"Damn hyenas!" Zuri growled as the hunt party was forced to watch their hard earned kill being devoured by hyenas. Nala buried her head into her mother's leg. She was hungry. They were all hungry.
"Hush Zuri." Sarabi said "They'll hear you."
"Who cares if they hear!" Layla, Zuri's sister spoke up.
"They will report you to Scar." Sarafina warned "Then who will take care of Tojo?"
Layla gave a low growl and glared at the hyenas. All the lionesses knew that a heavy penalty awaited any who slandered the hyenas or poached a kill from them. Kula and Tama too shifted closer to their mother's and Kula's barely audible whisper of:
"I'm hungry Mum." made the lioness's spirits sink further.
"Sarafina, take Nala, Kula and Tama back to Priderock." Sarabi said looking grim "Someone will have to look after them while we try another territory."
Sarafina nodded at Sarabi's words and quickly ushered the three lioness cubs back to Priderock. Nala glanced over her shoulder as the hunt party shrank into the distance.
"I hate this." she declared. Sarafina sighed at her daughter's words
"We all do, Honey."
"Why did Scar have to bring them? All they do is lay around and steal our food!" Nala found it hard to keep her voice from shaking "I wish--I wish Mufasa was here!"
Tama and Kula nudged their friend as tears rolled down her cheeks. They all knew it wasn't Mufasa that Nala wanted the most. The small group quickly arrived back at Priderock and padded into the den. Tojo and Chumvi quickly raced over looking excited, Chumvi's mother Tombi looked up too.
"Did you get any food?" Chumvi asked, hope in his voice.
"No." Sarafina sighed and Chumvi's face fell "I'm sorry."
"We can still go out and play right?" Chumvi asked clearly disappointed. Tombi looked from her son to Sarafina then nodded and Sarafina quickly said
"But not too far now." It was common knowledge that a hyena would go after the cubs if they were given half the chance.
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That night Nala arrived at the den to find an antelope carcass lying in the middle of the den. The lionesses and cubs were all eating their fill and before Nala knew it, her mother dropped a piece of meat in front of her.
"Eat it quickly." she said "We don't want the hyenas to find it."
Nala didn't need telling twice. She demolished the meat in minutes and ate another chuck of antelope almost as quickly. By the time everyone had eaten their fill, there was nothing but bone left. Although a thought came to her mind, where did the carcass come from? The hunt party couldn't have went out again, it was far too late for that.
Soon it was time to sleep but in the middle of the night she was woken by the sound of hyena's cruel laughter. She whimpered in fright and then she realized her mother wasn't beside her.
"Mom? Mom!" she called her green eyes darting around the cave frantically.
"Nala." she spun to find her mother and Sarabi at the cave entrance. The two lionesses exchanged a quick look then Sarafina padded over to her and she all but threw herself at her mother. The laughter was getting louder and Sarafina's eyes darted to the cave entrance before looking back at her terrified daughter. Nala was getting more terrified by the minute as the hyenas' laughter was getting louder and louder as it came closer.
"Go back to sleep Nala." she said soothingly "Everything's going to be fine."
Nala barely heard her words as the laughter was getting louder and louder. She shivered in fright. Sarafina nuzzled her daughter in an attempt to comfort her
Hush now, my baby.
Be still, love, don't cry.
Sleep as your rocked by the stream.
Sleep and remember, my last lullaby.
So I'll be with you when you dream.
Sarafina's soft song made Nala's eyes droop even though the terror still gripped her. Before she finally succumbed to sleep, she heard a frantic whisper of;
"Take care of her Sarabi."
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Dawn. Nala was woken by rays of sunlight shining on her face. She shifted her paw over her eyes in an attempt to block it out. she lay for a few minute before she rubbed her eyes with her paw and shuddered. It was cold. Cold? Should her mother be warm?
Nala jumped awake. Sarafina wasn't beside her where she normally slept. Where was her mother? She was gone! All the other lionesses lay sleeping with their cubs tucked safely against their bodies. Where was her mother? All the other lionesses were there so the hunt party hadn't left early. Where was her mother then? She would have a hard time spotting prey on her own never mind actually catching it.
"Mom! Mom! Mom where are you?" she called running out of the den. Her bright green eyes darted left and right before finally spotting Sarabi sitting on the promontory. Nala rushed to her side. The queen seemed distant , absorbed in her own thoughts Nala shifted uncomfortably before taking a breath
"Queen Sarabi, have you seen Mom?" Nala asked in a small voice.
"Nala...your mother can't be with you anymore." Sarabi's tone was apologetic and filled with sadness. That was when Nala realized the truth.
Sarafina was gone. The hyenas must have gotten her. Grief crshed down on Nala and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her mother was gone. T