After Le Roi Lion (I love French!) - Ch 5
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS, PEOPLE HUMANS! YOU ARE JUST MAKING MY DAY EVERY TIME!
Radhi yawned deeply. Realizing he was the only up, he left the den and sauntered casually to the water hole. Fondly he stared across the waters.
"I remember coming here," He said, thinking aloud.
"Wasn't it fun when we used to come here and tease Monty?"
He looked beside him. There was Ke. She gazed into his eyes with her piercing green. Oh, how her eyes reminded him of Scar's.
"Yeah," He said, smiling.
She didn't smile at him. "Why didn't you come back for me?"
Radhi sighed. "I don't know."
"Radhi," Ke said. "When you were talking to Sarifa last night, what did you mean, "I only wish you could understand?""
Radhi sighed once more. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Think of this, Ke, you've been raised to think I died and that hyenas, Scar, and all -" He sighed. "Those people are evil. I could tell you in words, but that wouldn't make you understand."
"It made Sarifa understand!"
He sighed once more. "Sarifa is my sister. The only thing in the world she could have wanted was another to care for her. So did I. We had the same past, so she understood me! You normal people - you can't understand us! It's as if there's some barrier that keeps you from understanding that we're all lions, that we're all the same and nothing's to be fought about! You're just another lion. You could never understand!" Radhi was sobbing now.
"Forget it," Ke said, plainly.
"Fine."
"Perfectly!"
Blinded by his sorrow Radhi ran from the scene. No matter where he was headed, he just ran. Shortly after leaving the scene of the argument, rain started to thunder against the ground. Radhi payed it no mind.
"All retreat!" Simba called.
Ke sighed and ran for the den. For hours she stared out the entrance, wondering when her friend would return. And never did he. Throughout the night the rain beat down against the den, lowering the spirits of all of it's contents; the pride.
He was sopping wet. His paws were caked with mud, his scarred throbbing as though a stone was jumping on it. His mane hung over his face and nearly blinded him. He drag his tail behind him. His eyes were closed, and so he blindly kept walking. He wasn't aware of any of his surroundings, and so he just staggered on. Endlessly. His black lips were pulled into an unsure, betrayed frown. His normally neat fur was slicked down, falling over him. Even his whiskers drooped. His tail dragged in the mud. He couldn't be sure what was rain; and what his tears.
"Ke, don't! You'll freeze!"
Vitani helplessly watched Ke emerge onto the cold, wet savanna.
"No."
Coughing she went on. How could Radhi survive out here? Ke had begun to feel sorry for herself; but how could she? Radhi was obviously in much worse shape than herself. She forced herself not to think about her misfortunes.
"I have to find Radhi," She said aloud, staggering about the soaked pride lands.
She felt weak; like she could hardly stand. Like the entire world was pushing, pushing with all it's might to collapse her. Her vision was becoming blury. Her paws throbbed, for her claws were caked with mud. Her mauled shoulder was beginning to act up. Her heart pounded in her head; creating a throbbing sensation unlike anything she had ever felt before. Why was she doing this? No. She had to save Radhi. No matter what it took. She had to save her friend.
Shivering, he lay in a den-like shelter. It was not particularly warm, but it was dry and safe from that awful... feeling.
"Radhi!" She exclaimed.
There was her friend, lying in a cave. Head down, eyes closed. He seemed to be out. Grinning, she lay next to her friend and fell asleep.
"Ke." He moved closer to his best friend. "Why did you come for me?"
"I thought you might like some help."
"Why do you care?"
"I thought that was what friends do?"
They nuzzled, and Radhi finally smiled.
How could Ke understand his love for Scar? Unlike Sarifa, Ke had been through it. She had lived through Radhi's capture. She had suffered. She was already angry at him for not telling her, but how could he? Ke was raised in a completely different world than ever Sarifa; practically her sister.
"Ke?" He asked.
"Hmm?"
"I - uh - that day, when the hyenas took me, I was captured by Scar."
"I know, Radhi," Ke said. "I heard."
"Does that mean you-"
"I understand. Sure." She was losing her temper now. "I understand completely, Radhi. Why you abandoned this perfect life, with perfect friends, to live with an evil madman!"
Wheeping, she ran. The storm had let up, and soon she was back in the pride lands. Where she belonged.
"No Ke," Radhi said to thin air. "How can I make you understand?"
With quite some hesitation, Radhi headed towards the den. Somehow he would have to make his whole pride understand.
"Radhi." It was Scar.
"Scar?"
"I will come with you, my friend."
"No, Scar! Don't! You'll get killed!"
"Perhaps I will, but I could use some excitement around here."
Radhi smiled. How much different he was than the 'Scar' everyone in his pride had told him about. How could they all understand how much he had changed!
"Radhi!" Sarifa ran to greet him.
"Oh, Sarifa."
Sarifa gasped. "Scar?"
Radhi nodded. "No. He won't hurt you."
In fear, Sarifa took a step backward.
"He's a friend. My friend."
Sarifa sighed, but what kind of a liar was Radhi? He had told her he was loyal to Scar, how bad could he be?
"Er, hello." Scar shuffled his paws on the ground.
Sarifa smiled. "Hello Scar. My brother Radhi has told me all about you."
Scar and Radhi smirked at each other, playfully. "Right then."
The three lions made their way into the den.
Simba growled. "Scar!" He gasped.
Monty was right with him, growling and snarling as well. "You. You killed everything that ever mattered to me!"
"And me."
"And me."
Nala hung back with Vitani. How could she explain that she felt feelings for him?
"No!" She said, before she knew it came from her mouth.
Simba looked back, in surprise and disgust.
It all happened so fast; in front of Radhi's eyes. Soon he was screaming, "No!" Simba blamed Nala of being "evil", Nala exposed all her true feelings to Simba.
"All these years, Simba! You've ignored us, been a loner. You hardly ever looked at your daughter! How can you stand to do this to us?"
And soon they began piling on top of each other in one formation of hate and sorrow. In not long, they were both gone. Simba and Nala. The great king and queen of Pride Rock. The most well known heroes ever to make their way into the Pride Lands.
Radhi stared, wide eyed, at the scene. There they were, in a gorge. Under a pile of rocks. His parents. His parents that he had only just returned to. His parents he hardly knew.
Scar could only wish to be in such a positive state. He stood over the gorge, his face expressionless, his eyes cold. His mane was blowing, and he made no move. He hardly looked as though he was breathing. And his face was sopping wet.
"Scar?" Radhi put his muzzle nearer to Scar, worry filling his eyes.
Scar didn't move. What was wrong? Surely he didn't feel any sympathy or despair because of the death of Simba and Nala?
"Scar? What's wrong?" Radhi asked.
Scar's face fell. Soon, he was simply looking into the blackness of his mane. Radhi nuzzled him.
"Are you okay?"
No response.
"Radhi?" He turned to see Sarifa. She was smiling at him, her eyes filled with tears, of sorrow or happiness it was hard to tell.
"Let's go home."
"But-"
"He needs time on his own, Radhi. Have you ever witnessed a great loss?"
"But Sarifa, you don't understand! I've cared for him, for years. He's never let me down, ever! Do you expect me to just leave him here?"
"No Radhi, she's right." Radhi turned to see Scar.
His face hadn't moved, his eyes were tightly sealed.
"But Scar, I-"
"Just go, okay?"
With a sigh he left.
"It's okay," Sarifa said. "You've done all you can. What's left, he'll have to learn for himself."
It was painful, leaving his best friend to suffer. But somehow, Radhi knew that Sarifa was right. Perhaps it was for the best. For hours he stared out the door of the den, out at his friend; never moving from that position. How could he do that? Often he was nearly impossible to have a conversation with; for he went into these trances... and when he was on his own, he was always in some trance or another. What was it that led him to this sadness? Forever Radhi had felt some bond between them - why? He was just another lion, right? What was special about this dark, depressed, nearly evil lion?
Sarifa was struggling with just those questions. She too felt sympathy, a bond with Scar. Why Scar? Why not one of the million other lions out there in a similar predicament?
Meanwhile, Scar suffered through his unbearable issues. She was gone and him, still there. Still alive. He was years older than her, why had she left so early? His daughter, his precious, the one he'd always admired; his Nala, was gone. He had proof. He would never see her again.
"Come, sweet Nala. It's written in the stars. We'll create a host of little Scars." What had he been thinking then? What had he been thinking the day he nearly forced his daughter, the one who never had a father, upon himself? Perhaps he should have told her. But now, it was too late. She had already gone. And all her life, she had lived without a father. Just like her daughter. And it was all because of him. Why did his selfishness lead him to these foolish decisions? Perhaps he didn't need a friend as much as Radhi made him out to. Maybe he was simply selfish. Perhaps he shouldn't have attempted these things in the first place. What would his life be like then? Anything is better than what I've become, he thought.
With a sigh he headed for the den.
"Scar!" Radhi exclaimed when he saw him.
But Scar ignored him and lay in a corner, far from the others. They all stared at him. They stared at him with hate and disgust. He ignored them. But Radhi was far from ignoring them.
"What?" He asked. "Is there something wrong with him? Is there some disease that we're all gonna catch if we get near to him?"
"No Radhi," Came his quiet voice. "Let them be."
"But Scar, they're -"
"I know. Perhaps I was not made for this world."
He left. Why? What was with him lately?
That night Radhi never slept. What was Scar doing out there? What had he gotten himself in to? Was something wrong with him? Why had he been acting so miserable? Perhaps it is his time, It was a disturbing thought. Although, the lion was the oldest ever living lion Radhi could think of, with the possible exception of Sarafina; who was still hanging on. But even she was younger than he. Could he be leaving Radhi? How could he survive without him?
There he was. Blood oozing from his unmoving body. He was dead.
"No."
"Scar. You can't leave me, my brother. You've always been there for me... ever since I was a cub. How can I let that go?"
Perhaps it had been suicide. Scar had never been the most cheerful lion, and lately he seemed to have gone into depression.
"I never even got to say goodbye."
Sarafina was acting oddly. She seemed as though she had lost more than simply one. Normally, she was quite a chatterbox and would give any excuse to be around another. But lately, she had stayed away from the others. Always with a betrayed look in her eyes. She seemed so "I know you don't want me" lately. It had been a few weeks since Scar's death. Every night Radhi prayed to the Great Kings to bring Scar back. So many questions still to ask him... But what was Sarafina's problem?
"Sarafina?" Radhi asked one day.
Sarafina looked up, tears staining her old face.
"Is something wrong?"
Sarafina sighed. "There's something, something I never told her, nor anyone. She was so seemingly fatherless... Perhaps I should have told her, but now they're both gone."
"What does that mean?"
"Nala had a father. A kind father. But jealousy and misery drove him to madness. And he never was the same."
"What?" Radhi was astonished.
How could it be true? "He was a kind hearted lion, would never hurt a fly. And he was so charming. But he had a dark spirit, a dark spirit that controlled him, that made him do terrible things. His mind was poisoned, wounded, controlled by something evil."
Scar! Nala's father?
"And so I could never tell anyone that he was the father of the princess of Pride Rock. But, regardless of whether he felt the same way towards me, I loved him. I loved him my whole life. I never once gave up hope. I had faith in him. I knew that his sorrowful way of life was not entirely his fault. I knew that there was no way he could help himself. Scar was her father, Radhi, Scar."
"I know."
And with that, Sarafina took a stuttering breath, and fell to the ground. She never arose.
"Sarafina," Radhi choked. "Rest in peace."
What did the lessons mean? Nala and Simba died in their fighting. It was tragic. Scar died in his sorrow. Sarafina died because it was her time; and because everyone had left her. Were these lessons of times passed? He knew what he had to do. He had to take his place. As king of Pride Rock. But how could he?
"My dear Taka Scar,
They've all left me. Why did you? Your mate, Sarafina, died in her sorrow. Her last word was "Scar." Perhaps you were loved, Scar, you were. You didn't need to act the way you did. I loved you; I depended on you for life. How can I live without you? You gave me courage, you helped me earn an understanding of life. There is no other way to say it; you saved my life. As you did those of many. I suppose I have now a better understanding of the world. And now, I know what I have to do. Thank you, Scar, thank you for all you've ever done for me. And that is more than one can express."
Ooh! It may not be a cliff hanger, but it's a pretty bad place to stop, no? Heh heh. I've finished the whole thing on my computer, and (everyone sobs) it's almost over. Review...? Please?
