Chapter 7: An Unknown Feeling
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Nala was the first to speak up. "W-well, uh, you see, we were just...," she stammered. "We didn't mean to come here. We just fell in and got ourselves into a bit of trouble."
"Uh huh. Considering the hyenas were escorting you to me and actually behaving civil for once would suggest that it wasn't just 'a bit' as you say." Her tone held all the motherly sternness and a few of them shivered, knowing full well that this was warranted.
The matriarch exhaled, her eyes laying upon the young prince. "You should be grateful that your father has such a level of influence and power, else they would have torn you to shreds."
His ears flicked down and a bit of a glare formed. "I don't think they would have. Their leader seemed to know the problems it would make and was nice enough to have her pack escort us to you." He then spared a look over his shoulder. "I'm just not sure why they chose to attack us when they said they wouldn't."
"Bah!" Her trunk flicked out in annoyance. "A hyena's word is as good as the rotten flesh they dine upon. They have no moral code and only will follow the rules as long as they get something out of it." Another exhale and her voice grew softer. "They know this is our last day of mourning. They must be on their last threads of patience to act so disruptive."
Her softening eyes searched among the group, seeing their tired battered bodies, weary faces, and downcast expressions. "Thank the Great Kings for showing you mercy however. They clearly must be looking out for you for you to come out alive and with minor injuries."
A nod came up from Simba, before he turned up with pleading eyes. "Will you be telling me dad about us?"
The matriarch's face was neutral, the only sign of movement coming from the gentle flap of her ears. "I take it your father has already warned you about the borders and what lies beyond them?"
He winced. She continued, "Yet I find you here, clearly in violation of his warning."
Nadra leaped forward, hissing a bit as she put pressure on her sore legs. "It was my fault ma'am. I fell in and they tried to save me, but ended up falling in as well. T-they tried to lead us out without b-b-being caught, but the h-h-hyenas found us, and-"
She stuttered off into quiet fit of heavy breaths and sniffled as Ma Tembo lifted her trunk to silence her. Mheoto walked over to provide support while Nala softly placed her paw over hers.
Ma Tembo, ever a kind, caring leader and mother, immediately sensed the cub's distressed and her family's call to comfort. A strong gentleness came over her face and her trunk came forward to gently brush the cub's back. Back and forth it went, rubbing softly until Nadra's chest stopped heaving and she could look up, brushing her nose against her shoulder.
She then addressed Simba again. "To answer your question, young cub, I will have to inform your father. Regardless of whose at fault, you are trespassing on the hyena's land. To say they hold contempt for you lions in a understatement, yet despite this they appear to respect your father and the consequences enough to grant you a pardon."
Her warm breath came out her trunk and blew lightly into his face. "Your actions do have consequences however. I do not know why exactly they let you go, however it would be wise to alert your father about this." She paused, letting her trunk fall and playfully cover his face. "Perhaps I can soften the news to him."
"Maybe," he muttered, shaking off her trunk. He turned his face up to her. "Could you maybe not mention about what just happened back there, just-" he darted his eyes behind him.
She was silent for a moment. Her eyes revealed the conflict swirling in her mind. A low rumble preceded her loud sigh. "I... will not speak of it, though your earlier encounter with them needs to be told. Come along now."
For a lumbering giant, the matriarch walked at a pace that worked for the cubs as to not strain anymore of their aching muscles. As they moved, the rest of the herd either spared a quick glance at them or completely ignored them, too busy at the sight before them. Glimpses through their legs revealed a large pile of leaves and other plant matter, all what appeared to be covering over a huge mound of something. A bouquet of flowers was laid upon a sections of the pile. It took a moment of recollection before they remembered the hyenas mentioning that this was their last day of mourning.
They all froze suddenly, everyone simultaneously feeling a stab of guilt at the realization that they and the hyenas had just interrupted what was the elephant's funeral.
Ma Tembo, sensing the change in tone, stopped. It was dead silent in the graveyard until a rarely present breeze swept in from the mainland. Carrying seeds and leaves, they tumbled through the air and among the elephant herd, dancing around each family member before circling above their burial mound.
Her eyes were shut as her head rose. Up above in the darkening, almost twilight sky, the first star appeared and glistened. Her eyes opened and the reflection of the starlight glinted in her shiny eyes.
"Nyota zitaongoza nija yako. May the stars guide your path."
"May the stars guide your path," the rest of the herd murmured in unison.
A shudder passed through the cubs and the swirling breeze then brushed over their shoulders, sending more shivers down their backs. In their heart and hearts, they felt something stirring. An understanding perhaps, an urge to join the ceremony before them.
"N-nyota zitaongoza... n-ne-nija yako," Simba stuttered out, surprising himself with his own memory. The elephants perked up and stared at the group of cubs. Following Simba's suit, they dipped their heads down in reverence and whispered, "May the stars guide your path."
The air swirled around the group a few seconds more before the breeze dissipated, letting the seeds and such flutter down into a circle around them.
A second longer the elephant herd lingered before they began to back away and turn, some whispering some final words as they did. Ma Tembo's trunk came over to usher the cubs back before they could get trampled underfoot, then forward to her. After they had moved away a few feet, a sparing one last glance at the funeral mound, Ma Tembo clicked and gestured with her trunk for her herd to follow out of the graveyard.
As Simba and the others went to keep up with her, he spared a glance over his shoulder. Not just at the pile, but around it. His eyes darted through the graying, blurring landscape of twilight and found, to no surprise, that the hyenas had not appeared. He bit his lip, thinking back to what Ma Tembo had said about them.
He bristled then as a trunk patted his shoulder. Turning, he saw one of the calves. Their face was stained with drying tear trails and he nodded his head towards the moving group. With a heavy breath, he nodded back and resumed walking back towards his homeland.
A few moment of walking back onto the fertile, verdant land of the Pridelands came as a relief and a shock to the group. Just a few paces ago the ground was so harsh, rough, and coarse beneath their paws, now replaced with fresh, soft soil and the gentle padding of grass. Immediately they were surrounded by lush plant life that it seemed almost unreal that they were ever in a place without it. They spared more glances over shoulder, trying to look into the disappearing Elephant Graveyard behind them, trying to see the barren ground compared to the paradise they lived in.
What they also noticed, though it took a few more minutes, was just how much more colorful the land seemed to be. It seemed as soon as they stepped out of the grey twilight of the land, the savanna sky broke free of it's muted prison, releasing a cascade of gorgeous dying sunset colors painting into the stunning, blue velvet hue of the night. Speckled with a collection of stunning glowing stars.
A new, overwhelming feeling of gratitude came over them. Gratitude over how wonderful a land they had been living in in comparison to what others had to endure in. Small traces of guilt began to settle in though, as they felt sorry for those who did not have the luxury of having their home here.
Quickly, however, their emotions were soon quickly overcome by relief as a shadow darted over them and a brightly-colored bird alighted before them, smiling at ease.
"Cubs. Oh thank the Great Kings you're alright. I was so worried after you ran off."
"Zazu," They breathed out, Mheoto and Nadra taking it one step further and lunging at him, nearly crushing his rib cage as they pulled him close.
"Simba!"
The elephant herd had stopped and now gave gentle nods of respect as the great lion king rushed over towards them.
"Dad!"
Without a second's hesitance, he surged toward his dad, immediately pouncing and wrapping around his foreleg, burying his face into the familiar feel and scent of his father's embrace. Mufasa immediately lowered himself down and pulled him in closer, holding him tightly to his shuddering, concerned form.
"Thank the Great Kings you're safe," he whispered breathlessly, comforting his son as tears sprang forth and then damped his fur. He spared a quick glance up and saw the longing faces of the other cubs watching them. "Come here," he softly mouthed and they rushed towards him, eager to feel the comforting embrace from the succor he was offering. Their bodies were littered with scratches and scarped, their muscles and joints ached, they were drained emotionally, physically, and mentally, and all they wished for now was to get home and go to sleep.
Unfortunately for them, it would take a little while longer. Fortunately, Ma Tembo was merciful and kind.
"I believe now is not the time for explanations," she rumbled, getting the attention of the king. "I will meet with you tomorrow in the morning to discuss what has happened today, but tonight I feel you should get the cubs home and to their families."
"Of course," he replied, standing up and gently bowing before her. "Thank you and your herds compassion and protection dear friend."
She dipped her head in return. "Same to you. I shall be there at the crack of dawn." She turned to head home. "Do try and be awake then." And with that, the group of silent giants headed off to their territory. The sky was almost completely dark, the thinnest traces of purple lingering where the sun had disappeared. The sky was illuminated with the gentle glow of stars and a soft breeze brushed over them.
"Dad?"
"We'll talk in the morning. Come, your mothers have been worried sick."
His words proved accurate, for as soon as they came within feet of their stone home, three lionesses practically flew off the steps to embrace and begin examining over their injuries and such. The twin practically began bawling between words as they grasped on to whatever part they could of her strong hold while Nala melted under her mother's tongue, wincing slightly as her tender wounds were touched.
"Mommy," Simba cried out, snuggling his face into her shoulder. She wrapped her paw around his back, letting him soak in her affection and sooth her worries. He felt his eyelids suddenly become heavy and he willingly let them close as he felt her maw clamp down on his nape and let her carry him up towards the den. The last thing he knew before he surrendered to exhaustion was the comforting feeling of her warmth and affection.
When he awoke, the first thing he noticed was the absence of the previous night's feeling. With a soft groan and a painful opening of his eyes, he realized it was morning and neither his mother and father were asleep beside him. He winced as his face swung towards the entrance and he hissed as the sunlight painfully stung his weary eyes. With even more groans, he forced his sore, aching limbs to work, nearly smacking his head back down on the stone floor.
Outside, the world was covered in fog. The weak sunlight that did manage to pass through the overhead cloud cover only revealed a world shrouded in mist. Simba took a moment to rub with sore eyes as they slowly adjusted to the brightness of the world before he caught a glimpse of something below. Slowly, he staggered over to the edge of the platform, right above the first stone step. He plopped down and peered over the edge, just as he saw the immense form of his escort from the night before turn and lumber back into the misty landscape.
He watched her walk away for a few more seconds before his ears perked up at a conversation below. Looking right at the last step, he saw his mom and dad in what appeared to be a heavy discussion.
It was then he remembered Ma Tembo's words from the night before and his ears drooped and his spirit sank at the deduction that they were obviously talking about him and his friend's waltz right into hyena territory, the exact place he had been warned about time and time again. He sighed, closing his eyes and waiting for them to come up and determine his punishment.
A couple second passed before he felt a warm sigh blow on his head. He then felt a maw clamp down on his nape again and lift him up. To his surprise, he saw looked around his mother to see his father walking away into the foggy landscape while he was being taken back into the den. His near adolescent form meant his back legs dragged a bit on the ground and indicated that he would soon be too big for her to continue this.
In the den, he saw that Nala and Mheoto were awakening to their mothers giving them baths, clearing away the remainder of dirt and muck. He soon became aware of his own state and his suspicions were confirmed as his mother took him over to their spot, placed him between her forelegs, and the bathing began.
He habitually squirmed as the soft, warm, wet tongue brushed over his fur, but the exhaustion brought over from yesterday quickly overwhelmed his physical protest. Instead, he let his head fall down onto his mother's arm and looked out at the other pride members. They too had begun to wake up and clean themselves in preparation for the day.
He caught a glimpse of Mheoto in Naanda's arms. The cub squealed a bit as his scratches were touched upon, but even he didn't seem to have the energy to object. His eyes met with Simba's briefly before he too melted onto his mother's arm.
"Simba." His ears perked up and eyes trailed until Nadra came out beside him. Her fur was still slightly dirty from yesterday and he winced at the sight of several scabs on her neat fur.
"Nad'?"
"Is your dad gonna-?"
She flinched as his mother interrupted her cleaning to address her. "Mufasa will be talking with him later on today." Her face grew gentle. "Ma Tembo and Zazu both gave their accounts of what happened, though we just want to make sure that those who are actually in trouble get their due."
At the heavy tone at, she shuddered and seemed to unravel in her spot. "You're majesty, I didn't mean to get us stuck in the graveyard. I didn't mean to fall, I-"
"Shh." Nadra's eyes were shiny with unshed tears. She was panting heavily, threatening to let them fall. Sarabi gently moved her head over and pressed foreheads.
"It's not your fault Nadra. Believe me that none of you are in trouble." She tilted her head up to address the others, who had looked up from their mothers. "None of you are in trouble."
"Nad', it's your turn," Naanda called out, letting Mheoto go to shake his now clean fur. He gave his twin a reassuring look as she replaced his spot.
The tongue returned to clean Simba's muzzle and down his neck. "Mom." She murmured. He gave a small squeak at the rough pressure against his fur. "What's going to happen to
Scar?"
It was if time froze. He immediately felt the stares of everyone in the den locked onto him. In his position on his back, he looked up to see a neutral, if not stony look, but with furious, burning eyes staring at him, but not for him.
"Scar," she spoke slowly and carefully. "He will be questioned for his actions... and..."
"-And what, mom?"
She blinks and her eyes do focus on him. Silence reigned a moment longer, then she nudged him into an upright position. His head swiveled around, his face indicating that he was adamant about knowing what would happen.
She stalled another second. "He will probably be exiled from the Pridelands."
"Good." Naanda's voice came over the quiet, tense atmosphere and she gently nuzzled her daughter's head and murmured into it. "I'll sleep much better knowing that my cubs are safe from that creep."
"As will I sister, but what about Mufasa?" Sarafina spoke up, her eyes agreeing, but her face in line with the grave consequences. "For better, and mostly worse, he let Scar stay within our territory. Despite everything, he still loves him, and this issue will break his heart to see it through."
"He is the king, ladies. A king must make difficult decisions for the good of the pride, even if it's against the heart." The lionesses stared towards their queen. "For the safety of our pride, the safety of our future," he glanced down at her son, "he'll need to."
In spite of their proven innocence, the cubs were only permitted to stay within Pride Rock's limits. Even so, their tiredness and the general dreary atmosphere had them sluggish and silently, unanimously agreeing to stick to the den. The fog had lifted, though the cloud cover still reigned overhead, still making it took uncomfortably cool for them to do anything fun outside. Instead, they hung out in the den, sprawled out over the floor and playing with their tails, if nothing else.
"Hey Simba?" The prince slowly turned his head to look towards Nala. "Do you know where your uncle will go when he's gone?"
"No. Maybe the Outlands?" He then rolled onto his back. "I keep thinking back to yesterday and how scared the hyenas got when his name got mentioned."
"Well maybe he's the reason they get to live in that crummy place instead of here," Nadra chimed up. "I don't know about you, but I don't really believe that the hyenas are all bad like Ma Tembo said. I mean they're scary and mean, but they helped us out. That must mean they have some good in them."
"Well I don't think so. I think they only let us go because they were scared what Mufasa would do to us if he found out we were in trouble. I think you're dumb to think they could be nice." He squealed as she lunged at him, taking his ears into her mouth and her teeth pricked into the soft flesh.
"Hey let him go Nad'," Nala said, before she manually got up and pulled her away, making sure she spat out his ear before she moved. "I don't think this is the time for fights."
"Well what do you think Nala?" He rolled over and placed a paw over his chin. "What do you think of all this?"
She stalled a second. "I'm kinda with Mheoto on this one. Mom's told me plenty of times how viscous and deadly the hyenas can be." In her pause, Nadra's gasp could be heard as her brother blew a raspberry at her. "But I also kinda agree with Nadra. I think maybe because they live in such a bad place, they have to be mean and scary to survive." Mheoto scowled at Nadra's triumphant grin.
"I don't know, what do you think Simba? Simba?"
He was looking down, deep in thought. He sighed before replying, "I don't know, all I can think about is Scar." His paws rose up to rub his face. "He's always seemed so... so... I don't know. Scary. Dark? He reminds me of the snakes that mom tells me to look out for and that we saw once."
"Cobras?" Nala offered.
"Yeah, exactly." He straightened up. "Like you know how smooth and quiet they are, but you're always scared of them since you know they're angry and poisonous and that they can strike at any moment. Scar's like that in a way."
"Technically they're vemen-, venemem-, venenemous, gah!" Mheoto groaned and stuck out his tongue as the syllables jumbled over his lips. "You know," he said exasperatedly. He glared at the giggles his sister was trying to stifle in her puffed-out cheeks.
"Ven-o-mous," Nala enunciated, then swiveled back at him. "Look on the bright side, at least he won't be around anymore when you're dad takes care of him."
Stretching out his limbs, he stood up and breathed heavily. "Yeah, but for some reason I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. Like almost if..." he looked up at them. "Like if exiling Scar is the wrong thing."
"What?! Oh c'mon!"
Simba found himself pinned back on his back, this time looking up towards the genuinely angry face of his friend.
"You can't be serious. He's been nothing but trouble here. He upset our moms, scared us into the Elephant Graveyard, may or may not have ruined the hyenas' lives, and you think exiling him is wrong?!
"That's not what I meant," he growled, an actual rumble coming out of his throat. Stunned, Nala got off him and stared in surprise as he got up. "That's not what I mean. I just.." his tone grew softer, "feel like exile isn't enough to keep Scar away."
"Well then what would you suggest?" Her tone was curious, yet careful. "Are you suggesting that he should be exiled and left with no way to return back or-?"
"I-"
"Simba!"
At the entrance of the cave, his mother appeared. "Your father is back and he wants to talk to you."
Unconsciously, his form grew rigid. He spared a glance at his companions, then trotted over to the entrance.
Outside, his father was speaking quickly with Sarafina and Naanda, but finished up as they nodded and then moved down the stone staircase. With them out of the way, Mufasa turned and his eyes fell upon his son, and a warm smile crossed his face. Immediately, Simba felt himself relax at that reassuring face and eagerly followed after him.
Around Pride Rock they went, circling around the great standing stone and working their way up towards the summit. The back was rockier and uneven then the face, requiring some usage of jumping and climbing muscles to ascend the height. Mufasa was quiet all the way, only briefly speaking up to guide or help his son from behind. Reaching the top, the almost adolescent was panting while his father barely seemed to be fazed by the climb.
As he looked out on the view of the Pridelands, his breath was taken away.
He had once mentioned to his father that the view from the platform below was his favorite place to see all of the Pridelands. Now, at a much higher place, he could see so much more. Far off to the distance, he could see mountain ranges he could not have seen before. To one side, he saw the earth lighten and smooth out into the desert. In another part, the ground splintered and crack, forming the canyons, gullies, and wastelands of the Outlands. Though the sky above was still cloudy, enough sunlight illuminated the land, lakes and rivers, showing just how diverse and rich the landscape was.
"Whoa," he breathed out, once he had recovered his breath. He felt his father sit down beside him, his face also fixated on the land.
"Quite the view up here, isn't it," came the warm rumble form above. Simba could only nod. "I remember when my father first took me up here. I wasn't too much older then what you are."
"It's really cool."
"Yes it is. And one day you'll be in charge of it." He paused, then looked down towards him. "Which means you'll need to learn how to take care of your home and your pride."
He didn't mean to flinch, he really hadn't. The tone used wasn't even that reprimanding, but at once Simba shrunk down and bowed his head in guilt. "I'm sorry dad, I really didn't mean to get me or the others in trouble."
"I know you didn't son. Zazu and Ma Tembo both gave their accounts of how you got into that situation and how you got out of it. By the looks of things, you did the right thing by taking responsibility to get yourself and the others out of there alright." He lowered his head and got his face next to his son's. "I'm very proud of you for being so calm and collected in the face of uncertainty. It's certainly something a future king must have in order to rule."
Simba looked up and cracked a small smile at his father's, but then it faded and he looked down towards his paws, flicking a pebble of the edge.
"I still can't stop thinking about the hyenas, dad. I know you and everyone have told me that they need to be avoided, that they're mean and dirty and cruel..."
"And that they have no redeeming qualities to their name?" Mufasa added. He then let out a deep breath and lowered himself down. "Son, let me tell you a story from my youth."
"A long time ago, back when I had just started to grow my mane, the hyenas were once part of the Pridelands. As scavengers, they worked alongside the vulture to clear the Pridelands of any sickness brought on by dead bodies. Like any other creature here, they had their role and were united under the Circle of Life.
"Then, seemingly overnight, they started to grow more aggressive towards the other Pridelanders. They began questioning their place in the Pridelands and grew more hostile and bitter, especially towards our pride. The herds grew more scared and tensions rose until it came to a head where they could no longer stay within the confines of the Pridelands. The pride and the other herds chased them out into the Elephant Graveyard, and they've stayed there ever since."
"But why did they turn so bad? What caused them to fight against the other Pridelanders? And what happened to the Elephant Graveyard? Why does it fell so... unnatural?"
The king once again exhaled deeply, then brought his paw up to brush against his temple. "I do not know son. I will tell you that you were not the first to worry about their living conditions. Unfortunately, good intentions don't always yield good results, and now the hyenas won't even try to reach back to us."
"Yet they still let me and the others go," Simba murmured.
"Yes, and thank the Great Kings they did." He then dipped his head closer. "The point is, son, that one day you will inherit this kingdom and the issues that may arise from it. Thankfully the herds and other leaders have our support, but that means they'll also need to have yours. As king, you will need to listen to the issues, consider all possible outcomes, and decide on the best, or least detrimental, option. It won't be easy, but I have in faith that you will succeed where others have failed."
Simba nodded solemnly. "I will try to make you proud dad. I swear."
"I know you will, and you've already have." The cub eagerly accepted his embrace. "Though in the meantime, you still can hang out with your friends at Pride Rock. At least for the next two days."
At this, his head rose and his face was filled with confused indignation. "What? But I thought you said I wasn't in trouble!"
Mufasa nodded. "You aren't for that, but Zazu told me how you and Nala were going to sneak off into the Outlands behind his back."
His widening eyes, flattening ears, and growl that suggested the majordomo ought to stay as far away as possible all confirmed his guilty self. His father chuckled and dropped a paw down on his head. "Tell you what, after two days are up, let's go out and have a day out together. Just you and me."
A bit of wriggling and the paw slid off to reveal hopeful eyes. "Really? Thanks dad!"
"You're welcome. Now let's-"
"Your highness!" The scrapping of claws against stone reached their ears along with the voice. One of the lionesses appeared over the side. "News from the herds on the Eastern border. The hyenas have returned!"
"Again?!"
"The hyenas?" Simba said is disbelief. Mufasa wasted no time leaping over them both and bounding the rest of the way down, only giving pause to regain balance and to thank the messenger. His son just watched him leave, feeling a bit uneasy with the news that had come. Something just didn't sit well with him.
"C'mon along, my prince. I will help you get down from here."
He nodded and followed her footsteps, yet the unnerved feeling still lingered.
PSA: Don't be like Mufasa, kids. Don't touch your face and be sure to wash your hands frequently.
Hope ya'll are still doing okay out there. I know for us in the States we have until at least the 26th/30th before the quarantine is lifted, but that still doesn't mean we can all return to the status quo. Please, for the love of you and your loved ones and the love for humanity, please use caution, don't go out more then you absolutely need to, and do whatever you can to be clean and healthy.
So yeah, a bit longer chapter then usual, though we'll soon be getting into drama territory. I've had a bit of internet issues as of lately, including one where I saved, but the internet crashed and I had to redo the entire last part of this chapter. Words of wisdom kids, if you type out anything before saving, copying your work might save your progress if the internet crashes. Hope you guys are safe and I'll see you next time.
Sincerely, v.t.7