Tales from the Outlands
Volume II – Legacies

	The following tale is the second volume of Tales From the 
Outlands, and is slightly different than volume one.  It will NOT 
follow the life of one single character as volume one did.  Instead it 
will deal with the characters that were introduced in volume one on a 
more personal level.  This first section picks up after TLK II: Simba's 
Pride ends, and it deals with certain things left unanswered in volume 
one.

	(All characters not of my own design are created by Disney and 
used without their permission or consent.  I use them here with the 
utmost respect and admiration.  Those characters not found in Disney's 
greatest animated movie of all time that will be seen in subsequent 
sections, such as the dark lion, Kisasi are of my own design.  Fabana 
was created by John Burkitt and David Morris and is used once again 
with permission and many thanks.)

	It is highly recommended that one should read volume one first, 
or the second volume will make little sense, if any at all.  I have 
decided to stress reader discretion for volume two due to primal 
violence and adult themes.  For this to make more sense, if volume two 
were to be made into a movie it would be rated PG-13.  Remember this as 
you venture into the following chapters.  Any questions, comments, or 
concerns, can be addressed to myriadtales@yahoo.com. And now the long 
awaited follow up to volume one… Enter Tales from the Outlands: Volume 
II – Legacies…


Part One: In a Perfect World


CHAPTER ONE: REALM OF LIGHT


	Light, pale, white, warm, and of a luminous glare shone in his 
eyes. Scar raised his head slowly, and gazed towards the dazzling 
light. Its splendor was brighter than the sun, but it was not painful 
to the eyes as an intense sunbeam could be. Instead it filled him with 
a deep sense of peace and serenity. It flowed through his veins, and 
caused his mind to feel more at ease than it ever was. But he could not 
remember where he was, what had happened, how he got there, or for that 
matter, where there even was. All he knew was that he felt a deep sense 
of love that caused him to spread his muzzle into a massive grin. 
Slowly, he rose to his paws and shook violently, marveling at how his 
pelt and mane shined in the light, and how perfect each strand of hair 
seemed to be. His pelt was usually matted and hung close to his flanks, 
but in this light it gleamed and swayed like it was caught in a gentle 
breeze.

	Eyes slowly taking a bearing on where he was, the lion looked in 
all directions, but all he saw was a pale mist illuminated by the 
light. He took a moment to consider this light. It did not seem to 
shine from a source far above him, as the sun did, rather it permeated 
throughout the mist, moving with it, as if the light and the mist were 
one and the same. Suddenly a feeling between his paws felt like he was 
standing on something softer than the freshest moss. It was a luminous, 
fluffy surface and it massaged his paws to the point of causing his 
entire body to relax. It filled him with the same sense of pleasure and 
peace as everything else in this place did, and for some reason he 
suddenly felt like walking on it. Shaking his head, dizzy by the pure 
sensations surging through his very being, Scar began to follow a path, 
that just seemed be there, even if it wasn't a second ago. Shrugging 
his shoulders he decided to follow it. After all what other direction 
could he go in these constant changing mists?

	The path took him through a mist like valley, and in a definite 
northern direction. All the while, Scar felt better than he ever had. 
All thoughts were centered on happiness and no gloomy thoughts pierced 
this wall of peace. It seemed to him all he could think about was the 
sheer beauty of this realm and not about anything else. All the grief 
and sorrow of his past, seemed to melt away. Suddenly, a clear lagoon 
caught his attention a far ways off the path. Scar was curious, and 
since he wouldn't mind a cool drink, he took a slight ways off the path 
and headed towards the shimmering pool. When at last he reached the 
quiet lagoon, he was amazed at how the light reflected off its surface, 
and the water was so blue. He had never seen so pure a shade of blue in 
all his life. It made the brackish water hole back at Pride Rock become 
just another distant memory. Confused but curiosity quickly overcoming 
this confusion in a mere second, Scar plodded towards the edge of the 
water. He was about drink the azure water, but then noticed his 
reflection was beginning to be cast upon the pool's clear surface. 
Scar's eyes spread wider than they had ever been when he saw the image 
that was cast before him, and he jumped back in absolute shock, praying 
to the gods that he hadn't seen what he thought he saw.


CHAPTER TWO: THE ULTIMATE DREAM INTO REALITY


	No it could not be true! Scar kept telling himself over and over 
again that he was only seeing things. He shook his head, screaming at 
his mind to tell him what he just thought he had seen, reflected by the 
azure waters was a devious lie. But the other half of his mind screamed 
back at him to walk backs towards the lagoon and see, if what he 
thought he'd seen, was indeed true. Scar hung his head low, not quite 
sure what to do, terrified that if it was truth it would be even worse 
than if it was a lie. Slowly, Scar managed to regain his composure, and 
his head began to nod, deciding that he must know the truth, even if it 
will break down his nerves. He placed his shaking paws onto the ground, 
one after the other, and methodically as if he was stalking prey, Scar 
trudged back towards the water's edge. Breathing in a deep breath, he 
suddenly ran towards the lagoon and gazed upon the waters, then watched 
his reflection begin to take form once again.

	It was true! Dear gods, it was completely true! The image was 
cast before him in a reflection that he never thought he would see. 
Scar's face carried its entire commanding demeanor that it always had, 
but now he saw the image of a lion staring back at him that was never 
there before. His scar, the mark that defined his entire being, the 
symbol that was he in every meaning of the word, it was gone! Where it 
once had been was now just as radiant as the rest of his fur. All 
blemishes had been erased!

	He was Taka again! (Taka, the name he was given at birth. He was 
that pure, innocent lion once again! From this point forward, he would 
never to be called Scar again.) Taka suddenly bellowed a roar of 
absolute happiness, and he couldn't help but look back down upon his 
reflection once again. Of course now it was cast as a handsome lion 
with a huge, content grin on his face. Emotions of joy began to course 
through his veins, and he turned from the water's edge with a mighty 
leap. He began to dance and laugh like a cub, finally feeling the 
effects of his eternal symbol drain from his nature and erase from his 
mind. All of his pain was eradicated and all the denial was 
obliterated, he was at last free! At last, the one thing holding him 
back was gone, and now his life could begin anew!

	Suddenly, reality hit him like a thunderbolt, as his eyes gazed 
upon the misty surroundings. Life begin anew…His head swung left and he 
viewed the white mists; his head swung right and he saw the radiant 
light permeating the clouds, and then finally realized the ironic error 
of his statement. If this notion wasn't enough, a female voice behind 
him, suddenly told him the truth.

	"Welcome, Scar. I have waited for so long, at last we are finally 
reunited! I knew we would meet here one day, and now, my love we shall 
spend the rest of eternity together." Taka knew that voice so well, but 
the frightened lashing of his tail, gave proof that he did not want to 
turn around. Somehow, after a long while, and hearing the calm 
breathing behind him, the lioness no doubt waiting patiently for Taka 
to look at her, Taka somehow summoned the courage to turn. However, his 
eyes remained focused on the wispy ground he was standing upon.

	"Scar look at me! I know you know where we are, but it doesn't 
matter. All that matters is we are together!"

	Taka slowly allowed his gaze to travel up his companion's body. 
His jaw opened even wider every inch his eyes traveled up their route 
towards the face. When at last Taka's gaze met the face of the lioness, 
he already knew who it was, but by the time he made contact with those 
alluring eyes, it was still too much and he thought he would surely 
faint from shock. The lioness grinned back at him and then nuzzled his 
face,

	"Hello, my love! I've waited so long!" Taka couldn't find words 
to express the emotions that were now flooding his brain. The only 
thing he could say was her name. She was the lioness who had healed his 
heart, the lioness who pulled him from the depths of depression, and 
gave him a purpose for living. She was his mate, his one and only love.

	"Zira!"


CHAPTER THREE: ETERNAL PROFESSION


	Taka could not believe his eyes. It was she! She was here and 
standing before his widespread eyes!

	"Zira, this cannot be real!"

	"But it is, my love."

	"How can you be here? You didn't..."

	"It doesn't matter what happened, all that matters is we are here 
together." Zira began to nuzzle Taka once more, but looked back with a 
look of confusion when Taka failed to return the caress.

	"Scar, what is wrong?"

	"This is so... strange. You must tell me what happened to you." 
Zira lowered her head and kept her eyes focused upon the pallid ground, 
but nodded her head.

	"Scar… when I lost you, I lost my life, I lost my goodness, and I 
lost everything that mattered to me. The lioness you fell in love with 
died the day she learned of your murder. In her place, remained a 
lioness that was the exact opposite of all the things you fell in love 
with. The only thing I lived for was an eternal lust for revenge, and 
an undying hunger that would never be sated. I somehow survived and 
assembled a pride of Outsiders. I suffered so much, but somehow I 
continued to survive. My mad obsession with vengeance was the only 
thing that kept me going, but in the end, it was the thing that 
destroyed me. I was slain by this hate that consumed me, because I 
couldn't let it go. I fiercely fought any help that was offered to me, 
and I chose death by my own paws, rather than live in a world without 
you.

	I chose death, in hopes to be finally reunited with you, for I 
knew I could no longer carry on being separated from you. However, my 
vengeance was never completed, my ultimate goal was never reached, and 
all those who I tried to raise in your name, turned against me in the 
end. They all betrayed you, betrayed me, and betrayed your memory! This 
thought burning in my mind, was too much to take, and there was only 
one choice left. Death by my own paws, in hopes that I would be with 
you in eternity someday! Please tell me you understand why I had to 
make this choice, and please tell me you forgive me."

	Zira kept her eyes locked onto the ground, and did not look up, 
praying that Taka understood why she had to make the ultimate choice, 
and why it was the only choice left. She felt her muzzle being lifted 
with his gentle paws, and the two lions gazed into each other's eyes 
for many moments.

	"Oh, my love! Zira, I am so sorry. I do understand! Through all 
your suffering, all your grief, and all your pain, your love for me 
still remained! And… committing the ultimate sacrifice to be with me... 
what can I say but this." Taka's lips met Zira's and he kissed her with 
so much passion and love, that Zira's eyes spread wide. Zira tried to 
grin, eyes filling with tears, but then immediately returned the 
passionate kiss. The love the shared burned brighter than the radiant 
light that fell upon the two lions. The soft light illuminated the two 
in an embrace that was as warm as the love the two lions felt deep in 
their hearts. The two lions continued their caresses as they sat there, 
nuzzling each other as only lions can.

* * * * * *

	After many moments, Taka broke the long merging of hearts and 
gazed into his love's eyes.

	"I cannot remember anything, my love. I am still astounded that 
you are here with me now. I mean it seems like an eternity since I last 
saw you." The two cats met in another passionate nuzzle, a fevered 
purring flowed from both of their throats. The two cats nuzzled for 
what seemed like an eternity. But time meant nothing to the two mates, 
for time was nothing in this world. Zira finally looked up to Taka.

	"My love, how long have you been here?" Taka looked down and his 
eyes locked into Zira's.

	"All I remember is a darkness consumed me after I felt Shenzi's 
jaws close around my throat. Darkness was all I could see and I can 
plainly remember it. It was a soundless void, cold, black, nothing. 
Then after about an eternity of this, I could feel a deep pain pulsate 
throughout my body, it was worse than anything I have ever felt. It 
felt like it was ripping me from the inside out. Ripping my very soul 
from the body it was housed in! I cried out in fear and anguish, but no 
voice escaped my lips, no sound echoed in that cold, dark world, only 
more pain answered my futile screams.

	Then all at once the pain left me in an instant. I began to grow 
warm, and a deep sense of calmness washed over me. All at once a light 
shone in my eyes, and as I looked into it, it began to move as if in a 
gesture for me to follow. Something was pulling me, and my body 
responded before my mind, and I found myself walking towards it. It 
opened up to this world, and the next thing I knew I found you. Strange 
isn't it?" Taka looked down and his eyes spread wide as he saw Zira had 
tears in her eyes, and had the happiest grin on her face he had ever 
seen.

	"Oh, Scar, that is so beautiful!" Zira's eyes gazed at her love 
as if she was looking at him for the first time. The two cats were 
always passionate lovers ever since that first glorious night under the 
stars. Nevertheless, here in this place it seemed their love had 
increased ten fold, and as her eyes scanned all corners of his body, 
she felt the fires of passion begin burn in her blood.

	"Scar, I…." Taka placed a claw on her lips and shook his head.

	"My name is Taka now," he pointed to his left eye, "Wouldn't you 
agree?" Zira grinned and nuzzled him once more.

	"Then I am Ushandra once more. Do you remember, Sca… Taka? Do you 
remember my real name when we first met? Do you remember that glorious 
night we shared together?"

	"Every night in my dreams, Zir… I mean, Ushandra."

	"Taka, here in this place I feel like I could tell you anything, 
and I've been so lonely without you."

	"Ushandra, through all the pain of the purging, my thoughts 
remained focused on you! I love you so much! I always have and always 
will! You were the one, who carried me through it all. You were the one 
who eliminated my pain, you were the one who healed my heart, and you 
were the..." Any more words from Taka were unable to be spoken as 
Ushandra swiftly pressed her lips against his. The two cats kissed each 
other fully; their muzzles locked together in a sweet caress.

	Taka's tail began to slide and brush across Ushandra's flanks and 
the melodic purring of the lioness told him that he was making her 
happy. Keeping her eyes closed, since the only sense needed was touch, 
Ushandra caressed Taka's own body with her own tail, moving it equally 
across his back and then down across his underside. Taka shivered as 
the sensations wracked his body and ignited the fires within him, soon 
becoming as consumed into the dance as Ushandra was. Ushandra sensually 
walked away, then as she walked back, she rubbed her body across his, 
spreading her musky scent all through his pelt as she passed. She 
continued her passes, until the scent was intoxicating, and she 
occasionally painted Taka's face with her tail. The preludes ended, she 
looked back with a sly grin.

	Taka needed no further urging and ran to her lips kissing them 
fully and deeply. Ushandra suddenly broke the kiss and nuzzled Taka's 
mane much more fiercely, a grin, larger than it had ever been plastered 
across her face. Her tongue shot out of her mouth and ran it along his 
lips then traveled down his neck. She quickly fell to her belly and 
then Taka almost roared in pleasure as her tongue began to touch every 
section of him. Her roving tongue missed no inch as Zira continued her 
sweet, maddening torture. It was only a matter of time, before Taka's 
roar filled the realm with resounding resonance.

	Ushandra then rolled to her back and allowed Taka to do whatever 
he liked to her, and Ushandra's melodic purrs changed to yowls as 
Taka's own tongue and tail painted her body in all the right places. 
After an eternity of blissful attention, Ushandra rolled to her side 
and then rose to her paws after another sly grin. She then proceeded to 
stand in the "presentation stance," looking back over her shoulder with 
a seductive smile. Taka needed no words, as his actions alone caused 
Zira's grin to widen as he joined her in perfect union. Their song 
began, soft and slow at first, then gaining momentum and fervor, then 
the crescendo finally arriving at a grand finale. Twin roars ended the 
dance, and an intense kiss upon each muzzle of the lovers was the 
encore. Taka and Ushandra lay in each other's paws for an untold amount 
of time after the dance was over. Each held the other tight and 
promised never to let the other go again. Still, each knew that in this 
place, they were finally together and would never be torn apart again! 
There was no time; the only time was with each other.


CHAPTER FOUR: REUNINIFICATION


	Ushandra's eyes slowly opened as she gazed upon Taka sleeping 
peacefully. Her lips became a grin, and she softly nudged her love with 
her nose. After about seven attempts she finally made him open his 
eyes.

	"Mmmmm, what? Oh, my love. Why did you wake me up? I was enjoying 
this perfect dream."

	"That dream is a reality now, Taka." Taka smiled, and licked 
Ushandra's face. Ushandra looked up to the pallid light and the vast 
clouds and sighed. "It looks like we are going to be here for a long 
time." Taka's words calmed her.

	"Ushandra, I couldn't ask for anything else."

	"You're are so sweet, you know that?"

	"You have no idea."

	"I am sure I can grasp most of it, after all I fell in love with 
you didn't I, and that was the best decision I ever made. Still, do you 
think there is any one else here?"

	"I do not know, my love. Are we in the place that my mother and 
father told me of? Is this the land beyond the stars? Are we with the 
kings of the past? Are we…"

	Taka was forced to stop, as he saw Ushandra's face was frozen in 
shock, as if she had seen a ghost. Taka saw a huge shadow pass over her 
form, and he slowly turned his head. When he saw what Ushandra had 
seen, his mouth dropped and his face became the same mask of shock as 
Ushandra's was, only Taka's was worse..."

* * * * * *

	The shadow fell upon the two lovers, then an insane laugh was 
heard, and a strange looking lion with a huge grin was suddenly running 
towards them.

	"Mother, mother, mother! Look I'm back! Did ya miss me?" Ushandra 
could only stare in shock at the lion that was now standing and 
speaking before her. She suddenly felt tears of joy in her eyes as she 
rose to her paws and nuzzled him. But this lion was so full of zeal 
that he threw his paws over Ushandra's back in a huge hug and toppled 
onto her. Through the laughter, nuzzles and kisses, Ushandra tried to 
speak.

	"Oh, dear gods, Nuka! It's you! I thought I would never see you 
again." The lion laughed and could not stop his tongue from giving his 
mother an uncountable number of licks.

	"Well, finally I have your attention!"

	"Oh, Nuka, I missed you so much! I can not believe this is true, 
all three of us finally reunited." The lion curled his features into a 
confused look.

	"All three of us?" Suddenly Nuka's head swung towards the male 
with a shocked expression of his face. "You mean this is…."

	Taka suddenly backed up to his paws, and could not stop shaking 
his head, as he looked up and down at this abomination of a lion. No…. 
it wasn't possible, he and Fabana, he thought it was not conceivable, 
she promised him it could not work…. No, she lied, this was…. It had to 
be true as his gaze fell on this half lion, half hyena, proof that love 
can exist between a lion and hyena. Taka could only gasp as he though 
of that night, when he had nothing and Fabana, the only creature who 
could see the lion as he truly was both of them engaged in…. no it 
could not be possible. Taka backed up and started shaking, trying not 
to look at what was trying to look at him.

	"Uh… mother, why won't Dad look at me?" Ushandra bit her lip, 
knowing how naïve Nuka was. She never knew if he learned the truth 
about his heritage, for she never told him. Fabana told Nuka when he 
was a cub that Ushandra was his mother, to try and not confuse the 
young lion. Years passed and Ushandra tried to teach Nuka how to be a 
killer, but everything backfired or went terribly wrong. Nuka was 
killed as he tried one last time to prove himself to her, and the 
moment before his eyes closed was the most painful of her life. 
Thinking these sad thoughts, she was suddenly drawn to the light. She 
looked to the light once more for some time and it seemed to calm her. 
She suddenly nodded and sauntered towards her love, placing a paw on 
his shoulder. She looked down and smiled.

	"Taka, this is your son, Nuka. Nuka, behold your father." The two 
lions only stared at each other. Ushandra lowered her head. It was the 
truth and Fabana would be so proud if she was here. Ushandra suddenly 
looked around in wonder, maybe she somewhere she was. Scar suddenly 
broke the silence, and wrapping one paw around Nuka's neck he hugged 
him close.

	"My son…. I don't know what to say." Nuka only grinned once more, 
and hugged back fiercely.

	"It doesn't matter all that matters is my ultimate dream has come 
true. All four of us are finally together." Taka narrowed his eyes.

	"All, four of us?"

	"Yes, I am sure my closest friend Fabana is around here 
somewhere." Taka looked up to Ushandra but the lioness only shook her 
head. Nuka looked at both of their faces and his face fell.

	"She is here…. Isn't she?" Ushandra placed a paw on Nuka's 
shoulders.

	"I haven't seen her…. Nor has your father." Nuka could feel his 
lips begin to quiver.

	"But… but she promised me she would be here with me. She said all 
four of us would be together, a long time from now, and this is what 
she meant isn't it?" Taka nodded.

	"We will find out! Come on, my son, let's find out what this 
place has to offer and if this place is the place we think it is." Nuka 
grinned at Taka's words and hugged his father once more, then walked in 
the middle of Ushandra and Taka, as they disappeared into the mists.


CHAPTER FIVE: TRANSFORMED SOULS


	The trio wandered along the wispy paths, seemingly going in a 
northern direction, but the pallid clouds and the changing mists could 
give no real sense of direction. Nuka kept chatting to Taka and 
Ushandra constantly, but in this place for once Ushandra listened to 
every word and felt no annoyance, it seemed as if all her negativity 
was no longer a part of her. She was finally happy, for she had her 
love, and Nuka only made her happiness increase. What more could the 
lioness ask for?

	Taka likewise absorbed every word Nuka had to say, and Nuka told 
him everything, about Fabana, and all about the things Taka had missed. 
Nevertheless, it seemed Nuka could not think of any of the things that 
had caused him pain. Those things were behind him now. He felt 
completely content, and as he grinned at the white clouds and warm 
radiance, as he knew why. Nuka skipped and pranced about, so happy for 
once that in this place of wonder, those damned insects could no longer 
bite him. That was enough of a heaven for him. Being with Taka and 
Ushandra just made it more wondrous, but if he could see Fabana all 
would be perfect. Still it seemed like it was only the three of them in 
the realm of peace, and Nuka was beginning to think it would have to be 
enough.  Meanwhile, Ushandra's thoughts went to Vitani, and Kovu. She 
wondered about her cub's well being, and then her thoughts traveled to 
the father of these cubs. She suddenly stopped, remembering the inferno 
she saw him plunge into and then she wondered if he too could be in 
this place. She looked to Taka and Nuka who had turned and looked back 
at her with confused glances, but Ushandra only grinned and rejoined 
there sides, thinking if the dark lion, Kisasi, was here, they would 
find him eventually.

	"Taka, do you think that this is where the Kings of the Past 
are?"

	"I do not know, my love. All I see is an vast expanse of 
nothingness, though I do not mind too much, being with you, is all I 
need to make me happy." Ushandra grinned and nuzzled Taka, a few licks 
by their tongues ensued, but Nuka suddenly gasped and nudged the two 
lovers, breaking up the kisses. Ushandra and Taka looked down to the 
lion and he suddenly pointed to a place where the clouds were breaking 
up. Six eyes spread wide and three mouths hung agape when the saw what 
lay before them.

* * * * * *

	The cloud like mists parted, and the luminescent rays fell upon 
scenery from Taka's most beautiful dreams. There in the distance was a 
rocky outcropping, a small mountain rising up from the savanna like a 
natural throne. It was Pride Rock, only cast in a magnificence that he 
could only dream of. The rock itself shown with a brilliance it never 
had before, gleaming in the sun's golden rays. Trees and vegetation 
grew in abundance around it, and every beast of prey grazed on the 
surrounding lands. It seemed to be a pure paradise untouched by the 
forces of evil. Standing atop the huge rock that was ten times bigger 
than it ever used to be, was every lion Taka ever knew and all his 
ancestors that he did not. He couldn't believe it was possible. He had 
finally made it! Taka's shocked expression looked to equally bewildered 
looks of Nuka and Ushandra; no one could find words to begin to explain 
what they were looking at.

	"My brother, you have arrived." The trio spun and all ended up 
face to face with Mufasa. The benevolent King of Pride Rock, smiled 
down at all three of them.

	"Welcome to what you all have waited for." Taka, Ushandra, and 
Nuka, could only look at Mufasa with awe, but then suddenly Ushandra 
felt tear in her eyes, Nuka felt like laughing with joy, and Taka could 
only do one thing. He padded up to his brother and looked into his eyes 
for a long time until he finally nodded. He dropped to his haunches 
before his brother and bowed to him, then, looking up with a grin, he 
wrapped both of his paws around Mufasa's neck and hugged him as he 
always wanted to. Mufasa joy in his heart and he embraced back, this 
moment he has longed for his whole life.

	"Mufasa, I… I…"

	"No, Taka, it doesn't matter now. Here in this place the only 
things that do matter are each other." Taka looked up with tears in his 
eyes and saw everyone looking down at him. All creatures great or small 
were filled with joy to see him. This was the moment he has waited his 
whole life for. At last he had found his happiness.

	Taka let his embrace end and he looked up to Mufasa and nodded. 
The past would no longer be dwelled on. This was the future he had held 
in his heart forever and now it was a glorious dream come true. He 
turned to Ushandra and nuzzles her fiercely, knowing that she too feels 
the same joyous thoughts as he does. At last they are reunited, 
together for all time and among those that they can finally accept. It 
is all they ever wanted and now it is theirs.

	Mufasa smiles and motions to Pride Rock where the others wait. 
All three of them see whatever or whoever brought them happiness on 
earth is there. Nuka will have Fabana and his love, Usiyahi, and Taka 
and Ushandra will have each other. Everything is at last perfect. At 
last the three transformed souls have their perfect world!



Part Two: Illumination


(The following is Part Two of Volume 2 of Tales from the Outlands. In 
this tale one learns the past of Kisasi, my original character who was 
first introduced in Part Four of Volume 1. Keeping with the theme of 
this volume I have titled Legacies, one will see how this section will 
fall into place at the end/ set the stage for later events. However, I 
unquestionably stress the rating of PG-13 for this particular section, 
not only due to the violent content, but also due to adult themes, 
depressing nature, and the dark tone of this tale. I hope this will not 
dissuade anyone from a tale that I hope will be an intriguing journey 
for all to take. So now enter Kisasi's Tale, drink of his wellspring 
and be quenched…)  - Scar II


CHAPTER SIX: WHAT WAS & WHAT WILL NEVER BE


	Born to darkness, or was it born to misery? Can life really begin 
this way? Can new blood, so innocent, and so pure feel pain from the 
moment he first opens his eyes? No one is born evil, that is a myth 
that must always be eradicated, but one can be born into evil. This was 
the hell that I was born into.

	My eyes opened, and where love and a warm mother's tongue should 
have been there was only silence for a welcome and I was abandoned. Of 
course I was far to young to know the exact feelings or details of my 
first day, in this circle that we live in, but thank God I was. I 
suppose being told what happened, is much better than actually knowing 
what really happened.

	My mother was very beautiful red lioness, so I am told, but she 
knew how beautiful she was, too well I fear. She was, with the kindest 
word I can think of... wild. And from what they told me she loved to 
mate, and not just to curb her season, no she loved it period! Every 
male she could find, and every chance she could get. She was a 
nymphomaniac, or so I am told, because I do not know what was lie and 
what was truth.

	My "father" was the one who told me all of this as I was growing 
up, for this was the reason why he stated he would not show me one 
speck of love. From what he told me, or rather from what I could stand 
to listen to, my mother mated behind my father's tail with a wandering, 
rogue male. This male was pure black, his mane, his paws, his pelt, 
everything. My mother must have been fascinated by him, for the shade 
of black is even more rare than white for a lion. So I was the product 
of this illicit union, but I can never be sure this is the real truth, 
for my mother could never tell me.

	My mother died, giving birth to me. It was a problem birth, but 
before one life passed away a new one was born. My "father" obviously 
was heartbroken, because he really did love my mother, but he blamed me 
for her death. Still, he displaced his anger, and told me my mother got 
what she deserved. My biological father, I never knew, and still do not 
to this day. Perhaps it is better this way, for if I ever met him, what 
would I say? I often wonder if he would live long enough, to hear me 
say anything.

	So into this house I was born, into this world I was thrown. Our 
pride was small but we held our territory fiercely. My brothers and 
sisters were wary of my strange colorings, as well they should have 
been. Grey on black with red on the tip of my tail; I have seen no 
other lion, in all my years, which looks anything like me; I am truly 
one of a kind. My siblings... tolerated me, but I still spent the first 
weeks of my cubhood in relative isolation. My "father" would become 
incensed with grief-driven wild, fits of rage, and his anger was always 
directed at me; I received my first scars from my "father."

	I was so small and so innocent, I had no idea why my father would 
wound and bruise me almost nightly, I had no notion of why my brothers 
and sisters never really accepted me, and the snide comments and rude 
remarks the other lionesses made, it was enough to bring tears to my 
eyes, but that would just make "father" more angry saying I was too 
weak and unworthy to be his "son." I tried to find some way to escape, 
some way to try and hide from the blows and slashes upon my body, and 
the rips and tears upon my heart. The night became my refuge. The 
shadows became my sanctuary. I could find solace in these shadows, 
since my pelt blended so well into it, and if I kept my bright green 
eyes closed, and kept my red tuft at the end of my tail hidden, no 
creature could see me during the night, especially if there was no 
moon.

	So, abandoned and isolated I made the night my waking hours. I 
slept, or tried to, in the shadows during the day, and at night I would 
roam or just keep to myself. I had to survive on carrion, or rats and 
mice to survive, and on a diet such as this, there would have been no 
way I would have grown into the huge lion that I now am. Yes, survival 
for me was hard, but survival of the spirit was even harder. Many a 
night I would just cry and ask over and over again the same 
unanswerable question... Why?

	Under this oppression and consumed into this existence, I 
remained for the first two months of my cubhood, but then I received my 
salvation. An ironic freedom was unexpectedly given to me, but what 
happened on that dark night of my past created my entire future.

* * * * * *

	A night with no moon, even the stars were shrouded by the clouds, 
and thus no light played upon the land; not illuminating it at all. The 
perfect atmosphere for me, the perfect environment to stay hidden from 
any pain, be it physical or emotional. So I lay there, my head on my 
paws, and quite a ways from the pride. I closed my eyes. For once my 
slumber was peaceful, for the dark night gave me security, and gave me 
peace. I knew no one would be able to see me this night. It was truly a 
blessing, I had no idea what a blessing it became...or maybe that 
should be curse, for when I awoke, I saw with horror how truly 
invisible during a moonless night I could be.

	I awoke to a nightmare! No other sentence could put it better. A 
roar, deep and enraged woke me, and when my eyes focused upon shady 
pelts, the colors bright enough for me to see, I was stunned because I 
could make out none of them. They were not members of my pride; I had 
never seen them before! There was something that shined more than 
anything, and it dripped off their tails and muzzles, oozed off their 
pelts, glistened on their teeth and claws. It was something red, and 
the red was everywhere. I turned my head and saw trails of this red 
going back to the lair of my family. I was horrified when I saw the 
biggest one suddenly turn his head in my direction, sniffing the air 
with wild rage and bloodlust in his eyes. I tried to move but was 
frozen with fear, although the wetness trickling down my left leg told 
me how truly afraid I was. A lioness, suddenly took his attention from 
where I was hiding. I watched them talk, and then kiss, a rather 
disgusting kiss I may add, especially with all the red dripping off 
their muzzles. Suddenly the lioness began laughing and as the other six 
lions ran up to their king he laughed his own malevolence to the skies, 
saying wicked words that I would forever hold in my heart.

	"Now, let these worthless piles of flesh, know the vengeance of 
The Terrorlands! For that is all we left them as piles of flesh, and 
their blood now covers that place that they called home!"

	My fear began to change into something different. It began to eat 
at my heart, and I felt like snarling, my tail began to lash, and my 
paws began to shake. The only thing that thankfully drowned out my 
scream was when they all began to roar in unison. I watched them leave 
one by one, none of them ever looking back.

	I ran towards our lair, and it was just as I thought it would be. 
My entire pride was slaughtered, and now all that remained were silent 
corpses before me eyes. My brothers and sisters, all dead, some of 
their organs hanging out of there bloody bodies. I began to back up, 
shaking in full fear, but then my eyes feel on the viscera and blood of 
my father. His body was ripped asunder, and then as I later concluded, 
must have been feasted upon by those damned Terrorlanders!

	I backed up, suddenly feeling my stomach convulse, and contour. I 
ended up crying and sputtering, my dinner of mice soon all over the 
floor. The scene was too hideous, I had to run; I had to escape the 
pain. I ran and ran, to where, in what direction, I could care the 
less. I just had to get away... just had to get away. Finally I 
stopped; panting, my paws covered in sweat, and I tried to catch my 
breath. I looked back over my shoulder, and then looked around me. I 
had no idea where I was. I was completely lost. Only the shadows 
surrounded me cast by huge trees, and the myriad sounds of night sung 
their somber dirge. Strangely this began to give me a small sense of 
security, for this was what I was used to. This was really my home, and 
this was the only thing that allowed me to fall asleep that night, but 
the dreams I had...I saw everything I had seen... again... and 
again...and again... constantly replaying every night in my nightmares 
for a long, long time.

* * * * * *

	Yes, a tragic childhood for me it was, but it was so ironic 
because the tragedy that happened to my family finally gave me freedom 
that I had always craved. In the forest I found sanctuary from all the 
tribulations of my childhood. I found solace in the shadows. Still, 
when I would try to sleep, the same dream would torment my slumber, and 
I would see the blood and the bodies, hear the terrible silence, and my 
slumber would be ever full of despair. Nevertheless, over time, I began 
to forget, or at least try to, what happened to my family, but I would 
never forget the pride that was responsible for the slaughter.

	I began to grow up in the forest that I began to call my home as 
I began to feel tufts of red beginning to grow on the sides of my face. 
And I noticed I was beginning to grow bigger and bigger, but that 
wasn't enough. I wanted to be the biggest, strongest lion ever. I 
wanted a chiseled body of muscle unlike the weak one I had as a cub. I 
wanted to be the greatest hunter in all the lands, and one day I wanted 
revenge for what happened to my family.

	My father never named me, unless one could call "worthless pile 
of flesh a name", so I began to think of the perfect name for me, but 
still nothing that would define who I was came to mind. However, the 
body I wanted was beginning to. I would hunt the biggest beasts of prey 
I could find: Impala, antelope, gazelle, steadily climbing my way up 
the food chain, until I could take down a wildebeest. My legs were 
beginning to become ripped with muscles, as was my back, and neck. I 
made it my obsession to endure this intensive exercise every day, and 
not one-day passed where I would not stretch my physical endurance to 
the limit. One good thing, my exercise made me able to sleep at nights, 
for sleep would come to me quick due to pure exhaustion.

	For about 5 full moons I lived this way, alone but with purpose. 
My solitude meant nothing to me though, I trusted no one, and so I 
avoided my kind. But by the night of the sixth full moon, and as the 
rays shined down upon me, I marveled at the body that I could now call 
my own. I was huge and toned, perhaps one of the biggest lions in all 
these lands, and for once I was proud of myself, having built myself up 
to the way that I had always dreamed. I could now run my paws through 
my red tresses that were now a full grown, long red mane. And I loved 
its color, red as blood, and always gleaming in the light of the moon.

	That night I was finally content. No, not happy, I don't think I 
could ever call myself, happy, but content... yes. I strolled through 
"my forest" and I was one with the shadows. The music of the night 
invigorated me, and I actually had a grin on my face but if I could go 
back and change the past that was one night I would have went to bed 
early. I would have avoided the path I was soon walking down, for that 
night would forever taint my future.


CHAPTER SEVEN: VENOMOUS ENCOUNTER


	The moon was full and bright, its pallid rays shinning down upon 
the land. It caressed the earth in a pale white, almost as bright as an 
overcast day. The moon's rays invigorated me, and I crept out from my 
shadows to explore the forest that I have begun to call my home.

	The painful memory of the slaughter of my family was beginning to 
fade, and having reached the goal I wanted, that is the body I have 
always craved, I set out with a spring in my step. I was content, close 
to happy, but still it would take a long time to define my state of 
being as... happy. The path I chose seemed to guide me to a stream, 
swollen with the past night's heavy rains. I bent to drink from it, the 
cool water relaxing me, and sating my thirst.

	I immediately stopped lapping up the water as a strange rustle to 
my right caused me to jerk my head up suddenly. Water dripping from my 
muzzle, my ears twitched and I realized whatever was coming towards me 
was fast approaching. I quickly backed up into the foliage and the 
shadows, curious to what it was. I was hoping for it to be a beast of 
prey, since I had not yet fulfilled my hunger for food, and if it was I 
would have the great advantage of surprise at my disposal. However, 
what I saw emerge from the foliage to stand before my eyes, was nothing 
that I could have prepared for.

	It was a lioness, and I mean a lioness! As she sauntered out of 
the foliage my jaw dropped and my tail began to lash. She was like no 
lioness I had ever seen. Her pelt matched mine exactly; pure black, and 
her eyes were a deep blue. She looked towards were I was hiding and 
sniffed the air. I backed further and further into the foliage and 
grabbed my tail to hide the red tuft that gleamed at the end. I checked 
to make sure my flowing, red mane could not be seen. Making sure all 
was secure, I turned my head back towards her, but now she had a smile 
on her face. I could not understand why, as I knew she couldn't see me, 
but her flaring nostrils told me some other sense told her I was there.

	She rapidly turned and began walking away from me, and something 
changed drastically in the way she walked, but then it hit me. My 
nostrils suddenly flaired as a peculiar scent hit them. I breathed it 
in and then the world around me began to melt away, my only focus was 
now the lioness. I did not know what was happening to me, as more and 
more of the sweet fragrance began to grip my mind in a numb grasp, but 
it was the sweetest, most intoxicating scent I had ever came in contact 
with. I began to shake my head, trying to regain my equilibrium, but as 
my eyes shifted back into focus, they should have fallen out of their 
sockets, because my eyes spread so far due to the now gorgeous sight 
that was before my eyes.

	The lioness was bent drinking at the water's edge! I never knew a 
lioness could bend that low. Plus her tail was held so high in the air 
I had the best view I have ever had, not one thing was obstructed from 
my eyes. My breathing began to become erratic and I kept shifting my 
position uncomfortably. I looked down and my eyes suddenly told me why 
that "stick" wouldn't move which I kept sitting on. I quickly looked up 
and saw the lioness was beginning to turn around slowly, her azure eyes 
hitting me first, and then the water dripping off her muzzle, onto her 
chest, a waterfall that I shall never forget soon followed. A quick 
spin on her paws and then she sat in front of me, and with that the 
leonine goddess spoke to me; looking right where I was hiding.

	"Warm night, isn't it?"

	I was shocked, and upon hearing her voice, I wanted to flee, but 
something kept my paws firmly planted to the ground.

	"Come on, my reclusive one, your scent tells me you are there, 
and I want to see you... all of you!"

	I couldn't flee, not now, so without a second thought I burst 
through the foliage and walked out before her eyes. That sensuous grin 
told me she liked what she saw, and then as her eyes traveled the 
length of my body, her grin only widened, especially when she cocked 
her head and looked at my underside.

	"My, my, you are a big one aren't you?" What is your name? I am 
Yasara."

	"I...uh...uh... I mean..." (Words were not an easy task for me at 
this point,) "I never received a name, but you can call me whatever you 
like."

	"Is that so, my mysterious one? Fair enough. Come over here, so I 
can really get a good look at you." I had to do as she said, that scent 
that I could still not place was driving me mad. I walked towards her 
and sat before her, so close that I was mere inches from her muzzle. I 
watched her eyes gaze upon my mane, and then almost fainted as she ran 
her left paw down it.

	"So, soft, and this color I have never seen anything like it. 
Hmmmm, you must be the only one of your kind... how interesting." I 
rose to my paws and walked closer to her, so she could get a better 
look, but right as I reached her I felt her other paw snake under my 
tail and grab hold of the one thing that almost made me swoon.

	"And this... this is so... mmmmm.... ooooh… very…. nice it so 
matches the rest of you… stiff, thick and so…. big!" I suddenly 
realized what she was doing to me, and I tired to reason with her.

	"What... what... what are you doing, what are you trying to say?" 
Without a word she pulled me close to her lips and licked my face with 
her soft tongue all the way up to my ear.  Then she said something to 
me that should have caused me to faint. Her words were so explicitly 
vulgar, but I had to admit they were right to the point.

	"Does that answer you question, my dear? If not then how about 
this?"

	She swiftly grabbed my head with both her paws and kissed my 
muzzle in a deep kiss. That was it! All my barriers were shattered, my 
wall of resistance was broken and I lost myself in her eyes.

	That night for the both of us was filled with exploring, 
creating, understanding, and teaching. Her and I explored everything 
that mating has to offer, and it would be a lie if I did not say I 
loved every second of it. Nevertheless, something was missing. Highly 
skilled as she was, the lessons she taught me, things I have never 
forgotten, there was still something not right about all of it. Though 
she screamed it to the skies seven different times that night, I 
finally figured out what it was, when I awoke the next day.


CHAPTER EIGHT: THE TERRIBLE DAWN


	My eyes slowly opened and they focused on a rose colored sky. It 
was dawn; the night of absolute contentment was over. I sighed happily 
to myself, my mind replaying all that had occurred between us. Yasara 
was so very skilled in her task; oh you have no idea. She was a master 
at her talent and she was an expert teacher of her techniques and 
methods to me. She taught me all I know, and all that makes my current 
mate happy when her and I enter our perfect world. But unlike the 
profession of love that my soul mate and I now share together in 
perfect union; when our hearts beat as one, there was this important 
factor missing when I was with Yasara. There was not once ounce of love 
there. No love at all! Sadly I thought there was, and I foolishly 
thought Yasara and I would live our lives together, what a fool I was.

	I rolled over, expecting to feel Yasara's warm pelt beside me, 
but my paws only touched the cold earth, moist with the morning dew. I 
rolled back to the other, side but still nothing. I raised my head and 
looked around... nothing. I sniffed the air deeply trying to inhale her 
scent... nothing! My eyes grew wide and my tail began to quiver, but 
still my mind desperately told me she must be out hunting breakfast for 
the two of us, and she will be back any time. I sighed and placed my 
head on my paws and waited.

	The minutes began to feel like hours, and no lioness was seen, 
the minutes became an hour and still no lioness was seen. I was 
beginning to become terribly worried, and I quickly rose to paws and 
began to frantically search for her everywhere. There was nothing! No 
trace, no scent, absolutely nothing. The paths lead me only back to the 
stream where I had first met her, and seeing it again before my eyes, a 
symbol of the lie that I thought was love made me suddenly feel rage 
begin to build inside of me. She had left me! She had abandoned me! She 
had my heart in her paws and she had crushed it to a bloody pulp before 
my eyes!

	I fell to my paws before the stream and looked at the dawn. In 
hatred for my past, and utter denial of what Yasara did to me, I 
suddenly roared towards the skies. My roar was one of pain and I kept 
it sounding over and over again, until my throat was so sore, I could 
not keep up its resonance. I fell to my belly and beat the earth with 
my claws but then felt the hot tears well up in my eyes. I allowed them 
to be shed, and I lay there crying like a cub, all the memories of the 
slaughter of my pride coming back to me.  My months of isolation, and 
now abandonment by the lioness that I thought loved me, it was too much 
to bear, and I couldn't take it. I cried and cried, until I had no more 
tears to shed.

	After a while of this, broken, alone, and depressed I began to 
wander the path back into my jungle that used to be my home. I walked 
in a daze, no care whatsoever to where I was going, everything was cast 
in a shade of gray, and nothing mattered to me anymore. However, 
suicide did not enter my thoughts... yet. Not until subsequent pain 
made me consider this option, suicide never entered my mine. Its 
cancerous touch only began its malignant decay of my mind after I 
experienced future pain that would make the pain I was feeling now seem 
like an after thought.

	As these dark thoughts coursed through my mind like a black cloud 
blotting out the sun, a scent unexpectedly grasped my nostrils. I 
looked up and inhaled, it was unmistakably Yasara's! Then my eyes feel 
upon its source. A piece of her fur was stuck to a briar patch. I ran 
up to it and ripped it off the thorn, inhaling it deeply, its scent 
giving me all the information that I needed. I began to follow the path 
now laid out for me, and after some time found a scent mark left by 
Yasara telling me that she passed this way. I began to follow these 
marks, till the sun has begun its descent to the horizon.

	The entire time, the flora and fauna was beginning to change 
drastically, and the last mark was at the mouth of the jungle, which 
opened up into a vast formless wasteland. This land was unlike any I 
had ever seen before. Where trees should have been became termite 
mounds, and where there should have been lush, green grass, there was 
only a yellowish earth scorched by the sun, a sun that seemed to suck 
all the moisture from this place. My eyes fell on lionesses in the 
distance, not Yasara, but painfully thin ones, all sadly mal-nourished. 
I scanned them, about to retrace my steps, thinking that Yasara could 
not possibly live in a place such as this, but then heard a deep voice 
and I spun back. My eyes spread and my jaw dropped when I saw the male 
that it belonged to, but then I saw her... I saw Yasara... I saw them 
both who I blamed for all my pain.

	My gaze fell upon him, it was he and it was she! Yasara, the 
lioness who had betrayed me, and the lion who had ordered his legions 
of warriors to slaughter my family! My lips curled into a snarl and my 
tail lashed. The King of The Terrorlanders is now here in this place, 
and with Yasara walking in his pawprints? I prayed to any God who may 
be listening, that this was just a terrible nightmare. Please tell me 
it is not true! Gods! Wake me up!

	The sharp pain in my heart told me I was not dreaming, as I saw 
The King of the Terrorlanders turn and motion for Yasara to come near 
him. She bounded up to him like a cub, and he lowered his muzzle to 
hers, then a kiss followed. That kiss was the final thing that 
destroyed any love I ever had for her.

	I felt hatred begin to fester in my soul, my eyes began to gleam 
with rage, and my tail writhed like an incensed snake. I saw images of 
my family, every member broken and bloody, I saw the leering muzzle of 
Yasara like she was laughing at me, all my pain hit me like a 
thunderbolt and my goodness left me, never to return for a long time.

	I broke through the undergrowth, zeroing in on my target, the old 
lion who I saw cast in red. I saw Yasara turn, out of the corner of my 
eye, but that was it. Before he could save himself, I had charged him, 
knocking him to his side, but as he tried to roll to his paws, I 
stopped him, pounced on his stomach, my claws digging into the flesh, 
and drawing blood. Rage controlling my claws, I ripped his body 
asunder, unable to stop, the shrieks of terror by Yasara, a worthless 
sound. My jaws plunged to his throat, and my teeth found his neck, 
weak, the skin hanging loosely, and I bit down, then ripped up, the 
blood a geyser, and the once King of the Terrorlanders was no more.

	Yasara's futile pleas for me to stop suddenly ended, and she 
looked down on me, her face a mask of fear and anger. I slowly turned 
my head and grinned the blood dripping from my jaws. I rose to my paws, 
strode over the carcass, and began to advance towards her. Her words 
were slow and full of a mixture of terror and rage.

	"You... You... What have you done?"

	"I completed my vengeance, Yasara. A terrible crime has been 
punished; the murderer of an entire pride has been slain. Come with me 
now, I forgive what you've done to me, because I need you now more than 
ever."

	"Come with you? Don't make me laugh. Who could ever love you? You 
are nothing but a cold blooded killer, no one will ever love you!" My 
jaw dropped and I could begin to feel tears sting my eyes.

	"Yasara, isn't what we had... love?" Her wicked laugh echoed 
around us.

	"Love? Hah! I only used you to end my season. You were nothing 
but a piece of meat to me. You are blind to that fact, now be truly 
blind for what you've done to my father!" Father? No… that monster was 
her…. and she… his daughter, they tore equal seconds of my heart? Twin 
explosions of painful realizations struck me as she suddenly lunged 
towards me and slashed both of her paws across my eyes. Her claws 
struck at the same time, drawing blood into my eyes. I staggered back, 
feeling the red drip out of my eyes like tears, and then put one paw to 
my face trying to stop the blood. My vision, though obscured and 
cloudy, saw my blood upon my paws, and I felt it dripping down my face. 
I looked up and soon saw myself walking towards Yasara, who began to 
back up, then try and flee from me. But she wasn't fast enough, and I 
grabbed her by the throat pulling her head back, exposing her neck, 
plunged my claws to her throat, digging them in deep and then ripped 
out her throat, all in unbridled anger.

I threw her head to ground in disgust, and walked over her, but then 
heard a strange laughter coming from behind me, looking back I saw her 
trying to rise, and my jaw dropped. The blood was pouring out of her 
throat, coursing down her chest, but she still had enough life left in 
her, to say something that would haunt me forever.

	"On this day, I name you, and it is christened in my blood. You 
are the most evil beast alive, you are revenge, and you are vengeance. 
You are forever, Kisasi! You will never find love.... never! I curse 
you in this! I curse you forever!" Her eyes glazed over in death, and 
she fell to her stomach, her undying voice forever in the back of my 
mind.


CHAPTER NINE: TRAGIC HERO


	My eyes watched the fall of my beautiful Yasara, now dead by my 
own claws. As if it were in slow motion, her eyes closed and her blood 
flowed ceaselessly forming a small pool of maroon around her writhing 
body. She twitched one last time, then nothing, her soul drifting to 
wherever it was sent.

	I looked down at my body, covered in blood, fur and gore. I was a 
mess, a bloody mess, and I never felt more disgusted in my life. 
Realization at what I had did, hit me in a sudden shock, and my head 
turned to the mutilated body of The (then) King of the Terrorlanders a 
ways off on my right; the still corpse of Yasara on my left. My stomach 
churned and quivered, and suddenly falling to my stomach I retched in 
pain and disgust. My bodily fluids were forced from my stomach as I lay 
there coughing and sputtering.

	I heard movements; with tear stained eyes I looked in all 
directions soon viewing five lionesses that has assembled around me, 
all with shocked expressions on their faces. One very lithe one seemed 
to lead them, two were identical twins, one had to be the biggest 
lioness I had ever seen, and the last had to be the strangest looking 
lioness I had ever seen.

	The leader of them, looked down at what used to be Yasara, and 
then back up at me, with a look of pity but also one of confusion. The 
strange looking one suddenly walked in front of her, feel to her knees, 
and then started to perform what seemed to be a ritual for the dead. 
She recited strange words and verses in a tongue that was unknown to 
me. I guessed this lioness was a shamaness and as if reading my 
thoughts she looked up at me and gave me a mock smile. Her pelt was a 
deep, dark red, but covered in arcane symbols and archaic runes. These 
marking were as numerous as her scars, which covered her body like long 
red snakes. She raised her head to the skies, and bowed over Yasara's 
form, then likewise the rest followed suit.

	For what seemed like an eternity of this silent mourning, all of 
these lioness standing there with there heads bowed, the shamaness 
slowly rose her head, and then looked at me once more, her wild eyes 
studying me. She looked back at Yasara's body and then grinned at me, 
licking her lips as she said something that almost made me retch once 
more.

	"Greetings, my dark brother. You have done well. Yes... 
splendid." I looked back in confusion, but now all the lionesses had 
turned their heads, except for the lithe one that shook her head as if 
trying to tell me something. If only I understood she was telling me 
not to look back, but when I did, my eyes spread in panic.

	This enigmatic witch was now siting on Yasara's body, and looking 
at me with that terrifying grin she always had. She threw her heads to 
the skies and laughed out loud, but then plunged her claws across her 
chest, ripping her own flesh and drawing her own blood which soon 
spilled onto Yasara's unmoving form. With drool now dripping, the 
terrifying lionesses then plunged her claws into Yasara's chest, 
ripping her flesh, and digging into it, while her jaws followed towards 
the wound and with a triumphant roar, Yasara's heart was ripped out 
right before my eyes! Looking back to me with a lewd smile, the 
shamaness' jaws bit down, slicing the heart in two and swallowing one 
half. She reached and caught the other half in her paw as it fell and 
then lifted it up before my eyes, offering it to me.

	In utter shock, I backed up and almost fell over the big lioness 
behind me.  Mortified and disgusted, I couldn't think, couldn't move, 
and couldn't even breathe. But then a thought came to me. There was 
nothing left, only one thought screamed to me over and over in my mind, 
and it screamed for my body to carry it out. In fear and agony I ran 
from the lionesses, only one thing on my mind, only one thing that gave 
me a solution that would end my pain... forever.

* * * * * *

(The chosen song below is credited to Metallica, my favorite band of 
all time and perhaps the greatest metal band to ever grace the face of 
this earth. I use the following lyrics with the utmost respect and cite 
them to Metallica's (in my opinion) greatest song, Fade to Black.)

	Blinded by tears of shame for what I had done, tears due to what 
I saw that evil thing do, and tears from the utter loneliness of living 
the life that I had lived, I ran through the wastelands, the terrible 
heat only making my misery worse. The termite mounds rose up around me 
like looming monoliths, their vast shadows threatening to consume me. I 
backed up trying to escape the shadows as if they wanted to devour me. 
Yet, I could not escape the ghost of Yasara though, standing there with 
her mocking grin forever in my mind, as her blood elped from that 
horrible wound. In raw panic and full misery I collapsed to my belly 
and sobbed into my mane, not able to take it anymore and any longer.

	That thought suddenly screamed to me in my mind once more. Why 
should I continue to breathe? All I wanted was peace, and no one on 
this earth could heal my soul. My mind was in submission, and no one 
could stifle my screams except for me. I looked down at my right paw, 
and then turned it over splaying my claws, then rising them to my eyes. 
They were still stained in blood, now dried that was Yasara's. A small 
tear dropped from my eyes, as I looked to the heavens, wondering if a 
terrible lioness like her could actually end up there.

	Another thought passed through my mind: If I went through with 
the task, would I see her again? Did I even care anymore? All I wanted 
was an escape from my suffering, a detour from life, and an exit to the 
other side. Looking down at my yellow claws, stained with red, and the 
high sun shimmering off of them, I made my choice, as my feelings were 
put into song. A song I still sing to this day, to remind me of the 
depths of despair I felt at that moment:

	Life it seems will fade away
	Drifting farther every day
	Getting lost within myself
	Nothing matters, no one else.

	I have lost the will to live
	Simply nothing more to give,
	There is nothing more for me
	Need the end to set me free....

	(My claws began to rise after each verse. My tears began to fall 
more profusely after each word. 	My heart bleeding each syllable 
that I proclaimed to the skies.)

	Things not what they used to be
	Missing one inside of me
	Deathly loss, this can't be real
	Cannot stand this hell I feel.

	Emptiness is filling me
	To the point of agony
	Growing darkness taking dawn
	I was me, but now he's gone.

	(I suddenly pressed my claws to my neck as I screamed to the 
heavens my final words.)

	No one but me can save myself
	But it's too late!
	Now, I can't think,
	Think why I surely can try?

	Yesterday it seems
	As though, it never existed
	Death greets me warm,
	Now I will just say goodbye...

	(I pressed the sharp tips into my throat, feeling the blood begin 
to drip down my neck, and then screamed my last word to whatever giver 
of pain was listening.)

	GOODBYE…

	I closed my eyes, breathing in the last sweet breaths of air, and 
feeling the dripping blood elp from the five small wounds I had 
created. Gritting my teeth, I felt more blood as I pressed my claws 
closer, and then with the last strength of my being I would rip 
downwards, thus ending it all.

	I would have taken my own life right then and there, I would have 
committed the ultimate sacrifice, but I had to view the world one last 
time. I had to see what I would lose. However, when my eyes opened they 
feel upon a lioness' tear stained eyes! It was that lithe one. She was 
sitting right in front of me, shaking her head NO over and over again! 
I tried to look away, keeping my poised claws frozen in that last 
strike, but she would not cease her pleading stare. I could not bring 
myself to commit in front of her, and it was at that moment, when I was 
torn between life and death, that I felt her nuzzle me.

	My head spun down, and my jaw dropped as I felt her soft touch. I 
still wanted no part of her; I wanted her to just leave me alone. I 
just wanted everything to end, but she would not stop her nuzzles, and 
then I felt her tongue on the small wounds of my throat, trying to stop 
the blood. Her roving tongue stopped on my paw, as she looked up to me 
with desperate eyes, speaking in almost a whisper.

	"No, please, you do not have to do this. I know your pain, I can 
see it in your eyes, but this is not the way to solve it. You will 
receive no peace from this, only suffering and damnation. Please don't 
do this. Let me take away your pain."

	Her words somehow caressed my heart, and they purged my mind of 
all dark thoughts. I immediately recognized the lioness as the one who 
tried to tell me to look away from the shamaness' desecration of 
Yasara's body. I could not answer her, I was so choked by my tears, and 
the realization of what I almost did, that I could say nothing. I only 
buried my sobbing muzzle into her chest, and then wrapped my paws 
around her, clinging to her, crying out to her to help me.

	She purred and tried to tell me everything would be all right. 
She wrapped her own paws around me, giving me the love and security I 
needed in my most desperate hour. Yes... this lioness saved my life and 
her name was Usiyahi.


CHAPTER TEN:  ENSHROUDING LUMINOSITY


	I never thought it possible, but the love from another can heal a 
broken heart.  My tears flowed out of my eyes like a flood breaking 
through the levy of ice and I just clung to this savior, this lioness 
without a name.  I never knew love, I only new deceit, betrayal, and 
loneliness. It was so foreign to me, I was baffled as to how to 
proceed, and horrified when the realization of what I nearly did to 
myself attacked me like a predator.

	Nonetheless, everything somehow fell into place, as we just lost 
ourselves into each other, and soon twin roars, one male and one female 
echoed in the night sky. I awoke to a comfort and a peace I never knew 
existed and as my eyes opened a warm paw was draped over my chest, 
belonging to this lioness that had remained by my side and who I now 
entrusted my heart to her.  To those around her she was just another 
common lioness, but to me she was so much more and I worshipped my 
savior. I learned her name, and the names of the others, even the red 
lioness and shaman, Shari, who made my eyes narrow.

	Still, we were living in a wasteland, and the pride was now 
master less.  With the old king dead, and no males to lead them, most 
of the females left to find more hospitable lands. All that remained 
were the four lionesses that were there during the sacrilege of 
Yasara's body. They seemed to follow Usiyahi and me wherever we tried 
to wander. Always disturbing and annoying me, the four of them always 
watching us, and never allowing us to be alone.  Over time, my mood 
soured and the peace and serenity I once had with Usiyahi was ruined 
once more. It seemed there would never be any peace for me, and enraged 
I was about to charge at them and kill them all just to be rid of their 
constant stares, but then a light hit me from the inside out that was 
brighter than the sun. I was a male and I killed the master of the 
pride, thus I am now the master. These lands could be mine, and all 
these females could be my pride. I could have what I could never have; 
my loneliness could finally end!  I told Usiyahi about my obvious 
realization, and she only replied with a kiss, telling me she would 
follow me no matter what my choice would be.

	I gathered them to me, and became their king. I took them all, 
every one of them (except that sinister Shari) and they became mine. I 
glutted on what was offered to me, I took every pleasure I could want, 
and feasted on it every waking moment, until the absolute power 
corrupted me and I became no better than the prior king that was slain 
by my claws. All the time, I noticed a change in Usiyahi, she became 
distant and we became estranged. My corrupt mind thought it all 
jealously, but she saw what happened to me, even though I was blind to 
what I had become. We quarreled more than loved, though she still 
called me her king and she was still my queen.

	Time becomes meaningless and all flows together during days like 
that, and yes it was good to be the king, but one fateful day my reign 
ended when a certain visitor appeared at my doorstep, brought to me by 
Usiyahi herself. That is another tale all in itself though and its 
details equal a painful ending for me though my heart continues to 
beat, even if it can never beat like it did. All my love went with that 
lioness Usiyahi who I destroyed by the decisions I made, and everything 
that I thought was indestructible came crashing down upon me when I was 
consumed into the fire that I set with my impossible ideals and my 
unquenchable lust for affection and conquest. I caused everything in 
the end and the effects will forever scar my future since all my 
suffering and agony that I now endure was completely self-chosen.

* * * * * *

	In that dark, musty lair, filled with the pungent stench of 
charred flesh, sat the once noble creature though now broken by the 
world and virtually ruined by the paths he chose to venture down.  He 
bows his head, his tale complete, letting his words sink into the 
listener who sat opposite him; drinking every last drop of Kisasi's 
tragic cup of sorrow.  He looks up letting his eyes fall on that 
lioness that searched him out, knowing that a lion like Kisasi is one 
that is hard to kill.  She had heard Nuka tell the tales of the dark 
lion who seemingly perished in the fire, but she knew that a spirit 
like his is not one that is snuffed easily.

	She was the last to try and complete her mother's legacy, she had 
so many questions, unskilled in the necessary tools she must need, she 
had to learn from a master of these crafts, but now as she looks at 
what has become of Kisasi, she learns the heavy price of vengeance. 
This lion, barely alive, wincing in pain with the simplest movements, 
is proof of such a horrible consequence, yet to her it also proves that 
the strongest do survive, and the weak inevitably perish. With a proud 
grin the lioness bows to low to the burnt creature and her melodic 
voice breaks the long silence.

	"Thank you, Kisasi. You have answered all my questions 
purrfectly. Now I know what I must do to ensure that the legacy of my 
bloodline will be fulfilled. Wish me luck in my endeavor. However, if 
all my plans come true, I doubt I will see you again. Farewell… 
Kisasi." Kisasi's green eyes watch the lioness leave, back to the pride 
that she had been assimilated into, and though it hurts like hell, his 
lips curl into a wicked grin as he can imagine what entropy will ensue.

	The final rays of the sun fade and the shadows engulf the lion as 
another night begins, but before the lion is obscured by the shadows, 
the smile remains after his words placed an ominous chill in the air.

	"Good luck.... Vitani."



Part Three: Cancerous Loss - The Tale of Vitani


CHAPTER ELEVEN: VANQUISHED VIRTUE


	Time stood absolutely still for the star-crossed lioness.  It was 
as if she was frozen solid.  All four of her paws were held fast in an 
icy tomb as she witnesses Kiara and Zira both fall head over tail and 
off the precarious promontory.  No!  It could not end like this. This 
was too soon, too unexpected.  This would be something that would haunt 
her worst nightmares.  Reason was clouded and a quick chill of fear 
races down her spine as she heard Nala call for her daughter in terror. 
It was at that moment that Vitani's azure eyes glanced back and forth 
seeing Kiara's parents rush to the edge followed by a realization that 
would shatter her perfect world forever.

	"What have I done?" It was the only sentence that Vitani's mind 
could scream to her over and over again.  Her mother's snarls mixed 
with fearful yelps finally brought Vitani back to reality and when she 
heard Nala scream to Simba that the rain-swollen river was surging 
violently beneath the two combatants, Vitani plows into her dumbstruck 
brother, pushing him to side and she stares down at the horrible scene 
that seizes her and threatens to cleave her tender heart in two.

	There had to be something she could do, but time was not on her 
side, and she looks behind her to Kovu who still stood there doing 
nothing. He was astounded and in complete shock, completely oblivious 
to his surroundings. Vitani cursed at her brother's total lack of 
support in this most desperate venture, but then that one final word 
gripped Vitani's ears when it suddenly explodes from her mother's lips.

	"Never!" And then that terrible scream was the final voice from 
those lips that once kissed Vitani goodnight when she was but a cub. 
Only the sound of the river echoes back Vitani's terrible cry for her 
mother.

	"Mother!"  Nothing answered her back. Zira was gone and Vitani 
was left with the cold unknowing of a death that was either accidental 
or self-inflicted. The desperate lioness can only stare at the 
unforgiving current, as the cobalt waters crested and crashed over each 
other pulling under heavy timbers and everything that stood in its 
path. There was no escape and no redemption for all swallowed by the 
terrible force of the river's wrath.

	Relief from Kiara's parents only brushes against Vitani's ears. 
Princess Kiara was pulled to safety and any threat of loosing someone 
they loved vanished in the same fashion as the many logs that faded 
away into those angry rapids. Still, Vitani searches no matter how 
desperate it might seem and no matter how long.

	At last she senses Kovu near her. A small part of her knows he is 
looking down into the depths of the raging river like she is, but 
another part of her knows it can never be with the same conviction as 
she has in her heart.  The love Vitani had for her mother so outshined 
Kovu's and after all Kovu's heart was stolen by Kiara, and any section 
that he might have had for Zira was slowly beginning to be conquered by 
that unconditional love for the Pride Land Princess. Is there any 
chance left? Any sign to be seen. Please, someone tell Vitani that 
there is still prospect.

	"Great Kings!" Kovu bellowed, "Mother! Why? Oh, dear Gods, why?

	End like this? Vitani raises her head and swings it towards her 
brother. She could say so much right now but only stares at him 
instead. Staring at those emerald eyes, that scar, and that dazed 
expression.  Is he of the ones who are to blame for this murder? Yes! 
He is the one who cut Zira more deeply than Simba ever could. He 
deserves her hate! Yes…. No! What is Vitani thinking?

	Vitani quickly shakes her head and dismisses these thoughts. This 
is her brother, her one and only brother now. She is of his blood and 
he is of hers. Vitani tries to force reassuring words, but she cannot 
even make one sentence. Then she can find her voice, but her words die 
and her jaw falls slack when Kovu suddenly turns from her and trots 
over to his love, nuzzling her warmly and telling her how relieved he 
is that she is safe. Was his mother, only a passing thought for one 
brief instance and now Kiara must be attended to? Kiara is more 
important and not the lioness who bore him and brought him into this 
world? What has become of Vitani's world? Her brother, and everything 
she thought was real? It is all crashing down upon her and the many 
emotions that run parallel to it is now threatening to seep violently 
from her eyes?

	"Oh dear Gods, please tell me this isn't really happening." 
Vitani's words go unheard as Simba calls his subjects together and 
Vitani can say nothing else as she watches helplessly as the former 
Outlanders rush towards Simba and embrace him like a God. Vitani can 
only stay behind; forcing a smile and a mock bow then watches them 
depart, everyone soon vanishing into the gray mists.

* * * * * *

	Throughout Vitani's years of strife and malnutrition as a cub she 
had many nightmares, but she knows now that they will be like tame 
gazelles compared to the roaring beasts that will infect her mind when 
she tries to rest from this point forward now that Zira is not longer 
with her. For many minutes Vitani remained at the ledge, staring into 
the churning depths, until they finally slowed their raw power. The 
wrath of Mother Nature finally decelerated and cooled.

	Her trademark bangs hang across her eyes and she understands the 
symbolism of the slowing rapids. In time all things end, great and 
small, they must all return to the place they originated from. Like the 
waters that slow and soak into the earth to be drawn up in water vapor 
into the clouds to only to pour from the heavens yet again, time flows 
like a river. But this river swallowed up the one who gave time to 
Vitani, Zira who bore Vitani was slain by time, and now only Vitani and 
Kovu remain of what was a fine bloodline, they are the last two from 
The House of Scar. Scar, Zira, and Nuka are gone and now it seems like 
only Vitani remains, for Kovu has learned to live with those from The 
Pride Lands, something that Vitani feels she could never do.

	Yes, she was the first to 'see the light' and try to change 
Zira's passions from their lust for violence, but Vitani never knew 
that such a cataclysmic consequence would happen.  Zira was too 
tenacious, too caught up in her own web of evil that she spun to even 
listen to her own daughter and promising that if Vitani was not with 
her, then she was against her. She took Vitani's change of heart as 
betrayal, and in Zira's mind, betrayal meant death.  Only hindsight can 
begin to ask the question that if Zira did manage to kill Simba with 
that last vicious charge, and if Kiara did not intervene, would Zira 
have made good on her vow and taken the life of her own blood?  Would 
she have turned on Vitani and Kovu and spilled their blood, like she so 
lusted to do with Simba?  Would a foretelling of their bloody death be 
a verse in one of her many lullabies? Vitani can only speculate that 
follows with a slow shake of her head as she still stares at the 
quickly slowing waters.  It is as if the crash of the water upon the 
rocks echoes back to her the eternal truth that begins to be etched 
upon her soul. Time is like a river, and all things do inevitably end.

* * * * * *

	Vitani trudges wearily through verdant lands the likes of which 
she has never glimpsed upon before.  So used to termite mounds and dark 
caverns, she is not used to green plains and lush undergrowth all 
teeming with life; it's invigorating effect cannot seem to caress her 
soul. Stricken with cold grief her head is down, her tail hangs limply 
and her eyes remain fixed upon the earth.  The sun has begun its 
descent towards the horizon, but it feels like an eternity since she 
saw her mother fall over the edge and now the tears begin to fall.  The 
shock is beginning to wear off, replaced with a mourning that Vitani 
knows will be both long and hard.  Vitani looks up with tears in her 
eyes as her grief begins to take a wicked hold upon her. Nuka was taken 
from her only yesterday, and now her mother a day later; how can she 
even begin to deal with this pain?

	Through tear stained eyes she bows her head once more, her bangs 
soon becoming slick with the moisture that seeps from her eyes, but she 
sees a small shadow pass over the earth in front of her, and its wings 
are clearly identified. It must be that bird, that annoying little 
majordomo; his sudden voice cements that notion.

	"Hello down there, my girl! There you are. Your brother has been 
worried sick about you. Oh… and Simba would like to see all of his new 
Pridelanders at The Rock as soon as possible. If you follow me, I shall 
be your guide and take you there quite promptly."

	Vitani looks up and then springs a quick step back as Zazu 
descends upon the ground before her and looks up with his merry grin, a 
grin that only vanishes when he sees her puffy eyes, and soaked 
eyelashes.  Vitani notices the change and quickly looks away, not 
really embarrassed that the hornbill should see her in this manner, but 
instead not wanting to be around anyone at the moment. She chokes back 
her tears and clears her throat before trying to speak with the little 
bird, fixing her eyes upon the horizon.

	"Oh, well…. um… thank you, but I uh… really don't want to see 
anyone right now. I think I would rather be alone… thank you." Vitani 
sighs deeply trying to emphasize the point, but Zazu only cocks his 
head to the side and tries to press further.

	"You really shouldn't be by yourself right now… Vitani, isn't it? 
You might get too lonesome you know? Simba told me that he would just 
love to show you were you will be sleeping tonight, you know? Give ya a 
nice tour of our beautiful kingdom, since you are a full fledged member 
now."

	"You know, if I must be lonely, I think I'd rather be alone! 
Maybe you didn't understand me, but I don't want to see anyone! Don't 
you understand?"

	"Well… the king orders you to…" Vitani snarls once more 
interrupting Zazu.

	"I just lost my mother! Do you have any idea what that feels 
like? I just…" Vitani tires to calm down, "I just want you to show me 
where I can find some food and some shelter for the night. Maybe 
tomorrow, I will give Simba my greetings… ok?" Zazu just stares at 
Vitani, wondering one or two things that he does not wish his voice to 
express. After eyeing Vitani suspiciously, he only bows and points west 
with his right wing.

	"As you wish, my lady. Go west for a ways, and you will find some 
prime hunting grounds and further on you shall see some high trees and 
a few scattered and quite mammoth rocks to doze under. However, there 
is some royal protocol about how you should find suitable prey and 
where you can sleep, how you can sleep, how much prey you should take 
down on one…." Zazu watches Vitani quickly turn from him and dash 
towards the sun, not even bothering to be neighborly enough to wish him 
a good day.

	"Night…. How much prey you should take down on one night…Yes, you 
have a good day as well…. Outsider."  Zazu narrows his eyes towards the 
vanishing Vitani. Why does he get the sudden feeling that this one 
might be a serious problem in the not so distant future?

* * * * * *

	The nights are becoming longer and colder upon the savannas… 
however, Vitani remains alone, and has remained so for three days now, 
even though Zazu did pay her another unappreciated visit the past 
morning.  Vitani is still in mourning for her lost family, and as the 
days progress she becomes more bitter and more alienated from the 
Pridelands, still refusing any contact with them, even though Zazu 
still presses, and tries to assure her it will end her sorrow.  Zazu 
only obliviously makes matters worse when he attempted to explain to 
her that her anger towards him is unfounded and she is only making 
herself more upset by not being with her own kind, but Vitani in her 
grief driven rage only roars and curses at him to leave her in peace, 
still vainly promising that in time she will join the pride. All she 
asks for is precious time.

	Tonight though Vitani curses the word, hating it so much, because 
for her time equals only more agony, and such misery threatens to 
consume her. She cannot sleep, for nightmares of 'what was' plague her 
mind, and her eyes are now bloodshot from lack of slumber. She eats 
very little; the half-consumed corpse of a impala lies just outside her 
makeshift lair which is nothing more than a crevice between two rocks, 
hardly enough to keep out the rain that Vitani sees will be coming 
soon, for the clouds have darkened the horizon considerably.

	Pulling herself from what might be called shelter, Vitani 
stretches her sore muscles, and runs one paw down her face.  She yawns, 
one half of her wishing she were asleep, but the other half not daring 
to make it so.  She hears footsteps approaching, and a familiar scent 
wafts into her nostrils. Spinning her head back she sees it to be her 
brother, but just as fast she turns her head back away, Kovu is last 
lion she wants to see right now. When he speaks his voice is fill with 
worry and concern, but that only complicates things even more.

	"There you are, sister.  I've been looking everywhere for you. 
Where have you been, and why haven't you've come home? We've all been 
waiting for you.  Vitani… it is time for you to join your new family 
and it is time for you…" Vitani curses once more, and shoots an angry 
glance at Kovu, those tired, bloodshot eyes quivering.

	"Family? New home? Those murderous brutes killed my family, and 
you expect me to join them? Oh, I get it. Just like you, right? Forget 
your entire past and create a perfect future. Kovu, listen to yourself!  
Gods… dear Gods, what have they done to you? They have corrupted and 
ruined you, Mother was right those many days ago, she was so right, 
damn them, just…. Damn them all."  Vitani turns her head from Kovu, her 
eyes threatening to seep once more.

	"Listen to me? Sister, listen to you!" Kovu rushes around Vitani 
trying to look at her face, but Vitani quickly turns her head away from 
him once more. "Sister, they are not your enemies. Don't do this, 
please don't do this, I beg you. I will not let you start down the same 
dark path that our parents walked down. Vitani, hate only leads to 
suffering, and your heart is too good to be consumed by darkness."

	"My heart?" Vitani emits a cold chuckle, "What do you know of 
what lies in my heart, Chosen One? You betrayed us. You betrayed 
Mother, Father, and Nuka. Why are you not grieving here with me? I 
alone mourn for them, because they are nothing more than an 
afterthought to you."

	"I mourned for my brother! But, how can you call a wicked beast 
like Zira, our mother? She was never there for us, she never properly 
brought us up like Simba and Nala did with Kiara. My father? I never 
knew him. Zira never told either of us who our father was, and even if 
Scar was still somehow a part of us… he was never there for us either. 
Not like Mufasa was there for Simba, not like Simba was there for…"

	"Enough!" Kovu words are silenced and his mouth drops open as 
Vitani silences him in unbridled rage, "Quit bringing up how great the 
damned Pridelanders are to me. Oh, Simba did this, oh Nala did this, 
and oh Kiara is so fascinating. Oh yes, the bitch is so damned 
fascinating! Your beloved Kiara killed our mother!"

	"What? How can you say that? Zira let go of the face of the wall! 
You heard what my mate told everyone! My wife is completely innocent."

	"Oh of course she did nothing wrong… only tackle Zira like a 
rhino and knock her over the edge! I saw it as clearly as you did. I'm 
sure Kiara let Zira fall just to have you all to herself! Tell me, 
dear, sweet brother, how does it feel making love to a murderer?" 
Vitani stares at her brother in a way that will not let one word escape 
Kovu's lips because he saw that same stare a long time ago from one 
other lioness, a lioness named Zira.

	After an eternity of that cold gaze Vitani suddenly shakes her 
head, and looks down at the ground. What is she saying? Remorse floods 
her mind and she quickly looks back up to that shocked expression upon 
her brother's face. She must control herself. Why on earth is she 
acting like this? What has gotten into her? She would have never said 
anything like that before?

	"Oh Gods, I'm so sorry Kovu, I didn't mean to say that. I'm just… 
I'm just in such grief right now that I…"

	"Forget about it, Vitani. I see you wish to be alone…. fine you 
be… alone."  Kovu turns away from her. "Enjoy it… I'll see you… 
whenever." Vitani's eyes spread and she runs after her brother, trying 
to stop him.

	"Wait! I was wrong! You know I would have never said that in the 
right frame of mind!" Kovu stops but does not turn.

	"The right frame of mind indeed…. I'm granting you your wish. Go 
get some sleep or

	"Kovu, wait, Kovu! Please… don't go, Kovu!" The lion does not 
turn around and only strides away from his sister. Vitani does not 
follow, only watches him until his form vanishes into the night. She 
reaches out with her right paw and calls for him one last time but only 
the sounds of the creatures of the night answer back her call. Letting 
her head fall she sighs deeply; it is not long before tears soon begin 
to stain the earth.


CHAPTER TWELVE:  INCOMPATIBLE INNUENDOES


	Rafiki, the wise mandrill and shaman of the Pridelands hums songs 
of great days gone by with words so archaic that only he has any idea 
of what they mean. Shaking his painted behind left and right he works 
upon his murals of the new members of the Pridelands. There they are 
completed and standing side by side with Kiara and Kovu. He adds the 
finishing touch to his work by drawing a huge heart in red clay around 
the two lovers with a smile that is so large and proud upon his muzzle 
it seems as if the aging mandrill was never happier.

	He steps back proudly to admire his work, his hands on his hips 
as he stands upright, his tail lying still upon a stout branch evenly 
balancing his weight and he is about to turn when he realizes that he 
nearly forgot to add that one lioness, what was her name… oh yes 
Vitani, he nearly forgot to include her!  Laughing to himself, he turns 
back to retrieve his materials but then his smile vanishes when he 
realizes he will not have enough to even begin to draw the outline of 
her body. His colorful dyes have nearly run out and most of the empty 
tortoise shells are already empty. Rafiki looks back at the painting 
and then back at the empty shells. Could this be a bad omen, or only a 
case of miscalculated inventory? With a quick prayer to Mufasa, he 
hopes that it is the latter and not the former. So with new 
determination to make sure he finishes his work by the next morning and 
add Vitani to the pride as soon as possible, Rafiki grabs his trusty 
staff and scampers down through the branches setting out on his quest. 
He must hurry, for when he looks to the west and upon the vast horizon 
that stretches out before him, he sees black clouds forming telling him 
a storm is coming soon.

* * * * * *

	Another sleepless night had plagued her soul and Vitani now 
wanders during the daylight hours nearly sleepwalking through the 
Pridelands these days, not really caring about a destination just 
needing a stretch too soothe her aching muscles.  One part of her wants 
to seek out Kovu and the others for the sake of ending her self-imposed 
exile, but the other part of her still denies them even a chance.  She 
tries to forget the past, but still she cannot; it drives her, the 
nightmares cause her to scream out in terror at night, and day after 
agonizing day crawls by.

	How long has it been? Days have changed into weeks and still she 
remains alone.

	Vitani spins around to see an ancient mandrill coming towards her 
who then suddenly looks up with an indolent grin and waves to her. He 
is soon rushing towards her, but Vitani' s sour mood and pent-up 
frustrations causes her to splay her claws and she snarls at him, 
causing him to skid to a stop and stare at her with a curious 
expression.

	"Why…. Err…. I mean…. How are you… err…. uhm… " Vitani narrows 
her eyes, expecting such a typical greeting. She says her name with a 
voice of ice accenting each syllable.

	"Vitani."

	"Oh yes, silly me, it is not like I would have forgotten my 
dear."

	"No, of course not, why would you?" The mandrill easily picks up 
the dripping sarcasm and Rafiki is put back on the defensive, his eyes 
narrowing as he grips his staff more firmly.

	"Uhm… well this is a bit less cordial then I expected… I suppose 
such a thing is to be… assumed since you seem to be like a lost 
wildebeest to its herd these days, my dear."

	"Is that a fact… my dear?" Vitani eases her hindquarters down to 
the earth to a less tense stance, but does not change her facial 
expressions in the least. "Why are you entering my domains unannounced 
monkey boy?"

	"Monkey… boy?" Rafiki can see this is not going to turn into a 
friendly chitchat anytime soon. "To cut to the chase my de… Vitani, I 
was just strolling through…. Simba's domains to pick up some things for 
my murals, as a matter of fact I need them because I am going to paint 
you on the walls of my home, ironic yes?"

	"Paint me… why, it is not like I am part of your happy family, am 
I?"

	"All things change Vitani, like the seasons. All of us are hoping 
that your cold winter will one day change into a warm spring." Rafiki, 
looks into Vitani's eyes with a look of hope and friendship, but still 
only sees untrusting ire there. "Vitani… what have I done to you to 
warrant such a cold reception?"

	Vitani lets loose a long sigh and turns away finally clearing the 
air of any static to a point… she does not look back but does answer. 
"It is not you, it is me."

	"I wish to be a friend to you, Vitani… we all do."

	"You are making a mistake. Sometimes I cannot control my anger 
and that is all I feel when I look upon Simba and the others. Sometimes 
I see myself as my mother was. Am I to drown the same as she did?" 
Rafiki sighs as he taps his foot nervously upon the ground.

	"No, no, you turned away from that path when you turned toward us 
and left her side to join ours, remember? You proved to us that your 
heart was true."

	"And my doing that I damned her, didn't I?"

	"You chose the right path, as did Kovu, and you saved yourself." 
Vitani's words grow more strained, and her mood worsens to depression 
with each passing second, apparently not even hearing Rafiki's replies.

	"We could not save my mother she is with father now, and perhaps 
she is happy, perhaps somewhere she is smiling."

	"You… saved yourself Vitani, and you have a family here now… 
you…"

	"I remember all those times, when she held me, licked away my 
tears, kissed me goodnight and held me close during the thunderstorms." 
Rafiki scratches his head, and tries again.

	"Vitani?"

	"You never knew that she could love, never knew that he had a 
heart…."

	"Vitani?"

	"You thought she was evil, you though she was heartless…"

	"Eh, Vitani?"

	"You thought her a cruel and wicked lioness, undeserving of 
sympathy…"

	"Vitani!" The lioness feels his hand upon her shoulder. "Stop! 
Just stop, it is over, all of it, it is the past. Heal, my dear. Allow 
your terrible wound to heal. Do not let it become a scar." Vitani eyes 
suddenly spring open and she launches a backhanded right paw at Rafiki 
upon the mention of that word, but then her mouth falls when the nimble 
mandrill catches deflects the blow with his staff and then whacks her 
on the head with a sudden counterattack. Vitani growls and curses, 
clutching her throbbing head, and then with a roar lunges towards the 
mandrill, but stops short when the end of Rafiki's stick is 
deleteriously wedged underneath Vitani's mouth, if she would have 
pounced any further, she would have impaled her throat on its end. She 
looks up with obvious surprise mixed with a hint of fear when she sees 
cold eyes staring back at her.

	"Allow your terrible wound to heal Vitani, before you force more 
upon yourself! You are falling daughter of Zira, falling deep into a 
vast abyss and soon no one will be able to pull you out. I thought you 
were like your brother, it was a struggle for him as well, but you are 
much more complicated. He had the love of Kiara to change his darkness 
to light for she gave him the courage to see that light, you… you have 
nothing, and no love, only grief and sorrow. Continue on this path and 
you shall be so obscured by darkness no one, not even your brother will 
be able to find you in the cloak of night you wrap around yourself. 
Simba is your king and he wants to be your friend, he wants you to 
sleep with him and all the other lionesses in his den, he wants one day 
to give you cubs, he wants…"

	Vitani has heard enough, all she sees is red now, this damned 
mandrill has to start on the glorifying of Simba trend again, and that 
last part about Simba mating her? She would sooner devour such an 
instrument of blasphemy then allow it anywhere near her. She reaches 
out to grab the staff, but it is gone from under her throat and now the 
mandrill is hers, yet all she remembers is hearing one last sentence 
before her world is plunged into darkness.

	"You alone can make this decision, Vitani, do not become like 
your Mother! Sleep on that." Rafiki twirls his staff in front of him 
and then swings it hard into Vitani's forehead knocking the incensed 
lioness unconscious before she could do any real damage. With a thud 
Vitani falls and her eyes close, a façade of peace is painted on her 
face as she lies there. Rafiki just shakes his head and allows his 
heavy breathing to slow. In those eyes he saw death, his death. She 
would have not held back and if he did not do what he did he guesses he 
would have been dead by now. Sighing loudly he says he is sorry to the 
prone lioness before him, doubting that he will have any chance for 
forgiveness for act of self-defense. He fears that by trying to knock 
some sense in this wretched lioness shall only further her downward 
spiral. With one last heavy sigh and a heavier heart Rafiki scampers 
off to find Simba and the others. He must warn them about this recent 
change in events, his original quest to find the raw materials of 
adding Vitani to the mural depicting the family of the Pridelands now 
quickly but unfortunately forgotten.


CHAPTER THRITEEN: TORMENTED TRIAD


	Grey swept fields greet Vitani's blurred vision as she opens her 
bloodshot eyes. It seems the dawn has just broken and its misty fingers 
play tag through the elephant grasses of the savanna. Vitani rolls to 
her stomach, running a paw across her head, feeling a huge lump there. 
Thrice damn that wicked mandrill, how dare he take her out of the world 
of the conscious with that walking stick that he so conveniently 
carries with him wherever he goes! Vitani vividly recalls the stories 
told by her mother, about how she saw Rafiki take out four hyenas at 
once with his disciplined martial arts before Scar was murdered, and 
Zira did warn Vitani and her other warriors to use the most extreme 
care around the shaman. As Vitani curses to herself and rubs her head 
it seems she underestimated the primate this time; gritting her teeth 
she swears that the next time will be different.

	Trying to lick her wounded pride the best she can, Vitani rises 
to her feet shaking her head as she tries to rid herself of the ringing 
in her ears and that pounding headache. So, Rafiki is no doubt 
scampering back to Simba and Nala warning them about her now, is he? 
And of course that would only provide more fodder to feed the rift 
between her and Kovu. Vitani curses yet again, as she knows that Kovu 
will side with Kiara, anything to protect his love. Spitting on the 
ground she shows to the world what she thinks of that little 
relationship.

	So, where is she and more importantly where is she going now?

	With a sudden jerk of her head, Vitani's face falls and her eyes 
spread in fear when she sees the grasses in flames behind her. The 
entire savanna is engulfed in red flames. Reason escapes her and frenzy 
assaults her mind as she spins about to flee, but then runs smack into 
the face of another creature standing before her. Shaking her groggy 
head Vitani's eyes spread even further as she sees Nuka standing before 
her with a crazed look in his eyes and a burning stick held tightly 
between drool soaked jaws. Vitani reaches out to touch him, but Nuka 
only laughs at her dropping the stick from his jaws and lighting more 
of the brush aflame.

	"Roasty, toasty, Vitani! Roasty, toasty, Vitani!" Nuka screams 
the same phrase over and over again as turns and runs off through the 
walls of flame, his mad cries diminishing, as he is lost from view. 
Vitani grits her teeth, and tries to calm her quivering legs, but there 
is no sense in this at all and before Vitani can even begin to question 
this reality a rasping tongue-like flame licks across her rump, causing 
her to squeal in pain and run headlong into the grasses like a rhino. 
Yelping and waling she darts and weaves through the grasses, but it 
seems like every path is closed to her and every opening she tries for 
is soon swollen with flames. They surge and billow like a flood, 
threatening to drown her in unforgiving fire. Looking back she sees 
they are gaining on her, and she squints through watery eyes. She turns 
back with gasping coughs, the smoke causing her lungs to scream for air 
and sees a huge rock looming before her. It is too close to try and 
dodge, her shoulders smack it painfully and she stumbles to her knees, 
her muzzle smacking into the blackened earth. She raises her head then 
screams in horror as she sees the flames descend upon her like a red 
wave drowning her in burning heat….

* * * * * *

	A bloodcurdling scream pours from Vitani's lips as she opens her 
eyes and jumps to her feet. In terror she looks right and left; no 
flames and no brother back from the grave, it was all a dream? She 
yelps suddenly when she feels a nasty bite on her paw. Looking down she 
sees the cause of the pain as she sees two termites scuttle away from 
her. Following them with her eyes she sees them scurry towards the 
light coming from the mouth of the mound. She was laying in a termite 
mound, a huge one, explaining where the pain came from, and all the 
rest? Just subconscious delusions made real from her tortured and 
insomniac mind? Sighing heavily, her head throbs, telling her that the 
smack from Rafiki was real enough and her forced nap resulted in that 
horrible nightmare. Rubbing the top of her head with a paw, Vitani 
stops suddenly realizing she was doing the exact same thing in her 
dream. Her paw drops as she looks up, then all points of a compass. Why 
is she standing in the middle of a huge termite mound and not in the 
grasses of the savanna where she last was? Biting her lip, Vitani 
quivers wondering if this is another dream and she has not awakened 
yet. Splaying her claws she presses one to her paw, and then cries out 
as it punctures her flesh. As a bit of blood oozes from the wound 
Vitani shakes her head, yes she is awake, she is not dreaming this time 
but how in the world did she end up here?

	"Ah, my little Exiled is awake. Hello, my friend, welcome to 
hell." Vitani knows that voice, only too well, but also with that 
realization she knows that the body where such a sonorous voice 
resonated from could have not brought her here. Without turning, Vitani 
only sighs and stares at her wounded paw, as a small rivulet of crimson 
seeps from it.

	"What do you want of me now, Kisasi? Another tale for my tired 
ears, save your last breathes my scorched friend, for your own 
autobiography was more than enough for me. After all, in the end it did 
nothing for me. It only proved to me the utter lie of my own existence 
in the same way it proved your own."

	"Well, isn't that a crying shame? If I still had tears left, they 
would burn my ruined pelt wouldn't they?

	No, no tales, not this time for you have learned nothing from 
them my prodigal female, if you did you wouldn't be here now, would 
you? Lost and so alone, in more ways than one too, I might add." Vitani 
snarls and quickly turns thinking she just might need to inflict a bit 
more pain on the arrogant lion, but he is not there and her pounce only 
causes the dust to fly into her eyes. Narrowing her eyes, she searches 
for him all around here but he is nowhere near.

	"End this damned shadow stalking game, Kisasi! I am not in the 
mood for your tactics. Only a coward tries to connive unseen! After all 
did not Scar learn that painful lesson…or should I better say didn't 
you? You know that stinking burnt fur of yours makes it painfully 
obvious to me."

	"Charming to the last. If you only knew how much you contradict 
your own words. I don't see the winds of change billowing through your 
pelt either. Shouldn't you be chomping your lips on Simba's butt right 
about now? From what the birds tell me you turned on Zira and joined 
the glorious king, and also why did a good friend of mine watch that 
indolent mandrill try to knock some sense into you? Sounds you have a 
mess of new friends to frolic with, but where are they now sweetie, I 
don' see anyone of them keeping you all safe and sound?"

	"You are really starting to get under my skin Kisasi! Why don't 
you show yourself so I can get my claws under yours?" Vitani searches 
every which way but still the lion is nowhere to be found. His scent is 
all around her yet still he eludes her. For one so badly scarred as he 
is, it is impossible for him to be moving so fast.

	"Up here you little wretch!" A sudden soprano voice suddenly 
shakes her composure and Vitani strains her neck to look up into the 
gloom. There is that blackened beast upon a high promontory still 
looking menacing even if he looks to be knocking on Hell's Gate. But 
beside Kisasi is a female whom Vitani has never seen before.

	The lioness is exotic beyond exotic standards. Covered from head 
to tail in markings and scars untold if they are from battle or self-
inflicted. Dark eyes stare down at her as those two lions recline side 
by side atop a high precipice near the ceiling of the massive termite 
mound. Vitani watches with disgust as the female rubs some substance 
into Kisasi's flanks, which she guesses must be some type of healing 
salve to try to cool the burns.

	"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you two needed, your… privacy," 
Vitani huffs, "Sorry to ruin your nursing of that dark bastard. I shall 
just be on my way now, bye-bye."

	"Your way?" The strange female laughs a shriek like cackle, "You 
have no way, my dear. You are not…. one of them, you never were, and 
you never will be."

	"Oh and I suppose I'm like Scar and the two of you?"

	"You are like your mother, you are like Ushandra." Vitani's eyes 
spread as the female says Zira's true name, a name that has been long 
forgotten and a name only known by those closest to her. Vitani lowers 
her rage and her irritated stance, allowing her rump to slide to the 
floor. "What do you know of Zir… I mean Ushandra?"

	"I know she was more than any of those damned Pridelanders will 
ever be and I know she loved you with all her heart. She did favor Kovu 
a bit more perhaps, but you were always next in line. She would have 
wanted you to take up where she was forced to leave off."

	"You are a fool to think what my mother, Kisasi, and Scar always 
wanted will ever come to pass," Vitani replies, shaking her head in 
loathing, "The Pridelanders are much too strong. They have that Aiheu 
god on their side, and they have with that all the supposed valor and 
virtue that comes along with it. We who are not of them, are the Evil 
Ones are we not? We are the damned and they are the chosen ones. We 
will endure the

	Pain and they shall have the Paradise, won't they? What is it all 
worth in the end when we are all going the same way?"

	"Evil and Good are all based on perspective, Vitani." A deep sigh 
follows Kisasi's words. "Was it good that drove the innocent lion that 
became Scar to become evil? Was it evil that drove Ushandra to seek to 
make amends for her lost love? Was it evil that she was willing to die 
for him and for what he stood for? Was it good that drove Kovu apart 
from you and into Kiara's arms? You told me all this, you told me your 
pain, you told me you sought death by your own claws instead of the 
misery your life is now. Remember that? Remember all of it when you 
wandered into my lair those few moons ago?  Nothing has changed Vitani, 
the same story will continue on and on until someone changes it… until 
one side wins."

	"What? Would you rather join Simba and his indolent fold, Vitani? 
Or worse to have his cubs?" The enigmatic lioness ends the 
uncomfortable silence when Vitani only stares at the drying blood from 
her wound once more and not answering nor even heeding Kisasi's 
philosophical monologue in the slightest. "You want the murderer of 
Scar and Ushandra to be inside of you? You want to betray your blood by 
joining with his?"

	"No!" Vitani suddenly looks up, tears streaming down her face. 
"Hell no! I would rather die first then do that… that… heresy to my 
lineage! I can only feel hate when I think about the Pridelanders. I 
want them slaughtered like prey and wiped from the face of everything 
the light touches as much as you do!"

	"Then join with me; join with us. I can teach you more than you 
will ever hope to learn by yourself. I can give you a life worth 
living. I can give you a home, and I can give you freedom from your 
prison of reality."

	Vitani stares at the female for the longest time after she ends 
her proposition. Kisasi would obviously be useless in the physical 
sense, but this female… this bizarre yet intriguing lioness might show 
her a path worth walking down.

	"All things are answered with time. Allow me to think about this… 
if I do not return then… you shall have your answer." Vitani sighs 
deeply after she ends her reply, then turning slowly, she trudges with 
her head down out of the termite mound, leaving a small wake of blood 
from her still bleeding paw. Outside it starts raining and the cold 
sheets soon consume the lioness' form.

* * * * * *

	"Do you really think she will come back dear sister?" Three days 
have passed and Kisasi is reclining in the midst of another rainstorm 
as it empties its watery tendrils down upon his scorched flanks, 
slightly cooling those terrible burns that mar his flanks.

	"Only time will give us that answer, my Lord." Shari lets her 
tongue stick out from her lips as she licks and drinks in the drops in 
a strange, yet seductive fashion.

	"Lord? Spare me the mockery, my darling. You found my blackened 
body in the weeds not far from the Pridelands, and brought me back 
here. Yes, for that I am eternally grateful. Nevertheless, when we 
returned that Zira stole our pride and used it to attack the 
Pridelands, then soon dying in vain as did her attempts. Alas to the 
bitch… here's to you my love." Kisasi empties his bladder upon the 
earth, the sound soon lost in the high-pitched cackles of Shari.

	"Yes, yes, poor tragic Zira." Shari tries to stop her laughter. 
"What a waste of a perfectly good lioness. Consumed by her own hate, 
her own greed, and her own pride…such a pity."

	"So why the hell do you think her blood will be any better?" 
Kisasi spits upon the earth groaning uncomfortably from the pain. "Have 
we not danced this damned dance before? Shari, look at me sweets. Do I 
look like I will play any part in this upcoming drama?"

	"Oh… you big burnt sexy beast…" Shari pats and strokes the 
lonesome king on his rump for some time before continuing. "Don't you 
let any more of that mane fall out from any more of that worrying. I 
will take care of everything. Our dearly disturbed and terribly 
tortured comrade will come around soon enough. After all she has the 
blood of hate in her veins, and that is more than enough for the shadow 
of Scar to envelope her completely. Oh yes… I give her two days at max. 
The Gods has brought us great fortune Kisasi, and soon, very soon, all 
we have ever wanted will be ours."

	Kisasi looks towards Shari slowly trying not to move too much, 
his right eye suddenly rising upon viewing that wicked gleam in the 
lioness' eyes, matching the gleam from the drool upon her lips. Instead 
of replying Kisasi only shrugs his shoulders then curses when the 
burning pain screams to him that that was an illogical mistake.


CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ANGUISHED AGONY


	For three days now the rains have continued, incessant and deaf 
to the cries from the lioness that lies quivering in that less then 
shelter that might be called a makeshift lair. The puddles so deep now 
can not even allow her to lay her head on her paws for fear of drowning 
in her sleep but in her wracked mind, drowning might not be all that 
bad.

	Sleep, that sweet blackness escapes her once more and Vitani only 
wails to indifferent heavens that only match her dripping wetness that 
has wetted her cheeks once more. She so misses them, her parents, her 
brother, all of them but still her stubbornness, that thick tenacity 
won't allow her even a simple walk to view Pride Rock in the distance. 
It has been too long now, for anyone to come calling, it seems no one 
cares, and Vitani continually feels sorry for herself, gnawing on her 
right leg to try and make the pain real.

	"Vittles." It is as if she can hear her mother's voice through 
the rain, using that sweet, innocent name that only her mother used to 
call her.

	"Vittles… where are you?"

	"Here mother… cold, wet, tired, hungry, and so… alone. I wish you 
were with me now."

	"I am, my sweet Vitani."

	"Of course you are," Vitani chuckles to herself, "You're in my 
heart and in my soul. The three of you, Dad, Mom, and my big brother, I 
can see you now clear as day. But why do you look so… changed?  Vitani 
turns her head as she speaks then her jaw drops in full fright, and her 
eyes spread with unhinged fear.

	"Yes… so changed." Scar smiles with what were his lips though now 
one piece hangs from his face, one eye shines from his half-eaten 
skull, the huge, missing pieces of his flesh mar his flanks legs, and 
belly gleam in the shine of the lightning bolts above them, while his 
hairs from his mane fall incessantly.

	"You see…. what they have done to me?" Scar's voice hollow and 
diminished. "Short live the King…. torn from his regal façade and left 
devoured by his most trusted warriors! Do you think I was… tasty?" His 
laugh is horrible as more bits and pieces of his flesh fall from his 
up-turned face.

	"No, no sissy! Look, look, look at me!" Vitani cannot turn, she 
is shaking too much, but suddenly strong burnt paws turn her face 
quickly and Vitani looks up in terror to see the blackened and scarred 
face of her brother with that gruesome smile, his teeth like soot, and 
his mane cinders from the fire, his bones sticking out from his legs 
and tail from being crushed from that giant log that smothered him.

	"Me is so… sexy! Hee Hee! Now you look at Mommy!" Nuka steadies 
Vitani and forces her to stare in horror at the bloated and blue ghoul 
that is Zira, waterlogged and swollen from drowning in the rapids.

	"They did this to us! They! Do not let yourself join, do not join 
them! DO NOT JOIN THEM! You are the last of us; you alone can end this, 
end it now! END THIS NOW!

* * * * * *

	"Noooooooooooo!" Vitani screams until she can scream no more, 
slamming her head into the top of her den, but the pain meaning nothing 
to her. Her claws splay and her trembling paws send the puddle water 
around her into froth. No more, no more! She can take it no longer, and 
as her wail ends it only leave the hysterical lioness staring at the 
crying stars. She stares and stares unblinking until the clouds end 
their tears, and then slowly Vitani lowers her head. How much time 
passed during that intersection of her emotions? Seconds, minutes, 
hours, soon a quiet laugh tears any thought of it from the scene. That 
laugh begins to build as Vitani slowly raises her head and her chapped 
lips crack into a wicked smile.

	"Yes! I am the last of us. I will end this!" Her eyes spread in a 
frenzied stare as she suddenly laughs in pure maniacal fashion to no 
one around her.

	"Do you hear me? I will end this all! I shall end it now!" Crazed 
and laughing, her fit continues as she cackles to the point of tears 
streaming from her eyes. Her paws shaking Vitani looks suddenly down at 
the muddy earth, and like lightening she carves the name of Scar, Zira, 
and Nuka in the mud. That same longest claw then crashes towards her 
eyes ripping right across her right eye and left across her left, all 
the while the sick laughter continues and she spreads her paws outward 
rising to her hindquarters causing the rocky overhang to splinter and 
shatter into fragments that fall shimmering all around her. With every 
claw she rips down her breasts to her belly, leaving six deep gashes 
soon drawing much blood down her body.

	Suddenly her laughter ends and staring down with now bloody tears 
at the names in the mud she suddenly slams her body over them covering 
them with her wet and bloody bulk the spray and force of her fall 
causing red and brown fountains to fly from the earth and fall down 
upon her in dark radiance as a sudden mighty roar of thunder announces 
the birth of the spawn of vengeance.

* * * * * *

	"Will you get the hell in here, you burnt bastard?" Shari stamps 
her foot on the lair's floor. "What in the blue hell are you doing out 
there in the rain again… you lazy good for nothing piece of dung!" 
Shari stomps out into the storm once more as the monsoon rages on for 
the sixth day now and the painted lioness curses as she gets her fur 
all wet for the umpteenth time. "Where are you? If you are playing that 
damned Shadow Lurker game again I swear you will munch on your right 
leg for supper tonight!"

	"Excuse me…bitch. Why don't you just… shut your mouth?" Shari 
cocks her head to left recognizing Vitani's voice behind her, though it 
sounds… different somehow.

	"Ha! You say bitch like it is a bad thing." Shari's smug grin 
quickly fades when a huge form leaps over her spraying water in her 
face. It pounces to her right then charges towards her, a bloody mess 
of a face which smiles crazily face-to-face at her through the rain.

	"Uh…. Hello again…  Vitani isn't it? Is that you? Vi... Vitani? 
The days have um… been kind. Please uhm… tell me that the elephant you 
must have rumbled with looks worse than you?"

	"Elephant? Only a sly grin makes those cracked lips spread, "Yes, 
the elephant. Oh yes, don't worry he's suitably disposed of, along with 
that pathetic lioness who tried to run from him."

	"Uh… huh…" Shari narrows her eyes skeptically at what was only 
the other day a melancholy specter. "Eh, I'm looking for a lioness 
named Vitani, have you've uh… seen her?"

	"No…. I haven't. But I did find something much, much better deep 
inside of me. Tell me…" Vitani plops her rear end into the muck and 
spreads her paws out before her, batting her eyelashes seductively. 
"What do you think? Aren't I…. beautiful?"

	"To die for." Kisasi's sarcasm drips as always as he slowly plods 
up to them both, still wincing and tottering with each step. "Yes… if I 
could I would take you from behind right now. That is if I was… better 
suited to the task."

	Vitani laughs crazily as she saunters up to Kisasi sliding her 
body against his a bit too rough causing him to cry out in agony as she 
brushes against his flanks. "Oh… cry for me Kisasi, can't you take the 
heat? Typical male! You like to make the females blush but deep down 
you can't keep them on top of you for too long can you?" Kisasi snarls 
suddenly at that snide comment his pride hurt, but that only makes his 
muscles hurt even more.

	"Oh poor little Kisasi. I'm so sorry did that hurt? Pity, and I 
was going to treat you so sweet tonight too. After all, I've know 
you've had those emerald eyes on me since we first met but too bad… 
you're in no condition to…"

	Shari clears her throat loudly causing Vitani to laugh ever more. 
"Vitani, if I may. I know this entire chit-chat is hilarious to you, 
but isn't it time we all got down to business?"

	"Oh Shari… don't get your fur all wet. I would have thought you 
were a female who loved to mix business with pleasure? I know I do, and 
what I have planned for those damned Pridelanders… well… I think it 
will be a bit of both.

	You see my two wayward companions, what a little bitch I was to 
doubt your loyalty to my bloodline, and though I should rip the tails 
from your assess for betraying my Mother's trust and failing her 
miserably in the end, I accept you as brethren and the last of our 
kind. We are the last of us, aren't we? The last to right the terrible 
wrongs committed in the name of good upon our ancestry? The last to 
lick the…" Shari clears her throat once more for Vitani to get on with 
it, but Vitani only places a splayed claw on Shari's muzzle.

	"Shush… there now…shhhhh…good girl… you're such a good girl, but 
do you hear what I hear? Oh yes… it makes me tremble. Do you hear it, 
Kisasi? Do you hear it… can't you… hear it? No, no, wait… do you see 
it? Do you see what I see?"

	Vitani begins to sway to the music of the storm: The thunder 
becomes her drums, the howling winds her melody, and the pounding of 
rains upon the mud her harmony. She rises to her paws looking towards 
the south, towards the Pridelands and then begins her ominously fitting 
serenade. Now she was in command of the stage, and this dirge was her 
song of presentation and premier.

	"Do you see what I see?
	Nala's corpse hanging from a tree?
	Her blood sweet like the honey from bees?
	Mmmms, makes me see
	Kiara's eviscerated spleen; her innards tasty like cream?
	Taste this dream!
	Have a taste of my anguished agony."

	Vitani rises to her paws and strides in circles around the two 
dazed and dazzled lions as two sets of unblinking eyes remain frozen on 
the singing fallen angel, who now dances and prances like a succubus, 
shaking her drenched body this way and that like a salacious serpent.

	"Do you hear what I hear?
	Slaughter without a care?
	Foe and friend alike beware
	I am the last of the vengeful pair
	I am Vitani… anguished agony!

	Oh indeed
	Anguished Agony
	Hell's fury unleashed
	Upon your story
	Do you know what I know?
	Their ashes upon the wind will blow
	Now all is reaped from what they did sow

	And now at last this woe is relieved
	And their blood shall be my seed
	Welcome to the depths of anguished agony!

	Oh indeed
	Anguished Agony
	Hell's fury unleashed
	Upon your story
	This is anguished agony!

	Oh indeed
	Anguished Agony
	Hell's fury unleashed
	Upon your story
	I am Anguished Agony!

	Hell yes!
	I am Vitani
	I am Anguished Agony!
	Oh Gods yes
	I am Vitani
	I am Anguished Agony!"

	At last the rains begin to cease though hardly stopping and 
Vitani turns back to the two entranced lions loving their almost 
drooling expressions.

	"So, my friends… do I have your undivided attention?"


CHAPTER FIFTEEN: NEFARIOUS NUANCES


	When the winds were calm, there was a maelstrom brewing and Kovu 
was nearly swept up in its drowning waves.  So close he was in 
yesterdays not too long ago to be used as a soulless pawn, in a 
vengeful game of hate. To this day he still loathes himself for coming 
so close to damning himself to a life of solitude, sin, and wickedry, 
and still he finds it hard to sleep a night, remembering in vivid and 
graphic detail how Zira raised him to be a killer. Each night of his 
rearing, the training, the gruesome shows, the most efficient ways of 
killing, and always it was the innocents who suffered.  Those trembling 
field mice that his brother caught for dinner, but more for sport when 
Zira had them for dinner; she would make sure Kovu heard them scream 
when the true power of a five hundred pound lion could crush them. Then 
it was onto larger prey, making Kovu, Vitani, and Nuka watch as Zira 
brought down an okapi too close to The Pride Lands, the other Outsiders 
watching for any threat. Nuka forced the two aging cubs to watch as 
Zira demonstrated how to latch on the neck until the beast was 
suffocated or until its neck broke in a sickening snap. Such knowledge 
they would need to bring down the hated Simba and the rest of his 
pride, when the time came to attack.

	Kovu lays there in his lair now, with Kiara no doubt dreaming 
peaceful melodies across form him as he stares at the ceiling of his 
cave, a side niche from where Simba and the other Pride Landers 
slumbered. He still can hear the dying screams, the painful moans, and 
the wicked laughter of his driven adoptive mother. She thought she had 
him in her claws, so banefully proud of him, sending him off with 
praise and drool to do her biding, but then his… betrayal as she called 
it, and then the maelstrom swirled into something that none of the 
survivors imagined it to become. When the storm ended so many were 
dead, and Kovu had lost a brother to the rage, and a mother.

	Now… it seems the winds have returned yet colder and more 
sinister and though he and his new family have secure shelter inside 
their home, still there is another out there, somewhere, alone, and 
listless. Gods, he cannot keep worrying about her… even if she nearly 
slapped him along his face for trying to reason with her.

	Kovu rolls to his side, hearing Kiara moan lightly but then just 
a purr as she does not stir and resumes her happy dreams. Kovu slowly 
rises to his paws, looking down at her, then mouthing an 'I Love You' 
to his princess, he swears to her without words that he would always be 
there to protect her and looks to his right at Simba and the others.

	All of them seem at peace. Nearly a month and a half has passed 
since the War Between The Lands, and it seems, at least every now and 
then, that they have forgotten those days. Kovu wonders if most of 
them, those many lionesses he still has trouble remembering all their 
names, and even Nala herself remembers that one enigmatic lioness that 
never made it into the fold. That one cryptic lioness, Kovu's own dear 
sister who was not present at the presentation of… Kovu looks over the 
lionesses and smiles proudly at the young male cub, so close to Nala… 
his mother and sleeping so soundly, without a care in the world. Kovu 
had no idea Nala was with cub when he nearly slew Simba… the Gods work 
in mysterious ways. For the sake of all of them, he hopes that he is 
just letting his worries get to him, as they always do, and he is 
making things worse then they are.

	Perhaps his sister is happy out there, perhaps she is not alone, 
she could have found someone, a true love like Kovu found in Kiara, and 
maybe they will start a pride all their own. He can understand her 
wanting to be by herself, only too well, there are still many times 
when he wanders alone, enjoying the simple pleasures of solitude. 
Though optimism has never been his strongest suite, maybe Vitani is 
happy out there and this ceaseless storm is just the natural order of 
things, just a part of the yearly monsoon season that sweeps through 
these lands. Maybe, just maybe things are peaceful.

	Kovu sighs deeply and smiles turning to return to his mate's side 
when a sudden giant crash of thunder shakes him from limb to limb. His 
head spins back outside to the storm as if the very Gods have answered 
him back in a resounding alarm, and now fully awake Kovu strides 
towards the mouth of the cave and slowly looks south towards… The 
Outlands and his eyes narrow intently.

* * * * * *

	"No, no, no! Fool of a lion, I've already told you before. To 
truly hurt your enemy you attack the heart, not the body! My mother 
taught me that. Why kill Simba and the others when you can make them 
suffer?" Vitani shakes her pelt. This incessant rain is driving her… 
mad. She paces around her comrades agitated and eager to get this 
preemptive strike underway.

	"Mmmmms, yes very clever my dear. Make them suffer as you have, 
as Zira did, as Scar did, as… hell! As I am doing right now!"

	"Shhhh, quiet my burnt big boy. Don't you worry about a thing. 
Vitani and I will take care of everything. You said it yourself. What 
can big, bad Kisasi do like… that?

	You just stay here in this… *curses under her breath…* rain and 
let it soothe your blackened and sore body. We won't be long, don't you 
worry. Trust me. I'll be back in plenty of time to tuck you in for the 
night, and… give you a bit more than that before you close your eyes." 
Shari smiles and wraps her front paws around Kisasi's neck lightly 
giving him a few quick kisses. After a few sighs and nodding of his 
head, Kisasi reluctantly lets her go.

	"Fine… fine but the both of you promise me thrice that you will 
return." Kisasi looks up to Shari with an almost pleading expression 
holding out his right paw to take hers in his but Vitani interrupts 
Shari first before she can even say one word.

	"Yea, ok. Whatever makes ya happy, Kisasi, here is my promise… Go 
to hell, go to hell, and go to hell! There are you satisfied? Now, come 
on Shari, stay on my tail, for… it is time!" Vitani rushes off into the 
darkness leaving a vast pool of her own blood behind, blood that was 
still flowing from her open wounds, the pelting rain unable to allow 
them to heal.

	"Wait! Vitani! I have to make sure…. Kisasi is… oh Dear Gods, 
help me!" Shari speeds off into the darkness towards the Pridelands 
leaving Kisasi there in the darkness reaching out with his right paw 
only to towards the sounds of the loud thumping of paws that is soon 
lost in the wind and with a deep sigh he lets his paw fall, his head 
soon following. After many minutes, Kisasi painfully rises to his feet 
and turns away, dragging his burnt body through the rain and soon 
disappearing into the misty blackness.

* * * * * *

	Yes she snored, rather loudly in fact, though Kovu would never 
tell her, rather and she did tend to drool a bit onto the earth when 
she lay on one side. A shadow illuminated by the flashed of lightning 
creeps over her, the footfalls of a deranged monster being swallowed by 
the sound of the downpour outside. The shadow stops, and surveys the 
lair, no protector, no males, only Kiara is here, and there is Nala not 
far off, and a… male cub resting his head on Nala's furred chest. How… 
interesting.

	Another larger shadow envelops the first but this one comes with 
huffing and puffing, which causes the first to growl at the second 
until that heavy breathing stops. The two shadows break, one going left 
towards Nala and the first coming closer to Kiara. With both of the 
lioness' eyes closed they could never see what the sudden flash of 
lightning displayed.

* * * * * *

	"Tell me everything, Zazu." Ko