Rated M for violence/ slight gore

The night had been cold and savage. Deep in the Outlands, Madoa sat atop of a small ravine, looking out towards the thunderous, corrupted Pridelands on the horizon. The dark, hungry flashes of greenish lightning sent shocks through her matriarchal fur. The recent days had been hard on the clan, constantly running, deeper into the outlands, to avoid Scar's rapidly building army.

She watched as the sound of the lion's roars echoed across the landscape. Every inch of the land beyond. Her entire body shuddered. They were getting closer.

Time was running out...

"Madoa?" The worried voice of her younger sister forced Madoa's attention. Jasiri quickly approached her sister nuzzling up to her as she sat down. "What's wrong? Why are you up here?"

Madoa continued to stare out, only slightly acknowledging her younger sister's existence. Her mind was too focussed on current events. As she felt Jasiri's fur, her attention broke, shooting to her worried slightly younger sibling. "I'm alright Jasiri." She snuggled deep into her sister's fur, her eyes watering slightly.

Departing her sibling, Madoa looked back out at the and beyond, the roars of Scar and his lionesses echoing through the rugged ruins of the Outlands. "We're out of time." The older hyena called, her stern, concentrated tone shot through her younger sister as she walked off.

Jasiri followed, concern rushing through her body. she rushed in front of her sister, stopping her in her tracks. "What do you mean, out of time?" Staring her sister directly in the eye, Jasiri held her ground, standing her ground despite her sibling's certain uncomfortableness.

"We have to keep moving, retreat from the Outlands." Madoa hopped back, nearly growling at her now dumbfounded sister. She turned her head back to the ground, feeling the subtle vibrations of her sister's chilling intake of air as she prepared to reply.

"Retreat?!" The younger hyena pulled her head back. "We can't retreat Madoa!" Jasiri circled her sister, before looking out at the Outlands and the Pridelands in the distance. "This is our home! Kwetu Ni Kwetu! Home is home!" She turned back to her sister who sat beside her intrigued by the words she was hearing. "We can't just abandon it. We have to fight!"

"Fight!?" Madoa shot back at her sister staring her directly in the eye as she growled. "We'd be slaughtered if we-"

"AHH!" A sharp ear screeching cry of pain shot through the spines of both hyenas. They recognised the scream. One of the forward scouts of the clan. Taking a quick look at each other, they started to sprint off, down the rocky crevices of the dry barren land. As they did, the cries and roars boomed louder and louder. They rushed through the tight hallowed cracks within the canyon's and crevices, just hoping that they would not be late, that they could make it in time.

...

The hyena's body flew through the air as the Lioness let go, throwing the corpse into the side of the canyon with a fleshy splat. The lifeless husk of the once keen-eyed creature lay bloodied, staring lifelessly at its killers.

The small gathering of lionesses roared once more, their war cries shattering the skies with dark, gloomy clouds. The hyena's killer, whose muzzle was soaked in the creature's blood, led the chants of roars devilishly smiling at her sisters.

The roars quickly halted as a certain lioness proudly wandered through the crowd. The lionesses moved out of her way sitting to face one another as she passed forming a strict, organised formation. The lead lioness, slender and savage, slithered through the arranged gathering before leaping up to a nearby rocky overlook. Her aqua blue eyes stared down at her followers who eagerly awaited their mistress' orders.

"We are almost close to victory, my sisters!" Vitani's eyes illuminated in the dark, pride and savage intrigue burning in their once calm, oceanic embrace. A series of roars followed her words, only silenced by a second wave of Vitani's words. "We have our prey surrounded and outnumbered!" She stood proud, lavishing the sound of her sisters-in-pride beneath her. "Our beloved father requires their leaders in his almighty presence. Alive!"

Another booming roar bellowed from the small group of lionesses. The skies above sprang into twisted life, with dark foreboding clouds making way for the demonic, soul-shivering flashes of green-hued lightning. The lionesses looked up at this corrupting, yet impressive display. It was time...

"And there's our cue!" Vitani chuckled. Building power in her hindquarters, she pounced off the rocky overlook, landing on the dry Outland soil with an impressive, bulky thud. Her predator, huntress body was just ready to strike at her enemies, of which she could hear just around the canyon's corner. Their nervous, injured cries rushing through her ears like sweet, tender music.

Sprinting to the front of the group, Vitani stood prepared, her claws dug into the ground as she turned her head back to her sisters-in-pride. They positioned themselves the same ready to strike at their mistress' command. Turning back, she called out their battle cry, the last thing any creature would ever want to hear.

"FOR SCAR!" A series of roars followed her cry as the small pride of lionesses charged, directly charging towards the safe haven for Madoa and Jasiri's clan. The last safe haven. The last spec of light in the cold, void-lit barren wastelands of the Outlands.

A light that was about to be smothered...

...

Jasiri and Madoa rushed down into the opening surrounding the clan's new hidden den. The thunderous, looming lightning flashed across the sky as the cries of their friends, their families, all suffering at the claws and fangs of Vitani's huntresses. Many of the younger, stronger female hyenas held their ground, holding back their larger, stronger opponents with immense difficulty. The males held behind ready to strike should they need to. Many of the older hyena' and those with cubs rested far behind cowering in a cave. Janja held the entrance secure, his handsome strong body catching the eye of Jasiri instantly, releasing a flush of relief through her body.

"Come on!" The hyena duo started to hop down to just another the first wave of lionesses. They had just reached the first wave of hyenas, easily dispatching a few of them, digging their large, flesh-piercing fangs, not the poor hyena's necks, choking them until the light in their eyes distinguished. The surrounding hyenas tried to assist biting into the lionesses' necks with their powerful bone-breaking jaws. Though this wasn't enough.

From seemingly nowhere, Jasiri and Madoa struck. They knocked over two of the lionesses, slitting their throats with pure ruthlessness. Their minds lost in the moment, the need for survival rushing through their veins. Madoa could only think of Tumu and Wema, who probably were deep within the den, shivering up to one another unsure whether they would see the light of day once more.

Jasiri was more focussed on the wider picture, however. She knew that, if they fell here, Scar would win a major victory. Kopa would have no idea as to the scale of Scar's forces, at least not soon enough to be able to build his own in pure retaliation. Her heart raced for her old friend. She trusted him. Besides, this was their home. She wasn't gonna let it fall.

To anyone...

The second wave of lionesses rushed in, led by Vitani. She eyed up Madoa. The matriarchal hyena did the same, watching as she charged towards her. She positioned herself, ready to pounce at the lioness from the side, knocking her over to allow her neck to be susceptible to a lethal choke.

Vitani was inches away from her now, her breath clearly detectable, nearly choking the poor hyena matriarch. As she did, Madoa moved slightly to the side, allowing the lead lioness to fall to the ground. Unbeknownst to her, however, another lioness had noticed her and swiped at the hyena. The feline's sharp, bloody claws scraped across Madoa's face, causing her to scream in utter agony.

Jasiri turned to see her sister fall to the ground as Vitani arose. The lioness turned, seeing her equally bloodied and unconscious form the rapid slam into the thick, rocky ground. She chuckled slightly, approaching the body of the matriarch. "Finally!"

"MADOA!" Jasiri lept into action, only stopped by Vitani grasping Madoa's throat, holding it up as she sat, chuckling the entire time as a roar of laughter echoed among the surviving lionesses. Jasiri held her ground, back scruff raised to its max. her fellow hyenas moved in, standing only slightly behind her. Seeing the situation ahead, Janja rushed to Jasiri's side, growling aggressively at the lionesses.

"LET...HER...GO!" Janja's muzzle wrinkled with pure hatred, which only caused an even higher roar among the lionesses. Vitani's claws dug deeper into Madoa's throat, causing the smallest amount of blood to start to run from their incisions.

"SILENCE!" A silence ruptured through the crowds as Vitani roared. The thunderous clouds above shot to the ground nearby, between the two clashing forces. Green, tainted flames started to appear, growing and growing as the wind rushed around it, the sound of thunder that bombarded the sky rushed to the ground, cracking and disfiguring the dry outlands soil as it spread. The hyena's rushed back, their spines shivering as the thunderous crashes slowly twisted and contorted, resembling demonic laughter more than anything.

As the fire spread, it started to contort on itself, the flames forming the unmistakable form of the demonic lion. His signature, greenly lit Scar only confirmed the identity of the ghostly, yet clearly physical being.

"Sc...Scar!" Janja quickly shuddered, slightly falling to the ground. Jasiri continued to hold her ground, though refrained from her defensive stance. Her mouth agape, she stared up at the fiery lion demon, completely lost for words at the sight of him.

"Jasiri, Jasiri, Jasiri." He shook his head, giving off a slight fiery chuckle as he did so. "You've been a thorn in my side for far too long." He stared down at the female hyena, who couldn't help but turn her attention to her trapped sister. Scar saw this, and turned to his loyal followers, who mostly bowed in his presence, excluding Vitani.

"We have their leader, father!" She proudly exclaimed smirking up at him with pure unbridled pride. Jasiri's ears flattened. She knew where this was going. What she would have to do. She quickly looked over to Janja, who continued to cower in his old master's presence.

"Good." Scar bluntly complimented a look of mild appreciation burned across his boiling muzzle. He quickly turned back to Jasiri smirking right at her. His fiery, green lit eyes piercing into her soul. "You will surrender to my lionesses here, or your sister will be devoured." A roar of laughter erupted among the lionesses before Scar's deathly glance silenced them. "It's your choice, hyena." A slight amount of explosive aggression toned his voice, causing many of the hyenas to jump back slightly.

Jasiri held her head down, her mind contemplating the scenario before her. True, there was only really one choice, but maybe?

No! They had suffered too much already. She turned to look back at her clan. The cubs had just been forced out of the den by some of the younger lionesses, who corralled them together, ready to also kill on Scar's command.

"Fine!" Janja growled as he stood forwards. "We surrender." At first, Jasiri was shocked but quickly felt the depressurising feeling of relief flush through her as Vitani let her sister go, chucking the matriarchal hyena's body over to her now tearful sister.

"Madoa!" Jasiri quickly started to check on her sister's wounds as the lionesses moved round the clan, surrounding them. as she licked the sister's wounds, Jasiri could feel Madoa regain consciousness, slowly coughing back into life.

"Ja...Jasiri?" Madoa looked up at her sister, too weak to properly stand.

"It's okay sis. I'm here." The younger of the sisters continued to apply licks to her sister's wounds, closing off the blood flow ever so slightly. "Everything's gonna be okay."

"I don't know about that." Scar butted in, slightly moving closer to the hyenas. He quickly turned to Vitani; who's muzzle was dyed red with Madoa's blood. "Bring them back to me, if they strug- AHHH!" His entire fiery form shuddered slightly, as if the flames themselves were extinguished slightly. A rush of concern flashed through Vitani, who quickly leapt to her step-father's side.

"NO!" Scar quickly halted her. "Get them back to me, and quickly!" He looked down to the ground. "I need to be entwined once more!" His body flickered once more, before fading out entirely, only leaving behind the smallest embers of greenish flame on the dry Outland soil.

As Scar's presence left, Vitani quickly turned to her lionesses. With a commanding nod, they started to push the hyenas together, preparing them for the long journey back to Pride Rock. ""Come on! Move it!"

"Are you okay?" Janja slowly nuzzled his mate, who by now had Madoa nearly on her paws once more. Jasiri, feeling the slight comfort from Janja's nuzzling and the fact her sister was finally upright, if limping, let loose a series of tears that were quickly lapped away by the male hyena. The captured clan continued to move forward, forcing Jasiri, Madoa and Janja to do so, too, practically leading the way behind Vitani and some of her lionesses. The cries of Tumu and ema ruptured through that of the clan's as they rushed though the group, catching sight of their badly injured mother.

"Tumu! Wema!" An inexpressive blast of joy and relief escaped Madoa's muzzle, tears pouring from her eyes as her two cubs rushed to the comfort of their mother's warm, worn fur. Their terrified drained tears dying her fur as they spent the few seconds they could huddled up before the sweeping crowd kept them moving, slowly led to Pride Rock and their apparent judgement under the eyes of Scar himself. Madoa kept her cubs close, not wanting to lose them as they were led closer and closer to the Pridelands.

Jasiri and Janja huddled too, relieving each other of the stress and emotional impact their loss had. They had failed. Failed the Pridelanders, failed Kopa. Would they even know of it? Of Scar's victory?

The convoy continued deeper and deeper. The hyenas too injured to continue walking fell, left behind by the lionesses and their peers, left to die in the unforgiving wastes of the Outlands.

Maybe they were the lucky ones. After all, for all its once wonders and rich ecosystem. The Prideland's was now hell.

And they were being led to its heart, and its devil...