“What are you afraid of? If you are right then you won’t mind looking in on them. If there’s no wrongdoing, there will be nothing to see.”
Wehu stormed off without an answer. Ujuzi smiled...the first part of the plan was done...now to set the trap for her prey. She found Elanna resting alone in the clearing. Mabongo had come back from his ‘patrol’ and was resting a short distance off. There was tension in the air between the two when Ujuzi walked to Elanna and within ear shot of the king. “Sweetie? You like Wehu, don’t you?”
“Yes, queen.”
“She was my first...and I have had many strong children after her.” She smiled softly, “And how many children have you had?”
Elanna sighed softly...as the memory of her dead son comes back to her, “None my queen. I can’t have cubs.”
Ujuzi just chuckled and shook her head, “That’s a real shame. You know a lioness is not a real lioness until she has her first child.” With that, she walked back to the king and rubbed up against him.
Elanna turned her head away from the two, her eyes focusing off in the distance as tears began to form in her eyes. Ujuzi chuckled softly again and walked off...knowing what would happen next. Sure enough, Mabongo rose and walked over to the crying lioness. “Elanna?”
Elanna turned her head towards him, wiping her eyes clean, “Yes my king?”
He sat down next to her, looking down at the lioness, “I heard what my wife said to you. I don’t know what got into her, it was uncalled for.”
Elanna just nodded, “She is right though...I’m not a real lioness.” She turned to look at him, “That’s why I left Kubali, because I couldn’t give him cubs. I might be a lioness in form...but not a real lioness.” More tears started to form in her eyes as she looked into the sky, “I love cubs so much! Why Aiheu? Why me?” She turned aside and started to sob. “I want to go home!”
Mabongo leaned down and nuzzled her softly, which made her jump a bit. “Dear Elanna...so much tragedy in your life. Aiheu doesn’t do anything without a purpose. You must remember that.” He smiled to her softly, “You are no less a lioness in my eyes because of your injury. You are a very welcome part to this pride. The cubs absolutely love you, and the other members, save my wife, find you very kind and caring. I hope you don’t think about leaving because of her.”
She sighed softly, “I had been thinking it...but I don’t know what to do or where to go. I’m tired of running...”
He shook his head, “Then you don’t have to go. I will talk to my wife and get her to end these attacks. She is a queen...and it is far time she acted it.”
She smiled softly, “You would do that for me?”
He nodded and chuckled, “She may be the queen...but you are also important to me. She can’t be doing this to you...it’s unfair. You see, my dear, she’s very jealous of you.”
“Jealous? Of me?”
“Yes. That’s what was wrong when you came to cub-set. I wasn’t upset at you. I was just afraid what Ujuzi would think, but frankly I won’t hurt your feelings just to spare hers.”
She smiled softly, “I understand now. I’m not worried that she was jealous--it explains a lot. But I’d hate to think I lost your friendship.”
“You never will. She’ll have to learn to deal with her jealousy some other way than victimizing you. Now we spend much time together. And I won’t lie to you--you’re a very beautiful lioness and I couldn’t help but notice that. But there’s no one for me but Ujuzi. I’d never dream of cheating on her.”
“And I’d never dream of breaking up your marriage. But you are a dear, sweet thing and I’m very fond of you. I like to think my brother might have been like you.” She sat up and moved her head to give a lick to his cheek. “I will leave if my presence here is a burden on you.”
In the cover of the grasses...a pair of eyes shown through. after seeing the shows of affections, the owner of the eyes pulled back, further into the grass.
CHAPTER: A STOLEN GLANCE
Wehu couldn’t believe what she just saw...the new lioness--her dear friend--going after her father. At first she didn’t believe what her mother told her about Elanna. She always saw her as being a kind, caring lioness, and she never thought Elanna would try to steal her father away. She had tried to dismiss her mother, but Ujuzi had persisted and convinced to keep an eye open. Maybe her mother was right...maybe she was trying to steal father.
Slowly she appeared in a clearing...her mother already waiting there for her. “Well?” the elder lioness asked.
Wehu’s head hung low, “She kissed him...”
Ujuzi grinned, “See...I told you that she was trying to steal him from me. Now...what are we going to do about this fallen queen?”
Wehu blinked, “We? Mother...I don’t know what really happened. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. All I saw was her give him a innocent little lick.”
“Daughter...I know what I feel from my husband. She is moving in on me and I won’t have it.”
“And I won’t get involved in something I don’t know what is happening. Don’t ask me of this. Elanna is my friend...I trust her.”
“Who do you trust more...this ‘friend’ who just got here within a moon...or your mother who gave you life and kept you alive? Do you expect me to throw away six years of marriage? Six LONG years that I’ve hunted for him, carried cubs for him, picked him up when he fell down! Comforted him when he wept! Six LONG years. And what do I ask of you, my own flesh and blood? For all the love and care I’ve given you? This one thing alone I’ve asked. That you help me against this viper that would come between your father and I! Honey Tree, you’re young. You don’t see things the way my older and wiser eyes do. Where do your loyalties lie--tell me, daughter.”
Wehu just stood there, stunned at her mother’s attitude. She was about ready to answer when a rustling sound from the distance. Her mother hushed her as the king appeared through the grass. “Hello you two.” He moved to join the two lionesses, “Wehu...would you excuse me and mother for a few moments, I have to talk to her.”
Wehu looked to her mother and father, then nodded, “All right...I’ll be around.” With that, she disappeared into the grass.
The king turned to his wife, “Why are you harassing Elanna, dear? Why did you bring up cubs in front of her like that?”
Ujuzi shook her head, putting on her best act, “Dear...I didn’t know about her and cubs. I just thought I would mention it to her.”
“I told you about her problem. Don’t you remember?”
“Oh...if you say so, dear...it must have slipped my mind. I’m sorry...I really didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.”
“It seems like you are trying to make her life difficult here. She has been through a lot in her life. Please...for her...for me...give her some slack and make her feel welcomed here. Everyone but you seem to love her.”
Ujuzi moved closer to him, and nuzzled him, taking a moment to catch Elanna’s scent on his cheek. “Of course my husband...I will.” She pulled back as thought went through her mind, “I will be nice to her.”
Mabongo smiled, “Thank you love...now if you will excuse me, I need to finish my patrol.” He gave her another nuzzle and continued on his way.
Ujuzi sat down, waiting a short time before calling out, “Wehu...come on out.” Wehu appeared a short time later, sitting beside her. “We need to do something to Elanna...she is the evil one here...not my husband.”
Wehu shook her head, “No mother...please...I don’t want to be involved.”
Ujuzi looked at her coldly, “You will help me...remember that I am your mother...your queen...and the lioness that got you the title you hold. How would you like me to give your title to another lioness. I know Kiesi would love to be hunt mistress.”
She looked at her mother and sighed, “All right...all right...I’ll help you.”
Ujuzi almost wept. “My darling, my firstborn, I know I’ve asked a lot of you, but Sweetie, I’ll make it up to you, I swear!” She nuzzled her dau
ghter who returned the nuzzle desperately and kissed her mother.
“Please Mom, let’s not argue any more.”
“Of course, Sweetie! If you want to know who loves you, and who would never take advantage of you, it’s your mother.” Ujuzi pawed her cheek and kissed her. “You relied on me when you were young and weak. Now Honey Tree I’m growing old and weak and I need someone I can rely on.”
Just...don’t ask me not to hurt her.”
Ujuzi smiled. “Hurt her? No, your father would be furious if someone hurt her. But she might have an accident.”
“An accident??”
Ujuzi smiled innocently. “Maybe it’s time we gave Lannie poo another chance to hunt.” The queen leaned over and started to whisper into Wehu’s ear. Wehu eyes went wide as the plan was passed to her.
CHAPTER: THE STORY
Elanna had settled back among the cubs, relating a story of her and Sarabi during happier times. The cubs...and even Darky...were sitting around her in silence as she talked about how they played and got in trouble with Muffy and Taka. Slowly though, as the story continued and the memories flooded back into her mind, tears began to form in Elanna’s eyes.
The cubs noticed this and Inwiena spoke up, “Auntie Elanna...this is a fun story...why are you crying?
Elanna smiled to her, using a paw to wipe her eyes, “Dearie...it’s just bringing back memories...good memories...before me and my sister got mad at each other.”
“You and your sister still fight?”
She shrugged, “I don’t know...it’s been so long since I have seen her...I do miss her though.”
“Why not go back then?”
Elanna chuckled and sighed, “It’s not quite that easy...if I thought I could, I would.”
Inwiena looked back to Ibura, her sister, “We fight...but we always say we sorry and we still love each other.” She looked back to Elanna, “Maybe you go say that to your sister?” She moved and placed a paw on Elanna, “Then you won’t cry no more.”
“Anymore.” Elanna licked the top of the cub’s head, “Maybe ...perhaps. If only I saw the world through your eyes...none of this would have happened.” She nuzzled the cub and smiled, “You have something special, a sister that loves you unconditionally...I only wish I had the same.”
The cubs looked at her sadly as Elanna lowers her head back down to her paws. Inwiena moved back to her sister and flopped down next to her, whispering, “I’ll never be mad at you.”
Elanna looked at the group...their mood now saddened by her story. “You don’t have to be sad for me...I have accepted my place in the circle.” She smiled softly. “Hey, if I hadn’t been in trouble there, I wouldn’t have met you! And I’m glad I met you. Now...who would like to hear another story?”
The ears of the cubs perked up and they nodded enthusiastically. Elanna was about ready to take a breath to start her story when Ujuzi and Wehu appeared.
“Hello Elanna,” Wehu said. “Keeping the cubs occupied?” She looked straight at Darky, who turned her head a bit from her.
Elanna looked at the two, “Hello my queen. Hello, Wehu. Yes...I was just telling them a story of my sister and I.”
Ujuzi prodded her daughter, looking at Elanna. Wehu jumped a bit at the prodding then looked to Elanna, “You have been making great progress with me in your hunting skills. So much, that I think it’s time that you join us. Darky, why don’t you take over?”
Elanna smiled a bit, ready to hunt. She rose slowly from the grass and yawned, shaking off the dead grass on her pelt. Amid the pleas of the cubs for her to say, she stretched out her body and muscles.
CHAPTER: ON THE HUNT
Elanna was overwhelmed at the chance of getting on the hunt again. Though she hated to leave the cubs, she wanted her old life back. Enthused about the chance to redeem herself, she went to Wehu. “I need to make up for my last mistake.... I’ll be the beater this time.”
“Oh no, my dear,” the Queen said, moving past her daughter and rubbing against Elanna. “You will be next to my daughter. This will signal a new time of friendship among us. I haven’t been very nice to you. But now I want to get to know you better, and show you how I really feel about you.” She grinned slightly as she moved away from the two, getting a look from her daughter.
Elanna smiled to the queen, bowing her head slightly, “I pray that Aiheu may remove all doubts from your mind about me.”
Ujuzi turned her head from her, grinning, “He has, my dear. I have no questions about you or your intentions. Now we will see what kind of huntress you really are.”
Perhaps if Elanna had looked deeply into Ujuzi’s cold stare, she would have seen past the smile. She would have suspected the plan that Ujuzi had in store for her.
The other lionesses were in a good mood to see Elanna among them. They all nuzzled her and commented on how fast that she came back when they saw her. There was a certain relaxing of tension among them that could be seen and even felt in subtle ways impossible to describe. Ujuzi herself seemed to be in an upbeat, if intense mood. Unlike the others, Wehu seemed to be tense as she scanned the horizon for the target of the nights hunt.
Quietly the group headed into the grass, searching for that weak animal that would sustain them for another day. Elanna sensed that something was wrong with Wehu as the night progressed. Slowly she moved over to her and tried to improve her mood. “I’m glad to be hunting again. I feel you have talked with your mother--there’s no other explanation. You’re a dear friend, and so like my daughter might have been." Elanna smiled nervously to the hunt mistress. "I want to do well and not mess up again."
Wehu turned to her and tried to put on a smile, failing miserably, "I wouldn't worry about that if I were you."
Elanna looked at her curiously, but shook it off. “Still, I feel the queen is only being nice to me because of you. If there’s anything I can do to make your mother really like me, let me know. Your father likes me well enough.”
Wehu swallowed slowly, looking down at the ground. “So I gathered.”
“Aiheu bless you for your kindness. At my age, I need peace and stability. I’ve felt torn up inside since I got here. You’re all that holds me together.”
Wehu nuzzled her, her insides tight over what her mother had planned. "I think you will find peace.” Wehu hung her head. “You know Lannie, you've had to face a lot of obstacles in your life. I wonder if I would have done half as well." Wehu added quietly, "No matter how this hunt turns out, I think you're a good lioness."
Elanna looked at her in surprise at her statement “Now I AM frightened. Is so much riding on my making well tonight?”
“No, Honey Tree. Don’t worry about it. I’m just making a statement, that’s all.” Wehu sniffed at the air and sighs softly, “I smell something.” Quietly she grunted to the others in the group…signaling them to get prepared for the hunt.
As the pride topped the hill, they spotted their target for the night, a small group of wildebeest. Wehu looked around at the group, as if she was about ready to make a decision which she dreaded. Quietly she cleared her throat as she looked to the pride. “Mom, you head to the right with Kiesi. Tetesi, come left with me.”
Elanna looked to Wehu in confusion, “Where do I go?”
Wehu tried to smile as her insides tightened more, “You have a very important part.” She motioned with her head, “You head down the dry gully as far as you can and when you hear all grief break loose, climb out and create panic.”
Elanna looked down at where she was suppose to be, through the sea of wildebeests. She turned backed to Wehu “Are you sure that it is safe for me? I’m getting awfully close to their hooves when you start to drive them.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds, dear. We’ll be pushing in toward your position. If you’re careful, there should be very little danger to you.” She tried again with a reassuring smile, “It’s Tetesi and I that will have to watch out.” She tried to let out a small chuckle, “And Mom is not as young as she used to be.�
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Elanna nodded softly, still not suspecting what the real prey was. “I’m sorry Wehu. I guess I just have to get use to a new hunting style.” She looked up to her, “I trust you with my life, something I don’t do to many.” She smiled up to her, “Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
Wehu nodded and tried to hold the pain in her stomach, “Thank you Lannie…um…I have to speak with the others to set up our portion of the hunt.” With that, she quickly moved over to Kiesi and Tetesi.
The two lionesses looked at the hunt mistress, “What are we going to do, Wehu? What’s the plan?”
“Just do as you’re told, girls. I’m sorry it makes no sense, but I’ve given Elanna some special instructions. It will be clear to you when it all comes together.”
As Wehu was talking to the other lionesses, the queen made her way towards Elanna, “Well, I’m sure you will do well on this hunt. As a matter of fact, I talked my daughter into letting you come on to this hunt. She thought you might not be ready.” She nuzzled Elanna gently and smiled, “But I convinced her to let you play this pivotal role. If everything goes well, we'll have a kill for sure.”
Elanna smiled to the queen and returned the nuzzle as Wehu glanced over and glared at her mother.
The hunters regrouped and began to make their moves. Elanna was very careful to watch Wehu’s, the signs she had been taught running through her mind. Wehu sent the other lionesses off, and before disappearing with Tetesi, she nodded at Elanna. It was time.
Elanna kept a low profile and walked with a quiet tread as only a cat could through the savanna grasses and toward the beginning of the dry wadi.
There were rocks in the bottom of the wadi. It would take all her skill to keep from making sound there. She stepped gingerly from boulder to boulder, avoiding the loose pebbles and gravel that could make scraping noises.
So far, she had not heard a stampeding herd. There was not even the nervous stamping of a few spooked animals. She could tell by the grunts and low calls of mothers to calves and the chirps back that against all hope she had pulled off the perfect stalk. How proud Ujuzi would be of her! And how proud Wehu would be! With pride in her heart, she waited for the signal, prepared to make a mighty effort to start panic among the wildebeests.
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