"Where is Jasiri?"

"She must have gone to scavenged some scraps to eat. Don't worry, Kion, it is probably for the best she gets some space from you anyways. Just rest and keep that leg clean."

"I am, I am," Kion muttered his words in annoyance as he tried his best to lick the backside of his hind leg. He had awoken and hoped to apologies to Jasiri for the previous evening's events, but Madoa informed him Jasiri had already left.

"Oh, he's awake! Morning, Mr. Lion," a child's voice came from above as a small body landed onto his head.

Kion grunted and his nose collided with the ground, though it did not hurt him. The hyena pup that had landed onto him was surprisingly light.

"Tunu! Off of Kion, now," Madoa walked over and lifted the small pup by the scruff of his neck, her words mumbled through her teeth, "Sorry, Kion, but Tunu has grown a liking towards you."

"Don't worry about it," Kion laughed while he sat back up and onto his haunches, "It's a step up from hiding behind rocks, I suppose."

"Be careful what you wish for. These two are mischief makers."

"Two?"

"Yeah, Tunu and… wait," Madoa set down Tunu, glaring down at him putting on a coyful smile, "Tunu, where is your sister?"

"I don't know," Tunu gave Madoa an innocent tail wag, "We were just playing hide and seek. I was the seeker."

Madoa made an advance to Tunu, but paused when she heard giggling sounds emit from a nearby boulder. Madoa raised an eyebrow, taking slow and quiet steps towards the cackling stone. When she was near enough, Madoa jumped on top of it, reaching down and retrieving another hyena pup squealing in delight from getting caught.

Tunu ran over, tagging the female hyena, "Ha! Found you, Wema!"

"No you didn't! Madoa did," Wema stuck her tongue out and at her brother, crossing her front paws in irritation.

Madoa set Wema down and gave the two a stern look, "Tumu, Wema. Now is not the time for games. We all are going to the Watering Hole for a morning drink and to carry water back for Kion. I do not have the time to chase you two down while you are playing around."

"Aw," the two pups whimpered and looked down at the ground with tucked tails.

"I can watch them," Kion spoke up, limping over to the three, "Since I can't walk all the way to the Watering Hole anyways."

"Really? I can barely keep up with them on four legs," Madoa looked over at Kion but held out her paw, stopping a hopeful Tunu from escaping.

"Really, it's no problem. Besides, I don't want to feel completely helpless while I'm here. What? Did you think you hyenas are the only ones with pride?"

Madoa rolled her eyes, but an amused smile did creep its way in, "Alright. If you really think you can handle it. Tunu, Wema, you two are going to stay here with Kion but are not allowed to leave the den."

"Yay," the two cheered, hopping up and down and around Kion and chanting in loud voices, "We get to play with Kion! We get to play with Kion!"

"Not play," Madoa dampened the two's mood with her warning tone, "Kion is still hurt. You two better not give him any trouble."

"Aw, ok," they each held up a paw in scout's honor, "We promise."

"Good," Madoa turned part of her attention back to Kion again, giving him some pup sitting advice, "These two like to run around, but they are good listeners… well, in a sense. If you can't keep up with them, try telling them a story. It's pretty much the only thing they'll stay still for."

"Noted," Kion assured Madoa with a smile and a nod, "Don't worry, Madoa. I'll keep a good watch over them."

"I don't have any doubts," Madoa walked around the den and woke the others of her clan still asleep, "We'll be back soon. Good luck, Kion."

"You say that with concern. I'm watching pups, not going to battle."

"You say that thinking there's a difference," Madoa shot him a knowing grin, "See you later."

With that, Madoa and the clan left for the Watering Hole. Kion tilted his head, but finally just gave the nonchalance of shrugs. Moving his supervision to the twins, he-

"What? Hey! Where did you two go," Kion frantically scanned the den, already losing track of the two. He angled his ears to certain directions until he heard the faint giggles of the little ones. Kion grinned, got as low as he was allowed, and crawled towards the sounds. In the position to pounce, he became within paw reach of a pile of leaves normally used as bedding, but Kion revealed it to be the hiding place of the twins, "Ha! Found you!"

The two pups cheered in delight from their hiding location discovered as Kion reached in and pulled them out of the pile, "Let's play again!"

"Sorry, guys," Kion sat down, but made sure to keep off his bad leg, "But I'm not well enough to be playing around."

Tunu and Wema pouted, laying down and covering their eyes with their paws. Kion thought for a moment, deciding to act upon the advice Madoa gave him, "Hey, why not I tell you two a story?"

The two pups jumped up to their paws again. They spun once and their tails wagged at a speed of Fuli's, "Oh! Yes, please! Tell us a story!"

"Alright then," Kion cleared his throat as the two jumped on top of their leaf pile and listened from the comfortable hiding place, "Many moons ago, I was out on patrol with the Lion Guard, until Janja, Cheezi, and Chunga invaded the Pridelands. I managed to chase them away, but was caught in a raging river. The roaring rapids dragged me all the way to the Outlands, a place where animals were forbidden to go. I told the Lion Guard to meet me at Flat Ridge Rock and hoped they wouldn't get lost. Ironically, I was the one to get lost in the Outlands. I feared I never would get back to the Pridelands, until Jasiri showed up."

"Oh oh! I know this one," Tunu jumped up and down on his paws, "Jasiri told us it when she came back from scavenging!"

Wema grabbed her brother and forced him to lay back down, "Ssssh! Tunu! Kion is telling the story this time!"

Tunu made such an exclamation, they three did not hear the sound of dragging following Jasiri returning from her scavenge. They only took notice of her when she spoke up, "Madoa! I'm back from… Hey, where'd everyone go?"

"Jasiri," the twins dismissed Kion's story and ran up to Jasiri. They climbed and hugged her, each on a side of her neck.

"It's good to see you too, tykes," Jasiri laughed, gripped the two in a tight hug, and let them slide back down to the ground, "Where are the others?"

"Everyone left to the Watering Hole," Wema said.

"Kion has been here telling us the story of when you two first met," Tunu added as his and Wema's eyes glanced over at the meal Jasiri brought back, "Oh! Food! Can we, Jasiri?"

"Go ahead," Jasiri nodded, "Just make sure to only take your share."

"We will, we will," the two exclaimed and rushed over to the pile of leftovers. They could barely contain themselves, but they still understood to hold back and only eat their fair share.

"I'm happy to see you're back," Kion smiled, pushing himself back up.

Jasiri seemed to have a differed opinion when she turned her head to the lion in the room. She raised an eyebrow, "You're still here? I thought you would have gone back to the Pridelands by now."

Kion looked down, feeling a bit guilty, "I know I was pretty rude last night. I'm sorry. I don't have any excuse, mainly because there is none for the attitude I had, but I still hope you can forgive me. Madoa told me what you did for me. I'm grateful, I truly am, and I wish you can believe me."

Jasiri did not reply, but her scowl weakened. Her glare eased away and the only red she saw was that of Kion's mane tilted down in shame. She sighed before she finally opened her mouth, "Kion…"

"We're back," Madoa said through clenched teeth as her and the clan returned from the Watering Hole, "We brought you back some water."

Madoa set down the bowl shaped rock in her jaws when she took notice of the ones in the den along with the scraps Tunu and Wema were eating, "Oh, Jasiri. Good to see you had no troubles. Not a bad take too. Thank you."

"You're a welcome," Jasiri nodded as she watch her sister bring Kion the bowl.

"Here you go, Kion," Madoa smiled, pushing it with her nose, "I know it's probably not as good as the Pridelands' Watering Hole, though."

"It's water. It is the same no matter where it comes from," Kion smiled back, ignoring the guilt he was feeling from moments earlier, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"No problem," Madoa gestured to the meal the other hyenas started on, "You're welcome to join us, Kion."

"No, thank you. I've already taken up your attention and water," Kion stood up, "You have already done more than enough for me."

"Nonsense," Madoa chuckled, pulling him towards the others. She bit off a chunk for Kion, laying it down in front of him, "Here you go, eat up. You need to keep up your strength to recover faster."

"Yea, Yea," Tunu smiled up at Kion, "And you can finish telling the story too!"

"Alright. A story for food, seems like a fair trade," Kion laughed and took a bite, "So I had just met Jasiri, and, I admit, I was very skeptical about letting a hyena lead me out of the Outlands. But that was before I discovered how similar we all are. If it wasn't for her, I might have never gotten back home and have made such a wonderful and faithful friend. I also saw how fierce and protecting she is when I came back to rescure her from Janja."

"I think that thick skull of his is compressing his memory," Jasiri smirked at Kion, walking around him and standing at his side, "I had them right where I wanted them. If anything, I saved him."

Kion pulled his attention to Jasiri. He perked up at the sight of her spunky smile that had returned to her face. He could not help but do the same, "Oh? Is that so? Seems to me Janja's clan had you cornered when I showed up."

"Exactly," Jasiri shot back, playfully pushing his shoulder, "I had them in perfect position for you to use the Roar."

"You didn't even know I had the Roar."

"Still, we did make a pretty good team, even if I did pull most of the weight up until the end."

"I'm not going to argue with that," Kion laughed, "You are a pretty amazing hyena when it comes to standing your ground. And I'm suppose to be the fiercest of the Pridelands. I guess you're the fiercest of the Outlands."

"Fiercest of the Outlands," Jasiri tapped her chin in a coy manner, "Does have a nice ring to it… Kind of nice of you to think I'm fierce and amazing…"

"Well, it is the truth. I think you are a great friend to have because you are loyal to a fault."

"Kion…"

"I mean, the only other animal I know who is as brave and daring as you are is Bunga. You are just as much of a friend to me as he is. I feel so grateful that you are one of my fr-"

"Kion," Jasiri covered his mouth, "Zip it."

Kion followed the paw keeping his lips sealed and saw that Jasiri's frown had returned. He was shocked when she pulled it away, turning her away from the others and leaving the den. Madoa saw this, raising her head from her food and watching Jasiri with the same amount of confusion as Kion.

"What… What did I say," Kion furrowed his brows. He was becoming concern with the last bit of Jasiri disappearing behind a wall of vines.

"I've never seen her act that way before," Madoa said, taking note of the fading grub, "Or skip a meal. I don't understand what that was about."

Kion took the remaining bit of his portion lying on the ground, "I'll see what is the matter. I made her feel this way. It's my job to bring her to ease."

"Make sure she eats," Madoa said, growing worried for her sister. Kion nodded, before walking out of the den.

He found her a few steps away from the entrances. She was sitting by a large rock, laying down in the late morning sun in a glum state. She almost did not hear Kion until he was right beside her. She knew it was him without even giving him a glance.

"Jasiri, what's wrong," Kion set aside the food for a moment, resting beside her. She no longer seemed angry, but, in fact, seemed pained.

She was quiet for a few moments before replying, "I'm sorry I snapped at you, Kion, but all that praise you were giving me… I couldn't handle it."

"How come?"

"I just never had someone care so much about me. The way you labeled me like some hero."

"You are a hero," Kion said, placing one of his large paws on her slender one, "You are protector of your clan just like I am a defender of the Pridelands. What makes you think otherwise?"

"The fact that I am not great hero you make me out to be," Jasiri pulled her paw away, "Heroes are great role models and give it their all for the ones they care about. There is no way I am one, I'm… I'm just Jasiri."

Kion chuckled softly, "Well, just Jasiri, why don't you quit listening to your inner thoughts and look around for a moment. What do you see?"

Jasiri was thrown off guard by his question, but hesitantly complied, "A barren wasteland and an annoying lion."

"Maybe at first, but I see a place that a daring hyena manages to call her home despite the harshness it brings for her. And that said hyena who thinks she needs to do everything herself in a selfless act, when she has a family who cares for her more than she realizes. Your sister asked me to make sure you ate," Kion pulled the food back towards him, presenting it before Jasiri, "She does care for you deeply and so do I. The annoying lion has a soft spot for that daring hyena."

Jasiri thought about Kion's interpretation of the question he had asked. She never realized how much others cared for her, how much her family cared for her, or how much Kion cared for her. Kion cared for her… the thought made a rose red tint rise to her cheeks.

"Jasiri? Are you blushing," Kion's sly grin and arrogant eyebrow raise earned him an irritated jab from Jasiri, "Ow…"

"What?! No, I don't blush," Jasiri's words flustered together and became softer when she turned her head away, "I-I'm just… it's the… Well, you have no room to talk, apricot head!"

"Apricot head," Kion realized his own cheeks must have gave a red hue for he felt a tingle in them, turning his head into the colors of the small drupe, "Well, at least I know why I'm blushing!"

"Oh? How come?"

"Because I'm happy to be spending time with you."

"Oh yeah?! Well… I… what," Jasiri eyes widen when his confession finally processed in her mind.

"I-," Kion cleared his throat, his normally confident speech evaded him for the moment, "I like spending time with you. I never get to see you because you're out here in the Outlands, so the couple of times I've ever gotten to be around you feels special to me. I always think about those memories whenever I find myself at Flat Ridge Rock"

"You do? I… Kion…"

"Look, I know this must really weird you out and now is probably not the best time to tell you all this, but when Madoa told me how you were by my side yesterday to keep me safe, these thoughts have just been stampeding inside my mind and I have to tell somebody about it."

"Kion…"

"And I know, you're a hyena and I'm a lion, but it doesn't mean that I'm any less attracted to you an-"

"Kion," Jasiri stopped him from speaking again, but this time she was smiling, "Though your anxious movements are entertaining, I'm going to have to stop you before you walk off the ledge."

Kion looked down to see he was up off the ground again. Paw prints in the ground were showing he had been pacing back and forward while ranting. He blushed when Jasiri removed her paw away.

"Kion, I'm glad you feel that way about me, because, to be honest, I feel the same way about you. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm thankful for that day you stumbled into the Outlands. I know whenever on the rare occurrence I do run into something I can't handle, I know you'll be there, ready to help me at any moment."

Jasiri and Kion laughed together at how both acted against their normal nature of toughness to spill out their feelings for one another. The cheerful sounds slowly died down, but the happiness did not fade as each enjoyed the other's company. With only the quiet sounds of their breathing and insects, Jasiri's growling stomach became audible. Kion looked over at her, sliding the food towards her.

"Here, I brought this for you. Madoa told me to make sure you eat," Kion said.

"Thank you," Jasiri slid it back over, "But I can hear your hunger too. And you're injured, you deserve it more."

Kion moved a paw over his stomach that had betrayed his kind gesture with a greedy growl, "Why don't we share it? There is enough to go around."

Jasiri felt her mouth salivate, and with another groan of her own stomach, agreed to his proposal, "Alright, Kion, if you insist."

Kion nodded, bending his head down, but was cut off by Jasiri, "Oh, and one more thing."

"Hm? What is it," Kion said, raising his head to look at Jasiri and her grin.

"If anybody asks, only you confessed your feelings and I pitied you. Don't you dare tell anybody that I went soft because of you."

Kion laughed at Jasiri's joking demands, "Alright. If you say so. Though I'll be sure to bring it up to you as much as possible."

"Only if you have a death wish."

Jasiri laughed along with Kion, before lowering her head along with his. The two sharing the meal together, realizing their affection for each other had blossomed beyond just friends. Their bond ready to take on the world and what challenges it may present them together.

(To Be Continued…)