book 1, chapter 24

Chapter 24
Bye… Daddy

Learning that Sarafina was taking another was the final blow that stamped out what was left of Taka.  First it was Ahadi not accepting him as a son, Jabari’s death, and then it was the death of Kivuli.  The constant comparison between him and Mufasa and now the loss of his cubhood love, Sarafina.  Now Scar was in complete control.  His eyes remained distant and his claws remain unsheathed while he walked.  The anger and hate that was Scar now blossomed…

With the drought still on the Pride Lands it was up to Scar to provide food for the hyenas.  Sometimes he would bring them food, but mostly he would tell them where Ahadi would be so that they could hunt on the other side of the Pride Lands.  This worked very well, because by the time Ahadi could reach the hyena sighting, he was too late.  This constant racing across the kingdom was very tiring for the king and started to wear him down.  Not even the help Zuzu or the Guard provided made the job any easier.

One day Ahadi was taking a breather at the Eastern watering hole.  He was enjoying the cool winds of an approaching storm.  He was thinking about what he would do when the rain came again when he notices Taka heading toward the Great River, alone.  

Ahadi had noticed some changes that have overtaken his son, like going off alone a lot.  He wondered what Taka did alone so much.  He had often thought about asking Mufasa or Muyaka to watch out for Taka, but they were otherwise occupied.  Mufasa was preparing for his marriage and Muyaka was busy with his new bride.  The two boys were just too busy keep tabs on Taka.  Ahadi knew that he could take them away from their plans, but he felt that it was not right to do so.  Marriage and pre-marriage was a very important and stressful time and Ahadi didn’t see any point to put more burdens on them.  So Ahadi brought it on himself to follow Taka.  

As Ahadi got up to track his son, the wind started to pick up and thunder cracked in the near distance.

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It wasn’t long until Scar made his way down to the dry sandy banks of the Great River.  Ahadi followed and was surprised to find that Taka was talking to a few hyenas by the water’s edge.  He was telling them that the hunting would be the best near the gorge for the next couple of days.

“Taka?  What are you doing?”  Ahadi said as he approached his son, “You?  You are telling them where to hunt?  No wonder … I could never catch them!... was always too late!”  He glared at the hyenas, and they slunk away into the shadows.  He would deal with them later.  “I figured they had a spy, but I would never have thought it was one of my own sons!!”

Scar green eyes flashed with hate as a bolt of lightning struck across the sky.

“It is very important for everyone to work together, especially during a drought!” Ahadi was almost yelling as the thunder rolled over head.

“Humph,” Scar shrugged as he turned away from his father.  

“Taka, don’t turn your back on me!” Ahadi growled.

Scar smiled slyly.  “Hello… daddy…,” he said as he turned around to face his father.

“Why can’t you be more like your brother,” Ahadi started, “At least he underst…”

“I’m NOT my brother,” Scar snapped as the wind picked up, “You are always comparing us, but you never treated us the same!”

Ahadi approached his son, “I only wanted you to step up.  You are grown now, but you still act like a cub!”

Scar’s eyes flashed again.  There was no feeling in those eyes, only a deep emptiness.

“I cannot believe that you would talk to the hyena pack, they are my enemies.  And so the enemies of the pride,” Ahadi’s tone was that of disappointment and anger.

Scar just looked at his father as an idea sparked.  He sneered, “Why should I care what the king wants, when he is an old fool.”  

“You are betraying your pride!”  Ahadi yelled as his anger rose, it was the first time he had been this angry since he had struck Taka as a cub.

Scar smiled devilishly, with another flash of lightning the rains began.  Ahadi, with the short light from the lightning, came to realize that he was surrounded.  Hundreds of eyes glowed with the flashing light.  The thunder he thought he was hearing was the low growling of the hyena pack that was closing off all escape.  The entire pack must have been there.  Ahadi eyes were wide; his green eyes were full of fear.

“Taka, wha….”

“My name is SCAR!!  Taka was the weak son of Ahadi!  I, Scar, am the leader of the hyena pack!” he growled.  He was pleased to see mixture of surprise and fear that washed over his father’s face.  He grinned again with a laugh, “You should see the look on your face… daddy… Priceless!”

The pack was tightening the circle around the king.  Ahadi found himself backing away from the pack into the river.  He knew he could not take them all on, but he was trapped ankle deep in the river.  

The drought had dried most of the river so it was not much more than a mud pit but Ahadi was unable to leave, hyenas occupied both banks.  The sun baked land was smooth as glass, and it could not take in the rain.  It quickly became saturated with water on the surface and the rest raced to the river. The river quickly began to rise.  

“Ta…Scar… what are you doing!” Ahadi exclaimed as the water was now knee deep with no signs of letting up, “Let me pass!”  Small waterfalls from the bank edge seemed to roar to life as the rain intensified.

Ignoring his father’s pleas Scar began to pace along the bank.  “All I ever wanted was to be seen as your son.  Then I just wanted respect from you!”  He stopped pacing and seemed to look in the distance.  His voice became low, “I didn’t care that Mufasa was chosen to be king, even if I was the first born…,” he turned toward Ahadi, “But you!  You! You wouldn’t even let me be a part of your life!” his voice got lower, “How I have hated you!”  His eyes met Ahadi’s, and he moved his paw slightly over his scar.

“Scar… I know I haven’t been the best father, but…”

“You never listened to your uncle, and kept me down.  You killed the only one who I could look up to.  Just to cast me aside again,” Scar smiled to himself.  How perfect this was.  His father was helpless, he was superior and soon he wouldn’t have to have his shadow looming over him.  

“Bye… daddy…” Scar said with a sarcastic twist.  His scar seemed to glow bright in the rain.  The hyenas’ cackled was barely heard over the rain and the roar of the rising water.

Ahadi was swimming now, the water quickly became choppy.  Ahadi struggled to grab something, anything, but he was constantly getting hit by rocks or some logs that had floated down stream so he would lose his grip.  Scar and the hyenas had retreated to the river’s banks.  With a since of satisfaction, Scar watched as his father thrashing frantically in the rushing water.


“Taka what are you doing!?” Uru said as she came up next to him.  Her eyes wide with surprise and fear as she noticed the retreating hyenas, “Why aren’t you helping your father?”  She spotted Ahadi.  He was able to grab hold to a log that was stuck between some boulders. Without a second though she start to go to him.

Scar stepped in front of her, “No, let him be!  He will never hurt any of us again!” His eyes flashed with hate.

Uru became angry and she smacked her son saying, “How dare YOU!!” she was almost yelling at him, “You may not love your father, but he deserves better than this!”  She ran pass him to get to Ahadi.

Uru paused for a moment as she reached him.  The log was holding strong, but it was still far away.  The river’s bank had become steep and now Uru was standing at least ten feet above Ahadi.

“Uru!...*cough*… No!, *gasp* No… stay back!” Ahadi cried over the crack of thunder.

With a deep breath, Uru jumped on a small sand bank next to the boulders.  The river was still rising.

“Uru… go back!,” Ahadi struggled, “It’s too dangerous!”

Uru jumped on the largest boulder and extended her paw to Ahadi, “Please, Ahadi… take my paw…”

Ahadi tried to get closer to her, but just as he grab her paw another tree slammed into the bank and rolled over Uru causing her to fall in, but Ahadi held on.  With his help she was able to get hold of the log, but was unable to climb out.


“Mother!” Taka cried as he saw her fall.  He had followed her just as she jumped onto the sand bank.  Now he stood on the river bank, helpless to help her.  Just then Mufasa and Mukaya showed up.  

“Mother! Father!” Mufasa cried as he met Taka on the bank.  Then things happened almost in slow motion.  As Mufasa, and Mukaya reached the bank the river surged from the increasing runoff from the relentless storm.  The log that they were holding on begins to come loose.  Ahadi was knocked off and tossed into the rapids, but Uru was still clinging to the boulder.  Mufasa started to jump into the river, but Mukaya stopped him.

“Mufasa, you cannot help her,” Mukaya said, holding on to his friend, “There is no way to get to her!”

“No, I must… get to her!” Mufasa cried as he tossed his friend off and jump onto the quickly shrinking sand bank below.  Ahadi maybe lost but he would not give up on his mother.  He jumped on the boulder and began to reach for Uru.

Uru’s strength was quickly fading, but she reached for her son.  He was able to grab hold of her paw and with all his strength, he pulled.  His muscles cried in pain as they flexed.  Slowly Mufasa was winning over the river.  Uru was able to grab another part of the boulder.  She was about half way out.

Taka let out a sigh of relief.

Uru clawed the boulder as she pulled herself out of the river.  It was difficult to keep their balance on the boulder because it was shrinking as the water rose.  Now it was barely large enough to hold them both and the sand bank was gone.

Mukaya reached for Uru, “I’ll help you,” he said.  Taka also reached for his mother.
As she stretched to grab Mukaya and Taka, she slipped.  Mufasa turned to grab her again.  The river surged, trying to keep Mufasa from being able to hold her.  He slipped, but did not fall.  Every part of his being was now holding on to her, but the river did not want to let go of its prize, it surged again, tossing a log at Mufasa.  His mother was ripped from his grasp and pulled under the rapids.

Without a second though he lunged for Uru, but he was stopped.  Mukaya had grabbed his tail and was holding him.  

“If you go, then you will join them!” Mukaya cried.

Mufasa knew Mukaya was right; the current was too strong even for him.  Reluctantly he, with a single bound, jumped onto the river’s bank and looked back toward the river.  Taka stood dumbfounded next to his brother.  There was nothing they could do but watch.

They could just make out Uru as she resurfaced.  She was crying out, “Mufasa… watch out… for your brother…” the rest was washed out by the storm.

Mufasa promised himself that he would ‘watch out for his brother’ for his mothers sake.

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Uru was tossed about by the rapids.  She found it hard to keep her head afloat, but just as her muscles began to give in to the river’s demands she heard a distant voice.

“Uru…!”

She began to swim toward the voice.  It was difficult to hear over the rain, but it continued to call.  She hoped that it was one of her sons with a plan to get her out, but to her surprise the voice was Ahadi.  He was holding on to a root next to the bank.  He grabbed her as she floated by.

The root gave away slightly with her extra weight added.

“Let me go… you can pull yourself out without me,” Uru said with a shaky fearful voice.

In the brief light of the flash of lightening Ahadi’s green eyes met her red brown eyes and she knew that he would never let her go.  The root gave away more as the river continued to pull on them.

“If we have to go, we will go together,” he said.  His calm voice soothed her fear.  The root slipped again.

“I tried to warn him… I tried,” she said.

He smiled.  He was wet, hurt, and straining but he smiled.  There was nothing to else to do but smile.  “I love you,” he said as the root finally gave away.

Ahadi and Uru never let each other go as they succumbed to the river’s desire.  The current picked up speed as the river raced to the edge of the waterfall.  It was the last time anyone ever saw them.