Chapter 25
Nighttime dawned dark and cool. The wind was blowing slightly and it felt wonderful pushing against Sharra's skin. She wandered through the grasses, letting the wind blow past her. She looked up at the sky and the bountiful stars and sighed. She was going home. She sat and took in a deep breath, her eyes traveling toward the distant pride rock. Memmai had done well for herself, she concluded. Then again, so had she. Sharra had done something she had never thought possible, she had helped form a pride, and one that accepted and respected her. Her ears lifted in that thought.
Yes, she thought. She had a pride, a home, essentially, a family. Everything she had wanted but had thought impossible. She stood and a smile emcompassed her entire face as she began running. She would wait until tomorrow, but her impatience was there. Every fiber of her being wanted to be with her pride, yes…her pride, she thought with a grin.
--
The morning carried with it the same tension that had been there for weeks. The air was already thick with the promise of a heatwave as well. Sumayah stood at the edge of Pride rock, waiting, her muscles tense, a smile of triumph on her maw. Today was her day. By the end of today, if not tomorrow, she was stand here, on this rock and roar to her subjects, and she would be queen. Laughing to herself, she turned and made her way back inside the den, the sun would rise in a few minutes, and Sharra and Memmai would be making their way to Sharra's lands. Then her plan would be set in motion and nothing, nothing would stand in her way anymore…
--
Sharra awoke with the sun, her ears pitching forward as she looked at the sleeping lions and lionesses around her. She stood and stretched, yawning before moving over to wake Memmai. When the Queen was awake enough, Sharra made her way toward the entrance, where Ashka was waiting. Sharra had said her goodbyes yesterday, so there was no need to wake anyone else up. Memmai joined her and the baboon and slowly the three descended.
Sumayah growled to herself. She didn't realize the baboon was going with them. That was gonna ruin everything. Hastily, she looked around, trying to figure out some diversion she could find. A sleeping cub stretched, catching Sumayah's eye. She smiled and then padded over and picked the young one up. Moving as fast as she could, yet as quiet, she made her way over to the end of the den and slipped out the back. Then she circled and hid the cub beneath some brush. She made sure it was safe before taking off toward the watering hole, hoping her feet would move fast enough that she could catch them.
She rounded the corner and bounded up onto the rock and then down the steps, willing her legs to move faster. She could see them, almost to the watering hole, so she began shouting for Ashka. "Ashka!! Ashka wait!!" The cub she'd stolen had only been born last night, she knew, for he hadn't been there for long. He was still wet and the mother had been gone that night. She must've snuck back in when everyone was asleep. "Ashka!" Sumayah yelled again, her plan remaking itself in her head.
She slowed as she reached the trio, who had stopped to wait for her, right before the watering hole. "Ashka," she breathed, sucking in rapid gasps of air. She wasn't quite as in shape as she'd thought. She took in a few deep breaths and then spit out what she'd formed to say in her head. "Tuli needs you, she's went into labor and is having a rough time. No one else was awake and I knew you'd be the best one to help her." She said rapidly, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
The baboon sighed and looked at Sharra and Memmai. "We'll wait here for you," Memmai said. Aska nodded and then left. Thankfully he didn't need to be shown the way, so Sumayah was free to stay with the two lionesses.
"Why not wait by the watering hole? It's cooler there and we can get a drink," Memmai said. Sharra nodded and then followed her. Sumayah waited until they were at the front of the watering hole drinking before she moved around to the other side. She let her tail drag in the water for a minute before giving it a flick that sent a few droplets of water flying before lifting it and then continuing around.
Within seconds her plan was in motion. She smiled at the screech that was let out by Memmai when a large crocodile snapped its jaws just inches from her feet. Both lionesses swung around and began batting and roaring at the croc, not aware that another one would come up behind them in just moments. Sumayah watched, standing behind a bolder so she was not in sight. The other crocodile would be behind them soon and within minutes they would drag Memmai and Sharra to the depths of the watering hole, drowning them before they devoured the two.
She looked around, where was the other crocodile? She turned just in time to see the crocodile latch onto her entire back leg and the princess let out a scream. She dug her claws into the ground as the massive croc began dragging her toward the water. "No!!" she yelled. "Not me you idiot!!" She yelled. "Not me!"
The other croc, seeing her being dragged, left the lionesses and plunged into the water. Before Sharra or Memmai realized it, Sumayah was in the water, splashing and gasping for air, all the while yelling, "Not me!! It's them you're supposed to kill, you idiot, not me!" Within seconds she disappeared beneath the surface of the water and all they saw was the whirling and ripples caused by her struggles.
The two friends looked at each other before delving into the water. Both swam around, taking turns dipping under. After a few minutes they left to the safety of the shore and waited. There was nothing they could do. Another minute passed and then a few ripples appeared in the middle of the water before Sumayah drifted to the surface. To her own amazement, it was Sharra who went back into the water to retrieve the princess.
Gently she grabbed her and dragged her back out. She leaned down and listened for a heartbeat. It was faint, but it was there. She pushed down on the princess's chest, waiting. A moment or so after Sumayah spit up a bit of water, but not near enough. She was shaking now and there was blood covering her body. Memmai looked from her to Sharra. "Oh my god Sharra, what are we going to do?" She asked, starting to shake herself.
Sharra couldn't believe she was actually trying to save Sumayah's life, especially after it was clear that Sumayah had tried to take hers. She looked down at the princess and shook her head. "Not me," she breathed. Her body began convulsing, her paw twitching.
Memmai let out a low roar calling her pride to her. As Sumayah's convulsing died down, she just twitched, shaking as well. The pride arrived and Katu looked from his sister to Memmai and then to Sharra, his eyes begging the question be answered. Memmai just leaned against him, sobbing.
Since Sharra wasn't sure of Sumayah's plot, she simply said what she knew. "We were waiting for Ashka to return when we were attacked, the crocodiles took Sumayah under," Katu nodded and then turned his attention to his sister.
"Sumayah," Katu said. "Sumayah it's me, Katu, can you hear me?" Sumayah mumbled something, but otherwise continued twitching. "Sumayah. Come on Mayah, it's me, say something."
"Queen," Sumayah murmured, her voice barely a whisper as her breathing became raspier. "I…was goin'…to..be…queen." she said between breaths. One last convulsion took her before she went still. The king stood still then lowered his head and let out a long sigh. He let out a long, low moaning roar to mourn the death of his sister, and soon after the pride followed. When they were finished, father and brother gathered the body and together with the pride, carried her back to the place of her birth.
Sharra watched then leave, unable to make herself rise to follow. Sumayah was not of her pride, and as such, she would not concern herself with the funeral nor with the grieving. That was for her family and her pride to do. Instead, she sat, watching and waiting. She wondered what would be the right thing to do. Should she leave now or wait? The tension that she had felt for weeks was gone, and the air was silent, leaving Sharra feeling even less sure of the situation.
"I didn't want her killed," the raspy voice behind her made Sharra's entire skin jump and stand on end. Her mind jumped, but her body merely moved forward in alarm. She made herself turn and found herself facing one of the crocodiles. "Sorry to scare ya," the croc said, nodding. Sharra shook her head, but found herself speechless. She hadn't known crocodiles could talk, though it shouldn't have surprised her.
"I didn't want her killed," the crocodile repeated. "I just wanted her to know she was doing wrong. My mate you see," the croc paused, looking down and it was then Sharra realized the reptile must be female, though the voice was so raspy and deep it seemed unnatural. Then again, perhaps crocodiles had their own form of talking, she'd never made it her business to know. "My mate, when he saw me take her und'r, he dove in after me. I couldn't stop him at first and by the time I could, I was sure it was too late, so I kept him down til I saw her body disappear. He said she'd promised meat and he didn't care where it came from…she'd asked us to kill you and the queen you see. Said we could have your meat if we killed you. But I couldn't do it..not the queen. We'd be killed for sure if they ever found out." The croc shook her head. "Couldn't have that, so I took her, wanting to make her see she was wrong…I never meant for her to die..no…didn't want her to die.." Slowly as the crocodile repeated herself, she descended back into the water, still shaking her head.
Sharra watched, dumbfounded by the creature. She shook her head and sighed. So it was true, Sumayah had had a plot against Memmai…but not only Mai, but her as well…Sharra realized. She took a deep breath and then made herself rise. No matter how grim it was, she knew the pride deserved to know the truth and why Sumayah's last words had been "I was goin' to be queen…"
A/N: Next chapter will be up soon!