I won't make excuses for myself. I am very sorry that I've been away for so long. And to whoever voted the "Hell no, never come back option" on that poll I had…sorry to disappoint you. This chapter takes place the morning after the last. Edaha has been educating Kivuli about the world in which he lives, Soga's hoping to find Edaha, and Kalab, a threat long thought gone, has been found to be very much alive…really, I'd recommend just starting over and treating this like a new story, it's been so long. If you have any questions about the story or are unclear of something, feel free to pm me and I'll respond. Individual grammatical and spelling mistakes need not be pointed out in a review, merely save me some embarrassment and let me know by private message. All characters are mine and not to be used without my permission, views of characters to not necessarily reflect my own, yadda yadda yadda. Please forgive typos, review, and enjoy!(good to be back…also, new poll in my profile).
Hope for Hyenas
The sun peaked over the horizon, blanketing the lush plain in a dim, yet beautiful light. Kivuli's eyelids slowly lifted, allowing the cub to properly greet the morning. The black cub blinked a few times and let out an inaudible yawn as he attempted to get up on his paws. The act proved difficult, however, as Kivuli found himself still wrapped in Edaha's front legs, the young hyena breathing peacefully in his sleep. Kivuli let out another yawn as he wriggled out of his brother's grasp, careful not to disturb Edaha's slumber. The black cub tiredly made his way over to the boulder that sat by the river, his paws becoming wet with dew from the morning grass in the process. When he felt he was close enough to the large rock, Kivuli broke off into a run and pounced at it, clinging on to it was hard as he could while pulling himself up. While the moisture of his paws was certainly of no help to the cub as he attempted to ascend the boulder, he did manage to lift himself onto its flat crown. Smiling with satisfaction, Kivuli raised his muzzle to the sky, allowing the sweetness of the air to enter his nostrils. He could see a flock of birds flying overhead, cooing happily. Kivuli's eyes followed the birds, examining them carefully in the hopes of identifying their species. The birds flew by too quickly for him to be sure, but Kivuli concluded that they may have been some sort of dove, as their bland appearance and soft cry matched the description Edaha had once given him.
Kivuli could not help but to wear a blissful smile. For years the only world he had ever known was a small pit within the Grave of Damned Souls. The only meals he had ever eaten consisted of either rancid flesh or the occasional stray insect. The sun only existed for him when at its zenith, and even then provided him with nothing but blistering heat. But things had changed for him, now. Kivuli could see the world as a bright, beautiful place with seemingly no end. His nourishment consisted of only the freshest of meat and the cleanest of water. He could see the sun throughout the day as its changing position in the sky allowed the beauty of the land to be viewed in many different shades of light. What truly delighted Kivuli was that the land he was overlooking at that moment, expansive as it was, was only a miniscule part of the world. The black cub knew that there were new wonders to behold past every imaginable horizon. He wanted to see them all. He wanted to know all that he could about the world in which he now lived. And thanks to Edaha, he was well on his way.
The black cub turned away from the river and smiled lovingly down at his brother, knowing that everything bit of happiness he had ever had in his life was thanks to Edaha. The new world may have held many wonders for Kivuli, but the cub knew deep down that he would never encounter anything as truly magnificent as his brother. Looking upon Edaha made Kivuli feel as though his dream of seeing everything the world had to offer had already been accomplished. For to Kivuli, Edaha meant the world.
As if sensing that he was being watched, Edaha shook himself from his sleep and sat upright, smacking his lips. Tiredly, the young hyena brought himself over to the river and began lapping up its cold water, making no indication of having noticed his brother on the boulder. Kivuli stood up excitedly and opened his mouth to greet his brother, only for a mischievous smile to grace his muzzle as he thought of a better idea. The black cub crouched low and quickly snickered to himself as he slowly crept over to the edge of the boulder. Once he found himself to be in prime position, Kivuli pushed off the large rock with his hind legs, launching himself at his brother. In a matter of seconds, Edaha lifted his head from the river, turned around, caught his brother by the scruff of the neck, and gently placed him on the ground.
"Good morning, Kivuli," Edaha nodded to his brother with a smile.
Kivuli stared up at his brother in complete surprise.
"Good…morning, Edaha," Kivuli smiled back, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, "Heh…That obvious, huh?"
"It was a good attempt," Edaha chuckled, patting his brother on the head, "Especially for a hyena your age. I must compliment you on staying low, taking it slowly, and being smart enough to actually push off the boulder rather than simply jumping from it."
Kivuli's jaw dropped.
"How could you see all that?" the black cub demanded, "Your back was turned!"
Edaha merely smiled and pointed to the river with his paw. Kivuli cocked his head in confusion and walked over to the river, blinking with surprise when he saw the wavy reflection of the boulder he had jumped from in the slowly flowing waters.
"…Oh."
Edaha sat down next to his brother, laughing quietly.
"You'll get better with practice," Edaha assured his brother, "You show great potential, already. You'll make a fine hunting partner when you're older."
Kivuli looked up at Edaha with a surprised smile.
"You really think so?" Kivuli asked.
"I know so," Edaha replied with a smile, "…Speaking of which, I'd better get us some breakfast while the sun's still low. Antelope alright?"
"Yeah!" Kivuli cheered, receiving a look of amusement from his brother.
Edaha picked up Kivuli in his mouth and climbed up the boulder, placing his brother carefully on its flat surface.
"Stay up there until I get back," Edaha instructed his brother as he sniffed the air, "I don't smell any nearby predators, but you can never be too careful. If you see anything that looks dangerous, flatten yourself against the boulder and try to blend in. I won't be long."
Kivuli gave a nod of understanding as his brother ran off, before letting out a content sigh and staring off across the river. Even after days of being in the same spot, by the same boulder, near the same river, the beauty of the area had not faded for Kivuli. Still, he was eager to leave so that he and Edaha could begin their journey. Edaha had told Kivuli that they would leave as soon as the black cub's wounds had completely sealed. Thus, every morning after breakfast, Edaha would examine his brother carefully to see if he was finally in good enough condition to make the long journey. Thus far, Kivuli had not been. However, with each passing day Edaha ensured his brother that the wounds were much closer to being completely sealed than the day before. Kivuli smiled to himself, knowing that it would not be much longer. For all he knew, his wounds could have already been sealed for good. He tried not to get his hopes up, but it proved difficult when the thought of reuniting with his mother, the first creature to truly love him, filled his mind, leaving him unable to focus on anything else.
"We're coming, Mother," Kivuli whispered, "Wherever you are, we'll find you. We'll be together again, as a family."
Kivuli continued to stare across the river, his eyes widening when he saw something strange in the distance. It was a large mixture of black and white that constantly switched from looking like a singular animal to looking like a group of them. The black cub rubbed his eyes to be sure that he was not seeing things. When he looked again, the mixture was still there, only now it was larger. It took Kivuli a few moments to realize that whatever it was, it was getting closer. Soon enough, it was close enough to distinguish as multiple black-and-white creatures of the same species. Each of them had four legs that were all hoofed at the end. Their faces were long, as were their ears. Their manes stood straight up, black-and-white to match their coats. As they moved toward the river, their heads bobbed as if they were continuously nodding. Kivuli watched in amazement, having never seen anything like these creatures.
"See something?" came a voice from below the black cub.
Kivuli looked down to see Edaha smiling up at him casually, a freshly killed antelope laying at his side.
"Those things across the river," Kivuli answered, pointing forward, "What are they?"
Edaha brought his gaze to the other side of the river just in time to see the black-and-white creatures dip their faces into the water. He then looked back at Kivuli with a smile.
"You tell me," Edaha challenged, "See how much you've learned."
Kivuli looked from the strange creatures to his brother, and then back to the strange creatures.
"Let's see…" Kivuli said thoughtfully, placing a paw to his chin, "Black stripes….white stripes…hooves….Oh, I know this one! They're zebras, right?"
"Very good!" Edaha applauded, before dragging the dead antelope behind the boulder, "And now that they're here, it's probably best that we stay hidden as we eat this. They clearly don't our presence here too much, but if they see us commit the act of tearing into a carcass, it might upset them. I'd much rather let them drink in peace."
Kivuli nodded and climbed down the boulder, positioning himself next to his brother and appraising the dead antelope. Its coat was dull and its limbs frail, giving Kivuli the impression that had Edaha not killed it, it would have been moving toward the end of its life, anyway. The black cub still did not completely understand why the world had made it so that certain creatures could only live by devouring others, but he took solace in the fact that his brother only picked off creatures that we old or injured. It also meant little risk for Edaha, so Kivuli could rest assured that his brother would always return from his hunts safely. Kivuli resolved that he would use the same method when he was old enough to hunt.
The two brothers sank their teeth into the carcass, carefully swallowing every bit that they tore from it. Edaha seemed content feasting on the antelope's abdomen, while Kivuli would move around the carcass constantly, tearing a bit from it each time in the hopes that he could find its most delicious section. When Kivuli came to its neck and found it already bleeding, he cocked his head and sat down, becoming suddenly curious. Edaha looked up from the carcass and smiled at his brother.
"Can't go a meal without you getting that thoughtful look," Edaha joked, "What's on your mind?"
"Every time you bring a carcass, it's always bleeding from the neck," Kivuli answered, leaning closer to the antelope's collar, "And it's always through a bite-mark. Is that how you kill them? By biting their neck?"
Edaha stepped over the carcass and placed himself opposite Kivuli, the dead antelope between them.
"It's…one way," Edaha stated slowly as he placed a paw on the antelope's bleeding neck, "Though admittedly not common among our kind. Most hyenas tend to go for the stomach or a leg, trusting that they'll be able to hand on and slow their prey down enough for the rest of their pack to be able to come to their assistance. But when they're alone, such a strategy becomes ten times more difficult and dangerous. They have to hang on, sometimes for hours, and rely on the prey's increasing blood-loss to take the fight out of it."
"They hang on for hours?" Kivuli asked, his tone a mixture of confusion and surprise, "Doesn't the prey try to shake them off?"
"Indeed they do," Edaha responded with a small smile, "No matter what the conditions, a hunted animal will do in anything in their power to escape with their life. But hyenas are gifted with a bite so powerful that it has been known to leave animals crippled. For us, latching onto prey is easy. It's rare that you'll ever hear of creatures escaping a hyena's jaws on their own."
Kivuli cringed and turned away, remembering the great pain he suffered every time his father chose to use his fangs during his nightly visits. He had no doubt as to the validity of his brother's statement. When he looked back up at his brother, Kivuli found Edaha wearing a serious expression.
"You must never go for the neck, Kivuli, unless you are absolutely sure that you can manage it properly," Edaha warned, bringing his eyes up from the carcass to meet his brother's, "Latching on to the front of prey puts you in a great deal of danger. The prey will attempt to get on top of you and kick you with their legs, and should you let go, they will have no second thoughts about trampling you. But if, and only if, you're experienced enough to achieve perfect timing and positioning, the benefits of going for the neck will far outweigh the risks. Through the neck, you'll be able to feel your prey's pulse and vital signs so that when it goes down, you'll know whether or not it is merely feigning death in an attempt to get away. Rather than through a loss of blood, the prey will die of a shortage of breath, just as it would had it naturally reached the end of its life. It is a much fairer and more dignifying death, allowing the prey to go out as painlessly as possible."
Kivuli stared up at his brother in awe and nodded slowly, taking in everything that Edaha had said. Edaha allowed himself a small smile and returned to tearing into the carcass, Kivuli soon doing the same. When the two brothers had eaten to the point of being full, they stepped away from what remained of the antelope and lied down next to each other in the sun, letting out a sigh of contentment in unison.
"…Brother?" Kivuli suddenly piped up, turning his head to the young hyena.
"Hmm?" Edaha smiled down at his brother.
Kivuli looked away for a moment, digging a claw into the ground and dragging it in a circular motion a few times.
"Do you think we could start looking for Mother today?" Kivuli eventually managed, looking up at his brother hopefully, "My injuries have completely healed by now, I just know it!"
Edaha smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow at his brother.
"I seem to recall you saying the same thing yesterday," Edaha replied, "And the day before."
"But this time I'm sure of it!" Kivuli said, jumping to his paws.
"You said that, too," was Edaha's response, "Wounds need time to properly heal, Kivuli. We've only been here a few days."
"Yeah, but it feels like it's been years!" Kivuli groaned.
Edaha sat up straight and let out a heavy sigh as he patted his brother on the back.
"I understand how hard this must be for you," Edaha breathed, "Having the whole world suddenly available to you, and yet still being confined to one area...I suppose it wouldn't be fair if I didn't at least look you over. Alright, let me have a look at you."
Kivuli smiled up at his brother gratefully and sat completely still, allowing Edaha to circle him. The young hyena examined every inch of Kivuli, occasional lifting one of the black cub's limbs to check underneath it. When he was down, Edaha sat down in front of Kivuli, the back of his paw pressed against his own chin. Kivuli leaned forward expectantly.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," Edaha frowned.
Kivuli's gaze fell to the ground in disappointment.
"We'll have to leave the carcass behind," Edaha continued, "It'll be too heavy to take with us on our journey."
Kivuli's eyes widened as he looked up at his brother's smiling face.
"You mean we can leave today?" Kivuli asked excitedly.
Edaha nodded. Kivuli he pranced around his brother, cheering with excitement as he brushed against each of Edaha's legs. Finally, he could leave this area to enter many others. He could see all that the world had to offer him. He knew that the journey may be long, but that it would end with him reuniting with his mother. His life was to be filled with numerous new experiences, each of them to be shared with his brother, the greatest creature he had ever known.. Edaha could not help but to laugh at his brother's jubilation.
"-But" Edaha added, causing the black cub to come to a dead-stop, "Only after we get a drink from the river. It will be a long trip, and I don't know for sure when we'll next come upon a body of water."
Kivuli smiled and gave a nod, before running to the river and lapping up water as fast as he could. Edaha smiled slightly and shook his head as he joined his brother at the side of the river. As he looked across the stream of water, he saw that a few of the zebras were still there, keeping their heads level with the stream and opening their lips to catch the cool water. When Kivuli lifted his head from the water to take a breath, he noticed them, too. The black cub stared at one of the zebras in confusion as it spared him a disinterested glance, before returning its attention to the water.
"Wow," Kivuli whispered in a surprised tone, nudging his brother, "They're not scared of us at all!"
Edaha lowered his muzzle to his brother's ear, laughing quietly.
"Why would they be? We've already eaten!"
xXx
Fenyang sat in the middle of the desolate land that had once been his kingdom. The throbbing pain of his burns prevented him from moving, forcing him to endure days of starvation. There was no reason that he should have been alive. Yet there he was, body quaking and eyes surveying his kingdom. The land that he had strived for years to make into a powerful nation that could properly serve the gods could now only serve as a final resting place to the disciples that had perished in the inferno. He looked down at Bellow, whose tail remained wrapped around the paw of his master, even in death. In a matter of hours, Fenyang had lost his kingdom, the Disciples of Usafi, and the only true friend he had ever had. The Mamlaka king brought his head toward the sky and slowly opened his mouth.
"It…It is the will of the gods," Fenyang breathed shakily.
xXx
Edaha watched the sun as he walked forward, Kivuli walking close at his side. They had been walking for at least an hour, and still they had encountered nothing but plains. Occasionally they would come across a tree or a stone, but it was nothing Kivuli had not already seen. Kivuli had been told that the world contained hundreds of different landscapes to behold, yet he had only encountered two. The black cub was becoming a bit impatient, but would not allow his frustrations to get the better of him. Instead, he decided to distract himself by talking to Edaha as they made their way toward the east.
"So, about this Bloody Shadows colony," Kivuli spoke up, "Have you ever been there?"
"No," Edaha stated simply.
"…Then how do you know we're going the right way?" Kivuli asked.
"The colony lies to the east," Edaha explained, pointing his nose toward a blazing orb in the sky, "The sun rises in the east every morning. Being that it is not yet midday, we can still rely on it to point the way."
"And after midday?" Kivuli inquired.
"We walk with the sun at our backs," Edaha replied, smiling down at his brother with a wink, "In the end, it's all the same direction."
The black cub had no idea how that was possible, but trusted that his brother knew what he was talking about. Kivuli waited a few moments before speaking again.
"And Mother's there, right?"
Edaha stopped in his tracks and turned to Kivuli, his expression saddening.
"I sure hope so, Kivuli," Edaha admitted with a sigh, forcing himself to smile when he noticed his brother's dejected countenance, "But even if she isn't, there's bound to be someone there who will know where she is. All it will mean is another journey…We'll find her, Kivuli. I promise."
Kivuli put on a hopeful smile and nodded. Edaha patted his brother's head and lifted him onto his back.
"You've walked enough for a while," Edaha smiled at his brother over from over his shoulder, "You're still a cub. Keep going like this and you'll wear yourself out. I can be tired for the both of us."
Kivuli smiled thankfully and clung to his brother's back as Edaha continued onward. The black cub did not want to admit it, but he was quite exhausted from all of the walking he had done. A combination of being trapped in a pit for most of his life and having to rest off his injuries left him with little stamina for long distances. He knew that such treks would eventually come naturally to him, but for now he needed to rest. Kivuli's eyelids began to droop he was gently rocked back and forth with each of Edaha's passing steps. Eventually his eyes did close, only to open when he felt Edaha's muscles tightening.
"What's up?" Kivuli asked his brother in confusion.
Edaha gave no reply other than lifting Kivuli off of his shoulders and placing him underneath his torso, crouching over the cub protectively. Kivuli opened his mouth to ask his brother what was going on, but flinched in surprise when he heard a series of unfamiliar cackles coming from nearby. The black cub crawled forward and stared in the direction of the noises, only for Edaha to place a paw on his head and push him back underneath him. In those few seconds, Kivuli managed to see it; a fifteen hyenas advancing toward he and Edaha.
"Ooooh, visitors!" one of the hyenas, a large female, cackled as she stepped ahead of the pack, "Always nice to have guests!"
The other hyenas cackled in amusement, being sure to bare their fangs. Edaha pushed Kivuli behind himself and sat down, keeping his eyes locked on the female that stepped forward.
"Am I right in assuming that you are matriarch of this clan?" Edaha addressed the female.
"Not as dense as you look," the female replied, raising a paw to point toward the group of hyenas behind her, "This is my clan. And this…" the matriarch waved her paw, pointing all around her, "Is my land." The female bared her fangs and crouched low, growling warningly. "And it's gonna stay that way!"
Kivuli crouched low to the ground, eyes widened in fear. Edaha let his tail fall on his brother, a gesture to assure the black cub that he would protect him.
"My brother and I are just passing through," Edaha explained the matriarch slowly, "I apologize for the inconvenience, I was not aware that this is private land. If you'd be gracious enough to let us through, we'll be on our way. We won't be here any longer than we need to be. I assure you, I have no intention of taking your land."
"Is that so?" the matriarch laughed wildly, pacing back and forth, "You know, many centuries ago, a group of lions approached our ancestors with 'no intention of taking their land'. They attacked without mercy and drove the clan from their birthplace, taking this land for themselves. Too injured and weak to survive as a unit, a proud, mighty clan had no other option but to break apart and go to the neighboring clans seeking help. Those bastards gave them none, instead choosing to chase them far away. They couldn't even close enough to their own land to look upon it…Well, I spent years collecting this clan, and together we regained the land that was rightfully ours! We avenged our ancestors by slaughtering every lion that stood in our way. We're a proud clan again, and we won't allow ourselves to fall as our ancestors did, especially not to the likes of you." The matriarch crouched low, baring her teeth once more, "We can't take any risks. There's nothing for you, here. If you truly seek a different destination, then you must find a different route. Don't worry, though. I'm sure my clan will be more than happy to escort you back the way you came."
The clan cackled and licked their fangs, advancing forward slowly. Edaha backed up carefully so that he was once again standing over his brother.
East, Edaha thought, keeping his eyes on the clan, It's not much, but it's all I have to go by. We need to continue forward. Going around this land would take too long, and our way could be easily lost. And then there's those neighboring clans she mentioned. If we were to run into them, I doubt they'd treat us with any less hostility. Seems we'll be faced with difficulty no matter what path we take…There are no other options, then.
"Kivuli," Edaha whispered to the black cub, "Before these hyenas arrived, I noticed an empty burrow a few yards back. It's too narrow for an adult hyena to enter through, but you'll fit through it with no problem. I want you to stay in there until I tell you that it's safe to come out. Run for it now, I'll cover your escape."
"What?" Kivuli gasped in surprise.
"Go!" Edaha snapped, pushing Kivuli behind him with great force.
The black cub tumbled a few times and glanced back at his brother, before running for the burrow. The sudden movement drew the attention of two members of the clan, who charged forward in an attempt to chase after the cub. Edaha quickly snatched one of their legs in his fangs and spun around. When he released his hold, the hyena went flying into its partner and knocked him over, preventing either of them from getting close to the black cub. Kivuli jumped in the burrow as soon as he was close enough and squeezed himself into it, positioning himself carefully so that he could watch his brother. The two hyenas who had been knocked over slowly got to their feet charged at Edaha. The young hyena merely rolled out of the way of their attack and stared into the eyes of the matriarch.
"I challenge you," Edaha stated with a growl, "I invoke the right of all hyenas to settle a dispute individually, without involvement from the clan. And as matriarch, you cannot refuse a direct challenge."
The matriarch smiled amusedly and raised her paw, her clan sitting at attention when she did so.
"Been a long time since anyone's dared to challenge me," the matriarch smirked, "Would have never expected such behavior from a male. Quite brave of you. For that I'll let you die honorably. What are your stakes?"
Edaha straightened himself, eying the clan that stood behind the matriarch.
"If I defeat you," Edaha stated, turning his gaze to the matriarch, "You and your clan are to grant my brother and I safe passage through your lands."
The clan bared their fangs and barked out in protest. The matriarch raised a paw to silence them, retaining her smirk.
"And when I kill you," the matriarch replied, showing her teeth, "…You are to die."
"I promise to die if you kill me," Edaha nodded slowly, the ridiculous statement causing a smile to tug at the corners of his muzzle.
The matriarch smiled and turned to her clan.
"It is decided!" the matriarch announced loudly, "All of you stay back! I shall face the male in single-combat. He wins, he and his brother go free. He dies, I kill him!"
The clan nodded and backed away, before sitting down, eyes focused on their matriarch. Kivuli watched on and let out a heavy sigh, not sure whether to be relieved or worried. On the one paw, Edaha had gained them a fair chance to escape with their lives. On the other paw, a battle with the leader of a warring clan could leave his brother hurt. Kivuli watched his brother attentively, as the two hyenas circled each other.
"One bite," the matriarch stated through clentched teeth, "One bite is all it'll take!"
At that, the matriarch lunged forward, snapping her jaws wildly. Edaha stood his ground and brought a front limb between them. The female emitted a low cackle through her teeth as they made contact with Edaha's forearm, latching on with great force.
"Brother!" Kivuli cried out in horror, jumping out from the safety of the burrow and sprinting towards the two battling hyenas. The black cub remembered what Edaha taught him about the sheer power of a hyena's bite. He could not sit back and allow his brother to suffer that kind of pain. Edaha's ears shot upward as he heard his brothers advancing pawsteps.
"Kivuli, do as you've been told!" Edaha barked in an urgent tone, turning his gaze from the matriarch to Kivuli, "Get back in the burrow!"
Kivuli stopped dead in his tracks, raising his gaze to meet Edaha's. The black cub scanned ever feature of Edaha's face, and was shocked by what he saw. Or, rather, what he did not see. Edaha's expression contained no pain, as if there was not a bloodthirsty hyena attempting to separate his limb from his torso. Kivuli then realized that Edaha was making no effort to free himself from the matriarch's jaws. He merely stood his ground and kept his front leg close to his chest with amazing strength, ensuring that that female would not be able to extend it very far no matter how hard she tried. The site of his brother putting up minimal resistance bewildered Kivuli so greatly that he could focus on nothing else. All that existed before him was Edaha standing solid as a stone as the matriarch slowly tightened her fangs around his leg.
Why the hell isn't he doing anything? Kivuli thought to himself, And how is he not in pain? He told me a hyena's bite could leave an animal crippled! Was that a lie?...No, he wouldn't do that. If he said it, it's true. It's an act so I won't get worried, it must be. There's no way he could have any animal biting him like that and not feel pain...But then why isn't he trying to free himself? Even if he can't pull himself free, there must be something he could do to get her to open her jaws…Why doesn't he-
"Kivuli!" Edaha yelled, snapping his brother back into reality, "Get in the burrow now!"
Kivuli shook the thoughts from his head and once again brought his gaze to meet his brother's. Edaha gave Kivuli a quick, yet confident nod, indicating to his brother that he was fine. The black cub nodded hesitantly back at his brother, before carefully backing himself toward the small hole, keeping his eyes on the matriarch's clan in anticipation of an attack. The clan continued to keep their attention on their matriarch, making no indication of even noticing that the black cub was out in the open. Once he was certain that there was enough distance between he and the clan, Kivuli turned around and ran for the burrow, stopping once he had reached it in order to glance back at his brother one last time. Edaha's gaze remained fixed on Kivuli, letting the black cub know that he would not let him out of his sight until he was sure that he was safely within the burrow.
He's escaped from the Bloody Shadows, Kivuli reminded himself as squeezed into the burrow, He's even bested one of their assassins! There's no way he's gonna let himself die in that bitch's jaws. He knows what he's doing…He has to.
Edaha spent another moment staring at Kivuli and the burrow, before turning his attention back to the matriarch. He could see a triumphant grin pulling at the corners of her muzzle as she sank her fangs deeper into his forearm. The matriarch then turned her head sideways, forcing the male hyena's forearm to bend sideways at the joint. Edaha cringed, his jaws clenching for a moment before becoming ajar, causing the matriarch's smile to grow wider at the promise of painful screams. Her expression of pleasure quickly changed to one of pure shock as Edaha released not a painful scream, but an amused chuckle, quiet enough for only the two of them to hear.
"You truly think a single bite is all it takes?" Edaha chided casually, shaking his head in disapproval and locking his eyes with the matriarch's. "Let me assure you, you're mistaken. Now that your move has been made, I believe it's time for me to make mine."
With that, Edaha swiftly raised his trapped forearm as high as he could and leaned forward, forcing the matriarch's head to bend backward at the neck, before springing forward and wrapping his fangs around the front of her exposed neck. The matriarch released a painful gasp as all at once her air-supply was blocked off, allowing Edaha to pull his leg free and bring it back to his side. Within moments, the matriarch found herself prone on her back, kicking and struggling to free herself from Edaha's grasp. Edaha remained on top of her, keeping his footing steady and jaws clenched tightly around the female's neck. The matriarch's clan jumped to their feet and prepared to charge to their leader's aid. Edaha lifted his gaze to them in a piercing glare and tightened his grip around the matriarch's throat, causing her to produce a weak cry of pain. The clan stared back at Edaha and took a few steps backward, a silent agreement passing between the two parties that should the clan make any sudden movements, they would find themselves without a matriarch. Kivuli peered out of the burrow, watching on in amazement.
"Whoa…." Kivuli breathed, unable to tear his gaze away from his brother, "He's incredible!"
The matriarch continued to struggle for her freedom, but found herself unable to escape the vice-like hold that the male hyena had on her neck. It was not long before she could feel her entire form weakening. Her consciousness fading fast, she found substantial resistance to be beyond anything she could possibly muster. A painful tear formed in the corner of her eye and fell to the ground, along with all four of her limbs. The matriarch panted and flared her nostrils in a desperate attempt to breathe, but the effort did more harm than good. With Edaha's jaws tightening around her windpipe, all she could do was exhale the little air that remained in her lungs. More tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she slowly came to the realization that it was all over. She was about to die in the male hyena's jaws.
The matriarch grinded her teeth and focused her eyes to look upon her clan. Each of them were trembling, some of them in so much distress at the sight of their leader in such pain that they were biting their lip to a point of bleeding. Their eyes were filled with fear and concern for their matriarch, who returned their sentiments with eyes full of adoration. All the time they had spent together as a clan flashed before her eyes in a matter of moments. She remembered how they had first found each other, how they had banded together to reclaim the land of their ancestors, and how absolutely honored she was when they unanimously elected her matriarch. They had always been there for her. She knew that she needed to be there for them. She could not allow herself to die, not after she had worked so hard and made so many great friends who helped her to attain her goal. She needed to find some way, any way, to free her neck from the jaws of the male.
A method of escape kept popping into her mind, and no matter how many times she tried to shake it away, it persisted. After a few moments, she gave in to it. She knew what she had to do to escape, but she did not like it one bit.
"I…I…y..I yield," the matriarch croaked painfully.
Edaha released his hold and backed off the matriarch less than a second after the words had been spoken. The matriarch inhaled and exhaled wildly, tasting the sweetness of the air as it entered and exited her lungs at will. The hyena clan ran to their matriarch and surrounded her protectively, a few of them breaking away from the circle and advancing toward him slowly, snarling and snapping their jaws. Edaha crouched down low and bared his fangs, preparing for another battle. Kivuli watched the scene from the burrow, his entire form shaking with dread.
"No…" Kivuli breathed uneasily, nervously digging his claws into the soft dirt, "There's too many of them…He'll get hurt!...Why are they doing this? They agreed to go away if he beat their leader, and he did! They lied!...Edaha…Brother, please, just get out of there…Leave me behind if you have to, just be safe…"
"Enough of this!" came the matriarch's booming voice, demanding the attention of all present, "Let me through!"
Within moments, the barrier of hyenas broke off into two lines at the left and right of their matriarch, allowing the alpha-female a clear path. The hyenas who had left the defensive barrier quickly rejoined the ranks and followed suit. Edaha straightened out of his defensive stance and sat down, keeping his eyes on the matriarch as she limped between her clan, keeping one paw lifted to rub her throat as she went. When she reached the hyenas who had previously been approaching Edaha with malicious intent, she came to a stop and locked eyes with them.
"Unbelievable!" the matriarch spat at them, quickly turning her attention back to Edaha and continuing forward, "The male and me had a deal." The matriarch circled Edaha a few times, before sitting down in front of him and extending a paw, a small, bitter smile adorning her muzzle, "And I will not be made into a liar. He and his brother are welcome to pass through our land unharmed...just this once."
Edaha could not help but to blink in surprise. A few of the clan-members opened their mouths to protest, but were shot down by a warning glare from their matriarch. Kivuli let out a sigh of relief as he watched Edaha extend his own paw to meet the matriarch's.
"I appreciate you keeping your word," Edaha told the matriarch, smiling as he shook her paw, "I wasn't looking forward to having to fight your whole clan."
"No one in their right mind would be," the matriarch responded casually with a shrug, "Besides, I wasn't about to let the only hyena who's ever beaten me to go out like that. No, if you die..," the matriarch retracted her paw from Edaha's and leaned forward, wearing a toothy grin, "It will be by my fangs alone!"
Edaha narrowed his eyes at the matriarch and allowed himself a small smile.
"Hmm, I must be off, now," Edaha stated dryly, "Thank you, again…I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
The matriarch's smirked and raised an eyebrow at Edaha. She opened her mouth slightly, only to turn away from the male and walk toward her clan.
"And you don't need to," the matriarch replied, flicking her tail in the air as she ran past her clan, "Alright, let's move it out!"
The clan followed their matriarch obediently, a few of them swiftly glancing back at Edaha with glares and bared teeth that, luckily for them, went unnoticed by both the matriarch. Edaha watched the clan disappear into the distance, before running to Kivuli, gently lifting him out of the burrow, and placing him on the soft grass.
"Are you ok?" Edaha asked, using a paw to brush the dirt out of his brother's black coat.
Kivuli gave a slight nod, staring up at his brother with a strange sense of awe, not quite sure what to think.
"That's a relief, I was worried," Edaha breathed, placing a digit under his brother's chin to ensure they retained eye-contact before he spoke again, "Kivuli, if I tell you to stay somewhere, then you need to trust my judgment," Edaha stated sternly. "We were just in a very dangerous situation, and there could be many more to come. Do you realize that if those hyenas had decided to charge, I would have been too occupied with their leader to protect you? You could've been killed!"
Kivuli lowered his eyes to the ground, ears flattened against his skulls. Something about his brother's tone pained him in a way he had never experienced. He felt strange. His body shook as if it were cold, but the blazing African sun rendered that an impossibility. His face seemed to be going through some sort of spasm, and he could feel cool liquid running down his cheek. The black cub raised a paw to his lower lip in the hopes of ending its quivering, but it was no use.
"I…I know," Kivuli responded shakily, fighting back tears, "I'm sorry…I…I just wanted to help…I didn't want you to…to get hurt…"
Edaha's expression softened as he wrapped a forearm around his brother and pulled him close to his chest, using his other paw to gently stroke the black cub's head.
"Now, there, everything's alright," Edaha assured his brother in a soft, calming tone, "I'm not mad. I just want you to stay safe. You're only a cub, Kivuli, you're not expected to take an active part in battle, and you shouldn't, anyway. I can do all the fighting for both of us, and if I should be killed, the most important thing is that you live on."
Kivuli began to shiver at the very thought of his brother dying. Edaha tightened his embrace a bit, sensing his brother's concern.
"But you needn't worry about that," Edaha continued, "I will not allow myself to die, not while your well-being depends on my survival." Edaha paused to give his brother an affectionate lick, "I will always be there for you, Kivuli. We need to be there for each other. And in your case, that means keeping yourself out harm's way. That clan wasn't the first fix we'll get ourselves into, and it certainly won't be the last. I will always do everything in my power to get us out of them, but I won't be able to focus on the matter at paw until I know for a fact that you're safe, away from the danger…You really scared me, Brother. Charging in like that was just foolish." Kivuli began to lower his head shamefully, but Edaha gently caught it, raising it to look his brother in the eye, "However, I know your heart was in the right place, and I'm proud to have such a brave, caring hyena as my brother."
Kivuli looked up at Edaha, mouth slightly ajar with surprise. Edaha smiled down at the black cub and let out a heavy sigh.
"All is forgiven," Edaha breathed, giving his brother another affectionate lick, "You're unharmed, and that's what matters."
Kivuli smiled and brushed his muzzle against Edaha's leg lovingly, before jumping back in surprise as he felt a warm, familiar liquid trickle down his cheek. Kivuli looked his brother's leg up and down, his suspicions confirmed when his eyes narrowed in on at red stain at the center of his brother's forearm.
"Brother!" Kivuli cried, "You're bleeding!"
Edaha blinked and lifted his front leg in front of his face, examining it carefully.
"So I am," Edaha concurred plainly, before turning his attention to Kivuli with a smile and a wink, "Didn't I tell you we had a powerful bite?"
Kivuli stared Edaha with widened eyes, shocked that his brother could be so casual in the face of such an obvious injury. Edaha sat down and began grooming his forearm, looking at Kivuli with an amused smile all the while.
"Don't worry about me," Edaha told his brother between licks, "I've had much worse on numerous occasions. Injuries like this mean very little to me, anymore," Edaha placed his leg back on the ground, leaning all of his weight on it, "There, nothing serious. Won't slow me down at all."
Kivuli continued to stare at his brother for a few more moments, before lowering his gaze to the ground.
"You don't need to put on an act for me," Kivuli muttered, almost bitterly, "If you're hurt, just saw so."
Edaha gave a small smile and shook his head slowly.
"Believe me, it's no act," Edaha stated, his tone purely honest, "I've seen enough serious injuries to know that my leg is perfectly fine. If it wasn't, I'd be tending to ensure that it'd be well enough to make the journey…Speaking of which, are you ready?"
Kivuli stared at his brother skeptically, not sure whether to be impressed or concerned. After a few moments, the black cub nodded slowly. Edaha smiled and walked off, Kivuli scampering at his side. The two brothers walked together, neither of them uttering a word until Kivuli's curiosity got the better of him.
"Hey, Edaha?" Kivuli piped up, "When that hyena was charging, you just sat there and showed her your leg…I was wondering…"
"Why I let her bite me rather than dodging her attack?" Edaha interrupted with a smile.
Kivuli nodded.
"I needed to keep our battle a situation where I could keep my eyes on both her and her clan, just in case they decided not to keep their word," Edaha explained, "If I had dodged, she could have run past me, and I'd have been forced to turn my back to her clan. As for why I extended my leg, it was so that I could lure her into going for an easy target. Once you know where your opponent will strike, countering becomes simple. I let her actually bite my leg in order to give her a false sense of victory, so that she would let her guard down and leave herself open to attack. It kept her close to me, as well, ensuring that she could not drag out the fight with the hit-and-run maneuvers that are common to our kind. In order to accomplish anything in this life, one must be carefully weigh their options and be willing to make sacrifices. An injury to one limb is nothing if it ensures that the body will live on to make use of the other three."
Kivuli's stared up at his brother, his eyes widened with awe as the two brothers continued forward. Edaha smiled down at the black cub, somewhat enjoying the admiration with which his brother was beaming at him. The young male they came to a full stop and looked up at the sun. Upon noticing this, Kivuli came to a stop himself and looked up at his brother expectantly.
"Midday," Edaha eventually noted, "That's good, we'll be able to cover a lot of ground before nightfall," Edaha looked down at Kivuli with a playful smile, "Think we can make it 'til then without running into anymore trouble?"
Kivuli returned the smile and shrugged.
"Heh, not with our luck," Kivuli laughed, "If it's not a striped hyena that's trying to steal our food, it's a whole clan of hyenas that think we're after their land!"
The two brothers shared a laugh, Kivuli's ending prematurely as a sudden realization hit him, changing his smile into a frown.
"Something wrong?" Edaha asked, concerned by his brother's change in demeanor.
"It's…it's nothing," Kivuli quickly answered, feigning a smile, "Can we keep going now? I wanna see mom as soon as possible."
Edaha stared at his brother for a moment, before nodding and pointing forward with his paw.
"Yes…" Edaha stated quietly, a hint of concern remaining in his voice, "Let's continue onward."
Kivuli and Edaha continued their journey in silence. As they walked, Edaha stared upon the black cub with solicitude, still suspecting that there was something on his brother's mind. Kivuli failed to notice his brother's stare, for he was too lost in thought. Kivuli thought of all the creatures that he and Edaha had encountered together, all the creatures who sought to give them trouble. The striped hyena, the matriarch, the clan. Each of them shared a common trait.
They were all hyenas.
xXx
Mamlaka, the Disciples of Usafi, Bellow…all taken from him.
"…It…It is the…the…will…the will of the gods," Fenyang managed through a series of sharp inhales.
xXx
"This looks like a good spot to rest for the night," Edaha stated with a sigh of contentment, turning around a few times before plopping down onto the soft grass.
Kivuli forced a smile and looked around. He found his surroundings to be identical to the area he had woken up in that morning, minus the boulder and the river. It certainly was not the most exciting place, but the grass was soft and the breeze soothing. The temperature was moderate, the land isolated. The brothers had been fortunate to find such an idea resting-spot just as the sun was setting at their backs. But such fortune did nothing to brighten Kivuli's mood. The black cub knew that he should have been happy, and he wanted to be. He and his brother had finally started their journey to reunite with their mother. He had officially left behind his old, tortured life to take a new, pleasurable life. But a single thought still plagued the back of the young cub's mind, preventing him from focusing on his blessings.
The black cub looked over at Edaha, who was lying placidly on the soft grass and staring up at the stars. Kivuli made his way over to his brother and sat down next to him, staring at his paws with uncertainty. Normally, Kivuli was quick to ask for his brother's education whenever he was unclear of something, and Edaha was more than happy to fill the black cub's young mind with the necessary wisdom. But on this night, Kivuli was not certain that he wanted his question answered. The cub was afraid of his own suspicions, and did not desire to have them proven. At the same time, Kivuli knew that if he did not share his concerns with his brother, they would continue to vex him. The black cub shook his head, resolving to ask his question and receive an answer. Edaha had always been a source of comfort for him in the past, and Kivuli trusted that even if his suspicions were confirmed, his brother would help him through them.
"…Edaha?" Kivuli finally spoke up, "Are…are hyenas evil?"
Edaha's tore his gaze away from the stars and stared down at his brother, mouth slight ajar with surprise.
"What?" Edaha furrowed his brow, unsure of whether or not he had heard his brother correctly.
"Well, I mean, I know you're not evil," Kivuli corrected himself, "I just mean in general…Well…are they?"
"Of course not, Kivuli," Edaha answered, his tone conveying both confusion and concern, "Why would you even ask something like that?"
Kivuli dragged his paw across the ground apprehensively.
"It's just that…all the hyenas we've run into have wanted to hurt us," Kivuli explained, "First there was that striped hyena that wanted to steal our food, then there was that clan that tried to kill us…not to mention Father…I know we're all in charge of our own actions. You taught be that. But there seems to be a lot more evil hyenas than good ones…I just wanted to know if it's in our nature."
Edaha stared at his brother with pity, considering the black cub's every word carefully. He then looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath as he searched for the proper way to respond.
"Evil…is in the nature of no creature," Edaha stated cautiously, "Much less is it within the nature of an entire species…In a way, evil is an imaginary concept, an excuse to betray those that have already been betrayed. No creature has ever committed any act believing themselves to be wholly in-the-wrong. Everything acts on its own individual morality. For many, the end justifies the means. That is the cause of the 'evil' you have observed. The hyenas that have tried to cause us harm have done so out of desperation, Kivuli, not evil."
"Desperation?" Kivuli responded quietly, staring at his paws, "I…I don't understand."
Edaha smiled warmly down at his brother and pulled him close to his chest.
"It didn't either," Edaha admitted, laughing quietly at a distant memory, "Not at first, anyway." The young hyena's expression saddened a bit as he continued, "No creature has ever been born into this world wanting to harm others. But oftentimes, we're put in a position where our very lives, rights, and dreams depend on the use of fangs and claws. Such is the case with the hyenas we have encountered. The striped hyena tried to steal our food so that he could ensure that he would be sustained for another day. The matriarch and her clan attacked us because they saw us as a threat to their land, which they'd fought so hard to reclaim. As for Father…" Edaha looked away, toward the sky, "As horrible and unforgivable as his actions were, they were merely a desperate attempt at finding salvation. All of them were willing to do anything to achieve their goals."
Kivuli stared up at his brother with widened eyes, swallowing before speaking again.
"Are…Are all hyenas that desperate?" Kivuli dared to ask.
Edaha's expression turned particularly somber.
"Not all of us," Edaha shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh, "But it's an unfortunately common trait among our kind."
"But why?" Kivuli demanded, jumping to his feet.
"Because many of us are made to be," Edaha responded, his voice full of sympathy, "Since the beginning of time, we have been viewed as inferior by many of the larger predators. As a species, we been have pushed us around and stripped of even our most basic rights. Most smaller predators have suffered the same fate. They lack the physique and power of those who oppress them, and are thus forced to resort to desperate measures in order to survive. They have to fight to gain what they want, as was the case with the striped hyena, and fight to keep what they already have, as was the case with the matriarch and her clan."
"But we're hyenas, too!" Kivuli shouted, shaking his head in frustration, "If life's so hard for all of us, why did they treat us with such hostility? Shouldn't they be looking out for us, as members of the same species?"
Edaha placed his paw on his brother's shoulder to calm him.
"Every animal, regardless of species, should look after one another," Edaha answered, pulling his brother close to him once more and looking toward the sky, "We are all connected, and not just by the Circle of Life. We are connected in spirit, equal in the hearts of the gods themselves. But some creatures do not see it that way, and that, too, is caused by desperation. They want so much for themselves that they put their needs and desires ahead of the needs and desires of others. The larger predators who attempt to dominate us behave in the same manner. The only reason that they focus their anger on us is to ensure that we do not rise up to rival them. They, too, are desperate. And so, the cycle of desperation leads to a ring of segregation and violence. It is not fair. It is not right. It merely is."
Kivuli buried his head in his paws, his body shaking as he thought back tears. His original suspicion may have been disproven, but the truth was no better. Edaha lowered his muzzle to his brother's ear before speaking again.
"But it doesn't have to be," Edaha whispered in a comforting tone.
Kivuli looked up at his brother, surprised to see a warm smile on Edaha's face.
"The whole cycle only continues due to superstition," Edaha continued, "We can choose to go against the old ways and make our own paths, as many have before us. True, there still exists enough larger predators who treat us cruelly to keep the superstition going, but they are far outnumbered by good, benevolent members of their species. As for the smaller predators, we've made great strides in attaining their own form of power. The Bloody Shadows is a prime example. It's governed by wild dogs, who are even smaller than our own species. In fact, it was founded by a wild dog who, with the help of a hyena, fought every day against cruelty and injustice. Her dream lives on in her kingdom, which exists to offer help to anyone in need of it, and is a large part of why the old ways are dwindling. The Bloody Shadows remains under the rule of her descendents. They've made their land into one of the most powerfully nations in all of Africa."
"Really?" Kivuli asked hopefully, wiping his eyes with his paws, "Greater than Mamlaka?"
"Far greater," Edaha replied with a confident nod, "Compared to the Shadows, Mamlaka was a mere anthill."
Kivuli smiled widely, liking that his father's claim to ruling the greatest civilization in the world was just as false as every other claim he had ever made. Edaha sighed happily, his brother's smile filling him with contentment.
"So a hyena really helped to create the Bloody Shadows?" Kivuli suddenly asked, excited at the notion.
"That's right," Edaha nodded, looking up at the starry sky, "He even ruled the Shadows at one point,His name was Edward, and he was the kindest, most compassionate animal to ever live." Edaha glanced down at his brother's mesmerized, beaming face and smiled, suddenly being struck by an idea. "It's time for bed, Kivuli."
The black cub's smile faded, his ears lowering as he gave a small nod and lied down in his brother's paws.
"But," Edaha continued, his smile widening, "Before you go to sleep, how about I tell you the story of how the Bloody Shadows was created?"
Kivuli's ears pricked up as his head bolted upward, turning to his brother.
"Yeah!" Kivuli answered excitedly, his tail thumping on Edaha's paw.
"Very well, then," Edaha chuckled, pulling his paw away from Kivuli's tail to place it under his own chin, "Where to begin?...I suppose for the story to make any sense, I'll have to first tell you of how Edward and Sauda Bloody Shadow came to find each other." Edaha cleared his throat. "Like most hyenas, Edward was born in a clan. In fact, he was the son of the matriarch and her second-in-command. Both of his parents loved him very much, as did the rest of the clan. Due to the fact that he was born of the matriarch, every member of his clan treated him like their own son. All and all, he lived a very happy life…until something terrible happened."
Edaha paused and took a deep breath, suddenly considering that perhaps this was not the best story to tell a cub. Kivuli stared up at his brother with an expectant expression that begged him to continue. It did not take long for Edaha to comply.
"Shortly after Edward reached six years of age, his clan was attacked by a rival troop," Edaha continued warily, paying close attention to his brother's reactions to gauge whether or not to end the story prematurely, "Edward had seen warring clans before, but none quite as impressive as this one. These hyenas were far more ferocious and militant, and refused to leave his clan in peace. Edward's clan battled bravely, but they soon found themselves fighting a losing battle. The rival troop was too large and powerful for them to hold off. They fought not only to dominate, but to kill. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a wild dog raced to the aid of Edward's clan. It was Sauda Bloody Shadow, a wandering assassin who worked for no lord. Despite her smaller size and the fact that she was alone, she managed to overpower the malicious hyenas and chase them away. Unfortunately, it was too late. The troop had already murdered every member of Edward's clan…every member, that is, except Edward."
"Why'd they leave him alive?" Kivuli asked, cocking his head.
"They probably didn't mean to," Edaha replied quickly, eager to have this part of the story out of the way, "Most likely, a small cub like him went unnoticed in all the commotion. But the fact remained that he was left alive, without his clan to take care of him. Everyone he had ever made a connection with had been killed, and it all happened before his eyes…It was too much for him to bear. He was left so traumatized that he lost not only his ability to speak, but his ability to produce any sound whatsoever. It was as if his vocal chords had completely vanished."
"That's horrible!" Kivuli gasped, his expression shocked.
Edaha stared down at his brother with a regretful countenance.
"Please forgive me," Edaha breathed, "I…should end the story here."
"No, no, go on," Kivuli insisted, pressing both of his front paws on his brother's chest in a begging manner, "It has a happy ending anyway, right?"
Edaha blinked with surprise at his brother's reaction, before smiling with a nod.
"Indeed it does," Edaha answered, clearing his throat to indicate that he was about to continue, "Sauda would have pursued the invaders, but upon noticing Edward, the lone survivor of the attack, her priorities shifted. Without a second thought, she gently grabbed the cub by the scruff of his neck and carried him off to a nearby cave. There the two stayed for many weeks. During the days Sauda would leave him so that she could perform her duties as an assassin in the nearby areas. But as soon as the skies became dark, she'd return to the cave, bringing food for the young cub and bathing him so that he could sleep comfortably through the night. Then one night, she announced to Edward that she had successful ensured the safety of every creature in the area. She explained that she would no longer be able to visit him, as there were many other nations and communities that needed her help. She did promise him, however, to ensure that he would taken care of, having already made an agreement with a hyena clan that owed her a favor. The next morning, Sauda brought Edward to the hyenas and said her good-byes to him, leaving him behind with the clan." Edaha began to smile. "Or so she thought. Sauda was not far on her journey when she heard the pattering sound of pawsteps coming up from behind her at an alarming rate. She did not even need to look back to know that their source was Edward. She did not look back at him, nor did she protest. She merely smiled and continued onward, Edward in tow. From that day forward, the two were never apart."
Kivuli smiled, both at the happy turn that the story was taking and at the hopes that he and Edaha would also be together forever.
"Mind you," Edaha continued, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "Even with a cub as a travelling companion, Sauda did not change her behavior one bit. Not to say that her behavior was reprehensible, she was a very just and compassionate animal…but she was also a bit gruff…more than a bit, actually. She would often complain to Edward about how much of an inconvenience he was on her, and would threaten to leave him behind in whatever area happened to hire her next…she meant a word of it, though, and always ended such statements in an apology."
"Wait, she still took on jobs?" Kivuli asked, completely astounded.
"It was against her moral code not to," Edaha explained with a nod, "She could not allow herself to rest until she was sure that she had done everything in her power to ensure the safety and happiness of everyone she encountered. She'd keep Edward as far away from the action as possible, of course, and return for him when her mission was completed. But as Edward grew into adulthood, he started becoming involved with Sauda's work, whether she wanted him to or not. She never did, out of fear for his safety. Edward's insistence on helping her despite her refusals forced Sauda to come to terms with the fact that her 'little pup' had become a partner in her war against oppression."
Edaha looked down at his brother to find Kivuli wearing a sleepy smile.
"Perhaps you need your rest," Edaha suggested with a smile of his own, "I can tell you the rest tomorrow."
Kivuli widened his eyes and shook himself awake.
"No way!" Kivuli protested, "You haven't gotten to the part where they created the Bloody Shadows! You said you would! Pleeeease?"
Edaha could not help but to laugh.
"Well, I certainly can't go around breaking promises," Edaha conceded, causing a cheer to rise from his brother, "Well, it all started when Sauda and Edward were approached by an injured wild dog named Ajiza, who travelled many miles to find them, having on a mere rumor of their existence to go by. Ajiza informed them that his homeland, which had no name, was in dire need of their help. The king of this nameless land, a cruel and wicked lion by the name of Kakawana, had for years been throwing his power around and abusing his subjects. His first act when he took the throne was to summon each of his subjects to his chamber individually, where he would beat them without mercy, promising to do so again if they ever dared to defy him. From that day forward, he had the entire land under his paw. He had no enforcers, nor did he have supporters. He didn't need any. His subjects had been beaten into a state of terrified submission, leaving them unable to even think of defying their king. This allowed Kakawana to pass any law he wanted. He forced them to give up any kill that he caught them with and would beat them for not offering it up to him in the first place. When they did start offering their kills to him in an attempt to avoid punishment, he would beat them for hunting on his land. Kakawana made it quite clear to his subjects that if they wanted food, they would have to steal it from neighboring lands, for all prey in his kingdom were to be his alone. As if that wasn't enough, he would steal any kills that his subjects managed to bring back from other lands. The final straw came when Kakawana's method of punishment switched from beating his subjects to devouring them. Ajiza could take no more, and left his land to find help. Sauda and Edward accepted the job with no other questions, knowing that it might have possibly been the biggest, most important mission that they had ever been asked to carry out."
Edaha took a breath, finding himself becoming excited by his own story.
"They followed Ajiza for six days, before he finally announced that they had reached his homeland," Edaha started up again, "Sauda and Edward were shocked by what they saw. They had expected a plain, or possibly a wasteland. Instead they found themselves standing before a vast jungle. They could see the peak of a mountain over the tall trees. When Sauda asked whether Kakawana ruled over the jungle or the mountain, Ajiza informed her that the lion used to merely rule over the mountain, until the creatures of the jungle fled in fear after hearing of the suffering that he had inflicted on his subjects. Now, Kakawana ruled over both the mountain and jungle, despite the latter having no inhabitants. Disturbed, but not fearful, Sauda and Edaha followed Ajiza through the empty jungle, eventually arriving at the base of the mountain, where they were met with the expressionless stared of dozens of wild dogs. Their hopeless eyes were enough to convince Sauda that her mission was worth continuing, but she still requested to be shown to the other citizens of the nameless land. Ajiza apologized for not having been clearer in his original explanation and explained to Sauda that the land's entire population was there before her. He went on to say that he and his family had lived in the mountain for generations, the jungle providing them with seclusion from the outside world. That was, until Kakawana arrived and named himself king. Sauda had heard enough. She asked for the location of Kakawana's chamber, and upon receiving the proper information, went to pay the king a surprise visit, Edward following close behind as he always had before. Carefully, the entered Kakawana's chamber, and were immediately astounded by what they saw. There, sitting before them, was the mangiest, scrawniest, frailest lion that either of them they had ever seen.
Kivuli blinked in surprise. That was not what he expected at all.
"But…where was Kakawana?" Kivuli asked, head cocked.
"It was Kakawana," Edaha answered with a small laugh, "And I'd imagine Sauda and Edward must've felt the same disbelief that you're feeling now!" Edaha laughed for another few moments, before his expression began to turn serious, "Sauda could see Kakawana's whole story in his eyes. He was too weak to gain power among his own kind, so he gained through abusing those smaller than him. In a way, Kakawana embodied everything she despised. He was not only a tyrant, but also a coward. The mere sight of Kakawana disgusted Sauda beyond belief. She was so filled with fury, that she did something few assassins had ever done before; she engaged the enemy directly, dodging his swipes as she attempted to get a clear shot at his throat. As always, Edward followed her into battle, clamping his fangs around Kakawana's bony hind-ankle. It did not take long for the bone to snap, causing Kakawana to roar out in pain and crumple to the ground. Sauda lunged forward, seeing this as an opening to go for the king's throat. She was met with a clubbing blow from Kakawana's paw, sending her into the wall of the chamber. She retained consciousness, but the wind had been knocked out of her. Edward quickly ran to her side, and upon seeing the condition she was in, looked Kakawana in the eye and did something he himself had not expected to do; he spoke."
Kivuli's eyes widened with intrigue.
"What did he say?" Kivuli asked, mesmerized.
Edaha closed his eyes and breathed. When he spoke, his tone perfectly matched the words. It was as if he himself were Edward, standing over Sauda and facing Kakawana.
"You hurt my friend. The bravest, most compassionate creature I have ever known is in pain, and you are the cause of it. I suppose it matters not to you. You've brought suffering on so many, how could one more be of any difference? Well, it matters to me, and it matters to her! Neither of us will stand by while innocent animals suffer under beasts like you! I've seen your kind so many times before, it's beginning to sicken me…Know this; I hold nothing against you. I know that your behavior is brought on by fear and confusion. You have been led astray, believing that the only way to make it in this world is through violence and aggression. I know not what has led you to think this way, and I pity you for being under its influence. No, I hold nothing against you. But that doesn't mean that I will allow your savagery to continue. No, I'm putting an end to all of it right now…I cannot even imagine the tortures that await such behavior in the afterlife...Be thankful, then, that I will not condemn you to that. You'd be worthless in death. As long as you draw breath, you still have the potential to do right with your life. I'm giving you the opportunity to undo the damage you've done, as well as to prevent others from straying onto the path you've chosen. Go. Atone for your despicable actions. Treat all those you meet with kindness and respect. Give love, and you shall receive love in return. Make for yourself a new life, a better life. It won't be easy, but you'll end up happier for it. Should you ever struggle with choosing the right path, seek me out and I shall assist you…I warn you, though, not to take my generosity lightly. I may be clement, but I am no fool. If in the future you prove yourself to truly be a lost cause, then I shall personally see to it that you meet the fate that the gods currently have prepared for you…Go, now. Let me feel pride when next I hear your name."
Kivuli stared up as his brother, in awe of both the speech and how much emotion his brother had put into it. Edaha merely opened his eyes and continued the story.
"Kakawana ran from the cave as fast as three legs could carry him," Edaha told his brother, "Edward helped Sauda to her paws, and as soon as she regained her breath, voiced her astonishment that he had finally found his voice and told him that perhaps he was on to something with his 'little atonement notion'. The two were not left alone for long, though. The moment that the wild dog pack saw their former king run from their land, they flooded the royal chamber. They chanted the names of their saviors and insisted on rewarding their deed. But rather than the simple meal or place to rest that Sauda and Edward were used to being paid with, the wild dogs begged them to become the rulers of both the mountain and jungle and use it as they saw fit. The two were deeply honored, but Edward turned down their offer, as he was a mere student of Sauda and wished to remain that way. He did, however, encourage Sauda to take the position, knowing that she could help the wild dogs to find their strength and mold the land into a nation that would stand up for those in need. Seeing the position as an opportunity to make her dreams a reality, Sauda became their queen overnight. When asked what she would call her kingdom, Sauda replied that it would be known as 'The Nation of the Bloody Shadows', incorporating the last name she had given herself to apply to all of its citizens. However, from then on she would only refer to it as 'The Bloody Shadows', keeping with her belief that a nation is simply a collection of inhabitants. It was not long before life returned to the jungle, and creatures from all over came to the Bloody Shadows offering their services in exchange for the pure privilege of working under someone who had done so much to make their world as safer place. Crafting the formerly-nameless land into a great nation was no easy feat, but with years of hard work and dedication, the dream of a nation that would exist to ensure the happiness and protection of others began to take physical form. Sauda found others who shared her dream, Ajiza became her mate, and Edward remained constantly at her side, relishing the conversations that they were now able to have."
Kivuli let out a loud yawn, but wore a genuinely interested expression.
"But what about Kakawana?" Kivuli inquired, "Did he ever come back?...And the hyenas who killed Edwards clan, did he ever see them again?"
"I'm glad you asked," Edaha smiled down at his brother, "Kakawana did in fact return to the Bloody Shadows every now and then with fresh carcasses for its inhabitants. He had turned over a new leaf as Edward had suggested, and was a much happier lion. He even found himself a loving mate, who accompanied him during his later visits. Eventually, he proved himself reformed and was permitted to become a citizen of the Bloody Shadows. He continued to prove his worth up to his dying day. As for the warring hyenas, Edward encountered them during his rule. Many years had passed since they attacked his clan, and they were now old and weak. They found themselves unable to defend themselves from the attacks of the younger, stronger clans. So they came to the Bloody Shadows seeking protection. Edward granted their request."
"He didn't recognize them?" Kivuli asked, a bit surprised.
"Oh, he did," Edaha assured his brother, "Edward had never forgotten their faces, not after what they'd done. But when he looked upon them, he didn't see the malicious creatures who murdered his family. He saw fearful, vulnerable creatures who needed help. Vengeance was of no importance to Edward. Atonement was. And with the clan as citizens of the Bloody Shadows, Edward was able to keep a close eye on them and ensure that they would repay the moral debt they had created for themselves."
Kivuli smiled in contentment. After encountering so many bitter, desperate hyenas, he was glad to hear of one who was so compassionate and forgiving. Edward reminded the black cub of Edaha, the both of them sharing the same sort of magnificence.
"Brother," Kivuli yawned, lying down in front of his brother, "I really, really like Edward."
Edaha nodded, a warm smile on his face as he nuzzled his brother's face.
"As to I," Edaha whispered, giving the black cub an affectionate lick, "Rest, now. We'll speak more of him tomorrow."
It was too late. Kivuli had already fallen asleep in his brother's paws. Edaha laughed quietly to himself, licking the cub once more before focusing his eyes on two large blue stars that brightly in the night.
"Thank you, Edward," Edaha breathed, bringing his attention back down to his brother, "For all that you have given me."
xXx
Edaha continued to keep a loving gaze on the sleeping cub in his paws, too gratified to notice a small bat ascend from a nearby tree and fly off into the night.
"…It…It is…" Fenyang began, before throwing himself on the ground and crying out to the heavens in agony, "This cannot be your will! I cannot be made to suffer as I am now! I served you! I served all of you! I carried out your will! I was the very thing you wanted! I was Absolute Purity! How can you allow me to suffer so? Are you not gods, existing to punish the wicked and reward the pure? My purity is endless, yet so is my suffering! Oh, gods of all creation, why have you deserted me?"
"We have not deserted you," came a firm, yet soothing voice.
Fenyang looked to his side as he felt a comforting paw rest itself on his shoulder. The king of Mamlaka focused his eyes on the source of the paw, but was unable to distinguish its features through the darkness. All he could see was a reflection of himself in its glowing eyes as they looked upon him with pity.
"Who…Who are you?" Fenyang asked quietly, almost fearfully.
The creature's glowing eyes narrowed as he looked down at Fenyang with a wide smile, fangs gleaming in the moonlight.
"Rejoice, Oh Pious One…" the stranger leaned in closer to Fenyang, allowing the Mamlaka King to clearly see its skull-covered face, "And know that the gods are with you."