screaming a battle cry as I rushed forward to the fray. I knew what awaited in that

 

“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.

 

mound of violence. Sekou was there, and I was going to save him. But something else was there too…

 

Death would be waiting for me in the battle. I was welcoming it gratefully. As my anger and hate overcame me, I quickened my pace. Only one thought penetrated my mind.

 

KILL THEM ALL!!!

 

Unexpectedly, I was hit violently from my right side, and suddenly found myself pinned to the ground. My knife flew out of my hand as I landed hard on my back. Something heavy was holding me down, completely immobilizing me. I looked up to see not a hyena on top of me, but Sarabi. She had left Nala to restrain the sobbing and hysterical Kala by herself so she could stop me from advancing into the pile of teeth and fangs.

 

“NO!” she cried, “You’ll be killed too!”

 

“I…DON’T…CARE!” I screamed furiously, putting emphasis on every syllable. I was struggling with all of my strength to get her off of me. “THEY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! THEY RUINED OUR LIVES! I HAVE TO KILL THEM! THEY…HAVE…TO…DIE!”

 

In spite of my uncontrolled rage, I suddenly became fearful. Sarabi had roared from on top of me, and bared her teeth in my face, growling as tears welled up in her eyes.

 

“I will NOT lose my only family, Ayden. I WILL NOT go through that pain again.” She growled threateningly. “Even I if I have to hold you here for eternity, I will NOT lose you too.”

 

I stared at her, utterly terrified. I had never seen Sarabi act this way towards me before, and I never wanted to see it again. I stopped struggling, closed my eyes and lay my head in the dirt.

 

In the background, Sekou’s screaming had stopped. The sounds of the hyenas laughing, growling, and of flesh tearing were incredibly prominent. Kala’s screaming sobs could only just be heard over the fray. The sudden burst of joy I had felt had died with Sekou. Once again, the burden that had been lifted fell heavily on my shoulders, and it pained me incredibly.

 

Scar’s voice roared over all of the noise. “SHENZI! BANZAI! ED!”

 

My eyes snapped open as I heard him call the hyena’s names. I recognized them immediately from my first encounter with the cowardly monsters. My head shot up, but I had restricted movement because Sarabi was still pinning me.

 

The three hyenas, blood dripping from their muzzles, stood attentively in front of Scar. They grinned evilly as they stared at him. The rage I felt at Scar and his minions only increased as, for the first time since the day they tried to kill me, I recognized the three hyenas.

 

If Sarabi had not been pinning me down, I would have leapt to my feet and killed all three of them.s welcoming it gratefully. As my anger and hate overcame me, I quickened my pace. Only one thought penetrated my mind.

 

KILL THEM ALL!!!

 

Unexpectedly, I was hit violently from my right side, and suddenly found myself pinned to the ground. My knife flew out of my hand as I landed hard on my back. Something heavy was holding me down, completely immobilizing me. I looked up to see not a hyena on top of me, but Sarabi. She had left Nala to restrain the sobbing and hysterical Kala by herself so she could stop me from advancing into the pile of teeth and fangs.

 

“NO!” she cried, “You’ll be killed too!”

 

“I…DON’T…CARE!” I screamed furiously, putting emphasis on every syllable. I was struggling with all of my strength to get her off of me. “THEY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! THEY RUINED OUR LIVES! I HAVE TO KILL THEM! THEY…HAVE…TO…DIE!”

 

In spite of my uncontrolled rage, I suddenly became fearful. Sarabi had roared from on top of me, and bared her teeth in my face, growling as tears welled up in her eyes.

 

“I will NOT lose my only family, Ayden. I WILL NOT go through that pain again.” She growled threateningly. “Even I if I have to hold you here for eternity, I will NOT lose you too.”

 

I stared at her, utterly terrified. I had never seen Sarabi act this way towards me before, and I never wanted to see it again. I stopped struggling, closed my eyes and lay my head in the dirt.

 

In the background, Sekou’s screaming had stopped. The sounds of the hyenas laughing, growling, and of flesh tearing were incredibly prominent. Kala’s screaming sobs could only just be heard over the fray. The sudden burst of joy I had felt had died with Sekou. Once again, the burden that had been lifted fell heavily on my shoulders, and it pained me incredibly.

 

Scar’s voice roared over all of the noise. “SHENZI! BANZAI! ED!”

 

My eyes snapped open as I heard him call the hyena’s names. I recognized them immediately from my first encounter with the cowardly monsters. My head shot up, but I had restricted movement because Sarabi was still pinning me.

 

I attempted to get up again, yelling and struggling, but Sarabi, teeth still bared, would not get off of me. Giving in, I went limp and laid my head down again. Tears of anger and loss fell down my cheeks. I had placed all of my hope in the now mutilated and gone Sekou. I had been SO close to avoiding facing Scar, and when it was just within my reach, it was quickly snatched away from me.

 

I was so overcome with grief, anger, and hatred that the events that followed seemed a quick and random blur to me. It seemed only a moment later when Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed were escorting us back to Pride Rock, and only another moment later we were waiting outside of the entrance of the cave where Kala had just entered. Scar was to pass judgment on her for her actions against him.

 

What remained of our pride sat unmoving around the entrance of the cave. I was shaking, waiting uneasily for Kala to return. My fear for what was happening in the confines of the cave was overwhelming. I cared only for Kala’s safety. As long as she would not be hurt, then everything would be fine.

 

Are you kidding yourself? IF he lets her live, she will not go unpunished! He’ll kill her cubs when they are born!

 

            I knew this to be true. Scar would not allow them to live. What better way to punish a mother than to take her own children away from her?

 

Scar’s tyranny and horror had driven the Pride Lands and his pride to the brink of death. We were starving, weak, fearful, and losing our will to survive. He was pushing us to the point of death, and I could not sit by and wait anymore while he did.

 

I sighed, defeated. I knew what I had to do, and it needed to be done the very next chance that I got. I had to kill Scar and overthrow him. If he did not die, and in turn fought me, I would surely be killed. But at least, if that was the case, I would be with my brothers, fathers, and mother.

 

Kala emerged from the mouth of the cave, struggling to stay on her feet. Sarabi and Nala rushed to her side to support her. They walked her out of the cave, and then let her collapse on the ground. Her face was more fearful than any I had ever seen in my life, and it was streaked with lines of tears. Her breathing was staggered, and she was shaking more than I was.

 

“Kala…” Sarabi said urgently, “Kala, speak to me. What happened? What did Scar say to you?”

 

Kala remained silent. Yejide spoke up. “What was your punishment Kala?”

 

Kala looked up at

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