Zyra the Lioness
Zira was born to a small pride of instinctual lions, untouched by magic. Still a young cub, her pride was hunted by humans, and Zira’s mother carried her far into the territory of Ahadi. Zira’s mother did not survive the trip, and Zira mourned her loss for days. Eventually, Zira was found by a young lion, Scar. Scar took no pity on the simple lion cub, but led her to his pride none-the-less. Zira was accepted into the pride, though Zira preferred the company of her saviour, Scar.
Over time, magic slowly affected Zira, though her instincts were still powerful, born outside of the pride. Though she was capable of emotion, her need to hunt was powerful. Her ability to feel only drove her further, from hunting to survive to hunting for the thrill. Though Zira showed no signs on wanting to cause the pride harm, her instinctual blood lust unnerved many of the lions, especially Ahadi who forbade the hunt for pleasure. Zira stayed in line, not questioning the king, but fighting her need to kill pressured young Zira greatly.
Zira spent her years listening to Scar, in awe of his mentality and cunningness. Though both Scar and Mufasa were capable of wisdom, Zira was far more attracted to the cunning mind of Scar. Though Mufasa was the rightful heir, Zira agreed with Scar, that he should be the one to rule.
Zira followed Scar faithfully, even in her adulthood. Zira had not been aware of Scar’s plans to kill Mufasa, though she did not mourn the brother’s death. Instead, Zira was delighted, as her saviour was now king and in his rightful place on the throne. Ahadi’s law against hunting for pleasure was overruled, and Zira gained status of the head huntress, leading the lionesses’ in their hunts. She was brutal, over killing and slaughtering the food supply. For the first year, they ate well from Zira’s kills, but the animals either died off or moved on, leaving supplies low.
Scar took Zira as his mate, and Zira fell in cub to their first son, Nuka. Whilst nursing, Zira was incapable of returning to the hunt, and the lionesses didn’t go to her lengths. Eventually, food stopped completely. With their second child, Vitani, they were malnourished, and the pride had to resort to hunting in the forest for food. With Scar unsatisfied with both cubs, Zira feared Scar would leave her for another in hopes of a stronger heir. Leaving her cubs in the care of another lioness, Zira left the pride for the first time since a cub.
Returning to the lands of her past pride, Zira found a few had survived. Without Ahadi’s magic, they were easily over powered, and Zira killed the last of her old pride for a young cub, Kovu. Taking the cub, Zira brought the cub back to the Pridelands, hoping to satisfy Scar’s need for a strong son. It worked, and Kovu was pronounced the heir of Scar. Though Zira was bitter neither of her cubs were named heir, Zira took on Kovu as his own, raising him alongside Nuka and Vitani.
When Simba returned to the pride, Zira was unable to participate, still nursing the young cub. Zira watched from afar, believing Scar’s pride would be loyal to him. However, they turned, and eventually so did his hyenas. When Scar fell from Pride Rock, Zira abandoned her cubs to seek her king, only to witness his murder by the teeth of his hyenas. Vengeful, Zira fought them off, though she was too late. Zira swore vengeance on Simba and the hyenas who turned on their king.
Zira struck out at Simba, though she was overpowered by him and his lionesses. Banished, she was forced to leave the pride, and never return to the Pridelands. Taking her cubs with her, Zira left, though swore to return.
Zira strayed far from the lands, into magic torn lands long abandoned. The earth was cursed, providing no water or vegetation. The barren land provided no predators, and Zira was capable of leaving her cubs for long periods of time to seek food and water for them. In her travels, Zira would find stray lionesses, none capable of emotion. Easily able to defeat them in battle, Zira gained follower after follower, leading more and more to her lands. Eventually, she built her own pride, the Outsiders. Though she didn’t have a fraction on Ahadi’s power, she was able to spread the understanding of blood lust and anger amongst her pride.
When Nuka was old enough to care for his siblings, Zira left her cubs and took her pride on a quest for vengeance. Zira and her pride tracked down the hyena’s, and slaughtered them. Though she did not kill them all, she did kill the large majority, tearing the head off one as a trophy, bringing it back to the Outlands. The skull of the hyena was Zira’s only prized possession, and it returned with her once the curse hit, sitting amongst Gold’s possessions in the pawn shop.
Zira trained her cubs everyday, teaching them the art of fighting and killing. But Zira’s focus was on Kovu, Scar’s heir. For years, Zira taught Kovu how to hunt and kill, and how to rule as king.
When Zira’s plans failed, and Kovu fell in love with Simba’s daughter, it started Zira’s downfall into insanity. With the passing of her most loyal follower, her son Nuka, Zira struck out against Kovu, banishing him. The responsibility fell on Vitani, and Zira led her daughter and the lionesses to battle. Incapable of fighting instinctual behaviour any longer, Zira wagged war, not caring for the blood loss on either side. Having lost two sons, Zira was driven mad, and any emotional strengths she’d gained from her time in the Pridelands was long lost. Zira only felt hate and pain, and wished nothing more than to kill Simba.
When her last child stood against her, Zira no longer recognised her as her cub, and felt no mercy for her child. Zira only wished for blood, and turned against her daughter. The Outsiders turned against her, following Vitani and Kovu. Distraught over the loss of all her children and her pride, Zira blamed Simba, attacking him. However, Kiara stopped her, pushing the two off a ledge.
Able to lift the fog of instinct, Zira’s emotions crippled her. Her grief of the loss of Nuka and Scar, along with the betrayal of her children and Simba tore her. When she was offered mercy from Kiara, Zira was incapable of accepting. Viewing Kiara as the enemy who stole her last remembrance of her king, her children, Zira let go of the wall, choosing death over forgiveness.
