CHAPTER 8 – Bitter Sweet Homecoming

It took us a week before we reached the Pride Lands once more.  We ate what we could catch along the way, drank what water we could find, slowly building our strength back up.  Scar never spoke another word during this time, in fact, none of us spoke much.  Fear had seized Sarabi and I, that the other humans might track us down to kill us because of Scar's actions. 

We traveled always by night, and even then, we kept to the shadows or the high grass, whatever was available to keep us concealed from the eyes of our enemies.  But the humans never came, and soon enough, we found ourselves back in the Pride Lands.

Rafiki, the family's oldest and wisest friend, spotted us as soon as we had crossed the border.  He was extremely pleased to see us, but troubled that Ahadi and Zuri were not with us.  It was I that broke the news to him, and immediately he went off to spread the word.  A period of great mourning was to come, as the lion king and queen were deeply loved by all the creatures of the Pride Lands.

This mourning period lasted for over a week, and at the end of that time, I ascended to the throne.  From the peak of Pride Rock, I roared out over the gathered animals, and they sent back their acknowledgement and respect of their new king.  Sarabi was with me up there on Pride Rock.  Just that morning, she had made her first unassisted kill, and she and I had been married by Rafiki. 

Time passed.  I grew day by day into a full adult lion, and Sarabi became more beautiful by the day.  Scar and I grew ever more distant, but I had other things on my mind. 

Sarabi had been beaten by the humans on several occasions, and kicked repeatedly in her sides and stomach for not obeying orders quick enough.  These injuries had badly damaged her internally, and though we tried many a time, years passed and Sarabi still did not conceive a cub.  Often she would sob, wanting a child to love so badly, not feeling complete.  It was in those times that it was the hardest for me to be brave, as the thought of never having a son or daughter broke my heart.  We consulted Rafiki, but nothing could be done. We had all but resigned ourselves to never being parents.

Then, one sunny day after a week of harsh rains, Sarabi sauntered out to where I sat out on Pride Rock, looking out over my kingdom.  Zazu was rattling on about something that was not terribly important, but had his feathers ruffled nonetheless.

"Zazu, may I have a word with Mufasa?  Alone?"

"Yes, of course madame," and without another word (which was rare for the hornbill at that time), he flew off.

"Mufasa, I have something to tell you."

"Yes, dear, what is it?  Has Scar been bothering Sarafina again?"

"No.  This is something I know you'll be happy about."

I met her eyes with my own, seeing a sparkle in them that I hadn't seen before.  What was going on behind those beautiful eyes?

"Mufasa, all these long years, we have done all that we could to have a child.  It has paid off."

My brain was reeling and I couldn't register her words right away.

"What?"

"We are going to have a cub Mufasa.  You're going to be a daddy."

I was the happiest I had ever been.  My child – our child – was within Sarabi.  The love that that humans had almost robbed from us had beaten the odds.  I was going to be a father.

The rest of the day was a blur for me, and in due time, our son Simba was born.