The cheetah feasted hungrily on the gazelle she just hunted. It's been days since the last time she had eaten something beyond what the vultures left behind.

After taking a moment to actually enjoy the meal, the feline was about to continue feeding as much as she could, until hearing it.

Hyena cackles. Those ill omened laughs that followed after every kill that was made. Ever since Ahadi and Uru went missing, those pesky dogs would occasionally enter the kingdom and steal whatever they could. And little kits were no exception...

"Oh no.", she gasped, remembering something. "My cubs. My cubs!", the cheetah mouthed, sprinting off at lightning speed.

The cackling continued just to then give it's place to a amused chuckle and then uncontrollable laughter. It was a reddish young lion, with bright lime eyes and growing black mane.

"I can't believe that cheetah fell for it!", he talked to himself, not really caring if the cheetah was genuinely concerned for the appearance of hyenas and the well-being of her cubs.

All the lion cared about was having a meal for himself.

Taka spent all the more time away from Pride Rock, away from his family, or what was left of it anyways. He scavenged or rather conned other predators to leave their food behind for him. He had many ways of doing that, like playing the haux with the hyenas or pretending to be hurt.

This way, he made sure that he was avoiding the rock he called home. For many nights, the place Taka called home was a big, old tree. Despite being long ago withered, it was still sturdy enough to hold him and spend his time there.

Carrying the gazelle and bringing it up his tree as swiftly as a leopard would, he sat on a branch and watched over the savannah. For him, all of the Pridelands, other than Pride Rock, was his home. There was so much out here... Why to stick to one rock?

"Taka?"

He turned hearing the voice of his friend. It was a young hyena, Kamari. He had just struggled to climb the tree, and was soon followed by two others, Shenzi and Azizi. They looked pretty concerned.

"Guys? What is going on? What are you doing here?"

The female hyena cleared her throat. "It's the mitriarch. She wants to speak to the Pridelands' alternative ruler and your brother again."

Taka takes a expression of worry. "What? It's not something serious, is it?"

"We don't know.", Azizi replied. "We have to see for ourselves", he said.

Stargazing Writer presents...

The four predators' attention fell on some hyenas march through the Pridelands. Taka had never seen that many come at once before. That many of them, never meant something good.

A Lion King fanfiction

Without saying a word, the black-maned teen jumped down the trunk of the tree and raced accross the golden grass. His hyena companions went after Taka and made their way to Pride Rock.

The Lion Guard's LegacyBook 1: A new beginning

The red furred lion arrived as fast as he could, panting hard while Shenzi, Azizi and Kamari had barely even sweat a thing.

Taka headed in the den carefully. A lioness who he recognised as Balozi was talking out with the hyena mitriarch. They didn't seem to get on well.

"... answer is still no."

"We believe we deserve some hunting room in the kingdom."

"Listen, I might be substitute leader until Prince Mufasa comes of age, but that doesn't mean I can change the law King Mohatu set. No hyenas in the Pridelands."

Taka soon breathed, now more calm and aware of the situation.

"What is it?", Azizi asked. "They wouldn't tell us a thing!"

"No need to worry guys. It's territorial issues again."

"Oh."

"Yes. It's seems that your mother wants some hunting ground in the kingdom."

Shenzi was about to speak something, but quickly closed her mouth, deciding it's a bad idea.

"What is it?", Taka asked.

"Nothing."

"Come on, Shenzi, I know you, just say it."

"It's a bad idea Taka..."

"Oh, you know I love bad ideas. Spill, spill!"

The female sighed. "I was thinking... Maybe... You're short of a chain between the Pridelanders, being a prince and all, and the hyena clan, being friends of the mitriarchs children, us."

"Yes?"

"Well... If you convinced your brother for him to take the decision to let us in the Pridelands."

Taka smiled. "That's not a good idea, Shenzi... It's a very good idea."

"Oof, you nearly got me there!", she exhaled.

"There he comes!", Kamari said, eyeing the future king walk towards them. It was a orangish golden lion with a nearly grown mane. He had a pretty wide face for such a young lion. He seemed worried.

"Taka, here you are! I was afraid you wouldn't come. Bro, I need your help in there, the hyenas are wearing us out with their requests.", Mufasa said, exasperated.

He then laid eyes on the hyenas. "Speaking of which... You still hanging out with those... dogs?"

This comment earned some confused and insulted whines.

"I think we talked about hanging out with hyenas."

"Pfft. You first ask for my help in the negotiations, and then insult my friends?"

Mufasa let out a choked out chuckle. "Friends? Those sorry hides of hyenas?"

"There, you see? You insult my friends, and ask me for help? That's not the way it works brother. No thanks."

"I'm just speaking the truth."

"Tsk. Truth. Yeah."

"I don't like your attitude lately, Taka."

"Neither do I. Ever since you got into all these loyalties, I don't even recognise you anymore."

"Maybe if you get into the royalties too, you will find me again."

"Ha! And then you wonder why do I keep away from Pride Rock. See you later brother.", Taka said, turning his back to his brother.

"Taka, wait! Please, I need you!"

"You need me? Where were you when I needed you?", he replied looking back. "Where were Mom and Dad when we needed them...?", the younger male added in a hushed tone.

Mufasa looked on sadly as his little brother walked away. What had he done wrong?

Taka was silent on the return to his place, frowning upon his encounter with Mufasa.

Deep down, he missed him terribly and just wanted to ask him if they could just be the carefree cubs they were 4 years ago, when Ahadi and Uru where still around... But he was afraid to. What if Mufasa just laughed it off and considered him weak?

"Taka? You there?", Azizi asked.

The red lion shook the thoughts out of his head and tried to smile at his companions. "I'm here alright."

"That's good to know. Cause yeah..."

"Cause what?"

"Once this is your kingdom... We are not allowed to hunt here, not yet at least, could you help us with this little bit?", Azizi explained the situation.

Taka grinned, an idea coming to his mind. "Hm... How about hunting somewhere outside the Pridelands? We could do it together without restrictions."

"Yes!", the three hyenas said in unison and the four ran towards the borders of the kingdom.

"The Outlands must do.", the prince mused laying eyes on the grassy landscape.

"I guess. Hey, buffaloes ahead!", Shenzi announced.

"If we do this correctly, we can catch one. Kamari, can you spot a good one?"

The scrawny hyena raised a paw and made a greeting. "Yes, sir."

"Just go already... And good one, Kam."

Kamari cackled and then disappeared in the grass.

"So, when Kamari finds a target, you scare the rest of the herd away while I make the kill."

"Can you do it on your own?", Azizi asked.

"I'm not sure."

"We could come back after we take the herd far enough."

Taka smiles. "That would be perfect.", he said and the male hyena beamed with pride.

"Boss, injured young female, strained hoof.", Kamari reappeared from the grasses, giving Shenzi a scare.

"Good job, Kam.", the lion said patting his head. "Let's go."

The three hyenas were about to charge at the buffaloes, but two lions, a bulky grayish one and a dark brown female one ran after them instead. Then a adult male with brown fur and a dark red mane went after the buffalo Taka and his friends had targetted.

He made the kill fairly easily, and the two other lions came quickly by the site.

"Hey, those rogues just stole our lunch!", Azizi barked.

"After them!", Shenzi ordered in response.

Shenzi, Azizi and Kamari charged at the lions, and attempted to fight them. The dark red maned one and the female got in alert immediately, taking fight stances. The bulky male got them first though, who towered over the intruders and growled in their faces.

The hyenas cackled nervously, and backed away. They wouldn't attempt another attack.

The rogues were about to turn to get their hunt, just to see that it wasn't there anymore. They quickly spotted the young male lion who was now carrying it away.

"Thanks for doing all the hard job for me!", the teen called to them.

The grayish lion looked down at his leader. "Uhm... Chief?"

"After him!"

A teen lion carrying a buffalo on his own wouldn't be able to go far.

The female ran elsewhere while the two males ran after the thief.

Taka might seem scrawny for a lion, but he definitely was stronger than he looked. A female buffalo wasn't much of a struggle for him.

But with those strangers hunting him down, he was under pressure.

"Who are those lions?", Taka asked to himself, briefly looking back. When focusing in front of him, he saw the lioness stand in front him. He gasped at first surprised.

"Brave move, kid. But if the big guy catches you in his paws, you're done for.", she warned him, while getting one leg of the body.

Taka quickly diverted out of the way, and kept going. "Nice try. But you won't get me."

"Good luck!", she said and ran away with her claim of the pray, as her own two comrades ran past her.

The leader couldn't help but ask. "Who's that cub?"

The three lions raced through a forest, the small residents silently cursing on the wake of the chaos the lions brought.

When out in the open, the chase anything but stopped.

Taka was getting tired, but he kept running with the buffalo on top his back. It was as big as himself, as a result straining the black maned lion too much. He was going to keep his hunt no matter what.

And then he wondered, why do they even hunt him down, when they could just could make another hunt? That didn't make sense.

At some point, a slowed down Taka got stopped by the leading lion.

The prince panted and flicked his tail in annoyance. "Who are you?"

"I'm the one who took down that bufallo you're carrying."

"Look, I saw it first, and took it fair and square."

"Well, it seems that it isn't your lucky day."

Taka's frown turned into a grin, hearing hyena barks and herd noises right behind the rogue lion.

"Yes, but the day just started.", the teen lion said as he ran elsewhere.

The chief was about to run after him, as he muttered a 'Just great', when he took notice of the stampede behind him. The dark coloured lion yelped as he ducked out of the way, and waiting until it was done.

After the dust cleared, the adult saw the stubborn young lion stand in the distance, a mocking expression on his features.

"Have a nice one!", Taka exclaimed as he ran away again.

The lion still lying down, shook his head in amusement and went away.

Another failed hunt.

Who was that cub though? One thing was sure. He would be seeing him again, soon.

After the chase, Taka celebrated with Shenzi, Azizi and Kamari on his tree, feasting on the buffalo. They all deserved it after such an effort to claim it from the rogues.

They talked and laughed, discussing about the previous incident. It took them a while to let go when the hyena clan had to return to the Graveyard. They knew that they would see each other again very soon though, and eased up on their goodbye.

It was another noon, all alone once again. On the whole, Taka was very solitary, as he had no other friends other than the hyenas. Maybe he could talk to-

No. No way. This brother of his, had been more of a royal, rather than family to him. His Muffy was now Prince Mufasa.

During thoughts like this, it's when Taka missed his parents most. They had gone to a summit of all known kingdoms to discuss potential alliances. But that was the last they've heard of them.

They were presumed dead by various animals, and Taka had come to believe it as well. He just distanced himself from the pride and ended up being nearly independent, denying any help from the Pridelanders.

Deep down though, he just knew that Ahadi and Uru are still alive, out there, somewhere. He didn't have the proof for it. He just had this feeling.

Something different emerged in Taka's mind. Why didn't he just leave? Find some place elsewhere to live and start a new life, and when time came... A new pride... Noone needed him here. He would always be a prince who had no place in this kingdom.

He sighed and looked over where Pride Rock was. They will be better off without me, Taka thought. One less mouth to feed.

The prince knew how to take care of himself, he trained to be able to hold his own, with the absence of his parents.

Taka climbed down the tree, and headed for the Outlands again. He breathed in deeply and stared at the horizon. It was his time.

Trekking in the Outlands, he detected a familiar scent in the air. Was it...

Oh no. Not them again!

Taka ran, now aware of the rogue lions' presence. They would want revenge for the incident earlier. If those guys got him, they would have his hide, that was certain!

He looked behind him constantly, afraid that they would attack him from behind. Looking in front of him though proves more useful...

The black maned lion bumped into something big, but yet soft mass of grayish fur. This mass was a lion. Rather, the lion from earlier.

He turned around to face Taka. "Wait a minute... You're the little duni from earlier..."

Taka grinned nervously, the stranger growling right his face. Quickly, he made a run for it, to get away from the rogue.

"Oh, you won't go anywhere!", the bulky male snarled and lunged for the youngster. He pinned him down with ease, and of course Taka was no match for him. He got him by the scruff and dragged him away.

Eventually, they ended up in a rocky structure like termite mounts. From it exited the dark brown lioness and a ocelot.

"Kuzidi, where were you?"

"I found the troublemaker from earlier.", he said motioning his head to the teen.

"Get... Of me... I can't breathe.", Taka choked out breathlessly.

"I'm just stocky, not heavy", Kuzidi said, reluctantly easing up his grip on him.

"Ugh, it's not the weight. It's the smell."

At those words, Kuzidi growled in anger.

"You don't like the air quality in here? We will get you to your own cave.", he said, and quickly grabbed Taka by the scruff again, forcing him to drag on his back on the floor.

"Hey, let go!"

Throwing the younger lion in a tight cave, he blocked off the entrance. Growling, Taka looked around, adjusting to the sudden dark. There was an opportunity to escape. A small tunnel, slightly blocked by rocks. If he moved them, he would be able to at least get out of the cave.

Digging through the boulders, Taka dived in and moved forward. Out of the tunnel he could hear the voices of the rogues.

"Where's the kid?", the voice of the leader spoke.

"Don't worry chief, I have him right here... Uhh, had him here.", said in response, realising the captive's absense.

"He's still in the caves alright.", the brown lioness said.

A unfamiliar female voice followed.

"Very smart. Reminds of someone I used to know..."

Taka then realised that the rogues already knew that he had escaped. They must know the place better, so they must know where the tunnel ends and they must be heading over there right now.

Luckily, the tunnel splitted into two, so he could go elsewhere. Taka followed the one.

And it leaded outside! Perfect!

Taka landed on the ground and sprinted as fast as he could. Just to be met with more rogues. They seemed way more threatening, and they immediately growl in sight of the little lion.

He gasped as he scrambled on his paws and tried to escape. Right now those lions' lair seemed more welcoming. He jumped in another tunnel. He had no idea where it leaded, but at least that would do to avoid the hostile rogues.

Taka crawled through, the noises from the angry mob now disappearing. To the prince's dismay though, it ended rather quickly, leading to the edge of a ravine. On the other side was the leader of the lions he encountered before.

Between the hostiles and him, the latter option was preferable.

Taka prepared to leap. It was far, but plausible for someone agile enough to jump it.

The darker coloured lion shouted at Taka. "Just run around the ravine, you won't make it!"

To his surprise though he made it. Taka had jumped, gripping on the rock of the opposite side.

"Woah", he muttered and then recomposing himself to help the young lion up the ravine.

Taka sat on his own, looking down in shame. He was being held in another cave, not the tight one from before, and thought about everything that had happened earlier. He didn't attempt to escape though. One way or another, he would end up in their paws again.

What would they even do with him?

The prince heard them talk from the common cave.

"Can't we just get rid of him?", was heard.

"No, the kid already knows too much."

Knows too much about what? Taka hadn't understood a single thing of what the rogues talked about.

"As I said. Can't we just get rid of him?"

"I'm saying maybe. Just maybe we could just get him in the Guard. Someone with his skills could prove useful."

Guard? What guard?

"Are you kidding me!? I don't think that he's the most fitting lion to fight and guard the borders of the kingdom."

"He escaped Kuzidi while he was being guarded and then jumped over a ravine."

"I was there to save him! He's dangerous, irresponsible and..."

"You're thinking of it too much."

Taka didn't bother to focus on the rest of the conversation. He laid his head on his paws and waited.

After some hour, a lioness entered. Taka's head perked up.

She had emerald green eyes and yellowish fur. She looked at the red-furred lion.

"Come on.", she said with a soft voice.

"Where are we going?"

"To take you home. Pridelands, right?"

"Yes. The Pridelands."

"We're so busy in the borders that we haven't even heard from the royalty for a long time. How is it going?"

"Not very good."

"Oh. I had heard that the king and queen had cubs, four years ago. Mufasa and Taka, if I remember correctly?"

"Yes.", Taka said plainly.

"I didn't quite pick up your name. Mine's Kamanda."

The male sighed. "My name is Taka."

"Taka? Like... Prince Taka?"

"That one."

"We had no idea! Our apologies if we were too harsh with you earlier."

Taka shook his head, knowing that whatever she said was just empty words. He didn't even notice the genuine tone in her voice.

"It's ok. Been through worse."

Kamanda stayed silent at that, not knowing how to respond.

"We better take you back to Pride Rock then. The king and queen must he worried sick.", she smiled.

Taka's face dropped at the mention of his parents. He knew that probably had no idea what had happened in the Pridelands, not being in touch with them for long, so he thought that he had to tell her.

"I don't have parents."

The prince felt a look of pity fall on him, at the sound of those four words. Kamanda didn't say something and they just walked out of the cave.

On the way to the Pridelands, noone spoke a single word.