Chapter 18 – Reinforcements

As Scar's interrogation of Simba continued, his pace quickened and he began to slowly back Simba off the peak of Pride Rock.

"Thanks to you, Mufasa isn't here to save you this time," he snarled, "and now everyone knows it!"

Nala's mind burst from its daze when Simba slipped backwards and the grass below him simultaneously caught fire.

"No, Simba!"

She tried to jump forward, but a row of ferocious hyenas held the lionesses at bay. They were forced to wait helplessly as Simba clung to the edge of the rock.

Nala glanced over her shoulder and looked at Raka.

"Where's Talani and Zira?"

Raka's tail flicked the ground nervously, her eyes still on Scar's back.

"He killed Talani… Zira's probably still in the Shadowlands."

"Why is she there?"

"Scar thought it would be safer to raise the cub away from us. He probably thought we would kill it."

Suddenly, a deafening roar interrupted their conversation. Simba was pinning Scar to the rock.

"Murderer!" he roared.

"Simba, don't, please!" Scar argued.

"Tell them!"

Scar began to protest, but Simba's paw pressed into his throat and he relented. But even though Nala strained to catch his words, she only heard an angry hiss.

"So they can hear you," Simba growled, pressing harder.

"I KILLED MUFASA!"

Rage consumed every lioness, and they ran forward as one. The hyenas had raced ahead to protect Scar, kicking Simba off him, but Nala batted them away.

Within minutes, however, ten hyenas had backed Nala and Sarabi into a corner. Nala recognized Banzai, his tongue lolling out of his mouth in anticipation.

"Nobody to protect you, princess," he yipped.

"We'll see about that," another voice thundered.

They all looked up. On the rock above Nala and Sarabi stood a reddish-brown lion with a wild mane, his eyes flickering in the firelight. He leapt down, scattering the hyena pack in every direction.

He turned around and Nala rubbed his shoulder, purring.

"Ramenai, where did you come from?"

He cocked an eyebrow and kicked another hyena through the air.

"Did you honestly think we would bring you home, then leave?" he turned serious. "We don't run an escort service, contrary to your opinion."

She smiled and swiped at a hyena preparing to spring at him.

"Come on, then! We need to find Simba."

The three of them dashed across Pride Rock, seeing hyenas clash with pale and reddish lions alike.

"Well, it looks like we're pretty even—" Nala began as they joined the fray.

A grayish carcass sailed overhead and Zanat ran past. "Nope; now we're even!"

The hyenas were quite a force, and it took awhile before Nala was able to push through their ranks to the cave entrance. She peered inside. Nothing.

"Where is he?" she roared.

The hyenas all laughed. "He's up on the rock!"

"You mean he's never been here in the first place?" Tunai cried.

The pack whooped crazily, and Nala took that as a definite yes. But now they were backed into the cave by about twenty beasts, with no way to get out.

"Zazu!" Tunai cried, spotting the bird. "We thought he'd killed you!"

"No, of course not!" he squawked. "But get me out of here before they do!"

Nala spied a crevice in the rock at the side of the cave. "Sorry Zazu, but you'll probably be safer in there; they can't open it to get you. Zanat, help me!"

Ignoring Zazu's startled squawk of "Rouges!", they clawed the crevice to an opening. "Let's go!"

Everyone dashed out and stood to catch their breath. A sudden yell of "Hiiii-yaaaaa!" made them all peer over the rock again, and Nala almost laughed in relief. Timon and Pumbaa had come back! They drove through the hyenas guarding the entrance and dashed off to do damage elsewhere.

That was the one thing about hyenas, Nala thought. They were leaderless, often following impulses and not working together.

"If we all do this as a group, they'll run in droves," she said. "Here's what we do…"

Tunai leaped down from the rock, snarling like she could take on the pack.

"Rrarrarrrar!"

The hyenas laughed wildly and formed a tight circle around her. None moved.

Ramenai's deafening roar stopped them in their tracks and they all looked up. He was quite a sight, Nala admitted as she slunk around behind them with Malena, Raka and Sarabi. The flames were now becoming dangerous, edging up the sides of Pride Rock, and sparks and ash flew everywhere. With his reddish coat and glowing eyes, Ramenai looked like a beast out of hell.

"It really is Mufasa's ghost!" one yelped, and they turned to run as he leaped down. Nala snarled in one's face and he screamed. She batted him toward the edge and he plunged over, still screaming about Mufasa's ghost. The others followed, racing down the sides without a care for the flames.

Nala glanced up in time to see Simba flip Scar off the ledge; he landed heavily in the dirt, to face the wrath of his former colleagues.

She turned to the other lions -- the Pridelanders and Ramenai's pride -- to assess the damage. Many were cut and bleeding, but all were satisfied that the hyenas were gone. Their shrieks of triumph at Scar's demise were soon drowned out by a cleansing rain.

Nala breathed in the scent of the rain, reveling in their victory. Simba staggered down from the pinnacle of Pride Rock and she rushed to meet him.

"I love you."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Time to stop again. :) Review!

Phantomfreak07