Vitani’s Guard

"The lionesses should be hunting right about now..." rumbled the voice of a muscular male lion. His name was Kiume.

"When they get back to find us gentleman in charge, they'll be all over us." added the scruffy lion, Mrembo, who preferred to go by the nickname of 'Bo'.

"Yeah! Gentleman!" cried Jeuri as he let out a huge burp.

"I've always wanted to lead a big pride, but to be king? Boys, we'll be spoiled!" Kiume looked skyward.

They all imagined themselves as lazy kings being fed fresh kill, flanked on each side with lionesses who cooed and felt their chests. To them, there were no subjects, but an endless, all-you-can-eat buffet.

They rolled in fertilizer to mask their scent. They didn't want the dominant males to know they were coming until they pounced...

____

The days had been getting hotter and hotter. During one patrol, Imara managed to swipe a watermelon from the ground during a patrol earlier that day. She gnawed through the rind and lapped at the water inside. A perfect vessel for water and a tooth sharpener.

"Hey, I want it!"

Shabaha lunged for Imara's snack, causing the larger lioness to snarl deeply, possessively wrapping her paws around the watermelon with her claws unsheathed. Kasi then appeared with the same intentions, overwhelming the Strongest.

As Imara dealt with her second opponent, Shabaha took advantage of the distraction and swiftly snatched the melon from between Imara's paws while she wasn't looking.

"Imara," Tazama pointed, "you might wanna turn around."

The Strongest did as told. Upon realizing her watermelon was missing, she groaned loudly with her naturally boisterous voice.

She watched Shabaha mercilessly tear into the melon as she ate it, mutilating it and spreading its pulp across her corner of the Lair.

Suddenly, a shadow concealed the lair. The lionesses looked up to see a silhouette blocking the only light source of the lair. It was their captain, Vitani.

"Naptime's over. Heading back outside. The pride just took off for a hunt, gotta double our vigilance now that everyone's out."

To Vitani's surprise, she was met with gawps and amused expressions from her fellow Guard.

"Umm, Vitani? What's with the 'do?" Kasi snickered.

"What d -- Ugh!" Vitani glanced up to notice her rather messy tuft as the others broke into laughter.

"Gee, Vitani! You and Tiifu have a nice break?" Kasi chuckled.

"Shut up. Just had a rough nap, is all." Vitani brushed her tuft with a paw.

"Wasn't the only thing that was rough..." Kasi remarked. Her innuendo resulting in laughter erupting from the others.

"Guys, shut up!" the leader bared her teeth.

"Sorry, sorry." Kasi stopped laughing, "What were you saying about our patrol?"

Vitani took a deep breath, "I was also thinking we should... watch for any pridemembers who might've stepped out late, y'know? Make sure they're not behind? Not... not that I --"

Shabaha rolled her eyes, "Oh, Great Kings, you really are talking about Tiifu! Typical of you to make everything about her all the time..."

"Excuse me?"

"Look what this Pridelander's done to you..." Shabaha approached, "Made you all soft and cuddly. Her... her girliness just rubbed off on you! You're losing your dignity, dude."

"Wipe the fruit juice off your face and then tell me about 'dignity', moron." Vitani deadpanned.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar scent hit the lionesses' noses.

"What is that?" Kasi crinkled up her muzzle.

"Coming from outside," Vitani turned, "seems close..."

Shabaha grimaced, "Ugh, Simba and Kovu really overdid it..."

"These aren't the pheromones of any lions we know..." Vitani gestured with her head, "C'mon. We're splitting up and surrounding them..."

____

"That old fart of a king and his fatherless little son-in-law have got to be right in there! They're making this too easy!" Kiume grinned.

The three crouched and silently approached the entrance of the main den where they presumed Simba and Kovu would be sleeping. Except...

"Hey!" Jeuri whined, "Where are they?!"

"Stop right there." commanded the Leader of the Guard. Suddenly, the rest of the Guard made their appearances, flanking the strangers from each side.

"Wooah..." Jeuri exhaled, amazed at the ensemble of power the lionesses exhibited. Kiume smacked the young lion upside the head.

"Quiet, Jeuri!" Kiume admonished.

"I thought you said the lionesses went out." deadpanned Bo.

"Shouldn't you be off hunting, sweetie?" the muscular male cooed condescendingly.

"I don't think you know how things work around here." Vitani circled him, "Haven't you heard of the Lion Guard?"

"No," piped the slender male, "where are they?"

"You're looking at 'em."

The strangers broke into laughter.

"I don't get it..." Kasi shook her head.

"This pride is ridiculous! They're just giving everyone a place around here!" Kiume wiped a tear from his eye.

"Not everyone here deserves a place..." Vitani approached the presumed leader of the rogues, staring daggers into him. Annoyingly, he was unfazed.

"That's nice, toots." Kiume stood up straight, "Anyway, where's your king and that little tool of is?"

Vitani's blood boiled at that last jab directed at her brother.

"Hunting with the rest of the pride." Imara answered bluntly, "Don't ask us where, 'cause we have no idea."

"First we have lionesses on patrol, now we got lions on the hunt. What kinda pride is this?"

"The kind of pride that puts one's qualities over whether or not they have a mane." Tazama added, albeit rather shyly.

"I figured you talked like that." Kiume rolled his eyes, "Look, girls, the king only made you all, this, 'Lion Guard' -- or whatever -- to make you feel special because he's a pushover beta king. But, it's just not biology.Once we become the alphas of your pride, we'll sort this whole mismatched role thing right out."

Kiume then snapped his fingers. Bo headed left.

"Not without going through us." Imara blocked them, essentially forming a living wall.

Shabaha bounced in place as she giggled with glee, "Oooh, sounds like a fight!"

"Not sure if this is our call to make..." Vitani muttered, "We may need Kovu and Simba around for judgment before we do anything. This is a lion leadership thing, after all."

Suddenly, Bo came back with something large between his teeth. It was Tiifu's scruff.

"Found this one astray looking for her hunting party." Kiume smirked.

"Yeah, guess not all lionesses can do their one job right, huh?" Jeuri slowly nodded to himself.

"Heh, heh," Tiifu nervously waved at Vitani, "guess I left the den a little late?"

Hatred, shock, and even regret filled Vitani's eyes.

"Now, why don't you all reunite and get in one of your little grooming circles or something?" Kiume said dismissively he took Tiifu by the scruff with a paw.

"Unhand her, right now." Vitani rumbled.

"Or else what? You'll fight us? Please, we wouldn't hit a girl -- "

Suddenly, a blurry mass with teeth was the last thing Kiume saw before feeling an immense, pulling pain taking over his face. Vitani had locked her jaws around the right side of said face. He let go of Tiifu, who scurried over by the Lion Guard.

Kiume eventually stood up. A deep gash over his right eye. He was furious at the damage inflicted on him from this witch who had such nerve.

"OOOOOOH!" everyone cringed. Shabaha chuckled in delight.

Vitani rose up, licking blood from her chops.

"You're gonna wish you never done that..." Kiume heaved, snarling.

"Get the other two..." Vitani huffed.

The Guard did as commanded. Shabaha especially took inspiration from Vitani's raw rage brought on by her love for Tiifu. She felt a newfound respect for Vitani's loyalty that she'd previously taunted.

Despite Bo and Jeuri bracing for a fight, they were immediately overwhelmed:

"Can't catch me!" Kasi taunted, taking advantage of the lion's low stamina.

"Come on, stop running." Bo pleaded in his monotone voice, barely making an effort after he'd run out of breath.

"Catch this!" Imara bodyslammed him, crushing his back.

"Not the best chiropractor I've been to. One out of five stars." he still managed to say as Imara held him down.

Meanwhile. Jeuri dealt with the remaining two...

Shabaha slowly turned to the young lion. A giggle creeped up from her throat until it became a full-on cackle. She stared him down with a wide grin as she slowly approached him. The suspense making her next move unpredictable.

"Come on, man! I didn't do anything! Why do I get the scary one?" Jeuri begged, backing up.

"Jeuri," Tazama pointed, "you might wanna turn around."

"Wuh -- ?" Jeuri barely had time to notice the ledge of Pride Rock behind him before falling back, "WOOOAAH!!"

Luckily he'd not fallen very far, but he realized his luck was short when he looked up to see that grinning lioness above. She leapt from the ledge, cackling maniacally as she became a silhouette under the shadow of Pride Rock.

"NOOOOOOO!!" Jeuri blocked his face.

SLAM!

Kiume looked all around him to see a victorious Lion Guard and his cronies defeated. Before he could utter another word, Vitani commanded for Tiifu and the Guard to get behind her.

The leader of the Rogue Trio then saw Vitani's eyes glow a bright blue. The clouds began to shift as the winds picked up.

With all her might, Vitani roared skyward, calling to the Lions of the Past. They aided her in the powerful, supernatural phenomena that sent the bruised and battered rogues flying. They had never experienced anything like it...

The Rogues hadn't flown far, due to Vitani intending for it to be a warning. Kiume sat back up.

"Is that the best you can d -- "

From a distance, he could see Vitani's eyes glowing again, the clouds and wind once again changing too.

He wasn't going to take his chances.

Along with the rest of the Trio, Kiume booked it, not without one last word:

"This isn't over! We will get these lands!"

From the distance, Tazama was able to get a good look at Kiume's injury.

"Looks like Vitani gauged his eye out." she said, her own intact eyes shimmering a bright blue.

"Geez..." Kasi muttered.

"Oooh! Where'd it land??," Shabaha raised a paw, "I call dibs!"

"What is wrong with you?" Imara shook her head at Shabaha.

Tiifu's stomach turned, "That was a little crazy, don't you think?"

"I know he'll be back." Vitani grunted, "I tagged him, just as Simba did to my mother's ear during her exile. He and those associated with him are outlaws to these lands, now..."

"So, did you, like... give him the Mark of Evil?" Tiifu asked as she watched Vitani sulk back to Pride Rock.

Vitani stopped in her tracks. Little did Tiifu know, she'd asked a rather chilling question. Vitani had toyed with the thought of the Mark of Evil for the longest time, being a leader of the Guard, herself.

Vitani turned to Tiifu to finally answer, "I think if I were a cobra, or something, it would be..."

____

The Rogue Trio was as far away from the Pridelands as they could be, yet close enough to spy and make future plans. They had no idea where they were, and were still in a panic from the mysterious roar they'd been blasted away with.

As they muttered their plans on what to do next, a bird watched from a tall, skinny tree. It tilted its head as it listened to the lions talking about Vitani's Lion Guard and taking over Pride Rock. The bird beamed as its mind stored great information for its superior to hear.

As the bird flew away, the lions suddenly heard echoes of their own voices.

They jumped and looked around at the faint noise, for this wasn't an ambient region...