Misconception- Chapter 2
by Sulkie Wolfen

Notes; My disclaimer still stands, so don't bug me about that. Anyway, please remember that I insist on aging my lions by human standards... I mean seriously, in the context of TLK it makes sense ("decades of..." well I actually don't remember the line -cough- but Scar says something about decades in "Be Prepared" haha lions only live one decade they age in human years!), plus it's easier for both the readers and the writer. Haha.

Umm... Siyara (Sarafina and Sarabi's mother) is my character, lol. She won't be important though. At all. Prolly will only even be mentioned in this chapter XD

Also, of course, I own pretty much every event in this story. As well as Sarafina's personality, and everything about Ahadi and Uru except for the names. If you hadn't figured it out by now, I'm making this story up off the top of my head. Lol. Oh yes, and of course, "Sara" refers to Sarafina if you couldn't figure that out. Also be aware that this chapter is nothing but fluff. Beware, lol XP

X

I wasn't depressed. I was defiant. I refused to accept the simple truth- which was of course that the only reason Mufasa was getting the whole "you're gonna be King" bonus and I was just some Average Joe was because he'd been born two hours before me- and instead grew bitter over said issue. So if I was independent before, I only got more so.

I grew bitter around those who attempted to show me affection, but after a while I did gather some friends. The first of these came several years after the initial shock which sent me into my independence.

I'd known (or known of) Sarafina for several months before this occasion. She and her sister Sarabi had entered the pride about half a year ago, along with their mother Siyara. Sarabi and Mufasa had been fast friends (the chemistry was visible... and repulsive, to be honest), and Sarafina, who was about two years younger than they were, tagged along sometimes. Truth be told, Mufasa and Sarabi were pretty indifferent to her presence. However, Sarafina never seemed to notice how ignored she was, and instead clung to her older sister on a daily basis.

Apparently she finally realized she wasn't wanted... and so one day I spotted her, strolling through the pridelands in a less than amused manner. Having nothing to do myself, I found myself striding toward her and attempting to engage the young lioness in conversation.

From several steps behind her, "Hi," I found myself saying, quite indifferently.

She turned to face me, somewhat startled but visibly pleased by the prospect of company. "Oh, hello... Taka, is it?"

Looking to the side in humiliation, "Yes..." I muttered through my teeth. Needless to say, I was hardly proud of being named after garbage. Brightening slightly, determined to be polite (I didn't speak to women often, as you've probably gathered already), I continued, "and you're Sarafina."

Sarafina nodded. "So why did your parents name you after trash?" Yeesh, blunt much. She's always been that way... it's one of her charms, to be honest.

Why did they name me after trash? "Ahadi, not my mother... and I have no idea."

"Do you like your name?"

"What do you think?" Sarcasm. I was cool that way.

Sarafina got the message. "Oh. Yeah, didn't think so. Well then... what would you like to be called?"

"Whatever." Sarafina puzzled me. Seriously, you'd think she could show some restraint. Still, the thought of being called something else was... well, appealing.

"I always wanted to name somebody I like Kivuli. It means... shadow, I think. And to be honest, you're shadowier... and I know that's not a word... than anyone I've ever met."

I shrugged, still refusing to sound interested. However, the thought of being called "Kivuli" in place of the usual "Taka" was an appealing one. "Cool," I said nonchalantly.

Sarafina nodded, her annoying and incessant grin widening. And so two mysteries revealed in one day: the meeting of Sarafina and the origin of the name Kivuli.

X

Sara and I became significantly closer after a time, rest assured. I obtained many of my habits from her actually... one of such started out on a day like any other... sunny, pleasant, annoyingly stereotypical, you know the type? Anyway, I was bored (as usual) and found myself at the back of pride rock.

Can't say as I was enjoying myself. I was just sitting there, wondering what my eyes looked like, and suddenly Sarafina's voice interrupted me.

"Hey Kivuli," she said.

Right of course, I was Kivuli to her. I turned as casually as I could force myself, and confirmed her presence. "Hello," I said, nonchalantly.

She skipped over to me in that playful manner that's always been a part of her personality, grinning widely, before nodding and greeting me again. "Greetings and salutations."

I nodded amusedly, one eyebrow raised and the other lowered. "Yeah- okay."

Sara grinned at me some more, eventually sitting beside where I still hadn't left, in silence. After a while, she began experimenting with her own claws, flexing them out and pulling them back in almost ritualistically. "If you stare at your claws long enough while pulling them in and out, it looks like they never leave. It's like some weird optical thing. Isn't that funny?"

I shrugged. "Not really," I admitted.

She only rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone always keep their claws in? I mean, on me it looks dumb, but on guy lions they look kinda cool out. You should try it!"

I looked down at my own claws. "Why do you care so much?"

"I don't know," Sara shrugged. "My mother told me to enjoy the small things in life. I'm not really sure what that means, but she's always given me good advice. Claws are pretty small, right?" during this little... umm, speech, she was batting in a good natured way at my ear. I wanted to tell her to stop, but... I wouldn't have admitted it, but I sort of enjoyed the physical contact from her. Although I didn't recognize it at the time, there was apparently even some chemistry between Sarafina and I when she was eleven years old.

"I guess so," I gave in. Suddenly appreciating Sarafina's slightly off the wall approach to life, I pulled out my claws. Hmm, it actually was kinda awesome.

Sara grinned even wider than usual. "See? Isn't it cool?"

I rolled my eyes, still refusing to play the role of friend with her. "Whatever."

X

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter and slow updating. I have school work, and a social life, and moping to worry about (my favorite cartoon got cancelled, I'm a dramatic personality so for me that's like the death of a friend o-o;). Also, I'm not going to get much of any chance online tomorrow, and not a whole lot thursday or friday either. Pretty much I'm not going to be on the computer a whole lot 'til monday, so... be prepared XD