Chapter 7: Lioness, Chenna
As Chenna walked back home she thought about what had just happened. Did he really have the name Koshu? The legends say that Koshu was the hero that saved the world and created the idea of territory. He stopped all of the bloodshed that had gripped the land. But Koshu wasn't a leopard. He was the last saber cat. He died two generations ago. When my grandma was still alive. Could his name have just been an accident? And how did he get those wings!
Chenna was still thinking when she arrived back at the pride's camp. She, unfortunately, walked straight into Leone.
" Well hey there gorgeous." He said arrogantly, " Finally decide to come to me?"
Chenna was disgusted. "In your dreams." She stormed off towards the lionesses den. The nerve of that fool!
Chenna's pride lived in a natural cave system inside a cliff. It provided shelter from the rain, shade from the sun, escape tunnels, and intricate passageways to hide the little ones if the pride were ever attacked. It was perfect. Her father had chosen this spot. Chenna wound her way through the narrow passageways leading to the lionesses' quarters. The passages were too narrow for a full-grown male lion to pass through, but just wide enough for the fattest lioness to squeeze through. Chenna's father had chosen these passages just for the lionesses. They allowed the lionesses some peace and quiet away from the males. I love it back here. It's perfect. And the one place Leone can't infect.
She was wrong. As she finally walked into the large space designated for the lionesses she saw that some of her comrades were giggling. " What's going on?" Chenna asked. Chenna's favorite sister Malia carefully made her way to her. Chenna looked at her friend and saw she was a little chubby. " Hey Malia," Chenna asked. " Have you been getting less exercise or more food?" Malia blushed. Wait! Malia never blushes! "What's going on here?" Chenna demanded.
Malia answered her softly. " I'm going to have cubs!" Chenna's jaw dropped. Malia! My own sister! Having cubs! WITH LEONE! All of the lionesses laughed at her reaction.
The eldest, Comika, yowled. " Well o' corse she's pregnant. And with Leone's cubs no doubt. So are two of the other lionesses. But for the life of me I can't r'member." Comika scratched her head. Then she fell back into a snoring sleep.
" B-b-but how! Why! Leone's an IDIOT WHY MALIA WHY!" Chenna yowled. The two other lionesses that Leone had infected with his vermin came over to her. They, along with Malia, lightly rubbed the side of her head in a comforting gesture. Chenna didn't notice any of this. She was too lost. How did he get to them! Why did Malia fall for it! Why did the others fall for him too! Chenna yowled and turned on her friends. " WHY DID YOU DO IT! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELVES!" She ran out of the cave roaring her pain to the sky.