CHAPTER 4 – Trespassers
There was a unit of at least six or seven hyenas guarding near the southern border of the Pridelands that morning. It was the beginning of another blazing day, so the canine soldiers didn't quite pay much attention to anything else than either lying around or wallowing in the dust. One of them, an older male, was strongly displeased about having to wake up earlier and take his turn on the guard. Stretched out on the ground, he yawned with a loud groan and took a look towards the line of the horizon. He saw the intense heat make the air dance and wave, creating an illusion of water in the distance. And then he nearly jumped up, his eyes widened at the distant scene he was witnessing. Which, unfortunately, was no mirage. At the other side of the border, beyond a line of thick grass, something big was moving in his direction. Lions. Two adult males.
-Oh shhh… Guys! Guys! Ya better come see this!
He stood up, his comrades surrounding him a moment later.
-What is it? – asked another guard.
-Ya see that? Over there, behind the grass. I think it's them again…
The rest of the hyenas strained their eyes. Indeed, the two lions were now clearly visible, as they were boldly entering the thicket which marked the place where the Pridelands began. The line of the dry bush was only a few meters wide, and beyond it was an open field on which the guards were standing, not sure of what they should do.
-Damn, it seems they're comin' over here! – said one of the hyenas.
Despite being on foreign territory, the two rogues proceeded forward without any fear or hesitation. The one in the front was a young adult, delicately built, with pale tanned fur and a short, hazel mane. The other one, who held behind and tapped at the side of his companion with his head from time to time in order to encourage him to proceed, was a bit older, with hazel fur and an impressive, creamy brownish crown of hair on his head. Both of them had their eyes constantly fixed at the startled unit of patrolling hyenas.
-Whadda we do? Whadda we do? – whined one of the younger guards.
-Shut up and at least try to look confident! – ordered the old male.
-W-will they go away when they see that they're outnumbered? – said another hyena, who was pacing from side to side and shivering.
-Pah! I doubt it. I've seen single lions attacking three hyenas at a time on many occasions. So there's two of them now… and seven of us… and they're not looking very intimidated…
The veteran guard was right. As soon as he finished speaking, the lions quickly leapt out from behind the bush. In a cloud of dust, they stood for a moment without sound or movement, observing the fear in the hyenas' eyes. Then the younger one waved his tale as a sign for his companion to proceed. The guards made a step back. Only a few meters separated them from the rogues. It was evident that they came here for a reason and that they did not intend to leave. The hyenas attempted to taunt the intruders with howling cries to scare them away… but that only set them off. The tan male suddenly turned to the side and started to run towards a single frightened guard. Squealing, he attempted to make a run for it and fell into the bush, but the tall grass made him trip and fall to the ground.
-Let's get outa here! Shenzi's gotta hear about this! And we better hope to hell that the pride doesn't find out… – yelled the hyenas, momentarily fleeing with hunched tails. The one who was left behind looked at them with terror.
-Whoa! Guys, where ya goin'? Help me!
But it was too late. The tan lion was already at his side, roaring and giving him a first powerful blow of his clawed paw, which sent the smaller animal straight to the ground. He tried to get up, but the growling beast bit him on the side and threw him in the dirt once again, holding in down with it's strong front limbs. The lion's deep blue eyes had a sort of 'now you're mine' expression in them. In desperation, the hyena barked and attempted to bite him, but he was out of it's reach. And then the other lion came. He was standing above the struggling guard with calmness, piercing him with a gaze of his eyes, from which the left one was poisonously green, and the right one… was gone. Or rather fully covered by cataract. The hyena howled with fright when the older feline bit into it's throat with a loud roar, but after a mere second it had nothing more to howl about.
The two lions straightened and licked the blood from their muzzles. They looked at each other with content, smiling and tying their tails together as a sign of triumph. Then they took a look around. The hyenas were gone. Those cowards didn't even care about the ones they left behind most of the times. Better for the lions, who at least had some extra food from their attack. But before they even attempted to bite into the canine's carcass, something else appeared on the horizon. The waving scorching air blocked their vision, but it was clear that it was definitely no hyena. Oh no, that was something bigger. And much prettier.
-Well hello, gorgeous… - said the young male, grinning at his companion. The hazel one, who was his older brother, answered with a cunning smile. They both rose, and circling around one another, slowly approached the slim lioness, who was looking at them from the top of a hill.
-That's far enough! – she growled angrily. – You trespassers are now on king Scar's land! And I order you both to leave!
The two brothers smiled. The older one obediently halted and stretched himself comfortably on the ground, observing what's going to happen, the tan youngster on the other hand proceeded forward, standing within only a short distance from the lioness. She growled at him once again.
-I'm warning you! My pride is not far away, and I can also protect myself!
The lions were devouring her with their gaze. She felt a little concerned about their remarkable confidence, but she didn't let them suspect that. They were definitely very dangerous, but they did not seem hostile towards a lioness, contrary to how they treated the hyenas. Their strong, handsome outer appearance was more attractive to a young female than it was alarming. This is why she didn't run away for help, but stayed and let them talk to her out of great curiosity.
-Hm-hm, you're not as cowardly as those pathetic dogs, I see. It takes a lot of courage to stand against a double threat. I like that in a lioness – the tan male was trying to be charming. And he was doing a pretty good job. – Well, since we've started this nice little conversation, let me introduce us. My name is Tsavo. That athletic guy over there is Giza, my older brother. You must excuse him for his silence. He prefers acts over words.
The lioness did not react. She just stood on top of the hill with a blank expression, not sure if she should welcome them or attack them.
-And does this good looking young piece of lion flesh have what is called a name? – said Giza, a little bored with lying on the ground. His silent voice had a strong, deep tone. There was no hostility in it, though. Finally, the lioness decided to answer.
-My name is Zira. Can you be so kind as to tell me why exactly are you here?
Tsavo laughed a little on the way she was trying to make her voice sound ferocious.
-Heh, oh we've been here for weeks, haven't we, brother? I'm starting to think that this place is slowly beginning to become our home…
-What? You've been stealing our food for so long?
-Oh no, not at all. I bet you're thinking about that warthog? Not a big deal, really. We did it for fun. Besides, it was the first time we took something from you lionesses. We usually steal… I mean win our meat from the hyenas.
-… or we take their meat, even if it isn't the best food one could wish for… - added the older one silently.
-But the game belongs to us! And so do the guards! They are king Scar's possession and he will surely punish you for killing them!
-Guards? – the two brothers looked at each other with surprise. – You hired those filthy dogs to be your guards? Hm, I must say that would be quite clever… if they were any good at the job.
Zira snorted.
-Well, if you don't leave our land, the king will send the hyenas to kill you!
Tsavo bared his fangs, grinning. He made a few more steps, halting right in front of Zira's face, and sat down on the ground before her. He was quite handsome. His eyes shone with dark azure, his body was slick yet muscular, his short hazel mane forming a long tuft on his forehead…
-And who's going to tell him about our presence, Zira?
-Well, I am… - she started with hesitation.
-You? But you're our friend, aren't you? Besides, we're not a threat to you or to your pride.
-We're not planning to travel further into the Pridelands – Giza approached his brother and joined the conversation. – We're rogues. This place is just fine for us.
He was also gazing at her with his only good eye. Meditating on it for a while, Zira didn't actually see any reason for which she should turn the trespassers in to Scar. Well, maybe except one.
-Fine, have it your way. But if I see you stealing pray from my pride again, I'm going to be drastically less kind, understood?
The two lions smiled. They began circling around her from opposite directions, confusing her.
-Heh-heh, yes Zira, we hear you. We wouldn't want to lose the friendship of someone as… kind as you.
She became irritated, stood up and went out of their circle. She snorted at them and turned around, intending to leave, uttering only a few more words in an offended tone.
-You rogues better keep your promise.
Tsavo used the moment when she was giving him his last look to offer her a final proposition.
-Okay young Pridelander, but remember- whenever you feel lonely, you can always find us here.
She left them, running back towards Pride Rock. The brothers stood observing until she disappeared behind the bushes. Then Giza said with a laugh.
-Ha, you seductive animal!
Tsavo gave him a friendly tackle with his hazel maned head.
-What? Are you surprised? Didn't you see her? She was perfect!
The older lion nodded.
-Yeah. I wonder how are the rest of the lionesses of the famous Pridelands pride…
Tsavo just whipped him with his tale playfully and pointed towards the dead hyena.
-We'll think about that later. C'mon, lets eat before the vultures come and spoil our breakfast.
Giza rolled his eyes with a sigh.
-Right… I fear one day I'm going to be sick from eating all those hyenas…
AN: You might not believe me, but this is, actually, based on true events. I wrote this chapter after watching a film about two real lion brothers, who entered the territory of a pride of lions, whose alpha male was named… Scar! And guess what- the first thing those two rogues did was attacking a group of hyenas. After killing one of them and scaring the rest away, they proceed into the foreign territory to meet the lionesses, that live there… So I just described these events, gave the rogues names and added them to my story.
You think I'm making this up? Just go to the Tube and type 'Lions hunt and lions kills hyena' (5:40 min). Voila! The best scenarios are written by nature herself.