Logan and Raven had managed to ditch Garth and were now resting far away from where they had left the bird. "I think we lost him," Raven stated. Logan grinned.
"Dude, I am such a genius!"
"I don't know about that. I'd say you're more of a little green elf."
"What can I say, everybody loves the pointy ears," Logan replied smugly managing to wiggle his ears.
"Yeah sure they do," she replied sarcastically. "It has nothing to do with the fact that you're the future king," she continued playfully.
"Oh yeah?" Logan pounced on her and they did a flip before Raven pinned him. She smirked.
"You were saying?" Logan frowned before pushing her off.
"Alright. Alright." He seemed to have given up but as soon as Raven had her back to him he tried again and the two cubs went rolling down the side of a ditch. Raven once again came out on top. She had been expecting that.
"Pinned you again, elf," she said with that same small smirk. Just then a steam geyser erupted and the small lions got a look at where they were. They looked up the other side of the ditch they had fallen in and saw a giant skull with two pointed tusk shaped bones sticking out of it.
"Dude, this is it! The elephant graveyard!" Logan said, his tone beyond excited. They looked around and saw that there was bones scattered throughout the entire area.
"Wow, this place is kind of creepy." Raven said.
"I know right! It's so cool!"
"We could get in a lot of trouble," she continued, though the slight smile on her face told Logan she didn't really care.
"Yep. Hey I wonder if its brains are still in there!" Raven rolled her eyes.
"I doubt it." Logan looked at her and then back at the skull, his toothy grin plastered across his face.
"Well, let's go check it out." He started to walk toward it when something stopped him.
"Not so fast! The only checking out you will do will be out of this place!" Garth said urgently. Logan groaned as Raven sighed. "We are way beyond the borders of the Pride Lands! If your father found out we would all be in trouble!" Logan scoffed.
"Aww is Black Beak scared?"
"That's Mr. Black Beak to you! And right now we are in serious danger!" Logan simply walked past the bird.
"Danger? Dude, my middle name is danger!" he laughed, but he wasn't the only one. All three stiffened and Logan ran back to his group as three hyenas made their way out of the skull. Raven sent him a glare.
"Nice going, Mr. Danger," she hissed.
"Well, well, well. Look-y here Gizmo, Mammoth. Who do you think these guys are?" the grey hyena with dark purple spots and light pink hair on the top of her head asked. The light tan one with green spots, that was shorter than her, was the one that answered.
"Looks to me, Jinx, like we got a couple of pit-sniffing trespassers!" The big black one with yellow spots, that had long brown hair that ran down his back and a small goatee, spoke next.
"I was thinking the same thing Gizmo." He said in a deep gruff voice.
"Well I can assure you that it was by a complete and total accident!" Garth stated, shaking slightly. "Now if you'll excuse us we'll just be on our way." Jinx stopped the bird from leaving by stepping on his tail.
"Wait a minute, you look familiar. Doesn't he look familiar guys?" Gizmo and Mammoth looked at the bird.
"Isn't he the king's gunk-munching stooge?" Jinx's eyes lit up in recognition.
"That's it!" Garth looked appalled.
"I, Madame, am the King's advisor," he defended. The three hyenas ignored him and started circling the two cubs. Logan and Raven just stared at them defiantly.
"So that makes you…" Mammoth started.
"The future king!" Logan stated with conviction.
"Do you even know what we do to flea biting kings who leave their kingdom?" Gizmo asked.
"You can't do anything to me!" Logan replied.
"Um technically they can. You see, we are on their land," Garth corrected.
"But didn't you tell me their nothing but idiotic, mangy, stupid poachers?" Garth paled.
"Exnae on the upidsta."
"Hey, who you calling upidsta?" Mammoth growled.
"Oh my, would you look at the sun, we better be off!" The three tried to run but Mammoth blocked their path.
"What's the hurry guys?"
"Yeah we'd love for you to stay for dinner," Jinx continued.
"We could have whatever's lion around!" Gizmo joked. That sent all three into a fit of laughter.
"Wait, wait, wait! I got one! Make mine a cub sandwich! What'cha think?" Jinx replied. The two smallest hyenas started laughing, when Mammoth asked,
"Um, guys, did we order this dinner to go?" Jinx looked at him.
"No why?"
"Cause there it goes!" he answered, pointing to the two cubs and bird that were running away from them. Logan, Raven, and Garth ran from the hyenas and once they thought they were far enough away the cubs stopped.
"I think we lost them," Logan panted. Raven nodded in agreement but then after she looked around asked,
"Where's Garth?"
The hyenas were gathered around a small boiling geyser and Jinx was trying to get the hornbill into it. "Come on, just hop into the birdie boiler!" All three chuckled as Garth resisted but in the end, ended up in it. The pressure started to build and Garth was shot into the sky leaving a trail of smoke behind him. All three hyenas continued to laugh hysterically.
"Hey!" They looked up to see the cubs. "Pick on someone your own size!" All three smirked.
"You mean like you?" Jinx asked. Immediately Logan and Raven paled.
"Oops." With a snarl Jinx jumped at the two cubs and snapped her teeth at them as the cubs sprinted away from her. The cubs ran until a geyser erupted in front of them forcing them to stop, but to their horror the three hyenas popped their heads through the red steam.
"Boo!" The trio yelled with a laugh. Logan and Raven swiftly turned around as the hyenas gave chase. The cubs started to climb the smooth and cracked surface of the elephant skull, Gizmo barely missing them. The lion cubs jumped off the skull and slide down the spine, Raven holding onto Logan as they did. Logan saw the end of the spine pointing up meaning they were going to be airborne, which caused him to start yelling.
"Uh- uh- uh- uh- uh- uh!" his voice vibrated on the spine. Logan and Raven shot through the air screaming as they landed on the hill of bones adjacent to the spine and started to climb up, the hyenas still in pursuit. Logan made it to the top then he heard Raven shout.
"Logan!" He turned around and gasped as he saw Raven slipping down the pile of bones and with Jinx getting closer to her. As Logan started to make his way down toward Raven, the hyena opened her mouth to bite the cub but then Raven quickly turned around and scratched the hyena on her cheek, causing Jinx to snarl as blood started to run down the side of her face. The cubs made it to the top of the hill, and they ran until they reached a wall. The two cubs climbed on top of a giant rib cage hoping to reach the top of the wall, but the old rib bones gave in and they fell to the ground. The cubs turned around and saw the three hyenas slowly and threateningly walking toward them.
"Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." Mammoth said sinisterly. Logan stood in front of Raven and took a deep breath, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
"Rraar! Rraar! Rraar!" the green cub tried to roar. The hyneas just laughed at the cub's pathetic and poor attempt.
"That was it? That's the best the little green snot can do?" laughed Gizmo, as Jinx chuckled
"Do it again, a little louder this time." Logan open his mouth then ROOAARR! Raven looked at him clearly shocked as the hyenas' expressions were dumbfounded.
"Huh?" they asked in unison. Then a huge green paw whacked all three of them in the head. Marcus attacked the trio without mercy roaring as he did. The hyenas tried to fight back but the mighty king was far stronger then them as he knocked them down. Garth appeared and landed next to the two cubs as they watched Marcus pin all three hyenas beneath him. The three jokesters visibly cringed.
Jinx held her paws together, "Oh please!"
"Uncle! Uncle!" begged Gizmo.
"SILENCE!" Marcus half roared, which frightened them even more.
"Shutting up now," said Mammoth
"We're really sorry." said Jinx. Marcus glared at them with rage in his eyes.
"If you ever come near my son again..."
Jinx acted surprised "Oh this is... this is your son?" Gizmo played along.
"This little green runt- I mean cub is your son?" Jinx looked at him.
"Did you know that?" Gizmo shook his head
"No, of course not," the big mouth replied.
"Mammoth?" they both asked
"Yes!- I mean no..." the giant stuttered, but all Marcus heard was 'yes'. He lifted his head and roared so loud. The trio saw this as their chance to escape and ran away with their tails between their legs. Garth went to the king.
"That will show 'em" he said and smiled at the Marcus, but when the green lion turned his head and glared at the hornbill, Garth cover his face with fear. Logan and Raven approached Marcus and Logan looked up at his father.
"Dad, I..."
"You deliberately disobeyed me." Marcus cut him off, staring at his son. Logan's pointed ears drooped.
"Dad, I'm... I'm sorry."
"Let's go home," the king said sternly. They started to leave and the cubs were hunched in shame as they followed the bigger lion. Raven, a small, comforting, and meek smile on her face, whispered to Logan,
"Just so you know, I thought you were very brave." Logan smiled slightly.
"Thanks Rae."When they were out of sight Slade emerged out of the shadows with a very displeased look on his face. The lions and hornbill were almost back to Pride Rock when Marcus called for Garth. The bird flew over to the king.
"Yes, sire?" Garth asked meekly.
"Take Raven back to her mother. I need to have a word with Logan." The cub tried to shrink into the grass and Raven gave him something close to a pitying look. Garth nodded and flew over to the two cubs, first addressing Raven.
"Follow me Raven." She nodded. He then turned to Logan. "Good luck." And with that they started to walk away, Raven looking back as they did. Logan sighed and timidly walked over to his father.
"Listen Dad, I'm really sorry…"
"I am very disappointed in you Logan. You could have been killed!"
"I know…"
"What were you thinking? And bringing Raven into it with you? You both could've been…" he stopped and sighed. Logan sniffed.
"I was just trying to be as brave as you are," Logan said sadly. Marcus shook his head and sighed deeply.
"Logan, I'm only brave when it matters. I don't go looking for trouble. That's not what brave is. If anything I try to avoid it."
"But you're never scared." Marcus smiled at that.
"I was today," he said, and seeing his son's confusion he added, "I was afraid I was going to lose you."
"I guess this means even kings get scared huh?" Marcus nodded. "But I'd bet, by the looks on their faces, that those hyenas were even more scared." Logan and Marcus chuckled.
"That's because no one messes with your old man!" He grabbed Logan and rubbed his paw onto Logan's head before running with the cub right on his tail.
***** Back at the gorge, not far from the elephant graveyard, the three hyenas were recuperating. "Man, I don't think I'll be able to sit for a week!" complained Gizmo. "I hate that scruff-brained King Marcus!" Mammoth laughed at the big scratches Gizmo had on his erm…backside. "What are you laughing at Barf-brain?" Mammoth kept laughing. Jinx watched as they started to fight and rolled her eyes. She had actually got the least amount of damage besides that nasty cut from Raven.
"Would you guys knock it off," she yelled. Gizmo looked up at her.
"He started it!" he defended. Mammoth shook his head and pointed at Gizmo.
"No you did!" Jinx rubbed her head.
"Its no wonder we're dangling at the bottom of the food chain!"
"I hate dangling!" Mammoth agreed as a bunch of slobber hung from his mouth. Jinx looked disgusted.
"You know, if it weren't for those scuz-munching lions, we'd be running this place," Gizmo chimed in. "I hate lions!"
"Their pushy," stated Jinx.
"And hairy!" agreed Mammoth.
"Nothing but stinky cats," Gizmo added.
"And man are they ug-ly!" all three said. They started to laugh when a voice interrupted them.
"Surely you don't think all lions are that way." They looked up to see Slade laying on one of the higher ledges. They all sighed in relief.
"Oh Slade, its just you. We thought it was actually somebody important." Mammoth said. "Like Marcus or something." Slade raised an eyebrow.
"I see," he replied, disdain evident in his voice.
"Now that's power," stated Gizmo. Mammoth nodded.
"Tell me about it. That name alone sends shivers down my spine."
"Marcus," said Gizmo, testing it. Mammoth shivered.
"Do it again."
"Marcus." Again Mammoth shivered. "Marcus, Marcus, Marcus," he repeated. Both of them started laughing as Jinx shook her head.
"I'm surrounded by idiots," she said. Slade nodded.
"I was just thinking the same thing, child."
"I mean Slade you're a pal. You know one of us!" Mammoth said. Slade rolled his eye.
"Splendid," he replied in a bored voice.
"So, did you bring us anything to eat? Slade, old buddy. Pal?" Mammoth asked. Gizmo and Jinx instantly pushed ahead of Mammoth as Slade pulled a hunk of zebra meat from beside him.
"Personally, I think you don't deserve this," he said. "I practically hand wrapped those cubs for you and you let them live." As the hyenas started to tear into the meat Jinx looked up at Slade.
"Well, it wasn't like they were alone. I mean, what were we supposed to do? Kill the king?" Slade smiled viciously down at them.
"Precisely." The three hyenas gave him a confused look as he jumped down and started walking toward them.
I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog's backside
But thick as you are, pay attention
My words are a matter of pride
He walked up to Mammoth and waved his paw in front of his face. Mammoth didn't seem to notice. Slade shook his head and kicked the larger hyena out of his way and Mammoth skidded across the cavern floor.
It's clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we're talking kings and successions
Even you can't be caught unawares
So prepare for a chance of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
A shining new era
Is tiptoeing nearer
"And where do we feature?" Jinx asked, wondering where the heck they fit into this mad plan.
Just listen to teacher
I know it sounds sordid
But you'll be rewarded
When at last I am given my dues!
And injustice deliciously squared
Be prepared!
"Yeah! Be prepared. We'll be prepared!" Mammoth said excited then his expression went to bewilderment. " For what?"
"For the death of the king!"
"Is he sick?" asked Gizmo.
"No, fool! We're going to kill him. And Logan, too."
"Great idea!" shouted Jinx. "Who needs a king?"
"No king, no king! La la la la la!" Mammoth and Jinx chanted.
"Idiots! There will be a king!"
"But you said.." Mammoth started.
"I will be king! Stick with me and you'll never go hungry again!"
"Yay, all right! Long live the king! Long live the king!"all three hyenas had heard all the noise and all of the conversation and were pouring in to help with what Slade had in mind.
"It's great that we'll soon be connected with a king who'll be all-time adored!"some were saying with such excitement.
Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected
To take certain duties on board
The future is littered with prizes
And though I'm the main addressee
The point that I must emphasize is
You won't get a sniff without me!
So prepare for the coup of the century
Be prepared for the murkiest scam
Meticulous planning
Tenacity spanning
Decades of denial
Is simply why I'll
Be king undisputed
Respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared -
Be prepared!
And so Slade now had the hyenas on his side and his plan was just getting started. "Soon," he thought as the hyenas cheered from below. "The Pride Lands, and all its inhabitants will be under my control. And nothing is going to stand in my way!"
********************* Ok, so yeah another chapt is up and I would like to say that half the writing credit to this story goes to Angeltiger777! I'm not kidding Angeltiger777 literallly wrote half of this chapt so a round of applause peeps! Thanks for help buddy! You all know, if you've read my other stories, that my action and fast-paced scenes arent the best so I seriously appreciated the help.
Well anyway R&R and all that jazz! BG OUT!