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Kimya had dozed off, exhausted by so many days without proper sleep, he had finally relaxed enough to drift off, though as soon as he heard those familiar paw-steps, dulled crimson eyes opened and he lifted his head, jaws stretching with a huge yawn briefly. Blinking he watched for the red-furred male, ears pricking when Kimya scented and saw the meat hanging over his shoulder.

Standing once Daktari drew near, Kimya limped a few paces closer and touched his nose to his friend's cheek, hiding his smile at Dak's attempt at talking after having numbweed in his mouth. Ears flicking forwards as Daktari pushed the meal closer, it was his friend's warning look that nearly undid Kimya's composure. He had figured out, roughly, what his friend was trying to say, but it was the disgruntled expression on his face that made Kimya want to laugh aloud for the first time in far too long. Lifting his head he gave Daktari a gentle lick on his muzzle.

"Thank you, my friend.." He murmured softly before settling down on the ground and dropping his own muzzle to the fresh meat. He knew how much the red hyena had risked stealing a fresh kill form a leopard, especially without the backup of the rest of the pack, but then the pair of them had been rogues long enough to learn how to survive without the strength of numbers. Still, he felt guilty that Daktari had been forced to go alone when Kimya would have happily joined him on the hunt.

Knowing Dak would chew his ear if he refused to eat before the other male, he tucked into the hind leg, taking his time in stripping off the flesh and licking at the rich blood that dripped from the wounds. He wanted Daktari to eat with him but knew the other male would only do so when he was good and ready.

Unaware that his actions were upsetting his oldest friend, as he had been bestowing such light touches since they were adolescents together, the darker male ate quietly, thoughts lingering on his companion, going round and round in circles yet never reaching a conclusion.

The sudden savage snap of the bone to his right started Kimya and he looked over, his own meal forgotten as he watched Daktari attack his food as if it had done him some kind of personal harm. Concerned for the other male, Kimya chewed on his lip, unsure what to do, if indeed he could do anything, to ease his friend's worries.

Kimya listened quietly, bright eyes studying his oldest friend. Eventually he stood up and padded round the meat to settle down at Daktari's side, his dark furred body leaning into the month-older male.

"Stop beating yourself up about it Daktari." Studying the hyena next to him, red eyes were completely serious and showed a mind far older than his years. "What has happened is not your fault. No one could have stopped the pup-nappers, you couldn't have stayed in Silva's den for ever even if you hadn't come to see me, you had to leave to hunt and do your job. As to my paws, it is my choice to look for the pups. They are your children, Dak... I can't just turn away from that. I know how much they mean to you, and trust me, I am not doing this for anyone but you."

Puffing softly he turned his gaze forwards but didn't resume eating, instead he seemed to be looking at something within himself. "I don't care what the pack thinks of me, I never have you know that. The truth will come out eventually."

The all too brief touch made a lump raise in Kimya's throat, one he had to clear carefully before he could speak again, but he also felt a lift in his heart and once again dreamed of all the things that could never be between them...

Giving his best friend a warm smile he replied with a soft, gentle voice. "And I always will be beside you when ever you have need of me. That wont ever change, Daktari. We will find your little girls, I promise you that." The dark male's crimson eyes watched his friend, gaze soft, the regret and heart-pain hidden behind the warm smile he wore for Daktari. He meant what he said, he would find the two little girls, for Dak's sake. He knew that Daktari would never leave them, and as a result, Silvamord. He would reunite the family at the expense of his own happiness, but there was no question about finding the pups, it was simply not an option to leave them in the paws of whoever had taken them.

Feeling his heart constrict with the flame-hued male's words, he recalled that disastrous meeting when Dak had met him up among the boulders... the morning the pups had vanished. The words that echoed in his mind once again sliced through him, reopening the wound no one could see. Letting out a soft breath he dropped his muzzle to the meat but couldn't find it in himself to take another bite.

He had thought himself ready for anything Daktari might have said, but the next few moments proved just how wrong he had been. What came from his friend's mouth stunned the dark-hued male, crimson eyes blinking in wide-eyed shock. It was an emotion that froze him as Daktari stood, his parting words feeling too much like a final good bye.

Staring dumbly after the red-coated male, Kimya could not even call out after him, could not refuse the other hyena's words or argue the many reasons they were wrong.. why Daktari was wrong. He loved the red male, had always done so ever since they had played in the mud together as pups. No other hyena would ever make his heart speed up as Daktari did, no other would ever catch his eye or make him smile with just a look. No one could cause his breath to hitch or his world to tip up-side-down.

Swallowing the pained lump in his throat he finally dropped his head, pressing his forehead against the furred bulk of the meat before him as the pain finally found its release in his tears. All apatite gone he curled up against the carcass, ears flat against his neck as the sorrow and heartache swamped him. Only the tiny flickering light in the darkness he found himself in was Daktari's confession and it was those few words he clung to as he huddled against the gifted meal. Lost in his sorrow the broken hyena remained where he had lain, the grass at his side where Daktari had lain slowly growing cold, the numbweed left waiting for his attention, and only the shadows to bare witness to his misery.