It felt like an utter eternity in slow motion to Zira as she tumbled from grace. Her body tensed and flailed, as it instinctively prepared to collide with the angry rapids below. The last image that her blazing crimson eyes had fallen upon burned in her mind like fire. Kiara, reaching out to her with her paw. Zira naturally declined the chance of salvation with a harsh swipe of her own paw. Zira's downfall was that she was constantly driven by her emotions to the point of losing all control of rational thought. Zira's defiant motion caused her to slip even further, small rocks breaking from under her paws and tumbling to a fate that Zira would share with them in a few countless moments.
Zira had lost everything. Scar. Her son, Nuka. An empire she had fruitless years compiling withered the instant her pride had taken Simba's side. After all the sacrifices she had made for her outland empire. Kiara, and her hollow attempts to save her worthless life was the last straw and Zira's tether had worn thin. She would rather fall to her obvious demise with one slight shred of dignity remaining. There was nothing left for her here…
Was there?
Zira collided with the water hard and was instantly swept below the surface with the sheer unrelenting strength of the rapids. She tumbled with the erratic current as it tossed her body like a frail tree in a savage savannah storm. Several of the logs that held the dam together for so long joined her, slamming against her body. Zira struggled to reach the surface for air - But in her sheer disorientation, she did not appear to know which direction the surface was. Fervently, her claws lashed out to pull her body away from the submersed chaos - But it was no use. The debris swirled around her as Zira took several blows to her torso. Her muzzle reached the surface for just a moment of air, before she was belted over the head by a large log in the process of tumbling down a small waterfall. Zira finally succumbed to the darkness. The will to live had all but surpassed her. A dark paw broke the surface of the water, claws extended in futility as she felt her life slipping from her own literal grasp. Her final thoughts were desperate and dark. She realised that not even her own son would mourn the life of poor old Zira that had faded away within the vicious rapids. No fond memories would be recalled of her. If anything, Her death would be a silent relief to all those who called the pride lands their home - Including the outlanders that had betrayed her so. Her death was a resolution. The rapids continued it's lashings on her broken body. She was no longer exempt from the punishment even though she consciously did not feel the pain.
The darkness inside had finally consumed her hungrily, and without mercy.
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AN:
I had done some research on the stories in the LK section - I am aware that other members have continued the story after Simba's pride. Forgive me for being unoriginal - But I'm wanting to tell my own story of how the saga continues. Let me know how you like it :3