As the pups got older, they were let out of the room a lot more and finally were allowed to join the Skeksis and their mother in the dining room. They were given dishes of their own meat, but then, they too also were allowed to eat things that got thrown behind the table or across the room.

And before the pups knew it, at 8 months of age, they looked like small adult hyenas, almost fully spotted, and it was time for their first hunting trip with their mother to start teaching them the basics of hunting. Shenzi had been proudly awaiting this day. But she did wish her mate and friend could also be helping her. Being a mother to three, it was sometimes difficult to give all three the attention they needed.

Chamberlain had felt like a father to his friend's pups, but aside from teaching them things about the Skeksis way of life and what not to touch, and what was ok to touch, he mostly left the motherly things to Shenzi, as she knew more of the hyena way of life. They had to know how to be hyenas.

Playing taught the pups to hunt and to defend themselves. Shetani, being the only female among the three, was the biggest pup still and the most dominant. And they often had to act tough around the Skeksis too. It was just their nature.

Tonight, it was hyenas only out here on the hunt. Shenzi instructed the pups to watch her. They did.

Shenzi stampeded some big animals and snapped at their heels and tired them out. The pups had to run to keep up or they would miss out. One day, they would be helping her. They were still too young at the moment.

Once an exhausted animal was caught, Shenzi held on for dear life and brought it down. It was tough hunting alone.

The trio came over and helped their mom eat the animal. They did love spending time together as just a family, away from the Castle.

After eating, they cleaned each other up by licking and even went swimming in a water hole they found. It was all to ensure the bonds they had as a family.

The hyenas, when they were on hunting trips, could be away for like a day or two. But in the end, they always did bring back some food. Even the young hyenas' jaws were strong enough to carry food in their mouths now.

But still, the Garthim still had to be sent out for bigger sources of food and that was when the hyenas were back.

Even at this age, Shenzi still nursed the pups, but they had to earn it now, and as they had bigger appetites, they were to be eating more meat as well.

...

When they were a year old, Shetani was nearly the size of Shenzi, while her brothers were a bit smaller.

They were like cadets in training for sure now. On the hunting trips, Shenzi would find small enough creatures for them to practice their learning techniques from watching her. They thought this was so fun.

As Shenzi was loving every minute of watching her young ones grow up, she couldn't help but wonder how sad it was too that they would never get chances to have their own children without being able to find mates of their own. She knew that them being together like that was wrong.

If these three pups were her life's goal as her only pups, she was ok with that, but she did want them to have their own pups one day too.

Eventually, Shenzi did have to reveal what adult ones did to have cubs of their own. They were old enough now for the truth. The pups were shocked at this. And a little scared, as they had never known any others of their species outside their mother or their siblings.

Maybe it could be possible to send them back to Earth. Shenzi had to talk to the Skeksis.

She approached them one day while they were all in the Throne room. The Skeksis all looked toward her.

Shenzi bowed in a submissive gesture, putting her head down and ears flattened. "My Emperor, I have come to talk about something important."

"What is important?" The General asked.

"I have come to ask if it was possible for your powerful Crystal to be able to if ever if we want to, could it send me and my children home?" Shenzi asked.

The Skeksis all looked at each other, a little stunned at the question.

"It's possible. It sent all of us here." The Scientist said.

"Why would you want to know this?" General asked.

"Because of how limited it is here for my children to ever have their own mates and children when they grow up. As they get older, they would naturally want to seek out others of their own kind not related to them." Shenzi explained.

They could see what she was getting at. But a worried look crossed Chamberlain's face as he was in there too and listening. His best friend was wanting to leave!

"Whenever you want to leave, we can get the Crystal set up."

"Thank you." She said and left the room.

As she left, Chamberlain came up behind her. "How come you want to leave?"

She looked up at him. "I don't want to leave, Chamberlain. Don't get me wrong. You have been a great friend to me and my family. I could stay here and live out the rest of my life here, but it's my pups' lives I'm worried for. They need to meet more of their own kind. But as they know nothing of what its like on Earth, I would need to go with them to show them how to get along in their original world. How to avoid lions and how to hunt the prey there. It's much different there than it is here, where everything is so slow and easy to catch."

"Once my pups are settled in my old clan, I could come back."

"It's probably not possible for you to come back once you leave here." Chamberlain said.

"SkekSil, when the time comes, I have to go with my children. We might stay at least up until my pups are all grown up and they start feeling like adults and want something more. They won't find it here. They will need their own kind eventually. Sure, they can get hunting experience and learn how to defend themselves here from training on one another, but breeding is another matter." Shenzi tried to make him understand.

"I do understand what you are saying, but you have been the only friend I've ever truly had, Shenzi. Can't the pups just go on their own?"

"No. Like I said, I would still need to teach them things in our natural home on Earth. If there was a way for me to come back, then yes, I would help my pups get settled, then I would come back, but if I can't come back, I can't come back. You had done well before I came along. But just always remember me if I can't come back. When the time comes, this has to be done, I'm sorry."

Then she sadly walked away from him.

Chamberlain hung his head watching her go. He didn't want to lose his best friend.

...

As more time passed, Shetani, Banzai, and Eddie all gained good hunting experiences, but as they were maturing into adult hyenas, they also did want more challenges and they were beginning to get restless.

They were now 17 months and Shenzi had begun weaning them off her milk too. They had still nursed up until this point. At least mostly for pleasure.

But all 3 of them were now yearning for something so much more. Meeting their own kind. Once they had been told of it, they had all been yearning to go to their mother's home world.

The day had finally come and all the Skeksis and hyenas went to the Crystal Chamber and with some special incantations, the Crystal opened up a portal. Inside the portal, it looked like Africa!

Shenzi recognized it. "That is my old home!" She said happily. "Come on kids. We have to go."

"Wait!" A soft voice screeched out.

They all turned and saw Chamberlain coming forward. "Here, Shenzi. Take this special shard of crystal. It is a special way for you to find your way back our world if you should want to return."

Shenzi smiled at him. "Thanks, Chamberlain." Then she took it from his hand.

Then the hyenas walked through the portal and were gone.

Chamberlain was upset that his friend and her pups were gone.

The others had also gotten used to having the hyenas around. They had brought them many great things like their food and kept vermin pests at bay.

It was going to be hard going on without them, especially for SkekSil.