The cold gray eyes stared silently out at the small clearing, taking in all that they saw and revealing nothing, like their owner. He crouched in the overgrown scrub, the soft fronds swaying in the quiet breeze, batting at his face in a maddeningly repetitive pattern, but he lay still, like a stone. Finally, he grunted in satisfaction and rose, shaking out his mane, and emerged from the grass, padding silently over to where the other two lions had lain the previous evening. His small companion followed, the hyena glancing about nervously at the waving grass.
Gamu bent his face to the ground and paced about slowly, nosing at the bent blades of grass where the two lions had slept the night. His head jerked aside of its own volition, drawn by a particular scent, and he breathed deeply. Nodding, he lifted his face to look at the hyena in satisfaction. “Soon, now.”
“Soon?” the hyena asked. “I wish you’d hurry up.”
The lion smiled complacently and strolled over towards him. “Patience, Griz’nik.” Whipping a paw up abruptly, he extended a single claw and lifted the hyena’s chin with it sharply, dimpling the flesh in. “Your days with of pushing lions around are over. You will remember who is your boss, and it’s not Shenzi.” He lifted his paw higher, watching the hyena flinch with detached amusement. “Understand?”
Griz’nik coughed and nodded carefully. “Yes sir.”
Gamu released the pressure and dropped his paw. “That’s better. Now be a good little hyena and tell me who that lovely creature is with Kubali.”
Griz’nik rubbed his chin gingerly, staring at Gamu with undisguised hate. “That’s Elanna. She used to be my queen.”
“Your Queen?” Gamu laughed. “I was unaware you were making a career of obeying lions, Griz.”
Griz’nik spat. “Remember that when I gnaw on your bones.”
Gamu waved a paw absently. “Yes, yes. She was a queen, you say?” His eyes gleamed as he looked at the hyena. “Royalty, eh? Then tell me what she’s doing out here eating on leftover carcasses with that flea bag.”
Griz’nik scratched an ear self-consciously. “Well, back when Amarakh was our Roh’mach, there was this hyena named Gur’mekh--”
Gamu swung heavily with a paw, barely missing the hyena who dodged away with a yip of terror. “The condensed version, please, and spare me your savage chatter. I don’t have all day.”
Griz’nik stood warily just outside the reach of his paw. “We helped kill the old king in my old home. His brother took his place and allied with us in return for our help. She married him.”
“You little devil!” Gamu grinned humorlessly. “It seems you do have a few redeeming vices.”
“Thanks--I guess.”
“That still doesn’t tell me why she’s here.”
Griz’nik flattened his ears. “Uhh...the old king’s son came back and kind of took over the place.”
Gamu threw his maned face back and bellowed laughter into the sky. “Oh my...you ARE priceless. I wondered why you came crawling to me.”
“Well, we did for her husband before she left, O Great Hairy One. But you’d better watch yourself.”
Gamu snapped his head down and bored twin holes into the suddenly silent hyena with his eyes. “Ahh...so hubby isn’t going to come looking for his long lost mistress, eh?”
“Not in this world.”
“I see...” Gamu rose and paced slowly past the clearing, his companion following at a respectable distance. “Excellent. I shall have to move against this young upstart before he endears her to him. He manages to exude a certain charm--despite his good qualities.” He paused and surveyed the area slowly. “I could rush him from the reeds, but they do make so much noise...” He eyed Griz’nik uncomfortably. “How fast can you run?”
“Oh no you don’t! Don’t drag me into this!”
“It’s either I drag you into this or drag your carcass away. Now stop whimpering and answer me.”
“Not very fast,” Griz’nik said nervously. “Hey, why don’t you just get him when she goes to drink or something. I make a lousy decoy.”
“As well as a fabulous idiot. If I kill him in front of her, do you think she’ll want my attentions?” Gamu snorted derisively. “Besides...I don’t want to kill Kubali outright like that.” A slow grin spread across his muzzle, humorless and cold. “I can think of other things I want to do to him first.”
Griz’nik tittered. “Then I get him, right?”
“You can have what’s left, certainly.” Gamu sidled uncomfortably close to the hyena and patted him. “After all...what are friends for?”
Griz’nik chuckled. “Dessert!”
“Precisely.” Gamu leered at him, making him shy away in fear. “Now tell me more about this Elanna.”