Chapter twenty four - Uru passes away and Zira falls pregnant

Rafiki was in his tree, when he felt as chilling wind run across him. He knew Mufassa was sad, but it had nothing to do with the mistreat lionesses, although Mufassa was also upset about that.

"What is wrong Mufassa?" prayed Rafiki, listening to the wind.

After listening hard for some time, Rafiki bowed his head with sadness.

"Oh Mufassa I am so sorry - your mother is a much loved member of the pride, and will be sorely missed - how long does she have left?"

A fruit fell from a branch next to Rafiki's feet. It did not break. Another fruit fell, and this one did not break. Then, a third fruit fell and smashed into many pieces.

"3 days." whispered Rafiki sadly.

The wind blew up like a storm, before disappearing, and Rafiki knew Mufassa's spirit had returned to heaven.

Upset and the news of death, the wise baboon made his way to pride rock.

"What do you want?" growled Scar, furious at everything.

"I have terrible news Scar." Rafiki confessed.

"What?"

"Your mother…shall pass away 3 days from now."

Scar let the news sink in, but could not and would not accept it. How could his mother die?

"How dare you prophesise such heartlessness!" roared Scar.

"I only tell the truth!" objected Rafiki.

"How would you even know? Who told you my mother will pass away?"

"Mufassa did."

Scar was overcome with rage.

"He's dead! I'm the king now, so if you wish to live, then get out! Out of the pride lands, NOW!" Scar bellowed, his roars going straight through the poor baboon.

Rafiki took a last fleeting look at the lionesses and left, his head held high.

Uru had heard the whole conversation, but was not afraid. She was extremely old now, and welcomed death.

She knew she would still see her family in spirit - and the joy of knowing she would join Ahadi and Mufassa once more!

Zira had also heard the conversation, and joined Scar to comfort him.

Their son, Nuka joined him as well.

Scar did love him, but the thirteen month old lion clearly had mental problems. Just like his father.

"Dad, will I be king after you?" Nuka asked, completely disregarding his father's feelings at the news of Uru's upcoming death.

"Perhaps, unless I can father another son!" Scar spat.

Nuka was shocked.

"But I'm the oldest!" he objected furiously.

"Shut up!" growled Scar.

Nuka was upset, but fearful. He was very scared of Scar and even Zira.

So he kept quiet as Zira spoke to Scar.

"A male had entered the pride lands." she said, hoping to distract him.

Scar shot up, and called Zazu.

"Yes sire?" the hornbill asked nervously.

"Why didn't you tell me another lion has entered my domain?" snarled the king.

"I, I didn't know…"

"YOUR FIRED!" raged Scar, throwing Zazu into the ribcage of a distant meal - a makeshift prison.

"For your treachery!" said Scar meanly.

"But I didn't know!" objected Zazu.

"Silence! Your lucky I'm not giving you to the hyenas!" Scar spat.

Then, he raced to find out who the intruder was.

"Who dares trespass?" he roared to the newcomer.

The lion had a dark pelt and a brown mane. He was headstrong and good, but was not very big and knew better than to try and fight Scar, who was bigger.

"My name is Mapya your highness."

"What do you want?" Scar demanded.

"I pose no threat to you - I only request that I stay here for one night, before I leave tomorrow morning on my journey." Mapya explained.

"Where are you going?" asked Scar.

"Nowhere in particular. I'm a rouge. I just wander around looking for a meal and shelter."

Scar sighed and agreed to let him stay, but only for that night "You stay outside the cave!" Scar warned Mapya.

Mapya agreed, grateful for a rest from his lifetime of wandering.

Normally, the lionesses stayed outside the cave as well, unwilling too sleep in the presence of Scar. That night was no exception.

Mapya stayed up with the lionesses, long after Scar fell asleep.

"What's your name?" he flirted to Zira, who giggled at his affection.

"Zira." she purred back.

They flirted for a long time, before they retired to a small cave near pride rock.

There, Zira conceived her twins.

Two days later, Uru fell asleep in the cave - and never woke up.