A New Tale of the Pride Lands (Julie and Adofo)

[Carl]

Koma waited patiently, shaking, as the cubs dispersed and Simba went to get his parents like Malka had suggested. She looked around the den at the large number (compared to what she was used to) of lionesses within. While she waited, she tried to count how many of the others there really were, but she stopped when the dark shadow of a lion loomed over her. She looked up into emerald eyes set in a reddish-brown face that was surrounded by a thick black mane. His face was creased with bitterness and he didn't look too pleased.

"You don't like how many of them there are either, do you mister?" she asked softly. The male looked down at her, seeming bored and intrigued.

"You're right I don't. I have a separate den a little ways off from here so that I may have privacy," he explained.

"Cool, that's always great to have. I wish I could have my own den..." she responded.

"Come now, if you had your own den you'd get gobbled up by hyenas in the night. You're far to young to be on your own."

"Yeah... hey! Could I maybe stay in your den then? I wouldn't want to intrude, it's just so crowded here..." the cub asked, quickly regretting it and feeling embarrassed. Scar opened his mouth to answer the little cub, but as he did so, Simba's voice echoed around the cave walls.

"That's Koma over there, with Uncle Scar!"

"Scar?!" Sarabi asked in awe, "What are you doing? Don't you hate cubs?"

"Whatever would give you that idea?" the brown male asked with an overdramatized pout, "I simply adore cubs." There were obvious amounts of sarcasm in his voice, but Scar was having the beginnings of an idea form in his head, and didn't want to waste this opportunity. "Oh don't look so shocked. I'm not as callous and despicable as you lot like to think thanks to my charming big brother."

[Adofo]

Adofo was still back in his corner. Still upset. He hadn't moved since he sat down. But he decided to speak up when his parents entered the cave.
Adofo: She hasn't eaten in a while. She was trapped under a rock when we found her!
Mufasa: Where exactly did you find her?!
Adofo: .....Uhhhh........
Mufasa: Adofo!
Adofo was afraid of getting in trouble with his father, but he didn't want his little brother or his friends to be in trouble too. So he did the only thing he could.
Adofo: .....I went a ways away from the Pridelands....and found her screaming for help.
Mufasa: You went outside our borders!?! BY YOURSELF!?!?!
Adofo: .....Y-yes sir.....
Mufasa was not happy at all that his son disobeyed him.
Adofo: You could have gotten lost! You could have gotten hurt OR KILLED!!!
Adofo: ...I know...
Mufasa: .....It was nice of you to save this girl.....BUT I have told you time and time again to NEVER go outside the Pridelands! .....Your punishment....grounded for three days!
Adofo: ....Yes sir...

[Carl]

"Dad that's not true!" Simba shouted, "We were all together, and we were still within the boundaries of the Pride Lands. We were getting close to the borders, sure, and farther out than normal... but we weren't outside the kingdom."

"Simba's telling the truth," Tama added. "You think we could get out of the borders with Tojo and Mheetu along? Those two would come back crying and tattle on us if we did."

"Mufasa, if I may," Scar interrupted, "As your kingly duty compels you to deal with this... matter of disobedience, perhaps I should tend to the girl's wounds and get her something to eat while you resolve your business?"

Koma wasn't sure why she was drawn to the scrawny dark male, but she didn't like the air of confrontation around here, or the amount of lions around, and so she quickly moved to stand behind his forepaws, trying to show that she was okay with this arrangement and hoping the king would approve of this lion'sㅡScar'sㅡsuggestion. She looked up pleadingly and waited for a response.

[Adofo]

Mufasa: .....Nice try Scar. Sarafina.....would you kindly tend to little, Koma here? Thanks for the offer Scar.....but the last thing we need is you being alone with an innocent cub.
He glared at his brother. Knowing whatever he'd do with a lone cub would be far away from being good.
Mufasa: And Adofo....it that true?
Adofo: .....Y-yes sir.....
Mufasa: ...Okay. Simba, Adofo, you're grounded for two days! As for the rest of you....I'll let your parents decide what they'll do with you. But this is a warning to you all. It's a dangerous world out there. We don't want you to get hurt. Boys, your punishment starts now. For the next two days, you both stay inside the den. No exceptions! Understood?!
Adofo: ...Yes Dad...
Mufasa: Simba?!

[Carl]

At the king's decision, Koma threw her forelegs around one of Scar's paws and cried out in complaint.

"But I wanna go with him!" she wailed.

"You've never had a problem with me being alone with Uncle Scar, dad," Simba pondered aloud, but Mufasa was already speaking again.

"You wound me, Mufasa," Scar added, though he doubted that the king heard him over his own raging at the cubs, and addressed Koma instead, "Well, you heard the king, little one... best do as he says, even if it isn't kind."

Sarafina had already arrived and nodded. "It's alright little one, I won't harm you either."

"B-but..." Koma protested, looking up at Scar still. Sarafina followed her gaze, then smiled slightly at Scar.

"I don't see anything wrong with him coming along with us, though. Mufasa just said that he shouldn't be alone with you," Sarafina added. At this, Koma's weak smile returned. Without saying anything else, the trio took their leave, all while Mufasa was still distracted talking to his sons. As they were descending the rocks, they could hear Mufasa demanding "Simba?!" and the young prince responding; "Yes dad, I understand... but I don't know why we're being punished when we didn't even leave the Pride Lands... It's no fair..."

"Is he really going to keep them stuck in there for two days... just for helping me?" Koma asked the two lions escorting her through the pre-dusk hour. They exchanged a look, hesitating to answer. After a few moments, and when they were well out of earshot, Sarafina replied.

"...Sometimes the king... er... can't control his temper. He mostly means well, but..." here the lioness trailed off.

"But he's got too much power to be reasonable, more often than not," Scar finished for her. "Why, you saw how he refused to let me take care of you! He claims to the pride that I am not to be trusted and that I am always up to no good, but I have done nothing, and when trying to help, he insults me and denies me."

"That was a bit out of character, even for when he's angry," Sarafina added, chewing at her lip.

"I don't understand," Koma murmured as the trio entered a smaller den that had to be the one Scar had mentioned to her.

"Don't worry yourself about it, we need to get you cleaned up and fed. Sarafinaㅡshould I tend her wounds or catch her something to eat?" Scar asked.

"I'm the better hunter. I'll get her some food, if you don't mind cleaning her up, of course," the beautiful lioness suggested. Scar nodded his agreement and Sarafina bounded away into the grasslands. As her form grew smaller, Scar pulled the cub close and began gently licking her cheek where it was sliced up. The blood was drying in her fur already and the wound was scabbing up, so the male was very careful. As he worked through her fur, the cub spoke softly again.

"Why does the king think I shouldn't be alone with you?"

"I don't know. He's never exactly been kind to me though," he replied bitterly, "I may have acted foolish in our youth out of jealousy for the throne, but I never did anything serious or gave him cause to assume I'm doing something wrong."

(Remember, Scar and Mufasa don't get along, but Mufasa trusted him in the stamped scene, so he can't have done anything too horrible by this point.)

[Adofo]

Mufasa: You know not to go too far from Priderock! Inside or outside the borders and without someone escorting you! But.....you did rescue that little girl.....so.....I'll let you two off with a warning! But do not go that far away again! .....I don't want to lose you two! It's something a parent worries about everyday. I don't want to lose my boys! ....Now come here!
He laid down on the ground and opened up his arms for his sons to give him a hug. Adofo got up and went towards his father as did his brother and Mufasa held them tight.
Mufasa: I love you boys! I'm only hard on you because....I'm afraid of losing you!

(So whats the deal with Koma? Is she gonna be corrupted by Scar or something? Also, are Scar and Sarafina....together? I ask the second one since there are a good number of fan fics about that.)

[Carl]

(She is not going to be evil, no. At least I do not intend it. As for Scar and Sarafina, I don't know for sure yet, though perhaps there is some history between them. I do like the idea of her trying to be understanding and kind towards him, as it seems most did not for some reason or another (which could be Scar's own doing, for all we know) because it seems like she would be a mostly tolerant and accepting, kind and caring character and so I think she would give him a chance until such a point that it became obvious that he was deliberately doing bad things or at least doing nothing to fix them (considering that for a long time the lionesses did not know that he was behind Mufasa's death) as to me, she seems the type who would give him the benefit of the doubt until she had a damn good reason not to. I don't think this necessarily extends to romantic connection (though I have considered a potential "getting together" where they sort of "adopt" Koma together, in which case she will be on Sarafina's, and the rest of the pride's, side rather than assuming Scar is doing right), and in my own fic (if I ever get back to writing it) she is not shipped with him. I hope that helps your confusion.)

"We know, dad..." Simba mewled, unimpressed.

In Sarafina's absence, Naanda was keeping an eye on Nala and Mheetu, though Tama and the others and sought out their own mothers in the back of the den. Naanda flicked her tail impatiently, but informed the two cubs that she did not agree with Mufasa's initial decision and agreed with his rationale to give them just a warning; and, were they her cubs, they would not be punished, seeing as they hadn't left the king's territory. However, she warned them to keep in mind that their mother may have different ideas upon her return, and that they would just have to wait and see.

Tama's mother shared that belief and told the young girl to mind the territories and to be careful to stay away from hyenas or any other potentially threatening animals she might find within the borders, and to come back home immediately should there be any trouble. Sarabi decreed that perhaps Zazu should keep an eye on the cubs from now on, to which the majordomo asked Mufasa about.

"Well, sire, I would be able to fly back quickly and get help were it needed. I certainly would be honoured to protect your heir and his friends," the hornbill said thoughtfully.

---

By the time Sarafina had returned with a small catch, Koma's wounds were clean and she had fallen asleep in Scar's paws. The male was still absently licking her as he thought of how useful it could be to have another pride member think of him with some form of regard and perhaps even affection or adoration. When Sarafina arrived, it appeared that he was lovingly give the cub another bathing, just to be sure she was nice and clean. The lioness smiled as best as she could around her catch and placed it on the ground before the dark male.

"How long as she been sleeping?"

"Not long," Scar replied softly.

"Should we wake her?" Sarafina asked. Scar shook his head, looking to the darkness and the stars above.

"Your cubs are probably waiting for you," he reminded her, gesturing towards Pride Rock's slope not far away, "I'll see that she gets it when she wakes up."

"You're right, Scar. Thank you," she replied, turning and heading toward the den.

[Adofo]

Mufasa: Thank you Zazu! You may! I do not want my boys or any other of the little ones to be harmed. I know you'll do a good job!
Mufasa licked his sons heads and gestured them towards their mother.
Mufasa: Sarabi? Would you mind letting the boys sleep with you tonight? I'm going to have a quick look around the land just in case anyone knows anything about this lost cub. Maybe her parents are worried sick about her!
With that, Mufasa left the den into the night. Adofo laid down in his mothers arms for bedtime. He was still a little upset about his brothers words.
Adofo: Mom.....why do you love me? ...I'm just a stupid hairless monkey!
Malka and Tojo meanwhile were going to bed with their own mothers for night.
Mufasa was out in the lands looking for any signs of any lions that may be wandering around looking for their lost cub.

(Okay, yeah! I got you! And I was thinking, what if Sarabi and Mufasa adopted her at some point down the line before Mufasa got killed. Like maybe she grows really attatched to Simba and Adofo and they make the offer? Or no? YOur choice)

[Carl]

Simba cringed at his brother's words, realizing that he had obviously inadvertently hurt Adofo's feelings, but he kept quiet, nestled into his mother's side as he was. Sarabi pondered for a few moments before a rumbling purr began to vibrate from her gut, comforting both of her cubs.

"Your father believes we got a sign on the day we found you... whether that is the case or not, we have raised you as we have raised Simba, and you are as much a member of this pride as anyone else," she responded softly.

A few moments later, Sarafina arrived, silently thanking Naanda for watching her cubs with a nod of her head and padding over to them.

"I'm sorry for being away so long, little ones, but Mufasa's orders were to take care of that cub. If it weren't for Scar's help I'd still be doing that and unable to return to you," she breathed softly, lowering herself to the ground and commencing with bathing Mheetu, as he was still dirty from their escapade earlier that day.

"That's okay mom, Naanda is a good cub-sitter," he purred.

(Considering that they have already adopted Adofo, I think that would be a bit much adoption on their part. Especially considering I've already thought out an "adoption" for her; two sets of surrogate parents would be overdoing it I think. Doesn't mean she can't be close to them, though. Sarafina is portrayed as being Sarabi's best friend.)

[Adofo]

Adofo: But......if it wasn't for that sign.....what would you have done? I overheard Uncle Scar talking to dad that you would have given me up to monkeys, left me to die or just ate me as a snack! ......I-is that true?!
He started to coware and even started to cry. His deepest darkest fear is actually his family and Pride eating him for food. It was something deep down in his gut he feared everyday.

(Okay. I kinda figured thats what you'd say! Lol)