Nakala

Chapter 87

Keeping an eye for anything out of the ordinary, Chungu and Janja trekked through the Outlands. It had been two days since the disappearance of Hani. The clan leader and his retainer took it upon themselves to find the missing hyena. It was no secret that Hani liked to go out and do his own thing but he was never gone for too long, let alone days. They had been searching around the entire clan, every cavern, den and the outer perimeter was searched top to bottom. Nothing came out of all that searching and it was Janja who figured the young hyena was out there in the Outlands. Now the sun above them was starting to set, making Chungu worry a bit.

Without Nakala around and Hani missing the burly hyena quickly realized that he was the sole protector of the clan leader. With no sun shadows would soon creep across the lands, hiding all kinds of sinister things. Chungu couldn't help but imagine, of all things, a giant jackal jumping out of nowhere to take out Janja. He pushed those thoughts away and assured himself that as soon as they found Hani he wouldn't be alone anymore. They would protect Janja together and no one would have to worry anymore.

He was especially determined to find Hani, as a newly appointed retainer there were a lot of things that Chungu felt it was up to him to teach. Appointing a new retainer was the perfect way to get the clan back on track. There was also a hope within Chungu that through training him, he and Hani would form a bond of sorts. Many years ago that was how he and Cheezi grew so close, days that he looked back on fondly. Now there was a chance to make brand new memories.

"You really think he's out here, Janja?" Chungu asked, repeatedly glancing at the setting sun in the distance.

"There's nowhere else he could be, furbrain. We searched the entire mountain top to bottom," Janja huffed, looking out towards the horizons.

They had ventured out as far as the sand dunes. The shadows of the setting sun started to creep across the sand, spreading out further and further. It was rare, but there was a risk that existed all the same being out in the open Outlands at night. But in a large group or having a lion by their side there wasn't a reason to worry. Janja knew very well that even with Chungu at his side, they stood no chance against anything bigger or in greater numbers than them.

But that wasn't the only problem they faced. There was no sign of Hani and the only place left to look was beyond the dunes, dangerously close to the territory belonging to Zira and her lioness. It was a big risk whether they had numbers or even Nakala. Janja took a deep breath and turned to Chungu.

"We're gonna take a little peek ahead," Janja told the other hyena. "If we don't find anything we'll call it a night."

Chungu looked as if he wanted to say nothing but instead he just nodded and kept pace with the clan leader. Together they stepped over the dunes and towards the land claimed by the wicked lioness. To Janja's own surprise, once they stepped over the dunes there was something other than sand to be seen. It was something gray and fairly small. Janja was sure it was who they were looking for. He gave Chungu a quick nod and they took off down the other side of the dune towards the shape.

Chungu felt a wave of relief wash over him. He was so glad that they found Hani. All that was left to do was get him and return home. Janja was ahead of him, running towards the figure. Chungu kept a steady pace, feeling the day's events finally catching up to him. But something strange happened. Janja stopped running. The clan leader stopped moving at all. Rather he was standing just a few feet away from Hani for some reason. Chungu caught up and was about to ask why until he looked ahead as well.

There lied the missing hyena. He wasn't moving, his gray fur was painted red with his own blood. The hyena's pelt was nearly ripped apart countless claw marks. The poor hyena's body was absolutely mutilated. Whatever they could do to him they did, there were gashes across his eyes and slit in his throat. Beside his clan leader, Chungu was trembling at the sight. It was beyond anything he could have ever imagined. The fate of Cheezi had kept him up for days but it was plain to see that Hani's was much worse.

But Janja stood in place. On his muzzle was no clear indication of anything. No sadness, anger or fear at what he saw. All he did was turn around and after a deep breath he started to dig.

"J-Janja?" Chungu asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing?"

"We're burying Hani right here," Janja responded coldly, not even taking a moment to take his paws out of the sandy earth. "We're not taking him back to the clan."

"What do you mean? We gotta have a vigil for him!"

"Look at him, Chungu!" Janja barked, "We can't take him back. We can't let the clan see him like this. This... This wasn't just a killing. It was to send a message. A message from Zira. She knows that Nakala's gone. I don't know how Hani got out here but they killed him... He's gone..."

Chungu said nothing. Rather he stood tall and walked towards the body of the fallen hyena. The scene only grew all the more horrifying the closer he came upon Hani. Upon coming just a tail's length away, Chungu was fighting back the nausea and bile rising in his throat. Janja was right, the state Hani was in was nothing that any of the members deserved to see. It didn't even deserve to happen to Hani at all. He was sure that the entire clan would have nightmares for a whole moon. For some strange reason Chungu felt some strange reassurance that he would be alright. With as much courage he could muster, the larger hyena took Hani by the scruff and dragged his body towards the hole Janja was digging into the ground.

When Chungu returned to the lead hyena, the hole was deep enough for the hyena's body. With a small nod to Hani, Chungu and Janja lifted him up and carefully placed him into hole. Together they carefully buried his body, making sure to cover it up in a way that it wouldn't be easily disturbed or dug up. When the deed was done, it was well into the night. Neither Janja nor Chungu said anything as they returned back to the clan.