Thousand Yard Stare Zazu -

Zazu finally turned his whole body toward the young king. His eyes were wet and dark.

Simba touched his nose to the hornbill's chest. "That's an order." thousand yard stare zazu

"Your Majesty," Zazu said. His voice was not the chirpy, officious instrument of Simba's cubhood. It was a dry rasp, like twigs snapping. "I do apologise. I was… compiling the morning report. Early." Zazu finally turned his whole body toward the young king

"Zazu," he said. "You're not his messenger anymore. You're mine." "That's an order

The Weight of Wisdom

"It's the middle of the night."

"Yes, Sire," Zazu whispered. Then, a tiny, almost imperceptible crack in his voice. "The morning report for tomorrow: the water buffalo are calving early, the baobab near the eastern watering hole has blossomed out of season, and… and I believe I might sleep through the dawn for the first time in a decade."