FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Janja knelt before greeting the queen. “Hello, queen Rani,” he said with deference.

Rani looked at the hyena confusedly, then over to Kion, who had accompanied him. “Hello,” she said to the hyena, “Cheezi, was it?”

Janja was a bit miffed at being mistaken for his dopey friend, but responded, “actually, it’s Janja, yer majesty.”

“You don’t have to bow, Janja,” Kion assured him. When he saw that the hyena had stood up, he turned his attention to Rani, a smile on his face. “Hey, Rani,” he nuzzled her, then stepped back to Janja’s side.

“She looked between the two, an uncertain look crossing her face. “What’s up, Kion?” She knew he had something important to say.

“You know how I told you about that hyena before? The one who I was getting to know just before I came here?”

Rani looked at Janja knowingly. “Is this him, then?” She wore a smile, which Janja found off-putting. “It’s nice to meet you,” she leaned in close to him and nuzzled his cheek.

Janja froze, terrified.

“I’m going to let him stay here, so that we can get more acquainted with each other.”

“Oh, I see,” Rani looked at him slyly. “Would he be interested in joining us in the tree later?”

Janja could feel his heart beating faster as she suggested it and he struggled to avoid a nervous giggle leaking out.

Kion looked at the hyena thoughtfully. Janja had been incredibly respectful of his boundaries since they met back up, and he’d certainly learned some new things about the hyena on their trip to the Pride Lands. “That’s probably the best way to get to know each other again,” Kion spoke bashfully.

“Janja, I make no promises yet, but for tonight, I invite you to stay with us.”

“Oh, okay.” Janja looked down at his paws, tracing a line in the dirt with a claw.

“Well then,” Rani looked at the two males in front of her. “Let’s retire. Shall we?”

Any confidence Kion had built up dropped off his face. “Right now!?”

“Of course!” Rani’s voice held excitement.

“Oh! Of course, ya two have… that. Um… When should I drop by?”

Rani laughed, looking at Kion to evaluate his expression. “You can come by later, near sunset, Janja,” Kion certainly wasn’t ready for anything exceptionally deep with the hyena.

“Uh… what should I do ‘til then?”

“Baliyo!” Rani called over to her brother. When he came up, she gave him an abbreviated explanation about how the hyena would be staying at the Tree of Life. “Can you please take our guest on a quick tour,” she ended.

“So,” Baliyo interrupted the silence as they tread down a forested path, “You and Kion?”

Janja took a moment to respond, still mesmerized by the trees – they were so much greener than anything back home. He shook his head to clear it, “Sorry ‘bout that, these trees look pretty.” He gathered his thoughts, “It’s not like we’ve done anythin’ much,” the hyena explained, “he comforted me in the days leading up to him leaving the Pride Lands. We actually used ta’ be enemies,” Janja laughed, “Every time my clan would try to get into the Pride Lands he and his guard would run us out. We didn’t exactly respect the Circle a’ Life back then, though.”

Baliyo stopped and looked at the hyena, who kept walking a bit before realizing it. When Janja turned back, Baliyo’s eyes were trained right on him, calculating.

“I do now, if that makes any difference.” The hyena got ready to bolt when he recognized the look in the lion’s eyes.

Baliyo softened his stance, walking calmly towards the grey-furred canine in front of him. “Sorry. I have some trust issues. Forgive me if I’m a bit cold.” He drew up alongside Janja. “Go ahead and continue.”

Janja looked carefully at the lion now, observing the feline’s body language as he continued his story.

Before long – at least, it felt that way – Janja could tell the sun was setting. He’d never been through so many different biomes in such a short period, and he marveled at how such a place could exist. He’d also come to realize that he wasn’t as out of place as he’d worried, which was a huge relief. He’d thought that coming here to stay might not work out - especially with all the prey – yet he was pleasantly surprised when most of the animals he met were friendly to him. “I think it’s time for me to go back,” he said to Baliyo.

“Back where?”

“Kion and Rani invited me to the tree tonight.”

“They did?” Baliyo couldn’t help it if he was surprised. His sister was not known for rolling with the punches, so why would she be okay with this?

“Uh… yeah. Why d’ya sound so concerned?”

“It’s just… It’s nothing.” Baliyo turned towards the Tree. “Follow me, I’ll bring you back.”

Janja wanted to say he could find his way on his own, but Baliyo had been distrustful of him all day since his admission to not following the Circle of Life… in the past… and out of ignorance… but why trust me when he can judge me for my past? he thought to himself sarcastically. Janja could tell the strangely energetic lion was going to get on his nerves already.

When they got there, Baliyo walked in with him, making him feel uncomfortable with how close he was.

Kion raised his head at the sound of paws in the hollow. “Baliyo?” he asked quizzically.

“Hey, Kion. Is my sister asleep right now?”

“Not anymore since you galumphed in. Not you, honey,” she made sure to direct the last words as clearly as she could to the hyena when she saw a streak of worry appear on his face.

Baliyo frowned, but continued anyway, “Rani, can I talk with you outside?”

“Yeah, it’s about time for the night watch, though.” She got up and led the way out of the cave, allowing Janja to pick up a certain scent as she walked past. It shouldn’t’ve surprised him, but it drove home the point that he was truly welcomed into the lion’s lives.

“Hey, Janja!” Kion had come up to him and was standing awkwardly straight and formal, though more importantly, he was close. Once Kion could tell the hyena’s attention was on him, he carefully nuzzled him under the chin.

Janja was speechless. When the lion broke away, he found his words, “Hey, Kion,” he gazed into the feline’s brown eyes, trying to figure out what the big cat was doing.

“Do you not like that?” Kion’s eyes grew weary at the dull response.

“I do.” The hyena responded. “It’s just that… I’m not sure what it means?”

Kion looked unsure. “Janja, it usually just means you’re family.” When Janja started to kneel, though, he stopped him. “It’s definitely not brotherly in this case, though,” he touched his muzzle to the canine’s. “Come and lay with me tonight, Janja,” he padded back over to where he’d been laying before. He didn’t lay down, however, and waited till Janja came over to him to do so.

When the hyena laid down, he did so a bit away from Kion, out of fear that he would overstep his bounds and Rani would be mad when she came back. Kion pushed up against the hyena, removing the couple inches of padding between them. He also put a paw over the hyena’s back. Janja would have been embarrassed to admit it, but he loved it.

“Uh, Kion. Won’t Rani want to have some of you to herself.”

“She’s out for the night leading the night guard. She’s going to be out most nights.”

“Really?”

“You’re going to be my company for nights. And during the days you’ll be up with me.”

“Won’t Rani be jealous, though? I know I would be,” Janja winced as he let the last part slip.

Kion was silent.

“I mean, I smelled ya on ‘er when I came in, and I just really wa—”

“I’m not sure I’m quite ready for that,” Kion kept his arm where it was, but Janja could feel his breathing quickening.

“Please don’t think I’m just after that.” The words were quick damage control, Janja knew there was nothing he could do if he’d scared the lion.

Kion could tell the canine was stressed, his body was tight, and Kion hadn’t recently seen his now-friend speak with so much panic. “I don’t.” he assured. “I’m just not sure I’m ready for that yet. Maybe sometime later this week.”

Janja’s ears went up at this. He lifted and turned his head over to Kion. “Kion, ya don’t have ta’ if ya don’t wanna. I don’t want ya ta’ feel like ya have ta’ do somethin’ just cause I’m greedy. Besides, I’m not really looking fer ya ta’ be a…” he lifted a paw and rolled it in a gesture, trying to think of the right word, “a lioness. I’m not lookin’ fer a lioness sorta role from you.”

“You mean?”

“Eh, it’s different fer hyenas, but ta you lions, I’m probably more… effeminate.”

“You? The leader… well, previous leader,” Kion corrected himself, “of your clan?”

“There was a reason we all hung out so much.”

“So, are you saying you’d like to be a lioness to me?”

“As long as you still wanna be close like this, yes?”

“That could be arranged, but you’ll have to learn where you’re allowed to hunt.”

“Huh?”

“Well, the lionesses do the hunting.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right.” Janja could feel a bit of excitement creep into his voice. He was a great hunter so long as he didn’t have to fight off anyone while doing it. Another thought edged in on his reverie, though, “What am I even allowed ta’ hunt here?”

Kion frowned. “Actually, I’m not even sure where the Night Pride hunts, come to think of it. They always supplied the meals I ate while we were here. I think Fuli hunted for herself, though. You might be able to ask her tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay.”

Kion rested his head on top of Janja’s now, intent on hiding the uncertainty in his eyes. “There is one thing I’d like to say, though,”

“And what is that?”

“I would like to try being the lioness once in a while – even if only at the cave since I’ve never hunted before.”

The canine was silent.

“Would that be okay?”

“Yes,” this after some hesitation on the hyena’s part. “You might not like it the first couple ‘a times. Are you sure?”

“Well, you seem eager to do it.”

“I’ve been doing it fer years. And it took a while fer me ta’ really like it. At first it was just quid pro quo, y’know?” The hyena sounded surprisingly down on his spirits.

“No, I don’t really know.” The lion lifted his head and laid it back down, right next to Janja’s.

“I’m not sure I do, Janja. Do you want to tell me about it?”

“I really don’t wanna be a bother.”

“Janja, if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to, but I know you’ve been through some rough times, so feel free to talk to me. I don’t want it to weigh down on you.”

“Nah, it was never that bad.”

For a couple seconds, Kion deliberated about his next words. “If what Ono told me about you and Goigoi was true, that’s a lie.”

Janja drew his paws close to his body. “You knew?” He sounded scared, but also a little sad.

“Yeah.” Kion turned more onto his side, pulling the gray-furred figure in closer to his own with the paw that still laid over him.

“Kion, I…”