*Chapter 2: A Journey*

That evening, Ajani snuck out of his house and brought his spear. Since he didn't have any supper, he must go out and find something to eat. He made his own headband made out of beads and teeth. More paint on his face to make him look like a warrior whenever he goes out on a hunt. He took his foster father's compass from the room in case he gets lost on the way back. But Ajani thought of something. He doesn't need to stay here since he was unhappy. He should go back to his old village. This isn't his place to be. Ajani clenched on the compass with a deep thought. It was decided then. Ajani must leave and find his place.
He snuck out of the house and see some villagers walking around. Ajani snuck pass them and climbed on the rocks. As soon as he is out of sight, he took one last look at the village. No one will miss him. Ajani was ready to walk away through the tall grass until a voice is heard.

"Ajani!" A female voice called. Ajani turned back to see Zuri climbing up the rocks. "Where are you going? It's dangerous at night."

"I'm leaving. I don't belong here, Zuri." Ajani said.

"Why? You're my friend." Zuri asked with a sad look. "I don't want to be alone." Ajani frowned a bit. He's beginning to feel bad for leaving her. He removed his headband and hand it to Zuri. The girl took the headband and looked up at him. "For me?"

"Keep it. You will think of me whenever you wear it. My spirit is there." Ajani told her. "Stay safe, Zuri. One day, I will return and see you. Maybe I can bring you to my village. I want to follow my path and become chief to my home."

"I will see you again?" Zuri asked.

"We'll meet again. I promise." Ajani said as he patted his chest where his heart is. Zuri almost wanted to cry. She gave him a hug. Ajani embraced her. He can't risk bringing her along. After they pulled away, Ajani turned away to leave. Zuri puts the headband on and watched her friend leave. She wouldn't tell anyone about him leaving. This is Ajani's choice.

"Good luck." Zuri whispered as she crossed her fingers over her chest.

Ajani wandered off into the Savannah to find his way back to his old village. He couldn't tell where he was going since it was so dark outside. He couldn't see the compass. Even the moon in the sky didn't help either. Ajani kept his guard up in his surroundings. Predators could be looking for dinner around here. Ajani hoped he won't bump into the hyenas again. Sounds of rustling is heard above the tree. Ajani looked up in alarm to see the mandrill swinging around the branches. It was holding the stick. Ajani ignored the monkey and continued to walk away.

"And where are you going?" A voice spoke. Ajani blinked and looked back up at the mandrill who grinned down at him.

"Uh...nowhere." Ajani spoke slowly.

"You are going the wrong way, lad. Your home is this way." The mandrill replied. Ajani stared in silence. What does this monkey know? Before he could ask, the mandrill spoke once more. "Bye." He swings away to another tree. Ajani gasped. He had to follow the mandrill.

"Wait!" He yelled, following the mandrill. "Hey, come back!" He followed the mandrill throughout Savannah.

XX

Ajani continued to follow the tracks and sounds of the mandrill. But Ajani came across the waterhole and see the mandrill is gone! Where did he go? Ajani looked around. This is getting strange. He is still shocked that the mandrill understood him earlier like the lioness and those hyenas. Ajani sighed and got on his knees. He looked down at his reflection. He cupped his hands together to gather the water. A small sound is heard from behind. Ajani turned around and readied his spear but saw a small cub. A hyena. Ajani lowered his weapon.

"Where did you come from?" He asked. He reached his hand out for the cub. It whimpered a bit. Ajani smiled at it. "Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you. Where's your mother? Are you lost?" The hyena cub slowly came over to his offering hand and sniffed it. Ajani chuckled. "See? I'm friendly. I wouldn't hurt a helpless cub." The hyena cub placed its paws on Ajani's knees, sniffing up towards his face. Ajani slowly picked it up. "There we go. Aww, you're kind of cute, I guess. You got a name girl?" He puts her down and the cub scurried away. "Okay. Bye." Ajani stood up and must continue on his journey. Now he doesn't know where to go since the mandrill led him here. "I need a place to sleep. I'll find my village in the morning." He said to himself.

Ajani walked through some areas in Savannah to find a place to sleep. A tree could do. Ajani looked around to find the tree to spend in the night in, but most of them are too scrawny and won't carry his weight. But there is one with a few rocks around. Ajani smirked and ran up to the tree.

'Found the right tree to sleep in.' He thought to himself as he climbed up.

"I wouldn't stay up there if I were you, human." A voice spoke. Ajani looked down to see a chameleon on the rock.

"Why not?"

"That's where she lives."

"Who?"

"Iris."

"Who's she?" Ajani wondered as he rests on the branch, looking down at the chameleon.

"I understand you're new here and I won't ask how you can understand me, but I'm telling you she will eat you." The chameleon said as he slowly crawled down the rock. "It's your funeral, man." Ajani watched him slowly exit. The boy still didn't get the answer of who Iris is. Ajani looked above the canopy of the tree and see nothing but branches and leaves. Iris could be a snake. But there is no sight of her. "No one's home. I'll just settle in and leave in the morning." Ajani said as he stretched his arms out and yawned.

"That human's scent. He's been here." A hyena spoke. The hyenas were sniffing around the grasslands and found the scent of Ajani. "Should we tell Scar?"

"No. That would make him angry. You know he hates humans." The female hyena replied. "Let's keep this to ourselves for now. One thing I want to know is how does that human understand us? He talks to animals?"

"Shenzi, how should we know? Look, I'm starving. Let's find something to eat before we head back to the Elephant Graveyard." The hyena says as the third hyena let out a giggle. They scurry through the grass while the small hyena cub watched with fear. If only she had the courage to go with Ajani. She needs to find her home that isn't the Elephant Graveyard.