I got this idea from a story called 'A Light for everyone' by Alex Draco. The beginning of this story is similar to the beginning of his. However, my story goes in a bit of a different direction. But it was inspired by that story! You should go check it out, it's very well written in my opinion. One more thing. I am using some of Tearthgrrl OC's, just because they really add to the story. Tearthgrrl hasn't added anything to her profile for three years now, so I figured it would be okay to use some of her OC's. But credit where it's due!

Tearthgrrl OC's:

Maumbu- Eds big brother, a healer, sort of like Rafiki.

Hasina- Maumbu's mate

Anyways, on with the fanfic!

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Kiara and Kovu were on their patrol, skimming the western border of the Pridelands. Earlier that day, Simba had assigned this area to them, and Kiara knew Kovu was determined not to fail. He feared disappointing Simba, ever since he had been accused of being a spy and was banished. Kiara had gotten Simba to trust Kovu since then, but she knew he didn't want to undergo that experience again.

"Hey Kiara, hurry up!" Yelled Kovu. Kiara looked up, and realized she had been standing still. Kovu was already some forty paces ahead of her, and he was glancing back, yelling at her.

"Oh, sorry. Wait up!" She replied, as she ran to catch up to Kovu.

"You know, I thought you were the faster one. But now I see that's only in physical speed!" Teased Kovu.

"Hey! I am not slow! I was just thinking!" Replied Kiara.

"Yeah, about what?" Said Kovu, with a smirk still across his face.

"Nothing much, mainly just about this patrol." Confessed Kiara.

"Why? This patrol is the easiest one of the bunch! All we have to do is walk alongside the border! Literally nothing else. We don't have to watch for intruders, we don't have to mark locations, all because there is nobody in the Elephant Graveyard! Not since the hyenas were chased off, the mongrels they are." Kovu replied.

" I suppose you're right," sighed Kiara. He really was. The western borders had no foes waiting on the other side, and no animals would ever take up residence among the barren bones. Just then, as she stared at the Elephantine remains, she saw a flash of movement, a dusty gray pelt lept from behind one rock to behind another. Eyes narrowing, she continued to stare at the spot she saw the animal disappear. However, she didn't see it resurface, and was unable to spot what sort of creature it was.

"What is it Kiara? What did you see?" Asked Kovu, for he realized that Kiara was staring into the Graveyard.

"Nothing Kovu, nothing" replied Kiara, clearly distracted. She knew she had seen something, but what animal would take up residence in the most barren part of the region?

" You don't seem so sure of yourself,,," trailed off Kovu.

"No really, its nothing. I just thought I had seen something. But I suppose it must have just been the wind blowing some dead grass through the rocks." Lied Kiara. She knew that wasn't what she had saw. She would have to check it out later, later tonight.

"Oh. I then suppose that is just what it was. Well then, let's continue on. I'm hungry, I want to finish this and then grab some of the lionesses kills. Hopefully they brought back wildebeest!" Mused Kovu.

"All right then, let's finish it quickly. But first,," Kiara paused beside Kovu. "I'll race ya there!" She tagged him on the shoulder, then took off into the savannah.

"Not again!" Grumbled Kovu, as he ran to catch up to kiara.

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Banzai knew Shenzi had not eaten once in the past week. Even with the limited meals they already had, Shenzi was starving herself way further than she had to. He knew she felt responsible for getting everyone enough food as the clan matriarch, but even she had to eat. He saw that Shenzi was barely able to walk, much less hunt, but still she pushed herself farther than he ever would be able to. He admired that in her. Actually, he admired a lot more than that, but he would never admit it to her. She would never like him in that sort of way,,, that much had been made clear to him during all his years of growing up with her. They had met when they were only about a year old(in hyena years) and had become friends since. However, she had always criticised those that had gotten themselves mates, much to a more mature Banzai's dismay. He had long ago given up the possibility of having Shenzi as a mate, but he still wished sometimes that Shenzi would fall in love with him someday.

A sputtering laugh brought him back to reality. Ed bounced up and down, pointing at a small crack in the side of the crevice they were walking in.

"What is it Ed?" Asked Shenzi, as she walked up to the spot where Ed was pointing. Banzai went up to it as well, and peered inside.

"Hey, I can see some lizards in there!" He exclaimed excitedly. Lizards! Their skin was scaly and inedible, but if you tore that away, there was soft meat on the inside! And here he had found a whole family of lizards!

"Really? Lizards?" Shenzi perked up.

"Yeah, there seems to be a whole group of them down there!"

"Let me see". Shenzi gave a half hearted push against Banzai, to which Banzai backed away. Shenzi peered down the miniature crevice. "This is great! With all of those lizards, we'll be able to replenish Maumbu's food supplies!" She said.

"And," Banzai added, "You will finally get something to eat." Ed laughed in agreement.

"How many times do I have to tell you, I am fine!" retorted Shenzi. But Banzai knew she was not. He knew she had to have some food soon. He could tell Shenzi was barely standing as it was.

"No, your not Shenzi. You need to eat something! No hyena can go for more than a week without food!"

"Banzai. I know you think that you know what I need. But you are not me. I know when I need to eat, and when I don't. Right now, I am fine I can assure you."

"But Shenzi!"

"Will you just shut up Banzai! Shut up!" Shenzi growled as she tried to swat him upside the head. The swing was feeble however, and Banzai sidestepped it.

"Come one Shenzi, just one of these lizards will do you good!" As they had been arguing, Ed had been scooping out the lizards from the crack and killing them with a blow to the spine. Already he had amassed thirteen lizards, and was piling them up.

"I. Am. Fine." Spat Shenzi. Just then, her stomach let loose an almighty growl that echoed of the crevice walls. Banzai cocked an eyebrow."Okay! Okay! Alright! I'll take one of these stupid reptiles!" Relented Shenzi. She stepped up to the pile and snagged a plump lizard with her claws. "Now take those lizards to Maumbu! And hurry it up!"she snarled. Banzai saw Shenzi turn around with the lizard in her mouth, and slowly trudge away. Sighing, he grabbed a brace of lizards in his jaws and motioned for Ed to do the same. Once they had all the green reptiles, they went of to go find Maumbu's den.

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Shenzi was extremely dizzy. Lack of nutrients did that to you. She knew Banzai was right, that she should eat something, but all she could think of at that moment was that Hasina, Maumbu's mate, had recently had another pup. The clan needed all of its pups, and if Shenzi wanted to increase its chances for survival, helping to feed the mother with the milk would help.

So she walked off to Hasina's den, trying to ignore spinning feeling she had. Eventually, she found herself standing in front of her friends den.

"Hello? Hasina?" She called.

"Yes? Who's there?" Came a voice from within the den. The voice sounded tired, even more exhausted than Shenzi felt. She supposed giving birth a few days before did that to you.

"Hello Hasina" Shenzi replied, trying to put on a warm smile.

"Oh! Hello matriarch Shenzi! What can I do for you? Hasina replied.

"Don't worry, this isn't a formal visit. I just came to check up on you and to give you something."

Shenzi produced the lizard with her paw and pushed it forward to Hasina. "Where is the new arrival?"

"He's right here" Hasina replied somewhat proudly, as she lifted her leg to show a healthy male hyena pup suckling on his mother's milk.

"Congratulations Hasina! It seems to be doing well." Shenzi looked down on the pup with warmth, knowing that this pup was part of the future of her clan.

"Thank you Shenzi! And many thanks for the lizard, It'll help with the milk."

"Your welcome Hasina. Goodbye!" Said Shenzi as she turned around and exited the den. Immediately after leaving, Shenzi was hit with another bout of dizziness. Groaning, she stumbled to one side, and fell over. Her stomach and head were starting to throb. "Ugh,,, I should have listened to Banzai." She muttered to herself. She got up unsteadily, and stumbled off, desperate to find something, anything to eat.

She was walking next to the geysers, when she tripped on a rock and fell forward. She found herself staring down a green steam geyser. With amazement, she saw floating in the bubbling green water, one of the lizards Banzai had caught earlier that day! Greedily, she hooked it with her claws. Banzai or Ed must have accidentally dropped it in as they were carrying them to Maumbu. She tore the skin off, seeing the soft flesh beneath. She was just about to take a bite when she realized where she had found it. The lizard had been floating in one of the green geysers! The water in those geysers was poisoned! Groaning, Shenzi started to throw it away. But, she couldn't get herself to do it! She was starving!

"Well, I suppose a small bite couldn't hurt,,," she mumbled to herself. She took a little bit of the lizard and swallowed. It was heavenly! She quickly took another bite of the lizard. And another, and another, until the lizard was nothing but skin and bones. She licked the bones and skin, trying her best to get every last bit of meat on the reptile. Once she was done, she got up, feeling partially satisfied. She still felt hungry, but it was once again bearable. Staring at the lizards remains, her eyes wandered over to the geyser she had fished it from. Oh no! She had just eaten an animal that was floating in the geysers water! There was some sort of poison in it, she knew, for any time someone had drank the water, they had died soon after. But, she hadn't really drank it had she? No, she hadn't. She might have sipped a little in along with the lizard, but that was a small amount. Perhaps she was alright, she reasoned. Yeah, she was probably fine. No reason to worry. Shenzi smirked as she left the cave in which she was standing. She had no reason to worry.

She had barely made it five paces from the mouth of the cave before she started feeling nauseous.

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Looks like Shenzi might be in a little bit of trouble! Also, it seems Kiara plans to go and explore the Elephant Graveyard! Will she discover the hyenas?

Constructive criticism accepted! No flaming!