Tales of the Lion King: 'Get Shenzi!'

The Pridelanders and the Hyena Matriarchy were now engaged in a strategic dance for domination of the slowly recovering Pridelands. Hyenas would venture out nervously to a watering hole to test how close to Pride Rock they could go, hoping against hope that the Pridelanders would not ambush them. After it was discovered that 3-4 lionnesses could wipe out a family group, Shenzi ordered all family groups to go to a watering hole in pairs, basically meaning that Simba would have to commit most or all of his pride to drive them away from that particular watering hole. Though this strategy couldn't hold every watering hole, it did mean that the hyenas could gain some territory across the river from the Elephant Graveyard.

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King Simba's overall strategy was to win the war by way of attrition: whittling down hyena numbers and increasing their own until the stronghold of the Elephant Graveyard could be stormed. The immediate objective was to stem the new hyena expansion with a strong response, lead by himself and Nala. Simba was kept up to date of the situation by Zazu's air patrol and occasional ground scouting by Timon and Pumbaa, escorted by Rafiki. Additionally, the overlook of Pride Rock gave a good overall view of the land to provide a strategic picture for King Simba to consider.

Simba was currently in a strategic meeting with Nala, Sarabi, Rafiki, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa. On the prominence of Pride Rock, this group would decide the Pridelander strategy. There were 10 watering holes in the Pridelands: 3 near the Elephant Graveyard (one near the north end, another at the south end and one small one inside the Graveyard itself) and 7 more scattered across the rest of the Pridelands. The 3 nearest the hyena stronghold were currently uncontested by the Pridelanders, as the hyenas would respond in force to any attack at either location. Similarly, the Pridelanders had uncontested control of the 3 watering holes nearest to Pride Rock. The four remaining watering holes were the ones currently contested; the Pridelanders had started out controlling all four, but the new hyena strategy had caused repulsions at two of them. This meeting was called after word of a repulsion at a third watering hole had reached Simba's ears, causing him to realize he had to counter-attack to prevent losing the initiative in the war.

"Zazu, what's your report on the hyena strength at Gulu watering hole?" Simba was asking.

"According to my observations, three hyena packs were there during the last flyover." Zazu crisply responded.

"We can't take on three packs. It's too big a risk right now." Sarabi commented.

"Not all three at once, but with a diversion we should be able to pull it off." Simba replied.

"Rafiki agrees. Dividing and conquering is de only way to win this battle." Rafiki affirmed.

"We'll definitely need a diversion, that's for sure. What's the status at Kapoeta?" Simba asked.

"Only a few observer hyenas, could be easily dispatched by two or three lionesses." Zazu answered.

"Alright, here's the plan. I'll have Sarafina go with two others to Kapoeta for a diversionary attack; they'll get as many as they can and return to Pride Rock. Shenzi will have to send at least one of the packs to defend Kapoeta, and once they're gone Nala and I will lead the rest of the lionesses to attack Gulu, before the hyenas can reorganize. Mother, I want you to stay here with Timon's family."

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Sarabi gave a crestfallen look. "Son, I have the ability to fight. I do not want to have to constantly guard those who cannot fight for themselves." she objected.

"Mother, I understand, but Nala will be going with me and if something goes wrong..."

One of her forepaws was placed over his, a gesture of reassurance. "We need faith, son. We can't be second-guessing ourselves. Before you returned, I thought I was the only one, the light in growing darkness. Now with you, things are different. The Great Kings have delivered us once, they can do it again. We just have to believe."

Simba smirked as he spoke his reply: "Very well, Sarabi will go with us. I'll have one of the other lionesses watch Pride Rock."

The young king then turned to his watching old friends and caretakers. "I expect nothing less from you that what you gave here, against the hyenas. Timon, you will be testing the new weapon in this battle. You will need to tell me how well it works before we can send that emissary to your colony. Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" Timon replied with a salute, his best imitation of a military manner not quite concealing his anxiety about going into battle again against the hyenas. In one of his hands was the prototype weapon, essentially a stick with its top half wrapped in thorns, created by Rafiki so that Timon and other meerkats would have some defense against the hyenas and could participate in the attacks. The intent of the weapon was to poke a hyena in the face or paws, seriously injuring them as a result. The upcoming battle would be a field-test of the weapon's effectiveness.

"Good. Zazu, you will go with the diversionary force and report on its result. Rafiki, stay with Timon and Pumbaa in case the weapon doesn't work for some reason." Simba ordered.

"Yes sir." Zazu replied.

"As you wish, Highness." Rafiki answered.

"Alright, if everyone is understanding this, we move as soon as possible. Ideally, the operation should be finished before nightfall, so that we won't get ambushed easily. LET'S MOVE!" Simba proclaimed, ending the meeting.

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Several hours passed. Simba, Nala, Sarabi, Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa along with most of the other Pridelanders were waiting behind a rise that blocked them from direct view of the Gulu watering hole. This rise was the main reason the hyena assault had stopped at Gulu; the rise prevented the hyenas from seeing any advance from Pride Rock and thus necessitating heavy defensive measures to prevent from being too quickly dislodged from the position.

The lionesses paced nervously, waiting for word from Zazu on the success or failure of the diversionary attack. Timon and Pumbaa occasionally peeked up over the rise at the hyena packs congregated at the watering hole below. From those observations, they did notice one hyena run in at high speed and addressed by a trio (suggesting Shenzi and co. was down there with the packs), followed by one of the packs leaving in the direction of Kapoeta.

Zazu soon after arrived, confirming the diversion had been successful: only three hyenas had been left to defend Kapoeta, two of which had been killed and one allowed to escape to allow the diversion to work. Simba ordered a two-part attack charging down the other side of the rise, one side with several lionesses lead by Sarabi, the rest lead by himself and Nala; the objective was to throw the hyena packs into disarray while they were most agitated.

As soon as the pack intended to combat the diversion had disappeared out of sight, Simba ordered the first attack. Sarabi and two other lionesses came roaring over the rise, heading down at full speed attack at one of the packs. The hyenas scrambled to respond, and as soon as they were engaged Simba roared out the second charge: "GET SHENZI!"

Shenzi and the other hyenas present immediately realized that this wasn't a raid, but a full-scale counterassault by the Pridelanders. She ordered the hyenas to stand their ground as much as possible, then tried to get her escorts to assist a direct attempt to kill Simba. This was overruled as too risky, particularly as they were now being attacked in two directions.

Sarabi's group gave way under pressure of numbers and retreated back up the rise, but by this point Simba's charge had thrown the packs in disarray as intended, and the resulting melee was a fierce exchange of tooth and claw. Simba and Nala, working in an almost synchronized manner, were slowly pushing their way toward Shenzi, Banzai and Ed's position, flanked by the other lionesses. Timon and Pumbaa were in the charge, playing a defensive dance until the meerkat scored a hit with his weapon, blinding a hyena in one eye.

More confident this time, Timon used his position atop the running Pumbaa to score several other hits, primarily on the hyena flanks. Pumbaa's tusks by themselves visited similar damage or compounded an inital hit. In all, the pair managed to score hits, most of them disabling, on five hyenas before they withdrew to allow Pumbaa to catch his breath.

Up to this point, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed had kept themselves out of the battle, situated in the rear with a few guards, but the hyena defense line was slowly giving way in the face of the Pridelander attacks. Shenzi was contemplating what to do next when Sarabi's group came down the rise again in a flank attack aimed directly for them.

"Run Matriarch! We'll hold them off long enough for you to escape!" one of the guards pleaded.

"No Warrior! Today we stand our ground! We hold them off long enough, they'll retreat. We just need to keep steady paws to get our victory!" Shenzi came in barked out reply. As she spoke, some hyenas shifted to meet the new threat, but the thinned lines on the other side now broke, the Pridelanders chasing down scattered individuals and small groups. Simba and Nala, fire in their eyes and cuts on their flanks, turned to face Shenzi and her companions, the eye contact giving her eerie deja vu.

The two charged in her direction, stride matching stride. The guards rushed out to counter, facing the claws and teeth of the Pridelander royal couple to save their matriarch. Shenzi took one look at Banzai, and the three of them ran for it. Simba and Nala briefly chased them before turning around to finish the melee battle. Shenzi could die another day, Simba thought, when it was just her and the two friends alone, without support or rescue.

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The Battle at Gulu was the first major conflict of the war, and again the Hyena Matriarchy had suffered badly. At the start of the battle there had been two packs and a small guard force around Shenzi, Banzai and Ed; at least 15 hyenas total, excluding Shenzi's trio. One pack was wiped out, with only one member escaping the carnage. The other pack and the guard force lost about 2/3rds of their total strength, either to battle casualties or hyenas simply disappearing unaccounted for. Some escapees joined the pack at Kapoeta, others ran with Shenzi's trio all the way back to Kampala watering hole, now the only one the hyenas truly held across the river from the Elephant Graveyard.

The Pridelanders came out much better, although everyone except Timon and Rafiki had taken at least some scratches from the hyena claws. The Pridelanders didn't chase the fleeing hyenas far, merely picked off the injured stragglers and regrouped at Gulu. The hyena advance had been thrown back, that was good enough for now.

After a brief pause to catch breath, King Simba gave orders for the dead and dying hyenas to be gathered for transport back to Pride Rock, then collapsed and rolled over in a sweaty, jubilant exhaustion. Nala gave a sly look and pounced on top of him, causing both to break out in giggles.

"I got ya pinned, ya know!" Nala stated in the most smart-alecky tone she could muster at the moment.

"For once in my life, I really don't care." Simba replied through a broad grin, causing both to go into giggles again. For several minutes, the two rolled around in giddy pleasure, to the amusement of some and subtle approval of others.

Meanwhile, Timon was washing off his battle-dirtied weapon in the waters of Gulu while he and Pumbaa talked:

"You know Timon, I didn't expect thorns-on-a-stick to work as well as it did."

"Neither did I, friend, neither did I. Even I think this'll bring Uncle Max out of his shell."

"You really think so?"

"Maybe not right away, but once the colony is on board, some more experience, sure why not. This thing is just beginning I'm sure. It'll be a long time before we get anything like 'Hakuna Matata' again."

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During the clean up effort, King Simba had ordered no Pridelander to leave the area until the operation was complete, and for Zazu to make observation flights at regular intervals to alert to hyena counterattacks. This was proved to be a wise decision when, as the sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, the hyena pack that had been sent to Kapoeta was spotted moving back to Gulu, presumably of their own will. Reinforced by some of the escapees from the Gulu attack, they expected to find Gulu defended only by one or two lionnesses; by the time they realized that most of the original Pridelander strength was still there, it was too late to retreat.

Pack Warrior Tanga, one of the survivors of the second hyena attack, described the scene as such: "As we approached, we realized most of the enemy was still there... Pack Leader and Pack Mother ordered a charge... must have realized that it was too late to turn back. We approached from the west, so that the light shined behind us into the eyes of the Pridelanders... It wasn't enough of an advantage to obtain victory, the blind swiping of the Pridelanders... hit harder than we thought it would. The warriors started falling or becoming blinded by turning into the sun and an easy target for the enemy. Pack Leader... Pack Mother... most of the refugees from Gulu... fell in confusion. I ran with my brother, joined another hyena on the way to Kampala, where the Matriarch had retreated to... didn't have enough strength left to even hold Kapoeta."

Of the nine hyenas in the counterattack, only Tanga, his brother and one other hyena escaped. All the others were killed during or after the battle, joining the pile that would sustain the Pridelanders until the herds returned to the slowly regenerating land. The misguided counterattack did little more than compounding the previous losses that the Matriarchy had sustained.

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As the Pridelanders returned in victory to Pride Rock, a badly shaken Shenzi was regrouping at Kampala to determine the total loss. She berated the survivors of the counterattack for being too reckless and not asking for reinforcements before the attempt just in case. She then hastily threw together the survivors of the three shattered packs into one new one, then sent the new pack back to the Elephant Graveyard. With only one pack at Kampala, Shenzi knew her trio was vulnerable to another attack, but night had already fallen and she knew the Pridelanders would need to secure their gains. There would be no more attacks tonight, and she fell into an uneasy sleep with the other hyenas while the Pridelanders celebrated at Pride Rock...