Simba's Struggle
Chapter Two
A New Perspective
Zira prowled around the tough, dusty ground, her three cubs in toe. Nuka, the oldest of the three lions was directly at his mother's tail, he was dark tone like his father and had a vacant gaze in his eyes along with a scruff of hair forming at his jaw. Behind him, was Vitani, she was slightly younger than Nuka and had now managed to walk confidently and had inherited her mother's snarl, quick tongue and temperament. Finally, at the rear was the youngest yet, Kovu. He had a steely look in his green eyes and a steady stride which belied his young age.
"Keep up Kovu" growled Zira. The young cub scampered ahead and walked side by side with his older sister. Vitani, growing impatient nudged her oldest brother and let out a low growl. Nuka turned his slim neck around and glared at Vitani, before succumbing to her demand.
"Erm, Mother.." Nuka stuttered nervously. "where are we going?"
"The watering hole."
With that, Nuka nodded and knew not the enquire any further. The four lions continued onwards.
Zira was growing restless with the new leadership in the pride. She should've been Queen after Scar's death, and then Kovu, the chosen one, would become King when he was old enough. The injustice of it all burned inside her. How an outsider could return to the pride, kill the King, and suddenly he is the saving grace bemused Zira. Furthermore, the fact that Simba was now forcing her to hunt, when she was used to lying in the shade with Scar all day, really rankled her. Her burning, vengeful eyes stared ahead, and focused on the group of elephants and wildebeest in front of her. She roared.
"Animals of the pride lands" she scowled. "I come with the word of the King."
"Simba? Sending a lowly lioness and 3 cubs as messengers? How dare he!" boomed Andre. His trunk flew up, and his two front feet lifted into the air and thundered into the ground with volcanic force. The wildebeest began to stamp and huff at the giant beasts in front of them.
"I come in the name of the true King. I come, in the name of Scar." Zira said calmly. A sudden hush fell over the once rampant animals. A few of them muttered the name of the former King again, in amazement.
"Scar is dead." said one of the wildebeest. "Simba is King."
"I am well aware of that!" she snapped, her eyes now bulging violently. "What I meant was; although Scar was slightly spartan you cannot deny that his methods worked, unlike Simba's namby pamby attitude." Some of the animals nodded in agreement. "Scar chose my young cub, Kovu here, to be his heir, he is the rightful King and has inherited all the right attributes to be a King. He will be ruthless, violent, and tyrannical. Just the way a King should be." More of the animals made positive sounds of agreement. The largest of the elephants stared directly, and coldly at Zira.
"Scar was a killer." echoed Andre's voice. Silence again settled amongst the animals. Zira grinned maliciously at Andre.
"Yes, yes he was. But let me ask you this…" Zira began. "If another pride invaded the Pridelands, would Simba be capable of thwarting their challenge?" The wildebeest shook their heads, as did most of the elephants. Finally, after a few seconds of tension, Andre calmly exclaimed:
"No, I don't think so anyway. He's not Mufasa."
"He's not Scar." corrected Zira. "Scar, would decimate anyone who stood in his way, as will his off-spring." she motioned to Vitani and Nuka, who in turn snarled at the animals. "as will his heir." Kovu looked directly at his mother. "and as will his mate." she paused, every one of the animals in front of her were awaiting her new words. "Go to Priderock, demand Simba step down. Allow me and my kin to take the throne. And we will all enter a new glorious era, under the banner of Scar!"
The elephants erupted with a trumpet call in agreement, the wildebeest began to stamp and snort and Zira let out an all mighty roar which encircled the herds.
Away from this, in the distance, a mandrill looked at the scene and shook his head. He then looked to the sky.
"Well Mufasa, what do we do now?"