The roar of the strangers

Weeks had passed since the three lionesses had started their journey. It hadn't taken them long to notice their pride's reputation wasn't exactly the best. The reactions of the neighboring prides were mixed. They had heard the stories about Ushindi and the happenings which had led to his rise and fall, so most of the other lions took their approaches with caution. Two of the prides had even rejected them right at their borders not allowing them to trespass their territories. Even despite that, their journey hadn't been the success, Heba had hoped for. The dates, as Usiku kept calling the encounters Jua had with the males of the less hostile prides were as awkward and useless as she had expected. None of the lions even were slightly able to arouse her interest. Most of them weren't even her age and she neither intended to choose a cub as her future king nor a decrepit grandpa. But nevertheless, her mother wasn't willing to give up yet.

"So, who are the rulers?", Heba asked her daughter, as they walked through the canyons.

"Simba and Nala", Jua grumpily replied. She hadn't even met the last two regents whose names she had had to memorize. "They rule since Simba overthrew his uncle."

"Who only became king due to an intrigue and murder", her mother added. "Simba is the rightful king, not an usurper. You better remember that, or you might insult him. What else do you know about his kingdom?"

"It's one of the most fertile and richest of the whole world", she answered mimicking the voice of an excited cub. "It's said to be the first kingdom ever to be founded since our ancestors began to speak."

"Yes, that's true", Heba said, sternly glancing at her daughter. "And that is why the Pridelands are the most important kingdom of them all. The lineage of Simba can be followed back to most ancient times and has spawned the greatest rulers, this world has ever seen."

"I still can't believe we're truly going there!", Usiku entered the conversation wagging her tail in excitement. Unlike Jua she was truly enjoying their journey. Just as promised she had taken her role as her friend's backup very seriously till now. Except for the two less hospitable ones she had managed to befriend at least two members of nearly every pride they had visited, regardless of their age.

"Yeah, amaz..."

"Jua!", Heba scolded her even before she could finish her complains. "I have enough of this nonsense! Promise me you'll actually try to make some friends this time! Only friends! I'm not even asking for a male anymore!" In other circumstances this would have been great news for Jua, if it hadn't been for her mother's face and tone of voice. Until now she had hidden every indication of it, but now it was obvious that she was about to lose her patience. And if that would happen… well, as tough Jua thought herself to be, she would be in some serious trouble.
For her own, and everyone else's surprise she was saved out of this situation by an unsuspected laughter. A sound all three lionesses instantly recognized as the voice of an excited hyena. It came from the other side of the wall-like rock structure and was answered by another one.

"I thought hyenas weren't allowed to enter the Pridelands?" The lightheartedness in Usiku's voice had turned into tension.

"They aren't", Heba quietly said. "But we haven't reached them yet. These are the Outlands. They are the unclaimed regions that are laying between the prides' territories. Home to everyone welcome in neither of them. I would have chosen another path, but since Karama refused us to trespass his lands this is the shortest one. Maybe we should lower our voices from now on."
Another laughter sounded, but this time it was followed by something else…

"Wait a second!" Straining her ears Jua stopped. "Didn't that sound like a cub?"

"Great Kings, you're right! If they're after it, there could be not much more time left! HURRY!" Without further hesitation she started running, while Jua and Usiku gave their best to follow her.
"Janja needs his lunch!", Jua heard one of the hyenas growling, as they rushed towards the scenery. At that moment she followed her mother around a corner and finally saw them. Two hyenas of which one held something black and white in its fangs. The cub on top of a large rock they had cornered must have jumped down on it from the top of the canyons wall, because the stone seemed to high and smooth to climb it.

"No! Let him GO!", the young lion shouted at them with his last word turning into a surprisingly mature roar. It sounded impressing to Jua but coming from someone smaller than both hyenas she was sure, it wouldn't be enough to scare them off… if it hadn't been answered.
With a rarely heard rage Heba joined the cub's roar, followed by Jua and Usiku.
The hyenas' jaws dropped open as they witnessed the lionesses storming towards them. Then they turned around and ran.

"Bunga!" With a leap the cub left the safety of the rock.

"What's a bunga?", Usiku asked a little confused. As fast as she had joined Heba's rage, as quickly she had calmed down again.

"It's a honey badger", Jua, who had already walked up to it said, blowing her nose after sniffing on it. "And a smelly one too."

"Is he alright?" The cub also had reached the badger, who struggled to get up.

"I bet he is", Heba tried to calm the young lion. "Honey badgers are tough." As to confirm the lioness's words a few moments later the stinky little guy was back on his feet. He looked mostly unharmed but a little dizzy.

"Woah!" Bunga rolled his eyes and tried to focus his friend. He stumbled and bumped into Jua, barely noticing her. "Woops…" Finally, he managed to balance himself on all fours and stood still. Then he shook his head and stared at the cub. "Kion, have you just roared?"

"I… Yes." The young lion nodded a little confused as it seemed but one could tell he was very proud of it.

"And it was loud!" The honey badger jumped up and leaned against his friend's chest in excitement. "Just like it wasn't only you! And it made the hyenas fly away!"

"Flee. It made them flee." Angrily Jua took step towards the badger. "And the roaring sounded like that because of us!" Curious she looked at her mother. "Are you sure he's fine? Maybe they bashed his head against a rock or something."
Suddenly Bunga tuned his head and glanced at her, looking surprised like he just noticed there was someone else around.

"He simply acts the way a honey badger is supposed to. They all are like this. But this one is less hostile than the ones I used to know." Amused the lioness shook her head. In an attempt to get the young ones' attention, she cleared her voice. Kion, who already looked at her, pushed Bunga away from himself and back to the ground. "Well, you've already mentioned your names, so now I think it's on us to introduce ourselves. My name is Heba and these are my daughter Jua and her friend Usiku."

"Nice to meet you, Heba", Kion said with a friendly smile. "Thanks for saving Bunga, I guess."

"Nah, I was totally fine! I was just about to show these hyenas what I'm made of!"

"Looked more like they were about to figure it out for themselves", Jua interjected. "You may be a tough little guy, but a hyena's jaws are strong enough to crush the bones of a water buffalo. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been a big deal for them to rip out your lev…"

"Jua!", her mother hissed. "They're cubs! Stop talking like this!"

"Oops…" A little embarrassed she looked down at the honey badger. Luckily, she could tell from his face, that he had not even a clue what she was talking about.

"Whatever." Heba shook her head and looked back at Kion. "Well, what were you doing here in the Outlands? This is no place for cubs."

"Bunga and I were playing", the young lion willingly told her. "I cornered him right at the Pridelands border. He jumped down and dared me to follow him. We're actually forbidden to come here, but then the hyenas showed up. I had no other choice but to come down and help him."

"That's totally understandable", Heba assured him. "Do you know how to get back to the Pridelands from down here?"
While the cub answered, Jua rolled her eyes at her. Totally understandable. If she had done something like this as a cub, she would have got a nice beating. She watched, as her mother convinced the young lion of allowing them to accompany him and his friend back home and had to admit the cleverness behind this. Being accompanied by one of its cubs they had just saved, drastically reduced the risk of being rejected by the pride.

. . .

It took them quite a while until they reached Pride Rock, the lair of Simba's pride, birthplace of the most ancient of laws and by that, of their whole culture. Even Jua had to admit, it was more than only impressive. The massive rock formation with its long ledge towering over the savanna was a sight she would never forget. They began the climb, which was surprisingly easy. Half the way up, they came across a bunch of lionesses, which were dozing in the sun. Only few of them were awake and glanced at them. They looked more curious then tense, a good sign. But the cub didn't stop here. He walked all the way up to the place, were the ledge met with the rock's base and kept following it towards the edge, were a grown lion sat, a mandrill standing by his side. A lioness, who was heading into the opposite direction stopped and nuzzled Kion, before she continued her way towards the strangers, who had stopped at the ledge's base.

Surprised Jua looked at her mother, who showed the same emotion.

"I think, we've been accompanied by the pride's prince" Heba said. Then with one of her forelegs she took a step forward and lowered her head, bowing in front of the lioness approaching them. "And we're just about to meet his mother."