taka's voice came out as a rasping hiss through his tight throat. "Mufasa may be bigger and stronger than me but I'm the smart one."
Uru sighed and lowered her head. Her slender tail twitched against the grass. "You are clever, Taka, but it takes more than just brains to be a good leader. You must also put the pride's needs ahead of your own and listen to what others have to say."
"That's ridiculous." Taka crouched down and batted a blade of grass with his paw. "A king shouldn't have to listen to anyone. He should be able to do whatever he wants."
"Oh, Taka." Uru shook her head. "What are we going to do with you? You've been obstinate since the day you were born. I wish you'd put that strong mind of yours toward something productive instead of using it to play pranks on the cubs." A flicker of pride passed through Taka and he felt his mouth threaten to tug into a smile. Silly cubs, he thought. They are so easy to manipulate! He enjoyed having that sense of power over them. Too bad Mufasa will be the one to eventually have power over the entire pride. That sudden thought shoved aside his ephemeral joy. He certainly won't appreciate it as much as I would. "Bullies make terrible kings. Just remember that, son."
Taka rose to his feet, his anger rekindled. He could feel his scant mane bristling around his neck. "Mufasa is the one you should be telling this to, Mother," he growled as he turned from her. He couldn't stand to listen to this nonsense any more.
"He doesn't need to hear it, he already knows," Uru replied. Of course, Taka thought, his fur prickling. Mufasa's so perfect. "Besides, he's with your father." Taka blinked and looked around. He was able to make out two forms in the distance, silvered in the brightening moonlight. They were lying on their backs in the grass, staring up at a sky clotted with stars. "You should join them."
Taka crept toward them, the tall grass tickling his hide as he brushed through it.
"Those stars are all the Great Kings of the past," Ahadi was saying to Mufasa. His deep voice was nearly drowned out by the cacophony of crickets.
"And you and I will be up there too, someday, won't we Dad?"
Taka stopped. He trembled as a wave of fury swept through him.
Ahadi chuckled. "That's right, son. Then it will be our turn to watch over a new king."
Taka dashed away, not wanting to hear any more. I'll never join the stars, he thought, his fur bristling, because I'll never have a chance to become a king. Not while Mufasa's around.
