Chapter Ten
Scar always seemed to visit Sarafina whenever Hasani was away. As the young lioness grew suspicious, she overheard Scar congratulating her husband.
"You have what I always wanted," he sighed.
"No hard feelings?" Hasani asked.
"You're a better lion than I," Scar replied.
This made her so happy. It was as if the family was coming back together. Best of all, the pride had three lions again! There was a chance that Nala would grow up around lots of cubs, just as she had. Sarafina remembered the days when thirty roars could be heard in the Pride Lands. Now, she could imagine that majestic sound again.
"You seem happy." She heard a familiar voice whisper.
She turned to her left and there was Sarabi.
"I am. I think Scar's becoming friends with my husband," Sarafina replied.
"That's progress." Sarabi smirked.
"It is," Sarafina breathed.
Later that day, Hasani brought Zuzu to see Nala.
"My love, I'm going to help Zuzu with an investigation today," he announced.
"Zuzu, I thought you retired?" Sarafina asked.
"Yes, well...I volunteered for this task," the old hornbill clarified.
Sarafina noticed a bit of sadness in Hasani's eyes.
"I love you, both," he said quickly. Then he nuzzled his wife and cub, before rushing out the den.
"Tell my son; I said hello!" Zuzu called as she flew away.
Something strange was happening, but Fifi didn't know what to do. As the day wore on, she considered telling Mufasa. Then, the king entered with Zazu.
"Sarafina, I've just learned that Zuzu and Hasani were attacked in the Elephant Graveyard," Mufasa struggled. "Hasani saved her life. Now, he has joined the great kings."
Sarafina was silent.
"Mother and I are eternally grateful," Zazu added. "If you or Nala need anything, please let me know."
She looked at the tiny spotted cub in her paws, and felt completely helpless.
"Where is he?" she finally asked.
Zazu's eyes began to well up with tears.
"Where is he!?" she wept. How could she explain to Nala that Hasani was not coming home? As she cried, she felt someone put their arm around her. It was her mother. She pressed her face against Dafina's chest and sobbed.
That evening, Hasani's funeral was held under the peak. During the service, Sarafina was completely numb. What was Hasani doing in the Elephant Graveyard? Mufasa did not ask him to spy. That was the hawk's job. She remembered that afternoon when the hawk came looking for Mufasa. Hasani told her that he was leaving, and she did not question it. She wracked her brain trying to figure out what happened. Then, before she knew it, the eulogy was over.
As each member of the pride came over to pay their respects, she realized that Scar was absent. Scar— of course! Hasani knew Scar's secret! That was why he did not trust the prince. Her husband was smart. All he needed was bits of information to put the puzzle together. Still, he needed proof to convince Mufasa. So, he went to Zuzu for help. Scar must have followed them and…He was going to pay for killing Nala's father!
Once the service was over, Sarafina ran to Scar's cave.
"Scar!" she roared.
He slowly came outside.
"You killed him!" she growled.
Sarafina lunged at Scar and hit him in the chest until she had him on the ground. Just as she was prepared to kill, she realized that Scar had allowed her pin to him. Even now, he was motionless. She looked into his eyes and saw her childhood friend full of pity and remorse. Scar knew something about the attack, but he had not killed Hasani. So, like many times before, she climbed off him.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
Months passed, and life returned to Pride Rock. Doa and the other lionesses were able to relax in the grass as their small cubs played in the sunshine.
"Chumvi! Stop being so rough," one lioness cried.
"It's all right, Bahari. She can handle herself," Sauti laughed as her cub pinned Chumvi.
"Tama is a strong girl," Sanaa awed.
"Ohhh, now she's helping Chumvi up!" Sauti cooed.
Suddenly, a dark cub crawled away from the group and began tugging on Doa. "Mama! I'm hungry!" she cried.
"Kulinda, you just had breakfast," Doa sighed. "Why don't you play with your friends?"
The little cub pouted.
"Go on now!" Doa nudged her.
Suddenly, a cub with blue eyes started crying.
Sanaa went over to him and said, "Oh, baby! Show Mama where it hurts."
The little cub pointed to his paw.
"It's only a splinter." She gently pulled it out. "See, Tojo, all better."
Tojo continued to cry, until he saw something in the distance.
"Mto!" He pointed.
All of the children stopped what they were doing and surrounded a beige teenaged cub, who was carrying Nala by the tissue in her neck. He made his way past the little ones and then, he set Nala before Sarafina.
"I found her," he announced.
"I wasn't lost," the cub squeaked.
"Thank you," Sarafina replied. "Come now, it's time to visit Simba."
She took her cub to the den where the royal family was waiting. The adult lions watched their children play for a bit. Then, they got to business.
"Sarafina, we would like to arrange a marriage between Nala and Simba," Mufasa began.
"Really!" she replied.
"Yes. Your family has always been an asset to this pride. Sarabi and I could think of no better match for Simba, than your daughter," he explained.
"Say, yes!" Sarabi nudged her.
"Yes!" Sarafina chirped. "Nala would be honored."
The two pride sisters hugged. Sarafina always knew that their families would be joined, but not by two cubs. Now, she had something to look forward to. She imagined Hasani standing with her father, and the other departed members of this pride. All of them were smiling. Nothing had gone the way that they planned. She did not become a princess, but now— Nala was going to be a queen!
Edit: Hi, everyone! This is the last chapter. Thank you so much for the faves and follows. If you read please review!
- Kulinda is Kula, a cub from the book series.
- Mto is Mtoto, Simba's cousin who is mentioned in the "Happy Family" puzzle.
- Hint for the sequel : What was Scar's secret?