He could feel his insides tighten on her words. “Come on Lannie, I always chose...I think it’s your turn to chose.”
She just shook her head, “I’m no good at making decisions...you can. It’s all right.”
Kubali could sense where this was going so he swallowed his pride and nodded, “All right...how does gazelle sound today?”
She smiled and rubbed against him softly. “It sounds wonderful.” She didn’t notice, or care to notice, the tightness in his body she caused.
Together they walked until they were able to find their target. Quietly, Kubali slipped away from Elanna and stalked about to a point where he was sure the gazelles can smell him. He jumped out and roared, causing the gazelles to flee towards Elanna. She burst out of the brush, her swift and fatal onslaught bearing a struggling beast to the ground. Some of the others in panic turned and headed back.
Kubali did not react swiftly enough. One of the gazelles caught him on the side with a hoof, nicking him and bringing a few drops of blood.
Elanna quickly and compassionately snuffed the life from her horrified captive, then spoke a quick blessing. Kubali went to her after the dust had settled and rubbed against her gently. “Good job, Lannie!”
As his body pressed against hers, she noticed the blood on him. “Oh my gods...you’re bleeding, Kubali!”
Kubali turned to look at the wound and chuckled. “Don’t scare me like that! It’s really noth...”
“Oh you poor dear...” She got up from the fallen beast and began to lick at the blood on his coat. “My sweet little Nisei, let me make it all better.”
“Lannie...not that I mind your affections...but I’ll be all right.”
She began to stroke his side gently. “My brave little lion. There, there! It’s all right. I’m here.”
Kubali stepped away from her, “Didn’t you hear me, Lannie? I’m all right. It’s really nothing. I didn’t even notice it until you mentioned it.”
Elanna looked up to him. “But Kubali...aren’t you in pain?”
He just shook his head. Elanna looked down at his paws, “Oh...”
Kubali came and nuzzled her. “You don’t have to treat me like a cub, Lannie...and you don’t have to think of me as your master.” He kissed her gently. “Lannie, I don’t want someone to command around. That’s what got me in trouble in the first place.”
She nodded. “OK. I’ll try if you want me to.”
He shook his head. “You still don’t get it. Try because YOU want you to.” He looked around and said, “We better eat this before it falls to the hyenas.” Ripping at the flesh, he opened the beast. “Hunter’s choice?”
Elanna just looked at him, about to ask what he wanted. Then quickly she dove her head into the carcass and pulled out the heart. She moved over to him and dropped it at his feet.
Frustrated, Kubali sighed. “Lannie, listen to me.”
“We’ll share it. You and I together.”
He smiled and licked the blood from her check, giving her a kiss at the same time. “That’s my girl.”
CHAPTER: STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
The cold gray eyes stared silently out at the small clearing, taking in all that they saw and revealing nothing, like their owner. He crouched in the overgrown scrub, the soft fronds swaying in the quiet breeze, batting at his face in a maddeningly repetitive pattern, but he lay still, like a stone. Finally, he grunted in satisfaction and rose, shaking out his mane, and emerged from the grass, padding silently over to where the other two lions had lain the previous evening. His small companion followed, the hyena glancing about nervously at the waving grass.
Gamu bent his face to the ground and paced about slowly, nosing at the bent blades of grass where the two lions had slept the night. His head jerked aside of its own volition, drawn by a particular scent, and he breathed deeply. Nodding, he lifted his face to look at the hyena in satisfaction. “Soon, now.”
“Soon?” the hyena asked. “I wish you’d hurry up.”
The lion smiled complacently and strolled over towards him. “Patience, Griz’nik.” Whipping a paw up abruptly, he extended a single claw and lifted the hyena’s chin with it sharply, dimpling the flesh in. “Your days with of pushing lions around are over. You will remember who is your boss, and it’s not Shenzi.” He lifted his paw higher, watching the hyena flinch with detached amusement. “Understand?”
Griz’nik coughed and nodded carefully. “Yes sir.”
Gamu released the pressure and dropped his paw. “That’s better. Now be a good little hyena and tell me who that lovely creature is with Kubali.”
Griz’nik rubbed his chin gingerly, staring at Gamu with undisguised hate. “That’s Elanna. She used to be my queen.”
“Your Queen?” Gamu laughed. “I was unaware you were making a career of obeying lions, Griz.”
Griz’nik spat. “Remember that when I gnaw on your bones.”
Gamu waved a paw absently. “Yes, yes. She was a queen, you say?” His eyes gleamed as he looked at the hyena. “Royalty, eh? Then tell me what she’s doing out here eating on leftover carcasses with that flea bag.”
Griz’nik scratched an ear self-consciously. “Well, back when Amarakh was our Roh’mach, there was this hyena named Gur’mekh--”
Gamu swung heavily with a paw, barely missing the hyena who dodged away with a yip of terror. “The condensed version, please, and spare me your savage chatter. I don’t have all day.”
Griz’nik stood warily just outside the reach of his paw. “We helped kill the old king in my old home. His brother took his place and allied with us in return for our help. She married him.”
“You little devil!” Gamu grinned humorlessly. “It seems you do have a few redeeming vices.”
“Thanks--I guess.”
“That still doesn’t tell me why she’s here.”
Griz’nik flattened his ears. “Uhh...the old king’s son came back and kind of took over the place.”
Gamu threw his maned face back and bellowed laughter into the sky. “Oh my...you ARE priceless. I wondered why you came crawling to me.”
“Well, we did for her husband before she left, O Great Hairy One. But you’d better watch yourself.”
Gamu snapped his head down and bored twin holes into the suddenly silent hyena with his eyes. “Ahh...so hubby isn’t going to come looking for his long lost mistress, eh?”
“Not in this world.”
“I see...” Gamu rose and paced slowly past the clearing, his companion following at a respectable distance. “Excellent. I shall have to move against this young upstart before he endears her to him. He manages to exude a certain charm--despite his good qualities.” He paused and surveyed the area slowly. “I could rush him from the reeds, but they do make so much noise...” He eyed Griz’nik uncomfortably. “How fast can you run?”
“Oh no you don’t! Don’t drag me into this!”
“It’s either I drag you into this or drag your carcass away. Now stop whimpering and answer me.”
“Not very fast,” Griz’nik said nervously. “Hey, why don’t you just get him when she goes to drink or something. I make a lousy decoy.”
“As well as a fabulous idiot. If I kill him in front of her, do you think she’ll want my attentions?” Gamu snorted derisively. “Besides...I don’t want to kill Kubali outright like that.” A slow grin spread across his muzzle, humorless and cold. “I can think of other things I want to do to him first.”
Griz’nik tittered. “Then I get him, right?”
“You can have what’s left, certainly.” Gamu sidled uncomfortably close to the hyena and patted him. “After all...what are friends for?”
Griz’nik chuckled. “Dessert!”
“Precisely.” Gamu leered at him, making him shy away in fear. “Now tell me more about this Elanna.”
CHAPTER: GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
Brother Sun padded slowly across the sky, shedding his warmth across the savanna in a proclamation of Aiheu’s glory, exposin
g all His works for the world to see. The light was reflected from the ground, the golden grass barely wavering in the stillness of highsun as the world slowly revolved about its axis, the intense heat rippling the air and making the world shiver in a macabre dance as the two lions sought surfeit from its hungry embrace.
Kubali groaned and shifted again in another fruitless attempt to get comfortable in the sweltering heat. His chest rose and fell rapidly, tongue lolling absurdly as he panted, the hot air seeming thick as liquid as it burned at his throat. Rolling slightly, he reached out with a paw and stroked Elanna gently, wishing for a delightful rub against her fur but unable to stand the heat. She purred tiredly, glancing at him and smiling.
Movement yanked at the corner of her vision and she glanced upward. “Look, Kubali!”
The young lion twisted and squinted upward into the azure sky, perking up slightly as he spied the dark shapes drifting high above on the thermals. “Vultures. Looks like they might have found a meal.” He debated a moment, then sat up. “Care to join me?”
Elanna hesitated a moment, then nodded and rose to join him, following him as they left the pitiful shade of the kigelia trees and padded through the high grass, glancing upward now and again to keep their bearings. The birds were circling still, but lowering; whatever it was would soon succumb to heat or predator’s jaws, preferably theirs. Kubali increased his pace a bit, trotting through the golden sea of waving grass, his own form nearly indistinguishable from the plants around him. Elanna, distracted by the birds, trotted after him quickly, feeling the heat encapsulate her in the enclosed grass.
Abruptly the circling birds descended and vanished. “Quick! Let’s go before they get it all!” She sped past him, ripping through the tough plants effortlessly as she hurried towards the unseen carcass, her ears detecting the raucous squawk and gabble of the birds as they began fighting for position.
“Elanna, wait!” Kubali sprinted to catch up, seeing her moving eagerly towards the fallen animal, now discernible as a zebra, albeit a decidedly feathery one with the carpet of vultures around it. The bird scattered out of her way, forming a rustling ring about the animal as Kubali cantered up beside her and cut her off. “Wait.”
“But they’re going to eat it all! They already ate the eyes for heaven’s sake.”
“They have their right to the kill as much as we...none of us brought it down. Aiheu chose this spot for it to die upon of its own accord.”
She paused, nodding at his wisdom, but unable to fathom his hesitation. “All right...but they’re just birds...it’s not like they’re helping us hunt.”
“Aren’t they? What signaled us that there was a carcass to be had? In return, we dispatch the prey quickly and they can eat sooner.”
“Oh...I see your point.”
Kubali nuzzled her playfully. “Hey, they’re the next to best thing that’s happened to me out here. They’ll take care of you if you respect them.”
She looked at him askance. “And what’s the best thing?”
“Not what--who.” He nuzzled her again, meaningfully this time. “Gods, it’s good to hear a lioness’ voice again. I was beginning to forget what it was like.”
Elanna purred and lashed her tail shyly as the two approached the downed zebra. One of the vultures hopped astride the striped form and cawed in greeting. “Fuzzy! Still making life miserable for hardworking birds, I see.”
Kubali laughed. “I have yet to see you break a sweat, Markaaagh. Since when have you worked hard in your lifetime?”
“Ever since I met you, Fuzz; it’s hard enough trying to fill my own belly with this crowd without a walking gizzard moving in, har-har!” Markaaagh cackled wittily and looked at the lioness. “Two for dinner? Does she know the rules?”
“It’s safe. This is Elanna.”
The vulture clucked and shifted his weight. “Oooh, so you want to lay a few eggs and raise a brood? Pretty thing for a lioness. No scars or anything.”
“Thanks, I think,” Elanna said. “And might I mention that you don’t have a feather out of place?”
“Aw!” He looked about at his wing coverlets and groomed self-consciously. “This one has manners, kid. Hold on to her.”
Kubali looked at Elanna. “He thinks we’re in love,” he whispered with a grin. “The silly old buzzard.”
She looked at him. “Yeah, silly idea.” Her ears fell flat at his chastened expression, and she hurried to correct herself. “I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, you’re really handsome.”
Kubali arched his neck slightly and smiled. “Why, thanks. And you’re no blot on the landscape yourself.” He waved a paw invitingly. “Shall we?”
They fed on the carcass until their hunger was satiated, then stood guard while the buzzards ate. As Elanna groomed herself clean from the meal, she paused and looked about at the tussling pile of birds, a wry smile coming to her face as she watched her ‘pride’ wrestle its way through dinner. She returned her gaze to the surrounding savanna, watching for predators and feeling a mild sense of wonder at guarding what she had previously seen as nothing but a nuisance or a competitor for her dinner. She looked over at Kubali, who lay with his back to her as he watched the western plains, and wondered at his sense of composure, the odd peace which wrapped him in a near visible aura of confidence. She muttered a short prayer to Aiheu in thanks for sending the young male...otherwise she might have met the acquaintance of the vultures under much less pleasant circumstances.
Sighing, she exchanged greetings with a contentedly stuffed Markaaagh and chatted with him absently, fielding his odd questions and wondering what Uzuri would have made of all this.
CHAPTER: COMING TOGETHER
One morning as Kubali and Elanna were sitting side by side, they watched the clouds and imagined what things their shapes might be.
“There’s a wildebeest,” Elanna said.
“It has a calf,” Kubali said. “See, that little puff to the left?”
“So it does! And there’s a rabbit. He’s eating a--oh, it’s a lion!”
“That must be some rabbit!”
“No, I mean there! A rogue!”
“What the....”
“Should we say hello?”
Kubali tensed up. “To him?? That dirty rascal??”
“You know him?”
The strange lion trotted up, obvious pleasure on his face. “Kubali! Our paths cross again!”
“I wish the pleasure had been postponed--indefinitely.”
The stranger showed disappointment. “Surely not!”
Elanna nudged Kubali disapprovingly. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“This is Gamu,” Kubali said shortly. “We grew up together.”
“Your brother?”
“Heavens, no!”
Gamu looked down. “Whatever wrongs I’ve done, I’ve paid for in the hell of my solitary existence. I’m sure I wasn’t perfect like you, so they weren’t sad when I left.”
Kubali’s face fell. “Well, maybe I’ve been harsh with you. But you asked for your hard times.”
“Asked and received. Remember at your mantlement? Something about the proving grounds of hardship which strengthen the Ma’at and purify the Ka?” He bowed his face to the ground. “I have suffered, Kubali! Please let us try it again from the start? Please??” He looked up and mustered a withering smile. “Kubali! Our paths cross again!”
Kubali came forward and nuzzled him. “So they do. This is my friend Elanna. Elanna, this is my old pridemate Gamu.”
Elanna shyly nuzzled Gamu and felt his timid kiss on her cheek. She felt sorry for him at once.
“So what brings you this way?” Kubali asked, pointedly.
“The whims of the savanna. Some gracious chance, or was it Aiheu? But since kind fate has thrown us together, let us band together. I can help protect you and aid you in hunting. Maybe someday if you want lands of your own, I can be a valuable ally.”
“And in return?”
“I have a real audie
nce. I’ve had no one to talk to but myself for many long weeks. I’ve lost track of the time.”
Kubali nodded, then looked over at Elanna. She nodded back at him and smiled shyly.
“Very well. Behave yourself and you may travel with us.”
CHAPTER: THE STARS
Gamu managed to steal a few moments from his new companions to visit Griz’nik in the reeds. The hyena had brought him a rabbit, and Gamu nodded silently, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and took the carcass a short distance. He rolled it in the fragrant leaves of a Corbynanthus and then licked the wound on the neck, chewing it a bit to fully disguise the hyena scent and toothmarks. He brought it back to where Kubali and Elanna sat. By their sudden silence, it was clear they were talking about him, but unfazed, Gamu sat the rabbit in front of Elanna. “For you, my vision of lovliness. Have you made your decision yet?”
“My decision??” Elanna looked at him puzzled.
“Oh come now, I didn’t mean to hint around at anything naughty. I meant to come straight to the point. On the one paw, Kubali is dependable, reliable, and is saddled with a strong moral character. Not that I hold any of that against him....”
Elanna laughed. “Oh, Gamu! You are such a wit!”
Kubali grumbled. “At least she’s half right.”
Gamu sneered. “Come now, Kubali. Would you stand in the way of true love?”
“No. And I hope the one of you will be very happy together.”
Gamu laughed. “Why Kubali, you’ve acquired a sense of humor!” He looked over at Elanna and winked. “Well, how about it? Do you want the perfect marriage or some real fun?”
Elanna shoved him with a paw. “You wicked lion! If you must know, I haven’t given the matter a lot of thought.”
Gamu smiled innocently. “Insects don’t give the matter a lot of thought. That’s why there are so many of them.”
“Her husband is dead,” Kubali said, a bit ruffled. “Have a little respect.”
Gamu’s face fell. “Oh my gods! That’s my problem. I had a little respect when I should have had a lot.” Gamu nuzzled Elanna tenderly. “I meant no offense. No doubt he must have had many bitter rivals for your affection.”
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