After the battle
Seven. He counted seven. Of how many? Twenty? Twenty-two? Something like that. Sitting under the baobab, he watched the short trek heading towards him. Reluctantly, he came to the realization that his plan had somehow tremendously failed. Doubling the guards he had already stationed to watch the borders had seemed to be a good idea. More than enough to discourage two vengeful lions, even if it were grown males. Or so he had thought.
A small whimper made him look down to the right. Next to him, Siyo lay with their cubs snuggled up against her belly. Despite her exhaustion she had insisted to attend to her duties. On the other side of her sat her sister, vigilantly watching her and the little ones.
The returning hyenas made their way through the other members of the clan, those Guma hadn't told off to guard duty. Females with cubs, those too old, those too young and the others he had considered as otherwise unfit for the job. Their voices went silent as they all looked at the defeated, shocked by the sight of their condition.
When the hyenas reached them, they lined up before Siyo, Guma and Jaha in no particular order. With hanging heads, they glanced at each other, avoiding to look at them directly.
"What happened?" Siyo's voice sounded awkwardly loud to him compared with the sudden silence.
It took a moment, but finally, one of the females managed to look up and meet her eyes. She seemed to be a little younger than Guma was and he didn't remember granting her the command over one of the outposts. Four long deep cuts ran over the right side of her face and he could see that it caused her pain to speak.
"They… they came at us at dawn. There was no warning. She… she set up a night watch, but he didn't sound the alarm… We tried to fight back, but… they…" She swallowed heavily. "So many didn't make it…"
"And your leader?", Siyo asked.
The female shook her head.
"How? How could two lions…"
"Not two. Five. And three lionesses too. A whole pride. And he… he was unstoppable! We had him surrounded and still we couldn't… He killed her and so many more…" She closed her eyes, either due to the pain or to hold back her tears. Maybe both.
"Ushindi", Guma growled, remembering Chanzi and the others who had died the day the "Rogue Prince" had come to them.
The female opened her eyes and shook her head. "No, not him. The other one. That black monster that follows him!"
"Askari", Jaha said. "The male we knew about. I've heard of him. Don't know where the others came from."
Looking at no one in particular, Siyo nodded.
A sob escaped the wounded female. "Even when we retreated, he didn't stop", she continued with a trembling voice. "I… I gave the order to retreat after our leader fell, but they wouldn't let us go. The… the lionesses had circled us and drove us back and… it was my fault… I wasn't even in charge… maybe if I hadn't…" Her stammering slowly became quieter to the point that Guma couldn't understand her anymore. To him it was obvious that the girl was close to both a physical and mental breakdown.
A small whimper was heard and Siyo pulled Katili closer to her belly, where he snuggled into his mother's fur. "It wasn't your fault", she said when she turned back. "You knew the battle was lost and tried to get our people to safety. There is no shame in that. Go find someone to take care of your wounds and afterwards get some rest. You need it."
The female bowed to her. There was a hint of relief in her posture, but she was still far from recovery. That would take some time. The other survivors followed her as she left to find the shaman.
When she was gone, Fupa stopped circling above them and landed in front of the queen. The bird had been sent out to recon the battlefield and had returned while the hyenas were still speaking.
"What's the situation?", Siyo asked. "Where are the lions now?"
"They're still at the outpost", the vulture reported. "Some are wounded, but none heavily. Not even trying to hide. Doesn't look like they intend to leave any time soon."
"Did you see any other survivors?"
"I'm afraid no, my queen." Uncomfortably, the bird shifted from one leg to the other. "When the lions noticed me, they shouted up to me. Ushindi has a message for you."
"Is that so? Then spit it out!"
"He said he wishes to see you in person. They'll be waiting at the battlefield. If you'd refuse, this would only be the beginning."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jaha looked at her sister. "First he openly attacked us declaring war and right after that he wants to talk?"
"She's right. You shouldn't accept this. It's more than suspicious."
Against all of Guma's expectations, his mate suddenly rose to her feet. Carefully, she picked up the cubs that by now had fallen asleep and placed them between their father's forelegs. "Take care of them until I return."
"No! No, Siyo, you can't…"
She cut him off with a harsh glare. "I can and I will! I am the queen and matriarch. It my duty to deal with situations like this. But if this lion is stupid enough to think I will come alone, he's wrong. Jaha!" She turned to her sister. "Call the clan, I want everyone who's capable of fighting gathered. I'll hear what he has to say, but if it's war Ushindi wants, he can have it. We're not gonna wait for another surprise attack!"
With the battle rage and tension of the fight slowly leaving his body, he started to actually feel his wounds. It hurt and made him grimace, but he welcomed the pain. It was the exact opposite of the pure relief that was said to accompany death and only raised his feeling of superiority over those he had slain, elongating the high the battle had brought him. For a moment, he enjoyed it, but he was no fool. No matter how he felt, the bite marks and scratches had to be taken care of if he didn't want to risk an infection. He twisted, trying to reach the big wound on his side that seemed the worst to him.
"Wait. Let me help you."
Stopping his attempts, Askari looked up. He hadn't noticed the lioness walking up to him. For a second, he considered it, then he accepted with a slight nod.
Tekelea settled down next to him and examined his flank where the hyena had dug her teeth into him. "Ouch. Looks like she got you good."
He grunted in response, as she started to carefully clean the bite mark with her tongue. Truly, that hyena had got him good indeed… but not good enough.
"There you go", Teke said and with a final lick, finished her work on the wound. "All clean. Guess that will turn into a nice scar though."
He flexed his claws and shrugged. He had left his mark on her, the only survivor of the three that had put up the most challenging fight this day. It was only fair that she had managed to return the favor.
Now done with the bite, the lioness began to gently search his body for other wounds. While she took care of his other cuts and scratches, he looked around, eying the others. Not too far from them were Shindana and Chagina, groomed each other's fur. It came into his mind, that Tekelea probably expected him to repay her for her help the same way. Maybe, he thought. A little further to the right, his eyes found Singa and Fasiki. The latter was also trying to help his companion while the other sat upright, stiff as a tree. He displayed a hint of annoyance, occasionally lifting half a lip, baring his teeth when the other lion got too eager. As Fasiki leaned forward and stuck out his tongue to reach a blood splatter on his cheek, the larger lion suddenly had enough. Without changing his stance, he lifted a mighty paw and ducked the other's head to the ground.
Tekelea chuckled. "Odd couple."
"Yeah…", Askari agreed, then his eyes went on until they finally stopped on Ushindi. He stood at the edge of the battlefield, staring into the direction where the vulture had disappeared earlier.
"I wonder what his plan is", the lioness, who had followed his gaze said. "Has he told you what he's up to?"
"No", the dark furred lion mumbled. "But I think I know."
Here we have our lions and hyenas after last chapter's battle licking their wounds.