Be Prepared For Sensational News

I could hardly believe it at first, but Nala's idea of "getting help" involved the return of King Mufasa's own son, Prince (or rather King )Simba! He was alive! The true king I had hoped would come was the very one that had been in line to inherit the throne all along!

"Hyenas! I hate hyenas! So what's your plan for getting past those guys?"

I recognized the voice. It was Timon, the demented meerkat who had an obsession with human culture.

"Live bait!"

That voice was unfamiliar to me. I supposed it was the new king, and I began to get nervous. All I wanted to do was make a good first impression, but I had been born of the wrong species to hope to be of service in some way.

"Good idea. Hey!"

"Come on, Timon! You guys have to create a diversion!"

"What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?"

"If that's what it takes."

"Simba, I was being sarcastic. I don't even have a proper hula skirt."

"Make one!"

Whispering to avoid waking the other members of my clan, I dared join the conversation. "Pardon me."

King Simba glared at me. "What do you want, hyena?"

"I know where there is still enough greenery for him to make a skirt and lei, and he can even find a flower for his hair," I answered.

"It sounds like a trap," the king retorted.

"No," Nala gently contradicted. "She's not like the others. We can trust her."

I took them to one of the last remaining areas of foliage left in the kingdom.

"I should go before the others wake up and find out I left," I stated. "I'll make sure the other hyenas fall for your clever plan. Good luck, King Simba, and when you assume the throne, remember that not all hyenas are as malicious as the three who attacked you years ago. There are a few evil ones among us, but most hyenas just want enough food and space to raise their families in peace, just as lions do."

The hula diversion worked like a charm. I typically don't care for human dances, but I must admit Timon certainly used his creativity to its full extent. After the initial rush of confusion, wondering what he was doing, the hyenas saw only a delicate morsel after years of near starvation. They can't be blamed. Any species would relish the opportunity to eat something appetizing, whatever that "something" may be to them, after going so long without enough to be sated.

Tension was high and tempers were flaring. When King Simba forced Scar to confess to the late King Mufasa's murder, the conflict that had been brewing for so long was finally released in full fury. Years of living under tyranny had pushed the lionesses to the edge, and they weren't about to put up with any more.

I was confused about what I should do. To refuse to become involved would have been cowardice, but to fight against my own clan would have been treason. After pausing to think for a few moments, I had a better idea. I managed to rally a small group of hyenas.

"Scar promised you would never again go hungry if you gave him your support!" I began. "How many of you had that promise broken within his first week as king? How many of you think things are worse now than they were under Mufasa? How many of you think we ought to give Simba a chance, for he would at least make sure everyone hunted fairly? How many of you think it's time for Scar to leave?"

Word spread quickly throughout our clan. It turns out almost everyone was getting tired of Scar's reign of terror, and we agreed it was time he abdicated. All we needed was a good excuse to "convince" him.

He was kind enough to provide one for us. "It's the hyenas who are the real enemy! It was their fault! It was their idea!"

You can make a lot of mistakes around hyenas. You can insult us, and we'll ignore you. You can hate us, and we won't care. However, we NEVER handle betrayal well. Giving trust and pledging loyalty are how we hyenas honor someone, so we get EXTREMELY irate if somebody goes against us after pretending to be our friend.

"A meal fit for a king or a king fit for a meal?" I asked rhetorically. "Scar has provided food for us after all!"

The others got into position. Even our clan leaders joined our plot!

Scar had no idea what was happening, which shows how "intelligent" he was. "Ah, my friends!"

"Friends?" Shenzi laughed. "I thought he said we were the enemy!"

"Yeah!" agreed Banzai. "That's what I heard."

Scar was beginning to realize what was on our minds.

"Ed?" the first two asked together.

Ed laughed. This was hardly unusual, but his laugh sounded different this time. It was not the insane laughter of a lunatic, but the evil chuckle of someone about to commit regicide.

Despite Scar's protests, we launched our attack. Every hyena was tearing him apart, but for the record, I was the one to deliver the fatal bite. I, who had yearned so often for peace with lions and insisted on hunting fairly, became Scar's murderess. At the time I had no regrets, and looking back, I still don't. The way I see it, there's a difference between murdering the innocent and executing someone who deserves it, and Scar's demise would certainly be classified as the latter.

King Simba said we didn't have to live in the Elephant Graveyard any more, but we weren't welcome in the Pride Lands either. The compromise was acceptable, and I'm pleased to report that we don't often see the lions. It isn't exactly peace, but it's better than nothing, right?

In due time, I was blessed with a niece. Maybe I will never get to be a mother, but now I have a cub to nurture. I love her as if she were my own daughter, and I could ask for nothing more. If the Great Kings of the Past do indeed look down on us, they have smiled upon me.