Chapter 2 - A Pair of Paw Prints
Scar had just informed the rest of the pride of the tragic stampede that took the king's life.
And, as Scar lied, took Simba's as well.
The tears that were shed from the lionesses could have flooded an ocean. Wide, glassy eyes all surrounded the king's brother as he broke the horrific news. Dropped jaws shown from everyone (except for Scar) and growls of pain and loss and anger soon filled the night air.
From a short distance, Rafiki sat in his tree and shook his head. He brushed his hand over the drawing of Simba that he had made the day of his birth and smeared it to beyond recognition. The pride was till mourning and had no idea of who would become the next ruler of pride rock. Rafiki spent the next ten minutes drawing a new picture. A different lion. This one was young as well and destined to be the next ruler, as he believed that both Mufasa and Simba had died.
The drawing was of Nala.
Yes, he believed that she would have to be the next queen, as the pride had no heir to the throne anymore.
He drew it right next to the smeared drawing of Simba. He smiled, but a tear leaked from one of his eyes. The young lioness had a lot riding on her shoulders.
The rest of the pride spent the evening in tears and sulking in grief. All of the pride, excluding Scar of course who would only feign anger and sadness if one of the lionesses came to him for comfort. The hyenas kept their distance; they knew that Scar would give them run of the Pridelands soon enough. They could wait.
Nala left her mother's side and traveled up to the base of Pride Rock. She stared at the ground for several seconds in thought and confusion. Raising her head, she turned to walk up the great rock. She did not notice several pairs of eyes travel with her as she climbed to the top. Lionesses in the pride all gazed at the young lioness with interest and a strong feeling of appreciation. Appreciation that she was already, they thought, showing an understanding in duty. She looked at though she could become queen right there. Nala had no clue that that's what they were thinking.
She sat on the tip for quite a time. Even after Scar had left the pride for his own lair, with the hyenas following, and many lionesses had gone back into the den for some much-needed sleep, Nala still sat. She gazed out on the dark plains. Her green eyes scanned the land she called home. She wasn't sure what she was searching for. Or why she was even up here for that matter. She had no clue whatsoever. Was she looking for Simba? Waiting for him to run up to her, yell it was all a joke, and for her to come down and play with him? Was she looking for the king? Waiting for him to smile at her and tell her that Simba was looking for her? She always thought of the king as her father. Never called him dad, but he had an air of elegance about him that made her feel safe no matter the situation. He would nuzzle her sometimes, as if she were his daughter, and tell her to go and play with his lighthearted son. She loved that. And she would miss it.
Nala loved Mufasa. And she would miss him.
The young lioness barely heard her mother calling her off the rock, but Nala just sat and continued to think. Remember. Mourn. In her own special way. She just continued to do it. She did not mean to disobey her mother, not at all, but the soft order for her to come into the den didn't seem all that important to her now.
Eventually, Sarafina gave up and followed Sarabi into the den, leaving her beautiful daughter to daydream at the top of Pride Rock.
An hour passed and Nala saw that the lionesses had fallen asleep. She was alone. Just her and...her. Well, maybe the kings of the past that Mufasa had told her about not long ago. She wondered desperately if Mufasa or even Simba could see her from up above. She wanted so bad to see Simba again...
Just the thought of never seeing them again made her queezy. She felt her stomach twist and her heart pound and her blood surge. Her hair began to stand on end and her tail began to twitch. Her claws revealed themselves from their sheaths and her eyes hardened. Her jaw clenched and her tired muscles suddenly forced her to stand. She stood tall and proud and looked beyond her age; she looked an aged lioness, a skilled hunter and trained fighter. Right now, she felt as though she could do anything right now. Maybe, if she tried hard enough, she could raise the dead...
Without any warning, Nala took in a deep breath. She felt her lungs fill with air to a capacity she never thought possible. She had never breathed this deep before. Ever. But her body just kept sucking in air. More and more began to flood her lungs until she was sure they would burst. She had to release it somehow. Adrenalin decided for her.
Nala's mouth opened and out came a huge, angry roar. A roar that scared her and she had only heard come from Mufasa's strong form the day she and Simba were cornered by the hyenas in the elephant graveyard. She continued to roar. She didn't notice that it was raining. Large drops hit her closed eyes and bounced off her shiny white fangs. Her eyes began to fill with tears, which she release quickly. She could barely make out the surprised gasps coming from the woken lionesses from inside the cave..
MUFASA'S POV
I had always known Nala was a strong young lionesses. Smart, headstrong, powerful, determined and beautiful, but this roar and claim of anger and dominance was unspeakably authoritative. I know she missed me. And I missed her. But most of all, I know she missed Simba. I know that my son escaped today and was forced to flee. But he would proud if he could hear this.
She really was a gorgeous girl. Perfect for Simba. And the way she looked up there on Pride Rock. So powerful...dominant...confident...angry...sad...grown up...my own tears fall as I take in her supremacy and statement.
And Mufasa's POV
Nala couldn't believe her own strength as she ran out of air and her tears streamed freely. Curious lionesses had tried to join her up on the rock. She turned and fled down the rock. She burst through the crowd, leapt off the rocks until she was at the bottom of the mountain, but didn't stop running. He speed flared as her body stretched to push her into full adult strides. Where was she going in the middle of the night? In the rain? Away from the only family she knew of? She didn't know. She didn't care. She just had to get away...
"Nala?"
Nala stopped running and spun around, searching for Simba's voice. He was nowhere to be found.
"Nala," said the ghostly voice that only she could hear. "Follow me. Follow in my paw prints. Come with me. Please."
Nala was sure the voice was real. When she turned back around, she saw that she had arrived at Rafiki's tree. Smiling at her newfound strength, due to adrenalin, she leapt into the tree with one swift movement. She nearly jumped out of her fur when he saw that he was awake and seemed to be expecting her. He smiled proudly.
" 'Twas quite a point you made out there, young lady," Rafiki beamed. "I am astonished at your bravery and boldness. And speaking of which, I sense that you have something to tell me something requiring both such things?"
"Yes," Nala breathed. She was surprised to find that she was not tired from her sprint. "Just before I arrived here, Simba --- well, I think it was Simba, spoke to me."
"Ah, and what did young Simba say to you?"
"He said --- he said, 'Follow in my paw prints. Come with me.' Yeah, he said that. He wants me to follow him. Where ever he is." Nala choked out.
"If that is so, then perhaps the prince is still alive," Rafiki rationalized. "I tink --- I tink that you must do as he says. And follow him. Find him. And bring him home when it is time."
"You --- you think I should?" Nala shivered.
"I believe it is all we can do," the baboon sighed. "Tell you what. We'll keep it a secret that Simba may still be alive. You must find him --- "
"And return when the time comes."
"And return only when the time comes." Rafiki smiled broadly. "Bye, miss Nala. And good luck on your journey. May it be safe and successful."
Nala beamed as well. With another burst of energy, she was out of the tree and several yards away when Sarafina suddenly leapt into Rafiki's tree.
"Where is my baby?" She cried to him.
"Do not you worry, Sarafina," Rafiki reassured. "Your daughter is brave and strong and must complete this task without help. She will be fine. Mufasa will watch over her."
"What --- what sort of task?"
" 'Tis between her and me. But don't worry. She will return."
He turned his head in the direction in which Nala was running. Sarafina did the same just in time to see her only cub running away from all that she new. Sobs erupted from her and Rafiki pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Yes. She will return when the times comes. When she is ready."
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
That was chapter 2! And I'm estimating that this story will be at least 4 chapters long if not 5 or even 6. But while I busy myself with writing, it would make my day if you reviewed. I mean, you're at the bottom of the page anyway and since you're here, you might as well, right?..Hint, hint..
Scar had just informed the rest of the pride of the tragic stampede that took the king's life.
And, as Scar lied, took Simba's as well.
The tears that were shed from the lionesses could have flooded an ocean. Wide, glassy eyes all surrounded the king's brother as he broke the horrific news. Dropped jaws shown from everyone (except for Scar) and growls of pain and loss and anger soon filled the night air.
From a short distance, Rafiki sat in his tree and shook his head. He brushed his hand over the drawing of Simba that he had made the day of his birth and smeared it to beyond recognition. The pride was till mourning and had no idea of who would become the next ruler of pride rock. Rafiki spent the next ten minutes drawing a new picture. A different lion. This one was young as well and destined to be the next ruler, as he believed that both Mufasa and Simba had died.
The drawing was of Nala.
Yes, he believed that she would have to be the next queen, as the pride had no heir to the throne anymore.
He drew it right next to the smeared drawing of Simba. He smiled, but a tear leaked from one of his eyes. The young lioness had a lot riding on her shoulders.
The rest of the pride spent the evening in tears and sulking in grief. All of the pride, excluding Scar of course who would only feign anger and sadness if one of the lionesses came to him for comfort. The hyenas kept their distance; they knew that Scar would give them run of the Pridelands soon enough. They could wait.
Nala left her mother's side and traveled up to the base of Pride Rock. She stared at the ground for several seconds in thought and confusion. Raising her head, she turned to walk up the great rock. She did not notice several pairs of eyes travel with her as she climbed to the top. Lionesses in the pride all gazed at the young lioness with interest and a strong feeling of appreciation. Appreciation that she was already, they thought, showing an understanding in duty. She looked at though she could become queen right there. Nala had no clue that that's what they were thinking.
She sat on the tip for quite a time. Even after Scar had left the pride for his own lair, with the hyenas following, and many lionesses had gone back into the den for some much-needed sleep, Nala still sat. She gazed out on the dark plains. Her green eyes scanned the land she called home. She wasn't sure what she was searching for. Or why she was even up here for that matter. She had no clue whatsoever. Was she looking for Simba? Waiting for him to run up to her, yell it was all a joke, and for her to come down and play with him? Was she looking for the king? Waiting for him to smile at her and tell her that Simba was looking for her? She always thought of the king as her father. Never called him dad, but he had an air of elegance about him that made her feel safe no matter the situation. He would nuzzle her sometimes, as if she were his daughter, and tell her to go and play with his lighthearted son. She loved that. And she would miss it.
Nala loved Mufasa. And she would miss him.
The young lioness barely heard her mother calling her off the rock, but Nala just sat and continued to think. Remember. Mourn. In her own special way. She just continued to do it. She did not mean to disobey her mother, not at all, but the soft order for her to come into the den didn't seem all that important to her now.
Eventually, Sarafina gave up and followed Sarabi into the den, leaving her beautiful daughter to daydream at the top of Pride Rock.
An hour passed and Nala saw that the lionesses had fallen asleep. She was alone. Just her and...her. Well, maybe the kings of the past that Mufasa had told her about not long ago. She wondered desperately if Mufasa or even Simba could see her from up above. She wanted so bad to see Simba again...
Just the thought of never seeing them again made her queezy. She felt her stomach twist and her heart pound and her blood surge. Her hair began to stand on end and her tail began to twitch. Her claws revealed themselves from their sheaths and her eyes hardened. Her jaw clenched and her tired muscles suddenly forced her to stand. She stood tall and proud and looked beyond her age; she looked an aged lioness, a skilled hunter and trained fighter. Right now, she felt as though she could do anything right now. Maybe, if she tried hard enough, she could raise the dead...
Without any warning, Nala took in a deep breath. She felt her lungs fill with air to a capacity she never thought possible. She had never breathed this deep before. Ever. But her body just kept sucking in air. More and more began to flood her lungs until she was sure they would burst. She had to release it somehow. Adrenalin decided for her.
Nala's mouth opened and out came a huge, angry roar. A roar that scared her and she had only heard come from Mufasa's strong form the day she and Simba were cornered by the hyenas in the elephant graveyard. She continued to roar. She didn't notice that it was raining. Large drops hit her closed eyes and bounced off her shiny white fangs. Her eyes began to fill with tears, which she release quickly. She could barely make out the surprised gasps coming from the woken lionesses from inside the cave..
MUFASA'S POV
I had always known Nala was a strong young lionesses. Smart, headstrong, powerful, determined and beautiful, but this roar and claim of anger and dominance was unspeakably authoritative. I know she missed me. And I missed her. But most of all, I know she missed Simba. I know that my son escaped today and was forced to flee. But he would proud if he could hear this.
She really was a gorgeous girl. Perfect for Simba. And the way she looked up there on Pride Rock. So powerful...dominant...confident...angry...sad...grown up...my own tears fall as I take in her supremacy and statement.
And Mufasa's POV
Nala couldn't believe her own strength as she ran out of air and her tears streamed freely. Curious lionesses had tried to join her up on the rock. She turned and fled down the rock. She burst through the crowd, leapt off the rocks until she was at the bottom of the mountain, but didn't stop running. He speed flared as her body stretched to push her into full adult strides. Where was she going in the middle of the night? In the rain? Away from the only family she knew of? She didn't know. She didn't care. She just had to get away...
"Nala?"
Nala stopped running and spun around, searching for Simba's voice. He was nowhere to be found.
"Nala," said the ghostly voice that only she could hear. "Follow me. Follow in my paw prints. Come with me. Please."
Nala was sure the voice was real. When she turned back around, she saw that she had arrived at Rafiki's tree. Smiling at her newfound strength, due to adrenalin, she leapt into the tree with one swift movement. She nearly jumped out of her fur when he saw that he was awake and seemed to be expecting her. He smiled proudly.
" 'Twas quite a point you made out there, young lady," Rafiki beamed. "I am astonished at your bravery and boldness. And speaking of which, I sense that you have something to tell me something requiring both such things?"
"Yes," Nala breathed. She was surprised to find that she was not tired from her sprint. "Just before I arrived here, Simba --- well, I think it was Simba, spoke to me."
"Ah, and what did young Simba say to you?"
"He said --- he said, 'Follow in my paw prints. Come with me.' Yeah, he said that. He wants me to follow him. Where ever he is." Nala choked out.
"If that is so, then perhaps the prince is still alive," Rafiki rationalized. "I tink --- I tink that you must do as he says. And follow him. Find him. And bring him home when it is time."
"You --- you think I should?" Nala shivered.
"I believe it is all we can do," the baboon sighed. "Tell you what. We'll keep it a secret that Simba may still be alive. You must find him --- "
"And return when the time comes."
"And return only when the time comes." Rafiki smiled broadly. "Bye, miss Nala. And good luck on your journey. May it be safe and successful."
Nala beamed as well. With another burst of energy, she was out of the tree and several yards away when Sarafina suddenly leapt into Rafiki's tree.
"Where is my baby?" She cried to him.
"Do not you worry, Sarafina," Rafiki reassured. "Your daughter is brave and strong and must complete this task without help. She will be fine. Mufasa will watch over her."
"What --- what sort of task?"
" 'Tis between her and me. But don't worry. She will return."
He turned his head in the direction in which Nala was running. Sarafina did the same just in time to see her only cub running away from all that she new. Sobs erupted from her and Rafiki pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Yes. She will return when the times comes. When she is ready."
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
That was chapter 2! And I'm estimating that this story will be at least 4 chapters long if not 5 or even 6. But while I busy myself with writing, it would make my day if you reviewed. I mean, you're at the bottom of the page anyway and since you're here, you might as well, right?..Hint, hint..