Justice

"So, it's true." With an evil but somehow happy grin, Masoka entered the elephant graveyard. His eyes had already found Guma. Banzai and Ed, who were laying around closed to the entrance jumped up and moved away from him. "Yeah, back off!" The rogue hyena turned around and looked at Shenzi as she also slipped into the canyon. "No wonder the hyenas around don't accept you as matriarch, if you send weak males like this one against me instead of fighting me yourself."

Growling at him, she walked over to her friends.

"Careful, girl, or I'll teach you a lesson, after I'm done with this wimp", he snarled. "You three stay out of this, just like the two over there." He nodded at Chadi and Chege. "They already know the game, right boys? Obey or if not, you'll die as well!" Now certain, that none of them would intervene, he focused his eyes on his opponent. "And you…" An insane giggle left his lips. "Everyone thinks you're so smart, but coming here was the stupidest thing you could ever do. Now there is no escape for you. No strong female around to save you. This time, Siyo is too far away, to hear your cries. What a pity. I would love to see her face when she figures out that she chose the wrong hyena!"

"For someone with such a poor intellect that were quite some words!" Guma jumped down from his rock and slowly walked up to him. "I bet you had to practice this speech every night since you ran away."

Slowly they began to circle each other. Staring at Guma, Masoka began to drool. He could feel, how every part of his body got worked up about the revenge that was so close to him now. His torn ears twitched in excitement, eager to enjoy the sounds of his enemy's suffering. His jaws snapped into the air in anticipation about the flesh they were about to tear, his tongue craved for the blood, that would be spilled. His eyes hungered for the sight of the carnage he would leave behind. With all these thoughts consuming his mind he let his anger and hatred push him further and further to the edge… until it all broke free.

A growl nearly loud enough to compare to a lion's roar left his throat, as Masoka rushed forwards. Missing his target only by the width of a hair he crashed into a pile of smaller bones, sending some of them flying through the air. The attack had been inept but forceful enough to crush Guma, if he hadn't stepped aside just in time. Within the glimpse of an eye he was back on his feet and lashed out at his retreating opponent.

Guma was quick, but not quick enough to fully escape the strike. He felt Masoka's paw hitting one of his hindlegs and nearly fell.

Feeling his hunting instincts taking control over his body, Masoka speed up and followed his prey. Prey, that was all Guma was for him. Just like in their previous fights, the weakling had no chance to stand against him, so he took flight. But this time there was nowhere to run, no one to save him in the last moment. His teeth smashed against each other, as he repeatedly snapped at Guma. He didn't get hold on him, but each time he missed, his excitement for the hunt only became bigger and bigger.

Pillars of hot steam that busted into the air forced Guma to zigzag. Too early! He withstood the urge to look back to find out how close Masoka was. He couldn't risk to stumble or to step in one of the holes. If that happened, he'd be torn to pieces or burned alive… or both.

Greenish smoke hissed out of the ground behind Guma, but Masoka didn't care. Not even reducing his speed he closed his eyes and jumped right through it. He felt the heat, but it was endurable. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the distance between him and his target became smaller. And even better, he could see where Guma was heading. Right into a dead end!

Hearing Masoka's steps become slower, Guma ran around a corner… and promptly stopped. He was surrounded by big rocks with either too sharp or to slippery edges and a huge pile of boned that definitely would crumble and burry him underneath if he'd try to climb it. The ground was covered in holes, glowing in a reddish light.

Slowly and with a mad grin on his face, Masoka walked around the corner. He already knew there would be no way out for his victim. A small gust of steam busted out of a crack in the ground in front of him, but he simply stepped onto it with a paw, thus sealing it. It was hotter than he had thought, but what was a burned paw compared to the satisfaction that was waiting for him? "I told you", he giggled at Guma, who stood right behind one of the larger holes in the ground. "There is no way out, no help to be expected, just you and me." An evil laughter shook his body, as he walked closer towards his prey, who tried to keep the hole between them. "Well, I could tell you I'm gonna make it a quick death for you, but it would be a lie. I'll rip you apart piece by piece and I'll make sure you'll live until the very end! I will crush your bones and feast on your flesh and when I'm done, I'll dump what's left of you in one of these stinking holes!" He kicked a stone into the one closest to him, causing it to spit out a hissing flame.

"You're talking too much!", Guma growled at him with clenched teeth, seemingly getting ready for the fight. "Come on!"

"With pleasure!" Masoka rushed forward, his jaws wide open and the eyes focused on Guma's neck. This time he would not miss. In front of him, Guma jumped in the exact moment he did… but the expected collision didn't happen. The time seemed to slow down, as Masoka watched, how Guma jumped, not towards him, but upright into the air, just high enough for all four of his paws to leave the surface. Then he dropped down and hit the ground. Before Masoka landed or even noticed his mistake, it happened.

The blast of fire, boiling hot steam and shards of the rocky ground that broke off the holes edge, hit the hyena midair. Unable to react, Masoka was ripped away by the force of the eruption.

Pulling his legs to his body to prevent them from getting in the deadly blast, Guma lay on the ground. The heat forced him to keep his eyes closed and he didn't dare to breathe fearing the hot air could burn him from the inside. Then the hissing noise of the flame disappeared. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

The fire was gone. Steam and smoke were still coming out of the hole, but without any pressure or force. Small rock shards and ash fluttered down on him, as he carefully tried to get up. Even though it was unlikely, he was afraid to cause another eruption. Back on his feet again, he looked around.

Smoke rose from the body, that lay in front of the bone pile. Where the blast had hit him, Masoka's fur was burned, the skin charred and pierced with sharp pieces of rocks. One of his legs seemed to be broken, probably due to the impact on the ground, but it was obvious. This hyena would go nowhere. Ever. Blood ran out of his weakly moving muzzle, his eyes where opened wide in terror, as Masoka saw Guma stepping into his field of view.

"Did you really think I would willingly face you without having a plan? That I would challenge you, only to run immediately?", Guma asked and bend down towards his beaten foe's head.

With incredible pain slowly making its way into his consciousness, Masoka tried to get up, but his body denied his orders. Panic rose in him, as Guma's head came even closer.

"I could leave you here to croak like the miserable creature you are, but you're lucky", he heard him saying. "I'm not like you. I'll make it quick." With that said, Guma disappeared and he felt something grabbing his neck. Then everything turned black.

"It is done, my queen." Guma stood under the great baobab in front of Siyo, Fupa and some of her other advertisers. "Masoka is no more."

"Excellent work, Guma", she said. "I'm sure, you… brought something to prove it?"

"Of course!" He gave Chege a sign, who stepped forward and placed a small piece of fur in front of the queen's paws.

Siyo bend down and sniffed on it, then she nodded at the surrounding people. "It is confirmed. Go. Spread the word. Justice has been done. The murderer is dead and our kingdom is safe again."

The bystanders bowed cheerfully and went to follow her order. Some – like Fupa – congratulated Guma when they passed by.

When they were gone, Guma looked at his companions. "Why don't you go ahead, boys? I'll catch up later", he said to them.

"Why? Is there something el…" Chege stopped as he saw the meaningful glare Guma gave him. "Oh… Ok, see you later." Together with his brother he turned around and finally, Guma and Siyo were alone.

"I knew you would make it!" With a few steps Siyo reached him and rubbed her head against his cheek.

"Well, I wouldn't dare disappointing my queen, would I?", he answered, smiling all over his face.

"No, you wouldn't." She took a step back and grinned at him. Then she cleared her throat and continued in a more serious voice. "We… should tell him, don't you think?"

"Yes", Guma agreed. "He should hear it from us."

"Then follow me. His recovery went on very well, so he could leave the shaman's care yesterday. He's at his parents' old lair." As she looked at him, Guma was sure to see sadness in her face. "We… offered him to join the clan. I thought it was wrong to leave him alone with his grief, but he rejected. Let's hope the news of the murderer's death cheers him up a little."

"You… WHAT?" The young lion jumped up.

"Yes, he's dead. Justice has…" Without finishing her sentence, Siyo stopped speaking and a look into Moto's face was enough for Guma to know why.

Neither happiness nor relief was to be seen in his expression, only disbelief… and fury. "You went out and killed him… without me?" It couldn't be missed, that he struggled to keep his voice in check and obviously failed in doing so. "You're telling me, that you took the only possibility for me to avenge my parent's death away from me, and dare to call it JUSTICE?"

Visibly startled, Siyo looked at him. "But… I thought…"

"You thought? I'll tell you what I think! I thought that asking me to join a firkin' hyena clan was the worst insult I could ever get, but THIS…!"

"HEY!" Guma stepped between him and Siyo. "Calm your voice in front of her!", he rebuked him. "Nothing of this was her fault. What are you even thinking? That you could have beaten him alone? Well, think again! You were wounded and even if not…"

"I told my parents it was a mistake to stay here!", Moto kept hissing at them. "And they paid it with their lives."

"You should be thankful for what we have done for you!"

"Thankful!" Spitting in front of Guma's feet, the lion turned away from him. "I'm done with you. It really is like everyone says. Never trust a hyena."

"Moto, please…" Siyo followed him, as he began to walk away.

"Please what? Stay with you? With him? I'd rather have died with my parents!"

With her ears folded back, Siyo looked after him. "Well, if that is what you wish… But if you reconsider, remember, that you could have a home here. I promise, you're always free to return. We owe you that."

"If I'd ever return to this place", Moto said without stopping, now pure hate in his voice, "it will be the death of yours. THAT is a promise."

AN: What do you think about Moto's reaction? And Masoka... did he deserve what he got? Feel free to let me know, I'd love to hear your oppinion on that. Btw, for now this was the last chapter featuring Guma, Siyo and her clan. It will take some time until we met them again but they'll definively come back.