A Life for a Life

[Narifia]

Narifia wasn't at all surprised that Shetani knew Rafiki. After all, he was the single most famous shaman in all the savannah. Narifia agreed that he might know a bit more to help Shetani than Narifia ever could.

"Rafiki's been around forever. He might just know something to help you out. And I'm sure Mikalli will be fine. He's a tough little bird, and once he hears that he's talking to friendly hyenas, I'm sure he'll have no worries."

Narifia only hoped it would be that easy. The only thing she'd ever heard about hyenas from Mikalli's mouth was that they were smelly and vile beasts. "Oh well, he needs to learn to get out and socialize more, anyway," Narifia thought dismissively, trusting Shetani that the Teikan clan was friendly.

"We'll talk more about this later," Narifia said as they came upon the main meeting area of the Outlands. It was empty except for Morobi, from what Narifia could see, and Mikalli. If Kivuli was around, he was hard to see as always.

Morobi walked up to them with that familiar "Oh Aiheu, what's Narifia gone and dragged in now?" look on his face. He looked over Shetani, and then looked at Narifia worriedly, "What's happened here?"

"Shetani here is in a bit of a fix. I'll explain later. Mikalli!" Narifia called, and the faithful little bird drifted over and settled right in front of her. "Mikalli dear, please go get Rafiki for me. Tell him it's urgent. We have a hyena-attacked lioness here who needs tending to. Morobi," Narifia turned again to Morobi, "Go with him, and carry Rafiki on your back. You know as well as I do that in Rafiki's age, his speed isn't like it used to be."

Morobi wrinkled his nose a bit at being ordered around all of a sudden, but what could he do, really? Not only was Narifia his queen, but his mate as well. Two points against him automatically. In his mind, he chuckled, but he remained serious as he nodded. "Of course."

Morobi gave Narifia a look that said, "When I come back, I want to hear all about this," and together with Mikalli set off to find Rafiki.

[Kai]

Shetani noticed that the Khan's mate didn't seem too thrilled about being told what to do. This seemed odd to Shetani. For hyenas it was basically what the Khan says goes.

Shetani herself was no more thrilled then Morobi was at his task, while being the center of attention to be treated. At least there was almost nobody around to see her carried in on the Khan`s back. She was thankful for that.

She hoped Rafiki could help her. Information was more on the stubborn lioness' mind then her grevious injuries.

"All right. Lemme give it another guess, since I got it wrong last time. That lion that just ran to get Rafiki, is your mate, right?"
She figured she might as well get to know who everyone was. She wouldn't be able to leave right away anyway.

[Narifia]

Narifia chuckled, "Right."

Narifia slipped into the cave where the pride slept and gently let Shetani down in a warm, comfortable corner. She continued, "Usually for lions, the males run the pride. Here in the Outlands, things are different. I am the heir, not Morobi. After my father's rule in the Pridelands was ended by Simba, he was taken off as prisoner to the Graveyard clan and presumed dead. My mother Zira was his mate and vengeful for what she believed was his wrongful dethroning. She and her followers were exiled here and she immediately took on the role of queen. With support from those loyal to her and Scar, she fought off all males who challenged her and kept her title until the war that broke the Outlanders up. When I found her only four supporters left, they were ready to call me queen not only because I was Zira's heir, but Morobi was a Pridelander then."

Narifia took a breath after that bit of history there. She hadn't mentioned the fact that she, too, had been an adoptee at one point. Narifia figured she'd tell that later, if it was really all that important to tell.

[Kai]

"Males normally run things?"

Shetani shook her head.

"Lion ways of doing things are weird."

She didn't mean it offensively of course, it was just that it seemed so backwards to her. She listened to the rest of her story, nodding and paying attention.

"Thats quite a tale, Narifia Khan. So there are more lions 'round here then? These former followers of the late Zira Khan? What are the Pridelands? Some other territory nearby?"

This was a lot of information. And having lived far across the Graveyard in Teikan she didn't know much about any of this. The "Outlander" and "Pridelander" divide was a foreign concept.

[Narifia]

Narifia smiled at Shetani's questions. She had to admit, for a lioness with wounds enough to kill the most steadfast lion, she sure had a lot of energy. It was also nice, for a change, to have someone in her presence not familiar with the history between the Pridelands and the Outlands. Someone to hear both sides and judge objectively. It was quite refreshing.

Narifia answered, "There are more lions, yes. And the Pridelands are our neighboring pride. I'd like to say that we're allies, friends. Things are still divided between us, though..."

She sighed and looked out of the entrance of the cave. "What a wonderful thing it would be, if we could only mend our differences..."

[Kai]

"Thats a shame. King Scar's memory is sorta what causes this divide, aint it? the stuff he did?"

Shetani asked, trying not to move too often.

[Narifia]

"Yes. And the Pridelanders have no forgiveness in their hearts, even after Simba himself forgave my father for what he did."

Narifia sighed again and trailed off into thought, "Of course, Shetani doesn't know WHAT Scar did. If she did, what side would she take? Scar made bad decisions, and hurt a lot of lions, but Zira did nothing wrong. She was only fighting for the honor of her lover..."

[Kai]

Shetani began to feel lightheaded, and wondered if Rafiki would be here soon. Her own health, however, was more in the back of her mind compared to her hyena rescuers. Shetani could only hope that he was all right, and that some way he could get to Teikan where he would be safe. She was beginning to have trouble keeping up with the conversation, at least the bleeding was slowing down. There was a decent amount on the floor though.

"Ahh, sorry. I'm bleedin' all over yer place...."

She apologized, her voice becoming quieter.

[Narifia]

Narifia was standing at the entrance now, straining to see any sign of Morobi and Mikalli returning with Rafiki. Upon hearing Shetani's apology, she looked back and replied, "Now why are you apologizing for such a thing? Hush. They'll be here soon, Rafiki doesn't live too far away."

As if in reply to her statement, Narifia turned back just in time to spot the three approaching. "Thank Aiheu," she thought gratefully and stood. "Speak of the devil. Here they are, you'll be just fine now Shetani."

[Kai]

No reply came. Shetani might have mumbled a few words about wanting to see Rafiki before she slipped into unconsciousness. Her bright green eyes closed as her head slumped to the ground between her forepaws. Shetani was too stubborn to willingly rest, so her body once again made her. She could no longer resist with such exhaustion and so many injuries.
"Ku...go..." She muttered.

[Narifia]

Narifia, upon hearing no reply, looked back at Shetani with worry. At least now she was resting, but still the fear of sleep without waking was very real. Shetani's wounds could possibly do such a thing. Luckily, Morobi entered with Rafiki atop his back and Mikalli not far behind.

Rafiki, grasping Morobi's mane for support, dismounted the big lion and walked over to Shetani. He studied her wounds for a moment, then mumbled a little to himself contemplatively. He took out a gourd and some herbs and began working immediately, and finally said "She will be fine. I'll just spread dis mixture into her wounds to prevent infection..."

As Rafiki talked, he worked swiftly on Shetani's wounds. He cleaned them, spread the mixture, and took out some bandage he weaved out of tall grass to cover up what wounds could be covered.

"... and dere. All she needs now is rest."

"Easier said than done. She's pretty stubborn, from what I can tell," Narifia said, settling down beside Rafiki now that his work was done.

"Den take dis," Rafiki pulled out another mixture contained in a half of a gourd seemingly from nowhere, and placed it by Shetani's head. "Just tell her to drink dat, and she'll be sleeping in no time."

[Kai]

The lioness began to stir. She heard voices she didn't recognize, and forgot for a moment where she was. Waking up in a still unfarmiliar place seemed to startle her groggy mind for a moment, but she quickly remembered what had happened. She paused and rubbed her eyes briefly before she could speak properly.

"Are you...Rafiki?"

She could smell the herbs he had used to help heal her, she realized that she felt a little better. She wasn't about to get up and do backflips anytime soon, but things didn't ache nearly as much.

[Narifia]

Rafaki smiled at Shetani and answered, "Yes, I am Rafiki. You've been through quite a lot, haven't you?" The old mandrill chuckled and continued, "Oh, but not to worry. You will be well again in no time."

Narifia sighed with relief, glad that Shetani would be all right. Even though she barely knew Shetani, Narifia felt somehow as if she were as familiar to her as Morobi. Perhaps more. It was a strange feeling, and Shetani even looked familiar, but Narifia couldn't place it. For now, she wouldn't worry about it. There were more important things to worry about anyway.

"Mikalli, come here," Narifia said, and the faithful little hornbill came over to her as she continued, "I'll need you to do one more thing for me."

"What is it?" Mikalli asked, still wondering a little why there was all this fuss going on about a lioness nobody even knew.

"Talk to Shetani after Rafiki is done with her. She needs you to send a message to her family," Narifia answered, but thought it best to leave the odd details out of the picture for the moment. Mikalli's head might explode otherwise.

[Kai]

She nodded at his comments.
"I hope so. I got things to do."
The lioness had heard so much about the strange mandrill that she showed him an enormous amount of respect.
"I heard about you from my juuka, Boko. He admires ya a lot for yer healin'. He does some healin' hisself but he always talked highly of you. He says yer the best healer anywhere. He must be right too, 'cause I'm still here after bleedin' all over like I was."
Rafiki was her father's inspiration, so Shetani was glad to have the opportunity to meet him.

[Narifia]

Rafiki chuckled, "Yes, I seem to remember Boko. So, you are the little Shetani Boko has told me so much about. I'm glad to finally meet you. But why are you so far away from home?"