Chapter 4

The Gorge

Scar was resting on a bed of elephant grass that Sarabi's baboons had assembled for him. They had tended to his wounds and bound them up with elephant grass and the bark of raisin bushes. Sarabi had insisted that Scar rest in the main den; the baboons could keep a better eye on his wounds in case they were to fester. Scar normally would protest, but he was just too worn out to do so. Besides, he wanted to be present when his brother and nephew finally returned to Pride Rock. Zazu was waiting up for them as well. The hornbill was anxious when he had told Sarabi of what had happened. The lioness was known to be rather expressionless and she appeared so after Zazu had finished. Her eyes, however, showed her true feelings: anger, relief, and disappointment.

"I believe that one of my lionesses should accompany my son and his betrothed for future playdates so that this will never happen again," she said after a moment of silence. The look on Zazu's face was one of shame. He turned his eyes downwards and nodded.

"As you wish, my Queen."

Sarabi's expression softened, "My dear Zazu, I am not doing this to punish you, nor to I blame you for what occurred. I am doing this to curb Simba from being reckless again. We have put too much trust in him and we should've known that his mischievousness was bound to come out sooner or later."

The hornbill nodded, "I understand. When the King returns with the Prince, shall I make this known?"

"No need, my dear Zazu. They will want to rest when they get back from Simba's lesson. I will inform them in the morning."

The sky was dark when Mufasa and Simba finally returned. Mufasa's demeanor was far calmer than it had been when Scar, Nala, and Zazu had parted with him. Simba's demeanor was almost cheerful. That changed, though, when he spotted his mother's stern gaze. Mufasa took a step towards his mate; he bore an apprehensive expression upon his face.

"He has been disciplined."

"By you, but not by me. He needs to know that there are consequences to his recklessness and disobedience," Sarabi spat. She then turned her attention to Simba, "Come, you need to be properly disciplined and then bathed."

Simba reluctantly followed his mother out of the den. One of Sarabi's baboons picked up a long, thin twig and followed the pair close behind. Mufasa watched after them and sighed in irritation.

"He only needed a stern talking to," he muttered as he approached Scar, "There's no need for him to get a lashing as well!"

"I am sorry, dear brother, but I disagree. He not only disobeyed you; he endangered Nala's life as well and almost got himself killed. Letting him off with just a scolding may encourage him to be reckless again," Scar said softly. Mufasa frowned but eventually nodded with reluctance.

"You are right," Mufasa laid beside his brother with a troubled look, "It's just that I had hoped that we wouldn't ever have to discipline him with a lashing!"

Scar chuckled, "He is a cub, Mufasa. Cubs are bound to do reckless things that warrant a lashing. Even you got lashed a few times!"

"Yes and I hated it!" Mufasa grumbled, "I suppose that's the point, but still...I remember how often you were lashed and it was always for the silliest things!" Scar could see how the memories were troubling Mufasa; he understood now why Mufasa was hesitant to have Simba lashed.

"I know that Sarabi won't nearly be as harsh as Ahadi was with us," Scar reassured Mufasa, who gave him a look.

"You mean as harsh as he was with you. I never bled from my lashings. You always did." Scar grimaced slightly at the memories. His hind quarters still had scars from his discipline sessions after all of these moons.

"She won't have him bleeding, I know it," he reassured Mufasa, "She's a reasonable lioness, and she was calm when Zazu told her of what had happened.

"She was, your Grace," Zazu insisted; he fluttered over to the lions awkwardly, "And I am very sorry for what had happened. I should've known that those cubs were up to some mischief...!"

"Do not blame yourself," Mufasa interrupted, "And I apologize for my demeanor from earlier. My anger was towards the hyenas and my son, not towards you."

"...you will not be playing with Nala until the moon is full. Is that clear?" Sarabi's voice could be heard from outside of the den. Simba's meek reply was inaudible but it didn't need to be heard to know what he had said, "Good. I do not want the events of today to happen ever again."

Sarabi entered the den first. She glanced at her sulking mate and almost looked guilty before turning her attention to Scar; her look was one of concern. Simba slinked in from behind. Aside from the slight look of discomfort on his face, he was unscathed. His fur was still damp from the bath his mother had given him after his quick lashing. He scampered over to his father and uncle.

"Are you okay Uncle Scar?" Simba asked as he gently nuzzled his uncle. Scar smiled warmly as he nuzzled his nephew back.

"I am, dear boy. They are just flesh wounds. I will heal up in due time."

"It is late, son. Go off to bed with the others," Mufasa ordered, though his tone was gentle. Simba nodded and trotted over to where the lionesses and their cubs were resting. Nala was still awake. Scar noticed that Simba avoided her, probably due to what Sarabi had said to him earlier. Nala noticed and looked hurt. Scar then noticed that Mufasa was watching his son critically.

He's probably making sure that he isn't bleeding.

Seemingly satisfied, Mufasa got to his feet, stretched, and turned to his mate.

"It was a brief lashing, I only had Penda apply five," Sarabi said cautiously. Mufasa nodded with a slight frown. Sarabi looked uneasy and took a step closer to her mate, "I know that you did not want him lashed but-"

"It is okay, Sarabi," Mufasa interrupted, "Although I certainly am not happy about it, I know that it was necessary."

The moon was a quarter as Scar gazed up at it. It was hard to see it at times due to the clouds that would occasionally pass in front of it. With a sigh, Scar turned back to eating his fresh kill. Though he was still sore, he was well enough to hunt, despite his brother's protesting. Scar's wounds were healing rather quickly. That was all thanks to Sarabi's baboons. They were a charming bunch, Scar had noted. A few of them were Rafiki's granddaughters. He recalled how excited they would be when the old baboon would come by to visit, though the last time was when Simba was presented to the realm.

I do hope that he visits soon. He will be amazed by how much Simba has grown!

Scar finished eating his kill and silently muttered a prayer thanking it for providing him with food. He gingerly got up, stretched, and started his trek back to Pride Rock. The watering hole was on the way there. So, Scar figured that he's make a pitstop to take a long drink. The burning sun had made him rather parched. It didn't take long for Scar to reach the watering hole. He was baffled when he saw Zira there.

Wasn't she the one charged with accompanying Simba while he roams about the Pride Lands? He must be back at Pride Rock...

Though Scar was troubled, he ignored it and went to take a drink. He could feel Zira's eyes on him, which made him very uneasy.

I know that I am courting her but she doesn't need to stare like that!

"How was my nephew? Did he behave himself?" Scar asked casually as he turned his gaze to Zira. She laid down on her side and seductively began to bathe.

"He was fine. He asks too many questions. We are currently playing a game of hide-and-seek."

Scar frowned, "Are you looking for him?"

"Oh no," she replied, "He's seeking me out...and it will take him quite a while to find me!" She lifted her leg up high as she dramatically cleaned it.

What a ridiculous display!

"What do you mean?" Scar asked as he leaned down to take another drink. Zira's bathing antics were grating on Scar's nerves.

"He is currently in the gorge, thinking that I am there. So, that means we can have some "private" time together!"

Scar lunged to his feet with a ferocious growl; Zira lunged up as well in surprise. The look on Scar's face was horrifying.

"You left him alone in the gorge?" He roared incredulously, "You are supposed to be WATCHING HIM!"

Before Zira could reply, Scar bounded off to search for his nephew.

I will deal with her later! In the meantime, I must find Simba! The gorge is no place for a cub! It's a deathtrap!

Scar had been running for quite a while when he noticed a concerning amount of dust billowing in the distance. When he got closer, his heart sank within his chest. Only one thing caused that amount of dust, a stampede of great numbers...and it was coming from the gorge!

"SIMBA!" Scar bellowed as he reached his destination. He had hoped that the cub was not in the gorge itself but along the top of it. He cried out a few more times but to no avail. With a growl, Scar sniffed the air desperately to pick up a scent. He did catch a familiar scent, but it was one that filled him with rage.

The hyenas! THEY caused this stampede!

It was then that Scar caught a whiff of Simba's scent. Scar followed it until he caught sight of his nephew. His blood ran cold. Simba was desperately clinging to the top of a dead tree. The wildebeests seemed to be continuously coming with no signs of thinning out. Scar knew that there was no way with his injuries that he could hope to save his nephew. He had to find Mufasa.

"Simba," Scar called out. He was relieved to see that the cub had heard him, "Hold on as long as you can! I am going to get help!"

"HURRY!" The cub cried back. Scar turned and bounded off to find Mufasa. Thankfully, this was one of Mufasa's tours of the realm. So, it did not take long for Scar to find his brother. It appeared to be that Mufasa and Zazu were making their way to the gorge themselves to investigate what was going on.

"Zira...! Left Simba in the gorge...playing hide-and seek...! He's in the middle...of the stampede...He's clinging t-to a dead tree...!" Scar gasped as he tried to catch his breath. Mufasa wasted no time and he broke into a gallop towards the gorge. Zazu stayed with Scar while Scar recovered.

"Oh, this is awful! How did this stampede happen?" Zazu cried. Scar shakily got to his feet and bore a dark expression upon his face.

"The hyenas," he growled, "I caught their scent in great numbers within the stampede."

Zazu was horrified, "We must tell Mufasa!"

"Indeed we will." Scar broke into a run to pursue his brother. Zazu fluttered after him. When they reached the spot where Scar had last seen Simba, he was gone. In a panic, Scar sniffed the air for Simba and Mufasa's scents. When he caught them, he motioned Zazu to follow him.

"They must be nearby, their scents are strong!" Scar yelled over the deafening sound of the stampede below. Zazu flew up high in the air to see if he could spot them.

"I see them! Mufasa is climbing up the side of the gorge with Simba in his mouth!" The hornbill cried. He and Scar made their way to the edge where Mufasa was climbing up.

"Bring him near me, brother! I can take him from you so you can climb up easier!" Scar called out to Mufasa. As Mufasa made his approach, Scar used one paw to hold onto the ledge while he lowered the rest of his body down the ledge. He then planted himself firmly against the ledge and leaned his head out as far as it could go so Mufasa could place Simba in his jaws. Zazu watched nervously as Mufasa slowly brought Simba closer to Scar. When the cub was within reach, Scar carefully took him within his jaws and then proceeded to climb back up the ledge. Mufasa stayed planted and waited for his brother and his son to be safely back at the top.

"Are you okay?" Scar asked Simba after he put him down.

"Y-yes. I-I was only here because-"

"I know, Zira was at the watering hole. Her game was highly irresponsible!" Scar growled. Simba looked shocked by Scar's revelation.

"The watering hole? But, she said she was going to hide in the gorge!"

"Oh no..." Zazu muttered. Scar and Simba turned to look at him, "Th-the King...!"

Scar whipped his head around and, to his horror, saw that his brother was no longer on the cliffside.

"Stay with him!" Scar ordered before he began his descent down the cliffside. He could not hear what Zazu was saying. All he cared about was making sure that Mufasa was okay.

It's not too far down. He will be injured but okay!

The stampede had finally thinned out when Scar reached the bottom. It was deeper than he had thought but he ignored the bad feeling and sniffed out for his brother.

He should be here! Maybe he ran with the wildebeests?

It only took a few paces for Scar to notice a dark figure up ahead. As the dust cleared, he saw that it was a broken tree...and that a large mass laid beneath it.

No...he's only unconscious. He'll be fine. He's strong and young...!

Scar approached his brother. The dust had cleared more to reveal the twisted, battered, and motionless body before him. Blank eyes stared off ahead at nothing, the mouth was wide open, as if emitting a silent scream, and several bones were protruding from the body. Scar let out a deafening roar of pure anguish.

Mufasa, the golden cub, the strong King, his beloved brother, was dead.