Thanks for the reviews - it's weird, I see that many people read the stories, but only 2 review. But at least I'm glad to know that you two like it, hehe... I'm glad you like Duchess, I spent some time thinking about how the leader should be. And now I've got a background-story for her too, but we'll see where that comes in.
Anyway, here is the next part, I hope you that too. A long chapter again... will do my best to update soon. Please do R&R -Atrice
Part 6 – First Impression
Someone pushed to Scar in his sleep. They wanted him to wake up, and quickly, so they could spend the day having fun.
"Stop it, Zarafa… 'm tired…" he said, still half asleep.
"Zarafa? I thought you said you didn't like any lioness in your pride!" a playful voice said with a laugh in it, and he opened his eyes, staring into those of the hyena called Duchess. Scar shook his head to be sure he didn't dream this either – but then he noticed the view from the pedestal, over all the hyenas in the hall, also waking up now. Some were already fighting over a bone with dry meat on it, others were just yawning or trying to sleep in.
"Right… uhm… Zarafa is my sister – I love her, but she can't be my queen. So… 'morning…" Scar stood up and stretched, first one hind leg at a time, then kneeling down in a long stretch with the front legs, accompanied by a yawn. – making Duchess jump a few steps back from the huge paws and teeth too.
"I see that… so, are you hungry, or do you want to see the Skylands now?" Duchess asked and left the pedestal through the small portal, and Scar followed her.
"We could go to the Skylands and eat there?" he suggested.
"We've got meat here…" the hyena explained, but Scar sent a glance back to the great hall.
"I don't feel like eating hyena meat… let's go?" he said and she nodded.
"You're right, it's probably half rotten too – not that it makes it bad though, but you're the guest. Follow me…" Duchess moved on, and for awhile they walked in silence again. Soon they entered a dry and already warm valley, with a clear blue sky far above them.
"I had no idea the Shadowlands were this big…" he said to himself while they walked, and Duchess nodded to him.
"Me neither… come, up here." She jumped to a low platform, leading to a path along the stonewalls. The path went upwards, but it was still a long walk before Duchess made one last leap and disappeared. Scar followed her, and almost fell back down again, when he landed on the top.
The savannah was beautiful! It was huge and very flat, likea high plateau, which it was. But there were green grass, and small trees and bushes and cliffs here and there. He saw antelope's and giraffes, zebras and many other eatable animals from where they stood.
"Close that mouth, it's becoming windy!" Duchess woke him up with a grin. "You said you wanted to eat here… so go, fetch us some food!" she pushed to him, and he sighed, but with a smile.
"Alright… food… a small antelope sounds good." Duchess laid down in the shadow of some bushes,while Scar left her alone to explore this new land.
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He still almost couldn't understand the fact, that there was another savannah, probably almost as large as the one he came from. And so green it was! Scar crept down as he spotted a herd of antelopes, watching them. He had practised hunting a lot, because he wanted a good prize to come home with for his 'first hunt'. The antelopes were grassing, silently, did not notice him at all. Slowly he crept closer to them, doing his best not to breathe heavily or make any noices. Finally he felt it was time, and jumped for the nearest animal – the entire herd began to run, but he was young and quick, and the antelope he had decided upon soon fell for his jaw. After the short, but triumphant hunt, he stood still, looking at his first private prey. He would share it with Duchess, of course he would, he promised that… he was just about to pick up the corpse, when he realized he wasn't the only lion around.
"Stealing our prey!" it was a male lion speaking to him in a deep and noble voice, and with a paw on the dead antelope, Scar turned around. The lion's pelt was lighter than Scars, even lighter than that of his family. It was an adult lion, older than himself he realized.
"Not stealing… I killed it, so it's mine." Scar explained, but the other lion didn't accept it, and took a few steps forward, holding his head high in a superior way.
"This is my savannah, and only my pride is allowed to hunt here!" the light-pelted lion said, and Scar sighed. Great, so he met their king, and the first impression wasn't too great!
"Well, may I have this antelope then? It's just for me, and a friend. I'll leave soon, I promise." He tried, he didn't want to get into a fight. But the other lion seemed to want that, since he still moved closer, claws showing.
"You do not touch him!" Scar suddenly heard Duchess say – out of the blue she stood by his side, and the other lion stopped with something that was almost a startle. When he pulled himself together again, he didn't look happier than when he saw Scar with the prey at first.
"Duchess! I exiled you!" the other lion growled, and Scar looked from one to the other. So the hyena was known around these parts, and exiled… why didn't she tell?
"He didn't know any better, Kofi! And I just wanted to show him your beautiful lands, is that wrong?" Duchess snapped back at the king, whose name appeared to be Kofi. The other lion still growled at Duchess, who also seemed ready for a fight.
"Yes, as you chose to follow him! But since you put it that way… whoever you are, let me show you my kingdom – share your prey with me… or leave." Kofi said to Scar, who wasn't sure what he wanted to do. He felt he should stay by Duchess' side, since she stood up for him like that. She was far too kind to him, he had no idea how he could ever repay her. But he also wanted to see the rest of this savannah, perhaps meet a young lioness somewhere; he was, after all, out to find a queen once he became the king; wouldn't Duchess understand that? After all, in the first place she did show him the Skylands, so that he could find a mate. Scar looked at Duchess with a sigh; he felt bad about leaving her behind.