Zira glanced at Taka. He was so beautiful, the way his mane shined in perfect light, the way his teeth glimmered. As she thought of all his perfect qualities, she felt a smile creep onto her face. Taka gave her a rather odd look, an eyebrow raised and a corner of his mouth pulled up in a smile.
"Find something interesting, Zira?" He asked her lightly.
She felt herself blush before responding, "No, I was just…thinking."
Nodding, he plopped down on his underbelly. His paws lay in front of him, perfectly straight and still. Zira stood next to him, still observing his many features. Taka felt very uncomfortable under her gaze, almost afraid of her eyes. He knew why, though.
"Taka?" She asked kindly, "What's this?"
She pointed out a rather thin spot of fur on his hip. He glanced at it and thought of an excuse.
"That? Oh, that's just from a brawl with my brother."
Her face told him I-don't-believe-a-word-you're-saying look, "You didn't have it a few days ago…"
Shaking his head, he shifted his weight so that he was now on his side, facing her. Zira gave a glance of worry before looking outside. She could see the sun was setting from outside the small den they had found a few weeks ago. They hung out inside it every day, together, if they weren't visiting the Elephant Graveyard for the trio of hilarious pups known as Shenzi, Banzai and Ed.
"Taka, we should get back. If Ahadi finds out we were sneaking around the Pridelands, we'd—"
He nodded as he got up from the ground, "I know, get in trouble. Let's get out of here, then."
They walked out of the den to feel the savannah wind blow through their fur. Zira shivered and began to walk back to Pride Rock with Taka. On the way, neither one of them said a single word, they just listened to the many sounds of the African plains.
"Taka," Ahadi called for his son, "come with me."
Taka looked up to see his father, beckoning him into the main den, where to royal family slept. He glanced at Zira, who had no expression on her face. He nuzzled her a quick farewell before climbing up to join his father.
"Yes, father?" He asked as he walking into the den.
He glanced at his son, "Where have you been all day?"
"I-I was with Zira, father…"
A hard look came upon Ahadi's face, "Why were you with her?"
Taka swallowed, "I was just… we just, like to hang out, father. Nothing more. I'm sorry if I missed anyth—"
Before Taka could even finish his sentence, his father slapped his face with the rough side of his paw. The younger of the two males let out a small yelp and grabbed his cheek, feeling the swelling already occurring.
"You will not talk to me in such a tone, Taka."
Not even going to stand up for himself, Taka hung his head down and said, "Yes, sorry father."
His father left the den and Taka stood there, alone. He felt a shiver creep down his spine and he closed his yellow-green eyes. Why was his father so cruel to him? Wasn't he as good as his brother? Taka sighed and plopped his underbelly onto the cool stone. He put his head in his pale paws and drifted off into a sad sleep, knowing it was the only thing that could keep him from sheding tears.