THE SCARRED KING AND QUEEN NALA - Ch VII

Notes -

Eh heh, yes, I'm alive xD Sorry to all my readers who have been anticipatin this chapter for months - don't give up on me! I've still got it!

"Oh my god," Sarafina said, at a whisper level. "It's still intact?"

She drew closer to the wall, and looked back at Scar. He nodded.

"Well, open it, mister Sentimental!" Sarafina giggled.

Scar nodded, in acceptance of her request. He drew out a claw, and felt around the left side of the slab. Seeming to find the opening, and with an, "ah," he pulled open the door with a snapping sound. The bark slab fell to the ground.

Sarafina looked overjoyed. Inside the cave-like dark area revealed all kinds of familiar objects. Shoved into one corner were large cauldrons made of silt and clay, very much hardened. Sarafina knew these were filled with various paints and other liquids. Hung from a vine attached to two sides of the cave near the top were carvings of wood. They were of hearts, of lions, of the stars. These were sloppily painted with paint from the cauldrons. In another corner were many kinds of inventive games. To any other, their games would look like piles of rocks and twigs and slabs of wood in no order and of no importance whatsoever. But to Sarafina and Scar, they were in perfect order. Both knew precisely what every piece was, and which game it went with. And both knew they were in excellent shape and arrangement, even now - years after they were finally piled into such a corner.

"After you," said Scar, a foolish grin accenting his maw.

Sarafina giggled, ducking to allow herself inside the haven. "Oh my god," she said again, "it's perfect!"

"Isn't it?" Scar's joy mirrored Sarafina's, as he too ducked to worm within the hideout of their cub-hood. He sat upon lanky haunches, darting crania from side to side with a smile still planted.

The mother of Nala giggled slightly and came to sit by the King. She poked at his mane with a grinning maw, and the two were caught in a nuzzle. Sarafina and Scar had quite nearly forgotten that they were here to speak of very grave and serious matters, when Sarafina drew away. "Listen, you," she said seriously, "my daughter is very depressed. She said you wanted her to be your queen, and that you told her about... well, you know."

Scar met her explanation with a nod. "I do not deny it," he said, "I did say such things."

"Why? How could you want to be her queen? Isn't being her father enough!"

"Figure, you know I have hormones," Scar joked, "and they got the better of me. I was mad. She's the youngest member of the pride, and she's hot."

"HOT!" Stammered the lioness opposite him. "She's your daughter and you think she's HOT!"

"No no no Figure, I think you've misunderstood -"

"No, I understand perfectly! You've forgotten how to show love - for me, for your daughter, for Mufasa - and now you think Nala is hot. You're even more messed up than I thought." She thwacked him 'cross the maw, drawing small bubble-like specks of blood. Gasping, she recoiled.

"Ouch," Scar said in a joking-like manner, a weak smile growing.

"I'm terribly sorry," the incident had humiliated Sarafina, and she attempted a feeble smile. "I just - lost control. That's all." She flared nostrils, inhaling deeply to clear the cloudiness that had gathered in her nares from her earlier break nearly to tears.

A frown grew upon Scar's muzzle. "It's fine," he said uneasily, "people do it all the time."

"Oh, don't talk like that!" Sarafina cursed, beginning to cleanse the King's damaged face with a carpet-like tongue.

"'Tis only the truth, my dear," Scar teased. He was well aware of how much Sarafina detested his insults geared toward himself.

"No it's not - my daughter feels differently," Sarafina pointed out.

"But she did it to me!" Scar retorted, his grin rising.

"Well, ok," said Sarafina, "I suppose I can accept that." She gave a wink in the direction of her former lover.

"Yes."

"But now I'm jealous of her! I want you back, silly!" Sarafina scolded, pinning Scar to the ground.

"I still love you," Scar pointed out, "devil woman."

A hearty guffaw came from the ageing lioness. "I certainly would hope so."