Release (Private saraiya & Lyonize)

[Lyonize]

"I heard it was a dik dik that turned you in." The voice awoke Zoba. He knew that smug tone. "I suppose it doesn't matter though. For all I care, it could've been your lioness..." He paused and Zoba looked up to see Ozu at the top of the pit. The sun was out and judging by the shadows, it was early morning. "...Actually, I would've preferred that." Zoba growled. Ozu chuckled quietly. "In due time." He said as he turned and left.

Zoba looked around, as he stood up. One nights sleep certainly helped but he was still hurting. Teeth marks dotted his legs and tail where the hyenas had dragged him. There must have been a light rain the previous night because the puddle had grown quite a bit. The walls were extra slick with dark mud. He sat there, looking around, digging here and there, trying to get some kind of idea to use for his escape. Every once in a while, a hyena would come to check on him, often spitting into the hole and adding an insult. Something about his mother and a warthog or threatening to tear his mane out. It was getting on his nerves.

Zoba looked down at his paws. They had sunken into the mud quite a bit. That's when the idea hit him, just as the hyena guard came around with another insult. Zoba merely smiled.

About an hour had passed and the guard came back around. "Hey! You dead yet?" He shouted just before reaching the precipice. "Just die already so I can go-" He stopped and stood silent for a few seconds. The pit was empty. Just a muddy hole with a brown puddle at the bottom. The hyena swore up and down and followed up with even more insults at the lion he was supposed to guard as he dragged a long tree branch back to the hole and dropped one end in. The branch had other branches jutting off of it, providing a rudimentary ladder that he climbed down. "How?! How did he get out! I swear, I'm going to kill him, I don't care what Ozu says, I'm going to-"

And with that, a portion of the muddy ground rose up and tackled the hyena. The lion-shaped dark brown and black mass clamped down on the hyenas throat. It struggled silently, unable to speak, unable to breathe. Zoba slowly tightened his grip on the hyenas throat, relishing it's silence for just a few seconds before its legs ceased to move. Zoba dropped the now dead hyena and climbed the branch with a newfound strength. It nearly snapped under his weight on the way up. but he made it out, into the morning sun, casting a red glow onto his dark silhouette. Zoba took hold of the branch and dragged it out of the hole before turning around and scanning the horizon. With his paw, he slicked his mane back, out of his eyes, and then dragged his claws down his face, through the mud, clearing it away in the pattern of his mark. He thought back to his last encounter with the hyenas.

They still haven't learned... Time to teach them, then.

[saraiya]

Kela growls lowly to herself as she watch her 'allies' argued about their unexpected union.

"I see no reason why we should go ahead and charge into Genan's lair, just because that Zoba lion got himself captured. A whole battle for one lion?" Koto growls. "Seems rather unnecessary in my opinion."

Kela stares him down. "Listen, Koto. You said your only main condition for assistance is Ozu's neck for your taking. Now, I offer it to you, and you want to back out because it isn't some glorious standoff for the legends?" She snarls. "Would you rather starve out in your termite hole for a few more days before we make a move? If so, then I would be the one to kill Ozu myself, and I'll be sure to deliver his pelt to you."

"Hold yourselves together, Kela. Koto." The elephant she learned was Hekima places his trunk between the two. "We came here to fight, but not amongst ourselves. Save the aggression for the hyenas and Ozu."

"You're right." Kela takes a step back, relaxing. "I'm just worried about Zoba." She sighs. Who knows what those hyenas are doing to him...

Grog walks up to her and gently nudges her with the curve of his horn. "Chin up, eh?" He comforts. "Zoba's strong. He'll make it in one piece." Then he laughs. "Atleast yew would 'ave and interestin' storeh to tell your future youngins'. Ain't often yew 'ear 'bout a lioness saving a lion."

Kela laughs with. "True. See anything?" She looks up at one of the vultures from earlier, that volunteered to lead them to the hyena lair of the south. The area is almost desolate of vegetation and littered with broken bones, with a large cave.

The vulture swoops down and shakes his head. "Saw nothing, but heard everything. Sounds to me like that lion is stirring up quite the panic in there."

Kela smirks. Of course Zoba wouldn't stay down easily. "Very well. During the panic is the best time to attack. We storm in at the signal." She looks around at the dozens of animals that came to assist her.

Koto and another jackal walks up to her. "And what is the signal?" The male jackal asks.

Kela exchanges a knowing nod with Hekima and he takes a deep breath, before letting out a loud blow from his trunk.

[Lyonize]

Killing hyenas was easy when they only came three or 4 at a time. The number that were willing to attack him all at once was diminishing with each hyena he dealt with. At this point, Zoba was done dealing with these kackling, miserable, vomitous masses covered with fur. What they had done to the animals here was monstrous, but now that they had messed with him, it was personal. Only now were they learning of their mistake.

The hyenas were spread out, groups of six to eight huddled around a tree or a boulder or a small pond. One by one, Zoba hunted down each group. The smart ones ran after two or three were killed.

Under a cluster of acacia trees, Zoba found a third group. They must have either been blind or stupid because he merely walked up behind the first one in the group and none of them saw him coming. Zoba walked up beside the unaware hyena and with one paw, pushed his shoulder and with the other paw, dragged his claws across it's throat. In one motion, the hyena's throat was torn open and its body slammed into the ground. The other three hyenas then took notice. Mud still coated Zobas body, giving him a nightmarish presence.

The first two hesitated, then attacked. Zoba ducked to avoid one and leaped to meet the other in mid air. Before the one he dodged could get back up after hitting the ground, Zoba tore into the other with teeth and claws until it was bleeding all over. As if removing a rotting carcass, Zoba threw its bleeding body into an acacia tree, leaving a smear of red on its trunk.

When the one he had dodged saw Zobas work on the other, it began backing away slowly, but not fast enough. The lion quickly grabbed the back of his neck in his jaws and began shaking the yelping hyena about. The last hyena stood frozen, backed into the acacia tree behind him. The one in Zobas clenched teeth howled and struggled in vain.

"Don't let him- Don't let him kill me! Help, help!" Crunch. The hyena fell silent as the last one watched, so petrified that he couldn't move. Instead he turned to the side and laid down against the tree as he wet himself and whimpered in fear. Zoba dropped the head hyena and walked slowly towards the last hyena of the group, growling. His muzzle was centimeters away from his face as the hyena turned away, closing his eyes, now audibly hyperventilating and visibly crying. Zoba recognized it as one of the hyenas who ran from their first encounter.

"I guess you can learn." He growled into the hyena's ear. With that, Zoba turned and walked away, leaving the weeping hyena.

[saraiya]

When they stormed the place, most of the hyenas ran at the sight of the multitude of animals running in. The rest foolishly tried to oppose, only to end up stomped on, or ripped apart.

"I'm going to find Zoba, she yelled at Grog, whom was running hyenas through with his horn. With a grunt, he nods and continues his carnage.

Running down a tunnel, she came to a break that lead outside, and was almost taken aback by the mess. Mud and blood was everywhere.

Her head cocks at the sound of whimpering. She turns her head and sees a lone hyena, seemingly uninjured, crying and he pathetically tried to run away on legs too shaky to properly walk on, let alone run.

"Hey, what happened?" Kela calls out, only to be met with terror filled eyes and a wail of fear. "A DEMON WAS HERE!" Then, he found his footing and scampered out.

A demon? Shaking her head at the ridiculous notion, she runs in another direction, determined to find her friend. She sharply turns by a large boulder and nearly runs into the 'demon' the hyena cried about earlier, breaking the neck of a hyena.

It look positively terrifying, a large lion-esque shape covered in mud and blood. When it looks up at her, she screams and runs in the other direction.

[Lyonize]

Zoba heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Kela. Her eyes widened and she ran away screaming. Confused, Zoba looked behind him to see what she was running from. There was nothing there. He then looked down at himself and realized how scary he actually was. The mud had dried and cracked along his joints, making him look even more hellish. Blood stained parts of the mud and filled some of the cracks.

"Oh..." Zoba realized Kela was running from him. He rubbed some of the dried mud off his face quickly. He couldn't blame her. He probably would've scared himself. "Kela, wait! It's me!" he shouted, running after her.

[saraiya]

At the sound of his voice, Kela skids to a halt and turns around, panic changing to relief at the familiar sight of Zoba with his face now more recognizable.

"I'm sorry about that, but you do look insanely scary like that." She laughs slightly to walks up to him, her face now showing concern. "Are you alright? I was really worried about you, you know."

[Lyonize]

"I'm alright. I'm glad to see you're okay." He said as he butts her head gently with his, getting a bit of dirt on her head. "Maybe I should wash this off before Grog sees me like this." He said with a grin. "Have you seen any water near by?"

[saraiya]

"I think I saw a spring on my way in. Think you can bathe in time to join the battle?" Kela asks, shaking the dirt off her head. "Or would you prefer to rub off all you can now and wait? I could help if you want."

She walks up to Zoba and testingly licks some blood and dirt off his cheek, then recoil slightly. "Ugh. Nevermind. You have to be clean before I even consider licking you again."

[Lyonize]

Zoba smiled and licked her cheek quickly before turning around. "Be right back!" He shouted as he ran in the direction of the spring. Once he got there, he didn't even stop before leaping into the water. Zoba began rubbing the mud off furiously. As he did so, a little bird perched on his head.

"My king. The rhinos, elephants and jackals are awaiting you. Follow me!" With that, the bird flew away.

"Alright. Give me just a moment." Wait. Did that bird just call me 'king'? Zoba shook his head and exited the spring, leaving a trail of darker brown water where the mud washed off. With a flip of his wet mane to get it out of his eyes, he followed the bird. Before long, he met up with their allies.

[saraiya]

Following behind Zoba, she smiles at the sight of their comrades, all mostly uninjured.

"Here comes the new King and his Queen." Hekima comments as they make their entrance, causing Kela to sigh quietly.

"Is there anyone here that knows that we aren't an actual couple? I mean, I still don't mind that idea, but we only met, like three or four days ago." She mutters to herself.

"Glad to see yew well." Grog smiles. "Ev'n if yew are sopping wet." He casts an amused look at Zoba. "Are yew ready to rule these land yew worked do hard to free?"

[Lyonize]

"Is there anyone here that knows that we aren't an actual couple? I mean, I still don't mind that idea, but we only met, like three or four days ago."

"Not only that, but are we really ready to rule a kingdom? Is that something we want?" Zoba whispered to her as they approached the group, side by side.

"Glad to see yew well. Ev'n if yew are sopping wet." At that, Zoba shook his mane a bit, getting a few drops of water on Kela. "Are yew ready to rule these land yew worked do hard to free?"

"Rule... Grog, I-" Zoba paused. "This isn't over yet. We need to get Ozu. After that, we'll talk about Kela and I and our part in this."

[saraiya]

"Of course." Hekima says. "Ozu should still be somewhere around here."

Koto sniffs at the air and growls. "Yeah. I can smell him."

"Can you and the other jackals lead us to him?" Kela asks and the jackal scoffs.

"We were planning to find him, whether you followed or not. We still do." He says, then barks at the other jackals. Then, the pack runs off in a direction.

"Come on, Zoba." Kela urges, then follows the jackals.

[Lyonize]

Zoba followed Kela, who was following the jackals. Behind them, Grog and his tribe of rhinos and Hekima's herd followed. Zoba smelled Ozu nearby and he knew Kela could too. They were beginning to tread on strictly Ozu and hyena controlled territory. The smell of death was ever present and skeletons laid strewn about, indicating the disregard this clan and its leader had for the balance in this area. Every so often, they came across a carcass hung over a tree, barely eaten but obviously torn apart. Even the skeletons hinted at the sheer brutality of the clan. A wildebeest skeleton laid in two pieces, the front half several feet away from the back half. Zoba channeled his anger and found strength once again. He was ready for this fight. He just hoped Kela and their allies were ready as well.

Finally, They came to the hyena den. It was a dusty, slightly sunken bowl in the terrain that spanned about fifty feet. Throughout it were mounds that crested above the actual holes the hyenas used as shelter. In the center of the concave formation in the earth was a tall boulder. Atop it sat Ozu. Surrounding him were the remainder of his clan of hyenas. Several dozen of them paced back and forth, ready to fight on Ozus command.

"Ozu! You have committed atrocities to the land and its inhabitants! Your sentence and that of your clan is death!"

"I am the ruler of these lands and I take no orders from the likes of intruders!" Ozu called back. "Walk away, and maybe we won't hunt you down!"

Zoba looked back and forth at the hyenas. "It is too late for your leader. He will die tonight. You all, however, have one chance to leave these lands and never return. If not, you will also die this day."

With that, roughly ten hyenas turned around and ran. Ozu, looking surprised and even more angered, shouted at them as they ran. "You will all be hunted down after this, you traitors!" His gaze snapped back to meet Zoba and Kela, fury in his eyes.

[saraiya]

"Aawww, look. I think he missed us." Kela giggles and lowers herself to a crouch just as Ozu orders the hyenas to attack.

With a lunge, she quickly rips out the throat of the first hyena to attack her, then claws out the throat of another. "Try not to have too much fun!" She calls back to Zoba.

[Lyonize]

The battle commenced and the hyenas were the ones to really close the distance. The rhinos and elephants didn't have much trouble with them. Though they were slow and not able to hit the hyenas easily, their skin was thick enough that hardly any damage could be done to them.

Zoba and Kela moved along through the crowd of hyenas and jackals, approaching Ozu, still perched on his rock. With the distance closed between them, Ozu leaped down to face the two lions.

"Still with this brute, Kela? This is your last chance to live with a real lion." He scowled.

[saraiya]

"No can do, Ozu. Hard to live with someone that's about to die." Kela smirks. "Besides, Zoba would miss me too much."

With that, she leaps forward and claws him across the face, causing Ozu to roar in pain at the Lost of his right eye. "I'd finish you off myself, but I made a promise to some jackals. And, unlike you, I plan to keep that promise."

[Lyonize]

With only one good eye, Ozu ran past Kela to attack Zoba. The big lion took the brunt of the force but only took a single step back. His large frame absorbed most of the impact. Ozu slipped and Zoba took the oportunity to land a blow to his ribs. He fell to his side, gasping in pain.

Zoba placed a paw on Ozu's chest putting his full weight on him. With the other paw and his jaws, Zoba grabbed Ozus front right leg and pulled. A sickening snap caused Ozu to cry out in agony as the joints in his elbow and shoulder bent the wrong way. Behind them, the battle was dying down and as one hyena was distracted by the howl coming from his leader, Grog came at him from the side, launching the hyena a good twenty feet from the tip of his horn.

Ozu swiped with his left paw, trying to find purchase with his claws. While Zoba grabbed the leg he had just dislocated with his teeth, he flipped Ozu over onto his front and held his head down with both paws, pushing his face into the ground. He motioned to the other front leg and looked at Kela. This warthog faced buffoon wasn't going anywhere.

[saraiya]

Kela looks back at Zoba and then back at Ozu. She almost pities him, but she doesn't.

Walking to his other side and clamps down hard below the shoulder, earning another cry of pain. Taking it a bit further than Zoba, she wrenches the front leg clear from its socket, leaving a howling lion with a bloody stump.

Dropping the bloody limb on the ground, she turns towards Koto. "You and your pack are up."

[Lyonize]

By now, all the hyenas had either died or fled. Before Zoba and Kela laid the broken body of the furious Ozu.

As the jackals came to drag Ozu away, Koto came before Kela and Zoba. Hesitantly, he bowed his head just slightly. "I appreciate your honestly. You followed through on your promise while Ozu did not. You proved me wrong." With that, Koto turned around and followed the pathetic form of Ozu as he was dragged through the dirt and grass.

"What are you doing! What are you doing!? I am your ruler!" Ozu yelled and protested at his treatment by those over whom he previously ruled. With a pause, he lifted his head and his one eye met Zoba and Kelas gaze as he was dragged away. The pure hatred in them was enough to surprise Zoba. "ZOBAAA! KELAAA!" More growls of anger and agony separated his bouts of shouting their names. "ZOBA! KELA!" Over and over, he shouted their names until the distance between them was enough that he could no longer be heard.

A long pause of silence after the cacophony of battle held the moment. Time seemed to be paused. This single moment was the turning point in the lives of ever creature in this land. It was a heavy moment indeed.

Zoba lifted his head and let out a victorious roar.

[saraiya]

The animals cheered loudly at Zoba's roar and all Kela could do was let out a tired and relieved laugh. She almost couldn't believe it's over.

"What do yew plan on now?" Kela almost jumps at the voice and turns around to face Grog.

She smiles and shrugs. "While I would love to stay here, I don't think I'd do well in one place for very. I plan to stay a little while longer, to make sure everything is well, then I may move on."

"Without Zoba?" Grog asks, shocked.

"He goes where he wants, same as I." She says, silently adding to herself how she plans to follow Zoba. "What about you? Now that the hyenas are gone, what will you do."

"Same as always. Live." He laughs, and Kela joins. For some odd reason, is simple answer sounded extremely wise as well.

[Lyonize]

"What do yew plan on now?"

Zoba wasn't sure how to respond to Grogs question at first but Kela was the first to speak.

"While I would love to stay here, I don't think I'd do well in one place for very long. I plan to stay a little while longer, to make sure everything is well, then I may move on."

"Without Zoba?"

"He goes where he wants, same as I."

"I think I speak for both of us when I say that settling down in one place just isn't us." Zoba said earnestly.

"What about you? Now that the hyenas are gone, what will you do."

"Same as always. Live."

Zoba laughed with Kela and Grog. "So, I guess we're staying for a while, then. What do you think, Kela? A couple more days?"

[saraiya]

"Yeah, a couple more days. Gives us time to say goodbye and the like. And I am quite tired." Kela yawns.

Then, she walks closer to Zoba. "I also want to ask you something, when we get a chance to be alone." She whispers so only he could hear. With that, she walks off to chat with Hekima.

[Lyonize]

Zoba smiled, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "Of course."

He watched her for a moment as she walked towards the elephants to talk with them.

"I know that look." Grog said, more softly than anything Zoba had heard him say yet. Still smiling, Zoba furrowed his brow and looked at Grog. The large rhino simply raised his eyebrows and smiled. Zoba inhaled deeply and sighed.

"I've been a traveler all my life. Traveling is my life. I've never wanted to settle down in any one place. And if you know anything about us lions, settling down with a pride is what we do. We protect a pride, raise cubs... But not me. I can't do that. I can't stay in one place... I would feel trapped. My mother and father traveled too. They didn't belong to a pride. My brother and I took after them. I guess this sentiment runs in the family." Zoba chuckled for a moment. "I gave up companionship for a life of adventure..." The big lion paused, a slight breeze waving through his mane. "Then she showed up." Zoba looked at Kela from a distance. He kept his eyes on her as he continued. "In my mind, I had completely forfeited the possibility of companionship aside from my brother. Now, I don't know what to think."

"Zoba." Grog said, almost in a whisper. "This is not a question yew can answer with your h'ead. I should know." He said smiling. "Ask yourself. Who is Kela to yew? What does she mean to yew?" Zoba looked down in thought. "These questions take time to answer. Give it time and eventually, you'll know."

Zoba moved some sand around with a paw and smiled. Looking up at Grogs big eyes, he thanked him. "Thank you, Grog. I'll keep that in mind." The big lion pulled Grog in by the horn with a paw and hugged him.

"Hey, now don't get all mushy on me." Grog laughed.

"I want you to keep an eye on things around here when we're gone, Grog. And if you need us, send word for us."

"I'll protect this land with my life." He said, his tough voice back. Zoba smiled and headed towards the elephants to thank them with Kela.

[saraiya]

"Thank you again for helping us, Hekima." Kela smiles. "Especially on such short notice."

The great elephant shook his head. "I should be the one thanking you. Without you and Zoba uniting us, this would not have been possible."

Feeling a presence come up behind her, she turns and gives an even brighter smile to Zoba. "Hey! Am I the only one that's ridiculously happy with the outcome? I mean, I knew we could do it, but it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders." She giggles at her own rampling.

[Lyonize]

"Hey! Am I the only one that's ridiculously happy with the outcome? I mean, I knew we could do it, but it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

"This is very exciting." Zoba said, smiling as he stopped next to Kela.

"Very exciting, indeed." Hekima replied. "I suppose a celebration is in order. How long do you two plan on staying?"

Zoba looked at Kela and back to Hekima "I think we plan on staying a few days."

"Very well. You are welcome to stay as long as you like. As far as we are all concerned, this land belongs to you."

Zoba mentally reeled at that. He sat surprised for a moment and once again, looked at Kela. "I... we... Thank you for your understanding, Hekima. We can't stay but if ever you need us, send word for us and we'll be back as soon as we can."

"I'm glad to hear that, Zoba. We'll commence the celebrations tomorrow at the baobab tree where you found us."

[saraiya]

"Sounds like fun. We'll definitely be there." Kela grins at Hekima. The elephant nods and strolls back to his herd. She looks around and notices that they were basically alone in the area. Then she turns towards Zoba.

"Um, I don't exactly know what's been implied for us for when we leave this land. Like, if we stay together or if we split and go our own route." She sighs. "However, if you're not sick of me yet, I'd very much like the first option. You know, of travelling with you."

[Lyonize]

"I'd love to travel with you!" Zoba's smile widened. "I've never met a lioness with the same lifestyle as me. Traveling alone, I mean. Other than my brother, I've never had a lasting companionship with anyone. I mean, I've made friends here and there but I've always had to leave them behind."

[saraiya]

"Great! Because you obviously need me. I mean, I leave you alone and you get taken." Kela jokes then yawns.

"I dunno about you, but I need a nap. Preferably somewhere not filled with the corpses of hyenas." She turns and walks out the entrance. "Hurry it up! You might be taken by a group of monkeys next!" She laughs, then takes off running.

[Lyonize]

"Great! Because you obviously need me. I mean, I leave you alone and you get taken."

"I would be dead if it weren't for you. I'll give you that." Zoba laughed.

"I dunno about you, but I need a nap. Preferably somewhere not filled with the corpses of hyenas."

"I'm with you there."

"Hurry it up! You might be taken by a group of monkeys next!"

"Oh no! Not the monkeys!" Zoba played along. He took off after her and the two ran through the land. Their land. Soon, they came to the tree where they first met. Zoba ran his paw across the mark he made that day. It seemed like ages ago but it was only a few days.

[saraiya]

"We really made a good team, didn't we?" Kela asks, watching as Zoba reminiscences on the tree mark. "To think that we only met a few days ago. That we only started helping this land a few days ago. A lot has changed."

She walks over beside him and nuzzles his mane. "Where did you plan to go after this?"