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“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 Ela
Sometime later back at the pride’s resting grounds, Ela
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 Ela
Ela
Ela
But after the meal and a good nap, Wehu approached Ela
After a short walk, Ela
Wehu chuckled, “Who...my mother...yes, unfortunately she gets like that.” She frowned softly, “It’s quite embarrassing at times.”
Ela
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.”
Ela
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!”
Ela
Wehu made several sweeping gestures with her paw and then tapped the ground twice.
“What does THAT one mean??”
Wehu imitated her mother’s accent. “It means ‘I think wildebeest is good for one’s constitution. It stimulates one’s enduring if properly mitigated with other circumstances.’”
Ela
Wehu chuckled and nuzzled her. “It’s good to finally see someone that my mother can’t scare off.” She smiled. “Now come on. I know you’d rather hunt than sit cubs.” The two lionesses disappeared into the grass, Ela
CHAPTER: THE DOCTOR IS IN
Mabongo was resting, something he was very accomplished at as a lion, but even more since he was older. Ujuzi came and nudged him with a paw. “Wake up, Bobo!”
One eye opened. “I wasn’t asleep. I was resting my eyes.”
“Then you won’t mind having a go at it?”
Both eyes opened wide and he sniffed the air. “Ujuzi, could it be that I didn’t notice? Is it that time for you?”
Ujuzi laughed merrily. “I meant wrestling, you old fool!”
Mabongo rose slowly and stretched. “Do you know how long it’s been since you asked me that?”
“Too long,” Ujuzi said, unwilling to speculate. “Now let’s see you work off some of that fat.”
“Fat? Me??”
Ujuzi snickered at him. She popped his thigh with a paw. “Fat little legs.” She ducked and touched his belly. “Check out that flab!”
“That’s muscle!” Mabongo said, getting into position.
“Put on much more muscle, you won’t fit in your cave!”
“That did it!!”
Mabongo stood ready for all comers. Ujuzi sprang at him, laughing. She sought to bear him to the ground.
Mabongo easily ducked her. “So I’m fat, am I??” He whipped out with a paw as she passed under him and grasped her shoulder. Coming down on her, he bore down with his weight. But she would not be easily won. Despite her age, she was a huntress, not the hunted. And she squirmed away, wrapping her paws around his neck. A few thrusts of her back legs got her the purchase on the grass she needed, and she shoved him over.
Ujuzi tussled with him as he lay on his back. Mabongo laughed, then reached up with both arms, not to wrestle, but to draw her face to his. He rubbed her cheek and kissed her. “My golden treasure. Oh, I love you, girl!”
“I need to hear you say that sometimes.”
“Am I old? Am I stodgy and no fun?”
Ujuzi said, “Heavens, no! You’re wonderful! I pledged to you once. I’d renew my vows if you wanted it.”
Mabongo rolled on his side, taking her with him. As they lay panting in the grass, looking deeply into each other’s eyes, he said softly, “You know, there’s no shame in growing old, not if you have someone that loves you to grow old with. Oh girl, I’d die if you left me!”
She stroked his mane. “No chance of that, Bobo! No chance of that! Nothing, and no one will come between us, my love!” Ujuzi kissed him, then got up and trotted away as quickly as he came. Mabongo closed his eyes and went back to sleep, a happy smile on his face.
For her trouble, Ujuzi ached all over, even in muscles she forgot she had. She would never let HIM know that, and she headed to see her friend, Uzima the Shaman.
Ujuzi had been walking quite a distance and her muscles were begi