(A/N: To give the readers a special idea of what Tabari's voice sounds like I've chosen both of David Lodge's False Igor from Persona 5 as the main base with the gruff softness to accent of a YouTuber named Dr. Creepen who narrates both of the scariest and haunting ghost stories, in the exception that his accent's more American with his original being thrown into the mix; oh and Master Eraqus to mellow out the main base itself. It's not too bad for what I can imagine him sounding like as he's a father after all. Now for this, an chapter like this will begin with a cold opening that shows the relationship between Tabari as well as Jeyluxhal reuniting with his friends but that's not the purpose of the chapter; my main focus is to establish him meeting with a special one in this story. If you've seen the show that was called The Lion Guard then you will see that they all make their appearances here, Jasiri to be exact; the idea's supposed to be for Jeyluxhal to find somebody that he can love. He of all hyenas need the comfort of a woman after his mother was ripped to shreds, and he chose to leave his adopted mother's clan because of his destiny for retribution. Plus, I think that the two of them would have some good chemistry like a little tomboy of a girl and a rather dark as well as silent but teddybear like early teen whose not known for showing affection easily; just hiding all that love for someone like her and suppressing emotions like that clearly has a nasty backfire whenever it happens. Ah but you'll learn more about it when we start this here so get ready for more, Enjoy)
A new sun from the line that separates the earth on the horizon had come in the earliest hour as it was here that the newly reunited father to son were resting with each other in the place that he couldn't be more comfortable living in. Tabari was the first to awaken as he looked on where his son slept, coming down to his ear to tell him: "There is not much that have changed in the Backlands, I would like to see you outside but I will not be far from our home; come on out whenever you feel ready to continue where we left off, there isn't much to see as there was in the early hours of the night" He then lapped his tongue on his eye before leaving with silent steps to the exit. A month has passed since Simba's ascension to the throne and exactly three months after Kiara was born, Kopa was out on a journey but he'll back so no worries 'bout that; that doesn't mean his son likes the son of the same name because that happened to be one of those that sounded catchy but holy hell did it turn out to be way more obnoxious than what the listener remembers. The Outlanders were exiled in a few days while two weeks later came a presentation ceremony as prior to that, both Kovu and Vitani were born two years later while Scar evaluated his son as his heir a month later. As for Kion he was born a month after his sister, still there ain't nothing to worry about as Kopa will be back from his journey. Tabari told his son that they would continue their tour but wanted his son to take the time to heal, become familiarized with all-new and alot more lushful environments as well as hear the stories of when he and Najira were together
His eyesight dulling out to a clearer translucent flesh red color from his eyelids, both of which flicker slowly as he managed to open them completely; looking around where he was. That is the first time he felt truly refreshed just like when he was a pup, getting up he looked under himself seeing his underbelly sway off to the sides lightly and breathed out through his snout upon stretching; he did have to wonder how his friends, that is if he had any that he could in his right mind call them friends were up to. Sitting down while letting out a prolonged yawn, looks like it was time for him to get a move on with his father; coming outside ignoring harsh and radiant rays of light from the sun on the horizon, he found Tabari waiting for him close by as he never left the burrow den. Just like he did with Shenzi, he stuck close to his side behind him as he never wanted to leave him once; this act of shyness as well as his reserved and the introvertedness was nothing new to Tabari as he encouraged this behavior, he knew that he would be willing to open up to newer opportunities like he was before. Thus, the father and son walked off together to begin their morning and savor whatever was left before the rest was for him to spend
Continuing off to where the father and son were at the canyons of the Backlands, Tabari took notice of how much fur that grew on him; seeing how there were no one else to see the two of them he decided that this would be a good time to modify his look a little bit. Coming over to curl around him he started off through grooming his muzzle underneath his jaw to give him the same spruce tree shape that spiked off toward the sides five times with each one being a bigger one than the last until it made up his entire, to be specific it's the usual christmas tree shape that was basic looking; it's really just narrowed down triangular shapes stacked atop of each other before becoming a full shape altogether. Fading off the sides like his stubble as it grew on him, now he had a chest floof that was not bushy like a squirrel's and cat's tail such as Oliver when he passed through an airvent in New York City for example but just simply in his words: "flooffeh" so why should he worry? He also slicked back some fur on the far edges of his eyes to make them dual pronged like a genet's and smeared some faint facial markings as if they were tattoos. He would continue this for another time as he entered near Badili's Tree though the cheetah himself of the same name was nowhere to be found, he's out hunting to be exact as Tabari will just leave it at that since he's got more on his mind
"This traitor who revealed the location of where we took to living out the rest of our days in a state of peace was none other than a ice pigeon informant, a nameless one who snitched to a devil like Baridi. Our history though buried will be told in time to know the truth, but I see to it that there was alot more to be taught as the time goes on; the absence of I on that night has to be known. I never went to the Sehemu Pass to hunt down elephants who've trapped their selves in between the narrowed rocks, I tracked the snitch down to the boiling hot tarpit like mud swamps of the Chenkundu Cliffs; while he just let himself have a broken bladder seep into the dried soil in need of rain rather than piss upon brandishing my claws at his throat, I gained the information I needed as he informed Baridi of where they were. Throwing him to the slop of filth that bubbled on the earth, I gave him one hell of a fate that was meant for an pigeon who thought that everything was his to excrement on as if he dominated the lands; he was to be swallowed by his self-interest greed. His throat was slit and I left him for death as it boiled down to being swallowed under the mud, no one would mourn that untrustful pigeon and not even Baridi himself..."
Jeyluxhal snarled at that pigeon who didn't deserve a good riddance from him, nevertheless he continued to follow his father close like his days as a pup before that nightfall; he went to a few locations that neither of them could go due to nearly passing out as it was a long night of repressed memories. Locations included the Acacia Woods, Dhahabu Grove as well as the Mirihi Forest. At that time was when Tabari ended his walk with his son, telling him this next as he sat down: "There is a zebra named Dhalimu (tyrant) who has been harassing the friends you have made back then, back then as he started ten weeks ago after being adopted by the matriarch of the clan; you have nothing to hide and neither do I to them. They've told me the location where they were going off to, Dhahabu's Watering Hole whose monitored under the golden zebra herself. I ask of you to take the rest of the day for yourself to spend, know your surroundings of both the familiar and the unknown that separates the borders; return to the burrow den whenever you need me"
Jeyluxhal thought back to the time when he had friends of his own, coming to the clear truth that he was led under repressed memories since being adopted by the mother that he fell in love with but could never have; knowing now of the fate that befell his real mother. Finding out that he did make friends from the past, all of them stood against their bullies no matter how much inner rage he built at their insults towards his silence; this scared them off thanks to being intimidating with just his facial expressions and nothing more as well as nothing less of their cowardly nature within. He turned to his father in order to give his response as a nod, wanting to clear the rest of his mind back at the burrow den
"Then you have my leave to go, I should see you as of nightfall; later than that will do as my son has faced punishment enough in the form of discrimination under the lionesses of Pride Rock, and the actions of the Outlanders before the return of our new king" Tabari nuzzled his face as he turned away, Jeyluxhal curled his neck around him before leaving him to watch on his departure; knowing full well that he will encounter his friends but will not respond to the attempts that are made to make him remember. He has the answers they want to know as he did tell them that he left to join fruitless conflicts between animals
Jeyluxhal roamed through the Backlands' soft grazing grass where the animals paid no mind to his presence as his father wanted nothing of prejudice between him and them, he was an intimidating hyena enough even when he was a calm figure as he made it clear to all that he desired to not be involved with the lions thanks to the stigma against a kind like him so how can they not refuse of course? Hell, he called them out on the term racist is meaningless due to how everything is about what kind of animal they are; this is no different from a human at all. In the case of the animals however this is because of fear, overhunting and just acting as if it's them that has dominance over them rather than the lion hierarchy; in their eyes there have been exceptions when all of them follow the Circle of Life while there are those who would live off the survival of the fittest philosophy. Unfortunately, this flanderization has backfired with an nasty recoil of misconceptions in what stories are told; neither of that is what mattered the most to Jeyluxhal but it was the truth that's remembered the least
Finding the watering hole, he approached as some of the animals were new to these lands as such with all rights and no bigotry backed off from him in fear of what he might do; amplified worse when covered in faded scars that never left. It's those shares of battle that were his to wear as tattoos. Taking a drink he turned back to leave as he contemplated on what's left for him to do next, this was not as easy as it was in Shenzi's Clan as he always gave her an special treatment just so he wouldn't be chased out; that was until his talk with her about not letting himself be an advantage taking tool for granted to others when they seize the opportunity. In a sense he looked down at his claws, deciding that he could sharpen them as it seems to be a popular trend for both the lions and the cheetahs to do; if he could do it in private so that no other animals such as wildcats can tell him to leave or be clawed if met with resistance
Before he could fully leave the watering hole that was when his father's information came at the play of time as he witnessed firsthand that Dhalimu was harassing what looked like what his father called his former friends that he once played together with. Neither of them in the damn near slightest have aged, their names resurfaced in his head when seeing each of them individually in order: Kuplinka, Mwindaji, Zuberi, Fuhari and Luthando. From the one that was being tortured through trampling to the last that was threatening to attack their bully with an poisonous bite, Jeyluxhal appeared distressed as he was cold but bathing in hot sweat from an burning sun in the sky, a little bit of trembling was nothing short of a little bit of anxiety; that trampling was causing Kuplinka greater pain that Dhalimu seemed to be taking pleasure in, it was not the case for him in actuality as he was just being a bully rather than actually taking an sadistic desire in tormenting these group of friends. Heaving heavier but faster as if it looked that he was having a incoming asthma attack, he started running with his inner vocal strains were soft as they were at first before becoming louder as he started to get angry
Rushing into the rescue he darted to the side of the zebra and tackled him onto the ground, it alone scared the others nearby who were about to intervene; but Dhalimu's attempts to kick him off fallen upon blinded eyes as they've did to deafened ears. He realized too late that he was the son of Tabari who've somehow returned from the battles waged between two others of different groups, he assumed that he couldn't keep the peace and ended up being killed in one of them. His father wouldn't talk about him as he remained silent, he hasn't been seen in the Backlands so much anymore but still kept secrets to himself. Standing over him pounced on his chest, his back turned from his friends and slobbering from the sides of his mouth; he let out a threatening low growl that rumbled in his throat slowly. Narrowed eyes of ultimate but pure domination that he held in the upperpaw of this confrontation, he dared to take an step forward through biting into his neck without warning to feast on the meat since he was starting to eat a lot more frequently as he needed something to keep the population control in check; it's not like the Pride Lands and it's borders are part of the Republic of China in Asia. At that point in time he told him out of fear: "This isn't over, you were supposed to be dead!" Dhalimu ran off with tears falling to the soil soaked from the rain, but Jeyluxhal only had the expression that told him off to quit his bitching; showcasing his apathetic side
Now knowing that he's revealed and exposed himself to them, he turned halfway to the right to meet their eyes though his face was shrouded in his mane; Kuplinka looked as though he's seeing a old friend that he recognized and haven't been in contact with for over a year, when that was just how to describe his expression. He was the first one to speak to him: "Tajiuva, is this one of your father's secrets to himself?" He asked him, no response as Jeyluxhal looked at them for a few moments with a more raised head; still shrouded by his mane as he instead ran off in the distance of where his burrow den was. "T, don't leave- I don't want to run from you; I just want to see your face-" Jeyluxhal showed no response to his former name as he is long gone
"Tabari approaches, enter the Hyena-Dragon chimera himself; unless if it's Mushu then enter the latter" Mwindaji spread his wing out to the father who came
"I asante for the introduction as always, Mwindaji. Tajiuva will not respond to that name that you knew him by, because he cannot see himself as him anymore. He's joined his mother to eternal paradise. His rechristened name is Jeyluxhal, known under no other title than one as that is the Hyena Prince of the Shadowlands. Return with me back to the burrow den, do not chase after him no matter the temptation to see to it that he must remember you; he cannot let himself face his former friends..." Tabari explained his son's return, rechristening of name and seemingly running off out of shame for the fact that they know him
As Jeyluxhal hid from behind the rock, he came out from behind as he then headed off in the direction of elsewhere that he can sharpen his claws in peace without being followed; now it has come for the cold opening to end, let us begin the featured presentation of what this tale is about in seeking retribution against Baridi. For that we start off in a secluded location that's found within the Pride Lands
This jungle like area in the Pride Lands had dirt littered with sticks to shavings on the earth as there were some palm trees, bushes and a waterfall nearby; it was there that Jeyluxhal did as he wanted to do alone. Sharpening his claws on the trees until the bark was skinned down to exposed blossom wood, just because this alone was a habit for wildcats didn't mean he could not do the same; it's not limited to them nor is it a exclusive task for lions. Hyenas like him as it should be clear have the right to try out the things they do, especially something like this in fact; he would remove the splinters should he get any and lick away the blood if it pierced his pawpads. It took around twenty minutes worth of a good sharpening but he felt like this was not enough to dig into the flesh of what he craves for, so he looked at his earrings and had an idea for some hidden razor blades to really do some damage. He's doing all this for Baridi, all out of revenge as it makes no difference to what he did prior to targeting his mother
Hearing the sounds of herbs that were being picked thanks to his ears picking up the sound at the waterfall, he came to investigate the sound that he was being lured towards; keeping low in case the one responsible saw him which he did not want to happen. Prowling over to near bushes, he took a peak through the other side where the waterfall was just below him; there were definitely herbs around but he wasn't seeing anything. A pile however was shown, that told him he's not alone; further shown to be true when he took a peak on what looked like an animal just coming out of the other side from the wall of water. Keeping a close eye as it was simply an mongoose, making him very disappointed that he was fooled into thinking he saw someone like himself. He went back to sharpening his claws further until the bark could stay no more on the skinned wood, breathing one out as the corner of his eye caught some of the speckles of the soothing moisture in the air; closing one of them as he prepared to leave and gather some cobra fangs as well as aardvark nails on both fingers and foot
Leaving the waterfall behind him he roamed on ahead through the jungle like area, feeling as if he was lonesome with a heartache but not willing to meet his friends in the face again; he's always been alone like those times in the reign of Scar that has fallen for the greater of good. Those feelings still tormented him whenever he was alone and here they've returned with a full force of fury, he stopped in his tracks where he slowly flopped down to lay his head onto the ground; breathing out through his mouth vocally even with his fangs unmoving and bared to all who approach him. Suppressing the emotions that were building up in his blood, it came down to mourning the mother whom he wanted to interact with; not see with his eyes, move and interact with her no matter how brief it was. Softly vocalizing as he took the time to stare at the scenery such as fallen logs, sunbathed glazing rocks and countless moss that grew into greater fungai among the environment; rumbling in his throat every now and then as if he's sobbing which he wasn't. He just needed a woman's soothing comfort like his mother, this is a hard time he's going through right about now
Breaking him out of the trance was the scent of boiling hot mud that lure him to another but this time a large cluster of bushes that roofed over him, concealing his presence as he gotten down low to prowl like a predator but not to the others as he was just a small animal to them; in reality he was a cold blooded hyena out for their flesh to crave upon. Scent was at the near strongest as he peered out where just his snout pierced through, the rest hidden because of both his fur and tattoos given to him thanks to his father. Covered with a rock as he looked on to find a second animal, also concealed with the waterfall just below him at the bluffs that in a sense curved downward like a hill sharply. He watched on as the animal stepped through as it revealed itself, standing before the lake of mud that swirled as if it was flushing down the drain; bubbling like lava but steaming with heat he saw the figure before him, blood flushing out from under his skin as he loosened up a little bit. Heaving vocally through his nose slowly at first, this is what the animal now revealed to be a hyena looked like:
This hyena's fur was a dove and half mature grape purple tinted quixotic plum grey color just as her frontal and hind paws were dipped in a darkened shade of eggplant to regalia purple, a peach orange to salmon pink color dominated her underbelly; her tail was bicolored as it was mostly like her paws but paler on the bottom just like her mentioned underbelly. Both of her sides had three slightly darker round spots than her main coat that lined up vertically along to her shoulder all the way to the joint of her foreleg, at least two smaller spots flecked her face on either side underneath her eyes on the far sides; a trio of darker stripes half coiled around her neck with a streak along her spine. Matching the mane and paws was her eyebrows, along with her ears as the inner ears were a dull rogue pink color. Her muzzle was the same slightly darker color of her spots with large but deep indigo blue eyes, though in both the sun and the shade it appeared to lean more on the dark electric to violet purple side; encircling them like markings was a darker color just like her darker purple mane striped with lighter streaks, long and thick with a lock in the front that leaned toward her cute nose. It was mainly the color of her paws with the lighter streaks being the paler color like on her lower tail. Her voice was a youthful kind as she is a pup after all, she carried an accent of Australian origin of course; but she seemed to giggle often, at least not so much as Faline though as for her case she was all giddy around the prince himself. Finally, for this matriarch she lived in the Outlands but for those unlike her nature; she had a name that stood for boldness and courage which was no other name than the one and only: Jasiri, though this was something that was not within his knowledge as he looked on
Jasiri jumped in to relax as she was inside making sure a nose that was on a snout like her's was powdered, she don't want there to be any sort of accidents at this time, not in front of her unintentional hidden peeper; yes it's true she's covered in fur, but no one, male or female otherwise is willing to taking the risk that she might've drank a little too much before taking a break. Nevertheless she swam through as if this was a pool of her own paradise, this gave him some rather uncomfortable moments of feeling like this is a resort where he worked as a towel boy for her family. Neither rich nor poor, her family was a normal kind as he acted like a guardian watching over her safety; but not as a overprotective father which is something that Simba greatly succeeds at with his daughter Kiara that he most definitely favored over his second born son Kion, his eldest first born is Kopa of course just to throw that out there. In this kind of imaginative mindscape she asked her mother if she seen her towel that she couldn't find where she left it, that to which her mother told her that she could get ask him for a new one. Though she stated that it wouldn't feel right to intrude on his time, her mother assured the matriarch that he's actually an teddy-bear underneath that scarred look of his; as she approached him while he saw her in a bikini but didn't think much of it, she was a pup after all and it wouldn't feel right to... oh jesus, he's not sure how he could say anything in which it doesn't come off as being a little creepy in fact. But then again, as this was a kind of imaginative scenario he could picture that she's older than what she was in the real world, yeah... that's it; that's what he's doing right now from the beginning, really. He couldn't help himself but call her cute, in a nice and endearing way under the voice he never had, thus he did as asked without ever being asked by her, but then felt a cold chill brush up his spinal cord; jesus, he ended up giving her his shirt rather than a spare towel to dry herself off because he was all too distracted with getting the job done. He's a doomed man in the end though she took this opportunity to poke fun at his error, and he did too as it's nothing worth fussing derisively under his breath about; her mother was right about him after all, he really was a teddy-bear underneath those scars on his body
For all it's intentional purposes, as he burned up at imagining her in that swimsuit of all things no less, he loved her... has he truly gone mad? He... loved her like their destiny placed them just with each other alone, this is not looking good for what he's thinking here. First sights are not a good sign for him, as he's seen the kinds of love as such that ends when their true colors are revealed underneath; and again, she was a pup around the age of thirteen but he's not good with counting ages, but he sure makes good cuts to split for the clan whenever he came back with whatever he hunted for Shenzi. That was understandable because she's an adult matriarch of a clan that she leads. For him this felt different, a feeling that he had when he started to fall in love with his adopted mother; the two of them understood each other well, and even though she told him that she was too old for him, she returned his love for her before bidding his farewells to him so he wouldn't be downhearted by her departure. Even after that time he cannot take it out of his blood for good, he wanted that feeling to be gone with her; he didn't want to be hounded on his every step by it. Now because of earlier imagining her with that swimsuit, his skin burned itself to ludicrous degrees and started to heave heavier with his vocal breaths; all of that overwhelming lust was devouring him. He can't take another look at her again just as she exited the lake of mud like how a woman would climb up from the iron bar ladder of the public pool, shaking herself off with splinters of hot mud staining the stone ground to dry up in the sun; that's what withdrew him back from the cluster of bushes, as he hid himself from behind the shrouded rocks. He cannot go back to that spot again, haunted at the image he needed to seal within the vault; and he did as he placed his mind onto something else
No matter whatever he tried it broke free as he soaked up the details of her appearance, of which he gathered the fallen sticks as well as made his way to the boiling lake of mud so his dexterous paws can be used to create a sign for her about his presence. It was nothing short of how the men and women go out to start their primitive technology hobbies using tools of manmade work of nature to build amazing things with such hands. He was no different just when he closed his eyes to be empowered with the details, down to the last one as he was fully consumed with the image to start constructing a statue of her. With his paws ready, it was time for him to get to work and do what he does best; using his fondness of painting to the fullest decree. He started off with digging some small holes for the posts to be planted, covering them up as he had some vines to tie them around for he wanted to build a skeleton of the statue first beforehand; overhead curved bark on the top wrapped around on both of the sides to remain steady with two horizontal bars on the front to back for a quadruped look, with at least a few round rings to simulate the underbelly like his. He bent three sticks for the skeleton to have supports that went from her back to her neck, lashing them with vines for an more steady connection; he moved onto laying down more horizontal planks for substance in the case that requires him to start covering the statue with mud to dry. Remember, he's only doing this so he could break away with those previous feelings and thoughts when he hasn't even formally met her just yet; he's better than this, he's no poonhound either if she was the same age he pictured her as in the imaginative scenario he cooked up
For her head he created a basic round spherical shape while adding ears so he wouldn't have to add them on later, slipping a few branches through to form the snout as well as building a cute little nose to add on; he was so focused on the project that he never felt or turned away to see the sun begin to lower a little bit in the afternoon as by then the statue had fully been constructed with individual pieces for each limb including her tail and mane. Jesus, Jeyluxhal is hellbent on making this creation of his individualized through the traits he gathered from a little peep on the matriarch pup herself; even though he never met her directly, he did not in a time like this underestimate her. Now that he checked the lake of mud again to see that it's vacant for him to gather the hot boiling and steaming mud from the falls, carrying it over into a big 'ol slop for him to smush 'n smear on the skeletal frame of his statue. He covered it all in a short matter of time for him to sculpt the basic shape like he wanted as it looked halfway in the process, he added some crushed termite mound clay with dead palm fronds to temper as well as stone grog to mix into the new clay for his statue; it's supposed prevent cracking from the time that it dries in the sun
As soon as the substance dried fast it was time to apply some paint using separate bowls that were filled with mashed berries of different kinds that matched her look and appearance, it's come this far for him to start an project like this and he just needed her out of his head; still it might not be too bad that she discovered this on her next trip to this place in particular. This'll be done in no time as he followed up on the exact details he saw directly before and after his friend relaxed in the lake of mud. Applying the appropriate paintjob on the fur, markings and mane he took focus on the bicolored areas such as her mentioned mane as well as her tail; all to ensure that what he saw was right while adding liberties when necessary such as his floof on his chest, barbed spikes that faced backward as if it was sticking upward and a soft stroking feeling just like Fuli's though he has yet to meet each of the members among the Lion Guard before encountering the whole team themselves. She was completed as the statue had been filled with stone rocks and mud to ensure that this was stable from within, what was next for him to do is sign it as he found a stone tablet to paint before he then wrote his name just as it was spelled with a pronunciation underneath to help say it without ever being at the risk of butchering/botching his name. The words wrote on the front clear as crystal: "Nameless Hyena from the Hot Mud Springs/Built by the Silent Artist and Hyena Prince of the Shadowlands: Jeyluxhal"
No one would come to this place but the two of them to begin with so there's no need to see that this statue be exposed, though he had to make sure that no one sees what he built; with him keeping this intact he moved it over to the hot mud springs where he first saw her, at the point where he first saw her clearly exiting from the mudfall that steamed; it was also shaded with a overhead hung rock that's supported with stone formations that gave him some uncomfortable intensive feelings of whenever he roamed at Pride Rock during Scar's reign. It was still shrouded with vines as well as looked like a very comfortable place to rest as it's not so deep but neither shallow for hyenas like him to take a dip in. It was also wet even in these times of the dry seasons here in the Pride Lands, the air around this area wasn't so bad if this didn't cause him a nosebleed that is! The air was dried out like a fruit which was something in the times that he was a young pup that made him bleed from the snout, cutting open the wall and surfaces of his inner nose this acted like scabs that peeled off when he did nothing; right on the contrary when he did something it pricked him, but since when was he to give a damn about? It felt itchy but his sneezes were like that of an kitten/squeak toy and when Shenzi at least heard it once from him, she couldn't help but poke fun at him much to him giving her an expression as if he was saying: "God dammit, mother..."
But he cannot be mad with her since he did love her, no matter his destiny as it's what he will do for her affection in return for his luxuries he will give her without a question asked; in the end of his work came one last addition to make sure that it would look a little more alive: his paw was dipped in a bowl of snowberry he filled in the spots that looked like a reflecting dot that shined from the sun no matter where she was. Her expression was like his except with a closed mouth and a more upward stance that matched his whenever he stood, now it's a fully completed statue which he couldn't be more happier than what stands before him. Letting a not so prolonged yawn vocally from his rumbling throat he decided that it was time for him to return back to his father. He might've missed his mother so much but he had his father living with him so that she can watch over the two of them, Tabari was not one of the idiot fathers or just in a sense incompetent like Goigoi for example. Jackals like him is something that he had to feel bad for because a bitch like Reirei is not worth having a mother, Dogo along with Kijana and his brothers shouldn't have to be raised in her ways. He had a friend and his name was none other than Kuplinka, he just needed to see his father right now. Without hesitation he went off towards the exit of the jungle area and looked back a final time, he knew he'd be back here and ran off to return back to his father Tabari where he can be left alone in peace; he cannot face his friends again as he's been overwhelmed with a megalomania of scenarios of him and her. Should she come to find a statue of herself then it should not be taken as a sign of having a stalker, it's just a feeling that all animals have whenever they see one like her no matter the age that she was; he just needed somebody to love like a queen for example. That was just a metaphor but the message still stands: he just needs somebody to love. Because he had no mother figure after the lions of the Outlands ripped his to pieces before him, he's had enough of a broken heart for some time now. Perhaps, when he has the courage to meet with her wherever she lived; he can be happy like he is with his father
Leaving the Pride Lands back to his home in the Backlands just behind the former, he walked the rest of the time it took to his burrow den. In the meantime someone's bound to discover his project and that special someone was... heheheheh, as if she needed a introduction to a special admirer of her own: Jasiri returned to the hot mud springs secluded from others so it couldn't be seen that there was a hyena like herself roaming beyond her borders of home, in what emergency was there to return back to the time of relaxation? She took off to brave the risks of trespassing upon the Pride Lands/Outlands border in order to cross over to the other side, what she needed were some herbs for Wema and Tunu for a nasty fever had forced the two pups into a state of having them be endowed with fear. Elderflower, yarrow, white bark of the willow tree, echinacea and lemon balm along with raw honey in a pot for a extra boost were the ingredients. All of this was collected but it seemed she missed on the peppermint oil so that she can cool them both off, that was no issue for her as she returned back to the hot mud springs which is conveniently growing them; how odd of some nice animals to plant them there for her. There do exist hyena sympathizers out here but a rare sight is no different from those who believe that there are good ones, she was one of them as every one of them follow the Circle just as well as they take up the scraps that are left for them to take for themselves; those who do not are ever so doomed with the lack of understanding that they've come here with hatred in their hearts, as she comes with bravery as well as wisdom beyond her years. If there was to be more hunting for the hell of it knowing there is no free meal, then it will not begin with her. Besides, she was only taking a small dip so she could ease herself of the strain of buckling all of that stress down under; many minds have a different perspective on how things seem to appear and that's alright, she was just setting the ingredients down so she could take a break that's all. Her unseen peeper who was clashing with his inner mind didn't think the same way, again it's okay for him to assume different things and he doesn't mind being corrected on what really happened before she made herself known
Perking up she took in the scent of peppermint oil which was coming from around the steaming waterfall of mud, just behind a tunnel as she entered through; earlier when she entered here, she walked atop of some hot coal stones to heighten her sense of courage and her strength within before deciding that she could use a comfortable time to relax. Plus, she's got ample time to return back to the two young pups Wema and Tunu. She could've used a break from her trip all the way from her home in the Outlands to this secluded mud spring, not at all aware that Jeyluxhal was watching her take that little break before moving on. Passing through the darkened cave with both deep indigo blue eyes adjusting to the darkness, she suddenly came to stop and slowed down in her tracks; looking back as if something gave her a unnerved feeling of discomfort and this made sense that she would snap back to find that there was no one inside the cave tunnel with her. Continuing on with her suspicion, she could see a paw sticking out which made alerted her: "(eh!) Who was that...?" Jasiri whispered to herself after three seconds
She went a little bit more further cautiously with slower steps which pittered and pattered across the ground she walked on, having come forth with a lowered stance and light narrowed eyes that looked like a cinematic widescreen format with black bars on the top and bottom sides of her viewpoint; coming out into the area as she looked around with a turn of her head to the left and to the right sides. Nothing but the landmark which she spotted and couldn't stop looking at, she concluded her search with a little thought to herself. "No one here but me... and myself"
She approached the handmade statue of herself that was in the size of the creator, but made no difference to either of them. Checking out the chocked full details that the artist "Jeyluxhal" which came with instructions on how to pronounce the artist's name believe it or not had taken his passion into just to build this. There were some added details here and there which are scarce, but there wasn't that much room for errors which is a bit noticeable on her body with the fur sticking out like she was drenched after taking a shower. Did she have an admirer on her paws? Jasiri giggled a bit at that thought and couldn't help but say this outloud to herself
"No wonder I felt someone was watching me, but I'm also curious if the blood and sweat was worth this just to catch my attention. What do I say for him? He has more talent for what he's best at than talking directly to others, but does he actually talk though?" Jasiri seemed to like the statue of her, true she looked a little more distinctive but whose this matriarch to criticize?
She found the peppermint oil pot underneath the statue as if this artist knew what she wanted, clearly he was a mind reader and wondered what else was he going to do next. It was convenient but nothing unsettling
"Ah good, Wema and Tunu don't have to worry for long. I've got what I need, Madoa can take it from here" She thought to herself before moving on, looking back on the statue of herself and smirking with a little and slightly mischievous but harmless prank idea planned in mind if Jeyluxhal returned; only then did she actually leave for good back to the Outlands, having replaced the Nameless Hyena stone panel with her actual name that was in front of her so he would know the next time just in case he visited this statue again
Tabari continued to apply the facial marking tattoos on his son like a genet's that started out from his closest sides of both his eyes downward across to his snout, acting like a outer ring around the darker stubble fade that he barbed upward with a few strokes of his tongue just so he can carry the image of himself; wanting him to know that wherever he was out in the lands among the serengeti, he was there with him as his reflection in the mirror. Given onto him were a little bit of white downward curves that went along with the black dual pronged eyemarkings, looking a little more spiked and barbed like a basic tribal tattoo; adding some black underlines that sharply shot out backwards a curved a little bit up before stopping as it sloped down a bit. For his eyebrows he started at the far ends through sloping them inward a bit before having them sharply curve downward and stop, curving the close ends upward just a bit so that he could look more fiercer which wasn't see too much but can still be seen right behind his bangs that he left untouched. Inspired by the Lion Guard's Mark of the Guard, he thought about giving his son a distinctive mark on both the back of his shoulders; using pots of paint that were a reflective platinum to ash gray color and a lighter silver sand to chalice color for the application, it's time to get busy with him. It appeared as a snarling hyena that had it's long mane like his flow from the back of it's head, looking like it was half smeared just like the Mark of the Guard on the members of the faction themselves. He also decided to mark some almond to faded angel and daisy beige onto his snout like Bupu who leads his herd, however he's also stubborn as he will not follow the Guard's orders when there's a flood in the rainy season. Oh and just to throw one thing out there, Ono was the inspiration for the platinum color of his son's marking on both of his scapula muscles
"Your mind is focused elsewhere than what's next for what you want to do, tell me of what's happened in our absence in the Backlands" Tabari asked him as his son had a expression that showed off a distant look in his eyes, along with a thick railed burning stripe underneath both his eyes that went across his snout that was a tiger to fire and marmalade orange with a dark spice and clay brown undertone; sizzling mahogany to merlot and sangria to wine red marks flushed him out
He thought back to that time when he first saw her dive into the hot spring lake of mud, just watching for a few minutes before retreating; his face told him the same thing that he told himself: "I'm not going back out there" all with a sped-up tone, his eyes were also much more narrower than before and his lips were slightly opened a bit. Tabari listened to the vocal cord breathing patterns in his throat with his one ear blocked out and the other was close to him, giving off a smirk as he pulled back from his son
"Affectionate tenderness to a pup whose the matriarch of her own clan, Najira's knowledge of telling these feelings of being in love came from back then in a story one elder told us in our youth: this happened in France where a prince though he had everything one wanted was spoiled, selfish and unkind to all before him. It was one winter night that a hooded but kind old beggar came to the castle to offer a rose in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold, repulsed horribly under her atrocious appearance this prince sneered at her gift and turned her away. She warned him not to be deceived under appearances as beauty is found within, and after being dismissed as he will not be lectured again while she froze to death in a possibly stormy blizzard in the cold due to elements of lightning seen that night; this is when the ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince wanted to take back the uncaring response he showed and apologize but it was too late, she had seen that there was no love in his heart. As punishment she transformed him into a hideous beast and with him a powerful spell on the castle, all who lived there under his rule was to share the similar fate as objects just as the prince saw them like to himself. Ashamed of his appearance he concealed himself inside his castle with a magic mirror as his one and only window to the outside world, as he cannot show the innocents of France what he's become. The rose she's offered to him was an enchanted one as it will always bloom until the 21st birthday of the year, as such there was a race against time in his journey: If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return at the time the final petal falls, then the spell would be broken. If not, then he would be doomed to forever remain a beast for all time; as the years passed he fell into a state of despair, lost all hope as he questioned himself on who could ever learn to love a beast like him? There is one woman who did so and what she wanted more than what her village offered, like all three of us when we were young; she dreamed of adventure and so much more..." Tabari began to tell him a tale from the elder of the clan who loved him and her, Jeyluxhal listened closely when he started telling him
Tabari chuckled as he revealed her name: "Belle was a book loving and independent minded woman seen as an outcast through her odd nature, she will not be lured to the affections of a ill-mannered narcissistic and lustful hunter named Gaston who was a hero that offered and I instate: frequent unwanted attention that never seemed to end. What he wanted was having her to be a little wife he can marry, with her that he too saw as a object on the reversed side of the Franc à cheval (French currency) she would bear to him handsome fruit of sons, cook in what he hunts hence his occupation and scrub the floors. Lady Tremaine would definitely put Gaston to work if not that landlord of the House of Mouse, Pete beforehand as she needs the extra slaves to her will if not against theirs. But even as if you were wrongfully spoiled, you will not turn into him as he is not he dark reflection of yourself. Without her knowledge he threw a wedding that is with all rights ended perfectly when he was thrown into the mud, because the music played is no good there to begin with. Fate took her to the Beast's Castle when her tinker father was locked up for trespassing to escape the wolves that roamed in the woods as it too was part of the curse of the enchantress. Having taken his place but never having the chance to bid just at least one farewell to him as he was impatient, he just wanted to get this over with and for all it's intents and purposes; be done with it for the night. Unlike Gaston who exploited his traits to the fullest decree as he was popular with the Bimbette Girls, the Beast was just lonesome; time was running out since the rose was now withering. To I myself when young I thought of him in the story that he might come down to a point in ending his pain, not the way that the enchantress wanted him to end it; nevertheless he did save her from the wolves but they're vicious to leave their bite and clawmarks on him, running off as it's him whose superior than their pack. While the Beast came to be more human in the time they spent, Gaston who did own a tavern of his own taste was becoming obsessive; he was becoming homicidal, he was poisoned under his egomania. It was killing him from the inside, once he learned about the claims of Belle's father before he went off to rescue her alone in the woods; he was far from being the smartest villain in the story just like Baridi as he signed his death sentence on the contract that wasn't worth the stone that was scriven on" Tabari looked down at his son who looked back at him, he knew the question that he was asking him
Jeyluxhal didn't want him to be devoured from obsession for revenge towards Baridi, he can't bare to have a father like Gaston as he instead would be rebellious; as a matter of fact he was just close to the edge of leaving him behind for a new family that could treat him better. That treatment being what his father was always to him. He didn't want to become a unlikable and selfish kid like North from the 1994 movie of the same name, who was a free agent who came in search of the perfect parents who weren't giving him the attention he though he deserved. He showed hatred to the absolution against the film, Roger Ebert's response was worse than him; as this can be described like this. He hated the movie, hated it to the fullest for each and every simpering stupid vacant audience insulting moment of it; the sensibility that though of anyone would like it, the implied insult to the audience by it's belief that anyone could be in what way entertained about the unlikable protagonist divorcing himself from his parents. He didn't want to be like him nor did he want to meet an all-star cast of racial insensitive people who are binded to their stereotypes, but if his father was like Gaston which was grateful that he was not; then it makes no difference to him. Tabari read it through that face that showed how much he wanted him to not transform into someone as consumed through his egomania and with that, he couldn't be more happier with that look on his son. He gave his son a hickey on his neck that was more ticklish than painful, especially when that made him shake out of sensitivity. Once again he chuckled though it was more wholeheartedly out of love for him, digging his snout into his ear as he continued to the endgame of his story. "Their dance from the ballroom was the highlight for Najira, she could imagine it all play inside her head; now then let's continue shall we?" Jeyluxhal nodded eagerly
"Not willing to have Belle reject his sexist advances towards her, bribing the warden D'Arque of the Asylum to throw her father into the cell should she not marry him and with villages on his side; this threat was one step from being executed as Belle later on returned upon seeing that her father was collapsing in the cold searching for her. The words that tell you that if you really love someone then you would let her go is every bit of meaningless, as neither the two of one and the other can be happy as each other was their passion and therefore head back to finally tell their respective partners how they feel. He makes his offer to clear up the misunderstanding and release him if he marries a man that she knows that she cannot brush off now that he has something to use as leverage against her. Belle proves that the Beast is real as her father was telling the truth. Every word she spoke of the Beast was true as he was kind, gentle and loved her as Gaston was losing his mind under these affectionate words; preferring a monster over a man such as himself. But to Belle the monster that she sees is standing before him, the final straw has been broken and Gaston snapped; along with his humanity as this envy casts a dark shade of bloodlust for the suitor who stole her away from him. Rallying villagers and carving a battering ram from the tree in the woods to break in, they followed his lead and shall kill the beast. Belle must not warn her and thus is locked in, but a servant had followed her home as it was time to return knowing that her destiny lied with him. While the cursed servants called forth to defend their home, Gaston bypassed the ensuing battle and confronted him alone in the West Wing; having lost all will to live and consumed under his doomed fate. Firing on an animal who wanted nothing to be involved with, he threw him out to the lower rooftop, with taunts to insult him as he took a makeshift club made from the nearby castle statue to strike him down. Just as Chief Powhatan of the Powhatan Tribe was close to crushing the skull of John Smith before her free spirited daughter Pocahontas arrived to stop the war between the two factions"
"Belle arrived just outside but is out of time to reach the Beast; urging the hunter not to commit this terrible act of killing. Gaston has nothing to hold back but for the Beast, it's her arrival that gave him a reason not to lose hope and thus countered the strike; the darkest hour is never without a second wind when appears to be lost, there will always be one that's in need of saving. Fighting back with his ferocious strength and with his animalistic instinct as he still remains human as he never was a real beast. Roughly the two are even in their fight but he cannot rely on brute strength alone to kill his adversary, infuriating him to bring his guard down will be his undoing. Belle could never love a monster and she would always be his to show off and prance around with as if she's something to be jealous for. This backfires after his adversary had fully let forth the feral animal that he was as he held his life above the moat underneath the castle. Life at stake and abandoning his pride, abandoning his ego he begged for mercy. The Beast knows that he is no animal and releases him with the kindness she had shown him, ordering him to get out of his castle, though he is more jealous than he is filled with remorse as he saw him climb to the balcony. Ungrateful but unfazed from his mercy to him and beyond reasoning as he had finally snapped he followed and stabbed him fatally in the back with his knife, this final cruel deed seals his fate as the Beast swings his arm backward at him in pain which made him lose balance in attempting to dodge it; falling off the castle balcony where he plunged into deep moat below to his death, though he had a broken leg and couldn't escape as the wolves further showed him the same cruelty he showed to the Beast. In the end, though he paid the price Belle returns her love as such the spell is broken when the petal falls to the bottom of the glass cover; transformed back to what he originally was but not recognized until she saw his ice blue eyes that only he could have. Married with the residents of the village invited as well as her father, servants who are now human again with the exception of Maestro Forte which is Italian for loud and Portuguese for strong. What happened to him?" Tabari knew the answer but for Jeyluxhal, he wondered if he wanted to become human but died before it happened. He shook his head as began the tragic tale that was once the best friend of the Beast, still he never lost his real nature as a loving father whose telling a story that he can compare to the affections he's holding for Jasiri:
"On the night of Christmas Eve he played an terrible rendition of Deck the Halls on the organ acting like the catalyst to what made him dismiss the enchantress. Forte preferred his organ him as the Beast considered him a much more valuable adviser and confidant as his depressing arrangements of notable Beethoven music somehow made him feel better. He could use music to move nearby objects but there is just one problem... HE'S BOLTED TO THE WALL! (*Tabari tackles Jeyluxhal playfully which made him laugh, something he hasn't been doing much for a hyena like him*) He spent much of his time composing the grand version of Symphony No. 5 that he would claim to bring the house down, if the Big Bad Wolf hasn't already brought the House of Mouse down as a guest performer. He wanted to stop Belle and the Beast's love and the Christmas spirit that the Beast forbid for a good reason as it's the night that he was cursed would only bring them together. He had the reluctant Fife lure both to ruin a date under the empty promise of Piano Concerto No. 15 which he never intends to give him the solo of course but when he wouldn't listen, it was time to lure Belle to the black forest but when he went after her because of a misunderstanding that she was breaking her vow to him; her return would result in him falling in love and having no other option, he had to destroy the rose or go back as a human. Failure followed when the Beast remembered the storybook as her gift to him and felt remorseful, he will destroy the castle as he used the strongest of musical scales of Beethoven's 5th as they can't fall in love if they're dead. He revealed his promise is empty and yet it's full of blank sheets. The Beast charges but is overwhelmed under the powerful music that's confounded him, he doesn't know what he's striking at; he then of course unplugs Forte and ripped his keyboard away to cease contact with his pipes, effectively killing him before he crashed to the ground into pieces. Though he knew he had villainous motives, the Beast mourned the death of his best friend as Belle comforted him. If Forte succeeded, it would backfire even worse as the curse would devolve the Beast into a literal savage animal as he and his servants implied as the elder told us both that they would've died and truly become real objects as a result. Still, Belle and the Beast have gotten their happily ever after and for Christmas that time that Belle saved thanks to her gift to bring him out of the abyss; what the Prince got her as his gift was a single rose... thus we conclude our tale. I hope you now come to understand the similar elements between you and her, whoever she was as I was never born in the Outlands; I came from a different place like your mother. But don't worry about where she comes from son, she knows well that Zira and the lions loyal to her except for her son whom she believes is meant to be the heir rather than Simba are all evil; but there will always be a choice for them at redemption, except for their leader" Tabari assured him as he licked his face ten times softly to soothe the son who questioned if she actually lived there
Tabari looked out to the Backlands to tell him this as he lowered his head with his nose in his eye that was being poked: "You created a statue of her through those dexterous paws even if it mattered not you knew of her name, she's seen it as of now judging from the gut feeling I am sensing from you. Go to her if you will in the next day, she has some business to take care of as of now but she will be expecting you; think of this as a lesson to know your surrounding environment, and counter any ambushes that come. Let the tale of Beauty and the Beast serve as inspiration for these affectionate feelings, as it's the inner beauty that matters the most to you as it does for I; feel ready to join me whenever you can go no further" With that Tabari got himself comfortable to rest as Jeyluxhal exited but never left the burrow den, he looked at himself in the mirror sheen rock that reflected his tattooed appearance and gave himself a nod; everyone needs some tattoos to help blend in with the environment
The sun went down in the horizon as the stars came up, flashing back to the time where his mother Najira bathed him with her barbed tongue that felt nice; he felt nostalgia an second time after reuniting with his father again. After a few hours in the dark night sky he had later returned inside his burrow den, taking up his soft and comfortable position like always; just like when he needed the rest from yesterday. When the next dawn shall come, he'll be ready to see her face to face even if she's a pup and he's a early teen; there's no difference to him
Morning in the Backlands came with a bright sun just over the horizon and clouds facing toward the residents, the blue faded in with the tanned cumulus clouds and the daffodil to lemon gold rays of the sun dominated more than the total amount of what there was. Grass were trampled under the hooves of the leaping antelope while being grazed by the herbivores, hell there are lion cubs around as well as near the watering hole. But Jeyluxhal? Like you even need to ask a question like that for yourself. He was awakening earlier than the sun in the night, best to say it was 5:30-AM as his father rubbed his snout on his thigh to underbelly which made him twitch; having a yawn that followed after standing. He nibbled his ear for a little bit before he actually left for real. If she was expecting him to be at the area he first saw her, then he was not going in unprepared; wouldn't make a difference to him either way as he'll be going with her way about how they will be meeting as he's not capable of talking. But neither is ever hellbent on learning how to talk and his father ain't sharing the reason, only his mother knew and what Baridi did; he stripped everyone the chance to discover why he doesn't talk. His speech disorder was only a front, it was not the answer
Jeyluxhal headed into the Pride Lands once again as he avoided discovery from the others who roamed about peacefully, except there was at least one animal who happened to be a egret as he had a head crest of five differentiating lengths of feathers starting off with the base having a light lemon yellow color; which then started to transition into a slightly dark tangerine orange near the tips who spotted him commando prowling out of sight from the others. "What... what is he doing all the way out here, and where is he going?"
Taking flight, he flew over to a branch and saw his full appearance from head to tail with details about this hyena who thought he was being a ninja. From what he's looking at, he can't actually say without stating the facts that were all clear to him; the obvious to be exact. It doesn't flow with his rather intelligent personality
"Hmm, he's not looking cause some chaos like Janja. What's he up to?" Jeyluxhal turned back to find nothing as if he was paranoid all of a sudden, which was still a feeling that didn't leave as he moved on just as the egret came from behind the tree he hid himself by
"I may be the keenest of sight and it may be against my position as so, but don't worry about Kion; I've kept some secrets to myself before..." He softly told himself as if he's talking to the hyena he witnessed sneaking into the Pride Lands, going into that secluded jungle mud spring area. Best he keep an eye out if he shows himself again around these parts
Returning to the jungle area where the hot mud springs were, he went behind the lake itself as his statue was still there; so that's one of the things untouched from the other animals here in the Pride Lands. He was about to stroke the surface of it until he turned away suddenly, he was overcome with the feeling of realizing he might've become a stalker like he's trying his best not to turn out to be; even if he saw her just a day ago but haven't truly met in person yet. Jeyluxhal sat down on the ground with his head lowered, downhearted worse than Aladdin felt when he came into the light about the errors of his ways. Now for him, it was because he's living out a lie and for a former street rat of Agrabah who has now become a prince he's not very secure about who he is. Jeyluxhal knew his actions can be compared to an animal who wanted to have a way with someone whose only a pup while he's a early teen, he needed the truth to be known if she was here waiting to ambush and catch him off guard
Shenzi's words for what she told him remained, and she couldn't be more right than the others of her clan. She's not the kind of woman he would want for his own, she's too old for him due to the Oedipus complex that he's going through and she also told him not to defend her as she was sassy; her tendency to boss others and her viciousness when being tempted remained as faithful as long as he knew her for, being raised like he had her blood flowing in his veins. She was flattered for the matriarch of the clan knew he started to harbor feelings towards her with no one needed to confirm all this for a hyena who spares no words, lets the actions he does do the louder speaking for him instead. But she was every bit of right about being a quiet and with no doubt misguided cold blooded hunter who was confused on what he wanted to be, he never followed up on their traits and didn't interact with the pups born in the clan; he's not much of a self-independent hyena either as he's starting to detach himself with a newfound lone animal type of nature. But his megalomania of sorrowful rage and overwhelming jealousy brought the worst out of him, having to bear the weight of seeing another accept them over himself when he did those services for her out of fear that he would not stay with her; instead be chased out of the clan in order to find a new one. He wanted to keep his place there but now? Shenzi was out there finding better hunting grounds, and he can't come with her; he loved his father more and these lionesses didn't want him to act like the hero
That overwhelming jealousy brought him to shed tears he fought back, his passionate lust drive was poisoning him was more of the fact that's tainted the spots on his fur; forming into horrible frustrations which for a early teen like him is worse with some of the nastiest backfiring recoil he would take on and it's him that faces the blunt force of it all. Struggling between the fits of which originated from anxiety, embarrassment, frustration, jealousy and inner rage from all the discrimination towards his kind and the humiliation before the others after he's rightfully put himself above the victim he attacked rightfully for his leadership; he felt like he was just a lone man can be compared to Bruce Banner of the 2003 film. That man had to face off against a deal of greater bombardment made of threats from General Ross to stay away from his daughter, as well as Talbot who sought to use his blood sample to create super soldiers; all when he wanted to find a cure to stop his father and The Leader altogether from creating a gamma army to bring out onto the world. (A/N: Hulk 2003 video game which takes place eight years after the movie)
Jeyluxhal suppressed these feelings from rising but what he really needed was help from those who loved him, in fact this never occurred to him that Jasiri was watching the whole time and of course she could take his thoughts off those meant to be left behind; and replaced with those that were happier for his health
The hyena never heard or saw that the statue he was about to stroke had been switched out for the real deal herself, and that she walked over to him with soft treading steps as she climbed up his back; covering both eyes with her paws as she got a response out of him. Moving around for a short time as he felt his surroundings, wondering if he's blinded on purpose to have the lot of hunters take him out; not if he has to fight them off and kill each one to live another day. Soon he was free to see again as he looked to the sides in front of him, no one's here though nothing can be certain for anything; instead he looked toward the tunnel and walked through the steam created blurring waves of heat that became a cloud of fog which was a sepia tan color. Coming from the left side that exited out of his view were a pair of paws that he followed through just before hiding behind the wall, there's a rock that acted like a stone step for him to leap onto so he wouldn't have to fall into the molten hot spring itself. Giving himself the silent breath that assured him, he leapt out and landed onto the rock coming in a combat stance just as the pup stood up slowly; a moment of silence followed between the two of them
Where she stood on the opposite end from him, the heated steam faded to reveal herself and it was her mane that blew in the slight wind with the sepia tan colored cloud surrounding both of them as she looked at him; he couldn't show much of a response except for his signature facial expression. Unmoving the two remained until he slowly took the mud in his paw and swept his mane back into position, just the way he wanted it to be as he walked softly to where she stood until the pup hopped over across the other stones back onto soft ground. She led him to under a tree where he saw that she took this as a little game between each other, with the steam of the hot mud springs providing light rain which she needed herself; these temperatures were a little too hot for her taste. When he was coming close to her though not by a whole lot, she got the idea to climb onto a higher branch as she climbed up but slid down on her stomach; as he stopped to lower his head down to her left paw. Noticing that there was a splinter pricking her palm and only a short end was visible, sharply pointed as with every one of them but if he's not mistaken; it hurts like hell from what he's seen and it did happen albeit with a silverback's baby back when he was young, did nothing to help the silverback either but that's just him
"Wema and Tunu aren't the only ones who had a splinter before, I can handle- AH! That kind of hurts there..." She was cut off when the hyena before her applied pressure on two sides which gouged out the splinter from her wound, removing it as the lower tip was soaked in a small bit of blood that dripped. Throwing it off to the side afterwards and giving it a narrowed eye stare before returning his focus to her paw that bled slightly. "It'll heal overtime, and thanks eh..." She trailed off when she remembered the icing on the cake: he didn't tell her his name
Given his silence so far beyond the sniffing and the low inner and soft bellowing he was emitting through his inner throat, what she was thinking just might be the case and it would make sense that his name would be...
"What you doin' now?" She asked as the hyena whom she believed was that artist looked off to the sides trying to find something before speeding off quick to the tall grass growing outside of the jungle area, coming back quickly as he stopped in front of her with a sliding skid; dusting off her fur before wrapping the blade of tall grass around her paw. "It's not that bad, I didn't land on a broken branch stump... then again you're gonna need more than that to- ah please don't; heheha... that's starting to tickle there, you can stop.. stop. I handle it from here!" The hyena was licking her wound which started to make her giggle before she had no choice but to ram him off, which didn't hurt but rather pushed him although she accidently struck his nose that finally had him jump back. Lightly bleeding with a single stream coming down but showing no care for it because it's the dry season after all
"I guess it served you right for peeping on little me taking a break and getting the young ones some-? Right, you're out of the loop here: there's two pups named Wemu and Tunu, they both came down with a fever and my sister Madoa is taking care of them. That's why I'm out here, I just needed a break before heading back" She looked off to the side toward the sky in the far distance
The hyena before her didn't reply to her explanation, therefore he gave out a low vocal pattern in his throat through his sealed lips and followed up with a nod to ensure the pup he knew the situation she was in behind that assumption he made; giving her an expression in return for as perhaps he can reply to her statement by slicking his mane back downward using the light rain from the sides. After a few moments, she came to ask him when she took a closer look at him and sat down
"You're Jeyluxhal, aren't you? That similar mark that the Lion Guard has is something only you can copy yourself. Jina langu ni Jasiri (My name is Jasiri), and about that statue you built... are you really silent? You were just about to touch me before you pulled away all of a sudden, but then again you thought I was that statue you made and just so you know; there were some parts that didn't match with the real me" She introduced herself to him as Jeyluxhal sat down too on his hindpaws, nodding to confirm that he cannot talk as it was the reason why he wrote himself as the "Silent Artist"
To further make sure she understands him, he decided to act out the discrimination he faced from the other animals as Jasiri watched on when he played each scenario that others have of course used against him; so they can have a excuse to throw him down to the ground and eat a mouthful of dirt. Understanding it all as she told him this once he understood she's taken the full concept, sitting down again as she started to talk
"I know that harassment from before, Madoa and my cousin Asante were victims of it too; but you're no different from any of us and just the same to them. Sisi Ni Sawa (we're the same), you and I; have you heard of it before?"
Jeyluxhal looked up to the treebark above her, that's not a Swahilian term he's familiar with at all but seeing how it meant the two of them were the same; he couldn't deny it. He then shook his head at the questioning thought that he knew the term. Having that distant look like before when he thought of her as it was affectionate tenderness, his ears twitched up a little bit every now and then whenever she was close to his side; tilting his head up before going back down as he let out a vocal yawn through his sealed lips. He wished he didn't have to feel like this toward a pup like her, who chose not to respond to his reaction that he didn't know the term until now; but neither did she respond to his expression as he'd be dead from embarrassment if she even acknowledged that
"We're not as different as everyone believes, and if I had to guess: Sitachukua Ubaguzi Wako (I will not take your exception) would be something you live by; heh, even Timon and Pumbaa live by one themselves and that's about living without a worry in the world" The older hyena gave off a hostile scowl which she picked up on, lessening his expression when she replied. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna sing the song; you don't care much for that song, I can tell" A comparison made to him and her, their beliefs as well as teasing him that she's not gonna irritate his ears with the duo's philosophy they made into a song about
In order to clear up the confusion that Jeyluxhal appeared to have in his eyes, feeling like he recognized the former in particular; she told him this:
"They're the ones who helped Simba defeat Scar awhile back, or did you not know that because everyone else does. Timon's a meerkat, Pumbaa's a warthog; not hard to tell who is who here"
Jeyluxhal's face burned up when she mentioned the meerkat who tried to hit on his mother, he shook his head as the light rain ended before drying up fast; looking out to see that the sun was still up in the sky. Looking down on her with a expression offering to bring her back home, but she declined. "I'll find my way back home, thanks Jeyluxhal; Madoa might think that's going to be kind of a long name and ask if she can call you Jey, if I get the chance to introduce you to her. Hope we can meet again soon" He nodded to her as he'll meet with her again, letting her leave just as he did with the two going to their separate homelands. Beforehand, he told him where he lives if she ever needed someone to talk to
Jasiri only laughed as the two bid their farewells, while he started to smile in joy for once. It's because of her that he's never felt this much happiness in a long while, guess it's time to start building up that courage to meet his old friends face to face again. Tabari would be happy that he's enjoying himself with a long forgotten passion. Soon though as events start to unfold that'll lead to his downfall, he would wonder if she was his friend for everything that happened; no matter. He'll be the judge of that, for now he just might've found someone he can hang out with comfortably