Our Future lies within You. [DG & Songo]

[DGFone]

Taka stirred slowly as he began to awake. At first, he was dreaming. In his dream, he was back at the graveyard, but this time as Mufasa, getting swarmed by hyenas as the actual Mufasa simply stood there at the side, out of danger, simply watching. This was when Taka felt for the first time that he wronged Mufasa.

As he woke up slowly, Taka became aware of a dull pain over his eye. He groaned and slowly opened his eyes, still able to see out of both of them. He spotted Ahadi and Uru waiting anxiously next to him. "Mom? Dad?" He asked softly.

Ahadi smiled briefly when Taka woke up, but his smile soon turned into an angry frown. "What were you thinking, Taka?" He asked. "The two of you get attacked, and you let Mufasa take everything as you just stand there?" Even though he tried not to, Ahadi failed to hide the anger in his voice. "He's you own brother!"

Taka was startled by the sudden outburst from Ahadi. "I just wanted to prove myself, dad..." He said softly, shaken. "I wanted to show him that I could handle myself, but when the hyenas came..." Taka closed his eyes. He heard a low growl emit form Ahadi, and he knew that he had to explain himself. Not knowing how, he decided on something that he thought off while still thinking in his sleep. "Mom, dad, I am sorry for being foolish. I... I nearly let Mufasa die because of me. And now I have a scar over my eye." He had overheard that fact in a brief moment of consciousness last night. "And therefore, I ask you to always call me Scar. To remind me of how foolish I was, and how careless I got. This way, I will always be reminded of last night, and know that I nearly killed my brother. I don't want to do it again. So please, call me Scar."


Sarabi grinned when Mufasa caught up to her and brought her to the ground. "Oh, I can't wait to marry you, but because you will be my king," she said, grinning. "Are you sure that you will be able to handle me?" She asked. "I can get tough really easily!"

[Songo]

Uru blinked a few times at Taka's words she tried to understand his explanation but she put her paw on Ahadi's chest as he growled. "Ahadi...please.." she whispered softly calming her mate. Uru moved closer to Taka and frowned, "Your right it was a foolish act Taka. But I wont call you scar..thats ridiculous..Taka is the name I gave you." she said licking her sons cheek. Uru still felt her heart drop and she looked up at Ahadi, he had turned away from Taka. "Taka, go find Mufasa and apologize right now and Promise you. Promise me you'll stay away from that dreadful graveyard...?" she added watching Taka slowly pick himself up to leave.

Mufasa smirked, "Thats good. I need a tough Queen, one that will rule strongly by my side." he said giving her another nuzzle. Mufasa's warm brown eyes looked down at Sarabi and he thought back to last night, "Sarabi, how did you know I was hurt...? Last night you were in my den when I woke up...how'd you know?" he asked curiously.

[DGFone]

Ahadi sighed as he watched Taka leave the den and head off to find Mufasa. "What am I going to do with him?" He asked Uru. "I suppose that we will need to watch him, at least for now. Then we can decide." He finally said.


Sarabi nuzzled Mufasa. "I saw your parents bring you and Taka in last night. I grew worried and snuck in at the middle of the night." She told him. "I have eyes, you know." She didn't want to admit to Mufasa yet that she had seen some of the fight.

She looked up when she heard steps behind them and turned to see Taka approach them. "How are you, Taka?" She asked. Even though she and Sarafina had seen the fight, they arrived too late to see Taka betray Mufasa. Sarabi felt Mufasa move next to her, and she turned to see Mufasa backing away a few steps. "What's wrong, Mufasa?" She asked. She turned to Taka. "What happened, Taka?" She demanded.


Taka approached Mufasa and Sarabi slowly, but Sarabi noticed him anyways, followed by Mufasa. His brother backed away slightly, fearful. Inside, Taka felt a certain bit of pride at causing his brother to feel fear for once. But instead, Taka pretended to look sorrowful. He bowed his head and said, "Mufasa, brother, I am sorry. I apologize for leading you to the graveyard, and for not acting sooner. I learned from my mistake, and wish not to repeat it ever again. Please, my brother, can you forgive me?" Taka asked, sounding hopeful. He then looked back at the ground. "As a reminder of my foolishness and selfishness, I ask that the two of you call me Scar from now on."

[Songo]

Mufasa emitted a low growl from his muzzle and stepped forward, using his paw he pushed Sarabi behind him protectively. "....you call yourself my brother. I know what you did Scar..I know...Come on Sarabi..." he said turning his back on Scar and pausing a moment letting Sarabi catch up with him. "Oh and little brother, you know your place, so stay out of mine." he snapped. His ears were flattened to his cranium tightly as they walked towards the watering hole, he was angry with Scar. Shaking his head he looked to Sarabi, "I have no trust in him...any more. I don't want you alone with him. Ever. Do you understand me?" he said looking at her.


Sarafina noticed Mufasa and Sarabi leave and she ran towards Scar, "Taka...Taka!" she called and padded up to him. Seeing his new scar she winced slightly, "Are you feeling better?" she asked softly. Her green eyes looked at Taka and she leaned forward to nuzzle his neck, "I'm glad your okay...you and Mufasa.." she muttered out.

Uru nuzzled Ahadi, "We need to keep a close eye on him. Mufasa's wedding is coming and i'd hate for something bad to happen." she said softly looking up to Ahadi with fear. Shaking her head tears blurred her vision and she buried herself in Ahadi's golden fur, "My baby Taka..is gone Ahadi. Where did he go...? Poor Mufasa...I don't know if he'll ever trust Taka again." she cried softly. "What do we do...?"

[DGFone]

Scar backed away, afraid at Mufasa's sudden hostility. Narrowing his eyes, Scar turned away. "Fine. If you want it that way, then so be it." he spat out. He walked away until Sarafina ran over to him. When she tried to nuzzle him, he shook his head violently. "You get away from me!" He shouted angrily at her. Sarafina backed away quickly, afraid and hurt, before running off towards Mufasa and Sarabi. "And I am not Taka anymore! I am Scar!" Scar shouted at her.


Sarabi was set back by Mufasa's hostility towards Taka. "Why are you acting like this, Mufasa?" She demanded. "Tell me what happened between the two of you!" She watched as Taka walked away. "And what do you mean by ordering me never to be near him ever again? This sin't like you, Mufasa!" She shouted again. She saw how Mufasa looked hurt by her sharp words, which caused her to lose her anger. "Just tell me what happened," she told him softly, leaning over to nuzzle him.

As though to echo her previous fury, Sarabi heard some shouting behind her. She looked and saw Sarafina running towards them, sobbing. Sarafina stopped next to them, and collapsed on the ground. Sarabi rushed over to help her grieving friend. "Everything's going to be okay, Saffy," she whispered over. "Just tell me what happened. I'm sure that it's not a big deal."


Ahadi tired to comfort Uru. "I don't know what to do," he admitted. "We will just have to wait and hope for the best." He thought for a few moments. "I can try asking Rafiki. See if he has any advice."

[Songo]

Sarafina cried softly as Sarabi tried to comfort her but Taka's words cut her heart deep. Relaxing a moment she looked up at Sarabi, "Hes dead to me Sarabi..hes dead to me." she whispered her green eyes blurry from crying. The young lion hugged Sarabi tightly and bowed her head at Mufasa before running back to her den in a hurry, resting in the soft shade of her home her mind wandered. She would find someone new, better then Taka.


Mufasa turned to watch Sarabi run towards Sarafina and he watched Scar stomp off into the Pride lands, he growled annoyed. Seeing Sarafina run off and noticing Sarabi going after he he stuck his paw out and pulled Sarabi in for a hug. "She needs time alone.." he said softly. Seeing Sarabi narrow her eyes at him he nuzzled her neck, "Sarabi...Taka orderd the hyenas to attack me. He let me get attacked and then jumped in at the last instant...I thought for a moment he was going to let me die. He is my brother and I promised my mother and father i'd be good to him. But I don't trust him, stay away from him please..."Mufasa said brown eyes pleading with hers. He hugged her tightly and looked down at his future Queen, "I couldn't bear to live with myself if Taka tries to get the throne and you get hurt....Promise me Sarabi." he spoke calmly.

Uru's eyes narrowed as she watched Taka walk back to Pride rock alone, she looked up at Ahadi. "I fear our family is now torn. I'll try to talk with Taka and tomorrow you speak with Rafiki." she said licking her mate's cheek lovingly. She watched the sun set on the horizon, she hoped the days got better for all of them.

[DGFone]

Sarabi watched as Sarafina ran off, feeling sad for her friend. "Sarafina! Wait!" She called out, but it was no use. Sarafina ran off, leaving Sarabi behind with Mufasa. Sarabi looked down at the ground, blinking back tears, and Mufasa pulled her into a hug.

She felt a trickle of fear overtake her when Mufasa explained everything to her. "But how can he do it?" She asked, trying not to cry. "How can your own brother do something like this?" She hugged Mufasa tightly as she did so, not wanting to let him go. "If I promise not to let Taka hurt me, then you will need to promise me that you will not let him do anything to you, too." She looked at Mufasa in the eyes. "Please, promise. Do it for me." She hugged Mufasa again, her muzzle in his thick, growing mane. "I still think that Taka can be saved. We just need to try. We can't afford not to." She whispered into his ear. "But I will also need to help Sarafina. She's hurt."


Scar ran off, feeling angry at the world. His first thought was to try and sneak into the graveyard again, but he spotted Zuzu flying above him, no doubt keeping an eye. He grunted in annoyance. So his family was against him now, as well. Scar wandered off, looking for a nice place to hide form the bird. Not finding one, he walked back to Priderock, the sun behind him.


Ahadi gave a worried sigh as Uru licked him. He didn't know if their family could ever recover from such a rift. But he still had hope. "I am sure that Rafiki will have some advice about this." He told Uru soothingly. "At least, I hope he has," he said in a small whisper.

[Songo]

Mufasa smiled and nuzzled his face into Sarabi's dark fur, "Promise.." he whispered back. "Go find Saffy...I'm going to talk with my father." he added watching Scar make his way back to their home. Watching Sarabi run to comfort Sarafina, Mufasa made his way up Pride rock. He saw his mother and father talking, he noted the worry across his mother's face. Letting out a big sigh he reclined beside his father, his warm brown eyes looked out across the Pride lands. "Is it my fault...Taka is like this?" he asked softly.

Sarafina was still outside, laying on a large rock by her den. She use to lay there and think, she always seemed to think better alone. Her muzzle rested on her paws and she watched the stars light up the sky. Noticing a small body make their way towards her in the distance her green eyes squinted hard; Sarabi she thought.

Uru watched Taka make his way into the den and she looked back up at Ahadi, she hugged him slightly before turning to leave. She licked Mufasa's cheek to rid him of some dirt he got from messing around with Sarabi. "Goodnight you two." she whispered solemnly. She walked into the den and her honey colored eyes flickered as Taka lifted his head. Uru looked away from him and laid to her belly softly, taking a moment to herself.

[DGFone]

Ahadi watched Uru disappear into the den briefly before speaking. He turned back to Mufasa, "Son... I wish that I knew why Taka is behaving like this. But as of now, all I can say is that at this moment, you are not to blame. If anyone is, than it is me." Ahadi took a deep breath before continuing. "I should have been a better father. I should have seen this coming and done something about it. But I didn't, and because of it, you nearly died." He blinked back tears, trying not to imagine what would have happened if he had arrived too late. "Can you forgive me son, for being careless with my family and not paying enough attention?" He asked Mufasa.


Sarabi ran over to Sarafina's den, and sure enough, her friend was there. She ran over to the prone from of Sarafina and lay down next to her. "Hey, are you alright?" Sarabi asked. Even in the dim light, she could tell that Sarafina was still shaken and hurt. "I'm still here, and I will never abandon you, Sarafina. You are my best friend."

[Songo]

Mufasa nodded to his father's words, "It'll be okay dad." he muttered softly trying to make his father feel better. "Night.." he said turning to head into the den. Mufasa slept on the other side of the den, away from Scar.

Uru seemed to find her spot in the middle of her two boys perfectly, her eyes opened as Mufasa settled for bed. Not being able to sleep she stepped back into the night to check on Ahadi, "It isn't all your fault. ya know." she said giving him a lovingly nuzzle. Rubbing her head off Ahadi's her honey colored eyes looked up at him, "Have you prayed to the Great Kings yet..?" she asked looking up at the twinkling stars.


Sarafina looked at Sarabi, "I know Rabi, I just never expected Taka to turn so cold..." she huffed. Her green eyes gazed up at the stars and she paused a moment, she watched a shooting star. Closing her eyes tightly she wished for a lion of her own, she opened them and looked at Sarabi. "Best friends forever." she chuckled. "Your getting married in two days, I heard. You need your sleep because tomorrow we need to practice!" she said pasting a smile across her muzzle. Rubbing her head against Sarabi's she smiled, "I will find someone one day.." she added hopefully. "Hes just not here yet..."