Disclaimer: I don't own Lion King.

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Author's Note:

Here it is – the first chapter of arc 2: "Zira." We're in for some character development, Scar in trouble (why am I not surprised) and we'll encounter even more characters of the Lion King universe. Strap in and ready yourself for another arc!

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Chapter 14: Identity

Zira rocked little Kovu in her paws, lulling him to sleep. She rejoiced, hearing his even breathing, as he slipped into slumber. He was such an adorable little thing and big, for a newborn cub.

"Zira." Hodari called her quietly, careful not to wake the leader's offspring. "Can we talk?"

Zira nodded. Delicately, she grabbed Kovu and placed him beside Vitani. Afterward, she stood up and followed Hodari. The elder of the females lead her toward a small caver within the termite mound, where the lionesses had stashed Scar. Guarded by two pride sisters, he lay motionless with his legs splayed. He hadn't regained consciousness yet, but his wounds were healing, what was quite miraculous.

"His will to live is strong," Hodari said. "Zira, I'm not sure if we should let him recuperate."

"What do you mean?" Zira asked sharply. Hodari averted her gaze, but the leader had an idea what her pride sister suggested. "I happen to be in his debt and I want it wiped out. I can't do that if I snap his neck while he's asleep!"

"It's not about your honor, it's about the pride's safety!" Hodari exclaimed, drawing the attention of the two other lionesses in the mound. She pointed at Scar dramatically. "Do we even know who he is?"

Zira huffed, not liking the patronizing tone, Hodari used with her.

"He's just a stray without a pride. He poses no threat." Zira repeated what Nuka had told her, when she had squeezed the whole truth out of her cubs.

"What if he's not who he says he is?" Hodari questioned.

Zira narrowed her eyes at the older lioness.

"Like?" She made an impatient gesture, hurrying Hodari to spit it out. The pride sisters crept closer, listening to their conversation with interest. Hodari scratched her front leg before answering.

"I don't know. Maybe he does have a pride and once he's healed, he'll bring them here." Hodari suggested.

"Nonsense." Zira dismissed her concerns. "We have more important worries than a harmless cripple. We should focus on hunting right now."

"Nukta and Kuruka are on it." Hodari informed, and Zira nodded.

"Great," she said. "Now-"

"Let go off me, you treacherous Outlanders!" a pretentious voice called.

Zira and Hodari turned their attention to the newest guest in the termite mound. The two lionesses guarding Scar did that as well. Even the cubs woke up, looking around in confusion. Nukta and Kuruka returned from the hunt early, for they brought the prey. Their victim was currently struggling in Nukta's grasp, fighting for life. Blue feathers flew from his wings, making Kuruka sneeze.

"Achoo!" She wiped her nose with her paw. "I thought he was dead."

Nukta mumbled something in response, but her words were hard to understand, since she carried the captured bird in her mouth. As soon as Zira spotted an ugly, oversized beak, she knew what was for the lunch today.

"Just kill this noisy hornbill." She rolled her eyes.

"Wait!" the bird exclaimed desperately. "I want to speak with your leader!"

Zira arched her eyebrow, amused by the hornbill's request. He should know better; all the begging in the world wouldn't save his life. Eying him predatorily, she strolled closer. Subconsciously, she licked her lips, what made the bird shudder and gulp. She grinned, seeing how he trembled before her.

"I'm listening," she said in a low, yet threatening tone. Abruptly, she dashed at the hornbill, making him squeak from fright. His wing smacked Nukta in the eye and his ridiculous beak dangled comically. He stared at Zira with that little eyes of his. He looked around, eventually focusing on her.

"The leader is not home?" He asked.

"I'm the leader!" Zira growled, displaying her sharp teeth.

The hornbill cowered, hiding his head behind his wing, as if it could shield him.

"Well, any last words before I eat you?" Casually, Zira scratched the stony flooring, making an unpleasant, high-pitched noise. Everyone winced, and the bird peeked from behind his wing. He stared at Zira for a while, before he made an awkward movement. It was supposed to be a courteous bow, probably.

"It would be a waste to eat me, Your Majesty. I'm afraid I'm so tough and gamey. You wouldn't want such a mediocre meal. My services, on the other hand, are of an excellent quality. I'd be honored to provide them to you in exchange for sparing my life." Finally, the bird finished his monologue. Good, Zira got bored already.

"I'd we eat him," Kuruka said. Zira snarled at her, and the younger female backpedaled, submissively holding her head low.

"I doubt you could be of any use to me." Zira snorted, scrutinizing the little hornbill.

"My name is Zazu and I happen to be a very capable majordomo. I possess a great deal of working experience under no less than three kings of the Pride Rock." The bird advertised himself.

"Pride Rock?" Zira asked sharply, recognizing the despised name. She narrowed her eyes, glaring at Zazu. Her paw shot up to grip the hornbill by his throat. Nukta released him immediately, handing him over to her leader. Zira squeezed his neck. "Did you say: Pride Rock?"

Zazu gulped, having realized his mistake. Zira didn't care for a majordomo; she needed herself and her huntresses. Whiney lackeys were for fancy, pompous bastards from the Pride Lands.

"Don't kill me!" Zazu shrieked.

His high-pitched cry echoed across the termite mound. It was so loud, that it made the termites pause their dull work and stare blankly at the commotion. Even Scar, previously sleeping so soundly that nothing could wake him up, started coming to. He stirred and put his paw over his ear.

"Shut up, Zazu," he mumbled with his eyes still closed.

Afterward, the real havoc began. The lionesses stared at Scar in confusion, while Zazu gasped, expressing his shock. He craned his neck, what was difficult with Zira's paw clasped around it. Nevertheless, he must have discerned the male lion lying in his little cavern.

"Scar?" he asked, disbelief ringing in his voice. "You're alive?"

Scar groaned. It took him a while to awaken, but finally, he lifted his head. He rubbed his eyes with his paw and stared at the hornbill in Zira's grasp, accompanied by three more lionesses of her pride and the cubs. At first, Scar's eyes were hazy, as if he didn't manage to shake the slumber off yet. However, his brain kick started at last.

"Oh." That was his only commentary to the situation.

Zazu, on the other hand, was far more agitated. He yelped, staring at the male lion. His wings flailed wildly, making the dust rise from the ground. He opened his beak and closed, but no words escaped his throat. Zazu's startled eyes were bulging, as if they were about to pop out of the eye sockets.

"We thought the hyenas got you!" He coughed out.

Scar didn't answer. He clasped his jaws shut, and Zira could see a jaw muscle pulsing under his skin. Even though he was silent, his glare was all but neutral. He looked like he wanted to murder Zazu in the most brutal way possible.

Zira furrowed her brows, thinking that something was definitely not right here. She turned to the hornbill and shook him unceremoniously.

"Do you know each other?" She demanded.

"No." Scar answered quickly. Too quickly for it not to be suspicious.

"Yes, we do." Zazu narrowed his eyes and craned his neck, so that his vituperative glare would be more effective. Suddenly, he didn't seem so frightened anymore, even though he was still on Zira's menu. Condescendingly, he pointed his wing at the male lion. "Murderer! You killed Mufasa!"

"I have no idea what are you talking about," Scar said smoothly.

The lionesses exchanged buffaloed glances. Zira arched her eyebrow, as she witnessed the suddenly interesting drama.

"How could you Scar?" Zazu's voice trembled from emotion. "He was your brother!"

Zira stiffened. Wait, what? Instinctively, she crouched. Her muscles became tense, as she readied her body to pounce if needed. She gave Scar a suspecting look.

The male lion burst in a melodic, jovial laughter. It sounded somewhat empty though – as though there was no real amusement to back it up. Zira realized swiftly, why Scar's laughter seemed so unnatural – only his muzzle was smiling. His green eyes remained dead serious and fixed on Zazu.

"Brother?" Scar tilted his head and furrowed his brows, as if he was thinking about something intensely. Afterward, he shrugged. "I can't recall me ever having a brother."

Zazu opened his oversized yellow beak to probably shriek at the male lion, but suddenly a sly look flickered through his eyes. He folded his splayed wings and proudly pushed his chest forward, calm and composed, in spite of Zira having a strangle hold on him.

"If you can't remember your own brother, maybe the name Simba will ring a bell," Zazu said.

Instantly, Scar stiffened. Zira couldn't quite tell if he was conscious of this, but he crouched, assuming the position of a hunter about to stalk his prey. His long claws dug into the ground beneath his paws.

"Still nothing, I'm afraid." Scar replied.

"Simba sure remembers you. He won't forget his father's murderer." Perhaps if the hornbill hadn't been such a little, harmless creature, it would have been a viable threat.

Nonetheless, the Outlanders began lose their patience. Moving soundlessly like ghosts, Zira's pride mates surrounded Scar, just in case. Nukta and Kuruka, the youngest and most agile of the huntresses, snuck away and took positions on the ledge above. They were in perfect spot to fall from above and strike a potential danger down. Zira decided it was the high time to clarify some things.

"You." Mercilessly, she shook Zazu, under his light bones rattled. "Who's this Simba, you keep talking about?"

"Simba is the King of the Pride Lands." The hornbill recited. Zira huffed – as an Outlander, she shared a nearly hereditary hatred for the Pride Landers. The two prides had always harbored a certain grade of animosity ever since the great war that took place generations ago. Zazu, however, failed to notice the grimace on her muzzle and continued blabbering. "Not long ago, he returned to claimed the throne after the pathetic pretender robbed him of it."

Scar's muscles began contracting, as he literally shook from anger. All lionesses glanced at Zira, awaiting orders, but she gave them no sign.

"Just so we are clear, Simba, as the King's son, is the rightful ruler of Pride Rock." Zazu rephrased. Zira smirked inwardly. Of course, the bird would still get eaten by her, but he was entertaining.

Scar, taunted by Zazu, couldn't hold his tongue behind his teeth any longer.

"I am the rightful king!" Suddenly, Scar yelled. His voice echoed across the silent termite mound. Nearly instantly, he realized that his outburst gained him the attention of every predator in the den. The grim lionesses closed on him. Instinctively, he took a step back, but warning growls of two pride sisters situated above him made Scar freeze.

"Nuka!" Zira called sharply.

Her oldest cub yelped and jumped at the sound of her voice like a spooked gazelle calf. Hastily, he skipped to her, hunching his back.

"Yes, mother?" Nuka looked at her with his usual eagerness to please her. If Zira asked him to roll in elephant dung, he would surely do it. As foolish as it was, it was kind of adorable to have such an obedient cub.

"Hold the bird." Zira smiled slightly, handing Zazu to her son.

Nuka nodded and pounced on the hornbill, pinning him to the ground. The bird waved his wings and wriggled, but the cub could hold him with no problem. Now that Zazu was no longer in her hold, Zira could turn her attention to the situation at hand.

Scar stared at her and saw the fierce, unforgiving leader, who was not to be trifled with. She expected him to try to talk his way out of it, but he must have known that she had the upper paw. The corners of her mouth twisted upward deviously.

"Attack!" Zira commanded.

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Author's Note:

Told ya, Scar's in trouble again. Now, review, please. Even a one-line comment is precious for me. My precious…