Love within Darkness

 

A chance encounter

A year had passed since the disastrous events at the Gorge. Despite the animals initial reservations, Scar had proved to be a fair king. Keeping the hyenas in check had endeared him to his subjects and for the most part little had changed since Mufasa’s reign.

It was cool day in the Pridelands. Grey clouds in the sky blocking out the sun bringing a rare chill to the air. In the Outlands, Scar surveyed all he had achieved. Despite their name the Outlands were still part of the Pridelands, the name simply a way of differentiating the area from the rest of the kingdom. Years before the land had been ravaged by fire. The land had healed but weaker than it had once been with less plant life which in turn meant fewer heard gathered there.

Walking through the long grass Scar stopped in tracks as he caught the scent of a lioness on the wind. Turning swiftly his eyes locked on the shape hiding in the long grass. Seeing him the lioness bolted, running swiftly through the grass with Scar hot on her tail. Grinning slyly Scar forced her to the river, his eyes gleaming when she jumped down into the water. Standing above her on the bank he smiled evilly, on the opposite bank a group of crocodiles basked in the sun while the eyes several others were just visible in the water.

“Trapped my dear, I suggest you surrender.”

“Try to kill me if you wish but and I guarantee to blind you in the process,” snarled the lioness.

Turning around the lioness gazed at him with burning yellow and orange eyes. She was young and very thin, it was clear she had not eaten a decent meal in several days if not longer. A single dark brown stripe ran horizontally down her head and one ear had a piece missing. Her fur was covered in mud and dirt yet even that could not disguise her dark beauty or the scars that criss crossed her body.

“Who are you, why are you in my kingdom without permission? In the past two days a jackal pup has been killed……and suddenly you appear….” Scar said taking in her appearance.

“I am called Zira. I am a rouge simply seeking food, shelter and hopefully a pride of my own. I mean no harm to you or your pride and I certainly did not kill the jackal pup you mentioned. Judge me know for who I am or will you punish me for a crime I did not commit?”

“I am King Scar ruler of this land. Where did you come from?”

“I was thrown out of my birth pride a half a year ago, my birth three seasons ago was not welcomed, as soon as I was old enough they threw me out,” Zira replied bitterly.

Scar’s eyebrows lifted up at hearing the fact, Zira’s treatment was similar to his own and he felt sympathy towards her. The fact she was so thin concerned him greatly. A dark aura similar to his own swirled around her, the fact she showed little fear impressed him.

“You are an interesting lioness Zira,” Scar replied, jumping down into the river. “I grant you permission to hunt here. Please come with me to meet my pride.”

“Thank you your majesty,” Zira replied gratefully dropping into a deep bow.

Leaving the river Scar led Zira towards Pride Rock, on the way explaining how the laws of the land and hoe it was governed. In return Zira told him of her journey since leaving her birth pride. Having never left his home, Scar was intrigued by her tale, listening intently.

Arriving at Pride Rock, Scar introduced Zira to the lionesses, all of whom were shocked to see Scar with an outsider. Outsiders were treated with caution until the pride has assessed their intentions.

“Welcome to Pride Rock, I am called Aina,” said one stepping forward.

“A pleasure to meet you,” Zira replied.

After Aina had broken the ice the other lionesses stepped forward to meet Zira thought Sarabi, Sarafina, Nala and a couple of others approached cautiously. Aina had come to the pride in similar circumstances to Zira a couple of months after Simba’s birth and was able to understand how Zira was feeling. Suddenly the heavens opened rain poured down causing the lions to scurry for cover. Lying in the cave with the other lionesses Zira thought about her good fortune.

“Well this went better than I was expecting, the king here is letting me stay without demanding anything in return. Interesting but then not all kings rule the same. The lionesses actually welcomed me warmly. Perhaps I could stay for a season or so. This land is certainly beautiful. Aina seems welcoming, maybe I could have a friend. Zira do not get ahead of yourself, others have forced you away before the same thing could happen again. Remember you are not mean for a happy ending if other see the real you then they will reject you.”

As the days passed Zira found her place, taking an active part in pride hunts and border patrols. The initial warm welcome by Aina had turned into deep friendship and the majority of the other lioness had become friends. Though wary of the hyenas at first, she soon made friends with Shenzi. Scar often asked Zira to accompany him on royal business, it quickly become apparent Zira had the mind of natural leader as she suggested new or inventive solutions to issues that arose.

Out in the savannah one hot afternoon Zira watched as Nala, Sarafina, Malka, Tama and Kula jumped into the river, splashing each other playfully. On the banks others lioness relaxed under tress with a paw or tail dangling in the water. Further down the river large crocodiles basked on the banks, hippos swam in the cool water while a multitude of birds twittered in the tress.

“Zira come join us,” Kula called flicking water at her.

“Why would I do that?” Zira asked coolly, looking at the group. “What would be the benefit?”

“For fun,” Nala giggled flicking water at her friend. “Don’t you know how to play?”

“Play?”

“Have fun with your friends,” Nala replied seriously. “Didn’t you play as a cub?”

“My Mother never allowed me to play, she said I didn’t deserve to have fun,” Zira sighted, her eyes filled with sadness.

“She was wrong, everyone can have fun,” Nala replied, flicking water as Zira.

Shaking the water off her face Zira looked at the innocent smile on Nala’s face and the wide grin Kula’s. Hesitantly she walked into the water only to be ambushed by Nala who splashed water over her fur. In reply Zira lunged at the young lioness, chasing her through the shallow parts of the water. As she ran Nala laughed with joy, dodging this way and that to avoid her pursuer. Passing the roots of a tree Zira gasped as Chumvi jumped on her back landing in the water seconds later. Surfacing the cub took to his paws after Zira and Nala. Grabbing hold of Zira’s tail Chumvi held tight as the lioness tried to shake him off. Staring at her little tag along Zira’s eyes flashed, seconds later she fell with a splash into the water.

“What in?” Zira gasped.

Before she could say another word Nala and Kula jumped on her. Play fighting briefly they roared and snarled, claws carefully sheathed. Lying in the water Chumvi, Kula and Nala grinned at Zira who had a large smile on her face.

“That was fun,” Zira said, a beautiful smile on her face, before flicking water at the trio.

“No fair,” Chumvi roared receiving the water straight in the face.

Instantly the water fight began again, in the river Zira felt the joy that playing can bring, releasing the cub she always wanted to be. Looking at the trio of cubs Zira laughed, amused at how they had given her something she had always longed for.

A month had passed since Zira had arrived in the Pridelands. In that time she had changed, gone was the skinny frame replaced by one slim and well fed. The cruel look had soften slightly allowing light to shine through her eyes.

One bright day Scar stood on Pride Rock looking out across the land. From his vantage point the kingdom was laid out like a map before him. Pride swelled in his heart at all he had achieved.

“Scar might I speak to you?”

Turning around he saw Zira stand below him, a nervous and slightly fearful look on her face.

“Of course you can, what do you wish to speak about?”

“My residency in the Pride Lands.”

“What would you like to discuss, I thought you were happy here?” Scar asked stepping down to her level.

“I am happy here,” Zira replied as they walked between the rocks. “The permission you granted me was only temporary.”

“Have others been causing problem? Sarabi, Sarafina have they questioned your right to live here?”

“Not at all everyone has been welcoming. I would like to become a full member of the pride.”

Scar stopped in his tracks. The request had come as a surprise to him yet secretly he had been hoping for it. Turning away Scar took a deep breath to regain his regal composure. Turning back around he smiled, the sentiment reaching to his gold eyes.

“I would be honoured to make you a full member of my pride. I am glad you decided to stay.”

“The welcome I have received here has been wonderful. For the first time in my life I have been treated normally. I am happy here. I have never had a home before. I was always an outsider in my birth pride. You took me in without knowing me. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done,” Zira replied with smile that lit up her face.

“Tonight, I will present you to the pride tonight,” Scar replied.

In that instant Scar saw for the first time just how beautiful the

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