Chapter 4: Rise

Hasira's words were abrasive and commanding. He would not accept refusal.

"We attack tonight," he told his brethren, all six of them. Shuja did not entirely agree with this plan. He would go along with it if only to convince his friend to take a different approach. "Any questions?" His eyes glanced conveniently close to Shuja. "Good." Tamu approached Shuja then. She was a good friend of his. Had Hasira not been blinded by revenge and anger, she would still be his friend too.

"Shuja, we have to stop this," she said firmly. "We can't just let him kill those lions. I know what they did, but surely there's another way…we can't become what they are."

"I know," Shuja assured his friend. "I agree with you. But you've seen what he's become, there's no changing his mind. If we get in his way, he'll do worse to us. And with the others on his side, I don't think we have much choice." Tamu sighed.

"I wish our parents were here," she lamented. "They'd know how to do this right."

"It's better that they left," he told her. "If they could see Hasira now, it would break their hearts. All we can do is hope they found someplace better than…this." He gently nuzzled her as the sun edged closer and closer to the ground. The attack launched the next morning, far earlier than any of them expected. Hasira re-entered their homeland alone, much to the surprise and disappointment of his supporters. They followed as quickly as they could, flanked by Shuja and Tamu. The battle was not a pretty sight. The now old and complacent lions that had taken over those years ago stood no chance. They were struck down with little to no effort. By the end, Shuja had had enough. Only one elderly lion remained. He did not need to die.

"Hasira! Enough!" Shuja called as his friend stood over his victim.

"Enough?" Hasira spat. "I think not. This worm and his pride have only begun to pay for what they did."

"He's the only one left," Tamu pleaded. "Any of his pride that survived have fled. There's no use in keeping him." Hasira leapt from his enemy and faced Shuja and Tamu.

"I knew you two would try and stop me," he muttered more to himself than anyone else.

"Hasira, look at yourself!" Shuja implored. "Look at what you are. You can't let your anger control you forever. Rise above it! This isn't who you are!"

"ENOUGH!" the white-maned lion screamed as he struck Shuja to the ground. "You've hindered me for long enough, Shuja. I want you gone from here. Run, my friend! Run as far as you can. If you're not gone by tonight, I'll have you hunted down." He turned then to finish his work, raising a clawed arm above the elderly lion. This was sick. Shuja couldn't watch this happen. He climbed to his feet as fast as he could, tackling Hasira to the ground and pinning him by the throat.

"Run! Now!" he told the old lion who swiftly left the area. They would not see him again.

"Shuja?" The voice was female. Shuja awoke suddenly, his dream still fresh on his mind. The source of the voice was Kiara.

"I'm fine," he told her.

"I didn't ask," she chuckled. "You were shaking and whimpering. I just wanted to see if you were alright." Shuja smiled before rising to his feet.

"That's…very nice. Thank you." She looked distracted, even worried. Her large, curious eyes shot around the room, particularly scanning the entrance to Pride Rock's cave. Her mind was troubled.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"It's,uh…it's nothing. Really."

"You're worried about what Timon said, aren't you?" The meerkat's words had been particularly disturbing for Shuja. To know Hasira was here, in the Pridelands, was very troublesome. Simba's entire pride was in great danger. Kiara sighed. There was nobody else with them in the cave this morning, she could tell him.

"I just don't know what to think. I'm scared, Shuja. This lion-Hasira-he threatened me specifically. I don't feel safe leaving Pride Rock's shadow."

"You'll be alright," he assured her. "Your father is out there right now with the rest of your pride. As dangerous as he is, he's not getting past a pride as strong as this one. Especially Simba, he's a beast." That made Kiara laugh at least.

"Thanks," she said warmly before trotting off to the edge of Pride Rock. Shuja left too, descending from the great structure to find the King. He instead found Kovu, who was patrolling the entrance to the Outlands that they assumed Hasira had used.

"Shuja? Hey," the lion greeted him. They had not really gotten a chance to speak properly. "You hanging in there?"

"Trying," Shuja told him. "Any sign?"

"Nothing yet. Simba has us all watching every way in and out of the Outlands. He's not getting back in here without us seeing him first."

"I'd be lying if a said I didn't feel safer," Shuja told him, smirking roguishly.

"How close were you two? Simba told me he was your friend." Shuja's smile disappeared as quickly as it had come after hearing that.

"Very," he answered bluntly. "We were inseparable as cubs. We grew up together, survived together when our home was taken from us. To see him change over the years the way he did…It's not something I was ready for."

"I can't imagine," Kovu sympathised. "I'm sorry, it mustn't have been easy. I know what it's like to lose the ones closest to you." The morning breeze was chilly as it swept across the two lions. The day was moving on. Soon, it would be night and Simba's pride would return home. That was when they would be in the most danger. Hasira was in his element at night, under the cover of darkness, no lion or lioness keeping watch for him. They would need to keep a lookout stationed atop Pride Rock. He would discuss it with Simba later.

"Kiara tells me you're from the Outlands," he asked Kovu.

"I was. My family lived there, where I was born. It wasn't an easy upbringing. Not for me…"

"But Simba took you in?"

"He did," Kovu answered happily. "Our families had been enemies since before I was even born. My mother…she and Simba didn't exactly see eye-to-eye if you know what I mean. But that's all over now."

"He trusts you like family." Kovu nodded. It was remarkable, in truth, how someone born into a family of such violence and hate could change so much, come to be accepted into a rival family. The thought almost made Shuja envious. "Do you think that could ever happen for someone like me?" he asked. Kovu frowned out of confusion then. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"No, it's fine. You've lost your home, Shuja. That's not easy for anyone. You've already gotten Simba's trust faster than I did. Give it time, he'll come to see you as family. Family's all that matters." Shuja's eyes immediately shot to the Outlands. Something was moving amongst the dead, rotten trees across the fallen log. There was a flash of black as three vultures shot into the sky. He tore across the log into the Outlands. "Shuja?! Wait up!" Kovu followed him. He was a lot faster and caught up quickly as Shuja came to a halt behind the trees.

"I saw him!"

"What's going on? Who did you see?!"

"I thought I saw…there was a follower of Hasira's from back home, I thought I-!"

"You mean there's more than just Hasira?!" That was a detail Shuja had been either too afraid or distrusting of Simba to reveal. He hadn't decided which yet.

"Oh…I hadn't told you that, had I?" Kovu narrowed his eyes. This would not go down well with Simba and his pride. Trust was something that Shuja needed in this situation. At this time, Simba could exile him and be done with it. Without the King's protection, the Pridelanders were in no danger.

"How many of them are there?"

"Five, including Hasira."

"Five?!" Kovu asked, his anger showing blatantly now. "You're saying five lions could show up in at our home any day now?" It was then that they noticed Zazu approaching. "We'll talk about this later." The hornbill landed before Kovu.

"Kovu! Shuja! Come quick, it's Queen Nala. She's been taken!"