Author's Note: I'm back! This is another short chapter because I had a bad case of writer's block trying to finish this one. But it'll pick back up in chapter 13, I promise. In the story's terms, the ending is going to come really quickly - but due to my own personal slacking it won't be done anytime soon. I blame working from 10-6 - I get home and am too fried to do anything but check on my forums and sleep.
Morph, welcome back! And BoundingJackalope, thanks for the first review! I hope I can keep you interested.
The lion was rather handsome, with medium brown fur and a full light brown mane. His tail was flicking gently behind him as his blue eyes stared into the dark night, fixated on something beyond his sight. He had a powerful frame and an emotionless face, seeming to be a stone statue seated on his stone throne.
Saga sat a distance away from Maten, nodding his head approvingly. As Saga began to circle him, Maten remained still. After a couple turns, Saga sat directly in front of him and spoke quietly.
"Your own mother would not recognize you, Maten."
Maten's head turned down slowly and he looked Saga in the eyes, a little surprised. He sighed quietly, shaking his head slowly. Saga had become insane forever shortly after they had left the Pride Lands behind. His eyes were always bloodshot now and he rambled for most of the time.
Maten, however, had grown out of his lanky body and had become rather handsome. Saga spent his last days clinging to sanity to train Maten in the fine arts of stalking, pouncing, and any other basics he could think of. However, after he lost it the fun really began with fights and practice on young animals. Maten was soon able to overpower Saga in mere minutes, a feat not even older Raevn could have accomplished.
Saga cackled and jumped towards the Pride Lands, a feverish tone again returning to his voice.
"We have work to do, Maten! Work! Come, come."
Maten stared at the older lion's back, resisting an urge to sink his fangs into his throat. He needed Saga until after the overthrowing, and possibly longer. Their deal was that Saga could do anything except breed with Kiara, Arina and two other lionesses, the pale Kamaria and the black and white Winda. They were his. Saga had readily accepted to these terms because it left him many with which to mate.
But Maten planned on killing him before he even approached a female.
Maten lifted himself slowly and stepped off the rock, following Saga's excited bounds at a run. He knew instinctively when they crossed into the Pride Lands – the memory of his mother's broken body flooded back into his mind. He snarled quietly and caught up with Saga, his claws unintentionally sliding out of his paws. Before the night ended, Kovu would be in the stars and Saga would be nothing more than a memory.
Saga slowed his bounce to a run slightly faster than Maten's. He figured the young lion wanted to kill him – his insanity made him jumpy. And Maten dared to put the desired Kiara on hold for himself? Saga didn't need to listen to him. He may have been out matched in their fights, but after killing Kovu Maten would be tired and wounded. And then, Saga would strike and claim the Pride Lands for himself.
High above them, a green speck fluttered quickly in the direction of Pride Rock, hidden against the protective cloak of night.