Hello,

Thanks for all the support on the first chapter everyone, I really appreciate all the follows, favorites, and reviews of course.

Rated T, dark themes, blood, violence, self harm. Please take care of your mental health friends.

Enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 2

"Hope of the Unknown"

I awoke the next day, with dried blood caked to my body. And like a ton of bricks, last night came back to me, and I had to try my best not to bawl my eyes out more. I didn't want to move, I wanted to be taken to the afterlife with my father and Miri. If what I saw was real with her spirit or whatever it was… Which it couldn't have been real, but if it was then they might still be there waiting for me.

Slowly, I got myself away from Miri's dead body. Her eyes were closed, and she had what looked like to me a smile on her muzzle. I cringed away from the sight and turned my head away, more tears forcing their way out of my eyes. With a heavy sigh, I forced myself to look at her, 'I should bury her…' I thought hallowly.

I spent the better part of my morning digging a hole with my bare hands, big enough to bury her. I looked like a wild animal, and I had even used some of my water reserves to soften the dirt for digging. After all, I wouldn't need it. There was no chance in hell I would survive out here alone.

I hauled her body over to the hole, stopping out of weakness and grief multiple times. Laying her in the grave respectfully, and sending her off with a couple words, before throwing the dirt back in. And after she was buried, I kneeled over it for what felt like hours. "The others, dad… they deserve graves too but…" I covered my eyes, "I don't know if I can do it Miri…"

"I don't want to see their… bodies." I sobbed.

After hours of mourning, evening rolled over again. And I forced a protein bar down my throat, though I really did not know what the point was. I had spent the entire day mourning in the middle of this savannah. Part of me hoped someone or something would come by and put me out of my misery. I slept next to her grave, using my backpack as a pillow.

I could only get small hours of sleep before being woken by nightmares, 'It's all your fault.' I told myself. The thought ringing in my head over and over.

As well as, "Run, I love you."

"It is my time. You must live, cub."

'Had that one even been real?'

The next morning, I just laid there. My hope was completely gone, there was no point in trying. If I went back to the campsite, who's to say they weren't there? Or that they hadn't trapped it? I knew the direction of civilization, but it was a full week's worth of walking, my best bet would be to find water in the surrounding area. Who was I kidding… Just because I knew some survival lessons didn't mean I could survive in the African savannah. The thought of me running down and hunting my food crossed my mind, and I cracked a sad smile.

"Miri wants me… to live… should I even try?" I asked, staring at the cloudy morning sky.

After a long amount of thought, I slowly raised my aching body to a standing position, grabbing my backpack. "Either way I need to get moving. Dying here would be selfish, after all, maybe some animals need a good meal?"

I trudged my way through the savannah, nothing really bringing me out of my thoughts. Not even when I walked right past animals that only days before was I stoked to try and see.

Where was I going?..

I couldn't go home. I didn't have a home anymore anyways, without my father it was pointless. I was stuck in Africa with nobody to help, I didn't even understand the language enough to get help.

"And honestly, who would believe me anyway?"

Hours passed as the sun grew to noon, and the sun scorched my body. I was sweating profusely, which wasn't helping my ever growing problem with a water source. I growled in anger, sitting myself down against a rock in the shade, I had been walking for hours and not a single silver lining graced me! A few tears escaped, but I mostly only felt pure rage now…

Maybe if I never dragged my father into my own interests. What if he just wanted to hang out with me, and was lying about enjoying the animals? Why did I want to be a zoologist again?

'Oh yeah, cause humans do things like kill your dad, you know…those guys must be fun at parties right!?' I thought to myself, with a small laugh.

"Great job Daniel, is your plans for your future going your way?" I laughed even more.

"No, but thanks for checking in anyway. I'm still a worthless pile of garbage." I giggled a bit more as I talked to myself. I suddenly felt surrounded, as I peaked my eye open to see multiple animals from the surrounding area staring at me. Most looked worried, others intrigued.

Animals don't think like that though, so I must've really lost it to get some zebras to stare at me. I uncovered my face, "Yeah, I'm some crazy hairless monkey in your savanna. What are you going to do about it?" I yelled outward.

As if they understood me, they returned to what they were doing, dispersing outward away from me. That's what I thought, now that I talked big they leave me alone. "That's how simple minded animals are, right?"

Then my mind thought back, "It is my time. You must live, cub." It sounded and felt so real...

Shut up! That was just my mind playing tricks on me. Either it's what I interpreted her dying groans of pain as, or it's what I wanted her to say, but animals do NOT talk or think like that!

Shrugging, I decided I was maybe dehydrating, drinking slightly from my water to preserve it as long as possible. Something was driving me to stay alive, it certainly wasn't myself as I was acting recklessly. I stood up, walking onward into another random direction.

The next few days passed by me in a blur, had it really already been a few days already? I wasn't paying attention, I was tired, and weak. Everything passed by in a terrible blur. My water had run out recently, and any food I once had was gone. All I did every day was walk and walk, replaying the same couple minutes in my head like a broken record. Sleep was often restless, and without much comfort.

My surroundings barely changed no matter how much I kept on walking. The only thing coming to my mind was that the predators around here must really suck. Like seriously I've been wandering this land for multiple days, and haven't been preyed upon. It's a wonder really! Can they really not just let me donate my body to Mother Nature?

And with a giggle, I had a funny idea. Cupping my hands around my mouth and shouting in front of me, "Hey animals! Juicy free meal here! I won't even fight back!" It echoed multiple times, but for now nothing would happen. As it approached dusk, the only sounds I heard were crickets, not a single predator made a move to kill me, if there were even any around.

I yelled loudly, throwing my backpack to the ground like a child throwing a tantrum, "What the hell am I supposed to do!? What is my purpose anymore anyway? I'm just a dumb kid, stuck in a stupid lifeless continent!"

I angrily rummaged through my pack, pulling out a survival knife my father gifted me, it was dark green and engraved with a lion on the hilt. Unsheathing it I slid it across the palm of my hand, and clenched my fist so it would drip, "Here! Blood! Come, kill me!" I yelled around me like a mad man.

"Are your nostrils broken to, you dumb animals!?"

I teared up, and my vision went blurry, "Why!? Why not me too…"

My voice got softer until it was just me whispering to myself, "Dad, Miri, I-I'm sorry… I'm so weak, I can't do this anymore." My legs gave out under me, and I crumbled into a sobbing mess, hugging my backpack as I cried.

I felt the wind whip around my body, almost as if something was trying to gently caress me. And I heard a voice, either it was all around me, or in my head… "Your time is not now, young one."

I looked all around me in shock and fear, "Who- Who's there?!" I yelled.

"I'm going crazy…" I said staring down at the ground in shame.

I grabbed the sides of my head in anger, "Stop! Stop it! I know it's my fault!" I yelled around myself.

I felt the wind again, as it went under my chin, gently lifting my head up from staring at the ground. If my eyes could've popped out of my head in shock they would've. An ethereal large lion stood in front of me, a warm, kind smile upon his face. He looked at me with empathy. "I assure you, you're not going crazy little friend."

I just stared in confusion, "W-Who… What are you?"

He gently laughed, approaching me and circling in a kind way as he spoke, "I've been watching… I felt it necessary to return hope to you."

I chuckled, "Return hope!? Hope for what? My hopes that a predator will come and end me!?"

It stopped in front of me, sorrowfully sighing, "You must not succumb to those dangerous thoughts. There is much that life is worth living for." He said putting a paw on my shoulder, though I could barely feel it.

I grew angry, stepping away from him, "Everything that made my life worth living for is gone! And you're trying to tell me to just find more hope!? Just like that? What a joke!" I looked at him like he was crazy, but slowly realized that if anything I was the one going crazy, shaking my head in annoyance.

"You're just a figment of my imagination anyway!"

"No." He said calmly, with a stern expression, turning me silent as I looked back to the ground. I had no idea what was going on. "It's okay to grieve, and to feel lost, like there is no hope. I want you to live, not to find more hope, but to give hope to others. And maybe you can find peace down that path."

I sighed shakily, "I don't know if I…understand. Me? A hairless monkey with a backpack? Giving others hope? I'm not a miracle worker.. And there isn't really anybody to give hope to if you haven't noticed! I'm alone, and I will die alone. Nobody will help me." I ended the sentence with bitterness, a bit of resentment towards myself.

Nevertheless he smiled sympathetically, shaking his head, "There will always be others willing to lend you aid. Please, think about what I've said, I assure you there is still much left for you in this life." He placed another paw on my shoulder

I felt his paw, and shuddered sadly at touching another being the first time in a week. I grabbed his paw gently, and felt tears in my eyes again. The lion seemed shocked, "How are you..?"

He inspected me carefully as I held his paw, then his expression relaxed happily, "Someone has blessed you."

I looked up in confusion, "Huh?"

He shook his head, "Nothing, young one." He approached more and put his other paw around my neck, and gave me a hug. I could barely feel it, but I did feel it enough to feel a warm sense of companionship inside. Miri had died so many days ago now, I was desperate for anything.

I closed my eyes, and a few seconds later the touch faded. I opened my eyes, and I was all alone again. I felt myself cry more, staring down at my bloodied hand that I had cut. I wiped my tears with my arm, and grabbed some water from my pack, cleaning the wound. Then I wrapped it with a bandage, tying it off with my mouth.

'You know, even if that lion was fake, or my mind was playing tricks, what he said did… it did help.' I thought to myself.

I stood up with confidence I hadn't had since the incident. Don't get me wrong, my muscles still barely worked, and I was still in grief, but for this time, even if it was briefly, I wanted to move forward. To see what life had to throw at me, I didn't hold my hopes high, but... It's probably smarter than trying to get myself eaten.

A while later I found a small overhang I could hide in, and made myself at home for the night. Eating more than usual to regain strength I was losing. "I'm down to just half of a water bottle…" I told myself. Sighing, I fell asleep. And whether it was because of the lion or not, I didn't have a single bad dream that night.

The next morning I jolted awake to what sounded like yelling, screaming even. It was far in the distance, but I instantly shot up, "That sounds like a girl?"

I stood up, my muscles screaming in protest, and quickly threw my items into my pack, taking off in the direction of the scream. I heard it a few times, but it was hard to pinpoint the direction due to echoing. I came over a hill, and looked at what almost seemed to be the most ominous place I'd ever seen. It was a gigantic barren wasteland, piled with bones in every direction. I suddenly felt as if I was dropped into a horror movie.

I heard the scream again, and yup, it was definitely coming from within that giant wasteland. I sighed, "I don't have any obligation to help… but what if they know how to find civilization? What if it's more poachers killing other humans?" I thought deeply, and with a final decision began trying to sneak in.

I stayed close to the ground, slowly walking through the grass. And as I got to the graveyard, my fear had become heightened. The sky here almost seemed to glow green, though it was probably due to the abundance of some kind of natural gas. A low fog hung onto the area, and the stench of rot and decay hit my nose, making me have to hold my breath a bit to stop myself from feeling sick. At first I almost began to regret my decision, the skulls of elephants towering over me above the thick fog. But as my nerves began to get to me, I heard another scream. With a short sigh I turned back around, carefully running from large bones, to large skulls, the place creeped me out... Eventually I began hearing voices, and walked slowly towards them. Looking down from up on a ledge I saw who was talking, a yellow lioness with red eyes and a cream colored underbelly. She was backing away from three very angry hyenas. She seemed much smaller than them. "Stay away from me! You do not want to mess with me!" She said bravely.

Wait, excuse me? Am I going insane? Or did that lion actually just talk..? I mean, sure, brain… whatever helps you cope with the trauma I guess. Attempting to shake off my surprise at the talking animals, I listened carefully.

One chuckled crazily, as the other two laughed, a female voice came from one hyena, "Well boys, do you think we should let little princess here go?"

The crazy one shook his head vigorously, and the other one growled, "No! I've been starving for days!" He said snapping his jaws. Causing another squeal from the small lioness, that now seemed to be just a kid like me. She was about the same size as what most lion cubs would be anyway.

The female one shrugged, "Sorry princess, you heard the other two. The vote didn't pass." She grew a sinister smile on her face, "You might want to run."

The angry one nodded, "Yeah, make it fun for us!"

This was all so crazy! Talking lions and hyenas, and they had beef with each other? Should I help her? I'd get torn to shreds in seconds if I so much as reveal myself. What if it was just my imagination making them talk, would I still feel the urge to save her..? Does being able to talk warrant me saving her, or make me a fool regardless?

Just as I shifted to try and get a better view, I stepped on something and a loud crunch echoed through the area. And if that wasn't enough, a bone fell from the ledge, making multiple thunking sounds as it hit multiple ledges.

I quickly ducked my head down, and covered my mouth with my hands. The female one spoke again, "Oh, do we have another visitor? Come on, show yourself!" They hadn't seen me right? They were just assuming I was here because of the sound...

I gently walked to get a view from below again from a slightly different spot. As I looked down the leader hyena seemed to nod at the other two, as they went opposite directions. They were looking for me. 'Just my luck today I guess.' The cub made a small movement backwards, and the female hyena growled, "And don't you even think of moving."

The cub looked around sadly, clearly fearful, but then she steeled herself with an angry stare. She stood up and shouted, "Hey! They're looking for you now too! Run!" As the female hyena knocked her back to the ground.

Obviously it was directed at me, the fact she was trying to save me, even though it might've just been the wind in the first place… I felt a twinge of braveness, or foolishness, maybe, 'Well, now I have to help…' I thought..

"Banzai, Edd, find anything!?" She shouted.

"Not yet Shenzi!" The angry one shouted.

The crazy one just laughed, but I'm guessing the Shenzi one understood it. "Well then hurry up Banzai! We don't have all day before they notice little princess here is missing!"

"On it!" The angry one shouted back.

I began hearing sniffing sounds and paws coming my way, I had to think of something fast. I picked up a large bone nearby, and chucked it as far in the opposite direction of Shenzi as possible. It fell in the distance with a large twang, and I heard paws race off in that direction. "Where you goin'?" Banzai shouted.

Sighing in relief, I still had to do something about the leader one. Coming up with a plan, I slipped a skull over my head, grabbing another sharp bone. I slid down off the ledge I was on, landing with a thud. Shenzi looked my way, "W-What?" She said taken aback. The cub looked confused as well.

I raised my arms with my newly found bones, "The spirits of de' dead are angry!" I shouted, putting on a fake accent.

The hyena approached cautiously with a raised brow, and I made a few grunting noises, holding my bone out towards her, the top of her head was a few inches above mine in height, which made me gulp nervously, "They have judged you guilty! Your punishment is execution!" I twirled them like I would my fire, just to add a bit more flair to the act.

The small cub in the back giggled quietly to herself, before fake crying out in terror. "Oh no! My father has told me about him! He's a vengeful spirit!"

Shenzi looked back with slowly growing fear, turning back to me. "Yeah right! Good luck catching me spirit!" She said running off towards her companions.

After she left I sighed, it worked. I ran over to the cub, and she eyed me curiously, "What… are you?"

I shook my head, taking off the skull, "No time, let's leave before they figure it out."

Her eyes widened at the sight of me without the bones, but nodded, "This way!" She said quickly as I ran off after her.

After a minute of running, I heard a loud yell, "HEY! Wait a minute, are food's gettin' away!" Banzai yelled.

"WHAT?!" Shenzi yelled.

The cub stopped slightly, and I grunted, "Keep running!" My breath was already short from days of restless sleep and lack of food and water.

"Why are you doing this?! I told you to run earlier didn't I?" She said, easily beating my pace, it looked like she was jogging almost.

My legs were so very weak from running, and constant walking, I breathed heavily. "Be...cause, you… needed… hope!" I said in between breaths.

I heard her giggle, then she smiled. But it didn't last long as we heard a large amount of laughter from behind us, the graveyard was large, and wherever the cub was taking me, was on the other side. We were just barely at the end of the graveyard. "Oh no you don't!" Shenzi yelled from way behind us.

I heard dozens of paws running our way, they must've found backup when they left! This was bad too, my legs were barely going to make it to the end of the graveyard, let alone farther than that! I stopped in my tracks, heaving in breath, the cub stopped fearfully, "What are you doing, let's go!" She yelled.

I shook my head, "You need to run. I can't run fast enough, leave me behind!"

She seemed in shock, and a few tears had already begun to form in her eyes, even if she didn't know me. And then she steeled herself once again and growled, "That's not fair! You shouldn't have to die for my mistake!" She attached herself to my leg and tried to drag me, I gently pushed her away.

"Just go!" I yelled as the laughing got closer.

She growled, and it took all of her willpower it seemed to force herself to run, I smiled as she did though. She turned and shouted back, "Don't die! I'm getting help!"

I nodded, looking around quickly and seeing a massive skull, I decided to hide in it as best as possible, the entrance was just big enough for me to fit in it. The 'princess' as they called her, was far from sight. The grasslands beyond no doubt were hiding her presence. The stampede of paws came to a slow stop nearby, and I heard the angry one growl, "Our food is gone!"

Edd laughed sadly, and Shenzi scoffed, "Really? 'Cause I think, I still smell a lying rat around here."

My heart skipped a beat, and my breath seized in my throat, "Come out little vengeful spirit, don't you need to execute me?" She laughed.

Banzai hummed confused, "What? Shenzi you gone dumb like Edd?"

Edd laughed, and I heard the two start to fight each other. "Quit it you idiots!" Shenzi yelled. A few minutes passed and they hadn't found me yet.

I held my breath best as I could, as I heard multiple hyenas Sniffing around, mostly nearby. One of them got dangerously close, and I backed as far away from the entrance as possible, even climbing up into the skull a bit more so they couldn't see my legs. They sniffed a bit more than usual, and eventually passed by. My heart started beating again, and I let out a breath.

My breath was released too soon, as my bottle of water dropped from my backpack while I held myself vertically, crashing with a crunching sound. My heart started to race, I was dead, surely. The laughter grew, surrounding me like a nightmare, I felt sick to my stomach. My body went stiff in fear.

Shenzi yelled from outside. "Honestly, bravo on that performance earlier! But the gig is up, come on out."

The growling started, and a few scratched at the outside of the skull. Shenzi shoved her head in, but couldn't get much else through, staring up at me. I must've looked terrified as she chuckled, "You can't stay up there forever you stupid monkey."

I groaned, thinking of something. I pulled out my knife from my pack, lobbing it awkwardly down at Shenzi, who just barely managed to move as it slashed her straight across the muzzle. "Gah! You dumb brat!" She yelled enraged.

I at least hit her I guess. Not that it would save me even if it had ended her. I was royally screwed now, all because I saved royalty. I laughed ironically, this was what I wanted yesterday anyway. My arms and legs I was using to hold myself to the upper side of the skull were weak, I felt myself slipping. I desperately tried to grip the walls with my hands, scratching against it in panic. But it was no use, my hands were sweaty, and my arms were already weak.

With one final grunt, my muscles gave up and I dropped, the moment I hit the ground I felt my feet grabbed by teeth, and was instantly dragged out of the skull with immense force. I had no time to react as I looked up at Shenzi, who placed her paw against my chest hard, knocking the breath out of me, "What now? Spirit?" She mocked, causing laughter from all the hyenas nearby.

Banzai gagged, "Yuck, he's an uglier monkey than I thought! Are you sure he'll taste good?"

Shenzi ignored him, putting her maw dangerously close to my face, "Y'know, I've never tried human before. I'm excited."

My eyes widened as she knew what I was, and with that, she looked around herself, "Boys, It's dinner time." She said confidently. A few hyenas could barely wait as they bit onto my arms and legs and waited for permission to tear me apart. I grunted In pain, I wanted to scream but I didn't want to give them the satisfaction.

"Any last words?" She asked me.

"Enjoy the meal." I said smiling upwards sadly.

She frowned angrily, obviously wanting more pleading, "Eat!"

The ones that had their mass on me already, bit down harder, and I tried to hold it, but ended up screaming in pain anyway. Shenzi laughed, slowly going for my neck. My vision started fading from the pain, This was it. It's what I wanted yesterday, but… I wasn't ready for it… I wasn't ready to die. At least not this way! But it wasn't up to me now anyway, it was up to Mother Nature.

As my vision was fading, I heard a very loud roar. My heart stopped, I felt the pressure on my arms loosen, barely able to move my head to look to where I heard it. I saw a large lion come up over the wasteland hill, much resembling the one from last night, but younger. I chuckled a bit, "Huh, that was… quick."

I didn't see much else, only that a large squad of lionesses came up over the hill along with this very large imposing lion. My body was much too weak to keep my head up, and my vision got blurry. Shenzi muttered profanities as she backed away, seemingly terrified, almost all the biting stopping on my body, "Scram!" She yelled, though the fight had already started.