The Hybrid

The Return to a Familiar Place

"Let's stop hypothesizing and focus on the actual problem," Kadiba reminded. They all agreed, pressing on towards the center of Africa. The clouds above them only continued to get darker until they evened out into a very bland and weird gray, the kind that simply depresses people.

"Huh, that's weird," Po commented. Raven's eyes widened as she saw a familiar sight in view. The old house of a familiar lion. She started running towards the house out of pure excitement. She could have used her super speed but she wasn't thinking about that right now. Panting heavily, she finally reached the house and knocked on the door. The door opened up to an unfamiliar male teenage hyena.

"Oh," Raven said, visibly surprised, "I... um... I think I have the wrong house. I'm sorry I-"

"Raven?" said the hyena. She paused, examined the dog's features. Nothing familiar that she really remembered. "Is that you?"

"Who are you?" Raven asked. The hyena grabbed onto her waist, lifted her up into the air excitedly, and laughed heartily as he spun her around. "WHooo! Okay, you're excited to see me. Now, what is it for?" The hyena placed her down.

"Mrs. Raven, it's me, Lewe!" Raven's eyes shot open as she grasped the hyena's cheeks.

"You're Verloor's son? How long has it been?" Raven said incredulously. Lewe laughed loudly.

"Too long. You need to visit more," Lewe smirked. Raven rose her eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"You're Verloor's kid, alright. The same cocky attitude when I first met him," Raven grunted as the other Animalists came towards the house. "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, well Lief, Ada, and Dad were called to go on a mission. I just got word that they'll be back soon," Lewe replied.

"Wait, how?" Ed exclaimed, flying onto Raven's shoulder, "I'm the messenger for the Animalists. Who's taking my job?!" The hyena looked back and whistled. Just then, a beautifully vibrant yellow bird flew onto Lewe's shoulder and perched. Ed's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh... Oh... um..."

"Hello, my name's Charlene. I was called to assist you with your messaging job. I hope I'm not stepping on your talons or anything," She said shyly yet sweetly.

"No, no, no I'm... um... Raven, don't you have anything to say?" Ed quickly spluttered out as he jumped from her shoulder to Tigress's standing in the back. Lewe and Charlene were clueless as Raven just shook her head.

"So, why are you here, if you don't mind me asking? It's rare that you see so many Animalists in one place," Lewe noted excitedly.

"We were called here by Raven. She wanted all of us here, though she doesn't know what," Kadiba informed.

"Hehe, weird mystical adventure, I guess?" Lewe joked. Raven smiled at the dog's manner. He was just like his dad.

"We don't know. There is an eerie presence here. When did that start?" Tigress asked the teen.

"It started about a couple of months ago-"

"When Raven got the last shards," Dhaal interrupted Lewe. The hyena nodded.

"The clouds were the start. Dad, Lief, and Ada have had a hard time trying to find it," Lewe said, with a hint of crypticness. Raven picked up on it. There was something he was leaving out.

"Where's Uchawi," She asked directly. Both Charlene and Lewe's face turned into a forlorn face. Raven knew the face of death when she saw it. "I'm sorry. It must have been hard for you guys."

"It was," Lewe sighed heavily. "Anyways, let's not think about that. Come in, we were just having dinner."

"YAY!"