The Climb

[Bendari]

"We're not dead Bakari, and hold your tongue, we don't want it to try to kill us." Bendari says, glaring at Bakari with an eye.

[Rox]

" Dogo where on earth were you?! I've been circling all day to find you..." the vulture scolded the pup. "It's ok Mommy, I was with them..See?" he points to the group. The bird hobbles over and gets a closer look at the people that were with her pup. "Hmm....well....as long as they didn't hurt you I suppose they are alright in my standards.."

The pup sighed before walking over. "See? I told ya's that I'd get us out." he beamed.

[Scar]

Bakari was playing in the snow, running about and having fun stamping her pawprints in the alien white material. Heaven was so cold and pleasant, nothing like the scorching Africa... Then Bendari spoke.

Huh?

"We're not?" Bakari seemed surprised. If it wasn't clouds, then what was the white stuff?

"Then we're still looking for the medicine..." She whispered to herself, looking around, she saw Dogo's mother giving Bendari's group her parental approval.

"Hey Mrs. Vulture, do you know where we can find a Purple Splotched Stranglevine?"

[Rox]

"Actually...I do.." she replied. "But considering that the path is blocked off, I'll go and fetch it for you." she smiled. A few moments later the bird took off and soon flew back with the plant.

[Scar]

"We weren't looking for a purple plant!" A hyena growled at Bakari.

"Rather, it was a blue striped--"

"No, it was magenta!"

Soon, the whole squad was locked in a heated discussion about the color and pattern of the plant. Finally, there was a pause, and Bakari turned towards Bendari for help.

[Bendari]

"Everyone calm down, we'll remember the name of the plant eventually." Bendari says, growling at the rioting hyenas. "Do you want to feel my wrath, or worse yet, the king or queen's wrath if your bickering keeps us from getting this job done?"

[Scar]

Bakari pouted and her ears fell against her head. She had been expecting Bendari to remember the name of the medicine.

"Thanks for your help," one hyena told the vulture "but that's not the plant we're after."

"Well, at least we know it's not purple." Stated one of them.

"Or blue.." Said another one.

"Blue could be." One disagreed.

"Maybe it's green. Most plants are."

Bakari sighed and let herself fall on the snow. She watched how the white crystals reflected the light of the sun. It was afternoon already.

What was the plant's name? She could only remember she thought of her mother when she heard it, so her mind brought up a picture of her mother to see if it was of any help. Last time she saw her, she had been rather angry at the fact of that Bakari had been late to hunting. In said mental image, her mother had her pinned against the ground, with a paw on her throat, saying "Late again?"

Her mother liked to strangle things when she was angry...

Wait a minute...

"Yellow, Spotted, Stranglevine!" Bakari howled triumphantly as she sprung on her four paws.

[Rox]

"Oh that!" Dogo exclaimed. "I know where that is! Come on!" the pup then bolted around a few corners up the mountain trail and squeezed into a small cave and soon came out with a yellow plant. "Is it dis one?" he asked while gripping onto it with his teeth.

[Scar]

Bakari held her head high and her chest was puffed with pride of her amazing memory. The other hyenas were laughing. Then Dogo ran off to fetch the plant.

"Your son sure knows about plants," A hyena commented to the vulture.

"He'll make a fine doctor when he grows."

Soon, the little pup came back with something yellow on his mouth.

"I guess... thanks!" Bakari replied as she observed the plat Dogo brought carefully. It was yellow. It had spots. It was a vine.

She took the plant and nodded to Bendari as a goodbye, and right about to begin the descent was she when she stopped on her tracks.

"Say, would you be so kind as to deliver this to King Scar?"She asked the vulture. After all, she could surely fly faster than the hyena could run.

[Rox]

"For King Scar? Of course I would! Ah..he's given us so many meals to enjoy...But enough reminiscing..." Taking the plant the bird flew as fast as her wings could carry her towards Pride Rock keeping her eyes in search of Scar just in case he was wandering around somewhere below.

[Scar]

The success of her plan left Bakari feeling extraordinarily clever. With an ear-to-ear grin, she padded towards Bendari.

"It's been a while, and still no news of them, Bendari. We must find Tojo and Chameleon and make sure they aren't trying to escape!" She told him.

A sudden breeze made her shiver. But despite of not having evolved to live in such a place, Bakari would miss Mount Kilimanjaro... that refreshing little patch of Heaven!

[Rox]

"Now where could he be..." the giant bird continued to circle around.

[Scar]

Scar was resting on his usual place on top of a rock half-hidden beneath a withered tree. A large group of hyenas surrounded him, as always.

[Rox]

Finally spotting him, the bird lands and bows. "Your majesty. I believe that this is for you. Some hyena told me to bring it to you."


Elsewhere, Shujaa was off once again by himself laying under and acacia tree which was pretty much all he felt like doing considering he felt rather tired today.

[Scar]

Scar sat up as some strange bird came to meet him. She dropped an exotic plant before his paws; the King appeared confused.

Some hyena? Bakari. The King immediately thought, and a smile appeared over his tan muzzle.

"Excellent!" The said to her. His head turned slowly and his eyes fixed on a random hyena.

"You there." He King said.

"Yes M'Lord?" The hyena replied shakily.

"Give this lady a fine meal as a proof of our gratitude." He ordered, and the hyena nodded.

"This way." The hyena told the vulture and went towards the area where the captive Herd was held.

Scar then turned towards another hyena and commanded:

"Find Rafiki and bring him here immediately."

"Immediately!" The hyena barked and ran off towards the baobab tree.