A/N I'd like to thank Alama, SweetChinMusic115, mimoo01, Haradion, Emerald dreamer96, thingsareweird, TRON0602, Vitani825, and my guest reviewer for reviewing ch 13. Here's ch 14 for ya and the usual disclaimer applies. Enjoy.
Ch 14 Tragedy
The next day Scar was up bright and early. He decided to get his rounds done before spending the day with his brother, nephew and daughter. Being careful not to awaken Sarabi and Kiara Scar got up and exited the cave. A couple of hours later Scar returned only to be greeted by his daughter. "Daddy!" Kiara cried nuzzling into her father's front leg. "Where were you? Mom said we couldn't leave until you got back. I've been waiting and waiting."
"I'm sorry my dear," Scar said giving his daughter's head a lick. "I had to make my rounds first. But I'm here now."
"Yea Uncle Scar is back!" a voice cried out. Scar looked and saw Simba bounding towards him with Mufasa right behind him. Scar smiled at his nephew as he and Kiara made a circle around him jumping up and down. "Well I see you're ready to go," Scar said with a smile.
"I sure am!" Simba cried. The three month old cub could barely contain himself he was so excited.
"Just be careful," Sarafina said coming right behind her mate and son.
"And for goodness sake no wandering off," Sarabi said looking directly at her daughter.
"Don't you worry Sara'," Scar said giving his mate a nuzzle. "Mufasa and I will be there. The children won't wander off I can assure you of that."
"I wish we could go," Sarafina said giving Simba a nuzzle. "But we have to lead the hunting party today."
"Wait so all the lionesses are going to be gone?" Mufasa asked.
"Most of them," Sarafina said. "Except for a few that are pregnant."
"Well maybe we should wait," Mufasa said, quickly. "You know until you and Sarabi can join us."
"But Dad," Simba cried. "You promised we could go out today."
"Yeah Uncle Mufasa," Kiara chimed in. "You promised."
"Yes Mufasa we wouldn't want to disappoint the children would we?" Scar said, looking at his brother.
"I suppose not," Mufasa said with a sigh.
"We'll go out again when we can be there," Sarafina said giving her mate a nuzzle. "I promise you."
"Very well," Mufasa said with a forced smile. "Then let's go shall we?" With that the cubs gave a cheer and Scar and Kiara both gave Sarabi a nuzzle. Then they were on their separate ways.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Jhani was waiting at the top of the gorge along with the hyenas. "Now when I give the signal you and your family go for the heard," the golden lion was instructing Frita.
"Yeah I got it," Frita said. "Don't worry we won't fail you Jhani."
"Good," Jhani said. "Now is you'll excuse me I must make sure my nephews are down there." With that Jhani took his leave.
"Ma I'm confused," Banazi said. "I thought we were gonna attack the lions."
"Well we're not," Frita said sharply. "Jhani changed the plan. This is easier. Once Scar and his brat are outta the way then Mufasa will become King and he'll bring us in. It's way easier than goin' to war."
"Oh," Banazi said softly. "That makes sense."
"Good," Frita growled. "Now shut up. We've gotta wait for Jhani to give the signal." With that the family of hyenas layed in wait.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Scar, Mufasa, Kiara, and Simba had arrived at the gorge. "Wow," Simba breathed looking down. "It's so big."
"Yeah," Kiara said sitting next to her cousin. "Can we go down to the bottom?"
"Absolutely not," Scar said. "It's far to dangerous for cubs."
"But Daddy.." Kiara began.
"Kiara I said no," Scar said firmly. "And no mean no."
"Aw man," Kiara grumbled with a scowl.
"Your father is right Kiara," Mufasa said, trying not to sound to condescending. "It's far to dangerous. Besides the last time your father went down there he fell. He probably thinks he won't make it again."
"I can assure you dear brother I can make it down there," Scar said annoyed at his brother accusation.
"Whatever you say brother," Mufasa said. "I bet Simba could make it down there faster than you."
"Sure I can," Simba said with pride. "Watch. Come on Kiara lets go." With that the two cubs went down the side of the gorge before Scar could stop them.
"No children wait," Scar said. But it was to late. They were already gone. "Great," Scar grumbled. "See what you've done Muffy."
"I didn't do anything," Mufasa said, trying to sound innocent. "But we had better go after them don't you think." With that Mufasa went down the side of the gorge with a grumbling Scar right behind him.
TLKTLKTLK
A few minutes later the group had reached the bottom of the gorge. "Wow," Simba whispered. "It's even cooler down here."
"I agree," Kiara said her green eyes scanning the area.
"We mustn't stay to long down here," Scar informed the cubs. "It's a long climb back up to the top."
"Oh I think we can stay a few minutes," Mufasa said looking up. The golden lion saw that the sun was highest in the sky and he wanted to make sure his brother stayed put. With that the cubs explored while the adults watched.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Jhani had saw that his nephews were down in the gorge. Smiling he went and gave the hyenas the signal. Upon seeing the signal the hyenas lunged at the nearby wildebeest heard causing them to stampede towards the unsuspecting lions.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Simba and Kiara had gotten a good distance from their fathers. "Hey what's in here?" Simba wondered peaking his head into a crevasse. To his surprise a lizard came running out startling the young Prince. "Oh yeah," Simba growled. "I'll teach you." With that Simba tried to catch the lizard but failing. Kiara laughed as she saw he cousin attempt to hunt. "Pathetic," the Princess said shaking her head.
"Oh yeah," Simba said whipping around to face his cousin. "I'll show you pathetic." With that Simba prepared to pounce on his cousin. But before he could Simba felt the ground shake. "What the.." he mumbled. Then he looked up and his amber eyes got wide.
"Simba what's.." Kiara began. But she looked up and saw the wildebeests. Gasping Kiara shouted, "Simba run!" With that the two cubs began to run.
TLKTLKTLK
Scar and Mufasa were having a brotherly chat when they noticed the cubs were nowhere in sight. "Oh great," Mufasa muttered. "Sarafina'll kill me if I lose Simba. We'd better..." But before he could continue the golden lion felt the ground shake. Looking up to his horror he saw the wildebeest.
"Stampede!" Scar cried. "Mufasa the cubs!"
"On it!" Mufasa cried. But before he could go anywhere he saw the stampede heading right for them. "We'd better get to the ledge!" Mufasa cried. "Then we can see better."
"Right!" Scar cried. With that th two brother ran and quickly got on a nearby ledge and frantically searched for the cubs. Just then they heard a voice cry out, "Dad! Uncle Scar!" The two lions looked and saw Simba running towards them his amber eyes wide.
"Simba where is Kiara?!" Scar cried out.
"I..I lost her in the stampede," Simba cried shaking from fear.
"Oh Kings above," Scar cried terrified for his daughter. Just then the group heard a cry for help. "There she is!" Mufasa cried. "On that tree!"
"Hold on Kiara!" Scar cried. "Mufasa get Simba to safety. I'll go after Kiara."
"Right," Mufasa said picking up Simba and putting him on his back. As he began to climb he heard his niece cry out in terror. Mufasa turned to see Scar quickly jumped into the stampede to rescue his daughter. Mufasa began to climb up the steep gorge. When they had gotten to the top Mufasa and Simba waited hoping Kiara and Scar would be ok. Just then they were joined by Uru. "Mufasa what's going on?" the brown lioness asked.
"Oh Grandma there's a stampede," Simba cried terrified out wrapping his paws around his grandmother's front legs. "Me and Dad barely got out but Kiara and Uncle Scar are still down there!"
"Oh Kings above!" Uru cried out. "My baby! I must get help at once!" With the former Queen raced to the area where she knew the other lionesses would be hunting.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Scar had gotten to Kiara just in time. The branch she was on had broken but Scar was able to catch her before she hit the ground. Racing towards the ledge Scar quickly placed Kiara on the ledge. But before he could climb up Scar was swept away by the stampede. "Daddy!" Kiara cried, her green eyes wide with terror. The tan Princess frantically searched for her father. Suddenly Scar leapt from the stampeded and was climbing up the steepest side of the gorge. Kiara saw a little rock pathway and began to climb. Scar was nearing the top when Jhani appeared, his green eyes gleaming. "Help me!" Scar cried out terrified. "Please you have to help me!"
Jhani suddenly leapt forward and dug his claws into Scar's front paws causing the King to roar in pain. Jhani bent forward and whispered, "Be sure to say hi to my brother, Ahadi. Long live the King." With that Jhani flung Scar's paw off the side causing him to go sailing down with an ear piercing scream. "Noooooo!" Kiara cried as she saw her father fall. She then looked up at Jhani who smirked at her. "You're next," he cackled. Kiara gasped and took off at full force knowing that if she didn't run her father's killer would kill her as well. Kiara heard the sounds of hyenas chasing her. Terrified Kiara had made it to a cliff where thorn bushes were at the bottom. Looking behind her she saw the hyenas closing in on her. So the Princess did the only thing she could think of. She jumped. Luckily for her the throne bushes were to small for the hyenas to make it through. They skidded to a stop. "Man what are we gonna do now?" Banazi muttered.
"Yeah," Shenzi said. "There ain't no way we're goin' in there."
"Yeah but Ma and Pop told us to finish the brat," Banazi said.
"Well we'll just tell 'em that its done," Shenzi said. Then she looked out at Kiara's retreating form and shouted, "'Cause she know she's dead if she returns. Dead!" With that the hyenas walked away cackling evilly.
TLKTLKTLK
Meanwhile Sarafina and Sarabi had arrived on the scene along with Uru. "Oh Mufasa what happened?" Sarabi cried approaching her brother-in-law.
"A stampede," Mufasa said sadly.
"Where are Scar and Kiara?" Sarabi asked looking around for her mate and daughter.
"They were still down there," Mufasa said. "I'm going to see if they're ok. Simba stay here with you mother."
"I'm coming to," Sarabi declared.
"No please stay with my mother," Mufasa said. "I'm sure they're ok. I'll be right back I promise." With that Mufasa went down the side of the gorge hoping what he just said would be the truth.
TLKTLKTLK
Mufasa reached the bottom of the gorge where he saw Jhani sitting next to his brother. It was very clear the the King was dead. "Kuza!" Mufasa cried out running to his brother's side. Then he turned towards his uncle with a growl, "What have you done?! Where is my niece?!"
"I did what was necessary," Jhani declared. "It was the only way."
"I never agreed to kill my brother!" Mufasa snarled. "Or my niece! Now where is Kiara?! Tell me!"
"I'm afraid she's gone as well," Jhani said. "Her little body was crushed sad to say."
"No!" Mufasa cried tears coming to his eyes. "No!"
"Look at it this way," Jhani said. "You're King now. You got what you wanted."
"I never wanted it this way!" Mufasa shouted his amber eyes fiery. "I never wanted my brother and niece to die!"
"Well I'm afraid its to late for that," Jhani said. "And unless you want the truth revealed about your part in it then I suggest you go along with me."
"Fine," Mufasa said wiping the tears away. "What do you want?"
"Why for me and my hyena friends to live at Priderock of course," Jhani said.
"I guess I don't have a choice," Mufasa said glaring at his uncle.
"No you really don't," Jhani said. "Now be a good boy and go inform the others hmm. We'll be waiting." With that Jhani took his leave. Mufasa let out a heavy sigh and after making sure Jhani was gone he began the climbs back to the top dreading what was coming next.
A/N well there you have if folks ch 14 done. Hope you all enjoyed the little twists I put it. Review please.