Ch. 5: My Story...

The pride raced outside of the den to find Sena on the promontory, his eyes filled with tears. They narrowed and the pride saw pure hatred written on Sena's face. He said only one thing.

"You will pay for this! Zara!" With another anguished cry he was reduced to chocking sobs as tears coursed openly down his face.

"Sena, what's going on, who's Zara?" Simba asked, a hit of steel in his voice. Sena looked up.

"I think it's time I told you my story." He walked down the rock and sat in front of the anxious pride. He launched into his tale.

"As I've told you, I come from a kingdom far beyond this one, hundreds of miles away. What I never told you was what happened to that kingdom." Sena glanced at the pride, sighed, and continued.

"I've never told anyone this story before. My mother was a lioness named Vira. She was kind and caring, for what I can remember of her. Everything an ideal mother should be. Until they came."

"They?" Kiara asked.

"They. Zara the hyena and his hordes. They arrived one day and began killing us all. I was about four months old. Our king challenged him, and lost. Zara killed him, his mate, and their young cubs. Child or adult, he'll kill it if it gets in his way. They killed my mother...her last words to me were, 'Run!' I ran. For days I ran, until I finally stopped. I grieved for days." A tear coursed down Sena's cheek. He kept going.

"I hid. I grew strong, stronger than any other lion around. I went back and challenged him. I beat him, and was about to kill him when he pulled a cheap shot and sent his hyenas on me. I killed a few, then ran. I heard Zara vowing to the heavens that he would kill me for humiliating him."

"My life has been a cycle since then. I go somewhere, they follow and try to kill me. It's been like this for the most of my life. I thought I lost them about a month ago. But evidently I didn't. And now a lioness is dead. Because of me..." Sena broke down into heaving sobs once again. He gazed at the pride. Most of them had tears in their eyes as well, except for three near the back.

"I should go," Sena said, "and leave your pride in peace." He started down the rocks leading to the savannah.

"Sena..."

The young lion turned to face the king of the Pridelands. "Yes, your Majesty?"

Simba looked at him, then smiled. "Don't blame yourself for what happened. Stay here. We'll help you fight them."

Sena stared in disbelief. "Really, your Majesty?! I'd be honored to-"

"What?!" Sena and Simba turned towards the voice. Sena saw the three lionesses from earlier staring in incredulity at the two of them. Sena noticed Kiara, Kovu, Nala, and Vitani roll their eyes and sigh. Simba sighed as well. "What is it, Riko?"

The lioness called Riko stared hatefully at Sena. He involuntarily shivered. She stabbed an accusing claw at him. "This guy is guilty! That lioness who now lies dead is one of our closest friends. You're just going to let the guy who got her killed get away with-"

"Silence!" Simba roared. He glared at Riko. "You cannot blame Sena for what happened today! If anyone is to blame, it's those hyenas."

"But, sire, if he hadn't come, those hyenas wouldn't have-"

Simba roared. He turned to the assembled pride. "If anyone here thinks Sena should go, speak now." Only Riko and her two cronies said anything.

"But Simba, he-"

Ignoring them, Simba turned to Sena and smiled. "Well, it looks you'll be staying."

Sena smiled, tears in his eyes and said, "Thank you..."