As the light of day arose across the Outlands, the survivors' camp flurried into life. The lionesses of
the Pridelands had found food and water for the pride and the herds, providing occasional escorts to
them. Morale was a little higher as well, with most of the dead put to rest.
Kuwinda lay in the shadows of the den's walls, huddled up to Ulinzi and Amani. She still couldn't
believe that Karimu had trusted her enough to look after her cubs and made sure to keep them safe
and comfortable. Amani had been especially good, softly playing with the lioness before going to
sleep for the night, huddled up to her warm, cuddly body. Ulinzi, on the other paw, was a bit more...
adventurous. He tried to escape on numerous occasions as he saw his new friend, Vibaya, playing
further out in the open.
Kuwinda had him under her paw though and quickly caught him before he could run off, lifting him
up by the nape of his neck, just like Karimu had taught her. She felt ten times more comfortable
around cubs since her lesson, so much so that she was actually looking forward to her own now, to
see them in the flesh.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a shadowy figure approached, seemingly dragging something
towards her and the cubs. It was Wivu, bringing them a hunk of meat. "Morning Wivu." Kuwinda
smiled at her new friend. She still couldn't believe that just a few days ago, they were enemies.
"Morning." Wivu replied, smiling at Kuwinda as she dropped the hunk of meat before her. "I saved
this for you and the cubs." She nudged it closer to Kuwinda, the two cubs leapt at it, tucking into
their fleshy meal. Wivu looked back up at her huntress friend, a slightly worried tone brushing her
voice. "I hope Kopa and Karimu come back soon. We could've used you on the hunt this morning."
Kuwinda lightly brushed her head against Wivu's chest, nudging her head up towards the sunlight.
"I'm sure they'll be back, soon." She looked out at the opening to the camp, a tone of uncertainty
lodged in her throat. Kopa had left her before, of course. And now he had his first mate, Karimu.
Could he really have gone?
Wivu noticed Kuwinda's uncertainty and snuggled up to her, placing her paw on her lower abdomen.
"I'm sure he'll be back. Don't worry." The pair exchanged a slight, cuddly embrace , an oddity for
both.
They were never sisterly at all. But after what they had been through, they couldn't help but do so.
Wivu especially looked up to Kuwinda. Who could've known that the worst huntress in the
Pridelands was actually the best?
As the pair huddled up, with their bellies full, Ulinzi and Amani ran back to Kuwinda, pouncing on
each other and her. In time, they calmed, snuggling into the young lioness' soft, maternal fur. She
felt their presence, their small, gentle bodies humming next to her side. It seemed so natural, so
peaceful. She couldn't wait to do this with her own cubs in a few months.
From what seemed out of nowhere, a sharp, long yawn echoed through the land. Every creature
turned to its source, especially Kuwinda. She knew that yawn anywhere, even if she had only been
awakened by it once. Her ears shot up like nervous meerkats. The two cubs did the same as another
similar roar of tiredness echoed through the land.
Murmurs began to spread through the gathering lionesses, each of them arising to their paws,
staring at the entrance to the camp. Kuwinda and Wivu grabbed Ulinzi and Amani, with Kuwinda
holding the former. The small young male cub wiggled in her mouth, hating the feeling of his body
dangling helplessly from her grasp.
"Aw, Aunt Kuwinda!" His cute, juvenile voice pleaded to the young lioness' name. "Let me go!" He
tried to swipe at Kuwinda's face, curling his body upwards at her muzzle. Walking to the front of the
gathering, Kuwinda gave him his wish, dropping him gently with a soft plum. Wivu softly placed
Amani on the ground, licking the cub's nape as she did, removing the faint teeth imprints in her fur.
Everyone froze when they saw what, or who was approaching them. Through a soft blanket of fog
looming over the Outlands, two feline figures appeared, their bodies brushing close together
affectionately. As they slowly approached, Kuwinda's heart erupted in rapid beats.
"Kopa!" She sprinted at the male lion, forcing him to stop in his tracks. His first mate beside him
halted, seeing her sister-in-pride approaching. But her eye quickly turned to the two bundles of fur
sprinting towards her, slightly wobbling as they ran.
"Mum! Dad!" The two cubs pounced on their parents, forcing them to fall to the ground. Ulinzi
grasped his father's mane, clambering through the furry forest, trying to find a way out.
Amani on the other hand, snuggled into her mother's side, her small, regal body rolling around as
her mother licked her fur. Karimu looked up at Kuwinda, a sense of motherly love pulsing through
her body.
"You did a great job, Kuwinda." She raised her head, brushing it against the huntress' neck. Kuwinda
hummed, practically glowing with honour.
Kuwinda didn't reply, too blessed to even try her honour into mere words. She instead licked
Karimu's face, causing a friendly hum to escape the lioness' mouth. The pair listened in on their
mate, as he tried to detangle his son from his mane.
"Aunt Kuwinda took care of us." Ulinzi giggled ecstatically as he nuzzled his father's head and neck.
Kopa looked down at him, giving a fatherly giggle at the small cub. He noticed Kuwinda and Karimu
staring at them, nearly cooing through their muzzles at the close, unbreakable bond the father and
son had formed, in such a small amount of time. Kuwinda slowly approached him, a look of certainty
in her eye.
"So, I'm their aunt?" Her voice, soft and seductive, brushed through Kopa's ears. He couldn't believe
how beautiful she was. All the young lion could do was smile at her, feeling the warmth of her
breath rush towards him.
"Well, yeah." He slightly giggled as he felt Karimu brush against his side, the lioness rising from the
ground. She looked at Kopa and Kuwinda with a loving, friendly smile. Amani huddled up to her
mother's warm chest, looking up at her father as he continued to talk to her 'aunt'. She noticed his
eyesight turn away from his second mate.
"That's if you don't-"
"I'm more than happy." She shot her head into his mane, rubbing through that mighty cloud of fur.
Kopa looked over at Karimu, who cuddled up to their son and daughter. In time, the entire group
huddled together, the two cubs snuggling up to their parents and auntie with pure, innocent love.
As they did, Simba and Nala broke through the gathering lionesses. They approached the lion family,
Simba especially looking firm and worried. Nala wandered behind him, slightly worried not of Kopa
but of Simba. Her lips moved as if whispering, humming in fear.
"Kopa!" Simba growled, forcing the lion family to depart their cuddles. Kopa's head shot up, staring
at his seemingly angry uncle. Kopa slowly approached him, followed closely by his two mates and
cubs.
"Ah, Simba." Kopa replied, giving his uncle a kindly, ecstatic smile. He would have approached him,
giving an affectionate, loving nuzzling, but thought better of it when he saw the anger brewing in the
lion king's body. Nala intervened, leaping between the two males, smiling at her nephew.
"We heard your roars last night." She looked at Kopa, then Karimu. "Does that mean-?"
Kopa nodded, Karimu too. Nala replied with an affectionate cuddle, leaping at her nephew with a
congratulatory embrace. The pair cuddled for a time before Kopa nudged his aunt away, seeing
Simba's growing frustration.
"It's all well and good, Kopa." Simba started off once more. "But what is our plan here?" The lion
king's mane ruffled with seemingly shallow concern. Kopa looked up to see a small overlook, nestling
high above the gathered lionesses and Pridelanders. Turning to Karimu, he was met with her loving
glance back at him, nodding agreeably. They both looked up at the ledge, both knowing what to do.
"Simple." Kopa replied to his uncle, taking a single leap at the ledge behind him. Karimu followed her
mate, leaping up behind him. The pair looked around at the gathering beneath them, every single
creature looking up in awe. Kopa looked over at Simba, seeing him sternly stare up.
"Everyone!" Kopa began to speak, practically roaring across the land. He turned back to Karimu. She
just smiled at him, placing her paw on his shoulder. He turned back to the gathering, everyone
looking up to him, gleaming in awe as the sun shone through his magnificent mane.
"I know times have been... challenging recently." He started to pace up and down the length of the
overlook, lowering his head as he paced under the pressure of sorrow, ebbing in his heart. "You have
all lost so much, fallen into the shadows of pure evil." A series of whispers fluctuated through the
crowds as many of the animals began to mutter between themselves.
"But this isn't the first pride, the first kingdom, that Scar has consumed." Kopa's eyesight shot up,
the scar across his eye glistening in the refraction of the sun on the polished rocks nearby. A slimmer
of green rupturing across its surface. "A few months back, he destroyed the Uasilands, in the exact
same manner." A rumble of anger, regret, and sorrow brushed through the young lion's body.
"But NO...MORE!" He partially roared, silencing all whispers within the crowds. Karimu stepped
forward, seeing her mate barely holding his emotions in.
"You may have heard our roars last night." She tried to explain, occasionally looking at Kopa, tearful
and broken. "And many of you will know what it means." She felt Kopa brush past her, seemingly
now balanced emotionally. She stepped back slightly, allowing him to take the lead again.
"The Uasi Pride is back." Kopa announced, watching as the many lionesses beneath him started to
whisper again looking up at him with immense affection, and hopeful gaze. He looked back at his
mate, as she looked out at the gathering, still amazed by how many animals surrounded her. All
looked up at the couple. "Right now, it's only us two, but we have a plan."
"We have to go back to the Uasilands." Karimu continued, as confident as ever. A shudder of
shocked ushers rushed through the crowds beneath. "There lies an ancient power... that we can use
to defeat Scar, and take back the Pridelands."
The ball of responsibility reached Kopa's half of the court. "The Uasilands may have been destroyed,
but it would have recovered, flourished in our absence." The lion wandered up and down still, seeing
every creature absorb his words. "You now have a choice."
"Stay here and be eventually consumed by Scar's forces. Or..."
"You can come with us." Karimu smiled at Kopa. Snuggling up to him. "As guests of the Uasian Pride,
reborn anew. Safe from Scar and his forces. All of them." She announced, sitting beside Kopa as a
full-on eruption of chatter rumbled through the crowd. The two lions looked at each other. Hazel
and brown meeting.
'Was this enough to convince them?' Kopa wondered. He looked over at Simba, who looked back,
still seemingly annoyed. Though not far away from the lion king, Kopa saw a rather excited,
seemingly inspired young lion, surrounded by his close, all-powerful friends. His red tuft of mane
stood out from the crowd.
Kion was with them at least. Kopa also noticed how close he was to his cheetah friend, seemingly
within touching distance. Fuli seemed to look at Kion, locked in a dream state for the lion as he
puffed out his chest.
"So, who's with us?!" Karimu roared, arching her back so her head flicked up to the sky. Her roaring
cry of unison slapped Kopa out of his analysis of the gathering, instead forcing him to look on, as the
crowds beneath them made their judgement.
As if out of nowhere, a wave of roars ruptured through the lionesses, spreading across their
numbers as they pledged to the plan. The roar spread to the other animals, who seemingly cheered
in unison. The entire gathering was one, great, almighty orchestra of acceptance. They had agreed.
Kopa turned at Karimu, who could barely hold back tears. Their plan was in fruition. They would
return to the Uasi Pride, reignite the flames of its crystal throne and reunite the prides. They would
defeat Scar, and bring the Pridelands back to prosperity.
The pair roared back, the sky itself bending to their voices combined. The fog that had plagued the
land blew away, burning in the brightness of the sun, gleaming intensively through the sky as they
roared. Slowly returning to their normal state, a fire burning in both their hearts. A sense of pride.
As the pair came down from their overlook, Karimu rushed alongside Kopa, rubbing her head into his
side and mane. "We've done it!" She whispered, wiping her excited, amazed tears onto his body. The
air arrived at the bottom, Kuwinda and Wivu waiting for them, along with the cubs. Ulinzi and Amani
ran to their mother, rubbing their bodies against her strong, capable legs. Kuwinda slowly
approached Kopa whilst he looked down.
As she approached, Kopa raised his head, seeing the strong, powerful huntress before him. He knew
he needed her if their plan was to work. But she was pregnant. She couldn't fight, surely. No, he had
to think of her safety. Karimu could see her mate's hesitation and nudged him slightly with her tail.
"Ask her!"
"Ask me what?" Kuwinda, confused and slightly worried, stared into Kopa's soul. He sat down, taking
a deep, uncertain sigh as he did. How could he put this?
"Well... For the Uasi Pride to be successful, we need a huntress." His breathing forced his words to
hesitate. "And it's gonna be dangerous." A slight pause broke his speech as he placed a single paw on
her stomach. "For all of us."
Kuwinda, the most stable of lionesses, could feel herself slowly breaking as she felt his touch. The
hum of life in her stomach glowed with such strength, such awe. She also felt a spectral paw touch
her shoulder, as an instantly recognisable voice echoed through her mind.
"He needs you."
She felt a pulse of energy push her body forward, forcing her onto Kopa, knocking him to the
ground. Within milliseconds, she started to giggle, licking his face. The Mlinzi started to giggle also,
trying to ask if his second mate would stop her affectionate bombardment.
"Kuwinda!" Kopa exclaimed. The lioness retracted as he cried her name, her brown eyes piercing his.
Gods, how much she loved him. Karimu and Wivu could only watch on, both amazed and more than
happy with the scene playing out before them.
"I don't care, Kopa." Hearing these words at first sent Kopa's ears sharply down. Was she not happy?
What did she mean? But a single lick resolved all his thoughts.
"I'll stand by your side through the fires of hell if I have to." She allowed the Mlinzi to his paws,
sitting beside him. His two cubs rushed him, pouncing on his ears and tail with their full might.
He didn't mind. He now had his family, his pride and now, a way to stop Scar, just in time. The entire
gathering of Pridelanders surrounded them, cheering and roaring in agreement.
They were saved. They would defeat Scar, and bring the Pridelands and the savanna back to full
strength.
But Kopa didn't see Simba in the crowds. Looking around, he noticed Nala enter a cave nearby,
closely followed by Tiifu, Zuri, Kiara and Kion and the Lion Guard. He nuzzled Karimu, whispering into
her ear.
"I have to talk to Simba." Luckily, she saw them too and agreed to hold his place before he wandered
off to the cave. No one really seemed to notice, or care. Karimu and Kuwinda seemed to be enough.
After all, they were the ladies behind the legend.
Unbeknownst to everyone, however, there was one lioness, watching from high up on the sides of a
ravine nearby, who had watched the entire thing. Her creamy, messy, sharp fur only enhanced her
harp, lethal personality. She had watched Kopa and Karimu, what they had said and done. She heard
their roars, as did her dark master. Her dark stepfather.
"Well, well, well." The lioness growled, seemingly enticed by Kopa's slow strides as he wandered to
the cave. She watched every muscle of his body, the ones she had felt in their fight, only a day ago.
Oh, how much she wanted him. "Father will want to know about this!" She pounced off, heading
towards the large, desolate monument that even a few days prior was the pinnacle of life and its
stable circle. She was his eyes and his claws. And he knew of her recent appreciation of the Mlinzi.
She was Vitani, the Demon of War. And she would do anything to get what she and her stepfather
wanted.
Kopa...
...
Vitani clambered up the decaying monument at the centre of the Pridelands. Her heart burst with
the knowledge she had gathered. She had to tell Scar, that much she knew.
But this knowledge wasn't the only thing that warmed her heart. Images of Kopa flooded her mind,
sending rumbles of a strange, indescribable feeling though her body. She shivered at the sight of his
strong, muscular body, even now.
But as she reached the summit, all feelings diminished. Here, she saw her mother, commanding all
their forces with an aggressive, demonic series of roars. She noticed the unconscious body of Kovu,
still resting from Scar's embrace.
Her attention flashed to the edge of the monument, where a pile of burnt branches and leaves
rested. Within their lifeless, decaying embrace lay a new layer, ready to burn. Hyenas marched to
and from the makeshift brazier, chucking large piles of leaves, twigs and even corpses into it. The
smell of blood, guts and gore ruptured through her nostrils, sending the slightest shudder of
pleasure through the lioness' body.
"VITANI!" Her mother roared as she slowly, aggressively approached her. Vitani instinctively sat
down, shoulder pulled back, chest out. She stared forwards, focused and emotionless. All she could
do was sit there, as her mother circled around her.
"Report!"
"The survivors have a camp in the Outlands." Vitani continued to stare forwards, showing no sign of
weakness as Zira circled her. "But they will be moving out soon." A series of furious growls escaped
the older lioness' muzzle as the sound of her sharp, flesh-piercing claws scratched and scrawled
across the rocky ground, the very ground screeching and crying in pain as she did so.
"Where are they going!?" Zira practically pounced at her daughter, staring her dead in the eye.
Vitani held her posture, though her heart pounded in her chest like that of a tiny, terrified mouse.
This wasn't the first time her mother had acted like this, hell, it was normal nowadays. At least she
wasn't clawing or biting her.
"The Uasilands." Vitani, though terrified deep down, stood her ground, holding her proud,
militarised posture. Her mother lunged at a rock nearby, leaving a deep, darkened slice in its surface.
She turned to look out to the Outlands, her predator teeth vibrating with rage.
"Kopa."
Vitani, nervously arising to her paws, softly approached her mother, who stared out into the barren
land beyond. "Mother?" She also stared out into the abyss, watching as a sudden chilly breeze
brushed across the dying land. She couldn't help but slightly shiver at such a sight.
How many creatures had died in taking this land? Would the land ever heal? All the young lioness
ever wanted was a calm, peaceful life. One where she and her pride could just live. No one starving,
everyone living.
But no! She knew that could never be, not yet anyhow. Scar would bring her, and her family, honour
and power. Her 'father' would bring the wealth of life to them if only they do as he decreed.
But wait! Now he wasn't here, he hadn't been ever since Simba and Nala escaped. She remembered
the strong, masculine lion whom she had fought. God, how handsome was he? She closed her eyes,
dreaming of such magnificence. How much she wanted him... wanted to be with him.
But these thoughts would not last...
A gulf of flames roared from behind them, sending clouds of greenish, hellish smoke into the
atmosphere. The crackling consumption of flesh and bone chewed through the air as the flame
erupted upwards, twisting and contorting itself into the shape of the demonic, all-powerful lion
'god'.
Scar...
The god-like lion spirit flickered into their realm, seemingly weakened and unrested. His body
slumbered across the ground. His once all-powerful, all-consuming presence had slithered into
nothing more than a cowering cub. Despite this, every Outsider, every hyena, bowed in his presence.
Their god had returned.
"Scar!" Zira cried out, bowing her head in honour as she barely held back her tears within. She
couldn't show any weakness. Not now. Her voice became nothing but a whisper, her muzzle shaking
in both fear and trepidation. Without thinking, she moved closer, staring at her weakened love.
"No!" Scar roared, halting Zira's advances. Vitani and the other lionesses could only watch on, rather
shocked to see such affection, such devotion to the scarred god. The young lioness, however, took
the time to look at her injured unconscious brother, from the corner of her eye.
As Scar laid there, his body pulsed with a strange, unknowable feeling. A pulse unlike anything else.
Images of a rocky, dusty cave fluttered through his mind. Simba stood there, along with Kion. The
vision didn't last long, flickering him back to the gathering of his followers before him.
"And they are being led by Kopa." Vitani concluded. Scar stared at her, confused slightly. What had
he missed? Zira stepped forwards, looking between her daughter and her love.
"So, what do you think, my love?" A demonic grin spread across her muzzle. "Do you think we should
pay them a visit?" Scar could taste her villainy in the air. But he knew better. The dots connected in
his mind. The vision, Vitani's scouting. Kopa was there, and a connection had been formed. A grin
spread across him.
"I have a better idea." He flickered his paw at Vitani, ushering her forward. She slowly bowed before
her 'father'. Scar couldn't help but smile at her. Her father must have been an incredible lion. He was
glad he had spent time with Zira, to forge this weapon before him.
"What is your bidding, my lord?" The lioness raised her head slightly, looking up at her 'father'. He
moved closer, crawling up to her neck, his cold, death-streaked breath exhaling down her ear canal.
Her spine shuddered as a cold, yet weirdly warm feeling brushed through her fur.
"Bring... Me... Kopa..." His words fluttered through her mind and heart as he retracted his head,
staring at her with a demonic, scarred smile. His fiery body freezing the blood in her veins. Inside,
she was conflicted, and Scar could see this.
"Do what your brothers couldn't do." He snapped at the unconscious body of his 'son', before
turning his attention to the cowering, shaking body of his trueborn, Nuka.
Within seconds, however, his snappy, aggressive streak diminished, returning to Vitani's gaze. "Take
as many as you need." She turned at the level of his eyesight, turning to look at the lionesses
surrounding them. She knew what he meant, as did they.
Zira looked at her daughter from afar. This was it. Her moment to prove herself, as Scar's claws and
teeth. She couldn't help but be proud, far more than she was of her sons, who she growled at from a
distance, disdained in their weakness. Only Nuka reacted, leaping away from her, towards his sister.
"Hey, Vitani." A slight hint of excitement brushed through his words. "Congrats on being picked." He
smiled at her, practically salivating at the sight before him. He had always felt a little weird around
her, for a while now. Her scent brushed his muzzle, sending his body into a daze, forcing him to fall
to the ground, paralysed.
Vitani didn't reply, instead deciding to stand on her 'brother', trampling over him as she walked over
to her other brother, still unconscious from Scar's possession. She placed her paw on his, closing her
eyes at the texture of his fur.
"Stay safe, Kovu." She whispered, a small barely noticeable tear rolling down her cheek. She quickly
wiped it, before anyone could see. But as she did, a murmur escaped his lips, a word or a name.
"Kiara."
Kiara? What, or who was that? Just hearing his voice forced the lioness to shoot backwards in shock.
He was alive! Though this would probably be the last time he would see him.
She looked around, making sure that nobody was looking at them. When she was sure that it was
clear, she lowered her head giving her brother a quick, heartfelt lick across the back of his ear. She
felt her heart jump in her chest, nearly bursting from its fleshy prison. She looked down at him, still
barely moving.
Out of everyone, she would miss him the most.
"Vitani." She turned at the call of her name, to find a group of lionesses facing her, standing ready
and waiting to go. She arose from her sitting position, facing the small group. "Are you ready?"
She nodded her head, starting to lead the group down the now cursed monument. As she did, she
looked out at the Outlands to the gentle hum of light on the horizon. She couldn't help but think of
who rested there, how good it would be to have him at her side. A malevolent smile spread across
her muzzle as a familiar, tainted voice whispered in her mind.
"Bring me Kopa, and his heart shall be yours, forever..."
