Chapter Three: The Storm

Miru screamed as he jumped awake. Everything was dark as he looked around. He heard the rain fall steadily outside of the cave entrance. No other lion was in the cave. He sat up and squinted as hard as he could. He had problems seeing out of his right eye.

He jumped when he noticed a light yellow mound behind him. It was his mother!

"Mom, wake up," he said.

There was no response from the sleeping lioness.

"Mom? Hey, wake up, okay? Mom?"

He took a step toward her. She still didn't move. He walked around her back legs.

"Come on, Mom . . ."

He froze in his tracks. Nasty red gashes covered all of her front. Her beautiful fur was caked together with dried blood. Her blue-green eyes were glazed over, forever staring at nothing . . .

Miru screamed at the top of his lungs. He ran out of the cave and into the stormy night. His mother's eyes haunted him as he stumbled down the walkway from Pride Rock. He sprinted off, trying to get away. His fur was soaked through, but he continued to run.

He stopped at the pond where he and his mother sat earlier in the day. He cried loudly as he sat on the bank of the pond, looking out into the water. The rain fell with no intent of stopping. It disturbed the pond's surface, fat droplets causing little ripples.

Miru walked over to the water and looked down at his reflection. It was distorted from the rain and the lack of light, but he looked closely. He saw his left eye looking at him with a deadly stare, but his right . . . His right eye was covered in a wet, gray mass of goo. He could see nothing through it.

He scrambled away from the water, afraid of the reflection. What happened to him? His face . . . He turned back and ran to Pride Rock. All of the lions and lionesses were asleep. His father was on the highest rock, his eyes open, but seeing nothing. He turned his head and gasped.

"Boy, what are you doing?" he asked in an alien voice.

"What happened to me?" Miru demanded desperately. "What's wrong with Mom?"

"She's dead, boy. And it's because of you."

"No, I didn't do anything."

His father stood and walked toward him slowly. "Exactly. You didn't do anything. She died trying to protect you. It's your fault."

Miru backed away, frightened. "No, it was the things! Something attacked Mom and I wanted to help . . ."

They walked out of the cave and out into the storm. Miru backed away on the ledge of Pride Rock as much as he could. His father still walked toward him, stopping a few feet away.

"They think it was hyenas, but it makes no difference now. She's dead, boy."

"I wanted to help, Papa, really. I tried to, but they attacked me, too."

"It's your fault she's dead! If you hadn't been so helpless, she would've gotten away! You are not my son! You don't deserve it! As far as I'm concerned, you are not a part of this pride! You are nothing but a weak little rabbit who can't defend himself!"

Miru became angry. "No! I love Mom more than you ever will! I would never want her to die!"

"But she's dead now because of you!"

"You're wrong!"

"Stop it!" a strong voice said behind his father.

Mufasa walked out of the birds' den with a sad, but determined face. He stopped to stand beside Miru, looking intently at their father.

"Miru couldn't help what happened, Dad," he said reasonably. "I just know that Mama wouldn't want you to blame him for it. He's my brother. He's your son, Dad."

"You are, Mufasa," he answered. "But that one never will. Never again."

Their father turned and walked back into the sleeping cave.

"Never again!" Miru exploded. "I never was!"

He stopped short of the cave entrance.

"Mufasa was always your favorite!" Miru continued angrily. "Mama tried to tell me that you loved me just as much as you did him, but I know that's impossible! Mufasa will always be the better son, the better leader! Well, I'm going to prove you wrong! Okay, Father?" He spat the word out. "I'm going to prove to you that I can be just as great as Mufasa, maybe better! Is that what you want?"

Their father shook his head and walked back into the sleeping cave silently. The rain retreated until it stopped completely. Mufasa looked to his injured brother. Miru stood up and walked away.

"Are you going to be okay?" Mufasa asked.

"I would've been fine without your help," Miru said softly, trying to hide his tears.

"I know, but you're my brother."

"Just . . . mind your own business."

"I wanted to help you, Miru."

"If you want to help, leave me alone."

He walked away, leaving Mufasa alone on the ledge of Pride Rock.

A/N: Poor Miru! Writing this makes me feel so sympathetic toward him. I mean, his dad's such a jerk (Of course, I wrote him that way, but you get the point! Lol.) and then Mufasa's just trying to help . . . Sniff I better go, it's just too emotional!