Kingdom of Darkness

[mistwolf]

Ila glared out from Priderock down at the barren savanna, that was being pounded by drenching rains. The rains were good: they brought life back to the Pridelands. But Ila was not interested in the rain. Her green eyes were narrowed into slits as she glared across the rain-washed land. The hyenas had chased off Tojo, and had not yet returned. She wondered if they had killed him. She only wished that she had been the one to tear that scraggly adolescent limb from limb. He had made her king and queen doubt her. He had made her look like a bad cubsitter. And he was a traitor. If the hyenas failed, and he ever came back, she'd catch him. And he'd wish he'd never been born.
But that was not all that had happened. Nala, Sarabi, and Kayani had all dissapeared. She supposed Sarafina had as well. The cowards. She hoped the hyenas would catch them as well, and feast on them. Even Kayani. It was clear the cub had been tainted. Ad there was no room on Scar's kingdom for tainted lions.
She did not see any of the hyenas on the horizon, so she turned slowly and walked to find Scar. She wanted to gain his forgiveness and ask about what he would do next. With Tojo gone, he would have to choose a new advisor. Maybe she could nudge him into the decision to choose her.

[Scar]

King Scar stood at the summit of the King's Rock. His black mane waving in the storm winds, and his ruthless eyes scanned the darkened horizons in search for news from the hyenas. The death of his son had been a terrible defeat, but this night had been a great victory. Just imagine it, a rebellion destroyed before it could pose a real threat... Sarabi gone... yes... and nobody could say anything about it. She was a traitor, like everyone had seen. Next morning the sun would rise to a true new era. Everything would be perfect now.

[mistwolf]

Lighting flashed in the sky, illuminating Ila's green eyes. She was at the very start of the King's rock, where it just began to jut out. Scar stood many yards in front of her, staring out over the savanna. Silently, she placed one paw in front of another, and started to walk a little ways up the rock, but not too far that he would think she was being disrespectful, or challenging his authority as king. She hoped he would be in a good mood: after all, he had just defeated the rebellion. He had total control once more.
"My King," she said to him, bowing. "I came to congratulate you. Nala, Sarafina, Tojo, and the rest of those rebellion scum are gone. The hyenas have most likely picked the flesh from their bones by now."

[Scar]

Scar continued to watch the darkened horizon. Lightning cracked and wind howled, the chaos in the sky reflected that in the Kingdom. Everything was destroyed, everything gone; but from its ashes the Pridelands would emerge. Now that he had the road clear to properly rule...

So far they had seen nothing. This was only just beginning.

Ila's presence was acknowledged with a sideways look of Kingly contempt. But her words brought a smirk to his lips.

"Yes." He agreed. "Now the Pride and the Clan will enjoy total unity."

Fully depending on the hyenas for the survival, the lioness would not have another choice than to like them and be grateful. Prejudices and tradition would be left aside, and soon his plan would enter the second stage. Not happy with ruling over the greatest territory, once unity was achieved, he would set out to conquer the other Kingdoms. Soon the Pridelands would not only be the greatest Pride in all of Africa, but it would be the only one.

[mistwolf]

This was her chance. This was Ila's chance to step up and ask Scarif she could do what she always wanted to do: take a higher position. AFter all, how could he say no? She'd practically been the one to chase that traitor, Tojo, from the Pridelands. If it weren't for the hyenas, she'd have killed him.
And now was the perfect time to spring teh question on Scar. It was clear he was contented with what had happened tonight. She must act before something else happened that would ruin her chances.
Ila took a deep breath and stood taller, her green eyes gleaming with determination.
"King Scar," she said, trying to sound couragous, but not overbearing or disrespectful. "With Tojo gone, the position of advisor is empty. With Your Majesty's permission, I wish to fill that void."
She looked at him, her eyes filled with anticipation for how, what, he would answer.

[Scar]

That was sudden. Scar could hardly believe his ears. The last thing he wanted to hear right now was the word "adviser", and that alone was enough to sour his mood.

"I don't need your help, or anyone's, to rule this Kingdom!" Was the King's response.

He turned around violently to face Ila. She couldn't even take care of a sick cub, not even with the help of a full army of cub-sitters. What advice was she going to give him?

[mistwolf]

ila's ears flattened against her head when she heard his response. At first, she didn't process it. She just head the anger, which was enough to make her step backwards, suddenly startled. Then the realization slowly sank it.
He'd said no. He'd told her no. She couldn't be his advisor. She struggled to gather her thoughts. She couldn't just slink away. She had to try and bring him around. Maybe he had just msiunderstood.
"But, Your Majesty," she said, her voice more pleading now.
"I know I can be a good advisor. Much better than the traitor, Tojo. I know I can. Please, Sire."

[Scar]

Not that he needed advice anyway. He had just said it -- he needed no-one! Her continued plead drew a low growl from his throat.

"I believe I made myself clear, Ila. Now go." Scar ordered.

[mistwolf]

Ila opened her mouth to say more, but her words caught in her throat, which was being constricted by emotion. She swallowed, trying to make sense of it. She felt tears stign her eyes, but kept them back for now.
"I...I don't understand," she choked. "I've never been anything but loyal to you, Majesty."
Why was he rejecting her?

[Scar]

There was a dangerous glint in Scar's eye. He just gave her an order. Not a suggestion. Go back to whatever you were doing, Ila, and leave this monarch be. That would be the wise thing to do.

"I said I don't need you!" The Lion King roared, then turning around and walking towards the edge of Pride Rock. This conversation was finished.

[mistwolf]

Ila swallowed hard as the watched Scar walk away. Tears blurred her eyes, which were already blurred by the heavily falling rain. He-he'd denied her. All she'd ever wanted was to serve him. ANd he'd....refused her.
For a minute, she just stood there, numb, unable to think. Unable to breath. Why had he rejected her? When she'd only ever been loyal and serving and-
A thought hit her. She suddenly know why he'd rejected her. A snarl edged across her face, and her claws unsheathed at the thought.
Tojo.
Yes, that was it. Tojo. He'd been late. He'd been lazy. He'd let Shujaa die, and Scar had blamed her! And now, because of that stupid teen, she would never have her king's respect again!
Ila turned away from Scar, feeling the tears and anger well up inside her.
That idiot. He'd ruined everything for her! And she'd let him get away!
"No!" she snarled. By this point, tears were streaking down her face. Her green eyes flashed with fire, and her claws unsheathed and dug into the rock below her paws. Her anger pulsed inside her heart. He'd gotten away. She'd let him get away.
"Never again," she snarled. The rain lashed her fur, blending with her tears. She paced, thoughts of anger seething through her mind.
"Never again," she paused, snarling the words at the sky. "If you ever dare to come back, I'll never let you escape again. I'll kill you!"
She shouted the last words at the clouds above her head, allowing the rain to splash on her face. She'd kill that son of a hyena. She'd kill him dead. And he'd suffer, too. She'd make sure he'd never get away from her again. Never.

[saber]

Saber walked across the empty Savannah, supposedly heading to Pride Rock. He wasn't in fact heading to Pride Rock he was looking for something to fight of his burning hunger, he doubted he would find anything here since the hyenas scared everything off, a shudder coursed through him at the thought of hyenas, his biggest fear and as much as he respected and looked up to Scar he couldn't understand why he would form an alliance with hyenas. As he continued to walk he gave his mane a quick shake in order to get off the water that was beginning to penetrate it, he only gave a quick glance to Scar, who seemed happy.
"Good on you crushing the rebellion.." he thought as he continued on his way.