Thank you (again) for the reviews, here is chapter 16
Chapter 16 – Regrets and Decisions
"S-Sh-Shargra…" whispered Shanika, trembling against Shargra's body. She was terrified of hyenas still.
"Sssh! I don't think they've heard us yet." He squinted through the bushes.
"Good…let's go!" Shanika started to run away but he caught her tail with his teeth and pulled her back.
"Ow!"
"Shanika! What do you reckon they're talking about?"
"Does it matter?" she asked, "It can't have anything to do with food!"
He stared at her incredulously. "You really are one track minded aren't you? It's probably really important secrets that we aren't meant to know about on pain of death… let's go and see!" he said, giving a grin distinctly reminiscent of Shanika's, and without waiting for her to answer he started to walk around hiding in the bushes. Shanika followed, whimpering.
Eventually they managed to get round without being seen and found a place where they could hear the argument.
"…I'm telling you, there is no way, he could have survived out there!" one hyena growled.
" Oh come on, it isn't a very big place! I'd say a lion cub could easily survive crossing it," the other replied.
"Yes, but… well, I suppose Simba was quite a large cub, he could have survived out there if he managed to cross the desert…I stand by what I said before he can't have survived! I mean…he just can't have…right?" the first one asked, with a pleading note in her voice, and a nervous laugh.
Shargra pulled Shanika out of the bushes and they moved off quietly.
They walked for a few minutes in tense silence before Shargra could stand it no longer, and he shook Shanika.
"Shanika, do you know what this means? It means that little Simba is probably still alive somewhere, and he's the rightful king! If we could get him back we could get rid of Scar!"
"But we're not allowed out of the Pridelands - how could we find him?" Shanika said. "Shargra, moving out for a drink is one thing…it's another thing to leave! Scar has hyenas posted at every border, and those ones aren't nice at all. They'll rip us to pieces! That'll hurt!"
"You're right…wow…are you feeling alright?" Before Shanika could answer he continued hurriedly.
"The best thing to do is to inform the pride members that are not loyal to Scar-"
"That will be most of them then," interjected Shanika.
" -and say when they see a chance they should take it." Shargra finished.
"Shargra, you like hyenas, maybe you could persuade them to let us out?" Shanika suggested.
"No, it's too risky; they might tell Scar," Shargra muttered. By this time they'd just started to climb the rock, and he suddenly stopped as he looked at the entrance to the cave, before turning to stare out over the horizon. His mind filled with images of his parents.
"Shargra? What's up?" asked Shanika, showing surprising tact.
"Just thinking."
"'Bout what?"
"Our home. I was wondering if we'll ever go home."
"Shargra, didn't you say this is our home now?"
"I know, I know, everything was perfect, even with Scar it's still perfect, it's just –"
"It doesn't feel like home."
He turned to Shanika. "You are getting WAY too sensible."
"Perkins!"
"Wha- never mind! I don't want to know!" He turned back and behgan climbing again. "I think if we told Sarabi or Nala and let them decide what to do. I know for a fact they hate Scar – well, wouldn't you in their position?"
"Not Sarabi, she's in a really bad mood with me…she was in my hunting party…" Shanika mumbled hurriedly.
"Okay, so we tell Nala then?" Shargra said as they walked into the cave, and she nodded.
"Hey Nala, can we have a word?" he said loudly.
A young teenage lioness stood up, shook some light fur out of her eyes, yawned and walked over to them.
"Hi Shargra, Shanika," she said tiredly, "what do you want?"
"Nala can we talk to you privately?" asked Shanika, motioning to the cave entrance. Intrigued, Nala followed them out, and Shargra wondered precisely how to break the news to the princess of Pride Rock that her best friend was not dead after all.
Please review, if you've read this and havent then those hyenas are getting very hungry