The Lion Queen

Chapter 8

The sun was almost gone when I stopped running. I was far from the border of the Pridelands, far enough that Scar couldn't find me, even if he sent his hyena cronies. I sat in the tall, waving grass and looked back behind me. My first impulse was to go back to my mother's pride, but I hesitated. Surely that's where Scar would expect me to go. He'd have patrols waiting to find me and bring me back, like I wandered away and got lost. If any lions from my mother's pride were nearby they'd help me, but I didn't want to give them any trouble. For the moment, I was on my own.

I'd never been so far away from other lions before. As the sky grew darker, I wondered what they were doing and if they'd missed me yet. Mwali was probably worried sick, and I felt guilty that I'd run off without telling her. My guilt turned to sickness when I realized Scar might tell everyone I was dead. Mother already lost her cubs once, and I only hoped Mwali would know what really happened and ease her grief.

The savannah seemed barren and empty without Pride Rock and the trees around it. I was a lion, and lions lived in prides. By myself, I was just one small animal in an endless plain. The grass and sky dwarfed me and I caught myself looking around for the friends that weren't there. I couldn't imagine life without them.

I felt less alone when I started to move again. I didn't know where I was going, but it felt like as long as I kept moving, I'd get there eventually. With every step I took away from the Pridelands, it was like watching the earth heal. Pride Rock was surrounded by barren dirt and sickly grass, but beyond that, the plants were green and the sky was bright. A cape buffalo moved in the distance and I reacted immediately, tensing to spring at it with the others, but there was no one there. Back home, a sight like that would have brought elation, but here, it seemed normal. By my standards, the land was teeming with food.

I sat back to plan. What comes next? I couldn't hunt a buffalo on my own, but I could keep myself fed. But what for? To be a lone lion forever, cut off from my family and pride? Even if I could bear the loneliness, I couldn't leave my friends to that life. What if I could help them? On my own, I couldn't fight Scar and the others. But there were more than two prides on the savannah, and I most likely wasn't the only lone lion. I could find some of the others and bring back help for my pride. If my pride helped my mother's with the wild dogs, someone else might be willing to help us. I only had to find them.

Just having a plan made the loneliness fade. Darkness fell, and my eyes sharpened with it. I crept through the grass, looking for prey. Hunting alone was new and exciting. It was a challenge I'd never experienced and I grew exhilerated as I stalked. My worries faded as I focused on the hunt, and my senses strained for the slightest warning. I heard a faint scrape and followed the sound. When I reached the source, I saw an anthill faintly outlined against the dark sky. An aardvark was perched on it, poking its tongue into the entrance. I inched forward, pressed down against the ground. Grass slid against my belly and I shifted my weight evenly to dull the sound. When I was almost on top of my prey, I pounced. I landed heavily on the aardvark and broke its neck with one bite before it could struggle. Its warm blood flooded my mouth and I savored it. It was wonderfully indulgent to have the entire animal to myself. I ate the entire thing- the good meat, the tough meat, and the succulent bones. I didn't have to wait for anyone. By myself, I was the alpha lion, and I could take care of myself.

I walked a long time after I was done. Prides were expansive and often reclusive. It was unusual for two prides to be as close to each other as mine and my mother's were. I had a long journey ahead, and it was both daunting and pleasing. I wasn't used to solitude and it bothered me, but the quiet night around me was peaceful. Without Scar and his helpers around, there wasn't much I couldn't handle. I was a lioness, and I was the top of the food chain.

When I saw a single slender tree ahead of me, I decided to take a break. The savannah was so empty it was like a single companion, and I rested under its leaves. The wind rustled the greenery and I welcomed the noise. The sun was about to rise, and I'd walked all night. I was tired and ready to stop.

There was a lot to think about before I got to sleep. I started to worry about Mother and Mwali, but there was no reason for Scar to punish them. His only motivation would be to hurt me, and I wasn't there. He was probably just starting to realize I wasn't coming back. Possibly he'd send some parties after me, but I was much too far away for them to find. If he wasn't so vain, I'd have worried he'd find someone else to bother, but that wasn't like him. More likely he'd declare every other lioness "unworthy" and remain alone in a bizarre attempt to spite me.

As I watched the sun come up, it was like the world was getting reborn. Just yesterday, everything was different. I felt older and wiser, even though it had only been a few hours. I felt freer and more scared. I was lonely, but there were lions I was glad to be away from. I didn't know what the next day help, but I was ready to keep moving.