“Dad? Are we done yet? I promised Taka I’d play with him.” The young prince bounced up and down impatiently as he waited for his father to dismiss him. Most of Mufasa’s time these days was taken up by his lessons with Ahadi, and though he knew it was important for him to learn how to be king, he missed playing games and going on adventures with his little brother.
Ahadi sighed, but eventually relented. “All right, Mufasa, but don’t go too far, and make sure you’re back by sunset.” Smiling, the king patted the bright red tuft of mane on his son’s head.
“I will!” Mufasa called over his shoulder before racing off across the savannah toward Pride Rock to fetch his brother. “Taka? I’m back!” he called as he ran into the royal den. But there was no sign of the younger cub.
After searching all of Pride Rock and coming up empty, Mufasa began to panic. It wasn’t like Taka to wander off alone, but Mufasa realized with a sinking feeling in his chest that his brother had been acting unusually distant lately, and an awful thought occurred to him: Is it because of me?