Author's notes: So sorry for the delay, haven't had much time lately. This chapter might not be suitable for the weak of heart, but enjoy none the less, and leave a review
Rafiki had been right, Uru did indeed give birth to two males although labour hadn't been easy. One cub came out almost immediately, his fur was golden like his father's, and his built was strong and healthy. Ahadi couldn't be more pleased with an heir so worthy and so much like him, though according to Rafiki his mane would be more like Mohatu's. It was only fitting, thought the king, that the crown prince would combine the traits of two great kings before him. It was then that things got difficult though, the second cub wouldn't come out, and great pain started to grow within Uru. On the second day the pain had become so unbearable that Rafiki feared for her life if the second cub wouldn't come out soon, but the queen was strong she withstood all the pain while suckling Mufasa as they had called the crown prince. And her strength was rewarded, as the second cub felt its first beam of sunlight. This cub looked a lot more like his mother, he had the same reddish brown fur and the same face as her, even though his eyes were green. His mother loved him endlessly despite all the pain he had caused her, or perhaps because he had released her from it, but Ahadi was less pleased. Unlike his older brother, Taka was weakly built, unfit to be king in his father's eyes, and he praised the ancestors for having the wisdom to have Mufasa be born first. Notwithstanding, Rafiki assured the king that Taka would have an important role to play in the circle of life, and Ahadi had no reason to doubt the wise baboon's words, he just did not see it yet. Uchawi's predictions however reaffirmed that even Ahadi's weakest son would influence the history of the pridelands for generations to come, something he started to believe when he saw his sons grow up: while Mufasa was by no means stupid, Taka was truly brilliant. This came at a cost though, not only was Taka overly critical of every tradition they had as well as the circle of life itself, which he had mockingly dubbed the circle of lion, he was also way more direct than his brother and tended to distress the pridelanders with his blunt honesty rather than give them hope. While he was definitely not without empathy, Mufasa was the one who could truly show it and make the animals feel at ease even in heavy duress. And heavy duress is what they were in, the dry season in which they were born had been longer than usual and the rainy season had completely failed. The dry season had barely started again and water levels were already comparable to levels at the end of a normal dry season. The twins first year of life had not even finished yet, or they were put to test to the extreme. One could argue that Mohatu's drought had been worse, but that drought was spread over five years, this drought has reached the levels of year three of Mohatu's drought in just one year. It was so bad that Uru decided to look for other sources of water before the pridelands would be left without.
"I won't let you do it, my love." Ahadi was not too fond of the idea. "I know we will need the water, but scores of hyenas roam across our borders, and I will not lose you like I lost my mother. I just cannot let you go there!"
"We have no choice, my dear," Uru replied, "I'll stay upwind to warn the hyenas of my presence. They wouldn't dare attack the queen unless they see no other choice."
Ahadi was nowhere near as optimistic about hyena behaviour, they had killed his mother after all, but the needs of the pridelanders had to be considered. It would be unworthy of a king to put his own needs first, but this was too much to ask for, to great a personal risk. He couldn't, he wouldn't…
"I'll go with her, father", a young voice interrupted. He sounded exactly like his mother, probably because he spent so much time with her, though the black mane that started to grow clearly identified him as his son. "While they might attack one lion, they won't attack two, and even if they did, I'm strong enough to fight them off!"
It was no secret that Ahadi preferred Mufasa, but seeing the resolve in his youngest son's green eyes, he could not help but feel genuine admiration for him for the first time. "Very well", the king yielded, "Taka, I trust your mother's life and with hers the lives of all our subjects upon you. Find us water, and bring us life my son." Uchawi had been right, he would influence the history of the pridelands.
Uru and Taka had been walking east for hours when they finally reached the hills that comprised the border area. Taka's paws had started to blister, and he wished they would find a water source already, but he knew the importance of this task and the chance it would give him to be a hero in the pridelands. "You know", he said, "I think Zuzu would find water a lot faster."
"I'm sure she would honey", his mom replied, "but she's nesting, and birds take nesting very seriously"
"Even more seriously than the morning report?"
"Even more seriously than the morning report. It's the circle of life." Taka scoffed at his mother's mention of the circle of life. "You still don't believe in the circle of life?"
"Obviously I believe in the part of birth and death, and hunting to eat. But to me it seems to be an excuse lions use to stay in power. It's a joke really."
"Do elaborate"
"Take the hyenas, don't they have the right to be part of the circle of life?"
"Who says they aren't?"
"They definitely aren't in the pridelands, dad drove them out. I know they killed his mother, but I'm sure not all hyenas were responsible for that"
"Well, there is also the fact that they hunt the same prey. Take the striped hyenas in the woodlands, your father didn't chase them away because they are mainly scavengers, but spotted hyenas hunt the same game we do. If we'd live together, one of us won't have enough food."
"And what gives us the right to hunt, and not them? We say we take care of all life in the pridelands, but in the end we are just looking after ourselves. We're just enforcing the circle of lion because we are stronger."
Uru chuckled. She knew her son was right. "You'd be a great ruler," she said, "just don't stop caring."
"But I won't be", Taka replied, "that role is reserved for a whipper snapper who follows the traditions."
"Taka!", Uru reprimanded him, "first off your brother is not a whipper snapper. Secondly there are different kinds of rulers. You obviously have the empathy and care to rule a kingdom, but the animals need a symbol of hope and that is the one big quality that would make your brother a king: he has the natural ability to inspire hope, which is what makes the people look up to him. You on the other hand knows what needs to be done, and have the creativity to find a way to do it. That part is equally essential, but it doesn't come with the glamour of being king. Basically you'd be acting behind the scenes without recognition from most animals, but that doesn't make it less important."
"You seem to get plenty of recognition"
"That's because I have been lucky enough to be queen of almost half our pride and consort to the other half. As crown princess, I was in the spotlights since the moment I was born, and as queen I remained there. It can be nice, but it definitely has its downsides. You'll be better off working behind the scenes and making a real difference."
"You really think I could make a difference?"
"If you can work together with Mufasa, you two can do anything", Uru winked, "And by the way, aren't you making a difference already?"
"I will when we find water." Uru smiled, she knew the bright future that was in her sons potential, and perhaps after this trip, so would Ahadi.
As the area became hillier and hillier, Uru let out a roar. "It's best to warn them we are here", she said, "animals can be very unpredictable when surprised."
"Won't this draw them to us?"
"Perhaps, or they might flee. But they won't attack two lions, even subadults. We might have to negotiate though, even if your father wouldn't like it… Oh no!" Uru suddenly stopped as she saw fresh tracks. "Taka, hide!"
"But mom, I am here to protect you."
"These aren't hyenas, honey, just make sure they don't find you." Uru kept staring at the lion tracks in front of her. This wasn't good. Rogues hadn't come this close to the pridelands, since the dogs settled on the other side of the Woodlands, and now they were here. Two by the looks of it, and Uru's plan to make sure the hyenas knew they were coming, now looked like the absolute worst thing they could have done. She just stood there frozen, not knowing what to do, until she felt another lion come closer.
"What is it, mother?", he asked. It startled her, and Taka recognised the danger immediately.
"I told you to hide", she hissed in despair, "if they see you they'll kill you, especially since you're male"
"But what about you? Won't they …"
"Rape me?", she finished the sentence, "I'll be fine as long as you're safe. Now hide!"
Taka didn't want to leave his mother alone, but obeyed her nonetheless. He made sure he could see her though, as he had to make sure she was okay. His father had trusted him with her safety, and for this one time Ahadi had faith in him, he was not about to prove him wrong.
"Don't you know bad things happen to those who wander out of their territory on their own?" The voice sounded menacing, but still fairly young.
"And aren't you bit young to be wandering off alone?" It was the voice of his mother, strong and full of confidence. She was right though, the mane of these lions had barely begun to develop, it would surprise Taka if they had already been two years old.
"Cute, but we can take care of ourselves", another voice emerged. Taka could barely see the scene through the bushes, but he realised they were closing in on her. They were about her size, but strongly built, surprising for two lone lions at such a young age.
"If you know what's best for you, you'll take your distance!" His mother again. She must have been nervous, but she sure didn't show it.
"You know," said the first voice, "we don't like being told what to do" And he pushed Uru into his companion. Taka wished he could see their faces, but the bush kept blurring his vision. He didn't like how these young lions physically harassed his mother though, and it appeared to be escalating fast.
"I think we'd better teach you a lesson", said the other voice as he headbutted Uru onto the ground, for his companion to pin her down. Taka couldn't take it anymore, and as fast as he could he lunged towards the lion pinning down his mother, only to be intercepted midair and smashed into a tree by his companion with the same headbutt he had used to floor his mother. The young prince was knocked out cold, and Uru could only watch in horror as his attacker approached him menacingly.
"No wait, you fool", the one pinning down Uru stopped his companion, "he's supposed to survive!"
While Uru found some comfort in these words, she was completely at odds on what it would mean. This wasn't the way rogue lions behaved at all. "What are you going to do to him?", she asked her former confidence nowhere to be found.
"You know, your majesty", the other lion said as he walked towards her, "you should be more worried about what we're going to do to YOU." Uru roared out in pain, as he put his teeth in her belly.
"Now remember", said the other lion as he loosened his grip on the queen, "it has to look like the hyenas did it!" Both lions chuckled at the idea.
"Let's have some fun!"
When Taka opened his eyes, he was sure the sight would be burnt in the back of his head for the rest of his life. The two rogues had already vanished, but his mother lay right in front of him, heavily panting, her abdomen torn open. No matter how gruesome she looked, he immediately leapt towards her. "Mom!" Uru just kept panting, while Taka desperately tried to move her. The pain she suffered must have been terrible. "I'll bring you to Rafiki, mom, he'll know... what to do." His vision was blurred with the unstoppable tears and he couldn't stop sobbing.
"No… use", she uttered, "Taka… make… difference… my lo…" The panting stopped and while lying at his mother's side, Taka felt truly alone in the world.