Ch. 3: An Interesting Day
It was midday. Sena was down at the water hole getting a drink when he realized he hadn't eaten yet, what with had happened that day. He knew that it might look suspicious if he went off on his own, so wandered to a log, lifted it with a paw and speared a few bugs on his claws.
"I'm surprised most don't eat these guys. Great source of protein," he said aloud to himself. He was surprised when a different voice said, "No kiddin'. I thought we were the only ones 'round here who ate these!"
Sena looked down to see a tan-furred meerkat with a large leaf in his hand. The leaf was crawling with bugs. He said, "Well, when I can't find something meaty to eat, I have to settle for these." Sena flipped a beetle into his mouth and chewed. "To tell you the truth, I kinda like 'em," he told the meerkat. "You don't have to chase them much. And you are?"
"The names Timon. Hey, your that lion who's gonna be stayin' with us for a few days, right?" the meerkat said.
"Yeah, that's right." Sena said. "I've heard of you. You and that warthog raised Simba when he was a cub, right?"
Timon picked a beetle off the leaf and swallowed it. "You got that right. Well, I better be off."
The meerkat dashed off without another word. Sena muttered, "That is one weird meerkat..." He swallowed a few more beetles and went to the water and drank. He raised his head and suddenly ducked. A brownish blur flew over him and landed in a heap a few feet away. He smiled slightly and went to help Vitani up. He extended a paw.
"So what, you're stalking me now? That kind of thing works on antelope, not me."
She glared at him, rolled her eyes and said, "Shut it..." but accepted his paw anyways. She looked at him quizzically. "How did you know I was coming?"
Sena replied, "I heard you."
"How'd you hear me?"
"Owing to years of living on my own, my senses have increased in sensitivity. I can hear things most can't, as well as smell things from about double the distance normal lions can."
Vitani's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah. I can teach you, if you want."
"Maybe...hey, what can you hear now?"
Sena's eyes narrowed in concentration. "Let's see...I can hear the bugs in that log." He pointed with a claw at the log he had gotten his breakfast from. "I just heard a small splash from over there." He looked to the other side of the water hole to see a lion cub splashing playfully in the water. Sena smiled at that. Vitani chuckled. "Her mother's going to have a fit. This water is for drinking." Sena pulled a face and Vitani laughed.
Suddenly Sena went as tense as a coiled spring. A puzzled look crossed Vitani's face. "What, what is it?" Sena dashed at the water and took a flying leap. He landed with a splash and began swimming quickly to the cub. Vitani watched, puzzled, until she saw the crocodile cutting through the water.
Heading straight for the cub.
Sena reached the cub, took her in his paw and swam for shore just as the croc's jaws snapped shut. The croc thought it had found lunch. His teeth actually closed around Sena's back right leg. Grimacing in pain, Sena continued to swim for the bank. He dropped the cub on the bank and said, "Stay here, okay?" The cub nodded. Sena sucked in a breath and dove under. He dug his claws into the back of the croc's neck, causing it's grip on his leg to loosen. Sena slid out of the water onto the bank, panting heavily. He turned his head to the lion cub.
"Auggghhh...ah...jeez...that hurts...ugh...you okay kid?" The cub nodded. "Thanks, mister."
Sena groaned in pain. "Augh...no problem kid." He staggered to his feet. "Let's go and find your mom, okay?" The cub nodded and dashed off toward Pride Rock. Sena slowly staggered to his feet, wincing as he put strain on his back leg. He slowly walked forward, then staggered. He started to fall to his right, but something caught him. He looked and saw Vitani supporting him.
"Come on, tough guy," she said. "Let's get you back."
Leaning on the her, Sena limped back to Pride Rock.
Sena, supported by Vitani, staggered up the rocks. He collapsed when they reached the top, near the pride's den. The cub he had rescued ran up with her mother.
"Mom, here's the guy that saved me! He jumped in the water and fought off a giant crocodile!"
The lioness looked at Sena, doubtful. Sena shifted so she could look at his leg. "Don't believe me? Take a look at my leg."
The lionesses eyes went wide as she took in the wound. The dozens of teeth marks extended up all the way to Sena's thighs. Still bleeding, he slowly got up and walked into the shade of a rock. He groaned and flopped down on the rocks. "It's...okay...believe me, I've been through worse." Sena gestured with his paw to the scars that lined his body, particularly to one across his belly.
He smiled. "I'll live."
The mother lioness came over and said in a low voice, "Thank you. Thank you very much."
Sena grinned. "No problem," he managed to say. Then he put his head on his paws and fell asleep.
Sena was awakened in the late evening due to the smell of red meat dangling near his nose. He reached for it, only to have it pulled away. He cracked open an eye to find Vitani smiling at him. "Not funny..." She laughed softly and pushed an antelope leg near him.
"Got you dinner," she said.
Sena's face lit up. "Aw, thanks, I'm starved." He tore into the meat with vigor. He was about half done when he asked, "What brought this on?"
"Hmm?"
"This..." He gestured at the meat. Vitani shrugged.
"You need to keep your strength up. That leg needs to heal."
Sena gazed at his leg, caked with dried blood and scabs. He looked Vitani. "Thanks, I guess. Where's everyone else?"
Vitani gazed at the den. "All asleep. I was just waiting to see if you were okay."
"Why?"
She shrugged. He went back to eating.
When Sena finished, he licked the blood from his muzzle. "Thanks."
"No problem." She got up and went to the entrance of the den. When he didn't follow, she turned around, a puzzled look on her face. "You coming?"
Sena shook his head. "Nah, I always sleep under the stars. It's so peaceful."
Vitani shrugged. "Whatever." She turned to leave. "By the way..." She turned back. "They want to thank you."
"Who?"
"Everyone. They want to thank you for what you did today."
Sena shrugged. "Tell them it's no big deal."
Vitani nodded and walked back to the den. The feeling of finally having something substantial in his stomach took it's toll on him. He dropped his head on his paws and nodded off. The last thing he heard before sleep overtook him was a small sigh from the direction of the den.