Book 2: Return To The Outlands

Chapter 4: Eyes

With his eyes still closed, he could feel the familiar sensation of someone pressing their little paws against the side of his head. Askari's ears twitched before the tired male stretched out his hind legs and yawned.

"Alright Amiri… you win. I'm up," the weakly sighed before opening his eyes to see Jasiri standing there with tears in her eyes and dried mucus on the front of her muzzle. A mix of sadness and confusion began to wash over him as he waited for the thorn in his side to say something. "Go away," he mumbled before shifting over onto his left side and closing his eyes. Jasiri let out a distressed whine as she tapped her paws anxiously against the stone floor.

"I don't know where to go," she sniffled as she jumped onto her hind legs and rested her front two paws on the seemingly unsympathetic male. "Please sir… I don't know what I'm supposed to do," Jasiri pleaded with her voice showing just how weak she had become from grief. Askari was silent for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

"Where did you say your clan was headed," he asked while secretly hoping that he was misremembering their previous conversation. Jasiri squirmed as she pulled herself over the stranger's beat up figure before finally climbing over him. A low whooping sound could be heard reverberating from Askari as he glared at the cub who put her face next to his. Askari felt his stone like demeanor nearly give way as he stared into her eyes. There was something familiar about them and yet he knew that he had never met this kid before. He huffed as he stuffed the thought aside and rolled over once more to face away from Jasiri.

"We were headed to the Outlands," she replied before climbing over him again and taking a seat in front of him. Once again her eyes caught his attention as he tried to remember where he had seen them before.

"What's your fathers name," Askari asked as he wondered if maybe he had met her dad at one point. The cub sniffled before tilting her head and giving the puzzled nobody a confused look. Jasiri glanced around at seemingly nothing as if the topic was a point of embarrassment for the small girl.

"I don't know who my father is," Jasiri said while trying to hold back another wave of tears. Askari shifted awkwardly as he watched the cub's entire body begin to tremble. Askari thought about how he used to console his son when the other Pride Lander kids shunned him. The feeling of helplessness and uncertainty he felt at the moment was all too familiar. The hyena stood up and awkwardly gave the cub a pat on the back. "I want my sister… I have to find her," she choked before giving in to the overbearing feeling of grief and fear. Askari stared at Jasiri as she started to weep again.

Her black and brown fur was a complete mess but Askari couldn't blame the kid for being so devastated. He quietly stepped out of his den and stared at the horizon where he could see the sun starting to set behind the snow covered mountains that separated his current life from his old one. Askari began to actually consider taking her to find her clan but as he thought about his old home he decided to take another approach.

"Alright, listen to me Jasiri. I can't help you but I know someone nearby who can. If we move out now then we'll be there before it's completely dark," Askari sighed as he thought about the lecture he was no doubt about to receive from the individual in question. "I only ask that you stay close and keep talking to a minimum," he continued before listening to the echoes of her cries. "Also that you stop crying… please," he added. Jasiri slowly emerged from the den with the last of her tears still working their way down the fur on her seemingly exhausted face. Just as Askari started to turn to look away he caught a glimpse of her forming a weak smile.

"I promise, thank you Mister Askari," she sniffled. A small smile slowly began to form on Askari's scarred muzzle.

"Just call me Askari, kid," the hyena tiredly replied as his barely noticeable smile abruptly vanished.

As the two made their way through the shaded paths leading up to the caves that overlooked the thriving jungle, Askari could notice Jasiri dragging her paws with each step. A part of him wanted to see if she needed to stop or needed to rest on his back the rest of the way. Looking over to say something to the exhausted cub, Askari thought about how Amiri would beg him to give him a piggyback ride whenever the two of them would go out and explore the Pride Lands. Askari coldly turned his attention back to the path ahead to set his sights on the entrance to an all too familiar cave.

"My legs hurt," the cub whined before stumbling and nearly falling over. Askari turned and groaned at the sudden delay. He gestured to the cave with his head even as the cub began to loaf.

"Jasiri, the entrance is right there. Get up," Askari insisted. Jasiri let out a whimper and wearily shook her head. "I'm not doing this with you. I don't know what this is exactly… but I'm not doing it," the hyena huffed as he stomped his paw against the hard stone.

"What if your friend isn't here? What if the leopards got her," the cub yawned. Before Askari could say anything he felt his disheveled fur rise in alarm as the amused laughter of someone familiar echoed off of the walls. Jasiri yelped and ran over to be closer to Askari. The sound of something tapping the surface could be heard getting louder and louder from inside the cave.

From the shadows emerged an elderly mandrill who was gripping her staff as if her life depended on it. Askari knew all too well that despite her hermit-like act, she was nimble and not someone to mistake for easy prey. Her fur was now slightly greyer but overall, her fur kept its darker color. Her colorful face markings were still going strong while the same could be said for her disappointment towards Askari if her gaze was anything to go by. Her eyes softened as she eyes Jasiri and began to laugh once more as if seeing an old friend.

"You look just like your mother, little one."

A/N: Here is chapter 4 with 5 on it's way hopefully by the end of the week or at the very beginning of the weekend. Either way I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter. Have a good one and thank you all for your support!