A one-shot of Jelani and Jenny the Kangaroo. This story lies within the Fauna & Fable universe’s timeline, before the Fable invasion.

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A salty rooftop breeze tousled Jelani’s dreadlocked ponytail as he watched Rohan the tiger and Alistar the unicorn’s moonlit bodies disappear into the sleepy, white stone corridors of Arco Bahim. He happily sighed, and leaned onto the cycladic terrace’s edge. The future may have been uncertain, and Alistar’s knowledge of what the Fable Alliance was up to certainly sounded ominous, but Jelani was thankful that the gentle giant of a unicorn was on the earth’s side. It had also been a productive day nonetheless, with defense procedures planned for land and sea, and the like.

A yawn crept up on Jelani. So much was to be done, but it would have to wait til another day. His forearm wiped across his sleepy eyes, and the kangaroo turned to head back inside. Quite a while had passed since he had been home, several days even. A couple of lazy pulls on his belt buckles freed the belt from his waist and loosened his dogi, both of which he slipped off and bunched under his arm. A few kicks shook off his boots. He was tired and a little sore from travel, but he looked forward to curling up in his warm bed, and getting to greet his wife properly.

“Jel?”

Jelani’s eyes averted from his clothing to spot Jenny peering out from the hatch that led to the rooftop. He was a bit surprised. “Ah, dear.” His voice was almost a whisper.

His sleek, flaxen counterpart carefully brought herself up through the rooftop’s hatch. Jelani already had an idea what this was about.

“We need to talk.”

Jelani’s brow furrowed in concern, but he smiled. “Jenny,” he replied as they met at the middle of the rooftop, “No need to worry. Believe me, I know we can trust Alistar.”

“It’s not Alistar.” Her tone was firm, but it then mellowed with her expression. “I’m scared.”

A slight wince was apparent on Jelani’s face. He didn’t know what to tell her, except what he had told her before. He shook his head dismissively and before he could reply, she continued.

“I’m scared for our family, Jel. For Naem; for the whole Kingdom. After the things I’ve seen today, that unicorn’s magic...” She stepped away, her eyes wide with concern and disbelief. “If that unicorn is so powerful... what could be out there that he’s so afraid of?”

By the moonlight, Jelani could tell that she had turned her head towards the stars. A quiet moment passed, and she turned back to him.

“Tell me. What is it?”

Jelani gently reached up and grasped her hands. Her apprehensive aura made Jelani doubt if she really wanted to know. He smiled, in an attempt to comfort her. “It will be all right,” he whispered assuringly. “I’ve told you most everything I know, and it’s true. There are things out there, things that we thought at one time were mere fantasy.”

Jenny listened, studying her husband’s eyes.

“It seems at some point our paths will cross, earthlings and unicorns and gryphons, and... other things. All we can do is prepare, and hope, and pray. But everything will be all right,” he comforted, with a twinkle in his eye. “Believe that.”

After a moment, her eyes dropped from his.

“I love you, and I won’t let anything happen to you or the little ones.” He eyed her face expectantly, but then a thought crossed his mind. “Ah, and speaking of the kids,” he chuckled, “You might want to tell them not to mention anything about Alistar or any of this to their friends.”

Jenny nodded, still looking away. “Of course,” she breathed. “I’m not worried too much about Jarem telling. The poor thing’s so quiet he barely speaks at all.”

“Yes,” Jelani sighed, placing a hand on the back of his neck. “He’s got so much potential. So kind and smart. If he can just come out of his shell one day.”

“I trust that Delana and Zaki won’t say anything either. With Kemani, though, I’m going to have to be firm.”

“He is a rascal,” Jelani laughed, “Like I was at that age. I see a lot of me in him.”

“Indeed. And like Kemani, you sometimes don’t always know what’s good for you.”

Jelani paused. “Eh, w-what do you mean by that?”

Jenny paced towards the edge of the terrace, maintaining eye contact with Jelani. “Come here.”

Jelani had predicted that this is where the conversation was headed. Still, he laid back his ears and joined Jenny at the terrace’s edge.

“See that watchman out there?” Jenny pointed towards a spot in the lower vicinity of the Cycladic-style corridors of the city.

“Jenny...”

“You could be doing that!” She interrupted, quickly turning to face him.

“Jenny...”

“It would’t be as dangerous as being The Guardian! You could be a watchman like Ermelo or Arturo!”

“Now, listen...”

“You would be able to spend more time with us, more time at home. And I could count on you coming home every day.”

Jelani turned away a bit. “Jenny, we’ve talked about this.”

“Every day I have to worry!” She exclaimed, emotion becoming more apparent in her voice. “You’ve got such a huge target on your back. I always have to wonder whether you’re going to be walking in, limping in, or carried in, or whether you’re going to come back at all!”

“Oh Jenny,” Jelani eased closer and placed a hand on her back. “Please don’t cry.”

“I’m not,” she sniffled, “I’m just frustrated with you and your... stupid, stubborn ways.”

A smile, albeit a cheeky one, spread across his face. “To be fair, I was only carried in that one time.”

“Oh shut up,” Jenny snapped back, wiping her eyes. “You scared me to death. I had never seen so much blood before.”

“I’m still here, arent I? And when I got hit with that poison-tipped arrow, I lived through that too. And do you know why?”

Jenny sighed. “Because you have a gift, I know, I know.”

“Yes!” Jelani beamed, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Nothing else can explain that, and it’s why I’m the guardian of Naem!”

“You don’t have to be the Guardian of Naem to use your powers for good.”

“I’m in the best possible position to put my powers to use.”

“Jel,”

“My body and my abilities are strong, and I use them to protect this land, and by protecting the land, I protect the people. I protect my family.”

Jenny just shook her head.

“Jenny,” he spoke in a lower voice, “Please, listen.”

Without a word, she pushed away from her husband, and made her way back to the rooftop hatch.

“Jenny!” He called, “My dear, please.”

Her silhouette had already disappeared down into the house, and Jelani shook his head with concern. The two had went back and forth about this ever since they were married, and even before, but he had never seen his wife this upset over the subject before. He couldn’t deny, however, that the future of the Fauna Kingdom was uncertain enough to be unnerving.

Inside, it was quiet. Jelani was sure that the kids were already asleep, so he gently laid shut the wooden hatch on the roof, and locked it quietly. He descended from the ladder, and his paw pads touched the stone floor without making a sound. He whispered his wife’s name, but then noticed the warm glow of their bedroom light emanating from around the corner.

Jelani peered in the arched doorway to the back of the room. Jenny was curled up like a cat amongst the bed’s canopy and a bounty of covers, her face hidden. The dreadlocked kangaroo’s brow wrinkled with concern as he entered. “Jen,” he spoke in a soothing tone. He then approached his own side of the bed to sit down. “I’m sorry.”

She remained quiet and still.

He laid down onto the plush, ornate bedding and placed a hand on her waist. “I just want to protect what I love in the best way I know how.”

Jenny stirred under the covers. “And I just want you to always be here for your wife and five kids.”

Jelani chuckled at Jenny’s cover-muffled statement. “Five?” He gave her thigh a playful tickle. “Silly girl.”

She spoke again, but the tickling and rustling of the covers almost muted her.

Both of Jelani’s ears perked up. “Eh?” The tickling halted. “W-what did you say?”

“I said it’s already on the way.”

For a moment, Jelani was frozen. His lips were parted, but short of words. “Oh,” He breathed, “Jen...” He drew closer to her. “Really? Are you sure?”

He could see her head nod from behind the covers, and she mumbled something.

“Jenny,” He gushed, “What...?” He just couldn’t find the words.

Jenny finally turned herself around, poking her face out of the covers, meekly. “I’ve known for a few weeks now.”

“A few weeks?! Why didn’t you say something? This is... great!”

The covers rustled as Jenny pushed herself up from her position. “Well, I wanted to,” she replied with laid-back ears, “But you’ve been traveling so much lately, a-and so much has been going on...” she paused for a moment. “I just couldn’t find the right time to tell you.”

Jelani continued to listen intently, mouth agape.

Jenny’s hand lightly touched her belly. “Do you understand, Jel, why I’m afraid?”

His mouth closed, and he pressed his lips together.

“To be raising baby and four other children in dangerous world, with their father in danger at every turn?”

Jenny’s eyes were heavy. She wanted to say more, but her throat was beginning to tighten.

A soft touch eased the tension. Jelani’s fingertips smoothed their way down Jenny’s cheek. He smiled, now a bit closer to her.

“I wouldn’t keep this job if I didn’t think it was the best possible way to keep my family safe.”

A tear rolled down Jenny’s face. She knew Jelani knew he meant it. She always knew.

“It’s meant to be,” Jelani assured. “Just like this little one.”

She closed her eyes, and leaned her forehead into his.

“It’s all right,” he whispered in his usual, comforting voice, “It’s all right.” He had her hand in his, gently caressing it with his thumb.

Jelani whispered to her for a few quiet moments, forehead to forehead. This was something Jenny treasured dearly about Jelani. He was genuine, and had a soothing voice that gave her the feeling that everything really was going to be okay.

“Oh! My goodness!” Jelani exclaimed.

His wife jerked back. “What?”

“That ladder!” he responded, “You’re pregnant and you were going up and down that ladder! You shouldn’t be doing that!”

Jenny scoffed, “Jel, Honey. Trust me, I’ll be fine going up and down that ladder.” A smile appeared on her face. “As long as no gryphons or pegasi or anything swoops out of the sky and grabs me off the roof.”

Jelani grinned, and then chuckled. “Well then, you won’t have to worry about that.” He leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. “Because they would have to go through me first.”

Jenny reeled at Jelani’s warm hand she felt slip under the covers. “Hm. And what if it was a big, 12-foot tall pegasus man who tried to steal me away?”

A laugh escaped Jelani, muffled by his wife’s hair. “I guess I would just have to kill him then.” He followed the statement with a couple of smooches on her neck.

Jenny dropped back down to her pillow, enjoying the feel of Jelani’s rugged muzzle on her neck. “Jel,” she breathed, closing her eyes.

Her romancer inhaled her scent before responding. “Mm-hmm?”

His breath on her neck caused her to twitch a bit. She had already forgotten what she was going to say.

“Mama?”

The two’s eyes widened.

“Jarem?!”

There at the foot of the bed, wiping his sleepy eyes, was their youngest child, Jarem. They eyed the little one in surprise.

Jelani spoke up. “When did you get here, dear one?”

“M-Mama,” The small one muttered as he finished wiping his eyes. “I don’t want a pegasus to steal you.”

Jenny’s ears perked up further. “What?” Jarem tended to speak softly, and his sleepiness made him even more hushed.

“Alistar’s not going to take you away, is he?”

Jelani was dumbfounded, and Jenny started laughing. “Oh, honey,” she giggled, “I was just kidding. No one’s going to steal your mama away. And I believe Alistar is a unicorn, not a pegasus.”

Jarem climbed his way onto the bed to cuddle with his mom, and another voice came from the foot of the bed. “See! I told ya!” Kemani slapped the covers as he jumped up and followed his little brother.

“Kem!?” The mom and dad ‘roos exclaimed.

Kemani sat in place. “I told him that Alistar was a unicorn,” the eight-year-old added cleverly, smiling his youthful, gapped smile.

Jelani raised up, “All right,” he grunted, and crawled down to the foot of the bed. His dreads dangled as he peered over the edge. “Ah.”

Delana, their eldest, sat with her knees scrunched up to her. “Jarem had a bad dream and couldn’t go back to sleep,” the young kangaroo girl blurted quickly, “I just followed them in here.”

Jelani also spotted a stray tail sticking out from underneath the bed. He grinned and raised a brow. “Okay, you all, get up here. Zaki, you too.”

The quiet room was now full of commotion, as everyone scurried to find a comfy place to settle.

Jenny nuzzled Jarem’s round little face. “Did you have a scary dream?”

Her little joey nodded and clung tighter to her shirt. “Uh-huh,” he whimpered, “I dreamed there was a big dinosaur stepping on everything and smashing houses.”

Delana spoke up. “We told him that there are no dinosaurs around anymore.”

“Yeah,” Kemani scoffed, “but he was still scared.” A big hand reached over and messed up Kemani’s thick dreads. “Hey!”

“Dreams can feel very real,” Jelani spoke, “Even if they do seem strange sometimes. Even I get scared when I dream scary things.”

Jarem’s expression softened a bit, and Jenny wrapped her arm around him. “I get scared too.”

“Well, I’ll bet Alistar doesn’t get scared,” Zaki asserted. “He’s so big, I’ll bet he’s not afraid of anything!”

Jelani opened his mouth to respond, but Kemani interrupted. “Yeah, but what if he had to fight a GIANT unicorn? One as big as a dinosaur!”

Delana quickly addressed her brother’s logic. “Giant unicorns?” She said with doubt in her voice. “If there are any, they would be nice like Alistar, right?”

The conversation quickly took an undesirable turn. Jelani grew visibly uncomfortable, and before he or Jenny could change the subject, a volley of questions came from the kids.

“Where did Alistar come from, Daddy?”

“Are there more unicorns out there?”

The little ones had no idea, and their dad had no idea how to answer.

“Kids!”

All four joeys’ heads turned towards their mother. Jelani looked as well. That particular tone in Jenny’s voice never failed to gain their attention. With the room hushed, she leaned in and whispered. “Do you guys want to know a secret?”

A collective gasp came from the young ones, and Jelani blinked a couple of times in surprise of his wife’s decision.

“What is it, what is it?!” Zaki begged.

Delana’s eyes sparkled. “Tell us! Can you tell us now?”

The mattress bounced from all the excitement, and Jenny raised a hand to calm the rascals. “Shh, shh,” she soothed, “Calm down. I will tell you if you promise you all will go to bed afterwards.”

Kemani flopped backwards and sighed. “Mom’s probably just going to make up something dumb.”

“No, Kem,” Jenny assured.

Jelani leaned in, stretching an arm around Jenny. “It’s for real,” he added, with a grin.

Jenny shot her husband a glance from the side, and cleared her throat. With pleading eyes all around her, she spoke. “We...”

Jenny gently moved Jelani’s hand which had moved its way down to her belly.

“We...” she continued, “are going fishing tomorrow!”

Cheers filled the canopy; the kids were delighted. Jelani, on the other hand, was a bit confused.

“Really!?” Delana asked happily.

Even shy little Jarem was excited. “Daddy’s coming too?”

“Mmm-hm!” Jenny replied as-a-matter-of-factly, with a nod. “Your daddy has the day off tomorrow.”

Dreadlock daddy just grinned awkwardly as Jenny planted a kiss on his cheek. “Uh, yeah!” He just went with it. “Yeah!” He exclaimed with more confidence, “Who else would like some red snapper tomorrow night?!”

“Me!” Kemani asserted, with several of his siblings chiming in as well. “I’ll catch all of them.”

“Not if you don’t get to bed at a good time,” Mama roo declared as she picked up Jarem from his comfy spot beside her. She placed him with his siblings.

Kemani’s grin faded. “You mean now?”

A nod from Mom was all it took to get the young ones to start making their way back to bed. “Make sure your brothers get to bed, Delana.”

That fetched an eye roll from Kemani, and Delana nodded to her mother. “Yes, Mom.”

The arched door closed behind the last few little footsteps, and the quiet of the night was audible again.

Jelani sighed, sinking down lower onto the bed. He cupped his hands over his face and massaged. “You know, for a minute I thought you were going to tell them.”

“Oh goodness, no,” Jenny laughed, pulling the comforter back up to her. “They would never go to sleep then.”

“Good point,” Jelani grunted, pushing himself up. His feet touched the floor, and he paced over to their light near the window.

“We’ll tell them,” Jenny started to say, with her words interrupted by a yawn, “We’ll tell them when we get back home tomorrow.”

Jelani made a noise of agreement. The room grew more dim with each twist of the lantern’s switch, and soon, only the blue moonlight remained to guide Jelani back to bed.

Jenny cuddled back into her pillow, and her ear twitched at the rustling sound of Jelani shucking off the last of his outerwear.

“What do you think they’ll say?”Though Jelani whispered, Jenny could still tell that he was smiling from the sound of his voice.

“Well,” she replied, “I know Delana will be hoping for a sister.”

The bed quaked a bit as Jenny’s partner joined her. “Ah, right,” Jelani agreed, his voice barely just a breath now. A bit more shifting, and he brought his arm around her waist.

Jenny snuggled into the embrace. She loved the feel of every mountain and valley of Jelani’s warm body against her back.

“Are you all right?” The concern in Jelani’s whisper was genuine.

“I’m fine. Just really tired.”

Jelani drew himself a bit closer to her. “I can tell you are tired,” he spoke, gently resting his muzzle against her shoulder. “If you need anything, just let me know it.”

Jenny eased her hand over Jelani’s. “I will, Jel,” she whispered back. “Thank you.”

They bade each other good night, and it became quiet. Though her eyes were closed, Jenny still had a soft smile on her face. Jelani always had this way about him. It was true that he was always able to make her feel better, but he also had a way of reading people. Or reading her, at least. She didn’t know if it was that he was so in tune with her, or whether it was a part of his elevated sixth sense. His “gift”.

Jenny’s smile faded a bit, as she ran her thumb over the top of Jelani’s hand. Jelani’s sixth sense (or as some say “instinct”) was especially developed, much more than normal, especially for a kangaroo. He was terribly powerful, and only a select few in the entire Fauna Kingdom, including her, knew exactly what kind of power he held within his seemingly normal body. She had seen it firsthand many years ago, when a large group of bandits attacked them in the countryside.

Jenny knew in her heart that Jelani really should not have survived that day. She winced, pushing her face a bit further into her pillow. She never liked recalling that terrible scene.

Jelani’s arm had grown heavier, she noticed. Just before she repositioned herself a bit, she felt his breath on her shoulder. Deeper, and heavier. Jenny’s smile returned, and she took care not to wake him as she slipped his arm to a more comfortable spot for the both of them. She kept her hand there for a moment, before slowly tracing it over his forearm. A few flecks of dirt, she felt, and his fur was flattened down some from wearing his leather vambraces. Further along his forearm, she felt some old scars underneath his fur. His hands were open and limp, and she felt down further, and relaxed into his roughly calloused paws.

“Jenny...”

Her ears perked up. She waited for him to respond, but only his breathing followed. He shifted a bit, though, so she carefully moved to turn herself around to face him.

He looked so worn out. She hadn’t noticed before when he and his comrades arrived that afternoon, or even when the lamp was on before, but the moon provided just enough light to illustrate just how tired he was.

Her heart immediately sank. Jelani was exhausted; he didn’t even mention it, and yet he showed such concern for her.

“I wouldn’t keep this job if I didn’t think it was the best possible way to keep my family safe.”

Jenny was reminded of that line. The weariness of travel, the fighting, the stress, the scars, the pain; it was for her. It was for them, for them and their family.

Her sunken heart felt like it had moved into her throat. She leaned her head into Jelani’s chest.

She hoped he knew just how much she loved him.

/end