Chronicles of the Pride Lands Part 23

Wheeling about, Shenzi and Skulk stalked away.

Losara glared after them as she trotted over to the children. "Shh, " she whispered, holding them to her with a paw. Habusu buried his face against her chest and continued to cry hoa.r.s.ely. "I w-want my MOTHER! "

"I know, hon. Shh, it'll be all right." She licked away his tears. "You're just going to spend the night with your auntie Losara, that's all."

Bashak looked up at her, sniffling. "Mama, Skulk's not gonna hurt Habu, is he?"

Losara kissed him gently on the forehead. "No, Bashak. He won't hurt your friend." She raised her head to stare after the departed hyena, her jaw firmly clenched. "Not as long as I'm alive."

SCENE: THAT ILLUSIVE SCENT.

Sarafina paused to catch her breath, the lionesses behind her flopping to the ground gratefully. They had been searching for Habusu for hours, and it was now high-sun, when the fire shone fiercely down upon their overheated bodies, sapping them of their strength.

"Fini, " called a voice faintly. Turning, Sarafina glanced behind her. "Yes?"

Yolanda paused, panting heavily. "I don't think we're going to find him here, Sarafina. We're too close to THEM." She motioned to her right. The elephant graveyard lay just beyond, s.h.i.+mmering in the rising heat waves.

"I don't think the little tike would wander in there, anyway. Besides, they can search this area much better than we; their more familiar with the territory."

"I don't have any intention of letting them find Habu, no matter what that mealy-mouthed brute promised. If they did find him, what're the chances of them bringing him back?" She snorted in derision. "No, we'll keep our own counsel when it comes to trusting hyenas."

Yolanda nodded tiredly. "You're right, it's just..." she trailed off, growling with frustration, las.h.i.+ng the ground with her tail angrily. "We've looked for hours. Where is he?! "

Zazu fluttered overhead. "No word here, ladies. I've asked the vultures. They are ruthlessly honest, you know, and they say they have not--well, they saw nothing."

Ajenti groaned as she rose from her resting place. "Well, we'll not find out by sitting on our rumps."

Sarafina nodded in agreement. She rose and moved out ahead of the other two again. Forming a triange, they covered the ground slowly, eyes scanning the area ahead while their heads swept back and forth, searching for any trace of scent.

The sun began its slow inexorable slide westward. The hours pa.s.sed slowly, their task made increasingly difficult by the shadows which stretched out before them, concealing small niches and crevices from their sight. They finally reached the outskirts of the graveyard as twilight was falling. The hyena guard posted at the perimeter hailed them roughly. "'Lo, there! Who comes?"

"Lionesses from Pride Rock, sir." Sarafina hated having to address the bedraggled creature in front of her as such, but she dared not risk offending them now. "Have you any news of the missing cub?"

He grinned uneasily. "No, dear lady, I'm afraid not. But have no fear, should we find him, you'll be the first to know."

Yolanda's eyebrows drew together in sudden wariness. This guard was far too polite. Moving forward, she interrupted Sarafina's reply. "Thank you, sir. We appreciate the help." b.u.t.ting Sarafina gently with her shoulder, she motioned them away into the shadowy dark until they were out of earshot.

"What're you doing?" Sarafina raised an eyebrow.

"That hyena stinks of helpfulness. I don't trust him. Let's look around a bit, shall we?" She moved off, paralleling the edge of the graveyard proper.

Sarafina moved up alongside, Ajenti trailing. "Heh, " she chuckled softly. "And you were the one who wanted to let them look-" She stopped so abruptly that Ajenti plowed into the back of her.

"Ouch! " Ajenti rubbed her bruised nose with a forepaw. "What the-"

"Shh! " Sarafina bent, sniffing. Her eyes gleamed in the dim light as her head rose. "I've got his scent! "

Yolanda jerked her head around. "What?"

Without replying, Sarafina headed off toward the graveyard at a fast trot, her nose bent to the ground, almost touching. Ajenti and Yolanda exchanged a look, then hurried to catch up. They followed Sarafina up a rise, stopping when they reached a row of p.r.i.c.kly acacia thorns.

Sarafina flattened out onto the ground. Creeping forward, she rolled onto her side, squirming her way under one of the bushes while the others watched, astonished. She had perhaps half her body buried in the dense growth when she stopped. Her voice came drifting back faintly. "What in Aiehu's name..."

Ajenti crept near her. "What is it?"

Sarafina's voice came back, edged with rage. "Oh, they're very helpful. It seems they've managed to find Habusu already; they've just neglected to tell anyone. There's an elephant skull about ten lengths downslope from me. He's sitting in front of it."

A growl rumbled in Yolanda's chest. "Let's go get him! "

"No, that won't work. There's a group of hyenas surrounding him. Too many to fight. At least a war party, maybe more."

Yolanda's eyes grew wide. "All that to guard one cub? What in Aiehu's name is going on?"

Sarafina slowly wormed her way back out from under the bushes. Standing, she shook herself roughly, scattering the dirt ground into her pelt. "I don't know, but we'd better go and tell Simba."

Ajenti shook her head rapidly. "We can't leave him! "

"We'll do him no good if we get ourselves killed. Let's go. I want to be back at the Rock before high moon."

SCENE: MAKING DEMANDS.

The cool night breeze ruffled the fur of the lioness sitting at the point of Pride Rock. Isha sat quietly, staring unseeing at the beautiful panorama before her, all her thoughts turned inward.

Feeling a touch at her shoulder, she glanced over to see Kako sitting next to her.

"Anything?"

Kako shook her head. "I'm sorry, Isha. n.o.body's seen or smelled any sign of him."

Isha nodded and returned to staring out across the dark surface of the ground which lay far below them. A series of small frustrated desires pulled at her heart. It was time for Habu's bath. She ached to hold him, to feel his warm presence near her. She agonized over the thoughts that he may be afraid, that he may be lonely, wounded or hungry. That he may be cold. That he might be calling her name. That he may be begging some enemy for mercy. That he might even be dead, or even worse dying in great pain. Her jaw trembled slightly and a single tear rolled glistening down her cheek, matting the fur. Another followed behind it, dropping free to splash against the cold stone under her feet. "Oh G.o.d, Kako, he can't die, he just can't. He's the only cub I have left. I can't lose him! "

"Isha, we have to talk."

"I don't know if I can right now."

"Isha, for G.o.d's sake, I have to know. You made it with my son, didn't you. That's his son out there, isn't it."

"Yes and yes, " Isha snapped.

"He was only a cub. You took advantage of him."

"He begged me, " Isha said, turning to stare straight into her eyes. "Begged me, Kako. He was on fire."

"How can you sit there and say that?"

"He's always wanted me. Taka sent him out there to starve. Baba knew it too." A tear rolled down her cheek. "Poor little Baba. He didn't want to die, but the one thing he regretted not doing was being alone with me. He wanted me as no lion ever wanted me, and I gave him what he desired."

"Out of pity?"

"Pity? No, not just pity." She reached up with her paw and stroked Kako's cheek. "I love him. I thought I would yield out of pity, and it started that way. But your son was a lion, not a cub. When we made love...." Isha's eyes filled with tears. "The things he said to me. How I long to hear them again. I'd give anything if he'd come back to me." She sighed. "His son is out there. Your grandson. You neglected him. He doesn't even know who you are. It may be too late to ever tell Habu you love him."

"I know, and I grieve for him and for you. But oh G.o.ds, did it have to be such a tawdry affair?"

"He's my husband, " Isha said firmly. "I've remained faithful to him. I will till the day I die."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't you ask me?"

Kako sighed deeply. "Did he understand what he was doing?"

"I did have three cubs you know."

"That's not what I meant."

"You mean did he really love me? Yes. Do I really love him? Yes. Would we do it again? Yes, as the G.o.ds are my witness. I want to spend my life making him happy, tending his wounds, catching his prey, raising his cubs. Oh G.o.ds, what I wouldn't give to have him here right now. My husband is gone, two of my cubs are dead, my third is lost, and now the lioness I thought was my best friend has turned against me."

"No, Isha. That's not so." She leans on Isha and purrs, nuzzling her. "You're like a very dear sister. I'm just having trouble thinking of you as a daughter." She nuzzles her again. "I'll try. Really I will. I just need a little time."

Simba hurried up to where Isha and Kako sat. "I just spotted Sarafina's group heading in. They're the only ones who haven't reported in yet; maybe they'll have some good news."

The three fidgeted uncomfortably as they waited for Sarafina and her companions to ascend the path to the promontory. Breasting the top, Sarafina padded over tiredly. She knelt in front of Simba, her muscles trembling with fatigue. "Incosi aka Incosi, " she panted. "I touch your mane."

"I feel it, " he replied. "Rest a minute, Fini. The report can wait."

She shook her head rapidly. "No time, Sire. We found Habu." Sarafina stood, panting mutely as the others gaped in surprise. "Where is he?" Isha finally managed. She scanned the group rapidly. "Oh G.o.d, tell me he's not dead."

Nala looked at the miserable expression on her mother's face and turned cold. No, she thought. Oh, please, no.

Sarafina finally spoke. "He is alive, Isha." The lioness started to smile, but it faded quickly as Sarafina continued. "Aiheu forgive me for saying so, but it might be better for him if he had died. The hyenas have him."

Isha's eyes widened in horror as Simba stepped forward. "What?! " He looked at Yolanda, then Ajenti. They both nodded slowly.

"We were searching near the graveyard, and I picked up a faint scent trail of his. It led directly to the acacia thorns on the off-side-"

"I know that place, " he said, nodding. "How'd you get in?"

"Well, I crawled under, just partway, until I could see into the graveyard. I saw him clearly, Sire."

"What else did you see?"

Sarafina closed her eyes, thinking hard. "There was a large group of the hyenas around him in a kind of ring, like they were guarding him, or...."

"....or making sure he didn't escape, " Nala growled angrily. "I KNEW that lying cur was going to do something like this. Shenzi and Uhuru are not that different after all." She glanced over at Simba, expecting him to nod in agreement.

Instead, Simba sat silently, staring at the ground for a moment. Rising slowly, he paced over to the tip of the promontory and raised his head to look at the stars s.h.i.+ning brightly overhead. His face crumpled suddenly, whiskers drooping. His jaw quivered as he looked up at the stars. "I thought I could trust him. He told Rafiki he believed in our G.o.d. Why doesn't Aiheu strike him dead??"

Simba's grief was deep and awful. For a minute or more he sat silently, his face pointed into the stars. Then he sighed. "Uhuru risked his life to help me. G.o.d help me, I'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt. If he proves false, then G.o.d help him! " Simba walked over to Isha and nuzzled her. "It's time we showed our hyena friends who is in charge here, " he said, his voice rumbling low in his throat. He looked up into the sky again, drew in a deep breath, and roared. He roared loud enough that everyone in the earth and in the skies above or the caves below could tell a lion was angry. He was joined by the others in the pride, and as the sound grew it took on an otherworldly quality that would strike fear into the heart of a stone.

"Come, Isha. Let's go get your son."

As they prepared to leave, Simba glanced up at the starry sky. He uttered a silent prayer to Aiheu, asking Him to watch over them in the upcoming fight.

Some distance away, a young hyena looked up to the sky, and prayed also, but for a less n.o.ble reason.

"Roh'kash, please bring the dawn soon! I hate guard duty! " Grumbling, Griz'nk paced slowly back and forth, fighting to stay awake. Somehow, it always seemed like he ended up with the night patrol. Bad enough that he got stuck with guard duty to begin with, but the night patrol? Skulk had it in for him, he decided. Ever since the hyena had pandered his way into Shenzi's good graces, he acted as though he was in charge of everything.

"Gimme five minutes with him and I'll show him who's boss-" he broke off and stopped his pacing as his jaws opened in a bone-cracking yawn. Glancing around furtively to see if anyone was near, he paced over to a jutting column of stone and lay down.

"I'll just rest a minute, " he thought. "A good guard can't keep alert unless he's well rested. Why, he would be derelict in his duty if he didn't stay fully awake."

His eyes snapped open. Blinking rapidly, he stood up and shook himself. Looking around, he cringed as he saw a faint glow had formed in the east, illuminating the early morning mist which swirled about him gently. Seeing no one, he sighed gratefully; his nap had apparently gone unnoticed. Turning, he padded over to the entrance to the graveyard, intending to call for his relief, when he heard a faint sound behind him.

His head snapped around to stare into the swirling mist. p.r.i.c.king his ears up, he strained to catch any sound at all. Suddenly, the hair rose on his neck as he caught a tenebrous rustling. His eyes darted frantically, trying to catch a glimpse of something, but grayish white blankness, broken only by the faint outline of rocks, was all he could see. He took a tentative step forward, intending to investigate, when he heard a loud SNAP! from somewhere to his right.

He froze, ears laid back in fear, waiting for something to appear, but total silence now reigned. Time slowed to a crawl as he held his ground, frantic for his relief to appear, but afraid to turn his back to the open air. The mist began to lighten as the sun rose, its warm rays beginning to burn away the moist air. Sighing with relief, he chuckled at himself.

"I'm glad Skulk didn't see me, " he chortled. "Shaking like a pup afraid of the dark." There was another sound, and he glanced around nervously.

A pair of glittering eyes floated towards him out of the mist, their pupils burning red as h.e.l.lfire in the morning light. They were joined by another, then another...he wailed as he saw he was surrounded by them, the eyes closing rapidly to reveal the dim sihoulettes of lions, too many to count, their stocky bodies moving silently through the dewy gra.s.s.

The form nearest him resolved into a lioness which bared her teeth at him and snarled. "Greetings, friend, " she said. Her hindquarters bunched as she prepared to spring.

"Ga-ghu-gah-greetings, " he stammered. "Hunting so late? You know, I once heard that hyenas are not part of your diet. Good thing you know. You never know what we've been eating. Nasty stuff, really. Dead for days sometimes, you know. Sometimes, you know, the heat makes the bodies swell, but beggers can't be choosers." He looked at the hard eyes staring at him. "Oh my G.o.d, I'm going to die! " Griz'nik suddenly found his voice. "HELP! " he screamed, legs scrabbling in the dirt as he turned to run. An immense weight bore him to the ground, sending the air whuffing out of him as he impacted. He felt claws digging painfully into his shoulders and back as he struggled for air. A voice suddenly spoke in his ear.

"Shut up and sit still, or you'll be fodder for the buzzards, " Uzuri whispered savagely. Turning her head, she nodded to Simba. "Sire, I've got him. Bring the others in."

Simba nodded back and signaled with a low grunt which carried clearly through the fog. The lionesses streamed past him, eager to join battle with their foes. A sudden chorus of yelps and snarls resounded through the thinning mist as they overcame the hyenas just inside the graveyard. Abruptly an eerie howling arose as someone raised the alarm.