Well, after months of extensive and exhausting work, here it is, my very first fan fiction ever posted. Mind you, its unfinished and there are still some holes in  the story. It is also in need of a tune up, so just wait.

Note: Shinzo-no-Senso has been a recurring character in my stories and he still has a couple more to play his part in, so keep your eye open for him later on.

The Adventures of Kar

By Shinzo-no-Senso

Author’s Note

I would just like to say that I did not create The Lion King and it is copyright Disney material. The Characters Ahadi, Banzai, Ed, Mufasa, Nala, Sarafina, Sarabi, Simba, Rafiki, Rizu, Shenzi, Scar, Vitani, Zazu, and Zira where created by Disney. While Kar, Karto, Armistead, Beauregard, Bram, Breckinridge, Ewell, Longstreet, McClellan, Picard, Riker, Simenon, Pickett, Bragg, and Spark are all my invention (except for some names). I do not intend to make a profit from this, just to experiment on my writing skills. Thank You.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Three Cubs……………………………………………………...page 3

Part 1: Cubhood…………………………………………………………...page 4

Part 2: A Broken Promise………………………………………………….page 13

Part 3: Pa’adka…………………………………………………………….page 20

Epilogue: Return to Pride Rock……………………………………………page 30

Index of Characters

This is an alphabetical list of the characters that appear in “The Adventures of Kar”. Every character has name and a (very brief) synopsis to help ward off confusion. Thank you.

Pridelands

Ahadi-King of the Pridelands before Mufasa

Banzai-Shenzi and Ed’s brother

Chaka-Kiara’s twin brother who disappeared along with Tanabi.

Ed-Shenzi and Banzai’s brother, does not speak, only laughs.

Kar-Son of Sarafina, Nala’s brother, Future Prince Consort, aka Kar Silverscar

Karto-Nala and Kar’s father who mysteriously disappeared

Kiara-Simba’s daughter who falls in love with Kovu

Kovu-Kar and Zira’s 2^nd son

Mufasa-Simba’s father, king of Pridelands after Ahadi

Nala-Queen of Pridelands after Sarabi, Kar’s sister, Sarafina’s daughter

Nuka-Kar and Zira’s 1^st son

Sarafina-Kar and Nala’s mother

Sarabi-Simba’s mother, Queen of Pridelands at the time of Mufasa

Simba-Mufasa’s son, King of Pridelands after Taka

Rafiki-Medicine mandrill for the Pridelands

Rizu- Zazu’s brother and Kar’s companion through the grasslands, was saved from hyenas by Kar.

Shenzi-Leader of the hyenas bordering the Pridelands, Ed and Banzai’s sister

Taka[1]-Mufasa’s brother, Prince Consort, took the throne by murdering Mufasa

Tanabi-Kiara and Timano’s older brother who disappeared.

Vitani-Zira and Kar’s daughter

Zazu-The majordomo for Mufasa, Ahadi, and Simba

Omaji’s Pride

Omaji-King of the Pridelands not far from Mufasa’s/Simba’s realm seems to have a past with Armistead and Star.

Yuiji- Zira’s betrothed mate, who she sees as a spoiled brat. Omaji’s son and future king of Omaji’s Pridelands.

Fano- Omaji’s head of security, who “greets” Kar

Shira-Head huntress and Omaji’s chief advisor in Omaji’s Pride

Zira- Vitani’s mother and Kar’s former mate, went in search of Scar

Pa’adka

Beauregard-Lieutenant General and best friend to Spark, leader of the 1^st East Battalion of the military

Bragg-General under Spark and leader of the 2^nd West Battalion of the military

Bram-Cornello’s apprentice and a good friend of Kar’s

Breckinridge-Major General under Spark and leader of the 1^st West Battalion of the military

Cornello-Hyena priest and seer, teacher to Kar

Ewell-General under Spark and leader of the 3^rd East Battalion of the military

Karma-Mysterious tattooed lion, McClellan’s second apprentice

Longstreet-Major General under Spark and leader of the 2^nd East Battalion of the military

Picard-Lieutenant Colonel under Spark and head of the Pa’adka military’s headquarters

Pickett-General under Spark and leader of the 3^rd West Battalion of the military, very shy

Riker- 3^rd Lieutenant and an aide under Picard, despite being 3^rd, he’s a lot more responsible then Simenon

Simenon-2^nd Lieutenant and an aide of Picard, he always seems to have a headache

Spark-Leader of the hyena pack in Pa’adka, through much higher then a general, he likes to be called General Spark (to be technical he’s Grand Fuhrer Spark)

Miscellaneous

Armistead-Young lioness who is an apprentice to McClellan, she is very smart and an accomplished psychic.

McClellan-A mysterious lion that is rumored to have incredible psychic powers

Shinzo-no-Senso-Mysterious half-human half-demon and anomaly whose age is unknown. He is head of the anomaly counsel and his origins are unknown. Wields the sword Ryujin along with an Eye on one palm and the other arm is made of metal.

Star- Lion “cub” with a star birthmark on his forehead. An anomaly, he is a couple hundred years old and enjoys making fun of Kar or any “infidel” he sees and is somewhat of a demi-god.

Author’s Note on Names

Prologue: Three Cubs

            Mufasa stood outside of one of the many small caves drilled into Pride Rock.

            “Sire, what are you doing here?” the king turned to find Zazu flapping towards him.

            The hornbill landed on the king’s shoulder and did a little bow,

            “You should be with your wife.” His majordomo said, looking concerned.

            “I know,” Mufasa smiled, “I just want to see Sarafina’s cubs.”

            “The lionesses told me,” Zazu stated, “That there’s two cubs, one boy, one girl, but the boy seems to be terribly sick.”

            “Has Rafiki been here to cure him?” the king asked immediately.

            “He tried to…but…”

            “Mufasa, I know you’re out there,” a voice suddenly came from the cave, “So come in.”

            “Zazu,” Mufasa smiled, “Can you excuse me.”

            “Yes sir,” the majordomo bowed again, “I’ll go check on Queen Sarabi.”

            “Thank you.”

            As the hornbill flew away, Mufasa entered the cave.

            “Hello Mufasa,” Sarafina smiled weakly, “Meet Kar and Nala.”

            In the middle of her front paws was a small cub and brushed up against her breast was another.

            “Which one’s which?” Mufasa asked.

            “This is Nala,” she said, pointing to the one near her paws, “And the other’s Kar.”

            “Such beautiful cubs,” Mufasa smiled, “I can see a family resemblance.”

            Suddenly Sarafina grew grim,

            “Please don’t mention that…that…”

            “Its okay Sarafina,” Mufasa assured her, “I meant that they looked a lot like you.”

            The lioness’s tune was soon back to the way it was before.

            “Queen Sarabi, how are you doing?”

            Sarabi opened her eyes,

            “Just fine, Zazu.” Mufasa’s wife smiled.

            “That’s good to hear.” The hornbill bowed in the small cave.

            Indeed the Queen of the Pridelands looked like she could take on even the skies and live, let alone childbirth.

            Zazu smiled up at her,

            “If there’s anything you need…”

            Sarabi nodded,

            “Yes I know Zazu,” she smiled, “Now if you’d be so kind…”

            “Yes madam.” Zazu bowed and flew out the cave opening.

            Zazu decided to go have a bath and as he sailed over Mufasa’s Pridelands, he saw something that made him nearly fall out of the sky.

Walking through the tall grasses of the Pride Lands was a mysterious two legged figure.

            “Must be Rafiki,” Zazu said, putting it out of his mind instantly.

*          *          *

            At that time, Rafiki the mandrill was sitting in his baobab tree doing some crazy ritual not out in the grasslands.

            He kept mumbling as he used fruit to paint on a large branch of his tree, when suddenly, he dropped his gourd with a clatter.

            “What is this evil energy I feel?” he exclaimed.

            “Just passing through.”

            Rafiki nearly jumped out of the tree as a strange creature stepped towards him.

            “Who are you?” Rafiki asked, scurrying to the edge of the tree.

            The creature shook his head, making his long white hair flow around him.

            “Just someone on business.”

            Rafiki stuck an accusing finger at the strange man,

            “You’re the one who’s been poisoning Kar and you’re going to do the same to the new prince.”

            “Ha,” the creature chuckled, “It’s not Simba I’m going to; it’s the Kar Silverscar you mentioned.”

            And before the mandrill could answer, the creature walked away.

            “Simba? Kar Silverscar? What is he talking about?” Rafiki sighed.

            Sarafina looked down sadly at her son who was being robbed of life.

            As she stared at her descendant with her cheerless gaze she was reminded of the words of several of the other lionesses.

            “It’s only a matter of time, so just take him out of his misery.” Eno had said as they had taken a drink at the watering hole.

            “He’s in pain Sarafina…”

            As those and others ran through her mind, the more she considered it.

            She found that her mouth was inching towards the cub’s neck when she heard a voice.

            “What are you doing?”

            The lioness had never heard that voice, so she looked up to see who was bothering her. What she saw made her nearly jump up to the ceiling of the cave.

            It was a creature that looked sort of like Rafiki except some strange looking skin draped down his body and the only place where there was hair was the white crop on top of his head which draped down his back.

            Also he had a scar down one eye and his right arm sparkled in the afternoon African sun. Along with two hyena like ears on the top of his head.

            “Who are you?” she asked, and before he could answer, she growled, “Get out.”

            “My name,” the creature said, unfazed by the lioness’s threat, “Is Shinzo-no-Senso.”

            He walked towards them and, with a growl; Sarafina lunged at him, only to go through open space.

            The lioness looked behind her and found that Shinzo-no-Senso had picked Kar up and was stroking the cub with his non-shiny arm.

            Suddenly, he put his hand to the feverous cub’s forehead.

            Sarafina immediately got up, outraged that this stranger was touching her son, but, just like the first one, her pounce only went through this strange Shinzo-no-Senso.

            Suddenly, to the cub’s mother’s amazement, Kar opened his eyes.

            “Who are you?” the cub asked, the sickness completely evaporated.

            “I, Kar Silverscar, am your godfather, Shinzo.”

            Then Sarafina noticed something, on his non-shiny hand, Shinzo had a vibrant eye sketched into the palm, and, on Kar’s forehead, was the same eye.

            Then the white haired creature brought Kar out into the sunlight. Protective of her son, Sarafina followed, to find hundreds of animals right on her doorstep.

            There were lions, hippos, zebras, lions, and many others.

            Suddenly, Mufasa walked towards them.

            “Mufasa!” Sarafina cried, but he just ignored her.

            “MUFASA!!” the lioness cried, jumping in front of her liege, only to have him go straight threw her.

            Shinzo-no-Senso chuckled, “They can’t see you.”

            “What have you done?” Kar and Nala’s mother asked as she watched Mufasa go through the other animals.

            “They are the dead,” Shinzo chuckled even more, “Only we can see them.”

            And with that, the strange creature lifted Kar up into the skies.

“I present Kar Silverscar, son of Sarafina, and father of Kovu, Nuka, and Vitani.”

*          *          *

            Rafiki tried to act unfazed at the presentation of Simba, but still, that strange creature was still on his mind as he put the line on the prince’s forehead. And not much fazed Rafiki.

            He looked behind him at the creatures assembled to see the newborn prince, and then up at the tip of Pride Rock.

            The face that looked back down on him made him nearly faint. It was that strange creature again.

            “He is not of this world…” Rafiki thought.

            Taking his eyes off of this otherworldly being, Rafiki began to take Simba to the tip of Pride Rock.

            As he lifted the Prince up to the heavens, he heard a voice behind him,

            “Just act natural.”

            Rafiki dared not look behind him, but nearly had trouble containing his excitement as a hand went through him and began to stroke the forehead of the young prince.

            Now Rafiki knew this creature was from another world, for, it seemed, no one else was taking any head to this monster.

            It was so odd seeing something go through something and touch something else without dipping into it that the mandrill nearly exploded.

            But he kept it in as he held up the young prince and Shinzo-no-Senso stroked the cub.

            “Simba, son of Mufasa, father of Kiara, Chaka, and Tanabi, welcome to the world.” The creature said and then disappeared without a trace.

End of Prologue

Book 1: Kar Silverscar

Part 1: Cubhood

Nala opened one eye as if to check that she was still in the cave.

When she saw her mother next to her, she knew was still in the place she had gone to sleep in and got up and stretched.

She was about to wake up her mother when she noticed that it was still night out.

            “What?” She yawned, “Its still night?”

            Her brother, Kar, was still asleep also, she noticed. The female lion cub looked at his young body. He was her twin, except his fur was goldish brown, while her’s was a sort of whitish color.

            Suddenly, Kar’s, feeling cold where a warm body had once been, eyes fluttered open.

            “Nala?” he whispered, seeing that she was up.

            “What is it brother?” she whispered.

Kar suddenly launched up and pinned Nala on her back.

            “Ha, I pinned you.” He smiled.

            Their mom opened one eye and growled,

            “Go back to sleep.”

            Kar grimaced; he hated to disturb his mother.

            “Sorry mom.” He whispered.

            He leaped off Nala angrily,

            “Why did you wake me up at a time like this,” he asked, whispering, “I thought it was time to get up.”

            “You were the one who jumped to conclusions, literally,” Nala grimaced, “Let’s just go back to sleep.”

            But when she looked back at him, he was already fast asleep. Nala silently chuckled to herself and curled up next to him. She closed her two lantern like eyes and fell asleep again.

            Kar fell back into dreamland, but instead of having a nice dream like he was having before Nala woke him up, he started to have a nightmare. He was playing near Pride Rock while Nala napped with mother. He was slinking towards a butterfly, ready to pounce, when something bolted into him.

            Suddenly, he felt a claw scratch his face and fell back, whimpering. But when he opened eyes, there was no one there.

            Then he saw a strange creature. He stood on two legs like a monkey, except he was hairless except for a white patch on its head that went down its back.

            Even stranger it wore some kind of black skin over his body.

            The creature kneeled in front of the cub,

            “Hello again Kar, son of…”

 But, suddenly, the creature was gone, replaced by Sarafina, who was pouncing on to a hyena, sending him flying backwards.

            The lion cub closed his eyes tight as his mother fought the menace, to afraid to peak. When she turned back to him, she found a bloody line near his right eye. She started to reach a paw towards it, but he shrunk back.

            “Ouch! It hurts.” He whimpered.

“It’s okay, mother’s here.”

She led him back up the rock where Nala was sleeping and lay down and started licking the blood away.

“Come on brother.” She was saying, “Wake up.”

“What? I’m your son!” he exclaimed.

But then he remembered he was dreaming.

Kar opened his eyes with a start. Nala was standing over him again, and this time it was actually morning.

“You were whimpering in your sleep again.” She stated as soon as she saw him awake.

“Oh was I?” he said sharply.

“Well, I didn’t hear him.” Said another cub that was standing beside Kar’s sister.

Kar got up and stretched. When he was done, he laughed at the male cub,

“That’s because you could sleep through a stampede Simba.”

“Ha, that’s not true,” Simba laughed, “Is it Nala?”

“I would think so,” Nala snorted, “Anyone who saw you sleep would think you were dead.”

“Hey.” Simba playfully launched himself at Nala, but she flipped him over and pinned him.

“Ha,” Kar laughed, “Nala keeps pinning you down, Simba. When are you going to beat her?”

“He never will.” Nala said playfully.

“Get off.” Simba growled, trying to flip her over, but she held him too tightly.

“Whatever,” she finally said, leaping off of Simba.

“Simba, you gotta find a way to pin her.” Kar smirked.

“I know Kar,” Simba growled, “And I’m going to relish the day I get her pinned.”

Kar smiled,

“Now let’s go off and play.”

Even through Kar had just had a horrible nightmare; he still played out there like nothing happened.

            Mufasa watched the cubs run off with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

            “They’re growing up, aren’t they?” Sarabi smiled.

            “Sire,” Zazu asked, “Are you thinking back to when you were that small?”

            “I guess I am,” Mufasa sighed, “I can still remember Scar as a cub.”

            “That’s odd,” Zazu stated, “I can’t imagine him being playful at all.”

            “I just hope that Simba will be a great king.” Mufasa sighed, changing the subject.

            “Simba will be a good king,” Said Nala and Kar’s mother, “With such a father and mother…”

            “Oh Sarafina, thank you.” Sarabi smiled.

            “Nala will make a great queen as well.” Mufasa said.

            “Kar will also be great,” Zazu fluttered beside the lions, “He has the most responsibility of the lot.”

            “Hey, where’s Scar anyway?” Sarabi asked.

            “Oh, who care’s about him.” Sarafina said.

            “I agree with you,” Zazu smiled, “Let’s all hope that he goes out and never comes back. No offense, sire.”

            “None taken.” Mufasa laughed at his majordomo.

            Kar, Simba, and Nala ran down to the banks of the nearby river, where they romped around for awhile. Suddenly, Simba lunged at Nala again. The female cub laughed and somersaulted at his attack.

There was a whir of motion and the young prince found himself, hopelessly and maddeningly, pinned on his back. Kar laughed as he circled around his best friend and sister,

            “If you’re going to be king, Simba, you might want to work on your fighting technique.”

            Simba looked infuriated and Kar thought it seriously looked like steam was coming from those orange ears of his.

            “Once Nala gets off of me, Kar, you’re gonna get it.” The future prince growled.

            Kar cocked his head,

            “That is if she gets off.” He grinned.

            Nala turned her head to her brother and winked as she lifted her paws off Simba. Once he was free, the prince immediately rushed to his feet and rushed at Kar. The laughing lion cub smiled and turned around and began to run around Nala.

            “Come back here, you rascal!” Simba growled after him.

            “That would take away from the fun.” Kar called back.

But soon they all forgot what the three of them was mad about and the chase turned into a game of tag.

            Simba soon slumped onto his back, panting heavily. Nala and Kar soon followed him.

            A little while later, Simba got up and started walking away, Kar and Nala shrugged and then followed.

They walked along for so long that Kar honestly thought they would leave the Pridelands soon. At last Simba stopped.

            “Will you look at that.” He said, pointing a paw at something moving in the grass.

            Nala and Kar followed his gaze.

            “What is it?” Nala asked.

            “My dad told me,” Simba said, trying to sound smart, “It’s a leopard.”

            “Let’s go take a closer look.” The future king said, and, not waiting for an answer, started walking towards the crouching leopard.

            Kar turned to Nala and saw that his sister was following Simba like she always did.

            The cub sighed,

            “Here we go again.”

            And he followed the two other adventurous cubs.

            “Hey Mrs. Leopard.” Simba said playfully when he got closer; in fact he was right by the leopard.

            As Simba talked, the antelope the leopard was hunting ran off.

            “Simba! Not that close!” Kar cried.   

The leopard turned, her eyes scanning the lion cub’s every movement, angry that he had scared away her lunch.

            “So, you’re Simba.” She said with a voice that chilled Kar to the bone, “Mufasa’s son I take it?”

            “Yep.” Simba said proudly.

            “Well, your father should have taught you some manners,” she said, slashing at Simba with her claw.

            “NO!” Kar cried.

            Then everything seemed to go in super slow motion for Kar.

            The cub ran towards Simba as the leopardess’ claw came down.

Kar, his heart pumping like it would burst, jumped in the way and the claw came down over his eye, making the cub fly backwards.

            “Hah,” the leopardess scoffed, “He just delayed the inevitable.”

            She got ready for another attack but suddenly a roar sounded and several lionesses surrounded her.

            “Mother,” Nala cried, running to Sarafina, who scowled.

            “Nala, you could have gotten hurt.”

            Mufasa stepped forward,

            “Get out of here. If you ever go near my son again…” He growled.

            “Yes your majesty.” And with that the leopardess slunk away.

            “SIMBA!!!” the king cried when she was long gone.

            “I’m sorry father.” Simba said, downcast.

            “Oh no,” Sarabi suddenly cried, “Mufasa come here.”

            Mufasa walked over to where his queen was standing,

            “What is it?” he asked.

            Then he saw Kar. The cub had a bloody gash across his right eye and the eye was badly damaged.

            “Zazu,” the king ordered, “Get Rafiki.”

            “Yes sire,” Zazu flapped away.

            Sarabi sighed as she looked at the cub that had been so brave.

            “Thank you.” She said even through he probably couldn’t hear her.

            She nearly leapt ten feet when the cub weakly lifted his head up and said,

            “I had to…”

            “Don’t talk.” Said a voice behind Sarabi.

            The queen knew immediately who it was so she slunk away.

            Sarafina stepped towards her son with tears in her eyes.

            “Mother…” Kar said weakly at her approach.

            “Just don’t talk, darling,” the mother sobbed, “Mother’s here.”

            “It’s—o—kay mom, really, just a flesh wound.”

            Sarafina looked down at her son and sobbed even more.

            “I—don’t—like seeing you like this…”

            “I’m sorry.”

            Sarafina whirled around and saw something that she would never forget.

            At first, the lioness didn’t recognize him. Simba looked humbled, like all the pride of being prince had been stripped from him and he had landed on earth.

            Kar smiled,

            “I know…”

            “No,” Simba cried suddenly, “I feel horrible.”

            “Don’t,” Kar smiled again, “If you had taken that you would be the one who looks like your uncle.”

            At that time, Kar knew that, despite his childhood pranks, Simba would become a great king.

            “We’re friends right?” Simba said suddenly.

            Kar looked at him like he was crazy to take it into doubt.

            “Of course.” The injured cub answered.

            But the prince was not satisfied,

            “Do you think we’ll be friends forever?”
            “Of course,” Nala frowned, “Why are you asking us, are you doubting us or something?”

            Simba ignored the newcomer,

            “Let’s make a promise to always be friends.”

            “But on what?” Kar asked.

            “Your scar.” Simba said bluntly.

            “My scar?” Kar asked surprised.

            “Why not?” Simba asked, “Trees fall, creatures die, rocks crumble, but that scar will be there for as long as we live and that will always remind us of our friendship.”

            “Fine.” Kar sighed.

            Then all three cubs shouted in unison,

            “We swear, by Kar’s scar, to always be friends and to be there for each other.”

            Sarafina and Sarabi, who were paying audience to this odd ritual, just smiled.

*          *          *

            Rafiki stood staring at a big branch in his baobab tree where several paintings of lions and other animals where.

            He stared at one in particular, one of a little lion cub,

            “Simba,” he smiled, speaking like he was talking to someone else, “Everyday you grow more mischievous, but one day you will become more of a king.”

            He turned to another cub painting,

            “Nala, you are becoming more true and serene with every passing sun.”

            He turned to yet another, but he lost his joyous tune,

            “Kar, my young friend, your nightmares of the death of your friends could be an omen of seer’s blood in you, but I am not sure…”

            Rafiki sighed at the thought of Kar as a newborn cub in a coma. He had looked so miserable at that time.  And then there was that Shinzo-no-Senso.

            “Rafiki!” Someone called suddenly.

            Rafiki looked relieved, recognizing the voice as Zazu’s,

            “A sprain? A headache?” the mandrill asked his guest.

            It was someone who needed help and Rafiki was glad to take his thoughts off of Kar and unto Zazu and what ever was wrong with him.

            But, ironically, it didn’t help at all, for Zazu said hurriedly,

            “It’s Kar, he’s hurt.”

            Rafiki rushed after Zazu, his heart pumping loudly in his chest.

“What had happened? Does this have something to do with that white haired being?” Went through the mandrill’s head.

For what felt like hours to Rafiki, images of Kar’s destroyed body went through the mandrill’s head, getting more gruesome by the second.

            Mufasa looked relieved as the twosome finally got there after what felt like ten years to the mandrill.

            “What’s wrong?” Rafiki asked, panting.

            “Kar, Simba, and Nala had a run in with a leopard.” The king of the Pridelands answered.

            “Is it anything serious?” the mandrill asked.

            “Hopefully not,” the King of the Savannah sighed, “Just take a look.”

            “Right away,”

            As Rafiki walked over to Kar, he caught Simba leaving with the strangest look on his face. Of course, it wouldn’t be strange on someone else, but Simba, who was always so vibrant and adventurous, looked stranger then Shinzo-no-Senso with his gloomy and sad appearance.

            When Rafiki saw Kar, he breathed a sigh of relief to see it was only a cut on the eye.

             “It looks like nothing serious, just that it’ll leave a scar.” He told the king who had followed him.

            “That’s very good to hear.” Mufasa sighed.

            “But he’ll probably look like his…” Rafiki shuddered, but Mufasa put a relaxing paw on his shoulder.

            “No need to worry, Rafiki,” he said, “He will not turn out like his father…”

*          *          *

            Kar looked up at the kings as if they could speak to him.

            The lion cub was thinking about his father.

            Who was he?

            Where was he?

            What was he doing?

            Was he up with them…

            All these questions and more were popping into the young lion’s head. But soon, all of these questions started to jumble up his mind, making it feel like Kar’s head would split in two then and there. He lay down on the hard cave floor and tried to put all his thoughts in order.

            The sound of padded feet announced his mother and sister where here. Nala playfully approached him, not noticing that he was deep in thought, while his mother caught on immediately.

            “Kar,” Sarafina asked kindly, “Is something on your mind?”

            Kar stared up into her big blue eyes and felt something run over him. He felt that his mother knew everything and was not haunted by any questions in her head, but, of course, that was not true.

            “Ma,” he asked finally, “Where did father go?”

            Nala stared at her brother for a second and then nodded,

            “Yeah! Where has he gone mother?” she asked.

Sarafina sighed,

            “I thought you were going to ask me that sooner or later. Well, might as well just tell you. I’ll start with when I met your father.”

*          *          *

            Sarafina began with how their father had looked when she had first met him.

            “He was strong, muscular, and handsome.” She said, “His eyes were like two blue lakes, whenever I gazed in them, I would get all sleepy. His mane was black as coal and his only flaw was his left ear was missing. His name was Karto”

            Sarafina lowered her head to water and lapped up some of it with her pink tongue. The lioness was thinking how her first hunt was coming up when she suddenly noticed another reflection in the water hole.

            She looked behind her to find a male lion staring at her.

            “Who are you?” she stammered.

            “My name is Karto, I am a rouge,” he said, staring at Sarafina intently, as if searching the very bones and sinews of her body, “Please take me to your king.”

            Sarafina stared at him for a second, wondering if he could be trusted. Should she take him to her king, she thought, could he be trusted?

            She was saved the trouble when a deep, majestic voice sailed behind her.

            “Sarafina, who is he?” the voice asked.

            She turned to find it to be King Ahadi himself.

            He had come to the waterhole in hopes of getting a little drink.

            “I am a rouge, your majesty, and I humbly ask to join your pride.”

            “You must first prove your worth,” Ahadi said.

            “I will your highness.” Karto bowed to the king.

*          *          *

            Nala and Kar sat at their mother’s feet stupefied.

            “Look at you two.” Sarafina smiled down on her cubs, “Oh, it’s getting late; I’ll tell you the rest tomorrow night.”

            “But mom…” Nala protested.

            “Don’t give me that ‘But mom…’ stuff; if you two want to grow up to be big and strong you have to go to bed at a reasonable hour.”

            “But…” Kar began, but Sarafina was already heading back into the cave and the two cubs had no choice but to follow their mother and go to sleep, the suspense building in their little minds.

            As Kar followed his mother, he looked back on the setting sun and sighed.

            By the time he turned back to the dark cave the Pride slept in, Nala and his mother had already disappeared.

            “Hey,” Kar laughed, “Wait for me.”

            And with that he bounded into the cave. All three were unaware that Sarafina would never finish the story that she had just made up as she had gone along.

That night was not a good night for the animals that were unlucky enough to be caught outside with no shelter, for a storm had begun a’ brewing.

            The lions were lucky; they had the cave to sleep peacefully in without the constant collision of water and fur. There was of course, the noise of thunder and the flash of lightning, but only the little cubs were scared of this. They huddled closer to their mothers then usual, hoping that their parents could end the storm.

            The only cub who didn’t curl closer to his mother was Kar, for he was fast asleep, dreaming. Except it wasn’t a very nice dream, in fact, it was a nightmare (he was always having nightmares) of some sorts.

            The young cub stood on the side of a cliff looking down on a gorge. In that gorge, wildebeests were stampeding.

            The cub suddenly heard a noise to his right side. He turned to find another lion next to him.

            It was an old lion, his mane as black as the night sky, and on one of his eyes was a scar.

            “Scar.” Kar growled, he had always disliked Simba’s uncle, which had always confused the young prince, for he saw Scar as a loving uncle.

            Scar seemed to pay no attention to Kar; instead he was staring intently down the gorge, all the time smirking deviously.

            Kar followed the old lion’s gaze and found Mufasa trying to climb up the side.

            “Brother, help me!” the king cried out.

            Suddenly, Scar sunk his claws into Mufasa’s paws, making him roar.

            He then slunk closer to his brother and whispered,

            “Long live the king.”

            He suddenly let go and Mufasa flew into the wildebeest.

            “You monster!” Kar cried at Scar, but the murderer just ignored him.

            For awhile the young cub glared at Taka Scar, but he soon snapped.

            He rushed at the old lion only to only find himself going through air.

            He looked behind him and saw Scar walking away like nothing had just gone through him.

            “I could have sworn…” Kar looked forward again and screamed, he was hurtling towards the wildebeests like Mufasa had just done.

            Kar opened his eyes with a jolt.

            He shivered as he thought of the dream he had just had. Scar had just murdered Mufasa right before his eyes.

            “It was just a dream.” He sighed, “Nothing but a dream…”

            But for some reason, he felt these words were false, like what had happened in his dream would happen in the future.

            “I must tell Mufasa!” he said suddenly.

            “But he won’t believe a young cub,” he sighed after a little thought, “Who will…I know! Rafiki!”

            But when the frightened cub looked outside he was immensely discouraged by the scene he saw.

            In front of him, in the great outdoors, the storm raged on.

            Kar watched as the flash of lightning hit a tree, making it burst into flames.

            “I can’t go on, not tonight,” Kar said sadly.

            The cub shook his head and turned back to the warmth of his mother and sister.

            But suddenly his eyes began to burn with a fire rivaled to the one that was going on in the tree.

            “But I must.” He said with rekindled courage, “Rafiki will tell me what to do.”

            And so Kar turned around and ran out of the safety of the cave. But as he left, he drew a sketch of Rafiki’s tree in the sand.

*          *          *

            Nala stretched herself out with a yawn like everything was normal.

            She smiled as she saw that last night’s storm had blown itself out.

            “Kar, look, now we can play.” She said, her eyes searching for her brother.

            Suddenly, her smile and happiness was gone, taking a holiday, in its stead was the emotion terror.

            Had her brother left without saying goodbye? She asked herself.

            “No, he couldn’t have,” she stammered, trying to reassure herself.

            Soon the cave was filled with the noise of Nala’s voice shouting “Kar” repeatedly.

            Sarafina opened one eye,

            “What’s wrong dear?” she asked her daughter sleepily and a little angrily.

            Indeed, several of the other lions were getting up and staring angrily at the young female cub.

            “Kar’s disappeared.”

            “What?!” Sarafina jumped up. Gone were the sleepiness and the angriness.

            “What’s wrong?” asked a sleepy Mufasa and Sarabi.

            “Kar disappeared.”

            “Well, if that’s the case, then this may help.”

            The small court of lions turned to the entrance of their cave to find Zazu staring back at them.

            “What is it Zazu?” Mufasa asked.

            “He’s off to see Rafiki.”

            Sarafina and Sarabi ran up to where Zazu stood and looked down at the rough sketch.

            “But why?” the concerned mother cried.

            “Zazu, go see if you can find him.” Mufasa ordered.

            “Yes sir.” Zazu lifted off the ground and flew off in the direction of the tree Rafiki used as shelter.

*          *          *

            Kar had trekked for a couple days now and he was worn out.

            “Where the heck is Rafiki?” he panted, “Why’d he choose a place so far away?”

            He looked about him, but there was nothing but grasslands as far as the eye could see.

            “The journey is half the fun…” Kar scoffed, “That guy never knew me.”

            Suddenly, something that sounded like growling came to the cub’s ears.

            “Who’s there?” he asked.

            “Hey look, Shenzi, it’s a little cub.”

            It was three hyenas playing with something.

            “What are you doing here?” Kar asked, disgusted at the trespassers, “My mother said…”

            “Your mommy said,” one of the hyenas laughed.

            “Well listen kid,” The hyena known as Shenzi snarled, “We can do anything we like, isn’t that right, Ed?”

            The one known as Ed just laughed manically.

            Kar scowled,

            “That’s not true…”

            “Shut up,” Shenzi growled, “You won’t have to worry about what’s true and not true, right Banzai?”

            “Right,” Banzai smiled.

            Suddenly the cub felt as if he could see that the hyena was going to lunge at him.

            He stepped backwards just as Banzai did indeed lunge at him.

            “Damn, how did you…” Shenzi growled and swiped at the cub, but he dodged that like he had before and swiped back.

            Very soon, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed were all covered in claw marks while Kar was unmarked.

            “What the heck are you?” Banzai yelped in pain.

            “Your worst nightmare,” Kar laughed, “Now get out of here.”

            The three hyenas rushed off, yelping and ashamed that they had lost to a child.

            “What just happened?” Kar asked himself when they were gone.

            “Whatever it was, you saved my life.”

            Suddenly, Kar felt someone perch on his shoulder

            That something, he found to be a hornbill.

            “Zazu?” the scarred cub asked.

            “What,” the hornbill asked, deeply angered by the question “You know my brother, well I’m not Zazu, my name’s Rizu, and I am in your debt.”

            “Well, you’re welcome Rizu, but do you know how far away Rafiki is?”

            Rizu scoffed,

            “He’s so close, you could practically smell him.”

            Kar couldn’t believe his ears,

            “Really?”

            “Yeah,” Rizu smiled, “I’ll lead you there, young cub.”

            “The name’s Kar.”

            “Well nice to meet you Kar,” Rizu shifted around on Kar’s shoulder, “Now let’s get going.”

            Rafiki looked up from his many knickknacks to find Kar and what seemed to be Zazu perched on his shoulder walking into his house.

            “Kar, Zazu, what are you two doing here?”

            Rizu fumed once again at being called Zazu,

            “It’s Rizu, not Zazu!”

            “Well sorry.” The mandrill shook his head.

            “We’re here because I’ve been seeing some weird things.” Kar said.

            Rafiki began to circle the young cub, picking up some kind of fruit and eating it.

            “Like what?”

            “First I saw…I saw….I saw…” Kar couldn’t say it, “I saw Mufasa’s death.”

            “Oh really, is that it?” Rafiki asked.

            Kar was surprised at his nonchalant ness,

            “When I was fighting some hyenas it felt like I could tell what they were going to do before they did it.”

            Rafiki suddenly looked sad,

            “Then its true,” he sighed, “The thing I feared…Kar you are a seer.”

            “What?” Kar’s eyes became as big as the fruit Rafiki had now abandoned due to his interest in Kar.

            “Yes,” Rafiki sighed, “I’m sorry, but you are the first lion seer since Finaro.”

            Kar’s eyes became bigger.

            Everyone had heard of Finaro the Prophet. He was a great king who could see into the future and avert great tragedies.

            “Seriously?” Rizu asked, also shocked.

            “Then if what’s going to happen to Mufasa is true,” Kar suddenly realized, “Then we gotta go save him.”

            “I’m afraid you’re too late,” Rafiki sighed, “It’s already happened.”

*          *          *

“Mufasa's death was a terrible tragedy; but to lose Simba who had barely begun to live....  For me, it is a deep, personal loss. And so it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne. Yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future.” Scar sighed with a great melancholy.

            The whole pride was in tears at Taka Scar’s elegy, so, they, not even Zazu, noticed a hornbill watching them.

            He watched Scar with disdain and even more so when several hyenas came from the shadows.

            Sarafina and Sarabi bunched together for mental support and walked away as the hyenas began making themselves at home.

            When they were out of earshot, the hornbill flew down and bowed to the queen and Sarafina.

            “Your son is waiting for you.”

            Sarafina bolted forward at the mention of her son.

            At this, Kar walked out of hiding.

            “Mother.” He sighed.

            “Kar, where were you?” his mother asked, even more tears in her eyes.

            “At Rafiki’s.”

            “What for?”

            “I needed to talk to him…”

            “Well go back along that path, leave the Pridelands.”

            Kar was shocked, was his mother forcing him away?

            “Why?”

            “I don’t want to lose you…” she sniffled, “Like what happened to Mufasa and Simba.”

            At this Kar stepped backwards,

            “No, not Simba, no…”

            “Now go!” Sarafina cried, choking back the tears.

            Kar turned to Sarabi,

            “Auntie Sarabi,” Kar pleaded, “Talk some sense into her.”

            But Sarabi just shook her head,

            “She’s right, you must leave now before Scar finds and kills you.”

            “Goodbye mother.” Kar cried, tears in his eyes.

            Sarafina watched her son leave the Pridelands and started full out sobbing. Kar never saw that, for he never looked back, but Rizu would always remember the face Sarafina made as she watched her son leave her life.

End of Part 1

Part 2: A Broken Promise

            Rizu looked down affectionately at his new friend while flying; wondering what was coursing through the young cub’s mind.

            “I could never imagine.” He sighed, shaking his head.

            Kar had been silent ever since they had left Pride Rock, his face downward to the ground as if he were sniffing.

            But the hornbill knew that Kar was doing something completely different, he was moping for the loss of not just Simba and his family, but the loss of the Pride and the land he had been born and raised on. Also, he had broken the promise Simba, Nala, and he had made upon his scar, so that whenever the cub would glance at the scratch while drinking, he would be reminded of the late prince.

            Rizu knew he would have to find something to cheer up his friend, but knew that would be something incredibly difficult. What could cheer up the cub when he had just lost everything?

            The bird didn’t know it, but at the exact same time, someone else was thinking along the exact same lines, except for a completely different reason.

            “I’m going to have to cheer him up somehow,” that someone was saying, “Or he’ll get all moppy and won’t do a thing I tell him.”

            This someone was Star, a young male cub with, hence the name, a star shaped birthmark.

            “But of course,” the cub’s eyes burned with a mischievous light, “That won’t be too hard.”

            He nonchalantly looked up at the sun,

            “Oops, guess I’m late for the meeting,” he chuckled. “Watching young ones can make you lose track of time.”

            And with that, Star was, suddenly, gone like he had never been there in the first place.

            “So what you’re sayings true, Lady Armistead?” said a majestic looking lion

            He and a lioness stood outside of a large cave.

            The lioness’s tail flicked back and forth,

            “Precisely, the cub must not be let through.” She smiled, “I expect you to take my word, King Omaji, or will just let him come?”

            She looked at him with her green eyes as if she was looking at his very soul, which perturbed Omaji very badly.

            “Of course, my lady.” He said, hoping that she would leave now.

            But instead she just snickered,

            “Just turn him away at the border,” suddenly her unceasing smile grew wider, “Better yet, kill him when he comes, kill the young one.”

            Omaji sighed, the only reason I’m listening to her, he thought, is because she keeps blackmailing me…

            “Because if you don’t,” she continued, “All your lionesses will, one by one, go mad and eat you alive and your past will be the least thing to worry about.”

She winked when she said, ‘your past will be the least thing to worry about’.

            “Remember that, your lordship.” Armistead smiled even more, “Kill the cub or be eaten alive, your choice, have a nice day.”

            And, with a swish of her tail, she was gone.

            Omaji shook his head,

            “What does a cub have to do with….that…” he said, not wanting to think about what would happen.

            And with that, Omaji slunk off to his pride with a heavy heart.

*          *          *

Kar was indeed feeling very much depressed.

            As he walked he kept muttering the same word over and over again.

            “Simba.” He would say with a tinge of sadness in his voice, remembering the time they had together.

            He could still vividly remember his dream, which normally would be nice (because you know how we all forget our dreams), but seeing someone’s death over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over (times infinity) would pull some strings on the harp of one’s heart even if they were a mighty warrior (which of course Kar isn’t yet).

            He hadn’t seen Simba’s death, which he was overly glad for (probably the only thing he was glad of).

            The cub was deep into his gloomy thoughts when, suddenly, another cub landed on him and with a curse, Kar sprawled out onto the ground

            “Hey!” Kar cried, dusting himself off.

            “Sorry.” The other cub sighed, “But I need to get out of here, so if you…”

            Suddenly, several lions appeared out of nowhere.

“Well well well well, what have we got here, Fano?” one asked.

            “This must be that little cub King Omaji said to kill.” Another, Fano, smiled.

            “Zira, get away from that devil,” said a third, turning to the female cub, “And just face the facts.”

            Zira spat

“Never,” she growled, “Am I going to be the mate of that…that…ingrate…”

 “Ziiiraaa!” the first cried, stressing the cub’s name.

“Why does this Omaji want me dead?” Kar asked, addressing the second lion.

He shrugged,

            “All I know is that you can’t be allowed to pass here and we’re to kill you.”

            Rizu scoffed. How odd this way, he thought, that a king they’d never even met was blocking them from entering his Pridelands. The hornbill said so.

            Again the lion shrugged,

            “Omaji has his reasons.”

            “But that doesn’t prove why he can’t…” Rizu began, but Kar interrupted,

            “Fine,” he sighed, “Kill me now, I don’t feel like living anymore anyway.”

            Rizu could tell that this had startled them.

            “But why would one so young,” one said, “Want to die?”

            “Call it nightmares.” Kar said plainly.

*          *          *

            Zira was touched by this young cub that had been randomly thrown into her life. She felt something she had never felt around Yuiji, her betrothed “husband”. Heck, she thought, I doubt anyone would feel it when around that spoiled brat, minus his parents of course. Now what was that feeling called again?

            Kar was incredibly different from Yuiji, she thought as she listened to the scarred cub talk with Fano. She sighed, staring at him with loving eyes.

            That was the word, she remembered, LOVE!!

            How had see forgotten?

            She felt no love for Yuiji, but to Kar, let’s just say her whole heart was to the cub.

            Rizu, who was much older then the two children, knew what was happening, but said nothing.

            Kar looked a bit better after his talking, but of course, he was still gloomy as hell.

            “What’s up with you?” she asked as they were being marched to King Omaji.

            But Kar didn’t answer, for Rizu got in Zira’s way. His eyes said; don’t talk about that right now.

            The lioness nodded, not wanting to go and hurt her new love.

            Fano on the other hand, was very confused. It seemed that Omaji’s chief of security was always getting himself confused due to old age, but this, of course, was different.

            Why does this cub, he thought, who’s clearly barely older then my own son want to die?

Of course Fano did not know of the feelings inside Kar.

            The loss of Cubhood, leaving the Pride, and a broken promise.

*          *          *

            Omaji was furious when he found out that his men had hesitated in killing Kar, but a little relieved, and not just because his son’s future bride.

            “Why did you hesitate?” he roared.

            Fano sat next to him, looking extremely displeased while glancing once in awhile at Kar and Zira, who were whispering to each other.

            “Sorry sir.” Omaji’s chief of security whimpered.

            Omaji then began to lecture him about being loyal and this and that.

Suddenly, Fano found his mind wandering. If Kar wasn’t so gloomy and Zira wasn’t already betrothed they’d make good mates. While he did this, he nodded.

            His liege somehow noticed that he was only half paying attention to the king, for he screamed,

            “ARE YOU LISTENING?”

            “Yes sir.” Fano said almost instinctively.

            “Stop lying,” Omaji cried, infuriated, “I just said that you had paws growing out of your ears and you nodded.

            “Sorry sir.” Fano whimpered.

            Suddenly, a little lion cub came bounding up to the foursome and immediately Omaji’s anger evaporated.

            “Yuiji.” The king smiled.

            “She’s back.” The cub smiled, running up to Zira, “Where were you?”

            “Finding a better man.” Zira answered, glancing at Kar.

            The scarred cub just looked even more downcast.

            Yuiji also glanced angrily at the newcomer,

            “This bastard,” he laughed, “He’s not good enough for you.”

            Suddenly, something hit Yuiji on the head.

            “Ow that hurt!” he started to cry even through he already had bits of his mane.

            Rizu landed on Kar’s shoulder and scoffed, but said nothing.

            “Zira, get that bird, ow it hurts!” Yuiji ordered.

            Zira just looked at him with disgust.

            When the spoiled prince could see he could get nothing out of Zira, he turned to his father, but he was too absorbed in scolding Fano to listen.

            “Fine, I’ll kill him.” Fano was saying.

            “Then do it,” Omaji ordered, “And don’t hesitate, do you understand!”

            “Yes sir.” Fano answered, turning to Kar.

            “Do you hear that cub,” he asked, “I’m going to kill you.”

            “Oh is that so.” Kar asked, downcast.

            But Rizu seemed to get ready to peck anyone who got near to his friend.

            But before anyone could do anything else, there was a flash of yellow light and a lion cub suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

            “What the…” Omaji cried, looking frightened.

            The cub scoffed at Omaji’s scared remark.

            “You should remember me, Omaji,” the cub smiled, “Are have you forgotten your little friends already?”

            “Star, what are you doing here?” Omaji asked angrily.

            The cub with the star shaped birthmark looked hurt,

“Oh that’s no way to treat an old friend. What would you do if Robert came instead of me?”

Suddenly, Omaji looked mortified.

“Shut up.” He ordered.

“And the reason?” Star stared at him.

Not waiting for the king to answer, the cub turned to Kar.

“My my, Kar, how long have you been so melancholy?”

            Kar looked up, “How do you know my name?”

            “Oh somehow, I’m only your great great great great great great great great great great great great….okay some distant relative...” Star answered sarcastically.

            If Kar looked shocked then, now he was even more shocked,

            “My what?”

            “You mean Sarafina never told you, about Inertia and me?”

            “Inertia?”

            “She’s your great times infinity grandmother.”

            Suddenly, Omaji butted in.

            “You mean this is his son?” the king asked.

            “Yes.” Star answered bluntly.

            “Who’s this him?” Zira asked.

            “You see,” Star smiled, “Kar’s dad, me, Omaji, and several other guys used to be good friends.”

            “Used to be?” Fano asked.

            “Well anyway,” Star said, changing the subject, “Kar, I’m here to cheer you…

            But suddenly, Omaji began to scream, “No! Stop! Stop! NOOOOOO!!!”

            Everyone but Star stared at him like he was crazy.

            But Star knew perfectly what was happening. Omaji was being fed an illusion of lionesses tearing him apart.           

            “What’s going on?!” Fano cried, glaring at Kar.

            “I don’t know.” The cub answered.

            Yuiji crying intensified tenfold,

            “Daddy! Stop! DADDY STOOOOP!!!”

            Zira covered her ears with her paws,

            “Shut up!” she cried.

            Kar walked up to the king, but Fano pushed him back.

            “You did this, so stay out of it.” He ordered.

            The whole time, Star just stood there.

            Rizu landed in front of the strange cub,

            “Do something!” he ordered.

            Star smiled, “This is Kar’s job, not mine.”

            The hornbill looked puzzled, “What?”

            Fano looked incredibly angry as he assessed his now crazy king, so he didn’t notice that Kar came up next to him.

            When he looked over, his anger peaked.

            “Go away!” he cried, swiping a paw at the scarred cub, making him go flying.

            Kar landed on his back and immediately flipped back up, despite three bloody marks on his left ear.

            “I should have killed you before!” The angry chief of security cried.

            Kar lifted a paw to go back towards Fano and Omaji, but suddenly, blue lightning shot out from it, heading straight for Fano.

            “Oh damn it!” Fano cried, bracing himself for the lightning to hit him, but he felt nothing.

            “Huh?” he opened one eye and found that the lightning was going through him and instead hitting his liege.

            Instead of being electrocuted, Omaji seemed to get better with every course of the blue lightning.

            Suddenly, red lightning came from Omaji and hit Fano in the chest, making him fly back.

            Star stepped forward, but Fano was dead before he hit the ground or, more appropriately, Yuiji.

            At long last Omaji stopped screaming.

            “What did I do?” Kar asked, glancing at Star.

            “You tapped into a power that every one of us has.” Star answered.

            “Great,” Kar sighed, “I killed Fano.”

            Star scoffed,

            “That was not you.”

            “What makes you say that?”

            “Every anomaly has a different power color, mine’s yellow, yours is blue, and Omaji’s used to be pink.”

            “Anomaly?”

            “Oh,” Star looked shocked, “I’ve said to much, ta ta.”

            “WAIT!” Kar cried, “You haven’t answered…”

            But Star was already gone in a burst of light.

*          *          *

            A young lion stood outside of Omaji’s cave, his black mane just fully grown. That and the scar on his eye made him look like Taka Scar. Except unlike Scar, on his left ear where three little scars from a fight.

            He kept shuffling impatiently around the mouth of the cave.

            Suddenly, a voice came from the cave.

            “You can come in Kar.”

            The lion stepped into the cave to find a lioness and two cubs. One, a girl, was stillborn, while the other, a boy, was still alive.

            “Little Nuka,” the lioness said, addressing the alive cub, “This is your father.”

            “Zira,” Kar smiled, “This is the happiest day of my life.”

            “Bittersweet.” Zira said, glancing at the dead cub, “Little Kara never saw the…”

            “It’s okay.” Kar interrupted her, “We still have little Nuka.”

*          *          *

            Yuiji was furious. Not only had Kar stolen his darling Zira, now the lionesses were talking about a cub. A little cub named Nuka, if the rumors are correct.

            Yuiji stomped towards his father, who was talking to Shira, who was the head huntress.

            “Father,” Yuiji growled, “We need to talk.”

            The old lion smiled at his son, and, turning back to Shira, said,

            “Excuse me.”

            She nodded and slunk away as Omaji walked up to his son.

            “What is it, son?” he asked.

            “That Kar stole Zira from me, father.” Yuiji pouted.

            “Did they now,” The king answered calmly.

            “How can you be so calm?” Yuiji cried, “They had a cub!”

            “Yuiji,” Omaji sighed, “Kar saved my life even through we were going to kill him and Zira loves him…”

            “Father!” Yuiji pouted, “Don’t you care about your son’s feelings?”

            Not letting him answer, Yuiji ran away from his father.

            “I think you’ve spoiled him to much.” Omaji turned around as Shira sauntered up to him.

            “I guess I have,” Omaji sighed, “Ever since his mother died, I’ve wanted him to be happy.”

            “What are you going to do?” Shira asked.

            “Just let him go sulk.” Omaji answered.

*          *          *

            Kar looked lovingly at sleeping little Nuka. The cub had grown a lot since he had been born, now about half the age of when Kar had first entered Omaji’s domain.

            Zira was off hunting with the other lionesses and Kar was charged with watching Nuka.

            Suddenly, the cub opened his eyes and looked up at his father.

            “Daddy,” Nuka said in his little, cute, voice, “What is it?”

            Kar smiled down at his son, “Nothing,” he said, rubbing his head against his son’s, “Go back to sleep.”

            “I don’t wanna.” Nuka said bluntly.

            “But you have to,” Kar smiled, “Or then you won’t become a big strong lion like your father.”

            “Tell me a story, first, and then I’ll go to sleep.”

            Kar laughed, “Okay that seems fair enough.”

            He thought for a moment.

            Due to the fact that when Kar had entered Omaji’s realm, he had been raised by Tanaka, the storyteller, the lion knew a whole bunch of stories.

            “What would you like tonight Nuka?”

            “Tell me the story of Kar Silverscar and the hyenas!” the little cub exclaimed.

            For a second, Kar looked shocked, but then he composed himself,

            “Who told you that?”

            Kar’s son looked up at him with innocent eyes,

            “Mother told me it.”

            “Okay,” Kar smiled, “I’ll tell you it…”

            “One day, Kar Silverscar was walking across the savannah when he found some hyenas picking at carrion or so he thought. In fact they were attacking his soon to be friend Rizu…”

            Zira could smell the zebras from where she was hiding. They were moving fast as they tried to get away from the lionesses behind them. Little did they now, Zira and the other lionesses were hiding in the tall grass of the Serengeti.

            The lioness tensed as the zebras’ scent got stronger and she leapt up when one was in range

            But suddenly, red lightning encircled her, latching on to her like chains and pulling her back.

            She struggled, but the lightning seemed to only get stronger the more she tried to resist.

            Zira looked behind her, to see what had ensnared her, only to find that the red lightning jutted from the paw of a lioness.

            “Hello, Zira,” she smiled, “My name is Armistead.”

            Kar was about finished with his story when Nuka finally fell asleep and even Kar was starting to feel a little drowsy.

End of Part 2

Part 3: Pa’adka

Kar was drinking from an oasis while Rizu was ahead, when he felt a shadow fall over him.

            He turned around to find a young lioness staring back at him.

            “Zira, what’s up?” he asked.

            “I’m just telling you I’m heading towards Scar’s domain.” Zira answered.

            “And why’s that?”

            “He is a great king.” She answered bluntly.

            Kar rolled his eyes,

            “What about little Vitani and Nuka?”

            “They’re coming with me Kar, you just can’t handle cubs.”

            And with that she stalked off, leaving Kar flabbergasted.

Rizu had gone pretty far ahead and yet he still hadn’t found what he was looking for. The hyena colony known as Pa’adka, for you see, they had gotten an tip from a rouge lion that a seer named Cornello could probably help teach Kar the tricks of his trade.

            Rizu knew he could take all the time he needed to find this place, for Kar said he didn’t mind waiting, but the hornbill felt it only polite to his friend that he find it soon and very soon.

            “Hopefully it’s nearby.” He reassured himself.

            He fluttered to the ground and began to look for lunch when he saw what he thought to be a big grey boulder get up and limp towards him.

            It was a hyena.

            He limped slowly towards the frazzled Rizu, but suddenly fainted mere inches before the hornbill.

            “Oh my,” Rizu stared down at the hyena, “That must mean….”

            He pecked at the hyena to wake up.

            “Come on wake up and tell me where…”

            But then the hornbill saw that the hyena’s stomach wasn’t moving. He was dead.

            “Nothing I can do…” Rizu lifted up off the ground and continued on, wanting to leave the smell of dead hyena behind.

*          *          *

            General Spark was not in a good mood. Neither were any of the generals and senators, who were all glaring at the leader of Pa’adka like it was his entire fault.

            “For several months now, General Spark,” one of the senators, Mar, growled, “We have had this disease plague this wonderful city; I think its time to move on.”

            Several of the other hyenas nodded, but Spark shook his head,

            “And where to?” he asked.

            “There’s got to be fertile land somewhere else, General.” Mar growled.

            Spark was about to answer when Pickett, a general who was not known for speaking very much, butted into the debate.

            “I don’t think leavings such a good idea, Mar,” Pickett stammered.”

            “And why’s that?” Mar asked, agitated that General Pickett had stepped into his debate with the head.

            “I was talking to Father Cornello and he said that we would only fall to ruin if we left.”

            “Well well,” Mar sneered, eyeing Spark, “For once, General Spark, Father Cornello agrees with you.”

            Spark just glared right back, knowing that with Cornello’s, even if he didn’t want it, support, Mar would face a much larger opposition then if it was just the leader.

            Over the years, the High Priest, Father Cornello, and General Spark, the military leader of Pa’adka, had begun to disagree over several issues.

            Spark was angered by this because he saw Cornello as a priest, not a politician and should just stay with making sermons rather then dabbling in the politics of the hyena city.

            “So we stay here?” Spark asked, eyeing the senators.

“Aye!” they all cried, except for Mar of course, who looked like he was going to have a temper tantrum.

*          *          *

            Kar walked on in a daze. He had just lost his mate, Zira. Why had she left him? Why…why…why…why....why....

            So Kar was surprised when he found himself on a hill overlooking the weirdest caves he had ever seen.

            Rizu, who had also made it there, spotted him and landed on the lion’s shoulder.

            “It’s just like that rouge said, Pa’adka is a cluster of human dwellings.”

            “I’ve heard of humans,” Kar sighed, “But I never expected something like this.”
            “Indeed, that is what Father Ryoku thought when he came upon this city fifty years ago.”

            Kar nearly jumped out of his skin as an old hyena walked up beside him.

            “Sorry for startling you,” he smiled, “I’m Father Cornello and you two are Kar and Rizu, right?”

            “Yeah,” Kar said, “But how did you…”

            “You couldn’t call me a seer if I didn’t know; I’ve been expecting you for quite some time.”

            Rizu shuddered,

            “For what purpose were you waiting for us?” he asked.

            “It’s not everyday you get a vision that a psychic lion is coming to our humble city.” Cornello smiled.

            Rizu shuddered again, that smile, for some odd reason, freaked him out.

            “So, you want to teach me?” Kar asked.

            Cornello nodded,

            “Mostly seers have only one apprentice, but we can probably make an exception.”

            “Now let me bring you into the city,” the priest smiled, “For the guards wouldn’t let you in all by yourselves.”

            The old priest began to walk down the hill and towards the city, so Kar and Rizu had no choice but to follow him.

            As they left a young lioness with a scar down her right eye watched safely from a higher hill.

            “Cornello you old fool, you’re doing just like he said you would, you’re so predictable.” She scoffed, “Foolish mortals…”

                                                            *          *          *

            General Spark stood in front of General Beauregard.

            Beauregard was Spark’s best friend and, being a Lieutenant General, Spark’s second-in-command.

            General Longstreet and General Breckinridge were also there.

            Longstreet was a dark and tall hyena who had come out of nowhere only a couple of months ago, someone General Spark rarely trusted. While Breckinridge was Spark’s older brother and the leader of Pa’adka could always look to his scarred sibling for advice.

            “What seems to be the matter, General Spark?” Breckinridge asked in a concerned manner.

            “A lion has entered our domain,” Spark said, “And the one who lead it in was Cornello himself.”

            Yep, got their attention, Spark thought.

            Longstreet stared at him like he was crazy,

            “Are you sure?”

            Spark answered calmly,

            “Very sure.”

            “What do you suppose we do?” Breckinridge asked.

            “The only thing we can do, confront Father Cornello and asked why he has done something that is so…well…insane.” Beauregard answered for him.

            Longstreet nodded,

            “I’m sure he’s got a logical explanation.”

            “Probably one that involves God.” Spark sighed, shaking his head.

            “Well, let’s get going.” Breckinridge sighed.

*          *          *

            “My home is just a couple of blocks from here.” Cornello told Kar as they walked down the strange streets of Pa’adka.

Most of the citizens had been shocked by seeing a creature that for so long had been their bitter enemy, but Cornello sort of nullified most of their fears when they saw him beside Kar.

“Blocks?” Kar asked, “What do you mean?”

 “Oh, sorry,” Cornello smiled, “See where the sidewalk ends and the street starts up, that’s the edge of the block, so we have a couple more of these sidewalks to cross.”

“I think I get it.” Kar smiled, embarrassed.

Rizu said nothing the whole time; instead he kept an eye on Father Cornello, whom he didn’t trust entirely.

“Great Father.” Came a voice suddenly.

Cornello looked up and smiled as he saw Generals Spark, Breckinridge, Beauregard, and Longstreet come up to him.

“You had to see for yourself, gentlemen?” he asked, “Well Kar, this is General Spark, Major Generals Breckinridge and Longstreet, and Lieutenant General Beauregard, come to see you.”

“So it is true.” Breckinridge said emotionlessly.

“We came to ask you what you, a hyena of the cloth, is doing bringing a lion into Pa’adka.” Spark said darkly.

“Very simply,” Cornello smiled, “Doesn’t God teach us to respect the lions?”

Spark cocked his head,

“That’s not a very good reason Father.” He said.

“I guess its not,” Cornello blushed, “I got a vision from God that he might be able to help us.”

Spark knew that he wasn’t lying, for any seer that lies would make God angry and lose their powers.

“Fine, do what you see fit.” The General said and walked away.

            Beauregard shook his head and then followed after his best friend, while Breckinridge and Longstreet followed from not that far behind.

            Cornello smiled,

            “Well, now that we got that cleared away, let’s get you two set up in my house.”

            Rizu watched him even more intently as they walked towards the middle of town.

“I have a question that I wanted to ask you,” Kar said suddenly.

The priest frowned,

“Let me guess, it’s about the virus, isn’t it?”

“Yes sir it is.” Kar said, “I was just wondering…”

“If there was such a thing going on here?” Cornello sighed, “Well, I’m afraid there is…but don’t worry, it seems to only affect hyenas…”

This made Rizu even more suspicious.

When they came near enough to the house to at least see it, a young hyena suddenly lunged out.

“Father Cornello, so it’s true, he is here!” He cried.

Cornello laughed,

“Come now Bram let our guests at least come in.”

Kar found it to be a bit odd, as he walked towards it, for he was more accustomed to caves then the human abodes that litter the streets of Pa’adka. While Rizu, who flown over many others like this, thought nothing of it, he was to busy watching Cornello and his strapping young apprentice, Bram to pay attention.

            Bram had an odd accent, which Kar couldn’t pin down, but Rizu knew he had gotten by somehow being around a race of humans called Etayans (we call them Italians). Nothing could escape Rizu’s eyes.

            Kar smiled,

            “So when do I start learning?”

            “Tomorrow, how about.” Cornello smiled.

            Later that night, the same lioness who had watched Kar and Cornello meet for the first time, was walking towards a cave not to far from Pa’adka.

            A cricket chirped, a frog croaked, but she ignored them all.

            As she walked towards it, a voice suddenly spoke from the cave.

            “So you bring news, Armistead?”

            “Yes master McClellan, it’s just as you planned, Kar has gone into Pa’adka with that fool Cornello.”

            “Good, continue to keep watch outside the city and tell me when it’s begun.”

            “Yes, Master.”

            Armistead smiled, very soon, when Kar was gone, they would dethrone that pompous jerk, Scar and McClellan would be king and she queen.

            But Armistead knew she must keep her cool, so she put off those thoughts till later and walked off to the bidding of her master.

            Over the next couple months, Kar became very good friends with Cornello and Bram, while Rizu shut himself up and just wanted to be alone, which deeply saddened his best friend. The lion had also gotten to now General Spark fairly well.

            Cornello found that Kar was a brilliant seer, but could not control his powers very easily and so Cornello fretted that he would be no good, so he met with Bram and General Longstreet one day when Kar was gone hunting. He thought Rizu would be to busy sulking to pay attention, but he caught a bit of it.

            “Its bad,” Cornello began, “I believe our only excuse to keep him here is failing.”

            “Yes,” Longstreet nodded, “Very soon he will leave knowing that you can’t teach him a lick.”

            “We can’t have that, if we hope to rid Pa’adka of this horrible epidemic, we must keep him here.”

            “But how?” Bram asked who had begun to have some doubts.

            “We’ll start soon, how about tonight is the night when we kill him?” Cornello asked.

            Longstreet nodded,

            “Perfect.”

            Rizu was shocked, all this time he was right, they were planning to kill Kar.

            “What about the bird?” Longstreet asked.

            “Just kill him to.”

            “Father?” Bram sighed.

            “Yes?”

            “Are you sure this is the only way, I mean…”

            “Have you gotten soft, Bram?”

            “No.”

            “Good, then you won’t tell Kar will you?”

            “No.”

            “Good.”

            Rizu scowled,

            “Maybe Bram won’t,” he thought as he flew away from the three scheming hyenas, “But I will.”

            Simenon wasn’t in a very good mood. And, as he lay on the hard ground of the human dwelling that the Pa’adka higher ups had chosen as their headquarters, he was trying to figure out why.

            Perhaps it was the rotting wildebeest I had for lunch, he thought.

            The Lieutenant shook his head,

            “That’s probably not it.” He sighed.

            Even before he started thinking why, he knew why he was in such a bad mood.

            He had been on Night Watch last night.

            Simenon hated having to watch Cornello’s house to assure the brass that damn lion wasn’t doing anything sneaky.

            He stopped thinking about it, purely because his head hurt too much to think for very long.

            Suddenly, that dratted Rizu hopped into the office.

            “Hurry,” he squawked, “I must speak with General Spark, its urgent!”

            “Be quiet,” Simenon groaned, “I’ll do it, just shut up.”

            He turned to the other hyena working there,

            “Hey Riker, go and get General Spark.” He said coldly.

            Riker scoffed,

            “Weren’t you paying attention, Simenon, Spark’s in a meeting with the Senators?”

            Riker turned back to Rizu,

            “Sorry, can’t help you there.”

            “Well, then get me Breckinridge or Picard or anyone!”

            “Looking for me?”

            Riker looked up to find that the scarred General Breckinridge had entered the building.

            “Oh sir, what brings you here, sir?” he asked, sweating profusely.

            “Just dropping by,” Breckinridge said nonchalantly, “But it seems that it was good of me to come.”

            “Of course it was!” Rizu cried.

            “Now now, calm down, Rizu,” Breckinridge smiled, “It can’t be that bad.”

            “Can’t be that bad?” Rizu scowled, “Cornello’s going to kill Kar!”

            Breckinridge’s smile faded,

            “Are you sure?”

            Simenon looked up at the hornbill and smirked. The two locked eyes for a moment and, without averting his gaze, he slowly headed towards the Lieutenant General.

            “Watch out General!” Rizu squawked just as Simenon shot out of him.

            Breckinridge ducked and turned to the Lieutenant.

            “What’s gotten into you, Lieutenant?”

            “You see,” said a dark, maleficent, voice, “After we kill Kar, we’re going to kill Spark and his loyalists, and so we can’t have you spoiling the surprise.”

             “Longstreet.” Breckinridge spat.

            It was indeed the Major General, Rizu spotted out, followed by General Ewell and several other hyenas.

            Riker walked towards Breckinridge and stood beside him,

            “How dare you.” He hissed.

            Longstreet looked hurt,

            “Doesn’t it make sense, Lieutenant? Once we get rid of all of…well…them...I will become Grand Fuhrer.” He said as his eyes narrowed.

            “Oh, don’t worry, you won’t…umm…live to see that day, Breckinridge.” Ewell smiled.

            “Damn you.” Breckinridge growled.

*          *          *

            Kar prowled around the hilly land surrounding Pa’adka, totally oblivious to what was happening back in the hyena city and had come to a deep gorge.

            “Had any luck?” Kar nearly jumped out of his skin, what was Cornello doing here?

            “Oh it’s just you Cornello.”

            “Yes, it’s just me,” Cornello smiled as several hyenas came out of the foliage, “Just me.”

            Suddenly, he lunged at Kar, but a grey thunderbolt suddenly stopped him. Cornello fell on the ground, completely dazed. Another hyena stood over him, scowling. It was Bram.

            “Bram,” one of the hyenas growled, “What did you do that for?”

            “You’re all mad;” Bram growled back, “There has to be another way.”

            “There is no other way,” Cornello said as he got up.

            “No…” Bram stammered, “There must be another way. Don’t you see it, Father; you’re going to kill Kar, our friend, the guy who we spent the last few months with…”

            Cornello frowned,

“Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good.”

“Greater good, Yeah right,” Bram scoffed, “I bet this is all Armistead’s doing.”

“Shut up!” Cornello suddenly slapped Bram right across the face.

“Armistead?” Kar asked, confused.

“You fool,” Cornello growled, “Why would Armistead do something like this?”

“She’s using us as pawns to probably get at him,” Bram said, eyeing Kar, “I bet she unleashed the disease upon our city.”

“Preposterous.”

            “And where’d you think something like that?”

            Everyone stopped and turned to find Armistead glaring at Bram from a hill.

            “Lady Armistead…” Cornello began.

            “Shut up you.” The lioness interrupted, “Do it now.”

            Cornello turned to Kar,

            “I’m sorry,” he got ready to pounce, but suddenly, Bram’s words hit him.

            The priest remembered all the times they had had together.

“I won’t.” he suddenly mumbled.

            “What?” Armistead looked furious.

            “I won’t!” the priest cried.

            “How dare you!” the lioness growled, “Well if you won’t then I will.”

            She lunged at Kar, rejoicing that she would soon bite into the flesh of her master’s enemy.

            “This is it.” Kar closed his eyes

            Blood splattered on the ground as Kar reopened his eyes, surprised that he hadn’t felt a thing.

            Armistead, was even more furious, because she found instead of Kar, her fangs were sinking into Cornello.

            “Idiot.” She scowled as she released her fangs and Cornello fell to the ground with a thud.

            “Kar.” He said in a raspy voice.

            “What is it?” Kar asked, tears in his eyes.

            “As I die, I want you to do a favor for me, do the thing that I was going to do to you…”

            “What?” Kar cocked his head.

            “…eat my heart…”

            For a brief moment, Kar stared at the fallen priest,

            “What?” he asked.

            “Eat it so you can repel this horrid *cough* curse.”

            And with that, Father Cornello, the hyena priest and servant of God, who had for so long planned to kill and eat Kar’s heart, died honorably.

            “Fool.” Armistead said with out a bit of remorse.

            Kar was speechless as he began to cry by Cornello’s lifeless body.

            While Bram began to build up with rage as he glared at Armistead.

*          *          *

            Rizu, Breckinridge, and Riker were surrounded by Longstreet’s betrayers. Lieutenant General Breckinridge looked like he was ready to blow a fuse, while Riker looked betrayed and Rizu looked horrified.

            “Curse you, you filth,” Breckinridge spat at Longstreet’s feet.

            Longstreet just smiled,

            “You forget where you are.” He said, eyeing the hyenas behind him.

            Riker fastened his gaze suddenly at the Major General’s neck.

            “What are you doing?”

            Suddenly, he was upon the betrayer.

            All of Longstreet’s hyenas, seeing their master attacked, launched their selves at the brave Lieutenant, but most bit into the mutinous general’s fur instead of their supposed target. But some still did.

            When the dust cleared, both hyenas were dead.

            “That’s a shame,” Ewell said emotionlessly, “Well, that saves me the trouble of killing him.”

            He sneered.

            Suddenly, Spark entered the room.

            “What’s going on here?” he asked, flanked by Lieutenant Colonel Picard, who Simenon and the late Riker had served as aides, and General Bragg.

            Ewell suddenly seemed happy,

            “General Spark, glad you could join us.”

            Spark looked shocked,

            “Longstreet! What happened to Longstreet?” he cried, staring at his corpse.

            “That murderous swine was planning your murder.” Breckinridge growled

            “What?” Spark gaped.

            Ewell walked towards the Fuhrer,

            “Fuhrer, say goodbye!”

            He suddenly lunged at Spark, ripping a direct route to the Grand Fuhrer’s heart.

            Spark fell to the ground, dead.

            “Well, it’s done.” Ewell smiled.

            “Why you!” Suddenly, a grey thunderstorm went over the murderer of the Fuhrer.

            Soon, Ewell was covered with cuts and scratches all over his body.

            “Beauregard, damn you!” he cried.

            It was in fact Beauregard, the late Spark’s best friend had his former chum pinned down.

            “This is for Spark!” Beauregard sank his teeth in Ewell’s neck, killing him.

The hyena let go and looked up as blood dripped from his lips and Breckinridge stepped towards him.

“May your corpse rot in hell,” he said, addressing Ewell, then turning to the late general’s killer said, “Good, now we must hurry and save Kar.”

Rizu was delighted,

“That’s just what I was about to suggest,” he said, “Now let’s get out of this place of blood and death.”

*          *          *

            “You monster!” Bram cried.

            Armistead smiled,

            “What are you going to do, little hyena pup?” she asked, amused.

            “Kill you!”

            “Go ahead and try.”

            “I will.” Bram suddenly rushed towards Armistead.

            The lioness did nothing as Bram rammed against her and they both fell down the gorge.

            “No! Not Bram!” Kar ran forward and tried to grab the hyena, but they were to far away.

            “No!” Kar hung his head, ashamed.

            Not just Cornello had died, Bram had just died, and Kar couldn’t take it anymore.

            He followed Bram and Armistead and jumped off the cliff.

            When Beauregard and the others came, he was already at the bottom.

            Armistead landed on the stony ground, covered in blood and long gashes all over her body.

            While Bram landed on one of the many boulders that littered the ground, killing him.

            “Serves him right.” Armistead cackled.

            She was about to leave and report to her master when something caught her eye which she hadn’t expected.

            Kar landed behind her. He also was covered in cuts all over his body, as well as being alive.

            “Damn, I’m supposed to be dead!” Kar cried, but when he spotted Armistead and then Bram’s limp body, something within him snapped.

            He lunged at the lioness, but she dodged him easily.

“You can’t beat me, Kar.” Armistead laughed, “I can predict your moves while, due to my psychic powers overloading yours, you can’t.”

            “Tell me,” Kar said angrily, “What are you planning?”

            “To overthrow the leaders of every pride of lions and pack of hyenas in Africa, that’s why I gassed those idiots, that, and you.” She smirked.

            “Then where do I come in?” Kar asked.

            “You, my master specifically ordered to kill, for some reason or another.”

            “So you plan to overthrow Scar?”

            Armistead laughed,

            “Scar that old fool, he’s been dead for awhile now.”

            “What?”

            “You haven’t heard?”

            “Who dethroned him?”

            “Simba.” Armistead said darkly.

            Kar looked surprised,

            “What are you talking about?” he asked, “He’s dead!”

            “Oh is he?”

            “Stop playing with me!” Kar cried, “You murderer!”

            Kar lunged at Armistead and for the first time, the lioness showed shock.

            “I didn’t sense this,” she cried, “What’s going on?”

            Kar slashed at her face and this time she didn’t dodge it, making her go flying into a large rock.

            The scarred lion inched towards her, fuming for some reason.

            The lioness picked herself up and looked at him with fear in her eyes.

            “How did….you…suddenly…get stronger then…me.” She panted.

            Kar just continued to get closer to her.

            “This is just like the time…your dad beat me.”

            Kar suddenly stopped,

            “You knew my dad?”

            “Never met him.” Armistead laughed, shooting red lightning from her paw at Kar, but Kar blocked it easily with his own blue lightning.

            Armistead flew backwards and Kar once again inched towards her for the kill.

            “Wait, Master,” she suddenly screamed, “Please give me another chance! NOOOOO!”

            Then she began to hysterically scream to the heavens.

            When she was done, the voice that uttered from her lips sounded utterly distorted.

            “Well well, Kar, we meet at last.” She shrieked.

            “Who are you?” Kar asked, “What have you done to her?”

            The lioness laughed hideously, “Boy do you catch on quick.”

            “Answer my question.”
            “Fine fine,” Armistead smiled, “I’m McClellan and Armistead’s fine…for now…”

            And with that Armistead was enveloped in a ball of red energy and fried to a crisp.

End of Book 1

Book 2: Father

Part 4: Son

            “We are here to mourn the deaths of Grand Fuhrer Spark, Father Cornello, Bram, Major General Longstreet, General Ewell, and Lieutenant Riker.” Newly appointed Father Markus said to the assembled crowd.

            Most people were crying for Spark or for Cornello, due to the fact that they had been very popular in Pa’adka.

            Also newly appointed, Grand Fuhrer Beauregard stood next to Markus with his head down. While, Kar and now Lieutenant General Breckinridge stood on the other side of the priest.

            “May God have mercy on their souls.” Markus finished.

            “Amen.” The whole mass of people uttered.

            With that, Markus stepped back and let Beauregard take the stage.

            “General Spark was a good friend of mine,” he sighed, “He was a natural born leader and made the city of Pa’adka prosper.”

            “If it wasn’t for the mysterious lioness Armistead, then he wouldn’t have fallen and had to deal with the sickness.” He continued.

            “Cornello, on the other hand,” Beauregard still went on, “Was as well a great man, but in different way. He was a religious leader instead of being in the military.”

            The new Fuhrer glanced at Kar while he talked about the late priest.

            “I now give the floor to Lieutenant General Breckinridge.”

            Beauregard stepped back and Breckinridge took his place.

            “Spark was my dear, dear, little brother who had always excelled in leading others,” the scarred hyena began, “When he was one, he led a band of hyenas into the military. That band being me, Beauregard, Longstreet, Pickett, and Picard.”

            “Longstreet and Ewell were indeed my friends, for I had no idea they would turn on us. Riker was always a responsible aid to Lieutenant Colonel Picard. While I never really knew Bram, here’s someone who was good friends with him, Kar.”

Kar sighed and stepped up to the middle.

            “I lived with Bram and Cornello for the last few months of their lives, so I got to get to know them pretty well. Bram was always so enthusiastic about…well…just plain living. While Cornello was nearly like the father I never knew. Thank you.”

            After the funeral, Kar was ushered to a private room which had once been filled with sparkling trophies, tapestries, and such, from back when humans populated the city. But now everything was rusty, dull, or half destroyed by moths.

            Beauregard smiled as the lion stepped into the room, glad that he finally had some time alone with the son of Karto.

            “You called for me?” Kar asked.

            “Yes,” the new Fuhrer answered, “I wanted to clear up this whole mess with you.”

            Beauregard looked incredibly nervous, for he was shifting his weight from two feet to the others.

            “Then let’s get started.” Kar said as he sat down.

            “First, I would just like to say we are entirely in your debt.”

            Kar was silent.

            “Your actions averted another civil war, so whenever you need us, I’ll be glad to spare a few troops.”

            “Why thank you.” Kar said, rather unjoyously.

            Beauregard paused, seeming to catch Kar’s unpleasantness, but if he did, he said nothing about it.

            “That is also why I am considering giving you the rank of Major General.”

            By those words, Kar was shocked out of his gloominess.

            “What?”

            “I know it sounds odd, so you can reject it if you like.” Beauregard said.

            “Is that all?” Kar asked, still thinking about the assignment.

            “Nope,” the Grand Fuhrer said, “Now I want to try and help make you feel better, like a friend would.”

            “I’m honored,” Kar answered, “To be in your circle of friends.”

            “I understand that you are feeling depressed, that is natural, due to what happened, but I and the other generals will always be there if you need help, remember that, you are dismissed.”

Kar looked back at Pa’adka,

            “Goodbye…” he sighed.

            Rizu, seeing his friend’s sad tune, immediately began to cheer him up as they made the return trip to the Pridelands.

            “Hey, I heard a giant rainforest is near here, wanna make a detour?”

            “Why bother?” Kar sighed.

            Kar didn’t feel very happy at all. Not only had Barm, Cornello, and Spark died, but Armistead, by uttering Simba’s name, had reopened old wounds.

            As she had told Kar that Simba was alive and king, he remembered seeing Mufasa’s death in his dream and then the night he had to leave the Pride.

            Kar had turned down the Major General position for want of home.

            Rizu, perched on the lion’s shoulder, continued to try and cheer his friend up.

            “Hey, wanna hear a joke…”

            “Just shut up for a while, Rizu!”

            As Kar and Rizu retraced their steps, two sets of eyes were watching them.

            “Karma,” one set said, “This may be a chance to prove yourself.”

            “Yes sir.” Said the second.

            McClellan smiled at his new apprentice,

            “Good.”

            Karma was super young (he was still a cub) and if that wasn’t odd enough, the lion was covered in tattoos. While McClellan had a dark mane and one ear was missing.

*          *          *

            A darkness had transcended upon the human city of Neva as the African sun set on the land.

            Only the darkest fiends and con mans were awake after dark.

            Two of these demons were sitting around burning trash while another was just passing by.

            The ones sitting around the garbage were only covered in rags, while the other seemed to be rich gentlemen with a nearly ten foot top hat.

            “Don’t worry, Uzir,” one of the evil spirits was reassuring another, “Once we go out and get us some lion furs we’ll be rich.”

            At this, the wealthy gentlemen stopped in his tracks.

            “But what about the killer,” said the other, “It’s said that he protects the lions and kills any poachers.”

            “Come on now,” the first man smiled, totally oblivious that the rich gentlemen was approaching him, “He’s just a—huh!”

            The rich man had suddenly clasped his hand on the talking man’s head.

            “Foolish humans.” The wealthy man smirked and suddenly, blood spouted out of every pore of the poacher.

          Uzir stood stock still as he watched his friend’s brain turn to hamburger meat.

            The mysterious murderer let go of the dead man’s head and approached his shaking partner.

            “Who are you?” Uzir stuttered.

            The man suddenly stopped, as if assessing the situation.

            “I am sorry,” he sighed finally.

            Suddenly his right arm flashed and grew a long blade.

            Uzir watched as the blade went straight into his heart.

            The poacher fell to the ground dead.

            “Aiheu Abani.” The man sighed, “Well I guess its time to take a break and go see Kar again.”

            And with that the man disappeared in a flash of light.

            Rizu, trying to help his friend drop his sad façade, had decided to lead Kar down a little detour to the rainforest he had mentioned.

            “What the…” Kar said, gazing at the rainforest, “This isn’t the way to Pride Rock, Rizu.”

            “Can’t we just…” Rizu began.

            “’Can’t we just’ what?” Kar asked.

            “What’s a merekat doing here?” Rizu mumbled.

            “What?”

            Indeed, as Rizu and Kar talked, a little merekat was approaching them. He seemed to be incredibly young, just a child, and yet it looked like he had been in a fight, for he was covered in gashes.

            “Help me.” The little merekat cried as he limped towards the twosome.

            “What’s wrong?” Rizu asked as the rodent collapsed in front of them.

            “My family is captured by…by…Kar Silverscar.”

            “WHAT?!!!!!” Kar’s eyes suddenly started to burn with a great anger.

            He suddenly flew towards the rainforest but suddenly flew back.

            “You can’t just rush through a barrier.”

            Rizu turned to find the mysterious murderer from Neva standing next to him.

            “Who the hell are you?” the hornbill cried, but the creature just ignored him as the murderer walked up to Kar.

          “I didn’t think you were this weak.” He smirked, “Oh well, I’ll just show you.”

            The creature lifted up a hand and there was a loud cracking noise as little shards of glass fell from nowhere.

            But instead of hitting anyone, they disappeared way before they hit the ground.

            “Now go, young Kar.” And with that the creature disappeared again.

            Kar rushed on as if nothing had happened.

            Rizu sighed,

            “Fine, I’ll stay with the merekat.”

            Kar and Rizu weren’t the only ones to witness the breaking of the shield.

            On the other side of the rainforest, a group of lions were prowling the edge of the mystic aura.

            “I still don’t understand, my love,” a young lioness was saying to her mate as they gazed at the blocked forest, “Why we can’t get into Timon and Pumbaa’s rainforest.”

            “I don’t either,” he replied back, “If we don’t figure out how to get through before Simba and the others arrive…”

            “Don’t you worry, Kovu,” said a third lioness, which had walked up to them just moments earlier, “Simba won’t kill his son in law just over…this.”

            Kovu shook his head,

            “It’s not that…it’s just that if I fail then I’ll have let him down.”

          “Ha,” the first lioness smiled at her mate, “You won’t let daddy down, I don’t think even Kar Silverscar could get through here, let alone you or dad.”

            Kovu sighed,

            “Maybe you’re right Kiara…”

            But suddenly, the glass started to fall from the sky and, like on the other side, the shards disappeared before hitting the ground.

            “What was that?” Kovu cried.

            “It’s a sign, Prince Kovu,” cried another lion, “LOOK!!!”

            Kovu, Kiara, and the other lions turned to watch as the fourth lion placed her paw into the rainforest and continued to walk into it.

            For awhile the other lions were silent, but finally Kovu broke that silence

            “Come on!” Kovu cried, “Follow her!”

            And they all rushed into the rainforest after their comrade.

To Be Countinued....