Rikun, the king of the Outlands was taking his youngest daughter Zira out on a private lesson to teach her about neighboring prides. As always she was eager to learn, a trait she got form her mother Azora. He spoke in a calm voice: "Zira, you know of the prides beyond our borders correct?" he asked turning to her. She responded with,
"Yes father, of course. You're speaking of the Pridelanders, correct? Current rulers are King Ahadi and Queen Uru, sons are Mufasa, Taka, and Ruko. They've been rulers for at least four generations." she recited the information like it was recent events. Rikun nodded in approval of her good memory and said,
"Yes, you are correct my child, Azora has taught you well. I am impressed." he pointed his head in the direction of Priderock, far away in its stone glory. "Yes...they have been rulers for that long, but we've been here much longer, at least twice that long from what my father has told me as a cub." He gripped the rocks in anger, "They live in paradise, yet we live in squalor and filth, hardly any food, we have to steal their kills daily just to survive, and they gorge themselves. Their fur is clean and ours is flithy. Why should we have to suffer in their place." Zira watched her father in awe,
"Ahadi...you bastard, you get all of the rewards and for what? For being born there? Zira my child, you must listen to me; you will lead your half-sisters to the edge of the Prideland territory and watch them, learn their habits, their mannerisms, everything. I want you to take one of their sons as a mate, marry into the pride and gain power, and some day...kill the king and queen. We mustn't suffer any longer Zira. Our pride numbers are falling fast." and with those words, Rikun jumped down the rocks and left Zira alone to think about what he had said,
"Queen of PrideRock...yes, that sounds lovely..." She stood there admiring her father's words....this would be the last conversation they would have. Hours later, Azora would die in a accident during a needed hunting party and her father would follow shortly. Zira soon took her place as ruler of the Outlanders and looked up at the sky, red and cold. "That sounds lovely, father. I WILL do what you ask of me. I WILL be queen!" A hint of madness sunk into her mind.

linear by DragonHeartLuver