Author's notes: Hehe, not much new to say. But once again thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. It's really encouraging to know that there's people out there enjoying my stuff. Makes it all worthwhile. Been very busy here ya see, one of the main reasons because my Mam found an abandoned terrier puppy by the side of the road, and I've adopted her and it's hard looking after her. Reason I'm mentioning this? Her name is now Shenzi. Hehe.

Anyway, I'm not too happy with some of this chapter. I think the beginning of it is some of my best writing, but it really loses momentum later on. As I'm sure everyone's realized I'm really a hyena fan, despite the fact that they didn't appear to be really characters in the first few chapters, just anonymous enemies (did that on purpose, you see).

So yeah, a lot of the lion scenes really drag compared to the hyena ones. So please let me know what you think about the pacing and dialogue, or rather lack thereof in the case of the lions.

Many thanks. Here's the character list again.

Simba – Adult male lion, King of the Pride Lands

Nala – Adult lioness, Queen of the Pride Lands, wife of Simba

Kiara – Adult lioness, Princess of the Pride Lands, hunting party leader

Kovu – Adult lion, Prince Regent of the Pride Lands, husband of Kiara

Vitani – Adult lioness, half-sister of Kovu

Amaryllis – Adult lioness, foster mother of Amabi, former loner, wanderer, former loner

Nadhari – Adult lioness, mother of Alyssa and Kelt

Sharhal – Adult lioness, a member of Kiara's hunting party

Aetti – Adult lioness, a member of Kiara's hunting party

Tumai – Adult male lion, competitive, aggressive, mocking

Juvi – Adult male lion, quiet, thoughtful young male

Tenzer – Half grown male lion, loner, quiet character but gentle with cubs

Ryana – Half-grown lioness, talkative and besotted with Tenzer

Amabi – Male lion cub, adopted son of Amaryllis, cheeky, inquisitive cub

Alyssa – Lioness cub, daughter of Nadhari, more reserved and careful cub

Kelt – Male lion cub, son of Nadhari, slightly insecure cub

Zazu – Adult hornbill, Simba's majordomo

Timon – Adult meerkat, Simba's friend

Pumbaa – Adult warthog, Simba's friend

Shenzi – Adult female hyena, leader of Graveyard Clan

Banzai – Adult male hyena, leader of Graveyard Clan

Ed – Adult male hyena, leader of Graveyard Clan

Ridikill – Adult male hyena, hunting pack leader, extremely aggressive and antisocial

Burudi – Adult male hyena, scarred face, Ridikill's 'lieutenant', less vicious

Groco – Adult male hyena, weakling, low-ranking scout trying to improve his social standing

Agiza – Adult female hyena, hunting pack leader, one of Shenzi's favoured, high-ranking

Sarkil – Adult female hyena, sarcastic huntress

Kapungu – Adult male hyena, fearsome hunter with a lust for blood

Babaka – Adult male hyena, always hungry

Mali – Adult male leopard

The male lions charged into the hyenas. In the narrow paths between the thorny bushes the hyenas were packed closely together. Simba led the way, plunging into the ranks of panicked pack hunters while his followers crashed forward behind him, their battle roars filling the hyenas with terror.

Striking with their massive paws and biting with their long canine teeth, the lions cut a bloody path in the hyena ranks. The bewildered hyenas were too confused, too terrified and pressed up too tight to either fight back or run for a moment except for a lucky few. The lions took full advantage of this and cut into press of hyenas like a mamba's fang into flesh.

Each of the male lions was distinctive. Kovu was a powerhouse of energy, enthusiasm and stamina. Tumai was a sly-looking individual but with power and a ruthless edge to back it up. Salama was a world-weary elder always willing to pass on words of wisdom. Juvi was normally a timid youngster who generally kept his opinions to himself in the hustle and bustle of the pride's social life. Haya was a pleasant individual who was always eager to please others. Lokanneoro, like his son Tenzer, was a somewhat solitary and powerful creature. Madari was a handsome young creature, and he knew it. But now in battle there was little to distinguish them – they were all hammers of muscle and teeth crashing down on their enemy and crushing them.

But it was Simba who really terrified the hyenas. The blood of the Kings ran true in his veins and the hammer-hard blows of his paws sent hyenas tumbling through the air, landing in crumpled heaps. His eyes blazed with furry and all the rage of his ancestors seemed to come alive in his voice as his roar pierced the air. The hyenas hadn't known such terror since the heyday of Mufasa.

Behind the attacking lions, the exhausted lionesses collapsed and could only watch the fight with weary eyes. Vitani tried to stand up and join the fight, desperate for revenge, but Amaryllis restrained her. Tenzer was there too, staring in horror at the wreckage that was Ryana.

Kovu slashed at one hyena with his claws, all but ripping its head off. Tumai pounced on one and knocked it to the ground before sinking his fangs into its throat. Salama bit down on one's spine, splitting the vertebrae and killing it instantly. The hyenas hollered and screamed in fear as they finally managed to turn around and run.

"Okay, that's enough! They've had enough! Let them go!" Simba shouted.

Kovu overturned one hyena by swiping at its feet with his paw. He bit deeply into its stomach. Juvi ran after one fleeing hyena and tackled it to the floor, mauling it to death as he did so.

"Enough!" Simba roared again.

Lokanneoro took a hyena's skull between his teeth and bit into it savagely.

"I said enough!"

The remaining hyenas ran. The lions watched them go.

Simba surveyed the battlefield. Many dead hyenas, most in gruesome states, littered the floor. The ground was dark with their blood. The worst injury the lions had sustained was a glancing bite Haya had taken to the shoulder by one hyena that had struggled to get free from him before he tore it apart.

There was a moment of silence as the lions looked at their handiwork with mixed feelings.

"That'll teach them", Tumai said and snorted.

Simba turned away from the grisly sight and approached the lionesses.

"Are you alright?" he said to Nala, unable to speak in more than a whisper now despite his earth-shattering roars moments ago.

"I'm fine. Help Ryana", Nala panted.

"What…what did they do to her?" Tenzer muttered, looking at Ryana's gaping shoulder wound.

"We need to get her home. Quickly but carefully", Simba looked at the other lionesses, "Are you okay to walk home?"

They all nodded, getting to their feet.

"All right, but don't strain yourselves", Simba soothed.

He knelt down and as gently as possible picked up the unconscious Ryana in his jaws and with the help of Kovu and Salama delicately placed her on his back. At a painstakingly slow pace the lions set off for Pride Rock.

The surviving hyenas were still running. They were heading north without really realizing it; their instincts guiding them back home to security and comfort. Banzai was at the head of the group. He stopped and looked back.

"Okay, everyone, take a break! Everyone sit down and cool it! They're not coming after us". The pack obeyed, desperate for rest.

Almost all were hurt in one way or another. Some bore savage scars, others bruises from hard slaps of lion paws, some bore deep bites, others were limping. Banzai himself was nursing a scrape across his rump.

The pack was slumped down in a sorry mess. Some were weeping and others were just staring blankly ahead. Some buried their heads in their paws and shuddered, others licked the wounds of themselves and each other, trying to occupy their minds.

It hit Banzai like a lightning bolt. Shenzi! Ed! He hadn't seen them in the crowd. Panic gripped him as he frantically searched through the huddled pack, looking for them.

"Shenzi! Ed!" he shouted over the crying and sobbing.

There was no answer. Banzai felt dizzy; the world seemed to ditch and roll before him.

"Shenzi! Ed! Where are you guys?!"

A muffled but familiar whimper came from one corner of the mass of cowering hyenas. Banzai hurriedly made his way over. Ed looked up at him with big, frightened eyes. His face was covered with blood, but whether it was his or not Banzai couldn't tell.

"Ed! Are you okay, man? You don't look so good".

Ed nodded slowly. He was shivering.

"Are you hurt?"

Ed shook his head. Banzai peered closer to look at the blood. He couldn't see any wounds – it looked more like the blood had splattered on his face from someone else. Disturbing for him. But at least he was all right. Banzai licked him gently on the top of the head. Ed smiled slightly.

"Listen, man, have you seen Shenzi?" Banzai asked.

Ed's eyes went even wider. He shook his head and swallowed hard. He looked horrified.

"Stay here, buddy. I won't come back until I found her, I promise", Banzai said quietly and gave the frightened hyena another lick on the forehead.

Banzai searched through the pack again with a heavy heart. He knew Shenzi well – she was a good leader and commander. If she were still alive she'd have taken control of the retreat. He was going to fulfill his promise to Ed of finding her but he had a horrible feeling that was going to involve walking back to the scrub and hauling her lifeless body to him.

Still, he wasn't going to give up that easily. He realized, distantly, that he had tears running down his face. He hadn't cried for years. Banzai wasn't one for revealing deep emotions often. But now his legs felt weak and he could feel the hot tears in his eyes.

Suddenly he saw her. She was sitting on her haunches at the edge of the group, facing away from him. He dashed over to her.

"Shenzi! Shenzi! Oh, you're all right! Thank God, Shenz!"

She didn't move or respond. He looked at her. There wasn't any visible damage to her body: no blood or cuts anywhere. He tried to look at her face but she turned away suddenly.

"Shenz? Are you okay?"

She didn't answer.

Banzai took a deep breath, "Shenzi Marie Predatora Veldetta Jacquelina Hyena, look at me". Shenzi hated her full name and commonly savagely attacked any one who used it. Banzai waited for her to respond.

Slowly she turned to face him. Banzai gasped. She had a big black bruise over her right eye, which was bloodshot and swollen but that wasn't what shocked Banzai. She looked pained, staring up at Banzai helplessly with eyes that seemed to belong to a frightened cub rather than to a fierce clan leader. Shenzi just stared at him, unblinking with such a haunted expression on her normally proud features that Banzai nearly started crying again.

Instead he did what he always did in upsetting situations: he tried to joke, "Hey, nice shiner you got on that eye there. You got off better than me anyway. Take a look at my butt, hahaha!"

Shenzi still didn't answer. She did blink though and slowly she looked around at her sorry clan members, surveying them all carefully. She said something quietly in a hoarse whisper.

"What?" Banzai asked, leaning in closer.

"How many did we lose?" Shenzi croaked a little louder.

"Oh. Oh…um…" Banzai did a quick head count. There were twenty-one assembled here. When he had led Agiza and her troops to Shenzi's and Ed's assistance she had told him there were exactly thirty in her pack, but she had sent one back to tell the clan members back home to help move the wildebeest they'd killed. With the trio of clan leaders, that made thirty-two hyenas in total. So, with twenty-one left…

"We lost eleven".

Shenzi closed her eyes and swallowed, "Is…is Ed…?"

"Ed's fine. You're fine. I'm fine. Let's just go home for now, yeah?"

She nodded, eyes still closed, "Yeah. You're right. Could you help me up?"

"Sure", he said, deeply disturbed to see Shenzi so weak. He knelt down and offered his body as a support for her to lean on as she got shakily to her feet.

"Thanks".

"No sweat", he leaned over and licked her on the forehead, an act of tenderness he rarely showed and even then usually only to Ed. Shenzi didn't need comforting often.

She smiled weakly and tottered forward. Immediately Banzai went to her side and she leaned on him heavily. He helped her over to Ed. The cowering dog hyena looked up and grinned happily.

"Told ya I'd find her", Banzai chuckled and he helped Ed to his feet as he had done for Shenzi.

Shenzi was looking around, "Banzai, what are we doing stopping here?"

"I figured everyone needed a few minutes".

"We can't stop here. They could be following us".

"I know, but it's not likely, right? Besides, we needed to catch out breath".

"Uh-huh. But we need to get back home now. Quickly", she suddenly straightened up and looked more like the clan leader she was rather than a bewildered cub, although she was still a husk compared to her normal self, "Okay, listen up everyone. We gotta get home. I know we all need a rest but we really can't stop here. It's too risky. So everyone on your feet and we'll be home soon. There's food waiting for us".

Slowly the hyenas got up, mumbling and still crying. They began to shuffle north, some still casting wary glances back south. Ed moved to the head of the column. Banzai was going to follow but Shenzi placed a paw on his shoulder and held him back.

"What?" he asked, bewildered.

"Thank you, Banzai", she whispered.

Without another word she marched over to join Ed. Banzai watched her go.

"Uh…no sweat", he said quietly, then went over to join his two companions.

The lions walked home together. Evening was drawing in and the sky was tinted red as the sun slipped behind the horizon. The colour of the sky reminded Simba too much of the blood they'd spilled that day.

As they walked the lions told each other what had happened. The lionesses had wanted to know how the male lions knew that the hyenas had left the eastern plains to pursue them. As Simba explained after he and Kovu had rallied all of the male lions they had indeed originally dashed off east to confront where they had been told the thirty hyenas were chasing down the wildebeest herd.

However halfway there they'd been interrupted by a band of little hyraxes. The little animals had trotted over and eagerly told Simba that their group had been tormented by three hyenas, whom they'd later seen chasing a lone half-grown lioness to the south. Later still thirty more hyenas had run past at top speed, following the scent the original three had taken. The hyraxes had set the grateful lions on the right path to find the hyenas and bring them to justice.

It was funny. Those little hyraxes had indirectly saved the lives of the Queen and many other lionesses. Just demonstrated that anyone could make a difference.

The male lions were talking again amongst each other, "Well, we sure proved ourselves in that battle", Juvi said.

"Proved ourselves?" Maradi smirked, "We kicked hyena butt!"

"Yeah. They'll think twice before they stick their ugly noses in around here, eh Kovu?" Tumai grinned.

Kovu didn't answer. He looked somewhat pensive. Simba suspected that, like himself, he wasn't proud of his actions during the skirmish. However Simba had controlled himself well in the battle – his blows had only knocked the hyenas away, frightening them and winding them but not injuring seriously. Except for one. One hyena had been unlucky and as Simba had struck out with his paws he caught it at the wrong angle and hit with too much force. He had broken its neck.

But that was an accident. Overall Simba had shown reserve in fighting the hyenas. The other males hadn't. They had all enjoyed the thrill of the fight. Although it wasn't much of a fight. As soon as the hyenas had seen the tide of the battle had turned yet again they hadn't wanted to do anything except get out of there.

The other males, Kovu included, had torn into them with the joy of battle, adrenaline-fueled ferocity that was heightened by their natural desire to protect the lionesses. Simba had called for them to stop and they hadn't. But he couldn't really blame them. The hyenas would certainly have done the same to them if the tables had turned.

Nonetheless the entire event had been very disheartening for Simba. Despite everything he still didn't believe the hyenas were evil – not really. The other lions thought they were, but if you'd asked a hyena it'd probably say lions were evil. Each side needed to believe the other side was evil. It made killing them a lot easier. Simba didn't have that simple luxury.

If there was one thing that Simba had learned during the war between the Pride Landers and the Outlanders it was that no creature was truly evil. The Outlanders certainly weren't; they were just hungry and dejected. And even Zira had been driven into murderous hatred due to her love of Scar.

Scar had been close to pure evil. He had been willing to murder his own brother and his nephew in order to secure his grasp on power. However, from what Simba's mother Sarabi had told him before she succumbed to old age, Scar had led a difficult life himself, always in the shadow of Mufasa, never able to fully realize his potential unless it was through malice. He was a disturbed individual. It was tragic that nothing could be done to redeem him.

As for the hyenas…even during the Battle for Pride Rock Simba hadn't really thought of the hyenas as evil. He'd always assumed they were tools of Scar, persuaded to surrender to the crueler aspects of their nature by his manipulation.

But now he had seen hyenas act on their own against his pride. He wasn't an expert in wounds and healing but offhand he didn't think Ryana was going to survive. A young girl who had yet to live her life had had her life cut brutally short. The hyenas only reacted with sadistic joy to the wounds they had inflicted, judging from Nala's account. While Simba knew the hyenas weren't really evil and despite the remorse he felt for the killings he could feel the dark temptation within him to just…not care and label the hyenas as wicked, foul creatures.

"Simba?" Kovu asked quietly, appearing by his side.

"Yes Kovu?"

"Are you…are you mad with me?"

"What for?"

"For how I attacked the hyenas. You said to stop and I didn't. None of us did. Not for a while".

Simba shook his head, "No Kovu. You're not to blame. What you did was only natural".

They walked on in silence. The evening chorus of birds and beasts had started. Not far away the lions could hear hippos grunting as they made their way out of the river for a night of browsing. In the distance they could make out the majestic shadows of a group of giraffes towering over the savannah.

Tenzer walked with his head down. He'd joined Simba's group of males when he learned Ryana was at risk from hyenas. He was feeling incredibly guilty for Ryana's demise. He wasn't sure what her chances for survival were but he had a feeling they weren't good. Although the attack wasn't directly his fault, he knew he could have been more sensitive to Ryana when she ran off in tears. He felt it was his duty to tell Ryana's mother. He was dreading it.

Kiara was crying quietly. She was still a young, fairly naïve lioness. Although she had witnessed the final brutal battle between the Pride Landers and the Outlanders it had ended abruptly and there was nowhere near the level of carnage she had witnessed today. Kovu nuzzled her gently, reassuringly.

Some of the male lions were still somewhat excited about the fight. Tumai was grinning and Juvi and Haya seemed restless now that he'd participated in his first real battle. Madari was preening himself and strutting somewhat. Salama and Lokanneoro were quiet again. Lokanneoro walked side by side with his son, uncertain what to say.

With a loud flutter Zazu suddenly appeared in front of Simba, "Sire! Thank goodness you're all right! I…oh" he had caught sight of Ryana on Simba's back.

"Zazu, fly home and tell everyone we're going to need all the help we can get in making Ryana comfortable. Tell the lionesses to make sure there's fresh water, a comfortable bed and at least some food for her when we get back there", Simba said quickly.

"Yes sire, at once!" without a further word Zazu took off and headed for Pride Rock.

"You have to hand it to him", Nala said quietly, "He knows when to keep his beak shut for a change".

Simba nodded, "Yeah. My father kept him close for a reason".

Thinking of his father made Simba bow his head. What would he say now to Simba? His kingdom was basically under attack from a determined enemy. One young, innocent member of his pride had been mauled. Simba couldn't bring himself to look up and face the stars that were just starting to twinkle in the darkening sky.

"I'm starvin'!" Ridikill snarled, "I ain't had nothing but some maggoty waterbuck for two stinking days!"

"Yeah! Why can't we have some fresh meat?" Groco spat.

Several hyenas were sitting in a ring around two wildebeest carcasses. Ridikill and a number of his followers were facing them. They were deep in the Elephant Graveyard, where smoke tinted the cliff walls green and geysers spouted loudly and without warning.

"They are not for eating!" a bold female hyena hunting chief perched on one of the carcasses growled at Groco.

"Garn! What are they for then?" Ridikill snapped. His followers laughed harshly.

The female hyena, called Shungi, counted Ridikill's pack. There were just under twenty of them. Her own pack, which had been sent out to drag back the wildebeest carcasses Agiza's hunt killed, barely numbered fifteen. Shungi had strict orders from Agiza's runner to make sure no-one touched the wildebeest meat until Shenzi and Agiza came back. But Ridikill's gang was hungry and also aggressive, a little ashamed at losing the lion cubs a few nights ago. They were eager to prove themselves in a fight and Shungi knew it was a fight her pack couldn't win.

"This meat is for Shenzi and her pack! And they get it whole and unspoiled!" Shungi snapped. As a hunting pack's leader she was a rival to Ridikill and was determined not to be intimidated by him or his gang. Also, her younger brother was a new member of Agiza's pack: today had been his first hunt and Shungi was very proud of the first kill he'd been involved in and was eager to defend it.

"Oh", Ridikill glowered. As savage as he was he wasn't going to defy Shenzi, Banzai and Ed…at least not yet.

"Oh come on! They're not gonna eat all that meat! Let's have a bit!" Groco squealed.

"No, just let it go", Ridikill grumbled, "Maybe there'll be some scraps left when Shenzi and Agiza's lads are done with them".

"Probably best", Burudi grunted and turned away.

"Argh! I'm hungry now!" the hungriest hyena called Babaka, the individual who had first discovered the cubs the other day, shouted, "Carve 'em up and let me have a mouthful! Who cares what Shenzi and Banzai and that idiot little friend they keep around with them says!"

"You'd best watch what you say", one of Shungi's pack answered, "I hear Ed's nasty when he gets into a scrap. You think he got those cuts in his ears by being a coward?"

"Hah! I bet he chewed them out himself, he's so dumb!"

"I'd keep your mouth shut", Ridikill hissed, "He's right, you don't wanna fight Ed. He's every bit as tough as Shenzi and Banzai. When he wants to be. Anyway, forget this. Let's get going".

Ridikill stood up and left. His sensible lieutenant Burudi followed immediately. Sooner or later all of his hunting party followed him, grumbling.

Shungi heaved a sigh of relief, "That's lucky. That Ridikill's a psycho".

"How'd he ever get so high-ranking if he's such a head case?" one of her followers asked.

"Dunno. Shenzi likes 'im. Says she saves him for the hunts that need ruthlessness. He's a tough one, for sure. But he listens to her, and Banzai and Ed too".

She looked up as she saw shadows of many hyenas approaching. From around the corner the pack led by the clan leader trio loped in. Shungi stared. Something was wrong. The leading trio had their heads down. Ed's facial fur was tangled with dry blood; Shenzi had a large bruise over her eye. Banzai was scarred across the rump.

In fact all of the hyenas were injured in similar ways. Some were limping painfully. All nursed some form of wound as they walked silently in. Many of them had the bloodshot eyes of someone who had been crying a lot recently.

Shungi leapt off the carcass and took a step towards Shenzi, "Uh…hi boss. Are…are you okay?"

Suddenly Shungi realized something else was wrong. There were supposed to be thirty hyenas in Agiza's pack. There were barely twenty hyenas here! Had they been left behind or sent out on another mission?

Shenzi looked up at Shungi blankly, "I'm okay. We need to eat. You mind?"

"Uh…of course not", Shungi was worried. Shenzi never asked for anything: she just took. What was going on? "So…where's the rest of Agiza's pack? They still out there?"

Shenzi quickly looked away and slinked over to the wildebeest carcass with her tail between her legs and her ears down. Shungi's heart skipped a beat. What had happened? She began to look frantically through the arriving pack for her brother.

"Shungi", Agiza said quietly, stepping up close to whisper to her.

"Agiza? What's going on? Where's my brother and the others?"

"They're all dead", Agiza said vacantly as if in a trance, then she swallowed hard and stammered, "He's dead. I'm sorry Shungi. My sister is too".

She burst into tears. Shungi stared for a moment, not comprehending what had just been said. She was deathly still. Then she cast herself on the floor and wept.

Shenzi bit deeply into the wildebeest carcass and tried to block out the sobbing she heard around her as various pack mates were told their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, mates, sons, daughters and friends were dead. She did her best to focus on the meat she was tearing into. The warm flesh was unusually tasteless and she had to practically force it down her gullet. She wanted to retch.

Banzai and Ed were either side of her. Ed nuzzled her gently. She licked him on the nose gratefully.

"No matter what happens", Banzai said quietly, "It wasn't your fault".

She didn't answer but Banzai knew she appreciated that. He cringed as he heard Shungi wail:

"Why did he have to die?!"

Shenzi shuddered. There wasn't much more Banzai could do to console her than repeat:

"It wasn't your fault".

The lionesses and cubs of Pride Rock grimaced when they saw the state Ryana was in as Simba carried her up to the main cave where the lionesses slept every night. Ryana's mother was sobbing. Timon and Pumbaa trotted up eagerly to greet Simba but stopped when they looked at the youngster. The pair of them had originally followed the lions out of Pride Rock but had been left behind quickly and returned home.

Simba carried Ryana over to the large flat rock that was used as a throne in the corner of the cave and with the help of Tumai and Haya laid her down gently. Timon approached with a half a gourd he had filled with cool water and one of the lionesses laid down a hare that she had killed under Zazu's orders.

"What can we do for her?" Nala whispered to Simba.

"Not much, I admit", Simba sighed, "Just try to make her as comfortable as possible. Someone should talk to her mother".

"I'll go", Kiara slinked away to talk to the distraught lioness.

Ryana was still unconscious but she was still breathing. Nala placed a tentative paw on her little face and stroked it.

"The poor girl", she sounded choked up, "We couldn't save her. We failed".

"It's not your fault", Simba said quickly, and looked over his shoulder at Tenzer, "It's not anyone's fault".

"It's the hyena's fault", Kovu muttered, "Those…those…" he tensed in anger.

"Calm down kid", Pumbaa said quietly with rare wisdom, "Getting mad won't help anyone right now".

Zazu suddenly shot into the cave and landed before Simba's feet and gasped breathlessly, "Good news sire! He…he's here!" the hornbill collapsed in a heap.

Simba looked puzzled, "What? Who's here?"

"Perhaps I can be of assistance", a familiar voice said.

The lions turned to look at its source and stared.

Dawn on the Elephant's Graveyard looked much the same as night. The high cliff blotted out most of the sunlight and the roaring fires and volcanic activity still provided most of the grim light.

Ridikill was curled up in his own personal cave sleeping. His lips were curled back and his teeth were bared as if even his dreams were violent. Burudi slinked in through the small entrance and coughed loudly, in an attempt to wake him up.

Instantly Ridikill's eyes shot open and he glared angrily at his second-in-command, "Urgh! Why did you wake me? I'm tired!"

"Sorry, but I thought you should hear this".

"What? Shenzi's bunch finished with those wildebeest? Good. I'm hungry".

"No. Yesterday the pack ran into Simba's lions. There was a fight and they lost eleven pack members".

Ridikill stared, "...You woke me up for that?"

Burudi sighed, "Somehow I knew you wouldn't care".

The vicious pack leader looked thoughtful, "Well, that's not quite true…the pack that got attacked would have been Agiza's, right?"

"Yeah".

"Well then", Ridikill grinned, "That'll knock that cocky maggot down a few pegs. Unless she was killed too?"

"No", Burudi shook his head. He was as close as anyone had ever been to Ridikill, but even he often couldn't understand how his mind worked: several fellow hyenas had been slaughtered and all he cared about was the incident knocking down one of his rivals?

"Oh, well anyway, this is worth getting up for", Ridikill sneered and rose, yawning loudly.

"Most of the clan's assembled already to hear the news officially. We should probably be there", Burudi explained.

Ridikill grunted and the two of them trotted out of his cave and headed along the many paths and tunnels of the Graveyard. Soon they came out into the largest clear area there was in the hyena clan's home. Usually it was just for lounging around and socializing, but today most of the clan was lined up there. Ridikill and Burudi slinked in and joined the ranks of silent hyenas. There were over one hundred clan members there. It occurred to Ridikill that this was the largest gathering of the clan since their domination of Pride Rock.

The clan was sitting facing Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Shenzi was reciting the names of the hyenas killed the previous day. She was just finishing as Ridikill sat down.

"…And Vidiku, brother of Shungi, new recruit to Agiza's hunting pack. He will be missed".

The hyenas bowed their heads in respect. Ridikill looked around, shrugged and did the same so the clan leaders couldn't single him out in the crowd.

"You know, Shenzi doesn't look too bad", one bitch hyena just in front of Ridikill whispered to her mate, "I hear she took the attack real bad. Apparently she was really upset and was a bit of a mess yesterday".

Ridikill cocked an ear and listened in.

"Yeah, I heard she couldn't even look Shungi in the eye. Must think she's responsible", the bitch's mate replied in hushed tones.

That was interesting for Ridikill. With his head bowed he looked at Shenzi out of the corner of his eye. She didn't seem upset as she recited the hyena funeral rites. She looked the same as ever except for a large bruise over her eye. But apart from that she seemed normal – with that smug self-assured expression on her face even though she was supposed to be leading the clan in a very grave ritual. Ridikill intended to find out more.

"Let's all hope they can find more peace in death than they did in life", Shenzi said, and then bowed her head and cried the hyena hunting cry, "Oooooo-whup!"

All at once the clan took up the cry. The howl was deafening and it reverberated off the cliff walls. With that last mournful cry the funeral rites were over. Slowly and quietly, as if unsure of themselves, the hyenas mingled again, talking quietly about the deaths of their clan members and what was fast becoming a war with the lions.

Ridikill smiled cruelly to himself and walked over to Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. The trio was conversing with the dead's family members and higher-ranking hyenas. As a hunting chief Ridikill was a normal addition to that group. He listened in.

"It was a beautiful funeral", one mother of a deceased was saying, "I'm sure he'd be proud".

"That means a lot to me", Shenzi replied, "I hope we did them justice". She was convinced it hadn't been a beautiful send-off – all she'd done was recite hyena funeral rites her mother had taught her years ago and tried not to come across as either too callous or too emotional about it.

Banzai looked over at Ridikill, "Oh, there you are. Thought I didn't see you in the crowd. Where were you?"

"Sleeping", Ridikill answered with brutal honesty. One family member stared at him, shocked by his disregard for the deceased. Ridikill just grinned back sinisterly.

"So, where do we go from here?" one hyena asked the clan leader trio, "I mean, what are we gonna do with the lions?"

"Well, we need the Pride Land herds to feed the clan these days. No question of that", Shenzi answered, "Especially since we got some pregnant bitches and cubs. So yeah, I guess we're gonna need to keep invading the lion's territory".

"That can't go on for long", Agiza pointed out, "We can't pick at the scraps on Simba's plate forever".

"I know. But don't worry, it won't come to that. I think I got an idea", Shenzi said, and she smiled.

"Oh yeah!" Ridikill barked a short, ruthless laugh, "Because your plan worked out so well yesterday!"

That hurt. Shenzi looked away and hid her face, but Ridikill's scathing comment hurt her deeply. The other hyenas stared, sensing the tension. Shenzi had spent a restless night trying to convince herself Banzai was right: it wasn't her fault. And then Ridikill had just popped up and kicked her back into the dirt and reminded her of her guilt.

Ridikill chuckled. So, she was upset. That was interesting…

Shenzi suddenly glared back at him with fierce intensity. He sneered back, encouraged by this chink he had found in the bitch's armour of smug coolness.

Then Shenzi smiled light-heartedly and shrugged, "What's the matter Ridikill? Sore you missed out on the action? I hate to disappoint you but no matter what you think of your fighting abilities you wouldn't have made a difference".

"Hmm. Well, maybe if you had picked the brains of your best hunting chief before marching out Agiza's second-rate troops, then the vultures wouldn't be picking their brains right now".

Instantly the nearby hyenas started a chorus of furious growling. They all glared at the crude chief and gnashed their teeth angrily. Ridikill realized he had pushed past the boundaries of what was socially acceptable at a moment like this.

"I take my leave", he said and walked away quickly, heading for the nearest cave entrance. The other hyenas watched him go.

He was only a few yards down the tunnel when Burudi popped up next to him, "Oh, that was real smooth, boss".

"Oh, what do you want now?"

"I'm making sure you get outta here alive. You have any idea who you just ticked off? The three clan leaders and the family members of eleven recently slaughtered hunters? You're asking for a beating, man".

"I didn't remember asking you for your opinion".

"Dude, I'm serious. They ain't happy. You'd better lie low for a while".

Ridikill smiled in the darkness, "Don't worry, I intend to. I got one or two folks I need to talk to".

"Oh? Who?"

"Mind your own damn business! Anyway, as for your concern for my safety – I'm touched. I really am. Got any other useful advice for a paw-licker like me?" his voice dripped sarcasm.

Burudi shook his head, "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Mock everyone. Me and Shenzi included".

"It's what I do. Life's so much fun if you remind yourself every few seconds how superior you are by kicking everyone else down – be it physically or verbally".

"Shenzi's your superior".

Ridkill grunted, "Yeah. In theory. But she screwed up, eh? Seems disturbed too. Weak. Maybe she won't be in charge for much longer, eh? Maybe someone with a more ruthless streak should step up, huh?"

Burudi stared, jaw wide open, "You're...you're talking about…mutiny".

"Who's talking about what? I never said nothin'. Just thinking aloud. Harmless musings. Now get outta my sight. I'm off. Be back in a day or two".

The scarred dog hyena could only gape at Ridikill as he trotted away up the tunnel, sniggering to himself.