Chapter 3
After Taka was examined and cleaned up by Rafiki, Zira headed back to Pride Rock. Along the way she met up with Mufasa, Stoddy, and Ahadi. Mufasa looked grave. "Mufasa?" Zira asked with fake sincerity. Mufasa pulled his head back, closed his eyes, and set his jaw. "What is it now, Zira?" he asked through clenched teeth. "Might I accompany you to Pride Rock?" Mufasa opened his eyes and relaxed. "But of course." He seemed happy that it was a request.
Zira snarled under her breath. The time will come when he is destroyed. Control yourself. Think of Taka. He needs you strong. She forced a smile and walked with the Royal Prince. Ahadi shuffled behind them somewhat clumsily. As they reached Pride Rock, Stoddy turned around. "Ahadi is to wait here." She said calmly. Ahadi looked taken aback. "I am the king, I-" he was cut off by Uru's voice. "Were the king, you mean. You are nothing any longer after what you did today."
Ahadi looked up at Uru, shock showing on his face. He sat down hard upon his rump. Uru roared angrily. Pretty quickly animals began to show up from all around. Uru turned to Zira. "Zira! Fetch Rafiki, and bring Taka!" she ordered, her neck craning over the side of Pride Rock. "Mufasa, Stoddy, up here." Mufasa and Stoddy scrambled to the top of Pride rock while the other lionesses spilled from the den.
Zira raced back to Rafiki and told him to move on ahead, that she would gather Taka and bring him along. Rafiki hobbled off as Zira slowly stepped over to Taka's crumpled body. "Taka." "Mmm?" "Time to go. Your father is having a trial." Taka could barely lift his head. "Came pretty quickly, didn't it?" he asked groggily. "Has Rafiki drugged you?" "To ease the pain, yeah. We both thought the trial would be later."
Zira looked over her shoulder as an angry roar came from the direction of Pride Rock. Turning her head back and lowering her ears, she asked whether Taka could walk. After a few tries, Taka could only stand for a few seconds before falling over. Zira flattened her ears and opened her lips a little. She slipped under Taka and arranged him lengthwise on her back. "Let's go." She whispered softly.
They traveled to Pride Rock that way, Zira keeping Taka safe and comfortable, feeling that her heart may burst with love for him, Taka sleepy and not caring where he was. But for Zira to get him to the top of Pride Rock, she'd have to jump straight up onto a smaller boulder and run from there. She trotted past Ahadi and bunched up her muscles.
PTWANG! Like a giant, living rubber band she jumped up. Taka held on tightly. The only problem was that she miscalculated the jump and ended up hanging from the boulder. Taka held on even tighter, keeping is claws in and using only his toes and pads to stay on. Zira struggled and strained to pull them up. Stoddy rushed over and grabbed Taka's scruff.
As she took hold of Taka, Zira as able to push herself up and onto the rock. Together, Stoddy by their side, Zira and Taka walked the rest of the way to Uru. Uru softly licked her son's eye. "Careful." Zira cautioned. "He's still fragile." Uru nodded and turned. She walked to the tip of Pride Rock. "Is every animal here?" she called. The animals all nodded. "Good. Now, we must begin!" Roars, screeches, trumpeting, cawing, and many other animal sounds filled the air.
"I have called you here today to witness a grave thing. Ahadi, your one time King, has been placed on trial." The animals were shocked. "The charge is attack without cause." Animals all over became angry. "Not Ahadi!" cried an old elephant. "Pembe, I know this is hard for you, but it is true." Uru tried to console the elephant.
Pembe lowered his great head as a tear slipped down his trunk. "It can't be true…" he whispered so softly that only the elephants could hear him. Pembe and Ahadi were best friends- they had been since Ahadi was proclaimed a part of Uru's pride. Boma the water buffalo stepped forward. "Who did he attack?" he bellowed. Uru stood tall. "My son, Taka." Boma and Pembe stood stock-still. "What did he say his reason was?" All the lions looked to the left. There stood another lion, another rogue like Ahadi. "My name is Rashid." He was very young, at least five months old.
"Who are you?" Uru asked politely. "Just a rogue orphan that's been separated from his mother." Rashid answered. "I saw the fight but by the time I arrived everything was taken care of. But what was his reason for the attack?" Every animal looked at Ahadi. "Well, Ahadi?" asked Uru quietly. "What was your reason?" Ahadi looked embarrassed. He sat, tracing circles in the dirt with his index claw. "Ahadi." He looked up at his former mate. "Can you not speak?" Uru looked frustrated but kept her face calm.
"I-I have none." Ahadi finally admitted. All the animals gasped. "Then why was Taka the target of your non-existent reason for fighting?" Uru demanded, losing her temper slightly. "He's using you." Ahadi seemed to plead with Uru to believe him. Everyone put up a fuss at that. "And how, exactly, is he using her?" demanded Rashid over the noise. "He's using Uru to gain the throne! That's why he's always with her, always near her! That's why he never comes with Mufasa and me when we go to do our Royal Duties!" Ahadi was practically screaming now.
The animals began an uproar of rage, even Pembe. "How dare you!" cried an antelope. "Once a rogue, always a rogue!" screamed a macaw. Taka opened his eyes slowly. "What's all the noise?" he asked Zira softly. "Ahadi is lying. Everyone is in an uproar. I think you'd better go stand by Uru- not like that, I'll help you." Zira allowed Taka to lean on her heavily. Together they came into view of the animals.
"Taka! Prince Taka!" the animals gasped. For, even with his blood cleaned up, Taka's wounds were still visible." "See how heavily he has to lean on me! He can barely stand! The ruthless brute of a father nearly killed his own kind!" Zira yowled. Mufasa stepped forward as well. "Ahadi says that we are no sons of his." This enraged the animals further. A cheetah leapt from his place next to Ahadi.
"Traitor! Fiend! Rubbish! You must be exiled!" she screamed into his face. The animals began to stomp their hooves, paws, tails, whatever they could stomp with. "Exile! Exile!" they cried. Uru roared louder than Taka had ever heard her roar. Immediate silence befell the animals. "I will decide. Ahadi, if you apologize to Taka, you will have access to the Pridelands. If you don't, never again will you see the Pridelands and if you are seen trespassing you will be executed."
Ahadi began to cry softly. Uru was looking at him with such hatred and contempt that it broke his heart. Taka stood, pressing into Zira from fright. Zira growled warningly at Ahadi. He finally looked up, pain clear in his eye. "I-I…" he choked out. Everyone listened closely. "I- I can't… I can't apologize. I don't know how to." Ahadi choked out. The animals screamed in rage. Uru roared for silence three times before they settled down.
"What do you mean, 'don't know how to'?" she snarled. Ahadi looked like a kitten. "How can one ask for forgiveness to justify what one has done?" he whispered. Uru bent her head, ears flat. "You leave me no choice." She turned to the tip of Pride Rock. "Ahadi, for being unable to ask forgiveness, your penalty is this: trespass on my lands, and you will be executed. EXILE!" she screamed.
The animals began to sing the Exile Song.
Deception
Disgrace
Hatred as plain as the wounds on his face
Deception (an outrage)
Disgrace (for shame)
He asked for trouble the moment he stayed
…AND SO ON.
(HAD TO CHANGE THE LYRICS A BIT.)
Ahadi was then escorted from the Pridelands. The cheetah from earlier took care of that personally. But, as he left, no one- not even the elephants- heard Ahadi whisper, "I'm so sorry, Taka…" And he disappeared into rogue soil.
That night it rained. Uru only cried a little before turning her attention to Taka and Mufasa. "Mufasa, how is Sarabi?" "She is well, mother. She will be able to open her eyes in a day or two." Mufasa smiled. Uru nodded her head and told him to watch Pride Rock. "I'm going to visit Rafiki." She said. She stepped onto the slick, wet rock and began to slowly make her descent.
She walked slowly towards Rafiki's tree. As she stepped here, Ahadi's face would appear. As she tripped there, Ahadi would usually be there to catch her. It will be hard, she thought. But Taka comes first. Finally, soaked, she reached the tree where the shaman baboon lived. She climbed into a dry place and shook the water out of her fur.
"You don't look well, my Queen." Rafiki said from above her. "I just… I'm heartsick." Uru explained. "Let me ease the pain for you." Rafiki soothed her. He disappeared and then reappeared with some kind of nut. "This will help you feel better." As Uru chewed the nut, Rafiki grabbed a few leaves. "Once you are done, eat these. They will help you sleep better."
Rafiki leapt away to check on Taka. Uru stared at the leaves. They were the kind Ahadi liked to eat before a good, long nap. Slowly, she chewed on one, swallowed, and lay her head down upon her paws. "Uru?" came a silky voice. "What's the matter?" Uru lifted her head. "Zira." Uru smiled. "You startled me." Zira tentatively settled herself beside Uru.
"You can talk to me about your troubles, you know." Zira whispered. Uru was tired. Too tired to talk. "I'm sorry, Zira." She sighed. "I know you mean well, but right now I just need rest. What you can do for me, though," she said suddenly. "Take care of Taka. No matter what. I think he needs you. And I think you need him." Was that a smirk on her face? Uru couldn't tell. "I do really love him," Zira sneered. "As I love you. Ever since you allowed me to finally join the pride."
Zira shuddered at the thought of her old pride. She had often come to Taka's pride as a cub, but they were separated for a long time when they were adolescents. That was because another lion had taken hold of Zira's pride and had refused to let any of the females go. Zira, after some time, had finally escaped and returned to the only place she really knew where to go- the Pridelands.
Taka could not seem to remember her at all, but that was fine. Uru had allowed her in on the spot. This was another reason why Zira would wait for Uru to die peacefully instead of murdering her. Besides, if she murdered Uru, what would Taka think? What would he say? What would he do? Zira snapped back into reality as she realized Uru had asked her a question. "What?" she asked softly. "I asked whether you think Taka is right for you. And if he may think so too."
Zira took a deep breath before answering. "To me, Taka is the air. He's the thing that keeps me here on this earth. He's my love. I love his personality and his courage. He keeps me safe, and I keep him safe twice over. I cannot say what he may think about me, though- he's not yet told nor showed any actions towards me." She answered truthfully. "I can see." Uru said. "Well, Zira, when the time comes, I will talk with him. And, when it comes to choosing a bride, and if Taka chooses you, I will welcome you as a daughter into my home."
Zira thought this over. "But… what if he doesn't?" "Then you will still be as a daughter to me. But I may be unable to spend as much time with you because I will be helping the chosen bride realize her duties as a Queen." Zira sighed heavily. "You know, I'm more tired than I thought." Zira said. "Then, will you come back to Pride Rock or stay here, with Taka?" Uru asked.
"Well, I'd actually rather stay here. But I should give Taka a rest." She said hurriedly. "I've been with him almost all day." Uru smiled warmly. "Then will you accompany me?" "Of course. It would be my honor." Zira stood up and motioned politely with her paw to allow Uru to leave first. "What about Rafiki?" she asked. "HAHAHA! I can see you leaving. Take care now!" Rafiki gargled from the treetop. The lionesses laughed and began to walk away together. Zira kept on checking back. "I just worry," she moaned. "If he'll be alright." She turned her head back to Uru. "Do you…?" "I do understand, dear."
As they neared Pride Rock, they saw Mufasa sitting on the tip. He bounded down to meet them, slipping all the way. "Everything alright?" he called. "Mufasa, did you wait all this time?" Uru teased. Shaking water from his mane, Mufasa answered with a grin. "Not really." "Liar!" yelled Stoddy. "He just sat out there with not a single thought of his own health. He's soaked to the bone, and yet he's healthy as ever."
"Mufasa, son, I know you got hurt today- we all did. But you have to take care of yourself. One day you may be ruler." Mufasa looked confused. "But, mother, Ahadi said I would be the future king, not Taka." "What Ahadi said is none of our concern now. I have yet to see my sons explore their talents, and I will not decide until I am ready. However, Mufasa, you are the most likely candidate. I should like to see you keep up with your lessons- and see that you share them with Taka too."
And with that, Uru dismissed Mufasa. Zira helped Uru get comfortable and began grooming her queen. Adwar growled angrily. "Zira, if I may have a word with you- outside." Zira looked from Adwar to Uru. Uru nodded her head. "I know you'll get soaked even more, and its cold, but you should go talk." So Zira stood up and followed Adwar out back into the freezing rain. "Come with me." ordered Adwar. She stepped off of Pride Rock and began to slowly walk away. Zira followed without complaint.
They walked on for some time in silence. Finally, Adwar spoke. "I know what you're doing." Zira stopped and placed her weight on her back legs. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. You are trying to get to the Queen. And you are trying to do that through Taka. I won't allow it. I will never allow you to become Queen. I know your intentions. And you will never be able to go through with them- never." "Where are we?" Zira asked, suddenly suspicious of foul play and scared. "The last place you'll ever see if you aren't careful. Don't walk there." Adwar answered. "I have no intention of killing you. I will give you a chance to forget this ridiculous idea of yours and after that I shall never bother you again."
Zira studied Adwar's face carefully. "You lost something, didn't you? Otherwise you'd kill me without a thought." Adwar nodded slowly, rain dripping from her ears down her chin. "I lost something- or rather someone very close to me. Closer than my mate." Zira gasped, and then sneered. "Your cubs." "Yes. But it was only recently that I received a vision that one of them was still alive. But as I saw what she had become, I realized she would never be mine again." Zira began to feel uncomfortable. "And, eh, who exactly is she?" she asked, blinking water from her eyes. If at all possible, the rain seemed to be coming down harder than ever.
Adwar looked straight at Zira. Suddenly, Zira understood. "Oh, heck no. No, no, no, no, NO!" "I'm sorry you had to find out this way." Zira began to back away from the senior lioness. "Zira, please-" "NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Adwar began to back up slowly, ears at the sides. "Please, my daughter-" "LOOK OUT!" Zira screamed. Adwar, in backing away to give Zira room, had failed to notice where she was backing up to. Adwar gasped and moved away from the edge of the cliff. Looking back at Zira, she smiled softly. "Thank you." she whispered. Zira sneered yet again, rain pouring off her snout. "I just wanted that privilege for myself." and she leaped at Adwar.
"NO! ZIRA! PLEASE!" Adwar pleaded. Zira crashed into her and the lionesses rolled over and over. "Why won't you fight me?!" Zira snarled. "I-I can't- fight- my own- child," gasped Adwar. "Even- even if she kills me." Zira caught hold of her throat. Snickering darkly, she began to squeeze. "Suit yourself." and she crunched Adwar's neck bone in her jaws. Blood began to run with the rain down Zira's chin. But, in all the excitement, the lionesses had failed to notice where they were. The soft ground began to crumble. "Z-Zira-! The ground!" Adwar yanked her neck from Zira's jaws and began clawing Zira further away from the edge.
Now Zira's blood began to run with the rain. "What're you-!? Hey, that hurts." Adwar pounced on Zira and began to roughly drag her away from the edge. "HEY!" Zira yowled. Adwar threw her only remaining daughter by the scruff towards safer land. Once she landed, Zira placed her paw on her head. Blood clung to the paw and slowly washed away. "Why did you do that?" Adwar began to cry. Her leg crumpled and she collapsed. "Even my injured leg will not hurt as much as this will..." And the ground collapsed. "MOTHER!" Zira screamed. The cry echoed throughout the gorge. "Zira..." and then there was a thud and a sickening crunch.
Shaking her head, Zira looked to the Kings of the Past. Rain filled her eyes. "What have I done?" She'd murdered her own mother, that's what she had done. Zira shook her head and began to run back to Pride Rock. Yes, she'd wanted to kill Adwar for getting in her way. No, she had never wanted to kill her own mother. Zira had honestly thought that Adwar was lying in order to confuse her. Well, she had, but not in the way either of them had wanted. Zira lowered her head and closed her eyes. She kept running. I'm sorry, mother. I'm so sorry. Tears began to stream down her face. Suddenly, she bumped into something.
"Hey little lady. What are you doing here by yourself?" Zira knew that voice. "Where's Adwar?" Finally daring to look up, Zira opened her eyes. "I have to talk to Uru." Mufasa's eyes widened. "Zira... what happened? You-you're bleeding!" Zira pushed past the Prince. "Zira... I order you to stay." Zira stopped and looked back, tears falling steadily now and mixing with the bloody rain. "Stay with me." Mufasa pleaded. Zira bit her lip. She shook and finally burst out in a howl. She turned and buried her head in Mufasa's teenage mane. There she sobbed. Mufasa placed his broad chin on her head. As big cats don't purr, he began to growl softly over and over again. Together they stood like that for a long time.
Morning broke out over the Pridelands. Uru lifted her head and yawned widely, displaying her long black tongue. She then moved her head over to Ahadi, but instead of finding his soft mane she hit rock. Uru opened her eyes and rubbed her nose. Slowly, as she looked around at the sleeping lionesses, Uru remembered the previous day's events. "I'd better check on Taka." She murmured. As she stepped out into the lightened rain, the sun just barely visible, Uru stretched and felt her muscles ripple under her pelt. Usually, she never stretched like that. But today was a new day. Serafina stepped out from the cave and stretched as well. She was leaner than most of the lionesses. Zira was thinner, that was for sure. Her muscles weren't even defined yet. Just like her mother- Adwar. Where were they anyway? Had Adwar told Zira the truth yet?
Serafina stepped off Pride Rock and disappeared. Uru smiled in some pain and then decided to follow her until she got close enough to Rafiki's tree. Then she would let Serafina go off on her own. As she trotted on through the drizzles, Uru wondered whether Mufasa would have wanted to come. As she walked and the sun began to shine, Uru noticed that there were some lions lying together under a tree. Serafina was walking towards them. Uru squinted to see better. Suddenly, she realized just who they were. "Mufasa! Zira! Hey!" she trotted ever faster to the lions. "Oh! Ah, Queen Uru!" Serafina blushed. "What's going on? What happened to Zira?" Uru demanded. Zira was sleeping fitfully on Mufasa's shoulder, her body leaning against his.
"Something terrible has happened. Mother... Adwar will never be coming back." Mufasa said as gently as he could. Uru blinked. "I see..." she said. "We will mourn her later. Once Zira is awake, we must find out what happened." "That will not be for some time, mother. Even when she wakes up, it will be some time before she can talk. She cried herself hoarse last night." "It may be some time before she can eat, too. She's sicked up everything I've hunted her." Serafina piped up. "Wha- how long have you three been out here?" Uru demanded. "Why didn't anyone come get me?"
"She collapsed, and she felt that she couldn't face you or Taka ever again. She felt that it would feel like you blamed her for Adwar's death." Mufasa protested. "Serafina discovered us some time after Zira cried herself to sleep, hoarse from all she was howling and screaming about. She thinks it's all her fault." "I had to leave them alone after some time- Zira woke up and thought I was Adwar. Even though I do look something like her, I still came back. As you can see now." Uru nodded solemnly. "I apologize. I'm still very much upset after these recent events." In the corner of here eye, Uru noticed Rafiki hobbling across the plain. "Excuse me." she turned away from the younger lions and began to walk towards Rafiki.
"Rafiki," she called. "How is my son?" "Ah, he does very well. But I worry. The great kings were restless last night. My dreams were filled with dark images. And there were some dark lions there, too." Uru thought for a moment. "We have suffered a sudden loss. Adwar is gone. Zira is blaming herself for what happened to Adwar. I want to know what happened." "Ah, that would explain Adwar's appearance in my troubles dreams last night. Do you know what she told me?" Uru shook her head. Rafiki leaned in closer and took Uru's ear. "She told me, 'Do not blame her.' Does dat mean anything to you, my Queen?" Uru took her ear back and pushed them both foreward. "No, it... it does not. At least, not yet." Uru looked back at the three young lions.
"Listen, Rafiki, I have a request to make. I know that you have very little room in you tree for patients, much less lions. Can we move Taka into Pride Cave and leave Zira with you?" Rafiki looked at Zira from their distance. "My Queen, dat is something I cannot do. In Zira, I see a dark life beginning. In Taka, I see influence beginning to take shape. I worry, Uru. Dat I do." Uru shook her head. "I understand. Zira will stay with us. But Taka... can we keep Taka too? I think it might be best to keep them together-!?" Uru's nose became scrunched as Rafiki pushed his long, bony finger into it. "My Queen, have you not been listening? Zira is bad luck for them, and Taka may take after her. Taka stays with me." he removed his finger. Uru smiled deviously. "Of course, Rafiki. I understand perfectly. But watch for my Royal nose, won't you?" Rafiki smashed his stick into Uru's head. "OW! SON OF A-! What do I need to learn from that?" Uru growled.
"Things are not always as they seem." And with that, the shaman hobbled away with some herbs for Zira's wounds. Uru, ears flat in confusion, began to walk towards where her son was being held hostage by his wounds. Once in the tree, Taka's scent lingered around the entrance. Strange. Why's his scent here? Uru wondered. As she moved farther into the tree, Taka's form, sitting upright, began to show. "Mother!" Taka cried, his green eyes shining in absolute happiness. He slowly made his way to her. She walked to him and let her son snuggle his tiny mane into her chest. "Oh, Taka..." As her chest became wet with his tears, Uru began to cry into Taka's mane. "I-I never really liked him." Taka sobbed. "B-but now he's g-g-gone... and I miss him!" "I know, Taka. I know. But it was your safety over anyone's. I love you, Taka. And I might make you the king." Uru clenched her teeth. Taka shuddered and nuzzled his head deeper into Uru's chest.
"Mufasa should be king. I-I have no knowledge..." "Mufasa has agreed to tutor you. But you being king is still very iffy. I have a way to decide who will be king- and that is yet to be seen. I want you to be ready in case I leave." "Don't say that." Taka whimpered. "Please, please don't say that. You'll be here forever! You have to be." Together, mother and son, the lions stood pressed together and sobbing into each other's fur.