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 Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:23 pm
Tukutu had returned home once more. It was habitual for the spotted hyena to go out on patrol, though he would never breathe a word to anyone as to why. He wandered because residing in this home brought back memories. There were some that were good, but many that were dangerous to the older hyena's mind.
Finally, he returned home to his skull, his tired limbs feeling heavier by the moment. His green eyes looked up expectantly at the skull, only to discover that a large side of it had been smashed in, the shattered bits of skull littering the floor where Tukutu had called home for many, many moons. Mbezi, no doubt. With a heavy sigh, the hyena still entered his home. He used his forepaws to brush away what he could of the pieces, pushing them all just outside of the old, yellowing skull. It had served him for a long time, and he would continue to use it until the rains came. No shelter from the water would leave Tukutu irritated and snappy, and he would rather spend those nights in a dry, somewhat warm place. Tomorrow he would spend the time to search for a new one. Tonight he would merely let his mind wander as it had in the past few moonturns.
With a heavy sigh, the hyena settled himself onto the floor, nestling his backside against a smooth curve that was his usual location. It was comfortable, smoothed out my his constant use. His hair littered around, making the area softer than if he just laid straight onto the ground. He would never be able to replicate his little 'nest', but he might stubbornly have to bring in some grasses into his new, undetermined home to make something suitable.
Stretching out his forelimbs, Tukutu settled his jaws upon them, letting his eyes stare out at the darkness that normally envelloped the graveyard. It seemed that the light still did not approve of this area, as it probably never would. Tukutu wondered if life would have been different for him if he had never met Mafa. When he was but a pup, he wandered into a lush, if slowly dying, jungle. The mistweaver jungle, as he could remember it. Incredible to find so many things, so much to eat!, all in one area. The dampness would have been something to try to adjust to, but with everything else it could have been a wonderful home. He had met Mafa here, when he was roaming around in search of trouble. It was then that Banzai inserted himself into their lives. Tukutu never cared for that hyena, but since Mafa did, he continued to lurk around. It was better to at least know some of his own kind, rather than wander the savanna being chased off for nothing more than his looks.
Then, Banzai died. All the other hyenas that lived in the graveyard had. He hadn't been here, only wandering around in the savanna lands that grew all around the graveyard. Once he had returned, Mafa was not who she used to be. He had been startled, almost frightened at that. She was not whom he remembered, and the idea of that had bothered him greatly. He had never understood why, and wouldn't until they both had grown much older. Her attitude against him made him question why he still stuck around, but he inadvertainly become faithful to the hyena female, and had done as she asked. They rebuilt the Graveyard Pack together. Her with her iron paw, and him, using his tongue and promise of easy food and simple life to lure as many lingering hyenas around their land as possible. And they had done so together.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:42 pm
With the revival of the pack, perhaps even greater than it had been before, Tukutu relaxed. He let himself waste away into nothing but a lazy creature, every once in a while continuing on his self-appointed duty to continue to grow Mafa's pack. It hadn't worked as well as it had before, but the hyena had not cared. As long as he had a place to sleep and something in his stomache, he hardly cared. That was when Mafa had demanded for one more request from him. She had wanted an heir.
The idea had startled him at first, and even frightened him. Mafa, actually wanted an heir? Through him? It was almost as if his desires were almost obtainted. Perhaps Mafa did remember the days before when they were nothing but pups. Perhaps they could repair a bit of the friendship that had been there, and more. Tukutu had obliged, and with that thought he had to smile. For that one moment he was proud of himself.
But when the heir child had died, and there was only one, single male left, Tukutu felt immense disappointment in himself. His one chance at something that he had wanted was gone. He was now useless to Mafa, as there was nothing else she could want from him. For that, he had vanished. He would never speak as to where he had gone, but he disappeared from the world for many moonturns. With that, his son had grown, Mafa frusterated with the stupidity that was dumped onto her. Almost as if fate wanted to beat him down further, Mafa produced a littler with Rasuli, the male that Tukutu had always personally considered a rival. His hopes dashed, Tukutu almost vanished again, for good, but then he had run into his son. It was odd, talking to one who took him in so easily. Mbozi had accepted everything so easily. With that fact and faith, Tukutu had merely lowered his head, somehow still keeping his title, and returned to the activity of the pack, going against his decision to leave.
But that left him to where he was now. What was he doing with his life? It was hard to tell.
He heard the skull fragments outside cracking, alerting him that someone was outside. The hair along his back prickled, a small snarl escaping his throat. He was in no mood to deal with anyone right now, especially if it was whom he expected it was.
Mbezi.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:05 pm
Silence returned to the air around him, as a reply to his warning. Whatever had been there had left. A rat or mouse, perhaps, looking for scraps of a meal within these barren borders of the pack's lands.
With a grumble, the hyena rolled over onto his side, facing the skull wall of the old elephant. He had no idea how long it had been here, or how it died. ALl he cared was that it gave him a place to sleep, to be by himself. The others should know better than to bother him when he was in his 'cave', as he only entered here when he wanted to be alone.
His thoughts drifted towards Mbezi.
The hostile younger hyena obviously was trying to do something. Perhaps in a way to better himself to his mother. Tukutu knew that Mafa would never care what her sons did. The only thing that mattered was that one female she had, the heiress. Tukutu wasn't even sure of her name, but he was certain that she must be the center of Mafa's world for a while. Who knew for how long. He didn't know anything about her except knowing that she existed. And while she did, Tukutu was useless. Even if she didn't, Tukutu had not been any help when Mafa wanted an heir, and she would probably never return to him for another favor.
Bitterness swelled within his chest. He was useless, so why did he still hang around? For hope? He hoped that Mafa would indeed need him again one day, but what would he do if that day never came? Tukutu was a lazy one, but that didn't mean that he would stay where he was possibly not wanted. He chewed on the thought for a while, but dismissed it. There was no where for him to go, no where that would want him. At least here he had a sense of power, and would be able to at least demand everyone else to leave him alone whenever he wanted. If he went elsewhere, he would either be alone, starving, or he would be under someone, and Tukutu didn't think he could put up with the same crap that Mafa pulled if it was someone else. At least he understood Mafa, and knew how to escape the brunt of her anger. Anyone else he wouldn't be able to deal with, and probably get himself killed.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:13 pm
Settling himself more comfortably now, he let his more disturbed thoughts go. It was getting close to resting time. A time to sleep, let his mind drift into other things that didn't bother him. He would let tomorrow guide him into what to do next. He knew that he didn't have the strength to leave this place, even if he wanted to talk himself into it. This was home, had been home for most of his life, and he doubted that he would feel any happier elsewhere living away from him.
As long as Mbezi left him alone, anyway. The boy obviously rebelled against Tukutu, and the older hyena could only guess why. He had grown up with no father figure, and viewed Tukutu as a threat to him and his lifestyle. Since Tukutu would prefer to return being closer to Mafa, Mbezi perhaps thought that Tukutu was trying to take his place, a place that didn't exist. Tukutu knew that he could fight off the younger hyena for now, but once he hit adult hood, Tukutu didn't know what could happen. He would fear for his life at that point, unless something would change the way that the young boy was thinking.
That would be something to think about for another day, though. Tukutu finally began to grow wearly, and he let his muscles relax. He could think more about things tomorrow, but for now a good sleep would uncloud his mind, and fix whatever kinks were in his body. Being a mock-scout was hard work, harder than he imagined. He'd have to give the few scouts he saw a compliment tomorrow. He knew he was soft compaired to Mafa, but whatever. He was himself.
And so, he fell asleep, his dreams mixing the past with the present.
1,741 words
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