Chapter 44: They're old enough

On their way back, Asafa asked Zahara why she didn't ask her father to go with them to the pride lands.

She chuckled with sadness in her eyes.

"My father led that pride with pride, and will die with that pride with his pride, that's his personality. It would be useless to ask him to come with us." She said.

Asafa smiled at how accurate her understanding of her father is.

But he chose to not tell her about his interaction with Tukufu and what they spoke about.

When they returned, they introduced Kito to everyone and made feel at home.

In the end, it took a week before the news of Tukufu's death reached them.

Zahara wept for her father but as time past on, they continued their lives.

Asafa looked at his sons as they had begging faces.

They had grown a lot during the last 3 years. They had all developed manes, although thin.

Their bodies had the size of female lions. Mohatu was the biggest and he was slightly bigger than a female lion.

"Come on dad, don't be such a bore, allow us to go hunt these beasts!" Simba roared with a hint of challenge.

"The only beast I see is the one in front of me." Nala said in a chuckle as she looked at her son.

"Tsk." Simba looked away.

"Haa brother, how unsightly, maybe you should just find a hole and burry yourself to spare me this drama." Mufasa said in a mock tone, clear to everyone that he was trying to sound like his brother Tukufu.

"And maybe you should join him." Tukufu said with annoyance clear in his voice.

The other siblings laughed at this.

"Come on Tukufu, you're always so bitter, this is our chance to prove ourselves." Imamu said as he brought Tukufu into an hug.

"Please brother, spare me this drama...." His words halted as he realised that he did indeed sound the way Mufasa had tried to portray him.

"Pftttt hahahaha Tukufu you're to easy." Mufasa laughed the loudest, but all the siblings laughed.

"Tsk." Tukufu was not happy being the butt of the joke, especially by his dumb brothers that seemed to lack a few up there.

Even Asafa chuckled at the antics of his sons.

"Father, This will be a good experience for us." Even Mohatu, the wisest of his sons agreed.

"Dad, it's not like we'll be alone, uncle Simba will be leading us so he'll keep an eye on us." Mufasa said in his last attempt.

*Sigh* "Fine then, you'll follow your uncle's command.

Yesterday, a big group of crocodiles invaded their territory, trying to make the big lake of the pride lands their new home.

Asafa would've allowed them to seek refuge in his land, however, they were overbearing and killed lots of animals in their way, so Asafa was about to lead a battle against them but his sons wanted to go in his stead, without him as they wanted to prove themselves.

Asafa knew that they had reached an age were they should go out to fight and start accumulating experience so that they can grow strong.

But he couldn't help but to worry still. To him they were just recently the baby cubs crying for mommy's milk. They had grown too fast.

Simba just then arrived with two male lions that had come with Simba to join this pride.

"Asafa, we're ready... What's going on here?" He asked as he saw his nephews gang up on their dad and mothers.

"They'll follow you instead of Asafa, make sure you take care of them." Ayana said in a chuckle and a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"Don't tell me she's telling the truth..." Simba asked his brother.

His nephews were too much for him. They always came to challenge him and to fight. They bothered him every second of the day if they could.

"Yes, brother I'll leave them in your care." Asafa said as he turned around.

Simba's face fell and Ayana grinned happily.

""Asafa, no, I mean, my favourite brother, please think this through, they are too young and...trouble flows in their veins, it's better if I go with you instead!" Simba pleaded with his heart.

"Then they're a perfect match for you." Asafa said as he continued walking back to the pride.

He wanted to train his sons to protect the pride lands without his intervention.

Lions are one of the Apex predators. They don't fear any other animal. Only a few animals are stronger in a one on one battle, such as bears and Tigers.

Both of those animals are bigger and stronger. Tigers are even more skilled in one on one combat. The major difference is that Tigers live and hunt alone whilst lions live and hunt in groups, so no tigers nor bears would mess with a lion, because if there's one lion, there a few others happy to join in on the fight.

But even then, a male lion in it's prime is still an Apex predator that isn't much weaker than a tiger or a bear. A one on one fight between those animals might end up in a loss for the tiger or bear, although it's more likely that a bear wins against a lion, and a tiger wins against a lion.

Asafa is the exception to this. He felt like he could take on 5 Tigers, maybe even more and still win, although, he had never pushed himself and actually didn't know his limits

So if he joined the battle against the crocodile invaders, his sons would not experience true war and true battle as they would be guarded by him.

So he left them under Simba's leadership.

Asada climbed up the pride rock and followed his brother and sons with his eyes until they couldn't be seen anymore.

"They'll be fine, they've grown into young adults, it's time for them to learn these matters." Nala said, trying to calm him as she noticed that he was worried about his children.

"You're right, but you know howeasily they get into trouble, maybe I should follow them secretly." Asada said.

"Or you could follow me." She said as she started walking into the den.

Asada halted and looked at banala as she walked into their pride cave.

His eyes went from Nala to the horizon where his children had gone, then back to Nala again.

"On second thought, they're already old enough to handle such things, as men, they should face enemies head on without their father holding their hands." Asafa whispered before following Nala.

Just before he walked inside, he called out to his most most trusted aide, the blue bird.

"Zazu!"

"Yes your majesty!" He seemed very pleased to be called out, it was as if he was hiding nearby, waiting for Asafa to call him.

"Zazu, follow my sons secretly and keep an eye on them!" He said as he walked inside.

"Yes sir!" Zazu said as he flew away.