Chapter Seven: Beginning battle
Not since the times of Scar had the lion pride woken with such feelings of fear, despair and anger as they felt now. The once joyous atmosphere of Pride Rock had become morose and despondent; it was a return to dark times. However this time the circumstances were different; this time what held responsibility for the atmosphere, was war. "I tell you Pumbaa, this stinks," said Timon.
"Oh, sorry," replied the warthog, turning towards his best friend.
"Not you! This whole mess that we're in," cried the meerkat waving his arms exasperatedly. "What mess?" asked Pumbaa. Timon let out a long sigh and stared down at the grassy plains below them. It had been over ten hours since the two friends had taken up their posts at the top of Pride Rock and the sun had already climbed up to its position in the sky, watching over the thriving savannah below.
"Man, I'm hungry," moaned Timon, as a loud rumble erupted from the pit of his stomach. "We didn't get any supper last night or any breakfast this morning! I know that we're helping out the pride and all, but that doesn't mean we have to STARVE!" The small meerkat stamped his foot in frustration and began pacing around the ledge, stopping after every circle to glance down at the horizon. "You know," said Timon as he turned his back to Pumbaa. "I really wish things would just hurry up and get back to normal and then we could chow down on some grubs again. Just like old times," he looked at up at the sky, as he said this, reminiscently.
Meanwhile, over the hill, Shiba had already massed a group of eight tigers in accordance with Khan's wishes. Each member of the squad had been chosen for their ferocity and cruelty; for Khan had wanted to make sure that Sarabi was shown no mercy and that the task was fulfilled to its best extent. They were also extremely loyal to Khan and obeyed his orders without question. Lined up in a formation of four groups of two, the tigers watched their captain as she surveyed their ranks.
"It's time," growled Shiba, "the antelope herd has no idea that we're above them. If we're ever going to strike, now is the best time." Shiba turned her eyes to the unsuspecting antelope grazing below and crouched down into a squat position; the rest of the tigers followed her lead.
"Remember the plan: keep at the antelope from all sides so that they have no choice but to run north. Then once they have passed between those rocks," said Shiba, pointing towards a group of large rocks in the distance, "pull back and remain hidden behind them. Simba will almost certainly have placed lookouts on Pride Rock and if we are spotted this entire operation will be wasted."
The tigers now knelt even lower, their eyes focused on one thing: the antelope. "Let's go!" cried Shiba. With those words she plunged forwards followed by the battery of tigers; their bodies moving in a streamlined position as if they were accustomed to such vigorous exercise.
"Hey Pumbaa…"
"What's up Timon?"
"Can you see that dust cloud growing over there?" asked Timon, pointing down at the horizon. Pumbaa, who had been soaking up the sun in a corner of the ledge, got to his hooves and joined his best friend at the edge of the cliff. "What do you think it is?" he asked, as he tried to focus his eyes on the blurred shapes amidst the cloud of dust.
"Looks to me like…err…wait a minute…yeah…" said Timon, more to himself than to Pumbaa.
"Oooo come on Timon, stop leaving me in suspense over here," cried Pumbaa who was now jumping up and down with excitement.
"It's an antelope herd!" cried Timon. "This is great! For two whole days not a single animal shows up around here and all of a sudden a whole herd pops up!"
"I don't know Timon. This looks pretty suspicious to me," said Pumbaa, with a frown on his face. "Aaaaah, you worry too much Pumbaa," replied Timon, waving an impatient hand at his friend. "Hey it looks like they've stopped. We'd better hurry and tell Simba," he said before he jumped onto Pumbaa's back and they rushed down the slopes of Pride Rock.
"Simba! Simba!" All over Pride Rock the name of the lion king echoed through the stone, as Timon and Pumbaa searched for their friend. "Hey, what's with all the noise," asked Simba, as he emerged from the den.
"Simba, finally, we've been looking all over for you," panted Pumbaa.
"What's happened?" he inquired, with a harsh tone in his voice. Since the attack on his advisor, Simba would always be found deep in thought inside the den. He would barely talk with anyone but Kovu, who he frequently discussed war strategies with.
Timon leapt off of Pumbaa's back and landed in front of Simba. "We just spotted a massive antelope herd up north," he cried frantically.
"An antelope herd?" asked Simba, looking down at his small friend in disbelief.
"That's right. They're grazing about half a mile in front of us," explained Timon, with a satisfied look on his face. At this, Simba turned away from him and ran to the edge of Pride Rock.
"I don't believe it," he whispered. "You guys are right!"
"Simba, is everything okay?" asked Nala, who had just appeared beside Timon and Pumbaa. The lion king turned to face his queen, his face glowing with a new light. "Nala, gather a hunting party of about four lionesses. Have them ready for a hunt as soon as possible."
"A hunt? But Simba, there hasn't been any prey around Pride Rock for so many days," said Nala worriedly.
"An antelope herd has just showed up Nala and if we don't take this chance now then the pride will spend even longer without food," replied Simba. Nala could see the seriousness in his eyes. "Right, just as you say Simba. I'll organise the party," but just as she bounded off to join the group of lionesses who were gathered in a corner of Pride Rock, Simba called after her. "Nala, I think that my mother should be the leader of the party," he said thoughtfully.
Nala turned to face him.
"Are you sure Simba?" she asked uncertainly. "She's been feeling very depressed lately."
"She's the most experienced lioness here Nala and I want her to eat first." He looked over to his mother who was sitting alone, watching the horizon.
"I know that she said that she can last without food but I know that she's slowly getting weaker," said Simba sadly. Nala nodded her head in approval of her husband's words and ran off towards the lionesses.
It was not long before Nala had gathered three lionesses who were willing to take the hunt. When they had heard the news of the antelope, their hearts had leapt for it had been many days since they had eaten to their satisfaction. At last, Nala turned to the former queen.
"Sarabi," began Nala.
"Yes?" Sarabi looked up at her and smiled.
"Simba would like you to lead the hunting party on the antelope," said Nala, tensely.
Sarabi got to her paws and smiled again.
"Nala, you know that I would only be a nuisance to the other lionesses if I went along."
Nala grinned at her mother-in-law and said: "But Sarabi, you do have the most hunting experience here. You would be honouring the lionesses by your presence."
Sarabi looked at her and laughed. "Then who am I to refuse?"
Soon all four lionesses were gathered at the foot of Pride Rock, with Sarabi at their head. Many of them looked weak, due to the lack of food, but each one had a firm desire to catch their prey and be the ones to return hope to their pride in these times of war.
The antelope seemed to have thought that their predators had gone and were now grazing peacefully again but over the hill, hidden by the rocks, the tiger squad lay patiently in wait. Occasionally Shiba would peer over the rocks to see the pride's movement but now, after the sixth glance, her eyes finally beheld her victim at the front of the hunting party.
"OK all you! The wait is up. Sarabi and three other lionesses are preparing to attack the antelope," she said waspishly. "Now remember, only ambush them once they have passed between these rocks. Any sooner and you'll give the game away."
Two minutes later the ground began to shake and Shiba knew that the antelope were aware of the lionesses' presence. Next the entire herd was once again hurtling at full speed through the rocks, completely oblivious to the hidden assailants. The tigers now crouched low, each one ready to pounce. The next moment Sarabi had passed through the rocks in pursuit of her prey but before she could move any further she was suddenly smote by a sudden cluster of claws and teeth as she collapsed onto the ground, pain flowing through every vein in her body.