(A/N: I meant to upload several days ago, but was unable to login to my account. Please enjoy, and thanks for following, faving, and commenting, you guys! 3 I've been thinking a lot on where I want this project to go. You'll definitely see an inkling of it in this chapter.)
The land beyond her father's territory was vast and at once familiar and alien. It sprawled before Zira. Once her initial fear and shock thawed, her mind leaped to figure out what to do with so much of the unknown fixed before her. She'd never dreamed her life could take this kind of a turn… but now… at least her life was her own.
She took some comfort in that.
She thought she might cry that first night alone. Miles from her family. As far away from those murdering rogues as her paws had physically been able to take her. Then had been the time for it. But her cheeks stayed dry that night as she cleaned her raw paw pads. She was too numb and too tired to wail like a fussy infant, and in the morning she decided that going forward she would push away her self-pity.
Morning came around…
Probably, if she had been home, she would have been hunting for her father.
Noon…
She'd be down by the river with her small cousins, watching the water for them and listening for danger. In the last moon, her aunts had entrusted her to lead the younger cubs to the river to drink.
Night…
She'd either be curled against her mother's side or be waiting for the haunting bleats of a fresh dinner to bellow across the savannah.
A couple more days went by and it seemed like a lifetime had passed since her world had been thrown into chaos. She really was on her own. To the best she could, she tried to push the memories of her former home from her mind, but it only made her ache with loneliness. It made those first days of wandering feel endless. No matter how tight she closed her eyes, her ears perked for any hint of danger, she would not wake up in her pride ever again.
Surviving wasn't as hard as she feared. She spent her waking hours hunting, and only once in a moon of wandering and traveling did she go to sleep with pains in her stomach. What made life uneasy were the packs of hyenas with bone-cracking jaws, the herds of aggressive elephants, and the need to be careful while hunting. That most of all frayed her nerves and kept her muscles on edge. If she couldn't eat, she had no chance.
What wasn't against her was the weather through her long journey. She also took satisfaction in hunting meals for herself that were appreciated, and in the morning dread did not fill her at the possibility of being beaten.
Zira did fear that her solitude would never end. The tone of her mother's voice was gradually fading from her memory, as were the faces of the younger cubs. Her father would never NEVER slip from her memory, but a small part of her missed him. She'd seen several prides. None had welcomed her, and she'd moved on quickly. There was no fight that she could afford. But she envied the lionesses from afar as they lazed under trees, their young king nearby with his proud head erect. Uncountable dozing cubs strewn about.
"I'll find it," Zira muttered to herself, and occasionally repeated to keep her spirits up. "I'll find mine. My pride. It's out here."
She eventually lost track of time, but every day she grew stronger—less afraid of the world. She survived a dry season. Kept herself safe. She traveled south before turning west.
A weak rain was falling on her back and head one day when Zira crossed the border into a new pride's territory, hoping to find something quick to fill her belly. She killed a young zebra fowl and had her jaws around its throbbing, thrashing neck when a smooth, rumbling voice spoke behind her. Her nostrils flared.
"My, my… you're either very brave or very stupid."
Zira froze. Hackles raised, she spun around, her belly hugging the ground. A young lion with brown fur and almond-shaped green eyes sat erect, staring at her. Part of his deep black mane had grown in to frame his narrow, expressionless face. His chest was still bare.
The young zebra exhaustedly tried to get back on its hooves, and instinctively Zira pounced on it to keep it down. She quickly dispatched it with a bite to the back of the neck. Her attention then turned back to the lion. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came. Only a weak snarl that made her face flush. She started to shake, but tightened her muscles. She'd never been this close to any male who wasn't her father. She thought she could fight this lion if it meant she could get away, but she stood no chance if he was determined to kill her.
"Well!" he snapped. The lion lifted his tufted chin. "I'm waiting…"
Zira lowered her ears. She glanced at the dead zebra and started to move away. While he stole her meal, she could make her escape.
"Don't be thick. Why are you here?"
"I… umm…" She glanced from the zebra back to the stranger. She murmured, "You can just take it…"
The lion's lids lowered half-way over his green eyes. "I'm not hungry."
She eyed his narrow, skinny frame, but thought better of asking if he was so sure. His lionesses weren't feeding him well, that was for sure, or perhaps he had a parasite. How could he pass up a free meal? She'd never seen anyone so skinny! "I needed to hunt. I was going to be on my way after." She shrugged, trying to stay calm.
"Then don't make that foal's mother suffer in vain. Eat." The lion lay down with a ghost of a smile on his lips. He rested one paw over the other a reasonable distance away.
Zira blinked and looked down at the zebra. He didn't have to invite her twice. Cautiously, she bit into her meal and tore off a piece. Her muscles relaxed, but she kept her guard up. After a few bites to dull her hunger, she said, "Thank you… er… er…" She looked to him for his name. When he didn't respond, she said, "You can call me Zira."
"I thought you were going to be right on your way?"
"Yes of course," she said quickly. "But does that mean I can't thank you properly?"
A smile. "Be glad you're not in any real trouble. Mufasa and Father act first and talk later."
A shiver ran down her back, but she smiled back. "Then I'm glad I was found by someone so kind."
He snorted and rolled his eyes at the compliment.
Zira ate in silence again, chewing and watching the lion as he licked his forelegs. She swallowed. "I haven't talked to anyone since I left my pride."
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Aren't you a bit young to be on your own?"
She held a bite of food in her mouth, unable to swallow it for a moment to respond. She got it down and replied, "Tell me your name."
A slow smile formed on his lips. "Prince Taka of the Pride Lands."
She nodded. Taka… "Rogues came to fight my father. He didn't stand a chance, and neither did I. I had no future in that pride anyway."
"I see…"
Her kill disappeared quickly as her hunger came on fully, and for now at least she was satisfied. The bones of her kill cleaned, she sighed in relief and cleaned her face and chest a little. Overstaying her welcome crossed her mind. Taka didn't seem like he needed her to hurry along, though. She glanced at him when she thought he wouldn't notice.
He was maybe twice her age, she guessed. He wasn't overly aggressive, and she thought that any lion worth his strength could kill Taka, given half a chance.
Taka stood up and stretched. "I suppose it's time we go our separate ways."
She nodded acceptingly, though the absence of someone to talk to, and the thought of returning to her solitude, didn't let her meal sit well. She looked at Taka as he stared her down, waiting for her to move on. He'd taken pity on her. He didn't owe her anything more. Zira turned and walked away.
If only everyone could be so trustworthy and giving, she thought to herself.
She'd walked for a few minutes when Taka surprised her and appeared at her side. He moved in front of her to stop her. She was immediately on alert and growled. "If you touch me, I'll—"
"Now, now. Perhaps I've been thoughtless."
"Thoughtless?" Her heart thumped faster. Did he regret his generosity? It had been too good to be true that he should let her go so eas—
Taka smirked. "I've forgotten my manners."
Zira raised a brow. "What?"
"Perhaps you should stay—as long as you like."
"Ah…" Zira flicked her ears. "I thought I'd go my way and you'd go—"
"No, no, no—I merely supposed. Hey." Taka eyes brightened. "Why, wouldn't you know that my father and brother are constantly complaining that there aren't enough lionesses around to do the hunting?"
Zira's heart fluttered.
"Well, Zira?"
Her heart fluttered again. She met his eyes, and for a moment she couldn't speak. In that moment, she wished that time could stop so didn't have to just gawk at Taka like she'd never seen another lion. She blinked and shook her head to clear her thoughts. "And what if I like being alone?"
"My brother accuses me of having no compassion, and I'd like to prove him wrong. We can be alone together. I keep to myself."
This was a miracle. Was this the place she was meant to be? She waited a moment in case she was supposed to wake up from a dream fueled by wishful thinking.
"Zira, you dare to make me grovel?"
She glanced away. Her cheeks flushed. "I won't stay if I don't like it."
He assured her that she would, and not to worry about anything. She followed him deeper into the Pride Lands, making light chatter, and the moment she laid eye on Pride Rock something stirred within her and she knew she could live nowhere else for the rest of her life.
Taka raised a paw and closed her jaw for her, much to her stunned embarrassment. He chuckled.
"Welcome to the Pride Lands, Zira."
The air was warm and dry as it swept over the grasses and ran its fingers through the tree leaves. Kovu welcomed the breeze, and it helped to keep the bugs away. He lay with his paws crossed, a quarter mile from a large herd of gazelle. He watched them tear off grass and weeds with their stubby teeth and wondered if they really thought grass tasted good, or if they really just didn't know any better.
"Hey!"
A few gazelle in the herd looked up and started the flow of a slow stampede. They could tolerate one visible lion but no more than that. Kovu stood and turned at the voice of his sister. He'd talked about going for a hunt with her. A smile broadened his muzzle, but it slipped away and he groaned inwardly when he saw Nuka jogging in her wake as he chatted animatedly with their sister.
Vitani laughed at something Nuka said. Kovu had hardly spoken a word to his brother since they'd taken their new home, and thankfully Nuka had stayed out of the way. Kovu resigned to tolerating his brother when Nuka's voice struck him as a little too bold.
"She thinks it's gonna be a boy."
"She's just saying that."
"No! Batzail's sure of it."
"She's sure of everything."
"We're gonna name him Taka." Nuka gave Kovu a pointed look.
Kovu frowned and raised a brow at Vitani. He didn't think their mother would appreciate Nuka using Scar's birth name.
"Hmmm…" Vitani made an uncertain sound. She muttered, "Thought you were going to reconsider, Nuka?"
"No." Nuka snorted. He shook his head. "He's Scar's grandson."
"But Mother—"
Kovu ground his teeth as Nuka went on about what he'd say to Zira if she protested. Nuka was a coward; he could never stand up to their mother. And once she heard the cub's name, or if Nuka even had a son before Kovu... the supposed kings above couldn't help Nuka.
"Really, Nuka." Vitani gave Kovu a pointed look. "Mother… You shouldn't bring attention to your future cubs."
"It might be dangerous," Kovu remarked.
Nuka flinched and snarled. He glared at Kovu. "And what does that mean?"
"It means what it means." There was no way that Zira would leap for joy over any son by Nuka.
Nuka shook in anger. "If you come close to my son—"
Kovu snorted and gave Vitani a look. Nuka's overreaction rubbed him the wrong way. He lifted his chin. "All I'm saying is—"
"You're just jealous that I've passed on Scar's blood—Y-you probably haven't even lain with Suki!"
"Ha!" Kovu let out a loud laugh, though he felt a hot stab of anger at his brother's taunt. He smirked. "Did Scar even ever touch you? Let you near him?"
That was it. Muttering under his breath, Nuka bunched his muscles and pounced at Kovu, but, Kovu easily shoved his brother to the ground. The fight was over before it started. Nuka stayed down and glared up at Kovu.
"He chose me over you," Kovu snarled. "I'm his heir." He tapped the side of his head. "Finally learn that."
Nuka narrowed his eyes, but had nothing to say. He turned his face away.
Kovu took a step back. Vitani came forward and helped their older brother to his paws. She shook her head at Kovu. To Nuka, she said, "I bet Batzail wouldn't mind if we visited. C'mon."
Like a spoiled infant, Nuka grumbled and followed after Vitani, his head down. Kovu watched them go. His muscles were rigid. He closed his eyes, let out a sigh, and shook his head. Thoughtfully, he flicked his ears. So what if Nuka was Scar's son? It didn't matter.
Disgruntled, he walked to the small den near Pride Rock. His mother had remembered it was there, and had said that Scar had used it in his youth. Suki was inside and brightened instantly when she saw him. He had hoped that she'd be out with her friends.
"Hello, my king. How are you?" Suki greeted him with her soft voice and eyes.
"I'm fine."
"How was your mother today?"
"She was fine, too."
Suki watched his face like she was watching the movements of a crocodile-infested watering hole. "No she wasn't…" She stared harder. "Or it was something else…"
Kovu looked down at Suki's sleek, lithe belly. He'd hoped she would have given him cubs by now. He imagined himself fussing over his family's meals, making sure his cubs were growing stronger every day. In a perfect world…
Nuka was right about one thing.
He hadn't never mated with Suki.
Kovu lay down next to her. After a few moments, Suki scooted over to him and, purring, nuzzled him. She was always affectionate. "My king…" She nuzzled him harder before she rolled over on her back, her head on his paws, and licked his mane. Playfully, she batted at his chin.
Inwardly, Kovu sighed and cringed. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Not now, Suki."
He felt Suki flinch and shift around. She removed her paw from his face. After a moment, she said, "I'm sorry."
Opening his eyes, he looked at the back of Suki's head. Her ears were lowered. He knew there were tears forming in her eyes. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to mate with her. And he didn't have the words to comfort her for only trying to fulfill her duty.
"When do you think Batzail is due?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I'm… I'm not sure." She paused. "Soon… I guess."
In the Outlands, no cubs had been born after Suki, and nobody had yet to give birth. "Oh… I thought you might know."
"You'll have to ask the elders." Suki rolled off his paws, keeping her eyes down. "I don't know."
"Suki, do you know if Vitani has been with anyone?"
Finally she looked at him. She cocked her head to the side. "Anyone who?"
"Males. She's been disappearing a lot."
"So do you." Giving Kovu a tight smile, Suki replied, "She wouldn't do anything that would put the pride at risk. It's Vitani."
That was true. He didn't really think he had to worry about Vitani. Essentially, however, she was still a lioness, and someone with a mind that was very much her own. He stood. "Are you hungry?" he asked brusquely, not really waiting for her answer, though he thought she made an uncertain peep.
More loudly, when he was at the mouth of the den, she called, "I love you, my king."
Kovu walked out of the den, cringing at her words rather than echoing them.
"Father wants to me order my brothers to leave."
Kiara's eyes widened. She knew something had been bothering Ramik since Chumvi's visit. She wasn't surprised by Tojo's order, but the look on Ramik's face was devastating. "When?" she asked, a tightness forming in her throat and a soreness gathering in the pit of her stomach.
"Soon… end of season… Chumvi volunteered to help them get their footing… but…" Ramik looked at his paws. "I want them to stay… C-can't I count on my own brothers to help me protect our pride? And… I had hoped one day we'd all be strong enough, and that we could all take Pride Rock back from the Outsiders. We could do it together."
The story of her family's history floated into the forefront of her mind. She bit her lip. Tojo's fears that they would overthrow Ramik one day weren't unfounded. But as far as she knew, the brothers were harmless. They were kind and respectful. They loved their pride. They rarely quarreled. But they were young. And would want mates of their own one day. One brother was enough, when Ramik had three.
"Pff…" Ramik's voice lowered to imitate his father's. "'Even a brother's blood can be overlooked when one's eyes are set on power.'" He looked at her. "He's wrong, right?"
Kiara was unsure what to say, but she knew Ramik could guess what was on her mind.
"I would know if they were anything like Scar."
Her face flushed. "If I've learned anything… kindness can mean blindness…" She looked at the ground.
"This world's harsh enough already. The least I can do is to be kind." She'd never heard any sort of sharpness in his voice before, and it stung. He dismissed himself and said he would see her at bedtime.
I don't distrust his brothers… Kiara's stomach twisted. I won't stand to see him hurt. His father only wants what's best for him and the pride. Brothers must leave each other.
