A very muscular young lion, he was a dark rusty color with a tan underbelly. An even darker chocolate colored mane flowed messily down from his head to his lower chest. A few locks dangled into his face and over his strikingly kind and blue eyes. His smile reflected the kindness that shone in them.

 

Sarabi looked curious, yet wary. “Kala…what’s going on?”

 

Kala smiled and said, “Guys, this is Sekou.” She indicated him with a turn of her head in his direction. “He is my mate.”

 

It took a moment for the full effect of this statement to settle in. When I finally realized what she meant, I found my voice. “Your…mate?”

 

Kala nodded excitedly. “Yes! I’ve been seeing him for several months now! He lives on the outskirts of the Pride Lands!”

 

I glanced at Sekou, my worry settling slightly. Kala had trusted him enough to befriend him, so I figured I would give him the same chance. His smile was warm and comforting. It reminded me of Mufasa’s smile.

 

“I met Kala while she was out on the border,” Sekou said. “She needed someone to talk to, so I let her confide within me. We started seeing each other on a normal basis, until now.”

 

Kala nuzzled him affectionately, and then turned to us again. “I have more news for you.”

 

“What news?” Nala inquired, clearly as curious as either of us at what else Kala could be hiding.

 

“I found out the other day…” She paused for a moment. “…that I am pregnant with our cubs.”

 

“Congratulations Kala! I’m so happy for you!” said Nala as she went forward and nuzzled her.

 

The joy I felt from Kala’s statement was a wonderful feeling. I had not felt any kind of joy for months, and the feeling was purely soothing to everything. My hunger pains, my anger, and hatred were all temporarily extinguished at the thought of the new cubs that would be brought into our pride.

 

…and then what would happen?

 

Scar’s terrible actions from over a year ago drifted into view from my memory, and a chill ran down my spine. Images of cubs, lying dead and broken in their own blood, and suddenly my own ran cold. When Scar found out about the birth of cubs that were not his own, he would certainly kill them.

 

Sarabi voiced this before I had the chance to.

 

Kala was undeterred when Sarabi mentioned the possible death of her cubs. “I understand Sarabi. After I found out about my pregnancy, Sekou and I had a long talk. I asked him to help us. I told him that our pride was in dire need of some help and new leadership.”

 

My insides tensed at this idea. Kala wanted Sekou to overthrow Scar and claim the throne for himself. Suddenly, I found myself hoping beyond everything else that Sekou would be up to the challenge. I did not have any desire in the slightest to rule the Pride Lands, and I would gladly hand the opportunity to somebody else should the occasion present itself. I was not ready for the responsibility of such a position.

 

“I agreed to stand up to your King and try to help you out,” Sekou said, and the tension inside of me released. Joy overcame me again as the weight of the burden I had felt to overthrow Scar was slowly lifted off of my shoulders.

 

Sarabi’s voice trembled as she spoke. ““You mean you will challenge Scar for leadership?”

 

I saw her eyes flash in my direction, and I knew what she was thinking. Whether I desired it or not, I was still the next in line for the kingship, and the responsibility still fell on me. In order to rightfully become the King, Sekou would have to overthrow me as well.

 

“Sarabi,” I said, and I glanced at Sekou as I did. “I am not ready for any responsibility of the King. If Sekou succeeds in overthrowing Scar, I will more than willingly relinquish my position to him.”

 

Sarabi’s expression was mixed, and I was unsure of which she felt more. Her face was compassionate and understanding, but at the same time it fell. She had clearly hoped that, as her adoptive son, I would be willing to take up the position that was rightfully mine.

 

Sekou broke the silence and said, “Then it is your desire that I take the kingship in your stead?”

 

I nodded at him, and saw with my peripheral vision that Sarabi did so as well.

 

“Are you sure that you are up to it?” Sarabi asked Sekou.

 

Sekou nodded and grinned. “Let’s go.”

 

We turned and made our way to Pride Rock. Hope and joy enveloped me as we journeyed towards it. Already, I was planning on what would happen when Scar would be overthrown. I would relay all of Mufasa’s teachings to Sekou and be one of his advisors, alongside Zazu. Though not the position of the King, I would still have some influence over what happened here. I was much more pleased being in a position where I did not need to answer to the kingdom should one of my choices go wrong. Yet I knew that we would finally return the Pride Lands to their rightful state, and live in peace once again.

 

A twinge of doubt surfaced in my mind. It was all such a great idea and I was excited to see it put to action, but something still bugged me about it. It all seemed too good to be true.

 

Sudd Scar and claim the throne for himself. Suddenly, I found myself hoping beyond everything else that Sekou would be up to the challenge. I did not have any desire in the slightest to rule the Pride Lands, and I would gladly hand the opportunity to somebody else should the occasion present itself. I was not ready for the responsibility of such a position.

 

“I agreed to stand up to your King and try to help you out,” Sekou said, and the tension inside of me released. Joy overcame me again as the weight of the burden I had felt to overthrow Scar was slowly lifted off of my shoulders.

 

Sarabi’s voice trembled as she spoke. ““You mean you will challenge Scar for leadership?”

 

I saw her eyes flash in my direction, and I knew what she was thinking. Whether I desired it or not, I was still the next in line for the kingship, and the responsibility still fell on me. In order to rightfully become the King, Sekou would have to overthrow me as well.

 

“Sarabi,” I said, and I glanced at Sekou as I did. “I am not ready for any responsibility of the King. If Sekou succeeds in overthrowing Scar, I will more than willingly relinquish my position to him.”

 

Sarabi’s expression was mixed, and I was unsure of which she felt more. Her face was compassionate and understanding, but at the same time it fell. She had clearly hoped that, as her adoptive son, I would be willing to take up the position that was rightfully mine.

 

Sekou broke the silence and said, “Then it is your desire that I take the kingship in your stead?” enly, from the tall, dead grass beside us emerged Scar. A wide and evil grin was etched into his face, his jet black mane swaying lazily in the breeze. His claws were unsheathed, and he was ready for the impending fight. Sekou turned to the tyrant and unsheathed his own claws.

 

“You must be Scar, the king of these lands,” Sekou said boldly, his voice not wavering. “I am Sekou, son of Banga, and I’ve come here to challenge you. You are a tyrant of a ruler. Your reign on these lands has brought nothing but pain and death. It is time that your subjects were delivered from your cruelty.”

 

Scar merely grinned at Sekou’s claim. He hissed, “I know who you are, I am not deaf my boy. I have been listening to your interesting conversation.”

 

His eyes briefly flashed over and met mine. I breathed in heavily, and my chest swelled with the same hatred for Scar that I had felt so strongly since his coronation.

 

“And you think you can beat me?” Scar finished, his eyes flicking away from me and back to Sekou.

 

Sekou grinned back and fiercely replied, “I know I can.”

 

Scar moved forward, and I thought he was about to attack, but that was far from the truth. Scar merely stepped aside as, from behind him, a large group of at least twenty hyenas appeared through the grass.

 

My heart plummeted as they did, and I saw all of the lioness’s faces fill with fear. Sekou’s face fell for a moment, but it quickly regained confidence. The hyenas laughed menacingly. I knew it would have been too good to be true.

 

Scar sneered, “You should reconsider your boldness my friend.”

 

Then he turned his head to his minions, and stated without so much as a hint of care, “Kill him.”

 

My stomach bottomed out. I watched in horror as my last hope for peace in the Pride Lands was engulfed in a mound of teeth, claws, and fur. Sekou was overwhelmed by the group of hyenas that rushed onto him. They began to tear and claw at his body, and Sekou screamed in pain and terror as they began to eat him alive.

 

Kala was in a right state. She screamed Sekou’s name over and over, trying to get to her mate. But Nala and Sarabi were holding her back to ensure that she would not be hurt as well.

 

Rage and anger burned inside me like the fiery jeep that had taken my family so long ago. These monsters had ravaged the lands for so long, and now they had eliminated the only real hope for the restoration of the land. Fury boiled inside of me as I reached for the knife in my pocket.

 

I unswitched the knife and held it in front of me, screaming a battle cry

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