Note: I own Rani and Scourge, mostly the characters you havn't heard of. But the ones you have are (c) to Disney. This story WILL continue!
CHAPTER ONE
The sun was rising to High Shadow, so the tree's looked ten times bigger. Among the broken, splintered saplings, walked a slender lioness. Her coat was a dark, muddy brown, but her eyes where in complete contrast. They where emerald, green as the sunlit grass. They danced along in thier sockets, staring around for any other of her kind. Suddenly, another scraggy creature stepped out from the shadows. "Rani!" he growled, "Where have you been? And where is the food?" His grey eyes flashed. Rani took a swipe at him, claws sheathed. "Theres no more food in the Outlands, Scourge!" her voice was low and cold, but her eyes betrayed her. Scourge was her full brother. "Rani, you know Kamis gets angry when his lionessess don't bring back prey! The Fresh-Kill pile is dwindling." Rani growled and looked at her paws. Kamis was the leader of Shadow Pride, where Rani and Scourge where born.
"I don't care what that old.."
"Rani. You dare to speak so of your leader?"
The lioness and her brother whipped around. A golden brown lion came stalking slowly towards them, amber eyes menacing. Scourge bowed his brown head, but Rani glared. "I speak how I wish, Kamis." The gold lion growled sharply at her, but Rani ignored him. "I have my report." She siad. "The little prey we had vanished. It has traveled to the Pridelands." Kamis flexed his claws, growling louder. "Well. You will just have to travel farther, Rani." He siad, and turned to walk away. Rani watched him go, tail whipping back and forth. "I hate him, Scourge. Why did Tasma have to die?" she sighed. Scourge placed himself beside her. "Its alright, Rani. Things will be back to normal soon." rani wished she could believe his words. Why had this happened to her pride? Tasma had been the best leader in Shadow Pride's history. She had her daughter, Zira, who was no freind of Rani's. Scourge nudged her. "Here's some news that might cheer you up." He siad. " Matha gave birth this morning." Rani's spirits lifted. "Really? Is she allowing visitors?" Scourge nodded, smiling. "I saw them this morning. Go and see now, but watch for Zira." He added, lowering his voice to only a whisper. "She's upset. Nuka's been rejected by Taka." Rani growled. "What does that flea bag know? Nuka's only been alive for three days!" She muttered. Zira was only one year older than Rani and Scourge, who where both two. The brown lioness stood up, shaking her fur. "I'll go see them now, I think. Bye." She said, and trotted towards the camp. It was very busy as Rani entered. Three lionessess where dragging a skinny antelope towards the Fresh-Kill pile. As Rani grew near she heard them whispering. "I hear that Kamis is thinking of moving us. Attacking the Pridelands! Simba has a stronger pride than us." The other two agreed with ferverish nods. Rani watched them lope away, tails low as to hide thier presence. The lioness moved on towards a tall termite nest, only a little smaller than the rest. It was protected by big thorn bushes. If you parted them carefully with your claws none would catch your fur.
Sinking low to the ground, Rani slunk into the den. It was dim, with light only protruding from cracks in the dirt walls. Rani passed by other nursing lionesses. They, in turn, growled at her,fiercly lashing thier tails and curling clawed feet around thier cubs. Rani spotted Halftail, a lioness who got her tail bitten off by an alligator. The older lioness looked up at Rani, a soft expression in her eyes. They greeted each other warmly, as Halftail's two cubs skuttled around her. "Matha is there, Rani, if your looking." Said Halftail, in alow, husky voice. Rani nodded, smiled, and trotted off at a quicker pace. As she rounded the corner, she was buffeted by a large paw. "Stay away!" a loud voice growled. Rani shrunk away, eyes firey. "I want to see the cubs, Waniba! Get out of my way!" she growled. Waniba was the father of Matha's cubs, and, since this was her first litter, he was over protective. "Let her through, Waniba! I want to see her." came a voice from the den. The brown lion stepped aside, face screwed up in a snarl. Rani brushed passed him. In the dimly lit den, laid Matha. She looked at her side, where two cubs layd curled up. They had the same golden brown coat as thier mother. "A boy and a girl. The boy is Kabitu, and the girl is Malar." Rani smiled, nose pressing close to them. "Go away, Waniba. I wish to talk to Rani alone." Came Mathar's growl. "Get me some food." Waniba nodded and bounded away, skidding into a lioness den. Claws raked his side, making the lion leap away. He soon made it to the entrance.
"Rani."
The brown lioness turned to look. Matha was speaking slowly, eyes suddenly growing tired.
"As you know," She continued, "I am no longer as young as I used to be. I will... I will pass on soon Rani. To join Tasma." Rani looked horrified. Why was Matha telling her this? "If I die soon, before my cubs are a year, I want you to care for them." Matha finished, licking Malar's side and the cub shifted. "Do you accept?" she asked.
"Y-yes, Matha. I do, with honor!" Rani exclaimed. The gold lioness nodded approvingly. "Thank you, Rani. Now go, I must tell Waniba."
As Rani exeted the cave, she walked by Waniba. The younger lion looked unconcerned, carrying a small infant gazelle. Rani gave him a somber look, but he expected nothing. Rani padded out into the open, looking back over her shoulder at the nursery. Suddenly, she rammed right into a light, furry shape. "STAY OUT OF MY WAY!" it yowled. Rani looked up, to see the daughter of Tasma. The one and only, Zira. She picked up a small, brown bundle. Nuka.
"I-I'm sorry about..."
"Shut up!" Zira mumbled through clenched jaws. She walked over to an old nurse lioness, and dropped Nuka with her. The cream lioness turned back to Rani, who looked defiantly back. "So," She began grimly, "Kamis gave me your report." Zira chuckled. "I know how much you distrust me, Rani." Rani's emerald eyes grew wide. Had she been that obvious? "You know, Kamis is close to his time to join my mother. And who do you think he's chosen as his succesor?" Rani's hackles raised. "I'll never bow to you Zira! You'll be the death of that cub!" Little did they know, Rani would be perfectly right.