| Chapter Twenty-five |
With no more humans in the immediate vicinity, many of the young animals stopped pretending to be asleep. Hope
rushed up to the barred front door of the cage. “Jozay! Are you all right?”
Jozay seemed to notice the box of wild animals for the first time. “Hope? Is that really you?” He suddenly seemed
concerned. “What all is in there with you?”
Hope looked back over her shoulder a bit nervously. It was obvious that everyone except the big guy was fully awake
now and watching her. “Well, I’m not really sure…”
Tezaka stepped forward beside Hope. “Don’t worry, Jozay. None of us have hurt her or anyone else. We all just want
out, just like you and Hope.”
Jozay looked at Tezaka. Zak had no reason to believe this newcomer had any biotechnical enhancements of his own,
but looking into his eyes was nothing short of unsettling. It felt like the pink-and-blue gaze started by boring straight
through Zak’s skull and out the other side, and then had to pull back to focus on his very thoughts. There was no
telepathic contact like he had with his sister, but that would’ve almost been less invasive. “And you are?”
“My name is Tezaka, you can call me Zak.” He gestured to the still very unconscious lioness cub chained to the box.
“That is my sister, Shakaza.” He looked back at the uneasy cubs behind him. “Come on forward, everyone, we might as
well all know each other.” He was careful to keep his voice nice and steady, welcoming and not threatening. He couldn’t
make anyone do something they really didn’t want to do, but he knew techniques for easing others into difficult situations.
Sure enough, everyone except the oversized cub stepped forward. Zak introduced the two he knew to the others.
“Everyone, this is Hope, and over against the wall is her…”
Jozay answered, “Cousin.”
“…her cousin Jozay. Again,” he repeated as he gestured to himself and his sister, “Zak and Kaza. Next?”
The cheetah, who had been maintaining a goofy smile throughout, volunteered, “My name’s Zipper. Fastest cat in the
world. Probably.”
The black cat showed a bit of bravery at last by going next. “Um, my name is Shadow. I thought I was just a dark lion, but
now we’re not sure.”
Zak smiled. “And the canine among us?”
The smallest captive stepped boldly forward. “I am Incosi Sapphire of the Sixth Dust Clan.”
This caught Hope’s attention. “You’re an Incosi? Really?”
“I wouldn’t dare claim so if I wasn’t.”
Now Jozay spoke. “A dust clan? Your mother was one of Incosi Shenzi’s nieces, wasn’t she?” Sapphire nodded slowly.
“How did she die?”
Sapphire’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”
Jozay kept his voice even. “I wish to honor her memory. Your clan follows Sozo, correct?”
“Yes. My mother died in a hunt.”
Jozay changed his voice slightly, to an old Hyena chant that had been brought back under the Path of Sozo with a
slightly different meaning. “Looking forward to the Day of the Sky, I share your grief.”
Sapphire was clearly impressed that Jozay had just spoken in Hyannic. “Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir.
You must be a Pridelander.” Jozay smiled and shook his head.
“Close. I’m Izusan.” Sapphire nodded, but appeared confused.
Tezaka noted these proceedings with interest. He had of course never heard of the Pridelands or any other aspect of
local animal territorial politics, but it seemed a bit odd that lion cubs commanded respect from pack leaders of other
species simply based on where they were from. “There’s one more cub in here, Jozay, he’s very large, a light gold with
pale orange stripes. He’s injured somehow and still sleeping.”
The cub in question opened his eyes and propped his head up. “I am awake, although I don’t know if I can stand just yet.
My name is Babylon.”
Hope asked, “And… are you a lion?”
“My father was. My mother was a tigress.”
Tezaka now understood. “Ah, so you’re a liger, actually born in the wild. That would explain the poachers’ interest in you.
These humans seem to only be interested in creatures that are unique in some way. Miss Shadow?” The little cub looked
up. “I would guess you to be a panther from a place called India. The fact that you somehow made it here caught their
interest, somehow. Now, Zipper, you said you can run unusually fast?” Zipper nodded and looked like he wanted to
elaborate for a few minutes, but Zak cut him off. “Okay, makes sense. Sapphire, your being the leader of your clan at
your age may have attracted a different kind of interest from a poacher.
“Miss Hope, any idea why the humans thought you were special?” Hope gave Tezaka a quizzical look and he realized
what he had just said. “Oh! I mean, you know, to the humans. Like from a hunter’s point of view. ‘Cause obviously you’re
very special.” Hope smiled sweetly at that. Tezaka sputtered as he tried to formulate a coherent sentence.
Jozay relaxed a bit and smiled and decided to help out. “My cousin’s parents are from different tribes who historically don’
t get along. Her coloration gives her away.”
Pouncing on the conversational segway like a field mouse, Tezaka spun around and asked Jozay, “Is it the same with
you? Is that the reason for your odd coloration that got you captured?”
Jozay simply raised an eyebrow. Hope held back a laugh for a moment, but couldn’t for long. She began to laugh out
loud despite the gloomy circumstances. “Odd col… coloration? ”
The effect of Hope’s laugh was forceful. The cubs all began to feel a little less afraid, a little more positive. For a moment
or two they weren’t cellmates but playmates, they were enjoying a joke, not enduring captivity. None besides Jozay and
Hope herself totally got the joke, but it was funny all the same somehow. Jozay really didn’t want to explain his special
legacy just yet, especially without the benefit of his wings being visible. Luckily he had a great subject change. “Hey, Zak?
Your sister seems to waking up.”
Zak stuck his head out of the cage and looked at Shakaza who was now stirring. “So she is. By the way, everyone,
please excuse her if she’s odd or mean as she’s first waking up. The humans had to use a lot of sleeping medicine on
her, so waking up will be rough.”
Hope stopped laughing but kept smiling at Tezaka as she coyly asked, “So Zak, what makes you and Kaza so… special?”
Maybe it was the lingering effect of the drug. Maybe it was a phantom effect of Shakaza’s drugged state washing over
his mind. Maybe it was just the way Hope was looking at him. Whatever it was, Zak suddenly had and acted on an impulse
he almost certainly would not have otherwise. He gave Hope a sly smile and replied, “Because. We’re too hot to handle!”
And with that, he shook his head and ignited his mane-scruff. Hope and everyone else gasped or screamed as they
pressed themselves against the side of the cage furthest from Tezaka. Zak immediately extinguished himself and tried to
apologize, but he could see the damage was done.
They were all terrified of him.
rushed up to the barred front door of the cage. “Jozay! Are you all right?”
Jozay seemed to notice the box of wild animals for the first time. “Hope? Is that really you?” He suddenly seemed
concerned. “What all is in there with you?”
Hope looked back over her shoulder a bit nervously. It was obvious that everyone except the big guy was fully awake
now and watching her. “Well, I’m not really sure…”
Tezaka stepped forward beside Hope. “Don’t worry, Jozay. None of us have hurt her or anyone else. We all just want
out, just like you and Hope.”
Jozay looked at Tezaka. Zak had no reason to believe this newcomer had any biotechnical enhancements of his own,
but looking into his eyes was nothing short of unsettling. It felt like the pink-and-blue gaze started by boring straight
through Zak’s skull and out the other side, and then had to pull back to focus on his very thoughts. There was no
telepathic contact like he had with his sister, but that would’ve almost been less invasive. “And you are?”
“My name is Tezaka, you can call me Zak.” He gestured to the still very unconscious lioness cub chained to the box.
“That is my sister, Shakaza.” He looked back at the uneasy cubs behind him. “Come on forward, everyone, we might as
well all know each other.” He was careful to keep his voice nice and steady, welcoming and not threatening. He couldn’t
make anyone do something they really didn’t want to do, but he knew techniques for easing others into difficult situations.
Sure enough, everyone except the oversized cub stepped forward. Zak introduced the two he knew to the others.
“Everyone, this is Hope, and over against the wall is her…”
Jozay answered, “Cousin.”
“…her cousin Jozay. Again,” he repeated as he gestured to himself and his sister, “Zak and Kaza. Next?”
The cheetah, who had been maintaining a goofy smile throughout, volunteered, “My name’s Zipper. Fastest cat in the
world. Probably.”
The black cat showed a bit of bravery at last by going next. “Um, my name is Shadow. I thought I was just a dark lion, but
now we’re not sure.”
Zak smiled. “And the canine among us?”
The smallest captive stepped boldly forward. “I am Incosi Sapphire of the Sixth Dust Clan.”
This caught Hope’s attention. “You’re an Incosi? Really?”
“I wouldn’t dare claim so if I wasn’t.”
Now Jozay spoke. “A dust clan? Your mother was one of Incosi Shenzi’s nieces, wasn’t she?” Sapphire nodded slowly.
“How did she die?”
Sapphire’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”
Jozay kept his voice even. “I wish to honor her memory. Your clan follows Sozo, correct?”
“Yes. My mother died in a hunt.”
Jozay changed his voice slightly, to an old Hyena chant that had been brought back under the Path of Sozo with a
slightly different meaning. “Looking forward to the Day of the Sky, I share your grief.”
Sapphire was clearly impressed that Jozay had just spoken in Hyannic. “Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir.
You must be a Pridelander.” Jozay smiled and shook his head.
“Close. I’m Izusan.” Sapphire nodded, but appeared confused.
Tezaka noted these proceedings with interest. He had of course never heard of the Pridelands or any other aspect of
local animal territorial politics, but it seemed a bit odd that lion cubs commanded respect from pack leaders of other
species simply based on where they were from. “There’s one more cub in here, Jozay, he’s very large, a light gold with
pale orange stripes. He’s injured somehow and still sleeping.”
The cub in question opened his eyes and propped his head up. “I am awake, although I don’t know if I can stand just yet.
My name is Babylon.”
Hope asked, “And… are you a lion?”
“My father was. My mother was a tigress.”
Tezaka now understood. “Ah, so you’re a liger, actually born in the wild. That would explain the poachers’ interest in you.
These humans seem to only be interested in creatures that are unique in some way. Miss Shadow?” The little cub looked
up. “I would guess you to be a panther from a place called India. The fact that you somehow made it here caught their
interest, somehow. Now, Zipper, you said you can run unusually fast?” Zipper nodded and looked like he wanted to
elaborate for a few minutes, but Zak cut him off. “Okay, makes sense. Sapphire, your being the leader of your clan at
your age may have attracted a different kind of interest from a poacher.
“Miss Hope, any idea why the humans thought you were special?” Hope gave Tezaka a quizzical look and he realized
what he had just said. “Oh! I mean, you know, to the humans. Like from a hunter’s point of view. ‘Cause obviously you’re
very special.” Hope smiled sweetly at that. Tezaka sputtered as he tried to formulate a coherent sentence.
Jozay relaxed a bit and smiled and decided to help out. “My cousin’s parents are from different tribes who historically don’
t get along. Her coloration gives her away.”
Pouncing on the conversational segway like a field mouse, Tezaka spun around and asked Jozay, “Is it the same with
you? Is that the reason for your odd coloration that got you captured?”
Jozay simply raised an eyebrow. Hope held back a laugh for a moment, but couldn’t for long. She began to laugh out
loud despite the gloomy circumstances. “Odd col… coloration? ”
The effect of Hope’s laugh was forceful. The cubs all began to feel a little less afraid, a little more positive. For a moment
or two they weren’t cellmates but playmates, they were enjoying a joke, not enduring captivity. None besides Jozay and
Hope herself totally got the joke, but it was funny all the same somehow. Jozay really didn’t want to explain his special
legacy just yet, especially without the benefit of his wings being visible. Luckily he had a great subject change. “Hey, Zak?
Your sister seems to waking up.”
Zak stuck his head out of the cage and looked at Shakaza who was now stirring. “So she is. By the way, everyone,
please excuse her if she’s odd or mean as she’s first waking up. The humans had to use a lot of sleeping medicine on
her, so waking up will be rough.”
Hope stopped laughing but kept smiling at Tezaka as she coyly asked, “So Zak, what makes you and Kaza so… special?”
Maybe it was the lingering effect of the drug. Maybe it was a phantom effect of Shakaza’s drugged state washing over
his mind. Maybe it was just the way Hope was looking at him. Whatever it was, Zak suddenly had and acted on an impulse
he almost certainly would not have otherwise. He gave Hope a sly smile and replied, “Because. We’re too hot to handle!”
And with that, he shook his head and ignited his mane-scruff. Hope and everyone else gasped or screamed as they
pressed themselves against the side of the cage furthest from Tezaka. Zak immediately extinguished himself and tried to
apologize, but he could see the damage was done.
They were all terrified of him.
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