"I see. Do you want me to help you make a new one, so you can gather your herbs again? A shaman without herbs, is like a lion without claws. Of course I saw you fight, and I'm pretty sure you are not useless. The look of terror on the enemy's faces were proof enough of that." Shwari commented as he noticed she covered her scar. He looked down in slight shame, that he had offended her anyways. The least he could do to make her feel better, would be to leave her alone.
"A-Alright. If you want my help for the new pouch...Just...Tell me brother and he'll tell me." Shwari murmured, as he stood and walked back into the den without another glance, or word to the lioness.
~ In the elephant graveyard ~
"Ugh, you FOOL! You ran away? Your orders were to stay, and to fight till your last BREATH. Why did you run?!" Kiburi snarled as she smashed a small animal skull with her paw. She glared at the cowardly male before her, as the other lionesses watched.
"I was outnumbered? Should I fight if I were to take a life, then die myself? What would be the point of that! You sent my friends to their deaths when you-" The male stuttered, but was cut off by getting pawed in the face. Kiburi roared.
"Friends? We don't have friends here! Everyone here is only here to survive! Not to make friends! The only thing these lionesses should be making is cubs so that we can reinforce our army!" Kiburi growled.
"Th-This is madness! You cannot expect us to blindly go into combat! We will all die that way!" The male said with wide eyes.
"Madness?" Kiburi said, surprisingly calmly. Two lionesses quickly grabbed the male from behind, pinning him down on his stomach.
"Do you want to experience madness?" Kiburi purred as she ran her claw slowly on the male's cheek. She then lifted her claw, preparing to strike.
"Kiburi..." A soft voice purred from behind, and all the lionesses turned to the giant skull of the elephant. Two glowing yellow eyes were visible in one of the eye sockets of the skull.
"Why would you treat your subordinates like that? Have I not told you to punish failures, not kill them?" Maju purred as he stepped out of the eye socket. His mane was a pitch black, and his fur a caramel brown. His mane was also very long and flowing.
"Now tell me my dear. Why would you disobey me? I told you to kidnap Ayari, and bring him to ME!" Maju snarled angrily as he pawed Kiburi hard across the face sending her rolling in the bones, into the giant rib cage of an elephant.
"M-Maju! I-I swear! We were out numbered!" Kiburi stuttered. Maju snorted as he looked to the two lionesses holding the male down.
"Release him." Maju said in monotone. The lionesses complied quickly, stepping back and away from the male. The male looked gratefully at Maju and bowed his head.
"Th-Thank you my lord." The male said quietly, with a slight whimper. Maju chuckled.
"Only reason you are spared, is because we need all the strong soldiers we have. Now where the hell is Guza?" Maju growled angrily.
"RIGHT HERE BOSS!" Guza shouted with a demented cackle. Everyone turned to where Guza's voice had come from, and Maju rolled his eyes. The soot covered Guza was gazing into a small fire he made, with a look of awe.
"Your plan. It was brilliant my dear boy." Maju purred as he walked up beside Guza.
"I've never seen such an inferno in all my days. Tell me, is there anyway to make the fire spread faster then it did today?" Maju asked. Guza looked blankly at the fire, as if he didn't hear Maju for a long time, and then looked to Maju.
"Who are you to control how fast the maiden dances!" Guza snarled.
"Her dance is not to be rushed, or you will perish for it! She demands sacrifice to spread. She devours life, and when there is no sacrifice, then she cannot spread." Guza said as he calmed down and continued to look into the fire. Maju sighed as he rubbed his temples.
"Such an imbecile. I'll have to come up with another plan that does not involve fire assault then." Maju growled grumpily.
~ Back At Vitani's Cavern ~
Ayari awoke as he heard some birds outside, and his ears twitched at the sound. He opened his blue eyes slowly, and looked down to Vitani. He smiled as her scent filled his nostrils. There was nothing more that he wanted right now, then to just stay where he was but they both needed to get back to pride rock in case of another attack. Ayari gently nipped Vitani's neck to try and wake her up.
"Vitani..." Ayari whispered.
"We have to get back to pride rock. They might be worrying about us..."