Prisoner By Default

It had been mere weeks after the attack from Kuzimu and Heshima's scars were healed. Nothing marred her slender body except for the small plumpness of her stomach. She knew this was going to happen, but after her first litter, how could she take care of more cubs? Her first litter was so big, and Scar was right; who's to say this wouldn't be as big? But a mother knew, and Heshima prayed to the Great Kings for only one or two cubs. She only hoped that her prayers and pleas were heard and noted.

And now Heshima found her way to her favorite spot, in the shadows underneath the protrusion of the kopje in which they lived. It all seemed like deja vu for the mother of four, for it was this exact spot where she had revealed to Mheetu about her first litter. But that was so long ago, and now Heshima knew that she was a prisoner of Scar. The hyenas seemed to watch her every move, and some even followed her around. It annoyed the pale lioness, but it was her who decided to keep these commoner's cubs.

However, in light of the situation, Heshima seemed to make friends with a choice few hyenas. They allowed her slightly more freedom as Scar would normally allow, escorting her to the waterhole and to the kills. But that was all they could allow, she was still on watch and she knew after her next litter was born that the new cubs would be on higher alert. Even if they were warriors of Scar, they wouldn't be treated as normal cubs until they proved their loyalty. Unlike say Giza or Kifu, these cubs would be hated from the day they were born. No father to show them any kind of love at all.

It then hit Heshima, her training that was tad overdue couldn't be started. She would have to pass over the reigns to Sarabi or Nala to get her girls set for the hunting party. Scar wanted them to be the best, but they would only get there if they worked for it. But then there was little Kifu, her little prince who she wanted to train so badly. Maybe after the cubs were born she'd be able to, on the off time, train him with them. All the pale lioness knew was that her life had been put into a monotonic pattern, and unless a miracle happened, this couldn't be broken.

[[Hope you don't mind us popping in the this thread for the runaway plot! If you do we can move it! Also we can certainly have a Nala/Heshima thread later! ]]


The light had already reached Pride Rock by the time Tasa forced herself to climb up the stones to find her mother. Her legs felt numb from what felt like hours of running, her body stinging from the cuts thanks to the bramble bush along the ravine’s edge, the adrenaline rush which had kept the pain at bay before now gone. Pricklies were still caught in her fur and tail, and her body heaved like a fish out of water, desperately trying to get air back into her lungs. All she wanted to do was to just fall to her side where she was and sleep for the next week -- but Giza was still out at the bottom of the ravine, on the edges of the Pridelands, alone and scared and in need of help. So Tasa pushed on, calling out weakly, “Mom! Momma!” A few lionesses looked her way and tried to ask what was wrong, but Tasa only had it in her to explain once, and she had to make that explanation count.

The cub finally found her mother resting beneath a tree, her swollen stomach showing, but Tasa brushed off the bitterness she felt. (Heshima must really not have loved her, she thought not for the first time, if she went and got herself even more cubs.) She wondered if anyone had even noticed her and Giza’s absence, thinking her sister was far more correct in her assertion than either would’ve liked to admit. Tasa shook her head, and opened her mouth, but for a long moment all she could do was gulp down air, shaking her head again and again.

“The ravine -- Giza -- trapped -- help --” Tasa finally huffed out, looking ready to collapse and cry all at once. Surely her parents would care enough to be worried now?

(Fine by me!)

Heshima was now laying on her side, careful of her slightly swollen belly, and had almost drifted off to sleep. But she was quickly awakened by the cries of her daughter Tasa. As Heshima sat up, she could see the beaten and bruised body of her cub and she looked horrible. "Tasa?! What happened love?" Whether her daughter knew it or not, Heshima cared so much about her, more so because she was the only one whom inherited her pelt. The female loved her little girl, even though they didn't seem to reach any initial one-on-one time, and she hoped to change that.

But what came out of her daughter's mouth struck horror through her body, and the hyenas had heard this too. Giza was trapped in the ravine at the edge of the Pridelands, and Tasa was too small to help her out. Her motherly instinct kicked in and she started to stand but just as she was about to break out into a run, she and Tasa were surrounded by hyenas. The largest of the group, whom was on good terms with the mother of four, shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "We can't let you do that Heshima, King Scar's orders," Tears started to build up in the female's eyes, "But that's my cub, Scar's cub! You can't expect me to stand here while she may be dying at this moment!!"

One of the younger canine's growled, "Yes we can, last time you went out on your own you were attacked! And now look at you, an unwanted litter!" Another hyena piped up, "Scar values you, we can't let you go out and endanger yourself, no matter the reason," And now the tears started to flow, Heshima quickly becoming hysterical, "That's MY daughter out there! I have to save her!" Her little Giza could be out there, no food, no water, she could easily be picked off by a vulture! The first canine stepped closer to the pale lioness.

"We know Heshima, but look, you can't go. And you know exactly why!" Heshima growled and smacked the ground, unusual for her normally submissive behavior, "Because I'm a prisoner," The hyenas nodded subtly, it wasn't a spoken fact, but it was true. Scar didn't want Heshima running off to who knows where and he needed to keep a close eye on her. Said lioness turned to Tasa, the tears so much she could barely see her blurry figure. "Tasa.. I-I..." But she couldn't finish her sentence, Heshima wasn't queen, she couldn't order the hyenas to go save Giza, she could do nothing.

Heshima hadn't told her cubs the fine details on why she was with cub again, and it seemed that Tasa would be the first to know. Sniffling, Heshima voiced everything to her daughter, "Tasa, I can't help. Your father is keeping me here, so I don't get hurt again. Someone attacked me, and he gave me these cubs. These cubs aren't to replace any of you. I love each and every one of you, especially you Tasa. Please, understand that!" Every word Heshima had said was true, she only hoped that Tasa would be able to understand.

Tasa had never liked the hyenas. They were dirty, and smelly -- worse than her brothers -- and made creepy noises. Half of them, when hungry, would stare at her and her siblings as if deciding a meal of the King’s cubs would be worth it. So when they surrounded the two lions, Tasa’s dislike grew just as her scowl did. She didn’t completely understand what they met about the “unwanted litter,” confused at the connection between “attacked” and future cubs. Had Scar attacked her mother before? Where they just as unwanted as the current cubs growing in her belly?

Tasa wouldn’t doubt it.

Heshima began crying, growling at the hyena’s who kept her from moving, and Tasa growled weakly in return, glaring up at the adult’s as if she were the size of an elephant. Those scruffy no good canines were going to keep her mother from rescuing Giza? Surely not! Surely Giza was more important than anything to her mother -- surely... Their conversation on their trek away from home came floating back, among other instances where Tasa was convinced the cubs were unwanted. She had seen little proof otherwise, and the way this situation was going, her secret fear that her assertions were true seemed to be coming true -- at least to the little cub’s view of the situation.

“Just go away!” Tasa growled at the hyenas, not wanting them to interfere anymore. “Nobody likes you here, you’re just more mouths to feed!” She shot back insults she had heard plenty of times directed at her and her siblings, but it didn’t seem to be working. When Heshima admitted to being a prisoner, Tasa’s gaze shot to her mother. Prisoners? “Momma, you have to do something!” But the word stuck in the cub’s mind. Prisoners. That’s what they were, wasn’t it? All of them, not just Heshima or her cubs -- half the pride itself. They were all prisoners of her father’s wrath, greed, and absence.

But surely he wouldn’t let his own cub die out there, scared and all alone!

Heshima’s tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked mournfully at her daughter. Tasa wanted to cry too, but was realizing she had to be the strong one now. Giza -- unbreakable, unbotherable Giza -- had sobbed her heart out in the ravine, voice shaking in fear and pain. Heshima was forced to remain submissive and incapable of any influence when it mattered most. So Tasa swallowed back her tears with difficulty, saving them for later, when she had time to cry.

Her mother’s admission of love was something Tasa had craved, and while a part of her did believe her mother truly cared for her as well as her siblings, Tasa’s coarse side took over. The entire situation had left Tasa worried, confused, and on the edge of breaking. In that moment, the cub simply couldn’t believe her mother, only perceiving the hopelessness of the situation. Tasa grew angry despite her mothers words, and while she would regret it later, the scowl she had given the hyenas was now directed at Heshima. “No, you don’t! If you did you wouldn’t let these slime balls order you around! If you really loved us, it wouldn’t matter if a giant sea of demons were in the way, you’d do something and not just stand here like a helpless cub!” The cub did begin to cry by the end of her accusations, but quickly forced them back again, refusing to show weakness around the hyenas.

”Where’s my father!” Tasa snapped at largest hyena, her anger evaporating any fear for the creatures she had and replacing it with dutiful indignation. She had witnessed Scar order around lion and hyena alike in such a way, and deciding to remind them -- all of them -- who’s daughter she was. “He won’t be happy to hear that you’re putting his cub in danger! If you won’t let Heshima go find her, then go get him!”

Heshima was astonished as her daughter yelled at the hyenas, telling them to go away. She had the nerve to do that, and the pale female knew that it would carry on into her elder years. But when Tasa accused her of not loving her, that's when Heshima snapped. She wasn't going to stand there any more and be treated like a cub, this was her daughter out there and she had to do something. Tasa then did something that she never thought the cub would do, she didn't call her mother, but Heshima. She tried to control the hyenas, telling them to go find her father, but they all laughed at the pale pelted cub.

"We take our orders from King Scar ONLY!" One of the new hyenas that had circled around the two lionesses proclaimed, "And we WON'T let some stupid cub tell us otherwise!" By now the two were surrounded by around twenty or so hyenas, mostly male and mostly of a lower IQ than the rest. The pale lioness stood strong and took a step forward, malice fuming in her eyes, "Then if you won't find him then I'll go, I don't care what any of you say, I'm leaving," Heshima started to walk off but was quickly stopped by three of the canine pack. "I wouldn't do that if I were you..." The hyena's warning bypassed Heshima, she didn't care anymore, she would prove to Tasa that she wasn't a useless cub as she claimed.

The hyena who had called Tasa a stupid cub took this chance to leap at said cub, ready to show her some discipline for trying to control them. But Heshima, claws unsheathed, turned and clawed at the young hyena, knocking him back into the group. "If you ever touch my daughter I will destroy you," A cub in her womb had kicked, but Heshima didn't take note of it, she had to care for her first born litter right now, not this litter that she was starting to regret asking Scar to keep. And then, the pale lioness looked at her daughter and motioned her head. "Show me where she is Tasa," The normally submissive Heshima wasn't going to have her baby die in the ravine without a fight, but a fight was something she was going to get.

Two hyenas then lunged at the expectant lioness, one clawing at her front paws and the other biting hard on her back. The lioness tried to fight off the hyena in front of her, but was taken down hard by the latter. She fell to her side with a thud, blood now flowing out of her back. A weak cry for her little girl was given, "T-Tasa," The first hyena whom had spoken narrowed his eyes, "This is what you get Heshima, you defied King Scar's orders. I won't allow this anymore, you will not step another toe out of line or else I will call treason upon you," He then turned to the daughter of the wounded lioness, "Whether you like it or not kid, your mother loves you. And you should be ashamed of claiming otherwise,"

The hyena moved in close, his rotten breath barreling down on the cub's face, "You and your siblings are all she talks about, not this new litter that she didn't even want. You think she hates you, but you're wrong. And you know what cub? She talks about you the most," What the hyena said was true, Heshima was always bragging about her little Tasa, the one who shared her pelt color but not her personality. "You're so lucky, and you take this for granted," Heshima had tears rolling down her face once more, the fall didn't hurt her stomach, and she was slightly disappointed that it didn't. "S-Stop it," But Heshima's cries were unheard as the hyena spat next to the cub, his eyes ablaze. He couldn't do anything, she was still Scar's cub whether he liked it or not, so he couldn't touch her. But he said nothing about making her feel bad.

Heshima now tried to stand up, but she was quickly surrounded again, "Stand up and see what happens prisoner," One of the more masculine hyenas threatened, but Heshima didn't listen. She stood up shaking but was brought down again by another bite to the back. Once again it seemed as if her fall didn't hit her stomach and the pale lioness wanted ever so much for this all to be over. The hyenas in the group muttered the word 'prisoner' and started to refer to her as that. The hyena who Heshima had knocked away got in her face, blood on his cheek flowing slowly, "You know what you are prisoner, and you will always be referred to as that. You're lucky we let your remaining cubs live a life better than yours will for now on be," Heshima shut her eyes tightly, the word 'prisoner' ringing through her head. Her eyes finally snapped open and drifted to Tasa, "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry,"

The dark king appeared from the shadows after listening in on the drama unfolding, but Scar's expression was remarkably calm, in spite of the violence that had transpired only moments before between the mother of his cubs and his hyena henchmen. While Tasa was nearly hyperventilating, and Heshima was in tears and bleeding, the russet lion appeared to be more annoyed than concerned for his missing cub. He gave a curt nod to the hyenas, a silent command for them to back off, and the group of canines backed away to give the family some space. But the brutes had been correct: Heshima was not to leave the den alone. If she didn't need water to survive, Scar wouldn't even have allowed her to go to the waterhole, the scene of the whole dastardly crime that had left her pregnant with another lion's litter. The hyenas left the den, still riled up, but the beasts did not receive one harsh word for their treatment of Heshima. They had only been doing their job, and Scar would not correct them for their methods. Scar did not discipline the hyenas for attempting to attack Tasa, either, letting them disperse into the Pridelands until he needed them again.

The russet lion was also disappointed to see that the hyenas had failed to bite the expectant mother in any place that would help destroy the cubs she now carried that were not his. How could he feel pity for such a lioness that wanted to deliver and raise the cubs of some vicious, unfamiliar rogue? He made no move to aid Heshima as she lay injured, only shaking his head slowly, as if to say 'See? This is what you get.' His bright emerald eyes shifted from the lioness to his pale daughter, who still appeared frantic, appropriately so. Rather than knitting in concern, his black eyebrows instead narrowed above his eyes, and the look he cast down at the creamy cub was severe, unsympathetic to her frightened pleas.

"Watch your tongue, child. The hyenas had nothing to do with it. You put your sister in danger, did you not?" His words proved that he had indeed been watching as the hyenas hurt the pregnant lioness, but had done nothing to stop it. It was not the only shocking act of callousness to be witnessed in the Pridelands that day. He looked down at Tasa, glaring into her sparkling green eyes. She was a trouble-maker, and unapologetically. Scar assumed she had led her sister astray, with disastrous consequences. "Go on, tell us the story. Make it truthful, please," he said, ever skeptical of his mischievous daughter, the only one that did not take after her dark pelted father, save for their matching eyes.

A normal father would have panicked, or run off to rescue his lost daughter, or... Anything. Instead, Scar waited for an explanation from Tasa, his twisted mind already conjuring up appropriate punishments for her. Perhaps her meal rations should be cut for a few days, to teach her a lesson? Maybe Scar would have to instruct the hyenas to keep a similarly close watch on Tasa as they now kept on Heshima. But Giza's desperate situation seemed to be the last thought to occur to Scar, who didn't attempt to move. These were dark, dangerous times. Had he not been clear to his children that any one of them could easily end up dead, on any given day? Or, hadn't their mother taught them to be safe?

“You’re the stupid ones! And I’m not just some cub!” Tasa remained puffed up and determined, thinking herself a mighty lioness and not a little cub, as the hyena’s refused her orders. But then her mother stepped up to the plate, declaring her leave and moving forward, only to be blocked again. The cub followed quickly, but wasn’t able to act quickly enough to avoid the sudden attack from a hyena. She flinched down but was saved by her mother’s paw, and the viciousness in Heshima’s voice as she threatened the hyena surprised Tasa even more, and for a moment she could only stare at her mother. She blinked out of her revere as Heshima told the cub to show the way. Tasa nodded quickly and started forwards, only for the hyenas to attack once more. The overwhelmed cub leapt back, head spinning back and forth between the short fight, ears pressed against her head. “Leave her alone!” Tasa cried, though the strength previously coating her voice was now gone.

The tawny cub tried to move in near her mother, but a large hyena blocked her, glaring down at her spitting out his words. While they sounded nasty, Tasa wasn’t really sure how to react to the real content. Her mother talked about her -- the most? She was lucky? “What do you know of luck!” Was the only thing Tasa could think to spit back, avoiding the literal spit sent her way and shoving past the hyena’s legs to reach her mother. “Momma...” Tasa said weakly, pausing in front of her before awkwardly nuzzling her cheek. Her mother truly had proved the cub’s perceptions wrong. She had never seen Heshima fight like that, even if it was for naught. She loved her, truly? The troublemaker? The one who got all her siblings into trouble, or was blamed for it whether she did it or not? She couldn’t keep her thoughts on the matter straight, with everything else happening, so decided just not to think about it for now.

In the end though, Heshima still could do little, so Tasa stood in front of her mother, growling, as the hyenas surrounded them. This wasn’t going well. Not at all. Giza still needed help, but now it was clear Tasa and Heshima needed the same. But if her father returned maybe...

And Scar did return, moving from the shadows and sending off the hyena’s silently -- no reprimand, no concern, no nothing. Had Tasa had more energy at the time, she would’ve voiced her concerns for her father’s lack of discipline on the hyenas who had just attacked his family. But alas, the little cub was struggling to breath properly, let alone get into another argument at that moment. The way he shook his head but ultimately disregarded her mother -- his mate -- brought a weak growl of annoyance to her throat. But it died when his eyes shifted to herself. Tasa couldn’t help herself -- she sank under his severe gaze, ears and tail low, wishing the earth would just swallow her up, or maybe she could just crawl back into Heshima’s stomach and hide with her prenatal siblings. The anger that swelled in her when it was clear her father had been there the entire time was at war with the growing fear and guilt.

“N-No I didn’t! And the hyenas were keeping us from getting her help! It wasn’t my fault! It was an accident!” Tasa cried. Again -- again -- she was being blamed for something she didn’t do... did she? She sunk close to the ground, his cold eyes boring into hers, demanding the truth. And the truth she would give. “Giza snuck out before dawn. I followed her. We decided to explore the boarders and see if anyone would even notice our absences. It was dark and there were brambles and -- and then she fell. And I couldn’t find a way down and she couldn’t find a way up so I came back for help and then --” Well, he knew what happened after that. For a moment her anger took over and she stood up straight, glaring straight back at her father. “And she left because of you. I didn’t put her in danger, you did. If it wasn’t for me, she would be stuck down there in the ravine and no one who no about it! So why don’t you go do something.”

Heshima pulled her daughter close as the hyenas surrounded them and in a twisted way, the pale mother of four wanted to cherish this moment. It had been the only time Tasa had shown compassion towards the elder female since her birth and it made her heart swell in pride. Finally, she and her cub were getting some bonding time, even if the former was battered and bruised from her attackers. But as if all at once, the hyenas seemed to back away, muttering the word 'prisoner' as they left.

The expectant mother's stomach twisted as Scar's glare hit her full force. He was disappointed in her and Heshima could only close her eyes in the submissive nature that she now was. She knew it was what she deserved, but why couldn't Scar see that it wasn't because of this new litter that she 'defied' him, it was because of their cub, their little Giza. The female knew that because she had told Scar she wanted to keep this litter, it was why he wasn't going to do anything with her or for her. Even if it was about the disappearance of one of his own.

When Tasa revealed why Giza had left, Heshima was shocked. It was, because of Scar? The pale lioness pulled Tasa close, murmuring her name as she nuzzled her softly. She knew the words that she said to Scar were defiant in nature, so even in her weakened state, Heshima was going to protect her cub the best way she could. It was possible that Scar should strike back at the cub, but Heshima would stand and take any beatings for herself. She wasn't going to let the father of her cubs bring any harm to them. Even if it killed her.

"Sire please, Giza, send someone after her! I would but as you know, I'm a prisoner," Heshima knew every word that she was saying and she stood up in front of Tasa. "Don't do it for me, do it for her, and for Tasa! Do it for your pride! That's your daughter out there, she doesn't deserve to die due to laziness!" Heshima snapped, her teeth were now barred and she was ready to defend her cub without a moment's notice. Heshima would of mentioned Mufasa's name, but didn't and only offered up the next best name.

"Sarabi wouldn't of sat here if she knew a cub was in danger Scar, she would of acted!"

As Tasa explained what had happened, Scar listened in grim silence. When his daughter suggested that it was his own fault that Giza had disappeared, a cruel chuckle parted his thin ebony lips, merely shaking his head, as if to say 'What a stupid cub, making things up!' The mother of his largest litter was becoming frantic, and in spite of her normally submissive attitude, it was clear she was ready to defy Scar.

This was something he simply would not allow. The king's russet body was now used to keep Heshima away from the mouth of the den, away from any attempt to find the missing princess. Bright emerald eyes locked with Heshima's violet orbs, as if to dare her to try to squeeze past him and see what would happen if she did. "My dear Heshima, you're not a prisoner. I am doing my very best to keep you safe here, and this is the thanks I get?"

"Let us be realistic, here. A lost cub? Especially one that looks so much like myself? What are the chances that she hasn't already been killed, by a passer by or by one of our neighbors?" Lips curled back at the mention of the nearest pride: the Outlanders. Undoubtedly, if they had found the errant russet female, they would have destroyed her without a second thought, to spite their former monarch. Her appearances would have been her greatest disadvantge out on her own, and in Scar's mind, Giza was already lost to oblivion. He wasn't especially worried about trying to find her because he was certain she had been destroyed. "You'll only discover her mangled corpse, mark my words. Or what's left of it."

With a resigned sigh, he gestured with his paw. "Regardless, I will send a hyena search party to scout for the body. If by some chance she has survived, they will find her. And if not..." His words trailed off and his gaze averted upwards, as if looking to the 'great kings' who supposely watched over them from above. "Remember. Foolish cubs never survive." His stare then returned to Tasa. Even if what she said was true, and Giza had left because of Scar, this pale cub was the one she had left with. Now Tasa was the only one to return alive. "Let this serve as a lesson well learned, for all of you."

When Heshima drew Tasa closer after her accusations to her father left her mouth, Tasa pulled away while her father laughed, shifting her glare to her mother. “It’s your fault too. Neither of you ever cared enough for Giza--” Or me,”--so she thought if she ran away you would finally notice her and stop trying to make Kifu into something he’s not and coddling Mheetu for his own stupidity.” Tasa was not going to admit that their plan had been stupid in its own right, because only a small part of her believed that. Tasa had truly, if overconfidently, thought she could handle herself fine outside of Pride Rock. She knew the area, she didn’t scare easily, and only outsiders would dare touch the cub of the king (or so she thought) and she was not intending to find any outsiders anyway. Even though she had been proven wrong, that even a little thing such as a misplaced paw could be the start of her sister’s demise, she still felt herself righteous -- no doubt a trait inherited from her father.

Heshima once again surprised her daughter as she barred her teeth at Scar. Of all the things Tasa thought she knew about her mother, one she had been certain about was that she was completely lovestruck for the king, almost pathetically so. Young Tasa did not understand love or desire yet, and while she herself had thought the world of her father previously, such an idealistic view was quickly deteriorating everyday. But Heshima always seemed determined to love her father, no matter what he did. And while the two had been her only exposure to a “relationship,” Tasa knew by instinct that the way they treated one another was not normal. Or rather, could not be normal. If this is what happened when lions became partners, and a lioness became a mother -- well then, Tasa never wanted to grow up, never wanted to be a mother, and most certainly never wanted to submit so fully to a male who only left scars on all he looked at.

But Heshima’s motherly instinct must have kicked in as she tried to defend Tasa and convince Scar to do something about Giza, and the cub’s green gaze shot between her mother and her father as they argued, Scar blocking any attempt to escape. Her heart leapt into her throat at the motion, her body wanting to panic at the sudden cornering. (Surely, some part of her thought idly, this was not the way one should feel about their father? But Tasa wasn’t sure. This was the norm for her, a norm she was disliking more and more.) When Scar suggested Giza was certainly already dead, Tasa let out a gasp and should her head violently, speaking up again between the two. “You’re wrong! She’s been there less than an hour! And she’s clever, she knows how to avoid others. She could still--” Tasa cut herself off when Scar gestured with his paw, saying he would send out a search party. Usually, this would be a relief to anyone in such a situation. The problem was, it would be a hyena search party. With Scar’s obvious lack of care about the cub, there would be no doubt Giza was as good as dead now.

Tasa’s body felt cold, and suddenly very tired again. The tears threatening her this entire time boiled in her throat and at the edge of her vision. “B-But, you can’t...” She didn’t know what to say, for once. What to argue. She had asked for something to be done, and she had been given a result. If she said more, would it only get worse -- for everyone? Giza... Giza was going to starve, or get infected, or dry up, or get picked off by any number of creatures now if she didn’t find a way out. Tasa had never been a very spiritual cub, her father never discussing such matters with her and her mother never having the chance to explain the stars to her either, though the cub had heard about such things in passing. But still, she prayed Giza would find a way out and make her way to safety.

But where would be safe for the cub of King Scar? Outsiders hated him. Tasa doubted Giza would be able to find her way back to Pride Rock, and she’d most likely get picked off by hyenas if she even tried... this was her fault, wasn’t it? If she hadn’t had gone with her, maybe the russet cub wouldn’t have wandered so far in the false sense of security being with her more experienced sister gave. If she had been on her own, maybe she would’ve stopped at the big tree and waited there until she got hungry enough to return. Tasa couldn’t even help her out of the ravine, couldn’t stop her fall and couldn’t find a way down. It... It was her fault. She had never wanted or intended to protect others, but now that she had failed to, Tasa felt at a loss and painfully guilty.

Tasa flinched when Scar’s gaze turned back to her, the fight drained out of her. Foolish cubs never survive. A lesson well learned, indeed. A lesson that, should they ever get on the wrong side of King Scar, daughter or not, this is what would happen. Tasa didn’t want to be turned into hyena chow, and finally her mouth closed into a firm line. Back talking, she was learning, wasn’t getting her anywhere. Tasa would need to change tactic if she expected to survive in the Pride now, even more so if she meant to keep the rest of her siblings and mother in tact. She hadn’t realized how much she had truly cared from them until they were threatened, and while they were all rather annoying and sometimes she felt they weren’t worth her time, they were still family. Family Tasa had to protect, as the self-perceived strongest.

Fine. If Scar was going to prove the middle cubs’ assertions correct about his true lack of care, then fine. Tasa would handle it herself. As she worked out an escape plan from Pride Rock, thinking if she stole from Heshima’s private stash of food she sometimes created for her cubs, she might be able to run back to the ravine before the hyenas got there. Maybe in the daylight Giza and her could find her a route out. If Heshima was not strong enough to defy her lord and master, and Scar thought her disappearance one less mouth to feed, then Tasa would be the one to fix was she now perceived to be her mistakes. But to keep her father from catching on to her intentions, the cub bowed her head, though her teeth were clenched. “Yes, father.”

Heshima ignored the hurtful words of her daughter and kept her harsh gaze on her king. It was true that Giza and her had never spent truly any time together, but the pale lioness was caught on so many things that the time seemed to just have slipped away. Heshima saw so much of herself in her cerulean eyed daughter, but yet, she wished for the clocks to roll back just so she had more time. The pale lioness knew that Giza wasn't dead, there was something inside her that said she was safe. She only hoped that her motherly instincts were right.

A search party of hyenas? That was uncalled for, no monarch in their right mind would let a hyena into their territory without declaring war on the Pridelands. And honestly, that was something that Heshima did not want her children to be exposed to. If Giza was indeed still alive, she would easily be picked off by a predator in the battles that would ensue. Heshima shook her head and growled louder than last time, "That is not acceptable Scar," she retaliated, dropping the honorific from his name, "you know that nobody would let the hyenas into their kingdom! They will see it as an act of war, you know that! Why not send Sarabi or Nala?! At least the other prides will accept a female missionary, not those filthy poachers,"

If there was ever a day to defy Scar, Heshima's mind thought that today would be the day. She watched with heartbreak as her tawny daughter bowed her head and claimed that everything was alright and it infuriated the mother of four. "No Tasa," Heshima snapped, "it is NOT alright," Something broke in her mind and the one law that she knew could get her exiled was forgotten. Heshima didn't care though, if she was exiled than she would take her cubs with her, for wasn't it pride law that the cubs follow their mother if they weren't of age? Scar would be left with Uma and Nuka, left to persuade another female to bear him a suitable cub. Something that Heshima failed to do months ago. But now, this lioness was different, and she roared at Scar the unspeakable name, "If you were anything like Mufasa you would care about your children! Not sit here and let them die,"

Until now, Heshima's sudden aggressiveness was rather amusing to Scar. The pale lioness was normally so docile, so meek, that this was a side of her never seen before. But as she defied Scar's word, told him his plan was not acceptable, his eyes narrowed sharply. Never a fan of being criticized, every syllable she then uttered only made Scar feel more angry. "I never said the hyenas would be entering the other territories," he answered gruffly. "You can be certain if that fiend Kiume has found her, she's already been fed to his ragtag pride of misfits and scoundrels!" Their downtrodden neighbors were known to eat hyenas, if they ventured into the desolate territory, which Scar thought a vile meal choice, even if they were all slowly starving. Even he thought them disgusting, lowly creatures.

Even in his fit of rage, Scar would never consider banishing Heshima from the Pridelands. She was too important to him, too necessary to ever let slip away. His daughters, however, were more or less replaceable. Even if Heshima was upset now, she had two other daughters, plus little Uma to fill the void. Not to mention Kifu, who needed the most care and attention of them all, given that he was the only male. Heshima would get over it sooner or later, and Scar was ready to dismiss the hysterical lioness until she opened her mouth again. This time, she spoke treasonous words of his departed brother, despite all of the current king's demands that the name be forgotten. It was a line no Pridelander dared to cross now, and for good reason.

Face contorted with fury, the lion turned sharply and raised a paw to Heshima. He had hurt other lionesses before, but he had never laid a claw on the mother of his largest litter. But in a flash of ebony, he raked his paw across her delicate features, narrowly missing an eye. A single claw made contact with flesh, leaving a gash on the bridge of her nose, thin but deep that instantly began to drip scarlet. "Mufasa was a fool! Look at what happened to him: He died trying to save his cub! Now they're both gone, and so is Giza! The sooner you accept the inevitable, the better, Heshima. And if you ever say that again..."

His words trailed off into a low, menacing growl. He had nearly forgotten that Tasa was present the entire time, witness to the drama unfolding between her parents. The cub was not the product of love; none of his progeny were. They were merely pawns, helpless players in Scar's wicked schemes. Unknowningly, his callous decision to leave Giza alone and lost would only benefit the former princess, in the long run. Chest heaving, he stared hard at Heshima, waiting to see if she would retaliate. It was unlikely, but she had been full of surprises lately. "You're not going anywhere. Have I made myself clear?"

Tasa couldn’t believe her mother’s sudden outburst, but couldn’t help but be somewhat pleased that she had finally realized all was not well in the Pridelands. When she spoke a name she had never heard before, as no lioness spoke of Mufasa by his name anymore, if at all, due to Scar’s ruling, the king’s fury had reached boiling point. Tasa could see his growing annoyance with her mother before she uttered the forbidden name, and had begun to sink closer to the ground, slowly backing up to stand in the protection behind Heshima’s paws. She had never seen her father so furious, and the little cub couldn’t help the fear gripping her heart, despite her attempts at a brave face.

The cub flinched at father struck mother, and she stared wide eyed at Scar’s unsheathed, black claws and Heshima’s dripping blood. Had that really just happened? Were these the sort of emotions that produced cubs, that gave birth to her and her siblings? More and more often, the world seemed to be growing more and more bleak. It seemed everyday she survived gave another indication of how harsh their world really was. To a cub, things had seemed sparkling new and interesting and wonderful -- but with just the few months behind Tasa, she realized this was not the case, at least not for a cub of the Pridelands.

When Tasa peered around to see her mother’s face bloody and scarred, the creamy cub’s face contorted into a scowl, and she shot a glare at her father. A growl started in her throat, along with multiple retorts forming on the tip of her teeth, but she forced them down. Such a display would probably only get her marred as well, then making it even more difficult to venture back out to the ravine. Better to let her father think he won so he would leave them alone. But she wouldn’t forget this, the hate for her father growing, and something would have to be done about it sooner or later.

As it was, Tasa rubbed against her mother’s leg, muttering something about just retreating to the den, hoping the sudden temper Heshima seemed to grow wouldn’t get her -- and therefore, Tasa as well -- into any more trouble. Not when there was still time to find Giza. Though there was no way for the cub to know that by the time she could reach the ravine, her sister would be gone, she still hoped and was determined to find her sister -- one way or another, someday.

Heshima growled at her king when he had mentioned Kiume and the Outlanders, from what she had heard Kiume was now king, but she knew he was too kind hearted to kill a cub. Even if it was Scar's. "Leave Kiume out of this, you know that he wouldn't hurt a cub! Even if the cub is yours Scar," she glared at her king and snarled, "More excuses, just to show why you're scared of facing the past, because you know that the Outlanders are mostly our pride members now a days," Heshima thought back to who was truly out there, Scar had done away with almost every cub that she had grown up with, the most recent departure of being Tama. The pale lioness had heard that she was dead, but Nala had confirmed that she was alive and well, leaving because she defied Scar's will to mate with her. And right now, Heshima applauded her efforts. The lioness wanted nothing more than to leave, take her remaining cubs and just leave the Pridelands, there were better places out there.

But as Heshima wondered about her next move as she shouted the treasonous name of Mufasa, everything hit her in one moment. She only saw a flash of russet and obsidian before feeling the impact of the blow that her one time mate had given her. Heshima roared in pain and felt the crimson blood flow freely down her muzzle. Tears started to fall out of Heshima's eyes and she lowered her body slightly, her legs and breath turning shaky as the moments passed. It was in that moment that Heshima realized she was nothing more than a pawn in Scar's game, that the so called litter of kings was only a ploy for Scar to receive a suitable heir. Their children were not out of love, not even out of lust! Heshima however, fell hard into her king's game and she couldn't escape, she had drawn the final card that sealed her fate as a prisoner of Scar. She was nothing more than a piece of property to the dark and twisted lion, and she felt sick knowing that she complied willingly. Ari, Tasa, Giza and Kifu, they were created just so Scar could have more control over the entire pride. Uma, Nuka, Mheetu; all created in the same way. Heshima's tears were of shame, she had played her king's game, and she now had lost.

Scar brought up how Mufasa was apparently a fool, but Heshima couldn't listen, she wanted nothing to do with the russet lion now and her heart broke when he said that Giza was gone. Heshima looked down to her pale daughter and was disgusted, Scar had attacked her in front of Tasa, something that might scar her daughter for the rest of her life. Tears mixed with blood and they all fell on the gravel below. Tasa had nuzzled her mother and said that she was going to head off to the den. Heshima bent down and held her daughter close, giving her an apologetic lick to the forehead, "Sorry I can't help Giza anymore my darling, head off to the den, we'll talk later," Once Tasa was away Heshima glared at her king and snarled when he told her that she wasn't going anywhere, "Fine," And with that Heshima turned away and spat at the ground, sending tiny droplets of crimson blood flying off of her wound and landing at Scar's paw as she turned. She stormed off to the shadows of under the kopje and buried her head in her arms. Stupid, everything was stupid to the pale lioness. Her king, her pride, everything except for her children. And now, Heshima was without one of her daughters, and her whole world had been destroyed.