WtK: Never Uttered a Roar Part 4

   Kion and the badger, who he found out along the way was called Bunga, set out with little idea where to go. Bunga just wanted to explore without aim. At first Kion was set and determined to simply see the task done. But after some time he found himself fall into an easy relationship with the badger. He was so eager and unafraid to try and even fail; it was very enduring. Most of the other cubs and animals were happy with more of the same, but Bunga was open to try more, open for each adventure a new day brought. But most surprising of all, Bunga wasn’t completely without friends. After a long walk, they stopped by a massive watering hole to rest and drink. As Kion sipped the water, he heard Bunga cry out.

   “Hey, I see Big B!” Kion glanced up to see Bunga shouting and waving frantically and when he followed his line of sight he got his second big scare of the day. A hippo was heading straight towards them and eventually made a stop, eyes on the little badger.

   “Bunga, what are you doing here? I thought you were going bug hunting in the forest for the next few days?” The hippo inquired, curious and even a little worried.

   “I got bored with that but hey I got something better.” He motioned to Kion who was starting to calm down as he realized the young hippo meant no harm. “Beshte, meet Kion. Kion, meet Big B.” Kion attempted to be polite; flashing a grin, giving a small bow and an awkward hello. Meanwhile Beshte took a moment to stare.

   “A lion cub, man don’t have many hang around here. They mostly stick towards the rock outcrops and heavy brush.” Kion felt a little worried that he might not approve of him, being one of the top predators who were not against going after hippo if given the chance. But Bunga seemed unbothered and still talked as if it was the most common place event.

   “That’s where I found him. He was hanging with his other lion buddies but decided to hang with me. Right Kion?” the cub in question glanced uncertain between Bunga and the hippo, still wearing a forced smile.

   “Sure.” Beshte gave one last odd look before breaking into a heavy grin.

   “Well, any friend of Bunga is a friend of mine.” He stated, Kion feeling his fear finally subside and a bit better over the matter.

   “That’s good to hear and as you know Bunga, do you think you could help us?” Kion felt shy asking a favor to one he just met but Beshte nodded to continue. “I was wondering if you remember where Bunga lives? He’s been of little help.”

   “I have not. I told you I bed where ever it suites me.” He crossed his arms assured while Kion looked to Beshte for aid.

   “Well, I do remember one of the burrows that he frequently resides. When he actually remembers to return there." He started. Kion's heart rose in anticipation as Beshte trotted out of the water. "I can to take you there and along the way we can get more acquainted."

Kion was a still a little unsure but the friendly charm of the big hippo was not hard to pass up on.

"Sounds great Beshte. Lead the way."


   Kion quickly realized that though adept at getting around, hippos are SLOW animals. Kion could easily out pace Beshte while he had to work to keep up. So he moved at a slow walk, chatting with him and Bunga along the way. He learned quickly where as Bunga was adventurous and quick to try new things, Beshete was more laid back. Instead he focused on talking and interacting with the animals that came to his family's waterhole. He told about all the herds, their  past lives and recent events, it was clear it not only gave him purpose but he clearly cared about them. Kion felt good knowing this hippo and hoped one day to call him friend in turn, he was certainly worth it. They talked on and on like this and the miles seemed to disappear for them in moments.

   It was when the sun sat between noon and sunset that the leisurely atmosphere shattered.

   “BESHTE!” The Hippo looked up alongside the other two. A white blur, materializing and shifting away from the clouds dropped from the sky and landed in a huff in front of them. Kion made note that it was a white Egret, cream-colored, orange markings in his feathers, long, skinny, orange and black streaked legs and big, terrified eyes that focused on Beshte.

   “Thank goodness I found you.” He huffed out, voice nasally, squawking but most of all young. “I just left Fuli to go get help and boy do we need it. Some hyenas came in while we talked and she’s alone facing them. YOU HAVE TO HELP!”

   At the mention of hyenas, Kion’s hackles rose and he felt his lips beginning to pull back. Kion had heard of them and it was nothing pleasant, they were the only animals his grandfather referred to with despise. He noted how Beshte hesitated, and Bunga was even a bit quiet, so Kion stepped forward from the hippos shadow, the Egret’s eyes landing on him and widening.

   “Lead the way.” The Egret seemed to realize that with Kion standing so close to Beshte and Bunga that he must be on good terms with the pair. And with little other choice, he inclined a wing, taking off as the group sprinted to follow.

   For the Egret it wasn’t far but it was for them, after the first rush of adrenaline they almost slowed as they passed by swaths of grass, brush and trees without sight of the scene. And then it was there.

   They could see ahead a small pack having circled around two figures tangled in a fight. One the same grey tones as the hyenas and the other was flashes of yellow.

   Kion felt the thunder of his racing pulse intensify, a roar in his very ears. But even as he moved forward to overtake the group he startled when he heard a frightening bellow from behind. Beshte was giving a threatening call; and it seemed to work.

   The group all paused looking up as they approached; even the two combatants broke apart, glowering at each other between peeks at the intruders.

   “Fuli!” The egret lighted down near her, glancing about nervously. Upon noting him, recognition came to her and she looked closely at the intruders.

   “Ono? And Beshte, and. . . Oh” Her gaze had found Bunga, suddenly looking severely annoyed. He was oblivious to this, looking between all the hyena enthusiastically. Then her young eyes fell on the lion, suspicious.

   “Who are you?” Her voice was clipped and Kion tried not to find offense considering her situation.

   “Kion, I came to help.” he explained quickly.

   “Well if that’s true I sure could need it. These scavengers invaded my territory.” A soft series of laughs came, calm but speaking deadly undertones.

   “That’s funny,” Spoke the hyena, the very same who’d been fighting Fuli only moments before. “As I remember it, no one holds say over the land, only the Matriarch herself lays claim to any and all.”

   “That may be so but you knew Fuli lived here, so why come and harass her? Fighting isn’t aloud either.” Kion defended, taking a few steps in front of her.

   “Oh we know that but it was not us who started the fight. She did.” Kion caught a glance at Fuli who didn’t look even regretful. “We smelled her marks and entered in hopes of finding and passing through peacefully. Instead the minute we approached, you attack unprovoked and your little friend wings off to get reinforcements. Seems not only judgmental but rash to boot.”

   “Why should we believe you? Why should we believe any of you?” Kion started again, his voice now more nervous at their accusations against Fuli.

   “We didn’t intervene when you all were chatting. Not only that but we had Fuli surrounded and could have over taken her, but we didn’t. If we were looking to concur or for a fight, don’t you think we’d have taken it then sought peaceful means.”

   Kion continued to glower at them as he thought on their words. Amongst his other allies they all looked skeptical but Kion thought on them. His grandfather had told him to listen, of course to always fight and defend when needed but if a peaceful option was presented by your opposition, to consider it. For it meant either they had truly learned the error of past sins or they were cowards seeking an easy out. But as his Grandfather had ALSO spoke poorly of hyenas, he was inclined to believe the latter.

   “Forget it sister.” All heads whipped around to another hyena, who came forward to stand with the first and look down at Kion with distaste. “I recognize a lion like this. You’re related to Mufasa’s family.”

   Kion was greatly taken aback. “Yes, I’m his Grandson. How’d you know?”

   “That golden pelt and red tuft of mane. Add in that pretentious hypocrisy and you practically look his younger twin.”

   Kion almost felt pride at first for the comparison then a set of words made him stop and hesitate. “Pretentious hypocrisy?”

   “That’s right.” Spoke an older, third hyena, a gruff, submissive male. “All you lions are the same. Claim you follow after the Circle and it’s teachings, treat both predator and prey with equality. But then, that only is prevalent towards the ones YOU CHOOSE to like. The rest of us, born generations after the crime that earned scorn and exile, have to continue to endure abuse at your paws should we attempt to seek food, land or talk. Even if it was done in peace or an attempt to better the live of our pack and pups, we lived and died without EVER having a chance at betterment. All because lions like Mufasa and his kind never gave us a chance.” The way he spoke it sounded as if he was finally allowed to vent long held grudges from life.

   “That’s not true!” Kion defended, hurt at the wounds jabbed towards his lineage.

   “Oh what, care to disagree?” The gruff male spouted.

   “I think he was going to mention the brother to his dear grandfather, Scar. The only one who came to the Graveyard and listened to the woes of the pack. And who promised a place and food should we ally with him.” the sister said.

   “And how did that end.” The fourth and last hyena, a young female, interjected. “He betrayed us even as we backed him up against the pride and the new usurper, and then after his death, the new king chased and banished us back to the Graveyard. Now our people will likely never have a chance in the Pridelands, all because of your family.”

   Kion didn’t know what to say, feeling shame filter down from the top of his little mane down to the tips of his claws.

   “Kion is not like that!” Bunga interjected. Kion was stunned, glancing confused as the Honey badger came to stand beside him.

   “Yeah, and besides, your talking about past generations being judged for present day ones yet Kion doesn’t seem like the ancestors.” Interjected Beshte, taking up a place next to Bunga.

   “I’d say, I know little of him but he came at my alarm when I asked just to help for no other reason.” Ono added, settled on Beshte's back,

   “And though I normally like to handle things alone, it’s good to have a lion as back up.” Fuli stated, coming to stand on Kion's other side. Kion and his group stood tall and in that moment Kion truly felt connected to the beings standing with him. But the hyenas seemed not only shocked but displeased.

   “So that’s it then, you’ll side with him even though we’ve done nothing wrong.” The second hyena stated.

   “YOU INVADED MY TURF!” Fuli screeched.

   “We told you, we wanted to pass through peacefully! You jumped to conclusions about us without making an assessment about our character.” The third hyena stated calmly though his head ducked low for a coming brawl.

   “You did the same to Kion though.” Beshte stated.

   “Yeah, you insulted my friend.” Bunga defended.

   “Some friend, he’ll come in for a fight but buckle under debate.” The final hyena snarked a reply.

   “That’s it!” Bunga tried to rush forward, the hippo stopped him. But he seemed to be the only one inclined to.

   Kion had been watching on silent, and as the tension built he felt cause was needed. But he knew words would fail as had before and if a fight were to break out a great law of the land would be broken in turn: fights were mostly forbidden outside settling minor disputes or for practice and play. But as he looked from each side he knew that something volatile had to stop them but at this rate he felt it couldn’t be his words. What could he say to stop two enraged forces, ready and wanting a fight? But if he didn’t say something they’d break a law and the angered eyes of the Matriarch fall on them all. And Kion knew her patience would be thin for his grandfather's past transgressions. But as he watched them, he felt is emotion boil and roil inside, expanding and willing for a way out. Finally as both sides rushed forward, he opened his mouth and let all of it come rushing out.

   He was nearly knocked back and the volume and intensity burst forth, shaping into a familiar but intense sound: a great roar. The group was caught in the blast, knocked off a few feet and left winded. They looked as the sound resided, glancing about until all eyes rested on Kion, all went slack jaw and wide eyed.

   “Wow!” It was all Beshte could say. Ono, resting on his back looked for his own words as he saw the landscape bend under the wind of the roar, but ultimately said nothing.

   “What?” Fuli’s own word fell short; she glanced to the hyenas, gauging to see if they had any inkling as to what had happened. But other then the thoughtful expressions, they seemed as much a loss as the rest of them.

   “That was UN-BUNGA-LEVABLE!” The grinning badger danced and pivoted to stand over by Kion, the lion in question glancing down at himself and panting slightly in alarm. “How’d you do that?”

   He looked at Bunga, wonder eyed and innocent. Then at Beshte and co. who looked on with varying levels of curiosity and wariness. And as his eyes strayed to the hyenas, they seemed suspicious, muttering and ready to flee. Except one, the submissive older male, who stepped forward, respect in his eyes and reverence.

   “You’ve been touched by the Matriarch.” It was neither a statement nor question, somewhere in between as he looked to him pleading and expectant.

   At this Kion jostled back wide-eyed. “I have?” He looked about and saw understanding sparked all the eyes present. As his gaze fell back on the male hyena, who peered on him with interest, his own eyes peered down at himself and noted his fur shone golden all the way down his body. And as he looked to his shoulder he saw a mark, like lion with full mane roaring in defiance, searing in sunset orange that glowed even brighter then his pelt.

   “That mark confirms it.” Kion, who’d been circling about to get a better look, glanced back as the male hyena eyed it over. “Only the family of the Great Spirit could produce such power and cause such a spectacle, little lion. And as this is The Cloud Matriarch’s domain, only she would permit the passing of such power onto a predator such as yourself.”

   “And judging how the land fluctuated from the roar, it would only respond if a wielder of her power pressed sway.” The first hyena stated cheerily until she realized the full meaning then looked to him shame. “I guess we owe you an apology.”

   The rest of the clan bowed, peering up at him with somber eyes. Kion felt shaken from head to tail, the last few minutes a lot to process. His initial instinct was to banish them, to send them running and order them to never return. And as he glanced towards the Bunga and the group, he could see the expectation as such. But a single factor made him pause, something he hadn’t noticed earlier. Two pair of eyes peered between the legs of hyenas, small, innocent and terrified: the eyes of two cubs. This alone made him pause to recess, as he did, he remembered what the hyenas had spoken of in regards to his family. He thought of his grandfather and great uncle along with the sins of recent and long gone, weighing them all. But most of all he thought of the Matriarch, who had given him this gift and power, a great responsibility. But she had also allowed the hyena stay; she wouldn’t have done so if they were not of worth, of equal decency to his grandfather. And if he was to expel them, not give them a chance, would he not be on equal level to his great uncle?

   “I sorry I doubted you.” All present looked up alarmed, some smiling, some looking alarmed.

   “Excuse me?” blurted Fuli. Kion looked sheepishly to her before asserting himself.

   “The Cloud Matriarch wouldn’t have allowed just any hyenas to live here, I have to believe they are made of something better else they wouldn’t be here in the first place.” He turned to them. “I’ll personally help in escorting you to the other side of the territory, hopefully help redeem what my family has done to your kind.”

   “Thank you um, Prince Kion?” The first hyena spoke, all welcoming smiles that the others mirrored hesitantly.

   “Kion is fine um miss?”

   “Jasiri, call me Jasiri. And I’m sure we’ll all be more aquatinted by days end.” The newly introduced Jasiri trotted along, leading the group Kion watching with a growing smile. He then caught the Cheetahs gaze, Fuli looking very annoyed but passive. He nodded and gave her a look to suggest they’d talk later.

   “You’d better.” Was all she muttered before racing off. That resolved, Kion turned to the remaining spectators.

   “Can I ask a favor of each of you?”

   “Sure.” Bunga offered unhesitant which seemed to prompt the other two.

   “What do you need?” Beshte offered.
   
   “Could the bird, Ono right?” he nodded. “Could you fly up and ahead, tell us the best route and where they might stay once out of the territory.”

   “Affirmative.” With a bow, he zipped up and began ridding the currents off, the others watching for a moment before coming back to earth.

   “Beshte, Bunga, could you go ahead and warn any animals that were coming through and not to be alarmed. I don’t want another fight if we can avoid it.”

   “Sure thing, come on little B.” Beshte motioned.

   “Can I ride on your back, could use it to point out animals?” Bunga asked.

   “Great idea but let me do the talking.” Beshte prompted.

   “Why?” Bunga quipped.

   “Uh well, most of the animals in the area know me and will feel safe hearing the news from my mouth.” Beshte explained.

   “Oh okay, guess I can hang out and relax then.” By this point they’re talking had grown far enough away to become loud mutters. Kion turned to the clan.

   “I suggest we wait a moment for them to get ahead, make things easier. Plus, Ono should be back soon to report some places to keep an eye out for soon.” The clan bowed in thanks as Jasiri once more offered her own voice for the group.

   “Asante Kion. You know you’re not so bad.” Kion’s ears perked. “For a lion.”

   The clan burst into little laughing fits while Kion chuckled, watching the passing clouds and thinking how he had quite the story to tell when he got home.
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Well that escalated quickly. Now we've been introduced to the whole gang along with some other fan favorites. So what now? We'll we have couple more parts to before we're done so you'll see.

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