Chapter 20: The End of Goodness

Ahadi stalked forward, his claws out, growling with his eyes narrowed in obvious pleasure. I backed up, my eyes wide with fear. A memory suddenly flashed before my eyes, and I found myself lost in the darkness of my world.

"Mama what does Zira mean?"

Shira looked at me sharply. "Why do you ask Bianca?"

I shrugged innocently. "I heard Naku talking about the legend of the great lioness Zira."

Shira covered my shoulders with her tail, and used her paw to scoot me closer to her. "My sweet Bianca," she began, "You shouldn't listen to that legend. It's a bad, terrible legend."

I scrunched up my nose. "But Mommy Zira wasn't bad in the beginning!"

Shira purred. "I know, sweetheart. However, a darkness crawled into her soul and latched on to her one weakness. It grew, until it overtook any good that was left within her. She started…. Doing bad things."

I perked my ears up. "What bad things?"

Shira looked at me gravely. "She ended up killing her own family. Murdered them, because they 'got in her way.' Her own family. She used to be a lion with never ending kindness, but she turned into a monster that would willingly kill her own flesh and blood simply because they got in her way."

I looked up at my mother. "Mama you didn't tell me why she renamed herself Zira."

Shira glanced at me, then glanced away with a deep sigh. "Bianca, I don't want to have to tell you this now."

"Please Mommy! I promise I won't tell anyone else! I promise! Just please, please tell me!"

Shira shifted her front paws to neatly tuck under herself. "Very well. But before I tell you what her name means, I must first tell you the whole story. Knowing Naku, he didn't get even a quarter of it right."

I let out a tiny yelp of delight. My mother began to tell me the story, and I could almost see myself in Zira's pawprints.

"Zira's original name wasn't Zira, as you probably know. She was born with the name 'Kalina,' which means love."

"Kalina is a beautiful name," I interrupted.

Shira gave me a sharp glance. "I can't tell you the story if you won't be quiet," she gently reprimanded.

I ducked my head. "Sorry Mommy."

"Anyways, Kalina was just a normal cub, always playing with the other cubs and getting into trouble occasionally. Kalina's mother, Zaina, was a quiet lioness, never talking to any lion. That is until one day, her old mate showed up. His name was Kade. He was a lion of tall stature, that's for sure. He literally crawled to Zaina and begged her to give him a second chance as her mate. Zaina agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and Kalina and Zaina went with Kade to Kade's home. Kade's mother, Indigo, was more than delighted to see Zaina and Kalina. Kade's father, Kuta, was less than happy. He was furious. He took Kade to a secret spot and threatened him. He told him that if he did not cause Kalina to become a lioness of fury, then he would kill Zaina. Kade begged Kuta to just let it be, and earned himself a swipe that very nearly took his eye out. However, Kade ducked at the last second and escaped with a scratched eye. But he knew that no matter where he and Zaina would run, Kuta would always come after them until he had gotten rid of Zaina. So, dragging his paws, he went back to Zaina and Kalina. He offered to teach Kalina how to hunt, and Zaina, though surprised, agreed."

I quickly interrupted, "But wasn't she suspicious?"

Shira gave me that 'mother' look, and I quickly pressed my jaws together.

"As I was saying, he had offered to teach Kalina how to hunt. And that's where it all started. Instead of hunting, he would taunt Kalina to the point that she would literally have a nervous breakdown. He did that every day, and threatened to hurt her if she ever told her mother. This went on for years. Finally, Kalina was tired of it. She went with Kade to 'go hunting,' as usual. But instead of waiting for him to begin taunting her, she leaped on him and killed him. She realized that by getting rid of the problem in her life by killing it, that she could be free. She began to do whatever she wanted, and when Kuta confronted her about stealing food, she killed him too. She began to enjoy killing. When she finally saw her mother again, Zaina was furious at Kalina. Kalina leaped on her own mother and before she killed her, whispered that she had changed her name to Zira. I skipped a lot of the story, because you are not old enough to hear it. But I will grant your wish, if you promise me you will go to sleep without complaining."

I growled excitedly. "I promise!"

Shira purred. "Very well. Zira means hate."

The flashback ended, and I suddenly realized the danger I was in. I also knew what I had to do. I had to change my name. Shira had mentioned that Kalina had changed her name because of what she felt at the time. I growled threateningly. "Never mess with Zira."

Taka looked confused. "Bianca, you know that's just a legend."

"Legend it may be," I snarled, "but I am living it out."

Taka looked gently at me. "Bianca…"

I roared furiously. "NO! Did you not hear me?! My name is ZIRA!"

And that's when Ahadi leaped for me. I tried to dodge out of the way, but I couldn't get out of his grasp fast enough. With a swipe faster than lightning, Ahadi's claws sliced my ear. I shrieked in pain and felt the blood. Taka snarled and got between Ahadi and I. "Bianca, I mean Zira, run! Run and don't look back!"

I took off, gasping for breath. I planned on running until I had passed the river. I truly did intend on following Taka's instructions, but whipped around when I heard an agonized scream.

I shouldn't have looked back. Taka's face had blood dripping down it, and when I looked into his eye…..His left eye….. had a deep scar running through it.

"Zira no! Run! Don't… worry!" he gasped.

I blinked to hold back the tears, and turned and fled.

AN: Yay! I got another chapter up! So, this chapter explains two things: How Zira's ear had some of it missing, and how Scar got his scar. Aren't I smart? Haha just kidding. I hope you guys like this chapter. As you can tell, I used your names! Bet you guys didn't expect this! ;) Anyways, thanks so much for the reviews. Just to let you know ahead of time, I won't be updating until next Tuesday unless some miracle happens. I'm going on a trip and I won't have a computer with me. So if you just hang tight, it will come. Oh and don't forget to review! :)