The Trials of a Lioness

Disclaimer: I don't own Lion King or any characters connected with Disney though Hakika and Kafil are mine.

Chapter 1

Goodbye is the hardest word to say

The sunset was dark red, a sign that blood had been spilled upon this day. The grazing animals of the Pridelands surrounded Pride Rock. The word 'Muuaji' chanted from their lips, as a pale beige lioness was pushed and shoved up the rocky ramp by many ofter lionesses that . A dark stripe ran from the lioness's forehead down her back, blood slowly dripped from the missing piece of her left ear. A cruel smirk was present on her face as she stared up at the lion who stood above her on the rock peak.

"Zira, you have been found guilty of murder." the golden lion with a reddish brown mane roared his brown eyes glaring down at lioness who killed his only son. "How do you plead?"

"This was not murder, Simba but justice." Zira said with a bored tone, the smirk never leaving her face.

If one were to listen closely, they would hear the weeping of their Queen as she cradled her son's lifeless body between her paws. Only a few lionesses, stayed trying to comfort her but still the den was filled with the sound of soft cries.

"Hakika get away from there." a older lioness known as Sarabi snapped at the young lion cub as she inched towards the den's entrance. The brown pelted cub, stopped in her tracks before looking back into her mother's rage filled glare.

"But, mother I'm bored." the lioness cub complained softly, only to be scolded by the other lionesses.

Dragging her, paws over to a corner of the den Hakika sighed. She felt sadness for the loss of her only nephew the sturdy male cub was barely able to walk when his life was snatched from him. But, still she wanted to know which lioness had murdered Kopa and why she would do such a thing. And, where was Nuka? The male cub was her only playmate, since the rein of their father took many lives.

Blinking, her dark green eyes Hakika tried to think back to what happened. She was playing was Nuka, while looking after his younger siblings. The golden cub with eyes as blue as the sky was Vitani the only other female cub that survived the Shadowland. Then, there was Kovu the newborn cub who could only squirm and let out small cries of hunger. But, then her older brother came charging in and forcefully dragged her away from her playmate.

And, now here she sat alone and bored. Looking around her mother and the other lionesses were focused on Nala. Licking her lips, she quietly rose to her paws and began to move towards the den entrance once again. Smirking, as she slipped behind a lioness on guard she made her way towards her brother.

"How was killing a my son justice?" Simba roared, his anger seemed to emit from him as he stood glaring at the culprit.

"Simple." a uninterested voice replied, "You, took my beloved from me."

Hakika, was sure she knew the voice it seemed to hum in the back of her mind. She just had to make sure. Sneaking past the other lionesses would be easy,since they were focused on their King. Zazu would be a problem for knowing the Horn bill, he'll shriek and ruin her plans but even he seemed to focused to notice dark pelt cub. Crouching low to the cold rock of their home, she had to be careful not to make any sudden movements.

"Scar was a murderer, he deserved his death."

Hakika's ears pricked, Simba rarely spoke of her father and when he did it was about the choices her father made in his past.

"Lies! Scar was innocent."

Now, Hakika was sure she knew that voice. The words this lioness spoke were often muttered in the dead of night. Inching closer Hakika had to know, and she hoped she was wrong. Peering over the edge of the peak, Hakika felt her eyes water as she stared at her best friend's mother.

"Make up your mind Zira, leave your cubs in our hands to be raised as part of this pride or make them suffer in exile." Simba said indicating to the three cubs that sat off to the side.

"Give me, my cubs." Zira growl there was no pity in her voice or her red eyes.

"Very well." Simba said looking at the three cubs with pity. "From, this day forth let it be known that Zira and her cubs are to exiled, the penalty if they should lay paw in the Pridelands is a pound of flesh shall be taken" he roared before nodding to the lionesses standing guard.

As, the two lionesses ushered the cubs to their mother. Hakika looked from her brother to her best friend, she didn't want him to leave. They couldn't leave they were her only friends.

"NO!" she yelled running from her hiding spot.

Simba looked down in surprise as his younger sister bolted to him, her eyes pleading for him to change his mind.

"You can't let her take them, you can't" Hakika begged, causing Simba to shake his head sadly

"I'm sorry, but it is her decision." he whispered to her as she tried to claw her way to Nuka. The male cub looked confused as he cast his gaze from his mother to his friend.

"No, it's not right." Hakika squeaked, as more tears flowed from her eyes.

"There is nothing, I can do she is their mother." Simba told her as the four lions were forcefully removed from Pride Rock. When, they were nothing more then specks on the horizon. Did, Simba release his hold upon his younger sibling. His paws wet from the tears that fell from her eyes, he could feel her anger and he himself hated giving Zira the choice to keep her cubs but no other lioness recently had cubs and the younger two would starve within a few days.

"Hakika, I know your upset." Simba began but was stopped when her sharp teeth bit into his paw, he let out a surprised yelp as he stared into her green eyes.

"I Hate You." Hakika screamed before racing back into the den, surely to tell their mother of his choice. Sighing, Simba turned his gaze back to the horizon as he battled his own inner thoughts. Looking to the sky, he prayed for the spirits to give him reassurance.

TBC...

Next Chapter

A New Princess

Muuaji- Murderer