A Note From the Author

Hello all, Shivu here with the usual "A Note From the Author"!

I'm not sure just how many people have read this story, but this is an updated version of "Jino's Friendship" which was written back in 2013!

The original draft was my first Lion King-related story in about a year, and as I write this I haven't written one in about 2 years

This story features Jino and Mkali- a lion cub and a hyena whose names mean "tooth" and "bright/sharp (of mind)" respectively :)

I'm trying to recreate the characters to be more distinctive and also have a stronger theme of friendship in this story; if I were writing this as a real book then it'd probably be aimed at young children between the ages of like 4 and 8, I guess?

But of course, I hope that doesn't put my readers off! Please feel free to enjoy it; somehow I doubt anyone on this site is under the age of 10 :P

Comments and criticism are very much welcome, please don't be afraid to tell me where I've gone wrong! :D I don't bite!

I'll be adding pictures as time goes on, so keep an eye out for those!  There they are! I'm still getting used to the photo editer; so let me know if any of them appear oddly- and also feel free to judge the art itself! :)

Last of all; a trigger warning! This story mentions food, hunting (by the lions) and minor characters in danger- if you think anything else could be considered a trigger warning, let me know :D

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Chapter 1- Two Unusual Friends

 

The sky over the Pride Lands of Africa was just turning from pink to a pale blue as the sun rose, casting long shadows from the few trees that stretched across the plains.

The sun warmed Pride Rock and Kiara, the Lion Queen, emerged and scanned her kingdom. Her mate and fellow King, Kovu, followed her out.

"It looks as if it's going to be another beautiful day." Kiara observed, sniffing the clear, warm air. The sun shone on her deep golden fur, almost seeming to make it glow.

Kovu nodded, "The wet season is a long way off." He observed, shaking out his deep brown mane.

Kiara noticed something in the distance and pricked up her ears, "Who's that?" she wondered, gesturing with her paw to a young cub running in the distance.

Kovu narrowed his eyes and came to stand by her side. "Oh," he smiled, "that's Jino."

Kiara looked at him and tipped her head, "Jino?"

"Oh yes; the last time he visited you were on a hunt. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about him!" Kovu put a paw on his face, "He's a loner cub; sometimes comes around here and tells stories in exchange for something good to eat."

"But he’s only a cub; who takes care of him?" Kiara asked.

Kovu sat down, "He hunts small game," replied Kovu, "I'm not sure exactly what happened to his parents, all I know is they passed away a long time ago." A small pain came into Kovu's eyes; having no parents was something he could easily relate to.

Kiara noticed this instantly and nuzzled him, purring comfortingly.

"Mind you," Kovu added once he felt a little better, "Jino gets by fine. He has plenty of friends; Mkali is his best friend."

"Who is Mkali?" Kiara tipped her head.

Kovu looked out once again across the savannah to where Jino was running, "There he is," he nodded his head to a small cloud that was running up behind Jino.

Kiara narrowed her eyes to see better and when she did they widened again in surprise. "But... But that's a hyena!"

Kovu nodded, "That's right; but Jino and Mkali are the best of friends, they'd never hurt each other."

"That would be an interesting story to hear how they met." Kiara blew out a puff of air.

"Hey, maybe I can catch up with him and get him to tell us again- that was the story he told when I last saw him too." Kovu nodded, "You're right; it is an interesting tale."

Kiara smiled, "That'd be great! The others who were in the hunting party with me can hear it too if they like. Come on, let's try and catch him up then!"

Kiara and Kovu leapt off the rock and ran out into the long grass, following Jino and Mkali by scent and occasionally jumping on a rock to see where the dust rose from their playful chase.

 

* * * * *

 

They managed to find Jino a short time later. As Kiara and Kovu brushed through the long grass and out on to a dusty path, Jino came skidding to a halt in front of them.

Kiara had never seen Jino before but now he stood before her she could see he was an older cub with a dusty brown pelt and a pale underbelly, paws and muzzle.

His face was flecked with faded cub spots but although this indicated he was young in age, a mess of a black mane was growing on his head and chest.

An overgrown canine on his lower jaw stuck out of one side of his mouth and his eyes were bright yellow.

"Your majesties!” Jino said in a voice that was in the midst of changing, “Hi there, how are you?”

He bowed down, lowering one foreleg underneath him and stretching the other out in front. "Can I help you today?"

Kovu nodded, "You know the story of how you met Mkali? Would it be possible for you to retell it to Kiara and some of the other lions? They haven't heard it yet. There'll be some food in it for you!"

Jino nodded eagerly, "Sure, I’d love to!"

At that point Mkali charged up behind Jino. Mkali crashed into his friend sending him skidding forward on his belly.

"Hey!" Jino complained playfully, batting his friend lightly on the muzzle, "What didja do that for?"

"Was Jino who stopped!" Mkali protested, pawing at Jino's tail which was now draped over his head.

Mkali was slightly older than Jino; his fur was the colour of sand with dark brown ears with two tufts on the tips. He had brown stripes, a black-brown mane and bright and friendly golden eyes.

"King Kovu and Queen Kiara want us to tell our story over dinner," Jino explained as he picked himself up and shook the dust from his fur.

Mkali immediately sprang up, "If food is there, so is Mkali!" he grinned gleefully.

"We'll be there," Jino gave a wide smile, "Thanks very much!"

 

Chapter 2- Chase with a Hyena

 

Later in the day Jino and Mkali met the Pridelanders atop Pride Rock. Kovu greeted them warmly and gave them a zebra haunch for them to share.

Eagerly the two tucked into the meal and then started their story.

"So it all started about a year ago," Jino began, "It was during the wet season which is definitely my least favourite time of year..."

 

* * * * *

 

It was a rainy day in the Pride Lands and Jino the lion cub sat huddled under a slab of rock.

He peered outside as a rumble of thunder passed overhead. He pulled his head hurriedly back inside as a gust of wind blew the rain towards him and grumbled to himself. He realised the storm wasn’t going to be over anytime soon.

He gazed longingly at the wet stretching savannah; how much he wanted to run! But he also hated water and didn’t want to get wet.

Suddenly a smell caught his attention; he sniffed deeply but the rain was confusing his sense of smell. Then as suddenly as it had arrived it seemed to be gone. He sniffed a few more times to make sure, then shrugged, “Guess it was nothin’…” he muttered.

After a while, Jino grew bored of watching the lightning explode from the heavens and crack into the wet earth so he curled up and went to sleep.

It was darkness by the time he awoke and it was still raining, but not as hard. He stretched and went to try and find some food. He stepped out and yawned and gazed around but suddenly he paused in horror.

Atop the slab of rock lay a hyena. He gasped silently and backed off quietly. The hyena was asleep; maybe it hadn’t heard him yet. There was still a chance he could escape with all limbs intact or at least his life.

Jino was an orphan, but he recalled many tales the other lions had told him of the dangers of hyenas, and he’d had enough chases and close calls to know the stories of the murderous beasts were true.

Just as he thought he could sneak away unscathed, a rumble of thunder sounded directly overhead.

He flinched and cautiously glanced up at the hyena; it jumped in surprise from the sudden noise and its eyes snapped open. Its ears flicked from side to side. Its eyes glowed a bright yellow in the dark.

Jino gulped and tried to remain still; but he knew hyenas could see exceptionally well, even in the dark. The hyena spotted him and stood up, shook out his fur calmly and stalked towards him it's eyes wide open curiously.

The moon was just visible behind the clouds, casting the hyena's long shadow out to Jino who trembled with fear. The hyena came so close he could see every strand of fur in high detail, and smell its hot breath.

Jino let out a small squeak, too shaken to move. The hyena leaned down and gave his head a sniff then straightened up again and bared his teeth. The gesture looked familiar but staring into the hyena’s sharp incisors was enough to snap him from his trance; Jino cried out and took off and full speed.

He hurtled through the long grass, leaping and bounding to stay ahead of his death. This was something he was used too; running. One could say it was his element because every day he ran the Pride Lands, and occasionally the

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