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
By the way, whenever you see : ()()()()()()(()(())(), it means the point of view is changing. Also, I did some research and it turns out that even if a person is totally blind, they will still be able to see random lights and colors, those lights and colors just don't correspond to what is actually in front of them. But for the purpose of this story, total blindness will mean that all the person will be able to see is darkness. No lights or colors, just a black void. To clear things up, 'Macho' means 'vigilant' in swahili. And the name is pronounced 'maco' don't pronounce the ch sound.
Anyways, on with the fanfic!
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Banzai was nervous. And and his hyena friends shouldn't be here at all. The Pridelands were strictly off-limits to hyenas, and due to hunger and starvation, none of their group were fit enough to fight off an angry lion. He doubted they even had the strength to run away fast enough. The lions were well fed, and the hyenas were just skin and bones. But hopefully they wouldn't run into any lions during their visit.
The group advanced slowly, keeping low in the grass. If they were spotted, they were doomed. Currently, Banzai and Macho's hunting pack were following the scent of their leader, Shenzi. She had been missing for two days now, highly irregular for any Matriarch, especially Shenzi, who was overprotective of her clan.
When they searched the Graveyard, they had found a scent trail that had lead them into the Pridelands. The unfortunate part was that the scent of a lion also permeated the scent of the Matriarch. It was as if they had walked side by side.
Banzai knew that wasn't very likely. But he didn't want to entertain the other possibility that entered his head. That the lion had attacked Shenzi and dragged her body back to Pride Rock.
No, he wasn't going to think about that.
Macho stood up on the hill in front of Banzai. He gazed out, and sniffed the air again. He took a quick precautionary sweep of the area, and came back to the group. He had a confused expression on his face, as if he was pondering something.
"Well, her scent veers away from PrideRock, so that's good, but the scent of the lion still mingles with Shenzi's scent. It turned exactly where our Matriarch's scent turned. It seems more and more likely they both went to the same place, wherever that is."
"Which way does the scent turn? Left, towards the river, or right, towards the water hole?" Asked Banzai.
"Left, towards the river." Answered Macho.
"What else is out there other than the river?" Asked another hyena.
"Antelopes like to graze in that direction, but not much else. I myself haven't been in that area before, I've mostly stuck in the center and southern areas of the Pridelands. The north and east still remain largely foreign to me."
"I don't care if we haven't been there before, that's where Shenzi went, so that's where we are going!" Said Banzai, slightly annoyed at the slow proceedings.
"It's just that, that area could be a place where lionesses like to gather. We could be walking into
A lion stronghold!"
"The lionesses stick to Pride Rock and the water hole. We should be fine."
"Really?"
"I saw how they acted during Scar's reign. They don't go very far from either location, unless they are hunting."
"So we should be fine." Said Macho. "Now come on, the scent leads this way." Banzai and the rest follow Macho as they crept through the grass. It was early morning, and animals would begin to start waking up in another hour or so. The sun began to rise as they snuck past sleeping herds of wildebeest. They were so plump! But if they tried to eat some, they could cause a disturbance. And they didn't want to be noticed now.
Eventually they came upon a small cave, sort of like a den. Banzai took another sniff, and to his surprise, Shenzi's scent was stronger! She was somewhere close! He took another sniff, and to his horror. The scent of the lion was also stronger. They all crouched low in the grass, trying to stay hidden as they looked about for the location of the lion scent.
"I can smell Shenzi! But, I can also smell a lion. What do we do?" Asked Banzai.
"Her scent is stronger alright. But we have to be careful if we are to avoid the lions who are about. Spread out, slowly, and if you see either the Matriarch or a lion, come back here as quick as you can, but don't be seen!" Ordered Macho.
Banzai crept forward, looking left and right for any sign of either Shenzi or their adversaries. But Shenzi was close! She had to be around here somewhere. Filled with hope, he decided to check the den they were next to. He got closer, careful to stay near the ground. Then, to his horror, he saw that on top of the hill in which the den was situated, sat two lions, talking to each other. One was a lioness, but the other was a full grown male lion! And they were naught but fifteen feet away from him! He could be seen! And then eaten!
Oh, where the heck was Shenzi? Banzai sniffed again, and the scent was stronger near the den. Was Shenzi inside the den? Maybe she was hiding from these two lions in there. If she was in there, he had to go check it out! But first he would go back and tell the rest of his group about the situation. He turned around and crept back the way he came from.
When he got back where they had previously gathered, he saw none of his comrades had yet returned. He sat there impatiently, waiting for them to get back. After a few minutes, Macho appeared, and slowly the rest of them arrived as well. When they were all here, Banzai addressed them.
"Okay listen up. I have some bad news, but I may have found Shenzi." At this, the hyenas perked up, eager to hear what he had to say.
"In that cave over there, Shenzi's scent was rather strong. Unfortunately, right over that cave, there are two lions, and one is a full grown male lion." The hyenas gasped in dismay.
"What we need to do is get someone to sneak in that cave then. They can't be noticed, or we're all doomed. So, anyone want to volunteer?" Said Macho.
There was a pause.
"I will." Said Banzai.
"Good then, we have our man. Okay Banzai, be careful. Just go slow, and we should be fine."
"Yeah yeah, I got it."
"Okay Banzai, good luck." A chorus of similar statements echoed among the other hyenas. Banzai crept back to the cave, and saw the lions were now arguing vigorously over something. Whatever it was, it was a heated debate. Banzai stayed low, and as quickly as he could, he dashed over to the mouth of the den. He had made it! He paused, and he heard some of the dialogue of the lions above him.
"Kiara, please, you can't help them! I mean, saving one is bad enough, and I won't tell Simba, but if you actually help to provide for them, that's like breaking the very laws of nature!"
"Kovu, you know that there isn't enough food over there, I gave my promise that I would help!"
"Well, tell her,... it,... That you won't keep your promise! Kiara, how are you going to feed them on top of all your regular duties and patrols? Where will you find time to be with me? Where will you find the time to even sleep?"
"I'll figure it out. But Kovu, you have to admit, even you can take pity on a blind animal. Listen Kovu, she needs my help!"
"But, but,..." The lion called Kovu stuttered. Banzai did not have a clue what they were talking about, and he decided he didn't even care. So before the next line was uttered, he stepped into the cave, to see if there was anything in it. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw, right in front of him, was Shenzi!
Shenzi was right there, right in front of him!
He had found her! He wanted to let out a whoop of joy, but the lions above him made him keep silent. She had not yet noticed Banzai, she was bent over, licking her shoulders clean of something. Now, he would just explain the situation to Shenzi, and they would be out of here.
"Hey! Shenzi!" He whispered.
"What! What is it? Who's there?" Yelled Shenzi, as she whipped her head up and looked around. Her gaze went right over Banzai, as if she hadn't noticed him.
"Not so loud Shenzi! There are lions nearby."
"Banzai? Is that really you? How did you get here? Where are you?"
"What! Shenzi, I'm right here! In front of you!"
"Oh….."
Banzai saw Shenzi stare in his direction, seemingly searching for him. She had a sad expression on her face.
"Oh Banzai…"
"What? What Is it Shenzi?" Asked Banzai. He suddenly had a really bad feeling about the way Shenzi looked. He couldn't quite place it, but as she looked in his direction, something felt terribly wrong…..
"Just go away Banzai. I can't help you. Go back and tell the clan I'm not coming back. Ever."
"What?" Said Banzai. He couldn't believe his ears! What did Shenzi just say?
"Didn't you hear me Banzai? I said GO AWAY! Scram! And don't come looking for me again!"
"But Shenzi, what are you talking about? What do you mean, you're not coming back? The clan's starving! We need you now more than ever!"
"I can't help the clan Banzai! Don't you get it! I can't help them anymore!"
"Shenzi, what do you mean? What,,,, what do you mean by that?" What did she mean by that? She couldn't help them? Had Shenzi lost her nerve? No, Shenzi wasn't like that, something was wrong, very very wrong.
At that moment, the lions who had been arguing above them had heard their voices, and had come down to see what was going on. Macho and the rest of the hyenas were watching in horror as they saw the lions enter the cave Banzai had entered.
"Whats going on here?" Came a voice from behind Banzai. Banzai turned around, and he saw that at the mouth of the cave, the two lions he had snuck by were standing there, blocking the exit. On instinct, he backed up quickly, and walked into Shenzi.
"Gah, just leave already!" Spat Shenzi, as Banzai felt her claw his back.
"Ow! Shenzi, what was that for?"
"Just hold up everyone, stop right where you are." Said the lioness who was standing at the exit.
"No! Lions, I won't listen to you!"
"Do what she says Banzai" said an angry Shenzi, who was standing perfectly still, and hadn't yet looked at the lions.
"What? Why are we taking orders from lions? I thought those days were over!"
"It's not an order, it's a request." Said the lioness again.
"Oh yeah? A request that you will tear us apart for if we don't follow!"
"Listen hyena, I don't mean you any harm. I just want to talk, so I can explain a few things."
"Hah! Explain things? Like how since we trespassed you're kill me and Shenzi?"
"No, just listen. There's a reason Shenzi doesn't want to talk to you right now,"
That caught Banzai off-guard. How did the lion know Shenzi's name? And how did it know what Shenzi was thinking? He glanced back at his Matriarch, who continued to lick blood off her shoulders.
"What do you mean?" He snapped.
"Your Matriarch Shenzi…. She's blind."
Banzai stood there, trying to process what the lioness had just said. He blinked a few times, and looked back and forth from Shenzi to the lioness. He had always been told he was slow, but those two words took longer for him to process than sarcasm. When he finally realized what those two words meant, his eyes widened, and he felt as if the floor fell away from beneath him. Shenzi was blind? What?
"Shenzi, what exactly, what did she, that is, what is she," he sputtered. Shenzi turned towards him, her eyes open. She wasn't looking into his eyes, she was just turning towards the sign of his voice. But he looked into her eyes. And her eyes had lost all color, they had turned from white and yellow to gray. She really was blind, after all.
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Kiara saw the despair in Shenzi's face, and the disbelief in the face of the hyena called Banzai. She supposed she wouldn't like it much either, if she had found out Simba was blind. The hyenas clearly depended heavily on their Matriarch, and with Shenzi somewhat incapacitated, it must have been quite a shock.
"Banzai, she's right. I can't see anymore. I'm completely blind. Even with my eyes open, I can only see a black void." Shenzi paused for a few moments. "And if you ask me what is in that black void, I swear, I will hit you so hard on the head that you will be seeing stars!"
"But Shenzi, when did you, how….." Said Banzai
"You know after we caught those lizards? And you gave me one to eat? Well, I didn't eat it. I gave it to Hasina, you know she just had cubs. Later that day, as I was walking next to the green geysers, I saw another lizard floating in one of the geysers. I was overcome with ravenous hunger, and I scooped it out and ate it as quick as I could. Well, you know that the green water is poisonous. That night, I had a head splitting headache, and I lost control of my muscles. As I was convulsing on the ground, unconscious, Kiara over there found me. She brought me back here, and gave me some food to eat. When I woke up, I discovered the poison had taken my eyesight. So now I'm blind. And believe me, it sucks." Finished Shenzi.
But Shenzi, even if you can't see, why don't you want to come back to the Graveyard? Why don't you want to come back to your clan? Or to me?"
"I can't help you guys anymore. A blind Matriarch is useless! Completely, stinking, Useless!" By now, Kiara saw that Shenzi was extremely angry. She must hate being blind, and she had to take her anger at her situation out on something. Even if it was her own clanmate.
"Okay, everyone calm down. Shenzi, I know you're blind, but you can still make decisions. You can still lead. You have to go back to the Graveyard. Me and Kovu will help bring in food from now on." Said Kiara.
"I will?" Said a surprised Kovu. Kiara nudged him in the shoulder, and gave him a glare. "Oh yeah, course I will." He amended.
"Even with you bringing in extra food, I can't help hunt. I would just be another mouth to feed, and I'm not a pup with my whole life ahead of me, I'm not important." Said Shenzi glumly.
"Shenzi, you are important! The whole clan counts on you! I count on you! You're my best friend!" Said Banzai. Kiara thought it looked as if the hyena had wanted to add to that, but she didn't say anything.
"Shenzi, it's like he says, the clan needs a strong willed leader, someone who is smart and knows how to make decisions. That someone is you." Kiara added.
"Shenzi, we really need you. You're the only one we all trust to get us through our hunger, to get us through the famine." Said Banzai.
Shenzi still looked extremely sad, and troubled. It was clear she thought she was simply dead weight by now, and would only drag her clan down. They had to convince her the clan needed her.
"Just come on Shenzi! Do it at least so you can say hi to Ed! He misses you!"
"Does my clan really need me?" She asked.
"If you don't return soon, we're going to fall into chaos. What's left of us will all die without organization. You're the smartest, we can't do it without you."
Shenzi sighed. Maybe she was taking their arguments into consideration.
"I suppose you're right Banzai. I'll go back. But I won't stick around if I become dead weight."
Kiara let out a sigh. Thank goodness! It was clear that the hyenas needed her.
"I'll be sure to drop off some wildebeest at the border tomorrow! Kiara chirped.
"Right. Make sure it's a fat one." Shenzi reminded her. "Now Banzai, where exactly is the exit?" Shenzi seemed extremely reluctant to ask that question. She probably didn't want to be reliant on anyone.
"Just follow the sound of my voice" came the reply. Kiara watched as Shenzi and Banzai walked out of the cave, and towards the Graveyard. Kiara hoped Shenzi and the hyenas would be alright. At least they had their leader back now.
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Alright! Another chapter in. I did this one during school hours, so sorry if some of it isn't perfect. And sorry if you felt the chapter end was a little too abrupt. But I really felt like writing something! Anyways, now that Banzai has found Shenzi, how will he react to her blindness? It was sorta covered in this chapter, but the next chapter will cover it more. Well, thank you for reading! If you liked it, please leave a review. The longer the better! Anonymous reviews work just fine too. Constructive criticism accepted. No flaming!