CHAPTER 3

Taka -or more formally know as Scar- didn't know what drew him into the savanna so late at night but he was never one to turn away from his instincts. Plus it's not like someone was waiting back at his cave for him, no one would miss him if he went missing. In fact his brother would prefer if he disappeared, not like he was a threat to take the throne seeing as the prince had been born days ago putting him farther down the list.

The rain season was fast approaching, he could feel it in his bones as he continued farther into the brush. The moon, even with it being a simple slit in the sky, outlined the dark undergrowth in silver. Gazing up at the sky, he took note of the dark clouds rolling in from the east. Apparently the rains would begin arriving soon than expected.

Just as he turned to head back to his 'home' but a small cry caused him to pause in step. A roar of thunder caused him to continue on his way when yet again he hears a cry, this time it was clear that the wail came from a babe. Turning quickly around, he listened hard and to pinpoint where the sound was coming from.

With an irritated sigh he trotted towards the sounds. Though he felt more worried than irritated he quickened his pace as the wails grew louder.

When he found the source of the wails, he had nearly tripped over the small new born cub. He raised an eyebrow at the cub when it stopped crying only to look at him with its large sapphire blue eyes. The cub was probably days old, in no shape to be one it's own. She lay on her back staring at him with her head tilted to the side. The cub had golden tanned fur with paler fur coloring her underbelly and paws, while black fur tipped her tail and ears.

"How can something so small cause so much noise?" He sighed. Though many might call him evil he wasn't, even he, an outcast, had a heart. And with that heart he knew he couldn't leave the small cub here where it would surely die or be killed by some other creature.

He hesitantly reached out towards the cub that looked at him so happily. Lowering his head he gently picked up the cub in his mouth. The little lion giggled happily, while wiggling as it hit at the tall dry grass. He could only sigh as he rolled his eyes at the cub's playful nature.

Walking to his cave he wondered as to why one would leave an unprotected cub, a demon cub for that matter, out in the open. What had this girl, only days old, do to be abandoned? Was she simply the runt of the litter, unwanted because she was so small?

With a sigh he picked up the pace, hearing that sound of rain nearing. Not being a fan of getting wet one could understand his want to hurry home, plus he had a cub to worry about if she got sick from the rain she could die.

And just as fate would have it, as soon as his cave was in sight it began to rain.

Growling in anger he raced to his home, it hadn't always been his home but when he had been marked as an outcast, he had been forced to leave his birthplace; pride rock. He had once had a real name, one that his mother had gifted him, Taka, but upon her death his brother fought to be King of the pride. Upon losing to his brother, his brother had gifted him the scar and then his outcast name 'Scar' to always remind him where his place was within the pride. Nowhere.

But from his large rock formed home he could see his old home just along the horizon. Once in his empty home he set the cub on the furs in the corner so as to shake off the raindrops that clung to his dark fur. Once he felt dry he shifted into his humanoid form.

His ebony black hair fell in a thick wave to his shoulders with a widow's peak marking his hairline, facial hair lined his chin and jaw. His eyes were a bright green while a single scar marked his perfect face dragging across his left eye, he had a regal look to him and that's how he held himself. He wasn't muscular but he wasn't scrawny either, with a lean physique thin muscle lined every inch of his body. On his humanoid form he wore baggy black pants that came up past his belly button, with double golden band on both of his upper arms while a necklace his mother gave him hung from his neck. It was made up of several rows of beads that started at a gold chain with thin black beads that connected to another golden chain with red,silver, black and gold beads that led to another chain that had thin feather like stones.

Moving to the middle of his 'home' where the dying fire pit lay he looked at the ambers for a moment before getting to work on rebuilding it. Within a minute there was a roaring fire. turning the the cub he gently worked to dry her before setting about getting his bed. Using multiple furs he laid them near the fire and then made a little bed for the girl so she would roll into the fire during the night.

Sitting down next to the small cub he watched slightly amused as she rolled around before looking at him with her bright sapphire eyes, she tilted her head to the side and then looked to be deep in thought. With a smile and happy giggle, her body took on a slight glow and she shifted. Still with a smile on her face she had shifted into her humanoid form. She had pale tanned skin and raven black hair that was curled atop her head, while she had a small lion's tail that swayed back and forth happily as she reached up towards him.

His amusement turned to amazement. This cub that looked no older than a few weeks was already shifting between forms. It normally took cubs the first two years to shift into their humanoid form.

With a shake of his head and a smile of disbelief he picked her up doing his best to hold her. A little awkwardly he had to admit; holding her as he remembered some of the lioness's holding their cubs back when he was a cub. He cradled her body to his chest using his arm to support her head and the other to support her body.

He then sat down against the wall. He was tired and from the yawn the cub gave she too was tired. "What are we going to call you?" he asked aloud as he watched the young cub drift off.

'Kagome'

His eyebrows knotted together as he looked around, having sworn that he heard a voice.

'Kagome'

He shook his head before once more looking down at the small cub as he let the foreign name roll off his tongue. "Kagome," and even though the cub was half asleep a smile formed on her lips.

With a light chuckle he smiled a small smile. "Kagome it is then," he chuckled.