Chapter Text
Taka, no, Scar had found himself on the edge of the pridelands that evening. Still nursing a bruised ego, marked for life by the proof of his stupidity, the second son was more frequently finding peace in solitude. Torn between a desire to be loved and a growing hatred for those trying to get close to him, he found his own company was much more desirable than that of the pride. Of course, he still had the hyena clan to visit, but with Ahadi watching them more closely than ever it was rare he managed to sneak to see them. At an age where he should be showing off his newly growing mane, patchy but with hints at what it may look like in full, Scar slouched around in the shadows, envious of his older brother and hating himself for it.
The cries of a desperate creature drew his attention and he turned to the river. Upstream, clinging to a log swirling in the choppy river, a half drowned cub was pleading for anyone to help. Out of boredom and curiosity more than mercy, Scar leapt down to the bank and swam out to collide with the log. He may have been more wirey than his brother, but he was a prince of the pridelands; he ate well enough to wade into a slightly rough river that the wiry cub couldn't handle.
Grasping the cub's scruff, he pulled her from the log and onto shore. Coughing and spluttering, she sat shaken by the river as her saviour climbed out. She looked up at him with adoring eyes, for nobody had ever shown her such kindness, as he spoke. "You don't belong here. Who are you?"
"My name's Zira," the cub mumbled.
"Where is your pride?" Scar didn't want any strangers invading; he had enough on his plate with trying to work out how to succeed his father and brother without worrying about another set of lions.
"Far away," the cub looked down, "They don't want me."
Scar paused and for a moment he was Taka once more, saying those exact words to his mother Uru as Mufasa and the other cubs ran off to play. With a sigh, full of knowledge he'd probably end up regretting this, he said, "Come to my pride then."
"You have your own pride?" Zira asked with wonder.
"Not yet," he growled, puffing his chest out, and with that Taka was gone once more for Scar to take over, "but I am Prince of the Pridelands, and I was born to be the king. Nobody can see that, but I'll show them."
"Then I'll help you," the cub giggled, standing up. A twisted grin spread over Scar's face. Oh, this cub would help him alright. He would train her into a ruthless lioness who could prove the power of King Scar and convince others to join him. The cub, Zira, would obey. After all, Scar had saved her life. He bent down and picked her up by the scruff. She was almost too large for the adolescent to carry but it would ensure she arrived with him at Pride Rock. He turned from the river, heading home, mind already crafting plans.
Art of this scene done by myself, found here!