" Earth to Janja!" Scar shouted as Janja snapped out of his thoughts. Janja quickly flattened his ears and dropped his small tail.
" Yes Scar?" Janja whimpered.
" This is the second time where you refuse to listen!" Scar roared. "Within three days! What is up with you?"
" Nothing Scar! I just didn't…. Get enough … Sleep! Yeah!"
Scar rolled his eyes at his excuse, and sighed. " You know very well that you sitting there daydreaming is not because you're tired. You're even worse than last time! You have that stupid dreamy look on your face and you're not listening to a word I'm saying. "
Janja gulped. " Uhh...I wasn't-"
" If you don't mind sharing, what has made you so thoughtful, or rather, tired? What's keeping you up at night?"
Reirei, Kiburi and Ushari beside him looked at him curiously with narrowed eyes. Janja shuddered. " Nothing! I just-"
"Perhaps you were up to something? Having some nightly activities? Heck, maybe you're have someone to hang out with?" Scar said with a brow raised.
" No! I just…I just-"
" You know what? If you can't handle the plans once again, you might as well leave!" Scar growled. " I'm done with this lollygagging."
The statement made Janja flinch. " Scar! I can't leave! We're a team!"
" I have no need for a slacker in my army," Scar stated. " I can do things without you and your clan. Now go home until you can get yourself together!"
Janja winced and started backing away. Reirei and Kiburi even got scared by Scar's statements. As Janja turned around and walked out of the volcano, Reirei budged in. " Wait. How are we supposed to launch an attack with only three fourths of an army? Especially with the Lion guard having so many allies?"
" We'll do fine Reirei," Scar said. " Now that there is no one fluttering like a little butterfly."
" I know that Janja wasn't really paying attention," Kiburi added. " And that's disrespectful and all, but couldn't we at least get the other hyenas to join us? As much as I hate to say it, we are stronger together and I'm sure one of his other hyenas could lead the hyenas in this attack."
" I've done plans before without any of you, so we can still work without hyenas," Scar said. He glanced at the volcano entrance to see that Janja was gone. " One day, you guys will get why I'm doing what I'm doing."
Kiburi and Reirei exchanged confused looks. As they did, Ushari smirked at Scar's statement, excited for some drama to unfold when Scar reveals his observations. Scar paused to think with his brow furrowed. Then he looked back to Reirei and Kiburi. " Now here's the new plan."
As the others followed Scar, Janja lied to his hyenas stating that Scar didn't have another plan yet so they had another break. His hyenas didn't even bother questioning what happened and carried on chatting and doing whatever.
After Janja announced his lie, he went to settle into his den, about to catch another nap. As he did,Nne and Tano observed him from afar. They saw as Janja walked over to his den with his tail wagging a bit and his face baring a satisfied smile.
Nne and Tano stared at him with their heads cocked in confusion. When Janja finally entered the den, Nne and Tano exchanged looks of suspicion.
" Something's not right with Janja," Nne pointed out. " Since when do you see a daydreaming Janja?"
" And his tail was wagging in excitement," Tano added. " Since when you see his tail like that?"
They were silent for a moment. They took a moment to look around to see if any other hyenas noticed. Quickly they realized that many of the hyenas were whispering about Janja's mood. They had all noticed his usual feelings as well. Tano and Nne exchanged looks. They went over to Janja's den to see if Janja was awake. As they do, they hear Janja murmuring nonsense. The duo peeked into Janja's den to see him peacefully asleep, with his head on his paws and Janja smiling as he said things that even Nne and Tano couldn't comprehend.
Nne whispered to Tano, " I'm sure he'll be like this for a while." Tano nodded and they walked over to the rest of the clan.
" Hey! Everyone!," Nne said. Everyone's head turned towards Nne and Tano. " I think it's time that we all talk. Away from here."
" We know we aren't the only ones that noticed Janja's sudden change in behavior," Nne said to start off their conversation. They were in a different part of the territory, where they weren't too close to Janja but yet not too far. They were all gathered up in a circle.
" You guys have seen Janja being unusually smiley and giggly, right?" Tano said.
All the hyenas responded with nods and stating their agreements. " It's not like Janja to be this way," Nne added on. " It seems like Janja is going soft."
All the other hyenas grunted in agreement.
" He's like a yippy little puppy," one of the hyenas said.
" Yeah, next thing you know, he will be doing flips instead walking!" Another one claimed.
" He'll singing to the birds next, like a freaking Disney princess!"
" He must getting really soft over something."
" Or rather someone!"
Nne and Tano perked up. "Soft over someone?" the two said in unison.
" I mean what other reason would he be like this?" said the hyena who had mentioned there could in someone causing this. " You guys were the ones that spread rumors that Janja had a crush on Jasiri. Was it a joke or what? Because now it seems like it's reality. He's obviously love struck. And there's no other hyena I can think of that he would be in love with. "
Nne and Tano paused for a moment. " Darn, that was our idea, wasn't it?" Tano said.
" I always knew Janja had a crush on Jasiri," Nne stated. " But I just never thought he'd have it this bad. I wouldn't expect so much change from Janja"
" Yeah, well to be honest, he is lonely so that can explain his willingness to change," another hyena pitched in. "He's probably desperate as hell. In fact,it's about time he got a girlfriend. Heck, I need one. I'm freaking lonely too."
" But when would he be able to go and see Jasiri?" Tano asked. " I mean, Janja wouldn't get this bad with seeing Jasiri… alone."
" Maybe at night?" one hyena suggested. " But I would still question how Janja would get Jasiri. You know, considering what he did."
" Yeah," Nne agreed. " I wouldn't forgive someone that almost killed me twice, and family as well!"
" Well whatever it is, we need to find out before it affects us," Tano said. " We can't have Janja like this being in Scar's army, or else, he'd kill us for sure. Janja doesn't know he's risking the whole clan's safety, including his own. We need to know as soon as possible what is wrong. Can we all agree on that?"
All the hyenas nodded. " Then we can start a plan. A plan to seek this problem in our way."