Our Future lies within You. [DG & Songo]

[DGFone]

Taka cursed under his breath when he heard Mufasa calling for him. He looked around for a place to hide in, but he didn't find any suitable spots. Mufasa would see him very soon and it will be too late. Besides, Mufasa can track better than Taka could.

"What do you want?" Taka demanded. He didn't want to sound angry, but it just came out. Mufasa was going to ruin his opportunity to get to the graveyard! "Why did you follow me? I wanted to be left alone!" He shouted so that Mufasa could hear him, but also to try and mask his anger. "Besides, shouldn't you be with Sarabi?"


Sarabi thought about Sarafina's question. "I don't know, Saffy. He only asked me today. I feel... excited? Anxious? I don't really know yet." She said. "I've seen you hang out with Taka often enough. What's wrong with him?" She asked.

[Songo]

Sarafina frowned, "Taka's not taking a mate. So...I don't really know. I thought he liked me when we were cubs, but I guess I was wrong?" she confessed softly. Her green eyes blurred over once again and she was upset she wasn't chosen as a mate yet. Wiping the tears from her eyes she looked back at Sarabi, "I'm happy for you. You and Mufasa are good together." she said with a smile. "The way he looks at you, we knew he liked you."

Mufasa's brown eyes narrowed at Taka, "Whats your problem? I came to get you because its late and mom wants you home. What are you doing out here anyway Taka, its Forbidden. Dad would have a hippo if he saw you out here running around. What are you doing..?" he said stepping into his brother's face. He side glanced both ways and then looked back to Taka, "Well..." he said awaiting a answer.


Uru nuzzled Ahadi as they sat quietly and watched the sun set, "Ahadi, the boys still aren't back. I'm getting worried...I know they arent cubs anymore. But still.." she muttered looking up to her mate.

[DGFone]

Taka's eyes narrowed at Mufasa. "Why are you so concerned?" He asked. "What's it matter to you? You are the future king, your life is already set. I just have to go along. Let my life flow by as my big brother takes all the attention, so if you don't mind, I'm going to do something on my own for once." Taka casually walked past Mufasa, ignoring his glare.


Sarabi smiled at Sarafina's compliment. "I feel like that too," she said, smiling. "Just as I am sure that you will too find a mate someday," she added, trying to cheer Sarafina up. "It doesn't have to be Taka."


Ahadi looked out at the savanna around them. "Yes, normally they are back by now," he said slowly, thinking. "But I'm sure that they're fine. They know well enough not to get into trouble." he pondered. "If they are not back by sunset, we can go and look for them."

[Songo]

Uru nodded at Ahadi's words and her honey colored eyes gazed off at the Pride lands, worry putting her stomach in a knot. She rested her head on Ahadi's shoulder, "Do you think Taka is bothered that he's not getting the throne?" she asked Ahadi softly.

Sarafina smiled, "I know." she spoke softly. She rubbed heads with her best friend and giggled, "Your marrying Mufasa! When is the wedding!? I'm so happy for you Sarabi, you'll be a Great Queen." she added, trying to change the subject to a happier one.

Mufasa growled as Taka stepped past him and shook his head, "Taka, I'm your future King. I was born into this...its not like your being ignored! Stop being such a selfish cub for once and think about the Pride." he said turning his body to follow Taka. His brown eyes narrowed at his little brother's cockiness and his sharp words that came from no where. "Doing something on your on? Like what? You can barely defend yourself! You'll always be my little brother.." he said in a low growl.

[DGFone]

Ahadi scanned the horizon, thinking. Uru's words made him realize and idea that for his entire parenthood he didn't want to admit: that Taka might be jealous of Mufasa's status. But now, with Uru forcing him to confront his fear, he knew what was the answer. Sighing, he told her, "As much as I tried to bring them up as equals, I am afraid that Taka will not let go of the fact that he was born after Mufasa," Ahadi said. "I just hope that... he would be able to settle their differences. It's the only way that can work."


Sarabi smiled, also thinking about the wedding. "It's going to be in a few days. Ahadi's going to plan it all out!" she said excitedly, barely unable to contain herself.


Taka's eyes narrowed. Mufasa's words stung. "That's becasue everyone wants me to be the little brother!" he shouted angrily. "I never get the chance to prove myself! It's always you: 'Mufasa do this!' or 'Mufasa do that'!" Taka shouted. "It's never 'Taka help me!' I went to do something for myself now!" Taka was shouting as loudly as he can now, ignoring the fact that it was his brother he was arguing with. "You have your kingdom to run, Mufasa! I don't! I don't have anything, while you have everything to look forwards to! You will marry Sarabi, and then inherit the kingdom. What do I have? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Taka decided that he had enough and charged past Mufasa, not looking at where he was going.

[Songo]

Uru's muzzle lips frowned at Ahadi's words, "My baby Taka, hes so sensitive sometimes. I worry about him Ahadi, all the time I do. I've had this horrible nightmare the past few days, its dark and I see Taka and Mufasa fighting. There's blood and then I wake up...Its why I'm always awake before you.." she confessed softly. She nuzzled her face into Ahadi's mane and sighed, "What are we going to do.."

Sarafina smiled, "The Pride lands will be in a uproar until your wedding day." she said smiling. Her green eyes stared out at the horizon, "Sarabi, Why do you think Taka never noticed me..?" she asked in a strained tone.

Mufasa quickly followed after Taka and skidded to a stop in front of his little brother, he snapped his teeth at him. "Stop acting like a cub...your selfish and this whole argument is dumb." Mufasa snapped angrily. His brown eyes narrowed as he noticed the moon raised high in the sky, "Mom's going to be worried Taka, lets go home. Now." he ordered stepping in front of his brother. His patience was growing thin and he was annoyed at Taka's words, his ears flattened back. "Your so jealous and ungrateful! Why can't you be happy for me! Instead your out here running around this barren graveyard like some pathetic crybaby! Maybe you should run home to mom! Shes always protected you!" he said snapping from the anger bubbling inside of him. At that moment Mufasa's ears twitched, he could hear the echo of laughing hyenas.

Hyenas: "Well well...if it isn't the Kings cubs, causing trouble I see. Why are you in our lands?" they asked their green eyes glowing in the dark night. They peered down at the two fighting and they slowly circled them.

[DGFone]

Ahadi frowned, not knowing what to do. "I.. don't know," he admitted. "I don't know how much talking would help. We've been doing that for their entire lives. And I would never exile Taka..." Ahadi closed his eyes. "It's up to him on how he will deal with his jealousy. I hope that he will do the right thing."


Sarafina's question caught Sarabi by surprise. "I think that he did notice you." she said. "But he is so distant now. Didn't you notice how he talks less? Spends less time with us? I don't think that it's with you. It's something with him. But I don't know what."


Taka turned quickly at the hyenas. The eery green glow from their eyes failed to scare him, however. "Why, I just came here to stop my brother from wandering off," he lied coolly. "Just need to send him away from here, I suppose." Inside, he grinned, for Mufasa's eyes widened in surprise and fear at his lie. Never before did Taka lie purposefully to get Mufasa in trouble.

[Songo]

Uru nodded, "Please Ahadi try and reason with Taka. I find myself so worried I need to keep an eye on them.." she said flustered. Standing to her paws she stepped to the end of the ledge, "They aren't anywhere in our sights, we need to find them. I'm worried now.." she muttered. Turning to Ahadi she had a look of worry flicker in her eyes, "Hurry..". Padding down the dirt path she quickly kicked the dust up around her, her muzzle sniffing for the fain scents of her two boys, Mufasa's was stronger and Taka's was almost gone.


Sarafina nodded, "Your right Sarabi...Oh well." she mumbled. Her green eyes squinted as she watched the Queen Uru and King head out into the Pride lands. "Sarabi...come on. Somethings wrong!" she said standing to her paws. "Mufasa and Taka aren't back yet...Lets go find them." she said running down the path. "I think I know where they're at, the Elephant Graveyard." She looked back at Sarabi, "If we cut through the gorge we can beat the Queen there to warn them."


Hyenas: They laughed out loud and they watched the calm demeanor of Taka, "Now why can't all you lions be like this one. Get out of here Mufasa...GO!" he said snapping his fangs. They walked past Taka and began circling the young King, a look of hunger going through their eyes.

Mufasa's brown eyes widened at Taka's words and he stepped back a few paces as the hyenas circled him. "I'm your King, you don't tell me what to do!" he said growling in anger. "Taka your a coward you know...you always will be. Having everyone fight your own battles for you.." he snapped. It was at that moment when Mufasa felt a sharp pain on his shoulder, a hyena attacked. Using his claws he ripped the hyena off and stumbled backward, keeping his eyes opened he waited and looked back at Taka shaking his head.

[DGFone]

With a flash, Ahadi sprang after Uru, following her. He trusted her tracking abilities to find either Mufasa's or Taka's scent. "I'm right behind you! Just follow their scent!" He told Uru. "We need to hurry!" he added. "I don't think that this will end well." Together, the two of them ran off, following the trail of scent. Ahadi realized with dread that they were heading off towards the elephant graveyard.


Sarabi squinted, also spotting Ahadi and Uru running off. "What would Mufasa and Taka be doing at the graveyard?" She asked Sarafina. Not receiving an answer, Sarabi turned and saw Sarafina sprinting towards the gorge. "Hey, wait for me!" Sarabi shouted as she got up and chased after her friend.

"I am not a coward!" Taka shouted at Mufasa,ignoring the mass of hyenas that were encircling them. "But I am tired of being treated like one! I am never allowed to do anything! Now I am. And you will see that I am not a coward, Mufasa." Taka finished, his voice cold and with a hint of cruelty.

But Mufasa wasn't listening, too busy fighting off the hyenas. Despite his efforts, the hyenas were slowly gaining on him. He was already sporting a number of small cuts, and it was only a matter of time before a hyena would do some worse damage to the lion. In the meantime, Taka continued to just watch from the edge, the hyenas ignoring him for now. Mufasa fought them off, but always on the defensive, unable to get out of danger. And now, more hyenas were arriving.

Watching the hyenas swarm his brother, Taka felt a flash of pity. With a ferocious roar, he charged at the hyenas and attacked them with his claws. His sudden attack caught the hyenas off guard, and their coordinated swarming of Mufasa faltered. Using this to their advantage, Taka and Mufasa slowly started to fight back and drive the hyenas away from them.

The two of them fought together, and Taka grinned with the thrill of battle. Charging ahead of Mufasa, he went after a few retreating hyenas. Pouncing on them, he felt them struggle under his paws. "Stay away from my brother!" He ordered them. The hyenas tried to escape from under him, but before Taka could finish them off, something slammed on his back, knocking him over. He got up quickly and looked at his attackers, just in time to see a clawed paw swing at his head and collide. Taka screamed in pain as he felt his eye burn as though on fire. He swung blindly at the surrounding air, but more hyenas jumped on him. Soon, he was unable to fight back and fell over. He was barely aware of the fact that despite the fact that he was lying helpless on the ground, no hyenas were attacking him. The burning wound on his face made him delirious. Unable to stay awake, Taka fell unconscious.

[Songo]

Uru lead Ahadi through the picker bushes and she could hear the commotion deep in the elephant graveyard, a roar sprung from her muzzle as she slid down the bone mountain. She attacked a fleeing Hyena and whipped the laughing dog against the hard ground, her claws out she ran towards Mufasa, "Mufasa!" she cried seeing him battered and bleeding. She looked over and saw Taka passed out on the ground, "Mufasa what happened?!" she asked running over to check on Taka. She lifted his chin up with her paws and checked the wound over his eye, she looked up at Ahadi.


Sarafina stumbled on a ledge above the family and her green eyes gazed down, Uru and Ahadi already got to Mufasa and Taka. She looked back at Sarabi, "We should go...we could get in trouble." she whispered softly pushing Sarabi back. "We can see them when we get back.." she whispered trying to pull Sarabi away, but she knew she saw the bleeding Mufasa.


Mufasa grunted as he watched a hyena attack Taka and knock him out, Mufasa's own body hurt and he looked up at his mother's voice. "Mom.." he muttered exhausted. The young lion limped over to his father, bleeding and battered. "Dad...I want to go home.." he said softly. He watched his mother check on Taka, and he shook his head. The only thing that was going to through his mind was Taka's words and how Taka let the hyenas almost kill him.