The Lion King:

Sarafina

Chapter 2

The four Pridelanders were very kind to Sarafina, which put her even more on edge. Customarily, a lion pride would show hostility to a rogue female and Sarafina wondered if perhaps these lions were leading her into a trap. Cautiously, she followed them to a hill overlooking the grazing fields and took a seat. They watched as a party of full-grown lionesses stalked through the grass towards a herd of hartebeests.

"Your arrival was nicely timed," Mega said to Sarafina. "Dinner should be ready in just a few moments."

"Unless the antelope evade the hunting party," Sarafina suggested.

Mufasa chuckled. "As far back as I can remember there's never been a day when the lionesses failed to catch a meal for the pride."

"Because of Queen Uru," Sarabi explained.

"Queen Uru?" Sarafina asked.

"My mother," Mufasa clarified. "She's the best hunter in the pride."

"Look, there's Uru," Leo informed them, motioning to the brown-furred female leading the hunting party stealthily through the grass. "Go Queen Uru!" he cheered loudly.

Several of the hartebeests looked up the hill at the five young lions and then took off running, alerted to the presence of the carnivores by Leo's call. The lionesses in the hunting party snarled angrily as their prey took flight before they were ready to attack.

"Leo!" Sarabi snapped. "Look what you did!"

Uru and her hunting party sprinted after the fleeing herd.

"Uh, whoops," Leo mumbled.

"There's no way they'll catch them now," Sarafina noted.

Mufasa smiled. "Just watch."

Uru shot ahead of the other lionesses, her powerful legs propelling her towards the stampeding antelope. Her lips were pulled back to reveal eager fangs.

"I'll admit your mother is obviously an above average hunter," Sarafina conceded, "but she can't possibly…"

"Wait for it," Mufasa interrupted.

Uru slowly closed the gap between herself and one of the female antelope at the back of the herd. As the dark furred queen drew closer and closer to her quarry, she pulled her hind legs beneath her in preparation for the pounce.

"It's already over," Mufasa informed everyone.

Uru sprung up and came down claws and teeth first upon the antelope.

Leo gulped as Uru brought down her prey. He glanced at Mufasa. "Dude, your mom scares the crap out of me."

"Oh, she's a kitten once you get to know her," a deep but mild voice informed the youths from behind. The five young lions flinched in surprise and turned around to see an enormous golden lion with emerald green eyes and a smooth black mane approaching. Sarafina cowered behind the other four youths at his approach.

A few yards behind the enormous male was another youth, similar in appearance to the full-grown lion except he had darker fur like the queen's. The unpleasant cub Sarafina met earlier that day accompanied the youth.

"Just in time, Father," Mufasa greeted the powerful male. "Mother just finished preparing dinner."

"Your Highness," Sarabi intoned, bowing her head to the king.

"At ease, Sarabi," the king replied with a gentle smile. He detected an unfamiliar scent among the youths and peered around Leo and Mega to the foreign lioness hiding behind them. "And who is this?" he asked tenderly.

Sarafina lifted her gaze but kept herself low to the ground. "My – my name is Sarafina, Your Highness," she said timidly.

The monarch gave the young female a hospitable bow of his head. "Well met, Sarafina. I am King Ahadi and you are very welcome in our kingdom."

A few paces back, the dark furred youth stopped and sat down on his haunches, regarding his peers and the king with a cool and unpleasant frown. The female cub nudged his shoulder and pointed eagerly at Sarafina.

"See, Taka," Zira hissed, "I told you there was a trespasser!"

"It doesn't matter," the dark furred youth muttered spitefully. "She's nobody important. And stop calling me Taka." Irritably, he fingered the recently healed cut over his eye.

Zira cringed. "Sorry, I forgot – Scar."

"I invited Sarafina to dine with us," Mufasa informed Ahadi. "She's been traveling and hasn't eaten for several days."

Ahadi nodded. "Of course, she can have the first share – build up her strength."

Sarafina stared blankly at Ahadi. "First share?" she scoffed. "Your Highness, you must be joking. It's always the king who has the first share."

Ahadi chuckled. "Traditionally, yes, I would be the first to eat but I'm more than happy to give a hungry traveler the first portion." Before Sarafina could respond, Ahadi continued towards the lionesses as they gathered around the slain antelope, the younger lions watching his departure.

"This is – he's unbelievable," Sarafina mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Sarabi asked.

"This place – your king – I've never met such – a pleasant male before." She glanced at the three younger males standing around her. "You three as well, you've been so nice, I don't know what to say."

Mufasa, Mega, and Leo glanced at each other in confusion. "You don't have to say anything, we're happy to welcome travelers," Mufasa explained, "so long as they don't mean us any harm." He walked after his father to join the banquet, Mega and Leo following.

Sarabi lingered with Sarafina, glancing over her shoulder at Scar. "Something we can do for you?" she inquired solemnly. "If not, Sarafina and I would like to speak privately."

Scar regarded his brother's betrothed with a sneer. "That sounded vaguely like an order, Sarabi. Are you instructing me to leave?"

"What if I am?" she said darkly.

"Let me remind you that you're not Queen yet," he said threateningly. "Don't presume to give me orders."

Sarabi roared, startling the young male and the female cub beside him. Scar hurried off down the hill to take cover among the other lions, Zira trailing after him.

Sarafina watched in amazement as the young male took flight. "I can't believe he let you speak to him like that," she scoffed. "In my old pride, any female who acted as you did to a male would have been severely punished."

Sarabi chuckled. "I've heard how things are done in other prides but it's very different here. I'd be happy to tell you more about our traditions. You'll be staying the night, won't you?"

"Stay the night? You mean, at your kopje?" Sarafina asked in amazement. In any other kingdom, the pride would have chased her off – possibly even killed her for stepping foot on their land. But in this kingdom, she was being invited to the pride's home!

Sarabi nodded. "Yes, I'm sure the king would be happy to accommodate you for the evening." Before Sarafina could question Sarabi further, the future queen gestured for Sarafina to come with her to the feast. "We can talk more after dinner. And the king wasn't joking when he offered you the first share. He's much kinder than the monarchs of the other kingdoms."

Sarafina followed slowly. "I'm starting to see that," she whispered reverently.


Continue to Chapter 3