An Unforgettable Summer

Chapter 9: Welcome To The Outlands

The journey continues and the family discovers new places and animals at every stop. Some places are warmer, others colder, but all places have animals of different species. They even met some rare animals, such as a golden zebra and a hawksbill turtle.
It's been a great journey of learning, but also fun. In all places they visit, the family has shared fun and pleasant moments.
Magic is everywhere, in one way or another. But while some animals share their knowledge, others prefer to hide the magic to protect their habitats.
Now the journey is coming to an end. After all, they are the royal family of CiAr and cannot spend too much time away, even if they are aware of what is happening in their kingdom through magic.
The family is now walking towards a savannah.
“This should be the last place we visit before heading back to CiAr.” Askaru says.
"What? Already?" The cubs are surprised. They are loving this trip and don't want it to end too soon.
“Yes, girls. You know we have to go back soon.” Tayarine explains.
“Finally I can eat decent food.” Lilikiki comments. She's also enjoying the trip, but at the same time, she misses life in CiAr.
“What place are we going to visit now, dad?” Maine asks curiously.
“We're going to visit a savannah, girls.”
"It's a wonderful place." Their mother continues. “There's a book in our library that explains many things about the savannah and its many different species.”
“Sounds cool.” Says Maine.
"Maybe we'll make new friends on the savannah." Tayarinne II is excited.
“I'm sure you will.” Says her mother.
“I have to admit that this trip has been better than I expected.” Lili smiles.
“Glad you like it, dear.” Says her father.
The family continues to walk, now passing through a rocky area with high stone walls.
“Is this the savannah?” Taya II asks.
"Well... It doesn't seem to be like in the books, but... it's possible that this is already part of the savannah." Her mother answers.
Suddenly, a group of hyenas appears in front of them, looking a little serious. The family stops, not realizing what is happening. Lilikiki puts herself in front of her sisters to protect them, while Askaru walks a little forward, also looking serious, trying to understand if these animals are friendly or not.
"Who are you?" The flyon asks confidently.
“We are the bosses here. The question is... who are you?” The male hyena in the front walks towards the flyon, looking at him seriously.
“Janja. That's no way to talk to the visitors.” A female voice is heard from behind the group.
“S-Sorry, Jasiri.” The male retreats back to the group, now feeling a little embarrassed.
The hyenas move a little to both sides, opening a small path between them, revealing a female hyena who approaches the flyons and lioness with a smile.
“You have to forgive Janja. Sometimes he still acts like an idiot.” Says the hyena.
“Hey!” Janja grumbles.
“It's ok.” Askaru answers, now also smiling, realizing that these hyenas are not a threat.
“We've never seen you here before. By the way, we've never seen creatures like you. Who and what are you?”
“We are flyons.”
“Flyons? Never heard of it.” Another female hyena, next to Jasiri, comments. “But I would like to know more about your kind.”
“I'm sure we can learn more about them, Madoa.” Jasiri tells his sister. “But only if they are comfortable with it.”
"Of course." Tayarinne responds with a smile. She enjoys both teaching and learning.
"Certainly flyons aren't as interesting as us hyenas." Janja grumbles a little.
“Do you mind not making silly comments, Janja?” Jasiri looks at him seriously.
“Okay, okay. Sorry. Geez."
Madoa approaches the cubs while Lilikiki watches her carefully, always ready to protect her sisters if necessary.
“Are these your daughters?” Madoa asks.
"Yes." Tayarine responds.
"Hello, girls." Madoa speaks sweetly to them. She always loved children, especially since she was babysitting Wema and Tunu.
“H-Hello.” The cubs speak with some fear.
"Don't be afraid. We are all friends here. You know? Since my sister Jasiri became the leader of the Outlands, we've never had any problems here.”
"Really?"
"Sure."
Askaru and Tayarinne watch the hyena talking to their daughters. The parents smile seeing how their daughters are not scared anymore. At the same time, Jasiri looks at her sister with pride, knowing how much she loves children.
“Hey. Would you like to visit our lands?” Madoa asks.
Maine and Taya II nod in agreement.
“Then go convince your parents.” Madoa winks at the girls.
Maine and Tayarinne II look at their parents with hope. "Mom. Dad. Can we see the Outlands?” Maine asks.
"Please. We really want to visit this place.” Taya II adds.
"I don't know. What do you think, dear?” Askaru speaks to his queen, joking a bit.
“I'm not sure, honey.” She also jokes, knowing how her daughters will react.
“Please, please, please, please, pleeeease…” The cubs insist, trying to convince their parents.
"Alright. Let's visit the Outlands.” Finally Askaru confirms and his daughters celebrate.
"Why not? We're already here.” Says Lilikiki, also agreeing with this decision.
“Very well, uh…” Jasiri realizes that she still doesn't know their names.
“Oh. My name is Askaru. This is my queen Tayarinne. And these are our daughters Lilikiki, Maine and Tayarinne II.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you. As you may have noticed, I am Jasiri, leader of the Outlands. This is my sister Madoa and that one over there is my mate Janja. He's not as bad as he looks.” She laughs a little.
“She's right. I'm not that bad.” Janja lifts his head proudly and Jasiri rolls her eyes, already being used to his behavior. “Madoa. Can you show our lands to these friendly visitors?”
“Of course, Jasiri.” Madoa smiles.
“Asante, sis. Hyenas! Let's go back to the caves.” Then she looks back at the travelers. “I hope you enjoy the Outlands. You can stay here as long as you like.”
“Thanks again, Jasiri.” Tayarinne thanks her.
Jasiri leaves with the other hyenas, while Madoa stays with Askaru and his family. “Are you ready to meet these lands?”
"Yes!" The cubs answer with enthusiasm.
"Very well. Follow me."
Madoa starts walking and the family follows her curiously.
“So… Are you a royal family?” The hyena asks, remembering when Askaru called Tayarinne queen.
"It's true. We live in a faraway kingdom called CiAr.” Askaru explains.
“CiAr? Never heard of it.”
“And we had never heard of the Outlands. In fact, we had no idea that there was a kingdom here or whatever this is.”
“Well… It's a little more complicated than that. My sister is the leader of the Outlands, but this isn't exactly a kingdom. We just try to keep this place safe and we want our inhabitants to respect the circle of life.”
“It looks like a kingdom to me.” Comments Lili.
"Like I said... It's complicated."
“So… And what other animals live here besides you hyenas?” Tayarine asks.
“There aren't as many animals here as in the Pride Lands, but… we're still a few.”
“Pride Lands?” Askaru asks curiously.
“Are those lands that lie across the border. The Pride Lands is a kingdom. There, they have a king and queen, unlike here.”
“Now there's a place we really have to visit.”
“I agree, honey. It would be quite interesting to visit another kingdom.” Says Tayarinne. “And it would also be a great way to end our trip.”
"I'm sure you'll love the Pride Lands." Says Madoa. “But for now, you are in the Outlands. And, believe me, these lands are almost as beautiful as the Pride Lands. At least since the Great Change.”
“What is the Great Change?” Tayarinne II asks curiously.
"It's a long story. Let me just tell you that this place used to be dark, almost lifeless. It was very difficult for us to survive here. But my sister never gave up and, with the help of some friends, we managed to save these lands from a great evil. Now, with my sister leading these lands, we all live in peace and harmony, respecting all animals and the circle of life.”
The three sisters listen very carefully to the hyena, amazed at everything she tells.
Askaru and Tayarinne look around, observing the green and beautiful landscapes, although some areas are mostly covered with sand and rocks.
“It's hard to imagine that this place was like you told us about.” Tayarinne comments.
“It wasn't easy, but... we managed to change our lands for the better.”
Askaru doesn't know if he should talk to this hyena about magic, but his instincts tell him she might know something. "Madoa... Have you ever heard of... magic?"
"Magic?" She's surprised by the flyon's question. “Well... I don't know if it's exactly magic, but... The great evil I told you about... It was the spirit of an evil lion. It seems that this spirit was somehow invoked by an equally evil cobra.”
“A spirit? Really?" Lili is in disbelief.
"Yes. But... He was defeated thanks to the help of our friends, especially Kion, a lion with a special roar.”
“A special roar? Like what?" Askaru asks, more and more interested in this story.
“It's hard to explain, but... Kion has a roar that summons the great lions of the past or whatever he calls them. Basically, when he roars, lions appear in the sky to roar with him, making his roar very powerful.”
“Wow...” The cubs are in awe of this story.
Lilikiki's enthusiasm is greatest when she thinks: "I have to meet this lion."
“Spirits? Powerful roars? It seems like magic to me.” Says the flyon king.
“Whether it's magic or not, I don't know. Not all animals have these capabilities.” Madoa continues to explain. “Here in the Outlands, for example, none of us can summon spirits, levitate rocks or whatever Kion does. We're just good at combat.”
"Combat?"
"Yes. Another long story. For a long time we had to fight to defend our territory.”
"I see..."
"Good. It's time for you to meet the vultures." Madoa guides the family to a tall tree, where a group of vultures are gathered. “Mzingo!” She calls. “We have visitors.”
A vulture descends from the top of the tree, landing on a lower branch to speak to the group. “Hello, outsiders. Welcome to the Outlands. Have you met Prime Minister Jasiri yet?”
“Prime what?” The whole family asks.
“Ignore that. Vultures always talk like this.” Madoa explains.
“Okay... So... What do you vultures do?”
“We help Prime Minister Jasiri whenever necessary, especially to see if all is going well in the Outlands or if any animals need help. And we don't even need to vote to convey that information to her.”
“What do you eat?” Lilikiki asks.
"Leftovers. We vultures eat the leftovers that other animals leave behind.”
“Eeewwww... Let’s go.” Lili doesn't like this at all. Eat leftovers? What kind of meal is that? She would never eat that.
"What? It's delicious."
“Well... It's your lifestyle.” Says Tayarine.
"Lifestyle? We are a very intelligent species. Our Parliament is very organized and all our decisions are taken with the knowledge of each member.”
Maine and Tayarinne look at each other in confusion, not understanding what this vulture is talking about. At the same time, Lilikiki looks at her parents with a let's-get-out-of-here look.
"I understand. It was nice to meet you, Mzingo.” Says Askaru, trying to avoid further conversation with this strange bird.
“Wait. I still haven't told you how we vote at our food collection site.”
“Mzingo. Maybe another time, okay?” Says the hyena. “They still have other places to visit.” Then she looks at the group. "Let's continue."
The family starts following the hyena again.
“As you wish. But no creature is more interesting, beautiful or clever than our species.” Mzingo comments, before heading back to the top of the tree.
“Vultures are not my favorite animals.” Comments Lilikiki, clearly not having enjoyed meeting Mzingo.
“Don't worry, Lilikiki. They're… strange. But they're not bad.” Madoa smiles.
“So… What other animals live in these lands?” Tayarine asks.
"Follow me."
The family continues to follow the hyena until they reach a territory with a few dens and some open space between them. In that territory, they can see a pack of jackals.
“I remember reading about these animals in a book.” Says Lilikiki. “They are... shacals, right?”
“Jackals.” Madoa corrects her.
"Or that."
“There is their leader. Come with me."
Once again, Madoa guides the royal family of CiAr. This time, they're heading towards an adult female jackal.
“Hello, Reirei.” Madoa greets her.
“Oh. Hey, Madoa. Who are your new friends?” The jackal asks.
“These are Askaru, Tayarinne and her daughters Lilikiki, Maine and Tayarinne II.”
"Hello." The family smiles at the jackal.
"Hello. What brings you here?” Reirei asks with a smile.
“We are on a journey and would like to get to know these lands and their inhabitants a little better.” Tayarine starts.
“Can you tell us a few things about your species?” Askaru suggests.
“Well… We jackals are clearly intelligent and beautiful creatures.” Reirei shows a wide smile. She loves to talk about her kind.
“Oh good. Another Mzingo.” Lili comments.
“Actually, we like to hunt in groups and we help each other. It's not every jackal for himself. Here everyone helps to keep the pack stable. Of course... We also like to eat other foods, like fruits.”
"Interesting." Askaru says.
“Do you live in these dens?” Lili asks. "How?"
“We jackals don't need much. But they're still comfortable.”
"I see..."
“Hey. I want you to meet my family. Come.” Reirei guides the visitors to her family, or part of it. “These are my children Dogo and Kijana. And this is my husband Goi... Goigoi!” She kicks the sleeping male jackal.
"I'm awake, sugar snout." He wakes up suddenly.
“We have visitors.” Reirei speaks in a serious tone.
“Oh. Hello." He smiles. "Welcome to the Outlands." And he goes back to sleep.
“Forgive my lazy husband.”
“No problem, Reirei.”
“So... You are hybrids, right? All my life I’ve only seen one hybrid.”
“We’re not hybrids, Reirei.” Askaru explains. “We’re flyons.”
“Flyons? Never heard of it.”
For a while, they talk to the jackals, realizing how they live and how they are a close family and loyal to each other. While their parents and Madoa talk to Reirei, Maine and Tayarinne II talk to the teenager Dogo. They end up playing a little bit. At the same time, Lilikiki talks with teenager Kijana.
“Why would I want to be like a jackal?” Lili asks a little serious.
“Because we are cool.” Kijana replies. “Anyway, I don't know if you'd make a good jackal. At least you have... a nice body.”
"Thanks." Now Lili smiles. “You know? I like your hairstyle.”
"Thanks. Hey. Do you have a boyfriend?”
"What? I don't have time for such nonsense." Now Lili is a little nervous. She doesn't feel very comfortable talking about it.
“I'm sure you'll get one soon. You know? I already had a boyfriend, but... Things didn't go very well.”
"Why?"
"Long story."
"Girls. Time for us to continue our visit.” Alerts Tayarine.
“How about we all eat together?” Madoa suggests.
"Here?" Reirei is surprised.
"Why not? You have meat and fruit.”
“Well… Maybe we can share.”
“That's right, Reirei. You really are changed.”
“Come on, Madoa. Don't make me change again.” The jackal looks very seriously at the hyena.
“Calm down, Reirei.”
“I'll gather the jackals. Come on, kids.” Reirei starts walking and kicks Goigoi.
"Coming." Goigoi gets up suddenly and follows her.
“We're not kids anymore.” Says Dogo, following his parents alongside his sister Kijana.
"What was that?" Askaru asks.
"What?" Madoa doesn't understand the flyon's question.
“Has Reirei changed?”
“Oh that. Some animals used to be selfish and disrespectful of the circle of life. But now they are all nice.”
"Fortunately." Says Tayarine.
“Mom. I'm hungry." Informs Taya II.
“We’re going to eat, dear.”
“That Kijana must think she's better than everyone else. What a character.” Comments Lili. She wasn't very impressed with that teenage jackal.
"Good. Let's go to eat.” Says Madoa.
The family eats with the jackals and the hyena, especially fruit because it's healthier... or because the meat wasn't cooked.
After lunch, they walk again with Madoa, who continues to show them some wonderful places in the Outlands, such as Sisi Ni Sawa Lake. They also greet other species such as zebras and antelopes, or even some lizards. But Madoa explains that there are many more of these animals in the Pride Lands and other species to discover.
At the end of the day, the group returns to the hyenas.
“I hope you enjoyed visiting the Outlands.” Jasiri speaks with her usual smile. “My sister is an excellent guide.”
"Absolutely. And your lands are very beautiful, full of interesting animals.” Tayarinne praises.
"Thanks. Have you decided how long you intend to stay here?”
"Actually, we'd like to spend the night here." Askaru says. “But we'll leave in the morning to go visit the Pride Lands.”
“You're going to love the Pride Lands. It's a wonderful place, especially now with Queen Kiara and King Kovu in charge.”
"We believe you."
“You can stay in my cave.” Suggests Madoa. It's not huge, but it's big enough for you to spend the night there.”
“Thank you so much, Madoa.” Tayarinne thanks her with a smile.
"You're welcome."
“Really... So much cheesiness.” Janja comments.
"What?" Cheezi looks at Janja with a weird face.
Again, Jasiri rolls her eyes.
“I'll show you where it is. Follow me." Madoa starts walking, guiding the visitors.
"Have a good night." Says Jasiri.
Madoa guides them into her cave. It's quite nice, very comfortable.
“Cool.” Maine and Tayarinne II observe the cave.
“It was a pleasure to meet you.” Madoa smiles at the family. “Now I hope you all have a good night and… See you tomorrow morning.”
“Of course, Madoa. Thank you again."
“You don't have to thank me, Tayarinne. Bye, girls.”
“Bye, Madoa!” The three sisters say goodbye to her.
The family watches the hyena exit the cave, before having a short chat.
“This place is incredible. They all seem so friendly.” Comments the lioness, smiling at her beloved king.
"Yes. But I'm more intrigued by the Pride Lands."
"What do you mean, my king?"
"All those stories... The Great Change, the great evil, summoning spirits, a lion with a super powerful roar... There's magic in the Pride Lands."
“You are right, my love. I'm sure that tomorrow we'll discover this magic.”
“I want to meet Kion.” Says Lili.
"Really?" Tayarinne asks, a little surprised.
"Yeah. I mean... He looks like an interesting lion with that super roar. Just curious." The white flyoness smiles, a little nervously.
“I see...” Askaru suspects there's more than that, but he won't ask her anything. At least not for now.
"Good. It's time to go to sleep. It's been a long day.”
“Moooom...” The cubs don't like the idea. They prefer to play.
“Mom's right, girls.” Lili convinces her sisters. “Tomorrow we are going to visit another wonderful place.”
"Okay..."
The family nuzzles each other and everyone gets in position to sleep: the three sisters together on one side, Tayarinne and Askaru together not far from them.
“Goodnight, mom and dad.”
"Goodnight girls."
After some time in silence, Askaru looks at the outside of the cave with a thought: “What kind of magic is that Madoa mentioned? I have to meet this Kion.”
Then the flyon snuggles up to his queen until everyone falls asleep.