Chapter Three – The Scar

As time went on, Sarabi, Sarafina, and Anaya began to feel more at home. Anaya had proved to be a very good huntress, while Sarabi and Sarafina were growing into two beautiful lionesses. Mufasa and Simba were also showing signs of adolescence. Both had a tuff of mane growing atop their heads. While Simba's was a jet black like his father, Mufasa sported a deep crimson. All four had become the best of friends, and were currently sitting by the waterhole, boredom taking over the lot of them.

"Isn't there something we can do?" asked Sarabi.

"Well, we could play tag?" Mufasa asked.

"We just did that yesterday." Simba told him.

"Oh, right." he responded.

Getting an idea, Sarafina spoke up, "Hey, why don't we go chase moles over in the northern fields?" she suggested.

"Yeah, let's go!" Sarabi said and started towards the northern fields, quickly followed by the remaining three.

When they arrived, they decided to make a bet. Each one would take a turn, and try to chase down and catch a mole. The loser would have to do a dare from the others. Sarabi went first, and easily caught one. Then Sarafina went next, and she too came back successful. Then Mufasa took off and, taking a little more time that the previous two, also returned with a mole. Lastly, it was Simba's turn.

"Well, I'll be back soon." and he took off.

"Do you think he'll get one?" Sarabi asked Mufasa.

"Well, he's fast enough, but still, I'm not sure. We'll just have to wait and see." Mufasa responded.

Simba made his way through the grass, keeping low to the ground. He had already tried and failed several times. He was getting tired. 'Everyone else got one. I can't go back without one, they'll all think I'm weak." Full with new determination, Simba continued, making as little noise as possible.

'There's one," he thought, "Your mine!" He leaped at the mole, but at the same time, rustled the grass just a bit too much. The mole was in his hole before Simba could get to him.

"Darn! I almost had him!"

He was mad that he just couldn't get one. 'No, I'm not giving up this time,' and he reached into the hole. He felt around a bit, when suddenly he felt pain surging through his paw. He quickly retracted his arm from the hole. On his paw, there was a clear bite mark. Now his pride was hurt. No stupid mole was going to scare the possible future king. He reached into the hole again, and this time grabbed the mole that had bit him, and pulled him out of the hole. Instantly he regretted it. As soon as the mole had been pulled from the safety of his hole, he started freaking out. He clawed and kicked aimlessly in every direction, in hopes of making contact with his assailant. In this case, the mole was successful. His claw had smacked Simba right in the face, spraying blood onto the ground. With a yelp, Simba released the mole, not caring anymore if he lost the bet with the others. He could feel the blood dripping down his muzzle and for some reason couldn't see clearly. Slowly, he made his way back to the others.

Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarabi sat around each other, making small talk, when they heard rustling the leaves to their left.

"Simba, is that you?" Mufasa asked, standing in between the noise and the lionesses.

What he saw next took his breath away. His brother had come out from the tall grasses, but he was very different. Blood was dripping off his face, from a long cut over his left eye.

"Simba!" Mufasa shouted, running over to aid his brother, "What happened?"

Simba, who was a bit dizzy from his lose of blood, answered, "Well, I reached in to grab a mole that was hiding in the ground, and he hit me in the face. Mufasa, I can't see very well." Worry was now apparent in Simba's voice.

Not sure of what to say, he told him the first thing he thought of, "You'll be ok Simba, just stay here with Sarabi and Sarafina. I'll go get help." And with that, he took off.

Unaware that his brother had left already, Simba replied "Ok, I'll just stay here, and rest a bit." And then he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Simba awoke slowly, to tired to open his eyes, but then heard voices off in the distance.

"How bad is it Rafiki?" the voice of his father asked.

"Well, the cut was deep, but I was able to clean it well enough, do it will probably leave a scar." said another voice, unfamiliar to Simba.

He then tried to open his eyes, to see who the voice belonged to, but was met instead with a wave of pain.

"Whoa, whoa der. It's alright little one, you'll be fine. Here, eat dis root, it will help you to sleep."

Simba then felt something being pushed into his mouth. He chewed then swallowed the bitter tasting root. He was asleep in moments.

When Simba awoke, he cautiously tried to open his eyes, not forgetting the pain from the last time. Surprisingly, they opened without incident, and he quickly looked around him. He was laying inside the cave at Pride Rock. It looked to be around mid day. No one else was in the cave, so Simba decided to look for someone. He wanted to know what happened.

As he left the cave, he passed several lionesses. Normally, it wouldn't be anything, but every single one that he passed seemed to stare at him. As he wondered what they were all staring at, he heard the friendly voice of his brother.

"Simba you're finally awake. Everyone has been so worried. How do you feel?" Mufasa asked.

"I feel fine. What happened Mufasa?" Then, lowing his voice to a whisper, "And why is everyone staring at me?"

"Ummm," Mufasa had a look of great concentration on his face. Finally he said, "Here, follow me" and then he took off in the direction of the water hole.

When they arrived, Mufasa stopped by the edge of the water. Simba was very confused.

"Mufasa, why did you bring me to the water hole? You still haven't told me what happened!" Simba was starting to get a little angry at his brother for not telling him what he wanted to know.

"Just look into the water," Mufasa said.

Still confused, Simba did as he was told, and looked into the water, at his own reflection. His eyes grew wide, and he gaped at what he saw. There, on his left eye, was a scar. Now it all made sense. The conversation between his father and the stranger, the blood when he got hit by the mole, the pain when he tried to open his eyes for the first time, and all the lionesses staring at him, it was all because of the cut on his eye. Simba was speechless.

"Simba, it doesn't look so bad you know. Actually, it looks kind of cool." Mufasa told his brother, trying to cheer him up.

"You think so?" Simba asked.

"Definitely" Mufasa replied.

"Mufasa, I'm sorry I caused everyone to worry. It was all my fault. I never should have tried to take that stupid mole. I just…..didn't want you guys to think I was weak." Simba said.

"Simba, were your friends, we would never think that about you. So you couldn't catch a stupid mole, who cares! You can do lots of other stuff that's just as good." Mufasa stated.

"Like what?" Simba asked, clearly still upset with himself.

"Well, you have always been the smartest lion around. You just seem to know everything." Mufasa suggested, hoping to lift his brothers spirit.

Simba, who had been looking at his reflection the entire time, moved his gaze to his brother. Mufasa was trying so hard to cheer him up. Although he still felt very sad, he did indeed feel a bit better had his brother's words.

"Thanks Mufasa. What do you say we go see what Sarabi and Sarafina are up to, eh?" Simba suggested.

"Okay, lets go!" and they both took off in search of the two lionesses.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, they found them, sun bathing, talking about girl stuff. At the arrival of the two brothers, both lionesses swarmed over to Simba, eager to see the scar that everyone else had been talking about, and to see if he was okay.

"Simba, are you alright? When you got that cut it looked really bad." Sarafina said.

"I'm fine," Simba stated, "Sorry to worry you both, it really was all my fault."

"That's ok Simba, were here for you. Does it hurt at all?" Sarabi asked.

"No, it seems to have healed pretty well. Now that you mention it, how long has it been sense that happened?" Simba asked.

"About 8 days. Rafiki came to give you some sleeping root, so that your cut could heal properly." Mufasa answered.

'Rafiki. That must be the one that was talking to dad' Simba thought.

"Well, we'd love to stay, but I'm sure mom and dad will want to know that Simba is awake. We'll see you later." Mufasa said, while walking towards Pride Rock with Simba.

Two voices shouted "Bye" behind the brothers.

When they got back to Pride Rock, they sought out their parents. Both were in the cave talking.

"He'll be okay Akase, don't worry. He's off with Mufasa as we speak." Ahadi told his mate.

"I know, but, what if he gets made fun of for his scar?" Akase asked.

"Than anyone caught doing so will have to answer to me." Ahadi stated seriously.

Just then, the two brothers walked in.

"Hey mom, hey dad." They both said.

"Hello," Akase responded, "felling okay Simba?" she asked

"I'm fine, thanks." Simba responded.

"So, Simba, tell us what happened. Mufasa told us of the little you said, but we would like to know the rest." Ahadi told him.

And so,, Simba explained about the bet, and how he desperately tried to get the mole, and then of how he got hit in the face, and passed out after Mufasa left for help.

"Simba, you should have known better than to grab for a mole like that. The holes they dwell in are their homes. As an intruder into his home, he attacked you. I had a talk with this mole, and after finding out who you were, he offered his most sincere apologizes." Ahadi explained.

"I know, I'm sorry dad." Simba said.

"I'm just glad your okay son, it could have turned out a lot worse. You should thank your brother for coming to find me right away. Thanks to him, Rafiki was able to apply his medicines to keep your vision," Ahadi stated.

Simba looked at his brother.

"It was nothing, really. You would have done the same for me." Mufasa said with a soft smile.

"All the same, thank you," Simba told him.

"Now, lets put this ordeal behind us, and move on," Ahadi told them, "Oh, and Simba, if anyone gives you a hard time about your scar, you just let me know, okay?" Ahadi whispered so only Simba could hear him.

"Okay," Simba replied.

The two brothers then took off to look for their friends. Back at the cave, Ahadi and Akase were finished their previous conversation.

"I know it's a hard choice dear, but you have to decide soon. The longer you wait, the harder it will be." Akase stated.

"I know, I know. But they both possess qualities a King requires. It's impossible to decide which would be better than the other. I just don't know." Ahadi said, sighing.

"Well, maybe you should have a talk with them. Maybe they don't care who the future king is, or maybe one of them doesn't want to be." Akase suggested.

"Maybe," Ahadi repeated, "Your right. Tomorrow, I'll have a talk with them." And with that, he lay down next to his mate and wife for a long overdue nap.