As the sun rose high in the African sky, Nalani saw a pair of butterflies weaving over and under one another in the soft breeze.
"Wanna chase 'em?" questioned Nalani.
"What?" asked Scar. "Oh, you've never been introduced to fun before?" Nalani said laughingly.
"I'm afraid I'm…not the type to go and jump around, chasing insects," Scar replied.
"Sure you are!" convinced Nalani, nudging him playfully. "Come on!"
As Nalani bounded through the grass, Scar looked around, as if some disapproving lions would be watching, then chased after her. Laughing, the two ran after the colourful butterflies, trying to catch them.
Suddenly, grinning, Scar pounced on Nalani, who laughed. The two tumbled down a hill, screaming in delight.
Nalani looked into Scar's deep eyes and said, "See…even in the darkest places, there can be light."
Night came quickly, and the lions scrambled for shelter. However, all they found was a small rock to hide behind.
Nalani lay down and shivered, while Scar stayed awake watching over her. When he felt tired, and the lioness was still shaking, he lay himself on top of her.
She instantly ceased trembling, and curled up closer to Scar. Looking extremely shocked and unknowing what to do, his yellow-green eyes eventually fell shut.
The next morning, Nalani yawned and found herself under Scar's protective paw. She smiled and listened to his heart beat until he woke up, too. "Morning," he said.
"Morning," she replied. "Time for breakfast, do you think?"
"Probably," Scar said, getting up. "Shall I?"
"Oh, you don't think I can get my own?" Nalani said, with an indignant, yet playful look on her face.
"No," he replied, grinning and shaking his head.
"Well, I'll show you," she said, bounding off. "Meet you back here!"
In about twenty minutes, both lions returned to the rock where they had stayed the previous night, both with food in their mouths.
Scar had managed to snag about half a dozen wildebeest, but Nalani had an assortment of animals – deer, zebra, warthogs, and birds.
"Well, I have a larger quantity of food," Scar said, coming to a conclusion. "But you have a larger quality. So…we're about square."
Nalani grinned and started eating.
"Have you ever had a mate?" Nalani questioned later, striking up a conversation.
"No," Scar replied. "I knew a lioness who wanted me to mate with her, though. Her name was Zira. She was my most loyal follower, but I never sought out to marry her."
"Why not?" asked Nalani. "If it isn't too bold to ask."
"No, it isn't bold," said Scar. "I just couldn't see her as my mate. I couldn't see having cubs with her."
"But it should still grieve you to hear that she is dead," Nalani said quietly.
"Dead?" Scar repeated. "My dear Zira…oh, I wish I could've seen her one last time. She was a good friend."
"I'm so sorry," said Nalani, comforting Scar, and placing her head on his shoulder.
"It's all right," Scar said. "But what's your story? I never did find out why you were in the out lands."
"I ran away from my pride," replied Nalani, not even hesitating for a moment.
"Ran away? What for?"
"My pride mistreated me. After my parents died, the others just thought of me as being inferior to them."
"But surely there was a male in your pride."
"Of course. But he was no better. My situation was sort of like yours, because he wanted me to mate with him, also."
"And…you didn't?"
Nalani shook her head. "No. He wasn't right for me. And he wanted to be King. I cannot be with someone who does not love me."
"So I guess it's just us two misfits, then."
Nalani looked up and smiled softly. "I guess so."
Later on that day, when Scar and Nalani continued to walk, they heard a rustling in the bushes. Suddenly, a lioness jumped out, as Scar slunk back behind a large tree.
"Aminah?" questioned Nalani in disbelief.
"Yeah," said the lioness. "What are you doing out here, Nalani? Kasim's been worried about you."
"Well, tell him not to worry," Nalani replied. "I'm doing just fine."
"All by yourself?" Aminah said.
Nalani gave her fellow lioness a quizzical look, then turned around. She had noticed that Scar had vanished. It was just as well, for it would be a bigger problem if another lion saw him.
"Um…yes," said Nalani. "I just need to sort out some things. I don't want anyone coming looking for me."
Aminah turned to leave. "Okay, I'll tell Kasim."
She had to double-check. "So what will you tell him?"
"That you're doing okay on your own, and that you want to stay that way for awhile."
Nalani looked wary of the lioness, but let her go.
Scar crept back out to where Nalani was standing alone. "Who was that?" he questioned.
"A lioness in my pride," replied Nalani. "Aminah. She's the worst of them."
"I have a feeling she's not going to Kasim what you want her to," concluded Scar.
"Probably not," Nalani said, shaking her head. "You never know what she's gonna do…"
Scar nodded. "Then I suggest we keep moving," he said. "That way, it will take longer for her to find us if she does tell Kasim."
"Good idea," said Nalani. The two walked until the sky grew dark. Scar decided to sleep up in a tree, in case any of the lionesses happened to be passing.
"I really can't believe we have to resort to this," Nalani said, looking up and scanning the branches. "I feel like a fool talking to myself."
"It's just for a little while," reassured Scar. "Maybe even just for tonight. I just don't want others to find me out."
"All right," Nalani replied, lying down. "But you owe me breakfast tomorrow."