Author's notes: Hello again all, another update. Soon, I know. I know you're all used to waiting up to a month or more for an update,
YingYangWhiteTiger, glad to see someone noticed the "Not One of Us" lyrics for last chapter :P Well anyway, here we are, enjoy and read and review if you got time. 'Til next time!
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
Zazu soared above the plains, beating his wings steadily as he headed north. He scanned the grasslands below, his keen eyes taking in every detail.
The latest twist in the relationship between lion and hyena in the Pride Lands was almost too much for Zazu to bear. To think that the hyenas had managed to maintain a façade of cordiality, so convincing than even he had begun to believe that hyenas really weren't so different from his lion peers. And now it had all been revealed to be nothing but a trick. It was a cruel world.
However there was a slim chance that they'd been misinformed. Gossip spread quickly and Zazu knew all about the lioness Amaryllis' friendship with the male hyena. Perhaps one or both of them had been lying or been misinformed, although for what purpose he could never guess.
But even as he clutched at this fragile hope, it was shattered. Up ahead he could see dust columns rising as the herds fled from a thick black mass streaming across the Pride Lands. The hornbill flew closer, if only for confirmation, as he knew well what it was.
Yes, there they were. Perhaps one hundred hyenas, the front ranks just passing the Banded Mongoose Den Network. Suddenly several of the front row picked up the pace and bounded on ahead of their marching comrades, covering ground quickly. They headed for the cover of some thicket up ahead. Doubtless a scouting group deployed to scan the plains for any signs of Simba's pride.
After all, Zazu reminded himself, the hyenas weren't expecting resistance. They were attempting to launch a surprise attack, picking off Simba as he arrived at the rendezvous point he had arranged to meet the hyena leaders at. What unspeakable treachery. But that would only be the beginning of their crimes. After that they would wipe Pride Rock clean of lions, old and young alike.
With a shudder Zazu turned about headed back towards Simba. It was his sad duty to report to his King that the information was indeed accurate. Zazu was numb at the thought of anything happening to Simba in the battle. He had never told him but he thought Simba was every inch the equal of his father, the awe inspiring Mufasa. He made a mental note to tell him that before the battle began.
Another tragic note was that even if the lion force could best the hyena clan, which was by no means certain, this would still be his last day in the service of Simba. Now he had confirmation of the presence of the hyenas Simba would abdicate as he had promised after the battle. And what would happen to Zazu then? Would whichever ambitious male took over the pride still want his services? Maybe, but Zazu wouldn't provide them. He served the line of true Kings only.
And now, after reporting the bad news to Simba, it was his duty to return to Pride Rock and, with the assistance of the young lion Tenzer, and Timon and Pumbaa, watch over the cubs come what may, no matter who returned to Pride Rock: heroic defenders or ravaging marauders.
As Zazu headed south, he crossed the path of a plover bird that was darting north with an even greater urgency than himself. He caught a rather odd, self-satisfied look on the bird's face as it darted past. He wondered what on earth was driving the bird to such a speed, and had half a mind to stop the bird and demand an explanation. However, he decided he had bigger priorities and carried on home, not giving it a second thought.
The march was every bit as miserable for the hyenas as the last one had been. The only difference was that they moved at a quicker pace now that those who weren't fight-worthy were left behind, and fierce hyena chieftains no longer spurred them on with threats and shouts of 'March! March!' Instead something far greater pushed them on: outrage at the treachery of the lions and their urge to defend the clan and their new territory.
Near the front of the army, Shenzi suddenly looked up. She saw a hornbill circling above, certainly Simba's little stooge. So their presence was known. So be it.
"Ridikill! Move out, move out! And don't come back here without reliable info, right?" she barked.
In front of her, Ridikill and his band of scouts immediately charged forward without a backward glance. Apart from Ridikill himself there was Burudi his lieutenant, Sarkil the huntress, Kapungu the bloodthirsty warrior, Babaka the ravenous glutton, Cauron the new mother, Shungi the inexperienced leader and Groco the lowly scumbag.
That made eight in total. Most were members of Ridikill's personal hunting pack. That didn't matter. Shenzi had picked them out for one simple reason: she was looking to catch Ridikill out.
Sarkil loathed Ridikill and couldn't stand his authority over her. It wounded her feminine pride. Likewise Shungi, new to leading her own pack, hated the dog hyena's habit of showing her up for being 'soft' and generally ignoring her authority. Cauron held a grudge against Ridikill for his rough treatment of her during the last march. Shenzi had been surprised to see her come along for the battle instead of staying behind looking after her cubs, but she had insisted that she would rather fight for them than cower in a burrow while others did the fighting for her. The cubs were safer than all of them as it was, on their way back to the Elephant Graveyard.
Babaka cared about little more than food and the acquisition of food – he had been promised great reward. Groco would do anything to increase his status even a little in the clan. And Burudi – well Burudi may once have been almost pals with Ridikill, but they seemed to have drifted apart lately. Shenzi suspected Burudi was jealous of Ridikill's friendship with Amaryllis. Jealous and bitter.
In short, each and every one of these hyenas could be trusted to rat Ridikill out if he stepped even a little out of line or did anything suspicious on their scouting mission. And Kapungu? Well, Kapungu was there in case Ridikill had to be subdued for any reason. While Ridikill was more than a match for any hyena in the clan apart from the leader trio, if any hyena came close to Ridikill's ferocity and strength, it was Kapungu.
All in all, they were the ideal bunch to take down Ridikill if he did anything suspect. And they'd all been briefed by Shenzi on the matter before she had dispatched them.
Shenzi knew that Ridikill really shouldn't be one of her top priorities at that moment with the impending battle with Simba's pride, but she wasn't completely convinced the lions were marching on them at all. Ridikill was up to something, she was sure. Well, the report from the scouting party would confirm or deny that. All she had to do now was wait and see.
But…if the unthinkable was true and the lions were coming to destroy them, then…well, she had a few loose ends to tie up before then.
She looked at Banzai, the scruffy, powerful male who marched by her side, trying to smile and make light of even their darkest hour.
"Hey, Banzai", she said, in quiet tones so they wouldn't be overheard.
"Yeah?" he looked at her.
"Um…" she faltered. It wasn't like her to act rashly. No, prudence should always come first. If this was all some ridiculous power play by Ridikill then it would be terribly inappropriate for her to come out with what she was thinking.
Besides, it was going to be a long march. There was plenty of time to get everything off her chest.
"Oh…nothing", she said. Banzai raised one eyebrow, and then walked on, uncomprehending.
Halfway through the lion's dismal advance across the Pride Lands Zazu returned. He flew down to land on Simba's shoulder.
"Sire, it's bad news I'm afraid. It's just as Amaryllis' source said: hyenas as far as the eye can see. They're coming this way at a steady pace and it looks like they mean business: this time they've left their weak behind. They'd just sent out a scouting party as I left. They were just passing the Banded Mongoose Den Network".
The pride looked utterly devastated at the news. As much as they hated the hyenas, more and more with every step now, no-one was looking forward to the battle, not even the pugnacious Tumai. There were no illusions as to how serious the upcoming battle was going to be. This was no skirmish where everyone escaped with sore paws and the odd scratch. Lifeblood was going to flow freely today.
Simba inhaled deeply, "Thank you Zazu. Your service to the Pride Lands has been above and beyond the call of duty from your first day of office".
Zazu paused, wavered, then said, "It's been an honour and a privilege, sire. Your rule has been every bit as magnificent as your father's. And for what it's worth", he leaned forward and whispered, "This band of miserable ingrates don't deserve you anyway".
Simba laughed, "Thank you, Zazu. Take care".
The hornbill nodded, then said farewell to Nalu, Kovu and Kiara in turn. With a last, dignified bow he took to the air and was gone.
Nala looked at Simba. Tears were welling in his eyes as he watched Zazu head for Pride Rock. She gingerly stepped closer and nuzzled him. He returned the gesture, and for a moment they stood still, locked together, muzzle to muzzle as the pride walked past. Unashamed of their grief, they sobbed together for as long as they dared, hardly able to believe the turn of recent events. Then with a last quick kiss they steeled themselves and resumed their place at the head of the pride, marching resolutely to their final test.
It was a tearful hour at Pride Rock. Cubs cried and wailed, and there was little the grieving Timon, Pumbaa and Tenzer could do to comfort them. In the middle of it all a heart-broken young Amabi wondered why his mother was going to have to fight her best friend to the death.
The reason was now not very far from Pride Rock. Mamacala and his ghastly legion of serpents dragged themselves over hill and through undergrowth. They were careful to avoid the direct path where the lions and hyenas were going to cross. It wouldn't do to be caught wandering about the plains in such a suspicious manner.
So the reptiles had skirted around to the west, sticking to the cover of ravines, streams, scrubland and the shadows of hills wherever they could. The going was slow across land as they were not built for consistent speed over ground, but when their path met that of the river or a stream they positively knifed their way across the Pride Lands. In this way they had managed to stay ahead of the hyena army somewhere over the horizon to their east.
Mamacala clambered up a steep hill, his stubby legs scrabbling for leverage as he propelled himself up. The pythons slunk after him. At the crest of the hill they found a magnificent view of the plains before them, and Pride Rock beyond.
"Why do we make ourselves obvious to prying eyes, my Lord?" Kachero asked, "We have done well to lay low so far".
"Because, my loyal Kachero, I am expecting a visit from Oocheva soon and it will be necessary for him to…ah, there we are".
The plover bird suddenly lighted on the very tip of the crocodile's ancient grey snout, "Master, I have excellent news. Simba has led his pride from Pride Rock and is making swift progress north. The two armies should meet by late afternoon, in about three to four hours. What's more, they have indeed left their cubs and juveniles behind at Pride Rock under scant protection".
"Sublime, Oocheva, utterly sublime. You do not fail me", Mamacala croaked.
The wicked little bird inclined his head slightly, "I live to serve you, my Lord".
"Oh, I see. Well, if that's the case then I'm afraid you've nothing left to live for".
Before the startled Oocheva could speak or make a move the crocodile flicked his jaws open and slammed them shut on the tiny creature. Mamacala swallowed the mess of broken bones, pulped flesh and bloody feathers in one quick jerk of his head.
The pythons started, "Master! Oocheva…he served us well", one alarmed individual wailed, "For what reason did you execute him?"
The crocodile did not turn to look at the pythons, "Oh, as I said to him. He'd fulfilled his purpose and from now on would be nothing more than a liability. The less who know of our scheme, the better".
Indoctrinated to his teachings as they were, the snakes accepted this information as if it were wisdom from a god, "Yes my liege! What inspired foresight!"
Kachero swept forward, "Will Ridikill be receiving the same treatment?"
"No, he is far too useful to me. Have no fear: this applies to all of you as well. As long as I continue to find a use for you all".
"We are not worthy of such attention, my Lord!" another python declared.
"Then strive to make yourself worthy", the crocodile shifted slightly and stared directly at Pride Rock. He exhaled softly.
"Ahh, exactly as I anticipated. Pride Rock is undermanned and unprotected; ours for the asking".
One particularly excitable and aggressive python who was having difficulty restraining himself bolted forward, "My Lord, we're surely not going to ask are we? Why not just fight our way into Pride Rock, butcher everyone who resists and take it by force?!"
There was a moment of silence.
At last Mamacala said, "Mmm….okay".
He began to laugh a slow, resonant laugh. The pythons joined in, and the hilltop echoed with sinister, maniacal laughter.
The eight hyena scouts galloped over the Pride Lands. Ridikill lead the way, heading south but at the same time angling west so as to avoid running directly into the lion pride and instead spying on their flank. There was no sign of a single lion yet and they were already many miles ahead of the clan. They'd been running for nearly two hours.
Ridikill wondered where Mamacala was. It occurred to him that he probably should have led them south-east as opposed to south-west so as to avoid any unfortunate encounters with Mamacala. However it was too late to change direction now: to do so would provoke his 'troops' into acting against him.
Oh, Shenzi had been clever, to pick such a band of scouts. They were going to be difficult to escape from. They watched his every move like vultures watching a dying buffalo, and Ridikill had no doubt they had instructions to find out what he was up to.
If only they knew.
It was too late to help any of his own clan, or the lion pride. If he explained to them how he had become involved in an evil old crocodile's scheme to kill them all they'd rip him limb from limb. He wasn't so noble as to sacrifice his life so that they could all live.
But Amaryllis…Amaryllis would understand. Forgive him. Help him.
His plan was a desperate one. It was impossible to prevent the massacre of both lion and hyena happening now. So he intended to elude his followers. From there he would approach the lion pride and somehow, somehow, he repeated to himself urgently, contact Amaryllis. Whether he'd just hang back and howl her name from a distance until she came to him or he charged right up to the lion pride and demanded to see her, he'd talk to her.
He'd explain everything to her. Every last detail, every last hidden secret of his relationship with Mamacala and his role in the grand scheme. She'd understand. She'd forgive him. He knew it. She always did.
Together they would run back to Pride Rock and get her kid, Amabi, if he was so important to her. And from there they would flee the cursed Pride Lands – they'd been nothing but trouble to Ridikill, and Amaryllis wasn't a native anyway. They had no loyalty to these miserable, disputed lands. Mamacala would have no reason to pursue him as he'd done as the crocodile had asked, and had merely not waited around to reap the rewards.
And then – what? Would he and Amaryllis part ways once they'd escaped death at the teeth and claws of each other's species? Or would they search out a new life somewhere, where they could be at peace? They could make their own rules and be free of the silly prejudices of lesser creatures.
It was at that moment that Ridikill realized he had come to depend on Amaryllis utterly, just as he had done with Mamacala in his younger years. In a way it was a similar sort of dependence: both provided support, advice, guidance, a figure to look up to, companionship, a sense of significance, and justification that what he was doing was right.
But the difference was crucial. Mamacala had encouraged him to look out only for himself, to become strong and cruel and wicked. Ridikill had been important because he was stronger than anyone else, and therefore his brutality was justified because the strong ruled the weak and that was the way of the world. And he had been taught to admire Mamacala for being stronger than he.
Amaryllis however had told him that other people mattered just as much as he did, and his ruthlessness didn't make him superior. His bullying of others was wrong, plain and simple. And he was significant because of his own character merits: his uniqueness, his humour, his mental strength, his loyalty, and his previously hidden gentle side. And she had not coaxed him to admire her but he did nonetheless, and for her own character merits: her patience, her understanding, her wit, her playfulness and her gentle wisdom so beyond her years.
Ridikill needed Amaryllis, and he didn't think he'd be able to cope if he lost her friendship. She was too valuable and wonderful a creature to be left behind to die on the field of battle.
Ridikill wouldn't let it happen. He would save her life and preserve her friendship, no matter the cost. Mamacala and Simba and Shenzi, Banzai and Ed be damned!
The thought spurred him on and he picked up the pace. He could sense the focus of his followers sharpen as they watched him more intently and struggled to keep up with him. One wrong move and they'd be all over him.
The wind changed suddenly, blowing up from the south. The hyenas fairly screeched to a halt. There was the distinct scent of lion on the breeze.
"Lions!" Groco yapped, "Can anyone tell how far off?"
"No sorry, my nose hasn't received those sonar upgrades yet", Sarkil sneered.
"Right, right", Groco cowered before the much taller, more powerful and attractive female hyena, "Sorry. Just kinda excited. This is gonna be one hell of a battle huh?"
"Oh, so you believe me now eh?" Ridikill snorted, looking back at his pack darkly.
"Hell no", Shungi snapped, "Not until I see the entire pride lined up and marchin' in the clan's direction. 'Til then you're treated as a hostile".
"Not packing much in the subtlety department today eh?" Babaka laughed, "We were supposed to keep our secondary mission secret, remember bush-baby brains?"
"Shut ya trap", the female slapped the lower-ranking male across the face with a paw, "Ridikill here had already figured it out, see? It was kinda obvious".
"Well, whatever", Kapungu growled, "Just remember: one false move and you're mine, Ridikill".
"Is that right?" Ridikill spat deliberately, "We'll see about that".
"That a threat, or a challenge, or what?" Kapungu's mane bristled.
"Call it what ya want. You ain't gonna take me down".
Ridikill glanced around quickly, taking in the scenery; there was a dense patch of thicket up ahead. He would make a break for it in a few seconds. It was now or never: the lions couldn't be too far off and he couldn't risk a pursuit close to the lion pride, not if he wanted the time to contact Amaryllis.
The difficulty in escaping was going to be making it to the thicket. After that he was confident his strength and speed would discourage them from pursuing so recklessly through awkward terrain. But to get to the thicket he'd have to outrun Sarkil and Groco, who weren't capable of holding him back for long but they'd slow him down long enough for the likes of Kapungu and Shungi to tackle him, and from there it would be a losing battle. But he had to chance it.
He was just about to spring and make a break for it when Burudi straightened up and said, "Wait".
The scarred hyena was sniffing the air again. The others followed suit, and then as one whirled about to face the very thicket Ridikill had been planning to escape to. They growled deeply and tensed instinctively.
Three lionesses erupted from the bushes, snapping off and scattering dead twigs as they came. They snarled fiercely as they came at the hyenas.
Ridikill regained control of his instincts, and then stared and gaped in shock. It couldn't be…what were the chances? There on the left was Amaryllis!
He leaped between his slavering band of hyenas and the oncoming lionesses and bellowed, "Stand down! All of you!"
He shouted it with such force that both the hyenas and the surprised lionesses stopped dead. For a moment he waited, allowing instinct and adrenaline to drain from both sides.
Soon Amaryllis gasped and said, "Ridikill? Is that you?"
"Yeah! It's so good to see you! What are the chances, eh?" although he privately wondered if fate had a hand in this meeting.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked, stunned.
"I'm scouting for the clan. You?"
"We're scouting too. We were sent out by Simba to…well, find you guys, actually. We were told a scouting group has been sent south west. Who'd have guessed it was you".
"We owe you a debt of gratitude for your information", one of the other lionesses said unexpectedly and Ridikill realized it was Vitani.
Immediately Cauron snapped her head in Ridikill's direction, "What information? What did you tell them?"
Ridikill was about to reply, then paused. He had just realized how delicate a situation he was in.
"Well?"
"Who cares? Why are we even talkin' to these desert cats? Let's waste 'em!" Kapungu yelled.
"Wait!" Shungi ordered, "Don't forget our mission. Let's use this to our advantage".
She took one step towards the lionesses, "Afternoon ladies. Ignoring the fact that we're soon gonna be mortal enemies on the battlefield, I'm gonna ask you to make good on your supposed friendship with dear old Ridikill and ask you to confirm something: is your pride out in force to destroy our clan?"
"We are now", the other lioness, none other than Kiara herself, hissed, "But we've got no choice, since…"
"Enough of this", Ridikill said hurriedly, "Let's…talk about something else, eh?"
He was ignored, although Amaryllis seemed to detect his guilty tones.
"No choice but what?" Burudi cursed, "But to engage in ethnic cleansing?"
"Really now, let's cut this out", Ridikill tried again.
Vitani snorted, "Ethnic cleansing! That's rich, coming from the warmongers who started…"
"Started what?" Shungi demanded to know, "You're the ones who…"
"Look, let's settle this like adults shall we?" Ridikill pleaded urgently.
"We're the ones who what?" Kiara said, "Were betrayed by our supposed allies? And now have to fight off a treacherous assault on our very families and…"
"You? Betrayed?" Groco snapped, "No way! You betrayed us! You attacked us first!"
Amaryllis' eyes widened suddenly, "Unless…unless…"
Vitani turned to look at her, "What?" then she suddenly understood too, "…Oh. Right. Unless…"
"Unless the information you were given was false", Shungi said slowly, realization dawning on her.
"And the information you were given", Kiara murmured.
One by one, everyone looked at Ridikill.
He didn't say anything for a long while, then at last he simply shrugged.
"What the hell?!" Cauron shrieked.
"My God, Ridikill, what are you playing at?" Amaryllis shook her head, disbelieving, "Do you have any idea what you've done? If we don't hurry…God, so many lions and hyenas are going to die!"
Shungi stepped towards him, "You twisted, backstabbing, murdering…"
"You monster!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Is this a joke? 'Cos I'm not seeing the funny side!"
"I always knew you weren't to be trusted, but this…"
"Geez Amy, nice choice of friends you got".
"I'm gonna rip off his head!"
"Not if I get my claws into him first!"
"There's plenty for everyone!"
This continued for a while. Ridikill had nothing to do but sit and stare as lion and hyena were briefly united by their hatred of him. It was a sobering experience. Far worse was the wounded expression on Amaryllis' face as she looked at the ground and said nothing.
"Look", Ridikill spoke up eventually, "I know this looks bad, but…"
"'Looks bad'? I'll give you 'looks bad', you scheming…"
"Why not just give me a chance to explain, eh? At least let me do that".
The lionesses and hyenas exchanged glances, then Vitani nodded in his direction.
"It's an interesting story", Ridikill began, "But I'll be brief".
And so he explained as best as he could the entire undertaking he had been involved in. There was no point in lying now – he knew it was too late to stop Mamacala. The massacre was inevitable. They might as well know everything.
So he told them of Mamacala the crocodile and how he had instigated this war, how he had had a hand in it all as Mamacala's agent, of the crocodile's plan to take over Pride Rock by diverting south west to get to Pride Rock and take Pride Rock.
When he had finished the lions and hyenas stared in shocked silence. Amaryllis was inconsolable.
"So", she said slowly, stammering, "Everything was a lie. Your entire friendship with me…just a lie. So you could get close to someone in the pride and spread lies that would be believed. Wipe that grin off your face. It's all been a pack of lies".
"What? No, of course not!" Ridikill was genuinely horrified, "Of course I care about you! I told you – Mamacala was manipulating me from the start. My friendship with you was for real, but he used it to his advantage. I had to do what he said".
"Why?" Amaryllis demanded to know.
"Why?" Ridikill shook his head, "None of you have ever met him. None of you know him. He must be obeyed".
"Maybe", Kiara interrupted, "But I'm not going to stand around here and let my family get killed because of one twisted old crocodile and his hyena lackey. I'm going to stop this".
"Oh-ho, is that right?" Ridikill turned to glare at her, "And how do you intend to achieve that?"
"We need to get word to them that this was all rigged", Shungi said. All thoughts of hostility between the two scouting groups had evaporated completely.
"Right. Who's your fastest runner?" Sarkil asked.
"That'd be me", Kiara answered, and she was right, "I'll run as fast as I can and tell them everything before it's too late".
"You'll never make it in time", Ridikill pointed out, "They gotta be thirty miles east of us, and they're closing the gap between them fast. They'll meet in about two hours or so, I imagine".
"Less than that", Vitani said, "The pride had just picked up the pace as we left. And Zazu reported your location to us and your speed. I make it one hour".
"No choice", Kiara was already turning away, "Even if I arrive too late to stop the battle beginning maybe I can end it before things get too bad. Every second counts".
She bounded away. She was fast but, Vitani thought privately as she weighed up the distances and time, not fast enough.
"Okay, so what do we do now?" Groco asked.
"Well, I don't know about you guys", Amaryllis said, "But we can't let this…Mamacala get to Pride Rock, if he's going to hold our cubs hostage", she looked at Vitani, "We need to go stop him".
Vitani nodded, "Right".
"We're coming with you", Shungi declared.
Vitani and Amaryllis looked at the hyenas.
"Why? This isn't your fight", Vitani said.
"Hell yeah it is. This Mamacala has been manipulating us all from day one, using his little worm", Shungi gestured at Ridikill, "We're not gonna let him get away with it".
"You should wait for backup", Amaryllis objected.
"If it ever comes", Burudi snorted, "Either way, we're taking that croc down. Now we've got no quarrel with you, and we've sent word out to the clan to stop the battle, there's not a lot we can do. Except help you guys bring in that fat old croc".
The hyenas all nodded in agreement. Except one.
Ridikill laughed loudly and callously, "Idiots! 'Fat old croc'? You have no idea what you're all talking about. It's too late to stop the battle and you can't bring Mamacala to justice. Just give it up".
"Then why did you tell us everything? Why did you confess?" Vitani snapped.
"'Cos I got my own plan now, and it doesn't involve either running off to stop the clan and the pride murdering each other or trying to tackle Mamacala himself. I'm here for one thing only".
"What's that?" Babaka wondered.
Ridikill looked Amaryllis in the eye, "You".
"Me?" she said slowly.
"Yeah, you. You other guys can do whatever you want, but I'm getting out of the Pride Lands. Whatever happens, it ain't gonna be good for either lions or hyenas. And I want you, Amy, to come with me".
"What? Why?"
"Because you're my friend", Ridikill replied, "And I don't want you to rot here. So here's the plan. We run south, taking a detour to make sure we don't run into Mamacala. If we hurry we can still get there before him. Then we get Amabi and run south out of the borders. We'll be…"
There was a sharp, painful crack and Ridikill felt his head being jarred to one side awkwardly, then he was rolling backwards, over and over, to land in a heap some distance away. He looked up, disorientated and bewildered. His vision cleared and he realized to his astonishment that Amaryllis had hithim.
Amaryllis' shoulders heaved with suppressed sobs and tears trickled down her face, but somehow she still managed to look furious rather than upset.
"You bastard!" she screamed, "Do you know what you're saying? Don't you see what you've done?"
Ridikill did not stand up, "I…I don't…"
She stepped towards him; Vitani and the hyenas moved out of her way hurriedly, "You…you…how could you? I thought you'd changed, I really did. I thought you'd realized you weren't the only important creature on this planet!"
"I…I do!" Ridikill protested, "Of course I do! Of course I've changed! That's why I want you and Amabi to get out of here as well! I…"
Amaryllis loomed over him and for a moment it looked like she was going to strike him again, but she didn't, "You haven't changed at all! You're trying to save me because that's what you want. You're still as selfish as ever!"
"But…"
"You've got a responsibility!" she screeched at him, "You may have just condemned every last lion and hyena in the Pride Lands to death, and all you care about is how you come out of it? You…you maggot!"
She went on, "If you can be so cruel or so thoughtless as to do what you've done, and then realize you've made a mistake and try to put things right, I can forgive you. But…but to do what you've done and to not care, to not want to help anyone but yourself…well, if that's how your mind really works, I can't forgive you".
They looked at each other, and in that moment the fragile bond between them that had seemed so strong snapped.
Ridikill rose to his feet, roaring, "Alright! Have it your way, fool! You go to your death! I see Mamacala was right after all! Only the strong will survive! So be it. I'm getting out of here".
Amaryllis didn't reply but looked defiantly at him.
"I'm getting out of here", he repeated, "And it looks like I go alone".
They both realized at the same moment that despite how much time they had spent with each other, how much they had enjoyed each other's company, how much they had laughed together, how much they had stoop up for each other, how much they had helped each other, how much they had changed each other; they were still very different. At Amaryllis' core beat the heart of a kind soul, and at Ridikill's core beat the heart of a selfish thug.
"You sick little creep", someone said unexpectedly, and Ridikill tore his eyes away from Amaryllis to see it was, to his shock, Burudi.
"Shut up, you…"
"No, you shut up for once!" Burudi growled, "I'm sick of your trash! The lioness is right. You're nothing but a coward who doesn't have the guts to take responsibility for his actions! To think I once cared about what you thought of me, to think I once wanted to be your friend!"
Ridikill didn't answer.
Burudi continued, "This is your last chance, because we don't got time to waste on you! Are you coming with us to stop the crocodile, or are you gonna follow Kiara and make sure her message makes it safely?"
Ridikill laughed a bitter, mocking laugh, "Oh my, what a choice! Shall I go and tell what's left of a bloodied hyena clan and lion pride that all the deaths are my fault?
"Or shall I go and fight Mamacala and his python pals? You don't understand yet, but you will. A fight with Mamacala's a fight to the end; and it will be your end. But by the time you realize that it'll be too late.
"Or, one last choice, shall I get out of here and turn my back on the weaklings who've given me nothing but trouble since day one? Shall I get out of these miserable Pride Lands and live my life somewhere far from here? And far from all of you!
He spat, then looked at them all, one after the other, his eyes finally resting on Amaryllis, and he grimaced and snarled, "See you in hell!" he turned west and ran.