The Lion King Novel

Uncle Scar

Simba and Kio watched the other cubs at play, partaking in games like Catch The Tail or Pounce On The Pebble; one of the cubs (a male named Tojo) even let some birds he and Simba had raised roost on his back. Right now, he wasn't in the mood for playing with his peers. He usually liked hanging around with the other cubs or his brother, but a part of him still pouted over being left behind by Mufasa.

I'll show him I can hunt, he decided to himself. Then he'll have to take me hunting with him.

"Let's go play with them Simba!" Kio said trying to lift his brother actitude.

"Maybe later Kio" He looked around, looking for something to hunt. He saw Zazu perching on a branch near the edge of the cubs' clearing, keeping an eye on them. But Simba decided not to for two reasons. The first was that Zazu was out of reach, and the second was that he had pounced on him earlier anyway. So he kept looking for a target to pounce on, one that would not fly away.

The other cubs were another option. But Simba would tell them what he was doing, and they would want to play too. He just wasn't in the mood to have the other cubs butting in on his fun. Even more he knew that Kio would still win since all his Lion Guard training has given him and advantage

So they kept looking again until he noticed a blue beetle climbing on a log not far away. It was minding its own business, and it was also the perfect target for their hunt. Remembering what Mufasa taught them, Simba first slunk low in the grass. He was inching farther away from the other cubs until he was near the bottom of Pride Rock. The beetle kept going its merry way; if it knew that Simba was stalking it, it paid him no attention.

Kio looked at him trying to understand his brothers actions, he knew that pouncing that beetle was easy. Well at least for him.

"I'm gonna be a mighty king," he whispered, edging closer to the beetle. "Enemies beware..."

He crept ever so close to the beetle, followed by Kio, up until his face was near its shiny blue body. Suddenly, the beetle extended its wings and fluttered off, leaving Simba to watch it go...and then it landed in front of him again until Kio was faster and got the beetle first than him then letting it go. Simba just made a jealousy face.

"If you wish to kill something, you might want to stay downwind. Your brother already knows that. And it's using good use of it."

Simba and Kio whipped around and jumped a foot into the air. Scar was watching them from the shadow of his own den, laying down and glowering. His dark tawny fur and black mane were well hidden in the shadows, which was why Simba and Kio were startled. Simba himself wondered if his uncle was ever in a good mood to talk. Even though he seemed to enjoy talking to Kio.

"We know how to hunt, Uncle Scar," Simba told the dark lion. "I'm just helping protect the Pride Lands. Watch!"

He pounced at the beetle, but it flew off for good this time. All that left Simba to do was crash into the rock nose-first. He backed away, grumbling and rubbing his nose with a paw Kio winces at him.

"Well, let's pray that we're never attacked by a beetle. Wouldn't want to have a scar like mine, now would we?" Scar responded, his scowl almost making a sneer. He turned away with his back towards the cubs, swishing his tail. "Go play with the other cubs. I don't babysit."

In spite of Scar's harshness, Simba wasn't let down. His father showing him the kingdom was still buzzing in his mind, the thought of becoming king buzzing even more. Kio while enjoyed somehow the conversation he had with Scar always trying to find a time so they could chat.