Sins of the Past
Part 6 Infiltration and Seduction
Zira's plan for Kovu to infiltrate Simba's pride worked like a charm. Kovu had saved Simba's stupid daughter from the fire that Nuka and Vitani had set. And while Simba had not been happy about it, he had allowed Kovu into the pride, but with restrictions. All Kovu had to do now was bide his time and wait for an opportunity to present itself…
"I still don't know what I should be doing…" Vitani said in irritation to her mother. "So tomorrow I'm just supposed to run into Simba on his patrols and say: 'fuck me?!'"
Zira rolled her eyes at her daughter's remark. "No," she snarled. "Pretend to like him. Pay him a complement or something. Get him talking and then suggest something… more…"
"Whatever the hell that means…" Vitani huffed. "If I botch this up, it's not because I didn't train hard enough…"
"Trust me Vitani," Zira growled. "Lions are stupid. Just throw some cute lioness their way and they fold. Just be nice, agreeable, submissive… He'll get around to it. All lions ultimately do…"
Vitani was a wreck, but she didn't show it. Instead she seethed in frustration. How could her mother so painstakingly plan Kovu's part in this and hardly give her any advice at all on hers?! She was also nervous about potentially having sex for the first time. The act itself probably wouldn't be so bad, but with an enemy she was trying to kill? How was that supposed to work? How could she possibly be so fake that Simba wouldn't notice? Then again Zira said all lions were stupid so maybe it could work…
With hardly any sleep Vitani set out the next morning to run into Simba on his patrols. She picked a secluded spot along the river. One side was the Pride Lands, the other was not. She wanted to be noticed, but not too far into the Pride Lands. Vitani crossed the river and found a small pond where she could wait. She looked over herself in her reflection. She looked like Zira… Too much like her mother. Simba would notice that for sure, but there was little she could really do to change that. Her striking blue eyes were the only thing that truly set her apart from Zira. Hopefully that would be enough…
"Hay! What are you doing here Outsider?!"
Vitani shot her head up from the pond. It was Simba. She had let her guard down, she had not heard him coming…
"Outsider?" Vitani said puzzled. "I'm sorry… I am but a poor rogue… I merely stopped to have a drink…"
"A rogue lioness?" Simba questioned. He did not recognize this lioness exactly, but she looked very similar to the Outsiders, specifically Zira. He knew she had a female cub who would be a young adult now, but had no idea what she now looked like having not seen her since she was a tiny cub, her eyes not even open yet…
"Yes," Vitani said sweetly. "I'm sorry to have trespassed on your lands… I only wanted to drink…"
Simba looked into Vitani's deep blue eyes. Blue eyes were once common in the Pride Lands, but being a recessive trait, most of Simba's generation now had the more common amber eyes. Now Nala was one of the few lioness in the pride to have them. Simba didn't remember any of the lionesses from the Outsiders having blue eyes. Perhaps this lioness was telling the truth…
"Please forgive my blunt accusations," Simba stated. "I have been on edge lately. A rival pride, the Outsiders, have been threatening my boarders… I mistook you for one of them. Of course, you may have a drink…"
"Oh thank you kind sir!" Vitani said politely, smiling softly. She then slowly lowered her head to take a few small sips of water, dipping her tongue slowly in and out of the water. Simba looked over this rogue lioness. She seemed rather thin to him. Being alone during the dry season must not be easy. She really looked like she could use a good meal…
"Perhaps…" Simba suggested. "You might want to stay here a bit. My pride would be more than willing to help you out, give you a nice big meal…?"
Vitani smiled. "Oh I cannot be such a burden to you!" she insisted. "While yes, I have fallen on some lean times, I can still provide for myself!"
Vitani walked over to Simba, sitting across from him, still showing her glowing smile.
"May I ask, what is your name?" Simba inquired.
"Ava," Vitani replied. "And yours?"
"Simba. King Simba of Pride Rock…"
Vitani had never been so close to an adult lion before that she wasn't trying to kill. Being so near Simba, she had never realized how handsome he was. His strong muscular frame, his thick flowing mane, and his scent… His masculine scent was so… powerful. She was nearly overcome by her sudden, compulsive attraction towards him.
Simba looked into Vitani's deep blue eyes. The same eyes that Nala once had: innocent and sweet, longing to know more of the world. It had been so long since he and Nala had been intimate… So much stress and anxiety of ruling the kingdom, protecting his daughter, keeping tabs on the Outsiders… And poor Nala… She had wanted to stop trying for cubs long ago. Too many miscarriages, too many stillborn… She could not withstand any more of the heartbreaking pain it brought her. They had drifted apart…
Suddenly Vitani rolled on her back. Laughing, she batted up at Simba playfully, begging him to join her…
"What are you doing?" Simba chuckled at the silly lioness.
"Just having fun," Vitani laughed. "Don't you like to have fun?!"
Vitani didn't give him a chance to respond, she jumped up and rubbed herself into Simba's soft, push mane. Its smell so inviting…
Simba suddenly realized Vitani was flirting with him. It had been so long he had a first overlooked it.
"Ava," Simba said gently. "I'm married…"
Vitani sat next to Simba, so close there was no space between them.
"So?" Vitani whispered. "It could be our little secret…"
Simba hung his head. Vitani realized she had come on too strong, now he was pulling away…
"My wife and I…" Simba started. "Have been having… problems. It's been nearly four years ago now, but the pain is still fresh in our minds. The day our son Kopa was murdered. He was just ten days old… My wife, Nala, blamed herself for not watching him more closely. We have not been able to have more cubs since then… We've stopped trying. We fear for our daughter, our only child. She's now about your age. We hope that the same fate does not befall her…"
Vitani was honestly shocked. She never knew that Simba had had a son…
"That's horrible!" Vitani exclaimed. "Who would do such a horrific thing to a poor defenseless cub?"
"Zira…"
The name cut through Vitani like a claw in the chest. All the horrible things her mother had done, had forced their pride to do… Was it all because of this…?
"The leader of the Outsiders," Simba explained. "She's a ruthless lioness who cannot be reasoned with. She insists that the former king of Pride Rock, King Scar, is the rightful lineage this land belongs to. She seeks revenge for his death, a death of his own making, by the hands of his own starving hyena subjects. I came back and retook this kingdom from him. He had killed my father Mufasa, the rightful king of Pride Rock…"
Vitani had no words to say to this. She sadly hung her head as well, resting her head on Simba's shoulder, comforting him with her presence. Simba rarely spoke of his feelings so freely. But with this stranger it seemed so much easier. He didn't have to be the big, strong, protector of the pride. He could just be himself, for Ava did not know him and could not judge him. There was safety in telling her: she had no one else to tell…
"I should have not burdened you with this," Simba stated sadly. "But it seems I just needed to tell someone… Thank you for listening. You are free to stay here if you like. You can hunt if you wish…"
Simba stood up to leave, he had stayed here too long. The rest of the broader needed to be checked.
"You're leaving?" Vitani said sadly.
"I'll be back later today," Simba replied. "I have more to patrol…"
Vitani looked sadly up at his amber eyes but nodded her head in agreement. As Simba disappeared, Vitani contemplated her success. She had earned Simba's trust. At the very least she was his friend. And he said he would be back. Perhaps he was indeed interested…
"Very good," Zira sneered, praising her daughter's progress report. "You'll have him soon enough…"
"There is one question I have of you mother," Vitani stated.
"Fine, what is it?" Zira asked in annoyance.
"You never told me Simba had a son. That you supposedly killed him…"
"So?!" Zira snapped. "He would have been competition for Kovu! With Simba alone it is just one verses one! But with Kopa it would have been two lions against Kovu!"
"You said you tried negotiating with the Pride Lands Mother!" Vitani growled. "That you offered great concessions for us to return but they refused…!"
"They did refuse!" Zira roared. "So I took it upon myself to even the score… I could have been killed! I risked my life so that my son might have a chance of retaking the kingdom! I did it for you, for me, for all of us! You dare question me Vitani…?"
Vitani stared down her mother, but eventually caved. "No Mother," Vitani stated. "I do not question you…"
"Good," Zira growled. "You know the price of treason is death…"
"Of course Mother…"
Kovu had started off his first day in the Pride Lands trying to jump Simba just before he went out on patrol, but he got interrupted by the playful Kiara. She wanted him to help her practice her hunting skills. A tall order. Most lionesses her age had already become accomplished hunters, but it was clear the princess had been sheltered and not allowed much practice in the potentially dangerous activity of hunting. He initially tried to be aloof and cold towards Kiara, knowing that her future would not be very pleasant once he retook the Pride Lands. He didn't want to become anymore attached to her than he already was. But her innocent charm and exuberance made that very difficult. Soon he was laughing and running after her like a playful cub. He had completely forgotten to try and meet up with Vitani near the spot where she was trying to seduce Simba. But he was beginning to feel conflicted. He desperately didn't want to harm Kiara. But killing her father most certainly would bring her great harm. Despite what Zira had told him, Kovu made himself a promise: if he could not protect her from his mother, then he would kill Kiara to save her from suffering…