A storm is coming

Guma awoke long before sunrise. For a while, he remained unmoving and simply watched Siyo, laying by his side, curled around their cubs. Listening to the voice of her calm and even breath gave him a feeling of peacefulness and his heart ached when he thought about what the coming day would bring. He knew what he had told her yesterday, but now he couldn't help but feel bad about it. Sure, he believed that she had done what she considered the best decision, but part of him couldn't get rid of the thought, that she might have been wrong. Maybe it would have been better to end it right there, even if it meant more bloodshed. But he couldn't tell her. Her decision had been made and even if he wanted, he couldn't change it anymore. Trying would only weaken her moral even further, not even speaking of how the clan would react if the queen's own mate immediately questioned her in such a matter. A sickening feeling spread in his stomach. A mix of fear, regret and guilt. Torn by his thoughts, he rose and quietly left the den. Maybe some fresh air would ease his mind.

The sky outside was dark, darker than the night before. Clouds had appeared in the distance, covering the moon and some of the stars, that usually lit the nights. Suddenly, he asked himself, if they were some sort of omen, foreshadowing the outcome of the coming fight. He had heard stories of shamans who could tell the future by the shape of cloud formations, fires or even the flight of feral birds and now whished he too possessed such powers. Were they signs of hope, harbingers of the approaching rain season and the fertility and growth it would bring to their land, or an omen of darkness that would soon block the rising sun and cast shadows of downfall and defeat on them?

Deep in thoughts, he watched as slowly with the coming dawn the blackness of the night began to fade.

"Here you are", a soft voice sounded, when finally, the night had turned into day.

Guma looked aside and saw Siyo sitting next to him. He couldn't tell, when she had joined him. He hadn't noticed her approaching. Maybe he had dozed off again for a moment, but it didn't really matter. "Here I am", he replied, as she softly leaned her head against his. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry. I just needed some fresh air, I guess. You had a good rest?"

"I think so." She leaned onto him and sighed. "Just promise me one thing. If things end up bad…"

"They won't", he stopped her. He didn't want to think about that right now and neither should she. But he knew what she wanted to tell him. Do not moan. Be strong. Find someone, to help him take care of Nuru and Katili. "You will show this wannabe usurper his place. And then you'll return to us."

"Will you be there?" The question sounded nearly fearful.

"Of course. If you want me to." Gently, he nuzzled her neck. "And the cubs?"

"Them too. I wouldn't know whom else to entrust them besides my sister and she… well… And besides, their sight might be just the motivation I need."

The sound of steps made them loosen their eyes from each other. It was Jaha, who has just walked into their sight. The hyena was sensitive enough not to interrupt the mates and sat down to wait for Siyo. Behind her, the first beams of the now rising sun could be seen piercing through the clouds.

"It is time", Siyo said softly. Then she let go of him and stood, her face firm and determined. "Take care of our little ones. I'll meet with Jaha so we can prepare ourselves. The lions will arrive at any time."

The grumbling of distant thunder could be heard, as the lions entered the hyenas' lair. Without stopping, Askari looked back. Behind them, he could see the clouds getting thicker and even spot some weather lights. The first thunderstorm of the season was approaching. Quite fitting, he thought, considering what they had come for.

It felt strange to the lion to peacefully walk through the hyenas' lair while the taste of their clan members' blood had barely fainted from his tongue and even though Tekelea had cleaned his fur of every last drop, they were more than aware of how much he had shed of it. That was crystal-clear to him the moment he passed the first group of hyenas. It was a bunch of youngsters, who immediately rose as they noticed the lions. A female bared her teeth at them and snarled with some of the others joining in.

A feeling of tense anticipation started to build up in Askari, as he met their eyes, displaying no sign of intimidation. He could smell the fear they tried to cover with their hostile behavior and barely even lifted his lips in return, knowing from experience that he was more than able to rip them to shreds.

Wasting no more attention to them, he let his eyes wander to the next clan members, two middle aged hyenas, who quickly herded their young cubs an led them out of sight.

A loud snarl drew his attention back in front of him, where a few body lengths away he was presented with the first hyena on which he couldn't find any signs of fear. The others had scattered before the lions, making way but this one seemed determined to stand its ground, blocking the path. Its eyes were fixed on them, burning with rage and pure hatred. Without slowing down Askari continued his way, trying to figure out any resemblances between this one and the hyenas who had fallen before him. He was sure to notice some, but couldn't sort them to a specific kill. Another of its species hurried and desperately tried to get her friend moving. Finally, just before Ushindi – who walked at the head of their line – reached them, the hyena gave in and reluctantly allowed the other, to push her out of the lions' way. Askari decided to keep an eye on this one.

As she had declared it, they found the queen beneath the great baobab tree. Most of the clan had already gathered here and the rest had followed the lions in save distance.

The queen and the other female hyena who had volunteered to aid her in the duel stood side by side awaiting them.

With a look over his shoulder, Ushindi ordered his companions to stop. Then he continued his way alone. In the middle of the nearly round sink below the giant tree he halted. "Siyogwaya!", he greeted his opponent with a loud and firm voice.

"Ushindi!", the queen replied. "You've already met my sister Jaha." She looked at the hyena by her side. Then she pointed at a spot in the circle of gathered animals that had formed around them. Following her gaze, Ushindi noticed a cheetah and a wild dog among the hyenas. He turned back to her and raised an eyebrow.

"Those are Chapua and Rangi. They represent the other inhabitants of this kingdom."

He acknowledged their presence and focused his attention back on Siyo. "So, shall we begin?"

The queen nodded. "Our shaman will initiate the ceremony", she said and turned around to face the tree behind her.

Between the branches something began to move, then a visibly aged baboon appeared and slowly began to climb down the baobab's trunk. From her shoulder hung a rope made of wines with a couple of hollowed fruits attached to it. The hyenas respectfully parted before her to make way. Her face was unreadable when she approached, followed by Siyogwaya and Jaha. With a hand she gestured the two hyenas to sit down next to the lion, then she pulled the wines of her shoulder and dipped two fingers into one of the fruits.

Ushindi lowered his head, as the old monkey stepped towards him, knowing what would follow next.

"The marks of the challenger", she proclaimed, as she drew red lines on the lion's face. "May his ancestors give him the might to prove the righteousness in his claim for the throne."

Cleaning her fingers of the paint by wiping them on her own fur she proceeded to Siyogwaya and Jaha. "The marks of the queen", she announced, as she drew another symbol in blue paint on the first hyena's head and on her shoulders. "May her ancestors grant her the strength to defend what is hers and prove that she is as worthy to sit on her throne as she was the day she won it."

Without another speech she repeating the procedure with the second hyena, then she stepped back from the three. "You are ready. If you wish, you may speak to your friend and family before we proceed. It might be the last time you get the chance to do so."

Guma watched, as the lion and the two hyenas parted. When Siyo reached him, he didn't manage a single word, afraid his voice could break, embarrassing both off them in front of the clan. She bent down to nuzzle the cubs, then looked at him, closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against his. For a few seconds, they didn't move and just felt each other's touch, then Siyo stepped back and with a last gaze at him and the cubs, she turned around.

On the other side of the circle, Askari mustered his friend. His face was determined and markings on his head had something about them, that made him look as fierce as he had never looked before. He couldn't help but imagine how they would look on his own face. "Feels strange watching you entering a fight like this", Askari admitted. "Fighting has always been my part and yours was to deal with the ladies. Looks like we've switched roles. And now you're heading out for a brawl and I'm left to take care of the girls." He nodded at Moto, his friends and the lionesses.

Ushindi snorted. "True. But you forget one thing. Those are girls too!", growled. Then he took a step closer and lowered his voice, so only Askari could hear him. "But just in case… if I fail, you know what to do."

Barely noticeable, Askari nodded and with nothing left to say, Ushindi went to face the hyenas.

AN: Initially, I intended this to be the final chapter of tRoU's "second act" if you want to call it like that, but I wanted to upload at least one chapter before the year is over and considering how terribly slow I am with writing at the moment I thought it would be better to split it. It would have been one of my longer ones anyways, so why not?

Anyway, hope you liked it! And don't worry there's more to come (eventually)