her body, in a single moment of blinding clarity Vitani saw the scars her mother had carried.

___________________________________________________________________________

    The days passed in an uneasy peace between Vitani and Nassor and the lion pride. After some initial reservations the wild dogs had reached an understanding with the pair. This had been greatly helped by the realization that the adults who older remembered Zira were in the minority and didn’t lead the pack.

“Vitani take care. Gero and Mala hate you. I would not be surprised if attacked,” the wild dog leader said.

“What did my grandfather and mother do that was so terrible?” Vitani asked.

“I’m not sure. That time is never spoken off. Ask Mala she should be able to tell you.”

“She is Gero’s mate anything she tells me will likely be a lie,” Vitani replied.

“Not entirely. She’d glory in telling you, it would suit her twisted mind to see you upset.”

___________________________________________________________________________

         A few days after their arrival Nassor and Vitani joined the pride on a hunt. The pair exceled in an attempt to impress the pride. The pair’s raw ferocity came as a shock to many of the members causing some to revaluate their views. At the same time the older adults called Vitani a whole host of cruel names, muttering she doesn’t deserve food and some deliberately trying to sabotage her. After hours of slowly building tension Vitani and Nassor snapped back, airing their views in public and telling the senior pride members just what they thought.

“How dare you say such things to a senior member?” Mala roared, her eyes blazing. “You are not pride members therefore mind your place.”

“I am not a victim. If you think I am going to let you mistreat me than think again,” Vitani hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously.

“I have never seen such insubordination,” Gero roared.

     In a blinding flash hatred boiled over, Mala and Gero attacked, sending Nassor and Vitani to the ground. Seconds later the pair sprang to their paws. Hatred burned in Vitani’s heart fuelling her attack. All her training, the darkest, the most deadly skills and all trickery came flooding into her mind. Skill honed to deadly perfect over years. In a blinding spark of clarity Vitani felt ice cold desire for revenge, in that moment she became the deadly assassin she had been trained to be. With utter ruthless skill Vitani attacked, with every stroke making Mala and Gero pay for the past. By her side Nassor fought with almost equal power, his strength matching that of Gero.  All the while the lion pride stood silently watching, to them such things were normal, unless asked they did not interfere with punishment. With cries of pain Mala and Gero fell to the floor, Nassor and Vitani standing over them victorious. Never before had Mala and Gero  been defeated in combat, not since becoming leaders had the pair engaged in single combat. Looking up at the powerful Vitani and Nassor the pair felt fear. The look in Vitani’s eyes turned their blood to ice. In that moment Gero saw the crimes of the past come to haunt him. 

“Kill me of you dare!” Gero roared, his eyes full of shock and hate.

“No, no that is far too good for you. Death will come to you but not by my paw,” Vitani sneered.

       With utter coldness Vitani struck, blinding Gero in his right eye before inflicting an injury so sever to his left front leg so that he was crippled. Laying in pain Gero felt his whole future slip away, a crippled lion would be killed easily.

“My Mother learned the lessons of this pride well. Now tell me oh great leader. What did my Mother do to deserve the abuse?”

“That is,” Gero began, fighting to overcome the pain.

“Gero just tell her,” Mala said, a note of desperation in her voice. “Please tell her than she and this male will leave.”

“If I tell of the scandal you will and never return,” Gero hissed.

“I accept that bargain,” Vitani replied.

“That scoundrel next to you must agree also,” Mala snapped.

“I accept,” Nassor replied instantly, his voice full of coldness.

“At the time the events took place I was just approaching my first birthday. My Father was a well-regarded lion from a neighbouring pride. Zira’s father was a rouge lion with a dubious reputation who was known for causing trouble. He tricked my Mother into falling in love with him. He had very fine words but he was slyer than a fox. He deceived her, he used her to get what he wanted. Grandfather discovered his tricks and saw that he was punished. The pain that lion caused my Mother…….Zira was hated from the moment of her birth. She was a reminder of her father’s tricks. She was given the treatment she deserved. She was worthless filth, she was taught to fight, at every meal last to eat, beaten for the slightest mistake. When she was old enough Grandfather cast her out. Oh some called for her death long before but my soft hearted Mother pleaded for Zira’s life.”

“You abused on innocent cub,” Nassor roared.

“My Mother choose darkness because of what she suffered her. Never knowing innocence or love. Everything she became………You all have innocent blood on your paws. The legacy of your treatment of her stretches for years,” Vitani snarled.

“You vile little viper, the same worthless blood of your Grandfather runs through your veins,” Gero hissed.

“Oh I am much worse than him, brains and training combined…..Nassor we are done here let us leave this pride to its fate,” Vitani spat.

         Vitani and Nassor walked with their heads held high as the pride parted to let them path. Smirking they walked away. Nassor wore a mask of power. His heart felt like lead, never before had he seen the darkness take such a hold of Vitani. Her cruelty both shocked and worried him, was this the point she embraced the darkness? Evil shone from Vitani yet she felt so good. As they walked some of the pride called out yet the pair kept walking without a backward glance. Together they crossed the border leaving the land forever.

“They tried to destroy my Mother,” Vitani whispered. “All her life she lived with the scars of their abuse. They caused everything that has happened, the war between our prides….they forged the lioness. Mother could never escape the shadows of what they did.”

       Tears fell down Vitani’s cheeks. For the first time she was able to grieve for Zira. All Zira’s actions suddenly made perfect sense. Then a leg wrapped around her body, Nassor drew her close to him in a move that surprise them both. At the same time the gesture felt totally right. Looking at one another the pair smiled awkwardly side by side they continued on their journey. 

 

                  C3 Legacy of Banishment

   Three weeks had passed since Nassor and Vitani had left the land of Zira’s birth. The pair stood in mountains looking down on a rich and fertile land that stretched all the way to the sea.

    Both were weak, the past weeks had been hard. Both were skinny and desperately in need a good meal. Nassor had narrowly avoided being trampled by a rhino and Vitani had had a close call with a cobra. The rulers they had encountered had not being welcoming. They had been forced to turn into poachers in order to survive.

    As the night fell both slipped out of their hiding place onto a plateau to hunt. Catching dinner they began to wolf down the meat. The air was alive with the sounds and smells of other creatures. Their senses were high and both constantly looked around for danger.

    Then both looked up. Twigs snapped, a scent drifted towards them and out of the darkness a dozen yellow eyes appeared. Into the light stepped a pack of hyenas. Vitani snarled. In front of her was Yejida, daughter of Shenzie. Yejida who once long ago had been the best friend of Zola and Masika. Over the passing years the hyenas had been in the Outlands many times. For a moment the pair stared at each other in shock.

“Vitani what are you doing here….Zira?”

“I’m looking for Zola,” Vitani began.

     Quickly Vitani explained all that had happened in recent months. Yejida snarled in anger, feeling genuine grief for Zira, utter resentment at Imoo and seeing Kovu’s actions as a betrayal. Hearing of the end of the war Yejida felt fury rip through her being, unable to understand why Vitani or Aina would allow it. Slowly the words traitor began to form.

“Yejida tell me what happened to you,” Vitani said gently.

“Shenzie, Banzi and Ed are dead and the pack has been decimated by illness. All those who remain were born during Scar’s reign of later in exile,” Yejida replied shortly.

    Times had changed Yejida. Yejida was merciless, refused to tolerate weakness and hated the Pridelanders. She had become a tyrant who ruled through fear and dreamed of retaking the Pridelands. The pack lived on the edges of the world never more than a week from starvation.

   Hungrily the hyenas eyed the kill. Jumping forward the younger members began to challenge the lions. Seeing the numbers panic surged

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