by Thani » December 24th, 2009, 7:48 pm
Chapter 13; Promises :
That night Zira went out searching help, starting to move up along the Western border. Whilst on the look out, she made sure she wasn't to become a high profile attention magnet, avoiding to mark the land herself as she goes. She also paid attention to small disturbances in the air, like vultures homing in at a kill, as guide to where possibly she'd be able to meet other stray lionesses.
As lions often do, Zira also hunted in the night, to cover the disturbance in the lands from sight as much as possible. After all, she did not want to be noticed by any lone free roaming Pridelander.. Especially not Mufasa himself, whilst he patrolled the lands..
Just as Zira suspected, incursions into Mufasa's lands along the borders were quite regular, as there clearly was more food at hand in the Pridelands, as there was in the direct surrounding area's.. Yet Zira had to be very carefull of possible rogue lion encounters. She'd remembered the time, she was subjected to a near brutal rape. As she roamed the the land she suddenly spotted a long awaited oppertunity.. Finally, vulture flocking! She raised her head so, that she could peek over the tall grass, in order to devise a plan of approach. The prevailing winds blew from the North, and she had to make sure she would approach in a way capable of using cover to close in some more, aswell as the rolling hill crests to keep a clear view on the scene.
She laid down on beside a cluster of Acasia trees, and now the waiting game had started. She found herself in a good position, as she most possibly could smell the scent of anyone approaching from the West, North and East directions as long as the weather remained calm.. The tactics Zira put to use was taught to her by the late Uru herself, during her rather brief stay within Mufasa's pride.. Zira had learned a great deal from the lioness, as she had observed Uru leading the Hunting Party many times. "When leading a troop, be clear, keep it short, and use backup plans to immediate effect, incase anything goes wrong.. Also, maintain silence as much as possible, be sure your comrades operate together, based on visuals wherever practical" She thought to herself, as she gladly repeated the lessons given in her head once more.
Scar had gone to Pride Rock itself, only to avoid Mufasa's suspision, where his brother may have seen through Scar's plans to create a rival pride for himself. Scar laid down in his usually preferred cave, to think over the situation once more, and to devise a plan how to make it work out right. Suddenly a young cub stood beside him: "Hey uncle Scar! Guess what? I'm gonna be king of Pride Rock!" the cub bragged. "I despise guessing games.." Scar said, as his annoyance was clearly to be seen on his facial expression. But at that moment, a brilliant thought crossed Scar's mind: "That cub might be the key to my success, as I might be able to lure him into the Elephant Graveyard to be disposed off him there, putting the blame upon the Hyenas instead." the devious lion thought to himself.. The cub kept on bragging: "I'm gonna be king of Rock!" "..Oh goodie.." Scar mumbled to himself as the cub continues his boasting: "My dad just shown me the whole kingdom. And I'm gonna rule it all, heh heh!" "Yes..Well forgive me for not leaping for joy, bad back you know.." And Scar promptly let himself land on his flank, turning his gaze away from the cub. However Simba kept on talking to him anyways: "Hey uncle Scar? When I'm king, what'll that make you?" "A monkey's uncle.." Scar replied. the cub rolled over grinning, continuing: "You're so weird!" where upon Scar answered that statement with one odd remark to himself, nearly giving away his evil plans, if only the cub hadn't had a single clue of the real danger that looked over him: "You have no idea.. So..!" Scar quickly continued: "Your father showed you the whole kingdom, did he?" "Everything.." the cub answered. "He didn't show you what's beyond that rise, at the northern border." The cub clearly dissappointed at this sighed, as he continued: "Well, no...He said I can't go there.." "And he's absolutely right!!" Scar replied, as he tried hard to put up a worried look on his face for show, continuing: "Far too dangerous. Only the bravest lions go there.." "Well I'm brave! What's out there?" the cub asked. "I'm sorry Simba, I just can't tell you." Why not? the cub whined. "Simba, Simba, I'm only looking out for the well being of my favorite nephew" "Yeah right! I'm your only nephew." "Boh, the more reason for me to be protective, an Elephant Graveyard is no place for a young prince. Oops!" Scar clearly acted. :An Elephant what? Wow" the cub curiously was impressed. "Oh dear, I've said too much. Well I'd suppose you'd found out sooner or later, you're being so clever and all..Just do me one favor" As Scar held Simba close to him: "Promise me you'll never visit that dreadfull place." Scar said with a smirk. "No problem!" the cub promised. "That's a good lad. You run along now, and have fun..And remember, it's our little secret!" Scar said to the cub as he left to play. Scar turned around, smirking evilly. He knew the cub couldn't hold back his curiousity, and certainly would visit the Elephant Graveyard himself.
Scar proceeded to the Elephant Graveyard in full confidence his plan would work out well, if he could manage to broker a deal with the Hyenas. Luck seemed to be on Scar's side this time, as he entered the Elephant Graveyard. He was met by the trio Hyena's, who were clearly angered to see a lion in their domain, yet the Hyena's didn't dare to attack him now. They would've been beaten in a direct fight with the adult lion, who had more killing power then them three had. "I'd come to strike a deal with you.. Who's in charge?" "I am!" Shenzi replied. "I know I have killed two of your relatives in the past, but I want to make up for it." Scar continued, wondering if the Hyenas would take the bait. "What do you want??" Banzai snapped, clearly not trusting the lion at all. "I have arranged a cub for a meal, to come walking right at you, ready to be slain. Wouldn't that settle the score?" "A cub, willing to be killed off??" Shenzi wondered. "What cub would be willing to undertake such action??" "A dumb cub, naïve enough to be convinced, his sacrifice would quell the long standing feud between lions and Hyenas!" Scar made up. "If you're willing, be ready to expect him anytime soon. But make sure you'll keep it silent, and act clean and quickly!" Scar added. "Whoever is coming along with the cub, I don't want any of them to survive, understand?" This sounded like an easy meal to the Hyena trio, and they quickly agreed, being greedy enough to take this oppertunity for granted.
That same afternoon two cubs and a bird had arrived, the frightened bird clearly tried to lead the cubs away from the dangerous place. But alas, it was too late now. The three Hyenas had sprung the trap, and encircled their double prize, playing around with it for a while.
Yet whilst goofing around, the cubs seized the advantage to escape, now clearly affraid of their lives. However the Hyena's had catched the bird, and launched him into the sky above, being convinced that the bird would fall to it's death when it hit the ground. The cubs saw this unfolding, and the young male decided to say something about it."Hey, pick somebody of your own size!" Simba said. "Like..YOU?!" Shenzi snapped at him. After a short pursuit, the Hyenas had trapped the two cubs in a carcass, and mocked the young lion's dissabillity to roar properly. However, what they did not know, was that the launched bird had survived, and informed the king himself, who was on his way towards them as they kept on mocking the cubs. Suddenly a mighty roar was heard instead of the cub's little roar. Soon the Hyenas gave up resisting, as the mighty lion blazed with fury: "Don't you ever come near my son again!" Mufasa said. "Your son? Oh this is your son..? Banzai and Shenzi said, as they tried to find a way out of this sudden situation they had found themselves in. "I didn't know it was your son!" Shenzi honestly replied, turning to Banzai, who glanced back in refusal, to have known the cub as Mufasa's son. "Ed??" both Hyenas asked simultaniously. Ed couldn't deny the fact, as he always was true to the truth, and all three remembered the male cub mention being the future king, whilst they were encircling them earlier on. At Ed's response, the mighty lion roared in rage, but before he could lunge at them, the Hyenas quickly seized the moment to escape. So far Scar was following the events from a distance, yet unseen by Mufasa himself. Scar's plan had failed.. Now he had to manipulate the Hyenas to accept their guilt for the failure, and Scar already had forseen the greed that drived the Hyenas minds. "They're truly oppertunistic to every extend. I'll go and spare them some fleshy carcass left over, when I'm done eating myself." And Scar set out hunting. Later on that evening, Scar returned to the Hyenas, only to be greeted by complaints and cheap puns cracked at lions in general. "Will you two knock it off?!" Shenzi said to the two fighting Hyenas. "Look at you, no wonder we're dangling on the bottom of the foodchain!" She remarked "Man I hate dangling!" Banzai replied drooling. " "If it weren't for those lions, we'd be running the joint!" Shenzi complained. "Man I hate lions!"..They're pushy -And hairy -Stinky, and man are they UGGGLY!!" Shenzi and Banzai joked laughing, in an attempt to briefly forget their miserable living standards. "Now, now. We lions, aren't all that bad, are we?" Scar said to the surprised Hyenas. The Hyenas sighed in relief. "Oh Scar it's just you.." Banzai said "We were afraid it was somebody important!" Shenzi remarked "Yeah, you know like Mufasa!" Banzai added. "I see" Scar replied clearly being disgust at hearing his brother's name. And once again the Hyenas cracked a joke, mocking at Mufasa's power, whereupon Scar said to himself "I'm surrounded by idiots.." Banzai continued to greet the lion as one of their rare allies. "Now you Scar, you're one of us! You're our pal" "Charmed.." Scar said as he was disgusted at the thought to be considered one of them. "Oh I like that! He's not king, but still so proper!" Shenzi said, in an attempt to flatter the lion to get something to eat, as the lion had promised them a a piece of flesh for reward, of accepting to work along with him in the first place.. Yet Scar notified the Hyenas that he wasn't happy, that they couldn't fullfill his plan to despose of the young prince. The Hyenas however didn't listen to it, as they were solemnly focussed on the meat bungling in front of them. As soon as Scar passed them a chunk of Zebra-meat, the Hyenas immediatly began to devour it greedily. Upon hearing Scar complaining Shenzi replied: "Well you know, it wasn't excactly they were alone Scar.." "Yeah, what were we supposed to do? Kill Mufasa?!" Banzai coined. "Precisely..!" Scar said whilst a menacing grin appeared on his face. Scar continued to explain his grand plan, and promised the Hyenas a better life in Pridelands, as soon as Mufasa, and Simba were killed. Scar felt an immense feeling of power coming over him, finally being able to use the Hyenas to his will, in turn for plenty of food provided to them. This feeling was like an extacy to them. Soon if the next phase went right, the Hyena clan would finally be able to settle in the Pridelands again. And with Scar appointed as their king, it would be legal once the coup had been successfull..
A week had passed, Zira was able to make contact with a couple of stray outcast lionesses, whom she pursuaded to follow her gaining an easier life under Scar's and her rule. Whilst most of the lionesses took this promise for granted, there were some who doubted the plan openly, trying to talk the other lionesses out of it. But the bigger part of the lionesses wouldn't heed these words of wisdom.
Zira soon began to demand to be their leader, however she had to strike a deal with the current leading lioness, or had to despose of her one way or the other, as she certainly would prove troublesome to the socalled Shining New Era. The leader Zira opposed was called Busara. Zira managed to let Busara reluctantly turn to her cause, promising she would indirectly remain in charge of the group. Whatever laws the future would pass upon them, the lionesses united behind their faithfull Busara in the first place. Seeing this problem as unimportant for now, planning to deal with it later on, once she had gathered enough other lionesses for the cause, Zira decided this situation would remain to be acceptable for now. Perhaps Busara might be usefull to her for the time being. Only time would tell..
Last edited by
Thani on March 3rd, 2010, 2:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

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