The Great Journey to Refuge

New Discoveries

After walking for a while... We decided to rest... My grandmothers went hunting, and my aunts were with my cousins and uncles, while me, my sisters, mother, and father were a bit farther away from them... I decided to ask my father a serious question.

Dad...-I say.

Yes, Taya?-He asks.

Those animals... What are they? Why have I never seen them?-I ask.

Well... First, they are hyenas, and second, we were not where they inhabit.-He says.

And why are they so numerous?-I ask.

Well... I can't explain it very well, but it's for the same reason as us, to increase the chances of survival.-He says.

But if we lions prefer to stay without a pride, we would still be able to survive, right?-I ask.

Yes, but in the case of hyenas, that is almost impossible because they are smaller than us and do not have claws, which makes hunting more difficult for them. That's why there are many of them. Sometimes they eat the prey while it is still alive because they cannot bring it down.-He says.

Jafari!! Is this something to tell him?-My mother asks angrily.

Mom, calm down, there's no need to talk to him like that.-I say.

Taya, my son, I just don't want you to be scared by this, I don't want you to have nightmares.-She says calmly, embracing me.

I'll stay calm this time, but next time...-She says, looking at him in a strange way.

It won't happen again, I thought he wouldn't be afraid.-He says. (If he had stayed... I would be a lousy father.)-He thinks.

Okay, but... What's the relationship between hyenas and us?-I ask.

My mother and father look at each other, seemingly thinking about what to say...

They are our enemies, as you saw, they want our food because it's easier, but it's not only them. Some of us do the same with hyenas, but it's usually males without a pride, lions who don't want to spend energy hunting or who have failed so many times that they prefer to take from them.-Says Thando, appearing beside me.

Hmm... I understand...-I say.

But usually, they run away from us, when they see us.-Says my grandfather Mheetu.

Then... Why didn't they run away when they saw us?-I ask.

We don't know, but I think they lost their fear, at least in that region.-Says my grandfather Mheetu.

I see...-I say.

After a while, my grandmothers came back and everyone ate. After that, we continued our journey, but something was bothering me... I kept looking back, feeling like something was following us, but I couldn't see anything... So I didn't understand why I had this feeling. But I wasn't the only one feeling like that, apparently, Thando was also having the same sensation.

Uncle Thando... Do you think we're really being followed? Or is it just our imagination?-I ask.

I don't know for sure... But it's better not to let our guard down.-He says.

I understand.-I say.

After some time, it got dark, and we prepared to sleep... But before that, Thando went to call my grandparents, uncles, and father to stay awake with him to ensure our safety. They would take turns, and if something happened, they would call each other for help. I slept close to my mother, who was exhausted. After 5 minutes, I fell asleep, but I woke up in a completely different place from where I had been. I didn't understand what happened... I called for my parents, uncles, grandparents, sisters, and cousins... But there was no response. I started walking, but all I could see were very tall leaves and a kind of mist... But I could still see.