Zira

Seif didn’t meet his mother’s gaze, a respectful none challenging way. He hopped for once she’d find something she could approve off in him. But he wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t either. He was always too this or two that in either of his parents eyes. Not enough like Kovu he suspected.

It wasn’t that Zira disliked any of her children, she didn’t. In fact, she loved them all fiercely -- so much so that if anyone were ever to threaten them...well, they wouldn’t be around to think twice about doing it again. But she also had high expectations for them. They were royalty -- bred and born. Her nephew’s theft of the throne didn’t change that. And so she expected them to behave accordingly. To take their place in the circle of life and conquer any who would challenge them.

Was it her fault that Kovu was the one excelling in those things? Perhaps if they felt lesser to their brother then they should do something about it.

A dark smirk slipped over his lips at her comment, chuckling in a deep timbre that sent weaker villains running. The sound a chilled one that reached the bone. It had been one of their lessons as children, learning how to laugh properly in a way that instilled fear into the other. “Long past.”

Unfolding his arms he then bowed to his Aunt before turning and moving towards the door. Orders given by her where to be conducted promptly and without delay, something he’d learned the hard way as a young cub.

She had trained them well, her children; Kopa especially. He was a born warrior, something that ultimately would have been wasted in the Pridelands. She hadn’t stolen the boy...she had saved him. Allowed him to know his true purpose.

Satisfied that her orders would be carried out with a swiftness, she settled in, waiting for Kopa to return and tell her it was done. With Scar having business to attend to -- a meeting with the hyenas and another with Shere Khan -- she was able to have a rare, quiet afternoon. Just her, some wine, and the howls of the tortured souls they were trapped with.

“I asked Harriet but she does not want Nuka on her crew.” Not that he blamed the pirate, Nuka was, temperamental. More like their father than any of them care to consider or at least the more volatile parts. It wasn’t truly a surprise he hadn’t found himself a gang yet, too bitter that their father wanted Kovu to take over and Vitani and Kopa to be his generals.

“Cain doesn’t want him anywhere near the Coven either and I have only just gotten in his good graces, messing that up is not in the cards. Especially not for Nuka.” Vitani piped up as she moved further into the den and sat herself down.

“While I...appreciate...the two of you looking out for your brother, I’m afraid it’s unnecessary. Nuka doesn’t need a place outside of the pride. None of you do. In fact, the three of you would do well to take a page from Nuka’s book.” It wasn’t often that Zira praised her eldest -- most of the time, her praise belonged to Kovu. The child Scar favoured, his chosen heir.

“The other cubs will know a world where their friends are not murdered in cold blood once you are on the isle. You will never set a paw in the Pridelands ever again.“

“Never say never, Dear Nephew. Your father once said Scar would never be king. We all know how that worked out for him...” Was it a threat? No. Of course not. Not even Zira would be so bold as to threaten the King of the Pridelands while locked in his dungeon. Or would she? Not like he could do anything to her. She was already Isle-bound. And if he were to kill her? Well, then Adam’s guards would just resurrect her.

Like they were doing for Scar.

“Can you feel it? The hum in the air...someone’s using magic...my guess is Fairy Godmother’s arrived. And if she’s here...well...then it won’t be long now. Not long at all before your uncle and I are reunited.” And why yes, there might have been an almost purring noise to accompany that last thought. A sensual sort of purr as she thought of all the delicious things she and Scar would get to do while they plotted their revenge.

Anything to drive the dagger home. She had everything. And he...while he had the throne...had nothing.

His lips twitched at her words, body already itching for the fight he was sure to come if the hyena’s where stepping out of line. Gods knew he needed a good fight after discovering his sister sneaking onto the Isle and Kovu falling for her. The knowledge had him wound tighter then dung beetle ball. “I don’t see why I can’t remind them of their place. Would you like it to be a gentle one or…..more aggressive.”

His sister? Did she really deserve to be called such a thing? After all, it wasn’t like she came to the Isle looking for him. No. She, like the rest of her misguided troop came thinking she could what? Save them? Offer them a chance to repent? Give up on their crusade?

She didn’t care about him. She cared about her precious Pridelands. The throne she now got due to his absence. A throne that they all knew belonged to Scar.

If she cared for any of them, it was Kovu. Something they could all use to their advantage.

“You wanted to see me?” He said softly, slipping out of the shadows into the common area of their home, moving with the lethal silence that had been trained into him from birth. Stopping a few paces from her he knelt to one knee, showing respect to his Aunt and Queen before rising and waiting to hear why she’d asked for him.

“A loving aunt never would’ve taken the life of her own innocent nephew,“ Simba growled. “He was just a boy.”

“He was payment. What happened to your son happened because of you. No one else. His suffering was because of what you did.” Simba could reason away Scar’s death all he liked, could continue to pretend he carried no blame in it but Zira knew the truth. Scar’s blood was on Simba’s hands. Much like Mufasa’s...and now Kopa’s. He alone was responsible for it all.

Scar had also let Simba get a running start which led to him escaping said Hyenas. But it didn’t matter, both he and Zira were weak, blinded by their close minds. In all honestly, it had just been happen stance that Zira had seen Nala–she had been on her way to see someone else, Her mate wouldn’t like it, but Nala was on a mission and needed answers, answers Rafiki couldn’t provide.

She kept her expression still at Zira’s comments about Kiara. Was she supposed to believe that? Even Kiara shouldn’t be that reckless…but then again, she was the daughter of the man who thought escaping to the Elephant Graveyard was an idea of a good time.  She would need to speak to Simba and Nala’s guards as well.

“Tell me, Zira.” Nala began coolly,  “Does it still bother you that were always not the second, but the third choice for Scar’s mate? Did he tell you how he asked Sarabi and then my mother to be his Queen, and yet they both refused? That he had to pick a lioness that was so low in the park that she wasn’t even apart Hunting Party to be his queen?“

Was Zira disappointed that Nala didn’t immediately take the bait? That she didn’t get to see the panic in her eyes? A little. But it was fine. Soon enough the other woman would realize that her words were true -- that with her parents far away and out of sight, the young lion had taken to venturing to the Isle. Hanging out with her son.

Soon Nala would realize how close Kiara was to danger. How easy it would be for her or Scar to take her out. To rob her nephew and his queen of yet another child.

Only this time she would actually do the deed. Or not. Fortunately for the girl, she was integral to Zira’s plans. To Kovu finding is way into the Pridelands....

“And you test mine!” Nala nearly roared as she stood to her full height before the other. “You and your pretend king,” She scoffed, “I owe you two nothing. First you two took my mate, and then my son! You deserve to be on this cursed isle for what you did, killing an innocent cub. Not even Scar himself was that cruel. I owe you no explanation to anything I do. “

Scar was absolutely that cruel -- after all, he ordered the hyenas to kill Simba. Wasn’t his fault they were less than adequate. It was why Zira was against elevating the hyenas. But Scar had made his decision back then...and she would not go against her mate. Not then. Not now. Not ever.

But Scar was not the topic now; even if Zira had invoked his name in the hopes of getting a response out of Nala. Of finding out just what had brought the Queen all the way to the Isle. For a moment Zira wondered if she had passed Kopa on her way to her lair -- if she had passed by her son and not even known him.

Though chances were he was off with Vitani. Keeping and eye on Kovu and the little...

That hadn’t been mentioned; Simba fought to guard his shock at the news. “It was never rightfully his; my father’s murderer never deserved to sit on his throne.” Nor had it been him that had sentenced death upon his uncle; his judgment had been exile but the older lion refused and his words had caused the hyenas to execute their own judgment.

Yet then she switched tactics and a roar nearly tore out of his throat. It did sting that the new high king was only bringing back those deemed to deserve a fate worse than death but those that were taken from the circle before they had completed their time were unable to be returned.

Because while years had passed since his father’s murder, the grief for Kopa…his first born son who had been stolen from his family before the boy had barely begun to understand his place in the circle of life…was still too raw.

“Don’t you ever dare to even think of my boy’s name… ”

Zira would feel bad, but...well...it wasn’t really her style. Simba and his new Queen deserved every bit of pain she put them through -- it was the same pain she had experienced losing her mate. Watching her children lose their father. For them to lose a son in return...it seemed only fair.

The boy would be better off with her anyway -- raised alongside her own cubs. She’d teach him what it truly meant to carry the lion totem. To feel its power running through his veins. She’d teach him to be ruthless. A mighty warrior.

She, along with Scar, would teach him all manner of things. But above all else, she’d teach him to hate the Pridelands. To hate Simba. To see him only as the man who drove them from their homeland. 

Oh for fuck’s sake...was every child she had determined to test her patience this morning?