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FROM THE AUTHOR

This entry and the one before it is originally one whole entry. But, since, in real time, a new entry happens after midnight, the part where when it's over midnight is separated into this entry. Therefore, that's why these two entries have Part 1 and Part at the end of them. Expect this sort of thing to happen again.

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Entry 206: "Life and Death" (Part 2)

    …I suddenly awoke from my dream! I panted quietly and looked around. I looked toward the moon again, determining that it was past midnight already. I must have drifted off to sleep, I thought. Then, I focused on that dream I just had. Father and Mother were…together again after so long. But, they couldn't be unless…no. It couldn't be. Is that what Father was thinking about? Then, to my surprise, when I looked down the promontory, Father was walking away! I gasped quietly and watched him leave the kingdom. What could possess him to go out so late at night…in his condition?! I stood my ground until Father got far enough that he wouldn't spot me. I was going to follow him. I stood up, ran down the promontory, and went after Father to the east.

    Father and I walked a great distance from home. We even found ourselves in the jungle a few miles off from the kingdom. Discreetly, I tiptoed after Father, hiding behind trees and bushes and watching him. Wearily, he walked along the path past the watering hole. We then went up a hill that led to a tall mountain that was near the jungle. Suddenly, Father stopped for a moment and looked off toward the left edge of the mountain path. I saw a tear fall from his eye before he started off again. After he went on a bit more distance, I walked to the place he stood on and looked to the left to see Pride Rock far in the distant horizon. Fear suffocated me as I began to realize what he's doing. Trying to seal my incoming tears, I turned away and continued to walk after him.

    Soon, I made it to the top of the mountain and found myself in a small grassland with rocks and trees and a waterfall along the side. I looked to see Father finally sitting down at the edge, looking at the moon from where that has to be the best place to spot it. I briefly smiled and hid behind a tall rock, sighing. Realizing Father's intents, I whispered to myself, "Peace…he wants to find true peace in life. Even in his condition, he still seeks to do more in his life, no matter how small. Is that why he fought Vumi? For peace?" Suddenly, I heard the bushes rustle behind me. I looked from behind the rock and gasped to see Vumi again walking at Father! What is he doing here?! But, I stood still to watch what was happening. Vumi said, "Our story will finally end here."

        "That's right. Taka's not here to distract me this time," Father purred.

So, Vumi and Father's showdown wasn't finished yet. Taka and that lioness did interrupt. But, why would Father decide to fight now in his condition? He could die! But, there was no stopping this. The two lions attacked once last time.

    Mortally, the two lions stood on their hind legs and clashed each other with their claws. They roared and swiped at one another as Father stepped back onto all four feet. Vumi overhead swiped at him, but Father sidestepped away from him and swiped him back. Father may be in a weakened condition, but he still had enough strength left. They dashed and swiped past each other, both giving each other a bloody stripe down their side. Father strained and trembled in his arms. Vumi jumped on him and sunk his fangs in his back. Father roared out in pain and slapped Vumi away. He got back up and charged at him, tackling him. Vumi slid over the ground while Father roared out in anguishing pain. I looked to see that his most serious wounds have opened back up and blood poured down to the ground below him. He panted coarsely, coughed up blood, and fell to the side of his rump. Vumi got back up and chuckled, "You're running on empty, Ahadi. Your adrenalized strength is leaving you. Purification begins…with your demise by my paws!" Father stood back up and crouched slightly with blood still leaving him. The two rivals face each other, readying for the final clash similar to Ru-gal's and mine. The final blow will decide. Finally, the two lions dashed forward at each other! Horrifically, Vumi swung his right paw and struck Father in the side of the head! But, with a final burst of power, Father took his right paw and swiped Vumi back with an uppercut! Vumi was sent in midair, slowly twirling in a circle. Then, he dropped down the edge of the mountain, falling to his death if he wasn't dead from that hit. I was in awe that it was finally over. I knew my father was a great warrior, ever since I was a cub. I just knew it.

    Father walked over to the edge, looking down it and watching Vumi fall. I stepped from my hiding place and got a good look after him. Then, suddenly, Father purred, "Come to me, son." I gasped out, shocked that he knew I was here. He turned his head over his left shoulder, and I noticed that blood flow from his forehead down his face from his wound Vumi just gave him. He weakly said, "It's all right." I finally approached Father while he lied down to rest. I sat down once I got to him. "I knew you were following me," Father said. "But, I respect that you let me fight him with no interference."

        "But, why? Why did you want to finish your fight in your condition? You lost a lot of blood."

        "It doesn't matter. I wanted to fight to finally make peace with my past, and I did. Vumi may still be alive, but I've killed our friendship and our useless bond once and for all."

        "He's still…alive? But, your fight was a waste of…"

        "No, you don't understand. That fight had more meaning that you realize. Now that it's over, I'm finally in peace and struck fear into Vumi. Seeing how strong I was in my prime, he's frightened of what you can do. It's a shame, though. I really wanted to see my precious granddaughter grow up."

I immediately stood up and pawed the ground hard. "Why the hell are you saying that?! If we start back now, Rafiki can help patch your wounds back up! You must recover; the pride needs you! I need you."

        "No, Mufasa. I served my purpose in life and lived it the best I can. I have nothing else to contribute now. Besides, this wound on my head that Vumi gave me is indeed…fatal. With my final hour coming, I only desire one last thing: to see my darling Uru again."

I stared incredulously at Father. I couldn't believe that he's saying such things. I bowed my head, trying to hold back my tears. Then, Father's paw cupped under my chin and brought my head up. "Mufasa, I'm sure you're wondering why…why Uru would forsake Taka instead of you." That thought immediately came back to mind. I kept quiet and listened. "Even though he's of our blood, Uru never considered Taka to be her son. She hides her true feelings very well, doesn't she?"

        "What do you mean?"

        "You were far too young to remember. But, it was tradition to throw our cubs down a rocky hill and if they came back up the hill, those cubs are our true legacy. You did that with Zuhura, didn't you?"

        "Yes, I did," I replied. "She wasn't too fast, but she did it."

        "Well, the truth is Taka never did climb back up the hill when you did. He coiled up in fright and cried."

        "My God! If he didn't climb the hill, shouldn't he have been…?"

        "Dead. But, after what happened in my past, I hated the idea of killing one of my sons for the sake of the pride. So, I let Taka live, and Uru understood. But, she claimed that him not climbing the hill was a disturbing sign that he would doom this land one day. I didn't want to believe it; we showed him the best of our love. But, I couldn't overlook the fact that Uru was right. Taka may have been a wise cub, but our expectations were never reached through him. He was dependent on us, begged for love to just come to him when he should earn it, and never seemed to grow or develop at all. While your depression developed your character a hundred-fold, Taka never did change. He also bottles things up inside and never seemed to express himself. We never knew how he felt because he never opened up; therefore, we couldn't do anything for him. We're not that omniscient."

He blinked and felt my ears start to water up. He made it clear to me. I may have been inconsiderate when I made Taka jealous of having a mate, but he should've said something. I couldn't always take in account of everyone's feelings of my actions. I have to live my own life the way I want to and be eager to change whatever bothers someone after negotiation. But, Taka didn't do anything and worried me sick when he disappeared. I couldn't help but be very angry with him. He didn't trust me. How could he have thought I wouldn't understand him? "Do you understand?" Father purred.

        "Yes. That explains a lot," I replied. "But, I love him."

        "I know. I do, too. I can only wish that he would prove Uru and I wrong and change. But, it all…depends on…him."

That last sentence sounded very hoarse. I noticed that Father was panting quite rapidly. He pulled his paw from me, closed his eyes, and shook without stability. He held up his paw and felt his wounded head, obviously throbbing in pain. I gasped as he showed his weakened state to me, and he gasped out and collapsed hard on the ground. I jumped in fright and grabbed around him. "Father, hang on! Father!" I cried. Father reopened his eyes, but he still shook terribly. "Mu…Mufasa…it's almost time for…for me to leave this world," he groaned.

        "No. No! Please!"

        "Help me up. It's almost sunrise. I want to see the sun one last time. Mufasa!" he gasped. "Oh! I want to feel its bright rays once more and say…goodbye to the pride."

My jaw trembled. I just couldn't bare this. But, I stomached my grief and nodded.

    I helped Father stand back up onto his feet. We stood at the edge of the mountain and saw Pride Rock in the distance. It was dawn. The sun began to rise over the horizon behind my kingdom. I stepped closer to Father and nuzzled into him. He nuzzled me back and put one paw over mine. The sun continued to rise, our shadows appearing behind us. The blue sky beamed with its cloud flowing with it. "Son, I want you to live your life to its fullest, no matter what. Because, even if you die, you will die knowing you were truly happy," Father said.

        "Is that how you feel now?" I murmured sadly.

        "I have…no regrets."

Then, Father exhaled and roared toward the sun tragically one last time. His roar would split the heavens and make his pathway there. I joined my father and roared alongside him. We messaged Father's goodbye together throughout the land. Then, suddenly, we both heard the pride from a distance roar back to us while we continued. Then, finally, Father's roar died down, and I saw him collapse to the ground once again. I stopped and gasped. "Father? Father! No!" I cried. But, it was over. Father's body was still. His eyes were shut. He was gone. Ahadi is dead. Tears finally raced down my muzzle, and I shook in complete sadness. "Father," I whimpered. "No…no…" Unable to overcome grief, I threw my head to the sky and wailed, "FATHER!!!!!!!" I sobbed to myself, pawing the ground angrily as the sun continued to rise to bring a new day…in tragedy…