The sun was setting when I went to meet Scar. The story was that I'd been walking all day and I was close to exhaustion. I'd been wandering for months, surviving on the fringe between the prides. Now, I was too lonely and hungry to run any longer, and I was limping back to Scar to beg for another chance. My fur was mussed and I'd rolled around in mud so my appearance would match my story. I hadn't eaten all day so that I wouldn't smell full, although that was hardly my choice. Whatever Scar had done to the Pridelands, it had obviously driven away anything we could have eaten.

I thought I might run across one of the lionesses on my way to Pride Rock. Instead, I crossed path with a half-dozen hyenas. It was obvious they were out on a patrol. One might have thought they were keeping out intruders, but I knew enough about Scar to know they weren't there to keep anyone out. They were there to keep everyone in. I saw a face I would have been happy to never see again, and she looked equally pleased.

"Well, if it isn't the lost princess. Had enough of exile?" Shenzi asked. Her two stooge friends growled on either side of her.

"My old friend Shenzi. I see you still have your beauty mark," I said, looking at the three scars Simba left on her so long ago. That was how I wanted to remember him- as the hero he used to be. Shenzi growled along with her friends, and for a moment it looked as though they might all spring on me.

"I will see Scar," I said imperiously. "I'm sure he will be glad to see me unharmed." Shenzi took the lead and the other hyenas surrounded me as though they were protecting me, not trying to intimidate me. It would have worked before, but I'd faced down far worse than them since we'd last met. If I wasn't afraid of Scar, I certainly wasn't afraid of them.

Mufasa would have been sitting on Pride Rock, watching over his kingdom. In contrast, we found Scar lurking in the darkness of his cave, next to Zazu inside a skeleton. When he saw me, he played it off like he didn't even care, but I could see right through him. He rose in his most majestic manner and shifted his shoulder slightly so his mane fell more handsomely. The hyenas slunk away.

"Nala. It's good to see you again," he said. I suppose he thought he was charming. The only one Scar ever charmed was himself. I had to remind myself I was supposed to be the starving penitent. I wanted to laugh at him, not plead with him. I stayed quiet, pretending I was too overwhelmed to speak.

"You're home again. I hope you'll stay this time. I've missed you so," he said. "What brought you back?"

"I can't be alone anymore. I need a family," I said pleadingly. I widened my eyes like I was a cute little cub again and wondered if he found it more attractive.

"Of course. We all need a family. And every lioness needs a mate, don't they? You've been alone too long," Scar said. I tucked my tail between my legs.

"I thought you'd have someone else by now. You could have anyone," I said. I backed away a step like I wanted to run.

"A king must have a queen. My duties forbid me from taking anyone but you. And I am pleased to fulfill my role," Scar said. He came closer to me as I backed away, until I was backed against a wall.

"How is Sarafina? Can I see her?" I asked. Anything to change the subject and ward off his advances, just like a scared little cub.

"In due time. But she'll want to see a queen, not a dirty stray," Scar said. I looked at the ground.

"You'll let me stay then? And I can see my mother?" I asked. I breathed shallowly so it looked like I was thinner than I was.

"Of course. Anything for my queen," Scar purred. He bent low before me and touched his nose to my paw. I forced back a shudder. I just had to keep it together until I got to Mwali and the others so I could tell them what was going on. Then Scar would see what was really going on, but it would be too late.