Author's Notes:
I have already written several stories, parodying the wonderful universe created by teatrthgrrl, so time finally came that I am to write a serious one. As far as the commission went, it was to be "a story focused on T and Gituku" (both being tearthgrrl's original characters), how it will turn out - you shall see.
Important: it's good to have read any tearthgrrl's story before giving this one a try, so if you hadn't done it yet, go to her profile and enjoy some of the best TLK pieces ever written ;) After that's done with (perfectly, after reading "All Switched Up!"), you are very welcome to enjoy this story too. There may be minor references to her other stories, most notably "A Trio's Eye View", but it isn't necessary to have read them before this - though it's certainly worth it!
Practically all the OCs used belong to tearthgrrl, should I introduce anybody of my own, I'll let you know.
Enjoy!
It was a hot, arid day in the Serengeti, and nothing seemed out of place. The sun was shining unmercifully, trying to fry anybody stupid enough to leave the soothing shadows. Lions were lying lazily at Priderock, herds were grazing peacefully at the plains and hyenas were laughing happily in their graveyard abode. For someone who had missed the last part of this terrain's history, however, it might have looked weird that none of the hyenas wandered around their land, looking for carcasses or bones with any muzzle left inside. Instead, many of them enjoyed themselves while eating fresh, juicy meat of recently hunted prey.
It was possible thanks to an alliance made between the two major predator races a few months ago – since the battle at Priderock, where united forces of lions and hyenas fought off an interspecies mutiny, many things had changed, mostly for the hyenas. They were now allowed to freely hunt and roam in the Pridelands, they were even invited to stay in them. After some time spent on the ever-green plains though, hyenas had discovered several advantages of living on their own land and returned to the graveyard. Still, with the privileges given to them, most families chose new homes, closer to the once so deterred border.
Somewhere among the piles of waste – rotting ever more often, which gave hope for grass to grow in the place it wasn't seen in for ages – a large elephant skull stood, occupied by the clan's leaders.
"Man, it's just like the old times," Banzai stated, lying on the ground with a content smile.
"Only better," Shenzi added, looking at a fresh carcass they had hunted for dinner.
Ed laughed happily, expressing his joy in the only way he could.
"If only my mother knew I'm going to rule this clan under such circumstances…"
"She would be extremely proud of you," Banzai assured her.
"I know, I just wish she could see it," Shenzi sighed. "I mean, think of it: all this time she risked her life and lives of many other clan members just to be able to feed everybody. And now, we got even more than we asked for."
"Well, she's probably rejoicing somewhere… wherever hyenas' spirits rest."
Shenzi looked as though she wanted to make a comment about Banzai's philosophy, but she let it go.
"Anyway, where's T?" she asked.
A semi-articulated answer followed, soon to be translated by Banzai:
"Ed says she went to visit Abeni and Kamau."
"Well, what are you up to, boys?" Shenzi asked.
"Dunno… we could walk up there too."
"Why not?" she agreed. "And they shouldn't mind either."
Ed laughed gleefully and ran out of the skull, waiting for his friends outside. They soon joined him and settled out to the nearby destination.
"Ever since we were allowed into those Pridelands, it's not a problem to visit anyone anytime," Banzai said, remembering the distance he had to cover as a cub anytime he decided to visit Shenzi… which meant practically every day.
"Yeah, but it has its faults too. We used ta have far more privacy," Shenzi replied dryly.
Ed babbled out a question.
"But we have our differences too, Ed," Banzai answered. "Not everybody likes to hang out with 'is new neighbors."
"Don't even tell me 'buot it," Shenzi sighed. "It's like every day I hafta solve such problems: he's eavesdropping, she's too loud, do something about the way they raise their children…"
"Yeah, and who causes most problems? Our ol' pal's fabulous old man, Gituku senior," he added.
Ed cut in with a series of incomprehensive sounds.
"He's right," Shenzi said without waiting for a translation, having understood Ed's tone. "You're listening to your hate more than to all those folks visiting us. This guy's as peaceful as a lamb when compared to those morons who landed right next to Maumbu's den," at that mention, Ed growled with contempt. "Or that family which settled practically in the Pridelands, ugh. They've came once to complain about the lions roaring too loud."
"I bet they came back home with another number of teeth," Banzai snickered.
"You bet, honey. Though Gituku's father also is a pain in the neck, and he keeps on repeating he's going to leave this place if he's not left in peace."
"Well, I'd like to see it. I mean, the guy's so obese he'll sooner rest in peace than climb a mild hill," Banzai added.
"Yeah, he would have to be rolled onto it!" Shenzi said, making the trio burst with laughter.
Ed pointed something after they covered another few steps and cackled excitedly.
"Yes, we're here," Shenzi confirmed. "Abeni! Kamau! You won't mind us visiting, will ya?" she asked, entering the den first. Sitting inside were three hyenas – two females and a male. Two of them were Abeni and Kamau, a couple of silent, calm hyenas having a certain backstory with the trio. The third was T, the latest addition to the trio – a slightly younger hyena of almost exact appearance and attitude as Shenzi.
"I don't think you expect me to answer," Kamau said, seeing her. He showed little emotion, but since he did so only on special occasions, it couldn't have been taken as an offence.
"Make yourself comfortable," Abeni invited, seeing Banzai and Ed getting inside after Shenzi. Ed waved his paw and eagerly took a place next to Shenzi, who had already sat near T. Banzai growled quietly, seeing Shenzi between the other two, but he faked a smile and took a place next to Ed.
"So, uh… where were we?" T asked.
"I believe that topic is not to be discussed in such company," Kamau replied mysteriously.
"Hey, whatever you can tell T, you ca-" Banzai started, but was cut off, as Shenzi "accidentally" pushed Ed into him, making the two males slam their heads.
"I understand," she told the quiet duo, confusing Banzai to no end. "Quite nice place you've found yourselves."
Banzai's head started to hurt and it wasn't from the impact with Ed's. Seeing Shenzi give up on a topic was as unusual as meeting a living elephant inside the borders of the graveyard. Only after looking past her did it hit him: T! Shenzi was going to extract everything from her, as usually, saving her strength by pretending to the hosts that she didn't care.
"It's pleasant, indeed," Abeni agreed.
"And the neighbors are as decent as one could only ask for," Kamau supported her.
"Do I wish I could hear this more often," Shenzi said yearningly.
"I see you're really inseparable, then?" Kamau remarked, looking at the whole four of them.
"You could say that," T laughed. "Don't you miss your old kith?" she asked after a while.
The trio cringed mentally, remembering Gituku, Monifa and Bujune, but Abeni and Kamau didn't look offended.
"A bit," Abeni said.
"What?" Shenzi and Banzai burst out almost simultaneously.
"Well, you didn't know them from the other side, always too occupied with jumping at each other's throats to notice their personalities," Kamau pointed out.
"And Monifa could be a real friend when times were tough," Abeni said. Kamau nodded, confirming the same about Gituku.
"Whoa, whoa!" Banzai cut in. "Next thing we know, you're gonna say Bujune had an artistic soul!"
Ed added something and both males erupted with laughter.
"He was very humble and honest," Abeni advocated her long-gone friend.
"Excuse me for a moment," Kamau suddenly said, getting up.
"Did I tell you about the time Bujune stood up to Gituku to protect some kids Gituku was picking at?" Abeni asked.
"Sorry, I'm not a fan of fairy tales," Banzai countered.
"Why, it's true. It was-" she was interrupted as Kamau returned.
"There's something odd going on in front of your skull, Shenzi," he said and soon the whole six was out, headed to the trio's home.
Shenzi was almost running, trying to save some dignity though she restrained herself from it. The others were hot on her heels, curious what was going on but smarter than to try and hasten Shenzi. No one said anything, too focused on the destination to do so.
They noticed a crowd gathered in front of the trio's place from afar. There were some loud quarrels and much growling going on, making everything incomprehensible from the distance. Soon though, they reached the commotion and Shenzi tried to poke her head inside to see what was this all about… nobody seemed to notice her, however.
"Ok then," she said quietly, then suddenly started to yell. "MOVE YA SORRY HIDES OR I'LL HAVE THEM REMOVED!"
Many heads turned her way and soon all the hyenas moved back, creating a path into the centre for their leader, thus making visible the reason they were amassed here.
The whole newly arrived six almost choked on their tongues.
After a moment of shock, five voices said almost concurrently: "GITUKU!"
There he was, standing in the middle of angered crowd, smiling cockily as though he still were the same teenager that had just pulled out a prank against them. He looked much leaner than they remembered him – and that meant something, since habitants of the graveyard rarely had much fat on them before the alliance was made – and Gituku spent whole this time in exile.
"Why, who is-" he started, but was immediately cut short by Shenzi.
"Enough'a this! I dunno why'd you come, but it's enough fah me you're here. Does anyone here have a wish of settling his matters with our… old friend?" she asked, almost spitting the last two words.
A choir of growls and screams followed, but one of them was louder and filled with more emotion than others.
"HE'S MINE!" Banzai yelled. "You have to give him to me, Shenzi, you know how long I've been waiting for this!"
Normally, he would get whacked in the head and lectured for speaking to her in such tone, but now Shenzi knew better than to vex Banzai further. In his current state of blind rage he could as well turn against her, should she disagree. She nodded her head, allowing Banzai to begin whatever he planned.
The furious male lowered his head with a growl that made all the hyenas back up a little, even though they knew it wasn't directed at them.
"STOP!" someone screamed and put themselves in Banzai's way, astonishing everybody.
"Move or I'll rip through you!" he threatened, too blinded with rage to notice who stood before him.
"No," the blocker repeated.
"NO!" Shenzi yelled, seeing Banzai slowly raising a paw against T, who placed herself in the only spot she shouldn't have. "Grab 'im, now!" she commanded nobody in particular.
No one wanted to stand against Banzai's rage, but when the alternative was the matriarch's fury… Soon Banzai was dragged away, screaming, kicking, clawing and biting several males that were trying to hold him.
"Well, who should I thank for-" Gituku began, interrupted by Shenzi again.
"SHUT UP!" she calmed down a bit before turning to T and asking angrily: "What's gotten inta your head, girl! you want to get yourself killed for that bloody bastard?"
"Everybody deserves a second chance," T stated sturdily.
"Not him," Shenzi snarled.
"Why? Because of the mutiny?" T wasn't going to give up easily. "Then why hadn't you had Abeni and Kamau killed?"
"Don't you question my decisions-" Shenzi started, but T seemed to have forgotten every rule of speaking with her matriarch and bluntly cut in.
"I am not. All I'm saying is Gituku deserves a second chance as much as everybody else."
Instead of replying, Shenzi turned to the said male.
"Why did you come here?" she demanded.
"Seeking forgiveness and peaceful life, having learnt my lesson in-"
"That's enough," Shenzi cut him short. "Why should I believe you?"
"I haven't sneaked in as to try and kill somebody, rather than that I'm here, completely in your power," he responded.
"You have a point. Where's Monifa?" she asked suddenly.
"Dead," Gituku didn't even try to fake sadness, but Shenzi never expected him to.
Shenzi looked at T, then at Gituku, finally at T again. She sighed, prior to saying:
"Fine. But you are responsible for anything he does, T. And you," she turned to Gituku with unconcealed disgust, "if you try anything funny, no one's going to hold Banzai short. Until then… you are allowed to settle back in the graveyard."
"NOOO!" a mighty scream came from the direction Banzai was dragged away in. Everybody turned to see him tearing out from the grip of several strong males and rushing towards the group.
Only meters left between him and Gituku, he smiled sadistically, seeing nothing but his childhood enemy. Suddenly though, his vision blurred and quickly fade to black.
Dozens of eyes widened in shock, looking at the matriarch who had just knocked out her best friend with a single, well-placed blow.
"I'm sorry, Banzai," she said quietly. "But you're not gonna question my decisions either."
"Okay everybody, the meeting's finished!" she announced. Though reluctantly, all the hyenas scattered, rarely wasting an occasion to throw Gituku a murderous glare. no one said anything but Shenzi knew there are going to be numerous complaints about her decision, silently asking that Gituku does anything against the rules and fast, so that she could throw him out and get it over with.
At the moment, though, she focused on closer problems and with Ed's help dragged Banzai into their skull. Once he woke, a mighty quarrel was bound to arise and she decided to prepare herself for it.
"I uh… I guess I'll see you guys later," T said to Abeni and Kamau, who looked at her strangely, before nodding quietly and leaving towards their home.
T returned inside – and before the couple quit hearing range, they were forced to listen several hardly silent remarks made by Shenzi.
"Poor soul," Abeni sighed, hearing one especially harsh comment from the trio's skull.
"But she should've seen that coming… standing up for Gituku?" Kamau replied.
"Not without a reason they say she has a golden heart," Abeni said.
"I know, but… I wouldn't say a word for him, save alone risk Banzai's wrath by doing so. And T, knowing him only for several days before the mutiny…" he shivered from the very memory.
"There's more to that girl than everybody sees," Abeni agreed.
They fell silent and haven't said a word before they reached their den. Once there, Abeni entered inside first… and froze, astounded. Kamau, a little worried about her, came in quickly and understood her reaction immediately.
Lying in the middle of their den was Gituku, smiling with his famous smile, that made almost everybody uneasy. He looked at the expressions of fear and surprise visible at his old friends' faces and laughed aloud.
"To see that you dropped your stony faces for me… Who would have guessed!"
"What are you doing here, Gituku?" Kamau asked.
"And how did you know where we live?" Abeni joined him.
"Just came in to visit my old friends, it's only natural, right? And as for the second question… You always had your secrets, let me have mine," he answered, sitting up. "Have a seat, please."
Without a comment of this not being Gituku's house the two sat down near the entrance.
"So," he said in a conversional tone, "I see you're not half dead despite the mutiny you've taken part in, huh?"
"Neither are you, though your faults were far greater," Abeni said, annoyed. Neither she, nor Kamau liked to be reminded of the times they stood against their leaders.
"So I guess we still have much in common," he smirked. "Say, relationship with our leaders?"
"We're loyal to Shenzi," Kamau answered dryly. "If so are you, it's only a reason to be glad."
"What did she do to buy you?" Gituku asked crossly.
"It's rather a matter of what you had done and what she hadn't," Kamau replied. "Even though we joined your bloody mutiny, she spared our lives."
"She gave as a second chance, just like she did with you," Abeni added.
"So I see you're happy on your newly changed side, very well. That's all I wanted to know," with that said, he stood up and went towards the entrance.
"Gituku," Kamau said hardly, "don't try anything stupid. I know you better than anyone else and already I don't like what I'm seeing."
"Kamau, my old ex-friend," Gituku responded, never turning around, "take my good advice and keep out of this."
He made another few steps and once he was almost out, he turned his head and grinned evilly.
"Or Abeni will meet Monifa sooner than it was originally planned," he laughed and went away.
"GITUKU!" Kamau yelled, but the cocky male wouldn't turn back.
"Don't worry," he said to Abeni, nuzzling her. "I won't let it happen."
"What hell is going to unleash here, Kamau?" Abeni said softly, though her voice shook a little from fear. "And only because of T's compassion," she sighed.
"I know it's wrong, but I wish he died… either at that dreadful battle or today," Kamau confirmed. "But don't you worry, he's alone this time, no one will ally with the infamous traitor. And I certainly won't let him hurt you."
"Still," Abeni said after they shared a loving nuzzle, "Gituku has his ways, he always had."
Gituku's father was lying in his den, doing nothing in particular, but being too lazy to find himself any occupation. He cursed under his breath, hearing cubs yelling in the adjacent abode. That matriarch could do nothing as it should be done, just like her mother. His son was right to have mutinied against her.
A shadow moved near the entrance, bringing unpleasant thought about the neighbors' kids spying on him again, taunting him for his age and appearance. He decided to do something about it… later.
The shadow returned, this time though, it stayed in the entrance. the sun was shining right from behind their back, making the old hyena unable to see who it was – but judging by the very size of the intruder's body, it couldn't have been the children.
"Who are you?" he demanded in a weak, elderly voice. "And what do you want?"
A powerful blow to the stomach sent shivers down his weathered spine and almost made him throw up.
"Hello, daddy," a falsely sweet voice said.
His eyes opened wide when he recognized who it was. But no, he must have died at that battle! It's impossible to be…
"Gi-" he started, but his visitor hit him square in the jaw.
"Yes, it's me," he confirmed. "And we're gonna have fun, daddy."
Another strong kick to the stomach sent bile up his throat, then Gituku patted him on the shoulder – only with extended claws, leaving tiny, but painful marks.
"We're gonna play all the games you taught me until night falls," he said, making a long, careful slash on his shoulder blade. The old, tortured hyena wanted to scream, to plead for mercy, but his voice was shaky and quiet even when nothing bad was happening to him.
"And you're gonna like it as much as me and mom did, daddy," he added, tearing a piece of meat out of his hind leg. A need to yell in pain caused him to open his mouth, which resulted in him almost chocking on the substance in his throat, then vomiting it.
"Oh, don't worry, we've barely started," Gituku said heinously.
A cruel laughter escaped his throat as he placed another blow on his father's body.