Sorry this is late but I was on holaday, thank you again Bounding Jackalope for reviewing the last chapter

Chapter 14 - a new king

It had been a few weeks since they had arrived in their new home and even Shanika had started to settle in – despite Scar's attempts to murder her. It was late in the morning and the king had already started his patrol, roaming the lands to check it was safe. Shargra had asked to go with them, begged even, so he could get something to do, but they'd d said he was too young. Consequently, he was stuck here.

Shanika was lying on her back in the centre of the cave, right in everyone's way as usual. This, however, was deliberate. She too was too young to go out hunting with the other lionesses, and was now making everyone's lives hell in an attempt to make her point. By now the other lions were used to Shanika and just stepped on her to get past. Shargra had been woken up a few moments ago by someone singing. Of course, it was normal for him; he had got used to being woken up like this a long time ago. It was hard not to when living with Shanika.

"Shut up Shanika! It's too early for singing!" he growled at her.

"I'm not singing, it's one of the pride's cubs." she replied.

Shargra sat up and looked around sceptically, but he was surprised to see that she was right. It was the only female cub…Nili, was it? Nola? - loudly singing in the corner of the cave.

"I said it would be a famous song someday! You said it was bad but I was right!" Shanika said triumphantly.

"What are you talking about Shanika?" Shargra wondered, but then he remembered that was one of the songs she sang as a cub. "At least she can actually sing, unlike you." He muttered, not wanting to be proven wrong by Shanika.

The cub in question was singing 'the circle of life' but better than Shanika's version - as it wasn't just about food. An idea entered Shargra's mind.

"Come on Shanika, let's get food ok?" he suggested.

"Food!" Shanika shouted and ran to the cave entrance where she ran right into Scar.

"Get out of my way!" he snarled, and swiped his claws at her missing by inches. Even Shanika was scared of this lion, and she made a small whimpering noise, scampering back over to Shargra. "I have a sad announcement to make to everyone, gather the pride and have them come out to the base of Pride Rock." He nodded at Sarabi, and stalked out.

At this all the lions started talking worriedly and they all made for the exit.

"What do you think has happened?" Shanika asked nervously, but they ignored her. "Shargra?"

"I don't know, but it must be bad. I mean, look how happy Scar's looking!" her friend winked.

"He's called brown lion!" Shanika said forcibly.

"No Shanika, if you don't want him to kill you, he's called Scar. If he's not in earshot then he can be called that scarred git - or at least that's what Mufasa calls him sometimes. Look, let's go and find out what's happened, okay? It sounds important." Together the two lions walked down to the base of the rock to see what he had to say. The sun was high in the sky, casting shadows across the plains, and despite their agitation, they had to wait for the other pride members who were out on hunt. Shanika growled as they walked up. "Stupid lionesses think they're so great. I could catch something if I wanted - stupidstupidlionesseshatethemtheythinkthey'resogreat!" she muttered angrily, darting looks of such venom at them that Shargra had to stifle a giggle. It was late afternoon before Scar went up onto the rock to speak to them. Shargra couldn't help but notice that although Scar portrayed a solemn expression, he had a twinkle of joy in his eye.

"I'm afraid I have some rather bad news to give you all. Mufasa and Simba were both killed in a stampede earlier today" He paused for a second, and a silence as thick as any fog fell over the pride. Several lionesses began to cry, and yet more shouted out things like things like "No!" and "It can't be!" But the largest cry came from Sarabi, who let out a large, heart-rendering wail of grief. With sobs breaking her words she whispered "No…no, please, Scar, no!"

At this point Mufasa's advisor Zazu spoke up. "I'm afraid Scar's right, my queen. I saw the stampede with my own eyes," he said gently.

The lions were standing in shock, and Shargra looked at Shanika, a few tears in his own eyes, only to see to his surprise that she wasn't crying, but was shooting hate-filled glares at Scar, who, oblivious, continued with his speech "Mufasa's death was a terrible tragedy; but to lose Simba, who had barely begun to live - for me it is a deep personal loss," and Sarabi wailed again.

Shargra watched Nala, who was still a cub, tug on her mother's ear. "Mum, what's he saying? I don't understand," she whispered, and she too was crying.

Sarabi sobbed a few more times. "No, no, please…" she whispered.

Scar continued: "So it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne," and Shanika growled. Shargra looked at her in puzzlement, and wiped his tears away with his paw. He didn't like Scar, but if he had to prove himself to a new king, he was damned if he wasn't going to.

"Yet, out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future!"

Suddenly Shanika screamed loudly; for as he spoke several hyenas appeared from behind the rock behind him, grinning maniacally.

Scar nodded to all of them, and disappeared inside the cave. Zazu instantly flew over to comfort the queen, as did all of the others, but Shargra and Shanika held back.

"Mufasa, Simba, gone?" Shanika said without her usual cheerfulness. "That lousy rotten lion for a king? No! This can't have been an accident! Mufasa's not an idiot! How did this happen?" There was no trace of humour in her voice – instead pure anger.

"I don't know," said Shargra "but I bet Scar did have something to do with it. I mean, he always wanted to be king; now he is. But he wouldn't kill his brother, would he? I mean, come on, there are some things even Scar wouldn't do."

"I wouldn't put anything past Brown Lion."

"True…he does look way too happy now. I think things are taking a turn for the worse, Shanika…"

"And we're right in the middle of it." She finished sadly, and suddenly the air grew a lot colder as the sun finally set, and they huddled together for warmth.

They looked out over the Pridelands, and Shargra realised their lives were about to come a lot more difficult.

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