A/N:
Hey there everyone. And if you didn't notice my April Fool's joke by now, then... wow, yeah, yay for obliviousness I guess. xD Chapter 7 does exist, and I've been working tirelessly to bring it to you instead of doing my Washington State History homework. You hear that, guys? I'm spending my time writing a fanfiction chapter for you instead of completing a boring timeline! Don't you all know how much that just RUINED my whole day? xD ...You all had better be grateful. -.- ...Review time. :p
blue-eyed-burnet: lol, thanks. You'll find out more this chapter, though this conflict is by no means over.
Mom: You'll see. xD That's all I'm going to say... you'll see... :p
ForeverNocturnal: Glad you relate to the characters then. That moment comes soon... :D I'm definitely thinking next chapter. ;) And no, no, certainly not pleased...
kate: lol, okay. Here you go. :D
IronicSnap: Hmmm, never thought of that. :D Isn't that from The Merchant of Venice? I may be wrong; I haven't read much Shakespeare, though I really want to. We actually finished Romeo and Juliet in school about two weeks ago, hence all my references. I suppose that Romeo is Scar, Juliet is Zira, and Tybalt is Simba. Although Simba isn't creepy and he doesn't try to kill people, so I suppose that analogy isn't 100% accurate. lol xD And as far as Scar and Ahadi, I believe he is his father. I don't think I made that very clear. Scar just... refuses to call him his father. He had a much more distant relationship with him, I think, than Mufasa did. I'll explain that more later; this isn't the chapter for it.
readsmanyfavsfew: Glad you liked it. As I said, that was all last minute, so I thought it would come off as shoddy. But it looks like I succeeded, and that it was better that they met after all. I'm glad you not only liked it, but thought it was that strong. And thanks for favoriting this story as well. lol xD
As you may have noticed, this chapter is shorter than the others. It just looks larger than it is because of these notes. I also attempt... humor... this chapter. To lighten the mood just a tad, I guess. And because I wanted to try it. Please, please, please leave me a review on how I did. I need to know if it came off as funny at all, and how this could influence future stories/chapters. From what I've heard, humor done correctly can add to a story, though I don't consider myself a comedian by any definition of the word. And if you aren't into that kind of thing... don't worry. I'm not going to completely go that direction. Just trying it out. Next chapter is very serious. Promise.
EDIT: To quell confusion: the part I was referring to is the part with the hyenas. The other stuff, such as Nala and Sarafina, is still dead serious. So if you thought you were supposed to laugh at Sarabi's depression... no, I'm not that heartless. :S
"Nala!"
Sarafina ran across the grass somewhat crazily as she searched for her daughter's small form amidst her surroundings. The setting sun beat off the lionesses' back, and her hot, sticky body longed for shade. It was odd. For someone as neat, organized, and meticulous as she was, she sure had a knack for losing her cub. The last time she had lost Nala was that fateful day at the stampede…
If Nala had shown up even a few minutes earlier, she would have been crushed just like Simba had been. Sarafina knew that, especially now, she had to keep a better eye on her daughter, but in the end it was all too easy to lose the mischievous cub as she set out to explore the world around her. As painful as it was to say it, she was almost used to it by now.
"Nala!"
She called louder, hoping that maybe the other huntresses would hear and come to her aid. It must have worked, because only moments later several lionesses arrived at the scene, many of them on the fringes of sleep, eyes drooping as they irritably asked her what was going on.
It was just Nala, missing… again. Really, the occasion was not particularly momentous, and it shouldn't have brought surprise to any of the sensible females. But they still were all too eager to pitch in, a fresh sense of common, maternal panic spreading across each of their faces as they painstakingly searched under every boulder, in every tree, in every corner of every single cave on the premises…
How could a young cub have traveled this far?
She must have been missing for a while… where was Zira? Did she just leave right after they'd left? What could have happened? No one had remembered seeing her for hours…
Apparently the event was momentous after all; even Sarabi joined the hunt, albeit halfheartedly. The old lioness simply padded around, her mind seemingly on something else as she flipped over the occasional pebble, claiming that she really was searching very hard for Nala. In reality, however, she just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
I wish my cub got that chance. I wish someone looked for Simba before… before… he got crushed.
Sarafina said nothing, ignoring her strange behavior as usual, and continued on, several huntresses by her side as they scanned the north edge of the patchy grasslands, closer and closer to the dim, dark border that loomed across the plain. Closer to imminent death, destruction, and… hyenas.
It was well past sunset. Groups of stars shone silently, far above the earth, and a faint, full moon was rising from the eastern horizon to sit in the dark sky. All the lionesses wanted to sleep; but of course a lone cub, the African savannah, andnightfall wouldn't coexist harmoniously. The Pridelands were safer… somewhat. They didn't have hyenas, but that didn't mean that all of the animals were unanimously above making a meal out of a small, helpless lion cub. And if she crossed the border…
"Naaaaaala!"
Sarafina called for her daughter again, but there was still no answer…
Scar waited in the Pridelands for as long as he could, but it didn't make much difference. The hyenas were getting bolder, slowly and slowly moving past the border. He could just smell them, their scent being blown by his nose from the Outlands which spread out to the north. From the darkness and solitude they slowly crept up from their desolate home, waiting eagerly. There was no place to run to, nothing he could do. He didn't move, he only waited. It was just a matter of time, of how long he had to wait for...
The lion sat down, eyes drooping from exhaustion, fur still soaked from the river-water. He traced his warm tongue over the inside of his leg, clearing it of the hot, sticky blood which clung to it. All this he did slowly, without rush, as though it was just another night instead of the last one he would spend alive. Scar carefully drew a paw over his mane, smoothing out the silky hair as it hung gracefully around his shoulders.
At least maybe I'll die with some dignity, he thought as he groomed the last of his fur clean. But nothing happened. Even as he lied down on his forepaws, the moon high in the middle of the night sky, there were no noises, no sights or sounds, and, now that the wind had changed, only the occasional whiff of a wandering scavenger…
"Wow, am I hungr—!"
"SHHHHHhhhhhh! Shut up, Asokai!" came the quick response, accompanied by the usual snigger of laughter.
A small trio of hyenas was walking peaceably near the border of the Outlands, simply enjoying one another's presence during the calm darkness of the night, which was accompanied by the musical chirping of crickets. Enjoying the calm, mature conversation and the mutual respect that each of them shared… Or the lack thereof.
"I swear, Asokai, sometimes you are so annoying…" the oldest of the hyenas berated, rolling his eyes in his sharp, blunt manner, not even trying to hide his irritation as his soft paws padded across the thin layer of dust. "Where you would be without us…"
"Hey-yyypp!" Asokai interjected, his young voice noticeably cracking in a pitiable squeak. He was neither a cub nor an adult, but rather an awkward, growing adolescent. Which sucked because it was simply impossible to take him seriously. Especially when he yelped like a Chihuahua being punted across the room.
"Hey, Squeaky, do that again!" the middle hyena of the bunch jeered, jabbing his younger companion in the side with an elbow. He quickly relapsed into a peal of laughter. Asokai merely snarled. Or, rather, attempted to snarl. More laughter ensued at his failure.
"Ugggh," the oldest hyena growled, expressing his distaste, "no wonder the lions think we're idiots. For the most part… we are." He stopped short, observing his friends—one of whom was still laughing like a fool, the other only growling softly at being made fun of.
"You should talk, Vuur. I mean, you don't even know…" the middle hyena stopped, taking a breath, almost unable to continue from the laughter, "why… we are… here. You… just… BAHAHAHAHAA!"
"Just what?" Asokai continued curiously, glancing at the oldest hyena, who suddenly shirked away in discomfort. "What is it?" he said, now smiling deviously at his laughing companion.
"Uh—er—it was nothing. Just nothing at all. Heh… heh… nothing," the leader of their little group continued, a little too innocently.
"Oh, pffft, right. Uh-huh. Nothing. I saw you staring at Shenzi while she was giving you orders."
"Shut it, Tydige…" the oldest hyena groaned in denial, though really it was too late. The cat was out of the bag, and his giggling dimwits of friends simply weren't going to let that cat go.
"Whoa, you and Shenzi?" Asokai laughed, suddenly interested, eyes widened in surprise, "So, Hot Stuff, d'ja ask her out? Huh?"
"What? Of course not! I'm her subordinate. It'd be—uh—completely undignified," Vuur said, smoothing back his clumpy mane in mock professionalism.
"Besides," Tydige continued with a toothy smirk, "everyone knows she's with Banzai."
"Exactly," Asokai squeaked, ignoring the pathetic yelp issuing from his throat, "it's just a question of whether or not she knows she's with Banzai."
"Yeah-h-hahaha," Tydige commented, unable to suppress all of his laughter, "they deny it, but the world sure can see it!"
Vuur grew slightly red in the face, embarrassed. Asokai immediately threw his arm around his companion's shoulder, too affectionately for his cynical friend's liking.
"Don't feel bad. It's just that… she'd never like someone like you," the middle hyena simpered, patting his shoulder patronizingly.
"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better…" Vuur growled, somewhat irritated.
Asokai paused, thinking maybe they had overdone it. Tydige, however, kept going faster than ever. There was a moment of silence as the three lightly treaded along, before the foolish center of the trio again broke it, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Hey," he shouted, his voice a perfect imitation of Banzai's as he mocked the hyenas' notoriously intimidating, though witless, second-in-command. "Whadd'ya think you're doing, lookin' at my girlfriend like that?"
Even Vuur managed a rare smile, albeit for only a moment. Asokai and Tydige, however, were another story. Their laughter had echoed throughout the Outlands, and it seemed as though it would travel all the way to the Elephant Graveyard, where Banzai himself would be able to hear the din they had created. Finally, however, the three had reached the edge of a large cliff, marking the border of the Pridelands. They stopped and, after several minutes of breathlessness, were able to resume their usual seriousness, though reluctantly.
"Wow, I've never seen the Pridelands before," Asokai whispered, his immature form covered in layers of shadow as he stood on a rock, the trio's unsightly, emaciated bodies standing in intense awe as they gaped at the downward slope in front of them.
"It's a boring, hateful, bloody place," Vuur started, his usual world-weary attitude sinking into his voice as he regretfully stared down the smooth, dimly-lit rock face that stretched out under them.
"Oh," Asokai said simply, unaware of most of the terror and prejudice that had been pressed onto their kind. Unaware of what exactly they were even doing here, on this lonely night. "Well… I only hope that soon I can find something that will satisfy me."
Vuur paused, looking down into the gorge one last time, hatefulness now burning in his eyes.
"Don't we all?"
Scar continued putting one paw in front of the other, walking. He didn't know where, he didn't know how, or why… just… walking. Taking in the delicate scenery around him, a sort of blissful indifference overtaking him as he plodded along contentedly. He only had one night left anyways… why not enjoy it while he could?
The night itself was quiet, the gentle rush of the wind and the chirping of crickets being the only background noise. In fact, during his whole sojourn, the only other sound he'd heard was the strange, bubbling noise of laughter. Hyena laughter. It had come from somewhere far in the northwest, and though it was enough to send a fierce chill down his spine, he didn't let it worry him. In any case, it had quickly receded, and there had been no other noises worth noting. Only the continuous, pleasant screech of the crickets.
The moon shone brightly, full and reflective, unhindered by clouds. Night in the desert may have been cold, but this one possessed the luxurious, almost tangible beams of inviting light which shot forth from the glinting, star-peppered sky. It went perfectly with the calming breaths of cool wind which blew steadily across the plain, gently nuzzling his fur and ruffling his mane. His paws tread gently, patiently, across the ground, which was soft and smooth to the touch.
Overall, it was glorious. Extravagant. Scar paused, lips parting slightly in a weak smile as another gust of wind rippled through his fur. But the wind, however, did not pause. It never stopped for anyone. The air continued to blow through the plain, pushing past Scar, flying through the sparse vegetation, rustling the crackling branches of the shrubs, and rushing towards the grassland, where it encountered a second being. A lioness. Crouched and huddled in the bent, twisted forms of the gale-blown grass shoots, she listened and waited as the gust blew in her face, showering her senses with the warm, sweet scent of… him.
He's close. But he will probably assume I'm a Pridelander. Well, I suppose technically I am… was…
I have to surprise him so that he doesn't run from me. Besides, from what Shenzi said… he doesn't have long at all. I can't waste time, and neither can he.
But luckily for Zira, stealth was her forte.
She crept closer, stalking the oblivious lion as he enjoyed the peaceful night air. If he'd noticed her, he certainly hadn't shown it. Why was he acting so… naïve? Had he accepted death, and lost… the will to live?
No, of course not. Scar was stronger than that. He wouldn't give up so easily. But still… she had to watch with a certain air of curiosity as the lion of her dreams quite literally stopped to smell the flowers… She dug her claws into the ground, steeling herself as she strengthened her resolve.
He never saw it coming. And even when he did, he appeared too terrified to do anything at all. Perhaps she had moved too quickly, but it was a moot point. In a matter of seconds, the lion was pinned under her grasp, but to Zira's surprise, a defiant smirk and a growl quickly replaced his originally fearful expression. The way he did it… it was enough to make her blood run cold, and then hot… the heat rushed to her face as she gazed upon his body, which was still snarling enough to make her fur bristle on end.
This was the lion she was looking for.
I think I'll go a little into ScarxZira. Not much, mind you-I've never written romance. I'll just provide my view on this... very interesting pair. Also, let me know whether or not I should throw any dreams of being a comedian out the window... xD And speaking of that, in case you were wondering... my OC names. Vuur- flame. Tydige- timely. Asokai... I don't know. I made it up because it sounded cool. :S
So... review? :) And please don't forget to vote for my poll; it's posted on my profile. xD Of all the people who have visited it this month, no one has volunteered 10 seconds of their time to vote yet. *sad face* :c
See you Chapter 8. Twin ;)
