Chapter Five

Scar's POV

Little Nala's insolence had left my nerves frayed, so when I heard the three hyenas entering the den I braced myself for further irritation.

"Hey boss." the annoying one called out

I put on a fake cheery smile, "Why if it isn't my favorite three hyenas, what seems to be the problem?" I asked, honestly not caring for the three and their problems.

The alpha, Shenzi stepped forward, "Scar, we were just wantin' to know when to expect the next meal." she said with a curteous bow.

I took her aside, "Now Shenzi, we've been through this, I will send someone to find you when it is time." I explained

She nodded understandingly, "Sorry we bothered you sir." she said, motioning for the other two to follow her out.

"Who was that Scar?" Zira asked from behind me, startling me slightly

I cleared my throat, "Just those three again, wanting to know when they get fed, I'm tired of explaining it to them so many times." I said

Zira walked up beside me and looked me in the eyes, "Why are you even bothering with those three? all they do is disappoint you." she asked

I shrugged, "I've known the female ever since I was young, we were good friends. those other two morons are nothing to me." I explained

Zira shook her head, "I don't like the hyenas Scar, they give me a bad feeling." she said

I nodded, they unnerved me too from time to time, "They are loyal enough, as long as you keep their attention occupied and their stomachs full."

I broke eye contact with my 'from time-to-time' mate, "Look, I'm sorry if they scare you Zira, but they are here to stay." I said, laying down the law before she could have any say

"Very good, my king." she said over her shoulder as she left the den

I heard snickering from the back of the den, more specifically from the small cage that I kept Zazu in, "Might I ask as to what you find so funny Zazu?" I said in my most intimidating voice.

I heard the sound of feathers rustling, so I assumed that I scared the hornbill, "Nothing sire, perhaps if you were able to compromise with her, she would be willing to stay in the den with you for more than five seconds."

I laughed at the pathetic insult, "Oh Zazu, you're a riot." I said, the sarcasm painfully obvious in my tone.

Zazu backed off immediately, "I meant no offense sire, I merely thought you in need of relationship advice."

I shook my head, "No Zazu, I was not in need of such advice, however if I am in the future I will talk with you first."

Zazu sighed, "So, what song do you wish to hear, perhaps something cheery?" he asked in an uncaring monotone.

I smiled and laid down on a nearby rock slab, "Yes, I could use some entertainment right now." I said, calling him out.

Zazu became quiet.

"You don't want me to ask again, bird." I spat, annoyed.

"Very well sire...any requests?"

I thought for a moment, "Do you still know the one about the coconuts?" I asked

Zazu cleared his throat noisily, "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts..."

"And there they are a standing in a row." I sang along

"Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head."

Zazu stopped suddenly

"What, do you not remember the words?" I asked, this was a regular request of mine, so I doubted that he had.

Zazu looked out of the cage bars at me, "Why did you hit me sire?" he asked

I was confused at his question, "What are you talking about?" I asked, adding a demanding undertone to my question.

"That day, during the stampede, I remember you hitting me, why did you do that?"

My eyes snapped open, "I did it because you were in shock, and therefore useless to the rescue. I figured that hitting you would calm you down, but I accidentaly hit you too hard, I am sorry." I lied

Zazu seemed to carefully review my answer, "I suppose I was...less than coherent at the time sire, thank you for trying to calm me down, although your attempt was rather painful."

I smiled, "Don't mention it old friend. Just glad you got well." I said

Stupid hornbill, he actually thanked me for hitting him? Perhaps I was a more convincing liar than I'd originally thought.

I dismissed this notion and rolled over, "Wake me at sunset, Sarabi and the lionesses should be back by then." I dictated to the caged hornbill

Zazu sighed, "Very well sire, do have a pleasnt rest." he said in a very servile tone

I smiled, as long as I was king, every rest was going to be pleasnt.

Shenzi's POV

Scar had held up to his end of our deal nicely, we now lived at the foot of Pride Rock, an area we would've been killed for coming to when Mufasa was king. We were delivered three huge meals a day by the hunting parties, which meant that the females didn't have to stick their neck out trying to steal a kill from a lioness.

I was very happy with my new life, Ed and Banzai however, were a completely different story...

"Hey Shenz, when do you think the hunting party is coming back?" Banzai asked me as if I were supposed to know

I groaned, it was like this every hour until the lionesses came back, "They can't be much closer from the last time you asked me a couple of seconds ago." I snapped, annoyed by his constant questioning and whining.

Ed pointed at Banzai and began laughing his stupid sounding laugh

Banzai slapped Ed across the face, "That wasn't funny Ed." he said defensively

I shook my head, "You guys are complete idiots." I said, starting to agree with Scar a little about my choice of companions.

Banzai gave ma a strange look, "Ah, c'mon Ed, Shenz is in one of those moods again." he said, pulling Ed away by his forelegs

I was kinda worried about the hunting party, they were staying out later and later every day, and every day their kills got smaller and smaller.

But Scar and his old lady Zira didn't seem too worried about the kill sizes, just so long as they brougt something back. Me personally, it was a heck of a lot more than I had been eating, so I didn't have much of an opinion either way.

Simba's POV

Turns out that Timon and Pumbaa liked doing a lot of the stuff that I did, and I was glad they did too, I didn't want to have to play alone all the time.

"Timon, it's your turn." I called back to him

We were playing a game that Pumbaa called 'Snail Shuffleboard' Pumbaa had drawn a line in the sand and the goal was to land your snail on top of the line without undershooting or overshooting it.

Already I was winning.

"Alright Simba, stand back. you're about to see how the master does it." Timon said as he picked up a snail from nearby

I did as he said, I doubted he could get much closer than I had without overshooting it, but I figured I'd watch him try anyway.

Timon wound back and slung his snail, it slid to a stop way over on the other side of the line, I laughed, "The master huh? Looks like I win." I said

"Good job Simba, now as your reward for winning, you get to eat the snails." Pumbaa said

I nodded and walked over to where the first snail sat, I picked it up inbetween my claws and looked it over, I'd never eaten a snail before, but if it were anything like the other bugs I'd tried here, it wouldn't be so bad.

"How do you eat it?" I asked, looking at the shell in confusion

Timon walked over and held up a hand, "May I?" he asked

I handed him the snail and went back to where the second one laid

Timon cleared his throat, "Now Simba, eating a snail is very simple, you do not want to eat the shell, it is hard and crunchy and you will lose a tooth if you try." he started to explain

I cocked my head curiously at the tone he had used

Timon nodded, "Yeah, and it was painful too." he said

He slurped the snail from it's shell loudly, "And as for the shell..." he tossed the shell behind him, "You toss it." he added

I followed his example with the second snail, "Huh, it's slimier than I'm used too." I observed, smacking my lips disapprovingly

Timon held the third snail up to me, "C'mon you wimp, mane up." he said in a fake sounding voice

I smiled and let a sigh, "As though I really have a choice." I said, grabbing the snail from him

I repeated the process with the third snail, "I almost gagged on that one." I complained, patting my stomach in an effort to force the bug down.

Timon shook his head, "You'll get used to being a bug eater Jr. it's only a matter of time." he said confidently

I shook my head, "I'd still honestly go for a wildebeest or an antelope right now." I said with a mischevious smile

But the thought of a wildebeest made me think about the stampede, and thinking about the stampede made me think about dad. I stopped smiling, my ears shot down to skull level, and I hung my head low, pinching my eyes shut to hold back the tears I said, "Sorry guys, I just need a little bit."

Pumbaa walked over, he was very worried about me, I could hear it in his voice, "Is there anything we can do Simba?" he asked

I began walking to where I slept, "No, no there isn't. I'm just not in the mood for wildebeest all of a sudden." I said, trying to stay as vague as possible, I was sure if Timon and Pumbaa found out what had happened on that day, I would have to go back to wandering the desert.

Timon stepped in front of me, "Simba, are you thinking about your past?" he asked, looking worried.

I laid down on the bare patch of ground, "Yeah. I've been trying to let it go, there's just... look, some parts come back ok?" I said, not even wanting to explain myself anymore.

Timon just kept on wanting to help me, "Look little buddy, I know a thing or two about a rough childhood." he started

Oh no he didn't, he had no clue what a rough childhood was.

"Did you have many friends in your...eh...Pride?" he asked

I nodded uncaringly, "I had a lot of friends."

He locked eyes with me, "Try having your mother as your only friend, while everybody else hates you."

I shook my head at him, "I don't hate you, and I'm pretty sure that Pumbaa doesn't hate you." I said

"Reguardless Simba, wait a second, where was I going with this?" he asked appearing confused

I sighed, "You were trying to get info about my life back with my pride." I reminded him

"Right, Were any of your friends...female?" he asked, trying to hint at something

"You mean like a girlfriend?" I asked, seeing what he really was asking

He looked away, "Uh, yeah." he said

I thought about Nala, and of our fight. I knew I'd never have a chance to say I was sorry to her, so I didn't consider her any further.

I shook my head, "No." I said

"Ah, that's too bad. If it makes you feel any better, I didn't have the ladies in my mob crawling all over me either."

"There were only a few female cubs in my pride, and there were a whole lot of male cubs. I figured one of them would eventually make the rounds to me." I lied, making it seem as though the female cubs in my pride were...less than reputable...

Timon waved a hand, "Females, who needs 'em?" he asked in a harsh tone.

I thought about Nala again, I really wouldn't mind hearing her voice.

Even if she were still mad at me.

Nala's POV

I slept in the tiny cave that mom and I shared for the rest of the day after the arguement with Scar. But when mom and the hunting party got home later on that day, I ran out to meet them, "Mom, how went the hunt?" I asked, eaget to know if they brough back enough for us to get a share this time

Mom smiled through her obvious fatigue, "Well, Nala, you're in a good mood today." she said

"Partly because I'm hungry, partly because I've been sleeping all day." I said, looking to the dead gazelle next to her feet.

Mom sighed and shook her head, "Nala, why would you go and sleep all day?" she asked

I explained everything that had happened, "He even used this big word that I didn't quite understand, and you and queen Sarabi have been teaching me all kinds of words." I said, hoping for her to ask what the word was.

"Honey, what did he call you?" She asked, looking worried for me.

"In-solent?" I asked, attempting to pronounce the word.

Mom began muttering under her breath, "What's wrong mom?" I asked, fearing the word had a horrible meaning.

"Nothing dear, sometimes I wonder how far low that lion is going to go." she said, looking up toward Pride Rock

I nodded slowly and followed her gaze

Neither of us had any idea of how low he really was going to go.

A/N: So, I'm having old-person moments at 18, I went to go post this chapter the other day after finishing it up, I went to the 'my stories' thing and posted the chapter, but I forgot to save the chapter in the document manager...

So I posted a half complete chapter.

Look out for chapter/update six soon

Thanks guys!