FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The hyena lay in the warm sun, his tan and black colored fur drinking in the sunlight as it rained down upon the grasslands. Jumbe let out a long groan, his nostrils expelling a long blast of air as he started to completely relax. His black ears flicking back and forth, eyes slowly closing. He let out a yawn, pearly white teeth shining in the sun. He was just about to drift off into the warmth of sleep when something caught his attention. His large nose twitched as a warm aroma filled his olfactory senses. The big hyena lifted his head to the wind, catching the unique order as it floated overhead. It was blood. The male smiled, It seems like the lions have finally caught something, he said to himself, tongue sliding out of his mouth to lick over his teeth and lips. It had been a while since he'd eaten. The nearby pride had driven him off their last kill yesterday, so maybe his luck would be different today. The spotted hyena rolled onto his paws, slowly standing up and stretching before he began to trot towards the scent, front paws bouncing as he ran along. His stomach growled as he got closer to the smell of a fresh kill, his tongue flopping out of his lips. Jumbe started to drool, warm globs of saliva gliding down his tongue to fall away, hitting the grass around him. His mind raced, Maybe it's a nice water buffalo or better yet, a nice zebra. He couldn't wait to see what meaty feast lay before him over the last berm, the odor becoming increasing more intense. But as his head poked over the rise, he froze in his track, almost falling on his face with the abrupt stop.

The scene before his eyes was of utter carnage. Blood seemed to cover the ground in front of him as several bodies lay torn to pieces. They had once been lions, two of them were fully grown, a male and a female, but the rest, the rest were children, cubs ranging in age from newborn to only a season old. His eyes blinked as his stomach churned in utter disgust at the sight. Something had happened, and he had a very good idea of what.

The king had been ambushed, only to have been killed. The lioness had tried to protect her cub and the rest of the pride's children, but had paid dearly for her efforts. But the scene before him was making him remember something he never wanted to again.

He had been a juvenile, only four seasons old, when his clan had been attacked by a group of nomadic hyenas looking for new territory. They had been caught off guard, getting swarmed by the much larger group. He had watched in horror as his father and older brother had been torn to pieces, his mother, pinned down. She had called out to him, telling him to run, as she was slowly bitten and ripped asunder. He had done what his mother had said, run; he ran as fast as he could getting away from them. He didn't even know how far he had gone, but he knew the other clan would never find him. He had become a rogue, all on his own, scavenging food from lions, leopard, and other larger predators ever since. After another two season of running, he'd found this luscious place. He'd been able to hide from the pride, or at least do nothing to make them actively seek him out.

Slowly, his senses came to him, staring at the destroyed pride. He'd completely lost his appetite as he looked at the bodies and in some cases, the pieces. His eyes looked around, as his ears perked, hearing the sound of a lioness cub crying in fear, the low growl of a male ready to rip her to shreds. Jumbe's entire body tensed. He didn't want anyone to ever have to go through what he had to. He put his nose to the wind, smelling the male lion in the wind. Growling, he bolted towards the smell. It wasn't too far away, just over another hill.

Sala was cornered, her eyes dripping tears as she watched the massive lion before her. His muzzle was covered in blood, his fur was matted with dried blood, eyes glowing almost red with the desire to kill. The little lioness shuddered. This rogue had murdered the king, murdered her mother, murdered her pride sisters and brothers, murdered the prince, and now, he was going to murder her as well. She pressed her back against the rock behind her as the male inched closer, fangs bared. Sala shut her eyes and turned her head, tears still flowing as she waited for the inevitable. And then suddenly, he roared out in pain. Her eyelids cracked open to a sight she thought she'd never see. There was a hyena on his back, tearing into his nape, teeth sunk in as the lion tried to throw him off.

Jumbe had taken a flying leap off as soon as he had gotten in range of the rogue, baring his teeth as he landed square on the larger mammal's back. He drove his fangs in as far as he could, pulling back, feeling the skin break open, blood trickling into his muzzle as he held onto the lion. The rogue screamed in pain, trying to reach around to bat him off his back, shaking and bucking. He held on tightly, but after being jerked around, he finally let go, falling down to the earth on his back, the wind knocked from his body. He had barely a second to regain himself when he saw a massive clawed paw headed right for his head. Instinctively, he rolled away, the paw slamming into the dirt as the lion moved over him, jaws flying down, aiming for his throat. But Jumbe was just one step ahead of the lion. In a streak, he crooned his head, jaws locking on the lion's throat, catching the lion before he could do anything. The powerful jaws clamped down hard, teeth severing an artery, hot warm liquid shooting into his mouth as the lion gasped. Jumbe closed his jaws tighter, feeling the lion's windpipe snap in his jaws as the jugular was cut deeper, the salty fluid of life flowing into his mouth. The big lion gasped for air, his eyes starting to roll back into his head as he started to fall down, laying on top of the smaller hyena. All Jumbe could do was hold on tight for a few more minutes as he felt the life drain away as the lion became more and more limp. He finally let go of the rogue's throat, hot streaks of blood flying from the holes in his neck as the hyena scooted out from under the lion. The larger male stared back at him, lips gasping for air, blood pooling around him, eyes unblinking as they started to roll backwards. All Jumbe could do was pant, the exercise and the hard landing combining to keep his lungs barely full of air. Slowly, he turned his head back to the little lioness, looking at her, with a blood coated smile.

Sala was frozen in fear, her back pressed against the rocks behind her as she stared at the hyena. Her mother had always told her that hyenas would kill cubs if given the chance, and this one had just taken down a fully grown male lion. Her eyes couldn't stop focusing from the blood on his teeth, she knew he was coming after her next, but maybe he would spare her. "Please," Sala begged, "Don't kill me, please." The tears flowed from her eyes, falling down her cheeks as her whole body shook violently.

Jumbe looked at her, and then he realized what he had just done, his eyes probably giving off the hint of bloodlust, his teeth coated with the warm liquid. The hyena blinked, his smile faded as he looked at her, head tilting at her please. He slowly walked to her, plopping his rump down on the dirt, staring down at her, "I don't want to kill you. I don't want to hurt you." He stared at her as he got down on his belly, head at her eye level, "I came to help you."

His words made Sala blink. A hyena coming to help? Why, she thought, as she stared into his eyes. There was no more bloodlust in them, just compassion. "Why do you want to help me?"

He stared right back at her, "Because it was the right thing to do. And," he paused as he looked away, "I know what it's like to lose your family."

Sala looked at him. The rogue had killed her family, but she had been spared by the actions of her enemy. The cub looked away, "I don't have a family either." The hyena looked back at her, "I know. I saw what he did to your parents and siblings." His eyes were watery and a little glazed with thought. Sala looked at him, "Would... would you be my family?"

Jumbe raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure what to say. A lion traveling and being friends with a hyena? It was unnatural, but he had heard of stranger things, rumors of a lion being raised by a meerkat and a warthog. A smile cracked across his face, "Yes, I'll be your family, if you'll be mine."

Sala's smiled at him, slowly moving over to nuzzle his cheek, "I'm Sala." The big spotted hyena smiled, "I'm Jumbe." The lioness let out a purr as she nuzzled him and he nuzzled her. "I guess," she paused, "I guess you're my new father." Jumbe blinked at that. He'd never been a father, he was just barely old enough to be one, and he'd never thought about being one. But it was what she needed, a father, not an older brother. The hyena's smile widened, his cheeks blushing a soft cherry blond, "Yeah, I'm your father now." Jumbe gave her cheek a warm lick, "Now, I think we best be going. I don't know if there are any other predators around, but the buzzards will be coming soon, and if there are buzzards, there will be other predators." The hyena quickly rose up, "Do you need me to pick you up and carry you or do you think you'll be able to keep up?" He paused for a second, and before Sala could answer, he replied to himself, "Stupid question." He bent down jaws clamping on her nape, making sure not to bite through her skin as he picked her up. Quickly, he started trotting off trying to get as much distance between him and the massacre as possible.

Jumbe trotted for what seemed like forever, Sala bouncing a little as he carried her in his teeth. When he thought he was far enough away, he slowed down to a walk, then stopped, slowly setting her down on her hind legs. The hyena was a little winded from the run so quickly after he had taken down the rogue lion. As soon as he put his new daughter down, he flopped on the ground, laying on his side, "That wore me out." He panted, nostrils slurping down air into his lungs as he lay on the ground. Sala looked at him, "Are you tired, daddy?" Jumbe looked at her, "Daddy is very sleep," he let out a massive yawn, "I need to get a nap in, honey." The little lioness nodded, moving over to him and curling up against his belly, "Me too." She let out a big yawn as she snuggled against him. Jumbe couldn't help but blush, he was still getting used to the idea of having a companion and a daughter, even if she was adopted. He was starting to like the sound of being called daddy. He took a long deep breath before letting it out in a warm sigh, eyes closing.

The two of them slept for hours in the warm sun before Sala woke up from the nap. She looked over at him, as she rolled onto her paws. The little lioness was starting to get hungry, but more importantly, she was wondering where they were going to go now that they were together. She leaned in to nudge his belly, "D.... daddy?" She asked inquisitively. It felt strange to call him that, maybe she should call him big brother, but for some reason, it felt right. She repeated herself a few more times, nudging him with her paws, but didn't get an immediate response. Sala knew he was asleep, she could see his belly rise and fall with each deep breath. The cub laid her ears back, wanting an answer. She got up on her legs, jumping on his back, calling to him, "Daddy!" She could hear his ears flick as he heard that, but he still wasn't waking up. So, she jumped on his neck, biting his ear.

Jumbe's eyes shot open, letting out a yip as he jumped up. His head tilted from something clinging on it, "What are you doing?" The cub mumbled something, her mouth full of his ear as she dangled above the ground. She put her hindpaws down and let go of his hear, falling down onto her back, "I was trying to get you to wake up, daddy." Jumbe blinked, he was going to have to get used to being called daddy, "Well, I'm awake now." Sala grinned as she rolled from her back onto her belly, "Daddy, where are we going?" The hyena looked at her, sitting down on his rump, hind paw reaching up to scratch his cheek and the back of his ear, "Mmm...... well, I hear there is a land on plenty not too far from here. I hear the food is plentiful, the grass is always warm and green, and it is ruled by a benevolent King who treats all his subjects equally. I think we should head there." Sala looked up at him, "But the grass is always green here, and there is always plenty of food." Her new father looked at her, "It was very easy to sustain a small group of lions, but I was always hungry. Where we will go, neither of us will want for food or water." The cub nodded, "O... okay daddy, but... I am hungry."

Jumbe looked at her, "What do you want to eat?"

Sala flicked her tail back and forth, "Well, I just started to eat meat, but I really want some milk."

The male pinned his ears back, "Oh.... I don't have any milk. But I can try to get some meat." The cub gave him a pouty face, "Why not?"

Jumbe was caught off guard, "Well, boys don't produce milk, only girls do. And I'm a boy."

Sala looked away, "Oh. Well, I could eat some meat, I guess." The big hyena smiled, "Wait here, and I'll try to find some." He trotted off as Sala lay on the ground, patiently waiting.

It seemed like he had been gone forever when she finally spotted Jumbe trotting back, a fresh kill in his mouth. It was a steenbok. Its hind legs dragged on the ground as he dragged the carcass over to her, plopping it down in front of her. "Dinner is served." Sala looked from him to the steenbok, hesitantly before she started to dig in, pulling a chunk of meat for herself. Jumbe lowered his head and started to tear at a piece for himself, slowly partaking of the meal that had taken him about three hours to catch. He ate away as Sala grabbed another piece. The big hyena pause his eating after gulping down a good sized chunk, "In a few hours, we're going to head northeast. The land of plenty should only be a few days walk from here from what I've heard. But we will need to be careful, we have to go through my old homeland, and I'm not sure if the clan that killed my family is still there." The cub looked at him, "Okay, daddy. I'll be careful." He smiled, "But once we're through the dangerous part, we'll be in the land of plenty. And maybe we can find a mommy too." Sala's eyes beamed, "Really? A mommy? I can have a mommy and a daddy?" Jumbe smiled, "I hope so." The two went back to eating.

Day faded into night. Unlike most animals, Jumbe was still awake, though Sala was still very much asleep. He looked at her as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. It was time they got going. Night would give them a lot of cover and the coolness would make the journey much easier. He walked over to her, grabbing her by the nape and pulling her up. Slowly, he started the long march to the land of plenty he'd heard about from others.