They had arrived at the buffaloes' grazing grounds which was located near the border of the Outlands, it was a sure sign that an Outlander must have made it into the Pridelands to poach for food again. It was surprising since there were hardly any attacks from them besides those one hyenas a while back.
Finding three fully grown male buffaloes on the ground killed. This was not the only thing they had discovered, they looked to have been left alone besides the loss of their horns and eyes. What happened here? Simba thought confounded at the sight. The others were just as shocked, perhaps more so than Simba at this.
One lioness, Nirmala went over towards the carcasses to look at what might have happened where as the two lions, Baliyo and Surak went to try and track a scent for maybe a clue. Their support in this was appreciated by the King and Queen.
Simba looked over towards the herd of Buffaloes that were looking a bit shaken at the situation, "Does anyone know what happened here?" he asked for a hopeful volunteer.
A female buffalo came stepping forward, it was someone that Simba was familiar with from past leader meetings, it was Vuruga Vuruga who is the current leader of the Buffalo. She came a few steps away from him as she gave a courtesy bow, "Your Majesty!" she greeted.
She had a bit of nervousness in her tone, as if she had just witnessed a nightmare; though given the sight and what happened, it might as well just have been. Simba gave his greeting to the buffalo and proceeded to have her explain of what happened.
"We were eating just as any other time, when someone came from the Outlands. Having red hungry eyes like a savaged animal, came and killed our family and took their horns." She said with a distraught as she stomp a hoof into the ground.
Simba and Nala looked towards each other with what they heard; it was as Simba had expected but why did they not eat their prey? Why leave them and take only their horns and eyes?
Rani also questioned the news she overheard the buffalo mentioning, a sickening feeling swelling in her that someone came just to commit such atrocity. She struggled to keep herself from snapping at this, feeling that these animals didn't deserve such a fate as this.
Coming up next to her were her brother and uncle, both of whom looked confused and disappointed, "What did you two find?" she asked.
Both of them shook their heads disappointingly, "Sorry sis, we couldn't pick up any trace besides the buffaloes." Baliyo said with his ears lowered in defeat.
"It is unusual how whoever did this didn't leave any way for us to follow." Surak followed after.
This was surprising to Rani that this attacker received Surak's concern, being experienced in tracking and with his wisdom and this creature was able to sneak pass him as well. Approaching next is their last of the pride member, Nirmala with a distant look.
The three looked at her expecting to hear of her finding, she found herself laying discomforting with a bit of distress in her eyes, as if she were wallowing in grief. "Is everything alright Nirmala?" Rani asked nervously, afraid of possibly making worse whatever was troubling her.
She took a deep, calming breath to recompose herself, "I'm fine-" taking a moment to further explain what she had discovered, "I just can't believe anyone would be so cruel to these magnificent creatures."
This only made them want to know more of why she was grieving this much, it was understandable that anyone killing just for killing was already enough to cause strife with their conscious. But she was no stranger to others death, young and old alike.
"Whoever did this know what they were doing, broken ribs puncturing the lungs causing them to fill up. Their deaths was a slow and painful, claw marks against their necks to cause them to panic only to inflate the damage to their lungs. It seemed as if they only wanted to see them die suffering." Nirmala's words fell heavily on the group, Rani was no longer angry, rather, she was infuriated that she would rip the head off of who could have done this. Murdering was one thing but making them suffer as well was crossing any kind of morality.
Simba and Nala overheard the four talking about what they had discovered, discomforted by this news that someone from the Outlands with such method of killing was walking around free and they have currently no clue who or what they were up against.
Nala questioned to herself in silenced if her son, Kion who apparently now go by the name of Tau would have any ideas who this was. She looked over towards the Outlands where she was to expect Tau to be, questioning if she should race over into there and find him.
Simba took notice of his mate's gaze into the Outlands, "What are you thinking about?" he asked her concerning.
Looking over at him worryingly, "I just thought that maybe Tau would know anything about this." She said, though her tone was stern, there was a hint of depression at the mention of his name. He then went and turned his attention towards the Outlands, thinking that maybe that was the only hope they had at finding any clue.
Rani's group caught wind of what Nala had just said, meeting up next to the two, "Tau?" she asked confused at this. Both royals looking over at her realizing that they wouldn't have an idea of what they said.
Nala looked conflicted on what to explain, as the matter was unusual in of itself, "He lives in the Outlands, and apparently helps keep others from coming to the Pridelands." A moment pause, "And our son, Kion."
Rani looked questionable at this information, why would their son know? Why did he live in the Outlands where she heard those that refused to follow the Circle of Life inhabit? And what of the name Tau if he is named Kion? She was getting ready to ask before a familiar panic scream came flying through the air in the form of a blue hornbill.
"Zazu? What's the matter now?" Simba asked the hornbill who looked as if he had just run a marathon.
"Hi-...H-....Hye-..." the hornbill struggled to speak between large gaps of breath, his wing resting over his chest where his lungs are to be, feeling as if they were ready to burst any moment now. His eyes bulged wide as if he had witnessed a life threatening experienced which only brought more worried to the royal couple.
"Relax and tell us what happened." Nala giving a comforting tone to the frightened hornbill.
He gave a final breath before composing himself, "Hyena, at Pride Rock!" he shouted in fear. This news brought dread to the current matter, were the two incident related? In any case, they had to give up the idea of going to the Outlands to find Tau and solve the current problem.
"Let's go!" Simba called out as he and Nala raced towards the direction of Pride Rock, Rani and her group following behind. Zazu was laying on the ground, struggling to find any strength to raise his wings, feeling as if they were made out of lead.
The couple grew worried, with this dangerous threat not only on the loose, but their daughter remained at Pride Rock with her friends where this hyena apparently is at. Not having a clue who it was, they had met hyenas that Tau assured them that was harmless, but they had also had a run in with some hyenas that lived up to Simba's expectation of them. And there was a good chance that this hyena was just as dangerous, especially with Zazu's current state.
Pride Rock quickly grew in sight as they kept their pace, worriedness washing over the two as they thought of the possible death of their daughter. Especially if whoever killed the Buffaloes was the same hyena that awaits them at Pride Rock.
Arriving at the entrance of the den to see a purplish grey female hyena gnawing on a piece of raw meat, Simba's thought fell into despair as he witnesses her eating what he believed to be his daughter. Giving a loud roar that vibrated loudly in the cave, both signaling his presence to the hyena and a letting her know he means business.
The noise of it was a pain to her ears as she was startled by this, noticing a large lion looking at her with full malicious and rage. Behind him was a lioness with fur like sand looking a bit shaken up, the male lion approaches towards the hyena who looked petrified at this, who had nearly forgotten this was the natural order of hyena and lion relationship.
Simba raised his paw with his claws fully extended, ready to bring the fate of this hyena's life to an end before someone jumped in between the two with his eyes darted at him with complete rage. It wasn't the eyes that halted the king's strike as it was who it was that stood between the two.
Kion! He thought in shock at seeing the son they had recently spoken of, "Dad?" a voice spoke from a bit further down the cave, he moved his gaze from the golden lion to the peach lioness that brought a relief to him. His daughter and her friends were unharmed, he lowered his paw and returned his attention back to his Outland son who kept a lock on him.
It was feeling a bit unusual to him seeing his son this devoted to protecting her, as if ready to sacrifice his own life for her at the moment noticed but decided to not press it further, he apparently already grew up with hyenas. Maybe he thought of her like he thought of the other he called his brother.
Reminded that his son lives with hyenas and cared for them like family was still hard on the king to accept, but he also was thankful that he was alive.
Letting a calming relief, struggling now to assure Kion that he no longer means any harm, "I apologize for my sudden outburst." He said surprising the others of this.
It was enough of a shock to Tau as he looked surprised at the king, no longer tensed as he was moment ago. Did he just apologize for threatening Jasiri? A Hyena? He thought, having heard of Simba having a disgust towards hyenas. It made him feel, happy really.
Author Note:
Did Simba just have Character Growth...?! 🤯
Hey, finally got this chapter finished as it took a bit longer since we were trying a few different methods of explaining with Rani and her group towards the Buffaloes. We had a few clashes on how they would appear and explain on what happened.
Me and my Editor have agreed a schedule to work on the next chapter and get it out later today (After I get home from bowling with my family) and the next chapter will be the "conflict" between Tau/Kion with Rani as I will enjoy with that and the reveal of who could of committed such an evil act to those buffaloes!
I mean really, who would do such a thing?! Who is so rotten to their core that they would make them suffer before dying? I'm sure Rani wants to have a moment with this supposed Outlander and take a bite out of them! ... What? Are you all saying you know who it is and I'm just being too obvious? ...
Well, I'm sure none of you expected this! The idea of this happening was originally planned but the added of shocking everyone was put there as a joke to all you commenter saying, "Simba will think Jasiri did it!" Did you expect that?
Welp, my editor was happy that I played my part in our little game. I dangle a most obvious outcome that could happen when something else is planned that will surprise you.
See you all in future chapters, and we'll continue to plan for more surprises for you all to enjoy.
A Given Shoutout to them User: UIgoku990 | nasch30 | OrderFoodHere
This is what makes my role in this so much fun, I get to make people think one thing while DeadlyCodes pull something else, like a Magic Show! Keep trying to figure us out, that will just make things more fun in the end.