Chapter 5: ..Beginning of the New

Very soon everyone realized Scar's ruling methods. He had allowed tons of hyenas to join up with the lions on the pridelands, unbalancing the natural order completely. Within a few months it was visible that life wouldn't be half as good as under Mufasa's paw. Herds of animals moved away because of constant terror caused by the hyenas, water dried from the drought and the hyenas proceeded to not save it at all and drink all they wished. Trees grew dry along with the grass and life became almost unbearable.

Nala, Siagi, Chumvi, Tojo and Kula had all grown a bit thinner than before, constantly feeling hunger. Whatever the lionesses managed to catch Scar ate along with the hyenas. So now most preys were kept a secret, since the lionesses fed their own cubs and theirselves. Thanks to the hyenas, even some secret-hunts became known to Scar and it was rare that he let the hunters keep them. Whenever he had given the allowance, it was thanks to Joli begging for the lives of lionesses and cubs, telling him that the pride would soon die and he would have noone left to rule over would he take all their prey. These were times that the lionesses felt glad Scar had picked Joli, for she was young, but also smart. She knew how to use her charm and beauty to talk Scar into sharing the prey and that seemed to be the biggest matter at these times.

There was one lioness that did not like Joli hogging the spot of Pride Queen. She was the same lioness that had snarled out loud once Scar picked her. The lioness with the stripe had been a good friend of Scar's once they'd been cubs. Scar, Taka back then, had been teased by other cubs for he had a whole different point of view into life. Besides, he was skinnier and lankier even back then. Noone paid true attention to him once Mufasa was chosen the future king. That same lioness had been his only friend back then. She wasn't very pretty, infact she too was less chubby. She had pointy edges all over her body and face and unlike anyone else, she had a dark stripe running down her head, neck and back. She and Scar had always hanged out, until Joli was born. Once Joli grew to be big enough to play with others, she had joined up with them. Noone knew why, for Joli looked like a normal pridelander and was much friendly than those two. She shared nothing in common with them.

Ever since Joli had appeared onto the picture, Zira, the lioness with the stripe, had felt growing envy and hate towards her. Scar obviosuly liked Joli more, she was younger, prettier and smarter than Zira. Once Joli grew even bigger though, she abandoned the duo and became friends with Sarabi, Sarafina and the rest of the gang. Scar never blamed her for it, for he felt that they were more worth of her friendship. It did break him down though and Zira was once again there to comfort him. She had done everything in her cubhood to help Scar back on his paws and feel the meaning of friendship. She was more or less obsessed with him. But that was the last straw to her now, that Scar chose that abandoner as his queen. She decided to get rid of the pesky female.

It was a dark night once Zira decided to bring her plan to life. She woke in the cave where they all slept, slowly edging up to Joli beside Scar's side, she poked her head and glared at her face. Once Joli dozed from her sleep Zira motioned with her head for the pridelander to follow. Filled with curiosity Joli got up and silently followed Zira out of the cave. By the entrance of the cave Zira sat down and so did Joli. They quietly began their conversation, not to wake anyone. Little did they know that a curious cub, Nala, had followed them and was now silently eyeing at them from the entrance, hidden in the shadows.

"Joli.. I've never quite caught you in the right time to speak to you, but I hope it doesn't bother you that I chose the night for doing so.." Zira started slowly, smiling and glancing at Joli.

"Well, it sure is weird, but sure! Go ahead, I mean, I am up already!" Joli giggled and nodded, watching Zira, interest filling her head.

"Well.. One day I thought back into the time when we were still friends, remember? We used to run and play and laugh together.. You, Scar and I. Spending the time together from sunrise 'til sunset. It just.. Got me thinking.. Why did we drift apart?"

Joli was caught by surprise. She remembered well why. She had left them. "Well I... I think I was a stupid teenager back then, abandoning you guys. But I didn't think I hurt you, did I? I mean, I was a young brat compared to you two!"

Zira kept the truth hidden and shook her head. "No. Not at all." She then yawned. "I need to go get a drink. I believe water-hole still has some water left there?"

Joli grinned and nodded. "I'll join you. Now that you mention it, I'm thirsty too!" Together those two got down from the pride rock and headed towards the water-hole. Nala silently followed them, holding back her giggles. She was playing a super-agent now and others would be very jealious to hear about her nightly adventures. Then she felt something grabbing her tail and she didn't even turn around, knowing full well who that was.

"Siagi, please go home!" Instead she was answered a "No" by a whole different voice. Chumvi! "What are you doing here?" She asked him. Chumvi grinned and let go of her tail. "Following you and them around. Mind if I join in?" Nala shrugged and told Chumvi to keep quiet, as she then continued her path down the rocks, following Zira's and Joli's pawprints.

Once the pair of adults reached the waterhole and filled their thirst, Joli glanced around. "It's awful what's happened to these lands. God help us until Siagi's old enough to take over! Scar can't rule at all!"

That was what Zira had been waiting for, she knew Joli would start whining about Scar. She did NOT deserve a place beside him. The older lioness lunged at Joli, getting her by surprise and forcing her to the ground, fangs bared and eyes full of pure evil and hate. "You do NOT deserve a place beside Scar! You are not worth him!" She snarled and attempted to wrap her jaws around Joli's tender throat. While Joli's paws were still free, she slashed at Zira's face and as soon as Zira was blinded for a moment, Joli got up and ran. This lion was crazy and she needed to get out of here. Zira didn't wait around, but instead pounced Joli on the back and once again made her fall to the ground. Zira growled and dug his claws into Joli's back, grabbing her neck and attempting to push her fangs down deeper, to end Joli's life. Joli wasn't too weak and managed to get up and throw herself on her back, burying Zira under her and then turning around, glancing at Zira with fear and yet hate. Once Zira started struggling Joli aimed for Zira's maw, but the striped lioness kicked and struggled enough to make Joli lose her aim and end up with her jaws closed around Zira's right ear. Zira roared out in pain and pulled herself away from Joli, ripping her own ear and then lunging towards her opponent again..

Nala and Chumvi grew pale from their faces as they saw the struggle of life and death and before Chumvi could even say anything he noticed, that Nala had already ran back to the cave, Chumvi followed her, only to be met up with her halfway there. Nala had brought the rest of the pride along, leading them to the struggling lionesses. As soon as everyone got there, several gasps filled the air. Everyone saw that Zira had a grip on Joli's throat, while she was covered in scratches and wounds, her ear being torn and missing a piece.

Scar stepped forward and ordered the pair to stop. The moment Zira heard Scar, she let go and noticed the crowd around them. Once Joli gained passage to air again she started coughing and slowly got up beside Zira, glancing at everyone around them. She too carried numerous wounds and her neck was bleeding. Sarabi joined Scar's side and asked for an explanation. Scar snarled at her and told her to shut up and move backwards again, but the lioness kept her place.

"I wished to speak to Joli, to talk about days gone by and the night seemed to be the most peaceful and simplest way to do that. We got down here to the water-hole to get a drink but then she started badmouthing you, Scar! I did what every loyal lioness would do.. I attacked her.. I'm sorry if I did wrong.." Zira lowered her head towards the ground, blood dripping from her ear to the dry grass.

"What! Joli! Is this true!" Scar had bared his sharp fangs now and was glaring at the female, enraged to have heard such a thing about his own mate!

Joli eyed at Scar, still panting from the fight. It took her a few minutes before she answered and pulled her head from being lowered to stand high. "Yes, Scar. It's true. I mentioned how you've let the land go to waste! There's not water, no prey.. The hyenas have eaten everything. The grass is dry and the trees have lost all their leaves from the excessive warmth caused by the drought. We could pull through if it wasn't for the hyenas!"

Scar snarled and stood right before her. "You are here-by stripped from the title of Pride Queen. Zira shall take your place and you will now be known as the lowest lion of the pride. You shall eat last and take part of every hunt. Whenever needed you will be there and no whining, or you will be exiled from these lands!"

Everyone eyed at Scar, most had their brows quirked and even the cubs were aware of Zira's obsession with Scar. This was no good...