Alrighty on to chapter 11, I started it at 10:12 pm on June 16. Don't you just love random trivia? Time to thank my lovely reviewers.
Bounding Jackalope: My goodness that was the fastest review I have ever gotten. I swear it had to have been 15 minutes after I updated. Any way thanks for the review.
Sunrise19: Yes the warthog was Pumbaa; I did not really want to reveal him since I felt it was better to keep him out of the picture until later. Hope you understood that, well thanks for the review.
MorpheusDreamer: I knew my dialogue was sort of artificial as you said and I will try to do what you suggested, of course I can't promise you anything but I will try to work on that. Also I understand your predicament with going away for a while so just review when you can, thank you for helping me out with this so I know what I am doing wrong.
Pichooi: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked the Rafiki's painting idea, and you'll feel even more sorry for Ahadi in this next chapter. Hope you like it.
Grifffinrose: That review you gave me was funny, you get that wildebeest Sasha. (I don't know why my computer says that name is spelled wrong) Thanks for the review.
Okay now on to a really sad chapter
My first ten months as advisor came and went like the afternoon storms that moistened the ground. I was amazed by how easy my job became and I felt proud to be a member of royals who protected the great land that many creatures cherished.
A few days after I first starting my advising, I met some messenger finches who were willing to find my mother, grandfather, and sister and tell them the news of my new home. About a month later, Kalifa arrived for a visit and see if it really was true that I was part of a royal family. She was even happier about it once she met Mufasa who freely told her that I was a great brother for her and that she was truly blessed, I of course blushed at the statement.
Kalifa only stayed for a day before flying back to tell our mother and grandfather more about it. That was not the last time I saw her either, she made regular trips to see me once a month to see how things were coming along.
After ten months of living with the pride, I began to notice that Ahadi's health was beginning to diminish rapidly. He rarely joined Mufasa in the afternoon wanderings through the pride lands to make sure everything was alright. He rarely hunted and usually Sarabi had to bring something back to pride rock with her. Usually when I returned with my morning reports, I found him sleeping under one of the trees beside pride rock and oftentimes I thought he was dead, of course I found that a light shaking would wake him up, even if he grouched about me doing it afterward.
It was the end of the dry season when the day came though for Ahadi to join the kings of old with the stars in the sky. I remembered that day well too. I was sitting on a branch near the waterhole waiting for Tafari to give me some interesting news for the day. I was not alone either; Kalifa had come by to spend a few days with me and talk about home.
She was telling me about how our mother had found a new mate and was thinking about having more chicks come along the way, I of course was excited about that, more brothers and sisters! Of course I would probably never meet them with my busy schedule.
While Kalifa talked, I suddenly saw a dark figure move slowly through the grass toward the waterhole. At first I thought it was going to be a rogue lion or Scar but then I realized that the pelt was a little lighter than Scars. I waited for a few moments and that's when I noticed it to be Ahadi. And I was quite surprised to see him up.
"Well would you look at that, Ahadi's up, I wonder if he is starting to feel better," I said happily.
"I don't know Zazu, look at his eyes, they seem so mournful, and his ribs are showing. Zazu I don't think Ahadi will get better," said Kalifa in a rather worried tone.
As I looked at Ahadi more I did notice that his body had grown weaker since I first saw him. You don't really notice these things because you are around them so often until someone else points it out. He almost seemed like a skeleton to me and what was left of his mane looked like a very sick adolescents.
We watched him walk slowly toward the water hole, and every step looked quite painful for him. Finally the inevitable occurred and he stood in the spot he was standing for a moment before collapsing in a heap. I knew that was not good and looked over at Kalifa with a worried face.
"Oh Zazu I don't like what I am seeing, I think we should go check on him," said Kalifa.
I silently nodded and swooped down toward the old lion. When I landed next to him I found that his eyes were closed and at first I thought him to be dead until I saw his chest slowly rising up and down.
"Ahadi….sir….are you alright?" I asked, as I patted his old paws with my wing.
Ahadi opened his eyes but only halfway before speaking. "Taka…..is that you?" he asked in a very weak voice. I did not like the sound of it at all.
"No, sir it's me…." I was about to say my name but he interrupted me.
"Mufasa…..I need to tell you…..something," said Ahadi.
"No sir, it's me Zazu," I said worriedly.
"Where's Taka…..and…..Mufasa….they haven't…..deserted me….have they?" asked Ahadi.
"No sir, they are out hunting with the rest of the pride," I said.
"Then….who's going to…..lead the pride?" asked Ahadi, I could tell that he was now delirious.
"Oh Zazu I don't like this at all, you better go find Taka and Mufasa, I'll stay here with him and keep an eye on him," said Kalifa.
I needed no second bidding and quickly flew off in search of Mufasa and Scar.
It seemed like forever before I found them but it really took no time at all. They were hunting just a few miles from Pride Rock and luckily they were still in stalking mode.
"Sire, I am very sorry to interrupt your hunting," I said as I flew down toward Mufasa while the zebra they had been hunting were now running off to a safer place.
"Zazu you made us loose our lunch," said Mufasa angrily.
"I'm sorry sir but its your father, I was sitting by the water hole and he came walking over but he collapsed, I think he's dying sir," I said worriedly.
Mufasa then looked at Scar who without a word began to run as fast as he could toward the water hole. Mufasa immediately followed and so did I.
When we arrived, we found Rafiki already there and looking quite worried. Mufasa ran up to him.
"Is he alright?" asked Mufasa.
Rafiki shook his head sadly. "He wants to speak with you and Taka one more time, I will leave you three in peace now," said Rafiki who then turned to me and told me to fly out of hearing range.
I moved out of the way and perched on a nearby tree with Kalifa who then began to cry on my shoulder, she had never seen anything like this before and neither did I. While Ahadi spoke to Mufasa and Scar, the lionesses arrived and watched the three males from far away. Even though I could not hear what they were saying I could tell it was sad because I could see tears falling down Mufasa and Scar's face.
About ten minutes later I saw Mufasa and Scar bend their heads down and kiss their father before turning to the rest of the pride.
"Our father is now dead, Rafiki, if you could do so, he wishes to be buried next to our mother under that acacia tree near pride rock," said Mufasa who did his best to hold back the tears.
"I would be honored to do that, but I will need some help carrying him," said Rafiki.
Mufasa and Scar nodded and then began the task of helping Rafiki carry him back to Pride Rock.
The rest of the afternoon was spent burying the old king under the acacia tree next to his beloved, Kalifa and I watched in sadness once he had been fully buried and flowers were placed on the grave site by each lioness of the pride. Kalifa and I even pitched in with putting a flower on the grave.
Once the flowers were set, Mufasa began to speak.
"My father was a wonderful king, he taught me well on how to follow in his footsteps. He knew how to care for the animals of the pride lands and treated all you lionesses as individuals. He was a wonderful husband who was loyal to our mother and understanding when he needed to be, he will surely be missed," said Mufasa who then turned to Scar with a serious face. Scar then began to speak.
"Even though my father did not love me as much as Mufasa, I still respected him. Even though he spent more time teaching Mufasa ways on how to be a king and less time teaching me how to hunt, I still respected him. And to let everyone know, before he passed he informed me that I am first in line to become the next king, it may change though if Mufasa has a child," said Scar who then gave a slight sneer at the mention of a child that would be born to take his place in line. From that moment on I could tell that he did not want his position changed by another lion, especially one much younger than him.
Once the funeral was completed, Kalifa flew down to give her condolences to the king.
"I'm sorry about your loss sir and I am sorry for visiting at such a bad time as this," said Kalifa sadly.
"No apologies young miss, you did not know this would happen and I am glad you were here to witness it, Zazu you have the rest of the day off, since it is time for mourning" said Mufasa.
Kalifa and I nodded and flew back to the tree where Mufasa began to descend Pride Rock. Once he reached the edge, he gave out a loud, mournful roar that echoed the Pride Lands, announcing the death of an old king.
A/N: There's chapter 11 for you, I hope you all liked it. I will hopefully have chapter 12 up by Friday and hopefully it will be more cheerful than this one. It kinda went well with this week since its fathers day and everything. Well please review and tell me how I did. And have a great week.