Chapter 8: The Kill III
Mufasa paced back and forth anxiously, over the edge of the Pride Rock. All the while, he continued to pondered over how the hunt was going. The king the paused, shifting his gazed out over the Pridelands. They had been gone a while now. He hoped that Jay was doing alright on the hunt.
Especially with all the challenges that come from being a human, following the paw prints of a lion. His kill was to be an act of dominance. And knowing Jay, he would be all too eager to prove his dominance by going after the biggest prey. As much as he was eager for his adopted son to succeed, he could only hope that Sarabi would make him see reason.
Though while he was reckless, he did have the sense to listen to him and his mother. And he was quite crafty as a human. But even still, the question of whether he would be able to follow in his paw prints. Mufasa narrowed his eyes as he continued to ponder.
Only for the King was suddenly snapped from his thoughts upon hearing his majordomo.
"Sire, Sire!" Zazu said as he flew up over the edge of Pride Rock.
"Zazu, what is it?" Mufasa asked, curiously.
"Hyenas!" Zazu proclaimed to them
"They are attacking the Buffalo herd! Nyati's Herd!"
The King turned to him.
"Where are they?" Mufasa asked, curiously.
"Near the Eastern plains!" He proclaimed to the king.
Mufasa widened his eyes.
"The Eastern plains!" The alpha exclaimed.
Last he heard, Sarabi and the others were hunting near the Eastern plains. And if Nyati's herd was anywhere near there, the Buffalo leader would not be too hesitant to attack. And not just out of the protection of his herd. Knowing how vengeful he was, if he was to see Jay, he would no doubt take out his vendetta against him.
"Yes, your majesty." Zazu said.
Before he could say anything more, Mufasa then turned and scurried down the ledge.
"You majesty?" Zazu asked, curiously.
Mufasa came up over the top of the path, where he turned back to Zazu.
"Zazu, fly ahead," The King ordered.
"Find Sarabi and the hunting party."
"Ah, yes, at once!" Zazu said as he turned and flew off to find the hunting party.
Jay stood frozen in placed, faced with Nyati who stared back at him from the clearing. He remained hunkered within the tall grass. Though it did not do him much good at this point. Nyati already knew he was there. He had already caught whiff of his scent. As well as the rest of the hunting party that were hidden within the tall grass.
Nyati snorted, stomping his hove over the ground. As if he was about to charge at them. Sarabi and Nala glanced to each other, seeing the danger that was soon to come. They then turned to Jay.
"Jay, come back, son!" Sarabi called to her son.
Jay hardly noticed. Rather he remained motionless in shock and in awe. Memories of that day suddenly came flooding back. He remember all too well what it was like to be faced the the wraith of the Nyati. Being tossed and thrown through the air, almost almost trampled atop by the hove's of the buffalo.
"Jay!" Sarabi continued to call to her adopted son.
But even still, Jay did not react to the calls of his mother. Just as she was to go after her son, Nala stepped up before the Queen.
"I'll get hm!" she proclaimed to her.
Nala then turned and rushed forward toward Jay.
"Nala!" Kovu said.
Nala scurried up to Jay.
"Jay!" She said, nudging him with her head.
"Jay, snap out of it!"
It was then Jay was snapped back to reality, glancing to Nala. They then heard Nyati, snorting to them. The two then turned and saw Nyati charging toward them.
"Watch out!" Jay exclaimed as the two quickly leaped out of the way.
Jay rolled over through the tall grass as he came over his side. He and Nala then glanced up to Nyati who was now charging toward Sarabi and Kovu.
"Mother!" Jack exclaimed.
"Kovu!" Nala exclaimed.
Nyati charged toward the Queen and Kovu, who quickly leaped out of the way of the buffalo. Nyati slid to a stop as she he turned to the queen, who turned back to her, snorting. Like Jay, he remembered her from that day long ago. The marks of her claws were still embedded into his side. Regardless if she was the mate of Mufasa, her status of queen would not spare her from his wraith.
Nyati groaned as he charged forward toward Sarabi, who quickly moved out of the way. Only to have Nyati turned to her and buck her with his head. Sarabi was too late to react as she flew through the air landing over the tall grass. Jay gasped in awe.
"Mother!" he exclaimed.
Jay growled angrily, griping the handle of his knife in his hand. Whatever shock and fear he might have felt at Nyati was then replaced with anger. Seeing him attacking his mother, Jay then lunged forward toward the Buffalo with his Knife in hand. Nala called out to him.
"Jay wait! She called out to him.
But her words could not deter Jay, who only continued forward to stop Nyati from hurting his mother. Wanting to help save Sarabi, Nala followed after him.
Sarabi tried to stand back up. Only to then feel the earth shake beneath him. She then glance up and see Nyati galloping toward her. Though before he had a chance to crush her beneath his hove's, he was suddenly lunged atop by Jay, who grabbed hold of his horn. The buffalo moaned as he tried to buck off Jay. Leaping about as he tried to throw the young prince off. Jay tried desperately to hold on to the Buffalo as he tried to steer him away from his mother.
Nala and Kovu came up to the Queen.
"Sarabi!" Nala said, helping he back to her paws.
Sarabi glanced back toward Nyati, where she saw her son over the buffalo's back. Nyati continued to pranced about through the tall grass, trying desperately to buck him off. But Jay continued to cling tightly to his back, holding tightly to one of his horns with one hand and his hunting dagger in the other. Just as Jay raised his dagger in an attempt to plunge it into his neck, Nyati then charged forward before coming to a sudden stop, throwing him forward.
Jay landed in the clearing, rolling over onto his side.
"Jay!" Sarabi exclaimed.
Jay got back up quickly, glancing up at the Buffalo who was staring back at him, grunting. He then glanced down, where he saw his dagger laying over the ground several feet from him. Just as Nyati charged forward toward him, Jay quickly lunged forward, grabbing his dagger from off the ground. Just as the two collided, Jay grabbed hold of his horns as he slid back over the ground.
Jay groaned, trying to push back Nyati. But even with all his strength, he could not hold back the Buffalo. Sarabi then stood up and was about to rush to her Son's aid. Only for Nala to come up before her, stopping her.
"We'll help Jay!" she said to the queen.
Sarabi was just about to speak up. Only to then pause, remembering what she had told Nala. A queen was to stand with his King and if Nala was to take her place, she was to be the one to help him. She then nodded head to Nala. She then glance dup to Kovu.
"Kovu, come on." She said.
The two then turned and ran off toward the other lionesses.
In the clearing, Jay continued to struggle with Nyati as he was pushed back by the Buffalo. Nyati then lowered his head as he then thrusted it upward, pushing the young prince back. Jay landed over the ground. He then glanced up at Nyati, who came up where he then glanced back up at the Buffalo. Nyati came up to Jay where he the he stood up in an attempt to stomp down over the prince. Only for Jay to roll out out of the way of the Buffalo. Jay then got back up quickly as the buffalo turned to him.
Only for the young prince to then turn to him as well, slashing his knife across to the buffalo. The steal blade of Jay's claw slashed Nyati's face, causing the buffalo to groan in pain. He sauntered back from Jay, a large slash mark draped across his face. Nyati then glanced back to Jay, grunting in anger. Jay in turn growled back at the Buffalo, holding his knife to the buffalo.
From the grass, the rest of the hunting party were watching as the prince faced off against the buffalo. When it was then they heard Nala call to them.
"Everyone!"
The lionesses then turned and saw Nala and Kovu coming up to them.
"Follow us," Nala said.
"We have to help Jay!"
Nala then turned forward as she scurried toward the clearing. Kovu and the rest of the hunting party followed suit to aid their prince.
Zazu was flying overhead as Mufasa followed suit from below. As he came up over the fields, Zazu peered below at the Buffalo herd. He then paused mid air, gazing down curiously. The herd appeared to have calmed down from before. Not to mention, the hyenas were nowhere to be seen.
Nor was Nyati.
"That's odd." Zazu said.
He then turned and flew down to to Mufasa, who came to a stop.
"Zazu, what's happening?" Mufasa asked, curiously.
"Nothing, your majesty," The majordomo insisted to the king.
"The herd seems to be calm now. But there's no sign of Nyati or the Hyenas."
Mufasa squinted his eyes, narrowing his gaze as he pondered. While there was the possibility that they might have driven off the hyenas, it wasn't like Nyati to not be with his herd. There only times when he wouldn't be was when he would be driving out any predators who attacked his herd. If the hyenas were not here, it must mean he was chasing off the hyenas. The buffalo was always blinded by his rage.
Mufasa glanced up at Zazu.
"Zazu, see if you can see him.
"Yes, sire!" Zazu said with a nod of his head.
Zazu then flew up high in the air. He then leaned his head forward, squinting his eyes as he scanned the distance. Cocking his head from side to side, he the gasped in awe as he saw Nzuri in a nearby clearing, facing Jay!
"Sire, Sire!" The Majordoma exclaimed as he flew down to the king.
"It's Nyati, he's attacking the Prince!"
Mufasa widened his eyes, realizing that his worst fears had been realized.
Nyati once more tried to charge at Jay, who quickly leaped out of the way of the Buffalo. Jay slid to a stop over the ground as he turned back at Nyati.
"Too slow, you fat Ox!" Jay said.
The Raging buffalo turned to Jay as he tried to charge at Jay once more as he attempted to buck him with his horns. But as he lowered his head, Jay lunge forward toward the buffalo. Before he could even make contact with the human prince, Jay leaped up as he planted his foot atop the Nyati's head as he leaped over the buffalo.
Nyati then lost his footing, causing him to stumble to the ground. Jay rolled over the ground as he came up over his feet. He then glanced back at Nyati, smirking.
"Can't catch me, Nyati," Jay teased.
"What's the matter, you too old?"
Nyati uttered a groan as he stood off the ground. He turned to face Jay, who continue to face with his dagger.
"Jay!" Nala said.
Jay glanced back, where he saw Nala and Kovu coming up next to him. The other lionesses came to surround Nyati from all around. They growled at the buffalo, who cocked his head to them, groaning.
"Nice of you guys to drop in," Jay said, glancing to them.
"But I think I'm starting to wear him down."
Though while he was still standing defensively to the lions who surrounded him, the heavy breathing of Nyati could not be mistaken. The years had already caught up with the leader of the Buffalo. The sight of him alone may be enough to instill fear and he was still able to fight off predators. But he tired so easily. Even now, Nyati was beginning to feel exhausted from running and prancing.
But he would no so easily go down. Not until he would get his vengeance upon the one who had taken his eye.
"Yeah, I don't think he's gonna give up that easily." Kovu insisted to Jay.
"Nyati is still dangerous, Jay," she insisted to the prince.
"We need to lure him away from the Queen."
Jay narrowed his head, pondering. He the cocked his head, glancing toward the nearby tree. It was then that an idea came to the young prince.
"I think I might have an idea," Jay said, glancing to them.
"Try and lure him over to those trees."
"Why?" Kovu asked, curiously.
Jay glanced to Nala with a sly smirk. A look which she herself was all too familiar with. She in turn gave him a sly smirk back at the future king, knowing what it was he was thinking. Sarabi was right. Jay could never stay on the ground like the rest of them. Jay then turned forward toward Nyati lunged from one side to another, thrusting his head at the lionesses that came near.
"Follow me!" Jay said.
The three then charged forward toward the Buffalo, who turned then turned to the three. He then snorted to them, stomping his hove. But Jay, Nala and Kovu stood their ground, unwilling to let Nyati intimidate them. Jay growled back at him, all but egging the old Buffalo on. Jay glanced to the other lionesses.
"Everyone, keep you distance," Jay told them.
"Follow our lead."
Sarabi and a few of the other lionesses were watching from the tall grass. Seeing the three standing against Nyati himself, the Queen was in awe and worry. Only few lions had had ever faced against Nyati, though only few ever lived to tell of it.
"Sarabi!"
Sarabi glanced back, where she saw Mufasa and Zazu coming up to him. The lionesses each made way as the the King came up to his mate
"Mufasa!" she said as the two nuzzled each other.
"Where is our son?" Mufasa asked, curiously.
Sarabi turned back to the clearing. Mufasa then glanced up, where he saw Jay, Nala and Kovu facing Nyati. The King stood up in awe and shock.
"No." he said.
With a loud groan, the Buffalo then charged forward at the three.
"Now!" Jay exclaimed.
Jay and Nala leaped to the right as Kovu went Left. Nyati passing between the three before making a U-turn, charging toward Jay and Nala. The three glanced back at the charging Buffalo.
"Come on, everyone make for the trees!" Jay ordered.
The lionesses then turned and made their way over to the trees ahead. Jay, Kovu and Nala raced after them. Jay kept pace with his fellow pride members, running on his two legs. Glancing back, he saw the Buffalo chasing after them. Though he wasn't close like last time. Jay had gotten much faster since the last time.
And this time, he was going to be the one to catch Nyati.
Jay then glanced to Nala.
"Nala, Kovu, you and the lionesses keep him distracted," Jay said, glancing to the,
"Try to herd him to the tree I'm in. We're going to get the jump on him."
Nala nodded his head to him.
"Right." she said.
As she ran ahead, Kovu came up next to Jay.
"Jay, wait," He said.
"There's something I have to tell you."
Jay shook his head.
"There's no time, Kovu! We need to move!" Jay said as he ran
Kovu turned forward, seeing Jay running offs toward the tree line. He in turn, followed after him. Jay ran passed Nala and the other lionesses as he came up to the tree line. He then leaped into the air, grabbing hold of the branch as he swung himself forward. Nala came up in front of the other lionesses.
"Everyone follow me," she said.
"We need to lure Nyati to Jay!"
Nala, Kovu and the rest of the lionesses then disappeared into the small forest of trees. Nyati followed them into the trees. Only to the slid to a stop as he found they were were no one in sight. The buffalo cocked his head, snorting as he glanced around the trees. But still he saw nothing.
From behind the one of the tree, Nala glanced around to Nyati. She then shifted her gaze up to the one of the trees, where she saw Jay perched over a branch above. He glanced up at Nala, nodding his head to her. Nala glanced across to tree across from them, where Kovu and the others were hiding. She then gestured her head as she and the lions began to approach.
Nala growled to the buffalo, who turned to face the lionesses. It was then that Kovu and the other emerged from where they were hiding, surrounding the Buffalo from all around. Nyati snorted, prancing forward in an effort to get them to leap back. But Nala, Kovu and the others continued to stand their ground against the buffalo.
"Don't let him intimidate you," Nala said to her fellow lioness.
"Stand your ground!"
Kovu and the lionesses heeded Nala's words, continuing to close in upon the buffalo. Nyati slowly began to back away from the approaching lions. He came up to the tree, where Jay was perched. The young prince peered down over the buffalo, gripping the handle of his knife in anger. His gaze too was also that of anger. This time, Nyati would pay for all the lions he had killed. For what he did to him and his mother.
The Buffalo would be the kill to prove his dominance.
It was as Nyati came up under the branch he was perched upon, Jay then leaped down over the Buffalo. He landed over Nyati's back, who then groaned as he began to prance about to knock him off. But Jay clung hold of the buffalo horns, wrapping his legs around his body.
"Everyone keep him boxed in!" Jay said to them.
Nyati continued to leap about, stomping his hooves over the ground. Nala and others quickly leaped back as Nyati leaped at them.
"It's not that easy, Jay." Nala insisted to him.
"Yeah, he's moving too fast," Kovu said.
It was right at that moment that Nyati suddenly pushed through them, knocking Kovu to the side. They then turned back to Nyati, who charged toward the nearest tree. He slammed up against it before galloping to the next, slamming against the other. But even still, Jay continued to hold on to the buffalo. Laying down over his Nyati's back as he struck the tree.
Nyati then charged toward the opening ahead.
"Jay!" Nala called as she, Kovu an the others chased after him.
Jay continued to hold onto the back of the buffalo. He slide slightly over the right side of the Buffalo, only to pull himself back up. He then peered ahead and through the trees, he saw a ledge overhead. Nyati was heading straight for it. The time to end it was now.
Jay glance down at the Nyati and with a growled, he then raised is dagger in the air before plunging it down into his neck. Just as they emerged from the trees, Nyati then let out a load groan before stumbling off the ledge.
