Elanna said. “I would love to watch the cubs.” She turned to look at them. “They are so adorable.” One of them smiled back at her, and Elanna broke into a candid grin. “It’s the only time I feel like a real lioness.”
“I bet you were a very good mother,” Wehu said, admiringly.
“I never got the chance. I came close once, but I....”
“You’re shy?”
“No, dear.” Elanna nuzzled her softly and whispered, “When I had my miscarriage, I lost my....” Elanna looked down, her eyes filled with shame and tears.
Wehu took her paw and gently lifted Elanna’s chin. She kissed her gently on the cheek, the corner of her mouth, and the tear-stain that flowed from her eyes. Her warm hazel eyes peered into the depths of Elanna’s pain, misty with compassion. “I’m sorry I made you cry.”
“Don’t be.” Elanna returned her kiss. “I have smiled as well. I’ve had a good life, a full life, and every time I’ve needed help, someone like you would come to me. Aiheu has dealt kindly with me.”
Wehu smiled. “I’m glad you came. I’m sure they will be too, even my mother.”
She motioned to a lioness with two cubs huddled around her. “That’s Kiesi...and her cubs Inwiena and Ibura” She turned to another lioness with three cubs around her. “That’s Tetesi and her cubs Asuri, Kirizi and Machosi” Finally she turned to the last lioness in the group, a younger lioness and much darker than the rest. “That’s my daughter, Gamaiusi...but we just call her Darky.” She smiled softly to Elanna. “Mother always said I had a dark streak...and it shows in more than her fur.”
“MOTHER!”
Elanna laughed. It was a pretty laugh that had waited a long time to come forth.
“We have some meat left over from last night’s hunt. We won’t hunt again till tomorrow, so we can let the cubs get to know you better before we leave them in your care.”
Elanna nodded and smiled. “Thank you.”
“You have a pretty smile. Use it often, my friend. With my mother going through one of her phases, someone has to be in a good mood.”
Silently Mabongo walked up to her, before lying his massive body down. “I’m sorry about my wife...she gets like that sometimes. I do hope you have a better impression of us now. Her moods scare away most new pride members.” He looked to her, “I hope she hasn’t driven you off.”
Elanna shook her head, “No. I’ll be hard to scare off. I’m afraid of being alone.”
The king nodded. “I know what it’s like to be alone...”
Slowly, the cubs started to make their way away from their mothers towards the king and Elanna, helped by some nudging of their mother. Elanna smiled and rolled on her back, patting her chest with a paw. “Come on and see your Aunt Lannie!”
There was a moment of initial hesitation, but a light seemed to come from Elanna’s face, one of such peace and joy that even the least perceptive of the lionesses saw it and was struck by it. A beautiful grin and a pat of her paw swept the cubs toward her in a wave of laughter.
The cubs mobbed her, biting at the tuft on her tail and tugging at her ears with soft giggling. Elanna grunted with pleasure, fondling their small bodies and anointing them with kisses. As the group huddled about her, a pair of eyes watched the pride from the covers of the grasses.
CHAPTER: FITTING IN
Kiesi was the first lioness to approach Elanna and make conversation. “I hope you’ll be happy with us. I was just noticing--I mean--my Aunt had a ubruki nose too. You’re very pretty.”
“So are you, Kiesi. You are, Kiesi, aren’t you?”
“Yes ma’am,” the lioness said shyly.
“You don’t have to ma’am me,” Elanna said, nuzzling her. “Just call me Lannie.” She looked at the two cubs that drew near to her and rubbed against her legs. “That goes for you too, Inwiena. Hello, Ibura.”
“I’m Ibura. She’s Inwiena.”
Elanna laughed prettily. “Give me time! I’ll get it right.”
Tetesi came up. “Honey Tree, I hope you know star lore. I’ve run out of stories.”
“I love star stories,” Elanna said. “Meholo and Darzee, the Brothers of Marabo, the Seventh Trail....”
“Oh thank the gods! I’m telling you, Hon, you just might know enough to keep Asuri busy for a week. I warn you, he’s like dry earth--he’ll soak up whatever you give him and come back for more. And always ‘why.’ Why this and why that!”
“I’m so glad!” Elanna could tell by the shy grin which one was Asuri and she nuzzled him warmly till he giggled. “We’re going to get along just fine.”
Gamaiusi, an adolescent lioness, came up and said, “Star lore? Do you mind if I listen in too?”
“Sure, Honey Tree! Your mother is welcome too.”
Wehu smiled broadly. “I’ll take you up on that. But we’ll also cover the lands too. You need to learn this place if you’re ever going to hunt here.”
Elanna smiled broadly. “Yes, I’d like that. You’ve been so accommodating.”
“Dad really likes you, I can tell.”
“He’s a dear old thing.”
Wehu laughed. “You add a touch of elegance to our pride. You know, I love mother to death but sometimes she can be so....”
“Wehu!” Ujuzi shouted, “hike your buns over here and help me drag this carcass! We have a visitor!”
Wehu smiled and nodded in the direction of her mother. “That’s my mom, all right.”
Wehu and Ujuzi pulled in a large wildebeest carcass. The lionesses came around with their cubs by their side and began to tear at the flesh. Elanna came over and tried to nose in.
Elanna discovered to her great surprise that the other lionesses gave way before her and offered her the deference they paid the queen herself. The look in Ujuzi’s face was not exactly angry but it was not approving either.
“You know,” Ujuzi said, her mouth full of meat, “I think wildebeest is good for one’s constitution. I mean it stimulates one’s enduring if properly mitigated with other circumstances.”
Elanna looked up quizzically. Wehu’s face was pained.
“I’m so glad you invited me in,” Elanna said.
“My husband invited you in,” Ujuzi said.
“Still, now that I’m here, I think we can be real friends. You have a delightful daughter.”
Ujuzi pulled off another large hunk of meat and minced it. In words clogged with meat and humors, she said, “That Wehu’s a good’un. Just like her Poppa. Yes ma’am, a real first class act.”
The next few days for Elanna were touch and go for her. She seemed to be accepted by most of the members of the pride. Even the cubs had come to call her ‘Auntie Lannie’. The cubs flocking around her made her very happy. For the first time, she felt that she could play or tell stories to the young ones without getting bad looks from their mothers. Even Darky, although a young lioness, would often stop and listen to her musings.
Most of the lionesses were very kind and trusting to her, especially Wehu. Wehu had been taking her off to the side during the day and showing her the lands, often to the sighs of the cubs that were gathered around her. Slowly, Elanna felt that she was learning the skills she would need to hunt in the group again. She had enjoyed spending the hunting time with the cubs, getting to know them better, but she was anxious to get in some hunts.
CHAPTER: THE SIGNAL
Elanna finally got her chance to hunt with her new pride. Memories came flooding back to her of the few good hunts she’d had with her old pride. There was a time she had enjoyed the title of lioness while her sister the queen reveled in Mufasa’s love, and poor Simba enjoyed the ignorance of youth. Sarabi, lithe and lovely would stride through the golden grass beside her as Uzuri forged a path across the trackless savanna. For the longest time it had seemed like a distant dream rather than a memory. Now it was clear and sharp once more.
The group closed in on some gazelles that were grazing in a clearing. Elanna’s pulses pounded, and her breath came and went in
restless tides. She felt so alive, so aware! The moment of fate was approaching, and her prey would either live or die.
Then Elanna saw what looked like the signal to cut off escape and she joyously lunged forward. Behind her came shouts of, “No! Stop!”
But surely she had read a tail wave from the hunt mistress! Could it mean something different here? The realization made her stomach knot tightly. Rather than cutting off escape, her gaffe only spooked the gazelles who ran like an opening blossom of tan across the grassland.
The lionesses looked upset at her move...but understanding as it was her first hunt with the new pride. It wasn’t until she heard the queen yell, “Damn,” Did she feel the blood rush to her face in embarrassment of her move.
The lionesses of the pride came up to her and nuzzled her gently, each telling her that it was all right. Wehu was embarrassed. “I should have gone over our signals with you. I’m so sorry!”
“It’s my fault, Wehu. I should have asked.”
Elanna understood, though, that she would be cub-setting again for a while. The queen went up to her and scowled, “Damn honey...I know you are new here, but that was downright stupid of you to go charging in on the alert signal.”
“But Ujuzi, ma’am, in our old pride that was the signal for cut off escape....”
The Queen just snorted at her. “Maybe it still does. You’d be of some use there.”
“Please, Ujuzi, forgive me! It was an innocent mistake, I swear! I’m a good huntress--really I am!”
“Well dearie, why don’t you go over your signals while you cub set for a while longer. And remember Hon, you will be sitting the cubs...NOT my husband.” The lionesses looked with shock at the queen as she disappeared over the ridge.
Wehu sighed and gave chase to her mother. Finally catching up with her, “Mother! Please! Give her more chance! She is almost having to learn to hunt again. It isn’t easy for her, and besides, what she did wasn’t any worse than that miss you made with the wildebeest.”
“Damn it, that wasn’t the same! Not at all!”
“Whatever you say, Mom.” She looked at her with a sigh. “And could you PLEASE tone down your language a bit?”
Ujuzi turned quickly, her eyes full of rage. “What...am I not good enough for the little princess now? I will not sit here and suckle that overgrown cub, while we grow thin enough to catch gophers in their holes. Not only do we have another mouth to feed in the pride...but here she goes and ruins our hunt so we have NO food. If she doesn’t start getting her butt in gear, dear...I’ll throw her out on hers...understand? My responsibilities is to this pride...not to some deposed queen that has fallen on some bad times.” With that, she walked away, leaving Wehu in shock.
Latter that night, the pride had bedded down. The cubs were against their mother, enjoying their warmth, giving Elanna a breather from what seemed like constant story telling. Mabongo noticed Elanna alone and moved to lie down next to her. “I heard about what happened earlier”
Elanna looked up to him, “I’m really sorry...I just got my signs messed up.”
Mabongo chuckled, “It’s all right. I remember what it was like when I started hunting, and when my daughter, then my granddaughter did. It’s not an easy thing you do, and I’m grateful to have such a fine group.”
Elanna smiled softly, “It won’t happen again...I promise.” She looked around uneasily. “Where is the queen?”
He shook his head, “She probably off moping somewhere...she does that when she is in a foul mood. I hear she didn’t take your mistake too lightly.” He chuckled softly, “I’m actually kinda happy she is gone...she can be such a pain when she is in a bad mood.” He nuzzled her softly and smiled. “I know the cubs ragged on you all day, but I would love to hear one of your stories.”
Elanna smiled gracefully and began telling him more about Taka, grateful that she had found her place.
CHAPTER: AFTERMATH
The next night, the huntresses walked slowly through the grasses. The queen had taken her usual spot in the front of the group. Wehu, Kiesi, Tetesi, and Darky were a few paces behind her. They had a way to travel, so the four were talking quietly amongst themselves. This was the first hunt since Elanna had made her mistake, so talk ran to the newcomer.
“I think she is rather kind,” Kiesi noted.
“She’s a lot more cultured than our queen is,” Tetesi added in a hushed voice. She could feel Wehu’s gaze fall on her but she continued. “Can you believe how she speaks? I never heard such words come out of Ujuzi...I think it’s rather nice to have someone here that can act noble. Still....” She paused, unsure how to express herself. “It is intimidating trying to talk with her. I’m afraid I’m going to say something stupid. Not that she would ever let it show. She’s not that type.”
“Have you heard some of her stories?” Darky jumped in. “It makes me wish I was a cub again so I could stay with her and not miss any.”
“I almost wish that she was our queen,” Kiesi added in quickly. The other three lionesses stopped and looked at her. She continued in a hushed voice. “Well...how many queens you know go around acting like ours? Not that I don’t like her...but sometimes...she just doesn’t act like a queen.”
“Be careful what you say...she is my mother.”
“I know...I mean nothing against her....it’s just....”
Kiesi was interrupted when, noticing that they held up, the queen joined the group, “Are we, or are we not going to hunt, Wehu?”
She turned to her quickly and nodded. “Sorry mother...just trying to...um...get our strategy set for the hunt.”
Ujuzi just snorted. “Were you not going to include me...or am I just not useful enough for you?”
Wehu shook her head, “No mother...we were just going to call you over when you came...”
Ujuzi frowned. “Fine...now start acting like a hunt mistress and take charge of this...GROUP.”
Wehu nodded...then thinking quickly said, “OK...normal semi-circle. Mother...you are the beater.”
She could sense her mother’s grumble as she walked away from the others. She glanced to the other three. “No more discussions about Elanna right now. Who knows what my mother would do.” The lionesses nodded to her as they continued through the grasses.
Sometime later back at the pride’s resting grounds, Elanna was among the cubs when they heard the huntresses’ roar. She was in the middle of a story when the cubs all jumped up, gave her a warm nuzzle of thanks, and dashed after the sound and the meal it promised. Elanna chuckled, watching the mob of cubs take off as she rose and followed them. As she topped the ridge, she could see the five lioness dragging a large gazelle behind them.
It was common for the beater to carry the prize home since she did the least amount of work in the hunt, so behind Ujuzi followed the carcass.
She saw Elanna top the ridge and cried out to her, “Get your butt over here, sweet cheeks, and help me tug this carcass...or are you too proper to do that?” Elanna sighed and hurried to her aid. When she got close enough the queen said, “You grab the butt and I'll get the neck--we can do this--that is, if you feel up to it, dearie.”
Elanna could feel the blood rush to her face in embarrassment. She shook it off quickly. “Yes ma’am.” She grabbed the haunch on the prey and, along with the queen, drug it up the hill to the pride’s resting area.
Elanna said little, and she tried to avoid eye-contact with the queen. Wehu did not sit next to her, but Elanna understood and was not upset. Wehu sat next to her mother, engaging her in chit-chat to ease her raw feelings.
But after the meal and a good nap, Wehu approached Elanna. “Come on...I want to teach you more so you can join in on the next hunt.” Elanna got up slowly and stretched out, following after Wehu as they disappeared from the rest of the pride.
After a short walk, Elanna looked at Wehu. “Is she always that crude?”
Wehu chuckled, “Who...my mother...yes, unfortunately she gets like that.” She frowned softly, “I
t’s quite embarrassing at times.”
Elanna just shook her head, “I’m sure it’s nothing. I only knew two queens myself, Sarabi and Akase. I guess I can’t expect all queens to be like them.” Elanna looked at her, “What does your mother think about me...really. Yesterday it almost seemed she suspected me of trying to steal your father.”
Wehu shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. You’re the first one I’ve seen her react like this with.” She smiled softly, trying to change the subject. “I can say that you have impressed the other lionesses in the pride...and the cubs just love you. Even Darky says that she wishes she was just a cub...so she didn’t have to miss your stories.” She thought for a moment. “Some even wish you were the queen.”
Elanna was taken aback. “I hope I haven’t given that impression. All I want is to be loved. I don’t care about being queen, and truthfully I don’t want to be. I know what it’s like.”
Wehu nuzzled her softly, “No, no...it’s all right. You haven’t given us that impression, at least not me. It’s just that sometimes mother can be rather embarrassing as you saw. You seem much more cultured than her. And you’re younger. She’s trying to compete with you, and she knows she can’t win.”
“But I’m not competing with HER!”
“Honey Tree, I know that. She’s just apprehensive. Now I know for a fact that my father loves her with all his heart. He would never take a new queen, even if she died.” She smiled. “Now come on. If you want to join in the next hunt, you must learn the lay of the land. And your signals, too!”
Elanna dropped her head in embarrassment.
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