Monster
How should I feel?
"Aglaeca?"
The golden cub's ears twitched at the sound of his name. He groaned and put a paw over his head. He wasn't ready to get up, not after yesterday still burning in his mind.
"Aglaeca, wake up." The voice repeated gently.
He didn't move. There was no reason wake up to the real world. His mother didn't love him there, but she did in his dreams.
Suddenly, Aglaeca felt two rough paws shove him off of the summit's step. His emerald orbs shot open just in time to see the ground collide with his face.
He grunted as he picked himself up from the stone, blowing away the black tuft in his eyes. He ignored the dull throb in his head left over from yesterday. He'd felt much worse, and besides, it compared little with the one in his heart.
"Are you awake now?"
He turned to see who the voice belonged to, "Amri, " he half growled, "why did you push me off the step?"
The hyena cub smirked and jumped down to join him, "Well, you weren't waking up."
"That's because I didn't want to wake up." He growled before turning and making his way to the pridal cave.
Amri blinked at his unusually cold tone before running to catch up with him, "I just thought that since everyone else had woken up that you would wana be awake too."
He stopped momentarily to look at her, "Well you thought wrong." Then he continued walking to the cave.
Amri stood in shock. What was wrong with him? With a determined glare, she rushed up to block his path," What's your problem, goldy? I came to tell you about my new plan to make Nala love ya."
Aglaeca's eyes narrowed at her words, "I want nothing to do with your plan! After yesterday, I want nothing to do with you!" His lips lifted into a snarl before he continued, "You probably went back to all the hyenas and shared a laugh at how incredibly stupid I was to believe you in the first place! You played me for a fool, using my mother's love against me!"
"Technically, it would be that I used her lack of love for you."
"I can't believe how stupid I was to think that we could be friends! Hyenas and lions hate each other, and that will never change!" He snarled before ramming her out of his way.
Amri stumbled around before she gained her balance back. She whipped around to stare after Aglaeca angrily, "Hey! You can't shove me! I'm the future matriarch!"
"I just did." He replied calmly as he continued on.
She growled and rushed to block his way again, "Look, I didn't know the events of yesterday would happen, okay? It was just as much of a surprise to me as it was to you!"
Aglaeca glared at her. "I don't believe you."
She shouted in frustration, "What can I do to make you believe me!"
The lion cub's face twisted into confusion at her words, "Why do you care? Why won't you leave me alone!"
"'Cause!" She shouted.
"Because what?"
"I-"She sighed and lowering her eyes.
Aglaeca scoffed, "I thought so." He pushed past her once more, this time making it into the cave.
"Wait!" Amri called to his retreating form. When he disappeared inside the lions den, she padded after him.
Peeking her head inside, she located him in the right corner. After making a quick scan for any lionesses, she darted over to him.
Aglaeca had just closed his eyes when he heard the thud of paws approaching. He reluctantly opened up his eyes to look up at the hyena. "Go away, Amri."
Amri frowned. All the lionesses kept their mouths shut around the young hyena heir, but she had dealt with her packs cubs before. Aglaeca was no where near as cruel as they. "What I was trying to say," she began before taking a breath and pausing to think.
Aglaeca only lifted an eyebrow, a nice addition to the scowl already plastered there.
The hyena lowered her ears and lifter her head, "I don't have any friends."
A look of shock came over the young lion's face as his true nature came back to him. Forgetting about his own problems and previous thoughts of her, he stood to comfort Amri, "I'm sorry. I know how tough it is to be alone."
She gave him a small smile, "It's not so bad. My mama always says that it's better to be feared than to be loved."
He returned her smile, then frowned, "I'm sorry about acting the way I did. I'm just, still hurting over my mother's words."
Amri's smile slipped from her face, "Yeah, everyone over heard at the evening meal."
His ears lowered in embarrassment, "Everyone?"
Her's perked up, "Look at how big these things are! We can hear pretty much everything!" She tried, attempting to coax a laugh out of him.
He gave lopsided smile for her benefit, "I bet they all laughed."
Amri shook her head," My mama stopped them. She said, 'To laugh at a child's misfortune is like committing the crime yourself.'"
"Your mama sounds like an excellent ruler."
She puffed her chest out proudly, "'Course! She's the hyena matriarch! Scar's second in command!"
"You really love your mama, huh?"
"Yep! She tells me that I'm the best thing that ever happened to her! She's never loved anyone as much as me!" As soon as the words come out of her mouth, Amri immediately realized her mistake. "Oh, I'm sorry, Aglaeca! I didn't-"
"It's fine, " He replied quickly before laying back in his sleeping corner.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean-"
"I said it's fine." He interrupted. He looked up at her with a smile. "I just wana lay here today. See you tomorrow?"
Amri's frown deepened at his words, "Yeah, sure."
As the hyena pup padded out, she shot a glance over her shoulder to see her friend curled in a tight ball. She furrowed her eyes in concern and made her way down to the lower caves where the hyenas dwelled. She walked the familiar path to the central cave and bounded inside to see her mother and two uncles.
"Why," the king drawled, "if it isn't my favorite niece."
"Hi Uncle Scar!" She chirped cheerfully.
"Amri, dear, what do you need?" Shenzi asked.
"Mama!" She exclaimed as she rushed to nuzzle one of her forelegs. Shenzi smiled down at her only daughter adoringly.
"What am I? Rotten zebra?" Banzai shouted in mock outrage.
"Uncle Banzai," Amri groaned with a smile as she went to nuzzle his foreleg too.
"So shorty, what brings you here?" He asked as he rubbed his paw between her ears.
"Mama," she questioned, "when will the lionesses Sarabi and Sarafina be back?"
The two males looked at each other in confusion before Scar spoke up, "My dear, why would you want to know a thing like that?"
Shenzi smiled knowingly as her daughter answered, "As future matriarch, its my duty to know as much as I can!" She turned to her mother, "I wana be as good a ruler as you, mama!"
Shenzi chuckled and turned to Scar, "Won't she make a fine second in command to Nuka one day?"
Scar groaned at the mention of the gray cub, "Hopefully she will stand aside someone more worthy of her potential. Nuka is a disappointment and a mere back up plan."
Banzai laughed, "Man, Zira'll be fuming if someone other than her cub is announced heir."
"A problem for another day, my friend." The lion grinned.
"Mama..." Amri moaned.
Shenzi looked down at her daughter, to see her looking up at her with impatient eyes. She smirked and addressed the boys, "Hey guys, give me a second with my daughter, will ya? We need to have some girl talk."
Both males grimaced at the last phrase and rushed out. It was then that the matriarch replied, "Why do you want to know about those two old hags?"
"I have no interest in them really, it's just that Aglaeca is kinda depressed and I know that he gets really happy when these two are around."
"Ah, I see. Well then, they should be back sometime today. You'll just have to sit and watch for them."
"Ugh," the young cub groaned, "how boring."
"You could always sit here with me. I can take you with me on my rounds today, show you some more of what will be expected of you in the future."
Amri smiled brilliantly at her mother for a moment, then her face fell, "I'd love to, mama. But, I need to watch for the hags. It's my fault that Aglaeca is so down. So it's my responsibility to fix it."
Shenzi blinked, Amri never missed a chance to learn something about her future status. The mother smiled down at her and reached out to draw her near, lowering her head to Amri's level. She nuzzled her daughter, "I love you, Amri. Aglaeca doesn't know how lucky he is to have you as a friend."
Amri smiled and nuzzled her back. Her tail wagged happily back and forth.
The matriarch chuckled at her. "You'd better go now, pup, so you can watch for the return of those lionesses."
Amri gave her mother one last nuzzle before bounding towards the entrance.
"And remember, Amri," Shenzi called as she straightened up. The little one paused to look back, "not a word to your Uncle Scar or Uncle Banzai. It's better if they don't know of your new friend, for now."
Amri smiled back to her and darted out into the midday sun. She pranced through the hyena's domain, grinning as several older hyena's dipped their heads in respect.
"Still think you're all that, I see."
Amri whipped her head around to glare at the familiar face, "Shut it, Kondo. I'm not in the mood to fight today."
The male hyena cub snorted, "What's wrong? Afraid you'll lose, princess?"
Amri growled at his mocking tone, "I have more important things to do right now. Besides, your only talking to me 'cause you want the chance to pin me and embarrass me in front of everyone."
"That's right." Kondo smirked, "Someone's gotta put you in your place. You walk around here acting like everyone's beneath you. That's why no one likes you."
"So!" Amri barked. "I'm the future matriarch, which means that, yes, I am better than you!" She lifted her head to look down her nose at him and turned away, tail held high.
Amri walked confidently back up the path to the main ledge. She then peeked over the edge to see the vast gray savannah below. She smiled proudly at the thought of this someday being kinda hers.
Her ears perked at the sound of voices. She looked to see two lionesses appear from the steps.
"Sarabi! Sarafina!" She shouted as she ran over to them.
"Um, hello strange hyena cub." Sarabi said unsurely. She looked to Sarafina who only shrugged.
"Aglaeca won't come out of the cave!"
Sarafina furrowed her eyes in concern. "Why? What happened in our absence?"
"Well, first Aglaeca stepped on a lioness's tail while she was asleep which made all the lionesses mad at Nala but Aglaeca was only trying to get to her so that they could watch the sun rise but then Nala wouldn't watch the sun rise with him so I devised a plan to make Nala proud of Aglaeca but it backfired when he got trapped in a zebra stampede which ruined the hunt the lionesses were on so Nala got really mad again and shouted at Aglaeca which made him really sad and when he got back for the evening meal Nala wouldn't let him have any 'cause he ruined the hunt that morning and then Nala told him that she would never love him!" Amri blurted all in one big breath. She panted as she looked from one lioness's face to the other.
Sarafina and Sarabi stared at the hyena pup, speechless, until Sarafina shook her head and rushed into the cave. "Aglaeca!" she called, her eyes not yet adjusted to the darkness.
At her voice, Aglaeca's ears and head shot up, "Grandma?"
"Aglaeca!" Sarafina shouted with relief as she made her way over to his small form. She bent her head and pulled him to her, licking his cheeks and nuzzling his face fiercely.
Aglaeca giggled and nuzzled her back, "I'm glad your back, Grandma!"
"What's all this about you being in a zebra stampede?" Sarabi asked as she padded up with Amri at her side.
"Ms. Sarabi!" Aglaeca smiled. "Did you guys find what you were looking for?"
She frowned slightly, "No. Now, why don't you tell us what's been going on? The hyena here said something about a stampede?"
Aglaeca's ears lowered, "Oh."
"Yes, " Sarafina said, "what's happened? The hyena-"
"Amri!" The pup shouted from Sarabi's side, her brow furrowed.
"Excuse me?" Sarafina inquired, Aglaeca still in her paws.
"My name is Amri. Not hyena." She stated.
"Dear, Amri is a-" Sarabi started.
"Boys name? Yeah, I know. But so what? I don't make fun of your name sounding old."
Sarabi stared at her in shock while Sarafina chuckled. She dropped down on her belly so that Aglaeca could sit in-between her paws. "Anyway, your story, Aglaeca?"
"Uh," He mumbled, hesitating to tell them of his embarrassment.
"Hold on a moment, dear." Sarabi said to him before turning to the hyena cub at her side, "Just who are you, strange cub? And what makes you think you can speak to me in such a manner?"
Amri smirked up at her, "I am Amri, daughter of Shenzi, the hyena matriarch."
"And?" The old lioness replied.
The air deflated from Amri's body a bit, "And that means I can speak however I want to whoever I want 'cause I'm the future matriarch!"
Sarabi looked at her with scrutinizing eyes, "Well, you certainly have a lot to learn."
Amri frowned and stuck her tongue out at the old queen. Aglaeca giggled and looked into Sarafina's eyes, "She's so funny, grandma."
"Let's not get too used to her, dear. She is a hyena, and worse, none other than the daughter of Shenzi."
Aglaeca's ears shot up, "But why? Amri's my friend!"
Ears twitching at her name, Amri turned to watch the two.
"Because she is a hyena, and nothing good will ever come with hanging around with one of them. Despite what King Scar says, hyenas and lions cannot live together peacefully. There is a grudge between our two kinds dating back to the very first lion."
"That's not fair! I like, goldy! And he likes me too! I'm sick of everyone thinking that we can't be friends because of what we are!" Amri spat, glaring at the pale lioness.
"It's nothing against you, young one. It has always been this way, and it is how it shall remain."
"That's not fair!" Amri shouted as some of her bangs fell into her eye.
"Life isn't fair. We will not let our innocent Aglaeca associate himself with you, and that is final." Sarabi spat, hatred for the hyena species burned in her eyes.
Amri looked at them both in shock before turning to the golden cub, "Aglaeca?"
He merely looked away, his elders had spoken. He could not go against them. They alone knew what the best course for him was.
Tears welled up in the hyena princess's eyes and she hurried out of the lions den, determined not to show anyone her weakness.
Aglaeca looked to the ground sadly. He wished that Amri could have been born a lion, things could have been so much easier.
"Aglaeca, I'm sorry, but it's for the best."
He looked up into his grandmother's face and gave her a small smile. He reached out to nuzzle her.
Sarabi looked on with happiness, "Now, why don't you fill us in on what we've missed."
Aglaeca sighed before beginning his recollection of the past day. As he neared the ending, he looked up to see both lionesses smiling at him with pity. While he loved them both dearly, he hated this look. Since his birth, they had looked upon him with that look.
In a sudden burst of emotion, anger welled up inside him at the two. Why must they always look at him in that way? Making him feel so much smaller and pitiful than he really was. Amri didn't do that. If anything, she gave him a reason to keep fighting. In her own weird and uncaring way she gave him the determination to try harder with Nala. While this morning the hyena pup's words had no effect on him, yesterday they spurred him to put himself in mortal danger. And though it wasn't the smartest thing to do, he still felt empowered enough to go through with it.
As he finished his story, the two immediately began to nuzzle and comfort him. Usually, this was the time that he felt the most secure. But right now, all he could feel was anger and the urge to pull away.
Knitting his eye brows together, Aglaeca asked, "Could I go for a walk? I'm feeling a lot better now, and I just wana clear my head."
"I don't think so." Sarafina instantly replied, "After yesterday, I think you just need to stay here with me and rest."
"Let him go, Sarafina." Sarabi said. "We need to go report to Scar anyway." She winked discreetly at the cub.
"Well, I suppose." She lifted herself up from the stone floor and followed Sarabi out the entrance. "But be back before nightfall, Aglaeca!" she shot over her shoulder.
The golden lion cub sat for a minute. His mind thinking wildly of all the places to search. In a moment of instinct, he headed for the giant tree that shaded Amri and he yesterday.
As he neared the huge plant, he saw a familiar shape take form. He grinned and ran hurriedly to his friend.
"Amri!" He called.
The she-hyena turned and glared at him, "What do you want?"
He slowed a little at her harsh tone, "I came to find you."
She scoffed, "Why? Haven't you heard? I'm nothing but stupid, mangy poacher."
"Huh?" Aglaeca replied as he came to sit by her, "What is that?"
She stared at him for minute before answering, "That's what your kind calls my kind, goldy."
"Well," he started, his smile slipping back in place, "I don't think that. I think of you as my best friend."
"What about the two hags? Your not supposed to be associating with me."
"It'll be a secret." Aglaeca frowned when she said nothing. "Don't you want to be friends?"
"I do, " Amri said. She looked at him with sad eyes, "I just don't understand the hate lions have for hyenas."
He could say nothing to that. Not used to being the comforter, Aglaeca fidgeted a little and searched his mind for something to say. A sudden thought came to him and he leaned back a little before he pounced on her.
Amri shouted in surprise but quickly started laughing. The two cubs play fought for a while before Amri flipped Aglaeca on his back. He stared up at her with wide eyes.
"I gotta teach you some moves, goldy." Amri smirked as she climbed off of him.
"That was fun! Now I see why the hyena pups are always playing like that!"
She gave him a weird look, "Haven't you ever play fought before?"
"Is that what that was called?" he asked innocently.
Amri blinked before smiling and reaching out to grab him in a head lock. Aglaeca struggled to get out but to no avail, his eyes shut in surprise as Amri gave him a nookie.
When she released him, he stumbled back and landed on his rear. Amri laughed as his tuft fell into his eyes. He smiled and reached with a paw to put it back in its place.
"Where'd you learn all that?" Aglaeca asked.
"My mama taught me! She says that if something were to happen to her before she can hand over the clan to me, I gotta know how to fight in case another female wants to take it from me." She puffed her chest out proudly.
Aglaeca tilted his head in confusion, "What all does your mama do? How is it different than being king?"
"Well, it's not really different. It's just that my mother has authority over hyenas while Uncle Scar has authority over everyone. She pretty much just watches over the clan and goes with Ucle Scar when he has important meetings. I guess she's kinda like an adviser to him."
Aglaeca blinked, "Uncle Scar? How is that possible?"
Amri smiled, "My mama and Uncle Scar have known each other since they were kids. They and her two brothers were all friends. So when Scar became king he announced my mama as the matriarch and his second in command. "
"But what does that-"
"I'm gettin' there!" She barked. "Anyways, when mama had me, everyone just started to refer to him as uncle. I guess him and mama are like brother and sister." Her eyes got really wide and she said this next part excitedly, "He told me once that I came at just the right time on account of his nephew dying."
"Prince Simba." Aglaeca recalled sadly, "He was my mother's best friend."
"Uncle Scar says that I fill the void his absence left. He says I'm his favorite niece!"
"You seem to really love him."
"Yeah," She chuckled. "Don't tell Uncle Banzai or Uncle Ed but Uncle Scar is my favorite uncle!"
He smiled at his new friend. For the very first time, he felt wanted. He knew, as he looked at her smiling face, that he would do anything to keep on being friends with Amri.
"I won't tell."
Ha! Got it up within the week! :)
This chapter doesn't really pertain to the lyrics at the beginning. The next chapter will really be the one that sticks with the song. This was one of those fillers that are kinda boring but needed. I also just wanted to write about Amri some more. :) I love how she's developing.
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! For those of you that I couldn't pm, thank you for reading! It makes my day to get an email notifying me of another one!
I'll try to have another chapter up next week. Til then, Read and Review!
YMAW