[growling]
NARRATOR: A clash of titans.
The northern brothers vie for the affections
of Tsebe and her sister.
Desperate to start their own dynasties.
Tsebe yearns for a family.
But the brothers have yet to prove themselves worthy.
She continues to reject them...
knowing this is no place for cubs.
Enemies everywhere.
[snarling]
[growling]
But the brothers have only one thing on their mind.
Enough!
[growling]
Tsebe'’s right to be worried.
[growling, yipping]
Hyena now overrun the heartland.
Blind with lust, the brothers do nothing to stop them.
[barking, growling]
[growling]
Tsebe tries to spur them into action,
to defend her carcass...
to show their power.
♪
But their efforts don'’t impress her.
As the parasites spread, Tsebe knows her time here is up.
[yipping, laughing]
She needs safety.
A place to raise a family.
Mombo dries once more.
The rains lasted weeks, not months.
A time of torment for the weak.
A time of plenty for the hyena.
They now control the last remaining waterholes
and the forest around them.
[snorting]
Little Khutlo fresh from the den,
has some catching up to do.
An outsider since birth,
the runt longs to join the army'’s ranks...
and fit in with the other young recruits.
If only he can prove his worth and one day
show himself a great hunter.
He just needs to find the right target.
Too big!
Too messy!
Perfect!
Khutlo thinks bagging a warthog will impress his commanders.
But he'’s way out of his depth.
[squealing]
The runt'’s antics make an impression,
but not quite the one he wanted.
His commanders step in to protect him.
He may be a nuisance, but he'’s their nuisance.
[snorting, yipping]
Shame-faced Khutlo, desperate to prove he'’s
a worthy soldier, only proves he'’s a liability.
[mooing]
Young Motshidi, teenage princess of the forest,
sees her pantry filling up.
Refugees from the drought.
[chirping]
But thieves too are on the rise.
Hyena, stealing what is rightfully hers.
Two can play at that game.
Motshidi knows even gluttons need a break from their food.
It'’s just a matter of time.
Now, the chance she'’s been waiting for.
Careful Motshidi.
Brains not brawn.
Thieving from the thieves, right under their noses.
Stolen meat is the sweetest meat.
But beware, princess.
You could end up dinner yourself.
NARRATOR: Time to leave the feast, princess.
[chirping]
The shadows won'’t save you today.
[roaring]
There'’s nowhere to go but up.
[whining]
Out of reach, yet trapped.
[hissing]
Luckily, their greed is all-consuming.
[laughing]
Motshidi may be safe for now,
but her forest is slipping away.
Tsebe drives the lions north.
Here the waters run deep.
The land of opportunity.
Somewhere a queen could build a home.
And if only she could trust the brothers,
an empire.
First, Tsebe needs to stamp authority on her new subjects.
She and her sister work as one.
[squealing]
[growling]
This new territory has everything Tsebe wants.
And some things she could do without.
Scum!
[laughing]
Even here.
It'’s the brothers chance to finally prove themselves.
[growling]
And give the sisters the land they deserve.
[barking]
This is war!
[laughing, growling]
[growling]
[laughing, whooping]
NARRATOR: At last, the brothers show mettle.
They have the makings of kings.
It'’s what Tsebe has been waiting for.
A show of strength and unity.
Now Tsebe is ready for a new dynasty.
♪
The Queen of Mombo crowns her King.
[rumbling]
Motshidi'’s forest continues to change.
Outsiders flood in, searching for water.
Newcomers make themselves at home.
[mooing]
And thirst makes them vulnerable.
Young leopards need the element of surprise.
Murder wants no witness.
Her only option is to go deeper into the forest.
♪
[chirping]
But something'’s not right.
It'’s not her they'’re running from.
[calling]
Another intruder.
One Motshidi must avoid.
A larger adult leopard.
She could kill you princess.
And she'’s not alone.
[meowing]
With her two youngsters in tow,
Phefo is in search of a new home.
[meowing]
A place with water and shelter for her new cubs.
An oasis in this drought-stricken kingdom.
[meowing]
A family you never had Motshidi,
and you are not welcome.
There can only be one leopard queen.
Motshidi doesn'’t stand a chance against Phefo'’s strength
and her ferocious maternal instincts.
She fought tooth and claw for her mother'’s forest,
but Motshidi is no longer safe here.
It'’s time to say goodbye to the only home
she'’s ever known.
And leave her forest forever.
[snorting, grunting]
Hyena control the forest waterhole.
But they too face the influx of new arrivals.
[grunting]
After his disgrace, Khutlo is even more isolated.
Always hungry.
He tries to sneak a piece of the latest spoils.
But commanders don'’t share with troublemakers...
especially runts.
No one has your back, Khutlo.
You have no option.
Take your punishment.
[yipping]
NARRATOR: The commander delivers a lesson in humility.
An example for all to see.
[crying]
Just when Khutlo thinks his torture is over,
the younger soldiers join in.
Desperate to fit in, poor Khutlo is now
more of an outsider than he ever was.
Fleeing the vicious drought, Phefo takes refuge
in the forest with her cubs.
[meowing]
She'’s been through hell to find this Eden...
and hopes she'’s found a haven for her babies.
[meowing]
While her cubs play without a care in the world...
Phefo keeps a watchful eye out.
But all this energy requires constant feeding.
To hunt, Phefo has no choice but to leave the cubs alone
and unprotected.
The longer she'’s away, the greater the danger.
[snorting]
[squealing]
[growling]
She samples the meal before bringing it back to her cubs.
But she has uninvited guests.
[snarling]
[whooping]
[growling]
Phefo is cornered.
She can only watch as the family dinner is stolen.
She knows what they'’ll do if they catch her.
But she must sneak back to her precious cubs.
Phefo returns with nothing but a pounding heart.
[meowing]
Her cubs are blissfully unaware.
And her fight for her family is only just beginning.
[hooting, screeching]
[raspy roaring]
NARRATOR: Tsebe is finally content...
carrying the cubs she wants so badly...
with her equally pregnant sister.
After losing her first cubs, it'’s another chance
to start that dynasty...
protected by her adoring king.
Now the sisters must hunt to feed the next generation.
But weighed down by their future,
they wait for their meal to come to them.
[snorting]
[squealing]
The sisters are too heavy to hit their mark...
a sign it is time to prepare for the coming births.
But as fate gives with one hand,
it takes with the other.
To allow their cubs the best chance of survival...
the sisters must say goodbye and den alone.
Tsebe and her sister separate for now.
Theirs is a bond that can never be broken.
But every lioness must make this journey alone.
Drought tightens its grip on Mombo,
and the hyena continue their rise on the backs of the dead.
But little Khutlo is still excluded
from the army banquets.
The ostracized runt has no choice.
To eat, he must fight.
But commanders guard the feast.
The message is clear,
the irritating young outcast is not welcome.
But Khutlo won'’t give up...
and finally sees his chance
to get in with the other young recruits.
♪
He snatches a taste of the feast...
only to be pushed back once more.
Khutlo is now one of them, and they have strength in numbers.
Always pushing.
Always taking.
Doing what hyena do best.
A commander targets the youngsters.
For once, Khutlo escapes...
while someone else gets a beating.
Somehow, sheer determination has turned Khutlo the runt
into Khutlo the soldier.
But can he survive the army from hell?
[trumpeting]
NARRATOR: Tsebe, the Queen,
is alone for the first time in years...
searching for somewhere to give birth...
hidden from the cruel world.
Tired and hungry, she longs to rest.
But destiny beckons.
Then she finds it...
the perfect place to bring forth a new dynasty...
the perfect place to become a mother once more.
[squawking]
Phefo'’s cubs couldn'’t be happier.
A bit of practice hunting while mother'’s away.
Thankfully, they don'’t need to fend for themselves just yet.
Phefo, the provider, heads home with a kill.
Everything she does is for them...
to nurture her budding hunters.
Fresh meat makes them strong.
The step closer to survival.
But trouble is never far behind.
A cub killer.
Phefo has only seconds to react.
While the cubs stay hidden...
Phefo distracts their murderous visitor.
Come and get me!
Come on!
The little ones are now entirely on their own.
Morning finds the cubs alone, but alive.
Footsteps, but whose?
Phefo.
A mother who will risk her own life to protect her cubs.
[meowing]
Only she knows what happened between her and that hyena.
What doesn'’t kill you makes you stronger,
and Phefo and her future are stronger than ever.
Captioned by Cotter Captioning Services.