Scar of the Outlands Ch. 6 (Final)

Final Chapter: ToGetHer
My time had come.

I went back to Sevaga, who was still waiting for me back at my den.

He asked "Where's Jafari?"

"Doesn't matter, there's something else we need to do right now." I knew that when we returned to my clan, he would find out that I lied to him about my past. However, I had some ideas to make sure he wouldn't leave me.

"Look comrade, we're gonna have to head back to my old clan. Now when we get there, you're gonna learn that I didn't tell you everything about my backstory, but just remember that this will still be worth it in the end." He simply responded with "ok".

"Let's get some rest tonight comrade, we have a big road ahead of us.

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The next day we had set out. It had become very cloudy in the Outlands, the entire land was bathed in this boring grey light. Everything was completely still for the longest time. The Outlands had now become a graveyard, a dead, lifeless graveyard of broken hopes and dreams. Sevaga and I had made our way back to the clan, observing The grey and brown landscape, and going over what we were going to do. Everything was silent as we made our way, as if the universe itself was trying one last time to turn me back, to look upon me in a judging way and make me remember what I had done to my own father.

Sevaga and I had walked all the way to the other side of the Outlands, ignoring the cries of the universe. We made our way to where my clan was located. Those two giant horns appeared over the horizon. They were unmistakable, and towered over the Outlands far behind the volcano in the farther back regions. It casted long dark shadows over the land, as if it contained a painful memory that would never be forgotten.

We eventually arrived at Asha's territory.

I had a plan though, I knew that I would need to win back a small following of my own if I ever dreamed to over throw my mother.

When we both arrived, the clan was still in a rough state, my mark never quite went away. It seemed like it actually got worse. Asha was more controlling, attempting to stop the rebellion, and she was mostly successful. However, clan mates were more cynical to one another then they had ever been before.

My return was quite the surprise to most of them though. I didn't bother to sneak around, I wanted everyone to know my pressence, once I would be finished, they would know it even more. As I walked towards Asha, I could felt the strangest I've ever felt. The best way it could be described was, though not literally, it felt as though my natural body heat was draining from me, I felt cold, as if the universe was pleasing for me to turn around, and go back, but it was too late now.

Heads turned to face me, everyone there knew who I was.

Asha was old and shaggy looking, bags under her eyes, her strip of mane and fur all drooping. She was talking to another hyena when I yelled to her. My voice cutting through the deep and heavy silence surrounding the area, cutting open the tension in the air like the talon of a bird tearing into it's prey.

"Asha!"

Her ears, they perked up. She turned around to face me.

Her right eyebrow raised as soon as she recognized me, "Nabii... I thought I made it clear for you to leave this place long ago."

"Our conflict has not ended. You of all hyenas should know that you can't get rid of me mother."

She looked annoyed. She responded with, "I knew that this day would come, when you returned. I just hoped I would be dead when it did."

I added in "That can be arranged"

She chuckled at my response, "I will repeat myself for you, if you do not stay away from my clan, you will be hunted down."

"They're not your clan anymore Asha. It's time for your ways to die. Kindness doesn't always win Asha." I turned to the rest of the clan and raised my voice, "Comrades! The Outlands Reformal Project was a magnificent idea, but was sadly thought of by two hyenas who don't know what they're doing! I however, would like to take this opportunity to share to you my visions! I see the Outlands united under one symbol! One flag! No more fighting! No more war is what I promise! All of us getting along in harmony, and we need to make this happen, whatever way we can!"

Asha raised her voice too, '''"That's enough! This is your last warning! Get her out of here!" ''' A couple hyenas started to walk towards me, there teeth showing, so I spoke up again.

"Comrades! Would you really listen to her! I'm promising you a better life here! If you kill me, you may never have another opportunity like this again!"

Asha yelled, "This is crazy, get rid of her now!"

They were stopping however.

"Comrades, so you really wish to trust her? Someone who has failed this clan again and again, as opposed to me? Someone who got Janja to back off from us? Someone who has continued to advocate for your desires?"

They stopped completely and looked at one another. Asha was frantically yelling for them to attack.

"Asha here wishes to destroy us! Scar may fall eventually, but new threats will come, and kindness isn't always gonna work. Bad guys are set in their own ways! The only real way we can unite everyone together is through force!"

There was a moment of silence, then they backed away, letting me go. My mother was speechless. I smiled and prance away with Sevaga. "Take note Sevaga, that's how it's done."

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The next few days were filled with similar situations. I made another campaign against her. Sevaga became our speaker, he was actually very good at talking and persuading others. The sneaky little runt would always find a way to convince you, I admired it, no wonder Janja didn't like him. We made speeches against her, sometimes a fight would break out here and there though, but I expected that. Luckily they never got too violent, Mkuba would always jump in and break them up.

I slowly won more over to my side, until the same thing happened as long before, before my father was killed. The clan was split right down the middle.

One day I came to the conclusion that I would need four special supporters to help me out. Four disciples, to describe it better, four representatives. Hyenas who I could trust.

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I went to Mkuba first. He was the physically strongest in the clan, so I wanted him to be on my side. It didn't start off well, but I got him eventually. Mkuba was a very noble hyena, so maybe I could have him on my side to help keep a sense of morality.

"You tricked me into trying to murder someone!" He would say, to which I responded with "I'm sorry about that. I was young and stupid back then, I didn't think rationally. I hoped that one day you could forgive me about that, because I want to move on from those days."

"Didn't you kill your father?"

That question caught me off guard, "Yes... in self defense." I did kill my father, something only a monster would do. I know I didn't do it myself, but I told Mshale to do it. It was still my fault. Mkuba had looked up to my dad, he saw him as an idol. Mkuba does remind a lot of my father actually.

Father was always a very noble hyena, and he managed to calm the entire clan down and even changed my mother's life for the better. He cared for my sister and me very much, I remember that.

All of the memories of my father came rushing back, and I considered things that I never even thought about before I killed him. Maybe if I had stopped myself back then and thought about who it was that I was about to murder that night, maybe if I had actually stopped and controlled myself, I would be better off.

It was all overwhelming in the moment, and I started to tear up.

"I... I would rather not talk about that... He meant a lot to me... and to have him try and threaten me like that...I... I had to hire someone to protect myself".

Despite how much I had regretted killing him, I needed to close up the past under lock and key, and push it so far down that no one would ever be able to find it again.

What happened next surprised me actually, though now that I think about it, I guess it makes sense. Mkuba is a caring type, so he actually tried to comfort me.

"H-hey now, I didn't mean to bring that up, I... I-I'm sorry. Um... I'd, I'd like to join your group actually, if that's ok?"

I said, "Yeah, yeah that would be great, I've been kinda needing a bit of support lately."

And with that, he joined me.

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Next I went to my sister, Buibui. She was a difficult one to approach, but I knew exactly how to do it. You can't approach from the back and startle her, she has to see you coming up, but not head on as to issue a challenge. Be very calm as well, don't match up to her, those who wanted to approach my sister found this a good method to mimic.

Buibui had been extra nervous since I last saw her though, and she was not ecstatic to see me at all. The clan becoming more harsh had only outcasted her.

I found her bug watching like she normally does, away from everyone else. If I could win her over and take her under my wing, the others would think that I am actually caring. She wasn't crying, but her eyes were teared up a bit. It was a moment of weakness, so I used it to my advantage.

I sat down beside her. She got up though and walked around me while I talked.

It was a bit awkward at first, I eventually broke the silence with a simple "hi". She didn't say anything in response though, she didn't even look at me, her head hanging down low. I had to say things that she would want to hear, so I spoke in a very soft tone.

"I know, last time you saw me, I did a lot of pretty bad things... and I've got a lot of nerve coming back."

She still said nothing.

"Well, I don't want to talk about the whole movement thing, instead, I just want to talk to one another about personal things. Sister to sister, like old times, what do ya say huh?"

Still nothing, so I decided to get more personal.

"So everyone treating you badly, huh?" I asked. She looked at me.

"I'm so sorry about that." I said while standing up. "I wish I could have been there to protect you... I'm... I'm so sorry about that time when we were younger."

She sat down as I walked closer to her.

"Look, I know that father meant a lot to you. I wish I could have handled the situation with him better, so that either me or him could have been there for you after the break up..."

She looked at me again.

"I know I've been a terrible older sister, but... I would like to start over. I would like to put everything behind us, and be the older sister you wish I was. If you join me, I'll be better I promise, what do you say?"

I did it. She smiled and said "mhmm". Three down, one to go.

I went to Mshale after that. He was still a bit hesitant, but was happy to see me return.

All three of us went to Sevaga. We all confronted him, "We're going to do great things comrade, care to join us?"

He said "Yes, of course!" and got up and walked over to us.

We waited for the next day.

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It was storming the next day. This was it. My entire life had been building up to this moment.

"We are the children of the new world. May the foundations of the old world finally begin to crack, and may we be victorious comrades."

Me and my four disciples marched into the heart of the clan, my supporters joining behind us from the crowd. I had an idea, and that idea was chaos. My supporters and I came up with a plan to strike in the middle of the storm, and cause as much chaos as we possibly could to through the others all off balance and confuse them, and hopefully in the confusion, win. We set up everything and knew exactly where we were going to go and the back up plans in case this failed.

Asha and her supporters were watching us march up to them.

The rain was pouring down, the wind felt like it would be able to put Kion's roar to shame.

"Better choose your next words carefully Asha!"

"Bite your tongue!" She yelled.

She interrupted me before I could say anything though, "You know Nabii... there was a time in my life when I was proud to call you my daughter, but now you have done everything in your power to make my life a living hell! What did I ever do to deserve this? All I did was love you!"

"That has no meaning to me right now. I'm devoted to my cause. Your Reformal idea was brilliant I will admit, but clearly that's the best you could do. You attempts to lead us into a better Outlands through respect has failed. How long ago was it when you came up with that idea with Jasiri? Years ago? Well as you can, the Outlands has only gotten worse. I will unite the Outlands under a single flag whether they want it or not!"

"That's not what's best for the Outlands though! You can't just force everyone together like that!"

"It's what's best for them Asha. Again, bad guys are not going to change their ways, the Outlands isn't going to change it's ways because we show it kindness. We need to force it together, and handle anyone who might be problematic in a special way."

She yelled back "Do you even remember your past!?"

"I remember a shadow! A dark and controlling shadow! A shadow named Asha! I will be willing to let you go if you relinquish your position as clan leader, and give you Outland Reformal Project Plans over to me!"

Asha responded with, "And what happens if I don't?"

So I said "You will be overthrown."

Asha wouldn't let up. "I tried my hardest to change for you and this clan! I used to be just like Shenzi or Janja! Greedy, selfish, and harsh! I thought I was done with those days, but now you've been really testing my patience! Do you have anything to say, anything at all!?"

I did. "Your attempts to better the clan through respecting others has failed, because when I'm done here, no one will remember you even existed."

I could see her start to cry a bit. She died inside, I felt it. "Well then, it's clear to me now that my beloved daughter is gone. I will do everything in my power to stop you. There is one other thing you're about to learn about me, the reason why I'm alpha."

Everyone took a step back, making way for the fight. As the wind and rain raged on, me and Asha were circling one another for what seemed like hours, waiting for the other one to make the first move. The other hyenas were getting anxious, waiting for the fight to break out so they could tear into one another. I had a large smile on my face!

Eventually, one hyena in the crowd struck at another, and absolute chaos broke out.

Asha charged at me in the confusion, but I dodged her. I leaped on the back of her neck after that and tried to bite down as hard as I could. She rolled over though and knocked me off. I had to think of something and fast.

We both got up. She quickly rushed me again, and we both locked on to on another while standing on our hind legs. She was attempting to snap at my neck, pushing be further to the ground, smart tactic.

I used all my strength though to push her off of me. She charged me a third time, and I slashed her across the face, giving her a large scar down her left eye. During her half a second pause in pain, and rammed into her as hard as I could, pushing her into the crowd. She disappeared behind the mob of hyenas and I could no longer see her.

I had decided that spot was too dangerous, so I retreated away from the mess. As I ran to a clear area, I could hear her yell through the rain "Leaving so soon?!". Sure enough, she was chasing me. We ran away from the rest of the clan, to higher ground.

I came to a stop though, and she did too. She said "You know Nabii, I really have to thank you. I hadn't been in a rumble like this in a while, and now I don't even know why I changed anymore." Her voice was scratchy, she was going crazy. I wanted to see just how far off the deep end I could get her, try and knock off her focus.

"You want to know the truth Asha!? The truth is I never loved you! You were never there for me, you and your stupid plans to try and make the clan and the rest of the Outlands better!"

She flinched a little bit, but she didn't say anything.

"How does it feel? Knowing that soon the clan is going to see me as their hero? They won't remember any of this even happened!"

She yelled back "Bet!"

We both ran at one another. We tackled each other and fell to the ground. She said to me "You've got guts Nabii, to bad I gotta rip them out of ya! Oh how I've missed this!"

We clamped on to one another and rolled around in the mud, snapping and biting and clawing at one another. She wanted to tear me apart, I could see it in her eyes. I was going to accomplish my mission though, I wasn't going to let her stay in the way any longer.

I pushed her off of me, until Zho'thol suddenly started speaking again, saying "dodge to the left.", I did, and just after I moved she snapped with all her might to my right. She would've taken my entire face off! Zho'thol did that again and again, telling me where to go as she desperately tried to attack me. After I had gained some of my strength back, I rammed her far away from me.

In hindsight though, I probably shouldn't have done that, because she disappeared in the rain. It was pouring down so hard that you could barely see anything beyond your own legs.

She was stalking me though, I could tell, any moment she would pop out and tear into me. Zho'thol however had suddenly said, "duck", and I did, just has she leaped out of no where and missed me.

Zho'thol then said, "Get back up and run in the opposite direction you're facing.", so I did exactly that. I had no clue what I was doing at first, but he saved me before, so I let him guide me.

She chased me all the way until the pathway started getting more narrow. We were on the edge of a large cliff face, right above a deep ravine. We eventually couldn't walk on the ledge anymore, so we started holding on to the rock and mud wall.

It was difficult though, any wrong move and you would plummet to your death. Eventually she managed to pounce on my back. The crazy lump of fur was trying to take us both down!

Because of the rain though, she couldn't quite get a good grip, so she slipped off my back and grabbed on to the side of the wall like me. I was above her now, so I started kicking her with my hind leg to try and knock her off.

Didn't work though. I managed to climb a little bit higher and grab on to a small ledge, too small to stand on, but enough to hold on to. I started throwing mud and rocks in her face, still trying to knock her off.

I had started a small mud slide, and that finally cause her to loose her grip.

She fell off, and went all the way down to her demise. I felt like the whole thing was going by very slowly, as if I was really taking it all in. As she hit the ground, thunder had cracked and lightning had sparked in the distance.

Asha was dead

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I crawled back to the pathway, and made my way down to the bottom of the ravine. I had dragged Asha's dead body all the way back to the clan to prove it to them.

The fighting had died down a little bit, and I could see my four disciples were still alive, a couple gashes and cuts, but still standing. My plan had worked. Most of the clan was still alive, which was also part of our plan, and only a couple where pretty badly hurt, but no casualties except for my mother. Leave it to someone like me to end a fight like that.

They all looked as I walked up to a perch above them, and dropped Asha's body right in front of them all. Their jaws dropped.

"The alpha has fallen!" I yelled.

My four disciples came to my sides.

"Listen my comrades, this marks the beginning of a new age. We will rise from the chaotic mess that is the Outlands! We are comrades united, and we will show the Outlands and Pridelands what it really means to be united! I will begin the Outlands Reformal Project, and with your help by my side, we could bring the Outlands together in it's chaotic state, because we know what's best! Get rid of those who are problematic!"

The crowd of hyenas in front of me began to yell and cheer.

Mshale looked up at me and asked "So what's our first move?"

I knew exactly what we were gonna do next. Now that Asha was gone, and according to tradition I was leader, I began the next step in my big scheme, take full control of the Outlands and bring it together.

Before I was ready to march on what was left of Scar's dysfunctional arny, I needed to lay out some ground rules in my new clan.

"Comrades! During our endeavors, we might make many enemies, and we will endure many hardships, and we will need to be heavily prepared. Comrades, follow me!"

I took them to another large boulder with a solid smooth face, sitting in the middle of the path leading up to the horns. I ordered for stuff to draw with, and a small group of hyenas led by Mkuba quickly ran off for a moment. After some time, they returned with all kinds of stuff that I could use to draw with.

"We have just overcome a very difficult trial comrades, and I am very proud of you all. However, now we will face an even greater enemy, doing what Scar could not, and unify the Outlands. I have planned out a system of rule here, and I call it Outlandism... working title... There will be a set of basic rules written out here on this rock, follow them well."

I began to draw symbols, pictures, and write out on the rock things Sevaga and I had come up with.

"1: Always follow direct orders from your superior/leader.

2: Keep your mind focused on the end goal always, do not let other animals or things distract you.

3: All members of Nabii's clan are comrades, you are to work together always. We are comrades united.

4: you are to think outside the box, and perform your duties to the best of your abilities, do not fail your superiors.

5: Nabii is always right."

"Now comrades, remember these five commandments well, for you will always be tested."

I wanted to see how well they were paying attention, so I stood in the way of them and turned to Sevaga and quickly said, "Sevaga, what is your 4th commandment?"

He said in a prideful voice, "All members of Nabii's clan are comrades, and you are to work together always. We are comrades united."

"Good job! Keep that up! Our symbol will be what follows! We will use this as the symbol of unison and working order here in the Outlands!" I began to draw a symbol Sevaga and I had also created, a curved talon that went through a single bone. It was pure red, the color of power.

I walked over to the perch in the middle of the horns, standing above everyone. My four disciples following closely behind as always.

"Things are going to be a lot different around here now. I know it's scary, but we have big plans, and I have high expectations! Comrades, if we wish to accomplish great things, we need to have strict guidelines, I will not tolerate any disorder."

One female hyena yelled from the crowd, "You are half the leader Asha was!"

Everyone stepped out of the way for her. One of my mother's followers, and leader of the little resistance forming against me. If I wanted to secure order in the clan, I needed something done about her.

She spoke again, "What are you even thinking? You can't just force others together against their will. That's not how life works!"

Suddenly Sevaga stepped foward. "No comrade, I am afraid you are confused here. We need to do this, otherwise some, like Janja, might never agree to join. Some animals are simply too stubborn to change their ways, so what else are we supposed to do? You don't want another situation like with Scar now do you?"

She only responded with a confused look on her face, "That sounds absolutely crazy! Your crazy! This whole thing is crazy! Are you serious? Do you all seriously trust her? She betrayed her own mother and father! Was she not the one who killed her own father in cold blood that night?"

Sevaga and Mshale stepped in.

"Comrade, that was not what happened at all! Nabii killing her father in cold blood was simply propaganda set out by Asha!"

Mshale continued since he had been in the clan at the time. They were making it more believable, impressive.

"Nabii never said anything about wanting to kill her father. No comrades, she simply wanted to have negotiations! It was her father who lashed out first, Nabii was just trying to defend herself!"

She wasn't convinced though, "Well then why would Asha tell us that Nabii murdered him? She would never do such a thing!"

Sevaga said, "Comrade, Asha was old, she was resentful. Her heart had a lot on it. She was not kind at heart, growing up in a rugged and greedy environment. She tried to slander Nabii, fearing that Nabii would replace her. So we rebelled."

"Then why did Nabii wait so long to come back?"

Sevaga took that one as well, "She had to wait for the right moment when the Army of Scar was too distracted by the Lion Guard to make any moves!" He started to prance around waving his little tail saying, "Tactics comrades! Strategy and tactics! That's how we'll win this!" Sevaga pranced around waving his little tail around.

So I spoke over her before she could say anything else. "You're being problematic here comrade, and have become an example of exactly what I am talking about. You are a danger to everyone's safety here, and I will not tolerate it."

"You're a dictator!" Is what she yelled.

Sevaga stepped back in with, "You are accusing the wrong person here of that! Scar was the dictator, wanting to take over the Outlands and Pridelands, and enslave innocent animals and starve us all! That's exactly why we need to do this, to monitor the Outlands, to make sure something else like that doesn't happen! Surely you don't want Scar to come back? Do you?"

The crowd began an uproar of hyenas wanting to have her removed from the clan.

Before the rebel could say anything else, Mkuba, Mshale, and a couple others backed her down with growls.

Sevaga spoke out, "Some things that goes without say, do not leave our borders unless told otherwise! Also, you will refer to Nabii as 'Our Leader, comrade Nabii' every time!"

I leaned to Mshale and whispered "My next order is for you to use your men to keep watch on the clan, you will report any suspicious activity to me. Also, bring that rebel to my den tonight, I would like to talk with her."

"Will do" was his response, and he immediately left to go pass the message to his group.

I decided that I didn't have much of anything else to say, so I made my leave after Sevaga had announced my leavening. "Attention everyone, Our Leader Nabii is very busy, so do not bother her unless you have proper cause!"

He stayed up there for the rest of the day, "answering" questions that the clan had and trying to cover up my tracks, I admired his dedication.

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That night, I explored my new den. It was spacious and private, perfect for me.

Something was off about it though, while I had been in this place many times before when I was still growing up, it seemed... different... now that I was older. What used to be a warm and inviting place, was now painted somber tomb, where dark shadows were casted upon the walls in an almost accusing way. Dead memories still lay grey in this place...

I had begun work in drawing a Zho'thol symbol on the ground though, to remind myself of what I had accomplished to try and combat this eerie judging silence. Mshale and Mkuba had done exactly as I told them and escorted the rebel to my den with me. Her name is Fikiria.

"I would like to be alone."

The two males left. It was me and her. I'm not going to bore you with the details.

After she had left, I laid down in my corner and closed my eyes, dreaming a dream so pretty, and I finally got some rest.

THE END