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Stargazing was Red’s favorite activity. The hippo loved seeing how the stars raced across the midnight sky. His pink eyes traced how the stars shone bright, but not overshadowing the moon, which glowed bright over the Pridelands. He stared for quite a while.. Until a certain honey badger came up behind him.
“Hey!” Bunga said to Red, making the hippo yelp in surprise, almost stumbling back.
“Damn, Bunga, don’t startle me like that!” Red exclaimed, heavily breathing from being frightened like that.
Bunga chuckled, not taking Red seriously. “Sorry, Red. Didn’t mean to.” The honey badger apologized, taking a step back so the hippo could breathe. But just then, he noticed something on Red’s snout. .. Were those.. scales?
“Hey Red, are those scales on your snout?” Bunga asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Red groaned nervously, not expecting Bunga to even notice them, but he stood his ground.
“Yeah, they are.” Red confirmed, nervously smirking. “Why’d ya ask?”
Bunga thought for a bit before responding. “Well, hippos usually don’t have scales, so why do you have them?” Red started to sweat nervously.
Uhm..” Red tried to think of an excuse. “I was just born with ‘em, nothing major!” Red finally said, hoping Bunga wouldn’t question him more. Bunga squinted his eyes at Red, out of confusion and curiosity.
“..Really?”
“Really. If I wasn’t born with them, I don’t think this fic would be written right now.”
“What?”
“What?”
“..Never mind.” Bunga brushed it off, still focused on the hippo’s scales. “It’s kinda cool that you got those scales on ya, Red! Maybe I should call you Scales now.”
Red laughs at the nickname. “Yeah, maybe you should.” He sarcastically replied. "
Thank ancestors this conversation won’t happen again.”
“Really?” Bunga asked.
“Really. Now that you know, I’m pretty sure I don’t have to explain it to anyone ever again…. Except Thurston, maybe.”
That definitely made Bunga laugh.
A few years in the future..
Red was relaxing for a bit. The hippo had a long day, getting a tour at the Tree of Life. At least he got to spend good time with his friends and explore new places. Now all he wanted to do was to stare up at the blue skies. Until someone walked up on him.
“Hey, Red.” They said, startling the hippo. Red immediately turned around to see who it was. It was just Baliyo, Queen Rani’s younger brother. Red let out a sigh of relief and annoyance at the same time.
“Hey, Baliyo. Did ya have to walk up on me like that?” Red asked, slightly intimidated by the lion’s casual sneak up.
“Oh, sorry Red. I just wanted to ask you a question.”
Red immediately sighed, predicting what the lion would question him on. Despite his mild annoyance, he kept it to himself. “What did ya wanna ask me?”
“Alright.. I know this is super weird, but… why do you have scales on your snout?” Baliyo asked, before the hippo flopped his head onto the ground with a groan in response.