Chapter 9 - Mimi kawa wewe sana
Scar looked at his reflection in the surface of the lake... and fixed a loose strand on his mane. Then he went back to the rock where he'd been lying for the past hour or so. Where could she be? She did agree to come and, for her own sake, she better not have lied...
Fortunately for her, the leader of the intruder pride decided to answer Scar's invitation and show up by the lake at dusk. She still didn't know if this was the right thing to do. Once she promised herself to never trust a male again... But this one had something in him that was... intriguing. And, after all, he was a king.
The lioness appeared by the edge of the lake. He saw her, but before he said anything, he stood up on the rock he was sitting at and let the last sunbeams illuminate his mane.
-Oh, come down from there and face me, you show-off! - the female attempted to pretend that she was not impressed at all.
- Do you see this? - she snarled when Scar finally faced her. - You bit me in the ear!
-Oh yes, that's right... Don't worry, I thing that notch kind of suits you! And besides- you decided to show up even in spite of that.
-Yeah, well... - she answered, loosing the rest of her pretended rudeness - It was becaues you asked me to... So I came to find out what you wanted to talk about.
-How about we start with names, hmm? - the king sent her a smile. - I am Scar, the king of the Pridelands.
-Yes, I can see your namesake clearly on your face there...
-What's your name, then?
-Zira... - said the lioness reluctantly.
-Ha! Zira? That means hate. How appropriate.
-Are you making fun of me?
-Oh, not at all, how could I dare do that? Well then, Zira. It seems that you have brought your pride here in search of food. How about I use my royal prerogatives and open the borders of my kingdom for you to stay?
Zira gave him a suspicious look.
-And... of course, I imagine that this service would not be for free?
-Ah! - Scar laughed. - It's a delight to see charm and witts incarnated in the same person.
She didn't like his grin. She promised herself that she would never be taken advantage of, especially by another male lion.
-What do you want? Quit wasting my time and get to the point.
This time, Scar dropped his seductive smile and spoke seriously.
-If you and your lionesses join my pride, Zira, I will expect of you anything I would have expected from the females who are already members. That is, to provide the pride with food. To protect our territory. And...
-And what else? - she inquired in a very, very curious manner...
For the first time since he could remember, Scar lost his track of thought.
-Erm... Ehm! You must know that I don't have a queen, Zira...
-Ooh, is that sooo?
-Yes... and, at some point, I will need one.
-I understand you perfectly.
-So. Anyway. Accept the conditions and you're in, no questions asked. Refuse, and...
-I already made up my mind. I won't refuse you. We're hungry and desperate, and will gladly join your pride... no questions asked.
Scar looked in her brown eyes, now almost reddish in the light of the setting sun. There was more cunning in them than he thought at first... And he liked it.
-So then, do we have a deal?
-Deal! - Zira answered with a grin. - Let me inform my girls of the good news... Where is your main lair?
-To the south. You can't miss it. I will be awaiting you arrival tomorrow.
-In that case, until tomorrow, Scar.
-Yes, I'll see you then, Zira.
The lionesses were standing around Pride Rock in a semi-circular order, according to Scar's instructions. The hyenas, too, were positioned in rows below them. But nobody knew, why.
-Scar, why are you making us stand here like this? - Sarabi asked the king, who was on the lookout at the very top of the rock.
-Hm? What is it? - preoccupied, he barely caught what she was saying. - Oh, it's you. Don't worry, Sarabi, you'll find out soon enough... and everybody else as well.
She didn't like the smile on his face and decided to stay. And then, in the distance, both of them saw movement. Sarabi understood, and she immidiately became furious.
-No, you didn't... You couldn't have! You invited them to enter the Pridelands?
-No, Sarabi you got it all wrong. - his smile became disgustingly slimy - I didn't invite them to enter the Pridelands... I invited them to become members of our pride!
-You can't do this, Scar!
Oh, he didn't like the way he yelled at him... Not at all. But, for old times' sake, he held his emotions at bay. All he did was turn around, look her in the eyes and say:
-I can do whatever I please. Get back to your position! Somebody might think that you're the queen here, standing by my side...
Before she left, Sarabi gave him a look that was quite unlike her- a hateful, angry stare. He was starting to believe more and more that the alliance with Zira was made not a moment too soon.
The intruder pride, having ceased to be intruders, walked boldly into the vicinity of Pride Rock, following their leader.
-Man, would ya look at this place! It's freakin' huge...
-Stop making a fool of yourself, Hasira! - Zira ordered her subordinate. - This is the domain of the king. What do you think it would look like?
The lioness went dumb, but a moment later another one couldn't help asking another question.
-Hey... why are there hyenas here? And so many of them, too?
Zira seemed not to be concerned with that fact at all.
-How am I supposed to know? Maybe they're king Scar's minions, or somthing. The Pridelanders must have made an alliance with them.
-Sheesh, some alliance... - whispered another female. Zira's pride walked in between a row of giggling, drooling hyenas that snapped their jaws at them. And even though the lionesses have always been faithful to their leader, this time some of them began to question her decission in the bottom of their hearts...
And then they saw the extremely unhappy faces of the Pridelanders.
-Oh brother, what a welcoming comitee! Did we come here just to start another fight?
Zira silenced her grumbling lionesses with an angry stare. Yesterday, she told them that she would take care of everything, no matter what. And now she was planning to keep her word.
-Greetings, king Scar! - she bowed her head before the lion, who was just descending from the top of his rock. - My sisters and I have come to pledge loyalty to you and your successors.
-I accept - he answered, plainly. - Zira, you and your lionesses are now members of this pride, with all the privileges and duties attatched to that honorable title. I trust you will fulfill them... faithfully.
Both of them smiled. But not Scar's females. Oh no, they didn't like that at all...
-... and now- let's celebrate! - the king announced, what was followed by a wild roar of all the gathered hyenas. Hungry from waiting for the ceremony, they now ran to their hunting grounds and vanished in an instant. The Pridelanders were left standing there, stupefied.
-Well, what are you waiting for? - Scar said to the furious Sarabi. - Go and get me and our new pridemates something to eat!
Sarabi wanted to say something very much, but seeing as the king was alread inviting Zira and her former former 'intruders' to his den, she held her tongue. Now she not only had a bunch of hyenas to cope with, but even members of her own species...
AN: Oh boy, they're here... As if there wasn't enough trouble already. But Scar likes power, so who can bale him for making more subjects for himself?