Janja's anxiety overtook him as he thought deeper about Scar. He was reminded of many ways could have known. Maybe he sent for him and he was out with Jasiri at the time. Maybe the skinks happened to find him the Pridelands before. Maybe the whole reason why Scar cancelled the whole operation was because he already knew! Crap! Why didn't I think this through?

Janja continued walking with Jasiri's clan, looking downward with his fur standing on end. Jasiri took a few glances at him as she walked beside him, noticing him becoming anxious. Jasiri leaned her head towards him. " What's wrong?"

"Oh! Uhhh… Nothing!" Janja exclaimed. He looked up at Jasiri more defensively, with his head lowered and his ears suddenly flat.

" Janja you can tell me anything," Jasiri whispered. Her ears flattened as her eyes grew in concern. " What is it?"

Janja looked away for a moment, looking at the ground ahead as he continued walking. After a moment, he took a long sigh, with his ears and head perking up again. " I'm worried about Scar knowing...about us hanging out together behind his back."

" And you think that's why he cancelled the plan for the day?" Jasiri asked.

Janja raised a brow at her. " How did you know?"

" Lucky guess."

Janja groaned. " I was so furbrained to stop thinking about Scar finding out with his spies!"

" But why would he wait another day to do anything about it?"

" I don't know. Scar probably has a plan for that."

" Maybe other things happened. You never know. You were certain they couldn't do the plan without you and it seems like they had already decided that the plan was cancelled before you came. And I don't recall you guys working at night very often."

" That doesn't make me feel better! I won't know why he cancelled until he tells. What if the army is planning on trapping me?"

" Janja, if anything happens, then I will find you when you need it. And we have the Lion Guard on our side! Ono can keep an eye out for you if you don't come."

Janja's ears flattened again. " I know Jasiri. It's just that things can get more dangerous if he what if you guys are too late if anything happens?" What if that dream that I had of Scar becomes true?

" It will be okay," Jasiri reassured. " I promise if I need to save you more than once, I will."

Janja huffed. Maybe Jasiri is right. What if I'm just overthinking it? The skinks don't usually go to that part of the Pridelands anyways.

" Okay Jasiri," Janja said with a small smile. " I trust you." Janja toke a moment to shake his head of the thoughts that surrounded his mind. " It will be okay."

A little while later, they arrived at the watering hole. Some hyenas went over to take a drink of water while others laid down to chat or lie down on the rocks. Jasiri looked over them as they settled down. Janja was next to her, also observing her clan. As he looked on, he noticed their bellies were a lot more full than his clan and there was an atmosphere of joy that just seemed natural for them. Everything seemed so calming. Janja never really felt an atmosphere so calming. His clan had always felt as if there was a lingering worry among them. Maybe it was the food, or greed but it was never this calm before in this clan. I wonder how calm my clan would be if we joined Jasiri's clan?

Janja's eyes narrowed as he looked on at Jasiri's clan, imagining what it would feel to live like this everyday. Janja felt his mouth curl up thinking about it. His smile curled up more thinking that he could be waking up to Jasiri everyday.

Jasiri glance at him, and grinned when she saw his increasing smile. " So what are you thinking about?"

" I'm thinking… about what I'll do after I break from Scar."

Jasiri leaned her head on Janja's neck. " Are you considering joining my clan?"

Janja cocked his head towards Jasiri as if it were normal between them. " Possibly…"

They stayed silent for a moment, both lost in thought. Thinking about the possibilities that could come from merging their clans together. Thinking about the possible peace and harmony between all the hyenas. Thinking about how nice it would be just between the two of them.

Meanwhile, some of the hyenas took notice, and looked up to started whispering and giggling amongst each other, and some looked with a brow raised. Madoa noticed as well and approached from Jasiri's left. " Getting close now are we?" Janja and Jasiri raised their heads towards Madoa as they snapped from their thoughts. " What are you guys dreaming about? Future cubs?"

"Madoa!" Jasiri whined. " Stop it!"

Jasiri faked a pout, as Janja's heart beat increased rapidly. His body started to heat up as Madoa started to laugh. " Chill guys! I was just joking! Unless you guys were really-"

" No Madoa!" Jasiri shouted, placing a paw on Madoa's mouth to shut her up. Then Jasiri came down to a whisper yelling, but it was just loud enough that Janja could hear. " You're going to be the reason why I never get a mate!"

Janja became stiff, feeling as if he was unable to move. He was certain his heart was skipping beats. His body was boiling in embarrassment, and was almost convinced that there was smoke coming off his body. Did she really just say that? Maybe it was just in general. But why would she be cuddling me and nuzzling me all of the sudden? And there was that time where she said I was cute. Is she trying to send a message? Is she trying to express that she wants to be with me? Argh! First Scar! Then female hyenas! Too many questions!

Jasiri turned back to Janja to see his face. He looked terrified. " Are you okay Janja?'

He attempted to speak but the words wouldn't come out right. " Uh… Well-I-uh... ummm, yeah…"

" What did you do to him Jasiri?" Madoa joked, as Jasiri started to giggle. " I think he stopped functioning! Oh boy did you make him flustered!"

" Hey!" Janja shouted in protest.

" And this is why we don't talk about future cubs Madoa!" Jasiri smirked at Madoa before returning her eyes on Janja. " Don't listen to her, she's just talking crazy!"

" Uhhh… yeah I see…" Janja's word drifted as the nervousness settled within him. " Maybe I should get going Jasiri. I should go back to my clan. "

" Of course," Jasiri agreed. " I can walk you back to your territory if you want."

" It's fine real-"

" Yeah! You guys go ahead," Madoa insisted. " I'll keep an eye on the clan like always."

The two raised their brows at her. Madoa looking directly at Jasiri and winked, before walking back to the clan. Janja and Jasiri exchanged confused looks which softened into small smiles. They started making their way back towards Janja's territory.

As they made their way back, there was an awkward silence between them. It felt like they both knew what they wanted to talk about but didn't want to say anything about it out of nervousness. Janja had started to think about how he was going to bring it up but was still uncertain about it.

Okay just say it already! Janja thought to himself. Come on! If you say it, you can get it over with! Find out if she feels the same way!

Janja opened his mouth a little bit before closing it up again. No, what if she doesn't? I mean she could just think of me as a normal hyena- No! Just ask her the star forsaken question!

Janja opened his mouth a bit more this time. Jasiri happened to glance up to see him open his mouth to speak but also see him close it again. "

No… How such I say it though.. Janja continued thinking.

" What were you going to say?" Jasiri asked.

Dammit! We have been caught. Janja closed his eyes and sighed. Come on! You can do this! " How… do you feel about me?" He looked to the side nervously. " Like... what do you feel like our relationship… is?"

Jasiri hesitated to say anything for a moment. See? Now you made it awkward! Good job furbrain.

" It depends on what you think…" Jasiri replied.

" Well…" Don't be too straight forward! " I feel a bit… conflicted?"

Jasiri raised a brow. " How so?"

" Like… I feel like we're friends but… we're not?"

" So you don't think we're friends? So you think we have no friendship?"

" No! Not like I don't like you! Of course we're friends! I just mean that…"

Jasiri started giggling. " I was kidding! Of course we have a friendship. I know that's not what you were saying."

Janja sighed. " Yeah, yeah of course you were."

" But… you were saying..."

" Yeah... I'm just getting mixed feelings… I've had weird feelings about you and me…"

Jasiri looked down for a moment as Janja's felt his legs buckling and his fur bristling in nervousness. The sudden silence made Janja increasingly more uncomfortable. What if she feels awkward too? What if she feels weird because she doesn't like me like that?

" I think I know what you mean…" Jasiri whispered. Jasiri gave a small smile after thinking for a moment longer.

" And…" Janja let the word linger as he became more desperate for an answer.

Jasiri's smile turned into more of a smirk. " Met me here in the evening. We can talk about it later."

Janja looked forward and saw he was at his territory now. They were just a step into Janja territory. Janja looked around for a moment before moving his eyes back to Jasiri. " So you're not going to answer me?"

" I will! Just not right now!"

" Why not? Are trying to mess with me?"

" Maybe a little…"

Is this good? Or is this an excuse to reject me? " And you are really going to come here?"

" I promise I will!" Jasiri gave a bright smile, and it helped Janja feel more reassured.

" Fine,as long as you keep your promise."

Jasiri giggled. " You know I always do!"

Janja took a few steps into his territory and looked back to Jasiri. She lingered around there for a moment with a bright expression on her face and her tail shaking. Janja returned a smile as he took a quick glance. He looked back towards his territory and walked off back to his clan.

I hope tonight goes well…