Chapter 4

Over the next few days, Taka and Zira regained their health. Zira's voice came back. Taka's wounds healed, and he was able to move about stiffly with Mufasa as he taught Taka some Royal Duties. "Now, Ahadi taught me lots of things, but he did not teach me everything. Some stuff we'll have to find out for ourselves." The brothers began to develop a bond. Taka was amazed at his brother's knowledge and skill, and Mufasa was amazed that Taka could learn so quickly. Sometimes, though, they would spend days apart from each other to gain some more experience to share together.

On one such day, Taka discovered an elephant graveyard. He'd been walking along and had decided to peer over the edge- a fatal error. Taka fell over the edge and crashed into a skull. He stood up slowly and shook his head. "Heheheheh... Banzai, do you see what I see?" asked a feminine voice. "That I do, Shenzi. That I do." Taka looked around- but saw nothing. "Hello?" he called, ears perked. There was laughter as a response. Taka choked on his words. Turning to the wall, Taka tried to climb. He almost made it to the edge when his claws gave out. He squealed in pain and surprise as he slid back down.

"H-help! Mufasa!" he cried. All he got in response was giggling laughter. Taka whirled around and saw three cubs- Hyena pups. He snarled. These had obviously just reached the stage where their bodies were too small for their heads, tails, and feet. Their ears also seemed too big. As he whimpered, the hyenas pounced.

Mufasa was patrolling near Taka's patrol line. It was getting late, and he was beginning to worry. Taka should have been back by now. As he walked, Mufasa noticed a skinny brown lion limping across the plain. "T- Oh, sorry Zira." He corrected himself. "No problem." Zira smiled. "I've talked to Uru." she mentioned randomly. "Zira, listen. Taka has not returned yet. Have you seen him?" Zira put her tongue between her teeth. "MMMMMM, nope." she said. Mufasa was about to say something when he was interrupted by a screaming laugh followed by a hoarse yell. Zira and Mufasa looked at each other. "Taka!" they cried.

Taka was pinned. The hyenas were stronger than he was- especially the female. Suddenly, Taka imagined Uru in danger by these brutes. With a yowl of anger, he sprang at the hyenas. They screamed in laughter and eventually pain as they became battered, bruised, and in Banzai's case, bloody. Blood blinded Taka's vision. He only wanted to hurt, to save his mother from these beasts...

"TAKA!" Mufasa roared. Taka was fighting against the hyenas with a fury that Mufasa feared to be near. He had never seen Taka as furious as this. As they watched, Taka finally lost his strength for a second, allowing two male hyenas to leap upon his back. Mufasa roared a little roar and charged into the graveyard. Zira sneered. So he does have potential.

Taka finally collapsed onto the ground. "I failed, mother... I tried..." he whispered. And as he closed his eyes, he thought he heard a roar. But the hyenas on his back were too much. He struggled to get up, but crashed onto his chest. I thought I heard Mufasa...

"GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!" Roared Mufasa. "Back off! Back, you beasts!" Zira yowled. Taka opened his eyes. "Muff?" he whimpered. The hyenas were still, shocked into stunned silence. "I said... get away." snarled Mufasa. The three hyenas promptly left the scene. "Taka... love, can you walk?" Zira nosed Taka softly. "I-I think I can." he answered slowly. Mufasa grabbed his brother's scruff. "How did you get in here, and how did you do that?" "I-I leaned too far over the edge and fell. But then- when they attacked me, I was scared... So, I thought of mother in danger and that made me summon the beast within."

The three lions made their way to Pride Rock after that.