preface: it's been too long! To make up for the long wait, here's a super-sized portion of hyena-centered drama. And even more to come in the next chapter!
Among the hyenas
You should always think first, then act. Doing something in the spur of the moment is usually a recipe for all kinds of trouble. Kunzinga knew this, on an intellectual level. If he would only stop to think things through, he would realize the wisdom of stopping to think things through - and there's the rub. He just hadn't. In stead, he was overcome by an acute pang of guilt, which spurred him into making an emotional and dramatic gesture.
Kuzinga only befriended Mizuri, Nyeusi, and the lionesses because he had ulterior motives: he'd been instructed by Shenzi to find some way to spy on the lions, and as soon as he found out about Mizuri's rapport with the lioness called Tuli, he jumped on that. The only problem was, they turned out to be a genuinely likeable bunch - he liked them, and what was worse, they liked him back. They showed genuine friendship, while he was just a double-dealing jerk.
He had realized all this quite suddenly, lounging around in the hot-springs. A sudden, terrible sinking feeling of guilt: what I'm doing is just wrong! And the unthinking reaction: to run away suddenly, so he could go confront the hyena who'd put him up to all that: Shenzi. Right then, that very instant, not a moment's delay or deliberation.
It seemed like a good idea at the time. But now, rushing through the gloomy and deserted Elephant Graveyard on his own, Kuzinga finally had some time to think things through. To think about how him suddenly bolting away would look to the others. All they knew was that Kuzinga had gotten flustered out of the blue, and ran off without another word. They'd likely be worried - of course they would be, they were nice like that! And they would wonder where he went... what would he tell them, if they asked?
If he told them the truth, that he'd been made to spy on the lions and all that, it'd probably be the end of their friendship. He certainly didn't want that... but the alternative was more lies...
That's where acting first and thinking second gets ya. So much for his dramatic exit.
All of that sank in well and good by the time Kuzinga reached the outer edges of the Elephant Graveyard, emerging out of the shadows. It was already late in the afternoon, and everything was bathed in a warm orange light. The sunset wouldn't be long coming. With an exasperated sigh, the hyena sank through his knees and dropped down in the dust, beating his head on the ground a couple of times for good measure.
"Idiot! You stupid idiot!" he grumbled to himself.
"Who you think you're calling an idiot, boy?"
Kuzinga jumped up with a start, unnerved by the deep, rasping voice that had answered him seemingly out of nowhere.
Another hyena was sitting close by, lounging on a flat rock - Kuzinga had been too busy self-absorbedly staring at his own paws to notice. His eyes were drawn to a hideous-looking scar that ran all the way around the top of the other hyena's neck. He got up to jump down from the rock, and Kuzinga backed away.
"Wow, I'm sorry, but I didn't know you were there, and I..."
Kuzinga was cut of by the sight of two more hyenas emerging from behind the rocks. The manes and tails of all three of them bristled up, a clear sign of hyenas looking for trouble. Kuziga backed away further. He didn't immediately recognizing any of them, and was at a loss as to why they'd be after him. Then he realized they might be members of his former clan, and his blood ran cold. Were they out to kill him?
"Hey, man, what's the big idea? I'm not looking for any trouble," he stammered.
"I'll be the judge of that. What were you doing in the Elephant Graveyard?" the scarred hyena snarled.
Why would they care about that?
"None of your business," Kuzinga shot back, looking about him for a way around the hostile trio. They started to close in on him.
"I got word that a couple of lions were skulking 'round these parts... and I think that's what you were doing here." The scarred hyena bared his teeth, "I think you're a stinking lion-lover."
Kuzinga's ears perked up at that last part, and his panic evaporated.
"What, a "lion-lover"? Is that what this is all about? Ha!" he snorted, both relieved and dismissive, "Here I was thinking this was something serious."
"You don't deny it?"
"Why would I? And who the hell are you to tell me who I can or can't hang out with? Get bent, bozo, I got places to be."
As was his wont, Kuzinga again failed to think things through, and he let his relief get the better of him. Though he needn't worry about these hyenas being out to kill him specifically, they were still pretty hostile, and there were three of them and only one of him. Predictably, they didn't take kindly to his casual insult. While the other two were stunned by the sudden reversal of Kuzinga's temperament, the scarred hyena was in stead struck by a sudden fury, and angrily lunged at the source of his ire. Kuzinga was able deflect that first chomp, and before long the two hyenas were going at each other with abandon, in a flurry of bites, kicks, scratches and yelps.
The scarred hyena's companions kept their distance at first - they seemed to have much less appetite for a fight. Not a stranger to violence from his time in between clans, Kuzinga managed to keep his own against the older hyena at first. He knew those other two wouldn't be standing around doing nothing forever, though, and as soon as the scarred hyena drew back a bit, he tried to break away and run for it.
Seeing Kuzinga bolt away finally jolted the others into action, however, and they were fast on his heels. One of them, a younger hyena with pale, straw-colored manes, proved to be a bit of a sprinting prodigy, and he overtook Kuzinga in no time at all, biting at his ankles and then slamming him to the ground. Before he could fight the young hyena off, the scarred one had already caught up, cursing viciously. Kuzinga's earlier relief had rightly turned to fear again, and he cowered under the onslaught of his opponents, desperately fending off their attacks, and not bothering to get any in himself anymore. He would have yielded, but the scarred hyena didn't seem to be of a mind to let him.
"Mbili, calm down, I think he's learned his lesson by now," the blonde hyena suggested, backing off. His other companion also relented, and only the scarred hyena Mbili was left facing a wounded, shrinking Kuzinga.
"Fat chance - this little maggot thinks he can cavort with the lions, and be a smart-ass to my face? I'll rip out his tongue, see how big he talks then!" With that, he positioned himself for another attack, only to be interrupted by a shout coming from the direction of the Elephant Graveyard.
"NO! Stop it, let go of him!"
Mbili looked up in surprise, and Kuzinga crawled away. Two younger hyenas came running, and positioned themselves between the combatants: Mizuri and Nyeusi.
"What on earth do you hink you're doing?" Mizuri demanded.
"That's none of your business, now get out of my way while I deal with this lion-lover," Mbili growled, trying to work his way around Mizuri to get at Kuzigna. The red-headed hyena kept shielding her friend from him, however.
"If it's lion-lovers you're after, you'll have to go through me first!"
"Don't push your luck, brat, or I just might..."
"Mbili!" Nyeusi suddenly intervened, her voice cool and measured, "She's one of Shenzi's cousins, and you're just another male - harm as much as a hair on her head and you'll regret it."
That intervention seemed to finally have shaken the scarred hyena out of his rage, because he immediately backed away. Suddenly, he seemed much older and more tired than he had before, breathing heavily and eyeing the ground between them. An odd silence fell.
Eventually, Mbili looked up again, suddenly teary-eyed, staring at Nyeusi.
"Nyeusi, I... They told me there were lions here, and there were hyenas with them... and I couldn't stand it, I just..." He snorted, and didn't finish his thought.
"I'm one of them. Us three, and two lionesses. Gave them a tour of the place."
"But Nyeusi... how can you just... What are you doing hanging around with these lions? Nyeusi, these lions, they... they banished your mother! They banished Toka, our Toka! I'll never get to see her again, all because of them!"
"No. Tuli didn't banish mom, and neither did Winda - they're not just lions, they have names. Be mad at Scar if you want, him and Shenzi, they're the ones that did it. But leave my friends out of it."
Mbili didn't have any response, and just hung his head in defeat. The others could but look on, only half understanding. Now Nyeusi approached the scarred hyena, and whispered so just the two of them could hear: "Dad, I know it hurts, but you have to let go. What you're doing now just makes it worse..."
For the briefest of moments, Mbili held his head up and looked Nyeusi in the eyes, but he soon turned down again, and walked off without another word. Left standing around awkwardly were his two companions, who quickly made to follow him. The blonde hyena turned around for a bit, and he looked like he wanted to say something to Nyeusi, but when the look she gave him was cold as ice, he slunk off as well.
"Good thing we showed up when we did, too, or he'd have eaten you alive."
"I could've taken him - it's just that he had help, 's all... Ouch! Hey, watch it!"
Mizuri looked up from licking the wound on Kuzinga's forepaw with a sly, knowing smile.
"... I mean, thanks for saving me out there..."
"Don't sweat it; that's what friends are for, right?"
That hit Kuzinga like a kick in the gut."Yeah, I guess so," he whispered. Good friend he was, spying on them, and then needing to be rescued. He quickly changed the topic: "Was Nyeusi all right? I did't really get what was happening between her and that freak, but it seemed pretty heavy."
Nyeusi had taken off right after the hyenas that attacked Kuzinga left. To see the lionesses home, but probably also because she needed a moment alone. Mizuri didn't mind staying behind with Kuzinga, ostensibly because she was worried he'd gotten himself hurt. They nestled themselves up on the flat rock where Mbili had been sitting before, to enjoy the last of the day's sunlight.
"She'll be fine - she's a pretty tough cooky, Nyeusi. And that "freak" was he father."
"Huh, you don't say? Doesn't look a thing like her... I suppose the big scar 'round his neck kinda makes it hard to focus on anything else... Wait a minute, now I remember! It's the same guy, from that one time at the trial, with Nyeusi's mother!"
"Ain't you a bright one," Mizuri smirked.
"Yeah, now I remember. Nyeusi's mom got banished, and he got off with having to haul in a couple of kills for the king. Heck, I'm pretty sure I even helped out with one of those - everyone kicked in for them. Damn ingrate, I help him out like that, and this is the thanks I get?"
"He probably just forgot about it - you forgot about him, too."
"Sure... I guess it makes sense now. Poor guy misses his mate. He shouldn't take it out on me, though, or the lions."
"I know, right?" Mizuri agreed, "Just because one lion does something to wrong you doesn't mean all lions are bad. But good luck trying to convince other hyenas of that..."
"Well, there's us, Nyeusi, and that other friend of yours, what's her name... Hasira. Us four get along with some of the lions at least, and I'm plenty sure there's others who think like us."
"Yeah... but there's probably four hyenas like Mbili for every one of us. Like Hasira's mom, Kato - she's the worst, all stuffy and grim - she would have us go to war against the lions if it was up to her, too. And she's second only to Shenzi, so you'd better hope our dear leader goes ahead and finds herself a mate and has an heir real soon, or we're all going to be in deep trouble if anything ever happens to her..."
"Huh..." The fact of the matter was that Kuzinga's grasp of clan politics was quite poor, and he'd never even considered half the things Mizuri was telling him. Curious how so young a hyena kept herself busy with such serious affairs. Then again, from what he had gathered, Mizuri was rather high ranking - maybe such things were to be expected of girls like her.
He enjoyed listening to her talk like that. Reassuring, somehow.
"Say, Kuzinga?"
"Mhhh?"
"I was wondering: back at the hot-springs, why did you suddenly run off?"
Kuzinga's whole body tensed-up. So much for that briefly blissful moment.
"Well, I, uh... I had to... go... and uh..."
"You sound nervous," Mizuri said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"No, no! It's not you, I uh..." He alternated between biting his lip and trying to swallow with a dry troat, "I just thought of something, 's all, and I felt like I had to go see someone about that real quick."
"Oh... I understand," Mizuri whispered, drawing back and looking away, "You're seeing someone... That's okay, I... I shouldn't have..."
"What? No! It's not like that at all, I'm not "seeing" anyone! Mizu..." Kuzinga fell over himself trying to correct her. He touched one of her paws, and she looked back up at him. Her eyes were large and sad, and her manes the color of the setting sun. His first instinct was to tell her she looked beautiful, but he caught himself at the last moment. He closed his eyes and cringed.
"Damn it, this is all wrong! I'm sorry Mizu, I can't go on like this - I have to tell you something. I'm an idiot for telling you, but I can't stand not to. I'm not who you think I am... I mean, I am now, but, you know, not at first..."
Haltingly and with considerable effort, to Mizuri's rising shock and astonishment, Kuzinga explained the trouble he'd had with his previous clan, and the deal he'd made with Shenzi: spy on the lions and you get to stay. And critically, he admitted he'd only taken to hanging out with her at first because she knew Tuli. He of course took pains to stress how that was then, and how he'd come to appreciate Mizuri since, and that he'd tell Shenzi just what she could do with that deal of hers.
Kuzinga didn't know what reaction to expect from Mizuri - he hadn't given his confession any thought beyond that he felt like he needed to give one. Would she tell him that it was all right, and give him a kiss goodnight? Or explode at him and curse his lying bones?
In the end, she did neither. She just got up. "It's getting late, I should go see how Nyeusi is doing." She hopped from the rock, and started walking back towards the Elephant Graveyard.
"Mizuri..."
She stopped to look back, without looking directly at Kuzinga. "You're right, you should go see Shenzi."
There were no goodbyes. Kuzinga was left staring at his paws for a while as dusk turned into night, until he got up and set off for the clan's main den.
When the hyenas moved onto the Pridelands, one of their first concerns had been finding a good site for a new den. Though most of them had never known anything but the Elephant Graveyard for a home, it was loved by exactly no-one. While some had entertained vague notions of moving into Priderock, one look at the lionesses had been enough to dissuade them of that notion. In the end, they'd opted for a rather dissimilar abode: not too far from Priderock, in the direction of the Elephant Graveyard, they'd found a low hill with a hollow slope, and nestled within was a modest complex of rocks, caves and tunnels, none of it rising above the top of the hill. Whilst the lion den rose out of and above the land, the hyenas' lay hidden within.
The contrast was quite intentional, and a nod towards the concerns of some of the hyenas: we don't want to be like the lions, or a pale imitation - we want to be our own people, liking what we like, and doing things our way. Beyond that, it'd been an eminently practical choice: one of the few dens big enough to house large numbers of hyenas, though only a fraction of the clan would be present at any one time, and the many tunnels were perfect for the cubs to hide and play. Also, the complex had a small natural forum, a plus for any quarrelsome clan. Lastly, being close to the Elephant Graveyard would make things easier should they even need to leave in a hurry.
Though it was now fully dark, Kuzinga could see the rock formations from afar, reflecting the pale light of a waning moon. It was a cool and clear night, perfect for watching the stars. As he approached the den, he started hearing the characteristic chatter, whoops and giggles. You would always find at least a handful of hyenas at the den, though seldom the same folks two nights in a row. Nearer still, he was approached by someone keeping watch. Though few hyenas could sleep easier than those in the Pridelands now that they were at peace with the lions, they'd usually have someone stand guard anyway.
"Hey, man, who's that?"
"It's Kuzinga, I'm here looking for Shenzi."
"All right, Kuz'! It's been forever, man, whatcha been up to?"
Kuzinga finally recognized the other hyena, and he did not appreciate the warm welcome he received from Banzai. The last time they'd truly spoken had been when Shenzi and he threatened Kuzinga into becoming her stooge. He'd avoided Banzai since, still resentful of the role he played in that affair. He wasn't about to pretend they were friends now.
"None of your business. Where's Shenzi?"
"Man, what's up with you, lion took your dinner or something?"
"Get bent. Last time we met, you and that dopey friend of yours were threatening me, you think I've forgotten?"
"What? I don't remember any 'o that, it must've been like, a year ago, or something."
"It hasn't been a year, and you obviously remember, 'cause you still know my name," Kuzinga snarled, "Now where the hell is Shenzi?"
"Sheesh, whatever, a year ago, less than a year ago, who cares... lighten up, man. Anyway, Shenzi ain't around, she's out hunting. Pretty sure she'll be back in the morning, though..."
"Aw, great," Kuzinga sighed, "Now I get to spend the rest of the night fretting about what I've done..."
"Hey, I ain't got anything to do neither, you can hang out with me!"
Any other night, and Kuzinga might have given Banzai a second chance, or a third, or a fourth. But coming on the heels of an objectively terrible day, not so much. He told the other hyena off, again, and muscled his way past, hoping to find something to do at the den.
The main part of the den was an expansive, low hall, mostly subterranean, with big flat rocks on top and a dirt floor. A wide hole opened up to the surface in front, and at the back and sides the big room connected to various other caves and tunnels, only some of which were big enough for adult hyenas. Presently, the clan's cubs were playing out in front of the main entrance, with a a gaggle of adults spread out about the rocks, variously sleeping, chatting, or arguing. Every now and then there'd be a fight to settle a point, but never anything serious.
Kuzinga was about to pass by the gathered cubs and youngsters to see if he didn't recognize anyone among the older hyenas, when he was stopped in his tracks at the sound of a familiar voice calling his name.
"Kuzinga! You useless twerp, don't pretend like you didn't see me!"
He turned around to the sight of a squat-nosed hyena with stiff, bristling manes barreling towards him. She flashed her fangs at him in a mischievous grin.
"Hasira. It's been a while - not nearly long enough."
"That's no way to talk to your betters," she growled, "Head down, eyes at the ground!"
Though she wasn't yet fully grown, Hasira was already taller than Kuzinga, and she never hesitated to throw her weight around, now aggressively posturing herself in front of him. And he dutifully obliged, doing as he was told and bowing his head.
Hasira, along with Nyeusi, was part of Mizuri's clique - or rather, they were part of Hasira's. Kuzinga had gotten acquainted with the three of them in the process of trying to befriend Tuli, and he and Hasira had taken an immediate half-playful, half-serious dislike to one another. It was all down to how Hasira carried herself - unlike Mizuri, she insisted on pulling rank everywhere she went, not just when things got serious, and she couldn't go two sentences without bossing someone around. As was her right, being the only daughter to the second hyena in the clan.
"That's better - I'll make a proper gentleman out of you yet. You've got to learn the right way to talk to a lady."
"What, you mean groveling in the dirt?" Kuzinga hissed, looking up out of one eye. Hasira grinned back at him.
"That's right, you've go to know your place: you're all the way down there, and I'm up here. Simple!"
"That's stupid, nobody likes a groveler - I mean, maybe you do, but that's because you're a petty little tyrant. Real ladies don't."
"You're stupid! And what do you know anyway, you're just a boy. My mom says the most important thing is that everyone knows their place, and that everyone should be put in their place, especially the likes of you..."
"Huh, that solves the mystery of where you got your wonderful personality, then," Kuzinga sneered, "Can I get up now? My neck's starting to hurt."
"Yeah, whatever," Hasira motioned airily, "That's enough education for one day. Now tell, how'd it go today?"
"Terrible, to be honest..."
"Whadaya mean, terrible? Didn't she like the Elephant Graveyard, then? Is that were you got those fresh scars?"
"Huh, what?" Talking to Hasira, Kuzinga's mind had wandered to his falling-out with Mizuri.
"I mean, sure, it's not Priderock, but the ol' boneyard has its charms! Certainly not so bad she'd have to beat you up over it. Did you show Tuli the hot-spings at least? Everybody likes those!"
"Sorry, I thought you meant... No, it actually went great, that."
Right, she's asking about showing Tuli around the Elephant Graveyard, Kuzinga realized. Hasira hadn't been able to join them, for some reason - Kuzinga hadn't inquired further, being perfectly content with her absence.
So that's why she's bugging me.
He went on to tell her about the tour of the Graveyard, how Tuli had brought along Winda, how she'd turned out to be a perfectly nice lioness, and how everyone really enjoyed themselves - good times all around. He took pains to stress just how much fun it had been, stopping just short of adding "too bad you couldn't be there." He relished the thought of seeing the pain of missing out all over Hasira's face.
Until he actually saw it.
"Oh..." she responded quietly, "Sounds like you had a wonderful time, then..."
"We sure did."
No response. This should have been the point in the conversation where she snapped at him for being a smug little jerk.
"Hasira?"
"I wish I could have met Winda, she sounded like such a nice lady," she mumbled.
"I'm sure she'll show up next time we meet up, you can get acquainted then."
What's this, I'm trying to cheer her up now?
"Kuz', did Tuli ask about me?"
"Huh? Sure, I guess. I think she asked why you weren't there - I suppose she's used to seeing you, Nyeusi and Mizuri together. Why, what's ..."
"It doesn't matter," she suddenly growled, "None of your business anyway. Enough talk, you wanna fight me?"
"W-what?"
"Fight me! I've been cooped up with these cubs all day, and you're about the right size - big enough for a challenge, but weak enough so I'm sure I can win."
"Yeah, okay," Kuzinga scoffed - Hasira was back to her old form then, "Thanks, but no thanks. I mean, you talk big, and I'd love to show you up, but I've had enough fighting for one day. You saw the scars, didn't you?"
"Oh yeah. What's up with that then?"
Having nothing much better to do for the night, Kunzinga gave Hasira the quick run-down of his fight with Mbili's gang. She seemed to really be into that kind of battle-tale, because she kept on asking for the most minute details, few of which Kuzinga could recall. And when he told her of how Mizuri stepped in at the end, she burst out laughing.
"That's just perfect, I love it! The fair maiden stepping in at the last moment to save your hapless butt from the mean old brute. It adds a dash of romance, ya know?" she snickered.
"Not funny."
"Awww, come on, don't tell me you didn't know. I mean, sure, it's ridiculous, you don't have to tell me! But for some unfathomable reason, Mizu likes your ugly face. And between you and me, you could do a lot worse, and she a lot better. If she still hasn't tired of you this time next year, count your lucky stars!"
"Don't worry, no chance of that happening now," Kuzinga grumbled.
"What's that?"
"Nothing..."
"Oh, no, no, no! You're not getting away that easy - don't think I didn't hear," she grinned, "I do love me a good lovers' quarrel, especially if it involves your hurt feelings. And besides, I have to know if you did anything to hurt Mizu, so I can kill you if you did. Come on, out with it, what happened?"
"Well I'm not telling you now, you just said you'd kill me..."
"I was only joking," Hasira frowned, "But now I'm thinking you did something serious, and I'll actually have to kick your ass. Better start talking."
"I... I told her about something I did, something Shenzi made me do... and now... I dunno, she just left when I told her. I guess she's angry with me. Like not angry-angry, but..." Kuzinga's voice trailed off with a sigh.
"Huh. Well that doesn't sound very angry. I mean, if I was angry with you, you'd know. I guess I'd better ask Mizu. But that's that then? I mean, now that she's done with you, there's no reason for you to be around me at all anymore... so this is the last I'm seeing of you? That's fine, good riddance."
That's what Kuzinga figured too - Mizuri hated him now, and that was the end of that. Just deserts for going along with Shenzi's little scheme. But to see Hasira gloating over it really drove the point home. Was that really it? No more friends with Mizuri, no more hanging around with the lions - done and over, all of it? All of his trouble had started because he couldn't stand the thought of being dishonest with his newfound friends. And now he was just going to let them drop him?
Fat chance.
If only so he wouldn't have to give Hasira the satisfaction of seeing him gone.
"You wish!" Kuzinga growled, "I'll make it up to her, you'll see. Don't think you'll be rid of me this easily."
"Well I'll be damned, seems like you have some spine in you after all. So how'd you plan to do that?"
"... I dunno..." That was all it took to make Kuzinga's spirits sink again. He still hadn't thought beyond telling Shenzi off.
"I figured as much," Hasira smirked, "Just don't think I'll be helping you out in any way..."
"I know you won't."
"... that said, I might know someone who could."
Kuzinga followed Hasira down through the entrance into the den. It was almost totally dark inside, save for beams of moonlight falling in through crevices in the low rock-ceiling. Outlines of mothers suckling the really young cubs were visible near the sides of the cave. It all felt very cramped to Kuzinga, and he'd rather be outside again.
"He's probably in one of the tunnels near the back, that's where he usually hides," Hasira mumbled. Kuzinga followed her to where the room started to narrow until floor and ceiling converged. Dark openings of irregular size loomed ahead - tunnels running further back into the hill, or to the surface.
"I can't see him anywhere... NOKI! Noki, are you there?" she shouted out. Some of the nursing mothers sushed her, but she snarled at them to mind their own business. Then, from one of the dark holes, a faint, youthfully high-pitched voice could be heard.
"H-hello?"
"There you are, you useless little runt. Come out of there, we need to talk."
"Y-yes ma'am!"
A small, big-eared head appeared out off one of the tunnels, seemingly all black except for two big eyes that reflected what little light there was in the cave. As soon as the cub was all the way out, he bowed before Hasira.
"There, see that, Kuz'? Now that's a boy who knows how to behave."
Kuzinga grunted something inaudible. As if prompted, the cub looked up at him, his eyes wide open. Kuzinga tried to smile, but all he did was flash a grin, and the cub cowered back a bit.
"So you've noticed Kuzinga - good," Hasira commented when she saw, "Kuzinga, this little mutt here is called Noki. He's Mizuri's younger brother. Noki, that useless sack of bones there is Kuzinga. He's a friend of your sister's - or he used to be anyway. Because you can't seem to get along with the other cubs, I've asked dear Kuz' here to keep you company for a while. Set a good example, teach you a thing or two, role model... all that jazz."
"Eh... Hi, kiddo." Kuzinga hadn't deemed it possible, but the cub's eyes seemed to grow even bigger.
"Yeah, you'll get along just fine. I'll leave you two to get acquainted, and I'll go back to minding the rest of these little monsters - it's what I was supposed to be doing before you showed up and pulled me away." Without so much as a goodbye, Hasira took off, leaving the two others staring awkwardly at one another.
"You know, she's the one that came at me. I'd have been fine just leaving her alone."
Noki just kept staring up at him.
"So... Noki, that's your name right? Just nod, if you don't wanna talk." Nod. "Okay, glad we sorted that out. I'm Kuzinga, Kuz' for short..."
Kuzinga looked around uncomfortably. He didn't much like the feeling of being underground, and the other hyenas in there were giving him the same evil-eyes they'd given Hasira earlier - angry lights twinkling in the darkness.
"Noki, you wouldn't mind if we went someplace else? Like outside?"
The cub eyed the exit warily. "C-can't we just stay in here? I think this is nice."
Of course he'd say that. In here is where he could hide, out there is where the other cubs were. All the same, Kuzinga felt little for staying cooped up inside. He took another good look at the cub. He still looked pretty young, probably hadn't been much further than directly outside the cave.
"You know, Noki, going outside doesn't have to mean we'll be near the other cubs or anything - there's plenty of other places than just outside the den. How 'bout we go have a look at the top of the hill?"
"Why, what's up there?"
"Fresh air. A nice view, during the day. Right now I reckon it'd be a really good place for stargazing."
Noki still didn't seem very convinced. All the same, Kuzinga was done convincing.
"Huh, that's weird..."
"What?"
"That thing, over there..."
While Noki had his head turned, Kuzinga quickly grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and marched him out of the den. There were a few yelps and some struggling at first, but that subsides as soon as they'd passed by the rest of the cubs and moved further up the hill, away from the den. When the terrain leveled off, Kuzinga halted in a small clearing and put Noki back on the ground.
"There! Isn't this better?"
The cub looked around warily, and finally settled on staring at the ground in front of him. He seemed to be shivering.
Not used to much, that one.
"Hey, little man, it's all right," Kuzinga said, awkwardly ruffling the fur on Noki's head, "Sorry for tricking you earlier, but I just really don't like being inside..."
"You could have just left me. Why did you have to bring me?"
"Because I promised Hasira I'd keep you company."
"I don't like Hasira," Noki mumbled after a brief silence, "She's always mean to me, and I could tell she was mean to you, too. Why would you promise her anything?"
"She is pretty mean," Kuzinga agreed, "But she I don't think she means bad. She thought I could maybe help you, and you could maybe help me."
"Did she ask you to help me toughen up?"
Kuzinga was taken aback. "Actually... yeah, those were her exact words. How'd you guess?"
"They've done it before. They get someone to shout at me, fight me, and hurt me, and then I have to hurt them back. But I don't want to, and then everyone gets mad, and leaves... I'm too much of a wuss."
"Well I wouldn't know, I've only just met you." Kuzinga wasn't in the mood for indulging in drama. "We'll just skip over the toughing you up-part, then. Besides, I've already had my share of fighting today."
Noki threw a furtive glance at Kuzinga, his eyes lingering on the most obvious scars. Kuzinga caught him looking.
"Now those I got way before today, when I was between clans. This one here is new, though." He held out one of is forepaws. It had a noticeable gash in it, mostly scabbed over by now. Noki drew back with a horrified expression.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not really. Itches like crazy, though. And I can't touch it, or it'll just get worse."
"Yeah, that's what my mom always tells me, too," Noki giggled. Finally, some levity. "What happened?"
Happy to have finally gotten the kid to open up a bit, Kuzinga explained for the second time that day how he'd gotten in a fight with Mbili, though this time with much less detail; Hasira had salivated over every gnaw and scratch, but Noki in stead just winced when things got graphic. He did cheer when he heard about Mizuri.
"Haha, Mizu saved you! I love my sis, I wish I could be more like her... Do you like my sister, mister Kuzinga?"
"Huh? Sure I do, she's a great gal..."
"She is! She's even friends with a lioness, you know."
"Oh yeah, I knew that. The lioness' name is Tuli, I know her too."
Noki's eyes went wide again, and he stared up at Kuzinga in awe. "Wow, that's so cool! Both of you have lion friends! Everybody else thinks they're scary, but I know they're really cool; my sis told me so. I wish I could meet a real lion..."
"Oh, that's easy, we'll just introduce you to Tuli, or Winda - she's another lioness. They're both really nice ladies, so that shouldn't be an issue."
"Really? Could you really do that, take me to see a lion?"
"Eh... sure, I think. I'd have to ask your mom first, though. And Mizuri, and Tuli... Come to think of it, that's more a thing you and your sister should do, you know. Have you tried asking her yet?"
"I have," Noki answered, disappointed, "She told me no, and said I would just annoy the lions..."
"That's total bull," Kuzinga scoffed, "Lions or not, Tuli and Winda are still girls, you know? I bet they could just eat you - I mean, figuratively, figuratively! That's how girls are: they like small and cuddly things. They'll think you're really cute, and that'll be that."
"Do you think I'm cuddly?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing... Maybe you can convince my sis? Then all three of us can go!"
"Yeah, sure, that'd be nice." Not likely, though, not now. "Don't get too excited, it was just an idea. And it's not happening today, at any length..." Kuzinga yawned, "So, now that we've decided to just skip the whole toughen you up-business, is there anything you wanna do?"
"I dunno..."
"Hmmm... I get the feeling you spend a lot of your time in the den. How about some stargazing? Can't do that when you're inside. Here, just do like me..."
Kuzinga plopped down and turned over on his back, leaving his paws hanging limp above him. It must've looked comical somehow, because he could see Noki snickering upside-down. The cub eventually followed his lead, and lay down opposite Kuzinga. When they both stretched their heads back, their noses almost touched.
They lay gazing up in awed silence. After a little while, Kuzinga started to point out the various shapes and signs in the stars. He mostly just repeated what he remembered others telling him at various times, and the little stories that went with the signs. Most of those stories didn't make a whole lot of sense, as Noki pointed out when he could. Probably because Kuzinga remembered them wrong.
"What are they, anyway? The stars, I mean," Noki asked, eventually, "My mom says they're animals' spirits - but then why don't they ever do anything, they just hang there... That's not like animals at all."
"I don't know. Back in my birth-clan, they told me they're like holes in a big ceiling above."
"Does the ceiling come off during the day?"
"Don't know, maybe. Or it could just be spirits... or something else."
"You know who probably knows? Birds. I mean, the starts are above us, right? And the birds can fly above us, too. So they must be a lot closer, and get a better view," Noki reasoned, "We should ask them. Can birds talk?"
"Some of them, sure. I know vultures can, I've talked to them a few times. They're all strange, though, and hard to understand. I don't know if you could get a straight answer out of them."
"Why are they strange?"
"I think it's because of how they eat. They're not like us, they can't hunt. They have to wait for something to die before they can eat it. So they spend most of their time with animals who are dieing, looking at them, and even talking to them - after a while, I think that makes them go a bit crazy..."
The conversation meandered from there, with Kuzinga talking about what little he knew of other animals, and about his time alone, between clans, how he got his biggest scars... Noki listened attentively, always questioning, and wanting to know more than what Kuzinga could tell him.
Kuzinga dozed off at some point, and when he woke up a bit later, he found Noki nestled against him, fast asleep. He picked the cub up as softly as he could, so he could bring him back to the den - it wasn't safe to have him sleep outside if there was no-one awake to watch him. Getting back to the nest, he found Hasira standing guard at the entrance. She gave him a questioning look, but didn't say anything, and took Noki back inside.
Kuzinga, for his part, nestled himself beside a couple of trees not too far from the entrance of the den, and fell asleep thinking of what a strange day it had been.
