Chapter 11: Contingency Plan

Hasira kept to the outskirts of the Pridelands, where he would not be seen. That blasted hornbill, Zazu, patrolled the skies each and every day. He was likely keeping watch for Simba. To keep him hidden from sight, he used the long grass and thick trees. It would not take long to reach the Outlands. It was time to face the facts. With only two allies, completing his mission was a fantasy. This was not even about Shuja anymore, this was about the Pridelands. Hasira would kill Simba, Nala and Kiara if it was the last thing he did. The King's family had messed with his affairs too much. He needed to get rid of them. Then, at long last, Shuja would be at his mercy. Then and only then, once his enemies had been slain, he would return home and reign supreme. To complete his mission, he would need more allies. The deaths of Yaku and Makku had put a serious weight on Hasira's back. While they had been his friends in the past, he did not care for them anymore. They were mere pawns, tools to use as he pleased. Now, though, they had been slain. And the white lion's pride had been reduced to three. He needed to recruit others or he would be driven from the Pridelands, never to complete his goal. There were likely no other lions around that he could recruit. Still, where there was a king there would be those that would seek to see him fall. Simba's enemies would be perfect underlings to carry out Hasira's will. He entered the Outlands swiftly, venturing to the cave where he had met the two hyenas days before. Green steam hissed from the ground and elephant bones still littered the area. This was truly a desolate place. Still, he could hear movement nonetheless. Following the source of the commotion quietly, he came upon a lone hyena, sniffing the ground in search of food, no doubt. These pathetic, starving beasts were clearly no friend to Simba and his pride. They would do, for now. Hasira approached the creature cautiously.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" he asked treacherously. The hyena jumped around at the speed of light, eyes wide at the sight of the lion. She had three black strands of hair hanging down over her eyes.

"Oh! Uh…hi there?" Her voice was confident but her tone and manner were nervous. Hasira studied her carefully.

"Tell me, what is your name, hyena?" He circled her slowly.

"Shenzi. What's yours, lion?" She was cheeky, evidently.

"I'm Hasira and I've come with a proposition."

"Is that so?" she asked. "Well, count me out, mister. Any proposition I've heard from a lion hasn't gone according to plan." Hasira placed a paw before her as she tried to leave, blocking her escape. That halted her immediately. He could see in her eyes that she was afraid. Whatever lions she had dealt with in the past, she knew Hasira was much stronger, much more capable. She would not trifle with him.

"Oh, hear me out, won't you?" She swallowed hard.

"A-alright. What is this proposition you have?"

"Tell me if the name Simba rings a bell." Judging from the expression on her face, she knew well who Simba was. "Ah, so you do know him. Well, I find myself in the unfortunate position of wanting him dead and lacking the allies to get him that way. Is this something that interests you?"

"Look, uh, Hasira, that's a bad idea already. I tried to kill Simba before. As a cub. Didn't turn out so well."

"This will be different. I have two lions in my employ, both of which will tear Simba's family apart at a moment's notice. All I need are numbers. Once he and his family are defeated, you and any others that join me can drive his pride away. The Pridelands will be yours for the taking." Shenzi's eyes widened with each sentence Hasira spoke. She had to admit, it sounded like he was very capable of doing this. If they succeeded, it would be glorious.

"You really think you can pull this off?" Hasira grinned. If he could convince others to join him, he could definitely do it.

"I do. With a little help from the hyenas of the Outlands, of course." She mulled it over for a moment, though Hasira was fairly sure she would not refuse him.

"Alright, White Mane, I'm in."

"Excellent! Are there others you can call on to aid us?"

"Yeah, yeah, I think so. Other hyenas."

"How many?"

"Around twenty." Twenty! That would be a good start. While likely incapable of starting an all-out war with Simba's pride, they would serve as a good distraction or perhaps backup for Yama and Malkia. This was getting better by the second. "And maybe a vulture or two."

"Just the one will do," Hasira told her. He needed a scout of his own to survey the skies while Zazu was out and about. "Meet me to the west, outside the stone tower. That is where we will form our final plans." He left swiftly, giving her no time to answer him. If she did not follow through with her end of the bargain, he would return and hunt her down. It was the next day when he learned that she had, in fact followed through. Almost twenty-five hyenas and three vultures stood at the ready below the stone tower at dawn. Hasira descended, followed closely by Yama and Malkia. They had been less than enthusiastic when he had told them his plan, much to his chagrin. He chalked it down to exasperation. Once this was over they would be pleased. "My, my! You really have delivered a prize to me, Shenzi!" he told her, genuinely impressed by the scene before him. "Listen up, all of you! Our target is the Pridelands. Tomorrow, we march upon Pride Rock. Your job is simple; distract each and every member of Simba's pride, leading them away from their King. Yama and Malkia will strike down as many as they can. Shenzi, you and..these other two," Hasira gestured to the pair of none-too-bright looking hyenas beside Shenzi, "will tackle Nala and Kiara, the King's family. Then, once Simba is alone, I will strike. Once the pride has been defeated, the Pridelands are yours to do with as you please. I ask only one thing; do not touch the black-maned lion. He is mine." The end of his speech was met with triumphant barking and howling. If this worked, it would finally mean the end of Hasira's enemies. He went to the vultures then, instructing them to scout the Pridelands and report back with news of Simba's pride and their movements. If they came to Hasira first, he wanted to be ready.

The anticipation of waiting for Hasira to arrive was torturous. Simba lay at the edge of Pride Rock, basking in the sun with Nala. Their family and pride were inside, equally sick and tired of Hasira's antics. If he did not arrive within the next day or so, Simba would march his entire pride to the west. That was the only way to ensure they would put an end to this torment. It was a hot day, the rays of sunshine scorching the earth of the Pridelands. Shuja emerged from the cave with Tamu, walking to meet the King and Queen as they rose to their feet.

"Everything alright?" Simba asked then.

"I think so," Shuja answered, though uncertainly. "I was just talking with Tamu about this plan. I'm not sure if it will work."

"Why not?" asked Nala. Truly, it was strange for Shuja to doubt this plan as he did. It was as good a plan as any of them could formulate. Tamu had indeed done a fantastic job when she regained the trust and loyalty of her old friends.

"It's Yama, mostly. I'm not sure he'll be as quick to change sides as he says. I've known him a long time and I'm just not sure he'll betray Hasira so easily. If anything, he might refuse to pick a side at all."

"That was a concern of mine," Tamu admitted. "Still, you weren't there when I spoke to him. He was ready to leave his leader's side, I'm sure of it. You'll just have to wait and see."

"This isn't easy for you two, huh?" Simba asked. That was an understatement if ever they'd heard one. To be so close to properly having their old pride back together was agonising.

"I think we're just restless," Tamu proposed. "Hasira sure likes to keep us waiting. We just need word of what he's planning." With impeccable timing, Zazu landed before them then.

"Ah, Zazu. What news have you?" Simba asked.

"I'm afraid it's not good, Your Majesty," he said then. "I spotted a rather large pack of hyenas heading to the west just moments ago. I'm not sure what their motives are."

"Hyenas?!" Simba hissed. He had had bad experiences with those in the past. "What could they be up to?"

"If I may, sire, perhaps they are seeking out Hasira. It's possible they know of his rivalry with us and seek to aid him." That was a disturbingly plausible thought. It was then that Kiara approached them.

"How many, Zazu?" she asked. The hornbill gulped nervously before giving his answer.

"Twenty. Give or take."

"Twenty?!" Simba's voice was full of rage and incredulity. "A pack that size hasn't been seen in years."

"I'm sorry, sire." Simba sighed then.

"It's fine. Thank you, Zazu." The hornbill nodded before taking to the skies again. This left them no choice. They needed to march on Hasira before he had the chance to attack them. Still, if he truly was allied with the hyenas that might prove more difficult than they would like. Simba began pacing angrily. For the first time in a long while, he had absolutely no idea what to do.

"How do we proceed?" Nala asked. Her question was met with silence.

"Daddy?" Kiara asked almost silently.

"I don't know," the King replied. Kiara sighed with exasperation, with fear.

"I wish Kovu were here." Simba stopped his pacing once he heard that. He, too, missed his daughter's mate.

"I know you do. I miss him too."

"Then it's a good thing…I'm not going anywhere," came a familiar voice as they spotted that familiar scar faced lion approaching Pride Rock.