Description
(I am not the best in english... so sorry for the confused writing if there is)
The hyenas were all struck by fear, no one would even dare flickers their tail. All but one. Shenzi, shocked by the view, reacted differently. Her mane prickled instinctively on her back and her stance lowered in an aggressive feature. This was unacceptable... this couldn’t be real. All that night had started normally, then turned with this numb feeling and, like in a dream, it slowly turned into a nightmare! Both friend and matriarch had fallen that night... friend that could have been so much more... that deserved so much more! Blinded by his faithfulness toward a mediocre hyena that would only use and abuse from the power he had over him. Still hesitating in her stance, the smaller hyena shook her head, then dashed forward to be the second offender to Banagi’s dominance.
And so, the first hyena who fell in this war was the most faithful of Banagi’s followed and by far the most loved by the hyena’s clan: one that wasn’t followed and obeyed because of sheer fear. Rage could be sensed in the air and as Shenzi welcomed the battle running toward her at the form of cape dogs. Soon, she was covered over, while an older male, desperate, tried to help her snapping at the dogs' back.
The dominant male was surprised and saw the attack coming after the cape dogs. His jaw gaped open in an aggressive demeanor, as he rose higher on his legs to turn his massive body toward the attacker, dogs would swarm even from under him, cutting the hyena in her track to enter into a fight and defend their master. Shenzi’s pace slowed down, then she stopped, jumping forward and welcomed the dogs with her fangs: she wouldn’t be intimidated by dogs, even alone. However, what she didn’t knew was that she was no longer alone. From the instant the dogs assailed the female, a male hyena, that was so far silent, bounded behind her, protecting her back as well as he could.
Banagi watched the scene with stern and cruel gaze. Then, the question to know if other would dare join hit him and made his skin crawl. The iridescent red gaze of the male darted to and fro, making some shiver in fear. Red and yellow eyes of both clans staring at him for a time they all lost track of while they would slowly circle the intimidating monstrosity Banagi was as they would a rival lion. The moment extended, silent if it wouldn’t be for dog’s yelps and hyena’s yowls from the battle nearby. Then, all of the sudden another, goofy looking hyena joined in to help Shenzi, all at the same time a drum beat whoop escaped an hyena’s throat, one of Banagi’s follower, then another, then the echoes of the hyena’s call for blood could be heard around the savannah’s night as the hyenas all engaged in the fight, siding almost all together against their common enemy and threat to their freedom they had for so long. Tonight, Banagi had to fall or they would never had another occasion, or they desperately felt so.
Red and yellow eyes merged in the night as hyenas were fighting against each others and against cape dogs, some retaliating for years long intimidation over their families, loved ones. Rage for freedom, power, they were all better than just tools that could be tossed away when not needed: they were a family, a pack, a clan, and working against each others for so long had tinted the minds of many, however most standing unchanged but fearful and now siding with this new hope this female was.
Banagi fought in a so violent way matching his reputation: his overdeveloped jaw would close in on hyena’s head, throat and he would shake their body, using those as a tool to hit other attackers before tossing their lifeless or shaken body down. Oh, his rage was as the raging fire and blood would soon covers the ground around him. He seemed untouchable; each time a hyena would tries to strike his back, Banagi would turn before the blow, catching the attacker swiftly.
_ _ _
Two vultures were sleeping nearby, waiting for the day’s ray to light on the lands before taking to the sky. The violent noises would make short job on waking them both up. One was younger and a bit dumb-looking, the other was sever and old... he had seen many other battles. They both watched in awe, for they knew they could have an early feast as a breakfast today. Oh, that was fantastic! But could it be... any... better? The youngest would turn in glee toward his mentor, smiling sharply with eyes glimmering in the dark.
- Oh!! O, I love battles... hyenas! Who could have thought this Banagi’s guy would finally do us a favor?! The younger would say.
The older wouldn’t say anything right away, emotionless and everything but impressed, as the opposite of his young follower. He would simply roll his tired and half lit eyes, then look up to the sky as if sulking the young’s comment.
- Hmm.... I think I saw that one coming... but I must say I am more than happy to see that for once it’s not the crocodiles that will have the feast all for themselves.
The young one looked taken aback by the elder’s reaction, lowered his eyes and body in submission, tuning in to the old bird’s reaction. However, doing so, his eyes caught sight of something new, something he didn’t smelled or noticed yet. His wings flickered, then he would push his mentor’s shoulder slightly.
- What about that lion? He would ask.
- Hmm... they’d probably feed it to the crocodiles... you want to dive in right away?
The elder extended both wings, then he swatted both of those in turn, hitting the apprentice that just recoiled from the attack, but still remained on the branch.
- What did I told you?! It’s too dangerous to sneak in on a prey while predators are fighting! You want to follow your parent’s path? You want to die, that’s what you want?!
- N—no!!
The younger one would raise both wings to shield himself, then still shaken by the sudden twist of emotion, would defend himself.
- I.... I mean... it would be terrible, terr-i-bl-e... for the hyenas if they forget about the sun.
The elder suddenly understood. His eyes became round and he couldn’t help but grin evilly at this. The younger one would keep on:
- I am sure the King would be so pleased with this that he’d grant us with more food!
- You know what? I think your training is finally starting to pay!
A dark laugh escaped both bird’s throat, going unnoticed by the hyenas, so overwhelmed by the fight that the first issue was forgotten. Both birds spread their wings before taking flight.
_ _ _
Standing, bloody, wounded with pieces of flesh hanging from his body, yet still standing like a living nightmare. His crazed eyes would sharply flicker back toward Shenzi, that was now with a reasonable amount of dogs to fight off now that many had joined her. He snorted in rage, blowing bloods off his mouth with his fire-hot breath.
Banagi was going to bring back the authority he had temporary won and lost... yes, her death would break them all, make them scatter away and his revenge would be terrible over those who dared betray him. With an immutable look and swift punches, he tossed hyenas out of his way, kicking off the bites on his heels; he then broke into a run toward his goal, his ‘only’ target for now. What were they all compared to him? Nothing! He towered the female as well as any others and this would be easy.
Hyenas scattered out of his way, like a scared movement a shoal would do toward a shark. All wanted to avoid his head and monstruous teeth, all moved but Shenzi, who stood her ground with a surelly less proud stature, but she wouldn’t be shaken, there was no turning back.
A-blink-of-an-eye before Banagi leaned down for the kill, before the male’s teeth would close to the female’s head, her first follower jumped in the way of the bigger male’s legs. The smaller male stumbled down under the blow and Banagi’s attention and balance was disturbed just enough for the female to lunge and close her jaw onto the beast’s nose, clenching her teeth firmly and shaking her head to cause more pain she possinly could.
Blinded by pain, the male shook his head wildly, smashing it to the ground in an attempt to knock his opponent off as a second hyena seized his heels and started to tear the flesh off. Ignoring the pain, concentrating anything, as his last will was to kill off the hyena that caused this all. If he had to go down, she would too!
_ _ _
I came with this recently, re-working on my text I read it and found it pretty good... I don't yet have all necessary information to put more details, that I will for sure do...
especially that it's a merging of many scripts and all... so there it is! Shenzy fighting the monster.
For the picture, I looked at sunrise TLK scenes and noticed a simple brush was used, so I created one for me for the grasses... found out that I love it and it's been long since I didn't put much efforts into a BG... but it's totally worth it!
For the AWD designs, I noticed that cape dogs have a face close in shape to hyenas, then I considered the simplification of the spots Disney did on the hyenas to do the same for the AWD's colors... then I kept the eyes more lionish, for the eyes can vary in colors and such more than what hyenas or meerkats can, so I kept it different to hyenas and many other tlk NPCs... after a long thought of course.
In the back we can see Kuongoza with his new brown(re-done) colors mydlasphotographie.deviantart.…
since he's old and stuff, he sure lived to see this battle!
In my TLK world, I take notice of the fact that vultures are more than often the first to know everything... and since they feast over the deads, I made then totally selfish to their kind, willing to create troubles as long as there is the most death possible. Because of this they aren't respected... however, it's hard to depart the good vultures from the bad or to tell if they are lying or not... so it's always best to follow the vultures and see for yourself!