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She should have really told ham that 'this dump' was their home, the only one they had. But she just didn't bother any more. Deep down inside, she'd stopped caring.
“Yeah... All right then, let's go see the Queen, while we're still young...”
The animals walked on towards a small plaza nearby, where the lions were being kept. Even though it was the middle of the night, a small crowd of curious bystanders had already gathered, shocked at the lions appearing.
“Good evening, your majesty...” nodded the hyena, “It's been a while since I've had the honor of welcoming you to my home.”
“Good evening, Shenzi. It's been a while indeed. I'm sorry I didn't pick a more appropriate time to come by, but I've had little choice in the matter...”
“Don't worry about it, I sleep more than enough during the day to make up for this late night out. By the way, I heard about what's happened to your partner, Tanabi. News like that eventually reaches even us... Anyway, I wish him all the best. If our clans had been on more cordial terms, I'd have even sent an official message of sympathy, but you know how it is...”
“I understand, there is the diplomacy to think about. But if you beg my pardon, I have little time, so I'd prefer getting straight to business. Do you have a place where we can talk more private?”
“Sure, if you wish,” yawned Shenzi, “Just follow me.”
The predators made their way up to Shenzi's cave. Dakly, Vitani, Umeme and Shenzi walked in, whilst Shenzi's two nieces waited outside, keeping anyone who was too curious out of hearing distance.
“All right, we can talk here. Now tell me, what brings you here, in the middle of the night?”
“It's a long story...” Vitani admitted.
“Shoot! I'm a sucker for stories...”
Vitani briefly summarized the mess she'd gotten into since Tanabi's accident. Shenzi listened attentively, getting more intrigued as Vitani's story went on. Each time Nala's name fell, Umeme couldn't help but notice a faint flicker in the old matriarch's eyes. By the time the story was finished, Shenzi sat up straight, her head up high and her eyes unusually full of life again.
“So that's where I stand now. I need my kingdom back, Shenzi.”
The hyena smiled vividly, and the eagerness simply radiated from her otherwise dull eyes. But she tried keeping her cool, at least for the time being.
“Well, that's terrible of course. First you partner taken a way from you, thrown in limbo for who-knows-how-long, and now your legitimate rule snatched from you by that...” She paused, preventing herself for getting all too excited, “By Nala, partner of the Usurper. It obvious where she got her bad habits... Anyway, I feel your pain, I truly do. But where do I enter the picture?”
“Isn't it obvious?” smirked Vitani. She already knew what game Shenzi was playing. She had no choice but to go with it.
“Sweetie, we both know that's not how diplomacy works. Now, go on, what are ya here for?”
“I need help,” Vitani admitted after a long and uncomfortable silence, “I need your help to get my throne back...”
Umeme gasped. She'd seen in coming from miles ahead, but she still found it shocking.
“Well... You have my sympathy, queen Vitani. But there is a yawning gap between sympathy and helping you fight your war, if it does indeed come to one...”
Vitani sighed, then nodded.
“All right, I get you. But, with all
due respect, you owe me more than sympathy, Matriaargin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: Arial;">
“Shoot! I'm a sucker for stories...”
Vitani briefly summarized the mess she'd gotten into since Tanabi's accident. Shenzi listened attentively, getting more intrigued as Vitani's story went on. Each time Nala's name fell, Umeme couldn't help but notice a faint flicker in the old matriarch's eyes. By the time the story was finished, Shenzi sat up straight, her head up high and her eyes unusually full of life again.
“So that's where I stand now. I need my kingdom back, Shenzi.”
The hyena smiled vividly, and the eagerness simply radiated from her otherwise dull eyes. But she tried keeping her cool, at least for the time being.
“Well, that's terrible of course. First you partner taken a way from you, thrown in limbo for who-knows-how-long, and now your legitimate rule snatched from you by that...” She paused, preventing herself for getting all too excited, “By Nala, partner of the Usurper. It obvious where she got her bad habits... Anyway, I feel your pain, I truly do. But where do I enter the picture?”
“Isn't it obvious?” smirked Vitani. She already knew what game Shenzi was playing. She had no choice but to go with it.
“Sweetie, we both know that's not how diplomacy works. Now, go on, what are ya here for?”
“I need help,” Vitani admitted after a long and uncomfortable silence, “I need your help to get my throne back...”
Umeme gasped. She'd seen in coming from miles ahead, but she still found it shocking.
“Well... You have my sympathy, queen Vitani. But there is a yawning gap between sympathy and helping you fight your war, if it does indeed come to one...”
Vitani sighed, then nodded.
rch,” Vitani's tone had suddenly gathered a whole lot more strength, at sounded almost booming, even commanding, “Last time I spoke to you, I still remember, you begged me. You begged me to forgive your betrayal of my father, Taka. I remember it word for word; you begged me to forgive you, and asked if there was anything you could to to make up for your horrendous betrayal.”
Shenzi's eyes grew wider, while she herself seemed to get smaller. Vitani on the other hand, looked ever more imposing.
“You are in debt to my father, and through him you are in debt to me. Well, I offer you the chance to repay your debt. Now's your chance to make up for your past wrongs; now's your chance to make right your betrayal. If you stand by me now, if you help defend Taka's ideals and bloodline, you will have repayed your debt. You will have my forgiveness, and with that my father's.”
A profound shiver ran over Shenzi's
spine, and her mouth turned dry. Vitani was right; if there ever had
been a time to try and make up for her betrayal, it had been now. Now
was the time to make amends, to finally address one of her biggest
fears: to have to face Taka in the afterlife without having tried to
right her wrongs.
“So, what say you?”
Shenzi swallowed, her mouth felt too dry to speak.
“What say you?” thundered Vitani again.
“I...” Before the old hyena could finish her scentance, however, she was interrupted by her nephew.
“Queen Vitani, could you and your companion please wait outside?” Dakly simply asked, suddenly awfully articulate and cool, “I need a word with my aunt.”
Being the guests that they were, Vitani and Umeme had no choice but to obey that request. Vitani was a bit disappointed as she walked out. She'd really hoped for a quick breakthrough, but it seemed things would bog down. But she needed an accord before sunrise, or she'd stand to face Nala alone, which wasn't an encouraging thought. After a few moments shared in silence, in which they heard little of the conversation that went on inside the cave between the hyenas, Dakly invited the lions back in. As soon as everyone was back in, Shenzi took off.
“Your majesty, me and my nephew have discussed your request for help. If it had been only me you needed help from, I'd be glad to assist you with no strings attached, to fulfill my duty to you. I have, however, a duty to fulfill to my clan as well. Dather, Taka. I remember it word for word; you begged me to forgive you, and asked if there was anything you could to to make up for your horrendous betrayal.”
Shenzi's eyes grew wider, while she herself seemed to get smaller. Vitani on the other hand, looked ever more imposing.
“You are in debt to my father, and through him you are in debt to me. Well, I offer you the chance to repay your debt. Now's your chance to make up for your past wrongs; now's your chance to make right your betrayal. If you stand by me now, if you help defend Taka's ideals and bloodline, you will have repayed your debt. You will have my forgiveness, and with that my father's.”
A profound shiver ran over Shenzi's
spine, and her mouth turned dry. Vitani was right; if there ever had
been a time to try and make up for her betrayal, it had been now. Now
was the time to make amends, to finally address one of her biggest
fears: to have to face Taka in the afterlife without having tried to
right her wrongs.
“So, what say you?”
Shenzi swallowed, her mouth felt too dry to speak.
“What say you?” thundered Vitani again.
“I...” Before the old hyena could finish her scentance, however, she was interrupted by her nephew.
“Queen Vitani, could you and your companion please wait outside?” Dakly simply asked, suddenly awfully articulate and cool, “I need a word with my aunt.”
Being the guests that they were, Vitani and Umeme had no choice but to obey that request. Vitani was a bit disappointed as she walked out. She'd really hoped for a quick breakthrough, but it seemed things would bog down. But she needed an accord before sunrise, or she'd stand to face Nala alone, which wasn't an encouraging thought. After a few moments shared in silence, in which they heard little of the conversation that went on inside the cave between the hyenas, Dakly invited the lions back in. As soon as everyone was back in, Shenzi took off.
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