Chapter 8.
Rafikki examined Kovu and Vitanni in the cave and when he had finished he left the cave and approached Simba and Scar who awkwardly sat side by side. Shaking his head
sadly he said "them cubs have been through quite the ordeal. The both have bruises no doubt caused by an adult lions paw and they are malnourished. Have them eat small
amounts and make sure they drink plenty of water".
Simba nodded his head and said "thank you Rafikki. I'll go inform the rest of the pride".
Rafikki watched him go before turning to Scar and asking "how are you keeping Taka?".
Scar shrugged his large shoulders and replied "it is weird being back in the Pride Lands but seeing Sarafina, Mheetu and Nuka helps. I will be sad when I have to leave".
Rafikki nodded and looking at the young cub prancing around Sarafina he said "you could always stay in the Pride Lands Taka. That way Mheetu and Nuka could be around
their Father all the time".
Scar frowned at the idea before saying in a whispered tone "I killed my brother for the throne and destroyed the Pride Lands. It's best that I leave when those Outlanders are
taken care of. Anyway Simba's only putting up with me until the danger is over with".
"That maybe true Taka but you are Adhadi's son which means you should remain here. Mufassa would have wanted it that way" explained Rafikki as he smiled at Kovu and
Vitanni as they ventured out of the cave.
"My Father hated me and I'm sure Mufassa does as well" griped Scar as he led the two cubs to the watering hole.
Rafikki watched them go before he shook his head and whispered "I'm afraid you're wrong there Taka. I just wish there was a way I could show you".
Kovu and Vitanni drank their fill from the watering hole before turning to look at the black maned lion who lay a few feet away by the lioness called Sarafina. Seeing the love
they had for their cub Vitanni whispered "I wish Mom had been like that with us and that we had a Father".
Kovu leaned against his sister and said "I know but maybe being here is a second chance for us".
Vitanni nodded her head and taking another drink she said "maybe but I feel something very bad is coming. Mother will be furious that you were taken".
Kovu frowned and seeing Sarafina beckon them over he said "that may be true but let's be happy for now. Scar and Sarafina care for us and we need that".
Vitanni smiled and followed her brother to where Sarafina lay waiting. She nuzzled them both before beginning to clean them. Scar chuckled at their confused expressions
while Mheetu climbed on his back. Seeing Nuka approach he said "Nuka come see your brother and sister".
Nuka sat by his Father and seeing his siblings he smiled and said "it's good that you both are away from Zira and Giza. You will both be better cared for here".
Seeing the two cubs smile Sarafina nuzzled them and asked "Nuka could you bring them and Mheetu to play with the other cubs?". Nuka nodded and led the three cubs to the
shade under Pride Rock where two other cubs played.
Sarafina watched them go before looking at Scar. "What happens to them now Taka?"
Sensing her distress Scar nuzzled her before replying "we will protect them and raise them as our own. Where ever our home may be those cubs will be with us".
"There's a battle coming Taka and I fear for all the cubs here" said Sarafina quietly.
Scar nuzzled her gently before saying "I as well fear for them but we will win this battle".
Simba who had been returning from his patrol had heard their conversation. Looking at the ground he wondered himself what would happen when the Outlanders attacked.
Shenzi the hyena growled in frustration when she saw the lion enter her territory. After everything that had happened with Scar she was sick of lions. Standing up she heard
the pack of hyenas gather as she asked "what would a hairy stinky lion want in hyena territory?".
Giza sat before the hyena and said "trust me when I tell I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. I'm sure you remember the lion called Scar".
Shenzi growled in annoyance and replied "of course I do. We befriended that lion when he was young and he kept us fed. Then when we helped him kill his brother and he
welcomed us into the Pride Lands. Of course when his nephew returned to reclaim his throne Scar turned against us but we fixed him".
Giza rolled his eyes and said sarcastically "that's a lovely story but you and your pack didn't kill him".
Shenzi glared at the lion and snapped "no but we caused enough damage so he no doubt died from that".
"Oh he's not dead" said Giza as he retracted his claws to look at them before adding "Scar has returned to the Pride Lands at the king's request".
Shenzi rolled her eyes and asked "and why should I care?".
"My mate Zira is building an army to destroy Simba and his pride. She sent me here to ask for your assistance. Your reward will be Scar and a home in the Pride Lands"
explained Giza.
Shenzi smiled cruelly before saying "we'll come but if your pride betrays us we'll be eating lion and you will be the main course. Now get out".
Giza smiled and left their territory anxious to get back to Zira.
Night had fallen on the Pride Lands and Scar feeling restless ventured out of the cave. Simba, the lionesses and the cubs who were fast asleep didn't notice his absence. Scar
walked down from Pride Rock and a little way into the savanah before sitting down. Looking up at the stars he smiled at how they twinkled. The air seemed to change around
him and shuddering slightly he said "I'll be in soon Simba".
A deep laugh rumbled beside him before a voice said "too busy looking at the stars to notice I'm not your nephew".
Scar's eyes went wide at the familiarity of the voice, a voice he hadn't heard in a very long time. Looking beside him he felt his mouth go dry at the presence of his Father
Adhadi sitting beside him. His golden coat and black mane glowed as if he admitted his own light source. His green eyes were kind as he smiled at his youngest son. His black
nose the same as his youngest twitched as he looked out across the Pride Lands.
Wetting his mouth Scar said "I thought if I was ever to be visited by a deceased family member it would be Mother or Mufassa".
Adhadi smirked and said "well I wanted to be the one to visit you. Anyway I wanted to speak with you".
Looking at his Father Scar asked "is it about what I did to Mufassa?".
"No and yes. Taka I should have treated you better when you were a cub but I always believed you were the son of a rogue lion but since my death I know better" said Adhadi
as he shook his black mane.
Scar frowned and looking at the ground he asked "I'm not your son am I?".
Adhadi laughed and smiling at Taka he replied "you are my son. Your Mother was a week pregnant when she was attacked by a rogue. It saddened me when you killed your
brother but all those years of being ignored added to the rage building inside of you".
Scar shrugged his shoulders and looking at Adhadi he said "I wish Mufassa was here now. I wish I hadn't killed him because he would know what to do".
Adhadi looked at his son and said "the past can hurt Taka but we cannot change it. We can only learn from it".
"What will I do to help Simba defeat this threat?" asked Taka.
Adhadi looked back to Pride Rock before replying "this battle will test you all. Protect the king and those cubs Taka".
Scar chuckled nervously and said "of course I will".
Adhadi remained silent for a minute before saying "keep your focus Taka. These Outlanders will use anything to get the upper hand".
"I know. I just hope we can beat them so the Pride Lands will be safe" sighed Scar.
"Look at the stars Taka" began Adhadi and seeing Taka look up at them he added "the great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. Just remember that those
kings will always be there to guide you…and so will I".
Scar smiled at his Father's words and turning to look at him he saw he no longer sat beside him. He had returned back to the stars and Scar looking back up at them he said "I
won't let you down Father". With that said he returned to Pride Rock ready to retire to sleep.
