Last edit: 03/02/2025

"Scar?" The sudden call distracted the black-maned lion and had him slightly startled.

Alas, the lion came to the realisation it was only Shenzi's voice. Upon turning around, Scar discovered the three hyenas standing behind him. What do they possibly want at this hour? With his annoyance evident, he gestured to indicate he required silence from them. Then he carefully glimpsed down; Nala was gone.

"Don't ya worry, boss. She hasn't seen us," the sharp-tongued Banzai broke the silence. Man, I'm starvin'! I could eat that lioness! "What were ya doing here, anyway?" he asked.

Scar rolled his eyes, wondering whether the hyena thought he had any interest in answering a question such as that one. He was determined not to be laughed at again by these three idiots. "Remember, you are answering to me, not the other way around! What brings you here?" he responded.

"The lionesses have gathered, and they want to have a little chat with ya. 'Bout the hunting," Shenzi shared.

Scar inhaled deep as he said, "Now? Can't this wait until tomorrow?" Nonetheless, he knew he wouldn't be in the mood for such a thing the following day either. "All right then…" Scar took another deep breath and begrudgingly trailed behind them, his disdain evident.

"Scar!" As soon as the lion was within her sight, Sarabi stepped forward. She complained about the hunting, explaining to him about how little food they had been able to find. "The hyenas are driving the herds to move on," she continued, casting Shenzi a rather judgemental glare.

With lots of aversion, Scar felt as if he was being forced to listen to their nagging, as what he thought the lionesses were doing. Please, tell me something I don't already know… To distract himself, his eyes scanned the area until somewhere between the complaining lionesses, he found his target. It was the young Nala who stood hidden behind her mother, Sarafina. "Oh, Sarabi, you old hag! Just admit it, you've lost it!" Scar's loud voice reverberated. "Perhaps it's time for you to transfer your task…" Upon a moment of silence, he moved himself between the lionesses, a rather amusing tone predominating his voice as he continued, "…to a younger talent..." The black-maned king narrowed his gaze towards Nala, who evidently avoided his eye crossing attempts. Subsequently, while passing by her, he gradually allowed his tail to slide over her back.

Nala was puzzled by this silly lion's behaviour. Scar had many aspects, she thought. Despite his malevolent and deranged personality, his air of mystery made him somewhat attractive. Nala tightened her expression and hoped he would walk past her soon, yet he didn't since she still sensed his presence. He's still standing behind me, isn't he? As all eyes suddenly pivoted on her, Nala felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. "Me?" she carefully asked.

"Yes, you, Nala." Scar stepped in front of the young lioness, bestowing her with a funny smile. "From now on, you are the lead huntress! I'm confident with you on lead, future hunts shall have greater success. I dare to bet Ed's life on that!" Scar glimpsed the hyenas and witnessed Ed chuckling. Fool…

As expected, the lionesses weren't content. "She has too little experience!" Sarabi snarled, a low growl eluding her mouth as she locked eyes with the dark-maned king. He, obviously, was also bombarded with questions from other lionesses.

Scar took a deep breath, rolling his eyes. "If you ladies have any further questions, you are welcome to visit me in my cave. Well tomorrow, because it's time for my beauty sleep…" he said, almost sarcastically. "I suggest you ladies do the same. It's clear to me some of you direly need it!" Upon spotting Zira, a lioness who he had shared a rather unpleasant history with somewhere after he had ascended the throne, Scar turned his head. He had desired to exile her years ago, but his plans were foiled upon learning she was carrying a cub, his child. Scar also harboured immense disappointment towards the cub, Nuka, who failed to meet his expectations in every aspect. According to Scar, he was absolutely not fit for the throne. Hm, isn't that kid already a teen? Perhaps soon, I'll outcast them both after all… Yet it was a decision that required thorough consideration, because Nuka wasn't the only medium Zira had against him… Behind him, the chit chat continued. "Remember, my mouth speaks the law!" With that said, Scar, instantly feeling better, stepped away to depart the scene. The black-maned lion assumed the presence of a certain lioness had done the trick, or perhaps it was the fact that he had, once again, caused trouble in the lady-paradise. He desired to create both situations more often. Scar strode out with a swagger that spoke of his unshakeable self-assurance, ignoring the glares that bore into his back.

"Nala, why didn't you speak up?" Sarabi asked as soon as Scar and the hyenas had disappeared out of their eyesight.

Zira, who, among the lionesses, also had gained a reputation for her unpleasant behaviour, pushed her way forward to stand between Nala and Sarafina. "Because the little girl is afraid of him! And that is supposed to lead us!" she commented, her mean side clearly in front.

Nala stepped past Zira, facing the lioness who was disparaging her. A thunderous expression darkened her face, her lips pressed into a thin, furious line. "I'm not a little girl anymore! And I'm definitely not afraid of him!" I admit, I don't fear him… Yet he hardly ever blends in with us without his army of nasty hyenas following him! Nala had never been able to forget her childhood encounter with the hyenas at the elephant graveyard, and every time she saw a hyena, she felt transported back to that traumatic moment. And since it had taken place shortly before Simba's death, the two events were permanently intertwined in her mind. Doesn't he ever grow tired of those ugly, drooling creatures? Zira has no reason to fear them because they're actually fond of her!

Zira found Nala's look of hatred amusing and laughed it off. "That remains to be seen," she slyly responded, turning to step away.

"Watch me! I'll show you what I'm capable of!" Nala called after the lioness.

As he stood hiding around the corner, Scar let out a low, rumbling chuckle. He found pleasure in overhearing the lionesses now and then, particularly in moments upon having them all pissed off. Oh, I will most definitely watch you! Scar enjoyed the steaming tone predominating Nala's voice. "That's my girl… Very well done, Nala…"

That same night, Shenzi and Banzai kept watch. "Nala as the leading huntress, I didn't see that one comin'," Banzai said while scratching himself.

"I sort of did," Shenzi answered vacantly.

"Whatever, it doesn't make any sense!" Banzai continued in a bit of a grumpy tone, shaking his head.

Shenzi's face slightly brightened, her little brains cracking. "Well, perhaps it does. Sarabi restricted us with her control. Nala, on the other hand, is… how shall I put it?" Nothing more than a pretty doll. "She just doesn't have what it takes," the female hyena eventually said.

Banzai pulled a strange face. "Ya think it's a tactic? Even I could've thought of a better one!" he complained.

"Look, I can't see inside his head. I just remember how much more freedom we had when he was still with Zira. She surely had an influence on him," Shenzi shared.

"And you'll help me restore that!" Zira's voice, full of determination, interrupted the two squabbling hyenas. After Scar's silly announcement, Zira searched for her companions, as she figured she could use their help. Despite how things had ended between her and Scar, Zira and the hyenas had kept their friendship alive. Hence, Zira also was aware of Scar's desires to exile her and Nuka and why he hadn't pursued this yet.

Zira had watched Mufasa and Taka growing up. She had witnessed how Taka, later Scar, developed immense feelings of jealousy for his elder brother since the latter's shadow constantly loomed over him. Mufasa had harboured no trust towards Zira, yet his faith in his brother was not lost. Often Zira had imagined what life on the Pride Lands would've been like without having Mufasa in its picture. Although she wanted him dead, she had no intention of soiling her own paws in the process. And why would she, when Scar dreamt of acceding his brother's throne? The dots were swiftly connected... Zira saw the secret she shared with Scar and the hyenas as a valuable commodity. She and the hyenas both knew if the secret would ever be revealed, great disasters would follow. Scar was aware of that as well, and fortunately for Zira, the signs of it taking a toll on him began to show.

"Zira, we stopped mentioning yo name to him. Ya know, it doesn't quite thrill him... The effect is almost just as bad as when I slip Mu—" Banzai was taken aback by the expressions on his companions' faces, particularly Zira's, which made him swallow his sentence. "I've always wondered what ya did to screw things up!" he continued a moment later.

"Me? That lion is impossible! He, however, has his weaknesses, and if I can manipulate him again, you and I eventually benefit…" A foul grin appeared on Zira's face. "I know I still have the lion by its tail..."

"It's worth the try, and as long as it ain't gonna hurt our pal…" Banzai exchanged a look with Shenzi.

"It's a long shot, but Zira is right. He hasn't been himself for a while now. If we want to see somethin' changed, now's the time to do it…" Shenzi finally said. "I'd say start with counterin' Nala…"

Zira pulled a face. "Nala… I hate the little brat! If I had the charge, she would've been exiled already, or better, killed!" Zira felt a familiar heat rising within her, yet Shenzi's malevolent smile slightly extinguished the flames.

"That, my friend, can be arranged!" the hyena vilely said.

Zira's face contorted in a wide grimace, mirroring Shenzi's expression. "Right… In that case, let the action begin, shall we?"