Hi again all,

Thanks for taking the time to review the last chapter yet again! It's great to know you're all enjoying it and I can only apologise that these updates take so damn long. Anyway here's the next chapter at last.

You may notice a slight change in the style of the chapter title: instead of a one-worder it's actually a lyric from a Dr Dre and Ice Cube rap track called "Natural Born Killaz". If anyone knows it that's the kinda music I use to try and help me write for characters like Mamacala and Ridikill.

Forgive me if there's lots of typos I've done my best and been over it like 4 times but I'm sure I've missed some. Let me know what you think!

Here's the character list.

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

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

Salama – Adult male lion, old and wise but not as wise as he thinks, condescending

Lokanneoro – Adult male lion, Tenzer's father, veteran survivor, powerful

Maradi – Adult male lion, attractive and pleased with his appearance

Haya – Adult male lion, young, curious about the world

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

Rafiki – Adult baboon- Simba's friend, shaman and advisor

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, member of Ridikill's pack

Groco – Adult male hyena, weakling, low-ranking scout trying to improve his social standing, member of Ridikill's pack

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

Sarkil – Adult female hyena, sarcastic huntress, member of Ridikill's hunting pack

Kapungu – Adult male hyena, fearsome hunter with a lust for blood, member of Ridikill's pack

Babaka – Adult male hyena, always hungry, member of Ridikill's pack

Shungi – Adult female hyena, rookie leader of small hunting pack

Cauron – Adult female hyena, currently heavily pregnant

Mali – Adult male leopard

Mamacala – Adult male crocodile

Kachero – Adult male rock python

Oocheva – Adult male plover bird

The hyenas charged into the wildebeest herd, darting in amongst the large, powerful antelope, but staying well clear of their curved horns. The startled wildebeest ran back and forth in disorganised groups: there was no single clear escape route for them as the hyenas kept cutting them off and diving back into the fray, trying to find and isolate a weak individual.

It was mid-morning and Ridikill's hunting pack was out in force. The clan awaited their return, none more so than the still-weak Shenzi. Although the hunt was comprised of Ridikill's pack, it was led by Banzai, which was uncommon. Banzai, of course, had wanted to hunt so he personally could help bring home food for his friend Shenzi, although he hadn't admitted it. Everyone had assumed Ridikill would object to Banzai assuming command over him and his hunters, but he hadn't seemed interested in the matter at all.

In fact, Burudi thought to himself as he circled around the right flank of the wildebeest herd, Ridikill hadn't been acting like himself lately. He hadn't been around much, disappearing during the day for the last week or so, before they had even moved into the Pride Lands. He was talking even less than Burudi, the hyena who knew him best, was accustomed to, rarely even speaking up to belittle or threaten someone like he usually did. When Burudi had questioned him though, he had become violent.

But for the most of the time when Burudi even saw him, Ridikill just sat around on his own, looking pensive. He had even seemed reluctant to go hunting, and Burudi knew that Ridikill lived for the thrill of a kill. What was wrong with him?

Burudi intended to find out.

The dust swirled into the air and the wildebeest galloped madly back and forth. Banzai nimbly dodged the wayward, half-defensive, half-accidental charge of a wildebeest cow. Suddenly he saw it: an old bull, with a slightly lame right hind leg. It was a slim advantage, but it was enough. He'd tire fast enough, if they kept on him.

Several other hyenas had seen the old bull too and bounded after him. However, he had a good lead on them and despite his injury and old age he was strong and quick, pulling away from the rest of the herd. Kapungu came up to close behind him and was rewarded with a kick to the stomach for his efforts.

But the hyenas saw it drawing to an end. Lying in wait up ahead of the wildebeest was Ridikill. The panicked herd animal hadn't spotted him, crouched behind a boulder, and it was heading straight towards him.

Ridikill was deep in thought. It had been two days since he had last seen Amaryllis. He had promised her that today he would meet her son, Amabi. Ridikill still wasn't sure exactly why she was so keen for him to meet her adopted child. But he was keen to spend more time with the lioness. To learn more about her, of course.

Amaryllis had said something that was bothering him, though. She had said, 'you consider my friendship worthwhile, and we both know you do'. At the time Ridikill hadn't said anything, but it had been growing on his mind for two days now. So she thought he wanted to be friends. That was ridiculous.

Or…was it? Was that why he wanted to spend time with her? To befriend someone after years of being an anti-social bully? Surely not…

"Ridikill! For crying out loud, get 'im!" a voice yelled.

"Huh?" Ridikill blinked and he suddenly noticed the wildebeest bearing down on him. He had neither the time nor wits to react and it leapt over the boulder he was slumped behind, not even noticing him until it smashed right into him. The hyena was knocked aside and rolled several feet away, landing in an ungainly heap. The wildebeest galloped on, unopposed.

Ridikill rolled back to his feet in one fluid motion and stood there, gasping for breath. The wind had been knocked out of him by the hefty animal. Banzai and the rest of the pack came trotting over, looking unimpressed.

"Nice going, you big moron!" Sarkil spat, "We could have had that walking meat bag if you'd got your ass in gear!"

"Yeah, nice going, Ridikill!" Groco backed her up instantly, "I thought you were supposed to be the great hunter?"

Ridikill stared at nothing. His breaths came in increasingly heavy gasps. So, this was what he was reduced to. A failure of a hunter, mocked by his own followers because he was too busy daydreaming when he should have been…

"What the hell is wrong with ya?" Banzai scowled, but as ever hyenas were quick to forgive, "Ah well, doesn't matter. We'll just…"

"No, it does matter!" Ridikill bellowed suddenly, startling his comrades.

Banzai said, "No, seriously dude, forget it. We'll just follow the herd from a distance, they'll stop and calm down soon enough, and we'll…"

"That wildebeest should be between my teeth right now, begging for me to end his miserable life!" Ridikill raged, seemingly oblivious to Banzai or anyone else, "I should be able to taste his blood! I should be able to taste his fear! He should be at my feet, begging for mercy!"

Nobody said anything. They watched as weeks of frustration and confusion poured out of Ridikill in a tide of fury.

"How dare that brainless beast escape me, Ridikill, one of the finest hunters in the mightiest clan in the known lands? How dare I let my skills slip, let my mind wander! And how dare that stupid lioness mess with my head like this…I…I can't…"

Without a further word he spun about and charged away, heading north east. The pack watched him go, speechless.

At last Groco spoke up, "That was a little excessive, even by his standards".

"Tell me about it", Banzai watched the retreating hyena, "What a whacko. What's wrong with that guy? What the hell was he talking about?"

"I don't know", Burudi said quietly, "But I will find out".

Mamacala lay on the bank of the river, motionless. He wasn't what mammals would call 'asleep', but he was in that closed-eye state of lowered mental exertion crocodiles enjoyed while basking. However, he was completely aware of his surroundings. Five zebra were drinking from the sludgy brown river. Dozens of crocodiles lurked unseen in its depths. A small group of hippos were several hundred yards further upriver. And then suddenly…

Ridikill. The hyena came bounding down the bank towards him, obviously agitated. He skidded to a halt, spraying sand in all directions, including on Mamacala. The crocodile opened one eye and fixed the hyena with a glare from one clear green eye.

"Yes Ridikill, what is it now?"

"I missed a kill! I should have had him! I should have tasted his flesh! But I missed! I missed because my mind was wandering. What's happening to me? I should have…"

"Calm down", Mamacala shifted slightly, "Take a deep breath and shut up. Then tell me what's the matter".

Ridikill was already breathing heavily but he did as Mamacala said and exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself down. It didn't really work but he managed to slow his breathing and collect his wits a little.

The crocodile stared at him sidelong, "Now, what's wrong?"

"I…I screwed up bad, Mamacala. I should have listened to you. I've changed. Something's wrong with me. I'm not who I used to be, just a few days ago. Please help me".

"You're not making a lot of sense", Mamacala replied, "Tell me exactly what's causing you trouble and we'll start from there".

"Well…I…I don't…it's just that…I don't feel right…"

There was an almighty crash, like a thunderclap. Ridikill leapt a straight foot into the air and yelped like a newborn. He landed in a sprawled heap in the sand. The zebras by the bank took off, hooting in alarm. For a moment the dazed hyena wondered what the noise had been, but with a quick look at Mamacala's now firmly closed maw he realized that the crocodile had snapped his jaws shut. The reptile was arching his back and extending his legs as if to lift his bulk off the ground, his scales bristling angrily.

"You try my patience", he hissed, "I'm in no mood to tease information out of a star-gazing hyena. Either tell me what the problem is, or get out of my sight".

Ridikill bowed low, groveling in the dust, reminded very acutely of his place next to the crocodile, "Yes. Well, you see, the main problem is...I think I've made a friend".

"A friend? What do you mean, 'a friend'?"

"Well…do you remember last time we met I told you about that lioness? The one…"

"The one I specifically told you to avoid a rendezvous with?"

"Y...yes".

"You've met with her again".

"Yes".

"Why?"

Ridikill struggled with his answer for a second, but as Mamacala was losing patience with him he just said the first thing that came to mind to keep the crocodile from waiting, "I was curious. In all honesty the theory that she was a spy just didn't seem to add up".

"You mean my theory that she's a spy?"

"Y…yeah".

There was a very pregnant pause. Ridikill waited for Mamacala to lose his temper for doubting his wisdom. It didn't happen.

"Go on then", Mamacala said quietly.

"Uh…well, I think she's genuine. I mean…well, she's asked me to meet her…family. Her son, to be precise".

"I see".

Silence. Ridikill went on, "I guess I don't know why she wants me to meet her son. I suppose she wants to be friends, but I gotta feeling she's trying to…I dunno. Get me to lighten up, I guess".

"That sounds like the very thing you would hate, just a few weeks ago".

Ridikill shrugged, "I thought I hated any kind of company. But truth be told, she seems to consider me her friend. And…I suppose I consider her to be mine".

"End this now".

"Huh?"

"You will not talk to this lioness again".

"Uh...but...you know...I kinda want to".

"You will not talk to this lioness again".

Ridikill recoiled from the malice in the croc's voice.

"I do not need to remind you, I assume, that you are different, Ridikill", the reptile continued, "You are more akin to me than you are to any lion or even a hyena. You are cruel, strong and unforgiving. You will not be warped by a lioness' attempts to establish an alliance with the hyena clan. I thought you were made of sterner stuff".

The hyena scrambled to his feet and snapped to attention, recognizing the veiled threats in Mamacala's words.

"You will not speak to this lioness again".

"As you command, Mamacala".

"You will seek companionship only with me".

"As you command, Mamacala".

"You will get out of my sight".

"As you command, Mamacala".

Without a further word the terrified hyena darted back up the sand bank, not looking back.

Mamacala watched him go. In fact he had known quite some time ago that Ridikill had met with the lioness – who he now knew was called Amaryllis. His python spy had reported it to him on the previous night. Mamacala had merely feigned ignorance to avoid arousing suspicion.

The brown water bulged and rippled in front of Mamacala and the long snout of Kachero the python emerged. The snake dragged himself out of the river, his long body leaving a wet, dirty trail in the sand. He pulled himself up alongside Mamacala.

"That fool", Mamacala said quietly, referring to Ridikill.

Kachero was secretly pleased to see the crocodile so angry with his protégé, but he masked it, "I gather the hyena has disappointed you, my Lord".

"On a personal level, yes. But in the grand scheme of things…I'm delighted".

Kachero started, "I…I don't understand".

"You seldom do, but try not to let it depress you", Mamacala sneered, "Try to remember the plan, Kachero. You do recall it, don't you?"

"Yes of course, my Lord".

"And can you not see how Ridikill's little friendship with this lioness can play a role, in fact a major role in it?"

Kachero paused and bowed his head in thought. After a moment he looked up, "Of course! Inspired, mighty Mamacala, truly inspired!"

"On the contrary, extremely simple, but then the best laid plans often are".

"Pure genius, my Lord", a thought suddenly struck Kachero, "But…forgive me for being so bold, but have we perhaps erred? If we need Ridikill to maintain contact with this lioness, why have we just discouraged it?" He was careful to say 'we' to avoid directly criticizing Mamacala.

"I've done no such thing", Mamacala said slickly, "Yes, I've given him orders to keep away from the lioness. But will he? No. The anger I displayed towards him will, in fact, confuse and intrigue him. I rarely show such rage in front of him, and he will want to know why I have done so, what risks there are to be had in fraternizing with the enemy. And I daresay my reprimanding of him will also encourage a certain…rebellious streak".

"So you've used reverse psychology on the hyena".

"Call it what you will, he will meet with the lioness again, even more eager to find out more about her than before, even more eager to become…friends. But that will be their undoing, Kachero".

Kachero fairly wriggled with malicious glee, "Not just theirs, my Lord".

"No indeed", for the first time since Kachero had met Mamacala many years ago, the crocodile's iron-had lips pulled back and he smiled a hideous, wicked grin, "Their little companionship has doomed every last lion and hyena in the Pride Lands to death! Oh, if only they knew".

Shenzi, Banzai and Ed drank deeply from a waterhole. It was late afternoon. Dried blood matted their grey fur: they had gorged themselves earlier in the day. Despite their initial failure to bag any wildebeest and Ridikill's mysterious desertion, Banzai and the pack had soon managed to hunt down two stragglers and pull them down. Shenzi had eaten ravenously.

Ed looked at her. He was worried. After a worrying first twenty four hours Shenzi had recovered well. For a while Ed and Banzai had been worried that her wounds would become infected because she refused to leave her filthy aardvark burrow. She had not wanted to show weakness in front of the clan, but eventually her thirst got to her and Banzai and Ed had led her down to the waterhole.

Daily trips to the waterhole ensured that she was growing stronger and stronger, but she still looked very frail compared to her usual self. Also she had become quiet and bitter, tight and reserved. Words had to be wrung from her. The day before on their trip to the waterhole Banzai had asked her something he had been pondering.

"Hey Shenz, you know in two days we gotta meeting with Simba, right?"

"Yeah", said Shenzi.

"So…what do you think?"

"About?"

"Well…ya know. Do you think maybe you out to sit it out and let me and Ed go alone?"

"No".

"No?"

Shenzi moved her head once from left to right, then back again.

"Why not?" Banzai had asked.

"Why should I?"

"'Cos you're…well ya know. You ain't really in a fit state to go marching across the plains and get into no debate with the King of kitty cats himself".

"I'll be fine".

"You sure?"

For a moment, Banzai and Ed had thought Shenzi would refuse to answer. She walked along, head down and staring at the floor. Then she said, as if with supreme effort, "I'll be fine. You two would just screw it up without me".

Banzai and Ed had given up and left her to her silence.

Now as Ed looked at her Shenzi still looked gaunt, dreary and grim. He was worried. Personally he felt that Shenzi wasn't ready for the trip to meet Simba, and he was concerned about how indifferent she had become since the attack.

And there was a bigger worry. Banzai had confided in him about it earlier. And they both knew it had to be addressed, and now.

Even as he thought about it Banzai raised his head and looked at Shenzi and spoke slowly, quietly.

"Ya know Shenz, me and Ed been thinkin'".

Shenzi didn't reply. She kept gulping down water.

"And what we've been wondering, is that…ya think that leopard that got you, you think he could have been…well, in cahoots with Simba?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well…what if he planned it, to get rid of us? He coulda just been pretending the whole time that he was ready to listen to us and he might have been just waiting to get rid of us. He might have got the leopard to do his dirty work, ya see?"

"Haven't you forgotten something?"

"Uh, what?"

"That leopard died cursing Simba for failing to stop us entering the Pride Lands! Does that sound like somebody who was working for him?"

"Uhm…" Banzai and Ed exchanged sheepish looks, "Guess not. But maybe one of the other lions…"

"Maybe", Shenzi shrugged her scarred shoulders, "But we're meeting Simba, not the whole pride. There won't be any danger and we'll be fine. Now shut up".

Banzai and Ed exchanged glances and returned to drinking from the waterhole.

The lionesses lay down in the cool grass, enjoying the soft late afternoon breeze. It had been unbearably hot during the day and they were thankful for the opportunity to cool down before the night's hunt. A little pond nearby provided refreshing water to drink.

The lions were well aware of the possibility of hyena harassment, but had decided over the last few days that the hyenas were so inactive that there was little real risk in leaving Pride Rock for a few hours, some even taking their cubs with them.

Now ten or more lionesses lolled around, chatting or snoozing. Amabi, Kelt and Alyssa were the only cubs present, dancing around and leaping over their slumbering seniors, although Tenzer and Ryana were present as well.

"There'll be trouble, you mark my words", one of the lionesses was saying, "That Tumai, he's riled up. Some of the males are still furious with Simba and I'll bet there willing to kick him out at the earliest possible opportunity and take his place".

"I think it's a disgrace", another replied, "It's only thanks to Simba's kindness that those males were even allowed into this pride. Who are they to undermine him? They've no right".

"Can we talk about something else, please?" Vitani grumbled; she'd heard more than enough about the dissent at Pride Rock over the past week. Over the past few days the news of the death of Mali, trusted representative of his species, had been all over the Pride Lands, and with the circumstances of his death vague and with hyena involvement the only generally accepted factor there was general outcry.

Sharhal nodded in the direction of Tenzer and Ryana, who were alone in the corner, talking quietly, "There's something. You think young Ryana's got her prize in the end?" the lioness whispered.

"I doubt it", Vitani replied, "I think Tenzer feels more guilty about what happened to Ryana than anything. Kinda feels obliged to keep her happy. Maybe he's got a soft spot, deep down inside. Speaking of softies, hey, Amabi, where's your mother?" she said good-naturedly.

Amabi looked up from his play-fight with Kelt, "Oh, she said she'd be along in a minute. She said she was bringing a new friend along".

"A new friend?" Vitani raised one eyebrow.

"Yeah. She was a bit weird about it. Said not to be frightened of him. What ya think she meant by that?"

Vitani's eyes widened, "Oh…she wouldn't bring…" then she relaxed, "No of course she wouldn't. That's just crazy".

Amabi was puzzled, "What do you mean, Aunty Vitani?"

"Never mind, kid. Just thinking out loud. Even your mom's not that crazy".

"Well, you coming?" Amaryllis said pleasantly.

Ridikill stared sourly back at her, "Do I have a choice?"

"Nope. Let's get moving".

They were at their usual waterhole rendezvous. They set out south at a steady pace, in silence for a while. Amaryllis could tell Ridikill was apprehensive. He'd be even more uneasy when he found out that she was in fact taking him not just to meet her adopted son, but most of her close friends.

Amaryllis was concerned too. She didn't know how either Ridikill or her friends would react. There was a risk it'd escalate to open hostility. The lionesses wouldn't be pleased to see a surly hyena brought into their midst, and whilst Ridikill might perhaps be too daunted to attack on sight, his hot-headedness could easily lead him to get violent at the slightest provocation.

It was a big risk, but Amaryllis felt it was worth taking. She was confident she could keep both her friends and even Ridikill calm. Ridikill listened to her for whatever reason. Because he needed a friend, she suspected.

Well, there was a chance Ridikill could make more friends if only he gave today a chance. And what's more, if only he could control his temper and loosen up a little like he was doing around her lately, it would demonstrate to her pride that hyenas really weren't as bad as they liked to think.

Who could say, perhaps it would be the beginnings of a kinship between lion and hyena.

That was two good reasons for pulling this little stunt, not including what she had told Ridikill about Amabi being fascinated by hyenas, which was the truth. Despite the dreadful side of hyenas he had experienced first-hand one night, he was keen to learn more about them these days, since everybody was talking about them all the time. What better way than to meet one face to face without actually being on the menu.

And there was one last, purely selfish reason for doing this, she admitted. She considered Ridikill a friend, a strange one admittedly, but a friend anyway. She thought that perhaps bringing him to meet her family and friends would strengthen that friendship.

Ridikill was lost in his own thoughts as well. He remembered well what Mamacala had told him earlier that day. That he was to avoid contact with the lioness or…or else what? The crocodile had certainly seemed angry with him, but hadn't elaborated on why he insisted the lioness be avoided at all costs except for a vague reference to her being a spy.

And why would Mamacala care so much about her being a spy? Amaryllis, and indeed the lions in general, were no threat to him. So once again Ridikill was defying Mamacala's orders and had met with Amaryllis like she had asked him to.

"So, how have you been?" Amaryllis asked suddenly.

Ridikill suddenly felt tempted to mention that he'd actually had a terrible day, first missing a kill in front of his pack and humiliating himself (which was her fault, in his opinion, for distracting him) and secondly his mentor had terrified and threatened him. But instead he simply said:

"Good. You?"

"Yeah, not bad. Everything's a bit more peaceful at Pride Rock now that everyone's calmed down, but there's still rumours of rebellion going around".

"Oh yeah?" Ridikill answered, not really interested. He was surprised to find himself feigning interest so as not to offend somebody.

"Mmm-hmm. But personally I don't think it'll come to anything. I'm hoping it'll all calm down soon".

"That's good".

"So long as you guys keep up the good behaviour".

Ridikill grinned wickedly, "Oh, I wouldn't count on that".

Amaryllis snorted in a good-humoured way, "Oh no? Well you've been pretty tame yourself lately. What kinda harm could your pals possibly inflict if they're all as sweet as you?"

Ridikill scowled, "I am not sweet, lioness! I am the mighty Ridikill, scourge of the…"

Amaryllis faked a yawn.

"How dare you?!" the hyena roared, but it was in jest as well.

They continued on their way, bickering and teasing each other all the way. After a while Amaryllis stopped and looked ahead.

"We're nearly there", she said, "You're still gonna go ahead with this, right?"

"What, you mean meeting your son? Sure, if it'll shut you up".

"Yeah…" Amaryllis wondered how the hyena would react when he realized he was meeting more than just Amabi, "Thanks. I appreciate it. Just…don't back out, okay?"

Ridikill gave her a baffled look, "Sure. I mean, he's just a kid. It's not like he's gonna attack me, right?"

"What the hell is she doing?" Vitani nearly screeched.

The lionesses were peering at Amaryllis and her companion as they headed slowly towards them. They were still far away enough so as to be indistinct but they could make out her 'friend' clearly enough – a hyena.

Everybody stared in their direction. Amabi was speechless. So this was his mom's friend? A hyena? He had nearly been eaten by hyenas not long ago. But she must have her reasons…surely.

"My God, Amaryllis has lost her mind", one of the lionesses got to her feet quickly.

"Get ready to drive that thing away", another said, growling as she spoke, "We can't let that thing get near the cubs".

Kelt was shaking in terror, remembering well his experience in the jaws of just such a creature. Alyssa pressed herself up against him, and their mother Nadhari stood over them protectively.

Amaryllis and the hyena drew nearer. The growls from the lionesses grew louder.

"Wait!" Amabi yelled at the top of his voice, "This is my Mom we're talking about here! Let's give her a chance!"

Several of the lionesses looked at him and the growls subsided a little. They looked up ahead again. Amaryllis and the hyena had stopped in their tracks.

"What the hell?!" Ridikill stared at the multitude of lionesses several hundred meters away.

"Please, calm down", Amaryllis said quietly. Ridikill hadn't noticed the lionesses for quite some time after they'd come into Amaryllis' vision; the hyena's eyesight was poorer than her own so he had walked on without any hint of protest for a while, unable to distinguish and detect their scent due to the lioness scent coming from Amaryllis. Once he had spotted them however he had stopped dead.

"Calm down?! How can I calm down? I'm going to get ripped to pieces!"

"You won't! I swear!"

"You…you knew they were going to be here, didn't you? You set this up on purpose, didn't you?" Ridikill snarled accusingly.

Amaryllis exhaled softly, "Yes, I did".

For a second Ridikill considered if Mamacala had been right all along. The lioness was an enemy who was simply trying to trick him. But no. That didn't make sense. If she'd wanted to kill him she'd had plenty of opportunities already. Then why…?

"I see what you're doing", Ridikill growled, "You're trying to get us all to be pals, eh? Everyone's all lovely and cosy and friendly, right?"

Amaryllis considered explaining her reasons in detail, but just said, "Yeah, basically".

Ridikill stared, "Well, screw this", he started to turn around but Amaryllis grabbed him quickly on the shoulder with one paw.

"No don't go", she insisted, "You promised me you wouldn't back out, remember?"

"I didn't know I was going to my own funeral…"

"And besides, we'll look silly if you walk off now".

"You think I care about looking silly?"

"Or you'll look like a coward".

Ridikill levelled her with a particularly savage glare, "You really are very good at manipulating me, aren't you?" then without another word he headed towards the lionesses. Amaryllis walked alongside him.

As they neared the group their pace slowed a little. Amaryllis could see a nervous quiver run through Ridikill. Although he might claim to have little fear his natural instincts must have been screaming at him to turn around and bolt. It was a credit to him that not only did he stand firm, but that his glower did not flinch.

When they were within twenty yards of the group Amaryllis stopped and Ridikill alongside her. The lions were lined up opposite them, all staring with mixed expressions: fear, confusion, rage, curiosity. Amaryllis could see them all very clearly: her precious Amabi, Vitani, Nadhari, little Kelt and Alyssa, Tenzer and Ryana… This wasn't going to be easy.

She cleared her throat, "Everyone, this is my friend, Ridikill".

Nobody replied. Ridikill didn't budge or make a sound.

Amaryllis realized she should have thought about what she was going to say beforehand. The silence was very awkward. It made her wish the ground would swallow her up. What could she possibly say? 'This is my friend, Ridikill, yeah he's a hyena, but he's okay, he won't hurt you…unless you tick him off even slightly. 'Cos then he'll go ballistic on you'.

She was saved when Vitani said, "Hi Amy. Hello Ridikill".

Amaryllis was surprised. She hadn't expected Vitani, of all people, to be the first to extend the tentative paw to shake.

Ridikill managed to grunt in acknowledgement. His deep, rasping tone visibly took the lionesses by surprise; most of them associated hyenas with high-pitched, cackling voices.

One after the other the lionesses muttered their greetings. Ridikill didn't look up at them. Amabi walked towards his mother.

"Hi Mom", he said quietly, rubbing up against her foreleg, "Hi Ridikill".

Realizing that this was her child Amabi, Ridikill made a little more effort and looked at the cub and muttered, "Hi".

When Ridikill looked at Amabi Amaryllis noticed something. There was a strange glint in his eye for a brief moment, a queer look that resembled recognition. Amaryllis' heart skipped a beat. She had realized that, as both Ridikill and Amabi were present that night the hyena pack had terrorized the cubs, they would have met before, but she had assumed that they wouldn't recognize or remember each other from that dark, frenzied night several weeks ago. But what if Ridikill did remember Amabi specifically for some reason? What would he do?

But then Ridikill lowered his head again and the glimmer in his eye disappeared. Amaryllis sighed mentally with relief.

After an uneasy moment the lionesses resumed lying around and talking to each other. Amaryllis sat down at the edge of the group, and motioned for Ridikill to follow her.

"Come on, sit down", she said.

Like a sulking cub Ridikill sauntered over and sat on his haunches, carefully positioning himself so that he was at the very edge of the group and Amaryllis was between him and the other lionesses. He stared at nothing in particular, frowning.

The lionesses chatted, but Amaryllis noticed they were quieter than usual and avoided talking about anything involving Pride Rock and the political machinations of the pride. That was understandable.

She wondered why they were willing to let the hyena so close to them without a word of actual protest, despite their obvious misgivings. Amaryllis suspected Vitani, the most senior lioness present, had quickly persuaded them to not object, trusting her friend even though her own reservations about associating with hyenas were probably stronger than anyone else's. Amaryllis owed her one for that.

Amabi sat down and nuzzled up against his mother, but he didn't take his eyes off the hyena. Amaryllis could see the fear and excitement on his young face.

"So, what have you been up to today you little brat?" Amaryllis said teasingly, prodding him with her paw. She was eager to establish a sense of normality.

"We played catch with Timon and Pumbaa. We won", Amabi replied, then suddenly said to Ridikill in an apparent attempt to start a conversation with him, "Do you play catch?"

Ridikill looked up with an expression that resembled the anticipatory leer of a psychopath looming over a victim, lips drawn back, eyes narrowed and tongue protruding slightly, "Only with edible playmates", he replied, drool dripping from his maw.

Amabi crouched down, shaking. Amaryllis embraced him immediately, then threw Ridikill a look. That hadn't gone well.

The hyena shrugged and grinned.

Vitani approached suddenly, getting glances from all the other lionesses as she did so. She sat down next to Amaryllis casually, as if nothing were different from usual. Amaryllis appreciated the effort she was putting into this.

"So, where you from, Ridikill?" Vitani asked offhandedly, looking at him with her clear blue eyes.

"Well", Ridikill paused and licked his gums, trying to think of a reply. Although all the other lionesses were apparently busy talking amongst themselves he could see they were all watching him out of the corners of their eyes and listening intently, if discreetly, so he decided, for safety's sake, to respond as carefully as possible.

"I'm from the Elephant Graveyard Clan. I joined them about five years ago when I was a cub".

"Where were you from before that?" Vitani said. Amaryllis realized she'd never really inquired about Ridikill's past before.

"Dunno. Nowhere. Some wasteland. I got told about this place so I followed their advice and headed here".

"Who told you, your parents?"

"No. Never had no parents. I was told by…someone else".

He seemed keen to avoid mentioning who exactly had told him where to go, judging by the look in his eyes.

Amabi pulled away from his mother and went to join Kelt and Alyssa, who were busy trying to muster the enthusiasm to play a game.

"So, you important in your clan?" Vitani went on. Amaryllis was amazed by how her friend went on, pressing conversation with the sullen hyena in an attempt to ease the tension.

"Yeah", Ridikill seemed to have loosened up a little now, becoming more loquacious when he had accepted he was in no immediate danger, "Chief of the clan's best hunting pack. Well…we're only the best if the bosses want big prey. Little flighty stuff like gazelle…not so good. Big stuff like wildebeest, we're the best. We make a goddamn mess though".

He laughed. Laughter usually lightened conversations up, encouraged banter. Unfortunately Ridikill was unlike most of his species: he didn't have a high-pitched, comical laugh but a low, menacing chuckle as if he was savouring some dark and sinister thought. Amaryllis could see several of the lionesses positively shudder with revulsion.

But as he laughed something snapped. Amabi froze with horror, staring wide-eyed at Ridikill, his fur standing on end.

"I remember you! You, you were the leader of the hyenas! The ones who chased us up the tree that night! It was you! It was you! You tried to eat Kelt! You said you were gonna kill us!"

Ridikill went from looking shocked to furious in one second, "So I did! And it's you! I remember you! What was it you said? Oh, that's right! You said that I needed a bath, didn't ya? Said I smelt, didn't ya? And I promised I was gonna get my own back! Well, here we are!"

He bounded forward before anybody could react. In an instant he was looming over the terrified cubs, saliva flowing freely from his bone-crushing fangs, "It's payback time!"

To understand what Ridikill and Amabi are referring to here please see Chapter 3: Chase.