"Here we go everyone. Up next is the Final chapter in the third instalment of the Lion King Legacies:
Book Three – The Storm.
I hope that you all Enjoy it. It's been a busy couple of months, however, I am now confident that Book 5 will be released and completed by January 1st, 2015.
Thank you all for your reviews! Some of you were making guesses and speculations as to the identity of Zira's killer. You raised some interesting points... And I shall reveal it the in the epilogue! For now though... an interesting encounter in the Shadowlands!
SandyDragon: Indeed. Zira always fought what she believed to be right – which I guess is better than just committing atrocities out of pure idiocy, or out of a weird sense of what is fun. I also believe that Zira's torture under Rish'ut, Ben-Kai-Ra and Marsade revealed a portion of her soul... Even so, though Vitani's leadership may not be affected too much, it will influence her decisions and her personality for a time. it is not an easy thing to lose a parent, especially after only just getting back one she thought was dead, and atop of everything else she has lost... Which is the most important? A counter attack, or finding Kiava? Hmm? And I wonder if all will agree as to which way is the best? Danyal started this debate earlier, and there were very mixed responses... What do you think they should do?
Author: Yes, both the Shaman escaped. The openly person left behind and not mentioned as dead was Zira... And you'll be informed soon enough who was behind her death. This chapter is Kiava and Zuri – and the epilogue will be from asymmetrical viewpoints, like last time, the epilogue is an opportunity to show things from the perspective of characters whose eyes you don't usually see through. And will also introduce a new Point-Of-View Character, so stay tuned!
LoveNeverDies: Again, all will be revealed in time... though I think I have laid enough clues to let people guess and think, you will all know soon enough! I hope by overwhelming, you mean you enjoyed it because it was jam-packed with new and exciting things? Of course, there will more mysteries... but one of the themes of the next book is revelation and the answering of questions and mysteries – like the theme of this one was unlocking new power (Danyal learning to lead and fight, Sundar's gift, Kiava's training, Koron's place in the Pride.) and the theme of the last one was survival in dangerous places, cut off from allies and help (Kiava, Inti and Sara, Vitani and Danyal the stat of Danyal's recovery).
Emerald dreamer96: I wonder what it is that makes you ask that question? Though of course, I cannot answer without confirming or denying your suspicious, I find it very interesting that you would ask such a question...
fpastrelo: Thank you! I don't think you've reviewed in the past, but welcome to the responses section! Hmm... An interesting guess... I would be foolish to answer given the proximity of the epilogue which will contain all of the answers you seek... And some that you should be asking – but are not.
Cheers: Haradion"
Chapter 25: Enter the Shadowlands
Sarafina had lead the way back to where Ookai and Bruce had been waiting for them, but one look of their faces caused them to immediately hold their tongues. Buzz looked up from where he was sitting, with an increasingly sizable pile of Snail shells lay. He himself was not too badly inebriated by the intoxicating affect of the snails, but he did sway slightly as he stood up. His eyes narrowed though.
"What's the matter?" He asked, cautiously. Sarafina had only the briefest pause before she explained.
"We... might have just had a religious experience." She said, quietly. Buzz gave a snort.
"Well, I am sure the grove of yours is very impressive but..." he said.
"No, I mean, we really did just see something amazing..." Zuri said. Buzz looked at her.
"Well, whatever it, you like you've just seen a ghost." He said. Upon seeing their faces however, Buzz twitched slight. "You're kidding me." He said. Sarafina sighed.
"I wish I was, Buzz... But it would seem that our young friends time here has ran out... I have just spoken to a King of Past..." She said, softly. Buzz looked at her carefully. He swallowed.
"Look... 'Fina... I have always respected your believes and never compelled you to share mine... But that isn't possible. If the Kings existed, we'd see them more often. They'd speak to us more. They aren't omnipotent, alien cosmic beings, they are supposedly the real, immortal souls of our friends – people who knew us and cared about us. A Supreme Cosmic being might stay silent out of some ineffable rule or plan, but Simba? Mufasa? Kovu? The Kings we knew wouldn't ignore us... They just... wouldn't." He said. Kiava cleared his throat.
"I spoke to my parents only the other night, Buzz..." Kiava admitted. Buzz looked at him surprised, then shook his head.
"You must have dreamt it..." He said, uncertainly, but Sarafina took a step towards him, smiling.
"No Buzz... Not this time... He's right." She said. Buzz looked at her, not incredulously.
"Okay... Just say for a minute that you were right and not having delusions... What did this ghost, this spirit, say?" He asked cautiously.
"Kiava's family and friends are in trouble... even if they survive, there is no more time. He needs to gather allies and then... then begins the true quest... to retake the Pridelands..." Sarafina said. "He is going to the Shadowlands... To the Elephant Graveyard. You know where." She told him. Buzz shifted, staring at Kiava in shock.
"Carrocscirr..." He whispered in horror.
"Yes." Kiava said, swallowing.
"The Ivory Tower." Buzz said.
"You know it?" Zuri asked in surprise. Sarafina blinked.
"Carrocscirr is the Stronghold of the Last Hyena Clan... You may know of the Matriarch that rules there... In that blasted grey land... Her name is Shenzi. Chieftain of Scar's Legions... Her Mate is Banzai, The Warlord of Carrocscirr... Do not underestimate them, Kiava. They may be Hyenas and once upon a time they might have conformed to the stereotypes... Greedy, selfish and stupid. But no longer. They are among the most dangerous and crafty Hyenas of Our time." Buzz warned them.
"Would they fight the Shai'tan? Would they work with me against them?" Kiava asked. Buzz paused.
"It's possible..." He said, begrudgingly. "Perhaps you could buy their loyalty... but what you could offer them is beyond me." He admitted. Kiava sighed.
"Whoever they are... I have to try. And perhaps they no longer rule there." Kiava said.
"Do not lower your guard Kiava... and beware. I would not be able to protect you in those lands, even if I were to come with you." Sarafina said. Zuri turned in shock.
"What do you mean that you're not coming with us?" She asked, suddenly panicked. Kiava swallowed.
"If you chose to enter those lands... Then you shall have to do so without me. If I came with you and you were caught by Hyena's before you had made to speak to their leaders, then we would be torn apart long before you even got a chance to speak to Shenzi or Banzai... Two cubs alone in the Shadowlands are not favourable odds my friend... But you stand a better chance than if I came with you... and Ookai can come with you." She said. Kiava swallowed, feeling more vulnerable without Sarafina's presence in the Shadowlands already.
"What about Bruce?" Ookai said, speaking for the first time, looking at his friend. Sarafina cocked her head.
"It is a risk... It might draw attention having a great Silverbacked gorilla, yet it should not provoke an attack in the same way my own presence would. They would be confused by him... But not threatened. It should be your decision whether you ask him to come with you, though of course he cannot be compelled to follow you against his will." Sarafina said carefully. They all looked at Bruce with expectation. The great ape looked upon them for a minute. Then shrugged.
"I wouldn't mind coming..." He said slowly. Ookai winced.
"You sure about that big guy?" He said. "This sounds like a really dangerous place... Maybe you should stay with Sarafina and Buzz?" He asked. Bruce considered for a moment, then shook his head.
"No... I want to stay with you." He said, smiling. Kiava looked at his friends and smiled.
"I... Thank you." He turned to Sarafina. "Thank you Sarafina... For everything. For your lessons and your wisdom. For helping me now of all times." He said. Sarafina embraced the young cub for a moment, the old lioness smiling at him.
"Kiava... I am an ancient Lioness now... I have seen many things. Kings rise and fall. I have this proud land of ours burn under tyranny and crumble in the face of darkness... Yet I have also seen it rise from ashes... Because enough people have the courage to stand up and fight, not for personal glory, or out of anger, but because it was right. To stand against injustice and cruelty. I have also learnt where it is that people truly are. And that isn't in a person's place of birth, or in their ancestry, or in their appearance, or in what we fear might happen. It is a person's actions. It took me a lifetime to learn that. I was a foolish lioness, Kiava and already you are more than I ever was." She stood up. "You, Kiava, could be the greatest King that has ever lived... Those things that took me years to learn come instinctively to you, as does your determination and passion for what is right. I used to fear for the future of this land Kiava, I used to dread each day, thinking that it could never get any better, but now... having met you... I am confident that a Lion King will stand atop Pride Rock once more... And that if anyone can defeat the Emperor, then it is You." She said. Kiava glowed at the praise.
"You really mean that?" He asked her. She smiled.
"I really do..."
The next day, she awoke at sunrise and showed Kiava the hidden paths through Valon's Brook. Eventually, it lead to a part of the Jungle where the tree's grew thinner, at the northern borders of the Jungle. Then as the sun was approaching the midday apex of its arc, the Jungle land gave way entirely to a greenish swampy terrain. Zuri shuddered to hide her disgust, but they continued through the Swamplands, following Sarafina's steps and avoiding certain areas. Sarafina herself was silent through the entirety of this part of the trip, refusing to look at the waters. Kiava feared the black waters would contain some great predator and Sarafina reassured them both that although the Swamplands did indeed home some of the most powerful of all of the River Lords and other creatures, she knew the safe paths along the boundaries of each Lord's territory, where they were unlikely to encounter any foe.
After they crossed the Swamps, the land became dryer, but with the water, so too did the life end. The land was covered in grey dust... like ash, or sand. No one knew what the Outlands and Shadowlands were so devoid of life, but Sarafina lead again, until they came to barrier between the lands. The earth began to twist and turn, becoming hilly – though not yet high enough to be called mountainous, it was here that Sarafina slowed to a stop and turned to Kiava.
"If you still intend to do this... then keep heading northwest from here. Watch for Hyena patrols... If you encounter any out here you might find yourself being chased off before you can reach their leaders... Worse... There are rumours that Amun of the Shai'tan has lead a battalion of Shai'tan dogs to stamp out this last area of defiance... If this is true, then you could run into worse than Hyenas." She said. Kiava embraced her one last time.
"Thank you again, Sarafina... For everything." He said. Sarafina smiled.
"I seek only to serve, My King. Farewell, Kiava. And you two, Bruce and Ookai." She said. Bruce smiled and Ookai gave a kind of relaxed salute as she turned to leave. She looked at Zuri for a minute.
"Look after him. And please... Do not think too harshly of me..." She said to her softly. Zuri hesitated, then extended a paw in friendship and farewell.
"I shall. Goodbye, Sarafina. And Good luck." She said. Buzz cleared his throat and Sarafina looked at him in surprise.
"Sarafina... I guess... Well." He coughed. "I am going to stay with Kiava..." He said. Sarafina's breath caught suddenly, then she relaxed.
"I... You mean to..." She looked her old friend in the eye for a moment, then sighed very slowly. "I should stop being such a selfish old lioness... Of course, you must stay if you feel that you should. Goodbye Buzz. Thank you for everything." She said. Then she turned to leave.
"Sarafina!" Buzz called. Sarafina turned.
"..."
"'Fina... Goodbye. Stay safe." He said. Sarafina nodded. And then she walked away... Back to Valon's brook and away. When she had left, Kiava turned to his companions with a sigh.
"Well then... To the Shadowlands..." he said.
Two Weeks Later
Kiava and Zuri pulled their way over the dusty landscape of the Shadowlands. The ground was rocky, dusty and grey, the dust staining their fur and skin a paler hue. Ookai sat atop Bruce, the Gorrila and Buzz joined him there, perched on each shoulder. Kiava surveyed the landscape with an increasing sense of irritation. They had seen no sign of life since entering the wastelands weeks ago and even now, he was slowly beginning to come to the conclusion, that perhaps it had been a waste of time to come here... It was a little sobering, since he had left Valon's broke, vaguely optimistically, despite the enormity of their task. The opportunity to have a clear goal and objective, besides simply surviving had been an exciting change of pace. It presented the chance to be in control of owns own destiny. Not simply being tossed around by the winds of change and the paths of fate.
As if the universe conspired to prove Kiava wrong therefore, the Shadowlands seemed to stretch out before them in every direction. Kiava knew the border with the Pridelands was marked by the elephant graveyard, a valley of bones and seismically unstable geysers and steam vents. However, the Shadowlands themselves stretched far beyond those ashy plains. Like a grey wasteland, they stretched out before them. A desert of grey dust and ash. Yet it was cold by night. No trees to provide shelter and the dusty coating on the rocks prevented them from absorbing the heat of the sun during the day. By night they became colder, far colder than the Pridelands. If it was indeed a desert, it was unlike any Kiava had experienced. The Great Desert to the south was nothing like his. He shuddered. The dunes disguised the true distance, even if there had been any notable landmarks. Zuri plodded up next to him, thoroughly exhausted.
"Kiava..." She said. Kiava turned and she looked thoughtfull. "Do you think we are close now? We should have encountered something by now, surley?" She asked him. Kiava shrugged.
"Not if they do not want to be found..." He muttered. Then he coughed and sighed. His throat was parched. Back in the jungle there had always been water pools, rivers, streams and brooks. Valon's Brook, Sarafina had insisted against drinking from, but the minor streams and pools had been fine plentiful. He hadn't fully anticipated the inconvenience it would to search out a water source every couple of days. Silently, he berated himself for becoming too used to the Jungle's atmosphere and terrain. He coughed again.
"I think... I think I saw a few herds heading north of here and the same two returning in the opposite direction hours later... I think there is a waterhole north of here." He told Zuri. Zuri nodded, but her mouth formed a grim smirk.
"Herds? They were barley a pair of males... couldn't have been more than six or seven of them..." She noted. Kiava shrugged.
"Food and water is scarcer here, I wouldn't be surprised if all the herds are similarly smaller sized... They'll get smaller as we near the Elephant Graveyard." He told her. Buzz nodded.
"Well, at least we know we're going in the right direction." The meerkat said, though his expression said that that wasn't necessarily a good thing.
"Not a fan of Hyenas?" Zuri guessed. Buzz shivered.
"I hate Hyenas. You'd think hearing laughter as you were torn apart would be a pleasant way to go... comparatively speaking... But know, I would much rather here my own dying screams and shouts of dread from my family, than die to that noise... Its... Argghhh..." He shuddered. Zuri nodded.
"Okay. Not a fan of Hyenas then." She said.
Sure enough, they located a small watering hole some time later. The water was almost opaque and left a gritty taste in the mouth. There was a small amount of vegetation around it and more than a little fungi, but Ookai insisted it was not poisonous. It lapped against cold rock however and their tiredness meant it was just as thirst-quenching. Zuri sat down, letting out a sigh and started to lick her paws. There were bruised and blistered from their walking. Kiava, having quenched his own thirst, moved out of the way to let the others take some and then stood up looking around. He climbed a nearby outcrop of crops which loomed over another of the dusty dunes.
"Where are you going?" Zuri asked. Kiava smiled.
"To look have a look around. Try to work out where we are." He said and carried on his way.
Looking out, he could see more of the Shadowlands than ever and was disheartened. Far, far in the distance he could see the green tinged edges of the Swamplands and beyond that, he knew, the Jungle. When he turned around however, he saw a sight that made him gasp. A great pillar of white stone, that reached high, high up in to the sky. A tower. Smoke and steam coiled around it and at his base he thought he saw rocks and tunnels, a labyrinth of passages and tunnels. It was some distance away to be sure, but there was no doubt in his mind, that this was Carrocscirr. Around it, were tusks, bones and teeth, some faded patches of flesh and dust between them, the remains of titanic creatures. Rather than be disgusted by the decay, Kiava was pleased. It was the beginning of the Elephant graveyard... the rear border with the Shadowlands, rather than the border to the Pridelands. He smiled. As it had turned out – they had been heading in the right direction after all. Carrocscirr looked a day away. As he moved away, something caught his attention. A pair of gazelle were nearby, grazing on one of the tiny patches of grass before the tips of the Shadowlands merged into the Elephant Graveyard.
Descending the outcrop, he turned to the others and reported his findings.
"Did you see anyone else? No Hyenas? None of the Shai'tan's dogs?" Buzz asked. Kiava shook his head.
"No. There was nothing. I guess they are all deeper within Carrocscirr." he said. Ookai nodded.
"That makes sense. If they really are fighting the Shai'tan. Then that place is built like a fortress. They could last for weeks there, providing they got enough food and water." He pointed out. Kiava nodded.
"Speaking of food and water, we have one yet not the other. I spotted a pair of gazzlle out there that way... I thought I might try to fetch us some meat. You in the mood for some gazelle?" He asked. Zuri blinked.
"You want to go after that alone?" She asked him. Kiava shrugged.
"If I can't deal with a gazelle by now, there is no hope for me ever being able to defeat the Shai'tan. So how about it?" He asked. Zuri purred.
"Kiava, I would love some." She winced as she tried to stand up but Kiava shook his head.
"I've got this. I'll be right back." He said. Buzz nodded and leapt up onto Kiava's back, straddling the cub's neck.
"I'll come with you." He said. Kiava chuckled and didn't argue and left Zuri alone with the apes.
They located the gazelle easily enough. Kiava crouched low behind a pile of rocks. There was a lack of grassland. At a guess, he made the distance about thirty paces. Easy in deep grassland, trickier in open wasteland. Thinking back, he moved as low to the ground as he could. His golden fur had been dimmed and greyed by two weeks in the dusty Shadowlands and the land was not known for its good light. Clouds of dust and even the off pocket of steam disrupted the sunlight, making it dim (though not completely dark). Buzz dismounted from him as he did so, not wishing to be nearby when the blood started flowing. Kiava watched the gazelle carefully. One was shorter than the other and he initially zoned in on that one. However, a closer look told him that the larger was favouring his right foreleg. And old injury? Aging limbs? Trapped in rocks, or a lucky escape from a predator? He couldn't tell. But the smaller one was young and also fitter. It was the harder target. Kiava tasted the air with his tongue. The wind was still coming towards him... If it could be called a wind – more of a slow, sporadic breeze in his general direction. They would not find his scent, which was good, since his scent did not betray his age nor his size. His sight might well confuse for half a second and give him enough time to make another pace. He could still hear Sarafina's instructions.
Press you advantage.
So he did. Of the two beasts, one had his back to him, yet the older was looking to the side. He cursed under his breath. If the Gazelle happened to turn and see him, he would lose both of them. He whispered to Buzz:
"Could you do me a favour?" He asked him, softly. Buzz shrugged.
"What would you have me do?" He asked. Kiava told him and Buzz looked surprised.
"Kiava! I am fairly sure that's... I don't know... Cheating somehow!" He said. But did as he had been bidden.
Kiava crouched low in the dirt again, as Buzz snuck away from him and circled round to the right, so that he was directly behind the one looking to Kiava's left. From there, Buzz reached onto his back, where a piece of disused vine tied an assortment of his five inch long javelins. As per Kiava's request, this one wasn't treated with fire ant venom – it was simply a wooden shaft with a sharpened point – but would still sting.
That was the idea.
When Kiava nodded, Buzz arched his back and threw the spear. it sailed through the air and landed like a porcupine quill in the side of the Gazzelle's left leg, just above the hoof. It cursed, stamping the hoove, thinking he had been stung or bitten by some insect.
And in that moment, Kiava ran as fast as he could, sprinting towards the gazelle, letting out a soft roar. The second Gazzlle, thinking he was the one being attacked and by a full sized lion panicked, neighed and ran. the first, the one checking its hoof, lurched. Its right leg limping from some old injury, its left already in the air as he fiddled with the wooden spike, it tried to run on both feet at once. Its clumsiness cost it only a second, but it was all the time Kiava needed to run up to the gazelles' side and launch himself at the creature's neck. It bucked, trying to through Kiava off, but Kiava's crip, honed by hours of practice on a much more skilled opponent, was vice like. He pulled tight and bit forwards on the creatures neck, trying to get teeth around the windpipe.
The creature jerked and began to run, Kiava clinging on for dear life. Kiava cursed. Each time he went for a stranglehold, the beast would shift and run. Buzz called out his name and Kiava changed tactics. Instead of trying to force his whole mouth around the creature's sizeable neck, it focused only on the throat. With this he had far more success and his teeth crushed around softer flesh. The beast panicked and shifted. Kiava released his hold on the gazelle and he fell away, a huge chuck of flesh caught between his teeth. He rolled as soon as he hit the ground, landed on his feet and was up and running again. He needn't have worried. As soon as he had dropped away, he had severed a major artery and cut the beast's throat. It managed to make ten paces before it collapsed to the ground with a gurgle, its life bubbling away. Kiava moved in quickly and slashed deeper into the throat, granting it a merciful death. It passed out and then died in seconds. He would have preferred to have strangled it down. It would have been less messy, less terrifying for the prey and left more blood in the meat. But he had managed it. Buzz ran up next to him, panting.
"Nicely done!" He said, patting Kiava on the back, but then blanched when he saw the blood dripping down his muzzle, shivering. "Carnivores." Was heard a brief moment later, followed by retching noises.
Kiava allowed himself to feel the elation at his own kill, probably for longer than was strictly necessary. he couldn't help but feel proud at how well he had done. Most cubs could not boast of being able to survive like a real rouge, hunting solo and taking meat. He chomped down a chunk of flesh quickly, before licking his lips and surveying the kill again.
"I can't drag all of this back and we'd never eat it all anyway." he said aloud, suddenly feeling slightly guilty at the wastefulness of it. Perhaps he should have sought, before nodding. "We'll just cut away the flanks and juicy parts and drag those back for Zuri." He said, thoughtfully. Buzz nodded, though the old meerkat looked a little uncertain at the idea of dragging meat back. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could say a word, an ear spitting laughter filled the air around him.
Kiava span to the sound of the laughter, but the noise seemed to fill the air. Then shapes seemed to spill out of the rocks and surrounding rockeries. Shapes with a horribly familiar silhouette. Shapes that laughed a horrible, eerie laugh as they approached. Kiava turned and found more of the sleek shadows moving around him. Seven of them, all laughing, giggling, jeering or chuckling the same twisted mirth.
"Oh yes! Very well done indeed young lion! Many thanks for the delicious meal!" The leader said and Kiava recoiled.
It was a She-Hyena. The female was... smallish for a Hyena. In fact all them seemed on the scrawny side, though Kiava was not likely to mention that fact aloud. The Hyenas advanced and then a pair of then launched forward, seizing the meat, slashing into it wildly with claws and teeth, swallowing huge gulps of the red, bleeding meat, slobbering with every bite. Only the leader seemed to restrain herself and if Kiava intended to use their momentary lapse of focus to escape, it would have been useless, she was staring at him intently.
"Now..." She drawled. "Although I must say, I am impressed with the hunting skills of a young cub such as yourself... The real question, I think today, is what is a lion cub and meerkat, doing in the Shadowlands? At the rear entrance to Carrocscirr, no less?" She asked, calmly, but stroke forward with arrogant self-assurance. She said. Kiava swallowed and decided it would be pointless to lie.
"We... We are travelling through the Shadowlands... On a very important task." He said slowly. The other Hyenas seemed amused and chuckled to themselves though that may have been their natural mirth. The lead Hyena smirked.
"Really? I never would have guessed. And this task, would be what exactly? I am sure you could trust us with such knowledge, given that this is our home, I think you would be best served by telling us straight away, what is so important..." She said. Kiava paused. He had indeed come to speak to the leader of the Hyenas and yet, this Hyena here, though clearly of some significance, was not nearly mature enough to be leading an entire Clan... So instead, he held his tongue.
"It is really quite a delicate matter... And probably best left between those whom it concerns..." He said.
"Did you not hear us? Tell us what you are doing here now! Come on Asante, let me take apart the meerkat – we've just eaten and I could do with some desert!" One of the Hyenas said to their leader. Asante held up a paw.
"Now, now, Bhagari. We mustn't be rude to our guests, not after he provided such delicious food for us and with such unusual skill..." She said, carefully. "Now... that interests me, Lion Cub. Why would a lion of such a youth have such skill in hunting? Hmm? What possible reason could a youngling be taught such vicious moves? Not by rolling in the dirt with other cubs, surely?" She said.
"I –" Kiava managed.
"See, it's quite a puzzle. And Hyenas aren't famed for their intelligence, but we aren't stupid either. Ya see, the Hyenas of Carrocscirr have only one real enemy in these parts and sneaking around their stronghold isn't really the action of a friend... Your scent is unmistakably lion, but nowhere near as overpowering... And you've managed to fight your way right up our backside..." She said. Then she bared teeth.
"Now that... Lost lion cub, far from home or a parent, unusual fighting and survival skills, warped scent and a mysterious task that he can't tell us about... well... it all begins to look a tad suspicious." She said. The other hyenas moved in closer, teeth bared. Kiava struggled to meet her eyes and swallowed.
"I am no Spy for the Shai'tan – Asante, was that your name?" He asked. Asante smiled.
"Well, naturally, a spy wouldn't admit to it. I'll agree, it sounds more than a little farfetched, but when you refuse to tell us of your purpose here, we are left to draw our own conclusions." She said.
"Who cares why they are here? Let's just kill them and be done with it and feed the pups for a few more days." One of the Hyenas suggested. Kiava instinctively drew his claws before he could stop himself, but Asante caught the action and crowed with laughter.
"Ha! He doesn't like the sound of that, Bhagari!" She laughed.
"Kiava? Who are you talking to?" Came a voice and Kiava turned to see Zuri standing there, even as Asante whirled and saw her. She stared at them in shock and at Kiava surrounded by them. Bhagari shouted in surprise.
"There's another of them! Grab her!" He ordered and three Hyenas leapt after her. Zuri shouted in shock and ran to the right, darting out of view. Asante cursed and Buzz leapt atop Kiava's neck again.
"Go!" He shouted, desperately, frightened by the number of Hyenas. Some part of Kiava registered that he needed to speak to the Clan leaders and that his best bet was to speak to this, but one look at the three Hyeana charging after Zuri flushed all thought of that out of his mind. Kiava darted to the left and struck at the nearest Hyena. They were smaller than most, but still taller than him by half and when he struck at the Hyena with claws outstretched it recoiled and bit at him. Kiava dodged the blow by a hairs width and dived over his attacker. And then he was out of their encirclement. Asante cursed, trying to give orders to two groups of Hyenas at once. Bghari howled, shouting to retrieve Zuri and Buzz cried in panic, as two made after Kiava – and by extension him.
Kiava followed where Zuri had ran and found Ookai and Bruce and Zuri at the water hole, trying to calm down Zuri. When he arrived, he climbed the taller rocks to gain height.
"Ookai – Bruce! Get down here now! Guard the right flank. Zuri, Buzz, take left. They'll be scared of Bruce, but when they strike in numbers, he'll be overwhelmed, so stay tight together!" He ordered quickly. Ookai was so surprised that he did as ordered without complaining or arguing, scooping up a rock in each hand. Asante's Hyenas rounded the corner, even as Kiava leapt down onto the unsuspecting Hyenas. He shouted as Kiava landed atop him and clawed into his back.
A second rounded, only to be struck on the head by a rock hurled by Ookai and stumbled back. Zuri swiped at a third, even as Kiava clawed as his foe and was sent tumbling from his back. The Hyena though retreated to its allies, rather than press its advantage and turned to look back, wincing in pain.
"Stay back! We intend you no harm, if you let us go forwards unopposed. We are not spies for the Shai'tan, whatever you may think." Kiava called. Asante did not look convinced.
"If you're no threat then why run?"
"You attacked us, remember? You went for Zuri!" Kiava insisted. Asante cocked her head, then nodded, conceding.
"Alright... Let's say we believe you... What do you really want then?"
"We need to speak to the Leader of the Clans of Carrocscirr. I believe her name is Shenzi." Kiava replied, his anger rising. Asante laughed. And Bhagari jeered.
"HA! So your assassins then? Was Amun so desperate that he sent a viper that didn't look like a snake? And he thought a lion would do better? HA!" Bhagari laughed.
"Kill them all!" He grunted and the Hyenas leapt in frenzy towards them. Bruce, the great gorilla bellowed and swung his two treetrunk like arms at their attackers and two Hyenas were lifted into the air and sent flying. One dived at Zuri, grinning manically, expecting her to scream in terror. Zuri simply ducked, then launched herself upwards, crashing into the leaping Hyenas's stomach and knock it aside, then landed on its front.
"Pinned You." She said, without a trace of mirth and began to claw at its face.
"Don't kill them." Kiava managed to shout over the din. He wasn't yet a particularly great King, but he knew enough of diplomacy to understand that he would have a hard time convincing the Hyenas to fight with him, if he killed their welcome party, even if it was in self defence.
Kiava jumped over one attacking Hyenas and landed into a sprint, running at a second, before feinting and clawing at a third. Before long, all three had severe injuries on their sides, but neither were mortal and Kiava was retreating, having angered and pained three at once. He glanced from side to side, trying to control his breathing. Then they all leapt at him. Kiava dived, not at any of the attackers, but backwards and two the attackers crashed into each other, slamming their skulls against first themselves and then hard rock.
Suddenly, Kiava's three opponents had become one. Kiava landed into a crouch and roared. It wasn't a spine tingling howl of primal anger, but it did sound serious to its attacker and it looked nervous.
Buzz vaulted over a Hyena and drove and wooden spike into its back. This one was dipped in fire ant venom and the poor creature howled in agony as the poison seared through the injury like acid. It ran around in panic, before crashing into the outcrop of rocks and falling backwards, its tongue flopping out and its eyes glazed.
Ookai span atop Bruce and flung his final stone from on high. The pellet soared through the air and crashed into a sixth hyena with a wet slap. It too collapsed, clutching a paw to its head, even as Zuri collided with it and smacked with both clawless paws. After three or four repeated strokes, it two went still.
"Who are you...?" Kiava's one opponent asked, as it took a step backwards, sounding spooked and Kiava recognized it as Bhagari. Kiava jerked forwards and slammed his paws into the Hyena knocking him to the ground.
"I am Kiava." He said, slamming the hyenas head against the stone, knocking him out cold.
Then he turned to face Asante, who was looking stunned.
"I am Kiava, Son of Kovu, Son of Scar and also Son of Kiara, daughter of Simba. I am the Prince of the Pridelands, Lord of the Lands Touched by Light. The Flame of Priderock. And I am here to speak with Shenzi, Shadowqueen, on matters of the upmost importance. I don't care if you look at me and think I am a weak cub, or if you find the idea of such a thing amusing. My purpose here is more important than anything you mangy slobbering fools have come across your entire lives and I shall not be hindered by your ignorance any longer. So please, if you would be so kind, escort us to your leaders." He said.
Asante looked on in amazement.
"You... These fighters... The Shadowpups..."
"You have a club. Great. I'll apply later. But if we could please move..."
"We were born of the same season... I handpicked them myself... We have the lowest casualties against the Shai'tan than any warband, despite our youth... And you just tore through them..." She said aghast. Kiava shrugged.
"Well, I suppose that shows the perils of underestimating ones opponent... One second of mistake it all it takes. Now, would you please show us to Shenzi?" He asked. Asante growled.
"No... Bhagari was right. You are assassins." She said, sounding shocked. Kiava groaned. Hyenas...
"You cannot possibly be that stupid."
"How else could you have managed that, unless you've been training to fight other animals every day of your existence?" Asante asked. Kiava paused, thinking back to his lessons from Sarafina.
"Okay. Fair point. Sure, it looks bad, but if you'd just let me-"
Asante gave a growl, sinking into a crouch.
"You'll have to go through me first..." She said. Kiava sighed. She had just watched him tear through her other fighters. Admittedly, he had used dirty tricks and unexpected angles of attack. There was no way it would work a second time and she was clearly no longer estimating them. But she was outnumbered, five to one and he had no wish to further damage their chances at negotiating with the Hyenas by injuring an entire pack. Even if they did have it coming.
Even so, he to sank into a crouch.
"As you wish..." He said, softly.
Then Asante did something completely unexpected.
She charged him.
Kiava dived out of the way, to avoid her attack and her bite missed him by inches. He twisted his body, planting both rear feet behind him firmly and jumped back to the space where he had been just moments before, striking with both paws. Asante ducked and weaved around his attacks with a grace unbefitting a hyenas and suddenly was right up next to him, practically nose to nose. She bit at his chest and teeth dragged along the front, cutting several lines of red into him, yet he jerked away at the last instant and did not lose any huge chunks of flesh.
"Kiava!" Zuri shrieked, panicked now, as Asante changed direction, jerked away and then kicked him with both hide legs in the belly. It was a move he had only ever seen performed by Vitani and had supposedly been developed from witnessing a Zebra kill a male rouge with a single blow to the chest shattering the ribs and puncturing a lung. Both crashed into Kiava, sending him crashing to the ground, the air forced from his lungs. Kiava rolled away, confident his ribs were bruised and shouting in pain, as Asante turned.
Then suddenly, Zuri was there, helping him to his feet, even as Bruce's great arms swung, holding Asante at bay, as he crawled to his feet. Asante backed away, as if noticing their numbers for the first time.
"Asante... there is no need for this..." Kiava said, but Asante wasn't listening.
"Stay away!" She shouted.
Then there was a great bang.
And a huge flash of light.
The earth trembled and the wind began to roar and Kiava wondered if perhaps one of the fabled Geysers were erupting, an insurmountable blockage of pressure, being unleashed. But it was not a geyser. The winds howled and Kiava took a step back.
Light, brilliant white light was streaming from Asante, from her claws, her fur, her eyes. They glowed white, as the winds crashed and raged around her, currents of air streaming like a tempest, a storm, for which she was the eye.
The whirling tempest of magical energies span around her, as she screamed in panic.
"What the..." Kiava managed to say... Then the breaths of air narrowed into a single jet, invisible, forceful and just tangible at the edges. The blast of air struck Kiava in the chest and sent him flying, the whirling storms began to pick up and Ookai and Buzz were plucked out of the air. They screamed as they span. Zuri and Bruce cowered and bust and rocks and trickles of water were sucked into the typhoon, spinning and crashing and twisting. Asante screamed in panic and Ookai and Buzz were silenced as they were flung against the ground and fell still.
Bruce cried out and Asante focused on him.
A bolt of energy flew from her paws and crashed into Bruce and Zuri, crackling like lightening.
They both screamed as it coursed through them.
Asante howled in panic her powers spiralling out of control.
"ZURI!" Kiava called, desperately. This was unnatural... Yet Kiava recognised sorcery when he saw it. His nightmares were infrequent now... but he remembered one... One of Marsade, hovering in the air, staffs of power whirling around him, raining fire upon his foes.
And this... was the same. A Shaman.
But how? Rafiki had claimed there were only five... Was this... something different? Or something new?
Whatever the case, it would not help Zuri. There was no time to think, to plan, or to scheme. Kiava jumped and forced his way through the winds, the whirling vortex's of air and the debris they had picked up and latched onto Asante. Immediately, the magic bolts ceased and Bruce and Zuri both collapsed to the ground.
Kiava grappled with Asante, clawing at her.
The winds howled and span.
"ASANTE!" Another voice called. Asante seemed to flinch.
"Father?" She said, suddenly. Kiava used the distraction to claw at her neck, wrapping an arm around it and pulling down with all his weight.
The air span as Asante choked. Still Kiava's grip tightened, strangling, pulling, asphyxiating.
Asante began to thrash and struggle, her eyes wide and the storm doubled in size.
And still Kiava's grip tightened.
Asante chocked and gasped for air.
Her paws shook, her face contorted...
And then the air moved. It shifted.
And pass through her. Through her skin, her ears, her eyes, her paw tips. The air, the blessed air she needed, pulsed through her body, through her lungs, moved not by her muscles and lungs, but by the sheer force of her will and the mystical shamanic energies.
After a moment, she inhaled, sending air throughout her body where her limbs were on fire. Then her eyes snapped open and Kiava was ripped from her back.
She began to breath normally again, regularly and Kiava was thrown into the air, where he hung there, suspended by some invisible force.
"ASANTE!" The voice came again.
Asante turned and Kiava saw another Hyena approaching. This one was older, bigger and his body covered in scars and war wounds. He looked grizzled and battle hardened and he eyed Asante carefully.
"Asante! Let him go!" He warned her. Asante struggled.
"I..."
"Take a deep breath... Let go of the power you've gripped hold of. Let yourself relax. You've beaten them... Now let go... Let the storm die down." He said, his voice soothing and calming. Asante struggled. Then the debris dropped to the ground. The roar of the wind ceased and in the still calm,, Kiava hung there in the air.
Asante sighed, the last of the white light streaming off her. Then the ground rushed up to meet him and a stunning pain struck him as he fell and landed headfirst on stone ground. Then he collapsed, unconscious.
Banzai surveyed the mess. He looked in amusement as Bhagari and his cohorts groaned and began to rise, clutching their heads and other bruises. Asante was panting and looked about to pass out. She smiled weakly at her father.
"Dad..." She said, swaying on her feet. Banzai looked around in exasperation and at the two unconscious lion cubs and the bodies of their friends.
"Are they alive?" He asked Bhagari, who quickly checked.
"Yes... All five of them..." He said. Banzai nodded.
"Good. Take them into Carrocscirr."
"Father... What if they are spies?"
"Then we'll kill them like the rest of the snakes we find... Yet... this cub intrigues me. There is something eerily familiar about him. I had thought the Lion Prides were destroyed..." He said. Bhagari looked on distastefully.
"Not all of them..." He pointed out. Banzai nodded.
"The Matriarch will want to speak to him..." He said, looking pointedly at Asante. Asante shook.
"You wan't to speak to him?! I... I didn't know, I..."
"Of course you didn't. You were doing your job – defending our borders while under siege. You didn't have any idea what to do with lions. You acted perfectly reasonably. I don't blame you at all." He said and with that he looked at all of the Shadowpups, who nodded gratefully. "I am however..." He continued. "...Interested to hear why you were all unconscious when I found Asante and her... gift... spiralling out of control... How did two lion cubs manage to best all of you?" He asked, as they walked, dragging the unconscious forms of the lion cubs behind them. A few swallowed and looked nervous, so Banzai let the matter drop, though he smirked.
Far away, unseen by any, a short green figure watched them intently, eyeing their movements, looking at how they moved through the labyrinth. He nodded to himself. So there was indeed a rear entrance to the Ivory Tower. Amun would be very pleased. The snake's tongue flickered in and out and then the Shai'tan spy slivered away, to report his findings... Particularly one very interesting looking She-Hyena.
AN:
I was going to unveil another secret here... But I think I shall leave that for the Prologue of The Lion King Legacies: Book Four – The Inferno.
Yes for those wondering... the Powers Asante has unveiled are suspiciously similar to those utilised by Sundar aren't they? I wonder if there could possibly be a connection... (A Clue: There Is.) I have always made it clear that there is more going on than a simple power grab... Or did you think the villains motivations were purely to own more land?
Ask yourself something...
Why conquer the Pridelands?
Also, the fight with the Hyenas was less serious and more than a little cartoonish in description. This was for a number of reasons, firstly because has already been a serious fight in the last few chapters, secondly because it really fitted with the Hyenas and thirdly, because it features Kiava showing off his talents he has learnt.
I hoped you enjoyed this. I am also working on a Map of the Pridelands, for personally reference, but I shall upload it to DA and leave a link in my Profile, for those curious as to the posting and positioning. I recommend downloading and looking in detail.
In the mean time, stay tune for the Epilogue! It is nearly done, and I shall update either tomorrow, the next day! But do leave a review here first, because there is a lot to discover in the next chapter, and you'll want to review here first!
Haradion