Chapter 3
Nuka is Presented
Scar stood up top the promenade and roared. Half the pride, the half that despised Scar, was sleeping in a new cave away from the main chamber. Nala's beautiful teal eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times and got to her feet. She padded over to the entrance to the cave. It had been arranged the day before that when Scar roared, Nala, Sarabi and some other lionesses would go and tell the animals to go to pride rock, or what was left of the animals. Sarabi joined Nala. Nala turned to face the former queen. "Your highness, where is Bandit?" She asked, bowing. Sarabi smiled. "No need for that. I am not queen anymore. Bandit is with your mother." Sarabi sighed. Nala smiled at her former queen.
The cool wind whipped around Nala's flanks as she loped towards Rafiki's boa bob tree. Nala trotted over and looked around her. The others were off telling the remaining animals to go to pride rock for Nuka's presentation. She circled the old tree and stared up at. With a grunt, Nala pulled herself up the tree's trunk and into Rafiki's domain. She peered around for any sign of the aging Baboon. A picture caught her eye. Curiously, she padded over. A picture of a young cub looked up at her. Nala frowned as she saw the hand print that had smudged the image. She gasped as realization hit her. "Simba." She breathed. "What are you doing here?" Rafiki asked upon seeing the heavily pregnant young lioness. "I'm sorry, but Scar wishes you to come to pride rock. It's time for the 'royal heir' to be presented." Nala told him sadly. Rafiki nodded. Nala ran off as Rafiki began to gather his gourds and christening things.
Rafiki climbed the rocks that led to the main cave. He eyed the Hyenas that lined the path. Near the top, there were three that he knew so well. He had delivered the female from her kind mother and the young pup had brought her friends to meet him. However, that was before Khan. Khan was a huge male Hyena that had got the clan banished to the outlands in the first place. He had been Shenzi's first sweetheart and had taught the clan to hate lions. Shenzi's mother died shortly after and she blamed it on Mufasa. Rafiki looked away in disappointment. Shenzi looked at him, wanting him to be proud of her. Banzi looked at her. Shenzi blew her fringe out of her eyes and glared at Rafiki. The elderly baboon sighed and continued his ascent. He reached the cave where Zira sat with Scar. In her paws led three cubs. Rafiki smiled at the small cubs. "Which one shall I present first?" He asked. Scar growled. "Only my son will be presented." He snapped. The two girls smiled at him as he lent down. He picked up the son, who giggled and pawed at his nose. "What is his name?" He asked Zira. "His name is Nuka." She hissed. Rafiki bowed and put the young cub on his shoulder. He remembered doing this for Simba. He looked to the sky and thought of his friend and the cheeky young cub he knew so well. Fate had been cruel, but he knew that worse times were ahead. He walked towards the edge, Scar close behind him. He looked back and saw Zira push her two daughters away to someone else and follow. It seemed she only had eyes for her son. Rafiki thrust Nuka into the air and listened as the harsh wind blew around him and the hyenas cheered.
Back on the ground, Nala was glaring up at Scar. She could tell the daughters were there, being ignored. She sighed and looked away. "The proclaiming of a false prince." She said to Lina and Mist. Mist nodded. "To think, those two girls won't even be acknowledged as the princess'. It makes me sick." Mist growled. Lina looked down at her two daughters. "I could never ignore my own child." She told them. Nala agreed. I will never abandon my cub. Even if Scar is it's father and even if it is weak." Nala licked her paw and then returned her gaze to the event taking place before her and the pride. Rafiki lowered the cub and placed some gourd juice on the young cub's forehead. The lionesses in the cave behind cheered. Nala snarled and turned away. "I wish Simba was here." She hissed. Sarabi looked at her with sad eyes. "What did you say?" She asked. Nala sighed. Sarabi was still grieving and hated hearing her son or mates name. "I saw a picture of him in Rafiki's tree. It's smudged now, but it's still there." Nala told her queen. Sarabi looked down at her son. "I miss them." She said, her voice wavering as she tried not to cry. "I know, we all do." Nala sighed.
Rafiki walked down towards Nala and the other lionesses that refused Scar. He saw Sarabi with her son and Nala cuddling her. Tears were running down her cheeks. Rafiki walked over. "Sarabi, how are you?" He asked. Sarabi looked up. "I'm ok. Just remembering by little boy." She sighed. Rafiki pulled the ex-queen into a hug. "He lives on in Bandit." He whispered.
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