Chapter 8 8: Elephant graveyard

[1st POV] (One week later) "The elephant graveyard?" As I became a lion, the memoires of my human life were slowly fading away. Perhaps it was due to not having the same brain but I was slowly losing memories, especially those related to my personal life. I knew I would forget my knowledge of the Lion King movies at some point. Therefore, I made a list. It could be an event or a word, things that would warn me that some shit was about to go down. The term 'Elephant Graveyard' was one of them. If I remebered correctly, that was one of Simba's first screw ups in the movies. Scar tempted him and sent him straight to a bunch of hyenas, hoping they would kill the young king. In the end, Simba survives with plot armour as Mufasa comes and saves him in time. "You want to go to the elephant graveyard?" I asked once more at the smiling and optimistic Simba. He was still a ball of sunshine as of now. "Yup and not just that, I want you to come with me," he said and puffed out his chest. He seemed certain that I would follow him. Unfortunately for him, "I ain't going anywhere near that place," "Huh? Why not?! It will be so cool~ They said there are rotting bones and oozing mud," he said, trying to convince me but failing horribly. "Who said this?" I asked instead, even though I knew it was Scar who manipulated him. "Uhhh, people- antelopes and birds," he stumbled on his own words. "Sure," I deadpan. "Anyways, they said every adults have been there. It's just us cubs who are not allowed," he said and came even closer to me. "Please Leo, wouldn't you come with me?" he asked with a tilt of his head. I met his eyes for a bit and nearly faltered. I sighed, "Simba, the last time I broke the rules I was crippled and lost a tail. I don't want to take any chances again. If you want, you can invite the others." His ears dropped at my refusal but he nodded in understanding, "Alright...I understand," He turned around and walked towards the group of lionesses resting under the shade of trees. I assume he was going to invite Nala like he did in the movies. Best of luck to them. .... .... I sighed, "I hope it was that simple," I care too much about them. My existence itself could change fate so I at least had to make sure Mufasa got there in time to save them, even if I did not intervene outright. "But first," I got up and walked to the dark corner of the den. I picked up a femur bone from the remains of our last meal and left to go towards Scar's den. Scar lived at in one of the caves of the Pride Rocks so his den was not far. I struggled a bit while traversing the rocky terrain. Since I lost my tail, balancing has been a challenge, I really hoped I would adapt to my own body soon "Uncle Scar," I called when I reached the den. My voice echoed through the cave and I listened for movement with my ears. It was not difficult for me to pick up the sound of movement and I locked my eyes on one of the darker corners of the den. Among the shadows, he emerged, his eyes locked on mine with the usual dark amusement. He always looked at me with those eyes, as if my existence itself was a funny joke. I hope he did not see himself in me or something. We were nothing alike. "Your senses are sharp. It seems you inherit everything from Mufasa except for his crown, which unfortunately goes to Simba," he said. His voice sounded like a river of coal tar, dark, thick and slow. His words had a way of sticking to your heart and mind. I scoffed, "Please don't try your word tricks on me, it wouldn't work. I couldn't care less if I was the crowned prince or not," "Oh, but I'm not playing any tricks. I just think that you deserve to be the future king more than the brat," he said as he stood on a high ground. He looked down at me from his towering position. It might sound silly but somehow that annoyed me. Like really, really annoyed me. I was trying to start with small talk first, but that made me go straight to the point. "You told Simba about the elephant graveyard." I said and he blinked his eyes in surprise. He was not expecting the confrontational tone in my voice and his mind worked for a bit. "Yes...the words might have slipped my tongue," he said. "You are playing a coward's game Scar, you think I don't know what you are trying to do here?" I said, "Manipulating and pushing a naive cub towards danger is too low even for you," He stayed silent. It was not the usual silence that could be ignored, his silence was loud. He was angry, so very angry beneath his layer of stoicism. I could almost taste his desire to lash out and kill me at that moment. But Scar had learned to hold back his anger and hatred over the years, so he calmed down soon. "That was not my intention, but I can see how my words could have such an effect on the adventurous spirt of Simba," he said and then jumped down from his high ground. He landed with a loud thud and then lunged at me. At that moment, I realised the stark difference between a lion and a leopard, why one was considered the King of the Jungle and the other just a big cat. I could feel the immense weight of his seemingly fragile frame, the frightening power beneath his thick layer of hide. He was like a storm wrapped in fury, a force of nature rather than just a deadly beast. I stood my ground, my heart froze, but I did not flinch. Unlike the last time when I ran from the lunge of a leopard, there was something inside of me that remained solid under the heat of fear. A stubbornness that refused to run away. Sheer pride. Scar opened his jaw and before I could truly react, his mouth came down at me. He came close, but his fangs went past me and onto the ground below. In a blur of violence, he picked up the femur bone on the ground. His jaw snapped the thick bone as if it were a stick and one half fell in front of me. "Thank you for bringing this, I was starving," he said and then in a blur of motion, he turned around and walked away from me. I continued watching him in silence as he sat on the rock and started chewing on the bone to lap at its bone marrow. Eventually, I picked up my portion and turned around to leave. "Leaving already?" Scar asked as he saw that I was going to leave. "Yes, I can't enjoy food in your den, it smells horrible," I said, causing him to chuckle. "I can't even do my business outside of my den, otherwise Mufasa will think I am challenging his authority inside his own territory," he said. Lion kings used their piss to mark their territories. They would spray their pee on trees around their kingdom to show their dominance. Usually, if a male lion is inside the territory of a more dominant one, they would try to do their business somewhere far away or on the ground and mask the scent as much as possible. Scar was doing sthe same thing. "That sounds problematic," I said to which he replied coldly, "It's enough to drive anyone insane," Indeed, the reason why Scar wanted the throne was more than just a thirst for power or greed. It was also a way to escape his horrible and pathetic life. That's the problem with male lions, you are either King or you are nothing. I left the den and threw my food away when I was outside. Then I head straight towards the place where the rest of the pride were staying. My eyes searched for someone, and luckily, I was able to find him mingling with a few lionesses under the shade. Yeah, I was still a cub, so I couldn't do much. But I had Daddy Mufasa. I ran towards him and I told him about the situation. "Father, it's about Simba," I said and he turned his head immediately. "What is it Leo?" he asked while standing. His presence was unlike Scar, there was no danger in a sense that his presence hides nothing. He was King and he felt like King. He need not play tricks to get what he wants. "Uncle Scar told Simba about the Elephant Graveyard and now my brother is on his way there," I said. The part about Scar was super necessary. The other lionesses and Sarabi immediately perked up in concern. "Simba? But why go there?" he asked. "To test his courage? For adventure? Why wouldn't he go there?" Sheera, one of the lioness, said. Mufasa took a thoughtful silence before he nod, "Don't worry, I will pick your brother myself. Thank you for informing me Leo," And then off the King went to save Simba. I was done, I made sure the canon stayed the same. Mufasa might even reach them before they were attacked by the hyenas. In the meantime, I played with the newborn cubs of the pride. They were still too young to even see properly but they were absolutely adorable. A newborn lion was no different than a kitten. .. .. .. [IMAGE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------