(Hi guys, Lenny here! So I know I haven't had a whole lot of lines in the story recently but Machungwa63 said I could do my own shameless self-promotion piece before you all went and read this chapter. Me and three of the other Siku Choka competitors got together and made a movie recently, about me! All you need to do to watch it is go to YouTube and type up "Feral Heart Lenny" and it should be the first video that shows up. You should be able to tell which one it is because it was uploaded by Machungwa63.

Now about the following chapter: another character does die, and the game gets ever closer to the end. And Machungwa63 told me to tell you that if you don't understand Simba's pep-talk during this chapter at all, then you need to watch "Airplane!" In fact, everyone should go and watch "Airplane!" anyways...it's really funny...but not as funny as my movie.

Alright, on to the story!)

(A/N: If you do watch the movie, bear in mind that I'm not exactly a great voice actor. Also, the characters in the movie are just based off the characters in this story...their personalities may differ slightly. As for the story...enjoy!)

The sun was now nearing its high-point in the sky. Within twenty minutes it would be sitting right above the Pridelands, and there would be no shadows.

My…how much can change in a day.

Twenty-four hours ago, Guvu had been revered as one of the greatest threats to win Siku Choka 27. Now, he was gone. Peponi had also been regarded as a potential spoiler, until she had met her demise. Tonka, also, had had potential, and now he was no more. Not only had these three competitors lost their chances of winning Siku Choka 27, they had lost their lives. And now, as a result of a recent buffalo stampede, they had been joined by one more.

Nala groaned as she lifted her aching head up from the ground.

"Ooh…" she moaned, placing a paw to her head, "…where are the painkillers?"

"Nala," came a voice from beside her, "you're okay."

The Prideland Queen was too sore to open her eyes, but she could vaguely remember the voice from before.

"Lenny?" she asked.

"Yeah. Still got your memory then. That was quite a fall you took."

A fall…oh…wait…yes! Of course…the Siku Choka…

It all rang back to Nala. Finally, she opened her eyes, making sure she was still on track. She felt a wave of relief pass over her when she realized she was.

"How long was I gone?"

"About twenty minutes, half an hour."

"Am I still leading?"

"I don't think so…"

"How's Simba? What about the stampede?"

"He made it through. You…uh…you want a full rundown?"

"Please."

"Bad news first or good news?"

"I don't care, just…give it to me alphabetically."

"Um…that would be bad news first."

Nala waved her paw, emphasizing to Lenny that she didn't care.

"That's fine. Perhaps it's better that way. How's Bilauri doing?"

"She's dead."

Nala's heart sank. That was abrupt.

"Bilauri?"

"Yeah…but she's the only one…the rest are fi…well…not fine…"

"Eboni?"

"She's conscious again. Hasn't scored yet though."

"Elvis?"

"Fine."

Dammit.

"Shairi?"

"She was the biggest beneficiary of the stampede…she's not too far behind you now."

"Shemshi?"

"Injured in the stampede. He was going for the same buffalo as you were and got hit. He got removed from the game. There's six of us left."

"And Simba's fine?"

"Yeah…" Lenny replied, "…in fact…he's…um…he's leading."

"Gods, these guys are idiots," Tumaini murmured, watching Zazu trying to explain how Nala could have got ten points while she was knocked out to Timon and Pumbaa.

"Look…the buffalo bled to death because of Nala's bite. So…even though she was knocked out at the time, she was still able to score. Do you gentlemen understand?"

"Uh…no…" Timon replied.

Zazu groaned again.

"Hey, hey, Nala's up!" Rafiki exclaimed, pointing down at the circuit.

The rest of the group all got to their feet and turned back to face the circuit. Indeed, they could tell, Nala had awoken from her sleeping state and was now awake, alert and talking to Lenny.

"My baby's okay!"

"Oh, I'm so glad, Sarafina," Tumaini commented, wrapping her arm around her former competitor.

"Fantastic, she's still in with a shot to win then!" Zazu commented, landing next to the crowd.

"Zazu, what are the scores again?" Tumaini asked.

"Uh…let me recall…"

First place: Simba: 358 points

Second place: Nala: 347 points

Third place: Shairi: 346 points

Fourth place: Eboni: 335 points

Fifth place: Elvis: 318 points

Sixth place: Lenny: 276 points

"You're kidding me…" stated Eboni, looking down at the scores after having arisen from her temporary unconscious state, "…those scores are far too high!"

"It was a large stampede," the track worker that she was speaking to, a jackal, replied.

Eboni shook her head.

"No…no…that's alright," she reassured herself. "I've got more energy than them, I can catch back up."

Eboni checked over her shoulder. She was still the first in ambush, and a lone antelope was on its way towards her.

Hopefully for her, two more pieces of prey would soon join, as Elvis was hunting a buffalo and Shairi was hunting a zebra.

Elvis was successfully able to kill the buffalo on farther down the front straight. His actions were warmly received as a bunch of female spectators began cheering him on, not knowing the dark side of Elvis's story.

Meanwhile, Shairi was waiting as long as possible to make her kill on the zebra, as she was charging it through the final corner unchallenged. If she waited long enough, she would be able to take the zebra down and line up first in ambush.

Her chances were beginning to look very good, if it wasn't for one small problem, which Eboni could tell: Shairi was beginning to tire out.

"In fact…" said Eboni, looking around at the rest of the competitors.

Elvis and Lenny…they're both behind in points.

Nala…look at her stumbling to try and get back up…she's injured.

Shairi is tired…

And Simba…well…I guess he's the one I'm really going to have to worry about.

Shairi took the zebra down at the perfect time; right after the prey-release point.

A new zebra was released, and Shairi was the first in ambush. However, the weariness of the lioness was beginning to show, as she missed her opportunity and let the new zebra run on by.

Meanwhile, Eboni was having a much more successful time with the rest of the prey, having successfully ambushed the antelope…passing the buffalo on by, which had gone to Shemshi…and then killing the zebra that Shairi had missed.

Three new pieces of prey were released, and Nala was beginning to realize that she was in trouble.

"I – can't – get – UP!" she moaned, frustrated.

"Nala, Nala, what are you doing?" asked her mate, running over towards her fearfully. "Look…if something's hurting, don't force it."

"I don't have a choice, Simba! I'm going to lose if I can't get up."

"Look, Nal', I've got us, okay? You said it yourself, remember? You just wanted it to be a Prideland win."

Nala rolled her eyes.

"Simba…not to seem like a jerk…but I meant me."

"Nal'…listen, I understand you're frustrated, alright? But think of what I've just been through for you. You think I've wanted to play this game the last half hour? Hell no! I've wanted to be by your side. However, the track workers said you'd be fine, so I moved on, against my own will, just to get some points so we could get a Prideland win. Don't strain yourself…Nal'…I almost thought I'd lost you…and now you're fine…I don't want you to lose that; you've got too much to lose."

Nala sighed. She looked up at her mate, helplessly.

"Simba…it's great to know that you care…but…"

"But what? Look at you, Nal' – you've been defeated! And why…no…don't answer, let me guess…you got distracted, didn't you? Like Shairi told us not to. You were thinking about Kiara instead of the game."

Nala paused for a moment. He was right…

"…Kiara really means that much to us, Nal'. Why are we willing to risk it?"

At this, Nala snarled.

"Because we shouldn't have to risk it!" she snapped back. "Sure, the Siku Choka is dangerous…for idiots! We know what we're doing out here, there were fourteen of us out here that could've played all day and had a nice harmless game. But no, we've got that blood-curdling Elvis over there who's picking us all off one by one! Look, he caused a stampede and took Bilauri down and almost took me…

"I joined this Siku Choka because I knew I had a shot, Simba, and I knew I wasn't stupid enough to make a foolish mistake that would cost me my life. But no…we've got him out there trying to screw us all over and take away everything that's important to all of us just so he can win. And you've been trying to tell me all day and I just never listened to you, and now look at me – I'm a state!" Nala screamed.

Finally, the lioness paused for a breath, heaving a deep sigh. "I…I just got so carried away in thinking I was the best, that I never stopped to listen to anyone else. And now…I've almost lost it all…which is why I've got to finish Simba…I've got to finish on a high. Because if not, I'm just going to be a joke…and I'm going to walk out of here in shame…"

Nala hung her head, but Simba seem unfazed. They'd both known that Nala had been a bit uptight all game, and now she had finally opened up and admitted to that. However, Simba didn't believe that that was a fault with her. She couldn't have played any other way…she wouldn't have made it this far, that's for sure, and, what's more…that just wasn't Nala.

At this, Simba couldn't help but feel a bit proud of his mate. It was this fire within her that he admired most about her.

Simba had now completely forgotten about the game. He stooped down and lied down on the ground at his mate's level. Simba knew that Nala had no interest in making eye contact, so he just joined her in looking off towards the distance.

It was time.

"You know, Nal'…there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something I've been keeping to myself all of these years. I met Uku once. She was passing through the Pridelands on a tour of the area and so I went to check she wasn't intruding. She told me who she was and what she was doing, but couldn't stay long. Had I known more about her, I would have brought her to see you of course. Anyways, you were all out hunting so we both went to watch you for a bit.

"After about half an hour of watching she turned to me. She told me, she said, 'Simba, I'm fifteen years old, I know I haven't got much time left. But I've seen a lot of crazy things in my fifteen years, Also, I've met a lot of great hunters…but I have to confess, your wife, Nala, has to be one of the greatest hunters I've ever seen.'"

Finally, Nala perked up.

"Uku said that?" she asked.

"Last thing she said to me, she said, sometimes, fate is fighting against you and everyone's telling you to give in…yet, at that moment, that's the time where you've got to get up and show the gods what you've got. Because they're testing you to see how much you really want it…and, if you let them put you down, well, there's nothing wrong with being a nanny."

At this, Nala finally took a look down at herself.

What was she?

She was muscle…she was claws…she was teeth…she was strength…she was a hunter…a huntress…a Siku Choka competitor…not a freaking nanny…

At this, Nala finally frowned. She clenched her eyes tight shut and pushed her feet down, biting her lip as pain soared through her muscles as she rose into standing position. Once she was completely up on all fours, she relieved the tension in her muscles. She was standing again…and it didn't hurt one bit.

Meanwhile, the crowd was letting out a large cheer for her, and some of them were chanting the Notre Dame Fight song.

Now, Nala finally felt dignified enough to meet glances with her mate.

"Excuse me Simba," she said. "I've got a game to win."

And with that, Nala took off.

Shairi was crouched down low to the ground, waiting for the three new pieces of prey.

Zebra.

She had her primary target already picked out, and she was ready to go. Yet her body was shaking and her heartbeat was racing. She tried calming herself down…but it was to no avail. Ever since her fantastic performance during the buffalo stampede she had tensed up. She was only three points out of the lead right now, and the game was closing in on its dying minutes.

For heaven's sake! This prey is taking forever!

"Shairi?"

"Wha—Winda?" Shairi called, distracted by the call behind her.

Indeed, standing there next to the hillside was her younger sister, smiling as she watched Shairi at work.

"You're doing mighty well," Winda told her. "I just wanted to tell you that Shemshi and I are both fine…you've needn't worry about us. Just take care of yourself out there."

"Not to sound like a brat, Winda, but I wasn't too worried about either of you at all."

"I know…" Winda replied, "…that's the problem."

Shairi blinked. "Okay…that makes no sense. Do you want me to worry about you or not?"

"What did I say?"

"The first time or the second time?"

"The first time."

"You told me not to worry about you or Shemshi. What do—?"

"And I also said to take care of yourself out there. That was the problem. I only said it ten seconds ago and you already forgot," Winda explained.

Shairi stuttered. Winda was right, she had forgot.

"But…look, Winda, I am going to take care of myself. I'm not that stupid."

"Ten points to win, you and Elvis are going for a buffalo…you take it?"

"Yes, because I'm a Siku Choka competitor and, my job, as a Siku Choka competitor, is to do what it takes to be a Siku Choka champion."

Winda had expected such a reaction. She sighed. "Shairi…come back…" she cooed. "I know you're in there."

"Winda…what are you talking about?"

"This isn't you Shairi! Shairi doesn't risk her life for a cup!"

"You're right, she didn't," Shairi replied. "But Shairi was also getting pretty upset about not having a cup, and Shairi knows that she's going to be quite upset if she walks away from this game knowing that she didn't give it all she had, and that she's going to live the rest of her life without a cup!"

"You can give it all you have and still come up short," Winda noted, "there's no shame in that."

"Yes there is Winda, it's called losing. I know, I've done it before."

"But what if the championship was never what you were after, Shairi? What if it was…something else?"

Shairi looked back at the prey to see how close it was. She still had a bit of time. She looked back over at her sister.

"What do you mean?"

"Well…and this may sound a bit cheesy, but…what if Shemshi was the cup?"

"What?"

"What if he's what you've been after…what if you haven't wanted the championship at all, you haven't wanted recognition at all? Face it, you're one of the most popular competitors but you're still unhappy about something…what if this whole time it's all just been a big show to win one lion's recognition. And, now that the cat's out the bag, don't you think he'd rather just see you alive, well, and saying that you did your best, rather than you come up short on an all-or-nothing?"

Shairi looked back over at the three pieces of prey. They were closer than ever now. She needed to get ready.

"Winda…I…I've got to go, okay? I'll take care of myself, I promise."

Winda saddened as her sister turned back around. She still wasn't entirely convinced.

The crowd remained quiet as Shairi set her hunt up. She began sneaking over towards the zebra, trying her best to put him on edge as to whether she was going to hunt him or not. If she could force him to run in front of the rest of the prey this way, she may be able to pick off the zebra and then turn around and get the antelope and the buffalo too.

But she was going to have to hurry up if she wanted it to work. Eboni was not too far away in ambush.

Shairi was now beginning to run out of space, so she chose to make her move.

It half-worked. The buffalo was not spooked, and so he was still behind Shairi and the zebra as they took off into a run. The antelope, however, had sensed the fear, and so he had broken out into a run in front of both of them.

Eboni watched as the antelope approached her. It was running very quickly, perhaps it was best if she'd just let this one pass on by. She would challenge Shairi for the zebra instead.

Next in line for the antelope, was Simba.

I've got to get this one, he thought. If I pass it up, Nala will try going for it…and Nala is in NO shape to go after an antelope this quick in her condition.

So, as the antelope ran on by, Simba moved out and gave chase. He'd gotten off to a good start, too. Chances were, in fact, that he would have this antelope down before he ever ran on by Nala, as the lioness had used a lot of track up via wandering around to check that her leg still worked.

Simba jumped up on top of the antelope and brought it down right as he was alongside Nala. However, he had only got the antelope by the legs. He needed to pull himself up farther to make the fatal bite to the neck.

Nala, however, was way ahead of him. As soon as the lioness had seen Simba take the antelope down next to her, she had ran out of ambush and up to the stranded antelope, tearing her teeth into the creature's neck before Simba could ever get there.

Simba's mouth hung as he realized what his mate had just did.

"You just took those points away from me," he moaned.

"Of course I did," Nala replied, smiling back. "You're my competitor, after all."

Nala made her way back over to the outside of track in ambush, with a defeated Simba on her tail.

Eboni had emerged triumphant in her battle with Shairi for the zebra, leading the latter to become very disgruntled as she pulled her way over into ambushing position.

The buffalo was now on its way.

Eboni can go for that one, Shairi thought. I'm not going to challenge her…I just hope somebody else does.

"Shairi," called Eboni.

Shairi looked over at her competitor, perplexed. "Yes, Eboni?"

"I'm not going to go after this buffalo yet, okay? Let's let all the prey by and start a chase around the track. Simba, Nala, you and I are all in the 350's now…we're just down on digit points, we need to run."

"Um…okay…one teeny problem…" Shairi noted, "…if we all run, they'll get the same digit points as us."

"No they won't," Eboni replied. "They don't have the energy."

I know, Shairi thought back, but nor do…nor do…nor do I…

Oh no…

I have to go for the buffalo. If I don't, that's going to start another chase around the track when the rest of the prey comes and I will lose. But surely Eboni would too, wouldn't she? Surely she can't be that fast?

Shairi didn't have time to analyze the situation any further, the buffalo was passing her by.

Shairi looked at Eboni right before she ran. "You planned this, didn't you?"

Eboni chuckled back. "It's a strategy game, my friend."

The buffalo passed them and Shairi took off. Eboni did too.

The crowd got up on their feet. Simba and Nala were leading and were both working, in a way, together. These two were in third and fourth. Whoever won this chase would certainly be the one who would pose the biggest threat to Simba and Nala for the end of this thing.

And Eboni had the edge.

Eboni jumped up onto the buffalo's back and began to bite down on its neck.

Oh no, Shairi thought, she's got it…I can't get up on its back now…and that's the only way I could get to its nec…w—wait…

Shairi gasped.

"No it's not," she whispered to herself.

As Eboni began to shake the back of the buffalo's nape in a struggle to kill it, the buffalo was beginning to slow down. Shairi put on an extra sprint and ran in front of it. It was time to do what her sister had taught her.

Shairi jumped up in the air and grabbed the buffalo's neck from below, digging her claws into its chest.

Holy heck, this is scary, thought Shairi, as she hung upside-down beneath the buffalo, just inches above the hardened ground.

However, she knew what she had to do. Shairi began shaking the buffalo's flesh side to side from beneath, while Eboni attempted the same from above. Eventually, the buffalo began to fall.

Time to abandon ship, Shairi told herself, as the buffalo began to lean over in her direction. Shairi gave one last tug before letting go, just in case that was all it had needed. Then, she jumped off, and let the buffalo collapse down to the ground behind her with Eboni on top.

The coffee-coated lioness jumped off the buffalo and allowed the track officials to wander up to the deceased buffalo. One of the workers turned its head sideways so that the other could examine the bites.

"Oh, that's an easy one," said the examiner, "it was the lion who got it from above."

"YES!" exclaimed Eboni, fist-pumping the air.

"No," groaned Shairi, her ears falling.

The track workers ran off course and the competitors made their way back to the outside of the circuit. It was time for the next round.

(A/N: About five to ten minutes left in the game. Who do you want to see win? Really it's a showdown between Simba, Nala, Eboni and Shairi...but Elvis and Lenny are still in the game too. Don't forget to watch the movie!)