Chapter 3: Pridelands' Life

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"Nala! Simba! Stop!" His flustered cries fell on deaf ears as the two rushed through the brush, giggling madly as they disrupted the local atmosphere. The majordomo quickly called out desperate apologies while attempting to keep an eye on the two as they surged through, between, and under the group of animals at the watering hole.

It had barely been a minute since he had agreed to supervise them on their prolonged tour and already he could feel patience thinning. Right at this moment the cubs were amusing themselves in what he could only assume was a half-race, half-contest of which could irritate the most animals. He swiftly curved around a rhino's thrusting horn as the beast snorted annoyingly while he nearly stepped on one of the lions' tails as they darted in front of him.

"Isn't this great Nala?" Simba leaped up and came down with a slide across the mud towards the water, effectively splattering it across the faces of some gazelle. She also missed the glares they sent them while he copied the move, only accomplishing a larger splash onto some of the preening flamingos nearby. She laughed whilst she avoided their pecking beaks and stunned squeaks.

"Didn't realize the watering hole could be this much fun!"

"Cubs! Please," came the begging plea from above, followed by an apology to both groups. "You promised to behave!"

The two merely surged forward again, taking no heed to where they were going as they called up to him. "No we didn't!"

"Look out!"

The change in tone from irritated and worried to sharp fear jolted the two back to reality from their fun-loving excitement. All at once, they dug their heels into the wet earth and struggled to put distance between themselves and the glistening-toothed, rugged-scaled reptiles now noticed and grinning widely at them within short distance.

Their voices became clear as shrieks of alarm as their paws found no traction against the watery mud and inertia pushed them towards an unsavory event. At their screams, the crocodiles looked up from their space where they had been sunbathing and opened their maws at the encroaching furry morsels.

Their jaws clamped down at nothing but air and any protest that would've came out were silenced by a stink eye and a loud rumble. The leader of the bask gave a snort at the elephant currently lifting up the would-be, potential appetizers up in her trunk before signalling to enter into the water and away from the action, swiftly followed by the rest.

"Scaly cowards, but you should know better than to cause chaos around them," the elephant scolded as she lowered the two cubs down. With a touch of mischief, she flicked her trunk so that the two lost their grip and landed face and belly-first into the mud they had no issue before splattering onto the other animals. While they both spat and spluttered, a chuckle rose from the bystanders.

Her trunk lowered again to help brush some of the wet soil out from their faces, yet the stern tone continued. "You should learn the etiquette for the watering hole before you decide to cause unrest and unwanted drama here. The crocodiles may tolerate your presence, but their patience only goes so far as their want for space."

"Puh," Simba stated, spitting out some dirt. "They won't hurt us. I'm the future king and she's the future hunting party leader. They won't touch us without risking my dad getting angry." His moment of pride was then cut off as water gushed out and soaked his body. Nala began to giggle, but quickly succumbed to the spray as well, this time from a calf standing beside her.

"Don't think just because your royalty that you'll get the same treatment as your father. He earned his position and our respect and you'll need to do the same too, especially if you don't want a repeat of this event." The cross tone finally put his arrogance, but not his irritation, to sleep, though he did try to shake off as much of the extra water onto her leg. Her response was a hot exhale of breath through her trunk towards his face, effectively messing up his head of smoothed fuzz.

At that moment, banana beak made himself known on the rock beside them. "Say thank you to Ma Tembo cubs. You're lucky she was there to help and to give you a bath and lesson afterwards," he ordered, delivering his own nonverbal cue of respect towards the elephant matriarch.

A 'thank you' was spoken and muttered respectively and the elephant nodded. "You are most welcome, although I do hope you will take heed to your elders in the future. We do have quite a bit to offer." With that she turned to leave with her herd, her little calf giving an enthusiastic wave with his trunk before trotting after her.

"You'd do well to heed her words. The elephants are well respected and trusted around here. If you ever want to rule some day, you'll need to make alliances, young master," Zazu stated. Simba snorted, brushing the stray hairs on his top down.

"But I thought we lions ruled over everything and didn't take orders from nobody," he muttered. He then yelped as Zazu's wing came down firmly into his shoulder, followed by a grave expression.

"It's hardly like that young prince. You may be in charge, but your rule will mean nothing if you don't show respect towards the creatures who live here." The hornbill's head turned over the lion's shoulder and Simba followed his eyes, wincing at the glares from both the mud-clad antelope and flamingos.

"Let's head back. Tread lightly, wouldn't want another near-death experience."

They solemnly nodded and walked after him, heads hanging low to avoid anymore unwanted attention.

"Ack, mom! Quit it!"

A pale tan cub writhed in his mom's hold, swatting his legs up towards his face as she relentlessly washed his body. His sister, a slightly darker color than him, regarded him with annoyance in her olive eyes.

"It's your fault you know. If you hadn't insisted on sleeping in, we would be out there instead of here," she muttered. Her brother scoffed and twisted around.

"Well maybe if you hadn't kept me awake at night with your snoring, I wouldn't have been so tired in the first place," he replied, his light blue eyes glaring at her. His mother licked back his two-striped forehead, causing him to squeal.

"And maybe if you two would stop bickering, you wouldn't be here having to take a bath instead of seeing the Pridelands with the king and the others," she stated. It was barely late morning and her voice reflected how tired she was.

"Don't be too hard on them Naanda. Surely you can recall your first trip out into the Pridelands and how miserable it was," Sarafina noted, chortling at her sister's irritation.

"Still remember having to drag you out of the den just so you could see the sunrise," Sarabi added.

A smirk crossed her face, mischief sparkling in her scowling eyes. "And I recall you trying to hard to impress the then young prince that you tumbled head-first into a thorn bus just to impress him, 'Rabi."

Warm scarlet eyes bore into olive green, their intensity only magnified by their proximity as the two squared off in their positions. Humor swiftly broke through and the group fell into chuckles, the tension diffusing into mirth.

At this point the sound of quick footsteps approaching was picked up and the pair of siblings grew excited as their older playmates came into the circle. Simba openly groaned as they rushed towards them while Nala looked ready to bolt out of the situation.

"Mheoto. Nadra," she sighed, her resolve fading as her younger cousin charged forward and glomped her foreleg while Simba was attempting to pry the brother off.

"Hello dears, did you have a good morning with Mufasa?" Naanda flashed a warm smile towards the pair while they wormed out of her children's grip.

"Yes auntie Nan'" Nala chirped back. "It was going well until the hyenas showed up and dad had to chase them away," Simba added, dragging his feet and Mheoto towards his mom. Sarabi cooed softly at him, then took the burden off his feet. Mheoto squealed in discomfort, though soon found himself engrossed in what the prince had to say.

"Did you at least enjoy the time spent with him? See anything interesting?"

A thoughtful look crossed his face. "Well yeah. We got to see the Pridelands at sunrise, that was pretty neat. Dad also took us around to see some of the herds, we got to see the watering hole with Zazu..."

"That's so cool. I wish I could'e seen it," Mheoto stated excitedly, before giving his sister a death glare. "If only someone had woken me up then."

"Not my fault furball," Nadra called back, before sticking her tongue out, only to withdraw it seconds later with a run behind her mother's back with him in pursuit. Simba watched their antics for a few second before they quickly bored him.

"Hey mom, while I was at the watering hole, we ran into the elephant herd."

"Did you now? Well I trust they treated you kindly, they are one of our most strongest allies." His squirming caught her eyes and she dipped her head near to him. "Simba, what's wrong?"

He fidgeted a second longer. "Mom, will I rule over the Pridelands one day?"

"Yes."

"And that includes everyone who lives here?"

"Yes."

"...and I'll have to be respectful to everyone who lives here?"

"Simba." She cupped her son's cheek and gently guided his gaze to hers. "It is my hope that you will follow in the footsteps of your father and one day rule as wise and fairly as he does. Being king means you will have to take responsibility for things and learn how to gain and give respect, but know this. You are still young, you have your entire life in front of you, and learning how to be king takes time." She let her paw drop. "It may not be all fun and games, but you'll gain a deep understanding and appreciation for it when you grow older."

"Well, isn't that the understatement of the decade."

Almost immediately the cheery atmosphere dropped and it put everyone on edge. Sarafina wrapped her forelegs around and covered her neck over Nala's while Mheoto and Nadra were swooped up and pressed close to Naanda's chest. Simba unconsciously shrank back beside his mother while Sarabi sternly stared at the figure above them. Draped casually over some stones, his one good eye and one blind one swept over the group and chilling all those who looked at him.

"Scar, I did not expect you to be out and about today," Sarabi said slowly. His face seemed to soften as he looked at her, then hardened again as his sight fell upon her son.

"Oh I'm merely enjoying the cool weather out, same as you. I did notice the temperature seems just perfect for a walk." His voice flowed like soft velvet, sending cold shivers down their spines. "Care to join me?"

Sternly, she shook her head. "I think not, especially after the limits my husband has set upon you." His lips started to peel up at the emphasis of 'husband', but he quickly regained his composure.

"A pity, but I will respect your decision." His paws found purchase on the rocks and he casually stretched up before her. "Still, I doubt my invitation to walk with the queen hardly violates any rules my brother has placed." His eyes turned over towards the rest of the group. "Wouldn't you agree ladies?"

Her cubs tumbled forward from her arms, Naanda rose up with a fiery spark in her eyes. "You know very well the terms of your stay here, Scar. In my opinion Mufasa is being too lenient with letting you stay here after what you did. You-"

His paw flicked disinterested at her. "Oh who cares about your opinion. A single mother of two, fatherless cubs?" He leaned forward and sneered at her. "I think you would do best to keep you head down and muzzle shut."

"Scar!"

At that Naanda charged forward, body fully tensed and prepared to do some damage. However, blinded by her fury and rushing uphill to smite him, Scar saw the upper advantage and did a quickly surge forward and thrust his paws at her throat, sending her tumbling back. Her cubs screamed and rushed to her side as she tumbled back down towards them, wheezing loudly. Sarafina then rose up and stood over her sister's body, snarling furiously at him.

"You should know better then to stir up strife here," she hissed. His hackles rose and his fangs made themselves known in a sickly smile.

"And you should know better then to go sticking your nose where its not wanted," he countered.

A roar broke the air and sent him stumbling backwards, but not from the peach-colored lioness. Instead the medium-brown, crimson-eyed, standing proudly queen had slipped around him and swatted at his form. Though no blood was shed and he had just fallen onto his rear, he stared at her as if she had just torn his side to ribbons.

Her voice was like rumbling thunder, her fury like a storm ready to strike. "You are not welcome here Scar. You never will be again. Leave now or deal with the consequences my king will deal on you."

Wordlessly, he nodded and rush away, quickly retreating back into the caves surrounding Pride Rock. His slender form slinked through the boulders like a fang-less cobra before vanishing entirely.

"Are you alright Naanda?" She had turned and her tone had immediately softened seeing her stumbled on to her feet, both her cubs and Sarafina attempting to nudge her back up.

"I'm fine. He just," she coughed, then nuzzled her cubs comfortingly. "He just really knows how to upset me."

"Mm, I suspect he wants to sow discord among the pride." Her face grew colder. "This is why we need to keep our heads and wits about him." Her words were directed towards her pridesisters, but her eyes were directed towards the children. Some solemnly nodded, others swallowed fearfully.

Simba, however, spoke up. "Mom... why is uncle Scar like that?"

He shrank back as all eyes fell upon him, though in irritation or anger he was unsure. With an exhale his mother's tense form softened and she reached over to brush back his head. "That will be a story for when you are older, Simba. For now, I suggest you should come up with a game that you and your friends will enjoy until your father gets home."

"Hide-and-seek," Mheoto piped up.

"Tag," Nadra called out,

"Let's be hunters and catch Simba the gazelle," Nala suggested, grinning madly at his confused expression.

"Wait what?"

"Yeah," her cousins cheered in unison, before darting towards him. He barely had a second to protest or even turn around when they were already hot on his heels. He began rushing in every direction, hoping to put some distance between him and the three little hunters. Meanwhile their parents eased back into the renewed peaceful atmosphere and resumed conversation.

Elsewhere, the king was panting heavily as he watched the retreating bodies of the hyenas disappear over the border slope with a final roar. As he lapped at his lips, he stared concerned at the border itself. Once a steep cliff, it had deteriorated into a slope, making easier entryway for the hyenas to get into the Pridelands.

Still breathing heavily, he turned and looked back towards the huge expanse of the grasslands before him, catching sight quickly of the herds grazing not far away and how breathtakingly lush and vibrant the land was. As he continued towards it, he spared a glance over his shoulder at the barren, grey Outlands. In the faint recesses of his memory, he recalled it once matching the rest of the landscape, the dead trees once filled with bright, healthy leaves and the earth rich and not cracked as it was now.

The Elephant Graveyard once was a much nicer place. Perhaps a bit sad as the final resting place for the elephant herds and any other aging, weary souls, but it hadn't been this dark and depressing until recent years.

He quickly flicked his head back, blinked rapidly and his breath becoming uneven, now with fatigue, but with fear. Behind his eyes he saw a flash of orange and red flames and could hear anguished screams and howls echoing in his mind. A shudder passed through his powerful, muscular form and he stopped, staring fearfully at the ground beneath his paws. His toes kneaded into the dirt, trying to stir up recognition of the present reality.

He cast another look back at the Elephant Graveyard. There, a grey, shadowy blotch on an otherwise serene and perfect landscape. He could still remember the incident that had caused it and the familiar stab of guilt returned. Perhaps if things had been different, maybe if they had had a bit more time, a bit more help...

His head shook, trying to step back into reality and clear his head. "You can't change the past," he whispered and resumed his walk, a bit more stiff-legged then before, determine on focusing ahead and getting towards-

"Sire!"

Though he would adamantly deny it for as long as he would live, Zazu would insist in return that his majesty, king Mufasa, ruler of the Pridelands and guardian of he Circle of Life, son of generations of royalty from the Pridelands' beginning, had squealed rather high-pitched and immaturely, then stumbled forward and smacked his face and chest into the ground whilst his rear-end remained airborne for all the world to see.

Thankfully, or so Zazu would claim, there was no one to see the king's blunder aside from him. The hornbill did however try to cover up his muffled laughter with his wing and a tightly-clamped beak while Mufasa swiftly straightened himself up and did his best to pretend nothing happened.

"Ahem, Z-Zazu. Perfect timing," he mumbled, desperately hoping the heat of embarrassment wasn't showing on his face. Then again, the bits of grass and dirt probably were.

"A-ha-ha-hem, your majesty," Zazu whispered, his voice going quiet from straining to keep his lighter in. "I-hi-hi just wanted to inform you that all the borders have been secured. The cubs are home safe and the herds have been moved and reassured."

A grateful nod from the majestic feline. "Thank you Zazu. It reassures me that keeping the peace is an easy task." His face fell once more, the feelings of sorrow and inadequacy returning. "Though I wish it would last longer then just up until the next trespassing invaders."

His eyes fell upon his majordomo as he hopped underneath his gaze. "Believe me sire, the fact that you tried to broker peace in the first place was a marvel and trial in itself. Perhaps in a couple years time we can try again, otherwise," his head twisted behind the king's body, "we might as well accept that it's just how of our reach."

"I'd hate to accept that fate so quickly and with little thought," he confessed as Zazu fluttered onto his shoulder. "Even for what they did and what it's meant for everyone involved, no one deserves this fate. Not the young, not the innocent. Surely the Pridelands can't continue onward with a piece missing."

He stared deep onto his companion's eyes, his grave expression looking at the amber, understanding look of his closest friend.

"I cannot give the answers for what the future may hold, but I can say sir that you have a good heart, good intentions, and the means of doing good for the Pridelands and everyone involved. It is an admirable trait to have to be so empathetic and concerned for those who have given you grief in the past, but all I can offer at the moment is more time to consider how to go about things." He paused and offered the best smile his beak could allow. "Time, if I might suggest, spent later. I believe I did see the hunting party returning early from the hunt. Perhaps devising a better strategy after a spot of lunch?"

A warm chuckle brushed through his lips and into Zazu's feathers, sending a familiar shiver of joy through his body and a twinkle of happiness in his eye.

"Thank you my friend. Perhaps some good food and good company will do me some good." He began to walk forward, the amicable feeling returning towards him, when his paw came down upon uneven ground and he nearly lost his footing again.

"Sire," came a gruff voice and the dirt-covered head of a gopher sprung up from the ground. Luckily, the rodent was two engrossed in his duty to notice Zazu stiffing his laughter at a greater rate and Mufasa dancing weirdly around, trying to regain some semblance of dignity and balance. Otherwise he didn't care to mention it.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Word from the shaman Rafiki. He wishes to speak to you immediately at his tree. Over and out." With a swift salute he had banished back into his tunnel, leaving Mufasa looking solemnly at Zazu. Word from the Prideland's spiritual leader? And with such urgency? Truly this situation must be important.

"I suppose lunch can wait till later. Zazu, if you would fly ahead and alert my wife and pride of where I am."

His black and wide feathers ruffled and he nodded respectfully. "Yes, yes, go ahead sire. I'll make sure they get the message. And be sure to save you some leftovers by the time you get back," he added good-naturally.

His response was a snort before his mighty, hold form rushed across the savanna, making long, powerful strides towards the shaman's tree.

So for those not in the know, in 2019 Disney published a "I Just Can't Wait to be King" book, complete with beautifully made pictures accompanying lyrics to the song, plus one scene where Simba and Nala are running around Pride Rock, accompanied by two new cubs. Plus in the 2019 film, two other cubs aside from Nala were seen alongside the lionesses in the pride. So yes, I'd like you to meet Nadra and Mheoto, the children of Naanda, who I've made out to be Sarafina's sister. I based their appearance of how they looked in the book, but with some liberties. Their names I got from Nala's concept name and I did some research for a African name that sounded like Mheetu, Nala's discarded concept brother, and found one in Shona that works. I figured it would be easier to take semi-canon ideas and include them in the story, even if they're perhaps a bit too low-hanging fruit to pick.

Also, if you haven't guessed already, Scar is a bit more shunned and despised in the pride. His crush on the queen is well-known and well-hated, and while he may be able to rile up the lionesses for his own amusement, he's no match for the queen-mother. Also, the Elephant Graveyard once a must nicer place? Hmm, what could've happened and why do the characters keep alluding to an event that the audience has no idea about? To that I say... I'm not sure when I'll be able to get it out, though I do hope you like this more slice-of-life chapter.

Please leave a review and have a wonderful rest of hour day. I will see you again soon. Sincerely, v.t.7