Thanks to Bounding Jackalope for reviewing here's the next chapter earlier than planned.
Chapter 11 - Disobediance
The next day when Shargra woke he decided to leave before Shanika got up.
'I'll have a nice quiet day' he thought, grateful to whatever deity had arranged the circumstances. He managed to get past all the sleeping lions and sighed out of relief. Now to explore his new home. At least, he hoped it would be his home.
It was still early as he walked through the long grass, insects buzzing about his feet.
On a whim he caught a little grey mouse, dangled it by it's tail, then on second thoughts decided against it and let it go. The mouse squeaked it's thanks and scurried off. Two episodes that rodent had had with lions in recent years.
'Mental note' the mouse thought, 'avoid that rock.'
Indeed the plains here were abundant with rich life. Shargra continued walking until he found a tree that, with thin cooling branches, provided shade from the sun and he was just falling asleep when there was a rustling sound from the bushes. Shargra looked up.
"Who is it? Who's there? Come out or else," he warned.
There was more rustling and a very scared looking hyena came out, shaking. "I know I'm not allowed in your lands sir and I'm sorry but please don't kill me!" she squeaked, looking at the ground.
"Who are you?" Shargra asked the quivering hyena.
"My name's Nasiha, please don't kill me!" she squealed again.
"Don't worry, I wont kill you and these aren't my lands. I've just been taken in by the pride." Shargra said.
"You won't kill me?" Nasiha said disbelievingly, still shaking.
"No, it's good to have someone sane to talk to for once." he smiled.
"Why are you being nice to me? I thought you lions hated us," she said taking a step closer.
"When I was a cub... Okay, a younger cub I met one of you and she was quite friendly, so now I think we're wrong about you." he explained.
"So you like hyenas?" Nasiha asked.
"I suppose I must." he answered.
Nasiha sat down, looking much more relaxed. "So if you're a lion, where's your mane?" she asked, trying to make polite conversation.
"I don't have one yet, I'm not full grown." Shargra said reluctantly, when suddenly there was another sound from the bush and Shanika jumped out. "Hey Shargra, what's up?"
"Oh no, how did you find me this time?"
"Who's that?" Nasiha asked nervously.
"Oh that's just Shanika, she won't kill you. In fact you should be more worried about her trying to make you her pet."
"Nothing could ever replace Fluffy!" Shanika shouted.
"See? She's harmless!" Shanika started chewing her tail "…to everyone but herself."
"Is she always like that?" Nasiha asked, staring at the mad lioness.
"Yes, and if one more person asks me that I'll go mad!"
""Shargra, what's she doing here?" Shanika whined, walking up to the hyena and poking her.
"She has a name and I'm talking to her, that's why she's here." Shargra said.
"Mufasa will kill you Shargra, they're not allowed in these lands!" said Shanika, staring nervously at a spot behind Shargra's left ear. "Um…"
"How will he find out?"
"Well he's-" Shanika was cut off.
"Right behind you" said Mufasa's voice angrily "What are you doing in my lands?" he asked Nasiha calmly, "You know the penalty for entering the Pridelands!"
"I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to cause offence, please don't kill me I have pups!" Nasiha begged.
His face softened slightly, "Well if that's the case then I'll let you go, this time, just don't come back!" Mufasa said.
And within a second Nasiha was gone.
"And you! You idiot, you could have been killed! I will not have any members of my pride taking stupid risks! Especially not cubs. What did you think you were doing!" he shouted.
"I was just talking, what harm can that do?" Shargra said.
"Don't you realise what she was? I'm very disappointed in you." And with that he turned and walked back to pride rock. Of course, he didn't notice the 'Kick me' painted on his back in berry juice.
"You've really done it now Shargra." Shanika said shaking her head and licking the red juice from her paws.
"Why did you bring him here?" Shargra yelled at his friend.
"When I woke up you weren't there, and he offered to help find you!" Shanika explained cheerfully.
"I wasn't lost Shanika," he growled.
"Yes you were." she said happily.
"No I wasn't." Shargra said.
"Yes you were." Shanika said firmly.
Shargra decided to ignore this, as he just could not be bothered to argue with her - it was a pointless exercise as she never seemed to understand the logic of 'You can't eat gravel, Shanika.'
"Let's go and find the waterhole, okay Shanika? I'm thirsty."
'Yay!' she shouted and sped off. Shargra groaned good-naturedly and ambled after her.
please review, or Shanika will sing