Muffy read the signs correctly and jumped back just in time. Taka pounced on empty grassland, his paws scrabbling for purchase.

Ahadi nodded gravely but said nothing.

Looking around, Taka saw Muffy smiling at him tauntingly. Baring his teeth angry, he began flailing at his brother wildly. Startled, Muffy methodically countered one blow after another, blocking Taka’s sweeps with his forepaws. With a guttural moan, Taka felt panic set in as he realized he was probably going to lose--again. He glanced at Sarabi, trying to read her expression.

That moment was all Muffy needed. He cuffed Taka hard enough to tip him off balance. Before Taka could draw in another breath, Muffy’s heavy weight was bearing down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. “Say uncle! ”

“No! ” he gasped, fighting for air as he struggled futilely. Muffy was too strong for him.

Taka struggled hard, but Muffy was too strong for him.

“Say uncle! ”

“No! ”

Taka could not bear to be humiliated like this, not in front of Sarabi! He saw Muffy’s leg within reach of his jaws.

“Say uncle! ”

“I--said--NO! ” His teeth buried themselves in Muffy’s leg. As Mufasa jumped up, bellowing in pain, Taka darted out from under him and came out swinging with all of his might. A forepaw struck Mufasa under the chin, making his teeth click together painfully.

“Cut it out, Taka! ” Mufasa backed away, his forehead furrowed in anger. “Don’t make me get rough with you.”

“Give me your best shot, ” Taka whispers arrogantly. “I know you’re being careful with me. After all, you’re a real sweetheart.”

“And you’re a real fool.” His eyes narrowed. He closed with Taka, grappling. Taka swung at his legs, trying to hook them out from under, but Muffy blocked the move quickly. Circling again, Taka slid in and tried at another angle, only to meet the same result. Fear crept in as he felt his strength waning. In desperation, he cheated again, going for a leg hold with teeth bared.

“No! ” Mufasa struck at him claws-out with all his might. Taka went sprawling to the ground. “Try that again and I’ll knock your fool head off! ”

Taka wobbled to his feet, took a couple of unsteady steps, and sat down again. He rubbed his face with a paw.

Sarabi wanted to rush over and comfort him, but she knew better. It would make a bad situation worse.

Muffy saw the look on Sarabi’s face and thought about the promise. He looked at Taka and saw the dazed expression on his face. “Taka, are you OK?”

“I’ll live.” He rose unsteadily and shook his head.

Ahadi sniffed of the cut on Muffy's leg. He looked over at Taka and frowned. “Some wrestling match.”

“He cheated, ” Elanna said. “I saw him do it twice.”

Ignoring them, Taka paced away slowly, wincing at the throbbing in his cheek where Mufasa's powerful forepaw had struck him. He whacked at small stones with his powerful paw, muttering words his mother did not teach him under his breath.

Wending his way around the face of Pride Rock, he lay down in his favorite resting place, on a ledge under a jutting overhang of granite which shaded him nicely. With some trepidation, he raised a paw to his face and touched it gingerly. Bringing his forepaw before him, he was relieved to find no trace of blood.

"Taka?"

He glanced over to see Sarabi gracefully make her way onto the ledge with him. He smiled listlessly. "Hey, Sassie."

She padded up to him, glaring. "Don't 'Hey, Sassie, ' me. What did you think you were doing?! "

His smile vanished quickly. "What are you talking about?"

"Were you trying to kill yourself? Let me see your face." She started to examine the swollen cheek under his scarred left eye, but he jerked away.

"Don't worry about me. I would've won that stupid fight if he hadn't cheated."

Her eyebrows lifted. "He cheated? Taka, you bit his leg! I'm surprised he didn't knock your fool head off! "

He narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. "Yes, I appreciate the support, Sarabi." He added mockingly, "Oh, Muffy, take it easy on him, he's not strong like you are." He spat. "I don't want him to LET me win, I want to BEAT him! Just once, I'd like to be better at something! "

“But you are better at something, ” she said. "I don't want to see you get hurt, that's all." Her voice wavered as she fought back tears. "I'm sorry if my love is getting in the way of that tiff with your brother." She turned and headed away.

Taka froze. "Sassie, wait! " He watched as her form continued away down the path. "Oh, God, it's happening! " he cried.

He ran after her, got out ahead and blocked her path. Sarabi stopped, startled.

“I’m sorry! Please, I’m sorry! ” He began to beg, pleading desperately. Falling on his back, he pawed at her. “I love you! Please don’t leave me, Sassie! ”

She saw the sheer terror in his eyes, and felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She forgot her anger.

“I had to try and win, ” he stammered. “If I lost all the time, you might not love me anymore. I’m a loser, Sassie. Not that I don’t try.”

“Is your head full of dead grass?” Sarabi took her paw and held up Taka’s chin so that he looked her in the eyes. “I love you because you’re sweet and clever and very cute. That won’t change because Muffy beats you at wrestling.” She kissed him with her warm tongue and nuzzled him. “I am a little disappointed that you cheated, though. I’ve always thought you were above that.”

“Oh.” He didn’t know whether he liked that remark, but he loved her. Kissing her cheek, he said, “I’ll love you till the day I die. Longer, even. They will see two stars side by side and know it is us.” Without shame, his eyes filled with tears. “My love must be stronger than fate itself if it’s to survive. My body may be weak, but Sassie, my heart is strong.”

"Taka, it’s that prophesy again. I can tell it. When will you learn to trust me?” She stroked his face with a paw.

"I believe your goodness is so strong that you can beat this thing, but you heard the rest. ‘He who is first to touch you shall beget your doom.'" He looked down. "Muffy was the first one to touch me. He's going to kill me, Sassie."

“That’s foolish. He loves you! ”

"You knew he was too strong for me. We're gonna get in a fight one day, and he's going to lose his cool and kill me." He turned his gaze to the vast savanna which stretched before them.

Sarabi was horrified. "Stop talking like that, you're scaring me! " Moving close to him, she nuzzled his head gently. "Taka, maybe your head IS full of dead grass. Muffy loves you. He needs you. He’s your brother. Rafiki was wrong--even Makedde said so."

Taka half smiled. “Yeah, he did, didn’t he! You really think we can beat this thing? The three of us?"

She kissed his cheek gently. "Of course." She rose, switching her tail. "You stay here and rest, Taka. I'll be back in a minute."

"Okay." He lay his head on his forepaws slowly and shut his eyes.

Sarabi hurried down the path to where it joined the promontory at the front of Pride Rock. Padding across its smooth surface, she entered the cool recesses of the main cave. As her eyes adjusted, she saw Mufasa sitting nearby, licking his wound gingerly.

"Muffy, I must talk to you."

"Sure." He smiled at her.

"It's about Taka."

His face fell. "Hey, I tried to go easy on him, but when he bit me, I saw red.”

“I know, and I’m not upset with you.”

She sighed. “It’s that prophesy again.”

“You two had another fight?”

“No. Well, yes, but that’s beside the point.” She sighed again. “Don’t be upset, Muffy, but you know that business about the one that touched him first bringing about his doom?”

“Yes. But....” Mufasa’s eyes broadened. “Oh gods, don’t tell me he thinks I’m going to whack him??”

She looked at him closely. "You wouldn’t, would you? Promise?"