He didn't awake until well after noon. The full meal still lay heavily in his stomach and he wished he could just lie back down in the shade and doze off. However, he knew he needed to get back. Nduli would be awake by now and would probably be very hungry. He stretched his long legs and then picked up the meat and ambled off in the direction of the den site moving slowly through the yellow, brown grass. His leg still ached and it throbbed a low reminder to him to not over work it. The quick dodge away from the lunging croc had pulled it back out a bit and the pain had returned. On the way home he had to stop three times to rest and stretch the muscle when it cramped up on him. It was already falling into dusk as he reached familiar terrain and could see in the distance the small acacia that grew next to Nduli's home. As he neared it he became aware of a plaintive wailing. The crying voice was full of fright and hopelessness; it spoke of desperation and despair. He dropped his cargo absently on to the ground and raced towards the sound. The sight that greeted him made his heart fall in his chest. He found Nduli walking slowly through the grass, calling in a high pitched squeak, the sound of a mother cheetah searching for her cubs. He could see her trembling and she moved her head around continually as if expecting an attack at any moment. She looked so small, as if she had shrunk inside her coat. Scar slowed, afraid to approach her too quickly, she seemed so lost and unsure of her surroundings and he didn't want to startle her further. She swiveled her head around and saw him standing silently in the grass. Her eyes widened and at once she made a halfhearted dash to him. She stumbled and fell on her way, her hind legs giving out. Behind him Scar heard the flutter of wings and the ribald croaking of two rusty voices. Looking back he saw the two vultures that had taunted him after his first hunt alight on the tree by the den. They peered down at the shaking cheetah with their beaks open in greedy anticipation. He raised his lip to them giving them a full view of his long, white fangs. The birds drew back but didn't leave. They seemed sure of their meal and weren't about to let this opportunity pass them by. Breaking his gaze on the grey, winged horrors in the tree, Scar looked down at Nduli. Her back legs lay limply in a tangled mess behind her and her breath came in short pants. Without a word he grasped the nape of her neck in his mouth and lifted her as best he could. Slowly he walked to den, trying not to drag her too roughly. She was frighteningly light and already had lost much of the weight the good eating had put on her. Awkwardly he pushed her into the den headfirst, trying to drop her gently. She landed with a thud on the rock floor but made no cry of pain or scold in reproach. Scar was worried. She had seemed like so much dead weight as he carried her. He walked back to the wildebeest haunch he had dropped. Again he looked up at the tree and vultures which roosted there looking at him angrily. They nodded to him. "She's finished you know," the larger one croaked, "you may as well go on lion." "Yes, done for," the smaller concurred, "why the way she wandered around in circles calling for you. She's gone mad you know. No good" "What would you know about it, you filthy thieves?" Scar snarled up at them, "She's strong and will be fine. I've been mad before too and I'm quite strong." He clicked his claws against the ground. "Come on down from there cowards and I'll show you." The larger vulture laughed, "Very well, very well. Stay with the addled beast. But mark me, in a day or two all that will be left of her is flesh and bone and we'll be prepared." The birds flew off into the darkening sky, leaving Scar to sit and wonder how much of their cruel talk was true. He shuddered as he thought of her spending hours searching for him in the same place, too far gone to realize that she wasn't going anywhere. It was as if any part of her true personality had taken leave and had left behind nothing, a blank space. He entered the den slowly; Nduli was still lying where he had dropped her, eyes tightly shut and breathing heavily. He carefully made is way in to avoid stepping on her, then lay close to her and spoke softly. "Nduli?" he nuzzled her ear, talking gently into it, "Come on spotty, time to go to bed." He nudged her trying to get her to open her eyes. She turned her head slowly and looked at him. She seemed far away, looking past him into some other place which lay beyond the rock wall of the den. He licked her forehead, it was burning hot to the touch and the sickly, sour smell of infection hung over her like a dismal cloud. She blinked slowly and buried her head in his mane. "I thought you left me." she said in a shaky voice, "Don't go Scar, I don't want to die alone." He wrapped a paw around her, "Don't talk like that, you're not going to die. I won't let you." He stood over her and grabbed the nape of her neck. He dragged her to her nest and then began looking her over. The wound on her side had taken on a nasty greenish tinge and smelled awful. She had deteriorated much in the afternoon while he was gone. He licked the jagged cut until it broke open again and the blood began to flow freely from it. She lay silent, not even having the strength to whimper in protest. She just lay in her grass nest, her glazed over eyes staring vacantly at the rock wall . Scar meanwhile, racked his brain to remember an incident that had taken place in the Pride Lands long ago. When Mufasa had just become king one of the lionesses of the pride had taken ill with an infection in a wound in her mouth. She had gotten it after cutting her lip of the sharp edge of a broken bone she had tried to chew. She also had taken ill with a fever and the pride shaman had been called. Rafiki had given her some leaves to chew to rid herself of the fever. They were bitter and made the lioness sick to her stomach but after a few days of eating the plant the infection had cleared up and the lioness was as good as new. He couldn't really remember what the plant looked like (in truth he hadn't really cared what happened to the sick lioness and so hadn't paid much attention) but he could remember the smell. Curious, he had gone to see what Rafiki would do for her and looked over the medicine for himself. It was strong and distasteful; a powerful smell that spoke of it's powerful healing ability. He was sure he could recognize it again if he smelled it. Looking down at his charge he could see that she had fallen into a fitful, feverish slumber and that she would be in no mood to eat tonight. Food could wait; he now had more pressing things to attend to. Her sides rose and fell heavily with each labored breath. He nudged her a couple of times to make sure she would stay asleep after he had left the den once again. He wanted no repeat of the incident he had returned home to. He wasn't sure where he was going to go, but he knew he had the find that plant. It was the only thing he could think of. He started in the immediate vicinity thrusting his nose into every brush pile and tussock in the area. He found nothing except some thorns that pricked his nose and made him bleed. Ranging farther he tried some more, again to no avail. All night he wandered sniffing at every grass and leaf he found. He walked so far that he wasn't even sure of what direction he was going in anymore. By the time the moon had reached it's pinnacle he was desperate and at wits end. All of the plants looked the same to him and nothing smelled at all like the bitter plant the lioness had taken. Maybe his memory was faulty and he wasn't remembering right at all. Perhaps all this searching was pointless and Nduli would die no matter how many plants he brought back with him. He wished Rafiki were here. The old baboon would know what to do and would fix Nduli's leg in a snap. The old baboon always knew what to do. He was just Scar, not trained in any of the healing ways and not at all sure what to do. He began to believe the vultures had been right, that in a day or two he would find Nduli cold and stiff in her sleeping nest. Overwhelmed by the situation and long day of travel he collapsed on the ground. His throat felt tight and he couldn't get the idea of Nduli's death from his mind. The idea of the beautiful spotted cat laying silent forever. Exhaustion gave way to exhausted tears and he lay in the tall grass crying because in truth there was nothing more he could do. "Now, now what is all this whimpering and moaning about here?" He heard a comforting female voice from behind. Without bothering to regain his composure he turned to the voice and saw a large female elephant standing in the grass looking at him as one looks at a small-injured cub. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed her browsing nearby. "What's ever is the matter? It's not like a lion to just lay in the grass crying, tell me what's wrong." She tilted her head in a motherly gesture and smiled at him. "My friend," he blurted out, " she's very sick..she..she's going to die and I can't find the damn plant!" He collapsed once more into tears. Embarrassed, but unable to ebb the tide of emotion that was washing over him. The elephant smiled and came over to him. She reached down with her truck and patted Scar on his head. "There now, little lion, no need to get all upset. Old Kilima will help you. Now what's wrong with your friend?" Scar sniffled and cleared his throat and looked up at the elephant. She had a kind face and smiled back at him warmly. "She's got an infection and a bad fever. She's very sick and I need to find a medicine plant. But I can't find it anywhere. I looked everywhere. She really needs it she's going to die soon." The elephant nodded, "Ah yes, the Afya plant, very strong medicine. There's plenty to be found around here, no need to get upset." She lifted his head with her trunk. Scar looked startled, "But where? I looked everywhere, absolutely everywhere." Kilima laughed, "Why honey, you're just too short." She walked over to a tall tree, which stood nearby and reached up with her trunk. She pulled down a branch and threw it to him. It was as long as he was and as thick around as his foreleg. "Here you are darling, more than enough to cure what ails anybody. Now dry your face and get yourself back to you friend. Make sure she swallows at least five of the leaves a day. She may get a bit ill in the stomach, but she must eat them." Scar beamed up at the elephant. He couldn't believe his good fortune. Smiling his broadest he said, "Thank you, you don't realize what you've done for me, for both of us, my friend and me. Thank you." The elephant waved her truck. "No problem and no thanks needed. We elephants believe that all good deeds are rewarded here and in the other world. It is the path to "Ema Jumu" and every creature that can would do well to follow it. Now get yourself back home where you're needed and good luck to you and your friend." He bowed to the elephant and then picked the branch up in his teeth and walked as quickly as he could back home. It took a while for him to get his bearings and find the correct path back, but once sure of the way he went as quickly as he could ignoring the pain in his legs and the general fatigue of his body. Most of the night had already slipped away during his search and time was of the essence. Ndlui was still soundly sleeping when he returned; she lay as still as death. He nudged her nose with his own trying to coax her eyes open. The sooner she took the remedy the better. There was no way for Scar to tell how far gone she was but he was not about to risk letting another night slip past without trying to cure her. However, she wouldn't awake, her head rolled listlessly as he nudged her. In desperation Scar bit her ear, hard enough to draw blood. She opened her eyes slowly. The glazed, overcast look remained. "Kassi?", she asked, "Is that you?" She then closed her eyes again. Frantic, Scar grabbed hold of her ear again in his teeth and shook the cheetah roughly. "Wake up damn you!" The taste of her blood flooded his mouth and he let her go, dropping her head on the floor hard enough to make a sound. Nduli's eyes snapped open and she winced. Blood flowed from her ear and she must've received a nasty bump on the head. She looked up at Scar and seemed to recognize who he was. "Scar?" Her voice was weak, "What's going on?" "I've brought something that will make you well again." He dragged the branch over to where she was laying. "Here, chew some of these leaves" He snapped off a section and thrust it into her face. "Five a day I was told and you'll be better in no time." Nduli sniffed the offering and wrinkled her nose. "Ugh, I don't think I can. That smells horrible, I'll be sick for days." She lay her head on her paws and closed her eyes yet again. Scar could feel his temper rising and without thinking growled and leapt over the female cheetah. Straddling her he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and held her tightly, hard enough to hurt. Nduli yelped and struggled to get out from underneath him but he pressed her down to the cave floor until she quieted down. "You will eat those leaves," he snarled through a mouthful of her fur, "you'll either eat them yourself or I'll sit on you and shove them down your throat. Understand?" Nduli whimpered and Scar could smell the fear scent coming from her in waves. Feeling a bit uncomfortable he loosed his hold and licked her neck gently where he had held her. Still standing over her he nuzzled her neck and groomed her ears until he had sensed that she had calmed. Without further protest she nibbled at the leaves, slowly swallowing one after another. It took her a while to eat the entire dose; the taste must have been horrible indeed, but she finished them all. When she had done Scar moved off of her and lay in the far corner of the den. He was terribly tired, the search and the confrontation with Nduli had worn him out, the cool floor was soothing and he was drifting off quickly. He watched as his charged stumbled to her feet and shambled out of the den. He was about to go after her but could hear her being sick outside and stayed where he was. The elephant had been right. Chapter 11 The Sweet Summer Scent Nduli was slow in getting back to her old self. After the reprimand from Scar she no longer balked at his attempts to help her and ate the leaves without complaint. Scar himself was beginning to feel better than he had in a long time. His leg had healed well and all the exercise he got from hunting for two was beginning to show. His body no longer seemed bony and ill nourished, instead he was coated with tawny muscle. His mane had become fuller and glossy and his coat gleamed with good health. His kills still consisted of mostly small game but he was getting better everyday. One afternoon he proudly presented Nduli with a freshly killed wildebeest calf and was practically bursting with pride as he dropped it at her feet. She had favored him with a wide smile and a tremendous appetite. Little by little she started to come to, the wound on her side closing up and the infection slipping away. He could now once again count on a wise remark or a lopsided grin when he did something foolish or in jest. But he sensed this was all good natured teasing on her part and a cuff on his head or nip to his shoulder would confirm it. She was becoming strong again but her demeanor had changed much since her illness. She was more apt to nuzzle his face or playfully bite him than to snarl at him and for this he was glad. Although it did present a whole new set of problems In all his life Scar had never taken a real mate or had a close relationship with a female. There had been one time that he had tried it, but it never really panned out. He was far too obsessed with his drive for power to submit to chasing a female. The lioness in question while interested soon gave up as it became apparent that the interest was not mutual. Scar was happy to let it go. He had never been confident in himself and that particular side of life had always made him nervous. It was the one part of exsistance that he had never wished to gain mastery over, preferring instead to concentrate on the things he knew he could do. But now he found himself drawn to Nduli in a way he had never felt for any other creature. He found himself staring at her when he knew she wasn’t looking, admiring her sleek spotted coat and long tail. When laying in the den together he imagined what it might be like to roll her over and stand over her nipping her neck and pressing against her back and inhale her musky odor. More than once he had to excuse himself on some pretense or other to go outside and run until all evidence of his secret thoughts had subsided. Now that she had become more friendly towards him the feelings had become more intense and it was becoming harder and harder to control himself. He found himself making up reasons to be close to her. The den was too drafty one night or she had a dirty spot on her back that only he could reach. She never questioned his intentions when he did these things, but the thought of actually approaching her terrified him. If she where to turn and snarl at him or worse laugh at him he didn’t know what he would do. Most likely slink off never to be heard from again. So in silence he bore his frustration and continued to just look longingly at her and wonder. Within a week and two days of first taking the medicine plant Nduli was ready to get out into the field and hunt again. She disliked the fact that she had lost quite a bit of weight and worried that her skills would become rusty if she stayed away too long. So one late afternoon she called Scar from the den and bade him follow her out into the grasslands. It was obvious she was feeling good and she bounded up to him as he came from the den and grabbed him around the neck and bit his cheek. She let go quickly and raced away looking back over her shoulder in an attempt to get him to follow. Scar smiled as he watched her run, she seemed as if she were going to be just fine after all. “Feeling frisky today are we,” he chuckled to himself, “hmm, I’ll show you something to be frisky about.” He licked his lips and bounced after her quickly catching her up. He reached out with his large paw and grabbed her around her hind legs throwing her to the ground. The two tumbled over, wrestling and nipping. Scar found himself pinning Nduli down and biting her stomach while the cheetah laughed and kicked at him with her hind legs. He nipped at them gently and Nduli continued laughing. Seeing her in this position and in such good spirits made his heart race and he brought his mouth closer to where her leg joined her body. Instead of nipping her he put his tongue to the pink, lightly furred skin and felt her shiver when he did so. He expected a cuff across the nose or a nasty remark but she didn’t move or rebuff him. In fact, much to his surprise she rolled completely on to her back and spread her hind legs further apart and brushed his face with her tail. She looked at him with half lidded eyes and grinned. His heart was now thrumming a steady beat in his chest and he ran his tongue over her belly catching the first whiff of the heavy, musty odor that came from her. Every instinct in his body urged him to move closer to that scent, to taste it, breathe it in. He moved down closer to the source, his eyes flicking up to look into Nduli’s face. She peered down at him her eyes shining with wicked amusement. He could see her nostrils flare as she breathed. “Meza miye tamu Kovu.” She whispered as she looked down at him. Scar was more than happy to oblige. Closing his eyes he ran his tongue over the place where the delicious smell was coming from and felt himself grow hard as the taste of her washed over him. It was better than he had imagined it. He rubbed his face into her, inhaling deeply and thrusting his tongue into her. He heard her draw in her breathe sharply as he did. He smiled at the sound and did it again to make her sigh again. He was in no particular hurry. He had seen Mufasa and Sarabi together once and had noticed that for the most part matings were quick and with few preliminaries. But he was enjoying seeing Nduli squirm in the grass and feeling her convulsive jump every time he licked her now swollen opening. He lay in the grass next to her playing idly with her. Nduli raised herself to her feet and turned her back to him. Scar was surprised by her eagerness. Raising her hind quarters she lay her tail aside giving Scar a clear view of her intentions. He got up on shuddering limbs and walked over to her. Rubbing his chin against her back he asked, “Are you sure…you want me to, to…” As if in answer she hit him gently on the side of his face with her tail, a signal that no male lion past cubhood could miss. She brought her rump close up against him and he grasped her around her waist with his forelegs. Steadying himself he slid himself into her slowly, feeling her body grasp him as he entered her. It was so warm and wet inside of her. His head was swimming and he felt dizzy as he pushed himself deeply inside of her. Nduli’s claws made small furrows in the ground and she began panting as he started pushing into her quickly. He grabbed her nape with his teeth and pushed her down to the grass. He could feel was loosing control of himself and felt his legs cramping as he drove himself deep within her. With a convulsive jerk he pulled out from her and spilled his seed onto the ground. He quickly sat back on his haunches as an overwhelming feeling of light headedness came over him. Nduli rolled over on her back and smiled at her panting suitor. “Are you okay?” She giggled. Scar said nothing, just nodded at her. After he had caught his breath he gave her a weary grin and sank down into the grass. His hind legs throbbed from the encounter. He felt a wonderful sense of calm overtake him and he lay out full in the late afternoon sun. Nduli came to where he was and lay down beside him resting her head on his hind leg. “I wondered how long it would take you to get the hint, you know.” She said. “Me? How was I supposed to know?” he flicked his tail in her face. “I thought if I tried anything you would be angry or laugh at me.” “Hmm, silly lion,” she said rubbing her chin against him, “I guess you’re kind of new at this.” Scar looked at his claws. “Yes, well I never had a real mate before.” Nduli sat up and looked at Scar questioningly. “How could you have not have had a mate before? You were the head of a pride, or so you told me, that doesn’t make any sense Scar.” Scar was at a loss, she had him there, it didn’t make any sense. He looked at her and realized he couldn’t go on lying to her and since he was caught there was no time like the present. He was afraid she might not like what she heard. “Nduli, lie back,” he said averting his eyes from her, “I haven’t been completely honest with you about who I am and why I’m here. I have a lot to tell you so hear me out and afterward you can scratch me or leave me or whatever.” “Why would I do that Scar? I mean after we…” He waved his paw at her. “Just wait until you hear what I have to say, then tell me what you think.” So in the fading light of evening the whole ugly tale of how Scar became king of the Pride Lands, how he enlisted the hyenas to help him rule, how he abused the lands and his subjects and finally how his young nephew drove him away came out. Scar told the tale in a clear and steady voice, only choking up as he told of Mufasa’s death and Simba’s exile, never shifting blame away from himself or making excuses for his actions. Nduli sat silently, occasionally looking shocked or angry at what he said. When Scar finally finished the sun was long gone and the whirr of crickets filled the silence between his words. For a long time Nduli just sat looking at him. He couldn’t read her face and it worried him. He had hoped that she would nuzzle him and tell him that the past was behind him and nothing mattered now. She didn’t, she just sat there looking at him. “Scar, I have never in my life heard a story with more deceit, dishonesty or downright nasty behavior in my life. I guess I never really knew who you were.” “Nduli, look I’m sorry. I know I should have told you sooner, but I…” She stood up and rounded on him. “How could you! How could you do something like that!.” Scar flinched. “Nduli you don’t understand….” “No, you’re damn right I don’t understand! How could I understand, you killed your own brother and tried to kill a cub of your own blood!” She was pacing now, her hackles raised. “I know, it was awful, but….”Scar began but she cut him off. “But, nothing Scar,” She was now crying and shaking her head, “I thought you were different, I thought…”She trailed off as the tears came in a torrent and she turned and ran toward her den. Scar didn’t follow her this time. It seemed prudent to sleep outdoors for the night. He found shelter under the acia tree but he found no sleep. The afternoon which had started out so well had ended in disaster. Scar was kicking himself for letting slip that he had never had a mate. But more, he was sorry he had not told Nduli sooner about what had happened in the Pride Lands. If the past had taught him nothing else it taught him that lies were never a good idea. Now she was closed to him again, sleeping in her den alone. Suddenly Scar lifted his head. A cool breeze was coming from the West and it stirred something in him. He remembered something as if from a dream that the West held what he was looking for. He got to his feet without realizing he was doing so. He took a few steps forward and then stopped. He looked toward the den and heard Nduli’s soft raspy snore. He smiled and then turned once again to the western wind. “Goodbye, my dearest friend.” He whispered in the direction of the den. “be well and thanks.” Setting his jaw tight and blinking back tears of his own he set out in the direction of the wind, never looking back. The next morning Nduli woke and looked for Scar first thing. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was for berating him, to tell him how much she cared about him and to beg him to stay with her forever. She called for over an hour, listening for the pad of his feet in the grass. After a while she realized with certainty that he was gone for good. She looked in the direction that the sun set and somehow knew that he had gone that way. She sat for a long while, looking and saying nothing. margaret Chapter 12 Strange Friends in Strange Places When he left Nduli he wasn’t at all sure where he was going just that something was telling him it was time for him to move on. He had to stop himself from running back a few times, he was very much in love with the cheetah, but the vision of her so angry and disappointed, driven to tears by his former self , spurred him on. It hurt him greatly to know that she thought he was just another lion, another marauding murderer. It was not how he had wanted her to feel, indeed he had tried his best to counter her expectations, but in the end the story of his early life overshadowed all that. His past had come back to haunt him and he could no more erase it’s effect on her than he could change the color of the sky. He was very sorry to have it come to this. He had entertained in his mind the idea of spending his remaining days with the cheetah but for one slip and few weeks of lying that had all been dashed to pieces. He found himself more ashamed of his role in the Pride Lands then he had ever had before and his tread was as heavy as his heart. The night came and with it a violent thunderstorm. The weather seemed to match his mood. On the open plain there was no shelter for Scar. Not a tree or rock face or bush in sight so he plodded on through the sodden ground, occasionally startling at the loud claps of thunder. It was a miserable few hours until the storm subsided and the sun rose to meet an equally grey and cheerless morning. Tired from the nights travel he stopped at a small river. He dipped his forepaws into the water washing off the mud which had caked between his toes. He was about to turn away and look for a suitable place to take a nap when a shrill screech broke the silence. The sound had come from down river and it was full of distress. Out of curiosity Scar followed the noise, picking his way along the rocky bank. Here and there sharply pointed rocks broke the swift current of the river and on one of these was a small animal. It was the source of the sound and it shrieked again as it clung desperately to a slime covered rock that poked directly out of the middle of the river. Scar almost turned back the way he came but something in the animals look made him stop and consider the situation. The poor little beast(not even as large as his paw) looked so helpless amid the raging water swollen by the past nights rain. It reminded him of Nduli when he had found her wandering aimlessly by her den and he was moved to help the little beast. “Hello, out there,” he called. “Hold on tightly and I’ll come and get you.” Scar tested the current and found while it was swift it was not strong enough to sweep him away. He lowered himself into the water and paddled clumsily out towards the creature. It shrieked in terror at the sight of the lion coming toward it and made to scramble away momentarily forgetting it’s original predicament. It squeaked as it slipped off the rock and into the cold rushing water. Quickly, Scar thrust out his paw and blocked the little animal from floating down river. The creature tried desperately to get out from Scar’s grasp and it paddled madly trying to fight the current. Scar had to laugh at the ridiculous display and then gently grabbed the little animal in his mouth and swam back to shore. It struggled and thrashed violently in his grasp, it even tried to bite him. Scar ignored it, the animal was far too small to bite through the tuft of hair on his chin. He climbed onto the rocky bank and dropped the creature with an unceremonious thud onto the gravel. He shook himself like a dog showering the little animal with droplets of water it squeaked and scuttered up the bank. “Well, there you are little chap,” Scar said. “safe and sound. Next time don ’t go for a swim when the river is swollen .” He began slowly picking his way up the bank. He was brought up short as the little animal scurried in front of him and stood on it’s hind legs looking at him. Now that he could get a good look at the animal, Scar had to admit that it was sickeningly cute. It was covered in a thick grey pelt with white fur on the chest and belly. It had small pink paw/hands very much like a baboons but small and delicate. It had a tiny pink nose and small rounded ears that twitched constantly. It’s large black eyes stared at him with a kind of awe and Scar chuckled. It was a bushbaby, but since he had never seen one before Scar decided it must be a kind of mouse. “Thank you big lion for saving Chaga. Much thanks, good friend to lion from now on.” The little beast had a shrill, reedy voice that lilted at the end of each sentence. “Yes, I’m sure,” Scar nodded to the little animal, “I hope you’re okay, goodbye now.” He again went to move on and now found that the little creature had dashed up his foreleg and was now sitting on his nose regarding him with those huge black eyes. “Chaga best friend to lion now.” It twittered. “Lion name?” Scar was taken aback, “Uh, Scar, now about this best friend business.” He reached up and plucked the little creature from his snout and held it by it’ s tail. Undaunted the creature climbed onto Scar’s paw and sat perched on his toe. “Oh yes, Scarred lion is Chaga’s best friend now.” It groomed it’s ears compulsively. “Find Scarred lion lots of beetles and sausage fruits. Good yes.” It nodded it’s head enthusiastically waiting for Scar’s approval. Scar put his paw down with a thump causing the creature to flip off into the gravel. “Oh, yes very good.” He pushed Chaga with his paw. “Why don’t you run along and do that now little friend.” Chaga bowed in Scar’s direction. “Good find food for new best friend. Be back Scarred lion wait, be back in quick time.” It bounded off. Scar shook his head as he watched the bushbaby take off towards the nearby woods. “That’ll teach me,” he thought. “to help strange looking rodents.” He yawned widely and went off to search for a proper napping spot. He found a fallen log which had long been hollowed out by termites and curled up at the entrance. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. The heat of the day was coming on and the cool shade was comforting. Aside from the buzz of cicadas in the long grass the area was silent. He thought of Nduli as he drifted off to sleep. Chapter 13 Bad Omens The night was rainy and it was cold. Scar plodded through the wet grass feeling every step getting harder as the mud sucked him down. He saw a familiar spotted shape in the distance and ran to try to catch it. But he couldn’t move, the mud held him firmly in place. Suddenly the shape was joined by another. It was a lion, a monstrous one. The small spotted shape ran toward him and he saw it was Nduli calling for help. The lion lunged toward her and landed squarely on her, he could hear her back snap as she was pushed down into the mud. She squealed for help as the huge lion buried it’s fangs in her back ripping her open. He heard the sickening crunch of bones as it snapped her in two. He tried to scream but nothing came from him. The lion looked at him blood dripping from it’s jaws. “Now it’s your turn, little one.” It leapt towards him, foam and blood running back from it’s muzzle. Scar awoke and leapt to his feet, teeth bared and seeking an enemy. It took him a while to realize that the only enemy was his troubled mind that conjured up demons while he slept. He sat down and looked about, almost to reassure himself that it had all been a dream and that the huge lion was nowhere to be found. But what he did find almost caused him to break out into gales of laughter. Placed on the ground nearby very neatly on a large leaf was a small pile of beetles and sausage fruit. Evidently his little friend had found him while he was sleeping and decided to leave him breakfast. He sniffed the offering but decided that while it was a nice gesture the assortment was not to his taste. He also wanted to take leave of this place before the little pest came back. He stretched and was just preparing to do so when he felt something fall onto his back from above. “Oh please, please let that be a very heavy misquitoe.” He mumbled to himself. However he soon found the small and loud rodent from the morning incident clambering onto his nose smiling broadly. “Hello, hello, Scarred lion. Good sleep, you have?” It began washing it’s face. “Now listen, I have to go hunting now and…..” he tried to brush Chaga off his nose but it held onto him tightly. “Oh, to hunting. I know where to go to hunting.” It’s tail brushed past Scar ’s nostril causing him to sneeze. This did nothing to dislodge the little pest and it continued smiling brightly at Scar. Finally giving up patience his grabbed the bushbaby between to two claws and pried him off his nose. “You cannot go hunting with me.” He dropped Chaga onto the ground roughly. “Now go on, off with you.” He pointed in the direction of the trees. “Please Scarred lion,” the little animal looked up at him pleadingly. “Want to help you. Please.” Scar looked at Chaga sternly. His tolerance for the creature was close to an end. “No! Now get out of here you little pest.” He raised a forepaw as if to strike the little animal senseless in hopes that it would run off in fright. Instead it cringed before him and looked at him with wide and frightened eyes. “Scarred lion going to eat Chaga now?” It whimpered. “What?” “Go on Scarred lion, eat Chaga. Very sorry.” It lay down on the ground at Scar’s feet looking at him and shaking. “Now, I never said anything about eating you, so why don’t…” Scar was unable to finish as the bushbaby had bounded up from the ground and landed squarely on top of his head. It squealed with delight. “Oh thank you Scarred lion. You are very best friend.” It tugged on Scar’s mane. “You know,” Scar said to no one on particular. “if this were happening to anyone else this would be terribly funny.” “Yes, very funny.” Chaga chimed in. “Scarred lion is very funny and very good friend.” “Um, yes, right then. Chaga is it? Listen you can stay with me a little while but you must be very, very quiet.” “Oh yes, very quiet.” The bushbaby whispered as if to show Scar how quiet he could be. “The Scarred lion does not like a lot of noise and he must hunt now. So you can sit up there and be very quiet. Don’t even whisper, you understand.” Scar got up and began walking toward the open plain. He was sure in time that the hyperactive little animal would grow tired of his company. At least he hoped so or he would be having a small snack before his meal. It didn’t take him long to locate his lunch. Within the first mile of journeying he came upon a wounded zebra colt that had been left behind by it ’s herd. He dispatched the animal quickly and with little resistance and soon found himself gorging on the tender young flesh. He soon forgot that he had a bush baby sitting atop his head. The little beast took Scar’s direction seriously and remained silent, even through the kill, it uttered not a squeak or spoke a word. Occasionally Scar could feel a tug on his mane, but other than that his passenger seemed hardly there at all. When he had eaten his fill he figured now was as good a time as any to call the little guy down and have a chat. “You up there, if you’re awake come down here” he said. “I’d like to talk to you.” He felt Chaga stir in his mane and then it jumped down to where Scar sat. The tiny animal looked sleepy and it was evident that he had found a lions mane a comfortable nest. It scratched it’s ear with it’s hind foot and then straightened and attempted to look brisk and ready for whatever the lion required of him. “So, tell me,” said Scar licking the remains of the blood from his whiskers. “Why are you following me around then? I mean I’ve never seen a creature such as yourself and I’d like to know why you decided to become my shadow.” “You saved me from the water. Swam and pulled me out.” Chaga began grooming his ears in a decidedly nervous manner. “Want to be friends.” Scar nodded. “Fair enough, but really, I’m a lion and you’re a, a, mouse or something.” Chaga frowned at Scar. “I’m not a mouse! I’m a bush baby.” “Oh, my apologies then. So what does a bush baby do then? I mean besides getting themselves in trouble. Where is your family?” The little animal looked down on the ground at it’s feet, apparently his family life was a source of discomfort that he was not eager to talk about. “No family,” he said reluctantly. “Family gone, gone and not come back.” “So what happened to them?” He started on his forepaws, carefully cleaning each claw. Chaga shrugged. “Don’t know, came home on day and no family no more. I wait many days and they never come back. No eagle sign or snake sign. Just gone. I stay a little while then go to find family. Maybe find them, but not now.” “I see,” Scar regarded the little beast sitting on it’s haunches before him, so tiny and wandering around the wild open plains looking for his people. He couldn’t imagine how it must be for him, so small and at the mercy of any larger animal. It was no wonder he had latched onto him. Scar knew he must seem like a safe haven from all the terrors of the world. First rate protection. He grew less annoyed at Chaga as he came to realize that the little animal most liked considered him is only chance of survival. Against his better judgment he decided to make an offer to his fellow outcast. “Well, I’m traveling west and if you like you can tag along. Perhaps we’ll run into your family on the way.” Chaga’s eyes lit up at that last and leaping into the air he began shrieking in his shrill voice. “Thank you, thank you Scarred lion. I promise, be quiet. No trouble to you.” Scar rolled his eyes. “All right, that’s enough of that for now. The only thing is I must sometimes be alone okay? I need to hunt and to sleep and you’re a loud fellow once you get going. If you think you can manage that we have a deal.” Chaga nodded. “Very good then,” Scar said. “Oh and my name is Scar.” “Yes, Scarred lion.” Scar didn’t pursue the matter further, Scar or Scarred lion it didn’t really make a difference. He yawned and stretched out in the grass, his weighted stomach making him drowsy. “I’m going to sleep now and I’ll travel again when I wake up later. Why don’t you go find yourself something to eat and meet me here later on.” The bush baby hopped up into a nearby tree. “Okay Scarred lion, see you later.” He watched the nimble animal jump effortlessly from branch to branch until it was out of sight. Laying his head on his paws he wondered in amusement what Nduli would think of his new companion. She would probably laugh her tail off he concluded and then he nodded off. After a time Scar found that while his first impression of Chaga had not been entirely good the bush baby was actually a fairly intelligent and amusing traveling companion when not shrieking or hopping madly about. His initial behavior could be attributed to the fact that he was just so happy to find a friend that he couldn’t control himself. Now that it had become accustomed to the idea of traveling with Scar he had quieted down considerably. From what Scar could gather from what Chaga told him was that his people lived in the dense forest which skirted the plains. They lived in large groups in the boughs of tall trees, mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles all grouped together and collectively taking care of the young. When the Chaga had gone out on his own to explore the outskirts of the forest he had done so alone and against his better judgement. His people tended to stick together closely and weren’t given to solo outings. But Chaga was a strong headed kit and the lure of seeing what lay beyond the canopy of trees was too alluring to pass up. His parents had always warned him of the frightening land that lay beyond the trees, but he really wanted to see it for himself. To see all the big animals he had heard stories about as a tiny kit. So quietly taking leave one afternoon when the family group had taken to the hollows until nightfall, he set off to see the great and dangerous land of legend. He traveled for a couple of days alone, eating the strange insects and seeds he found in the tall grasses of the plains. He was a bit disappointed. The only animals he came across were migrating wildebeests and so made up his mind that the land of great and dangerous animals was nothing more than a fancy made up by his supersistious relatives. His opinion changed when on the way back he encountered a large and hungry snake. Barely dodging away from the darting head of the reptile he bounded back toward the tree canopy as quickly as he could. He was sure he would receive a serious reprimand and perhaps punishment from his fellows when he returned, but considering the alternative it barely seemed an issue. However, when he finally reached the large, knotted trees where his family group lived, he found them barren and seemingly deserted. At first he thought he must’ve come to the wrong place. The tree hollows of his family site was always alive with noise and bush babies hunting from branch to branch under the cool umbrella of leaves. But here there was nothing but the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. Finding his sleeping hollow confirmed his worst fears. This was his family’s home but his family was no longer there. No aunts, no uncles, cousins or brothers, no one at all. He looked for signs that perhaps a snake had raided the hollows or an eagle had moved into the area prompting an exodus. He had found no sign of either and also no clue as to where his group may have gone. He waited for a few days to see if maybe they would return but no one came. After a long night of thinking and wrestling with his conflicting emotions of loneliness and fear of the world away from the trees he made up his mind to look for them or at any rate find a more hospitable place to make his home. He had been traveling in the same direction as Scar on the night the fearful thunderstorm had covered the sky and soaked the lands. Being a small creature unused to travel on the ground and terrified by the loud noises of the storm he had tried to find shelter among the rocks and deadwood by the river. Finding a tangle of branches by the river’s edge he curled up in the middle of them and tried to sleep through the frightening thunder and bright flashes of light. The river swelled quickly as the black sheets of rain battered down and before he had a chance to fully wake up and seek higher ground Chaga found his brush pile being overtaken by the water which overrun the bank and was swept away in the raging current. He had the presence of mind to fight his way out from the pile and grasp the first solid object he found before he lost all his strength and drowned in the cold water. It was a rock which jutted out from the swiftly running waters. He clung to it for the remainder of the night, his paws growing numb from the cold and in danger of loosing his grip. It was here that Scar found him miserable and frightened from the long night of rain and thunder and the threat of being swept away under the swirling black water. At first he had been scared witless by the lion as it swam toward him. First the terrible night and now he was going to be eaten! He tried to escape but the cat was too fast for him and he was soon scooped up in the huge jaws, helpless. To his surprise the lion didn’t eat him, but instead deposited him on the bank. Here was a friend worth having! No one would dare threaten him if he stayed with a lion. So he set out to impress his benefactor and it had worked. Now he would have a chance to look for his family and not have to be on the jump at every turn. Scar didn’t mind. Chaga was light and now that he understood what was expected of him he often forgot the little animal was perched on his back or head. More than that he was amusing. During the hot afternoons when Scar would lie in the shade and rest he would hop into the branches of any nearby tree or brush and bounce from place to place catching insects on the wing or merely performing acrobatics for Scar’s entertainment. Chaga provided the one thing that Scar needed most at that moment. Respite from his thoughts of Nduli. He missed her terribly and it showed. One afternoon Chaga noticed that the lion had seemed pensive and preoccupied all day, neither speaking nor walking very quickly. Just padding along looking at his paws. So when they stopped for their daily break he left off hunting in the trees to sit in the grass beside Scar. Scar lowered himself heavily onto the grass and lay his head on his forepaws. He had now put four days of travel behind him and Nduli was far behind. He had thought it would get over her quickly, he had never gotten very attached to anyone before. But the longing for her didn’t go away. In fact with each passing day it got stronger as did the urge to turn around and go back. That , of course, was impossible but it didn’t make the pain go away or lessen his desire to run back to her and beg her to take him back. He was running this over in his mind when Chaga crawled onto his paw. “Scarred lion?” He put his small paw on Scar’s muzzle. “Why sad today?” Scar looked at Chaga out of the corner of his eye. “Oh, no reason. Just a bit out of sorts.” Chaga looked unconvinced. “Tell to me if want to. Scarred lion looking very sad. Bad mind today, yes?” “I guess that’s a good way to put it, my mind does feel awfully bad today. Chaga? Did you ever have a mate.” “Never mate, never made father.” He began grooming his ears in the fashion he had when asked an uncomfortable question. “Too young.” Scar chuckled. “Oh, well, neither have I,” Scar sighed. “and I’m certainly not too young either.” “Never?” Chaga looked surprised. “No little Scarred lions? Too bad Scarred lion very nice. Not nasty, mean like snake.” Scar looked at the little bush baby and touched it’s head with his paw. “Little malaika, you don’t know the half of it.” “So tell Scarred lion, what not that I know. Listen fine. Good talk, makes bounce higher.” It scrambled out from underneath Scar’s paw and sat looking at him expectedly. “Well, I suppose it couldn’t do any harm. Just promise me you won’t leave as soon as I’m done. I’m tired of loosing friends.” He gave a weary smile to Chaga who only patted his paw in encouragement for him to go on. So once again he found himself relating the story of his betrayal, reign and subsequent dismissal from the Pride Lands. Chaga only sat in the tall grass listening intently and nodding to Scar when the lion paused to gulp back a knot in his throat. He told him about his time with Nduli and the relationship that developed between them and how in shame and fear he had run from her. “Scarred lion have a very exciting life so far, hmm?” Chaga said when it was evident Scar had finished what he had to say. “You could say that again.” Scar said. “Too exciting if you ask me. But do you see what I mean? Don’t look up to me Chaga. I may not look like a snake to you, but inside of me there is one.” Chaga shook his head. “No, no, Scarred lion act stupid, do very bad things. Get hurt bad, loose home, loose friend. But still live. Go away, new home, new friends. Not stupid anymore. Good lesson, yes? ” Scar was surprised at the little beasts insight. “You sound like an old friend of mine. He said the same thing, although not quite in the same way.” Chaga’s strange, broken speech had taken a while for Scar to get used to, but since large animals and small animals often spoke differently in the same language it was to be expected. “Sorry for loosing cheetah friend.” Chaga leapt up preparing to go after his afternoon meal. “Be other cheetahs, sometime.” He then effortlessly jumped into the shade tree and disappeared in the thick foliage. “Yes,” Scar said quietly after it. “Maybe sometime.” I hope no one's minding these daily story postings. I'm just posting as I write. Chapter 14 Scar and Chaga were covering a lot of ground, although when asked by his passenger where they were in fact headed Scar wasn’t sure what to tell him. He remembered what had happened while under the influence of Rafiki’s “magic fruit” and that the vision of his brother had urged him to seek his destiny out west, but what that destiny was he couldn’t begin to fathom. However, Scar had faith in what was told to him that day, by either phantom in fact or as just a manifestation of his own troubled mind. Something was drawing him out, like an invisible rope around his neck, tugging him forward. Each day he covered more miles than the last, eager(but also somewhat afraid) of whatever he might find. Chaga on the other hand seemed less and less eager to search for his family and more and more content with remaining Scar’s confidant and jester, whichever the situation warranted, for as long as Scar would have him. Each afternoon and evening the two would separate to attend to their particular needs and in the early mornings and late nights they would rejoin up and begin their steady progress once again. It was an unusual relationship, but both seemed to take from each other what the he needed. Nduli’s hunting lessons where as unforgettable as the teacher herself and Scar found that he now had no trouble feeding himself. Although, in the true way of predator and prey he failed more often than he succeeded, he still rarely went hungry. Chaga could almost certainly count on returning to find his friend greasy faced and belching from a hard run meal. On these occasions Chaga would hang back until Scar had cleaned himself up and decided to leave the remains of the carcass to the vultures. While he would never admit it, his friends carnivorous lifestyle and the heady smell of blood upset him. Scar recognized this and considerately tried to shield his friend from the worst of it. One evening as the pink sunset was drawing to it’s grand finale the two prepared to once again part for the hours leading up to the early hours before dawn, when Scar felt something. It was like slight lingering scent in the air or a twitch under the skin, minimal, but present nonetheless. He stood still as stone as if trying to feel some current coming from underground. He scanned the quickly darkening surroundings for whatever could be giving him the strange sensations but nothing was there….the land was silent. “Chaga, get off of my back will you?” The bush baby jumped from Scar’s shoulders and looked nervously about himself. Something was making Scar edgy and he wasn’t at all sure of what his friend wanted him to do. He turned to Scar nose twitching “Why stopping here, Scarred lion?” Chaga stood on his hind paws and tried to peer over the grasses. “No trees and no food animals.” Scar waved a paw at him to silence any more questions and instead of replying he took a few steps forward raising his nose to catch the night air. “Chaga?” asked Scar, not looking at him but concentrating on some far away point. “Do you think we could split up now? Not just for a few hours but for a day or two. Something is happening here and I’m not sure what it is.” “Okay, go back mile or two.” He motioned in the direction that he and Scar had come from. “Stay in tree we passed.” Concerned he added. “Scarred lion okay?” Scar nodded not turning his head. “Yes, I’m fine. Hang on a moment and I ’ll take you where you’ll be safe. There’s something here that worries me and it wouldn’t do to have you wandering about alone.” Chaga raised his own nose to the air and sniffed. “No death smell, no bad animal smell. What’s to being bothered for?” “I don’t know, but there’s something. Not dangerous, at least I don’t think so, but still I’d rather know you were safe while I’m scouting about. No need to put both of us in danger. Now hop on and I’ll take you back.” Scar left Chaga in a small stand of trees a two miles back from where he had gotten the strange feeling. The bush baby reluctantly bounced from Scar’ s back to a low branch. “Being careful Scarred lion, yes?” Scar looked up and smiled at him. “I will and you do the same. I’ll be back in a day or so maybe less depending on what I find. Will you be okay here? Find enough food I mean?” Chaga nodded. “Oh yes, many flying things here. Eat good, no problem.” “Very well.” Scar started back. “I’ll be back soon, take care.” He dashed off in the direction he had come, a sliver of dread beginning to creep up his spine. As he neared the place once again the sliver had turned into a bright, white sheet of fear. He hadn’t mentioned his feelings to Chaga, no sense in upsetting him, but as he cut through the tall grass his claws shot out and a low growl issued from deep in his throat. The place was absolutely unlike any he had seen. The grass was thick green coat covering the ground, very unlike the yellow/brown grasses he was accustomed to. The landscape was dotted here and there with low tree and rocky outcroppings. Instinctively he moved closer to the ground as if expecting an enemy attack to come from behind the rocks. An electric current of nervous energy ran through him as he moved. The air had taken on a putrid reek, the smell of something long since dead and left to rot in the high sun. He moved a bit slower, fearful of the scent and of the silence which surrounded him. The grass was making him claustrophobic, becoming a suffocating blanket through which he moved with difficulty. The scent was strong now, a choking malaise, he parted his lips and panted through his mouth. He could now hear his own heart beat in his ears and he crouched low, almost crawling on his belly. He felt it before he actually saw it and he could certainly smell. Something soft and cold and yelding to the touch. Looking forward to what his paw had brushed against, he leapt up and recoiled in horror. Choking and retching as he fell backward. A large dead lion lay before him. Not a fresh kill, no, this kill had been around for a good long while. Even in the dark he could see flies walking across the damp, matted fur. Crawling in and out of the gaping holes in the lion’s flesh. Laying their eggs in the fetid meat. He squinted to look into the holes. He didn’t want to, but something made him do it. It was as if he had lost all control of himself and was being forced to peer into the dead, rotting flesh of the beast. Closer he leaned until the rotting smell had lodged itself in his windpipe. Before him the flesh began to shiver and he could hear a wet ripping sound as the holes enlarged and rippled with energy. A spotted paw thrust itself out from the gaping wound, first one then another. He made a soft moaning sound and flattened himself to the ground. Helpless to do anything but watch as the corpse gave birth to a monstrosity before his eyes. It was terrible and familiar as it pulled itself from it’s twisted birth canal. A perverted parody of a slight, spotted cat. Maggots writhed in it’s clumped and wet fur and it’s jaw swung wide to greet him in a horrible smile. Bone glistened through the fur on it’s lean legs, giving the appearance of stripped flesh, raw and angry. “Scarrr,” The awful apparition gurgled at him, a bloody spume dripping from it’s lower jaw as it forced the word out. “You killed me.” He could only shake his head as it advanced on him. “You did, you left me to die Scar. But it’s your turn now. You’re soon going to die and look like him.” He jerked his eyes towards the corpse and saw the face of his brother laying on the grass. Flies buzzed as they walked in and out of his mouth and ears. The eyes blinked once. Scar turned the way he came and ran. He ran faster than he ever had in his life. The grass whipped his face as he sprinted away. He didn’t look where he was going ,he just fled in a blind panic. Away from the cheetah and dead lion in the grass. He didn’t see the overlook as he ran towards it, or he didn’t care. Tumbling down the sharp incline in the darkness, bumping against the rocky face as he went, he landed heavily on his side. He recovered himself and looked quickly about expecting to see the shambling apparition coming to claim him again. He saw nothing except a small stream. He had fallen down into a gorge of some sort. He was uninjured, but for the rest of the night he couldn’t move, he just remained flattened to the ground, eyes searching and whimpering in fear. Tumbling down the sharp incline in the darkness, bumping against the rocky face as he went, he landed heavily on his side. He recovered himself and looked quickly about expecting to see the shambling apparition coming to claim him again. He saw nothing except a small stream. He had fallen down into a gorge of some sort. He was uninjured, but for the rest of the night he couldn’t move, he just remained flattened to the ground eyes searching and whimpering in fear. It was a long night, one filled with chancy shadows and tricks of the eye that made Scar turn at every rustle on the breeze. Paralyzed by the hideous vision and his own imagination, now wild with capering demons and vengeful corpses on some sort of divine mission to be done with him, to root him out and destroy him. It was only what was right, wasn’t it? No matter what Rafiki had said or what visions had come to him during an induced dream all things remained the same. He was still at heart a coward, a murderer and a liar and now was waiting in some desolate rocky gorge in some unknown land for his fate to catch him. This was his destiny. To be ripped apart by decaying fangs that would end his corrupt life as horribly as he had lived it. It was the fate he had earned. Such were his thoughts as he lay for the long hours proceeding dawn. His minds eye playing the scene over and over again for his displeasure. Sometimes it was Nduli crawling from the corroded body, sometimes Simba slithering out to condemn him of his father’s murder and sentence him to death. Just like on that stifling night when his nephew had turned up, only this time Simba didn’t give him a chance to run. This time his nephew demanded his blood. It was so easy to forget, wasn’t it, when one wasn’t actively trying to think about these things. Too easy to forget the blood that stained one’s paws or the notches made in one’s heart from false words and foul deeds. But cradled within the steep rocky cliffs, Scar’s old wounds were reopened anew and were thrust back into view. When dawn mercifully arrived accompanied by the trilling of tick birds and swallows and the dusky horrors of the night had retreated back into harmless shadows and mere illusions; Scar sat for a long time considering what he should do next. A large part of him wanted to just take leave of the place, forget the whole business, find a comfortable place to stay and while away any time he might have left. The night had left his mind weak and the eager anticipation he had had for his quest had since dissipated with his night terrors. There could be nothing for him in the world. His one try at happiness had failed and it had because of what he had done. It would always be there, no matter what he did or however far he traveled. Like the scar on his face it marked him for life. Perhaps, Rafiki had somehow conjured the whole thing up just to get rid of him. To send him on some useless journey to a forsaken land, far away from Pride Rock and of no threat to anyone. It didn’t seem that outlandish of an idea as he rolled it around his fear addled brain. They had all been against him at Pride Rock hadn’t they? Wouldn’t they all be having a good laugh about him now, fooled into believing he was needed somewhere for some purpose? Rafiki, of course, would have come back and told them all about what had happened and how even now the scourge of the Pride Lands was either dying of starvation or being mauled to death by a strange lion. They would all thank Rafiki for getting rid of him, of course, and secretly(or openly) wish that something really horrible had happened to him. Something fitting. That was what they all wanted wasn’t it? He felt an old and familiar sensation creeping up through his limbs and building uncomfortably in his chest. Anger, seething and dark, covered him like a sudden flash flood, pouring through him in powerful torrents. Leaping up from his refuge he found his footing and began climbing up the steep slope. Not caring if he slipped and broke his neck ,he tore up the rock face, claws painfully digging into the tough earth, pulling himself upward. He scrambled up out of the gorge and the first thing he saw when he climbed out was a small herd of zebra grazing a few yards from the overlook. They hadn’t been aware of the lion’s determined but silent approach and continued browsing unalarmed. Without a moment’s hesitation or thought he launched himself at the nearest animal. Taken completely by surprise the zebra, a yearling and in fine health, had no time to react to the lion’s enraged charge. Scar hit the zebra headfirst in it’s shoulder knocking over onto it’s side. Slashing claws ripped into the zebra’s flesh, leaving bleeding gouges in it’s neck and shoulder. It bawled in terror, but it’s herd mates merely fled, leaving the yearling to suffer the violent attack unaided. Scar’s teeth found the zebra’ s throat and plowed into it snapping. Battering the flesh to bits in his jaws. Blood flew in a geyser coating his head and neck in a coppery shower. The zebra shuddered and fell silent but the lion continued tearing at the tender flesh of it’s throat. A beserker rage of flailing claws and worrying teeth. In his mind Scar could see himself tearing into Simba as he now pummeled the zebra. Pulling him to bloody rags, ripping out his life. This time he wouldn’t be afraid of the young lion. No, this time he was strong and a hunter, capable of dealing death with his own claws. He wouldn’t need any allies this time, this time he would do what he had meant to do himself and share the spoils with no one. He continued to tear into the already dead animal until his blows became less powerful and his neck and forelegs began to ache with the effort. Feeling dizzy with exhaustion he fell back from the carcass in a blood covered heap. Panting he looked around. The herd had gone far away and there was no one else around. No vultures or jackals trying to stake a claim or phantom dead lions haunting the grass. Limbs shaking he lay his head on the zebras body and passed out. Chapter 15 Destiny Presented When Scar regained consciousness the sun was nesting at it’s highest point in the sky and it beat down on him fiercely. He raised himself groggily from the blood soaked earth, stumbling as he tried to find his footing in the slippery grass. He fell clumsily on to his rump, legs flying out from under him. He looked about, startled by the mess that lay scattered about him. The ruined body of a young zebra lay in pieces around him, the ground was red and mucky. He startled to his feet and backed away. What had he done? The carnage that lay before him was incredible, the work of a mad beast. He had been vaguely hungry when the morning had come but looking at the aftermath of his assault squelched any appetite he might have had left. He couldn’t exactly remember what had happened. He had some fuzzy recollection of being agitated and climbing out of the gorge, but after that…… He looked back at the mangled remains of the zebra and shuddered. A few jackals were now pacing a few yards away, sensing that the lion would soon be leaving. The were right, Scar turned away from the carcass and walked slowly away. He was shaken by the scene. He hadn’t realized what he was capable of and it frightened him. He thought of Chaga alone a few miles back in the safety of the trees and decided to leave him there for a while longer. He didn’t trust himself. It was far too easy to imagine himself killing his friend, rending him to shreds as he had the young zebra. He still didn’t understand what the vision from the past night had meant. Maybe Rafiki’s “magic fruit” still was running around inside of and causing havoc with his mind. It hadn’t been real, of this much he was sure. He passed close by where the strange phantom had menaced him and saw nothing. But he skirted the place nervously in any case, superstitiously fearing that treading the ground might awaken the demon. The land looked much friendlier by daylight. In fact it looked more lush and fertile than the Pride Lands ever had. Tall, thick grass covered the ground, alive with a myriad of insects buzzing about on their daily business. He jumped onto a small rock formation to look over the land and could see a vast grazing herd of wildebeest. So this is where they migrated when they left his old homeland yearly and disappeared. The land was certainly suited to it. The vegetation alone was bountiful enough to support a variety of animals. The sweet smell of blooming flowers reached him on the afternoon’s gentle breeze. But under the smell lay something else. He flared his nostrils to try and catch the faint scent. It smelled like Pride Rock, it smelled like lions! Not a heavy odor, but there nonetheless. He made up his mind that any traveling he did in this strange new land would be done very carefully. Suddenly insecure about his vantage point he jumped down and walked along the edge of the gorge in which he had spent the night. If attacked he could always run downward. This new land had many stands of short, stubby bushes and rocky outcrops which hung over the overlook. He ducked quickly behind the bushes and crept along carefully keeping silent as he moved. He didn’t see any lions or other large predators around, but it was the time of the high sun and most of those would be fast asleep under trees or in caves. He was wise to explore when he did. He cocked his ears forward as some slight sound reached him from up ahead. It was a soft voice, low and murmured. He lowered himself closer to the ground and crept closer, readying himself in case he would need to run or fight. As he neared he could clearly hear the voice of a female, a female who was very upset. Lowering his defenses somewhat(but not too much) he moved nearer to the voice. Peering though his shield of foliage he located the sound. It was a small lionesses sitting with her back to him and shaking with tears. She sat in the open, unmindful of any enemy attack or being seen by potential prey. So self-absorbed in her grief she didn’t even smell of hear him as he pushed through the bushes. He looked carefully about as he moved toward her, he wasn’t sure if he would find himself face to face with this lionesses mate. But there seemed to be no one about and he emerged fully from his hiding place. She heard him as the branches snapped back into place and snapped her head around eyes wide with fright. When she had had time to take him in she visibly relaxed. It was a strange reaction. Surely she should be afraid of an unknown male in her territory, instead she seemed relieved. “Hello, umm, ma’am,” Scar stammered not sure of what to say. She sniffed back hard and gave him a weary half smile. “Hello.” Scar sat down across from her but not too close he didn’t want to make her nervous. Instead of asking him his name or what he was doing in her territory she merely turned aside seemingly uncomfortable with his presence. “Run far away stranger,” She finally said, her voice hoarse from crying. “This is a bad place for you to be.” Scar tried to look her in the face but she kept her gaze firmly on the ground. “Why should I run away,” He said. “This seems like a beautiful land. Green, peaceful, plenty of prey…” She shook her head sadly. “You say that now, but you don’t know. Trust me, get yourself as far away as possible before nightfall.” She lapsed once again into heartbroken sobs. She got up and walked away from Scar. “Wait!” He called. “Where are you going? Come back.” He caught up to her. “Please, tell me what’s wrong.” She stopped walking and drew in her breath deeply. She turned full to face him. He almost recoiled from what he saw. The left side of her face held a long pink scar which started at her temple and ended at her cheek. It was almost identical to his own except…She hadn’t been as lucky as he had, the blow which had marred her had not missed her eye. The tear had long since healed over and he could see nothing as it remained tightly shut, the wound long since fused. The injury looked as if it had been a bad one, the type of wound only gotten in a serious fight or hunting mishap. She regarded him steadily with her remaining eye which Scar found himself quickly getting lost in. Aside from the scar on her face she was stunningly beautiful. The one eye she did have was large and round, the color of old honey flecked with shards of bright yellow. She had a finely shaped skull ending in a gently tapered muzzle finished with long, graceful whiskers. Her coat was the color of the yellow grass at dusk, the golden-reddish hue of the days end. He caught himself before he could be accused of gawking. “What’s your name?” He asked her and once again sat down. She looked away from him uncomfortably and cleared her throat. “My name is Makini.” Scar nodded at her. “Makini, it’s a lovely name. But you don’t seem to be in a lovely mood to match. Are you okay.” She surprised Scar by giving a derisive snort of laughter. “Okay,” She smiled and nodded her head. “Stranger, nothing is ever okay here.” Her voice was filled with a hate unrivaled by any Scar had ever had. Such a young lioness to be already overwhelmed with bitterness, too young. Her voice told him that this was a lady who had seen the worst that life had to offer and was slowly becoming defeated by it. Moved by pity and a sense of familiarity he pressed her. “What do you mean. This is a lovely land and the weather is beautiful, I can’t under…..” “No!” She yelled facing him again. “You –can’t- understand!” She broke out into uncontrollable sobs. “You don’t know, you don’t live here! Please stranger, get out! There’s been to much,” She drew a hitching breath. “there ’s been too much death today!” She turned on him her face so full of unspeakable pain, the face of someone who knows what real suffering is and no longer knows how to deal with it. She literally reeked of fear, the acrid smell pouring out of her. He wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine, every cloud has a silver lining, it’s always darkest before the dawn, pick your cliché’. But he knew nothing anyone could possibly say to this enigmatic and heartbroken lioness would help. “There’s something that’s frightening you. If it’s me I’m sorry, you have no reason to fear me, I won’t hurt you.” She shook her head. “Stranger, it’s not you. After –him- no lion could frighten me.” He looked at her questioningly. “Him?” He asked. “Him who?” Makini sighed. “If you must know….uh…” “Scar.” He prompted. She laughed ruefully again. “Scar? That could be my name. Well, Scar you want to know? I’ll tell you, but afterward you must leave.” “We’ll see.” He gazed at her again, even in the midst of her grief she maintained an unspoken dignity, which resided in the tilt of her head and the regal way she sat. “These lands, which you are so enamored of are the property of the great king of the valley. Now, I know what you must be thinking, “so there’s a lion about, so what.” But then you would be amiss of the nature of his majesty.” Her tail began to lash and she spat the word “majesty” out as one spits out a bad piece of meat. “You see the great valley king is no ordinary lion, content with eating and sleeping and chasing hyenas.” She rubbed the pink skin of her scar with her paw. “What do you mean?” Said Scar. “You mean…he did that to you?” “It was one of his kinder acts.” She looked at Scar, her eye begging him to leave or help her. Scar couldn’t decide which. “But a king doesn’t do that!” He stopped himself from saying more. “This one does. Listen you seem a nice enough fellow. Please I don’t want to see you get killed. My sister…” She broke off again, tears threatening. Scar reached out and touched her paw. “Your sister? What happened to her Makini. You can tell me, after all I’m a stranger, no worry that I will tell anyone.” “Yes, no worry.” She sighed heavily. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to talk freely to someone without fear of being overheard. Not that I care anymore, death would be welcome.” She paused for a while, regaining her composure. After a few long minutes she began in a shaking voice. “My sister Zarai died today.” She began. “This morning my best friend was taken away from me and for no reason other than the wounded pride of the monster that owns this land.” Scar made to speak and Makini held up a paw. The story had started and she wouldn’t stop until she was finished or she broke down. “My sister was a little older than me and she showed me the skills of a hunter. Everyday we would lead the hunts and relish the precious little time we got to spend away from him. She was also a devoted mother to her little cub. He was such a happy and gorgeous little one.” She stopped for a moment and looked at the ground, steeling herself for what was to come. “I guess you can say it’s the only good thing that ever came from that beast. Ziara never liked him, but he wanted her and had her. Ziara always stayed as far away as possible from him, but soon she gave birth to her little cub, Browntoes, it was his nickname. His paws were tipped in dark brown fur.” She smiled as she thought of him. “It always looked like he had been dipping his paws into a mud patch. Ziara loved him so, I loved them both. They were my light and hope everyday, my beautiful sister and her cub, so young and full of happiness.” “Today, the beast, Kiruu is his name went out in the morning on reports that a hunting dog pack was lairing in the eastern side of the kingdom. There’s enough for all here, we need not drive out predators unnecessarily. But Kiruu will not compromise or allow any other animal except prey and the pride to reside here. He ran off first thing to kill the dog’s chief. It didn’t go well for him. He underestimated the size of the pack and when he returned to the lair he was scratched and bitten something awful. I tell you I almost fell over laughing when I saw it. I didn’t smile much longer though.” “Little Browntoes,” She continued. “innocent little cub. He didn’t know and he asked the monster what happened to him. “How did you get bit?” That’s all he said. It was enough, you never know when it will be, and Kiruu fell on him and murdered the cub without a word. He did it like he was snapping at some bug that had gotten in his way. His own son…a helpless cub. Dead because of words….” She trailed off choking on the last sentence. Scar moved closer to her pressing gently into her side. His presence bought her back and after a few moments she went on. “My sister, oh, she lost her mind. She ran in front of him, but it was too late. Kiruu was faster than a snake and by the time she made it to him Browntoes was dead. She went mad when she saw him and attacked Kiruu. She tried, she really did. She got a few good swipes in,” She gave a slight smile at the thought of this. “made the son of a hyena bleed. But…., she was too small and he was too fast. I ran away, I should’ve stayed, I should’ ve died with her…” Scar pulled her close to him. It was an impetuous act but she neither tried to get away or protested. Instead she leaned into him, her body limp from the day’s events. “Sister,” Scar said. “If what you’re telling me is the truth than truly I have been spoiled in my life. I’m so sorry, no lioness should be treated like that, no one should.” “It doesn’t matter.” She said softly. “Tomorrow will be the same and on and on until we die. This beautiful land is cursed and the curse will never go away.” She leaned into him again, slumping into him. When the time comes you will know. The thought came to him like a splash of cold water. The lioness began to sob again, this time softly. The cries of one who has run out of tears but who knows that there is no respite for her pain. As the afternoon began to slip away and the light became less intense Scar made his resolve.