The bush where the cubs lay still was less than a mile from the spot Eli stood, facing the hyenas grouped together before her. Or maybe it was only 30 feet. Or even less. She wasn't even sure anymore. Drawn by the smell of helpless and new babies, the scavengers had circled quickly, clearly set on destroying more potential competition from their future. It was sheer luck she had smelled them from a distance, allowing herself to leave the babies behind in the safety of the tall grass where they slept. She had zigzagged around, throwing the direction off. Hoping none of them had noticed and noted the exact location she had been laying in. To protect their own scent, she regularly bathed the young lions in strong smelling plants that grew in the area they were concealed. This of course also meant they were in trouble of being trampled by a herbivore attracted to the scent of their favorite meal instead of torn apart in the jaws of another predator. But she would rather stick with those odds. Normally her own scent was enough to keep the prey at bay.
Unless she left. As she had done now. Not for the first time, Eli regretted staying in the roguelands for the birth. Thinking it better to keep them near their father for the time when he would leave them. With or without some of the children she didn't know. It didn't matter, anyway. Even if she was left with one, that was the way life went. Though she would miss any cubs that left her, she wouldn't object if/when it happened. He had a right to take which he wanted back with him. She had carried them, felt them stir, shared her body's energy with them, but she would not have them without him and it was also his right. She didn't hate him. Would not if he took some of them. Eli was not that kind of lioness. She just didn't hold grudges. Not even over this.
For now, however, she was their only protector. Baring her sharp teeth, she moved a few steps away from the nest, but in a different direction. So if a hyena thought to make a straight line from her backside they were not likely to just stumble upon them. At least she didn't think so. There had been so much moving with these canines that her own direction was a little off.
One of the hyenas returned the snarl with one of his own. Of course it would be a male. Only a male would be so cold-hearted to kill another's offspring. They said not a word. Not the attackers nor the defender.
Then the stalemate suddenly ended. One of the hyenas sprang forward, the other three following in close pursuit. Eli barely hesitated before rushing forward to meet them with a huge paw to the face of the first, sending it flying backwards. The others all jumped on her as they reached her, pushing her towards the ground with their combined weight. Claws cut into her skin, tear tore at her fur. The blood flowed down her sides, blending in perfectly with her red coloring until it hit her grey areas, leaving dark streaks where it connected.
Now Eli was not a large lioness, but she wasn't exactly a small one either. Nor was she a quitter, either. With her tail, she started using it like a whip to hopefully dislodge a hyena or two just enough she could get back to her feet. With her teeth she tried to turn her head and sink them into whatever body part she could reach.
Luck continued with her. Her tail hit one in the eye, causing it to loose balance and fall off. With just three on her back, Eli was able to move so she was on her back and use her legs to kick them off. It was not an easy struggle but eventually she got to the point where she was free to get to her feet and face them, one to five once more. This time, however, instead of waiting for them to make the first move the lioness charged forwards, grabbing the nearest by the neck and sinking her teeth in. The taste of blood was in her mouth. She held on until the creature stopped moving.
At the death of their comrade the other hyenas made little barking sounds, neither wanting to communicate fully to the lioness. Especially not after what she had just did.
Finally, one spoke, separating herself from the small pack.
"Well met, lioness, for killing my third born. We will leave you alone for now, but I advise you to find new lands to house your offspring."
And with a single smirk, the female hyena turned her back on Eli and ran off, the other three, which Eli now took to be her children, following close behind her. Eli, the triumph clear in her green eyes, dropped the dead canine. She left it where it fell for the vultures and other scavengers to pick at. If no mother cared enough to bury her son why should Eli give her sympathy? Why should she feel guilty? Even if another had killed your own, in the lioness' eyes you should make the effort to regain the body for an honorable burial.
How cold. The hyenas of her pride were not so. But then again she was no stranger to the harshness of the roguelands. The next time she decided to get pregnant, she was staying within the borders of the Sikukuu. In fact, as soon as the cubs could walk, she was moving them there. And if the father of her next litter should be a rogue he would have to visit and behave himself in order to see them.
Or not. In fact, as she limped her way back to her makeshift nest, Eli was coming to the conclusion that sounded better. She didn't need menfolk.
Wordcount 1005