Hi again. Rather annoyingly this disappointingly short chapter took a lot longer to write than I expected and I'm not very happy with it, but there we go. I hope you all enjoy it at least. Thank you all for the reviews, keep 'em coming in so long as you have the energy or are sufficiently entertained to do so.

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

Ridikill towered over the crouching Amabi, teeth bared and slobbering. His eyes blazed with rage and a grating growl rattled from his lungs. The petrified Amabi cowered before him, quivering and eyes wide with terror.

The stunned lionesses were on their feet in a split second, snarling angrily, but then, as one, they stopped. The hyena was poised so close to the cub that he could have snapped him up and crushed him in his jaws without any of the lionesses having time to reach them.

Amaryllis stared dumbly. Her mind was almost overwhelmed with horror and confusion. She felt sick. How had things gone so wrong in such a brief moment? Amabi…she couldn't lose Amabi. Ridikill would not get him…but why would he…?

Then in a swift movement Ridikill bent down and scooped Amabi up in his jaws. Amaryllis bounded forward, claws and teeth bared, but she couldn't cover the ground quick enough. With a quick twist of his neck, Ridikill hurled the little lion cub away.

With a sharp splash Amabi hit the surface of the pond. Amaryllis skidded to a halt and the lionesses stared. After a moment Amabi rose to the surface, gasping and floundering around in a panicked state. He looked up to see if Ridikill was bearing down on him to seize him in his horrid fangs again.

Ridikill, however, was in peals of laughter, rolling around on the floor and guffawing like Amaryllis had never seen him do before. He cackled long and loud before sitting up and looking at Amabi.

"Hahahaha, how'd ya enjoy your bath kiddo? Hahahah, I said I'd pay you back for that, didn't I? I got ya good! Ahahahaha!"

The lionesses watched, utterly confused. Then after a moment Amabi giggled, amused by the whole affair and apparently no longer intimidated by the hyena. Vitani began to chuckle, and soon enough a few of the lionesses were laughing quietly. It was a nervous laugh to relieve tension, but there was amusument in it as well, now that they could see the hyena had a sense of humour, albeit a rather twisted one.

Amaryllis gasped with relief. So it had been a joke. For one horrific moment she had thought she was about to lose her son in the cruellest possible way.

Amabi picked himself up out of the water and shook himself off. He approached Ridikill, sniggering.

"So, I guess we're even huh?"

Ridikill didn't answer. In fact he had genuinely lost control when he had recognized Amabi. His rage and instincts had guided him and he had every intention of snapping the little cub's neck until he remembered where he was and whose child he had between his jaws.

When the little cub had squirmed futilely between his teeth he had suddenly been hit by a wave of repulsion. Was he really prepared to slaughter an innocent youngster in cold blood, the son of his only real friend, just for the sake of petty revenge? A few weeks ago the answer would have been 'yes' without hesitation, but now Ridikill felt awful for even considering it. So he had resorted to a cheap joke to get out of the situation as best he could.

Now it was best he extend a friendly paw towards the kid, for fear of alienating Amaryllis and perhaps arousing the suspicions of the lionesses.

"Yeah, we're even now, kid, just you watch your back. And by the way, sorry about our…previous encounter. Nothing personal. A misunderstanding", he managed to force a friendly grin.

The general chatter amongst the lionesses slowly resumed. Amaryllis looked sidelong at Ridikill and gave him a playful nudge with her paw, "You moron, you know I actually thought you were serious then".

"Heh, give me some credit Amy", the hyena said between his teeth.

"So how do you know my Mom?" Amabi interrupted, encouraged to see the hyena refer to his mother by her nickname. His fear was gone and he was becomingly increasingly curious about the hyena; like most scary things, they were interesting to a youngster.

"It's a long story", Amaryllis began.

"Then let's save it", Ridikill snorted.

"Oh no, let's hear it", Vitani said smoothly, "I assume he is the hyena who you said you'd met before, and the one who made such a commotion during the negotiations?"

Amaryllis nodded. Ridikill scowled, displeased that Amaryllis had told someone about their previous meetings.

Vitani cocked her head, "I thought you said he was 'a real psycho'".

"I am", Ridikill smirked proudly, then saw the reprimanding look from Amaryllis, "I mean…I…lose…my temper with undesirable frequency".

Vitani leered, "Not too unlike me then. That's good".

Ridikill looked at her, "Excuse me?"

She made a mockingly innocent face, "Oh nothing. Just couldn't help but notice you're kinda cute…for a hyena".

Amaryllis burst into hysterics. Ridikill's mouth hung open and he stared at Vitani dumbly.

"Hey, Auntie Vitani, don't tease Uncle Ridi", Amabi said.

Ridikill, still with the same slack-jawed expression, turned slowly to look at Amabi, "…'Uncle Ridi'?"

Amabi beamed happily, "Oh, I call all my Mom's friends Uncle or Auntie. So you're Uncle Ridi".

Ridikill looked at the weak-with-laughter Amaryllis, "I hope you're aware this is the single most unpleasant day of my life".

Simba sat alone on the pinnacle of Pride Rock, looking out over the savannah. The herds were thick on the plains before him and he watched them wander back and forth idly.

He was troubled. Rumour of rebellion was spreading through the pride and refusing to die. No doubt one or two of the males were quietly bragging about their plans to overthrow him, but wouldn't yet admit it openly in front of any of the royal family. It was probably Tumai and Maradi or some such.

The males in the pride weren't especially treacherous or pugnacious by their nature, but circumstance had driven them to talk of mutiny. To be driven from your pride by males you had invited in yourself was an insult Simba had never heard of before.

But then again, very little had actually happened since the hyenas had been granted access to the Pride Lands. They'd been quiet, avoiding contact with the lions. For that Simba was grateful. For all intents and purposes his belief that lion and hyena could coexist that most of the pride had doubted was being proved right. So far.

There had been that unfortunate incident with Mali. The details weren't known yet; all Zazu had been able to gather was that the leopard had attacked the hyena clan and had been killed for his efforts. To Simba Mali had always seemed a polite, gentle and wise adviser with only hints of being somewhat over-zealous.

Who ever would have known he was so apparently extreme and fanatical. Simba had been saddened by news of his death, but was also worried it would stir up greater antipathy against the hyenas and his decision to embrace them as subjects.

But still all was quiet. It had the distinct air of the calm before the storm.

"Hey King Kitty Cat, what's eating ya?"

Simba looked over his shoulder and saw Timon approaching, followed by Pumbaa and Kovu. He smiled. He revelled in the company of Timon and Pumbaa. It reminded him of who he was – not King of the Pride Lands, but plain old Simba.

"Hey guys", he said, "Nothing, I'm just thinking. What's up?"

"Not much, everything's pretty much dead", Pumbaa grunted.

"Or at least the hyenas wish it were", Timon jibed.

Simba groaned, "Oh please, I don't want to hear anything more about the hyenas".

"Then don't go hang with the rest of the pride", Kovu said, "That's pretty much all they've talked about for weeks".

Simba shrugged, "Well, they're not the ones who have to go and talk with the hyena leaders the day after tomorrow. And I'm going to have to make some kind of decision".

"What decision?" Pumbaa asked.

"Whether or not to let the hyenas into the Pride Lands on a more permanent basis".

"What?! You gotta be kidding? You ain't still considering that, are ya Simba?" Timon yelled.

"You have to admit that apart from that incident with Mali, which he seems to have provoked, they've been model Pride Landers".

"Well, sure, apart from being stupid, droolin', meat-stealin', cub-snatchin'…"

"To be fair they haven't done anything really worthy of note", Kovu said.

"I did say I didn't want to talk about this", Simba replied, and the others could see his eyes were bloodshot with stress or lack of sleep.

"What's wrong big guy?" Timon asked.

"I don't know", Simba confessed, "It's not the hyenas, but it may have something to do with them. It's just…I can't explain it. Ever since Rafiki left I've been feeling uneasy. There's a threat building, and I can't quite place it".

Silence. Timon leaned over towards Pumbaa and whispered in his ear, "The stress must really be getting to him".

Simba suddenly shook himself and looked at them, and for a moment they caught a glimpse his former youthful exuberance, "Let's just forget about it. Who's up for some bugs?"

The lionesses were all sitting in a circle, engaged in one big conversation. Ridikill sat awkwardly between Amaryllis and Vitani. By now he had figured out what was bugging him so much.

He didn't just feel out of place because everybody else present were lions – it was because he was the only adult male. Sure, there were cubs like Amabi and that quiet half-grown Amaryllis had told him was called Tenzer, but he was the only real island of brooding, sullen masculinity in an overwhelming sea of very chatty femininity.

Needless to say this discomfited him whenever the subject of discussion turned to how attractive various males were, mating, giving birth or any other shocking little snippets of information about female anatomy he had not been aware of before, and would have been happier had he never known. Amaryllis noticed he had looked particularly mortified at Sharhal's in-depth description of her menstrual cycle.

All in all, so far it had made Ridikill feel very self conscious. The little cubs prancing around and barging into his legs every so often didn't help matters, nor did Amabi insisting on calling him 'Uncle Ridi'.

But secretly he was somewhat enjoying himself as well. There was a strange sensation to being surrounded by so many fellow creatures who bore him no ill will. Creatures who seemed increasingly interested in what he had to say and more and more willing to let him into their conversation. It was akin to the feeling he had when he settled down for sleep in his cave back in the Elephant Graveyard, and it unlocked even deeper memories. Very vague images of a huge female hyena…no, not huge. He had been small; she had simply seemed huge at the time. He had been a child. The female was his mother.

Comfort. That was the feeling. Something he had rarely felt in his years of leading a small band of rag-tag hunters, either independent from the clan in the desolate times after Scar's death or under Shenzi's rule. The moments of comfort had been rare and he hadn't been able to identify them at the time, being such a snarling, god-cursing brute. All that seemed rather far away now.

But he still had his warrior pride. He insisted on being aloof with the lionesses, speaking only now and then with concise, barely grunted answers. But it was still more civility then he was used to dishing out to his own clan members.

Most of the lionesses were surprised by how quiet and reserved the hyena was. They were used to hyenas cackling and jeering, very 'in your face' characters. This one however, while a little creepy, was pretty well-behaved. Tolerable, even.

Inevitably however evening began to draw in and the lionesses began to head for home, in pairs or little groups. When Amabi began yawning Amaryllis decided it was time to call it a day.

"Well, I guess we'd better go home for now. We'll have to leave again to go hunting in a few hours anyway", she said, picking herself up.

Ridikill stood up, "Well, I've had more than my fair share of mindless blather today. I'm outta here".

"Oh lighten up", Amaryllis grinned slyly, "You know you enjoyed it really".

"I know nothing of the sort", Ridikill retorted, and took a few steps in the direction of the hyena abode.

"Wait", Amaryllis said and went after him, lowering her voice so nobody except the nearby Vitani could hear them converse, "We should trade places, y'know. I should come to your place and meet your friends in the hyena clan".

"Got no friends there", Ridikill said bluntly.

"Oh. I'm sorry".

"Don't be. I never saw the need for friends".

"But do you now?"

Ridikill didn't answer. He walked away.

"Hey, meet again tomorrow, same time, same place?" Amaryllis called.

Ridikill nodded.

Vitani came up behind Amaryllis, "Interesting 'friend' of yours, Amy".

"Yeah", Amaryllis watched the hyena go, "Thanks Vitani. For giving him the benefit of the doubt. You saved my butt back there".

Vitani raised an eyebrow, "No sweat. But next time you want to bring a friend along for us all to meet, why not just go ahead and bring a cobra or a crocodile or something?"

When Ridikill was out of the sight of the lionesses he immediately felt edgy. There was something very definitely wrong. He was being watched.

Almost immediately a dry log in front of him seemed to erupt and shoot into the air. It towered above him, peaking at seven feet, before beginning to descend again to be level with his face. The startled Ridikill suddenly realized it was actually a huge snake, a python of some description. It must have been over fifteen feet long, and suddenly Ridikill recognized at the same animal he had seen once before when he had met with Mamacala at the river.

Ridikill crouched and bared his teeth. Mammals were generally uncertain as to how to handle reptiles – where exactly did you attack a creature that wore horny scales for skin? But suddenly the python spoke.

"Greetings, Ridikill. Don't be alarmed".

The hyena regained his composure and stood up straight, but still eyed the python cautiously, "Don't flatter yourself. How'd you know my name, belly-crawler?"

"I have watched you for a long time. I am Kachero the rock python".

"Watched me? You mean spied?"

"Yes".

"You pathetic little…" Ridikill opened his jaws and took a step forward.

"I was under orders", the python explained, completely undaunted by the aggressive hyena.

"From who?"

"You should know. He has sent me here to summon you to his presence. You are needed. The Master calls".

Ridikill looked at the python incredulously, "You crazy old fool. Normally I'd tear your flesh from your bones just for wasting my time with quasi-religious trash, let alone spying on me. But I've been in a good mood lately so I'll let you keep your miserable skin", he started to walk on by.

Resentment for the hyena was growing on Kachero's mind with each word spoken. After all this time of knowing Ridikill and yet not actually ever talking to him, to finally speak to the obnoxious, arrogant upstart was a revolting experience, but he had his orders.

"I thank you for the consideration but I'll be shedding this skin soon anyway", Kachero drawled; Ridikill did not stop to hear him, "But this good mood of yours. I suppose it can be attributed to Amaryllis?"

Ridikill stopped dead in his tracks.

"Ahhh yes", the python went on, "And little Amabi…Such a disarming little fellow, wouldn't you say?"

Ridikill wheeled about, salivating profusely and lips curled back, eyes filled with rage, "Take that back, lizard! You…how dare you…"

Kachero's body waved to and fro gently in the evening breeze, "Losing your temper over a sweet little lion cub? That's hardly what Mamacala taught you".

Ridikill started like he'd been stung on the nose by a hornet, "Mamacala…"

"Yes. As I said, the Master calls! The Master will not be denied!"

Quieter now, almost in awe, Ridikill gasped, "How…how do you know…."

"Mamacala and I are old acquaintances", Kachero said without a hint of emotion: secretly however he was enjoying rattling the hyena.

"But what…what would Mamacala want with you?" Ridikill gaped, still trying to understand what he was hearing.

"I find myself asking the same of you", Kachero hissed, "But all will be revealed tomorrow. You will meet the great and glorious Mamacala, Lord of the Rivers, at the termite mounds to the west of Grant Gazelle Thicket. Do you know of this place?"

Ridikill nodded dumbly.

"Good. Then at sunset tomorrow. He will be waiting. Don't test his patience. He has waited long enough for this fateful day as it is", with that the python settled back down on its belly and glided away.

The eland cow took its last few dying gasps. The lioness did not loosen her grip around its throat until a few minutes after the antelope had shown the last signs of life. The other lionesses waited patiently, some helping to hold the hefty antelope down.

At last they broke off from the dead herbivore. It was midnight on the savannah, and the lions were out in force. No fewer than twelve lionesses had gone on this hunting trip to provide for the pride, including Nala and Kiara. They were also accompanied, surprisingly, by Simba and Kovu, who had insisted on escorting such a large hunting party in case they attracted the attention of hyenas.

They were on the banks of the river, to the east of the Pride Rock. A steep slope rose up above them on their right. The lionesses had ambushed the eland as it drank from the rapidly shrinking river. As Nala looked at the now-slow flowing river, she contemplated on just how severe a dry season this was going to be. The herds were wary, the grass was drying, and the river was shrinking. Even the night air was stifling and warm.

The lions started at an ominous cry.

"Oooooo-whup!"

Kovu looked up and cursed, "Hyenas".

Kiara said, "How far off was that?"

"Not far", Nala replied, "Come on, we'd better get this back to Pride Rock. We don't know how many there are".

"You sure about that?" Simba said, "We should be able to handle the hyenas, and the pride's going hungry at the moment. Maybe we should take something else down first and head back then".

Nala shook her head, "No. We can't drag two carcasses home with hyenas trailing us, Simba, especially not after we're tired out from two hunts. We need to get back now and call it a night".

Simba said nothing, then nodded slowly, "Yeah, you're right", then he smiled, "As usual".

Nala's hard features softened for a moment and the cold, logical glint in her eye that was unmistakably predatory vanished.

"Oh please", Vitani muttered, mouth wrapped around an eland shank, "Let's get moving, before…"

"Oooooo-whup!"

The call was much closer now.

"Everyone, take hold and let's go!" Nala barked, huntress once more.

"Oooooo-whup!" a series of cackles and nervous giggling was now audible at the end of the howl.

The lionesses began to drag the eland back up the steep slope, Simba and Kovu helping, when a sinister silhouette rose up against the moonlight above them. Almost immediately it ducked back behind the bank again, shrieking in alarm.

"Oh, that's how close they are", Kiara mumbled as best she could with her mouthful.

"No time to worry about it, keep moving", Nala said tersely.

The hyena returned, shortly joined by three more. They mulled about on the ridge for a moment, then disappeared again, clearly frightened at the sight of so many big, powerful lions.

Suddenly many hyenas, vague and shadow-like in the night, charged down the hill towards the struggling lions, hooting and sniggering. In surprise the lions lost their grip on the eland and it slipped, rolling down the embankment to land on the water's edge.

Several hyenas instantly bolted for the carcass. Kovu darted down towards it, skidding and kicking up shingle as he did. The hyenas scattered immediately.

It was difficult to tell how many hyenas there were, as they dashed back and forth in the blackness, lowing aggressively, but Simba estimated they were at least three dozen. They began baiting the lions, rushing in and snapping at them when their backs were turned, then leaping out of the way with a panicked shrieking laugh when the lion turned to strike back at them. Then when the lion's attention was diverted by that hyena another would rush in and repeat the attack.

There were no harsh words thrown back and forth here. It was pure, animalistic war. The lions clouted the hyenas whenever they could, and occasionally one would become entangled in the cat's claws and, unable to escape, was drawn into a quick scuffle with the lion. However there was little bloodshed overall, mostly tentative strikes, the hyenas clearly trying to wear the lions down by antagonising them.

"Oh this is ridiculous!" Vitani snarled, breaking the spoken silence, "How many of them are there?! So much for hyenas being cute!"

At that one hyena, hidden in the dark, stopped dead and stared at her.

Simba, lashing out at one impudent attacker, wondering in the back of his mind what Vitani meant. What reason would Vitani have for thinking that?

"Everyone get back to the eland!" Kiara called out, "Fight them off from there!"

The lions began backing up in the direction of the eland, which lay just shy of the shallows of the river. Soon they had formed a rough semi-circle around it, with their backs to the water. The hyenas followed, and scraps broke out, spraying water high in the air. Lion and hyena alike slipped and tumbled on the wet gravel and in the shallow water.

"Ahhh, mine, I think", a deep, scratchy voice said.

The voice commanded attention. The combatants all turned to see a giant crocodile waddling in the shallows, heading towards the eland. It was the biggest crocodile any of them had ever seen, brutally scarred, an armoured colossus.

The ridged backs of several other smaller, but still huge, crocodiles rose above the waterline, and then they began to heave themselves out of the shallows, scales glistening wet and shining in the moonlight.

Immediately the lions and hyenas scrambled back up the bank: both the lions and hyenas outnumbered the crocodiles but fighting such raw reptilian power on the crocodile's home turf was out of the question.

"Aww man! I told ya it was a bad idea to go hunting tonight, Shenz!" one hyenic voice barked.

"Shut up, warthog features. I wanted to get out that damn burrow and hunt!"

"But we didn't even hunt, we just…."

"I said shut up, moron!"

The hyenas, unwilling to fight either the crocodiles or the sore lions in an open fight, vanished back up the embankment, yipping and cursing.

Only Simba stood calmly by the eland body, staring down the lead crocodile defiantly.

"Mamacala. Good to see you", he said.

"Likewise, Your Majesty", Mamacala inclined his disfigured head, "We meet, unfortunately, under less than agreeable circumstances".

"Yes", Simba looked at the crocodiles looming up behind their Royal Representative. He had only met Mamacala on a few occasions, mostly at Councils, and the crocodile had always seemed polite, well-spoken and decent enough. A little ruthless, perhaps, and idle, as he tended to avoid Councils if he could, but basically a decent Pride Lander.

But then again, survival came before Royal etiquette for all species. Filling one's stomach was what came first in the dry season, and Simba didn't begrudge the crocodiles for robbing his pride of their meal.

Not really. But it did leave a slightly bitter taste in the mouth.

"You'll forgive me, I hope, being so bold as to acquire meat from His Majesty by such vile means, but age and season have caught up with me and an old croc can't afford to let opportunities slip by", Mamacala rasped.

"But of course", Simba gave a wry smile, "As they say 'you win this round'".

"So it seems", as Mamacala spoke two crocodiles seized the eland in their vice-like jaws and yanked its carcass into the water. The river roared and frothed with spiny bodies surging forward to get a share of the fresh meat.

"Oh dear", Mamacala sighed, "Forgive my brothers. Fish stocks run low and tempers fray in this weather, even in your bountiful lands my liege".

"Fine words, Mamacala", Simba was mildly amused - Mamacala always spoke with different levels of sincerity, it seemed to him. The grovelling compliments were obviously somewhat artificial; but to what extent did the crocodile respect him as a King? Simba suspected he would never know.

"If you'll excuse me, my Lord, I feel the need for protein", Mamacala picked himself up and shuffled back towards the shallows, "I must build up my strength, after all".

"Oh, what for?" Simba asked, not expecting an answer.

The crocodile turned his head slightly to look back at the lion, "Oh, patience Simba, that'll all be revealed in time".

Before Simba could ask what that meant Mamacala had plunged into the water. The King watched as the huge crocodile slammed violently past his smaller kin and clamped his jaws onto the ravaged carcass. He tore at it with frightening fury that completely contrasted the smooth way he had addressed Simba.