Plans set in motion

Ushindi and his friends settled in quickly. Of all the places they had visited, this definitely was the most welcoming one, even compared with the lions of the lone tree. After they woke up, Sarafina showed up again and invited the lionesses to join the hunt. When they returned, they all were permitted to hunt within the kingdom's borders, as long as they wouldn't take more than they needed and followed the rules concerning this topic. Later that day, when they were resting after another good meal, Scar came to them and asked to join Ushindi and Askari. He was politer than earlier and apologized for not even asking for their names at their first meeting.

"Askari, huh?", he said, after the dark lion introduced himself. "A powerful name. You can be proud of it. I have to admit I envy you a little. When I was young, I always wanted to be called like the first lion to ever lead a guard, but sadly, my parents had something else in mind."

As it turned out, Scar – unlike his brother – had not known who they were and listened with interest as Ushindi told him of their adventures. Later he revealed to them, that he himself had once been the leader of the Pridelands' guard and shared some of his own stories with them. Sadly, they learned, that by now he had retired and none of his former companions were around anymore. He also refused to tell Askari what led to these circumstances. After asking Sarafina about it they got to know, that years ago one of the guard's missions had gone terribly wrong. Scar had returned as the only survivor and while some pitied him, others straight out blamed him for what had happened. All this was years in the past, but it still lingered over him like a dark shadow that kept others away from him and the other way around. After sharing these thoughts with them, she urged the two lions not to talk about that or ask further questions about it. It seemed to be a serious topic within the pride, so they agreed.

Time passed by and with the days, they grew closer to the king's brother. Soon he spent most evenings and afternoons talking with them.

The first phase of Scar's plan was simple. He had always been an expert in knowing people, so it didn't take long for him to find out what type of lions he was dealing with. Ushindi actually kind of reminded him of himself at an earlier age. Handsome and strong he was, but yet he relied more on his tongue than on claws and teeth… and he was good at it. In not time prince Ushindi was the main topic between the pride's younger lionesses. No wonder, with his looks, his charm and the fact that he was of royal blood. What the girls didn't notice, or at least, didn't want to notice, was that Ushindi was a desperate tail chaser. For Scar on the other hand, it was obvious. Maybe that was something he could work with, but there was something else too that would be useful. This lion was proud. Proud of his look, proud of his strength, proud of his royal descent and of being the leader of his little pride and the fact that its members accepted him as such. Using this pride would be no challenge at all. Still, this guy was a good actor, who knew what he was doing, so Scar would have to be careful. With Askari that was a different thing. The dark coated lion was strong, even stronger than his friend and for his age an experienced fighter with the scars to prove it. His youth and skill would surely make him a frightening foe, but if everything went right, he would be no problem at all. He wasn't a simple-minded henchman, but he stood loyal behind his friend and leader and would follow his word and command. Wherever Ushindi would go, Askari would follow and so would the others. The rest of the group, all lionesses, were as close to each other as a real pride and it was obvious who their king would be. Still Scar noticed, that there were differences between them. Ruya, Shauri and Heba were more obedient and calmer than the other three. Shindana and Chagina were more hotheaded and Tekelea was no difference, but undoubtedly the troublemaker of the group. In addition, she seemed to be the only one who probably would side with Askari, if he'd ever rise up to Ushindi.

At the same time, his hyenas went to work. He trusted Shenzi that she wouldn't fail him and the upcoming rumors told him that she didn't. For some unknown reason – at least for everyone except Scar – It became dangerous for the inhabitants of the Pridelands to come close to the Outlands, the wasteland, that – according to Zazu and other birds spread between the Pridelands and some bordering kingdoms like the cracks in a rock. At the same time, the poaching that occasionally happened increased. More and more often the lionesses of the pride stumbled over fresh kills, kills obviously made by hyenas. And finally, after giving the growing tension among the lions some time to bild up and carefully feeding Ushindi's ego, he ordered his henchmen to finally escalade the situation.

She purred softly, as she rubbed her head against his after she rose from his side. He smiled and whished her good luck, before she walked over to the other huntresses, who awaited her. It would be Lisha's first hunt and she was nervous, but he had assured her she would do an amazing job. Ushindi had spent many days helping her with her training and today their efforts would pay of… for both of them. As she herself had told him, she had always had her own pace and was a bit slow with everything, making friends, getting closer to someone, learning to hunt… With the first two points he had already proven her wrong and now, thanks to some tips he had from Teke and Chagina, he had nearly done the same with the latter… and one more thing. He loosened his eyes from her hind side before anyone could notice his stare. Before the next morning would break, he would have done it once again. She was well prepared, surely wouldn't fail and with her excited and aroused by her first successful hunt, she would finally agree to celebrate the event with a little more than just cuddling. All he had to do now was to wait for her return. But it came different.

Same as the others, Scar patiently waited, only that he did it at his own place and not at the base of pride rock. Lisha was late. Noon had long passed and he started to worry that maybe, he hadn't been precise enough. No permanent damage, that had been his order. He bared no grudge against the girl and was nearly relieved, when she finally returned.

"She's back!", Ushindi shouted and together with some of her friends he went to greet her, but quickly noticed, that something was wrong. Sobbing, she limped towards them, her fur dirty and splattered with blood… her own blood. "Lisha!" Instantly he rushed to her side and she buried her head in his mane. "What happened? Are you ok?"

"H… h-hy…"

They were interrupted by her mother, who pushed Ushindi aside to get to her daughter. "Lisha! Baby, you're hurt! I told you to start with something easy!", she said and pulled her into an embrace. The girl winced, so her mother let go of her and caringly started looked after her wounds. "What happened? Were you kicked or…" She stopped and stared at one of her daughter's forelegs.

Ushindi had seen it too. "Bite marks. This was no hunting accident!" With anger rising inside him he looked her in the eyes. "Who did this?"

Finally, the young lioness managed to stop the hiccupping and sobbing long enough to say the word. "Hyenas."

"He will do what?" Barely able to keep his voice in check, Ushindi marched up and down in front of Scar. The news he had just heard hadn't really improved his mood. Mufasa's reaction to the attack on one of his subjects wasn't exactly what he had expected.

"He will investigate", Scar repeated. His face was serious, but inside he wanted to smile. This was just the reaction he had hoped for.

"Investigating! For what? It is obvious! This… Gwaya or whatever her name was is to blame for this!"

"Siyogwaya", Scar corrected him and nodded. "But yes. We had always problems with her and her clan."

"And yet your brother isn't willing to demand amends from her? Not even contact her?"

"Not until he knows more about this, I fear."

"The only clan close enough to be involved is hers, what else does he need to know? Someone should go there and tell her to keep her ugly brood in check!"

"That's how I see it too, but he won't listen to me. He never did. As it seems, Mufasa is either too lazy or too scared to actually do something. It's just like the last time."

"Last time?", Askari, who had followed Ushindi to Scar's lair asked. "This has happened before?"

"Well, not exactly, but something similar", the older lion told them. "A while ago a young rogue came to us in search of refuge. He had fled from Siyogwaya's kingdom after his parents had been murdered there. By her hyenas."

Surprised, the two friends looked at him. "Murdered?", Ushindi asked. "So, this could have ended even worse?"

"Wait a second." Askari rose a paw, noticing something off. "If this guy came here for refuge, how comes we haven't already met or at least heard of him?"

Scar sighed. "Apparently our great king decided to deny him what he was looking for. It seems, his request was too rude and his lust for revenge to big. But if you ask me that was no wonder after what the poor boy had been through."

"The more I learn about him the less I start to like Mufasa", Askari mumbled.

"Not that I'd blame you", Scar clarified. The disillusion in the dark lion's voice was music in his ears. "Well, if I have learned anything in all my years in this kingdom it is that if you want something to happen that doesn't concern my brother or his precious little family… you have to do it yourself!"

AN: Not exactly how Ushindi expected this day to end. Now he's seriously pissed. Exactly what Scar aimed for...