Chapter 3 – A Chat With Uncle Stefano

Meanwhile, sheltered under the old alcove somewhere in the palace grounds, Stefano was pacing around with a sullen and dark expression with his tail whisking on the floor as he kicked a skull head across the floor and was lost in his thoughts of memories gone by when his ears pricked at the sound of his nephew's voice.

"Hey, Uncle Stefano! Guess what!" Rod cried as he bounded excitedly into the alcove just to see his favorite uncle as Stefano turned to glare at him with a sneer. "I really despise guessing games," he snarled with a deep growl as he turned around to ignore him. "I'm gonna be king of Pride Rock!" Rod cheered as he scampered over to the edge to look out at the full view of Stefano's home. "Oh goodie…" Stefano muttered under his breath with a fierce snort as Rod added, "And I'm gonna rule it all! Heh, heh, heh!"

"Yes, please forgive me if I'm not leaping for joy; bad back you know," Stefano snapped tersely as he turned away from his nephew before he dropped onto his left side, prompting a worried Rod to run over and climb onto him.

"Hey, Stefano, when I'm king, what's that gonna make you?" Rod asked Stefano curiously as he snorted from his throat with a bitter scoff. "I'm going to be a monkey's uncle," he replied as Rod laughed at his wry answer while tumbling down to look at him. "You're so weird, Uncle Stefano," he giggled as Stefano lifted up his head to peer at him straight in the eye with a sly yet beguiling smile. "You have no idea, child," he smirked as he got up and went up to walk around the premises with Rod trailing after him.

"So, your father showed you everything, didn't he?" Stefano probed with some questions as he continued to walk with his nephew, who was still bounding and skipping around from still lingering excitement from the sights his father just showed him. "Everything, Uncle," was his answer as they sat down near the edge. "He didn't show you what was beyond those borders now, did he?" Stefano questioned him further as Rod shook his head while glancing downward on his haunches. "No, Uncle; he said I couldn't go there," he replied sadly.

"Really now? Well he's right, you know; you really shouldn't go there for only the bravest lions can go there," Stefano peered at him curiously while turning his attention to the Shadowlands. "Well, I'm brave; why can't I go there?" Rod insisted as he suddenly stood up with his shoulders straight and his ears flattened as he gazed boldly at his uncle. "No, my dear Rodrigo, you can't really…" Stefano shook his head no while Rod frowned in disappointment. "Why not, Uncle? Why can't I go there?" he insisted stubbornly.

"Rodrigo, Rodrigo, Rodrigo, you really mustn't go there; if you do and if you get hurt, I would never forgive myself since you're my dearest nephew," Stefano crooned softly yet gently as he laid his paw on Rod's tiny head and patted it.

"I'm your only nephew," Rod laughed as Stefano smiled warmly with an ever knowing gleam lingering in his eyes.

"All the more reason to protect you; wouldn't want you to go into the Elephant Graveyard now, do we?" he purred coyly as his paws flew to his mouth and he cried, "Oops!"

"An elephant what? Whoa!" Rod gasped in surprise as he was quickly excited by the idea of going in there. "Oh dear, I must have said too much," Stefano sighed dramatically while placing his paw on his face while looking at his claws stoically. "Well, might as well get going before I say anymore to encourage that wild imagination of yours…"

He then pulled Rod into his arms and hugged him close while flashing a wide, coy yet charming grin while adding, "Just promise me one thing; don't ever go into that dreadful place, all right?" Rod then thought for a minute before answering, "No problem."

"That's a good lad," Stefano answered with a satisfied smile as he shoved Rod ahead of him and sent him off running. "Now run along now." Rod then turned to gaze up at him one more time as Stefano peered at him with a demure smile before adding one more thing. "And remember: it's our little secret."

And with that, Rod bolted out of the cave and headed out to tell his best friend what he had just learned from his uncle, while the elderly black lion watched from the shadows with a cunning, evil eye as his eyes glowed in the dark, watching and anticipating the lion cub's next move.