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 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 drown!"

Mkali slipped down the muddy bank and to the edge of the river, "Look," he nodded his head to a nearby tree. The recent large amount of water had washed away the dirt at its base, exposing its roots and making it loose in the ground.

The tree itself was dead, the bark patchy and the branches bare. It was directly opposite the rock where the bird was.

Jino and Mkali grinned at each other and nodded- again no words were exchanged but they knew what they had to do.

"Hey, bird!" called Jino, "Don't worry, we're comin’ to help!"

The bird looked up and flapped her wings; Jino realised close up that the bird was quite young; only a hatchling.

Jino rushed to the old tree and put his paws against the dead bark, pushing hard. The tree creaked but didn't budge.

The river was moving faster now.

"Mkali help me!" Jino shouted over the wind.

Mkali eyes were on the water. He stepped back the water suddenly reached his paws. Mkali's ears drooped and his eyes widened, "Uh-oh..."

He quickly ran over to Jino and began shoving the log hard with his forepaws, "Quickly!" he shouted, "Jino, there is going to be flash-flood!"

"'Flash-flood'?!" Jino repeated between shoves. He gritted his teeth, “How can you tell?”

"Water is rising," Mkali explained.

Jino hissed in frustration as the tree still refused to move. “There’s a dam further upstream,” he said, “it musta broken because of the rain.”

Mkali nodded, “When water reaches here all banks will be covered with water. Mkali and Jino must hurry!"

Jino put all his strength against the log. With their combined efforts the tree began to creak and the trunk to snap. With one final heave the tree crumpled beneath their weight and slammed on to the rock in the centre of the river.

The bird hopped out of the way and Jino leapt up upon the wet bark. He crawled along, sinking in his claws to keep a hold.

"Hey!" he called. The bird poked her head up from beyond the log.

Jino stretched out his paw, "Grab my paw!" he said.

The bird looked unsure, staring at his claws which could surely tear a small creature like herself in two.

"I won't hurt you!" Jino cried; the situation was getting urgent now. He could hear the roaring of approaching water, like an angry lion coming towards them.

The bird's eyes moved from Jino's claws to his own eyes. The bird must have seen some kind of flash of truth there because she whispered, "Okay," and hopped on Jino's paw.

Jino placed the bird carefully on his head, "Hold on to my mane." he ordered and began to make his way back along the log.

"JINO!" Mkali's bark made Jino freeze. "No keep moving!" Mkali cried, "The river!"

Jino looked upstream and sure enough a surge of water was coming towards them, faster than a herd of charging wildebeest.

Jino picked up the pace but in his haste he slipped on the slick wood. The bird on his head squeaked in panic and flapped her wings.

Jino scrabbled desperately as the current dragged his lower half into the water. Mkali quickly leapt to the top of the trunk and grabbed Jino's scruff, tugging him hard and pulling him to the bank.

The danger wasn't over yet; Mkali and Jino quickly scrambled back up the muddy bank and to the higher ground where it was safe- just in time as the water crashed up around the edge of the bank and splashed around their faces.

Jino looked up at the little bird, "Close call!" he smiled, "So little dude, how did you get into that kind of predicament?"

Chapter 6- Make Up Your Own Decision

The bird began preening the water from her wings, "I was practicing flying when the storm hit." she explained. She hung her head, "Mama did say not to practice in the rain."

"Sometimes parents make good points." Mkali nodded.

"We should get you home." Jino sighed, "I'm soaked to the bone and I hate being wet!"

"Me too," the bird replied, "I won't be flying for a while until I dry off! Thank you for saving me; what are your names?"

"I'm Jino," Jino replied, twitching his ears.

"Mkali's name is Mkali." Mkali grinned widely, showing his sharp teeth but the bird did not seem afraid of him nor Jino anymore.

"My name is Rangi," she said, fluffing up her feathers against the chilly air. "My home is that way," she pointed with her wing deeper into the jungle and Jino and Mkali set off.

"Mama always said all hyenas and lions were bad animals." Rangi said as they walked, "But you guys are nice."

Jino paused, "That's always what I was told about hyenas." he replied. “But Mkali turned out to be nice.”

Mkali grinned, “Mkali was told all lions were bad; but that turned out to be wrong. Jino is friend now.”

“I guess,” said Jino, “we can’t believe everything we’re told, can we?”

* * * * *

Back at Pride Rock the sun had just set beyond the horizon. The sky was a beautiful mix of the different shades of blue and a few stars were just twinkling in the sky.

"Mkali and Jino got Rangi back safely." Mkali was completing the story after taking over from Jino, "Rangi's parents were very happy to have her back and even Mama was kind."

"We've seen Rangi since," Jino picked up, "she says her Mama has been a lot less judgmental on lions and hyenas since the rescue."

Simba, Kiara's father and the previous Lion King, sat up and nodded, "I think this goes to show that we shouldn’t judge someone by their stereotypes.”

"Stereotypes?" A younger lion cub and part of the Pridelanders' Pride repeated in puzzlement, "What does that word mean?"

"A stereotype is a view of a particular group.” Simba explained, “Like saying all crocodiles are vicious. That is a stereotype, but it's not a true one; many crocodiles are gentle."

“Or assuming that all the Outlanders were bad because of Scar’s reign," Simba added with a meaningful look at Kovu. Kovu nodded in agreement.

"If I had listened to the rumors about hyenas and not made friends with Mkali neither of us would have found Rangi in the river, and even if we had neither of us would have been able to push the log down alone."

Around them, the lion's eyes widened in amazement. Mkali nodded at Jino's words, "The Circle of Life can't exist with only one species; Circle must be diverse to survive."

Kovu nodded, "Well said Mkali.”

Jino stood and stretched, "Well, it's getting late; Mkali and I better be getting home to our rock."

Mkali got to his paws as well, "Rock in story where Mkali and Jino met," he clarified, "is home now." “Did you ever name the rock?” Kiara asked.

Jino and Mkali chuckled. “Named it Home!” Mkali replied, “Admittedly, not Mkali’s most creative name.” He bowed his head to Kovu and Kiara, "Mkali thanks you for meal."

Jino did the same and Kiara and Kovu returned the gesture. "You're both always welcome here." Kiara said.

Jino gave a final farewell before he and Mkali bounded away down Pride Rock and towards Home.

Kiara and Kovu watched them leave. Above the stars twinkled brightly as if the great Kings and Queens of the past approved of the friendship between hyena and lion and of the story it had brought that would be passed down for generations to come.

Fin!