Many of you would probably notice as you continue to read that some of the lions/lionesses' ages far exceed what is possible in real life. Unlike most of my stories, where I try my best to cram as much realism into a sci-fi/mythical world, here I shove reality out the window in favor of humanizing the characters, both man and beast. Without further ado, I'd say we get right to the story.

Chapter 1
The Future King

Gunshot reports thunder across the Pridelands, causing many of its residents to raise their heads. Were human hunters trespassing once again? Nope. Just behind a fully air conditioned and powered dome shaped shelter, Dornaus was practicing with his M1 Garand .30 caliber rifle. In a few weeks he would be participating in a local shooting match and the male human needed to hone his proficiency with his M1, which was in decline after he joined the service back in 2010.

Speaking of his service, most would probably wonder why the Lieutenant Commander of an elite unit would be living his days in Africa. Well apparently word got out about his brutality towards his enemies and the bleeding heart portion of the civilian population put pressure on the United States Navy to court martial him. But the Navy didn't want to court martial him.

They wanted to preserve their own face and denied the claims. Instead of a court martial, the officer was asked to resign, which he did. That wasn't the main reason for his emigration to Africa. He had received multiple death threats in his home country and came to Africa to escape his past and start a new life. The locals were also keen to accept the American, preferring to ignore his past and give him a chance.

And that wasn't all. Since he wanted to live out of the spotlight, Dornaus chose a quiet spot somewhere in the African Savannah. That place happened to be the Pridelands, which was under the leadership of a Lion King; Mufasa. The ruler took note of the human's offensive and defensive capabilities and was quite impressed. He could fight an entire pack of Hyenas without issue and was capable of challenging some members of his own pride.

These traits earned him a position within the Pridelands. He became Mufasa's personal bodyguard, accompanying the king wherever he went and protecting him from external and internal threats. Unlike most bodyguards however, he did not go around in a suit and tie. The scorching sun would've killed him within minutes if he wore something like that. Substituting the fancy suit was something better suited for the African Savannah; a hunting outfit.

Whenever he went out, he would have a simple hunting vest over a camouflage hunting shirt. His M1 would serve as a primary arm, slung over his shoulder, while his sidearm, a Sig Sauer P229, was tucked in an IWB holster, away from the prying eyes of the residents or anyone. In situations where there was a higher possibility of threats, like Mufasa giving a speech or during special events, the human would be in his tactical gear, which was tailored after the same one he wore in the service.

Today was one of those days. A presentation of the King's new son was about to happen. Just by name one could tell it was going to be a high stakes situation and the male human took no chances. Once he finished his training session, he tucks eight fully loaded magazines in his Rhodesian Rig along with two pistol magazines. A MK12 SPR was slung in an Over Strong Shoulder carry position and a P226 Legion pistol could be seen on his OWB holster, fitted with a Surefire X300 light.

He arrives just as the ceremony starts and stands behind Mufasa as the King looks over his subjects, who have already begun to arrive. A red billed Hornbill by the name of Zazu lands in front of his master. The "majordomo" bows to his superior, who nods back with a smile. A mandrill/baboon walks through the crowd as the residents make a path for him. He was the monarchy's shaman.

Rafiki as he was known climbs up Pride Rock and is given a hug by the king himself. He then takes the young cub from Sarabi(Mufasa's wife)and slowly walks towards the edge, the youngling in his hands, which were raised and extended. While the ceremony unfolded, Zazu lands on Dornaus' shoulder. The two were actually comrades, working side by side to protect the kingdom from threats both foreign and domestic.

"If you shit on my equipment again…" the human scoffed sarcastically. "I swear my knife will go through your head."

"Haha, very funny." He rolled his eyes. "Now, onto more serious matters. You notice anything peculiar, human?"

"What? The fact that Scar is absent?"

"Looks like we're both on the same page."

"Trust me, Zazu. He's gonna get a little lecture from his older brother when this is all over."

"And a fight is going to break out…"

"And I'm going to have to shoot someone…" he sighs. "Dammit Scar, won't you just grow up and put jealousy away already?"

"I thought you have a less lethal option?"

"Why… Yes." Dornaus tests his Taser before inserting a new cartridge. "Fifty thousand volts worth of less lethal force."

As Rafiki returns the cub to Sarabi, Mufasa approaches the two. Like them, he too noticed his brother's absence and wanted to have a word with him. It was a decision neither of them condoned but the king was going to talk to his brother no matter what. Attending a ceremony like this was a matter of necessity for all members of the royal family, even if they had a feud with one another.

"Zazu, you fly ahead and tell the bugger we're coming." Dornaus chambers a cartridge into his sidearm. "I'll escort Mufasa."

"Remember Dornaus." The king spoke. "Lethal force is authorized only if any of our lives are threatened, understood?"

"Yes your honor."

In a quiet cave within the Pridelands, Scar toys with his food; a mouse snooping around his private quarters. He dangles the mouse by the tail with his paw and smiles at his defenseless prey, who was trying desperately to escape. The little rodent temporarily escapes the grasp of its captor and clamors around the claw but is quickly recaptured. Now having realized he might potentially lose a meal if he toyed with it further, Scar opens his mouth and dangles the mouse over it.

Just then, a voice calls his name from the mouth of the cave, surprising him and causing him to drop his catch, which runs back into the hole it came from.

"What do you want?" the lion asks.

"I'm here to announce that King Mufasa is on his way." He answers. "And you'd better have an excuse for not attending the ceremony this morning."

"Well uh, Zazu, you realize you just made me lose my lunch?"

"Heh, you'll lose more than that when the king gets through with you.

"Oww… Well I'd quiver with fear"

"No… Don't look at me that way."

Zazu attempts to fly away but Scar quickly pounces on him. He throws the bird in his mouth but before he could chew and swallow the majordomo, a gunshot causes him to jolt in shock, unintentionally opening his mouth and spitting the bird out.

"Touch him again and I won't hold back." Dornaus holsters his pistol and raises his rifle.

"Well well well, if that isn't the king's bodyguard." The lion said in a devilish and cold tone. "Tell me, how is life as the king's personal… company?"

"Better than your sorry existence Scar."

"Sad life there, human. Ever thought about challenging his throne?"

"Nope."

"Or serving under me?"

"Forget about it. If you were king, I'd be the first to leave."

"Scar…" a familiar voice came from the entrance.

Everyone turns towards the entrance as Mufasa enters. He had seen the confrontation and wanted a non-violent end to it, even if he had a feud with his younger brother.

"Dornaus, drop it." He said.

"Yes sir." The human lowers his rifle and steps aside.

"Whyyy if it isn't my older brother from up high here to mingle with the commons." Scar spoke snobbishly.

"Sarabi and I didn't see you at the presentation of Simba." The king spoke.

"That was today? Oh I was so wrong… Must've slipped in my mind."

"As slippery as your mind is." Zazu flies into Scar's face. "As the king's brother you should've been first in line!"

Scar snaps at the bird, causing him to cower behind the king's legs.

"I was first in line." Scar moves his face close to the bird. "Until the little hairball was born."

"That hairball is my son and your future king." Mufasa reminds his brother.

"Oh I shall practice my curtsy."

Scar turns around and prepares to leave but finds himself staring at the bodyguard of his own sibling. Dornaus had his suppressed MK12 raised and the AN/PEQ-15 ATPIAL laser had been switched from IR mode to VIS, which made the green colored laser visible to everyone, including Scar.

"Don't turn your back on the king, jackass." He warned.

"Now there, Dornaus." The king spoke. "Remember what I said."

"Copy that sir." The human lowers his rifle.

"And Scar, don't ever turn your back on me."

"Maybe you shouldn't have turned your back on me."

Mufasa roars and blocks his brother's path. "Is that a challenge?"

"Settle down, settle down. I wouldn't dream of challenging you."

"Pity." Zazu remarked. "Why not?"

"As far as brains go, I have the lion's share. As for brute strength… Well I'll always shadow him." He said as he slowly walked into the distance.

Zazu lands on the king's shoulder as Dornaus trots beside him. The human shook his head as he glared at the leaving lion. He still remembered that time he challenged Scar to a bare hands all brawn fight and actually came out on top.

"What am I going to do with him?" Mufasa questioned his two aides.

"He'd make a very handsome throw rug." Zazu suggested.

"Zazu!"

"And just think, whenever he gets dirty you can take him out and beat him."

The king chuckles. "What about you, Dornaus? What do you think?"

"Taser training target." He answers. "The way he twitched the last time I tased him was pretty amusing. We could make a show out of Taser training if we used him as a training target."

"Scar's uncontrollable twitch." Zazu adds. "That would be a perfect title."

"Indeed."

The three friends chuckled as they slowly made their way back to the "royal palace" where Sarabi awaited her husband.