The five of us, being Kion, Janja, Chungu, Cheezi and I, walked through the desert, Janja and I groaning at the constant whining of the two other hyenas.
''Quiet, fur-brains!'' Janja shouted as I snickered.
''Having problems with your group too, Janja?'' I asked the hyena, who rolled his eyes and huffed.
''Clearly.'' He sighed, ''They're all idiots.''
''Let's just hope that they are usefu-'' I started before hearing a laugh that instantly sent electricity through my body...no…
''Why, if it isn't the daughter's little boyfriend.'' I heard the voice say in a mocking tone and my eyes widened, but quickly regained my composure with a frown, ''Or is it mate? King or Prince?''
''King, but glad you asked...Zira.'' I growled, inwardly fearful. How did she survive? How is she here?
''Oh, so you do recognize me.'' Zira said in a mad voice, but chuckled, ''I'm flattered.''
''How are you still alive?'' I asked the lioness, shocked and confused.
''Simple enough to explain, Shujaa.'' Zira replied, revealing herself to us, causing me to growl and Kion's eyes to widen just as much as mine did, ''I saved myself by clinging onto a rock formation to help myself to this desert here…however, that's not why I came to confront you.''
I raised an eyebrow as Zira walked closer to me, chuckling, but not as evil as it once was.
''I want to have a...discussion.'' Zira said, putting a claw in her mouth before pulling it out, having it look like a blade, ''A chance to make amends for our past troubles towards each other.''
''Zira, your followers killed the lion I thought to be a second mother.'' I growled, ''You deserve no sympathy or chances!''
''That's the thing with you pridelanders.'' Zira started, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me towards her, ''Always so judging. Always so straight to hostilities and assuming of what others do.''
''Shut up and tell me what you want.'' I spat, causing Zira to roll her eyes in annoyance. Kind of ironic that she's saying that we're the assuming and hostile ones.
''Never giving anyone a chance to talk freely.'' Zira muttered before doing a simple 'hmph', ''Fine. But you come with me….I have much to discuss with you.''
I looked to the other four members of my party, who were doubtful, but I frowned.
''You four go and get to the oasis...i'm gonna have a little chat with Lady Death here.'' I said and Kion slowly nodded before he and the hyenas ran towards the direction of the oasis, causing me to turn to Zira.
Two enemies...me and Zira...standing eye to eye...Zira with a smirk, me with a frown.
''Now...time to explain what you oh so what to know...about Niagh.'' Zira said, causing me to blink.
''...Talk.'' I growled, causing Zira to laugh.
''As you wish.'' Zira mockingly obliged before walking away with me following her.
''I know Niagh better than you think, Shujaa.'' Zira started as we walked through the sand of the desert, ''She was born during Scar's reign as….his daughter.''
As my eyes widened, Zira continued.
''As life went on, she became obsessed with him even more than I did, always wanting his attention, which drived Scar away from his duties as king.'' Zira continued, ''And when Nuka was born, she kept claiming it was her son with Scar.''
As the true incest implications became clear, I scoffed.
''So she went so mad and obsessive, she believed she was the one true wife of Scar.'' I said before coughing, ''Zira.''
''What was that?!'' Zira barked, causing me to blink.
''..Keep going with your story.'' I sighed.
"However, when she could never get his attention, she was jealous of me, as I got all the attention she felt she deserved." Zira continued. "Repeated attempts of assassination ended in failure, but when Simba killed Scar, she had no choice but to come with me or face trial for treason and regicide."
I looked down with a stunned face before I heard a laugh
"So you realize your mistake in transfering my pride to the Oasis NOW, Shujaa?" I turned to face Niagh and her pride surrounding me and Zira, "Forced to ally with enemies for a common goal."
"I would never work with this fool, Niagh!" Zira barked, "He is merely a means to an end."
Niagh walked down and rubbed against me, causing both me and Zira to raise an eyebrow.
"A body like this would be great for my vision of the pridelands...bathed in royal blood." Niagh started, "First, i'd kill Kiara."
"You law one claw on her and I will ensure you suffer a fate worse than Death." I snarled before pushing her away.
"Fine.. kill them" Niagh muttered before her group of lionesses jumped at us, causing us to smack some down, me eager to make them pay for what they've done.
Vengeance is not the way.
I pinned a lioness down before choking it until I was pounced on by Niagh, who began to bite at me, but I made sure to prevent her from biting my neck by pushing on her face with a paw, causing her to growl as I looked for a way to get out of this situation.
Grab that rock over there!
I obliged and grabbed a rock that was near me and hit Niagh with it, causing her to fly off of me and tumble into a sand dune, causing it to disperse and fall on her, burying her in the sand as Zira and I ran towards the Oasis.
"Run, brat!" Zira yelled as we sped up, causing us to run into a swamp area of the Oasis.
We stopped and Zira panted as I smirked.
"Getting old, Zira?" I asked the old lioness, who growled.
''Shut up!'' Zira snarled.
''I can see that we're both on the run from that pride with little way of regrouping with the animals I came with, so I guess that..'' I started, sighing, ''We need to team up to survive.''
Understandable silence before Zira laughed.
''Oh, that's hilarious!'' Zira laughed, ''You, the same lion who's Princess nearly killed me? Don't make me laugh!''
''What's to say it won't work?'' I asked and Zira chuckled.
''Me and you are polar opposites, Shujaa...one desires weakness…'' She said, pointing a claw at me before pointing at herself, ''One desires strength through fear and blood
''However, we have a common enemy.'' I pointed out, ''To stay alive and remove this enemy, we must work together to achieve this goal.''
''What's in it for me?'' Zira asked and I frowned.
''Free living in the pridelands as long as your hunting is limited and you make no attempts to attack fellow members of the pride, especially my family.'' I replied before narrowing my eyes at her, ''You attack my family and you will not be let go...understand?''
A pause before Zira chuckled again.
''Very well...I will abide by your terms.'' Zira said before giving me a smirk, ''But in exchange, you let me sleep in your little pride's cave...got it?''
I weighed in on the options and possibilities of what would happen, but I caved.
''Fine..'' I sighed and Zira walked up to me with a frown.
''Good…'' Zira snarled, ''Because this will only be temporary.''
Then, both me and Zira narrowed our eyes at each other, no doubt scanning each other for any plots...or any possibilities of betrayal.
Next: Great enemies, greater rivals! With Shujaa and Zira being forced to work together to survive, Niagh's pride is on the hunt! Will the human and his uneasy ally manage to escape the mad daughter's search?