Our Future lies within You. [DG & Songo]

[DGFone]

Ahadi and Uru slowed to a crawl as they reached Mufasa and Taka. Mufasa spotted them and limped over. Ahadi suppressed a gasp of shock as he saw his sons battered, bruised, and bleeding. "What happened, son?" He asked Mufasa when his son limped over. In the meantime, Uru checked on Taka. "What happened? Are you alright?" Ahadi asked. But he could see it in Mufasa's eyes, close to crying. Whatever happened here, it was worse than he could expect. He hugged Mufasa tightly, but not enough to cause more pain. "We're here," he said softly. "Everything's going to be okay. We will go home."

Gently, Ahadi picked up Mufasa and placed him on his back, ignoring his son's complaints of discomfort. He looked at Uru and saw that she too picked up Taka and was now carrying him. "Let's go home," he said. Together, the two of them left the graveyard, walking side by side. As they walked, Ahadi looked at Uru. "I don't know what they were doing at the graveyard, but I don't think that it would be a good idea to ask right away. To much has happened. They will need some time to rest. Then we can ask." He told her.

Some time later, a shadow swept over them. Ahadi looked up and saw that it was Zuzu, flying in to investigate. "Zuzu, Go get Rafiki! Get him to Priderock!" Ahadi shouted up. Zuzu nodded and flew away.


Sarabi's mouth trembled as she saw Mufasa bleeding. "No... No..." she muttered quietly, her eyes blurring with tears. She felt Sarafina push her away, but Sarabi didn't move. "He needs my help!" She told Sarafina urgently. Sarafina tried to protest, but Sarabi didn't listen. "I don't care! He needs my help!" She tried to run down, but was stopped by Sarafina. Helpless, Sarabi watched as Ahadi and Uru picked up Mufasa and Taka and carried them away. With a sob, Sarabi turned and fled back to the Pridelands.

[Songo]

Uru set Taka down inside the den and she watched as Ahadi set Mufasa down, she ran over to Mufasa and licked his face gently. Her paws hugged around his neck and his partially grown mane,"Thank goodness your ok...Oh Mufasa." she whispered softly. Her honey colored eyes looked at the passed out Taka and she nodded her head as Rafiki came in to inspect the Princes.

Sarafina caught up with Sarabi and she hugged her best friend, "I head Uru talking to Ahadi and they said that Mufasa just had a few scraps. Tomorrow we can go see them." she said softly trying to comfort her. "Goodnight." she whispered to Sarabi before sneaking back into her den. She laid down next to her mother, she didn't want to get caught outside by the King.

Kamaria stepped slowly into the den where Mufasa and Taka where, she hugged Uru softly. "They are strong boys.." she said trying to calm her. She stepped to Taka and inspected the cut over his eye, "Hes lucky you know, he could've lost his eye. But he will have that scar forever.." she whispered stepping back and looking up at Mohatu. She noticed Mufasa was quiet and his eyes were just staring hard at Taka, "Fasa, your safe now.." she said nuzzling her grandcub.

Mufasa nuzzled his grandmother back and nodded, "I'll be fine." he spoke calmly to his mother. He laid his head on his paws and slowly felt sleep take over his body. In the morning, he would have a talk with Taka.

[DGFone]

Mohatu entered the den, stunned hen he saw Mufasa and Taka. "What happened?" he asked Ahadi. Ahadi simply shook his head, at a loss of words. Mohatu sighed and walked over to Mufasa. "You alright, Mufasa?" He asked. Mufasa nodded slowly. Mohatu then walked over to the unconscious form of Taka. Rafiki was examining the wounded eye. "How will he be?" Mohatu asked after a while.

Rafiki explained what Kamaria already expected. Taka would be fine, and his eye would also be fine, but he will have a scar over it. Nodding, Mohatu walked back to Ahadi and Mufasa. He noticed how Mufasa didn't seem to be with them, just staring off into empty air. "Mufasa," Mohatu said slowly, not wanting to startle his grandson, "Everything's going to be fine now. We're all here for you."


Ahadi sat next to Mufasa, thinking. He would have to ask Mufasa about what happened at the graveyard, but right now, he was simply happy to know that both of his sons would be fine. He nuzzled Uru lovingly when she came to them and sat down, and they watched as Rafiki tended to the unconscious form of Taka.


Sarabi watched as Sarafina dashed back to her den. "Goodnight." She finally whispered after a long time, well after Sarafina disappeared from view. Walking into her den, Sarabi lay down and closed her eyes. Slowly, she drifted off into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares of Mufasa being attacked by hyenas, rushing over to help him, only to arrive too late.

In the middle of the night, after waking up yet again, Sarabi looked around. The world around her was blurry from the tears in her eyes. She got up, knowing that she won't be able to go to sleep again. Not alone. She left her den and ran off towards the main den. Walking inside, she spotted the sleeping body of Mufasa, surrounded by his family. She approached slowly and lay down next to Mufasa, feeling his slow, rhythmic breathing. Once again, Sarabi closed her eyes. But now, with Mufasa next to her, she was finally able to fall to a peaceful sleep.

[Songo]

Mufasa opened an eye as he noticed Sarabi lay down next to him, he sighed heavily. Feeling her lean body next to his he rested his head on top of hers, his big brown eyes closing once more. His dreams tortured him that night;

"Taka...Why...? Why do the hyenas listen to you.." Mufasa muttered in the black cave. He squinted hard seeing Taka's eyes and the hyenas behind him. Turning to run Mufasa felt the pain on his shoulder once more...

Mufasa jumped from his sleep and his winced slightly before looking around, he saw Sarabi sleeping silently next to him. He noticed his grandparents and his mother and father were both gone, Taka still remained asleep. He grumbled and quietly moved from Sarabi's side, stepping from the den the morning light made him squint. "Mom.." he whispered seeing the outline of her body. He reclined on his hinds next to her and looked at her, "Why are you crying...?" he asked stepping towards her.

Uru looked away from Mufasa and wiped away the tears, "Because Mufasa, I have a bad feeling. Just a very bad feeling.." she spoke calmly gazing out into the lands. She could tell Ahadi was over by the watering hole and she watched him look up at her, she nodded to him. "When did Sarabi sneak into your den?" she asked side glancing at her handsome son.

Mufasa rubbed the back of his head with his paw sheepishly, "I'm not sure...last night I guess." he muttered. "Look Mom you don't have to worry about me." he said rubbing his head off of hers. "I'll be fine.."

Uru purred softly and gave Mufasa's cheek a quick lick, "Go meet with your father, he'd like to speak with you." she said. "When Sarabi wakes up, i'll let her know to go find you. Hurry on now.." she said nudging him forward.

With a nod Mufasa quickly padded towards his father who was by the watering hole, "Morning dad.." he said with a slight smile. Reclining on his hinds next to his father he looked small, but Mufasa had alot of growing to do. His body shape was already resembling that of Mohatu's his own paws were getting bigger and bigger.

[DGFone]

Ahadi looked up when Mufasa greeted him and smiled. "Good morning, son," he said, "Feeling better?" He asked, and Mufasa nodded. Ahadi then sighed, preparing for the worst. "Alright. I don't know how to lead to it, so I will get straight to the point," he said. "What happened last night?" Ahadi asked, noticing Mufasa's ears flattening immediately in a slight fear. "It's alright, son," Ahadi said, "I just need to know what happened."


Sarabi woke up finally, and felt around for Mufasa. When she didn't feel his body, worry overtook her and she opened her eyes. Sure enough, Mufasa wasn't next to her. She looked around and didn't see Mufasa. Instead, she spotted Uru outside of the den. Sarabi walked outside, worried. "My queen, where is Mufasa?" She asked Uru.

[Songo]

Mufasa sighed, "Dad...Taka didn't help me at first. He let the hyenas attack me and they listened. He mentioned all this stuff about how he doesn't have a life and everyone's worried about me. But they hyenas they listened to him...I thought I was going to be killed. But then...Taka he jumped in and helped me. I don't really know what to make of it.." he muttered looking up at his father. His warm brown eyes squinted as he looked at the water in the watering hole, he splashed at his reflection. "For a moment, I didn't think Taka was my brother...he was different out there in the grave yard. How is he though?" Mufasa asked still concerned for Taka's safety.


Uru spotted Sarabi and her ears twitched at the worry in her face, "Come sit Sarabi, Mufasa is fine and having a talk with his father. The Princes got into a little scuffle last night....you know." she said softly side glancing at the future Queen. She rubbed Sarabi's head with her paw, "Mufasa is a strong lion, he was just scraped up a little. So...are you excited to be married soon?" she added looking back at Sarabi with a smile of her own.

Sarafina felt the sun warm her den and she slipped away into the bright light, her green eyes gazed around a moment adjusting. She noticed Sarabi and Uru talking at the top of Pride rock and she frowned slightly, taking a moment she decided to go for a walk. As she strolled through the tall grass of the quiet Pride lands she watched the animals graze, how she loved her home.

[DGFone]

Mufasa's explanation shocked Ahadi so much that he lost his thoughts. He closed his eyes in order to hold back tears as the thought that he failed as a father crossed his mind. "But... Taka would never do that!" Was all the he was able to say at first. Mufasa looked up at him, clearly offended. Ahadi sighed. "Alright, Mufasa. Look. Your mother and I were discussing things lately. And we came to the conclusion that well... Taka is jealous of you. He wants your position as future king, or at least he might want it. And I don't know what to do about it."

Ahadi waited for Mufasa to say something, but his son didn't. So instead he again spoke up. "Try to talk to Taka, my son, " he said, "And treat him well. I know that you might hold a certain vengeance against him now, maybe some fear, but Taka, he is still your brother. In the end, he saved you. And I believe that it's this that matters. No matter ho much Taka might envy you, you are still his brother. Remind him that. Remind him that he still wants you around, even if you will get what he won't."

Ahadi suddenly gripped Mufasa in a tight embrace. "I love you both dearly," he whispered into Mufasa's ear. "I don't want to lose any of you. But I don't want to see the two of you to start hating each other, either. Please, Mufasa, take care of him. For me."


Sarabi snorted at Uru's transparent attempt to change the subject, but went along with it, anyways. "Yeah, I can't wait to be married," she told the queen. "I know Mufasa is strong. It's one of the reasons why I fell in love with him. But mostly because he can be so much like... like himself, you know?" She blushed at her inability to explain herself. "So what will happen once we get married?" Sarabi asked.

[Songo]

Mufasa hugged his father back, "I will dad. I promise. I wont let you or mom down." he said looking back at his reflection in the water. Seeing his father move to head back to Pride rock Mufasa joined his father's side. Walking silently until they reached Uru and Sarabi, seeing Sarabi a smile crossed Mufasa's muzzle. He hugged her tightly, "I'm fine." he said looking at her. "But how did you know I was hurt?" he asked curiously.

Uru smiled at Sarabi's question but before she could get a answer out Mufasa had scooped her up, "Oh you two love birds...Go somewhere and enjoy your day. Ahadi and I must talk with Taka when he wakes up." she said sternly seeing the stricken disbelief across Ahaid's face. She nuzzled her mate and watched the two love birds leave them in silence, turning to Ahadi she sighed. Breathing in deeply Uru looked up at Ahadi, "What did Mufasa say...tell me Ahadi.." she asked her ears flattening tightly to her head.

Mufasa walked with Sarabi and he laid down in the soft grass right below Pride rock, resting on his belly he looked up at her. "Every day I see you, you always seem to get more and more beautiful." he said grinning. " "I've got myself the prettiest lion in the whole world..." he said teasingly. He gave Sarabi's cheek a lick, "Look at me Sarabi...I'm ok. Dont worry about me.." he added with a big cheesy grin.

[DGFone]

Ahadi's face fell, and his ears flattened. "It's... Bad." he told Uru. "Mufasa told me that Taka let the hyenas attack him." Uru's eyes widened in shock, and she let out a gasp of disbelief. "I don't want to believe it, but Mufasa isn't the kind to lie to us." Ahadi said. "It appears that Taka's jealousy is growing." Ahadi concluded sadly. He reached over and brought Uru closer to him. She started to cry into his fur, not wanting to believe him. This lead Ahadi to also get to the brink of tears. "I'm sorry, for failing as a father. I should have been here for them more often." He told her. "Please forgive me. I'll try to make up for it. I hope that it's not tool late." He close his eyes, wishing that the night before had never happened. "Let's go see Taka," he finally suggested, and lead Uru back into the den. Together, they waited for Taka to wake up.


Sarabi chuckled at Mufasa's comments about her. "Oh, Muffy, you flatter me!" She told him. "I know that you are a tough guy! It's just that wounds don't look good on you. They distract from your perfect body." She told him, grinning as she mimicked his compliments. "Even beat up, you are still the most handsome lion in these lands. And once you get better, why, you will have to force me away from you sometimes!" she joked. Grinning, she reached over and prodded Mufasa on his side. "Tag." She announced, and ran.

[Songo]

Uru tried to blink back the tears in her eyes as she softly lifted her paw to shake Taka awake. She took a step back and reclined next to Ahadi, her honey colored eyes gazed down at her son. "Oh my baby Taka...What happened to you..." she whispered as she lifted his head with her paw and examined his eye. She looked to Ahadi, "I suppose i failed him aswell Ahadi..." Uru looked away a moment and her ears perked forward as the young lion began to stir. "Taka..Taka.." she called to him softly.


Mufasa smirked at Sarabi's comment and when she poked his side he leapt up and chased after her. He felt the tall blades of grass tickle his furry stomach and he laughed out loud, he let Sarabi get a little away from him. Taking a moment as he chased her to the grassy hill, he tackled her softly into the ground and rolled with her down the hill. "Gotcha.." he said nuzzle his face into her neck fur. His warm brown eyes gazed down at Sarabi and he smiled, "I can't wait to marry you, you'll be my queen forever." he said softly.