CHAPTER 9 – It's getting hot

Shenzi was walking around in circles, whining in a troubled tone. She wasn't sure what she should do, but she had to think of something quick, judging from the expressions of her clanmembers, who were gazing at her with expectation. Shenzi was just as angry and full of fear as them, but she was still their leader. Finally, she halted and turned towards the group of guards, speaking to the oldest male among them.

-Okay… First of all, Scar can't know nothing about this. If he finds out we really did known about these damned rogues for months and that they've even killed some of us, he'll be so pissed I don't even want to imagine what he'd do. Understand?

The hyenas in front of her shook their heads, confirming. It was a great shame for them to have just lost another member of their clan to the strangers, but they knew that it was better to keep it a secret from the lions, especially their king. The pride was more likely to be glad that the number of the hyenas was decreasing, and Shenzi couldn't possibly hope for any help from them. She decided to take care of that problem herself, only if she had any idea exactly how to do it…

-Secondly… Uh, hold on, I need to think – she got up from the ground once again and lowered her head. She had her eyes closed for a while, her face covered with the expression of intensive brain work. Then she turned towards her two companions, who were lying on the ground a bit further. – Banzai, what do we know 'bout these lions?

The hyena just lifted his eyes towards her, too lazy to get up.

-Well, they're the two nastiest stinkin' felines I've ever seen in my…

The clan leader sighed and rolled her eyes.

-Oh you know that's not what I'm asking for, idiot!

This time Banzai made an angry face and lifted up to sit.

-Ey, easy with the words! I didn't know you wanted a suh-fista-cay-ted military report! So any way, there's two of them, an older one and a younger, but both adult males and damn, are they strong. The boys were sayin' that they had the guts to attack up to ten of us at a time – suddenly, Banzai was cut out by a vulgarly loud snore from the slumbering Ed, but he continued immediately after seeing the impatient look on Shenzi's face - … uh, where was I? Oh, and fast! Man, are they fast… Most of the time they hang out in some layer just beyond the southern border, but when they crawl out of it, we barely have any time to think before they steal our food and disappear.

Shenzi was disappointed. She thought that hearing Banzai's report would give her a new idea, but it didn't.

-Okay… - she started with irritation. – You guys just keep lookin' for their hide out, until you find it. Just be careful this time! If those bastards kill any more of us, Scar might get suspicious. Well, what are you starin' at? Get goin', and when you find something, don't forget to call me! We'll assemble the whole pack together and then pay those dirty rogues a visit…

Shenzi observed as the group of hyenas left, leaving her alone with Banzai and Ed. The female leader just lowered her exhausted head and sighed deeply.

-Hey, what's the matter? – Banzai said to her. – Cheer up girl, your whining ain't gonna change nothing!

She turned to him, anger filling her eyes.

-Are you really that dumb? All you guys do is laugh your empty heads off, while I have to take care of every damn problem in this pack!

Her companion looked at her, startled.

-Whut? Aw, it isn't that bad…

And this time Shenzi lost her nerve.

-Not bad? Not bad? Don't you have enough brains to see just how serious this is?

She confronted him and looked him straight in the eyes, almost making him trip over the sleeping Ed behind his back. But then a sound of someone speaking made her almost stumble with shock.

-What is so serious?

The sight of Scar, closely observing the arguing pair of hyenas, was a total surprise, that made them sweat with fear.

-Oh, huh-huh, hi there, Scar… - said Banzai awkwardly.

-Y-yeah, we thought… – Shanzi started to stutter – w-we thought that you were takin' your royal nap…

The king rolled his eyes. He swiftly leaped down from a hill he was standing on, landing in front of his two minions, what made them jump back. Then ascended a nearby rock, lying down on it.

-Ah yes, you thought… - he sighed, slothfully. – Why does everyone always think that they know everything about me? Especially the lionesses. They keep saying- 'oh but we thought you would do this, oh but you always do that. Oh, but that's against the old customs, you simply can't do that!' Total nonsense. I don't always do what others expect me to do. I don't always sleep at this time of day. Eating and sleeping is not my main purpose. Being king is my main purpose. And you should know that! – Scar looked at the hyenas with a warning eye, to what they immediately shook their heads, smiling innocently. – Right… Anyway, what kind of serious business were you discussing?

Shenzi and Banzai looked at each other with desperation. Then the female answered with a fake, awkward laugh.

-Heh, oh, it was nothin', really…

Scar laid his head on the rock, between his front paws, and turned his sight towards her, looking bored and irritated.

-Eh Shenzi, Shenzi… you are aware that I do not believe your words, aren't you? I know when you are lying, even if I don't always let you notice it.

The hyena frowned with terror, frightened about the gruesome, calm tone of her master's voice. After all these years, she still deeply feared his anger.

-So tell me – Scar said to her, still seemingly more bored than mad. – I've noticed a certain… commotion among the lionesses lately. Do you by any chance know what it is all about?

Shenzi gulped under his demanding gaze.

-Uh… yes…

-Good! You mind telling me?

-Err, well… - the female hyena was between a rock and a hard place. If she told the king about the rogues, her former lie and present failure to apprehend them would be revealed. And that she definitely did not want. – It's about…

-It's about the competition! – Banzai swiftly cut her off. – It's easy, boss. That ol' hippo Sarabi's getting close to her retirement, so some of your younger females are starting to fight with each other to take her place!

Scar looked at the hyena with interest, while Shenzi nodded and confirmed his words.

-Yeah, that's it! The lionesses have been talking 'bout that all the time! And more- there has even been rivalry during hunts! I suppose the biggest deal is between Nala and Zira. Man, do they hate each other! I've seen 'em both arguing on many occasions myself.

Luckily for the hyenas, the king looked satisfied with such an explanation.

-Oh, that's the deal, is it? Good! I hope their little rivalry helps them achieve better hunting results. And if they have something to gossip about, maybe they'll finally let go of their constant complaining…

-Ooh! Boss! Over there, look! – Banzai yelled, pointing towards something, wagging his tail. Scar lifted his head and turned it towards where the lionesses were resting after their morning hunt. He saw Zira and Sarabi standing in front of one another, obviously arguing. – I bet they're having a lil' heart-to-heart right now.

Although neither the hyenas nor Scar could hear what the two lionesses were talking about, Banzai was actually right. Sarabi went to Zira to ask about some really alarming rumors, which could have also concerned the young huntress.

-Listen, Zira! The girls have been talking about strange things recently. There are rumors of some outlander rogues who were spotted beyond the borders. I need to know if this is some kind of a threat to the pride! Do you know anything about it?

-Pah! And why would I know? Just because a rogue is the father of my son does not mean anything.

-Well, that's not it, but there is another reason. I've noticed you getting away from the rest of the pride on many occasions. I know you've been leaving Nuka under the protection of other lionesses, so it must mean that you have some reason to sneak out, am I right?

Zira started to growl angrily.

-What is this, an interrogation? Who told you that? Let me guess, I bet it was that immature termite Nala, wasn't it? Don't you have enough proof that she was lying?

Sarabi was trying not to lose her balance, although it wasn't easy.

-No, Nala was not the one who told me that. You should stop looking at her as if she was your enemy, Zira!

-Ha! An enemy? She wouldn't stand a chance if she would ever dare to challenge me!

The huntress leader just shook her head. After a moment of silence, she said:

-So you know nothing about any rogues?

-No, I know nothing.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, I'm sure!

-Then would you mind telling me what is the purpose of your trips beyond the borders of the Pridelands?

This time it was too much for the pretty easily infuriating Zira. The young lioness roared straight into Sarabi's face, her resonant cry scaring the birds away from trees, waking and attracting the attention of every single lioness within a mile long radius. But the old, experienced former queen did not step back by an inch, not a single twitch of a muscle changed her gloomy expression. Seeing that, Zira simply snorted.

-Hmf! That is none of your business.

And then she turned around and left.