Chapter 5: Hunt

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Simba's angry voice rang out through the air. Only Kovu, Zazu and Kiara were present to witness the King give Shuja an ultimatum. "It was bad enough when it was just Hasira. The fact that he has allies following him should have been the first thing you told me, Shuja."

"I know, I'm sorry for keeping this a secret," Shuja apologised, desperate to make up for his mistake. Truthfully, he had not intentionally withheld the information. Rather, he had simply waited until he trusted Simba enough. Hasira's arrival had been an unexpected interruption, one that happened earlier than anticipated. Now, Nala had been kidnapped. The King's mind was scattered to say the least. "What can I do?" Simba studied the young lion before him. Despite his mistake, he did not distrust Shuja. In truth, Hasira's former ally would prove to be a useful ally.

"Go. Find this lion you thought you saw in the Outlands. Learn what you can from him."

"Of course." Shuja prepared to leave. He thought he knew which one of Hasira's followers he had spotted. If he was right, this would be an interesting encounter.

"Wait," Kovu called. "I'll go with you."

"No, it's too dangerous. I know these lions. If they see me with a stranger, they might attack on sight."

"I know the Outlands better than anyone," Kovu argued adamantly. "Come on, you could use an ally if things go wrong." That was true. If conversation proved futile, there was no guarantee Shuja would come out on top in a fight.

"Alright. Stay out of sight and keep quiet." The two of them took off then, returning to where they had been earlier. Kovu proved to be indispensable. His knowledge of the Outlands and every nook and cranny that went overlooked by Shuja saved them valuable time. It wasn't long before Shuja spotted the lion he had suspected had been watching them earlier. They both kept low to the ground.

"So what's the plan?" Kovu asked.

"I'm going to talk to him, "Shuja replied, brokering a disappointed expression from his companion.

"That's it? Are you sure that's smart? If we took him by surprise, he wouldn't stand a chance."

"I'm sure," Shuja insisted. "I know him. I think I can make him talk. Once he starts, he doesn't shut up. Stay low." He rose then and approached his former pridemate. Like him, this lion had conflicting colours of golden fur and a jet black mane. In size, however, the stranger won out. He was enormous, the biggest lion any of them had ever seen. Even growing up, Shuja recalled him being frighteningly large. He was a freak of nature. "Enjoying yourself, Yama?"

The brutish animal shot around as quickly as he could, which wasn't saying much. A serious lack of speed was his only weakness.

"Hehe, hardly," Yama replied, tossing aside the dirty bone he had been chewing on. "You finally decided to show yourself. Hasira's been looking for you. Did the King hear his offer?"

"He did. What of it?"

"I trust he knows we're not messing around. We have his lioness." His smirk was sickening. When they were younger, Shuja would have known that no harm would come to Nala. Now, though, she was in very real danger. These once respectable, caring lions had become callous and heartless since losing their home.

"Where is she, Yama? What is Hasira planning?"

"It's simple. Simba gives us you, and we return his pretty little mate." Kovu couldn't help but growl angrily beneath the thin, dead grass he was currently using to keep himself out of sight. It was all he could do not to attack Yama.

"Enough. This has nothing to do with Simba and his family. Release her immediately!" Yama laughed at such a ridiculous request.

"You don't realise how powerless you really are, do you? She stays with us until we see you approach us." As much as he hated it, Yama was right. The only way to ensure Simba's pride would remain safe was for Shuja to turn himself in.

"And where is it Hasira makes his home? I doubt he's trekked all the way back to the Badlands."

"There's a place, to the west of Simba's lands. He has such little knowledge of the lands bordering his own. Find us there and this lioness will be released." Yama started off in the opposite direction then. "Oh, and tell your friend to come out. I could smell him the moment I heard your voice." Once he was out of sight, Kovu approached Shuja.

"Are you really going to do what Hasira wants?" he asked.

"I have to. It's the only way he'll release Nala."

"Are you sure about that? There could be another way."

"No, no," Shuja denied him. He knew what he had to do. "This is it, I've put your pride in too much danger already. If this gets Hasira to leave for good, then I'll be satisfied."

"You know that he'll probably kill you?" Shuja sighed. Of course he knew. Better than anyone, in fact. Hasira didn't come all this way just to bring Shuja back home again. It was settled then. The Pridelanders would not see Shuja again.

"Tell Simba I'm sorry for all of this."Kovu nodded, Once they arrived back at the Pridelands, they went their separate ways. The land Yama spoke of took almost a full day to get to. It was a strange land, resembling some peculiar amalgamation of the Pridelands and Outlands, sporting both prosperous plant life and plains of desert. There was an unusual rock structure that stretched upwards at the end of a sand field. Shuja assumed this was where Hasira and his followers were residing. Upon ascending the structure, he found himself at its entrance. Inside, Hasira lay across a smooth formation of rock, his very own throne. Yama was there, too, guarding a captive Nala. Shuja was surprised that Yama was the only one of Hasira's allies that were present.

"Shuja?!" she asked in a panic. "What are you doing here?"

"How nice of you to join us," Hasira mocked, hopping down to meet the one he had sought for weeks on end. "At last, you've seen reason."

"I only came so that you'd keep your end of the bargain," Shuja spat. "Is she free to go?" Nala shook her head defiantly.

"No, that's not fair!" she protested.

"It's the only way to spare you and your family," Shuja assured her. "I'll be alright, Nala." Hasira laughed then.

"How foolish," he told them. "I didn't think you'd actually come here alone. Yama, do it." Without a moment's notice to fight back, Shuja was struck to the ground and pinned by the three previously absent lions who leapt from the shadows. "Did you really think I'd allow Simba to get away with harbouring you? He's involved now whether he likes it or not. I have you, that's a start. The Pridelanders will pay for their crimes against me!" Shuja recognised the three followers of Hasira then. There was Malkia, a beige lioness with red eyes and a small, almost invisible scar on her chin. Though she and Tamu had been friends in the past, they had fallen out a long time ago. Next to her was Makku, an average sized lion whose colour scheme was similar to Kovu's. He was a vicious one, prone to attacking recklessly and without thinking rather than planning his assaults. He was volatile, something Hasira clashed with him about frequently. Lastly, with a dirty paw pressed against Shuja's neck, was Yaku. His small, humorously short red mane was the subject of much mockery, even amongst his own group. Still, he was a decent fighter, with several nicks and cuts along his body to prove his prowess. They had all been friends of Shuja's once. Now, they had to refrain from killing him as they pinned him to the ground.

"Stop this, Hasira," yelled Nala as Yama returned to watch her. As capable as Nala was at defending herself, Yama was not to be trifled with. Had he leadership skills and a thirst for supremacy, it would be him leading the pride and not Hasira. "Just let him go, he's done nothing!"

"Oh, on the contrary, my queen," Hasira scoffed. "He's crossed me for the last time. I've been waiting for this for far too long. Enjoy your rest, Shuja. Tomorrow, we burn the Pridelands to ash. And you'll be there to see it all!" Truly, the night was unrestful. Yama remained awake at the entrance to the cave. They would not even attempt to get past him. Even with his back turned to them, they would not get past him. If he did not hear them approach, he would strike them down as soon as they laid a paw on him. Shuja was but a foot from Nala. She missed her mate, and her home. There was nothing they could do. If they waited until tomorrow, they might be able to help the Pridelanders defend themselves. Still, it was a stretch.

"Pssst!" Shuja heard the noise as he was drifting into unconsciousness. It must have been the wind. "Shuja!" the voice whispered eagerly. Shuja opened his eyes to see Zazu standing there, looking around the cave nervously.

"Zazu?" Nala breathed. "Why are you here? What's happening?" A loud grunt answered that question as they witnessed Kovu and Kiara tackle Yama to the ground.

"Run! Now!" Zazu screamed. They didn't waste any time. They left the cave and descended the towering structure as quickly as they could.

"What is this?!" Hasira screamed after them. "Wake up, you idiots! WAKE UP!" Zazu, Kovu and Kiara followed them closely.

"How did you find us?" Shuja asked.

"It was Kovu, he told us everything," the hornbill answered.

"When night fell and Nala hadn't returned I figured Hasira wasn't keeping his end of the deal," Kovu explained. "So we came west, where Yama told you to go."

"Thank you," Nala said between burst of breath as they worked their legs to the bone in an attempt to flee this place. When they had made it back to Pride Rock, the sun was beginning to rise. Simba rushed to meet them, the rest of the pride looking on from atop Pride Rock. The King embraced Nala affectionately.

"Simba, I wasn't sure I'd see you again," the Queen sighed. "I wasn't…"

"I know, I know," the King comforted her.

"So…what now?" Shuja asked.

"The aggressors are still at large, Sire," Zazu told Simba. "I'm guessing they will be here as soon as possible, if they are not already within our borders, that is." Simba was once again faced with a difficult decision. These outsiders had no right to torment them this way. This needed to end now.

"We fight them," he said aloud, stretching his voice so that his entire pride could hear. "We defend ourselves, survive like we always have."

"Are you sure?" Shuja asked. "I've brought your land enough heartbreak, I don't mean to bring any more."

"I'm not letting you go out there alone, Shuja," the King told him. "You're with us now. We'll drive these outsiders from our lands if it's the last thing we do."