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Description
My entry for the contest at . This is my idea for how Scar and Zira first met. I'll thank you ahead of time for reading this really long story. It mentions two characters, Kung and Chuma, Zira's father and brother. These are my own OCs. I haven't drawn them yet, but I will eventually.

———

A month had passed since Scar had taken control of the Pridelands. The lionesses were still in mourning over the loss of their beloved former king and prince, but they were beginning to see that their new ruler was far less than ideal. He had given the hyenas freedom to hunt for themselves in these lands which, though fertile, could not support the massive clan as well as the pride, certainly not now that the rainy season was drawing to a close.

Scar was uneasy. He knew the clan would expand their range into the territories of neighboring prides, and he had no desire to create animosity between himself and other rulers, especially when he knew his own pride's loyalty to him was already wearing thin.

One afternoon, under an overcast sky that boasted of rain but provided none, Scar left Pride Rock to scout the periphery of his lands, marking boundaries as he went. He was sniffing at some underbrush, noting that the hyenas had been crossing the border here frequently and in large numbers, when suddenly a tawny shape darted through the grass at the edge of his vision. He turned abruptly and scanned the area. Whatever it was, it was upwind of him, so he couldn't smell it.

One of those skulking hyenas, he thought with a sneer. He drew himself up to his full height and shouted, "Show yourself!"

There was a moment of silence, then a quiver in the grass, and out stepped a young lioness. She was thin, bony even. She couldn't have been older than one year, but her bony frame and frightened face made her look older.

"Oh!" she gasped, suddenly running towards him, "Please. Please help me. Don't send me back there!" Already the lioness's eyes were filling with tears.

Scar gave her a condescending look, "Back where?"

"To my pride. My father is Kung. He's the— or, rather, he was the king." Her voice faltered. "But he's dead now, and my brother has taken over. He's cruel! He wants me dead! Please don't send me back there!"

She look a step towards Scar, who still gazed at her without compassion. Why should he bother with the internal affairs of another pride? He was familiar with Kung, and knew him to be a tough ruler. If his son was the same, and wanted to kill this whimpering female, it was surely his right.

Seeing his indifference, the lioness continued, her voice calmer now. "If you help me, I'm sure I could be an asset to you. I'm a decent hunter, and I haven't... I'm yet to know the companionship of a male." She glanced up at him from beneath her lashes.

Scar almost laughed aloud at her childish attempt at seduction. He was about to cast her away when se spoke again.

"I would be forever loyal to you. And only you."

This gave him pause. Loyalty. It was the one thing he knew he didn't have amongst his brother's lionesses. And the hyenas were lower creatures, incapable of true loyalty. But if he helped this lioness, he could keep her by his side, keep her from hearing the traitorous whispers of the other lionesses. Besides, he did, after all, need more hunters, and he was still without an heir. This lioness was at least of a royal bloodline.

With that, his mind was set. He lead his new lioness, who introduced herself as Zira, to Pride Rock. As they walked, he told her of his valiant struggle to become king, and how he only achieved his goal after the death of his cruel tyrant brother. By the time she was introduced to the rest of the pride, Zira already hated all of them, and looked upon Scar with adoration.

Later that night, when Zira's brother Chuma came to bring his sister home, Scar confronted him with the full force of the hyena clan backing him. He proposed a trade: in exchange for Zira, Scar would order the hyenas to stop hunting on Chuma's lands. Chuma, who had twice the arrogance of his father, would have killed Zira then and there, were she not cowering behind a wall of snarling hyenas. Eventually, Chuma realized he and his pride would be fighting off hyenas for every meal if he didn't take this deal. He left, angry, but satisfied.

And Scar was left with an idea: to scavenge the unwanted members of other prides, ensuring himself a secure network of loyal followers, in which he could insulate himself should disaster fall.

This plan would eventually fail him, though, for when he needed loyal defenders most, Zira and the other scavenged lionesses would be far from him, and return to late to save him.

———

Sky texture from here: [link]
Scar and Zira © Disney
Kung and Chuma © Adrienne McKay

Description
My entry for the contest at . This is my idea for how Scar and Zira first met. I'll thank you ahead of time for reading this really long story. It mentions two characters, Kung and Chuma, Zira's father and brother. These are my own OCs. I haven't drawn them yet, but I will eventually.

———

A month had passed since Scar had taken control of the Pridelands. The lionesses were still in mourning over the loss of their beloved former king and prince, but they were beginning to see that their new ruler was far less than ideal. He had given the hyenas freedom to hunt for themselves in these lands which, though fertile, could not support the massive clan as well as the pride, certainly not now that the rainy season was drawing to a close.

Scar was uneasy. He knew the clan would expand their range into the territories of neighboring prides, and he had no desire to create animosity between himself and other rulers, especially when he knew his own pride's loyalty to him was already wearing thin.

One afternoon, under an overcast sky that boasted of rain but provided none, Scar left Pride Rock to scout the periphery of his lands, marking boundaries as he went. He was sniffing at some underbrush, noting that the hyenas had been crossing the border here frequently and in large numbers, when suddenly a tawny shape darted through the grass at the edge of his vision. He turned abruptly and scanned the area. Whatever it was, it was upwind of him, so he couldn't smell it.

One of those skulking hyenas, he thought with a sneer. He drew himself up to his full height and shouted, "Show yourself!"

There was a moment of silence, then a quiver in the grass, and out stepped a young lioness. She was thin, bony even. She couldn't have been older than one year, but her bony frame and frightened face made her look older.

"Oh!" she gasped, suddenly running towards him, "Please. Please help me. Don't send me back there!" Already the lioness's eyes were filling with tears.

Scar gave her a condescending look, "Back where?"

"To my pride. My father is Kung. He's the— or, rather, he was the king." Her voice faltered. "But he's dead now, and my brother has taken over. He's cruel! He wants me dead! Please don't send me back there!"

She look a step towards Scar, who still gazed at her without compassion. Why should he bother with the internal affairs of another pride? He was familiar with Kung, and knew him to be a tough ruler. If his son was the same, and wanted to kill this whimpering female, it was surely his right.

Seeing his indifference, the lioness continued, her voice calmer now. "If you help me, I'm sure I could be an asset to you. I'm a decent hunter, and I haven't... I'm yet to know the companionship of a male." She glanced up at him from beneath her lashes.

Scar almost laughed aloud at her childish attempt at seduction. He was about to cast her away when se spoke again.

"I would be forever loyal to you. And only you."

This gave him pause. Loyalty. It was the one thing he knew he didn't have amongst his brother's lionesses. And the hyenas were lower creatures, incapable of true loyalty. But if he helped this lioness, he could keep her by his side, keep her from hearing the traitorous whispers of the other lionesses. Besides, he did, after all, need more hunters, and he was still without an heir. This lioness was at least of a royal bloodline.

With that, his mind was set. He lead his new lioness, who introduced herself as Zira, to Pride Rock. As they walked, he told her of his valiant struggle to become king, and how he only achieved his goal after the death of his cruel tyrant brother. By the time she was introduced to the rest of the pride, Zira already hated all of them, and looked upon Scar with adoration.

Later that night, when Zira's brother Chuma came to bring his sister home, Scar confronted him with the full force of the hyena clan backing him. He proposed a trade: in exchange for Zira, Scar would order the hyenas to stop hunting on Chuma's lands. Chuma, who had twice the arrogance of his father, would have killed Zira then and there, were she not cowering behind a wall of snarling hyenas. Eventually, Chuma realized he and his pride would be fighting off hyenas for every meal if he didn't take this deal. He left, angry, but satisfied.

And Scar was left with an idea: to scavenge the unwanted members of other prides, ensuring himself a secure network of loyal followers, in which he could insulate himself should disaster fall.

This plan would eventually fail him, though, for when he needed loyal defenders most, Zira and the other scavenged lionesses would be far from him, and return to late to save him.

———

Sky texture from here: [link]
Scar and Zira © Disney
Kung and Chuma © Adrienne McKay