"Yes ma'am." Habusu breathed a silent sigh of relief as Losara returned to where she had been lying. He had been terribly afraid that she would make him go home. Home...

He grimaced as he thought about his mother. He had gone off without telling her where he was going again. His bottom tingled with remembered pain as he thought about what had happened that time. Hearing a rustling noise, he looked over to see Bashak emerging from the mouth of the skull.

The hyena pup glanced at him, abashed. "Sorry; I didn't mean to scare you like that, man."

"You didn't scare me! " Habusu said indignantly. "I just, uh, lost my balance."

Bashak laughed at him. "With feet like that, I'm not surprised! "

"Oh yeah? Well you don't have the best looking feet yourself." Suddenly, his eyes widened as he stared at Bashak's furry paws.

The pup looked down. "What? What is it?"

Habusu stared in horror at the shadow the pup cast straight down. It was almost highsun.

"Oh, man, Mom's gonna KILL me, " he groaned. "I gotta get home."

Bashak's face drooped. "Really?"

"Yeah. I'll see you later, okay?"

Habusu turned to leave, but b.u.mped into the strong arm of a large male hyena blocking the path. "And just where do you think you're going?" Skulk scowled down at the annoying little furball before him. Shenzi crept up beside him, grinning malevolently.

Habusu cringed. "Uh, I was just heading home, sir. My mother's gonna be awful mad if I don't get home soon." He moved to circle around Skulk, but a paw slapped him brutally away. He went sliding across the dirt to crash into Bashak, sending both of them tumbling. Rasing a paw to his face in shock, Habusu started to cry.

"SHUT UP! I'm tired of listening to your whiny little voice." Skulk glared at him, fangs bared as he turned to Kh'tel, one of his attending guards. "Mount watch on this little furball. Don't let him out of your sight. If he tries to run, stop him, but don't kill him...yet. If Shenzi's right, he may yet be of some use to us."

The guard nodded energetically. "Boy, Shenzi's really smart, eh, Skulk?" He giggled insanely. "I bet she tells you ALL of her secrets, doesn't she?"

Skulk merely stood silently and stared at him until his laughter died away to nervous silence. "I'll send some others to help you guard him. For now, keep an eye on him." He leaned towards the other hyena until their noses were only inches apart. "I will hold you personally responsible for anything that happens to him. Do you understand?"

Kh'tel swallowed audibly. "Y-Yes, sir."

Nodding, he looked back at Habusu and Bashak, who were both bawling at the top of their lungs. "Losara, " he growled, "make yourself useful and get those two brats to SHUT UP! " Skulk looked at Shenzi. "Everything's working according to plan."

SHENZI: He thinks he runs the clan, but he can't run an errand

He has the looks, but doesn't have a clue,

And even worse than that, we've nabbed a lion brat,

Uhuru never even knew!

SKULK: I think I see your point, his nature's far too trusting

A *kick me' sign is plastered on his back,

He doesn't seem the sort we need to hold the fort,

It's time we gave our friend the sack.

BOTH: He's wishy-washy, golly-goshy, just a lion's puppet,

An elevated, overrated fool;

The kind of lame excuse without a single use,

That simply isn't fit to rule!

KH'TEL: What's a puppet?

SKULK: It's someone with wood for brains.

KH'TEL: This is treason!

SKULK: You bet your whiskers! Now where have I heard that line before?

SHENZI: It was a brilliant plan, forgive me if I chuckle,

But I enjoy a laugh at his expense;

If they want Junior back, Uhuru's gonna pack,

It's really making perfect sense!

SKULK: I want to see his face, the moment that you tell him,

I bet'cha that his eyes are gonna cross!

Uhuru's gonna find, he's really in a bind,

We're gonna show him who's the boss!

ALL 3: He's wishy-washy, golly-goshy, just a lion's puppet,

An elevated, overrated fool;

The kind of lame excuse without a single use,

That simply isn't fit to rule!