them away from the body of their mother. The pups, of course, violently protested, to no avail.

 

“We have no time to mourn, we have to move on. They were probably the last ones to make it from Priderock, anyone to have moved any slower is already dead. We have to leave before the lions get here.”

 

“For Spirit’s sake, Mikhy,” Banzaï coughed as he tried getting up, “Give them a minute, for pity’s sake…”

 

“If we want to get you out of here alive, we won’t have a minute,” Mikhail snapped, “It’s nothing short of a miracle you got this far…”

 

He then looked at Shenzi, still lying on the ground out in the pouring rain. He turned to the rest of the present hyenas around him.

 

“All of you, help Banzaï up and get out of here, head for the rest of the clan. Four of you stay here with me; help me get the Matriarch into a cave. I’m not leaving her out here like this... Who will help me carry her?”

 

Much to Mikhail surprise, all hyenas around him stepped forward, even those who had survived the battle of Priderock, including the mangled Banzaï. Mikhail just nodded, after which the group grabbed Shenzi’s corpse and moved it to the deepest cave in the entire boneyard, deep, cold and dark. The two pups, Vincent and Shenya, followed the adults into the cave for a final goodbye. Vincent was at the tail of the group. As they headed further into the cave, the surroundings darkened, until Vincent eventually found himself surrounded by darkness: nothing in front of him, next to him or behind him but deep and dark blackness, silent blackness.

This couldn’t be real. Where was everybody all of a sudden? They had been right in front of him… Where was the cave? Around him were no stone walls, just endless dark space. He wanted to shout, but no sound exited his throat. This couldn’t be real. A shrill voice suddenly echoed through the darkness.

 

“Scared?”

 

Who’s there? Who said that?

 

“It’s me. You haven’t forgotten me… that wasn’t a question, by the way.”

 

You?

 

“Me.”

 

You died… You died months ago, this was just a dream… You’ve already joined mom. You’re dead!

 

“You’re right, I am. But I’m here now. Maybe I’m a Spirit… Unless you don’t believe in those of course. Then I’m just you. Your own mind”

 

Mikhail? Dad? Why…

 

“Why the new addition to you’re dream? ‘Cause we need to talk, kiddo. Talk about you.”

 

What about me?

 

“Isn’t it obvious? I’ll cut the formalities here, son. You’re going the wrong way. You’ve deviated from the path I set out, and look at what it brought you.”

 

Wha…

 

“I’ll try putting it different, son: did you never wonder why I didn’t train Shenya to lead the clan, but you in stead?  You didn’t? I’ll tell you why. Because Shenya is weak. Just like your mother, she’s too weak of hearth.”

 

Tell her hat next time she tries to kill me…

 

“Kindness does not inherently exclude impulsivity. She’s lead by her emotions; angry at the start, but inclined to become repentant afterwards. She’ll never finish what she started. I thought you would prove to be more…”

 

Like you?

 

“Yes. But you disappoint me.”

 

That’s ‘cause I’m not like you.

 

“You are. You are me.”

 

I’m not!

 

“You are. You’ve just refrained from showing it.”

 

I’m not like you!

 

“Then where did I come from? Where did my voice sprung from all of a sudden? Out of your own mind, out of your sory little self. I am you, but you just don’t act it. You act weak. You allow treason to run it’s course. You leave lions be, or even worse, you befriend them. So why the aversion against me? I made the clan strong, I made it what it is today. Unlike you.”

 

You’re a murderer.

 

“So are you. You just haven’t found out yet.”

 

I’m not a murderer…

 

“No? Strange, I could have sworn your inability to root out traitors has just lead to one of the greatest massacres of your generation. You don't know what that means, do you? No worries, you’ll find out ‘bout that soon enough… And to prevent such slaughter from happening again, you’ll find out just how much of a murderer you are. You’ll finish what Shenya started, but you’ll put a stop to what she started as well. Too cryptic? Well, too bad. Anyhow... I suggest you give your lion-friend one last hug before it’s all over.”

 

What? You leave Vitani out of this…

 

“How could I? She’s right in the middle of it! And She’s as good as dead already, thanks to you.”

 

Don’t you dare…

 

“Dare what? Vitani’s already dead.”

 

Not if I can help it.

 

“Whatever the cost?”

 

…

 

“Do you still serve the clan?”

 

Yes.

 

“You want the clan back?

 

Yes.

 

“Whatever the cost? Anything for Vitani... Anything for the clan… Son, it is up to you. Save the clan, save your lioness. Whatever the cost. We are the same, you and I, we reach our goals no matter what. Maybe you can save the clan, maybe you can save Vitani. But just remember...”

 

Whatever the cost?

 

“Self-evident! You’ll notice soon enough; some goals do justify any means. Even murder.”

 

No! Never!

Suddenly, upon his rejection of Mikhail’s (or whoever voice it was Vincent heard in the darkness)  suggestion, the darkness was violently swept away, and in no time, he was surrounded by endless savanna. Ablaze. Fires roared all around him, though he did not feel the heat.
In front of him sat his spitting image, only more scarred, with different eyes. He stared at his clone, until he noticed, in between them, a silent shade on the ground. He looked closer. It was a lioness, she was lying down. Dead. Blood bulged from her mouth, her eyes were turned back. It was Vitani. Vincent’s counter-image grinned viciously as he too stared at Vitani’s corpse. Blood began dripping from his yaws. He had killed her! Vincent suddenly found himself racing onward towards his own image. Whoever it was, he’d pay dearly for what he had done to Vitani! In stead of fighting, however, the other 'him' ran away, forcing Vincent to chase and hunt him down. The blazing fires conveniently moved away as he chased his foe. Suddenly, he caught it! And it didn’t resist, so it only took a few well aimed bites to kill it. After finishing his enemy, he looked back at where Vitani had been previously. But she wasn’t there anymore; in hear stead lay the corpse of another hyena. Vincent immediately recognized himself lying mangled in a puddle of blood. What the… he turned back to his own prey. But as Vincent lift his blood-soaked face up from his foe, he noticed he hadn’t been chasing his own image: beneath him lay... Vitani! Vincent jumped back, startled. Was it her blood dripping from his face? He could imagine hearing a faint laughter in the background. Out of his mind with grief, disbelief and despair, he let loose an incredible scream of agony.

 

*

 

“Vincent!”

 

“No!”

 

The hyena suddenly jumped up, still screaming, pushing back the startled Vitani. She fell on the cave floor, whilst Vincent stood over her, panting frantically, his teeth showing. Drool dripped from his chin onto Vitani, who found herself gazing at the hyena’s enraged eyes in terror.

 

“What are you doing? Its me…” she whispered barely audible. Vincent blinked his eyes, then backed of, startled as he saw just who he had been about to attack. It had all been just a nightmare, which had for a second there, as he had jumped Vitani, almost come to life. But now, he was back to real life. Where was he? What had happened? He remembered so little…

 

“I-I’m sorry,” he stuttered, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… oh Spirits…”

 

“Okay, okay, it’s all right. You’re safe now.”

 

“W-What happened? Where are we?”

 

Vitani got up, looked around, then turned her head back to Vincent. She briefly smiled.

 

“Same place we were yesterday. We’re at White Pass.”

 

In a flash, Vincent remembered what had happened prior to his nightmare. They’d climbed towards the White Pass. And then… Kiruhu! That sneaky little bastard… He had stabbed them in the back for some reason they weren’t aware of yet. He remembered falling down… and being trapped in a blizzard! How had they…

 

“But how… I just remember endless whiteness… Snow everywhere!”

 

“Indeed,” Vitani confirmed, “But then I stumbled upon this cave here. Seeing as you were both pretty much passed out, I looked for shelter here. And the Kings of old must have smiled upon us today, ‘cause we made it, one way or another.”

 

Vincent looked around, and then he noticed to his right an opening, ‘round which some snow lay gathered. Sunshine peaked trough. They should have been dead, by all accounts. But the cave and the snow blocking most of the entrance had proven to be superb insulation it seemed. So Vitani was still all right!

 

“Thank the Spirits and thank your Kings,” Vincent exclaimed relieved as he got up and stepped forward to embrace Vitani, who reacted a bit unaccustomed, seeing as the hyena had only moments ago been atop her with his fangs poised to strike.

 

“Thank heavens you’re all right… but… Kiruhu! Where’s that lying, backstabbing vermin?”

 

“The cheetah? He’s outside, in front of the cave.”

 

“You let him go?” Vincent gasped.

 

“Why wouldn’t I have?”

 

“Because he tried to kill us. He wanted to kill you! And you saved his life! But I’ll take care of that, I will!” Vincent snarled as

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