Alrighty then...THIS chapter took me a while to write for several reasons. First, i'm in college. No need to go any further than that. Second, i just bought Christopher Paolini's third installment of the Inheritance Cycle, "Brisingr"...i've waited over 2 years for that book to come out, so i need to get a good chunk out of it...lol.
This chapter was initially going to be longer, but I realized that i had enough content in it to make 2 chapters. So half of chapter 12 is now written, as I upload this chapter. So it shouldn't take me as long to upload the next one.
A warning note to those of you who have read Amase's stories. This chapter really does not contain any new information. It is really more of a transition chapter that is needed for the next step in Ayden's journey. So this chapter will be very familiar to those who have read the stories, just told from a different perspective. To those who haven't read Amase's stories, well...ignore what i've just said. lol.
Chapter 11 – Losing Hope
A full year passed, and time had finally begun to heal not only my soul, but Nala's as well. Initially, she was completely brokenhearted at the loss of her mother, but after a while, she began to move on. Nala was a strong young lioness, and she did not let tragedy get her down easily. Sarabi took Nala in as her own daughter. I felt that Sarabi did this for two reasons. First, and foremost, she loved Nala dearly as her own, and she felt it was her duty, as she was Sarabi's best friend. Second, I had a feeling that Sarabi saw a small bit of Simba in Nala, and she was sorely reminded of him.
Throughout the year, Sarabi and I would take Nala out on our hunts. These hunts would last over long periods where we would venture further out of the Pride Lands then we had ever done. Now the hunting parties were no more. We had lost so many of the pride from starvation, heat strokes, and even suicide. Sarabi and I would hunt together, bringing back whatever kill we could find to what remained of the pride.
Nala was a natural huntress. She had grown so much, that I found it hard to believe she was smaller than me when I first met her over a year ago. Her first week of hunting was very shaky and unpracticed, but after she got the hang of it, she was very stealthy and quick.
As it turned out, Scar was the one who caused the incident that threw the lionesses and me into a vengeance driven frenzy. Scar was still furious at the loss of his son and heir, and he desired a way to make Sarabi pay for it. He had set the hyenas on us, knowing that we would kill them when they took our kill. Then he set the larger and vengeful group on us as punishment for Sarabi. Scar had intended for Sarabi to die, but saw that her pain and suffering at the loss of her best friend and members of the pride was an even greater punishment.
When Sarabi relayed this information back to me, I was filled with that ever familiar hatred for Scar. The idea of overthrowing Scar myself made its way uncomfortably back into my mind.
Zira became pregnant with Scar's cub again. Three and a half months after Sarafina's death, she gave birth to another male. The process had been long and difficult, and it cost Zira and Scar dearly. The cub, dubbed Nuka, was very weak and sickly looking. He was very thin and looked as if he would not survive. Scar was severely disappointed at this cub, and denied him the title of his heir and son. Scar decided he and Zira would simply try again.
But Rafiki, who had helped Zira give birth to Nuka, told Scar some distressing news. Apparently, because of the damage Sarabi had done during their fight those many months ago, Zira was now unable to deliver a healthy cub.
Needless to say, Scar was most displeased at this news, and he forbade Sarabi from eating anything for the next two kills. She and I both knew that while this was a temporary punishment, the cause for it was something to be glad about. Scar could now never have an heir to the throne, which meant that whenever he stepped down or, (the thought crossed my mind) died, then I would step up and take the place of king. With this thought in mind, I decided that I may not need to try and overthrow him, but simply wait for him to succumb to the starvation that he, as did the rest of the pride, felt.
At the same time, we had survived for over a year, scrounging whatever food we could get. So perhaps Scar would last longer than I expected him to. So the prospect of having to take him on was still there.
On a cloudy and shadowed day, Sarabi, Nala, and I were wandering around the Pride Lands, searching for field mice to eat. They were the only source of food that remained in the Pride Lands. We finally found enough to satisfy the immediate stomach pains, and sat down to eat.
I had now run entirely out of matches and my lighter ran out of fluid. Cooking now became a more difficult process. I needed to find dry grass and branches to light, which was no problem in this time of drought. Once the necessary tools were gathered, I struck a rock against another rock to try and light a spark. After a few minutes of this, it worked, but the job was not over yet. I needed to tend to the fire to ensure that it would blaze, and not burn out within a few minutes.
Eventually, I had my small mice cooked, and was savoring them slowly in my mouth. The intense hunger pains were not those that one feels at mere lack of food. I was suffering from malnutrition, and I was sure that within the next few months, I needed to find something to really sustain me. If I did not, I would surely die, and I had no intention of dying. I had come too far, suffered too much, to simply let death take me.
…and yet.
Dying seemed such a wonderful propect. It would surely end the suffering that I was going through. All the pain, the hunger, the hurt, the sorrow; it would all end if I should succumb to death's embrace.
I forced those thoughts out of my head, not wanting to even accept it. I WOULD not die here.
Sarabi and Nala were both reminiscing about Sarafina, but I was only vaguely paying attention. My thoughts were swimming through my memories. Simba's face came into view, and I suddenly realized that for the longest time, I had not even thought of him. I had not thought of what he would be if he were alive today. I hadn't even thought of what he would have looked like. I tried to picture him in my mind's eye. He would be as big as Nala. He would have a mane; that was for sure, though how far along it would have grown, I had no clue. I pictured that it would extend to the end of his neck, and end there. The final image of him that I could conjure up with my mind was very close to that of what I pictured Mufasa to have looked like in his younger days, though I figured he would be less muscular than Mufasa. My image of Simba had a nice flowing rust colored mane, was well built, had a kind and rounded face, ruby eyes, and a smile that could make even the most sneering frown in the world break. At this, I could not help but smile.
I looked over at Sarabi. There was something different about her. She bore the same hopeful air about her, but its glow seemed to have diminished greatly; more so than it usually had anyways. Ever since the Pride Lands had been ravaged, her hopeful air was always less than what it used to be, but today it seemed even less than that. I knew instantly that something was wrong with Sarabi. But I would not push the matter. If she did not feel the desire to tell me, then I would not pry. Her secrets were her own, and I respected that.
Behind us, I heard something approaching. I turned to see Kala padding to us happily, accompanied by another; a male. My hand instinctively twitched towards my pocket, but I made no move. This lion was clearly with Kala, and therefore showed no sign of harm.
A very muscular young lion, he was a dark rusty color with a tan underbelly. An even darker chocolate colored mane flowed messily down from his head to his lower chest. A few locks dangled into his face and over his strikingly kind, lavander eyes. His smile reflected the kindness that shone in them.
Sarabi looked curious, yet wary. "Kala…what's going on?"
Kala smiled and said, "Guys, this is Sekou." She indicated him with a turn of her head in his direction. "He is my mate."
It took a moment for the full effect of this statement to settle in. When I finally realized what she meant, I found my voice. "Your…mate?"
Kala nodded excitedly. "Yes! I've been seeing him for several months now! He lives on the outskirts of the Pride Lands!"
I glanced at Sekou, my worry settling slightly. Kala had trusted him enough to befriend him, so I figured I would give him the same chance. His smile was warm and comforting. It reminded me of Mufasa's smile.
"I met Kala while she was out on the border," Sekou said. "She needed someone to talk to, so I let her confide within me. We started seeing each other on a normal basis, until now."
Kala nuzzled him affectionately, and then turned to us again. "I have more news for you."
"What news?" Nala inquired, clearly as curious as either of us at what else Kala could be hiding.
"I found out the other day…" She paused for a moment. "…that I am pregnant with our cubs."
"Congratulations Kala! I'm so happy for you!" said Nala as she went forward and nuzzled her.
The joy I felt from Kala's statement was a wonderful feeling. I had not felt any kind of joy for months, and the feeling was purely soothing to everything. My hunger pains, my anger, and hatred were all temporarily extinguished at the thought of the new cubs that would be brought into our pride.
…and then what would happen?
Scar's terrible actions from over a year ago drifted into view from my memory, and a chill ran down my spine. Images of cubs, lying dead and broken in their own blood, and suddenly my own ran cold. When Scar found out about the birth of cubs that were not his own, he would certainly kill them.
Sarabi voiced this before I had the chance to.
Kala was undeterred when Sarabi mentioned the possible death of her cubs. "I understand Sarabi. After I found out about my pregnancy, Sekou and I had a long talk. I asked him to help us. I told him that our pride was in dire need of some help and new leadership."
My insides tensed at this idea. Kala wanted Sekou to overthrow Scar and claim the throne for himself. Suddenly, I found myself hoping beyond everything else that Sekou would be up to the challenge. I did not have any desire in the slightest to rule the Pride Lands, and I would gladly hand the opportunity to somebody else should the occasion present itself. I was not ready for the responsibility of such a position.
"I agreed to stand up to your King and try to help you out," Sekou said, and the tension inside of me released. Joy overcame me again as the weight of the burden I had felt to overthrow Scar was slowly lifted off of my shoulders.
Sarabi's voice trembled as she spoke. ""You mean you will challenge Scar for leadership?"
I saw her eyes flash in my direction, and I knew what she was thinking. Whether I desired it or not, I was still the next in line for the kingship, and the responsibility still fell on me. In order to rightfully become the King, Sekou would have to overthrow me as well.
"Sarabi," I said, and I glanced at Sekou as I did. "I am not ready for any responsibility of the King. If Sekou succeeds in overthrowing Scar, I will more than willingly relinquish my position to him."
Sarabi's expression was mixed, and I was unsure of which she felt more. Her face was compassionate and understanding, but at the same time it fell. She had clearly hoped that, as her adoptive son, I would be willing to take up the position that was rightfully mine.
Sekou broke the silence and said, "Then it is your desire that I take the kingship in your stead?"
I nodded at him, and saw with my peripheral vision that Sarabi did so as well.
"Are you sure that you are up to it?" Sarabi asked Sekou.
Sekou nodded and grinned. "Let's go."
We turned and made our way to Pride Rock. Hope and joy enveloped me as we journeyed towards it. Already, I was planning on what would happen when Scar would be overthrown. I would relay all of Mufasa's teachings to Sekou and be one of his advisors, alongside Zazu. Though not the position of the King, I would still have some influence over what happened here. I was much more pleased being in a position where I did not need to answer to the kingdom should one of my choices go wrong. Yet I knew that we would finally return the Pride Lands to their rightful state, and live in peace once again.
A twinge of doubt surfaced in my mind. It was all such a great idea and I was excited to see it put to action, but something still bugged me about it. It all seemed too good to be true.
Suddenly, from the tall, dead grass beside us emerged Scar. A wide and evil grin was etched into his face, his jet black mane swaying lazily in the breeze. His claws were unsheathed, and he was ready for the impending fight. Sekou turned to the tyrant and unsheathed his own claws.
"You must be Scar, the king of these lands," Sekou said boldly, his voice not wavering. "I am Sekou, son of Banga, and I've come here to challenge you. You are a tyrant of a ruler. Your reign on these lands has brought nothing but pain and death. It is time that your subjects were delivered from your cruelty."
Scar merely grinned at Sekou's claim. He hissed, "I know who you are, I am not deaf my boy. I have been listening to your interesting conversation."
His eyes briefly flashed over and met mine. I breathed in heavily, and my chest swelled with the same hatred for Scar that I had felt so strongly since his coronation.
"And you think you can beat me?" Scar finished, his eyes flicking away from me and back to Sekou.
Sekou grinned back and fiercely replied, "I know I can."
Scar moved forward, and I thought he was about to attack, but that was far from the truth. Scar merely stepped aside as, from behind him, a large group of at least twenty hyenas appeared through the grass.
My heart plummeted as they did, and I saw all of the lioness's faces fill with fear. Sekou's face fell for a moment, but it quickly regained confidence. The hyenas laughed menacingly. I knew it would have been too good to be true.
Scar sneered, "You should reconsider your boldness my friend."
Then he turned his head to his minions, and stated without so much as a hint of care, "Kill him."
My stomach bottomed out. I watched in horror as my last hope for peace in the Pride Lands was engulfed in a mound of teeth, claws, and fur. Sekou was overwhelmed by the group of hyenas that rushed onto him. They began to tear and claw at his body, and Sekou screamed in pain and terror as they began to eat him alive.
Kala was in a right state. She screamed Sekou's name over and over, trying to get to her mate. But Nala and Sarabi were holding her back to ensure that she would not be hurt as well.
Rage and anger burned inside me like the fiery jeep that had taken my family so long ago. These monsters had ravaged the lands for so long, and now they had eliminated the only real hope for the restoration of the land. Fury boiled inside of me as I reached for the knife in my pocket.
I unswitched the knife and held it in front of me, screaming a battle cry as I rushed forward to the fray. I knew what awaited in that mound of violence. Sekou was there, and I was going to save him. But something else was there too…
Death would be waiting for me in the battle. I was welcoming it gratefully. As my anger and hate overcame me, I quickened my pace. Only one thought penetrated my mind.
KILL THEM ALL!!
Unexpectedly, I was hit violently from my right side, and suddenly found myself pinned to the ground. My knife flew out of my hand as I landed hard on my back. Something heavy was holding me down, completely immobilizing me. I looked up to see not a hyena on top of me, but Sarabi. She had left Nala to restrain the sobbing and hysterical Kala by herself so she could stop me from advancing into the pile of teeth and fangs.
"NO!" she cried, "You'll be killed too!"
"I…DON'T…CARE!" I screamed furiously, putting emphasis on every syllable. I was struggling with all of my strength to get her off of me. "THEY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! THEY RUINED OUR LIVES! I HAVE TO KILL THEM! THEY…HAVE…TO…DIE!"
In spite of my uncontrolled rage, I suddenly became fearful. Sarabi had roared from on top of me, and bared her teeth in my face, growling as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I will NOT lose my only family, Ayden. I WILL NOT go through that pain again." She growled threateningly. "Even I if I have to hold you here for eternity, I will NOT lose you too."
I stared at her, utterly terrified. I had never seen Sarabi act this way towards me before, and I never wanted to see it again. I stopped struggling, closed my eyes and lay my head in the dirt.
In the background, Sekou's screaming had stopped. The sounds of the hyenas laughing, growling, and of flesh tearing were incredibly prominent. Kala's screaming sobs could only just be heard over the fray. The sudden burst of joy I had felt had died with Sekou. Once again, the burden that had been lifted fell heavily on my shoulders, and it pained me incredibly.
Scar's voice roared over all of the noise. "SHENZI! BANZAI! ED!"
My eyes snapped open as I heard him call the hyena's names. I recognized them immediately from my first encounter with the cowardly monsters. My head shot up, but I had restricted movement because Sarabi was still pinning me.
The three hyenas, blood dripping from their muzzles, stood attentively in front of Scar. They grinned evilly as they stared at him. The rage I felt at Scar and his minions only increased as, for the first time since the day they tried to kill me, I recognized the three hyenas.
If Sarabi had not been pinning me down, I would have leapt to my feet and killed all three of them. I attempted to get up again, yelling and struggling, but Sarabi, teeth still bared, would not get off of me. Giving in, I went limp and laid my head down again. Tears of anger and loss fell down my cheeks. I had placed all of my hope in the now mutilated and gone Sekou. I had been SO close to avoiding facing Scar, and when it was just within my reach, it was quickly snatched away from me.
I was so overcome with grief, anger, and hatred that the events that followed seemed a quick and random blur to me. It seemed only a moment later when Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed were escorting us back to Pride Rock, and only another moment later we were waiting outside of the entrance of the cave where Kala had just entered. Scar was to pass judgment on her for her actions against him.
What remained of our pride sat unmoving around the entrance of the cave. I was shaking, waiting uneasily for Kala to return. My fear for what was happening in the confines of the cave was overwhelming. I cared only for Kala's safety. As long as she would not be hurt, then everything would be fine.
Are you kidding yourself? IF he lets her live, she will not go unpunished! He'll kill her cubs when they are born!
I knew this to be true. Scar would not allow them to live. What better way to punish a mother than to take her own children away from her?
Scar's tyranny and horror had driven the Pride Lands and his pride to the brink of death. We were starving, weak, fearful, and losing our will to survive. He was pushing us to the point of death, and I could not sit by and wait anymore while he did.
I sighed, defeated. I knew what I had to do, and it needed to be done the very next chance that I got. I had to kill Scar and overthrow him. If he did not die, and in turn fought me, I would surely be killed. But at least, if that was the case, I would be with my brothers, fathers, and mother.
Kala emerged from the mouth of the cave, struggling to stay on her feet. Sarabi and Nala rushed to her side to support her. They walked her out of the cave, and then let her collapse on the ground. Her face was more fearful than any I had ever seen in my life, and it was streaked with lines of tears. Her breathing was staggered, and she was shaking more than I was.
"Kala…" Sarabi said urgently, "Kala, speak to me. What happened? What did Scar say to you?"
Kala remained silent. Yejide spoke up. "What was your punishment Kala?"
Kala looked up at us. Through her staggered breathing, I made out four words.
"My babies…my babies…"
In my stomach, I felt a sinking feeling slowly overcome my entire body.
"He has condemned them." I said flatly. It was more of a statement than a question.
"No." she said suddenly, looking up at me. "It's worse. He's taking them from me! He's taking my babies away from me! I can't be their mother! He's adopting them. He says he's going to teach them to hate me, because I'm a liar and a crook!"
She broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
This had been the very last thing I had expected. Before now, I did not believe that Scar's cruelty could have grown any more, but this act was unspeakably cruel. To remove a newborn child from its mothers' care, and to teach it to HATE the one who birthed it?
My conclusions that I had to kill Scar were only reassured at these thoughts. I could not, and WOULD not allow Scar and Zira to raise these cubs. They needed their real mother, not Zira. They needed to stay away from Scar and never hear that monster's name.
Yejide, terror reflecting in her eyes, told Kala, "You need to get out of here! If you leave, he can never find you! Give birth to your cubs far away from here, find a new pride and live in peace!"
Kala sobbed more, and it was difficult to make out what she was saying.
"I can't escape. He won't let me." She said through her tears. "He's already assigned a hyena escort to watch me everyday! I'm always going to be watched whenever I leave Pride Rock. He'll kill me if I try to escape!"
At these words, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed came from the cave, and stood around Kala, laughing menacingly.
At the sight of the three hyenas I despised the most, I wanted to rush at them and snap every one of their necks, just as I had done to their leader, Tahri. The desire was so strong that I felt lightheaded from all of my emotions. I felt like a balloon that had been filled with so much air that it was ready to burst. My anger and hate were ready to spurt from me at the slightest touch.
Before I let my emotions cloud my judgment, I did something that I hated myself for doing.
I ran.
Down to ground level, I dashed out into the wastelands of the Pride Lands. Tears streamed down my face as I put as much distance between myself and Pride Rock. I was overcome with such a weight of my burden, of my sadness, of my anger, and of my hatred, that my lightheadedness doubled. I began to lose speed, and then my knees gave out. I collapsed to the ground in a heap. Pride Rock was now far behind me, and yet I could not escape the horrors that its leader had inflicted upon us.
All hope was now gone. Only one thing remained that could bring good back to my home. I had to carry out the deed that was required of me, regardless of my survival, I had to kill Scar.
My head was spinning incredibly from the combination of my emotions. I looked up and the world was whirling around me. I felt my eyes roll up into my head, and I lost all conciousness.
Like i said, not a whole lot of new info. The next chapter is halfway written, so expect it soon.
I felt this is kinda a weak chapter, but hey...that's my opinion. lol.
PLEASE REVIEW!! i love getting feedback!