DarkEcoOttsel: Sorry for the delay. Xoticlightning, as for your statement, they didn't 'do it' the night before, as you'll find out in this chapter. Read on to find out.

Untainted Souls 3: Back to the Outlands

By: DarkEcoOttsel

Chapter Three

Banzai's eyes grew so big they nearly popped out of their sockets, Ed's jaw dropped and a look of shock appeared on his face, and Pyro froze, unable to move.

"P-p-pregnant?" Banzai stuttered once the shock wore off. "B-but...how—?!"

"I-I guess it was the one night a while ago in the tall grass—"

"Okay, okay!" Banzai said quickly. "But why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I wasn't sure!" Shenzi told him. She sighed and said quietly, "Maybe we should go talk about this."

"Yeah." Banzai stood up shakily.

After walking a ways away from the mountains, Banzai spoke up quietly.

"So, uh, we're gonna be parents."

"Yes." Shenzi nodded. "I was kinda suspecting it for a while, but I wasn't sure. I asked some of the other females and...well, it turns out that the pup could be coming any day now."

"Wow," Banzai said quietly. So that explains why she's been having mood swings frequently and appeared to be gaining weight. A smile found his way onto his face and he nuzzled Shenzi. "I think it's fantastic."

"Yeah," Shenzi murmured. "But I'm...scared."

Banzai frowned. "Scared?"

"Yeah. I'm scared that our pup will grow up and not be able to live in the Outlands. I don't want him or her to have to move around all the time and not have a true, permanent home. I don't want her to be afraid of the Pride Lands. I want her to be happy and live in her true homeland," Shenzi said. By now, she was near tears.

"So...you want to return to the Outlands?" Banzai slowly translated.

Shenzi sniffed and quickly wiped away a few tears.

"Yes. My mother told me to return to my lands and claim what is mine. My family isn't just you and our pup, its Ed, Pyro and everyone else," Shenzi stated.

"All of us must go back." Banzai nodded. "I don't think anyone would object. You're the alpha and what you say goes."

Shenzi nuzzled Banzai and whispered, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"You can always make me feel more confident," Shenzi replied.

"You know I'll always be here for ya, Shenzi." Banzai smiled.

"Yeah." Shenzi grinned.

&&&

Word spread quickly about the hyenas being able to return to the Outlands. All of the hyenas were very excited and could hardly wait.

"When are we gonna go home?" Ed asked his friends.

"It'll take a while," Banzai stated. "We have to go around, remember?"

"Aww, I still don't see why we can't go through," Pyro growled. "I mean, if we go in small groups and run like hell—"

"It would still be trespassing," Shenzi said darkly. "The lions hate us and wouldn't think twice about killing us."

Pyro gulped.

"Yeah, think about what would happen if we got caught," Banzai said, scratching himself behind the ear.

"Ouch," Ed muttered.

"Right." Pyro sighed. "Around. How long will it take?"

"At least three days."

"Aww, man." Pyro sighed again and hung her head.

"Would you rather stay here?" Shenzi asked her.

"No way, man!" Pyro exclaimed, putting her paws up in defense. "I wanna go home!"

"Good."

"Problem: lions," Ed said. "What if they kick us out?"

"They can't do that!" Banzai stated fiercely. "Those were our lands to begin with! They can't make us leave!"

"Yeah!" Shenzi, Ed and Pyro cried in unison.

"...right?"

"Oy." Shenzi sighed, Ed slapped a paw over his eyes and Pyro shook her head.

"I'm ready to fight for the Outlands if I have to," Pyro stated, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Me too," Ed agreed. He frowned. "What 'bout Zira?"

"Crap, I forgot about her." Pyro shuddered.

"Aww, the old hag's probably dead by now," Banzai said. "And if she ain't, she's probably to old to growl. We could kick her ass easily."

"Hopefully Simba's already taken care of her," Shenzi muttered. Perking up, she shouted, "Well, lets get everyone together! The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get home."

In a matter of seconds, all the hyenas were ready to move.

"Okay then, let's go!" Shenzi shouted from in front of all the hyenas. "Oh, I hope everyone did their business cause we ain't waiting!"