Chapter 1: A Comforting Paw

Banzai strolled around through the bushes. Today was a very hot day. The heat from the sun felt like burning on the hyena's back.

"Oh, man. It sure is hot today!" Banzai thought to himself.

He walked across the river and came to the Dead Jungle, and it was also known as "The Jungle Of Death."

Suddenly, he saw something that was laying near the trees. Taking a step closer, he saw that it was an egg!

"Speaking of food, I'm starved!" Banzai said to himself.When he came closer to the egg, he could hear a cracking sound and three seconds later he was standing face-to-face with a little white baby heron.

"Mummy?" it asked. Banzai snorted to himself, a bird wasn't that much. But he called him "mom". Banzai had never heard a little baby bird talking the moment they came out from the egg.

"Didya say "mommy"?" Banzai asked.

"Yes mom, I'm hungry. Wanna get some food?" the bird asked in its cute baby voice.

"I'm very hungry myself." Banzai muttered quietly to himself.

The bird started to laugh."You're funny!" it exclaimed and laughed even more.Banzai wasn't found of that someone was laughing at him, but when he heard the little bird's laugh, he couldn't help it but grinned slightly.

"Hey man, you're pretty funny yourself!" Banzai answered, laughing a little.

At the moment, he remembered that he and his friends were going to hunt together this day. It had been a long time since the last time they were having a meal.

"Maybe I should go back to the others. We might have some luck takin' down the zebra." he thought.Without other words, the hyena left. Leaving the little bird behind.

Jono on the other hand, stayed there he was, thinking that Banzai would come back.

Soon…

Banzai walked over to Raki, who rested under a small acacia tree. When his little brother saw him, he looked up and said:

"Hi, Banzai! Did you get some food today?" Raki asked friendly.

"Eh, no man. But I maybe will hunt with my friends later." Banzai answered.

"Wanna lay here with me? I'd like to have someone next to me." Raki said, sleepily. Banzai chuckled slightly.

"Alright, man. I can lay down for a moment, it's pretty hot anyway." he replied and laid down next to his brother. Raki looked up at the sky and saw some vultures flying.

"Hey, Banzai. Why are the vultures flying in circles?" he asked his big brother, Banzai gave him a confused glance before replying:

"Um, maybe they have found some meat or somethin'."

Mentioning the vultures, Banzai suddenly thought of that little white baby heron he found earlier. An uneasy feeling struck into him. He had a couldn't understand why, but he felt bad about leaving the little bird alone.

Seeing that Raki was soundly sleeping, he walked away….

At the same time…

Jono yawned as he began to feel sleepy due to the long wait for his "mother" to return back to him.Suddenly, he felt a strange feeling inside, it was uncomfortable and scary.

From the bushes, he saw yellow, glowing eyes that glared at him.

Screaming for help, Jono tried to run. But he was too weak, due to he was still a little baby. The jackal bolted after him, chuckling evily all the time.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Jono called.

Looking behind his shoulder, he saw the jackal coming closer and closer…

"MOMMY!!!" he screamed, now he was crying.

"You won't live for so long, little bird-brain." the jackal laughed. Suddenly, a rustling was heard.

"Not as long as I'm around!" Banzai growled, standing in front of the bird in a fighting position. The jackal gulped and fled, whimpering the whole way.

The hyena turned to the little bird, who was lying down on the ground, shaking by fear.

"Don't worry, kid. It's alright now. The jackal's gone." Banzai said reassuringly, picking up the baby bird in his forepaws.

The little heron stared at him with frightened eyes.

"Are you sure you won't go away?" the bird asked with a very low voice. Banzai nodded.

"Let's go home, kiddo. It's getting a little late." Banzai said and picked up the baby heron in his mouth and walked home to his den where he and Raki usually slept.