Chronicles of the Pride Lands Part 8

Akase motioned her over and nuzzled her affectionately. "You are such a comfort to me. You were his milk sister, and how many times as I nursed you I thought of you as my own little girl, as if I had carried you."

"I felt it, " Sarabi said, resting her head on Akase's shoulder. "Tell me the truth--should I have gone with Taka?"

Akase purred. "No, my child. It is sad enough to lose a son without losing a daughter. And I feel you will be my daughter before the day is out."

Mufasa got the nod from his father, and started out toward the end of the spur to meet the crowd. But first he paused by Sarabi and smiled to see how gentle she looked leaning on Akase. "My last cubhood thought will be of you, " he said. "And the first thought as a lion will be of you. Sa.s.sie, would you rest your head on me some time?" She looked deep into his eyes and her chin trembled. "m.u.f.fy, " she purred, "My beloved."

Mufasa walked to the end of the promontory. A brief, dim memory came back to him. "Old Makedde, " he thought. "Was I so small that he could hold me up?" He smiled, and looked over the crowd. It was good to be back where it had all started.

Zazu shouted, "Long live Prince Mufasa, son of King Ahadi! "

The crowd bowed and sc.r.a.ped. Zebras whinnied, elephants trumpeted, and antelopes stomped their hooves. It only stopped when Zazu spread his wings.

The King met his son at the tip of Pride Rock. "Let all within the sound of my voice know that my son is coming fast on the path of his forefathers. Look, he bears the sign."

Akase took Ahadi's place. "Look down o G.o.ds and bless my son who is now a lion." She shuddered visibly. "And bless my son Taka, wherever he is. Hear a mother's prayer and have mercy on him."

A hush fell over the sward. The zebras looked at one another and the elephants shook their head. Akase stood on the tip of the Pride Rock with a certain dignity, but a deep sadness that bowed her head and stooped her shoulders. They waited for her to say something, anything. One of the zebra mares nuzzled her foal. The leopards bowed their heads and Bhetu the bat-eared fox howled mournfully. Ahadi came out and kissed his mate, leading her back to a sanctuary of private grief. Zazu dismissed the crowd with a quick blessing, and they stalked quietly away, aware that something very bad had happened.

Mufasa left the peak, and headed back to the cave where he had spent his cubhood. "So I am a lion now."

"You are my lion now, " Sarabi answered. She came from the deep shadows to meet him. He gathered his nerve and put his paw paw on her left shoulder. She answered with a deep purr. It could only mean one thing.

Mufasa said "Before the G.o.ds, before the stars, before the a.s.sembled host I swear to give you my protection, my life, and my comfort forever."

She trembled and nuzzled him affectionately. "Till the last beat of my heart, to the last breath I sigh, our lives are one, so help me G.o.ds."

"Bless you, Sa.s.sie. I'll love you forever."

"Let us go someplace alone, " Sarabi whispered.

"Right now?" Mufasa whispered back. "Are you sure you want this?"

"Yes." She kissed him. "Once Taka needed me, but now he needs something I can't give him. I hope he finds it." She nuzzled him and added, "Let me be selfish, m.u.f.fy. Let me think of myself for once. Give me what I need. Love me. Let me feel your breath on my cheek."

"Sa.s.sie, " he whispered pa.s.sionately. "To love you for a moment and then die, I would have no regrets."

Mufasa nodded at his parents and Ahadi winked back. "Have fun, kids. There's a nice walk to the mirror pool in the cleft of the rock. You could watch the fish swim."

When Mufasa led his timid new wife out of the cave, Ahadi whispered to Akase, "Thank the G.o.ds. Sarabi is a good lioness, and she has made the right decision. Taka is a good boy, and clever, but he is so immature. Besides, it's just like Rafiki says--m.u.f.fy really loves her."

"Did he tell you that too? He's a meddlesome old ape, but he has a heart from the G.o.ds." She shook her head. "I hate to agree with you, husband, but you are right about Taka." She sighed. "Do you ever think we'll see him again?

"Probably not while we're alive, old girl. He's proud, that one. Proud and stubborn."

"Then go after him, " Akase said.

"Go after him? Where? This is no antelope hunt. His tracks cover every square paw of the Pride Lands. I'm not a G.o.d, you know."

"You don't have to tell me that, " she said in a feeble attempt at humor. "But if you don't look for him, I will."

"Akase! You must be careful! I can't have you leaving the Pride Lands. I've already lost a sona"must I lose his mother as well?"

"Then come with me."

"I'm not sure it will do any good. But we owe him that much at least."

Just then, Zazu came excitedly into the cave. "Good news, everyone! You'll never guess! " He bowed deeply. "Your Majesties, Taka is coming back! I've spotted him in the brush and he's headed this way! "

"That is good news for us, " Ahadi said. "I only hope it will be good news for him."

SCENE: SARABI'S NEWS.

Taka was devastated by his loss. It was too much for him to accept completely, and he constantly watched for opportunities to get Sarabi alone. Such chances were few, for m.u.f.fy fawned on her day and night, smitten with a love both deep and selfless. And Sarabi was not the pa.s.sive subject of his advances. She nuzzled her mate for no obvious reason, played games of hide and go seek with pa.s.sion at stake, and would lie against him with her head buried in the softness of his mane. When the lionesses would talk as they gathered for the hunt, her every other word was m.u.f.fy this and m.u.f.fy that. Their attraction was healthy and strong, and those who knew her said she would have the light in her eyes soon enough.

Once Sarabi enjoyed Taka's company. Now she tried to avoid him. He had met her at the watering hole and begged her to come away with him. Once he'd waited for her to come back from the kill and put his paw on her left shoulder in front of the other lionesses. She was terrified that m.u.f.fy would overhear some of his remarks and try to satisfy the demands of honor. Taka misunderstood her warnings as concern for "their relations.h.i.+p, " and began to block out the evidence of her strong attraction to m.u.f.fy. To him, she was trapped in a marriage she did not want, trying to protect her true love from the wrath of a jealous husband or outraged G.o.ds.

Sarabi tried to disenchant him from that fantasy. He only believed more strongly than ever in her love. A brave, fragile thing of beauty that would try to turn his affections to another rather than have him killed by his own brother. At first it was easy for Taka to cling to this story and make his rejection bearable. In a way, it made her more beautiful and desirable to him, and he suffered greatly over it.

Then one day her love for m.u.f.fy took tangible form inside her. She came to him that morning, nuzzled him, and called him "father, " and with tears of joy he kissed her and called her "mother." Ahadi and Akase were the next to know, but then she went to tell Taka she was with child. This was more of a duty she had to perform, and she took no joy in it.

He stared silently at the ground for a moment, then looked at her. "So you are with his child. Where has the time gone."

"I hope you are glad for me."

"I could be glad for us." He reached out with his left paw and touched her shoulder.

"I wish you wouldn't do that." She backed up. "m.u.f.fy would use you for a throw rug. Besides, I'm expecting. Doesn't that mean anything to you? Taka, it's over between us. Can't you see that?"

"Because your child is forming inside you? Sa.s.sie, it could be our child. I love you so much, and I would love your cubs so much. I can't just give up on you. No one has ever loved you the way I do. I cannot blame m.u.f.fy for wanting you. I couldn't blame any lion for wanting you. But you loved me back. I waited for you, I prayed for you, I was prepared to turn my back on family and friends for you, even the G.o.ds themselves."

She was shocked. "Don't you fear the G.o.ds?"

"The G.o.ds?" Taka uttered a short, mocking laugh. "If there are any G.o.ds, they hate me. They have let this curse eat away at me and done nothing to stop it." His eyes bored into hers. "You are my G.o.d now. You and the child inside you. I would wors.h.i.+p you. I would bring you sacrifices. Sa.s.sie, look at me! "

"Stop it! I'm not going anywhere with you. I love you like a brothera"a spoiled little brother that has his good moments. I thought I could also learn to love your breath on my cheek, but it will not happen. m.u.f.fy is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think of as I fall asleep. When he touches me, I tremble. You never made me feel that way."

His jaw clenched. "I don't want to hear this."

"You NEED to hear this! He and I are in love. I pitied you, and wanted to make you happy. But you are aggravating, dependent, selfish, and obnoxious, and those are some of your LESS irritating qualities. If I'd married you, that would not have changed. But thank the G.o.ds I narrowly escaped making the biggest mistake of my life."

Taka took in a short gasp. The dream was shattered forever. He gaped at her, unable to speak for several seconds. "Well then, " he said bitterly, "it seems I ran away at a very convenient time. I hope you two will be happy together." He started away.

"Wait, Taka! I don't know what made me say those awful things."

"What awful things, Sarabi?" He gave her a withering glance. "I'm the one that loves you, you said. Taka, when you grow up, I want to marry you, you said. And that little crack about how I wouldn't survive the wedding night. Well I almost didn't." She backed away a step as he stalked towards her. "While his breath perfumed your dainty little cheek as you so delicately put it, I was planning my own death."

She put a paw to her mouth, horrified.

"You didn't know why I ran away, did you Sa.s.sie. I ran away to blot you out forever. I thought you were worth a little plunge off a cliff. Now at least I know why I didn't." He nodded to himself. "Some higher power spared me so I could learn you weren't worth it."

She cuffed him across the face. "Get out! "

He turned and walked off. Taka often went out alone, and no one in the pride knew where. He took a haunch from a zebra and headed off toward the elephant graveyard.

Fabana the hyena was waiting for him. She had a sense about these things.

"Fay, it's good to see you again."

"What is it this time, Scar?"

"She has the light in her eyes. His child." He didn't have to fill in more details, for she heard from him regularly.

The pups were older, and they recognized him. "What'cha got today, Uncle Scar?"

"Zebra. Do you like that, Banzai?"

"It's my favorite! "

"Food is his favorite diet, " Fabana said, as the pups began to tug over favorite sc.r.a.ps. "There is good in you, Scar. You are a true son of Roh'kash."

"Roh'kash?"

She looked surprised. "Didn't your mother teach you about the Creator?"

"Oh, you mean Aiheu."

She smiled indulgently. "Perhaps."

"Tell me, Fay. Why do the G.o.ds let a foolish curse uttered by a shaman slowly eat away everything I cared for? I mean, doesn't Aiheua"or Roh'kasha"whatevera"have power over an evil spirit? I find my one path to possible fame and glory blocked by a little furballa"and just you wait, it will be male, for it seems the G.o.ds have turned their back on me."

"Don't say that in front of my pups, " she said. "It is wicked to speak ill of the G.o.ds, even if you are a heathen."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. It just feels that way sometimes."

"Perhaps you should pray about it. I think G.o.d hears all prayers, no matter the name."

"And you think I haven't? For about two moons, I was practically a shaman." He raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, Fay. This Roh'kash of yours. Does he tell us to forgive our enemies, or does he give us power to conquer them?"

"What a foolish question! G.o.d is just. He will smite those who harm his children. You are made in his image, therefore if you would be just, you must destroy injustice."

He smiled. "So that is it." He pondered the enormity of that statement. "Poor fool that I am. All this time G.o.d has stood ready to help me, but I have turned away his gifts one by one! You must teach me more about Roh'kash--he could really be a friend of mine. And in the meanwhile I must stop reacting and start acting. Get me an audience with your leaders, my dear. If G.o.d is on our side, who will dare oppose us?"

SCENE: THE ULTIMATUM.

For a while, Taka stopped his self-pitying behavior. Ironically, it was not a welcome change, for Taka's helplessness was his one endearing quality to most of the lionesses. With his secret new faith, he needed no pity, nor did he inspire it. He swaggered about aggressively, the most devout believer in his own great destiny.

Mufasa carried himself with a certain dignity. He never begged nor pleaded, yet he got everything he wanted. Perhaps that is what Sarabi liked in him. Perhaps she liked a firm paw and a touch of mischief.

Taka went to the cistern in Pride Rock where the rain would collect in pools. He sought to satisfy at least one of his thirsts before the day was over. The small fish seemed to taunt him, swimming about slowly as he looked down into the crystal recesses of the stone. His steady lapping set up rings that spread across the surface, breaking up his reflection. Still, he could see another tawny feature coming up beside him. Even before he looked up, he knew his timing was excellent.

"The water is fresh as a spring rain, Sarabi."

"Taka, it's you."

He looked up and smiled warmly. "Aren't you looking beautiful today."

"Well, uh, thank you."

He looked back down and resumed drinking. She joined him in a moment when it was obvious he was not about to leave. From time to time he looked over at her, then he finally stopped drinking and wiped his muzzle with a large paw. "I was just thinking about the old times. You were always so protective of me. It used to make m.u.f.fy so angry when you'd fawn over me. I didn't know how fond he was of you. If I had, I wouldn't have taken you for granted. I would have been better to you."

"Well that's in the past now."

"Is it?" He smiled disarmingly. "I still make you feel uncomfortable. I miss having you look in my eyes without feeling like something bad is going to happen. You have beautiful eyes. G.o.d, how I miss them." He cast his glance away. "Now we almost never talk, and you'd always rather be someplace else doing anything else. Sa.s.sie, I miss you. You are my milk sister. I'd just want to know that you still like me."

"Of course I still like you. If you'd behave yourself, I wouldn't be afraid to show it."

"Afraid??" Taka caught himself, laughed self-consciously, and said, "Why my dear Sa.s.sie, there is not a lion worthy of the name that could look at you and not feel his heart race a little. That's nothing to be afraid of. It's just that your eyes are fresh flowers wet with morning dew. When I see them, they make me happy. I love the way you look, the way you smell, the way you move. Who doesn't?"

"You're very sweet, Taka, " she said guardedly. "But there are other lionesses in this Pride that are equally pretty. You should meet one. You should get to know her well. I want you to be happy the way m.u.f.fy and I are happy. I really do."

"There are other lionesses, " Taka said softly. "Someone may think they are as pretty as you, but Sa.s.sie, not one of them has ever cried when I was hurt. Not one of them ever showed me kindness. Not one of them came to me in my dreams. It was only you, always you. m.u.f.fy has been a good brother and you have been a good friend. But G.o.ds, every time he makes love to you, I want to die. I just want to die! " He bit his lip so hard that a small drop of blood stained his fur.

"Taka! " she said firmly. "Get a grip on yourself! When you find yourself a lioness, we can be friends. Friends, Taka, the way we were as cubs. When you act like this, you frighten me. I don't trust you. If you want a lioness to love you, you have to love her and make her feel special. Find someone that needs to feel special, and fill that need."

"You just don't get it, do you?" Taka stalked away. "I can't get you out of my head. Sa.s.sie, you're killing me from the inside."

He settled into the shadow of a kopje to find respite from the sun, and he started to stretch out for a nap. Then another lion pa.s.sed by. It was Ahadi.

"Walk with me, son."

Ahadi headed slowly, silently up the winding trail that led to the promontory on Pride Rock. Instead of going into the cave, he headed up the finger of stone and at its peak sat in regal silence. Taka reached him shortly and sat next to his father.

"Lay your head on my mane, " Ahadi purred.

Reluctantly, Taka did so. "Why did you want to see me?"