These were definitely the Pridelands, and if Kion had to guess they were near the southern borders. However, the when was what was giving him trouble. He knew it had to be some point during Scar's reign; the grasses were dying out and there were bald patches where soil could no longer hang on to the vitality it needed to support vegetation. However, Kion was about to make the mistake of deeming it an early point in Scar's rule when he saw Lana.
More importantly, he saw Lana as a young woman as opposed to a cub or adolescent; she was definitely under four years of age from the way she moved and acted. Especially since she seemed to prance and dance across the savannah as though she had not a care in the world. She was not yet Queen of the kingdom just south of the southern bluffs, and as such her beauty was not yet flavored with the careful weight of maturity, authority and diplomacy that would come when Sefu returned.
No, the beauty that trotted before Mufasa's grandson was instead of a free and untamed passion for life that was also mixed with a strong constitution, both mentally and physically, that Kion had only ever seen from Bunga before. As Kion was finding out, what made Bunga his best friend was what would make a lioness absolutely irresistible to him, for he was certainly taken by who would become Rani and Jai's mother. For what seemed like forever, Kion had simply stared in awe of the lioness that ran free. He admired her soft, chocolate fur, her beautiful violet eyes, her feminine muscles rippling as she moved with the smoothness and grace that only a lioness from the Jungle could effect.
"Rani is truly following in her mother's footsteps. It is why I told Damu that she does not entirely deserve his blame, and why he shouldn't dislike you as much as he does. It is also why she doesn't deserve… Just continue to follow her." Mudai said, and as she did Kion realized that Damu had already moved ahead, racing after the dark beauty as though she was a cub who needed to be protected. Of course, he would. Kion thought with derision.
He is no different than any other male, Kion. Yes, even you, for I can sense the lust in your heart for what you see right now. The same lust you have for Rani, in fact. Kion was disgusted that he even felt this way, but he was dead ashamed that he couldn't even retreat to his thoughts right now. He cleared his mind, and broke into a run. After a few moments, he had caught sight of Damu, and just over the boulder he hid behind he could see Lana had stopped at the waterhole. Kion almost sprinted ahead, but in his mindlessness found himself doing as Damu did.
"Like mother, like daughter, eh?" Damu said, lecherously licking his lips as he stared at the lioness fishing. Kion almost popped him on the back of the head, but he figured that there was a reason it was necessary for them to hide. And also why it was necessary for as little noise as possible. Mudai teleporting to their side also cooled off any intent the bigger lion might have had, anyway.
"I don't think I need to tell you two why you're seeing this. Do you know when we are?" Mudai asked, in such a way that indicated that both lions should know the answer to this question already. Unfortunately, neither lion could confidently answer it. Mudai sighed. "This is just after Ni returned to the Breezelands." She said this as though this was a hint to the obvious, but the blank expressions on their faces told the snow leopard what she needed to know.
"Ni returned to the Breezelands on Lana's encouragement, and challenged Mega for the crown. Despite the odds, he won and then exiled him for the crimes he committed, especially the ones against the lionesses." Damu repeated those last words, almost in a comically dumb way. "Crimes against the lionesses?" He was asking for elaboration, but Mudai simply pointed ahead. "For example…"
As soon as the two lions looked up, they saw the male in question. He was unmistakable; the hazelnut fur and the chocolate mane that wrapped around his head like a luxurious cloak practically announced his presence for him. His name meant 'to break off a piece' in the old language, but in the new language it still perfectly described the tall, muscular lion that was now sauntering his way over to the dark princess.
"Well, look at what we have here. Now, what's a beauty like you doing out here… All alone?" He sounded so fatherly, yet right now it seemed… wrong. Even Kion had to admit that he was sensing some foul intentions from the lion who would eventually babysit and then teach Kion everything he'd need to know about advising a Ruler. However, Kion was not so quick as Damu or Mudai to make a judgment call.
No, that would come right about here. "All alone? Teehee… Silly lion. We're in the Pridelands. And I'm on a morning stroll." That seemed to put Mega on the defensive for a moment, until he remembered a certain detail. "The Pridelands? Aren't you Icarus' daughter?" He led, and against her better judgment, she decided to follow. "Yep, but right now I'm a guest of King Scar." That information gave Mega pause. "King Scar? As in… Mufasa's twin brother?" Kion and Damu both could practically see the ideas forming in the older lion's head.
"Yes, him. Mufasa and Simba both died in a horrible stampede, but the good news was that Scar was the next in line for the crown. And that was probably the best thing for the Pridelands; the hyenas are no longer a problem, to the very least." Lana explained, and Mega didn't miss the chance to probe for more information. "I'm sure his teammates are happy they don't have that problem anymore." At this Lana seemed to lose a little bit of her cheerfulness, before she resolved herself to bring Mega up to speed about events in the Pridelands.
"Scar's Lion Guard isn't around anymore. Scar's father had them murdered, and worse, forced Mufasa and Sarabi to help him talk the buffalo herd into doing his dirty work. Because of his evil and selfishness, they never lived to see their cubs grow up and I can never hear them tell me stories of their exploits as the Lion Guard." Lana said with regret, and though Mega feigned empathy for the young lioness, his eyes told Kion and Damu exactly how optimistic he had become. Kion refused to think about it, but Mudai didn't have to be a mind reader to recognize the denial forming in his mind.
However, she was glad that she could do just that at this moment. HA! Those damned buffalo WERE good for something, for once in their worthless lives. Hope Mikali, Ojore and especially that smart-ass Kilio enjoyed being turned into cornmeal by their steak dinners. Serves those pricks right for daring to interfere with me then! I hope they're watching as I have my fun… Mudai was tempted to allow Kion and Damu to hear what was going through Mega's mind right now, for the two displaced lions only watched what they believed to be a fatherly lion comforting a lioness who was saddened at having never met her idols.
However, the next words out of Mega's mouth told Mudai that there was no need for her to unmask him; he would do that well enough on his own. "Would you like to know what they were truly like?" He asked in an almost coaxing way, though with how quickly Lana noticed the change in his body language and how close he actually was to her he may as well have announced his actual intentions. Lana took a few steps back, but noticeably her beautiful violet eyes never broke contact with Mega's deep blue orbs. In fact, they hardened with a serious defiance that even a blind corpse could plainly see. "I'm sure King Scar would be more than happy to tell me stories about his heyday. In fact, he's probably expecting me back right about now."
"Wasting your time, Lana." Damu found himself saying as he noticed her backing away slowly, when what she should be doing is bolting with the speed lionesses were capable of, and that males wished they could have to catch them. And the reason was because Mega knew exactly what she was doing, and his demeanor quickly changed.
And the 'change in demeanor' was the older lion suddenly leaping upon the dark princess. Lana was a pretty big lioness, as big as Sarabi in fact. However, even a small male was still easily a hundred pounds heavier than even the largest lioness, and about that much stronger. And right now, with Mega's large from pinning her down, she may as well have been a kitten struggling against an elephant. "Where do you think you're going? It's very rude to deny your elders like that." Mudai knew what he meant to say was 'walk away from', but the primal urges had a way of speaking for themselves.
"Please, no! Stop!" Lana said, her voice breaking as Mega pressed down harder on her shoulders. The look in his eyes as he bared his teeth made him resemble Iago so much, the patience of the elder lion gone completely as Lana made it clear that she could see his game a mile away. "You'd do well to shut up and close your eyes. Don't worry, little girl: I'll be gentle." Mega said this as though he meant it, and as the tears rolled down Lana's cheeks, the elder lion was too entranced by the beauty under him to hear the rustle of the dried grasses.
Neither Kion nor Damu could believe it, but for once they were both happy to see Chumvi. Mostly because, for once, that brutal rage of his wasn't directed at either of them.