The Lion King: An Outsider's Tale

Conflagration

Zira

The air turned black all around me. Smoke filled my lungs; I could not see or breathe. I knew I had to run to locate my family swiftly before the fire put them to an end.

"Mom, mom!"

I can hear my son Nuka weak cry for help. He is still alive thankfully, but I must take quick action. I follow his little voice to our private den beneath a now blazing Pride Rock. I entered the den and found Nuka laying down almost lifeless trying to grasp for any oxygen left. I nudge my wet nose on his furry cheek to gently bring him back to consciousness.

"Sweetheart, we must go. It is no longer safe here."

Nuka coughed and nodded his head as he slowly got up on his little cream paws. I picked him up by the scruff and raced out of the den which is now filled with fire and heavy smoke. I must next find Taka (Scar). The last time I was with Taka, he told me he had an important meeting to attend with the hyenas. There was a complaint with one of the pride lionesses that the hyenas threatened to attack one of their cubs. The hyenas have been starving like the rest of us here and had no problems making a lion cub a quick meal. It is the desperate survival of fittest here. The herds have moved on to better greener areas, many miles away. Occasionally we would be lucky to find prey but not always. The Pride Lands have become a deserted land.

Once Nuka and I were able to safely escape the fire, I ran into my adult sister Niyara who was also found safe alongside a few other pride lionesses. Niyara's pelt is like mine, brown tinged with tan. Her paws, underbelly, and muzzle are a paler shade of tan. She does not have black upper ear rims nor a dark stripe that ran from her mid-back to her forehead. We both share the same nose, black and curved. The color of her eyes is midnight blue. I am the oldest sibling.

As I approach Niyara, she rushes to me with a welcoming head bud. She squeezes her eyes tightly shut as tears stream uncontrollably down her furry cheeks. "Zira, thank the heavens you two are okay! I was almost beginning to think I've lost you..."

I sit Nuka down between us and gave my sister a warm hug purring softly, "I am glad to know you are here safe too Niyara." We release from the hug. I scan around in search of Taka. I do not see him anywhere. I began to panic.

"Niyara, where is Taka? Have you seen him here with you?" I ask anxiously.

Niyara had a frightened look. "The last time I saw him he was in a battle with Simba and the hyenas."

"Simba?" I said taken aback. "As in Taka's nephew, Mufasa and Sarabi's son Simba?"

She nodded, "Yes Zira. Simba is alive and has returned to Pride Rock to battle Scar. He wants to take his place back as King. We cannot stay here; we must leave now. I was trying to wait on you and the others before we make an escape."

I furrow my brows, "Niyara we are not going anywhere. This is our home too. I need to go find Taka now. Can you please watch Nuka? I will be back. I need to have a word with Simba."

Little Nuka cradles himself between his aunt's front legs. He looks stressed given everything that is currently going on. Being a child, he does not quite understand what is going on yet. Niyara nodded her head with a worried expression, "Yes. Please be careful my sister."

I immediately took off running up to Pride Rock. It begins to rain, putting an end to the fire and cooling the land. We have not had any rain in a couple of months. It felt wonderful on my fur. As I am going up the magnificent rock, I see plenty of dead hyenas. Most were taken out by the fire. I stumbled across Shenzi, Banazi, and Ed. They were Taka's most loyal companions. It was devasting to see their burnt corpse laying around. I said a quick farewell to them before continuing the path to the very top of Pride Rock where I'd hope to find Simba and Taka both. I pray that Taka is still alive.