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CHAPTER: GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
Brother Sun padded slowly across the sky, shedding his warmth across the sava
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 Ela
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?”
Ela
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.
“Ela
“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 begi
Ela
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 di
“It’s safe. This is Ela
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,” Ela
“Aw!” He looked about at his wing coverlets and groomed self-consciously. “This one has ma
Kubali looked at Ela
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 Ela
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 Ela
“There’s a wildebeest,” Ela
“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!”
Ela
“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 Ela
Ela
“So what brings you this way?” Kubali asked, pointedly.
“The whims of the sava