Cubhood: Chapter 19
Taka awoke and stretched, beginning his morning ritual the way he always he did. He looked about to see where the daylight fell at the mouth of the den, and from there looked about, to see who was still asleep and who was already up. Most of the Pride appeared to have already risen, though a number of lionesses still slumbered in one corner, the majority were no longer present.
Taka hummed to himself, as he did so, looking unusually optimistic. Even the shade of his younger self looked more at ease with the world than he had in the previous visions. Scar couldn't help but cringe. Taka padded over, and nudged Zira awake. The rest of the Guard was out and about on their own activities, it seemed.
"Zira… Wakey wakey." Zira stirred, and stood up after a moment. "Morning." Taka greeted her cheerfully. Zira groaned, and looked at him in confusion.
"Taka? Why aren't you on patrol with the Guard?" She asked him, curious.
"I am not with the Guard today, remember?" He told her. Zira recalled, and smiled.
"Oh yes! That's right. Hunting with the King! That's today!" She said, excitedly. Taka laughed at her enthusiasm.
"Nervous?" He asked her. Zira grinned.
"A little. I only just joined the hunting party, remember?"
"Yeah, but you've hunting with other lionesses for ages."
"Eh. You're right. No point in worrying over it. May as well enjoy it." She grinned.
"That's the spirit." Taka agreed.
"Mother left early this morning to scout out the herds. We'll go join her on the savannah. Mufasa and Sarabi will already be out there by now." Taka said. Zira grinned.
"Can't have them doing better than us, can we?"
"It's not a competition, Zira."
"That will depend on whether we win or not." Zira said. Taka laughed.
"You have a devious mind, you know that?" Taka said. Zira smiled, choosing to take it as the compliment it had been intended as.
They paced their way down the side of Pride Rock, itching to begin hunting, when they were suddenly stopped by the appearance of Sauda. Zira greeted her adoptive mother, nuzzling the lioness.
"Hey Mom. What are you doing out here? I thought you'd be with the other Lionesses…" Zira greeted. Sauda smiled.
"Looking for you actually. I have a message from King Ahadi." She said, seriously. Taka nodded excitedly.
"Ah, yes. Our hunt." He smiled. "Where is he meeting us? Five Stones? Or the Gorge? Or one of the Watering holes?" Taka suggested. Sauda sighed.
"He isn't, Taka. Something has come up. The Cheetah Chieftains have sent an emissary to discuss important matters. One of the elder Cheetahs is refusing to give up his position for his son, even though he's come of age… His Son would be the first cheetah in four generations not to inherit as he comes of age, and is threatening Mashindano if he doesn't relent. Your father is… anxious… that this not occur. He can't outlaw Mashindano without it just continuing unofficially anyway, but he's trying to end the practice… He can't afford to snub the cheetahs here." Taka's expression faltered.
"So when…"
"He's not sure yet. But he wanted me to assure you that it will happen soon." She said, feeling awkward now. Sauda wasn't used to being a go-between for the King and the Prince. Taka growled in annoyance.
"Great." He muttered. "Mother's already out there scouting out the herds…" He told Sauda, who winced sympathetically. "I suppose he'll have me tell her?" Taka muttered. "It's not like she's his Queen or anything like that..."
"I am sorry, Taka." She said. Zira sighed, resigned.
"I suppose we could go hunting with my family?" Zira suggested. Sauda looked optimistic at the idea, and Zira knew where she could find Jicho and Kasi, but Taka shook his head. He wasn't in the mood right now, and Sauda seemed to detect that, because she grimaced, wishing there was something she could say or do. Instead, Taka politely thanked her for conveying Ahadi's message.
"I suppose I had better let Sarabi and Mufasa know as well…" Taka said as Sauda nodded, her expression one of quiet sympathy. Taka and the King both worked so hard. It seemed cruel that they could spend so little time together because of it.
"Look! There they are now. Better let them know…" Sauda said. She departed, and in her place, Scar watched the familiar shade of Sarabi form. As he watched he saw the lioness approach him. With her was a male lion. Mufasa had not been in the last vision and Scar was surprised to see the older adolescent version of his brother. His red mane had filled out, and though it lacked the size and mass the years would bring it, it was still significantly larger then Taka's own.
"Hey Taka." He greeted his brother.
"Mufasa!" Zira greeted the Prince. "Where have you two been lately? I haven't seen you all week. You come back to the den late at night and are gone first thing in the morning. Always together I have noticed." Her eyes narrowed. "What have you two been up to, anyway?"
"Oh, a bit of this and a bit of that." Mufasa said vaguely. Sarabi moved in closer and rubbed herself against his flank.
"We've just been trying to find some time alone." Sarabi said smiling. Mufasa coughed nervously.
"Oh really?" Taka asked. "Time alone, with which to enjoy each other's company. I expect you spent it deep in discussion. About things like flowers. Sunsets. Light glinting off waterfalls."
"…Taka..."
"The light of moon. How it waxes and wanes in the dark night, amid the watch of the great kings of the past. I hope for your sake they weren't watching too closely brother..."
"Taka, nothing like that." Mufasa said, disapprovingly, as Sarabi giggled, which made Mufasa bite his lip nervously.
"Uh huh." Taka said, not sounding convinced.
"I mean it! We just went away a little bit to talk. Really, brother, it is none of your business how we spend our evenings, or what we do in that time. I don't know why it interests you so much." Mufasa said dismissively.
"So you have been doing something? I knew it." Taka said triumphantly.
"No we haven't! We're just friends!" Mufasa said exasperated. Sarabi only laughed.
"Don't tease us, Taka." Sarabi admonished him. "Where are we hunting?"
"Change of plans. Dad's too busy today after all." Taka answered with a sigh.
"Again?!" Mufasa asked in obvious disappointment. His expression looked distant, and Taka grimaced.
"Let me guess. You just spoke to Kasi?"
"Actually it was Jicho, but yeah. Same news. That kinda stinks."
"Yeah. Zira was really looking forward to it."
Zira bristled.
"I am not a cub, Taka. I can contain myself. I am not that impatient." She said, though she was indeed, disappointed. Mufasa shrugged.
"I guess it happens sometimes."
"Sometimes? Come on Mufasa, it happens all the time. I don't know why I imagined it would be different for some reason. Whenever he says he's going to do something, whenever he says he's going to go somewhere with Mother, he always ends up having to stop at the last minute. Always needs to deal with some crisis, or emergency. It's every time." He said. Mufasa grunted in a noncommittal way. Taka was obviously frustrated, and his brother didn't entirely disagree with him.
"Sorry, Zira. Next time?" He promised her, smiling in apology. Zira sighed, and nodded.
"Forget it. It wasn't important." She said, trailing off. Taka cleared his throat, hoping to change the subject. "Dad says we'll do it in a couple of days. I need to go and find Mother, and let her know she's wasting her time." Taka said, sounding, disgruntled.
"Any chance he'll actually keep that appointment?" Mufasa asked, sounding defeated.
"None. But she loves him enough not to care." Taka said. Sarabi sighed,
"A shame. I was looking forward to hunting with the royal family…" She said. "I guess I'll head back to the den, maybe find Sarafina. Are you coming back with us?" She asked him.
"No, I don't think so. I'll enjoy the sun for a few more hours. Then grab something for breakfast. I'll just wander around here for a while. Keep safe."
Mufasa only nodded and walked away with Sarabi behind him.
"See you later Taka."
Taka waved and turned away.
Ammit meanwhile was watching the scene with interest. He turned to Scar to ask something or perhaps give another taunt, but Scar had turned pale, his eyes wide and he was shaking. Never before had he shown such a display of fear.
"No. Don't you dare show me this! Don't you dare!" He snarled. Ammit shuckled, but Kivuli at least looked saddened.
"I have no choice in the matter. The past is the past, and the past is what you will see. It is only the future that is not set in stone. We cannot change what has already happened." He said.
"Maybe so. But most people don't have to live through it more than once."
"Most people aren't tyrant kings of a barren land. Most people don't murder their own brother for power!" For the first time, Kivuli let real emotion into his voice when talking about Scar's time as king. There was nothing but disgust in it. "What day is it Scar? What day are we witnessing?"
Scar roared at Kivuli. It was louder than anything he could have ever produced in life. In death however, he was coming to realise he was not bound by physical laws.
"This is the day it ended! This is the day that I died!"
"You need to see this Taka. You know you have to."
After a long silence that stretched into minutes Scar finally sighed.
"That does not mean I have to like it."
They turned back to Taka who – true to his word – was wandering aimlessly from place to place, pausing to look at a couple of animals who crossed his path. Unlike his father and brother he paid no real attention to the comings and goings of their lives, and kept himself a respectful distance away them. They in turn eyed him cautiously but when he made no move to approach them, attack them or otherwise mutilate them, they gave a respectful bow one might have expected one to receive being a Prince. He stopped at a waterhole and some smaller animals made room for him to drink.
"Sometimes..." He said to himself. "It pays to be a Prince." And nodded his thanks. Before he could lean forward to drink however, a voice interrupted him.
"Prince Taka!" He looked up, and saw the hornbill hovering above him. It was Zuzu. The bird was older now, but still the King's Majordomo.
"Zuzu!" Taka greeted her.
"Sire, I have important news! You wanted me to report on any suspicious canine activity?" She said, urgently. Taka rolled his eyes.
"I knew I couldn't trust those jackals…" He said aloud.
"Jackals! No sire, its hyenas! I saw a large pack of them moving through the savannah."
"Hyenas?" Taka said, looking concerned. "Was it Shenzi and those two bozos she hangs around with?" He asked her, looking amused.
"I couldn't say sire! All hyenas look the same to me, especially from the air." She said. "But there were more than three of them…" She told him. Taka paused, suddenly alert. This was serious. Could one of the other clans finally be making their move in the Pridelands? Most hyenas kept their distance, especially since the incident with Zira, Sarafina and the Black Hyenas of Carrocscir. Many were rightfully anxious at what the Lion Guard would do to them. Perhaps it was other spotted hyenas of Shenzi's own kind? But that wasn't like them. He nodded to Zuzu, aware that this might be a more serious situation. He ought to turn about and report to his father. But that would mean speaking to his father again, and Taka wasn't in the mood to speak to him right now – if indeed, he could even hold his father's attention long enough to speak to him. He growled in anger. That meant he and the Guard would need to deal with it.
"Go and Summon the Guard," he said. "And better tell my father for good measure." He added. "In the meantime, I'll go ahead alone."
"Sire!?"
"Don't worry. I am not defenceless." He reminded her. Zuzu nodded, and swooped away in the direction of Priderock, whilst Taka ran in the opposite direction where Zuzu had flown from. It was reckless, but not suicidal.
Sure enough, as he ran, he began to detect the telltale scent of blood in the air, and could also smell the reeking stench of hyenas. Quite a few of them. He began to relax, when he detected the familiar tones of Shenzi and her small pack. He recognised their pungent odour, and almost relaxed as he drew closer, prepared to lambast them for such clear overhunting and clear violation of the King's orders.
His angered call died on his lips as the scent of more blood hit his nostrils, and as he rounded a hill on the savanna he beheld the carnage. There was prey everywhere, which riled him, but his anger instantly evaporated when he saw other shapes dotted throughout the gore.
"Shenzi?" He called, alarmed. There. He could see her. He moved quickly towards to her body and turned her unconscious form over. She was covered in lacerations and cuts, the telltale signs of intense bitemarks.
"Shenzi!" He called to her, shaking her. She was breathing, and after a moment, she seemed to come round.
"…Boss?" Shenzi recognised him. Her eyes were glassy, and unfocused. She had trouble settling on him.
"Shenzi, what on earth happened here!? Zuzu saw your pack cross the border."
"Not my pack…" Shenzi coughed. Beside her, Banzai was out cold, but was otherwise unharmed. Ed seemed to be recovering, which was a blessed relief for her.
"Shenzi! Shenzi, get a hold of yourself! Shenzi! You have to tell me what happened!" he ordered her. Shenzi groaned in pain, but shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
"It was black hyenas. A dozen of them. Ugly brutes. Scarred and marked. Experienced fighters… They came from the Outlands, not the Shadowlands, so it's not the Clans." Shenzi told him urgently.
"Black hyenas." Taka muttered. "Why is it always Black hyenas? What do they have against me?" Taka asked.
"You killed their matriarch… And we helped." Shenzi said bitterly. "Look where it got us." Taka looked at Shenzi's injuries again. She was breathing sharp, short breaths. If she'd been a lion, he wouldn't have hesitated in taking her to see Rafiki… But so far as he knew, the healer didn't tend to hyenas… And he wasn't in the mood for causing a confrontation with his father by bringing her to Pride Rock. She would simply have to bear it.
"Shenzi… Tell me. Why were they here? Are they poaching?"
"Nah. Like you said. It's personal… They knew we were here… Knew we'd helped all those months ago with the lionesses too… Called me race-traitor. A sell-out to the Lion Kings… Said that I wanted in on Ahadi's harem…"
"What?"
"…An… affectionate… nickname for Ahadi's Pride…" Shenzi admitted under Taka outraged gaze. Seeing his expression, she nodded.
"Yeah, disgusting I know. As if I'd lie with a lion." She sneered. "Got to be honest… not many of our own clanmates wanted much to do with us… but this was the first outright attack… Not an experience I'd like to repeat…" Shenzi said, crawling to her feet. Taka, after a moment's hesitation, helped her to her feet. She steadied herself. "You're a funny lion, Prince Taka…" She said after a moment.
"I thought I'd made it clear that you three were under the Guard's protection…" Taka said, feeling angry. Shenzi snorted.
"Yeah, cheers. Somehow, I think that protection might have been one of the things that soured them to me. That and my sunny disposition…" Shenzi snapped. Taka let the acid in her voice slide.
"Why now…" He muttered. "The Hyenas have been quiet for ages. I expected trouble from the jackals or the wilddogs…"
"Yeah. Well, I guess the black hyenas are finally regaining their strength." Shenzi said. Taka laughed dismissively.
"From our efforts to rescue Zira and Sarafina?" He asked, genuinely shocked. He didn't think they had suffered much considering what had nearly occurred. It could have gone far worse if his father had gotten there before he had.
"No… From the Spotted Clan's invasion of Carocscirr." She said quietly. Taka stared at her.
"What?" He asked, flatly.
"With Vastra dead, the Black Clan was in a terrible position. No one was in charge, no one was calling the shots. There was an opportunity and we took it. The Spotted Clan attacked and drove them from the Ivory Tower. That's why the Black Clan was so quiet… they were recovering from that conflict."
"There's been a clan war in the Shadowlands!" He asked, going cold.
"There is always a clan war in the Shadowlands…" Shenzi muttered. "Somehow they must have found out that we were involved… And they wanted revenge." She said. Taka shook his head.
"Can you stand?" He asked her. Shenzi struggled, and nodded, wincing as she did so.
"I think so." She said.
"Is there anything else I need to know?" Taka asked. Shenzi nodded.
"I think I recognised the leader… It's Caliban."
"Caliban? Again?"
"Yeah. He vanished during the conflict. There was some struggle over who'd succeed Vastra. Caliban made a claim, she was his mother after all, but most hyenas prefer to follow a female. So Vastra's sister ended up in charge for a while though. I think she was killed in the fighting, so one of her Captains took power. Caliban vanished into the Outlands. But I am pretty sure it was him leading the pack that attacked me."
"What does Caliban want with you?" Taka asked in confusion.
"Haven't you been listening? We were responsible for you getting into Carrocscir. And you killed Vastra. Caliban's mother!" Shenzi said.
Taka swore.
"He's out for revenge. He's finally recovered enough fighters to make his move. He can't attack Carrocscir, so he attacks you here in the Pridelands… Where you are defenceless."
"I am never defenceless." She said.
"Where you are vulnerable then." Taka amended. Shenzi spat in disgust.
"Sounds about right." She murmured in agreement.
"We've got to tell my father. This is an emergency! If Caliban is on the warpath, people could get hurt!" Taka said urgently. Shenzi groaned. She could barely stand. Taka eyes were wide.
"Which way did they go, Shenzi!" Taka asked. He had assumed they'd followed the herds, but if indeed, they were not here for hunting, but purely there for vengeance, that could mean they could be anywhere! They were in serious danger!
"South. To the Gorge."
"The hunting party went west this afternoon, and the others are back at the den… We have to run to my father and –" Taka trailed off, his eyes going wide.
"What is it?" Shenzi asked him, urgently.
"Mother! She wasn't with the hunting party today – we were going to go hunting ourselves, and she was scouting out the herds for us! Dad had to change his mind again, but she doesn't know yet! She'll be out there!"
"Where is she?" Shenzi asked.
"South! Towards the Canyon!" Taka said.
"Taka! Vastra was Caliban's mother! If he wants revenge…"
"NO!" Taka roared, and whirled around.
Taka threw Shenzi out of his way in his panic, and he rushed in the direction told him. Shenzi coughed on the ground, and stood up shakily to her feet.
"Come on!" And the trio chased after him.
Taka raced across the Savannah, heedless of anything or anyone in his path. Zebra, antelope and leopard alike dived out of his way. He didn't stop to find a crossing for the great river but leapt straight over it, landing on a rock halfway and completing the jump in two bounds. His fears rose as he heard an evil laughter to the north; in the direction of the gorge. The twisted mirth of a hyena hunting pack. Desperately he sought about him, and his eyes settled on a buzzard that was picking clean a small rodent's skeleton. He rushed over to him.
"My prince?" the buzzard asked in surprise at his expression, slightly annoyed at having his meal interrupted. "Whatever is the matter?"
"The Queen is in danger! Rally the lionesses, get my father! To the gorge – go!" Taka snarled orders at him, and the buzzard dropped his meat in shock.
"At once highness!" the buzzard gasped, upon realising the severity of the situation. He swooped up into the air, and made his way to Pride Rock as fast at the winds would carry him. Taka had already turned and was racing away from him as fast as he could in the direction Shenzi had provided.
When he finally reached the gorge, he slid down the side of the cliff face, rocks tumbling as he maintained his balance. The sight that greeted him was a haunting one. A few feet before him, in the dust stirred up by a fight lay a wounded lioness, bleeding among hyena corpses. Blood was spilt about her, her own mingled with the blood of her kill and her adversities forming one mess on the ground. She was not moving.
"No!" Taka bellowed and raced towards her. Adrenaline fuelled his body and channelled a burst of surplus energy after his long run. "NO!" The roar of the elders burned within him, begging for release. He felt the ground quake, as he howled in anguish, the power bleeding out of him. He reached her unmoving body, and moved to her neck. A deep gash was bleeding openly. He tried to lick the wound clean, and held the wound closed with his paw, but dark blood spilled out from between his paw tips, the pressure only accelerating the bleeding.
"No..." he whispered, unable to take his eyes of the wound.
"Taka..." Uru murmured her eyes flickering. And Taka desperately moved closer to her to try to help her in any way.
"It's okay Mom! I'm here. We'll get Rafiki, he'll fix you – you're gonna be fine! I promise!"
"Taka... My son..." She whispered, opening her eyes. She had the same green eyes he did – both of them identical in shape. His filled with tears. She raised her paw despite how much pain the movement must have brought, and ran her claws through his dark mane.
"You're so big... So strong now... Like a King... My fierce Taka… Lord of the Lion Guard." She looked lovingly at her son tracing the mark of the elders with her claw. Taka was shaking, trying desperately to apply pressure to the critical injuries she'd sustained. It was futile. She closed her eyes, and breathed out.
"No, no, no! Stay with me Mom! Mom! Don't go! Listen to me, listen to my voice, hold on!" Taka cried desperately.
"Taka…" Uru whispered. "Look after your brother. And your father. I am sorry… So sorry… to leave you. I… don't want to… I wanted to see you grow up." Her breath caught.
She coughed again and fell silent. With that her paw dropped from Taka's face and fell to her side. Her ragged breath finally stopped.
"No... NO!" Taka screamed in desperation, and let out an unearthly howl. The roar of the elders answered, and the shouts of a dozen great kings of the past cried out in mourning. This was no dignified roar or kings, or a lion's hunting call. This was a scream of pain and anguish born of despair absolute. Behind him, Banzai, Shenzi and Ed finally caught up with him, and surveyed the scene.
"Crap. That's not who I think it is, is it?" Banzai asked.
"Uh huh." Shenzi supplied from beside him, looking anxious.
"We have got a big problem."
There was no sign of Caliban among the attackers. Taka sobbed, and heard the hyenas behind him. He didn't look at them. But soon he heard a roar, and knew his father was quick approaching. He glared at the hyenas.
"Get out of here!" He roared in anger. The hyenas flinched away. "Go! Get out of here, before Ahadi skin's you for this! Get out of here, before I let him!"
"Taka I…"
"Find me Caliban! I want him dead! Until you can give me that, get the hell out of the Pridelands, you disgusting creatures!" Taka roared in anger, and swiped at Shenzi. The hyenas flinched away and ran in panic as Ahadi and the lionesses arrived.
There was a stillness to the air now.
"My Prince! Are you alright?" Above him, the buzzard had returned, this time at the head of a number of followers. He saw Zuzu, and Zazu flying slightly higher circling them, calling those that followed to him.
"Taka!" The Lion Guard was with them.
"Brother!"
Voices called out to him, and he saw Sarabi, Mufasa and Sarafina, tailed by Zira, as well as Imani, Kasi and Jicho. They were rushing down the gorge towards him. Closely behind them were the older lionesses, and at their head, twice the size of his brother charged the King. Ahadi of the Pridelands rushed towards him.
"Taka – are you alright?" he stopped as he saw the broken form behind him, and slowed.
"Is that...? NO! Mother! No!" Mufasa cried as the horror came into his vision. Sarabi gasped behind him and clutched at him. The lionesses gave out cries of grief and anguish and Sarafina burst into tears. Cries of "No!" "Impossible!" "She can't be!" Echoed around the gorge. Ahadi rushed to his mate's side and at the sight of the wounds swayed, as if about to collapse.
"No…" he whispered in mute horror. "No…"
It was too much. Too much for anyone to bear. Too much grief. Too much tragedy. Too much horror.
He turned and faced his Son, who growled when their eyes met.
"Taka... What happened? Tell me what happened!" Ahadi cried.
"Ahadi." Taka responded. For the first time in years he addressed his father by Name.
"What has happened?" Ahadi asked, looking around at the scene. He immediately saw the dead hyenas, and roared in Anger.
"Hyena vermin! They will pay for this!"
"They will. Dearly."
"Not enough! Tell me what has happened!"
"I will tell you what has happened, your Majesty... The Queen has been slain, by Caliban… A rogue pack of Black hyenas who were seeking vengeance for Vastra's death. But if you want someone to blame for her death, you need look no further than yourself!" Taka snarled. There were gasps at that.
"As I recall the decision to allow hyenas into the Pridelands was left to you! And You are the one who's supposed to keep hyenas from the Pridelands! How could you let this happen! Zuzu! Why were there no spies in the air! Why wasn't this reported?!"
"I… Sire. I did report it… To Taka… But I assumed it was the spotted hyenas he'd aligned himself with… I gave him their location to investigate but…"
"So it's your fault!" Ahadi roared, glaring at Taka. "You had one job! ONE job, as the leader of the Lion Guard! What were you doing! Why were none of you on patrol!" He roared in anger, looking to the Lion Guard. The Lion Guard shifted under his gaze.
"Sire… I… We…"
"The Guard wasn't meant to be on patrol today. We were supposed to be hunting." Taka said, frostily. There was silence. "Mother was out here scouting the herds. She shouldn't even have been here today, it was pure chance." Taka whispered, horrified. Ahadi stared at him.
"Don't make this about me!" Ahadi roared.
"And why not?!" Taka cried. "If you could keep a promise for once! If you could be trusted to do your job as a father, and as a king instead of loading them off to your sons, then maybe this wouldn't have happened! Maybe if you marked the borders yourself, maybe if you ruled the Kingdom instead of locking yourself up there, tutoring Mufasa, and leaving me to clean up your stinking messes, this wouldn't have happened!" Taka snarled. Ahadi roared, and Taka continued.
"If not for you then she would still be alive! Don't deny it! You stood her up too many times, now she has died because of it!"
"If not for you her murderers would not have had been in the Gorge!"
"If not for you then neither would she! She paid the price of your failure!"
"She was murdered in cold blood – you will not shift her blood from your paws to mine!"
"She waited for you! She died – waiting for you! And where were you? What great kingly business kept you too busy to see your own Queen for? Was it worth the blood of my mother?"
"Your failure to–"
"My failure? It was your failure as a father that started this! Your failure as a mate and your failure as a King!"
"Taka I am warning you –"
"What kind of King cannot protect his own mate? What kind of King gets her killed out of his own failure?"
"Taka, stop this!" Mufasa begged as the lionesses argued among each other. Some in favour of Ahadi, others supporting Taka's arguments. Taka ignored him and continued.
"How many more will die because of your incompetence Ahadi? What will the final price be? The lives of your sons? The lives of your every lion in your pride? Just think of what happened to Zira, to Sarafina! Now this has happened to mother!"
"Who are you to criticise my kingship?" Ahadi raged, his grief and anger overwhelming him.
"Who are you to abuse it?"
"You are to blame for Uru's death, not I!"
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare!" Scar raged.
Ahadi roared, and it was a mixture between a sob and a scream. "I loved her!" He shouted.
"You never showed it!" Taka spat. "You're pathetic! Do the decent thing! End it!"
"What?"
"Abdicate the throne. Give it Mufasa. Or Me. Or Zuzu for all I care. Just get your miserable claws off it before someone else you love is killed!"
"How dare you!" Ahadi shouted.
"Do it!"
"Or what!"
"Or I'll make you!"
"You pathetic runt!"
"I invoke the right of Mashindano!" Taka shouted, in anger. "I demand it! I claim that right!" he called out. There was shocked silence.
The two lions, father and son faced each other over the corpse of the one dearest to them. Mufasa looked in shock at his father and brother. Sarafina stood with Nguvu and wept quietly to herself, and Sarabi leaned against Mufasa for support. Kasi and Jicho stood with Zira and could only look at their friend in horror as he stood there, fully prepared to murder his father. Imani stood alone, his mouth open wide in shock. Taka was shaking in anger, his eyes filled with hate as he faced his father.
"So that's it." Kivuli said "You'd plunge the whole of the Pridelands into anarchy, just to satisfy you sense of justice? Not justice, revenge! You'd really do that? Even as a young one?"
"Is that a trick question?" Scar asked, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. "What use is the world, without justice? Without vengeance? Without balance?" He said. Kivuli shook his head.
"What you sought there wasn't Justice! It was retribution! You didn't care about balance for the world, you just wanted to make yourself feel better! You just wanted your pain to stop, and you did that by hurting others!" Kivuli snapped.
"So what!?" Scar snarled. "So WHAT?!" He shouted. "Why is it so terrible for the sake of the universe that my pain should end? Why is it so wrong for me to seek revenge for good people who die? She was innocent! My mother was innocent! She was a pure, loving person, and they killed her for it! I did my best to defend the circle of life! I did my best to keep people safe, and they murdered her for it! They murdered my mother because I did the right thing, and I wasn't allowed to avenge her? How is that fair? In what universe is that okay? Why is it so wrong for her soul to rest easy?" Scar said.
Ammit laughed, as Kivuli stared at him with unmistakeable sadness.
"Rest easy? You think your mother's soul rested easy, watching her mate and her son rip each other apart over her body? You didn't care about her peace. This was all about you. It was always about you." Kivuli said.
"I mean it!" They heard Taka repeat himself. "I invoke my right of Mashindano! I'll fight you. For the Throne."