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The touch to Zazu's neck feathers was a comfort. It was not preening. Fingers felt different to a beak, but there was reassurance in the gesture nonetheless.
As together they watched Pride Rock, this evening of Scar's ascension, Rafiki did not speak. Uncharacteristically, neither did Zazu. He shuddered from tail-feathers to the tip of his long beak when the clan of hyenas was let walk among the pride. Then turned his head away from the unnatural alliance, the dark triumph of Scar.
Zazu tapped his beak gently to Rafiki's arm. Wordless, he smoothed the grey fur as if were feathers.