Chapter 7
Taka led Zira and Nuka deep into the Outlands, a destitute and barren place with little to no herds to prey upon and even less water. They wandered a long way as the land continued down, breathless and aching and terribly angry.
"This isn't the end," Zira kept vowing as little Nuka staggered along after her, frightened and bewildered. "It isn't over --"
"Will you shut up!" Scar snarled, whirling on Zira.
"How can I? How can I when this is all your fault? If you hadn't given us away to the monkey we wouldn't be in this mess – we were this close --!"
"Shut up and let me think!" Taka paced back and forth, his head bent low to the ground. "You're right – it's not over. I've got to go back to the Pride Lands and get rid of Mufasa – after Ahadi dies. Mufasa is softhearted and will welcome me back but Ahadi is not . . ."
"What about me?" said Zira.
Nuka sat watching them, his eyes darting back and forth. They were talking just as if he weren't there at all!
Taka turned to look at her. "We can't have anymore cubs together, that's for certain, we're too closely related – that's why Junior here is retarded."
". . . What are you suggesting?" asked Zira slowly, though she'd already guessed.
Taka stepped close to Zira and looked her deep in the eyes. "Zira do you love me?"
"Of course I do!"
"Would you do anything for me?"
"Anything! Like you said, we're in this together!"
"I need you to perform a very dangerous act: I need you to mate with a rogue --"
"Taka!" gasped Zira, taking a step back.
"I know! Rogues are dangerous and you could be killed – but we need an heir that isn't – Nuka – and you're such an attractive creature, what lion would kill you anyway?"
When Zira said nothing, Taka continued: "Find a rogue, mate with him, and the cub you have will be my heir."