Shenzi began circling Uhuru slowly, sizing him up. He was smaller, but he was very quick and agile.
Fighting to remember all his mother had taught him about combat, Uhuru kept his head low to the ground, trying to give her the smallest target possible.
“Kill her!” Azuba shouted. “See if her Roh’kash comes to her aid! I think not!”
Suddenly Shenzi lunged, jaw snapping and claws swinging for purchase in his living flesh. Most of the lions watched spellbound as the battle raged on, but all Isha could think of was her son. She began looking about frantically calling, “Habu! It’s Mommy! Answer me, Habu! Oh gods, answer me!”
Hyenas began to gather, watching the two combatants. Ber shouted, “Bite her once for me! Make a guard out of me, will she!” Hopping mad, Ber shoved through to take a position where he could see well. “Come on, boy! I’m praying for you!”
Shenzi managed to get in a blow, raking Uhuru’s shoulder and bringing blood. A couple of adolescent females began to chant, “Shenzi, Shenzi, rule forever!” Ber snarled at them viscously and they hushed up.
Isha frantically went from one hyena to another. “Please help me! Please! Have you seen my son? I’ll do anything, just tell me where he is!”
Most of them denied any knowledge. Some of them truly did not know, and many others were afraid. But a few were obviously Shenzists and they took great pleasure in her discomfort. Isha wished she could tell who those were and kill them one by one. At last she came to Makhpil, who pawed her gently, fell to the ground and tried desperately to concentrate. All the noise and the confusing Babel of thoughts conspired to drown out her inner voice, and she whined in frustration. “Honey Tree, I’m trying but I can’t hear myself think!”
“Quiet!!” Isha roared. “Quiet down all of you if you want to live!!”
Makhpil rolled on her back, pressing her paws against her face. All the aggression and excitement flowing through her from all sides was dizzying and she could make little sense out of it.
The battle seemed to take forever as two combatants struggled to stave off death. There could be no other conclusion. Uhuru was getting the advantage, however, and it seemed likely to all the witnesses, lion and hyena, that Shenzi would lose.
Shenzi began to gasp. Her body was riddled with wounds. Jackals had gathered to watch, ready to claim their share of the action. If the enemy is respected, they would get a body snuffed with a merciful neck bite. If the enemy was held in contempt, they would get a miserable, pleading victim that would shriek as its flesh was ripped away. Either way, they would be well fed.
Uhuru's paw struck her high on the face, sending her sprawling. A paw slapped down on either shoulder, pinning her neatly to the ground. He bared his teeth, but paused a moment to think. Should he make it quick? Shenzi looked at him pleadingly. “Please show respect. Kill me quickly.” She closed her eyes and began to pray.
Skulk came in, doing his best to look grief stricken. "I am saddened by the heavy burden of the news I bring, but it is my duty to inform you, Roh'mach."
Uhuru cocked an ear toward him, but kept his gaze locked on Shenzi, wary of a trick. “Speak up, Skulk, and be quick. What do you want?”
Skulk spat a mouthful of golden fur into the circle before the two combatants. "There is all that remains of the lion cub. One of Shenzi's traitorous guards decided to have him for a snack."
Isha shrieked. She hurried forward and scented the tuft of fur, then rolled on her back in agony. “Oh gods!” she sobbed. “They killed my baby! My son, my son!” She took the small furball in her paw and held it against her chest sobbing. “Why?? Why did you want to hurt him?? He was an innocent little boy! Why??”
Makhpil fell moaning by her side and lay across her trembling body, kissing her and stroking her with a paw. “My koh’met! My poor little koh’met! You can be my mother. I will find the guilty ones and bring you their hearts! You will grow fat on their hearts!”
Kako wailed and Uzuri leaned against her. “So close!” Uzuri sobbed. “We were so close! Uhuru, don’t finish it! Leave her to the jackals--I want to hear her scream, and every time she does, I’ll laugh!” She looked at the jackals and cried loudly, “Don’t rush it! I promise you a gazelle if you do a good job!”
The jackals nodded greedily. “Leave it to us!”
Uhuru looked at the fur disbelievingly. "You mean..."
Skulk nodded sadly. "I'm afraid so. I'm afraid that once the combat is complete, you will have to be executed, milord. You did swear with your life to redeem the cub."
Shenzi glared at him, a smile on her face. “I didn’t think you had it in you!”
“Slow and painful!” cried the jackals. “Leave it to us! Leave it to us!” They began to edge closer, their eyes glowing red with anticipation. “We eat well tonight!”
Suddenly, a small cub gamboled past. “Hey, Shenzi! Hey, Uhuru!"
"Shut up, Habu," she snarled. Freezing, she did a double take. "Habu?!!"
Habusu ran to his mother who wept and rolled on her back, hugging him to her warm stomach and kissing him. “Oh, I could eat you up!” she stammered, and kissed him repeatedly, uttering little cries of joy and rubbing his small golden body. Makhpil wept with joy, kissing the cub. One of Isha’s large paws caught her and drew her near. What Taka and Shenzi could not achieve through force, Uhuru and Makhpil accomplished through love. The dark days were over and all was set to rights under Uhuru’s watchful eye.