Scar felt like a stampede was raging through his skull. Thoughts tumbled over each other and smashed into even more before being whisked away to make room for the next flow of chaos. His whole life seemed unreal, as though he'd dreamt the entire thing and was only now waking up.

"Scar?" Molly's voice barely registered and he flicked his eyes to her. Worry was etched across her face and she took a step towards him. "What-?"

"My mother never would have brought just any cub or fought with my father. She said-" he shook his head, fighting to have some form of coherent thought. Memories flashed across his already busy mind. It seemed obvious now, looking back, that his mother had held Pacha in higher regard than other cubs of the Pride. Besides Mufasa and Scar, she paid little attention to the other cubs, but Pacha had been different. Scar had thought it was because she had brought the orphan in and because of his own closeness to Pacha. I should have realized- But it was unprecedented. A lioness didn't bring in cubs from other males, it just wasn't done.

What more did she keep from me? He'd always been close to his mother. He thought she told him everything. Knowing she had kept this from him hurt and made him question his entire childhood. He swallowed hard, tears brimmed, clouded his vision, threatened to fall-

"Scar." Molly pressed herself against him, her cheek sliding against his. "It's alright," she said softly.

He leaned against her, taking strength from her body, solid beside him. He managed to compose himself on the outside but inside he was still a whirlwind of turmoil. He tried to focus on her breathing, to match her steady rhythm. It helped enough. He let out a long breath and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked at length.

He shook his head and breathed in her scent. "No, I just-" his body wanted her, but his heart and mind weren't in a place to even think about that. Despite her scent teasing him, he shook his head again. "I just want to sleep."

Molly nodded, "Alright," she gave him a gentle lick and pulled away, "Goodnight then-"

"No," he interrupted, eyes flashing to her startled expression. "Please. I don't want to be alone."

"But…" she hesitated, then faintly nodded her head. "Alright," she pressed up against him again, "Come on."

They turned into the cave together and she reassured him with her flank rubbing against his that she wasn't going anywhere. They laid down, Scar curled his larger body around her and she laid her head on his paws. Fighting against the thoughts still buzzing about his head, Scar rested his head on top of hers and tried to sleep. Rays of sunshine were peeking into the entrance of the cave before he finally drifted off.

…

Molly felt Scar's head grow heavy as morning dawned. Her heart ached for him. He'd been so scared and upset and she hadn't had any idea what to do for him, what to say. They were going to have to face his revelation when he woke up, but for now, she took comfort in the weight of him pressing down on her and his steady breathing.

She didn't know if there would still be war or if Scar would now seek out the peaceful resolution Mufasa and Sarabi had desired. He had attacked and nearly killed Pacha when they were friends, Mufasa had killed young siblings when taking over the Pride. Did familial ties really matter enough to keep Scar from still wanting to kill Pacha? Molly didn't know. Lion morals were not human morals. And Pacha is neither.The thought surprised her. She had wondered before why Pacha would bother coming back for revenge as a lion rather than a human.

He'd been a lion when his best friend had maimed him over a female. If he was really a human on the inside, the act would have been as senseless to him as any other human. Molly wondered again about the maturation difference between lions and humans. Was Pacha a man when he transformed back to a human or was he no more than a boy? The thought of a hurt little boy running away from the only family he'd known for years churned her stomach. Scar didn't know, she reminded herself. It was little comfort.

The cycle of pain frustrated her. Pacha hurt Scar, so Scar hurt Pacha, so Pacha had returned to hurt him again. Pathetic. She huffed and Scar shifted but slept on. There had to be a way to stop this pointless tit for tat. It was spilling over into the lives of others around the two of them, threatening bloodshed between creatures on either side that had never even set eyes on each other, let alone exchanged words. The problem was that she didn't think the type of person that would hold a grudge over a lion for years would be dissuaded so easily. A human vendetta was responsible for the most brutal killings and wars in history. It seemed it would be responsible once again.

Her eyes were growing heavy despite her racing mind. With a wide yawn, she decided to cut the line of thought for now. Closing her eyes she fell into a fitful sleep full of blood and babies crying for their mamas.

…

Scar woke late in the day to Molly twitching and murmuring beneath him. Blinking at the daylight shining in at them, he nudged the back of Molly's head and licked her cheek. Her eyes snapped open and for a moment he thought she looked afraid of him. She rolled over and got to her feet with a shake of her body. When she turned back to him, the look was gone.

"Nightmare?"

She nodded, "Yes," she said in a small voice, "Bad ones."

He stood and went to her. His mind was working a little smoother today but he was no less troubled. "I'm sorry." He licked her cheek and she returned it.

"It's alright," she said, but she looked distracted.

"Molly?"

Her eyes came up to meet his and she took a deep breath, "I promised you I wouldn't judge you by human standards. I made that decision. But I don't think Pacha has considered that. He hates and blames you more than I think you realize. You were angry with him before and attacked him as a lion would. He's not thinking like a lion. He's spent however long since that day harboring hate for you. Human hate.

"I was thinking last night about how you could mend this relationship. I tried to figure out a way where no one would get hurt. I…I couldn't think of anything. I don't know how long Pacha's been away. If he left and still decided to return to punish you… I don't think there's a path to peace through that kind of hatred." She trembled and her eyes became shiny with tears. "Scar, I don't want you to have to kill your brother, but I-I think… He won't stop-" her voice broke and she lunged forward, burying her face in his chest.

"Shh, it's alright," he tucked his head over hers protectively.

"No, it's not," she sobbed. "You don't understand. Pacha doesn't just want your life. He wants to destroy everything you ever cared about. He's brought his army to raze everyone and everything to the ground. If he were a lion, he'd just fight you, maybe anyone else that actively got in the way. But if he's human… Human war doesn't care about casualties. It just cares about destroying the enemy mind, body and soul."

"I won't let that happen." His voice sounded cold to his own ears and Molly glanced up at him in surprise. He didn't know what she saw in his eyes but she flinched back when she saw it. "If Pacha won't settle for less than all out war, so be it."

"But Scar-"

"No."

She blinked and licked her lips.

"You don't know everything about me. You think I'm incapable of committing the same atrocities as your kind. Thank you for seeing the best in me, but I need you to know that is not all of me." He sighed. "If I must become who I was to protect who I am now and those I care about, so be it."

"Wh-what do you mean?" she breathed.

He didn't answer. Instead he looked out of the cave and said, "Come. I need to see if Zazu has returned."

He moved without checking to see if she followed. The bright, cheery sunlight did not match his dark mood. Molly was afraid that Pacha would hurt others to hurt him. What she didn't know was that Pacha hadn't learned that from humans. He'd learned it from Scar.

Reaching his brother's cave, he found a very roughed up Zazu making a shaky report.

"-lucky to have the name." The bird cut off at the sight of Scar and flinched, then peered around him to look at Molly.

"Scar," Mufasa nodded, "Zazu was just telling me about his adventure among the hyenas."

Zazu fluffed himself and multiple feathers floated down from his body. "Y-yes. Quite grateful to your mate," Zazu looked at the ground as he spoke, "The only reason I'm here and not a pile of hyena dung is because she gave me that name."

"So what was their answer?" Scar tried to keep the strain out of his voice.

"They're right behind me," Zazu sniffed, "Though why we'd put any of our hopes into that lot of fleabags-" he snapped his beak shut at a low growl from Molly. Clearing his throat, he continued, "They should be here before evening."

Scar felt only a modicum of hope. They were coming, but how was he going to utilize them best to his advantage? Before, he had been planning to just fight Pacha army to army. Now after Molly's warning, he knew that was exactly what Pacha expected and wanted. He had to find a different way to destroy his rival. No… My brother.

The thought made him look up at Mufasa. Did you know, brother? Did you suspect who Pacha really was?

"Molly, you must be hungry. Go find something to eat. I'll join you momentarily. I need to speak to my brother."

She must have guessed why he was sending her away because she didn't argue. Only gave him a quick lick and left. Zazu fluttered off as well, leaving him alone with Mufasa.

"Are we to argue again, brother?" Mufasa quirked an eyebrow at him. "Your hyena family is coming to fight for you and I have already told you I won't risk any of mine."

"Am I not a part of that family?"

Mufasa sighed, "You are when you decide to be, as ever."

Scar gave a mirthless chuckle. "That decision has not been left to me for most of my life." He paused and sat, feigning ease. "Mother must be disappointed in how our bond has frayed over the years."

A dark look came over Mufasa. "If she is disappointed, I can only lay the blame at your feet. You're the reason we can't ask her."

Scar watched his brother as he said quietly, "You still blame me."

"I will always blame you," Mufasa growled. "Is this what you wanted to talk about? Dredging up painful memories. It's pointless."

Scar wasn't exactly surprised. Mufasa wasn't exactly wrong either. Still, he wasn't here to find out how Mufasa felt about him. "I was thinking, brother, that I may have been hasty in declaring war against Pacha. He was like a brother to me after all."

Mufasa blinked and his shoulders eased a little.

"I'm sure you promised mother to look after me," Scar felt his tongue thicken in his throat as he spoke but he managed to hold his emotions in check. "I promised her much the same for Pacha, long ago. What would you do in my stead, brother?"

Mufasa didn't answer immediately. "Mother brought him into the Pride. I can only assume it was for a good reason."

"I'm sure she had her reasons. Can we be so sure they were good?"

Mufasa shrugged, completely unbothered by the question. "Mother had a soft spot for useless things."

Scar ignored the bait. Comments like that had hurt coming from their father long ago. Scar had lived long enough to grow a thick hide against such clumsy barbs. "Quite. So I take it your advice is to welcome Pacha home with no judgment, such as you have welcomed me?"

Hesitating, Mufasa gave a stiff nod, "If he agrees to be peaceful. You changed, perhaps he has as well."

How foolish of you, brother. I have only learned to suppress what you all hate within me. I would not call it change. Scar gave a tight smile, "Perhaps you could welcome him back as your brother, and I could return to being the outcast."

Mufasa gave a shake of his head and a deprecating smile, "If that's what must be done to maintain peace, I cannot lie and say I wouldn't be open to it."

He doesn't know, Scar was certain. He'd become incredibly skilled at reading his brother over the years. He knew when he was lying or even just keeping the truth hidden. He detected neither.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you and possibly our mother," Scar stood, "But you haven't given me any sound advice so I'm afraid I must continue on the warpath." He turned to go and threw over his shoulder, "I'll be sure to give Pacha your regards before I kill him."

Late again! So, life has become a bit...rough lately. I will try to stick to the once a month upload, but December might be extra late if not pushed back to January. We're dealing with problems with our landlord and the health department is involved because they won't fix the water problem. It's starting to look like where we rent might be condemned and we'll have to find somewhere else to live. Thank you all for your consistent views and the comments. They seriously make my day when I read them. I hope all that celebrate had a Happy Halloween and that you all stay safe!

Much love to each and every one of you!

Meg