Borachio:
The croc nearly had him in his jaws, and hes wasn't sure why he had been so stupid. He had fallen into the swampy water, and when the sludge had held him down and slowed his movement, he knew he was screwed. He took deep breaths, ready to die as he looked back at his attacker. The croc was swimming slowly, as if it knew he was pretty much a gonner. Boracio wasnt the type to whine, yell or cry. But he fellt the need to do so right then. He fought for his life, pushing himself on so that he wasn't sitting there waiting for the croc to snap on him, and watch his life fade away.
Johannes:
The water moved, but before the croc could chomp its next meal, another furry body came flying out and landed on the croc's open jaws, shutting them with an audible snap.
"Hurry!" His voice was rough, agitated. He leapt off of the creature before it could sink or thrash and onto a log in the swampy water, then to a bank of solid ground. Gray eyes looked back to the hyena, wide in concern.
The creature smelled like a hyena, but he certainly didn't look like one. His fur was all out of place and filthy, it hung off his body as if it wasn't his own. He didn't have a ruff like a hyena should, and his paws were much too large. Unknown to all those that looked at him, Johannes would have been the next leader of his pack. It had been patriarchal, his father was the king and all of his siblings were sisters. He was the first male born into the family and where his birth should have been met with great joy, it was scorned. Long ago in the family, there had been bright colors on pelts. But for generations, the colors had been lost. When he was born to black, gray, white, and brown parents, it had been almost immediately decided that the queen had been unfaithful. She had been put to death and her son would have been as well. But a kind old male had taken the pup in and raised him. But because Hannes had such a known coat, he couldn't be seen outside, unless he was wearing a pelt his new father had gotten for him. When he would outgrow one, his father would get him a new one, until he stopped growing.
Tragedy had forced him from his home.
Borachio:
He hadnt expected for anyone to come to his rescue. In fact he was almost sure this was his time. All he could think of was his family. His daughter. What would she so without her only family? He closed his eyes and prepared and the voice rang out. His eyes flew open and he saw the monster that saved him. He pulled himself up on a log and threw himself out onto the bank. The croc still eyed them both now more angry than hungry. He collapsed to tje earth covered in slime and sludge. His breathing heavy he squeezed his eyes shut.
Johannes:
Hannes bolted to the hyena's side and grabbed his ruff gently in his teeth.
"Get moving! They aren't bound to the water," he growled, eyes locked on the aquatic reptile. It was coming closer still, but taking its time. He needed to get the older male up and moving or he was going to be croc-dinner. He was absolutely terrified of crocodiles, but he needed to keep together. He needed to stay calm and get the other male out of there.
Borachio:
If there was one thing that terrified Borachio it was crocs. They were mean and werent too nice when it came to killing things. He had heard and seen some horror stories involving them. He shuddered but the male grabbed him by the ruff gently and he scrambled to his feet. His legs were weak in exhaustion and he could feel himself just wanting to drop. But he pushed himself up and forced himself to follow the monster. He wasnt sure where he was let alone how to escape. He looked at the monsterlike male and wondered if following him was such a good idea. "Which way?" he asked.
Johannes:
"Just follow me, step where I step," Hannes replied and took off at a slow run, looking back every few moments to make sure that the older male was behind him. He moved quickly over the swampland, knowing all of the places to step. He'd been living here since he'd lost the only father he'd known and forced to flee for his life. Here was the safest place for him, far away from anyone who might recognize him or want to hurt him.
It took a bit, but they finally got to a place far enough inland that the crocs wouldn't come after him and turned back again.
"Sir?" he asked, his breathing low and controlled.
Borachio:
The male followed obediently behind the other and did his best to keep up. He pushed himself onward the exhaustion evident in his breathing. Once they had successfully escaped he sat down panting hard. He didnt have much to worry about normally since the most exertion he did was hunting. But he was well off with a nice large den and the game was plentiful. Surviving wasnt an issue. Perhaps thata why he had come so close to dying. He looked up tiredly at the male when he spoke. "Thank you..for my life." he responded though his breathing still was heavy. How he envied the younger male for his energy and speed.
Johannes:
Hannes bowed his head low in response to the male's gratitude.
"You're welcome. Come, I have shelter a little bit farther ahead. You can rest there, I have some food and there is safe water to drink," he said softly. While he didn't like showing others where he lived, to have some company, at least for a small amount of time... He had grown so lonely living by himself after his father had been executed for his appearance. Why his appearance was so terrible he had no idea.
He gave the older hyena a few more moments to catch his breath before standing and moving away again, heading slowly towards home.
Borachio:
Boracio looked to the male, or whatever he was. The pelt he wore, he wasn't sure if it was him or anothers. It was monsterous, and he looked nothing like a hyena though he smelled a bit like one. He nodded, and after a few moments hoisted himself up off the earth to follow the other.
"I don't want to stay long. I have my daughter to get back to. She might fret if I'm gone too long. But your offer is more than kind." He answered, and hoped that he would be up for leaving sooner rather than later. He hated to be a burden, and thats what he felt.
Johannes:
Hannes continued to lead the older male until they came to a small cave. It was quite small, but very full. There were so many trinkets, feathers and pretty stones, cloth, shells, pieces of wood carvings, pictures on the stone walls. At the back of the cave was a small pool from a small, cool spring. There was a pallet he had made off to one side of grasses and some smaller pelts. All his life he had been wearing another creature's pelt over his own, he needed to keep practicing so that he didn't screw up if he needed a replacement.
He tried to smile at the older hyena, but because of the disguise he wore facial expressions were do very difficult. When he remembered this, he turned away partially in shame and moved away to a flat rock. He moved the rock away and drew out the body of a small hare, which he set down near the older hyena.
"It isn't much, I'm afraid, but I hope it's sufficient..." he said, dipping his head again and backing away to sit down a small distance away from his guest. His voice was smooth, cultured, and very kind. When he was worried, angered, or frightened, he knew his voice got very rough and tense, but normally it was a very nice voice. When he was young, he used to sing for his father. Now that he was alone, it was a rare occurrence. It wasn't like he had anyone to sing to.
"You have a daughter? Is she all right without you? Rest yourself and when you're strong enough I will lead you out of the swamplands."
Borachio:
He followed the male, and when they came to the den he did his best not to gawk at the way he had decorated. It was lavish in its own right, decorated top to bottom and truly made a home. It was a nice little place and Borachio smiled. It somewhat reminded him of his own home. Fievre had been such a collector of treasures that he never had issues with needing things ot decorate with.
"Your kindness should be rewarded. I wish I had anything of value." He responded. Which was true, none of hte things he owned were actually his. If he had taken them from Fievre she was likely to be angry and he didn't want to upset her.
He nodded at the rabbit, tearing at a piece of it before looking up. "Its more than enough, I assure you." His own voice was cultured, a deep, wise tone that he always seemed to carry.
"An adopted daughter, yes. But a daughter just the same. She is a big girl, and Im sure she can fend for herself for a few nights if it calls for it. I raised her well." He said proudly.
Johannes:
Hannes looked away as he listened to the hyena speak of his daughter and rewarding him for his kindness. This hyena didn't know what he had, a family, a daughter. Even if she wasn't his own, to have a family... Hannes would give anything to have someone else in his life again, someone to talk to in the wee hours of the morning, someone to care for and be cared for in returned.
His heart leapt. He could have it. He had saved this male's life, had promised to take him safely from the swamp.
But how could he do that? How could he take something so precious from another creature? Unless he went with this male and stayed with them. But... but she would hate him, wouldn't she? He was ugly, so ugly his packmates wanted to kill him. He had to wear heavy pelts of other creatures to hide his own.
But... He had to try.
"You wish to reward my kindness? Your... Your daughter, perhaps? Let me come back with you, let me court your daughter, and your debt will be repaid." He was surprised there was no shake of his hesitation in his voice, though he didn't look to the older male until he was finished speaking. His silver eyes glanced to the other hyena then, looking for the other male's reaction.
Borachio:
The male heard the words, and at first was caught off guard. Would he mate his daughter to someone so hideous? Moreso, would she accept him? He figured it wouldnt hurt to try anyway. He owed it to the guy after all.
"You may return home with me, and if she chooses to court you, you ahve my permission." He said, nodding his head in approval. "I will be sure to throw in that you saved my life, Im sure she will feel quite as happy as I am for that." He smiled.
Johannes:
A deep breath and Hannes realized that he had been holding his breath while he waited for the male's answer.
"Thank you so much, sir. The only thing more that I as is if there is somewhere near you where I can have my own private living space?" He didn't want to intrude on their space, he didn't want to push too much on the male and his daughter.
He stood and wandered around his cave, his home, his things. Could he leave it? For a family, for the very possibility of having someone care about him, he would do anything.
"I swear you will have nothing to fear from me, sir. I am a creature of honor."
Borachio:
"I believe you boy." He answered. His eyes still roved over the other, and he debated asking about the pelts. He decided against it, figuring it wasn't something he wanted to talk about unless he brought it up. He watched him as the other male got up and started wandering around. He wasnt sure what he was doing, but he didnt suppose it mattered.
"You would be free to have your own living space. Our den is rather large, and plenty of food around. We dont want for very much." He said, not to brag but to show that they were pretty well off and secure.
Johannes:
"You remind me of when I was a pup. I lived in a pack and the king had lands so great as yours sound," Hannes replied, still looking at his things.
"I will miss my home, but..." He nodded then, turning back to the older male. It suddenly occurred to him that he had never given his name.
"Forgive me, sir, everything was so hectic before. My name is Johannes," he said, bowing his head again.
Borachio:
Borachio, being the beaurocrat he usually played himself off as, nodded his head in greeting to the male. With a soft smile he approached him and patted his shoulder.
"It is okay, my son. Things will get better for you. You can follow me, and you will no longer remember this lovely den. I, am called Borachio."
Johannes:
Hannes' heart swelled again when the male touched him, patted his shoulder and called him son. It brought back memories of when he was happier. Before he understood why Father had covered him up.
His gaze turned away again, looking to his things once more.
"What does your daughter like? I would like to bring her something." Anything to make her see something more than how he appeared. He wanted, no, he needed someone to see who he truly was, beyond his looks or what he used to hide them.
Borachio:
He smiled, and thought of his daughter. She looked far different than he, but she was adopted and he had taken her in as a pup. Her mother and father killed, she had no choice but to rely on the man she now called father.
"Shes of charcoal pelt, her markings glowing and lovely. Her splotches are emerald hue, emerald and gold. Shes quite a princess." He said fondly.
Johannes:
A princess. No one would know how fitting that was.
Hannes knew exactly what to bring to her, then. He moved to the entrance to his den and retrieved the green crystal that was hanging there. When the right light struck it, it sent beautiful shades of green all over his cave. Sadly, though, because of where he lived the crystal rarely got that right light. Maybe for Borachio's daughter, it would catch the light so much better.
"I think she would like this," he mused aloud, looking down at the crystal on his paw. He slipped the necklace around his own neck to carry, hoping she would like it.
Borachio:
Boracio looked at the shiny gem, and smiled softly. With a nod, he chuckled. "Yes, that will probably do." He knew that Fievre would likely be in love with the token, and if Johannes kept up the sweet tokens she likely wouldnt be able to resist.
Johannes:
Hannes looked to Borachio again, trying to judge the hyena's body.
"Are you ready to return to your daughter, sir, or do you need more time to rest?" He didn't want to keep father and daughter separated for too long, he didn't want her to worry. She would worry, wouldn't she? Borachio was her father after all. Unless she was a shallow creature who only thought of herself. He hoped she was otherwise, he felt that she was. The older hyena wouldn't have spoken so well of her if she wasn't, right?
He took one more thing down before he forgot about it. It was simple, a scrap of midnight blue cloth, fraying and torn that he had hung near his bed. This he also wrapped loosely around his neck. It was the only thing he had left of his own father and of all the things he had spent his adult life gathering, this was one he wouldn't leave behind.
Borachio:
"She would be fine, but I think my older bones have warmed up and I believe I'd be ready for the trip." He stood, his legs still shaky but he smiled gently.
"I may not be the youngest hyena, but Im certainly not old yet." He grinned. He wasnt old, even if he was wise. He was only a few years older than his ward.
"Are you wanting to leave now, my son?" He asked, his voice gentle yet strong.
Johannes:
Somehow even with the pelt covering his features, Hannes managed to look part nervous and part sheepish.
"Yes, I am, if you are. It seems like it's been a lifetime since I saw another creature that wasn't prey or predator to me. The prospect of meeting another... I am anxious, sir." He smiled under the pelt and moved to the den's entrance. He paused there, giving it one more look around before he left, not turning back for fear the pang of missing his things and the worry of this all being a worthless attempt would cause him to lose his courage.
He led Borachio safely through the swamp as he had promised, taking his time of it since they didn't have to worry about crocodiles chasing them anymore. The swamp soon became forest which soon became open grasslands. Hannes stopped and closed his eyes when they came out into the still bright evening sunlight. It had been too long since he'd left the trees.
"You'll have to lead on from here, sir."
Borachio:
Boracio nodded his head at the other male and headed out from the den. He chuckled when Hannes had spoken of being a bit nervous. He supposed that came with the territory of not being around others much. Though he wondered if it had anything to do wtih teh pelt he wore over his body.
"I have a feeling that you will be okay." He grinned, and followed him through the swamp lands. He was happy to have someone who knew how to give safe passage, and he was happy that he could help him as well.
"It's still a little ways away. Come, boy. It wont take long." He said, and headed out in the direction of home.
