Compared to where he had been, it was quite ugly.
He spotted a scrawny light brown lioness with a yellow-brown belly and paws crouching in the tall grass not far away. He could see her easily, as could any prey that came by.
Suddenly, the lioness launched at Scar. He easily side stepped the attack and she landed on the ground behind him with a thud.
He turned around and saw her scramble to her paws and bare her teeth. He smiled, sharp teeth showing.
"Don't bother," he said, still somewhat dazed by all that had happened. "I don't believe you can hurt me."
"What are you?" she spat. "Made of stone?"
Scar shrugged his narrow shoulders.
"I'm not sure what I'm made of now."
"You're weird," the lioness said, narrowing her eyes.
"You have no idea," Scar said, smiling.
"Whatever," the lioness said. "So, do you want trouble or can we end this awkward interaction?"
"Nothing would please me more," Scar said. "However, I can't just leave."
"Why?" she asked. "You hurt?"
"Oh, I'm a great deal more than hurt," Scar said.
The lioness looked concerned, although it was clear she was trying to act indifferent.
Scar wasn't sure what to say. She'd probably think he was crazy if he told her he was a ghost.
"I'm a rogue," he said after a short pause. "And to be quite honest, I'm not doing so well on my own."
"Same here," the lioness said.
She frowned.
"I mean I'm a rogue. I'm doing fine, though."
"Oh, I can tell," Scar said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"You're scrawny, you don't know how to hunt properly and you keep letting things slip that no loner should."
"OK, smart tail," the lioness said, smirking. "What about you? You're scrawny and clearly someone managed to hurt you pretty badly."
She looked pointedly at his scar.
"An injury doesn't necessarily mean a loss," Scar said cooly.
"Point taken. So what's your name?"
Scar hesitated. Would this lioness have heard of him?
He could go by his original name, Taka, but that brought back to many painful memories.
"I'm Scar," he said after a short pause.
The lioness regarded Scar through narrowed golden eyes.
"Took you a while to think of it," she commented. "Sure you didn't just make it up on the spot?"
"What does it matter?" Scar said, shrugging his narrow shoulders. "This is the first time you've met me. It's not as if you knew me as anyone else."
It was the lioness's turn to shrug.
"OK," she said. "Well, Scar, since you need some help and I could use a hunting partner, what do you say we stay together a little while and see how it works out?"
"Very well," Scar said, surprised how easy it was to gain the young lioness's trust.
He was a master manipulator but he really hadn't had to do much.
"So, what's your name?" he asked.
"Maji. Now, let's go hunt. You look like you could use a good meal."
Scar wondered if as a ghost he even could hunt. He was not the best hunter in the first place, but now he didn't even have a body.
"I'm not the best hunter," Scar told Maji. "I've always relied on my brains to survive. My way of hunting is a little…untraditional."
"Well, let's see it," Maji said. "Or can't you put your skills where your mouth is?"
Scar raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Just do what I tell you and you'll see."
"OK," Maji said. "Let's see what you're talking about."