Chapter 38, Stolen Tusks
Several days passed in the Pridelands. Zazu emerged from his nest and came perched over the edge, looking out over the veld. Peering to the horizon far to the east. He could see the sun rising in the the distance, which meant it was dawn. Zazu was always precise about the times of day. As the King's Majordomo, his duties differed depending on where the sun stood.
And with the sun rising in the east, it was time to fulfill one of his duties to the Pride. He utter a sigh of relief.
"Time for the Morning inspection." He said, before sprouting his wings.
Zazu leaped from his nest and flew overhead. He peered down over the grasslands. There were several groups of Zebras and gazelles and a single herd of Wildebeests, grazing, prancing about the fields, or drinking from the nearby watering hole. And as he flew passed several trees, he noticed a family of baboons perched in the high branches.
The simple minded primates scurried along the branches, leaping from one tree to another. While others groomed one another's fur. Nothing that wasn't out of the ordinary for a troop of baboons.
"Everything seems to be in order here." Zazu said.
Zazu turned and looked forward. Suddenly he stopped. Peering ahead to the hillside, he saw a small group of elephants. Zazu squinted his eyes curiously. He flew forward and came above the group of Elephants. He peered down over the tusk giants.
"That's odd." He said.
"What are Elephants doing here? The herd is suppose to be in the east."
But as he continued looking down over the elephants, he noticed the herd seemed smaller then he had last saw them.
"Wait." he said.
He pointed his index feather and counted the number of her members. Zazu had seen the herd on many of his morning inspections. The herd consisted of sixteen members. But he counted only seven, including one calf.
"Where are the others?"
The elephant calf let go of his mothers tail as he turned and looked back the way they came. He gave a small triumphant as he raised his trunk into the air. Zazu peered down at the calf. As he lowered his trunk, Zazu noticed the sullen and grief in his eyes as he looked to the horizon.
The mother looked back to her calf and trumpeted to him. The calf turned back and followed after her and the herd. Zazu watched as the herd made their way into the fields. He turned to the far east which they had ventured from. Something wasn't right. The herd never migrated this way before. An where were the others?
Whatever the reason, he thought it be best to inspect the eastern grasslands. There must be a reason they had ventured from their territory and he may find the answers there.
Zazu flew ahead toward the East. Unknown to him of the horrors he would come to find.
Taka was slinking under the long grass. Reveling in his plan claim his place as successor to the throne. Kovu has been with the man-cub for these passed few days and it seemed the two were growing as close as brothers. A repulsing as it was to say the least. Though Taka could care less. All that matter was that he had gained the boys trust.
Now all that was needed was the right opportunity to be rid of the man-cub.
As he wandered through the long grass. Taka suddenly caught the whiff of a scent. He then paused. He leaned down his head as he sniffed below the long grass. It was a potent scent, one which was unfamiliar to Taka. He followed the scent through the tall grass before coming across something embedded in a patch of dirt. Taka once more paused as he narrowed his head. It It looked like a foot print. But it didn't look like any that he had seen before.
It had two oval shapes with a wavy lined pattern in each one and had two curves in between them.
Taka looked up and saw another just a step from the previous. Taka was no tracker. But it seemed to be heading on further through the grass, whatever it was. Taka was about to follow when he suddenly heard a familiar voice from above.
"Taka!"
Right then, Zazu flew down and came in front of him.
"Oh, thank goodness." he said.
"What do you want, Zazu?" he asked.
"You haven't seen anything suspicious around here, have you?" Zazu asked.
Taka eyebrow plucked up.
"Suspicious?" Taka asked, curiously.
"Now why would that be?"
Taka turned and continued walking through the long grass. Zazu glared as he flew after him.
"Taka, this is serious." Zazu insisted.
"The elephants Have migrated into the west plains. They never stray far from here."
"Oh, Zazu." Taka said.
"Must you be so dramatic?"
"Now see here." Zazu said.
"As the King's Majordomo, my duty is to ensure order in the pridelands."
Taka rolled his eyes. He looked ahead, peering into the clearing passed the long grass at the end of the path. Suddenly, he stopped. Zazu flew up beside the the King's brother as he turned to face him. As he was about to speak further on the matter, he noticed the expression of shock over Taka's face. Taka looked horrified. Zazu squinted his eyes, were few things that could bring Taka to such of state of fear.
Zazu turned and peered ahead into the clearing. His eyes then widened as a sense of shock came over the majordomo. His beak hung open. Laying in clearing, he saw an elephant. But not just one, but several.
"Oh my..." Zazu said.
Zazu flew ahead into the clearing. He glanced to each of the elephants lying dead in the open veld. He then turned forward and the gasped. He flew up and hovered over the lifeless body of one of the elephants. He widened his eyes, realizing who it was.
"Kubwa!" he said.
Zazu squinted his eyes, curiously. There were very few predators in the Pridelands that hunted Elephants. Though as he looked over Kubwa body, it seemed untouched. There wasn't a single claw mark. Zazu turned and faced Kubwa. Suddenly his eyes gaped wide in shock. Peering below the Kubwa's lifeless eyes, he saw white stumps below his trunk. His tusks were gone.
Taka came up from behind. He glanced down at the two stumps beside Kubwa's trunk.
"Why would anyone hunt an elephant just for it's tusks?" He asked.
"There's hardly any meat."
Zazu looked back to the other elephants.
"It's not just Kubwa." Zazu stated.
Zazu flew up to several of the elephants. He looked down and saw their tusks were gone as well.
"Who would do something like this?!" he said.
" I must tell Mufassa!"
Zazu flew overhead. Taka turned and saw the Majordomo take his leave. He then glanced to his right and saw a small trailing leading to and from one of the elephants. Taka walked up and peered down at the tracks. They were the same ones he was following from the long grass. But it wasn't just one set but several others.
Taka scanned the tracks. He looked back to his right and saw them lead into the long grass.
Taka was slinking below the long grass, following the tracks from the clearing. He then heard a strange sounds. He paused for a moment as he listened. They didn't sound like any sounds Taka had heard in the Pridelands. And they seemed to be coming from overhead. Taka hunkered below the long grass as he started following the sounds.
Peering through the waving grass, Taka suddenly noticed something moving ahead. He stopped for a moment, taking one step forward. He squinted his eyes. He noting a tall figure standing beside a big dark green object of some find, holding a strange staff in both hands. He then spoke out, gesturing his hand.
"Kuwaleta hapa!"
Taka raised an eyebrow. He had never hear such language before. Though as he continued peering toward the man, he noticed that he bared a striking resemblance to...
Taka widened his eyes as he then realized. It was a man!
Though not exactly like Jay. He had much darker skin and seemed much like how the stories have told. Suddenly he saw a few others walking into sight, carrying something. Taka turned and peered to the object in question. It was a elephant's tusk.
Taka squinted his eyes as he crept closer. Slowly he stood up and raised his head, peering above the long grass. He looked into the clearing ahead and saw several tents and vehicles. He cocked his head to the side and then froze. In the middle of their campsite, he saw a pile of elephant's tusks. The men came up and placed the tusk down with the others.
Taka hunkered down in the tall grass. Pondering over all he had seen, slowly he grin as an idea came to his conniving mind. The opportunity he had been waiting for may have just presented itself.
Mufassa walked down the path. He glanced to the lionesses napping over the ledge after a night of hunting. He then looked forward and saw Sarabi and Sarafina laying over the ledge below. Jay and Nala were playing between the two lionesses. Nala chased Jay around and pounced on the two were rolling over one another as they tackled each other.
Mufassa walked up over the ledge. Nala pinned Jay to the ground before the alpha.
"Pinned ya!" Nala laughed.
The two then glanced up to Mufassa as he stood over the two cubs. Nala stepped off of Jay as he rolled onto his stomach.
"Hey, Mufassa." The boy said.
It was saddening to hear Jay say his name. Though Mufassa didn't let it stamper his happiness of seeing his son.
"Me and Nala were just practicing hunting."
"Oh, really?" Mufassa asked.
"Yeah." The boy insisted.
Mufassa raised an eye brow. He narrowed his head and leaned in to Jay.
"Well, how about an old pro show you how it's done?"
Jay and Nala glanced to one another.
"Sure!" Jay exclaimed.
"Alright." Nala said.
The two cubs turned and looked back at Sarabi and Sarafina.
"Mom, can we go?" Jay asked, curiously.
Sarabi glanced up at her mate and then back to the two cubs.
"Well, I guess it's alright with me." she said.
"As long as you stay close to Mufassa."
"You got it, mom." Jay said.
"Alright." Nala said.
"Come, you two." Mufassa said, turning to the path behind him.
"There are a few things I need to show you."
Jay and Nala were crawling stealthy beside Mufassa through the long grass. He then stopped, peering ahead at a antelope grazing. He glanced to the two cubs.
"Move quietly." he whispered
"Do not make a sound."
Jay glanced ahead at the antelope. Slowly, he and Nala started slinking through the grass. Suddenly he felt Mufassa's paw over his back, pressing him lower the ground. The two cubs turned to the alpha.
"Keep low beneath the grass." Mufassa advised.
Jay did as he was told and lowered himself down further to the ground. Mufassa then looked ahead at the lone antelope. It looked up and cocked it's head. Seeing there was no danger, it bowed and continued to graze. He then turned back to Jay and Nala.
"Alright, Jay, you lead."
Jay nodded his head. He glanced to Nala, grinning with anticipation. She glanced back at him the same way. The two cubs began sneaking through the grass, toward the unsuspecting antelope. They came a few feet from the horned grazer before they paused. Jay hunkered down, placing his hand in front of him. The two cubs then pounced at the antelope...
"Stop!"
Jay and Nala fell to the ground. The antelope turned and then scurried away. Jay looked up and saw it disappeared into the long grass.
"Hey, get back here!" Jay said.
The two cubs quickly got up and were about to follow the antelope.
"Jay, Nala, stop!." Mufassa called to them.
The two cubs stopped and looked back at Mufassa.
"But it's getting away." Jay said.
The alpha came up behind the two cubs.
"This isn't a hunt, you two." He said.
"This is only practice for the day you will be taking part in your first hunt."
Mufassa turned to Jay.
"Something you must learn when hunting is that there will be times that you will miss your kill. But sometimes it's best to let go."
"But I though being a good hunter means always catching your prey?" Jay said.
"A good hunter knows when it's best to let go." Mufassa stated.
"As does a good King. You must only pursue something for a time. But remember that there are times when you must let go before you become consumed and lose sight."
Jay narrowed his head, pondering Mufassa's words.
"While others look to what they can take, a good king looks to what he can give."
Jay turned and and looked ahead in the direction of the antelope. He hadn't thought about it that way.
"Now..." Mufassa said.
"This time lets..."
"Sire!"
Mufassa turned and saw Zazu flying from overhead.
"Sire, you must come quick!" Zazu said as he came before the alpha.
"Zazu, what is it?" Mufassa asked, facing his trusted adviser.
"The Elephants in the East!" he said, urgently.
"Somethings happened!"
Mufassa squinted his eyes, curiously. He looked back to Jay and Nala.
"Jay, Nala, go back with Sarabi and the lionesses."
"But..."
Before Jay could say anything, Mufassa followed Zazu into the long grass. Jay groaned. Nala came up beside him.
"Come on, Jay." she said.
"Lets go find Kovu."
Jay turned and followed Nala back to the cliffs.
Taka's layer was not a place neither of the cubs ever went near in the past. As they scurried around the corner, the two came face with the gaping mouth of the cave with the scattered remains of Taka and Zira's catch of the day. Jay stepped over several of the dry bones stripped of every ounce of flesh. He then gazed into the black abyss and felt his body tense. His heart throbbing repeatedly in his breast.
He looked back at Nala behind him. She stood back, her ears flat at each side of her head. Jay looked back at the cave.
"Kovu?" He said.
There was only silence to follow. Jay could hardly see a thing, the inside of the cave was so dark. He looked back again at Nala. She only shrugged. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a rock rolling across the stone floor. They turned back and looked inside. In the bit of light that beamed inside, he noticed something moving toward them.
"Kovu?" Jay asked.
The figure stood looming in the darkness. Suddenly there came a growling voice.
"Why... if it isn't my favorite Nephew."
That voice. It was one which he had heard before.
Stepping into the light, it was revealed that it was Taka. He peered down at Jay with his sharp green eyes. The boy stood nervously in the presence of his uncle. He never was around him so much in the past. And the few times he was, he found his uncle to be quiet daunting.
"Uh... hi... Taka." Jay said.
"No need to be so formal, young nephew." Taka insisted.
Taka slinked passed the boy as he looked to Nala.
"Ah, Nala." he said.
"It's been a while."
Nala turned to face Taka as she backed up behind Jay.
"What brings you here?" Taka asked.
"We were just looking for Kovu." Jay said.
Taka grinned.
"Oh, yes, of course." He said
"What a coincidence, he was just looking for you two. Wait here, I'll get him for you."
Taka turned back and walked back into the cave entrance. Jay glanced curiously back to Nala, raising an eyebrow. Taka had never acted that way around him before. He was always quiet scorn to the wild boy.
As he looked back at the cave, he saw Taka walking back from inside the cave along with Kovu.
"Hey, Kovu." Jay said.
"Hey, Jay," He said.
"Hey, Nala. where...uh... where were you guys?"
"We were looking for you." Jay said.
"Do you wanna come play?"
Taka turned to the two cubs.
"Of course he does." Taka insisted.
"In fact, he has someplace he wants to show you."
Kovu peered up at his father, only to be met with a glance from his sharp green eyes. He grinned to the cub, tilting his head.
"Uh, yeah." Kovu said, turning to his friends.
"There's this cool place I found near the river in the Eastern Plains."
"The Eastern plains?" Nala asked, curiously.
"Whats so cool about the Eastern plains?"
Kovu came up to the two friends.
"Come on, I'll show you." Kovu said.
Kovu scurried passed Jay and Nala as he came along the path. He looked back at two friends as they followed after him. Taka watched as the three cubs disappeared around the corner. He grinned convincingly.
"See now, my mate?" he said, glancing back to Zira who stood in between the mouth of their den.
"Everything is going as I had planned."
(I would first like to say that I'm sorry for this story taking so long. I promise I will try and do better with updating. Another thing is that I have a question for all of you. I have a lot planned for future chapters, but being that this story has been so long, would you guys like if I split them up into two stories. Or do you want it to be one full story? Please let me know and as always, feel free to comment and review.)