Cubhood: Chapter 17
High above where the fighting was taking place, Zira looked to Sarafina, looking frightened.
"What do you think is going on?" She asked her. Sarafina rose to her feet, and one of the two hyenas guarding them gave a threatening growl. Sarafina scowled at it, and sat back down again, nursing one of the various welts that covered her left side.
"It sounded like someone fighting…" Sarafina told her, nervously. Zira perked up at that.
"You think King Ahadi has come?" She asked her, wary of letting herself sound too hopeful. Sarafina glanced at the guards.
"It… It Could be…" She said uncertainly. "But it could just be other hyenas… Even other Black hyenas… You know what hyenas are like… they are probably just squabbling over some meat…" She said, sounding defeated. Behind her, the second of the two hyenas began to snigger. "Something funny?" Sarafina asked, sounding braver than she felt. The hyena glared at her, and Sarafina couldn't help but flinch. The guard didn't touch her though. Instead, he grinned.
"Yeah… Ya could say that. Maybe I just find it funny that you're only now starting to understand your situation. Stupid lions. Lording it over us, thinking you're so smart. That hyenas are so dumb. Not so clever now, are ya?" He taunted her.
"Leave her." The other hyena snapped, looking irritated. "I don't like having to listen to your yammering." He said.
"Yeah." Sarafina said. "Shut it. We don't want to listen to your yammering." She agreed. The offending hyena scowled at her.
The sound of the fighting was becoming louder though, and now the second guard turned about, looking confused. It was louder than was custom throughout the tower than if indeed it were a squabble over food. Maybe that sighting of spotted hyenas had escalated into something more… drastic? He licked his lips.
"Hey." He nodded to the other hyena. "Go check it out." He said.
"You check it out." His partner said, dismissively. He growled softly, looking angry. He spat to the ground, glowering, then stalked out of the cave, to investigate the disquieting noises. He rounded the corner, and was gone from sight.
Then there was a loud roar. A roar that shook the walls.
"What the…" Sarafina muttered. There was a howl of pain as the unfortunate hyena was flung back through the air and into the wall with a sickening crunch. The second guard leapt to his feet, instantly on guard, growling.
"Who's there!?" He shouted out. He was greeted with another roar that shook the sides of the tower.
"That would be me. Where. Are. My. Friends?" Taka snarled, emerald eyes narrow like slits, giving him an almost serpentine quality.
"Taka!" Sarafina and Zira both called out at once.
The hyena stared at the lion Prince aghast, and at the mark displayed on his shoulder.
"Taka, we're here!" Sarafina cried out. Taka turned and saw her. His eyes softened into a genuine smile when he saw her face.
"Sarafina! Zira! You're safe!" His expression was one of pure relief. Sarafina moved closer.
"Stay where you are!" The hyena snapped. Unfortunately for him, Taka had just gotten a good look at Sarafina, and saw the bruising along her side. She couldn't help but wince as she moved forwards. Taka's expression became hard.
"They hurt you." Taka said. It wasn't a question. Taka looked at Zira and saw similar markings. The hyenas hadn't killed them, sure, but neither had they been gentle, especially not with their attempted escape. Taka gave a snarl. He looked at the hyena who, for the life of it, didn't seem to understand the danger it had now placed itself in. Namely standing between Taka and his injured friends. "Girls. We're leaving." Taka said.
"They're not going anywhere! I have my orders." The hyena said.
Taka didn't dignify that with a response. Instead, he lashed out in anger again, summoning from within him all the power of the kings, all the power of the roar, and forcing it outwards, towards the hyena. He too was flung against solid rock, and crumpled to the ground. Taka didn't spare his beaten body a second glance.
"Are you alright?" He asked the lionesses. Taka and Sarafina moved towards him, and Taka permitted himself a smile and a brief display of physical affection.
"We're fine… They were going to try and barter us for meat." Sarafina said. Taka grinned.
"Well… As Imani would say: They bit off more than they can chew." Taka said. Sarafina scowled, shaking her head at the terrible joke, before freezing.
"Taka!" She shouted in warning, shoving him out of the way. Behind them, a great and imposing figure lunged at them. Her jaws closed around thin air, missing her intended target. And a good thing too; that bite would have torn through muscle and crushed bone. She wasn't done yet though. The hyena jerked to the side, butting Sarafina in the stomach and hitting her with enough force to propel her across the room. She collapsed into an unconscious heap.
"Sarafina!" Zira shouted in alarm, and shrank back when the hyena took a step forward.
"So." Vastra said. "You are the Prince Taka. Not the stealthiest of entrances, Taka. You might have done well to get this far, but that roar of yours will be the death of you. You'll find it's hard to hide and sneak, when you're constantly screaming your presence to the entire world." Vastra said.
"I don't need to hide, or to skulk." Taka said, swallowing, sizing up his new foe. "Who are you?" He asked. Vastra gave a grin.
"Everyone needs to hide at some point Taka. It's one of the laws of the Shadowlands." She said. "And my name," She continued, baring her teeth. "Is Vastra. Matriarch of the Black Hyena Clan. This is my home." She said. Taka cocked his head.
"You came into my home, and kidnapped my friends. Consider this a reprisal." He said. Vastra didn't answer. Instead she paced, circling him. Taka remained where he was standing, keeping his eyes fixed on her.
"You'll have to forgive me. We don't often entertain royalty…" She said. Then she lunged at him, her jaws snapping. Taka dived away, ducking under the blow, before turning about and slashing at her with his underdeveloped claws. Three painful lines burst into being on her, but it didn't slow her, though she did feel the stab of pain that accompanied them. She bit at him again, and Taka again dodged, but it was a closer thing this time.
"Taka!" Zira cried out in panic. The young lioness cub looked terrified.
Taka inhaled to roar, but Vastra was on him again, forcing him to back off. Snapping and biting and growling. She didn't give him a moment's pause or a moments rest. Taka ducked away, gasping in pain as her claws raked his side, and managed to let out a brief roar of defiance. It echoed around their chamber, and Vastra was forced back, her claws leaving deep grooves in the floor as she worked to hold herself in place. The sound felt like a shiver down Zira's spine. The distance gained gave Taka time to recover, but Vastra wasn't so easily beaten. She leapt forwards again, biting at him. It was a familiar pattern, but a reliable one, for if Taka made a mistake, even for a moment, those powerful, bone crushing jaws would lock tightly around his limbs and rip him apart.
"Is this it!" Vastra asked, laughing. Every time the hyena did that, Zira had to resist the urge to shut her eyes. The laughter haunted her nightmares, and now it haunted her waking moments too. "Is this all that there is from Prince Taka! Ahadi should have sent the elder brother! At least there is meat on his bones… he'd have provided me with a snack after failing so utterly!" Taka snarled in anger at the comparison. But it was his undoing, because Vastra weaved and avoided the force of the roar, which surged past her and hit the wall behind her. There was a cataclysmic bang from the roar being unleashed in a confined space, and Taka's expression twisted with rage. There was a crack of stone; for the roar had shaken the foundations of the tower once more. The Ivory tower, already bombarded on a daily basis by the seismic instability of the Shadowlands, shuddered under the strain, and the wall gave out as the hyena dropped to the ground. The wall splintered and fell apart, letting natural moonlight into the cell for the first time. Taka hadn't noticed how his eyes had adjusted to the gloom of the caverns until then, because with the shattering of the wall, moonlight flooded the chamber casting Taka in its sickly glow and blinding him for the briefest of moment. Then Vastra seized her moment. She rushed towards him, even as Taka squinted from the sudden shift in light, moving like a shadow before the dim radiance, and slamming into Taka with a howl of triumph. Scar let out a panicked cry even she pinned him to ground. Scar began to struggle, but Vastra simply adjusted her weight, pinning the young lion firmly to ground, sharp claws biting into his skin. She leared down at him, in an almost predatory manner, and took a deep sniff. She could smell his fear, and her eyes glinted.
"Undone by your own power. Pathetic." She taunted him. Taka growled, and then winced in pain again, as Vastra bared her teeth suddenly, causing him to flinch and try to pull away, only worsening his pain. She laughed as he squirmed helplessly beneath her, and he pulled away, away from her wretched stink. He could feel her breath on him. Warm, wet, and fetid. It repulsed him.
"No!" Zira shouted. "Don't' kill him, please!"
"Kill him? What an idea." Vastra said. She laughed at Taka's attempts to free himself, keeping him firmly pinned to the ground with her own weight. "Ah ah ah. Careful now. I didn't go through all that just to kill you! No no no." She shook her head. "If Ahadi will hand over meat, on request for the lives of a pair of worthless cubs, what do you think he will do in exchange for the life of his son? Maybe he was prepared to risk the lives of two nobodies, two insignificant spawn from his harem." Vastra crowed, already knowing the answer, and snickering. "But I am willing to bet he places a higher value on the life of the Fiercest lion in the Pridelands." She said, mockingly. "You are a foolish child, coming here. Did you think you'd be the hero? You've given me everything." She said. "Or rather, Ahadi will. If he wants to see his son alive again." She said.
"My father will never give into swine like you!" Taka gasped again, struggling under Vastra's pin. She hissed.
"Oh I think he will… Even if his resolve holds, perhaps your mother will persuade him. Maybe if I send her the odd piece? Claw tips… ears… that sort of thing. Tell me, Taka. How attached are you to the tip of your tail?" Vastra asked, baring her teeth. Taka tried to struggle, but Vastra held him tight.
"Leave him alone!" Taka heard Zira cry. Vastra looked up from where she towered over Taka, and saw Zira standing up again. Her eyes were wide with fear, but she looked determined.
"Zira, run!" Taka shouted, struggling under the paws of the oversized hyena matriarch, wishing she would just take this opportunity now, whilst Vastra was preoccupied with him.
"Ah. The cowardly lioness finds her voice again. I should really rip that out."Vastra snarled. She bared her teeth, and smiled at Zira's flinch.
"Leave him be!" Zira warned her. Vastra laughed, extending her claws. They pierced into Taka's skin, eliciting a cry of pain from Taka.
"Or what?" Vastra asked her. "What can you do? What have you got? I have Ahadi's son here. I have Ahadi under my paw. You have nothing."
"Let him go. We're leaving here, and going home, and you won't hurt us." Zira told her, her eyes firm. Taka struggled, but Vastra was unyielding.
"And why would I let you do that? I have four dozen hyenas at my beck and call! I can have them tear you apart with nothing but an order! What do you have? Nothing… You're pathetic, weak and worthless." She growled, and Zira flinched away again. Vastra laughed. "Aww… So scared. So vulnerable." She grinned in malice. Zira gave a growl, and her crimson eyes were wide with anger as well as fear. There were tears in her eyes again, and Vastra gave a crow of laughter.
"Awww! The baby lioness is gonna cry! Go on then. Cry! Scream! Who is gonna hear it? Who is gonna care? What's the matter, lioness…? Scared? Of me?" She grinned.
"Yes! Yes I am scared. Hyenas frighten me! I fear you. But not as much as I hate you." She hissed. "They frighten me, because they killed my father. Because they killed my mother. Because they nearly killed my brother and me! But I am not weak! I am not worthless! I hate you. And I will never be weak again! Ever! Never again!" She growled again and launched herself at Vastra, whilst she was towering over Taka, keeping him down with both paws. The hyena didn't see the attack coming and was unprepared where Zira crashed into her, knocking her from Taka. She gave a cry and landed in a heap at the edge tower, where the gaping hole opened out into nothingness. Below, razor sharp rocks pointed up at them, the distance alone enough to pulverise any who fell from this height – the towering heights of the ivory tower.
"You admit to your cowardice then… yes… I can smell it on you… The fear…" She breathed deeply again, a guttural sound, that caught on her throat. "You get used to it here in the Shadowlands. But not in the Pridelands, I suspect. Doesn't it claw into you? Raking into your back and stomach like talons of ice? Biting into your muscles, your bones? I can smell your fear. He doesn't have much of it." She pointed to Taka. "There is fire and anger and fury in him, but not much fear. Not for himself, anyway. But you reek of it! Spirits, it stinks! Why don't you run, lion cub? Why don't you run back home to your parents… Oh yeah… that's right… Did they get gutted by some Black hyenas? I guess that's my bad." Vastra grinned, laughing at her own joke. Zira gave a scream of rage, and slashed at her. Vastra nimbly dodged to the side, and grinned. They were just children. Lucky children, with unnatural, king-given gifts, but children nevertheless. She froze, looking past Zira.
Taka had climbed to his feet.
"Zira." His voice was steady, like ice. "Get down." And he roared. He roared with the roar of the elders, and the ivory tower shook. Below them, the geysers and seismic instabilities fired in synchronisation as his roar shook the ground, pulsing through the shadowlands. The sky darkened, as Taka's anger soared. Zira hurled herself to the ground, and Vastra was thrown aside, having no time to brace herself. She gave a cry, colliding with a pile of elephant tusks and bones with an almighty crash. She grunted in pain, and moaned. Zira stood up, and looked at her friend.
"Taka… Are you alright?" She asked him. Blood tricked down from a few minor wounds, but Taka nodded. He stalked towards Vastra.
"You… filthy… dog." He snarled, and slashed at her, opening fresh cuts on the hyena's disorientated person. She moaned again. "How dare you! How dare you come into my lands. How dare you take my friends! How dare you hurt them! How dare you mock them! How dare you!" He snarled. Zira looked at her friend in shock as he looed, becoming a terrible presence, silhouetted in the silvery moonlight that leaked into the top of the tower of Carrocscir, bleaching everything an iron grey.
"Prince Taka…" Vastra swallowed, suddenly overcome. She tried to climb to her feet, but a tooth, or maybe it was an elephant tusk, or horn had wedged itself under her forepaw. Blood leaked and congealed around them as she staggered to her feet, her vision a blur. Angrily, she twisted around, gripping the offending implement in her teeth and jerking aside, pulling the sharp object free, screaming as she did so. She spat it out, along with a reasonable portion of her own blood that clung to her fur. Then she sank to her knees, breathless.
"Damned cub…" She muttered. Taka stood over her, and inhaled to roar again, but Vastra shook her head. "No… Don't…" She pleaded. She could barely stand, and he knew it. At least two of the legs were broken, shattered in the impact where Taka's roar had hurled her against the ground. The light from the exposed, gaping hole in the side of the tower shined light clearly upon her and her injuries, exposing them for all to see. Taka hesitated. Behind him, Zira fumed.
"We're leaving." Taka said. "I am taking my friends back home. Don't you ever forget your place, Hyena. Don't you ever forget this. If you come back… If you hurt my friends… I shall rain down hell upon this tower, if you so much as scratch them ever again! I will use the roar to turn this into a smouldering ruin! I swear it!" Taka said. He turned, moved towards Sarafina's unconscious body. She was still breathing, just knocked out. Between him and Zira, they could move her.
Vastra tried again to crawl to her feet, and managed to partially rise. She seethed in anger. She wasn't dead yet. Not by a long shot.
"You…" She coughed. "You won't get far. The tower is full of my hyenas. I just have to call them. You can't get away… Give up now." Vastra said, though she sounded much less confident.
"You sent all your guards after an imaginary attack by spotted hyenas. The rest are tied up, dealing with the Lion Guard." Taka informed her.
"In a few moments, they'll be back." Vastra said. "Then I can summon them at my leisure. Long before you'll get away. Long before we finish here." She said. Taka hesitated. She was right. He hesitated. There had had to be a way out. A way to get away. But she was right.
"You…" Taka hesitated. "Then let the lionesses go. You are right, my father will negotiate for my life."
"Taka no!" Zira protested.
Vastra grinned. "Well this is interesting." She said aloud, smiling. The balance was starting to shift her way again, and Taka could feel it.
"No Taka!" Zira repeated, her own mind whirring. Vastra drew herself up to full height, ignoring the pain.
"Shut up, you pathetic lioness…" Vastra snarled, without a second thought. Zira turned to Taka, and nuzzled him. Taka was silenced by this intimate display of affection.
"We'll get away in time. We only need a small amount of time."
"We won't get it." Taka told her.
"We will… If we have the right distraction." Zira told him. Taka frowned. The spotted hyenas had already gone! What was left to do? They had nothing left. No trick, no allies, no plan.
"Some distraction." Taka told her. Zira closed her eyes.
"Don't… Don't judge me… Don't hate me for this." Zira whispered, her real reason for coming in so close.
Without warning, she whirled around, and crashed into the matriarch, right into her still bleeding wound. Spasms of pain shot through her, and the hyena, not expecting a sudden attack, stumbled, and fell backwards.
"Ugh… what?!" She crashed in a heap, and Zira moved like lightning. Once more, the smaller lioness cub crashed into the unbalanced hyena.
Vastra fell back.
And fell into air, where Taka had moments before shattered the stone wall of the cavern.
Her eyes widened in fear for a moment as she realised what had happened. Cold fear clutched at her, and her heart leapt. Taka let out an incoherent cry of alarm, as Vastra continued to fall backwards. Over the edge of the precipice. She fell backwards, from the side of the ivory tower. With a scream of rage and fear, Vastra fell down, down. Zira watched her, and her eyes were like ice. She felt nothing. Nothing but the cold burning hatred, the disgust, the overpowering revulsion she felt for the black hyenas that filled her senses. Then she turned about and saw Taka staring at her in shock. She didn't look him in the eye.
"Zira… You… You just…"
"I know."
That hadn't been a fight. Her claws hadn't been drawn. Taka had defeated her in combat, using the roar. The fight had been over. Vastra had only told them that winning the fight had changed nothing… She had been standing still. And Zira had turned about and… and…
Taka stared in shock. He spared a brief look outside, at the view from the Ivory Tower. He could see the Shadowlands for miles. It was repulsive.
He was broken out of it by shouted from below, that echoed around them.
"The Matriarch!"
"The Matriarch is dead!"
"What?! How?!"
"The Matriarch!" Voices echoed around them as hyenas made the grisly discovery.
"Come on." Zira said. "They'll call be drawn out there now. Drawn away from us. We have a few minutes at best, come on!" She told him, her eyes cold, not betraying the whirlwind of emotions she felt inside. There was no way to describe how she felt right now.
"Ugggghhhh…"
"Sarafina!" Zira moved, as Sarafina began to awake, her head swimming.
"What happened? Taka?" She asked groggily.
"You hit your head." Zira explained, pulling Sarafina to her feet. "Can you walk?" She asked.
"I think so." Sarafina said, looking about. "Where is Vastra?"
"Never mind that now, we have to go, I don't know how long the Guard can hold." Taka said, changing the subject. Behind Sarafina, through that ominous opening, he could see the Pridelands, illuminated by the light of the moon now that the sun had truly set. They still had a long way to go before they were home and safe. "Come on." He said.
Following Taka, the lionesses moved further down the stone corridors, towards the sounds of fighting, the snarls and cries of pain.
"Taka! Zira, Sarafina, thank goodness! These gentle mammals seem to have taken an exception to us!" Imani greeted them as they rounded a tunnel, and found the other four members of the guards. Nguvu crashed into one unfortunate clan-member, smashing it against the wall. It dropped to the ground.
"There. They've gone to sleep. Now can we please go, before they wake up?" Imani said.
"Zira!" Kasi cried, and rushed to his sister. They nuzzled briefly, and Zira felt the enormity of what had happened. She gave a cry of relief.
"Thank you so much… All of you…" She almost wept. Sarafina nodded, looking about.
"You know, I don't think I've ever been so glad to see you all." She said. She pointed to Jicho. "You promised us a surprise for ruining our hunt. I'd say this definitely qualifies." She said. "What do you think, Zira?"
"Uh huh. I'd say so too." Zira said, looking at Jicho fondly, who grinned.
"Not to be the one sane lion who isn't overcome by sentiment, and I might just say what a pleasure it is to see both of you lovely ladies alive and well, but can we please do this later! We need to go now!" Imani told them. Nguvu nodded.
"Agreed. Move everyone." He barked, and the Lion Guard and their friends made their way through the caverns. As Zira had predicted, they encountered very little in the way of resistance. The majority of the hyenas were completely distracted.
"Come on, Now, Now!" Taka urged them, making the final distance at a run.
"Hey! Hey wait!" They heard a shout behind them. They'd been spotted. The last of the hyenas that weren't otherwise occupied with the madness that was unfolding around them, had seen them. Recognising them as intruders, and perhaps linking them with the sudden and alarming death of their matriarch, the hyenas gave chase.
Imani swore.
"They're gaining on us, Taka!" He warned. Taka gave a shout, as they broke past the entrance of the tower, and they were out into the open air once more. High above them, the moon gleamed down on them. The grey dust of the Shadowlands gave way under his feet. But they weren't free yet. The hyenas behind them hadn't give up the chase.
"Stay where you are!" They heard a cry. Taka jerked to a halt. Ahead of them, stood Caliban and his gang of hyenas. Behind them, the second pack of hyenas caught up to them, and the Lion guard twisted, forming up around the lionesses. They were surrounded. Caliban gave an ominous growl.
"Give up Taka! Even with the roar, you can't beat all of us, without one of us ripping your throat out." Caliban called out. Imani gave a growl, and the Guard looked to him for direction.
"Taka…" Nguvu asked him. "What do we do?" He looked uncertain. Kasi and Jicho looked at each other. Imani continued to stare down Caliban, whilst looking to Taka out of the corner of his eye. Sarafina unsheathed her own claws, and pushed forwards, standing with Taka and the Guard, prepared to fight, not to be protected. Zira was only the barest moment behind her. Taka gave a smile, feeling a rush of confidence thanks to his friends. He inhaled to roar.
Another roar shook the Shadowlands. But it wasn't the roar of the elders. Then there was a cry of alarm, as more roars joined the chorus. Taka breathed out, grinning.
The lionesses had arrived. And leading them, he could see his father. Mufasa was close behind him.
There wasn't much of a fight.
The majority of the hyenas took one look at the King and the lionesses, one look at their snarling fury, and fled in terror. Caliban screamed in anger and frustration, and he too fled.
"Taka." Ahadi greeted his son. The Guard and the lionesses bowed to their King, but Taka stood up, returning the greeting. Then Uru saw him, and sighed in relief.
"Taka! Oh thank goodness!" She said.
"Father." Taka said, feeling a spike of annoyance. Now, the lionesses were rallied and ready? Zira and Sarafina could have been killed in the time it had taken for Ahadi to mobilise his forces. If they hadn't been killed in such a violent attack on the tower, at any rate! He was singularly unimpressed, but even so, couldn't help but feel a little relief. Using the roar as he had always left him drained, and using it repeatedly as often as he had, usually left him feeling dead on his feet, wishing for a warm den, and a flank of meat. Truthfully, he didn't know if he'd have been able to summon another, and certainly not any more after that. Ahadi's timely arrival and scarring off of Caliban had been a welcomed intervention.
Then the other lionesses arrived. Before Taka could go to his mother, there was a shout from among the lionesses.
"Zira!" Sauda shouted, the lioness rushing to her adopted daughter. Zira rushed to her, ignoring the King, and any sense of propriety. "Thank the Kings your safe…" She said. Zira purred in relief. Sarafina's mother rushed forwards to see her daughter too. Never before in the Shadowlands had there been such an outpouring of relief and emotion.
"Better thank the Princes… The Lion Guard saved us." Zira said. Sauda immediately turned to Taka, and bowed low.
"Thank you, Prince Taka. Thank all of you." She said. Taka flushed with pride, and glanced at Imani and the rest of the Guard. Kasi and Jicho was busy embracing their mother, but Nguvu and Imani both grinned at Taka, also feeling a rush of pride. This, was why they did what they did. This was what the Lion Guard existed for.
"Well done, Son." Ahadi said, looking pleased.
There was a general murmuring of agreement from the other lionesses. Even Ahadi maintained his look of Pride, though he was also frowning slightly.
"You were supposed to scout about… And wait for the rest of us." Ahadi noted, wishing his son would be careful.
"I don't think we need to worry about specifics, Father." Mufasa interrupted. "The important thing is that Sarafina and Zira are safe, and nobody else got hurt. Who knows what might have happened if we'd been forced to attack the hyena's stronghold en masse." He said.
Taka looked about the Shadowlands.
"How did you get past all of those hyenas? There must have been dozens of them…" Uru asked him, looking anxious, hoping her son hadn't been foolishly reckless. Taka opened his mouth to answer, but he was interrupted once more.
"Ahem." They turned at the sound of a familiar voice. Standing before them, draped in sweat, and blood, were the three familiar figures. Taka gave a grin. Imani gave a choked gasp.
"Okay." He pointed a claw. "How are you three not dead?"
"Experience." Shenzi said, but she looked pleased with herself. "You've not seen the last of us." Some of the lionesses growled, but Taka spoke up, quickly to abuse any misunderstandings.
"Dad, these are the hyenas who distracted Vastra's clan! Lured them out of their stronghold, so we could get in and grab the girls." Taka said. Most of the hostility emanating from the lionesses evaporated at that pronouncement. "You met them earlier… they are the ones who warned us about what had happened." Taka said. Zira nodded to the hyenas gratefully at that.
Ahadi looked at them carefully, and seemed to recognise them. Though in fairness, to his eyes most hyenas looked the same, even if they were from different clans.
"And we led them on a merry chase." Banzai interjected. "But if it's all the same for you, I think that's enough heroism for… hmm… about the next ten years." Banzai said, looking worn out.
"Years? I was gonna say the next ten reincarnations. Can't let word of that get around. Hyenas saving lions? What would the clans say?" Shenzi added, laughing. Most of the lionesses looked at one another awkwardly and Taka gave an uncomfortable smile. Imani however loudly snorted, and caught himself before he joined in with the chorus of laughter. "Anyhow… Taka. Ahadi." Shenzi swallowed, neglecting the honorifics. "We're clearing out of here… I am starved." Shenzi muttered. Taka brightened, though Ahadi scowled. They were just going to walk away from their King?
"Oh I am sure we can find you some meat back at the den… Call it… Payment… for services rendered." Taka said. Shenzi brightened at that.
"Ah. That's different. This was mercenary work then? Excellent. We have an image to maintain after all." She grinned. Ahadi shook his head, unable to process what he was hearing.
"When I get my paws on that Matriarch…" He muttered to himself.
"Not a problem." Taka said, quietly, muttering so that only his father could hear. "Vastra is dead." He admitted. Ahadi looked at him in surprise, whilst Shenzi, who was closest, choked, staring at him in shock.
"What did you do?!" She asked, but Taka shook his head.
"I'll explain later." Taka deflected any further comment, and Zira glanced at him gratefully.
"Huh. Well, I suppose if Vastra is dead, you won't have to worry much about the clan for a long time." Shenzi informed them. "A Clan lives and dies by its matriarch. The other clans will see Carrocscir as weak and poorly defended after this. You can bet they'll try and grab a piece of it. And that's without even thinking about the carnage that will follow the Black Hyenas trying to organise who rules the black Clan now…" Shenzi told them.
After that, the hyenas left, but not before getting a verbal promise from Ahadi to see about getting from meat for their efforts. In all, it was an arrangement that was satisfactory to everyone, though Ahadi and most of the other lionesses still looked perplexed, and it had to be said, a little nauseated by the Pridelands newest citizens.
"Well then." Ahadi said. "Now that that is taken care… We ought to head back home. And get these two lionesses, and the Guard, to see Rafiki." He said. Taka rolled his eyes at the thought of that crazy monkey poking and prodding him again, but didn't argue. On the way back however, he did manage to steal some time with Mufasa, who, along with Sarabi rushed over to them as soon as Ahadi was finished.
"Thank goodness you're all safe!" Sarabi exclaimed, embracing each of her friends in turn. Sarafina returned her affections quickly, and Zira managed to smile for a moment, though she still looked troubled. The Guard was gratified though, for Sarabi immediately began praising each of the guard for their bravery and skill. And of course, insisting on detailed, graphic, and (from Imani,) likely exaggerated descriptions of the fighting, eager for retellings, plying them with flattery when necessary. She wasn't disingenuous though, and remained serious throughout, hanging on every word.
"She was worried sick about you all." Mufasa confided in him. "So was I actually." He admitted.
"Yeah. You're not the only one." Taka said.
"Listen… Can we have a quiet word?" Mufasa asked him, and the two brothers moved away from the group to speak privately. Mufasa opened his mouth to speak.
"Listen, if this is about what I said earlier –"
"You were right about me." Mufasa said. "Our father does spend too much time teaching me. Maybe if I were a better student…" He trailed off.
"Mufasa. Listen –"
"I sometimes think the Kings chose the wrong brother." Mufasa admitted. Taka froze. What?
"I… What?" He asked.
"When they chose me to be king. I sometimes think that they must have made a mistake. That you would be the better King." Mufasa admitted. Taka stared at him.
"How could you think a thing like that?" Taka asked in shock. Mufasa gestured around him.
"All this! That's why! Our friends were taken, and you rescued them, Taka! You saved them! What did I do? I sat about and watched. I stalled for time! I delayed, and pandered whilst you went and stuck your claws in and did something about it." He said. He looked away. "You were right." He said. "I'll never make a decent King. Leastways, not as good as you would. You already know so much more about ruling, about leader. You can practically do my lessons in my sleep, and that's on top of leading the Guard. And you have the Roar." He said.
There was an awkward silence.
"No… You're wrong, Mufasa." Taka said. "Much as it pains me to admit it." He said. "I am good at defending the Pridelands. Not ruling it." He said softly.
"Sometimes they are the same thing." Mufasa said.
"Sometimes. But not tonight it wasn't. A king needs to understand his people. I… Don't. When Zira and Sarafina were in danger I leapt in to rescue them. But I nearly got them killed, long before I got to the Shadowlands." He said.
"What?"
"Our father wanted to help them… but he'd have gotten them killed if he'd attacked the tower like he planned on doing. Knowing stuff… having cunning… having smarts… that's not the same as being able to know people, to understand them, to know their hearts. You do that instinctively. You inspire people, Mufasa. I only antagonise them." He said, thinking how his temper had got the better of him. He hadn't inspired Mufasa, he'd lashed out at him. Pushed at his insecurities and weaknesses. He wasn't a leader.
"I'll always defend the Pridelands, brother. But you need to be the one to make them worth defending." He said. "I was wrong. You'll be an excellent King. I know it." He said. Mufasa smiled, gratefully.
"Thank you, Taka. For everything, tonight." He said.
That night, Taka spent the den unusually close to Uru, who was once again worried about her son. She seemed in equal parts terrified for and proud of her son, fighting hyenas and rescuing her friends. And in many ways, that was how Taka felt, too. Both terrified, and yet somehow invigorated by it all.
"Thank you, Taka." Zira whispered to him that night. "For saving me. And for keeping my secret." She said, glancing away. Was that guilt? Shame? Remorse? He couldn't tell. Maybe it was simply fear.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Zira…" Taka reminded her. Zira looked away.
"Yes I did…" She muttered.
"No. You didn't. She was going to kill you, you had no choice."
"I am not talking about when I pushed her… I am talking about afterwards." Zira muttered. Taka hesitated.
"Afterwards?"
"She frightened me… And she took pleasure from it. Every blow, every word, every growl of malice… She knew how much I hated them, and she took pleasure from it. It delighted her. She liked it." Zira said. She looked up. "And when I pushed her. When I killed her…" She trailed off. "I liked it, too." She said. Taka stared at her in shock. "I hated her. Hated her so much." She continued. "I thought I'd die of all that hate. She and her kind killed my parents. She wanted to kill me. She wanted to kill my brother and my friends. She wanted to kill you. I couldn't let that happen. I just couldn't. I couldn't be scared and weak, not ever again. So I killed her first. And that felt good Taka. It felt good to not be weak." She said softly.
Taka was silent for a while. He didn't say anything. He just thought about the day. Saving his friends. Saving Zira. He stopped himself from growling, but tried to imagine what would have happened if Vastra had killed Zira. She'd already hurt her. Already killed her family. Already hurt Sarafina. She was a danger to them, and everything he cared about. Try as he might, he couldn't conjure any sympathy for her death. He thought about Zira and Sarafina, captured, helpless, and in pain, and what he and the Guard had done to save them.
"Don't ever feel bad, for protecting the things you care about." He told her. "I never will." He assured her.