Tales from the Outlands
Volume I – The Tale of Zira

	Welcome to Zira's Past.  The following tale is why I believe Zira 
became the so-called villain in Simba's Pride. It took me almost a 
whole year to complete this devotion to Zira and The Outsiders and I 
hope you enjoy it.  All characters are taken from Disney's masterpiece 
The Lion King and its sequel Simba's Pride, and are used without their 
knowledge or consent.  Characters not found in either of these two 
movies are taken from John Burkitt's and David Morris' Chronicles of 
the Pride Lands. These are used with permission and the utmost 
admiration.  Characters not found in either of these masterpieces are 
of my own creation.  These are as follows: Kisasi, Usiyahi, Jua, Mwezi, 
and Nyoto. They are all copyrighted, but if they spark enough interest 
to a reader that he or she would like to use any of all of them in 
there own fan fiction, then approval can be obtained by sending me a 
copy of the text, so I can see how they are managed; then I will give 
you my answer as soon as possible.  Comments, positive or negative can 
be sent to this address, and I look forward to hearing from all those 
who read this text. scarcasm@yahoo.com.  Now, walk in Zira's paw 
prints, and enter her unknown past.



Part One: The Unknown Lioness

PROLOGUE: SILENT VIGIL


	For days and weeks she waited.  She was always in the same spot, 
always watching the horizon.  She searched day after day, hoping that 
this would be the day her prayers were answered.   She sat atop of a 
tall hill and day after day she would climb it, steep though it was, it 
did not stop her.  Upon reaching the top she would lie down in a 
relaxed position, but her eyes would remain fixed on the horizon.  She 
attended this silent vigil when the sun was at its zenith and would not 
leave until it was about to set.  From her high vantage point she could 
see the whole landscape spread out before her; not the slightest 
movement would escape her attention.  Even in rain or a cold, driving 
wind, nothing would keep her from her task.  Every day was the same; 
she would sit and wait, sit and wait.  She prayed that her anguish 
would end and she would finally be reunited with what she was searching 
for.  But every day remained the same and her grief and sorrow would 
only increase as she slowly left her spot and walked sadly back to her 
home as the sun fell towards the earth.  Nevertheless, she would return 
once again the next day and continue her search.  She would forever 
scan the horizon for the one thing that she cherished the most and the 
one thing she would die for.  Her one and only love.


CHAPTER ONE: A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN


	Perhaps this will be the day.  How she wished for the day when 
see would finally see her love emerge from the grasses and come running 
towards her with a happy smile on his face.  She would run towards him, 
her eyes locked on her target and finally they would be together again 
as they always should have been.  They would draw closer and closer 
until finally meeting each other, nose to nose, and then they would 
nuzzle affectionately and caress each others face as only their species 
could.  For she was a lioness and he was unlike any other lion she had 
met before.  He was THE LION!  As she kept her watch, she would think 
thoughts such as these, her mind traveling back to happier times.

	Her most cherished memory was when she saw him for the first 
time.  She was sleeping deep in the foliage of her home in a beautiful 
jungle, and when she was awakened by the sounds of his passing, she 
remembered how her eyes gazed upon his elegant form for the first time.  
She was awestruck by his extraordinary, handsome mane.  It was pure 
black like a starless night and his eyes were green as the verdant 
plains.  His sleek pelt was the color of a sunset and his tail was 
tipped in black, perfectly matching his mane.  She was apprehensive to 
make herself known but somehow she knew he was the one.  The sight of 
him, gazed upon for the first time, must have had the same affects as 
seeing her had on him.  She sauntered out from the foliage and walked 
towards him with a content grin on her face.  Her pelt was a deep 
yellow, as radiant as the sun.  Her powerful body was covered in 
corded, dense muscle and her shapely head was as curved as its 
opposite.  She blushed as she saw his eyes move down her flanks and 
gaze upon her abdomen. Only to entice him further she walked around 
him, and then began to saunter away swishing her long tail 
provocatively in the process.  With a seductive, quick turn of her head 
she gazed back at him and allowed his eyes to feast upon her once more.  
She watched him with eyes that were as dark as amber. They almost had a 
reddish hue, but they were so inappropriate because she had a heart of 
goodness and her red eyes were an ironic, veritable lie.  She was 
purely good, no dark thoughts would ever cross her mind, and she was 
innocent and happy, but now gazing upon this male whom she knew to be 
the one only increased her happiness ten fold.  He slowly smiled at her 
and she smiled back, then both walked towards each other and just gazed 
into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity.  She could 
tell by his eyes that he was thinking the same thoughts as her.  Ever 
since that day, she was no longer a skeptic of the classic clique, 
"Love at first sight."  The hard silence was finally broken and when 
she heard his deep, melodic voice, it almost caused her heart to melt,

	"Greetings, may I ask what is your name?"

	"I am called Ushandra." She replied.

	"Pleased to meet you."  He backed up and swept his mane in a low 
bow.

	"And may I have yours?"  She tried to keep the formalities going 
a little longer.

	"I am called..." He seemed to hesitate.  She looked at him with a 
confused look.

	"What is it?"

	"They call me... Scar."  What a strange name she thought, what 
sadistic parent would name there cub that?

	"Scar?"

	"Yes, I know it is strange, but it suits me perfectly.  I have 
grown to like it, it not only matches my face by my whole being as 
well."

	He moved his mane away from his left eye and now she understood 
the purpose for the title, somehow she did not notice it before.

	"How did that happen?"

	"It is a long, sad story.  I'd rather not tell you about it."

	"Come on, I am always game for a good tale, and plus," she smiled 
at him, "It will make you feel better!"  He looked back up at her and 
saw something he had very seldom seen in the eyes of any lioness he had 
known before.  It was almost a look of...Love!

	Scar talked for many hours, while Ushandra listened to every 
word.  Scar, his real name was Taka, but he preferred the name Scar, 
told the tale of his past including all the wrongs that he had endured.  
During one part he broke down crying, and not knowing what to do she 
nuzzled him close and caressed his mane, telling him to let it out.

	"Don't stop, I can tell your heart is a good one and even males 
cry sometimes."  He looked up at her, tears streaming down his face, 
but he quickly looked away.

	"You would never say such pleasant things if you knew what I was 
really like."

	"Then tell me Scar! Tell everything!"

	He slowly nodded his mane then all his dark secrets were brought 
out into the light.  When he had finished she did not know what to say.  
All she did was look at him and shake her head, trying not to believe 
what she had heard.  Murder, betrayal, greed, lust, envy, all the seven 
deadly sins, this beautiful creature could not be capable of such 
things, could he? She looked back at him and focused on his scar.  The 
evil was plain as the scar on his face.

	"I had better leave, I shouldn't stay here, you are not what I 
thought you were."  She let his head fall from her embrace and slowly 
left his side.  She began to pad away but looked back one last time.  
Her gaze feel on a sad, broken creature that just stared at her with a 
look of abandonment.  Unable to take another rejection he burst into 
tears once again and shakily rose to his paws.

	"I knew it.  I knew it!  You're just like all the rest!  My past 
is a curse and a curse created it.  All I touch turns to death, and 
everyone I meet, runs away from me in fear.  Oh curse you gods!  Add 
another damn scar to my heart!"

	He began to walk away, back to the place that had created him.  
She watched him go, but then followed him, at a distance.  She still 
could not deny what she believed was really there, a troubled lion, but 
deep down, a noble creature with a good heart.

* * * * * *

	At a close distance she followed him, until he stopped underneath 
the pale moonlight and wept once more.

	"Another night alone, I see.  Oh Sarabi, how I miss you, but I 
could not escape my darkness and now my brother is dead and so is his 
son, both slain by my paws.  What lioness would want to be touched by a 
lion whose paws are stained with blood? Mufasa, Simba, if you can hear 
me please forgive me!  I know that you are with the kings of the past, 
but I ask you for forgiveness now, because I know now that when I die I 
will not be with you."  His crying only increased and he was now 
screaming his words to the heavens, trying to get them to hear him, but 
this was a futile task.  How she wanted to run to him and kiss away his 
tears like a mother would kiss away the pain for her cub, but she 
stayed hidden where she was and only cried silently with him.  His 
words causing her eyes to water as well.

	"Damn my existence!  Why was I born?  My whole life was nothing 
but a nightmare, and I tried to live but I died that day when I was 
scarred!  I had no real friends, except for my brother and my parents, 
but I turned my back on them and never allowed them to love me like 
they tried to.  Why didn't father let me be king, why did he choose 
Mufasa?  I was always pushed to the side, and the only friend I 
accepted twisted my mind to evil, and blackened my heart.  That so 
called friend was my dark side, the only friend I thought I could 
trust, and I put all this trust in him.  What a foolish mistake that 
was.  It achieved my ends through horrible means and in my mad lust for 
power, love, and respect; I killed those who stood in my way.  When I 
came to my senses I looked down and saw my bloodstained paws.  It knew 
I was far to weak to kill my enemies myself, so it persuaded lower 
creatures on the food chain to do my dirty work.  The hyenas were my 
natural choice, and with the allegiance of Shenzi, and her clan of 
loathsome assassins, they made my wishes a dark reality.  Of course I 
had to strike the final blow!  I had to slaughter Mufasa myself!"

	"I don't deserve to live, when I die The Pride Lands will no 
doubt live again, but I am so afraid.  What will happen to me when I 
die?  I know there will be no happiness for me, after what I have done.  
There will only be unbelievable torture, pain and anguish, but it will 
be justified, no other creature will deserve it more.  Aiheu, I want to 
try to start again, that is why I left The Pride Lands in the first 
place, and then I saw HER!  What a sight for my tired eyes!  She was 
the most beautiful lioness I had ever seen, and she even made Sarabi 
pale in comparison.  How I wanted to make a pride with her, and create 
a new life for me here.  But that is all crushed now; my past had done 
it again.  Somehow I'll go on, but my heart will remain empty and I'll 
always be alone.  One day my life will end, but who will care?  Whoever 
cared about me, I am just Scar!  If only things had turned out 
differently, if only, if only!"

	He rose to his paws and began his journey back to his homeland, 
wiping his face with his paws.  As he moved his paw down his face he 
touched his scar and shook his head, sighing loudly to the skies.  
There was a slight shuffle of foliage and he quickly looked around to 
see a lioness running towards him.  He squinted through his tear 
stained eyes and saw it was Ushandra.

	"Ushan...." He was unable to finish as he was knocked on his back 
and licked lovingly.  He gazed upon her face astounded, but then 
returned her kiss with a lick of his own, then both of them kissed 
fully on the lips.  The moon cast its light upon the two lions as they 
consummated their love for each other and Scar's heart finally began to 
heal. He looked into Ushandra's amber eyes and said the only two words 
that said everything he wanted her to hear,

	"Thank you."


CHAPTER TWO: DECISIONS


	Ushandra and Scar became soul mates after that day, and the 
following days and nights were filled with their love for each other.  
They were never apart, they were always together.  Days changed into 
weeks, and the activities the two lovers participated in are enough to 
fill an entire book; it seemed nothing would separate them.  Their 
happiness only increased when Scar noticed their love was beginning to 
take form in Ushandra's belly.  The two lions nuzzled each other 
affectionately as they spent the rest of the day dreaming up names for 
the cub.  Scar was hopeful it would be a male, as was Ushandra, but 
each lion also agreed that a daughter would be a welcome addition as 
well. Before Ushandra became pregnant, Scar had been debating a 
difficult question over and over in his mind, and now, since they were 
to be parents, Scar decided that the answer had already been given.  He 
slowly nodded his head and decided that this was the day when he must 
tell Ushandra.

	He found her in her favorite spot, atop a high rock in a place 
where the sunlight penetrated the dense foliage.  When he found her in 
this manner, he could only marvel at how beautiful she truly was.  The 
sun would gleam off her pelt and make he appear as a leonine goddess.  
Thinking this thought through his mind, Scar smiled as he realized how 
true it was.  She was his goddess and he would do anything to make her 
happy.

	As he sat watching his love sleep peacefully in the sunlight, 
with a content grin on her face, her back slowly rising up and down as 
she breathed in long, slow breaths, his grin changed to a frown, and 
his eyes fell towards the ground.  He knew what he was about to say 
would make her unhappy and he hated to see her cry.  Plus it would make 
him remember his past, but to ensure the future for both of them, he 
had to go through with it.  The sun shown down upon his love and mate, 
as he strode and nudged her gently with his nose so she would awaken.

	"Mmmmm, wha... Oh it's you, my love.  I was having such a 
wonderful dream."

	"Was I in it?"

	"Oh yes!  Do you want to know what it was about?"  She smiled 
seductively but the smile quickly vanished when she saw Scar's face.

	"My love, what is it?"

	"There is something I must tell you, but don't say anything until 
I finish, all right?" Ushandra just gazed into Scar's eyes and agreed 
without a sound.

	"Ushandra, I told you all about my past, and it has helped me 
greatly.  I feel I can finally turn my tail on all the terrible things 
that has happened to me, but far back in my mind I cannot forget who I 
was.  I have to go back and tell them it's over.  I must tell them I am 
no longer their king, so I can sever all ties with my past pride and 
start a new one with you."

	"What!  No!  You have to stay with me, I thought you loved me!"  
Scar quickly placed his paws on the sides of Ushandra's face and looked 
deep into her eyes.

	"I do love you Ushandra and I always will, nothing will ever 
destroy that.  You and I will be united forever.  We are one!"

	"Then why would you leave me, especially when our cub is about to 
be born?"

	"I want to do this before our cub is brought into the world, 
Ushandra, I want his father to always be there for him, and if I do 
this now I will.  I will teach him all the things that I was never 
taught.  He will grow into a lion, the likes of which the world has 
never seen, he will be the lion of all lions!"

	"Promise me that you will come back to me."

	"I will return as soon as I can.  Our love will find a way!"

	"Prove your love to me Scar!"

	"What do you mean?"  Scar looked down at Ushandra's belly 
"Haven't we already done that?"

	"Pledge your love to me, Scar, just to make it official.  There 
is no other male that I would ever love and I want to know that you 
feel the same!"  Scar only smiled at this, no lioness had ever asked 
him for this.  Scar licked Ushandra across the face and then allowed 
her to get up.  She met him nose to nose and returned the lick with one 
of her own.  Placing his left paw on her shoulder, Scar began the 
symbolic ritual that he had wished forever since he had first seen 
Ushandra.

	"Ushandra, before the gods, before the stars, before the 
assembled host I swear to give you my protection, my life, and my 
comfort forever."

	"Scar, till the last beat of my heart, to the last breath I sigh, 
our lives are one, so help me gods."  Both lions looked deep into each 
other's eyes and Scar knew if he stayed any longer he would never be 
able to leave.  They nuzzled there under the sun for what seemed like 
an eternity, neither wanting this moment to end.

	"Remember I will, and always shall love you, Ushandra.  You were 
the one who finally healed my scar!"

	"I love you, Scar!  Hurry back to me!"

	The two lions met muzzle to muzzle in a kiss that neither of them 
wanted to break.  They both knew that this moment will last forever in 
each of their minds, but still it was so hard to say good-bye.

* * * * * *

	With one last look Scar gazed upon his love standing on a high 
hill, and waved with his paw.  He smiled one last time and then 
spinning on his claws ran back towards the place that had created him, 
intent on eradicating that memory so he can start anew with his love 
and his unborn cub.  Ushandra watched him go and felt hot tears begin 
to well up in her eyes, but held them back.

	"May Aiheu watch over you my love.  A quick return is all I pray 
for.  I will return to this spot every day and begin this silent vigil 
so I will see your beautiful form appear on the horizon and then we 
will finally be together for all time!  Come back to me Scar as soon as 
you can!"

	Ushandra felt a strong stir in her loins and knew the time was 
very near; she slowly padded down the mountain and went to search for a 
comfortable place.  If only Scar knew how close she was, maybe he would 
not have left so soon.  She began to run faster and faster as the 
contractions became more intense heading for the jungle that was her 
home.  She finally reached a secluded spot, just as she felt the moment 
was upon her.  An hour later Scar's son was born.

* * * * * *

	"When is father coming home?"  Ushandra turned from her watch and 
smiled at her young son.  He may be shy and quiet, but she still loved 
him with all her heart.  He was Scar's and Ushandra's cub; that was all 
that mattered, and how much he looked just like his father.  The same 
pelt, the same mane, and the same eyes.  He also had the one trait that 
impressed Ushandra the most; he was very intelligent and learned his 
first lessons of life very quickly.  Ushandra knew it was only a matter 
of time before she would teach him to hunt.

	"Soon my son," she nuzzled his face in a motherly embrace, "Scar 
will return very soon."

	"But you said that yesterday, and the day after that, and the day 
after that, and the day after..."

	"Hush my little one."

	She still had not named her cub, wanting that to be done by Scar, 
even though she thought Taka would be a perfect name.

	"How long has it been?"  The innocent cub began playing with his 
mother's tail as it swished about reflexively.  Ushandra looked back at 
the horizon and sighed.

	"I don't know, too long.  I have waited and waited but I cannot 
wait any longer, I have to see what has happened.  I have to go to the 
place Scar called Pride Rock."

	"Wow!  That sounds really cool, can I come?"

	"No, you stay here, but stay well out of sight in the jungle.  
Don't wander off or follow me.  Do you understand?"

	"Yes mother I do, bring Daddy back!"

	"I love you my son!"  Ushandra nuzzled her cub's cheek and nudged 
his rump with her nose.  The cub scampered off but first waved good-bye 
with his paw, and then disappeared down the hill.  Ushandra turned her 
attention towards the horizon and breathed in deeply.  She could not 
wait any longer, despite what she promised Scar.  She had to see him, 
and find out what has happened, it must have been at least three months 
since he left.

	"Scar, I'm coming to find you!"  Looking back she saw her young 
cub disappear into the foliage and then with a firm nod of her head ran 
down the hill towards the Pride Lands, and towards her love.


CHAPTER THREE: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY


	Scar gazed upon the three hyenas before him and sighed deeply.  
On this day in Pride Rock he had told the three hyena leaders, well two 
if he could really count Ed as a leader, that he had a proclamation for 
every creature of The Pride Lands.  He sighed as he realized that would 
be only the hyenas and the lionesses since all the rest of the 
creatures had fled to seek more hospitable land.  Banzai and Ed 
attended to the task at once, but with looks of confusion especially 
when they saw how well fed Scar was and how he seemed... different.  
Scar was certainly glad to leave these three behind, especially Shenzi, 
who he had never trusted.  Scar noticed Shenzi still had not moved, and 
when he walked towards her, he noticed, with a slight feeling of fear 
that her eyes were as cold as ice.

	"Shouldn't you catch up with your brothers?"

	"Where the hell have you been?"

	"Why, did you miss me?"

	"Don't play games with me Scar!  We're damned near starving 
thanks to you.  How can you just leave like that and leave us here to 
die?"

	"Your the resourceful one aren't you?  Figure it out yourself!"

	"You know Scar, I'm getting sick and tired of you bossing me and 
my fellow hyenas around."

	"Oh that is too bad, I am so sorry to hear that."  Shenzi's 
muzzle began to twist into a snarl.

	"You better remember..."

	"What Shenzi, remember I'm king?  You should do the same!"

	Scar waved her away with his paw.  She growled some obscenity in 
her own language and began to walk away, but he heard her mumble as she 
tramped out of his lair,

	"There are ways of changing that."  In a fury Scar roared and ran 
around in front of her, expecting to see her surprised, but she still 
only had that look of wrath.

	"Was that a challenge?"

	"Should it be?"

	"Just because your mother and I were allies doesn't mean I should 
show you, or your two brothers, any more love than the rest of your 
pack."

	"Oh it doesn't?  You know Scar there are things about that that 
even you don't know.  I would love to see the look on your face if you 
did."

	"What are you saying?"  Scar was the master of mind games, but he 
hated it when they were being used on him.

	"Nothing... Your majesty," Scar could almost hear the sarcasm 
drip from her jaws,  "I will gather the lionesses and my pack.  Just 
remember this, if I ever find out you were just using us for your own 
ends, then my pack and I will..."

	"What Shenzi, what will you do?"  The female hyena said nothing, 
only grinned wickedly then padded away.  Scar watched her go and then 
turned his tail on her and disappeared into the shadows of his lair.  
Shenzi quickly spun around and when she thought he was out of earshot, 
she finished her sentence,

	"Rip you to shreds!"

* * * * * *

	Scar stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the words that 
Shenzi thought he wouldn't hear.  One thing he always had was excellent 
hearing.  He snarled and ran back outside his lair but she was gone.  
He looked around but saw nothing, only the hyenas coming together below 
him, as well as the lionesses.  He sighed once more as he saw them.  
They were all weak and malnourished; he could almost count the bones 
hanging loosely from their undersides.  He sighed deeply; he could feel 
tears begin to well up behind his eyes as he watched them follow the 
hyenas in a silent line.  He strode towards the edge of the path and 
his eyes first fell on Sarabi, and with her, a whole jumble of memories 
followed.  Despite that she was as malnourished as the rest of the 
females, but she still carried the respect and dignity she had always 
possessed.  These were the qualities that Scar had once loved, and he 
knew that once Sarabi had loved him too.  His mind traveled back to 
happier times when they were both cubs and how they had always wanted 
to be married, their innocent laughter echoing in his tortured mind.  
He had called her Sassie, and she had called him her soul mate, but 
that was so long ago.  Due to a dark prophecy, years of turmoil, 
decades of denial, and countless untold atrocities the two carefree 
lovers became estranged, and soon their love disappeared.  Sarabi found 
comfort in the paws of another lion, and it only added more fervor to 
Scar's hate when he found out it was his brother.  Scar always secretly 
knew Mufasa had eyes for Sassie and he wasn't too surprised when his 
fears became true.  He remembered pleading with Sarabi to love him like 
she once did, but this became utterly futile.  She would never have the 
same love for him that they had when they were growing up.  Scar blamed 
Mufasa for this corrupting of Sarabi.  When she attempted to rip out 
his left eye in a violent act of denial and hatred, he knew Mufasa was 
to blame.  Sarabi might as well torn out Scar's heart as well that day, 
she unknowingly killed Taka and Scar's dark side was born.  Things only 
became worse over time, and each day Scar's dark side became stronger 
until the day came when it took complete control of his mind.  It, not 
the real noble lion underneath, slaughtered his brother, ordered the 
hyenas to do the same to his nephew, and then transformed his beloved 
homeland into a nightmare.  There was nothing he could do about that 
now, but still not a day went by when he thought about what he, no his 
dark side, had done.  That is why he left The Pride Lands in the first 
place.  Thank Aiheu that he found Ushandra before he would have ended 
his own life; in his tortured mind there was nothing left to live for.  
Ushandra was his salvation that turned his life around and now as he 
looked upon the gathered throng, how he wanted to be back with her.   
Ushandra gave Scar something to live for and perhaps Aiheu and the 
other gods that made up the religion of the lions of Pride Rock had at 
last taken pity on him.  Maybe the kings of the past were watching him 
after all.  Just why had they taken so long?

	He shook these grim thoughts away, after all they were his past 
and soon he was about to leave the past behind.  His gaze fell upon 
Sassie once more, and he knew he still had an intense feeling of hate 
for her.  She would always say he was nothing like Mufasa, and how the 
hate flowed through his veins when she uttered that name.  He felt like 
striking her across the face with a backhanded paw, and as he watched 
her, he made a silent promise that if she ever compared him to Mufasa 
again he wouldn't hold back his paw.  He began to snarl as he thought 
about her; she was no Ushandra!  She wasn't even worthy to shine 
Ushandra's claws!  She was the main reason Taka died and Scar was born.  
That was one truth that he would never forget.

	The procession came to halt below him and Shenzi called his name 
to the skies. Scar walked up the path towards the presentation cliff 
and prepared himself for what he was about to say.  He knew that his 
tenure as king was over and soon he would be back with his love and his 
cub forever.  A tremendous clap of thunder shook him from his 
daydreams, while many bolts of lightning began to light up the skies.

	"What a perfect setting for my proclamation," he thought, "Soon 
very soon Ushandra, you and I will be together and then what a 
marvelous life we shall have! Thanks be to Aiheu that I found you!  Now 
let's get this over with."

	"Saaaraaaabiiii!" Scar roared the name of the Lion Queen to the 
skies as another crash of thunder rolled through the skies.  He saw her 
walk proudly towards him, ignoring the curses and snarls of the hyenas 
she passed.  Scar leaped off his perch and met her nose to nose, then 
began to walk around her, studying her intently.

	"Why have your hunting parties come back empty?"

	"Scar there is no food..."

	"No!  You're just not looking hard enough!"

	"There is nothing left!  We must leave Pride Rock."

	"We're not going anywhere."  At least not you, Scar thought 
smugly to himself.

	"Then you have sentenced us to die!"

	"I am the king I can do whatever I want!"

	"If you were half the king Mufasa was..." That was it she had to 
say it.  He made his promise come true by hitting the lioness he had 
once loved, full in the face with a backhanded paw.  Every lie, 
everything that had happened to him, and all his decades of denial were 
put into the blow.  Was it justified?  In Scar's mind it was, after all 
Sarabi was the main character in killing Taka and creating Scar.  Now 
his past was truly over, any last traces of love he had for Sarabi were 
now extinguished.  Now he could begin his new life with Ushandra, now 
he could leave finally leave his guilt behind him.

	"I am ten times the king Mufasa was..."

	Scar was just about to continue his proclamation, when he heard a 
tremendous roar fill Pride Rock.  He turned just in time to see the one 
thing that he would have never believed possible.


CHAPTER FOUR: EYEWITNESS TO MURDER


	Ushandra looked up into the rolling thunder and the lightning 
filled skies.  A storm was coming and it seemed like it would turn the 
entire landscape upside down.  She had traveled for many days, and now 
Pride Rock could be seen in the distance.  She was appalled by the 
destruction around her.  Scar did not exaggerate at all.  The entire 
landscape was a dead wasteland; there was nothing left alive.  Ushandra 
understood Scar's dark side perhaps better than any other creature 
alive, but how could it be capable of this much evil?   There were 
skeletons of great beasts strewn everywhere and they matched the dead 
trees, their branches hanging as if in sorrow.  She saw groups of 
hyenas here and there, but did not stay clear of them.  She followed 
one particular group all the way from the northern border, as they 
returned from their regular patrols.  She followed stealthily behind 
them until she finally saw Pride Rock for the first time.  Darting 
behind the ribcage of a long dead elephant, she hid when one hyena 
suddenly stopped and sniffed the air.  He continued to breath in the 
air, curious by the new scent, and then Ushandra froze as the hyena 
turned and looked towards the ribcage.  Ushandra began to shake as she 
thought she would be discovered, while the hyena began to drool, and 
then licking his fangs, he began pacing towards her.  Suddenly a large 
male hyena followed by another male, almost as large as the first but 
with a foolish grin on his face, ran towards the group and called them 
together.  The one hyena that had caught the scent cursed something in 
his native tongue but reluctantly walked back towards the rest of the 
group, but occasionally looking back a few times.  Ushandra watched as 
the one large male barked out orders to the group and then motioned for 
them to follow him.  They all complied, even the one who had almost 
found Ushandra, that is after a good kick in the rump by the large male 
when he noticed the hyena started walking towards a rotting rib cage.  
Ushandra almost breathed a sigh of relief, but then that one hyena with 
his tongue hanging out of his mouth, and with the wild eyes, suddenly 
looked towards Ushandra's hiding place.  He danced and jumped as he saw 
her tail, and tried to get the other hyenas to notice him, but when he 
looked for his kin they were already far away.  The stupid thing then 
began laughing maniacally and drooling onto the ground.  Ushandra tried 
to hold back a laugh, even in this much danger; this crazy hyena was 
just too funny to be afraid of.

	"Ed, get your stupid carcass over here!"  The hyena stopped his 
ravings and looked back at the large male who had called him.  Ed 
looked back at Ushandra and then did something which almost caused 
Ushandra to laugh out loud; he actually waved good-bye before he ran 
back towards Pride Rock.  Ushandra just shook her head as she watched 
him leave, and was starting to understand why Scar left this place.  
Scar!  She looked towards Pride Rock as she suddenly heard her love's 
mighty voice sound over the lands.  Her face became a giant smile as 
she saw her love standing there in a regal pose and her heart began to 
pound in her chest.  She had found him at last, and he looked as 
magnificent as when she had last seen him disappear into the horizon.  
She remembered how the sun gleamed off his flanks, and how the wind 
caused his mane to swirl around him; now her love was equally as 
stunning as he stood there amidst the flashes of lightning and crashing 
thunder.  Scar suddenly leaped from his perch and disappeared from her 
view.  With a look of confusion she ran closer to Pride Rock and tried 
to see what was going on.  As she was running, she realized how close 
to danger she truly was, then realized she was almost going to run into 
a group of hyenas!  Thankfully she stopped just in time before she was 
discovered, and before one hyena turned around as he heard a slight 
noise behind him, she was safe behind a large rock.  Well until she 
noticed she was right in front of another group of hyenas with their 
backs turned to her.  She closed her eyes, and tried not to think about 
what the hideous beasts would do to her when they turned around and saw 
her, but no attack came, no enraged growls were heard.  Ushandra slowly 
opened one eye and saw all four of the hyenas begin walking towards 
something that had caught their attention.  Then she heard a loud 
squeal followed by a meerkat and a terribly plump warthog screaming as 
loud as they could as about twenty hyenas were chasing them.  She shook 
her head once more and even giggled as she watched the chase, and then 
smiled as she took note of the great luck that had happened to her.  
The meerkat and the warthog had distracted all of the hyenas from the 
place were she was hiding, and now, for the moment, she was completely 
safe, now she could make sure her love was all right.

	She crept out from behind the rock and from this vantage point 
had a clear view of Scar and all the lionesses, without being seen by 
any of them.  However, he jaw dropped open when she saw Scar talking to 
a female!  She couldn't believe her eyes. Who the hell was she?  Why 
was Scar talking to her like he had known her for ages?  Her face was a 
mask of confusion as she watched Scar start to pace around the lioness, 
taking note that for some reason he was growing very annoyed by this 
female's indifferent, almost regal posture.  Ushandra raised a paw to 
her mouth as she saw Scar suddenly strike the female full in the face, 
then she immediately closed her eyes when she saw the blood fly from 
the nasty blow.  Suddenly she realized her suspicions were unjustified, 
Scar definitely had no love for this female!  Ushandra breathed a huge 
sigh of relief.  She knew she worried too much, now that she thought 
about it, what did she have to worry about?  Scar would soon be with 
her once again, and Scar only loved one lioness, her!  It was at that 
happy thought when she heard the roar.

* * * * * *

	Her eyes instantly opened and she looked towards the giant male 
lion at the same time the rest of the lions did.  However unlike the 
rest, she instantly looked back at Scar, and her eyes widened when she 
saw his face.  He had a look of intense fear, something she had never 
saw before, what was going on?

	"Mufasa!  No your dead!"

	Scar began to back up and crouched close to the earth, shaking 
like a scared cub. The female looked up and spoke the name Scar had 
used.  But the male shook his head and called himself Simba.

	"Simba? Simmmmbaaa!  I'm a little surprised to see you... alive."  
Ushandra looked back and saw the familiar Scar she had grown to love.  
Words and sentences followed that made no sense to her, and things were 
made even more confusing when Scar called the male lion a murderer.  
She couldn't hear the rest of the "conversation" as Scar turned things 
around and put the male on the defensive.  Scar had soon backed the 
male up to the edge and Ushandra almost yelped with glee as she watched 
Simba slip off the edge, but caught himself at the last second with his 
front claws.  She wanted to help her love, but she couldn't move from 
her hiding place or she would be seen by either the lionesses, or the 
countless hyenas that have swarmed all around the two combatants.

	"No!  Murderer!"  Ushandra heard Simba's enraged roar as he 
somehow pushed himself off the edge, and at the same time, in a 
stunning feat of agility, he tackled Scar to the ground.

	"No!"  Ushandra almost screamed, but thankfully only mouthed the 
word without the sound.  She saw Simba say something to Scar and then 
she but her lip so she wouldn't scream when Simba placed his claws on 
Scar's throat.

	"I killed Mufasa!"  Ushandra shook her head in agreement when 
Scar told his darkest truth; she held no guilt for him.  In her mind he 
was innocent, Mufasa had ruined sweet Taka and deserved it, but then 
she realized no other creature understood this.  Staring wide-eyed she 
saw about ten hyenas save their king from certain death as they 
attacked Simba in a flurry of teeth and claws.  Her head swung back to 
the left and she heard the lionesses roar in unison, led by a large, 
beautiful female who had these amazing blue eyes.  The battle for Pride 
Rock began, but no one knew, or for that matter, cared about the 
unknown lioness who was watching the whole thing.  All except for Scar.  
He sprang to his feet and it must have been pure coincidence that he 
saw Ushandra below him.  He mouthed her name in absolute surprise, and 
nodded when he saw her motion with her head to follow him.  Scar looked 
around frantically but saw Simba too busy fending off the hyenas to 
notice Ushandra move below him.  Scar looked to the other side and saw 
the lionesses too engaged in the battle to notice Ushandra either, but 
then he found himself staring right into the eyes of Sarabi.  Scar's 
jaw dropped like a stone, as he knew Sarabi must have seen Ushandra 
too.  He squinted his eyes and cocked his head to the side when he saw 
Sarabi's face.  There was no anger there at all, only a look of sorrow.

	"Get out of here, while you still can.  Go with your love; be 
with the lioness who could give you what I never would.  Just remember 
that once I loved you."

	Scar's eyes spread wide as he understood every word Sarabi said, 
even though she mouthed all of them so no one else would hear her.  
Scar nodded quickly then ran between a lioness and a hyena who were 
fighting each other tooth and claw.  Safe for the moment, Scar looked 
back and saw Sarabi still staring at him, but now tears were streaming 
down her face.  Scar had to say something, but in a moment like this he 
could think of nothing, so he said three words that came straight from 
his heart.

	"I love you!"  He saw Sarabi nod slowly and without a second look 
he ran down the path and after Ushandra.

* * * * * *

	He was almost there, just a few more feet and then he could run a 
fast as he could. A crash of thunder caused him to look up and he froze 
as he saw Simba above him. Simba had fended off the hyenas and now had 
found his main target.  Scar looked back down and saw Ushandra, then 
back up at Simba.  Looking back down once again, his heart broke when 
he saw Ushandra had tears in her eyes, she knew what was about to 
happen.  Scar looked back up and saw Simba running towards him, that is 
when panic gripped his mind.  He ran back up the path and tried to find 
another way, but lightning flashed around him and one bolt struck the 
ground.  Flames rose from its wake, and wherever he turned he was 
trapped, every direction he tired to go was cut off, and the only way 
left was to go back up.  He ran up the path and stopped as he realized 
there was nowhere else for him to run to, all of Pride Rock was 
surrounded by a wall of fire.  He looked to the skies and realized the 
gods were against him; Aiheu had doomed him to death.  He suddenly 
realized the grim truth, this was it, these were his last minutes 
alive!  No it could not be true, Ushandra, his cub, his new life, it 
couldn't end like this, not now!  How could he have been prepared for 
this?  What will happen to Ushandra and their cub, how would they 
survive without him?  Scar felt tears in his eyes, as he realized he 
was about to die, but his tears were not shed.  Instead he wailed to 
the kings of the past who had forsaken him, all he could think about 
was that his past had finally caught up to him, and now instead of 
burying his past, it was going to bury him.  Scar looked towards the 
ground and saw Ushandra looking up at him for the last time, just as 
Simba leaped over the flames.

* * * * * *

	Ushandra was paralyzed with fear.  She looked this way and that 
as she tried to find a way to reach her love, but flames blocked every 
option and every path.  She wailed to her love, but he was too far away 
to hear her, and then she gasped when she saw Scar suddenly try a 
surprise attack.  She watched in horror as the two great lions fought 
each other for control of The Pride Lands.  It was a brutal but short 
fight, both lions were easily matched but Scar made a fatal error by 
attempting a lunge, so he could tackle Simba to the ground.  Ushandra 
saw the well-placed kick that sent Scar sprawling over Simba and off 
the edge.  She shook her head.  No it couldn't be true, Scar couldn't 
lose.  In desperation she ran towards the place her love had fallen but 
skidded to a stop as she saw it was infested with hyenas.  She saw Scar 
try to rise, wounded but alive, and she felt a moment of hope, but then 
stood transfixed, frozen in fear as she saw the hyenas begin to advance 
towards her love.  Ushandra shut her eyes as she saw three hyenas lunge 
at Scar all at once, but her eyes sprang open when she heard his 
horrible scream.  Shenzi lunged towards Scar's throat and bit down with 
all her might.  Scar fell; his eyes slowly closed.  Shenzi rode her 
head in triumph, blood dripping off her jaws.  She smiled hideously 
when she saw Ushandra's shocked face.  The female hyena laughed out 
loud, and then all the hyenas ran towards the kill and feasted upon 
Ushandra's love.  Shenzi swung her head back down and placed her jaws 
on the once beautiful lion's mane.  She pulled with all her might, 
ripping out Scar's throat in a splash of blood.  Ushandra began to back 
up, she shook her head, then covered her eyes with her paws, but when 
she removed them the gruesome scene was still there.  Her eyes were 
wide and filled with tears, her body shook with grief, and her voice 
screamed with sorrow,

	"No, No, No, No, Noooooooooo!"  She ran from the scene trying to 
escape the memory and the wicked laughter of the hyenas.


CHAPTER FIVE: INNOCENCE SLAIN


	Ushandra walked in a daze, she was in total shock, and did not 
even know where to go or what to do.  Her mind was a jumbled mess, and 
her paws trembled with each step.  Her eyes stayed fixed on a point 
ahead of her that did not even exist, as she wandered aimlessly for 
many minutes, to the point of walking in a whole circle.  A mighty roar 
brought her back to reality and with it am emotion she never felt 
before.  She swung her heads back towards Pride Rock and there he was, 
Scar's murderer.  Ushandra stared at his distant form as he announced 
his victory to all the lands.  The lionesses surrounding him echoed his 
triumphant roar, and in unison they proclaimed that a new monarch was 
born, Simba, the new Lion King.  Ushandra continued her unblinking 
stare at the giant male, the pouring rain soaking her pelt, drops 
dripping like tears onto the ground.  Her eyes began to narrow, but 
they remained focused on the lion as the rain poured down her face, and 
dripped off her whiskers.  She had no need to cry; the raindrops were 
her tears.  Her body began to quiver, her breathing began to become 
louder and heavier, her claws became unsheathed then retracted, her 
paws flexed, her tail twitched like a frenzied snake, her muzzle 
twisted into a snarl, her voice was a resonance of emotion, but was 
drowned out by the roars of the lions of Pride Rock.  She roared and 
snarled as she kept staring at the creature who had murdered her love 
and destroyed everything their love had stood for.  She felt emotions 
that had never before entered her mind, every synonym for anger that 
could be found coursed through her veins, but most of all she felt 
something for this male that would never dissipate.  For her this 
emotion would stay with her for eternity.  The best word that could 
describe what she was feeling would only be one.  Complete, utter, and 
unrestrained hate.  Her eyes narrowed to slits, she looked right then 
left, and then back up towards her enemy as she made a pact with 
herself that would never be compromised,

	"Simba, from this day forth, you and the rest of your pride are 
my sworn enemies!  I will never forget what you did to my love.  You 
murdered him, and you murdered my future, and my happiness that I could 
have had with him.  For that I can never forgive you!  I just hope that 
one day you feel as much loss as I do now, and the I hope you'll suffer 
with it until you die!"  She gasped and raised a paw to her muzzle.  
What was she doing?  What was she saying?  She would never think 
thoughts like this, let alone speak them out loud.  What had happened 
to her?  She shook her head trying to clear her mind, but then 
something else entered it, that was far worse than her previous hatred, 
understanding.

	"Oh my Aiheu, Scar you're gone, I'll never see you again!"  All 
her tears that were previously held back now burst forth from her eyes 
like a swollen river, and she ran from Pride Rock weeping and moaning 
with more grief then she ever thought possible.  Only one thought 
remained in her mind, and no matter how much she tried, she would never 
forget it.  Scar was gone; nothing would ever change that.

* * * * * *

	Through tear stained eyes, Ushandra slowly raised her head, 
somehow she made it back to the borders of her home.  The jungle's 
highest trees could be seen along the horizon and the ground was moist 
and fertile, unlike the dead wasteland she had come from, she was 
finally home.  She wanted nothing more then to find a nice, comfortable 
spot and fall asleep.  She wiped her eyes with the back of her paw, her 
tears finally starting to cease.  She ran her paw over her face, 
massaging it and wiping the tears off the tears.  She looked back 
behind her and sighed, then with her head hanging low to the ground she 
walked towards the jungle.

	Suddenly she raised her head and sniffed the air, something 
wasn't right.  A strange scent lingered in the air, but it was too 
faint to recognize.  She looked above her and scanned the sky.  The 
rain had stopped but the clouds were still a dark, menacing gray, and 
there was a strange, ominous presence all around her.  She couldn't 
ignore this feeling of dread as she slowly walked towards the high hill 
where she had once waited for Scar.  She felt tears once again but held 
them back, immediately discarding the thought.  She slowly trudged up 
the steep hillside, and was near the top when the scent became 
stronger.  As she reached the crest, she immediately recognized what it 
was, only then she saw something much worse, but it wasn't sensed by 
her keen nose, but by her eyes.

	Vultures, at least five of them circling in the sky caught her 
eye; simultaneously her nose told her the scent was unmistakably the 
smell of hyenas.  It was at that second when her senses told her brain 
why,

	"Oh my God no!"  She sprinted off the hill and dashed down its 
side.  She prayed to Aiheu, her mind desperately pleading with him to 
make it not true.  The closer she reached the edge of the jungle, the 
worse things became, and now she could she vultures circling above and 
four on the ground pulling at the remains of some creature.

	"No, please God, tell me it's not true!"  She roared with all her 
might, and lunged towards the vultures causing them all to turn their 
beaks at her in unison.  Squawking and cursing at her in their own 
language, they all spread their wings and ran off, soon taking to the 
air with their lives in tact.  Ushandra skidded to a halt and almost 
fainted when she saw, what she prayed to be false, was indeed sadly 
true.  Bloody, covered in feathers, and torn to pieces was a lion cub, 
but the color of the pelt and the color of the eyes could not be 
mistaken.  It was Scar's and Ushandra's cub!  Now he was with his 
father.

	"Oh Aiheu, why!  Why, why, why?  My flesh and blood, my poor son, 
look what they did to you!"  She cradled the bloody corpse with her 
paws and kissed her son's forehead.  She looked down and began to cry 
as she could hardly recognize her once beautiful cub.  His once 
brilliant green eyes, so like his father, had lost their light and were 
glazed over in death.  His entire body was covered in long, nasty 
wounds, and his neck was broken in half.  His head dangled from his 
body, the skin and the fur the only things keeping it together.  These 
were the good things.  The rest of was either ripped apart or had been 
devoured.  Who was to blame for this?  Ushandra cradled her cub in her 
paws, absently stroking his head with her paw as she looked around.  
She already knew the answer as the scent of hyenas hung in the air 
around her, but tracks were everywhere and small clumps of hyena fur 
fluttered in the breeze.  Ushandra looked back towards what was left of 
her cub and wept silently, but her crying intensified as she suddenly 
realized everything that had once given her happiness was gone.  Scar, 
her love, her mate, and her husband was slain before her eyes, and now 
her child was lost to her, before her had barely begun to live.  There 
was nothing left for her to love anymore! Ushandra suddenly screamed 
towards the skies, cursing all she was, all she knew, all she 
understood, and all she had once believed in.  Aiheu had forsaken her, 
so now she would abandon all her beliefs in him.  There was nothing 
left, there was only hate.  Ushandra died that tragic, day but in her 
place a new lioness was born.



Part Two: The Queen of Hate


CHAPTER SIX: DREAM SO PRETTY


	"Simba!  Scream your dying gasp to me!  It is time for you to 
meet my love!"  Zira's claws flashed and plunged towards Simba's 
throat.  As she ripped a long slash with her claws, Zira flinched as 
blood flew in her face.  She looked at her enemy and grinned a wicked 
smile, her tongue licking the dripping blood off her lips.  She lifted 
the dead king easily and threw the lifeless carcass off the 
presentation cliff of Pride Rock, all the while laughing maniacally.  
Zira turned towards Simba's daughter who stood wide-eyed, and shaking 
visibly, frozen with fear

	"Oh, is sweet Kiara scared?  I'll make it all better!"  In a 
flash her claws had picked Kiara up by her throat, and in a mere second 
had Simba's daughter squealing in her grasp.

	"Now its your turn!  It is time for you to meet my son!"  She let 
go of her hold and watched Kiara fall from her grasp towards the 
unforgiving earth and the impending doom of impact.  Blood dripping off 
her claws and face, she turned towards the lionesses and grinned a 
wicked smile of complete triumph as the sun began to set behind her, 
turning the entire sky to a deep red.

	"Sing for me lionesses!  Sing your dirge of sorrow and my hymn of 
victory!"  The lionesses slowly raised their heads, tears dripping from 
their eyes, and roared their mournful cry towards the heavens.  The 
lionesses ended their song, and then one by one they bowed their heads 
in respect and fear to the new ruler of Pride Rock.  The day had 
finally arrived that Zira had waited for, and a feeling of absolute 
triumph coursed through her veins, at least her vengeance was quenched.  
She had waited for this moment as long as she could remember, and now 
everything was complete.  The sun set behind her, creating a radiant 
blood red sky, and flames rose up in a wall of fire below her that 
caused her pelt to glimmer and gleam.  Zira sat up on her haunches and 
spread her paws in a "V" above her.  Her deep voice screamed one last 
resounding verse towards the sky,

	"This is for you Scar!"

* * * * * *

	Zira shook herself awake and looked around in a daze.  She was 
shaking but it was not due to fear, it was due to ecstasy.

	"What a fabulous dream!"  She laughed a laugh that would chill 
any creature to the bone.  She was no longer the innocent lioness she 
once was; now all she felt was a deep emptiness, and a deep sense of 
hate that would never leave her.  Her nights were filled with dreams of 
Simba's death, and how she loved every second of them, while her days 
were filled with death and destruction.  Any creature she saw, she 
killed for no reason, only because it gave her pleasure.  Why should 
they be happy when she would never be?  She wanted every creature to 
suffer, she wanted The Circle of Life to become a circle of death, and 
she wanted each and every creature to feel pain and agony, two emotions 
that she felt every second of her life.  She had abandoned all the 
teachings of her parents, and Aiheu meant nothing to her now.  To Zira, 
he never existed.  In her mind The Great Circle of Life was a straight 
arrow towards her teeth and claws, Aiheu did not exist, and the Kings 
of the Past were nothing more than a collection of dead lions who cared 
nothing for her.  She would never realize it, but she had become a 
female Scar.  She did not realize it, but she felt just like Scar had 
before he had met her, but Zira had no one to love.  She only had the 
opposite, but the way she embraced this emotion will be spoken of for 
years to come.

	Zira loved hate.  She relished in it.  It was a way to forget 
about her pain, by giving pain to others.  In her mind Ushandra never 
existed, but if she did, her life ended with her love and her cub.  
This lioness, once known as Ushandra, took a new name to match her new 
identity.  There would be none better then the word hate itself, after 
all she was the epitome of it.  So she changed her name to Zira, 
Swahili for hate.

	Zira would often leave the place where she slept, to enjoy 
herself.  After a few hours, and after many more creatures lost their 
lives by her claws, Zira returned to her favorite spot to get some more 
rest, hoping for more pleasant dreams, dreams like the last one soothed 
her.  Her once golden pelt had changed to a light brown, and her eyes 
changed from light amber to a dark burgundy, almost blood red.  It 
would take her a while to fall asleep though after returning from her 
fun, after all the annoying sound of blood dripping onto the ground 
from an entire pelt covered in it, was a little annoying.

* * * * * *

	"Ushandra, what have you done?"  That voice, it couldn't be.  She 
swung her head but saw nothing,

	"Scar?"

	"Oh, so you do remember your real name after all?"  Zira looked 
in all directions; she was in hazy, mist-shrouded jungle.

	"My love, show yourself to me!"

	"I still hear that sweet voice, but how could it belong to a 
lioness who is doing these awful things?

	"Scar, why aren't you answering me?"

	"Ushandra, why have you become what you became?"

	"Scar, where are you?"

	"Answer me!"

	"I... don't know.  I... enjoy it!"  Despite her desperate 
efforts, Zira couldn't find her love; only hear his voice, a voice that 
was starting to cause her a deep sense of fear, it sounded so angry.

	"Enjoy it!  You enjoy killing innocent creatures, just to quench 
your lust for blood, a lust that is insatiable?"

	"Their blood flows for you Scar!"

	"Listen to yourself, you're mad!"

	"Are you not proud of me?"

	"Proud?  You disgust me!  I thought I knew you!  The lioness I 
have watched these past weeks is not the same one I feel in love with."

	"What do I have left other than my hate?  My love is dead, it 
died with you!"

	"Your love can never die.  Our love can never die.  Ushandra we 
are one!"

	"Stop calling me that, my name is Zira!"  Silence surrounded her.  
The lioness looked down empty mist filled paths that never ended, she 
felt terribly afraid.

	"Scar?"  No answer, "My love?"  Only silence answered her calls.  
Zira screamed in fear but all she heard was her echoes.  Had she died 
and this was her punishment?  She tried to run down a path surrounded 
by ghostly trees, but it seemed never to end, and when she looked back 
behind her, it seemed like she hadn't even moved.  She began to shake 
like a cub and began to feel tears, the sound of her heartbeat echoing 
around her, almost to the point of driving her insane.

	"Oh you don't like being alone?  I thought that is what you 
wanted."

	"Scar?"  She looked back, but still an empty mist.

	"Why don't you show yourself to me?"

	"You don't want to see what I look like, believe me it would kill 
you."

	"Then show me, that is what I want Scar, I want to die so I can 
be with you!"

	"You do not want to be where I am."

	"Where are you?"

	"Let's just say, I should not have done the things I did."  Zira 
nodded, he didn't have to say anything more.

	"Oh, I'm sorry.  Then I want to make you proud of me Scar!"

	"Do you think you are making our son proud?"  Zira cocked her 
head she had not thought about that.

	"Have you seen our son?"

	"Why would he be where I am?"  Zira nodded once again.

	"But I want to be with you Scar, I want us to be together for 
eternity."

	"Do you really want to endure what I am going through, I can't 
even begin to explain what awaits you?  I am telling you this now, to 
warn you but after all you've done in the past weeks, I don't think you 
have very much chance left."

	"I already know it is too late for me Scar, but I still lust for 
revenge, I want Simba dead for what he did to you!"

	"Simba was not the one who killed me."

	"Then tell me who so I can avenge you!"

	"Do you have to ask?"  Zira thought for a moment.

	"Oh yes, now I know who shall pay with their lives."

	"Yes, send them to me, I would love to see them once again, 
especially her!"

	"Her heart will be served to you Scar!"

	"Must you be so descriptive?"

	"Of course, remember what my name is."  Zira began to laugh, so 
did Scar.

	"A lion after my own heart, how I love you... Zira!"

	"Oh I love you so Scar! You do not know how great it makes me 
feel to hear you say that, especially when you call me by my new name."

	"Well, it suits you perfectly, none better!"

	"So much like yours,
eh my love?"

	"Yes, our names define our whole being!"

	"Do you still love me Scar!"

	"I always did, always had, and always shall!"

	"I love you Scar!"

	"I love you Zira!"

	"Then grant me my only wish, let me kill Simba for you!"

	"Why kill him, wouldn't you rather have him suffer, like we 
have!"

	"Yes!  For eternity!"

	"Well, I doubt that, but I will tell you all you need to know, 
believe me I had plenty of time to devise these plans."

	"Allow me to be the instrument of these plans Scar, let me do 
this in your name!"

	"What about Ushandra?"

	"Ushandra is dead!  My goodness died with our son, perhaps it is 
with him."

	"Perhaps, but Zira, listen to me, I don't want to you to kill 
Simba."

	"Why not?  We already know I am damned."

	"I can't tell you."

	"You can see the future?  Are you telling me when I attempt to 
kill Simba, that is when I will die?"

	"Take it anyway you want, but I can't say either way."  Zira 
nodded, but wondered if Scar could see the huge grin she had on her 
face.

	"Zira, let me tell you this now, there are things that I can not 
say, but those I have seen, that are bound to happen if you choose this 
path, are you completely sure this is what you want?"

	"Yes my love!  Tell me what I must do!"

	"Then let's begin."

* * * * * *

	All her muscles contracted at once as Zira suddenly awoke.  Her 
fur pulled painfully as she tried to move, causing her to remember what 
she had done before the beautiful dream.  She gritted her teeth as her 
matted pelt pulled as she rose to her paws, intending to search for the 
river to wash off the blood that had now long since dried.  Still, 
although she looked awful, she smiled as she wondered if it really was 
all just a dream or if maybe she really had been talking to Scar.  
Nevertheless, whatever it could be defined as, Zira now felt like she 
had a reason to go on living, and now with that reason she also had 
purpose.  She decided she would no longer be the slayer of the 
innocent, but the lionesses who would bestow revenge upon all those who 
had hurt her, and her love, and in the process bring Scar joy, and of 
course, in her twisted mind, a sure shot that she would be with him 
when she died.  Her sinister laugh echoed around her once more, it was 
time to put Scar's plans into action.  She walked into the foliage and 
the leaves closed behind her like a curtain.


CHAPTER SEVEN: THE JOY OF VENGEANCE


	Zira's gaze fell upon the cave where the tracks led.  The 
predator had followed the hyena tracks for days, tracking her prey.  
Zira grinned as the tracks split into two main groups, one set leading 
into the cave, and the other leading around it.  She sniffed the air, 
the scent of hyena was still fresh, and they were still here, at least 
a few of them.

	"The first phase begins!"  Zira padded into the cave and 
unsheathed her claws.  Her keen sense of smell quickly picked up the 
scent and she followed it downwards, her paws not making the slightest 
sounds.  Since she had been left alone with no defense, she had to lean 
how to become a hunter, and she soon learned to perfect the art of 
stalking and taking prey.  If she had not mastered these arts, she 
would have starved.  The past weeks alone in the jungle had made her 
into an efficient killer and now she would have the chance to put her 
skills to the test.  Her ears suddenly twitched as she picked up the 
faint sounds of hyena laughter further into the depths of the cavern.  
She sprang up onto a ledge, like the cat she was, and stalked ever so 
slowly down towards the depths of the cavern.  She suddenly froze as 
she heard the strangest sound in front of her, and then had to jump 
back before her whole face would have been singed from the small geyser 
that suddenly spewed forth a fountain of fire.  Hearing similar geysers 
erupt around her, she silently thanked her good luck.  The geysers 
would allow enough light to show her where her prey could be found; 
they would show her their shadows.  The voices became louder, the scent 
reached the point of nausea, and then she saw their shadows.  Peeking 
over the edge she saw them, two of them.  It was the large male, and 
the crazy one, the two hyenas she had seen back in the Pride Lands.

	"Argh, those stupid geysers they always wake me up!  Why did 
Shenzi have us come back her anyhow?"

	"Hee, Hee, Hee, Ha, Ha, Hee, Hee!"

	"It's not funny Ed!  Shut up, I'm trying to think!"

	"I'm sure that is something new for you!"  The two hyenas turned 
and saw a large female appear and saunter towards them.  Zira snarled, 
but held back the sound as she remembered the females' voice; it was 
the one who had delivered the killing blow to her love.

	"Shenzi, why are we back here?  I thought you told us we were 
leaving this place? If Simba comes looking for us..."

	"He won't, but let's hope he does, or my plans will not be 
fulfilled."

	"Where is Fabana anyway, and where is her... what would you call 
that?"  All three of the hyenas started laughing at once, Zira didn't 
get the joke.

	"She is teaching him the lessons of life, too bad Scar couldn't!"  
Shenzi began her wicked laugh once more.

	"Yea, we taught him the lessons of death!"  The large male began 
laughing with the female and after Ed looked at both of them for a 
while, not understanding the jokes either, he decided to join in as 
well; of course he had no idea why he was laughing.

	"I am going to check on Fabana and she how our little friend is 
doing.  Banzai, you and Ed stay here.  I'll be back and then the real 
fun begins."

	"All right sis', but why am I always stuck with drool boy over 
here?"  Ed began laughing again.  Zira watched Shenzi walk away and 
steadied herself, claws flexing, waiting for the precise moment.  Ed's 
laughter was the perfect diversion.

	"Will you stop that laughing?  Jeez would you stop that!  I could 
just die putting up with you."

	"Good idea!" Banzai froze as he heard the strange voice behind 
him and then when he turned, his eyes spread wide as he saw a lioness 
lunge towards him.  Her claws aiming right for his neck.  He didn't 
feel anything, all he saw was a flash as the light from an erupting 
geyser reflected off the lioness's claws.  Banzai looked down with a 
stupid expression on his face, when he wondered why the entire floor 
around him was starting to become covered in blood.  He followed the 
trail up his body, but his eyes closed before he understood the truth.  
With a dull thud, Banzai fell lifeless to the floor.

	"Eeek, Eeek, Mmmph, Eeek!"  Ed screamed as loud as he could as he 
saw the lioness turn her stare on him.

	"Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you."  Ed looked around, 
not knowing what to do.

	"Don't you remember me?"  Zira swung her tail around and grabbed 
it with her claws dangling it before him.  Ed tried to look for an 
escape route, but then thought the only thing that might save his life.  
He looked down at his fallen brother and then back up at the lioness, 
then he waved with his paw, like he did back when he first saw her.

	"Ahhhhh, isn't that cute.  Yes that is the way I want to remember 
you!"  Ed had one last chance to scream as he saw the lioness leap 
towards him, he tried a second time but couldn't due to a lioness' jaw 
clamped firmly on his throat.

* * * * * *

	Shenzi chuckled to herself as she wished she could have seen the 
look on Scar's face if he ever found out the truth.  She still wondered 
what her face must have looked like when she found out the news.  What 
Scar and Fabana did was considered extremely taboo and forbidden among 
lion laws.  However, Shenzi supposed that Scar had no female left to 
turn to, and since Fabana was the only female, hyena or not, who showed 
him any love before her became king of Pride Rock, Shenzi supposed both 
of them had no choice.  Now their illicit offspring would be her secret 
weapon, and with it she would fulfill the one dream she always dreamed 
of.  Her ultimate goal would finally come true, she would rule Pride 
Rock and have the lions do whatever she ordered.  At last she and her 
pack would be at the top of the food chain, and she would be Queen of 
Pride Rock. Shenzi smiled, no make that Pack Rock.  As soon as she 
reassembled her pack, since most of them ran off in terror of Simba, a 
minor setback, she would invade the Pride Lands, and with sheer numbers 
overwhelm the lions into submission.  However, if most of the lions 
died in the battle, she wouldn't mind that too much either.  Shenzi 
laughed out loud at that thought.

	"Shenzi, what's so funny?"  Shenzi looked down upon the small cub 
and grinned a smile that she hoped was a pleasant one.

	"Hello there my little friend, have you found your mother and 
father yet?"  Shenzi hated to keep up this game, but she couldn't let 
the half hyena, half lion know the truth. No matter how much he looked, 
acted, or smelled like a hyena.

	"No, I don't think I'll ever..."  Shenzi rolled her eyes as he 
started scratching himself, "...Argh these bugs, are biting me again!  
I mean I don't think I'll ever, (more scratching and biting,) find out 
who my mother or my father is."

	"Don't worry, what was it I heard that one time, Hakuna 
something?  Oh well, trust me soon you'll understand everything!"  
Shenzi had a hard time trying to keep a straight face, especially when 
she kept thinking about what the cub's name meant.

	"Shenzi leave him alone!"  Shenzi turned and saw Fabana trudge up 
towards her.

	"How can you even let yourself speak to him when you know what 
you did to his..."

	"Shhhhh!  Quiet Fabana, we don't want our little friend to get 
confused now do we?"  Fabana was about to reply, but both froze when 
they heard Ed's scream.

	"What in the tenth level of hell?"  Shenzi ran towards the sound 
but called back to Fabana.

	"Fabana, take Nuka and get out of here!"

* * * * * *

	Shenzi ran back into the cavern were she had left her two 
brother's only a few minutes ago.  The smell of blood was in the air 
and even worse was the smell of death.  She ran over the ledge and 
gasped when she saw Ed being choked to death by a lioness.  Ed's life 
was long extinguished as his head hung loosely from Zira's grasp, and 
with a slight twist of her own neck, Zira dropped the lifeless hyena.  
Shenzi's jaw dropped like a stone when she realized who she was looking 
at.  It was that lioness she saw when she and her pack killed Scar.

	"You, who are.... what are you... what are you doing!"

	"What am I doing?  What does it look like!  My, my, you are more 
stupid than I thought."

	"You killed my brothers!"

	"Exactly, and you killed my love and my cub!"

	"I am going to make you suffer lioness!"

	"Come on then, impress me!"  With a bark Shenzi dropped to a low 
stance and began to pace around the lioness.  Zira in turn began to 
circle around Shenzi.

	"Well, what are you waiting for she-hyena?"

	"I was just thinking what your blood would taste like."

	"That's funny, I was thinking the exact same thing, but I plan on 
finding out!"  With a roar Zira lunged at the female hyena, but unlike 
her two brothers Shenzi was prepared.  Shenzi expertly sidestepped and 
swung her claws in a backwards slash, her claws ripping a long gash in 
Zira's flanks.

	"Ha!  First blood is scored by me, just like I did with Scar!"  
Shenzi never heard a louder roar.  Zira swung her head backs towards 
Shenzi, her body shaking in rage, her eyes burning with hate, and 
lunged at her again with more force than a charging rhino.  Shenzi 
tried to sidestep once again, but was too slow and the enraged lioness 
tackled the hyena to the ground.  Shenzi closed her eyes and waited for 
the impending doom, but nothing came, no pain was felt.  She looked up 
and saw the lioness standing over her, snarling and gnashing her teeth.

	"Before you die, I want you to know who it was that killed you, 
and I want you to know what you did to me!"

	"What are you talking about?"

	"You killed Scar, he was my husband, my mate, and my love!  Then 
you, and your kind, killed an innocent cub.  That was my son!  But 
worst of all, you killed Ushandra, and you created me!

	"No, let me explain!"

	"I am hate incarnate, I am Zira!

	"No wait, stop!  If you kill me, you are no better than I am!"  
Shenzi saw Zira plunge towards her throat.  In desperation Shenzi 
flailed wildly with her claws, but managed to grab Zira's left ear and 
stop the plunge.  Zira looked down, then grinned a grin that froze 
Shenzi to the bone, as she ripped her head the other way, then screamed 
as a huge chunk of her ear remained attached to Shenzi's claws.  Zira 
looked back down at the female hyena, with eyes red as fire and tears 
streaming out of them,

	"Then I'll see you in hell!"  Zira plunged her jaws towards 
Shenzi's throat and clamped her muzzle around it, then with all her 
strength she pulled.  Zira quickly shut her tear filled eyes as she was 
rewarded with a geyser of blood.


CHAPTER EIGHT: A BLESSING IN DISGUISE


	Zira slowly raised her head, wincing as the sharp pain coursed 
through her body from her wounded ear.  She tried to rise to her paws, 
but recoiled once again as the long gash across her flanks added 
another surge of pain that crashed through her body.  She caressed her 
face with a paw, wiping the blood, sweat, and tears off of her face.  
She grinned, despite the pain, as she viewed her handiwork the lay 
around her.  She tried to laugh, but that only made the pain worse, so 
she settled for her favorite phrase,

	"This is for you Scar."

	"Yes, you have done well, at last the evil of Shenzi is 
eradicated."  Zira swung her head towards the unknown voice, her smile 
quickly changing into a snarl as she saw another female hyena standing 
in an indifferent pose atop a ledge, not very far away.

	"Ah, I see I get to add another hyena to my death toll for the 
day!"  Zira judged the distance and figured she could reach the hyena 
in only a mere leap.  She steadied herself and was about to spring, but 
suddenly stopped, at least temporarily, due to the female's words.

	"Yes do it quick so I can be with my Taka."

	"What!  What did you just say?"  The female only closed her eyes 
and thrust out her chest, presenting easy access to her throat.

	"Tell me hyena, or you will die!"  The female only grinned, 
making Zira realize that threat was useless.

	"I shall ask for nothing else!  Do you worse murderer, end my 
suffering and obliterate my sorrow forever!"  Zira squinted at the 
strange female with an expression of confusion.  She noticed with some 
disdain the hyena's entire face was covered in scars, and her left eye 
was missing, although a few tears now dripped from its empty socket.  
Zira couldn't help but be curious.  She decided to try a different 
approach,

	"I don't want to.  I want to know your name, and why did you say 
the name of my love?"

	"Shut up!  Don't you ever say that again, do you hear me!  He 
would never love a vicious bitch like you!"  Zira snarled deciding to 
kill this wretched creature, she had enough of her insults, but 
suddenly froze in horror when she saw him.

	"Fabana, what is going on and who are you talking to?"  Fabana 
began to shake as she turned towards the sound but it was too late, 
Nuka was already by her side.  Fabana turned toward the lioness but saw 
the expression she had expected.  Zira's eyes were spread as wide as 
her jaws,

	"What the hell is that!"

* * * * * *

	"Good lioness, please do not kill my son!"  Fabana could think of 
nothing else to say, all previous thoughts were obliterated, but after 
she spoke the words, she suddenly realized that was the worst thing she 
could have said.

	"Your what!"

	"I mean this cub is Taka's."  Fabana felt like kicking herself in 
the face, that was even worse!  Zira looked at the cub, back to the 
hyena, back to the cub, and then back to the hyena.  Her head seemed to 
be shaking as if she kept saying "no," in her mind it was.

	"Scar and you?  I mean a lion and a hyena!  My love and a hyena 
mated!"  That final thought was too much for the lioness to bear.  The 
loss of blood from the previous battle, the weeks of grief and agony, 
and to top it all off what this hyena had just told her, her tortured 
mind couldn't handle it.  Zira's eyes rolled back into her head and she 
fainted.

	"She took that pretty well."  Fabana just shook her head as she 
watched the lioness flop to the ground.  She looked down at Nuka and 
felt like her heart was about to break.  The poor cub had a look of 
confusion on his face that needed answers but the cub couldn't even 
begin to ask the questions.

	"Fabana who is that, what is happening, and what did you just 
say!"

	"Don't worry Nuka, just do me this one favor."  Nuka looked back 
up at his guardian.

	"Look at this lioness," Nuka looked back down, "This is your... 
mother."  Fabana tried to hold back her tears but she couldn't.  Still, 
she knew this would only be a temporary solution. When Nuka began to 
grow older and as his mind will become more and more developed, he will 
have to know the real truth one day, Fabana just prayed to her gods 
that she would not be around to see it.

	"But, Bana what happened to Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed?"  Fabana 
looked at the remains of her siblings, almost forgetting they were 
there.  She felt no loss with Shenzi, in her mind her daughter had 
already died a long time ago, but she did feel a deep pang of grief 
when she looked at her sons, especially when she thought of Ed.

	"They are... in a better place.  They are experiencing more joy 
there, then they could have ever experienced here.  Deep down, Fabana 
knew she telling the truth about her sons, but she secretly prayed to 
her god Roh'kash that Shenzi was in another place, hopefully face to 
face with Scar, Fabana was sure he would be so happy to see her 
daughter once again.  If only she was there next to him.  An idea began 
to form in the hyena's crafty mind, this lioness had said Scar was her 
love as well, why hadn't Scar ever mentioned his so-called soul mate 
before?  Fabana thought Taka only loved her, well and even thought her 
would never admit it, and always Sarabi.  Fabana looked at the lioness 
for a long time, the unconscious creature breathing in deep, long gasps 
and her face twisted into a mask of confusion and denial.  How easy 
Fabana, and the rest of the world, could be rid of this killer, 
especially now since she was in this vulnerable position.

	"Nuka go outside for a moment, I have something that I need to 
do."

	"Bana, I don't want to, I am so confused right now, what am I..."

	"Shush now,"  Fabana patted her son's head, stroking his small 
mane that would grow a deep black, "I'll make everything crystal clear 
very soon."

	"All right, maybe then these... ugh, bugs will stop biting me."  
Fabana watched her son disappear over the ledge, and waited until she 
couldn't hear his scratching noises any longer.  Slowly the female 
turned her empty socket onto the lioness, then her "good" eye gazed 
down upon her.  Fabana crept towards Zira and she unsheathed her claws.


CHAPTER NINE: MERGING MINDS


	Consciousness slowly drifted back to the lioness, but her ear was 
pounding with pain, as was her side.  She purred as she felt the soft 
paws of some creature caressing her ear.  Her mind suddenly jolted back 
to reality, her eyes sprang open, and they focused on a hyena. It was 
the female, but she was busy wrapping Zira's ear in cool moss and dead 
leaves in an attempt to stop the bleeding.  Zira's mind recollected 
everything in a split second and she snarled tumultuously, intent on 
ripping the hyena apart.  But when she tried to move her legs she 
couldn't.  She desperately tried her back legs but was given the same 
unfavorable results.  She looked down and snarled even louder as she 
saw her front and back paws were tied tightly together with vines.  
Zira began thrashing her body in an attempt to break the bonds, but she 
soon realized it was futile.  In agony she looked back up at her captor 
and was dismayed when she saw she was smiling down at her.

	"Comfortable?"

	"When I get free I'm going to feast on your heart!"

	"Hmmm, that wasn't the response I was hoping for, especially 
after all the nice things I've done for you during your nap.  Look, I 
bandaged up your wounds.  Without me I don't think you would have 
survived."

	"Oh you want me to say thank you?  How about I curse you in more 
words than you could think of?"  Fabana finished her task, and looked 
down at the lioness's enraged face.  She shrugged and indifferently 
tapped Zira's ear with a backhanded paw, causing Zira to scream in 
pain.

	"Oh, I am so sorry, did that hurt?"  Zira roared and was about to 
reply with the worst curse she could think of, but before she had the 
chance Fabana had grabbed Zira's head, unsheathed her claws, and had 
the longest one placed on Zira's throat in a mere second.

	"Don't even think about it!  Think about this instead."  Zira 
looked down and gulped as she saw Fabana was tapping her throat with a 
claw.

	"Do you realize I could kill you this very second if I wanted to?  
Don't answer just nod if you understand me."  Zira tried one last time 
to break the vines, she slowly nodded her head.

	"Good, now before I change my mind, I am going to ask you 
something and I expect you to answer me the right way.  If you give me 
the wrong answer..."  Fabana looked down and grinned, "Nod your head 
again, if you understand me.  Zira nodded.

	"Very well then, as you can see I took a lot of time nursing your 
wounds, and I expect you to grant me a favor in return.  Now I am going 
free you, so we can talk like civilized creatures.  Do you understand?"  
Zira nodded once again.  With a long look  Fabana studied the bonds and 
slowly released her hold, she positioned herself with a claw at each 
vine.

	"Do you promise me, you will listen to me after I set you free?"  
Zira said nothing, only grinned a wicked smile.  Fabana cocked her head 
and squinted, not quite sure what to make from Zira's response, but 
still with a sharp slash from both her claws, the vines that had bound 
Zira's paws were cut.  Zira sprang to feet and Fabana held her breath, 
since she expected the lioness to break her promise, but to her relief 
Zira just stood there examining her side and her bandaged ear.

	"I didn't ask you to do this, but I guess I do owe you a thank 
you since you did."

	"You're welcome.  Now you're going to kill me right?"  Zira 
looked at the female for a while, but just shrugged her shoulders.

	"No, I don't like to kill those who already want to die.  It's 
not fun."

	"If you had to endure the life I had, you would understand how I 
feel."  Zira swung her head back towards Fabana and snarled.

	"What makes you think I haven't?"

	"You haven't lost the only creature you've ever loved!"

	"No, I've experienced worse, I watched him die!"

	"Whom are you talking about?"

	"My God, you hyenas are stupid. Who do you think I am talking 
about?  Scar!"

	"Taka?"

	"His name is Scar."

	"Maybe that is what you call him, but to me he will always be 
known as Taka.  He was the lion no one knew, the noble creature 
underneath who never had the chance to shine.  Scar was the name of the 
darkness which consumed him."

	"How fitting, Ushandra was the lioness no one knew.  I am the 
darkness which consumed her!"

	"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know."

	"No one does.  Ushandra is dead, as is Taka.  But unlike Scar I 
am still around.

	"And your name is?"

	"Zira."

	"Fitting, I am Fabana."

	"Why didn't Scar ever mention you to me?"

	"I was about to ask you the same thing.  Tell me your story first 
and then I shall tell you mine."  Zira and Fabana told each other their 
whole life stories and how Scar became a part of both of their lives.  
Both of the creatures were astounded that their lives were very 
similar, and even more incredible is how the each looked upon Scar, and 
how their love for him was based on the same reasons.  When each had 
finished the two creatures stared at one another, Zira was the first to 
speak.

	"You really loved him?"

	"Yes, Taka was the only creature I ever truly loved. It was fate 
that brought us together, but fate tore both of us from him."

	"But he is a lion and you are a hyena."

	"I'm glad you can tell the difference."

	"I mean, we cannot mate outside our species, it is... wrong!"

	"And who says so?"

	"Aiheu!"

	"I thought you said, he means nothing to you now, so why should 
his laws?"

	"That means nothing, it is utterly wrong!  I can't even conceive 
the two of you together, and when I do, it makes me sick!"

	"Oh, that is too bad, ask me if I care."

	"Do you... what do you take me for, a fool?"

	"Do you really want me to say what I think of you?"

	"Scar would never love you!"

	"He never did, Taka loved me."

	"Don't start that again, Scar is gone!"

	"As is Taka, now you know how I feel!"

	"I still can't even imagine you two... together, Scar only loved 
me!"

	"That is true and Taka only loved me!"

	"What does it matter anyway, he is dead!"

	"But, he will always be with us, and he watches over us always."

	"Always." Zira felt tears begin to form in her eyes, Fabana 
noticed them and tried to change the subject."

	"Who do you love, Taka or Scar?"

	"What kind of question is that?  They are the same lion."

	"Think about what I just said in my tale."  Zira thought for a 
long time, and finally nodded.

	"All right, I think I know what you mean, how can I say this... 
Ushandra loved Taka, and perhaps she is with him, but I will always 
love Scar."

	"Well said, but I am hopeful one day I will be with Taka.  I know 
that day will be very soon, because I only have a few days left on this 
earth.  That is why I let you live, if I killed you I would never see 
Taka, I would only see Scar, and I want to spend eternity with my 
love."

	"Well that is why I did what I did, Scar had to be avenged and my 
first victims were your offspring.  I am sorry but I feel no grief or 
pity, those emotions died with Ushandra."

	"There is nothing I can do or say about that, I will never 
forgive you for what you have done to me, but the only way you can set 
things right is grant my request."

	"Forgive me?  How can I forgive you?  You and your kind 
slaughtered my son!"

	"I swear to you, I was not a part of that, nor did know anything 
about it, but now I understand what Shenzi meant when she said her 
pack's hunger was temporarily satisfied."

	"I don't know whether to believe you or not, but you seem to 
posses virtues that I never knew existed in a hyena."

	"I'll take that as a compliment."

	"When you die the world will surly grieve."

	"No, I don't think so. Who would care about one female hyena when 
our reputation is stained by the likes of those such as Shenzi?"

	"Scar saw the same qualities in you as I do, that is why he loved 
you Fabana."

	"No, that is why Taka loved me."

	"Whatever, before we both start crying again, what is this 
request that you want me to do for you?"

	"I want you to watch over my cub and be his mother."  Zira almost 
felt like she would faint again.

	"Watch over that... abomination!?"

	"Yes, there is nothing wrong in how he was created."

	"If you say so!"

	"All right, ponder this then, how do you think their are so many 
species of animals out there?  It is a common work of nature."

	"Spare me your twisting of morality Fabana, I would never let 
that thing into my pride."

	"You owe me Zira!"

	"Not that way, don't even say that you are going to give me this 
male for the one you kind took from me!"

	"I shall offer you something even greater if you just watch over 
my child."

	"What are you saying?"

	"I know of another pride many miles away, and wait until I tell 
you who the king is, trust me you and him will get along beautifully."

	"Don't play with me Fabana, even though our lives are similar, 
doesn't mean we are friends."

	"Granted, but if you don't want this vital information, then so 
be it.  But it would give you the edge, after all how are you going to 
conquer Simba's pride all by yourself?"  Zira snarled and began to pace 
around the hyena, Fabana just stared into Zira's eyes and smiled, Zira 
decided Fabana was right.

	"All right, Fabana you win, but I will only go on with this 
charade until the cub is old enough to know the truth, and don't expect 
me to love and cherish him like he was my own."  Fabana laughed,

	"Trust me, you will learn to love Nuka."

	"What did you say?  What is his name?"

	"Nuka, why?"  Zira began to shake and her laughter filled the 
entire cavern.

	"What, what is so funny?"  Zira could hardly talk, she was 
laughing so hard tears were dripping out of her eyes.

	"Nuka.... Oh Nuka... Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, what a perfect name!"

	"I didn't name him that, Shenzi did just to spite me."

	"Does he know what it means in our language?"

	"Yes, he does but he doesn't mind, as a matter a fact he likes it 
."

	"Oh, all right I guess I won't make a big stink out of it.  Ha, 
ha, ha, ha!"

	"Lovely play on words their Zira, just call him Nuka please, not 
the translation."

	"OK, I'll watch over Stink, I mean Nuka."  Fabana couldn't help 
but laugh herself, something she hadn't done for some time.

	"Stop it, your making me laugh!"

	"Ha, ha, ha, well you are a hyena aren't you?"  Fabana answered 
Zira with a classic hyena laugh.

	"All right we better stop, or I am going to have to start calling 
myself Ushandra again.  You know, I haven't felt this good for a long 
time."

	"Neither have I.  You will watch over my sweet Nuka?"

	"Yes I will, who knows he may become the cub Scar always wanted, 
I'll just have to change that name when he does."  Fabana smiled as 
thrust out her paw, Zira looked down at the paw for a while, but then 
grinned herself, and extended her own paw.  The two creatures shook on 
the agreement, and then Fabana told Zira all she knew.  Zira allowed 
Nuka to become to first member of her pride, not as a chance for 
redemption, but as a chance for all her dreams to become a reality.


CHAPTER TEN: THE LAST OF HER KIND


	"Nuka!"  Fabana called for her son, and smiled when he appeared 
over the rocks.

	"It's about time Bana, I was getting bored. Where have you been 
and what happened?"

	"Listen to me, my sweet Nuka, I have to... go somewhere for a 
long time."

	"Sounds fun, I'm coming too right?"

	"No, sweetie you can't, but I found a new friend for you to keep 
you safe.

	"Who?"

	"Your... Mother."  Fabana tried to hold back her tears.  She 
hated to keep up this lie, but she knew there was no other way.

	"My mother?  You found her!"

	"Yes, my son," Fabana nearly slipped, but she caught herself just 
in time as Nuka squinted and cocked his head, "I mean you are her son."

	"Where is she, tell me where I can find her, is she near?"  Nuka 
was shaking with excitement.  He began looking all around frantically, 
causing his little locks to swish around him.

	"Zira!"  Fabana's voice called her name, but Nuka squinted again, 
he knew the language of the lions well, and he knew what the name 
meant, but soon forgot when he saw a beautiful lioness saunter towards 
him, and sit next to Fabana.

	"Hello Nuka," Fabana didn't know is she was impressed or 
disgusted at how sweet Zira could make her voice sound, "Nuka, I 
finally found you."

	"Mom!"  The young lion ran towards her and hugged her with his 
paws.  Zira was stunned, she didn't know what to do, and she looked at 
Fabana for help, but just saw the hyena looking away.  Somehow Zira 
found the best words she could as she hugged Nuka back.

	"Yes my son, I love you too, I have always loved you."  She 
looked down at the young male who had the biggest smile on his face she 
had ever seen.  As she did with her own son, she licked Nuka's face, 
but then spit onto ground, as she realized Nuka must not have had a 
bath for weeks.

	"Oh, sorry mom, you know them hyenas!"

	"We'll just have to fix that, I can't have my son smelling like a 
hyena can I?  Wait until we return to my jungle, I'll show this nice 
river where you can take a bath."

	"Wow, you live in a jungle, awesome!"

	"Yes, I'm sure you'll love it.  It will be a lot better than that 
cold, dark cave you've been living in."  Zira looked over at Fabana for 
approval, but was dismayed when she saw Fabana was just staring at the 
ground.  Nuka looked up and noticed it too.

	"Bana is something wrong?"

	"No, its nothing."

	"Why are you crying?"  Fabana looked up and her tears could be 
easily seen.

	"It's nothing Nuka, I am just so happy to see you like this."  
Nuka grinned,  Fabana's heart broke.

	"Hey Bana, I'm still confused, what happened to Shenzi and the 
others?"  Before Fabana could reply, Zira did.

	"Don't worry Nuka, they only got what they deserved, you won't 
have to worry about them any more, I took care of that.  Nuka was still 
too innocent to understand what Zira meant.

	"Oh all right, but to tell you the truth, I never liked those 
three anyway, especially Shenzi, but I still wanted to say good-bye."

	"Well, Shenzi is busy painting the floor red right now, but I'll 
relay the message to her."  Zira grinned but as she looked at Fabana, 
she was met with a cold stare that instantly got rid of her smile.

	"Fabana, what's wrong, you don't look very happy?"

	"I told you nothing is wrong!"  Nuka jumped back, "I'm sorry I 
didn't mean to yell, I am just so tired, go on ahead, we'll catch up."

	"That's all right Bana.  Mom, you and Bana hurry up, I have so 
much I want you to tell me.  I am so happy I finally found my real 
mother."

	"Yes, sweetie so am I, you run of now, we'll join you shortly."  
Zira grinned as she watched Nuka scurry away over the rocks.  She 
didn't need to turn, she could feel Fabana's cold stare penetrating her 
fur.

	"You know Fabana, I never realized what a great liar you could 
be."

	"Shut up and look at me before I rip your throat out!"  Zira 
turned and smiled wickedly.

	"Something the matter Bana?"

	"Don't you dare corrupt my son!"

	"Now why would I do that?  You're planning for Simba to die from 
laughter when he sees Nuka?  You know I have to teach him a few 
things?"

	"You will not crush his innocence!  Not as long as I am alive!"

	"The way I see it, that shouldn't take too long."

	"You had better remember your promise!"

	"Oh I'll remember it Fabana, all I am supposed to do is watch 
over Nuka right?"  Fabana nodded and began to walk away.  Zira watched 
the female hyena scamper after Nuka allowing her muzzle to twist into a 
sinister grin,

	"I'll watch him all right.  I'll watch him become a killer!"

* * * * * *

	The predator crept through the foliage without a sound as she 
stalked like a lioness.  She spied her prey, splashing around in the 
river, and her eyes narrowed to slits.  It would have to be quick and 
without pain, she knew this was the only way and this would be her only 
chance.  She crept closer through the vines, her eyes locked on her 
target.  She tried to blot out the agony that was pounding at her 
brain, by rationalizing that this was a mercy killing.  She crouched 
low to the ground, and planned her attack.  Her prey was too occupied 
with his fun to notice her, he was downwind, and unaware of his danger.  
She formulated her strategy, she would burst through the foliage, and 
slash her prey's throat, so he would feel no pain, and hopefully die 
before he realized what had happened.  Her prey suddenly turned his 
back to her, now was the time to strike.

	Her claws extended and flexed, she was about to spring, but just 
then her prey turned back around, and grinned as he picked up a huge 
paw full of water and let it fall over him like a waterfall.  Fabana 
faltered, she couldn't see, tears blinded her eyes, and she fell to her 
knees.  She was ashamed at what she had planned to do.  She raised her 
head and gazed upon her son with all the love a mother could have, and 
tried to tell herself that this was the only way.  She couldn't let her 
son grow up in cruel world such as this, and with Zira as his new 
guardian, she shuddered at the vile possibilities that could happen.  
How could she allow the sweet innocence of a cub to be crushed by the 
queen of hate?  Fabana knew her hours on this earth were growing short, 
but if she did do this horrible thing, she knew her son would die 
innocent and pure.  He would be with Taka, and all the kings of the 
past forever, but where would she be?  Murder was murder and if she 
went through with her plans, she knew that she would never be with 
Taka, but if she didn't would Taka ever be able to be with his son?  
Scar never knew Fabana had a son, she had kept it from him and gave 
birth to Nuka in a secret place.  Only Shimbekh the seer knew, but that 
truth died when the oracle had died by her own paws.  Nuka grew up in 
Fabana's lair and Fabana made sure no one ever found out about him.  
When Scar died Fabana took Nuka back to the Cave of the Hyenas, deep 
within the Elephant Graveyard where she planned to raise him herself, 
but then Shenzi found them.  The nefarious plans Shenzi had for Nuka 
would have been carried out, but how ironic that Zira had ended all 
those plans.  Nevertheless, now the irony was even worse, Nuka's savior 
would quickly become his corrupter and Fabana knew the plans Zira had 
for Nuka would rival those of Shenzi.  Still, Fabana couldn't bring 
herself to destroy her own son. She only prayed that he understood how 
much she loved him, since this would be the last time he would ever see 
her.

	"Bana, what the hell are you doing here?  Can't you see I'm 
trying to take a bath?"  Nuka blushed and tried to cover himself with 
his paws as he saw Fabana emerge from the foliage.

	"Nuka, I am the one who bathed you, when you were just a cub, 
I've seen everything before."

	"Well, it's still embarrassing.  I am almost an adult you know, 
would you please turn around, while I dry myself?"  Fabana grinned and 
complied, she heard Nuka splash out of the water and begin to lick 
himself dry.

	"You know Bana you should take a bath more often too, it gets rid 
of those damned bugs, plus you'll smell a lot better too."

	"Maybe some other time, there is something I want to tell you."

	"Well, keep talking but don't turn around yet, I still have a few 
places left to dry."

	"Do you like it here Nuka?"

	"Yea, it's great, there is so much to do, and now that I found 
Zira, I couldn't be happier."

	"What do you think of her?"

	"Well, to tell you the truth... Is she around anywhere?"  Nuka 
scanned the foliage, "Guess not, well anyway she tells me she loves me, 
and she's my mother, and all that, but she just seems..."

	"Hateful?"

	"Uh yea, exactly Fabana, does she always have to act like her 
name?"

	"She's been through a lot.  It is amazing she's still alive."  
Fabana's thoughts drifted to ways she wished she could fix that.

	"Do you like her Bana?"

	"All that is important is I like you Nuka."

	"You can turn around now, I'm done."  Fabana turned and gazed 
upon her son.  He looked better then her ever did.  His pelt was shiny 
and clean, his thin, black mane gleamed, and he smelled wonderful.

	"Wow I'm impressed, any lioness would kill to have you."

	"Let's hope so, but now that you brought that up, I have a few... 
questions about lionesses that I was wondering if you could answer.  
See I've been having these dreams and when I wake up I..."

	"Don't worry Nuka you'll find all about the kind of stuff on your 
own.  Come over here I need to tell you something."  Nuka walked 
towards the female.  He was surprised when Fabana pulled him towards 
her and gave him the biggest hug she ever had and then preceded to 
kissing his face.

	"Uh Bana, what are you doing?"

	"I just want to hold you for awhile.  Nuka do you like me?"

	"Uh well, as long as I can remember you've been like a mother to 
me."

	"Oh, that is all I wanted to hear."  Fabana squeezed him tightly 
again."

	"Well, you've always been there for me, and I guess I really like 
you, even more than Zira, I feel like I could always tell you anything, 
you're like my..."

	"Mother?"

	"Yea right, but that's crazy isn't it?  I mean me being related 
to you."  Nuka began to laugh just like the hyenas he grew up with, 
Fabana just looked down at her son and smiled.

	"Bana, do you think I'll ever meet my dad?"

	"Trust me, some day you will."

	"You've never talked about him, what was he like?"

	"He was the lion of all lions, he was the greatest creature to 
ever live, and you are his only son."

	"What was his name?"

	"Sca...  Taka."

	"How come mom never tells me about him?  I ask and ask, and try 
to do everything to make her happy, but it seems like I never have her 
attention."

	"You'll find out everything some day Nuka, I just hope everything 
will turn out all right."

	"Fabana," Nuka looked back up at the female, "How do you know so 
much about me, it seems like you've been with me since I was born, and 
why have I always been with hyenas, why have I never been with my own 
kind?"

	"Nuka these are answers you have to find out for yourself, but 
please no more of these unanswerable questions, I have a question for 
you."

	"Uh, OK."

	"Nuka, promise me you'll stay sweet and innocent forever."

	"I'll be fine Bana, I have my mother to take care of me."

	"That is my damned point!  She is not your..."

	"Bana?"  Nuka wore a look of absolute confusion when he saw 
Fabana start crying.  Fabana noticed it and tired to wipe the tears 
away with the back of her paw.

	"There I go again, crying like a pup."

	"What is it Bana, you haven't been yourself lately.  You always 
seem so sad, and whenever I try and talk to you, you always end up like 
this.

	"Nuka, I have to go away."

	"Where are you going?"

	"I can't tell you, but I won't be coming back."  Nuka grabbed 
Fabana's paws with his own.

	"No, you can't go.  I'll never get to see you again!"

	"You'll always see me," Fabana touched the top of her son's head 
with a claw, "Right here."

	"That's not good enough, I want to hear your laughter, I want to 
talk to you, I want you to be with me forever."

	"No creature lives forever Nuka, we just have to remember the 
good times we shared."  Fabana looked down and saw Nuka was getting 
upset.

	"Fabana," Nuka was beginning to cry, "Don't leave me!"

	"We will be together again... Someday."

	"I can't wait for that day!"

	"You must Nuka, maybe your father will be with us on that day as 
well."

	"That is my dream Fabana.  I pray constantly that you, dad, my 
mom, and me will all be together in one place.  That will be the best 
day of my life."

	"I pray to Roh'kash that this day will come soon."

	"Can I tell you something?"

	"Anything sweetie."

	"I know this might offend you, and I can't believe I'm saying 
this, but I always wished you were my mother. You are always so good 
and friendly, I guess I... Love you!"

	"Nuka," Nuka looked up and saw Fabana had the biggest smile on 
her face he had ever seen, and her eyes her brimming with tears, "You 
don't know how much I always wanted you to say that, I am happier than 
I have ever been!"

	"Well, its true," Nuka gave Fabana another powerful hug, "Well, I 
better make sure how mother is doing, she said she has to start 
teaching me these lessons to make me a better lion."

	"All right, but just remember your promise Nuka, and never forget 
it."

	"I won't Bana, I will always be just like you!"

	"That is all I ask, take care of yourself."  Nuka gave her 
another squeeze and just for good measure a lick on Fabana's lips.  He 
blushed and ran off, but before he disappeared, he waved one last time, 
then dived into the foliage and was gone.  Fabana watched the last of 
her son's tail become enveloped by the leaves and waved herself,

	"Good-bye... My son!"

* * * * * *

	The moon cast its rays upon her as Fabana walked down an endless 
trail, she didn't care where it led, only enjoying the scenery.  She 
took in all of life's wonders and pleasures for last few hours and then 
fell to her stomach by a waterfall.  She watched the cascading water 
for a while and breathed in the cool air.  Her thoughts were a jumble 
with images of her son and her one and only love.

	"Taka, oh my sweet Taka, how I have always loved you.  I know the 
hour is close at hand, but I am so afraid.  Please I pray to you, 
Roh'kash, and Shimbekh that I will see you soon.  Taka, I have lived a 
life of virtue, only killed for sustenance, and always did what I 
believed was right.  Then I met you, and saved you from death by your 
own paws.  We feel in love with each other, but how I wish you 
understood how much I truly loved you.  But you didn't, you were too 
filled with hate and an unquenchable lust for blood.  If only you knew 
you had a son, but you do now don't you?  Watch over him like you 
always have, and please keep him pure and virtuous like I have been.  
That is all I ask.  I have done all I can, Roh'kash give me peace."

	Fabana sighed deeply and gazed at the starry, night sky.  She 
could almost see Taka's gaze smiling upon her, and when she saw a 
shooting star, she knew her wish was granted.  She laughed a classic 
hyena laugh for the last time as she thought about the last prophecy 
Shimbekh, her best friend, had told her.

	"Fabana, my dear Fabana, you will live a long, but toilsome life.  
At last you will find peace in a paradise, the likes of which you have 
never seen.  Through chaos and scars you will survive, seeing much but 
understanding yourself even more.  When at long last you will be secure 
from the help of an incarnate of an emotion, and emotion which you have 
never shown, at last you will be consumed with bliss from its opposite.  
Then under a starry sky, and as a shooting star screams across the 
horizon, at last all your prayers will be answered."

	Fabana placed her head on her paws and closed her eyes, 
descending into the sleep of eternity.  She awoke in a realm of 
splendors where she was finally reunited with her one and only love.



Part Three: Coming of Age (The Tale of Nuka)


CHAPTER ELEVEN: PROGENY


	As a pair of golden eyes gazed at the moon through the tangle of 
leaves and vines, a laugh broke the still of the night.  Nuka broke 
through the dense foliage, and trudged towards the summit of a tall 
hill.  He did not realize it, but he was standing on the same hill 
where Zira had conducted her silent vigil one year ago.  But unlike 
Zira, who had waited upon the summit for the first sign of her love, 
Nuka waited for the day when he would be reunited with Fabana; his one 
and only friend.  He waited desperately for that day, he dreamed of it, 
he prayed for it, it was all he ever thought of.

	"How many days has it been?"  He roared into the wind,  "Bana, 
where are you?"       He ran his paws down his face, and then up and 
through a long, tangle of hair that had indeed grown strangely, but was 
still a gleaming, black mane.  He sighed as he remembered that Fabana 
had left when his mane was nothing more then a small tuft of hair at 
the sides of his face, but now as he felt its softness, and marveled at 
its color, he realized that he was no longer the cub he had been.  He 
was an adult lion now, and he decided that he had to finally face the 
facts: Fabana would not be coming back and no matter how much he wanted 
to see her, he decided it would never come true, at least not in this 
world.

	Once again, he sighed into the cool breeze, but had to laugh when 
he thought about all the happy times he had spent with her.  Although 
he grew up in Fabana's lair, with all its comforts that only a hyena 
could love, and although he had to endure the torment of Shenzi and her 
brothers, he had to admit that he had enjoyed it.  Rotting corpses and 
mammoth piles of bones may have surrounded him, but if Fabana was by 
his side, nothing else mattered.  He would snuggle close to Fabana 
during those nights and feel completely secure.  He may have been in a 
lair of death, but those happy days with Fabana was when he had felt 
the most alive.

	Now, everything had changed.  He had found his mother, but in 
reality he wished he hadn't.  She was nothing like Fabana.  Everything 
he tried to do, to make her happy, or make her accept him, either went 
unnoticed or backfired horribly.  With age came reason, but he didn't 
know if it was just his tortured mind that was telling him these 
things, or maybe it really was true, but the more he changed from a cub 
into a lion, the more he thought his mother seemed to be everything 
that he wasn't.  He didn't look like her, he didn't act like her, and 
he definitely knew he didn't think like her.

	When he gazed upon his mother, he was awestruck by the beauty of 
the dark chestnut color of her pelt, but when he looked at the strange 
color of his own fur, it was nowhere near the same shade as Zira's.  
His pelt was a dark orange, and covered in small, black spots.

	When he touched his mane, it seemed there was more on his chin, 
then on the top of his head, but he did admit its color was indeed 
breathtaking.  It was a deeper black than a starless night, and during 
the day when the sun cast its rays down upon him, they gleamed 
brilliantly off of it.  He was very proud of his mane, the only thing 
he believed he could be proud of, because when he gazed upon the rest 
of his body his felt insecure and self-conscious.  Zira was strong, 
with a massive frame, that was covered in dense, corded muscles.  His 
body was lanky, bony, and feeble, and no mater how hard he tried to 
flex, he couldn't produce one muscle.  His fur seemed to be always 
matted, and no matter how many times he groomed himself, it just didn't 
seem to want to stay in place.  His mane jutted out of his face in 
countless, wild directions, and his whiskers would never stay straight, 
they were always in tangles and knots.  But worst of all, no matter how 
many times he took a bath, no matter how many times he scratched, and 
no matter what part of the jungle he was in, he was constantly plagued 
by bugs.  They kept biting him, itching him, driving him insane, until 
his flanks were sore and bleeding from his constant scratching and 
biting, as he desperately tried to stop the infernal itching.  He tried 
to find any way to get rid of this annoyance but no matter what new 
technique or plan he thought up, he couldn't get rid of them, and just 
had to put up with them.  Of course he would never understand it, but 
the scent of a half hyena, half lion was intoxicating to an insect, and 
his scratching, which only made his scent grow stronger, would only 
make them want to stay.  If he could only understand the language of 
the mosquitoes or the termites. He would no doubt hear them say,

	"You know, I never realized there is no blood that tastes sweeter 
than a half lion, half hyena. I tell ya brothers, we aint leaving this 
find!"

	Nevertheless, these minor problems, were the least of his 
worries.  His major concern was not the utter contrast of their 
appearances, but was Zira's attitude towards him.  With Fabana, he 
couldn't begin to describe the amount of trust and love she had shown 
him, but with Zira, all she expressed was impatience, skepticism, and 
anger.       When Nuka failed in a certain task, or when it seemed that 
he wasn't trying hard enough in his lessons, she would roar so loud, 
that he had to jump back to avoid being hit, because if he didn't, a 
slap to the face would come next.  Then she would scold and castigate 
him until he promised he would try harder.  As a matter of fact, these 
so called lessons, were hard enough to bear.  She had created an 
extensive program to enhance his endurance, strength, and balance, but 
although he tried time and time again to please her, his weak body 
wouldn't answer his pleas to do well so he could prove himself to her.  
He would either get tangled up in vines, trip every yard over roots and 
stones, or just collapse from exhaustion.  Even once he was knocked 
unconscious from a low hanging branch, that he failed to notice was in 
his way!  Then the punishments he would have to withstand, since in 
Zira's eyes his was far below average, were excruciating.  He often 
wondered if all mothers were as hard on their cubs as Zira was, he knew 
Fabana was never like this... Fabana!

	"Fabana, I miss you so much!  Please come back to me!  I need you 
back and I need you now!  I don't know how much longer I can take these 
endless hours of training that Zira forces me to accomplish.  She says 
it will all be for a greater purpose, and I need to master these skills 
no matter how much blood, sweat, and tears I shed.  One day she 
constantly tells me I will need to put these skills to the test.  In 
her strange words, the day that will be 'my moment of glory'."

	Nuka sighed once again, as he took note of the moon's position.  
It was time, time for another night of training.  His prayers had 
remained unanswered yet again, he reluctantly decided that he would 
never be reunited with his friend.

	"Fabana, wherever you are, I hope you know how much I miss you, 
and how much I... Love you!  Goodnight Fabana, or should I say 
goodnight... Mother."  He looked towards the sky, and squinted as he 
saw a shooting star pass over his head.  He suddenly recalled 
everything Fabana had told him about shooting stars, and what she 
believed they signified.  Her final words suddenly rang in his ears, as 
if she was standing right next to him,

	"If you see a shooting star after making a wish, it means your 
wish was heard!  I will always be a part of you Nuka, and I will always 
be there to watch over you.  You have made me so proud, I am so proud 
of you!  Whenever you feel lost, or lonely, just remember that I shall 
always be with you.  Good-bye Nuka, I will, have, and forever shall 
always love you!"

	Nuka's face suddenly changed into a massive grin, and despite the 
pain and small cuts all over his body, he suddenly felt like he could 
survive another night.  With a laugh, just like a hyena's, he jumped 
and pranced in a circle, finally understanding everything that Fabana 
had told him.  He knew he could always take comfort in the fact that 
Fabana's proud gaze would always be watching over him, and with this 
truth he felt like nothing could stand in his way.  He spun on his 
paws, ran down the hill and crashed through the vines, all the while 
laughing happily.


CHAPTER TWELVE: CORRUPTION


	"It has been so long, my love.  A full year has passed since I 
saw your beautiful body murdered by those vicious monsters.  But phase 
one is complete, my revenge has begun, and those wicked hyenas have 
paid with their lives for what they did to you, our cub, and me.  Are 
you proud of me, my love?  Tell me you are!

	Why can't I hear your beautiful voice anymore?  Why haven't you 
visited me in my dreams?  Is it because you are angry with me for what 
I wonder about?  Then tell me how I can keep these questions from not 
entering my mind?  Without you by my side, how can I find answers to 
these thoughts?  Why Scar, you must tell me why.  Why did you do it?  
How could you even allow yourself to consider it?  What on earth drove 
you to mate with that disgusting thing?  She was a stinking, loathsome, 
vile, I can't even think of enough insults to explain what she was, 
Scar she was a hyena!  Were you that desperate for love that you had to 
settle for that?  Oh, it makes me sick thinking of what you and that... 
Fabana did together.  You deserved so much better, but... On the other 
hand, it also makes me think of us, and how we professed our love to 
each other that beautiful night under the stars.

	We both definitely felt the love together that night didn't we? 
Oh, yes you know we did, in more ways than one!  Thanks be to some God 
that we found each other Scar.  I don't know how, or who was the 
orchastrator of it, but someone guided you to me Scar, and when we 
became one, oh that was a night I shall never forget.  Then all the 
subsequent times after that... the many ways, the many... techniques. 
Oh, it gets me so.... excited!  Oh, let me think of what we did 
together Scar, let me remember all the pleasure we gave each other, let 
me feel..."

	"Uh, Mother what are you doing?"  Zira's eyes suddenly sprang 
open as she heard Nuka's confused voice behind her, "Mother, who are 
you talking to?"

	"Shut up Nuka!"  Zira cursed silently to herself a hundred curses 
in one second. Her "son" had once again ruined a perfectly good 
opportunity to relieve some of the stress and anxiety she was feeling, 
after all it was the beginning of her season.

	"Mother, please don't be mad at me, I'll just sit and wait here.  
You can get back to... whatever you were doing."  Zira turned and rose 
to her paws, shaking herself.

	"No, that's all right dear, you don't need to see something like 
that."

	"Uh... OK."

	"My, my, look at how you have grown.  How long has it been?"

	"Uh, are you all right Mother?  You're acting very strange, you 
know you saw me only an hour ago."  Zira shook again, trying to clear 
her lewd thoughts.

	"Oh, yes, of course, where did you go?"

	"Oh, you know, around... someplace."

	"You weren't looking for that hyena again, were you?"

	"No, of course not!  Why would I do that?"

	"How many times must I tell you?  She is gone and is never coming 
back!"

	"How do you know?"

	"Don't you understand?  She is..."  Zira looked at Nuka's face, 
she couldn't break his heart, "Let's just say, I know."

	"But she said I'll see her again sometime in the future."

	"Yes, Nuka you will, and someday,"  Zira let out a long, sigh 
"I'll see Scar."

	"Who?"

	"Scar."

	"Scar?  Oh, you mean that nasty wound on your side.  We'll 
actually it healed nicely, but I wish I could say the same about your 
ear."  Zira just looked at Nuka and tried to smile.

	"Anyway Mother, guess what."

	"If I could quote a great lion... 'I despise guessing games'."

	"Uh, who said that?  Oh well, who cares, anyway, I just wanted to 
let you know, that I'm all ready to get my tail kicked on that obstacle 
course of yours again."

	"Isn't that nice."

	"What's wrong, Mother?  Is something bothering you?"

	"Oh, I see you can notice things... OK, you want to help me?  
Then do me one favor, stop saying that word!"

	"Uh, what word is that, Mother?"

	"Stop that, do you hear me!  Stop calling me that!"

	"Stop calling you what, Mother?"  Zira roared and slapped Nuka 
full in the face with a backhanded paw, sending him crashing to his 
side and clutching his bruised face with his paws.

	"Why did you do keep doing that?  Why are you always so mean to 
me?  Don't you love me?"

	"Actually, no!"

	"Why, what have I done?" Nuka was beginning to cry.

	"Look at you, an adult male crying like that, dear God why did I 
take you in?"

	"What did you say!"

	"Nothing... Shut up!"  Zira looked away for a while, but when she 
looked back, Nuka was staring at her, like he had finally realized 
something.  A look that made her feel very uncomfortable,

	"What are you staring at?"

	"Tell me something... MOTHER!"  Nuka snarled as he saw Zira 
cringe as she heard that word again, "Why don't you look anything like 
me?"

	"What?  What are you talking about?"

	"Answer the damned question, bitch!"

	"Don't use that language around me!"

	"Why, you don't want me to talk like you?" Nuka rose to his paws 
and began to pace towards her, "Oh no, you would hate that, wouldn't 
you?  You would rather me stay being your obedient slave, doing 
whatever your wicked mind imagines!"

	"What are you trying to say?" Zira began to walk backwards, 
beginning to feel a slight sense of fear, she looked down and noticed 
that Nuka's claws were unsheathed and his paws were shaking.  She 
looked back up and saw his eyes were narrowed to slits and his muzzle 
was trembling.

	"You know something...Zira, for more days than I can remember, I 
have slaved for you, done your stupid lessons, and did things for you 
that I don't even want to think about.  You have taught me to hunt, to 
kill, to survive, yes things that I will need, but never once did you 
so show me any approval, or gratitude.  Never once did you love me!  
Why!"

	"I promised Fabana before she died..." Nuka roared and grabbed 
Zira's throat.

	"WHY!"

	"You ignorant, ungracious fool!  How dare you lay a paw on me!"  
Zira grabbed Nuka's paw with her own and swung at his face with her 
other paw, meanwhile extending her own claws on the paw she had placed 
around his.  Both paws connected simultaneously to their targets, and 
her left claws sunk deep into Nuka's paw, causing him to cry out right 
before he was smacked in the face with a backhanded strike from Zira's 
right paw.  Nuka let go of his hold, but Zira kicked him hard in his 
most sensitive spot, causing him to slump to the ground.  Zira grinned 
as she stalked towards the male, as he lay there in a coughing heap.

	"That's more like it!"  Nuka looked up and squinted into a 
confused look, "That is the kind of emotion, I want to see from you.  
Maybe you haven't failed your lessons, maybe you can still complete 
your mission after all.  For your reward, since you have done such a 
good job tonight,  I have a little surprise for you.  I'll meet you by 
the river.  Get going!"  Zira grinned as she watched Nuka slowly rise 
to his paws, he avoided her gaze and nodded.

	"Hurry up Nuka!  I don't have all night!"  She watched him 
painfully limp towards the river, as she laughed out loud.  Nuka 
stopped as he heard her laugh, but then proceeded to his destination.

	"Look at him Scar!  Look at him!  Oh, aren't you so proud of him?  
He is finally beginning to act like one of us!  Oh, Fabana... I'm soooo 
sorry that he won't turn out the way you hoped he would.  I must admit 
it was a valiant effort, but still a futile attempt.  You may have 
tried, but you failed, and I have won!  Now, Nuka is finally going to 
become what I have always wanted!  Keep watching Scar, the night has 
only just begun!"

* * * * * *

	"What are we doing here, Zira/?"

	"Please, call me Mother,"  Nuka didn't look up, "Oh, tonight is a 
very special night, my son.  Tonight is your final lesson."

	"Yea, I can hardly wait." Nuka hoped his sarcasm was understood.

	"Nuka, it's time for me to ask you a... personal question."  He 
looked up, suddenly interested.

	"What?"

	"Have you ever dreamed of being with a female?"

	"Yes, of course I have.  I am a male, aren't I?"

	"Yes, yes, that you are, but I mean how would you like to meet a 
female?"

	"Uh, I guess... I mean... uh sure, I wouldn't mind."

	"Not just any female though, I am talking about the most 
beautiful female I have ever seen, and certainly the most beautiful 
female in all the Pride Lands."

	"You mean a lioness, right?"

	"No, I mean a hyena."  Zira stopped for a moment, then burst out 
laughing.

	"What is so funny?"

	"What... Oh nothing, I mean, yes of course a lioness.  Zira 
resumed chuckling to herself.

	"Where?"

	"First, tell me what you would do with one, if you met one?"

	"I... uh, you know... things that males and females do together.  
I don't know, why are we having this conversation anyway?"

	"Because when you meet this female, you must promise me that you 
will NOT mate with her."

	"Do what with her?"

	"You will NOT..." Zira motioned for Nuka to come close to her.  
Nuka complied and then Zira whispered something into his ear that made 
Nuka's eyes spread wide, "...Instead, when you find her, you will kill 
her!"

	"What!  That thing that you told me NOT to do with her was bad 
enough, but kill her?  What is the point, why are you telling me these 
things!"

	"The point, my dear Nuka, is revenge."

	"Revenge for what?"

	"For this!" Zira pointed to her ear that was missing the huge 
chunk in the center, "And for this!"  Zira tapped her chest, the place 
where her heart was.

	"Your ear and your chest?"

	"No you idiot!  Not my ear and my chest!  My mind and my heart!  
The accursed  Pride Landers destroyed both!"

	"Oh no, not those guys again.  The guys you keep telling me day 
after day are our enemies, and you want to...What was that disgusting 
thing you told me you wanted to do?"  Zira smiled.

	"Bathe in their blood?"

	"Ewwww yuk!  Mom, I'm sorry, but you really need some serious 
help!"

	"Exactly and you are the one who is going to help me."

	"How?"

	"You'll figure it out, but first I have to teach you how to 
kill."

	"I already learned that, you taught me how to bring down the 
great beasts of prey a long time ago."

	"No, I mean how to kill!"

	"I don't understand."

	"See that pile of leaves, over there?" Nuka glanced to where Zira 
was pointing, and nodded.

	"Move them out of the way."  Nuka looked back, but only saw Zira 
wearing her famous grin.  Nuka slowly, cautiously approached the pile 
of leaves.  The closer he became, he could hear rustlings and movement 
underneath, and once or twice a muffled cry.  As he began to move some 
of the leaves out the way, he jumped back suddenly.  He ran back and 
swatted the rest of the leaves out of the way to confirm what he 
thought he saw.  It was a baby antelope, her legs tied together, and 
looking at him with big, sad eyes.  Nuka looked back at Zira and 
snarled,

	"What is this, Mother?"

	"Your final lesson, Nuka.  You must kill her."

	"What? No!"

	"Do it, Nuka! Kill her!"

	"No, I won't!  It's wrong!"

	"Kill her, Nuka!"

	"Stop this, she is innocent, she has done nothing wrong,"  The 
baby began to cry, and call for its mother, "Look at her, why in the 
name of God, are you doing this to her?  Why are you doing this to me?"

	"This is your destiny,"  Zira began to pace towards him, with 
long, deliberately slow strides. "Become what I have always wanted you 
to become."

	"No!"

	"Look at her, Nuka!"  Zira positioned herself, behind the crying 
antelope.  "Put her out of her misery!"

	"Stop this mother!  There is something really wrong here.  I may 
be your son, and I may have done everything you asked me to do in the 
past, but this is... insane!  You can't make me do this."

	"Can't you feel the lust of death in your veins, Nuka?  Can't you 
feel the pleasure surrounding us?  Ooooh, this is getting me soooo 
excited!"

	"YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER!" Nuka spun his head around and stared 
right into the eyes of Zira, "YOU ARE EVIL!"

	"PRECISELY!"  Zira flashed her claws, and grabbed the antelope's 
head with her paws.  She raised her head and smiled, her eyes locked 
right into Nuka's, then with a quick twist she broke the poor 
creature's neck.  Nuka's eyes widened as far as they could when he 
heard the disgusting sound, and then his jaw feel when he saw Zira 
indifferently drop the dead creature to the ground.

	"Nuka," Zira grinned once more, "Are you hungry?  I know I am, 
guess what we'll be having."  Nuka backed up and shook his head "no" 
over and over again, as he clutched the side of his head with his paws.

	He closed his eyes, trying to blot out what he had just saw his 
so-called mother just did.  All he thought she was suddenly snapped in 
two, just like that poor creature's neck.  He could not comprehend the 
hatred he now felt, all he could see himself doing was innumerable 
things to Zira, and in each one's focus was how he would kill her.  He 
was shaking uncontrollably, he felt like he was about to get sick, and 
he felt cold tears stream out of his eyes.  In anger, in hatred, in a 
violent scream as his innocence was suddenly lost, perhaps as a plea of 
sorrow to the antelope's soul, he suddenly threw back his head and 
roared one, loud, resounding word towards the skies,

	"NOOOOOO!"  Suddenly deep in his mind, her heard a low, melodious 
voice that broke through his scream.

	"RUN AWAY NUKA, RUN AWAY, AND NEVER RETURN!"  Nuka spun on his 
paws and ran full speed from the awful scene, crashed through the vines 
and was gone.  Zira's wicked laugh echoed around her as she knew where 
the path Nuka chose would take him.

	"Phase two begins!  Yes! Yes! Yes Nuka, straight towards Pride 
Rock and towards your destiny!"


CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SOLITARY ANGUISH


	Vines were torn in two, branches were broken, and Nuka who ran in 
full fear, trying to escape all he had witnessed, trampled flowers.  
His flanks were scraped and cut by innumerable thorns, while he stubbed 
his paws on myriad rocks, and tripped over countless roots, all of 
which seemed to prevent his escape.  Nuka didn't know where he was 
running to, how he would get there, or when he would find it.  All he 
knew was the who and the why.  He had to escape the evil that was 
threatening to consume his very being, and he had to get as far away as 
possible from Zira.

	He shook his head violently, trying to clear the tears from his 
eyes, and trying to banish the one image that refused to leave his 
mind, but all he could think of was that poor antelope, and the 
sickening sound of what his mother did, still rung in his ears.  He 
began to slow his speed, exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on 
him, and no matter how much his mind screamed at him to keep going, his 
body could take no more.  He slumped to his stomach, panting and 
crying, the memory of the antelope still replaying over and over again 
in his mind.  After much time passed, and after innumerable tears were 
shed, he finally began to regain some of his composure.  As he looked 
towards the sky, he saw the moon had already reached its apex, and was 
starting to fall towards the horizon.  He saw the mouth of the jungle, 
straight ahead, suddenly realizing that since he ran so far, he had no 
idea where he was.  Nothing looked familiar, he had no idea how far he 
was from home.  He wiped his eyes, with the back of his paw, and slowly 
rose to his paws.  He started to walk in a daze towards somewhere, he 
didn't care where, why would he? The only thing he cared about was that 
he felt more miserable than he ever had.       Wherever he looked, it 
appeared to him that everything around him was perfect and every animal 
seemed completely happy.  However, all he felt was a deep depression 
that coursed through his veins, and made him hang his head.  Every 
creature he saw seemed to be with another.  Every male had a female and 
via versa, but where was that special someone for him?  Where was that 
companion who he so desperately needed?  Not just a mate, well that 
too, after all, it was the season, but just to be a friend.  He needed 
her now, more than he ever did.  He believed his searching was utterly 
pointless though, he knew he would never find her, why would any 
lioness fall in love with a funny looking lion like him?  Absolute 
depression seized his soul, and everything he saw was cast in a deep 
shade of gray.  As the moon cast its light around him, he slowly raised 
his head towards the sky, and his voice broke the peaceful stillness...

	"There is nothing that I see,

	Nothing that I fee