The Hyena Lion

A/N: This is going to be a very long chapter ahead. Time for feelings to be revealed and other conflicts. Things never seemed to end, huh? Lol

Chapter 16

Love Admitted And Horrible Events

Kion wakened up the next morning. It have been a easy night sleep. To many shock, Zuri's recovery is going fast and soon Kion is going to have to escort her back home. He both dreaded and enjoy the days going by. For one thing, he grows closer to the young lioness and it's hard to denied his feelings. He found himself dropping his defensives and lowering himself around her. Jasiri continues to urge him to tell her how he feels and not be scared because she claims Zuri seems to return the same affection. To be honest, she is just so innocent to be around of and Kion tells her what's on his mind he wouldn't tell anybody else. He and Zuri have been going out a lot and continues to hang around. The young lion hopes he can test her hunting skills soon because she seems to have a potential to being a very fine hunter.

He stares at her to see her smiling joyfully. Kion's heart warmed at the sight and he stared at her for a minute. Oh is she pretty? Shaking his head to regain his composure, he have decided to go out and take a walk alone. He have been doing this more lately. Just as the young lion went to the entrance, he heard yawning and turn to see Zuri is the suspect and he frowned because they had came home a little more tired from talking. He were used to staying up at nights and waking up very early, but she has never done this before under his eyes.

"Kion," she greeted tiredly and stood up, stretching her bones and hearing a crack. Kion went up towards her and nudged her playfully to greet her properly with a smile. "Where are you going?"

"Taking a walk," he says, than was about to walk out when something came to his mind. "You can join me if you want." He added, turning towards her with a coy smile.

That invitation instantly gotten the tawny-orange lioness up and accidentally running onto him and sending him against the ground and causing her to half-pinned him. Kion and Zuri glanced at each other for a second and he swear he had saw something different within her. The teenage lion wondered if they would have gotten even closer in terms of years had Zira not showed up than they did in terms of days. They still were close.

"I-I love..." Kion stopped. He thought about it for a minute. It seemed like a strong word and she may see him as creepy and may never have an shot at her. He didn't want her to hate him and see him as just a creepy lion. Likely, she won't turn him down face-to-face but she may be more anxious to return to the pride lands than staying here. Kion realized he didn't want her to leave his life again for he haven't felt much happiness for two years. Why did life have to be so tough on him? Kion shivered and shallowed in the last word as he gotten from below her and begin heading out.

Zuri looked concern at his happiness disappearing and a sudden change of attitude. She wasn't going to allow him to lock himself from her and went up towards her: "Kion, what's wrong?" She inquired softly, wondering if she had done something wrong to him. After all, he is different from the pride landers and have grown up being surrounded by hyenas and it would take time to get use to another lioness.

"Zuri, I'm so sorry," he said before beginning to walk off. Kion never felt so much love being around somebody but blast it he have been through much. Kion hated himself for pushing the young lioness away, but he had no choice.

Zuri jumped infront of him, not willing to let him escape from her before she knows answers. "Kion, what's wrong?" She asked sternly, showing that she weren't going to move out of the way.

"I'm sorry," he repeated softly, forcing his neck against her and nuzzling her. "I just feels something around you that I have never felt around anybody else. I have a harsh life with trying to survive and lead many hyenas who look up to me. I'm trying not to have to drag you down with me. Life is already complicated for all whom live out here."

"Kion-"

Kion interrupted her. "I'm had to live out here for years and is planning to go into war soon. For your sake, just forget about me 'cause I will be fine." Kion stiffened as he push himself passed her continues to walk with his head hanged downward, clearly in shame.

There was a paused for a second but Zuri wasn't going to back down. "Kion!" Zuri shouted after him, chasing after him. "I missed you!" That made him stop walking and turning to face her as she came to a stop infront of him. "I miss you." She repeated softly. "Not a day gone by that I didn't miss you. Please don't leave again." Zuri begged with her eyes starting to water.

Regretful, the teenage lion knew he had to comfort her and went up and nuzzled against her as her wet tears trailed down the golden lion's body. Kion felt his tears starting to build up and both were onto each other, by now crying over lost memories. Kion had remember explaining what life in the outlands is like. He have utterly made her into a better lioness to care about more than herself and become more grateful and not living in a place like the elephant graveyard. He is clearly strongwill, considering he haven't snapped living without his real family.

Soon, they'd reached an beautiful watering hole, followed with the beautiful sun above. Kion knew his hyena mother wouldn't mind if he came home past dawn because he wouldn't do anything foolish and go behind the one who he called his mother for years back so he could stay out as far as he wants to.

What's odd is that Kion and Zuri were sitting beside each other, though seems to be a little to the distance. The prince saw the left half of his reflection; same for Zuri who saw her right half completely gone.

She had noticed Kion getting closer towards her. Zuri begins to move closer to him as well until the two connected shoulders and saw their halfs connected towards each other. He is an very handsome young lion. He has a extremely caring heart. He is a good lion in the inside and outside. She have learned much about him more than he possibly learned from her.

Zuri: I never felt my heart beat so fast.

I'm thinking of him first and of myself last.

Zuri nuzzled his head with hers, getting them into an long embrace, and place an paw on his heart, feeling his heartbeat beating more faster than her with her paw before jumping over him.

And how happy I want him to be'.

Kion: It's amazing someone in my life

Just might be loving me.

Kion accidentally fall into an mud puddle making him hit the ground with dirt that soon fallened off of him. Yet, there is still one strand of dirt is on the top of his head, making Zuri giggle.

Mischievously, he smirked at her and place an paw on his head, having felt it and wiping it off of his head, making her giggle even more which makes him only smile at that beautiful giggle.

I didn't know that I could feel this way.

Zuri: It's so crazy.

Something in my life.

Is better than a dream.

I didn't know that I could feel this way.

The two soon meeted big grass in the Backlands where they saw two odd meerkats nuzzling each other. They also saw wild dogs and other animals doing the same thing, making the scene only more ironic for the two. Kion and Zuri smiled at each other, feeling like they add wanted to mirror that beautiful sight however pushed it back in.

She makes me warm and happy inside.

He smiled and I get dizzy and starry eyed.

Both: All these feelings I have.

Have me asking.

Zuri: Can this be love?

Kion: Can this be love?

By now, the two lions is facing an beautiful lake where they saw the same reflection they've seen before. The two made each other felt warm and just complete despite not always seeing the right side. Kion didn't watched where he were going at one point and send the tawny-orange lioness back. Surprised, Zuri were send to the ground with Kion on top of her. She licked his chin with her paws on her stomach as Kion stared back at her with an more surprised look. Seconds later, that surprise were replace by something else. Love. Love they have for each other.

Zuri: It's crazy

Both: I can hardly speak.

At the same time: Whenever he/Whenever she Says: "Hi"

Zuri: I didn't know that I could feel

Kion: I never dreamed that I could feel

Zuri: I didn't know that I could feel

Both: This way

Kion and Zuri spend some time with each other, expressing their love for each other, unaware of what's going to happen soon. For once in his life, Kion actually had an chance to relax with somebody without having to worried about any threats. It was all worth it after two years being in hiding.


Not so far away from the two, Usaliti gathered up the giant hyenas' and jackals' clan that they have recruited throughout the years. Most hyenas are around Janja's side, and most jackals, liked the hyenas, match Reirei's size. The lioness smirked because they would send Janja's clans of around twenty five hyenas to the dangerous side, whereas they going to send Reirei's pack of around thirty to the safest side possible. They have gained more offsprings, like others in the clan, and Janja just recruited other lost clans that were either abandoned or also offspring of the former hyenas that protected Scar.

A vulture soon joined her on the shoulder. "Mistress," the female vulture said, earning the lioness attention. "The plan is in motion. Just give the word and the order will be carried out."

"Carry it out," Usaliti ordered. She nodded and seconds later a smirk formed onto her face as the vultures released the fire sticks from their talons and allowed them to drop to the surroundings. "Now let's head down shall we?

As they went down to the safe part of the flames, Usaliti heard the alarmed cheetah and she smirked, deciding to not revealed herself yet. "What's going on?!" Fuli were alarmed as flames surrounded the group. Hyenas begin trying to find ways of safety.

"Oh, hello, cheetah." Usaliti said darkly.

"You?!" Fuli cried. She have remember this lioness. She had always gave her chills but shrugged it off as their past history. But now she realized what is happening. "Why are you doing this?!"

Usaliti cackled mockingly at the cheetah who were beside her friends and others who scurried to grabbed their cubs. "The pride lands must die and unfortunately Kion would stand in the way."

She than growled, not hearing an response from Zuri, as she turned to face Janja who were currently beside her. Without hesitation, she thrown the hyena who shouted as he descended near them. "Janja!" shouted his members who ran down and jumped through the flames. Luckily, they made it but still were concerned as the flames grown bigger.

Usaliti laughed as the hyenas and other species were forced to back up. There is no escape for them. "Guys, we can dig our way out of here," Bunga suggested.

"No! The flames would cut us off!" Fuli snapped towards the honey badger who went silent.

"Wait! We can use my pool!" Besthe exclaimed. The fire haven't yet stop us! It has to lead somewhere! Just the taller hyenas have to rely on their little ones!"

"Beshte, you know about how I feel about water," Fuli pointed out softly yet bluntly.

"Come on, hang onto me," Beshte said.

Janja approached the female hyena who were about to jump into the lake with Wema and Tunu. "Jasiri, can we come to?" Janja pleaded pathetically.

"Please," Cheezi and Chungu begged.

Jasiri looked at Madoa and saw her nodding. "I still respect the Circle of Life," Jasiri said, "even the lives of those who don't." All hyenas stared at each other with puzzled looks. "Come on." The hyenas ran up to the pool and jumped in after gaining their breaths.

Suddenly an roar was heard. "Usaliti!" He snarled, his eyes staring firely at her, his teeth gritted, jaw clenched, and shoulders bunched.

"Ah, Kion," Usaliti states. "My, have you grown?" She smiles at him in a mischievous manner as she approached him with the jackals behind. As much as she don't want to admit it, despite his age gap, he is handsome than most lions she have seen in her life. "You know maybe you and I get to know each other, she may stay with you."

Confused at first, Kion narrowed his eyes when the teenage lion felt her running her tail under his chin and growled. "You're disgusting," Kion retaliated. "If you think I would ever do that to you!"

Usaliti sighed as she continues to scan the youger lion. "You have became more of an lion than that bad influence annoying pest lion cub I had thought from two years ago," she said with a dark smile, getting close to him.

Kion heard Zuri growled in jealousy and he slapped her. Then suddenly, he heard a yelped and flipped around to see Zuri being hold down by Goigoi and Reirei. "Zuri!" Kion cried, than flipped around to Usaliti. "Let her go!"

"Why do you even care about her?" Usaliti inquired with a grin. "Did you know she been working with me and Zira for the past two years? She was originally suppose to distract you but she backed out in the plan. She can easily betrayed you but with me, atleast you would know my intentions"

Kion turned with shock and horror towards her. He trusted her and found himself loving her even though usually in teenage stage they would switch back, but Zuri has treated him with affection and love. Even now, the young lion still find himself still loving her.

Kion snarled. "Hell no! First, you are too old for me! Second, you are a disgusting lioness who would dare threatened their own family member and try to force a lion younger than you! What the he is wrong with you?!"

Usaliti's grin became blunt and her grinned were completely gone. "You don't understand me: your grand uncle forced me to bare his cub but it was a failure. It's only fair if you received the pain I did."

Kion had guessed she and Zira don't share the same intentions after all. Zira seems to be desired with avenge Scar, while Usaliti wants somebody to relate with her and wants to share suffering that she had faced.

"That's not happening!" Kion said bluntly. "And you are not going to afflict the same pain that you had on me! While you had a difficult life with Scar, that doesn't mean you should shared that pain with somebody else; especially those who have don't absolutely nothing to you! Also, Zuri atleast has an heart to not hurt her friends nor family!"

Usaliti's face became again an grin. "Very well, I really wished you had made this easier and I may have seen you as handsome, looks like you would never see her again!"

She than lunged forward and thrusted her paw through his face. Surprised, Kion were send to the ground in a distance and his head made contact towards a rock. Usaliti smirked evilly and turned towards the jackals before staring down at Zuri, who squirmed under the jackals to break free.

Usaliti smiled and approached, patting her on the head. "Oh, young Zuri, now the pride lands and your friends will die due to your failure." Zuri than were dragged to the outlands, leaving behind the unconscious form of Kion.