[1st POV]
It makes little sense why they decided to attack us first.
The only reason they would do such things was if we had starved them enough to a point that they had no choice but to come down and hunt outside. But I made sure to avoid that, deciding to cut off their sustenance for only four days, barely enough to weaken them, whereas I had harassed the Mbali brothers two weeks straight.
I thought they would be playing the defensive and we the offence. Scar was definitely the type of person to summon all the hyenas outside the Pride Rock and hide in the safety of their numbers.
Another reason why a straightforward attack like this did not work was that we could just run away in theory. We could just disperse and attack them again after they gave up and return to the Pridelands.
Or, if they scattered, we could just mow down their number one at a time. It would be the same strategy we would use, just on the outside world and not the soil of the Pridelands.
I was not sure what was going through Scar's head. It definitely decreased our options and negated all our plans, but that didn't mean he was going to win. You could prohibit kicks, elbows, headbutts, etc., in a fight, but I could still always beat you up with straight hands. Cutting our options did not equate to his victory.
But I will admit, this was the most annoying outcome. If I were to decide how things proceed, this would be my last option.
And maybe that was the whole point of it. The best defence is offence.
The whole pride responded to my single roar as they roused from their sleep. They discarded whatever they did and began lining up behind me.
"The hyenas are attacking us," I said to my pride.
They perked up at the news, some even grinding their teeth at the unexpected development. It was clear that this was not how things were supposed to go in our minds.
"But worry not, the situation is not beyond saving. We can actually turn this around and make it advantageous for us instead," I said.
Since Grim reported as soon as possible, we still had ample time to decide on the plan and react to the attack. It was one of the great benefits of having birds to serve you.
"So what's the plan, my Lord?" Eshe asked me, her tone dead serious and her eyes looking at me for answers.
"If they don't want to play defensively, we will not either. We will meet them head-on and use this opportunity to reduce their number as much as possible. They came searching for death, and they will find theirs," I said.
The plan was already forming in my mind. It was not some kind of elaborate plan, but it was enough to accomplish the main objective. That is to reduce their number while maintaining the safety of my pride.
"But what about all our other plans?" Zuri asked me while stepping forward.
"Those will find use later; we are not finishing this war in just one battle," I said.
It was one of the most important factors of this war that we always kept in mind. They had the number advantage, and if we were forced into a head-on fight until the bitter end, we could lose.
"We will head up to the Pridelands and meet them there. Just follow my instructions for now," I said.
There was still a lot of time left, but not enough to discuss anything. We need to move as soon as possible.
And so, I led the pride up the path. The so-called escape route of the Prideland was a drop in terrain. It was a tight gorge with barely any light because the land above was connected again.
It was a narrow, winding path like the body of a snake. The path was likely made by erosion. I believe a river used to run here before the river changed its course to somewhere else over the years.
So we walked up that path and came out to the elevated land, which was the Pridelands. There was no one at the entrance of the route. We expected this because the vultures reported that all hyenas had gathered in one place days ago.
After I entered the Pridelands, the rest of my pride followed one by one.
We did not move far away from the entrance; instead, I decided to camp there. The hyenas would definitely try to come through here to get out of the Pridelands, and that's where they will meet us.
And just to be sure they know to come towards us, I released a roar.
ROAR!!!
The war was particularly loud. It did not have the violence or the intensity of my usual roars because the aim was not to ward off enemies but to summon them.
Come here. Come to me! The sound echoed through the wasteland, revealing my location to everyone with ears.
It was late morning and the sun was high in the sky. I would've preferred a night battle but at this point, I did not have the privilege to choose.
"The cubs and the juveniles can go back and stay in the gorge. Be ready to run when I say so," I said after everyone came up the Pridelands.
The older juveniles were quick to follow my command, and they led the younger ones back into the path. We had seven lions too young to fight, and the best they could do was stay safe so that the adults could fight with no worry or concern for safety except theirs.
"So, what next?" Nala came by my side and asked.
"We wait," I said, my nose twitched lightly, and I added with a snarl, "I can already smell the horde."
We all stood near the entrance of the escape path. I made sure that we were standing around it so that the pride could retreat at a moment's notice.
After less than five minutes of waiting, we could see the hyenas running towards us in the horizon. The sight was quite the baffling scene. It was like looking at a herd of zebras or wildebeest from a distance, but instead of prey, they were bloodthirsty scavengers.
"Remember, we take down as many as we can and then we retreat back to safety. We will meet them head on in battle but not in attrition," I said and the pride growled in acknowledgement.
I began roaring. It was not a roar meant to challenge or ward off. Instead, the roars were like constant thunder rumbling off my chest like a war drum.
I did not put much effort, I released sound in every exhalation and that was the roar. The deep vibration rumbled, the low frequency capable of travelling through bones and shaking at the nerves of my enemy.
But the clan of hyenas in such numbers was hard to scare off. I did notice that their speed fell off as I began my roar. The hyenas at the front slowed down so that others could be in the front lines instead.
No one wanted to be the one to charge first.
At this point, vultures flew in the sky. The blue sky did not appear bright at all as it was filled by the heralds of death. Their caws and screams matched perfectly with my roars.
"Keep the exit right behind you, always," I said my final advice.
And then the flood of hyenas finally reached us.
My repeated roars culminated and I bellowed one last roar. I was the first to shoot out like a cannon. The others in my pride on the other hand kept their position, obeying my command to always keep the exit close.
But I was not included so I was the first to charge. My sheer acceleration was devastating, I was rapidly gaining momentum as I ran.
The hyenas came in like a flood. The centre of the frontlines was always poking out compared to the rest of the group. But as they saw me coming straight for that, that formation tanked.
The wave at the centre stopped. No matter the number, no matter the idiocy or the hunger, an apex predator charging straight at you lit up all instincts. Their body and mind was caught in a war. One wanted to fight, the other wanted to live.
Suddenly, it seemed like I was the one attacking the horde and not the other way around. I was still many metres away from the hyenas when I decided to take a giant leap.
The hyenas stopped completely at this point. They slid to a stop and looked up, just in time for my shadow to cast darkness upon them.
And then...
*BOOOOM!!*
All my weight and momentum allowed me to bulldoze through at least five hyenas. My body crushed their bones and snapped their legs the other way. A splash of blood erupted from the hyena I crashed on.
And in less than a second, my paw found the face of a hyena. I tore off half his face and the sheer force behind my blow created a small explosion that completely shut down his brain.
My body went into fighting mode and amid the sea of victims, I raged.
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[IMAGE]
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First extra chapter