Zira lay in a dead tree overlooking the pridelands. The greenery there was starting to flourish already. The outlands were not so fortunate. Zira had tried to be optimistic about her new home but it was impossible. By sending her pride here, Simba had sentenced them to death. He would pay for that. Zira raised her muzzle and scented the air. He would be here soon. Ever since they had been banished to this place, Zira sent patrols to spy on the pridelanders, luckily for her their routine was very predictable. Simba would come to the small pond on the other side of the border, drink, sniff the air and scan the border before heading back. And when he did...
Zira hissed and dug her claws into the thin bark of the tree. She pricked her ears. Something was wrong. Simba had brought someone with him, of all the days...
Zira flattened herself against the branch, the sandy wood blending into her own fur as she watched two lions come up from over the ridge, towards the pond. Simba was there of course and the other was the old lioness who had challenged Zira.
She was far more frail than when Zira last saw her, but she held her head up high nonetheless.
What was her name? Oh yes... Sarabi.
What was she doing here?
Zira stained her ears to hear what they were saying.
"Ok Simba what's so important we had to walk all the way out here to tell me? I know that checking the border with you is just an excuse." Zira heard her purr.
Simba bit his lip, barely containing his excitement.
"Nala's expecting cubs!" He exclaimed, his voice causing some nearby birds to take flight. This prey-scaring buffoon was the king of Scar's lands?
Even from her tree,Zira could hear Sarabi purr.
"That's wonderful!" She pressed her muzzle against her son.
"We should celebrate!" She continued.
"I know, I'll catch something, we'll have a feast to bring back to the pride, wait here!" Simba ran off. Zira blinked in surprise, that was the most impuld decision she had ever seen anyone make. Sarabi was alone now, sat by the pool, smiling to herself. Simba would be gone for a while after that little prey scaring yell he had let out. Zira grinned. This was perfect, Simba could wait, for now she would teach this old lioness a lesson.
Zira climbed stealthily down the tree, rolled herself in some dirt to try and disguise her scent before crossing the border. She snuck through the already tall grass before stopping behind Sarabi. Zira stood to her full height.
"Hello Sarabi."
Sarabi whipped around, eyes wide.
"Zira!" She took a step back, stumbling, her paw gave away on a stone and her muzzle crashed into the water.
Zira saw her chance. While Sarabi struggled to get up, Zira firmly placed a paw on Sarabi's head, ensuring her nose was completely submerged. Immediately Sarabi began to thrash, but Zira held on easily. This was even easier than she thought!
After a few moments Sarabi's struggles became less frequent as air bubbles out of her mouth, before finally stopping.
Zira stepped back. The old lionesses' eyes were glazed. She was dead. Zira let out a satisfied purr before running back over her side of the border and reclimbing her tree, making herself look as relaxed as possible. Moments passed before Simba re-emerged, looking slightly embarrassed with his jaws empty. Zira let out a soft laugh. Typical.
His eyes widened as he saw Sarabi's lifeless body at the edge of the pool. He let out an agonised wail before dragging her body out and licking it frantically.
"You're too late." Zira said loud enough for Simba to hear.
Simba's head shot up and she began to growl, unsheathing his claws. A pathetic display.
"Snarl at me all you want, the old fool slipped, I didn't do it, try and catch my scent if you don't believe me." That dirt better have worked!
She hadn't been in the outlands too long so it should be enough.
She allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief as Simba finished scenting the air and looked back at his mother's body.
He snapped his head back to Zira.
"How dare you just watch! You could have saved her!" He roared
Zira was filled with satisfaction by his anger. She pretended to admire her claws for a moment before answering.
"There are not my borders Simba, they are yours, if I had stepped across that border you would have tried to tear me apart, not that you would have succeeded."
Zira grinned, allowing a now confused looking Simba to see her teeth.
"Actions have consequences Simba, and this is just the beginning."
She jumped down from the tree and began padding to the termite mounds she was now forced to call home.
Zira laughed to herself. She would one day have Simba's throat in her jaws, squeezing until she heard the crunch of his spine. They would all pay, for what they had done to her pride, herself and Scar. She would one day have her revenge, and it would be glorious.