Chapter 2: Between Lion and Deer
#3 of An Unforgettable Vacation
The early morning sun begins to rise within the tropical island, yet a red deer clad only in a white bathrobe looks down upon the island cityscape with a heavy amount of suspicion. Perhaps this suspicion originates from his childhood being sold as livestock within the back-alley market. His contemplation comes to a halt when a soft series of knocks is heard from the royal suite door. "Enter," the deer commanded the visitor as a red-billed hornbill in a butler's suit opens the door and walks inside. "I thought I requested the presence of your master Zazu," the deer's annoyance in his voice is shown to his guest. "You may have to forgive me for the inconvenience Sir Louis," Zazu apologized for his misunderstanding and begins to prepare a pot of tea for his master and guest. "His majesty prefers for me to prepare a cup of tea before the morning report." "And what kind of animal is your master?" Louis asked the servant as he began to give him a serious glare.
Zazu's intimidated posture causes him to stumble while he was preparing the dishes for his master's arrival in response to Louis's glare. Thankfully, he was able to regain his balance before any dishes fell on the floor. "What's the matter?" Louis asked as he turns around and approaches Zazu. "I thought omnivores feared a carnivore more than a mere herbivore." The bird begins to quiver in fear as the deer slowly walks towards him. "You've never been caged day after day fearing one day a carnivore would eat you limb by limb," Louis explained his childhood experiences while making a comparison to the life of the horrified Zazu. "Have you?" "No sir," the bird begins to panic after every step Louis takes "please... don't look at me that way." Zazu's back touches the kitchen cabinet as he is frozen in fear the moment Louis stands within arm's length of him. "The fear in your eyes tells me you'd rather die than experience what I had to go through." the deer comments on the emotions the bird is depicting towards the guest. "Now answer me, is your master a herbivore or a carnivore?" "Sir, I don't know how to answer that question..." Zazu stutters at the inquisition he's currently going through. "HELP!" he screams as he runs towards the entrance before Louis grabs his right wing.
"Louis!" an imposing voice emanates from the hallway outside of the suite causing him to look towards a masculine lion with orange fur, a crimson mane, and eyes, and a physique rivaling the Greek god Zeus himself. In simpler terms, the lion is nothing like the Shishigumi in Louis's hometown. "Release him." "Impeccable timing, your majesty." Zazu complemented the lion's entrance as Louis releases his grip. "So," Louis said while taking the farthest seat from the entrance. "you must be the Mufasa who runs this seaside city..." Louis closes his eyes for a moment "No wonder the Shishigumi prefers to stay away." "Whatever gangs have fueled your hatred towards carnivores have no sway within this landmass." Mufasa attempts to reassure his guest to no avail "But I do understand your distrust towards my kind." "Spare me your pity." Louis harshly responded as Zazu began pouring the tea he made earlier into Louis's cup. "I'm not trying to pity you, Louis," Mufasa responded to the deer's remark as Zazu filled his cup. "You have the same drive for strength and power as my brother." He then takes a sip of the tea after Zazu finishes filling his cup. "But such ambitions drove my brother towards insanity, I would not want you to succumb towards the same path." "What happens to tyrannical carnivores like him are none of my concern." Louis disregarded the comparison Mufasa made between him and his brother as he takes a sip of his tea.
"But your father desired that you take this vacation to unwind from all the stress you are going through on your journey to becoming the heir of the Horns Conglomerate." Zazu attempted to remind Louis only to be met with an ice-cold glare that causes him to hide behind Mufasa as the deer places his cup back on the plate. "My father's wishes are of no concern to you." The deer responded. "Now if you were to be so kind, you can see yourselves out," Louis tells his two guests as he leaves the table and walks towards the bathroom. The moment Louis closes the door to the suite's bedroom, Zazu sighs and says, "There's always one like him in every family sire." "What am I going to do about this?" Mufasa asks his butler after he finishes his tea.