Chapter 14

Waiting for Scar at the bottom of the path, Molly was surprised when Rafiki came down alone.

"Rafiki? What happened?"

The baboon smiled at her, "Don't worry, Molly, everything's fine. Scar has everything under control. How are you feeling though? Enjoying being a lioness?"

His attempt at a change of subject did not go unnoticed, but Molly knew she wasn't going to get a straight answer out of him and instead nodded, "Very much. I don't really miss anything from being a human, except maybe already dead meat."

Chuckling, Rafiki placed a hand under her chin, "I see how that would take a bit of getting used to," he peered into her blue eyes and hesitated, his smile faltering. Then it was plastered back on as if it had always been there, "Very glad to hear you're doing well. Very glad. I suppose I should be getting back. These Outlands aren't exactly welcoming to an old baboon like me."

"But you just got here." Molly was surprised how much she didn't want Rafiki to go. She'd barely had any time with him where she could actually speak to him, but she'd still grown to like the crazy monkey.

Patting her side, Rafiki nodded, "We'll see each other again, soon," he didn't sound like he believed it himself, and there was a sad look in his eyes even as he continued to smile at her, "Take care, Molly; of yourself and that stubborn lion," he waved a hand absently back up at the cliff.

"I will, Rafiki," she raised a paw and scooped him up into an awkward hug.

Wrapping his skinny arms around her neck, he returned it wholeheartedly. Then he turned and made his way down the path out of the graveyard. Watching him go for a moment, Molly turned back to the path. Considering waiting, she decided against it and began the ascent up to the top.

...

Scar smelled and heard Molly before she was even halfway up. Waiting patiently, he schooled his expression into that of bored contemplation. As her head appeared over the edge, he called out, "I thought I asked you to stay below?"

Molly didn't answer, she simply sat next to him, staring up at the slowly lightening sky. They sat there in silence as the stars above winked out, giving way to morning. When the sun finally peeked over the edge of the horizon, Molly turned to him, "I don't know what you and Rafiki discussed, but I want you to know that I trust you. I know you'll do whatever's best for us."

The admission surprised Scar. She didn't even know what kind of danger she was in, but her tone and the look in her eyes told him she'd entrusted him with her safety, without question. Scar's chest tightened. For one mad moment, he thought of telling her everything; his losses, his heartbreak, every gruesome detail of his bloody past; but the moment passed as the sunlight streaked across the plains and lit up the giant rock his brother called home. No, he'd keep his secrets a while longer. How long would her trust last if she knew the real him?

"Thank you," he finally said, and rubbed his head against hers.

They remained there for a moment longer before Molly gave a great yawn and Scar mimicked in turn.

"Come, let's get some rest."

Turning to follow him down the steep path, Molly smiled, "Sounds great. Maybe tomorrow night we can try hunting again?"

Scoffing, Scar teased, "Only if you think your puny human sensibilities can hold out," he gave her a quick nip on the neck to let her know he was only joking and she giggled.

"Well that's what I've got a big bad lion for. You said the females in Mufasa's pride are the ones that do all the work, right?"

"Yes..."

"Well that's one thing I've got up on them then."

"I doubt they'll see it that way," he replied, a little worried that she'd embarrass him in front of his brother's court.

"Pfft, they're just jealous."

Chuckling, Scar shook his head, "Whatever helps you sleep, Molly."

...

Scar woke the next evening from a fitful sleep; his dreams had been troubled by shadows from the past. Nestled against his side was a still sleeping Molly, her side rising and falling slowly, peacefully. Laying back down next to her, Scar dozed in and out until he felt her shift and lift her head.

"Good morning," he licked her face gently, "Sleep well?"

Giving a huge yawn and standing to stretch and shake, Molly returned the lick, "Mmhmm. I'm surprised how well I can sleep on the hard ground as a lion. My human body would be screaming for a chiropractor after that."

"A what?" he blinked at her.

"Sorry, uh...a human that helps your back stop hurting."

"Ah."

Pups ran past the cave entrance and upon seeing the two lions waking, skidded to a halt and stuck their curious heads in, "Molly? Do you and Scar want to play?" Dakarai asked, tail wagging eagerly.

"Sure!" Molly answered, but then her stomach growled loudly enough for Scar to hear.

Raising an eyebrow at her as she glanced down, Scar grinned, "Perhaps after breakfast?"

Nodding, Molly relented, "Yeah, that's probably best."

Stretching his back and legs, claws extending out to scratch along the ground, Scar shook his thick mane and stepped out into the night; Molly following close behind.

"You sure you want to go on the hunt? I can always bring food back."

Thinking for only a moment, Molly shook her head, "No, I'll go. I just-"

"Can't kill anything," Scar finished for her, not unkindly, "Got it. You can flush them out towards me then. We'll gather the hyenas and between the five of us should be able to catch SOMETHING."

The trio, Scar found out from another pup, were already out on the plains scavenging. Using the opportunity to teach Molly more about tracking, he had her sniff them out. He was impressed by how quickly she picked up the scent. Though she trailed off from the correct path more than once; he'd seen other lioness' do worse.

"Boss! Molly!" Shenzi greeted them as they came across the three gnawing on the remains of a wildebeest.

Ed gave a loud cackle and rushed to Molly's side, nuzzling his nose against hers, tail wagging so hard Scar was certain it'd fly off.

Clearing his throat, Scar caught the trio's attention, "Are you interested in fresh meat, or are you happy with...that?"

Shrugging, Banzai took another large bite, his head covered in blood up to his ears, and smiled happily at them, "I'm good here, boss. There's plenty for us, and it's not that old of a kill."

Scar sniffed the air, suddenly worried about who eactly had made the kill. Sarafina's scent met his nose and he sighed with relief. He wasn't sure what had made her leave such a prize, but there were no traces of Pacha, and that was all he cared about.

Molly's stomach growled again and she looked sideways at Scar, "How bad is it for a lion to scavenge?"

"There's nothing wrong with it," Scar made a face, "It just never tastes as good." He didn't want to go into how he hated eating off scraps left by Mufasa's pride, "You can slate your hunger here if you'd like, but there won't be enough meat on that thing for all of us. I'll go hunt for myself."

"A-are you sure?" Molly had already taken an eager step towards the carcass.

Smiling, Scar nodded and gave her a nudge on her rump, "Go on, Molly. I won't be long."

The trio easily made room for her and Molly dug in with fervor. Shaking his head in amusement, Scar wondered how long it would take for her to take the next step. How different was eating from killing, really?

...

Eating her fill from the wildebeest, Molly heaved a big sigh and flopped down in the tall grass a few feet away. Shenzi was done too and came to sit next to her as she began to try and clean herself.

"Jeeze, it gets everywhere, doesn't it?" she said a little irritably. Noticing the female hyena was making no attempt to clean herself, Molly wondered if the hyenas ever bathed at all. She hadn't noticed a particularly BAD smell in the graveyard, but she was beginning to realize that something her human nose would have found unbearable wouldn't phase her lion nose in the least. She HAD just been neck deep in the bowels of a wildebeest after all.

Scratching, Shenzi settled comfortably after a moment and laughed at Banzai and Ed play-fighting over a femur, "Get 'im Ed!" she cheered.

"Are you brothers and sister?" Molly asked.

"Hmm? Oh, us? No, just old friends. Banzai has a brother still alive, but Ed's and my families are all gone."

"I'm sorry," Molly felt awkward for bringing it up.

Shenzi shrugged, "Happens."

Surprised at how nonchalant Shenzi was about the death of her entire family, Molly reminded herself how the world worked out here. It was a cruel reality, but it was THEIR reality, and she was a part of that now. How many of them would she have to watch die? The thought made her shiver.

"What about you? Was your whole family captured by the humans?"

"No...uh...just me."

"Hmm, you know where they are?"

Shaking her head maybe a little too fervently, Molly tried to come up with an excuse, "I...was taken when I was very young. I don't remember anything about before. Just the humans."

"Wow, well you seem to be doing pretty well for having never been out here before," Shenzi watched as Banzai won the tug-o-war and she giggled.

Ed started laughing too, despite being the loser in the game, and Banzai couldn't help but join in. Their laughter was contagious, and Molly found herself laughing along with them.

...

Having had success in taking down a crippled antelope, Scar was chewing a mouthful of thigh when he heard it, Molly's laughter mixed with the hyenas. He was happy she had eaten willingly. She had had him worried. He needed her strong for the journey. The thought was sobering and his smile faded as he swallowed and lunged forward for another bite. Tearing off a chunk, he began to chew thoughtfully.

Perhaps he could train Molly, teach her to fight. If she could defend herself a little better, maybe he wouldn't have to worry so much. Pacha would still be something HE would have to deal with, but who knew who Pacha could be bringing with him? Scar somehow doubted his childhood friend would arrive alone. Besides, Sarabi and the others were just as much of a threat to his inexperienced human as Pacha and any pride he'd managed to scrounge up.

"Hmph," Scar tore another piece of antelope away and eyed the sky reproachfully.

Eating until he was full to bursting, Scar stood and shook himself. Making his way back to Molly and the trio, he made up his mind to make her the best fighter he could. He knew he wasn't the strongest or most experienced, but he knew enough to keep her alive. Besides, it might be better for her to fight using her head more than her physical body; his way of fighting would only serve to keep her safer.

"Scar!" she bounded through the grass towards him, rubbing her body along his, "I missed you."

Taken aback by this, Scar said, "I wasn't gone long."

Her blue eyes looked downcast, and he licked her face.

"I missed you too, Molly."

Smiling, she flopped onto the ground and rolled onto her back, "I really love being here, Scar; with you. It's so wonderful out here."

He looked down at her, heart beating against his chest as if it would escape and fly away, "It is now," he agreed.

Phew, okay, there ya go, three chapters in one night as an apology for being MIA for so long! Hope you all enjoy them! I've really missed good ol' Scar and Molly. I'm sorry again for the long wait. I'm going to keep plugging away at this. I'm really enjoying it and getting back in the groove again! Thanks for all the love I've already gotten from some of you on the new chapters! It means the world to me to know you guys are still around and willing to give me a second chance! It's seriously SUPER encouraging! Love you all!