Okay, I know my last real post on here was a rant about the quality of
fan-fictions on this list, so I think I'll post this in an effort to change
that.

This is my "sequel" to the unfinished fan-fiction "Stranger in The
Pridelands", so if you didn't read it, you'll probably be comepletely lost.
It's over on Ryan's page,
http://www.lionking.org/~ryan/lionking/text/fanfic/stranger.txt

This is a rough form, so if you see anything, let me know. If you don't let
me know as well. I thrive off feedback; it's what keeps me writing. :)

**

SitPL2

To Sam and Dave - il miglior fabbro.

Carminis de Mortis

	The night air was stale with the scent of lion and freshly killed meat.
Outside, the sound of a thousand chirping crickets created a hallowed
cacophony that mixed oddly in the pale starlight. The moon was nowhere to
be seen. The walls housed grotesque shadows made by whatever light managed
to make its way into the den. Lionesses laid asleep sprawled, curled, and
in all other fashions, each one snoozing peacefully or smiling, lost in
their pleasant dreams. The King, Mufasa, had his paw curled lovingly around
his Queen, his head buried in her nape, the both of them purring
contentedly as only lions can.
	Chad sat in the pride's cave sleepless, his hand clasping to his wounds a
makeshift bandage fashioned from thick broad leaves that he couldn't
identify, flinching every now and then as another surge of Healing's pain
washed over him. He sat in the back of the cave, facing outward, gazing
glossy-eyed at the night, remembering the attack earlier by the hyenas on
his new friends, how they had almost done him in, and how it was Mufasa
that saved him.
	And of course, almost killed him. Thank God he could talk to animals.
But then again, it was that fact that had cost him his family. The fire.
The screams of the farm animals, urging them all to get out, the choking
black acrid smoke, the scent of burning wood and flesh, the agonizing
screams of his parents...
	'No!' Chad said abruptly to himself, his mouth forming the words but
making no sound. He shook himself free from slumber's grip, his memories
slipping down for the moment. 'Must not fall asleep. I can't fall asleep!'
	But even the strongest fail at times, and Chad knew that he would have to
sleep sometime, and the memories would flood back.

	A determined feminine voice spoke, "Look, dear. He's shivering cold."
	"The night was very cold. Maybe this will warm him up," another voice
said, this one deeper and masculine. Chad, in his dreamy state, could feel
himself being picked up and held, his mind picturing a tall dark human,
bearded and kind, the image of his father. But when he opened his eyes, he
was met with a very different sight.
	"Be careful of his wound."
	"Mufasa?" Chad asked, teeth chattering.
	The great lion nodded, "It's me. Are you okay?"
	"I'm... I'm fine, just a little cold." The warmth from the King's body was
already taking effect. He stopped shaking and began to calm down, and for
the first time since he had arrived, he felt just a little more
comfortable, although the cuts on his side pained him greatly. He could see
out of the corner of his eye a lioness that he recognized as Sarabi.
	She spoke, "I think Simba is waiting for you, dear. It is time."
	Mufasa let Chad go and ruffled his head with a paw, "I've got to go, Chad.
Just checking up on you."
	The chill of the air and floor was apparent as Mufasa left, and Chad gave
him a wave of parting.
	"Where is he going?" Chad asked, turning his gaze to Sarabi.
	"Today is a very important day for Mufasa and his son. Today, he starts
teaching Simba all about being King, and today, he shows Simba just what
our kingdom is."
	Chad nodded, understanding, but the gesture was cut short as one of the
leaves fell from his wound, taking some of the medicine and healed skin
with it. Chad groaned in pain, and then stiffened as he felt a warm wet
caress from Sarabi's tongue.
	"It hurts."
	"It's supposed to. If there wasn't pain, how would you know if you were
alive?" She kissed it a few more times, until the boy settled down and
leaned against her for support. "They really did a number on you. But it
seems to be healing nicely. If you get up and move around, I think the pain
might go away."
Chad only moaned his assent.
	"Chad," Sarabi began, "We need to talk."
	Chad looked up to the lioness, "About what?"
	"You're welcome here, Chad, but only because the King says so. Some of the
lionesses are voicing their opinions against you."
	"I know. I can tell."
	Sarabi nodded, "We expect the same of you. If you prove that you can
follow the Circle, and benefit the pride instead of hurting it, then those
lionesses may respect you." She stopped for a moment and sighed, "However,
some members of our pride may not change their minds."
	"Like that Scar fellow?" Chad asked, "I don't trust him."
	"Not many do," Sarabi said icily, "But he can't do anything with Mufasa
around."
	Chad smiled and stroked the lioness's shoulder, "That makes me feel better."
	Sarabi let out a light purr, "Mufasa told me about your family. I'm sorry."
	Chad was quick to answer, "I don't want to talk about it."
	"You're having nightmares, Chad. Any fool could see that."
	"I said I don't want to talk about it," Chad shot back, a little more
forcefully this time.
	Sarabi sighed and gave up. "If you wish. Just remember that I'm always
here. I have a cub of my own, and maybe I'm a sentimental fool, but I don't
know what I'd do if anything happened to you." She beamed at the hint of a
smile on the human's expressive face and added, "You're welcome to sleep
next to me tonight of you feel up to it."
	Chad looked up at her and said in his most thankful tone, "I'd like that
very much." But to him, it felt like his voice was ringing in a hollow shell.

	Scar paced around in the cul-de-sac where he had planned to meet the hyena
representatives. His plan for usurping the throne had only gotten more
complicated with the arrival of the human, and the fact that his meeting
was running late only compounded his worries.
	That human was buddying up to Mufasa, and doing it well. Scar sat and
pondered this, considering his options that this new twist provided. Not
only would he have to get rid of the King's son, but the human as well. But
the human was a trifle; enough lionesses despised his presence as much as
he did. They would obey his command to destroy him as if it were nothing.
And the others would not be able to do a thing about it, of course. He was,
after all, going to be King.
	Scar flicked a bone idly away and continued his pacing. The human cub was
smart. It would be nigh impossible to call his allegiance; he was far too
cautious, almost to a fault. Something bad had happened to him, Scar could
tell, but what he couldn't quite put his paw on.
	There was a sound from above, on one of the overhanging ledges. Scar
upturned his gaze and was met with a trio of hyenas coming down to the
small hideaway. They leapt with grace that was oddly placed in their
species and approached with very little fear or trepidation. Scar could
only surmise that there was a protective guard around the area.
	They met silently, sizing one another up. Scar could tell that one of the
three was a female, and the other two were males. The female seemed to hold
dominance over the other two, as was hyannic custom, and she came forward
and introduced herself.
	"I'm Shenzi." She pointed to her compatriots in order and said, "This is
Banzai, and this is Ed."
	"Scar," was Scar's reply, "I have business that I'd like to discuss."
	"So we heard. What's this all about?" Banzai said.
	"It's a plan, to get you out of this damned graveyard and into the Pride
Lands. And to give me the Throne."
	The hyena's ears perked, except for Ed's, who simply sat there with a
vacant expression, "We're listening."
	"Good. Today King Mufasa is taking the Prince on a tour of the Pride
Lands, to teach him what a King has to do." Scar bunched his muzzle up in a
look of disgust, "And I just know the little twerp is going to bug me with
the news."
Scar stopped to make certain the hyenas were listening. They were, so he
continued, "I'm going to plant the idea that he come over to the Graveyard
to explore. When he does, that is where you come in."
	"And just what do you expect us to do?" Shenzi said, asserting what little
authority she possessed.
	"Eat him."
	A beat, after which a devilish grin grew over the hyena's faces, even
Ed's. "I like it." Banzai sneered. The others nodded consent.
	Scar added, "And if he brings along anyone else, eat them too. You get
dinner out of the deal, and you don't even have to leave home." Scar slowed
his speech down to make sure the hyenas comprehended his next statement,
"And when I become King, I'll open the border between the hyenas and lions."
	"Scar," Shenzi said, "You have yourself a deal."

	"Can you stand?" Sarabi asked softly, nudging the boy to his feet. He took
her head in his hands and twisted his face into a contorted look of agony.
	"I'll manage."
	Sarabi huffed and sat him back down, "Walking back must have worsened it.
You're not going anywhere." He sighed and leaned into her again, kicking
away a stray pebble with his bare foot. Right now, he wanted to be anywhere
but where he was.
	He started to stand again, "I'll be fine, Sarabi. I need to go find some
things, and then I'll be right back."
	Sarabi's expression turned worried, and she stood with him, "Not without
me, you aren't."
	Chad conceded, "Fine."
	The pair walked out of the cavern and carefully made their way down the
path that led up Pride Rock, into the grasslands that surrounded it. On
more than one occasion, Sarabi pleaded with the grimacing Chad that he
rest, but the boy was adamant.
	In the shadow of the great monolith, Chad began to hunt around in the
small rocks that had eroded away. Sarabi watched intently as the boy
struggled to bend over to examine one stone after another. One he seemed
satisfied with and kept it aside at Sarabi's paws, and then he was back to
work.
	Chad tossed aside a few more stones before Sarabi spoke up, "Chad? What
are you looking for?"
	The boy didn't answer. Instead, he hovered in place for a moment after
moving a few large rocks from their resting place. Slowly he picked up what
looked like a piece of black glass and stood upright with a great deal of
effort and groaning. He pressed the leaves to his side to make sure they
stayed while turning over the glossy rock in his hand, watching the
sunlight glint off the many-faceted stone.
	Chad smiled, "This." He looked to Sarabi and started back up the pathway
to the pride's cave, but with the first step a great razor of pain sliced
through his wounds, and he toppled over onto the rocks.
	Sarabi was quick to his side. She helped him up to his feet and looked to
him worriedly, "Here, I'll help you." Chad put his weight on her and
together they trekked up Pride Rock and into the cave. There, she laid down
and brought him next to her, laying the stone he had set with her at his
hands.
	Chad smiled at her briefly, and took up the rock. He set the black
obsidian on the cave's floor and held it still, then smashed against it
with the other stone. A small piece of flint struck off it and skittered
along the ground.
	Sarabi jumped in place, the action coming as something new to her. She
didn't question him, but instead watched as Chad struck again and again at
the black glass on the floor, each time a little more of it breaking off
and spreading along the cave. He worked at it feverishly, although the
screaming wound in his side begged for a rest, he paid it no attention.
	Slowly, other lionesses came in, hearing the clatter and watched the human
as he drove the stone into a point, tapering off the sides and taking care
not to break it anymore than was needed. Chad seemed more deliberate in his
strokes, picking and choosing his force and target more carefully as time
went on.
	A fairly large group had gathered around as the sun rose steadily, and
some were murmuring to one another as to what the boy was up to. Chad
raised the stone again, now pounded to about half its original size as
well, and struck the black glass again. Finally, his body could take no
more, and a trickle of blood seeped from his bandages and down his side. He
grimaced and stopped, then held the newly fashioned knife to the sunlight,
inspecting the crudely pounded edges and point; wrapping his hand about the
rounded handle.
	He breathed hard, and then looked to the crowd that had gathered about
him, as if seeing them for the first time. Some lionesses backed away from
him, others moved in to get a better view. Chad even saw a small lioness
cub peek her head around a leg, but it wasn't a cub he knew.
	The crowd dispersed after time, each retreating to their own place to
sleep the hunt off, since that morning had been very lucrative. Sarabi had
long since nodded off, but Chad laid by her, cradling his knife in his
arms, too excited to fall asleep, but too pained to stay awake. He finally
laid his head next to Sarabi's, and as he fell asleep, he could just make
out that lioness cub he had seen earlier peering her head over to look at him.

	Chad was fast to heal, but as his exterior wounds closed that day, the
emotional ones seeped even larger. His nights were haunted with insidious
memories of his family: his parents' faces, his home ablaze, the village
head casting him out into the wilderness. That night was restless, tossing
and turning terribly until something in his dream came that was so very
horrible that sleep itself deserted him. Chad spent hours fighting it off,
but every night he succumbed to the need for sleep, and the haunting
memories within.
	But the day was no better. He was surrounded by happiness he could never
have. Life within the pride was joyous and carefree for the most part, and
Chad felt himself being more and more alienated from them as the day went
on. Sarabi often would try to open up to Chad, but he always refused. There
was no reason for him to bring his burdens upon this pristine family. Oddly
enough, Simba and Nala had not even approached him with their smiles or
playful naiveté. He felt utterly deserted.
	Chad didn't feel safe anywhere. Many lionesses voiced their opinion
against him openly, calling him names and epithets that pierced his heart
through. Not only was he out of place, but he wasn't wanted either. Chad
instead strayed away from the pride as much as possible, spending most
hours practicing hunting small game such as badgers and gathering fruits to
provide enough sustenance for the next day.
	In his village, Chad had been very skilled with a knife and the bow and
arrow. He knew what he needed to survive, and learned what to eat and what
not to. In time, the food he foraged for himself was enough for his wounds
to heal cleanly, and he decided that it was time to start to hunt larger game.
	For this, Chad also knew that he would need something more than a
rudimentary knife.

	Chad sat on the Promontory and worked slowly, making sure not to hurt his
wounds. He took the knife he had fashioned out of obsidian and cut two
notches on either side at the top and bottom of the wooden shaft. He blew
the scrapings away and put down the knife. He placed the bow in a small
crevice in the rock and pulled the top down, bending the flexible wood down
to its desired arc. He grunted as he pulled, the strength of the wood being
necessary for its use, but almost too much for him to handle. Chad measured
the length between the ends visually, marking it in his mind. Letting the
shaft go, he reached out for the vine and pulled off the length he needed.
	He reached for the knife, but found that it wasn't there. Looking he saw a
small golden lioness cub, smiling up at him, the tool in her maw. Chad
smiled, despite himself, and held out his hand, "Mind if I take that?"
	She shook her head and put it down in his hand. He looked at her for a
moment and then smiled, "I've seen you around, haven't I?"
	The cub perked, "Yeah, even though I'm not supposed to be around you. Mama
says that you're bad."
	Chad winced, that ever-present twinge flaring for the briefest of moments.
He put it down inside him, like always, and said cheerfully, "What's your
name?"
	"Milani!" she said, without hesitation.
	"Well Milani, you'd better be getting on if your mom doesn't want you to
be around me."
	Milani grinned, "Nah. I'd rather be here. You're too cool!"
	Something rang in Chad with those words, something indefinable, something
ethereal. He basked in it for a time, contemplating what the cub had just
said, wondering why it moved him so. The knife clattered from his hand
somewhat clumsily although he fully intended to do it. He reached out
almost in a haze and stroked the child between the ears. She purred and
licked his hand softly, the raspy touch sending a tingle through Chad's being.
	"Thank you," Chad said softly.
	The moment passed unnoticed to the lion child, and with a light pounce,
she was next to Chad, gazing wondrously at the sinewy vine and curved stick
before him. "Whatcha doin'?"
	"Making something that will help me hunt." Chad replied, "It's called a
bow and arrow." The cub's response was but a blank stare, so Chad
continued, "What it does is it takes a small piece of wood from a tree
called an arrow and tosses it through the air, towards whatever I point it
at. This big curved part is the bow. If the arrow is pointed at the tip, it
will stick into what it hits, like my prey."
	Milani nodded, seeming to understand, "You use that 'cause you don't have
claws, right?"
	Chad smiled and nodded, "That's right. Plus, I'm not fast enough to catch
up to the antelope and zebra like you can."
	"I can't do all that," Milani said, looking at Chad now, "I'm too little,
Mama says."
	Chad started scratching the child behind the ears, and she started purring
contentedly. The sun seemed to beat down a little less to Chad, and the dry
heat cooled a bit. He wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, and was pleased
to see that none replaced it. The winds blew softly from the savanna,
catching his lengthy hair and dragging it behind him.
	Chad breathed deeply and freely for the first time in a long time and
said, "I've got to finish up here, Mil. You're welcome to stay."
	Milani looked at him and smiled, "Mil. I like that." She nuzzled next to
him and looked to his tools as an answer to stay. Chad took up the knife as
he had earlier, but realized that he had completely forgotten the length he
needed. Taking the bow up again, he pulled it to the arc he needed. It
seemed to almost bend to his will. It curved to his desire easily, the
supple wood making no noise of protest. He measured off the length again
and set the wood down. The vine came next, and he pulled off the length
needed.
	"What's that for?" Milani chimed.
	"I've got to make sure this is the right length of vine." Chad replied as
he took up the knife.
	But, as he prepared to cut it, Milani spoke up, "Maybe a little more."
Chad looked down to the lioness, who returned his gaze.
	Their eyes met in one of those picturesque moments that are captured
forever in God's memory. Volumes were spoken between them even though words
were not uttered. The little lioness's eyes shimmered like pools, the glint
of sunlight flickering off them like miniscule diamonds. A trust was formed
between them at that moment, something Chad had never thought, never dreamt
would happen since he left his home.
	Chad merely nodded and pulled another length off and cut it. He tied both
ends into loops and threaded one into the notches on the bottom of the bow.
He began to stand up, "Excuse me, Mil."
	The little lioness hopped off. "Sure thing!" She pawed a couple of steps
away and watched as Chad stepped through the bow and string, bending it
over his leg. He used his weight to bend the bow down, again very easily,
and looped the final catch over the notches. He held up the completed bow
and smiled at his handiwork, giving the string a simple tug and listening
to the harmonious tone.
	So lost in himself and the moment that it took Milani's cries of protest,
"Maamaa! I wanna stay here with Chad!" Chad turned around to see Milani
being cuffed on the head and steered away by a very disgruntled lioness.
	"I thought I told you that you weren't supposed to go near him!" the
lioness said, casting a nasty glare back at Chad. She left Milani alone for
a moment and stormed over to the human, "And I'm telling you right now, If
I ever see you near her, or smell you on her, I won't be so nice." With
that, she padded back over to Milani, took her by the scruff of the neck
and walked away. Milani strained her head to get one final look at Chad
before they disappeared around the corner.
	Chad felt the heat of day rush back in on him, the sun's rays begin their
incessant beating of his skin, and for a moment, he wished he had made the
arrows earlier so he could put one through the lioness's skull. He turned
away, pained by the sudden shift in mood, and gathered up the remaining
wood he had selected to make the arrows from and walked towards the pride's
cave. He walked all the way to the rear and dropped his tools. A sigh
escaped his lips and he stood practically motionless, not being able to do
more than stare at what needed be done.
	He needed to talk. Leaving what he came in with, he turned about and left
the Promontory.

	She was there, just like he thought she would be, sunning herself on the
rocks with a few of the other lionesses. He didn't see any of the other
cubs around, nor the lioness that had taken Milani away from him. He sat,
waiting for the lioness she was talking to, Sarafina, to leave, and when
she did he stalked his way down to the Queen. He took care to avoid some of
the more temperamental and less tolerant ladies as he walked, but the ones
that treated him nicely often looked up and smiled a greeting.
	However, Sarabi was the only one that would talk to Chad, unless it was to
warn him of something or threaten him. When the boy reached the lioness she
smiled and gave him a gentle lick on the arm, "Hello Chad."
	"Hey, Sarabi," Chad sighed. He lowered his head and muttered, "Can I talk
with you?"
	Sarabi looked about to make sure no one was listening. She was satisfied,
and lowered her head to Chad's, "What's wrong dear?"
	"I've been out here for a while," he said. "Not here with you, but out
here." He waved a hand over the landscape to indicate what he was talking
about. "I learned how to survive, how to keep going until tomorrow." He
paused for a moment to gather himself, obviously on the verge of tears,
"Learned all that on my own."
	Sarabi nuzzled the child, listening as he continued.
	"I have dreams. Bad dreams, Sarabi. I keep seeing the fire that killed my
family, I keep hearing the headmaster of our village that drove me out,
blaming it on me. I haven't slept one night out here without those dreams.
They're horrible..." Chad faded as tears began to stream down his face.
	Sarabi did her best to kiss the tears away, but they were always replaced,
"Chad, I don't know what to say..."
	Chad bit his lip and continued, "But that's not the bad part. I wake up,
and there's no one there but the wind and sun. I hear my family die every
night and wake up to them gone. I have no one." He shut his eyes and
shuddered, the sobbing uncontrollable.
	"But Chad," Sarabi said, wrapping her paw about him, "That's not true. You
have us, the pride."
	Chad sat for a moment and said, "It's not the same, Sarabi." He looked up
at her with bloodshot eyes, "It's not the same."
	Sarabi shook her head, "I don't understand."
	"Not everyone wants me here. I was making something to help me hunt a
little while ago, and a cub named Milani came up, right out of the blue. I
didn't even notice her, and I'm usually pretty good at things like that."
Sarabi nodded, "I know her. Darling little child."
	"Yeah, considering her mother."
	Sarabi frowned, "Malum." She let go a long sigh and nodded, "She's been
very angry about this whole thing."
	"She threatened me. Said that if I was ever to go near her daughter again,
she'd 'not be so nice'." Chad sighed, "But Milani was so nice. There was...
something just... nice about her. And I didn't even do anything!"
	Sarabi nodded, "Some of the lionesses just aren't happy with you being
here..."
	Chad sighed and said angrily, "I'm well aware of that, Sarabi! That's the
problem! Even before my family died, I wasn't welcome in the village
because I could hear the animals speaking. My own people thought I was
strange, and that I killed my own family! They ran me off! Here I am again,
Sarabi, with another village that doesn't want me, and still no family!"
	Sarabi was stunned. She searched for words that were slow in coming, and
when they were found they still couldn't convey her feelings, "Chad,
dear... 	Can't we, Mufasa, Simba, and I, be your new family?"
	Chad shook his head, "I'm not even your species."
	"That doesn't matter. I've already told you that I care about you, and
love you like my own child. That's what matters."
	Chad looked into Sarabi's eyes and cried, "Thank you. But what I want is a
place that I can be accepted for who I am, and that's not here." He stood
up to leave, "But thanks for caring, Sarabi."
	Sarabi sighed and stood with him, "If there's nothing I can do, Simba and
Nala are out at the water hole with Zazu. Maybe playing with them will
cheer you up."
	"Maybe, but I've got more work to do." He began to walk back up the rocks
to the cave when Sarabi called out.
	"We really do care, Chad!"
	He turned and replied, "It's not the same," and walked away.

	Chad filed down the thin column of wood into a point with his knife, and
then added a small notch in the end, just large enough to fit the string of
his bow into. He checked the straightness of the shaft with his eye,
setting it up to the sun and studying it carefully. He found it
satisfactory, and set it aside with the other arrows that he had completed.
	It just didn't seem fair. He'd spent the better part of his life searching
for a place that he could call home. When he was supposed to have a home,
no one wanted him, and now that he'd thought he'd found a new one, no one
wanted him there, either.
	Chad corrected himself as he set to work on the next arrow; there were a
few that wanted him and seemed to care for him. Sarabi was so nice, and was
genuinely worried for him throughout his recovery. Mufasa had changed his
mind, although his caring was a very cautious sort. And many of the cubs
were filled more with curiosity in him than love, but Simba and Nala seemed
very warm-hearted.
	Chad thought about Milani for a moment, and lingered. There was something
about the child that melted his heart. Her cubish bravado earlier had a
certain touch of something mystical about it. He sighed as he cut the notch
in the end of the arrow, and went to file it to a point. He held up the
shaft to the sun to see what would need to be removed to make it straight
when a movement in the sky caught his eye. He focused on the point, and
noted that it seemed to be leaving a light trail of smoke behind it. The
object got larger in Chad's eye, and he could just make out the form of
Zazu hobbling his way through the air. The majordomo swooped down,
stripping the last vestiges of smoke from his feathers as he disappeared
behind the monolith of Pride Rock.
	'Zazu shouldn't have come home alone,' Chad thought, 'He was with Simba
and Nala.'
	He picked up the five arrows he had made to that point and stood.
Something was definitely not right, and he wanted to find out what it was.
But before he took more than two steps towards Pride Rock, the unmistakable
orange flash of Mufasa streaking across the savanna appeared, heading
towards the Northern Border. The hornbill Zazu was steadily in tow.
	Chad clutched the arrows to his chest, slung the bow over his shoulder,
and tore off behind the lion and bird, not believing that he could keep
pace, but holding his own nonetheless. He kept them in sight, even though
they often were nothing more than bumps on the horizon. Still, he sped
through the golden seas of grass, in the direction the King had gone. His
heart pounded against his chest, his lungs burned, and the scent of the
Graveyard on the headwind did nothing to ease the situation. As he
approached the desolate landscape, he could hear the sounds of screaming
and of fighting: the roar of a lion, the squeal of a frightened cub, and
the piteous howl of an injured hyena. Despite himself and his fear, the
last sound brought a sick feeling of satisfaction to Chad. He entered the
Graveyard carefully, and not daring to step into canyon that was one of the
main entrances to the area, he quickly took refuge behind an outcropping of
rocks so that he could see into the valley without being seen.
	He hunkered down there, quietly setting his bow and arrows down on the
rock face next to him. Chad waited patiently for any sign of Mufasa, Zazu,
or anything that didn't even remotely resemble a hyena. Unfortunately, the
only thing he did see for a time was a hyena. It took its place directly
across from him and laid there, not moving but seeming to watch the canyon
just as Chad was. The boy watched the hyena for a time, making sure that he
wasn't seen or scented.
	The deafening roar of a lion broke Chad's concentration and signified
Mufasa's victory. The same sound stirred the hyena across from Chad from
its reverie, and they both turned to look down the canyon. It was not long
before Chad saw Mufasa leading the two cubs Simba and Nala through the
valley, and he allowed for a heavy sigh of relief. The cub's heads were
down, their tails between their legs, obviously embarrassed and chastised.
Zazu was in between the King and his charges, keeping a steady eye on the
cubs.
	Chad remembered the hyena on the other side of the canyon, and turned his
attention to it. It stood at the ready, waiting for the party below to pass
beneath. Slowly, the hyena crouched, staying silent and watching stealthily
as Mufasa and the others approached.
	It suddenly occurred to Chad what was taking place. Zazu wasn't keeping a
good lookout, and Mufasa was obviously thinking about other things. It was
only a lone hyena, but a hyena with the element of surprise!
	Chad acted fast, the party steadily moving up the canyon, approaching the
ambushing hyena. Chad took up his bow and fished for an arrow. He slid the
notch into the taught vine and stood up from his hiding spot, pulling the
arrow back as far as his strength would allow. The hyena diverted its
attention to the sudden and brash movement, as did Zazu and the others below.
	Chad felt the presence of the eyes, and saw his target squarely as it
looked to him. He let go of the arrow, the string rang true. The projectile
sped across the canyon in a flash and impaled the hyena's head between the
eyes, sending a hot spray of blood from the wound across the rear stone.
The ambusher fell, twitched twice, and was still.
	Mufasa and the others below looked to the other side of the canyon to see
the damage done, and then back to Chad, who still stood, bow at the ready,
almost euphoric in his actions. Slowly, the boy lowered his weapon, and
looked down to check on the others. He saw Mufasa and nodded to the great
lion, who smiled his appreciation back.
	Chad felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. That would be one less
debt to repay.

**

As above, comments are invited and greatly appreciated.

		-Trey McElveen

"Procrastination is the assassination of motivation."