Chapter 6: What's to Come

-The Next Morning-

"So they're called planes? They're not birds? That's so weird.", Dimika cutely giggled. Dimika had accompanied me on the walk back to the pridelands. She insisted because she wanted to keep me safe, but I know she just enjoyed my company.

"Yeah, I can see the confusion though. If I'd never seen a plane in my life before I'd always assume they were giant birds.", I agreed chuckling to myself.

The hyena had asked me question after question about Human Culture, technology, and what America was like for twenty minutes straight. She's lucky I missed that place so much so of course I had plenty to unload onto her. I could see Pride Rock just a couple meters in the distance.

"So I guess this is where we part ways until next time.", I mentioned.

"Yeah, it was fun while it lasted. I'm sure my sister and the rest of the clan are worried about where I am.", Dimika sadly stated while anxiously twirling her right footpaw in the dirt. "Can we get together again like this sometime soon?"

"Of course we can.", I said, a smile spreading across Dimika's muzzle. Before I knew it, Dimika had brought me into a bone crushing hug. Her head nestled underneath my chin. We sat there for a while in each other's arms for so long I think Dimika forgot that we both had someplace to be. "Yeah, I should hurry and get back."

"Oh, right, sorry.", Dimika stammered, the gray fur on her muzzle turning a light pink tint. We broke free from the hug and said our goodbyes, soon going our separate ways. Now that I was back in the pridelands, I eventually saw the pride going about their daily activities.

I stood in place for a second, goosebumps going up and down my arm. I suddenly felt as though I was being watched from somewhere I hadn't noticed yet. A loud crunch came from the branches of the tree I was now standing under. I looked up, now squinting my eyes in hopes to find the source of the noise. Before I could get a good look, a golden blur clouded my vision as I was tackled to the ground.

"Pinned ya!"

"HAHAHAHA! STOP IT! STOP IT HAHAHAHA!!!", I cried out in laughter, kicking my legs out as I found Simba on top of me, ferociously tickling my stomach. The tables were swiftly turned as I managed to pin Simba on his back.

"Alright furball, it's your turn.", I playfully smirked and wiggled my digits over his furry tummy. Of course, Simba instinctually bursts into a fit of laughter.

"Hahaha! Wait! I'm sorry! Hahahaha!!!", Simba cried out. Once I felt the kid got what he deserved, I pulled back giving him some room to breathe. "What was that for?"

I raised an eyebrow at his ridiculous question, not amused in the slightest. "Well, considering you're the one that dive bombed and tickled me, I decided a little payback wouldn't hurt. Also, you scared the hell outta me. What were you doing in that tree anyways?"

His mood instantly changed to one of embarrassment. Simba broke eye contact with me and frowned. Just then an idea popped in my head, one that could hopefully help me coax an answer out of him. "How about I let you ride on my back and we can talk about it?", I asked him, managing to get a smile out of him.

The lion cub hopped on my back, bringing his arms over my shoulders. I used my arms to grab his legs and bring them around my waist to make sure he was secure and happy. I continued the walk to the pridelands now giving Simba a piggyback ride. "Ok, so what's bugging you little man?"

"I...I feel bad for almost getting you and Nala killed the other day. Dad said what I did was reckless and that a real king would never endanger his people.", Simba answered. I could hear the regret and sadness in his voice. "Do you think I'd be a bad king?"

Now it all made sense, he felt like it was his fault. That he was the cause of us almost dying the other day. I'd felt this way plenty of times before when I still lived with my family. I could tell Simba only wanted to prove that he was fearless and brave, but it went wrong and almost cost us our lives. "Of course not, you made a mistake but I don't think it'll mean you'll become a bad king. We all make mistakes and it's best we learn from them and grow. My dad says...well used to say, Mistakes are part of life, without mistakes, how can we grow?", I replied while also spreading my father's wisdom onto Simba.

"What does that mean?", Simba asked curiously.

"You're gonna make a bunch of mistakes in life, but that doesn't make you a bad person. You just have to learn from them, that's all. And yeah, going to the elephant graveyard was reckless and we almost died from it, but we should be thankful we made it out okay. Going there was a mistake and now we know that it's dangerous.", I explained as best as I could. "We made a mistake and learned from it, you understand?"

"I think so, yeah.", Simba understandably nodded, sounding more relaxed and positive. "Thanks Jason, I'm glad you're with us now. You're like the big brother I always wanted."

Hearing him say that warmed up my heart. I guess the past week of my living with a pride of lions, I've grown a tight bond with most of them. "And you're like the younger brother I've always wanted. I'm grateful that your father helped me, without his help I would've died days ago.", I replied in an endearing way.

I set down Simba now that we were right in the center of Pride Rock. I spotted Mufasa and Sarabi speaking off in the distance, Sarabi looked worried while Mufasa appeared to be consoling her. They were quick to notice us and rushed towards us. In all honesty I assumed they were worried sick about Simba and about to coddle him to no end, but what I got was the least expected.

"By the gods, are you ok? Are you hurt? Where were you?", Sarabi bombarded me with questions while examining my body closely, possibly checking me for wounds like a worried mother. I was taken aback by their sudden concerns about my well being.

"We were looking for you since sunrise, by the time you had returned we had already assumed the worst.", Mufasa stated with relief.

"No need to worry about me, I went for a little walk that's all.", I said, hoping to reassure them. Then Sarabi's nose started to twitch as if she caught scent of something. Her nose came closer to the fabric of my shirt which was in very bad shape might I add, I assumed she smelled the odor coming off of me since I haven't showered in god knows how long.

"You smell of hyena, did you come across any of them on your way back?", Sarabi questioned sounding uneasy. I froze not knowing how to answer the question without looking suspicious, I couldn't fool her nose. I had no other option, but to tell the truth. I only hope it doesn't cost me Mufasa and Sarabi's trust.

"I...well you see...ok, I only came across one but she's a friend I swear!", I pleaded in fear of how they'd respond to the confession. Mufasa sighed before looking at Simba who looked speechless.

"Simba why don't you go play with the other cubs, me and your mother need to speak to Jason in private.", Mufasa affirmed now gaining a more direct approach.

"But-"

"Now Simba!"

Simba's ears flattened as her sadly walked off. He turned around to face me one time with a frown. I smiled at him and nodded, telling him that I'd be ok. His face lit up just a bit at my reassurance and he left me alone with his parents for us to discuss whatever Mufasa was clearly bothered about.

"Listen, you cannot simply trust Hyenas. They're conniving lying thieves who have on countless occasions threatened the circle of life and caused havoc in the Pridelands.", Mufasa explained, the malice in voice towards the hyenas being present.

"They are also master manipulators. She may seem like your friend right now, but hyenas will do anything to slither their way back into the pridelands. Even if it means becoming your ally.", Sarabi continued.

I opened my mouth to protest, but stopped now hearing their words and thinking of the couple of encounters with Dimika. I even thought of that life changing moment last night, could she possibly be faking a relationship with me to get on my good side. But it all seemed so genuine, I didn't know how to respond or what I thought after that.

"Right.", I nodded to express that I understood their concerns.

"We're not trying to chastise you, but we want you to be aware. For your safety. After what happened in the elephant graveyard the last thing we want is to lose a valued member of our pride.", Mufasa said with sincerity placing a paw on my shoulder and looking into my eyes with care. Mufasa grinned and I couldn't help but smile as well. "Now let's get back to the others. Today I'm teaching you and Simba how to hunt."

Though even after everything they told me, some part of me still didn't believe that was the case with Dimika. Maybe they were right, maybe they were wrong. I'll talk to her about it the next time we see each other.

Dimika sat on a rock caught in her thoughts. What was on her mind was nothing but her human companion. She didn't know what it was about him, but she always felt less lonely when she was around him. Due to being a hyena more and more animals were less than willing to be friends with her. Jason on the other hand was so kind to her, despite being a hyena. He saw who she is and not what she is. Knowing that made her fall for the boy in so many ways she couldn't explain.

Dimika's thoughts were cut short went she heard loud cheering and laughter? Was reverberating from the clan's main cave. None of her clanmates ever seemed to be in good moods to be this happy, so something serious must be going on.

The hyena got to her feet and carefully sauntered into the cave. The deeper she got, the louder the cheering and celebrating got. Eventually she saw the rest of her clan all crowded in front of large rock. Standing there with all proper and with his hand behind his back was none other than Scar, the brother of Mufasa with a vile smirk on his face. What in the world was he doing here? If she recalled correctly, they weren't allowed to interact with Pridelanders and vice versa.

"What's Scar doing here?", Dimika thought aloud.

"He's giving us an advantage.", Her old sister, Kanika answered catching her younger sister off guard. "He has a plan to help us get back on top of the circle of life."

"Once we rid the throne of my incompetent brother and his repugnant spawn, I'll be the king like I was always destined to be! And you'll no longer have to starve!", Scar announced with determination bring forth another cheer from the crowd of hyenas. "After they're out of the way, that human filth is next!"

Dimika's heart dropped and her eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. It was horrifyingly obvious of who he was talking about. After finally gaining someone she enjoyed being around she'd unfortunately lose him to Scar, she couldn't let that happen. She had to speak up for once in her life, speak for him.

"Can't you leave the human alone? He's innocent in all of this!", Dimika begged soon all eyes were on her, including Scar's. In this moment she felt small but she couldn't let that stop her from defending her human. Scar hopped down off the rock and walked towards Dimika until he was right infront of her. Although she felt intimidated, she stood her ground.

"Now why should I do that?", Scar asked, the venom in his voice scaring everyone around him.

"Because...he's my friend. Just leave him be.", Dimika stated baring her fangs.

This information proved useful to Scar, maybe her attachment to this human could be an advantage. He then tried his best to give her a friendly smirk, but even then it still came off as untrustworthy. "Fine, If you follow my lead no harm shall come to him.", Scar nodded.

Dimika almost couldn't believe how easy that was. But it worked, and that's all that mattered. She was entirely sure if she should trust him, but why would he come to the elephant graveyard in the first place and offer all of these opportunities to her clan, herself included? She'll just have to wait and see what comes next. But what she did know is that she won't let anything bad happen to Jason, even it meant risking her own life.