and occasionally the Outlands, getting faster each day and finding it easier to run over great distances.

However, the hyena was much bigger than he was and was beginning to catch up; its long legs covering great strides. Jino, too, had long legs but was beginning to lag back. He began to panic, “Oh, no, no!” he cried, “It can’t end like this!”

Suddenly the hyena pounced, landing on him it pushed him to the ground. They tumbled over and over in the wet mud, splashing water over both of their pelts and Jino knew it was all over.

Chapter 3- Spots n' Stripes

 

That is to say, he thought it was all over. Jino huddled below the huffing hyena with his paws covering his face. The hyena’s tongue lolled from its mouth, spattering him with warm saliva.

“That good game!” barked a voice, playfully.

Jino trembled, but slowly removed his paws and gazed around, “W-who said that?”

A laughing voice sounded above him, and Jino realised it was the hyena, “Mkali said ‘good game’! Cub fast runner!”

Jino just stared, “Huh?”

The hyena laughed again and rolled over, allowing Jino to get up, “All lions Mkali try to play with run away,” he said, “so I chase them, as a game, but their parents get mad and roar at me, so Mkali has to leave.” he looked confused, “Does cub know why?”

Jino turned so he lay on his stomach, “Well, cos lions and hyenas are mortal enemies, of course. You steal our food and threaten the younger cubs.”

“Steal, threaten?” the hyena looked confused, even a little offended, “Mkali never steal or threaten!”

Jino tipped his head, “But you’re a hyena, it’s what you do!”

“Cub like to run?” asked Mkali, “Do all lions enjoy running?”

Jino thought about that, “Well, they do run, but I’ve never met anyone who enjoys running as much as I do.”

“Then is fair to say, ‘You lion, so you should not run, because others do not’?”

Jino frowned, “Heck no; I guess not!”

Mkali thumped his bushy tail, “Then Mkali not steal or threaten! Mkali just play, despite of what other hyenas do.”

Jino grinned, “Hey, you know, you're right! I’ve never met another hyena like you; you seem nice.” his mind flashed back to when he first saw Mkali; what he had mistaken for a growl had really been a grin! Mkali hadn’t been baring his teeth at all.

Mkali rolled over playfully, scratching his back against the wet ground, “Yeah, Mkali has never met another lion like… What is cub’s name…?”

“Jino,” said Jino.

“…Like Jino,” Mkali continued.

Jino noticed for the first time Mkali’s stripes along his back, “Hey, you’ve got stripes!” he exclaimed.

Mkali turned to his back and then back to Jino, “Yah, Jino got spots on face. So?”

Jino tipped his head, “I’ve just noticed most of the other hyenas are spotted. And grey, you’re more of a brown.”

Mkali shrugged, “Mkali noticed- Mkali different, not just in looks. Other hyenas don’t seem to like Mkali very much, but Mkali prefers being alone anyway.”

“Hey, me too!” smiled Jino, “You see, my parents were killed when I was quite young. I still remember them, kind of, but time has passed and I enjoy being on my own now. No curfew to follow and no one tells me what to do!”

“Mkali did not know parents either!” Mkali gasped, “Parents abandoned Mkali, because Mkali had funny paw.” He waggled his forepaw to demonstrate how it must have been twisted or broken, “But it soon straightened out so Mkali just lived alone.”

Jino’s stomach growled suddenly. Mkali laughed, “Jino hungry?” he asked.

Jino nodded eagerly, “D’you know of any good left-over hunts?”

“Mkali knows of one,” he grinned, “Come on, Mkali will show you!”

They both stood up and Jino followed the hyena through the grass which now sparkled with raindrops. The rain that fell was barely noticeable now.

“You know,” said Jino, “you’re a great animal, Mkali. Want to be friends?”

“Friends?” wondered Mkali, “Hmm… No one ever asked Mkali to be friends before."

“It's fun!” said Jino cheerily, “Friends share secrets and stories and make each other feel better when they’re upset.”

“Friendship sounds great!” agreed Mkali. “In that case, Mkali and Jino are now friends!”

“Well then,” Jino shook paws with his new friend, “Let it be seen from the many kings of the past, that I, Jino, and you, Mkali, are now friends!”

Chapter 4- Hard Rain

 

A week later the rain had not quite died down. Mkali and Jino had remained together throughout this time and had learnt more about each other, further binding their friendship.

One day, Jino showed Mkali the river.

The river ran from the watering hole in The Pride Lands where Jino often visited all the way to the jungle where Jino knew the previous Lion King, Simba, had lived as a cub.

Mkali had claimed he had never been to the jungle before and Jino had eagerly suggested a trip there as it was one of his favorite places to visit.

After the heavy rain, which still fell strong, the river swiped at the banks like an angry lion's paw- first rising up then dragging back down again bringing heavy rocks and chunks of mud with it.

Jino watched a huge, hefty branch was swept downstream at quite a speed. Jino swallowed as he realised that today would certainly not be a day for any animal to be swimming; not that Jino ever swam anyway. The river had great strength and ferocity and could easily drown even a bigger animal like Mkali.

"River is angry," Mkali observed just as the same thought was in Jino's mind.

"It is," Jino nodded, "we'd better be carefully not to fall in."

Mkali agreed and then walked on. The ground beneath them began to change from savannah to the green grass and palm trees of the forest. The rain began to get heavier and Jino grumbled as a particularly large drop hit his head, "We'd better get back to the Pride Lands," he muttered, "maybe we can shelter at the rock we met under."

"Mkali and Jino need to give the rock a name," Mkali said, "Mkali likes to give things names."

"And you're good at it." Jino smiled, "I think you should name it."

"Thank you. Mkali will think on it," Mkali agreed.

Suddenly Jino heard a faint sound. "Do you hear that?" he asked.

Mkali lifted his huge ears, "Mkali hears only rain." he replied, shaking his head.

Jino was sure there was something there, "There's something..." he mused. Through the sounds of raindrops hitting the leaves around them Jino picked up the sound once more.

"Help! Help!"

Jino jumped, "Mkali, someone's in trouble!" He bounded off at his highest speed, following the cries, his ears and scruff of mane flapping in the raising winds.

Mkali followed behind, slightly slower than his friend. When Mkali wasn’t in a chasing mood, he never ran as quickly as he had when Jino had first met him.

Jino scanned the area ahead of him carefully; if the storm hadn't have been so ferocious he would have been able to notice whoever was calling sooner, but everything was moving at once; the trees were shaking, the grass was waving and the river sloshed angrily around the rocks that periodically disappeared beneath the rapids.

Jino stopped and shook his head.

"Jino got a fly in his fur?" Mkali asked as he caught up to him.

"No," Jino replied, "everything I'm seeing is confusing me; my eyes are made for spotting moving prey not one thing staying still in a place where everything is flailing around."

"Mkali can see past the movements easily." Mkali shrugged.

"But you can't hear as well as me," Jino and Mkali exchanged a knowing look. They did not need to speak to know the plan.

Together they ran further along the swirling river, Jino tipping his head listening for the sounds.

The cries for help were getting weaker now and Jino's heart started to race in panic. Someone yelling for help was definitely still alive; someone who was silent could be closer to death.

 

Chapter 5- River Rescue

 

Jino paused when the sounds got as close as he had heard them yet.

"I can hear it better; it’s here somewhere. Can you see anything?" Jino turned to Mkali.

Mkali stepped forward and narrowed his eyes in concentration. He scanned the area carefully and suddenly his ears shot up with alarm. "There!" he pointed with his paw.

Jino had not been able to see past all the movements until Mkali pointed it out. On a rock in the centre of the churning river was a small bird with a bright plumage- it was a lilac breasted roller.

Its rainbow-coloured feathers were dull with the water that hung heavy from them. It was flapping its wings to try and take flight but the rain had soaked them to the point where it could no longer fly.

"Help!" it croaked, "Can anyone hear me?!"

"Jino and Mkali must help it!" Mkali exclaimed.

"But how…?" Jino looked at the water, "I would take to the water any day for an animal in need, but if we try to swim to it, it'll be dangerous for us too; we'll

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