Hihi! I hope you all don't mind the long update times, I just had some rough days this past week. :P
Chapter three: What's in a name?
The sun rose on the horizon, bathing the Pridelands and its waking inhabitants in a fantastic golden light. Pride Rock seemed surreal, the sun's rays making the morning dew glisten and sparkle across its surface. The early morning started normally for every animal in the Pridelands, except for a special few…
4 months had passed since Nala gave birth to her cubs, and ever since they were let out of the den the three youngsters had taken it upon themselves to cause as much mischief as possible to everyone who wasn't… well… them.
Kopa, Kiara, and Taka had gotten up early and snuck out of the den while the other lions were sleeping. Much to many of the animals dismay, today marked the end of the grounding the three had received after Simba got one too many complaints from a herd of agitated elephants who demanded the cubs be stopped before drastic measures were taken.
The present Lion King of the Pridelands, Simba, saw his cubs missing from the den and sighed.
When will they ever learn? I don't want to seem like such a mean parent… But at the same time I don't want any of them to get hurt!
He slowly padded out onto the promontory and scanned the lands below him, yawning loudly. Simba felt a small weight alight on his shoulders and smiled.
"Hello, Zazu. I trust that you have the morning report ready for me?"
Zazu frowned, and puffed out his chest feathers, indignant. "Sire, I always have the morning report ready on time. And I assure that I have toiled over every detail of it, just for you."
Simba chuckled, happy to see that he could still get Zazu riled up. Some things never change. With a loud 'Ahem' Zazu began listing off the various tasks that needed to be attended to. Simba zoned out while Zazu continued his tirade, mind wandering to his cubs.
I hope they're okay… I don't know what I'd do if one of them got hurt, or worse. And what about Nala? What would she think if one of our children died? Worry continued to eat away at him.
No, don't think like that! No animal in the Pridelands would DARE touch my cubs.
"… And of course they want ME to give up MY nesting just so they can-"
"Zazu? Can you do me a favor?" Simba asked, hoping his voice didn't betray the nervousness he felt.
Zazu looked over, his arm still raised as if giving a lecture. He saw the worry lined in his King's face and nodded encouragingly. "Of course sire! Anything."
"Could you go and check on Kopa, Kiara and Taka? They snuck out again this morning… I'm worried they might get themselves in bigger trouble than last time, and I don't want them to get hurt." Zazu gave Simba a cheerful smile and bowed.
"Right away. I'm sure they're just fine Simba. No need to worry yourself like this, it isn't good for your health."
"Thanks, Zazu."
"Taka! Come on hurry up, the Outlands aren't going to explore themselves y'know!" Taka heard his brother shout as he and Kiara raced down a small hill to meet up with the rest of their friends. He trotted along at an easy pace, enjoying the cool morning breezes. Kopa, Kiara, and the other cubs Shani, Sabini, Chumvi, and Malka awaited him at the bottom of the hill.
Shani was a small cub with brown colored fur, and crème colored paws, muzzle, and tail tip. Her eyes were a beautiful sea-green color, which many of the lionesses praised her for. She was usually very quiet, sticking to the company of Kiara, or her sister Sabini. Sabini looked almost exactly the same as her younger sister, but her eyes were amber colored. She was much more outgoing than Shani and loved to gossip with the older lionesses.
Malka was a peculiar cub, having a tuft of fur on his head that was both a stark white color, and a deep black. He had orange colored fur and tan paws and muzzle with a black tail tip. He also had dark brown colored eyes. Malka was very bullheaded and aggressive, and he loved to play fight with the other cubs. One could say that Chumvi was the polar opposite of Malka. He was shy, and stuck to hanging around Kopa most of the time. Chumvi had pale tan fur, almost white and the same colored paws and muzzle. He had light blue eyes and a light yellow colored tail tip.
"Come on slowpoke, you can stop and enjoy the scenery when we get there." Kopa said, playfully cuffing his younger brother on the ear and smirking. "Alright guys, let's go!"
Malka looked at Kopa and rolled his eyes. "Who died and made YOU leader?"
Kiara and Taka grinned at Malka's joke. Kopa put a paw to his chest and stuck his nose in the air.
"I am the prince and future king Malka, so that makes me the leader. I'm more qualified." He replied, grinning stupidly.
"Yea yea, whatever…"
Kiara called over her shoulder, "If you two dimwits are done arguing, you can come with us to the Outlands. Otherwise we're leaving you to fend for yourself."
Malka and Kopa looked at each other fearfully, silently agreeing to drop the subject as they raced the catch up with their departing friends.
Trudging through the wastes of the Outlands, a lone lioness cub slowly made her way through the desolate wastes. A few days earlier she was considered a princess, but then… She shuddered, and tears came to her eyes. A lone rogue had appeared in her pride and slaughtered her father in combat. By rule of succession he had the right to kill every cub in the pride. She had run with her mother, away from the rogue and her pridemates.
She had escaped, but her mother had fallen, tripping over an almost invisible tree root. She had begged her daughter to leave her, as the rogue viciously tore her throat out. Her mother's desperate last words rang in her head: Run, Nia! Run away, and never return!
And Nia had run. Ran and ran until she passed out from exhaustion. Then she woke up in this strange place, head pounding and muscles weak from starvation and dehydration. She thought she heard voices… They sounded like… other cubs? She dismissed it as a hallucination, taking a few more steps and then collapsing again.
"Who is that?" "She just collapsed, someone get help!" Taka heard a chorus of voices from his friends as they rushed over to the side of a cub. If Taka had to guess he would say she was the same age as he was, covered in dust and grime.
She must be a rogue… Taka thought, staring at the cub that his friends had all gathered around.
Suddenly, she began to stir, shooting to her feet at an alarming speed. She looked around wildly, locking eyes with him.
"W-Who're you?" she asked nervously.
"I'm Taka. You don't look so well, I think we should take you to our pride.
She cocked and eyebrow, staring at him uncomfortably. Taka looked away, pawing the grass awkwardly.
"Taka? But… Taka means 'trash' doesn't it? Who would name their son 'trash'?"
Despite what they had just witnessed happen to the girl, Malka, Chumvi and Kopa all burst out laughing.
"Ha, ha! Really, oh hey, Trash, want to play tag? Trash, get over here! It's time for your bath!" Malka howled with laughter at his own wit, as did Kopa and Chumvi.
The girls looked at the three of them and growled under their breath. The lioness cub turned to Taka, who was starting to blush a deep red as his friend's laughter continued.
"I'm Nia by the way. I'm really sorry, I didn't-" she stopped and held a paw up to her head, swaying dangerously on her feet. Nia managed to shake it off and glared at Malka and the other boys in anger.
"Nobody asked you, jerk!" she growled, smacking Malka over the head with a paw, hard. But Taka wasn't listening. He began to sprint back to the Pridelands, thoughts whirling through his mind.
Taka means 'trash'… Does dad really think I'm just trash? Is it because I'm the youngest? Does he not love me?
With the last thought, tears began to stream down Taka's face. He saw the blurry outline of Pride Rock approaching in the distance. He raced past the relaxing lionesses into the royal den, where his father rested, looking over at Taka with a concerned expression. Simba rushed over and took Taka into his arms, licking the tears off of his son's face.
"Shh, shh… Taka, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Simba asked, hating to see his son in such pain. Taka looked up at his father with sad eyes.
"D-dad, why did you name me Taka? It means t-trash… Is that what I am to you, dad? Just a-a piece of trash?" Taka swallowed past a lump in his throat and a few more tears soaked into his father's mane. Simba was stunned. He nuzzled his son lightly and purred soothingly.
"Taka, of course I love you! You're my son and I will always love you, no matter what. I named you after one of the greatest lions I ever knew: My uncle, who went by the name Scar. He gave his own life to save my father's."
"But, if he was so great, why was he called 'trash'?" Taka asked, his sadness subsiding. Simba sighed and set his son down in front of him.
"I'm going to tell you his story, Taka. He had a hard life, and in the end I think he just wanted it all to end." Simba cleared his throat and continued. "He was born to Ahadi and Uru, My great-grandparents…"
So how'd you all like it? I'd like to hear your feedback and reviews are much appreciated! The next chapter will be a look into Mufasa and Scar's childhood. How Taka became Scar and whatnot. Till next time! :)