Ever since running into that horribly mean hyena, Pia had been a bit depressed. She had backtracked away from the hyena’s territory – much further away than was necessary, probably – and holed up, waiting for her leg to heal. Hiding in terror from every passerby was not much fun. Pia found herself alarmed even by the tiny wild dogs she sometimes saw. She had been willing to accept other species as equals, but it had been an intellectual willingness. Confronted with the undeniable truth that other species were every bit as strong, dangerous, and cunning as lions was a bit of a shock.
Although the hyena’s bite had been savage, it didn’t take long for it to heal. Before long Pia was back on her feet, with only a slight stiffness in her gait. The brown lioness turned once again towards the hyena’s territory. The thought of confronting the vicious beast made her feel a bit ill, but she wanted to give the hyena a piece of her mind, anyways. She also didn’t want to backtrack any more than necessary. With every passing day the lurking anxiety that her old pride would be looking for her grew. It was unlikely, but oh so alarming. Would they force her to return? Would they go so far as to capture her, take her for a thrall? The possibility seemed remote, but still frightening.
Pia was on high alert as she entered the area where she had encountered the hyena before. At the slightest sniff of hyena she would be on her way. She would tell that nasty hyena that she had no cause to bite her, and then she would run for it. If there were multiple hyenas … well, she would start running long before they started chasing. She was focusing so hard on the horizon that the sudden impact to her back took her by complete surprise. The breath whoofed out of her and Pia collapsed on the ground, flailing in utter confusion and horror.
The lioness that had leapt on Pia’s back from a nearby tree was immensely gratified at the success of her ploy. The brown lioness was so huge, so terribly oafishly LARGE, that Manyara hadn’t thought she would be able to bring it down. But she had succeeded! Digging her claws into the intruder, Manyara hung on for dear life, suddenly realizing that she had no idea what to do with the monster from beyond the borders now that she had caught her. “I’ve got you!” Manyara yelled dramatically, hoping to both frighten the lioness below her and attract the attention of someone that could help. “Stay still or I’ll bite yer, cub-eater!”
Still not realizing that the lioness riding her like a horse was both tiny and woefully inept at fighting, Pia went limp. Her eyes were bulging, astonished and appalled at the turn of events. Was everyone on the outside so insane?! She shouldn’t have been surprised, really. The lions of her pride were bullies and warmongers, it had been lunacy to believe that animals elsewhere would be different. Pia groaned as she saw something making its way through the grasses towards the two struggling lionesses. Of course. Of course. She should have known.
It was that awful hyena.
With the lioness to back it up and keep Pia pinned to the ground, the hyena would probably just bite her and bite her until she was dead. It was a chilling thought. Pia tensed her muscles, ready to attempt an escape at the first opportunity. She scowled bravely up at the hyena. All of the pretty words she had been intending to say seemed so foolish now. Had she really come here to inform the hyena that violence was wrong, and that they could be friends? It had been a very stupid lioness that had thought that, a very stupid lioness indeed. “Let me go,” Pia said finally, unable to think of anything else.
Bahari was a bit boggled at seeing the brown lioness again. She was more boggled to see the lioness sprawled on the ground, held down by Manyara, who looked both worried and ridiculously pleased with herself. The grey lioness’s hold looked none too sturdy, and Bahari was unable to think of any gloating words. What in hell was she going to do about this ridiculous situation? Kill the lioness? It seemed like the only solution, but Bahari really didn’t want to get within range of those teeth in order to deliver the killing bite. Little Manyara’s weight probably wouldn’t be too much of an obstacle to the brown lioness.
“No,” she said matter-of-factly, her brain racing to think of a plan to deal with this lioness. “You came back to our territory. Manyara, kill her!” Okay, so it wasn’t the best plan ever, but it would buy some time. Manyara could hold the brown lioness off her, and Bahari would race back to the den and fetch help. There was even the chance that Manyara would still be alive when she got back. She would hate to lose the amiable slave, but she would rather lose Manyara than her own life, or that of her pups.
Manyara had never been told to kill anyone before in her life. She had never even thought of such a thing. She knew how one went about killing prey animals, the hyenas had taught her that, but a real animal? A smart one? Okay, so sometimes prey animals seemed awfully smart, but – no, no, she was getting sidetracked. Kill the lioness! She bared her teeth feebly and awkwardly moved her paws about like a kitten kneading a blanket. Was she supposed to just … bite the lioness? Like on the throat or something? Manyara gingerly fastened her teeth on the huge brown lioness’s throat.
Pia had had enough. As terrified as she was of the hyena, and the mystery attacker perched on her back, she wasn’t about to lie there dumbly and let them kill her. The grey hyena wasn’t moving to attack herself, instead she was shifting from paw to paw, staring at Pia and the beast on her back. Pia would just have to hope she stayed neutral for the moment. The most pressing threat was the monster on her back. The monster that was … awkwardly prodding at her. Pia held still for that, a bit bewildered, but at the feeling of teeth on her neck she jerked her head back, slamming the back of her skull into her attacker’s face. Pia was rewarded with a yell of pain. The weight did not leave her back, but Pia was able to heave herself up off the ground with some difficulty. Now the attacker’s arms were around her neck in a kind of choke hold. Pia’s nostrils were clogged with the smell of the stranger, and now the smell of blood. It was a lion, and now a bleeding lion. She must have injured its nose. “Get off me!” Pia yelled, spinning around in a slow and drunken circle, trying to dislodge the lion.
“Mo!” Manyara yelled, holding on for dear life. Her hind claws dug into the brown lioness’s sides as she struggled to find purchase. “I’be mot ledding you go! Led be gill you!” She wasn’t actually too eager to try biting the lioness again. She was hoping the lioness would just do her a favor and drop dead of natural causes.
All thoughts of running away had flown out of Bahari’s head. She could only stand, staring at this mess in stunned silence. The brown lioness looked equally dazed, whether from injuries or trying to follow Manyara’s garbled words Bahari could only guess. The hyena let out a disbelieving laugh, unable to help herself. If the brown lioness got free it would be a deadly serious situation, but she couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t.
“Led be gill you! Gub-giller!”
Bahari was really laughing now, helpless. “I’ll kill her, Manyara.” Encumbered as she was, the brown lioness wouldn’t be able to lunge so quickly. Bahari hoped. She moved towards the tangle of lion, hiccupping with laughter.
“Why does anyone have to kill me at all?!” Pia yelled, outraged and bewildered. She was ready to fight for her life … but the damned lioness on top of her was hanging onto her like a monkey, and now its nosebleed was getting all over her face, getting in her eyes. She tried to shake her head and failed. “I just wanted you to know that I’m not going to fight you, even though you bit me! I think we can be friends!” Under stress, her speech had come back to her, but the noble speech seemed to have lost some of its effect. “At least I did think that! Now I think I never want to see you or your horrible friend again!” She shook herself again.
“Do you surrender?” Bahari inquired, hiccupping.
“Yes! I’ll leave and never come back! NEVER!” Pia’s tone was too angry to be really begging for mercy, but she probably would have pleaded with the horrible pair to let her go if it came to it.
“Let her go then.” Bahari was relieved to be able to order Manyara down. She really hadn’t wanted Manyara to be killed. The grey lioness released her hold immediately, sliding off Pia’s back and springing back up, glaring at the brown lioness out of puffy eyes.
“Ged oud o’ here!” Manyara shouted, baring teeth reddened by her nosebleed. Despite her fearsome appearance, the little lioness was absolutely delighted by their victory. Yes! She had never won anything in her life, and beating this big nasty brown lioness in an epic battle was incredibly satisfying. Now their babies would be safe, and she was a hero!
Pia didn’t need to be told twice. She turned and ran. Enough of crazy hyenas and crazy lions. If she had to live the rest of her life alone, so be it! There was just no reasoning with the people of the rogue lands.
