Chapter 5

The Truth

Everything was getting worse and worse. The land was dying. The hunting party was struggling to get some food; for themselves and for Scar. He was spending all the time in his den, as if he didn't want to see anyone. Or see the condition of his kingdom. Sarafina felt sorry for him: he failed, the drought broke him down. The Pridelanders were blaming him for everything, for the hyenas, the drought, the lack of food, deaths. Cause Kula's death wasn't the last death. They all were dying, the hyenas and the Pridelanders. The weaker ones died first, other still were crawling. Hauli died shortly after Kula.

Sarabi was the first one standing. She was the stongest: hunger, weakness and even ilnesses they were catching couldn't change her. Sarafina admired her for that; personally she couldn't take it anymore. She wasn't the strongest one. She would probably die really fast if Nala wasn't around: but she was still alive, so Sarafina had to live for her.

Nala was the last living cub. All the cubs from the Pridelands died: Chumvi, Malka, Tama. Tojo run away with his mother; it wasn't clear if they escaped or got murdered anyway. Or got killed by the hunger. Some of the kids got killed probably by the hyenas, Tama died from weakness.

It was only a miracle that Nala was still alive. Sarafina didn't dare to leave her alone, she was always by her side. When she couldn't feel her touch, she was instantly getting nervous, as if the hyenas could catch her daughter without any doubt. But...

There was no doubt, they killed some of the lionesses and cubs. Even thought Scar forbid it. But did he really forbid? Sarafina remembered this whole weird scene after Kula's death: they were laughing. The truth hit her: Scar didn't care about the pride. Nonetheless what he said, he allowed them to do whatever they want.

She had to talk to Scar. For the first since a very long time.

Sarafina waited till the Scar enters his den, then she went after him. She left Nala with Sarabi and other lionesses – they wouldn't let anyone hurt her. As she was getting closer, Sarafina felt her heart is beating faster and faster; finally she found the courage to say something.

- Scar? – she asked with childish, breaking voice. She growled at herself in her thoughts. The lion was lying on the rocks with his head turned into the wall. Sarafina opened wider her eyes: she's never been in his den. The cave was cold and dark; there were some bones scattered on the floor; Scar didn't seem to clean this place. Then she saw the hyenas sleeping by the entrance. Sarafina looked down at her paws and tried to ignore them. But they were this one thing that disturbed her. She couldn't tell anything while they were around.

- Sarafina? – Scar looked at her with surprise, but then smiled ironically. – Yes? What's the next big problem? Maybe the drought made Sarabi and her little loyal fanatics forget how to hunt?

- No. They didn't send me here – replied quietly Sarafina. – I have to...ask you for something.

Scar looked at her with curiosity.

- So it's the request... – he said slowly. – Interesting. – He looked at her expectantly. – Go on, Sarafina.

- Um...can we talk...somewhere...else? – she gave the hyenas a quick gaze. Scar noticed it and replied:

- Good idea.

They went outside and started to walk behind the Pride Rock, where usually no one was around. Scar climbed on one of the bigger stones lying here, put head on his paws and looked down at Sarafina with mixture of curiosity and sneer visible on his face. He was looking right in her eyes, for the first time during his pride. Sarafina felt she's blushing; these green wild eyes didn't help her anyhow.

- As you could hear... – she started quietly, staring at her paws: - The drought...killed many of our lionesses...

- What a shame... – Scar whispered with false sad voice. Sarafina knew him enough to know he didn't care about them.

- ...and cubs – she continued. – I...I'm not trying to blame anyone, but... the hyenas...they're...they're...

- But you're trying to say they're killing your lionesses' cubs – Scar was looking at her, smiling as if he was trying not to laugh.

- No! No, of course, I haven't said that! – she interrupted quickly; now Scar laughed out loud.

- You're...funny – he said calmly, still smiling. Sarafina looked at him; she was expecting he'd be angry. But he wasn't.

- You know...Nala is the last one living – she whispered with breaking voice. – Please...protect her. That's my request.

Scar opened wider his eyes, the smirk faded. Sarafina closed her eyes, expecting something bad. The hit? The scream? Whatever. It was Scar, he could do anything.

- You're asking me of...being your daughter's protector? – snorted Scar.

- Please, Scar! She's...she's the last one! Please, I protect her as much as I could, but I'm still afraid, I'm afraid every day. Please, please, don't let them kill her! Do it for the kid... - she whispered desperately.

- Weird request. I'm not a person that could make her...absolutely safe. Do you really think that my hyenas are the only danger? Do you think they're not afraid? Not in danger? – he looked at her, being serious this time; his eyes were shining with weird light. Sarafina couldn't say if was it anger or sadness, or anything else. - They're the same animals as you and me. They have the same problems and fears as we. They're starving. They're dying every day. Their cubs are dying every day. The one thing that you, the pride, Sarabi, my brother and my father couldn't ever understand is that hyenas are animals too. Do you think I'm breaking the Circle of Life? Tell me, please, what's the greatest rule of the Circle. – His eyes shone with pure irritation this time.

- You must respect every creature... – muttered Sarafina.

- So do you think it's reserved only for lions? – Scar smirked ironically. Sarafina didn't reply anything. Scar smiled wider and continued: - How dared my brother think he's respecting the Circle of Life, while he was killing the hyenas? He sentenced them for starving. And slow death. And so my father and my grandfather.

Sarafina was still staring at the ground, not able to say anything.

- So this is fight. – she said. – It's all about fight.

- Ain't the life a fight? – laughed Scar. – Ain't the Circle a fight, Saffy?

She shivered; he's called her like that for the first time since their childhood.

- I underestimated you...Scar. – she admitted. The lion only laughed again. She continued, looking in his eyes: - But the lionesses won't ever understand. They think it's all because of you...the drought and everything. They're sticking to Mufasa...and Sarabi. They wouldn't believe you.

- So why do you believe me?

- I don't know.

She closed her eyes and suddenly started to cry.

- Please, don't let them kill her! – she sobbed. – She's everything for me...I couldn't live without her. You don't understand me... – Scar stood up and went closer to her: now he was so close that she could feel his arm touching her arm. – But please, do it for us...Do it for me... – She felt that Scar hugged her and licked her forehead. Then he moved back with his bitter smile.

- She's your daughter. – she said finally. She closed her eyes; Scar was silent for a long time.

- You know it's over, Sarafina. You're trying to play with me just to protect your daughter... – she tried to interrupt, but Scar didn't allow her. – You won't fool me. You might say you love me. But you know you're lying. I may think I still love you, but I loved the Sarafina from the past. And you love Taka, not Scar.

She sighed, but didn't say anything. He was right. They were sitting silently for next long minutes, but minutes seemed to be hours. She wanted to go away, but also to stay here at the same time. She's heard everything she wanted to hear.

- So what's with our daughter? – she asked with neutral voice.

- If you left her with Sarabi, I guess she's safe – Scar snorted ironically. - And guess they're waiting for you – he added with disdainful voice. Sarafina looked around and saw Sarabi and Nala waiting about ten meters from the den. She froze; what if they've heard what she said? No...it was impossible. They were too far.

She ran outside the cave. "Mom!" yelled Nala; Sarafina smiled and licked her daughter's forehead.

- Where you've been, mom? – asked Nala. – What did king Scar want from you?

- Oh...nothing. We had just some things to discuss. Connected with the hunting and hyenas... – she added quickly, feeling Sarabi's glaze on her.

- Mom, let's go home. They're staring at us – whispered Nala, looking at a few hyenas walking around.

- Right. Let's go home – she nodded.

- Now, it's the time – snorted former queen. Sarafina didn't reply to this provocation.

They started their way home. She tried not to look at Sarabi, but she felt her friend is constantly watching her. The former queen didn't believe her, it was obvious. All the way through Sarafina tried to plan what to say if Sarabi would expect any additional explainations, but Sarabi didn't say anything. They went to the main cave without any chatting.

- Hey, Saff! What's wrong? You've missed the last hunting – said Naanda.

- Oh, I'm sorry...I'll make it up to you tomorrow, guys – replied Sarafina.

- Leave her alone, sister – snorted Sarabi. – She had her own important things to do. She was a little...busy – she gave her friend a mean look. Sarafina froze, but then growled:

- You all shut up! Nala is trying to sleep!

She heard surprised voices telling quietly "alright, alright" and one ironical laughter reminding of Sarabi's. But Sarafina decided to ignore it. She nuzzled in Nala's fur and close her eyes, trying to fall asleep as fast as she could.

She hasn't talk to Scar in next days. But she didn't want to. She felt weird shame, weird fear. But it wasn't just because of Scar. Sarabi was still watching her. After a week Sarafina noticed also that the lionesses treat her different. When they had to talk to her, they were behaving neutral and cold. Sarafina felt more and more nervous: it must have been because of Sarabi. How much did the lioness know? How much did she told them?

But it wasn't the most important thing. She focused on caring about Nala, protecting her and searching for food. She was giving her everything, she could be hungry, but her daughter had to eat. She noticed that the cub (or young lioness? She was growing up so fast...) is much more thin and weaker than ever. But there was lesser and lesser food; the hunting party sometimes could catch only one prey. Part of it belonged to Scar, part of it the hyenas were stealing. So the part left for the lionesses was very small; for Nala even too small. Sarafina was trying to make the lionesses give her a bigger piece or allow her eat first, but it didn't work.

- What are you expecting? – growled Naanda. – Is your daughter someone special? She's the same lioness as we! We're hungry!

- You woudn't say that while Mufasa's pride – Sarafina narrowed her eyes. – You've changed so much.

- We could say the same thing about you – muttered Sarabi. – You don't see the problem just because he's spared your daughter's life – she added so quiet that only Sarafina could hear it.

- What? – she gasped, being sure she must have misheard something.

- Think about it, Sarafina. By whose side you're standing? – the former queen smiled a little bitter and left her behind.

She knew. Fortunately, she didn't seem to tell the pride the WHOLE truth...

Sarafina tried to forget about it and to concern on Nala's safety. She was watching hyenas, trying hard to avoid them; Nala was still walking with her everywhere. But hyenas didn't seem even to think about killing Nala. They were glaring at her and occasionally barking, but no one dared to attack her. It wasn't because she was protected by mother – Sarafina knew they could easily kill them both if they want. Something different didn't allow them to get closer. It must have been because of Scar. He was the only one whom they obeyed.

So complied with the request. He did it.

Not the best charter in my opinion. Too much dialogues, no descriptions and stuff. It's midnight and I'm deadbeat, so I'll post it as it is. I'll improve, I swear.

In this one Scar isn't so clear, huh? I decided not to concern on his feelings, just to describe him as Sarafina sees him. And I think after that some Sarabi fans can feel free to bash me, but sorry guys, I'm not a huge fan of her. In this story she's actually more unfriendly character, just in case everyone consider her good, wise and stuff and for me it's kind of cliche.

Feel free to review.