The sun was burning on his skin. Even though it was dawn, the heat of the enormous bright sun who was fading away in the south was unbearable. Especially for the creatures who had a soft, warm fur.
His legs hurt and so did his head. The thoughts spinned around in his brain and tormented his mind, but the feeling of tiredness soon consumed his thoughts and a place to rest seemed to be like a paradise right now. In particular after the long trip from the Outlands to somewhere in the African bush.
He opened his mouth and panted. The tongue felt dry the minute it felt the hot air and almost dried up. He was tempted to have a drink, but the nearest waterhole was located about five miles away from the little spot he was standing on.
The more the hours past by, the more tired he got and the more he saw the dens some hyenas were lying into, the more he thought of her. His best friend. His only friend he had to abandon just because he didn't belong to a pack. Ever since he was a very young cub he hadn't have a place in a clan.
His gaze darted to a tiny puddle of water next to his left forepaw. He looked down and saw his reflection.The thoughts of her came back. Again. Why did he have to leave her? What if would never see her again? Will she ever be he friend again?
He sighed deeply. It was no use. He had to find a new clan and it had to be soon.
A lone hyena cannot always survive on its own. There are many dangers. Lions, poisonous snakes, crocodiles, and humans…. Humans. The only memory he ever had from experiencing from seeing one, was when they took his mother from him and put her on a zoo somewhere in London.After that incident, nobody would talk or even look at him.
Everybody seemed to believe it all was his fault. And it probably was. It maybe was because of him he lost her. And this time, he had lost his girlfriend. Only because of him.
A small tear rolled down his cheek as he gazed up at the moon. And the stars. Salina always liked to watch the stars. The memories floated through his mind, one after the other. One memory, was when he and Salina were walking together.
He could recall that event so clearly. The way she walked. The way she looked at him. The way she smiled at him. Earlier he had been into a fight and lost, but she had saved him from the gang who tried to kill him.
She didn't fight, but she said she was the matriarch's daughter and her orders were as much important to obey as her mother's.
Waking up from the daze, he looked down at the sand-covered ground near some huge rocks. It was freezing cold and he had nowhere to go. Not an empty cave to sleep in. Not a safe pack or family to be with. He was all alone.
He buried his head in his forepaws. The lump in his throat felt heavy. With nobody who listened or were watching, he felt safe enough to finally get some rest. Then, he broke down..