I own only Churo (Swahili for 'unlucky') and Jumbe (Swahili for 'village elder').
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The lionesses were relaxing after a hunt, when Scar walked up to Sarafina and said, "come with me, and bring your daughter." She was about to refuse, when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw several hyenas approaching. Reluctantly, she picked up Nala and followed him.
Scar led them to another part of Pride Rock, then turned and said, "and now I must do something I would rather not do." He began to approach Sarafina and said, "now give her to me, please."
"No," Sarafina growled, "no Scar, I won't let you take my daughter."
"Sarafina," Scar said, then his tone changed from warning to kind, "I swear, I'll make it as painless as possible, she won't feel a thing."
"No, Scar," Sarafina growled, a little louder. Nala herself remained silent, too scared to say anything.
"Better do what the boss says," said a voice from the ledge above and behind Sarafina, who turned and saw, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed.
"Shut up Banzai," Shenzi said.
"Y-you, you wouldn't," Sarafina stammered, lowering Nala, unable to believe that Scar would get hyenas to kill her.
"What," asked Scar, feigning an angry tone, "are you three doing?"
"Er, relaxing boss," Shenzi replied. Ed laughed nervously.
"Really," Scar asked sweetly, "well, please go away."
"Er, sure thing boss," Shenzi replied, then to the others, "come on."
"Now, Sarafina," Scar said, when the hyenas were gone, "there are rules, you understand?"
"But, but," Sarafina protested, "Mufasa never..."
"My brother," Scar said, interrupting, "was rash, he let standards slide, I do not intend to do that." He thought for a moment, then said, "however..."
"However, what," Sarafina asked.
"I think I can see a way clear," Scar said, "but, unfortunately, sacrifices have to be made."
Sarafina narrowed her eyes and asked, "what sort of sacrifices?"
"Mm," Scar said, "become my mate."
"What," Sarafina burst out, "if you so much as think..."
"Ah ah ah," Scar said, then pointed at Nala.
Sarafina glanced at her daughter, then closed her eyes and gave a deep breath. "Very well," she said, "I will become your mate if you will spare my daughter."
"Very good," Scar said, "of course you realise that this doesn't mean you will become queen." Sarafina nodded. "I will call for you when I want you," he said, "now, go."
Sarafina couldn't speak, not without breaking down, so she gently picking up Nala. As she turned to leave, her eyes began to tear. Though she couldn't see it, Scar smiled when a few tears hit the ground.
Sarafina returned to the other lionesses, then put Nala down carefully, found a corner and quietly sobbed. Sarabi noticed, went over and asked, "what did Scar do?"
Sarafina didn't say anything for a moment, then managed to say, between sobs, "forced... ...his mate... ...save Nala..."
"Oh he did, did he," Sarabi asked, her voice going flat and hard, "I think I'll have to have a word with him about that." She paused for a moment, then said, "and I think I'll do it right now."
With that, she headed in the direction of the cave. "Scar," she said, entering the cave.
"Yes, what do you..." Scar began to say, then turned, "oh, it's you, Sarabi."
"Yes, it's me," Sarabi replied, approaching, "and I need to talk to you about something."
"Really," Scar asked, "and what would that be?"
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you," Sarabi said angrily, "but I'll do it anyway."
"Yes, yes, get on with it," Scar said.
"I've come about Sarafina," Sarabi said, "or more precisely, your blackmailing her to become your mate."
"I will need an heir sooner or later," Scar said, "and besides, I have the right, I am the king after all."
"You're a tyrant," Sarabi replied hotly, "how any respectable king could..."
"You came here for a reason," Scar asked pointedly.
"I did," Sarabi growled, glaring at Scar, "but it looks as though I'm wasting my time."
"Then why are you still here," Scar asked.
"I'm not sure," Sarabi replied, "maybe I thought you had a heart, obviously I was wrong."
"Get out," Scar said.
"Gladly," Sarabi replied, leaving. Once outside, she shot the most hateful glare she could muster at the cave-mouth, then stalked off. When she reached the other lionesses, she noticed Jumbe had moved, and was talking with, or at least, trying to talk with, Sarafina.
"Jumbe," Sarabi said, "can I talk to you in private?"
"Of course, Sarabi," Jumbe said, "at Solace?" She wasn't as formal towards Sarabi as most of the other lionesses were, but the queen had never minded. She was also the oldest lioness in the pride, having been born during the reign of Mohatu. She was also trustworthy, and could be relied upon to keep secrets.
Sarabi nodded. Jumbe quietly called Churo over and instructed her to give Sarafina as much moral support as possible, then followed the queen, as she headed towards the portion of Pride rock known as Solace. It was so-called, because, as much as he seemed to be keen on unity, Scar had consented to banning hyenas from a few areas in and around Pride Rock, the same way he had banned the lionesses from certain spots in and around the Elephant Graveyard.
"What's going on," Jumbe asked, when the two lionesses were alone.
"Scar is forcing Sarafina to become his mate," Sarabi replied, "supposedly he wants an heir, but I'm not so sure myself."
"That is despicable," Jumbe exclaimed scathingly, "utterly despicable."
"Agreed," Sarabi said emphatically.
"And I suppose he's threatening Nala to get her to do his bidding," Jumbe said coldly.
"He is," Sarabi said, "even I didn't think he'd sink that far."
"No-one decent should be able to," Jumbe said scornfully, "have you tried talking to him?"
"I have," Sarabi replied, "I'd hoped it would help a little, but it didn't."
"Well, at least you tried," Jumbe said.
"I know, but I still don't like," Sarabi said, then asked, "is there anything else I can do about this?"
"You could try talking to Rafiki," Jumbe said.
"I suppose I could," Sarabi said, "I'm not sure what good it would do though."
"You said Scar wanted an heir," Jumbe said, "what do you think he would do if Sarafina turned out to be, sterile."
"Sterile," Sarabi asked, looking at Jumbe, "how do you mean 'sterile'?"
"Oh, I'm sure there are ways of stopping a lioness from breeding," Jumbe said, "at least, temporarily."
"I hadn't thought of that," Sarabi said, then smiled at Jumbe, "and I thank you for suggesting it."
"We must always look after each other," Jumbe said in reply, "it was true before, and it's even more so now."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
