Nyeusi couldn’t believe his bad luck. Sometimes it honestly felt as if the Gods were mocking him. Did they enjoy putting him through the paces, throwing curveballs at him left and right? Nyeusi was feeling more than a little sorry for himself, today of all days. After a successful visit at the shrines and a pleasant overnight stay, the dark leopard found himself on the way back home. Of course, things could never be that simple for him, now could it? He continued trudging along, properly annoyed now.
Lost. Again.
Being followed. Again.
Yes, it was the same stupid hyena. Nyeusi had started to think that the hyena had waited at the prides borders for him to leave. He wasn’t really sure what the hyena wanted, and he was just pathetic enough that Nyeusi felt a little sorry for him. His temper was running short, and in something of a huff Nyeusi turned an about face and plopped his bottom on the ground, a plume of dust rising up around him and settling on his dark fur- just another thing to be furiously irritated by. Now, rightfully agitated, Nyeusi set his eyes on that stupid infuriating hyena and just waited for his approach.
Bekeli wasn’t sure why he’d sat around and waited for the leopard to leave the pride lands. Maybe he enjoyed the interaction. Maybe he realized that the leopard would leave at some point and he would have another chance at a free meal – either via the leopard dropping dead in the dirt or gobbling up the scraps of a meal the leopard had picked at first. He’d paid special attention to the leopard, diligently calculating the distance he would need to follow at in order to continue unseen. Obviously his math had been off, way off. He hadn’t been anticipating the leopard to turn around and take a seat before promptly staring in his direction. Dismayed, Bekeli whined softly from his hiding place, tucked behind a small boulder that barely concealed him. Now what?
“I know you’re there,” Nye called out gruffly, frustrated. Frustrated, yes, but at the same time he couldn’t help but feel bad for the poor lone hyena. Life could be hard for a single male out on the savanna. Nyeusi had learned that the hard way. There had been a time that he wasn’t sure he could make it out in the great open wilderness. He wasn’t really a delicate flower, but sometimes life just wasn’t nice. “Come on,” he called to the hyena, “What do you want?”
Bekeli’s scruffy head rose up from behind the boulder he had used for cover. Narrowing his eyes at the leopard he called back to the feline in a high-pitched, scratchy whine. “Are you going to kill me?” This was something of utter importance to Bekeli. After all, he didn’t want to be dead. He was still hungry. Smacking his lips together nervously he scooted out from behind the rock and slowly slunk forward. Ears pinned back, tail tucked between his legs. “I’m just… following you.” He licked his nose and shifted from foot to foot as he watched the leopard.
“Why?” Nye’s face was pinched and it was obvious he was annoyed. His own ears were pinned back although he didn’t bare his teeth like he did during their first meeting. His tail twitched in his annoyance as he waited for the hyena to answer.
Bekeli took his sweet time in doing so. It was as if he were running different situations and scenarios through his mind before deciding on what to say. “In case you get lost again… and I’m hungry.” Honesty was the best policy in situations like this, Bekeli decided. “Not that I want to eat you,” he stammered swiftly, not wanting the leopard to get the wrong idea.
Nyeusi groused softly under his breath for a few moments, the words unintelligible but the tone obvious – terse, annoyed, sympathetic. Long moments stretched between the two before Nye spoke once more.
“I’m Nyeusi,” he grumped, chest hefting in a hearty sigh. He wouldn’t be able to rid himself of this annoying animal that much was obvious, so he might as well join forces with the hyena. It would be nice to have someone to talk to, Nye supposed, whether he wanted it or not. Besides, it would be easy enough for him to swipe a few fish from a river if they happened to come across one. Perhaps the hyena knew of a water hole nearby so that they could have a late breakfast?
“Bekeli,” the hyena yipped in subdued excitement. He wasn’t going to be eaten! Not only that, but the leopard had introduced himself. Maybe that made them friends? Bek wasn’t completely sure and though he wasn’t the brightest hyena ever, he did know that giving ones name did offer a certain amount of safety. “You get lost a lot?”
Nye scowled grumpily, deigning that question undeserving of an answer. “Is there a river or stream or pond or something around here?” He couldn’t even smell water over the stench of the happily smiling hyena. He hoped that Bekeli knew where water was or else they’d be in trouble.
Bekeli looked at Nyeusi hopefully. Maybe they would be eating soon? Bekeli’s stomach had been growling for hours now. “I know where there is water. It’s nice water. Clean water, lots of water.” He hopped to his feet, energized by the thought of food. Water meant prey beasts, and prey beasts meant food. Food meant happy bellies, and happy bellies meant happy Bekeli. Beaming at the leopard (his newfound best friend ever), Bekeli gestured for Nye to follow him.
Nyeusi begrudgingly trudged after the hyena. At least he seemed to know where he was going, and it was rather nice to have someone to converse with, even if it meant constantly talking about food. Sometimes one had to be willing to make sacrifices. Nyeusi figured that this was one of those times.
WC: 1000 according to MSword
