The Western Borders, Just Before Taka Unleashes the Roar of the Elders
Herod made it back; his wounds ached with a burning, nagging sensation. He was just happy that he was able to retreat before Ahadi showed up. "I hate this! I hate it when empty-headed females defy me!" Herod slammed his paw onto the ground, not really caring that the bones in his paws were greatly weakened. "She doesn't even have those damned ghosts at her beck and call anymore! Those bitches should have never been a match for me!" He vented, and with each movement, his wounds and bruises burned with pain. He noticed that Uru didn't use the Roar to blast him away this time, and right now he would have preferred a ride through the atmosphere as opposed to being mauled by 5 lionesses.
In fact, he might have preferred facing her Lion Guard at this moment, for they would have at least given him a chance to retreat. "Heh… The Queen of the Pridelands, hunting… Almost as if nature never intended for a female to rule…" Herod pondered, his anger bleeding into his rationalization for what's just happened to him. Just as he made it to the border, however, another realization hit him as if it was the paw of his royal archenemy going for another surprise attack.
And that realization certainly had much more force than a physical strike, for he heard and then saw the Roar of the Elders being used. Although he almost missed it, he could make out the shapes of lesser predators being blasted into the air, in much the same way Uru would have shunted him out of the Pridelands. However, Herod didn't miss the fact that this Roar could not have originated from his erstwhile enemy.
"That bitch doesn't even have her lionhead mark anymore! How can… she…" His thoughts trailed off as he thought about what he was saying aloud. She doesn't have that mark on her shoulder anymore! The epiphany was sweet, as he could almost taste and feel the opportunity to have his revenge upon her. All the years of denial, the jilting of the bright lion in favor of a rogue no different than he, the humiliating defeats (of which Herod silently admitted there were many), all coalesced into a plan that he could now see was right in front of his face the entire time.
"Yes… Yes… She doesn't have that mark anymore. Which means she's just a basic bitch now!" Herod's chuckle intensified as his plan came together, until he cackled outright like a hyena that had just won its next meal.
Later that day, Base of Pride Rock
Uru walked ahead of her returning hunting party and the members of the Lion Guard, with Ahadi bringing up the rear. I don't get it: The Lion Guard and I just saved her life, as well as the lives of the huntresses. Why is she being so cold to me right now? The black-maned lion wondered, unable to wrap his head around the glower he had gotten as thanks for running off Herod. The injuries the huntresses had sustained were prominent; all but Uru were walking with a limp, which made carrying their kills even more difficult. However, not any of the four lionesses were brave enough to ask the Queen to help out; she was carrying enough anger as it was.
"What's her problem?" Ojore asked, perhaps a little too boldly given the looks he got from his teammates. "Ojore." Makoto whispered in a hushed tone when he noticed Uru's gait change; a clear indication that the Queen had heard him. Ojore, however, didn't catch his cues. "I'm just saying. She and the huntresses were in a fight for their lives until that cowardly rogue saw us coming. We cut the losses so much, so what was wrong with what we did?" Ojore asked, and Uru's arms tensed in anger. However, Ahadi spoke up at just the right moment.
"Ojore, you have to understand something. Your Queen is a warrior, and a huntress to her last fiber. She has spent all of her life fighting rogues like him; she is no damsel in distress." Ahadi said, and seeing Uru calm down a bit (even if her face wasn't visible) was soothing to his own state of mind. However, Ojore wasn't done yet. "What's wrong with needing help? It just means your friends care enough about you to do so." Oh, how the great lion wished the red cub speaking could take a hint. However, perhaps his childish perspective wasn't incorrect.
Ahadi waited until Uru and the huntresses had made it inside of Pride Rock before turning to the three Guardians with him. "Boys, you have to understand something: Uru doesn't quite understand how to handle being denied, let alone that there is a problem that she can't surmount on her own. She thinks it makes her look weak, especially when there are males around." If Makoto and Mikali didn't understand why, they knew not to voice it aloud. However, Ojore lacked that sort of filter, as he'd prove once again. "But, nobody here thinks she's weak. Nobody here is making fun of her for needing help. That's what the Lion Guard is for, isn't it?"
Once again, Ahadi agreed with Ojore, but he knew he shouldn't voice it. After all, he knew it was not worth the fight that would ensue. "Yes, but the Queen is the one who decides how the Lion Guard is used, and what powers they have in the Pridelands." He said 'Pridelands', but if the former Wastelander was being honest, he knew that the Lion Guard had power even beyond the border. As it stands right now, Taka has the power of the Roar as well as 4 exceptional male lions at his beck and call; he and his team would only get stronger as they grew up. And remembering just how formidable Uru's team had been, he was thinking exactly what Ojore said next.
"Only in the Pridelands? Who beyond our borders is going to stop us if we decide to impose our will on them?" Ojore laughed, making the Strongest and the Fastest uneasy as Ahadi's emerald eyes shrunk with shock at the Bravest's words. He figured that the Guardians he faced in his day held that belief, but the only one known to act upon that thought was Sultani and sometimes Joto. And he remembered vividly what usually happened when such actions were taken. However, the great lion was grateful that Ojore's thinking was refuted by someone other than him.
"Oh, there're plenty of things that can object to our power, Jo-Jo." The one who had spoken was Taka, and all eyes went right to the two returning Guardians. Taka and Kilio seemed to beam with pride, but it took Ahadi a moment to notice that Mufasa, Changa, Sarabi and then Sarafina were trailing behind. The other Guardians, however, were wrapped up in the exploits of today to really pay any mind to the sulking cubs.
"Mufasa… What's wrong?" Ahadi asked, sitting down. The adopted son looked up at his father figure, and took a deep breath. Better Dad than Mom, Mufasa thought before spilling the beans.
"The girls and I were playing in the Gorge, when hyenas attacked us. We had to be saved by Taka and Kilio." Mufasa answered, and the look on Ahadi's face told him that there was probably going to be a punishment for this. However, Ahadi simply ran his paw through his mane, slicking it back momentarily before it fell back over his hairline again. "And? What did you learn?" He asked, and Mufasa looked down. "That I shouldn't be such a showoff." The cub answered in a reluctant tone.
At least he understands what he's doing wrong. Ahadi thought, seeing no need to punish the golden cub any further than he already has been. If he was anything like his adopted mother, needing rescue was humiliating enough. "I'm glad you learned your lesson, Muffy." Ahadi said, and it seemed as though Mufasa's worries melted away. At least, until the next moment passed.
"Taka." Uru's voice sounded over the conversations going on. And all conversations came right to a stop as Taka bounded over to his mother. Even Ojore could tell that something seemed off about the stern demeanor the Queen displayed. However, Taka was none the wiser. "Oh, Mom. Just in time. I was just telling Dad and the other Guards how I drove off the hyenas with my Ro-" Uru held up a finger, claws extended. Ahadi knew what this meant, but Taka didn't quite understand that Uru's claws were no longer required to be bared at all time. In any case, Taka's sentence abruptly ended.
"While you were chasing hyenas during your glorious moment, do you know that my hunting party was attacked by a rogue?" Uru didn't so much as raise her voice, but her tone was more than enough to convey her feelings. Taka's ears flattened on his head, but he did his best to explain himself. "Mom, I… Mufasa and the girls were surrounded by hyenas. I thought… I thought you and the huntresses could handle it until Dad and the other half of my team got there." Taka stammered out, but Ahadi knew it was useless.
"And what if Herod had killed us before your team had shown up? Who would rule the Pridelands until you were old enough to do so yourself?" Ahadi looked away, not daring to voice that answer. And he was very happy that Ojore knew to filter his words at this moment, though Uru glowering snarl was perhaps the tipoff for what to do next. Uru took a deep breath. "Look, I'm happy you saved your brother and your friends. But, remember, you have a mother who is very vital to the survival of the Pridelands. You should think about that more often during your day to day patrols." The motherly tone Uru used just barely masked her impatient tone with her son's naivety to what she perceived to be an obvious fact, and Ahadi raised an eyebrow at this. If he was going to say something about it, Uru's glare warned him not to. "Now, let's all settle in for dinner." She said, the jovial tone of the Pridelander Queen returning.
Taka's teammates, however, weren't so easily distracted, however.
The Kuatan Jungle, Dusk
Daedalus watched from the great lake as his mate led his Pride up into the massive aerial den. He could believe that she had been a princess in her homeland, for she displayed the leadership that would be very necessary for that role. As he counted all 6 lionesses being led into the den, he breathed a sigh of relief; everyone had returned from the hunt and was uninjured.
"I love it when a day goes perfectly. It's nice to not have to worry about things going to plan." Daedalus said aloud, seemingly to no one in particular. That is, until the grass just behind him began to rustle. And, the next moment, a ball of chocolate fur leapt out at him, claws bared and little teeth ready to latch onto his 'unsuspecting' prey. However, the dark king was not so unsuspecting, for he simply moved his massive head out of the way and allowed his son to flop onto his back embarrassingly. Icarus grunted as all the air went out from his lungs, before regaining his wits. "Wouldn't you agree, Icarus?" The father finished his thought with a jovial smile on his face.
Icarus pouted. "Yeah, it would have been nice. I get so close, yet I still fail so hard." Icarus sulked, but Daedalus merely chuckled. "You're only failing because I know you well enough to always be on my guard. Which means your training is paying off; soon you'll be able to ambush rogues and insubordinates perfectly." Daedalus reassured. However, that reminded Icarus of a question he had wanted to ask.
"Hey, Dad. So… You know how we took Saul in because his parents aren't around, right?" Daedalus nodded, perhaps figuring that this was coming eventually. "Well, what exactly happens when he becomes an adult? I know I'm pridebound, but what about Saul?" Daedalus smirked that characteristic smirk of his; Icarus figured his father knew why he asked. "It's good to know that you're thinking about your best friend's interest. But, why aren't you so concerned for Nyota or Kuendesha?" He asked, knowing what the boy was about to say.
"Well, Saul is a male. And didn't you say males outside your bloodline are a threat to your crown?" Icarus asked carefully, hoping Daedalus wouldn't do unto Saul what he had already done unto Herod's family. Daedalus scratched his chin, ruffling the jet-black goatee upon it. "Well, I certainly said that, son. However, if they do not pose a challenge to my rule I see no reason to exile them, or worse." Icarus sighed in relief, however, he paid close attention to Daedalus' next words as the father motioned to the massive lake in front of them.
"And, one day when you are King, you will have to make decisions just like that. The state of the Kingdom will be what you make it, but only if you are strong and willing to make the choices that no one else will. I can teach you the skills of our bloodline, the skills that allowed us to get and then keep the crown. But, I cannot teach you intellect, or courage. I see that you have both, but do not under any circumstances allow those traits to waver. Trust me, the prospect of being King is enough to destroy friendships and even brotherhoods. Blood may be thicker than water, but the crown wipes both of them away just the same. Remember that, and your reign will persevere through anything."
Icarus' eyes sparkled at those words, not that his father was looking.
