"And Gasira is expecting any time now, I don't want the cubs to die before they open their eyes."

Kijani heard these words as he entered Pride Rock three days after the first rainstorm; it was an unfamiliar voice so he was interested in knowing what creature was talking to Kovu and Kiara. He wasn't surprised to see Haidar with him, learning his parent's trades before becoming a king himself. It was a hyena, no doubt from the clan he had fought with but was now at peace.

"I remember last year when your den flooded a week afterwards, but three days my goodness perhaps we gave you bad land," said Kiara sounding a little worried.

"Oh no its perfect land, it's just that my father Rugar, chose a bad place for raising cubs, the side of a river really is not a good place." said the hyena.

His name was Naasir and he was Rugar's successor, he had been so for two years now. As soon as he became the leader of the clan, he made sure Kiara and Kovu knew that no harm would come of them and only talked to them if a problem arose which included the rain soaked den.

"Well I don't see any harm of expanding your boundaries a little, that rocky area is perfect, I thought you had taken it over any way when we first made peace," said Kiara.

"Well I guess my Dad thought that was enough, he did not want to upset any of you," said Naasir.

"Well it's always nice to ask any way, and I hope the new den does work out for you," said Kovu.

"Thank you sire, I now leave you in peace," said Naasir as he bowed down to them.

Kijani watched him for a moment before sensing that a curious pair of eyes was watching him. He looked around and saw a young hyena, probably a little older than Jelani, staring up at him.

"Hello there," said Kijani politely.

The cub only stared, Kijani wasn't sure if it was awe or fear because of his scars. He was about to speak when Naasir moved forward.

"Layla, don't you know it's impolite to stare at someone," said Naasir.

"Oh it's probably just my scars that scared her or something, I get it all the time," said Kijani.

"She still needs to learn though that it is rude, say you're sorry," said Naasir with a growl and a small slap on the back of her head.

"But Dad its not that, he's a storyteller," said Layla.

"Oh did the lion cubs tell you?" asked Naasir.

"No Dad, I just know he is and I'll bet he can tell the story about the hyena who lost his laugh," said Layla.

Naasir looked back at Kijani with a surprised look, he knew Kijani had just entered the cave and he had not even heard him speak. "How does she know?"

"Its just a sixth sense when others see me, they know I can tell stories, it happened to the original story teller too, they seem to know that we have a vast library in our minds," said Kijani.

"So does that mean you can tell the story of how the hyena lost his laugh? I asked Kumanda to tell it but he's so old he can't remember it," said Layla.

"Layla, don't talk bad about your elders!" growled Naasir.

"Sorry Daddy, but its true," said Layla.

"Just wait until you get to his age, then you will know how it feels," said Naasir.

Layla looked down at the floor sadly, for a moment, Kijani only stared at her before finally remembering that he did have that story and Layla probably wanted to hear it.

"I do have that story though, if you still want to listen," said Kijani.

Layla's face lit up before jumping up and down with excitement. "Oh I do I do I do!" she said.

"Okay calm down and I will tell you the tale, its not too long but if your father needs to go back to the clan he may, I can bring her back later if you would like," said Kijani as he addressed both Layla and Naasir.

"If its not a problem, you may, I can also come later in the day before it gets dark to pick her up, I know how she likes to play with the cubs," said Naasir.

"Okay we'll see how it goes then," said Kijani.

Naasir only nodded before exiting out of the cave, Layla stayed seated, her ears forward ready to hear the tale she had been waiting for for quite a while.

"So how did the hyena loose his laugh?" asked Layla.

"Oh it's a sad story, but one that teaches everyone about hope and love, its probably why so many hyena clans tell it today, now listen carefully for you may have to tell your friends later," said Kijani.

As you know, hyenas are known for their laughter. It's always strange to hear them giggling insanely when they circle an animal they want to kill, and even other hyenas agree on this. Some have even been known to take an oath never to laugh at their diner and to only laugh when something is funny. But others are just content with the way they are.

Khalid was one of them; sure he was the quiet one when it came to a meal but when excitement happened around him he was very happy to show it. Laughing till his hearts content, especially around his true love Zahra. He was such a goofball, leaping into the air, showing off some of his tricks, and suddenly popping out of nowhere to give his love a flower.

They were both inseparable, nothing could keep them apart save for one thing.

"Oh what was that?" asked Layla.

"Hey you're not supposed to interrupt the story," said Zuri who had only arrived a moment ago with her sisters and Jelani.

"Hey be nice, she didn't know," said Kijani.

Zahra was from a neighboring clan, and the clans second in command knew about their love affair. In a very selfish way, he chose her to go to a faraway kingdom to help rid another clan of an evil hyena who wanted to create a very bad society.

Khalid wanted to go so he could help her fight but his leader would not let him and sent others instead. So Khalid stayed near his and Zahra's clan's boundary and waited for her day and night for many months.

But the months went by and the hyena clans had not been heard from, everyone questioned whether they won or lost and even asked the traveling birds if they knew. Usually it was the same answer, they were still fighting.

Poor Khalid though, his longing was becoming hard on him because he was so afraid for Zahra's life. He wanted her beside him, he wanted to feel her warm fur next to his, and he wanted to run away with her and find a clan of their own.

But as you know some longings can no longer be tolerated by the mind and strange things can happen to a person who is missing their love and that's exactly what happened to Khalid. After seven months of not seeing or hearing any sign from Zahra, his mind began to change. No one ever saw Khalid as his giddy self, he never laughed, his fur was unkempt and smelly, and he was often in a cave having discussions with a pebble.

Now all the hyenas found this very strange but no one dared to go near him except for his older brother Dibia who knew his young brother needed help. It was late in the afternoon after a hunt when Dibia entered Khalid's solemn lair where he was busy scratching a flea.

"Khalid, dinner is ready if you would like to join," said Dibia.

"Can Zahra come too?" asked Khalid holding onto the small pebble in his paws.

"If she wants but I don't think she will enjoy it," said Dibia trying his hardest to sound like he was having a regular conversation with his brother.

"Why not?" asked Khalid.

"Because she is from another clan and our leader will not like that, he will make her wait her turn," said Dibia.

"Well then I will fight for her to eat with me if I have to," said Khalid his eyes menacing and crazy.

Dibia knew he could not hold back his feelings about Khalid's problem any longer and knew he had to do something about this; he had to find Zahra for Khalid before Khalid did something drastic.

"How about I bring you your meal, you could have a nice and quiet time with Zahra then," said Dibia.

"You would do that for me?" asked Khalid and single tear falling down his face.

Dibia nodded while Khalid gave Dibia the strange grin he had been showing for the past few months. This was not a healthy grin and Dibia knew that, he had to save him before Khalid did something terrible to himself.

So Dibia quickly got a piece of meat for his brother and while Khalid carried on how delicious the meat was with the pebble, he ran as fast as he could away from the clan boundaries to find the place where the war was being fought.

For days Dibia searched for the battle and for many days he kept wondering if it was still being fought any more until he came to a place where many noises could be heard over a ridge. He ran as fast as he could toward the sound until he found the battle, being fought in a large valley. Many bodies were strewn in different places some seemed to have been there forever, while others seemed to have been freshly dead.

Carefully he made his way down the hill where he ran into a familiar face, a member of his clan who was in pretty bad shape.

"Kunto?" Dibia said surprised.

"What are you doing here Dibia?" asked Kunto with a tired look on her face.

"I came to find Zahra, Khalid's love where is the leader of your side?" asked Dibia.

Kunto sighed and gave him a mournful look. "We take care of ourselves now, we do have leaders but they only tell who goes in and out, it's every hyena for itself really and if anyone tries to leave, we are thrown back to the enemy," said Kunto.

"How awful," said Dibia.

"It is, but many of use have tried to speak to Chiwanda, he is the one who started this war, but no one can reason with him," said Kunto.

Dibia stared at the ground for a moment and then at the battle that was around him. He recognized some of his friends and other clan members but he could not tell if Zahra still in the battle or not.

"I'll try to speak to him then," said Dibia.

"Be careful, he will listen but if he does not like what he hears then he will kill you," said Kunto.

Dibia only nodded nervously as he made his way toward the place where many hyena guards stood. Several of them were standing between two rock pillars and far beyond that stood Chiwanda who was watching the battle with great amusement. Once Dibia was close enough, he was quickly stopped by two guards.

"What do you want?" asked one.

"I came to speak to Chiwanda about a small matter," said Dibia as brave as he could.

The two hyenas looked at each other until one nodded to a hyena nearby who instantly pushed Dibia forward.

"Make a move on the great one and I will crush you," he said.

Dibia only swallowed nervously as he cautiously made his way to Chiwanda who quickly noticed the young hyena's presence. Chiwanda was big for his size, his teeth were longer than most hyenas and his eyes gave the look of danger that would make anyone run and hide for safety.

"What do you want?" he asked in a deep dark voice.

"I have come from afar sire to ask if I may take a member of mine off your paws," said Dibia.

Chiwanda stared at Dibia for a moment before letting out a very evil laugh, one that no hyena had ever made before.

"You must not have heard of me and my ways of dealing with creatures like you, for I am Chiwanda, creator of a new dynasty that I plan to create once this war is won by my own clan. You see I plan on making my dynasty so strong that even the lions will fear us when they hear our name. For I am the destroyer of peace and the creator of a new hyena nation where there is only one ruler, me," he said.

"But I just want to take a member, she is not even yours," said Dibia.

"Ah but she will be once I win this battle," said Chiwanda.

"How can it be your battle though, you aren't even fighting," said Dibia.

Chiwanda let out a loud growl and swiped at Dibia with his powerful paws sending the young hyena sprawling on the ground and gasping for air.

"Let me tell you something, no matter how important your problem is, its definitely not as great as mine, I intend to rule our kind, you on the other hand probably only need her for a simple hunting matter," said Chiwanda showing his dangerous pointy teeth.

"Its not a simple hunting matter and my brother will die if this problem is not taken care of," said Dibia.

"One less hyena to worry about then," said Chiwanda.

Dibia growled, no one turned their back on anyone Dibia loved; he wanted to strike at the evil ruler but knew it would be suicide; he had to think of something. Then he got an idea.

"Have you ever been loved before?" asked Dibia.

Chiwanda turned to Dibia with surprised.

"Or have you even loved someone else before?" asked Dibia.

Chiwanda stared at Dibia for a long moment; he had never been asked this question for he had lived his entire life with a small group of hyenas who had planned to make him a great ruler. Beating him mercilessly for days on end, making him know who was in charge of a group. Telling him what a pathetic excuse of a hyena he was, never showing him an emotion that was kind.

"What is this love that you speak of?" asked Chiwanda with a surprised look causing some older hyenas in the back to growl with anger knowing that Chiwanda would be very curious.

"You don't know what love is?" asked Dibia.

"No, I've never heard of it," said Chiwanda.

"Oh it's nothing that is of any importance," said an older hyena who moved in between them.

"Yes it is, and I am determined to know, now either get out of our way or I will rip out your throat," said Chiwanda.

The old hyena backed away while Chiwanda stared at Dibia with curious eyes. Dibia knew he had to give a good speech to appease this dangerous warlord.

"Well love is not something you can take for granted, love is unconditional, love is the ability to bring happiness and when you love someone you are willing to give up your own life to save that person you love so they can have a chance to see tomorrow. Love is a wonderful thing, it brings out feelings you never knew you had, and you see things in others that you never knew they had. And no matter what you do to make a new kingdom, nothing will be stronger than the love each clan provides, they will fight for it until you are nothing but a speck of dirt that we will stomp on. Their hopes may fade but not their love."

Dibia stood there for a moment wondering what Chiwanda was thinking. The warlord only stared with a blank look on his face that suddenly seemed tired and not as dangerous.

"What is her name?" asked Chiwanda after what seemed like an eternity.

"Zahra," said Dibia.

Quietly Chiwanda padded forward and made his way to the edge where he could see the entire battle and as soon as he appeared, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at him. There was a long pause before the warlord spoke.

"Is there a Zahra still among you?" he said.

For a moment there was no sign of her and Dibia worried that she had died long ago until a familiar face pushed her way out of the group and stood before Chiwanda looking as brave as she could.

"It is I, I don't know what I did to anger you and I will fight to the death to keep you out of my way," said Zahra.

"You have a love back home don't you?" asked Chiwanda.

For a moment Zahra stared with surprise until Chiwanda asked again. "Yes sir," she finally said.

"Then go home, he needs you. In fact everyone else go home as well, find the ones you love for they need you as well, this war is over," said Chiwanda.

And without looking back the hyena returned to his cave and sat there staring at the ground. Dibia stood next to him wondering what the defeated warlord was thinking.

"You may go home as well young one, you have defeated me with your logic, I wish I was as kind and hopeful as you," said Chiwanda.

"Perhaps you can be, I can teach you to be like us, you can live with our clan and learn how a real hyena acts. It may take some time, but you'll get used to it," Dibia said with a smile.

Chiwanda gave a weak smile back and turned to the elder hyenas who taught him his ways, they were only staring at him not knowing what to do. Chiwanda growled at them.

"And you four should learn their ways as well, join other clans, tell them of your mistakes, its not my problem if they kill you for it," said Chiwanda as he got up and followed Dibia out of the valley and back home.

Zahra had seen Dibia beside Chiwanda and was waiting for him a few feet away to bring her home to the one she loved. Along the way she told Dibia how much she missed Khalid and was amazed at how Dibia told her that he had not laughed since she had gone missing.

When they finally reached home a few days later, Dibia brought Zahra to the cave where Khalid was hiding and he seemed more bedraggled than the last time Dibia saw him.

"Khalid!" said Dibia with a smile.

Khalid looked up at his brother, his face sunken and forlorn, his eyes grieving and searching for whatever Dibia had with him today.

"You came back, I thought you have deserted me," said Khalid his voice sounding very gravely.

"No I would never desert you brother, and neither will she," said Dibia as he moved aside to reveal Zahra.

For a moment, Khalid thought Zahra was a ghost and stared at her long and hard, wondering if he could see through her, or if it was only a dream.

"I'm dead aren't I?" asked Khalid.

"No Khalid, I'm home," said Zahra as she gave Khalid a heavy lick on the cheek.

That lick did it; in an instant Khalid jumped up and kissed Zahra back. Dibia watched from the sidelines with Chiwanda who was amazed by how much love can change someone in an instant. And before Khalid even left the cave, he let out his trademark laugh that was music to Dibia's ears.

"My brother is back," said Dibia with a smile.

Together the four hyenas took a new path, not back to their clan but to create a new one, one that was better for all four of them and one where love would remain heavy in their hearts.

Kijani made his way through the rain soaked grass toward Naasir's clan; Layla was dangling in his jaws falling asleep every step of the way. He reached the border where Naasir was actually waiting and he let out a smile.

"Thanks for bringing her back, I would have come but Gasira is in labor, I can't leave just in case I need to figure out who can go find Jabir in case she needs help," said Naasir.

"You're welcome, it was no trouble at all," said Kijani as he set Layla softly down.

Layla looked up at her father and then at Kijani before giving him a warm smile. "Thanks Kijani, I loved that story, can I come and listen to you again sometime?" asked Layla.

"If your father is alright with that, I don't see why not," said Kijani as he looked at Naasir.

"I don't see why not, I can have an escort bring her over when she wants to visit you," said Naasir.

"I can always send Conga, she's always happy enough to do anything for us," said Kijani.

"Very well then, have a goodnight and I will most likely see you soon," said Naasir.

Kijani nodded and made his way back to Pride Rock. When he was halfway there, he stopped and looked toward the east where the Misty Lands lay. He knew she was there probably wondering where he was at that exact moment. In a few days he hoped to travel and see her again, for he knew she was missing him as much as he missed her.

A/N: Yay it's been exactly a month since my last update and I finally had time to sit down and write this. I know it was a little corny but I hope you all enjoyed it. The next chapter might be a while to update again as well, finals are almost here and I have a few papers to write before the end of the semester. But I should be back in full force by mid May. Hopefully I will update a lot as well, if I don't get too busy with work. So here are the name meanings of the characters.

Gasira: Bold

Naasir: Defender

Layla: Born at night (you will definitely see more of her)

Khalid: Eternal

Zahra: Flower

Dibia: Healer

Chiwanda: Mad

Kunto: Third child

I think that's everyone, if I forgot someone, just let me know and I will add them later in the next chapter. So please review and what not and I will see you all later.