The rain started to fall after Issa got us back into the cave. From outside, I heard a powerful roar reverberate through the air. Issa kept pacing and lashing her tail. Nuka sat near the back of the cave, muttering under his breath. It took all I had not to completely break down.

There's a chance he survived the fall, right? Maybe he and Zira would walk back up here any moment to tell us that we won. But the arrival of Sarafina, Eshe, and Tama told us otherwise. My entire world was about to change in the matter of two heartbeats.

"Simba has ordered all lions to the base of Priderock," Sarafina announced. "Including the cubs."

Issa simply stared at her. "Is Scar dead?"

My blue eyes fixed on Sarafina with desperation. I felt my heart pounding against my rib cage like the angry thunder that rolled overhead. The very ground beneath my paws seemed as unsteady as a leaf caught in the wind. Sarafina's next words would determine the course of my life for good.

Sarafina avoided our questioning gazes. "Now he is." She turned and led the way out of the cave.

In that moment my legs gave out and I fell to the ground. Nuka and Kovu's cries echoed off of the cave walls but I remained silent. Perhaps it was denial or maybe a part of me felt defeated, but I couldn't make a sound. Silent tears streamed from my eyes, followed the curve of my jaw, then splattered to the ground. What good would crying do? My father was dead.

That was the longest walk of my life. Issa led the way, followed by Nuka and Kovu, then I trailed at the end. I paused in the archway of the cave and glanced behind me. Somehow, I knew that this would be my last time on Priderock. We walked down the slope in the rain, slipping most of the way down.

The hyenas had all disappeared, probably cowering in the Smoking Mountains like the cowards they were. On top of a boulder stood the red-maned lion who I guessed to be Simba. I hated him the moment I laid eyes on him. He killed my father. He took him from me. Near Simba was the same blue-eyed lioness I watched during the battle. She seemed really close to him, so I hated her too. They brought this upon us.

Gathered at the base of the rock were all of the lionesses allied with Simba. They included Sarabi, Sarafina, Dwala, Naanda, Diku, Layla, Bina, Eshe, Tama, and Kula. The rest stood separate from them, gathered behind my mother. They were Ramla, Nadra, Afra, Katura, Hasana, Armani, and Cato. We hurried to join them. I wanted Zira to tell us that everything would be fine, but she wouldn't even look at us.

Issa went to stand at Zira's shoulder with Nuka and Kovu at her flanks. I stepped towards them, snapping out of my trance, but then I felt eyes on me. When I glanced towards the boulder, I saw that the blue-eyed lioness was watching me intently. Who was she? Why did she keep staring at me?

"Vitani!" Zira snapped, and I hurried to her side.

Simba suddenly spoke: "Anyone who wishes to repent for what they've done, please step forward now and no harm will come to you." I glanced out of the corner of my eye at the others. No one moved a muscle. "Very well, you are all banished to the Outlands. As supporters of Scar, you can no longer be trusted as Pridelanders."

My heart sunk with the realization of what that meant. He was making us leave our home. Our home! This majestic place that I loved so much was no longer mine. Everything my father worked so hard to build shattered with a few words.

"You'll regret this, Simba!" Zira snarled angrily. "Scar was the rightful King of Priderock! You'd better get used to looking over your shoulder, to the paranoia, because one day we'll get you for this."

Simba narrowed his amber eyes at her. "Go, Zira, and take Scar's spawn with you."

The hair along my spine rose in indignation. Spawn?! How dare he?! I wanted nothing more than to claw his eyes out and feed them to the vultures. I wanted to skin him alive and use it as a rug! The blue-eyed lioness could suffer alongside him for all I care. They killed Scar. They were the ones banishing us!

Zira turned on her heel and led us away from the only home I've ever known. I glanced over my shoulder at Priderock. I tried to memorize everything about it, every crack, every rock, every ledge. But as I was looking back, I saw the blue-eyed lioness watching me again. In response, I curled my lips to show my fangs and growled. She seemed startled as if she'd seen a ghost.

I'll never forgive them for what they've done.

They've killed my father, took my home, and made us Outlanders. Well, I vowed that one day I would fight for this land and bleed Simba out for my father.

For Scar.