I own only Jahina (Swahili for 'bold'), Abu (Swahili for 'father') and Churo (Swahili for 'unlucky').

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Finally Simba arrived at his destination, Rafiki's baobab tree, still dragging the hyena. He took a moment to admire the tree's longevity, because even after the drought and the fire, it still had a few leaves, and some fruit, though neither were in good condition. "Rafiki," he called up.

"Yes, oh prince," Rafiki replied, peering over the edge of the tree, and grimacing when he saw what Simba had brought, "I have eaten already."

"Er, okay," Simba said, surprised to see the shaman so put off. "Actually," he said, "I was hopping it would be okay for the pride to eat." After a few silent moments, he asked, "you couldn't check it could you?"

"Very well," Rafiki said, and slowly descended the tree. Once at the body he sniffed at the wound, then almost daintily, put his finger in, twisted it, and then pulled it out again, partly covered with a jelly like substance. The shaman sniffed at the substance covered finger, then slowly took a lick.

Finally Rafiki said, "it is safe to eat the meat, but only the meat."

"Thank you," Simba said, somewhat glad he'd be able to return to Pride Rock with something to show for his time.

"As resourceful as you are, though," Rafiki said, "you will be lucky if you can get many of you pride to join you in a meal."

"Oh, I know that," Simba said, "from the way Nala acted, you'd have thought I was going to eat kill a cub." Rafiki nodded, then without another word, climbed back up the tree, and disappeared into the crown. The prince continued to stare for a few moments, then turned, and began to drag the carcass away, towards Pride Rock.

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"Where's Simba," Mufasa asked Sarabi, when he emerged from the cave. He'd wanted to talk to his son yesterday, ever since the fight with Scar, but he hadn't had a chance.

"He took Nala out earlier," Sarabi replied, "something about checking on a hunch." She paused a moment, then added, "he seemed rather concerned about there being no food left."

"I suspect he would be," Mufasa said, "none at all?"

"Well, the fire killed everything that was alive," Sarabi replied, "so, yes, probably nothing."

Before either of them could say anything else, Nala approached them, and said quietly to Sarabi, "could I talk to..." before noticing Mufasa, "good morning sire."

"Good morning Nala," Mufasa replied, "what's this about?"

"Could I talk to you both," Nala asked, "in private?"

"What's..." Mufasa began, then noticed Sarabi's expression, "yes, I think we can manage that."

"What's going on," Sarabi asked, when they were alone, at Solace as it happened.

"Um..." Nala thought about how to put across her information. "Simba thinks he's found food," She finally said.

"Has he," Mufasa asked, "well, that's good news."

"Indeed," Sarabi asked, noticing Nala still appeared worried, "so what's wrong?"

"That's the whole problem," Nala said, "it's..." She tried to think about how she could put Simba's idea nicely, but after a few moments, gave up. "It's hyena," she said, "he wants us to eat hyena."

"He what," Sarabi asked, barely remembering to moderate her voice, "he wants us to eat hyena?" Nala nodded. "That's disgusting," she went on, "who knows what they could be carrying." Turning to Mufasa, she said, "I think we really need to talk to him."

Mufasa held his silence. He was somewhat put off by the news, and yet, hadn't Sarabi herself said they were out of food, on the brink of starvation.

There was a commotion from down at the cave, and when they went to investigate, they found Simba had returned. "...too fond of the idea myself," the prince was telling the lionesses, many of who appeared disgusted, "but we don't really have much of a choice do we, really?"

"And how do we know it isn't diseased," one of the lionesses asked.

Simba sighed, then replied, "Rafiki says it's okay to eat the meat, but just the meat."

"I still think it's disgusting," said one of the lionesses, "I think I'd rather starve."

Simba sighed again, then shrugged, "your choice, but at least 'I'm' going to go to sleep on a full stomach tonight."

"He's got a point though," said Jahina, causing the rest of the lionesses to look at her in shock and disgust. Ignoring them, she looked at Simba and asked, "what does it taste like?"

"Practically nothing actually," Simba replied, "it's a bit soft though."

"Well, so long as it's edible," Jahina said, and with that, began to walk towards where Simba had left the carcass, half way up the slope. Once there, she took a small, ceremonious bite, and rolled the meat around before chewing. Once she'd swallowed the meat, she turned back and said, "we're lions, we eat meat, and, personally, I think it's about time they were made useful."

The silence unrolled for a few moments, then Abu began to step forward, but pulled up when Sarafina asked, "Abu, what in the name of...what are you doing?"

"Kid's right," Abu replied levelly, "we need the meat." He paused a moment, then added, "besides, I've been a rogue most of my life, and some of the things I've eaten, when it was that or starve, they made hyena look appetising." He then turned back, and walked over to the carcass, before giving it a lick. He then grimaced very slightly, and looked over at Simba, "any more of this around?"

"A few at least," Simba replied, "I didn't search for more though."

Abu shrugged, but before either of them could say anything, Sarabi said, "Simba we'd like a word with you, in private."

Simba looked up, and seemed to loose some of his strength. "yes mother," he replied, then turned to Abu and Jahina, "enjoy the meal," and with that walked off. He followed her and Mufasa up to Solace, and a moment later ,were joined By Nala.

"Simba, what were you thinking," Sarabi exclaimed quietly, "we can't eat hyena."

Simba sighed, then replied, "mother, you said it yourself, there's nothing else."

"Indeed you did," Mufasa broke in, before Sarabi could say anything else, surprising the others, "and though I dislike the idea myself, I think it's necessary we learn to overcome some of our old prejudices."

Sarabi was stunned, how could he, her mate and the king possibly condone, or even allow, such an act. Mufasa saw the look on her face, and said, "Sarabi." When there was no response, he dabbed her, and said, louder, "Sarabi."

"Mm," Sarabi muttered, turning to Mufasa, "what?"

"As your mate, I can't, and won't order you to eat hyena," Mufasa said, "but as your king, I order you not to starve." He paused a moment, then said, "and that order applies to you as well Nala." Both lionesses were dumbfounded, and it showed, so he said, "come on," then muttered, "and I hope this is going to taste better than it sounds like it should."

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