My Chick Bad

(February 3rd, after "Tesla Coils and Steam Vents" open to Zira & Scar)

"SCAR. COME HERE. NOW."

When Scar emerged from the dark cave, he was about to get an earful. A respectful, loving earful. But an earful none the less. Her single ear slid back as she glowed in the modest firelight of the torch they'd attempted to hang. Zira sat back on her haunches, tail curled around her back paws.

She had to fill Scar in on everything. Fill him in on all she knew, all she'd done. Her plans with the lights. The fact the animals were frightened and the jail cells were empty. She wanted them filled and not just with a puppy hostage and a prisoner turned unwilling ally. She wanted to hear the cries and yowls of her enemies, human and animal alike. Gripping the cages and moaning loudly to be released. But they would not be.

She scratched her ebony claws on the ground. "SCAR!" She howled again.

Scar languidly elevated an eye lid. Fuck. He unenthusiastically sat up and sauntered outside. He was going to get chewed out - again. He knew very well why; he sat through the same tongue lashing at least a dozen times the past year. Zira was sick of him not doing anything. Scar had always been lazy, even by male lion standards. Sure, he was an impeccable tactician; the king can weasel out of a sticky impasse easy (most of the time). But that was all for naught because Scar took everything for granted. That was why the Pridelanders thought Scar was a crappy king way before Simba came back. 

Scar had things to do, of course, but right now, he did not know what he can do at the moment. For starters, Scar needed a male heir. That was why he kidnapped Simba's lionesses and forced Nuka to have his way with them. Unfortunately, Sarabi confiscated the lionesses not too long after, so Nuka's cubs, if any, would have been born as Pridelanders by now. Scar was back at square one. He considered sending a spy to check in on Nuka's lady friends, but who could get in and out of the Pridelands without getting caught? That was no easy feat. Scar would have gladly mated with an Outlander lioness to get the job done, but Zira would not have it. That's why he may have to do it in secret. But who can I count on? Scar wondered. There was Beauty-Spot, Bellatrix, Scruffy, Sly-Eye (she might be too old though), and several other Outlander lionesses whose names escaped him. Even Lune may make a decent candidate, despite being a leopard. Sabor's daughter was young, strong, ok-looking, and too stupid to know any better. A part of Scar cringed at the idea of his heir being half leopard, but he was in no position to be too choosy at this point. It was just spots. Still, Scar hoped he would not have to resort to using Lune. He liked to think his Outlander lionesses would throw themselves at him if Zira weren't in the picture.

Scar needed to make a decision soon.

Speaking of which..."What do you want, Zira?" Scar snapped once he stepped outside. His quest for a male heir was a problem for another day. Right now, he needed to see what Zira wanted this time.

"What do you want, Zira?"

She gave an offended scoff. "How dare you speak to me that way," she whined, "After all I've come to share with you! After all I've done!" She sounded like a pouting child in a way. She lay on the ground next to him, digging her nose in his fur.

"Scaaaar," she whined, "Scar look at all the things I've done. Look at what I've done for you! I built a prison to house the heroes you capture! I'm going to give you lights! We will make this wasteland a paradise! Isn't that good? Haven't I done well?"

She lifted, her almond orbs narrowed darkly. "Or is your mind on other things? Other lionesses? Other heirs?" She snarled.

"I can GIVE you a child Scar! But wouldn't you rather have a legacy!?"

"Then give me one!" Scar retorted. "Zira, we've been through this a hundred times. I'm not going to be around forever, you know. I might not live to see the end of Simba's reign! I know I can count on you to keep our army intact, but what's going to happen once you pass on? That's why I need a heir." The king gave a weary sigh. "Look, you're the only lioness for me. Just because I may need to use the lionesses to produce my heir doesn't mean I like them more than you. They're just a means to an end. Nothing more."

Scar's green eyes narrowed. "And once my son is born, the biological mother will relinquish him." Had he put down Sarafina, his son Mheetu might have been a prince instead of a lowly healer. "You'll get to raise him as if he were your own cub. I can't think of a better teacher."

"You are WORSE than a four year old lioness in HEAT!" Zira whined, "I want a baby! I want an heir! Is that all you think about!?" Zira lowered her head down between her paws.

"What about MY feelings!" She huffed, tail whipping back and forth behind her, claws digging into the ground beneath her. "Look at all I've done for you! For us! The lights! The prison! The pit!" She gave a little annoyed moan before turning her head and letting out a sigh. Was it because she wasn't pretty enough? Was she getting too old? Her tail flicked back and forth, tongue running over her maw.

"You know I can STILL go into heat, right?" She said with an annoyed scoff, "You showed no interest because I produced Nuka from you and slaughtered your grandson. I thought you didn't want to TOUCH me." She was so concerned with making the army rise and he just wanted that baby. Maybe just maybe she was a better leader than he. She wanted to please him so.

But boy did she want to win this war.

"Is that all you think about!?"

"...yes?"

Scar needed someone to look after his kingdom. Was that too much to ask? "What about your feelings?" Scar demanded. "I already told you why. There's nothing to be jealous of!"

Scar cringed when Zira mentioned Nuka and Mauko. "Don't get me started on that flea-ridden thing you call our cub," he spat. Nuka had always been a pain in Scar's ass. "And I do not blame you for making Nuka! Mistakes happen." Scar did not know why Nuka turned out to be such a pansy. "However, I do blame you for slaughtering Mauko," he said sternly. "Why did you do that? He could have been my successor!"

"I thought you didn't want to TOUCH me."

"That's not true!" Scar protested. "It's just...well, your last pregnancy...I guess I just kind of assumed you did not want to try again after...that." Boy, this was awkward. 

"ARG!" His response caused the female to raise her claws as if she was going to strike him. But instead she brought her claws down on the crumbling termite mound. Her eyes narrowed, glowing in the darkness. Mistakes happen...Zira scoffed. How ashamed she'd felt when Nuka started to grow into the scrawny creature he was. She'd felt so guilty. Was it because he hadn't been fed enough? Was it her fault? She constantly wanted to just drown in her sorrow. But she couldn't. She had to keep fighting.

"Because he was a disgusting little whelp," she barked in response to the Mauko comment, "He wouldn't have done anything good for us and you know it."

She turned towards him as he spoke awkwardly. "Of COURSE I'd try again," she snarled, "But you brought those hussies into the outlands. I figured you'd deal with THEM! I am just as fit as they are!" She was whining at this point, her arms crossed over each other, ear pinned back. If he wanted to try again she would.

"But, my king, my beloved, you would have to take over what I've started. I can't be walking around carrying the cubs...after what happened last time...well..."