Part 22 – Things are changing
Scar tried to find his words. Zarafa hadn't said goodbye to anyone but him, so the others wouldn't know – except for the hyenas who saw her leave, but they weren't present.
"Well?" asked Kovu and looked at his son – wondering why he didn't just answer.
"We've had more than one problem here… Zarafa solved one of them. I am not sure if Kofi would ever have left us alone, if she hadn't made him leave." Scar explained, and Blanché looked up when he mentioned Kofi.
"He left?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes… he will leave you, me – the Shadowlands – alone. But only because Zarafa chose to follow him to the Skylands." He said and looked at his father.
"Kofi? Who's he?" Kovu was once again confused. Duchess tried to surpress a grin, this was becoming a little bit too comical. He would never fully understand why everything had happened the way it did, never.
"Kofi is my father, king of the Skylands. I came here for Scar, and my father followed me to get me back… he's not very happy with changes and differences at all. I'm afraid I can't go home either, he said I was not his daughter anymore…" Blanché suddenly felt very sorry for herself, and considered leaving the other lions alone.
"What? A father won't just say that to a daughter!" Kovu saw the sad look on her face, and was surprised. He would never tell any of his cubs, that they weren't his anyway. They could do a lot to surprise him and annoy him, but he could never hate them. That was why he had to accept Scars choice, for all he wanted was for them all to be happy.
"Well, he did! Because he thought it was disgusting, that… that I don't mind Duchess – he hates different lions and especially hyenas it seems." Blanche said with a sigh.
"But… well, we haven't always been best friends with the hyenas, but that's the circle of life… that's how it has always been." Kovu sent a hidden glance to Duchess, still feeling strange about actually having her in the family – a hyena!
"The circle of life is changing…" Scar said, mostly to himself. But the others knew it was the truth, and Duchess sent him a calm smile. He would stay with her, and they would be king and queen of the Shadowlands.
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It was late in the evening, when Kiana suddenly saw something very bright move through the high grass down on the savannah. Ghosts? She shivered, but then pulled herself together to get her mother. She went inside and carefully she puffed to Kiara with her paw.
"Mother? There's someone coming…" she whispered, careful not to wake up the others.
"What? Is it Kovu?" Kiara said with a tired yawn, showing off all her teeth.
"I don't know… please come." Kiana went out again, and soon her mother followed. They both looked down, as the bright being began to climb the Pride Rock. But it followed another being, who Kiana didn't notice before. Finally Kovu climbed up, and looked down at the – now they saw it – lioness who followed him.
"Kovu!" Kiara ran to give him a cuddle, then she looked at the white lioness, not quite sure what to think of her mate bringing home another female. "Where is Scar? And Zarafa… and…?"
"Tomorrow I'll explain it all, at least the parts I understand. This is Blanché, who has no place to live. I stand by my word, she is welcome in our pride." Kovu smiled to the young lioness, who sent an insecure smile to the other two.
"I hope it is alright… I promise you won't notice me a lot." Blanché said with awareness.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine. Come, I'll show you our cave." Kiana took the lioness into the large cave where they all slept. Kiara looked after them until she was sure they were gone, then looked up at her mate again.
"Kovu?" she wanted an explanation.
"Wait until tomorrow! It's really too late, and I am tired… all I can say for now, is that Scar will come to visit us – and we can visit him and his queen – and Zarafa has found another mate, who lives far away. Come, let us sleep…" he left her alone out there. Kiara sat down and looked out across the savannah, spotting the cliffs of the Outlands and Shadowlands so far away. He had found a queen? But why didn't he return then, he had to return and become the king! Scar should be the next respectable king of the Pridelands – that had been Kiara's wish since she gave birth to the cub, and named him. But he hadn't become the Scar she had hoped he would be. So many unanswered questions… and only one cub left to live in the pride. What would become of herself, she thought.