You Better Know What You're Fighting For

Chapter Six - Hey, Brother

Atazi's blue eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the camp. Exactly how it used to be, just no longer filled with working slaves, nowhere near as many soldiers. No Lucifer. Atazi inhaled sharply, unsteadily as the thought crossed her mind, the dark brown lionesses ears slowly folding against her head as she turned away. Her claws sank deep into the sand, raking across and creating a few jagged lines in the ground. No Lucifer, he was gone, he was dead. All because of those stupid, stupid slaves. Atazi let a snarl rip from her throat, startling a few Sabers nearby, who immediately scuttled away to another area. She scoffed, her gaze tracking their movements as they left, and her lips curled back slightly.

Lucifer had been the only one to truly enjoy her company. Atazi knew he had, too - Every other mate of his was used either for pleasure, or to breed more little Luci's that would soon run the camp. But Atazi was the one Lucifer slept by every night, the one he could sit beside and just talk to. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Atazi had fallen for the dark King, herself. She'd loved him, truly loved him, and she got to see a side of him he didn't show anybody else. But now he was gone.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, her head lowering to bury her muzzle between her paws for a moment, ignoring all the soldiers that passed by her. Atazi was no damsel in distress, she didn't need a Knight in shining armor to save her, she didn't need some righteous prince. She could get on just fine without Lucifer if she had to, if she had to push on without him, and she did. She would hold him close to her heart, she would never forget him, but she never really relied on him. She'd learned the hard way, from a very young age, not to rely on anybody.

Rising back up on her paws, Atazi took another cold look around. The few soldiers in the camp were mulling about, which internally, made the Queen snap. "What are you doing?" She hissed coldly, earning a few frightened looks as the soldiers made their way to their paws. "I don't want you in here. I want you out there, looking for those stupid slaves."

"Yes ma'am," the soldiers stammered out , pushing past each other in their rush to leave. Only one hung back, giving Atazi an uncertain glance.

"Wi- Will you be okay here on your..."

Atazi's cold glare focused on him silently. The soldier bit his tongue, then ducked his head and left the camp after the others.

"I'm surrounded by idiots." The lioness exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself down. It wasn't good for her to get so angry, it usually had really bad outcomes when she allowed her fury to grow. She was a lot like Lucifer in many ways - The Queen chuckled as she considered that, turning on her paws to head for the den that had once belonged to the evil King, ducking inside silently. It seemed no former slave or soldier had ventured inside after Lucifer's defeat- The saber-tooth tiger's scent clung to everything inside.

Atazi sighed as she stopped in the center of the den, her gaze sweeping around silently. "Lucifer, my love," she whispered, her eyes slipping shut for a moment. Lucifer's scent seemed to wrap around her, embracing her. "I'll make you proud, I promise. I'll get revenge on all of them."

She fully intended to do just that. Starting with the one who had took Lucifer's life - Samuel. That traitor soldier. But Atazi had always known there was something off about him, he was weak, he hated the way Lucifer ran the camp. But he'd never acted out, not once, blindly following his brother, who followed Lucifer's orders just as easily.

And then Kion came along. That Prince. Son of Simba. And he tore Sam out of his brother's clutches, bringing him to their side, the rebel's side. If it weren't for him, perhaps Lucifer would still be alive now. Sam wouldn't have made that killing blow. There wouldn't have been a battle. Everything would have been perfect. Everything could still be perfect, if it weren't for them.