Chapter 100 100: Nala's predicament

[3rd POV] (Pride Lands) The sky was the colour of old bone, and the wind carried dust now. It was not too much, just a hint, but there was a whisper of dryness that clung to Nala's fur as she padded across the savanna. She looked around at her home, vastly different from what she remebered before. It was like she was walking into a new place, a new region, even though she never left. The grass was still green, but thinner, sparser, and brittle at the edges. The countless trees on the horizon hadn't yet dropped their leaves, but they swayed less with life. Actually, their swaying looked more like tired groans. And beneath it all, the ground felt harder than it should have. It was no longer that soft, wet soil that could support any vegetation. Now they were only worth shrubs and sharp grasses. The drought that was seen in the movies was upon them. And this was only the beginning. The future was not kind to the kingdom of P{ridelands. Most animals were leaving, more had already left. Nala continued walking through the open plain until a shadow was cast over her. She looked up and saw the Pride Rock looming in the distance. The setting sun gave the old rock a giant shadow. But as Nala continued walking towards that structure, she felt no warmth or a sense of home. Quite the opposite actually, as she felt her skin crawl when she walked closer. The shadows had eyes. Hyenas. They were everywhere now. No longer confined to the outskirts of the kingdom, they strutted across the plains like they belonged there. Not only did they reproduce quickly but they also multiplied becuase other hyena clans were joining in from outside. The number of hyenas was no longer comparable to what it should be, or the number they were in the movies. They were twice, no, easily triple as much. All becuase of a certain lion and his promise to return in two years. Scar was scared. He would kill anyone who says that out loud, but his actions were screaming it. He was preparing, in any way he could, for the return of the lion he feared. You could see it in the way that he was not limiting the hyenas and let them roam around freely and multiply. You could see it in his desperation to produce cubs and get the lionessess on his side. You could see it in the way he trained his own body, imitating what Leo was doing when he was still in the pride. Scar was doing everything to protect what he got but did not deserve. The crown. ... Nala observed all of this with great rebellion in her eyes. Her mind was in a constant state of worrying and thinking. Oftentimes, she felt like she was the only one who cared, the others seemed to resign to their fate already. She tried not to pay any attention to the clan of hyenas chewing on old bones and loitering around the Pride Rock like unwanted weeds. But it was hard when they welcomed her with laughs and ugly snickers. The hyenas were not yet allowed on the Pride Rocks but they were pushing their boundaries each day. She couldn't help but spite once again in her mind. The scavengers were clearing, growing out of control. At this point, it was not them but Scar who was loyal. The dynamic in their power was subtly shifting. After all, if the hyenas decided to take over the whole kingdom, they could do so any day now. Nala climbed up the rocky hill with practised ease and flexibility. In just a few seconds, she reached the entrance of the den and had moved away from the hyenas. She entered, and only a quiet stillness greeted her. It seemed life and joy were simply sucked out of the Pride Rock. Again, she couldn't help but reminisce about how lively the pride was when Mufasa was still the king. If only she were a lion too, maybe she could overthrow the king and restore the realm as it once was. "Hey," Zuri's voice came from the corner. Nala looked towards the voice and noticed a Zuri laying amid a small group of lionessess. Most of the pride had gone out to hunt, Scar included. "You're back early," Zuri said. "Did you find anything interesting?" "It is precisely because I did not find anything of interest that I returned early," Nala answered while walking towards them. She rubbed her head against Zuri's to show affection before she lay down next to her. She cruled her thinning frame between other lionessess and sought out any remaining warmth from the pride. When she was in a comfortable position, she continued, "Forget about interesting things, there is barely anything out there anymore." "You didn't find other animals?" Zuri asked. Nala shook her head, "Nothing," she said, "Not a single herd. Not even birds. They either all moved towards the edge of the kingdom or outright left," "That's concerning. I thought there were a few herds left at least," Zuri said, her amber eyes staring outside the den. "It seems each day is worse than the last," she said, "Soon we'll be hunting insects." The other lionessess did not speak, but they shared her concern. They nod their head solemnly and get lost in their own mind. "Well, good thing we have an expert insect hunter," Nala said with a smile, finally cracking a joke. "Oh, please," Zuri shared her smile, remembering when they would hunt insects as cubs. It was Simba who first hunted the insects. The group of lionessess spent the time together, cherishing the last warmth in the pride. But as the sun finally set in the horizon and night began, their peace was disturbed by a roar. "Scar has returned," Zuri said, "And it seemed he at least caught something." Not long after, the rest of the lionessess that went hunting with Scar returned to the den. They had blood in their mouth, which they licked now and then. Their belly were bloated to show they were full, unlike the starving many that remained inside the den. The ones who went hunting were Scar's favourites. The ones that had a rebellious spirit were rarely invited to hunt by the king and therefore, rarely got a chance to eat a full meal. Nala glared at her own mother, Sarafina, when she entered. It still stuck her just how easily those older lions bend to new rules. Personally, Nala felt betrayed. On the other hand, Zuri understood them and realised they were just adapting to survive. She barely spared a glance at Sarabi when she entered. All of the lionesses returned. The pride was split into two groups, one that went hunting and came back with a full belly and the other that remained. Scar himself had not returned; instead, he chose to enjoy the kill at the peak of Pride Rock like he usually did. The members settled and cuddled together for the night. But just before Nala fell asleep, she heard the king call her name. She perked up immediately. Zuri followed her. Both of them were on full alert becuase it was not common that the king would summon either of them. "What do you think he wants?" Nala asked. "I don't know," Zuri replied, "Don't go." But the king was persistent as he called her name again and again. In the end, the king was insistent and Nala decided to heed her summons before the king got angry, "I'll be right back," she said and left the den. Outside, she saw Scar sitting down at the end of the Pride Rock's peak, before him was a half-eaten impala, which was probably one of their kills in the afternoon. "Nala," Scar said while turning his head but not looking. "Join me," It was weird. Nala could not put into words how weird it was for the king to invite her like this. But nevertheless, she walked up the rock and stopped before him. Scars stood up and moved away. He gestured at her to sit where he previously sat and she obeyed his command. "Eat," Scar said. She didn't want to eat just because he said so. But she was starved and with meat right in front of her face, she couldn't hold back and she began eating. Scar released content hum before he walked around her in circles. He studied her body closely while Nala fed on the kill. "I still remember when you were just a cub, so stubborn and adventurous," Scar began in a deep voice, "Look how much you've grown now. Full-grown and ripe," He put his paw on her back and gently clawed the curve of her spine. His touch made her fur stand on end. "You are ready to accept your king," he said and finally stopped behind her. He positioned himself above him and was ready to mount her. So that's what he wanted, Nala thought in her mind while swallowing a big piece. There was no panic in her eyes, and she didn't look surprised. Scar took in her feminine scent like someone doing coke. The aroma might be just as addictive for a lion. Young and fertile. He grunted and was just about to mount before Nala suddenly turned under him. She growled in protest, her teeth bared. Her hind legs kicked, and her claws raked from his underbelly till the end. The king screamed. Nala roared, "NO!!" ... ... ... [IMAGE] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author : A poll was taken on patreon on Leo x Nala. Here is the result [IMAGE] So Leo will have two legit love interest. Not just females he has but have real romantic involvement with. Nala and Zuri are both virgins. No NTR