Chapter 15: Pridelands to Shadow-lands
A few minutes have passed since Sarabi has summoned the other lioness's of Priderock, to converse about Tojo becoming the next King of the Pridelands. A few lioness's were anxious of Scar finding out that the young lion cub is a threat to his rule.
Sarafina the mother of Nala, was still pondering about Tojo who might just become her mate.
Meanwhile at a waterhole, Tojo is waiting patiently for his mother to get him. The young cub lays his head on his small paws, and sighs; a diminutive cloud of dirt rises, because of his sigh. Tojo was remembering the days he played with Simba. He lost his train of thought when the grass moved. The sudden movement of the grass startled him, he called out to his mother.
Adia's head emerged out of the tall grass, "Hush my son, we don't want to wake up the hyenas... or worse." Adia whispered. He silently treads toward his mother, and nuzzles her flank; she nuzzles him back.
"I love you, my son. I must take you to Rafiki's tree." She whispered.
Her son's ears flattened against his head and he whimpered. "Why mother, must I stay with the strange monkey?" He asked. Adia sighs, and looks into his light blue eyes. "Please my son, Sarabi told me to take you to Rafiki, the pride needs you to do this; times have changed and it is now difficult to keep you alive." She said.
Tojo cocked his head at his mother's last words, "It is hard to keep me alive? what does that mean?," He asked. Adia gritted her teeth in anger. "Never mind that, I will promise you that I will visit you as much as possible." She retorted sofltly.
Tojo nodded his head, "How is Sarafina, Nala, and Sarabi?," The lion cub asked. "They are fine, we must go now." Adia said a bit impatientence in her voice.
Tojo sighed and got on all fours, he stretched like a house cat and told his mother that he was ready to go. Adia turned around and walked in the direction of Rafiki's tree, with Tojo not far behind.
As Adia and Tojo continued their trek to Rafiki's tree, a storm was in the distance, but was coming fast.
Meanwhile at Rafiki's tree
Rain was pouring in the tree, soaking everything, lightning flashed brightly; it was so bright you could see the tear run down the mandrill's cheek. Rafiki lifted his hand and wiped the tear away, he sighed mournfully as he turned his gaze to the painting of a young Simba that he drew. He raised his had to the painting, caressed it gently and smeared it, he thought the painting was useless up there.
BOOM!! Thunder crashed a few miles away, the mandrill saw movement in the darkness of his tree, "...Adia... Sarabi told me of your arrival, and that I should raise and train Tojo." He said. Adia appeared out of the darkness with Tojo hanging by the nape of his neck from her teeth.
She placed her son on the tree ground gently, and yawned, she stared at her son and spoke, "Aye Rafiki, that is true." She murmured.
The mandrill smirked, "Young Tojo shall live here and I will train him." Rafiki then frowned, while rubbing his temple, "Unfortunately you are forbidden to see your son."
The lioness gasped, and was about to shed tears. "Rafiki, I promised him that I would see him but not enough to cause suspicion." She said.
Rafiki scooped up the little lion cub, "Very well, he must be fed with your milk," He answered. Adia sighed in relief, she walked over to her son and nuzzled him. "Take care, my son." She whispered in his ear.
Adia knew that she has stayed long enough, and decided to go back to Priderock.
Early in the mornining the next day, the sun showed it self for a few seconds and dissappeared behind the dark clouds. The trio of hyenas came in the den, and walked toward Adia, she was awake and glared at them.
The grotesque smell of the hyenas was making her eyes water, and her muzzle crunch up. The awful stench of Shenzi increased as she got closer to Adia.
A few lioness's were awake also. Nala was still terrified at remembering the day Shenzi almost ate her. she hid behind her mother's front legs.
"Don't try anything lioness, are you will be punished, do as we say and no one will get hurt." Shenzi said firmly.
Banzai glared at the rest of the lioness's. "The King requested me to get your son, where is he?" Shenzi asked. Adia frowned and began to sob. She shook her head. Shenzi rolled her eyes, and jumped on Adia biting into her left ear. Shenzi got off licking her lips. a lioness with a stripe going down to her lower back roared at Shenzi; Banzai took action and ran to Nala growling at the frightened cub.
Nala was shaking violently in fear. Sarafina pounced on Banzai and beared her sharp leonine teeth, a growl emitting from her throat.
Her eyes feeled with anger.
"Don't go near my daughter again!!! Are I will rip you to shreds!" Sarafina warned through gritted teeth. Banzai's pupils became very tiny, because he was never that scared in his life, except the time Mufasa almost ate him.
"Fina." A dark voice called out. Sarafina looked at the source of that voice quickly, it was Scar standing near Adia, she always hated when he called her "Fina" it drove her crazy. She then turned her gaze to Banzai, he was gone, she saw that he hid behind Shenzi.
Her chest heaving, her heart beating hard and fast. She wiped the sweat from her brow.
Sarafina couldn't do anything to Banzai...for now. The lioness's were trying to recall what happened, the event just happent so fast. "Now Adia where is your son?" Scar asked. Sarafina walked back to Nala, licking her cheek and saying "Sorry if I frightened you."
Adia was trying to think of a lie fast but make it sound like the truth. "I got rid of him," Adia lied. Scar examined his black claws, "Cleary you haven't heard what I said. Where is your son!" Scar roared.
"I told you, I told him to run and never come back." Adia replied while sobbing, blood dripping off her left ear.
Scar's eyes widened, that line that Adia just said sounded familiar. "What did you say?" Scar said. Adia let out a mounrfull gasp. "My gods just leave my alone." Adia pleaded. "Scar squinted his eyes at her, "You will tell me the truth sooner are later." he said.
Scar turned around and his tail slapped Adia across the muzzle, Scar and the trio of hyenas exited out of the den.
The striped lioness ran over to Adia, Sarafina and Sarabi soon followed. The striped lioness frowned and nuzzled Adia, "I'm sorry, I never meant to get you injured." The striped lioness apologized.
"Don't be sorry, you were just trying to protect me." Adia replied warmly. The striped lioness smiled weakly. Sarabi placed her paw on the striped lioness's shoulder. "Adia is right, don't worry Zira." Sarabi said comfortably.
The rest of the lioness's were calmed down from the event that just happened, and the Pridelands got darker each passing minute. Pretty soon enough the Pridelands would have a new name...The Shadow-lands.
To be Continued...