Part II: Scarred

As the cubs grew, so did the bond between Sarafina and Prince Taka. She followed him every where. She was the only one he would let near him when he wanted to be alone. Something about the happy young cub lifted his spirits. He enjoyed her antics, unlike his brother, who found them almost as annoying as Anga. And just as Mufasa had done for him, Taka was always there to protect and care for Sarafina. He never let her out of his sight, no matter how tempted he might become. Sarafina was his responsibility, and his alone.

But, not everyone found Taka and Sarafina's friendship so wonderful. Zira was outrageously jealous of the young lioness. Taka spent far more time with Sarafina than with her, and this angered Zira. By now, She and the prince were blooming adolescents. Taka's mane was coming in very nicely, and she thought he looked more handsome than ever. She always tried to find time to be alone with him, trying to charm him into loving her the way she loved him. But all of this was in vain. No matter what Zira did, Taka refused to leave Sarafina for even a minute. Whenever this occurred, she would run her tail under his chin, and sweetly ask, 'Oh, you can leave her just for a little while, can't you?' but he would always say no, blind to her advances. 'He'll come to his senses sooner or later.' She'd think. 'I just have to be patient.'

"You can't catch me!" Sarafina laughed as Taka chased her. It was a beautiful day in the Pride Lands, and Taka had taken her on a stroll through the kingdom.

"Oh, yes I can! I'm much faster than a little cub!" He chuckled.

"Then why haven't you caught me yet?" She questioned as she continued the game of tag.

"I'm letting you win!"

"Yeah right!" Then, Sarafina had an idea. She suddenly stopped short, spun around, and pounced on the prince! They tumbled over each other, giggling and laughing the whole time, until finally they stopped, with Sarafina ending up on top of Taka.

"Pinned ya!" She shouted. Taka laughed so hard his sides hurt. When he finally got himself under control, he looked up at the little cub sitting on his chest. Sarafina was smiling down at him, her lovely deep blue eyes sparkling with the joy and laughter all cubs posses. Taka inhaled sharply. He had never noticed how much Sarafina had grown until now. She would be stunning as a grown lioness; he could tell.

"Taka? Hey, Taka! Why are you looking at me like that?" Sarafina asked in confusion. Taka shook his head as if he were coming out of a trance.

"Huh? Oh, sorry! I guess I kind of zoned out for a minute…" He said, his voice starting to trail off.

"Well, zone back in so we can play!" She replied, jumping off of his chest. Taka looked down at her, and smiled.

"Actually, I think we should head back. Mom will start to worry if we're not home by dusk." Sarafina shrugged her shoulders.

"Alright. I guess I am kind of tired." She ran to Taka's side, and walked back with him to Pride Rock.

As they made their way back to Pride Rock, who should come into their path, but Zira. She gazed lovingly at Taka, but her expression was not returned.

"Hi, Taka!" She breathed with excitement. Taka ignored this behavior, and kept walking, pushing right past Zira. She jumped in his path again, and he knew that he had to acknowledge her.

"What do you want, Zira?" He sighed in defeat.

"Well," She said, coming very close to him indeed. "I though maybe we could take an evening stroll? Just the two of us?" Taka rolled his eyes at Zira's desperate attempt to swoon him.

"I'm terribly sorry Zira, but I have to get Sarafina home." He said quickly, "Isn't that right?" He asked the cub, nudging her with his shoulder.

"Oh! Yes! Uru promised kudu for dinner, and you know how much I love kudu!" She told Zira (who was now quiet angry), playing along with Taka's game.

"Oh…" She whispered, lowering her eyes on Sarafina. "Then… another time, perhaps?" She asked as sweetly as she could.

"Yes, another time!" Taka said nodding his head. "Come on, Sarafina! We have to get going!" At this, he took off down the path, wanting more than anything to get away from Zira. Sarafina tried to dash after him, but was tripped by Zira's much larger paw. Zira lowered her head to the cub's level.

"You better stay away from my prince if you know what's good for you!" She hissed, her blood red eyes flashing with anger. "He is my betrothed, and my future mate, and my love! I will not have him taken away by some puny little cub!" Sarafina had no idea what Zira was rambling on about. It seemed like she was saying that Taka was in love with her! 'That's impossible!' she thought. 'He couldn't possibly love me! … Could he?' By now, Zira's eyes were filled with rage, and she was even thinking about killing the little cub then and there. "Do you understand?" She snarled. Sarafina nodded her head furiously. "Good." Said Zira, straightening up. "Now run along, and don't you dare tell anyone about our little talk. Got it?" Sarafina gulped at the thought of what the larger, stronger lioness would do to her is she didn't obey.

"Ye… Yes!" She squeaked. Zira chuckled in a way that made Sarafina's skin crawl along her spine.

"Right answer." As soon as the words left her lips, Sarafina was off and running. "And remember!" Zira called after her. "It's our little secret!"

Heaving from exhaustion, Taka plodded into Pride Rock's main den, and collapsed on the floor. He had run as fast as he could, and now needed to catch his breath. He suddenly remembered he had left Sarafina behind, but before he could react, he found his father towering over him.

"Taka, why are you home so early? I thought you were with Zira!" Ahadi exclaimed. Taka rose to his feet, and replied,

"Why would I be with Zira?"

"I just assumed that you would have accepted Zira's offer to go for a walk." Ahadi responded. Taka just stared at his father with an expression that looked both confused and horrified.

"You told Zira to ask me to go with her on a walk? But why, Father?" He questioned the king. Ahadi stood up straight, looking as proud and strong as any king could be.

"Well, since the two of you are to be married, I thought that you should start spending more time together." Taka's face twisted in anger. His own father, trying to bring him and the lioness he hated most together! It was absurd! He wasn't even to be king, and yet he had to be betrothed? He would have no more of this nonsense! But, being the mild-mannered young lion he was, he would first try to explain how he felt to his father.

"Father…" He began. "I… I refuse to marry Zira." He said plainly. Ahadi staggered back, shocked by his son's words.

"What? But why? Do you not love her? She is always by your side!"

"Who said I wanted her there!" Taka snapped. "I've never even liked Zira, let alone love her! I honestly can't stand her! I want out of the engagement!" Ahadi looked into his son's eyes, the ones so much like his own, and saw a deep hatred. It was now clear to him that Taka would do what ever it took to break the bondage he had to Zira. Trying to be the understanding lion he was made out to be, he asked the prince,

"Then who would you suggest to be your betrothed?" At this question, Taka shrunk back a bit, and said timidly,

"Well, I though maybe… Sarafina?" Ahadi gave a deep laugh from his gut.

"Ha ha! That's very funny Son! A little cub to be your mate!" Taka raked the earth with his claws. He looked back up at the golden lion.

"I mean it, Father. I want to marry Sarafina." Ahadi stopped his laughing, and glared at his son.

"WHAT?" He roared. "I deny your request, on the grounds that it would be an unfit marriage!" He was outraged by this proposal.

"And how, may I ask?" Growled Taka

"The age difference is too great! Further more, she isn't of royal blood, nor noble blood!" He bellowed.

"You don't know that for sure! For all we know, Sarafina could be a princess! And as for the age difference, I see nothing wrong with it! Aren't you and Mother about the same distance apart in age as Sarafina and I? And Mother said herself that you aren't of any nobility what so ever! You were a rogue and Grandfather Mohatu took you in and made you his heir! There is nothing royal about you!" Taka screamed at his father. It was clear his last remark had gotten under Ahadi's skin, and now that king was in a blind rage.

"TAKE THAT BACK, YOU INSILENT CHILD!" He roared. And as he said this, he swung his mighty paw, claws unsheathed, at Taka's face. His claws made impact, and less than a second later, a roar of shear pain and terror escaped the prince's mouth.

Sarafina was only meters away from the cave's mouth when she heard Taka's pained roar. She rushed into the cave, and found her friend hunched over, his paw covering his left eye. She ran to his side, not able to speak. She could feel his pain. Feel the sting and taste the blood running into his mouth. Suddenly, Uru appeared beside her, trying to sooth her son. Meanwhile, Ahadi, had retreated to the darkness corners of the cave, ashamed of the terrible deed he had just performed. As all this was happening, Taka never took his paw away from his face, and when Uru realized this, she urged him to put it down so she could see the extent of his father's strike. He did as he was told, and set his paw down so all could see his face. And there, slashed across his left eye, was a terrible bloody gash. All were horrified by this injury, and it wasn't clear if the prince would ever see out of his left eye again. Uru proceeded to lick the gash clean, and Sarafina stayed by Taka's side through the whole ordeal. When it was clean, Uru looked at his son with her loving, dull red eyes.

"It will probably scar." She said to no one in particular.