Panya was content, slightly at least, she had actually convinced Spot and his friends about the circle of life.
Turns out her poop explanation helped, if you make a hyena laugh they definitely like you.
It took a bit for them to plan their escape though, they didn't want Shenzi to notice them leaving.
In the end Shenzi didn't seem to care much as if the ones that left weren't worth anything to her.
'Or it means less competition for food.' she frowned at the idea of how greedy they were.
Some other things had changed as well over the month, Sarafina was now the new queen of the pridelands and was somewhat keeping Scar under control.
This had made Zalika and Ada furious of course and they were taking it all out on the pride, it seemed they still thought they had a chance and had become spies for Scar.
Manny lioness had been punished for things they did in secret to feed or protect their cubs or said things behind his back. None died thankfully.
But because of this Rifiki had to stop coming to the pridelands, Scar hated the majusi for trying to tell him what to do and banished him from pride rock and no one was to associate with him.
Asha had pleaded that Rafiki was needed to keep Panya healthy but Scar only said if she was worthy of living then she would be strong enough to survive.
Her mother almost attacked Scar then and there, but the others stopped her, then she cried for several days.
Panya didn't know why she was so worried, but soon her mother stopped crying and in fact seemed relieved.
As Panya rested on a rock, she looked out over the land, observing the creature as she always did.
'There's not as many as before.' she sighed.
Everyone could see it, the land was slowly dying and the rains had stopped completely.
"Hey Panya, what you up too."
She groaned 'Not again.'
"Leave me alone, Mandla."
"Aw come on, I just wanted to show off my awesome mane!"
Panya sighed, ever since his mane started fully coming in he'd been impossible to live with.
"I don't care." she started to walk away.
"Oh come on, you better start showing me some respect. Because when I'm all grown up I'll be the king."
"Who says?"
"I do, once I'm grown I'll be strong enough to take on Scar and rule this land." he jumped on a rock to boast.
Her eyes widened 'Oh no.' She didn't know who would be worse, Scar or Mandla, he disrespected the circle of life as badly as Scar and was even friends with the hyenas.
Okay she did the same but she got them out, as for the rest she didn't care. They were selfish and hurt her pride.
"The hyenas protect Scar, what makes you think you can do that?"
"Quite a bit of them like me."
"Because you hunt more for them even after we've already gotten food." She growls.
Mandla shrugs "Ugh who cares."
"I do, our pride is suffering, the land is dying, we can't last like this!" she roared.
"I told you that circle of life junk isn't real, it's just a long dry season, it'll be over soon enough. Just admit it, you don't know anything, you're just a stupid lioness."
"You idiot!" at that Panya had had enough, something in her had snapped and with extended claws she wacked Mandla across the face.
At this Mandla was shocked, had Panya really just….after a moment his shock was over and he struck back.
The two fought like this for sometime until the lionesses nearby heard the two, they came rushing and separated them.
But what they found shocked them, Panya stood over Mandla, her teeth bared as she growled in his face.
The young male quivering under her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Panya get off." Sarabi hurried over to push her off.
Mandla's mother came over and shouted "What have you done to my son!"
"Your son is no better than Scar!" Panya shouted as the lionesses gasped.
"Panya!" Sarabi gasps.
"It's true Sarabi….I won't take his abuse anymore. He's treated me like dirt ever since we were cubs."
"You lying little…." Mandla's mother starts.
"My daughter would never lie!" Asha starts as she growls at Mandla's mother.
"Enough!" they all looked to see Scar coming over.
"I send you all out to hunt and instead I find you all fighting, what is going on."
Mandla's mother spoke, "Sire, thank you for coming, that crazy cub has attacked my son. You must send her away!"
The lionesses gasp, how could she do that.
At this Scar looked over at the strong young male and then at the female.
'She did this to him?'
He took a moment to think and said "Well if he was so easily defeated by a lioness then that would mean he is weak, we don't need him around. He should be sent off."
"What? No, he's too young. Mufasa let the males stay two years before they decided to stay or go." Mandla's mother cried.
"And let him fight me for the crown, I don't think so. I know what you've been doing boy, being friendly with my hyenas and strutting around. You want to overthrow me, is that right?"
"What I…I never…."
"Do not lie, one of my noble followers told me so." Ada came up smirking.
"Ada how could you? You would've been my queen." Mandla begged.
Ada huffed "Oh please I know you were going to have a harem, I see the way you look at Monifa and Panya."
Panya gagged, she would never be with Mandla.
"Scar he's too young, at least wait till he's a year old." Mandla's mother begged.
"He has plotted against the crown, so he must be banished." He nods to his hyenas as they start to chase Mandla away.
Mandla's mother cries as the other lionesses look on horrified "Now get back to hunting."
"I…..I didn't mean for that to happen. I just didn't want him to…." Panya starts, feeling guilty.
"You, you did this!" Mandla's mother goes at her but Sarabi stops her.
"Panya did not do this, Ada was the one to betray us." She and the others glare at her and Zalika.
"My daughter did nothing wrong, Mandla was planning to usurp the king. He was the one in the wrong." Zalika huffs.
"Only because Scar continued to destroy our land and take our food. My son could have stopped him." Mandla's mother wails.
"No, Mandla was going to be as bad as Scar, he said so himself." Panya frowned.
The lionesses gasped, "No you're lying." Mandla's mother wailed.
"Sadly I can confirm it, I've seen Mandla conversing with the hyenas and bringing them extra food." Dwala looked saddened as did the others.
It was a sad day for them all, even though Panya did not like Mandla she didn't want him exiled.
'Maybe he could have learned to be better before he took the throne but…' after so long of knowing him she didn't think that would happen.
Another thing that worsened the day was that Scar announced that any male cubs must leave the pride before their first birthday or be killed.
Everyone was heartbroken at this, and expecting mothers worried for their future cubs.
As Panya looked at the darkened sky that night she still felt bad 'This is my fault.'
"Panya, come in and sleep, it is late." Sarabi came out to join her.
"I can't Sarabi, it's my fault Mandla is gone and that future male cubs have to be banished."
"It is not your fault, Mandla chose his fate when he decided to boast about going against Scar and Ada's betrayal caused the new law. You can't blame yourself for this."
"But if I hadn't of lost it…" Panya growled her claws digging into the earth.
Sarabi smiled and said "You only just showed Mandla that you will not be mistreated. And you have much anger in you from the horrors surrounding our lands. But I feel that perhaps there is a way to help you."
"How?"
"By keeping you busy, I know your mother has been tired lately with the extra hunts and with her age has been unable to teach you your lessons, so how about I teach you?"
"Really?" Panya looked excited.
Sarabi nodded and Panya nuzzled her "Thank you Sarabi."
With that, something new started, something that would help Panya on her journey in life.
TLK
Time passed and the land got worse, the hyenas were still strong and plentiful in numbers, but the lionesses were weakening.
'There has to be a way to stop them.' Panya thought as she looked at the hyena's devouring a meal recently caught.
"Panya, it is time for your lessons." Sarabi called.
Panya jumped as she rushed to Sarabi, a few months had passed and she was much bigger now. In fact she was soon to be a year old and that meant one thing…..
"You seem excited."
"Of course, it's almost my first hunt." Panya smiles.
"Yes, we've all needed an exciting day like this for sometime. I'm only worried there might not be enough prey for everyone." Sarabi frowns.
"We'll do our best." Panya nods.
Sarabi smiled, she was happy to see Panya growing well. The teen had kept up her strange diet and so far it seemed to bode well for her.
'As long as she's healthy that's what matters.'
Some of the mothers were actually incorporating these techniques to help their cubs grow, even Nala started doing it to keep up her strength.
The teens on the other hand refused, and Scar would not let Sarafina try the tactics, especially not with her carrying his future cub.
'Let us hope the cub will be safe. If a male we may have to worry about Scar's influence, but if female…will he even let her survive.'
"Sarabi, is this right?"
She was brought out of her thoughts, and said "Oh yes very good, now remember to keep your claws extended. Feel the earth under you and…."
The two continued to practice hunting for sometime, and Panya seemed to be getting quite the hang of it.
She remembered to wait until the last minute to sprint as lions could be fast but not for long, to stay downwind and in the shrubs so as not to be seen, and to always pick the weakest one, never a child though.
As she was getting close to her target she knew not to attack but to just roar as she was almost at the sprinting point though.
"Lunch time!" laughter rang out as Panya jumped away, the gazels scattered as the hyena's charged them, making them run towards her.
Panya screeched as she ran for her life, gazel may be small but could still kick and manny could trample you if not careful.
"Panya!" Sarabi screeched, seeing the teen run for her life.
Sarabi had a flashback, of seeing her dead husband after the stampede that took him.
'No, not again!'
Sarabi roared and rushed towards Panya, as she got beside her she said "Hurry, follow me."
The two rushed under a log and waited until the stampede passed, Sarabi crouching over the younger female like a shield.
Once all was calmed they came out and glared as they saw the hyena's feasting.
Panya growled "Those idiots, they could have killed us!"
Now usually Sarabi was a calm lioness but this time, with her trauma and stress levels high…she snapped.
She charged up at the hyenas and roared "Sarabi no!" Panya rushed after her but it was too late.
"How dare you interrupt a practice hunt, and almost kill a young lioness!" Sarabi shed her claws.
"Hey, you can't threaten us." Bonzai said.
"Yeah Scar won't be happy." Shenzi smirked.
"Scar wouldn't be happy if you killed one of his future hunters, and your meal ticket." Panya came up glaring.
"Huff what's one lioness?" Shenzi smirks as the other two nod.
"Yeah, besides it's our way of getting back at you for what you did to us all those months you brat." Bonzai growls as he still holds scars from that fight.
"You were trying to kill cubs, the prince especially!" she shouted.
"Who cares!" Shenzi spits.
"Yeah he's dead now." Bonzai smirks.
At that, Sarabi went crazy and Panya didn't stop her.
As they returned to pride rock, Sarabi walked proudly, like the queen she was as Panya walked proudly by her teacher.
'She is so awesome.'
Now you may think they be worried about the hyena's blabbing to Scar, well let's just say Sarabi did not play games.
The trio lived of course, they were just scared to death of Sarabi.
"Sarabi, I wanna be just like you someday, you are so awesome."
At this Sarabi felt her heart warm and break all at once, her Simba said that about his father and if Mufasa had lived maybe they would have had a daughter to say that to her.
She held back tears as she said "You are already amazing as you are Panya." she smiled at the girl.
Panya smiled back and said "Thanks, but still will you show me how you did all that."
Sarabi laughed and said "Of course."
A few weeks passed, and in that time Sarafina gave birth.
The lionesses surrounded her, worried about what Scar would do when he saw his heir.
As the king came in he just looked down at the cub, it was similar color to him but had Sarfina's eyes.
"It's a girl," he finally spoke.
"Yes Scar, isn't she beautiful?" Sarafina smiled worriedly.
"She'll do, for now, we'll try for a boy when you're ready." he replied as he walked away.
All the lioness sighed at this, once Scar was gone everyone flooded Sarafina and congratulated her.
"She's beautiful." Sarabi said as he came over.
"Thank you, I just feel bad for the circumstances she's been born into." Sarfina looked saddened.
"Circumstances! She's a princess." Zalika glared.
"Oh please like Scar cares, we're just glad she's safe. Isn't that right little one?" Panya looked down at the cub who smiled at her.
Nala rushed over at the cub, she was a young teen now but she was still happy as she looked down and said "Oh wow a little sister, I'm so happy mom."
"I am too sweetie. Do you want to hold her?"
Nala nodded vigorously as she laid next to her mother and put the cub in her paws.
The little one looked up at Nala a bit confused but then smiled hugely at her.
"She has your smile mom." Nala smiled.
"She is very smiley." Panya chuckled.
"She is a ray of sunshine in this dark world of ours." Sarabi smiles with a nod.
"Hmm, sunshine? Then I think her name will be Kianga."
"That's perfect, it's beautiful, and fits her so well." The lioness cheered and cooed at the cub.
Panya felt so warm in this moment, yes this was a moment of sun in their dark world, but that is why they needed to protect it and to hopefully one day bring back the sun.