Chapter Twenty-Two
Aeris' POV
After listening to Tano's rants and ravings for the next couple of hours, I felt genuine sorrow for him, however I knew Simba's 'Abandonment' here was not genuine, he would be back.
I had a plan to ensure that he wouldn't find what he was looking for when he came back, "Tano, do you really wish to see your father dead?" I inquired, already knowing full well what his answer would be.
Tano nodded, "Nothing would make me happier." he replied
It definitely looked as though something had changed in the boy in the past few hours. The fact that the only emotion he had displayed since Simba left was anger was good, Anger had it's uses.
"Are you sure? The path ahead requires that you sever all of your ties to everybody in your pride. All those you hold dear are now your enemies and may require that you kill them, Vitani included. Do you understand?" I asked checking to see if all of his willpower was truly commited to this task.
His answer came surprisingly quick, "I understand. She will die with the lot of them." he spat, no decernable emotion on his face other than one of pure, fathomless anger.
I did the closest thing to a smile that my kind could manage,"Good. Now here's what we'll do, Simba will return to this cave tomorrow morning, we're going to make sure you suffer an 'Unfortunate Accident' before he gets back, ok?"
Tano then did something that unnerved me greatly, he smiled as wide as his mouth would permit, "You mean we get to see that ungreatful bastard squirm? Count me in, what's the plan?"
'He doesn't even care that Simba is returning to bring him back? how very odd.' I thought as I began to divulge my plan to fake Tano's death.
Tano listened to every detail, even throwing in his thoughts on certain steps and patching up one small 'Logic hole' as he called it. I sat in admiration of the young Cub's newfound devotion as he gave his unyielding attention to me.
As I finished speaking Tano spoke up once more, "Aeris, when I first got here, you offered me training on how to survive; is that offer still good?" he asked
I nodded, "You will need it, so yes, the offer is still good Tano. We can begin tomorrow evening after we have ran Simba off if you'd like."
"Yeah, I'd like that." he replied
"Good, now that that's all taken care of, I must be off for a few hours."
Zira's POV
Today was the most crucial part of my plan; if it didn't go flawlessly I would miss my chance to do away with Simba and Nala for the foreseeable future, and possibly even get caught and executed in front of the pride for Treason, and that was not an appealing thought.
I paced back and fourth nervously, 'Where is he? We were supposed to meet half an hour ago for kings sake!' I thought to myself.
"Sorry I'm late Zira." Came the Vulture Aeris' smooth, well spoken voice
I looked up to where he was perched atop a high, blackened tree limb, "Ah. There you are, how goes things with our little bundle of joy?" I asked hoping he was able to talk Tano into never returning home
Aeris was practically beaming, "Oh Zira you should see it, the young one's rage is a marvel to behold, he wouldn't go back with Simba for anything. Ever." he said
My heart soared, now I had to go tell the others that the final step was in motion, "Excellent Aeris, excellent! now be sure and take care of him for me, won't you?" I asked, tracing a line across my throat with a claw to drive the point home.
The vulture paused a moment, "Zira, what do you mean? We agreed that I was to train him and keep him away from the pridelands until he was needed. Not that I would kill him."
"I am altering our deal, pray to whatever your kind prays to that I don't alter it any further. Now, away with you, do as your told. I have other things to worry about." I retorted with a dismissive shake of my head
He bowed and raised one wing to cover his face, "By your command, my Queen." he said as he flew away.
I let a frustrated sigh, "Now that that's dealt with..." I said as I turned and headed toward my den, where if Nuka had performed his task correctly, my adherents would be waiting.
Tano's POV
Aeris' plan was straightforward enough, he would catch an animal roughly my size and kill it on his way back to the den from wherever it was that he was going that night, then we would spill the creature's blood in the cave and Aeris would...well he used the word 'Rip.' out some of my fur and scatter it around so the bloody mess carried my scent.
Once we had the scene set up I would be watching Simba's reaction from a safe distance, when he came, saw the mess and left defeated and broken, we would then begin training me to one day return to the Pridelands and cleanse them of Simba's evil once and for all.
The sound of Aeris' wings broke the quiet of the late night in the small cave, I looked up and saw he carried no animal in his large talons, "Didn't you forget something on your way back?" I asked, annoyed.
He hung his head and slowly began shaking it, "No Tano, I didn't. There's been a slight change in plans." he replied in a somber tone.
"Has there? Well why wasn't I the first to know?" I asked back
"Because it concerns you Tano, Simba will still find a bloody mess in here in the morning, but I'm afraid you won't be watching his reaction from across the way anymore."
I sprang to my feet, "Traitor!"I hissed angrily, "You planned this all along!"
Aeris nodded, "And had you not been the naive one year old cub that you are, you would've seen right through it, wouldn't you?" he asked, the sarcasm practically dripping from his beak.
I extended my foreclaws and dropped into a low crouch, "How about we settle this, y'know, instead of talking about it?"
Aeris spread his wings out about half of the way and dropped his head low, "Very well then."
The fool overestimated himself, he was trying to make himself appear larger and more threatening than he really was so that was I couldn't get in close and exploit the one fatal flaw in his fighting style: he had his neck exposed.
I leapt at Aeris, and as he countered by lashing out with his talons, I rolled to avoid them and felt a sharp pain in my right hind leg. Realizing he'd just injured me, Aeris lashed out at me with his beak… big mistake. I jumped to the left to avoid him, then quickly leapt right and latched on, dragging the bird to the ground.
I held Aeris down with all of my might as he struggled, "T-Tano! Liste- Listen to m- me." he managed to gasp as I clamped down on his neck as hard as I could with my jaws, I had seen mom and several of the hunters do this before, so I knew it wouldn't be long now until this would be over.
"Listen to what?" I said, his neck muffling the sounds as the came out of my mouth
One of his talons managed to dig into my side, he ran it down the length of my right flank four times, each time eliciting a searing bolt of pain to shoot through my body.
"…Tano…don't…kill…me…" His voice sounded weak, as though it took him great effort to push the words out.
'Almost there' I thought as I clamped down harder still
"I'll...help...you..." he sputtered with what seemed to be his last bit of effort I let an amused snort, "Why should I let you up? You tried to kill me, what help could you possibly give to me?" I said, his neck once again muffling my words
"...Can...train...you...to...kill...Simba..." he gasped with an involuntary spasm of his wings
I let go of Aeris' neck and backed off of him, if he was lying to me, I was pretty sure I could finish him off quick.
He held a wing up to the bloody marks my teeth had left in his neck and began a coughing fit, as he laid there and caught his breath I said, "Next time, I'll end you."
He looked over at me with an expression that conveyed newfound respect and fear, "There... won't be a next time...I promise you."
Zira's POV
To his credit, Nuka actually had gathered the majority of my followers at my den, S'drana was apparently ill and didn't think it best to be around others. I understood the way she felt, the abomination in my womb had been causing fits of nausea that I believe would've killed any other lion or lioness. Once again, I cursed the memory of Nadagu, who by leaving me with another cub to raise had been an incorrigible burden even in death.
But I had so much to live for, at least until Simba met his end; then I could focus my energies on the success and advancement of Scar's cubs as well as the bastard cub within me.
"Zira, what's going on? Why have you called us here?" Natashu, my second-in-command asked.
I strolled leisurely toward the front of the group, "Because, it is time." I said, winking at her and not breaking my stride.
Murmurs swept through the crowd, they all knew what this meant, "Time, is it? Simba is not here, Zira. He left for the unknown territories five days ago." one of the eldest members of my rebellion, K'hayla said.
I nodded and smiled a smile that unnerved most everyone there, "Then the way I see it that gives us at least five days to prepare for his return, doesn't it K'hayla?"
She smiled, I assumed the smile meant that she saw the brilliance in having almost a full week to weed out any potential for errors, "Scar would be proud of you Zira, daughter of Rishala."
I reeled on her in an instant, "DON'T EVER say that name again, Rishala was no mother of mine!" I threw my words at her as though they were stones, for I wanted to hurt her for even thinking about that name.
But if my words hurt or phased her, it didn't show on her stotic, uncaring face. "Just stating a simple fact, didn't mean to offend you, young Zira." she said as though she were addressing a child.
I collected myself, for I knew that I didn't need to let my mothe-...Rishala's name get to me like it always had, "I apologize. It has just always been a touchy subject for me to discuss openly." I was honest, and probably a little too soft, but those that had pledged themselves to me needed to see that I was capable of restraint and that I wasn't a latent psychopathic murderer hellbent on getting revenge on those that wronged me.
Plus K'hayla was eighteen years old, for her to live a whole year more would be a feat worthy of story and song.
Nala's POV
I awoke with a start as a cold winter's breeze passed into the den.
Simba was still away, he'd left to go look for Tano almost a week ago, during which time I had obsessed over what could be taking him so long. I had to strain to keep from freaking out at several times, "No." I would tell myself, "They're fine, they'll be back."
As I calmed myself, I mused as to why I wan't falling asleep.
'Maybe it's that he isn't here to block the chilly winter breeze that drifts through the den about this time of night,'I thought to myself, but I realized that it was not the reason for the abrupt halt of my slumber when I felt a tiny nudge from the side of my abdomen. That was definitely what had awakened me.
'I'm pregnant?' I marveled aloud. My heart leapt for joy within me. Simba would be so excited about a new cub. I couldn't wait to share the news with him when he returned.
I had been so stressed lately that I hadn't even noticed the subtle changes in my body over the last few weeks. I had gotten sick a couple times this week, come to think of it, but I had assumed it was from the stress that we had been under because of Tano's latest stunt. And I'd put on a couple pounds since last month, but I hadn't been on a hunt in a week or two, so I figured that I was just thickening up for winter. But the nudge brought it all together in my mind, and I smiled as my little nudger kicked softly once more. Maybe knowing that he will soon be a big brother will instill some sense of responsibility in my young son. Hopefully.
I paced the den for a long time, but exhaustion finally won as I curled up by the den entrance, waiting for my love to return.
A/N: Even though it's 3:19am on the 26th, I'm going to say Merry Christmas!
Thanks for reading this Chapter, look out for 23 and 24 soon.
Maybe I'll get one more in before new year *Winks*