Disclaimer: I don't own Lion King.

.

.

.

Chapter 7: Prey

.

Since the unsuccessful coup, the situation in the Outlander Pride was horridly tense. The lionesses were ordered to double their efforts in hunting, even though the prey was scarce. Thus, Nuka barely ever saw his mother. Like other cubs, he was left in Msuli's "care". In reality, the little ones had to stay within his reach in case their mothers tried to pull another coup. They were hostages.

Nuka lay in the corner with Vitani snuggled into his fur. The siblings avoided another cubs, mostly because of his sister's parentage. The adult lionesses understood that Vitani was Zira's daughter, but Panya's childhood friends saw her as Msuli's spawn, destined to be evil. Thankfully, she was too little to comprehend what it meant. Oblivious to the antipathy, her existence inspired, she snored lightly, tugging at Nuka's pelt in her slumber.

Msuli lifted his massive body from the ground and began his inspection. He prowled among the cubs, watching them sternly. Instantly, all conversations were silenced; the young lionesses crouched, avoiding his gaze, as if it could make them invisible. Nuka tensed even more, when his eyes met Msuli's blue ones. The male snarled, and the mangy cub pressed himself flat against the ground. In his mind, he squeaked from terror, seeing the adult lion approach.

"Nuka." The way he pronounced his name was disdainful. Briefly, Msuli glanced at sleeping Vitani, but treated her like air; after all she was no heir material – she was just a daughter. "Come walk with me."

Nuka gulped, as a stirring, unpleasant sensation developed in his belly. Msuli never talked to him. To Zira's mate, her son was just a nuisance he had to tolerate. Thus, his sudden interest in Nuka, made the young lion edgy. He didn't want to go with Msuli, but he was too scared to refuse. He flinched, when the memory of Panya getting her head smashed flickered through his mind. Instantly, he jumped to his paws and trotted after his stepfather.

Msuli led him away from the cubs, so that no one could overhear him. He sat on his rear, pushing his broad chest forward.

"You're almost grown, Nuka." He stated.

Nuka tilted his head, not understanding what Msuli meant. After all, he was just a cub, he barely stopped drinking his mother's milk and there wasn't even a trace of mane atop his head.

"As you may know, some lions must leave their pride, once they reach adulthood," Msuli said.

Nuka's eyes widened. Msuli wanted him gone? It wasn't surprising, actually, but he still had a lot of time until he became an adult. However, the look in his stepfather's blue eyes made him develop an unnerving suspicion that he would have to mature much faster than he had thought.

"Once your mother gives birth to another of my cubs, you'll become a burden." Msuli stated the harsh truth harshly. He glared down at his stepson, scowling, as if he was being forced to sniff excrements. "I don't want you around when my son arrives. Is that clear?"

Nuka started breathing faster, as the meaning of Msuli's words sank in. He shivered like a leaf in the wind under the adult lion's cruel, expectant gaze. The cub found himself nodding, even though he wished to scream in protest. He didn't want to leave mother and Vitani, he didn't want to be apart from his family. When Msuli whirled around, he swished his tail at Nuka, knocking him off paws and sending tumbling. The cub's legs were shaking, as he pulled himself up and marched toward his spot in the den.

For the first time in his life, Nuka felt so miserable. Granted, his entire, short life was a chain of unfortunate events, but at least he had his mother to stay by his side. How was he supposed to survive without her? He would do anything to stay in his pride.

Nuka laid on the cool ground and hid his head between his thin front legs. His scrawny body shook, as he sobbed, mourning his childhood. He was so lonely, felt so abandoned. Suddenly, he realized that something was not right. Slowly, he raised his head, looking around.

Vitani wasn't where she was supposed to be. Panicked, Nuka swept his gaze all over the termite mound, but his lively sister was missing. He felt his hair bristle at the thought what would mother say once she found out that he lost Vitani. Msuli would probably murder him too.

.

Scar was getting impatient. He swooshed with his tail, chasing pesky flies away. He lay in front of his minuscule den with his front paws crossed, waiting. However, his little food deliverer was nowhere in sight. He was supposed to show up yesterday, and yet there was still no sign of him. Had someone eaten him? Scar quickly dismissed such ridiculous possibility – Nuka was nothing but skin and bones; there was nothing to eat. Nonetheless, his absence unnerved the adult lion. Scar detested carrion that the scrawny cub kept bringing him.

However, the sting of profound hunger reminded him, how dependent on Nuka he was. His stomach rumbled like a thunder rolling across the sky, demanding nourishment. Scar couldn't wait any longer. What if the mangy cub never showed? He would starve. Hesitant, the lion got up to perform an activity he had avoided for years - hunt. Scar used to be quick and nimble, also stronger than his lean build lead on, so he would do just fine.

However, his body protested the moment he started walking. His back hurt immensely. The barely healed wounds throbbed with pain. The new skin covering them stretched unpleasantly, as if it was about to break, exposing the bare flesh once more. However, the worst was one of Scar's hind legs. He couldn't quite bend it, for the bone coalesced at an improper angle. As a result, one of the paws got dragged through the dirt and he had to skip in order to get it up in the air.

Scar ventured ahead, not minding where he was going. Driven by persistent, insatiable hunger, he sniffed, searching for a scent of prey. Suddenly, he heard rustling. As his potential dinner was downwind, he couldn't tell what it was. He crouched, very clumsily though, shifting his weight off his bad leg. Moving bunglingly like an inexperienced cub, he approached the unfortunate animal. He made as little noise as possible, taking advantage of all his hunting experience.

His back and limbs pulsed with dull pain, but he held the position, set on snatching this meercat, pig or whatever it was. As soon as he crawled so close to his victim, that he could sense the ground vibrate under his paws, he smirked triumphantly. Abruptly, he leapt for his prey.

Where was it? Scar looked underneath his paws, but nothing was there. He was too slow. Cursing under his breath, he scrambled off the ground. Then, he got attacked. The assault was so abrupt and unexpected, that it had Scar absolutely caught off guard. He realized what was happening when sharp claws grabbed his rear leg, stinging like porcupine needles. Instinctively, Scar attempted to shake the oppressor off, but the persistent creature bit him, sinking teeth in freshly healed wound.

"Damn!" Scar tried to kick the predator, but the attacked rear leg was the stiff one. He swung his tail at the enemy, knocking him off. A very easily recognizable sound carried across the grassland, startling Scar. Afterward, the stubborn attacker launch another assault, this time targeting the lion's front paw.

Scar flinched, feeling slight pain, as little teeth gnawed at his paw. He stared at the so-called predator, dumbfounded that something so tiny could be so fierce. It was merely a lion cub, a very young one. Letting out a comically high-pitched growls, it munched his leg. When he lifted his paw, the cub dangled, clutching it and securing a grip.

"Huh." That was the only commentary Scar could muster. It appeared that he had been just hunted down.

He shook his paw, trying to pry the little cub off, but the annoying wouldn't let go. Scar scowled, fighting to get rid of the tiny lion. As soon as he managed to do it, the cub crouched and attacked again, flinging at his mane. Scar grunted, dismayed, and rolled his eyes. Why did cubs feel the irresistible need to attach themselves to him? He despised the annoying little creatures. As if proving his point, the little cub tugged at his mane, striving to crawl higher.

Scar let out an intimidating roar, warning the little one. However, the little cub squealed, what probably was supposed to be its interpretation of a growl and doubled its efforts to bring him down. He bared his teeth, seriously considering to get rid of the irritating pest. Permanently.

"Vitani!"

With the cub dangling from his mane, Scar turned to see his food deliverer sprint toward him. He gave him a condescending look, which was spoiled by the little lion that tried to climb to reach his throat. Discerning dire concern in Nuka's eyes, Scar made a connection and sighed, abandoning the idea to kill the small cub.

"Is this yours?" he asked, pointing his paw at the parasite with fair pelt.

Breathless, Nuka nodded.

"Nuka!" The tiny cub still clutched Scar's mane. Her blue eyes brightened, when she noticed the mangy, young lion. "Look!"

Vitani tugged Scar triumphantly, proudly presenting her prey to her older brother. Her catch rolled his eyed, demonstrating his disapproval, but sat still, letting the cub ruffle his mane. Nuka hunched his back, sending Scar apologetic look and, thankfully, took the little monster away. Tiny beast huffed, clearly unhappy that her hunt had been interrupted, but released the adult lion, albeit reluctantly.

"Vitani, you can't go hunt other lions!" Nuka exclaimed.

"Why?" Vitani stared innocently at the older cub.

"Because," Scar said, helping Nuka out. He leaned, so that he would be at the same eye level as Vitani. "I could eat you!"

Scar emphasized his point with an abrupt growl, aimed to scare the life out of the young cub. However, Vitani stared at him with glee, instead of fear. She wriggled in Nuka's hold.

"I eat you!" she exclaimed in her childish voice, putting the sentence together in an awkward way, common to very young cubs. She mimicked Scar's expression, baring her miniscule teeth and snarling at the adult lion. He glared at her, and Vitani narrowed her eyes at him in return, copying him again. Scar raised his eyebrow – his intention was to intimidate the irritating pest, not to entertain her.

"Is this yours?" he asked, pointing his paw at the hairball.

"It's my sister, Vitani." Nuka introduced the little beast, who was making faces at Scar. "We should go back. Mother will be worried."

"Not so fast." Scar moved his paw fast and pinned Nuka's tail to the ground, ensuring that his food deliverer wouldn't run away. "Aren't you forgetting my dinner?"

"But," Nuka mumbled, looking down at his little sister.

Scar sighed, rolling his eyes demonstratively. He couldn't believe that it came to this. However, if he wished to avoid starving, some sacrifices had to be made.

"I will watch your sister while you get me my dinner." Scar promised sincerely. Then, he smiled widely. He outstretched his paws and called to Vitani in a cooing voice, strictly reserved for annoying little nephews. "Come to Scar, little lady!"

Vitani squealed from joy and wriggled out of Nuka's grip. Quick like a cheetah, she launched herself at Scar, letting out hilarious, high-pitched growls and wildly waving her tail. She leapt to capture her babysitter, but he moved out of the way, giving her more challenge. Inwardly, he wished he could just twist her neck – he really despised cubs.

.

Nuka smiled slightly, observing Vitani play with Scar. It was such a heart-warming sight. Msuli never took care of her, even though he was her father. Nuka turned around, about to go hunt some rodents. However, before he set off, he glanced over his shoulder.

"Scar?" he asked.

"Hn?" The adult lion stilled, waiting for Nuka to put his question together. As he did so, Vitani pounced on his tail. Scar winced, but withstood it.

"Scar, I was wondering…" Nuka stared at the ground beneath his paws. "I was wondering if I could join you once I'll have to leave my pride."

Scar was piercing Nuka with his quizzical gaze. The cub couldn't figure out what was going through the adult lion's mind, but surely he was thinking intensely. Finally, a kind smile spread across his muzzle, as always fatherly and welcoming.

"Of course, dear lad." Scar replied smoothly, ignoring Vitani, who crawled onto his back and gnawed at his pelt.

.

.

.

Author Note:

Did you like the chapter? Please leave a comment. Every review is greatly appreciated.

I was thinking that I might have been a bit too hasty to terminate the story earlier. After all, some of you actually enjoy it. Anyway, I'll wait and see. There are still 5 chapters to go and anything can happen.