PenofGold on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/penofgold/art/Memory-of-the-heart-Ch-12-410867874PenofGold

Deviation Actions

PenofGold's avatar

Memory of the heart - Ch. 12

By
Published:
359 Views

Description

I.

Simba, Ni and Furaha sat around a large, well intact tree stump swapping stories that next night at the termite mounds. Mufasa had led Simba silently back; the experience this time hadn't been awkward nor even uncomfortable. No, it was comforting in a thoughtful way. Mufasa had given him a short, meaningful parting hug and had promised to catch up with him at the day's end. This time Simba had graciously obliged and had even looked forward to seeing his new friends again;

They hadn't disappointed.

"You got your head stuck in what? Where?.!" Simba laughed along with the two lions.

"I swear," Furaha persisted, incredibly easy-going now, "It was right in the rhino's derriere."

"I can't believe it..." Ni was agape.

"I know, I just wanted to try it." The lion grinned.

"Unbelievable." Simba said. "You even tried working it around to see if it would come out..."

"Yep."

"Awesome." Ni smiled quietly.

"With Sarafina's help I did eventually get that tree trunk unstuck from his butt, it just took me a while longer to get my head out of that darn log. You wouldn' believe how much build up of..."

The second-oldest lion shot him a look.

Simba wasn't in the least bit grossed out.

"Well, you know what my friends' used to tell me." He grinned at them.

The two lions opposite him exchanged looks.

"No, what?" Ni asked. Furaha leaned in closer as he was furthest away.

"Ya gotta put your past." Simba waggled his index paw stubs cockily. "In your behind," He froze from where he bent backwards and pointed at his butt. His father stood there solemnly.

"Simba, will you come with me please."

The lion hadn't expected this again.

"Dad, what's going on?"

"Come with me, son."

Simba twisted around and clumsily came to land on his feet. Mufasa smiled faintly and led the young lion away from the others; both exchanged looks of concern. They went at an easy pace, there seemed to be no rush and yet the eldest of the two seemed to have something on his mind.

"What are you and Haki planning?"

Mufasa looked up as Simba came right out and asked what he dare not speak of.

The lion sighed, his son was indeed getting older. "I want you to stay behind tomorrow," he said to him once they were far enough that they couldn't be heard. "And remain with the Outlanders."

"But I'm not an Outlander, I'm a Pridelander, Dad."

"And what has pride gotten us, son?" Mufasa rebuked him. Simba's eyes widened and he took a step back; his father had never spoken so exactingly. The lion registered the shock of seeing and hearing his father go against his good-natured paternal role; Mufasa considered lessening the blow. Sympathy. Love. Trust... He placed his paw on Simba's shoulder. "I'm sorry things are so difficult son, I'm just trying to protect you from harm. That's why I need you to listen."

"I just wanna be brave like you." Simba knew these words by heart even after ignoring them for so long that he thought he had forgotten them. "And being brave means being there beside you."

Mufasa smiled despite himself at the memory.

"I admire your courage, son, I always have. I also know that you're trying to force this situation in your favor." He dropped his paw and looked up at the stars, sitting. "You know, being brave also means knowing where you're needed most, and I need you to stay where it's safest Simba."

"How can I be needed being treated like a cub?" Simba looked down, pouting.

His father laughed. "Those lionesses are something else, aren't they?"

The lion looked up and smiled at his father. "Will you tell me more about the Great Kings?"

Mufasa patted his shoulder, smiling as well. "I think that can be arranged."

They laid down, side-by-side, as his father spoke well into the night and Simba dreamt happily.

To be continued...
Image size
800x400px 48.61 KB
© 2013 - 2024 PenofGold
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In