Sarabi's eyes snapped open as she heard something pad up behind her. She
whirled around and grasped Nala protectively from whatever was approaching.
In the light of the moon, Sarabi could make out to glowing green orbs
staring straight down at her. Soon, Scar's figure was present in the light.
"So, I see you survived the chase," Scar observed.
Sarabi glared. "Yes, I did."
Scar smirked, then looked around. "I just finished making a check, and it seems we are missing four of our lionesses. Johari, Zalika, Sanjo-"
"And Sarafina, yes," Sarabi finished. "Their bodies were all found and identified. None of them survived."
"How most unfortunate," Scar said, without a hint of remorse. "Such a tragedy that you not only failed to bring home a kill, but you let four of our precious pride members die in that attack."
Sarabi's eyes glowed with hate, but she didn't yell back. She didn't want to wake Nala.
"You wish I had died in that attack," Sarabi said. "You were glad to hear of that tragedy."
Scar looked at her with that cold stare. "Yes, yes you're right," Scar replied. "I wish you had died in that attack."
Sarabi was taken aback. Had he truly just said that? Right in her face? How could he have grown so cold and ruthless like this?
"In fact Sarabi, that's why I told the hyenas to go after you," Scar said.
Sarabi's eyes went wide with disbelief. Her mouth hung open and she just looked at Scar, frozen where she was.
"Yes my dear. It was my attempt to receive the vengeance that I rightfully deserve for Taalib's death. But, as I can see, you are hurting more than ever you could if I had killed you. Sarafina is dead, Simba is dead, and dear Mufasa is dead. Who do you have left to run to? Nobody. How better to make you suffer for what you did?"
Sarabi was trembling now. Scar was right. And now she understood. When Scar had seen them returning with the kill, he sent that hyena pack after them. He knew it would throw Sarabi into rage and that she would most likely kill all of them at the scene. He had then roused the rest of the pack, telling them the lionesses had killed their comrades and to seek vengeance. That's when the entire pack came after them.
"How could you do that?" Sarabi hissed. "Give those hyenas permission to slaughter members of your own pride!"
"Do you forget who I am? I am the King of these lands, and I can punish any of you however I feel it necessary to do so!"
Sarabi was speechless. This was not the lion that she had loved in her youth. No, this was a monster, a foul, merciless, selfish monster who had taken over her old friend.
"You're not the lion you once were," Sarabi whispered to him. "I see now that Taka is truly dead. You really are Scar."
Scar just looked at her, his eyes piercing through her very being.
Sarabi turned away from him and lay her head down. She couldn't stand to look at him any longer. She heard him pad away slowly and head over to his sleeping spot next to Zira. She had recently announced she was pregnant again, which had overjoyed Scar. But during the course of Zira's pregnancy, Sarabi was forbidden to be within one hundred feet of Zira at all times. Sarabi was just fine with that.
About one season after the accident, Sarabi went on a long hunt with Nala. She could see Nala already making her transformation into a beautiful young lioness. She was taller, and her body had begun to grow much more refined. She was gaining a delicate posture, and her eyes flashed brightly. Sarabi had begun to teach her the art of the hunt, and she could already see that the lioness was exceptionally skilled, especially for an adolescent.
Zira had brought forth her second cub, another male she named Nuka. But the labor had gone terribly wrong, and the cub had breached. Rafiki had been called over, and had to instruct Zira through the difficult birth over the course of several hours. After the cub was born, Rafiki could see there had been some damage. He was very thin and bony, and his fur was pale and sickly looking. Over all, they knew the cub would never be very healthy. Scar turned his nose up at the cub, and immediately denied him the chance of having the throne. They would simply have to try again.
But Rafiki approached Scar with some startling news. After Sarabi and Zira's fight, the damage Sarabi had inflicted on Zira had destroyed any chance of Zira having a healthy cub. Scar was outraged, and in his anger, forbade Sarabi to eat anything from the next two kills. She could go for water only once a day, and had to be with an escort.
Sarabi turned her head from side to side, searching the dried, starving Pride Lands. There had not been a herd in the Pride Lands for ages. They had been living on field mice for several weeks, but Sarabi could see that it wouldn't satisfy for much longer. She took Nala alone, and the two decided to venture beyond the Pride Lands to find something, anything to feed their starving Pride. Noticing her movements, Sarabi could see Nala's strength declining. She needed decent food fast. At last they reached a small oasis, and a lone zebra. Sarabi's eyes lit up with hope, and she signaled Nala to get low to stalk. Sarabi slowly crept in, watching every step she took for caution. Snapping a single twig would send the zebra running. Her eyes were fixated on the beast, her posture gracefully lowered and ready to strike. Suddenly a golden flash caught her eye. She swerved her vision to see what it was. The sight that befell her vision nearly made her loose her footing.
Lowered in the stalks of grass, Sarabi made out the appearance of a golden adolescent male. Her eyes went wide with shock and fear. He was trying to steal their kill! No. Not after waiting and starving for so long. She wouldn't let this happen. She glanced over at Nala and gave her the signal to move out with the attack. Nala leapt with all her strength, and Sarabi shot next. At the exact same instant, the golden adolescent pounced after the zebra. Completely surprised, the zebra ran straight into Sarabi, who quickly latched onto it with her jaw. She dragged the zebra to the ground and held it tightly. At last she felt the life slip from the struggling body as it fell limp. As she released her hold, she felt something barrel into her and knock her back. Sarabi whirled to see the male swipe at Nala, forcing her back. He then ran in after the kill.
Sarabi leapt agilely at the male and pushed him back.
"Sorry young one," Sarabi said. "But my family is starving. We need this kill."
The male just looked at them and didn't speak. As Sarabi looked at him, images of her little Simba began to plague her mind. The resemblance was just uncanny! He was still young, around Nala's age, with a beautiful rust colored mane growing on his head, neck, and chest. Several locks drifted over his bright ruby eyes, and he had a healthy, strong figure. He had beautiful golden fur and a creamy belly and paws. Overall, a sight to see. Sarabi shook her head to rid herself of the thought. No, Simba was dead. Perhaps this lion was out hunting for his own pride, though it was quite uncommon to see a male hunting. Usually only the rogues hunted.
Nala motioned to go after the male again, but Sarabi held her back.
"Let him go Nala," Sarabi said. "He means no harm."
The lion just stared at them for a moment, before at last turning around and bounding in the opposite direction. Sarabi watched him go, and it almost saddened her. She watched him disappear into the grassy plains, and into some unknown land that Sarabi could not imagine. She shook her head to clear the image and looked back at Nala.
"Come, we best get this back to the pride."
Nala quickly agreed, and the two picked up the zebra and dragged it in the direction towards home. But before she left, Sarabi turned her head one last time, and looked into the direction the lion had taken. Her eyes drifted to the sun, and in her heart, she prayed for this lion's safety and health.
"So, I see you survived the chase," Scar observed.
Sarabi glared. "Yes, I did."
Scar smirked, then looked around. "I just finished making a check, and it seems we are missing four of our lionesses. Johari, Zalika, Sanjo-"
"And Sarafina, yes," Sarabi finished. "Their bodies were all found and identified. None of them survived."
"How most unfortunate," Scar said, without a hint of remorse. "Such a tragedy that you not only failed to bring home a kill, but you let four of our precious pride members die in that attack."
Sarabi's eyes glowed with hate, but she didn't yell back. She didn't want to wake Nala.
"You wish I had died in that attack," Sarabi said. "You were glad to hear of that tragedy."
Scar looked at her with that cold stare. "Yes, yes you're right," Scar replied. "I wish you had died in that attack."
Sarabi was taken aback. Had he truly just said that? Right in her face? How could he have grown so cold and ruthless like this?
"In fact Sarabi, that's why I told the hyenas to go after you," Scar said.
Sarabi's eyes went wide with disbelief. Her mouth hung open and she just looked at Scar, frozen where she was.
"Yes my dear. It was my attempt to receive the vengeance that I rightfully deserve for Taalib's death. But, as I can see, you are hurting more than ever you could if I had killed you. Sarafina is dead, Simba is dead, and dear Mufasa is dead. Who do you have left to run to? Nobody. How better to make you suffer for what you did?"
Sarabi was trembling now. Scar was right. And now she understood. When Scar had seen them returning with the kill, he sent that hyena pack after them. He knew it would throw Sarabi into rage and that she would most likely kill all of them at the scene. He had then roused the rest of the pack, telling them the lionesses had killed their comrades and to seek vengeance. That's when the entire pack came after them.
"How could you do that?" Sarabi hissed. "Give those hyenas permission to slaughter members of your own pride!"
"Do you forget who I am? I am the King of these lands, and I can punish any of you however I feel it necessary to do so!"
Sarabi was speechless. This was not the lion that she had loved in her youth. No, this was a monster, a foul, merciless, selfish monster who had taken over her old friend.
"You're not the lion you once were," Sarabi whispered to him. "I see now that Taka is truly dead. You really are Scar."
Scar just looked at her, his eyes piercing through her very being.
Sarabi turned away from him and lay her head down. She couldn't stand to look at him any longer. She heard him pad away slowly and head over to his sleeping spot next to Zira. She had recently announced she was pregnant again, which had overjoyed Scar. But during the course of Zira's pregnancy, Sarabi was forbidden to be within one hundred feet of Zira at all times. Sarabi was just fine with that.
About one season after the accident, Sarabi went on a long hunt with Nala. She could see Nala already making her transformation into a beautiful young lioness. She was taller, and her body had begun to grow much more refined. She was gaining a delicate posture, and her eyes flashed brightly. Sarabi had begun to teach her the art of the hunt, and she could already see that the lioness was exceptionally skilled, especially for an adolescent.
Zira had brought forth her second cub, another male she named Nuka. But the labor had gone terribly wrong, and the cub had breached. Rafiki had been called over, and had to instruct Zira through the difficult birth over the course of several hours. After the cub was born, Rafiki could see there had been some damage. He was very thin and bony, and his fur was pale and sickly looking. Over all, they knew the cub would never be very healthy. Scar turned his nose up at the cub, and immediately denied him the chance of having the throne. They would simply have to try again.
But Rafiki approached Scar with some startling news. After Sarabi and Zira's fight, the damage Sarabi had inflicted on Zira had destroyed any chance of Zira having a healthy cub. Scar was outraged, and in his anger, forbade Sarabi to eat anything from the next two kills. She could go for water only once a day, and had to be with an escort.
Sarabi turned her head from side to side, searching the dried, starving Pride Lands. There had not been a herd in the Pride Lands for ages. They had been living on field mice for several weeks, but Sarabi could see that it wouldn't satisfy for much longer. She took Nala alone, and the two decided to venture beyond the Pride Lands to find something, anything to feed their starving Pride. Noticing her movements, Sarabi could see Nala's strength declining. She needed decent food fast. At last they reached a small oasis, and a lone zebra. Sarabi's eyes lit up with hope, and she signaled Nala to get low to stalk. Sarabi slowly crept in, watching every step she took for caution. Snapping a single twig would send the zebra running. Her eyes were fixated on the beast, her posture gracefully lowered and ready to strike. Suddenly a golden flash caught her eye. She swerved her vision to see what it was. The sight that befell her vision nearly made her loose her footing.
Lowered in the stalks of grass, Sarabi made out the appearance of a golden adolescent male. Her eyes went wide with shock and fear. He was trying to steal their kill! No. Not after waiting and starving for so long. She wouldn't let this happen. She glanced over at Nala and gave her the signal to move out with the attack. Nala leapt with all her strength, and Sarabi shot next. At the exact same instant, the golden adolescent pounced after the zebra. Completely surprised, the zebra ran straight into Sarabi, who quickly latched onto it with her jaw. She dragged the zebra to the ground and held it tightly. At last she felt the life slip from the struggling body as it fell limp. As she released her hold, she felt something barrel into her and knock her back. Sarabi whirled to see the male swipe at Nala, forcing her back. He then ran in after the kill.
Sarabi leapt agilely at the male and pushed him back.
"Sorry young one," Sarabi said. "But my family is starving. We need this kill."
The male just looked at them and didn't speak. As Sarabi looked at him, images of her little Simba began to plague her mind. The resemblance was just uncanny! He was still young, around Nala's age, with a beautiful rust colored mane growing on his head, neck, and chest. Several locks drifted over his bright ruby eyes, and he had a healthy, strong figure. He had beautiful golden fur and a creamy belly and paws. Overall, a sight to see. Sarabi shook her head to rid herself of the thought. No, Simba was dead. Perhaps this lion was out hunting for his own pride, though it was quite uncommon to see a male hunting. Usually only the rogues hunted.
Nala motioned to go after the male again, but Sarabi held her back.
"Let him go Nala," Sarabi said. "He means no harm."
The lion just stared at them for a moment, before at last turning around and bounding in the opposite direction. Sarabi watched him go, and it almost saddened her. She watched him disappear into the grassy plains, and into some unknown land that Sarabi could not imagine. She shook her head to clear the image and looked back at Nala.
"Come, we best get this back to the pride."
Nala quickly agreed, and the two picked up the zebra and dragged it in the direction towards home. But before she left, Sarabi turned her head one last time, and looked into the direction the lion had taken. Her eyes drifted to the sun, and in her heart, she prayed for this lion's safety and health.