Disclaimer: I don't own Lion King.

Author's Note: WARNING! This chapter contains a scene inappropriate for children (although there was no big deal when I saw such outrageous scenes on Animal Planet). If you're not okay with having lions do some bow-chika-wow-wow, run away!

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Chapter 3: Preparations

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Nuka pranced home energetically like a young gazelle. Even the bloodthirsty crocodiles didn't manage to spoil his good mood. However, the closer he got to the termite mounds, the more worried about mother's reaction he became. How would he explain why he returned without any prey? He couldn't tell her about Scar – she would be livid. Besides, that was Nuka's secret.

Little did the young cub know, for his concerns were inconsequential. Scar wasn't the only rogue lion roaming near the Outlands. Nuka nearly got himself caught, when he got a whiff of an unfamiliar scent. It was a lion alright, but not a familiar one. Instantly, the cub dashed for a bush, hiding himself behind it and cautiously peeking out. From his hiding place, he spotted a well-built male, almost as big as Msuli. However, his coloring couldn't be more different. They were like day and night – the rogue before Nuka's eyes had dark pelt, even darker than Scar's, and a brown mane that appeared almost black.

Nuka squinted his eyes and tilted his head, thinking that the unfamiliar male was behaving somewhat odd. He was emitting really weird grunting noises and making those funny moves. Curiosity was a trait that was always his bane. This time, it proved to be especially harmful. Unaware what the lion was doing, the sub crouched closer.

"Don't stop!" a raspy voice of a lioness called.

Nuka instantly recognized it – it was his mother's! Not thinking much, he leapt from behind the bush, running to his parent.

"Mother!" the called joyfully.

The male lion stilled, and so did Zira, laying under him. Both turned their heads to stare at Nuka with horror in their eyes. For a brief moment, the three lions were immobile, just looking at each other. An unsettling suspicion blossomed in the cub's mind – he might have seen something, he shouldn't have. Actually, the sight of the male straddling his mother was fairly traumatizing to young Nuka, even though he had no idea what was happening.

"What are you doing mother?" Nuka asked, although he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer.

Suddenly, the male and mother jumped, inching away from each other. The tension was apparent, as each other couldn't even meet their gazes. The stranger whirled around, turning his back to Nuka, while Zira hurriedly combed her pelt in attempt to make herself presentable. The cub observed them with interest, wondering what was mother doing with this rogue.

"I suppose we'll see each other later, then." The stranger mumbled.

"Right." Zira nodded. "Just remember what we were talking about."

The rogue muttered an affirmative response and ran off east. Nuka followed him with his gaze until the male vanished from sight. He was baffled, why would another lion venture into the Outlands.

"Nuka." Zira walked over to her son.

"Yes mother?" Nuka asked her innocently.

Zira sighed, looking east.

"I don't want you to tell anyone about what have you seen today. Is that clear?" Her voice lacked the usual sternness. If Nuka didn't know any better, he would have thought that she was the one in trouble, not him.

"Like… it's our little secret?" It would be the second one this day.

"That's right, dear." Zira replied. She never brought up the matter that Nuka came back from the hunt empty-pawed.

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Scar chewed onto the wildebeest's leg. It was so old that it was gooey, but it helped him survive. He lay in front of his measly den, having his laughable meal. Injured, humiliated, chased out of his home and stripped off his throne, he nurtured profound hatred within his heart. Only his lust for vengeance kept him alive. First, he would recuperate, then he'd kill Simba and reclaim his rightful place in the Pride Lands.

The lion smirked, picturing how he would fling his detestable nephew off a cliff, this time successfully. Or perhaps he should strangle him in his sleep? Either way, Scar's revenge would be wonderful.

"Why are you smiling so happily?" Nuka, the mangy cub, skipped toward Scar, asking another one of his endless questions. Actually, there was something familiar about the pathetic hairball, but he couldn't quite decide what it was. Maybe he resembled young Simba in his stupidity and amazing ability to annoy the life out of Scar. Perhaps it was Nuka's hunched back and ghastly thinness, that reminded of the hyenas. His intelligence would match too, actually. However, no matter how much antipathy the scrawny excuse of a lion gained, he was useful – without the cub, Scar would have starved days ago.

"I was just thinking of my family, my lad." It was truth.

"Really?" Nuka plopped on his backside, drilling his inquisitive crimson eyes into Scar, yearning for more attention. "Can you tell me about them?"

"There is not much to tell." Scar shrugged. "They are dead. I have very fond memories of them, though."

He didn't lie completely this time either. Scar did have pleasant recollections of his relatives. For instance, the moment when he had sent Mufasa falling to his death in the gorge was one of the most glorious moments in his life. Simba wasn't dead, yet, but he would soon join his father, thus adding another nice memory.

"Oh." Nuka seemed genuinely sad after Scar's reply.

"Don't feel sorry for me, Nuka." Scar ruffled the cub's pelt on the top of his head. It was something he had seen Mufasa do to Simba. "I may have lost my old family, but I gained new."

As he expected, at his remark Nuka grinned like an idiot, he was. Manipulating the mangy cub was easy to the point of being laughably funny. With a few cheap praises, Scar was able to recruit the young lion to fetch him food like an obedient little slave. The feeling of being absolutely adored was a nice perk as well. It definitely helped Scar keep a good mood despite the horrid injuries he had suffered.

"Run along now." The adult lion shooed the cub away. "We wouldn't want your mother to miss you, would we?"

Scar breathed out with relief, seeing the cub skip away like a gazelle having a seizure. Muttering a curse, he chomped what remained of the half-rotten wildebeest leg and sneered with disgust at the foul taste. It was utterly humiliating to be forced to feast on carrion like some despicable hyena, and Scar never would have thought that it could come to this. Nevertheless, the flesh gave him strength to sustain his life. The profound wounds were healing, the broken bones grew together. It would take some time to get back to a prime condition, but at least he was alive. Determined, Scar cleared the bones, not leaving a single strap of muscle or tendon.

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Author's Note:

Zira is one naughty lioness, isn't she?

Review and you shall be rewarded with virtual lemon cupcakes! Seriously now, I'd love to read your opinion on my little fic. Even a single line of a review will be appreciated. Besides, it will help me decide whether to continue the fic.