how beautiful the lioness truly was. The smile shone through the cloud of darkness that swirled around her, Scar felt his heart miss a beat. A feeling that he had long believed lost stirred deep within his soul in that moment Scar felt his world shift.

That night the pride gathered around the base of Pride Rock in two even rows facing each other making a corridor. Standing at one end Zira walked down the corridor while birds scattered flower petals over her and the lionesses chanted her name. Reaching the end of the corridor Zira walked up to Scar who stood proudly on a rock.

“For the past month Zira has lived amongst us. She has been welcomed by all of you and has hunted with you. She has shown loyalty and lived within our laws. It is uncommon to welcome an outsider into a pride without a longer trail period, however in this instance such period in unwarranted. By the power granted to me as King I hereby declare Zira a full member of this pride!”

The assembled pride roared in welcome and joy, their voices lifting to the star filled sky above, Scar’s strong voice joined adding raw power to the chorus. Far across the savannah their voices travelled. Sitting in his tree Rafiki heard the roars.

“Oh Queen Ure I fear this lioness Zira will bring happiness and pain to this land. So alike are she and Scar, already I can see attraction between them. Her arrival has altered his fate I think. Yet perhaps I am being too pessimistic. If together they can find true love then perhaps the darkness within them will turn to light.”

King and Queen

As the months passed following Zira’s initiation into the pride she and Scar spending every increasing amounts of time together, find in each other kindred spirits with a dark and cunning natures. At the same time both found they were happy when they were together, happier than they had ever felt. Yet Scar was aware he was missing the full details of her past, something which concerned and intrigued him.

Out patrolling the Outlands one cloudy day with Zira, Scar probed into her past, while revealing more of his own.

“I knew you would wish to know the full details,” Zira sighted as they walked.

“I trust you Zira. None the less for security reasons I have to understand the circumstances that led to your arrival here. The scant details were sufficient at first but know you are a full member. For myself as well, you are my friend ,” Scar said his eyes full of concern.

“You do not need to explain. Where do you want me to start?”

“At the beginning, take as much time as you need, I will not judge you,” Scar replied kindly.

“My Father was a rouge lion who had entered the kingdom where my Mother’s pride lived, she was the leader’s daughter. Wild dogs ruled the land, the king and queen were fair but flamingos had warned them my father was a trouble causer so they refused him entry. He slipped in at night to hunt near the border, my parents met by accident. The classic story, what is forbidden becomes tempting; the danger became a thrill for them. They were selfish too caught up in the present to consider any future. I suppose you can guess the rest.”

“He left?”

“He lived up his reputation and was forced away. I was hated from the moment of my birth. Even the other subjects could only see my father in me. I was taught to fight every day, never allowed to be a cub, told I was worthless, at every meal last to eat, beaten for the slightest mistake. You have seen the scars on my body the ear was my Grandfather’s doing. I was a cub yet treated like an outsider. As soon I could look after myself the wild dog king and queen banished me on the basis of my father.”

Tears fell from pain filled eyes as Zira finished her story, anguishing at her treatment. Scar felt his heart break as the words engraved themselves into his skull, anger at Zira’s mother and grandfather sweeping through him. Unfair though his parent's treatment had been he had never been physical harmed or utterly deprived of love.

“Zira you have been treated in the cruellest way, no cub should have to suffer as you have done,” Scar whispered nuzzling her. “I promise I will never allow you to feel worthless, I will never lay a paw on you.”

“I know you would not Scar, I….” Zira replied half smiling.

“We have been…….when I first saw you….”Scar stammered blushing.

“Perhaps…..” Zira began as Zazu landed in front of them.

“Your majesty two hyenas have attacked Nala,” Zazu gasped a look of panic on his face.

“WHAT! They would not dare,” Scar snarled with rage. “If you are lying….”

“Sire I swear on my life I tell the truth. Nala tripped over a tree root, she fell onto them. She apologised but they said she had to……they attacked her.”

“They will suffer the consequences for attacking a member of my pride,” Scar snarled with anger.

Thunder echoed, forks of lightening criss-crossing the sky while rain drenched the fur of Scar and Zira as they raced home. Anger combined with fear ran through their veins. Mud and dirt splashed their fur while the wind and rain whipped around them adding to the tension. Reaching Pride Rock the pair found the lioness and hyenas glaring murderously at each other, the lioness surrounding Nala. With a tremendous roar the pair leaped onto a small section of rock just above the two groups.1 At the precise moment a fork of lightening flashed above them, illuminating the rage filled eyes of Scar and Zira

“I demand an explanation, why did you attack an innocent cub?” Scar snarled turning to face two teenage hyenas.

“That stupid cub deliberately ran into us she needed to be taught as lesson,” one replied arrogantly.

“Yeh it was on purpose, that birdie lied,” said the another glaring at Zazu.

“Zazu is not known to lie, Nala please tell me what happened,” Scar said kindly turning to the frightened cub.

Gingerly Nala stepped forward, the cuts and teeth marks visible on her slim frame and light fur. A snarl escaped from Zira’s throat while Scar’s eyes hardened in anger.

“It was an accident, I was only playing…I..I..tripped over a tree route then fell into them. I…I..apologised…..it was an accident….please King Scar I didn’t mean to hurt them,” Nala stammered visibly shaking with terror.

“Oh come on you cannot expect,” one of the hyenas said. “That little fur ball.”

“Apologized for an accident,” Zira snarled glaring at the hyena. “Accidents happen while playing, every lioness here has fallen into someone. A respectable creature would accept the apology. You had not right.”

“You…..” the hyena began.

“Zira is correct,” Scar snarled causing the pair to cower. “I would have helped Nala to her paws and accepted her apology. You deliberately harmed a member of my pride. To make matters worse she is a cub who stood no chance against the pair of you. For this harsh punishment is demanded, of which I will deal out personally.”

They hyenas gasped in horror while the lionesses smiled with relief and delight in the case of Sarafina. In a swift bound Scar and Zira jumped down from the rock, both immediately walking over and placing paws around Nala.

“A cub should never be physically harmed. Be thankful I am sparing your lives. Let this be a lesson to all.”

“Thank you King Scar,” Nala whispered as the lionesses walked away.

“You didn’t nothing wrong Nala,” Scar replied softly.

Turning to face the hyenas Scar and Zira glared at them murderously. The punishment was swift and harsh, Scar and Zira taking a form of grim pleasure out of it. The hyenas in question would not forget in a hurry and it would be several weeks before they were back to full fitness.

After completing the punishment Scar and Zira left Pride Rock, by now the storm had passed and the grass sparked in the twilight. All around them the herds grazed peacefully while youngster played.

Together they walked by the river, the setting sun reflecting off the water turning it a haze of pink, yellow, orange and red. Smiling slyly Scar flicked water at Zira splashing her in the face, shaking her head Zira flicked water at him in return. Playfully Scar playfully lunged at Zira causing her the dart away into the water, laughing he set off after her. Running together they raced through the river, the water cascading around them.

Stopping in the middle of the river Scar and Zira looked at each other. Around them fish swam in hearts shaped formations as the setting sun turned the sky a magnificent shade of deep pink. Smiling the pair kissed.

“Scar I….I love you, the lion you are inside not just your power.”

“Zira you are the only one who has ever seen the true me,” Scar whispered. “I never imagined I could fall in love until I met you. I love you.”

“All my life I have been in darkness, I never dreamed that I could be worthy.”

“Our love for each other is what matters,” Scar replied kissing her. “Against the sky, streams of light call out to me and you.

We leave as one

We’ve just begun

To find the solace we’re due

This is the life we must choose,” Scar sang leading Zira through the water.

“We will make a brand new start

From the pieces torn apart

The break of day is before us

Cast your sorrows to wind

Let the river take us in

As we