looked up at us. Through her staggered breathing, I made out four words.

 

“My babies…my babies…”

 

In my stomachO 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 us. Through her staggered breathing, I made out four words. , I felt a sinking feeling slowly overcome my entire body.

 

“He has condemned them.” I said flatly. It was more of a statement than a question.

 

“No.” she said suddenly, looking up at me. “It’s worse. He’s taking them from me! He’s taking my babies away from me! I can’t be their mother! He’s adopting them. He says he’s going to teach them to hate me, because I’m a liar and a crook!”

 

She broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.

 

This had been the very last thing I had expected. Before now, I did not believe that Scar’s cruelty could have grown any more, but this act was unspeakably cruel. To remove a newborn child from its mothers’ care, and to teach it to HATE the one who birthed it?

 

My conclusions that I had to kill Scar were only reassured at these thoughts. I could not, and WOULD not allow Scar and Zira to raise these cubs. They needed their real mother, not Zira. They needed to stay away from Scar and never hear that monster’s name.

 

Yejide, terror reflecting in her eyes, told Kala, “You need to get out of here! If you leave, he can never find you! Give birth to your cubs far away from here, find a new pride and live in peace!”

 

Kala sobbed more, and it was difficult to make out what she was saying.

 

“I can’t escape. He won’t let me.” She said through her tears. “He’s already assigned a hyena escort to watch me everyday! I’m always going to be watched whenever I leave Pride Rock. He’ll kill me if I try to escape!”

 

At these words, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed came from the cave, and stood around Kala, laughing menacingly.

 

At the sight of the three hyenas I despised the most, I wanted to rush at them and snap every one of their necks, just as I had done to their leader, Tahri. The desire was so strong that I felt lightheaded from all of my emotions. I felt like a balloon that had been filled with so much air that it was ready to burst. My anger and hate were ready to spurt from me at the slightest touch.

 

Before I let my emotions cloud my judgment, I did something that I hated myself for doing.

 

I ran.

 

Down to ground level, I dashed out into the wastelands of the Pride Lands. Tears streamed down my face as I put as much distance between myself and Pride Rock. I was overcome with such a weight of my burden, of my sadness, of my anger, and of my hatred, that my lightheadedness doubled. I began to lose speed, and then my knees gave out. I collapsed to the ground in a heap. Pride Rock was now far behind me, and yet I could not escape the horrors that its leader had inflicted upon us.

 

All hope was now gone. Only one thing remained that could bring good back to my home. I had to carry out the deed that was required of me, regardless of my survival, I had to kill Scar.

 

My head was spinning incredibly from the combination of my emotions. I looked up and the world was whirling around me. I felt my eyes roll up into my head, and I lost all consciousness.

 

 

 

Chapter 12 - Exile

 

 

Several weeks passed since the death of Sekou. Though time was passing, my hatred and fear only grew. I had bottled up my anger, pain, and hatred for so long, that when the incident occurred, it drove me into a temporary state of madness. The week that followed, Sarabi stayed at my side. I refused to eat or talk and I barely slept a wink. I was constantly exhausted and overwhelmed with emotion.

            After a week of this, I finally came to myself again, and life began to settle down, if you could call it that. Stress was a common feeling I had nowadays. Coming to terms with the task that was laid before me, I started taking the necessary precautions to make sure that it would succeed without a hitch. I went back to the site where the bones of Sekou lay scattered. I searched through the dirt and weeds until I found my knife.

Once I had the tool I would need, I began observing Scar’s and Zira’s daily routine as much as I could. That was another thing that I needed to complete with the task. I needed to eradicate Zira as well. She may not be the queen once I took over, but Zira was no kitten. She was a fierce and angry lioness that I was sure would kill me if given the chance.

            The day that I was to perform the task was upon me swiftly. That morning, the sun rose and spilled its heating light onto the desolate wasteland. Today, I only needed final preparations and observations. Then I would finally carry it out.

            I awoke easily. Usually, it took me a few minutes upon waking to fully awake, but this particular morning I felt none of that. It was as if somebody had just switched an “on” switch inside of me.

            I stood up and stared at the looming structure that was Pride Rock. It would be mine by tonight, though I did not want it.

            The first half of the day consisted of nothing but stalking quietly wherever Scar was. I hated the sight of him, but I needed that hate to fuel my desire to take what I did not desire.

            In the mornings, he would rise long after the rest of the pride would. He would be accompanied by Zira and, walking silently and sadly behind them was the quickly growing cub, Nuka.

            Generally the day would consist of Scar complaining and barking random orders to the pride. In the moments where he had nothing to say or do, Nuka would attempt to get his attention or nuzzle him. Scar would viciously swipe at Nuka whenever he came close. Scar was still shunning Nuka, refusing to even call him his son. Nuka was still a weak cub, as he had been since birth, but I could see that he had a strong heart, despite the dislike from both parents. I made a note to myself that, with Sarabi’s help, I would raise Nuka once his parents were gone.

I began to notice that Nuka had gone through an incredible growth spurt. Though he was still thin and weak, and was only just over six months old, he was already larger than Simba had been when I first met him. He was a rather long thing, built very much like his father. His legs were the length of my arms, and his body seemed elongated as if he had been stretched to a breaking point. Long as he was though, he was still only half my size.

 

After I was finished observing, finding nothing new in the process, I went to sit with Sarabi. I needed her to comfort me in this stressful time. She knew of my plans, and did not speak to anybody of them but myself.

My plan was to do as I had done on my first hunt so long ago. I would throw my knife in the one spot that I knew would be a surefire way to kill: the jugular vein. However, planning something

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