Chapter 15
Scouting with hyenas was different to scouting with lions. Asante relied more on her nose that Kiava did. He was sure now, hyena vision wasn't quite as good as lions, but their sense of smell more than made up for it. They were good too. If Kion ever needed another keenest of sight, he could have done worse than recruit one of his hyena allies as keenest of nose, Kiava thought. He didn't voice it. Complimentary though it may have been, he doubted Asante would be amused by the thought of a hyena guarding the Pridelands border from poachers and scavengers. When Kiava and Asante made their way down the cliff pathways into the area the hyenas had taken for a temporary lair, the atmosphere was excitable, almost electric. The hyenas had tasted real victory and watched a new King snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and they were celebrating. It was a shallow pit, for the most part, barely a league from Skeleton Canyon, with behemothian spines and bones wedged into its side, like steps of the great spiral staircase. There were also half a dozen different tunnels out of the pit which could be used in case of an emergency. Even if they were attacked by surprise there would be no repeat of Carrocscir, and people would not be left behind. It was as secure a location as they were likely to find. It held one of the Shadowlands precious few large water supplies, in the form of a faintly green lake. Asante had assured him countless times that the unusually pigmented water was due to minerals below the ground and was perfectly fine to drink even if it did taste a little funny to him.
The celebrating hyenas was another unusual sight to him. They yelped and laughed and shrieked among themselves, some of them even attacking each other (though without injury) in their enthusiasm. Food was generally hard to find in the Shadowlands but not impossible, especially for skilled fighters like these and several zebras had been slain. Hyenas were not stingy with their food: generous portions of the meat had sliced up and shared about. Shenzi had been loath to eat to excess given the risk of a meat shortage and the fact that they knew that the herds were moving on both within the Pridelands and the Shadowlands, but enforcing such a thing after such a victory would have been devastating for moral. Banzai had insisted that the soldiers be allowed to celebrate nevertheless. There was a drunken almost euphoric atmosphere to the celebrations. By now, the news had spread. Amun had been killed, his wilddogs slaughtered or fled, even his guard of jackals had been completely routed, disappearing into the wastes where they would starve or desert the Shai'tan's forces. They were not the only jackals in the service of the Shai'tan, but they were the only ones that they were likely to come across for months. Amun's vanguard had been crushed, leaving only the python, Abyss and his serpents. It was a good day.
"Kiava!" Zuri shouted, barging her way past the hyenas to get to him. He grinned when he saw her.
"Zuri!"
"Where have you been all day?" She asked him, sounding curious. He had departed that morning without a word to anyone. Kiava shrugged. "I was with Asante, scouting out the surrounding valleys and caverns. This place is huge! There are entire tunnels in the ground. You could hide an army here. Which I guess is the problem. We have a general idea of where Abyss's forces are hidden, but I wanted specifics before we –" He said. Zuri's looked started.
"You went out there alone?!" She gasped.
"Relax, Zuri. I just said that Asante was with me the whole time." Kiava said, dismissing her concerns. Zuri shrugged.
"But you went looking for a giant army of venomous worms! Kiava! I don't think it's a good idea. I know she can take care of herself, but against all of those snakes at once? You're putting a lot of faith in Asante's abilities. Even she doesn't understand them and we don't really have any idea what she can and can't do with them. You shouldn't be gambling your life on them." Zuri chiding him. Kiava shrugged.
"I was careful. What did you do while I was scouting?"
"Not much... I spoke with Bhagari a little, you know, Asante's lieutenant? He's also a very popular commander, and according to Banzai one of the better strategists. I didn't know hyenas had those. Other than that, not much. We're just hanging around now, waiting for the snakes to show up." She said. Kiava paused.
"So, you've not been celebrating the wilddogs defeat with the hyenas?" He asked her. Zuri shook her head.
"Uh… No. I didn't know where you were, or when you were going to pop up again with something to do. Besides, I don't have much... in common... with the hyenas." She said. Now they knew they were all on the same size, they were nice enough she supposed but their crude humour, temperamental attitudes and rough horseplay set her on edge. She couldn't tell if they were joking around or about to rip each other's ears off. It wasn't as though she hadn't tried.
"Ah... Sorry about that." Kiava said. Zuri shrugged. No worries, she meant to say. But she didn't. It still stung. Asante didn't seem bothered both it.
"Don't worry yourself, Princess! You need to loosen up! Things are starting to go our way for the time being! We should enjoy it while it lasts!" The hyena laughed. She pushed past Zuri and made her way to a small area where half a dozen hyenas Zuri recognised as being from the shadowpup pack. Zuri sighed.
"We'll catch up!" Kiava shouted after her, but the matriarch's daughter had already disappeared into the mixing and moving hyenas and he lost track of her almost at once. Rather than follow, he turned to Zuri.
"What is the matter?" Kiava asked her, sensing something was bothering her. Zuri made to reply, but was interrupted by the arrival of Bhagari who had seen Kiava arrive with Zuri. He recognised hyena by his dark coat that, even compared to others, seemed to make him disappear into the shadows. His stripes were only slightly lighter than the rest of him and his eyes were a greenish yellow. Once upon a time, his appearance might have terrified the cubs. A generation of bedtime stories demonising hyenas would have been harder to dispel had they not experienced far worse since fleeing the Pridelands. Now though both Zuri and Kiava found him to be smart, and quick witted. Bhagari for his part had warmed to the cubs since seeing their bravery first hand. He was happy to seemed to enjoy talking with Kiava and Zuri, whether it was yet another regarding cunning scheme to employ against the Shai'tan, or a discussion with Kiava about one of the histories or legends told among the hyena Clans. Kiava's avaricious hunger for Pridelands lore and history, had merely expanded since hearing tales from Shenzi and Bhagari, that had never been told in the Pridelands. Hyena stories tended to be darker, with grisly endings. He wasn't sure all of them were true or not. Especially not the ones which involved cunning tricksters defeating more powerful lions and leopards with cunning and guile. On the other paw, he didn't think it likely the Pridelands would tell those stories even if they were true, so who could say? Of course Kiava had been enthralled from the get go.
"Zuri! So, you found out missing royalty then?" Bhagari asked her Zuri snorted.
"The King and his court magician were scouting out Abyss's forces. Without telling us they were doing it." She said tartly. Bhagari only laughed.
"And Asante tells me I am getting careless! One day she'll bite of far more than can swallow. Speaking of which, if you two wanted chow you'd better get going before it's all gone. Even for hyenas, some of these fighters are like swarms of insects." He warned them. Kiava licked his lips and followed. For the time being, they had more than enough meat. They no longer had as many mouths to feed.
They made their way where a group of hyenas were gathered and planted themselves down there. It earned a few grunts from those already present but for the most part, the hyenas were not paying attention to any of their leaders, being too engrossed in their food. Bhagari pulled several limbs worth of zebra flank out of a pile. Most of it was still perfectly fresh, which was a bonus and the lion cubs dived into it like the pair of half-starved lions they were. It felt odd not to have to hunt for oneself after so long on the run from the Shai'tan. The thought sent a pang across Kiava's heart and not for the first time, he thought back to Vitani, Inti, Sara, Danyal, Damu and Almasi. It had been months since they had parted ways and even now, he still worried for them. Did they even know he was alive? What would they be doing? He had to trust that they would be keeping themselves safe and that they had not yet fallen prey to the Shai'tan. It was a strange thing to think that, perhaps soon, he might be reunited with them. He was distracted by the crash of the pair of hyenas. Zuri gasped in surprise as they landed nearby.
"What are they fighting about?" Zuri asked. Bhagari laughed at her question.
"Fighting? They aren't fighting about anything. Take a closer look." He suggested.
Zuri took another look around, not just with the group they ate with, but among all of hyenas. They ate in little circles of no more than a dozen in size. And in each circle, a pair of hyenas wrestled and fought, rolling over one another. And now that she looked properly, she could see that there was no malice to it. The onlookers eating, picked sides, and cheered on friends and packmates. They were not trying to beat one another senseless, but seemed to be sparring. Being beaten senseless was a side effect. Kiava chuckled at the sight.
"They're only training." He explained, to the surprised lioness. Zuri could see he was right. Training was perhaps too generous a word, it was closer to sparring. It reminded her of when she and Kiava had fought with each other at Sarafina's behest. As with their former teacher she could see that the victors were taking choicer cuts of the meat and the losers waiting in line with a grumble. Nobody seemed to be starving, which was a good thing, but the better fighters among the warriors were definitely being better fed. Zuri yelped and moved out of the way as a pair of hyenas crashed into the ground next to her with one finally forcing herself upon her foe grabbling at its throat. Although her opponent thrashed around, it was clear who had won the fight and after a moment, he surrendered to the cheers and boos of the onlookers. When the hyenas stood up, Kiava blinked. The victor shook her head free of sweat. It was Asante! Kiava hadn't recognised her, but now her vicious fighting style was evident.
"Come on then!" She called out. "Anyone else want to try? Hmm?" She asked, giving a snigger. "What about you, Your Majesty?" She asked Kiava. The young lion shook his head.
"Um, no thank you." He said quickly. She shrugged.
"Bhagari? Care to – " She asked but didn't even finish her sentence before the dark hyena chuckled and shook his head.
"Oh no. Absolutely not. Not after last time." He told her, and Asante laughed.
"Coward! Seriously? Is there no one here among you bold enough to challenge me?" She asked, putting on a tone of pretention and getting laughs from the other hyenas, though nobody volunteered. She smirked, looking them all in the eye, still giving that arrogant smirk. "Who has the heart of a Lion?" She asked.
"You sure you don't want to try, Kiava?" She asked again. This drew cackling from some of the shadowpups, as Kiava shook his head.
"No thank you, Bhagari has the right of it." He said again, more firmly this time. Although the sparring had proven popular with the other hyenas, he didn't think it would be a good idea to take part himself. Losing wouldn't be good, but winning might be even worse. Besides, he had enough of sparring for his meat under Sarafina. He wasn't even sure if he could win.
"Come on, you took on Amun! You can't tell me that you're scared now, Your Majesty?" She pressed him. Sighing in irritation, Zuri stood her up, her patience finally worn thin but her jabbing.
"Spirits, Asante! He isn't scared of you and you know it so stop whining, it's pathetic. Besides, there's no point in anyone trying when you've got your fancy magic tricks to fall back on." Zuri said, feeling irritated. Asante's smile vanished at that.
"Hold up, Zuri –" Kiava began, but Zuri was annoyed and had been for more of the day.
"What?" Asante asked her, glaring at her. Emboldened, Zuri smirked.
"I mean come on! Sure, you've got your spooky shamanism? But take that away and you'd fall first out of your shadowpups." She said. Kiava stared at her, looking concerned. He opened his mouth to say something, but Asante growled.
"How's about you back that up?" Asante growled. The last traces of her smirk vanishing. Now she growled, showing her teeth. How dare Zuri suggest...? She could barely finish the thought. She was a fantastic warrior, even without her gifts! She was far more than just another shaman, or another hyena! She had earned that right! Anger gripped her. "Coming from you, that's a bit much! What have you got, besides your friendship with Kiava?" Asante snapped. It was childish, but there was flint to their words. An edge to the air. In just a few short breaths the friendly rivalry has evaporated into a rather unpleasant atmosphere. The hyenas could sense it and their friendly chatter was quieting too as they looked from Asante to Zuri, looking cautious. Zuri slowly stood up.
"Okay." Kiava said. "I think that's enough don't you?"
"And what..." She said slowly "Is that supposed to mean?" She said. Asante cocked her head.
"Kiava's already proven his courage and his strength. He defeated Amun. What have you accomplished in that time? You're just following him around like a lost pup! If anyone is pathetic, it's you!" Asante snapped.
"Or, you know. Let's just keep going. Why Not?" Kiava said. Zuri blinked, her eyes narrowing. Suddenly the air had gone cold. Zuri stumbled back. That was nonsense. Kiava himself had said so on more than one occasion. Sure, now that it wasn't just the two of them, they had spent far less time together and now that Kiava had dozens of spies and soldiers to call upon, of course, it made sense that he'd scout with the creature best equipped to do so! She was still valuable though, just because she didn't have magical powers.
"You take that back!"
"Okay!" Kiava shouted, standing up. Next to him, Bhagari had climbed to his feet, looking angry.
"Both of you need to calm down!" He said. Zuri and Asante glowered at each other. In less than a minute, the joyful celebrations had turned into something nasty. Both Asante and Zuri brimmed with anger.
"No! You know what, its fine! I asked for a challenge, so lets go for it! if you think you're so tough... How about you come here and prove it?" She said. Zuri's eyes became slits.
"Fine." She said. Bhagari and Kiava looked at each other, eyes wide. Kiava felt the ground lurch beneath him, and he was reminded of when he had stood before Amun and saw the walls of the valley tumbling down towards him, implacably.
"No! Bad idea!"
"For once I agree –"
"Stay out of this!" Asante and Zuri snapped at the same time. Both Bhagari and Kiava stepped back. They looked at one another nervously.
Asante and Zuri faced one another in the centre of the circle for a brief moment. Then, they launched themselves at each other. Asante struck first, snapping forwards with her powerful jaws. The young lioness cub and the adolescent hyena were roughly equal in size (slightly half the size of a medium sized lion), but the hyena was quicker. Zuri only barely managed to avoid the snap of her jaws. Asante's teeth clamped around thin air and suddenly the advantage went to Zuri, who swung her paws in quick and vicious swipes, her claws drawn. Just as Sarafina had taught her. Asante cursed as she scratched at her and ducked away and Zuri charged after her, growling as she did so.
Asante dived to the side and swiping at Zuri with her own claws. She was quick, but her blows lacked the power Zuri's had. A hyena's strength was in their jaws, not their claws. Her sudden change in direction wasn't without effect though, and her narrow claws hit Zuri's unprotected flank and caused her to hiss in pain. It didn't do anything to stop her onslaught, some of Sarafinas tests had been entirely focused on building endurance and stamina. Zuri only growled in pain, reared on her hind legs for a moment and then slammed down both her paws with her whole-body weight behind them in a double blow that sending Asante flying. That provoked a reaction from the others who gasped, and from Kiava started at the force of the blow on display. Asante was left reeling. Zuri leapt forwards to her, pressing her advantage as Sarafina had drilled into her, swiping left and right in quick irregular patterns. Asante backed away, losing any momentum she might have gained, forced onto the defence.
"Damn." It was Ookai. Kiava hadn't heard him approach, but the golden monkey spoke the word before Kiava could. "My fruits on the lioness." He said.
"Don't count Asante out yet." Bhagari warned. He was right. Asante was lithe and quick and after a few moments, she began to anticipate Zuri's movement. After a few more moments, she darted under a blow aimed at her head and just like that, had crept under Zuri's guard and was right there, eyes blazing. The hyena bit at Zuri's neck and kept going, slamming her with shoulder at the same time. Zuri was sent stumbling to the ground and she gave a grunt as the air was knocked out her. Asante snapped again, grabbing hold of one of Zuri's front legs and jerking her head away. Perhaps if she had been fighting a real enemy the effort would have snapped the bone. As it was Zuri shouted in pain and pulled away, her balance pulled from under her, twisting herself, trying to keep herself behind her twisted paw.
"Oww!" She shouted and slashed at Asante, aiming this time not for her head, but into her stomach. She slammed her paw into her belly with huge force. Once, twice and on the third powerful blow, Asante was forced to grunt and gasp, releasing Zuri's arm. Kiava stared at them frantically. There was no bleeding yet, but Kiava had no doubt that the wound would be bruised horribly within the hour.
"Okay that's more than enough! The both of you! You're going too far!" He tried to shout over the din. He didn't know if this was normal for hyenas, because even some of the hyenas were looking nervous now, but that might have just been because Zuri was involved. Neither Asante nor Zuri paid any head to him. Asante snarled with anger and rushed forwards aiming to crunch down upon Zuri's neck, to take a hold so powerful Zuri would be forced into submission. Zuri didn't bend though. She coiled like a serpent and then to the surprise of all leapt upwards, managing to clear right over Asante' s head and landed facing her crouched low and then sped forwards. The entire move took less than a second, but Zuri slammed into Asante, knocking the hyena to the ground and landing on top of her. There was a collective gasp from many of the watchers.
"Ash and bone." Bhagari muttered. Asante jerked for a moment. Then Zuri found her balance and growled. Asante was pinned.
"Who's pathetic now?" Zuri hissed. Asante snapped up at Zuri, who flinched her head away just in time. Then struck at Asante's unprotected face. Asante's eyes widened for a moment, as the claws scratched into her face. Bhagari moved forwards, retraining himself and Kiava growled.
"Enough!" He shouted as Asante barked, grunting, but still not giving in. Kiava looked on in bafflement. Zuri had bested her, surely? Any fight between the hyenas wouldn't have gone on this far, not the friendly sparring they'd been doing earlier. Zuri growled again, raised her paw again and this time Asante hissed.
"You little – Argh!" She shouted. There was a huge bang. Sparks seemed to fly around her, as the smell of mint filled the air. Light burst from her eyes, huge tendrils of whispery white smoke coiled around her and then, like a next of coiling vipers slammed into Zuri's chest. The blast of air struck Zuri in the stomach.
"No! Asante! Stop!" Bhagari shouted out in anger. Zuri cried out as the ground vanished beneath her, propelling her high into the air. Kiava shouted. Asante's eyes narrowed, as she crawled to her feet and struck out at the air. The coils of wind twisted and writhed, spinning around Zuri who seemed to tumble through the air and threatened to crash into the ground. Asante gave a shout, closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled. She seemed to whisper a word and the winds subsided. Zuri fell and landed roughly, though far gentler than she would have if the turbulent winds had thrown her about. Kiava could well recall Marsade's attack. Zuri scrambled to her feet and looked ready to continue the fight. Asante however turned away.
"Girl! What is the meaning of this!" An angry voice cried out. The hyenas scattered, and Kiava turned and saw Shenzi standing there. Asante gasped, seeing her mother, and the light linked out like embers in a wind. The air was still again. Asante was left standing in shock. Shenzi's eyes were wide. Asante looked at Bhagari and Kiava, and the rest of the hyenas. Then she turned back to Zuri.
"I…" She choked on her words. "I'm sorry. I…" She swallowed. "You've proven your point. You are and an excellent fighter. My apologies for making light of your skills, Zuri." She said.
"It wasn't my fighting skills you insulted." Zuri hissed, still looking angry.
"Well daughter." Shenzi said, her voice like acid. "I see you're representing us well in front of our allies. Congratulations on a job well done." She said. Her sarcasm was biting, even to Kiava who quietly agreed. Asante looked to Bhagari, and saw only judgement there. She turned and ran.
"Asante wait!" Bhagari shouted after her, but the other hyenas parted. Shenzi didn't chase after her daughter. She just shook her head. And turned to look at Zuri.
"Are you hurt girl?" She asked her. Zuri stretched.
"I'm fine." She said gruffly. "She barely had a claw on me." She said.
"Its not her claws you need to be wary of. I have warned her in the past about such things. When she first started using those… abilities… I thought it was like your Roar of the Elders. I told her to use it. Seize it and never let go. It is not our way to meek with the gifts of the Spirits, and her blessing. But every pup knows not to lose control in the middle of a fight like that." Shenzi said. She shook her head. "I apologize. Your Majesty. For that display." She said, archly. Kiava swallowed, and nodded.
"Its fine." He said.
"It bloody well isn't." Bhagari said. "Which way did she go? I'm going after her."
"What if she wants to be alone?"
"She's a hyena. She hates being alone." Bhagari told him, stiffly, and chased after her, calling her name.
Zuri watched him leave, and saw him shoot a glare to Shenzi who scowled back. She paused though she saw Kiava's face as he turned back to him.
"I nearly had her. Did you see?" Zuri told him, eagerly. Shenzi snorted and Kiava shook his head.
"I saw. I just don't understand why."
"Why what?" She asked, in confusion.
"Why you acted like that! You were horrible to her!" He told her, accusingly.
"You heard her! She was being cocky!"
"She's the leader of the Shadowpups, training in front of her own pack! Of course, she's cocky!" Kiava told her.
"Well –" Zuri faltered. "She didn't need to make it so personal!"
"Like you did!"
"Zuri! We're supposed to be allies!" Kiava protested. "For so long it was just you and me. Now we have other allies. Other friends."
"I know that! She was the one who insisted I wasn't – " She began but Kiava cut her off.
"Zuri! You and I know that isn't true. She knows it isn't true. Who does that even leave to impress? Who were you trying to show of for? The other hyenas?" He challenged her.
"I wasn't the one showing off!" Zuri retorted.
"No? You struck her in the face – while she was pinned down! You would never have done that to me!" He snapped.
"She deserved it!" Zuri said. "All that talk about being unbeatable, someone had to bring her down a peg and it wasn't going to be you, so I decided to wipe her conceited little smirk-"
"That is my daughter you are talking about." Shenzi said, her voice like an edge of stone. Zuri suddenly froze, aware of the fact that Shenzi was standing there. She flinched suddenly. Shenzi continued to glower.
"She acted inexcusably as well. But that does not give you the right to talk about her like that." Shenzi said, glaring at Zuri still. Zuri swallowed, and nodded. Kiava sighed.
"She was celebrating winning a match, there was no malice to it. It was a game to her, Zuri. All of it is. They're hyenas for goodness's sake! The vicious verbal barbs, the goading, the sparring, the boasting! It's a game for them! It's how they act around each other! She meant nothing by it!" he said, frustrated by her stubbornness.
"Well, it's not a game for me! I am not just another hyena!" She almost shouted. "How can it be game?! I left everything to follow you, Kiava! Why didn't you say anything?" She snapped. Kiava cocked his head, confused.
"About what?"
"When she went on about how... useless I was to you! Why didn't you say anything! Or maybe I was wrong! Maybe I am just another hyena to you now!" She said. Kiava stared at her, dumbfounded. What had been a harmless jibe for Asante, had been anything but for Zuri, he was starting to realise. It had hit entirely too close to home for her.
"Wait Zuri – "
"I don't want to hear it!" Zuri snapped. "I'm going to track down Ookai and Bruce and Timon. They're around here somewhere. Goodness knows what they are doing, but whatever it is, I am sure they'd appreciate me doing it with them." She said bitterly and strolled past him, leaving him completely bemused. Kiava went to follow her, but Shenzi stopped him.
"I don't know lionesses, but I know females. Accept some advice from your elder. You don't want to be chasing after her till she's calmed down." She said. Kiava looked after her and sighed.
"What about Asante? Is she going to be alright?" He asked her.
"What's it you?" Shenzi snapped back, quickly.
"She's my friend. We all are. That's the whole point of this. Remember?" Kiava replied, sharply. Shenzi paused, looking at him for a moment.
"Right. You're right. Sorry. Force of habit." She said. She sat down and let out a noise. "I'm too old for this. I'm supposed to handling grandpups not going through this again." She muttered. "She'll be fine. She's probably just gone off to sulk after embarrassing herself like that. Give her some time to herself and she'll be back before you know it." She said confidently. Kiava wasn't so sure.
