Xibalba had not had reason to come out here until recently. It had been a rendezvous site with the head of her spy unit, the hyena Ithambo'funda. Over the years that he had been gone on his trip to find out news of her old pride the site had become even more overgrown. Shrubbery all but hid the entrance from view, the den inconspicuous to those who did not know it was there. A careful sniff told the lioness that no one had used it since her, and that suited her just fine. After all, she was not returning to this place for sentimental value.
Her spies had informed her that Thambo had returned. Thus, the lioness had left the den where she stayed with Utesaji to come and stand here. If he was truly here then he would come looking for her at this place. If the vultures had been lying about sighting a large black hyena with a white skull mask then this would tell her the truth. That, or it would tell her that Thambo had deserted her. But Xibalba did not believe such an option. Ithambo'funda did not desert his mistress.
Indeed, Xibalba was right about many things involving Ithambo'funda. But then again, she should be extremely familiar with his behaviour. She had raised him, after all. A normal lion would have killed the young black hyena pup when they found him, hidden in a poorly made den. His mother had been weakened during her pregnancy, and only managed to give birth to one live pup. She did not have the resources or the energy to raise him, and so she had left him there to die or be found by another hyena. No doubt she had not expected him to be found by Xibalba.
The lioness had been young then, still adjusting to her adolescent body. But even at that age she had been deadly. "Come, young one," she had said to him, as she pulled him from his den and took him to her own. "You will have life with me." Thambo never forgot how much he owed the lioness, and thus the hyena would never desert her. As expected, the moment the sun crested over the hill, so Thambo came with it, and stopped neatly before his mistress.
"Xibalba."
The lioness raised her head when her hyena approached, unable to help the smile that curved her mouth upwards. She knew he would come back to her. If there was ever one creature she would trust her life to, it would be Thambo. She had raised the little hyena from a very young age, and now that he was older and stronger he was perfect. Mind you, he was not as strong as her lion pet Utesaji, but that was why she intended to breed him. Utesaji's stubbornness was his downfall in her eyes, and thus she had decided she wanted a boy from him. She would raise another warrior in his place to add to her army, and perhaps one day she would have cubs of her own. It would all depend on what offers cam her way.
"It's been a long time, Ithambo'funda. What news do you bring me from the east?" Truth be told, she was itching to hear about the pride she had been banished from. It would give her a distinct feeling of satisfaction to hear that her mother had been overthrown and beaten at her own game. Though Xibalba owed the creature her life, she felt no kinship with her mother. The scarred lioness should have acknowledged her talents and let her rule. She was stupid to banish her.
The hyena's red eyes lit up at the smile on his mistress's face. Yes, he had pleased her. He knew that deep in her heart she always knew he would return, but that the brain sometimes doubted the heart. A part of her would always wonder if he would return to her, only to be scolded when he defied it and came trotting home. Thambo enjoyed the look on his mistress's face whenever he returned, proud to be working for such a creature. He would never serve a lioness who he did not believe in.
Thambo bowed low at her greeting, before sitting dutifully in front of her. She had always encouraged him to sit while he reported, for often times he had much to say. Xibalba wanted all of his energy focused on the task at hand and not on restless behaviour from standing too long. She knew creatures well. "Much news, Xibalba, most of which you will be pleased to hear. When I arrived at the place where the pride was meant to be, I found nobody there but a collection of weak and paranoid beasts. I would scarce to call them lions. I do believe one was someone you know. You mentioned a golden coloured lion with a brown mane?"
Xibalba let her golden eyes rove over the hyena, quietly appraising him. She hadn't been sure he would grow up this nicely, being a rather small and sickly pup when she found him. But seeing him now, she did not regret her decision to keep him alive and raise him. He was strong now, muscled and toned from his constant activity. She had made him work when he was younger, hunting and running while she chased him. It had been good exercise for them both, and it had paid off. Now she had a formidable hyena warrior at her service.
Her eyes glittered when Thambo said that he had news that she would enjoy. Excellent! That meant that there was much bloodshed and horrible deaths on the part of the pride. And good riddance. They were responsible for her upbringing, but not for the mastermind she was today. She had natural talent, not to mention she had worked very hard to get where she was today. Xibalba was not about to give credit to those who had chosen to ignore her talents. "Indeed I did, he was a petty creature from the beetle clan. Always hissing and grumbling about how the spiders got all the good jobs. What about him?"
The black hyena grew excited when Xibalba's attention was locked onto him, feeling an immense sense of power. She had chosen him above all to go and seek out her old pride and to return to her bearing news. And a wise choice she had made. Only he would have been able to follow her directions so accurately and keep his eyes on the goal. That fool Utesaji would have given up before he got there and come home with his tail between his legs, saying he got bored. What an idiot. Thambo was the only one Xibalba could really trust, and he intended to prove it.
"Well, he's their little make-shift leader, if you could even call him that. There's only about five or six of them who still live there, in a circle of skulls. They're the suspicious sort now, paranoid that since they turned on the spider clan that the members would come back from the dead and kill them again. They were fearful of me at first, but I managed to stay close enough to them at night to listen to what they had to say. Apparently, they've been trying to bring their numbers back again but none of the cubs have lived for very long. Something keeps killing them off." Thambo paused to snicker softly.
The lioness listened intently as Thambo spoke, taking in his words. So the golden boy was their new leader. It figured that such a weak and paranoid character would take up the lead the moment things turned to chaos. She should have suspected as much. The paranoid types generally took positions of power after a war. Their wariness was what kept the remaining members alive long enough for their numbers to recover. And then they got cocky, and the whole cycle started again.
"And what of the spider clan? Did you figure out what happened to them? By the sounds of it they had some sort of civil war." Xibalba had to admit that she was curious of her clan. They were, after all, the only ones she had felt a kinship with in that pride. All the others were fools, especially their little "warlord." But she had shown them, and now their pride lay shattered. It was like music to her ears. "And what do you mean something keeps killing them off... or do you mean... someone?" Now Xibalba was incredibly curious. Thambo had really made sure to get all the juicy details about the pride.
"Indeed, the chaos that ensured after the boss met an unfortunate end did not bode well for the spider clan. Once your mother took over the throne things went to hell." Thambo snerked softly, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He had a story to continue telling. "It appears that your mother didn't have it in her to rule the pride. Though the golden lion said she was intelligent, he also said that she was vicious. After kicking you out she declared that the spider clan would come into the light, and that all executions would be public. They were to be the head clan, and no one would dispute their claim. Of course, you can imagine what happened."
"It ended up being an all-out clan war, and everyone pretty much got slaughtered. Those who remain now where the ones who hid themselves away during the fighting. They may still be alive, but they're useless and weak. Even a wild dog could take them out now." Thambo's lip curled at the memory. Yes, they were disgusting and weak fools. Even more foolish than Utesaji, and that was saying something. "Someone? I believe it to be so. I could never catch someone in the act but it looked to me like murder. Probably a remnant of the spider clan making sure the pride stays down for good."
A small smile played on Xibalba's mouth as she listened. Yes, this was perfect. She had known well that her mother was not fit to rule. The fact that her mother had needed her help to assassinate the boss had shown her that much. Her mother had feared what Xibalba could do, and thus she was removed from the pride. It figured that her mother would waste such a perfect opportunity to dominate the pride. She abused her power, and it was no surprise that the pride turned on her. Still, it was enjoyable to hear the story from Thambo. How she wished she'd been there to witness it.
"She was a foolish one, though I must say I am not surprised some of that pride remains. The cowards were the smart ones in this case, though they suffer under their current leader. Perhaps I should have sent you to put them out of their misery. There was no one among them that was useful though? And 'tis a pity that someone is killing off all their cubs. I would have very much liked to snatch one of them for myself. Though the pride was weak, their bloodline was not. Even the cowards could produce a warrior." She gave a small sigh, almost regretting not going to the pride herself. Perhaps she could send Thambo back again to get a cub for her.
Thambo laughed at Xibalba's words, red eyes sparkling with some sort of twisted mirth. "It would have been too easy to take their lives, Xibalba, if you do not mind my arrogance. They would not have lasted against anything that came their way. They were too busy worrying about the things they couldn't see to be worrying about the things right in their face." It would have almost been too easy to have killed them all. Thambo had been tempted, but had decided that he would not do anything without permission from his mistress. She might want the pride later.
"Indeed, the bloodline was strong. Though they speak poorly of those who came before them, it was evident to me that their prestige as warriors was great. I do not doubt that a cub from that bloodline could have the potential to become a great warrior." Truthfully, Thambo was not too pleased with the idea of bringing another cub here for Xibalba to raise. He was sure he was enough, but he knew better than to question her motives. "I would return and try to bring one to you if you so desire it, Xibalba."
Xibalba chuckled softly as she dragged her claws through the dirt below. "I do not doubt your words, Thambo, nor do I begrudge what you call arrogance. It would have been too pitiful to send someone of your caliber to kill those fools who did not see the true queen among them." For a moment, her eyes flashed, however she seemed to calm herself within moments. "They will probably kill themselves soon enough, and then I will send you back to look at their mess. They might leave someone behind that could be useful. But for now, I will keep you here. You are more useful to me here than with that pride."
She could not help but smile at his words, knowing well that he would do whatever she asked of him. It was not a huge secret that he despised most male lions, thinking them foolish and stupid. Xibalba could not blame him for his views, and allowed them so long as they did not hinder his work. He was a proud hyena, not a stupid one, and knew where his loyalties lay. "I am pleased that you would do that for me, however I need you here. I have acquired a young lion cub that I intend to train and I would like you to meet him. Shall we go there now?"
The hyena was relieved that Xibalba did not find him arrogant. He had grown up with a wicked tongue, and it had taken him very long to learn how to control it. Thambo had nowhere near the iron restraint and self-control that his mistress had, mainly because he did not want to. He only had to be decent in her presence. Everyone else could take whatever flack he would give them. The hyena cared very little about making relationships with anyone, including those of his species. Any relationship was clearly because it benefited him or it made him look better in the eyes of his mistress. That was all.
"I am honoured that you will need me here. Truthfully, I doubt there would have been anymore cubs born this year. The rains have not come yet, and the pride is more concerned with finding food than making babies that they cannot support. But, you never know. Some couple might find themselves unfortunate enough to be burdened with cubs. I cannot predict the future." The hyena gave a small shrug, before his ears perked at her final words to him. "Of course, Xibalba. May I be so bold as to ask where you acquired such a young cub?"
"You are wise, Thambo. Indeed, if they are struggling to get food I doubt that the golden lion would allow any procreation to occur. Such things would result in only more death, not to mention the weakening of one of their reproducing females. Such females would be hard to come by for them, and thus they would not waste them. Still, it is as you say. There will always be those who disobey and challenge the rules. I would not worry, though. There is always another time." Xibalba gave him a soft smile as she rose, stretching as she did.
At his question she raised an eyebrow, not knowing Thambo to be so direct. Perhaps he was worried about her safety. He probably knew that she had stolen the cub, and that his mother would be on the prowl looking for him. He was quite smart after all. "I stole him," she replied simply, starting to walk in the direction of the den. "I would not worry about his mother. She will not find him. And I trust that you will keep an eye out for him? I intend to train him as a spy."
Great, more competition. Thambo had to keep a firm hold on his lips as they threatened to curl in a snarl. She was training another spy, someone that would be forced to work with him and be more of a pain in the a** then useful. He could feel it. Though many would try and go into this with the intent of it being an adventure or a good time, Thambo knew that this would only lead to trouble. A stolen cub would be problematic, even for him. But he would do as his mistress had asked him.
"I will do my best to teach him what he needs." With an incline of his head, he trotted after his mistress. It was time to meet her newest pet.
