Chapter One

It was about spring in the Pridelands, and as would be expected the the vast landscape was dominated by several shades of green. Birds could be seen in the trees singing gently in rhythm to the swaying branches of the cool savanna breeze. However, the tranquility of the scene was suddenly shattered by two small cubs running in a mad dash as if something horrendous was chasing them.

"Sarabi, Hurry-up or they'll catch us!" shouted one of the cubs in a panic.

"I'm going as fast as I can Mufasa," Sarabi yelled back between gasps, "I can't- AHHH!" Sarabi screamed as she stumbled over a rock and vanished into the grass.

However Mufasa didn't notice, he was too far ahead by now, and even if he wasn't as far ahead as he was, he wouldn't have been able to hear her over his own adrenaline ridden breath.

Mufasa continued to run until he came into a clearing, and only then did he stop. He began to take deep breaths, but, not to loud just in case he was still being followed.

"Ok Sarabi, I think we lost them" Mufasa said regaining his composure stood still wait for Sarabi's reply, but none came.

"Sarabi?" said Mufasa in a concerned voice but still no reply came and then it suddenly on him.'Oh no I've lost her!' Mufasa thought in a wild panic.

"Sarabi!" he called out and waited.

'She's not coming, I have to go look for her" reasoned Mufasa and was leave when a rustle arouse from just beyond the grass..

"Sarabi?" asked Mufasa walking toward the sound just before a bur of tan dashed at Mufasa colliding into him and knocking him onto his back in one smooth motion. In a daze Mufasa looked up into his assailant's laughing eyes...

"Pined yah!" said the cub pinning him down as she triumphantly as she raised her head high, glowing with pride.

"Hey, let me up..." grumpily said Mufasa, he couldn't believe that he had lost to Sarafina and Taka in tag again for the third time this week.

"That's three to to zip!" Sarafina said proudly as if she could read his thoughts.

"Whatever" replied Mufasa rising to his paws then walked over to the shade of a nearby tree and then laid down resting his head between his paws then flattened his dark-rimed ears against his head, obviously sulking.

"Oh, don't sulk Mufasa, I was only playing"

"I'm not sulking," lied Mufasa.

"I'll bet if Sarabi and Taka were here you wouldn't be sulking," said Sarafina playfully

Suddenly Mufasa ears perked up.

'Shoot, Sarabi! I forgot about her!' thought Mufasa to himself.

"Where's Sarabi?" he asked.

"Taka caught her, they were just behind me a moment ago," started Sarabi just as Taka and Sarabi both walked together into the clearing.

"I thought you said that he went this way" Sarabi asked of the darker cub.

"I did," said the darker cub taking a look around, "Hey, there they are!"

"Sarabi, are you okay?" asked Mufasa sounding a little concerned.

"I'm fine Muffy," Sarabi answered.

"Sarabi!" exclaimed Mufasa, he didn't partially like being called 'Muffy' It made him feel too... cubbish.

"Well if you had just slowed down back there...," Started Sarabi.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you"

"Then how can your can hear your mom calling dinner from the den when your sleeping?" questioned Sarafina.

"Come on Saffy, cut it out," said Taka standing up for Mufasa.

"Well what should we now?" asked Sarabi.

"How bout' we down to the water hole?" suggested Sarabi.

"We just went there yesterday," said Taka, "How about we go to the northern border?"

"We can't, the elephant's are using a place near there as their new graveyard." said Mufasa.

"Ew," said Taka softly a little grossed out, "well, then how about we go to the star meadows?"

"Yah! Let's go!" said excitedly Sarafina, for the star meadows was a grassy plain on the eastern part on the Pridelands. a little further east and you would come to a series of small hills, it was from one of these these hills Taka had been named after. From there you could see all the stars in the night sky glittering like diamonds upon dark blue velvet. Or in the daytime it made a perfect place for cubs to play in.

"What do you think Sarabi?" asked Mufasa.

"Why not? Sure let's go!" said Sarabi enthusiastically.

For the rest of the day they played in the meadows until the roars from Priderock could be heard, calling them home.

"All right dinner time!" shouted Mufasa shouted happily.

"Time to go home already?" said Sarafina sadly.

"Time flies," said Sarabi.

Once more a roar could be heard racing across the plains of the Pridelands.

"Well, let's go home," said Taka.

As the small group of cub left for Pride Rock, eager to finally be home and share the warmth of their parents nuzzling them gently. It was unknown to them that they were being watched ever closely by a lion sitting upon a small hill not to far off in the distance.

"I've finally found you young one," said the mysterious lion to himself leaving soon afterward, his body casting a shadow across the Pridelands...

Sorry for the wait (for those of you who have been waiting) Chemistry sucks, Math too... What's that? You don't think so? Then why don't you take some honors and advance placement classes? No? well then quit-your-belly-aching... just kidding, sorry if this chapter isn't that full of detail or if there are some errors, I just wanted to get it up, BTW thanks to Kiara01 and The Lost Disciple for reviewing.

-Guardian Panthera