The Lion Queen

Chapter 5

I wasn't wrong. Nothing was right after that. Scar- he wanted us to call him King Scar, but I never did unless he was talking right at me- let the hyenas in. He said it was for "protection", but I knew what hyenas were. The first time I saw them streaming over Pride Rock, I thought they were coming back for me. I saw the s***h in one's cheek and knew her right away. Scar called in the same hyena that almost killed me. Every time I looked at her, I remembered Simba. I tried to tell him about her, but he said she was "reformed". At first I thought he was just naive. As the years went by, I realized he just didn't care. Shenzi and I glared at each other whenever we crossed paths, daring the other to start something.

At first I had a lot to work through about Simba. Losing him showed me that anyone could die at any time. Maybe one of my mothers would be next, or maybe one day I'd die just as suddenly. Sometimes I felt guilty that I wasn't there to save him, and sometimes I felt guilty that I was happy it wasn't me. Through it all, I started to hate "King" Scar. He was there, too. Why didn't he help Simba? He couldn't take care of one cub, much less a kingdom.

He did a real great job with the kingdom, too. He let the hyenas eat, but he never made them hunt. They were just for protection. We ran ourselves ragged trying to keep the pride fed. I was barely half-grown when I started helping with the hunts. Before long, we ran out of the weak and sick prey we usually targeted. We had to go after the strong and healthy, putting ourselves in danger and thinning the herds far too much. Even the weather turned cold. It never rained, but it was always cloudy. The plants grew weak and the prey grew even thinner. It was like the very Circle of Life rejected Scar.

I thought I was just one of the pride to him, but then things got worse. It started when Scar called me in for a "special audience". I reported to his cave and saw Zazu still stuck in his bony prison. I wondered if he ever got to stretch his wings.

"Good morning, Nala," he said as politely as ever. He may have been sad, but he never dropped his manners.

"Hey Zazu," I said. Scar materialized out of the back of his cave before we could go on. He always slunk like a shadow, even when he was ruler of all the Pridelands. When Mufasa smiled, everything around him glowed brighter. Scar's smile drained the light from the cave. He sidled up next to me.

"Why, Nala, how pleasant to see you," he said. He even sounded different from the rest of us, like he was from somewhere far away. His voice was thin and sickly.

"What do you want?" I asked. Let's just get this over with.

"It's a most private matter," he said as he brushed past me, forcing me closer to the wall of his den. "Shall we go somewhere quieter?" Zazu ruffled his feathers sympathetically as we left. Scar led me out onto the savannah, stopping by a collection of mazelike rocks.

"What's wrong, did we finally run out of food?" I asked in derision when he finally stopped. He stayed far too close to me and tapped me with his tail in a faux-friendly gesture.

"You're always so responsible," he said. "Just like your mother." What was he getting at? And he could leave my mother out of this.

"She's a queen, isn't she? That makes you a princess. And you do look like a princess," he said. He flicked his eyes over me and I felt dirtier afterward. When did he start looking at me like that? Back when I was a cub and he was already grown? No wonder I never liked him.

"Thanks," I said flatly. He seemed to get oilier with every word. He kept inching closer to me, and I wanted to brush him away.

"It's lonely at the top, Nala. Surely you would understand that. The others see it, too. They see their king alone as he rules. They need a queen. I need a queen," he said. His eyes filled with faux sadness and he reached out his tail like he was searching for comfort. He draped it over my back and it felt like a snake waiting to squeeze the life from me. I felt dirty inside as I realized what he was thinking. I was still half-grown. He shouldn't have been looking at me like that. Did I look that enticing? I didn't mean to tempt anyone. Were they all looking at me like that? I wished I could cover myself and disappear.

"I'm sure you could have anyone in the pride," I said. I steadfastly refused to show that I knew what he was talking about. It was wrong in so many ways. I was betrothed to his dead cousin. I was half his age. I wasn't even grown yet. And I hated him.

"I know it's hard to think about. I still mourn Simba, too. But don't be too hasty. It can be lonely for a single lion. Even lonelier if she doesn't have a pride," he said. His voice snapped hard for a second before it softened back to its cloying sweetness. "You won't find anyone better than me."

"Pardon me if I try," I said. I turned and started to walk away. My stomach was churning and my mind rebelled at Scar's intentions. I didn't know why he would think things like that. Something was horribly wrong with him, and I feared for all the girl cubs in the pride. I was afraid he'd follow after, and I didn't know what I could have done if he had, but he stayed behind, watching me. His smile seemed patient, like it was only a matter of time.