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Janja lifted his head at the sound of an approaching lion. Kion had been coming to the edge of the territory for days now, just watching. At first, it’d put him on edge, but now, he just put his head back down on his paws, shivering in the cold of the night and sidling up closer to the members of his clan.

“Janja!”

His head whipped right back up, staring at the lion. Kion’d been silent the previous nights, but Janja had been expecting something since he first sighted the lion. He felt himself tense up, prepared for the lion to unleash the roar on them again.

“I’m coming over to you, Janja.”

Janja shied away, pushing into the hyenas directly behind him when the lion came close. He felt terrified as Kion laid down next to him – far closer than he had any aught. He wanted to say something, maybe tell the blond-furred cat to back off, scram, but he couldn’t get his mouth to move, he was petrified.

“Is this alright, Janja?”

“I—!” Janja was embarrassed as a giggle escaped his lips, interrupting him.

“Hey, I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone to be nice. Don’t laugh at me!” Kion sounded deflated.

The hyena did as much as he could to shrink, moving his paws together underneath himself, tucking his tail. He couldn’t speak, he felt scared, worried by thoughts of whatever sick game the leader of the lion guard was playing. Kion picked up on this and backed off from the hyena a bit. “Janja, what’s wrong?”

“I…” Janja giggled, “don’ wanna get hurt.”

“Why do you keep laughing?”

“I giggle when I’m nervous,” Janja said sheepishly. He remained as small as he could manage. Expecting that the worst was yet to come.

Kion raised a brow at that. If that was true, then Janja was more afraid than he’d ever been before. “Janja, I know we’re enemies formally, but,” he edged back in towards the hyena, “I’m getting tired of watching you guys freeze out here every night, so I thought I’d help keep you warm.”

The hyena brought up his head slightly. “Kion, what’re you playin’ at?” He couldn’t deny, he felt warmer as the lion got closer.

Kion thought for a moment before responding. “Someone may have brought up that you and your clan were having some… t-troubles.” He put a paw on the gray-furred canine, almost backing away when he felt the tension held beneath. “Can I… get in a bit closer? I’m a bit cold.”

Janja looked directly at the lion’s eyes. Kion looked scared, which didn’t jive with the lion’s normal demeanor. He looked at how the lion was laying, his muscles held tension, like he was ready to bolt, yet he was obviously fighting it. “Oh, go ahead, Kion.”

The lion nestled into the hyena’s side, enjoying the coarse fur rubbing against him. Likewise, Janja found the lion’s soft fur pleasant and warm, and cuddled a bit more towards him, his fears forgotten.

Kion was surprised by the hyena’s change in disposition, but he moved a paw over the hyena’s side, keeping it there when he flinched. “Is this okay?” His heart was racing. “Janja?”

Janja was silent at first, afraid that he might spook the lion, but he responded the second time, “Yes,” he sighed pitifully.

He wouldn’t want to admit it, but that night, with Kion sleeping by him, Janja fell asleep faster than he had in months. He felt safe, lying right next to his enemy. How he awoke was a bit more jarring.

“Kion! There are jackals approaching!” The annoying egret from the guard was standing next to them.

“So…?” the lion said sleepily.

“So you need to get out of here. You told me to make sure no one else saw you… you know...”

Janja’s eyes went wide at this. The egret was right, if they were seen together, he’d surely be cast out of Scar’s army. He pushed the lion’s arm off him. “Come on, Kion, ya need ta’ go.”

“Bu–“

“No, Kion. Thanks fer the company, but I don’ think ya should stay.” He pushed the lion away.

Kion groaned and rolled to his belly. “Janja?” He blinked wearily, then his eyes widened as he remembered where he was.

“Hey, fuzz buckets!” Goigoi’s voice came from just beyond a ridge. Ono flew away quickly.

“Please, Kion,” Janja spoke with worry.

The lion got up to his paws, moving faster since he registered the threat. Jasiri had warned him what might happen to Janja if they were caught. He ran towards the edge of the territory but stopped right before leaving. “Thanks, Janja,” he said over his shoulder, then he left.

As the jackals arrived in Kilio Valley, they caught sight of Kion just as he passed over the border. At least Goigoi did. He was about to comment, when his wife interrupted him, “So I see you hyenas haven’t messed up yet, must be a new record.”

“Uh, actually,” Goigoi started, but was cut short.”

“Shut it, mutt,” Janja’s eyes were filled with fear, and while Reirei didn’t realize why, Goigoi did.

“Yeah, butt out Goigoi,” it really stung when his wife was that rude, but the jackal listened. He could get some fun out of it later with a secret like this to hold over the hyena’s head.

He waited while his wife explained Scar’s plans for the day, but as he did, he kept an eye on the hyena across from them, noting the clear recognition returned in Janja’s eyes. Janja definitely knew that he knew. When the rest of the jackals had departed, he stayed behind – at his own peril, as he knew. “Janja, I’m sure you know my terms.”

The hyena frowned. “Yes,” he resigned himself, huffing displeasedly.

“Good. I’ll see you at sunset.”

Janja’s lip curled up as he watched the lecherous jackal plod away.