Mbezi lingered around where Tukutu usually was, wanting to spy on the one thing that drove his hatred. The mess with the new hyenas joining was annoying, but it didn't distract him from his ultimate goal. One that may never come to pass, with how the old man was gathering allies around him. Sure, Tukutu might not see it in that way, but Mbezi did.
Masuko's slender adolescent body wasn't quite what others might see as Alpha status, but her temper was certainly there. She wanted to make sure that the pack was strong, and yet secure in its home. There was little to drink here, and all the food that needed to be consumed had to be hunting off of their lands. It was a little mind-boggling for the young hyena, but she was starting to grasp the importance of just how to balance everything. Her eyes noticed something that she herself disliked - Mbezi. She had always wondered why Father hadn't banished him yet. He was clearly a source of strife in the pack, and Masuko hated it.
"Hey," she said with a touch of disgust. She wasn't out for a fight though, as she knew she would lose. She could feel the tension growing in the air as soon as Mbezi realized that she had spotted him.
"What?" Mbezi shouted, his shoulders hunch and his eyes narrowed as he drew himself closer to Masuko. "Do you think you can do something about it?" Taunting was his specialty. "Don't think that you're innocent. You're my next target after your beloved father." He spit at her.
Masuko was surprised, but anger overflowed her limbs. She snarled at him. "Don't talk to your future Alpha like that. You may think that I will be as nice to you as my father has, but mark my words, Mbezi. You're going to be gone as soon as I am old enough to drive you out."
Mbezi laughed. "You, drive me out? Good luck, puppy."
Masuko snapped her jaws at her pseudo-half-brother. "You just keep thinking that." She wasn't going to let herself get driven into a fight. She was better than Mbezi, the pile of dirt that he was.
Mbezi cackled this time. "Oh, you're just going to go hide behind your daddy? He won't be there to save you once he's dead, you know. He's getting so old...almost frail. Not much of a barrier to keep yourself alive."
"Silence!" Masuko shouted. She knew that there may be prying eyes coming soon to see what the yelling was about, but she didn't care. The more that know about Mbezi's stupidity, the better. It was his fault that he would be driven from these lands as soon as she was ready to. Hell, she was even ready to attempt it herself, as soon as she could get enough hyenas around to help her. The problem was the mistrust and talkings of war. Dealing with one single hyena was a small problem when compared to the clouds on the horizon of the pack. Masuko growled at Mbezi, as he certainly already knew this. This was why he was trying to act - to see if he could get away with more and more while most of the pack was preoccupied.
Mbezi's fun was coming to an end. He did not like Masuko, but he actually did not have any real intention to kill her like he did Tukutu. That's why she was so low on the list. Besides, there had to be some other hyenas that were still loyal to his mother, Mafa. Even if she disappeared, there was always the chance that she would return. Right? Thinking about how old Tukutu was, and the fact that Mafa was the same age...no. No, she was alive somewhere, and probably bringing back an entire army to drive out these weak hyenas and take over more pack land.
While Mbezi had been distracted in his thoughts, Masuko striked. She nipped at his tail, making the older make yelp in surprise and anger. Teeth clashed, but Masuko was careful to not let herself get too wrapped up in the fight. She wanted to show him that she was getting stronger, and soon enough she would be able to beat him into the ground where she intended to drive him out. Even if it was just his carcass, she was not going to let his bones rest in the graveyard. They deserved to be stripped by the vultures and bleached out in the desert.
Mbezi was furious that she was able to get the better of him. He was starting to feel the rage of shame take over, but knew better than to push himself too far. How dangerous would it be if he killed this Alpha to be here, right out in the open? He wasn't going to risk his neck for this stupid b***h. He snarled as she pulled away, small gashes covering each one's necks. They were minor, and they would heal, but the line had been drawn into the sand. Masuko would never look at him again, and probably warn others close to her to keep an eye on him. Mbezi was making more enemies, something that he was good at. Sadly, he had less on his side, and he was playing with a fire that he couldn't hope to contain.
Masuko knew that Chora would be upset over the fight, but it was needed. Masuko wasn't going to let this idiot bully her around. "Get going," she snarled. "And watch your back."
Mbezi only glared at the female. It was against most of the 'rules' of the pack to think so lowly of females, but he couldn't help himself around anyone that reminded him of Tukutu. Especially this new "Alpha" of their's. "You're in more danger than you think." He calmly walked away, though in a more defiant matter than Masuko would have liked. She resisted the urge to jump on his back, wanting to keep some semblence of respect still alive in this pack.
Oh, if only Masuko had a clue as to what Mbezi's exact plans were. She would be full of regrets.
(1034 words)
