Im back sooner than I thought I would be! Here's the resolution to that nasty cliffhanger... :)
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- Ed's 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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Maumbu's POV
Maumbu jumped from rock to rock, making his way down the ramp that lead to the ground. Behind him, he heard the snarls of angry lionesses, who were giving chase. Earlier, they had slashed him on his flank, and he was bleeding all along his back. Unfortunately for him, the dripping blood would only make it harder for him to evade the enraged lions.
Well, he hoped the injuries had at least served a purpose, he had garnered them while trying to allow Banzai and Shenzi time to escape. Last he saw, they were climbing up the walls of Pride Rock, trying to evade Simba. Hopefully they would make it out, but it would certainly require some thinking on the terms of Banzai.
He made it down onto soil, and he broke into a sprint. Behind him, the lionesses did the same. He had shorter legs than a lion, so it wouldn't be long before they caught up to him. He wanted to avoid that at all costs, one on one a lion would almost always beat a hyena.
He jumped into a bush, splashing the green leaves with bright red. Then, he shuffled to the side as quickly as he could. When the lioness jumped into the bush to tear him apart, he lashed out with both his forelegs, and cut a long gash on the lion's stomach. The lioness hit the other side of the bush, and immediately roared in pain. Being a healer, Maumbu knew that the stomach was the weakest spot on any animal. Most life threatening battle injuries were sustained there. So it certainly served to momentarily incapacitate the lioness.
The cries of the lioness would serve to distract the others for a few moments. He had to make a break for it now. Maumbu jumped from the bush, and continued to sprint away from Pride Rock. Hyenas had pretty good stamina, but Maumbu was beginning to tire from his wounds. All he had to do was get back to the grove of trees where the hyenas were hiding, and then he could warn them of the vengeful lions that would inevitably come.
As he ran over the crest of a hill, he glanced back at Pride Rock, and he saw the lions regrouping. They would give chase in a few minutes, he had to beat them to his clan! Panting, he made his way back through the grass to his friends. The night sky shone down onto the savannah, casting it's silver light across the grass.
Eventually, he spotted the sentry who stood guard outside the hyena's hiding spot.
"Macho! Hey Macho!" He shouted, running up to the stern lieutenant.
"Maumbu? Is that you?" Replied Macho, as he squinted in his direction.
"Yes! Yes it's me. Listen Macho, we have to run! We've gotta get out of here before the lionesses find us!" Replied Maumbu, as he arrived at Macho's position.
"The lionesses? Are they chasing you? And where's Matriarch Shenzi and Banzai? Asked Macho, looking worried.
"Well… The talk didn't go well. Shenzi accidentally said something that offended Simba, and Simba nearly killed Shenzi. Except Kiara intervened at the last moment, and we ran out of the den, pursued by lions. I ran one way, they ran the other. I couldn't check if they escaped or not, I was too busy trying to avoid having my throat torn out. I gave the lions the slip, but they're still searching for me. And,.. I left a trail of blood. They'll find it eventually, and follow it back here. If if they catch us, it's going to be a bloodbath." Explained Maumbu hurriedly.
"We've got to get everyone out of here then. Stay here and watch for lions. I'm going to alert Fahama, and we'll run back to what's left of the Graveyard. It'll serve as a sanctuary from hunting lions, at least for the moment." With that, Macho turned around and ran into the grove of trees.
Maumbu sat himself down and stared out at the savannah, eyes roving for any sign of murderous lions. Then, a hyena came up from behind him and started to whimper.
"Oh. Hey Ed." Said Maumbu. Ed looked at him, and started to sound out different noises and squeals.
"You want to know where Shenzi and Banzai are?" Asked Maumbu. Only him and Banzai had ever understood what Ed was saying. He had a whole different language he used, and Maumbu had taken the time to try to understand it when he was younger.
"Well… Your friends didn't make it back with me. Hopefully they escaped, but…. It didn't look good for them the last time I saw them.
In response, Ed growled a bit.
"Look Ed, I did my best. I'm the only reason they had a chance at all. I just got lucky and ran back here." Said Maumbu. He didn't want Ed to hate him for abandoning his friends.
Ed whimpered again, and pointed back at Pride Rock.
"Ed, don't go looking for them. If any lionesses see you, they'll kill you." Warned Maumbu. Ed never was a fighter, and usually had trouble focusing on tasks. If he went back to Pride Rock, he didn't have a chance.
Ed growled again, and made a face at Maumbu.
"I'm serious Ed, don't go. I know they are your friends, but the best thing to do now is wait for them. Shenzi is resourceful, I'm sure they'll be fine." Reassured Maumbu.
With that, Maumbu turned back to the empty savannah. He couldn't let Ed distract him from his job. Next to him, Ed whimpered, sounding indecisive. Suddenly, Ed ran past Maumbu, and bolted towards Pride Rock.
"No, Come back here Ed!" Shouted Maumbu, surprised. What was Ed thinking? Completely ignoring his calls, Ed continued to run across the grass.
"Ed, stop! You know, if the lions kill you, it won't be my fault!" He shouted. Ed didn't even glance back, and kept running. Cursing in frustration, Maumbu stayed where he was. If he chased after Ed, he'd be abandoning his post as sentry. It would be his fault if the lions attacked without warning.
As Ed ran off into the darkness of the night, Maumbu hoped he would at least be successful in finding Shenzi and Banzai.
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Banzai's POV, a few minutes earlier.
"No!" Cried Banzai, as Shenzi tumbled over the cliff.
He ran to the edge, and watched, while filled with horror, her descent. The first two times she hit the rocks, she gave sharp cries of pain, but the third time, no sound was heard. And then she fell out of sight, into a small ravine hundreds of feet below them.
"No….. Shenzi!" He cried again, his eyes wide as he stared down the cliffside. He glanced to his right, and saw that Simba was now running towards him, probably to finish the job. He wouldn't allow him to get the satisfaction of of knocking a second hyena of the cliff however.
Before Simba made it to him, Banzai jumped over the edge, and started to slide down the cliffside. He picked up speed, and had to spread out his legs to keep his balance. Dirt and small rocks got caught in his claws, but he would remove them later.
Eventually, he skidded to a stop, now at the bottom of Pride Rock. He looked back up the way he came, and he saw Simba frowning down at him, all the way up there. Then, Simba turned around and walked away without ceremony.
It didn't seem as if Simba was intent on keeping up the chase, so Banzai figured he was okay for the moment. Now he had to find Shenzi, and make sure she was all right.
"Shenzi! Shenzi, where are you?" He shouted, as he looked around the rocks. She had to be around here somewhere, he had seen her fall into this area.
"Shenzi! Please answer me!" He repeated, starting to get more worried. Where the heck was she?
"Come on Shenz, this isn't funny! Answer me!" He pleaded into the air. He hopped into the tiny gorge he saw her fall into earlier. She had to be around here! Then, he turned the corner of the ravine he was searching in, and he stopped.
There, in front of him, was Shenzi, lying on her side. She wasn't moving, and something seemed to be wrong with the way she was lying.
Banzai didn't think legs could bend that way…..Then, his gaze traveled to another part of her body.
He didn't think that would normally bend either.
"Oh no….. No no no no no no no no no! Shenzi!" Cried Banzai, as he ran up to her and poked her in the chest, trying to get her to move.
"Come on Shenzi! Wake up! Come on come on come on!" Banzai was on the verge of tears now, why wasn't she moving!
"Just… Please! Say something!" Pleaded Banzai. "Please… Something. Anything." Shenzi didn't move, no matter what his prompt.
"No!" He screamed, his cries rending the air. "She didn't deserve this! She didn't deserve this…." Banzai was crying now, but he wasn't trying to hold the tears back.
"Why! What twisted, screwed up fate is this? All she wanted was to protect and provide for her clanmates! And she gets this!?" Banzai screamed up at the night sky, tears streaming down his muzzle.
"No! No, this can't be happening, why was she taken! It's too soon! I never told her…. I never told her how I felt! I… I… I never got the chance! And, now, it's too late, it's too late forever!" Banzai whimpered next to Shenzi, and lied down, continuing to sob. Why was fate so cruel? Why was fate so cruel!
He wanted to nuzzle up next to her, to try for one last bit of comfort, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. She never let him do anything of that sort before, it would be disrespectful to do it now. Even so, he stayed next to her, sobbing, and avoiding looking at her face. It would cause him to break down even further, and he couldn't handle it.
Why did this have to happen?
Simba. That was it. He was the reason for this, it was him that knocked her over the edge. Banzai growled, and he stood back up to glare at Pride Rock.
"I curse you Simba!" He yelled, perfectly aware he probably couldn't hear him. It didn't matter, it still had to be said. "I curse you, with every bone in my body! One day, I don't know when, but one day in the future, we'll see each other again Simba! Even if it's going to be in the very depths of hell! And when that day comes, I'm going to tear your throat right out of that neck! And as you struggle to take your last breath, I'm going to tell you exactly why I did it! So you had better sleep with one eye open, cause it's going to happen eventually!" Banzai finished his rant, and looked back down at Shenzi.
"Don't worry Shenzi, I promise, upon my life, that I will do exactly what you would have wanted me to do. I'll protect the clan to the very best of my ability, no one is going to harm them ever again. I don't know how yet, but they will all be fed. They won't starve. I'll finish what you started." Promised Banzai. Revenge would have to wait. Shenzi would have preferred that he watched out for the clan instead of going on a suicidal mission to kill the king. He would get to it, but he had to do this first.
But before even that, he would spend a few more minutes with his childhood friend. One last time. One Last Try, to tell her how he felt. Even if she couldn't hear him.
"Shenzi,... I'm sorry, that I couldn't stop Simba. I'm sorry, for all those times that I let you down. I'm sorry that I let this happen, that I didn't warn you in time. But Shenzi, I tried. All of those times, when I didn't come up to snuff, I was doing my best….. I was doing my best for you. I…. I loved you Shenzi, even before I knew the meaning of the word. And I still love you." There. He had finally said it. Too late, but he had said it.
Banzai raised his right foreleg to rub his eyes clear of the salty liquid. He had had enough of water today, he didn't need more. He sat there, staring down at his childhood friend, not moving.
He didn't notice it at first, but Ed came up from behind him, and kept him company. Ed whimpered, as he realized what this meant. Banzai finally turned around slowly, and walked away, with Ed following. He had to get back to the rest of the hyenas, and tell them what happened. He, Macho, and Fahama would come up with something. Three heads were better than one.
Ever so slowly, he trudged out of the ravine with Ed. The world seemed so much colder now, the stars seemed to shine with hate, not warmth.
Everything seemed worse, now that Shenzi was dead.
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Kovu's POV
Kovu and Kiara had made a hasty exit from Pride Rock when they saw Simba returning. He had looked angry, so they figured they would give him a day or two to calm down before they spoke to him again. Simba's wrath wasn't something to to mess with.
They walked around the backside of Pride Rock, since that was where none of the lionesses had gone. They were all searching for the rest of the hyenas, since Maumbu had gotten away. He had scratched Vitani real well on the stomach whilst doing so, and now the lionesses wanted revenge.
They of course excused themselves before the lions departed, and now they were headed off in the opposite direction of the search. The weight of what they had done, defied the king, caused a uncomfortable curtain of silence to descend upon them. Which was exactly why they were going to give Simba time to cool down.
Kovu was hopping over a small ravine, when his paw slipped and he fell in with a thud.
"Oof!" He cried.
"Hey Kovu, I don't think that's how a lion jumps you know." Joked Kiara, as she hopped in next to him.
"Sorry, my paw got caught on something." Replied Kovu, in an attempt to excuse himself from the embarasment. Then, he saw something that caught his eye. "Hey Kiara, there's another animal here." He said, as he padded over to a lump of grey fur. He turned it over, and got a good look at the face.
He gasped.
"Hey Kiara, over here, it's Shenzi!" He called. Kiara came running, and she gasped as well when she saw the hyena. Two of her legs were broken, one foreleg and a backleg on the opposite side. And, unfortunately, it looked like her back was broken.
Kiara leaned down to Shenzi's chest, and pressed her ear against Shenzi's fur. She stood there for a moment, listening. Then she pulled her head back, and looked at Kovu with a smile.
"She's still alive!"
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Whoops…. Looks like Banzai forgot to check for a heartbeat! -_- Anyhow, things look even worse for Shenzi! Is her back completely broken? And two of her legs too! Man…. I'm really beating her up in this story aren't I. Well, if you liked this chapter, leave a review! It's a fanfiction Crime to be following a story but not review you know. Anonymous reviews are great too! And if you think you spotted some mistakes in the writing, tell me where I messed up! I'm talking more about sentence structure blunders, and not petty grammar and spelling mistakes, but those work too. Remember, I want to improve my writing, and the best way to do it is by correcting things like run-on sentences! So leave a review if you liked it. Constructive criticism accepted. No Flaming!