Chapter Seven - Plan of Attack
"Yes, that's it, that's it!" Msafiri exclaimed as Sadiki practiced a slashing technique. They'd been practicing fighting for about a month now. Sadiki was strong and powerful to begin with, and was quickly becoming a better fighter. Zira willingly hunted overtime, keeping Msafiri and Sadiki well-fed and always hardy.
Sadiki smiled. She'd become very close to Msafiri since they began training. She felt more comfortable around the big, powerful male now that he'd opened up so much, and she looked forward to their training sessions.
"You're about ready, Sadiki," Msafiri remarked. He walked in a circle around her, examining her powerful form. "We should begin to plan this attack." Sadiki beamed. "Thank you for all you've done, Msafiri," she purred. Msafiri nodded and grinned, then padded over to Zira.
"It's time we began to think of a strategy. Arrange the battle," he stated. Zira nodded approvingly. "Very well," she said. "First things first. We need more lions. We cannot fight them with just the three of us."
Sadiki stepped over to Zira and Msafiri to assist in the planning. "I can help with that," Msafiri said. "After I left my pride, I made sure to travel as far as I could. I formed countless alliances, as well as countless enemies. I know of many loners, many prides, many bands of nomads, who shared similar opinions and could aid us."
Zira cackled with joy. "Perfect. Msafiri, you go off now and find your allies, the ones closest to here. Gather as many as you can! This attack shouldn't be terribly hard, so I ask you, perform your duty with haste!" She was so overjoyed to hear that assistance was so easy to recieve that she gave Msafiri a quick nuzzle before urging him on his way.
Msafiri smiled. "I'll return soon, and when I do, planning can begin. This land will be ours!" He raced across the dirt and sand, throwing up a cloud of dust behind him. "Goodbye, Zira. And goodbye, Sadiki!" he hollered as he sprinted out of sight. Sadiki smiled as Msafiri became but a speck on the horizon. She was always impressed by his speed and stamina, and ability to please Zira.
Far off, a bird called. Sadiki gazed up at the twinkling stars. A light breeze skimmed over her back and ears. She buried herself further into the warm sand at the entrance of the cave she shared with Msafiri and Zira.
Zira lay a few feet away. Sadiki glanced over. A wide grin seemed to be permenantly carved into Zira's face. The stars twinkled in her eyes, which seemed wide and confident. Suddenly, a light tapping noise sounded in the distance.
"Zira?" Sadiki asked. Zira blinked over at the other lioness. "Hmm?"
"Did you hear something?" Sadiki asked. Zira shook her head. "No, I wasn't paying atten-wait, why, I do hear something. How odd..." the tan lioness's ears flicked in the direction the sound came from. She heaved herself up and took a few heavy, tired steps directly outside the cave. Sadiki followed.
The tapping sound increased in loudness. Sadiki blinked in the area from which in came. She squinted. "Look!" she exclaimed, tossing her head towards the source of the noise.
A black dot was racing towards them. "Msafiri!" Zira cried. The black dot increased in size, and Sadiki noticed it was more of a black bar. "He's found help!" Sadiki exclaimed.
In time, Msafiri raced towards them, his features now clear. At least ten lions followed. Msafiri dipped his head when he arrived in front of Zira. He gasped for breath. "Zira," he finally said, his voice clear and booming, "I have found you a pride. These lions and lionesses come from places near and far. They wish to help. They need a new place to live desperately, and the Pridelands seem perfect for them. They will willingly fight on our side. I have warned them that the road we will take to take over these lands could be a violent one, and they have accepted this."
Msafiri turned to the new lions. "This is Zira, and she will serve as your leader as long as we fight." The new arrivals bowed their heads.
"Well done, Msafiri," Zira smiled. "And in record time! Barely six sunrises have come and gone!" Msafiri nodded. "I tried my best o please you. And I think I have found lions who will please you very much."
The sun beat down upon the Pridelands. Zira's pride was gathered together behind a hill. They were just outside the area that most Pridelanders typically stayed in. Here, there were many small hills perfect for hiding.
"About now?" Zira whispered to Sadiki, who nodded.
"Who will be on patrol today?" Zira asked. "I don't know," Sadiki whispered in reply.
"Someone's coming! Buru, go!" Msafiri whispered urgently. Buru, a rather frail brown lion with a thick, dark mane, nodded once and quickly dashed behind another tiny hill. He pulled out the freshly killed carcass of a young antelope. A few lions licked their lips at the sight of the meat. Zira growled at them, warning them not to interfere.
Buru pulled the carcass onto the flat area in front of the tiny hills. He pulled it as far as he could, and began to eat. Sure enough, a Pridelander lioness, who had been told to patrol the area that day, soon approached.
"You are not a Pridelander, and have no right to steal our prey," the female stated, growling at Buru. Buru began his act. He gasped. "This prey belongs to a pride!? I'm terribly sorry! Oh, goodness! These are such beautiful lands, and with so much food and water...I could have guessed a pride would live nearby, I suppose. A respectable one, I'd guess."
"And you would have guessed correctly," the female said. "I will allow you to keep your kill, and eat it here, but after that you must leave. If I find you here again, I will have no choice other than to chase you off." Buru nodded briskly. "Of course, of course. I thank you for letting me finish this food. I haven't eaten in weeks!"
The female snorted. "Sorry to hear you're a lousy hunter, sir. Well, I must be on my way. I need to patrol my lands. I will return here when I'm done and I will expect to see you gone."
"Certainly, certainly!" Buru said. "But first, might I ask, what pride resides here?" The female had begun to walk away, but stopped. "The pride of King Kovu and Queen Kiara," she replied.
"How large is your pride?" he asked. "Quite large," the female replied, slowly and hesitantly. "Almost twenty members, ever since we merged with another pride long ago..." Buru nodded. "I hope your pride prosperes. No sick members, are there?" The female shook her head, and went on her way.
"Now!" Buru shouted. The female froze, looking behind her, her eyes full of fright. From behind a small hill, Zira's pride raced forth, coming directly at her.
Zira cackled, leaping onto the female, and lashing about. Others dived in. The female gave shrieks and roars of horror, and began to throw the lions off. Zira's pride was mainly composed of weak lions in need of food. Zira quickly realized they likely should have waited to begin their plans.
But the pride continued to attack. Each time, the female managed to throw them off, but suffered cuts and painful blows. She gasped for breath after throwing a last lion off.
Zira, Msafiri, and Sadiki, the strongest, leapt onto the female, ripping and clawing at her fur and skin. Sadiki pinned the female down and wrestled with her, accidently throwing Msafiri and Zira off.
Great excitement filled Sadiki. She'd hardly gotten a good look at her enemy, but what did it matter? She seemed to be winning, and the fight was absolutely thrilling.
Sadiki rolled the female onto her back, and pinned her down. She clawed at the enemy's legs, and a few lions darted over to help ensure that the enemy was indeed too weak to fight back. Sadiki pushed against the enemy's jaw and chest, exposing the throat. The female breathed rapidly, obviously terrified. Sadiki spread her jaws, white teeth gleaming, and slowly sunk her head towards the female's throat.
"Finish 'er off, Sadiki!" Zira cried. The female froze. Her head darted in the direction of Zira's voice. "Zira!? Sadi-" her last sentence was never finished, for Sadiki had pierced the throat and rendered the female lifeless. Blood trickled down Sadiki's chin, dripping into the enemy's open throat. She cackled, smiling as she gazed upon the wound she'd inflicted on her fellow Pridelander...now her enemy.
Curious, Sadiki pushed on the nose of the dead female to let the head drop over the throat, so that she could see just who she'd killed. She gazed into the lifeless eyes, and studied the features.
Then, she froze. Her wide smirk fell, becoming a frown of terror. Her tensed muscles eased, and her whole body she'd held in such a strong, confident manner just moments ago seemed to be reduced to a pile of goo.
"Brilliant, Sadiki! The plan is working! We'll just present the dead body to the Pridelanders, and they'll have to fight us!" But Sadiki was deaf to Zira's praise. For the face she was staring into was not just the face of a dead lioness, but the face of a dead best friend. A dead Vitani.