One Kingdom Against the Stars

[wumpwumpus]

Sarafina, after a tense standoff with Zira, soon realized that in her haste to help Tojo, she had made a public display of her resentment towards the current monarchy, specifically Zira. The blessed rain continued to pour down, lowering visibility for everyone. She decided it best to lay low after such a blatant stampede of bravery.

The lioness was greatly relieved to her friend and true queen's voice resonating over the clamor. Zira was now outnumbered by 3, and Sarafina hoped that she would hear the voice of reason in Sarabi.

She slinked over towards Sarabi staying low and on guard. "Sarabi, I noticed Zira going after Tojo just a minute ago and stopped her from scratching his face off. She seems to think he's a traitor, but Tojo insists he isn't...," Sarafina reported quickly. "I couldn't let her kill him, more death is not what this pride needs."

[mistwolf]

(ooc: Funny, the weather happening in the Pridelands is the exacty same happening where I live XD))

bic:
Tojo stared at Zira, trying to remain calm. But he knew his eyes were filled with fear, so he looked away. He could see two paths clearly in his mind: the path of least resistnce would be to run from Zira and leave the Pridelands, leave and never return. The second was to stay and fight Zira, somehow hope that he'd be able to survive and somehow hope that Scar wouldn't kill him afterwards. He felt trapped, hopeless. Either way would cause someone's death. Scar would kill his friends, thinking they were all traitors. Or he'd either die by Zira's paw, or kill Zira. He swallowed. How had everything come down to this?
Then he heard Sarabi's voice and relaxed a bit. Maybe, just maybe the true Queen and Sarafina could talk Zira out of this. Maybe, just maybe he'd live to see tommorrow in the pride. Maybe.

[Scar]

Zira's ear turned to the sound of a voice. She could hardly hear it underneath the falling rain and distant thunder. Sarabi. Sarafina also never appeared after their little brawl, so the Warrior Queen assumed she was with Sarabi.

Hm. She was desperate to know what the two lionesses were talking about now, but she couldn't take her eyes off Tojo. The youth's silence was the same as a confession for Zira. He had lied. Of course he had.

But what to do? If she left him to confront the lionesses, he would escape and the rest of the conspiracy would remain a secret. She could not afford that.

So then Zira did something unusual: she lowered her head towards the ground and her jaws parted in a mighty roar. The low-frequency rumble would travel far and wide, and the hyenas couldn't miss it.

"You are finished." She informed him, "Now, tell me the truth if you don't want me to get Nala as well."

[mistwolf]

That was it. How dare she threaten Nala?! With a surge of anger, Tojo stepped towards her, eyes blazing.
"You don't lay a claw on Nala, you filthy hyena! How dare you threaten her! She has nothing to do with this!"
Tojo knew his outburst would seal is fate. Now there was no way he could try and cover up all of this.
He stepped back, the realization hit. He looked around. The hyenas would be here in moments. Seconds. His gaze wandered to Sarafina and Sarabi. He couldn't do this. He'd put them in danger. They'd die, all because of him. And now one path became clear. There was only one thing he could do. Slowly, he moved closer to Sarafina.
"I'm...I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear. "Tell Nala I love her."
He could hear the sound of the hyena's paws running towards her. He gave one last look over his shoulder, towards the hyenas. Taking a breath, he turned and ran.

[Kita]

Shenzi started off listening to Bakari's story, flicking an ear occasionally in disinterest. While she could hear the hyenas around her laughing occasionally, she didn't really find it that funny. Her mind was in other places, like the voice of Scar not too far away.

She heard him start on one of his looong, equally boring lectures to the pride, complete with brooding, atmospheric clouds behind him. She pawed at a few of the hyenas around her, pointing at the King with a not of her head. "Listen."She hissed, although Bakari seemed to keep on talking.

They could still only hear the faintest of his talking, being as far away as they were and all. But there was ONE thing she did hear. A low, chilling roar the made the fur on the back of her neck stand up.

Shenzi's mouth cracked open into a slight grumble, almost as if it was a reply to the calling from Pride Rock.

"Did you hear that roar or not?" Shenzi said toward the group beside her, all stupidly looking around for the source of the noise. "The oh-so-mighty-queen needs us."

The group departed quickly, taking up the entire paths up to there, fanning out like some sort of swarm. A brown blur was beginning to move towards them, with a startled look plastered across his face.

"There he his." Shenzi grumbled, then called to a few hyenas in front of her. "Get him!"

[mistwolf]

Tojo's paws scrabbled for purchase on the rocks made slick by the rain. As another flash of lighting lit up the night, he suddenly became aware that the hyenas were bearing down on them. He was running towards them.
Then he had an idea. An idea so crazy, it just might work.
They were still amongst the rocks of the Pride Rock, and there was a layer, though slick and dangerous from the rain. above him. He lowered himself to the ground and ran faster at the hyenas, hoping to confuse them. He almost slipped on the wet rocks, but managed to grab purchase with his claws. Then, with a powerful burst of speed, he leaped onto a boulder then, with a rain of pebbles, up onto the ledge above the angry hyenas. Another flash of lighting seemed to cover his trail. Maybe the stupid beasts would think he vanished. He didn't dare look down at them, but ran as fast as he could towards where the main rock jutted out over the savanna landscape. Tojo leaped back down to come to rest nearby Ila and Kayani, and the other lionesses. he was panting furiously, and the dark lioness looked at him curiously.
"Shhh," he urged her. She shrugged and ignored him.
Tojo stood beside the lioness and looked up to where he'd evaded the hyenas. He hoped this worked. Scar would be outraged to see hyenas chasing him, and with relations between the King and the Queen not the strongest lately, he wouldn't beleive an inch of what ZIra had to say. Maybe he'd be safe for now.

[wumpwumpus]

Just as she was reporting the situation to Sarabi, Sarafina heard Tojo exclaim something about her daughter, followed by a harrowing roar that could only have come from Zira.

She had called the hyenas on him... this was not good. She didn't know what to do with the hyenas approaching so quickly. Suddenly Tojo was by her side whispering in her ear "I'm...I'm sorry. Tell Nala I love her," and with that he sped away from all three lionesses, leading the hyenas away from them. "Tojo!" she called after him, but it was too late. He'd made a noble choice, one that Sarafina would not soon forget.

There was still Zira to deal with, however. Sarafina was still counting on Sarabi to back her up in case Zira tried to confront her about bulldozing her.

[- lauren]

Sarafina explained how Zira had attacked Tojo and she had intercepted. It made sense, and Sarabi could picture that easily. Of Sarafina would help Tojo. Then Saragina mentioned how Zira thought Tojo a traitor. How...what did he say? Oh, Tojo what have you done? This was a very important secret to keep, and now the 'queen' suspected it?

Sarabi heard something then; a low roar. Her gaze jerked to the current queen and she watched her threaten Tojo. Something she said made him break, however, because, though her hearing wasn't perfect in this storm, she saw Tojo step closer with force, and heard his volume rise. "You don't lay a claw on Nala, you filthy hyena! How dare you threaten her! She has nothing to do with this!" Sarabi stepped closer to them, staring at Tojo with urgency, hoping he'd see her and calm down. This was not a good way to calm Zira. But Tojo turned to Sarafina instead, muttered something in her ear that made her expression change, and then, he ran.

It was like a nightmare. The storm, Sarafina's calling his name, and Tojo running like crazy into the distance. The hyenas blew past them and Sarabi could only watch in horror as they set their sights on Tojo and pursued him into the night. She took a few steps after them, and realizing their was nothing she could do, turned to face Zira. It was her move. It she chose to fight, she knew Sarafina would back her up. Would it do any good? And then what if Zira did nothing? Could Sarabi hold herself back?

[Scar]

Honestly, Zira was surprised by Tojo's sudden explosion. But she did not back off on the very least. She watched him stiffly with her fangs bared, and seemed about to pounce on him again when he turned to Sarafina. But then Sarabi stepped forth from the mist, and Zira held back. With her body lowered against the ground, her every muscle tense and ready to fight, she watched the unfolding events: the past Queen's 'Shut up' look and Tojo's whispering to Sarafina clearly linked the two lionesses to the conspiracy. Zira's eyes narrowed. Of course. Who else if not these two could be involved?

Then the hyenas appeared, and Tojo pulled an unexpected, desperate, maneuver that allowed his escape. The hyenas almost got him in mid-air, but ultimately, he got away. Zira decided to go after Tojo, sending the lionesses one last glare. They were finished.

Her black claws allowed her to climb the slippery rocks with ease, and her golden form appeared in sight of the whole drowsy Pride. The speech had finished, and the lionesses were heading to their respective places. They froze on their tracks, watching the pack of hyenas cascade from the rock hill, after Tojo.

"TRAITOR!" Zira roared atop her lungs, her potent voice making itself heard even through the rumbling thunder.

A pack of pro-Scar lionesses immediately joined the fray and went after Tojo, but they were pushed out of the way by the charging hyenas which seemed to be coming out of the very rocks. Numberless as the raindrops were the spotted jaws that were after Tojo.

- - -

The unbelievable noise of the lionesses roaring, plus the cries of the hyenas and the distant thunder, brought the Lion King out of his cave. From the height of Priderock, Scar watched dumbfounded the absolute chaos that had just swallowed his Kingdom.

"What is the meaning of this?!" King Scar roared.

But there was no reply. Nobody listened. The chaos raged on.

- - -

Meanwhile, Zira looked for a way through the battlefield so that she could speak with Scar.

[mistwolf]

Tojo, for a minute, thought he was safe. But he was foolish to have ever thought that. His luck had clearly run out. The charade was over. His pretending days were at an end. Zira sprang from the shadows, her cry of "Traitor!" echoing amongst the PrideRock. As soon as she said it, Ila turned towards Tojo, fangs flashing. Ila was extremely loyal to Zira and Scar, and Tojo knew that whatever Zira said Ila would take as truth.
Tojo backed up, and Ila sprang at him, then slashed at him with her claws.
"Ila, please," he pleaded. He had known Ila for a while. "Don't you want to find out what's happening, first?"
"Zira wants you dead, and I must aid my Queen," the lioness growled, stalking towards him. "And I must make up for myself. Scar thinks it is my fault that Shujaa died.'
Tojo pressed himself low to the ground, backing away slowly. She slithered back and forth in front of him, trying to find the best place to strike. The she paused.
"You!" she snarled. Tojo's ears went back. "You were with the search team! You came back too late, you fool! You were the reason I was blamed for Shujaa's death!"
Tojo leaped back as Ila leaped forward. She caught him in the back, and the two rolled, but Tojo struggled back up. He managed to slam Ila down pretty hard, and the lioness struggled to recover. He looked around. The hyenas were coming towards him. And Ila would be on him in a heart beat. Lightning flashed above him. Swallowing, Tojo turned and fled. The rain hammered his hide as he ran. Hyenas leaped at him, their jaws snapping at his flanks and sides, drawing blood. He stumbled several times, but kept running until his lungs felt like they would burst. He ran across the savanna, running from Pride Rock. He'd run towards the Outlands, towards the desert. The hyenas would not follow him there. And maybe with him gone, the lionesses would be safe. He panted, trying to see through the rain. The terrain grew rougher but more and more sparse. The savanna grass dwindled, and so did the hyena attacks. They had fallen away as he grey closer to the border. Finally, sides heaving, he slowed to a halt , looked over his shoulder. Far, far in the distance he saw Priderock. He could almost see the eyes of Scar and Zira staring after him. He looked away, head hung low as he tried to catch his breath. He was bloody, wet, exhausted. Rain fell from his scruffy adolescent mane. Wearily, he lifted his head and looked ahead towards the barren Outlands and the desert beyond. This was it. This was his new home.
His paws sloshed threw puddles as he slowly walked forward into this strange new territory. He was no long a Pridelander.
Tojo was now and Outlander.

[Scar]

Tojo ran and the Clan went after him, all the hyenas moving as one, like a swarm. Unlike hyenas, lions were speeders and not marathoners. The Clan could have pursued him to the end of the world... But they abandoned the chase.... Why? one of them had cried that their king may be in danger. Scar's army returned to Priderock, leaving the badly beaten lion to the border guard.

Meanwhile, at Priderock the King had been updated with the latest happenings. His eyes were flashing furious as returned to the jutting rock where the speech had been given.

Below, the lionesses were scattered. Many had fled in terror of that the hyenas may have gone mad and would kill them, but others had stopped on their tracks, having seen as the whole army went after Tojo and the King stood alone on his rock, unprotected. Could this be their so sought-after chance, their moment to overthrow the evil King and retake their freedom?

But Scar's supporters seemed to have understood the glint in these lionesses eyes, and were gathering in a ring around Priderock to defend their King.

It all happened in a fraction of second, lighting flashed, lionesses fought, but before they would get to anything, the hyenas returned.

There was nothing left to do. The rebelling Pridelanders fled, pursued by hundreds.

"Sarabi and Sarafina must not escape!" Scar roared, and the hyenas accelerated after them.

[- lauren]

The nightmarish scene around her reminded Sarabi of another dark time, years ago when she learned of Mufasa's death, and of Simba's. When Scar took the throne. She had that same sinking feeling like she was falling and there was no escape from her fate. But the scene that was playing out was much more chaotic. Lionesses' were scattering and the hyenas had actually left Scar's side. For a moment, Sarabi's thoughts went to the slim chance that Scar's fall was upon them. But before she could even fully play it out in her mind, the hyenas returned, surrounding him.

The pridelanders were now scattering and one voice was heard over the others. Sarabi and Sarafina must not escape! Sarabi turned to Sarafina and for a moment, she felt the ever-present calm, the walls that shielded her emotions, waver. Her thoughts were racing, desperately trying to decide if she should run and try and hide, or if she should continue her proud display of courage and stay where she was. Scar would probably want to speak to her now, and for a second, fear clouded her judgment. She imagined his giant paw knocking her to the ground and she felt like running.

Too much time had passed, and Sarabi knew that running would only end in being caught and the humiliated former queen would have to admit defeat in front of Scar. She glanced around wondering if there was a place to hide, but Sarabi saw no way out. "Sarafina, you can still make it out. I can distract them. If you want to run, do it now." She looked at her old friend urgently.

[mistwolf]

Kayani was confused. Everything had happened so fast. Tojo was running towards them, then Ila had attacked him and then he'd run out, the hyenas chasing him. Kayani knew how long they could run for. For all she knew, Tojo was dead by now.
But that wasn't the last of it. Lighting flashed around them, and Ila, who'd abandoned Kayani to the elements, sprang into fighting with another lioness. Kayani cried out, scared. Lionesses ran and attacked each other, lionesses that Kayani thought were friends. She saw Ila attacking lionesses Kayani knew well. What was she doing? And why had she attacked Tojo? She was ignoring her now, as well.
Lionesses came too close to her, and she leaped aside, scared as claws swiped above her head.
Then she heard the voice.
Sarabi and Sarafina must not escape!
It was Scar. Kayani was wild with fear, but for some reason instict told her to run to the lionesses she knew she could trust. She leaped into a frantic run, diving under paws and between fighting lionesses, and dodging the jaws of hungry hyenas, who would love to use the excuse of a fight to eat a cub like her. She saw Sarafina and Sarabi in the distance and ran to them, panting.
"Sarabi!" she cried, her eyes filled with fear. "What's going on?"

[gem]

((OOC: I am so sorry this is so long but I missed a lot. Hope you don't mind.))

A lioness had been in the shadows the entire time, not even daring to show herself. Nala had watched the entire scene, all the while her heart being torn apart a second time. She had been deeply saddened by Shujaa's death, not because of who he was but because of what he was. Shujaa had been just a cub and no cub deserved such a death, no matter who their parents were. Plus it reminded her of Simba's death and that was just too painful, even after all these years.

Nala hadn't believed a single word Scar or Zira said but when Zira attacked Tojo, she almost stepped out of the shadows. Her growl was low and dangerous but she was careful not to have it carry to where others could hear. Nala knew Tojo could hold his own against Zira with help and the help was her mother. Nala was forcing herself not to move now, if she did, it would cause more trouble.

Unfrotunately, Tojo was speaking too softly at the end to hear his declaration of love for her and she was suddenly terrified when her friend took off. Then she heard Zira's growl, it was a calling growl and the hyena's reacted immediately. She couldn't hold it in anymore, a spark lit up her eyes as the fight inside her sprang out, "Tojo! No!" The lioness almost took off after him to help. But he was already too far gone and Sarafina and Sarabi was suddenly attacked as well.

Nala's bright blue eyes suddenly widened as she realized she had to make a choice between the only lion that had kept her alive since Simba's death and her own mother as well as the mother of the lion she loved. The lioness chose the other two lionesses, maybe they could catch up to Tojo once they all got away.

Coming out of the shadows, Nala drew herself up and released the suddenly alive fight that had been dead inside of her. She roared, a dangerous and loud roar. Then she sprang into action, fighting her way through the hyenas and Scar supporting lionesses to get to Sarabi and Sarafina. She got nicked by a hyena tooth from behind and she whirled around to claw him back with fury. "Mother, Sarabi, no we have to all make it through! Kayani, come with us, please!"

[mistwolf]

Kayani was scared. There was so much going on around, and now Nala was begging her to come with them. Kayani set her ears back, took a step back. She wanted to say yes, but she looked over her shoulder, as if she could see Shujaa standing there. How could she leave? This was Shujaa's home. If she left, she'd be leaving him behind, too. She just...couldn't do it. She was scared of Scar, but she couldn't leave her memories of Shujaa. Not for anything.
"No..." the cub whimpered, backing away from Nala. "I..I can't."