TLK IV

[Tamber]

Nala, still nervous as to what her actions would lead to, was unsure of what to think as she saw Malka respond to her nod and join the group. He still had that look about him, something that gave Nala worry and discomfort, but she tried hard to look past it. She tried to remember the cub she knew when she was young. He was such a good friend to her, whether he wanted more from her or not. As long as he stayed respectable, Nala couldn't see why she would need to stay away from him. She had confidence in her strength and her ability to teach him what was acceptable and what would not be tolerated.

But the lioness was slightly disheartened when she saw him approach and as he walked beside her. She didn't see the same Malka as she had earlier, the eager and cunning expression he held upon his body. But she didn't see the carefree cub Malka, either. All she could see was a timid lion with scruffy ears and mane, almost as if he was unknown to her.

"Well, Nala? My back is safe on this little hunting trip, isn't it?"

Nala, thinking of how to answer, was surprised to hear Kovu call to her and drop back to walk near her and the scruffy-eared lion. He asked her to plead for her daughter to leave, which would have been acceptable, except for how Kovu stumbled over his words and quickly tried to recover them in a different way. As he asked Malka to travel ahead, in front of the rest of the pride, he seemed to watch the male intently, but proudly. Nala couldn't help but be suspicious.

"Kovu," she called, keeping him near her. "I can't help but wonder why Kiara need be separated from this group so hastily." She looked Kovu up and down suspiciously. "I'd be glad to lead the lionesses, but I feel there is a part to this plan that I'm not informed of."

[cheezeegriff]

"I'd be glad to lead the lionesses, but I feel there is a part to this plan that I'm not informed of."

Kovu nodded, not knowing what else to say. He walked on in silence for a while, the bristly grass becoming longer the further they moved from Pride Rock. Malka, in the lead, was fighting his way through the scrub. Good - it might wear him out faster.
When Kiara dropped back and smiled at him, he tensed again: knowing she suspected something. Guilt mixed with a strange sort-of relief at the sight of her trusting smile. Still, Kovu didn't want her to see any of it. It might ruin her perspective of him.

Sighing, Kovu said to Nala under his breath and the wind of the plains,

"He's too strong, Nala, and far too ambitious: a threat to the crown." My crown. Kiara's crown.
Kovu swallowed.
"I need him out of the way. I'm going to encourage him to leave... in a way he won't ever forget."
He met Nala's eye, to gauge her reaction, and to show her that he didn't really enjoy the prospects of what he was doing either.
"Don't worry: I'll try not to leave him in too bad a state."

He almost wallked into Malka's rear as the intruder lifted his head, gazing over the long grass.

"Zebras to our right,"
Malka said, scanning the horizon before looking back at the rest of the hunting party. The wind had caught his mane and threw it back from his face, making him look larger, more dangerous.
"They haven't seen us and I can smell blood on the wind. It might be the one I injured last night."
He looked between Nala and Kovu then said,
"Easy kill. I think we should take the opportunity and-"

"No!"
Kovu barked.

Malka flinched.
"But we're right here. It seems a waste-"

"I don't know how you do things where you come from, but here we give injured escapees the benefit of a few days' grace."
Kovu glard back, but then realised he had passed up a golden opportunity. Still, maybe he could recover.
"Nala, take three of the lionesses-"
He nodded at Kiara.
"-and see if one of the zebras is injured with lion marks. If not, feel free to hunt it."

"What about us?" Malka said.

"Wilderbeast are a much harder kill. I want to show us how you would do it. East,"
he said, then continued marching.
"Nala, the zebras. Go now. Take your time."

[Kirsui]

Scruffy stared with wide eyes at the scene before her, and was glad when Sarabi told they would be leaving. But Sarabi stopped, the fluffy necked remained glued to her spot.

" Well if you are in such a snitt with us, I guess you don't want to meet your daughter again, do you?"

Sarabi moved out of the cave when Scruffy glanced at "Zira". The old lioness stare at nothing with an expressionless face. That was the last straw she could take, the old lioness sure was creepy. She quickly trotted towards the cave entrance, but not before she had a chance to inhale the scent of the old lioness.
'She needs a bath', she thought as the only thing she could smell was dirt.
'Badly.'
And then she was outside, walking beside Sarabi while sending nervous glances towards the cave.

---

The two lionesses were long gone and yet she still could hear Sarabi's words as if she spoke them out right there and then. A daughter? She said she had a daughter. But did she have a daughter? A part of her told it was true, that she indeed had a daughter... But a larger part denied this, yelled in her mind that it was all a big, fat lie.

She shot a glare at the tree stump before marching out of the cave. The sun heated up the dry lands, but she didn't bother to care. Her destination was a small hill not too far from the termite nests, a hill that had been occupied by her precence almost every day since she had found her way here. It might have been small, but in the flat Outlands it was the perfect place to keep watch. And so she stood there, on the hill, glaring daggers at the retreating backs of Sarabi and Scruffy.

She growled low.
"I do not have a daughter."
Her claws extented, the growl deepening.
"I... do... not... have... a... daughter..."
She slammed her right front paw at the ground, her claws digging deep into the dry soil.
"I do not have a daughter, damn it!"
She panted heavily, her tail flickering behind her in barely restrained anger. She knew Sarabi and Scruffy were too far from her to hear what she said, and by no means was she going to lower herself by going to them to tell just what exactly she thought about their snappy opinions.

Her ear twiched and she growled more, shaking her head before scratching it with her paw.
"And curse these bloody termites!"

[Tamber]

"I need him out of the way. I'm going to encourage him to leave... in a way he won't ever forget."

Though she had always expected Malka might be exiled, Nala couldn't help but be a bit surprised and disappointed. Just as she had made some sort of peace with him, Malka was going to have to leave. Her face gently showed disappointment, her eyes moving quickly back and forth between Kovu and the ground. What could she do? She wasn't queen anymore. Well, as long as he isn't hurt...well.......ok, Nala thought reluctantly. Perhaps she should stay away from him, anyway.

Before she had the chance to reply, Malka spotted something to the east...zebras. Nala was curious as to how this would affect things. What would Kovu say?

"I don't know how you do things where you come from, but here we give injured escapees the benefit of a few days' grace."

Nala couldn't help but scrunch her face a bit at this excuse. Kovu was so desperate to ambush him...why didn't he just ask Malka to leave? He certainly had the authority. Besides, any necessary fighting could take place if he resented. But no...something fishy was certainly going on in Kovu's mind. Nala refused to stay too far behind. She wouldn't be exiled from this process.

But just to be fair, she decided to meet Kovu halfway. She called to her daughter and jerked her head to tell her to come in her direction. Kiara soon reached her, and the former queen then called for Sarafina and three other lionesses, still not being far from Pride Rock. Once they arrived, standing before her, she turned to make sure the group was far enough ahead of her in order for her to speak without them hearing. Seeing that they were, she turned around and gave her orders.

"Kiara, Sava, Jila, Kiavana...see if you can take down a zebra from the east. There is a wounded one, I believe. Try for it if possible." She then turned to her mother, whispering so Kiara wouldn't hear. "I want you to come with me." The former queen waited for the other lionesses to run off, and she would proceed to follow Kovu's hunting party inconpicuously and far behind them.
_________________________
Tani's tears had weakened, and now she simply lay behind the rock on the hill and ran her claws through the dirt, digging differently in places where her tears had muddied the earth. She still sniffled, and she had momentarily lost interest in wathing for her mother, as if she would only emerge from where she was if Tani was watching for her. She simply needed a few moments to cope with this new truth, that her mother was possibly alive, though not aware of her past. Her infamous past...it had been lost to her. In a way, Vitani wished everyone could share this forgetfulness...perhaps they would love Zira again, the way Tani knew she always would, in a strange and distant way.

Tani heard something approaching, and as it drew closer, she could tell it was larger than a small desert creature. It was coming from the bottom of the hill that her rock sat upon, and it walked nearer and nearer. Tani braced herself and quieted her sniffles as she heard it speak.

"I...not.....aughter," was all she could make out at first.
I...NOT have...daughter." she heard the creature utter to herself. In an instant, Tani no longer had to strain to hear the creature's voice. It passed her rock and stood on her side of it, facing a direction where it could not see her lying there, hiding. Vitani could see it in full view...a skinny, filthy, matted, scarred lioness, completely unrecognisable in all respects...except for the notch in her right ear, and soon, Tani would discover the familiar voice, the familiar pace and pauses in its speaking. It sent chills down her spine, as if her entire life were flashing before her, and her heart raced as the lioness slammed her paw on the dirt and screamed.

"I DO NOT HAVE A DAUGHTER, DAMN IT"

Tani couldn't stifle her breathing, couldn't help but make panting noises loud enough for someone a few feet from her to hear. Though she was paralyzed, a horrified expression on her face, her breathing was irregular and panicked. As the lionees turned her head slightly in her direction, Tani could see the long face, the sharp features....the eyes...the piercing eyes...of Zira.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara saw that her mother also seemed to be in the plot with Kovu. This slightly angered her. "Tells my mother, but not his own mate...." she muttered quietly to herself. "Just ignore Kiara, she can't be trusted..." she continued on, still speaking under her breath. She gave her mother a slight glare and nodded, taking in her orders. She couldn't believe she was still listening. She was an adult after all, she was queen even. 'Oh well,' she thought, 'Might as well listen.'

She jerked her heads so the other lionesses would follow, staying low so that the zebras didn't sense her. She listened intently and took in the smells and sounds. She tried to concentrate simply on the hunt and task at hand, but it was hard to focus when she felt as if her mate and her own mother were keeping things from her. They always seemed to baby her, to think she couldn't be trusted with important things. 'Pshh,' she thought, 'Atleast dad trusts me.' Simba had always been a little more believing and trusting of her judgement, though he hadn't been so much with Kovu, but oh well.

She waited for the other lionesses to catch up, because she noticed she had been travelling too quickly. She hadn't scared the zebras yet, but she could've alerted them if she hadn't have snapped out of it. She had to focus. She shook her head and slowly stalked towards the zebras, getting around them so that her scent was downwind and wouldn't reach the zebras sensitive noses. She saw the injured one and prepared to pounce.

[cheezeegriff]

(OOC: Please forgive super-long post, and my control of every creature of the pridelands:P I hope you think it's worth it!!)

Nothing but the wind swishing through the grass met Kovu's ears as his hunting party trudged deeper into the plains. The air was humid and warming quickly. Darkness gathered on the horizon to the North.

"Storm's coming," a lioness said.

Kovu looked up:Birds wheeled in the sky, moving towards shelter. Yes: a storm was coming. Hopefully it would be brief.

The wandered for a few more minutes, until Kovu was content that any commotion he made wouldn't reach the ears of those hunting the zebras. Malka still pushed his way through the grasses, tufted ears poking forward as much as swivelling backwards, perhaps aware of the danger, perhaps not.
"Have you ever hunted in a thunderstorm, Kovu?"
he said, not turning around.

Kovu didn't answer. He looked about, behind him at Pride Rock, seeing no lionesses nearby. The Zebras still sat in the shade in the distance – they hadn’t seen Kiara or Nala yet, but he could only trust that Nala had done as he had asked.
This was it.
Kovu stopped walking. The lionesses about him stopped too, meeting his eyes. He pointed his nose at Malka, twitching his head just so, and they took his meaning instantly, glancing amongst themselves.
“Now!”
Kovu bellowed, and they resolved their doubt. As Malka turned around to see what was happening, they pounced.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The lionesses roared and Malka span about, preparing to defend himself, trying to back out of the circle they were forming around him: too late! He was trapped. They kept low to the ground, half hidden in the long grass, eyes piercing him as they would their prey. So quickly do they turn, he thought. Just a few minutes ago they had been gratefully eating his kill.

He sighed, looking to Kovu, whose head was low, eyes wary, menacing. Pride rock loomed up behind him in the distance, and suddenly, the king looked very small. Nevertheless Malka said,
"So, this is the way you want it, is it? You're so afraid of me you're not just going to force me out but kill me too."

The statement seemed to take the dark lion back, but not for long.
"No: I'm not like that."
He stepped forward, head low, deep growling mingling with the sound of distant thunder.
"I'm going to give you a few scratches for your trouble and send you on your way, because I don't want you coming back here. Ever. And if you do come back, then I will kill you."

"Humph."
Malka looked to the lionesses to his left and right, glancing at the one right behind him. Some kept their eyes on him, others glanced between Malka and Kovu. Their loyalty is slipping. With a wry grin to hide his fear, he said,
"My my, how rude of you. It was only yesterday I was accepted into this pride by your WIFE, in fact. Do you always do things against her back like this?"

"Only when I think she's made a mistake, and only when it's this important."
He stepped forward but Malka quickly said,

"Why is this so important?"

Kovu hesitated, seeming to weigh up if it was safe to talk to him. Malka softened his own gaze, making himself more personable, and saw it reap guilt in Kovu’s eyes. The king sighed, then said,
"Because you lost your own pride and you're here for mine."

“Pfft. You don’t know-”

"I can see it in you, Malka. I watched you rallying support, from the huntresses to the Queen Mother. There’s ambition in your heart. You don’t just want a home. You want to be king."
He stepped forward, drawing closer with each word.
"But you're not having MY pride. You're leaving, or I'm going to kill you."

Malka held his ground as Kovu stood nose-to-nose. He saw the fear in the king's eyes, the guilt, and pity filled the part of his heart not swamped with fear. Nevertheless he cleared his throat.
"I'm not leaving."
He let that sink in for a moment, then turned away, circling, speaking as much to the lionesses as to Kovu.
"Even the king's not above the law, and the law is that challenges must be met! By rejecting me like this you're not just breaking the law of your own kingdom but that of every pride in the world. Challenges MUST be faced!”
He thrust out his paw, pointing at Kovu’s chest, who swatted it away with a snarl.
“A king must do his duty. You can't take the back door approach, and simply kick out those who start to become a threat. That’s called deception. Do that and you're no better than Scar."

That got him. Kovu's green eyes went wide, and he stepped back, glancing at the questioning gaze of his lionesses. They relinquished their hunting poses and sat upright, watching, wide-eyed at what their leader would do next. Kovu grinned, ears flattening.
"But you haven't challenged me yet."

"Then I challenge you now." Malka took the initiative, leaping forward, scaring the young king backward. He said in a loud voice, "I, Malka of the Mountain Pride, challenge you, Kovu of the plains, to a duel for the crown of your kingdom. To the victor goes all the rights of a monarch. To the loser goes banishment, exile, never to enter these lands again."

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Kovu's green eyes went wide with his shock. He glanced over Malka's shoulder at the lionesses, likely seeing what Malka had seen: their trust that their king would do the right thing. Kovu wouldn't back out now. Couldn't, without soiling his throne with shame. A small part of Malka grinned at the tiniest of victories. The rest of him trembled with fear.

But then the young king's face became steely. He glared back at Malka, digging his claws into the grassy ground, body going rigid as he said,
"No: to the loser goes death: So be it. Your challenge... is accepted."

Kovu opened his maw and roared, loud and clear, and Malka roared back.
***
"Challenge!"
“Challenge!”
“Challenge!”
The lionesses cried, then scattered.
Four stayed to guard the contestants, to stop them fighting before they reached Pride Rock, where they could fight for all to see.
One ran back the way they had come, passing Nala hiding in the grasses. “Challenge! A challenge for the crown. A challenge to the death!” She roared, then continued on, repeating her cry for all to hear.
One lioness ran into the savannah, roaring and bellowing the announcement to the beasts of the plains, the birds of the sky, the creatures of the trees and water. “Challenge! A challenge for the crown! A challenge to the death!” Each animal took up the cry, spreading the word further. The birds of the air took wing despite the storm and spread the word to the furthest reaches of the pridelands, and soon, every living thing, every herd of elephant and every flock of emu, all the gazelles, all the antelope, even the wilderbeast began chanting the same thing.
“Challenge! A challenge for the crown. A challenge to the death!”
As the storm rumbled closer to Pride Rock, so did the footsteps of all the creatures of the plains.

[Dakota]

Kopa turned and walked away from his mate, the silent treatment had begun it seemed.

Slowly his paws scuffed through the dry dirt sending up little clouds of dust that covered and clung to his legs, small insects scurried out of the way instead of being crushed under the weight.

Kopa was starting to feel like nothing he did or said was of any consequence to Vitani now, and it was starting to really pick away at him. Stopping himself from walking away from her any further, he turned to go back. For some reason Kopas eyes strayed down upon the termite mounds, his eyes widened in horror, there of all things strolling out of a 'cave' was Zira.

His mouth dropped open and a low growl escaped, damn her, why didn't she die and leave us all alone

Slinking down lower, Kopa moved to get back to Vitani before Zira could reach her, she was heading in the same direction where he had left his mate. Stumbling suddenly, Kopa hit the ground with his head and chest waylaying his route. Taking a breath he made to move forward, but stilled, there she was, so close to her daughter. Not daring to move, Kopa waited to see if Vitani would react or even Zira notice or smell her scent.

As if in slow motion, he saw the old lioness move her head and stop mid word. Her eyes lost its glazed expression and she started to turn to where Vitani lay paralysed, her face a portrayal of disbelief and horror.

Kopa didn't wait any longer, he dug in his claws and charged, screaming out her name as he ran right at her " ZIRA"

[Kirsui]

"Zira" tried to control her anger, she really did try. But she failed, miserably. She didn't know, couldn't remember the reason, why the thought of her having a daughter made her feel such a rage. There must have been a reason for it, but no matter how much she searched the answer managed to escape.

And then she caught the scent of another nearby, hear the soft panting noise the creature was keeping. So angered she had been that at first she had completely missed them. Her tail stopped flickering and with a fast movement her head swirled around, and she found herself glaring down at a lioness who she estimated was slightly younger than that Scruffy had been. And what a sight this lioness was with the tuft on her head and the blue eyes wide in pure horror.

" ZIRA"

Her attention was caught when an unknown voice yelled out that name. She saw a young male lion charge at her, claws extented and all. Then her instincts came kicking in. Letting out a growl the old lioness pounced to her right, away from where she had been standing and so managing to evade Kopa's attack. Had she had time to think of what she had just done she might have wondered how she knew how to dodge the attack so easily without remembering if she had been trained to do it or not.

But since there were more pressing matters at hand...
"What is this with you all coming here yelling that name around?!" she snapped, lowering her head into a defencive position with her fangs bared at the two younger lions.
"At least the other two had the decency to get lost without attacking me!"
She glared at both lions, and there was no recognition in her expression. These two were complete strangers to her.
"I have not done a thing to you and yet still here you are, charging at me when I am not looking!"

---

Scruffy's nose twiched as she and Sarabi got to the border river. She narrowed her eyes, there were two scents over those of hers and Sarabi's. And those two belonged to the King and Queen of her pride. Why were they on the Outland's side of the border? There was no reason for them to be here.

Her eyes narrowed more. Indeed no reason... unless Kopa had told...

She had no time to ponder on this though as her ears picked up a thundering sound coming from the Pride Lands. She hadn't heard such a noise in... well, ever. It was like every single creature living on the lands of the two prides had begun moving.

The fluffy necked flattened her ears.
"Something's wrong..."
It was then when a small hornbill flew by, screecing out words that she was very much unable to catch. Another bird followed, screeching the same words and still she couldn't hear. These two were followed by a loud roar from somewhere at the Pride Lands, one which she recognized to belong to one of the lionesses from Kiara's pride. A meerkat ran by, and it too was chanting the same thing as the birds before, but the meerkat's words were easier to catch.

“Challenge! A challenge for the crown! A challenge to the death!”

Scruffy's eyes widened in shock.
"S-s-say WHAT?!"
She looked at Sarabi, worry visible in her dark reddish-brown eyes. Only two lions could be challenged for the crown, and currently she was sure one of them was somewhere at the Outlands.
"Kovu..."
She swallowed.
"What we gonna do?"
She wanted to act, to do something. The most obvious thing would have been to race at the battle that was coming, to see what was going on.

But Vitani was at the Outlands, and Kovu had been challenged. A battle to death, and if who ever had made the challenge would win...
"I gotta get 'Tani..."
She was pleading for help from the former queen by her side. She had never been good at deciding herself what do do in situations where she had more than one option. Zira had always told them what to do, and right now Scruffy needed Sarabi to tell her should she race to search out for Vitani and Kopa or go to look at the fight back at Pride Lands.


((OOC: err... sorry, I got carried away with this post. XD))

[Tamber]

The eyes of the ruined lioness cut deeply into Vitani's heart, and she was frozen in shock until her mate called out to her mother. Snapped out of her paralysis, she jerked her head in Kopa's direction, seeing him bound toward her mother in anger. "Kopa, no!" she yelled at him, but he would not listen. Luckily Zira stepped out of the way, letting Kopa fly past her and land fruilessly upon the dry earth.

"What is this with you all coming here yelling that name around?! At least the other two had the decency to get lost without attacking me! I have not done a thing to you and yet still here you are, charging at me when I am not looking!"

Tani peered sadly into the eyes of her angered mother. It was all too familiar a sight; the bared fangs, though much yellower and less healthy now; the red eyes and the menacing growl; they were all things Tani thought she would be used to, but somehow they seemed so new to her.

When at last the lioness paused and stopped her speaking, staring at Vitani, the daughter brought up the courage and strength to speak.

"I-I...I'm very sorry, Zi-...um...ma'am. Kopa was just...I....." Tani paused and took a breath. "I'm sorry." Tani's stance was still once of submission and fear, and she had not moved from her spot beside the rock. She simply gazed into her mothers eyes hopefully.

__________________________

Nala watched, relieved, to see her daughter lead the others off to hunt the zebra. She knew it upset Kiara. After all, she was the queen, and she was still taking orders from her mother. But Nala was greatful that she chose to take orders this time. She would be sure to tell her later how thankful she was.

The lioness then jerked her head for her mother to come alongside her. The former queen stalked through the tall grasses and followed the hunting party for several minutes. They were moving rather quickly, so Nala had to sruggle to keep up and stay hidden and quiet. Finally, near the outskirts of the lands, they stopped. Nala hid behind a nearby tree and watched intently, trying to hear as many words as she could.

She watched proceedings, fearful for Malka's wellbeing, as well as Kovu's. She knew Malka wouldn't leave easily, but she had never really thought of why. Perhaps Kovu was right...Malka was simply there to take the throne, to overthrow Kovu, Simba, and anyone else in his way. He might take a wife by force; Nala herself, her mother...maybe even Kiara. It all made sense suddenly; why else would Malka be so in need of attention, besides the fact that he had always been that way? Nala realized the truth, and she felt a hatred and fear of Malka again. Still, she remembered her times with him, their friendship as cubs, the courtesy he had for her...she couldn't hate him. She had the same feelings for Kovu: the love she had for him, as if he were a son, but the anger that he would try to hurt Malka.

The words seemed to soften for a moment, but soon they were clear as a bell.

"Then I challenge you now. I, Malka of the Mountain Pride, challenge you, Kovu of the plains, to a duel for the crown of your kingdom. To the victor goes all the rights of a monarch. To the loser goes banishment, exile, never to enter these lands again."

"No: to the loser goes death: So be it. Your challenge... is accepted."

Nala's heart jumped. Death? No!

The plains rumbled around her as the Pridelands heard of the news. Her pridesisters ran in anxiety about her, calling at the tops of their voices, "Challenge! A challenge for the crown! A challenge to the death!" The setting sun upon the horizon sent an ominous red glow across the plains, and she could almost fell a deathly fire around her.

The former queen dashed from her hiding place, making sure her mother was close by her side. She ran toward the small hunting party of four, whom she had sent to hunt the zebras. Once she was in voice's range, she called out as loud as she could, yelling over the sounds of the flocking animals around her, coming to see the event. "Kiara! KIARA!!!" She would not run in fear to Pride Rock without her daughter and all her pridesisters safe.

[Dakota]

Kopa had turned panting slightly, and was now moving in again closer to Zira she will die a harsh death, if she has touched a hair on Tani's head, if she thinks her life has been miserable, she will now learn a new meaning of the word

Once more a low growl passed his lips, his eyes narrowed while keeping them locked on the creature that stood before him.
"Kopa..NO !" . He tried to block out the sound of his mates voice, he needed to get this over and done with, for the good of everyone. A few more steps and he was now beside the rock where Vitani stood trembling violently. Despite vowing to himself to pay no heed to what was said, Kopa paused, while absorbing what Tani was saying to her 'mother'.

The look on Vitani's face and her submissive words tore at his heart. After all she had been through, she just wanted this creature to admit she was indeed her mother, and there she stood almost pleading. Turning his head away he looked the dirty old lioness over once more is she harmless, or is this just one more cruel trick she's using to detroy lives .

Sighing, Kopa relaxed his stance, turned and stood next to Vitani. Lowering his head he quietly spoke by her ear.
" Whatever you want us to do, lets do it and leave....please Tani ! "

[cheezeegriff]

Creatures of all sorts milled about the base of Pride Rock, and the attention of all – of elephant, of ostrich, of zebra and wilderbeast – fell on Kovu as he stepped out of the long grass. They had gathered so thickly that they had to part to let him through – the giraffes formed a tunnel with their necks, and the antelope locked horns over his head: a fitting entrance for the king, he supposed, but not for this king.
Ahead loomed Pride Rock, and his family: so many he held dear. The lionesses stood about the large stone, gazing at him with worried faces, and guilt mixed with his nerves that he had let it come to this.

A fight to the death. What were you thinking?

He hadn’t been: he had been angry, so confident that he would win that he had called for the deadliest of battles to be rid of this threat – this Malka – forever. But what if he lost? What about Kiara? He wasn’t only risking himself but her happiness as well.
He looked to his left, spotting Simba, and bowed his head in shame: if Kovu died, he would have failed Simba’s daughter, and thereby have failed Simba, too.
As the lionesses guarding him walked past he turned around and looked at Malka. The intruder was resolute, expression as stony and cold as the storm clouds brewing behind him. Under their bloated forms draped black curtains of water: shrouds for the loser of the battle to come. A fight to the death: what a fool you are, Kovu.

“Ready, Your Highness?” Malka said, stopping before Kovu. He nodded at Pride Rock then met Kovu’s eye.

Kovu swallowed. “I would wait... for my wife.” What kind of husband would he be if he never said goodbye? If he never got the chance to beg her forgiveness?

Glancing at Malka, Kovu expected him to sneer, or at least huff with impatience, but all he did was nod and then head up to Pride Rock, mindful of his injured leg.
Kovu stayed down the bottom, hoping Kiara would arrive soon. He watched his rival walk up towards the tip of the stone, stopping just short of where Kovu had been crowned king, where newborn royalty was shown to the world. Then he lay down, paws dangling over the edge, and looked over the savannah.
Over all that would be his.
The monkeys jeered at Malka. The rhinos snorted angrily. Elephants trumpeted Kovu’s name as if he had already triumphed, but if these clouds were any signal, it was a black day indeed for the lions of the pride.
Kovu looked through the crowd at the grass as rain began to patter on his nose, and waited for his beloved.

[Sarafina]

Simba didnt intend on going with them, but when he heard the others whisper and hear Kovu ... and Malka ... and fight in the same sentence, he had to follow. When Kovu looked at him with a nod, Simba shook his head. He padded over to Malka and Kovu and stood between them. He looked at Malka to walk away for a minute. When he took a couple steps back, he stared at Kovu.

"Son... what are you doing ... This is not what I meant by do what you feel. I shoudnt have used those exact words. I should have said, choose wisely on what you want to do. If somethings happens, Kovu, Kiara wont forgive herself. Rethink this ... please."

His voice was stern, harsh, and soft. He looked away and looked back at him.

"But do what you wish. Im no longer the king. I cant stop this.."

With that he went to find Nala, and Kiara un aware of who who had been listening to the whold ordeal.

. . . . .

Sarafina had been off walking thinking on what had just happened. Something came over her when Malka came over. Its like her heart stopped. That was the only reason she left. She stopped to let the breeze run over her fur. She sighed and looked at the ground.

She had the erge to look to her left so she did. When she did, she saw Kovu and Malka... staring into eachothers eyes... but not in a good manner. It was like her heart leaped from her chest. She felt frozen. Her mouth was a little open. She didnt know what to do. What could she do? If she got in the way, Kovu could banish her.

Her mind was flowing and she was lost.
One: She shouldnt have any sort of feelings for Malka, but hate.
Two: If she had feelings for Malka, it wouldnt work out, she was older.
Three: Why would she have a crush on Malka?

She was confused and lost...she didnt know how to solve this problem without at least one person in the two Prides hating her.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara didn't hear her mother at first. The first words she computed were the shoutings of the challenge. Her heart seemed to stop and time stood still. Kovu, her Kovu, was going to fight Malka. She couldn't believe it. A challenge? She could hardly believe her ears. She shook her head and stuck a claw in her leg, hoping this was all a horrible nightmare. As she felt the piercing pain of her own doing, she came to the sickening realization that this was not a dream, but a terrible reality.

"Kiara! KIARA!!!"

She jerked her head towards the sound of her mother's slightly fearful voice. "Mom?" She yelled back. She ran towards her mother and felt hot tears on her cheeks. "It can't be true can it?" she asked fearfully. She jerked her head so the other lionesses would follow her and began the short trek back to Pride Rock. Kovu seemed to be waiting for them. She wiped away a few tears and walked ahead of her mother to him. She gave him a look that could break anyone's heart. It was a look of extreme sadness and fear. The fear that she could lose someone that she loved. "Why would you do this?" was all she could utter to her husband.

[cheezeegriff]

Why would you do this?

Simba's rebuke was bad enough, but when Kiara came to him, eyes pleading, beautiful face twisted with worry and fear, Kovu's legs went weak, and his heart did break. The last vestibules of anger slipped away and he hung his head in shame.
“I… I won’t… I’ll speak with Malka.”
He looked at her again then said, his voice trembling,
“I’m so sorry, Kiara. I won’t fight him to the death. I’ll-”

“Kovu!”

Kovu looked up to the stone above his head, where Malka sat with his paws dangling over the sides. He smiled cruelly.

“Your queen is here, you’ve said your goodbyes. Let’s get this nasty business over with shall we?”

Kovu looked back at Kiara.
“I’ll talk to him,”
he said. He moved to hold her, but the look on her face – the pain he had caused – gave him pause. He didn’t deserve to touch her.
Instead he walked slowly up the slope to Pride Rock, where his rival was waiting. Malka stood and stretched his neck side-to-side, then flexed along the length of his entire body, mindful of his tender leg.
In the background, the elephants and rhinos stamped their feet. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump, making Pride Rock clatter with falling pebbles. Monkeys chattered. Zebras whinnied. As the pride gathered around to watch, as Malka stood to attention, Kovu sighed, and said,
“I was angry before: a fight to the death isn’t necessary. Besides, your leg is injured. Are you sure-”

“Don’t patronize me, young king. You want the chance to kill me then here it is. Besides…”
He glanced down at Kiara.
“I rather want you out of the way, too.”
Kovu narrowed his eyes at this change in Malka: gone was the silly, flirtatious lion of the past two days. Now he sounded fierce, bitter, and even the smile that split his sharp features was laced with malice. He peered out from under his mane at Kovu, and his grin widened.
“My my, she is quite a catch isn’t she? Just think: when I'm king, Kiara could be my queen. We'll have ten - no - a dozen cubs together, and I'm sure she'll soon forget about you after a time. After all, you simply don't have the way with ladies that I do.”

Kovu clenched his jaw. His claws extended over the stone, and a burning anger washed out any regrets he had.
“You’re right: I do want to kill you.”

“Ready?”
Malka said, still grinning.

Kovu roared: no more words were needed. He leapt at Malka’s throat, claws extended, and the two lions were locked in a battle so fierce their roars silenced the entire crowd.

[Sarafina]

Sarafina stood at the top of the hill. He couldnt do this! Her heart was about ready to burst and fall apart. Tears streaned down her face. She looked aroud and ran to Nala.

"Nala...We need to stop this ... "

She said softly. She looked over and watched them. Why would he do this! He then overheard someone talking about what he said to Kovu aut Kiara. That was it... her hopes gone. They were washed away. She backed away from Nala and turned around. Her legs then bolted off into the distance. Her goal was to get away from Priderock for a while.

She couldnt handle this. She needed to figure out a way to never see Malka again. After what she just heard, she knew she was way to old for him. She stoped at a small watering hole and looked in. No matter how hard she tried to, the sounds of the fight could still be heard. She layed down and rested her head on her paws. Maybe she could sleep until its over ..

[Deleted]

Sarabi stood before the border river that seperated the outlands and pridelands. She was still in two minds about leaving that dirty lioness behind, it was obvious something had happened to her while she was out here alone that had affected her poisoned mind.

Looking back towards where her self and Scruffy had just come from, Sarabi frowned. Squinting her eyes slowly, she now saw three profiles up on the high ledge. Blinking again she moved her neck and gasped.

"what are Vitani and Kopa doing here, I thought we gave them the slip...Scruffy ? and of all things they are up there with that old hag... blast, now we have to go back, I can't trust Kopa with his temper."

Turning back to Scruffy, the older lioness ducked her head as birds flew overhead, a bit to close for her liking.
"Scruffy... whats happening, what are they saying?"

Again more birds were gathering together, and words challenge to death met her ears. With her eyes widening now, Sarabi was about to break in a run towhere she knew something of sheer stupidity was about to happen. Stopping herself in time, she glanced back over her shoulder at the three figures standing still.

"Come on Scruffy, we have to go back to Zira, we will just have to wait and see what is happening in the Pridelands."

[Kirsui]

She growled, her eyes darting from Kopa to Tani. She caught their names from what they spoke, names that meant nothing to her. The young lioness was looking at her with something akin to hope, and this very much confused her.

Her eyes narrowed.
"Stop sniveling like a lost hyena pup", she snapped at the lioness.
"And you..."
She glared daggers at Kopa, but didn't finish what she was about to say.

Instead she simply rolled her eyes, but still maintained her defensive position.
"Get lost you two", she growl at them.
"Get lost... Before I change my mind about not beating you up..."

---

Scruffy nodded at Sarabi. As much as she hated to turn her back to the events in Pride Lands, she had to get to Vitani now.

But as she ran towards the hill where the three figures were, her mind begun to wonder... Had Kopa told Vitani? There simply was no other reason for the two to be at the Outlands. With her eyebrows furrowed she decided something. Once it was cleared out what was going on in Pride Lands, Scruffy would have a word with Kopa.

And he propably wouldn't like what she had to say.

But now was not the time for that. She glanced at Sarabi before she shouted:
"'Tani, Kopa!"
She avoided looking at "Zira", focusing on her King and Queen instead. She slid to a halt, a small dust cloud floating around her feet.
"M'lord, M'lady..."
She glanced at "Zira" but ignored her precence otherwise.
"Kov' has been challenged, dunno what's goin' on, but ya two ar' needed."
She took a deep breath before looking at Vitani with an apologetic expression.
"It's a challenge to death."

[cheezeegriff]

Rain came down in sheets.
It seemed like Malka had been fighting forever: his muscles had long ago ceased complaining and simply did as he was ordered. Injuries faded under the influence of his adrenaline. He might already be mortally wounded and just not know it.
Each of Kovu’s strikes were powerful enough to give an elephant a limp, and Malka’s arms had been torn to shreds where he had used them to defend himself. He had made a few attacks of his own – Kovu’s old scar was lost amongst the myriad of scratches he had added to Kovu’s face – but still, Malka was a dead lion if Kovu didn’t tire soon. Damn the young and their boundless energy...
Kovu bared his teeth and lunged for his throat again: Malka leaned backwards, allowing Kovu’s momentum to push him out of harm’s way, but his foot slipped over the edge of Pride Rock and the next thing he knew he was tumbling through the air...
“OOF!”
Malka landed a little further up the slope than Kovu, lying still, feeling his body he watched Kovu trying to stand on a badly damaged wrist. Good. That ought to slow his attacking. Once he was sure it wouldn’t hurt him further, Malka stood up and groaned.
His ribs ached from the fall, his back leg was more painful than ever. Kovu hobbled around below him, trying to walk off the pain, but likely doing more damage to an already strained joint.

“Hurt?”

Kovu glared at him, continuing to hobble.
“Yes.”

“In my pride the king had permission to ask for respite: a five-minute break for both sides to tend to wounds and recover their energy. Dare I suggest we do the same?”

Kovu glared at him, soggy mane almost covering his wary eyes.
“Five minutes.”

“Agreed.”

Kovu backed down the hill until his lionesses encircled him, tending to his wounds, licking at them despite the rain which had cleaned them already. They walked straight past Malka, glaring at him as if he were the scum of the earth – likely for what he had said about Kiara. Well, the statement had done its job: Kovu fought with all the passion of a young male lion, but the anger Malka had sowed in his heart robbed him of his care. One little slip up was all it would take for Malka to win. He just had to survive that long.

Still, he hoped there was one lioness out there who didn’t regard him with such outright hatred. As Malka licked his terrible injuries – alone – he flicked aside his soaking fringe and scanned the crowds for Nala. If he could see her face one more time... well. He might just die happy.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara listened as Kovu explained. She nodded slowly, willing herself to keep it together. Crying now would only make Kovu feel worse. He seemed to want to touch her and comfort her, but Malka called down from the Rock and Kovu turned away without doing so. She was about to call him back, she wanted to nuzzle him, possibly for the last time. She began to follow him, but something Malka said stopped her dead in her tracks.

“My my, she is quite a catch isn’t she? Just think: when I'm king, Kiara could be my queen. We'll have ten - no - a dozen cubs together, and I'm sure she'll soon forget about you after a time."

Kiara's skin crawled and rage bubbled up inside her. How could he even think that she would want him after he killed Kovu? If he killed Kovu, she corrected herself. She couldn't bear to even think of Kovu dying. She shivered slightly. Her eyes followed Kovu as he climbed up towards Malka. Then, the fight began. She saw claws scratching at skin, jaws biting into muscle, and more gore than she could normally handle.

Then, they took a break. An apprent five minute break. Kovu was in the circle of lionesses in charge of taking care of Kovu. She walked slowly towards them, keeping her head held high. She looked over at Malka, her eyes full of anger. She walked in amongst Kovu's group and looked at her husband. He was covered in scratches and bites. Her heart ached to see her mate in such a condition. She kept in her tears and bent down to wear he lay. "You can do it," she whispered kindly in his ear, "I believe in you." She smiled at him and nuzzled him sweetly. "Please," she begged, softly, "Don't leave me."

[Dakota]

"Get lost... Before I change my mind about not beating you up..."

Kopa let a low growl emit from his muzzle and took a step towards the vile creature standing before him and Vitani. Raising a paw with his claws unsheathed,

"Why you old hag, in all your ignorance you don't even know who you've got standing before you, what a laugh you turned out to be. If I finished you off now, I doubt even the buzzards would want a piece of you."

About to bring his claw in swiftly aiming for her scrawny throat, he was stopped by Scruffy and his grandmother appearing suddenly by the ledge, a dust cloud heralding their arrival.

"Kov' has been challenged, dunno what's goin' on, but ya two ar' needed."
"It's a challenge to death."

Instantly forgetting what he was about to do, Kopa nudged Vitani "Come on, we'd better see why fools are trying to kill themselves"

Pushing past the old lioness, Kopa was about to stop and give her another warning, but thought better of it, hopefully the crone would get lost back out with the termite mounds and Vitani could forget all about her.

"ok, what are we waiting for, Sarabi, Scruffy lets go !"

[Sarafina]

Sarafina then decided that she was being stupid. She stood back up and looked around. Her life would only get worse and then shed die sooner or later. She needed to just move on. Who cares about him .. Right? She sighed and turned to go back to Pride Rock. When she went back, everything was going to go back to normal.

But did she want Normal? What was normal for her? Being alone in her den from morning to night? She didnt want that exactly...Maybe it would be better if she lived a normal life. She sighed and trotted back to pride rock. She stopped halfway when she heard no fighting.

She stopped and wondered if she should continue on. She nodded and continued to trot back. She got closer and saw that the lioness were all around Kovu, helping his cuts. Her eyes moved to Malka alone at the other side of Pride Rock. She took a deep breath and thats where she headed.

Her paws swiftly went to see Malka. She turned her back to the other making sure she made no eye contact. At this moment, she knew the others wanted him dead.

"Malka ...."

She whispered sitting next to him. She looked at his cuts and gashes. She winced and closed her eyes. She opened them again and looked at him. She sighed a large sigh. Her paw then rested on a cut. When he winced, she laughed a little.

"Hold still... its going to hurt more if you move.."

Then she started to clean Malka as best she could.

[Tamber]

((OOC: sooooorry for longess))

Zira's words pierced Tani's heart, and she hated seeing her mother angry with her already. She was trying so hard to get on her good side, but she had no clue how.

Without question, she followed Scruffy and Kopa away, giving her mother one last look. She could barely even think of what might be happening in the Pridelands. It couldn't be that important. Besides, what could be more pressing on her mind than what had just happened to her?
______________________________

Kiara had heard her mother and had run up to meet with Kovu. Nala had been farther away frm the proceedings, so she pushed through the crowd, animals squawking and snorting and huffing when they felt her pushing, then thinking twice when they recognized her as their retired queen. She looked around desperately for Simba, and at last she found him, sitting near the rock, close to Kiara.

She ran up and leaned into him fiercely. "Simba...this is just awful," she whispered desperately to him. She turned to her daughter, whom she wanted to hold as well. She saw the fearful and pained look upon her her face, and it broke her heart. She wrapped her arm around Kiara and sat between her and Simba, holding her paw upon Simba's paw. Nala could feel that something was missing, and in her fear and near crying upset, she wondered desperately where her son was. She watched in fear as the two began to quarrel upon the Rock with words.

“My my, she is quite a catch isn’t she? Just think: when I'm king, Kiara could be my queen. We'll have ten - no - a dozen cubs together, and I'm sure she'll soon forget about you after a time."

Nala felt infinite rage rushing through her skin. No...never. How dare he even think...there was no way...

Suddenly Nala had come to hate Malka more than ever. Gone were all the lovely memories of childhood...he was the enemy now.

It was difficult to watch, the painful fight before her, but Nala found it newly easy to choose a side. She clenched her teeth and glared at Malka the entire time, wishing him the worst. She mentally rooted for every blow Kovu threw his way, and she breathed heavily as her agitation got to her. Within a few minutes, the two males fell on the slope leading up to the rock, just above the family of three holding each other. They agreed to take a five minute break, and Nala couldn't have been happier. She figured she wouldn't get the chance to do what she was wishing to do so badly.

But she would do it in an oh, so cruel way.

Malka was standing beside her mother, but was otherwise alone. She couldn't fathom why Sarafina would be pampering him at this point, and it indeed peeved her, but she was determined to stay in character. She saw Malka standing there and looking around for someone, and Nala knew that someone was her.

As soon as she caught his gaze, she grinned and walked confidently and in a seductive manner. She wavered her hips from side to side and padded toward him very delicately. Her tail swished behind her, her beautiful pelt reflecting from the weltness it held. She gazed at Malka with piercing, stern eyes, a calm and becoming smile holding upon her mug. She saw that he wasn't taking one eye off of her. Perfect.

The retired queen took great care to climb the rocks leading to him just as seductively. Each step was beautiful as it twisted her body in different positions, allowing Malka to clearly see her many angles. She reached him and spoke to her mother. "Excuse me for a moment, mother. I'd like to speak to Malka for one second." Her voice was low and delicate, that smile still playing, and she then turned her stern eyes toward Malka once more.

The queen pulled in close to him, not quite touching him...yet. She looked at him and spoke in a peaceful and provacative manner. "What a fighter," she said. "You must have learned a lot from living in the mountains so long," she said, taking her claw and gently rubbing a circle in the fur upon his chest. She then put her paw upon gently upon his. "But I'm sure none of them are as strong as you." She cut deep with her green eyes once again, just glaring at him with that grin.

"Oh Malka," she seemed to say even softer, moving against him and resting her head upon his shoulder. "I know how hard it is. All you want is a place to call home, someone to love you" She then licked him under the chin, very slowly and intensely, shutting her eyes as she did so. "But I can promise you something, my dear," she said in a sweet whisper, looking at him again, and finally letting the smile fall into an open-mouthed frown. She stood up and walked toward the front of him, gazing into his eyes intensely. Her chest pushed against his, and their legs interlocked. Their faces touched, the rain falling down upon them, and she felt her mouth open just before his own.

"I promise," she whispered, "That loving person..." she said as she backing away slightly, just so he was in arm's reach, "Will...never...be...ME!"

With an enormous swing of her right arm she slashed the cruel male across the face while yelling the last word. She clobbered his head and sent him flying back and falling over in his weakness. She roared at him in hatred, and her seductive attitude had exploded into a loathing stupor.

"You leave me out or your plans. Let my mother be. And stay away from my daughter!!" she yelled at him as she hovered over her his torn and bleeding body.

[cheezeegriff]

Malka’s eyes went wide as, of all people, Sarafina came to lick his wounds. He studied her face, looked at the way she looked at him.
“Well well, Mrs. Nala,”
he said in a low tone, smiling at her softly.
“Thank you for the honour, though I do wonder why.”

Just then he noticed something odd: Nala, sauntering her way over to him, looking at him seductively... though the only thing aroused were his suspicions.
But then she touched him, and his suspicions washed away. He closed his eyes as he licked her under the chin, opened them to watch her step back...
“I promise... that loving person... will never... be... me!”
... then felt his skin tear open as she struck him across the face. He tumbled backward over the stones and lay there with Nala looking down on him, teeth bared in her anger, but even that sight couldn't hurt anymore. Nothing hurt, not the tattered remains of his arms, not the sting on her cheek. He grinned at her and watched her snarl falter, then burst out laughing.
“Why Nala you touched me what an honour.”

He said, voice dripping with venom. With a flick of his back legs he righted himself and stared back into her lovely, angry eyes, pacing forwards, forcing her backwards.
“You have no idea what I learned in the mountains. I learned love in the mountains. I learned pain in the mountains. I learned humility and fear, and when its better to cower in the dirt than stand up and fight. I learned how to fight when cowering didn’t work, when everyone I know and love was ripped from my paws. But I’m not resting in my misery, because here in this land I see an opportunity to right a terrible wrong. I won’t let anyone stand in my way and I won’t let any opportunity pass. Speaking of opportunities-”
Malka flexed his claws and then sank them into Nala’s neck. Before she could react he planted his nose on hers, licking her across the mouth, feeling his back legs go weak with desire just as something slammed into his flank and tumbled him over and over.
“Break time is over!” Kovu roared, slashing at him with his claws. They tumbled down over the slopes of Pride Rock and no matter what Malka did, Kovu always seemed to be on top, opening wounds on Malka’s chest and belly.
They rolled through the mud and the slop and the rain until the ground levelled out at the feet of the herds. Malka got to his feet and ran, away, into the crowd of beasts, which scattered and stamped and panicked, kicking out at him with their legs, swinging at him with their feet. He was struck so many times he lost count, but then an elephant reared up at his approach, eyes wild and angry and he paused, skidding to a halt through the mud as Kovu grappled him from behind. Together they slid under the elephant’s mighty tusks, and then the feet came crashing down.
Malka heard a crack.

The world seemed to slow for a moment. Animals scattered, the elephant lumbered away, trumpeting hysterically, and Malka turned to see Kovu lying on his side, gasping feebly, waving his paws around as he tried desperately to rise.
Then the world went back to normal.
“My my, young king, how the tables turn.”
He said, climbing to his feet.

“RRrgh! No...”
Kovu met his eyes, full of anger and hate, but he still couldn't stand.

“A fight to the death you called for and a fight to the death you’ll have.”
Malka took Kovu’s neck in his jaws, positioning his teeth so the death would be quick, easy.

“Noo! Kiara...”

He pulled away.
"Kiara? Were you thinking of her on the plains, when you only wanted to kill me? No: a quick death is all you'll have from me. Consider that a mercy."

"Please don't hurt Kiara!"
Kovu hissed. The anger had gone from his voice, and Malka paused.

Lightning streaked across the sky. The herds finally scattered, leaving the space between him and Pride Rock empty. He saw the lions rush forward towards their king, watched them all pause in horror, at a distance, once they saw Malka with his jaws around Kovu’s neck. Saw Nala’s terrified expression...

Saw Kiara’s horror, and the anger was washed from his heart. The fur in his mouth became bitter, the victory he had just won soured. Shame struck him to the bone, and let go of Kovu’s neck.
“I won’t harm her. She's your wife... she'll always be your wife. I won't take that from you.”
he said, and Kovu sighed with relief, resting his broken body.

There was silence for a time. The rain came tumbling down, the herds dared to regather. None of the lions moved to aid their king, for they knew that Malka was too close, that he could kill Kovu in an instant.
At last Malka said,
“My first act as your ruler will be to show this young one mercy, for to kill him would cause undue suffering amongst my people, and would rob an innocent lioness of her happiness.”
The lionesses looked to one another, then padded forward. Before they reached him though he put his paw on Kovu’s mane – ready to snap his neck – and glared at Simba and Kiara. Those of royal blood.
And at Nala, whose hatred and poison was just beginning to sting, on his face and in his heart. Swallowing his misery he growled,
“Unless any of you debate the fact that I. Am. King?”

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara watched as her mother slunk over towards where Malka was resting. She was walking rather seductively and when she licked him, Kiara almost cried out in complete disgust. She would've too, had her mother not suddenly slashed his face. She laughed aloud, glad that he had fallen for her mother's trick. She turned back to Kovu, who now stood up and went back to the fight.

Once again, it was complete and utter gore. Claws against claws, teeth against teeth. She winced at every blow her husband took. The fight started getting worse, then suddenly and out of the blue, Malka ran away. He ran right into the angry hoards of animals, all full of hatred for him. Kovu was right on his tail. An elephant reared up and when Kiara heard a crunch sound, she hoped and prayed it was a Malka crunch.

She looked at her fallen husband and tears welled up in her eyes. She took a tentative step forward, and swallowed all her pride. "Kov lost. I suppose I have to accept it." she said softly, immense sadness clouding her voice. She began padding slowly and quietly towards them, her manner defeated. She nuzzled her mate softly, mindful of all his wounds.

[Deleted]

Sarabi took one last look at Zira just standing there, she almost felt sorry for her, shaking her head she lost that thought quickly enough and turned away.

"Come, we need to head back to the pridelands and see what damage has been done."

Surging forward she broke into a run, with Scruffy, Vitani and her grandson by her side. Reaching the border river that seperated the Outlands and Pridelands, rain started to meet their arrival.
Pausing for a moment and holding her face up, she let the rain wash over her, almost cleansing her, something she needed after what she had been with, had left a horrible taste in her mouth.

Taking in a breath, Sarabi shook her head and moved on with different thoughts running through her mind.
who on earth, would challenge Kovu to the death, what fool isn't in their right mind, and where on earth was Simba, to stop all this nonsense...Why is it when I'm not around..

Looking at Scruffy, then past her to Vitani and Kopa, the older lioness let a sigh pass her lips, she had a feeling that life wasn't going to be the same from now on.

[Kirsui]

Scruffy was fidgeting on her feet, her tail flickering around in nervousness as her gaze darted between Kopa, Vitani and the supposed Zira. Then Kopa and Sarabi told them to move, and the fluffy necked gladly bolted into a run back towards home. The cool rain washed over her when they had crossed the border. It truly was amazing how it could rain at the Pride Lands without any sign of water at the Outlands... She had decided long ago that the Outlands were simply too close to the desert, and everyone knew there was basically no rain at the endless sea of sand.

The sound of thunder made her snap out of her thoughts. She became aware of how fast the rain had made her dripping wer and how the long fur on the back of her neck was sticking to her skin uncomfortably. But she hardly cared as she kept making her way with her three companions towards the battle field. After each passing moment the scent of different animals became stronger, and the fluffy necked was sure she had never smelled this many scents in one place, not very often anyway.

When the battle field came to view she slid to a halt, not caring how her feet and belly became dirty of mud. She could only stare in horror at the scene. The herds of animals were scattering away, the view was clear and she saw Malka hold Kovu on a death grip. Malka was facing the pride whose King he had just won, and Scruffy was glad of this because that way he wouldn't see the wild emotions flicker through her face.

There was surprise, fear, horror, annoyance, hate, anger and finally rage. The former Outlander bared her fangs and hissed, the sound she let drowning under the sounds of rain. She did not like to see the one who she had been taught to support from her young age beaten like this. Had she not been so enraged she would have checked how Sarabi, Kopa and especially Vitani took this turn of events...

But now she simply couldn't stop glaring daggers at the back of Malka's head.

---

She was... unimpressed. Sarabi and Scruffy had come back, and for a moment the old lioness thought they were there to help these two younglings to take her down. But the words that came from Scruffy's lips made it clear they weren't. Partly she was glad when the four lions dashed towards their own lands, and by now she had figured out they were indeed from the lands beyond that muddy river.

Part of her however seethed in anger. How DARE they turn their backs on her?! It was outrageous!

Then she blinked and realized she had been growling and digging her claws deep into the ground. She looked at her paws in confusion, retracting her claws from the ground and closing her mouth. Why was she so angry when they turned their backs on her? Hadn't she wanted them to leave anyway?

She swallowed and lifted her gaze to the lands beyond the muddy river. It was raining there, she noticed, the scent of thunder floated in the air even though she knew this rain would never come to the termite nests. She decided she needed to think of this, go through everything she had heard so far on this day. She had to think of what she had heard of this "Zira", and she had to think why she was so easily angered by other lions.

And she preferably did that somewhere where she could be alone! This in mind the old lioness turned around and walked down the hill, heading towards the dark area in the distance that she somehow knew was called "The Elephant Graveyard".

[Sarafina]

Simba was talking to other lioness trying to explain thathe could do nothing. A familiar cry of pain shot to his ears. His head shot up and saw that Malka had Nala in his mouth! A low growl escaped and he excused himself and walked angrily to the platform. He stopped when Kovu got back into the game. He knew Nala would come down and he growled. When she was off the Platform, he raced over to her. His tongue ran over her neck.

"Nala...."

He whispered softly. He loved his mate. He absolutely hated Malka now. But then something rang into his ears.

“Unless any of you debate the fact that I. Am. King?”

He looked at Nala and licked her cheek. His paws then took him to where Malka and Kovu were standing. His gaze met Malkas and he snarled. His body then stood in between the two. He didnt care if he was interupting or not. He looked at Kovu and whispered softly. Through the rain, it would be hard to hear himif he whispered.

"Kovu .... think about this now .... You keep going and deny him King, you die, and you loose Kiara. My daughter is heartbroken and may do something drastic to be with you again. You say hes King, he spares your life..you get to be with Kiara forever..."

He hated saying that, but he needed to make sure that Kovu understood. Simba would also talk to Malka and make sure that he left his family alone if he tok over the thrown. He sighed and looked Kovu in the eyes.

. . . . .

Sarafina was horriffied to see his daughter attack Malka. She was even more horriffied when Malka attacked her daughter. She pushed back into a den and hid in the back. She heard the roars of Kovus pain. She closed her eyes. She was giving up all together. She was thinking on asking Sarabi if shed rather come over to Kiaras Pride. She would of rather gone with Kopa and Vitani. She sighed and shook her head.

Maybe being in either of these prides was a bad idea. She might just up and leave all together. Everyone was paired up and had someone to love. Sarabi wasnt, but she had many friends. She was the wise mother. Sarafina looked at her paws. When all of this was over, she was leaving. She would have a long talk with Nala tonight. Then her journey was going to be set. She would find a new Pride to live in. Maybe there, someone would love her and respect her.

[cheezeegriff]

There was no fight left in him. Though he could throw about his front paws as fast as if he were still in battle, his back legs only threw pain up and down his spine. He had lost.

"Kov lost. I suppose I have to accept it."
Kiara padded over, her posture submissive, pride broken, and Kovu swallowed a cry of despair: this is what his failure had done to his queen. When she touched him he drew away, but only for a second, then wrapped his paws about her: she was alive, and so was he. That’s what mattered most, in the end.

When Simba walked over Kovu couldn’t meet his eyes: he had lost Simba’s royal line. The shame would always be his. Simba’s words were supportive though, caring more for him than any royal bloodline. For that his heart was gladdened.
“I don’t deserve you two.”

“So be it.”
Malka walked slowly towards the pride, grimacing over his injuries, by far the deepest the slashes across his cheek below his left eye, where Nala had struck him while his guard was down. His eyes were ablaze with anger as he stalked back and forth, glaring at Nala, addressing everyone when he said,
“I am king, and Kovu is still alive. If you wish him to remain that way – Nala, Simba, Kiara – then you will all accept your rule without question.”
He crawled up the rocky slope of Pride Rock, and Kovu grimaced.

“No.”
He wasn’t taking this lying down. Leaning on Simba and Kiara, he pulled himself into a sitting position. Pain enveloped the bones of his back and his legs trembled, but he gritted his teeth and watched as Malka walked boldly towards the pinnacle, where lions were made kings.

“I, Malka of the Mountains, claim these pride lands as my own!”
With that he roared into the rainy sky, and the storm punctuated his cry with a thunderous rumble that shook the ground beneath Kovu’s feet. He looked about as the herds all whinnied and trumpeted, bowing their bodies down, and a few of the lionesses let up a mournful roar.
All except the elephants, who still stomped their feet and trumpeted Kovu's name.

But then Malka’s eyes met his own, and Kovu looked at Kiara. He had to protect her, any way he could.
“I’m sorry,”
he said, to her and to Simba, then roared his hardest, to appease the lion who held his life in his own hands and, despite Kovu’s desire to kill him, let him live.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

“Nala!”
Malka called down over the side of Pride Rock. Pausing, he met her eye, and said,
“Come talk with me, now.”
Then he hobbled out of the rain, into the cave, towards the raised platform on which he supposed the king and queen used to sleep. Perhaps he should let them keep it... no. He had to assert his position. Laying down on it so he faced the door, he sighed with all his scratches and bruises, stinging from the rain and their freshness, and allowed his eyes to close for a moment.
Then he heard hushed voices from the corner of the cave and, opening his eyes, noticed a lioness with a group of cubs huddling in the corner.
“Leave,”
he said to her, and she rose but paused, looking back at the youngsters.
“I won’t hurt them. Leave, and if Nala isn’t on her way remind her who’s in charge.”
The lioness scampered into the rain. Malka rested his head back down, closing his eyes again, but one of the cubs was snivelling – a younger one, by the look of it. He gazed at it for a moment, at its forlorn face, and forced himself to grin playfully despite that it made Nala’s claw marks sting all the more fiercely.
“What’s the matter with you, hmm? Can’t you stand being on your own for more than half a minute?”

“Mummy said that if you were king you could kill us.”

He raised his eyebrows.
“Mummy told you that? My, what a hideous thing to say. Come here, I won’t hurt you,”
Very slowly, the cub wandered over, and once it was close enough he reached forward with his mouth and plopped it between his paws.
“What’s your name?”

“Usiku,”
she said, gazing up at him with frightened eyes.

“Ahh Usiku, my name’s Malka.”
He put her over his paw and licked her along the spine, allowing such simple grooming to calm him, and the other cubs started to emerge from their hiding places.
“I once knew a little girl with your name, you know. She was very brave, so you’ll have to be brave too or they’ll have to name you something else.”

“Where does she live?”
The cub asked, looking up at him with large eyes, losing all her fear.

Malka paused, looking at the other cubs as they gathered around him, trying to suppress the memories which insisted on clouding this peaceful moment.
“She doesn’t. She was killed by a very bad lion. But don’t worry: Now that I’m king, I’ll be able to protect you all.”

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Kiara was so depressed now, she could hardly speak. She didn't want to accept the fact that Malka was now her ruler, but what could she do? She knew she couldn't fight him, his size compared to hers would be enough to finish her. She felt and heard Kovu roar beside her, accepting Malka's kingship over them now. She let out a small roar, just loud enough to be heard, but just quiet enough to let other's know of her unhappiness.

She jerked her head up when Malka called her mother. "That no good, dirty, nasty, disgusting sleazeball...." she muttered quietly under her breath. If he took one single pass at her mother, she figured she would have to kill him. She looked over to Kovu and smiled at him. She didn't want him to think that she was mad at him, because she wasn't. Not at all actually, now that she thought about it. She was a little disappointed in him for making a rash decision and fighting Malka, but she wasn't mad, for he was still alive, and thats what really mattered.

She stopped thinking for a small while, her head was starting to hurt. She looked at Kovu's newest wounds and cringed. He was bloodied up from head to toe. His fur was matted and he had slash marks covering his face and chest, not to mention the fact that it looked as if his back legs were messed up. Well, one of them seemed to be sprained and the other fractured. She sighed and spoke, "Lean on me, Kov. We need to get to the watering hole to clean you up."

[Tamber]

Tani had fallen behind the other three, uncaring of what was happening in the Pridelands. How bad could it be, especially to her, now. She hung her head and let the rain fall upon it, ignoring everything around her and focussing on the thoughts in ther head; the memories she held with her mother, the wishes she had of being able to make a new start with her, perhaps a better one this time. But she couldn't help but think that it was her fault that her mother already hated her. She was willing to do just about anything to recieve her mother's love, if only for just one more time.

She and the others finally reached a point where the controversial scene was in full view. Her head shot up as she heard a roar come from up high, but it was not a familiar roar. Squinting through the rain, she could see that it as that new guy, Malka, the one who had come the day before, the one who no one seemed to like. After putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, she finally realized what had happened. Malka had won a fight to the death, and he was now king.

But that meant...Kovu.

Tani immediately panicked, and, having no hope left in her, she collapsed onto the ground, giving up every bit of strength she ever held for anyone to see. She no longer cared. Her mother had returned, to everyone's dismay, and already hated her. And now her only remaining brother was dead. Tani had nothing left. Even her true love was forgotten to her. For the first time since she could remember, Tani felt completely and utterly alone.

________________________

Nala didn't stir as Malka threw his words at her, but she gave out a loud and painful roar as his claws stabbed her cheek and sunk into her flesh, pulling her toward him. Her roar came instinctively, her mouth wide open, and Malka's tongue stroking it with that sick desperate lick of desire.

As soon as Kovu pulled him away, Nala spit and licked her chops in disgust. She watched the rest of the fight unravel, but all she had been hoping for seemed to vanish and burn in front of her. Kovu had been defeated, and Malka bow stood as their king, given approval by Simba, Kovu, Kiara, and the rest of the pride and the wildlife around them. It broke Nala's heart, but she knew there was no choice. What else could they do if they were to keep Kovu alive and in charge?

The retired queen ran down the rock and leaned into her mate, sobbing into his large, red mane. She was terrified, for her pride, for her mate, for her daughter, fro her land, and for herself. She tried to ignore the roars and cheers and jeers around her, but it was impossible. It immersed her body and mind, and all she could do was cry.

As Malka called her name, her heart sank lower than it had in a long time. All sorts of thoughts came to mind of what he might want with her, but who knew if any of them could be true? She looked her mate in the eye sadly before she padded mournfully up the slope of the Rock. She felt she was walking the plank, her life flashing before her eyes. Everything worthwhile seemed lost, everything good now turned rotten. But she was determined not to let her forlorn feelings show. She took a deep and huffing breath as she came into Malka's view. She stood square before him, scrunching her face in anger, and glaring at him with unforgiving hatred.