I don't own any of the characters. apart from. I own all of the humans mentioned, including Uthisha (Zulu for teacher'), Umufi (Zulu for 'dead'), Inkosi (Zulu for 'king'), Inzalo (Zulu for 'interest') and Inkosana (Zulu for 'prince').

Uthisha wondered, as he and Inzalo returned to the camp, whether the last outing had been so wise. Certainly, it had been necessary, but it hadn't been long ago that prince Umufi was killed while baiting the queen lioness, if he understood that mandrill shaman properly.

He cast his mind back, trying to remember the life of Inkosi, and trying to find if there might be away the situation could be resolved peacefully.

He was suddenly startled out of his thoughts however, when Inzalo said, "look out shaman!" Uthisha looked around, and saw, to his horror, that they had almost blundered into a pack of wild dogs.

Quickly evading the situation, Uthisha decided to do no more thinking till he arrived back at the small camp they were calling home for now. The journey took a little over an hour, due to the indirect rout they used to throw pursuers, both human and other animals, off their trail.

Finally they did arrive at the camp, and a messenger was waiting. The messenger told them that Inkosi had called a great council. It puzzled Uthisha that the chieftain should call a great council without his knowledge.

Uthisha and Inzalo arrived at the council site soon enough, and were among the first there. The shaman immediately questioned Inkosi about the chieftain alone calling a council.

"The council had to be called quickly" Inkosi explained, "and no-one could find you."

Uthisha nodded understandingly, "I was teaching Inzalo about this new land, so that he might better live in it."

"A good job shaman" Inkosi said, "he seems odd to many of the tribe, quiet and thoughtful."

"Indeed he is" Uthisha said, "he has gift for learning that I have never seen nor heard of."

"You think he would make a better shaman than a leader" Inkosi asked, apparently concerned.

"I'm not sure" Uthisha said, "but either way, he'd be good at it."

"That's good" Inkosi said distractedly, "hm."

"Something wrong" Uthisha asked, a note of concern in his voice.

"Oh, not much" Inkosi said, "I was just wondering how long it would be before Inzalo is ready to take the mantle of chief."

"You are ill" Uthisha asked, even more concerned for the chief, "is there anything I could do about it?"

"Yes I am" Inkosi admitted, "but the illness is not bodily, I miss Umufi."

"It is to be expected" Uthisha replied coolly, "and I think I could offer a little aid even for this."

"I thank you for it shaman" said Inkosi, "and now I think the council is ready."

"Indeed it appears to be" Uthisha said.

"My people" Inkosi said, "not long ago we suffered a great tragedy." No-one else spoke, so the chieftain went on, "As you know, my first-born son, Umufi, was killed, along with several others."

Again, no-one spoke. "With his death" Inkosi said, "it has fallen to me to choose a new heir." The rest of the group was still silent. "I have talked the matter over, with the shaman, and I have decided that the heir is to be Inkosana."

This time a murmur ran through the camp. "But chieftain" one of the hunters protested, "is that allowed?"

"In what way would it not be" Inkosi asked.

"Is it allowed to choose a chieftain when he is not a son" the hunter asked.

"Uthisha" Inkosi said, expectantly.

"It is allowed" Uthisha said, "it is rare, but it is allowed."

There was still a lot of murmuring going on, but no one was actually speaking loud enough to be heard by Inkosi, so he went on. "The lions have robbed me of my eldest son" the chieftain said, "so now we must ensure that the lions do not pose a threat ever again."

Uthisha suddenly began to think very fast. He knew he had to warn the lions, but there would be no way to do this if Inkosi ordered them to attack immediately. Delay was the key here, though it didn't have to last more than a few days.

Finally, Uthisha came up with a plan, then said, "and the hyenas, chieftain?"

"What of them" Inkosi asked, "they are no more than an annoyance." Some of the hunters were laughing.

"They are not much" Uthisha said, "but I fear that if we concentrate on the lions, the hyenas will become much more than the annoyance they are at the moment." Some of the hunters were jeering now, though none said anything directly.

"Please explain" Inkosi said.

"Indeed" Uthisha said, "hyenas, agreed, are not very good individually, but their jaws are immensely strong, and poisonous."

"Poisonous" Inkosi asked. Some of the hunters scoffed at this, but others were paying close attention.

"Yes" Uthisha said, "very few survive being bitten, and even then, most only survive by having the bitten portion removed."

"So" Inkosi asked, "you want us to concentrate on hyenas, allowing the lions to build up again?"

"Chieftain" Uthisha replied, bowing slightly, "I fear that if we do not give thought and effort to the hyenas now, we may not get the chance to later."

"Can you look me in the eye and say that" Inkosi asked.

Uthisha hesitated a moment, then met Inkosi's gaze and replied, "yes, yes I can."

"Very well" Inkosi said, "we will concentrate on reducing the hyenas, but only for half a moon."

"Thank you chieftain" Uthisha said, "your foresight does you credit."

Inkosi offered wordless thanks for the compliment, then turned to the council, and announced, "for half a moon, we will concentrate on reducing the hyenas." There was a sudden rise in the murmuring. He waited several seconds then said, "the council is dismissed."

Uthisha was about to leave, when Inkosi said, "shaman, there is a job I wish you to do."

"Chieftain" Uthisha said, bowing slightly, "what would you have me do?"

"I know little of these lands" Inkosi said, "I would like you to explore these lands and then tell to me what you know and suspect."

"As you wish chieftain" Uthisha said, knowing this would help him, "may I take Inzalo, as an apprentice?"

"Do so" Inkosi replied, "it will do him well."

"Yes chieftain" Uthisha said, the left.