---

It had been 3 days since Mufasa and Taka left their father's pride together. They walked side by side out of the northern border, and surveyed the scene set before them. In the distance, they saw a tall, jutting rock, around which were trees, tall grass and even better, animals.

The pride they had left was dying, their father would not relinquish his position, and the females wouldn't let the young lions take his place until he died. The animals had moved on to the rich and fertile grassland by the rock, but their father would not move, and so the pride was doomed to starvation. The pride would die like the elephants in the nearby graveyard. Disgusted, Mufasa and Taka left together. They would take over another's pride.

As they reached a waterhole, Taka looked towards the rock. "Wouldn't it be something, to live there? From there you can see for miles around, there's food nearby, there's this waterhole. . . What d'you think Mufasa?". Mufasa stopped drinking and looked up at the rock. "Taka, you know who's territory that is. We can't possibly beat Torna's pride, there's 20 of them, 2 of us."
"But we don't fight the females, stupid, we go for the male. The rest will follow. You know how they feel about Torna, if we're lucky, some of them will fight for us.", reasoned Taka.
"Whatever you say Taka, but I'm warning you, we'd better not lose.", Mufasa warned.
"Mufasa, if we lose, we're dead. What could you possibly do to a dead lion?".
Mufasa chuckled, "You'd be surprised." he said. Taka smiled at him and together they surveyed the distant rock. "We could call it pride rock", said Taka eventually. They would sleep in the shade of a nearby tree for now, and tomorrow, they would plan their take-over.

---

In the cool velvet darkness, the crescent moon lit the rolling savannah dimly. The calm surface of the water reflected the starlit sky like a mirror, and the nocturnal humming of the night life around the sleeping lions droned on, uninterested. Taka was not asleep though. He was thinking of the distant rock and the sleeping pride. Quietly he got up and walked over to the waterhole. He drank from the clear water, and then left stealthily. He knew what he was about to do, and hoped that he would be back by sunrise. Three hours later, he returned with a calm smile on his face. Their job would be much, much easier now.
"Where did you go?", said Mufasa. Startled, Taka jumped. "Oh Mufasa, I thought you were sleeping."
"I was, until you got up and left. Where did you go?", Mufasa repeated the question.
"Oh, I went to look at our new home."
Mufasa was stunned, "You WHAT?! You know that if anyone saw you, we would be in very great danger?"
"Danger? I walk on the wild side", teased Taka.
"It's not funny, Taka. If you were spotted by any of Torna's faithfuls, then we've no more chance of getting Pride Rock, than I have of getting any more sleep tonight."
"Relax brother, I just went to check out the opposition, see how many lions stand in our way."
"You know, Taka, sometimes I think you're completely mad."
"Why thank you Mufasa, it's nice to see that my work is appreciated.", said Taka as he slumped down to sleep.

---

The sun rose slowly, throwing spears of golden light across the beautiful land. Mufasa stirred, then opened his eyes. "Taka," he whispered, "TAKA are you awake?". He nudged his sleeping brother, "Shh, look." he motioned to a point not 10 yards away. A young zebra was grazing by the water's edge. The brothers nodded and silently they got up. Taka moved to the right, still shaded by the tree, and Mufasa to the left, his lighter coat blending in with the grass. The zebra continued, blissfully unaware of the danger it was in. Suddenly Mufasa and Taka, like twin bolts of lightning, broke for the zebra. Startled, it bolted into the mud by the water and stuck. Taka leaped for the neck, snapping it neatly. The zebra slumped into the water, and Mufasa dragged it back into the shade of the tree. The two brothers ate well, and left the corpse behind, as they moved on towards Pride Rock.

---

Torna proudly surveyed his kingdom from the peak of the rock. He did not see the two lions walking side by side towards his pride. "Meeka! Where are you?". A golden lioness walked to his side, "Yes, Meeka?"
"I want some breakfast, NOW!" he ordered.
"Say please." teased Meeka. Torna turned to the lioness, "Get me some food, NOW. Or you will never see another sun-rise."
Meeka turned away and trotted down to the base of the rock. Back to her daughter, Sarabi. "Why is he still king? If I was that moody, I would have died by now", said Sarabi.
"Now, daughter, you must understand. Lionesses can't be kings, and there aren't other males around. He's the king and he's going to stay king, and he knows it." replied Meeka.
"Mum, if there were some males around, would you help them to take over the pride?"
"If there were some males around, Sarabi my dear, Torna wouldn't be here." "Well, look over there."
Meeka looked over to where Sarabi was pointing, and her jaw dropped. Two lions, one large, strong and golden, and the other large, dark and handsome walked towards them.
"Good morning Sarabi," said Mufasa, "My brother has told me a lot about you."
"Sarabi! Who are these lions? How do they know your name?"
"Come on Mum, you know Torna is a worthless leader, he can't even feed himself. These lions know what they're doing, they're young and strong and. . ."
"Flattery will get you nowhere my dear", said Taka smoothly, "Greetings madam." he said to Meeka.
"Who are these trespassers?" came a voice above them, "Do you know who you are dealing with? Get off my land before I kill you both." ranted Torna.
"We're not going anywhere Torna", said Mufasa, "we've come to challenge you."
"What?!?" snapped Torna, he knew that he was no match for either of them, and yet he must hold on to his territory. He had worked too hard to let it go. He leapt at the darker lion, landing a heavy blow on his back, Mufasa struck out at his brother's attacker, throwing him off. He leapt upon the prone body of Torna, slashing open his stomach. Taka got up slowly, "Thank you brother, for saving my life."
"It was my pleasure and my duty, Taka."
Meeka approached Mufasa, "Thank you for killing Torna, he was well hated."
Mufasa looked puzzled, "Do all of you feel the same way? Why did you not kill Torna yourselves?".
Taka approached his brother and the lionesses, "Because, lionesses need lions as leaders. How long does a pride last without a male? Come on, let's go up and survey our new kingdom." and together they ascended to the point of pride rock and roared into the savannah. The lionesses joined in, at last they had leaders.

--

'Brotherly Love', part 2

The pride lands hummed a gentle rhythm that night, crickets chirped in the tall grasses, frogs croaked by the waterhole, and the stars turned slowly in the great deep sky, ever watchful over the savannah. Taka was restless. As he paced to and fro in the breeze-swept grass around pride rock, he argued with himself. "Why should HE get all the attention? What has he got that I haven't? I'm better looking, more intelligent, he's just a big oaf. I did all the hard work, I carried out the reconnaisance missions, I found out about the pride. What did HE do? Just took a swipe at his belly, anyone could have done that."

Taka looked up at the stars, "Why him?" he shouted at them, "Why not me? Have I not worked as hard as him? What did I do wrong?". Taka's jealousy controlled him at this moment and he remembered the last few days. After Mufasa killed Torna, the brothers were instantly respected and taken for the new rulers of pride rock. Mufasa, who had caused the death of Torna, almost single-pawed, was regarded as strong, handsome and brave, and Taka, who had been leaped upon by Torna, was looked upon as weak and cowardly. The lionesses who swooned at Mufasa's voice and powerful frame, followed him around all day, soon they would be in heat, and Taka, the dark brother, was ignored, rejected, and unnoticed. Taka's jealousy became ambition and he started to plot his revenge upon his ungrateful brother, then the lionesses would admire HIM instead of that dumb, oafish excuse for a lion.

---

The next day, after the sun had commenced it's great arc over the pride lands, Mufasa was awakened by the gentle push of Meeka's head against him. "Come on," she said, "I want you to see something." Mufasa got up and followed Meeka out onto the peak of pride rock. "Everything you see here is your kingdom," she said,"Torna was not always as lazy and boarish. You have a very large territory and . . .."
"Hello handsome" interrupted Sarabi, "D'you want a tour?"
"Thank you Sarabi, I would be honoured."replied Mufasa, and the three lions walked down to the base of pride rock and out onto the rolling plains. Sarabi lead Mufasa around the whole of his and Taka's kingdom, and Meeka explained in detail the harmony in which all the animals and plants in it lived. Mufasa listened well, for though he was not wonderfully educated, he was quick to learn.

---

Meanwhile, back at pride rock, Taka planted rumours about Mufasa into the minds of the lionesses there, and though they disbelieved much of what he said, doubt was cast upon Mufasa's character. Seeing that his plan was not as effective as he thought it might be, Taka walked back around pride rock and into the cave he had found there, it would be a perfect niche in which he could plot his revenge, undisturbed.

---

"And when they die, they become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass, and so we are all connected in this harmonious loop." finished Meeka.
"I see, it's like a big circle of life" said Mufasa.
"The circle of life, I like that." said Sarabi, "I'm hungry, maybe we should get home so we can organise a hunting party."
"That sounds like a good idea daughter, come on Mufasa." said Meeka, and they started to walk back towards pride rock. However, Sarabi and Mufasa lagged behind the impatient Meeka, talking to each other, joking and tussling in the grass. They finally arrived home, and Meeka advised Mufasa on the basics of choosing a hunting party. Mufasa decided to join in, and this idea was readily welcomed by the rest of the hunting party.
"Sarabi, aren't you coming?" asked Mufasa.
"Not today, sorry, I'm feeling a bit tired. You go on without me." she replied.
"Alright then, I'll bring you back something." said Mufasa over his shoulder as he followed the hunting party out into the afternoon. Sarabi turned away and decided to watch the hunting party from the top of pride rock. She started running up around pride rock, and came face to face with Taka.

--

Brotherly Love, part 3

The hunt was a great success, with Mufasa helping to tackle a wildebeeste that had wandered away from its herd. The lionesses enjoyed being around Mufasa, he was strong and fun to be with, and his help in bringing down the wildebeeste was invaluable. Right now, Mufasa was leading the hunting party back to pride rock with a haunch in his mouth for Sarabi.

---

"Isn't this is beautiful view Sarabi?"
"Well yes, I suppose it is."
Taka took a step towards Sarabi."And so are you Sarabi, you are more beautiful than the stars. You would make a perfect queen of pride rock, the crystal in the stone."
"Well yes, Mufasa and I.."
"Forget Mufasa, I'm talking about me. I know you're in heat, Sarabi."
"No! You know I'm with Mufasa now, just stay away."

---

When the pride arrived back at pride rock, clouds had covered the sky. It hadn't been sudden, the clouds had been there all day, but now for some reason, it was darker. Mufasa dropped the haunch and called out for Sarabi. Hearing no answer he decided to go and look for her from the top of pride rock, and started up the rocky path to the top. He halted however, when he heard the voice of another lion coming from the cave just around the corner. It was raining gently now, and the clouds were becoming storm clouds.

---

Taka was clearly getting sick of the mention of his brother, and advanced upon Sarabi growling, "Can't you forget about him for an instant? There are more important things in life than Mufasa, like cubs."
"Not yours, and not mine." Sarabi backed away from the advancing Taka.
"Very well, if you can't be mine, you can't be Mufasa's." and Taka leaped at Sarabi and took a swipe with his paw, sending her sprawling. Mufasa ran into the cave, and with a roar tackled Taka. Standing above his brother, Mufasa's jaw dropped. "Taka? What are you doing?"
Taka stopped struggling and looked up at his brother. It seemed like he was always looking up to his brother, "Taking what is rightfully mine." he replied.
"Sarabi is my mate, Taka, and if you even come anywhere near her I'll. . ."
"You'll what? Mufasa, you wouldn't kill your own brother would you?" asked Taka testily.
"Taka, I'm not a fool, if I let you get away with this, you'll do it again. And next time, I might not be here to stop it."
"Let him go Mufasa, he won't do it again." said Sarabi.
Mufasa, noticing the wound on Sarabi's chest approached her. "Are you alright? If he hurt you. . ." and he turned to Taka. But Taka was not there, he had run out of the cave and up towards the peak of pride rock.

Mufasa ran out of the cave and was sent flying sideways by Taka's strong paws. He leaped at the fallen Mufasa, gashing his prone stomach, but Mufasa hit back, his paw struck downwards across Taka's eye. A single clap of thunder punctuated the attack, as if nature itself were enraged, and the sound reverberated across the savannah. Taka backed off, knowing that he was no match for his stronger, bigger, perfect brother. Mufasa got up slowly and growled at Taka, "If you so much as come near me or Sarabi, I shall rip you apart. DO you understand?" Not waiting for an answer, Mufasa nuzzled Sarabi and they walked down to the base of pride rock. Sarabi called over her shoulder, "That's quite a handsome scar."

Enraged by his brother's decision Taka galloped off into the stormy grassland. Mufasa had let him live, and now he was faced with ridicule, embarrassment and torment from the pride. Revenge would be all too sweet for him, and never too soon. But this time, he would plot and calculate down to the minutest detail, after all, he had all the time in the world. . .

---

As darkness fell, the rain stopped and the clouds, now partially dissolved, sailed away, leaving the darkening sky empty and violet. Then one by one, as the sun disappeared over the horizon, the stars punched holes into the twilight sky. Mufasa and Sarabi watched all of this silently from the tall grass by the water- -hole. "My father told me that the kings of the past looked down upon us from those stars," said Sarabi.
"What about the queens?", asked Mufasa fondly nuzzling his mate.
"Heck there's only so much room up there you know." she joked and, laughing they tussled around in the grass. Pausing for a moment to drink from the still water, Mufasa looked at Sarabi, and after a moment he said, "Was it true what my brother said earlier?"
"About what." asked Sarabi.
"About you being in heat." replied Mufasa. Sarabi looked up at Mufasa.
"I guess you'll have to find out for yourself." she teased and ran off into the night, closely pursued by Mufasa.