Chapter 36, A forthcoming plan
As Mufassa walked out through the entrance of their den, Kovu emerged from the back of the cave as he watched the king take his leave. All the while, he stared with both the feelings of curiosity and also nervousness. He had heard everything which had been discussed between him and his parents, even the kings warning if they were to further resent Jay and the rest of the pride. Needless to say that the young cub was taken back from it as his young mind came to be riddled with fear. For what could have meant when he said for the sake of your own son, was it exile from the Pridelands which he was referring to?
It was then that Take came passed Kovu, who turned and looked up to him. He saw he father staring forward at Mufassa, glaring so furiously at his older brother for a time. He groaned before he turned away walking back into the cave as Kovu and Zira looked back at him. It was there that Taka paced back and forth, trying too fathom what Mufassa had told him.
"How could my brother be so incompetent?" He growled, his anger directing the words he chose to say.
"Picking that hairless ape to be his new heir to the throne. And he dares to threaten me if I don't show loyalty to that... thing?"
"He and Sarabi are such fools!" Zira said, having the same mindset as her mate.
She turned and approached Taka.
"It never ceases to amaze me how much they think that man-cub could possibly be the next king."
Taka stopped in place of where he stepped and raised his head up. With another obstacle standing in his way of being the next king, he knew well his long awaited chances would never come to be. He hadn't come all this way just to be denied once more. He knew like Simba, Jay needed to be dealt with and soon. Something which seemed to be proving to be difficult then it should be.
"I can't understand how three hyena's are unable to preform one simple task." Taka said, before turning to Zira.
"They disposed of one cub before, how could a second one be any harder then the last? I gave them the benefit of the doubt since they lead him to Nyati, I was certain the boy would die from his wounds."
As he listened to his father speak, Kovu gazed curiously to the things they were saying about Jay. True he had only just met him only a few times, but when they met that first time he made a very lasting impact on him. He didn't appear as bad ad how his parents described them to be.
"You mean Jay?" He spoke up.
It was no surprise that the mention of the boy's name from him caused Zira to turn and growl at her cub.
"What is that suppose to mean?" She growled, baring her fangs
By his mother's furious state, Kovu whimpered with complete and utter fear.
"Uh... N-nothing." He shivered in fear.
"What have I told you, Kovu?" Zira asked.
"I'm sorry, mother." The cub pleaded for her forgiveness.
"It's just... he... he didn't seem so bad. And I just thought that..."
"What, you could be friends?" Zira finished his sentence.
As Zira continued to scold their son, Taka stared sternly to it's unfolding events. Though all the while as he heard the insidious things which Kovu was saying in regards to Jay, when Zira had spouted out his intention of a possible friendship came to spark a thought within his conniving mind. The fact he would want to befriend that worthless pile of dirt was beyond him, however this may actually prove to be the opportunity he needed to be rid of the boy.
"That thing is not your friend!" Zira growled, stunning her son.
It was right at that moment that Taka stepped into the feud.
"Wait!" He said.
"Perhaps our young lad may be on to something."
Zira glanced to her made, both shocked and confused.
"What?" Zira asked.
"This may prove to be useful." Taka explained as he came up beside his son.
He set his paw down upon Kovu's head, messing up his mow-hawkish mane.
"My boy, you may yet have solved our problems."
"Taka, what could possibly mean?" Zira asked, confused to what he was referring to.
He turned back to Zira, the scheming grin upon was written upon his face.
"Why, our son wishes to be friends with Mufassa's 'heir'." He explained thoroughly.
"And friends will do anything for one another, especially if that means going against their parents wishes. The closer Kovu gets to the man-cub, the more he will able to convince him to do anything."
Taka pressed Kovu up against his side, stroking his back with his paw. It was then Zira gazed in realization, gasping at the treasures of this plan. How true it was that friendship can lead to such a great deal of trust between two. If a friendship was to form between Kovu and Jay, their son would have the ability in tricking the man-cub into doing or going wherever they wanted.
"What an Idea!" She gasped in joy, looking to Kovu.
"Well done, Kovu. I'm so proud of you. Truly your father's geniuses has been passed down to you."
"Yes." Taka said in agreement.
"He's certainly inherited my expertise. Now my dear lad, why don't you run along now and go see your 'friend'?"
Taka pushed Kovu over to the entrance of the cave, before he came upon his four paws. He walked before the entrance and stopped before stepping into the world outside. He stood gazing out nervously, turning back to look at his two conspiring parents. Taka gestured his head to Kovu, encouraging him to go on. Kovu shifted his head back forward, looking nervously to his parents. He then looked forward and walked out through the entrance of the cave.
Out upon the open grass fields of the Serengeti, Sarabi and her hunting party were laying among one another after what had been a quick yet challenging hunt. However it did not go without it's plentiful reward. A few of the lioness were successful in their co-operation with one another, having taken down a few of the wildebeests of the herd they had been tracking that early that morning. Gathered around their claimed kills, some had already began to feast upon their kills. That was all but Sarabi, Sarafina and Nala, who instead were resting around the wildebeest which they caught together as they waited for Mufassa and Jay to come.
As the queen waited for their arrival, she was reveling in a very optimistic mood which she hadn't felt in so long and thought she might never would have felt again. She looked so hopeful and full of pride, an expression that Sarafina noticed as she looked over to her.
"I must say you seem very optimistic today, Sarabi." She commented.
"I haven't seen you like this for so long."
Sarabi turned to Sarafina, showing her brightened and joyful expression she noticed from her.
"I am, Sarafina." Sarabi answered, sounding so proudly.
"Something great has happened."
"What is it?" Sarafina asked, anxious to hear what could have brought Sarabi to be in such a joyous state of being.
"My family is coming back together." She answered.
The look upon Sarafina face upon hearing the reason was so ecstatic, knowing well of what it meant.
"You mean...?"
Sarabi nodded her head, confirming Sarafina's hopes.
"Sarabi, that's so wonderful!" She said.
"I'm so happy for you!"
Sarabi nodded in appreciation to he long antiquated friend.
"Thank you, Sarafina." She said.
"I can't express just how happy I am. I never thought this day would ever come."
"Your majesty!" a voice called from nearby.
The queen turned and gazed to her right, where she saw Zazu approaching with Jay following close behind him. The sight of her adopted son the queen's excitement had escalated, eager to hear what had been of his time with Mufassa. She stood up upon her four paws and waled over to Jay. The boy it turned rushed over to his lioness mother.
"Hey mom!" He said as they came before each other.
The lioness bowed her head down and nuzzled her adopted son.
"Hello, my little mtoto." She said, greeting him.
"And how was your morning?"
"It was great!" The boy insisted.
"Mufassa took me all around the pridelands."
Sarabi simply smiled at her son.
"Well I would love to hear all about it." She said.
As Jay walked passed her toward Sarafina and Nala, the queen first looked to Zazu before she followed after her man-cub.
"Thank you for returning him to me, Zazu." she said, nodding her head pleasingly to the bird.
The majordomo in turn bowed his head to her.
"It was my pleasure, your majesty." He said, bowing to her.
"King Mufassa insisted I would bring the young prince safely to you."
"Speaking of Mufassa," Sarabi then said.
"Do you know where he is?"
"I'm afraid not." Zazu answered.
"He said he had some other matter to attend to. Would you like me to do find him?"
Sarabi nodded her head.
"Yes, Zazu." She answered, nodding to him.
"Could you tell him that I wish to see him."
"Right away, your highness!" Zazu said before he turned and flew off to find Mufassa.
Sarabi turned back to Jay, who was sitting with Nala and Sarafina. All the while, the boy was telling them all about what happened.
"Nala, guess what!" The boy said, so eager to tell her of his morning.
"What is it?" Nala asked, curiously.
"Mufassa showed me around the pridelands!" Jay said.
Nala went wide eyes when she heard of what Mufassa had did, finding it to be just as surprising as Jay had found it before. Ever since Jay came to the pridelands, Mufassa didn't appear to like him all that much. To hear that he showed Jay around like he did with Simba, it was a quite surprising turn of events.
"He did?" Nala said.
Jay nodded his head.
"Yeah!" Jay insisted.
"He said every future king needed to know his kingdom."
It was then that Sarabi came up to the two cubs, where she laid down with Sarafina and listened to Jay.
"Future king, huh?" She said, raising her eye brow curiously.
Jay turned to his mother.
"A-huh!" The boy said, shaking his head eagerly.
"Mufassa said I'm going to be the king of Pride Rock. He told me all the things I needed to do if I'm going to be the king."
"Really?" Sarafina said.
"So like respecting all the species, helping keep the peace in the pride lands and also who will chose to be your queen?"
Hearing his Aunt, Jay was taken back and shuddered in disgust at the mention of queen. It meant he needed to be married to a girl, something that he hadn't though of nor cared to ever think of.
"Ewe, Aunt Sarafina!" The boy moaned.
"It's a tradition of being the king, Jay." Sarafina insisted.
"It's has been so since the beginning of the pride. Which is why I think that you and Nala would make a perfect fitting."
Jay and Nala looked to one another, before they each shuddered at the thought of being married. Something that was accustom to those his age. Why would they ever be married, they were friends after all apart from some obvious reasons?
"Gross!" Nala said.
The two mothers looked to each other and chuckled.
It was between where the pride was gathered and Pride Rock, where Mufassa was returning to his family after settling things with Taka. The alpha walked along through the open grasslands, hoping that he had set things properly with his younger brother. Hope being the primary word that came out from their discussion. Though he suspected that his brother may be still stubborn to the idea of him making Jay his heir rather then him. However he had made the consequences to his and Zira's actions, something he hoped he wouldn't have to resolve to putting upon Taka, his mate and their son.
However he didn't have time to dwell on it, for it was then he heard a voice coming from above.
"Sire!"
Mufassa looked up and saw Zazu flying toward him. The alpha stopped as his majordomo flew up and landed before him.
"Zazu." He greeted the bird.
"I trust Jay is back with Sarabi and the others.
"Indeed, sire." Zazu insisted.
"I was sure to deliver him safely to the pride."
Mufassa nodded pleasingly to him.
"Good." He said.
"Now, you said there was a matter between the giraffes and baboons?"
"Well, yes." Zazu answered.
"But that can wait a while longer, something else has come up?"
"Oh, what is it?" Mufassa asked, curiously.
"Sarabi sent me to find you." The bird advised.
"There's something that she wants to discuss with you."
"Thank you, Zazu." Mufassa said, nodding to him.
"I was actually already headed to meet with the others."
"Oh, splendid." Zazu said, holding his wings together.
"She and the hunting party are just out on the fields. And I am pleased to report that there hunt was a success."
"That's good to hear," He said, smiled pleasingly.
There was suddenly a rustling sound coming from behind Mufassa. The Alpha and majordomo looked back to the tall green grass where Mufassa had come and noticed movements of the lush strands of vegetation. The alpha lion turned and faced the suspicious sight, ready to handle what it was that would come.
"Who's there?!" He said in a stern and authoritarian voice.
There came more rustling in the grass before the one hiding stepped out into sight, revealing it to be Kovu.
"It's just me, Mufassa." He said, stepping up to the king.
At the sight of his nephew, Mufassa softened his expression and stood back upright position.
"Kovu!" He said.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I- uh..." Kovu said, trying to think of what to say.
He knew what his parents true motives were, what they wanted him to do. Deep down Kovu felt himself fighting within, trying to decide what to do. On the one hand there was a small part of himself that was very resilient with going through with this, still having that small fondness for Jay after their first encounter with each other. However that was countered by what was to be the fear of his parents and what they would do if he didn't follow through with their plan. He had felt their wrath before many times, it had always made him think twice before he ever crossed them.
Though even with that small benefit of doubt he had for the wild boy, it still wasn't enough against his anticipating fear of his parents. He knew he had to go through with what they were planning or suffer the consequence of disobeying them.
"It's alright, Kovu." Mufassa insisted, knowing the cub felt too intimidated of him to say anything.
"You can tell me."
He took a moment to collect himself before he spoke up again.
"I was... just... looking for Jay." The cub explained to the alpha lion.
"Mother and father want us to be friends since, you know. Do you know where he is?"
As he heard his nephew's reasoning for his sudden and unexpected departure from his parents, the alpha male came to smile down at him. It seemed that Taka and Zira had heeded his words and had finally come through for him and the rest of the pride. In actuality he had his doubts toward his younger brother, he and his mate have proven to be stubborn in the past. But it seemed like his doubts were surprisingly unjustified for him to have in this case. Rather he owed him a great dept. of gratitude to him.
He appreciated that his wanted for Jay and Kovu to be friends. Mufassa felt it was something which the two boys could benefit from, after all they both were settled in a very isolated position. Kovu had been kept away from everyone by his parents and Jay didn't have any other friends outside of Nala. They may yet prove to be close friends, maybe even... brothers
"I do, Kovu." The alpha said, nodding his head to the cub.
"Jay is with his mother and the others out in the fields, I was already on my way to meet with them. If you want I could take you to him."
"Okay." Kovu said, nodding his head.
Jay was huddled along side his mother and Nala, feasting upon the meat provided by the lifeless body of the Wildebeest she had caught. He ripped through the scratched stomach of the herbivore, biting into the chunk of meat and flesh he had taken. Since early that morning and after the long walk with Mufassa, the boy's hunger had escalated throughout the time. He craved the very taste and satisfaction of a meal provided by a Zebra or even a wildebeest.
From his excruciating hunger, the boy devoured the entire piece of flesh whole. After he finished he then reached back down to the corpse of the wildebeest and pulled out another piece of flesh from it's lifeless body, biting into it the moment he. The boy sight of appetite had not gone unnoticed by his mother, who found him to be eating far too fast. She raised her head and stood up on her two front legs.
"Jay!" She said, causing the boy stop eating and glance up to her.
The boy's mouth just about to take another bite.
"Slow down, son. Your eating too fast."
"Sorry, mom." Jay said, before swallowing what he had in his face.
"I'm just so hungry. I haven't anything since this morning."
Sarabi smirked and shook her head down at her adopted son. It was then that she glanced her eyes back behind her, where she saw Mufassa and Kovu approaching.
"Mufassa." She said as she got up and turned to her mate.
Hearing his mother speak his name, Jay and Nala looked back to see the alpha male. It was right then that the two came to notice Kovu, following at the side of the the brown furred cub, Jay smiled and turned away from the wildebeest to face him
"Kovu!" Jay said so blissfully.
Much like Kovu, since the first time they met there was a lasting impression upon him. While it was brief, he still had a feeling there was some kind of special connection between each other.
"Who?" Nala asked, leaning over to Jay.
"That's Kovu." Jay said.
"I met him few weeks ago at the watering hole. He lives in the pride with us, don't you know him?"
"No." Nala answered, simply shaking her head.
Never was there a point in time had she seen Kovu before. She had always assumed that she and Simba were the only cubs in the pride. Although now in these passed few months, she though it was just her and Jay that were the only ones.
"Oh." Jay said, frowning.
The boy looked back at the cub, thinking of how lonely he must feel at times. Having for many to never even realize that he existed and only having parents to be the only source of companionship he had. Jay knew well what it was like to be in that particular predicament.
Sarabi came up to her mate, stopping just as they came only three steps away from each other.
"My king," She said, in greeting her beloved mate.
"Zazu told me." He said to her.
"He said you had something to talk to me about?"
His queen nodded her head to him, answering with such a simple action the question he had. However what was to be discussed was to be left to wait, as it was then she turned and noticed Kovu at her mates side.
"Kovu?" She said, turning to the cub.
Mufassa turned and looked down to the cub, smiling very fondly to his young nephew. Much like Sarabi, he had something that he wished to tell her. He knew his mate would want to hear of what Taka had done for them.
"Sarabi, there's something else I need to tell you." Mufassa explained, looking back to his mate.
"I went to talk things over with Taka and Zira. It seemed they wish to make Amends."
The news came to surprise the queen as it did Mufassa when he heard it himself. It seemed all too good to believe, knowing Taka and Zira herself.
"They wanted for Kovu and Jay to be friends."
Once more was the queen overtaken with complete and total astonishment by the news. Though it was soon to be followed with that of excitement and anticipation. She turned to Kovu and smiled down to her young nephew, having such high hopes for this idea. She wanted for her son to have more friends here in the pride, what better way could there be with the two sons that descended from the Royal family.
"Really?" The queen said to the cub.
Kovu in turn shook his head to his aunt. It was right then that she glance back over to Jay and Nala, who in turn were gazing back at her.
"Well then, Kovu." She said, looking back to the brown furred cub.
"I think that would be a great idea. I'm sure that Jay and Nala would love to have you as their friend."
The queens words came to give the cub a small feeling of pride in himself, something his parents often never came to give to him.
"Kovu, why don't you go see if they want to play." Mufassa suggested to his nephew.
"Okay." Kovu said, before he walked passed both the king and queen.
(I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if there are any requests or comments or criticisms, please feel free too share.)