Some time has passed since Taka came home. He was not the same shy and submissive cub he was once. His father's glare didn't scare him anymore. Not since facing Sharptooth. He was currently with Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafina. It was nice to be back with Sarafina, but unpleasant to be with the others.

Mufasa had him pinned again. Although, it wasn't the same as before. Taka despite being pinned, kept trying to fight back, Mufasa actually had trouble keeping him down.

"Come on Mufasa, let him go". He was happy Sarafina told him to, he had an excuse. Since Taka disappeared and came back, he has become different.

Sarabi scoffed at Taka. "Pathetic. You don't stand a chance against anyone".

"So, you know what the words pathetic means. How many words is that all together, nine".

Sarafina put her paw on her mouth to prevent her giggling. Sarabi glared. Mufasa growled. "You certainly became smarter since you disappeared. You know, mom and dad made no attempt to find you when you disappeared. Mom didn't care and Dad was happy".

Taka rolled his eyes. "That's no surprise".

Mufasa and Sarabi had no idea where this bravado came from. He talked back before, but he was usually shy and low voiced. It amused them. Now he was confident with what he said and it annoyed them.

Taka simply walked away, not wanting to put up with them.

"Don't turn your back on me, Taka".

Taka was going to give another smart remark, but decided against this. He said nothing and kept walking.

Sarafina followed after him. "Taka, where are you going"?

"Anywhere those two aren't".

"Taka, wait".

He did and she looked at him. "Why did you run away? I was so sad that you did that".

Taka sighed. "The bullying and hatred from this pride, I couldn't take it anymore".

Her eyes turned to anger. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to leave"?

Taka sighed and gave her a look of sadness. "What would you have us do, run away together, get married and start a pride of our own. You have a mother who would miss you, friends who would miss you. Heck, my brother would certainly miss you more that he ever could for me".

Sarafina's eyes turned back to sadness. "What happened when you were away? Where ever you were, it changed you. Not in a bad way, it's nice to see you stick up for yourself. But what happened"?

Taka didn't know how to explain it. He sighed. "I made some new friends, had an adventure with them".

That got Sarafina curious. "Really".

"Yeah, let's say that I also met this, shall we say, gigantic predator. He was scary, way more than my dad will ever be. I think he had it out for me and my friends. But we killed him, he's dead now".

Sarafina looked surprised. "How were you able to do that"?

Taka explained and she was impressed. "Wow".

He nodded. "I met someone similar to Mufasa. I didn't like her at first, but she turned out to be a true friend".

Sarafina glared. "Not your best friend. Right"?

Taka chuckled. "Of course, not".

"How did you get that scar. The whole pride is curious"?

Taka felt uncomfortable. "A horned animal".

Sarafina frowned. "That must have hurt".

Probably nowhere as hurt as Littlefoot felt was what Taka thought.

Sarafina wondered something else. "Why did you come back if you ran away in the first place"?

"A little bird made me come back".

"Who? Zuzu"?

"No. And I don't think she would like the name 'little'.

They both giggled. They played for a while before they headed back to Pride Rock. Sarafina returned to her mother, while Taka simply went to take a nap, only for Uru to block him. "Mufasa told me you were picking on Sarabi".

"You never had any problem with her picking on me".

"Watch your tone".

"Or what. You won't love me anymore. Can't lose what you never had".

Uru continued to glare. "You certainly became more assertive since you disappeared".

"I would happily have stayed away".

"Then why did you come back"?

"I didn't have a choice".

"We're not keeping you here".

Taka growled. "You're right". He stormed past his mother.

"Where are you going"?

"I might be trapped in this world, but it doesn't mean I need to live in the Pridelands! See ya".

Uru leaped in front of him. "What do you mean trapped in this world".

"You wouldn't understand. Not let me through".

Lay hid

"I don't think so. You're not to go anywhere without an escort from now on".

"What? You can't do this"!

"I'm your mother, I can and I will".

"You said a few seconds ago you weren't keeping me here. You didn't try to find me when I left before".

She huffed. "The pride had more important things to do than play hide and seek with you".

"You call yourself a mother. You never asked where I was, you didn't ask me how I got this scar. You know why I left without telling. It was because I was afraid you would try and keep me here to torment me. And it turned out to be true".

"Watch how you address your mother".

Taka turned to see his father. "What you want now"?

Ahadi growled. "I'd watch that tone if I were you".

"In case you didn't figure it out already. I'm not afraid of you anymore. I saw something more and vicious than you could ever be. So, yell at me, hit me, but I will not be bullied by you anymore. Now. LET. ME. LEAVE".

To the surprise of both Ahadi laughed. Taka was wrong, he was scared. This wasn't cruel or mocking laughter. It seemed normal. "I don't know what happened to you, but I like it. Perhaps you aren't a complete weakling after all".

Ahadi simply walked away. Taka and Uru were still recovering.

Taka waited until it was dark before sneaking off. He pretended to be asleep. As soon as all eyes were closed, he made his escape.

As he got to the Waterhole, he was knocked down. With his vison recovering, he was surprised to see his attacker. "Sarafina"?

She had tears in her eyes. "You're seriously trying to leave again? Why don't you tell me this? Do you think I'll rat you out".

"How did you know"?

"I pretended to be asleep. I've been doing it since you came back. I knew you would try and leave, sooner or later".

"You're not the only one".

They turned to see Uru. "Seriously Taka. You didn't think I would predict this. You used to be well behaved, until you ventured out of the Pridelands".

"You didn't care for me then either".

Sarafina yelled. "I did and do, yet you ran away without telling me. Why won't you trust me. I've been your friend since we met".

Uru sighed. "Enough, Taka your attempt to escape didn't work. Don't try it again, it might have worked once, but it won't happen a second time. Now back to the den".


Author's Note

I recognise that I focused more on Uru than Ahadi and Mufasa this chapter. As for our favourite dinosaurs, they will appear soon.