"Hey boss !" It was the same disrespectful attitude the hyenas showed every time. Scar had ordered them to meet him in his old cave, where he had resided before he became king. The lion rose from the ground and sat upright.
"Give me your report !", he commanded.
Shenzi stepped forward.
"We finished the job.", she said, then turned her head to Banzai, who stood behind her, "Didn't we ?". A "Yeah !" and an evil cackle was the answer.
Scar glared at the trio with disgust and contempt - their fur and muzzles were still stained with blood, and the harsh smell of death was lingering about them.
"I suppose you have already claimed your reward ?", the lion asked in a low voice.
"Sure did, boss.", was the answer from Shenzi, and Banzai added a "Yeah. I could get used to the taste." to it.
Scar pushed Shenzi out of the way to stare at Banzai, and his voice died down to a whisper, "And I could get used to the sound of hyena's necks snapping between my jaws."
Then he also pushed Banzai aside and headed for the cave's entrance.
"And clean yourselves before you leave. We do not want any questions."
With that, he left the cave, sounds of giggling and laughter echoing after him.

On his way to the promontory, Scar pondered the situation and mentally prepared himself for his next step. The hyenas had once again succeeded in removing a possible threat to his rule. He had found Dumela near the border to the outlands, a young rogue looking for a pride to claim or to join. To Scar, he had been the perfect opportunity to keep the hyenas at bay, so he had offered him to join the pride as his lieutenant, which the younger lion gladly accepted. In fact, Dumela hat reminded Scar of himself in his adolescence with his dark, not yet fully grown mane, green eyes and a rather wiry stature. But over time, more and more of the lionesses had developed sympathies for him, and even an albeit small group of hyenas began to like him. It must have been the way he acted - although the physical similarities between him and Dumela were striking, their behavior could not have been more different.

Dumela had been a dreamer, a young idealist full of illusions. He even suggested leaving the Pride Lands for more fruitful hunting grounds once. But that was in the past. Now he was gone.

Scar strode up to the edge of the promontory. For a moment, he stood there in silence, waiting for everyone to notice his presence.
Then he called out, "Zira !"
Below, there ws a motion as one of the lionesses lifted herself up from the ground. She quickly walked up the slope leading to the promontory.
"Yes, Scar ?", Zira asked.
Scar did not look at her as he said, "We should go inside. There is an issue of great significance."
Then he turned around and walked into the main cave, and the lioness hurried after him. Inside, the lion stepped on the small platform he usually rested on. Zira also sat down, but in front of the him.
Scar looked in her eyes, drew a deep breath and put on a grave expression.
"Zira. I am sorry to tell you. Dumela is dead.", he said. In the eyes of the lioness, he could first see disbelief, then shock.
"But ... what happened ?", she asked.
"He went out hunting with an escort of hyenas I gave him.", Scar replied. "They spotted a lone buffalo passing through my kingdom. The hyenas warned him that the bull was too large for them to overwhelm, but he did not listen to them. He knew the pride needed food."
Both Scar and Zira sobbed softly, but only only one of them spontaneously - the other one intentionally.
The lion continued, "He attacked the bull, and leapt on his back but ... got stabbed by his horns. The hyenas tried to help him, but it was hopeless. I am truly sorry, Zira."
Scar almost believed his story. It nearly brought tears to his eyes. Zira did indeed believe him, and he could see a single tear rolling down her cheeck.
"This is the third time in my life that I lose someone of great importance to me. I can understand how you are feeling, my dear. First, I lost my beloved brother and nephew." Scar swallowed. "Then, my daughter just disappeared."
Of course, he did not tell Zira that his hyena scouts had found Nala's tracks, leading into the desert.
"And now, I have lost a friend. No, more than just a friend. In the few moons he was here, Dumela had almost become a brother to me. So this loss hurts me deeply." Zira was already staring to the ground, with more tears rolling down her cheeks. Suddenly, Scar's expression became stern again.
"But there is more I have to tell you.", he continued. His voice had become firm again. "Is it true that you are expecting his cubs ?" Zira swallowed, a knot forming in her throat. She did not know what to expect next.
"Yes." Scar's expression suddenly lighted up, and he smiled - the reaction least expected by the lioness.
"This is excellent.", he said.
"What ?" Zira's response was full of disbelief.
"I said this is is excellent. And I have good news for you that will certainly help you to overcome this loss.", Scar said. "I have decided that my successor will be one of Dumela's sons, should he have any. I do this to honor his memory and to show my deep esteem for him."
"But what about your son, Nuka ?"
"I am certain that he will be content under the rule of the next king. He will understand what I have done. Dumela was my friend - do you question my motives ?"
"No, my king. You are truly noble.", the lioness answered.
"Yes. Sometimes I even surprise myself. You can go now.", Scar commanded. "Tell the rest of the lionesses what has happened."
Zira lowered her head, stood up and left the cave. The audience was over.

Scar flopped down on the platform. He grinned to himself. Power was not given, it had to be seized and defended. If his son Nuka was really worthy of being king, which Scar still doubted, he would have to learn this lesson. And then, he would have to take the necessary actions to remove any obstacles in his way. One of these obstacles had just been placed. A first challenge to test his will and strength. And if the unlikely happened and Dumela's son could make Nuka respect him, then maybe Dumela had really been carrying the blood of a true king ...