Nala felt that her only option was to go back to Scar, apologize for leaving, and hope that he let her stay. She couldn't go to any of her friends at Pride Rock, partly because she didn't know how they'd react to her new weight, but mostly because they'd almost certainly turn her in to her parents, and she couldn't have that. Her bitterness toward them had only grown since she'd set out, and (aside from hunger, of course), the impetus driving her forward was the thought of punishing her parents for trying to starve her to death.

Even though she was wasting away to practically nothing, Nala found she had an easier time getting back to Scar's den than she had going home. It was probably just anticipation that made her feet light.

Scar was sunning himself outside his den when he heard Nala's approach. His thin lips twisted into a smile. He'd almost given up hope that the cub would return to him. It had been nearly a week, and he was seriously beginning to worry that all his work had been for nothing. But no, his faith in Nala was completely justified. He closed his eyes as she approached, pretending to sleep so she wouldn't know that he had been watching her.

She nudged the side of his head, and he opened his eyes and yawned theatrically. "Nala!" he exclaimed with faux-surprise. "I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon! How are things back home?"

"My parents tried to starve me!" she replied bitterly. Scar had to suppress another smile. He couldn't have asked for a more perfect response. Nala was obviously in an emotionally unstable state, and he could use that to his advantage.

"Well, as I wasn't expecting you, I don't have any food for you at the moment, but if you'd care to wait, I can send the hyenas out to catch something."

Nala nodded. She guessed she could survive a little longer if she definitely got to eat something soon.

As the two lions waited for the hyenas to get back with Nala's meal, Scar asked the cub more probing questions about what her visit with her parents had been like, stoking the fires of the young lioness' anger at the people who had refused to let her eat what she wanted. He could tell that he was getting under her skin from the way she began to pace agitatedly. He fought down a wicked laugh. The pudgy little cub was so manipulable that it was almost charming.

Soon, Scar's hunters returned with a pair of antelope, and Nala dug in gratefully. She ate as though nothing else mattered in the world, happy for the first time since...well, since she'd left Scar's den the last time. Yet even the warm pleasure of eating was tinged with bitterness. As she ate, Nala couldn't help but think about her parents, and how they had wanted to deny her this, her chief joy in life. Well, she would show them. Now she was with someone who accepted her appreciation for food, and who supported her desire to gain weight. She wished Scar had been her father instead of that jerk who tried to stop her from eating.

Nala was so busy thinking angry thoughts that she didn't realize just how much she was eating. She couldn't feel how full she was, so she made her way easily through both of the antelopes, though her recently-starved belly wasn't used to even that much meat. It felt great to have a distended, hanging stomach again. She almost wished her parents could see her now, just so she could taunt them with how much happier she was without them.