AN: Finally, I managed to update this story! Sorry guys, you know how it is- all those Christmas preparations and all that... I suppose you also didn't have much time for reading fanfiction lately, concentrating on more importans stuff. So now, after a happy Christmas, we may continue XD.

Chapter 10 – The Forgotten Threat

On the next day after his meeting with Elkanah and, seemingly, the ghost of Zira, Kovu was trying as hard as he could not to get in the way of anyone at Pride Rock. He had been gone for quite some time, missing much of his duties, and additionally the reasons were so complicated that he didn't really want to waste his time for explaining of what he wasn't sure what to think himself. He barely managed to calm Kiara down after he got back from the river so late that she was already asleep and had to somehow excuse himself in the morning. But most of all, he was trying to avoid Simba. It wasn't just because he knew that the king would be concerned about his recent absence and strange behavior. After what Kovu had heard from his mother, he just wasn't in the mood to speak with the old lion at all.

But, of course, it would be too much luck if he managed to be around Pride Rock all day and not get spotted by it's ruler…

It was already late in the afternoon and Kovu was just attempting to slip out of the cave to go on another one of his mysterious trips when he heard someone who's voice was very familiar clearing his throat right behind his back.

-"Ekhm! Kovu, may I speak to you for a moment?" – said Simba in a tone that might have not had anger in it, but still sounded quite serious.

Damn it… - Kovu cursed in his mind and bit his lip as he turned around to face the king.

-"Uhm… Sorry Simba, but can this wait? I really got things to do, you know…"

-"What's the rush? Do you mind telling me what kind of business is more important than revealing to me why haven't you been taking part in the hunts lately? You've hardly even been seen at Pride Rock for the past few days. I noticed it upsets Kiara and, frankly, I'm starting to become worried myself."

The young lion felt crushed with the king's demanding stare. It kind of reminded him of his mother… and also about how his mate would often describe her father as being possessive and bossy. Kovu didn't like that. He was far too mature for taking orders. This is why his answer was rather… unstable.

-"Don't you have other things to worry about?" – he uttered with a frown of irritation, quite surprisingly to the king. – "Your kingdom should be your main concern, not me. I'll be just fine."

And after saying that he just turned around scornfully, intending to leave, what made Simba extremely angry.

-"Don't turn your back at me, Kovu!" – he warned.

But the king's screams fell on deaf ears. Feeling humiliated and deeply offended by such disobedience he growled to himself, observing as his son-in-law jumped down the edge of Pride Rock.

-"My kingdom is my main concern… and that's why I'm starting to regret making you a part of it!"

During the long walk he had ahead of him Kovu was trying to calm himself down, but somehow he couldn't let go of thinking about Simba and the incompetent way in which he ruled his kingdom. The young lion was starting to believe that his sister's criticism didn't only come from her bad temper…

Now I can see. That old chump's gonna lead his own kingdom to a disaster if he doesn't start using his brains! Uh, I hate to admit it, but mother was right… Simba is blind- he's so preoccupied with his own made-up problems that he ignores the real ones…

He took a while to rest and observe the place of his destination that was already within minutes of walking distance. Then he wondered about the thoughts that appeared in his mind a second time. No, he was just aroused. Simba wasn't that bad. After all, he'd accepted him as a rightful member of his pride… Well, he did that under certain conditions, but still… And his way of behaving did depend on the true care that he had for his family and all of the land, even if the effects weren't always as good as someone could wish…

Erh, no, it's not like that. Simba isn't blind. He's just… very nearsighted, that's all. Maybe he just needs someone who has the guts to go beyond his tight ways of thinking. Well, I suppose I'm about to find out what dangers await me there…

He lifted his eyes and stared a bit at the dark hills before him, not without a bit of hesitation.

So how was it, mother? A pack so large that the scouts would devour any lion that would dare to show himself in their territory? I guess I'll just have to see for myself. Watch over me, okay?

And then, feeling a faint, but yet tempting thrill of excitement, Kovu went on to enter the Elephant Graveyard.

He remembered this place from a few trips he took there with Vitani when they were both cubs. Nuka, even though he was the eldest of them, never wanted to join and would always try to forbid them from going there, explaining that the place was dangerous. Kovu still had a vivid vision of his older brother's tales in his mind. He was too young to remember it himself, but just after their exile, Zira and her lionesses started an open conflict with the remnants of Scar's army. The hyenas, after suffering an utter defeat at Pride Rock during Simba's return, relocated to their old dominion in the Graveyard. Too afraid to scavenge for food in the land of the new king who hated them, they started haunting the fields of the Outlands, stealing the prey from the banished lionesses, even though it was already scarce without their interference. Of course, Zira was furious and managed to kill a few hyenas herself, but they were persistent animals and kept on returning. Until she carried out a plan that was a final solution for the Outsiders' problem, that is. Kovu did not remember anything from that night besides having to stay alone in the termite mound along with his brother and sister, what was quite scary for a young cub, but later Nuka explained to Vitani and him that the lionesses were all off to the hyenas' lair. They executed a surprise assault and either killed most of the enemy pack or scared them away. That was why some of the Outsiders bore the scars of that battle until this very day, only if they weren't dead yet.

This was also why it was hard for Kovu to believe that the hyenas were back again. The stories he'd heard had a sound of victory in them. Nobody later even mentioned the hyenas and when he was young he even thought that now there wasn't a single one of them left upon the face of the earth. Well, as he said, he was now about to find out if that was indeed true.

The Elephant Graveyard looked just as Kovu remembered it- a dark, rocky plateau, devoid of life but full of fiery geysers and bones in all the shapes and sizes. Coming here was quite an adventure for a cub, but as he stealthfully wallowed among the barren, ash-covered paths, careful not to step into one of the many puddles of liquid fire, Kovu felt a bit intimidated, especially after what he'd heard.

I should have taken Tani with me – he said to himself. Considering that there might really be a whole horde of hungry carrion eaters behind every corner, it would have always been better to have an extra pair of claws by your side. Kovu wasn't a coward, but what he'd heard about hyenas mauling mature male lions to death was enough to make anyone alerted.

He almost had a heart attack when a small piece of rubble fell down from a big stone just beside him, making a lot of noise. But after he investigated it, there was nothing there. There was nothing anywhere. Only bones and dust.

Gee, mother. You sure you were right about those hyenas? – he asked half-humorously, joking on his own belief in what he was told in a dream by someone who was already dead. Well, I guess all I have left is to look over that hill and I'll be on my way outa this creepy bone-yard.

Indeed, there was still a rocky ledge he hadn't investigated. The rock lifted high above something in the shape of a deep valley, and Kovu promised to himself that if he wouldn't be able to see anything disturbing from that lookout spot, he would know that his vision was false and that he could return home with a clear conscience.

The lion took a look at the end of the ledge. It was dark, but he was able to recognize a big, grey rock that stood there almost as if it was some kind of a monument that someone had placed there on purpose.

Hmm, I wonder what that is? – he asked himself. Not paying attention to keep quiet anymore, he made a few steps up the side of the ledge… and then he froze, gasping as he saw the supposed "rock" turning around to face him. It gazed at him for a while with it's black coals of eyes wide open, it's ugly face having the look of total shock, it's sharp-fanged jaw hanging low in a stupefying expression…

That was no rock. What Kovu saw sitting at the top of the ledge was a spotted hyena scout.

As soon as he was able to snap out of his own shock, the lion started to growl, what was a natural warning signal for him. The very sound of his voice made the other animal tremble with fear.

-"Oh crap…" – he yelped. – "It can't be… I-it just can't be you! Wh-what am I, halucinatin'? Oh but it is you, in'it?"

The hyena looked as if it was facing it's own death. Kovu made a step forward to frighten it even more, knowing that where was one of them, there was also a whole pack somewhere nearby… so he needed to sound as convincing as he could in order to get out of this alive.

-"Whoa! Okay, man! No need to get angry 'n all…" – a very awkward, surrendering smile appeared upon the guard's face as he started to retreat. Fortunately, he seemed to be a very old specimen- at least he wouldn't dare to fight on his own, thought the lion. – "I-I remember this was always your favorite place, boss. Heh, why you lookin' at me like that, I'm movin'! I'm mo- OOOOAAAH!" – the hyena howled as it made one step too much and fell down into the canyon and out of Kovu's sight. Then everything went silent.

-"Oh no… where did he go?" – the lion asked himself and quickly ran up the ledge to stand in the place where the scout had previously stood.

And then he froze again.

For a short time, for a mere part of a second, Kovu saw what exactly was inside the valley that was placed at the bottom of the ledge. It were hyenas. Hundreds of them, most asleep and some awake, walking wearily among the rocky crevices.

-"Impossible…" – he mumbled to himself. Just before he ran away, moving as fast as he could.

AN: The filthy Felinoformia are back! Heh, I actually like the hyenas as characters, tho I mention them in my stories not so often. Well, it's time to change that! So the Pridelands are in big trouble and the king doesn't have a hunch. What will Kovu do about it? How will the evil spirits use this situation in order to obtain their goals?

Don't worry, it's not going to take as long as before for the next chapter to appear, I promise...