An unwanted child

It was early morning in the Savannah. Dawn to be more precise, and Queen Zira had had a horrible night's sleep. She had spent almost the entire night just tossing and turning as best as she could considering the circumstances. The pain of kicking, hard kicking, came and went during the course of the entire night so she barely got any sleep as it was. Her mood was extremely unpleasant and she was quite irritable. Rising up from her sleeping place she began to pace around with deep growls rising from her throat as she paced back and forth. Lying back down to at least try and get some rest she began to let out roars of anguish as anyone would during the birthing process, or at least the beginnings of them. "Sc...SCAR!" she screamed out as she raked her pristine ebony claws against the cave's floor to try and make herself stable.

Any day now, his queen would give birth to his latest litter, and Scar's anticipations were high. That morning, he was perched near the bottom of their domicile, on a rocky ledge on the back side of Pride Rock. It was one of the few places his cubs would not be able to reach him, and none of the lionesses dared to intrude when he was resting there, but he was still close to the den, should his presence be necessary. Rounded ears pricked forward at the sound of someone calling out in pain, and his chin tilted in the direction of the sound. Zira's voice was unmistakable, and a pleased grin appeared on the dark king's muzzle as he rose to his paws.

Scar made his way down the rocky slope carefully, slowly so that he would not cut the pads on his feet. A small group of hyenas met him at the bottom of the stone monument, but were quickly brushed aside. By now, Scar assumed Zira had somehow already produced her litter. His queen had not looked as heavy as Heshima had when the younger lioness had given birth to a litter of four, but Scar was still hopeful that she would produce at least one strong male cub. He walked up the more even path to the den at Pride Rock, where several lionesses were resting in the shade. His presence made each of the females of the pride grow rigid, and they feigned smiles and nods of respect as he passed.

It was typical for a lioness to disappear to give birth in solitude, and so the sight of the striped lioness still very much in labor surprised Scar. His eyes widened as he realized what was happening, and he took an instinctual step backwards. The cruel father had been absent for the birth of each of his offspring, and had little desire to watch the unfolding scene. Then again, this was his queen, the lioness he had chosen. Making no attempt to comfort the agonized lioness, Scar slipped into the den, staying close to the stone wall to lurk in the shadows while observing from a safe distance. "I thought you would be done by now," he commented callously, green eyes cast upward so he would be spared the gory sight of blood that accompanied new life.

It was finally over. The pain had subsided and a cub had in deed emerged. She had done it. She had produced him an heir. "He shall grow to be the greatest of the great kings." she mused as she flicked her large tail back and forth waiting for her mate to show his face inside the cave.
Moving her head back she moved a large paw towards the tiny cub and pulled it in front of her and began to clean it. "I am." she replied once she was finished cleaning it. "What do you think?" Zira asked as a satisfied smile crossed her maw. "He also needs a name Scar...." Ruby irises stared at the king in anticipation as to what their new son would be named. Perhaps something to show his regal finesse, or something bold that would make him stand out among other lions?

The birthing ordeal seemed to take less time than Scar had anticipated, and he arched a brow as Zira cleaned off his newest cub. From a distance, the new life appeared to be smile, and instantly, the father felt a pang of panic. He stood, stepped closer to get a better look at the tiny being at his mate's side. His nose wrinkled in distaste as he gazed down at the squirmy cub. The thing was small. The cub was a boy, at the very least, but it looked more like his half-brother Kifu than anything else: tiny, as if he had to fight for nutrition before birth. Kifu had three sisters, but this cub had no excuse, if it was to be a singleton.

"How long must we wait until the next is born? Surely this is not all." His voice was now stern, and his eyes locked with Zira's as he awaited a reply. More groans of pain, continued labor, anything... The idea that his chosen queen had produced only one cub disturbed Scar, and his expression made his feelings clear. Zira didn't seem to find any fault with the cub she had produced, and this only irked Scar further. His hopes for the future lie on the cold rock floor, and they were as miniscule as the cub himself.

Scar's temper began to flare as Zira suggested they name their new son. "Have you even looked at the thing? If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would suggest it is a rat instead of a lion. Look at it." His paw reached out to prod the newborn, and he easily overturned him, sending him toppling back into his mother's fur. Scar spoke with such venom in his voice, as if he was speaking to one of his lesser lionesses and not the one he had finally decided would be his mate. Sharp green eyes fell to the cub again. His fur was a dull shade of brown, definitely a mix between his parents, but he was small. He looked like a runt, and Scar was astounded that such a pathetic creature was to be his first born with his queen.

"Tell me there is another coming," he demanded, eyes once again rising to meet Zira's crimson orbs. It was worse than he could ever have dreamed, and his heart was pounding hard within his chest, as if it would explode. "This is no prince, Zira." All the blame was shifted to the lioness, as if she had birthed such a wretched cub as a mean joke on her mate.

The tawny female cringed inwardly as she spoke. "No Scar. There are no others." she replied knowing that what she had just said would most likely infuriate the king to no end, but that was his problem. Zira immediately stood up and stared at Scar head-on, her ruby eyes flaming in rage as she stared at her mate. "Nuka will be strong. I can feel it..." the female hissed as she laid back down by her infant son. Little did she know what was to come with Nuka in the future...