splashed around her. Using all her strength Zola pounced, missing the bird by a few inches. Gasping at the feeling of almost flying Zola jumped again, this time managing the tap the bird’s talons. The eagle screeched, a look of delights on its face, clearly it had planned some fun. Skidding to halt Zola watched as the eagle flew high above, with a cry it circled then dropped like a stone, catching a fish in its talons.

“ZOLA.”

Turning Zola saw Scar watching her from the riverbank, a gentle smile on his face.

“We are finished here, time to go.”

“Coming Daddy,” Zola replied bounding through the water.

“Did you have fun?”

“It was amazing trying to fly, the eagle enjoyed it too.”

“I suspect it did, eagles that age like to play, you must have seemed the perfect companion.”

Leaving the river the pair walked together, passing through herds and flocks as they went. As the day passed Zola watched as Scar gave her a lesson in how to rule, how to meditate disputes, the best way to deal with jackals, normal behaviour for different herds, how to tell when rouge lions had crossed the border were just some of the lessons.

As the sun began to set Scar and Zola walked through the cool water of the river, their fur bathed in orange, pink and yellow light. Looking ahead the pair saw Zira standing on a small island a beautiful smile on her face as she watched them. Seeing each Scar and Zira smiled. Running to meet one another the trio smiled, water flying everywhere.

“Did you both have a good day?” Zira asked nuzzling Scar and Zola.

“I did Mummy, I got to see the whole kingdom, Daddy showed me how to rule, then when we were at the river I played with an eagle,” Zola replied excitedly.

“It sounds like you had a very busy day.”

“Our daughter helped me settle some disputes, she is just as cunning as you or I,” Scar said lovingly.

“It was fun helping Daddy.”

“I can imagine it was, you must be very tired.”

“Not yet Mummy,” Zola replied flicking water at Zira.

Shaking her fur Zira flicked water at Zola, who jumped aside just in time meaning the water hit Scar instead. Shaking his mane, Scar exchanged a wicked look with Zola, seconds later the pair pounced on Zira, sending her tumbling into the water. Seeing the less than pleased look on Zira’s face Scar and Zola ran off through the river hotly pursued by Zira. Through the river the family raced side by side, their roars of happiness carrying across the savannah. In his tree Rafiki heard the joyous calls.

“Perhaps Zola’s birth had marked a new beginning for Scar and Zira. The past does not always have to rule the future. Zola…..she could be our hope,” Rafiki mused looking at a picture of Zola on a thick branch.

Land of Shadows

Two years has passed since Zola’s birth and she had grown into a young teenage lioness with a sly, manipulative and highly intelligent personality, the true heir of Scar and Zira.

The Pride Lands had changed also, over hunting combined with a drought had brought hunger and fear to all. While some of the herds desperately clung on in hope most had abandoned the land in favour of an uncertain future. The situation had brought existing pride tensions to the surface, a split had occurred between those who supported Scar and Zira and those who were allied to Sarabi. Scar’s decision to expel Chumvi and Togo from the pride a year previously had been the spark that ignited the situation. Despite the increasing tensions Zola and Masika had managed to remain friends with Nala, despite being distrusted by the rest of Sarabi’s supporters. The land had changed and all knew that the situation would soon come to a head.

Night had come to the land, in the pale moonlight the lionesses walked back home after what had been a successful hunt, their first for a few days. Despite the good meal everyone was quiet knowing they had been lucky. As they arrived home they saw Scar standing on the edge of Pride Rock looking out across the savannah. Seeing her father Zola walked up to join him while the other lionesses when to their various sleeping spots.

“This drought is bad Daddy.”

“They come and they go yet always bringing problems.”

“I know there are tensions within the pride….”

“Sarabi tries to oppose me, do not concern yourself with them, your mother and I will ensure the problem is dealt with.”

“If I am to be queen then I need to know how to resolve conflict within the pride if it arises.”

“You will never rule here Zola,” Scar said facing her. “The situation is such that only a king born of my direct decent would be respected.”

“YOU CANNOT MEAN THAT! I am your daughter, you have been training me,” Zola stammered in shock.

“To rule as consort or advisor to your brother. A queen is never heir, only conflict comes of such actions, you do not understand the history.”

“I am just as capable as a son would be.”

“No Zola, your father is right,” Zira said walking up to join them. “History is littered with examples of takeovers when a queen has been heir. You will have a brother soon enough and he will be king when the time comes.”

“I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU THINK SO LITTLE OF ME!” Zola shouted running away from Pride Rock.

Her head reeling Zola ran aimlessly through the barren land, barely able to comprehend when she had been told. Her world had been turned upside down by a few simple words. For the first time she felt anger at her parents and at the cub her mother carried. The past had come full circle, Scar had done to Zola what Ahadi had done to him. Stopping at last Zola realised her paws had taken her to Rafiki’s tree.

“I detect a problem young princess,” Rafiki said kindly climbing down to join her.

“My parents don’t think I can rule, they say I will never rule but a future brother will take the throne.”

“Scar has been taught that either king or queen can be heir, that both have equal claim and ability to rule.”

“Yet neither of my parents see that.”

“The past holds sway on both of them.”

“What past?” Zola asked looking at the baboon. “I know something is being kept from me, I will find out.”

“All in good time princess,” Rafiki laughed softly hugging her.

“I wish you would tell me your secrets Rafiki,” Zola replied laying her head on his shoulder.

Early the following morning Zola returned home after spending the night under Rafiki’s tree. The night had given her time to think and to talk to Rafiki, learning more of the pride history, the fact she knew her parents would have been worry was an added bonus in her eyes. Arriving home Zola skidded to halt, on the rocks behind her home Zira and Aina were fighting Nala and Sarabi while surrounded by the other lionesses. Aina had Nala pinned to the floor, the younger lioness’s eyes full of anger. Sarabi and Zira glared murderously at each other while flinging verbal insults full of hatred. Seeing Masika stood at the edge of the scene Zola raced over.

“What started this Masika?”

“I’m not sure. Zira and Sarabi were arguing, I’m not sure what it was about.”

“There is something going on Masika, something we have not been told about,” Zola whispered, looking at her friend as Scar jumped into the fray.

“What could that be? What would be so terrible that we wouldn’t be told?”

“I’m not sure but I will find out,” Zola replied as the fight ended and Nala and Sarabi were forced to submit to Scar and Zira.

The next morning Zola awoke early to find both her parents missing. For a while she tried in vain to go back to sleep before giving up. Walking into the hazy light of down Zola blinked as the light hit her eyes. Walking down from the cave Zola stopped as she saw her parents standing underneath the rock. Silently she slipped behind some large rocks, pressing her body against the floor. In the still morning air the conversation drifted easily to her ears.

“Nala is growing stronger with each passing day, a trouble causer stirring conflict within the pride. We need to find a solution before she slips out of our control,” Scar whispered angrily.

“We need to bind her to you,” Zira whispered anxiously.

“Do you have a plan my queen?”

“There is one thing that would bind her to you forever. If she had your cub then she would never betray you out of fear for her cub’s life.”

“You cannot suggest I betray everything we have…..I love you Zira,” Scar stammered, astounded at the suggestion.

“It is not betrayal if I allow it. Think about it Scar, one simple act could solve all our problems,” Zira replied seductively

“I can see the wisdom in your suggestion but……..I love you too much, what we have already, our future cub.”

“You would be protecting what we have,” Zira countered nuzzling him. “Nala threatens everything we have worked so hard to secure. Given the chance she could kill our heir or bring in a rouge male. If she isn’t dealt with soon…”

“We could have a serious problem,” Scar sighted in exasperation.

“I know you love me Scar. Do it for us, make her love you, whatever it takes, with a cub Nala would never betray us.”

“Zira I swear you are the only lioness I