Chapter One:
Golden beams of pure light shone across the savannah as dawn broke. A lion, followed by his mate and two cubs, confidently strode through the tall, tan grass. One of the cubs slowed down, to be beside his mother. That cub was slightly smaller than his brother, and often was found daydreaming by the waterhole. He was often teased by the other cubs, and found peace by being alone. That cub was none other than I.
“Mama?” I asked, staring up at her. Uru, my mama, looked down, her green eyes sparkling.
“What is it, M’dear?” she said.
“Where’re we going?” I asked. Mama has been so excited to go, so it must be important! I ran under her legs, my tail flying in the wind, and turned around to block her path. “Tell me!”
She laughed gently, “It’s a surprise, M’dear,” she said sweetly. She leaned down and touched noses. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”
Mufasa, the other cub, my brother, turned his head to face us. “Daddy told me, little brother!” he said, running toward me.
I huffed in annoyance. “Of course he did,” I muttered under my breath. Papa always did like Mufasa better than me. I don’t know why though.
He head-butted me, and pounced on my back. “Let’s play!” he yowled, his so called ‘beautiful’ fur bristling in excitement.
“Hey!” I shook him off, “I thought you were going to tell me what Papa said!”
His eyes glittered with amusement, “But it will be funner as a surprise!”
I eyed him, smirked, then suddenly, I leapt towards him, crashing into him. He gave a yelp as he landed onto the ground, his pelt catching dirt.
“Oh, you’ll pay for that!” he said playfully, shaking the dirt off.
He swiped at me, but I dodged. “Ha! Missed me!” I teased.
He growled, and lowered into the grass, until I could only see his amber eyes. Emerald eyes are far prettier in my opinion.
“What’re you doing?” I padded closer to him, visible confusion and annoyance on my face. Suddenly I realized what he was about to do, but I was to late to move. Mufasa leapt, and crashed me to the earth. He had me pinned! I tried to wiggle free, but it was no use; my brother was too strong.
I sighed. How come my brother always wins? It’s not fair! I gave a yelp, signaling him to get off of me, but he didn’t.
“Come on, little brother, push me off,” he said, a arrogant look on his face.
I growled, “I can’t,” I said through gritted teeth.
Mufasa looked up, “Daddy!” he yowled. Ahadi, my Papa, glanced back at us. He was a few yards ahead of us, I realized. We were falling behind.
“Sons, hurry up, we can’t be late,” Papa said quickly.
Mufasa leapt off of me, and bounded to be beside Papa. I trailed behind, still bummed by the fact I lost, again. Uru came over to my side, her tail sweeping around me.
“You’re sad you lost, aren’t you, M’dear,” she said softly.
I sniffed sadly. “yeah…” I looked up at Mama. Her green eyes were sparkling from the morning light. Compassion shone through them, filling my heart with gladness, gladness for having such a wonderful Mama.
A whirlwind of emotions flew through me. “Oh, Mama!” I cried, burying my muzzled into her fur. “It’s not fair! Papa likes Mufasa more than me, he’s better at everything!” I stopped at a sudden, terrible thought.
“I’m worthless…”
Uru gasped. “No you’re not, M’dear! You’re perfect,” she nuzzled my cheek. “You’re my sweet, wonderful baby…” she whispered. She then looked me in the eye, her emerald eyes showing pure love, pure sweetness. Oh, I just love my Mama. “Now, Go be beside your Papa and brother, you’re almost to the surprise!”
I looked back at her, but before I could say anything, Papa turned. “Taka! Uru! Get over here!”
Uru looked down, smiling. “I’ll race yah!” she laughed, as she suddenly bounded across the savannah. I giggled, taking off after her.
Now this was something I could do!
I sped up, relishing the feeling of the wind flowing through my fur. I came next to Mama; she looked surprised. We ran through the grass, the trees a blur. It felt like we were as fast a cheetahs!
“Well done, M’dear!” she praised as she slowed to a halt by Papa.
I stared ahead. A lion and a lioness padded forward, followed by two cubs. The lion lowered his head in front of Papa.
“Greetings, Ahadi. I am pleased to see you made it.” The lion was tan, with an even darker tan mane. His amber eyes glittered.
“We would never miss an invitation from Maji, the king of the Westland Pride,” Ahadi said warmly. He turned to us. “This is my mate, Uru. And these are my two sons, Mufasa and Taka.”
Maji’s eyes stared us over. Finally he looked up, and beckoned for his cubs and mate to come near. “This is my mate, Penzi.” A dark tan lioness with a light stripe on her back padded close. “….and this my son Baridi,” A light tan cub with sparkling teal eyes looked at me mischievously. “…and my daughter, Zira.”
Chapter Two:
Zira, a tan cub with a darker tan stripe on her back, eyed me playfully. Uru nudged me forward gently. “Go on, M’dear, go meet the other cubs.”
I slowly padded forward. Baridi glanced up at me, his ice-blue eyes shining with mischief.
“So, your name’s Taka, eh?” his eyes retracted to a mere slits, “Don’t you know that that means trash in the Ancient Lion Language?!”
I stopped in shock, then quickly recovered myself. “Don’t you know it also means wish, or want?” I retorted. “And,” I said, getting courage, “Your name looks no better, it means cold, which makes it sound like you’re cold-hearted.”
He growled, his claws sliding out. “It’s talking about my eyes, not my heart.”
Zira stepped between us. “Hey guys, stop fighting, let’s play.” She said, her tail waving. Baridi shot her a look.
“Not now, Zira,” he growled, pushing her on the ground. He turned to me, his eyes gleaming.
“Taka, you know, no one gets to ruffle my fur without paying for it!” He growled. Suddenly, running up to me, launched off the ground, claws out, aiming for me!
Before I could do anything, a shape jumped in front of me, blocking the blow of Baridi. As my eyes focused into view, I gasped. It was Mufasa! The sun illuminated his fur, making it glow bright golden. I had a prick of jealousy, why couldn’t I have such fur?
“Stay back little brother, I’ll deal with this.”
I gasped in shock and anger. I was furious! To think that Mufasa didn’t think I could defend myself?
“Mufasa.” I said, my jaw clenched in anger. He had Baridi pinned. “I was fine! I had it covered!” words spilled out of me, my frame shaking with anger. “I could’ve defended myself, I-I know it! You just want to make me feel humiliated!” I stopped, gasping for breath. I looked at him, a look of puzzlement on his face. I scowled. I don’t care what he looks like on the outside, I know, for a fact, in his heart there’s arrogance.
“Stop pretending you care!” I yowled, tears streaming down my muzzle. Some may say I was overreacting, but I wasn’t. All the time before we went on that trip, Mufasa had been doing that same very thing. I kept all my anger bottled up over that, but then I let it all out.
“Taka…” Mufasa started.
“NO!” I yowled. “you just want to make Papa like you more than me!” I hung my head in sadness. “You just want to be king…”
Baridi watched the fight with keen interest. I was disgusted by him, not even his fur ruffled by it all. I would even say he enjoyed it.
“Taka…” this time Zira approached me. I looked up, and before I could do anything, she nuzzled me, placing her head my shoulder.
“It’s okay, I’m here for you,” she whispered in my ear. My eyes opened wide in astonishment. How? How could she feel compassion for me? All the cubs, except Sarafina, surrounded Mufasa, not me. I felt like I was back at home with Sarafina, back by the pond, sitting in the flowers, her sweet words of comfort making me feel at peace. For a second, I relished the moment, breathing in Zira’s sweet sent. But it went away as soon as it had come.
“Uhh…” I backed out of Zira’s reach, filled with emotion. “Umm, Zira, I already like someone else…” I looked down, my pelt growing hot in embarrassment.
She snorted. “Yeesh, boys.” She looked at me, amused. “Can’t I just comfort someone without them having to think we’re together?”
She brushed past me, facing her brother. “And you, Baridi, you leave Taka alone, you hear me?!” she pounced on him, pushing him over. He yowled in surprise, and they started wrestling with each other. For a split second, I could see his eyes. His ice-cold, terrible eyes. They looked at me menacingly, and I knew, I knew for a fact, nothing good would come from him.
Golden beams of pure light shone across the savannah as dawn broke. A lion, followed by his mate and two cubs, confidently strode through the tall, tan grass. One of the cubs slowed down, to be beside his mother. That cub was slightly smaller than his brother, and often was found daydreaming by the waterhole. He was often teased by the other cubs, and found peace by being alone. That cub was none other than I.
“Mama?” I asked, staring up at her. Uru, my mama, looked down, her green eyes sparkling.
“What is it, M’dear?” she said.
“Where’re we going?” I asked. Mama has been so excited to go, so it must be important! I ran under her legs, my tail flying in the wind, and turned around to block her path. “Tell me!”
She laughed gently, “It’s a surprise, M’dear,” she said sweetly. She leaned down and touched noses. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”
Mufasa, the other cub, my brother, turned his head to face us. “Daddy told me, little brother!” he said, running toward me.
I huffed in annoyance. “Of course he did,” I muttered under my breath. Papa always did like Mufasa better than me. I don’t know why though.
He head-butted me, and pounced on my back. “Let’s play!” he yowled, his so called ‘beautiful’ fur bristling in excitement.
“Hey!” I shook him off, “I thought you were going to tell me what Papa said!”
His eyes glittered with amusement, “But it will be funner as a surprise!”
I eyed him, smirked, then suddenly, I leapt towards him, crashing into him. He gave a yelp as he landed onto the ground, his pelt catching dirt.
“Oh, you’ll pay for that!” he said playfully, shaking the dirt off.
He swiped at me, but I dodged. “Ha! Missed me!” I teased.
He growled, and lowered into the grass, until I could only see his amber eyes. Emerald eyes are far prettier in my opinion.
“What’re you doing?” I padded closer to him, visible confusion and annoyance on my face. Suddenly I realized what he was about to do, but I was to late to move. Mufasa leapt, and crashed me to the earth. He had me pinned! I tried to wiggle free, but it was no use; my brother was too strong.
I sighed. How come my brother always wins? It’s not fair! I gave a yelp, signaling him to get off of me, but he didn’t.
“Come on, little brother, push me off,” he said, a arrogant look on his face.
I growled, “I can’t,” I said through gritted teeth.
Mufasa looked up, “Daddy!” he yowled. Ahadi, my Papa, glanced back at us. He was a few yards ahead of us, I realized. We were falling behind.
“Sons, hurry up, we can’t be late,” Papa said quickly.
Mufasa leapt off of me, and bounded to be beside Papa. I trailed behind, still bummed by the fact I lost, again. Uru came over to my side, her tail sweeping around me.
“You’re sad you lost, aren’t you, M’dear,” she said softly.
I sniffed sadly. “yeah…” I looked up at Mama. Her green eyes were sparkling from the morning light. Compassion shone through them, filling my heart with gladness, gladness for having such a wonderful Mama.
A whirlwind of emotions flew through me. “Oh, Mama!” I cried, burying my muzzled into her fur. “It’s not fair! Papa likes Mufasa more than me, he’s better at everything!” I stopped at a sudden, terrible thought.
“I’m worthless…”
Uru gasped. “No you’re not, M’dear! You’re perfect,” she nuzzled my cheek. “You’re my sweet, wonderful baby…” she whispered. She then looked me in the eye, her emerald eyes showing pure love, pure sweetness. Oh, I just love my Mama. “Now, Go be beside your Papa and brother, you’re almost to the surprise!”
I looked back at her, but before I could say anything, Papa turned. “Taka! Uru! Get over here!”
Uru looked down, smiling. “I’ll race yah!” she laughed, as she suddenly bounded across the savannah. I giggled, taking off after her.
Now this was something I could do!
I sped up, relishing the feeling of the wind flowing through my fur. I came next to Mama; she looked surprised. We ran through the grass, the trees a blur. It felt like we were as fast a cheetahs!
“Well done, M’dear!” she praised as she slowed to a halt by Papa.
I stared ahead. A lion and a lioness padded forward, followed by two cubs. The lion lowered his head in front of Papa.
“Greetings, Ahadi. I am pleased to see you made it.” The lion was tan, with an even darker tan mane. His amber eyes glittered.
“We would never miss an invitation from Maji, the king of the Westland Pride,” Ahadi said warmly. He turned to us. “This is my mate, Uru. And these are my two sons, Mufasa and Taka.”
Maji’s eyes stared us over. Finally he looked up, and beckoned for his cubs and mate to come near. “This is my mate, Penzi.” A dark tan lioness with a light stripe on her back padded close. “….and this my son Baridi,” A light tan cub with sparkling teal eyes looked at me mischievously. “…and my daughter, Zira.”
Chapter Two:
Zira, a tan cub with a darker tan stripe on her back, eyed me playfully. Uru nudged me forward gently. “Go on, M’dear, go meet the other cubs.”
I slowly padded forward. Baridi glanced up at me, his ice-blue eyes shining with mischief.
“So, your name’s Taka, eh?” his eyes retracted to a mere slits, “Don’t you know that that means trash in the Ancient Lion Language?!”
I stopped in shock, then quickly recovered myself. “Don’t you know it also means wish, or want?” I retorted. “And,” I said, getting courage, “Your name looks no better, it means cold, which makes it sound like you’re cold-hearted.”
He growled, his claws sliding out. “It’s talking about my eyes, not my heart.”
Zira stepped between us. “Hey guys, stop fighting, let’s play.” She said, her tail waving. Baridi shot her a look.
“Not now, Zira,” he growled, pushing her on the ground. He turned to me, his eyes gleaming.
“Taka, you know, no one gets to ruffle my fur without paying for it!” He growled. Suddenly, running up to me, launched off the ground, claws out, aiming for me!
Before I could do anything, a shape jumped in front of me, blocking the blow of Baridi. As my eyes focused into view, I gasped. It was Mufasa! The sun illuminated his fur, making it glow bright golden. I had a prick of jealousy, why couldn’t I have such fur?
“Stay back little brother, I’ll deal with this.”
I gasped in shock and anger. I was furious! To think that Mufasa didn’t think I could defend myself?
“Mufasa.” I said, my jaw clenched in anger. He had Baridi pinned. “I was fine! I had it covered!” words spilled out of me, my frame shaking with anger. “I could’ve defended myself, I-I know it! You just want to make me feel humiliated!” I stopped, gasping for breath. I looked at him, a look of puzzlement on his face. I scowled. I don’t care what he looks like on the outside, I know, for a fact, in his heart there’s arrogance.
“Stop pretending you care!” I yowled, tears streaming down my muzzle. Some may say I was overreacting, but I wasn’t. All the time before we went on that trip, Mufasa had been doing that same very thing. I kept all my anger bottled up over that, but then I let it all out.
“Taka…” Mufasa started.
“NO!” I yowled. “you just want to make Papa like you more than me!” I hung my head in sadness. “You just want to be king…”
Baridi watched the fight with keen interest. I was disgusted by him, not even his fur ruffled by it all. I would even say he enjoyed it.
“Taka…” this time Zira approached me. I looked up, and before I could do anything, she nuzzled me, placing her head my shoulder.
“It’s okay, I’m here for you,” she whispered in my ear. My eyes opened wide in astonishment. How? How could she feel compassion for me? All the cubs, except Sarafina, surrounded Mufasa, not me. I felt like I was back at home with Sarafina, back by the pond, sitting in the flowers, her sweet words of comfort making me feel at peace. For a second, I relished the moment, breathing in Zira’s sweet sent. But it went away as soon as it had come.
“Uhh…” I backed out of Zira’s reach, filled with emotion. “Umm, Zira, I already like someone else…” I looked down, my pelt growing hot in embarrassment.
She snorted. “Yeesh, boys.” She looked at me, amused. “Can’t I just comfort someone without them having to think we’re together?”
She brushed past me, facing her brother. “And you, Baridi, you leave Taka alone, you hear me?!” she pounced on him, pushing him over. He yowled in surprise, and they started wrestling with each other. For a split second, I could see his eyes. His ice-cold, terrible eyes. They looked at me menacingly, and I knew, I knew for a fact, nothing good would come from him.