CHAPTER 17
There was a building wind in the Pride Lands. The temperature was dropping. Taka was laying on Pride Rock. He knew another storm was coming as the cool air blew through his black mane. His stomach growled as he scanned the lands for the lionesses that were out hunting. He rested his head on his forearms. Getting up, he walked down Pride Rock to try and find them. His ears pricked up when he heard a rustling from the bushes.
"Ow!" a lioness said. Zira tumbled out of the bush. "Erm...hello Taka." she smirked.
Taka nodded and said, "Why aren't you with the others?"
"I'm sure they'll manage without me. How have you been?"
"Fine. I'm fine." he said. He got up and they embraced. "I've missed you." he lied. She just wasn't what he needed right now. A nice, juicy Zebra leg would be nice, though. "Is 'life still good for you here'?" he mocked her.
Zira opened her eyes and looked at Taka. "You know we can't leave." she said.
"Right. Your family needs you." he said coolly.
She backed up, still trying to maintain a pleasant attitude.
"Oh, please. They don't need a leader anymore. Not with my brother strutting around."
She gave him a stern look and started to walk away. He scoffed at her as she walked past him. Lionesses. he thought. Lightning clashed in the distance. The storm was coming quickly now. He could see the rain falling far away. The stars were beginning to come out one by one. He looked up at them. Although his faith in them was shaken, Taka still looked up. A rain drop fell on his muzzle. Another on his back. Soon it was raining hard and his body was drenched in rain water. The storm clouds were beginning to cover the sky. He squinted up at them looking for some kind of sign.
"Anything! Anything to know that you're up there. Give me something just this one time. I'm lost. Please help me…I'm so lost." A tear merged with the rain water that ran down his face. "Help me find out where I belong. I'm asking…no…I'm begging you. Please answer me." He dropped his head down, starting to cry. He collapsed in the muddy earth and buried his head in his arms. "Just..this one time...please. I am the King's son...please...answer me. Answer me!" He looked up. The storm clouds enclosed the last few stars and darkness fell over the Pride Lands. "Why are you abandoning me? Please... lend me your wisdom." he coughed. Mud was in his mouth. "Am I not sincere enough?!" He spat it out and gritted his teeth. He shook his head and looked down again. "Fine" he said, "I'll do this on my own. My father's stories got me talking to a bunch of damned stars." He got up, still covered in mud. He could hear the hunting party over the rain. He saw that they had captured a Zebra. Perhaps the Kings favor me afterall. he said contemptuously. Taka ran over to the pride and began consuming the animal.