“No, Zira.” Scar pushed away the young lioness from him.  

“Scar, I greatly respect you.  I would proudly bare your babies,” The lioness pushed closer and licked the king’s mane.

“Zira, you could be my daughter! I shall have none of this.”  Scar padded farther back into his lair. 

Zira sat down confused. She watched as Scar began to pace the vicinity.  He looked at the young lion who had just tried to seduce him.  He shook his head and sighed.

“Zira, in my dream last night, I had a vision.  There is a rogue, Maki, who lives on the outskirts of the outlands. When he was a cub, my mother made me take care of him. He was like a son to me. He is about your age, too. I have chosen him to be your mate.  Your first litter will only consist of one cub, Nuka. He is worthless. The next litter you shall have a year later. It will consist of Vitani, a girl, and Kovu, the next king!” Scar exclaimed.

“This Kovu, will be a king, you say?”  Zira asked. The greed in her eyes began to flourish.

            “I need an heir for when my time comes, Zira, I have told you this.” Scar explained.  “However, you must leave now. And when you are pregnant with your second litter, come and visit me. This is your destiny! If you l-l-love, me, you will understand.”  Scar had a hard time saying love for he felt nothing for Zira. He only had a little respect for her ideas.

            “Scar, my heart will forever be yours. I hope this Maki shows some of you in his heart.” Zira’s tail flicked back and forth and she trotted over to the pacing lion.

            “I have taught him all I know. Now go! The time has come to take over the pride!”  Scar began to prowl out of the cave, his tail flicking back and forth. 

            “Before I leave I must repay you!” Zira jumped on top of Scar and began to lick his face. Scar had never received so much love in his life and it surprised him. He could not, however, understand it. Scar slashed at Zira’s ear and then kicked her off of him.  The lioness lay in the corner of his home as she felt hot blood slip down her face.  Scar shook his head.

            “Leave, Zira, you know what I have asked you.”  Scar left the heartbroken lioness with that.

            Zira watched as the lion disappeared before she pulled herself off the ground. She then remembered the time when Simba had tried to play with her only just months ago, and when she began to love Scar. 

“No, Simba! Sarabi told me to keep watch for Scar!” Zira had whispered in the night.

            “Aw, just ‘cause Father is gone doesn’t mean Scar will come here!” Simba tugged at Zira’s tail.

            “Simba I’m a year older than you! I can’t play these games. Go find Nala!” Zira pushed the cub away.

            Simba growled softly and jumped on Zira. He bit her hind leg and the lioness yelped. Soon a shadow grew over the two lions. 

            “Simba, how dare you harm a lioness? Are not you future king?”

            “Sorry, Uncle Scar.”

            Scar turned to the sobbing Zira. “Here, follow me.”

            Zira followed Scar down to his lair. There Scar told Zira how Mufasa had always taken the glory from him.

            “It was the day of our first hunt,” Scar told Zira. “I had just knocked out an antelope, but Mufasa pinned me to the ground and told me that he should have it. He slashed me across the eye and nicknamed me ‘Scar.’”

            Zira felt gracious to the lion that had helped heal her that night. After Scar’s stories, she curled up next to Scar and fell asleep. She felt anger for what Simba had done. He had harmed her, and Zira would never forget that. 

            Zira never knew that everything Scar told her were lies, but she was a loving lioness and she felt in debt to the “oh so nice” lion. 

The next few weeks after her experience she told all her friends of Scar’s past. They began to meet every night in Scar’s lair and listen to his stories. Many believed him too. Zira’s best friend, Jazi, didn’t believe Scar’s lies. She knew that Mufasa was a true leader. Zira felt betrayed when Jazi had left her.

Scar heard of how Jazi was mean to Zira. He comforted her more and thus, Zira grew closer to the liar. Her love for him changed. He was no longer like the father she never had, but a future mate. She kept her fantasies to herself, however.

Then today, when Scar told Zira that he needed an heir she loved that he had chosen her. It was like a dream come true! Her heart had filled up. But now she was only broken hearted.

Zira shook her head and leaped down from pride rock. She felt the wind on her fur and sighed. After a while she looked back at Pride rock in the distance. She could see Scar, crying with the lionesses about Mufasa’s death.

“For you, Scar.” Zira whispered.