Phew... I've been very busy with my university-project the last long time. But here I finally got a little time and energy to write the next chapter. Yeah, I know it was a cliffhanger last time - but it seemed right. Hope you like this chapter too, thanks for the last reviews. Please do review this one too :) Atrice
Part 14 – Storm is coming
"Sire? You're awfully quiet today…" the voice of a hornbill broke through Scars thoughts and dreams on a boring afternoon.
"Thinking… kings do that." He just replied with a tired voice and looked out. The sun was shining again – better times had to be coming soon!
"I can figure that… of what do you think?" Zazu asked from his cage of bones.
"Nothing you would ever understand… how long is it since Nala disappeared?" Scar changed the subject and got up. Something was happening, or about to happen, he just knew it.
"A few weeks I think – why?" the bird continued.
"Just wondering if…" could he bear to say it, while someone listened. "Do you think she's doing alright?"
"Nala is a lioness who can stand up for herself – as you found out!" Zazu said, reminding Scar how the lioness ripped his old scar across the eye somewhat open again. Old scars reappearing, needed to heal again. Scar smiled to himself, wondering what would happen soon. He didn't feel like answering the bird just now, and left the cave. Just as he stepped out and saw his own shadow for two seconds, really dark – almost black – clouds entered the sky above him, blocking sun and light away from Pride Rock. It was almost like an warning.
"Sarafina?" Scar went to the little rock, from where he once told the pride about Mufasas and Simbas tragic deaths. Nobody came, the rock was only surrounded by hyenas. "Sarafina!" he shouted, when she didn't appear. But it wasn't Sarafina who finally came; it was Sarabi; "Where is your sister hiding?" he asked her.
"She's not hiding, she just lost everything for you – claims that you made Nala run away. The last time she saw her daughter, was just before we sent her to you." Sarabi said with a cold dignity in her voice.
"I see… well, I'm the king – she should come when I ask her to do so!" Scar growled from his rock.
"You're the king? Ha! Well, why has all herds of animals disappeared after you took this title?" she asked, trying not to smile to herself. This one he had no answer for. He jumped down and walked a bit back and forwards.
"I didn't… take the title, I got it – since I'm the only true heir of Ahadi." He defended the only thing he could in all the things she just said.
"Whom you killed!" Sarabi began to walk away from him again.
"Come back here!" Scar yelled, but she continued to walk through a path in the hyena pack, which was spread around here just below Pride Rock. What was going on… he knew things would be better! Nala was right, there was still a chance for things to be alright. Soon the sun would shine for good, the herds would return and there would be plenty of food. All they needed was a good storm to wipe away all the depressing and gloomy days. And storm was to come soon; but with something quite different than Scar could ever have expected.
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But why did she leave – why did they all hate him? Scar had walked to his old hiding place, behind Pride Rock; a place always in shadow. Here he looked across the savannah with a sigh;knowing why Sarabi didn't like him. But why did they all have to follow what she thought? She never told them the truth either! He didn't remember what he thought, when he saw the lioness he loved fall from Pride Rock, and land with a bump on the ground beneith it. His heart had stopped for a second, and he had just starred at her. Others had come to look at her; especially Mufasa, who soon sent Scar an evil look. Scar had chosen to run away, hiding in the darkest corner in the cave where they all slept moments ago. But he couldn't stay there forever, and when he heard someone come into the cave, he got up again. He saw how they placed Sarabi on the 'throne'; her eyes were closed.
"You're lucky – she didn't die!" Mufasa growled to his brother.
"I'm lucky? I never did anything – it wasn't my fault!" Scar replied, bewildered. But of course, nobody had seen what really happened.
"And you expect me to believe that; after what you did to our father?" the king asked, and turned back to look at his mate. He smiled a worried smile, when she opened her eyes. Scar took a few steps closer again, but lionesses prevented him from getting too close to Sarabi.
"Sarabi… everything is fine. You are alive." Mufasa whispered to her. She nodded.
"I am alive… and you are by my side." She said, as if to point out, that it wasn't Scar standing there, nursing her. He would have followed her across the world, he would have nursed her back to health; but now he never got the chance. And she never dared to trust Scar again; because this time, when she did it, something inside her died.