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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Kiara's POV
It didn't pass soon.
Half an hour later, Kiara and Kovu sat out on of the the tree's branches, listening to Shenzi continue her mirth.
"Gah! Why won't she stop laughing! Hyena laughs are rather creepy you know!" Complained Kovu, with his paws over his ears
"It's called trauma Kovu. This is just her way of dealing with it." Replied Kiara, albeit also agitated somewhat. Just then, Shenzi yelled out.
"Hey! Anyone got a… Heh heh... cub sandwich lion around? Cause I sure could use one!" With her bad joke accompanied by more raucous laughter, Kiara had to admit this was getting really annoying.
"You know, I think I know why a hyena's laugh is creepy." Muttered Kiara.
"I heard you Kiara! Don't worry, just roll with it! I mean, how else are you supposed to distract yourself from the shit of the world? By finding it funny! You should try laughing sometime! They say it's the,,,,, best medicine! Ain't that swell?" Shenzi's levity was certainly creeping Kiara out. How could a creature act so happy, when so clearly in pain? Kiara knew it was artificial, but even so, still creepy.
"How about we give her another hour?" Suggested Kiara, as she got up and went to march down the tree.
"Good idea." Responded Kovu, as he fell in line behind Kiara.
"Hey Kovu! You know what I just realized? You're Simba's successor… Which means you're a king, fit for a meal!" Shenzi burst out in more hysterics, the laugh permeating the tree again. Kovu and Kiara hopped down, eager to get away for a few moments.
Once down on the ground again, Kiara eagerly knead her claws into the dirt. She preferred the grass over that tree anyway. The tree was stuffy, being down here was more open.
"Where do you want to go then, Kovu?" Asked Kiara to her mate.
"Actually, I was hungry. You want to go hunting?" Replied Kovu, as he gazed out at the savannah.
"Sure, I guess I'm a bit hungry too." Responded Kiara. Together, they walked off into the savannah, keeping an eye out for any animals they could snag.
"Hey! Over there!" Said Kovu, as he raised his forepaw and pointed over at a herd of gazelle.
"Sweet!" Added Kiara. Gazelle was her favorite! The meat was soft and supple, and was very lovely tasting. Eating some of those would certainly brighten her day.
They crept toward the oblivious herd, who were munching away on the grass peacefully. They stayed low, bellies to the ground, and upwind. The scent of some lions would surely scare of the delicious bounties. Closer and closer, until they were only a few feet away from one of the beasts.
Carefully, and with years of training, Kovu knew exactly how to pounce. He launched himself with his hind legs, and raised his forelegs, claws extended. The poor animal didn't even know what had hit it until Kiara saw Kovu kill it with one quick bite at the neck, snapping it. The rest of the herd bolted, fearing for their lives. Pretty soon, it was just the two of them and the carcass.
"Pretty expertly done, wouldn't ya say?" Bragged Kovu.
"Whatever. Just don't get a big head, cause I'll be there to remind you who's faster."
Reprimanded Kiara.
"Ehhh whatever. The important thing here is that I killed it. Isn't gazelle your favorite anyhow?" Asked Kovu, with that annoying grin of his gracing his face.
"Yeah, I suppose it is." Replied Kiara, as she took a bite of the nutritious meat. Mmmm! Delicious.
"Let me have some!" Said Kovu, as he sidled up to Kiara and started to eat as well. Pretty soon, they had stripped it of the meat, exposing the bones beneath. A grisly sight, to be sure, but nothing to a lion.
"Well, that tasted pretty good, wouldn't you say?" Said Kovu, as he finished up his meal.
"Indeed." Responded Kiara, as she wiped her mouth. They sat together, and watched the sun continue its journey toward the center of the sky. It was too bright to view directly, but still could be seen with stolen glances.
"Well then, let's head back and see how Shenzi is doing." Said Kiara. An hour had most certainly passed at this point.
"Okay then. I hope she's done with that creepy laugh though. It's gonna give me nightmares!" Replied Kovu, eyebrow cocked.
"Don't think about it then." Suggested Kiara.
"Well sure, but the first thing I do when I lie down is 'how peaceful this all is'. And then, I think, 'good thing there isn't anything to cause it to be not peaceful'. And after that, I think,' what could it possibly be that could make this not peaceful?' And then I think of something creepy, and the night is no longer peaceful!" Complained Kovu.
"That's your problem, not mine!" Teased Kiara, as she bounded back toward the giant tree. Pretty soon, they reached the foot of the tree and clawed their way to the back to the top.
"Hey Rafiki, where's Shenzi?" Asked Kiara, when she saw Shenzi wasn't where they had left her.
"She's ova dere, on one of dee branches." Pointed Rafiki, as he fiddled with some red liquids.
"Thank you!" Replied Kiara. She walked over to the hyena, jumping from branch to branch, leaving Kovu behind with the shaman.
"Hi Shenzi! Feeling better?" She asked cheerfully, when she found the hyena. Shenzi was lying on her side, her two broken legs stretched out in front of her. Her two working legs were curled up against her body.
"Oh. Hi Kiara." Grunted Shenzi in a monotone. When Shenzi didn't continue, Kiara pressed again.
"So then, why are you sitting out here?" She asked.
"To feel the wind in my fur. After losing sight, you really start to appreciate things like touch and scent. Taste doesn't really count. Hearing is important too." Replied the hyena.
"You're just here for the wind?"
"Pretty much."
"You enjoy it?" Asked Kiara.
"Yeah. One of my favorite activities used to be running through the grass as fast as I could across the savannah. You can't really do something like that in the Graveyard. Of course, you lions keep us shut out of the Pridelands." Replied Shenzi, rather disgruntled.
"I'm sorry about Simba, Shenzi." Blurted Kiara.
"I don't think it was your fault. You've helped me before. Simba on the other paw…. I've never done anything but hurt him. Trying to talk to him was an incredibly last-ditch effort. I guess I shouldn't be surprised it didn't work." Said Shenzi sullenly.
"Even so, you hyenas deserve more than you're getting." Responded Kiara.
"Don't I know it." Replied the hyena. "Listen Kiara, I've got to get back to my clan, if they don't have my guidance, they are lost. They won't know what to do. And if they don't know what to do, the lions will get them eventually. We don't have hardly any fighters left. Most of them were killed in the flooding. I need to get back to them, as quickly as I can."
"But Shenzi… You haven't healed yet…" Stuttered Kiara.
"I know I haven't healed yet! I know that better than anybody! But for bones to fix themselves, it takes months, and my right hind leg will never work again. I suppose I got lucky it was only the right, but even so, it still sucks. But even if I have to trot around on three legs for the rest of my flea-bitten existence, I'm still going to do everything I can to protect my clan. They are the world to me!" Said Shenzi.
Then, she muttered something else underneath her breath, something Kiara only barely caught….
"Especially Banzai."
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Banzai's POV
Banzai, Macho, Fahama, and Ed were assembled in a circle a few hundred yards from the main hyena encampment. Maumbu was back at the camp, still working with a few patients. And while Ed technically was part of this, he just sat there giggled in the background.
But the three of them had a decision to make.
A rather important one, for it would determine what they had to do next. But none of them looked very engaged in the proceedings. Macho had a hardened expression on his face, and he stared down at the ground, silent. Fahama had a far away look in her eyes, and she resoulutley stared up at the sky, silent as well. Banzai was pawing at the ground, still doing his best to keep from crying.
None of the, wanted to be here.
If it was up to Banzai, he would tell the rest of the clan to go to hell for all he cared, and do what they wanted. Every hyena for himself. But it wasn't up to him. He had made a promise to Shenzi, and he would keep it. And to do that, he had to stick with the clan, and protect them at all costs. Once he had secured a future for everyone, he would begin his own personal quest for revenge. Killing Simba, once and for all.
But this meeting came first.
"Well then….. I guess we all know why we're here." Said Fahama with a gulp, interrupting the silence.
"Yes. Indeed we do." Replied Macho as he sat back up, at attention, expression remaining hard.
"I suppose so." Said Banzai, as he still pawed at the ground, busying himself by digging a small hole.
"Okay then… Shall we proceed?" Prodded Fahama, keeping her voice quiet.
"Uh huh." Replied Banzai. Next to him, Ed let out a giggle.
"Anyone want to start?" She added. Neither Macho nor Banzai moved a muscle. "I guess I will start….. First order of business, the lions."
"Huh! Lions…." Snarled Banzai, his expression souring.
"I mean, eventually they're going to find us. We need to decide what we're going to when that happens." Said Fahama, looking at her two comrades.
"How many fighters do we have left?" Asked Macho, gesturing at Fahama.
"Not counting us? Five. Only five hunters actually made it through the flood. The rest is mothers and pups. And the grand total of everyone left is 36. From the original number of 54." Interjected Banzai before Fahama could answer. And his cynical attitude wasn't lost on the other two.
"Banzai,,,, I know things aren't going well for us right now but,,, we'll make it through. We have to." Replied Fahama.
"Fahama's right. But we're here to discuss how exactly we're going to go about surviving. So now, any ideas about what to do should the lions find us?" Said Macho, as he started to shake off his depressed attitude.
"What to do if lions find us? Well, we can't fight, that's for sure. The only other option is to run as fast as we can go. There's a chance some of us would escape that way. But more importantly, we should be talking about how to avoid them even finding us in the first place. Better safe than sorry." Replied Banzai, still keeping his gaze on the ground.
"How are we supposed to do that?" Asked Fahama. Ed let out a laugh that Banzai could have sworn sounded sarcastic. He couldn't be sure though. But he did have an answer for Fahama.
"Two options. One, we hide right now. Find a small crevice or similar escarpment, and gather in there. Option number two, we leave. Leave the Pridelands. Forever. And never return." Suggested Banzai boldly.
"How are we supposed to leave the Pridelands Banzai? We don't know what's outside of it. All we do know is that it's inhospitable desert for miles around. We'd probably starve, or die from heat!" Replied Macho, opposed to the idea.
"Then we starve in the desert! It would be better than being torn apart by lions! The desert ends eventually, we know that. If we do manage to cross it, we would be free! Free forever from the lions! Free forever from hunger, and free forever from hardship. If I'm going to die, it's going to be in an effort to get everyone to a place like that!" Snarled Banzai, not holding back his emotions.
"But….but, it would be madness!" Replied Macho, still revolted.
"No, actually, I think that sounds like our best bet." Said Fahama, hesitantly.
"See? Fahama agrees with me." Said Banzai.
"We would die, alone, without food and water, in the middle of a barren desert." Asserted Macho.
"But if we stay here, the lions will feast upon our entrails! What do you want Macho, to die in a bid for freedom, or have our enemies defeat us! I vote for the one with the slim chance of hope! Come on Macho, you're supposed to be the one loyal to the clan! The one who would do anything for it! What happened to that!" Yelled Banzai angrily.
"What happened to that! What happened… Banzai, you know damn well what happened. I was loyal to the Matriarch. And now….. There isn't a Matriarch. I'm lost, plain and simple. Who do I follow?" Asked Macho, suddenly no longer angry. Just sad, like Banzai was.
However, Banzai felt no such loss of his anger. The death of Shenzi stilled wieghed heavily upon his heart. And Macho had just reminded him of it.
"Who do you follow! I'll to you who to follow! Follow us! Macho, we three are the senior officers that Shenzi herself appointed. The second in commands! We can't afford to get lost. And now, I'm going to solve another one of our problems! We need another Matriarch, and we need her now. So then, if you agree with me, come on. I'm going to march back to camp, and select one female for the job. So unless you two don't want a say in the selection, stay here." Snarled Banzai. With that, he spun on his heel, and began to walk back for the hyena encampment. Behind him, he heard Macho, Fahama, and Ed trotting behind him in silence.
When he arrived at the group of hyenas with his comrades, he steeled himself for what he was about to do. The actual choosing of a Matriarch was unprecedented, it was always hereditary. But the previous one always trained the offspring correctly, so they were always suited for the job. There were no qualms about such things, but now, a Matriarch had to be chosen, and it had to be a good one. Lest the clan was doomed by poor leadership.
"Listen up everyone!" He called. The majority of the clan was silent anyway, grieving the death of their leader. So when a shout pervaded the air, they all turned to listen.
"Here's the deal! As of a half hour from now, we are leaving the Pridelands, in an effort to cross the desert to the area beyond. Should we be successful, we would be rid of the lions forever! However, before such a task can be undertook, we need to chose a new Matriarch! So any females who feel themselves up for the job step up this instant! You have thirty seconds!" Shouted Banzai.
There was a rustle of movement, and four females came up to stand before Banzai. He knew all four of them of course, in a clan of 54, you get to know people. Then, Fahama came up and stood along with them, creating a total of five candidates. To his dismay, Mabaya was one of them.
"Good. Now, we're going to settle all this the old fashioned way. A tournament! You five will fight, and the strongest and smartest will undoubtedly win out. Dirty tricks and other subterfuge are perfectly legal. Now, the first battle will be between you two!" Banzai then gestured at two of the hopefuls. The two he chose looked at eachother, and cocked their eyebrows.
At Banzai's behest, they marched over to an open spot, and took offensive stances. Macho came up next to them, and began his countdown. When He reached reached zero, they leaped at each other, hacking and slashing into the other's fur. Eventually, the winner was declared. Now they were down to four candidates.
The next fight was between Mabaya and another strong-willed female called Nyeusu. Unfortunately, Mabaya threw dirt in Nyeusu's eyes, and bit her hard on the neck. Not enough to break it, but enough to force submission.
With three candidates, the fight was now between Fahama and a hyena called Konda. Konda struck first, and slashed Fahama across the muzzle. Fahama grabbed the paw, and pulled the hyenas toward her, then slammed it into a rock protruding out from the ground. A K.O., If ever Banzai had seen one. And he had seen plenty.
Now, it was just Fahama and Mabaya. Banzai dearly hoped Fahama would win out, but it seemed to be an equal match. Both hyenas were smart and crafty, and both were of a smaller stature. Hopefully Fahama's experience would win out.
Firstly, the two circled each other, snarling. They were both still catching their breath from previous fights, so neither wanted to start just yet. Yet, after a few minutes, Fahama lashed out with her forelegs, claws extended. Mabaya jumped back, avoiding the attack.
Then, in a reckless move, Mabaya jumped forward, clearly hoping to catch Fahama off gaurd. It worked, and Fahama was bowled over and onto her back. Now, her stomach was exposed, a weak spot.
Mabaya took full advantage of her position, and began trying to claw at her foes stomach. Fahama rolled over, throwing of her assailant. Before Mabaya could recover, Fahama jumped on her, and the two began to roll around, clawing and biting as much as they could. It was the most ferocious fight yet, since the position of Matriarch gleamed the closest for these two.
Then, a shriek of pain echoed from Mabaya, and she went limp. Fahama stood over her vanquished foe, bleeding, but proud nonetheless. Mabaya slunk away, in defeat. Good thing too. A brat in the position of Matriarch would have been a disaster.
"Good job Fahama!" Congratulated Banzai. At least one of his friends had snagged the honor.
"Thank you, it was rather tough, wasn't it?"
"Well…. I guess now you're the Matriarch." Stated Banzai.
"Oh,,... Right. What do I do now?" Asked Fahama. Macho came up to them and offered an answer.
"Now, you give a small speech. And then….. We attempt the impossible."
"Too right. Well, go on Fahama." Prodded Banzai.
"Okay. Ahem! Listen up everyone!" She called. "Now, I want you all to be assembled and ready to leave in two minutes! We're going to be crossing the desert, so get a drink of water first! And no dilly dallying!" With her words, the hyenas broke up and headed off to obey. Pretty soon, everyone was assembled. Even Mabaya, who sat in the back silently cursing her bad luck.
"Come on then! Follow me!" Yelled Fahama, as she turned around and headed off for the border. As they moved, Banzai drifted toward the back of the pack. When they reached the desert, Banzai counted the steps until he reached the official border. He sat down, and looked back at all of the Pridelands.
All of that was lion territory. The home of the eternal enemy. Banzai sneered. One day, he would come back here for unfinished business. One day, he would return to kill Simba. But first, his promise to Shenzi. He would honor her, no matter what.
He stared down at his feet and looked back one last time. Then, he spat on the ground, an act of cursing the ones he hated. He turned back around, and stared out across the mirage.
Now, it truly was the time for the impossible.
He hoped they could cross alive.
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And, there ya go. Another chapter. Just as Shenzi goes back to return to her clanmates, they leave without her! Poor Banzai! And poor Shenzi! How will it all be resolved! Don't worry, this story has like, one more chapter. Be sure to be there for that one! Review if you liked!