simply declared, “I always claimed I was Taka's true heir. Well the, today we will see in how far that is really true, as I truly thread in his paw prints.”

Both Maitha and Kucha still looked rather shocked, that wasn't really the answer they wanted.

“Are you still with me?” Vitani suddenly asked.

“I said I'm behind you no matter what...” whispered Maitha, “I don't like what I'm seeing... but I don't intend to break my word, your majesty.”

“I'm with you, my queen – even though it's against all my better judgment,” admitted Kucha.

“Good. Given the circumstances, I couldn't ask for more. Lets get going then...”

“Say, Dahabu?” whispered Anasa as the odd group set off towards the Pridelands, “Remember how you said it at least wouldn't get any worse? I think it just did...”

A soon as her lionesses had reaffirmed their commitment to Vitani's cause, she arranged them all in formation; the lions up front, followed by the hyena cohort. Since they hadn't even had time to agree on some of the most basic principles concerning their entryinto the Pridelands, Shenzi tagged along next to Vitani, just to get some basic issues straight.

“So, let me get this straight: you don't actually want us doing anything, do you?”

“Of course not, there's lots of things I want you doing,” sighed Vitani, “Just use some restraint, all right? Above all else, you're supposed to be a deterrent.”

A pretty expensive deterrent...

“Hey, fine by me... The less lives we have to risk the better.”

“Then what's you're problem?”

“Oh, nothing... I'd just love to put my teeth in one of those arrogant Pridelanders,” grinned the elder hyena, who was surprisingly fit for her age. Must've been the excitement of knowing you'll get to 'put your teeth in a Pridelander'. Of course, neither Maitha, Umeme or Kucha was amused, which they immediately made clear by grunting and growling.

“No offense, of course!” added Shenzi quickly, still a bit weary of all the lions around, “I guess I have to get used to being around lions again after all those long years... But I'd still like to give that Nala a decent trashing.”

“What do you have against Nala anyway?”

“What don't I have against her? I mean, as if it wasn't enough she was the one to bring back Simba, she almost killed me in the Battle of Priderock that followed. Not to mention she was instrumental in banning me and my clan from these lands...”

Once again, the lionesses weren't to enthusiast about their new ally's viewpoint. They might have been forced in a position where they had to oppose Nala, but they couldn't just ignore the fact she had at one time been their queen (and a rather good one at that).
Vitani, on the other hand, was rather pleased, be it in a cynical way: the more Shenzi was motivated to get even with Nala, the less likely it would be she'd just run off if things were to get ugly. It was nice to know her ally wasn't just motivated by whatever she'd get out of the deal (be it forgivingness or land), but also by some steadfast hate.
Of course, Vitani wasn't about to admit that; the official position was still she'd just try to get her throne back by bluffing, or scaring Nala, whatever you want to call it. But deep down inside, ever since her visit to the Outlander's shrine, Vitani had been hoping for an actual confrontation with Nala. A mix of bitterness, anger and pride, probably. Either way, it meant a peacefully solution was further away than it had ever been, at least if it were up to no one else but Vitani and Nala.

*

After a short walk which seemed to have lasted an eternity, Vitani reached the riverbank. The cool mud felt surprisingly comfortable under the queen's forepaws; must've been been the first pleasant sensation in over two days. After just standing around, almost as if meditating for a few moments, she turned around again, facing the followers assembled behind her. Most of the hyenas looked a bit bored, in great contrast to the overly anxious lionesses. And the most uncomfortable of all must've been Umeme.
Vitani hadn't worried too much about her: she had, after all, come along on the trip to persuade the hyenas to join the loyalist retinue, not to mention Umeme had openly affirmed her loyalty. But the nearer she came to her 'old' queen, it seemed, the more she started to doubt whether switching sides had been the right thing to do.
Umeme constantly told herself that what she was doing was the right thing to do, but in all honesty, she simply wasn't sure of that. She didn't know whether, when confronted with Nala in person, she wouldn't just defect again. She had become a pawn in the game of her own doubts and emotions, effectively powerless to make her own, rational decisions. She could only pray such would not lead her down the wrong path.
Umeme wasn't the only one who was praying; the same went for Vitani. She was praying for Umeme as well: not only did she need every lioness that was with her to overpower Nala, but Umeme turning over would also be a decisive blow to the queen's moral. Because if even a lioness like Umeme could remain loyal to her in these kinds of circumstances, all lionesses could. In a way, she represented the entire pride. If Vitani lost her, she lost the throne, at least morally. Any victory without Umeme would be a Pyrrhic one at best. But only time would tell if Umeme was strong enough to stand by her queen.
And then there were the cubs also. Vitani thought they looked a bit lost, at the grown-ups' paws. And they were lost, both of 'em, in a way: Dahabu felt utterly powerless, not to mention worried about what would happen to his mother. Anasa, on the other hand, felt more torn than worried; there she was, standing next to Vitani and a horde of hyenas, while her mother waited on the other shore, probably ready to actually kill the lionesses standing next to Anasa. Who should she cheer for? Vitani? Her mother? Both? Or just maybe she shouldn't cheer for anyone, and just pray to the stars that things would eventually still work themselves out, somehow...

“Ma'am, what'll we do with them?”

“Huh?” Vitani was suddenly drawn out of her deliberations as Kucha addressed her. As such, she had no idea what the lioness was on about.

“The cubs, what to do about them?” whispered the lioness again.

“Nothing. They stay here, and link up with whomever comes out victorious,” Vitani replied, quickly adding: “And that 'll be us. We will triumph, the only question is how that victory will come to be. Without bloodshed, I hope.”

“We all hope it won't come to bloodshed, don't worry...”

“... except maybe the hyenas,” whispered Maitha. It earned her the second glare of the day.

“Either way, we keep the cubs out of this,” concluded the Queen.

“All right, no hostages!” smirked Maitha, ironic as ever. The other lionesses didn't even bother to retort anymore.

“By the way, ma'am, how's the royal-in-being?”

Vitani smiled. She'd been thinking about that a lot too recently.

“Better that ever, actually. I've even been thinking about the names...”

“Yeah, I heard...” frowned Kucha, “Are you really planning on naming him Taka?”

“Phew, not really original, is it? I mean, with so small a family, I didn't really expect you lions to run out of names that fast...”

“Nice of you for being generous enough to share your take on the issue, Shenzi,” grumbled Vitani to the hyena who had just joined the conversation, brazen and tactless as ever, not to mention rather uninvited, “Anyway, I'm not entirely sure yet. I mean, if it's a girl, I'll simply have to pick something else. Something along the lines of Amali...”

“Amali, nice... Means 'hope', doesn't it? I like that way better than Taka, with all due respect...” admitted Kucha.

“Ah? Why is that?” Vitani asked, her voice suddenly harsh and reproaching, much to her fellow lionesses' surprise (although actually less to Shenzi's surprise). The Queen shot a cold stare at her subjects. “I think it's time we set the record straight here...”

A three lionesses around the queen suddenly felt awfully uncomfortable. They had vowed their allegiance to Vitani, yet none of them had ever really felt comfortable at her motives and ideals. It would have only been a matter of time before that would start to show. Even so, it could have hardly been a worse time.

“Let's not play each other for fools, all right? I know you resent Taka's reign and ideals as much as you resent Taka himself. I'd be lying if I said I didn't give a damn about that, but that is not relevant. I don't need you to like him, I don't need you to understand him and I don't need you to agree with him. We'll work on those, in time, by making them mandatory if need be, but not now. Now, I need only one thing: your unquestioning obedience as we restore his legacy. Not because you want to, but because I tell you so, because I am your ruler. And this starts by honoring Taka's name. Got it?”

The lionesses averted their gaze in silence.

“I said: got it?” Vitani asked again, now louder and even more stern.

“Yes ma'am...”

“Loud and clear...”

“As you wish...”

“Hey, now isn't that swell?” Shenzi suddenly yelped, both annoyed and indifferent, “Well, now that we've got that out of the way, how 'bout we take some time to cross this blasted river and do what we came here to do?”

“One: don't tell me what to do,” growled Vitani, “Two: brilliant idea. There will be no touching speeches, no heroics. We do our duty: yours is to restore Taka's legacy. Mine is to lead you. Things are afoul in our Kingdom... Now is not the time to make reply, not the time to reason why, you have now but to do and die. We set things right! Onward!”

With a

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