A month passed and Nala had shown to be the best big sister ever, always around protecting and playing with her little sister when Sarafina needed to take a break or had duties to attend to.
But there was more excitement to be had then just the little cub and her growth.
Today was the day, it was the day of the yearling's first hunt.
The females crowded around excitedly, Asha groomed Panay constantly "Mom stop it, I'm gonna get dirty anyway."
"You are gonna look the best at this presentation young lady, I've waited forever for this." Asha looked on happily.
Panya groaned, she hated being groomed.
Sarabi came up and said "Let your mother have this. You will always be her cub you know."
"Thank you Sarabi and for helping Panya to learn to hunt when I couldn't." Asha smiles.
"Of course, it was my pleasure." Sarabi nods.
Suddenly Scar appeared along with the 'Royal family.'
At this the three yearlings got into place, Ada, Monifa and Panya took their places at the start of pride rock.
Scar then spoke "This is an important tradition for all lionesses, it shows if they are capable of contributing to the pride."
They all glared or frowned at this, everyone knew that lioness contributed way more than hunting to the pride, and not just with cubs either, they were vessels of wisdom and councilors to the king, and even helped to protect the kingdom, but it seemed Scar forgot that.
"Since today is such a special day." Scar smirked making everyone uneasy "I will be awarding the lioness who brings back the best kill."
They all gasped, Scar rarely ever awarded anyone for actually doing something good. He didn't even award Sarafina for giving birth.
'I have to win.' Thought Panya, if she won then maybe she would get food and she could help the pride. Of course it might only be enough for a few but at least it would help her mother or maybe some of the cubs.
At this Panya became even more determined.
"Now, the hunt ends at sundown. So go ahead and make sure you bring something back." Scar then roared, signaling the start of the hunt, and with that the yearling headed off.
As the girls headed into the deep grass Ada stopped Monifa and her saying "Okay you two, I'm going to win this so don't even get your hopes up."
"Ada this is about the pride, I don't care what you have to say so back off." Panya shoved her way through and got as far away as possible.
"Gasp, can you believe her?" Ada asked.
"Actually yes." Monifa replied with a sour face as she headed off.
"Hey!" Ada yelled as she chased after her.
Meanwhile Panya felt she had finally gotten far enough away. She panted as she tried to cool herself down.
'Ugh this weather is so dry, and barely anything is staying close to the pride lands. How are we gonna catch anything?'
At this Panya sighed, she had to try.
So she opened her mouth to take in the air, traveling further along as she scented something near.
'I think there's something good nearby, something big.' she smiled, this could be what she needed to win the contest.
As she got closer and closer her eyes widened, It was a wildebeest.
'We almost never see those.' Panya had to hold in her excitement, this would definitely make it so she would win.
So she got ready, she got down wind, her claws were out, got as close as possible and…..
It was over before it even started, three stupid hyenas rushed in scarring off the wildebeest "No!" she shouted as she tried to catch up to her prey, but it was too late.
The three stupid scavengers laughed joyssly "Oh did you see the way it ran, oh even better do you see the look on the lioness' face."
Panya was shaking, she looked back at the hyenas and said "I needed that hunt."
"Ah who cares you'll find something else."
"Nothing as good as that!" Panya roared as she stalked towards them.
"Who cares, anyway Scar said we could just eat some of those male cubs if we were hungry."
At this, something inside Panya snapped, the three hyenas didn't expect her to launch at them, but she did.
Panya was so furious she was barely able to understand what was going on. She just felt rage. Rage at Scar, rage at the hyenas, rage that this beautiful land had been destroyed by them!
No one could hear the battle as everyone else was at priderock and the other yearlings were on the other side of the pridelands.
So no one saw or heard what happened as Panya finished her fight and three hyenas laid dead at her paws.
She shook, blood all over her body as she gasped thinking 'What have I done?'
She looked around, Scar could never know.
She grabbed the bodies and threw them into the crocodile infested river.
'At least someone will eat well today.' As she walked off she covered herself in mud, hopefully it would get rid of the stench of blood.
As Panya walked, she thought over what happened, 'I can't let myself feel guilty about this. I gave several hyenas a chance to leave peacefully. The ones that stayed are truly evil to keep us captive in our land, and those three…..to kill innocent cubs…'
At that Panya knew what she had to do, Scar was no leader and the hyenas were a true danger from the beginning.
She looked across the land she once knew to be so beautiful and lush, where no one was hungry, where they were treated with respect, and the circle of life went on.
Now it was almost nothing but a dead land, the grass withering, the animals almost completely gone, and the lions she cared for suffering.
In that moment Panya made her choice 'Scar is weak, any lioness could take him except that his lap dogs keep him safe and everyone else wants to keep to the old traditions. Well I won't accept it! No males will cross in or challenge Scar with the hyenas, but I will…I will defeat Scar!'
TLK
Back at pride rock, it was sundown, everyone looked on as the yearlings returned with their catches.
Monifa had returned with a gopher, Scar sneering at it as he said "A pitiful display."
Monifa cried as her mother came up to console her, glaring at Scar.
How could he expect them to hunt properly with barely any food left for them to hunt.
Ada came back with a warthog, it looked nice and big and Scar smiled saying "Not bad, it looks like we may have our winner."
Ada puffed up smiling as Zalika came up beside her, as if to show off her amazing daughter.
"Wiat, where is Panya?" Asha looked around in worry
"She probably couldn't find anything and left. Poor thing." Ada smirked.
"Panya would not abandon her pride." Sarabi glared.
"But she is late so it seems she may have not caught anything…so with that I must say…." Scar began when….
"Look!" Nala called as she saw movement in the grass.
Everyone stared on as the grass split up to show Panya, still covered in mud, and dragging a wildebeest into the clearing.
Everyone cheered at this as they helped Panya bring in her kill and praised her for such a good job.
"What, how did you even do that?" Ada shouted.
"I headed as far out as possible, that's when I found it."
Well that was how it was the first time anyway, the second time she basically tracked down its scent for as long as possible till she found it again, drinking what little water there was, making it easier to catch it.
"And why are you covered in mud?" Scar raised a brow.
"It was near some water and I got dirty fighting it." Panya had had time to think about her response as she dragged back her kill.
Scar hummed, seeming to accept this.
"Well it seems Panya is the obvious winner and with a fine catch indeed. So that means she will be rewarded."
Everyone looked up with anticipation.
Panya hoped it was a share of the kill, it would help the pride so much.
But instead Scar said "When you reach two years of age, you will become lead huntress."
"What!" everyone exclaimed, or gasped.
"But that's Sarabi's job and she's still so young!" Panya shouted.
"I know, aren't I generous? You'll have a title at such a young age." he smirks.
"Scar, you can't just do this." Sarabi growled.
"Oh don't be petty Sarabi."
"That's not it, being lead huntress is a dangerous job. Especially in these hard times. Even at two, Panya will not have the skill or wisdom she needs to lead the hunts."
"That's why you'll be teaching her all she needs, so go on, chop, chop."
With that Scar got the hyenas to take the kill to his den, breaking the tradition of letting the yearling hunter take the first bite of her first hunt.
"Oh Panya." Asha weeped, her daughter's big moment had been ruined.
But instead Panya just stared on, 'He just took the food, figures.'
She didn't fight or argue, and Sarabi was worried, especially when she noticed certain scars on her.
"Panya you're injured." she came up.
"I'll be fine." she replied.
"No, we must get you cleaned up before you get infected."
"Oh Panya I thought you knew better than that, let's go and…." Asha came up.
"Mom, I have to talk to Sarabi alone."
Asha looked hurt but she said "I need to ask questions for my training."
Asha still frowned but nodded, understanding her daughter had a lot on her mind.
Sarabi and Panya headed to a den to take care of her wounds.
TLK
In the caves as Sarabi cleaned up Panya she said "Well you tell me how you got these? They are definitely not hunting injuries."
Panya looked at Sarabi and said "First answer this, how much does tradition mean to you right now."
Sarabi's eyes widened "Panya what…."
"Sarabi, how much does traditions mean to you right now while we are starving, in danger of losing our lives at any moment, and being enslaved."
Sarabi looked down and said "Tradition has always meant everything to me, but if it stands in the way of what is right then….I must put it aside."
"I'm glad to hear that. Sarabi….."
Panya explained what really happened on her hunt, making the older lioness heartbreak and tears well up.
Panya was afraid her mentor would hate her now, but she was hoping she would understand and help her.
"Oh Panya…." she waited for the scolding, but…Sarabi just held and nuzzled her saying "I can't believe you went through such a thing. You saved the male cubs and you helped to get rid of three more of those monsters."
Panya was wide eyed as she said "You're not mad?"
"Mad? Panya you did what you had to for the pride, how can I be mad." she smiled.
Panya smiled as she said "Good, because for the next year I'm gonna need you to train me in more than just hunting."
Sarabi looked shocked as she said "What do you mean?"
Panya sat up and said with conviction "Sarabi, I promise you that by next year, I will be the queen."
Sarabi gasped saying "No Panya I won't let you give yourself to Scar."
Panya glared saying "Who said anything about Scar being king?"
Understanding dawned on Sarbi at this "This is why you asked if traditions mattered to me?"
"Sarabi, no male will cross with the hyenas around, and no male will live here past one. There is no other choice." Panya looked determinedly at her.
At this Sarabi knew she could not sway her away from her plan and so she nodded "The first and most important thing about being a queen is that you must put everyone else before yourself."
With that her new lessons started, not only in hunting but in how to be the future leader of the pride lands.
She did wonder why Sarabi herself didn't just take over, but looking into the elder lioness' eyes she could see it 'She's still heartbroken.'
Along with that the other lioness were still too held up by tradition.
'Only I can do this.' she thought as she took in all Sarabi could give her.
