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sunrise19: I'm so glad you can help out! Now all I have to do is wait for inspiration to hit again. :)

Mattll: Glad you like it, this chapter's more than a little depressing though.

Chapter 4 – Losing Hope

Conditions didn't get any better for the lionesses. On the contrary, they deteriorated as more hyenas invaded. The Pridelanders began to live in fear of going to sleep, began to fear never waking up. This fear was especially intensified with the death of one in the pride.

It happened a few years after Scar's takeover and the initial hyena invasion. The drought had begun the day Nala first met Rafiki, and the grasslands were shriveling inch by inch. Sarafina, Sarabi and the others had gone out hunting last night, but now

"Sarafina!"

His thunderous voice rolled down Pride Rock as if the great ledge itself were reprimanding her. Hyenas lined a path to where Scar stood, surveying all with a vindictive air.

There were only around eight lionesses left in the once-mighty pride, and Sarafina trembled slightly as she picked her way through the hyenas. At last she reached the pinnacle, where Scar had begun to pace impatiently. Bowing her head, Nala's mother said respectfully, "Yes, Excellency?"

Sarabi and Nala watched the conference from beneath Rafiki's withering baobab tree, the baboon himself concealed in a last tuft of leaves.

Nala figured that Scar was hungry again; the hyenas over-hunted as it was, but he demanded a full beast every night. Perhaps last night's wildebeest had been unsatisfactory?

Nala had hardened against the hyena intruders and no longer shivered at the sight of them, but her mother had never quite got over the deaths of their king and prince. Sarafina associated that terrible night with a pack of howling creatures with glowing eyes, shadowed in blackness.

Without warning, a sharp smack and a cry rent the hot, still air and all the lionesses looked up.

Nala had been lost in thought, but now everyone's attention was focused on the rock.

"What happened?" she asked, casting a terrified glance to Sarabi.

The older lioness shook her head. "It can't be…"

Nala was seized by a panic she had never known before as Scar's voice echoed over the plain once more:

"Sarabi!"

Sarabi too was panicked slightly, and she raced like the wind to Pride Rock.

Nala followed at a distance, the emotion gripping her with icy claws.

Sarabi leapt up the rock and gasped, her eyes wide.

"What did you do to her?" Her voice shook with terror and a barely concealed rage.

Scar shot her a disgusted look. "Get that carcass out of my sight," he growled.

"You can't mean she's –

"NOW!"

Nala had followed Sarabi and noticed her mother's body. She ran to it, nuzzled her mother's head, and licked her face vigorously. Sarafina didn't move.

"No…" she whispered, and a flood of tears cascaded down her face.

Several of the others approached, heeding Sarabi's silent command.

Sarafina's body was laid across the backs of Eleta and Nakali, and they slowly carried her down from the rock.

Nala's body was wracked with sobs, and her half-wild eyes saw one salvation from this hell: the very edge of Pride Rock.

Go… jump, her mind whispered. Go… there is nothing left now… GO… it screamed now, You've lost everything, now END IT!

"Nala, NO!" Sarabi tackled her to the ground. With her young body and excellent reflexes Nala swiftly turned the tables, crushing Sarabi to the rock.

In an instant her claws were at the old lioness's throat in uncontrolled rage.

"Leave me!" she screamed. "There is nothing left for me! I have no reason to live anymore! Everything's gone!"

Sarabi struggled futilely beneath her.

"Nala, listen to me," she whispered urgently. "Listen to me. If you died, I would truly have no reason for living. I have lost my husband, my son, and now my best friend. I cannot lose you as well!"

In a flash, Nala remembered every time she and Simba had gotten in trouble. Sarabi had always been there after Mufasa's reprimands, gently comforting.

Now, Nala saw that in her again. Slowly she released her, stepping aside as tears welled up again.

Sarabi got to her feet and nuzzled Nala, both quietly weeping.

They made their way back to Rafiki's tree, where he was mourning over Sarafina's body.

Neither noticed Scar staring after them.

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Madi ao

Leka sebete chia ho oele sebatha

Mo leka geme o tsaba hoa

Lebo haleng ha o bue ka le ha

Halala humba heh heh heya heeyahee

Halala humba heh heh heya heeyahee

Halala humba heh heh heya heeyahee

Halala humba hela hela hela

-- Rafiki Mourns,

The Lion King Original Broadway Cast Recording

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A/N: Okay, I admit this was a dark chapter, but in reality the entire story is dark. This was definitely hard to write, though. Enjoy, I'm not sure when my next post will be.

--Phantomfreak07