Here's chapter 7 and please review.
I would like to thank Raina, Princess Meria and CSIMentalistTLK lover for reviewing my last chapter. Thank you so much, the reviews meant so much to me and I really appreciate them.
This first part of the chapter was something I was supposed to put in the last chapter but I completely forgot. Sorry about that. The first line break (TLKTLKTLK) is where the chapter is really supposed to start.
Nala's parent didn't say a word to her, but Hofu still came to visit her. He couldn't talk to her every day, since it angered their parents, but he came whenever he could.
"When are they going to start talking Nala?" Hofu asked. He ruffled the tuft of brown fur that was beginning to grow on Kopa's head. Nala knew that had come from her side of the family, and she was thankful that it wasn't amber red like Simba's. It would have been too suspicious to Scar.
"Soon," Nala said.
Kiara squealed and pounced on Hofu. Kopa did as well and with the combined weight, Hofu crashed onto the ground.
"Wow, they're tough," Hofu grunted as he gently pushed Kiara and Kopa off.
"Hofu," Nala said. "Can you watch them just for a couple minutes? I just have to run to the Waterhole and back." She had stashed a kill there and had completely forgotten about it.
"Alright!" Hofu exclaimed.
Nala gave the twins a nuzzle, "I'll be right back. Be good cubs." She hurried out of the den.
Hofu suddenly remembered that his father was back today. Runju had been gone for a few weeks, but he was coming back today.
"Dad's back!" Hofu exclaimed. He looked at the twins. "Let's go into the big den."
He pulled Kiara and Kopa into the den that the rebel Pride used. Kopa spotted Shani and trotted towards his godmother, squeaking and mewing at her.
Kiara followed Hofu as he ran to Runju and embraced him.
"You're back!" Hofu exclaimed, nuzzling Runju. Runju smiled and returned his affection.
"Did Nala leave her with you?" Sarafina asked.
"Yeah, she had to go to the Waterhole real fast. She'll be back soon."
"Hofu, Aunt Kudeka brought back something for you to eat." Runju said. "Go and eat."
"I'll go when Nala comes back." Hofu said. "She asked me to watch them."
"It's okay," Sarafina assured. "I'll...keep an eye on her." She looked at Kiara who was looking around with bright sapphire blue eyes. Eyes that clearly reflected her daughter.
"Alright," Hofu said and walked out with Runju behind him.
Kiara squeaked and mewed at Sarafina.
"It's okay Kiara. He just went to eat. And your mother will be back." Sarafina said.
Kiara continued squeaking at her, nudging her paws, trying to get Sarafina up. She wanted to go look for her mother but she didn't want to go alone.
"No, Kiara." Sarafina said her voice cold. She could tolerate Kiara near her only because she was her granddaughter. She didn't feel anything warm towards the cub. She could only wait until Nala came and collected her.
Kiara whined and nudged her, trying to her up.
Sarafina growled at her," Enough!" She bared her teeth at Kiara, warning the cub to stay away from her.
Kiara stared back at Sarafina, her bright blue eyes terrified. Her eyes immediately began to fill with tears.
"Kiara," Scar walked into the den, and Kiara ran to her father.
Sarafina glared at the lion who had corrupted her daughter, and had taken away one of the rebel Pride's most valuable members.
Kiara wrapped herself around Scar's front paw, and clung onto him. Kopa got up from where he was playing with Shinda and Shani and ran towards Scar.
Scar didn't say anything, but just herded them into their den.
"Kopa, Kiara," Scar asked, "Where is your mother?"
Kopa squeaked at him, while Kiara just buried herself into her father's leg, wiping the tears from her sapphire blue eyes.
"Kopa! Kiara!" Nala came into the den, and then stopped, looking surprised when she saw Scar.
"Where did Hofu go?" Nala asked.
"I don't know," Scar replied. "I went into the den and saw Kopa with Shinda and Shani, while Kiara was with your mother."
Nala looked at her daughter whose face was tear stained.
"What happened?" Nala soothed, pulling her in closer and nuzzling her. But she had a pretty good idea of what had happened. Her mother had been rough on Kiara and had obviously said something that hurt her cub.
"Where were you?" Scar asked, giving Nala a nuzzle.
"I went to the Waterhole to make sure the hyenas didn't take the kill I stashed. But it was gone and I saw some hyenas fighting nearby and I had to go deal with them. I left Kiara and Kopa with Hofu." Nala said.
Kopa yawned and Nala have his face a lick. "Time to sleep."
She curled herself around Kopa, forming a semi-circle around him. Kiara was just about to go and lay down next to her brother when Nuka walked into the den.
"Father?" Nuka asked. Kiara noticed Nuka first and ran to her older half-brother with a squeal of delight.
Nuka seemed to be annoyed with Kiara and was about to push her off when Scar gave him a stern look.
"She's already upset." Scar said. Nuka picked Kiara up and laid her back next to Nala.
"Let's go talk outside. I don't want to wake Kopa up." Scar said and headed outside with Nuka following him.
"Mother was telling me that I should tell you that you should start giving me lessons on being King." Nuka began.
Scar growled under his breath. Despite the fact that Nala was his mate, Zira still acted like they were mates.
She would still talk to him like they were mates and always talked like Nuka was the future King. Scar would give her reminders that she wasn't Queen anymore, and that Nala was, but that would only cause her to leave Scar alone for a few days but then she'd always come back like nothing happened between them.
"Nuka," Scar said. "Remind your mother that I haven't chosen my heir yet. My youngest sons have barely begun to talk. You will have to wait. And also remind your mother that she isn't the Queen anymore and has no right to tell me what to do. We aren't mates anymore." Scar finished.
Nuka sighed and pinned his ears down. His mother always assured him that the throne was his and that someday he would be the King.
"But that's such a long time!" Nuka complained, loudly.
"Hush," Scar reminded. "You'll wake Kopa and Kiara up."
"Fine," Nuka sighed and walked away.
"However," Scar called after him. "You are welcome to come with me tomorrow on my daily checkup around the place."
"Really?" Nuka asked, his eyes widening with surprise at the offer. Scar nodded, and with a happy whoop, Nuka hurried back to his mother to tell her the news.
"Mother!" Nuka called, running into the den that his mother was in.
"What did your father say?" Zira asked.
"He said no Kingly lessons because he hasn't chosen his heir yet and that I have to wait. But he said that I can go on his daily checkups around the Kingdom tomorrow." Nuka said.
"Well," Zira sighed. "That's better than nothing."
"Yeah," Nuka said. "I didn't even think that he would talk to me. He was with Kopa, Kiara and Nala when I went in."
Zira growled at the mention of Nala. She had stolen her position and power! She knew that Scar had mated with three other lionesses other than her and Nala. Mating with more than one lioness was common in lion society, and Zira didn't exactly hate Zarana, Kana and Shanti.
But she could barely tolerate Nala. Her son was the biggest threat to Nuka. And her daughter always seemed to be Scar's favorite little Princess.
But she would make the pay. She didn't know how yet, but she would.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Vitani mewing at her.
"What is it?" Zira snapped at her, and Vitani flinched at her tone.
Zira growled at Vitani, telling her to be quiet. Because Vitani had turned out as a girl, she had lost her position as the Queen!
Nuka seemed to feel sorry for his little sister because he lay down next to her, and let Vitani rest her head against his leg.
With her head still whirling in thoughts about how she would make Nala pay, Zira laid her head down for some rest.
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Nala had once been told that loss was part of life. But she had lost more than she thought she could handle. She had lost her true love, and then had lost her family in a sacrifice to save her cubs. The only thing that was keeping her sane right now were her cubs and Nala knew that she would lose her mind if something happened to either of them.
Kopa and Kiara had now begun to talk. Every word they said brought joy to Nala.
Joy was something she desperately needed.
Scar had believed that Kopa and Kiara were his. Now Nala had to make sure that Kopa got the throne. She knew the more pleased Scar was with her, the greater chance of her son getting the throne.
Nala and Scar shared the kills she made. After all, it was something that "mates" did. Scar told her that she was the Queen and didn't have to do hunting, but Nala wanted to hunt. She didn't want to make the rebel Pride hunt for her.
She still acted like she loved Scar. Her affection pleased him. Nala had asked Rafiki to give her some herbs that prevented pregnancy and he had.
Time passed and Kopa and Kiara could talk fluently. Nala now had more free time, just like her friends did.
Scar had made it a law that the hyenas couldn't even think of hurting on of his cubs. The hyenas obeyed him.
He had also made his closest three hyenas friends, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, the babysitters of his cubs. A first Nala had been worried until she saw Kiara and Kopa playing with them. Her worries had eased as she realized that the hyenas wouldn't be too rough on her cubs.
Nala had managed to convince Scar to pass a law that the hyenas couldn't hurt Danyssa, Jasiri, Kovu, Haru, Divya or Lena. He hadn't really wanted to do that, but after some talking, at using his weaknesses, Nala had managed to win.
Tama and her other friends had been relieved when Nala had told them the news. They could finally sleep peacefully knowing the hyenas wouldn't try to kill their cubs.
Nala noted that despite the tension between Zira, Shanti, Zarana, Kana and her, their cubs enjoyed playing with each other. Nuka wouldn't really join them much, but he sometimes did.
Kiara was wrestling with Akila when she heard footsteps coming in. She managed to pin Akila down just as her father walked into the den.
"Daddy!" Kiara squealed and ran to her father, latching onto him with her paw.
Scar bent down and nuzzled Kiara. He enjoyed being with his little Princess; she always seemed to be able to get him into a good mood. However it didn't mean that he loved his other cubs less nor did he spend less time with them either. Of course, he slept with Nala so that meant that he also slept with Kiara and Kopa during the night but he couldn't do anything about that.
"Dad?" Akila trotted up to him. "Can you take me on your daily checkups too? Nuka goes sometimes."
"Of course," Scar said. "I'll take you tomorrow." Akila beamed with pride, before following Kiara out of the den.
He had only been alone for a few minutes when Nala walked into the den. Before she could even open her mouth, Scar answered her question.
"I sent her out to play," Scar said. Nala nodded and Scar gestured for her to lie down beside him and Nala obeyed.
"Scar," Nala asked, "I've brought this up before, but what are you looking for when you're choosing the heir?"
"I'm looking for the son who is most capable of taking care of my Pride when I am gone. I want to see him tough as stone and that nothing can break him. Everyone should fear him so he has no problems in making everyone listen to him. He needs to be an excellent hunter and fighter," Scar replied. "I want to see him give justice properly. There are many things that I will look at."
Nala shuddered. She didn't want her son to turn into a monster that everyone would fear. She wanted her son to be a King that everyone would love. Just like his true grandfather had been.
Nala growled silently. She wouldn't let Scar take the innocence and goodness out of either her children. She wouldn't allow that.
"Mom! Dad!" Kopa ran in, breaking Nala from her thoughts.
"What is it?" Nala asked.
"Kiara's in trouble!" Kopa exclaimed, panting for his breath. "And Eisha!"
"What!" Nala gasped, jumping to her feet, scared for her daughter's life.
"They were playing and then fell down by the cliff. A root is holding them but it's gonna break!" Kopa cried.
Nala sprinted out of the den with Scar behind her.
Nala and Scar reached the place where Kiara and Eisha were in trouble. Sure enough as Nala leader over the cliff, she saw beer daughter hanging onto a dry vine along with Eisha.
"Hold on Kiara!" Nala called. By now Shanti had reached the scene and he eyes were wide with fear for her daughter.
Nala gently leaned over the edge of the cliff, with some support from Scar and let Kiara cling onto her neck as she brought her back up. Nala then bent back down and helped Eisha up who ran to her mother.
"Kiara, are you hurt?" Nala asked, nudging and nuzzling her, making sure she was okay. She licked the back of her head.
"That was so much fun! Kiara exclaimed.
Nala didn't know whether to scold Kiara or laugh. She wanted to scold her for taking such a dangerous experience so lightly.
And she wanted to laugh because right now she sounded so much like Simba. He had often found the most dangerous situations funny.
She didn't have time to make up her mind because Shanti stormed up to them.
"Did you see what happened Scar?" Shanti growled.
"I saw them hanging of the cliff, Shanti and that's what you saw as well." Scar replied, eyeing her with eyes that were cold as ice.
"It was obvious Kiara was trying to hurt Eisha!" Shanti snarled.
"No I wasn't!" Kiara cried, jumping forward. Nala was about to pull her back when Scar motioned for her not to.
"I wasn't trying to hurt her!" Kiara said, narrowing her sapphire blue eyes at Shanti. "How do you know if you weren't even there when we fell?"
Shanti seemed shocked at Kiara's reaction. She growled before picking Eisha up and storming off.
Well done Kiara," Scar praised. Nala looked at him in surprise.
"Really?" Kiara asked.
"You must learn to be rough. Don't care about others feelings. Hurt them if you have to. Intimidate them and they won't mess with you again." Scar said. "And you, my daughter did that well for your age."
Kiara smiled happily and continued to converse with him as they walked back to Priderock. Nala walked beside them but she could only hear her heart pounding madly.
Scar was already beginning to take the innocence away from her sweet little cub. He had praised Kiara for being rough and had taught her that cruelty and being feared by others was the correct way to go.
Nala sighed; if Simba had been here, her son and daughter would have been raised with complete kindness.
"We need you Simba," Nala thought.
Hope you enjoyed and please review. So, Scar has taught Kiara that it's best to be rough and cruel. He's starting to take her innocence away. What's going to happen? Stay tuned to find out!
