Molly stayed close to Scar as they made their way to Rafiki. He sent Bapoto and Masika ahead.

"Do you think Pacha and his Pride can turn into humans like me?"

"I don't know, but I think that as unlikely as it seems, the evidence points to yes."

"But why? I mean, what do they gain from turning back to lions if they can turn into humans?"

He stopped and looked at her. "Because who would want to be a lion if they could be a human?"

"That's not-"

He turned away and continued on, it seemed to her, a little faster. Sighing, she trotted behind to catch up.

"Scar, please, I didn't mean it like that. My point is why would they need the ability at all? Why would Pacha turn human only to come back for revenge against you as a lion?"

Scar sighed and slowed. He shook his head, "My question is more of how. If there's another way to change from one form to the other…" he trailed off and glanced at her, "Pacha wants revenge. Now he possibly has an ability that will aid him greatly. You humans may not be able to face a lion in your own form, but from speaking with you and learning how much more humans know… I fear what a group of humans could do to a Pride of lions given time to plan. Pacha has had plenty of time."

Molly swallowed hard but her throat and mouth remained dry. She knew a great deal of what humans could do to a group of others if given a mind to. Pacha's vengeance being wielded by a creature with the resources of a human was terrifying to think of.

"Humans could get in a lot of trouble for harming lions," she said, "You're what we call an endangered species."

He raised an eyebrow at that.

"It means there aren't many of you left."

"Humans keep track of such things?"

"Yes. We…that is… Most humans care a great deal that animals are endangered. They try to help. It's…sort of our fault you're endangered in the first place."

He frowned, "How?"

"That's complicated… Just trust me, alright?"

He nodded slowly but she could see that he was going to ask her that again sometime. She wished she wouldn't have to explain. How do I tell another creature that my species is responsible for wiping out entire populations because of ignorance and greed?

Taking a deep breath, she went on, "Pacha might want revenge, but I don't think he can get away with taking it as a human. I don't understand why they would bother turning into humans if there's no advantage to his war on you."

Scar was silent for a moment, his eyes looking inward. "Pacha wouldn't do something unless it benefitted him. There has to be an advantage somewhere. We just can't see it."

They reached a tree on the far side of the Rock. It was much smaller than Rafiki's tree, but by the images and gourds adorning its branches and trunk, it was clear who resided up there. Bapoto and Masika were sitting patiently at the bottom. Agitated chatter was coming from somewhere hidden by leaves. Molly couldn't understand it, but by the tone she guessed the meaning.

"He disappeared up there as soon as we told him about what I smelled and how you promised to explain it to us," Bapoto informed Scar.

"He's not happy," Masika grimaced at a particularly high-pitched rant from above.

"Yes, I gathered," Scar sat and looked up at the branches. "Rafiki!"

More angry chatter. A gourd flew at Scar's head. He dodged and it bounced harmlessly into a bush.

Molly stepped in front of Scar, "Rafiki, please."

The chatter stopped. The baboon scurried out on a limb and glared down at them all. He puffed out his cheeks and gave a loud sigh. "You fools," he said softly, then lowered himself down and dropped from the tree. He gave Molly a sad look then turned to Scar. "Are you planning on telling the whole Pride?"

"Just these two."

"And you find them trustworthy enough to not tell two more, and they two more, and on and on until all of the Pridelands is clambering for me to turn them into something else?"

Scar looked at Rafiki long and hard. "Is it so wrong for someone to long to be someone else?" he asked quietly. Molly was sure she was the only one that heard. Louder, he said, "They have my confidence. They won't tell anyone."

Rafiki snorted and turned to Bapoto and Masika. "So you say. What do the two of you say?"

Wide eyed, the two lions shook their heads. "We swear," Masika managed, "Not a soul."

Rafiki pursed his lips and turned back to Scar. "I do not know how Pacha or his Pride have managed this," he admitted. "As far as I know, I am the only one with the knowledge to make the potion. Either someone else has worked it out independently, or…" he trailed off and stared into space.

"Rafiki?" Molly's throat was dry and her voice cracked on his name. "Is there another way?"

He continued to stare off but shook his head, "Only legends. Humans have long wished to take the power of the other animals."

Bapoto and Masika exchanged puzzled looks. "What we smelled… Humans can become lions?" They both looked to Molly. "Does that mean…"

"Yes," she cleared her throat, "Yes, I was human. I was sick. Rafiki saved me by turning me into a lion."

The two lions stared. "That's not possible," Masika scoffed, glancing at Rafiki.

The baboon stared back plainly.

The smiles slid from the faces of the young lions. Unbelieving, they looked back to Molly. "Humans," Bapoto whispered.

"Great Kings," Masika swore in the same tone.

Glancing at Scar, Bapoto asked, "And you knew? You knew and still took her as a mate?"

"I asked Rafiki to save her," Scar nodded. "I had already…become attached to her." Molly smiled at him but he didn't look at her.

The two lions grimaced, "A human?"

Molly tried not to take offense. The idea of explaining this relationship to her own species was stomach churning enough. She couldn't fault them their revulsion.

"A human, a lioness, what difference does it make?" Scar growled.

The two lions glanced at Molly. "Can you breed with her?" Bapoto blurted.

Scar lurched to his feet and growled, "That is none of your business. We brought you here to tell you what we knew about your mysterious scent. Not about the nature of our relationship!"

Bapoto and Masika seemed to shrink before him. "S-sorry, Scar. Molly," Bapoto nodded to her, "I didn't mean any disrespect."

"It's fine," Molly leaned her body against Scar. He still didn't look at her, but he did lean some of his weight towards her, acknowledging her.

"You should ask the hyenas," Rafiki blurted.

The four lions turned to him as if just remembering he was still there.

"Ask the hyenas what?" Molly asked.

"About turning into humans," he said matter-of-factly.

They all stared at him. He looked at them each in turn. "What?" he finally shrugged at Scar.

"What would the hyenas know about turning into humans?" Scar asked. Molly could tell he was fighting to control his voice.

Rafiki drummed his fingers against his temple. "Before I came to the Pridelands, I passed through a land where there were rumors of a pack of hyenas that could turn into humans. I never saw them, but a reliable baboon assured me the stories were true. I never confirmed for myself."

"I think I would know if the hyenas were turning into humans, Rafiki," Scar's patience was wearing thin.

"I didn't say your pack could do it but they might know more than I do."

"The pack will be here soon," Molly said. "We can ask them then."

Rafiki glanced at her, "Why will the pack be here?"

"Scar sent for their help."

Bapoto and Masika gave low growls. "Hyenas in Pride Rock?"

Molly glared, "Yes, hyenas in your precious little fortress." She was getting sick of the prejudices the Pride had against the pack. "Your great and mighty king won't help so Scar had to turn to someone he could trust."

"Molly," Scar said softly. She turned to him and he gave her cheek a lick followed by a small smile. "It's alright."

"It's not!" She turned back to the two young lions. "You all act like the hyenas are somehow less than you. Have you spent time with them? Do you know them? They are a family, just like this Pride. They have friends and raise their children and try to exist and be happy with whatever life they can manage out here! They took Scar in when your king tossed him aside. They welcomed me into their home and became my friends. Which is more than I can say for the lions in this Pride. What gives you the right to treat them like they aren't worthy of your presence?"

Masika looked to Scar but didn't find any help. "I… It's always been like that…"

"The Pride and the hyena pack have always been at odds," Bapoto said.

"Molly, remember things are different here," Scar said gently, "You humans may live together peacefully but it isn't like that here."

Molly felt like an idiot. She couldn't very well stand there and lecture the lions about not tolerating hyenas when members of her own species didn't even get along with each other. Lion pettiness was nothing compared to humans.

"I'm sorry," she looked to Bapoto and Masika.

The two young lions exchanged a look and Bapoto shook his head as he said, "It's alright. We can't argue with the fact that our Pride has behaved badly."

They looked at Scar and Masika said, "I do wish you'd come to us though. We would gladly fight on your side against these intruders."

"Mufasa has made it clear the Pride is to stay out of it," Scar replied.

Again, the two brothers exchanged a look. "We don't have to be part of the Pride anymore," Bapoto stood, "We're old enough to go out on our own. If we want our own lands, it would benefit us to help you get rid of this other Pride before they claim what could be ours."

Scar gave a mirthless chuckle, "Oh goodie. I'm sure Mufasa will be extra thrilled with me now. Not only have I brought a shapeshifting enemy into the Pridelands, I'm causing two of his strongest members to split off from the Pride."

"We were going to leave soon anyway," Masika interjected, "Now there's more incentive to help you before we leave."

"Others will want to help too when they find out you've requested hyenas," Bapoto said with a quick glance at Molly.

Rafiki nodded, "More than you think. If not because they believe in you, than to protect their own egos."

"I can think of one in particular," Molly said quietly, remembering Zira.

Scar sighed. "We'll speak again once I've heard back from the hyenas. I have yet to receive confirmation that they will even come to my aid." He leveled a steady glare at the two young lions. Molly watched them squirm. "Not a word of this to anyone."

Bapoto and Masika nodded fervently, "We swear."

Scar nodded. "I'll send for you once Zazu returns."

The young lions moved to leave but hesitated before Molly. Bapoto smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry again…about the breeding question… I just…" he cleared his throat and shifted his eyes away to the dirt between his paws.

Molly smiled, "It's really alright." She blinked and asked, "Earlier, you said you were half brothers to Scar."

Bapoto nodded, "Yes?" The question seemed to confuse him.

"I thought-" she glanced at Scar. They all watched her as if she were questioning why they claimed the sun rose in the morning. "Never mind," she mumbled, blushing.

Bapoto shrugged and he and Masika loped off into the night.

"You're surprised they're my brothers?" Scar tilted his head.

"They're younger than you and Mufasa… I thought male lions- I thought he would have killed them when he took over the Pride."

"They are young, but not as young as the others were."

"What?"

Scar raised an eyebrow. "The others. There were eight cubs when Mufasa took over the Pride. Our father did not waste time after my mother died. Bapoto and Masika were old enough to leave alone. Mufasa only needed to kill the other six to get the lionesses back to their normal heat cycle."

Molly felt sick. Scar gave a heavy sigh.

"That doesn't match your human morals, I gather?"

Swallowing the sick at the back of her throat, Molly shook her head and gave a tiny, "No."

Scar looked down at the ground then off into the distance. Rafiki quietly took his leave back up the tree, sensing the strained silence between the two.
"There are many things I think you see as…evil," Scar said finally. His green eyes turned to her. "Things about me, my kind. You told Bapoto and Masika not to judge the hyenas, and yet… At every new turn, you are judging us. I cannot hope to meet your human standards. I wonder…" he once again looked up at the stars, "What will be the next qualm that you have? When will I look into your eyes to see myself reflected back as something lesser?"

Molly opened her mouth to answer but found she didn't have a response.

Scar gave another sigh and leaned down to rub his head against hers gently. "Why did it have to be you, a human?"

Molly felt hurt by the comment but no more than she thought he probably hurt from her constantly pretending to be superior. Again she tried to speak but the words wouldn't come.

Scar pulled back and stared down at her. "You said humans cared but that you are also responsible for us being endangered. Would I find your kind as detestable as you find mine if our roles were reversed?"

Feeling tiny, like a gross little worm, Molly dropped her gaze from him. She didn't want to tell him. He would never forgive her for judging his kind if he knew just what humans were capable of. "I'm sorry, Scar. I don't find you detestable. I don't mean to be quick to judge. I know it all makes sense here. My human morals don't have any place in your world. I'm sorry," she finished lamely.

He stood over her in silence until she brought her eyes up again. "You didn't answer my question."

Taking a shaky breath, Molly admitted, "You would find us much, much worse." She hung her head, silently begging him to not dig any further.

She felt a gentle lick against her cheek. "Have you personally done anything that would make me hate you?" His voice was soft in her ear.

She hesitated then shook her head, "I-I don't think so. I'm not perfect but…" she was about to say at least she'd never killed anyone, before remembering that something like that was part of his way of life. "I don't think you would hate me," she said instead.

Scar rubbed his head against hers, "If this is going to work. If you and I are going to be together, you can't keep thinking like a human. I was born a lion. I don't know how to be anything else, but if the roles were reversed and I had become a human, I would try to learn to be the best human I could be. For you."

Molly's throat tightened and she felt tears threatening behind her eyes. She tucked her head under his chin and blinked them away. "I'm sorry, Scar. I will try- no… I will do better for you. I won't make you feel inferior again."

He let out a long breath. "Thank you, Molly. Now let's get going," he nudged her away from the tree, "It reeks of monkey piss over here," he said too loudly.

Angry chatters and another gourd chased after their retreating backs.

A very Molly POV centered chapter. Scar's POV will be back in the next chapter. Just a heads up, we have several vacations coming up. I'm probably going to still be able to update in the 1st of September and October, but if I don't, I should upload within the first week of each month. Just didn't want anyone panicking if a new chapter didn't show up on its usual date.

Hope you're all still enjoying the story!

Much love,

Meg