Post by clrichardson on Sept 16, 2007 20:18:53 GMT -5
I recently started writing a fan fic about Mufasa, Taka, Sarabi, Sarafina, and Zira as cubs. Basically that whole generation growing up together. So far all I have is a rough version of the prologue. Let me know what you think...
Disclaimer: All Disney characters are (c) Disney, of course. All other characters belong to me but may be used freely by anyone.
A flash of light... A rushing of wings... Zuzu tore through the night sky at speeds only a falcon should reach, lungs burning, heart racing, fear building as the fury of the storm intensified around her. Sheets of rain pelted down on her head, back, and wings, stinging like ice, but she dared not slow down until she reached Pride Rock.
The lionesses stirred excitedly inside the communal den. One of their own was about to give first birth. It was Maia, the youngest huntress and wife of Prince Mordecai. With each wave of labor her body tensed and the others held their breath.
"De time is very near," Rafiki said in a hushed voice. A few of the lionesses began to crowd and the mandril quickly lifted his hand. "Stop." They settled back, still watching intensely. Maia tensed again, whimpered, and began to push. The mandril glanced at Mordecai, who sat in the darkest corner of the den, apart from the commotion. "Come," he said, waving him on with his hand. "Be de first to meet your son or daughter."
Mordecai emitted a low, rumbling growl as he stood and stepped out of the shadows. Maia's concentration broke momentarily and she looked at him with a hint of fear. Seconds later she was taken by the final wave. A tiny wet cub spilled out onto a bed of grass that Rafiki had prepared. Another followed. The lionesses cheered their congratulations as Maia cleaned the cubs, and when that was done Rafiki scooped the firstborn into his arms. Looking down at her he felt his heart lurch in a bad way. All at once it hit him - these cubs were not Mordecai's. He swallowed hard and forced a convincing smile. "Twins! Dis one is a girl." He carefully placed the newborn next to her mother and picked up the second cub. "Ah, dis one is a boy!"
Mordecai shoved past Rafiki and glared down at the tiny female. His lips curled back into a sneer and he snorted his rage. "Adulteress..." At this Maia buried her face in her paws and breathed a sob. "My suspicions are confirmed."
Rafiki clutched the male cub to his chest. The lionesses exchanged troubled glances and then looked to King Ahadi, who emerged from the back of the den.
Mordecai roared. "Brother, look! Tell me if you see what I see!"
Ahadi examined the cubs and drew his mouth tight, eyes narrowing on Maia. "These cubs bear the mark of the Mandishi race," he said.
The prince's golden fur bristled. "The dark spots of Nduli, the angel of hell! You've brought curses on us all!"
"Mordecai!" Maia cried. "I... I..."
In an instant he drew back his massive forepaw and struck her on the face. "How DARE you dishonor me! You know what must be done now."
"Mordecai!" Ahadi snapped. "Don't act in haste."
Queen Uru slipped up behind Rafiki. The mandril carefully passed the cub to her and she inched toward the opening of the den. Mordecai caught sight of this and raced after her.
Ahadi roared. "Stop, Mordecai!" He chased them outside into the rain. Mordecai clipped Uru's hind legs with an outstretched paw, causing her to trip. The tiny cub flew from her mouth and tumbled over the edge of the Rock. Uru shrieked in horror. At that moment Ahadi rushed his brother and slammed him to the ground. Mordecai didn't struggle. The two locked gazes and after a while Ahadi stepped back. His tail lashed behind him. "His blood is on you," he huffed.
Mordecai's face was unreadable. He didn't know whether to feel anger, guilt, or satisfaction. But there was still one cub left, and his carnal instincts still had control. He turned and charged back into the den. This time the lionesses and Rafiki had formed a barricade around Maia. Mordecai could not push past them to get to the cub. "Get out of my way!" he roared, but they would not move.
Suddenly Zuzu's cries filled the air and every head turned to see her swoop down from above. The hornbill was in an obvious panic and nearly wiped out upon landing.
"What now?" Ahadi grumbled.
"Sire, we've been invaded!" Zuzu cried. "The hyenas! The Kishenzi clan! They've crossed the northern border in formation!"
"What a night this is turning out to be," growled Mordecai.
Ahadi looked urgently at his brother. "This was a long time coming," he said. "The Kishenzi are not a threat to be ignored. Mordecai, you MUST put this incident aside long enough to fight with me."
Mordecai nodded hesitantly, but before joining Ahadi he turned and glared past the lionesses to Maia. "I wipe my paws of you," he spat. "And your daughter will be named 'hate', because that is all I feel for her and for you!"
That night Mordecai was fatally injured while defending the Pridelands against the Kishenzi clan. He died the next day.
THE LION QUEEN
by C. L. Richardson ("Ruukah")
ruukah@yahoo.com
ruukah@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: All Disney characters are (c) Disney, of course. All other characters belong to me but may be used freely by anyone.
Prologue
A flash of light... A rushing of wings... Zuzu tore through the night sky at speeds only a falcon should reach, lungs burning, heart racing, fear building as the fury of the storm intensified around her. Sheets of rain pelted down on her head, back, and wings, stinging like ice, but she dared not slow down until she reached Pride Rock.
The lionesses stirred excitedly inside the communal den. One of their own was about to give first birth. It was Maia, the youngest huntress and wife of Prince Mordecai. With each wave of labor her body tensed and the others held their breath.
"De time is very near," Rafiki said in a hushed voice. A few of the lionesses began to crowd and the mandril quickly lifted his hand. "Stop." They settled back, still watching intensely. Maia tensed again, whimpered, and began to push. The mandril glanced at Mordecai, who sat in the darkest corner of the den, apart from the commotion. "Come," he said, waving him on with his hand. "Be de first to meet your son or daughter."
Mordecai emitted a low, rumbling growl as he stood and stepped out of the shadows. Maia's concentration broke momentarily and she looked at him with a hint of fear. Seconds later she was taken by the final wave. A tiny wet cub spilled out onto a bed of grass that Rafiki had prepared. Another followed. The lionesses cheered their congratulations as Maia cleaned the cubs, and when that was done Rafiki scooped the firstborn into his arms. Looking down at her he felt his heart lurch in a bad way. All at once it hit him - these cubs were not Mordecai's. He swallowed hard and forced a convincing smile. "Twins! Dis one is a girl." He carefully placed the newborn next to her mother and picked up the second cub. "Ah, dis one is a boy!"
Mordecai shoved past Rafiki and glared down at the tiny female. His lips curled back into a sneer and he snorted his rage. "Adulteress..." At this Maia buried her face in her paws and breathed a sob. "My suspicions are confirmed."
Rafiki clutched the male cub to his chest. The lionesses exchanged troubled glances and then looked to King Ahadi, who emerged from the back of the den.
Mordecai roared. "Brother, look! Tell me if you see what I see!"
Ahadi examined the cubs and drew his mouth tight, eyes narrowing on Maia. "These cubs bear the mark of the Mandishi race," he said.
The prince's golden fur bristled. "The dark spots of Nduli, the angel of hell! You've brought curses on us all!"
"Mordecai!" Maia cried. "I... I..."
In an instant he drew back his massive forepaw and struck her on the face. "How DARE you dishonor me! You know what must be done now."
"Mordecai!" Ahadi snapped. "Don't act in haste."
Queen Uru slipped up behind Rafiki. The mandril carefully passed the cub to her and she inched toward the opening of the den. Mordecai caught sight of this and raced after her.
Ahadi roared. "Stop, Mordecai!" He chased them outside into the rain. Mordecai clipped Uru's hind legs with an outstretched paw, causing her to trip. The tiny cub flew from her mouth and tumbled over the edge of the Rock. Uru shrieked in horror. At that moment Ahadi rushed his brother and slammed him to the ground. Mordecai didn't struggle. The two locked gazes and after a while Ahadi stepped back. His tail lashed behind him. "His blood is on you," he huffed.
Mordecai's face was unreadable. He didn't know whether to feel anger, guilt, or satisfaction. But there was still one cub left, and his carnal instincts still had control. He turned and charged back into the den. This time the lionesses and Rafiki had formed a barricade around Maia. Mordecai could not push past them to get to the cub. "Get out of my way!" he roared, but they would not move.
Suddenly Zuzu's cries filled the air and every head turned to see her swoop down from above. The hornbill was in an obvious panic and nearly wiped out upon landing.
"What now?" Ahadi grumbled.
"Sire, we've been invaded!" Zuzu cried. "The hyenas! The Kishenzi clan! They've crossed the northern border in formation!"
"What a night this is turning out to be," growled Mordecai.
Ahadi looked urgently at his brother. "This was a long time coming," he said. "The Kishenzi are not a threat to be ignored. Mordecai, you MUST put this incident aside long enough to fight with me."
Mordecai nodded hesitantly, but before joining Ahadi he turned and glared past the lionesses to Maia. "I wipe my paws of you," he spat. "And your daughter will be named 'hate', because that is all I feel for her and for you!"
That night Mordecai was fatally injured while defending the Pridelands against the Kishenzi clan. He died the next day.