Chapter 2: Together With The Clan

Three hours later…

Salina was slumbering, until she heard a very weak voice. Looking up, she saw Banzai sleep, only now, he was getting delirious by his very high temperature.

"Sally...Sally…" Banzai kept repeating over and over again. Sitting upright, the female hyena gently took a paw and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Wake up, Banzai. You're delirious. You don't have to worry." she told him tenderly. The wounded male slowly peeled his eyes open and looked around.

"Are you really here? Am I not just seein' things?" he slurred with a barley audible voice.

"No, you're not. I am here with you. I won't go away." Salina assured him.

Suddenly, a hyena came running towards the couple. It was Raki, and behind him, Raki's human friend, Anna was following. She skidded to a halt when she was close enough.

"Hey, Banzai. How are you?" Anna asked as she gave the hyena an injection with the antidote to cure him from the poison.

"Uhh..I..I'm…" Banzai said, trying to speak. Anna then smiled warmly at him.

"It's okay. I know." she said. Banzai sighed deeply, and glanced up at her.

"Ann' am I goin' to be alright?" he asked. The human girl smiled again.

"Of course you will. I gave you the antidote. It will cure you."

"But...What if it comes back?" Banzai asked worriedly, breathing faster again.

"It won't come back. I know that. I'm the doctor, you know. And if it comes back, I'll make sure you won't get it again." she assured him. This time, Banzai felt calmer, because he understood that Anna meant what she said, and it was very soothing to him.

"I'm grateful that we are your friend. It's nice to have a friend like you." Salina said to Anna, who smiled even more in response.

"I guess I gotta go, but I will come back tomorrow to check him again. Make sure he's not alone, it will help him. And don't forget he has to drink often and sleep if possible, but resting is recommended. Well, see you soon. Bye." Anna said as she waved goodbye to Salina, Raki and Banzai.

Later that night…

Salina laid next to her ill friend, who sometimes twitched and turned in his sleep, but sooner calmed down when he felt that she was close, and she could tell that he was deeply sleeping when she heard his snorings. But she didn't care, all that mattered to her was that he was sleeping and safe.

Suddenly, she felt him cuddling closer to her, to avoid himself from freezing and having another nightmare. He smiled as he felt her warm, soft fur nudging his cold body.

Smiling, Salina nuzzled him again and she laid his head over his.

The following morning…

Banzai yawned loudly as he woke up. Looking around, he saw Salina lying next to him. He saw her body moving up and down due to her breathing. Seeing her still asleep, he laid down, slowly drifting off…

Anna had been checking him and told Raki he was clearly better than he was yesterday. Pleased by the news, Raki decided to tell Salina and his big brother that it was going to be alright again.

When he entered the den, he saw that his brother and his brother's girlfriend were still sleeping.

"I better tell them later. He needs to sleep now." Raki thought to himself as he laid down next to Salina and his older brother.

Three hours later…

Banzai awoke with a huge headache and gurgled a little as he gagged. Quickly, he put a paw to his mouth to stop himself to do something very unpleasant. Even though he was awake, he was still raving from his temperature, and accidentally woke Salina who was sleeping next to him.

Salina turned around, seeing he was awake, she got up, and walked over to him.

"How are you, Banzai?" she asked gently. "Are you feeling warm?"

Banzai murmured something incoherently, but she could hardly make out what he was saying.

"He's still raving. The fever must have risen." she concluded silently. Without other words, she grabbed a leaf, dipped it into the coconut bowl and gently rubbed his forehead.

When he felt the cool water, he shuddered and moaned a little, but seemed to like it, despite that he was freezing, and needed to be warm, but neither of his friends or Salina wanted to give him something to warm him up, because he was literally burning up inside, and knew he could die if he got too hot. But Salina eventually laid a small blanket she had found near the river and put it onto him.

After three days of worrying, Banzai finally got well enough to know who they were, but he still needed help to eat and drink, mostly because he wasn't interested in eating or drinking, but also because he was still too weak to do anything by himself.

When the sun was present on the bright sky, all the animals awoke and began to make ready for a new day.

In the cave Banzai and Salina slept in, Salina was trying to give her friend some water, which was quite difficult because of his weak statement.

"Here, Banzai. Try to drink this, please." she said gently, holding the bowl close to his mouth. Banzai scowled at the coconut shell, but drank the water in it and pushed it aside. Salina drew a sigh of relief, he could get well if he was hydrated and rested.

"Salina?" Banzai asked.

"Yes, Banzai?"

"Do you want me to hunt today? You hunted yesterday and last week." he asked again.

"No, you have to rest. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm just glad you're going to be alright." Salina assured him and gave him a gentle nuzzle on his cheek. Banzai smiled in response.

"Alright man, if ya insist." he sighed tiredly. "But I am still not weak, y'know."

"I know, but you're weak enough to be laying down. I'm not teasing, I just… want you to lie down until you get your strength back so you won't get hurt again. The scar on your chest wasn't very pretty." she said. Banzai rolled his eyes, but nodded in agreement.

Then, Shenzi and Ed entered the den.

"Ho ho hehe? (How is he?)" Ed asked in his laughter speech.

"He's still tired, but at least he's coherent." Salina told them. Shenzi nodded and said:

"We'll stay and watch 'im while you're hunting, right Ed?"

Ed nodded rapidly.

Salina giggled slightly and walked out of the den, while Shenzi and Ed stayed with Banzai for the rest of that morning.