"Oh Sarafina, he's gorgeous ..."
The ooh's and ah's were flooding the cave as the Pridelanders fell in love with the cream-colored cub that Sarafina had recently brought into the world just mere hours ago. Worn out from her labor, she accepted the compliments on her son and kindly dismissed the lionesses from the den. She was too exhausted to reply to each and every flattering remark her son received.
She beckoned Nala to stay however.
Peering down on to her mother's paws, the lioness couldn't help but stare at how insanely handsome her newborn brother was. He resembled both the females, yet had these emerald eyes that struck a chord in her heart; like she had seen those exact same eyes before countless times ... she dismissed this thought, however.
"Mom, he's so cute ... Kula and I were talking about his arrival a few days ago, too. So small ..." Bending down to reach eye level with the cub, she nuzzled him softly as he drifted off to sleep. A feeling of love and sibling-hood overwhelmed her ... who knew something with no reason at that point, could make an impact so large.
"Mm ... my son. We've been waiting for you." Sarafina whispered softly as she rested her head beside her paws, the cub nice and snug inside and pressed gently against her chest. It'd been so long since she last got to baby her daughter, so to have the feeling of motherhood again and being the prime protector in her child's life, brought her some sanity back from the grave.
Nala stared at her mother for a moment. She seemed so lost in time with her brother ... yet there were no bits of jealousy – more so relief that her mother was now a complete soul.
"What's his name, mom?"
Sarafina closed her eyes and wrinkled her brow slightly as she contemplated on a suitable name for the cub. Should she name him after either the late Prince or King? Or possibly one of her ancestors from long ago ... ideas swarmed her head, until she broke the silence by chuckling to herself and smiling.
Nala was dumbfounded. "Well? What is it that you have that grin on?"
"Mheetu." The named rolled off Sarafina's tongue as if it were sacred within itself. So softly said, with love in each corner of the name.
Tilting her head to the side, she gazed back towards her brother and raised her brow slightly. "Mheetu ... it fits him. Good name, mom."
"Thank you ... Nala, Why don't you go see if there's anything out there worth hunting, with Kula? I need my rest, as well as your brother."
With a simple nod, Nala abided her mother's favor.
"Oh, Nala ... if those Hyenas give you any trouble, don't be afraid to get a little hostile. It's what you have to do at this time to still get respect as the top of the food chain." She let off a little snicker as she went back to adoring her son. Nala gave a single salute and raced off and down Pride Rock, Kula giving chase not far behind.
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As Sarafina was left alone in the cave, a shadowy figure lurked in from the outside; heading slowly over towards Sarafina and her resting offspring. Sensing the presence of another, she quickly opened her eyes and tightly snuggled Mheetu in case of any threats.
"As you were, Sarafina. I was just taking in the sight of my son."
Why, out of all lions and Kings to be in her presence, did it have to be Scar? Inside, Sarafina quivered at the fact she had birthed the tyrant's son, and a possible heir to the throne.
"Come now, Sara' ... let me see him. I promise I won't hurt him. How would I look if I took tradition to its extreme and killed my own son?" ... Scar seemed less conniving than usual, and this puzzled Sarafina deeply. However, who was she to deny Scar the right of seeing her son? Prying open her paws, she let the King glance down to see what the two had helped reproduce.
"Ah, he's glorious. A little small ... but he'll grow. Does he have a name, dear?"
"Please try to refrain from calling me that, Scar," Sarafina growled slightly through clenched teeth.
"Oh bother, you always get so offended when I call you that. Now, a name?"
With a sigh, she peered down to the cub and smirked. "Mheetu."
Scar cringed a tad ... Mheetu ... sounds strangely similar to grandfather's name ... Mohatu ... Mheetu ... MUFASA! Scar had literally driven himself mad over the memory of his deceased brother. Anything triggered it off these days.
"Mheetu. ... That's ... fine, for an heir. Keep him close by, dear. Wouldn't want the Hyenas to get to him." Deviously smiling, he turned his back to leave. Sarafina called for him to halt before he completely exited the cave.
"I hear Zira is soon expecting as well, with your cub."
Scar snorted and rolled his eyes. "And why is that your business? Who knows ... her cub may give little Mheetu here a run for his money in becoming my successor. OH, and by the way –" he playfully tapped a claw on his chin and pretended to think for a moment. "You didn't by any chance tell Nala about this, have you?"
" ... No, Scar. She's completely clueless as to who Mheetu's father is. However ... he does have your eyes."
A light in Scar's own eyes gleamed and he turned to face Sarafina once more with a new found ego. "My eyes, you say? Well then, he definitely shall be a tough competitor. Let us wait and see. Good evening, dear." And with that, the King scampered off towards the promontory to gaze about his dying Kingdom.
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"Nala can never know who your father is, my son ... and I refuse to let you become his heir. Never."
With those words said, she finally fell asleep as the day dragged on. Mheetu would be Sarafina's last child beared, and the last to bear such a fate that life had in store for him.