Chapter 10:
Not So Brotherly

The butterfly drifted enticingly overhead, flapping its bright wings and swirling easily on the breeze. Mheetu followed it with his eyes, too lazy to reach a paw up to bat at it. He huffed softly, shifting his paws and flicking his tongue over his muzzle.

He lay in the waving grass on his back, nearby to the Log-Place. Around him, the rest of the cubs were also lazing about, napping or just watching clouds. Kijani was perched on a stone, in sight of the six young lions. A few days had passed since their adventure into the tunnels-their punishment was not leaving sight of any of the adults and keeping near Log-Place-, and it was another stiflingly hot day.

Mheetu watched as the butterfly floated out of reach, soaring towards the distant forest. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Sleep pressed on his limbs, but he didn't want to succumb. He wanted to do something other than lie around. He turned his head, looking into the bored expression of Nzuri. She lay on her side, tracing a pattern in the dust with one of her claws.

Her eyes flicked to Mheetu. "Whatcha wanna do?" She asked slowly.

"Dunno..." He sighed. His eyelids fluttered, fighting to close.

"Let's play Huntress and Prey!" Kupata shouted, jolting the cubs out of their sleepy trances. She had sprung to her paws, looking around with an excited spark in her eyes.

Mheetu slowly sat up, yawning. "Okay." He agreed. It was at least something to do.

Nzuri rolled over and got to her paws, as did Kishindo and Hatari. Jeshi followed suit after a moment's hesitation. Mheetu padded over to Kupata, eager to begin before he fell asleep.

"I'm the huntress." Kupata announced arrogantly, eyeing the rest of the cubs. Nzuri curled her lip and Hatari looked rather put out, but neither complained.

"We'll take turns." Jeshi meowed, glancing between the female cubs. Hatari blinked gratefully at her brother.

Kupata seemed not to care. "Let's begin!" She growled, bending down and waggling her haunches. "Go over there and be wildebeest!" She waved a paw a few paces away.

"We were wildebeest last time!" Kishindo whined, padding over after Hatari and Jeshi. "Can't we be zebra?"

"It's just prey! Does it matter?" Nzuri replied with a small smirk. Kishindo rolled his eyes.

"Fine..."

"I think he actually wants to be a zebra!" Hatari giggled into Mheetu's ear. He grinned at her.

The five stood in the thick grass, awaiting Kupata's hunt. She had disappeared into the scrub, and they drifted around, acting as best they could as wildebeests. Mheetu mouthed some grass, but gave up after the first bite. He had done it a few times before when they played, but always had thoughts that he might like it later. Apparently not yet.

"Rooooarrrr!" Kupata charged out of the grass, making all of the cubs jump and start to flee, giggling and laughing as she chased them. Mheetu swerved away, following Hatari. He glanced back, just in time to see Kupata launch herself on Kishindo and knock him down.

Mheetu skidded to a halt, as did Hatari, Nzuri, and Jeshi. "You always choose me!" Kishindo grumbled as he lay under Kupata's triumphant stance. She was purely smirking, appearing quite satisfied with herself.

"That's her way of showing him she likes him." Nzuri whispered, giggling quietly. Hatari mrroowed in laughter.

"You should have chosen Mheetu, he's fatter." Kishindo was arguing. Mheetu's grin slid off his face as he looked over to his brother.

"What?" He meowed, eyes dark. Kishindo glanced up, looking angry. Mheetu wondered what had got him in such a foul mood.

"It's true, you know. I look nothing like you." He snorted, looking Mheetu up and down. He struggled for a moment, and Kupata stepped away from him, looking slightly confused at his rage. Nzuri and Hatari had neared, both appearing concerned.

"So? Is that bad?" Mheetu growled, feeling the fur lift on his neck and shoulders. Did Kishindo really have something against his appearance? Maybe there was something else going on...he really did look different from Kishindo and Uchawi...

"I didn't say that, but it sure doesn't match the rest of us!" Kishindo hissed, rolling to his feet. Mheetu felt himself begin to get angrier.

"So you dislike my differences?" Mheetu spat, unsheathing his claws.

"Yeah, maybe I do!"

"Well I don't like YOU being the same!"

Mheetu immediately regretted his words as he heard the sharp intake of breath from Nzuri, and the dismayed expression of Hatari. Even Jeshi looked slightly disturbed. "No...I didn't mean..." He stumbled over his apology.

"You think being part of a pride, and looking similar is bad?" Nzuri questioned, her voice unusually grave, and tinged with hurt.

"Wait...no!" Mheetu stammered. "I don't!"

"You just said you did." She responded, narrowing her eyes.

"How do you know you don't have a pride, where everyone looks similar to you?" Jeshi asked. He seemed not to care about entering their argument.

"I don't..." Mheetu began, but trailed away under their angry faces. "Now you all seem to have a problem with me!" He snarled, recovering quickly.

"Yeah, I do!" Kishindo bared his teeth. "You think you're all high-and-mighty being special...what would you say if I looked different instead of you?"

"You'd rather be "fat", or whatever you called me?"

"No, I just said if I looked different...I wouldn't want to be like you. True Meadowlanders are slim and strong. Unlike you."

"You're calling me a rogue?"

"Yeah. Pudgy warthog, that's what you are." Kishindo taunted angrily.

"Well go revel in your stupid skinny shape, then!"

"You're not my brother anymore!"

"I never was!"

Kishindo flattened his ears. "Maybe you don't belong here." He snarled. Mheetu's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such a cold response.

Not all of them had turned on him, though. "Why does it matter?" Hatari spoke up quietly. Kupata didn't say anything at all. She didn't seem to want to take a side. Mheetu thought that she might back him up, since she looked different too.

"You're too young to understand." Jeshi swung his head to face his little sister. She stepped back, looking hurt.

"We're going over there to play." Kishindo announced. "Not with you." He added angrily to Mheetu. He strode off, and after a moment, Nzuri and Jeshi followed him. Kupata hesitated, looking puzzled and frustrated, then she padded away too.

Mheetu sat down and sunk his claws into the soft, dusty soil. Had Kishindo always had a problem with him being different? Uchawi never once mentioned anything to suggest he was not a part of the Meadowlanders... He blinked away tears of anger, and lay down with his head on his paws.

"That was mean of them." Hatari hadn't followed the others. She lay next to him, pressing her pelt comfortingly against his. He looked to her, still to angry to feel grateful.

"You look fine just the way you are, and that shouldn't change." She continued, her eyes gazing clearly at Mheetu's.

He began to relax. "Thanks, Hatari." He gave her a warm nuzzle. "I just don't know what's got into Kishindo. He was so angry today."

"Just ignore it." Hatari mewed. "He'll get over it."

Mheetu was glad for her kind words, but he wasn't as confident. He looked over at her again. "You're a good friend." He murmured, as she brushed her muzzle against his cheek. The two cubs sat together as the pride frolicked and napped.