If I Don't Have You
Chapter Three
"Nala," Kula called to the cream coloured lioness who sat quietly grooming her fur as they lounged about on the tanning rocks under the shade of an Acadia tree waiting for the others to arrive.
Upon hearing her name being called, the cerulean eyed adolescent glanced over at her friend that she had become quite close to in the days that followed after her and her mother's arrival, her head tilted to the side. The coffee coloured lioness looked to be somewhat uncomfortable. What was she going to ask her that made her face twist up in… was, was that embarrassment? "What is it Kula? Is something wrong?"
"Well…" the other lioness started shyly, trying to piece together what she wanted to ask. It wasn't necessarily easy asking one of the best huntresses the pride had for her help. "It's about my solo hunt. It's coming up really soon… like three days from now soon and I'm kinda nervous. So I was hoping…" She trailed off for a moment to look down at her paws again. "I was hoping you could maybe give me some advice or a quick lesson?"
That was what she looked so embarrassed about? She should have just come out and asked her! "Of course I can," Nala said with a smile as she got to her paws. "C'mon, I'll give you a quick lesson now and work with you for the next few days after the morning hunt."
She turned to make her way towards Pride Rock, Kula following close behind. As they walked side by side, Nala went over basic hunting techniques with the coffee coloured lioness.
"Since this is going to be your first hunt, and you're going to be going alone, I wouldn't go after something big like a wildebeest adult," Nala informed her younger friend as they made their way past Pride Rock. "Perhaps one of the adolescents or calves will do. Or you can try a gazelle. They're tricky though, so be exceedingly careful. But whatever you do, do not go after a zebra. A single kick in the right place could end your hunting career or your life in an instant."
"Right," Kula said hanging on to each word Nala spoke. She was learning from one of the best so not listening wasn't an option.
"Now," Nala said as they reached a secluded area and she laid down in the soft grass before glancing back at Kula. "I want to try something. I'm going to lie here and you are going to sneak up on me without me knowing which way you're coming from." She turned her head away from the other lioness so not to see where she was going. "Alright, begin."
With a nod that Nala didn't see, Kula bound off eastward to get herself in position. She waited a few minutes, watching the cream coloured lioness as she lazily flicked her tail back and forth, grooming her fur once more. As quietly as possible, Kula stalked forward, hell bent on passing Nala's first test. When she was close enough, she crouched a bit lower, moving her shoulders as she prepared to pounce before she sprung forward, only to have Nala duck at the last second. Flying over the other lioness, Kula tucked into herself and rolled until she came to a complete stop several feet away from the other female, landing on her back.
"You could hear me, huh," Kula asked laughing lightly.
Nala laughed as she got to her paws again and made her way over to the fallen Kula. With a smile on her muzzle, she looked down at the younger lioness. "Just a little bit. That was a good first try though, but you're still breathing too hard. C'mon, get up. I want to show you something."
Flipping over, Kula stood again glancing down when Nala gestured to her paws. Deadly claws extended from their cover as she scratched at the earth below. "When you hunt, you must relax; feel the earth beneath your paws so that it doesn't shift and make noise. We call this becoming one with the area."
Kula followed her example, giggling lightly.
It was then that Nala's ear swiveled towards the west when she heard something just over the hill they were standing below. A smile graced her muzzle once more as she turned to Kula. "Sssh, watch me. I'll show you how it's done."
Silently stalking forward, Nala made her way up the hill before she growled and launched herself forward, colliding with another lion, sending them both tumbling upon the impact. Surprise washed over her features as she stared face to face with the Prince of the Pride Lands himself who stared back at her in similar shock when they came to a complete stop.
"Well, it looks like Nala caught herself a Simba," Kula giggled from the top of the hill.
Nala, upon hearing what Kula said, finally shook off her shock before she rolled away from the Prince, clearly embarrassed. She didn't realize that it had been the rest of the group that she had heard before. She had just picked up on noise, nothing distinct.
Tama, who was trying to fight back her laugh, glanced at the other two lionesses, "What in Aiheu's name were you two doing anyways? I thought we were supposed to meet at the Acadia trees, not have Nala pounce on Simba, who should be getting up any time soon once the shock wears off. Don't worry Nala, you didn't hurt him. Scared him a little maybe, but he's fine."
Kula laughed again, "Nala was giving me some hunting pointers for my upcoming solo hunt in a few days. She heard you guys but neither of us realized that it was in fact you and she showed me firsthand how one should pounce on her prey. Simba just so happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. Sorry Simba."
Now that the shock had finally worn off for the monarch, he sat up on his hunches and glanced at the embarrassed cream coloured lioness. "You're stronger than I thought. Geez."
"I'm so sorry," Nala said, the embarrassment coating every word. "It's just I heard noise and I didn't know and I was trying to show Kula how to stalk her prey and… I'm so sorry."
"Hey, hey, relax," Simba said placing a paw over one of hers. "It's okay, I'm not upset or anything, just surprised. I didn't think you'd be able to knock me over like that."
"That's what you get for thinking Simba," Malka laughed before he and the others stood. "C'mon, let's head to the watering hole. I could use a drink of water."
Everyone nodded in agreement before they all turned to make their way towards the watering hole for a much needed drink and to have a bit of small talk. As well as some teasing at Nala and Simba's expense from Malka and Chumvi.
Three Days Later
Kula was a nervous wreck. The day of her solo hunt had finally come, marking the start of the new moon cycle and her entrance into the hunting party. And she was afraid that she would screw this up, even after having one on one training with Nala and help from the others for the last few days.
"Kula will you calm down," Tama called out to the coffee coloured lioness. "You're starting to make me dizzy with all that pacing you're doing. You're going to be fine. You've had plenty of training. If you'd just relax, you'd see that you have nothing to worry about. You're a natural born hunter. Your mother and grandmother before you are some of the best huntresses we've ever had… aside from Sarabi, Nala, and Sarafina that is. Plus you've had one on one help from Nala of all lions. So chill."
"I can't help that I'm nervous though Tama," Kula groaned as she flopped down on the hard floor of the den the pride shared. "I was so sure that I was going to be able to do this before. Now I'm scared out of my wits. What if something goes wrong? What if I fail? What if I'm not as ready as I originally thought that I was before?"
"Kula," Nala said as she came to lay beside the younger lioness, placing her paw on the others'. "You're going to be fine. Just remember everything that we taught you and breathe. Nothing can go wrong if you just calm down."
Kula took a deep breath, nodding her head. "You guys are right. Thank you."
"Now," Tama said as she and Aisha both got to their paws. "I think it's time for all of us to get out there so that you can get started Kula. I'm pretty sure that the Queen and the others are waiting."
Kula nodded her agreement as she and Nala both stood as well. The three elder lionesses walked out first, heading down the slope to the rest of the Pride that had gathered to see Kula off. Taking their places by their parents, each smiled when Kula walked out of the den. She smiled nervously as she passed by everyone who wished her well, before stopping when she reached her parents.
Her mother, Zuri, was the first to step forward and nuzzle her daughter with a smile on her muzzle. "You're going to do just fine darling. I have complete faith in you."
"Thank you Momma," Kula said, nuzzling her mother lovingly before she turned to her father. "Daddy, don't look so worried. I'll be fine, just like Momma and everyone else said."
Enzi sighed, his daughter was right. Just like her mother before her, and Zuri's mother previously, she was certainly a natural born hunter. With a light smile, he embraced his daughter, "I'm sure you will Kula. But as a father, it's my job to worry." He licked her cheek before sending her on. "Be careful out there, my little one."
Kula nodded, making her way towards the rocks that acted as a stairway. She looked around, her ears perked and a smile on her muzzle before she took off. The Pride watched as she disappeared into the tall grass. The hunt had begun.
When she was no longer in sight, the Pride dispersed to go about their own business. Simba and the others had to practically drag Chumvi away when he took a step in the direction Kula had headed off. It wasn't until Mufasa promised to have Zazu fly out and watch after her in case anything actually did go wrong that he stepped away and followed his friends to the nearby watering hole.
…
"I'm going to tell you like I told Kula earlier," Tama said blowing at her hair tuft as she watched Chumvi pace back and forth. "Relax, she's going to be just fine. Kula's not stupid, she won't get herself into any trouble. And if something, as unlikely as it is, does happen, you'll be the first to know. Zazu has direct orders to report to you immediately before carrying on to tell the King the news should Kula find herself in a dangerous situation. Now lay down before I sit on you."
"I can't help it," Chumvi said as he flopped down on the ground. "I'm worried about her. She's never been out on a hunt before, let alone going out there on her own. What if she gets hurt, or killed, or worse?"
"What could possibly be worse than getting killed," Tojo muttered, rolling his eyes at his friend who only glared at him in return. "It's a valid question."
"Shut up Tojo," Chumvi said folding his paws over his face. "You don't have any idea how I feel right now. You don't have a girlfriend that's going out on a solo hunt. The only one who probably could understand how I feel is Malka since he was already dating Tama when she went out on hers. He was a nervous freakin' wreck too, if you guys remember correctly."
"But I came back just fine, and so will Kula," Tama said allowing her head to rest on her forepaws. "Now relax please. You're getting overly worked up over nothing."
"Tama's right Chumvi," Nala said, placing a reassuring paw on Chumvi's mane. "Kula will be just fine. I know it may seem nerve wrecking since she's out there alone but this is a gigantic step in life for her. She needs us to support her, not worry needlessly."
Chumvi nodded. Nala and Tama were right. Kula was going to be fine. He didn't need to worry about her. "You're right. Kula's fine, she's a tough lioness. I just feel sorry for that gazelle she's going to wind up catching."
This caused everyone to burst out in a fit of laughter, shaking their heads at the chocolate coloured lion.
…
Kula carefully walked through the tall grass the gazelle were grazing in, noting that it would soon be night. She had to do this quickly. Her eyes trained themselves on a young male who had strayed a little ways away from his herd. Using everything that Nala had taught her over the past few days, the young lioness moved her shoulders as her breathing all but disappeared and intense orange eyes stared, waiting for the right moment to strike. She saw it moments later when the male moved further away from the herd, unaware of his impending demise.
A few seconds more passed before Kula deemed it okay to let her presence be known. With a great leap and a low growl, the lioness sprung out at the gazelle who heard and bolted. But he wasn't fast enough. Kula caught up to him almost instantly, deadly jaws locked on his neck, ending his life immediately. A smile graced Kula's muzzle when she realized she had made her first kill. She had succeeded in the solo hunt. And now she would be allowed to join the rest of the lionesses in the hunting party.
"I did it! I really did it," she gushed happily before leaning down to grab her kill before setting back on the path towards Pride Rock to inform the pride of her success.
She trotted towards home happily when she spotted an injured lioness that had wandered into her path. Brows creased together as she looked at the beige female who looked to be on the verge of passing out. Picking up her pace, she made her way to the female just as she collapsed from exhaustion.
"Hey," Kula called out to her, dropping the dead gazelle from her mouth. She ran towards the other female, tapping her back with her paw. "Hey are you okay?"
However, the other female did not respond. She was out cold.
"Oh what do I do," Kula wondered to herself. "I can't just leave her out here. She could be attacked and won't have a chance to defend herself. But I can't not go back to Pride Rock either. Everyone will get worried and Daddy or Chumvi will have a search party sent out… oh what do I do?"
"Kula, is everything alright," the coffee coloured lioness heard someone call out to her.
Relief washed over the young female when she realized that it was Zazu who was coming in for the landing that called out to her. "Zazu, thank Aiheu it's you! I need your help." She gestured to the unconscious lioness at her paws. "I found her just a few minutes ago. She passed out before I could ask who she was. We can't leave her out here by herself, she could be attacked by the night predators and she's already hurt. I need you to go back to Pride Rock and get Mufasa and Sarabi. I can't carry her and my kill back by myself."
"Yes, of course, at once," Zazu said before he took off again as fast as his wings would carry him.
Tired from her hunt, Kula laid down beside the lioness, orange eyes trained on the area around them in case any hyenas or other night hunters were to appear before Zazu could return with the King and Queen. She also wanted to make sure no one ran off with her kill. The lioness would be hungry when she finally woke up and would need something to eat.
Half an hour passed before Kula heard paws coming her way. She looked up to see Simba, Mufasa, Sarabi, Nala, Chumvi, Tama, Malka, Tojo, Aisha, Zuri, and Enzi making their way towards them. Chumvi, who had clearly been worried about her, ran past the sleeping lioness towards his girlfriend, bumping her head with his. "Thank Aiheu you're alright. I was starting to panic when you didn't come back sooner and then Zazu came flying in saying that you needed help. What happened, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine Chumvi," Kula assured him, "Really. I called for help because of her." Kula nodded her head towards the other lioness who was still unconscious. "I was on my way back with my kill when she came out of nowhere and collapsed. I knew I couldn't carry her back on my own but I didn't know what to do. Thankfully Zazu came along not long after so I sent him to get help."
"Has she told you anything, Kula," Mufasa asked as he examined the fallen lioness. He could see that she had clearly been attacked by something. "Where she came from or her name?"
"No, nothing," Kula answered. "She was unconscious before I could even ask for her name. I didn't want to leave her out her on her own. She's clearly already been attacked before she got here so I couldn't just leave her to die."
Mufasa nodded before turning to Enzi. "Help me get her back to Pride Rock. Simba, you, Tama, Malka, and Nala go find Rafiki and bring him back to the den. Since night will be falling soon, I don't want you out on your own. Everyone else, you will accompany Enzi and myself back home."
Every head nodded before they set off to do as the King asked.
