now? Besides, why would you want to do that, you came up with our battle plan...” Shenya noted.

 

“Indeed I did, but returning here made me aware of a small flaw in our plans. You do of course remember the layout of the Rock?”

 

Duh. One ramp to the central plaza, and on that a few ways up to the caves in front of the rock itself, which overshadowed the plaza. That meant no way in or out of the Priderock-complex except for the ramp.

 

“Yeah, why?”

 

“Well... Remember how I said there was only one way in or out?”

 

“Yeah, I remember… it's a deathtrap… that's why so few of our predecessors made it out, six years ago, at the Battle of Priderock (or should I say massacre of Priderock?). Get to the point already,” Shenya grumbled a bit annoyed. Where was she getting at?

 

“You see, ma'am, that wasn't entirely true. There is one other way out, a small passage directly connected to the caves, very narrow, but it is a passage in its own right still. I had hardly taken notice when I first got to the Rock, all those months ago, but coming back here I suddenly remembered.”

 

“Ow Spirits... couldn't you tell me sooner?”

 

Shetani just stared at the ground. Yes, she could have. But she had forgotten. She felt disgraced; such mistakes were intolerable for the leader of the most elite unit in the clan, and they endangered the whole operation. Shenya, however, wasn’t the least bit angry, as she considered Shetani’s performance up to now had been more than exemplary already. It would be rather unfair to demand utter perfection, Shetani too was only hyena after all.

 

“Well, seeing as you got us this far already it'd be quite unfair to blame you for this... but what do you suggest we do then, we cut the clan in half, or what?”

 

“No, out of the question!” she quickly replied with vigor, “That'd be a waste of lives. We need a force strong enough to block that small exit I talked about, but small enough to leave the main force's fighting power intact.”

 

“Oh, piece of cake! You go,” Shenya suggested.

 

“Me?”

 

“Duh, small in numbers but out in force; sounds like the perfect job for the Graymanes.”

 

“I don't know...” Shetani hesitated, “What if we encounter something unexpected?”

 

“I'm sure you'll be fit to handle any given situation better than the rest of the clan combined. The most important skill to handle situations like this is knowing how to improvise; making the best and taking advantage of any given situation. I can’t think of anyone to fit that profile better than you,” Shenya reassured her, “Just go out there and do whatever it takes to win, we're not out on a social call.”

 

“That's an order?”

 

“No, more like a guideline… Of course it's an order! Get you're squad ready, head for that back-entrance and just do whatever it takes to win this,” Shenya replied, “And hurry up, will ya? If you would have wanted to reach the rock simultaneous with the rest of the clan, you ought to have left minutes ago...”

 

“Ma'am!” Shetani saluted, “We'll infiltrate the caves at daybreak, you can count on us.”

 

“What are you still talking to me for? Get at it already.”

 

Shetani took of, as ordered. Shenya tried following her with her eyes, but even with night-vision she hardly saw more than a creeping shadow. It was actually amazing how Shetani managed to always keep her cool and professionalism, as Shenya for example was already beginning to feel very twitchy. And given the present situation, you couldn’t really deem that unusual, seeing as how she was only minutes away from storming the Priderock. She could hardly believe it herself, actually sitting in it's shadows, only at a five minute's walk from the pride. It sure gave a rush, and made her anxious too. Strange, come to think of it, feeling anxious to put your life on the line. But it just didn't feel like they were up to something dangerous, no, it had a rather exciting feel to it, she was actually longing for it. And why should they not be longing, weren't they out to finally undo all wrongs ever inflicted on them, should they not be anxious to see justice done? Or at least, that's what every one had come to believe over time, including Shenya. Whether there lay any truth in those beliefs... no-one ever bothered to think about that, really. But that's what made  them beliefs, the fact no-one was actually willing to try and falsify them. They sounded to good for that, too convenient to be doublechecked. A whole bunch of convenient truths.
But that, of course, never crossed Shenya's mind, not now anyway. After giving the Priderock one last glance, she headed for the rest of the clan, for it was time to prepare the attack. Meanwhile, the Graymanes had already left for the back-entrance to Priderock; hideously efficient as ever: no-one recalled seeing or hearing them break away from the clan.

 

*

 

“You're nervous?”

 

“Like, what do you expect? 'Course I'm nervous... Now hush, pay attention...” Kim whispered as she turned back to Shenya, who was giving one last explanation before the final push.

 

“... and that's all there is to it, all right? Just remember, whatever you do, do not break formation, ever. You hold the line, no matter what. They're bigger, they're stronger, they're meaner, they're more vicious. The only way we can get them is if we stick together, we stand side by side. And don't forget what we're here for, remember what we're up against: they're thieves, murderers, savages, heartless brutes. If we can't stop them here and now, no-one will, ever... Now… See you all the Rock.”

 

As they were still in hiding and undetected, everyone just bowed their heads to salute, in stead of a decent, pompous and noisy greeting; some cheering and hailing perhaps. But none of that, just a silent nod of the head. After those final words, everyone hurried to their respective line. Kim had been assigned to the left flank, along with about sixteen others. The one in charge of the squad was Kali. For the better: she was still, all in all, one of the better leaders available in the clan, a confident leader and able warrior. And she was good at shouting orders, that of course helped too. The central line was headed by Shenya herself, getting some backing from Banzaï (true, he wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, but at least he was reliable enough, not to mention life had forcefully bestowed a whole lot of experience upon him). Who led the right flank, Kim didn't really know nor did she care, as she kept a strict policy of minding her own business (unless instructed otherwise), which usually got her into enoughangerous, no, it had a rather exciting feel to it, she was actually longing trouble as it was. All she knew that the right flank was probably lead by a former Westclanner… probably Umwa, or at least someone within her family; they were pretty high-ranking. Unlike Kim. Not that that mattered; lions hardly ever take note of hierarchy within their enemies clan: they just try taking down as many as possible.

In under a minute, everyone had formed ranks, now they just had to wait for Shenya to give the order. She waited, looking in the opposite direction of the Rock: she was awaiting the sun to rise, so they'd have it behind them as they fought. Every little bit of advantage helped.
After about one minute, the sun appeared; huge, strangely reddish as if it were foreshadowing the bloodshed which would follow in its wake. But Shenya waited still, she’d only attack once the sun had become more blinding. It must've felt like an endless wait, even though it probably only compromised a few measly minutes. Waiting always seems to take longer, I guess.
Once the sun was at about two fifths, Shenya finally signaled the clan in a silent motion, and they got on the move… well, at least those that were about to engage in combat. For a minute there, actually standing in the front line (literally, the line up-front), Kim wished she had been assigned to guard duty, staying behind to watch over the younglings until the fighting was over. Alas, she would have the 'privilege' of facing the enemy up close, of having to 'go over the top'.
The clan ventured forward, locked in silence, tightly maintaining formation. They quickly crossed the hill they'd be hiding behind, out of the dense vegetation that surrounded them (it was indeed the perfect hiding spot). They actually formed quite a compact mass, in spite of their numbers. Shenya had guessed they outnumbered the enemy about four to one, and seeing as they were at an advantage beginning at three or more to one, chances were good. But to prevent anyone from feeling the sting of hubris, public estimates were two to one. That was enough to get even the most inert of hyenas edgy, so imagine what it could do to anyone who already was more than edgy enough for her own good, like Kim. That's like, totally not cool. But with clanmates everywhere next to her and behind her, there was only one way she could go no matter what her mood was: forward. Being out of options really is the best substitute for being courageous... As they kept nearing the Rock, Kim could begin seeing shapes appearing in front of the Rock, and on it. So scout reports were accurate, all lions had indeed been present at the rock, none had ventured off. For some reason, that didn't really lift Kim's spirit: it just meant more lions to fight.

The first lions spotted them. For a moment, they just gazed in disbelief at the horde that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, or out of the rising sun maybe. But it didn't take the lions long to get over their initial shock, and the first rallying cries quickly

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