DarkEcoOttsel: I'm posting this up with the prologue. Hope you enjoy and review!
Untainted Souls
By: DarkEcoOttsel
Chapter One
Banzai woke up inside his home: an empty cave. His mom wasn't there.
The young hyena, only six weeks old, walked outside to sniff the crisp morning air. That's what he did every morning. He was only six weeks old and he was already bored with life.
He stared at the green lands he lived in as he walked around. The Outlands were cool and all, or for what he could see. His mom didn't allow him to go far so he hadn't seen all of the Outlands yet.
Banzai's thoughts were interrupted as a hyena ran past him.
"Hey!" Banzai shouted. "Where's everyone?"
"At the alpha's cave!" the hyena replied excitedly. "Skai just had a daughter!"
Banzai followed the hyena to the large cave where the alphas lived. There were a few hyenas in there, including his mom.
"Mom?" Banzai asked, moving towards the front.
"Banzai, come and see," his mom said softly.
Banzai walked up and saw Skai licking a newborn pup that was nestled in her arms.
"Her name is Shenzi," Kohatu smiled proudly.
Banzai stared at the small female and she stared back, blinking her large eyes. She raised a paw to smack him and Banzai raised his to block her. They ended up giving the other a high five. The two pups broke out in small smiles.
"She'll grow fast," Skai said. "I have a feeling you and Shenzi will be good friends."
"I'm sure Banzai wouldn't mind watching out for Shenzi when she gets older," Jayla smiled at her son.
"What?" Banzai asked, a look of horror crossing his face.
"That's a great idea," Kohatu said.
"Yeah," Skai agreed.
"Me watch out for her?" Banzai asked, still in shock. "But she's a girl and—"
"Your future alpha," his mom finished for him.
Banzai sighed in defeat. He nodded and walked out of the cave.
Me, babysitting a soon-to-be alpha? Banzai thought. If I screw up, the grownups will kill me! What am I gonna do?
Banzai sat down on his favorite hill that overlooked most of the Outlands. It was his favorite place to go and just think. He watched the other hyenas move about, some hunting and some lounging about in the shade. Then he saw some run over a hill. The same hill he had never been aloud to go near. The same hill that hid the land that Banzai had never set foot on or seen for that matter. He had no idea what lay beyond that hill.
Banzai glanced around to see if anyone was watching. Then he got up and was about to sprint for the hill when a large paw came down in front of him, blocking his path.
"Where are you going, Banzai?" Kohatu asked with a grin.
"No where," Banzai lied with a similar grin. "What's up?"
"Just checking on you," Kohatu said.
Banzai grinned. Kohatu was more like a father to him than an uncle. Ever since Banzai's father died wshen he was just a week old, Kohatu was there acting as one.
"You can't fool me," Kohatu smirked. "You were going to run to the border."
Banzai's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "The border? Cool! What does it separate?"
"You mean your mom didn't tell you yet?" Kohatu asked, a little surprised.
"I'm only six weeks old!"
"Oh, right. Well, sooner or later you need to know. Beyond the border is the Pride Lands."
"The Pride Lands?" Banzai asked, now very interested.
"They're ruled by the lions."
"Really? Well how come I never see any around here? Do they hate us or something?"
"No, we get along okay. We just stay on our own...side."
"Oh," Banzai said quietly. "Do any hyenas ever go over there?"
"A couple did once," Kohatu said, then in a darker voice, "and they never came back."
"W-what?!"
"Just kidding," Kohatu laughed. "I gotta get going. Stay out of trouble if you can help it."
Banzai grinned as Kohatu walked out. He looked back at the hill that he desperately wanted to run over. One day, sooner or later, he'd run over that hill and see the border and the Pride Lands.
to be continued...
DarkEcoOttsel: Please tell me what you think in your reviews! TTFN!