Chapter VI: A Gloomy Future
Nala woke up after her dream. She yawned as she lifted her cranium; she hadn't slept in this morning. Her mother was by her side, as well as the other lioness. And... hyenas? Nala gasped, but then remembered about the tragedy. She sighed, and would have cried, but she had wept so long she couldn't find any more tears to cry. She sighed and put her paws over her mother, who was still sleeping.
It was hard for her to face that fact that Simba was no longer going to be around, and that Scar was the new king. "I can't believe you would leave me, Simba," she sighed. She studied the den; so much had changed in less then a day. And she had only her mother to turn to. She shook her head at the ground. How could she go on another day alone? She raised her head to survey the new day, and began to walk out to greet it. It was earlier than she thought; even Scar was still asleep.
But, at the peak of Pride Rock stood a lone lioness, gazing out into the horizon. Nala, curious, slowly padded up to her. It was Sarabi, staring off into the open, with empty eyes that seemed to be searching, grieving or yearning for something. Nala felt bad for Sarabi, who had lost more than a king and a prince. She had lost her entire family. Possibly what she had been living for this entire time. Nala walked up to Sarabi and brushed against her, looking up at her with compassionate eyes.
"Hello Nala..." Sarabi greeted softly. "You're up early."
Nala pawed the ground. "I had trouble sleeping... I... had a dream."
"Oh," Sarabi responded softly.
"I'm really sorry Sarabi," Nala nearly blurted out. "I know it's not easy. But it must be really hard for you."
Sarabi smiled at the ground and then at Nala. "I can't believe that they could all be gone in such a sort matter of time like that... What are the chances?" Sarabi thought aloud to Nala. She shook her head at the ground. Nala also looked at the ground, thinking about Sarabi's unanswered questions.
"And worse, they left Scar as king..." Sarabi sighed. "Do you see all of those herds of animals, Nala? The green grass, the blossoming wildflowers and lively trees?"
The cub nodded. "Yes, I do..."
"In a matter of time, those will all be gone. Scar will be sentencing us to death with the hyenas here. They will eat away at everything until there is nothing left..." she closed her eyes and hung her head. Nala tried to imagine the Pride Lands empty and dull.
"That can't be possible," Nala insisted.
"It is, Nala." The two looked out into the horizon.
"Sarabi... are you still going to be queen?"
"Who would want to be..." the lioness answered softly.
Nala could sense the sadness in Sarabi's voice. She rested her head on Sarabi's leg and they both watched the sun brighten the savanna.
"I wonder if I'll still be queen one day," she thought aloud, quietly.
Sarabi looked down on her, but said nothing. She simply did not know what to say to her. But she knew that unless Simba could come back from the dead, Nala would not want to be, and probably wouldn't be around when her time came.
Or, perhaps, Sarabi thought, there could be a way to overthrow Scar... with the help from Nala.