Aggressive investigation

"Are you gonna ask for permission?"

Night had already fallen. Lisha was getting treated by her mother and the other lionesses of her pride, so he had returned to his friend's lair and told them what he had planned for the next day. And of course, Ruya had something to complain about. A joyless snort escaped Ushindi's lips about her question. "What for?"

"We are Mufasa's guests and should not intervene without asking for his approval", she answered. "Lisha belongs to his pride, so the attack on her is his concern, not ours."

"You forget that she also is my girlfriend, so it IS my concern as well!", Ushindi growled.

"If you want to call her that…", the lioness muttered, but lowered her head and took a step backwards under his angry glare. It was rare that he got in a mood like this and she was clever enough not to provoke him now, yet still one could see her mind working on a plan to stop him.

"Mufasa may be too frightened by these stupid poachers, but I surely am not!", Ushindi declared loud enough for everyone around to hear. "I will do as I said. Tomorrow I'll cross the Outlands, find this so-called queen Gwaya and then tell her to find and punish those responsible for the attack! Or else, I will!"

Ruya sighed. "Fine then. But… at least let me go with you."

This came as a surprise. Not only to Ushindi, but to everyone in the cave. She was the last one Askari would have expected to join such a plan. "That's what I just wanted to offer", he said and raised an eyebrow. "Usually you're not the one who's fond of doing the dirty work."

"And that exactly is the point", the lioness responded. "There won't be any dirty work and that you instantly thought about that is reason why I should go with him, and you should stay here."

"What is she talking about?" Now also getting angry, Askari turned to his friend. "Of course, I'll go with you."

"No, you won't, because she is not in the mood for another disaster triggered by your temper and stupid ideas", Ruya hissed at him. "Either I'll go with him and you stay, or no one will go at all."

For a moment it went quiet, as the three lions stared at each other. The tension in the cave was nearly palpable as the others watched them. Then finally, Ushindi gave in. "Fine."

When the next morning came Ushindi snuck into the pridelanders' den to visit Lisha before he ventured out. Without waking the others, the prince snuck to the place where she lay between her mother and an older sister and gently licked her cheek. Half asleep, she opened her heavy eyes and looked up to him. He wasn't sure if she really understood the words he whispered to her ears, his promises to find those responsible for the attack, but he didn't wait for a respond. If anyone else would notice him, they'd most likely try to stop him, so he quickly left the cave again and returned to Ruya, who awaited him at the entrance.

The only lion who saw them on their way out of the Pridelands was Scar, but he didn't ask any questions, only raised an eyebrow at them as they passed. Ushindi didn't care what he thought, as long as he wouldn't try to stop them.

Of course, it happened in the middle of his break. It always did. Sighing, Guma looked up as the shadow went over him a third time. High above, Fupa was circling him in a downward spiral until the vulture landed right in front of his paws.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have some news you might want to hear."

"You're not interrupting anything", he replied looking at Siyo, who lay in the shadow of the great baobab tree. "She already slept when I came here and I didn't want to wake her."

"Heh! If I were you, I wouldn't do that either. She's been moody for quite a while now. And everyone knows why-hy!" The bird nearly sang the last word, grinning and poking Guma's ribs with a wing.

"Oh, quit it", the hyena growled. "Just tell me what you came for."

Fupa chuckled but got serious only a second later. "As you wish. It appears, that two rogue lions have just passed our border. Coming from the outlands they've done so without being noticed or intercepted by your hyenas and are heading right our way."

Growling, Guma rose to his feet. "Urgh, Chanzi, that dumbass! That's the last time I gave him command over that border! Find him and tell him we're having a talk at the end of his shift! I'll go meet these rogues. For his sakes, let's hope it's nothing serious this time!"

The vulture nodded and with a few flaps was back in the air, while Guma made his way through the hyenas' lair. "Chadi, Chege. With me!", he said, as he passed his companions, who were dozing in the sun, side by side with two of the uglies females he had ever seen. "Nap time is over!"

Hearing his voice, the four opened their eyes. Chege and Chadi jumped up immediately, eager to follow him. "Sir, yes Sir!", they barked as one, then Chege turned to the females, giving them a toothy grin. "Excuse us, ladies. Duty is calling! See you around!"

"What is it, Sir?", Chadi wanted to know as they moved out.

Sir. Ever since Siyo had appointed him leader of the guard, they addressed him like that. The brothers and all the other male hyenas. For some it was out of respect, for others nothing but a formality or a way to conceal their envy. Not that any of them could fool him. He knew exactly whom he could trust and who longed to take his place. But by now that would be nearly impossible thanks to the unexpected news, the queen had announced a few weeks ago…

"Rogues", he answered the question. "I told Chanzi to be watchful after the last incidence, but he failed again!" He felt anger and tension rising within him, thinking of that day. Two rogues had strolled into the kingdom, poaching and hunting as they liked. He had nearly lost two of his guards to them before he'd been able to get rid of them. Since then he had grown more careful, had ordered strict border control and monitoring of every rogue that entered or passed the kingdom. He took his duties very serious, especial now that he had more than just a kingdom and clan to protect…

They got further than Ushindi had expected before they were approached by someone. The great baobab tree standing on a flat but rocky hill that served as the kingdom's throne was already in sight as the two lions noticed three hyenas coming right their way. They slowed down and finally stopped walking when they met them.

The hyena in the middle was the first to talk. It was a male and obviously the leader of this group. "Greetings", he said formally while his companions took some more steps to the sides, and by that formed a halve circle around the lions. "As the leader of the guard I have to inform you, that you have entered hyena territory and are now standing on queen Siyogwaya's land. By that you are bound by her laws. If you stick to our rules you have nothing to fear, but if you cause any trouble, you'll have to face the consequences. You have been warned. Would you now please be so kind to tell me who you are and what it is you hope to find here?"

With rising anger, Ushindi stared at the hyena. This guy seriously had the nerves to tell him how to behave after what his congeners had done? He opened his mouth to reply, but his companion was quicker.

"My name is Ruya", the lioness quickly introduced herself, following the hyena's demand. "And this is Prince Ushindi." With a movement of her head she gestured at him and their eyes met. It was only for a second, but the lion couldn't fail to notice the message in her gaze. Too soon! Stay calm, I got this! He managed to swallow the growl that was building up in his throat and held back a tooth baring as she continued. "We came to consult your queen Siyogwaya regarding an occurrence that took place in the Pridelands yesterday."

"Well, I have never heard of a Prince Ushindi from the Pridelands. As far as I know king Mufasa's son is only but a cub and neither do I know why any occurrences on his land should affect us. Our kingdoms agreed long ago to stay out of each other's affairs."

"It does affect you if some of your queen's subjects are involved!" He had tried. He really had, but with every word of this stupid leader of the guard was driving him more furious, Ushindi couldn't keep his mouth shut anymore. "And I'm not Mufasa's son. We're not part of his pride."

"Please!" Ruya shoved herself in front of Ushindi, trying to prevent whatever the angry male could do next. "I know, it may sound weird that some rogues are trying to solve a problem between two kingdoms they don't belong to, but wouldn't you intervene and help if someone you hold dear gets attacked and hurt?"

When not long after, Ruya and Ushindi were standing in front of the queen in the shadow of the enormous baobab explaining the situation, she wasn't sure if it had been a good thing that she had managed to convince the leader of the guard to allow them to actually come here. Guma – the said leader of the guard – stood vigilantly next to the queen who lay on a comfortable bed out of leaves and thin twigs. Siyogwaya was an impressive hyena, strong and it wasn't hard to tell she had no problem to fend for herself, but that wasn't what worried Ruya. It was her visibly rounded belly. The queen had been asleep when they had approached her and the disapproving look she had given them reminded her of her own mother all those years ago, not long before Shauri had been born. Sometimes she had been unpredictable, switching from super caring to frighteningly angry within seconds. In addition to that, Ushindi's temper was everything but helpful. He didn't actually say anything inappropriate but his tone of voice and body language were betraying him.

When they finished their narrative of the events, the queen grimaced and looked at Guma. "Do you know about anyone who passed that border yesterday?", she asked him.

The guardian shook his head. "No, my queen. But if you want me to do that, I'll double check on it. I have to talk to Chanzi anyway."

"Do that, but just to be sure", she ordered him and then turned to the lions. "To get this straight. I highly doubt that any of my subjects had something to do with what happened to your friend. There is enough prey on our own lands, so there is no need for anyone here to poach in another kingdom and neither do I see any reasons why some of us should go there and attack random lionesses. For the unlikely case that there really has been someone passing the border yesterday, we'll investigate and send a messenger to inform Mufasa about what we found out, that's all I can do for you. Thank you for sharing your suspicion. You may leave now."

For a moment, Ushindi simply stood there, trying to digest what he just heard. "We… may what?"

"Leave now", Siyogwaya repeated. "As I said. If there is any prove of what you suspect, we'll find out and tell you. There is no need for you to stay here until that happens. Don't you think you'd be more needed by your friend's side or looking for clues on the actual place of the events?"

"I already did that and it told me that hyenas are guilty of this crime. And now, you, the so-called queen of said hyenas, are telling me that you MAYBE will investigate? I'll tell you what I think. I spit on your maybe! I want those responsible for this crime and I will get them, one way or another!", Ushindi growled and angrily stepped forward, ignoring Ruya's attempt to hold him back.

Within an instant, Guma and two other hyenas jumped forward, placing themselves between the queen and the potential threat, their teeth bared and snarling, while she herself jumped up.

"Leave him be! For now!", she ordered her guards and then aimed her deadly gaze at Ushindi. "I have been patient with you, rogue! I listened to your accusation that is only based on the fact that we and your friend's attackers happen to be of the same species, what one could easily mistake for an insult in itself! I was willing to help you as far as I could, but now you crossed the line! As I said, you will leave now, or else you will regret it!"

AN: here we have our lions and hyenas finally meeting each other. And tensions are high! Our usually so eloquent Ushindi is really cought in his anger and Siyo, well... I guess ther'd be better days to mess with her.