Having no appetite, Molly skirted round the lionesses and their kills. She noted the way they eyed her sideways and whispered to each other. It seemed worse than before. She made her way to a quiet spot where she could see out towards the Elephant Graveyard. She didn't see any sign of the approaching hyenas and wondered how much further behind Zazu they would be. One of her healing wounds began to itch and she tilted her head round to lick at it.

The sun was hot overhead and shimmers of heat hovered above the grasslands. She could see a herd of gazelle off to the right. She couldn't judge the distance very well, but they had to be several miles away. Looking again towards the Graveyard, she worried that she didn't see anything that direction. Zazu had said they were right behind him, but for a flying creature that might mean something else. She squinted and still nothing.

"What are you staring off that way for?" Zira's voice startled her and Molly jumped to her feet and turned to find the other lioness glaring at her. "Homesick?" Zira taunted.

"I don't see that it's any concern of yours."

"Ooh, getting a bit high and mighty now I see," Zira came closer, a cruel grin twisting her features.

Molly didn't answer and looked back out at the grasslands.

"You think just because Scar chose you that it puts you above the rest of us?"

Molly continued to stare coolly and worked to keep her voice calm, "Is that what you think, Zira? Is that why you want my place so badly? You think being mated to Scar will elevate you to a status you are unable to achieve on your own?"

Zira growled, "You don't know anything. You're a stranger here."

Molly turned to look her over. Zira's body language reminded her of the lioness that had been ready to kill her. Fighting her fear, she swallowed and looked Zira in the eyes. "I don't have to know the source of your insecurities to sense the fear they cause."

"Fear? I'm not afraid of you."

"No. You're afraid of what you believe I'm taking from you. Not Scar, but what he represents for your future. You're unhappy with what your life has amounted to so far." Molly could empathize. Her own life wasn't something to be overly boastful about, but she'd been happy enough with its simplicity.

"How dare you speak down to me," Zira's eyes burned.

Molly sighed, "I'm not, Zira," she shook her head, "What do you see when you look at Scar? You don't see him like the others do, but I don't think you see the true him either."

"And you're an expert after being with him for so long," Zira mocked, "Please."

"You can't answer the question?"

"I don't have to!" Zira snarled.

Molly sighed again and looked out at the expanse of grassland between here and where she'd rather be. Zira frightened her, but more so she made her angry. Scar had said Zira had ambitions and he hadn't seemed to see her as an ally, let alone a friend. If Zira truly cared for him, she had clearly never shown him. All Molly asked was for her to prove she was anymore worthy of being Scar's mate than she was.

"Do you want Scar?" she asked.

There was a long silence. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see Zira staring at her, wide eyed. Her tense body had relaxed and she hesitated before speaking again. "I have always wanted him."

"Does he know that?"

The tension went back into Zira almost instantly, "What difference does it make? Clearly he's chosen you."

"Why do you think that is?"

Zira scoffed, "I've asked myself that question more than once since he brought you here. You're weak, helpless," she hesitated, "He's not known for his compassion. Yet he rescued you."

Molly wondered again why Scar seemed so different to everyone else. His comment about being someone else before came to mind and she turned to fully face Zira. "What is Scar normally like? Before I came… Who is the Scar you knew?"

Zira straightened proudly, "Scar has always been ruthless. Strong, proud, a true king, unlike his spineless brother. He bared the brunt of his father's hate for years and still holds his head high," her expression soured, "You've softened him. There was a time he would have gone to kill Pacha without worrying about another's safety. His goals have always been more than the insignificance of someone else. Now he looks to keep you safe." She scoffed and ground her teeth, "You're unfit because if you were strong and worthy, he wouldn't have to concern himself over you. If I were with him, we would run headlong into glorious battle together." She tilted her head to look at Molly with one eye. A slow, mocking grin spread over her face, "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

Zira chuckled, "No, of course not. He knows you're too frail. You see? Even he doesn't think you're worthy."

Molly didn't know what she was talking about. She knew there were things she didn't know about Scar, about his past. She had still accepted him. Despite everyone, including him, warning her to the contrary. It was futile to assert that she was just as willing to fight at Scar's side. The other lioness would laugh at the thought. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Maybe you're right, Zira. But I think instead of thinking I'm weak, Scar believes in me more than anyone else. He knows whatever he's done, I will be open and understanding. He doesn't have to rush to confess to me. I think, just like everyone else in this Pride, that you don't really know him for who he is. He can't rely on you, so he has to find a different way to face his enemies. He doesn't trust any of you, so he hides himself and pretends to be what you all want him to be. I won't lie and say I know everything about him, and yes," she swallowed and nodded, "Maybe he's just fooling me too. But I don't think so. I think…I let him feel like he doesn't have to be that other version of himself. Around me, he can be his authentic self."

Zira was getting angrier as she spoke. Rage was radiating off of her the way heat came off the sun baked rocks.

Molly squared her shoulders and met Zira's gaze, "You've all made him mold to your version of him. Never giving him the breathing room to grow into who his heart tells him he is. It is you who are unworthy, Zira."

Snarling, Zira lunged at her. Molly scampered away backwards, keeping the charging lioness in her line of sight. A huge paw with extended claws swiped through the air where her face had been a moment before. Moving backwards again she felt her haunches hit solid stone and a wave of panic swept through her before two lionesses threw themselves between her and Zira.

"That's enough!" Sarabi roared.

Zira halted but remained taut and ready to go for the kill. Molly's heart was pounding in her ears as she panted against the stone wall that had blocked her escape.

"Out of my sight, Zira," Sarabi said quietly, tone broaching no argument.

The lioness snorted and gave Molly one last long look before turning away and slinking off. Sarabi and the other lioness turned to Molly once Zira was gone.
"You certainly know how to start fights," Sarabi said, "But you don't seem to be very good at finishing them."

Molly blushed, feeling like an idiot. How many times was she going to have to be saved by others? "Thank you, Your Majesty. Both of you," Molly nodded to the other lioness.

Sarabi gave an amused chuckle as the other lioness smiled kindly. "Molly, this is Sarafina. Sarafina, Molly. Scar's mate."

"You weren't lying about her being different," Sarafina said, then to Molly, "I suppose I'm not surprised Scar chose you. He's always walked his own path."

Sarabi sniffed before Molly could respond, "Where did you learn how to not fight?"

Molly blinked, "I-well I-"

"Were with humans, yes, I know. That still doesn't explain your complete lack of instinct."

She can't know, Molly thought, mind racing to come up with an explanation. They don't know about Pacha and the others, she can't possibly know about me.

Sarafina sidled up to Sarabi, "Come on now, that's not fair. If she didn't have playmates to practice on, how can you expect her to have learned anything?"

Sarabi glanced sideways then out towards the Elephant Graveyard. She looked back at Molly, "I assume if you're staring out there, then Zazu has returned."

"Yes, the hyenas have agreed to come."

Sarafina took in a sharp breath and in almost a whisper gasped, "Hyenas here? Sarabi, the others-"

"I am aware of the chaos," Sarabi said coolly, "Mufasa has decided it is for the best. We will uphold his decision."

Looking unsure, Sarafina did not argue. Molly remembered she was the lioness Scar had mentioned that ran the other main hunting party.

"If he'd let the Pride help, you wouldn't have to cause fear by bringing the hyenas," Molly knew it was a mistake to say, but the words were already out.

The Queen outright laughed, "You're a fool. As much a fool as Scar."

"He's not a fool. He's doing what he can to protect you!"

"No, he's doing what he can to protect his own interests."

Molly felt like she was going to explode, "What is it with you?! How can all of you keep thinking the worst of him? He asked his brother for help to take down an enemy threatening your land and was refused aid. And for what? You have an entire Pride of strong lions that could easily take down whatever force Pacha has raised. There's no excuse why you aren't willing to help!"

Sarafina gave her a sideways look and shook her head, "The two of us can't lead the others into battle. They wouldn't have leadership."

"What do you mean?"

"We're both carrying cubs," Sarafina said as though it were obvious.

Molly blinked and looked them both over. She'd known about Sarabi but honestly to look at them, she'd never have been able to tell if Scar hadn't told her. They didn't look much different than any of the other lionesses. Sarabi was maybe a little more round in the belly, but it didn't seem like much.

"You use your eyes too much," Sarabi said, watching Molly carefully, "I've only known one other lion to forget to use their nose." Her eyes grew dark and she glanced at Sarafina. The other lioness looked wary. "Can you not smell that we are pregnant?"

"I- There's never been a reason for me to know the smell," she attempted. She had her suspicions of who Sarabi was talking about.

The Queen stepped forward to stand within inches of Molly. "It's an odd coincidence, your arriving here just as Pacha returns. Everything seems to be circling around Scar. And now he's convinced my mate to let an enemy army into our home. All because of you. What are the odds that Scar would come across you out there? Sarafina and I barely even cross paths with each other's hunting parties anywhere but here in Pride Rock. And yet Scar was able to stumble on a poor, defenseless little lioness that readily fell in love with him."

Molly swallowed but stayed her ground and returned Sarabi's gaze. "Maybe I was meant to be here, to be by Scar's side. Clearly he has no one else."

"Ask him why that is," Sarabi growled, "Ask your mate why everyone resents him and there's no one left to defend him."

"Sarabi-" Sarafina stepped forward but stopped when Sarabi whipped her head around to glare at her.

Turning back to Molly, Sarabi gave a shake of her head, "You wanted Zira to tell you about the Scar she knew but refused to listen. Ask him-," her ears flattened and she blinked as if surprised by the words she was saying, "Ask him why his mother isn't here."

A third lioness ran up to them before Molly could respond. "Your Majesty! Hyenas! They're heading for Pride Rock! There's too ma-"

"Be still," Sarabi said, not unkindly. She heaved a great sigh and it seemed to Molly as if she shrunk a little. Her face went from menacing to weary as she turned to Sarafina. "Come. We must tell the others before panic spreads." They turned away and left Molly without a second glance.

Letting out her own sigh, Molly looked out towards where the lioness had come from and, despite everything, gave a small smile. Far off, a large mass of dark bodies was making its way across the grasslands.

…

Scar knew the hyenas had been spotted once he left the cave. The entire Pride was in an uproar. Accusatory glances and bitter whispers followed him as he made his way past all of them. He passed Sarabi and Sarafina as they were attempting to calm a few of the more hysterical lionesses.

"It is a temporary truce," he overheard, "Mufasa will not let them stay."

He came upon Zira and she made her way over despite his attempt to avoid her.

"Tell me it's not true," she begged, "You would rather have them fight by your side than your own kind?"

"My kind," Scar scoffed, "There is no one like me, Zira. I have no kind."

"But-"

"Mufasa is the one that decreed none of the Pride could aid me," he interrupted, "I called for the only aid I had left."

Zira blinked, looked almost hurt, "Not the only aid, Scar," she said quietly. She looked about to say something else, then closed her mouth. Her expression darkened and with a huff, she turned away.

Scar continued on to where he expected to find Molly. She was further off, not eating but looking out towards the grasslands. He came up next to her and saw the entire pack loping towards them. It was rare for any of them to venture into the Pridelands, certainly never this far. Seeing all of them converging together on Pride Rock must have put the Pride out of their minds. It was certainly a sight to behold.

"Sarafina is pregnant too," Molly said into the silence.

Scar glanced over, "Hmm, my brother has been very busy. I can see why he wouldn't want war with both of his lead hunters expecting."

Molly didn't meet his eyes, "Scar…can we win? Will this all be worth it or," she took a shaky breath.

"I can't see the future. I don't know. But what I do know is that I will protect you," he moved against her and laid his head over her shoulders, "And you will protect me."

"I hope I can," she hesitated, "Zira…tried to attack me."

He pulled back to look at her.

"I just backed away, afraid to do anything. I was trapped and Sarabi and Sarafina showed up and stopped her. I didn't even try," she looked down at the ground.

Scar felt fury sweep through him. With what they were facing, the danger already pressing in, and Zira had the audacity to go after Molly. My mate. He growled, "These fools," his claws dug into the dirt and he got to his feet. "I'm sorry," he told her, "I wanted you to be safe here. When this is done, I'll take you away and we never have to come back."

She met his gaze, "Scar…"

He waited. She seemed to fight to find the words. He wished fervently they could go away now. All he wanted was for her to be safe and with him.
"You said you had to become who you used to be," she looked away, down at her paws, "And Zira- and then Sarabi said- …It doesn't matter," she shook her head, "Promise me," she met his eyes again, "I don't want to lose you, who you are now. Whoever you have to pretend to be…come back to me afterwards," her voice caught and her eyes were shiny with unshed tears.

What did Zira and Sarabi say? "I promise," he said, and gave her a slow lick. She melted against him, her body curling up against his as if she could hide inside him. Scar was going to have to talk to the two lionesses. One was his Queen, but if he and Molly were truly mated and parted from the Pride, Sarabi would be lower than him, and Molly would be a Queen in her own right. He would not stand for her being harassed by the likes of them. He comforted Molly as his eyes turned again to the oncoming hyenas. Soon his army would outnumber his brothers. Once the hyenas were here, he could surround Molly with them. He could keep her safe. For now.

"Come," he said, "Let's go welcome our true family."

Hello my lovely readers! I'm sorry about the late update. Life's still rocky. We're still in our home and it's starting to look like our landlord is going to fix everything so we won't be evicted. Thank you to those that sent their well wishes! Hopefully January's update will be on time, but if not, please understand I'll get it to you guys asap!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Fanfiction is glitching on me and I can no longer view my traffic stats. I'm totally in the dark on whether people are still reading this or not. I've attempted to contact them about it several times but for whatever reason they're claiming that my email isn't letting their mail through. Which is bs because I changed which email I was having everything sent to and the confirmation email from them made it through to me, so I don't know. :( Anyway, the only way I've been able to tell if this is still getting readers is when new people follow or favorite the story.

Enough complaining. You're all fabulous and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Much love always,

Meg