Chapter 17: Months Later.

Many months have passed, and in a year, Tojo and Nala will reach adulthood. The Pridelands, now being called: The Shadow Lands, have gotten much worse, but Scar has shown some good signs of turning around his rule, but they never came to full realization, and most of the lioness were accustomed to living there, they've been no where else in their entire lives, and felt safer with Scar then being somewhere else.

It wasn't easy, but they managed to survive enough to stay in their land. Tojo, rarely got any visits from anyone, while being trained by Rafiki. The lion often thought about Sarafina, slowly and surely he began to have feelings for her, and the same for Sarafina, she grew to love him as well, yet none of them acted upon such feelings, yet. Tojo did get visits from Sarafina, although they were brief, they did their best to make it worth it.

Night time, and Tojo is awake, looking out to the stars, he has matured greatly, and admiring the stars, to see if any kings of the past may give him guidance...Nothing from them after all this time, they told him nothing, and it bothered him slightly, but he stopped worrying as he could sense Sarafina's presence. He turned and felt much happier that she was here. He longed to be in her presence for a long time, he walked to her, and she smiled warmly.

Tojo nuzzled her furry neck, and let out a sigh of content. "I've missed you, my friend." Tojo said softly. At the word 'friend' Sarafina backed away and sighed, she no longer wanted to be his friend, she wanted to be more, and decided to act upon her feelings for him. "I...Tojo." She began to speak. "You do care for me, right?" Tojo nodded and walked closer to her, placing his paw upon her's. "Yes, Sarafina, I care for you deeply...You should know that, I'd do anything for you."

She perked her ears at his words, and replied softly. "Be with me...Then." She said, hoping he would be her mate. Tojo looked away, and frowned. "I can't..." He looked to her and could see the emotional pain in her eyes. He in truth wanted her, very much, but what he had to do tomorrow was making him hold back. But then, he decided, that for her sake he would, because in truth, Sarafina was the only reason he would fight for this land. He cared nothing much about anything, but her now.

Tojo leaned against her side, and nuzzles her neck, giving her cheek a long, and slow lick, emitting a small purr while doing so. Sarafina didn't move and shuddered with joy, she loved this attention from him, and panted a few times. He moved his maw up to her ear, and whispered lovingly. "Sarafina...I will be yours, always and forever." She looked at him and went with the moment, and kissed the male, with passion, he went along with her.

Rafiki was absent, not in the tree as the two became mates that night, and this was the first ray of happiness that could be felt in this land, since Mufasa and Simba died.

Meanwhile at Pride Rock

Fat hyenas lied lazily on the dirt, for they mostly got the food that the lioness could manage to find and catch. Scar's mission to find Tojo, clearly failed, assuming he died months ago. Zira decided to talk to Scar, to see if he could give her a portion of the food. She often went behind her fellow lioness back, to feed, out of desperation to survive more like it, but this night wasn't a very good time to try it, as she would soon find out.

Zira secretly grew fond of Scar, and was starting to admire his ways and how he handled things. Scar knew this well, because she told him the week before. Zira went into the den, and Scar was sleeping, she sniffed around for food, but tried not to awake Shenzi, Banzai or Ed. A soft voice could be heard, and Zira turned around, to see Adia and Sarabi. "Zira, what are you doing here, the hyena hate it when we get in her after dark." Adia whispered.

Zira frowned, and shook her head. "I don't care, I'm hungry and I need to eat...not just for my self, but..." Zira looked at her side, her belly was a bit bulgy, she was clearly pregnant. Not the first time of course, but she already gave birth to a male some days ago. One night, Scar wanted to satisfy a certain need, and chose Zira to help him with said need. Zira has been a bit unstable ever since Scar's rule began, but still remained friends with the others.

Adia did her best to have Zira leave, but all their whispering has awoken the trio of Hyenas, and slowly moved in the darkness. Shenzi pounced on Zira, tugging at one of the ears, snarling and ripping at it with her teeth, Zira now had a notch in her ear, almost like a circle. Zira snarled and swiped at Shenzi, but did nothing after because she was surrounded by the other two.

Sarabi roared, and Adia sat their, totally taken surprise by what just occurred, they didn't go to Zira's aid in time, as she looked to the others with worry. Scar roared, and it shook the den, and all of their ears flattened against their head. "What is with all the noise, I am trying to sleep!" Scar yelled, he saw Zira's ear bleeding and Sarabi and Adia standing there. "You two, leave, now." Scar ordered, Sarabi and Adia, Sarabi at first didn't move, but did so when Adia did. Sarabi was getting tired of Scar's reign.

Zira looked on in confusion as her friend's did nothing to help her. This made her very sad and confused, she started to sob lightly. Scar told the hyena's to leave, but had Zira stay. He looked at her, with some concern, but wasn't very good at showing how he felt, in a positive way of course. "They didn't protect me...Why.." Zira whispered, and Scar leaned against her suggestively. "I don't know, but I am here, you will always have me, Zira..." he smiled a toothy grin.

She fell for those words, and felt much better, believing him all the way. She turned her attention to the exit of the den, and bared her teeth, anger slowly filled her heart, as she felt betrayed. Meanwhile outside the den, Nala ran up to Sarabi and Adia.

"What happened, I heard snarling and roars, is everyone alright?" Asked Nala. Sarabi sighed. Zira tried getting food from the Hyenas again, and this time she was attacked." Nala frowned, and sighed heavily, looking around after a few seconds and sniffed the air. "Where is my mother?" Nala wondered. "She is out getting a drink." Said Adia. That wasn't the truth, but Nala knew what that meant. Nala was going to check on Zira, but forgot to as the wind picked up, and it blew lightly through her fur, making her shiver, and she left the presence of Sarabi and Adia.

Nala walked to a waterhole, and did her best to avoid any hyenas, for they are not something to trifle with, especially with many around. She then began to think of Simba, something she hasn't done in so long, she growled angrily at letting her self do so in the first place. Nala wanted him to be remembered always, for he was a good friend, and believed him to have the potential of being a good king someday,

Nala found her self, finding the idea of being Simba's future queen not so bad of an idea, but in truth, that sort of thinking got her no where, seeing as he was dead. She lowered her head, and began to mourn and cry over his death.

Later that next morning.

Scar opened his eyes, and Zira was lying beside him. Scar impregnated Zira, once, and she has given birth to a male cub. Scar named the cub: Nuka, and didn't see him much as a threat, so allowed the flea ridden cub to live there, as long as he stood out of the way. He got up and stretched lazily, then from outside, he could hear a commotion, from the lioness. He growled and hurriedly ran outside.

Sarafina was pleading to someone, but Scar couldn't see who it was. Scar couldn't believe it, as he saw it was Tojo. Alive! Tojo ignored Sarafina's pleas to go back, and not fight Scar, but he gave her a look of hope, and that is all he could do. The other lioness's stayed silent, as Tojo walked closer to Scar, the tension was surely building. "Scar, you've treated this land poorly, and now, your reign must end." Said Tojo, his voice clearly has deepened, and he was much more muscular then Scar, so he had some advantage.

"You dare challenge me, you haven't even reached adult hood." Tojo ignored those words, and unsheathed his claws, with no hesitation, and charged at Scar, right away. Sarafina called out worriedly for Tojo, as Scar roared and began to swipe at the younger lion, missing his target, while Tojo used his brute strength to knock Scar down. All the hyenas have gathered to watch the fight.

Some of the lioness looked on in awe, as Tojo was winning, and with ease. The training with Rafiki has paid off. In aggrevation, Scar got up again, and swiped at Tojo's chest, causing him to bleed a little, but the wound wasn't to deep. Tojo showed no signs of being tired. A fraction of the lioness were cheering for Tojo, and the other fraction were cheering for Scar. The Pride was divided that day.

Zira ran out of the cave, and worried for Scar's safety, and then she glared at Sarabi at Adia. Sarabi caught a glimpse of the glare, knowing full well, that she lost a friend, but as to why Zira chose to be on Scar's side, Sarabi couldn't figure out. Zira turned to the hyenas. "Well, are you going to just stand there, help Scar!" The hyenas did have an advantage over just one lion. They got up and ran toward Tojo, cutting him off from the others, even Scar. Scar told them to get out of the way, but they didn't listen, for they figured Tojo was an easy pick for their next meal.

Tojo was surely frightened, but tried not to show it, he was clearly outmatched, and turned his gaze to Sarafina, his eyes told her, that he loved her dearly, and always would. Sarafina began to shed tears quietly, and her heart skipped a few beats, she knew what was to come, and her body tensed. The Hyenas snarled and attacked Tojo, he did his best to fight them off, but to no avail. "NOOOO!" Sarafina screamed out in horror. She ran toward her mate's attackers, trying to see if she could help, but the other lioness held her back. Blood spilled, tearing, and growls. Snarling and biting, then silence...