Hey everyone! Once again, I owe you an apology. I had no time to continue
and update. During the day, that is. For three nights, I've been up two
hours past when I should be in bed writing this story down on paper. And I
hope I don't overload you with adjectives and hyphens. There are a lot of
them in this chapter. Very sorry if I do!!
Thanks friends, J. Z.
~~~~~~
4 - Grown up Unnoticed
Two solid years had passed since the "disappearance" of the only heirs to the throne had occurred. The lionesses of Mufasa's pride, as they still called themselves, had given up hope. Both Sarafina and Sarabi still concealed the tiny flame within their hearts that symbolized the undying love for their cubs, but as every day passed without word of either Simba or Nala, the flame grew smaller.
Scar had considered it only right if he were to take to the throne after his brother's death. He had said kind words of both Mufasa and his nephew --- he ignored Nala's absence --- but the pride members knew deep down that Scar only wanted to sound civilized when really, in the depths of his cold heart, he meant none of it.
Rafiki had changed as well. He never said whether it was for the better or worse, only said, "In it's own time" every time he was asked a question. He kept to himself for the two years of division. Of course, he came down occasionally with a blessing or mystical medicine, but uncharacteristically strayed from emotional guidance. Lately, he could be found on a cliff in the gorge, discussing everyday matters with Mufasa's spirit most nights and hummed to himself in his tree by day.
~~~~~~~~~
Many, many miles from the Pridelands, and old jungle sat in the middle of nowhere. The terrain's sudden change from rough and rocky to lush and beautiful was a sight to be seen, no doubt. For passersby, it seemed nothing more than just a good rest stop where cool, clear water could be drunk before their journey was resumed. But for two young lions, this was home.
Simba and Nala decided it wise not to leave for the time being. Of course, from the beginning, they had a strong urge to get back to their pride, but with no sense of direction or distance, they thought better of their plan and stayed put.
The two lone lions had grown up without notice. Their parents had no knowledge of their lives anymore.
Though still the closest of friends, Simba would admit that he deeply admired Nala for much more than that: a friend. She was gorgeous in every aspect. Intoxicating blue-green eyes, perfect facial structure, slender body, tantalizing grace, astonishing innocence and honesty, a beautiful mind, and, what Simba considered best of all, a huge heart of gold. Any bad day could be cheered up with just one of the heart-melting smiles and a friendly nuzzle behind the ear. Yes, Simba could admit with a smile that his best friend was the most gorgeous lioness every created.
Nala could most likely say many of the same things right back. He was sleek, muscular, had an ever-ready, relaxed smile, a laid-back personality and a can-do attitude. She loved his easy-going strut, the gentle flick of his tail as he moved, the several loose strands of hair that graced his face, and his soft, yet powerful red-yellow gaze. His quiet, friendly voice, his child-like playfulness, his constant urge for adventure and love for peaceful star-gazing every night. She couldn't, and wouldn't, trade him for anything. Not even to be back home in the Pridelands.
Aside from the occasional homesickness and lonesomeness, Simba and Nala had lived a good life the past two years. For the first couple of days, when they showed up, finding food was difficult. Seeing that only bugs were their option as of now, the settled on it with a groan. Later, as they reached adolescence, Nala began to teach herself to hunt and was soon catching birds and small jungle animals for their meals.
Nala was sitting on a rock below a waterfall. The heavy curtain of water hung just seven feet in front of her. This was her favorite spot in all the jungle: Behind the waterfall. The cave was about twenty feet in depth, twenty-two feet wide and about nine high. Here, the water level never got up past her elbows.
Simba slowly approached, seeing her liquid figure behind the rushing water and hazy mist. She looked deep in thought.
"Nala?"
Nala smiled sweetly. "I was just thinking."
He came closer and sat on a rock next to her. "Thinking about what?"
Nala hesitated while her eyes, once again narrowed in thought. "Priderock."
Simba's heart skipped. Secretly, he had though about his previous home, but never actually told Nala. "What about Priderock?"
The lioness sighed. "Just before I left to follow you, Rafiki told me only to return when the time was right. And "
"- you're thinking - "
"It's time, Simba."
Her calm words stirred a strong feeling a confusion in him. "Uh, explain please?"
"Something is telling me, deep down, that we're needed at home," Nala said. "Priderock needs a king."
Simba thought a while about her words. He studied his surroundings: peace, space, beauty, freedom...they had it all here...but back at Priderock...
"I - I don't know, Nala."
"What's not to know?"
"This is our home now - "
"But we're needed back where we came from," Nala pressed serenely.
Simba slumped on his rock and stared at his paws. This was home to him. No worries, no problems, just peace and happiness.
Sighing, he whispered, "I guess you're right."
Nala smiled and nuzzled his ear. "Let's go."
~~~~~~~~~
Rafiki was sitting at the tip of Priderock when the winds started to howl and swirl. The baboon smiled. "It's time," he said to no one. His eyes shined.
"Rafiki? What's going on?" Came a familiar voice from behind him.
"Ah, join me, Sarabi," the monkey said. As she sat, "You've noticed that change in the winds, have you not?"
"Yes, it was quite nice just as hour ago," the queen agreed. "Now it's cloudy."
"Hm," Rafiki said thoughtfully. "I smell war."
"You smell what?"
"Change. War. True rulers..."
"What do you --- 'true rulers'?"
Smiling brightly, he turned to the aging queen. "Sarabi...you and the lionesses have endured true pain that was not aided. Perhaps that is part my fault, but it will soon end. Things will be different now. They know."
"They...?"
Rafiki grinned. "They."
"Does that mean...?" Sarabi's eyes widened. "You mean they're - "
"I do not know when, but it will be soon," Rafiki answered, looking out over the barren land. "Very soon."
*****~~~*****
How am I doing?
Thanks friends, J. Z.
~~~~~~
4 - Grown up Unnoticed
Two solid years had passed since the "disappearance" of the only heirs to the throne had occurred. The lionesses of Mufasa's pride, as they still called themselves, had given up hope. Both Sarafina and Sarabi still concealed the tiny flame within their hearts that symbolized the undying love for their cubs, but as every day passed without word of either Simba or Nala, the flame grew smaller.
Scar had considered it only right if he were to take to the throne after his brother's death. He had said kind words of both Mufasa and his nephew --- he ignored Nala's absence --- but the pride members knew deep down that Scar only wanted to sound civilized when really, in the depths of his cold heart, he meant none of it.
Rafiki had changed as well. He never said whether it was for the better or worse, only said, "In it's own time" every time he was asked a question. He kept to himself for the two years of division. Of course, he came down occasionally with a blessing or mystical medicine, but uncharacteristically strayed from emotional guidance. Lately, he could be found on a cliff in the gorge, discussing everyday matters with Mufasa's spirit most nights and hummed to himself in his tree by day.
~~~~~~~~~
Many, many miles from the Pridelands, and old jungle sat in the middle of nowhere. The terrain's sudden change from rough and rocky to lush and beautiful was a sight to be seen, no doubt. For passersby, it seemed nothing more than just a good rest stop where cool, clear water could be drunk before their journey was resumed. But for two young lions, this was home.
Simba and Nala decided it wise not to leave for the time being. Of course, from the beginning, they had a strong urge to get back to their pride, but with no sense of direction or distance, they thought better of their plan and stayed put.
The two lone lions had grown up without notice. Their parents had no knowledge of their lives anymore.
Though still the closest of friends, Simba would admit that he deeply admired Nala for much more than that: a friend. She was gorgeous in every aspect. Intoxicating blue-green eyes, perfect facial structure, slender body, tantalizing grace, astonishing innocence and honesty, a beautiful mind, and, what Simba considered best of all, a huge heart of gold. Any bad day could be cheered up with just one of the heart-melting smiles and a friendly nuzzle behind the ear. Yes, Simba could admit with a smile that his best friend was the most gorgeous lioness every created.
Nala could most likely say many of the same things right back. He was sleek, muscular, had an ever-ready, relaxed smile, a laid-back personality and a can-do attitude. She loved his easy-going strut, the gentle flick of his tail as he moved, the several loose strands of hair that graced his face, and his soft, yet powerful red-yellow gaze. His quiet, friendly voice, his child-like playfulness, his constant urge for adventure and love for peaceful star-gazing every night. She couldn't, and wouldn't, trade him for anything. Not even to be back home in the Pridelands.
Aside from the occasional homesickness and lonesomeness, Simba and Nala had lived a good life the past two years. For the first couple of days, when they showed up, finding food was difficult. Seeing that only bugs were their option as of now, the settled on it with a groan. Later, as they reached adolescence, Nala began to teach herself to hunt and was soon catching birds and small jungle animals for their meals.
Nala was sitting on a rock below a waterfall. The heavy curtain of water hung just seven feet in front of her. This was her favorite spot in all the jungle: Behind the waterfall. The cave was about twenty feet in depth, twenty-two feet wide and about nine high. Here, the water level never got up past her elbows.
Simba slowly approached, seeing her liquid figure behind the rushing water and hazy mist. She looked deep in thought.
"Nala?"
Nala smiled sweetly. "I was just thinking."
He came closer and sat on a rock next to her. "Thinking about what?"
Nala hesitated while her eyes, once again narrowed in thought. "Priderock."
Simba's heart skipped. Secretly, he had though about his previous home, but never actually told Nala. "What about Priderock?"
The lioness sighed. "Just before I left to follow you, Rafiki told me only to return when the time was right. And "
"- you're thinking - "
"It's time, Simba."
Her calm words stirred a strong feeling a confusion in him. "Uh, explain please?"
"Something is telling me, deep down, that we're needed at home," Nala said. "Priderock needs a king."
Simba thought a while about her words. He studied his surroundings: peace, space, beauty, freedom...they had it all here...but back at Priderock...
"I - I don't know, Nala."
"What's not to know?"
"This is our home now - "
"But we're needed back where we came from," Nala pressed serenely.
Simba slumped on his rock and stared at his paws. This was home to him. No worries, no problems, just peace and happiness.
Sighing, he whispered, "I guess you're right."
Nala smiled and nuzzled his ear. "Let's go."
~~~~~~~~~
Rafiki was sitting at the tip of Priderock when the winds started to howl and swirl. The baboon smiled. "It's time," he said to no one. His eyes shined.
"Rafiki? What's going on?" Came a familiar voice from behind him.
"Ah, join me, Sarabi," the monkey said. As she sat, "You've noticed that change in the winds, have you not?"
"Yes, it was quite nice just as hour ago," the queen agreed. "Now it's cloudy."
"Hm," Rafiki said thoughtfully. "I smell war."
"You smell what?"
"Change. War. True rulers..."
"What do you --- 'true rulers'?"
Smiling brightly, he turned to the aging queen. "Sarabi...you and the lionesses have endured true pain that was not aided. Perhaps that is part my fault, but it will soon end. Things will be different now. They know."
"They...?"
Rafiki grinned. "They."
"Does that mean...?" Sarabi's eyes widened. "You mean they're - "
"I do not know when, but it will be soon," Rafiki answered, looking out over the barren land. "Very soon."
*****~~~*****
How am I doing?