Chapter 22

Scar followed Molly's scent to a small cave tucked away under an outcrop of rock. Rafiki waited at the entrance, back against the wall.

"She's asleep," the old baboon said softly.

Scar hesitated next to the monkey. Molly's scent was mixed with her blood and whatever poultices Rafiki had applied to her wounds.

"Thank you," Scar turned to him, "Again. I know you don't do this for me. I am still in your debt, twice now."

Rafiki shrugged then looked back towards Molly, "She's very loyal to you," he turned back to Scar, eyeing him for a moment, "And cares a great deal for you. She wouldn't stop defending you. From what I can see, surprisingly, you care a great deal for her too."

Unable to speak, Scar nodded once.

Puffing his cheeks as he exhaled, Rafiki stood and moved away from the rock. His walking stick clacked softly as he passed Scar. Rafiki pursed his lips, "I thought after spending time with you she would come to her senses and realize for herself what you are. Instead, she's become more attached to you, and I see a change in you."

Scar blinked and turned to him.

"Perhaps her being here will bring you to your senses instead?"

Scar had no answer and Rafiki didn't wait for one. The old baboon turned and left without another word. Not trusting himself to be close to her, and feeling unworthy of it, Scar laid down at the entrance, looking out across his brothers kingdom as the morning light chased away the dark.

…

Molly's whole body hurt as she woke. Stiff and feeling the scabs of her wounds tighten, she grunted in pain as she got to her feet.

"Molly?" Scar's voice called to her softly in the darkness. Turning to the entrance of the cave, she saw him silhouetted by the red light of a sunset. She'd slept all day.

"Scar," she wobbled towards him but he came in to meet her.

"You should rest," he sounded tired, his voice flat, "Rafiki helped but you still need time to heal."

"He told me," she moved to rub against him but he backed away, nostrils flaring.

"I… We should be careful, Molly," he looked embarrassed.

"Right," she agreed awkwardly. She had forgotten. Her body didn't have the energy to react, but the smell of him still made her aware of her other problem, "Sorry. Um, what did your brother say?"

His green eyes watched her, then turned slowly away to look outside, "My brother has given us sanctuary for the time being."

"Oh," Molly didn't bring up that she'd heard his brother roar at him. Rafiki had brushed it off as Mufasa and Scar just being brothers that didn't see eye to eye. It had sounded much worse than that. "Is he going to make Pacha leave the Pridelands?"

"No."

She could tell by the tension in his shoulders that he didn't want to talk about it. She wished she could comfort him, but he had been clear about keeping their distance. At a loss, she sat there in silence and they watched the last rays of sunlight disappear.

"Molly, what was your life like before you came here? What is a human life like?"

"That's quite a question," she gave a bewildered chuckle, "I suppose in many ways a human life is whatever each individual makes of it. Mine specifically was rather average. I went to work, maybe hung out with friends or dad," she hesitated, "Then I went home, went to bed and started it all over again the next day."

"Work?"

"Uh, well, how each Pride member has their own duties for the Pride, humans have duties," it wasn't the best explanation, but she couldn't think of a much more satisfactory way of answering.

"Do you have a King that rules over you?"

"Some do… Where I come from the leader of the people is called a President. Almost the same thing as a King, but they can't just go around ordering everybody to do what they want. There are others in charge that can disagree and they all work together to come to a decision that's right for the people.

That's how it's supposed to work at least…" She never thought she'd be explaining politics to a lion.

"Were you happy?"

"I suppose," she said at length, "I wouldn't have complained over much of it. I told you before about my father… that's still difficult to live with. But I know he would have wanted me to still try and be happy. I went on the safari that brought me here to try and give myself a fresh start," she gave a short laugh, "I guess I got exactly what I came for, and then some."

"A fresh start," he echoed.

Scar lapsed into silence again. Already tired from standing, Molly sat gingerly and the movement seemed to bring him back from his thoughts.

"My brother expects me to do something about Pacha. He refuses to step in. If I don't, he's threatened to exile me again," he turned to her, "I can't risk you being thrown out there with me with the threat of Pacha, and I can't risk being exiled without you. If you turn back to human while trapped here… I don't know how the Pride would react, but I doubt you would be safe."

He shook his head and when he spoke again, his voice was low and thick with emotion, "I'm sorry for everything. I can't see a way to protect you."

She longed to comfort him, suddenly missing her human arms and their ability to hug, "Rafiki offered to make me human again."

His head whipped around.

"I told him I wanted to stay. I still do. I know it's dangerous, but I don't expect you to protect me from everything. Family protects each other."

He let out a breath as though he'd been punched in the gut, "Are we family, Molly?"

She smiled and despite his previous warning she stood and went to him, "I hope so," and rubbed her head up under his chin.

A quiet growl started at the back of his throat and he pulled back, "You have no idea what you're asking."

"Why? Don't you believe you deserve someone on your side? Someone willing to protect you as much as you want to protect them?"

"No!" he snapped, "I don't. Everyone else can see it like that. Why can't you?"

She shrugged, "Must be a human defect."

He gave a dry chuckle and shook his head, "You all must be absolutely deranged."

"Please, Scar, count on me. Let me have your back and I'll guard it from everyone, from Pacha to Mufasa. You don't have to do this alone."

His green eyes bored into her, unblinking, "You really mean it, don't you? Even after…" he trailed off as his eyes slid again to her injuries.

"Yes."

He looked down into her eyes with an intensity that tightened her chest and made it hard to breathe.

"You are the most amazing creature I have ever known," he lowered his head and gave her another one of those slow licks that sent fire to her belly. "As you wish, Molly. We will protect each other."

Smiling up at him, she gave a victorious nod, "Good. So who are we taking on first?"

Scar chuckled, "First, you rest up. You're no good to watch my back in the state you're in. And," he gave her another lick followed by a low sigh, "I'll be attempting to keep myself busy so as not to be tempted by you."

Heat swept her body and Molly cleared her throat, "Oh, right…"

He stepped back from her and was stoic again, "I must formally present you to my brother soon, but it will not be tonight. Try and get some more sleep. I will stand guard," and he turned towards the entrance again.

Molly wished he would stay next to her, but she knew what little time he had stayed in such close proximity to her must have been torture. Surprised at how tired she was again already, she curled up and closed her eyes. She drifted off thinking about Scar's kiss.

Early upload for April. We're having the in-laws in over the weekend and I'd rather be early than late again for you all.

Just an FYI, I have started also uploading this over on AO3 under the same username. I have plans for it to get spicier in the future, and I'm not sure if the spicy will exceed the limits of this site. XD So just in case it gets removed you can still find it over there.

I hope you're all still enjoying it! Thank you to everyone who's favorited and followed it. You all mean the world to me, I can't even describe how it feels to have people enjoying my writing!