Chapter 2: Wedding Vows Are Terms to Live by, Not to be Broken
Zazu stared at the black haired lion, questioning the inner workings of his mind. Just when he was about to say something, Shenzi entered as usual.
"Scar, there's barely enough food for us again."
"What do you want me to do about it, it's the lionesses' job to deal with that?"
"We have a pack of at least thirty, and you're telling me we have to split one half of a zebra's torso?"
"Whatever happens happens. I'll get the lionesses to go out again before night fall."
"You better Scar."
"Do you threaten me Shenzi?"
"Threaten you?" Shenzi's eyes opened. "No, no, it's just we need more food that's all."
"You will get more food when we have more food."
"What about bird brain over there?"
"What me?" Zazu said scared.
"No, not the bird. He's actually proven to be quite useful. Now go." Scar said, dismissively lifting his paw to shoo her off. She left with hesitance in her step, glaring back at the bird with hungry eyes.
"Thank you sire?" Zazu asked, not sure of where Scar's sudden kindness had come from.
"No, I should be thanking you Zazu." He said as a sly look came across his face.
"What for?" Zazu said slowly and hesitantly.
"Scar."
He turned around to see Sarabi standing in the entrance to the den.
"The hyena's are telling me that you are making us go hunting another time today?"
"And if I said so, why would it matter?"
"We are scaring away all of the herds. If we hunt too much there will be nothing left."
"But I am the King, and whatever says goes."
"If Mufasa were still here…"
"Don't give me that Mufasa stuff! I banned that name, my brother is never, ever, to be compared to me do you understand!"
"Yes, Scar."
"Good. Now unless your lionesses plan on only eating a third of a zebra all day, then you'd better plan on making another hunt."
" A third? We should have at least half! "
"Given the King's portion, I beg to differ."
Sarabi growled, and turned to leave the den.
"Before you leave Sarabi, tell Nala I would like to see her."
"What has Nala done?" Sarabi asked her eyes wide with fear. He never talked to any of the lionesses, unless something was wrong.
"Nothing! Don't question me, just do it."
"Yes King Scar." She went out of the cave.
"What could you possibly want to see Nala for?"
"Oh Zazu, you and your pathetic little bird brain!"
"Pathetic? Bird Brain?" Zazu repeated offended.
"Now, now Zazu don't be getting too worked up, wouldn't want Shenzi to have you for dinner."
"Scar."
Scar turned to see another lioness enter his den. Nala; young, pale fur, blue eyed lioness. She dropped what appeared to be the third of the zebra meat on the ground for Scar. "What do you want from me Scar?"
"Now tell me Nala, why exactly were you so close to Simba before?"
"Simba?" She said confused. He rarely ever spoke of his nephew, and Nala had tried to block out most memories of her dear childhood friend. "We were childhood friends."
"Ah, ah I don't believe that is entirely the answer I am looking for…" Scar said.
"Oh, oh I know this one!" Zazu said.
"Okay go ahead Zazu…" Scar said lamely.
"You and Simba were going to be married."
"Zazu, you don't know that. Simba and I were just friends." Nala said giving him a hard stare.
"Oh but he's right Nala." Scar said, his voice becoming more excited. "You were supposed to be the next Queen of the Pride lands."
"You're point?"
"Well Nala, a young lioness like yourself deserves a chance at power, and the perks of being royalty."
"What are you saying Scar?"
"You were to be betrothed to the next heir of the Pride lands, and here I am." He said walking over to her.
"Scar you are old enough to be my father."
"But I am much wiser than any other lion will be, and I am King. We both suffered from the loss of our dear boy Simba, so we are on the same page."
"Scar, how dare you compare us?"
"Well yes, you did spend more time with the poor child, but on the other hand I don't believe it is an offer you should resist."
"Why?"
"Because," He said looking at his paw, examining his sharp nails. "It seems with the hyenas becoming more and more hungry, they may start to pick off the older lionesses." He said raising his eye back to her.
"Scar, I thought you said that the hyenas and the lions would live together in peace?"
"Well I do recall saying that we would live together, that peace part…I'm not sure of…but it's all really fine print."
"You cant do that?"
"How could I stop the hyenas? They really are quiet savage? But if I had a Queen to back me up?"
"I don't see what this has to do with me."
"Oh I do, Nala." Scar said looking outside at the lionesses, his eyes following the pacing Sarabi, separate from the group. She walked over to him, and looked at him questioning, before catching where his eyes were directed.
"You wouldn't!" She said taken back.
"Oh I wouldn't Nala, but the hyenas will. They are not happy with Sarabi's hunting skills as leader. They threaten that if they are not satisfied soon, they will rebel."
"But you should stop them."
"Correction Nala; we will stop them. Plus it will give the lionesses more incentive to do better don' t you think? Then we can go back to living peacefully; isn't that what you want?"
Nala angrily tore her eyes from him to the ground. She hated the way Scar ruled. If only Simba was the ruler, or Mufasa. If only that stupid stampede hadn't occurred. She looked out to Sarabi. She was one of the oldest lionesses, and the one most responsible for leading the pack for hunting food. She watched over all of the pride like she was everyone's mother. She couldn't be responsible for her death. But what would her mother say? She looked over to Sarafina, who was guarding Nala's dinner from craving eyes. She'd have to understand.
"So what do you say Nala?"
"Fine. But if you go against our terms, it's over."
"Of course. Now go collect the others, we have an announcement to make." He said dismissing her. She trudged slowly to the other lionesses.
"Scar, how could you?" Zazu said astonished.
"Now, now Zazu, I wouldn't have thought of such an amazing plan, if it weren't for you. Really you should be
thankful, it was the only thing stopping you from being Shenzi's dinner."